My Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful duchess, Elle. She was blessed with a darling daughter, Serafina. At a very sad time in Elle's life, she discovered she was expecting a baby boy. This brought much happiness to Elle and her family. After the prince was born, life was very busy in the household. Entertaining a little girl & boy was far more difficult that Elle anticipated. As her boy grew he became more and more active and more and more mischievous. He climbed where he shouldn't be climbing, ate what he should not be eating, and was awake when he should have been sleeping. Precious Serafina had not prepared her for what he had in store. During one particularly active day, the prince was making Elle bonkers. Elle did not know, but her fairy Godmother was watching and thought that Elle needed to learn a lesson. The next day Elle woke in the morning and found her dear prince hot with a fever. He was calm and cuddly and quiet because he was feeling awful. For 4 days the fever persisted. All the while Elle worried and wished that her little boy would return to his normal active self. On the 5th day the fever was gone and Elle was relieved. She was thankful that her baby boy was well again and made a promise to herself to be more tolerant and patient of her prince's ways. Elle's fairy Godmother was pleased that Elle had learned her lesson and flew off to take care of other business.

The End (Hoping for the closest to "happily ever after" possible!)

Spreading the love

I got my first blog award the other day from the lovely Llama. Thanks!! It could not have come at a better time, because I was having a drab day and it was instantly brightened when I found out. So being the rule follower that I am - here goes.

7 things about me:

1) I moved out of the country, from Miami, when I was 13.

2) The only time I've lived back in the good ole USA was whilst attending uni at Boston University & Florida State University (yes in that order, yes surprising or at least it should be)

3) My favorite season is fall but I rarely have a chance to experience it unless traveling.

4) I live in a house where we only watch DVD's - no satellite or cable feed here - sometimes I miss it, sometimes I don't know when I'd find the time. We've lived this way for 5 years.

5) The most exciting trip I've ever been on was when I went to South Africa and got to go on safari. I really hope I can take my children there one day to see the animals in their real element. It was an AMAZING experience that I highly recommend.

6) We have no pets, but we do have pests: an elusive iguana that likes to use our pool deck as his (would have to be male, right?!) toilet, a woodpecker who has discovered the very small portion of our house that is wooden (right above the master bedroom window) and likes to tap on it before 6 am many mornings and finally a resident (unwelcome) rooster who crows at any hour of the day and along with him, his very large chicken family. And you thought it was all sunshine and beaches in the tropics!

7) I got married nearly 10 years ago in Vegas baby! 45 of our fam, besties & us at the Bellagio. It was a BLAST!

My 7 Nominees:

Now won't you join me on my little history of blogging??

1) Pretty Little Things - This is where I discovered blogs. I saw Lori Marie featured on Martha and went to her website and discovered her blog. She is definitely creative! I love her creations, her tiny house and her super cute pup Matilda. She's got a great etsy shop - you should check it out. Via PLT I discovered....

2) Dear Daisy Cottage - a visit to Kim is like going to visit your dearest auntie. She is the most kind, warm-hearted gal I have discovered in blogland. She has an adorable cottage in Florida, she is a brilliant photographer and she too has a super cute pup, Maggie. She'll make you treats, take you on amazing home tours and share her thrifting finds. Need a hug? Go visit Dear Daisy Cottage, I guarantee you will come back feeling warm & fuzzy!

3) Notes from the Trenches - I discovered Chris by googling "clogged milk duct" one day. I was breast feeding and suffering from clogged ducts. Kids - let me just tell you - it ain't fun! Anyways my google took me to her blog and there I found a hilarious post and I was immediately hooked. Chris has 6 kids aged 4 - teenage. She homeschooled until this year and she isn't what you think a mother who homeschools would be. She is quick witted, feisty and admirable. Plus her kids are all cute - oh and she is another great photographer. Trust me, she couldn't give a rat's @$$ about receiving a Kreativ Blog Award, but I'm giving her one anyway!

4) Monograms and Manicures - You'd think I watch Martha often, but I really don't. I discovered Hopsy on Martha too. She was a very enthusiastic Lilly-lover on Martha's Lilly show. Hopsy is a super sweet girl who lives a great life. She's got over 900 followers, so she's doing something right!

And the rest is history - through the blog discovery trail, one day or another I happened upon these 3:

5) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Who doesn't like a trip to Europe? Assuming of course, you don't live there. She will take you to the most amazing places.

6) When Pigs Fly - Ever found that person who seems to have a similar opinion to your own on many things? That's Jen for me. I love reading her posts and she has a great style of writing.

7) Emm in London - Emm should be a travel journalist. I loved following her recent trip to New York.

Whew! That's my 7. For those of you who wish too, here are the rules: I know many of you that I have chosen are too busy to follow the rules, but I chose you because I wanted to. I truly enjoy these blogs!

Here are the Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they've been nominated

Happy Monday

Happy Monday everyone! My grumpy's are over for now. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's weekend updates - the little blurbs on my dashboard have piqued my interest. I'm also anxious to pass on my blog award, but it's going to take me a few minutes to get my post together. While the present seems like the perfect time to do that, my kitchen is a disaster area and I can't sit here on this computer while the mess is over there staring at me. Hopefully time will permit a little later.

Hope you had a great weekend - I'll be checking back in soon.

Elle :)

I've got a bad case of the grumpys!

4 reasons:

1) PMS - no explanation necessary

2) hunger - please read previous post regarding diet

3) my son has turned into a monster - I'm trying my best to be super patient mommy because he's got a little cold but truth be told he's driving me absolutely bonkers!

4) sleep deprivation - see #3

So I logged on to my dashboard to do a little reading and discovered that I got my first blog award. Thanks so much Llama - you brought a little sunshine to my very dark and cloudy day!!

I will be fulfilling my duties regarding this award shortly. Now I am off to take a shower while my little monster naps. I should go peek in at him so I will feel nothing but love for the precious sleeping pumpkin - boy, looks can be so deceiving!!

Elle :| :) {I know I'm not the only one with mood swings mixed emotions whilst pmsing}

Sheesh!

I didn't check my reading list yesterday and I had a lot of catching up to do! Hope everyone is good. I'm feeling strangely perky today. Maybe the Advil is kicking in - my headache is fading..

Anyways I've decided (I think) to join Weight Watchers online. I'm doing the free week trial with the 3 month commitment on the 7th day. As if I needed another excuse to spend more time on this freaking computer! Anyways I really don't have a lot of weight to lose (less than 10 lbs) but I've learned to be a nip it in the bud kind of girl when it comes to weight. Less than 10 can turn into more than 15 in the blink of an eye! I think it's good timing - I can be good and prepare for the holidays. Always best to start the holidays down a few, right?

So if any of you need to drop a couple or more, check out WW and maybe we can be diet buddies.

:) Elle

Flash Mob

As if the Black Eyed Peas and their, how do I describe them, fab/can't get them out of my head/makes me want to dance my ass off tunes were not enough... Did you guys see this?

There is a better version on oprah.com along with dance instructions so we at home can learn the dance. Ok, well I won't go that far but suffice it to say I would have loved to have been there dancing in the middle of that energy!

I got a feeling -oooh oooh...

:) Elle

One of those days....

Dear America,

I miss you especially today. God Bless you.

Elle x

Collecting....

I come from a long line of packrats collectors. It's something I struggle with - to save or not to save. I do a fairly good job of tossing the meaningless stuff but I know I hold on to too much.

September for me, is a month of painful memories. 3 of the worst days of my life took place in September. I came across an old day planner the other day (why was I holding on to this?). I took out the pages that had writing on them and saved the rest for scrap paper (my stock was low). I saw a date that I had forgotten about.... a few years back, on Sept 9th I left home and headed to Miami as a huge hurricane was headed our way. I didn't come back for 2 months... And so my sad September begins, ugh.

Elle

Sharing a super fab giveaway!

So, dear Hopsy is having a fabulous giveaway that I wanted to share with you. If you don't already know Hopsy, she is as delightful as they come. She's giving away a Lilly Pulitzer Paley cardigan tomorrow night. So if you are a cardi girl - hop on over to kappa prep and check it out :)

Chubby Hubby no more!

So I mentioned to you that I bought a pint of B&J's Chubby Hubby yesterday. I was really good last night and only ate a teeny tiny bit. Tonight - not so good. I had a stressful time trying to get my littlest one to sleep. Daddy's been spoiling him - Mommy's paying the consequences. AGHHH! And the ice cream was making me feel better - how do they do that?!?!? I happened to discover that this may be my last pint of Chubby Hubby ever because (drumroll....) TADA - new name.

{ben & jerry's}

I've got one more thing I want to share, but in a separate post....

:) Elle

I've been sleeping around...

part of the night in my bed, part of the night in my daughter's bed, part of the night on the rug next to my son's crib. What? You didn't think this was going to be a scandalous post did you?? Oh, how I long for a night of full uninterrupted sleep.

Having said that - it's not 9pm yet and both kiddies are snoozing. Preschool starts back tomorrow for Miss S and we are BOTH thrilled. I should be preparing her lunch right now but I felt it was time for a post.

I finished a good book over the weekend: Night Fall by Nelson DeMille. It is a work of fiction based on the TWA800 crash that took place in '96. It was interesting and got quite exciting the last 3rd of the book. I don't read many books with male authors but I enjoyed this one. I also don't read many investigative/conspiracy books. Anyhow this was good for a change.

Saw a moving movie over the weekend, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story starring Cuba Gooding Jr. It was just one of those inspiring stories about an amazing man who didn't have all the odds in his favor, yet turned out remarkable. Who doesn't love this kind of story? A good kind of feel good movie when you are in the mood.

Well off to follow the college game scores. Oh - and I just remembered I've got a pint of Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby in the freezer. Big mistake - but I couldn't resist it today. I can already feel my bum growing!

ttfn-

Elle

I'm a paper lover..

I heard something sad in the bookstore the other day. A man came in and asked the owner if she sold any stationery. She apologized and said that she didn't carry stationery anymore because no one buys it. Everyone just emails.

I guess the era of the personal handwritten letter is gone forever (yes, I realize this is old news). Kinda sad huh?

I love paper: wrapping paper, note cards, thank-you cards, scrapbooking paper, invitations, etc...

{lilly pulitzer}

And I love, love, love the newish LP stationery line. I'm hoping I can incorporate some of the cute things into Miss S's 4th birthday party in a few months.

Yep, I miss getting a cute little envelope in the mail with a note from a friend. I always had way more stationery than I could ever use. Still that way with wrapping paper and scrapbooking paper (haven't touched most of the crafty stuff in 3+ years). I confess, I'm a lover of paper. Remember those little 2-fold papers that you would just stick together with the little seal? I thought they were the greatest. *sigh*

Well my book is getting intense, so I'm off to read before bed. Think I'll be a Kindle user anytime soon? Doubt it...

Nighty-night!

Elle

PS - We are 3 for 3 for rainy days in September thus far. The drought is over!!! YAY. We'll all have to wait and see if my lawn comes back from the dead.

Ok - WHOA - I just tried to do a strikethrough and I posted and EVERYTHING on my blog was struckthrough. That was scary. Llama - I did something wrong!

For lack of a better post:

I'm going to post one of these ultra interesting-random question surveys - here goes:

Where were you 3 hours ago?

Home, getting Miss S ready for bed.

Who are you in love with?

My husband & kids.

Have you ever eaten a crayon?

Nope.

Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?

an empty juice box, iPod skin, tricycle

When is the last time you went to the mall?

April - sad I know, but I don't live in the land of malls.

Are you wearing socks right now?

Heck no - I only wear socks when I'm exercising which isn't very often lately.

Do you have a car worth over $2,000?

Um, yes.

When was the last time you drove out of town?

Last Friday, to my aunt's 60th b-day party (more fun than it sounds, believe me!)

Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?

No, but I've watched some movies at home in the last 5 days.

Are you hot?

I'm burning up. I need to go turn the a/c down.

What was the last thing you had to drink?

Water, I'm kind of boring like that.

What are you wearing right now?

Khaki shorts and a white polo.

Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it?

Mr. Price cleans my car. Unfortunately he had to leave the country and my car is the dirtiest it's ever been. Shame!

Last food that you ate?

A cheese stick. The organic variety that has a little taste.

Your dream vacation?

I have many but a luxury European villa vacation sounds good right now.

Do you miss anyone right now?

Very, very much.

Last play you saw?

Chicago on Broadway - about 4 years ago. I was disappointed.

Do you need to do laundry?

ALWAYS

What were you doing at 12AM last night?

Snoozing.

Do you like hot sauce?

Yes, but only on a few things.

Intriguing, I know!

:) Elle

Future Plans

I'm already planning my first giveaway. Realistically it will not happen until November. That's when I next plan to travel to the US which will simplify my giveaway in many ways. If an unexpected trip pops up in the meantime, it may happen sooner...

I've decided 2 things I will definitely include are a pack each of my favorite cookies. Do you know Mulino Bianco? They make THE BEST store bought cookies in my humble opinion. Our little island is blessed, a few times a year, to receive a container load of italian goods that grace the shelves of our supermarket.

Canestrini & Baiocchi - yummy!

When I started this blog, I almost invested some money in it. I wanted a visually pleasing blog and spent hours researching designers and designs. I then decided that I was jumping the gun and that I should perhaps see if anyone was interested in reading this before I spent any money. So I made a rule in my head that my blog budget would be less than or equal to the number of followers I had. So right now I couldn't afford a signature, but I'm not getting discouraged. I've met some lovely fellow bloggers in the past month and I'm happy about that. Should I remain unpopular, I might just send each one of you a pretty package in November.

Hope your September has had a good beginning. We had rain today - that is a VERY good thing. Hopefully it's just a taste of what the rest of the month has in store.

Ciao bellas!

Elle