Pleasantville

Pleasantville on a Sabbatical

Taking a sabbatical from blogging. "My juices need restoring" Sometimes I wonder why I'm blogging. I guess it's been very cathartic as a mom who does not work outside the home to have a voice for myself somewhere out in the world. But more and more I'm wondering about all the things that are important in life. This summer we have a wonderful friend coming to stay with us and help some with the boys while she's here for the summer. I'm looking forward to this summer and using it for reflection before school starts up. 

I hope to be reflecting some here ........

Doing some fun projects with the boys from Deep Space Sparkle.

Listening to this CD that is perfect for the summer.......

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Uploaded by jasonmrazworld.

Another good one......

"Lucky" Official Video With Colbie Caillat

Maybe have these with girlfriends......

Tracy Porter Best Margarita Recipe Video: John Porter’s Potent Margaritas!.

Enjoy a bonfire at the beach before they ban it(I hope that's just a rumor?!)

Enjoy 4th of July at Seaside

Maybe do some camping......

Watch one of my favorite summer movies(minus the boys)I'm not kidding, I'm strange I LOVE this movie!

 

Eat some yummy seafood

With some veggies from our garden, Price's moms or my dads....

Read this fun book ........

And finish reading this great book .....

Pastor Francis Chan has some very thought provoking You tube videos and sermons available in podcast form on itunes or on his church website. Price and I have been listening/reading for about a month now and it is getting us to our core. 

Have a great summer!

April Showers bring May flowers(and the crud)

We've been sick. I hear it's going around. Is it the Swine flu?:) Jackson kicked it off with a nasty tummy bug and then spread to Christian and I've got either a rip roaring sinus infection or the flu. But we are on the mend. I notice that all through the winter when I was logging 20 plus miles a week of running that I did not get sick AT ALL!! But mommy has put herself on the back burner once again and not only do I suffer but everyone in my house does. It's not fair to anyone. It's a daily struggle as a "stay at home mom" not to feel guilty and that I need to be productive 24/7. I have a tendency to think I'm selfish if I put myself first. I think all mothers feel this. The best advice I can give is don't feel guilty about taking time for you, taking care of you. If you do not take care of yourself, you can't take care of your children. I am constantly amazed at how it's the mothers of many children that seem to be the most relaxed and at peace(except for that mom from Jon & Kate plus 8). Is it that they learned they had to let go after the 3rd or 4th child? Is it that they have it all together? What' the secret?(That gives me an idea about some mothers days posts I'm going to do next week-stay tuned)

Anyway , I digress! Today is May Day. Does anyone even celebrate May Day anymore? I know our parents had the maypole at school. It's a tradition I have always wanted to start with my children. I have one of the neatest books, Mrs. Sharp's Traditions:Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations of Comfort and Joy.

It is one of my favorite books because it talks about how you can create traditions with your family that have gone by the wayside in our modern times. For the month of May she talks about May Day and how to create a Maypole and May Day baskets of flowers that you leave on someone's doorstep as a surprise. Wouldn't that be so sweet to do with your children?

Of course Martha has a few of her own fabulous ideas.........

A Maypole cake for your party (Recipe)

Party complete with flower crowns(Article)

Learn how to make the pole

And since I didn't get my act together to leave a basket of flowers  for someone on their doorstep, I'm sending this out to all of you on this beautiful 1st day of May!!!! 

 

California Chic

Do you ever think of your home surroundings and how the men in your life feel about them? It's hard to fit in what both men and women might like and merge it. We all have different taste. And I hate to admit, I don't really ask Price what he wants in our home. He usually likes what I like(but hey if you knew that when we met over 15 years ago he liked black glossy furniture and things that were pretty appalling you would not blame me!)

Last month in Coastal Living I saw this article about a cute blonde designer who owns shop Tower 20 in Santa Monica, CA. (Have you noticed since Coastal Living has a new editor it's getting a little hipper?)

I am loving some of the shots from his website. As the only female in a house of three surfer boys, I love the simplicity of his take on coastal design without it being too "beachy". I think a guy would be very at home in these surroundings.

Here are some of my favorite rooms.......

Love everything about this-the fabric, the lighting, the plank table, the wicker chairs

 

Perfect for the porches

More yummy fabric (and that white leather/vinyl pouf looks like a fun place for a boy)

Sign me up for this bathroom!

Aunt Gayle, when we come to California next for a visit this is a must stop!

For more pictures visit Erin over at Elements of Style

She did a great post last month on Tim Clarke. 

Have a great weekend! This is where I'll be when we get our dock built.

Happy Thursday!

Is it too late for Easter pictures? We spent a few days after Easter with Price's family at the beach in Destin. It was so relaxing and great fun for the boys to play with their cousins Patrick and Lauren. 

The day before we did a crawfish boil at my sister Christie's house. Yum........ it was a wonderful day spent with family.

  

Easter Sunday

It's very hard to get these two to both smile in a picture(they are always acting silly)

At the beach

What we've been up to.........

PLAYING ON SCOOTERS

(don't look at the trim that needs pressure washing!)

ADMIRING AZALEAS AND CREEPING FIG

LOUNGING IN THE SUN

VISITING OLD FRIENDS

LEARNING TO PLAY TBALL

PREPARING A VEGETABLE GARDEN

AWAITING NEW HYDRANGEAS

VISITING EDEN GARDENS

WHEW! WE'RE TIRED!!!

Where the Wild Things Are

So excited to see this book

is being made into a movie!!! I'm not sure by the trailer if it will really be appropriate for my 3 and 5 year old boys but it seems to be filled with imagination, adventure and mystery!!

Check out the trailer

As the mother of 2 wild things

I can't wait to see this movie!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Spring Playdate

A beautiful afternoon was the perfect setting to play with friends. We had an impromptu easter egg hunt and popsicles and cheezits. What could be better?

 

Jackson's a lucky guy!

Yummy!

This is fun!

Excuse me, please don't look at me! I'm pouting because I only like chocolate popsicles!

The perfect sandal for wee ones

This post could be boring for those that aren't mommies or grandmommies!! Just a warning!

When Christian was around 2 I found the cutest sandals that he wore all the time. They are the best, they never fade or scratch and look great after 2-3 years. This is great becasue now his little bro can wear them.

They are called the Sun San Saltwater Sandal and I think they have been around for a long time. This may be the shoe we all wore when we were kids. You can order them from various places but I found them on Kelly's Kids  for $28 which is the cheapest I've seen them. They come in various colors at various places and they tend to run about a half size larger. Christian really wore his forever(now I'm afraid he's getting to big and prefers his rainbow flip flops if he's wearing any sandal!)

People always ask about them so I thought I'd share!

Happy spring shoe shopping!

Birthday Fun

Christian turned five a week ago and we held his birthday party this weekend. The weather turned out to be great and it was a good thing since the theme was a luau! I can't believe my firstborn is 5!! He has been pure joy to have in our lives and we have learned so much from him.He is a brilliant, beautiful, funny soul whom we treasure with all our hearts!!!

Some pictures from his fun day:

 

Happy Birthday Heather!

Happy Birthday Heather!!!!! Hope you have a great day!