Right in my own backyard

Once upon a time (read, before kids) my husband and I were a pretty adventurous pair.  We took a two week trip to Ireland/Scotland.   Got married in St. Maarten.  Vegas twice a year.  New York at least once a year.  Totaled our car in South Florida (on a bridge, over water!)  We took a SERIOUS vacation at least once a year. Enter the two cutest kids you have ever met, and what do you get?  STAYCATION!
Mr. Company is on "vacation" this week.  That just means he doesn't have to go to work.  Since I'm staying home with the June Bug and Big Brother, we don't have a lot of extra mou-lah to go vacationing with.  So, we sent the kids to Nana and Grandaddy's farm and had a little staycation!
I have to admit, it's been a really good week.  Started with a birthday party for our June Bug on Saturday.  Took Big Brother to see Cars 2 on Monday.  His first movie at the theater!  Took the boys to Nana on Tuesday and came home to hang out in the backyard.  It was a "pool" day.  We don't have a pool, so we had to improvise a little.  Hello inflatable baby pool!
Today was the highlight!  We rented a canoe from Adventures Unlimited and spent a few hours on Coldwater Creek in Milton, FL.  It was FANTASTIC!

My beautiful view from the front of the canoe

We felt a million miles from home when we were really only about an hour's drive.  We saw abundant wildlife.  Turtles, dragonflies, birds, fish...and 38 teenagers from the local Methodist church.  Eeek!!!  We paddled on past these kids at a quick pace and then we were able to really slow down and enjoy the scenery.  It was so peaceful...the rippling water, the birds chirping, the swoosh of the paddles.  The water was icy cold.  I know this because I went for an unexpected swim when I knocked my sunglasses off my head.  I only freak out a little when I see a bee.  I hate bees.

One of the many turtles we saw today

Tiny Waterfall

I'm looking forward to the remainder of our week.  Dinner at McGuires Irish Pub tonight.  Maybe a campout in the living room when the kids get home tomorrow complete with hot dogs on the grill and s'mores.  Pool party at Papa's and Grandma's on Sunday.  And the finale?  4th of July Fireworks!  What a way to end a wonderful staycation!

Where do YOU go when you need a little break?  Is there somewhere in your own town that makes you feel a million miles from home?


Christine
www.etsy.com/shop/christineandcompany

Sunny Days

Yesterday was Birthday Party Day at our house.  We had a Backyard Birthday Beach Bash for our little June Bug.  I can't believe it's been one whole year with him in our lives.  Time just flies.  I wanted to thank our guests for coming to celebrate so I created a slideshow on Smilebox.  Smilebox has fantastic invitations, picture collages, scrapbook pages and much more.  It's a free service and I've used it many times to create fun picture items for my friends and family. 

There are a gazillion templates to choose from and each one plays preselected music.  You can change the music on some of the templates or even upload your own music with the paid version.  Try changing the backgrounds and wording or choose your own wording.  It's lots of fun and quite addictive! 

Check out our "Sunny Days" slideshow!

Create your own slideshow

Christine
www.etsy.com/shop/christineandcompany

It's A Stampede

My Dinosaur Insulated Lunch Bag was featured in this great treasury by MoreThanaCupcake on Etsy.
Thanks Tina!
 

Click on any item below for more information.

'It's a Stampede!' by MoreThanaCupcake

Surrounded by boys who love Dinosaurs~

Recycled Crayons Dinosa... RedElmDesigns $37.50	Dinosaur Dude Eco Frien... sacksavers $12.00	T - Rex Kid Mug MoorefieldPott... $10.00	Girls Dinosaur Applique... Aidille $28.00
Dinosaur - Clip Art Set... Kellymedinastu... $5.00	Insulated Lunch Bag for... christineandco... $25.00	Childrens/Kids/Toddler ... IvanandMary $9.99	KOOL KID LEGS--DINOSAUR... mamarunswithsc... $9.00
DINOSAURS Crayon Roll U... HappyBabeeandB... $6.00	Dinosaurs Around the Bl... GreenBearCreat... $7.00	Reversible Fabric Organ... designsbyMicke... $18.00	Custom Clothing Divider... pipsqueakkids $10.00
Dinosaurific Tshirt Alliecraft $15.00	Chalkboard Dinosaurs explicithope $15.00	Creative Kids Art Bucke... MomNMiaQuilts $22.00	Tyrannosaurus Rex T-Rex... AllyBoosCreati... $8.95

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio. 

Christine

www.etsy.com/shop/christineandcompany 

Snack Attack!

 Remember I told you a while back that I'm not much of a baker...it's still true.  We've got a Birthday Party at our house today, so I'm going with the Perfect Cupcake.  I also wanted to do a little something extra, so when I went to a Birthday Party last weekend ('tis the season) I was on the lookout for something cute for our little June Bug's Backyard Beach Bash!  Enter these adorable (and yummy) chocolate covered pretzel snaps with M&M's.

 
It's the easiest thing ever so I thought I'd share with you:

Supplies:

One bag Snyder Butter Snap Pretzels
One bag Wilton Candy Melts in white
One Bag M&M's


Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.  While the oven is heating, lay the pretzels out on a baking sheet. Top each one with a candy wafer.  Pop in the oven for approx. 3 minutes, just long enough to make the candy wafer soft, but not melt through the pretzel. 

Remove from oven and press an M&M into the center of each softened candy wafer.  Move to a cooling rack.  Repeat! 

 

This one's my favorite - doesn't it look like a little fried egg on toast!?

Store these little babies in an airtight container until your party.  Make them ahead and they'll keep for several days.

So, now my wheels are turning.  Did you know that the Wilton Candy Melts come in different colors?  I'm thinking pink or blue for a baby shower, green for Christmas, pink for Valentine's Day.  And you know M&M's come in seasonal colors as well.  If you want a specific color combo, you can order M&M's in bulk in the colors of your choice.  How about football season?  Team colors anyone?  Here's another...white candy melts with Reece's Pieces for Halloween or Thanksgiving.  The possibilities are endless.  What are YOUR ideas?  Comment and have fun!

Happy Birthday June Bug!

Christine
www.etsy.com/shop/christineandcompany

Appalachian Trail Hike 2011: A las Mujeres........So, I don't drink out of stra...

Haven't you always wanted to do something crazy, out of the ordinary, maybe a little scary?  When I found out that my friend Lauren (otherwise known as "Journey") was hiking the Appalachian Trail (that's Georgia to Maine folks!) I was shocked and maybe even a little envious.  Not envious of the bugs, no showers, sleeping in the woods next to train tracks envious, but envious of her gumption to step out of the box and do something so extraordinary.  Something she will never forget....


So proud of you, Lauren!

Check out Lauren's Blog...maybe you'll even want to follow her travels!

Appalachian Trail Hike 2011: A las Mujeres........So, I don't drink out of stra...: "Before I started the trail, my world was so small that if I was at a restaurant, I wouldn't even drink my beverage until the server brought ..."

If you had the opportunity, what is the most extraordinary thing YOU would do?  Comment and let us know!
reblogged with permission from Lauren Woodliff (Journey)