I Stopped Along The Way

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

2011-12-19T05:00:00.035-05:00

A few "stops" I made along the way, to the tune of

The Sound of Music

---xoxoxox---

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with string

These are a few of my favorite things

Happy Holidays, Health,Love,Peace,& Blessings !

Are You In Charge Of The Appetizer

2011-12-01T19:57:00.000-05:00

It's December, and it's that time of year when people all across the globe pull out there recipe books to bake and make some of their most favorite recipes. The other day when I stopped by a friend’s house I was so impressed at the array of yummy treats that she had made. One of my favorite was her homemade hummus. If I could spoon it out of it's serving dish and stuff it down my mouth I would... but instead of making a pig of myself I decided when I got home to open my own recipe folder to see if I had a recipe of my very own. Amazing enough I did. I found a Martha Stewart hummus recipe for a mint and parsley hummus....ooh sounded so good, so I decided to try to make it.

Now I will say that sometimes Martha's idea of a simple recipe is a bit skewed, but this one was really simple. I also love the color that it is (green) perfect for this time of year...so if you're in charge of bringing an appetizer to your next party, I'd say this one would be a hit. Enjoy!

Click here for the recipe: Martha Stewart Living, May 2007

Get Some Action

2011-11-17T05:00:00.001-05:00

It’s that time ofyear again; the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, picking out the bestgift, the perfect wrapping paper, and ribbon. As for me I gave that up aboutthree years ago when I started a tradition with my older nieces and nephews. Instead offrantically trying to find a gift for each of them I create a special day that istailored to them.

This type of gift giving has really worked out well for many reasons. First, it givesme quality time with each of them. Second it allows me to take my time and findsomething along the way that I think they will enjoy. Third , it allows me tostretch my budget which helps tremendously around the holiday season. Especiallysince there are eight that I need to consider, and lastly, it helps us discover new places and things together.

Here's how it works:
1. Keep my eyes peeled for deals that may involve something that they would enjoy
When I find something I schedule the day. I have been very lucky finding deals on:

Groupon
Buy With Me
Deal Go Round
Eversave

2. Via mail I send little hints leading up to the day. Usually they are so random that they don't guess it.

3. I pick them up and disclose what the day will consist of.

Some of the events that we have enjoyed have been The BlueMan Group, Cake Boss, Cirque de Sole’, Movies, Theatre, Ogo, etc..

This past weekend two of my nephews and I celebrated their day. I picked them up, went to breakfast, and then told them that we were heading for a paintball adventure by Action Games. I found this deal on Buy With Me. Saving of 50%. Cha Ching!

Since neither of us had ever done paintball we didn’t knowwhat to expect. We suited up in camo, loaded our guns with paint, and with butterfliesin our belly we hit the woods.
Located in Tewksbury Action Games has 6 outdoor fields that specific games are played. Games like capture the flag, attack & defend, Fort Courage, Mission Recon, etc... Games are typically played from 9-2 with a short break for FREE BBQ luch at 12:00.

Is it painful you ask? Well let's put it this way, I have welts in places that I can't disclose BUT we had a fabulous day! I loved it, and my nephews had a blast too.
If you're looking for something to do, I highly recommend it as one of your stops.

On My Honor

2011-11-15T05:00:00.018-05:00

My nieces have been part of their Girl Scout Troop for 13 years. Together with their troop they performed many community services and leadership projects. They have gone to multiple camps and exotic travel destinations. They attended and hosted multiple fundraising events and let's not forget selling thousands of boxes of cookies. Their Girl Scout experience has definitely been an Experience Of A Lifetime; one that they will treasure for years to come, one that helped teach them essential life skills, an experience that has shaped them as women, built up their courage, confidence, and character. Girl Scouts was a blessing that helped keep them grounded during the difficult times of growing up.

This past weekend I had the honor of attending my niece's Girl Scout Gold Ceremony, the highest award in Girl Scouting. This is a prestigious award that recognizes girls who make a difference in their communities and in their own lives.

To achieve this gold status you must first complete your bronze and silver awards . Once you've accomplished that you can go for the gold. Here's what you must do:

1. Choose an issue that you think needs help in your community
2. Research & investigate it
3. Invite a mentor and others to support & take action with you
4. Create a plan
5. Present your plan to the Girl Scout council
6. Take the lead and carry out your plan
7. Educate,Inspire & Share your experience with others

I had known that she was working diligently on her community project for quite some time. She created an arts and craft program for schools that were unable to afford one. Her dedication coupled with the commitment from her leaders, families, and mentors helped her achieve her goal. In her group alone there were ten girls being awarded their Gold. Apparently this is extremely rare, in fact many Girl Scout troops dissipate well before the gold award is even thought of.

I was so proud of my niece,and of all the other nine women that took the initiative to educate and bring awareness to their communities about real life issues that can effect each of us.
I was happy that my own little lovely was part of this organization, and that she has three wonderful leaders that are passionate about what it stands for.
I was so thankful for Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low who believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Girl Scouts Organization
Girl Scout Promise:
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Girl Scout Law:
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and torespect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.

S T R E S S

2011-11-08T05:00:00.003-05:00

What stresses you out ?
Work? Clutter? Weight? Relationships? Bills? Kids? Laundry?
These are just a few things that come to mind, but there are a long list of other things that can really bring you down. I was feeling a bit stressed yesterday. Big project, time crunch, ...you know that sort of thing. I couldn't wait to get home to escape the madness. When my little lovely got home I decided to scoop her up and go for a walk at Appleton Farms, a place that always soothes my soul and calms my spirit.

Appleton Farms is a 658 acre of farmland located in Ipswich, MA. It is a breathtaking peice of property. Its rolling grasslands, farm animals, and antique homes, make it a picture perfect New England stop.

On our walk we chatted about stress. I asked her if she thought that people back in the good old days were more stressed than people today. She thought that people in general don't change so therefore there was still the same amount of stress back then as there is today. Pretty interesting, right?

I never really looked at it from that perspective,I guess the way that I saw it was people today have more stress because they have more stuff, more things to worry about, bigger homes, more bills, heavier workloads etc.. If that is the case then why not just do with less? Wouldn't that help our stress level? We seem to have everything that we need to make our lives easier; washing machines, microwaves, cars, heating systems, etc.. and life seems more difficult.

Back in the olden days people had less. They got together in the evenings, sat by the fire, read, talked, crafted, taught, etc.. Were they stressed? My little lovely seems to think that they probably were because people don't change. The basic fiber of a human remains consistent from one era to another, so if a person is going to stress they will regardless. Interesting.

So what do you think? Don't stress yourself out, but I'd love to hear your perspective.

I'm Out Of Breath

2011-11-03T05:00:00.002-04:00

The other day my little lovely was discussing music with my husband. As I sat in my office I could hear them discussing different kinds of instruments. My husband somehow was reminded about a Jaw Harp that he had growing up. I had never heard of such a thing so it really peaked my interest. I of course went to You Tube to see if I could find anyone playing a Jaw Harp.

Apparently the Jaw Harp is thought to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world. It has been pictured in Chinese drawings dating back to 4th century BC. Although it is also called a Jew Harp it has no ties between the Jews people nor Judaism; it is actually native to Asia.

The Jaw Harp is made of two simple metal pieces. A flexible metal , the reed, and a frame. I think it kind or resembles an antique hair pin. To play it you firmly you hold the frame to your mouth and pluck the reed with one finger to produce a note. Your teeth must be parted sufficiently for the reed to vibrate freely, and your mouth should not come into contact with the reed to prevent the vibrations.

Here are two people playing the Jaw Harp. Each creating a totally different sound and style of music. Super cool I think, but I'm out of breath just watching them!

Thrifty Costume Design 101

2011-10-27T05:00:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year again where little goblins invade our streets in search of treats for their little jack-o-lanterns or big pillow cases. Halloween happens to be one of my favorite holidays; not for the gore and spirit factor but mainly because it is a time that people can show off their creativity. Growing up I always enjoyed participating in costume contests and throwing a Halloween party, and still do.

Today Halloween has become quite a money maker. A survey from the IBIS World shows that an average family spends $22.50 on Halloween candy. I can attest to that as I spent $20 today at the grocery store picking up candy.

On an average 6 billion dollars was spent on Halloween last year; averaging out to be $66 per person. Although those are some scary figures my intent is not to be a Debbie Downer but rather to inspire you to be thrifty and creative.

Princess Beatrice Photo: Courtesy of Reuter

For instance do you want to be Princess Beatrice (she's the one on the right)? Go to your local thrift store and hunt for a small plastic wall mirror that has an ornate ribbon like design to it, take out the glass, spray it tan and viola, you have the front of her hat. Couple that with a dress donated from someone's grandma's closet and you have a Princess Replica. Total cost probably $15

Garden Gnome

How about being a garden gnome? Simply create a red hat from hard paper stock, cut a mustache/beard out of white felt, belt your favorite blue blazer, and you are well on your way to Gnomeville. If you don't have any of those items at home, no worries, you can surely find them at a thrift store for under $10

Want to be a Smurf? Goodwill has the white pants to start your costume out right. Add a blue shirt and a pointy white hat made out of felt and you have now transformed yourself into a Smurf. Total cost under $10

Whatever or Whomever you choose to look like this Halloween enjoy yourself, be safe, and be thrifty.

"Off With Her Head"

2011-10-25T05:00:00.018-04:00

Although we are nearing Halloween, I can assure you that this blog post does not include gory guts or rolling heads. Today I'm writing about a peculiar tale that dates back to 1865, Alice In Wonderland.

Alice In Wonderland

Tea Party

It all starts when Alice falls down a rabbit hole meets a slew of characters, The White Rabbit, The Mad Hatter, The Caterpillar, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, The Cheshire Cat, The Queen, Knave, and King of Hearts just to name a few. From tea parties to lawn croquet with a flamingo and finally a the Queen's famous quote "off with her head", the story has many layers of creativity and whimsy.

The Rabbit

The Mad Hatter

It's no wonder that a local artist chose Alice In Wonderland as his theme.....and you don't have to climb down a rabbit hole to see this display because it is the centerpiece of his front lawn.

I first saw his display about six years ago when I first moved into the area. The theme that year was the Tour de France. He had about a dozen bikes set up on his lawn as if to mimic the actual race. I was awestruck by his attention to detail and how he was able to take straw stuffed people and position them to tell a story that is immediately recognized. I have seen him replicate Gilligan's Island, The Lion King, and The Super Bowl. All of them fantastic!

Twiddle Dee & Twiddle Dum

Cheshire Cat

The Playing Cards

This has now become one of my MUST stops this time of year. If you live locally take a ride up Bridge Street in Hamilton to experience this scene. I'm sure you will be amazed at the time and detail that this artist puts into his work. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next year, but until then I will stop and imagine myself falling down a rabbit hole and enjoying a cup of tea with my new friends.

The Caterpillar

Don't Delete This Email..It's A "Must Read"

2011-10-18T05:00:00.002-04:00

Indigenous art: A carved head adorns an aboriginal church in Nootka Sound on British Columbia's Vancouver Island.

Lucidio Studio Inc./Newscom

How many emails do you get in a day? Are you ever tempted to press delete without reading them? I am definately guilty of pressing the delte button before reading some messages. Not yours of course, I'm talking about some that you know are not "must reads". Last week while I was going through my inbox I came across an email that I nearly clicked delete but for some reason hesitated. As I scanned through the content it mentioned a "must see" documemntary about a whale. This movie was being shown at a local movie theatre that I had never gone to before so I thought it would be a great stop.

The theatre:

When I walked in I was pleasantly surprised. The Cape Ann Community Theatre is a quaint living room style cinema, that shows first-run independently produced films from around the country and around the world to local audiences who might not otherwise discover them. This was exactly the case with the feature film that we had come to see.

Photo By: Mardi Carter

The movie....

The Whale is a true story about a young Orca whale, named Luna that seperates from its family and finds its way into the Nootka sound. The Nootka sound is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of Vancover Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. I was not familiar with this particular sound but after seeing this movie I either want to move there or visit for an extended time. The scenery was breathtaking; its no wonder that Luna wanted to stay for a while. In fact the story tracks her visit to the sound which lasted about four years.

Orcas are extremely social creatures that crave constant contact with their extended families. So when Luna lost her family she went looking for a substitute; and she found these substitutes in the people of the Nootka Sound. She followed and played with vessels, canoes, ships, kayaks, and anyone who would give her attention, play with her or pet her. The people fell in love with her and she fell in love with them. The story tells us about a friendships, about amazing moments in life that are given to us, and what we do with those moments.

Unfortunately this story has its ups and downs. Because of two differing views between the First Nations tribe who thought Luna was a reincarnated spirit, and the fish-and-wildlife officials who were convinced that he needed to be forced back into the wild people are torn with what to do with this beautiful visitor......

Photo By: Mardi Carter

If you want to know what happens next you really need to catch this film at a theatre. It's Rated G- perfect for family movie night, and totally worth it.

Is It Time To Harvest, Hunt or To Wine?

2011-10-13T05:00:00.000-04:00

Grapevines Plucked

This past weekend my family got together at my dad's house for a Harvest Day. I always thought that it was just a time to gather, barbecue, pick some crops, press some grapes and carve some pumpkins, but apparently there is a real purpose for this season, and has been for many generations. Since my father grew up on a farm in Portugal he is familiar with what to do during each farming month, he is also familiar with the moon cycle which has always been a guide for farmers.

Grapes Pressed

Certain moons call for harvesting while others for hunting. Full moons have traditional names, from many different cultures, and coincide with the months or seasons of the year. For example:

January – Wolf Moon
February – Snow Moon
March – Storm Moon
April – Pink Moon
May – Flower Moon
June – Strawberry Moon
July – Buck Moon
August – Sturgeon Moon
September – Harvest Moon
October – Hunter's Moon
November – Beaver Moon
December – Cold Moon

Garden Harvested

This past Tuesday evening, October 11, was the Hunter's Moon. It got its name because Native Americans used this moon as they tracked and killed their prey during the autumn moonlight. It is also called the Wine Moon because of its color; my dad calls it the wine moon because that's when he typically plucks the vines and presses his grapes for his wine. It's quite a time, and the Indian Summer weather that we had added to the beauty of our Harvest Day.
What about you? Is it time for you to Harvest, Hunt, or Wine?

Pumpkins Carved

Indian Summer

2011-10-11T05:00:00.021-04:00

Last week we had some chilly days her in New England so I did what every normal New Englander does; I regrettably switched my summer wardrobe to fall, and sadly began to layer up. The only good thing about switching wardrobes is that you weed out some pieces that you don't particularly care for anymore, and replace those items with new ones.

I know this is inevitable so I typically take it in stride rather than kick and scream; but then something wonderful happened this past weekend, just like that !BAM! we got above normal temperatures that were to die for. I'm talking a solid weekend of 80 's and above, an Indian Summer.

If you live in a region that doesn't experience this type of weather change, an Indian summer refers to a period of considerably above normal temperatures, and typically occurs in the Northern Hemisphere between September and mid November. Even though I had packed up my shorts I welcomed the sun with open arms. I went back to the attic and got down my summer gear and headed straight for the beach, oh yeah, now that's what I'm talking about!

What A Gem

2011-10-05T05:00:00.002-04:00

Do you like museums? I do!
Are you the kind of museum goer that stands next to each piece of artwork and reads all about it? I'm not.
In fact I'm totally the opposite. I love to visit museums, and look at all the magnificent colors, textures, shapes, and sizes, but the information connected to each piece hardly ever makes it into my little brain. I guess that's just the way I'm wired, I'm visual.

This past weekend when I was visiting with my family in Maryland (hi guys!), we took a trip into the city to visit the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

in Washington DC. There are several halls in the museum, each focusing on a specific topic. There is the hall of human origins, one for dinosaurs, another for ocean life, and the list goes on an on. My favorite by far is the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals. Spectacular!

I'm not even sure that I have a word to describe the beauty of the gems that they have in this exhibit. This collection is known to be one of the most significant collections of its kind in the world. There are more than 15,000 gems in every possible color imaginable. The most brilliant gem of this collection is of course the Hope Diamond. People were lined up to catch a glimpse of its sparkle and waiting anxiously as it rotated on its turntable to snap a picture of it. Not even a stinky fart that someone left behind cleared the room. Pewwww!

I must admit that I was awestruck by it too, no not the fart the diamond but some of my most favorite gems were vibrant hues of blue, red, green, orange, and yellow.

If you ever find yourself in Washington DC you must make a stop at this museum.You will not be disappointed. Promise!

Do You Have A Costume?

2011-09-29T05:00:00.006-04:00

This past Sunday I was at the mall; anyone that knows me knows that malls are not my favorite thing. They tend to be noisy, crowded, and in general overwhelming. There are two places that I do like, and that make the mall experience a bit more enjoyable for me,
1. Pretzel Time pretzels, 2. Anthropologie. Both are a treat for me, especially Anthropologie.

As I buzzed into one store and out of another I noticed a display that they had on the upper section. The textures and colors intrigued me so I went to have a closer look. The Massachusetts College Of Art & Design currently has a display at the Burlington Mall, that I think you'll agree is pretty impressive. Students took everyday common materials, and created a piece of wearable art. Wow, what a talented group of young adults. Here are some of the pieces that stood out to me. I can even see them as a Halloween costume, can't you? Do you have your costume yet? If not I'd suggest grabbing a fist-full of straws and getting busy.

Do You Have A Yellow Jacket?

2011-09-27T05:00:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago when hurricane Irene swept through the East Coast, we had several tree limbs come down; one of them bringing a big yellow jacket nest. A little voice inside of me told me not to touch it, but because I am very curious and love to examine things I decided to poke it with a stick. BAD decision. The nest was active, very active, and before I knew it I was being attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets. Did you know that their stings are particularly painful because they don't just sting; they bite and sting, and sting, and sting, until there's no more stingin' to be done. They got me six times. Ouch!

Apparently in the fall is when their nests have grown to their largest size. If a colony is disturbed, they can become very aggressive and sting....Yup, I found that out the hard way.

Fast forward to this weekend.....

I love to take walks and ride my cruiser around town. A few weeks ago I passed by a house and saw that they had a pretty big nest attached to the side of their house. Although it was really pretty, It blended in with the house color. I wanted to leave a note, but didn't have a pen.

This weekend I rode by the house again and saw that the nest was still there, and had tripled in size. Luckily this time the owners were home. Fortunately they did know that they had a thousand plus unwanted guests, but were not sure how to address the issue. I don't have to get stung again to know that it hurts, therefore I did not offer up my yellow jacket extermination services; what I did say is that I'd research some techniques and write about them.....so here it is, if you have nests:

1. Locate them during the day. You may want to cover yourself with thick clothing so that they can't sting you.

2. Treat them at night because they are all in the nest, and because they don't see very well during the night your chances of being stung are reduced. If at all possible wait till a cold night because they have trouble flying in temperatures below 50 degrees.

3. Treat the nest with dust insecticide like Sevin or Dursban, but usually an aerosol will do as long as the poison reaches the nest.

4. Check the following day to see if they are dead, if not repeat the treatment.

The good news is if you find a nest in the late summer / early fall, you can typically leave it alone because the coming cold will take care of it.

HAPPY FALL!

Are You Spinning?

2011-09-22T05:00:00.000-04:00

Did you ever have a day that your head was spinning from the moment you woke up? Yesterday was that kind of day for me. It started early morning and didn't end until late in the evening. I knew it was going to be that kind of day, I knew that I was going to run out of time, but despite knowing I overbooked myself. Anyone that knows me knows that this is a small flaw of mine. :-) I can't resist, I want to do it all. Most days I accomplish everything on my list, some days I fail miserably.

I can't say that yesterday was an epic fail because I actually did accomplish everything that I set out to do, but it wasn't exactly the best day because my head was spinning, and I ran out of time to write a well thought out post. Maybe that's ok though, maybe some days what we really need is a little spinning.....just as long as it's the right kind of spinning.

The Band Lured Me In

2011-09-20T05:00:00.014-04:00

September- Ahhh September, a month that most households get back into some form of normalcy. Schools are back in session, sports are being played and people are settling into their routines. Although summer is not officially over yet, the air lately has been chillier than I remember it being this time of year. I'm not quite ready for a sweater or warm snugly blanket, but I do enjoy the outdoor events that this season brings.

This Saturday after my little lovely played soccer we decided to grab a bite to eat. Since we were in Salem, MA we settled on a local sandwich shop. When we got out of the car we couldn't help but hear a Mariachi band. Mariachi music originated in the state of Jalisco, in Mexico. Musicians play many different instruments from brass, wind, percussion, guitars, Guitarrón, and on some occasions a flute, French horn, accordion, and organ are used. It's a very distinct sound so when I heard it I had to make a stop.

Apparently during the period from September 15 to October 15 in the United States, people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture. Hispanic Heritage Week was approved by President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile, and Belize all celebrate the anniversary of their independence during the month of September.

Salem has a large Hispanic community, so Saturday they were celebrating with traditional music, food, and activities. It was a really great afternoon learning about the different cultures. I was glad that we decided to make this stop. Since we had no idea that this event was taking place we ate our traditional American BLT sandwiches, but didn't leave until we tasted some traditional Spanish rice.

Vivir las tradiciones Espanolas!

A Purpose-full Life

2011-09-15T05:00:00.010-04:00

It's that time of year again, no not time to clean out my closet and refresh with a fall wardrobe, the time of year that I start to think about purpose. My "purpose".

My family and friends seem to know that its coming even before I do. A lot of people self reflect sometime around January 1st (well, maybe the 2nd or 3rd depending on how their New Years celebration was) but not me, I'm a forward thinking, a grab the bull by the horns type of gal so I start this journey well before the New Year. There's something about the season change, summer to fall, that automatically makes me reflect on my purpose in life. I ask the same questions every year:

What am I doing?

Am I doing what I should be doing?

Is what I'm doing purpose-full?

It's so annoying!!!!

Last week I read a blog post written by Emilie of Puttylike (www.puttylike.com). The post title caught my eye "Can't Settle on a Niche for your Business? Not a Problem." Well that's interesting because that's exactly my problem I can't settle on one thing. What's holding me back? It's not that I'm good at everything that I do, it's just that I like to do many things.

Emilie suggests that instead of pushing everyone to choose a niche, we should empower people to create the sorts of businesses that work with their personality. Interesting! , so I made a list of some of my personality traits.

I'm usually outgoing, but I can be an introvert as well

I can be devoted yet sometimes, uncommitted

Sometimes I'm enthusiastic, and other times indifferent

Some days self directed, others directed by externals
I am confident, yet sometimes self doubting

This left me wondering if I needed medication.

I tested Emilie's expertise and sent her an email asking for help. I let her know who I was, what I am doing, have done, strengths, weaknesses, all my interests, and pretty much anything else I could fit in. She mentioned in her post that she likes a challenge, well here one was a big one.

Later that day I got Emilie's response I was anxious to open her email to see what she came up with. Did she nail it?....and oddly enough, she did. What she gave me was the common theme to all of my rants; and that overarching theme was "design".

She was right, I am happiest when I am creating, when I'm being inspired by design, or inspiring someone with my creations; and although there are many more layers to who I am this is a key component that must be present in my everyday existence.

How about you? Are you living a purpose- full life? Do you know what your common theme is? Perhaps you should ask Emilie, she may understand you better than you understand yourself.
Remember: It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not that does.

Food For Thought

2011-09-13T05:00:00.001-04:00

via ella pea

Here's some food for thought....more to follow Thursday.

Curbside = Mine

2011-09-08T05:00:00.006-04:00

A few months ago I saw this....shall I say diamond in the rough on the side of the road. I almost passed it by, but its curved back beckoned me. Accelerating on the gas I made a quick flip around the block. Every time a make a road flip my heart starts to beat fast.
What if someone else sees it and picks it up?
What if the owner saw how excited I was and comes outside to take it back?
What if unbeknownst to me there is a parade and the chair is there for a spectator and not for me?

So I rushed back and there it was. Waiting! I quickly picked it up and tossed it into my trunk.

This past weekend I decided to tackle this project. Underneath the gorgeous wood was one small problem; layers of white paint. The problem is that the white seeped into every crevice making it impossible to get it all off. I had to get creative and take out my oil paints. I smudged some brown into the wood and viola' it hid most of the white. With a couple of coats of stain, and a few more of gloss I was pleased with the end result.

The seat was upholstered in a floral pattern. Not exactly what I had in mind. Since I am somewhat impatient, I wanted this project to be done so I had no time to shop for fabric. I remembered that I had a couple old coffee burlap bags in the garage. I thought that the burlap would be a nice contrast to the dark stain. When I turned them inside out the print was so appropriate for my Portuguese household. SOLD! Minutes later I cut the bag in half, and stapled it to the seat.

Now the chair is in my kitchen. I'm inspired to find a few more chairs on my stops. Wouldn't a grouping of different designs and shapes look beautiful around a table? Oh yeah! I'm on the hunt, so watch what you put curbside, because it might find its way into my trunk.

What A Cheese Ball

2011-09-06T05:00:00.005-04:00

Last weekend during hurricane Irene I stopped by my dad’s for lunch. I know what you’re thinking; don’t normal people stay at home during a hurricane? The answer to that is yes, but for my family high winds and torrential downpours are a mere obstacle.

At lunch we somehow started talking about bread. Our guests from

Brazil

immediately suggested that we make some traditional Brazilian cheese ball bread, a staple in most of their family meals. It sounded like it was going to take hours to make, but it only took about an hour and a half, after all where did we have to go on a blustery day?

The recipe made about 52 balls and we ate them all. They were delicious.

I bet they would be yummy with the beautiful figs that are out this time of year.

Here's the how to:
1. In a saucepan bring to a boil the below ingredients:
1 Cup of oil
1 Cup of milk
1 Cup of water

2. Place 4 cups of Yoki In a separate bowl

3. When the oil milk and water have come to a boil place that mixture into the bowl that has the 4 cups of Yoki

4. Let the everything slightly cool and add 7 eggs

5. Add 6 oz. of Parmesan cheese

6. Fold all the ingredients into each other

7. Make the mixture into balls (about 56 2" balls) put some oil on your hands so that it is easier to shape the balls

8. Bake the balls for at 350 for apx. 1/2 hour or when balls are golden brown

Chill Out Irene & Sit On A Hammock

2011-09-01T05:00:00.001-04:00

Last week as the East Coast prepared for the arrival of hurricane Irene I found myself taking down lawn furniture, umbrellas, and my beloved hammock. I’ve enjoyed many summer days and evenings on my hammock; endless hours staring at the blue sky, cuddling with my little lovely, enjoying a book, and swinging peacefully back and forth. Taking down the hammock in preparation for the forecasted hurricane is like taking away a little piece of my heaven so instead if disassembling it I simply dragged it into my garage.

Courtesy of The Big Hammock

As I did I was reminded about The Big Hammock, an art project in Boston by Hansy Better. The concept that Hansey had was to design, and build a huge hammock and install it on the Greenway in Boston. She called this project The Big Hammock.

Situating a hammock within a public park is intended to create a new way to interact with and admire the urban and historical setting, complimenting the Greenway as space of public leisure. The hammock was on a self supporting steel frame and was 8’ x 38’ and hung 36” from the ground. Isn’t that so cool!

Courtesy of The Big Hammock

I’m happy that my hammock isn’t the size of The Big Hammock, and is much easier to drag into my garage than the The Big Hammock, that way if Irene really picks up speed I can simply open my garage and enjoy a little piece of heaven.

I think Irene needs to chill out and sit on The Big Hammock for a while, I’m sure she’d find it most relaxing.

Click here for a video of The Big Hammock

A Small Fortune

2011-08-30T05:00:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year again, back to school, back to college, and back to an empty wallet (well, mine is pretty empty all the time). While clicking here and there I happened across these extremely lovely fortune cookie coin purses designed by Diana Eng. The talented Diana was educated at RISD and started her career as a designer on Bravo’s Project Runway, Season 2. Impressive!

Diana Eng website

When I saw these I immediately thought of my niece who is starting her first year of college. Aaaah, the wonderful world of college, no idea of what's ahead of you, no family around you, no sleep, and no money. Wouldn't this be a sweet gift for a college student? With a special note of good fortune and well wishes inside, it is sure to brighten their day.

Made in the USA and created from recycled leather, these purses measure 4” x 4” x 2”. Each purse has a unique laser etched ID number. So unique! The coin purses come with an adorable bag and printed fortune inside. So Sweet!

Diana Eng website

Although I would love to get my niece one and tuck a small fortune in it for her fresh new start in college I'm already making her a quilt to comfort her through this new chapter in her life. Oh well, I may have to get myself one.....to hold my small fortune.

Click here to see some additional products that designer Diana Eng has to offer.

Sunny & Bright

2011-08-25T05:00:00.000-04:00

Last month while I was in Maine I made a stop a the Echo Lodge. Back in 1950 the property was a golf course, today it is a sunny and bright spot for passersbys to enjoy. The first thing that caught my eye was this wonderful orange pickup. I think an antique vehicle enhances any property and should be factored into everyones decor; and you know I'm a sucker for antiques so I had to stop.

In 2004 Christine & Carl Plummet started the Echo Lodge. While I was poking around Christine came in with an armful of vegetables. Her bright smile welcomed me, and it wasn't long before she placed her pickings in a basket and took me outside for a tour.

We took a walk through the sunflower patch which has several varieties that I had never seen before, one in particular, the Moulin Rouge. Its color is rich, velvety, and a deep red. It's the dark one featured in the lovely bouquet below.

We continued towards the vegetables where we found this little friend, a humongous tomato hornworm. If you happen to find one of these in your garden I recommend that you take it out and look at it under a microscope. They are gorgeous but can eat at a rapid pace, and before you know it your garden will be consumed.

In addition to the fresh vegetables, homemade breads, and beautifully arranged flowers, the Echo Lodge also has a community garden where many locals stop by to get pick up vegetables for there daily meals. Luckily this year there was more than enough to go around so the Echo Lodge was able to provide fresh produce to local food pantries.

If you're driving through Rt 121 in Raymond, Maine be sure to stop by.
(207) 655-4893

Eat Fresh, Eat Local, Eat Well

2011-08-23T05:00:00.004-04:00

Have you ever had a stop that you wanted to make but kept putting it off? "Next time I'll stop, no time right now to stop, if I only had 20 extra minutes I'd stop". This is the case with a stop that I finally made today.

I had been wanting to stop at Apple Street Farm many times, but I was always on my way somewhere, or coming from somewhere. Today when I found myself with a few extra minutes to spare I pulled right in to see what the farm was all about.

Located on Apple Street in Essex, MA, this farm may be hard to find unless you live on the street, or use Apple Street as as a cut through (that's what I do). Several months ago I saw a cart at the entrance to the property filled with fresh vegetables, I knew I wanted to stop, but was unable to. The next time I drove by I saw a tent popped up in the back. My interest peaked, but still no time to spare. Today there wasn't a cart or tent, just a few friendly faces willing to share their 14 acre New England treasure with me.

While workers were busy plucking and watering the crops, Liz, the farm manager was busy packaging up fresh heirloom vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers, to be distributed to farm owner and chef Frank McClelland's famed Boston restaurants, and featured on his daily menu.

His motto Eat Fresh, Eat Local, Eat Well.

In addition to supplying their harvest to restaurants the farm also sells their vegetables at their farm stand, offers farm shares, holds cooking classes and has a dinner series during the summer that I hear is top class!

Click here for additional information about Apple Street Farm

Zu "Queen" ni Bread

2011-08-18T05:00:00.001-04:00

Have you noticed that the nights are getting slightly shorter and a little chillier? Although I am not happy about either one thing I do enjoy is the fruits and vegetables of the season, and the wonderful recipes that can be made with them.

Yesterday when I stopped by my mother's house I took a walk through her garden. I was amazed at how tall the corn had gotten, how nicely the pumpkins were growing, how colorful the squash were, and how big the zucchinis were.
Among the beautiful green leaves, I found this lovely zucchini. It made me want to come home and cook a zucchini bread. Have you ever made one? To be honest I haven't because my mom is the Zu "Queen" ni bread maker. I'm not sure where she got her recipe but it is really yummy especially with cream cheese on it. Maybe this will be the year that I cook me up a batch of bread........nahh, I wouldn't want to steal her crown!
Here is her recipe - Enjoy:

Zucchini Bread
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoons ground nutmeg
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups white sugar
1 cups grated zucchini
2 cups of raisins

Directions

Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
Beat eggs, oil, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and raisins until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Honestly, How Can You Resist!

2011-08-16T05:00:00.006-04:00

Several years ago when my BFF was living on Martha's Vineyard I had the opportunity to visit her many times. I love everything about the Vineyard. The landscape, people, beaches, quaint shops, and unexpected surprises. One of those unexpected surprises was a colorful array of cut flowers-roadside. Often times when we were visiting a friend or relative for dinner we'd make a stop to purchase a bouquet of these beauties. This was one of my favorite stops because these flowers were from a person's home, cut fresh that day, and placed into bundles ready to be sold - on the honor system of course. Love that!!

When we moved about six years ago to our home, I was thrilled when I was driving down the road and found a similar unexpected surprise. A roadside explosion of color. I immediately stopped.

DeJager's is a local landscaping company that also sells imported Holland bulbs. During the summer months they place a table outside of their building and they sell cut flowers. Depending on the time of year they may have a variety of Gladiolus, Tulips, or Zinnias, but by far my favorite is when they are selling the Dahlias. The first time that I saw them I was blown away. Honestly, how can you resist a 10" round bright yellow Dahlia?

Dahlia's come in a blast of different colors, shapes and sizes, and can reach six feet in height! If you need a little color on your table, or a beautiful bouquet to brighten someone's day be sure to make this one of your stops. DeJager's offers a stunning variety, your choice 3 for $5, honor system of course. Love that!!

DeJager's is located at:
188 Asbury Street, Hamilton, MA (978) 468-1117

The Traveling Watermelon That Kills

2011-08-11T05:00:00.002-04:00

Last week when my cousins visited us from

Canada

we had several dinners with them. One day at my dad’s house, one day at my sister’s house, one day at my house, so on and so forth. The evening that we had them over at my house we prepared a simple barbeque medley finished off by an array of yummy desserts. My father in law brought a beautiful whole watermelon; but because there was way too many desserts to choose from we decided to hold off on cutting the watermelon. Since we were getting together the following night at my sister’s house I told her I’d bring the watermelon over to her house, which I did.

The next evening as we finished a feast at my sister’s we started to bring out the desserts. Again there were so many to choose from so the watermelon got left behind. “That’s ok, I said, I’ll bring it to Maine for our vacation next week.” We laughed at how the watermelon kept traveling.

That's me wearing the traveling dress

It reminded me of a dress that I had that would travel every summer from my house and then to my friend’s house. We got a lot of use out of that dress; hopefully the watermelon won’t be around from year to year. I’m pretty certain that it won’t because in many Portuguese circles the older generation believes that watermelon kills.

What? Watermelon Kills, you say?

It’s actually quite hysterical because as the story goes apparently my dad’s brother’s girlfriend’s sister’s aunt’s nephew’s brother’s daughter’s friend’s uncle’s grandfather’s grandmother’s niece’s friend died after they drank wine, brushed their teeth, picked their nose, and ate watermelon. Bizarre right? Of course it is, because it NEVER happened but it’s a funny ongoing thing because during any Portuguese get together you always hear the older generation telling a tale about the watermelon that killed so and so.

We’ve had a lot of laughs that evening about the watermelon that kills, maybe that’s why it keeps travelling with us and not getting eaten.

In The Weeds

2011-08-09T05:00:00.012-04:00

Did you know that seaweed is rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals? And when compared with plants that grow on land, seaweed or sea vegetables from the ocean, are 20 times more nutrient-dense.

Wow- I'm glad that I like seaweed.

Last week when my cousins were visiting from Canada one of my stops took me to the shoreline of Magnolia, MA to collect seaweed for a family feast. As a child I remember waiting for low tide, climbing the rocks, and collecting seaweed off the rocks. When we’d get home my mother would prepare the seaweed and we would eat it.

At the time I didn’t know that it had so many healthy benefits, I just knew that it was a delicious treat, and whenever we ate it meant that we had guests from out of town that didn’t live near the ocean. Thanks to my cousin's visit I was able to relive days gone by.

My mother and I picked for about an hour. We laughed as we contemplated whether or not we had enough. We screeched as we slipped on the rocks. We enjoyed the moment and reminisced about the past. It was a beautiful evening, one that I will treasure.
After we finished we sat and looked out at the ocean. I felt blessed to live in such a breathtaking area. I felt blessed to have a mom that is a true friend; a kind, humble and giving women.

Thank you Canadian cousins- for deciding to visit us on your vacation. You could have gone anywhere in the world but you chose us. If you hadn't come to visit I may not have made this stop with mom. I love you & the time we spent together.....but happy you're gone because the extremely late nights/early mornings were killing me. Kisses!

Do you want to try making seaweed? It's easy.
1- Pick the brown seaweed (the soft one not bumpy) off the rocks by simply pulling it
2- Pick through and cut any long pieces
3- Marinate it overnight in a little red wine, garlic, and red pepper(Goya)
4- Put a little oil in a pan and put in the seaweed. Cook for apx. 20 minutes stir occasionally
5- Consume with tons of Portuguese corn bread and a glass of red wine. YUMMY!!

Manchester Arts Festival - #2

2011-08-04T05:00:00.007-04:00

Today I continue my walk through the Manchester Arts Festival with Eugene Quinn.

http://www.eugenejquinn.com/

As paddle surfing has grown in popularity here in the North Shore, when I saw this painting of a surfer on the beach it really caught my eye. Eugene's use of color is magnificent, and sets the mood for all of his oil paintings. You must make his studio in Rockport, MA one of your stops, I promise that you won't be disappointed.

http://www.etsy.com/people/OrabelleBaby

These colorful little ladies created by artist and mom Shayne Ostrowski caught my eye as I walked the festival. Shayne started Orabelle Baby after having her first child. Frustrated at not being able to find clothes she liked she decided to create her own line. If you are looking for modern clothing for your little lovely Orabelle Baby has colorful dresses, skirts, shirts, and much more.

www.artfeltcreations.com

A I continued my walk I stopped to watch artist Susan Kenna in the ancient art of needle-felting. Each bead that she creates is individually designed and made of 100% wool. The process is really fun to watch, and the end product is really beautiful to wear.

patrickehorgan@yahoo.com

Artist Patrick Horgan uses the ancient art of Gyotaku to create his art. Gyotaku is a Japanese word that literally means “hand-rubbed fish impression” and involves brushing a thin coating of ink on the surface of a fish, and making an impression of the inked fish on a thin sheet of paper. Who would have known that fish are not only delicious on the grill but also look amazing on rice paper?!

Have a great weekend. I'm off to Maine next week so stay tuned for fun stops to share when I return.

Manchester Arts Festival - #1

2011-08-02T05:00:00.004-04:00

I love being around creative people. As a creative person myself, it helps me look at things differently and inspires me to be artistic in everything that I do; whether it’s re-purposing a chair, making a special card for a friend, wrapping a gift, or simply getting dressed in the morning.

A couple of weeks ago I stopped by the Manchester Arts Festival which took place in Manchester-by-the-Sea. This year’s festival featured fine art, sculpture, textiles, pottery, jewelry, apparel & accessories, garden ornaments, photography, paintings, and more!

These photos should give you a glimpse of the day, and hopefully these artists will inspire you to create.

Here are some that caught my eye during my stop.

Kreative by km KreativebyKM@gmail.com

Just like Kristen, her creations are colorful, sweet, and adorable. At the festival Kristen displayed many key fobs, handbags, camera straps, baby one-seez, and small clutches.

Agnesmagnolia.etsy.com

I'm a sucker for nautical, screen printed items, and little pooches so when I ran into Agnes Magnolia I had to stop. Three friends / artists form Agnes Magnolia. They handcraft and hand screen print their items using organic materials when they can. For their story about how they got their name, and their pooch mascot, visit their Etsy shop.

Snowbound Pottery www.snowboundpottery.com

Potter Anna Kasabian creates these little lovelies by hand, in her hands, not on a wheel. They are so delicate and beautifully glazed; a must have in any room of a home.

JennSherrDesigns.com

Back in the early 90's I remember making decoupage purse and jewelry with my friends Tracey and Cathy so when I saw Jenn Sherr's booth I had to stop. Her decoupage bracelets and handbags have been featured in many newspapers and magazines, and have made their way into the "clutches" of celebrities.

That's it for today, I'm going to shuffle through my pictures and show you some you more tomorrow. Need a gift? Support and artist!

Small Spaces, Big Ideas

2011-07-28T05:00:00.004-04:00

Have you ever seen a double decker bus transformed into a vintage dress shop? How about an old train car gone chic? Here are two ladies that had a big idea for their small spaces.

Photo by Leela Cyd

In Portland, Oregon Erin Sutherland transformed a 1965 double decker British bus into a vintage dress shop called Lodekka. The bus is a 1965 Bristol Lodekka. “Lodekka” is a made-up word to indicate that the bus is low to the ground and has a “low deck.”

Lodekka carries vintage clothing and accessories for women, shirts, shoes and furnishings for men, knick-knacks and ephemera. If I'm ever in Portland, Oregon you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be hopping that bus.

In Essex, MA Lily Ellis transformed an old train car into a fabulous chic shop called Etta Place. Etta Place was a companion to the American outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Although Lily is no outlaw (at least I don't think she is), she certainly has an adorable train car to hide out in if she is.

From the moment you walk in you feel as if you are in your own home surrounded by many "pretty things". Jewelry, handbags,toys,linens,antiques and grandma's juice glasses; oh, and don't let me forget the yummy treats in the penny candy nook.

If you're in the area you must make Etta Place one of your stops, I think you'll agree that Lily has a big idea for her small space.

Ding, Ding, Ding, We Have A Winner

2011-07-26T05:00:00.003-04:00

It's been a fun filled weekend, tons of wonderful stops to share tomorrow, but for today ..."Ding Ding Ding" We have a Winner!

Thank you all for submitting your special family traditions. From making pies, canning strawberries, running for a cause, to yearly family gatherings I thoroughly enjoyed reading your submissions and now have some great ideas for traditions that would be fun to start with my family. Thanks!

Congratulations Christine Cohen
Christine Cohen wrote: "A family tradition we have is heading up to Ogunquit, Maine. We always do the same thing...lobster rolls at Barnacle Billy's, ice cream and sea-glass hunting in the cove, then a walk on Marginal Way. I have pictures of me with my German grandfather at age 1 in a carriage there. So this has been a 40 year tradition for me...just writing this makes my heart sing!

Enjoy your Vapur water bottle; and Keep Hydrated this summer!

I Loved It, So I Hung It

2011-07-21T05:00:00.005-04:00

Remember last month when my sister gifted me with Sam, the designer that transformed my living room into a more functional space? Well, one of the projects that has been lingering since his visit is a photo / art montage for the back of my couch. That's quite a project that requires, time and patience. Both of which I do not have. So this past week I was on the hunt for something temporary to put behind the couch until I could tackle the picture project.

Now, when I say hunt I mean "let's go into the back yard " and see if there are any relics that need excavating. Since I live in the woods I always seem to find things buried in the dirt. Apparently years ago people buried their trash, and now I'm finding it. Kind of fun. So off I went, gloves in one hand, and shovel in the other to see what treasure I'd find......and then there it was. The flat steel rim of a wagon wheel. I had some leftover garland that I had made out of sweaters so I started to wrap it around the wheel, and suddenly it became ART! I know that art is subjective, so if you don't see beauty in this it's ok, but I loved it, so I hung it.

If you need a designer to help you hang your art, here's Sam's information
617-791-5953

If you need an excavator to find your art you can always contact me ;-)

You Know Its Meant To Be When...

2011-07-19T05:00:00.001-04:00

I'm not the kind of person that likes a project to remain unfinished for long. Typically if I'm needing something in particular I start my hunt with positive " I Will Find It" attitude, and I usually do. Although this seems to work about 95% of the it didn't happen when I was searching for a lamp for my side table. I searched for quite some time but came up empty handed.

This past weekend I decided to make a stop at a local second hand store. I had a good feeling about this stop, I felt I was going to find the lamp I was looking for. As I browsed around I looked at several lamps, but none said "I'm yours". As I was leaving my eye caught a glimpse of this beauty, a Pocahontas Water Bottle that had been converted into a lamp.

Now here's the crazy thing; Pocahontas Spring Water Co. was originally started by The Smith family in 1901. In 1963 the LeColst family purchased Pocahontas Spring Water Co. Today Donny LeColst, and his family still bottle water from the same natural spring that was discovered in 1901 by the Smith family. Donny is not only an acquaintance of mine, but has been delivering water to our office for over ten years. When I saw this lamp I knew it was meant to be. It had all of the qualities that I was looking for; it was unique, an antique, and had a story to go along with it.

Now it wouldn't be right to finish the post without giving you a little nugget. Pocahontas's water is the best water that you'll ever taste. They pride themselves on having 100% pure All-Natural spring water, with absolutely no additives. At their facility, which is located in Peabody, you can see the source first hand. You can also bring empty water bottles and fill them - ONLY 25 cents for a gallon jug. That's crazy! What a savings, and I can assure you that you will enjoy the experience because Donny & his brothers are quite the characters.

Pocahontas Spring Water Co.
Pocahontas Spring Water
163 Rear Lowell Street
Lynnfield, MA 978-265-5910
The Self Serve is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.

_________
*DON'T FORGET*
This is the last week to enter the Vapur water bottle contest. Leave a comment OR go to I Stopped Along the Way's Facebook page and tell me What Your Favorite Family Tradition Is. Good Luck!

Set Sail

2011-07-14T05:00:00.008-04:00

Several months ago, when the weather was much chillier than it is today, I made a stop in Essex, MA at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. Originally what caught my eye was a 83 foot schooner called the Evelina M. Goulart; because this is my mom's maiden name I had to stop to find out more about it.

The Evelina M. Goulart was built in 1927 by Arthur D. Story in the Story Shipyard(now the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum). She is one of seven surviving Essex-built fishing schooners and the only one to be virtually unchanged from its original configuration.

As I poked around the museum's shipyard I looked across the way to H.A. Burnham's shipyard. H.A. Burnham has been building boats since 1635. Harold Burnham, a 28th Burnham, master boat designer, shipwright and sailmaker now carries on this craft using modern day technology, and age old techiniques that were handed down from generation to generation.

At the time of my original stop they were in the process of building The Ardelle, a 50' schooner. When I saw its frame it reminded me of a whale's ribcage. I wondered if that's how the original shipwrights got their inspiration, from a whale.

Photo by Dan Tobyne

This past Saturday, June 9th, H.A.Burnham launched the Ardelle. Although I was unable to be there I understand that aproximately 2,000 spectators gathered to watch. Here is a must watch video of the launch. I can imagine the excitement that Harold Burnham and his crew must have felt seeing The Ardelle finally take center stage in the Essex River.

Are You Drinking Enough?

2011-07-12T05:00:00.004-04:00

Ok, so when I decided to post two days a week versus five I thought it would be a breeze. What I am finding out is that the routine of posting daily is actually easier. With the beautiful weather we're having I am thoroughly enjoying my days and evenings; so much that I am loosing track of what day it is.

Tonight we celebrated (a little late) "the last day of school, and the beginning of summer". It's an event that my sister started a few years ago. We all meet at a local beach, eat tons of pizza, take a bunch of pictures, swim, and laugh a ton. Tonight was no exception, we had a really great evening.

As I got into the car I noticed that it was almost 10 pm and I still had to write my blog post. Although I'm making daily stops here and there it still takes me some time to get it all together, and seriously who can get much together at 10pm after a day in the sun and an evening at the beach? Not me! So here's what I came up with, A GIVEAWAY!

Now we all know that we should drink plenty of water. Some people say 8 glasses, others say 10, some say it depends on your age, your gender, your height, weight, blah , blah, blah. I'm not going to get tied up in the details, all I know is that water is a must, I know it and you know it too. Without it we can experience headaches, weakness, and even crankiness. No Thanks! To avoid dehydration I think its important to always carry water with you during these summer days, so my giveaway will help you do this.

VAPUR Water Bottles!
I have four of them, two my best friend gave me and two I purchased on my own. I love them!!, and here's why:

1. Extremely Compact & Portable
2. 16 0z. Refillable Design
3. Eco Friendly
4. Cool Color & Design
5. Dishwasher Safe
6. Freezable

How can you WIN one? Easy! Leave a comment OR go to I Stopped Along the Way's Facebook page and tell me What Your Favorite Family Tradition Is.

I will randomly pick one reader to win 2 VAPUR Water Bottle.

Good Luck & Keep Hydrated! Compliments of VAPUR!

Oh, What's A Buck?

2011-07-07T05:00:00.004-04:00

What can $1 dollar get you? A whole lot of fun that’s what!

The other day I stopped your local dollar store. As I browsed isles of …“oh what’s a buck isles” I spotted these colorful water squirters.

I picked up 4 (ok so it’s slightly more than my buck theory) along with a few bright pink “oh what’s a buck” flamingos, and a couple “oh what’s a buck” water noodles and I was ready for some summer fun.

I happily placed the pink flamingos on my lawn, and cut the water noodles into sea anemones (for one of my under the ocean summer craft projects). The squirters got placed in the shed….until Sunday when I was relaxing in my hammock. It was really hot and I got a light bulb idea. WATER SUIRTER FUN! So I rounded up the troops, filled a bucket of water, and gave each of us a squirter. Minutes later we were deep in battle rounding the house, hiding in bushes, and running for our lives. We had tons of fun.

So that’s what $1 can get you, well actually just a bit more unless you want to just squirt yourself, or want to terrorize everyone but yourself.

I'm Open Uncle Billy

2011-07-05T05:00:00.001-04:00

I hope you all enjoyed the long holiday weekend while consuming mouthfuls of hot dogs, hamburgers and other wonderfulness on the grill. It was nice to have a few days off, to visit with friends, and to have friends stop by. I always think that I'm going to get tons done during these long weekends, and then I find myself just laying in a hammock reading a book, or taking a stroll on the beach.

On Sunday that's exactly what I did, I went to the beach and took in the all the sights, smells, and sounds. As my lovely took a dip into the water, I couldn't help but notice a group of boys shouting "I'm open uncle Billy". As I watched it was clear that they were playing a game football Frisbee. I really enjoyed this scene, it was the epitome of summer, of independence, of family, of fun! Uncle Billy ruled the beach that day, making each child feel like a champ. What a day, what a memory they'll have!

How about you? Did you have a day that will go down in the books? A memory that will make you smile for years to come?

She Sells Sea Shells

2011-06-30T05:00:00.003-04:00

Wow even writing the title makes my tongue get tied!

This week I was at the beach and three adorable little girls came up to me to see if I had an interest in purchasing some sea shells. When I asked the girl holding the bucket of shells how much she was selling them for she replied "one dollar." "Wow one dollar, don't you think that's a bit much?" , after all the beach was laden with sea shells; "No" she said she thought the price was perfect for the treasures that she had found. Not wanting to offend her high priced shells I told her that I'd gladly buy the entire bucket if I had brought my wallet down to the seashore, she said that I could have one for free. Isn't that just about the cutest thing?

Her two friends also had a job , one of the girls let me know of a lemonade stand that they were going to have just outside the beach opening, specifically on the right hand side not the left , but we shouldn't come between 4:00 pm because they would be getting their lemonade supplies. The other little girl just looked as cute as could be as she sat and buried the sand around her feet. Adorable.

If I had my purse with me I would have given the girls a dollar, not because the shells were worth it, but because the spirit in which they were presented was priceless. They were quite the entrepreneurs. I love summer days, it brings out the creative.

As they left me with my free sea shell I decided to collect a few more so that I could make another easy summer craft. Here's what I came up with, sea shell garland. It's easy, fun to create, and looks so summery hung anywhere.

1. Collect sea shells with holes

2. For the string I used dental floss. I measured the length that I wanted and left about a foot extra so that I could tie each shell.

3. I strung each shell and tied it as shown above. Be sure to leave a bit extra at each end for hanging.

* Once you are done you can put the string over your shoulder so that the garland doesn't get tangled up on itself.*

Summer Craft & Reading

2011-06-28T05:00:00.002-04:00

Two of my favorite things to collect when I walk the beach are sea glass and driftwood. Since it was raining, again, I took out my sea glass collection and thought I'd make an easy summer craft that is fun for adults and children alike, a sea glass charm.

3 steps and you're done:

1. Find a piece of sea glass

2. Cut a piece of wire ( I used approximately 10" of 26 gauge)

3. Wrap the wire around the glass, be sure to make a little loop at the top so that you can put it on a chain or rope

4. Place your sea glass charm on a chain, rope, or leather cord, and you have a piece of jewelry for any summer outfit.

To continue this sea glass theme I thought I'd share a book that I enjoyed reading a few years ago. Anita Shreve's "Sea Glass".

Publisher Comments:
It is a house on the beach. Honora doesn't mind renting — despite its age and all its flaws, the old house is the perfect place for a new marriage. She and Sexton throw themselves into fixing it up, just as they throw themselves into their new life together. Each morning, Honora collects sea glass washed up on the shore, each piece carrying a different story in its muted hues.

Sexton finds a way to buy the house, but his timing is perfectly wrong. The economy takes a sickening crash, and as financial pressures mount, Honora begins to see how little she knows this man she has married — and to realize just how threatening the world outside her front door can be.

Like those translucent shards that Honora finds on the beach, Sea Glass is layered with the textures, colors, and voices of another time. There is Vivian, an irreverent Boston socialite who becomes Honora's closest friend even as she rejects every form of convention. McDermott, a man who works in a nearby mill, presses Honora's deepest notions of trust — even as he embroils her in a dangerous dispute. And there's Francis, a boy whose openness becomes the bond that holds these people together as their world is flying apart.

Sea Glass is an unforgettable story of trust and betrayal, marriage and attraction, from one of the most persuasive, farseeing, and deeply engaging writers of our time.

Summer Schedule

2011-06-27T05:00:00.004-04:00

I'm officially on my summer schedule. YEAH!

That means that I will be busy making stops so that I can share my discoveries with you; so instead of posting Monday thru Friday I will only post on Tuesday and Thursday. Everyone needs a break and since our New England summers are way to short we have to enjoy them while we can.

In the meantime if you want me to make a particular stop? Let me know.

If you want to see a little more of this or a little more of that? I welcome your input.

Rockport, MA

Grand Central Station

2011-06-24T05:00:00.004-04:00

It’s Friday, the children are out of school, and summer has begun what more could a woman need? A little laugh, after all it is Funny Friday!

Someone sent me this video this week; I liked it because of the Schwartz in it (that’s my last name). I also liked it because it shows the irony of how one man’s stop for directions saved another man’s job. Although it’s probably not a true story things like this actually do happen, a stop can change the trajectory of ones life.

This weekend take a moment to make a stop; you never know, you may change someone’s life. Have a great one!

Gorilla Glue Can't Fix Everything

2011-06-23T05:00:00.008-04:00

My friend just purchased her first home…congrats K… Although there are many stressful things that come with owing your own home, closing costs, mortgage, breakdowns, and ultimately the lack of the extra funds that once graced your pockets, there are many things that are exciting too, for instance pulling out small appliances, and furniture that one has been saving for the “right time”. As you know I adore antiques, so when my friend pulled out a pair of dusty old tiger maple chairs in need of some TLC I was on whatever road trip they took me for.

Before

After

We hopped in the car and drove to Gary Thomas’s workshop in Beverly, MA. In meeting Gary I quickly understood his passion for antiques and his expertise in bringing them back to life. It takes tremendous time and patience to work with antiques. A broken leg isn’t something that a bottle of Gorilla Glue can take care of; the process of healing can take months. Here is the magic that he worked on K’s tiger maple chairs. Aren’t they gorgeous!

If you enjoy the North Shore and Diners in specific, you may want to check out Gary’s book Diners Of The North Shore. The photos that he collected are wonderful, and give you a “taste” of life back in the day. Enjoy!

Need something refreshed? Here’s Gary’s Contact Information:

Gary Thomas

Thomas Brothers

13 Opal Street

Beverly, MA 01915-2424

978-922-5534

Can You Spare One Jay?

2011-06-22T05:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Summer!
During this time of year you can see a lot of classics with their tops down...no silly I mean vintage automobiles. If I had money to burn I'd probably spend it all on them. I adore them. Among one of my favorites is the Porsche 356 Convertible. I found this one on one of my stops, it's the perfect model, color and year, the price...not so perfect.

I think that Jay Leno and I share this same passion; only differenc is that he can actually purchase them. Leno's collection occupies three football-field size warehouses. His first vehicle was a 1934 Ford pickup, but now his multi-million-dollar collection includes several Stanley Steamers, Lamborghinis, Bughattis, Bentleys, Jaguars, Deusenbergs, just to name a few.

So Jay, can you spare one? I promise I'd take perfect care of your baby.

Click here to visit Jay Leno's garage.

www.caporsche.net

While celebrating Father's Day this past weekend I saw this little beauty basking in the sun. It's a Corvette, I'd say 1959. Sweet!

Twas The Night Before...

2011-06-21T05:00:00.009-04:00

....The end of the school year and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse; that is except Mwah!
Why?, because I'm a procrastinator. Every year I find myself the night before the end of the school year preparing the teacher's thank you gifts. I'll be the one knocking at the store door right at 9pm to see if anyone will feel sorry for me and open the door; and then I 'll get home with my goodies and need to wrap them, and of course make a card or two too. There's just not enough time.

Although I'm not a master of managing time, I am a master at summer time. First order of business, frequent stops at the ice cream shop, second plenty of time running through the waves and squishing my toes into the sand. It's really a pretty simple schedule to keep, I think I will manage my time well......ooops I forgot to factor in some time to work. Oh well you can't be a master at everything !

Well, I've got to run, time is flying, two cards down and a couple more to go. Happy End of The School Year!

It Must Be That Dirty Water

2011-06-20T05:00:00.036-04:00

I did it, I wasn't sure if I would, but I did!
I joined the masses and went into Boston this past weekend to celebrate the Bruin's winning of The Stanley Cup. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go, but felt since my crazy Canadian cousins made the effort to drive ten hours a half an hour train ride was peanuts. At first my biggest fear was the crowds. The city was estimating hundred of thousands of fans. I've seen these sort of events on television before and sometimes the people get CRAZY!

At 7:00 am we headed into the city for the 11:00 am parade. I couldn't believe how many people were waiting for the train. I had never seen the station this packed, not even during the regular work week. By 8 am we were lining the streets near the TD Garden only 10 feet away from where the players would be going by. Even though there were thousands of people on every side of me oddly enough I never felt constrained or threatened. The crowd was extremely well behaved.

Slightly after 11 am the magic began. The crowd roared, music blared, and black and gold confetti filled the air. I've never witnessed such a scene. It was unbelievable!

After searching out a couple of places to eat we landed at Patty O's, an Irish pub in Boston, just minutes before it became packed. Lucky us. As we walked back to catch the train we heard some police sirens and much to our surprise the boats were on their way back and we were able to catch another glimpse of the players.

Finally the gates to the TD Garden opened and the players made their exit. That's when the Boston Bruin's team captain Zdeno Chara came out of the gate riding his bike, literally 5 feet away from us. Next Patrice Bergeron walked out of the gate on foot allowing cheering fans to come close to him. Crazy, right?!

What a day! After 39 years the The Stanley Cup is back in Boston. Like I said whether you are a fan or not you can't help but be a fan.

It must be that Dirty Water.....Boston You're My Home!

The Stanley Cup & Super Stars

2011-06-17T05:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a couple crazy days around here, first super star sightings, and then the Stanley Cup. This isn't a Stop Along The Way, this is The Stop!
The funny thing is that regardless if you are a fan of particular movie star or not, you can't help but find yourself amongst the crowd waiting for an autograph. It's just human nature, we as people don't want to miss out, we don't want to be left out of the fun. The same is true for sports. Regardless if you are a die hard fan or not, somehow you become the biggest fan when a team wins The Stanley Cup! We just can't help it, it's human nature. I'll admit it, I didn't watch all of the hockey games, I didn't buy a T'shirt, I didn't even host a game 7 party, but what I did do is jump on the bandwagon of the biggest fan parade. I'll tell you who didn't jump on the bandwagon because they were already on the wagon, my crazy Canadian cousins. Die hard Bruins fans and yup you guessed it they're coming to experience the Bruin's victory parade. They're a funny crew & I can't wait to see them, I may even find myself in the middle of the crowd chanting Tim Horton, Tim Horton.....oh sorry that's a Canadian donut shop...what I meant to say is Tim Thomas.

Have a great weekend. Thanks for coming along with me this week.

NICE ICE Baby!

2011-06-16T05:00:00.001-04:00

Ok, so picture this scene, I'm driving to my mom's house in Peabody, as I do several days a week when all of a sudden I see several police cars and hundreds of people gathering. I of course stopped to see what was happening thinking that it may be an accident; luckily it wasn't. It was A MOVIE!!!! Yup you heard me, Adam Sandler was filming his new movie I Hate You Dad literally a stone's throw from my mother's house. I could hardly believe it. I immediately parked my car at my mom's house and walked over to the set. It's not that I'm the kind of star struck person that chases movie stars it's just exciting that this was happening in my childhood neighborhood. How could I resist?

Parking permit for the movie

We were able to catch a glimpse of Adam Sandler, Vanilla Ice, and Todd Briges as they filmed on Collins Street, in Peabody. It was amazing to see how they transformed a small quaint side street into a ghetto complete with graffiti and vandalized cars.

Condo complex transformed into a ghetto (photo courtesy of Jeannie Cunha)

I was told they were hiding out at the CLC, which happens to be a club that my lovely Goddaughter and childhood friend are on the committee of so I dialed them up to get the inside scoop. Here is my friend Jeannie Cunha with Vanilla Ice & Todd Briges. She told me that they were so down to earth. Vanilla Ice sat down at the piano and played Imagine. Can you image that? What fun. Adam Sandler signed autographs and took pictures with his fans. What a delightful Star Studded Stop Along The Way this was!

Todd Briges, Jeannie Cunha,Vanilla Ice (photo courtesy of Jeannie)

Adam Sandler's Autograph

My hubbie with Vanilla Ice

I Hate You Dad is due to release in 2012 and is about a disagreeable father who moves in with his son before he's about to get married.

Want To Quit Your Day Job

2011-06-15T05:00:00.003-04:00

Remember yesterday how I was telling you about my boredom, blah blah blah?, well, funny how things work because today I received an email from Daily Candy and guess what? They want our ideas. They are having a contest that will take our small ideas and make them into the Big Idea that we know they can be. What do we have to loose? Nothing but our day job!

Illustration from Daily Candy

Do you have an idea that you think is a winner? If so maybe you want take a chance and submit it to Daily Candy's Start Small, Go Big contest. Hey who knows maybe you'll win. ....or maybe I will ;-)

The Writing's On The Wall

2011-06-14T05:00:00.005-04:00

I’m bored, and anyone that knows me knows that is not a good thing. When I get bored I create a new challenge for myself. I start to look around a room to see what can be altered or reinvented. I start to browse the streets to see what product there is a need for.

It never stops just at the idea. Depending on how long I feel bored I start to sketch the new product,create a logo for it, and then write a business plan.... that's when it stops, at the financial section of the business plan because, well, I don’t have a cool million to invest, and I know that in about a week’s time the passion that I have for the product will diminish and I will be on to something new. I have about six products and business plans written. I think that there are potentially two winners in the bunch.

Photo: Idea Paint

My boredom reminded me of a product that I found along my way. Idea Paint. Idea Paint is a paint that gives you the ability to transform smooth surfaces into borderless, durable dry-erase canvases. The possibilities are endless.

This product was founded by John Goscha and Co- founded by Morgan Newman in 2002 while they were students at Babson College. In an article with British Airways/Face To Face Morgen Newman describes how IdeaPaint was started:

Photo: Idea Paint

“The company was literally started in a college dorm room, when friends of mine and I were brainstorming and ran out of places to write down our ideas. We thought: 'wouldn't it be great to be able to turn any surface into a giant whiteboard?' Long story short: we created IdeaPaint which lets you do just that in homes, offices and schools."

How about you? What do you do when you get bored? Create? Destroy? Exercise? Change Jobs? Read? Let me know I'd love to know because writing business plans is quite boring.

STOP, There's A Turtle

2011-06-13T05:00:00.001-04:00

I really enjoy walking, at lunch I typically go for a short walk, and on the weekends I enjoy finding new places to discover. I've been wanting to try a new bike path that opened up in Peabody. From the road it appeared to be a hidden little jewel. Today since it was gorgeous out, and since I had about an hour to burn before I had to run to the dreaded mall, I thought I'd check it out.

Located in Peabody, MA, Independence Greenway is a 4.6 mile multi-use trail, which officially opened in the fall of 2009. The name is the winning entry of Higgins Middle School eighth-grader Caitlin Truesdale in the contest to name the new bike path. The trail follows the abandoned Boston and Maine railroad and connects over 465 acres of publicly owned open space.

I left the buzzing and beeping of the main road; and entered into a magnificent path surrounded by trees, wildflowers, and an array of little creatures chirping. I followed the road down to the old railroad connection and then I decided to turn around. All of a sudden I heard a sound that made me stop. I looked over and there it was, a turtle in the middle of a patch of grass and white daisies. And the bugger was pretty big. I'd say at least 20" long. What a delightful discovery.

If you'd like to learn more, walk, or discover additional paths in Massachusetts visit www.massbike.org

Cute & Cuddly

2011-06-10T05:00:00.053-04:00

Growing up we always had animals running around. Rabbits were one of my favorites. The best was when one was abandoned by its mother, we would take the little bunny, which resembled a baby mouse, and we would nurse it to health. Sometimes they would live, and we would keep them in our care until they were big enough to be placed back into a cage of their own. They'd stay around for a while until one day they weren't there anymore. As a child I didn't quite understand where they went.

The other day I stopped by my dad's house. He was really happy to share a surprise that he had with us. One of his bunnies had just had babies. There were six in total. My little lovely, being an animal lover couldn't wait to pick them up. They were so cute and cuddly.

It reminded me of a story that I had read in Spiegel of a German rabbit breeder that was in talks with North Korea about supplying giant bunnies to feed the people of North Korea. Apparently each of these bunnies was about the size of a dog and could feed up to twelve people. That's amazing. Now if only my sister's and I knew that there was a market for such a bunny we would have held on to our little bunny patients for a bit longer.

Photo: Courtesy of Spiegel Online

Here's our dog Oreo having fun with one of the little bunnies. Nobody was hurt, and fun was had by all.

Preserve Your Traditions

2011-06-09T05:00:00.062-04:00

Last Saturday morning we gathered at Peabody's City Hall to raise the Portuguese flag alongside of the American Flag in preparation for June 10th, Portuguese Day (Dia de Portugal). As the flag was going up and the choir began to sing the Portuguese anthem I remembered growing up in Peabody. Our traditions, amazing cuisine, festivals, music, and weekends immersed in our culture, brought us together and connected us. As the flag went up I was really proud to be a part of the Portuguese community.

June 10th is an International day to recognize the significant contributions that Portuguese-Americans have made to the betterment of the City of Peabody and to the United States of America. It also represents the greatness of the Portuguese community through the celebration of Portugal's greatest poet Luis de Camoes who became the symbol of Portuguese immigrants of the United States.

Although I no longer live in Peabody I'm still very well connected to the city, and I hope to always seek to preserve and promote the traditions and heritage of the Portuguese-American descendants living in the City of Peabody.

Stop And Smell The Peonies

2011-06-08T05:00:00.002-04:00

We've all heard the saying "Stop And Smell the Roses" but nobody ever tells us to stop and smell the peonies. I wonder why? Maybe it's because they are so fragrant all on their own that they make you instantly stop? I'm not sure, but today as I was in my garden I stopped along the way to smell my peonies.

The peony was named after Paeon, a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. When Asclepius became jealous of his pupil; Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.

When we moved in to our home we were gifted with several flowers, the peony was one of them. Although I'm not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination I have tried by trial and error to see where the flourish the best. I moved them from the back of the house to the side of the house and now they have found their home in the front. They must like where they are because this year they are really blooming. I have five peony bushes carrying a variety of white, pink and hot pink flowers. They have exquisite large blossoms, and their fragrance is heavenly.

My mom always told me that you should give the first fruits if your labor and gift them to someone. Today I will visit my mom and give her the first fruits of my peony bush labor. Here are what they look like.

Are the fruits of your labor not blooming? They may be the result of any of these factors:

Planting too deeply
Immature plants
Excess nitrogen
Inadequate sunlight
Overcrowding
Phosphorus and/or potassium deficiency
Insect or disease problems
Competition from roots of nearby plants
Late freezes

Calling All Curls

2011-06-07T05:00:00.008-04:00

My hair has two lengths, short and shorter. This past weekend I visited my cousin, who is in my opinion a fabulous hair stylist. She cut my hair in the shorter version of the short, my summer look. Although people think that short hair is easy, it really isn't. I can't just roll out of bed and put it up in a ponytail. I have to wet it down and style it. Kind of a pain, but that's the reality of short hair.

Here's my cousin Brenda

Apparently curly hair isn't easy to manage either. It requires a lot of time, the right cut, and the right products in order to look good. While I was getting my hair cut my cousin, who has gorgeous curly hair told me that she had just become Ouidad certified. I had heard of this technique before and everyone that has gotten their hair cut using this technique swears by it. Ouidad ( pronounced Weedad), is an internationally recognized stylist. In 1984, as the pioneer of the curly hair industry, she opened the first salon in the country to cater exclusively to curly hair. She trademarked cutting and styling techniques and a line of products that cater to curly and wavy haired people.

Here's the good news!! During the entire month of June my cousin Brenda is offering all curly haired people a free Ouidad haircut. Yup you got it. Free! Oh, did I mention that this type of haircut is well over $100. All you have to do is call and schedule an appointment with her. Isn't that fabulous?! You can thank me later. Here's her information:

Brenda Terra
Salon Vero - An AVEDA Salon
One Central Street Middleton, MA 978-750-4004

On a total side note, this salon has many yummy spa services if you want to treat yourself, and if you want the best eyebrow wax you must visit Rose. She's obsessed with plucking every unwanted hair out, leaving you with flawless eyebrows. Ouch and Ooh La La all wrapped up in one!

Buzz Off

2011-06-06T05:00:00.048-04:00

This past weekend I went to Home Depot to pick up a few items that I needed to complete some of my "to do's". I felt like a traitor since my mom owns a small hardware store, but because Home Depot was closer and I knew had everything that I needed I decided to go there. As soon as I rounded the corner I knew I was doomed. The parking lot was packed, people were spinning their carriages from one isle to another, and little orange aprons bounced around like ping pong balls.

I just needed a few things so I got out my list, got my game face on, and went for it. Since my little lovely was in tow I made sure that the importance of strategy was understood.....paint department first, that way they can make our color while we pick up our vegetables and plants for our garden. Knowing that the checkout line was jam packed I made sure that we had everything we needed so that we wouldn't have to get out of line. Have you ever been in the midst of huge chaos and just started grabbing for things? That's kind of how I was. I think it's a

psychological thing. For instance make sure you have everything even if you might not need it because you definitely "do not" want to come back to this zoo anytime soon. So that's how it was. I grabbed a product that I wasn't quite sure I needed. OFF!® Clip-On^™ Mosquito Repellent.

I live in a buggy area, especially this time of year so I figured worse case scenario if it doesn't work I'm out $10. I have nothing to gain by what I'm about to tell you, OFF!® Clip-On^™ Mosquito Repellent is not a sponsor of mine so this is only what I experienced, but the darn thing worked. One of my "to do's" was to paint the tree house. Tree + Mosquitoes = Missery. Nope!, not with this product, I simply clipped it to my pants and painted all afternoon. Not one mosquito bite. I kid you not!

Now I will also say this, there are quite a few precautions on the product but I've tested it for you, and am still alive. Just don't lick it, rub it on your skin, or do anything totally crazy like that and I'm sure you'll be fine- or grow an extra pair of bug eyes :-)

Hang Ten Baby

2011-06-03T05:00:00.003-04:00

It's a big day today, an extremely joyous day, and a day of reflection! Ten years ago today I became a mom. As I was designing my little lovely's birthjday card I decided to go with the theme of "hanging ten". I wondered where that phrase originated. Apparently hanging ten is considered one of the most impressive surfing stunts performed on a surfboard. Hanging ten is when the surfer positions the surfboard in such a way that the back of it is covered by the wave and the wave rider is free to walk to the front of the board and hang all ten toes over the nose of the board.

Sounds complicated. Apparently these surfers thought so too because they wiped out before hanging any digets from the board's edge. Ouch!

Thank you for coming along with me on my journeys this week.

Enjoy your weekend and any "Stops that you find yourself making Along The Way".

Happy Birthday Baby! Hang Ten! LOVE~

Where Do You Get Your Inspiration?

2011-06-02T05:00:00.002-04:00

I love the beach, its sounds, smells, colors and treasures! It is my favorite place to be. For me, the beach is where I feel most connected to the universe, where I pray, where I cry, where I laugh, where I walk, where I get my inspiration. Throughout the cold New England winters you can find me bundled up by the seashore. In the summer I'll be the one with the big sunglasses building a sandcastle with children draped around my neck. I love the beach, it makes me sing!

This weekend while my family was in from out of town we made a stop at Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester. We had a wonderful day chasing hermit crabs, making drip castles, and plunging into the cold ocean in search of sand dollars.

I took a few photos that day. I was inspired to try a new App that I downloaded onto my Android phone. It's called FxCamera. It comes with three effects, a Polaroid, Fish Eye, and ToyCam. Although the quality of the Polaroid is grainy I really like it. It reminds me of a Polaroid that I'd find tucked away in an attic.

Original Photo

FxCamera

This summer I hope you find yourself wiggling your toes by the water's edge. There are many beaches that will inspire you. Gloucester alone has seven beaches to choose from. Enjoy!