Photo Challenges

This week at The Paper Mama, the photo challenge is red. Aubrey has been obsessed with her light up ladybug lately, especially the red light. It also has blue and green. Getting a good picture of her with this light wasn't that easy but this is what I got. During the day the only good place to see the light is in the hallway with all the bedroom doors closed.





The photo challenge at I Heart Face is a touch of light. I immediately knew the photo I wanted to enter. This is Aubrey when she was about 14 months old. I had just started to almost exclusively use the manual setting on my camera and she sat down to play in the only light in the room which was shining through the sky light. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to get her to do it since but I haven't been able to get a shot as good as this one.






This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com


***P.S. The touch of light photo probably won't be up for judgement because I just read that you can showcase that one picture only on your post. I was under the impression that you could only enter one photo and it didn't necessarily matter what else was in you post. I don't care to seperate the two photos so maybe next time. whoopsie

Splash Park

If you read my blog on the regular than you know that I am an avid park goer.
Living in Florida means that you can pretty much go to the park year round
It also means that some of those parks have splash areas because they can be used almost the entire year

We didn't have any plans this Saturday so we decided to try out a Splash Park a little north of us
This park is all the rage among my playgroups so I figured it must be pretty great
We went with Joe's brother, his wife and kids
Best part? It's free!







I'm entering this one into show off your shot. I love everything about it. Especially that you can see her tongue in the shadow


This is what happens when you ask an almost 5 year old to smile for the camera



Aubs had a blast
Can you tell?










Nathan was beat


But Aubs kept on going




Linking up with the beautiful Carissa at lowercase letters and FTLOBs

Things I'm Loving

*In My World*

Missoni for Target!
Yes Please
They are a little pricier than usual Target clothes
My justification is that "real" Missoni is crazy expensive
And a Floridian toddler needs all the sweaters she can get to make it through our harsh winters



She had to try on the shoes right away





I'm also loving that a cheap inter tube in the yard can provide hours of fun.



Going back to Target because I love love love Target
These freeze dried peaches are insane!
Archer Farms has the best stuff



*Everywhere Else*


I love this song.
The video is a little weird
The song starts at 54 seconds if you don't want to waste time watching the beginning



I'm so excited that Parenthood is back on!
I am also looking forward some other shows this fall like Modern Family & Boardwalk Empire
I might just have to stop blogging because I won't have time
Just kidding- that's what dvr is for
But seriously I probably watch more television than I should



I hope everyone has an absolutely amazing weekend!

Click the buttons below and stop by Paisley Jane and Finding Joy to see what everyone else is loving.

Friday Flashback

I should have posted this last Friday but with all the excitement of my weekend away, I ran out of time. This photo was taken 10 years ago on my 18th birthday. Those were my two best friends at the time, Erica & Alexis. I'm in the middle.




Oh to be 18! The world was at my fingertips. I had just started my senior year of high school. Everyone was sending out their college applications and gathering up those last minute recommendation letters. It was an exciting time, full of possibilities and big dreams. Strangely enough, this picture was also taken four days before the planes struck the twin towers. Which cast a bit of an eerie glow on our bright futures. At the time I lived 90 minutes south of the city in a huge commuter area so I had a ton of friends who's parents worked in the city {including both of hub's parents} but that is another story for another day.

Ten years later am I where I dreamed I'd be? Yes and no. My home life is more than I ever hoped for. I am married to an amazing man who I have known forever. We compliment each other perfectly. If you had told me when that picture was taken that I would marry Joey, I would had laughed at you. We weren't even close to dating. We also have a beautiful and smart daughter and are hoping for more soon. On top of all that, our dog is ridiculous and we have a great home.

On the personal front- I still need some work. I need to be more confident and trust myself more. I still don't feel totally comfortable in my own skin but I'm hoping to get there by 30. I also never graduated from college although I spent almost enough time there to earn my masters. I couldn't and still can't figure out what I really want to do. I bounced from major to major... art...business...education...et cetera. I can say that I am very well rounded because of it though. All in all my life is pretty great but there is definitely room for improvement. Life would be pretty boring if there wasn't.

When Life Gives you Brown Bananas

Make Banana Bread
Chocolate chip banana bread to be exact. I usually don't add chocolate but I had some left over from when I made a
peanut butter "cheese ball" so I figured, what the heck.



*Wet Ingredients*

3 Super Ripe Bananas
3/4 Cup Unsalted Butter
1 Egg
1 Tsp Vanilla




*Dry Ingredients*

1 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Baking Powder
Pinch of Salt
1 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips + about 1/4 cup to put on top after baking.


Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Melt your butter and blend it with your bananas. I have a stand mixer but you could also use a handheld. Then mix in the egg, vanilla and sugar. Once that is mixed well add in you baking soda, salt and flour. Add the flour slowly so it doesn't cloud. Lastly throw your chocolate chips in. Pour batter into a well greased loaf pan and bake for 50- 55 minutes. As soon as you remove your bread from the oven, lightly press a few more chocolate chips on top. Allow the bread to cool completely, flip out of pan and enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: Our Favorite Park

I'm entering this last one into show off your shot because I love how it turned out.




Today I am linking up with all my usual lovely wordless wednesday ladies- check em' out!

The Paper Mama, Baby Baby Lemon, and the, she {snapped}, Naptime Momtog, Supermom and Project Alicia

18 Months

The photo challenge over at The Paper Mama this week is remember. I know that it's pretty cliche for a marriage or the birth of the child to be your favorite memory but I think it's cliche in the best way possible. It's because those memories truly are the ones you will hold on to forever. This photo is from the first night we brought Aubrey home from the hospital. I can't believe how tiny she was, all swaddled up nice and tight in her hospital blanket.






Aubs turned 18 months old last Thursday.
I have a one and a half year old!

Some of Aubs favs:
"Reading" her extensive collection of books
Climbing on the couch
Shining the stars from her light up ladybug on the wall
Chasing Ruby

Some of Aubs dislikes:
The vacuum
Long car rides
Most Vegetables

Aubrey has also become quite the chatterbox. She repeats almost anything when she is in the mood. The most common words in her repertoire are Dada, Mom (which I hate and don't know where she got it from- I'd much prefer Mama or Mommy), bye-bye, hi, Bee(Ruby), up, down and eat.

Happy 18 months baby girl!