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Happily Ever After

Today is my 15 year anniversary married to the one and only Mr. Incredible.  We have known each other since we were 19...you can read OUR LOVE STORY HERE  and HERE.  I can't believe it has been that long.  We have come along way, we have had our ups and downs in our marriage like all couples do.  We have had our trials and tribulations, two bouts of cancer, I with Breast Cancer and Mr. Incredible with Skin Cancer, within the last three years.  But through it all our LOVE for each other helped us get through the rough patches.  Having gone through the rough times just made our marriage stronger and stronger.  I would not want to be married to anyone else but my husband.  He understands me, and puts up with my CRAZY ways and I understand him and his quiet and sometimes misunderstood ways.  He is a wonderful father, comes to as many sporting events or concerts to support our two daughters whenever possible. He works very hard {currently 7 days a week and 12 hour days }to provide for his family, so we can have many nice things and a beautiful home. He never complains, if sometimes I don't feel like cooking and just make him a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwhich he is happy or he'll just say let's "order out". He always puts our interests and needs above anything else. He is my Happily EVER after and I LOVE him with all MY HEART....Happy Anniversary Mr. Incredible...

I chose the picture above because Mr. Incredible knew I wanted a tandem bike for a long time{Long Story here.} one day he came home with one for his wife, ...sometimes it's a rusty old mop bucket and sometimes it's a Red Schwinn Tandem just cause he rememberd his wife wanted one. Told you he was Incredible!

Christmas Highlights

Our Santa Claus themed Tree...

Lots of beautiful lights take shape on this Colonial home...


Inflatables galore at this house...

Loved ALL the White lights on this house....soooo pretty..I love driving around looking at all the lights on the houses...we hit our local Starbucks loaded up on Lattes and drove around one night....enjoying the sights.

Gifts for the neighbors and friends of Chocolate-filled Oat bars and Peppermint Bark.

"Anthropologie-inspired" Gifts for some more friends and hosts of Christmas Parties....

My glittery, sparkly house.....in icy blue.....

Another picture that my Li'l One took of the Mantle...She said, "she really liked how this one came together this year"...I have to agree with her. 

 

 

Making Pumpkin Crunch

Last year we made Molasses Pecan pie....from Better Homes and Gardens magazine....it was not a success.  So this year we went back to our ever faithful Pumpkin Crunch....no fail, better than Pumpkin Pie...and I LOVE pumpkin pie...

It has to the one of the easiest receipes ever.....we had to 1 and half the receipe this year...we used three of the small pumpkin can but it usually calls for one big can of pumpkin but DO NOT confuse it with PUMPKIN PIE filling it is not the same...one time I did and it came out way tooooo sweet..."broke the mouth"  as they say in Hawaii speak....

We needed to get a bigger bowl.....

Pouring in the BEST part of Pumpkin Crunch....yellow cake mix

Here is the CRUNCH in Pumpkin Crunch......chopped walnuts or you can use pecans if you'd like...

oh..not for the diet conscious...oh no!!  Melted unsalted butter....

Perfect Pumpkin CRUNCH...with some vanilla ice cream or a dallop of whipped cream......

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Pumpkin Crunch~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 large can of pumpkin (do not confuse this with Pumpkin Pie filling.."broke the mouth" one time)

1 can of evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnomon

1 box of yellow cake mix without pudding

1 cup of chopped walnuts

2 sticks (1 cup butter)

1.  Grease a 13x9x2 pan or line with wax paper

2. Blend pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar and cinnomon in big bowl

3. Pour in pan

4. Sprinkle with cake mix over pumpkin mixture

5. Spread nuts over cake mix

6. Span melted butter over nuts

7.  Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour or until top is light brown.

8.  Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream...yummy!!!

 

 

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Pumpkin Planters

Pumpkins....and more Pumpkins

Tidbits....from October and November

Sorry for the blog break...we have been busy and I've had no time to compose a blog post.  I do have LOTS to share with some Autumnal goodness around these parts....FALL is finally here and it feels soooo good with the brisk cool mornings.   Here are a few tidbits of some things that have been going on...with the Maders. Starting with the above photo.....

Going to the Long Beach State VS. University of Hawai'i {my Alma Mater} Volleyball game with my girls and Madison's volleyball team. It was a great game..

but as I expected the Hawai'i team took the win....way to go Warriors!!

MacKenzie's middle school team has one more game left..they are doing pretty well this season, lost a couple and won more than they lost.  Not bad.

Her league play is swap dab in the middle of the season...go Mustangs!

Madison with her Frosh Volleyball team...they lost a total of 3 games the whole season not sure where they placed in league as it has now come to an end...now on to High School Soccer....

My GIRL made VARSITY!!  Yep my freshmen...she was so excited when she found out, she was shaking like a leaf!  Whoop, Whoop{oops that's Volleyball cheer}!!  As for me..

 the House of Horrors... was a great success!!  All three of us were actors in the Insane Assylum {Kenzie is in the wheel chair} boy oh boy did I love playing the crazy lady in the rocking chair, not a far stretch for me.  I put together a Bat Cave complete with LIVE Vampire in a coffin {I was so mad at myself that I never took any pictures!!!}

Madison {and most of the vball team} and Kenzie trick or treating around the hood...this year Madison was an Indian Girl and Kenzie finally settled on being a Black Cat...she started out wanting to be be Bear { I guess not that far off from a cat}, then a Greek Goddess,  then Hello Kitty....I think she makes a very cute Black CAT...Meow...

After going a few blocks...they all came back to do the "trading game"...I remember doing this with my brother when we came back after a night walking the streets trick or treating...

I was so impressed with this year's seasonal set up at TJ's...I love the little chalkboard pumpkin on the fence...I bet it looks pretty at night with the string of lights overhead..so festive.

I was alone shopping so I didn't get my picture taken in the totem pumpkin photo op....I suppose I could of asked a passerby...but they probably would of thought I was a bit nutty...don't answer that please..

I picked up some of those mini white pumpkins for my home.....

Here they are in my galvanized feeder with some garland.....in my built-in Cottagy hutch...

My Li'l One grabbed a couple and decided to make her own mini jacks..next to her Last Year's Hello Kitty One..

My sign found a new home...next to the mailbox.....

Here is Mrs. Witch...resting her weary bones...in a Windsor chair.

the Happy Halloween sign is staked into my Hydrangea...welcoming visitors.

Saw this on Pinterest...was one of a couple Halloweenish projects I got done this season.  I love that I can change this little chalkboard sign to suit the need and/or season.

Here was another one I was able to get to do too...I just took a faux pumpkin and painted it white and used my scallop circle punch to punch out the M on my napkin and glued it on...so very simple. 

Here is the other faux pumpkin, I painted it with chalkboard paint ...and now I can change out the greetings.....and even add a bow on the stem.  Speaking of chalkboards...

I spray painted the backs of the boards of these frames and used Chalk to write scary on them { i used them for Madison and Kenzie room at the old house} Another simple idea that can be changed out....

Aren't these pumpkins "special"?  I love that some are bumpy with warts on them, other are smooth, others are striped......well....yesterday I was at a very "popular" Garden/Decor center that I have posted on here several times and they had the cutest idea......can't wait to show you, so stick around.   Happy Fall to you all!! 

Many Firsts...

Yep....off with her best friend on a new adventure, I know these next fours years will pass in a blink of an eye.  I'm excited and nervous for her all at the same time.  I know it can be difficult at times, as at this age they become more "hormonal" which results in hurt feelings and as they start to to become more independent as the aprons strings are become more tethered...I won't go there or else I'll start to tear up.  We don't want that do we?

Her first time as a Frosh Volleyball player {she made the team in July, haven't had time to post on that}....she is loving it. Some of the girls on the team also played with her at the Middle School so that is sweet.  We have had 3 games this week, won two and lost one.  We, Mr. Incredible and I are looking forward to watching more as the season unfolds...it is quite exciting to watch.  Also my youngest is practicing with them and hope to make her 7th Grade team....yep I'll be hearing a lot of "Spike It, Dig It and Bump It".....by the way Madison feels a bit strange in her Buns....those are what you call the volleyball "booty" shorts....I'd wear them around the house to clean if I could get away with it...Ok..do NOT picture that in you mind..not a pretty picture...

These two girls are like "two peas in a pod", like "ketchup and mustard", like "Beevus and Butthead"Oh you get the idea.  I'm so grateful they have each other to confide in and experience what life my bring to their young lives in the next four years. It really, really helps to have a GREAT friend. 

Here is my Li'l One...all looking sassy and cute for her FIRST day of 7th grade. Too bad those darn Toms gave her blisters at the end of the day.  I guess she needed to break those puppies in.  Ouch!

Off they go to Middle School.....excited to be back after having a couple of months off! 

So I'm enjoying the quiet of the home during the day with just me and my "girls".

We will be back on schedule with our morning walks...and I'll be ready to tackle some more projects around this old Cottage. Lots to paint, bathrooms to renovate and kitchen cabinets to spruce up,  Garage to clean up and reorganize, Now...what should I tackle FIRST?

Remember the movie BEACHES?

 

 

 

 

Yep..that is the movie that was filmed in the cutest little cottage in Crystal Cove.....

Each of the cottages have these cute li'l ceramic plaques on the cottages..

Come on in...let's take a look around the cottage....

You can rent the little shingled cottage for special events...

I can just see CC Bloom and Hillary sitting here in the adirondack chairs on the porch, looking out at the ocean..can't you?  That was  great movie and I want to rent it to show my girls.....they don't make movies like that these days do they? What a tear jerker though...

I do think they needed to plant some flowers in this flower bed...I think I would love to be on the board that is responsible for reconstructing the cottages...what a dream that would be.  I'd love to shop for vintage furnishings and decide what paint colors the walls need to be painted....wouldn't that be an awesome job?!!  

 I think all the cottages need a potted plant near each door....

climbing roses on the fence here....

this is the entrance to the community bathroom...I think a hanging wicker basket full of colorful flowers..would be fantastic...

Here we are headed up to our Cottage called...

Sunset Bungalow..you can see an awesome sunrise or sunset..

Right from this vintage iron bed...at night we could hear the waves crashing on the beach..nothing is more soothing and relaxing than that!

Here is the vintage petite stove {display only}...we had one like this growing up but it had a grill in the middle....I have great memories of my parents cooking great meals on it...

Vintage-looking frig, I would love one of these in my own kitchen as well as a bigger size of the O'Keefe and Merit stove or Wedgewood {i'm on the prowl for one} when we redo our kitchen. 

This cottage kitchen was done all in pink...so very quaint. I would love to see some vintage aprons hanging on the wall for effect...but I don't think I'd paint my own kitchen pink....but you never know!  In this cottage it is perfect!

This is the side door into the bungalow...all cottages have hand held brooms to sweep off sandy feet.

Here was another white shingled cottage down the pathway....from ours.

and another with an Aloha Theme...I think there should be some planted ginger out here...huh?  or Bromiliads?  Something tropical...

Yes with the pacific ocean just outside our door...I could stay here again and hopefully will.  It was a fantastic get away....the weather was gloomy but that was ok...we had a great time...I highly recommend the Cottages IF you can get a reservation....that is the hard part they are quite popular as you can see why...you step back in time and relive a little bit of nostalgia.

Bye Cottages at Crystal Cove...hopefully we will see you soon! 

Museums of Crystal Cove

Many of the vintage cottages have been converted into museums and/or show rooms to show what some of the rental cottages look like inside.

 

There is a main central area where a couple of the buildings are replicated for you to see.  One was done in a Hawaiiana style very popular in the 3o's and 40's.

Shall we take a look inside {of course I love the vintage clawfoot tub turned into a planter}

Lots of vintage style prints and hawaiiana floral prints with bamboo.

Here is the visitor center and to the right a gift shop.

A nice little lanai...with my favorite chairs....

Cottagey style kitchen with vintage stoves...

lots of driftwood art for sale like this birdhouse and vintage signs to buy..

Daddies waiting patiently for us to shop....

California Native succulants in cute planters...like this...

a nod to the nautical theme abounds all around..

even hanging in a tree....my favorite, Japanese fishing floats...

even my feet had to join in the action.....

Do you recognize this building?  So lets play a little game if you can guess what movie this cottage was in, the first one to leave a comment that is correct I'll send you a sea cottage prize.   Good Luck..I'll reveal in my next post.

 

 

Historic Cottages of Crystal Cove

This year was different for us then any of the past Independence days....with my girls growing up and doing different things, {insert Sports commitments and being teeenagers}.  We didn't head to the local firework show as a family, the girls went with friends instead.  Also on the actual fourth of July we got the opportunity to head to the Historic Cottages at Crystal Cove on the Newport Coast. I was in heaven to say the least and took a ton of pictures{which I'll have to split into several posts}.

Here I am with my girls and my besties...

This is a small alcove called Crystal Cove and in the 20's through the 50's  families that had homes in Los Angeles or inland would bring their families here and stay in the rustic cottages during the summer to escape the heat.  I would guess most of the families owned them because it was a place for the "well to do". Because it was a great locale it was used as a film location for Hollywood, think of Gidget or Beach Blanket Bingo, although they were not filmed here..that's the feeling you get when you are there, as if you would see Gidget out riding the waves on her surfboard.  One very famous film was filmed there that I will share with you in the next post.  Over the next few decades they fell into disrepair and just in the last several years a local restoration group called The Crystal Cove Alliance  have been restoring them to their previous historic cottagey glory.  They have reconstucted the cottages in phases, 14 more cottages will be worked on in the coming years. 

This one is a my favorite that will be restored to it's former vintage beauty,  I can see how beautiful it will be when she is complete.  The restoration has to use 80% of the wood that is in the original structure so the process takes time and of course money.

Here is one that is similiar that has been restored, as you can see all of the cottages are different...most have shingles...

some are single story and others double story...

Some are dormitory style and hanging on a cliff....

Looking towards Huntington Beach.....from upon the bluffs are the Cottages on the Cliff with panoramic ocean views..

Going back down on the beach you look towards San Diego are the tide pools..

Lots of Sea Anemomes, crabs, seaweed and sea glass.

 

The girls loved looking for the sea creatures and sea glass.  A few of the buildings have been turned into mini museums to educate the public on what a special piece of history this place is.

 

The Big 5-0!!

On Monday my Mr. Incredible hit the "over the hill" mark in life.  Yep, he turned 50!  I can't believe that we are now considered "middle aged" really?  It seems like we were teenagers a couple of days ago, drinking Korbel, going to parties and just hanging out with friends.  Our relationship goes back to 1983 when we first met, you can read about "the love story" here  or here. 

Wasn't he the cutest baby?  He is about 15 months old here  He came into the world at 2:48 a.m. and weighed in at 7 lbs, 5 1/2 oz. and was 20 inches in length.  Now my husband stands at 6 feet 1 inches.  I love his grey-blue eyes in this picture.  His eyes are very sparkly blue now. He looks so serious in the above photo..I wonder what he must be thinking.

  I don't know how old he is in this picture there is no record but does't he look so happy here? Check out that outfit?  Oh my!  He was quite dapper in his younger days.  

He still wears hats but the baseball kind only.  Here he is blowing out his candles on his Lemon Glazed Bundt Cake .Happy Birthday Daddy-O, We Love you!!

What I've been up to...

On Monday, Kenzie and I signed up for our Library's Summer Reading club.  I love reading and so does my li'l one.  In summer it seems I have more uninterrupted time to devote to the pleasure of reading.  I know some people might feel that they don't have time to give and  absorbing themselves in a good book, but I think it is important that you lead by example.  I think if my daughters see me reading they intern will be "psyched" to pick up a book.  Like I said, my youngest LOVES to read but for my other daughter who "says the Library makes her sick"...she has dropped out of the summer reading club for the last several summers and the incentives don't inspire her to read I have my own "mommy incentives".  I believe that reading develops the mind and vocabulary. Students {people who read  have a bigger vocabulary thus they score higher on tests.  So....I put together a "Summer Fun"  bag for each of the girls to kick off the Summer.  

Got the straw bag from Target and the flip flop towels in fact everything was from Target except the Turtle flop flops.  Each bag contained a composition book, a reading book ,a beach towel, Salt Water Taffy and flip flops.  Madison got a special pair from Brighten this year as part of her Promotion gift.  She loves turtles and the colors match her room. 

This is my expectation for each of them.  They are to read a minimum of 30 minutes each day, Monday through Thursday. They are to write a short synopsis in their composition book on what they read.  If all is done come Friday we pack a lunch and head to the beach all day!   Both girls Love the beach so it is great incentive...When the girls were younger you might of remembered they Played Summer Bingo.  I thought since we are all on different schedules this year it gave them more freedom then having a set schedule like I have done in the past. 

And Yes....I'm reading 50 Shades of Grey.....oh my!!.....Have you read it, what do you think? I've been having the best dreams lately!!!