Missing Grandma Lou

Today is the one year anniversary of my grandma Lou's death.  The kids and I went to visit my mother to take flowers to grandma's grave.  She got the cutest little smiley face pot with yellow flowers inside.  She said it reminded her of Grandma's cute, smiling face.  We placed the plant and said a few words, and then we went to search for my great grandparents grave.  Finding their grave was a fun adventure with my mom.  When we did finally find it, there were pretty little flowers planted there by my mom's cousin.  There were also pesky weeds that must have come up since Memorial Day.  So my mom and I weeded, and she said the sweetest thing.  She said, "It is an honor to weed the flowers in front of their grave."  We then went to lunch, and we even saw her sister.  We were able to tell her of our adventure and show her little pics I took on my phone.  I am sharing these pics with you all as well.  It should have been a sad day, but it seems like the sun was shining a little brighter after our adventure.  Although we all still miss someone, we can try to live in the little moments like these, and appreciate those we still have with us. 

Beautiful Blue Margaritas

A couple days ago, my friend from middle school came to our home town (about 20 miles away from me), and she graciously invited me to dinner at her mom’s house.  When I asked what I could bring, she said, “Just a bottle of wine.”  Well, on my counter I had a fairly cheap, yet delicious bottle of wine, but in my freezer I had the fixings for margaritas.  I texted her back, would you rather I bring wine, or my famous margaritas.  I don’t have to tell you what she said.  Anyways, we had such a blast, and we helped her mom get ready for a garage sale she was having in the morning.  At one point, we decided to sneak off and walk a few blocks to the nearest park with a swingset.  We swang and chatted, and the weather was marvelous at night.  Anyways, at one point, she asked if I had the recipe memorized, and I said yes I do.  Here is the recipe if you ever want to taste some delicious frozen summertime margaritas yourself. 

½ cup each silver tequila (get 100% agave), blue caraco, and sprite, 1/3 cup limeade concentrate, 2 cups ice.  Put in blender and blend.

I have made nonalcoholic ones for my kids.  Here is the recipe: 1 cup sprite, ½ cup limeade concentrate 1 cup ice.

I usually salt the rim, because my husband likes it, but I have used blue colored sugar or even mixed the two with a beautiful effect.

Bright fall rain fun

Bright fall rain fun by littlepinkdresslinda featuring thick leggings

Scotch Soda rain coat
$105 - scotch-soda.com

American Apparel thick legging
$51 - republic.co.uk

Hunter tall shoes
$130 - office.co.uk

Teardrop earrings
forevernew.com.au

Bank Leopard Print Umberella
$19 - bankfashion.co.uk

Barry M neon nail polish
$4.67 - bankfashion.co.uk

Contest!

A wonderful blog I follow is giving away a $40 gift certificate to Fairyfiligree Vintage Fashion.  Check it out at http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2012/07/enter-to-win-40-gift-certificate-from.html#comment-form.  Also, while you are there, follow the blog Chronically Vintage.  It is delightful, full of recipes and vintage fashion, and written so well.  If I win, I may just pick up the cute pink nighty pictured above.  What would you get?

Major Tooth Fairy Fail

Once again, I have failed as the tooth fairy.  Only this time I completely, 100% forgot to switch the tooth for the money.  In the morning, my daughter came upstairs and said, my tooth is still there.  Luckily, she already knew I was the tooth fairy.  She always jokes about it.  I still think she gets excited to see the exchange in the morning though.  Anyways, I said, "Give me the tooth."  She gave it to me, and in return I gave her the money.  It was like a little business transaction.  Epic fail.  I hope I'm not the only mom who did that.  Feel free to tell me about your tooth fairy stories in the comments section.

Little Black Dress

Although I love flowers, frills and romance, I am always intrigued by the macabre.  Every once in a while, I trade my pink dress for a black one.   I love fall, when all the colors turn, and the trees turn creepy, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and I hope to live in an old “haunted looking” Victorian house one day.  I was at a parade this weekend, and I saw the coolest old horse drawn hearse.  If I weren’t getting cremated, I would totally want to ride in one of those to my burial.  There is a city in Kansas where some of my relatives lived at one point, called Atchison.  It is supposedly the most haunted city in America.  They have haunted trolley tours that look so fun, and they even have a haunted tea party.  I tell you what, one day I am going to drive thirteen hours and spend the night in Atchison, and do all the haunted activities just for the chills and tummy butterflies.  I’m so excited to see where my relatives used to live, and check out all the cool old houses there.  Have any of you ever been to Atchison?  Do you have any real life ghost stories?  Please share in the comments.

This is the cool hearse I saw in the parade.

Gargoyle House in Atchison, KS.

The Haunted Trolley Tour

The Haunted Tea Room

My Great Grandparents who resided in Atchison

My Great-Great Grandparents who resided in Atchison

Jammin’

As Bob Marley sang, “hope you like jammin’ too”.  Perhaps he was talking musically, but I like jammin’ in the summertime with fruit.  My sister and I have a tradition where every summer, we get together and make jam.  She lives eight hours away, so we don’t see each other very often.  Jammin’ with her is a special time to enjoy one another’s company, while doing something productive and fun.  We even made up a fun little jam dance to help the jam “set”.   Below is a picture of my sister doing the Jam Dance.  Sometimes we laugh so hard, I just about pee my pants.  Unfortunately this year, we weren’t together in a location with a stove, so the Jammin’ didn’t take place.  I decided to make jam anyway in honor of my sis, after seeing her last week.  Although it was bittersweet without my sister, I did have some help from my two precious children.  I also took a pic of me doing the jam dance without her (shown below).  My sister may not have been there, but, hopefully,  she will smile when she receives a package in the mail containing her jam.

If you want to make the jam I made last night, buy a package of Sure Jell powdered pectin and about 4 cups of your desired fruit.  The pectin has the instructions inside for cooked jams and jellies.  I did the blueberry last night, but I did substitute some rhubarb and strawberries for part of the blueberries.  They all go well together.  I sanitize my jam jars and lid rings in the dishwasher, then I dry them thoroughly.  I boil the sealing lids and dry them before using them.  When the jam is done cooking, I put it in the sanitized jars wipe the lids, and invert them.  They seal that way, and you don’t have to process them.

Whoops, I dropped a blueberry....don't worry, this won't go in the jam.

My lovely assistant helping pick out the stems.

 cooking and smashing

 Inverted jars

Do you have any fun summer traditions with family or friends?  Please comment.