fruit snacks.

Most of the time when my kids ask if they can have some fruit snacks, I tell them to get a snack of fresh fruit while it's fresh. However, if you are looking for a way to give them a fresh, real snack (in a reusable bag of course, or in their bento for lunch) I'd like to share with you what I do. REAL FRUIT SNACKS.

 

Here we have strawberries, apricot slices and mango. The strawberry seems to always be the favorite, but I think mango is a close second. My favorite is the cored pineapple slices. chunks did not work for me, but rings work very well and dehydrate evenly.

I have a ton of mason jars in various sizes in my house that ALWAYS have a use, if you don't have any, I'd suggest getting some as they are so versitile and awesome. plastic food storage bins work for these, but the will not stay as fresh unless you use the air tight mason jars. Freeze dry bags are also great, you can store them in bulk or bring camping, on hikes, school trips, etc.

 Close up details of the strawberry and mango "fruit snacks". Yum. I think I may be salivating a little bit. Let's move on.

Unintentional smiley face of fruit.

Pineapple! Doesn't everyone love pineapple?

What else? New York.

Amy wanted to have brunch here, where Anthony Bourdain used to run the kitchen. It was enjoyable!! Bleh salad but EXCELLENT eggs benedict, french style potatoes and a mimosa.

Didn't know there was a mathematics museum nestled into Chelsea but there is! And it's called MO Math. love that.

Hilton hotel with Rare bar on the roof. We went. It was neat and my sister had this crazy vodka drink with cucumber and thyme and mint in it. I guess there is a whole 'nother world of drinks out there I need to try! I liked the view and couldn't do it any justice in a picture.

Reflection.

I'm not a student anymore so I don't get to write that "What I did this summer break" essay to read aloud or hand in to my new teacher. I think its time for a new essay for me. "What I have learned this summer" edition.

I learned to dress more for comfort and my own style and to finally not give a crap about what others were thinking. I wore shorts. I wore NON maxi length dresses and plan on wearing another tomorrow. I stopped worrying about my arms and put on tank tops.

I learned to not compare myself to any other woman. Especially other moms. That is for the birds. I'm over it. Damn, that feels good to get out there. I really was wasting too many minutes and thoughts on others that didn't hold a valuable or meaningful place in my life, or heart.

I said goodbye to a few friends. Some that I have known since the early 1990s. It was necessary. Listen to your gut, people. Listen to it when it tells you that the reason you don't answer calls or reply to these people is you KNOW it is bad for you. You know it's toxic yet still return for more? Not I. Not anymore. I am happier. I'm less busy, true. But, overall I am happier. I may even be jaded and scared of close friendships after having a few turn out so, so very wrong. I may even attract these such people, it's been said. :)

I have let the sunshine back into my life so to speak. Every morning the very first thing I do is open the curtains, blinds, doors, what have you and make the bed and everything else seems a little better after that. *coffee helps

I am trying to teach myself how to break some very bad habits I seem to have a hard time with in my home. With FOUR full floors and six people and ALL OF THE THINGS that come with them (3 of these people need 'diapers' of some sort) *sorry and sometimes that will bring the dark cloud back to me. Like a cartoon, or a anti-depressant commercial with the solitary could over the people. Yea, that can happen easily if the whining kicks in, two or 3 of them are crying at once. I have to remember to breathe and let the sunshine in.

Oh, and singing and dancing with the kids is VERY therapeutic. And, I like to bead with Kaya.
Until next time.

Beth

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Upper East Side, I secretly love you.

I'm a Village girl, always have been since I was first introduced to Manhattan but for the past few years I've had a secret love affair with the Upper East side. I wanted to share some photos I took recently in Anthropologie. I had never been inside the actual store after browsing their website for years but this branch is particularly impressive as it used to be a movie house! So neat!

 

I loved all of the rooms and this store is two huge floors to roam around. I think I was in here for a good hour and could have stayed longer had I not been in a hurry to get back to the man and kids back in New Jersey. I loved the kitchen stuff most and the way they had their sale and clearance clothing set up, it was almost like looking at some eclectic gypsies messy closet. the rich colors and variety of fabrics is really something to see.

SWAPS! Girl Scout Brownie craft.

So excited to make these! File this under things I didn't know I'd evr get excited about.

Pantry Paint for the kids.

There is nothing worse than hearing my kids tell me there is "NOTHING TO DO". Really? Because let me tell you...the 2 full playrooms we have in this house, say otherwise. So does the backyard with the swing-set/slide/fort combo. Nope. Not having it. I whipped up a batch of PANTRY PAINT as I have named it and had them go out into the driveway in the backyard and play/paint.
It entertained them for about an hour, for me...that's a WIN. I managed to mow the front and back yard while they were creating. K made a painting of Ariel the mermaid and then her little brother A destroyed it. typical :) But, they they had fun dumping out the cups of leftover "paint" afterwards too. Whee. Total cost, $0 since I had both items on hand in my pantry (hence the name), but you can buy corn starch, dish detergent and food coloring for under $4 in most stores.
I made ours using 2 cups of water and 2 cups of corn starch and about 1.5 tablespoons of natural liquid dish detergent (the kind for hand wash not dishwashers. duh) and then played around with different color combinations in paper cups. You could really have fun with this. Hopscotch, basketball shot circles, I even thought about mixing in some of the glow-stick liquid for glow in the dark fun. Maybe a late night hopscotch game?




Ariel!!!
And, the little artist:
ps - what's up with all of the pins on pinterest that don't work? diamond glitter, huh? :)