Almost officially summer....time for silly straws and sunglasses

We are almost officially in summer mode over here....also Father's Day and Birthday mode as well...my birthday is June 21 which is always the first day of summer and the longest daylight hours of the year...yipee!

I have been busy with getting things ready for end of school .....as in gifts for teachers and everyone else that works in the office...wow...that is a lot of gifts!!!!! I do tend to be very thoughtful  go overboard. That being said, I have to be a bit resourceful and I am creative, but not crafty!!!!!

So...I found the bargain of the century. At Michael's. I got these recipe boxes and recipe cards both for under $1.  Not each...in total!  So, I then figured I could add some olive oil, vinegar, bruschetta, whatever would fit in the box. I then put them into plain paper bags and used a metal clip to hold the recipe card with the sentiment:

You are an ingredient in my recipe for SUCCESS!  Thank you!

For her male teacher we gave him movie tickets. Note:Toy Story 3 opens Friday! We have grown up with Andy,Woody,  Jesse and the gang...Andy goes off to college in this Toy Story from what I can gather from the previews. This is fitting at my household with 3 teenagers!

Tied a little bit of ribbon which I bought by the yard for less than on the spool costs.

I also made a few more of the "You are scent-sational" lotion soaps from Bath and Body works and some sachets that also work with this theme. I got the original idea from  eighteen25 brown bag journal.

The gifts are all bagged up and ready for delivery tomorrow. 

I also have been getting things ready for a get together for Father's day this weekend. I LOVE red white and blue so I decided to go with that theme.  I am getting things together but this makes me feel like summer....red, white and blue.....

                                                                            
Here are a few pictures of my paper goods and flowers in mason jars and some things for the kids...the little ones that will be part of our celebration....silly straws and sunglasses...one can never tire of silly straws.....or the $1 sections at Michael's or Target

What do you have planned for Father's day?

devastated

I have been away from my blog for a while....I am so sad to have to say why.  One of my dearest friends son's passed away on Friday morning. I had called her to check in with her and she told me the news.I have spent a lot of time with her the past weekend.This was not expected, he was 22 years old. I follow a few blogs of ladies that have lost a child. Some lost during pregnancy, shortly after birth or in childhood. I know you can relate to my friend. It is such a new and raw loss. If you have any advice or resources I would love to have them to pass along to her or to help her in any way I can. While I have suffered loss(lost my mom 19years ago) I have not lost a child. The services are tomorrow, but I am so worried about my friend. She has not slept for days now and has eaten very little. I pray that she can stay healthy and strong for her family. She also has 3 younger boys.  This timing is not ideal(but when is a death ever ideal timing?) her next son is graduating next week. Yes, our schools do not get out for summer until middle of next week.  Many of you are probably wondering how this happened....I do not have too many details, but they think he had a drug overdose. So SO sad.  Hug your kiddies and be there for them and ask a lot of questions always...life is so precious and can be taken at any time. There are never any guarantees.

While we are talking about teenagers and some of the "worry" with teenagers, I do not believe in driving and talking on the cell or texting. I watched Oprah several months ago and also other studies and driving and cell phones for talking or texting is not a good mix, especially for newer drivers and teenagers. I have signed a contract as have my teenagers. Please think about signing this contract. It will make the roads safer for all of us....

So....I am ready for summer, ready for a change of pace, ready for the hotter weather and days by the pool and beach and with friends. Heather at Blessed Little Nest is getting us ready for summer! Thanks Heather http://www.blessedlittlenest.com/. She has guest hosts and lots of giveaways, so go visit....you'll be glad you did....

If I were better techie I would put the button for Heather's summer guide on here....anyone care to help me on that one? Thanks



Here is Oprah's link, please consider making this pledge. More soon and thanks for your support.

Tennis is the only place where love means nothing.....

I admit it....I am a tennis mom....not a soccer mom, not a baseball mom, not a basketball mom, not a hockey mom, not a dance mom(used to be). I am the mom of three teenagers all with their own sets of interests but my son has been into tennis since he was about 12.  He has made me so proud on and off the court. His sportsmanship, his ethics, his effort, his compassion and his fairness when playing. He is always prepared to give it his best effort even if he is not 100%(meaning he is ill or injured) This kid does not complain...EVER!!!! This is not the US Open or the French Open, these kids call their own lines and their own scores, and well...you know...they(his opponents) somehow seem to miss seeing where the lines are and forget what the score is and how to be a good sport whether you win or lose.

 Tennis has been sort of a rough sport for me to spectate.I love the game. However, It is a "quiet" game and well...I am not quiet especially when the aforementioned things are happening on the court. At the other sports you can yell and cheer and talk and do lots of things to get out your energies, but with tennis you must sit quietly and cheer only occasionally. And typically there are no referees calling lines...even in the national junior tournaments.



I could not be more proud of my son and his character and of course he also has a wicked serve...he is a lefty and tall....so I can brag on him as his proud tennis momma.  Win or lose he is a class act on the court and I never have to worry about him doing something that is not appropriate like yelling or throwing his  racquet if things do not go his way. So, today on the day of his varsity tennis banquet I am so proud of my son and his character, skill, team attitude and the way he lets things roll off his back....much better than his momma does. 
I made these little table decorations with useful stuff for the boys....sunscreen, chap stick with SPF, a yellow bandana for some style or to keep the sweat out of your eyes..., a tennis ball and of course some chocolate....they will be on the tables instead of flowers....these are teenage boys...and I think they turned out really cute....

And Tennis is the only place where love means nothing....In my world love means everything.....I love my tennis boy.

Love,
your tennis momma