Top Ten Favorite Things: Countdown to XMas

Top Row
1. GOB will press the buttons on his XMas Charlie Brown books and dance and I will just watch and smile
2. Nothing like spending some time with your cousins playing dress up
3. "Wait - I have to do some push-ups before bedtime" - way to go Blake
4. XMas cookie decorating with my brother and his family....big reason why we got a bigger kitchen!
5. New FIXER UPPER episodes - Merry XMas Mommy!

Bottom Row
6. The god's of organization have smiled upon us - if you are looking for awesome kitchen organizing tools check out "Rev-A-Shelf"....I could OD on their products
7. My city + my boys + skating + an excellent dinner = could not ask for a better way to celebrate the holidays!
8. Watching my boys decorate the tree together
9. Watching my boys in their XMas pageants
10. New TOP CHEF episodes - Happy New Years Mommy!

Top Ten Favorite Things: Late Fall Edition

Top Row
1. Apple picking with the grandparents and the cousins - can't wait to go again next year
2. Movie night with my boys - clearly they were enthralled
3. Happy Birthday to our Cash the Dog - so dapper
4. A sparkling clean fridge - more elusive than bigfoot!
5. After going through a winter with skin that rivaled a prune splurged on some super fancy products that seem to be doing the trick

Bottom Row
6. Crushing my Black Friday shopping
7. Spending some 1:1 time with my Blake monster on Tuesdays
8. Wegmans PB+J Shortbread cookies.....yummmmmmm
9. Can't believe it but I can fit in a size 6 jean again!  Thank you Zumba!!!
10. Jon's response when I sent him this pic - "He's the strangest, coolest guy I know.  I love him"

Top Ten Favorite Things - Early Fall Edition

It's been quite a while since I shared my favorite things, but with Thanksgiving quickly coming up I thought what better way to start to get in the holiday spirit then to start this back up!

Top Row
1. Testing out the beautiful new walking trail in our neighborhood
2. Silly Selfies with my Silly Guy
3. Who doesn't love surprise flowers??
4. Very Proud of THIS GUY for working hard to get his dream job!
5. GOB growling at our new bear bottle opener

Bottom Row
6. So happy these little cuties were able to Trick or Treat together this year
7. My favorite XMas commercial so far - Petco's Guinea Pig
8. After weeks of feeling like I was extremely behind on everything - A CLEAN TO DO BOARD!
9. Very Proud of THIS GUY for being very braze while going for some (very minor!) surgery
10. A little impromptu Antique Shopping and mid-week lunch with my guy

Top Ten Favorite Things - Mid-Summer Round Up

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1. Lots of pool time - posted the good pic on facebook but I like this "outake"
2. Crayola trip #2 - can't believe how big this guy is getting
3. Farm CoOp - such a nice break to take the afternoons and get to pick beautiful flowers and veggies
4. Blake's 4th bday....the rain held out and we had another amazing party
5. Crayola trip #1 - can't believe how big this guy thinks he is

Bottom Row
6. After much anxiety, GOBs surgery day went by very smoothly and happy to report haven't had any ear problems for the last two weeks...fingers crossed!
7. Lots of backyard dance party time
8. Taking my boys to their first DCI show...Blake made it through 3 corps...shooting for 5 next year
9. First trip to Dorney Park in FOREVER and cannot wait to go back....this guy could have stayed at the water park all day
10. GIRLS NIGHT OUT! Love getting a night out of the house, but love these girls more

Top Ten Favorite Things - Weeks of 5/18 - 5/29

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1. The Blueberry Soda that Blake picked out for me for Mother's Day was SO DELICIOUS! Need to get much more for the hot summer days ahead
2. A wonderful dinner with my family - makes picking up and moving closer to them so worth it
3. God I wish I could sleep as soundly as this guy!
4. Blake did soooooooo good for his first season playing TBall.....getting so big
5. Looks like I'm on some much different mailing lists than back in the day....gotta say, discovered a ton of good ideas in this one

Bottom Row
6. Look at this guy swimming all by himself - so proud of him
7. Some kid-friendly baking with Blake - chocolate, coconut macaroons
8. Warm spring days with these two guys.....you can't help but feel lucky
9. Enjoying dinner outside on the new patio
10. After waiting a year for the drywall to get fixed I FINALLY GOT TO START PAINTING....sorry but that is so exciting to me

Hey Lindsey - where you been at??

Well let me tell you - the big reason I've been extremely MIA lately is that I've been working on an incredibly special (albeit stressful) project for a very good friend of mine.  I had the extreme pleasure of making the invitations for her beautiful wedding last month.  I am planning on sharing the final product at some point because I'm really happy with how well they came out, but for now let me just say that from December until a few weeks ago - I was heads down in this project and am finally really coming up for air and ready to get back to sharing some of my favorite things.

So without further ado - here is a new TOP TEN FAVORITE THING LIST....enjoy : )

TOP ROW
1. Not only has Blake joined me in my love for Nutella, I also discovered a secret stash that I forgot I had in the basement!  And added bonus, I now have tiny brown handprints all over my walls like at the end of the Blair Witch Project
2. Sometimes I remind myself how lucky I am to have a little guy who sleeps soooooo well
3. After a little scare with our pup, Cash is back to acting like himself again
4. SPRINGTIME!!!!!!!  WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
5. Does anyone else go through periods where they get really into CHOPPED and then pretend like they're on an episode when they're cooking in the kitchen?  No - just me?

BOTTOM ROW
6. Grown up night out for Jon's Birthday at Ooka....been too long since we had some delicious Sushi
7. Thank you to our friend's Sarah and Haig for introducing us to Smith Playground - what a great place to play, and did I mention there was a WAFFLE FOOD TRUCK parked right out front??
8. For all of those people who give a small chuckle when I tell them to zip up their purses around this guy - I give you Exhibit A
9. My brother and sister-in-law, who not only took on the overwhelming task of watching all 4 kids while we were at my friend's wedding - but somehow got them to all willingly take a bath together!!!
10. In memory of this incredibly delicious guilty treat that has already been taken off the menu - we didn't get enough time together but I will always remember you

---

And even though I've been focusing most of my time on my invitation project, don't let that fool you....We've still had plenty of things going on around this place....so look out for lots of new posts this week.

Top 10 Favorite Things - February

TOP ROW
1. A few much needed days alone at the Mohegan Sun...bonus - I won $26 at the penny slots
2. The Panera in Quakertown has a DRIVE THRU!!! This is going to be dangerous
3. This picture of my niece celebrating her big girl bed - VICTORY
4. No more bottles for this silly guy
5. The way my bathroom is shaping up

BOTTOM ROW
6. My new impulse buy - I found a 100 year old window frame from an old barn;  plan is to eventually turn it into a mirror for above the fireplace
7. My great husband who took me to the antique store by our house for Valentines day (he said it wasn't as bad as he thought...for some reason he thought the whole things would be full of lamps)
8.  Thank you to my friend Allison for showing us the awesome indoor playground/coffee shop by our house
9. Blake starting to get through the night dry - almost there
10. The Sprint Narwhal commercial - those 10 seconds make my day



Also - I found more pictures of yummy food that we've tried out over the last few months....no idea why I didn't look in this folder my last go around but enjoy:

Ruben Dip - awesome for football watching

Grits and Crawfish

Parmesean Chicken with Potato/Pancetta Hash

Roasted Apple Napoleons

Happy New Year!! (Yeah I know it's February)

I wish I could say the Holiday Season in our house was extra Merry - but our entire household has been going through rotating cases of the plague since before Christmas (starting Xmas Eve, all 4 of us were diagnosed with Strep Throat so it was a bit sad to have to spend those days in quarantine).  I also wish I could say that we made it through with flying colors, but right now I am on the mend from my 2nd case of Strep, and Blake is just getting over some unknown variety of overall runny nose/coughing/fever.  Antibiotics for all!!!!

In the midst of all of this, we did manage to have some good times.  I decided to put some of my favorite memories (and meals) into this one post and then hope for nothing but good things for the rest of 2015 - or at least no more Strep Throat!!

TOP ROW
1. Christmas Parties at the boys school - Mimi and Pappy joined us for the festivities
2. Addie's Xmas Show - her snowman costume was the cutest thing I have ever seen...although the "Here Comes Santa" song is still perpetually in my head
3. New Year's Eve at Sesame Place - despite it being a bit chilly, this was a great way to spend a family New Year's together
4. Getting some house updates done btw. sicknesses - the under the sink drawer is one of my new favorite things
5. Lots of new tools underneath the Christmas Tree

BOTTOM ROW
6. Xmas day with my boys - we missed Daddy who was home in bed, but at least I had my monsters to keep me company
7. Luckily Blake and I were well enough to still get to see FROZEN on Ice
8. Pre-Christmas trip to Hershey....poor Blake was absolutely miserable for most of the time, but he was a little trooper
9. Sledding!!!!  We found the perfect hill right across the street....I get a little teary thinking that this will be the hill that I watch my boys sled on for years to come
10. Both boys feeling MUCH better by the New Year....nothing worse then seeing your kids sick


And in case anyone missed it - this video of GOB falling out of the sled is probably my FAVORITE THING EVER...he was completely fine and went down the hill plenty of times afterwards

I actually thought I had taken more pictures of our yummy winter fare - but I guess that was a bit too much for me to remember to do.   But I did grab pics my absolute favorite new recipes that I tried out

First - Chicken Milanese with Cherry Tomato and Fennel Sauce....honestly this is the BOMB!!!  I cannot wait to make it again

  
Second - For 2015, Food Network Magazine came up with one chocolate dessert for each month of the year and my New Year's Resolution is to make them ALL.  I posted a pic of the February one in my Valentines Day Post...but here is a pick of the January recipe that I made for Superbowl Sunday - Chocolate Blackout Crunch cake.  It was so good that even my husband, not the world's biggest chocolate fan, went back for seconds

Third - Homemade Marshmallows that Blake and I made.  I always wanted to try making marshmallows, and it was super easy.  GOB was obsessed and pointed to them at every single meal....so we will be breaking varieties of these out again come birthday party time

So Happy Late New Year Everyone...here's to our first full year in our New House and to exploring all that our new area has to offer

Top 10 Favorite Things - Weeks of 11/23 and 11/30

TOP ROW

1. Getting some paint samples up on the walls!  Only 5 more months til we can officially start painting

2. Someone is starting to take after his mom...I used to love taking things out of the cabinets too

3. Our Xmas Simpsons house - thanks mom!

4. I wish I had taken this pic w/the good camera....I love his expression

5. Snow day with Pappy - that is actually a boogie board he's riding

2ND ROW

6. 1992 Lindsey is LOVING the Salt N Peppa Geico ads - Note: Spinderella still looks REALLY good

7. Our Thanksgiving spread...the goat cheese mashed potatoes were delicious

8. Blake was the Star of the Week at school

9. My project for the month - turning our coat closet into a toy closet just in time for more toys to take over the house

10. I shouldn't have pasted this Bacon Mushroom Melt pic...now I reallllly want one

3RD ROW

11. New official Chucky walker

12. Best Black Friday purchase - these awesomely comfy and warm mocassins

13. Take that Christmas!!  I'm ready for ya

14. Joanne Gaines is on pinterest??? Who knew?

15. I'm late on this one, but the "Shake It Off' aerobic video mash up deserves a huge shout out

BOTTOM ROW

16. Breaking out my favorite candle ever - Winter from Bath & Body works...seriously - go buy this candle!

17. Christmas Personal project - our new wreaths; love how they go with the Colonial look of the house

18. "Property Brothers at Home" is great - the house they're working on is ridiculous and it has more brother banter per minute then a regular episode

19. Blake's new basketball jersey...he wore it all day long after his first practice

20. THIS is how you do Black Friday

Top Ten Favorite Things...Week of 11/16

TOP ROW
1. First trip to the Please Touch Museum...had a wonderful time w/my brother, SIL, and nieces
2. This is super nerdy but my free Color Deck fan from Sherwin Williams is one of my favorite things EVER
3. Getting to meet Olaf
4. A real girls night out with some of my favorite ladies!
5. No more Mr. Wobbly legs - my GOB is a walking machine (here he is getting some help from big bro)

BOTTOM ROW
6. Blake's been learning about one letter a week and bringing them home...so glad I finally got around to hanging them up....I have no idea what happened to the F, and the J is MIA
7. Soccer Season is over, but Blake came so far and I think had a great time with his dad
8. My new-sew Roman shade for the bathroom...once again thank you Young House Love
9. The Wegmans driving carts are perfect for shopping with both boys....I just wish they had more of them
10. Storytime at the Doylestown library 

Top Ten Favorite Things - MEGA SIZED EDITION

I've been collecting favorite things for the last month and a half but just haven't gotten a chance to blog any of them....so here is a mid-fall dump of all the things that have made me smile recently : )

Back to the weekly updates next week - PROMISE

 

TOP ROW
1. Enjoying the beautiful fall weather by doing super Fall-ee things w/the Blake Monster
2. My dad's new frequent trips to London = lots of Cadbury chocolate for me
3. Mr. GOB learning to stand up
4. The beautiful red maples they planted outside of my house
5. Cash's decision to take up residence in the circus tent

2nd ROW
6. Having a fence!!!!!
7. Picnics outside the Doylestown Library....I used to go there when I was young so I love that I can take my boys there now
8. Celebrating GOBs bday at Chuck E Cheese...he was a little confused by his cake
9. Bare Essentials Eye Shadow - got a new 8 pack from my awesome mom...best eyeshadow I've ever used hands down
10.  Halloween w/the Monkey and the Lobster

3rd ROW
11. Craft Saturdays w/Blake - nice to spend 1:1 time together each week
12. Having a garage door opener!!!!
13. Awesome new hair color by my favorite stylist ever...when I get a chance to blow dry it it looks GREAT
14. Creepy Rob Lowe - just when I thought my love for him couldn't get any greater
15. Night out with Jon at this DELICIOUS restaurant in Doylestown.  Decided to be classy for once and not take pics of all of the food, but the B.E.L.T (pork belly, roasted tomato spread, grilled sourdough served over an Ostrich Egg Yolk!!) still makes my mouth water

BOTTOM ROW
16. I have been waiting since I started playing TAPPED OUT to have the catapult in my town square to launch cats from...and yes, that is George Washington chilling in the bottom corner
17. The day GOB was so tired he fell asleep sitting up, and then fell over
18. Finally getting some art up on the wall in GOBs room
19. Blake's new favorite saying - "I like you mommy"....heart melts every time
20. GOB's new favorite game - playing hide and seek in the tent....heart melts every time

Top Ten Favorite Things......Week of 9/8

Top Row
1. The League is finally back!  Wednesday date night at 10pm for me and Jon - GO
2. Finally got a chance to check out the new Container Store in KOP...I could spend a day in there
3. Getting this picture of my freespirited boys while at the Container Store
4. Comfortable Flats w/a little sass for the fall - Check
5. Finding a huge box of these awesome single packs of Guacamole at Costco

Bottom Row
6. First week of Fantasy Football = 1-0 in all 3 of my leagues....Suck It
7. Beautiful flowers from my boys....the big ones are from Jon, the little yellow one in the front is from Blake
8. Sometimes just getting piping hot fries from McDonalds can change your whole day
9. Happy Third Birthday to my beautiful niece Adalyn! I hope she likes the cake set I made her
10. I love these three guys - but finally getting a weekday morning and afternoon to myself for the first time in 11 months felt REALLLLLY GOOOOOOOD

Top Ten Favorite Things....Week of 8/25

Top Row 1. For some reason the Ikea instructions for what to do when you inevitably have issues amuses me to no end 2. Sneaking in a few more pool days with the boys before the Fall weather starts 3. The Spicy Tuna Martini at Wegmans Pub.....AMAZING 4. Another project off the list - getting towel hooks up in the bathroom;  I've come to the conclusion that I HATE towel bars and am now on a mission to remove all traces from my bathrooms 5. First trip to Sesame Place....think Blake had a really good time Bottom Row 6. Impromptu Lunch Date with my girls (and the Blake Monster) 7. Dinner out at Wegmans - sounds incredible, but this is the first time the 4 of us went out alone together to dinner since GOB was born!  Long overdue 8. Finally getting ALL of the boys clothes organized by size...now I can finish my basement project 9. Naked Baby in a Box!!! 10. Found the fabric for my bathroom curtains....now to add that project to the list

Top Ten Favorite Things...Week of 8/18

Top Row
1. My new lego Ralph figure courtesy of Chris...complete with his "Choo-Choo-Choos You" valentine
2. Starting to look like a kitchen...and we can finally easily open our drawers
3. Took my new table saw out for it's first test drive....I didn't die, so I guess I set it up right
4. No Explanation Needed
5. Thanks to Jon for discovering a really good new pizza place, within walking distance!  This could be dangerous

Bottom Row
6. Setting up my grandfather's old Encylopedias in the bedroom....Jon swears he's going to make the boys use them for their homework instead of Google
7. Loving the sudden outpouring of Brotherly love from Blake to Grayson
8. 3 Drafts down....now let's get some FOOTBALL started
9. Conquering the Doylestown Kid's Castle
10. My beautiful new Lotus Charm bracelet from my sister-in-law Karen..I could use all the energy I can get

Top Ten Favorite Things....Week of 8/10

Top Row
1. Bringing the boys to Allentown and introducing them to DCI for the first time
2. The Tile shop Montgomeryville is open!!
3. The kickass new trees and bushes that the landscaper installed
4. My new kitchen towel bar...don't let it deceive you, this thing was a real bitch to put in
5. Tried out a new bathroom cleaner based on some recommendations...loving how it cleans and the smell

Bottom Row
6. Celebrating my dad's birthday at Chuck-E-Cheese...this ride didn't give out any tickets, but kept all three kids entertained for at least 10 minutes
7. My little GOB growing up way to fast....standing up and now starting to cruise the living room
8. Filling up my Photo Carousel from Pottery Barn
9. Making it through the weekend watching the boys by myself, and actually having a fun time doing it!
10. Our new couch from IKEA, which is already a really expensive dog bed

Top Ten Favorite Things - June/July Roundup

Welcome back Suckers Avid Readers

(sorry...have been watching a lot of "The League" lately getting ready for Football Season).  

After a brief summer hiatus, I'm back!  I've added a few posts on some of my faves including Blake's Bday, some crafty time, and yummy food....but here's what you've all come to see - my latest top ten list.  So please enjoy some of the highlights from the last two months and stay tuned for next week for an all new list

Top Row
1. Grown Up night out at Morton's for our 5th Anniversary
2. My nieces in their adorable Frozen Nightgowns
3. Finally getting to take a fancy Family picture
4. These shortbread cookies from Wegmans - OMG they are the Bomb Diggity!!!  Go get some right now!!
5. My little GOB crawling and sitting up by himself...watch out ladies he's on the move

Bottom Row
6. Getting to cook in my new kitchen with the Blake monster...we've got pizza and pancakes down
7. Spending a lot of time outside this summer with the boys; pretty proud of my sidewalk chalk monsters
8. Visiting the National Aquarium with the boys - Blake's love of fish will never die
9. Some late night fun on Long Beach Island - easily the most relaxing moment of the last year was sitting on the beach right before sunset watching Blake play
10. Getting to make small, steady improvements to the new house - like this awesome soon to be light fixture that I found at Home Goods

Top Ten Favorite Things....Week of 6/9

Top Row
1. The perks of living closer to my family (like having the opportunity to run into this cutie while grocery shopping)
2. An awesome housewarming gift from my brother and sister-in-law
3. Watching Grayson gear up to start crawling
4. First cooking class with Blake at the new house
5. Surprise breakfast from Eaphis

Bottom Row
6. My New Kitchen - I may include this in many top ten lists for months because it makes life sooo much easier
7. Yummy chocolates from Amsterdam - thanks Dad!
8. 48 colors of sidewalk chalk and a vacant strip of side walk - drool
9. More empty boxes = more full rooms
10. Who has two thumbs and is adorable ----- THIS GUY

Top Ten Favorite Things....Week of 4/13

Top Row
1. Having a great day in Long Island for Nicholas' 1st birthday party
2. Adalyn starting dance lessons....too early for 3 hour weekend lessons w/her Aunt Lindsey?
3. Finally getting to visit the Model Home in our neighborhood...My morning room WILL be this color
4. Blake's obsession with his Easter Eggs....I think he is extremely disappointed that the bunny only comes once a year
5. This new ice cream is one of the the GREATEST INVENTIONS EVER!! I only tried the Salted Carmel one so far....but give me time

Bottom Row
6. I'm kinda obsessed with organizing my desk in our new house, so these awesome Threshold office supplies are high on my wish list
7. Grayson eating his first big boy bites....don't know if he likes the food or the spoon, but either way he's a natural
8. Blake in his "Viking" costume....right before I took this photo he was telling us he wanted to go back outside
9. How much Addie liked the Fairy costume I got her for Easter : )
10. Bunny hat!!

Top Ten Favorite Things....Week of 4/7

Top Row
1. Scored West Elm curtains for my new bedroom for $32 and free shipping....Scoooore
2. On our Baltimore trip we showed up just in time to watch these crazy piglets get some dinner....Blake loved it and kept pointing to the ones he wanted to bring home (he talks about it every day now)
3. Giraffe towel after bath....the only one he'll let us use
4. Blake's interpretation of "Starry Night"...words cannot express how happy this makes me
5. Getting to spend some quality friend time, and score some awesome Hulk schwag from Uncle Chris

Bottom Row
6. Our great trip to Baltimore....extra points to the boys for being super good in the car
7. Old Navy Dress I ordered for Easter --  1. Only $19  and  2) It's a medium : )
8. S'mores Cheesecake!!!
9. My Little Owl on the way to see the Easter Bunny
10. Lots of paint swatches my mom grabbed from Scherwin Williams.....like Christmas

Top Ten Favorite Things....Week of 3/31

Top Row
1. This pic Eaphis sent me of Blake really enjoying his Ice Cream treat while we had yet another showing
2. Finally checked out this great cooking competition show on Esquire....also, don't Google knife fight!!
3. Easter shopping done -- suck it bunny!
4. Spring is here!  Time to party Grayson style
5. My awesome hubby who cooked me a delicious laaaate Valentines day dinner.  I didn't get a picture of it, but here is being an equally awesome dad

Bottom Row
6. Busting out my favorite spring candles - Fresh Bamboo from Bath and Body Works
7. My two boys being good and letting me take this uber adorable picture
8. New Rug from Target that I got for $60!!! Boom
9. Blake starting to say Thank You when we sit down for dinner....who says good manners are dead?
10. Getting random pictures of my dad standing in front of things as he travels the world...here he is in Australia...who took the picture you ask?  Who knows