Reminiscing Over Family Summer Fun - EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival

With summer being just right around the corner, I figured writing the first EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival of June on recollecting fond memories that I have spent with my family over the past summers would be a nice write, and hopefully a nice read too. ;o)~


Above I have posted a picture of my husband and I on our honeymoon in the summer of 2008.  We are playing on the beach in Cozumel; what fun that was!!!   Cruises are fun, but I am a big fan of road trips too.  I love the personalized family vacations the best.  I would love to talk about those trips to France, which were personalized and not schedule like they are with most cruise lines, but this regrettably would be changing the topic because of the trips I have taken to France with my husband they have all been during the fall season. ;-)  Anyway, SUMMER (getting back on track) ...  

Speaking of getting on track,  at the beginning of last summer I really enjoyed going on a hiking trail with my husband at a local state park when I was in my second trimester with our son, Bobby.  In the picture above, I am seen standing in front of the swinging bridge, which past this point would lead off to a primitive camping area; however, with it being hunting season, this area was closed from entry.  We still walked a good few miles that morning/afternoon though with a few rests/snacks in between; it was plenty fun.  We would love to go back with Bobby sometime soon. :-)

Pack Away That Packaging - EtsyBlogger's Blog Carnival

Everyone has it.  And what not a better time to face this menace of a pile then at spring-cleaning time. ;o)~ Yes, I'm speaking of that enormous collection of stuffing tissue, popcorn, gift sacks, bows, ribbons, cards, the works ... shall I say more? "etc."  Hence, I found a simple eco-friendly way to stuff away that stuffing by repurposing a large cardboard box that my baby boy's highchair came in.

I simply wrapped this large box in a sturdy, durable, and eye-pleasing wrapping paper; making sure that both the lid and bottom half of the box were still able to open and close with ease.  And there you have it!  I did use a nice Rubbermaid storage container before; however, my packaging supplies out grew it (width wise).  I am very happy to have upgraded to this downgraded alternative. :-)  I hope that you will be pleased with it too.

When Studying Was Fun! - EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival

In that bleep of a moment when my twin sister, Jessica (Etsy shop owner of Eco-Friendly Freckles), and I lived together in our apartment at the age of 17, we both knew how fortunate we were to have our local library right across the street from us.  We enjoyed spending afternoons cooped up in one of the private rooms with our noses in preparation books for the ACT.  We'd also request movies to watch on our evenings together.  Books we regularly checked out ranged from the appealing coffee table book "a must have" to poetry and how-to books to read on picnics at the park.  "Oh Jessy, I miss basking in the sun on our quilt listening to your novice-style guitar playing while I read Shel Silverstein stories.

View my latest EtsyBloggers Treasury titled: Gathering for Cinco De Mayo

First Sign of Spring - EtsyBlogger's Blog Carnival

The first signs of spring are started with having playtime in the backyard.  Warm enough for a momma and her baby to play with the old twigs and grass, while discovering and welcoming the new growth of local flowers, weeds, and plants.

The rose bush (seen pictured above in front of the house) looks like a gaunt old dying plant, but it is still putting on its winter disguise of being in hibernation.  The rose bush (plant) actually is getting new growth of strong beet red stems.  It probably wouldn't hurt to give it a good trimming though. ;-)

Another welcoming plant in the backyard is ironically a weed "chuckle": the chickweed.  It grows under our hawthorn tree in a large patch: great for picking.  I love to chop chickweed finely and steam along with chopped spinach for a quick and easy side dish; I like to add apple cider vinegar during serving.

I also made an EtsyBlogger's Treasury going along the Blog Carnival theme of "first sign of spring"; it is titled Spring Forward!

:-)