Boys Spring Fashion -The Children’s Place Haul #teaparty

Posted by nicóle on Mar 11, 2012 in Fashion, kids & parenting | 14 comments

Tick Tock

Posted by nicóle on Mar 9, 2012 in typography, Words to Live By | 11 comments

photo: weheartit.com

Sleepover Woes

Posted by nicóle on Mar 9, 2012 in guest post, kids & parenting | 9 comments

The first time that one of your children sleeps at a friendís house can be nerve racking for them. For the parents, it can be a nightmare. We all want to protect our children in every waking moment, but that ís not possible. We cried over daycare, struggled with the first day of school and stressed over the first field trip so why would this be any different? Here are a list of ideas that you can use to make sure that this new step in the independence of your child goes as smoothly as possible.

 Try to reduce the number of new factors in the situation. This may sound weird, but what I mean is that this new adventure is going to be filled with lots of new things and you donít want your child to become overwhelmed. One surprising factor to think about is whether or not they have bunkbeds at this other house. If you child has never taken the top bunk, it can be nerve racking for them. We laugh at this notion now that we are adults, but do you remember the first time you slept on the top bunk of a set of bunkbeds? For many, it is a nerve racking experience that doesnít let you sleep. It may be worth asking what the sleeping arrangements are going to look like.
Make sure to give your gracious hosts a complete and detailed list of allergies and food requirements. If your child has a food allergy then you are probably already used to doing this, but it will help you and the other parents have an easier time and avoid hospital visits. Try to give some suggestions for food to avoid without being overbearing. If you know that your child makes a big fuss over broccoli then let the parents know this so that they can avoid a tantrum that they really donít want to deal with.

Pack your childís favorite snack for the trip and make sure there is enough to share. Let them know that this is to be shared and make sure that the other parents know what they are bringing. Check to make sure that it doesnít violate any food rules of the house or set off any allergies. A favorite snack can be a little piece of comfort that they can take with them and share with their friends while sharing stories as they drift off to sleep in those bunkbeds.

*The preceding was a guest post partnered with bunkbeds.net. 

Put Your Big Girl Overalls On

Posted by nicóle on Mar 7, 2012 in quotes, typography | 14 comments

Anything worth doing takes work, a lot of people are afraid to get their hands dirty.

Walk – Ayn Rand Quote

Posted by nicóle on Mar 5, 2012 in Photographs, quotes, typography | 19 comments

There’s A Marathon In Me (Somewhere)

Posted by nicóle on Mar 3, 2012 in Health & Beauty | 24 comments

A few weeks ago I began training to run a marathon.

To those who know me this little tidbit of information may come as a surprise. (So please close your mouths.)

Running a marathon has been on my bucket list since I saw Oprah do it. Taking the steps to actually do it however, wasn’t high up on my priorities until now.

What time is better than now…right?

What surprised me was discovering there’s a runner in me.

I’ve had a disdain for running I think, since about fifth grade. I can remember praying to be chosen as goalie when we played soccer so-me, in all my uncoordinated glory wouldn’t have to try to run and kick a ball at the same time…Never mind that I pretty much sucked as a goalie. Somewhere between being a kid and being a teen I’d decided that running was horrible.

In high-school when I played softball running was part of our practice routine. The only part of the run I enjoyed was hearing our cleats beat in unison when we ran across this little patch of sidewalk. I enjoyed the sound of all that plastic on cement all the more so because it signaled my run around the field was almost over.

When I quit playing softball I pretty much quit running.

Last Christmas while my husband was home, he’d wake just before dawn to go for a run…He’s of the running sort. I hated not being able to go out with him, I’d wished that I was fit enough to go out and run the ba-gillion miles he did. I thought it would be something cool we could do together… A few weeks later, when a good friend of mine mentioned starting to train to run a marathon with a group of girlfriends; that was all the push I needed ask to join in, and dust of my running shoes.

When the universe speaks to me…I tend to listen.

The thing is..I never thought I’d enjoy it. Imagine my surprise when during my first “run” a smile spread across my face which led to a giggle and an overall feeling of contentment because I was actually enjoying myself.

Who knew?

Of course it could have been a lack of oxygen, or endorphins, or adrenaline-but I prefer to think that it’s me. The runner in me, newly discovered.

Here I am this morning, before my run. I was actually excited.

Oh Gelato!

Posted by nicóle on Mar 2, 2012 in Miami | 16 comments

On Tuesday my bestie called and invited me and the boys out to dinner. She’d promised my son Michael a dinner out at a “fancy” restaurant which came in the form of one of my son’s favorite places to eat, P.F. Changs at The Shops at Mary Brickell Village, here in Miami.

After dinner we took the kids to have some gelato for desert. I had no idea there was a gelato place not far from my home. (If I did I probably would’ve moved in by now, so it’s probably best I didn’t know.) Tucked away at The Shops at Mary Brickell Village is this little gelato shop called Amore. Their gelato was yummy and the place was completely deserted when we walked in, so we were served fast. I had a small cup of heaven in the form of tiramisu gelato and my boys enjoyed vanilla.

We decided to go out and watch all the hipsters while we enjoyed our desert before heading home, which provided the perfect picture taking opportunity.

love & heaven in a cup,

nicóle

photos: taken with an iPhone 4, edited using the Picture Show app, and brought together for your viewing pleasure using the Diptic app.

March Photo A Day Challenge #MARCHPHOTOADAY

Posted by nicóle on Feb 29, 2012 in meme, Photographs | 14 comments

Tomorrow March begins, and with it a new Photo A Day Challenge. Fat Mum Slim has her linky up and the challenge is set!

Read set click!

Talkin’ ‘Bout Fictional Characters

Posted by nicóle on Feb 27, 2012 in humor | 19 comments

When I saw this I smiled. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a conversation about a character from a book as though they were real.

That’s when you know a story is a good one. The characters take on a life of their own.