Father/Daughter Time and end of July...

This past Sunday, Jeff took Norah for a kayak ride in the creek while I went to Church (I really liked this one!) and my aunt took some pics from her house of them. They had a lot of fun and Norah is really becoming a complete beach/lowcountry girl!

I love that Norah is loving to do all these different things and she will probably love to go fishing as much as her daddy one day!

Well today is the last day of July and I cannot believe it! This summer has been packed with so much stuff (new city, new house, new job, new everything!) Today I got my new SC license plate so I definitely feel official. I also had my first meeting at the new school last week and am helping out at the school this week while Norah is in camp. Next week will be our last free week together before I head back to work on August 13. Then Norah will start Kindergarten on August 20...that is crazy! One thing that the camp told me about was a website called Starfall that Norah did at camp today and she loves it! You can check it out here and it helps with reading skills.

And still loving the Olympics! While the Olympics have been on...I saw a preview to a movie that is coming out in September that looks interesting, "The Words." Add it to the list...

Well back to painting...I have been so slack in the painting department...at the rate I am going...it will never be done. :) And of course there will be some more Olympic watching!

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Father/Daughter Time and end of July...

Love the Olympics and the weekly updates...

So this past week was filled with the usual plus Norah's 5 year appointment and my first staff meeting at my new school. Norah's appointment went great and it is so hard to believe that she is 5 years old...she is still over the 95 percentile in height and weight and is super healthy!

Friday we went to a local Peach Festival at a church expecting the same kind of festival feel that we had at the Pawleys Island Festival earlier in the summer (remember the awesome Tiger face!)..well it was super hot and just was not the same...Norah still wanted her face painted and she also got her hair sprayed a color...but it was just too hot to stay long.

Friday was also my mom's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY NINI/FRANKIE/MOMMA!) and we had a new "neighbor night" that we went to. I met a woman who lives in our neighborhood and she invited another couple over that also lived in the neighborhood and grilled out and just chatted. There were kids for Norah to play with and it was great! You know how I love my neighbor nights! (We miss you Charlotte neighbors!!)

And now the Olympics are on...it is funny as I do not really think a lot about the Olympics during the years in between but when it is on, whether it is summer or winter Olympics, I become addicted. It is on our TV non-stop! Love it! Go Team USA! And Norah is so funny watching it and hearing her comments about what is happening! We were watching the men's bike race and Norah said "I wish Daddy was in the race." and things like "England, I love England. It is my favorite country." She is cracking me up!

So speaking of the Olympics, I am also obsessed with the YouTube video of the swim team acting out to the song "Call me Maybe"....I could watch it a zillion times. Check it out HERE...

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Love the Olympics and the weekly updates...

Job Update and the usual random stuff...

Well I got a job and one that I think is the perfect fit for me! I am very excited! It is with a private school here and I will be teaching a 6th grade math class, working as an assistant to the Head of School and working in the front office. And Norah will go to the same school too (she has been going to camp there and really likes it!) How perfect! I really am impressed with the school and will start in just a few weeks!

Well we have been doing the usual around here...camp, beach, pool time, house things, running lots of errands (today we went to the vet), etc. There seems to always be something to do but we are starting to feel more and more settled.

There are a lot of turtle nests on the beaches in this area...there is one that is not too far from my mom's house...I would love to see the momma turtle come up to lay the eggs or watch one nest hatch one day. There is a facebook page S.C.U.T.E. where they update any action with the nests.

I noticed these two previews for movies coming out on August 10 that look good...

And two new FREE apps that I have been using....

Finished Week 1 Day 3 today...it was so great to start running again...I've missed it!

MyFitnessPal App is so great to keep track of calories, exercise, etc. I'm probably a little late to this one but I really like it so far!

Well since my washing machine is finally fixed (Yippee!) I'm off to switch out some loads and get ready for tomorrow! So I'll leave you with a family pic I snapped of us in the car the other day...

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Job Update and the usual random stuff...

Things I'm loving...

Here are some random things that are making my day lately...

Keychain that can be found here...it is so easy to just head out the door to run errands, hit the beach, etc. and be able to wear it around the wrist if needed

Norah is loving her morning camp this week! I love that she loves it! She is making new friends and getting a lot of energy out and I get some time to do all the odds and ends I need to be doing.

New app that I put on my iphone and our ipod touches for Norah..it is free and has great stuff! You can even watch all their shows on it...

Another app I have had on my iphone for awhile...it is free too! During the school year when I would be at school early in my room...I would have the bible read out loud to me through my phone as I got stuff done in my room. Now I am also doing these daily devotionals that I found through this BLOG. You find the devotionals under the "plans." You can also sign up for YouVersion on your computer through their website too...which I have also. Check it all out!

I also made another cake last weekend...this one and it was good but I liked the cake and I liked the icing (you don't even taste the coffee if you are wondering) but I didn't really love the cake with the icing. I thought an almond butter or peanut butter icing on the banana cake would have been even better! So now I need to find one to make this weekend...have no idea why but I'm loving to find cakes to try out right now!

What is everybody else loving these days?! :)

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Things I'm loving...

The latest plus book, tv, movie, and house stuff...

So last Thursday and Friday were filled with errands, making Norah's 5 year doctor appt with a new doctor, signing her up for camp next week, laundromat (washer is broken and will not be fixed until this week...), etc. But then Jeff came to town on Friday...YEAH! Saturday we went for a boat ride and it was a little rough at first (water) but then was so awesome!

 Don't be scared...no make-up! :)

 Norah eating her apple...look at the perfect weather day that you can see behind and all around her...it was beautiful!

 Helping Daddy drive the boat...

Norah relaxing while we anchored up...we had our lunch and I got to read my book! It was a lot of fun and we said that it is still hard to believe that this is where we live and Norah will grow up here! It is pretty amazing!

Saturday night we cooked at home and hung out...it was so nice to just have some family time. Sunday we headed over to Nini and Pop's house and went to the beach. Before we left...Norah "helped" Pops with the new gate for LuLu...

Norah had a blast on the beach because Daddy is "so much funner because he goes deeper in the water with me." Yep, Daddy and Norah rode in some waves together. She loved every minute of it!

I actually finished "Silver Girl" and really liked it...Elin Hilderbrand books are the essential beach book to me...easy to read with enough going on that you want to see what happens. Thinking I will either read the Harry Potter books again (you can borrow for free on kindle now!) or maybe read "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon. I've heard that it is pretty good and long...which I like!

So I was randomly seeing what was on TV tonight and came across "Big Brother"...

There are some old cast members on here...I may have to watch this for the summer as there is nothing else on! I do love Janelle too! While watching "Big Brother" I saw a preview for the movie "The Watch"...

I can't decide if this will be dumb-funny in a good way or not...will have to wait to see what everyone says about it!

So the ongoing saga is always doing something to our house...paint, unpacking, organizing, etc. I found two things online that I thought were interesting...I kinda want a new bedside table for a different set up and like this one...

Then I saw this door and how awesome would it be! I mean it probably isn't very practical but love it!

Well time to get my to-do list together for the week...

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The latest plus book, tv, movie, and house stuff...

Creek Walk and Crabs...

Today Norah went on her first creek walk and we had so much fun! We headed over to my Aunt Susan's house during low tide and went on a little walk looking at crabs, shells, and just the surroundings. Here is Norah getting ready...

I bought her some tennis shoes on clearance at Target that she could wear since they would get muddy. She was really good for her first time. She freaked a little and I carried her through the water parts but would walk when it was "land." It was beautiful...here is looking back toward my aunt's house while we were on the walk.

The tide was definitely coming in and it was a little deeper on the way back but no worries...my aunt had some clean clothes for us. My mom and her neighbor, Mrs. Lorna came along too! Then we got to watch my aunt pull up her crab trap and cook the crabs...Norah liked this too!

This was after the crabs were cooked and put on the tray. She then helped Aunt Susan pick the claws and legs off the crabs and would eat any crab meat that lingered. We also went to the local Farmer's Market that is on Wednesday here and my mom got me some loot...

I'm gonna roast the okra, baby eggplants and baby squash tomorrow!

Well needless to say, Norah had a big day and I love that she loves doing all this fun "beach" stuff! I know I had a great time too! Norah and I were both worn out from the morning adventure and now can't wait for her Aunt Susan to take us for a boat ride! It did rain again this afternoon so we had a low key afternoon and were able to rest. Let's see what tomorrow brings...

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Creek Walk and Crabs...

New food and wine finds and a new book...

So today it is raining...we needed it...so we have been inside getting some things done, phone calls made, etc. We had some beach time on Sunday...

Yesterday was errand day and my mom watched Norah while I went to Target and Costco in Myrtle Beach to do a big grocery shopping trip.

So I thought I would share some recent food and wine finds...first up my new yogurt that Norah and I both love. This particular flavor is not sold in Pawleys Island (yet!...hoping to talk the Fresh Market into carrying it as they have some others in the same brand) so Jeff has brought some from Charlotte when he comes.

It is Voskos Honey Vanilla Bean and I love it! I'm not the biggest yogurt person ever but this is the right texture and flavor for me and Norah eats it too!

Then I got these crackers at Costco before and they are great! They are great alone or with cheese.

And to some wines that I have had that are perfect especially for summer! I am a red wine drinker and usually drink Cabernet but really like these blends lately...two to try are...

 Dreaming Tree is actually a wine made by Dave Matthews! I really like the "Crush" one and the Cab is good too! I found these through my friend Christie...I've seen them sold at Target too!



This is one that my friend Anna showed me and it is a great everyday wine! It is easy to spot with the colored horses on it too! Both are not that expensive with the "Hot to Trot" wine being the cheaper of the two.

Onto books, I finished "The Beach House" and it was a good, light read. I've decided to stay on the beach theme and read "Silver Girl" by Elin Hilderbrand next.

Well Norah and I are headed to my Aunt Susan's house later to eat fresh steamed crabs, shrimp and corn...yum! We had hoped to take a boat ride but think the rain may be here to stay. I also have got to find some more "kid" things for Norah to do to be with other kids...I think she is having kid withdrawals! I'll leave you a pic of Norah and the puppies (sorry lighting is terrible in pic! Ouch!)

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New food and wine finds and a new book...

New Book and Beach time...

Well I finished "Insurgent" and it was good but not near as good as "Divergent" and to be honest not sure whether I will read the last one when it comes out or not. We'll see. Decided my next book should be a real beach read so started reading "The Beach House" by Mary Alice Monroe. Good so far...

This past Saturday, Jeff and his mom headed to our house to spend the week here. Norah and I ran some errands that day and then grabbed lunch at Groucho's Deli and I took a pic of her to send to Jeff and told her to make a silly face...this is what face she made....it cracks me up!

We finished watching Season 1 of "Homeland" this week and really liked it (The last two episodes kinda get on my nerves but I guess that is what it is supposed to do) and tried to start watching Season 1 of "Game of Thrones." There is so much hype about it but we couldn't get into it. So now what other cable series should we watch this summer while we have free cable channels?

The rest of the week has been a lot of beach time. We did get to go over to my Aunt Susan's beach house and check out all the crabs in her crab trap...should have taken a pic of that...Norah really was into the. We hope to take her for a creek walk next week. Today I think we may have a beach break day...we need it! Here are some pictures from the week...



 My mom got this float out and she had so much fun with my mom on it...this was on the 4th of July... :)

So after beach time on the 4th of July, we went over to some friends of Jeff's family for dinner. They had brought down BBQ and I made the Peanut-Cola Cake from the July Southern Living magazine...it turned out good and looked just liked the picture below from the magazine...

I completely forgot to take a picture of the real cake and pictures of Norah earlier in the night. She even had her cute 4th of July bow in her hair. And then when I thought to take pics...I used my phone instead of my camera...not smart (I think it was the wine that made me do it...) :) Anyway I had to try to capture her...

 I made her stop her run to the beach to take this pic...she looks dazed! She had these glow in the dark things wrapped around her legs and arms...she got these from strangers...but hey...it made it easy to see her on the beach!

Daddy Jeff...he is too cute! I do wish I had taken more pictures (with camera and not phone) of the night as some of the people there are friends of Jeff's that he doesn't get to see much and I know he would have loved to have a pic of everyone. We had a great time over there and they were so good about entertaining Norah. She had never stayed up that late and it was her first time watching the fireworks! I also would have loved to get a family pic of the three of us...I mean we get like one a year!

So today we hopefully can get a little rest, do some errands and work around the house maybe then I am sure we will be back to beach time tomorrow...

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New Book and Beach time...