Summer, at last!

Summer, at last! Today was the last day of school for my little 2nd grader...who is now officially a 3rd grader, I suppose. To make this day extra special for her, I painted her nails like a watermelon. Nothing says summer has begun like watermelon! After school, we celebrated with a delicious lunch. She wanted Chinese food! Afterwards, we went to the book store to get some summer reading material and she also spent her allowance on a Nancy Drew Keepsake book. Once again, a reminder that Little Golden Books are a thing of the past for my girl who grows more and more everyday. This summer, I plan to slow down time by spending lots of afternoons eating watermelon with my daughter, painting her nails, and reading books.

------ Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K

Cella's Cherry Cordials and Childhood Memories

Anytime I come across Cella's Cherry Cordials, I am transported back to childhood and going places with my Mom. She would pull over at any one of the familiar gas stations along our typical route to the mall, school, friend's houses, etc. and fill the tank. I was familiar enough with the handful of gas stations to know that I could count on seeing a box of individually wrapped Cella's chocolate cherry cordials next to the register. They usually sold at the time for under .25 cents. I thought that they were such fancy candies and loved the shimmery red foil wrapping paper of each little cordial. My mom ALWAYS bought me two when she paid for the gas. We'd walk back to the car, my mom would turn up the radio(chances are we were listening to Ann Murray, John Denver, or Air Supply) and we'd pull away from the gas station and get back on the road. I would sit in happy contentment as I unwrapped this little chocolate delight (I am sure a few of the little red wrappers could be found on the floor of the car). Even to this day I still eat them just like I did as a child; Unwrap, toss the wrapper to the car floor, turn the cordial upside down and bite off the end to create a "cup". After eating the little chocolaty end, I would sip the sweet syrup from the cup and then eat the cherry. Then finally, I'd eat the "chocolate cup". No sooner would I be done with that one when I'd be unwrapping the second one. I don't often see Cella's Cordials for sale anymore...especially the individually wrapped cordials. But when I come across a box on a store shelf, I ALWAYS buy it and stick it far back in the fridge (I luv the hard crispness of refrigerated chocolate candy). I eat them without urgency and enjoy the childhood memories each one holds of days when my mom and I were driving around the big city of Houston, Texas. Today, I share them with my daughter and wonder what memories of simple pleasures she will remember about our time together.

-----Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Count Down til Summer

We are counting down the days until Summer Vacation. It is officially the last week of school for my daughter. I am looking forward to lazier days and not having to keep such a tight schedule or bedtime routine. I am ready to be done packing the lunches, ironing the uniforms, and checking the homework. Nevertheless, as things like this sometime go, it is also bittersweet that this is the last week in which

 I will be the mother of a

2nd grader.

In the blink of an eye, it will be time to shop for school supplies for

 my 3rd grader.

With that in mind, I hope the days move slowly this Summer.

I know my daughter will have a wonderful time enjoying her last week of school with anticipation for Summer to begin!

photos are from here.

Pottery-a-Plenty

Whether intending to buy something or not, Tierra Fina, located in historic St. Augustine, Fl. has a way of drawing me past it's garden gates and into it's colorful outdoor shop of imported Spanish and Mexican pottery. If only I could add the scent of the star jasmin on the arbors and the sound of the wind chimes to this photo. Although I have lived in Florida for 4 yrs now, growing up in Texas gave me an appreciation for this style of pottery due to the close proximity to Mexico and many shopping trips across the border to buy pottery like this. I think that is why I also love this place b/c it reminds me of many backyards in my home state of Texas. I also love the deep sun-baked smell of this pottery. Painted swirls of sky blue and lime green might cover a clay frog or turtle. Mango-color yellows and oranges can be spotted in flowery forms on pots and plates. Such a pretty way to add color to a garden.

I think right now I love the mellony colors of the orange and yellow pots the most.

 

 ---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Let's go to Kilwins

Let's go to Kilwins and satisfy our sweet tooth and our desire for chocolate bliss. Walking into any Kilwins chocolate shop is a treat for the senses. The scent of all that eewy goowy chocolate and caramel is divine. I wish I could stick the whole store in a candle jar b/c it smells sooooo good! The have been making homemade chocolate treats since 1947. Locations can be found throughout Florida and a few other states. We go to the one in St. Augustine, Fl. If you live near a Kilwins or ever get the chance to go to one, then take a moment to enjoy the chocolaty scents and then treat yourself to one(or two) of their many treats to choose from.

I love anything with chocolaty swirly whirlies.

If you live in or visit Florida, then you know we have a certain fondness for alligators.

It is better to eat an alligator (especially one made of chocolate), than to be eaten by one.

My Daughter especially loves Kilwins ice cream. They make the waffle cones right there before your very eyes. Whenever she has a yummy ice cream treat in her hand, the rest of the world fades away and it is just her and the ice cream.

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Hacky Sack

Hacky Sack in a dress is best...or at least it is when you can't wait to get home and put on shorts before practicing some Hacky Sack moves. My daughter was so eager to start playing with her new Hacky Sack ball as soon as she stepped out of the store.

---Field Trip Lessons in the Pioneer Life---

My husband and I had the pleasure of chaperoning our daughter's 2nd grade class field trip to the pioneer museum in Gainesville, Florida. The class had an extended unit on pioneer life where they learned about America's earlier years. The class also read Little House in The Big Woods. My daughter is now hooked on all things Laura Ingalls! The special treat for the day was that my Mother-in-Law was visiting us from Texas and was able to chaperone, as well, and see this very engaging and interactive museum. Saylor loved having her Grandmother along for the field trip.

Fresh Kettle Popped Corn

Kids could buy rock candy and rootbeer. A yummy treat.

Saylor and her classmates were able to use pioneer tools of the trade and  get a hands-on learning experience from workers dressed in period clothing.

I love the following pic of my husband's hands and Saylor

as he helps her with some of the hands-on learning.

What Little Girls are made of....

What are little girls made of ? Ribbons and Lace. Pearls and Bows. Fancy Shoes and little white gloves.

1st Communion Dress fit for a Princess......Princess Saylor

I added the white ROSE.

and I added the 3 Flowers to each sleeve.

I added 3 PEARL Buttons to the back

LITTLE Girlsand  BIG Bows are the BEST Combination

Saylor decided on which 1st Communion veil she liked best

Fancy WHITE Shoes and Fancy white GLOVES

A Gift From MEMA for Saylor; her very 1st Crucifix

to wear on her 1st Communion.