Rainy Day Bread

What is the best way to spend a rainy day afternoon? Baking bread, of course! My daughter and I passed the time away in the kitchen baking 10 grain bread. I really like Bob's Red Mill products. They are organic, quick, easy, and yummy! As the storm stomped it's thunderous feet outside, my daughter and I were happy to have our hands in dough. My husband loved coming home to the smell of fresh baked bread.

Mixing and kneading can be soooo theraputic!

Letting it rise----a true lesson in patience.

...and Viola! Fresh-baked bread right out of the oven. Warm and Yummy Goodness.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Green Eyeshadow...because it is like a mermaid color

My beautiful brown-eyed girl spent her allowance on play make-up from Justice-Just for Girls 

I had a fun rainy afternoon indulging in girlish whimsy as I watched and helped her put on make-up. I had to remind her that the make-up was just for play and her response was, "I know. I know." After trying the purple eye-shadow, she decided she loves the green sparkle eyeshadow the best because it reminded her of a color a mermaid might choose to wear.....and of course, mermaids are known for their beauty savvy.

Hmmm, which color lip gloss should I choose?

Whatchathink???

A little eyeshadow

Ready for her Close-Up

Yes, sweet girl, I like the green eyeshadow too. But you are far more beautiful than any mermaid.

-----Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Creative Flow

Creative Flow, as most artists know, can either pour forth or slow to a trickle. I find that I am most artistic when my creative flow runs at a steady stream. Staying tapped into that flow is the obstacle. Getting older has taught me to be more sensitive to what inspires my creative whimsy and equally what drains it. I grew up with a very creative mother. I danced my entire life which was one source of creative energy. Before moving to Florida, I owned a dance school in which I taught others how to express themselves creatively through movement. I have been guilty of letting everyday life get the best of me and robbing me of my creative energy. Reflections of childhood always get the creativity flowing. I grew up with the sound of my mom's sewing machine humming at the table, a steady supply of hot glue sticks, and many weekends alongside my mom at the fabric store. If my mom wanted something and couldn't find it, she'd simply make it. I grew up with creative sources through the women who influenced me and the diversity of a big city exploding with museums, art festivals, quilt shops, and bakeries galore. But now, I am almost fine tuned into what specifically gets my creativity flowing; first and mostly, the BEACH. The beach is a sure fire way to get me going----Maybe it is the mental escape, the rush to the senses that leaves me feeling refreshed and focused. Secondly, childhood memories, a charming boutique, vintage craft books, and my daughter....always my daughter. She is my sweet curly-headed muse. This summer, I plan to let the creativity flow even if it means letting the laundry pile up or the shelves grow a bit dusty. I am putting the artist and the writer within me first!

----Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Growing Up Coastal Style

Where is the best place to spend the 1st weekend of Summer Vacation and Memorial Day, as well? The beach of course! My modern day Gidget wasted zero time getting on her bikini and grabbing her boogie board while my husband and I grabbed the picnic basket and beach blanket. Her shrills of laughter as she splashed in the waves matched the endless shrills of the sea gulls. With each wave, she joyfully hollered, "Wow, what a wave!" or if a wave carried her boogie board just right, she would exclaim, "What a ride!" She certainly has the surfer lingo down. Today the Boogie Board--Tomorrow, the Surf Board. 

---Sealed with a kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K. 

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.