Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and lite Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and literally. Sometimes we don’t have to look very far and it finds us. ☀️
It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasand It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasandwichshoppe when a friend texted me a screenshot of their cheese butter. Up until last week I had never even heard of cheese butter but just two days later, I’m driving an hour round trip to get some. 😂 I was never one to succumb to peer pressure (I didn’t have my first drink until I was 21!), but when it comes to food finds, I am very easily intrigued. After all, that’s how I’ve discovered some of my favorite bites over the years … lardo from @butlerandtheboard, a spicy Italian sausage, and my love of chicharron. If you haven’t visited Mike’s in Nutley, it’s worth a visit. While there, I also got a small tray of meatballs (a bargain at $10!) and a delicious mortadella sandwich that is worth a round trip. ✨
The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter nee The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter need a little bit of color, so here you go. 😍 Love this chest of drawers. Discovered it buried in a local shop and bought it specifically for the green color (one of my favorites). Vintage Coke crate was a $10 score from a garage sale place on Facebook some ten years ago. And the assorted markers in Roy G Biv order (natch) that aren’t used anymore because my kids have sadly left that phase. 🙃
Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo s Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo style, hope you had a good one! ✨
A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Letter to My Daughter – Happy 3rd Birthday!

February 11, 2011 · Narrative

Facebook knowsMy little spitfire turned three today.  What a fun little personality you have.  Well, it’s fun most of the times.  Those other times you really know how to keep my on my toes.  Sometimes, I swear, I’m getting glimpses of you as a teenager and it has me a little worried.  Mostly because it reminds me of me when I was that age.  Mimi (Grandma) says that’s called payback.

You love watching and reading Olivia and adore Ramona and Beezus.  I think you’ve been taking one too many cues from Ramona Quimby.  You love watching Zoey 101 with your brother, and your newest love is Zumba class.  Your first class, of your very own, was last week and you had a blast, moving and grooving and shaking your little tail feathers.

You eat cherry tomatoes like they’re candy and have a crazy sweet tooth.  You are constantly foraging through drawers, desks and my purse for candy.  You also rifle through my wallet, empty it out and hide the contents in your toy chest.  This is not especially fun when twice I have not found out until I was at the store trying to pay for something.  To keep you out of my purse and wallet, one of our friends bought you your very own grown-up purse and sparkly gold wallet.  So far, so good.

You love cooking and helping the kitchen, just like your brother does.  It’s a wonder I get any time at the stove!  You love singing along with the radio and ask me to turn it up when one of “your” songs is on, bopping along, all “fly like a G6.”

You have an obsession with taking off your socks and shoes, no matter where we are, which drives me slightly crazy.

You are sassy, spunky and personality plus.  You are affectionate and constantly amaze me by the things you say and do sometimes.

I can’t believe you’re three already, and remember the day I met you like it was yesterday.  You are a beaming ray of sunshine in our lives and we are so very lucky to have you.

I love you.

xoxo

Mom

Your Third Birthday Day in Pictures

Love from Miss JanetI had to wake you up for school this morning, and I dreaded it. You HATE to be woken up and cried for a solid hour as we got ready and left. I dropped you off with tear-stained cheeks and puffy, red eyes. When I came back to pick you up, I asked your teacher “Is it safe? Did you fix her?” And thank goodness, it was and they did.

ClassOne of your classmates came in singing Happy Birthday to you, it was so cute.

Munchkins for the MunchkinsBirthday breakfast for your class.

Treats for the ClassBirthday treats for your class. M for Madeline. Pink and Pretzel because it’s the letter P this week. We’ve got ALL our bases covered.

Party Princess

Birthday Girl

I said we could go anywhere you wanted for dinner, and you could eat whatever you wanted. You chose:
By Request

and

SaladI love a low maintenance girl.

Another Day Another CupcakeAnother cupcake. Another round of “happy birthdays.” Another candle to blow out. One more time to celebrate tomorrow with your Dad and Birthday Week is officially done. At least until we start celebrating your aunt’s birthday next week!

Chillin'Perfect end to a perfect day.

Project 365
February 11, 2011, Photo #41

The Box Man ComethI love our UPS man. But I think Eli might love him more.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    February 12, 2011 at 8:33 am

    Oh this post made me cry! Happy birthday Madeline!

    Reply
    • Cate says

      February 13, 2011 at 5:40 pm

      I’m getting good at making you cry, huh? :) Sorry!

      Reply
  2. The Sister In-Law says

    February 12, 2011 at 11:03 am

    Happy Birthday Maddie!!

    Love Titi

    Reply
  3. Casey says

    February 12, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    Sugary sweet. Cherry tomatoes? Great choice!

    My youngest, also a girl, is 3. She’ll turn 4 this year. Missing babies!

    Reply
    • Cate says

      February 13, 2011 at 5:41 pm

      Totally hear you on missing babies!

      Reply
  4. Kris #40 says

    February 12, 2011 at 6:04 pm

    Happy Birthday!

    Reply
  5. Mandi (formerly known as Red Dirt Mummy) says

    February 13, 2011 at 9:40 am

    Happy Birthday to Madeline. I love hearing your stories about her – she sounds so full of life – and seeing pictures of her getting bigger. It sounds like you all had a wonderful day.

    Reply
    • Cate says

      February 13, 2011 at 5:41 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  6. Ramona says

    February 14, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    Happy B’day again Madi.

    You have a sweet UPS man.

    Reply
  7. Laura says

    February 14, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    beautiful post for a beautiful three year old!

    Reply
  8. Pamela says

    February 14, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    I love her dinner choices!! Happy Birthday to your little girl! That was a quick 3 years, to me anyway! :)

    Reply
  9. Ghena says

    February 27, 2012 at 5:23 am

    Mixed emotion you can feel that your baby turn into a lady. It’s time an adjustment period with yourself then.
    Belated Happy Birthday!!!

    Ghena

    Reply

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Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and lite Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and literally. Sometimes we don’t have to look very far and it finds us. ☀️
It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasand It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasandwichshoppe when a friend texted me a screenshot of their cheese butter. Up until last week I had never even heard of cheese butter but just two days later, I’m driving an hour round trip to get some. 😂 I was never one to succumb to peer pressure (I didn’t have my first drink until I was 21!), but when it comes to food finds, I am very easily intrigued. After all, that’s how I’ve discovered some of my favorite bites over the years … lardo from @butlerandtheboard, a spicy Italian sausage, and my love of chicharron. If you haven’t visited Mike’s in Nutley, it’s worth a visit. While there, I also got a small tray of meatballs (a bargain at $10!) and a delicious mortadella sandwich that is worth a round trip. ✨
The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter nee The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter need a little bit of color, so here you go. 😍 Love this chest of drawers. Discovered it buried in a local shop and bought it specifically for the green color (one of my favorites). Vintage Coke crate was a $10 score from a garage sale place on Facebook some ten years ago. And the assorted markers in Roy G Biv order (natch) that aren’t used anymore because my kids have sadly left that phase. 🙃
Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo s Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo style, hope you had a good one! ✨

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Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and lite Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and literally. Sometimes we don’t have to look very far and it finds us. ☀️
It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasand It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasandwichshoppe when a friend texted me a screenshot of their cheese butter. Up until last week I had never even heard of cheese butter but just two days later, I’m driving an hour round trip to get some. 😂 I was never one to succumb to peer pressure (I didn’t have my first drink until I was 21!), but when it comes to food finds, I am very easily intrigued. After all, that’s how I’ve discovered some of my favorite bites over the years … lardo from @butlerandtheboard, a spicy Italian sausage, and my love of chicharron. If you haven’t visited Mike’s in Nutley, it’s worth a visit. While there, I also got a small tray of meatballs (a bargain at $10!) and a delicious mortadella sandwich that is worth a round trip. ✨
The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter nee The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter need a little bit of color, so here you go. 😍 Love this chest of drawers. Discovered it buried in a local shop and bought it specifically for the green color (one of my favorites). Vintage Coke crate was a $10 score from a garage sale place on Facebook some ten years ago. And the assorted markers in Roy G Biv order (natch) that aren’t used anymore because my kids have sadly left that phase. 🙃
Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo s Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo style, hope you had a good one! ✨
A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻

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