#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Inexpensive Vacation Mementos

August 6, 2012 · Narrative

JA - bargain
When it comes to mementos from our various outings, I definitely focus on photos. We also save things like brochures, maps, and ticket stubs, which all make awesome little additions to the scrapbooks we put together. Another item we started collecting? These stamped pennies.

How can you go wrong for a mere 51 cents? We started collecting them early last year, and now, every time we see one of these machines, whether it’s a Spring Break down the shore (this particular one pictured above was in Jenkinson’s Aquarium), Hershey Park, or our road trip to Washington DC last year, we start scrounging for change. Happily we even found one during our adventures in Connecticut yesterday (more on that to follow soon)!

pressed pennies

It’s a perfect tiny, inexpensive souvenir to collect from our adventures. A fun thing to keep our eyes peeled for, and a small, sentimental way to reminisce. And way better than any of that touristy junk that you usually see.

Just one more tip … usually the machines have a few different designs to choose from. We also pick one that depicts the area or place that we are visiting. Way more fun and meaningful than some of the random ones they include.

Happy collecting!

Psst …
Tomorrow? A new recipe.
Wednesday? Reading and jetBlue.
Thursday? A restaurant review.
Friday? Another Summer Bucket List 2012 item off the list!

August 6, 2012 – Bonus Photo
breakfast
This morning’s breakfast. Honey Oh’s from the folks at Quaker, a cereal we discovered via my brother-in-law. They are slightly hard to find, so ’twas a happy morning indeed.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: honey oh's, quaker, souvenir, souvenirs, stamped pennies, vacation mementos

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    August 7, 2012 at 6:24 am

    My brother and I used to beg my parents to let us use those machines whenever we saw them! Who knows where all those pennies are now though…
    Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Tempeh Lo Mein with Bell Pepper, Edamame and Scallions

    Reply
  2. Ramona says

    August 7, 2012 at 10:13 am

    Those are interesting. Haven’t seen the stamped pennies before.

    Reply
  3. Meg says

    August 7, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    First, Honey Oh’s are my absolute favorite cereal — I’ve been eating them since I was a kid!

    Next, I adore stamped pennies — as I was telling you on Instagram, haha. A friend at work collects them with her daughter, and I got “hooked” on them after she sent me on a hunt to find a machine at Niagara Falls. I thought they were so cute that I had to get one for myself, and I’ve been collecting them ever since. I actually found a stamped penny “passport book” at a national park in California, so I tuck them all in their little slots. I think I have ten so far!

    Reply
  4. Kristen says

    August 7, 2012 at 8:08 pm

    I used to always want to get those while we were on vacation and my parents never would.. “Why spend more than a penny to get a penny back?”. I now use the same reasoning with my kids, but gosh… it really is an inexpensive memento. I’m sure they would totally love it!
    Kristen recently posted..The Happiness Report #15 – Smile Like Michael Phelps

    Reply
  5. paula says

    August 8, 2012 at 7:53 am

    I love these pennies. When I chaperoned Nick’s last field trip to Zoo America, I bought the four kids in my group these pennies and they were thrilled. All for $2.04.
    paula recently posted..Ah, finally! Chorizo Carbonara

    Reply
  6. Laura says

    August 8, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    We love these too! we put a little hole in ours and string them like dogtags.
    Laura recently posted..Five Question Friday

    Reply
  7. mathildeelisa says

    September 2, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    Please please where do you find them ? I would die to eat one more time those cereals ! Help :)

    Reply
    • Cate says

      October 18, 2012 at 8:21 pm

      Target!

      Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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