#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

Review: Yummy Yogurt {Boonton, NJ}

March 4, 2013 · Narrative

You have ever one of those perfect days that are perfect because they’re just so ordinary?

Like, everyone in your family is getting along and there is no fighting, whining, or bickering?

And you managed to hit that unique balance of pure laziness with a little productivity thrown in for good measure?

And everything just … worked. And at the end of the day, you got to reflect on just how wonderful life is. And how wonderful your family is.

That was yesterday.

Nick had a commitment for four hours during the day that we ended up skipping, which meant that we pretty much unexpectedly had the day to ourselves, and to do as we wish. Which doesn’t happen often enough. We had a lazy morning, did a few errands, and just basically hung out together.

Perfection.

And as it wasn’t 17 degrees with a crazy wind chill factor, it seemed like the perfect day to check out a new-to-us frozen yogurt place.

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I swear it feels like these places are popping up everywhere. Likely because they are.

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Yummy Yogurt just opened in November, and we found out about them through Groupon, where they recently ran a half-off special (and if you’re local, the Groupon is still available).

Which is, like, my favorite kind of special.

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Located right on Main Street in downtown Boonton, it’s easy to find, and on-street parking is plentiful (although on a weekend during warm weather, it will be much more of a challenge). A big, bright, happy, colorful space, this spot has the most amount of seating that I’ve seen at any yogurt place, followed by Red Mango. Most frozen yogurt places typically don’t have more than a handful of seats available. Yummy Yogurt has banquet-style bench seating along one long wall, and a few spinning (regular) chairs. In the center of the storefront, they have these slightly odd pod-shaped chairs. Because of how low they are to the ground, I think they’re perfect for kids.

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Weekend Photos in Review

March 3, 2013 · Narrative

What a topsy-turvy, upside down weekend it ended up being. Numerous plans that we had got changed, revamped, or canceled. New spontaneous plans sprung up. New super-short-term foster dogs. Downtime. Craziness. Good food. Fun times. Exhaustion. But just the right amount of imperfect perfection. Now on with the pictures.

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Kids artwork. Totally one of my favorite things.

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Merry was at the vet for two nights, getting her second heartworm treatment. She was seriously glad to see the kids and fell asleep on Madeline’s lap on the way home.

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This is Polly, who we fostered for two days. She is about 8 months old, very affectionate, and quickly made herself at home. In the short time she was with us, she managed to worm her way into the kids hearts really quickly. After we dropped her off at the kennel on Saturday, I had three kids in tears (Nick had a friend with him) at our next stop, the grocery store. I’m sure the other customers thought I beat my children.

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Review: Taro Frozen Yogurt {Morristown, New Jersey}

February 18, 2013 · Narrative

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Nick has been attending a weekly workshop in Morristown in the evenings, which has given Madeline and I a standing date night and the opportunity to eat our way around the town and explore new restaurants. Last year, an old friend mentioned her favorite yogurt place was in Morristown, so Taro quickly made it on our list.

And man, am I ever sorry we waited as long as we did.

After having a kebab dinner a few doors down (review coming soon), Madeline and I walked over to Taro. It’s right on South Street, with convenient on-street parking and very easy to find. As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted with a bright, happy, neon vibe, which made up for the fact that we were about to have frozen yogurt on a cold 28-degree night.

Diehards, what can I say?

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With only ten flavors and a much smaller toppings bar than their competitors, Taro really has to do something to stand apart from the others. And they have, starting with your wallet and their 0.45/ounce pricing, which is about a nickle an ounce cheaper than everyone else. While it doesn’t sound like much, it is.

…

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Visit: Strawberry Fields {Morristown, New Jersey}

November 8, 2012 · Narrative

SF - outside

Every once in awhile, I try to surprise the kids with a treat. Which is hard since one of them asks me a million questions.

What are we doing after school?
And tonight?
And what’s for dinner?
What time are we leaving?
Can so-and-so come over for a playdate?
Can we go to the Halloween store?
When can we decorate?

It’s, like, incessant. And makes it difficult when trying to keep something a surprise.

Sheesh.

I subscribe to a few NJ-centered blogs, since I find them to be a good source of new things to do in the area, free kid-friendly activities, holiday goings-on, and the like.

Which is how I discovered Strawberry Fields in Morristown.

If you didn’t know, we’re big fans of self-serve frozen yogurt.

Because it’s healthy.

As long as you don’t overload it with junky toppings.

And it speaks to the inner control freak, letting me making it just how I like it.

Located on the usually-busy South Street in downtown Morristown, there is plenty of on-street parking available. The store was big, bright, and colorful. While we were visiting Strawberry Fields, the music piped in was an interesting eclectic mix of 60s and 70s.

SF - pick-me-up

This is the first froyo place that we have visited that had two levels, which was pretty cool. The yogurt selections are up a few steps, in the back of the store, and the toppings bar was towards the front of the store, near the cashier and entrance.

Which is good for breaking things up a bit when it gets busy.

We speak from experience.

At 0.49/ounce, it’s priced in line with their competitors, and with a small nod to the environment, their spoons are biodegradable.

SF - new customers
(Nick is instagramming photos of his frozen yogurt)

For the most part, frozen yogurt places all seem to operate under the same basic set-up, so we look for what sets them apart. Strawberry Fields offers gift cards, and this is the first place that I’ve seen that offers wheat germ and flax seed as available toppings.

Which I love.

The only detractor from our visit was the condition of the toppings bar. It was a bit of a mess. And there was no excuse for that because the lone employee we saw while we were there had time to check his phone several times.

…

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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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