#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

Halloween {2017}

November 2, 2017 · Narrative

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Every year, for the past ten years, I’ve taken a picture on this rock in our neighborhood for Halloween. When I told my kids that this was the first stop on our schedule because it was “tradition,” I got, “Mom, you say that about everything. The photo with the cousins for July 4th. First day of school. Last day of school.”

Which is when I told them that they’re lucky my biggest pleasures in life come from taking pictures of my kids.

A few previous years on the same rock (and there are more at the bottom of this post:
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Madeline kept going back and forth about what she wanted to be for Halloween, and by the time she finally landed on being a bunny, it was a bit of a hunt to find the right pieces. Which was mostly fine by me because I’m not a huge fan of off-the-rack costumes. I may or may not have already started saving ideas of costumes she can pull together for next year.

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Her school had their Halloween parade first thing in the morning, and luckily a friend managed to get awesome shot above of Madeline before she saw me in the audience. Every time she sees me, she breaks out of the line and comes to tackle me with a hug, so I can never get a good picture.
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Celebrating Halloween {2016}

October 31, 2016 · Photos

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I take a Halloween picture every year on the same rock in our neighborhood, and it’s one of my favorite traditions ( you can see previous years’ picture here, scroll to the bottom).

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We lucked out by finding one XXXL costume to fit Herschel Walker AND it was 50% off! He was the cutest, juiciest hot dog that ever was and he desperately wanted to get on the bus with the kids this morning.

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Celebrating Halloween {2015}

November 4, 2015 · Narrative

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This past weekend was a whirlwind of Halloween festivities, and perfect weather to boot. Given that previous years’ of Halloween celebrating have included Hurricane Sandy and Snowtober (two years with no power), we were loving life, let me tell you. Trunk or Treat at Madeline’s school, a Halloween party with the Girl Scouts, a Halloween party, and, of course, trick or treating. Madeline decided right after Halloween last year that she wanted to be a cat, and didn’t waver for one second for the entire year. She is most definitely a girl who knows what she wants, in every aspect of her life. Untitled

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As for Nick, he decided what he wanted to do, seriously, at the 11th hour, and, luckily, a quick text to a creative friend took care of his shirt, and his friend’s. As he is 13 now, I had almost resigned myself to the fact that he might not be interested in dressing up or trick or treating, but luckily I was rewarded with another year of him participating. I know the time will come where he will likely take a few years, and I’m ok with that, of course, just not quite ready for it…

I love this picture a friend captured for me. I was watching the Halloween parade at Madeline’s school, and this was the exact moment she saw me in the crowd and made the decision to run and give me a hug. Untitled

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Celebrating Halloween {2014}

November 2, 2014 · Narrative

Halloween 2014

We just dropped off eight pounds of candy at a local dentist for the Halloween Candy Buy Back program, and except for the candy on my dining room table, the whirlwind festivities of Halloween Week are officially done. Ever since Snowtober of 2011, and Hurricane Sandy killing Halloween for 2012, I am kind of obsessed with doing everything we can to celebrate Halloween.

And I think we did just that.

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We kicked it off last Saturday with Halloween festivities at Turtle Back Zoo, and on Sunday we had a Trunk or Treat in our neighborhood, followed by Haunted Trick or Treating at night time at Waterloo Village. Then, on Tuesday, we had a Halloween party with Madeline’s Girl Scout troop. And on Thursday, we did a Halloween parade downtown which, despite having lived here for 13 years, was my first time participating in it.

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Recipe: Rocky Road Brownie Bites {Martha Stewart Living}

October 28, 2013 · Narrative

Fudgy delicious brownie bites studded with chocolate chips, peanuts, and mini marshmallows? Yes please!

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If I want to put a smile on Nick’s face, brownies are absolutely the way to go. Truth be told, most any homemade treat will do, but brownies are his happy place. And these little bites, a Rocky Road version packed with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and peanuts, were perfect. A simple recipe using ingredients you likely have on hand, I whipped up a quick batch before dinner. Since these are bite-size, the petite sweet makes a nice finish after dinner, without feeling like you completely overdid it. And we all know how badly THAT feels. With the recipe yielding four dozen, I packaged up half of them in little treat bags to pass along to some friends and neighbors.

Because, after all, caring is sharing.

The recipe comes from the special Halloween issue that Martha Stewart Omnimedia puts out every year. It is the one issue that I most look forward to because Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and there is no shortage of inspiration inside. Whether you need a craft idea, last minute costume help, or a recipe for a Halloween fete, you’re bound to find it.

MS halloween

Need even more Halloween inspiration? My Halloween-themed Pinterest board should do the trick.

Tomorrow? We talk lunch boxes!

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Celebrating Halloween {2012}

November 5, 2012 · Ad-Free, Narrative

halloween - 1
Last year, our Halloween was delayed because of a freak snowstorm. This year, it’s anybody’s guess when it will happen. Luckily Madeline’s school had arranged a trunk-or-treat event the Sunday before Hurricane Sandy struck, so they were able to squeeze in a little bit ‘o festivities beforehand.

halloween - 2

There are some schools of thought that in the grand scheme of things, Halloween shouldn’t matter or even be a second thought when there is so much devastation and restoration to contend with.

I don’t agree.

The kids need a little bit of happy in their lives right now. Let us adults deal with the grown-up stuff. The kids have all been such troopers in the last week, if we can give them a little piece of Halloween, why not? Nick’s school is in the process of organizing a trunk-or-treat for this weekend, and I think we’re all looking forward to a bit of regular life amidst things like dealing with power loss and gas shortages. And the trunk-or-treat guarantees the kids’ safety so we don’t have to worry about contending with down wires, fallen trees, and road closures….

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Visit: The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze 2012 {Hudson Valley, NY}

October 28, 2012 · Narrative

Blaze - Sleepy Hollow-001We have been seriously prepping for Hurricane Sandy to show us what she’s made of, so no Weekend Photos in Review tonight. Unless you want to see my newly cleared basement floor?

Madeline’s school is already closed Monday and Tuesday, Nick’s so far is closed on Monday. Train service suspended. State offices closed.

We are all bracing for the worst, and I’m hoping, after our experience last year with the wrath of Hurricane Irene, that Sandy moves on and we can easily pick up the pieces. In the meantime, it’s a terrible waiting game.

Last year, with Hurricane Irene, our town, and particularly the downtown area, was hit hard. Stores sustained hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, homes were declared unlivable, and the Main Street became a waterway deep enough for row boats and canoes.

This weekend, we watched those same stores tape their windows and pile the sand bags outside their doors. My heart breaks for them as they prepare for what’s coming. But man, does my heart swell when I see the rally cry for help and strangers pitch in, filling sand bags, shoring up breakables, and doing everything they can to help each other.

Ok, onto happy stuff.

Blaze - witches and cauldron

While I don’t have weekend pictures for you, I *do* have pictures from our Friday night festivities. We met up with friends to go visit The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze in Hudson Valley, New York. My friend, Cathy, e-mailed me the link to the Blaze several months back. None of us had ever been. I looked at the site super quickly, saw the words Sleepy Hollow and quickly said “we’re in!” I mean, really, do we need to know more than that?

Flash forward to last week. I’m catching up on facebook and noticed that an old classmate from grade school links to this fun event in NY. He’s a bit of a pro when it comes to pumpkin carving, and some of his pumpkins were going to be on display. So I e-mail Cathy and include the link and tell her to clear her calendar.

Well. It turns out it was the same place we already had tickets for.

Um, yeah. So clearly I didn’t look close enough at the web site the first time.

Blaze - the manor

I loaded the kids up and we hit the road right after work on Friday. We really lucked out with traffic, and only hit a little bit as we were going through the uber-cute little towns of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.

Easy to find, easy and free parking, we were entering the Blaze grounds up in no time flat. There are over 5,000 hand carved pumpkins on the grounds of the Van Cortlandt Manor. As you walk through the estate along a self-guided pathway, there are tons of exhibits that catch your eye. Each display was a different theme … a hive with honey bees, a sunflower patch, London’s Big Ben, zoo animals, a smattering of dinosaurs… all depicted with carved pumpkins. Every year, they add more scenes and more pumpkins.

Blaze - sunflower patch

All the pumpkins are carved by Manor staff, volunteers, artists, and various organizations, and the carving begins in earnest in June! It takes the volunteers over three hours every night to light all the pumpkins during the Blaze. Everything you see in these pictures, and at the Blaze, is all pumpkin. There are no other props or materials used.

Blaze - skeletal people

It took about an hour to go through all the displays and scenes, which is just about perfect. Long enough to feel like it was worth the drive, and the two-month advance ticket purchase, and short enough that the kids weren’t whining that there was too much walking.

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Halloween … Through the Years

November 9, 2011 · Narrative

Halloween Round-Up
Totally killing me that I can’t find a picture of Nick from 2006. But I haven’t given up yet. He wore a fireman raincoat to school because he decided he didn’t want to wear the costume he picked out. One more computer to check, and then I’m going to nag the school in the hopes that they might have a picture.

Easy Decorated Halloween Cookies

October 25, 2011 · Narrative

This:
Oreos

Plus this:
Purple Chocolate Melts

And this:
Halloween Sprinkles

Equals this:
Decorated Halloween Cookies

Row of Decorated Halloween Cookies

Masses of Decorated Halloween Cookies

Plated Halloween Cookies

Halloween Cookies Up Close and Personal

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DIY Halloween Costume: DailyBuzz Moms 9×9

October 24, 2011 · Ad-Free, Narrative

Hard to believe that Halloween is just one week away.  Although I’d like to say it’s one of my favorite holidays, regular readers know how much I seriously love them all!  I have finally gotten my kids to nail down their Halloween costume choices, and the O’Malley household will be sporting a unicorn and a vampire this year.  I was really pulling for Madeline to be Rainbow Brite this year, you know, one of Strawberry ‘hortcake’s (as she calls her) best friends, but I lost the battle and gave in to a unicorn.  Given her unabashed love for unicorns, horses, cows, dolphins, and whales, it should come as no surprise that we’re having an animal trick-or-treating with us this year.

The folks at Pottery Barn Kids have some awesome Halloween costumes for children this year, and Madeline’s unicorn was very nicely provided to us by them.  To say she was thrilled that they had her first choice available would be an understatement.  It’s all I can do to prevent her from wearing it daily right now.  And I’m not letting her because, you know, white and a 3-1/2 year old is just not a good combination.  Although they tend to be a little more costly than I would normally spend, a lot of them are on sale now (with free shipping!), and they really are well made.  Nice tight stitching, super soft fabrics, and I love that it’s loose enough that I can put warm weather clothing on underneath the costume without making her feel like she’s been smothered to pieces.  Because in typical New Jersey fashion, it’s back to being cold again, and who knows what next Monday brings.

Stumped for Halloween inspiration for your own little ones?  You might want to check out DailyBuzz.  Tomorrow they will be featuring nine DIY Halloween costumes that you can make at home very easily, and I’m happy to report that this Butterfly Catcher costume we made last year for a Disney column is one of the nine featured.  It’s super simple to make and you might even have everything you need in your house right now.  If not, a trip to your local Dollar Store will quickly take care of that.  Can’t wait to see the other 8 creative costumes featured.

Need inspiration for your pup?  You can check out the Virtual Pet Parade featured by the folks at Animal Planet, and snag a costume for your very own canine while you’re there.  Maxwell, the newest member of the O’Malley household, is sporting butterfly wings (although, unfortunately, not visible in the picture they are featuring there), but he has a fun polka-dotted cap on.  Well, I think polka dots are fun.  Maxwell might be in a different camp on that opinion.  While there, you can certainly cheer him up and give him a vote if you’re so inclined….

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Random Wednesday Happenings

October 5, 2011 · Wordless Wednesday

Cooperative
This little one fell at school today while dancing, and got a busted, bloody, swollen lip in return. I talked to her a few minutes after it happened, and she was happily sucking on an ice pop. The Director put Madeline’s hair up to keep it from getting bloody and darn it, she looks so cute. I try every day to coerce her into letting me do something, ANYTHING, with her hair, to no avail. Her teacher said after everyone saw her with her hair back, and her gorgeous eyes showing, all the kids kept coming up to her to tell her how beautiful she looked, so maybe there’s hope for tomorrow morning.

Cuteness
She picked these weeds flowers for me this afternoon and said, “Mommy, you can carry these when you marry your boyfriend.” Calm yourself, it doesn’t mean I have an announcement. It just means a very adorable little girl has a romantic streak. And gosh, when did she stop looking like a baby?? She needs to stop this growing up stuff.  I’m not nearly ready for her to look so grown-up.

Maxwell
A few of you asked questions about Maxwell. He is a 75 lb Golden Retriever. We adopted him from a rescue group that a friend recommended. He was lucky in that his history isn’t as terrible as they usually are when they’re rescued. He was one of two goldens owned by a husband and wife. The husband is very sick and they were no longer able to care for their dogs. Tomorrow will be two weeks that Maxwell has been with us. The kids adore him, and he has definitely acclimated himself really well. When his previous owners noted, in a letter direct from the dog to us, that he is a 75 pound lap dog, they weren’t kidding. If you’re on the couch, he will climb right on your lap. If you’re lying in bed, he gets as close as he can to you without being on top of you. As long as he learns to leave Madeline’s toys, for, well, Madeline, we’re golden. Ha.

Growing Up
People, we have a 9-year-old boy in the house. And I think there is a girl on his radar. Or something. Because the cologne and deodorant ritual has started. Lord help us. Not sure if this Mama is ready.

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Wordless Wednesday: Hoboken House Tour

October 27, 2010 · Narrative

Hoboken House Tour

On Sunday, I went on a house tour with my sister, mom and brother-in-law in Hoboken. I love getting a peek into people’s houses to see how they decorate their homes (as in interior decorating), and it was perfect weather for a self-guided walking tour. Here are some of my favorites (including some pictures of Halloween decorations in the neighborhood as well):

Kitchen Inspired by Martha

We saw two kitchens that definitely took inspiration from Martha Stewart’s Decorating issue last year. If you missed that issue, it’s worth hunting down … wonderful ideas from cover to cover.

Love the Heart

Butterfly Dreams

Dining Room View

My Favorite Space

This was my favorite home on the tour, a renovated old marzipan factory. It was so warm and inviting from the moment we walked through the threshold.

Enlarged View of My Favorite Space

Where Can I Find This

Has anyone see this type of print available anywhere? The Mona Lisa is made up of tons of little tiny pictures. I couldn’t make out the signature, and neither could the homeowner. Anyone familiar with seeing something like this? He also said he has seen online programs where you can make something like this with your own pictures, but couldn’t remember the site. Anyone?

Man Cave

Boys Room

Buffet Display

My Sister's Doors

Decorated Stairway

Decorated Windowbox

Cats Eyes

Crow in Windowbox

Giant Web

The homeowners were working on this web when we passed by. If you look closely to the left of the spider, you’ll see a trick-or-treater caught in the web, a new addition they added this year.

Three Story Web Affair

Howdy Neighbor

Project 365
October 27, 2010, Photo #198

Funny Business

Recognize us?  Speaking of decorating, I have this idea for something silly in our house, and this is the first part of it. If you come over, be expected to contribute. That’s all I’m saying.

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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. 💛

Pinterest

#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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