Favorite things...

...organic style!

So Karisa and I were talking on the phone one night and without going into our whole conversation (b/c it usually involves someone else:) she said something to the effect of this..."And I told him, Julianne's not a hippy. Let's say she's organic."
Not by any means have we gone all natural or organic. I have become quite interested---not at all very knowledgeable yet though, in all natural health care items and homeopathy though.

Send me all your favorites along with foods!

Our closest grocery store is a whole foods one, so it's been fun browsing and learning. Fairway and Whole Foods are the other two places that I love browsing at b/c I couldn't usually purchase my groceries and healthcare items at the same location until now. I love trying out all of the soaps and lotions and such. Here are my favorites so far. ( I only buy the lease expensive brands)

Need I say more? I've been using the chap stick and cuticle cream faithfully for over a decade.
I love this all-purpose soap. I pour 1/3 of this and 2/3 water in a foam soap dispenser. The best part is that we go through a whole lot of hand soap with us 3 chicas in the household and it still takes us 6 months to go through a whole bottle of this. Dr. Bronner's All Purpose Soap.

This has to be my favorite. Kid's toothpaste just makes me nervous sometimes but this Tom's toothpaste is the bomb. We've been using for 2 years. If you do introduce it to your children, do what I did and serve it to them in the dark before they go to bed. The paste is a cement color. They love the taste, so the color didn't matter once they finally saw it!

This one is Scotty's favorite. Canus Goat milk Liquid Shampoo and Body Wash. It's for babies, but we all love it.


Karisa this next one is for you....

The scents of these baby lotions and soaps seriously make me want to eat my children....and they're not babies anymore. I love everything about them. They're safe, yummy and very well priced compared to all those other all natural baby brands like California Baby or Mustella. I've only used the Liquid Soaps and the Lavender lotion....mmmm....

Another reason WE love Mariella...

Scott was going through all of the videos on Ella's new camera and laughed hysterically when he saw the end of this one...

Ella's take on Hippo Park, during her 6th birthday party.

3/20/10

New York, New York, Big City of Dreams...

...and everyday in New York, ain't always what it seems.

Paisley just said on the way home, while carrying a single half slice of pizza, "I'm gonna walk up this ramp and down the stairs." Then I said holding three Ikea bags of laundry, her full backpack, my purse and our drink, "NO! Paisley, if you are willing to take extra steps on our way home, it means that you're not carrying enough!" She dropped her pizza on the ground 30 seconds later.

I just wrote a huge complaint post. But I erased it, except for this part...I feel better now.

Wednesday

Wednesday morning we had a fun little breakfast at our place, with everyone before their flights took off to go back home. But we'll see everyone in June...right SEAN?! But, no pressure. ;)

The girls went to school and then at Ella's request, we went to the Yankees game that evening. They played the Rays. But first, we stopped at my mom's favorite deli, Artie's and had a bite.

The Yanks didn't pull through with a win, but we had a blast and we got some really cute souvenirs for a few certain cute little girls...
3 of them actually.

Now that life is slowly returning back to normal after a fun graduation week with family, it would be accurate to say that my children mostly consumed french fries, gum and juice boxes the entire time.
We've been eating nothing but growing foods since yesterday.
(With our Coco Helado of course.)

Love this boy and his crooked cap. Sorry I didn't notice babe!

Needless to say, because of the rain, we were a bit shiny. I was at least! And I love how Ella pratically wrestled Jordan and smothered Nicolette the entire time they were here. She was so excited to have her cousins here. That's how she shows it.

Thank You Everyone for coming out here to celebrate with us!

It means so much and we had so much fun!

Thanks for making it happen Richard and Janice!

hugs and kisses

Graduation Day.

Columbia University in the City of New York

2010 Commencement

256th Academic Year

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Forecast: rain. all. day.

The President of the University gave a very well said address and here it is:

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/president/docs/communications/2009-2010/100518CommencementAddress.html

We sat in a well protected tent, thanks to Janice and Richard who came early to save seats. I had never seen so many umbrella's (cute ones too!) in such a small area in all of my life. Thank heavens hot chocolate was being sold. It really was a lovely commencement. I could actually describe it as fun (maybe b/c my daughter's were with their aunt's and uncle's) and I don't usually have an attention span for these types of gatherings.

Scott took some pictures on his phone from where he stood in the commencement, I'll probably never get them posted on here.

I made it through the whole commencement without really crying until they started playing Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys as everyone left. Oh, the things that touch me... :)

When he reached home, he was drenched. He aired out his cap and gown, dried his shirt with the blow-dryer and then we took a few pictures of us in our kitchen while he ate a Cup o Noodles to warm up. I also sang him a "Happy graduation Day" song. My mom ran between graduations to buy a warmer outfit! My parents had taken the red-eye flight out to NY and had just arrived....they were so exhautsted. I felt so bad!

So, since we have moved here, whenever on the 1 train heading north or driving on Henry Hudson Parkway, Scott has admired this building. He loves it. Every time we pass by it, he says he wants to go there. Well, his Nursing Graduation just happened to take place there!

Riverside Church

490 Riverside Drive

May 18, 2010

2pm

Pais took a nap.

Most of the crew. The Graham's and Erin were up a few rows.



And then we went to dinner...I'll leave it at that. The food was really good! The service however...let's just say that our visitors got a good New York Experience! I've got some good family pictures from after the graduation to post...just have to edit them! Bryan, Kalyn and Nicolette flew in for the day and flew out that night.

Sunday and Monday

Wicked for all that had not seen it yet...American Museum of Natural History...American Girl Store, where we brought home two new adorable puppies, Sugar and Honey...a yummy lunch...scenic bus rides...fun day with family! (We missed you Elena!)

Norma's sister's were in town for her graduation. They went to the Good Morning America Show and then dropped some extra commencement tickets off to us! Had to take a picture.

American Museum of Natural History

Paisley learned about babies that grow in an egg and babies that grow in a tummy!

You're not going to believe how short her hair is now...pictures to come.

..

Let the Graduation Festivities begin!

Friday and Saturday

I think I take more pictures of people from behind, than not. I was on an exercise bike.

Ella and Aunt Kaydee playing footsies.


Reunited.

We walked to Riverside and played in Hippo Playground.

Paisley loves to sit on warm rocks and let her legs get some sun!

Gary interviewed all of the children.

At Crumbs. Or my new favorite nickname for the place, "Crumb de la Crumb!"

This is how you change your light bulbs too, right?

And, he was standing on a step stool. I wish I had it on video.

We do what we gotta do.