Words To Live By

Seeing as how I'm married, this does not apply to me.

On the other hand, seeing as how I'm a {big time} Jane Eyre fan and was a tiny bit smitten with Mia and Michael after seeing them portray Rochester and Jane....Well it totally does. And come on...it's so funny.

Most importantly; this is for my single gal pals. {Bailey...this means you<3}

xO-Etheline

In Memoriam

Happy Memorial Day my American friends!!

This Memorial Day is a wee bit different for us. If at home I'd be gearing up for BBQ and wearing shorts and flip flops that mirrored the above picture. Instead Royal and I are going horseback riding, you heard me, horse back riding. The 7 year old little girl in me is crazed with excitement. Yes, I was one of those little girls who adored horses, but only rode a pony around a circle once. {lol} Tomorrow though all of her dreams will be coming true! Isn't Royal the best??

Moving On...

Even though we are experiencing life in a new way doesn't mean that we forget who we are. {Patriots!! Yes we are from New England} Tomorrow is a day to remember all those who have fought valiantly for our freedoms. It's a time to share stories of my pop-pop who served in the Korean War with my kiddos. I love the memories I have of this man and cannot wait to tell some of my great memories of him.I was lucky enough that he did not have to give his life, but I know others through out the many decades of our country's short life have not been so lucky.

It is my sincere hope that we can, amongst all the fun, take a moment of pause today and observe a moment of silence with our friends and loved ones to remember the brave men and women who have served fiercely for these United States. For our home.

xO- Etheline

Weekend Wrap Up

This week? Not so good. Parts were fine, but over I feel like I'm being dropped off for the weekend; emotionally raw with hints of melancholy, and somehow over the weekend  I'm suppose to find a way to patch myself back up. That should be good. The only person I feel like I can turn to is my savior. That through prayer I may feel his love for me. That I can be lifted back up through his grace and mercy.

{via}

While I won't do into the details of why I find myself strongly identifying with the above picture I'll just say that on top of everything else I think I'm becoming lactose intolerant. Can one all of a sudden become lactose intolerant? Is that even possible? I'd love to know? Any of you had weird experiences like this?? The idea of having to give up dairy products just makes me want to cry. What will I do without Cherry Garcia? I practically survived on chocolate ice cream and glasses of milk {usually 4-5 glasses a day} while I was pregnant with Margot. And no more cheese? Really?? Ciao delicious Ina Garten mac and cheese. I am Irish, doesn't my body know that I have to have to have milk while eating spaghetti?? Let's hope this passes.

I know down and dumpy posts are no way to win friends and influence people, but I just needed a spot to vent. I usually keep things happy and up beat, but today, in this moment, I just needed to as Claire Colburn would say, "get into the deep beautiful melancholy of everything that's happened."  Hopefully Monday will bring more beauty and less melancholy.

Have a happy weekend. Now if you'll excuse me I've got A LOT of work to do, and by work I mean praying<3

xO- Etheline

A Few of My Favorite Things: Blogs

As stated in my last post I have been trying to weed out the things in my life that take away more than add. This is especially true for my blog reading cause, boy can I ever get sucked in. I can have 20 tabs open if I'm not careful; just exploring new blogs. Let's be fair though-- visiting and commenting on new blogs can be fun and even good for your own blog. For myself I have come up with a few simple ways to help me decide if they are a keeper of if I'll throw them back into the sea that is the world wide web.

Tips on Keeping You Blog Roll Simple: 

 - Chances are if you fall in love with one, you'll fall in love with their sponsor! Beware. This is how I got hooked the last time..lol That being said it's how I have found some of the best blogs that I feel cater to my life at this time, so go me!!

- Once I found one that has convinced me that we were friends in a past life, or something equally as embarrassing I save them to my bookmarks banner. Easy access ya know.

- If after commenting on a few of their posts and they are sweet enough to take the time and visit mine and comment as well...Well, duh, they are officially a keeper.

- This last tip is the easiest one-- if they keep you coming back for more, give up. You are hooked my friend. Like a fish on a line! I usually give them about a week to a week and a half depending on how frequently they post.

Current Top 5 Favorite Blogs: 

 1.

{via}

  La Famille is all about...family. Alicia is a mother of 3 and home school super hero! She posts about life, family, and has the best sense of humor! She runs a great Etsy shop and once you learn about The Happy Day Project you will return not once or twice, but dozens of times. {Is my hook showing?}

 

2.

{via}

The Simply Luxurious Life is one of my most recent obsessions. Shannon runs a clean site filled with great photos {thank you pinterest}, but more importantly great words. Her posts always stay with me throughout the remainder of the day as they are smart, practical, and forward thinking. Her "Why Not..." series is my absolute favorite.They include questions from Why not....stop competing with others, to Why not...Invest in your dreams? Great stuff, really!

3.

{via}

 

 

So TJ runs this blog and when you stop by you will know why His Little Lady is on the list. She is a Peeta fan and in my book, well that's just enough. Her little notes are so cute and always levels with her readers. I love that! Her readers are loyal gals...we are talking upwards of 70 comments daily. {oi!} And she's nice enough to stop by Her Eclectic Life and leave some love. Awesome!

4.

{via}

Brunch at Saks? Yes please? Who wants to meet me? This fun lifestyle blog is run by Annemarie out in LA. She focuses mainly on fashion, home decor, and entertainment....just a few of my favorite things. You wouldn't believe some of the things she finds or the people she meets. Guess that's Hollywood for ya. I wouldn't know though, I'm an east coast gal!!

5.

{via}

 

Reviving the charming arts of Etiquette. I absolutely adore this! I mean the whole things really just sounds like a reading a book while floating on a cloud or something. Honestly though...in a world that gets to wrapped up in technology I think sometimes we forget how to interact with others, let alone properly. Anastasia provides excellent tips to help with this. She also does great old Hollywood celeb spotlights that I just can't get enough of  as well as a "best dressed of the week" poll for fashion which is fun if you are into that kind of thing. Which; I am.

Well that about raps it up here for this edition of A Few of My Favorite Things. I hope you take a peek at some of these blogs. I promise you won't regret it. These women provide me with great inspiration for my life and I hope they will do the same for you. So thanks. What are some of your favorite blogs that you read all the time. Share them with me in the comments section so I can check them out too.

xO- Etheline

{I should also mention if any photos have been used in an unpleasing manner I apologize. Let me know and I will remove them immediately. I'm still very much trying to get the hang of this all. Thanks in advance for understanding}

Words to Live by

Even though I have as much in common with the great DVF, as a polar bear to a tanning bed, I couldn't agree with her words more. 

{via}

In the last year or so I have been focusing on minimizing my life and being there in the everyday special moments with my husband and kids. I have learned that to keep order in my home I can no longer allow myself to be pulled into so many directions. It just leaves sad children, a messy home, and an unhappy mama. Instead I have been able to weed out all the things I like to do and just keep the things that actually help my family and bring me the most joy around. They are three things; home school, reading, and writing. I cant express the joy that has been present in my life with making these choices. Some women can do it all, all the time. I my friends, am simply not one of them, and that's okay with me. I am coming into the women I have always wanted to be. I have started to be able to make out that balance that has in the past always been blurry, but is now coming into focus. And I like what I see.

What have you always wanted to be??

xO-Etheline

in need of:: cheering

I had hair down to my bottom when I was younger. My mother would never let me cut it until I was at least 11.

See what I mean???

Since then I have had it short, never longer than my shoulders. I had worn it long for half of my life and now that I finally had a say-- I was going to wear it short gosh darn it!! {hehe}

Here I am at 17 with my best friend....hair= short

And again at 21...I loved the pixie!

and finally  24. Are we seeing a pattern here??

Last but not least....26

The last photo is what I try to look like on a good day, even if I have to pretend. Isn't it always the way when you look in the mirror and do and over all check before you walk out the door and feel great. Then when you stumble back in you are appalled at what you see?? No? {tap tap tap..is this thing on??} Please don't tell me I'm the only one who ever wonders...how long had that rouge piece of hair been on the loose??

Moving on...

I have as of the past few months been on a grow your hair out kick. And let me tell you...with hair that grows this slow I'll be a grandmother before I have the locks to pull off some of the hairstyles I've been dying to do.

Stuff like this---
 

{via}

{via}

And this...

{via}

{via}

 Oh to have locks that will flow down my back again!! I am in such desperate need of a support team to root me on my way!!! Your cheers will be VERY much appreciated. I come to you as a girl who when she was bored with life during her high school years would either cut or dye her hair. This is no easy task I am embarking on. 


Any tips or secrets to help hair grow faster would be mega appreciated. {btw::: I have 3 kids...the prenatal vitamins tip doesn't work on me...is there no hope then?? lol}


Happy Monday Darlings--


xO-Etheline

Weekend Wrap Up

This past week was great. It was stuffed with family time, learning experiences for everyone, good conversations between Royal and I. The kind that make me take pause while I'm reminded of how lucky I am to be his wife, eternally.  Check these snap shots out, you'll see what I mean....

Royal and I took a friend motorcycle out for the day and explored Armenia

Beautiful countryside:: Beautiful man

Brothers forever

Getting swimming instruction from Dad. We are determined to have it down pat by summers end

Birthday brownie....for breakfast! Yay for 3:)

"All mine!!"

Does this not make your heart melt? Can't.....handle......

Hope you have most excellent weekend my friends. Be safe and live it up. Work on a project that you have been putting off, eat that cupcake {or 3}, or read that extra chapter to your kids. You'll never be sorry you did!!

xO- Etheline

fun tips for learning a new language

So in my normal fashion I decided not to worry about that fact that I didn’t speak a lick of Spanish even though we were jetting off to South America. That because I’m so awesome I would instead be able to just summon English speakers to bump into me in the streets. This was so not the case, but I didn’t let that get me down. Even though I haven’t been able to prefect the art of summoning yet, I do pride myself in being able to keep a positive attitude and am a believer in the power of positive thinking. Having a husband attached to my hip who easily picks up new languages doesn’t hurt a bit either;)

{via}

My vocabulary is still well under 150 words {I think}, but I have picked up a couple of cool tips on learning a new language from some friends of mine along the way and I wanted to share them with you guys.

Tip from Liz Gilbert-

 Translate one newspaper article a day. In Eat, Pray, Love Liz said she would do this and it took her about an hour. Unfortunately I don’t really have the ability to do this every day with 3 kids running around, but I have been able to do a couple and it totally helps. I swear I’ll be able to read Spanish before I’ll be able to speak it. And this is only with 3 or 4 articles under my belt people.

{via}

Tip from Tim Ferris-

  When learning a new language immerses yourself in a topic you want to learn about. If you can’t stand economics don’t translate an article about commerce. Study what interests you. A week or so after I was here I picked up a copy of Glamour magazine. I loved it! It was in Spanish, and I enjoyed what I was translating as well. Good point about magazines vs newspapers is that magazines generally have more spotlight pieces with only a word count generally fewer than 50 words so you can translate something more quickly. Like when you are waiting for water to boil for pasta, or your kids are playing in the back yard.

Personal Tip-

Don’t use Google translate for the articles!! While I find that is it defiantly the most accurate for quick look ups-- if you take the time to look up the word in your dictionary, you are more likely to remember it.

Tip from Royal-

Get these flashcards!! They are fantastic!! They also have several other categories such as medical, SAT prep, and school topics. 

{via}

Second Personal Tip-

 Don’t rush into getting a tutor or enrolling in a language class when you get to where you are going. Even if tons of people don’t speak English tons of people want to learn how. People will want to practice with you—for free!! Ask around for a language exchange partner. Or you can also jump on this great website called Conversation Exchange which basically does the same thing, only has a broader search since it’s online. It also gives you the option to find people who want to practice, but on Skype as well. So if you aren’t going somewhere for a few months jump on and find someone’s profile that sounds like a good match for you. Contact them and practice ahead of time and {BONUS} you’ll already have a friend when you go.

How many of you can speak another language? I want to be able to raise my hand, but I’m still a work in progress. Do you guys have tips to share with me? I’d love to hear them.

xO-Etheline

glorious summer

All my life I have been a humongous fall/winter advocate. I think that if in the correct region, it is the absolute GREATEST time of year. The way the winds changes and the temperature turns crisp to match the freshness of the season’s apples harvest. And the school supplies, oh, the school supplies. I love the smell of a freshly sharpen pencil. As Tom Hanks would say, “I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.” When fall comes upon us a tee-shirt will no longer do, and instead you have to max out your outfit with cute sweaters and scarfs. I love the way my kids get to crunch through the leaves as we knock on door to door on Halloween.  What can I say about fall other than, “Who loves you baby??” Me, me, me!

{via}

With all this being said, however, as the hot months that I usually kick and scream against in rebellion are fast approaching I find myself massively craving a good old fashion American summer— And even though it’s kinda hot where we are right now and we can do certain things—it’s just not the same.

One of my favorite things to kick of the summer is to watching the Kentucky Derby. I’m not what one would call a southern belle, hick, or redneck, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE watching the Kentucky Derby. It’s the kickoff of my summer sports season. And this year I’m going to miss it.  Then worst of all I’m going to miss all the summer Olympics. They happen once every 4 years and of course it falls on the summer on gone.  Uber sadness here folks!

{via}

I am missing taking our kids to the ballpark and watch as our team plays the American favorite pastime. I miss having our hand placed over our hearts as we sing the National Anthem in the glorious heat of summertime. I miss the days that are so hot that nothing can cure them, but the hose and a sprinkle you pick up Home Depot for less than 5 bucks that provides hours of fabulous play. I miss when the days are long and the nights are short and I have to drag my kids in with bribes of Rita’s Cherry water ice.

{via}

{via}

 Summer is when we get to celebrate our nation’s birthday on the 4^th of July. We do this with the gathering of friends and family, the BBQing of the best hot dogs the world {Nathans} accompanied by big fat juicy cheese burgers. And at night we anxiously await seeing the splendid boom of fireworks that retells the story of our countries birth. That “we will not go silently into the night.”

{via}

{via}

{via}

  Then there’s the daily things that get you through the days, awaiting Dave Matthews summer tour schedule, swimming classes for the kids with their friends, free family night concerts in the park, bowling on those “just to hot” days, and midnight summer blockbuster movies with Royal. You know, just the ordinary daytime fillers. {lol}

{via}

 Don’t get me wrong here I am over the moon with all the new things I’m getting to experience these days. I am, really. I know that these memories I’m making are once in a lifetime and extraordinary. It’s just that before now I’ve always strongly disliked summer. It’s been my least favorite of the seasons. Just so dang hot! Now, that for the first time in my life I don’t have it lurking off in the distance and I am realizing how much I truly do love it. I guess the moral of the story is to be happy with every blazing ray of sun, crack of bat at the baseball game, boom of every firework, and lick of every ice cream because even though it’s not know as “the most wonderful time of the year”  it really is.

What are you looking forward to most this summer? Do you have any special plans or trips coming up? I won’t pretend that I didn’t try to convince Royal to go home and complete one of my bucket list items over the summer {attend a baseball game at every US stadium} No such luck so far, but I won’t give up.

xO- Etheline

Music Monday

OH how I love falling in love with new music. Yes, the videos a little weird but we are hear for the beats!! Turn it up and dance it out!! That's an order<33

xO-Etheline

be back soon

I am officially giving myself the day off today.  Why you ask?  This is a very big weekend for our family.

-Chaz, our oldest boy is turning 5
-Royal and I will be celebrating our 6th anniversary as husband and wife
-Mother's Day

We are about to let some serious good times roll around this place.

{via}

Don't worry- I'll be back monday soon. Have a fantastic weekend darlings!

xO-Etheline

a recipe for making lemonade

I need to be blunt for a moment. Can you bare with me a sec??

This past week I thought I found something in my body that would forever alter the course of my life. Dramatic I know, but there you have it. I spent most of the morning in tears and not focusing on the worst case scenario, but focusing on if indeed the worst case WAS the scenario. Imagining all the things I would miss out on. I was sobbing because the thought of even try to begin to say goodbye my children and husband overwhelmed me with a grief and sorrow I never knew I was capable of experiencing.

Now before I continue I should say that after further examination it turned out to be nothing. Weird internal organ positioning --which caused a cameo of the hypochondriac version of myself.  I should clarify that when your grandmother died the same age you are now of breast cancer, your red flags are always at half-mast.

This crazy turn of events led to another fun character trait I occasionally let out of the box {smidge extreme}. I decided to put pen to paper and actually whip out my bucket list that has been accruing in my brain for the past few years.

Have you ever made a bucket list? I feel like I’m ahead of the curve since I’m only 26 and have a while before I’m 87, since I decided that’s when I’ll be happy to head for heaven. If you haven’t made a bucket; what are you waiting for? Start out small, what’s the one thing at the top of your list you will be doing in your life?? These things don’t have to be extreme my friends, I just know how we can become very comfortable in our everyday routines and get stuck in the mind frame of “Oh, I can do it tomorrow.” But it was the wise Benjamin Franklin who said one of my favorite quotes, “Never leave that for tomorrow what you can do today.”   

Etheline’a Bucket List: {in no particular order}

1. GREAT Dave Matthew seats
2.

{via}

3. Take the kids to see the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade

4. Read the BBC Top 100 books

5. Narrate and audio book

6. Spend 3 months straight surfing

7. Run a marathon {half, full, quarter…lol}

8. Celebrate my 65^th wedding anniversary with Royal

9. Become fluent in Italian--plus

{via}

10. Become fluent in Swedish

11.Bake my way through my favorite baking cookbook

12. Live in Philadelphia  

13. Season tickets to Phillies game and go to every home game

14. Road trip and attend a baseball game at every park in the US

15. Camping for New Years in Maine to be the first person to celebrate new years

16. See Redwood National Park

17. Go to the ice hotel in Sweden

18. See the aurora borealis
19. take route 66 and 

{via}

20. Go to an Olympics

21. Attend the Kentucky derby and wear a massive hat

22. Go to finals of the tennis grand slams

23. meet an A List celebrity {Martin Sheen, Rachel McAdam, Julia Roberts, ect}

24.Attend a taping of BBC Top Gear
25.

{via}

 26. Take a pottery class

27. Live on a sail boat for a month

28. Live in Central/South America

29. Go to a butterfly garden

30. See the Taj Mahal

31. Cover my hands with Henna

32. Walk the El Camino de Santiago with Royal

33. Motorcycle through Vietnam when the kids are older

34. Publish a book
35.  Be a mother that my children love and respect/
 

{via}

36. Go bungee jumping

37. Read the Book of Mormon in a month

38. Become a certified sharpshooter

39. See Phantom of the Opera on Broadway

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.

48.

49.

50.

Words To Live By

I have always had a special place in my heart for the term "darling". There is just something so romantic and ethereal about it. Like when the words leaves your lips the level of devotion is as high as the heavens in which your love descended.  Darling, can you help me put the kids to bed? How was your day darling?

{via}

The flip side of darling is that you can also use it in a goofy extravagant way as well. And really when you put the two of these together you nail my personality on the head. Reverent Love meets Goofy Extravagance. Meeting up with your girlfriends for brunch? Hello darling. {kisses on each cheek} Disagreeing child? Darling, that tone will get you know where!

What is your go to word of endearment? Be honest-- Are you a sweet cheeks kind of girl or more of a honey woman??

xO- Etheline

Have you seen this??

It never ceases to amaze me when I stumble upon random things that people make on the internet that are uber funny to me because it’s something I would make. Their sense of humor or likes are so similar to mine I can’t help but think to myself; best friends in another life. {Lol} 

Seeing as how the internet is its on big wide world, I doubt I'm the only to ever think this; to see a website and just crack up because the content is so hilarious. 

Now if like me and you:

A. Loved The Notebook
B. Think Ryan Gossling is a good looking man and 
C. Have a weakness for all things Young Adult Fiction

Than take a look at this website--

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

Funny; right?  It's just a little blip in your Monday to help you get a good giggle in—

xO-Etheline

Weekend Wrap Up

This past week we jumped on a plane and left Bogota and headed to another city in Colombia called Armenia. Wait until you hear about this place. No, seriously you'll have to wait till next week. ;) For the moment though here's some visual candy of what we have done in the last week.

@ Jardin Botanical Garden

Playing in the Butterfly Farm

The Little Girl is Starting to Tag Along

Apples at 3000 feet

In addition to our photos I decided earlier in the week to help you all get to know little old me better we'd start off slow and I'd share 4 things about myself every Friday. Let's see how this goes over instead...shall we-

1.  I love to write. I've been working on a book for sometime now. Did you know that? I would love some feedback. If I posted the 1st chapter would you be interested?? DO tell...

2. Yes I am the {more often than not} responsible mother of 3 children, but love listening to Nirvana and Raidiohead {especially Creep}. I love stumbling upon new music, but to be honest I love listening to the same old stuff. Tuesday Night at the Music Club by Sheryl Crow circa 1994 baby!

3. Reading was never my favorite thing growing up. In 2008 I read Twilight {i know, i know} and that all changed. I read 50 books that year.

4. Now with the boom of Nooks, Kindle, and audio books I am afraid that words on paper will become obsolete. Because we are traveling now I have an Ipad and read books on my nook now and audio book on iTunes. Tell me, what does "I read a book" mean to you. Does listening to an audio book count as reading?

5.I'm the kind of girl who hates the words flighty and indecisive. I prefer the idea of, depending on the mood I'm in, wandering around from passion to passion.

What are your plans for the weekend? Will you be enjoying the sunshine and spring flowers? Working on a DIY project that has been on your mind ever since you fell in love with it on pinterest? Taking in a baseball game? Whatever it is, I hope you all enjoy yourselves.

 xO-Etheline