journey | {Fall With} Us | Stephanie Chesebro

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:54:23 -0500

Catch ya on the flip side!

Flip side = MY NEW BLOG!!!

Alrighty lovas, I've made the leap to bigger, better things!

You can see me over here now:

www.latteandlegos.com

See ya soon!

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:28:36 -0500

a YOU challenge

I have a challange for all you foodie mamas! I have a crapton of beef parts that I was given as a package deal when we bought our first organic 1/4 steer. The place we got it from threw in all these "extras" and i didn't want to turn down the challenge of trying new things.

Here goes: I have

Beef tongue

Beef knuckles

Ox Tail

Can you help me out? What would you make with any of these things? Links are helpful and encouraged!!

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:40:16 -0500

first snow!!

Yay!! Yahoo!! Okay - being a meteorologist i get a little too excited over the first snowfall. EVEN if it was only an inch. Blake and I went outside and built a snowman! Of course this was also my sneaky way to get his cuteness on my moms vintage sled. I was SOOO excited when she let me have it! Thanks mom! The sled is an awesome addition to my winter session props!

To see more pictures with this awesome vintage sled visit my Facebook page!

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:55:25 -0500

we are thankful

I know. I am a bit late on this post. Turkey day came and went and I had company, and you know how it goes. Well I do have some fun little things that took place on and around turkey day for ya to make up for the lateness ;)

WE ARE THANKFUL TABLECLOTH

We decided this year to start a new tradition now that the boys are getting older. I bought a white microfiber tablecloth and we wrote what each of us were thankful for and the year in permanent marker. This way we will be able to see what we were thankful for each year and see how we grow and change. (especially he little guys!)

FRUITY FALL TURKEY

I was tasked to help out for Porter's "fall" party (because apparently we are no longer allowed to actually do ANYTHING associated with halloween…hmph…), so did a little searching and found this bad boy on Pinterest. And to be quite honest i CANNOT find the original post. I don't remember what i searched when i found it…ugh. If anyone knows link up!

Anyways heres whatcha need to make this glorious bird:

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:13:52 -0500

Secret little Toy Store

I just discovered the cutest little toy store. The kind of store that carries the not in "big box" store stuff. I am talkin the owner KNOWS the creators of Melissa and Doug. And its right here in Exton! Its called Bull Market Toys and its in right up route 100 in the Eagleview housing area near the Eagleview YMCA.

They have an online store as well with a warehouse full of even more specialty toys. I got a chance to chat with the owner of this toy store and his message was pretty clear. His goal was to give his customers a store they felt comfortable being in, a place that allows your kids to play while you shop, a display not too over bearing with floor to ceiling toys, but rather a well displayed selection of unique one of a kind toys.

He also pointed out (and its genius really) that toys are kind of like the stock market (name of the store…hint hint), If you invest in good quality long term toys, i.e. those that will never go out of style but will only be valued more as time passes, then you'll be able to get out of the toys what you purchase them for with proper care. Makes complete sense :-)

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:32:40 -0500

Super cozy and a toy!

Porter LOVES all things snuggly - so when I introduced him to the Cuddle Uppet he immediately loved it! It wasn't until I showed him that it was a puppet too that it instantly became his new sleep pal and play toy! He loves creating shows with his doggy Cuddle Uppet.

Would be a fantastic christmas gift for any kid - it's such a cute way to snuggle up!

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:16:34 -0500

10,000 cookie project

Okay so I thought this was an awesome idea!

Backstory…

There is a woman i know of who baked a dozen chocolate chip cookies for her husband to bring to work. One day she got a call from an HR lady at his company who LOVED the cookies and said the big boss guy was interested in giving out her cookies as a christmas gift to al of the employees at this company. A quarterly news article listed below shows an example of last years efforts. (CertainTeed)

There is a need for volunteers this year again and I told her I would pass along the information to all of my readers! So here is a letter from Rosemary about the project! If you can make either date - all help is welcome!

Hello Friends and Family,

I have been talking about it all year and now the time has come!! This is an invitation to join me in earning $10,000 for World Vision. This year, the money will be used to rebuild lives of the victims of Superstorm Sandy.

How can you help? Put on an apron and help me bake, package and ship 10,000 chocolate chip cookies. With your help, we can accomplish this in 7 hours! But this project needs MANY hands on deck...so please invite any responsible individuals who have a heart for helping. There is a 47 foot oven in the middle of the shop, so as far as bringing younger people to help...bring anyone who is old enough to be careful around that kind of equipment. Also, do not feel like you need to be available the entire time. Shifts will be personalized to the hours you can make it.

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:14:16 -0400

Exton mall play area GRAND OPENING

I was super excited to be one of the area bloggers to attend the Exton mall exclusive pre ribbon cutting ceremony where there was face painting, Chik-Fila-a drinks and food, free kids toys, a clown making balloon animals and most importantly a bag of goodies! So needless to say as much fun as we had at the pre ribbon cutting ceremony - Blake was SOOO SUPER excited to get into the NEW play are to start playing! He had a ball! Thanks Exton mall for the new play area, and thanks very much for the goodies.

Goodies included:

$25 GC to Exton mall

Flower in flower pot from Waterloo Gardens (not shown)

Pear scented soy Wax candle from Waterloo Gardens

Box of Kids stackable building cards

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:56:07 -0400

My 30th Birthday - 30 RAOK

This list is the list of some of the 30 random acts i did during the 30 weeks before my 30th birthday! It was fulfilling and fun. And so great to help other people.

1. Helped a co-worker who was going through upsetting home issues by baking cupcakes and leaving an encouraging note

2. Encouraging sticky notes

3. Thank you note to the mailman

4. A large then usual tip for your hairdresser

5. Lotto Ticket taped to lotto vending machine

6. Bought some groceries for an older lady

7. Donated to the animal hospital

8. Baked a Yummy ‘bake sale’ treat

9. Mowed a neighbros lawn

10. Bought dessert for a table at a resturaunt

11. Overpayed for an item on craigslist

12. Sent a Friend an out of the blue letter

13. Payed parking in exhausted meters

14. Pushed Carts to inside the store not to stalls

15. Helped someone with their gardening

16. Lotto ticket in addition to payment for a service provided

17. Put quarters in kids toy machines for the next kids who saw it

18. Taped quarters on pepsi machine

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:36:25 -0400

ROAK - 30th Birthday week!

Let me clarify something here. I loved doing the RAOK throughout the last 30 weeks. But it's not as easy as i thought it would be. Not that doing nice things are easy. There are just those days…those days when you are feeling great, want to be nice to everyone you see, do those acts that puts smiles on peoples faces…and then theres those people. You know them. The ones who are in a hurry, who force cut in line, frown at everyone, and are just plain miserable to everyone around them. In my experience, I sometimes have to think about - this person could be having a rotten day. Try a little bit harder to be nice, or smile, or just plain force your niceness on to them. Heck - I'm sure we have plenty of coworkers who come in every day with an attitude that they want no part of talking or engaging in normalcies with anyone around them. Just miserable.

As far as my last few RAOK - since i was taken off guard with some sicknesses in the past couple weeks…I made up the rest of the ones i had left all at once!

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:13:56 -0400

in a mammas world

I never thought of myself as a stay at home mommy. And i guess technically I am not, completely. But i have been divulging in more mamma type activities. I gotta say it is kinda nice. I do like spending time with my little guy.

I love that i can see him communicate with the world and pick up so many words. He forms little sentences, and tries so hard to copy the things that Porter does. Oh he is just so beyond his years. Everyone who knows him says he is so fun and full of energy. Oh he is. He is. He is spunky, and defiant and mischievous, and inquisitive, and i can't wait to see what kind of a boy…then man he becomes.

This kid. He has my heart. I am so giddy when I ask for a kiss and rather the 100 times he says " no mommy"…he instead he says "oh tay".

Week 23 - Help the hungry and homeless

While in NYC i bought a bagel from a street vendor and gave it to a homeless man with a sign that said homeless and hungry. I love knowing he won't go hungry again…

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:55:59 -0400

oh the guilt - and vacation photos!

Does anyone ever feel guilty when they aren't taking the time to sit down and really play with their kids? Theres always one more thing that NEEDS to get done, right? One more load of laundry, one more book to pick up off the floor, one more text to reply to, or a quick phone call you missed because you were making lunch for the littles. I. feel.guilty. like all the time. I come home, and my first thought is, i miss the heck out of my boys. I should play with them! But i walk in the door and instead, walk right to the sink of dishes from the morning rush that were left because i had to run out the door as to not be late to getting Porter to the bus. Then comes dinner, well i can't play if i have to make dinner…and then clean up…and so on…until its that moment of peace.

Dishes done. Dinner cleaned up. At last a couple minutes to relax. So…choices do i indulge in a few extra minutes of me time since the boys seem to be playing well together (finally!!) or do i join them??

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:07:33 -0400

more like {fall behind}

Im really late at posting my RAOK - but here goes -

Week 24 - donated boys underwear (NEW of course!) to Cradles for Crayons

Their missions is:

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive - at home, at school and at play. We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need.

Week 25 - Helped a friend in need - Picked up a friends kids so they wouldn't be late to getting their kids from the babysitter. (darn main line traffic!)

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 21:24:37 -0400

its late and i can't think

Try this on:

- Porter says he has heart hair - since he has wicked crows peak in his hair.

- I hate writing i realize, and I'm also not very good at it.

- Blake actually mauled Porter tonight. I am pretty sure that was his way of saying i miss you brother.

- i hate when people divulge way to much about their day on Facebook. I just can't unfriend them…yet. I don't have it in me.

- i am pretty super proud of my work out results, can't wait to show of my new bathing suit on vacation.

thats all i got.

Week 23 - Went out of my way to meet some neighbors

Theres always this older lady on our street who walks her dogs by our house, she is always alone. I really never see anyone visiting her. I felt like she might need an ear. I stopped her when she was walking her dog, and she seemed so grateful and talked to me for at least an hour. Asked me all kinds of questions about all kinds of things.

Week 20 - random cheer for a little girl

I decided to run to Five Below to pick

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:45:51 -0400

randomness

So as some of you may know - I attended the Honeyfest this past weekend. It is an event to help raise money for the PKD foundation. I did semi posed super fun photos with the event goers. I am hoping it is a hit with the people who's pictures i took. But either way it was a new experience for me.

As far as my RAOK for last week - I kinda didn't do it till Saturday. Here it is.

Week 21 - random cheer for a little girl

I decided to run to Five Below to pick up couple last minute items for the Honeyfest and as I was walking to the store entrance I saw a little girl crying - no more then 4 years old - in her dads (I assumed) arms. I could tell the cry… swell as the hug - was because she must have hurt herself somehow. I decided pretty quick to go in grab a small candy bar and ran it out to the little girl as her dad was buckling her into her seat. The dad said she had tripped over the curb. I don't know whether she was allowed to have candy but hr dad and she seemed really appreciative! :)

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:00:40 -0400

im a horrible blogger

What a way to start the post huh! But seriously i have been pretty awful about keeping up with my posts. Latest news: Sold the leather couch (yahoo!), revamped the whole living area (it was in desperate need…), preparing for kindergarten (cryfest anyone?), trying hard to NOT drink during the week means catching up on the weekends, Dutch Wonderland, My moms 50th birthday party/spa getaway, amongst some other random things going on.

Heres some Random pictures to sum up my last month of fun and craziness :)

In the meantime I have been trying to prepare for our vacation coming up. Finding swim suits (that are not crazily backordered VS!) Its like you have to order them 3 months ahead of time to actually get it on a date you want it. Blah. Also making little travel books for the boys so they have something other then DVD's to watch on the long journey. Also so i can keep my sanity a bit on the ride ;)

Week 20- A little neighborly cheer

Porter has been asking to do this for weeks. I wanted to be able to do it but the past few weeks have been such a blur…so last week (yes last week I'm that far behind in posting geesh!) Porter made a handful of pictures and we went on a bike ride to hand them out to our neighbors :)

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 22:52:20 -0400

NYC for work

This week i was in NYC for work. I say that loosely as i happen to really like going to NYC. Its so full of liveliness and interesting people. I love love seeing all of the fashion forward types that have such great style. I usually steal ideas while I'm there. Plus as a bonus I got to see a really nice storm head straight toward me while i was there. (check my FB page - i posted a picture -id post it here but seriously…I'm feeling a bit lazy at the moment.) The storm turned out to be kinda lame…mainly rain and some wind. Nothing crazy. The umbrellas were stinkin hilarious though. There were some really pathetic umbrellas - i have no idea why…but just awful. I mean a garbage bag over a pole would have been better then some of the ones i saw. Very "LOL" moments.

and this weeks RAOK - I kinda did 2.

Week 19 - "Man your stuff's gonna get wet"…and some homeless guy

While in NYC and standing in the rain drinking my Starbucks, I saw a guy with a paper shopping bag full of new clothes, and the bottom was basically torn out and ready to pop. He had no clue. His stuff would have surely dropped out and what a start to your day! So i pointed it out to the kind sir and he was very appreciative :)

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 13:33:37 -0400

week 18 RAOK

Whoa folks, its the latter half of my 30 weeks. What the heck happened. Its all a downhill slide to 30. I gotta keep telling myself 30 is ok. I mean technically out of all my friends, i am the LAST one to turn 30….so it really can't be that bad

So this week was kinda a blur. Went by fast. Thats a good thing - found out my chairs i ordered from Pier one are in today woohoo! Also have some interest in our craiglisted furniture. Cant wait to be rid of our many leather couch.

Week 18 - Vending fun

Quarters taped to a vending machine:) Simple…

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 20:19:48 -0400

chit chat

Teeth brushed, check. Jammies on, check. Book read, check. Lights out, check…wait no darn it forgot to pull the chain, ok went in pulled chain…lights out, check.

And the chit chat of the cutest little boys starts.

Porter - "Blake - help me clean my bed"

Blake - "clean the wall"

Porter - "Blake lets talk to people on outside walking"

Blake - "O Tay"

Porter - "Ok you say hi then I say hi"

Blake - "Hi doggie!"

Porter - "Blake go clean the other side of my bed -and help me do this"

Blake - "…"

it goes on…you get the idea…its what i live for. The moments they can chat and act like brothers. Love it.

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 19:53:35 -0400

a week of family

I forget what its like to have family around who can really help you. We got the chance to have Jeff's niece down for a the week last week and it was great! She helped with the kids and general toy pickup. (which in itself was a huge help!) Those kids are so stinkin messy…Wish i had a full time maid to help with just toys and cleaning. Life would be grand. All's good in love and messy kids.

So this past weeks random act of kindness (yup i am on to the coin posts from previous weeks because i simply never feel like posting on a Friday) was again one for Porter to enjoy.

Week 17- Quarters everywhere

Porter put a quarter in one of those kids prize machines. I told him to pick one and he did. He was so great he didn't even ask me for anything from the machines. He was really cute and said

"If i was gonna get something it would be bubble gum - and thats why i chose the bubble gum machine"

I fully expected him to want something too. We have never gotten anything from one of those machines since my mom told me a story f when i was 2 she got m a little prize from the machine and every time we would walk by the machines i would throw a fit wanting something…i never wanted that to happen…