Monday, July 31, 2017
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October 27, 1911
The day my amazing Grandma was born.
102 years ago.
Today, my amazing Grammy turned 102.
102 years old.
I can't believe it.
She still lives in her house by herself....at 102 years old!!!
(My aunt lives a few blocks away and checks in on her each day & does her grocery shopping for her) but for 102, Grammy is still pretty self sufficient for her age.....can still walk, get herself dressed & fixes herself meals.
But, her vision is decreasing, her hearing is declining and her memory is starting to fade.
All of this is understandable, considering she is 102.
We headed to Grammy's yesterday for a Family Birthday Party.
It was so great to see all my cousins on my mom's side and all their kids.
Grammy's favorite color is pink (just like me) so, there was lots of pink at her party.
Grammy & my Mom (her daughter):
Me & Grammy:
My mom, my sisters & I and Grammy:
So thankful Grammy has gotten to meet my 3 kids.
So thankful Grammy has gotten to meet my 3 kids.
I made my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes (recipe here) with pink frosting, of course:
Singing Happy Birthday:
Everyone always asks Grammy her advice for living so long & for being in such good health (physically and mentally....her memory is still sharp!!)Here is her list of advice:
1. Surround yourself with your family and people you love.
2. Drink Coffee every morning.
3. Have a Happy Hour cocktail everyday (Grammy's preference is a Cranberry Vodka)
4. Stay away from hospitals & doctors.
5. Be positive.
1. Surround yourself with your family and people you love.
2. Drink Coffee every morning.
3. Have a Happy Hour cocktail everyday (Grammy's preference is a Cranberry Vodka)
4. Stay away from hospitals & doctors.
5. Be positive.
I am not going to lie, this was a very emotional visit with Grammy.
The last time I saw her was this Spring and her memory has really taken a down turn since I last saw her. Grammy's memory has always been REALLY sharp, but not as much anymore.
She would sometimes forget who was talking to her and I had to remind her of my kids names a few times. It was not like this a few months ago.
It was really, really, really hard for me to see that yesterday.
It it totally understandable, I mean she is 102 and of course her memory is going to fade, but it was just hard to see that happening.
I gave her a big birthday hug as we left.
She told me how much she loved me and that I need to come back and visit soon.
Grammy has lived a really incredible life.
I am so lucky to have a Grandma like her.
She is one of the most inspirational women I know.
Happy, Happy, Happy 102nd Birthday Grammy!
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Requesting Help for Two Kids Who Lost Their Parents
You guys know that I very rarely ask you to donate money towards any specific causes on this blog, right? In fact, I think the only time I've done that was when my good friend Keri was going through breast cancer (now she is doing great six years later!). Today I'm posting because two wonderful people died in a horrible car accident last week. Their story has moved me to tears many times and it made me feel ill when I first heard the news Friday morning. I constantly think, 'that could have been us, or any other young parents that we know.' This could have happened to anyone. So much can change in an instant...it's just so unfair.
I did not know Shari and Bram personally, but they were dear friends of my friends, Kelly and Dizzy. When Dizzy asked me to post about them on my blog to ask for prayers and donations, I jumped at the chance. You can read their story from Dizzy below, check out the news link for more information, and then I hope you feel moved enough to donate money towards their two small children. At ages 2 years and 2 months, I just cannot stop thinking about these kids who will never remember their parents. I feel like this is one of my worst nightmares and it seems unimaginable as reality. If anything ever happened to Nate and myself, I know I'd want our kids to be supported by everyone and anyone.
Hi to Julia’s readers and thank you for reading this. I know most of you are moms, or hope to be someday, and I thought Julia’s blog would be a great forum to tell this heartbreaking story and to ask for your help (and prayers)!
This past weekend, my high school friend Shari and her husband Bram died in a car accident, leaving behind their two sweet children, Wesley (2 years) and Charlotte (2 months). I don’t think I can come close to describing how devastating this tragedy has been for everyone involved. Shari and Bram were a radiant, happy couple and are already so missed by their family and friends. We are doing all we can to keep their memory alive for their children, and the outpouring of love the last few days has been amazing!
My wonderful friends have set up a few different ways to donate money for Wesley and Charlotte, if you feel so inclined. Please see the links below for further information on how to donate and more information on Shari and Bram’s story.
Thank you so much!
Dizzy
Here is where you should go to donate. No amount is too little for two small children who will grow up without their parents. I think that the GoFundMe site seems easiest to navigate and am blown away by how many people have already donated. I'm headed over there when I publish this and hope you feel moved to give something, too. Shari and Bram were obviously very loved and I know that Wesley and Charlotte are, too.
Here is the most recent news coverage on Shari and Bram's story. I tried to embed the video but couldn't, so you will just have to click on the link.
Here is the blog that Dizzy's friend, Kelly, set up for Shari and Bram's friends and family. There are so many beautiful pictures and updates on this site, and it shows that everyone wants to support these children and their remaining family.
Thank you, readers, for your time and thoughts!
Dizzy
Here is where you should go to donate. No amount is too little for two small children who will grow up without their parents. I think that the GoFundMe site seems easiest to navigate and am blown away by how many people have already donated. I'm headed over there when I publish this and hope you feel moved to give something, too. Shari and Bram were obviously very loved and I know that Wesley and Charlotte are, too.
Here is the most recent news coverage on Shari and Bram's story. I tried to embed the video but couldn't, so you will just have to click on the link.
Here is the blog that Dizzy's friend, Kelly, set up for Shari and Bram's friends and family. There are so many beautiful pictures and updates on this site, and it shows that everyone wants to support these children and their remaining family.
Thank you, readers, for your time and thoughts!
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Cookies for Coaches Free Printable
Alternate Title: CD Cookie Sleeve Gift
Kate had her last week of "swim team"
It was at our neighborhood swimming pool and it was the pre-swim team program for kids ages 3 to 5. They had 30 minute "practice" 3 times a week (where they learned to swim).
Each kid had 1 on 1 swimming instruction from high school & college aged kids.
It was basically swimming lessons, but they called it "swim team"
It was a great experience and Kate's swimming has improved SO much this summer.
She can actually swim!
I can't wait for both girls to do it next summer!
I was so appreciative of the coaches and I wanted to give them a little something as a thank you. These high school kids (coaches) are members of the actual swim team & they volunteer to coach the little swim team.
There were 12 coaches that helped with the pre-swim team, so I knew I needed to do something that wasn't too costly. Originally, I wanted to get them all either $5 Jamba Juice cards or a $5 iTunes card, but with 12 coaches, that was going to add up quickly.
Since Kate & I both love to bake (and high school kids love to eat) I decided to make them chocolate chip cookies and put them individually in a CD sleeve with a thank you sticker that I designed.
Here is what I used - CD sleeves, 2 inch scallop punch & then I printed out the design that I made (in Photoshop) onto sticker paper.
(I had all these supplies already. Perfect for Procrastinators like me!)
It was at our neighborhood swimming pool and it was the pre-swim team program for kids ages 3 to 5. They had 30 minute "practice" 3 times a week (where they learned to swim).
Each kid had 1 on 1 swimming instruction from high school & college aged kids.
It was basically swimming lessons, but they called it "swim team"
It was a great experience and Kate's swimming has improved SO much this summer.
She can actually swim!
I can't wait for both girls to do it next summer!
I was so appreciative of the coaches and I wanted to give them a little something as a thank you. These high school kids (coaches) are members of the actual swim team & they volunteer to coach the little swim team.There were 12 coaches that helped with the pre-swim team, so I knew I needed to do something that wasn't too costly. Originally, I wanted to get them all either $5 Jamba Juice cards or a $5 iTunes card, but with 12 coaches, that was going to add up quickly.
Since Kate & I both love to bake (and high school kids love to eat) I decided to make them chocolate chip cookies and put them individually in a CD sleeve with a thank you sticker that I designed.
Here is what I used - CD sleeves, 2 inch scallop punch & then I printed out the design that I made (in Photoshop) onto sticker paper.
(I had all these supplies already. Perfect for Procrastinators like me!)
\\Close up of the design. Blue & Red are the swim team colors.
Punched out with the 2 inch scallop:
Then, I stuck the stickers to the front of the CD sleeve:
I made my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.
But, I made the cookies bigger and baked them in my muffin top pans because I wanted big cookies!
Once the cookies were cooled, I one in a CD sleeve to see how it looked.Almost immediately, I noticed the (butter) grease from the cookies was leaking trough the sleeves.
My solution?
I put each cookie in a clear sandwich bag and then put it in the CD sleeve.Worked like a charm!
We loaded up our cookies into a basket & then headed off to swim team.{Originally, I was going to wrap each CD sleeve with baker's twine to make them look cuter & more finished looking, but then I realized that these are high school kids (mostly boy coaches) and they could CARE LESS what the packaging looked like. All they care about it the cookie. So, I stopped myself from wrapping them up, even though the OCD in me was dying.}
These were the perfect little appreciation gift and I will definitely be making them again for a teacher gift, coaches gift, dance teacher gift, or even a shower/party favor.So, if you need a last minute quick & easy gift, these are perfect!
The coaches loved them & Kate was so excited to give them out to her awesome swim coaches.
I am planning on making these during Christmas and handing them out to neighbors, Sunday School teachers, our mail man & their gymnastics coaches!
******UPDATED with FREE PRINTABLE!!************
I made 3 versions for you.
One for swim coaches:
One for Teachers:
One that is blank & just says "Thank You"
I printed them on sticker paper & then punched out the labels with a 2.5 inch scalloped punch.
{You could also print on normal paper & attach to the CD sleeve with double stick tape or washi tape}
{You could also print on normal paper & attach to the CD sleeve with double stick tape or washi tape}
Friday, July 28, 2017
Bradleys Newborn Pictures!
We just received Baby Bradley's newborn pictures back and love! He was only 8 days old in these pictures and we can already tell he looks so much older (he is 5 weeks now, so really not that much older). Since Lindsey was due a week after me (and ended up delivering about a week before, figures) we had to find a different photographer for Bradley's newborn pics. Lindsey recommended Jeff Loves Jessica and he did a great job!
Note to self - don't put yourself in pics one week after giving birth...however I LOVE the pictures of Bradley and Nate together! So sweet!
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