The Coolest Way to Say I Love You

With everything going on around here, from birthday celebrations to end of the school year extravaganzas, Father’s Day almost slipped by this year. Of course, I thought about doing a gift guide and featuring some of the great things out there for your dad. But when it really comes down to it, yes, my dad likes getting stuff but I really want to do something meaningful too. That’s why I’m so grateful for finally finding Cardstore.

I first used Cardstore for Mother’s Day in May when I was at a loss for what to get the mom who has everything. Both my mom and I are big photo fanatics and store up photos throughout the year to make calendars for family and friends. I knew my mom would love something personal with our photos. All it took was finding Cardstore to figure out exactly what I could do: a beautiful and personalized photo card.

Cardstore has quirky and unique options for creating personalized cards. The option I picked for my mom was a heart-shaped photo collage on a black “chalkboard” background. The other benefit is that is insanely easy to use: upload your photos from your computer or even from Facebook. What could be easier? Once you have the pictures uploaded, you can arrange them however you like to make a card that’s really meaningful to whoever you’re giving it to. There are so many options for layouts and something I really love is that you can even put photos and personalize the messages that are on the inside of the card. The product that you give will look like you’re the most talented graphic designer. Just be sure to follow the photo specifications so that your images come out clear and crisp.

After watching my mom get so excited when she opened her card, I knew I had to do the same thing for my dad. Cardstore put up tons of different layouts for Father’s Day and here’s what I picked:

I love that I was able to take such a beautiful photo of a wonderful memory and turn it into a card that I know my dad will have for a long time. He was so surprised and exited to get it on Sunday and it was a truly meaningful and unique gift. I can’t wait to surprise everyone with a card from Cardstore from their special day.

 

Financial compensation was not received for this post though Cardstore generously provided me with a sample card. 100% of the opinions expressed in this post are my own. 

Monday Links to Love

* You know you love some teen reads…

* Tiny Super Heroes is an amazing and unique organization that recognizes the strength of our tiniest heroes. Check them out!

* Some much needed bedroom decorating inspiration

* Yes, I love Philly too

* I agree with Gala Darling that self love should be something we are taught and is something I try to encourage in my classroom

* ‘Tis the season for beer gardens

* I’m thinking of adding jewelry making as part of my summer bucket list and this bauble necklace DIY is the perfect place to start

* New restaurants in Philly to add to my list to explore this summer

Happy Father’s Day!

Dad and I at my college graduation in 2009

As I perused Facebook this morning, I was bombarded with countless photos of my friends with their fathers and the pronouncement that their father is the best father in the world. I love reading that because everyone should feel that their dad is the best in the world. You only get one, one father to teach you how to ride a bike, drive a car and parallel park it, call when your car breaks down and you don’t have AAA, and fix (or try to fix) absolutely everything you break. I am so lucky to have one of those dads who has done all the above for me and more. Though sometimes we don’t get along, it’s only because we’re so much alike.  But I couldn’t ask for a more dadly Dad than the one I got.

So today I’m declaring it here: I have one of the best dads around. Thanks Dad for always being there for me and helping me with all those things you always need a dad for. Now it’s time to take the old guy out and celebrate!

Happies and Crappies #3

Happies

* I had two interviews this week and was really happy about one. I felt like I represented myself well with all the questions they asked. So now I feel like if they don’t choose me, it’s because I didn’t have the experience they are looking for which is a much better feeling than not doing well. Keep those fingers crossed for me!

* I bought a white bikini set for cheap during Victoria’s Secret sale. I was super ambitious about what kind of bikini I was comfortable wearing. Nope, not a string bikini bottom person. Thankfully I went to the store and asked if I could return just the bottom even though it was sold as a set and they were super helpful and I got a cute new ruffled bottom that does a much better job at covering my derriere. Yay!

* It’s going to be in the 80s and sunny tomorrow. Beach time!

Crappies

* So much end of the year work! Though I am making good progress, it’s still a lot from cumulative folders to report cards. All I have to think is five more days…

* I haven’t had as much time for blogging as I would like. My Bloglovin’ feed is all backed up and I feel like I haven’t been giving out the love for great posts like I usually do. I want to make bloggy friends but I am definitely not making the effort. I need to find more hours in my day!

Once again, thanks to Sarah from Scissors and a Whisk and Stephanie from The Vintage Modern Wife for a great link-up!

You Say It’s Your Birthday…

I think I’m still recovering from celebrating the big 2-6 this past weekend. Boy was it a good one. I got to hang with all my favorite people, ate (and drank) lots of delicious things, managed to squeeze in some beach time and loved all the sun time. I’m the weird kind of person who doesn’t really anticipate their birthday; I’m much more of a holiday person when everybody’s celebrating something. But thankfully I am blessed to be surrounded by great family and friends who make my birthday one of the best days out of the year.

I was triply spoiled this year by Nick, who took me for a surprise dinner in Philadelphia at a restaurant on Friday before driving me all around on Saturday and taking me for lunch on Sunday. He knows just the way to plan a birthday celebration! Friday night, in torrential downpours, we ventured into Philly for dinner at Talula’s Garden. It was a dream meal: all locally sourced ingredients, fresh and organic, and so very flavorful. I was too busy enjoying my meal to take that many pictures but I scarfed down herb-roasted chicken and lemon-ricotta sugar donuts. My stomach’s growling just thinking of it! I even enjoyed delicious loose leaf brewed Earl Grey. It was such a decadent evening with what I can safely say is the best meal I’ve had all year.

Saturday was party day when I met up with my best girl friends for some lounging in the sand and dancing all night on the Jersey Shore. It was a little overcast but we had a nice time catching up on the sand before changing and heading into Asbury Park. We ate way too much pizza at Porta before skipping over to the boardwalk for some drinks. It all smelled of the ocean and the fog was rolling in. Seriously, it felt magical, a perfect Shore night. The night ended at Johnny Mac’s, one of the funkiest dive bars that has Skeeball in the basement. Score! It was so much fun and I’m glad my girls could spend a night with me.

On the official day of my birthday, Nick and I lounged around before heading into Philly once more to enjoy the sunshine. We camped out at Morgan’s Pier, right in the shade of the Ben Franklin Bridge. We stretched out on benches and watched the boats coast on the Delaware. I had more great food including a scrumptiously fresh lobster salad and the most decadent homemade ice cream sandwich. I need to get the recipe!

All in all, it was a fabulous birthday and I’m very excited for the year to come. Last year had its ups and downs but I have a good feeling about my 26th year. Here’s to another year!

 

Monday Links to Love

The links are short and late today because I have had quite a few days. Remind me to tell you about it later okay? But for now, enjoy what I got and I hope you had a great Monday!

* One of the most inspiring graduation speeches about having “abilities” not “disabilities”

* Bridgette Bardot hair? I think yes!

* Sara Von of Yes and Yes got to sleep in a tree house and I’m super jealous

* BHLDN is such an amazing wedding brand and I loved the career profile The Everygirl did of some of their staff

I’m Wearing: Not by Sea but Close Enough

shorts and sunglasses: F21, shirt via my mom, bag: kate spade, hat from puerto rico, necklace via etsy

In anticipation of my birthday weekend, I will post the outfit I wish I could be wearing. A big straw hat, a sweet top, and my comfiest pair of white shorts…ahhhh. But unfortunately a tropical low is blowing up the East Coast and it looks like there is very little sun to be had this weekend. I’m kind of depressed because I have been dying to head down the shore again but it seems that my birthday weekend will not be a good time for that. So instead I’ll have to pick something else, though right now snuggling in bed sounds like a good option. 

It seems like the weeks of school are dragging even though there’s plenty to get done. The kids are ready to be out of school and us teachers are feeling just the same. Sometimes while I’m wading through papers to grade, I think about how much better it would be to stretched out by a pool somewhere. Enough of the stress, more sweet treats and summer breeze. There are only ten more days and then I’ll get a little break before digging into prep for next year! But for now, I’ll just take a little sunshine, please?

 

The first weekend of June

I feel like the month that your birthday is in is a magical month, just packed full of magical things. Rarely, if ever, am I disappointed by something that happens during my birth month. Maybe that’s because I was born in June and this is a stellar month: hello, it’s the start of summer! This year is no exception as my birthday month kicked off with a weekend full of fun things:

1. My brother is now home from college, a proud graduate, and will start his first job in the “real world” next week. I got a chance to hang out with him for my first event of Philly Beer Week at Uno’s.

2. As I mentioned, Philly Beer Week started and will go through next Sunday. It’s the biggest in the country, which makes sense as Philly has a really big beer scene with lots of local breweries. Blame it on all the Germans that settled in Pennsylvania, it’s a whole lot of fun to celebrate the diversity of flavors that you can find in beer in nowadays. Plus it’s a whole lot of fun to attend beer-centered events. On Saturday, we went to a few events around Old City and Northern Liberties. Nick and I finally checked out the balcony/patio at Standard Tap and loved it (despite the 90 degree temperatures).

Sunday was another day down in Philly but this time in the Art Museum area at Kite and Key. They called it Franklintown Throwdown and it was a whole competition between various breweries. There was some really good beers (an apricot and raspberry one was so dangerously delicious) and we had some equally tasty food. The two days were the perfect way to start a fun week of events.

3. On Sunday, before we went to celebrate more of the beer week festivities, we went to the Brooklyn Flea in Philly at the Piazza. The Piazza is basically a big semi-enclosed square with restaurants and shops around it and apartments above. The developer who recently bought it is from NYC and thought it would be a good idea to bring the very popular Brooklyn Flea to the Piazza. He is pretty right because it was packed with people despite it being ridiculously humid and 90 at noon. It was lots of fun with pretty antiques and lots of industrial/thrifted items for sale. Since it was so hot, I didn’t take a lot of pictures, just focused on being there and seeing what was for sale. The only item I found that I really had to have (I’m trying to be good and save for the future) was a beautiful jadeite measuring cup. If jadeite wasn’t so popular and expensive, I would have a huge collection. This measuring cup is just fine for now though. The great thing about the Brooklyn Flea in Philly is that it will be back every Sunday through the summer and into the fall. I know where I’ll be on Sundays…

As always, June is starting out as a magical month and there are plenty more fun days planned. Up next, my birthday!

 

Monday Links to Love

* It’s summer time and it’s time to head to some sandy shores. I love the Jersey Shore but I may have to try some of these places on the list for best beaches

* Megan from Freckled Italian originally posted this and I loved it so much I’m going to share it here: why picture books aren’t just for children

* I’ll be getting ready for a great summer by doing some inner spring cleaning

* Adding more places on my places-to-go list based on food: the top 10 burgers around the country.

* And another interesting food post: the rise of mobile pizza trucks in New Jersey…yes!

A Photo-a-Day Challenge for June

Yesterday morning I sat at my computer, reading through some of my favorite blogs, checked on what was going on in my twitter feed, and enjoyed a morning where I could sip my tea and not have to grab my stuff and go. Then I remembered it was the first day of June. How did we get here already?! There is only one more week until my birthday and on Monday there will be only fifteen more days left of school (aka 15 more days until summer freedom!). As I got to thinking about it, I wanted to do something fun to keep track of the quickly disappearing days of my favorite month (seriously it’s already June 2nd). So in honor of my birthday month and summer days being upon us, I’m going to do a photo-a-day challenge. I did one of these back in March via Fat Mum Slim’s list and had a blast. It was challenging in a good way: it challenged me to use a camera every day and to think outside the box as I composed my pictures. Once again I used Pinterest to find a list and came across the list below from the blog live.a.life.of.love. Even though it says 2012, it was the one I liked the best when I searched for June photo challenges and I figured that it doesn’t matter since I’m just using it for the prompts. Maybe one day I’ll even come up with my own photo challenge!

Be sure to check out my instagram feed all month long to see what the photo is each day. If you’re doing a photo-a-day challenge too, let me know because I would love to check it out!