What's on my To-Do List...

What's on my To-Do List...

via ohsobeautifulpaper.com 

Unpack from various vacations

Food shop

Laundry

Buy shoes and jewelry for this weekend

Complete outfits for this weekends 

wedding and rehearsal dinner for D, L and I

Call tuxedo shop

Confirm baby sitting for this weekend for Nick

Do nails and toes

Get eyebrows waxed

Find gift card for massage

Order Spanx 

(not happy about this one!)

Get football practice schedule on my calendar

Contact Luke and Nick's teachers 

(not until September!..I'm not crazy) 

since I will be missing Back to School Nights and Family Orientation Day

Compile all 4 school calendars

School shopping for Luke's new clothes

Shop for school supplies

Contact new students

Create new schedule 

Check in with school friends

Work out

Start diet

Update blog

Finish books

Continue to paint trim

Complete open AlphaScapes orders

Create Doylestown AS

Research new craft fairs

Prune bushes and landscaping

Catch up on TV

Paint swing set

and so much more!

Where to start?

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Do you use to do lists?

I love to do lists! I get this from my mom, for sure! She always had a to-do list and she had one for everything! My favorite is when she had multiple to do lists, all on big index cards, stapled together done by category! (This happened most often around the holidays!) 

Well this is a trait I've definitely inherited! 

AND I LOVE IT!

I love to-do lists for many reasons! 

Yes because they keep me organized and allow me to keep less on my mind but mostly because they give me a sense of accomplishment!

Making a to-do list is as much about knowing what must get done as it is about crossing off tasks that have been completed! I feel such a sense of accomplishment as more things are crossed off and less needs to be done!

via CarlosMatallana

To me....

Having a completed 

crossed off to-do list 

makes me so happy!

Does Vacation = Relaxation?

Does Vacation = Relaxation?

For my family, vacation this summer has meant many things!

A lake house in Vermont!

A family trip to the west coast!

A Disneyland vacation!

A week on the beach on the Jersey Shore!

Many things are for certain this summer....

We are EXTREMELY FORTUNATE to do what we have done!

It hasn't always been relaxing and I've adopted the...

"I'm feeling like a pin ball" feeling!

But my goodness has it been fun!

We've done it all this summer!

Jersey shore...riding waves in the Atlantic Ocean...searching for seashells...napping with our toes in the sand....boardwalk rides...roller coasters...water parks...swimming in pools and hot tubs...flying kites...surrey rides...delicious food made by Pop named Memo...fireworks off the balcony...taking an hour with a friend to swim and catch up...shopping in Cape May... piggy backs down the boardwalk (THE WHOLE BOARDWALK IN EXCESSIVE HEAT!)...treats (Oh! the treats! I'll be paying for all the treats!)...waking up before the sun...airplane rides...climbing a cliff to get to the Pacific Ocean...restaurants on the beach...appreciating the Palm trees and amazing weather on the west coast...frozen treats on the pier...anticipating rope drop at Disneyland...hot coffee...recognizing the rush of adrenaline a ride gives you...Disney shows...more fireworks...amazing water shows...clear blue turquoise water...swimming in the Pacific in underwear (not the adults ;) )...throwing sticks into the ocean...driving in Malibu...shopping, restaurants, playgrounds-all in one place...night time walks...one word-MENCHIE'S....boating, tubing, water skiing, lots of time in pj's and bathing suits, enormous jacuzzi bathtubs for the kids, luxurious showers for the adults (sorry...too personal? worth remembering!)...fires...outdoor movies...and so much more!

Disclaimer: 

This isn't meant to be a brag-fest!

Our level of "luckiness" 

(I know this isn't a real word) 

is not lost on me! 

:)

Happy matters are best recalled when you 

anticipate them with excitement, 

live them and breathe in the moments, 

and remember them in a thoughtful way!

Listing them allows me to 

remember the tiny moments 

that are easily forgotten!

It's been incredibly busy 

but with lovely, quiet moments of relaxation mixed in! 

There have been arguments/disagreements, some many say just active, heated discussions (of course!) on all of our trips!

But the very best thing about each and every moment we've been away from our house is being surrounded by family! 

Domenic and I have been surrounded 

by all of our siblings and all 4 of our parents!

The kids have had amazing experiences 

with all 3 of their cousins on both ends of our country!

MANY, MANY HAPPY MEMORIES WERE MADE...

AND REALLY ISN'T THAT ALL THAT MATTERS!

HAPPY MEMORIES = HAPPY MATTERS

Happy Memories of Sun, Sand, & Smiles....

Happy Memories of 
Sun, Sand, & Smiles....

What an amazing 1st experience 

our boys had on the west coast! 

So many laughs, smiles, and stories!

I promised myself I'd take lots of pictures...

(not a hard task to live up to for me!)

We ended the trip with 948 pictures!

(CRAZY! I know!)

I narrowed it down to 445 keepers!

(Still CRAZY! I know!)

Here's a video my amazing husband made of our favorite 180!

ENJOY!!!

Well I'm Going Out West Where I Belong.....

Well I'm Going Out West Where I Belong.....

California Sun by Frankie Avalon

Tomorrow we leave for CALIFORNIA!!!!

It's our first cross country trip with the kids. Now, of course, we're flying...not driving! (Thank goodness)

We have 8 fun filled days planned. 

Some more planned than others!

2 days doing Disney...

DisneyLand and California Adventure!

The rest we're just living in Santa Monica!

So excited for:

The boys seeing the Grand Canyon from the sky! 

(I hope we can see it!)

Seeing the boys play with their cousin!

Dipping our toes in the Pacific Ocean!

Riding the Santa Monica Ferris Wheel!

Spending the Day in Malibu!

Spending time on the beach..

walking, swimming, playing at a beach playground!

Seeing the DisneyLand Castle!

Watching the boys eyes light up as they see 

characters, shows, and Disney rides!

Having tasty treats!

Discovering Cars Land!

Taking too many pictures!

Watching fireworks!

Buying new Mickey ears for the kids!

Belly laughs and enormous smiles walking through the parks!

Visiting El Capitan and Chinese Theatres!

Seeing The Hollywood Sign!

Walking the Walk of Fame!

Visiting A Car Museum and Johnny Rockets!

Driving down the Sunset Strip and maybe Mulholland Drive!

A smooth flight round trip!

(Fingers crossed!!)

And so much more! 

I promise to have lots of pictures to share when we get back!

via atkielski.com 

via destination360.com

via joshshadid.com

via westcoastconnection.com

Breathe...

Breathe...

My very first reminder each day...

"Breathe in the Moment!"

My first ever AlphaScapes...

"Breathe"

When the boys are belly laughing...

"Breathe it in"

When I'm stressing...

"Breathe! It will all be ok!"

When I'm out with my husband...

"I love that you still take my breath away!"

When I'm around my family...

"Breathe slowly...these moments pass quickly!"

When I'm working out...

"It feels great to breathe so fast!"

Then  I stumble upon this line by Lollia!

A lotion...A perfume...A scent....

An invisible reminder each day to Breathe!!!

Summer Vacation at the Jersey Shore...

Summer Vacation 

at the Jersey Shore...

Whoa...Whoa...Whoa...Whoa

Oh, Those Wildwood Days! 

Wild, Wild, Wildwood Days, Oh baby!

Our shore vacation fun has begun!

Mornings at the beach...

sandy feet,

salty skin,

sun kissed cheeks,

waves crashing, 

sand castles, 

hot tub holes,

kids laughing and splashing 

(sometimes whining but even thats ok),

delicious food all times of day,

cold beer,

cousins playing, 

board games, card games,  ninja games,

(and, of course, some screens),

bath time (sometimes stupid!),

lots of bubbles

in the bath and on the beach,

live music, 

snack shack,

kite flying,

art caves, 

boardwalk games,

jumbo air bats,

Wubbzy!

ice cream cones,

lots of pictures,

afternoon naps,

pools,

hot tubs, 

slides..

and much more to come!

Be Brave!!!!

Be Brave!!!!

via Pinterest originally pinned by Lauren Hartmann 

A little phrase...

An enormous challenge..

With immense impact!

Today a group of us went to go see 

Disney Pixar's Brave!!!!

It was was Domenic, Luke, Nick and I 

& my brother-in-law, nephew, 

and my mom! 

The boys were all really excited to go see a movie and of course, even more excited that it was Pixar's new film!

WE LOVED IT!

The main story line is about a princess who needs to be brave enough to change her fate! However, it's such a strong message about the relationships between a mother & a daughter!

  

Well....I balled my eyes out! 

Shocking I know...

I cry during many movies...

nevermind Pixar movies!

Up! Wall-e! 

Toy Story 2! 

Toy Story 3!

 The list goes on!

The movie was very sweet with lots of laughs but the ending was so touching! Sitting next to my mom in the theatre, as we both sniffle away, I knew I had my topic for my next post!

 

Mary Catherine Pascarella is my amazing mother! My mom and I are 20 and 1/2 years apart! And while she has always made her role as my parent the highest priority, she has always been one of my best friends!

My mom is one of the hardest workers I know! She works tirelessly either with her job or helping friends and family members and sometimes with very little appreciation! For all the times I've added to your to do lists and given you extra worry....Thank you! I can only hope that one day, people feel that they can depend on me as much as they know they can depend on my mom!

My mom is one of the best listeners I have ever met! She is incredibly approachable and many people around her depend on her for advice. Whether it's venting about a bad day or seeking advice for a major life decision, she has a way of listening and giving advice while also allowing you to make your own decision!

My mom is caring, kind, & hysterical!

She's an incredible singer!

She has such a strong faith 

& a belief in family!

She's inspiring, supportive, creative, 

& exceptionally smart!

My mom has always been an amazing woman, mom, sister, daughter, friend, wife, & one of the best grandmother's around! 

Mom, 

I hope one day I grow up to be just like you! 

I hope I make you proud!

Thank you for teaching me 

all I know about being a mom! 

I know I will need many more lessons!

Thank you for always being a 

role model for doing what's right!

I hope I am brave enough to choose the happiest fate for myself and my family!

Thank you for helping me recognize all that matters....especially Happy Matters!

Love you!