Pepper Paints

Cosplay Anyone?

I am in awe of my kid! She has abilities that seem to come to her so easily that I can’t hardly wrap my head around. This is her latest sewing creation.

It is a cosplay costume for an anime convention. She based her costume off of this Elizabeth ( Lizzie )Middleford  $400.00 costume.

Only she spent a mere  $5.00 on 2 sheets from the thrift store. Amazingly thrifty yes but the really amazing part of all of this is not only did she make this costume entirely by herself with no help from anyone but that she didn’t even use a stinkin’ pattern! She just looked at the picture and 2 bed sheets and created this amazing costume! Did I mention I am in awe??? Well let me say it again…I am in awe of this kid!

She and her friends have been waiting for months for this convention. They planned which characters from Black Butler they would be cosplaying so long ago. Everyone looked great!

I bet they are already planning for the next one!

White Sands Lake

If you are local to Columbus and you haven’t been to White Sands Lake in Delaware, Ohio….well you must go!! Must!

It is a campground/beach that has been around for over 60 years. The “beautiful” emerald green lake is artesian well fed!

Most of the old school apparatuses seem barely safe which make them even more fun!

This place is definitely a hidden gem that warrants at least one visit a Summer!!

I haven’t been here in about 14 years….And nothing has changed!!

The girls really want to conquer those rings… so we will be definitely be seeing you next Summer White Sands!!

Ooooh…Aaaahhhh

May your weekend be filled with lots of OOoohs and AAahhs

It’s ComFest Time Again

Insert head scratch here

The Week Between 2010

Our Holiday was wonderful. Mostly because everyone was home and together for three whole days. That doesn’t seem to happen as much as kids get older and husbands work more!

Here are a few highlights of the weekend.

We always go to my Mom’s for Christmas eve. She cooks delicious things and makes everything pretty just for us! This year she surprised Ginger with a karaoke machine! And a Hannah Montana CD…. Oh boy! Does she LOVE it!

Molly asked “how early can we wake you up?” Joe told her 5 AM…guess what time she woke us?

We are pretty good about sticking to the kids lists. Buying them things they want and not as much stuff that I think they should have. Yet there are always a few surprises thrown in. This year I hit a home run with my surprise for Molly!!

Bento boxes for her and Ginger along with a Bento cookbook and all the little tools and treasures. The perfect gift for my little Martha in the making!

It didn’t matter that we just had a huge breakfast, she couldn’t wait to get to work making lunch!

One of our other Christmas traditions is Molly’s Christmas day cake. This year she made a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting from scratch. Look out Cake Boss!

I LOVE the week between Christmas and New Years. I feel like I can breath a sigh of relief and just enjoy. I wrote all about it last year too.

We are anxiously waiting for a friend to arrive in a few hours to stay with us for the week along with a cousin who will also be visiting. We are looking forward to some sledding today before the snow melts, a trip to the movies and the zoo to see holiday lights, sushi and chocolate fondue with friends. It will be a stay-cation around here and I am loving it!! Hope your week between is filled with more holiday joy!

Hiking in Hocking Hills, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio is centrally located to so many quick side trips. Hocking Hills being one of them.

Last week we took advantage of some of the last of the warm temperatures and fall colors and headed for a hike at Old Man’s Cave. Old Man’s
Cave is especially nice for younger hikers with it’s steps and bridges (and not too many scary drop offs and cliffs!).

If you are local, the weather forecast for this week is calling for a few days of Indian Summer. A perfect opportunity to head to Southern Ohio and check out some of the great hiking trails in Hocking Hills!

Cabo San Lucas Mexico

September and October are always our family vacation months- My husbands business conferences are always held in these two months and always in beautiful warm locations. This year really took the cake–Cabo San Lucas Mexico…. in other words….heaven

Besides beautiful blue skies and wonderful beaches and a super fancy resort with top notch service…..what I loved most about Mexico was the people. Everyone was so friendly–from the employees at our resort to the taxi drivers and the cashiers at the XOXO–everyone we saw greeted us with an Hola or a buenos dias or buenos noches over and over again. Even the customs workers were friendly! The pace is so much slower and people seem so much happier. And the food…don’t even get me started!!!!! I could have  stayed in Mexico forever!