I Finished "Two Kisses for Maddy"

     I finished the book, "Two Kisses for Maddy" by Matthew Logelin. Sad...so sad. But full of hope. It's a memoir, by the way, which makes it even more heart-wrenching.
 
      I had been completely useless since last night because I have severe cough and colds (went to work yesterday without a voice) and all morning today so that gave me the opportunity to finish the book because honestly, there was no other task I could take without coughing my lungs out.

     Even if I had things to do, I'd still probably try to finish reading it by tonight because I just could not put it down. That's how I am when I like the book I'm reading.

     I recommend the book especially to those who are going through difficult times...it's just so inspiring.

   

xoxo (extra xoxo for Maddy),
HANNAH

Decorated Frame

Just a quick little post...
I decorated this frame from Michael's for a friend's daughter. 
I painted the wooden frame with a lime green color, and added some stickers from Recollections (butterfly, photo corner, swirly pearls). I used a scallop punch and gems for the top. I cut the letters from Alphalicious. The flowers are from Flower Shoppe. Lastly,  the leaves are from Recollections, too.
Thanks for looking : )

xoxo,
HANNAH

Fireworks and a Book

Hey everyone!  'Been a looong while : (
Busy with work, chores, etc., etc ... "the real life", I call it.

As I write this, I hear the fireworks in the background. Happy Fourth to all of you!

I'm excited to read this new book that I purchased from Target, "Two Kisses for Maddy". I feel like it's a sad story but I'm really drawn to it. I'll let you know how I feel about it when I'm done : )

So long!

xoxo,
HANNAH

Butterfly Card

A really quick post ...right from my desk : )
I made a super quick birthday card for someone at work.
Ingredients: brown base card by Hot Hues, design paper by K & Co., some gems, and a butterfly punch by MS.
Hope you like it!

xoxo,
HANNAH

"Never Lose The Advantage of Solitude"

     Whew!!! That, was a long title. Today's post title is actually a quote that I had encountered forever ago somewhere that I could not even remember. I cannot remember when, how, or where I got it...but I cannot forget the quote itself because I felt and still feel a connection to it. 

A solitary bird along the Hudson River in Bayonne, NJ

  
       Being alone does not necessarily mean "being lonely". I think we all need our own little space sometimes.

     We walked along this Hudson River Waterfront Walkway almost all the way to the end and back (with frequent stops to take snapshots here and there and to give Ysa time to admire the beauty around her including the tiny crabs she saw underneath the bridge).....

Hudson River Waterfront Walkway in Bayonne, NJ

 .....and the solitary bird was still there! Same spot. Just looking around as if seeing the world for the first time.

Not a care in the world.

     I wish we all have the courage to be alone once in a while...to just stay still and be quiet...to not worry about "what's next"...and to stop chasing time. 

     Let us never lose the advantage of solitude.

xoxo,

HANNAH

   
     

First Day of Summer

     Happy Summer everyone!!! Stay hydrated!

xoxo,
HANNAH

School's Out!

     School's out, yay!!! This means, at least for the next 2 months: no running around and rushing myself for afternoon pick-ups and no homework. 

     Ysabella doesn't want to go to camp this year, and we cannot force her to go if she is unwilling. We made a deal with her, though...she will register for 2 of these: Arts and Crafts, Music, or Sports (preferably Tennis). I told her that  if she doesn't do anything or engage in any activity during the summer, her brain will be rotten by the next schoolyear : ). I guess 2 or 3 days of summer classes per week will do. I also got her some activity books to complete just to keep up somehow. I hope it helps to make her transition to 2nd grade a little easier in September.

On Father's Day...headed for Sunday Mass.

This morning...on our way to her sitter.
 Her first Monday out of school!
See how happy she is?!?

This afternoon...at the Shoprite Parking Lot.
She helped me load our grocery bags into the car.

     I guess this is how she wants to spend her summer days... simple, no classrooms, no rules, no teachers, just hangin' out with Mom, or Dad, or at the sitter's house, or with the kids in the neighborhood (who wouldn't want that???) We'll let her be...for now. She deserves a break. She'd been a very good student, after all. And WE ARE PROUD OF HER.

     As for me...school's out, yaaaayyy!!!!!!!!!! Now I can breathe.

Happy Summer,

HANNAH