My Break and a Peek into 2012

My 2012 DIY Glitter Project

Well after a little break from blogging, lots of Christmas celebrations with all of our family, 2012 Personal Growth Plan on my mind, and a dive into my first phase of my January organization projects- I am almost feeling back to normal! We were out of town 11 days in December (on top of a couple of trips in November) and I had no idea that the time away would leave me with as much pressure as it did to get everything in order… But it all came together and more importantly, we ALL came together! The hustle and bustle it required to pull together Christmas quickly was more than I bargained for, but the smiles on faces as we enjoyed the celebrations and giving made it all worth it. I vow next year, not to escape in December though- Lesson Learned!!

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday, enjoyed your family and are ready to make 2012 a year of Personal Growth! So many things about 2012 that I am looking forward to, and I look forward to sharing them with you! Don’t forget to take care of yourself, take a breather, start documenting what changes and goals you have in mind for your life, and let us all get ready to make ourselves even better in 2012! Sneak Peek into mine… Family, Organize, Educate, Schedule, Pictures, Volunteer, Health, Career, Friends, Habits and GOD. I will be sharing more as I finalize my 2012 Personal Growth Plan. Out with New Year’s Resolutions and in with 2012 Personal Growth Plan!

Merry Christmas and ready for a Happy New Year Friends!

Truly Yours, Emily- The Suburban Diary

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Always Pardon My Errors and Please let me know if you find any!

Fun with the Loves: Walking Christmas Light Tour

It is the simple things in life sometimes… Bundled Dane up tonight and went on a tour of lights down a couple of streets, since Daddy has Sister and Brother at the deer lease. It is absolutely enchanting to see the bewilderment in a child’s eyes when they see those magical lights. Don’t you remember what it was like to look at lights? Bundle up and take a refreshing walk through a park, your neighborhood, and city areas… Great for you and your family!

Enjoy the Magic!

Truly Yours, Emily- The Suburban Diary

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The Happiness Project: 4 Notes of Wisdom on Marriage

Emily and Greg Arnim at Ray's Grill in Fulshear

I know for a fact that I can always use a little marriage advice myself. My marriage certainly is not perfect, and I’m not sure I’ve met anyone out there who does have the perfect marriage. I am reading a delightfully insightful book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, and I will be passing along some of my favorite pieces of wisdom as I read.

Here are 4 Simple Notes of Wisdom on Marriage:

#1 You should go to bed at the same time because something good will come out of it. Think about it… You either a)Get more sleep, b)Have sex, or c)Have a conversation!

#2 You should leave 3 things unsaid each day. Hmmm… So I should bite my tongue, do something instead of asking him to do it or keep my criticism to myself! I will make a conscious effort to do this 3 times a day!

#3 Never criticize each other for more than one thing at a time. So instead of unloading, keep your criticism relevant and to a minimum… Makes sense to me!

#4 Every couple should have an outdoor game and an indoor game. Well of course with my husband being a golfer and I being a tennis player, I think this is a fabulous idea. He’s come into my tennis world and we have fun every time… I know I need to get out there to swing a club too. We both love cards and scrabble, so we need to bring out the games more often. Scrabble, cards, backgammon, chess, tic tac toe, and so on! While in Anguilla we played checkers on a rainy day and had so much fun back and forth!!

Restoration Hardware Backgammon and Chess Set

Now of course, these are not all the secrets of marriage, but some great advice to work on having a solid and happy marriage!

Truly Yours, Emily- The Suburban Diary

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Bright Idea: DIY Melting Crayon Art


Well my fabulously sweet babysitter Morgan made this with the kids this week!!! Wanted to pass on for those of you with kids who love to craft! This melting crayon art was a hit!! Check out this great You Tube Video- you can get really creative with your designHere is another on You Tube canvas!

Love DIY!!

Truly Yours, Emily- The Suburban Diary

For more DIY Visit my  DIY Posts!

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Always Pardon My Errors and Please let me know if you find any!

Cindi Rose: Heirloom Silhouette Appearances

Every Southern Family needs hand-cut silhouettes of your Children, and Yourselves, from the World Renowned Silhouette Artist, Cindi Rose. The beautiful, talented and insightful  Cindi Rose is touring on behalf her foundation, The Rose Ribbon. Silhouettes are heirloom accessories – They are forever!! Cindi is an absolute ball to talk to. Ask her for an at home organic beauty tip, a recipe, or anything for that matter- she loves to share!! (SMILE)

Cindi Rose showing us true Southern Hospitality with the Marshmallow Drizzled Vanilla Wafers she swirled up… Sinful!

I have the Oval Framed Silhouettes in my living room… Working on Oversized Silhouettes wrap-mounted on French White Archive Paper to put in our playroom… Similar to Restoration Hardware Child & Baby, Cindi’s are priceless original heirlooms. They will be a meaningful addition to your home!

Cindi Rose will be touring to Katy, Houston, Austin, Dallas, Southlake and other cities to be announced. I will inquire about her schedule and let you know how to Make Reservations.

Greg and I both had silhouettes made when we were younger and I keep them side by side in our bedroom! Love them- I think it’s adorable that we both had one made!

These are Cindi Rose Silhouettes of Blane, Myself and Ashlyn… Love!

So many ways to use your Silhouette in Life! More to come of some of Styling your Home and Body with Silhouettes! Here is a picture my cousin, Susan McWilliams, took of me, not in love with it, But… I do Love my Cindi Rose Necklace and this Fiercely Fashionable BulletGirl Necklace- Deadly!!

Excuse my reversible Burberry shirt (doesn’t photograph well) with Cindi Rose Custom Necklace and BulletGirl Necklace

I will post Cindi’s schedule as soon as I am able!

Read more on The Suburban Diary about Cindi Rose…

Truly Yours,

Emily, The Suburban Diary

Like Cindi Rose Silhouette Artist on Facebook

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Always Pardon My Errors and Please let me know if you find any!

The Elf on a Shelf : Has Arrived

The Elf on a Shelf is a MUST for every family! Our Elf Andy has FINALLY arrived, he began visiting our house in 2009 :) Read more at The Elf on a Shelf . com  if you don’t already have a family Elf!

Do You Elf on a Shelf? Please “Like” this post or share his Name! “Liking” helps me grow!!

Truly Yours,

Emily, The Suburban Diary

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C is for Collect: Christmas Gift Guide

C is for Collect: Christmas Gift Guide“To Collect, To Keep, To Cherish”

Everyone collects something, you just might not realize it! A great tradition is giving a gift for someone every year that will add to their collection. If you don’t know what they collect, then start a collection for them through gifting! Art, coins, books, jewelry, trinkets, guns, antiques, old pictures, charms are just a few of the things that come to mind. Give a gift they can cherish forever!

 On My Wish List… This Jimmy Choo Coffee Table Book will be perfect to add to my coffee table book collection! I am building a collection of Designer Coffee Table Books! Keep these in mint condition because when they are no longer in print they will be a valuable treasure!
For Them… Art is one of the most amazing and unique collections you can own. For art is universal, it engages different people in different ways and you can make a statement! Commission an artist to give a priceless gift to your parents, your children or your dear friends! Susan McWilliams is an incredibly gifted emerging artist and we have so much to look forward to as time goes on!

For Her… Martha Stewart A Year of Celebrations I know all of the ladies out there could use a little Martha Stewart Inspiration from the entertaining queen! Flip through the pages for endless ideas we can mold into our own entertaining style!

For Him… Texas Cowboy Cooking is a perfect cookbook to channel the Man’s inner cook and cowboy! These hearty recipes will warm the hearts of all who enjoy!

For the Young… 2000 $1 Silver American Eagle Uncirculated Dollar I love the idea of giving coins as gifts! My mom has always given my children, my husband and I coins as gifts. We keep them tucked away safely and treasure them dearly! Although children may not appreciate these now, one day they will! Choose a coin from their birth year, graduation year, wedding date, etc!

Enjoy this season, give gifts from the heart and cherish every moment!

Collect Suburban Diary Friends!

B is for Bright: Christmas Gift Guide here…

A is for Alphabet: Christmas Gift Guide here…

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B is for Bright: Christmas Gift Guide

B is for Bright: Christmas Gift Guide – “May your days be Merry and Bright”

For Them… Who wouldn’t love these Mason Jar Solar Lamps?!? They would be perfect for anyone to add to their patio or outdoor oasis to bring a little light into the evening!

For Her… These Brightly Twisted Scarves from Southern Hippie are a year round accessory for every girl!!! Love Southern Hippie! Hand dyed by the designers themselves- a real treasure!

For Him… This industrial Galvanized Steel Pipe Steampunk Desk Lamp is a perfect desk accessory or conversation piece for the industrious man! Art and Function meet perfectly in this piece!

For the Young… This adorable Personalized Little Jar with Lights will put a twinkle in your young one’s eyes! What a great night-light!!!

On My Wish List… I really want a chandelier to put above my bath tub…  I do love this James R Moder Florale Collection Chandelier- gorgeous!! Don’t think there could be anything more beautiful than the bright sparkles over my tub!

So happy to share these bright finds with all of you! Send any ideas my way- we can all use some inspiration for unique gift giving this holiday season!

Did you miss A is for Alphabet: Christmas Gift Guide

Tis the Season Suburban Diary Friends!

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A is for Alphabet : Christmas Gift Guide

A is for Alphabet: Christmas Gift Guide - ”Every Southern Girl Loves a Monogram”

For Him… Custom Monogrammed Men’s Cuff Links. What a great gift for the hard working man in your life… If he appreciates style- this gift is for him… (PS…Featured in New York Magazine, but I found on Etsy!)

For Her… And what girl wouldn’t want this fun Monogram Wallpaper for her ipad and iphone?!? LOVE!

On My Wish List… These Clairebella Melamine Plates and Bowls are officially on my Christmas Wish list in the Gray Ikat Pattern with Black Accents! In LOVE! I already have a cutting board in the green Ikat Pattern and Love it too! Check it out here…

For Them… Monogrammed Stemless Wine Glasses are a Must!! Who doesn’t need these? I cannot keep a full set of glasses around and these are perfect for entertaining! Love this idea for parents, friends, newlyweds and family!

 

For the Young… I just think these Personalized Tooth Fairy Pillows are adorable! I love the delicate stitching and the simplicity!!

Let’s enjoy this holiday and have some feeling behind our gifts!! One thing my Dad was a master of no doubt… I will continue his tradition!

Let the Season Begin Suburban Diary Friends!

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Taking My Eleven Year Old to Breaking Dawn: My Review

Thinking of taking your daughter to Breaking Dawn?!? Well I think Breaking Dawn was my first PG-13 movie experience with my daughter Ashlyn, where I felt the comfort level sink a bit. It definitely pushed the envelope! My Mom suggested I write a post on it, so I did a few days ago- and here it is!!

Here is a quick run down of what you should be prepared for in Breaking Dawn

# 1. Steamy Sex Scene with a Room in Shambles- Begins in the ocean and carried over to bedroom, then you see morning after trashed room! (Lasts about 5 minutes maybe?!?)

# 2. Graphic Bloody Medical Scene with Bella

# 3. Bella Drinking Blood in a Styro Cup Through a Straw

# 4. Bella Looking Really Skinny

I think the point of this email is to let you know ahead of time what you are getting in to. I may have hesitated if I knew the movie was this graphic… A little much for my 11 year old. There were some gross parts that made me look the other way, and some uncomfortable times. I think it is important to let the kids know that this is a movie and be prepared to cover their eyes. I think it is important to interject your own narrative during the show! Other than that, the show was entertaining for us both!

Breaking Dawn Tests My Limits Suburban Diary Friends!

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A Song in My Heart: From My Dad

Do you have those songs that bring back memories, speak to you or change your mood? I know I do… Ironically the other day, just when I needed it, I heard a song that spoke to me… I think it is important to recognize the songs that strike a chord with you and listen to them when you need to. What songs do you listen to that will take you back or change your mood?

My Late Father bought me my first cd player and cd probably in 4th or 5th grade… I was over the moon!! He bought me the Natalie Merchant cd and I loved it. My Dad listened to everything from Oasis, to Deep Forest, to Classical, and lots of Eclectic Music, always introducing us to something we had never heard. A man of culture, intelligence and art no doubt- always appreciating the great music! Love him and miss him even more!

I write this piece to challenge you to find your heart songs and put them in a special place on your playlist to listen to when you need them!

These were the words I listened to and heard them at just the right time…

Natalie Merchant, Wonder, Tigerlily

“Doctors have come
From distant cities
Just to see me,
Stand over my bed
Disbelieving what they’re seeing.They say I must be one of the wonders,
God’s own creation,
And as far as they see they can offer
No explanation.
Newspapers ask
Intimate questions,
What confessions;
They reach into my head
To steal the glory
Of my story.
They say I must be one of the wonders,
God’s own creation,
And as far as they see they can offer
No explanation.
I believe
Fate smiled at destiny.
Laughed as she came to my cradle:
“No, this child will be able”
Laughed as my body she lifted:
“No, this child will be gifted.
With love, with patience
And with faith,
She’ll make her way”
People see me,
I’m a challenge
To your balance.
I’m over your heads;
How I confound you
And astound you
to know I must be one of the wonders,
God’s own creation,
And as far as you see you can offer me
no explanation.
I believe
Fate smiled and destiny.
Laughed as she came to my cradle:
“No, this child will be able”
Laughed as she came to my mother:
“Know this child will not suffer.”
Laughed as my body she lifted:
“No this child will be gifted.
With love, with patience,
And with faith,
She’ll make her way.”
Find your heart song Suburban Diary Friends!

Lindley Arnoldy Thanksgiving Fashion: Country or City Chic

Are you City Girl Chic or Country Girl Chic? Well of course take all of the advice you can get when it comes to creating a Holiday Style of your own… I’d like to think I am a little of both!!! Lindley Arnoldy sheds her light on style- and Fabulously! Click this paragraph to see what she has to say!

Have a wonderful weekend friends- start making your Thanksgiving Plans now! “There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.” -Brian Tracy.

Don’t Let Style Define You, But Love Your Style Suburban Diary Friends!

PS. Read more Fashion Posts Here!

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Cindi Rose- Off the Record and in My Heart

Every once in a while, life, luck and fate meet…And that happened when I met the gracious Cindi Rose. Cindi left a profound impression with her initial email to me, swept me away when she graciously agreed to come to my home for an event I hosted which raised funds for her charity, the Rose Ribbon Foundation, and once again amazed when she invited me into her world and took me under her wing to walk me around and introduce me to a powerful room of women! Had I not had this serendipitous experience of meeting Cindi, I wouldn’t have had these opportunities!

Nancy Marcus Golden, Anjelica Chapman, Emily Arnim, Cindi Rose, Lane Llewellyn

My initial correspondence with Cindi Rose began via email when I saw an article featuring her pet silhouettes she was doing at Tootsie’s. So, I shot her an email, and to my delight, she replied… Cindi and I continued our correspondence, and I was so overwhelmed by her influence and information that I could not even fathom writing a “note-worthy” story about someone like Cindi Rose! So… I put a link to her talent on my Pampered Pets Page, leaving the balance of information to churn. I had no idea the extent of her influence, until later in our correspondence, and then my realizations would naturally write her story on their own.

Cindi Rose

Two days before my Southern Hippie Party, I sent out a “shot in the dark” email to Cindi asking her if she would consider coming to the party and doing silhouettes for charity. The next thing you know I learned of her Rose Ribbon Foundation, and she agreed to come to the party, in spite of the fact that she was already fufilling a prior engagement of attending the Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show at the Nutcracker Market! Wow! I couldn’t believe it, I was estatic! Her World Renowned Hand-Cut Silhouettes would be a perfect parting gift for my guests! Love them!

Cindi Rose and Sonia Traugott

My Southern Hippie party ended late into the midnight hour, and Cindi stayed with us! I was engaged in deep conversation with Mrs. Cindi Rose, and a few of my friends. We gathered around my dining room table in deep conversation with Cindi and a few of my friends, and spoke of our Fathers, who had all passed…It was one of the deepest conversations I have ever had. A coincidental connection that all five of us had lost our Fathers early! Ironic!?

Cindi Rose and Monty Guidry

In the midst of our conversation, she invited me to her home for a test shoot of a reality show the following day. It was an initial introduction between the characters involved- and she wanted me to be a part of the show! I told her I would sleep on it and let her know the next day. I had morning plans, an evening wedding, and contemplated whether my decision to attend was the right one! How could I make a 3:00 at Cindi’s? I had to find a way for Blane to get home from school and have someone keep them until our babysitter arrived for us to attend a 6:00 wedding? But, I made it happen… thanks to a few saviors in my life, one of whom is a regular savior, my dearest Mom :)!

Next thing you know, 12:00 lunch with the husband, off to AT&T to replace a phone, Jos A Bank for a shirt for my husband, to the house to drop it off, then off to Cindi’s in Houston. How I managed- don’t know, but I did!

Cindi Rose in Miu Miu and Christian Dior at The Art of Conversation Luncheon

3:15: I am greeted at the door by one of Cindi’s house staff members and escorted past an exquisite display of homemade hors d’oeuvres and fresh fruit-flavored water. I met both of her gifted children, daughter Erica Rose, 28, you may know her, and her younger brother Ben Rose, 26, natural socializers. I’ve been more and more observant of the saying…“If we were supposed to talk more than we listen, we would have two mouths and one ear.” – Mark Twain. Erica and Ben were raised to be natural listeners and conversationalists- it was both evident and intriguing! I also met various members of The Rose Family Entourage: House Staff, Managers, Publicist, Producers, Personal Trainer, Beauty Guru, Astrologer, etc… Very interesting!

Cindi cooks every night… That afternoon cooked up a to die for Turkey Stew and White Truffle Oil Rice combination for all of the guests! I need to get my hands on the recipe! Now, after about two and a half hours at Cindi’s absorbing the scene, it was time to go… I somehow made it home to Katy through Friday rush hour traffic in 30 minutes around 5:00 !!! Seriously unheard of! We had a driver hired for the wedding because it was in Houston; he took Greg first, then turned around to come to pick me up and deliver me to their reception just in time to see the newlyweds’ entrance! Amanda and Brian are our dear friends, who live in New Jersey, so we just don’t get to see enough of them; so, I was desperate to celebrate with them for their momentous occasion! :)

And once again, somehow on my way out of the door, Cindi graciously made a call, or sent an email, and I was invited to an event she was chairing at the Junior League, The Art of Conversation on Monday, the 3rd, just days later! I will say that I owe her a world of gratitude… She introduced me to everyone at The Art of Conversation, names that you may not recognize, and some you may, but a force of powerful, gifted and driven individuals. I walked away with more than I can process at my normal speed; I am taking this all in, and going to take it where I can. Without Cindi, I would have never been in a room and introduced to such centers of influence like this so early in my blogging life; it will give me an advantage, a leap forward and inspiration from people that have blazed their trails! She believed in me and exceeded my expectations beyond the grasp of my imagination.

Cindi Rose and Cynthia Sinatra

I thank you Cindi Rose, for inviting me into your world. I hope this experience will sustain my insight and continue to inspire me to create my dream of sharing knowledge with the world. I hope I deliver to women, and men for that matter, something they can take with them on every post I write. I will tell all of you that I believe whole-heartedly everything I write; sometimes my mind will change; sometimes it is hard to practice what you preach, but I learn as I write as well… and nothing says it when reading the The Suburban Diary but…. “Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.” -Bruce Lee I mean, need I say more??

Thank you all for believing in me and reading what I write. I will always deliver my heart or nothing at all! You can expect more posts on my encounters, the events I attend, the trials and errors, and the persons that I meet who influence my writing! I have so many things to write on the depth and talent of Cindi, and I look forward to sharing all of them with you!!!

Hold your Heart Suburban Diary Friends!

PS. Check out Silhouettes by Cindi Rose on Facebook to follow her fabulous talent!

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Our Halloween in Pictures

This year Halloween Weekend was full of festivities for all of us… Here are a few snapshots of our celebrations!

Braving the cold- Falcon Point Ladies Tennis Fun Day followed by a cozy lunch!

My beautiful Ashlyn "Starting" her Carving

The Witches Judging the Pumpkin Carving

My Dane soaking it all in

Halloween Hog Trap at Union Chappel Vineyard

Blane and his Best Buddy

Waiting for the "Go Ahead" with Confetti Eggs

Unbelievable Sunset at Union Chappel Vineyard Courtyard

A Fabulous French Table in True Spooky Style

Dad's After the Silly String Attack

Minutes after our hayride through a historic cemetary, the Hosts sweetened the deal with a trip to The Sweet Tooth!

Tinkerbelle Reese

Sweet Ashlyn... After the candy store- to the Tree House we went for some fun in the fort!

A slide down and then off to the fire pit for s'mores!

Real Men Wear Pink on Sunday- We Served Up a Few Aces to raise money for Rally for the Cure.

And of course we wore pink too!

Out with Ashlyn- In With Lady Gaga

My Cowboy Blane Sans Hat and Rope

My Precious Dane as Peter Pan sans Hat

The Cutest Tink Ever

What is going through their little minds?

Blane and his other Best Buddy

Peter Pan and his Tink

Ashlyn's Poker Face

Greg Clowning Around

Until Next Year Suburban Diary Friends!

A Peek Into My Mind: Finding a Balance

There are so many things that are fun and freeing about writing my blog, but I definitely feel the pressure when I cannot take the time to blog! Although I am still fighting my never ending battle of finding the “perfect balance” in life, which now includes my blog, I am not sure there really is a perfect balance. I think in a perfect world we all strive to find balance, quite possibly it is the pursuit of the perfect balance, that is defined as “Life”! I think the perfect balance is found in being happy with your perfect imbalance!

My balance consists of family first, which includes supporting my husband, spending time as a family and individually with all of my children, cooking, helping them with homework, living our experiences, supporting them in various activities, planning and hosting family functions and trips, and helping them with their day to day lives. I am also very involved with many family members that do not live within my four walls!

Another part of my life is self (which is a loose term in itself), and it is okay to be a little selfish, in fact I believe it is healthy not only for our own minds, but the hearts and minds of those around us! The maintenance of myself, playing tennis, events, socializing, traveling, and networking. I feel like much of these are not only fun for me but part of my life experiences. I am fortunate in that I am trying to integrate this portion of my life with my blog (my “work”) and helping/sharing with others! I also feel that ultimately building healthy relationships with positive people and my experiences will naturally affect my children in a positive way if I can learn to use my experiences effectively.

Work is a fundamental function of my life. I have always had something to work on and I thoroughly enjoy it. I love working on projects for my husband’s company (virtual only) and working on my blog. I help my husband as needed and support him in his endeavors. There are also so many duties as the CEO of the house! LOL! Seriously… Coordinating the family schedule and logistics, the things that need to be done around the house is never ending… Right now I have a list of calling the ice-machine servicing company, scheduling the garage floor company to come out to do a repair, having the painter come to touch up some miscellaneous items, having the exterminator to fix the major ant issue, going through my to-do list with the landscaper of what needs to be done before Dane’s party, scheduling someone to come out and fix the oven burner, and the list goes on… I mean really it is never ending!!! Do you feel like you have a never ending revolving list of things to do?? I hope I am not the only person! Then there are appointments to be scheduled, errands and everything in between! We cannot ever clear our to-do lists… It just isn’t possible, necessary or worth it! Learn to accept that, no matter what your to-do list is filled with.

Now I feel like there is a need for me to help others. But where does the time come from? I love to give people things and we do donate to causes, but nothing is like some good ole hands-on time! I feel like so much of my life is needed for my family and they should be my top priority as long as I have them under my wing… So am I failing on the lack of service volunteering? I hope that as my children get a little older we will be able to integrate volunteering into our lives and not just through financial support. At this time it seems very difficult to find the time, but I know in the near future there will come a time when we can give ourselves to others- TOGETHER! My Grandmother always taught me the importance of giving, but she also taught us that God wants us to help our family first!

The bottom line is that I feel a certain amount of guilt as I am trying to work on my perfect balance, which now includes my blog writing, because I want to give my family and my readers the most possible of me! My articles in progress list is crazy, but I have to make time to finalize my thoughts and stories! My blog is a high priority for me and I want to integrate it into my life, I am finding that it is possible, I just have to figure out the best way not to put my family and obligations to the side when doing so- I will get there I know! I love blogging and it is going to be a part of my life. My family and husband are so important to me- They are MY EVERYTHING, so just as I want all of them to be accountable to me, they want me to be accountable to them! I’m finding that perfect balance is not possible, but finding a balance I can accept is my goal! I am a very diverse person, very loving, supportive and giving to those close to me, involved in many things, interested in so much more and have a surmounting bucket list… I have a feeling this is the life I have chosen and it will serve my family well as long as we keep “our perfect balance”… And accept, that there are just going to be times in our lives that are crazy! Just take a few deep breaths and feel blessed as you find and accept your perfect balance… You are perfect just the way you are!

Balance Suburban Diary Friends!

A Perfect Match- A Memory Recalled

Town & Country is one of my all-time favorite magazines. Last year my Father, who passed away in June, brought an issue of Town & Country Magazine to me and told me I was going to fall in love with this historic magazine, and of course, I did! Filled with pages and pages of another world, foreign to me, it is full of intrigue, history, insight, and inspiration!

Town & Country Cover

As I sat outside today and enjoyed weather under 90 and a steadfast wind, read my September 2011 Town & Country, I came to the last page of the magazine to find this page… Invaluable! It struck a huge chord with me… Here is my story!

Last year I was helping my Mom go through some things and happened upon this box, which I remember fumbling through when I was a child. The box alone is rare and fit in perfectly with my evolving decorating style. My mom traveled all over Europe from teens to early 30′s and thinks she got this box in London, she doesn’t have the memory like my Father, so who is to say for sure. Inside were matchbooks from restaurants and hotels that my Mom and Dad, who divorced from my mother when I was 3, had been to. It was so interesting to me to look through them.

I brought the box to my house and decided to open it up with my Dad one day while he was visiting for the weekend… My Father, with the memory of a genius, sat and told me a story from each matchbook- who he was with, someone he met, a funny story while there, a waiter he met… A glimpse into the untold stories I had never heard and the history of my Dad’s character. He loved to eat at nice restaurants and discover new people and places, a trait I have inherited beyond belief.

As I look back now, the timing was surreal and perfect. Just months later my Father passed, that time of recollection was precious and memorable to me. I wish I remembered more, but the things I do remember, make me smile. I cherish them, he was an incredibly gifted and interesting man, I miss him incredibly!

My hope with this story is to show the simple things we can do to preserve our memory… When we go to a restaurant or travel to a new place, find a matchbook- Ask for one, don’t buy a cheap souvenir, and keep them in a special place or in a glass jar for decoration. One day you will be able to pull out your memories and recall them for yourself and tell your story to your children. No matter what we are doing at the time, it is significant, it is our story, our history, our chosen path of life!

Find a Perfect Match Suburban Diary Friends!  http://thesuburbandiary.com/travel/

I love you Dad and miss you to pieces!

Fabulous Farmers Market Finds

Have you enjoyed a Farmers Market Recently or Ever? I cannot believe that it was my very first time to the La Centerra Farmers Market (I should be ashamed)!!! I LOVED it. Over the past two years I’ve become an organic shopper, more aware of buying fresh and more natural, and aware of the harsh preservatives, ingredients and pesticides our everyday products contain. I have jumped into the organic and natural trend when at my local grocery store, but never jaunted to my local Farmers Market! SCORE- I LOVED IT! It was so neat talking to the vendors and hearing their stories and backgrounds, very interesting stories and people! :)

FM Summer

Here were my fabulous finds from the weekly Saturday Farmers Market in LaCenterra- some of which I can give instant reviews for and some which I cannot… But definitely look for my reviews and ideas to come on further posts!!

1. Handmade Razor with Deer Antler Handle and Shaving Brush $125 for set or $60 for Razor. I saw this and fell in love! What a fabulous gift for any man in your life- I bought 2! The deer antler handle fits perfectly in a man’s hand, the silver detail is rich and heavy and the Mach 3 disposable razor is perfect for replacing! What a phenomenal presentation as well… I am going to have him make a custom stand for the razor only. Randy does custom work as well with reclaimed wood- STUNNING and original. His wine stoppers are Amazing! Randy can be found at the La Centerra Farmers Market and is available at 832.276.8557 or randgo@hotmail.com – Get your Christmas gifts out of the way early- These truly are amazing. I believe great things are in store for this man and I look forward to some one on one interview time with him!

2. CareyKindly Oh no, ‘squito’ non-toxic insect repellent and Surface Solution in Citrus Lavender. I haven’t used Off in a while, although my husband is addicted, I go without because of the contact with the kids. Oh no, ‘squito’ non-toxic insect repellent is a perfect safe option- two squirts in your palms, rub them together and then pat yourself down from head to toe!! The non-toxic Surface Solution is perfect to clean those counters and not leave the harmful chemicals on your counter tops! Yay- So excited!!!

3. Texas Olive Ranch Mesquite Olive Oil and Texas Olive Ranch Black & White All Natural Blackberry Balsamic Vinegar. It is so funny that I happened upon Texas Olive Ranch when I first arrived. (I actually found this on the internet and used it as the suggested Olive Oil for my Homemade Hair Mask Post because it was Texas made.) While talking to the man, I found out Texas Olive Ranch is located in Carrizo Springs, which is where our hunting lease is— Small world!! They have 40,000 trees and it is their 5th harvest! They told me to mix these two for salad dressing or to mix together as a meat marinade! YUM- Greg is going to make me some fabulous steaks this weekend!!!

4. Hammond Farms Chevre’ Goat Cheese in Garlic and Herb as well as Jalapeno! Julie Hammond was so nice and informative… And the cheese was TOO DIE FOR! I cannot wait to eat it on crackers with a side of almonds and cranberries or stuff it in chicken breasts- YUM! I will be checking out more on the Hammond Ranch and maybe see if Julie will give us a peek into the process! I paid $5 for each container of cheese, but well worth it- fresh, natural and not processed! A WINNER!

5. Bodylicious Body & Room in Saint Michael and White Tea & Ginger is PHENOMENAL! The Saint Michael is a nice Gardenia smell (my favorite flower ever)… I sprayed it about noon and came back through the laundry room at 5 and it was still blooming with the smell… Ahhhhh, I love it! Harsh air fresheners are full of chemicals and toxins, this all natural alternative is safe and leaves a stunning smell! I have had a safe air freshener on my list too, so I scored big with this one! Check out Bodylicious on Etsy or at La Centerra’s Farmers Market!

6. Bodylicious Oatmeal Milk & Honey Hand and Body Lotion. Delightful scent, beautiful feel, perfect thick texture- I am 100% satisfied. I cannot stop putting it on and I am totally addicted to this scent. I used to buy this scent at Bath Junkie, but paid a lot more for it and it was not as thick. Her lotion is paraben/preservative free and she makes this herself. I love this homemade treat! Delicious!

In addition to all of these wonderful products, I bought sweet and hot pickles, candied jalapenos, fresh green beans, red potatoes, banana peppers, pears and pecan pie in a jar! I cannot wait to try all of them out. As you can see there are so many different types of products available at a local farmers market, have an open mind, support your local businesses and benefit from their expertise! I am so happy I went and plan to go regularly. I hear I missed the farm fresh eggs because he was open for 15 minutes before he sold out! I buy organic, range free, grain fed, cage free now, but knowing they are this fresh is so comforting! I look forward to sharing more of my Fabulous Farmers Market Finds with all of you and would love to hear if you’ve found something fabulous!!

Enjoy a Farmers Market Suburban Diary Friends! They are FABULOUS!

Meme’s Story: How Did All of These Beautiful Plants Get to Texas?

THE OX BLOOD LILY

Recently I read about this beautiful lily being one that the German ancestors brought when immigrating to Texas in the mid 1840’s and later. These were found at a little nursery in Seguin, Guadalupe Co. Texas, where I buy my nursery items for the yard. When these little bulbs were on display just having learned about their history, I just had to have some to put in my yard. The little lily naturalizes, and may be next year I will be able to bring some to the reunion to share with those who would like one to plant. It just bloomed today, and wanted to share this history and picture with you. These lilies usually are late fall bloomers until frost, Also, the info from the book stated they brought “slips” [cuttings] of all kinds fruit trees and seeds for their vegetables gardens. The early immigrants knew they would need these to have for food to feed their families. One of the first things that they did was plant a garden and their slips for trees, after building a shelter of some kind.

 Also, information that has been found is that some of the ancestors that landed in Indianola, made a short trip over to the Guadalupe River not far from Indianola, and rafted up the river to Seguin. Most of them went on to New Braunfels and on up to Fredericksburg to live. Other that landed in Galveston went overland to Washington, Lee, Fayette, Austin, Colorado and Lavaca Counties.

We owe a debt of gratitude to them for the hardships these new immigrants made to come to the new world and start a new life in America; some never returned home. If you have the opportunity to read about early Texas history please do, it is fascinating.

 Mayme Hause

Thank you Meme for sending me this wonderful story, we forget how all of this beauty arrived here in the first place… This story you sent to me yesterday inspired me to write my gardening post last night! I love you!  

Be Inspired Suburban Diary Friends! Share your stories!

Do You Have a Green Thumb?

Believe it or not… I LOVE LOVE LOVE gardening, love my plants, roses, fruit trees and love my backyard! Of course everyone should love their backyard and nurture it! You look at it everyday of your life, it should be your own personal haven! I wake up most mornings to let the dogs out and look around to see the change a day has made and enjoy the peace. In the evenings the kids and I go in the back and I find plenty of nurturing to do… The kids love to help! It is serene, therapeutic and a nice escape for me! The lily you see above was given to me by my Grandmother, Meme. She has kept it in our family since her Mother passed away in the 70′s and passed bulbs along to me! What an heirloom!

Here is a glimpse of my yellow roses with jasmine I am trying to trellis behind them! I really enjoy my roses… Easy to grow, fast growers, like sun and grooming them is my favorite thing to do in the back yard! I think I picked up my longing for a “Green Thumb” from my Meme first and foremost, but I also remember my late Grandmommy always tending to (or cursing) her begonias. Meme is always bringing me plants, giving me priceless advice and is a plethora of gardening knowledge!

My learning and experimenting in my own yard will never end, in fact I have just begun! I hope this post plants a seed in your mind to give it a try, start small and think of it as an escape to your own sanctuary, not a chore… Find the perfect time of day to spend outside, when the sun is setting, it is gorgeous and a fabulous way to unwind! Look for more advice to come on gardening and definitely visit your local nursery, they love to help! Fall is approaching, I’m sure you miss being outside- the heat is almost over!

This is a wonderful article on Top 10 Gardening Mistakes from Real Simple! Hope you enjoy or learn something! I am hoping to add to The Suburban Diary Experts by bringing on a Master Gardener or Nursery Owner… Will keep you updated as I work on my personal investment into my own backyard sanctuary and get advice from The Suburban Diary’s very own Expert! I leave you with a picture of my very own backyard sunset…

Grow a Green Thumb Suburban Diary Friends! Do you have any favorite plants, gardening advice or beautiful pictures to share? Please do!!

PS. Hope you all are filling your bird baths and feeding your birds :) Give Back To Nature- Feed The Hungry!

Childhood Pastimes- Keep it Simple

How fun this blog is going to be!! As my mind ponders the many thoughts I have to share… Where to begin?  If you have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews then- Great!  Let the fun begin!

set of two vintage atlas & ball glass top mason jars .. handmade solar lights : pint size decoupage - blue green and purple polka dots

Here is a short list with some of my favorite childhood pastimes! I’m going to use this as my own list of things to accomplish with the family.  How easy it is for us to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, modern technology takes our minds off the simple, and before you know it, these pastimes will not exist in our children’s lives!  This list a reminder to keep it simple and have fun!  I’ll print this list and stick it on my refrigerator.

#1 Croquet… I’m obsessing over buying a croquet set.  I’ve been 2 places with no luck, I’m on a mission to find the perfect one.  Somehow no matter how young we were, we were able to set up the game on our own and keep the game in play!  I think Blane (4) and Ashlyn (11) will love playing!  A great game to play when the sun is going down this summer, or as the first bit of crisp fall air comes in!  A nice one I found online LL Bean Croquet Set for $129.00 has a 4.5 star Amazon.com review.  This is definitely worth the family investment, you will keep it forever!  I sure wish I had our old set!

#2 Hide &  Go Seek… Free, easy and totally fun! I actually played it yesterday inside- SO MUCH FUN!  I would make small sounds so Blane could find me and of course and he finally did!!  Freeze tag with the 3 of us was a blast too, but I was exhausted afterwards! Take 10-20 minutes at the end of your day to play (I actually cheated and picked up the house as I was heading to find Blane- I was productive with my children and my house). Blane had the best time and talked about it the rest of the day!

#3 Picking Vegetables from a Garden… Our family friends across the street would take care of us while my parents were working.  I remember feeling so small and scouring the rows and filling buckets with sheer excitement!  What a simple thing that I really enjoyed… A treasure hunt for the young mind!  I was so confident in my gardening abilities that I climbed my Pop’s fig tree and pulled all of the “green balls” out of his tree, and I mean every one when I was no more than 4 years old (correct me if I’m wrong)! I was so proud, Pop on the other hand- not so happy! Now where to find a garden to take the kids?!?

#4 Catching Lightning Bugs… I was never harmful to them, just catch, keep for a short while and release was good for me!  I’m going to break out the jars and a hunting we will go.  We are going to New Braunfels in a couple of weeks for a family trip, so I will pack glass jars and let the kids enjoy the adventure!  I LOVE the Atlas Mason Jars I have pictured above from Etsy.com.

The simple things in life are what makes it truly memorable- we tend to overcomplicate things!  Turn off the tv, set down your phone and have some simple fun that the entire family will enjoy. I know that I will enjoy all of these things myself, it will be very nostalgic for me!

Create Memories with your Family Suburban Diary Friends!

PS… How awesome are these Mason Jar Solar Lights to put around your backyard when entertaining!?!  LOVE THEM!

Mason Jar Solar Lights 4, Vintage Blue Ball Jars Solar Lamps Handmade Solar Lids Upcycled Lighting Weddings Garden Party by TreasureAgain