SUN+SAND FAVES

Summer is just about official here and it couldn't come at a better time. The SUN+SAND board has me wanting a nice refreshing drink, while I am lounging on an über cool towel next to an amazing body of water.

Source: favfamilyrecipes.com via Laura on Pinterest

What can I say. This pin had to be my fave. Who doesn't want a slushy served in a pineapple?

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THAT'S HAWESOME

Tess and her butterfly Golden Flower

A list of things that make me happy, laugh, or feel good.

6. Modern medicine and the discovery of antibiotics*.
7. The GIANT container of Cheese Balls from Target.
8. Letting my kids eat as many Otter Pops as they want.
9. Friends that bring me a plate of their delicious dinner, so I don't have to eat the junk I feed my kids**.
10. Realizing it is more fun to see your daughter waste  enjoy your stash of crafty things instead of hoarding it for "something just right."
*Recovering from Strep Throat this week.
**It is not junk food, just not as nice as a gourmet meal. Don't judge.
//HAWESOME 1-5//

S'MORE HOLIDAYS PLEASE

This three day weekend was a doozy. It started and ended with good food, fun and friends. Just the way we like it. There might have been some strep throat and body aches in between, but nothing some medicine couldn't take care of.

The start of summer is also the start of s'more season. I could be wrong, but let's go with it.
Our first s'more of the season was a definite winner.

Peanut Butter Cookies + Nutella + Toasted Mallow = One rocking s'more!

HAWAI'I TIMES 6

Today was World Travel Day at my kid's school. I presented the Islands of Hawai'i to 150ish kinder and first graders. We're talking kapa mats, hula, history, and pineapple. Overall a fun way to start the holiday weekend. Never mind that I woke up to hail this morning.

Looks like bad weather for our long weekend, but that's not going to stop us from having fun!
Enjoy your weekend friends.

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THE HEALING POWERS OF BANANAS

Okay, so that title is a little over the top. I am unfamiliar with any real healing powers of bananas. However, baking banana muffins did a little heart healing for me. After writing some of my thoughts in this post, I needed something to bring me back down.

Banana bread is one of my favorite treats. To keep things easy we went with muffins. It seemed like there would be less crumbs. Remember I'm trying to keep the house clean for strangers to walk through.

Consciously keeping the house clean cleaner than normal, I used less dishes and washed up right away. Strangely this was all very therapeutic.

I was hoping the smell of freshly baked banana muffins would linger around to entice potential buyers, but it has slowly faded away. Our great style and awesome layout will just have to speak for themselves.

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OFFICALLY FOR SALE

Our home is offically for sale. Getting everything ready, and talking about it seems years behind us. Now time is standing still. 

This is the first home Mike and I purchased together.
This home is where I learned to mow a lawn, and use a snow blower.
This is where Mike and I bought, sold and rebought furniture to figure out our "style."
This is where Davis lost his first tooth, Tess crawled like a monkey, and Collin...Well this is all Collin knows.

I thought about trying to Photoshop my duvet to look even. Then I remembered my Photoshop skills are very lacking and it wouldn't be real. I thought about retaking the picture, but that wouldn't be real either.

What is real? Sitting here writing about our little home has me in tears. Tears from happy memories. Tears for sadness. Tears from feeling overwhelmed and not sure about change.

I'm sad that this little world in our neighborhood is going to go on without me. Without my family. I feel like we are going to be left out or left behind. Missing out on all the neighborhood barbecues, impromptu water parties and evening walks. Is anyone even going to notice we are gone. We are sure going to notice we are not here.

I know there are so many great things to come. And I look forward to sharing them with you. But, right now all I feel is sadness for what is going to be left. Sadness for what could have been.

I'm not the first person in the world to move, and I won't be the last.

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THAT'S HAWESOME

Source: flickr.com via Nicolette on Pinterest

With big changes happening around here, I have been looking for things that I am happy about, make me laugh, feel good, or I am grateful for. I'm sharing them here for a couple of reasons. It shares something about who I am, and I can keep track of it here.

1. Being *short enough to make a maxi skirt with one yard of fabric.
2. Having bangs to cover up your eyebrow indiscretions.
3. Exchanging encouraging words with close friends.
4. Email responses with in 24 hours, even if they are to turn you down.
5. Toasters with retractable cords. I don't own one, but they are still **hawesome.

*My drivers license says I'm 5'0"
**Collin adds the letter H to the beginning of some of his words. One of our family favorites is the H in front of awesome.

CH CH CH CHANGES

I mentioned on Monday that some big things are happening over here. Big adventurous things. The kind of things that will change life as you know it. So deep, right?

North Dakota cutting board from A.Heirloom 

Isn't this cutting board fun? You can get one for all the cool states. Cool states like North Dakota. Why is North Dakota cool? Well, because our family is moving there this summer. Wait, what?

You read that right. My husband's company is relocating us to North Dakota. Things have been extra busy this week as we are prepping our house, in Utah, to sell.

Change comes with a lot of mixed emotions, and now that I have told all of you I might just share a little more of what I have been thinking and feeling. So, I'll let the news sink in and we'll talk more next week.

Have a fab weekend where ever you are!

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VITAMIN C

follow me on instagram @saltypineapple

We could use a huge dose of vitamin C around here. Collin has had a fever since Sunday, and Tess is complaining she can't swallow her spit (soar throat.) Aggh.

So, if you are wondering where I have been, why i'm not blogging craftiness, and how come things around here are so untropical... It's because I am spending my time cuddling my babies, and cleaning while they nap.

Keep your fingers crossed for a better second half of the week.

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WRAPPING IT UP

Happy day after Mother's Day. I think we might need to follow up with "Care Givers Week." Then we have another week of papmpering. Just a thought.

My weekend started with our 10th wedding anniversary. Wow, ten years of bliss really. I love my husband, Mike, more and more everyday. How is that possible? I'm not sure, but my heart feels more full today than it ever has.

Last week I was out of town with Mike on a business trip. I have never missed my babies so much. It was great to come home Saturday and be showered with lots of hugs, kisses, and free french toast from Kneaders. (All moms got free french toast for Mother's Day.)

Saturday night I fell asleep early and Sunday morning woke up to three little ones cuddling me in bed. Dad slept on the couch. I guess babies, no matter how old, love their mommies. Waking up surrounded by the little people that I love beyond words was a great way to start Mother's Day.

Today is back to reality, car pools, a sick baby, and the dreaded laundry. I also have some big things happening over here. I will share more on that later in the week.

Have a great day friends.

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PINEWOOD DERBY 2012

Are you familiar with the prestigious Pinewood Derby? The little car races Boy Scouts do? Maybe I should say, Dad's do and the scout watches. 

Last week, Davis sent his first offical car down the track. It's that nice golden car in the middle. A lot of discussion, time, energy and graphite went into that block of wood.

I think Mike was just as excited and nervous for the race as Davis was. My boys can be a little competitive.

Overall Davis' car came in 6th place. We were super happy. Davis is quick to add that he raced the winning car after the offical race was over, and he won.

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POST IT CALANDER & WHITE BOARD

A few years back I carried around a monthly calander in my bag and wrote down every little appointment. When I got my iPad, I switched everything to my digi calander. As great as it is to have that with me, I missed writting a calander with a pen. What you think that's weird? Strange.

Last year Davis was constantly asking me what time we were leaving for this or that. I decided we needed a board to write down a daily schedule. 

Instead of buying a white board I went with something a bit more stylish. A simple frame with fabric inside becomes a little piece of art, or a white board when you write on the glass.

Here we write down messages, love notes, and things to remember. It's in a central location for everyone to see as we walk out the door.

This year I have two kids in school. I needed to remember more, and I wanted to see further out than just what we had going on that day.

I grabbed a cube of neon Post It notes and made a calander. Here I can write in all the day to day items for the entire month. I've noticed it helps me to remember things that are coming later in the week sooner than the night before.

Because the Post Its don't take up the entire board, I can still make my lists and leave notes for the family on the board.

I know this isn't rocket science, but if it helped me, it might help you. Uh, and it's cute!

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LEI IT ON ME: ORIGAMI LUCKY STARS

When I graduated from high school, a friend of mine gave me a origmai star lei. I held on to it forever, but don't know what has happend to it now. Bummer.

I wanted to recreate that lei for my niece who was baptized last weekend. This is a project that can be made anytime of year because you don't need flowers. Find some folding helpers and you will be making mile long garlands of these cute stars.

Supplies:
Colored paper. I used 25lb weight paper in some bright colors.
Dental floss
Needle
Clothes pin
Paper trimmer
This origmai tutorial to learn how to fold the stars.

1. Cut your paper into half inch strips lenght wise.

2. Follow the folding instructions and go crazy. Cut, cut, cut. Fold, fold, fold. 

3. Take a break to ease any hand cramping.

5. When you have finished folding all of your origami lucky stars, thread your needle with the dental floss. Then clamp the clothes pin at the other end of the floss.

6. Place your paper star onto the needle through the center of two points. It will come out through the top point. Continue to string your stars until you get the lenght of lei you would like. Forty stars makes a cute size kid lei. 

7. Tie your two ends together and add some pizzaz with a little curling ribbon, or not.

I think these stars would make a really cute garland. There are easy enough to make, I even made a bunch in the dark while I was watching a movie. Enlist some friends and go to work.

GIVEAWAY: BROOKESHORE

Brooke Rasmussen in the gal behind Brookeshore Designer Stationery. From desgining to shipping and everything else in between Brooke handles it all. Inspritation for Brooke's designs come from living and growing up in Huntington Beach, Ca. A chic modern touch with bright and bold colors sums up the beautiful desings Brooke makes. Personalizing your notecards with Brooke is an option too.

The Wave Design

Right away I loved the watercolor essence of The Wave design. Makes me wish I could paint landscapes, or anything for that matter.

Hawaiiang Hibiscus Design

Doesn't this card scream tropics?! Hibiscus bushes are all over Hawaii. Did you know the yellow hibiscus is Hawaii's state flower? Love this.

Citrus Burst Design

This design just happens to be my favorite of all Brooke's designs. Judging by the colors of all Brookeshore notecards, I think Brooke and I would fast be friends and have a lot in common.

Now you have a chance to get some of these notecards for your self! Here is the how to:

1. Visit Brookeshore and leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite design.
2. Tweet this giveaway and leave a comment here for another chance.
3. Like Brookeshore on Facebook and leave a comment here for your last chance.

So that is a possible of three entries per person. This giveaway runs from Wednesday 5-2-12 thru Wednesday 5-9-12 11:59 PM MST. The winner will be announced on the post Thursday morning.
Good luck!
The winner is Carol Yuen! Carol, email me your info and i will send it on to Brooke. Congratulations. Salty Signature—Begin typing above

MAY PIN BOARD

Are you getting anxious for summer vacation? Our kids have 25 days left of school, and I am so ready to be done. So, I thought it would be fun to collaborate on a board to get us all ready for summer.

Hello Sun+Sand

The Details:
Theme - Sun+Sand   Don't take the theme too literally.
Proper Source - PLEASE Please make sure your pin leads back to the original source! 
Keep it Clean - I run a family friendly site here.
Description - Leave a description of your pin. It's doesn't have to be long, just no // or ...
Round Up - At the end of the month I will do a round up of my favorite pins from the board.

If you are interested in playing along, email me: saltypineapple at gmail dot com. I will send you an invite to the board and we can get started!

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