Our newest find.

Pretty cool, huh?  A late 1950's/early 1960's vintage Coca Cola vending machine, when a bottle of Coke was only 10 cents!  We're going to refurbish it and get it fully working.  It does work now and keeps cold, but it could definitely be cleaned up and some of the parts could use replacing.  I'm not sure I want to re-paint it though, I kinda like the vintage charm, but we'll see what it looks like first after a good scrub down.

It'll eventually find a home in our kitchen, although more likely mostly filled with Izze's, Ginger beer and Shiner, and at least one slot of Coke bottles for good measure. ;)

We're pretty excited!

Kale. It's good.

So good in fact that I've made 3 batches of kale chips in one week!  Smitten Kitchen posted this recipe a few weeks ago and I'd been eying it ever since.  I finally dove in and boy are these kale chips good!  I'm really not a fan of kale the way it's traditionally cooked (sauted, or similar), but it's packed full of vitamins and nutrients, so I welcomed the opportunity to try it in a new way.  A great new way!  Kale will never be the same to me again. And Gunnar can't get enough of this stuff, especially crumbled and sprinkled on popcorn. The flavors really do marry well together.  But even eaten alone, the chips are good. So shoot, what's not to love?  My kid is willingly gobbling nutritious green by the hand full. I think this recipe's a definite keeper!

 Right out of the oven.

Atop fresh popped popcorn. I used a heaping quarter cup natural Red Crimson kernels in a skillet with 1T. of hot coconut oil for popping. With the kale in there and already lightly salted, there is no need to add butter or oil or salt at all.

Less than 5 minutes later, Gunnar's already gone through and searched out the first layer bunch of kale chips to eat before even digging in to the popcorn. :)

Kimono wrap top for the littlest one.

I haven't ventured much into sewing clothing.  A skirt for me, a pair of pants for the boy, bathrobe for the husband.. not many things.  I made this kimono wrap top a week before Logan was born, but he is just now wearing it for the first time at almost 6 months old.  I followed the newborn dimensions for cutting, and even then reduced it a bit further.  Huge! Especially considering my little guy is also quite the chunk. Logan and Gunnar only weigh a difference of 8lbs, and Gunnar is 2.5 years older, lol. But anyhow, I digress.

The pattern (by creature of habit) was easy peasy, which is probably why I picked it. I used a combination of serging and sewing, and followed this awesome tutorial from Amy Karol for attaching the binding.  All sewed up super fast. But, I will say, that while the sewing was great, if I make this top again I would likely sew the sleeves on separate from the main panels to mimic more natural movement.  As is though, my little man seemed happy in it, and that's all that matters in the end.

Blogging for boobies.

Today I am happy to be participating in a HUGE Breast Cancer Blogging Event! A incredibly ambitious friend of mine and fellow Dallas blogger, Jackie Reitz, has spearheaded a campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer, as well help her fund raising efforts for participation in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day. Her goal is to include over 300 blogs around the globe! I encourage you to take a moment out of your day to donate $5 or $10, or whatever you can give, to support her.  Do it for your mother, your sister, your children.. This disease really affects everyone.

If Jackie can get 300 blogs to spread awareness and even if just ONE reader from each blog gives $10, that will amount to over $3,000.00 in the fight against Breast Cancer.  Awesome!! So help her out!  Head here to Jackie's fund raising page and send her some donation love.  Heck, it's all tax deductible!  And don't forget to check out the team's blog 'Betties for Boobies' tomorrow to see what an impact blogging for boobies made!

Enjoying the sunshine.

We spent yesterday afternoon at one of the neighborhood ponds and were happily greeted by some feathered friends.  The ducks here are so friendly.  Gunnar was delighted to see them!

"Come on ducks, let go swimming! Over there!" 

Logan didn't care at all about the ducks, but he sure did enjoy touching and pulling and eating and laughing at the grass. I don't think he lifted his head up once after I sat him down.  He was one happy boy.

And the husband and I were quite happy too. We had just received a box of beautiful Meyer lemons my dad picked fresh from his tree (their house was built on what used to be a lemon tree grove in the valley- southern California), so I made Scott and I strawberry-mint-Meyer lemonade cocktails to enjoy.  They were so good!  There is no comparison to home grown Meyers, no way.  

For each glass, I squeezed 3 lemon and 3 strawberries, and rough chopped a small handful of mint sprigs from the backyard.  Added a few ice cubes and 1 tablespoons of sugar, gave it a quick stir, and then floated a little bit of rum atop.  You could let all the flavors merry for a bit and then strain it if you prefer, or not add the rum at all and thin out the lemonade a bit if you don't want it so concentrated.  Or add more sugar.. It's my own concoction, so make it however you like if you do.  I might even write up an official recipe, it was so tasty!

All in all, one gorgeous, lazy afternoon.