Lindsay's Birthday Party

On Sunday afternoon, Papa treated everyone to dinner at NJ's famous Don Pepe's restaurant in celebration of Lindsay's birthday. Isabella hadn't seen the Sullivan's in a few weeks and was thrilled to spend time with them, especially Aunt Lindsay. Everyone enjoyed the authentic Spanish cuisine. Farewell to Aunt Lindsay wo leaves on a month long business trip to Singapore tomorrow morning. We will miss her while she is away!

Tis the Season for Sailing, Yard Sailing, that is

Spring is in the air, inspiring everyone to open their windows and clean out their homes! It's Yard Sale Weekend here in Hackettstown, with families on almost every street participating in this town wide event. Picking up some items at local garage sales is a great way to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Additionally, if you are on a budget, yard sales are truly the places to scope out for some unbelievable buys. Now before you go running out to the nearest one, remember that yard sales can be a double edged sword. People get rid of items for a variety of reasons - items have been outgrown, items no longer function, folks are downsizing, folks are moving. The old adage, "One person's junk is another person's treasure" may be true in some situations, but certainly not all. Here are my tips for happy shopping:

• Look for "classic" children's items - kitchen sets, houses, walkers, push/pull toys, books, ride on toys, shopping carts, play phones, tables and chairs, easels, desks (plastic items can be hosed down with a mild soap and left to dry in the sun, which is a natural disinfectant, this has worked great for us).



• If you are buying children's items, ask the seller, which of these did your children enjoy the most? What age is this geared for? Can you give me a better deal if I take a few?
  


• Ask yourself - Do I really need this item? Is it in decent condition? Can I get by without it? How often do I see myself using it?
  


• Be chatty and interactive with the sellers, usually they just want to get rid of things, maybe they will come down on the price for you.



• Try to scope out areas/communities/streets that are having sales, so that you just park once and can hit a bunch instead of driving around.



• Get there early so you can get first choice.



• Just like falling in love, the best deals usually happen when you least expect it, so just keep an eye out for signs when you are riding around on spring weekends ;)

Craigslist, Freecycle, and local consignment are also resources to use throughout the year when yard sales simply aren't in season. I have personally used Craigslist and local consignment for some purchases in the winter, although I have not found them to be great deals. My friend, Regina, is a Freecycle member and raves about this resource. Everything through Freecycle is literally free. Just make sure you are safe with pick up and drop off points, whether you use Craigslist or Freecycle.

We had lots of "steals" at last year's yard sales, with all items costing $1 or $2 dollars (including the "Country Kitchen Set" by Little Tikes) with the exception of the table and chairs set, which cost $10. We also landed a $4 coffee table, which was recently passed off to a friend. Yard sales are great ways to get out your shopping energy without breaking the budget :)

Berry-licious Muffins

I had to post a picture because these muffins are just so beautiful. The berries give them a sweet pink color making them look as good as they taste. I found this recipe upon opening my Stonyfield yogurt this week and my friend, Sue, confirmed that it was indeed a good one. The recipe yielded a dozen big muffins, nice and browned on the outside and very moist on the inside. They are not too sweet which makes them perfect for breakfast or a midmorning snack. Here is the link to the recipe at Stonyfield http://recipes.stonyfield.com/recipes.cfm?action=details:recipeID=126

I substituted raspberries for the strawberries b/c that's what I had on hand and Isabella and I really enjoyed one. We left them out for Dave as a midnight snack for when he gets home for work tonight.

Patio Garden

Thank goodness for occasional early nights home from work. Dave took the lead on our patio potting project for the summer with the assistance of Isabella, the professional water pourer. I just observed, learning that you are only supposed to put a very few seeds in each pot (not the entire package!) and enjoyed watching my husband and daughter working together. Thanks to Dave's family who provided us with the squash, pepper, and green bean seeds that we ended up planting. We also have a basil plant that Isabella loves to water and smell each day. We look forward to seeing what comes of our efforts :)

April 20, 2009 - Happy Birthday, Lindsay

Happy Birthday today to my lovely Aunt Lindsay who was there to welcome me into the world with warm smiles, soft hugs, and my first manicure. Love, Isabella Teresa

The Patio is Open

We finally got to dine outdoors this weekend and it was so refreshing. Spring is finally here, after a very long winter. The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and the grill is going! That's right, following some polite requests from me, and then maybe some slight nagging - ok maybe a lot of nagging - Dave grilled up 3 lbs of salmon that my friends at the fish counter hooked me up with. Needless to say, it was delicious. Baked salmon was great all winter, but nothing compares to grilled salmon in the warmer weather. We have a charcoal grill which isn't favorable, but we are law abiding citizens here in Panther Valley. Bella and I washed down the patio set while Dave masterfully prepared the fish. He even came home from work early so that we could get a head start on enjoying the weekend weather. Bella loves salmon and now grilled apple bbq salmon might just be her favorite. It's hard to say who ate the most, 3lbs of fish later...seriously, I kid you not. Anyway, outdoor dining makes for very nice family memories.

Divine Mercy Sunday is this Weekend!

Is there a person on this earth that can afford to miss out on this most generous grace that Christ is giving away for free??????????????????????????????????????

If not for yourself, offer up these special graces for a deceased loved one or souls in Purgatory, who are no longer able to make use of such graces and who rely entirely on our prayers for their behalf.

Jesus Himself , as revealed to Saint Faustina, promised many graces to those who celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. On April 30, 2000, the day of Saint Faustina's cannonization, Pope John Paul II declared the second Sunday of Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday throughout the world. In her diary, Saint Faustina reveals the graces Christ promises to mankind on this day,

"I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy (1109)."

Many parishes celebrate this Feast day with confession, prayer of the Divine Mercy Chaplet( http://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php), and Holy Mass.

The Chaplet, especially, is a prayer Jesus instructed Saint Faustina to pray constantly, promising,

"Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you (1541). Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death (687). When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Savior (1541). Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this Chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy (687). I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy (687). Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will. (1731)"

Pray the Chaplet on ordinary Rosary beads, whenever you think of it (driving, cooking, falling asleep, waking up, putting your child to sleep, visiting the sick, during Communion, upon entering Mass, after confession, passing a cemetary, passing a funeral home or procession).

Offer it for:

deceased loved ones

souls in Purgatory

conversion of hearts

the sick and dying

those who will die today

souls of little childrenj

for Mary's intentions

for the Holy Father's intentions

Ask for Saint Faustina to intercede before your prayer.