Like most people with an Iphone I have become addicted to something as time consuming as Facebook, never did I think that was even possible. Instagram is a great way to share your creative eye view on life with friends, family and complete strangers. I love that you can change filters and edit to your liking, I think this App has created a new breed of image/photo obsessed people who think they are all professional photographers, but I love it anyway!
Here's a peek at my first week on Instagram:
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{1 & 2} I felt sort of silly for worrying about whether Tristan would be a complete monster on our flight and packed my version of the Mary Poppins bag of tricks. Luckily for us he took a nap for the first hour in the air and everyone complimented us on how well behaved he was {during the evening flight back he wasn't so pleasant because he was over tired and constipated, so there was lots of tears and screams and I got stared down from in between the seats by a woman in front of us who must have been trying to sleep}. When he woke up he loved climbing over his brother to take peeks at the view and saying "Wow" I was just pleased he was entertained.
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{3 - 6.} Beautiful candlelit church atop red rocks in Sedona, Arizona and the Hummingbird that flew by us.
There's nothing like that first hectic Monday back to work after a long vacation to make you long for a much needed day at the Spa. My day started off with an annoying stomachache {neither Crohns flare or cycle}, a frustrating call to AT&T about a billing issue {I totally lost my cool}, having to calm the anxieties of some students in the 3rd grade class I'm student teaching in {state exams start tomorrow} and a severe case of jet-lag from our trip to Arizona.
If your Monday was anything like mine was today and you can't get away to an exotic island this week then I'm sure you'll appreciate that today Kicks off Spa Week across the states, where you can enjoy various spa treatments for $50. I actually had my first Spa Experience in February for my 30th birthday at Blossom Spa in Astoria and enjoyed the day with some of my closest girlfriends. I didn't have anything to compare it too, but for a first time experience I enjoyed every moment. This spa got great ratings on Yelp and offered a great deal: mani/pedi and 30 minute massage for $49 {for spa week they are offering a mani/pedi and 1 hour massage} and it was BYOW so I of course bought two bottles of my fave Bartenura Moscato {that my bestie Liza and I have now deemed Mama's Juice, because it tastes like a kiddie punch that instantly relaxes any crazed mama after the kids go to bed}to celebrate.
30th Birthday Spa Day {me in the tiara of course}
What are some of your favorite Spa treatments? Any great Spa's in your town? Do you prefer a great message, or facials and other beauty treatments or is a spa where you can go and meditate and do yoga more your thing?
In Case you don't get a chance to check out one of the great Spa's participating in Spa Week, I'll leave you with a few DIY spa treatments and tips for a great in home experience.You can also check out my Pinterest board featuring some beautiful Spa's from around the world I'd love to visit.
A step by step video guide to making your own homemade scrub.
Whoo Hoo! I'm sure you are all thrilled that it's Friday and usually we are too but this week we wish it weren't the weekend quite yet because it means we are packing our bags and heading back home to NYC tonight. Don't get me wrong I for one miss home a bunch and our weekends of exploring but it definitely was nice heading to the west coast for some laid back sight-seeing, good eats and great company {late night television, cracking jokes and a glass of moscato with the bestie Liza and our hubbies just about every night}.
My boys loved it here so much that we even checked out some apartments around the corner from Liza's place {big difference in how much bang you get for your buck in AZ than in NYC}. We are pretty much packed up, so we plan to walk around the outlets and take the kids to Anthem, Phoenix's huge community park before our flight. I'll be sure to post some pics of our trip on Monday but until then, you can enjoy some of my fave links from all over the web. Live in the moment & Happy Weekend!
Guess the pop culture character just by looking at their hair and find the storybook character within another. Minimalist fun!
When we first had CJ we painted his side of our bedroom a lemon yellow with alternating yellow and sorbet green stripes. When we moved, our living room was painted a deep red, when Tristan was born we lightened it with a robins egg blue and painted the boys room a mango/peachy color. Clearly we aren't afraid of color.. What does the color in your home say about you?
If you are ever in Arizona, check out this zoo and aquarium. I always thought the Bronx Zoo in NYC was pretty amazing but this one has a train that you can ride through parts of the zoo {you can practically reach out and touch the animals} a petting zoo you can actually step inside and a feed the giraffes exhibit {I'll be posting photos within the upcoming week}.
I love the whimsy, youthfulness and intricate, beautiful detail that a carousel ride represents.
In these photos of Mila Kunis for Harper's Bazaar she looks stunningly chic and playful.
Over the years the boys and I have taken several pics on carousels here in NYC and in other fun places, it is definitely an attraction we must do if there's one around, our fave being the bug carousel at the Bronx Zoo. Do you have a favorite carousel?Does it have the traditional horses or something else?
In this photo I was 15 weeks preggers {2010} with Tristan Riley and had to take a pic next to this ladybug because I adore them and love that they represent luck!
CJ entranced by his carousel ride in Seaport Village in San Diego {2009, 4 yrs. old}.
The Hubby and Tristan share a ride on the insect carousel at the Bronx Zoo {2012, 16mos. old}.
Here are some other Carousel Photo's I love and found on pinterest :
If you haven't noticed the neon trend popping up everywhere, you must be indoors quite a bit. If you are anything like me you've played around with the idea of rocking an outfit that incorporates neon but are a bit leery of stepping too far outside of the box. I'm not sure I could pull off head to toe or colorblocking neon pieces all in one outfit, without it feeling like I tried too hard. I think as an end result your look should look chic and effortless when wearing attention grabbing colors. I searched the web for accessories that make a big statement in minimal doses and plan to wear my first neon piece this week while in Arizona. I'll be sure to tweet a pic @Djubilation and put it up on Instagram @Dellah.
Have you jumped on the Neon trend bandwagon yet? Did you incorporate it into your outfit as an accessory or was it a main feature?
For more neon popping Subtleties check out my pinterest board.
I love these travel journals I found on Etsy, they are perfect for all of your Wanderlusting experiences.
While taking a vacation from the hustle and bustle of life here in NYC I'm hoping to find some refreshing inspiration in the calm and serenity of cacti and canyons. While we are away I've made sure to pack my journal which is imprinted with the words "WHEN ONE DOOR OF HAPPINESS CLOSES, ANOTHER ONE OPENS; BUT OFTEN WE LOOK SO LONG AT THE CLOSED DOOR WHAT WE DO NOT SEE THE ONE WHICH HAS BEEN OPENED FOR US." ~ Helen Keller
I'm not sure I could ever leave NYC for a life in Arizona despite The Hubby and my bestie's wishes for us to make it our permanent residence. I am open minded to the idea of change and figure I won't know that I'll hate it until we get there. At the very least I know it will make for a fabulous vacation with my bestie and her family, we'll go bridal dress shopping for her destination wedding, I plan to get great photos of the boys in amazement while taking in the great views of Sedona, and I hope to start a new workout regimen and hope to start running again and hike for the first time. Whatever it is we end up doing, I'll be sure to keep my journal near by for reflecting in and to share this trip with you guys when we get back!
Do you keep a journal? Do you right in them for reflection or as a place to just keep memories?
The last week or so the boys and I have been getting ready for our trip to Arizona, and it has also proven to be the busiest week for me in a long time. Everyone loves a good family fun vacation, full of poolside relaxing, quality time with your favorite people and checking out all the touristy attractions wherever your destination may be, but what about all the things that need to be crossed off that checklist before you skip town?
All of my thoughts seem to be cluttered in my head and need some fine sorting through. I haven't seen it yet but it's like that scene from the movie starring Sarah Jessica Parker "I don't Know How She Does It", when she's laying in bed and running through "The List" in her head as it appears on her bedroom wall. I wish I had some ability to have a holographic to do list project from my head and appear whenever and wherever I needed it.
All through College I stuck with the good ole' agenda book. Pen and Paper worked just fine for me and I was able to remember most things because I wrote them down. With a Hubby and two boys later I find myself writing things everywhere I possibly can, on whatever I can get my hands on in that very second so not to forget.
I still have an Agenda, I bought it in my favorite color {purple} thinking that if I love it enough I'll pick it up to use it as often as possible. I even got cute Paul Frank post - it notes so that I'd be amused looking at the note reminding me to take our stinky dog Sonic to get shampooed before we left. In my Iphone I have lists of contacts and customer service reps I need to email, or call and appointments that need to be made. Yet, I still feel like I am always forgetting something: This week my list looks a bit like this:
1. Return the Jessica Simpson nude pumps that are way too small {returns need to be made in 30 days, this is day 28}
2. Schedule meeting for possible new creative job venture and start next weeks blog posts.
3. Find a way to meet up with Rachel and schedule a pedicure {ah yes, we can kill two birds with one stone and meet up for our pedicures and I can give her, her daughters Easter present}.
4. Make sure all lesson plans are completed{the Principal has continuously been walking in on me during my math presentations, and although they are good I suffer from mini anxiety attacks}.
5. Pack for Arizona {we leave in 3 days}.
Slowly I'm managing to power drive through the various things I need to do and have recruited The Hubby for a lot of tasks. When we get back from this needed vacay I plan to re-strategize how I keep track of things I need to accomplish. There are exciting new opportunities popping up for me and the boys, and I need to stay on top of them.
How do you keep track of the things you need to do throughout the day or week? Pen and paper, gizmo's and gadgets? What do you find works best?
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