7 things about growing up

The adorable Leah, over at The Rife Observatory, tagged me for this fun little post. How fitting since I shared one childhood memory yesterday! So here it is, seven things about growing up. And because I love pictures, here's one of me, an ode to my old pink huffy. This was my first day of kindergarten :)

1. When I was four, only a few days after my twin sisters were brought home from the hospital, the neighbor kid threw a brick over the fence and it hit me in the back of the head. I got to ride in an ambulance with my dad and get stitches. My poor mother.
2. We lived with my Mom-mom (grandma) until I was five, and when I was ten, she came to live in our house.
3. I was obsessed with unicorns up until about age 11. Ha! I'm talking a collection of figurines, purple unicorn comforter, matching curtains, the whole shebang.
4. Not only unicorns, I also collected stamps, rocks, stickers, you name it. I was a professional collector.
5. I used to be a dancer, tap and ballet. You would never know this if you saw me on the dance floor these days. The lord did not bless me with much rhythm.
6. Spelling was always my favorite subject in school.
7. My BF Lindsey lived one house down the road, and we'd play together every day. She had super long bright red hair and her mom would always make us mac & cheese. Recently I reconnected with her via facebook {the joys of modern technology!} She looks exactly the same as she did back in the day...and mac & cheese still ranks as one of my favorites! 

Hope you enjoyed this. I'm going to tag these bloggers: Faith, {av}, Jillian, Christine, Ashley, Mrs. Ruby, and Natasha. Play along if you'd like and share some memories!

Tomorrow is Friday!!

Rise and Shine

{via}

Growing up, my Pop pop had a house at the Jersey Shore. {It was a lot different back in the day than it's depicted on MTV these days, but same town!} He was a big fisherman, and loved being on the bay in his boat. At least once a summer we'd pack up and make the four hour drive from our house in Pennsylvania for a beach vacation.

My Pop pop was an early riser, and the rest of my family, notoriously likes to sleep in. I can remember each morning, he would get up and have his Ritz crackers with peanut butter at the breakfast table and then, in his loud deep voice, announce "Rise and Shine!" to wake the rest of us up! Slowly, one by one, my sisters and brother and I would trickle out of the bedrooms and join him for breakfast, usually donuts and bagels from the bakery up the street. It was pretty much perfect and one of my favorite childhood memories.

So when I saw this print, I had to have it. I plan to hang it in our guest room. Not only will the yellow go well with the blues, whites, and little nautical touches we have planned, but it will be a little reminder of my Pop pop, perfect for when my family comes to visit!

Me & J at the shore circa 2006

Love the boardwalk

Miss you Pop!