The kids ride!

EDIT: I AM AN IDIOT. It's Ella's spring break, and I got my days all confused. I guess I'm on Australia time?

I missed wordless Wednesday because I was all wordy with the epilepsy post. So, I'm going to do a things-that-are-awesome Thursday!

My dear friend Maggie invited us out for some much needed catching up and pony time. While all I did was love on the horse(s), the kids got to ride! Ella got a lesson (more are coming in the near future,) and Riley was ponied around, without a spotter and he was a CHAMP!

Check out our pictures!

Things-that-are-awesome Thursday!

This Things-that-are-awesome Thursday brings you a place!

My long-time friends Bev Webb and Fredo Gonzalez have decided to be REALLY grown-up, (like, to an extent that I can't wrap my brain around, because I totally don't feel like a grown-up, even though we're all the same age,) and have opened Gainesville's newest beer bar!

The Midnight boasts more than 60 bottled beers from around the world, Seven beers on tap (with more to come!) and a full, diverse list of wines.  There are also non-alcoholic beverages available for the designated drivers.

Swamp Head Brewery's Midnight Oil - a delicious coffee oatmeal stout from Gainesville's only brewery! 

The atmosphere is intimate but fun, and I can easily foresee The Midnight becoming the "Cheers" of the Gainesville area.  Popcorn is served instead of peanuts, and a food menu is going to be implemented in the near future.

 Left to Right: Pages one through four of the "short" menu.  The "long" menu also includes the history of the different types of beer, as well as tidbits on the different breweries and special brews.

While it is a very friendly place run by wonderful people, the atmosphere is definitely not "family friendly."  It is, however, the perfect spot for a mom's night out, or a mommy and daddy date night, since it is definitely targeted towards the mature younger crowd.  (Read as:  You probably won't find the ridiculous hipsters, nor will you be surrounded by the frat boys and sorostitutes you would otherwise be subject to at the rest of Gainesville's drinking establishments.)

The specials board!

Even if The Midnight weren't owned and operated by friends of mine, I would still give it this glowing review.  The prices are right, the ambiance is awesome, and one other VERY cool thing that I have yet to find: They take suggestions!!!  Can't find a beer or wine on the menu that you'd desperately like to see?  There is a suggestion box, where the suggestions are seriously entertained on a regular basis.

B

Bev Webb, proud co-owner, GM, Bartender and all-around awesome lady!

For those of you in the area, please - check it out.  You won't be disappointed!  For those of you not in the area... come visit. ;)

Things-that-are-awesome Thursday!

Woot, it's Thursday!

I have two things that are awesome today.  Number one is a blog I'd like to draw attention to:  The Accidental Environmentalist, home of the Need-A-Bag? project.  The N-A-B? project operates on the same premise as the Need a penny? Take a penny! tray you see everywhere.  Set up at farmers markets, we offer free re-usable shopping bags.  Need a bag, take a bag.  If you want to bring it back next week, great!  If you forget, that's okay too!  We also like donations, both of bags and money.  We're not non-profit, though, and we certainly don't expect donations.  We just don't turn them away if they're offered.

Today was the N-A-B?'s maiden voyage to the High Springs Farmers Market, captained by yours truly.  N-A-B? has a permanent spot at the Alachua County Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, as well.

We're looking for locals to franchise out to the rest of our county's farmers markets, but I'd like ya'll to consider implementing something similar in your area.  Here's the short of it:  Pick up spare bags from friends, family, strangers, yard sales and thrift stores.  You don't want to go and buy new bags specifically for this, but buying used ones from thrift and yard sales is fine.  Wash them, tag them with your mission statement, and offer them to the shoppers for free!  Lather, Rinse, Repeat the weeks following. 

Please comment here or email me at accidentallymommy@gmail.com if you want to know more, and I'll give you the rest of the details. :D

The second thing that is awesome this week?  You.  Yes, YOU.  I want you all to know that I appreciate your presence, your comments, the time you take to read my posts - all of it.  I think you're awesome.

Things-that-are-awesome Thursday!

Umm, so, Blogger ate my original post.  I'm currently absurdely distracted, as I'm packing for two kids and myself for ONE night away, and the massive amount of crap I have to take is running my brain ragged.

ANYWAYS.

This week, I'm featuring one of my favorite online shops:  Nicki's Diapers!

Nicki's is A. MAZE. ING.  Lightening fast shipping, THE best prices I've found, and FREE shipping on covers!  They have a blog and a facebook page, and they restock immediately!

I just ordered from their sister site, My Swim Baby, to get Bug outfitted for pool season.  Gotta have that UV-blocking swimwear for my fair skinned boy.  Free shipping on EVERYTHING at MSB with the code "Diapers" at check out.

Seriously, they're both awesome.  I won't bore you with blathering, instead I just order that you go, shop, and love. :D

Things-that-are-awesome Thursday!

Okay, I'm late.  I had an incident yesterday that needed tending to; I promise, it was all for a good reason.

This week, we are featuring Jen over at Amarook Art!  She specializes in pyrography, and is amaaaazing at what she does.

I commissioned a piece from her not too long ago for MMC Designs, Farm and Kennels, which is actually AccidentallyMommy's business.  (Well, the designs bit.  Right now the farm and kennels are closed.  When they're open, I specialize in off-track thoroughbreds and standardbreds, and dobermans.)

Check out the awesome she made for me!!!!!

Now, it's hard to tell, but the edge is painted in my business colors: purple, with a stripe of green.  The wording and images are all burned into the wood.  All of this is sealed in an indoor/outdoor quality wood sealant.

I'm a pretty demanding customer, and I am more than happy to report that she far exceeded my normal criteria for something I'm willing to give a positive review on.  Additionally, Jen is great about maintaining contact through the process, and also sends status updates as she's working.

My images were standard stock silhouettes, but she also does custom work (with very realistic detailing,) from your photographs.  Go check out her blog and see for yourself!

Things-that-are-awesome Thursday! Week 3

Okay, so I'm a couple hours late.  Sorry 'bout that, ya'll.  School has officially started for me, and I'm still working on getting on a schedule.  I've also just begun driving again, and really working my way back into normal, functional life.

ANYWAYS.  On to what is awesome!

Meet Thurisaz, or Thur for short.  He is a One-of-a-kind DemonKidz Creation.   Here we see him happily perched atop my book case, guarding some of my most precious possessions.  (You can't see them in this shot, but the second shelf of this bookcase contains my rare and antique books.

Thur was ReBorn with love by the AWESOMELY TALENTED Miz Mare over at DemonKidz Dollworks.  He started out life as a boring, strangely orange-hued child's doll.  Through hours of hand-pigmenting and hand-painting details, sculpting horns and teeth, carving out his beautifully weathered clay accessories and sewing his pagan garb, he was transformed from weird-orange dolly to AWESOME CREEPY YET ALLURINGLY CUTE Norse Demon Kid.

Mare offers a variety of ReBorn-ing options; from whimsical to eerily realistic, with some silly, some literary references and a whole lot of otherwise awesome in between.

Every doll made is one of a kind; NO ONE will have a doll that shares a face or personality.

While these dolls are NOT toys, they can certainly be used to decorate your little monster's room if placed up high and out of reach. 

Or, you could do what I do... adopt them for yourself and place them strategically as a fun part of your otherwise grown-up and tame decorating scheme. ;)

So please... check Mare and The 'Kidz out, and see how fantastic they are for yourself.  I promise, you won't be sorry!

Things-that-are-awesome Thursday! Week 2

Welcome to Things-that-are-awesome Thursday!

This week's Thing-that-is-awesome is a location.  A beach, actually.

Now, I live in Florida. Dead smack in the middle of Florida, to be exact.  I'm surrounded on all sides but one by AMAZING beaches, as well as mediocre ones.  Needless to say, it was extremely difficult to pick just one for today's edition.

Ever dedicated to my readers, I sallied forth and weeded through the ones I had been to, compiling a short-list of ones I make an effort to go back to as often as possible.  There was one that truly stuck out, though.  I often dream about it, and find myself craving it's powdery white sand and warm, gentle waters.

Caspersen Beach is located in Venice, FL just south of the Venice Airport.  It is one of the single most awesome beaches in the entire state for shell collecting, and it is the beach best known for finding prehistoric shark's teeth with minimal effort, often finding more than one in a single afternoon.  The sand is powdery fine, and the water of the gulf is warm and gentle.

There are no lifeguards on duty and there is no concession stand or playground.  There is also no camping on site. It DOES have the following:   

177 acres of land
9,150 linear feet of gulf beach frontage
1,100 foot boardwalk
dune walkovers
fishing
nature trail (.34 mile trail)
parking
picnic area
rest rooms
swimming
undeveloped land

Some fun trivia about Caspersen Beach:

• 
  
  
  
  Originally deeded to Sarasota County by the Caspersen family in 1968 through a special warranty deed that stipulated the land would revert back to the family in 20 years.
• 
  
  
  
  In 1972, a bond referendum was held and passed for the purpose of acquiring Caspersen Beach and South Lido Park.
• 
  
  
  
  In 1986, the Board of County Commissioners included the Caspersen Mainland site (64 acres) in a $20 million bond referendum which the voters approved.
• 
  
  
  
  A friendly condemnation suit was filed by the Caspersen family requiring the county to prove in Federal Court the need for the land as a public park. The court ruled in the county's favor and established the value of the land.
• 
  
  
  
  A Land and Water Conservation Fund grant combined with proceeds from the bond referendum provided the funding to acquire the site at the price established by the court.
  
  
  
  You can see freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangrove areas, and tidal flats. Visitors can enjoy a 20 minute walk through Caspersen's nature trail which has been developed through a coastal hammock. The southern two thirds of beachfront has been left in its natural state. A dune restoration system with walkovers has been implemented to preserve the shoreline.
  
  
  Caspersen is TRULY one of Florida's treasures, and just another reason why I will live out the rest of my days in this beautiful state.  There's even been the occasional thought in the back of my brain that a small beachfront home might just be the perfect thing.
  
  
  Anyways, I'll leave you with one more photo, proof of just how awesome and fun this beach is.  If you're ever in Florida, you NEEED to make visiting it part of your itinerary.  You won't regret it!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

All photographs copyright Jacqueline Monck of MMC Designs.  Remember, Hotlinking makes Baby Jesus cry.  If you'd like to use an image, please contact Jacqueline at mmc.designsfarmsandkennels@gmail.com and ask nicely. Have a good day! :)

Things-that-are-awesome Thursday!

Behold, I bring you Things-that-are-awesome Thursdays!  Every Thursday from now on, I will spotlight a business/blog/items/etc. that I feel is completely awesome, to share just with you my loyal readers!

This week's Thing-that-is-awesome is a locally-run business called Dayna Lane Gifts.  Offering everything from scrapbooks and scrapbooking supplies to gorgeous jewelry handmade with love, there is something available within every budget and all tastes and styles.  Better yet?  Purchasing from Dayna Lane supports some amazing stay-at-home moms.  We all know how I feel about stay-at-home moms, being one myself. ;)

So, hop on over, check them out, or read their blog.

Happy Shopping!