Charmed Life

The Happiest Place on Earth

2011-03-30T20:19:00.003-06:00

We're back from Spring Break at Disneyland. I'm proud to report that only one meltdown occurred during our three day extravaganza. It involved being tooooo tired to walk any further and wanting to be pushed in a stroller. The situation was diffused when my husband offered to get me a tasty Mickey shaped beignet. Talking me down with pastry... a recurring tactic in our relationship.

Unlike her mommy, this one handled herself beautifully, no bribes needed. Okay, maybe other than the light up ears.

A Thing for Green

2011-03-16T20:31:00.002-06:00

My sister celebrated her birthday this week, and I gave her this little suitcase full of goodies. Green was the order of the day. I love having a sister who appreciates a good old water stained suitcase as much as I do. Happy Birthday Julie!

76 gum machines led the big parade...

2011-02-15T19:41:00.004-07:00

Okay, it was more like 24 gumball machines...
but after tying each little ribbon, and packaging up each of these Valentine treats, it started to feel like 76!

So worth it to make a whole room full of five-year-olds smile though! Hope your Valentine's Day was a ball too.

Warm Valentine Greetings

2011-02-04T14:13:00.009-07:00

Year before last, Williams Sonoma had the most adorable Valentine wreath in their catalog. It was was comprised completely of retro style Valentines that had been decoupaged onto a wooden form. I logged that idea away to borrow sometime in the future...

We have had three snow days in a row because of extreme temperatures in our area, so I decided to put my own slant on that wreath idea. This is what I came up with in my spare time. Again, I exercised some restraint with what I included. The base is so glittery and happy that I couldn't cover it all. Okay, I could have, but didn't. I am thinking that it needs a bow though. What do you think?

Thank you for visiting me today. For a peek at more pink goodness to warm your heart, please pop over to the blog of our delightful hostess Beverly.

Stay cozy!

I'm in the mood for love

2011-01-29T20:45:00.003-07:00

Cancel the intervention, I finally took down all the Christmas decorations.

In their place are Valentines. Several years ago I bought a piece of pre-cut foam core to fit an open back frame from the craft store. I covered the foam core with velvet and then popped it into the frame. The result is a blank canvas perfect for displaying my Heart Day delights. Some of the Valentines are vintage and others are reproductions. I move them around until I like the pattern and then just attach each one with a straight pin to the covered foam core. This is what I have so far. I plan to add some other bits and bobs here and there for texture. Heaven forbid there be any blank space showing.

Love Among the Ruins

2011-01-18T18:47:00.006-07:00

I did not make a resolution to blog less in 2011, but it seems like I have done just that. Please forgive me. Even though Christmas seems like a million years ago, I still have smatterings of decorations here and there that I have yet to put away. And while you might think that doing something about that should take priority, I have found countless reasons (excuses) not to. The above picture features the tags I made for a Valentine's swap. Yep, that's right. I was sitting at my kitchen table whipping up twenty of these babies instead of acting like a responsible adult and packing away the Christmas decor. And if that is not deranged enough, I was seriously considering making a special trip to Hobby Lobby to see if they have the Easter decorations out yet. Yes ladies and gentlemen, it's a sad state of affairs. Oh well, I'll let you know if I find anything good at Hobby Lobby.

Wishing you...

2010-12-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T13:49:00.002-07:00

All is calm. All is bright.

Christmas Corners Continued

2010-12-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

The tree probably looks the same as last year and the year before, but I still love it.

The mantle is a little bit the same and a little bit different. I know I used some of the same decorations, but maybe omitted one glass jar (insert mock gasp here).

Note to self... work on taking photos without the flash in 2011.

Yes, the flash is soooo 2010.

Ooh, and adding more icicles to things should be a top priority in the coming year as well. Glitter and icicles...always good choices. Happy Christmas Eve eve!

A Glimpse of Christmas

2010-12-22T09:47:00.003-07:00

The gifts are wrapped, the cookies are baked, and the house is clean...time to share a few corners of my holiday home with you!

This is part of my dining room decked out for the holiday. I love when things from other parts of the house come together to make new and different Christmas vignettes, don't you? Tomorrow I'll show you some more. Hope you are enjoying the magic hours of Christmas week.

Sing We Now of Christmas...

2010-12-17T14:45:00.004-07:00

Christmas music is my favorite music. I love the traditional carols and the Top 40 Hits. I am moved by Silent Night each year at the church candlelight service, yet get the giggles when listening to The Drifters version of White Christmas. I have a little playlist going with some of my favorites to share. No, having the word "bell" in the title was not a prerequisite to being on the list. LOL! What are some of your favorites?

For a glimpse of what other folks might have on their Ipods at this time of year, please pop on over to the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly.

Merry almost Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2010-11-26T22:51:00.003-07:00

CHRISTMAS!

I love it! Have you started decorating yet? You can you know. It is after Thanksgiving. The holiday police cannot issue you a citation now. You are in the clear. So go ahead and drag out those Shiny Brites and show them off. You'll be so glad you did!

If you are in need of a little inspiration, pop on over to Beverly's. She is the wonderful hostess of Pink Saturday, and can give you a list of all the folks who are participating today. Hope you have a delightful weekend. Holiday hugs to you!

Caught in the Act

2010-11-14T21:56:00.003-07:00

Remember how I told you that the squirrels were taking over my backyard? Well, the saga continues. I spotted this little guy helping himself to our jack o' lantern. It was a moldy, leftover jack o' lantern, but he still has some nerve.

I took these photos from inside looking out the window, hence the graininess, but you can still clearly see his arrogance. He is rather proud of himself in this second photo don't you think? He's acting like he craved the pumpkin instead of being the one that took bites out of it. I hope he has a stomachache.

Houston, we have a costume!

2010-11-02T19:12:00.000-06:00

Okay kids, I pulled it off... Barely... By the skin of my teeth... Snipping the last thread seconds before walking out the door... No exaggeration. Six yards of fabric, fifteen yards of cording, one broken needle, and a whole spool of thread later, I finished. But check out the coup de gras... Behold the bubble helmet!

This crowning touch could not have been pulled off without the help of some obliging friends who are handy with a jigsaw.

Much fun was had by all.

My services were paid for in candy. All is right with the world.

Same Song, Second Verse...

2010-10-23T00:00:00.000-06:00

I'm making my daughter's Halloween costume again this year. If you are wondering why I haven't mentioned this earlier, it's because I haven't started it...yet. I have had good intentions, but no follow through. To be honest, I am definitely in over my head this time. I am terrified to cut the fabric and equally frightened about sewing on the stuff. Shiny, slippery fabric will be very unforgiving if (when) I have to rip out. I'm bowling you over with my positive attitude, right? But I think you figured out a long time ago that this is not Tony Robbins' blog, and I can own that.

So are you curious as to what kind of creation this fabric is going to morph into? (Yeah, me too.) If you visit me again next week hopefully you will see a finished product. If not, I'll just show you the picture on the pattern envelope so you can see what might have been. This will without a doubt be my "make it work moment" so wish me luck.

Give yourself a little treat and swing by the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly to see what other pink delights are on display. Happy Day!

October's Party

2010-10-16T00:00:00.001-06:00

October gave a party

The leaves by hundreds came

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

George Cooper

"It was a small town by a small river.

The town was full of trees.

And dry grass now that autumn was here.

And full of fences to walk on and sidewalks to skate on and a large ravine to tumble in and yell across.

And it was the afternoon of Halloween.

And all the houses shut against a cool wind.

And the town full of cold sunlight.

But suddenly, the day was gone.

Night came out from under each tree and spread.

Behind the doors of all the houses there was a scurry of mouse feet,muted cries, flickerings of light.

The wind outside nested in each tree,

prowled the sidewalks in invisible

treads like unseen cats.

Anyone could see that the wind

was a special wind this night,

and the darkness took on a special feel

because it was All Hallows' Eve.

Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet.

Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys

like the plumes of funeral parades.

From kitchen windows drifted two pumpkin smells:gourds being cut, pies being baked.

Attics were still being rummaged, old locks broken,

old steamer chests disemboweled for costumes.

The wind came a seized a thousand dark leaves

and blew them away up over the sky..."

from The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

For a list of all the houses with their porch lights on in honor of this autumnal celebration, please let the wind carry you over to visit our enchanting hostess

~Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist~

Autumn Favors

2010-10-04T19:03:00.005-06:00

I've been getting little corners of my house decked out for autumn. In my entry way I have this table where I like to have small favors for friends and family who might pop by. I change it out seasonally. Right now it has these pumpkin shaped jars filled with candy corn.

These were so fun to make. I just bought the jars at the craft store, filled them with treats and topped them with ribbon. Easy. So glad October is here. Happy Day!

Pink is the New Orange

2010-10-02T00:00:00.003-06:00

I just adore clever people who are wildly creative and fun. I know you do too, so I had to take this Pink Saturday to introduce you to my FABULOUS Etsy friends at Anders Ruff. They designed the wonderful graphics for Courtney Dial's dazzlingly genius "Pink-O-Ween" concept featured in these photos.

These gals create the most AMAZING array of party goodies. From invitations to mini candy bar wrappers and water bottle labels, they have everything to make your event one of a kind and memorable. This is a peek at just one of many printable graphic design collections they offer.

They can design anything your pretty little head can dream up to make your event extraordinary.

Don't you just LOVE it? Knew you would! Pop on over and give them a look. They are donating a portion of their sales to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation as well. Creative and caring. Gotta love that!

Thanks to the girls at Anders Ruff for letting me show off their creativity. And to Courtney Dial of Pizzazzerie for the beyond gorgeous table styling. And Kristen Steele for the lovely photography.

And thank you for stopping by today for a visit! For a list of all of today's participants please click over to the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly. Happy Day!

Score!

2010-09-28T21:25:00.002-06:00

Yes ladies and gentlemen, we have pumpkins. That's right, pumpkins. Plural form. Not one, but two. Two twenty pound beauties. Finally. I'm photographing them for posterity and silently praying they don't get stolen off the front porch.

Cloudy with a Chance of Magic

2010-09-18T00:00:00.001-06:00

Today we awoke to an overcast sky and a fine mist of rain falling. It was the perfect weather for sleeping in, but the alarm clock beckoned. I let the Baby Girl carry her umbrella with her to school, after she promised not to run over to the coat rack throughout the day to play with it. Sadly, the clouds parted before noon and the temperature rocketed into the nineties. So much for fall. After arriving home The Girl decided that she had to play dress up, and that the umbrella was an integral part of her ensemble.

Oh yes, and hot pink wedges were the order of the day as well. And no, I did not let her wear those to school. But yes, she did ask.

So glad you stopped by for a visit! For a complete list of all things sunny and pink please pop over to the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly. Happy Day!

Pumpkins Please

2010-09-15T19:59:00.002-06:00

I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of pumpkins this year. There is a place out in the country that offers locally grown produce and I called them to ask if they had pumpkins yet. I could practically hear the clerk's eyes roll at my inquiry. "Pumpkins aren't ready yet," the woman said. In farmer talk what she really said was, "Pumpkins aren't ready yet, you big dummy." Granted it was September 1st when I called, but she still could have had some compassion on a poor pumpkin loving girl like myself.

So I have to play it cool now, I can't call back there again. I'm trying to convince my Sweetie to call from a pay phone for me or something like that, to find out the pumpkin status. His eye roll at this request makes me think that he and the farmer's market clerk are in cahoots somehow. So until I can get my hands on some orange beauties of a larger variety these little tiger pumpkins from Walmart will have to do.

America Remembers

2010-09-11T00:00:00.000-06:00

Wishful Thinking

2010-08-07T00:35:00.004-06:00

I had the best time picking out pretend back to school clothes for myself over at Polyvore. And I didn't even have to fight the Tax Free Weekend crowds to window shop. Such fun, give it a try!

For a peek at other fabulous pink finds, please pop over to the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly. Hope you're enjoying the last bit of summer!

Teacher's Pet

2010-07-31T00:00:00.001-06:00

Have you seen these cute little bottles of hand gel at Bath and Body Works?
I think it will make a sweet gift for my little one to take to her teacher on the first day of Kindergarten! Nothing like getting a bribe in on the first day. LOL!

Aren't the tags adorable too? I love the old fashion composition book boarder.

And did I mention they have a pink version too for the hand soap? It's antibacterial and applicious! I had to get one for myself. I seriously doubt if any high school student will be caught dead bringing me one on the first day of school, so I had to take matters into my own hands. So glad I did.

Thank you so much for visiting today. For a list of more pink treats please pop over to the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly. Happy Day!

The Day The Circus Came to Town...

2010-07-20T15:17:00.008-06:00

There were party favors galore

Ellie the elephant took center stage

Balloons were yours for the asking

Candy and trinkets were the order of the day

Special yo yos awaited a spin

The garage became a magical tent

There were games to be played

And prizes to be won

Decorations came to life

Elephants were on parade

The peanuts were fresh

The scent of sugar was in the air

Sweets abounded

Darling circus animals found their way onto a cake

There were tickets to be earned

invitations to be accepted

and ice cream to be shared.

The wishes of this five year old came true!

Easy Listening

2010-07-17T00:00:00.000-06:00

The temperature outside today was 106 degrees. No worries though, because inside the AC was pumping and so was this little pink radio. Nothing but 1950's oldies. Perfect.

For a complete list of all things pink and wonderful, tune into the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly. Hope you have a cool day!

The Pink Stuff

2010-07-10T02:25:00.004-06:00

This is what 45 bags of homemade cotton candy look like. My baby girl is turning five today, and we are all a flutter with preparations! I'll show you more treats soon. Promise.

Thank you for dropping by today. For a complete list of today's Pink participants spin on over to the blog of our delightful hostess Beverly. Hope you have a sweet day!

Little Miss Liberty

2010-07-03T00:00:00.001-06:00

Wishing you a fun filled 4th, a delightful Pink Saturday, and merry making all around!

For a list of other Pink participants, make like a fire cracker and pop on over to the blog of our amazing hostess Beverly.

Delighted you dropped by for...

2010-06-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

Please pull up a chair, pick a cup and enjoy the party!

Thank you so much for sharing a cup of tea with me! For a complete list of tea party revellers, pop over to the blog of our AMAZING hostess Vanessa.

Have a splendid day!

Backstage Ballerinas

2010-06-22T00:00:00.001-06:00

My daughter recently had her end of the year ballet recital. Here is a peek at what the tiny dancers do to pass the time while waiting for their turn on stage. Color. Who knew? Why was this never the subject of a Degas painting? It's perfect. I hope this urge to color lasts for a few more years... I don't know if text messaging will look as adorable.

God Bless Texas

2010-06-19T00:00:00.001-06:00

As if Texans didn't have enough to be proud of with their Blue Bell ice cream, now they can boast about having California style cupcakes right in their own backyard. We took a little road trip to Dallas and happily stumbled upon this Sprinkles shop. I just about died from the excitement! I had that whole "country mouse goes to the city" experience, so I thought I would share.

This is what the selection looked like...Heaven. I took one Lemon Coconut and a Key Lime to go. Delicious! They even sell bottled Coca Cola. And yes, a bottle of ice cold Coke is the perfect chaser for two decadent cuppy cakes. Trust me.

And what was even nicer was the staff. They were super sweet and let me take these pictures to share. Loved it!

For a peek at all things delicious and pink, please pop over to the blog of our amazing hostess Beverly. Hope your day is filled with sweet surprises!

Peely Pink

2010-06-12T00:00:00.003-06:00

I've had this pink chair for years. I don't know if you can actually tell that it's pink from this shot, but trust me it's a lovely shade of chippy pink up close. It serves no purpose whatsoever, as the seat is mostly splinters, but I love it anyway. Everyone needs a pink chair in their garden, useless or otherwise. Don't you agree?

For a list of other pink lovelies, pop over to the blog of our delightful hostess Beverly. Happy Day!

Water, water everywhere...

2010-06-08T00:03:00.000-06:00

My Sweetie often accuses me of watering the yard too much. Let me rephrase that. My husband says I waste water. To be perfectly honest, he does not have an issue with me watering the grass, but he does freak out when I inadvertently water the sidewalk, the neighbor's yard, the street, etc. Hey, I can't help it if occasionally the wind picks up and sends the water intended for our grass over to Mr. Crankenberry's yard next door, or if the water pressure suddenly changes and causes the sprinkler to shoot out a long continual drink to the asphalt. I am however taking a closer look at how much water I actually have been using after discovering random patches of the above flirty fungus sprinkled throughout the yard. Shhhh... please don't say anything to my Sweetie, and maybe he won't notice. Hopefully a roving band of gnomes won't tip him off either.

Pink Picks

2010-06-05T05:33:00.005-06:00

I'm working on a little project that is going to require a lovely shade of pink paint. I have narrowed it down to three choices, but I am having a difficult time deciding which to select. Maybe I should pick based on best paint color name... Okay, that doesn't help much either as it is a two way tie between "Merry Pink" and "Child's Play". Which is your favorite?

For a list of all things pink and wonderful pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly.
Happy Day!

Pink Birthday Wishes

2010-05-29T00:00:00.000-06:00

Today is a very special celebration. Beverly the fabulous gal who started Pink Saturday is celebrating the second birthday of this wonderful tradition. So in the spirit of pink and birthdays, I wanted to share a couple of pictures from my daughter's fourth birthday party. I showed off the party favors we made last July for the occasion, but I thought you might like to see them all together for effect. Aren't birthdays the BEST?

I hope you'll pop over and send Beverly some birthday wishes of your own. You can also see a list of all the others who are merry making today too. Happy Day!

The Recital

2010-05-26T16:18:00.005-06:00

My baby girl just had her first piano recital.

She is four.

She is fearless.

She is fabulous.

Her feet didn't touch the ground as she played.

Neither did mine.

Sun Dappled Pink

2010-05-22T10:57:00.002-06:00

It has been so windy and hot here the past few days. Some of the flowers have suffered, but these roses seem pretty to me even when they are a bit blown open. I love the singed look of the petal edges. But then again, when are roses anything but beautiful?

For a complete list of other pink delights please pop over to the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly. Hope your day is filled with beauty.

Pink Drink

2010-05-15T00:00:00.002-06:00

I often read on other blogs how wonderful Trader Joe's is. We do not have one of these mystical magical stores in our town, but I had a chance to visit one not long ago while traveling. The store definitely lived up to the hype if for nothing else than the fresh cut flowers it offers. Oh wait, this post is about the bottled lemonade I discovered rather than the flowers. I guess I'll save the flower story for another post. Ah yes, I meant to talk about the lemonade. In a word...DIVINE. You really must try it if you get the chance. It comes in three flavors, French Berry, Pink and Key Lime. The Pink was so good that we guzzled it straight down from the bottle like regular hillbillies before I could even take a picture of it. Classy~

We managed to hold off on this darker pink one for slightly longer. We even served it over ice and in glasses. Amazing~

For a list of wonderful pink treats that just might wet your whistle, pop on over to Beverly's cantina. Cheers!

Sweet Ride

2010-05-12T16:50:00.000-06:00

With summer just around the corner my Sweetie decided to get his black beauty out of storage and get it all shined up for weekend spins. He always wanted an all American muscle car as a teenager, but he had to wait till his thirties for that dream to become a reality. He painstakingly restored what was once a white, beaten up, single owner 1968 Ford Mustang to the souped up ride you see above. Whenever I am trying to think of something to blog about, he always says, "Why don't you write about the Stang?" This comment is always met with an eye roll from me, but this time I decided to humor him. After all, he did spend a lot of time getting it all slicked up, and he deserves some props. He should really enjoy what time he has left with this car though.

Because I know a little girl who already has dibs on it.

Wishing you...

2010-05-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

a wonderful Mother's Day weekend filled with love.

Tickled Pink

2010-05-01T00:00:00.001-06:00

I found the cutest children's book this week on Etsy. (At Scrappy Jessi's shop to be exact) I've told you I have a weakness for children's books. Oh yeah, and a weakness for glass jars, craft supplies, and purses, but I digress...

I fell in love with the cover, but there was an even better surprise on the inside.
Dogs!

And more dogs! Heaven.

Who knew a few little 1960's illustrations, a smattering of pink, and a few furry canines could bring such joy?

For a list of other pink delights please visit the blog of our delightful hostess Beverly.

Happy Day!

Breaking News from Wonderland...

2010-04-28T19:35:00.007-06:00

If you are a friend of Alice you won't want to miss her annual summer adventure over at
A Fanciful Twist. The Beyond ~FABULOUS~ Vanessa Valencia is inviting all kindred spirits to a very special tea party! So pop on over, sign up and start dusting off those teacups. Happy Day!

p.s. Here is a peek at my party from last year ~

Backyard Beauty

2010-04-27T23:03:00.003-06:00

Spring is in full bloom in my neck of the woods.

The fragrance of roses fills the air

The pear tree is showing promise

The pecan trees are hinting at a bumper crop.

And best of all, the apricots survived more than one fluke snow flurry. Looks like there just might be another Jam Session ahead.

Woohoo!

Charming News!

2010-04-23T00:00:00.000-06:00

Recently I had the honor of donating some of my charm bracelets to the fabulous Jenn Hayslip for her equally fabulous art event, Petticoats and Parasols, which is taking place this weekend in gorgeous Savannah, Georgia. I hope the gals that win these enjoy them and have a wonderful weekend of creating! While I was in the creative zone, I restocked my shop as well. Hope you'll pop over and take a peek. Happy Day!

For a list of other charming pink delights pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

2010-04-19T22:12:00.001-06:00

Okay, so I've mentioned that I'm addicted to television. I know, I know, one minute I'm telling you about the inordinate amount of ice cream in my freezer and now I'm basically proclaiming my couch potato status.(You're a smart group so you probably already figured as much, right?) Anyhoo, I'm so excited that the new season of Glee has started. Project Runway is winding down so I can replace it with Glee. See, that isn't so bad. It's not like I'm adding to the backlog of shows I've already recorded, I'm merely switching one for the other. Perfectly acceptable, no need for an intervention.This show is appealing to me because I can see myself and a part of my high school experience in each episode.

For example, I totally had an outfit like this in high school. The only difference was that mine was yellow. Does that make it worse? Maybe not because my matching Candie's flats were awesome. (Read the word "awesome" one octave higher than the rest of the text for intended effect)

I even wore things like Emma the guidance counselor. Students are not supposed to dress like the guidance counselor. That's one of the Ten Commandments I think.

Oh yeah, and I had this fitness Nazi for P.E. for two consecutive years. I've already mentioned my thing for TV and ice cream, so you can imagine how well the two of us hit it off.

But the best part of the show besides singing along to the music and reminiscing about my whole choral experience is watching how Rachel finds her Finn. Mine didn't come along until college, but he was worth the wait.

Pink Daydreams...

2010-04-17T00:00:00.002-06:00

1. Flip flops by the pool , 2. Super Hearts Party, 3. Sweet Surprise, 4. Hot pink piano in Darien, Georgia, 5. shack vignette, 6. 88/365..., 7. Regardez, regardez... Les cupcakes!, 8. KEEP CALM AND HAVE A CUPCAKE by Everyday is a Holiday, 9. Pink Tutus

For a list of other pink delights, drift on over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly.

~Happy Dreaming~

Brighten the corner where you are

2010-04-10T00:00:00.000-06:00

On our fifth wedding anniversary my Sweetie gave me this picture as a gift. At the time it tied in perfectly with the decor in our master bedroom. When we moved to our current home it found a new spot in the dining room. I love it just as much here, maybe even more.But then again, beautiful roses are a delight anywhere.

For a glimpse at other pink treasures follow the garden path over to Beverly's blog for a list of today's participants. Thank you so much for visiting me today!

Tales from the Freezer...

2010-04-07T21:25:00.000-06:00

This year I will turn 40. This is the year I should get in shape. But unfortunately, this is the year that they finally started selling Blue Bell ice cream in my state. My love affair with Blue Bell began in college. If you live in Texas for any length of time you will invariably buy a pair of cowboy boots, learn to two-step, and without a doubt fall in love with the native dessert of the land...Blue Bell ice cream.I was a skeptic at first. I thought all the talk I had heard about this famed frozen creation was just another thing on a long list that Texans enjoyed bragging about, one more pillar to the whole "Don't Mess with Texas" dogma...but I was so wrong.

My first taste of Blue Bell came at the end of my sophomore year. It was the week of spring finals and my Sweetie and I were taking a much needed study break. We wound up at an odd little burger joint a couple of blocks from campus. They were closing up for the night and had already shut down the grill. We were out of luck, we would have no deep fried carbohydrates to fuel our midnight study session. They would sell us a couple of scoops of ice cream though if we wanted, so we went that route. My Sweetie had Rocky Road and I opted for White Chocolate. We both took a bite at about the same time from our respective cups, looked up to catch each other's eye, and exchanged the same "OMG, this is the best stuff I've ever eaten!" look. We were hooked. The rest of that week we glided through finals easily, riding the high from our nightly ice cream fixes. Sadly, the conclusion of finals brought the end of term. We both had to return to our home state and leave Texas, each other, and Blue Blue for three long months. But we survived. Our love affair with each other and Blue Bell would last for the rest of our college career and carry over into our married life. We have had each other, but been without a ready supply of Blue Bell now for seventeen years. But that all changed this week. As you can see, we are making up for lost time. It's so much more economical by the half gallon instead of the scoop. Don't ya think?

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T00:00:00.000-06:00

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Sunday together.

Basket Case

2010-04-03T00:21:00.002-06:00

I have spent the better part of a week working on these little baskets. They are going to serve as the place cards at my Easter luncheon on Sunday.

I have loved making them, but in doing so I have neglected many very important tasks...like cleaning the house and buying the groceries for said luncheon. Do you think there will be any hams left at the store? Do you think my guests will mind eating at a table strewn with crepe paper remnants, trails of glitter, and straggling bits of Easter grass?

Do you think the restaurant we end up having lunch at will care if we bring our own place cards?

Hope each of you are having a wonderful weekend. For a list of all things pink, tidy and organized hop on over to the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly.
Happy Easter!

Alice Tags

2010-03-31T05:20:00.002-06:00

If you trundle around Blogland on a regular basis you have probably been seeing these wonderful tags popping up. They are from the Alice Tag Book Swap hosted by Karla Nathan. I've had my book for a couple of weeks, but I am just now getting around to showing it off. Karla did a beautiful job of making the packaging extra special. Everyone did such an amazing job, I just had to share...

This one came from Barbara who lives across the Pond.

This one is from Diane.

And one from Nina

from GabrielleLove this one, but the artist's name was not on it.

from Shawn

and from The Hostess with the Mostess, Karla

So many talented girls out there! I'm thrilled with each creation.

Parasol and Plum Blossoms

2010-03-20T00:00:00.000-06:00

Well folks if you haven't already heard, Liberty of London has landed at your local Target store. Add my name to the list of people who are gaga over the stuff. I did show fiscal restraint and only bought two items, the umbrella above and an adorable little skirt for my daughter. I'm sure this flash of frugality won't last past the weekend. I wonder if Target has those flatbed wagons like that are available at Costco? I think that would work best for the number of decorative storage boxes I'd like to take home with me.

My husband was a sweetie and held the umbrella for me while I snapped this picture to share.

We did this little photo shoot out in our front yard. All was going well until a neighbor walked past and said to my husband, "Hey Mary Poppins, how's it going?" It was at this point that my husband clicked the umbrella shut and said, "Okay, that's a wrap!" Thanks a lot neighbor Crankenberry, you just cost me my production assistant.

Thank you for "poppin" by today. For a peek at other pink delights please visit out fabulous hostess Beverly for a list of all of today's participants.

Birthday Vignette

2010-03-17T22:00:00.001-06:00

My sister celebrated her birthday this week, so I wanted to create something extra special for her.

I love to wrap gifts, but this time I decided to forgo that and display all of her loot together.

Recently we discovered the world of Peacock Park, and were immediately smitten. I wanted her birthday vignette to have that sort of feel to it.

I found many of the goodies on Etsy.

The touches of nature came from a local nursery.

The other bits and bobs I'd been saving for just the right moment.

I love it when all the details fall into place.

Ooh, and the homemade carrot cake wasn't bad either.

Here a Chick, There a Chick,

2010-03-13T00:00:00.001-07:00

Everywhere a chick, chick! I bet you weren't expecting chicks in technicolor, now were you?

I had the hardest time getting this raucous brood into formation for Easter parade practice.

These two needed a couple more hours of shut eye.

Stupid rooster with his, "Cockadoodledoo!"

This pair talked the whole time and wouldn't take direction.

This one did nothing but complain.

And this guy, with a face only a mother could love, had to use the restroom every ten minutes.

But what can you expect, they're only being paid chicken feed. Hopefully they'll get their act together.

For a peek at all things adorable and pink, please pop over to the blog of our delightful hostess Beverly for a complete list of today's participants. All the cool chicks are doing it.

And the winner is...

2010-03-10T20:08:00.003-07:00

Number 9!

Rebecca of "Our Back Porch"

Thanks so much for entering my little drawing

with all of your wonderful comments.

Big hugs to each of you!

Let's Celebrate!

2010-03-06T00:00:00.002-07:00

Hello dear friends! Thank you so much for dropping in. Today is the 2nd Anniversary of my little blog! I can't believe it's been two years already. I want to thank each and every one of you who stop by for a visit. I never dreamed that I would get through my first month of blogging, but with such delightful encouragement from so many of you, I now don't know how I would get through a month without blogging.

I appreciate the kind words you send my way and the kindred spirit you share. With that in mind, I thought it only fitting that I offer a little token of my affection. In honor of my Blog Anniversary and in the spirit of Pink Saturday, I am giving away this little pink and white porcelain tureen. Just leave a comment on this post and I will draw for a winner in the next few days. You do not have to have a blog or live in the States to enter, so please join the fun!

Thank you for celebrating with me today and everyday.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs to you all!

Go ask...

2010-03-02T22:57:00.004-07:00

I just finished up a batch of Alice inspired tags for a little swap I'm in. I usually don't do swaps because the thought of making twelve of anything really stresses me out. Commitment issues? Perhaps. Anyhoo, this little exchange only required six tags, so I went for it. Six is just about the right amount. You know, so that you are not constantly asking yourself, "Why am I doing this???" when you are only on item number three out of the twelve you signed up to make. Yes, six is manageable.

I even like the way they turned out. Which is not always the case. Too much self loathing? Perhaps. But you know how that goes, right?
This is a little peek at the back. I think life is considerably better with all these delightful "admit one" tickets that seem to be everywhere these days. Yes, tickets add some zing to a project that might otherwise be lacking. Just like glitter does. Hey, what a minute. I forgot the glitter here.

Great, so much for my "six is manageable" theory.

A spoonful of ...

2010-02-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

I love shopping at Marshall's. I don't get to very often though, only when I go out of town. That is probably a good thing. There is something so satisfying about finding treasure among the 4:00 p.m. Saturday carnage of the houseware section. This fabulous sugar is my latest find. I adore the jar, the label, the graphics...gush, gush, gush. And you know the old saying, if one is good, two is even better.

So the red had to come home with me too. I'll trot it out for Christmas and Valentine's. The pink however gets to stay out year round. But of course!

For a peek at all things pink and sweet, please pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly for a list of today's participants. Happy Day!

Sick as...

2010-02-22T16:47:00.005-07:00

Hello dear friends, sorry it has been forever and a day since I last posted. We have been taking turns being sick around my house over the last two weeks. I'm sure many of you can relate. Little to nothing has gotten accomplished, unless you count fever sleep and fever dreams. All of those plans for dazzling homemade Valentines fell by the wayside in exchange for barely coherent scribbling slapped onto some boxed paper hearts from Target. There were some Pixy Stix involved, so all was not lost. I even failed to make a Pink Saturday post this past week. The only thing pink in my world on Saturday was a bottle of Pepto, yet I don't think that would have been very appropriate subject matter. I feel like we are on the other side of the crud, so hopefully things can get back to normal...whatever that is.
Hope you and yours are warm and well.

Valentine Pals of Mine

2010-02-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a little Valentine project, and these vintage beauties are my inspiration. Can you guess which one I'm going to use? I'll show you my little creation in my next post. And no, you will not have to wait until next Saturday to see it. This is the week that I will not be a one post wonder. I'm not saying it's going to be like tomorrow or anything, but at least before next Saturday. Okay?

Rather than waiting for the water to boil over here, pop on over the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly for a list of all of today's participants. Happy Day!

A Clockwork Pink

2010-01-30T12:00:00.002-07:00

Without really intending to, I have started collecting alarm clocks. The crazy thing is while I love the way they look, I cannot stand to hearing them tick. No, you don't need to alert the police. It's not one of those Tell-Tale Heart scenarios. It's just one of those peevish things to me like the drip, drip, dripping sound of water, or the drum, drum, drumming of anxious fingers. Distracting. Annoying. Unnerving.

So despite my best intentions, I have once again opted for "form" over "function." Story of my life. Hope the dogs don't get any bright ideas as to how to make these little beauties functional.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! For a glimpse at other pink follies, pop over to the blog of our delightful hostess Beverly for a list of all of the day's participants.

Quibble and Kits

2010-01-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Have I ever told you that I have a weakness for glass jars? Of course I have. In fact, if it weren't for these little beauties I would scarcely have any topics for my blog posts. Now while I often yammer on and on about the jars, I don't always elaborate on the contents of the jars in my collection. That being said, I thought I should shine the spotlight on one of my favorites in honor of Pink Saturday. Do you remember Kits and BB Bats? They bring back happy memories of trips to the dime store candy counter when I was little. They also come in chocolate and banana flavor, but I love the pink wrappers on the strawberry the best. I've had these on display in this jar for going on ten years now. (I told you I was a whack-a-doodle) They've changed the packaging on the BB Bats since then, so I am glad I have this jar chock-full of the retro ones even though they are way too hard to nibble on now. Okay crazy enough to keep them for ten years, but not crazy enough to eat them after this long, thank you very much.

For a peak at other sweet pink treats, please pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly for a list of all of this week's participants. Thanks for dropping by!

Pink Saturday...Family Circus Style

2010-01-09T00:00:00.001-07:00

Have you ever read the cartoon strip Family Circus? If you have you might remember that the artist who draws it sometimes takes a vacation, and while he is away he lets his little boy draw the strip in his place. With this in mind, I thought it would be fun to let my daughter create my Pink Saturday post this week. The above photo shows some of her favorite gifts from Christmas. Even though she is only four, the girl LOVES to decorate. She arranges and rearranges her toys on an hourly basis. She is all about the display, the textures, and the layering. But you want to know the coolest part about her little vignettes?

She takes pictures of them with her own little digital camera! I'm sure starting a blog must be on her to-do list in 2010. Did I mention that the girl is precocious?

For a peek at other magical pink creations pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly for a list of all of today's participants. Happy Day!

Wishing you and yours...

2009-12-31T20:39:00.002-07:00

May your 2010 be filled with good health and happiness!

Tradition

2009-12-19T00:00:00.001-07:00

The first Christmas my Sweetie and I were married a cute little tradition started. On Christmas Eve when it was time to unplug all the outside lights and turn off the tree before turning in for the night my husband said, "Let's leave them all on tonight." Now I'm the type who would leave every lamp on 24/7 if left to my own devices, but my better half is not. He's the frugal fellow with an ever mindful eye on the electric meter, making sure I don't send that little spinning contraption (or him) into orbit during the month of December. Giddy about leaving the lights on, yet curious about the logic I asked, "Why?" He sweetly responded, "So Santa will be able to see the house." A tradition was born. Global warming and exorbitant electric bills we care not for thee. On Christmas Eve, the lights stay on!

For Christmas traditions both sentimental and silly pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly for a complete list of today's participants. My tree will light your path. Merry Christmas!

Noel

2009-12-12T00:00:00.001-07:00

This is one of my favorite decorations. I keep her out year round, but at Christmastime she takes center stage. She is guardian over the bottle brush trees and the butter mints. What a delightful occupation, don't you agree?

For a glimpse at other dear treasures, pop over to the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly for a list of all of today's participants. Hope you are enjoying each day leading up to Christmas!

Christmas 1974

2009-12-05T00:00:00.001-07:00

I don't remember what was in this package, but I do remember that the Christmas I was four my family bought a brand new artificial tree and all new candy land themed ornaments to go on it. We previously had a white tree with all blue ornaments, but that year we wanted something different. I remember vividly going to Sears to help pick out the new tree and all that would go with it.

The ornaments were my favorite part. There were gingerbread boys, girls and houses along with glittery white reindeer and snowmen that looked like sugar cookies, yet were made out of styrofoam. To my four-year-old sensibilities all these delightful decorations looked good enough to eat. So much so, that is just what I did. One by one I sampled each type of ornament. I left some of the houses with tentative teeth marks in them while the gingerbread men suffered more severely by having whole bites taken out of their heads. What was not bitten was at least licked. Hey, I'm not proud, I'm just reporting the facts.

In this photo I was caught red handed, absconding with yet another decoration. I can't tell if a gingerbread man was about to be crippled or if a reindeer was about to become lame, but it didn't look like I had much remorse over the whole thing. So much for our new decorations.

Thanks so much for strolling down memory lane with me. For more fond recollections of Christmas past, pop over to the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly for a list of today's participants. Hope your Christmas is delicious!

Snow Day

2009-12-04T13:46:00.006-07:00

I'm so excited! School was cancelled today because of the snow we received overnight. My four- year-old was a little grumbly because Friday is Show and Tell Day at her school, and she hated to miss it. The girl lives for performing. LOL! I on the other hand was elated to stay home. My high schoolers have their own daily version of show and tell, and frankly I have seen and heard enough of them to tide me over for awhile ;>)

To detract from the trauma of missing Show and Tell, we decided to spend some time making paper chains for Christmas decorating. We had quite the assembly line going. She would glue and I would make the paper loop. I started referring to her as "Glue Girl," and she then started calling me "Paper Lady."

In my opinion they are never too young to learn the value of crafting in pajamas.

Hope you are having a cozy day!

Fairy Wafers

2009-12-03T00:00:00.001-07:00

Hello sweet friends, thank you for stopping by for Scrappy Jessi's 3rd Annual Cookie Exchange!
The recipe I am sharing is tea party perfect and a delightful companion cookie to the Cherry BonBons I showed you last year. I call them Fairy Wafers. They are light as air and delicious! Enjoy~

Fairy Wafers

1cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter

3 to 4 tablespoons half-and-half

Powered Sugar Frosting

Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place flour in a medium bowl. Using a pastry blender cut in butter until pieces are pea size. Sprinkle one tablespoon of the half-and-half over part of the mixture. Gently toss with a fork and push to the side of the bowl. Repeat until all is moistened. Form into a ball.

On a lightly floured surface roll dough until slightly less than 1/8 inch thick. Using a 2 inch fluted round cookie cutter, cut out dough. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges start to brown. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool.

Spread 1 teaspoon of Powdered Sugar Frosting on the bottoms of half the cookies. Top with the remaining cookies, bottom sides down. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes about 20 sandwich cookies.

*IMPORTANT NOTE *If making a batch of these for a blog photo shoot, let your family know in advance so that they don't act like wild monkeys and eat over half of them, leaving you with only six for the picture.

Powdered Sugar Frosting

In a small bowl stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of softened butter, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in about 1 tablespoon of half-and-half, 1 teaspoon at a time to make frosting of spreading consistency. Tint with paste food coloring.

Hope you have fun making these but more importantly hope you enjoy eating them. For a complete list of Cookie Exchange participants pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Jessi. Happy Holidays!

Christmas in a Can

2009-11-28T00:00:00.004-07:00

I found this yummy little tin awhile back, and it had to come home with me. By no means did I need another tin, but I couldn't resist the faded peachy pink perfection of it. Can you blame me?

It has proven itself to be quite utilitarian. After all, at this time of year one cannot have enough places to display jolly little trees. Don't you agree?

Thank you so much for stopping by today. For a glimpse at pink things both functional and frivolous, pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly for a list of today's Pink participants. Happy Day!

Blessings to You

2009-11-26T00:00:00.001-07:00

Hope you and your family have a wonderful day together.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pink Christmas

2009-11-21T00:00:00.003-07:00

Summer before last I made some Christmas in July projects. I tried to do it again this past July, but I stalled out. My intent was to make a whole forest full of sequined trees...

You know, the retro ones made from a Styrofoam base with a million pins stuck into the surface in almost voodoo-like fashion.

I wanted them to be pink and fabulous.

At this point I would settle for finished.

For a tour of all things pink and wonderful, head over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly for a list of all Pink participants. Happy Day!

McCall Memories

2009-11-18T23:00:00.003-07:00

I found the most wonderful vintage Christmas patterns today, and I just had to show them to you!

I fell head over heels for these little beauties in all their 1960's glory. I love, love, love the nativity scene at the top.

And aren't these tablecloths sooo kitschy cute?

Ooh, and the one for the card table is retro FABULOUS! Bridge anyone?

Aww, and the Victorian boot on this packet is just like the ones my grandmother used to make.

The best part is that each of these patterns are completely intact! I can whip up any of these delightful creations at my leisure. Hopefully forty years won't pass before that actually happens.

Almost Famous

2009-11-02T23:40:00.003-07:00

Guess what... I'm in the winter issue of Artful Blogging! During the summer I participated in the Mad Hatter's Tea Party hosted by the fabulous Vanessa Valencia over at A Fanciful Twist. Well, the folks at Somerset Studios selected some of the photos from the blogs of the party revelers to feature in a little article about the event, and two of my pics made the cut. This is one of them! Yippee!!!

Now if you are a regular around here, you might recall my previous brush with periodical fame. Let me assure you dear readers that although this is a very exciting time for me, I will not allow the attention to go to my head. I have decided however that this magazine exposure might necessitate the need for me to look at (I mean for) an agent.

I wonder if Ari Gold aka Jeremy Piven is available?

Oh please, please, please!

Pink Lady

2009-10-31T00:00:00.002-06:00

Well kids, Halloween costume 2009 is complete, and with minimal cursing I'm pleased to add.We have been having loads of fun modeling and practicing the twist. Boy can this skirt twirl! Now while I didn't let the Baby Girl pound on the treble clef with her saddle oxfords in true 50's fashion, I did let her pose on the bench so you could have a full length view.

She loved that part almost as much as the costume!

Thanks so much for stopping by our little sock hop today. For a list of today's participants please twist on over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly. It will be a treat. Happy Halloween!

Variations on a Theme

2009-10-29T22:56:00.004-06:00

Halloween cupcakes were the order of the day at preschool today. Much discussion was had on the topic of how they would look. (It's amazing how detailed a four year old can get.) In the end we settled on two varieties...

Green icing for the boys.

Orange icing for the girls. Oh yes, and sprinkles all around. It was a jolly day at preschool indeed.

Petticoat Junction

2009-10-24T00:00:00.001-06:00

If you have been following my adventures in costume making, you will recall that I am making a poodle skirt for my daughter's Halloween regalia. In order for the skirt to stand out in all its glory, it is necessary to wear a crinoline underneath. Since we had no underpinning such as this at our immediate disposal, I had to construct one from scratch. The result is shown above. I am happy to report I only let one expletive "slip" during the process. Let's hope I can keep it as chaste when I begin work on the actual skirt. For that update, please visit me next Saturday.

For a peek at all things pink both unmentionable and otherwise, twirl over to the blog of our delightful hostess Beverly. You'll be glad you did. Happy Day!

By the pricking of my thumbs...

2009-10-17T00:00:00.001-06:00

Double, double, toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the cauldron boil and bake.

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork and blindworm's sting,

Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double, toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf.

Silvered in the moon's eclipse,

Nose of Turk and Tartar's lips,

Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,

For the ingredients of our cauldron.

Double, double, toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

When shall we meet again, in thunder, lightning, or in rain?

For more Halloween hurlyburly, fly over to the blog of our bewitching hostess Vanessa Valencia.

You'll be charmed.

Sew Pink

2009-10-10T00:00:00.000-06:00

October is here, and it is time once again to dust off my sewing machine and get to work on my daughter's Halloween costume. She is going to have a poodle skirt, ponytail and cat eye glasses. I figure since she is four, this might be my last shot to have a say in what she wears. Even now that's debatable seeing as how she has been telling me she is going to be a cat!?! Funny how kids become so decisive after the fabric for the "other" costume has been cut and purchased. Nice. Anyway, I'm sticking to my plan and making the perfect "bobby soxer" outfit. Wish me luck on the project. Hopefully cutting and sewing a little felt won't lead to a repeat of Swearfest 2008. I'll keep you posted.

If you'd like to take a peek at what the other Pink Ladies are up to, hand jive over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly. Happy Day!

Cowgirl Up

2009-10-03T00:00:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was "Western Day" at the preschool. The baby girl tried really hard to get her daddy to buy her a pony for the big occasion, but that just did not happen...

Mommy on the other hand, just couldn't say no when asked for a pair of PINK boots. Can you blame me?

For a list of more pink goodies that will knock your socks off, ride on over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly. Thanks for stopping by today. Y'all come back and visit again real soon! Happy Trails...

In The Pink

2009-09-19T00:15:00.000-06:00

1. Beautiful shoe, 2. Vintage 1950's Pearl Pink Pumps, 3. a corn waiting to happen, 4. Looks like a Target ad, 5. 20mar2007004, 6. 100_1232, 7. My fetish, 8. Vintage Cotton Candy High Heel Pumps, 9. Pink Gumpaste High Heels, 10. pink high heels, 11. Chanel Purse & High Heel, 12. Pink heels

I'm in the mood to shop for shoes, but I have decided to abstain. Fortunately, Flickr gave me a much needed fix of the eye candy I was craving. I thought you might like to see some of my favorite finds. We can all afford to do a little window shopping now can't we?

To browse at other pink lovelies, pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly for a complete list of Pink Saturday participants. Thank you for stopping by!

M.I.A.

2009-08-21T00:34:00.008-06:00

Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm the girl who hasn't blogged in almost a month. YIKES!!!
All is well, but school started back up on August 5th (Yes, you read that correctly) and I have been treading water ever since. In addition to teaching American Lit. I was given two sections of British Literature to do as well. Normally this would be all well and good, but this new assignment occurred just one day prior to the start of classes (Yes, you read that correctly).

To say that I'm up to my eyebrows in Beowulf would be an understatement. I am literally staying ahead of my students by two days at best. So I just wanted to pop in and say hello before I started my homework. Next on the syllabus is

Le Morte d' Arthur, that is if Le Morte d' Melissa does not occur first. This Brit Lit. business does have a silver lining though...say it with me people... J-a-n-e A-u-s-t-e-n.

Okay, I can do it.

Sew Sweet

2009-07-25T00:22:00.002-06:00

Awhile back I bought these delightful pin cushions from Beth. They looked like dainty little bonbons to me, so I thought it was only fitting that they should be displayed on a cake stand.

I suppose one would have worked just fine for its intended purpose...

But three looked oh so charming together for decoration. Yes, odd numbers group well together.

Hmmm... maybe I should add two more.

For a glimpse at more pink sweet treats, head over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly for a list of today's Pink Saturday participants. Thank you for popping by!

A wish come true...

2009-07-14T23:34:00.002-06:00

The wish factory has been operating at full capacity for the last couple of weeks, all in preparation for my little one's fourth birthday celebration.

The assembly line had a rollicking good time putting together the favor boxes.

Pink tiaras and flower topped boxes for the girls...

Minty green flower topped boxes for the boys.

Party horns for all.

Pointy party hats for anyone interested.

Ooh, and the world on the string for my baby girl.

Time for Tea!

2009-06-27T00:00:00.003-06:00

When the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat pocket and looked at it and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet. Burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit hole. In another moment, down went Alice after it, never once considering how she would get out again...

She had not gone much farther before she came in sight of the house of the March Hare. There was a table set out front of the house, and the March Hare and the Mad Hatter were having tea at it.

The table was a large one, but all present were crowded together at one corner of it.

"Have some wine," the March Hare said encouragingly.

Alice looked all around the table, but there was nothing on it but tea.

The Hatter went on in a mournful tone, "It's always six o' clock." A bright idea came into Alice's head. "Is that the reason so many tea things are put out here?" she asked.

"Yes, that's it," said the Hatter with a sigh. "It's always teatime, and we've no time to wash the things."

"Then you keep moving round, I suppose, " said Alice.

"Exactly so," said the Hatter, "as things get used up."

"But what happens when you come back to the beginning again?" Alice ventured to ask.

"Suppose we change the subject," the March Hare interrupted, yawning.

Follow Alice on the rest of her adventures by picking up a road map from our FABULOUS hostess Vanessa. You'll love all the twists and turns along the way. Thank you so much for stopping by! Happy Day!

The time has come the walrus said...

2009-06-26T00:14:00.000-06:00

Okay, it's not quite time yet...but soon! Please return and join the merry making on Saturday June 27th. There will definitely be a teacup with your name on it. In the meantime, follow the White Rabbit over to Fanciful Twist and meet Vanessa the Fabulous. She's the creative genius behind Saturday's soiree. She will definitely make you feel right at home in her enchanting world.

Water Baby

2009-06-12T14:33:00.003-06:00

My baby girl just finished two weeks worth of swimming lessons. She can kick her feet, blow bubbles, and move the water out of the way with her arms...only not all at the same time. But practice makes perfect, right? Popsicle incentives never hurt either.

Bookkeeper

2009-06-06T00:00:00.002-06:00

Nancy Drew has been feeling a little intimidated ever since I brought this perky pink Barbie book home. Miss Drew thought that she was the only gumshoe in town, but Barbie Roberts had news for her. If Barbie lingers in Rivers Heights much longer though, Nancy has threatened to steal her boyfriend. We may have a super sleuth cat fight on our hands ladies and gentlemen. If so, my money is definitely on Barbie. Never underestimate the power of pink. Which reminds me, check out the list of Pink Saturday participants over at the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly.You'll be glad you did!

Now before you leave, you have to peek inside the book at some of the great illustrations that mark each chapter. Love the pointy toed shoes and the ponytail!

Love that secretary desk with all the cubbyholes and the shoes AGAIN!

Okay, it's difficult to pick a favorite here. Love the sweater tied at the neck and the ice cream sodas, but most of all I LOVE that Ken had worn a hat. Oh and by the dreamy way in which he is gazing into Barbie's eyes, I don't think Nancy stands a chance.

Icing on the Cake

2009-05-30T00:00:00.001-06:00

Today my three-year-old will dance in her very first ballet recital. I am beyond excited and nervous! I made these little treats for the after party, but I thought they were the perfect way to celebrate Pink Saturday as well. Who am I kidding, after all that chocolate curling I had to show them off, and any excuse would suffice. The milk chocolate ones look like wood chips, but I'm pretty proud of the pink ones. Thanks for indulging me. LOL!

Please pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess Beverly for a list of today's participants. Ooh, and be sure to congratulate her on the first anniversary of hosting Pink Saturday! What an accomplishment! Happy Day!

School is out...

2009-05-21T16:19:00.003-06:00

Time for picnics and PLAY!

HOORAY!!!

Excuses, Excuses

2009-05-06T22:30:00.002-06:00

I finally figured out what May is short for...mayhem.
Things have been crazy busy around my house, you'd think it was Christmas with all the hustle and bustle. I know you can probably relate. Anyhoo, I just wanted to pop in and say hi. I promise not be AWOL much longer, I just need to tick some of these things off my "to do" list first. Okay, so you tick some things off your list too and we'll meet back here in a couple of days.

Meanwhile back on the farm...

2009-04-23T13:48:00.007-06:00

My daughter's preschool attended a stage performance of the Little Red Hen today. Following the play, we had a picnic and these are the barnyard inspired cupcakes I made for the event. I was still on an adrenaline high from the coconut tinting success I experienced at Easter, so I went out on a limb and toasted the coconut for this batch. I know, I know, I might be getting a little heavy handed with the coconut, but it made for perfect looking hay don't ya think?

I'm excited to report that all the kids at the barnyard loved their treat. Their enthusiasm for the cupcakes was only slightly eclipsed by their excitement for riding the BIG yellow school bus to the play. So much for culture, right? For the next field trip we decided to scrap the idea of going to a museum. We have opted for simply loading up a good old "yellow dawg" with preschoolers and cupcakes and taking a few spins up and down the main drag of our town. We'll roll down all the windows, let the wind blow through our hair, and while away the day. Parents were already on their cell phones with work, scheduling personal days in order to chaperon that one. Myself included.

Pink Saturday

2009-04-18T00:00:00.002-06:00

When I was a kid, my mother would often buy Neapolitan ice cream. I think the whole point of this purchase was to get more bang for our buck by getting the variety of three flavors for the price of one. The only problem was, I have never been a fan of chocolate ice cream. Consequently, I would carefully dig out the strawberry and vanilla for myself and stick my dad with just the chocolate. So much for variety.

The same was true with these little Neapolitan candies. I would carefully nibble through the layer of strawberry and then polish off the vanilla mid-section, all the while being very careful not to encroach into the dreaded chocolate layer. I think I tossed the chocolate layer rather than leaving it for someone else. At least that was considerate, right?

I've matured somewhat since then. While I still do not like chocolate ice cream, I can now bring myself to eat all three layers of the candy. (Who knew they all tasted the same to begin with?) In fact I like it so much that I'm now working on not eating it all in one bite. I said I had matured somewhat.

Thank you so much for stopping by today for Pink Saturday. Please come by and share my candy with me anytime! In the meantime, pop over to the blog of our fabulous hostess, Beverly, for a list of today's Pink Saturday participants. Happy Day!

The Rabbit Hutch

2009-04-15T16:52:00.006-06:00

I know Easter is officially over, but my decorations are staying up for awhile. You're completely shocked, right? I'm thinking these bunnies can be displayed at least until summer starts.

The eggs will probably wear out their welcome before then, but the bunnies have staying power.

Okay, I may need to put Harvey away until next year. The sight of a four-foot tall rabbit might be a little unsettling by the time July rolls around.

Television Tuesday

2009-04-14T15:05:00.003-06:00

If you aren't watching Little Dorrit, the new Masterpiece Classic on PBS, you need to be. Two episodes of the five part drama have already been aired and they are FABULOUS!

The characters are so familiar and endearing that you are left each week with a peculiar feeling of curiosity...that sensation that makes you wonder what they all are doing while you are away from each other between episodes.

The very best part for me is that I have never read the Charles Dickens novel upon which the series is based. I don't know what's going to happen, and I cannot wait to find out. Bliss.

A Tisket a Tasket...

2009-04-06T22:40:00.001-06:00

Well sweet friends, we are up to our usual around my house, making holiday favors for little classmates, and having a ball! I even tinted coconut for the first time. Watch out Martha, here I come.

I love the way these turned out, but I thought they needed a little something extra...

Like a carrying case.

Every cupcake definitely needs its own carrying case, right?

Bunny Tales

2009-03-30T17:50:00.003-06:00

Hello dear friends, I hope you are having a wonderful day.
I had a great Spring Break week! While I was off I did some Easter decorating. After I do a little more fruffing, I'll give you a pulled back shot. Until then, I thought I'd give you closeups of some of my favorite little bunnies.

I won't call these my "favorites" too loudly, or the other bunnies on the block might get jealous.

That jealousy could easily lead to some sort of cross-country crime spree, like egging houses, which would not be pretty.

So mum's the word, okay?

Pack up all your cares and woe...

2009-03-20T16:46:00.010-06:00

When the three o'clock bell sounded this afternoon, the teachers beat the buses out of the school parking lot. No more papers, no more books, no more students' dirty looks...at least for a week anyway. Spring Break couldn't come at a better time. I'm going to use the coming week to relax and recharge. I think I might even try to unplug.
I'll check back in after the break. Happy Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T00:00:00.001-06:00

We've been doing a little favor making again, this time for St. Paddy's Day. I took this cute vintage image I had and copied it onto cream colored card stock. I found these fun little shamrock rings at the bakery (they use them as cupcake decorations), cut a slit through the card, and pushed the ring back through the opening so that the shamrock would be flush with the card. I added some ribbon for embellishment and, voila! These are intended for my daughter's fellow ballerinas at dance class. We don't want anyone getting pinched if we can help it. No biting would also be nice, but these are three-year-olds that we are talking about, so all bets are off. Hope you all have a fun day too!

Happy Hour

2009-03-14T00:00:00.002-06:00

It's 38 degrees outside with a possibility of snow flurries. Perfect weather for eating ice cream out of a pretty dish.
I bought this stemware several years ago at Target. It was in a box set of four, with each glass a different color (pink, blue, green, yellow) and etched with polka dots. I love them all, but the pink is my favorite... of course.
Happy Pink Saturday!

Pop by the blog of our wonderful hostess Beverly for a complete list of today's Pink Saturday participants. It's sure to be a treat.