Awesome Easter

Easter was terrific this year.  The Bunny, who usually leaves giant footprints for me to clean up, got smart this year. (yay me)  He made a trail of candy to the hiding spot for the basket filled with yummy goodness.  He even got treats for all the pets.  My fav was the Swedish fish for Goldie the Gold fish.  Smart Bunny.

Birdie wore  a dress and coat I made for her with Lila Tueller fabrics.  They were both pink themed but didn't really match.  But when you add the too cute little girl, pink gloves, pink tights and pink patent shoes, it's all good!  

Our church service was fantastic - great message, great music, lots of friends, gorgeous weather.

Visits to family finished the day.  Now, to get rid of the candy, do I eat it until it's gone or toss it in the trash?  either way it has to go, eating seems like a great option right now!

the party is finally done

1 Hello Kitty Cake - vanilla cake, strawberry frosting, fondant covered with licorice whiskers

55 Ice Skate cookies hand decorated, homemade sugar cookies, 3 days to prepare

25 Hello Kitty Cake Balls

25 fun goodie bags with home made notebooks and goodies

yeah!  we had a great 8th Birthday party for Birdie.  She had her class go ice skating and then had a family party later on in the day.  Fun was had by all.  The kids skating were hilarious.  I might, though, need therapy.  The cakeballs were awesome -but a crazy amount of work. and yes, that is ONE single yellow sprinkle for her nose. individually glued on.  vodka anyone? I actually love to do these projects, but wow, lots of steps.   Birdie loved it all and really appreciates all the work and care.  She enjoy setting the house up for parties - so cute!

Wonder what the theme will be next year?

Before then, I am going to make about 75 fancy iced cookie favors for a friend's event.  Can't wait to do those!

Patricia had this fun game on her blog today - so let's play.

She started with this telling quote from Chanel:  " An interior is the natural projection of one's soul."   I think this is remarkably true. 

So, open up your handbag!  

Here's mine - my husband worked for Coach for many years.  This was the first bag I had to pay full price for after he left.  sigh.  I love it, but it needs to hide in the closet now until next fall.  I will pull out a lighter colored one this week.   It's got wonderful pockets inside and a flap that zippers and opens out flat.

Ok, the contents -  My bag usually contains only the necessary elements - Mondays are bag cleaning days from the weekend so this is great timing  -

• 1 penny - found right side up at the gas station - "find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck."  I don't remember having good luck that day, but nothing bad happened; that I know of.
  
• My checkbook for church, a pile of paperwork for church - all being dealt with as we speak. None of these things will make their way back into the bag.  
  
• Lip items - Clinique lipstick in waterviolet, if it gets lost, I don't care.  Chapstick, don't leave home without it.  I prefer the plain black tube, but I have them in all my coat pockets so I have a variety.  Snow flavored lip gloss from Neiman Marcus. Yum.  Almost gone, thank goodness, too much clutter, but I don't like to throw usable things away...
  
• Black sunglasses.  Need them.  Love them.  Always.  
  
• Black and white print photo clutch - I use this for a few photos, but mostly gift cards and coupons.  Such a more organized and important way to store these items.
  
• Coach zippy wallet - holds all I need and has the handle for quick runs to the market and school.   
  
• The green thingy is a gift card envelope I made - inside a gift card and some stamps for my mom.  I see her on Wednesday to go fabric shopping so off that will go. 
  
• My purple ipod.  I use this at the gym so many times during the week that it must stay here so I know where it is. It's engraved with my name.  
  
• 2 sets of keys - who knew my husband tossed his keys in yesterday when we visited the beach yesterday afternoon.  What a great day - we got there well before the rain came, it was cool, breezy and filled with horses - what a sight for my little one!  
  
• 2 pens - one for me, and one if I am in a meeting and someone forgets theirs.  Doesn't take up much room, but very helpful when needed.  
  
• Lastly, my prescription for my mammogram - not only so I have it on hand when I go for my appointment in 1 week, but as a reminder to remind my friends to make their appointments.
  

In the bag it is - my life.

Adore, Adore

Today I am adoring 2 things, my Cricut and this cute bag! 

Just made this bag for an old friend - I try hard to get my friends on board with whole reusable shopping bag thing.  I found these great bags on Papermart.com .  Something like $20 for 25 of them - they are a great size.  I tuck a piece of cardboard (recycling!!) in to stiffen up the bottom.  It's got great handles, long enough for over the shoulder. 

Over the holidays, I did a lot (like 15) of these bags with stencils on them - I used my much adored Cricut to make the stencils. I did them out of sticky back vinyl, then applied the stencil and painted.  The paints were Ceramcoat acrylic with a bit of fabric medium mixed in.  

Super easy, super cute and totally usable!  Now, to actually get it in the mail... ! 

How do you help your friends to be green?

Off we go

to the Jonas Brothers 3D movie.  Church this morning, then the movie extravaganza.  Then the impending doom of what they say will be "the biggest storm of the season".  We just defrosted from January - I just hope it's as pretty as the last storm was.  

Later, a bit of gluing to finish some party invitations -more on that later.  And a maybe put on a pot of this delicious soup - Mexican Chicken Soup from Ina Garten.  Best soup ever and perfect for a cold day. You MUST add the cilantro - it makes the whole thing!

The Time Sucker

Everyone, this is Darby.  

Darby, this is everyone I used to hang out with until I devoted all my time to tinkle breaks and long walks.  

omg, do you want to eat them!? So cute.  Both of 'em.  

I will re surface.  In the meantime, enjoy the cool "briefcase" my Birdie and I made last night.   We ran the show together on this one because we were flying sans pattern and she really needed it to bring to Dad's office this morning.  We used her Hello Kitty Janome machine again - GREAT machine  - sewed right through a few layers of upholstery fabric, peltex (coveted as it's no longer made) and Jen Paganelli's fabric Birdie had picked out for the lining.  This kid's got good taste!  She did a great job listening, designing and learning.  I am proud that there was  minimum of screaming and yelling on my part!   It's even lined and has magnet closures!  What fun!  

The New Year

It's been a long time since posting...  

lots going on as in everyone's life. 

We had a terrific holiday - I tackled hosting Christmas day here for the first time and it was a blast.  We couldn't coordinate both families because of their obligations, but they did overlap midday.  To accommodate, I prepared TWO full on meals!!!  It was a slight bit tricky, but the food was awesome, if I do say so myself!  

Lunch - 

Roast Beef

Whole Salmon Filet

Steamed Green Beans

Fresh bread

potato casserole

Chicken fingers/french fries

Salad

Chocolate cupcakes

cheesecake

variety of Christmas Cookies

Midday 

LARGE variety of appetizers - 

shrimp cocktails, roasted red pepper cheesecake, bacon wrapped bread sticks, dips...

Dinner-

Fennel stuffed Pork Roast

Glazed carrots

Leek Scalloped Potatoes

I am forgetting the rest, but wow - it was a lot of food stuffed into the fridge!  

To top it off, I don't like to prep too far ahead, grosses me out, so I did all the prep Christmas eve day.  and...

ta da!  Meet Darby - the new puppy.  I will post pics later, they are on the other computer.  

My husband's bday and mine are at the beginning of January - mine was the big 40 this year.  My big gift so far has been my new MAC BOOK!!!  YEAH!!! He bounced bt that and diamond earrings, but chose much better.  My awesome husband wanted to get the best diamonds he could so chose to wait.  Good choice, my boy.  I know they will be doozies when I get them in the next few years, but we will for sure enjoy the new computer!!   

Back to the pup - 9  week old yellow lab.  She is adorable - but wow, add that every 20 minute trip outside during Christmas and it was crazy but fun!!