Spring Boutique Craziness~

Dayna and I decided a month ago, that we wanted to do a 

"Spring Boutique" with crafts that we made. We did one in the fall and it 

was a HUGE success...but we had also worked on our crafts for MONTHS.

We have both been working FEVERISHLY for the past 4 weeks to get everything ready.

I'm exhausted, have decided the the smell of modge podge and paint are NOT 

one of my favorite smells, and have come to appreciate sleep (because we have both

put in many LONG NIGHTS). 

Tomorrow is the BIG event...I am a little nervous and alot excited! Hope we 

get a large crowd and it turns out to be a huge amount of fun for everyone!

Most of my "crafts" are "upcycled" things...which I LOVE to do!!

These are "old goose canisters" from the DI, made into fun antique looking canisters~

 I'm loving this magazine rack...its so fun and different! If it doesn't sell, I might just keep it!

This armoire is my pride and joy...I LOVE how it turned out, the pictures don't do it justice. 

I spent 14+ hours, sanding, painting, antiquing and sanding again. I have to say...its probably my VERY favorite! NOW, I hope it sales!

I made 3 of these necklace holders after seeing them in a darling little clothing boutique in the city!

I am LOVE them as well! 

Its been a lot of fun visualizing, creating and designing my "upcycle" crafts...

now to get them ALL sold!

Date Night~

Last week I had the opportunity to take Cam on a "Mom and Son" date! I don't get to do that very much now that he is older...he's busy with work and friends and "life".  When my kids were all young, and living at home, we made a point to take one of them on a little "date" once a week and just do something they wanted to do. Sometimes it was dinner, sometimes it was a movie, sometimes it was just going to the park and having a picnic  I haven't been as diligent in taking the time to do that since my children have gotten older...but I'm trying to be a better mom and recommit and making time's like these a priority. I had so much fun with Cam. We went to dinner and then we just went to a few places that he needed to go. The most fun is just the drive to and from our destination...the long talks, the laughing, the crying (sometimes) and just the joy of being together! I have great kids....and I'm glad they are "OKAY" with hanging out with me sometimes.

 Thanks Cam for being such an awesome guy! I sure love you!!

Lemonade from Lemon's....

STORM #3....YES, it's still coming...ON April 16th we woke up to a FOOT of snow, 

yes, that's 12 inches...BUT thats not all, it kept snowing and snowing and snowing...we 

ended up getting 14+ inches at our house..MORE snow than we had ALL WINTER! 

I wandered out into the mess as soon as the sun came up, to measure, and as I stuck my ruler 

into the snow on a childs folding chair, it got buried...all 12 inches of it!

(thats my "green" ruler buried in that pile of snow)

The lilacs are bombarded with so much snow, I don't know if they will ever stand tall again....

THERE is my garden, buried for a 3rd time!

NOW take note, this is ALL NEW SNOW...the snow from the

 previous storm had all melted the day before.

....PILES of white stuff have filled the wheelbarrow....crazy!!

After coming inside from measuring the snow I decided I better head out and 

start shoveling, after all...it wasn't going to melt, not any time soon!

As I was pushing and shoveling, I couldn't help but be amazed at how HEAVY and WET

this snow was. THERE was definitely a lot of moisture in these last few storms. 

SOOOOO...being the crazy lady that I am, I decided

that I would start rolling that heavy, wet snow...which we all know eventually makes a 

LARGE ball....which in turn 

makes a SNOWMAN. 

IN my own personal protest against Mother Nature, I decided to make 

my very own "Spring" Sunbathing Snowwoman....

No sunbather would be complete without her flip-flops...my short, frumpy, snow-lady is all decked out

for a typical spring day in UTAH!

Happy Spring from me to you!!

Mother Natures WRATH~

The second storm came in and left ANOTHER 8" of snow...

It melted by afternoon because the sun came up and the temperatures flew from freezing cold to 

about 58 degrees....

The sun is trying to peek through the dark winter clouds...

a pretty big fight...Sun VS Clouds...

and the winner is.....THE SUN!!

Can't wait for the day that this lonely little, snow covered, swing 

has laughing children playing endlessly on it during the HOT SUMMER DAYS!

Maybe that will be.....someday?!?!

April SNOW brings May what???

April in Utah isn't like April in other parts of the country...we go from 

having temperatures in the 70's to having snow on the ground in just one day. 

A VERY cold, cold front has settled over our area....the first storm brought in 8" of snow, 

which all melted in just a day or two (Yes, because the temperature warmed up once AGAIN).

It was a very HEAVY snow that weighed down tree limbs, lilac bushes and 

my raspberry bushes......

It covered my garden that needs to be cleaned out....

(I guess that means I can't clean it out yet, oh too bad)

It buried EVERYTHING...even the lilies that were trying to peek through the ground~

so much for "May flowers".....Boo!!

Papa Time....

Little Mister LOVES to be read to. He picks 

up a story book and says "Papa" (or "Damma") read it now, please"...

Seriously, who can resist that??? NOT papa (or Damma)

Mister Smiley is jabbering and gooing so much. He loves people..and he loves

to interact...its adorable!

He loves to sit on Papa's lap and watch his brother do all the things that he

can't wait to do....

Isn't life GranD?!

Spring Break and a little R & R (that would be "Retail Therapy and Relaxing")

After a VERY LONG, cold and miserable winter...the snow started to melt, the sunshine

is more frequent and the roads are dry..SOOOOOOOOOOO

I decided that during Spring Break Halle and I would venture to the 

city for a little FUN IN THE SUN time with Dayna and get a little

retail therapy... after all, we hadn't been out to the city in MONTHS (snow seems

 to trap us here in our little valley...for what seems like forever).

We made a point to visit "The Sweet Tooth Fairy" for a little sweet treat... 

Ummmm...maybe we visited more than once during our little trip....it could happen~

We had so much fun taking pictures, playing and enjoying being together~

Halle had her first pedicure...which was a little tricky since her feet are SOOOO ticklish!

Dayna and I sat back and enjoyed our back massage as we waited 

(and waited, AND WAITED~ they were running short on "pedicurist" the morning we went) 

for our pedicures to begin...but trust me, time was not wasted....

we thoroughly enjoyed the massage!!...REALLY, it was fantastic!

...and then came the foot soak, rub, massage and polish....perfect way to 

pamper the part of the body that gets the most workout!

Our cute little toes are proof of springtime...bright colors and sandals...*sigh*

We ate anywhere our heart desired...Zupas, Cafe Rio, Apollo Burger...yep, it was fantastic!

...and yes, we paid many visits to the dressing rooms...in MANY different stores, 

IT WAS A BLAST!!

We all found a few fabulous finds....and some fantastic deals!

Don't mind me in this picture (thats not what I was taking a picture of)~
I just loved how looking in one mirror, that reflected another mirror, made the 

an eternity of reflection....Yes, I found entertainment all by myself

 as Halle and Dayna tried on clothes!

It was a fabulous, relaxing, crazy, fun kind of two days....Loved EVERY second of 

it and was sad to have to come home and get back to REAL life, but all good 

things must come to an end I guess...even though I would have liked 

them to continue for much longer!!

Guess I better plan on another trip? I say YES!

A SUNSHINY Easter day...

Easter is ONE of my favorite holidays...I love the reason we celebrate (my all time favorite thing about it),

the food, the family and of course the FUN!

Every year I dress up our Easter table in a little "different" way...something that reminds

me of spring. This year it was simple, done in blue and very classy (if you ask me!)

We had traditional Ham, cheesy potatoes, jello, frog eye salad, hot rolls and strawberry shortcake....

its the same thing we have every year, but we LOVE it and we all look forward to eating it. 

The Easter Bunny hasn't quit coming to our house....teenagers (and husbands) are just as much 

fun to hide eggs and baskets from as little kids are...so Saturday began the Easter Egg treasure hunt....

AND THEIR OFF.......................

Dad and the kids "discuss" where the next clues will lead them.....

all eggs must be gathered and placed in the basket (this assures there is NO cheating involved)...

 

Hmmmm....who's going to go dig through that pile of wet, stinky leaves
to see if there is an egg hiding somewhere beneath the muck?!

traipsing through the yard, looking for bright colored Easter Eggs on a 

warm spring morning...nothing gets better than that!

....except when one of the clues said to look someplace that "stinks" and the first

place the kids go is the dog pen...ha ha ha, only to find out after 

they searched long and hard that there were NO eggs in there (after all, the garbage "stinks" too)....

Baskets were found by all...safely awaiting in the back of the car~

 

Regardless the age, I think they ALL had a splendid time....

I for ONE KNOW that the EASTER BUNNY DID!

but SHE always does!!!