Happy Valentine's Day! Taylor and I visited the "LOVE" statue in Scottsdale for a little photo shoot. Very fun. We had to wait our turn. In fact there were wedding photo shoots and several other families and couples taking advantage of this great Valentine photo opportunity.

Last week I received an email from one of my favorite estate sale companies, Arizona Estate Liquidators, that included photos for their upcoming sale. I was very excited to see this outdoor barbecue/kitchen listed. I showed it to my husband and he said he would love to have it. Well . . . these sales are very popular. I contacted the company and she gave me suggestions that included arriving two hours early. My husband gladly waited. He arrived two hours early. He was all ready the fourth person in line, but HE GOT IT. We are beyond thrilled. It is brand new and was priced at least $1,000 under value. We really needed/wanted this. We are trying to spruce up our back yard for our son's high school graduation party. Yeah! It looks like it is wooden, but it is a faux finish on metal.

Christmas - 2011 - Recap
Wow! What a blur. I can't believe it is over all ready, my favorite holiday. I did so much baking this year. I tried the white chocolates dipped Oreos with crushed peppermint. Definitely, a girl's cookie, pretty, but why mess with an Oreo, they are so great on their own. They were for our neighborhood cookie exchange. Next up, my husband asked me to bake and decorate 32 cookies for his junior golf clinic. 16 Tuesday and 16 Wednesday. It took two batches of sugar cookie dough. It was a 3-night process after work. I also individually bagged them in cookie bags and tied them with ribbon. Then on to our favorites, 3 batches of peanut brittle, 2 batches of chocolate balls, my Grandmother's Snickerdoodles and my Sister's butternut balls. We also made ten candy sleighs for Taylor's Christmas Caroling Party. Taylor and I wrapped beautiful presents for each other, we went and looked at Christmas lights, we celebrated Grandma's birthday at Aunt Janets. Mark's beautiful cousin, Patrice, came for seven days. We love her and love spending time with her! Santa left money for Cole and a new IPOD Touch for Taylor. Mounds of gifts were under the tree. I got a Kindle Fire and love it! Mark got a stereo system for our TV. The kids gave each other clothes for Christmas and I we enjoying a relaxing Christmas morning and had a nice breakfast at the dining room table. We went to Taylor's Winter Dance Recital. Taylor and I went to the NCL Christmas Tea.

Remembering my Sister this Christmas and our happy childhood Christmas's. We lost her in July, due to a very long illness. She was my only sibling and the holidays can be very difficult for those who have recently lost family members. I am so lucky to be surrounded my friends and family, near and far.

We celebrated our 25th Anniversary yesterday. My husband made reservations ahead of time, had a card waiting for me when I woke up and delivered these beautiful roses. We dined at The Melting Pot. I loved it. It was private and romantic and perfect. We have other celebrations planned for our 25th and are stretching them out throughout the year.

Happy Fourth!
I hope that you are enjoying a Happy Fourth of July, celebrating with family and friends. We are! My sweet friend, Loretta, had a festive party yesterday. She taught several of us to play a fun card game called "Skit Skat". I'm enjoying my festive banners hung on my vintage window. Tina gave me the window and she will be up from Tucson on Wednesday. I can't wait to show her how I'm embellishing our window.



I made these cookies with my William's Sonoma Message in a Cookie set. Of course I was in a hurry and was out of unsalted butter. I used margarine and promptly threw them in the trash as soon as they came out of the oven. I learned my lesson.



Today the four of us are home together. I made a summer dinner of burgers, potato salad, watermelon, lemonade and flag cake for dessert. We will be watching the fireworks from our master bedroom window enjoying the air conditioning. I think it only hit 110 today.

Happy Fourth!

Taylor's dance recital was last night. It turned out really well. Their performances were held on two days which helped significantly with the length of the recital, parking, etc.






The backdrop was amazing.



Daddy brought flowers.