Happy Easter!
We had fun making these darling "bird's nest" for one of our Easter desserts. I was generously given a set of the darling lavendar cupcake digital Easter toppers. I new immediately that they would work perfectly on my new "Target" cupcake stand.
This little blogging world of ours is too fun. Another blogger shared these darling kitty tags.
I attached it to a little Easter gift.
Every year, we try a new way to color eggs. The past few years have included writing on the eggs with a wax crayon before dipping into the dye, tye die eggs and last year's chalkboard paint eggs. This year, we attempted - note the word attempted - Martha's plaid method using electrical tape. Didn't work. What a mess! Please share any tried and true methods with us! I'm off to start my au gratin potatoes and then get ready for church.

Happy Easter! We are enjoying absolutely glorious weather here in Arizona and I hope that, wherever you are, you are too! As many of you know, I work for the school district. If I must work, this is the best choice for me, as it allows me to have the same vacation breaks as our children. We just enjoyed a two-week and one day spring break. We returned to school for three days and were off for Good Friday. It was a wonderful way to ease back in from our break. Now we are in for the long haul until Memorial Day. Because my husband works in the golf industry, he cannot take time off on our spring and fall breaks. Lucky for us, they are both the best times of the year to enjoy being outside and inside with the windows open. We stayed home and I couldn't be happier. I had all of that time to play Susie Homemaker.
We planted flowers in 18 flower pots. Cole fixed my fountain - yeah! I love hearing the water. Went to opening day of Alice in Wonderland in 3-D. Loved it. I took the kids out to lunch - twice. We went out to dinner - twice. We had company from New York, California and Colorado. We rented Whip it, Old Dogs, Couples Retreat, Time Travelers Wife, Did You Hear About the Morgans and The Amazing Mrs. Beeton. We went shopping more than twice. I read three books. I made strawberry jam and a home-made strawberry pie. I decorated and shopped for Easter. I went to seven upholstery fabric stores to find fabric to get our living room sofa recovered. I planted zinnia seeds to bloom in our hot summer heat. I washed everyone's comforters, sheets and mattress pads and hand-washed all my sweaters. I cleaned, and cleaned and cooked and cooked. Having all of us home during the day equals running the dishwasher twice a day. On the days that we were home, my husband came home for lunch. I did our taxes - we owe over $800 to the IRS - ugh! I worked on the kid's school albums, made Teresa Collin's paper flowers from her blog. I went to the dentist and took Cole to the dentist. We went on countless bike rides, played ping pong, several games of Bunny Jenga and took Chloe for walks. We are off to a spring training game and then coming home to color eggs. This year, we are attempting plaid eggs using electrical tape from my beloved Martha Stewart magazine.
I loved every minute of it!
Happy Easter - He Has Risen!

We went to Mary Poppins Thursday night. It was incredible. We met my sweet friend, Angie, and her daughter. We didn't have tickets together and didn't even realize that we were going the same night. We were able to sit together during the second half. Loved seeing Mary fly through Gammage. I thought the dollhouse-type setting was magical.



I bought this cute little magical change purse. My friend, Laurie, always used to refer to my "restaurant bag" that I had when Cole and Taylor were little was my magical bag. I kept toys, books, coloring books, etc in there that they only got to use when we were in restaurants. I also had a magical sub bag from my substitute teaching years with a "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" book and several word searches, suduko, and other games. So I had to have another little magical bag.



This has been such a fun year for use to see shows. I usually only see about one per year and this year I've seen five. Lion King, Wicked, Mamma Mia (in New York), Little House on The Prairie and Mary Poppins.

We were out having lunch today at AJ's. It was one of those "Oh it's 3:30 and we haven't had lunch yet" type of days. I talked my husband into stopping at a shopping center in Gilbert so that I could run into Anthropologie. Even he was impressed. Who wouldn't be?? Anyway, while he was paying for our lunch, Taylor and I ran over to the bakery side of the store so that I could order a passion fruit iced tea and I noticed the most beautiful chocolates I have ever seen. They are made by Julie Baker, a Scottsdale, trained in France, chocolateir. I would have bought several, but I gave up sweets for Lent. I know what I'm treating myself to after Easter. She is about to open a retail store in Paradise Valley, Can't wait!

I'm always inspired after visiting my friend Tina's darling home. She has so many fun little arrangements in her china cabinet. I came home and looked at mine and even though it's a tad larger, it also holds all of our china, crystal and family heirlooms. I managed to clear out the middle shelf and have been playing around with it. When I came downstairs early this morning, someone had placed this box of Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies in there and shut the doors. I laughed out loud.

Early this morning on Valentine's Day. My dh is at work for a few hours. My teenagers are still sleeping. Ah, sweet, quiet bliss. Just for a few minutes. The pancakes are almost finished. Then we are going to church and out to lunch.






Happy Valentines Day! I hope you all have a sweet one.
My sweet daughter made me this card. Aaaahhh, so sweet.



My students spoiled me at work Friday. I received 2 heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, a Starbucks gift card and several cards. This hand-made one if my favorite.

I went to the Tucson Gem Show with my friend Tina this week. I had a total blast as usual. Don't these beads look like candy?? I should have bought a strand just to look at them! But wait, this next table had total eye candy.

I always have to spend time at this booth. This Texas couple's booth is entirely vintage. Most of it is outside of my price range. I always manage to pick up a few treasures. Tina and I had fun wondering what these rhinestone pieces were once a part of.

This is my loot. I have a few pieces hidden away that are gifts.
Afterwards, we went to lunch, of course. Then shopping at a darling home accessory store and then a tour of Tina's exceptionally home. I love her style and always walk away from her home inspired.

This little bunny is eating all the flowers in her front courtyard. He sure is cute though and wasn't the least bit frightened of us.
Last but not least, the snow on the mountains. One of the many reasons why I miss our home in Oro Valley.
We missed you Carmen!