A Pocket Full of Pink and KINDNES!!!!

I just wanted to tell everyone about my good friend Anna, over at Pocket Full of Pink, who I think exudes KINDNESS!!!

She was kind enough to do a Blog "Face-Lift" for me and has done it for FREE! Nobody does anything for free anymore! She will not let me pay her as she says she needs the "practice".........Look at what an incredibly BEAUTIFUL job she did and you decide whether she needs "practice"!! She took time out of her incredibly busy schedule to not only make one design for me, but sent me a couple she thought I might like. She took a LOT OF TIME asking me questions about colors, favorite things, etc. and within a day, she was done!! I think she did a FABULOUS job and am so very, very grateful to her. Thanks again my sweet friend!! Please stop by and visit the very sweet, very kind Anna!!

Closin Shop!

I was reading my little "local" newspaper yesterday, and was so sad to see that my favorite "local" flower shop was "closing shop"! I'm especially heartbroken, because the sweet gentleman who has run this shop with his wife for many years, has become a dear friend of mine; always taking extra time for my order and always putting his personal touch on it, to make it extra special for me........Merchants like that are hard to come by and these businesses are everything to them. Anyway, it certaintly won't be the same, next time I place an order for flowers. The recession has affected us all in different ways and for the small business owner, especially hard. It went on to say, that with Valentine's Day coming, if we are planning on sending flowers to someone, to try and use our local flower shop. Those types of businesses need our business!

Now, if those prices on roses would just come down!!

Happy Thursday Everyone:)

Baby Cora Is With Jesus Today.........

"How very softly you tiptoed into our world. Only a moment you stayed. But what an imprint you have left on our hearts."

Baby Cora lost her battle with Cancer at just 11 months old. Please find it in your heart to pray for her grieving parents and entire family. Baby Cora was their only child and loosing this little angel from heaven will be something they will never get over; hopefully some kind words and prayers on their blog will help them get through this devastating tragedy. http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/

Give your children an extra hug and kiss tonight; hold them close and be thankful they are healthy. God Bless You Sweet Baby Cora Paige.

Happy Birthday!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO "Mr. Honey"!!

Just a few reasons why I Love Ya..................................

• you do the dishes almost every night without me asking
• you cook breakfast every day for the boys and get them ready for school so I can get to my job at the crack of dawn
• you put up with my bitchiness "once a month" and still haven't left me
• you always go to the store for my "feminine stuff" even though I know it embarrasses you
• you think I look nice even when I haven't put on a stitch of makeup, have zit medicine on and am wearing my granny nightgown
• you fix everything that breaks and never get mad
• you re-did our entire kitchen all by yourself and saved us THOUSANDS OF BUCKS
• you used all that money and took our family on a wonderful trip
• you let me disappear all day on a Saturday so I can "shop for things we don't need"
• you wear "breathe right strips" every night so I don't have to listen to you snore
• you've coached all 3 boys in every sport they've ever played
• you keep our yard meticulous and keep all my peonies and hydrangeas alive
• you go on field trips with the boys and are always the only man
• you let me decorate every room in our house in "girly colors"
• you watch Real Housewives of OC and The Bachelor with me every week even though I know you hate both shows
• you know my passion for pink and let me buy a pink quilt for our bed
• you religiously change my oil (in 25 degree weather) and rotate my tires
• you love my parents as much as I do
• you plan all of our get-a-ways and do such a fantastic job
• you clean up when the boys get sick because you know it makes me gag
• you are adorable and don't even know it
• you work harder than anyone I know and have instilled that work ethic into our boys
• you let me give away most of your wardrobe to the homeless when we first met
• you let me dress you for every occasion and never complain (when I make you wear the pink tie)
• you are such a good sport when all your buddies tease you about your "girly" house
• you always believe me (or pretend to) when I wear something new and I tell you it's old and was just sitting in the closet
• you never loose your patience, with me or the kids
• you are kind to everyone and never judge
• you sit through the "chick flicks" even though I won't watch James Bond with you and the boys
• i love that you and I have been together all these years and have built such a sweet life together
• i love that you never ever forget a birthday or anniversary
• i love that you have pictures plastered on your office wall of me and the boys
• i love the sound of the garage door opening at the end of the day and you come through the door

Sweet Heart & Cupid Treats!

I discovered a sweet little website, Swirly Designs that makes these adorable Valentine's Day ornaments. It's a husband and wife team, Liann & Paul, and they make these little ornaments for all different holidays that can be hung on a package, a wall, a tree or wherever! No two ornaments are the same!

For all you "Pink Fans", you'll love these!

Revolutionary Road/Desperation Drive

One of my favorite past times is going to the movies, especially right before the Academy Awards; I try to make it my mission to see all the movies that are up for Oscars. Well, last night "Mr. Honey" and I saw the chilling "Revolutionary Road"..................I'M STILL REELING FROM THIS FILM!!!!!! It captured me from the begining and held me until the end. At the end of the movie, as the credits rolled, no one in the theater moved; emotionally and physically, I couldn't move. "Mr. Honey" and I sat in dead silence on the way home, still feeling "shell-shocked".

Without giving too much away, it's a haunting and beautiful picture of 2 lives, unravelling. Frank & April Wheeler, (Leo DiCaprio & Kate Winslet) a 1950's couple, are trying to "live the American dream", sacrificing their own youthful dreams for suburban comfort. I felt that both "Leo & Kate" tackled the painfully sad characters and delivered top notch performances. I honestly cant imagine any 2 other actors pulling this off as convincingly.

I've always thought Leo DiCaprio had a very youthful, little boy charm about him. In this rock solid performance, that image was gone. I felt his performance in this movies showed he was always destined for higher things!

If Kate Winslet doesn't win the Academy Award for her performance, I'll never go to another movie again..........She's just that good/amazing/brilliant!

Baked Valentine Treats For Loved Ones

I love to bake, especially for a holiday. My kids look forward to the different Valentine treats I bake for them every year. The cookies above, Linzer Cookies with Cherry Jam filling are my favorites. I use a miniature heart cookie-cutter on the marshmallows!

Above is the traditional Valentine's Day breakfast I make for the kids every year, thanks to a heart shaped cookie-cutter. I even use it to make them heart shaped sandwiches for their lunch that day!

I use my mini muffin pan to make these Mini Devils Food Cup Cakes. A little white frosting (gotta love those cans of frosting!) and a miniature heart cookie cutter for the chocolate hearts on top and that's it; so easy! I've never made these decadent Mini Chocolate Cake Hearts with Chocolate Sauce, but plan on making them this year. Happy Baking Everyone!!

"Theme Thursday"

Today, over at Southern Whimsy, KD is hosting "Themed Thurday". Today's theme is blue transferware and being that my kitchen is all blue and white, I thought I'd display some of my blue plates! Be sure and visit KD; he taste and decor is just beautiful!! Above is a photo of my blue amd white plates displayed on my wainscott walls This is my collection of my sweet little floral blue and white cups and saucers This blue and white pitcher is also part of the collection Just a view of the blue and white theme going into my foyer

Beautiful Slipcovers!

I adore anything with a shabby chic look or a fresh, clean cottage look. I'm thinking about having my dining room chairs and living room couch done over in slipcovers. There's a very talented, local designer here in the D.C. area who designs slipcovers, window treatments, etc. and here are some photo's of her work. Her name is Carrie Raphael, and I think she is just amazing!

I thought this would look so sweet in a kitchen or little girl's bedroom

She made both the couch slipcover and the simple, fresh white window treatments. Having all boys, I don't know if white would be such a great color, but I think it looks just beautiful!

FRRROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE !

Serendipity 3 is an ice cream parlor in New York City that is the home of the original Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. Locals, celebrities and tourists pack this place just to be able to indulge in this Divine, delectable, chocolaty, sinfully delicious mouthwatering marvel!

While aimlessly wandering through my favorite store, Williams-Sonoma (my 2nd home), I spot an adorable canister that says Serendipity's Frozen Hot Chocolate Mix.......After my heart palpitations subsided, I got myself together and asked the store manager if this was the REAL THING??? IT WAS/IT IS/NO MORE NEW YORK CITY!!! If you are a true chocolate lover and own a blender, RUN to Williams-Sonoma and purchase this heavenly dessert; it will be the best $16.00 you ever spend!!!!!!!!!