dream...

with us...

to a land of pretty Snow White princesses...

today is a Snow White birthday party for Miss Hayley...

the planning, preparing, and fluffing is almost complete...

yes...her party is a bit early than her actual birthday...

but my little dragonfly is celebrating today...

so it is a full day of fluffy and yummy frosting...

so yummy that Madison and I almost snuck a cupcake from this wonderful bakery on the way home...

the smell of them filled the car and we almost couldn't resist...and that has never happened before...

so I think this bakery is a keeper!

today we will have lots and lots of snow white because that's her favorite...

and according to Hayley Snow White is known as "Toe White!!!"

with just a few hints of apples spread throughout...

and what's a little girls party without balloons?...

and yummy fruit sherbert punch...

with her traditional dragonfly sugar cookies ...

celebrating with the family and friends who could make it to spend such a special day with her...

Hayley was our awaited surprise...who is always full of surprises herself...

she is our sunshine...

lots of smiles...

and not just any smiles but infectious smiles...

 giggles...

and love...

She loves her family

and to snuggle and kiss {oh boy}

but I'll let you in on one little secret...

we also call her our little "sh%$"

she is into messes, jumping off furniture, and taking chances...
and still doesn't let us take her picture outside without hanging onto the railing...
she must think it is the thing for little girls to do:)

I know, right...you have a whole new opinion of hubby and I for referring to her as our little "sh%$", don't you?...

but we can't help it...

it is the truth...

and we love her so much for all the happiness she brings and we laugh as we hear her calling the neighborhood cat a puma...while Madison explains to her for the 100th time that it is just a big cat Hayley

Hayley has a sister who loves her dearly...and it always shows

Happy 2nd Birthday Hayley...
you are so much fun and full of life
our love...

in his words...

I had gotten this book for Bobby from one of my very favorite people Tara at Blondie 'N' SC {at one of her  shops here.}  The book initially blew me away to say the least...

I am not just talking about the beautiful cover or the weight of this precious book ~

but precisely the foreword to the book...the inside goods...

The book,  Around the World with Eyes Wide Open

I cannot help but share this little treasure with everyone and hopefully it will bring you joy just as it did to me...this may be my "boring" side you know...but I love travel...I love reading about places...I love dreaming...someday I will and I cannot wait to do some mission trips somewhere...

...and of course these beautiful pictures are taken by Tara {with permission} because hers are far better than ever mine could be of the book...

Here we go

in his foreword entitled "How it Happened..."
{text provided is exact text in book but paraphrased a little by me too~ 1898}

"It happened in this way. In the Spring of 1895, a handsome map of the world was presented me by a friend at Baltimore; and while glancing at it, hanging on my study wall, I arose from my desk-chair, one quiet mid-night hour, and traced with my pencil a route from Baltimore, over the American continent, to San Francisco, thence to the Hawaiian Islands, Japan, China, Malay Archipelago, Ceylon, India, Assam, Arabia, Africa, Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, Europe, and back again to the Monumental City. This was only on paper!

But, day by day, as my eyes turned wistfully toward the map, which now became increasingly fascinating, the desire of my life to visit the countries of the world, and study the peoples of earth, grew into a determination to start upon this circuit of the globe at the earliest practicable moment. Difficulties which seem insurmountable, frequently fade away as you approach them.

Distance not only lends enchantment to the view, but oftentimes it disenchants, by seemingly magnifying the obstacles that lie in the pathway of our goal.

The only way to do a thing is to do it.

... A few months after the pencil-tracing on the map was made, I waved farewell to my loved ones at the Union Station, Baltimore, and was off - moving toward the setting sun. ...I decided, in my journeyings, frequently to turn aside from the usual route pursued by the globe-trotter: to rough it while studying the customs and characteristics of natives far from the treaty ports; systematically to record my impressions and the results of my study, on the ground, day by day, while they were fresh in my mind: to illustrate these strange scenes and interesting studies both by the pen and photographic art; and to present to the public a book on travel that would be somewhat unique in its character. If I have enabled others to share with me the pleasures and profits of my visits to many lands and among many peoples....my pen has not written in vain."

H. Allen Tupper, Jr.

Published by the Christain Herald
Louis Klopsch

1898

The book was supposed to be for Bobby...hmm....he may not get his hands on it quite yet...at least not until I am done...{chuckle}

simply what spoke to me was his interest in humanity, travel, and study

...and also this amazing but simple quote...

"the only way to do a thing is to do it"

I love this quote because all of my favorite things in my life so far...are those things I decided to just do.

I'm not quite sure how the book will end up as far as the text or what his opinions and thoughts entail...but from the outside it sure is eye candy not to mention the pictures are amazing...

I cannot wait to see his view from 1898 {perhaps earlier since that is the published date}...

this book was sweetly dedicated to his wife and children...

Now all I need is a chair on the beach, umbrella, mai tai, and the sun to dive into this...

{sigh}

someday, right?

now to sweeten your day hop on over to Tracey's blog for her amazing give-a-way...if you haven't already!

fly...

{photo taken on our vacation}

{photo taken on our vacation}

to a world of warmth...

togetherness...

growth...

love...

friendship...

{photo taken on our vacation}

family...

hope and peace...

celebrations...


celebrations for even the smallest of things...

seashells and sand...

starfish and sunrises...

and...

so fly away with me to whatever place makes you happy...

Lovely day to you everyone...



sidenote...I didn't notice until I just posted the picture...but Hayley spreads her fingers on her left hand open wide when she is excited too...just like her mama...that just gave me a BIG ole' smile just as Madison has...

i'm ready...

for some inspirational photos that make my heart pitter patter...

how about you?

no matter what happens...we all need inspiration, right?

ones that help me refocus on the end result perhaps...we will see...it will take me a lot longer than expected...but that's okay!

I've found a few with some very specific ideas...that I fell in love with the moment I saw them...

but some of two of my inspirational words for the week....ones to carry me through the rest of the planning are:

cozy 

and   

dreamy

First thing is first...

I was looking through photos...and saw this one...our exact bed...
it made me laugh and smile...

did you see that chandi?....exuding more beauty than I can describe in words...
the girls love it because the "so-called crystal knobs" create rainbows from the sunlight....
and it is magical to them...

and in this picture...I love the curtains behind the bed...

we don't have a window behind our bed...but i would love 3 white chippy paint shutters to go there...and then a big curtain rod...with white white curtains...to make it extra dreamy on either side of shutters you know...

creating the idea of a window but not really...


speaking of dreamy...this feels dreamy...and cozy...the concept I love...

and I haven't started looking yet for this...but when the time comes...I want one of our side tables to be like this...

I cannot believe I found an inspiration photo of exactly what I want...well the color I want is all white or my favorite beachy blue I would do a happy giddy dance over...

and this last one I found it make me smile...and hopefully I can get some inspiration from it for Madison's room as we finish it up...

left on her list is...

a new lamp

and a fabric headboard we are going to make sometime early Spring {I hope}...

Here's to a week of inspiration...

all photos are courtesy of Country Living...

for a super fun give-a-way...from a talented and generous woman...stop by Tracey's site at French Larkspur to enter before Sunday!!!

the small things...

one

step

at

a

time

{picture taken on our vaca}

i feel happy seeing that our new friend in the kitchen...provides so much fun for the girls...

they keep bringing the step stool out of the restroom and placing it in front of the window...

they share it...

they get giddy and excited about their new special place...

there used to be a small breakfast table in front of the window until our friend arrived...

and now it is upstairs in the loft...

so today I am smiling at them...

taking it

one
step
at
a
time ~

because today I must do that...

and I am smiling at my girls looking out the window...

hearing their conversation which went a little like this...

"Momma...a puma!!!...Momma look...a puma!" {it really is just a big cat ~ and that was Hayley by the way}

And Madison replying:

"Hayley it is not a puma...it's a big cat!"

"puma...PUMA"...

"it's a big cat Hayley"...

And then the conversation starts all over again...

I love that...and hearing that...

so today...I'm thinking of the small things and taking it

one

step

at

a

time...

because some days...that is just what you have to do

even if you feel like there is a blank slate...uncertainty...or feel as though the truth is buried

the answers will be there...they always are...it just may not be in our {my} timing perhaps...

I love the little things...they are my favorite:)

my new friend in the kitchen...

helped me cook this...

maybe it didn't really literally help me cook it...but you got to love it anyway and plus it never hurts to have a beauty in the kitchen while you cook...

although our fabulous pizza we made...
I like the looks from this view better...showing the tomatoes...not the pepporoni...pepporonis were added to the recipe by Bobby

I'm not a pepporoni girl so you can only tell Bobby's 1/2 of the pizza, right...I much preferred the overload of tomatoes...{I know the pictures of the pizza aren't the best...taken when it was in the oven because I forgot before}

this beauty I have been dreaming of ~

one I am sooo happy I patiently waited for because I walked in to take another peak at her ~ and she was on sale! A pretty decent sized sale...so I was sold in a heartbeat...

I was in love with her wheels...the barnwood...the layers of paint i could see...

we picked her up over this past weekend


and I've still got some fluffing to do with her ~ I am constantly re-fluffing as I walk by
but she looks fantastic and finally some more storage for our kitchen that we so desperately needed and wanted...

and oh yes...I did place my frame of my handsome man on it too...he was sitting on what was there before...and oh does it look great here too...
sigh...
probably embarrassed him but that's good for him:)

of course...I didn't forget to pick up some bargain tulips at Trader Joe's to place on her...

and I'm working on placing a #13 in every room...

if you think the pizza looks yummy...my parents recommended it to us...I'll give you the recipe for my side...super yummy...although it called for artichoke hearts...which I love but forgot to pick up at the store...
yummy enough for hubby to say...you mean you didn't actually use sauce {he said this a couple days after we made it}...because it was that good to him :)

I said..."no honey...it was the grape tomatoes...when you cook them in the oven the heat does just the trick...and creates a much better sauce from the fresh tomatoes...and see you didn't even know the difference until after the fact"

made me laugh to say the least...

Artichoke, Tomato, and Spinach Pizza

in the Feb. 2010 issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine

5 tablespoons EVOO

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

salt and pepper

1 pd. refrigerated pizza dough {we were given homemade - definitely suggested over pre-made by me}

2 cups shredded mozzarella

5 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

one 13.75 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

1/2 pint grape tomatoes, halved {I probably used more than called for}

2 cups baby spinach, chopped

one. position rack in the lower third of the oven, preheat oven to 500 degrees {I actually cannot go above 475 because my smoke alarm will go off and it still worked great. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, parsley, season with salt and pepper

two. using oiled hands, stretch the pizza dough to fit a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. Spread 3 tablespoons of the garlic mixture on top, leaving a 1/2 border, then sprinkle with the mozzarella and 2 tablespoons parmesan. Toss the artichokes, tomatoes, and spinach with the remaining garlic mixture and arrange on top of the cheese. Sprinkle with remaining 3 tablespoons parmesan on top. Place the baking sheet on the inverted baking sheet in the oven and bake until the crust is crisp and golden, 18 to 20 minutes.

oops I forgot I added black olives that I had on hand since I forgot the artichokes...

Enjoy!

Sometimes...

I really feel like the kiddos punish you when you go out of town you know...

my oldest has been snuggling with me all week...which normally she does with Daddy...so I'm definitely loving that...

but my youngest...granted she is a little under the weather right now...has had a week of this....

and this...

and then she looks adorable when she cries...and I laugh...yes...I laughed today when she was bawling her eyes out from a week of no sleep...because I thought she looked cute when she was crying...I know, "bad momma", right...I couldn't help but laugh because this week I was thinkin' was going to be a breeze with being on vacation last week...but

she's making me work for being gone...YEP...I think I need a vacation from the vacation...{you ever feel that way}...but then I guess that would be continuous right...

now don't be looking at my beautiful honey glazed cabinets...I am determined they will be white lets say in 2-3 months...I've got one talented uncle who paints so well it could make you scream...and I think I'm going to do it without you know...the consent {changing them white}...I'm going to go a-askin' my uncle when he has free time...you know...but I'll only do it if you all...have my back...{he, he, he}...when hubby gets home and they are completely different...I can count on you, right?

please tell me to go for it...because I should right?...can't get any better than someone in the family who does an amazing job...

...it really has been one "fun" week...but I tell you...I'm not going to complain because I'm thinking of this guy on the beach...

and that does just the trick...

you know what I mean?

and well this too...{chuckle, laugh here}

can you believe this beautiful bow...
and it's in red...
but I took the plunge and did it anyway...
I'm scared of red everyone...I'm terrified...
and I think I just noticed it could be out of stock now when I went to link it...good thing I got it just in time:)

and  this is the one I was originally after...

sigh...they are out of my size...so I found the above dress...and the bow sucked me in...don't you hate that...

now all I have to do is wait until spring to arrive to wear the darn red bow I'm terrified of...

twiddling my thumbs right about now:) sigh...

I'm craving mahi mahi right about now...grilled fresh...right in front of you...

No it is not a craving because of anything...I just cannot get enough of that fish...and well...I am too scared to try to cook it on my own...maybe just maybe in a couple of month's I'll bribe my mom to do it...since "ahem" she's the chef in the family...me...not so much...that gene totally skipped me...I'm thinking my oldest may acquire it though...

I know this is a bit of randomness...but I've got nothing else this week since you know little has not been well and I'm avoiding all things that need to be done around the house {ahem...laundry}

I suppose you all know by now...laundry is my WORST enemy...by far...I was doing so well not leaving it on the floor...well until you know...the vacation...UH!

uh-oh...Madison just informed me Hayley ate the lip saver...GREAT...it was a brand new stick too...better get going'