Project 365

Opening page of the 2011 Album.

Project 365 is well under way. I've been doing a lot more digital work this year. Some of the pictures I use for the everyday shots come with a few more pictures I'd like to include, so I'm making extra pages to put into the binder. I'm also adding a lot more ephemera. There's so much stuff sometimes! I have a bunch of layouts at the printer right now. I can't wait til they get here so I can get the binder caught up! I sometimes wish I could print my pictures everyday, but I know that it just isn't economical, and definitely not practical to our lifestyle. So once a month I send in my order and once a month it feels like Christmas when I open my package and see all the memories!

Spring has almost Sprung!

It's almost time! We went out to the RV park this past weekend and got the RV put back into place, all lined up and ready to hook up for the summer. We didn't have time, or the suppies, to do any cleaning, but that will come soon enough! We have lots to do!

New Polish Color

"Flat Iron Green" by NYC In a New York Color Minute, Quick Dry Nail Polish

Okay, so I saw this color in a magazine and immediately fell in love with it. In the light it's very green, but without the benefit of UV, it's an almost black color! I just had to find it! So, I scoured the shelves until I found it on the very bottom of the display at the local Wally-World. I thought for sure this would become my new favorite polish. But I was completely unprepared for this. I expected, with it being one of those 60-seconds-to-dry type polishes, that it would also be a one-coat polish. WRONG! It took 4 coats total. And it dries so fast, sometimes I couldn't get the entire nail painted before the drying kicked in. Lots of streaking going on.

On the up side, it didn't chip right away like most polishes. A couple days after applying it, I trimmed my nails and gave them another coat. And now it's the color, and coverage, I want! While not technically a "spring" color, it does a good job of playing with spring. This probably won't be one of my go-to polishes since it takes so many coats before it's looking pretty, but when I have the time for multiple coats, it'll be right up there at the top of my list.

Something pretty...

to look at! found on pinterest. A very cool website!

I would love to have the chair and mirror in my master suite...that is, ehem, if I had a master suite...

Literally Literary

I love a good book. Good books seem to be hard to find anymore. I peruse the shelves of the local libraries for hours on end sometimes and only find a gem or two to take home and curl up with for a spell. It seems I have to search longer and harder these days to find something enjoyable.

Today I discovered a web page that just may change all that. It's called Good Reads. Why didn't I think to look for something like this a long time ago?! So many books! So little time!

My reading list for 2011 is quite sparse. My reading time this year has been pathetic. But I hope to change all of that. I hope to scope out some good reads in the near future and buff up my reading list real quick like...

And if anyone out there has any favorites to suggest... please do!

Crazy Cake Adventures

No one should take on two really important cakes the morning after getting back from a vacation. But, lucky me, the Mr. didn't give me much of a choice. I had to bake and decorate these cakes in less than 24 hrs! I baked cakes from 7 - 10:30 pm one night and went back to frost at 7am the next day! Craziness indeed. And I didn't get to make all the decorations I wanted to make. I was seriously dissapointed. But I did have fun working the frosting designs. I'd like to make some more of these...but mini-sized! Wouldn't they be so cute?!

This is a 2-layer, 14" strawberry cake with buttercream frosting, decorated with stippling.

This is a 2-layer, 9" strawberry cake with butter cream frosting, decorated with ribbon swirls.

I really, really wanted to make some chocolate butterflies to set on top, but I just plain ran out of time and I was soooo tired from the trip I just couldn't function. I guess I'll save that little bit of fun for some other time.

Vacation!

First things first: a good lunch! When in Atlanta, Georgia it is essential that we eat sushi.
While the Mr. was out working, the kids and I hung out with John at one of the local malls. There were some pretty fun things to do. The kids were super psyched to race the radio control cars for a little while.

And then they just had to climb the rock wall at Cabella's. It was quite the challenge for both of them. Little Man had some difficulty with the holds being a little too far apart. The Girl made it up the wall waaaay further than any other person who attempted it that day. Girls got skillz!


On the way out Little Man shook hands with some of the local wildlife...

And then we were off to Orlando. First stop: Braves vs. Tigers Spring Training Game. It was quite a snoozer up until the 9th inning and just when it was getting interesting, the game was over! Little Man was stoked to watch Chipper Jones play.

Then we went to the WGLL Opening Ceremonies. Little Man hung out with some of his friends while The Girl caught up with some of her friends.

That night we went to Universal Studios. Our first stop was the Hogwarts Express! I wish it was an actual ride you could take into Hogsmeade. I haven't seen it during daylight hours, but at night it's pretty magical!

And then it was time for the Mardi Gras parade. The Girl came away with another 50 necklaces, at least!

And no trip to Universal is complete without picking up breakfast on the way out! mmm...

The next day we did the Universal thing again, but the kids took one of their friends with them. They wanted to be left alone, so the Mr. and I went Ninja on them! It was too much fun :)

And then we were back in Atlanta, needing something to eat late at night. Way to be there, Panda!

Next day, the Mr. had to work so the kids and I hung out at Dave&Busters. What a cool place! Unfortunately, we spend way too much money there. But it was a lot of fun :)

And then the trip home. We all found the rivers and waterfalls along the roadways to be beautiful. The kids and I usually try to sleep through the hills so we don't get sick, but it was just too pretty to miss!


Vacation is nice, but home is heavenly...you'd think that was the end of the week, but no, we were home for only a day and a half before we had to pack up and be gone for the weekend! The Mr. and I were asked to be chaperones for the Acquire the Fire conference so we didn't get any rest until several days after vacation. Man, were we wiped out! So glad to have my own pillow again...

Are these your glasses, Mom?!

I may be old, little man, but I'm not that old!

Saturday, February 28th, our friends and family tricked us into showing up for a surprise party to celebrate our 40th birthdays. Mine passed by on the 6th and the Mr's will be coming up on March 31st. So somewhere in the middle totally caught us off guard! Well done, people, well done.



I like this. My sis-in-law really loves me. She came up with 20/20 just for me! The Mr. gets stuck with the Big 4-0.

It was really great to see so many of our friends make the trip for our party. It has been too many years since we last saw each other. We can't let that happen again. Thank you, friends and family, for all the hard work putting the party together and actually managing to keep it a secret! Well done, indeed. :)