FishBowl Mom is holding a FLIP FLOP SWAP!

A blogger gal friend of mine is putting on a fun Flip Flop Swap at her blog!! I call her the Fishbowl Mama - her blog is actually called Mom is in the Fishbowl.

I think a Flip Flop Swap is a super fun idea as I am a flip flop wearin' mama for sure!!! I love them - I wear them every day and at one time I had a pair of every color but now I am only down to just black :( so this swap is right down my alley! If you want to participate all you have to do is go leave a comment and she'll be in touch!

The idea is that she'll get a lot of people to participate and then she'll partner us up and each of us will by our partner a pair of flip flops between $5 - $10 (you can spend more if you want) and blog about it when you get yours in the mail - mailing yours to your partner by April 16th.

This is going to be a fantastic way to flip flop off the summer (tee hee) so go sign up!

DO IT!

WhAtTHEbOySRuP2

sometimes...

it is just that kind of a day -

where all you want to do is put your feet up and read Martha...

God never gives strength for tomorrow,

or for the next hour,

but only for the strain of the minute.

Oswald Chambers

Happy Day Lovelies,

Happy Birthday Mr. Brown!!

Mr. Brown is turning 3 today.

I remember when my sister called me to tell me she was pregnant.
I was on my way to work.

It was a hard time for me because I was so happy for Jodi but I had just had a miscarriage so it was bitter-sweet.

Then my littlest sister got pregnant with Carti Rae three months later...

& then just 6 months later I got pregnant with my first - little Pauly.

So yes, that means that my mom and dad had 3 grand babies

in one year all three months apart from each other...

Birch came in March

Macarti in June

and Pauly in September.

left to right: Pauly, Bailey, Birch and Macarti

Needless to say mom was busy!!!! She thinks for sure we planned it to plot against her. I wonder if we can ever manage it again. Lets do it girls!

It was super fun all of us being pregnant together and preparing and helping each other prepare. I remember one weekend when Jodi was pretty far along I think like 7 months - Casi and I went to help her one weekend. We switched around the crib from one room to the other - fixed up her office and then hauled a big load of trash to the dump.

I remember seeing Jodi eat cold cereal at night like it was going out of style. & then when Birch came - she was in the middle of packing from one ranch house to another - I went to spend the weekend with her to help out and see the little man for the first time... she answered the door and this awful stink came oozing out - and I said, "I don't mean to offend you but it smells like poop!". She said - that's because Birch just did all over the wall and me.

This little boy is ALL Boy! He loves being outside - loves his horses (in fact - some times he goes and lets them go so they can go for an afternoon run - and my sister has to go round them up) Can you imagine a 2 1/2 year old going and letting the horses out of their pen?! Little stinker! This boy is gutsy and BUSY!

The weekly stories Jodi has for me about Birch (and Bailey) crack me up!

I love them to the moon.

Here is the poem I wrote for Birch about a year ago:

If you could, you'd want to follow daddoo all day long,

right behind him, with your matching blue jeans on,

Belt buckle, work boots and that hat pulled down tight,

Keep up! Gotta keep up! with all your Might!

Please help daddy feed the horses and fix that worn out fence,

You're an awesome daddy's helper, but that only makes sense!

Mama and Sissy will be waiting for you both with arms open wide,

They're so proud of you brother for working by daddy's side!

Wrangling the doggies and keeping a really close eye,

on those chickens, kittens and cows - Be careful! Oh My!

You're busy, yes so busy, you've got lots of things to do,

but now it's time to sleep Mr. Brown and shut those eyes of blue!

In the morning it will start again and there will be lots and lots to see,

like rocks and sticks and muddy holes and don't forget to climb that tree!

Our busy little Mr. Brown, you're quite the little guy,

May the Lord bless and keep you, for you're the apple of our eye!

Love you forever, Aunt Sam

thebrianbrownfamily.blogspot.com

"Because I'm a lady that's why..."

I will wear this dress when my love takes me to dine in Paris.

found here

Perfect. I shall wear this to surprise my love with lunch at work.

We'll spread a blanket on the warm grass and feed each other delicious fruit and cheese.



found here


This one is for the Saturday Market.

I'll feel so pretty as we stroll up and down the red brick path

lined with friendly merchants.

found here

And last, I shall wear this one

just.

for.

me.

with my hot pink toenail polish,

lime green flip flops

and...

this from here.

Pauly Boy

This is a picture of Pauly when he was about 8 months or so...

I love this picture.

daddy, william has something to tell you...

Glitter, Glass and Nummy Ga Ga

Last night... was perfect.

I watched a lovely episode of Anthony Bordain - love him.

While I made these glittery Bible verse pretties for my Mamas' Group.

Read a little of this... love it...

while I watched Gilmore Girls - love them too.

This morning I made these brownies for my Mama guests.

It makes me happy to find a yummy recipe,

have it turn out and

get to put it in my glass pedestal... bliss.

Love these brownies!

...and you will too.

Happy Day!

soi·ree also soi·rée (swä-r)n. An evening party or reception.

A few weeks ago I was invited to a Ladies Only Oscar Party. I thought there was no way that I would be able to go but with my husband's help we figured out a way to make it possible. And I am so glad that I was able to! I knew it would be fun but I didn't know it would be as amazing as it was. The particular gal that put it on (in our eyes) is known for her fabulous cooking, amazing hostess skills and thoughtful presentation. Bottom-line She's got skills!

William was my date for the night. We got there and of course, the perfect little hostess greeted me at the door and I was so excited to be there! I love her home, first of all it smelled amazing - her home is so tidy, and I love her taste in decor. Very good taste.

She had the table set up beautifully,

And under each place setting was our little menus that she had obviously put a lot of thought and love into. She had named each little appetizer/dish after Oscar nominated movies.

It was marvelous!

I think my favorite appetizer was the Pear Tartlets aka Inglorious Bastards (Pear and Gorgonzola cheese set inside a lightly golden crusty phyllo crust in the shape of little cups... Delectable! There were like 4 other appetizers. She really spoiled us!

This is a picture of a Baked Brie dish. I believe, it was brie wrapped in phyllo dough with cherries and walnuts. It was divine.

I thought for sure that one of the gals was going to put it in her purse.

She really "blue" us away when she pulled out the Avatar Dressing. For dinner she made us Manicotti and Roasted Asparagus wrapped in bacon. I don't have any pictures of dinner... I was too busy eating! Same goes for dessert.

She had three different desserts for us to pick from and they were Raspberry Cheesecake with Oreo Crust (my favorite!), a lemony cake dessert, and adorable little 'Up' cupcakes. - (I really wish I got a picture of those - they were a chocolate cupcake with white frosting then little (I think) yellow toothpicks coming out the middle of the top of the cupcake that then stuck into a donut hole that she had been frosted and dipped into sprinkles that were every color of the rainbow (just like the balloons in Up).

I was going to grab one for Pauly but I totally spaced it. I figure I'll make them for him for his Birthday or something! They were super cute!

Next we all sat down and watched the Oscars together. She had printed out little lists for us and we all guessed who would win in every category and whoever got the most guessed correctly got a prize and then another game she had was Bingo and she had printed out little sheets that had boxes and in every box it said something like someone crying, someone kissing their spouse, Lead Actor, Coca-Cola commercial and so on - and when you spotted one of them you got to put a sticker on it and the first person with a "Bingo" won!

I was not a winner but I didn't care we had a ball!

All the gals were super fun and so sweet to help me with William.

We all bawled when Sandra Bullock got up to accept her Oscar and did her speech - wasn't she exquisite? Love her! & I think her husband is awesome... did you see him - he was crying, it was precious.

I would have to say my "best addressed" award goes to Rachel McAdams. Isn't she beautiful? and that dress I really loved it!!

& I realized that my sister Jodi kind of looks like her! Isn't that weird!?

zimbio.com

Anyhow, I had never been to an all ladies party (not as an adult anyway) and I realized how good it was for my heart to be around those gals.

I feel refreshed (although super tired today) and well... I'm just so glad I got to go - I loved it!

Did you enjoy watching the Oscars?