Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you had a wonderful day spent with someone you love. This was my first Mother's Day and that's just what I got to do. Here I am reading my first Mother's Day card from Ana:

And here's a little something that made me laugh...

Good mama:

Not so good:

I can laugh about it because he didn't destroy the doll!

Paper Flowers

While going through a box in our garage intended for Goodwill, I came across a very ugly old frame. It was dark brown with some sort of golfing picture. Obviously, something that belonged to my husband BEFORE we got married. (You wouldn't believe the things my husband once had hanging on his walls...I'm talking a Lance Armstrong framed poster in the family room! Love ya hun!)

Anyway, a coat of primer, a couple coats of white spray paint, and I had a whole new frame. Today I printed out a blessing I came across online a couple months ago, made two really sweet flowers out of paper and voila:

Thank you Emily at Jones Design Company who inspired me to make the paper flowers. I love her blog, and all this week she is posting different flower projects. They are so creative, yet easy for a beginning crafter like myself. Click the link above to see Emily's tutorial for these flowers. (While you're there, check out all of her flower projects. You'll be amazed!)

P.S. Happy Thursday from Ana - my little adventure seeker!

My Go-To Dinner

I'm not a great cook. I'm the first to admit it. I get a little overwhelmed when it comes to complex dishes that call for things like... herbs. (ok, you can stop laughing now) Anyway, I came across this dish about a year ago and my husband and I LOVE it. It has become our go-to dinner. It's super easy, super quick to make and really really good. I've even been known to impress people other than my husband with this dish. Drum roll please....

(Food Network)

It's Rachael Ray's 4 Minute Spicy Garlic Shrimp. You can find how to make it here. When we first started with this recipe we followed the exact measurements, but now we just go with what feels right - and IT'S STILL GOOD! Just a few suggestions - we like starting with raw shrimp over pre-cooked shrimp. Also, we put it with Texmati white rice made with chicken broth instead of water. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do!

P.S. We learned "so big" last week. I love how baby gets excited to show us she can do it. Our dog Riley didn't see this one coming!

(I can't help but laugh every time I look at this!!)

DC Delight

We just returned from a week in Washington, DC to visit my hubby's family. I think this picture sums up our time there:

It was so nice and relaxing... and warm! Baby and I loved taking walks to the market each morning for coffee (for mommy) and a cinnamon roll (for mommy and baby). The colors in Georgetown were so beautiful:

Now that we're home, I'm itching to get to work on our own landscaping... which needs a lot of work! Sounds like a future before and after post!! Stay tuned!

Happy Easter!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16

I hope everyone had a joyous Easter. We had a wonderful day with my family. Of course, everyone spoiled Ana for her very first Easter - lots of books, stuffed animals and a new riding giraffe. Despite my protests, my mother insisted on giving Ana a giant lollipop. (Don't even get me started) Oh, check out the adorable headband I bought for Ana on Etsy at the TuttaBellaBoutique. I was so excited to get it in time for this weekend.

Too bad she wouldn't keep it on for very long. In fact, she's hit that age where everything -  socks, shoes, hats etc. don't stay on for very long.

As for my own look today:

sweater - Banana Republic, top and belt - Ann Taylor Loft, skirt - Zara, shoes - T.J. Maxx

I hope your day was as nice as ours - filled with family and love.