Hello Spring

Our breakfast room is the room guest pass through when entering our home from the side porch. And since I like to keep holiday and seasonal decorating all clustered together in certain rooms, I like using this room to extend a warm welcome to family and friends, a nice way to say Hello Spring…..

 Sweet vintage Rabbits and nested Robin Eggs along side green mossy carrots and perched on my favorite rustic wooden pedestal. 

 One of my "Favorites"…. cute Burlap Bunny Ears napkins rings and rabbits running around the plate rims. Charming touch with woven burlap placemats. 

 I used a natural linen burlap table runner and placed whitewashed wooden candlesticks with burlap covered candles.

 Love these sweet vintage style bunnies, charming and playful. 

 And it just wouldn't be Easter without a "Chocolate Bunny"….all fake but sure looks real.

HAPPY SPRING Everyone….!!!

MY STORY…in Marlo Thomas Book, "IT AIN"T OVER"… TILL IT'S OVER".

Excited to share, MY BIG SECRET, honored & thrilled. At last, it's finally REAL and now I can share it with you. Last summer, I was contacted by a writer from Simon and Schuster book publishers and was told she was woking with a Best Selling Celebrity Author on a new book and the celebrity wanted to include "My Story" in her book.

 After three interviews it all "seemed" real however so hard to believe. Remember the pic of me that I made last year holding my paper straws. That was the reason for that picture, they ask me for a picture to include in the book. Then on Thursday of last week " IT ARRIVED"….THE BOOK….yes the book I've waited for months to see. ( And I'm In It" )….my signed copy from MARLO THOMAS, New Book, ( "It Ain't Over….Tiill It's Over" )…..now in my hands and on sale in Book Stores on Tuesday, April 8th.

 Her book is about 60 inspiring women who "Reinvented Themselves" and did not let failure, lack of confidence and other circumstances stand in their way. And I was chosen as one of those women.

 Bill and I have worked SO incredibly  hard and have certainly had our share of ups and downs, however we always pushed through the tough times, got up after being knocked down and kept on going.

 And those are "My Words" there under the chapter title "Relentless".

 When the book arrived, we both were so excited and then to read the story and to see "my picture" in Marlo's book, we cried. They were tears of joy remembering all the hardships of getting to where we are now. It was a tough journey, one that we took together, never gave up and here we are. Faith and love conquers all and we've always had an abundance of that. 

 This is one of the most rewarding honors Bill and I have had in our entire business career and we're so happy to share this great news with you….hope you'll pick up a copy and read all the incredible inspiring stories included in this book. And here is my autographed and signed copy from Marlo.

So as you've heard me say, over and over again, Reach for YOUR Dreams, don't let others rob you from the wishes and dreams in your heart…..HAVE FAITH, LOOK UP, DREAM BIG…..I did and you can too:)  Thanks for reading, I'll be back soon adding MORE of MY STORY here on my blog……" A DREAM COME TRUE "

Bridal Tea Shower

She was forbidden to stop by for the last two weeks while we put it all together and made it as perfect as possible for HER Special Day….and It was a "perfect day" and "her face" said it all.

Mallory's Bridal Tea Shower

And these are the only pictures I had a chance to take "before" she arrived. After that I left it all up to the photographer to capture all the special moments between family and friends. I will share those too as soon as I get them. For now, here's how it all looked when it was 

Time to party…!!!

Sherry and I made the Pom Poms and as tedious as it was, we "Squealed with Delight" once they were hung and realized they were SO worth it….

And the final "Squeal" was when we placed this beautiful cake on it's pedestal, I was a Happy Girl…!!!

It was ALL I'd dreamed it would be and more…and too nervous to cut it, believe it or not, we let THE GUYS CUT THE CAKE…yes, and they did a fabulous job, "whew" I was really nervous. However, it all worked out perfect and Mallory loved her cake:)

Then we had to figure out HOW to serve it, the slices were just "too Large" so I grabbed my pretty little waxed paper sheets with sweet pink hearts, cut them into small squares and placed a small slice on each waxed sheet making them easy for guest to pick up…and they were SO pretty on the cake platter.

We covered our stove top and used it to place glass party plates, tea cups and glasses. The spaced worked perfect and fit right into the setting.

And one of  "My Favorite" things were these pretty pastel TEA CUPS & Saucers.

Dainty, fancy and small glasses were used for Cold Sweet Tea and Pink Lemonade.

Sweet little Katie actually made the "Colored Sugars" for sprinkling on the Fruit Kabobs. She had so much fun making this sugar, the little spoon there in the sugar dish says,

"Gimme Sugar" and there was plenty to go around.

This cute little spoon placed in pastel Jordan Almonds said it all, "The Sweet Life"

Another "Favorite" was the banner Sherry made. We placed pretty framed pictures of J.T. & Mallory on the mateo and hung the banner below. 

Our most difficult task was putting the very full "TABLE TU TU" on the bridal gift table. My sweet hubby helped me and after getting fingers pricked several times we were happy with the results. A perfect skirt for the little girl who use to be 

"Our Ballerina"…all grown up now and getting married..!!

Hoping the weather would be sunny and warm, we set up tea tables on the screened porch to invite guest outside and down to the garden, however, too windy and a bit chilly. 

And at the end of the day, this is all that was left….divided it up for the girls to carry home, I'm gonna "Miss that cake"…!! Easter is coming, I think I'll need to order another one:)

I'l be back with more pics of

 Mallory, Family & Friends…

It was the Tea Party I've always dreamed of, and we created it 

"All for Her"…cheers everyone

A Little Peep

Glimpses of Spring are starting to Pop Up around the house, yes we've finally packed up winter and dug out spring. It's just like Christmas, you gotta "wreck the halls" to deck the halls. I finally finished my dining room table today. No pics yet, once I take those I'll be back to share. Here's one I took quickly while trying to figure out what to do…..

I always seem to not have enough napkins, why do I only buy four napkins. So I had to dig deep to find something that worked. I'm pleased with the results…  Now, on to the next room. I'm STILL DREAMING of spring and creating my spring table top today sure made me smile and got me excited to know it's just around the corner…….

Goodbye Winter

Burrrr, seems it's been the "Word of the Month"..!! And looking out my window waiting for green to appear, we're starting on spring decorating next week. So packing up winter and bringing out spring. No more "Frozen Pond" and snow, no, positive thinking here.

Ok, I'll admit, we really enjoyed seeing all the seasons of our new garden . Fall was beautiful and winter was amazing. 

As pretty as it was all frozen over, we are excited to watch it transform back into a lush, blossom filled oasis. I'm "Dreaming" of long evenings spent out in our garden, surrounded by luscious greenery, colorful flowers and the sound of that waterfall reminding me of "Yes, Life IS but a Dream"…!!

These were our daisies still in full bloom in mid October..!!! I just know they can't wait to pop back out. 

As for now….."I'm DREAMING of Spring"…