We're celebrating tonight!

Spicy

I have been obsessed with this spice assortment from Dean and Deluca for longer than I can remember. Truly, it's a shame I don't own it yet. Don't you think?

Wordy Wednesday

*Image of Bla Bla dolls since this is just a bunch of bla bla bla

Not one BIG thing...just lots of little things to remember (and share.)

1.I've declared today "stay in pjs day" for Josie and I. With blustering cold temps outside we need a reason to stay indoors and recover from a swift and busy holiday weekend. You can bet my number one jammie girl Ella will quickly follow suit the minute she gets home from school.

2.We've enjoyed lots of family visits this month. B took his Dad and brother skiing last weekend and this weekend we enjoyed the desert with my parents in St. George. Doesn't get any better.

3.After a week of presidential program preparing, valentine box making, science fair experimenting, and parent teacher conferencing; I just might be as smart as a 5th grader.

4.I've crowned Pat Benetar's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" best family road trip song. We jammed so hard we were bouncing the car right up and down I-15. (Though we did take the liberty to sing it Roberts' style with a few modified lyrics courtesy of Max.)

Well you're the real tough cookie with the long history
Of breaking little hearts, like the one in me
Thats o.k., lets see how you do it
SHABA LABA DING DONG, lets get down to it!
Hit me with your best shot...

5.For my anniversary dinner, I enjoyed Chef Thomas Keller's famous "last meal" choice of Poulet Roti - roast chicken. This got me thinking...what would I choose for my last meal? What would you choose for yours?

6.I love collecting silly questions and springing them at random on Bryce. It gives me a chance to find out interesting things about him and the way his mind works and the things he's thinking about that I might have otherwise missed out on. Yesterday's question: "What reality show would you want to go on?" Can you guess his answer?

7.If you take a scroll down my blog, you'll notice many bit and pieces of robin's egg blue (tiffany blue, Martha blue, it has lot of different names). Perhaps that is why I've found myself drooling at so many pictures on this recently discovered blog.

8.If Josie could spend an entire day with just one person (other than me of course:) without a doubt, it would be her Grandpa Smiley.

9.Check out my valentine jars on Tangled and True and Petit Elephant. Pretty cool, huh?

10.I've been thinking I should paint my fingernails bright pink, red, or orange. Do you know how long its been since I've worn a fingernail color other than nude or clear? I'm sure it would only last a day, but I've just got a hankering...

Viva L'Amore

Woke up to this view from my The Hotel room in Las Vegas. (Of course, I had no idea we were going until the morning of.) After thirteen years together, I know to expect the unexpected with this one. I think he loves surprising me almost more than I love being surprised. Now go do something unexpected for someone you love and celebrate my anniversary with me.

Happy Anniversary to Us

I love love love love love love love love love love love love love this man. (That's thirteen to be exact.)

Sending You a Token of Love

Brought to you by MAX. Happy Valentines Day one last time. xoxoxo

Happy Valentines Day...

From our house to your house. xoxoxoxoxo

I just couldn't help myself...

...had to make them again. This time they're not pops - just bites. Still cute. xoxo

Blowing a little love your way...

It may be one day early, but we're in full fledge love, romance, and heart shape candy mode here in the red brick house. It's the day of the Valentine Parties. This means absolute excitement for them, and for me - well all projects are complete and I'm off the hook for another year. But before I sign off for the weekend, I'll post a little valentine fun that has kept us busy and in the spirit of Cupid all week long.

Have you ever peeked at the blog, Color Me Katie? She is a quirky and inventive New York photographer with a clever sense of humor. Check out the photo in her profile and you'll see how she inspired our valentine boxes this year. I took a picture of the girls blowing a kiss and then we cut it out and pasted on red hearts into a full fledged cloud of love. Pretty simple, huh? I e-mailed her a picture of the boxes and she loved them - it was so fun to hear from her! It's amazing how the web can connect. Wishing you many fun valentine connections this year. I'll sign off for now, but I've got a couple more to share a bit later. xoxo

There aren't enough WORDS Valentine

This was such a fun (and inexpensive) project that I'm giving to some special people this year. First, I went thrifting for some glass jars and came up with these bubble shaped bottles at a whopping 49 cents a pop. While I was at the thrift store, I perused the book section for a classic love story. After spending another 50 cents for the book I headed to the paper store where I die cut the red tags and multiple pages of the book into hearts. After cleaning the jars and finding the perfect ribbon for the red tag, I carefully placed each "word" heart into the jar for maximum viewing. I wanted to personalize each jar so on the back of each red tag I hand-wrote a little note that generally went like this:

"There aren't enough WORDS to tell you how much I LOVE having you as a _________. *
Love, AMR"

*Sister, neighbor, friend, teacher, husband, mother, etc...

What are you doing for your valentine this year?

A Brief Valentine Dissertation

In response to a few e-mails from some of my inquisitive friends about valentines...I thought I'd share picture proof of the simple-straight-from-the-store-non-creative-non-homemade valentines my children are exchanging. Yes its true - a handmade mama like myself had to draw the line somewhere. And this is why:

For years the girls and I would spend hours creating handmade valentines that they were proud and excited to make and share. But when they would bring their valentines home from their classmates, I noticed they would madly rip and tear through each valentine hardly taking a moment to note who it was from just to get to the candy. (Can you believe my own children would be so inconsiderate:) Once Max started school and up'ed our valentine total to nearly 100 I knew it was time to call it quits. Now, this is not to say we'll never do handmade valentines. I always try to make time for the children to express their creativity if they have a strong desire; but I generally use my powers of motherly persuasion to sway the creativity towards their valentine box or other special treats for their teachers or our neighbors. (Of course, you know I'll share some of those later:) Simply stated, I've found our creative time allowance is more wisely spent on those who know how to fully appreciate.

* Authors note
Please notice however, that I am not entirely giving into the mass marketing ploy to purchase cheesy "character" valentines. This year we went with the classic Necco conversation hearts:)

My Wax Figure

One last shot of Kalli in action as Lucretia - this was her frozen pose over at the wax museum. Of course, she took it absolutely seriously. We tried to get a little smirk out of her - but she was ever so serious and stoic.

P.S. Check out those AMAZING earrings from my collection of costume jewelry I inherited from my grandmother. Oh and the headband came from Forever 21. We did good don't you think?

May I Introduce You To...

Lucretia Garfield. She was the 20th First Lady of the United States and the only Hispanic American First Lady. The fifth grade hosted a Presidential Wax Museum today where all the students dressed up as U.S Presidents and First Ladies. Parents, community members, and classmates were treated to a wax museum tour where each "wax figure" was frozen into a pose and then switched on to share a one minute spoken description of their life. After they were done they quickly froze back into their original pose. Kalli and all her classmates and friends did a fantastic job. I am a beaming proud mama tonight...

Temporary Smooch

I wish I had found these sooner! How cute would it be to send your kids to their Valentine parties with these plastered right on their cheek?

Do you think it's a sign?

On January 1st of this year, I resolved to give Bryce a full year of no complaining about my car. (My '02 Suburban has been a good friend, but I'm growing tired of him:) Between house projects, a new garage, and some savings for a rainy day, I'm the first to admit it's not the right time .... BUT .... look what came in the mail addressed to ME. A gorgeous catalog with my current car-of-choice in full color for me to drool all over. Coincidence? Or...do you think it's a sign?

Lemon Curd

Our annual spring break trip to Palm Springs is right around the corner, but I just couldn't wait. Last year all the gorgeous lemons hanging from the trees inspired me to WANT lemon curd, but I never ended up making it. As I was cleaning out the freezer to make room for my latest Costco trip, I came across some lemon juice I had frozen from those desert lemons. Couple that with a trip to Elizabeth's English tea shoppe with Ella (scones on the menu of course) and color me lemon yellow - I was inspired again! Yesterday, while the kids were finishing up some weekend projects, I stood over the stove and whisked myself into pure lemony satisfaction. It was surprisingly easy and absolutely delicious. Here's the recipe I used:

• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh lemon zest
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into bits

Whisk together juice, zest, sugar, and eggs in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in butter and cook over moderately low heat, whisking frequently, until curd is thick enough to hold marks of whisk and first bubble appears on surface, about 6 minutes.

Transfer lemon curd to a bowl and chill, its surface covered with plastic wrap, until cold, at least 1 hour.

P.S. Four of these little jars are perfect for a double batch. I found them at my local grocery store.

A Newer Do

Remember this post? Well, I did it. I went wild and crazy and got a heavier fringe on the front and a few more inches off the bottom. It's a good change...but oh how I curse the commitment of the bangs!

Time Out with Baby J

Last week when I was busy in the kitchen making these, my little bosom buddy was right under my feet for most of the day. (And I mean literally right under my feet...check out photo number one of Josie on the kitchen floor.) This prompted me to grab my camera, leave behind the cupcake pops, and hold a little impromptu photo session utilizing the gorgeous afternoon light. This last photo is my absolute favorite. Can I just have a "Seriously So Blessed" moment and gush about how much I love being home with my babies? Priceless.

Ticket to Love

This month I've been tucking these around the nooks and crannies of our house for my one big love and my four little loves to find. Aren't they sweet? I found mine here. xoxoxo

Bubble and Bee

Attention Local Product Lovers! I found a new company based in Utah who makes wonderful smelling and amazingly packaged (always important to me:) organic skin care products. I picked up one of these cute little sets for me and one for my friend at my local Whole Foods. Nothing beats a nice little coconut vibe on my pasty white skin in the middle of winter. YUM!