Mother's Day…..

…...It was all about these girls….

 ….and this guy….

….and how sweet my family was to me.

 It was also about spring feeling like it has finally sprung after all that complaining about winter not ending.  At least that is what my tulips seem to be saying.  These are my first tulips that I have ever planted.  And I think I am in love with them.  They are so cute.  They look so happy, just as happy as us that the sun is shining.

We attended my daughter's piano recital.  We were in awe of how far she has come this year.  We didn't realize until she was playing and saw the growth in her this year.  She worked so hard, practicing many, many, many hours.  It gave me chills to see the audiences reaction as she played.  Her teacher even gave her special recognition at the end, and another round of applause came.  Quite a few people came up at the end and told her how moved they were.  It was not a perfect performance because she was nervous-- but it didn't need to be, and no one could hear her mistake except her.  She did a wonderful job.  And she did master that song! You can click here to watch the video of her playing and here to see her teacher giving recognition. We kept with tradition, and let her choose a restaraunt to celebrate at.  We went to Cafe Latte because we love the food, but also because "she loves the area, and wanted to look at the houses on Grand Ave and drive around."  my husband got them in action telling secrets while we ate.

It was a beautiful day for a drive.  The houses were spectacular.  The Cathedral and Capitol looked especially pretty.

They also wanted to go to Lululemon.  Is that not the most awesome mirror ever?!

I felt incredibly blessed to have my husband and daugthers this Mother's Day.  I loved the scripture my husband found last week, teaching that Eve was called the Mother of All Living before she even had children.  Women are mothers no matter the circumstances.  We have the special call to nurture and teach and love and make this world a better place.  I am very thankful for that gift and that responsibility.  And I am also extremely grateful to be a mother to these 2 girls!!!  I love my family immensely. And I am also thankful for when they get ahold of the camera when I am not looking and take funny pictures.         

New Cake Stand Orders

I wanted to post these because they turned out so pretty and to give people more ideas of what the cake stands look like in different colors.  I had 2 different orders for a set of 3- The Jessie, The Lucy, and The Joy.

Here it is it light purple and ivory.

 This is The Lucy (click here to purchase on Etsy)

The Joy (click here to purchase on Etsy)

 

The other bride wanted one done in ivory, tan, and dark purple.  She is having a Fiesta with Tres Leche and Flan cakes. 

This is The Jessie (click here to purchase on Etsy)

Shameless Plug to Vote For Me

I've never been one of those people who seem to win contests.

But I am kind of excited about this one because I have a little fascination with Carver Junk Company.  And if I win I get a little gift certificate.  I sent them a few pictures of repurposed things, and this is the one they chose.  I am hoping it is good luck, since my grandmother (whom I named Rita Marie Weddings) is the one that made the plate.

So could you Pretty Pretty Please hop on over here and vote for me?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=248183411988631&set=a.248181301988842.1073741830.138737326266574&type=1&theater

Speaking of contests, I did pick a winner for my FB contest in honor of Mother's Day and my 100th Etsy sale.  Her name is Kelsey, we put everyone's name in a hat, fair and square, and my husband drew the winning name.  Congrats, Kelsey!

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to vote for my cake stand.

Foot Washing Ceremony

Here are the pictures from the bride that did the foot washing ceremony with one of the vintage linens from my Etsy Shop.  I also had it emboridered for her.  You can read about that by clicking here.

The ceremony turned out beautiful… and you can see that you have a very happy bride.

A Healthy Dose of "Son"shine

Finally, some sunshine has arrived.  It's been a long time coming here in Minnesota.  And Saturday was as gray and bleek as it gets.  I had been keeping on top of the gloomy weather, but Saturday seemed to hit me hard.  I woke up pretty grumpy.  I felt just like the clouds in this picture….. grrrrrr…..

I got myself dressed and headed to a women's conference at our church.  And I learned an important lesson- if you are in a dreary "state" (of mind or a real state like Minnesota), and you need to make your own sunshine, so to speak, service is a healthy dose of Sun/Son.  There is nothing like forgetting yourself and going to work as Jesus would do.  Acting as He would, and being His hands for a little while, can really turn things around.

The organizers of this event did an amazing job.  We were fed spiritually and physically.  We had wonderful classes on everything from geneology, to reaching out and helping our family and neighbors, to cooking.  We had amazing food for lunch.  And we did lots of service.

We gathered and organized the following supplies for the following organizations:

700 hygiene kits

200 blankets

40 large boxes of food

100 letters to military people and missionaries (they hung some pictures of a few people we wrote)

Shriner's Hospital for Children

Cross Food Shelf

Alexandra House for Battered Women

Harbor Lights Homeless Shelter

It was a wonderful event and a great reminder we can all make a difference in our communities.

Be-Jeweled

I am busy working on a project, and it involved a trip to 

Have you ever heard of it?  Be-jeweled… be-dazzled…. however you say it…. you gotta admit it is fun to see things that sparkle and shine.  And I got a few supplies to make a dress dazzle (just a little more than it already does) that my daughter will be wearing for an event.

She got invited to this little event like this:

Cute!

Pictures of the process will come in the following week (if I can get my act together and get it done!)