Lemon Lemon (Lemon) Loaf

All last week I craved a lemony sweet.
The craving just wouldn't go away.
"Something must be done", I said.
Then I saw a slip of paper in my desk drawer.
On this slip of paper was the name of a blog.
I had written this down over a year ago.
I visit said blog & begin to look through the archives.
Lo and behold, I come across this recipe!
A LEMON recipe!!!
My craving is now satisfied!
Thank you Playing House Blog!

Sincerely, Crystal in Louisiana


The Recipe

I also want to try this lemonade recipe. Sounds delicious!



What a compliment!


From my 10-year old niece, McKenzie. =]


One Down.....


many more to go!


I am, of course, referring to my To-Do list. I keep so many lists, so many little scraps of paper, here, there, everywhere. I make a list, I lose it. I make a list, I forget I made it. I make a list, I'm just too tired to do anything. Anyway.....I got one thing checked off, something that's been on my list since Christmas: framing my Tollipop print! I had planned to take it to Michael's or Hobby Lobby and have it custom framed. Then I decided I would find a frame and do it myself.

Well, last week, frames and mats were on sale at Hobby Lobby, so I went in Friday intent on buying what I needed. I looked and looked without really seeing one I liked. I decided to look on the clearance aisle and found this frame marked down from it's original price of $30 to $6!!! YAY! It's way big and scuffed up, but I think the scuff marks add to the appeal of the print. I got two different sized mats in two different colors, and, thankfully they worked well!

I really like the way it turned out! Next step.....hang it high!



Today.....

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

♥ I'm thankful for this week of sunshine after a week of rain
♥ I'm loving the pink, purple & red of my February calendar
♥ I ate lunch outside with my sister. We tried a new place (& loved it!}
♥ I'm loving my wonderful family & amazing friends
♥ I plan on falling in love with my new little niece all over again!

It's impossible to not fall in love with this sweetie!


Waiting.....

for my new niece to arrive!!!!!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I. Can't. Wait!!!!!

I especially can't wait until she's big enough to wear
all of the adorable things that I just can't resist buying for her!






Valentines



I was going through the starred items in my Google Reader, searching for the valentines I want to print. I didn't realize I had saved so many. Of course, I want be able to use all of them, but they are all equally cute, beautiful and/or adorable! So, I thought I'd share a list of Valentine printables.

Hope you find something you LOVE!

Printable Vintage Valentine Cards
28 Amazing Printable Valentine Freebies
Be Mine Freebie
Candy Kiss Valentine Printables
Valentines Day Paper Crafts Roundup
Whimsical Free Valentines
Free Printables for Valentines Day
Free Valentines
More Super Fun Free Valentines!
Sweet & Silly Valentines
Simple Friendship Valentines {+ lots more!!!}


♥EXTRA♥
Valentine Banner
"Let Your Heart Set Sail" Color Page
Heart Shaped Cookie!!!


Tollipop

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

There's this wonderful little blog that I visit called Tollipop. Isn't that the most wonderful name?! Kirsten is the writer of Tollipop. She is the type of woman I would love to have a best friend. She writes, she tells lovely stories and she has three beautiful and talented daughters. In 2008, Kirsten started a project called "hundred dresses project". Her goal is to paint one hundred girls and write a story to go with each girl. Charming! She also has an Etsy shop where she sells prints of her paintings.

I had my eye on the above print for the longest. So, when it came time to make a wish list for Christmas, this was put at the very top! Shawn wanted to buy an original, but I told him that would probably be impossible since he waited until just a few weeks before Christmas to start his shopping. Of course, I was right. I was satisfied, though, with the print. I love it! There are two others that are still on my wish list, one of which is no longer listed.

Shawn told me when I opened this particular package {and yes, I did squeal when I saw what it was!} that he emailed Kirsten several times before he placed his order. He said she was very sweet and very helpful. He asked if she could write a little note to me....

and she did! Let me just say right now that I cherish this note just as much as I cherish my Tollipop print! She also wrote a little note on the back of the print, which, by the way, is titled "What page are you on?". My plan is to hang it over my bookshelf. Next step: find the perfect frame!

Visit Tollipop:
shop ♥ ♥ ♥ blog


Fragile

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Please do something for me today. Tell the special people in your life how much they mean to you. Hug those you love real tight {if you have children, hug them a little tighter}. Say "I love you" as often as you can. Don't let stupid things bother you because there a bigger things happening all around you.

Thank you...


Wooden Elephant...Take 3

So...here's the wooden elephant...finished! I saw this tutorial a while back. My sister is expecting a baby girl {Haven} in the next few weeks. We gave her a baby shower this past Saturday. When we started planning the shower, I knew I wanted to make this elephant. It made the cutest cake topper! Thanks to Dad for all his help! Now Baby Haven will have her own unique push toy when she gets older, and hopefully she will cherish it for what it is...a gift from the ♥!


Baby Shower pictures to come...!!!



Wooden Elephant...Take 2



Well, I'm not completely done with my wooden elephant project. It will definitely be done by Saturday. Right now, I'm waiting on my Dad to help me out with some drilling!

Stay tuned!