A Quick Craft

I have a "to do" list that is at least a mile long. It really feels good to be able to cross one of the items off when it is finished. So to make that happen I wrote "do a quick craft" and I am proud to say that it can be crossed off. Next I plan to add "take a nap with Violet". Ahh the feeling of accomplishment. 

Lately there have been a ton of crafty recycling ideas in honor of earth day. I saw this simple and easy one and decided today would be a good day. I rescued a jar from the recycle bin and grabbed a couple of naked pencils and some paper scraps. As the Modge Podge was drying the rain stopped and the sun started to peek out from the clouds. We decided to take a quick walk.  It was perfect timing because as soon as we got back it started to get gloomy again and then it began to hale! That is always fun to watch from the couch. So glad we didn't have anywhere we had to go.

Violet's Favorite Books

Today was a cool, overcast, windy, rainy day perfect for staying indoors and reading. After I got home from the shop and we both had full tummys, Violet and I curled up on the couch to read some of her favorites. She has quite a few books but these are the ones that she enjoys most right now. We got these three books, Colors, Numbers and Shapes when she was about 6 months. Violet loves them all. We read them over and over. However, her absolute favorite is Counting Kisses by Karen Katz. Often times she will giggle when I recite the first line of the book, even if we don't have the book in front of us. 

Asparagus Festigus

We couldn't have had better weather for the Asparagus Festival.  Although we don't usually go, we thought it would be fun this year because it would be Violet's first time attending. She had a fabulous time taking in all of the sights. She played on the grass, watched us eat various asparagus dishes and then fell asleep on daddy's shoulder.

I ate deep fried asparagus (practically mandatory), checked out the crafts, people watched and cracked myself up by adding aspara or gus to words.  For example, I enjoyed the asparacrafts. We arrived early to avoid the traffigus. You know you do it too!

Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday was on Friday. It was a perfect day. It was bright, sunny and warm. I started out by seeing a couple of my favorite clients, had lunch with my mom and Violet, did a little shopping and then saw a couple more of my favorite clients. I came home that evening to find that my mom had cleaned my kitchen - the perfect gift! The evening was spent playing with Violet, eating candy and purposefully leaving the laundry for another day.

On Sunday the celebration continued. My dad and Christi made a delicious dinner for me and a chocolate cake with chocolate icing from scratch! It was sooo good. I got some great gifts and had fun visiting with family.

Violet Rings

This will be my first Mother's day, and because I am amazingly helpful I am putting together a wish list.  Why stress out the hubby when I can make his life easy by giving him a list to pick from? While searching for just the right meaningful gift I came across the prettiest little rings. They are sterling silver violets! What could be better? My sweet little Violet represented by a sweet little violet ring! It just so happens that the Esty shop Thirty-Six Ten is having a giveaway! Click here to enter. Good Luck! ***update*** I didn't win the ring, so I ordered it for myself! I also ordered a birthstone ring to stack with it. How cute. Happy Mother's day to me!

Me and Violet

My Birthday Wish List

Beach Find Bottle, Small Starfish

Stitched in Time: Memory-Keeping Projects to Sew and Share from the Creator of Posie Gets Cozy

Milkmaid Butter Dish

Fissured Chains Necklace

Majestic Cypress Toile Dress

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers

Violet Loves Daddy

Today Violet thought that daddy's nose was particularly entertaining. She had a great time trying to grab his nose and then she repeatedly squished her nose against his while they both laughed and giggled.

Grass

Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack, Green/White

What? You don't grow clean bottles on your counter? We love our new grass drying rack. Having this bit of bright green in our kitchen is helping us to get throug these last rainy, gloomy days before summer.

When life gives you lemons......

...make lemon cake! We still have tons of lemons on our tree. I have already decorated our house and the shop with them, given them away by the truck loads, let the baby play with them. What else could I possibly do with them? Oh hey, maybe make something to eat? I have a crazy sweet tooth so the recipe would have to involve sugar. Then I remembered seeing a great recipe on T.V.


When I was a brand new mom and staying home full time with Violet I watched so much HGTV that I had seen every episode of every show at least once. I had to make a change. Unfortunately the food network, my go to channel, had fallen off of my favorites lists. In my highly emotional state I couldn't handle another anxiety inducing show involving moving an 800 pound, 20 foot tall, intricately decorated cake. Everyone is on the edge of their seat, holding their breath. What if it falls? All that hard work for nothing! People will cry and dreams will be shattered.


However I couldn't end our relationship for good. For years I had said that when I had a child I would learn how to cook. Well that time had come and how could I possibly accomplish a task like that without the help of T.V.? What if I failed? Everyone would make fun of my horrible cooking. Violet's Friends would feel sorry for her, and then she would be embarassed of her mother. So the food network got another try. Thankfully, when I did make the switch no one was battling or challenging or throwing down. Instead the Barefoot Contessa was on. She was inviting me in to her beautiful kitchen in her beautiful home and she was making lemon cake!


So while my emotional state is still questionable, I'm pretty sure that Violet will be embarassed of me for many reasons, not just for my cooking and Ina is my new best friend. No, really. She invited me over the other day and showed me how to make seafood stew.

So my husband, Chef Buddy O'Dell (yeah that's right, I'm married to a chef and I still can't cook) recommended, after the fact of course, that I drizzle a little olive oil down the middle of the cake before I cook it so that it would split down the center. I'll be sure to try that next time.

A great day at work

Our little spa. How lucky am I that I get to work here everyday?

A delicious offering for our guests prepared by Cindy.

One of the many ducks that live all around the complex.


Sweet little babies.

Nine Months

Can't get enough of those chubby cheeks.

Violet turned nine months old this week!

Lemons

We have a beautiful lemon tree in our backyard. Yesterday daddy took Violet outside and let her pick a lemon. After it got a good washing, she clutched onto it refusing to let it go. She held onto it with both hands throughout her bath. Her hands never left that lemon, not even to stop herself from tipping over.

Today the trend continued while we looked at a the cookie cloud tutorial. We wondered if we could make our cloud cookies with a hint of lemon.

She took an exceptionally long morning nap cuddling with a quilt that her great-great grandma made years ago.

It gave me the perfect opportunity to take this picture of her chubby little hand.