Great "get away" to the SUN....

We are "back to reality" which is good, but our little trip was great!! Here are my favorites...

My Top 10 Favorite Things About Our Get-Away!

10. Terrific food---ate at two of our favorite places: The Grand Lux Cafe and PF Changs (now, seriously back to South Beach!!) :0)

9. I won $22.00 on the nickel slots...(I know I could become easily addicted to seeing those three "7's" line up!)

8. Jim humored me with a shopping trip to the Premium Outlet Mall (he was able to find a sunny bench to sit on and read!! (It only took us 2 different buses to get there---we were pretty proud of ourselves for figuring it out...being from the "country and all!!")

7. Getting to spend 24/7 together....after a L-O-N-G tax season, it was so fun to get to spend some quality time together!

6. Cirque Du Soleil show...it is truly amazing how some people can fly through the air and do all sorts of acrobatic things!

5. Sitting in a lounge chair, by the pool, reading. Sooooo relaxing. My book right now is "Snowflower and the Secret Fan"--the incredible story about two young girls in nineteenth century China.4. " The Phantom of the Opera" in an incredible theater in the Venetian. The theater was built just for this production at a cost of $33 million! (We read the brochure!) :0) 3. Another Broadway play "The Jersey Boys"....what a fun evening. In case you don't know, this is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The music was fantastic...we grew up listening to it! 2. Wearing flip-flops, crop pants, and shorts!!

1. WARM WEATHER! After the winter and spring that we have endured (I'm not crazy about winter, but this spring is one for the record books---COLD!!!), it was so much fun to walk around outside and just soak up the warm temperatures and sunshine!!! We ate breakfast outside every morning, it was the best!!!

These great memories and fun times make it a teeny-tiny bit easier to take the 40 degree temperatures, snow flurries, and cold wind that have become our "standard weather" this spring. This weekend it's going to warm up into the high 60's--so they say!! I will believe that when I "feel" it!!! Our tulips might bloom some day after all!!! :0)

Petite Pedicure....

What a fun day we had celebrating "K's" birthday last week!! We went to their neighborhood nail salon for a little pampering...we both got pedicures (I didn't think I needed to capture mine in pictures!!) :0) She was a little unsure of the whole experience at first and thought "Mommy" should paint her nails! After a little coaxing she decided it would be OK for the "lady" to do it...the bright purple polish turned out just perfect for a 3 year old who just happens to LOVE purple!!

Little Birthday Girl...

Big celebration tomorrow...Baby "K" turns 3!!! I think it's time to drop the "baby" when referring to her...she's a "big girl" now!! It seems like only yesterday that we were eagerly anticipating her arrival, and here she is turning 3! We will be there tomorrow for her big day...should be lots of fun!!

Off for a little R & R...

With "tax season" over, it is time for a little FUN (I sound like I have been slaving away, putting in the long hours day after day, don't I??) :0) But, I'm happy to accompany Jim on this adventure!! This year--after our never-ending winter...more snow showers predicted for this coming weekend!!! :0(--we decided we needed to make sure our fun was in the SUN! So, I got on the Internet, found terrific room rates at Mandalay Bay, and we are heading south for a little R&R. We hope to spend lots of time laying by the pool, reading and relaxing. (And, I've already warned Jim that there will be some shopping involved, too!!)We have tickets for three shows--one each night while we are there. We are going to "Jersey Boys" at The Palazzo...

Cirque du Solei at New York, New York...

And, The Phantom at The Venetian...
I'm hoping when we return, mid-week, these silly "snow showers" will be over and done with, and spring will be here for real---to stay!!! (George, our goofy NBC weather man, is really starting to get on my nerves with his weather forecasts! I guess I should feel sorry for him because he has to take the wrath of all of us that are so sick and tired of winter/snow/cold, etc!!) But, in spite of all this snow and cold, I picked a beautiful bouquet of daffodils yesterday, they are hardy little flowers and look so "springy" in my kitchen!! Love them!!! Next come the tulips--my favorite!!

Tax Day....

OK, I know that TAX DAY, April 15th, is a day that most of you DREAD...no reason to be happy and celebrating, I totally understand your pain---really, I do!! But, it is one of my very favorite days of the whole year...it's the day I get my husband back!!! :0) January1st through April 15th is "harvest time" for all CPA's, which means less time for home, family, friends and fun!!! But, the good news is that April 15th, and FREEDOM, comes every year...and, I look forward to it with the same excitement that I have since our very first "tax season" so many years ago!

It always amazes me that there are people out there that wait until April 14th (or even this morning, the 15th) to get serious about their taxes....and that makes some CPA's very grouchy--I'm not mentioning any names! :0) It's not like the government threw us a curve and suddenly announced that taxes were due on this day...it was April 15th last year, and it will be April 15th next year!! (And, the IRS isn't understanding...your very best reason for not filing your taxes today don't really matter to the guys in the suits!)

So....I hope you have a "Happy Tax Day"....I'm going to!! :0)

I'm actually "sweating"....

Jim and I just went for a walk around our neighborhood...shirt sleeves only...and I'm actually hot! Yipee, I have been waiting a very long time for this! It's supposed to be in the 70's tomorrow! (Jim drained the oil and gas out of the snowblower today, so if we get any more snow I will know who to blame!!) :0) Going back out to enjoy the sunshine....

Looking back...

After reading Stacy Julian's book "Photo Freedom" I have been busy trying to organize and sort my photos and scrapbook layouts...a monumental undertaking, but one I really want to accomplish!! So, yesterday I took out my very first scrapbook...wow, how the styles have changed!!! Thank Goodness!! :0) Now I'm wondering if I will look back in a few years at the layouts I'm doing now and think..."Oh, my gosh, what was I thinking??!!" (Notice, I had a serious case of "sticker sneeze" going on here, and loved tilting the pictures!!!)

"Sister" time....

OK, it's time to update my blog....I've been way too busy playing and having fun the last couple weeks to take time to sit down at the computer. :0) But, Jean--my sister/best friend/playmate--left this morning on the airport shuttle, so I've got nothing but time!! :0( Here we are at my "surprise" birthday party this past weekend---more about that later!!We had a GREAT time while she was here for her "semi-annual" visit! She arrived a couple weeks ago on our big snow-day, and Mother Nature threw her a "going away party" this morning with MORE snow!! OK, enough already with the snow...it's APRIL!! Jean loved it though, (since she is from Phoenix and doesn't get to see snow very often she was thrilled with all that we had during her visit), but she's gone now so we can get on with spring!!

Lots of pictures on this post today!! My wonderful husband threw me a 2nd surprise birthday party this past weekend!! We have always had a "pact" between us that we wouldn't give surprise parties for each other....well, he broke that pact last year but forgot to include our kids on the guest list! So, to redeem himself with our children, he did it again this year, and remembered to invite them! (That was his excuse for #2 surprise party, anyway!!) I must admit, he got me good, I was totally and completely surprised because you are only supposed to have 1--at the most--surprise party in your lifetime!!! But, it was a fabulous party at Silos! Here is a look at some of the fun....

Jean and I laughed about this last picture...it looks like she is thinking "Oh, goodie...birthday cake!!" The party was lots and lots of fun...and, all is forgiven for yet "another" surprise party, but Jim better watch his back...I will get him back when he's least expecting it!!!

So, after two very fun weeks of movies, lunch out, shopping and having the best "sister time" ever, it's back to reality!! I'm already looking forward to Jean's visit this summer---and with any luck at all she won't be greeted with snow! :0)

Whoo Hoo....

The snowman has melted.....HAPPY DAY!! I think spring may be coming after all! :0) Off to have fun!

"B HAPPY" mini album....

I hope you can join me on April 13th, Sunday, from 1-3 PM to make this "B Happy" mini album. Using bright colored cardstock from "My Mind's Eye" this album is perfect for any age! Lots of quotes and embellishments complete the album. In just 2 short hours you can go home with a finished album---ready for photos! Call today to register at Paper Pals.