Easter Bunnies

I love decorating for Easter and Spring! Don't get me wrong, Christmas is probably my favorite holiday and I by far have the MOST Christmas decorations! But there is something about coming out of the heavier colors of the Christmas holiday and instead putting out pastels and softness and light. 

Well I've had several furry friends showing up lately for this next Easter season so I thought I would share a few with you. I know I gave  a little sneak peek at the end of yesterdays post, but here's a few more. They love to especially hide in my dining room hutch cubbies  and on the living room mantle. They're really kind of everywhere but here's the ones that I caught to show you.

I think this trio looks ready to break out into song barbershop style

Love the soft colors of this little egg cup

A pretty Spring vignette on my dining room book case. Love hydrangeas!

I never know who's going to pop up among the teacups looking for a tea party.

Here's my big marble "mantle wall" above the fireplace. Always a big one to fill up. Here's a memory of how I had it decorated for Christmas. Here's a closer peek at some visitors on there this season:

Now these 2 kind of look to me like they're up to no good. Don't they look like they're conspiring together in some way? I think the one on the left is telling the other one how they can make away with my Easter eggs!  Don't worry, I'll keep my eye on them.

And this is just a sweet chubby happy little fellow enjoying the flowers. 

**I will soon work on giving my blog a little makeover to match the Spring I'm feeling everywhere else and get those photos of snow off of my header! It keeps melting a little more every day and in a few days I think our back hill will be all clear and just grass. Yay!! I know it can still snow around here - especially in March - but will be nice to be rid of it for a while. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Back to Monday! Where does the weekend fly? It was a good productive one around here. Some Spring cleaning and getting out my bunnies and Easter decorations. That always makes me so happy - just knowing we're that much closer to Spring.

 THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

It's in the mid 30's right now, but it's supposed to hit 48 as a high! Woo hoo!! The forecast for our whole week looks amazing actually. 40's and 50's predicted every day. Someone pinch me - I must be dreaming!!!

 

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

My daughter is home on Spring break so she requested McDonald's hotcakes for breakfast. So we picked up my mom-in-law and grabbed a treat breakfast. I love their different coffees so my MIL and I started our day with an egg mcmuffin and yummy vanilla iced coffee!

  AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:

Pretty cloudy this AM, but they're saying it's supposed to be mostly sunny by this afternoon! Yay!! Our back deck and yard that faces the bay is so nice as it's more sheltered from the wind and receives the later day sun.  It's always several degrees warmer (sometimes almost 10*) than what it is even in the front yard. It's truly a wonderful haven!!  The deck is finally free of snow, but the back hill is still covered. Looking forward to that disappearing over this week.

 

RIGHT NOW I AM:

Watching some of the Today show with my MIL and Annie and snuggling Ruby while I type this up.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE:

Laundry mainly today - usual culprit.  So fun to see my bunnies and Spring decorations as I look around me. It reminds me that I need to order my Easter ham pretty soon for when I host that dinner. 

ON TODAY'S TO DO LIST:

Going to accomplish a few things here and have some lunch. Then this afternoon we'll head out and run some errands. If it gets as warm as they say when we come back this afternoon we'll go on the back deck outside & listen to the birdies and play with Ruby. Annie will probably practice her hockey on the deck or throw the ball for Ruby. 

CURRENTLY READING:

All of my magazines have been coming in for the month so I've been gobbling them up. Still reading some of Outlander too and some of my old cookbooks. I love reading them like a book! Lol

ON THE TV TODAY:

I didn't get to watch Good Wife yet, I caught up on some Grantchester though. However, still have a few of those taped to watch too. As a family we love Shark Tank and Amazing Race and already watched those this weekend. I find I'm missing Downton already. **Sigh**

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

I picked up some groceries already this weekend. Going to do homemade pizza one night. Crew requested tacos again - so made those last night and for the in-laws. Going to also make grilled BBQ chicken (maybe I should get out my outdoor grill!) and a nice Spring veggie pasta salad to go with it. Throw in some corn-on-the-cob (frozen of course), biscuits & iced tea and it doesn't feel like winter anymore! 

WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT:

I'm working on a fun Spring decoration that I will share soon! 

NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

Nothing new really. Although, I pinned a recipe for lemon cream cheese bars that looks phenomenal - so I may need to make them in the near future. When I do I'll let you know how they turn out!

TIP OF THE WEEK:

I forgot that sometimes this heading is on HHM. So i thought I'd add it once in a while. I just read a yummy one somewhere that said when you're making an ice cream cone throw a few mini marshmallows in the bottom to prevent a drippy cone as you eat it.  

FROM THE CAMERA:

a few bunny moments from around the house

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

Galatians 5:22

I'm linking with Sandra Diary of a SAHM for HHM

Scraptastic Saturday: Chalk Scrapbook Page

I've still been working to catch up on my scrapbooking. I'll always be playing catch-up...I think that's the nature of scrapbooking in general. Life keeps moving fast forward and I try to capture moments of it in my camera and then put it on paper for all posterity. However, by the time I've put one event in the books - 4 more of happened! Lol  I just LOVE it! It's never boring, always special, and always new and dynamic.

The other day I was working on my daughter's school year's album and I found this stencil I bought in the past because it reminded me of my daughter. I thought it would be a perfect way to do the starter page for her 2nd grade year.  Here's what I did:

I took the stencil and a piece of card stock and paper clipped them together so they stencil wouldn't slide around.

I then took my chalk colored pencils and filled in the stencil. When it was done I did some blending in areas by rubbing it with my fingers.  *Sorry couldn't resist another shot of my tulips from the other day!*

No matter how pretty the girl - she always likes a little "embellishment" right? So I glued on a lace & flower "headband". I then made a little tag to mark the grade and added the beautiful photo of my daughter! (this is from the '13-'14 school year)

One last tulip shot! Lol:

I'm linking with Scrapality today for Scraptastic Saturday.

Five on Friday (& final give-away winner details)

Sorry I'm so late today but here goes and better late than never, right? For my 5 on Friday - I had this idea the last time I shared on 5 on Fri, but I went with sharing my favorite watercolor paintings in our house by our favorite artist instead.

Well that was something that my hubby and I both collected together and love, but this week I want to share something that is my own personal love and collection which is my old pottery. Some of it is depression era some a little newer than that - but I love them all equal!! 

My hubby had started getting into collecting McCoy cookie jars, but as we would be at estate sales or antique stores looking for him...I kept seeing Roseville pottery and it wasn't long before I was in love and told my hubby that was the collection that I wanted to start. So here are my top 5 favorite pottery pieces and patterns and why:

It all began with this beauty. The photo on the top was the first piece of Roseville I received and was a surprise Christmas gift from my hubby after I told him I wanted to collect this pottery.  The pattern is called zephyr lily.

This leaf pattern Roseville is extra special as it was my Grandma's. She wanted me to have it as she knew I loved this kind of pottery. What I love is that my aunties told me this was used a lot to hold arrangements for special occasions as they didn't even realize it could be valuable. So I love to think about the times my Grandma probably lovingly filled it to share beauty with others.

This is a fuschia pattern Roseville set. There were always so many beautiful nature and floral patterns of roseville that it would be hard for me to choose what I would want to collect. Well my Grandma always loved fuschias and had them out every summer for the hummingbirds  - so I chose some fuschia pieces for my collection. Can I just say how much I miss my Gram **sniff**

My fourth pottery I wanted to share is my blackberry Roseville. I loved this one because it's more rare and was harder for me to find. I love the colors and I happen to LOVE berries and especially blackberries.

The last pottery I wanted to share with you isn't Roseville. I have quite a few pieces of Roseville now and I group them primarily together in our tv room shelving. I wanted something different to put on our fireplace mantle in our living room but I knew I wanted to stick with antique pottery. Well in all my searches I always admired some different pieces of Weller pottery - especially anything also nature inspired. Well when I saw these apple pieces I knew I had found just what I was looking for, and love how they look up there.

So that's my five on Friday to link with Amy at love made my home.  Who by sheer coincidence also happens to be my big prize winner today! I wanted to let Amy & Billie Jo know I got your info and will be contacting you soon. I'm so excited to send you both your goodies and thanks again to all for entering!

Amy will be receiving the journal, markers, handmade card & these goodies:

a spring green kitchen towel, sweet bunny, seeds of thought notepad & Spring sign

Billie Jo as runner up will be receiving these goodies:

An Easter sign and a bountiful blessings notepad.

I will also include a handmade card for Billie Jo that I will complete this weekend and you'll both be receiving a bag of this candy:

Congrats again and stay tuned for more give-aways sometime in the future! Have a wonderful weekend to All. xo

Give-away Winners!

Happy Weekend ahead to All!

Unfortunately I'm pressed for time and have a busy day ahead, so I'll have to post my 5 on Friday late today....but I will get to it later!

Before I headed on my way, though, I didn't want to leave you hanging on the winners for the journal give-away.  

All the entries were lovingly written down and placed in my fancy crystal dish (this is a special moment of course!).  Then I went to hunt up my daughter to do the drawing honors for me.

Ah there she is - she was SO excited to play a part in the give-away. She also informed me that she would like me to make HER an embellished journal now.  Lol  I told her this was the big winner, so she reached in to pull out the top prize winner...and I guess it's going to England. Can you guess who?? Drum roll please.  I won't leave you hanging:

Amy@love made my home - you're the top prize winner!! Congratulations dear Gal!!

But I have more goodies, so a runner up needs to be drawn. So back into the crystal bowl goes Annie.

Now this is for the runner up! And Annie reaches in and pulls out a new and recent friend to me in Blogland.

Billie Jo - you are my runner up in the give-away! Congratulations!!

I forgot to take another photo of all the prizes (duh)  - but when I get back later I will share more details and also do my 5 on Friday link up. I need my prize winning Ladies to contact me at carrie@bachandgroup.com so that I may get your address information privately. 

It was so fun to do this give-away and I'll definitely do it sometime again in the future. I think Annie & I had the most fun of all! Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the fun. Got to run, but be back soon! xo

Lasagna Pasta

I wanted to share another staple recipe we often have around here. I didn't get it into Annie's cookbook yet, but I will eventually. It's a yummy one because it has all the flavors of lasagna, right down to the gooey cheese, but is much faster and easier than true lasagna. Don't get me wrong - I love the real deal - but when you have limited time this comes together in a snap.

Brown some ground beef and season well, then drain. I add Italian seasoning to mine to give it more of an italian sausage flavor. Or you could just use Italian sausage (but I always have ground beef on hand).  Add some spaghetti sauce or marinara (homemade or store bought) to the meat and let flavors simmer together. I often add some fresh chopped parsley or basil, but didn't have any this time.

I think I was in a hurry that day - so didn't take photos of every step. Meanwhile, while sauce is simmering boil some bow tie (farfalle)pasta, then drain it and drizzle it with olive oil.  I like bow tie with this as it has a lasagna texture to it. Then blend the sauce and pasta together. You'll then fold in some sour cream (give it that creamy lasagna taste/texture and some shredded mozzarella cheese (for that gooey cheesy goodness). Let it simmer a bit longer until all heated through and cheese has melted. Top with parmesan cheese and serve.

here's everything after it's blended together

See that gooey cheese hanging off the plate - that's what you want!

We often have this with either garlic bread or muffins and a nice crisp green salad. Here's the recipe:

LASAGNA PASTA

1 pound ground beef

1 jar (24 oz) pasta sauce or marinara

seasonings & herbs of your choice (italian seasoning, garlic powder, fresh parsley or basil)

1 box (1 pound) of mini farfalle pasta (bow tie)

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Olive oil (to drizzle on pasta)

parmesan cheese  - as topping if desired

Directions: Brown ground beef and add seasonings of your choice (salt, pepper, italian seasoning, garlic powder). Drain beef and add pasta sauce. Add fresh herbs if desired and simmer. While sauce simmers boil pasta according to directions. Drain pasta and drizzle with some olive oil. Blend pasta and sauce together. Fold in sour cream and mozzarella cheese. Heat through until cheese melts. Top with parmesan if desired and serve.

Wednesday weigh in: Scrap page hanger (& this & that)

Happy Wednesday! It's a beautiful sunny one here today, even if it is shining over that several inches of snow we received yesterday.  Spring will come! (my eternal mantra).

Wednesday's continue to be the day I check-in (or "weigh-in) on how I'm doing with my 2015 goals. Today I was thinking about how I've been trying to be more focused this Lenten season. I've been better with my devotional and reflection time, so that has been good.

I've been dusting off the fitbit and getting back to work on the treadmill (since weather still not cooperating). So feeling pretty good there too...although that is always my area of improvement! If only I loved to workout as much as I love to cook. Sigh.

And I've been spending more time on my crafts and scrapbooking. This has been easy and I enjoy my time creating immensely!! I have also been slowly changing decorations to Spring around here. I wanted to share this little hanger I have in my craft/office room that I just love & changed to a Spring photo.  I purchased it through Creative Memories long ago and I don't know that they still have it.

I have it hanging above my little scrapping draft table area and below my shelves. It came with the knob you put up and then hang the framework with the ribbon attached from the knob. It measures about 11x11 inches total and the photo part is 8x8. I have made several of these 8x8 photos from templates they have on www.shutterfly.com. They have different styles, patterns, colors and you choose how many photos you want on it and place them in and then shutterfly ships them to you. I have quite a handful of them now to represent different seasons but haven't made a new one in a while so many of the photos are dated. However, I love looking back at the old memories. 

This one is for Spring and it says "Spring has Sprung!" below the photo of my daughter. This picture was from her birthday when she was in 4-k (4year kindergarten) and we brought garden cupcakes to school - which are cupcakes you top with frosting, "dirt" (oreo cookie crumbs), a silk flower and gummy worms. 

As you can see I've hung other items from the other little knobs attached. 

Here you can get a little idea of the handful of these I have to play around with each season or if the mood strikes me to change to a new picture. I guess it's the little things that bring joy. Lol

In other news, I wanted to share that this is the last day for the journal give-away. I will have my daughter draw a name tonight by 8:00PM central time zone here in the states. So please leave a comment on that post if you'd still like to enter! I'll announce the winners (yep, as in 2 chances to win as I will have runner up goodies) on Friday.  Here's a few new peeks too:

Just to remind you of the journal and markers.

another embellished page peek

I told you candy would be involved - mmmmm!

A card to go to the winner that I will leave blank so they may use it as they wish!

The only thing I have left to do is find the little Spring decoration I wish to add. My friend's specialty store is only open certain days of the week and due to Vegas last week I didn't get there. However, I will be going tomorrow so that part of the prize package will remain a surprise! The runner-up will also receive candy and a Spring decoration. 

In final news.... I just wanted to share some bits from the Pentatonix concert in Las Vegas last week, as I couldn't get my photo or video to upload and share them this past Monday. Enjoy!

Photo of Pentatonix (or PTX) - acapella group. Check out video below:

Tulips & Tea Time

Well yesterday around here was so lovely. The sun was shining and felt warm, especially for this time of year. The birds were singing, and even some patches of grass were showing through the snow.  But today we woke up to clouds and giant snow flakes and a forecast of 3-4 inches of snow. **Sigh**  And so goes March here up north.

However, I'm still thinking only sunny Spring thoughts and starting to plan for bringing out my bunnies and all of my Easter decorations. I hope to tackle some of that this weekend, but I'm beginning with some tulips I picked up at the grocery store. So I'm watching it snow and blow while I'm snuggling in with my tea, my garden magazine and my Spring thoughts.

I just love the colors of these Spring beauties, but look at all that white stuff outside. I think green would sure be a prettier backdrop.

Every time I walk by them their cheery faces make me smile.

Add a cup of tea (with treat) and some candlelight and all feels right with the world no matter what the weather is doing outside.

I think I'll snuggle in my nice Spring cocoon a little longer and browse through some gardens.

Sending you Spring thoughts and linking with Cozy Little House for Tweak it Tuesday

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday to All! I feel like I'm behind already but ready to begin a new week. My hubby & I had a getaway to Las Vegas for part of last week and the weekend. That's why such a busy week last week getting ready to go. We didn't get back until about 9:00PM last night so I feel like I'm still catching up, but it was a lot of fun. We usually go out there once a year with my bro & sis-in-law and some work colleagues/friends of ours. We won our money too early and ended up donating it back, but it was great fun and so nice to just be grown-ups and not mom & dad for a weekend. Now back to real life...

 THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

I can't believe it's March but Oh it's so lovely today!! It's a little chilly this AM but supposed to get well up in the 20's today (almost 30!) and actually starting to feel the warmth of the sun. When I went to pick up my mom-in-law this AM the birds were singing away just like it was a lovely Spring day. Love it!!! Keep it up Mother Nature - come on early Spring!!

 

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

My mom-in-law and I had our usual coffee and it was some toast and banana for her and an onion bagel for me. I've been trying to get away from carbs so much in the AM, but I needed it to jump into this week!

 

AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:

The sun is shining SO beautifully and I was giggling earlier watching a little chipmunk chase a squirrel up a tree. The little chippies are quite aggressive around here and they're always chasing the bigger squirrels - even though you think it'd be the other way around. Lol

 

RIGHT NOW I AM:

Watching some morning news and visiting with my mom-in-law and getting my grocery list worked out for the week.

 

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE:

Some piles of laundry built up from the trip to tackle. Other than that, everything still pretty tidy as my wonderful Mom was here holding the fort with the kiddos and Ruby while we were gone. I don't know what I'd do without that woman! 

 

 

ON TODAY'S TO DO LIST:

Busy day ahead. My mom-in-law and I have several errands to run and need to get some groceries. After I get her home at the end of the day I need to zip over to school for a PTA meeting. 

 

CURRENTLY READING:

I've kind of been back to reading Outlander (I really want to finish it before the season on tv begins in April), but we'll see how long that lasts. I always end up jumping around.

 

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

I was able to catch up on Good Wife that was taped last night (yay it's back!!). I know I still have Downton Abbey taped to watch. I can't believe it's over now!! I can't wait another year for more!!! ((sad face and pout)) I can't wait to watch the finale later tonight and see where they leave things.  I'm not sure what else was taped while we were gone - will need to check later.

 

 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

Still finalizing and pouring over some recipes. I think I'll make meatloaf (as that's a fave of my hubby and dad-in-law) and was thinking maybe breakfast one night- like a French toast bake with sausage & bacon and fruit. But still deciding.

 

WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT:

Journal give-away will be this week!! Yay!! Nothing else new this week yet, but again - just getting back to real life. If you haven't entered yet to win the journal and other goodies give-away you can enter here. 

 

NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

Don't think I have anything new planned, but stay tuned. I'll be posting a new recipe at some point this week that will be new to my blog (even if not new to me). Lol

FROM THE CAMERA:

Blogger isn't cooperating today and won't let me display a photo. Oh well, next time. I was trying to share a picture or video of Pentatonix - an acapella group we saw in Vegas. Will try to share later this week.

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Awaken to Spring

And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.

—Percy Bysshe Shelley

Have a great week ahead! I'm linking with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for HHM