Kitchen: Choosing Product

Remodeling our kitchen took work, took time, and took lots and lots of decision making.  In my article on the step by step process for a kitchen remodel, I talk about how the process from beginning to end.  Today, I am sharing with you all the details that are decided on before and during all…

Caramel Cupcakes

Well, how is YOUR summer going so far?  Happy to not have schooling every day on top of everything else: cooking, cleaning (oh the cleaning!), working, laundry, etc.?!  My family is trying to keep up with reading & math on weekdays, but we need more TO DO'S!  And this week, my teen got her first…

Healthy Griddle Cakes with Berry Compote

Hi friend!  How have you been doing?  Any visits to the farmer's Market lately?  Our local market opened up last month and I have been 2 weeks in a row!  First, I needed to grab a bouquet of peonies before they are no longer in season and second for peonies AGAIN but this time I…

Meal Planning During Quarantine

I don't know about you but cooking cooking cooking has got me tired tired tired and totally lacking creativity in the the food department.  Every day, the same ol' routine. Am I alone?  No, I don't think so!  We are all going thru this together!  We are all trying to chug through our days, getting…

Annual Girls Trip: New Orleans 2019

No kids. No husband. I am in a Lyft, heading to the airport for a long weekend to New Orleans. Just saying this, I can hear Harry Connick Jr.'s voice talkin' in my ear. The south. I've never been. Well, not since I was a young girl on the cusp of my thirteenth birthday, traveling…

Where’s the Bar?

If you have been following me, you will know that this lady loves her cocktails! 😉  Some of my favorite posts have been the Crimson Kiss, the Salty Bunny, and most recently The Clover Club. When we reconfigured our kitchen, we lost our "bar area".  Now, don't get too sad for the signature cocktail queen. …

A Stinky Review

I have been trying to find a deodorant that works for me for YEARS!  My goal is to smell fresh but I also don’t want to have those ugly underarm circles. Deodorants help you smell good and antiperspirants keep the sweat away.  What's a girl to do?  I will deal with underarm circles IF it…

Our New Kitchen: Before & After

I had a lovely kitchen.  I really did.  I remember walking into this house 11 years ago and thinking, we can never afford this house.  It's so grand.  It's so well kept.  It's been updated, and it looks out onto a flat back yard (those are hard to come by in our neck of the…

Kitchen Remodel and The Nitty Gritty Details

Come along on our adventure, following every step of our recently remodeled KITCHEN!

Lemon lbs. Cake

Lemon.  It's the taste of summer.  So refreshing, thurst quenching and oh so delicious.  In California, they are blessed to have the perfect weather to grow citrus.  At my dad's house in the bay area, there is a very large lemon tree that produces the grandest lemons I've ever seen.  I mean, these things can…

May Day Art

May is upon us and we have so many things to celebrate: Mother's Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, a few special birthdays  (my son, my sister, my friend April, ... 😉 ) and of course, one of my favorites: MAY DAY! When I was a little girl, I can remember going early before school started and dropping…

Quarantine Cocktails

I do not know about you, but this quarantine has brought out the drinking bug in me! 🙂  And when the drinking bug hits, Josh Madrid is a good person to know! 😉 Josh and I met while working together as Art Literacy Coordinators at Bonny Slope Elementary School.  We had the best time playing…

Bookshelf Styling

Many years ago, even before I got married, I was part of a book club.  Oprah started her book club in 1996 and everyone was joining along.  It was a wonderful reason to get together with other intelligent women, sipping wine and analyzing the story we had all experienced that month.  Some were fantastic reads…

Healthy Dinners in the New Year

We just completed our first week back to school after being off for 2+ weeks. The good thing is: WE SURVIVED!!! We got to school on time. We jumped back into piano and dance and baseball lessons. And we--well--ME! I jumped back into cooking quick healthy meals for my family. If you know me, I…

Wreath Making Party

Oh what an afternoon! Another FIRST in the books!!! I hosted a wreath making party inspired by my dear friend Tania @thebendflowercompany who hosted one in her new space in Bend, OR last year and said it was a total blast! We laughed, we learned and we all left with the most beautiful wreaths to…

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Nothin’ like a lil’ Christmas Bunko Party to kick-start the holiday festivities! This morning my head is spinning, my cheeks are sore and my mouth is still watering from the new dessert I baked up for the festivities! These Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese frosting from @eighteen25girls were DELISH!!!! The cake was moist, the…

Quick and Simple Packaging

Secret Santa’s 🎅🏼 already?!!! Oh yes, people. The season is here!!! And with it comes a quick and simple new packaging idea!!! I mean, if you have a paper cup anywhere in your house, and a lil’ ribbon 🎀 , you too, can make this adorable little giftbox! Materials needed: 1 paper cup scissors small…

Fall is HERE!

The story goes...I went into Homegoods looking for something (ANYTHING! Furniture, throws, cupcake liners...you never know what you might find!)...and all the fall decor was out! Glass pumpkins, wheat bunches, orange and brown and black goods a-plenty! I didn't need any of it. In fact, I hadn't even gotten my own fall decor boxes out…

Summer Rules 2019

I AM BORED!  WHAT CAN I DO?  How many times have you heard this in the last 5 weeks???!!!  I love summer and we truly have had some fabulous experiences together as a family.  But now that we are in the thick of summer, the planned vacations have dwindled and my kids are driving me…

Summer Sippin’: Honey Peach Ice Tea

Since the beginning of summer, our family has been go-go-going nonstop with a house-boating trip to Lake Powell, Disney Cruise to the Bahamas followed by the Disney parks in Orlando, home for a blink to watch the season finale of Big Little Lies (Oh PLEASE tell me there will be another season!!!  I love all…

April showers bring May flowers!

Who doesn’t love fresh flowers?  After a long day’s work, arms full of groceries, you tromp thru the dirty garage and mudroom, enter into your kitchen and see that beautiful arrangement greeting you, adding a little brightness to your day. What Flowers to Buy Fresh flowers don’t have to cost a lot of money.  I…

Tips on traveling to London & Paris with kids

  My family of 4 went to Europe for spring break and had just the best time ever!!!  We explored both London, England and Paris, France (with a day trip to Versaille) all in 10 days.  As we traveled, I posted pictures on my personal Facebook page and got so many questions about how and…

Race Car Birthday

It's the day before my son's 10th birthday... 10 years! Double digits!  I can't even believe it.  It feels like just yesterday we were walking past a shiny red Corvette and he literally stopped in his tracks, as a 5 year old, stared at it, then turned to me with the biggest cherry bright eyes,…

The Behind the Scenes Secrets of 2019 Auction Art

I have been doing auction art for about 5 years now.  What is auction art, you ask?  Every year our elementary school has an auction to raise money for the school.  One big component of that is making art with the students and then selling it at the auction! I love it! Why do I…

Flower Refresh!

Now, if you follow my Instagram you know I LOOOOVE flowers!  Do you ever buy flowers, make an arrangement and some flowers DIE earlier than others? (Um...I'm talking about you, Mr. Hydrangea!  I even tried this trick here with not much success. 😦 ) Exhibit A: Flowers starting to wilt *those white tulips literally fell…

Easter Sippin’

Having a slew of relatives over? Or maybe a Friends-Easter? (Doesn't quite have the same ring as Friends-giving, does it?! 🙂 ) We are having both!  My in-laws, brother-in-law & his girlfriend and cousin Teresa are coming over for Easter. Then, our family dinner group who all have kids our kids age, are also coming…

Let’s Dye Some Eggs!!!!

  My daughter came home about a week ago and exclaimed, "Let's make marbled Easter eggs this year!"  And of course I said, SOUNDS GREAT!  Let's do it! Low and behold, there was an article in a magazine on marbling eggs with Cool Whip!  So I jumped in the mom mobile and headed to the…

Tea Time: Tea Party

A tea party fit for a princess. A little wacky, a whole lot of color, and special touches throughout.

Packing for a 10 day trip to Europe

Packing yourself for a European trip can be a little stressful. Packing a family of four...ummmm, yah...I've been kind of dreading it!!!!!!!! It is March and my family of 4 is heading to London and Paris for spring break. I can't wait!  It's our kids' first time traveling outside the country and my husband and I…

Amazing Blueberry Dessert

When I commit, I commit hard.  So when I was asked to join a Bunko group in our neighborhood, and was told that "..you have to come.  No excuses.  We rely on all 12 members coming every month..." etc. etc.  Well...she didn't know who she was talking to.  I am a dedicated person.  If I…

Thailand Inspired Cocktail

Do you belong to a book club?  That amazing Oprah inspired us all to start one back in 1996!!!  I joined one many years ago just to give me an excuse to read a book a month. With all other life distractions and responsibilities, my reading gets postponed till vacation or summer breaks. Now, that…

Quick and Healthy After School Treat

I don't know about you but some days my body just does NOT feel good!!!  Hubbie's first question is, "Have you worked out?"  Ok, no.  I haven't.  I've been SLAVING OVER MY HOUSE AND SICK CHILDREN AND THEIR SCHEDULES AND NEEDS AND TOTALLY IGNORING MY OWN, OK?!!!!! I don't yell.  Only in type. 🙂  But…

Waldorf Astoria Cake 🎂 (aka Red Velvet)

This is the BEST red velvet you have ever tasted! And the frosting: so unique!

Will You Be Mine—-Craft? A 2019 Valentine Card.

SO...I am a girlie girlie GIRLIE girl!!!! Head to toe, in and out, through and through. But then on May 2nd, 2009... this girlie girl birthed herself a BABY BOY!!! And this baby boy 👦🏼 was truly, ALL BOY! Head to toe, in and out, through and through. Ball was his first word. A golf…

Easy Like Sunday Mornin’ : Bread Recipe

Have a desire to make some homemade bread? It's not as difficult as you may think. Let the bread rise while you're doing another task and the time just flies by!

Revamping an old stool

Ever have furniture pieces that just don't fit in your home anymore? Before donating them to Goodwill, think about giving them a FACE LIFT!

Sundown Sipper, another yummy cocktail.

Hey hey hey!!!!  Everyone gearing up for Valentine's day?!  Oh you know you've been shopping for the perfect pink outfit, sampling chocolates to decide which to serve and sipping on some tasty bubbly all month month long! 🙂 I have done NOTHING!  Ok, maybe I bought some cards for my kids and hubby but that…

Tween Room

I am laughing right now.  This room has been a "work in progress" for almost a year?!  Could that be?  And to tell you the truth, it's been done for a while but it is NEVER PHOTO WORTHY!  As a 'tween on the go, with 4 nights of dance, one night of choir and a…

The Kids Bath is COMPLETE!

Remember the "mini reveal" of "how to stencil" a Bathroom back in October?  Well...all the details are complete!  Come take a peek at our kids bathroom remodel! Last spring we decided it was time to "remodel" the kids bathroom.  To save on cost, we kept the footprint of the room, the toilet and even the cabinets.  What…

New Year’s Re….cipes!!!

Do you make New Year's resolutions?  I don't.  I can't handle the disappointment in myself if I don't stick to it.  Do you know how many New Year's resolutions are broken?!  According to the US News, 80% of resolutions are broken by the second week in February.  That's such a bummer!!! Instead of a "New…

The Duvet Struggle is OVER!

This blog is to share all my new discoveries!  'Cuz, when I find a new trick or recipe that I LOVE, I want to share it with the WORLD!  With YOU!!!!  Over winter break, we spent some time at our place in Sunriver.  Besides playing in the snow, skiing a day or two, there was…

Tidying Up

A few years back, I tried to read what was said to be the most amazing book: The Life-Changing Art of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.  And to tell you the truth, this girl (meaning ME) could NOT get into it!!!!  I love my STUFF!!! But...as this 2019 New Year came, we returned from our…

Homemade Ornament

Did you see my instagram post last week? It was PARTY WEEK at the elementary school and we decided to do a Candyland theme, including an oversized Candyland game I created for the 3rd graders. It was such a hit! Well, this little project is what sparked the idea! To continue with the Candyland theme,…

Flop to POP: A Wreath Miracle

Have you ever had a vision in your head and then when you executed, it just didn't work?  It happens ALL-THE-TIME, RIGHT?!  What's even worse is when it happens with a client. (yeiks!)  Here's what happened... The Job A few weeks ago a client of mine had me decorate her 12' tree.  She had boxes…

2018 Holiday Home Tour

Welcome to my 2018 holiday home! Come on in!

Ginger Fizz Cocktail

Hey y'all! Anyone feeling festive?!!!  Well a signature cocktail is JUST THE THING to put you in a festive mood! 😉 I've been serving up a few new beverages this season and this one one is one of my favorites for a large group or if you are just serving 2. 🙂  Plus, it was…

Salted Caramel Nut Brittle

Now is the time for baking and giving!  I love making homemade gifts to give to our special friends, teachers, bus drivers, etc.  Last year, you may remember, I made my favorite granola recipe (see here!)  This year I wanted to try something NEW! Making the Brittle Years ago I bought a candy thermometer.  Don't…

It’s a Candy kind of Christmas

Do you ever get an idea in your head and you JUST HAVE TO DO IT?!!! It all started when I saw these adorable red lanterns on Krystal of Simply-girly.com's Instagram feed.  She said they were from Walmart, of all places.  I had never been to a Walmart Superstore and had no clue where the…

Finding “The Feed” Sign

I love going picking!  No!  Not the nose (Ok, maybe I've been around 9 year old boys too much lately) but antique or vintage shopping!!! The year we were remodeling our Sunriver kitchen, we were in California visiting my parents.  And you know how I love to walk in downtown Willow Glen, San Jose, CA . …