sick to my stomach {camera woes}

Today was the Junior League's Annual Easter Egg Hunt. It was also Hudson's first egg hunt. I got volunteered to take photos...photos destined for the League's magazine and website. You know where this is headed, don't you? :(

I have over 70 gorgeous photos of easter-clad little boys and girls, hugging, jumping for joy, and hunting for eggs. I have sweet smiles, dimpled cheeks, and a few curled lips too! So where are these sweet pictures???? All trapped inside my camera card. Yes, my new camera card is holding my images hostage!

I can play the photos back on my camera, but when I try to transfer them to my computer - zilch, nada - won't even read the darn thing. I've transferred photos from this same card before. I've tried multiple USB cords and even transferred photos today from the same camera/different card without any problems, so it's the card that's the problem, not the camera or cord.

In a desperate attempt to free my photos I took the card to Walgreen's this afternoon. I got my hopes up as soon as all of my images beautifully appeared on their kiosk screen...and then as I was trying to burn the images to a cd - the same thing. The images won't transfer. The card's "lock" button is not on - I checked that too.

So for now all I have is this sweet photo of the little pumpkin and one of her favorite bunnies that I snapped with my point-n-shoot camera when we got home from the egg hunt (before I knew of the troubles ahead). I need my photos!!! S.O.S. Any suggestions??? Please help me!

mr. whiskers

Every day when we get home from preschool Grace runs to the front door to pick her "egg for the day". Coincidentally that egg is always a shade of pink ;) She carries that egg around all day stuffing little treasures and what nots inside. Once inside she couldn't wait to tell me all about her art project for the day, which she promptly named mr. whiskers. She thinks whiskers are F-U-N-N-Y...I think she's pretty funny herself :) I love her silliness!

She's sneaky this little one......but I'm fast with the camera!

And speaking of cuteness...check out this adorable easter favor from a fun new blog eighteen25: Isn't it too cute??! What a fun and easy idea for your candy lovin' munchkins. Love it! Better yet...download your FREE topper copy right HERE!

And if you're having a rough day, stop and make whiskers with your hands. I guarantee it'll lighten your mood...I double dare you to keep a straight face :)

favorite photo...favorite painting!!!

Two weeks ago I got very lucky and caught the sweetest snapshot of Hudson. I love that photo! And I L-O-V-E that little guy!!! I love how he looks like a sweet + mischevious little boy all at the same time and I love how he's doing his signature nose scrunch. *sigh* He's got me wrapped around his little finger, can't you tell?

Just recently I stumbled upon Erinn's blog while blog hopping from another friend's blog. A little about Erinn...she has a cutie patootie little girl named Georgia and just found out today that the twins she's carrying are boys!! AND...Erinn's a very talented artist!!

About a week before I took that sweet photo of Hudson I read THIS post and then THIS one and knew I wanted needed her to paint Hudson's little face for me. My search for the perfect art to hang above Hudson's crib had finally come to a very sweet end.

I had another photo ready to go and then I took that one and it was love at first sight...that is until I saw this amazing painting Erinn did for me! I got it this afternoon and Oh my, I was speechless. It is gorgeous. My photo doesn't do it justice. The texture, the details, the way she flawlessly captured my little boy's spark. I love it and I'm so glad I went with the bigger size (22x28)! Thank you so much Erinn!!
So if you're looking to have a one-of-a-kind painting of your cutie patootie, get in touch with Erinn. She's wonderful to work with and her paintings are very reasonable.

Off to go admire that painting once more...

love notes

I was on the receiving end of the sweetest love note ever written. Biased? Just a bit. *wink* The little pumpkin and I have this thing where we say I Love You and make a heart gesture with our hands for the word "love". I think she captured it beautifully in her note.

Mama loves you with all her heart my dear daughter.

XOXO

beauty.

I like to see beauty in everyday life. A blooming tree. A sleeping child. A thrift store find. A baby's laugh... I love the soft palette for Easter...and I love the story of the Resurrection even more! My favorite aunt, Aunt Dima, was actually my grandpa's aunt! She didn't have any children so she claimed me as her own and loved me so. She taught me how to make meatballs and lasagna, how to wash clothes by hand, how to pick out jewelry, and how to appreciate perfume. She passed away last year at age 97 and I miss her so. When she was young, she and my Uncle Willie lived in the city (New York) for some time. She loved Easter. She would tell me time and again about the sweet little children all dressed up in their Easter best, the ladies wearing their pristine day suits with matching gloves and bonnets. The church bells. The glorious flowers. The egg hunts. She loved beauty and she loved Easter and she loved making the everyday special and I think she passed it on to me! So in her honor I'm going to have a little get together for the itty bitty girly girls and have them come in their fancy hats and sunday bests. We'll dye easter eggs, decorate cookies, and sip our milk from the "good china". Nibble on some tea sandwiches and maybe a carrot or two... ...and perhaps a sweet treat too! We'll laugh and play and celebrate life......and give thanks for our Savior's most precious gift of all - our salvation!

It's Springtime!

Happy 1st Day of Spring! Although it's sure not feeling like spring right this second. We started the morning a beautiful 70 degrees and tonight it's in the 20's, rainy & cold - WHAT???? Come back Spring - don't be a tease!

But you see, a little cold front couldn't stop me from enjoying the first day of Spring...which happens to be my birthday! Yup, spring chicken all the way! :) It was a fun day, full of this and this mixed in with a nice family lunch, some antiques shopping with my mom, a little solo shopping in the afternoon, and time with my sweet bunch at home.

Lots of exploring going on around here...nothing is safe :O This little guy is on the move! Crawling and pulling up anywhere he can. He's fast and into
E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. But isn't he too cute in that springy plaid shirt??? :) I'm pretty crazy about little boys in plaid shirts and this one just happens to be the first one I ever bought for him right after I found out I was having a boy! Sweet memories.

And speaking of antiques stores...wanna see what I found?

A jar full of vintage birthday candle picks in the sweetest colors! Old classics with the cutest covers! A fun pattern for my favorite little guy. And the sweetest prayer sampler!!! I've been looking for one of these so when my mom spotted this one I was over the moon happy! And the grand total for all my treasures???
$12 buckaroos!

May your Spring be filled with renewal and may you be surrounded by pretty little things! Enjoy!

easter apron special {Tiny Sprouts}

It's no secret that we're crazy about aprons around here! How about a super sweet hand embroidered apron...perhaps to die Easter eggs or make yummy cookies or even to tuck into a sweet Easter basket?

Then check out this adorable little girl apron from Tiny Sprouts! Best part? This sweet apron is on SALE right now for $25!!! Yes, including the sweet hand embroidered name AND free shipping!! Click HERE to order yours today! Tracey is great to work with. She does all the embroidery herself and gives such special attention to every little detail. We've ordered from her many times before and have always been thrilled with the results.

So pay her a visit and tell her I sent you! :)