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Cupcakes & Colored Eggs

Easter weekend

would not be complete without coloring eggs on Saturday.

Last year, on the Saturday before Easter were made cookies & colored eggs

You can read about that event in this post.

This year, we made cupcakes & colored eggs on the Saturday before Easter.

First we colored/dyed 24 hard boiled eggs… and made a wonderful mess!

After the eggs had been colored,

and the egg-shaped cookies beautifully decorated,(The brown one is mine.  Yep.)

We moved on to the sunflower cupcakes….And it was no easy task.

Lydia participated long enough to finish one cupcakeObviously her skills are unmatched and could have completed the whole job herself.

However she was far more interested in something on TV.

Due to her work schedule, Stephanie wasn’t able to join us, so Amanda and Emily turned all 52 mini cupcakes into lovely sunflowers.The cupcakes were presented the following day as dessert after Easter Sunday dinner.

Afterward the Easter egg hunt began!It was High energy(notice the binoculars for easier egg spotting)Serious business!but plenty for everyone!

It was a good day to spend with family, enjoying time together, and making memories!

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog

Friday Favorites: Easter Edition

Today is one of the best Fridays Ever, so much so, we call it

Good Friday

Favorite # ONE

It only makes sense to start my list with this day.

 Good Friday is part of a significant weekend, culminating in Easter Sunday.  On Sunday our family will gather to celebrate.  We start the Easter celebration on Saturday with a tradition I’ve kept with my girls… coloring eggs.

This time last year, we colored eggs, as I mentioned in this post and Easter would not be complete without coloring eggs on the Saturday before Easter.

Favorite # TWO

Easter eggs

Why do we celebrate Easter with eggs?

The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring.  From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection.  The Easter egg tradition may also have merged into the celebration of Lent as it was traditional to use up all of the household’s eggs before Lent began.

In addition, one ancient tradition was the tinting of Easter eggs with the color red “in memory of the blood of Christ, shed as at that time of his crucifixion”.

This custom of the Easter egg can be traced to early Christians of Mesopotamia, and from there it spread into Russia through the Orthodox Churches, and later into Europe through the Catholic and Protestant Churches (source).

Very interesting.

 

 

Favorite # THREE

Sunflowers

in the form of cupcakes.

We will be making sunflower cupcakes tomorrow.

Last night I baked the chocolate mini-cupcakes…  52 of ‘em.

Tonight I am coloring the sliced almonds (yellow) that will serve as the petals for our sunflower cupcakes.  When my girls arrive on Saturday, I’ll have them assemble the cute little confections and will premier them tomorrow!

Be on the lookout for Sunflower Cupcakes!

 

On the subject of flowers…

Favorite # FOUR

Yesterday LB came home with flowers!a tulip plant and an Easter lily plant.

I love surprises!

 

 

Favorite # FIVE

Like the petals of a sunflower…

Yellow

Specifically my new yellow pants from LOFT

which turned out to be a smart spring shopping event!  Very Springy.

 

Happy Easter!

 

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

May Your Blessings Outnumber the Shamrocks that Grow

…And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

That is an Irish Blessing that I can appreciate!

For several years LB and I have been “dressing up” in observance of

St. Patrick’s Day

I’m not sure what started this practice, but it has become a tradition for us.

With the closing of O ’Brothers Irish Pub, the Margaret Street/Five Points St. Patrick’s Day street party is no longer happening (sad face).  The annual St. Patrick’s Day party became a major event, filling not just the restaurant, but Margaret Street with thousands of people.  We’ve been hoping to find a similar event.

This year, I thought I may have found a suitable replacement when this ad appeared:

Hyperion Brewing Company and Crispy’s Springfield Gallery are presenting Historic Springfield’s inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Block Party.

From 3pm – 9pm: Main Street, between 7th and 8th, would be closed and filled with live music, food, beer, vendors and other fun activities (i.e. Mario Cart).  This event was FREE to attend!  Woo Hoo!

In addition to the live music and food vendors, there were sites (historic buildings) to be seen.

LB and I walked up and down the street checking everything out, while everyone was checking us out.  Once it became apparent that LB and I had been voted King and Queen of the Green, it was time to go.

Next stop

Culhane’s Irish Pub

I [typically] love Culhane’s, but for the St. Patrick’s Day BASH, it was much like a zoo.  And I promise I won’t say another negative thing after this…. there was a long line, a long wait, and a cover charge.

The Tent:

The positives:  although there were way too many crazy people for my taste, the DJ Vito was good, the band Briteside was good, and the Reuben Sandwich was good.

You can check out some other photos from the Culhane’s BASH here.

I’m not completely positive if it will be next March 17th, but we will definitely be dining at Culhane’s again.

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Kim

XO

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day

It is celebrated annually on February 14th.  Valentine’s Day has been recognized as a notable traditional, religious and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world.

The day first became associated with romantic love in the 14th century, when the ritual of genteel courting flourished. In 18th-century England, it developed into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by giving flowers, sweet treats, and greeting cards. (source)

Whether it is rooted in paganism (i.e. Lupercalia) or Christian martyrdom (i.e. Saint Valentine), today Valentine’s Day is a day to lavish attention on loved ones.  This year people have lavished Valentine’s Day attention on their loved ones contributing $19.6 billion to the economy. (source)

My LB contributes to the economy as well.

He never fails to light up my day with a bouquet of flowers delivered to my office.

He will typically present me with an article of jewelry or two, which, in the past has been a set from Brighton.  This year he changed it up and I now own a floating heart from Underwood’s Jewelers

and a box of chocolates

and a Valentine’s Day card that communicated a strikingly similar message to the card I presented to him.Today.  Tomorrow.  Always.

He always lets me know that I am his forever Valentine.

*****

This year’s Valentine’s Day

was unlike any other.

I left work midday and made my way to the hospital (labor and delivery), to await the arrival of a sweet new GlamBaby.

On February 14, 2018

Rory

came into the world.Being that she was about three weeks earlier than expected, I was surprised to learn that she weighed 6 pounds and 18 3/4 inches long.  She is very alert and is obviously taking in her world.

She is a sweet little Valentine baby and I am in love!We are blessed.

 

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to visit my blog.

Kim

XO

A Baby Shower for our Galentines

Galentine’s Day

is a pseudo-holiday that has gained widespread popularity since invented by Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler’s character on Parks and Recreation). 
Galentine’s Day is typically observed on February 13th and also the weekend prior to that day. 
The premise is “Ladies celebrating Ladies”.  More simply put, it is a day to celebrate non-romantic relationships with your best Gals.  According to Knope, Galentine’s Day, celebrates three important things: waffles, women, and Leslie’s wise words.
 (source)
One of the “wise words” of Leslie Knope was displayed in the décor at our Galentines themed event:Very nice.

 

 

There are many special Galentines in my life… and two more on the way.

My daughter-in-law Emily is expecting her second baby in March

and

my sister’s daughter-in-law Chynna is expecting her third baby in June.

What better reason to have a

GALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION

To help them prepare for the arrival of these baby girls and to commemorate Galentine’s Day… we had a baby shower!

Planned and hosted by my sister and my daughters

who demonstrated their dexterity in decor…

and their culinary cleverness.

There was the Mac & Cheese Bar

Shirley Temples

and an assortment of delectable treats.

However there were no waffles.  No frittatas.

 

 

The event took place at Mama’s house

So she asked for God’s blessings over the day, the event and the ladies who were gathered to celebrate.After lunch and a couple of girly games, it was time for presentsThere were onesies, tiny socks, lots of pampers and a couple of unexpected surprises for the “big” sisters.

Case in Point:

the Cinderella Cross-Body Bag

Modeled by my lovely sister Gina.

With all of the Disney enthusiasts in the family, it was agreed that the

Danielle Nicole Disney Cinderella Cross-body Bag

was the perfect accessory for a day at the Magic Kingdom.

Although it was suggested that the chain was much to long for Lydia and Thea to comfortably carry these bags, there will be no chain manipulation to better fit little girls.  After all, the mamas may want to borrow these little beauties.

I found this bag at Nordstrom and Amazon, both currently unavailable.

It was nice to be able to enjoy time with family and friends as we ready ourselves to welcome two new little ones.

Thank you MY Galentines Gina, Stephanie, Amanda and Mama, for hosting a lovely event.

You are clearly a group of poetic and noble land-mermaids.

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Kim

XO

New Year, New You?

On occasion I find that I have hit the bloggers block wall.  On these perplexing occasions I will look to see if The Blended Blog has created a questionnaire for me to complete

Woo Hoo!

While it was likely intended for January 1st, I’m going with it today! 

1. Resolutions or No Resolutions?

No Resolutions, unless you count the diet that I start every month, which is not really a resolution, but a do-over.

2.   Love Snow or No Snow?

I think snow is beautiful, and I’ve seen some lovely snow pictures from bloggers and social media friends.…but I’m not jealous.

Although I would love the opportunity to don a pair of skis and have a brisk run down the Toll Road once again, I am a warm climate woman and tolerate minimal cold but only to wear my jackets and boots.

3.  Name a New Place you want to go this year:

I’ve been everywhere I want to go.

But when I asked LB what he thought, reminding him that I am “a history person” he replied, “Gettysburg”.  We’ll see what happens.

Stay tuned.

4.  Would you rather have a New hair cut or Hair color?

I would rather have hair color… and I have it every 3 months.

While I’ve toyed with the idea of having a cute little bob cut, I’m not brave enough to go there just yet.

5.  Name one special thing that you want to do for yourself this year:

If I could embrace entrepreneurship and never commute to an office again… it would be great!

6.  Least favorite thing about January?

Leaving home before the sun comes up  and arriving back home when it is going down.

7.  Most favorite thing about January?

Initially I made the comment that I don’t find anything appealing about January.  My Mama called me out by reminding me that she was born in January.  That event in itself makes January a significant month.  Now that my attention is on January birthdays, I realize that there are many important people in my life who were born this month.

My niece Sydney
My great niece Thea
My uncle John
My Mama’s dear friend Gerry (my friend too)
My Aunt Debbie (Mama’s baby sister)
My sweet LB
My dear friend Wendy
My sweet Mama, born on January 31st

8.  When do you take down your Holiday decorations?

I try to leave them up until New Years Day…

You’re Welcome Santa

9.  Do you diet in January?

My Life is a series of one diet after another.  It is what it is.

10.  What area of your home do you want to organize the most?

Probably my closet… and my solution would be to take Stephanie’s old room and transform it into a fabulous closet room, but I don’t know where to put my treadmill.  It would not be a welcomed part of this transformation

11.  Favorite winter comfort food?

What is a comfort food?  Hot Chocolate?

12.  Favorite guilty pleasure?

Shopping… I have no other vice.  I’ll share my latest shopping excursion in my Friday Favorites.

Friday Favorites

Is there anything better than FRIDAY?

Only one thing comes close…

CHRISTMAS!

For this edition of Friday Favorites I am combining the two and sharing a few of my Christmas Favorites!

Favorite #ONE

Watching this little girl open wrapped gifts.

Last year she was barely able to open a gift on her own.  This year she would accept a gift and look at it with anticipation.

Before she began to open the gift, she would declare, “I don’t know what it is.”  Then I would tell her “I don’t know what it is either, let’s open it and find out.”

After showing her where to start, she would begin by tearing a small piece of wrapping paper and, rather than throw it aside, she would offer it to me, and then begin again.  I could have participated in this process all day!

It will Never happen this same way again.  Next year, she will be 3 1/2 at Christmas, and she will have a baby sister that she will be concerned about.  She will be different… Life will be different… it is constantly changing.

I know I will remember what a blessing it was to open Christmas gifts with a little girl named Lydia, Glammy’s girl,  who was 2 1/2 years old on Christmas Day 2017.

 

Favorite # TWO

So glad that Mama is creative!

She has a new hobby…

decorating…When she asked me to pick the one I would like to keep, I chose the one with the most pink.

 

Favorite # THREE

BEAUTIFULLY DIVINE CUSTOM DESIGNS & MORE

Entry to DIY Wood Sign Painting workshop for Two People

Thank you Richard, Emily and Lydia for this sweet gift.

Mama…it expires on April 4, 2018 so we will need to make an appointment to exercise our creativity.

 

Favorite # FOUR

MAKEUP!

I believe all the girls got one of these.

Never again will I run out of eyeshadow!

Thank you Mama

 

Favorite # FIVE

…that my sister and I still think alike.

She gave me a pair of blue Kate Spade post earrings…and I gave her a pair of Kate Spade Peridot earrings (her birthday is in August)

She sent me a pic of herself styling those “Kate Spade earrings and Fancy Nancy lipgloss”.

Isn’t she lovely?

 

One more…

Favorite # SIX

Accessories by Betsey Johnson

on display in my garage…

as I was about to leave for work.

There was also a weekender travel bag…covered with kitties!

Thank you Stephanie and Amanda for finding those pretty things that you know your Mom will love.

 

 

 

And thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Kim

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