Easter- a burn, cute kids, and homemade deor!

The kids were actually with their dad on Easter so I had them dress in their Easter finest the Sunday before and took a few pics.  Glad I did- that day was a gorgeous day and on Easter it rained!

I did not go to church on Easter Sunday... and I feel terrible.  But there was no way I was going to be able to sit for 3 hours with the wicked sunburn I got on the back of my legs.  My mom and I laid out on Saturday and I'm not entirely sure how I ended up sunburned but she didn't get a bit.

Isn't this little stand adorable?  I got it at Tori Spelling's store in California.  It is the perfect size for a cupcake... or 3 twine covered Easter eggs :)

With my Easter decorations I found some old plastic eggs and I had seen on another blog that they wrapped them in twine and I loved it so I decided to do the same.  It really gives it a natural feel that goes in great with my living room.  They were easy enough- hot glue, twine, egg.  Even J2 helped make one.  I think they turned out great, although I should mention I had no clue what to do with the tops so they are a little pointed *lol*

Hope you had a great day with your loved ones of Easter and celebrated the many blessings that we have in our lives!

Cupcake-a-what?

Did anyone see the version of Cat in the Hat with Mike Myers?  If so, then you get the title.  If not, then I seriously need you to watch it.  Yes, it's ridiculous. But also wicked funny!  Promise me you'll watch it OK?

I love cupcakes. 

So much so one day my dad came up to my work randomly and brought us a 6 pack of cupcakes.  Yep, just out of the blue.  Because he loves me.  {I think that's why.  He probably wanted me to bring J1 over so they could hang out!}

This store is adorable!

When I was in Pasadena earlier this year, I passed by this adorable cupcake place several times.  After the 4th time I went by I finally decided to go in.

And I wish I hadn't.  Their cupcakes are SINFUL! 

We tried some minis- including a maple bacon one that I bite into somewhat tepidly and was a freaking explosion of flavor in my mouth- and they were outstanding.  Seriously, I've had good cupcakes before.  Like the kind that you drive 45 minutes to Dallas for and pay for one what you could make 24 with... *ahem* Sprinkles.

Sprinkles Cupcakes

These were even better.  I'm not kidding. DROOL

To further prove my cupcake fascination to you, I will tell you- somewhat sheepishly- that I ordered a dozen cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake, of DC Cupcakes on TLC.  They were well packaged and I was impressed with that but they were not as good as these.  Sorry, they just weren't.  I wanted them to be!  Especially for the price of overnight shipping.

I just went to the Dots Facebook page and was a little stalkerish but it paid off because I saw that now have "Pot of Cupcake" which is a cupcake mini in a jar that you can have sent to you!  I will most definitely be finding out more about this. The one they show is the Fleur de Sel which was my favorite.  And if my friend Kathleen hadn't been there, I might have eaten about 10 of them.

What about you, do you love cupcakes?  What were the best cupcakes you ever ate?

For you, the single mom

I saw this on another blog and thought it was sweet.  I've been a "single" mom for so long, I just consider myself a mom now.  But so much of this is true!

Single Mom
You–the strong woman (even if you don’t always feel like it) that runs her household alone.  <--- Must be said though, that the kiddos sure can help a lot.  Especially the one who is taller than me and can reach the tall stuff ;)
You – the mom who wakes up before everyone else so she’ll have enough time to empty the dishwasher, pack lunches, get ready for work, and get the kids to school without being late.<--- Some days it's a mad dash but we get there!
You – the mom who takes the garbage out and cleans the leaves out of the gutter and fixes the sprinklers when they’re not working.<--- Ok, this might not be me.  It's only my chore to take out the garbage when the kids aren't here.  And if something was wrong with the sprinkler I have so many great friends, neighbors, and of course my dad!
You – the mom who rakes the leaves and gets the oil changed in the car and runs to the grocery store at 9:00 at night so her kids will have milk.<--- But usually with the kids in tow because who is going to leave their kids alone at 9 at night?
You – the mom who stays up late helping with math problems and vocabulary words, even though she’s exhausted.<--- There might be some annoyance involved and a great deal of exasperation but we get all the projects and homework done!
You – the mom who cooks dinner and pulls everyone together for a meal, even though she’s the only adult at the table. <--- This is actually not that bad, especially if my sister comes over {although, she is my third child}
You – the mom who signs the school forms that come home in the backpack,
and who remembers when school pictures are due,
and who walks her kids door-to-door selling fundraising candy around the neighborhood for their sports teams.<--- I may not always remember when things are due until the last second but pictures get bought, fundraisers get sold, and folders are signed... and if I forget my mom works at the school and is always my backup!
You – the mom who goes to bed alone,
and who might get a little scared in a rainstorm,
but who never lets the kids see her fear. <--- This is semi-true,  I might have them come sleep with me so we can all be together!  Thank goodness for a king size bed!
You – the mom who carries the weight
and the responsibility
and the joy
of being a parent
with pride and determination
and perseverance.
You – the mom who is showing her kids how to be strong,
simply by being there for them,
simply by loving them,
simply by being a mom they know they can always count on.
You – the one who is making a difference
day by day,
hour by hour,
moment by moment,
second by second.
You.
The single mom.
The good mom.

This was so sweet and much needed today!  I worry for my kids so much and I always wonder if I'm doing the right thing by them.  It's nice to be reassured every once in a while, even if it is from a stranger...

Weekend wrap up... and a TV appearance!

OK, so it wasn't a TV appearance for me but someone I knew.  :)  Got your attention though right?

~Does anyone else watch Jersey Couture?  It took me a minute to get into the show because the two sisters and the mom and all their obnoxious yelling was quite annoying. But as I came to accept that it was just the Jersey persona, I grew to like the show.  Imagine my surprise when I was watching this last episode and there's a mom and daughter from West Virginia on there- and I know them!  How the heck do I know anyone in West Virginia!?  It turns out this girl, Natalie, was my Mary Kay lady when I was newly married with an infant.  We bonded because she was young and had a young daughter, too.  When she eventually moved on with her life she sent me to her aunt Kim, who has been my MK lady ever since.  I haven't been a good MK customer these last few years but every time I talk to Kim I ask about Natalie. What a fun surprise!

~While at Target this weekend we found Tasty Kakes.  THIS IS A BIG DEAL!!  They are an East coast delicious pastry company.  Or maybe it's just because we don't have them down here that we have thought they were so tasty.  Anywho, whenever I go to see my grandma I always make sure to pick up a few to bring home to my dad {and of course, some for myself!} I had heard that Tasty Kakes were down here and the last time I was at Target I saw some of the Krumpets but nothing that I got too excited about.  So imagine my surprise when my mom started freaking out because they had... wait for it... LEMON PIES!  These are our favorite! I only bought 2 and it's taking everything I have to NOT eat the second one today.

~Also while at Target I found white chocolate M&M's!  I love white chocolate so this was huge.  Again, trying to NOT eat more than a few of these.

~Are you guys watching Celebrity Apprentice?  The girls are making it really hard to root for them.  I love Lisa Lampanelli.  Teresa Guidice has not done a THING, I am super upset that she's still there. Aubrey, while SUPER obnoxious, does have good ideas and is playing the game... hard. And Dayana, whoever she is, needs to go once and for all.

This weekend has flown by!  Hope you all had a great weekend!