Goodbye Winter!

I am so excited for spring! I want to feel the sun on my skin and hear birds chirping! Even though the weatherman says there are a few showers due the next few days spring officially begins tomorrow! I bid farewell to winter today by making a cozy lamb stew for dinner, putting together a "Peeps" garland (pattern found at http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2010/03/guest-tutorial-blogger-dana-of-made.html), buying daffodils at Trader Joe's and doing a little 'spring' cleaning.

This past winter brought many challenges in Alex and I's life and we both are looking forward to a new season filled with positive change and many blessings. Tomorrow when I wake up I am expecting to hear The Byrds, Turn Turn Turn in my head and feel the new day.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Went to Party City yesterday order a few balloons for today and when the girl asked my name I said, Belinda O'Brien, and I felt like the line of people behind me expected a leprechaun to jump out of my purse. I actually felt like I should be celebrating the holiday! Alex took his breakfast of Lucky Charms, green fruits salad and pistachios, to work and I've spent the morning getting the corned beef cooking for Alex's lunch...cabbage and red potatoes. I also made some shamrock sugar cookies and of course, lime jello shots for later! We are going over to Scott and Audra's house to have some green beer and snacks. Sure to be a great time! Happy St. Patty's Day All!

Signs of Spring

The weather has been so nice lately and my seedlings are beginning to sprout! I went out to water my patio garden this afternoon and saw this little guy, obviously missed the main 'growing area' but growing nonetheless.


These are nasturnum seedlings, vibrant, orange, red and yellow vine like flowers. They spread easily with the breeze and can make your yard or garden even more gorgeous scattered wherever they fall. They are beautiful and last throughout summer. I have noticed all kinds of signs of spring on the patio, birds flying around (which reminds me I need to hang my hummingbird feeder) and more green leaves sprouting on plants I thought may have been destroyed by the unusually cold nights we had the last couple of months. I'm glad I kept them and gave them a second chance!

I love the bright colors of the flowers my Mom helped me plant this season. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these purple and orange pansies, they are not too common and are so pretty. Also in the hanging flower box are ranunculus (which are another one my favorite springtime flowers) and snapdragons. The sprouting plant above is an orange lantana which I have actually had for a few years and every spring it comes back to life stronger than the year before. I love going out every morning with my watering can and discovering a new sprout or growth of existing plants. I cannot wait to have a whole yard to plant in!

Monday, Fun-Day...

The dining room table got a few days of being free and clear of paper and tools, but today it is a mess again. I have spent the afternoon working on new items for Max Toto and Busy B. on Etsy. I have created a few 6x6 mini books for Spring! There is an adorable "Peep" Easter book, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Home Sweet Home using paper by Creative Imaginations and We R Memory Keepers.
I love days like today spent in comfy clothes, crafting and having my honey here to talk to. I have some green pin cushion mums in sight for creative inspiration and St. Patricks Day and a box of Thin Mints (bought in a moment of weakness) for a quick sugar high. Check out http://www.etsy.com/people/MaxTotoandBusyB?ref=si_pr to see the mini books! Happy Monday!

Sisterly Love

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of helping my sister, Audra, and her friend Ashley out at a photo shoot in Redlands. I helped her set up and signed in her clients and as I was helping I watched my little sister and her customer service and couldn't help but be so proud of her and her own little business. When she was little her and my youngest sister, Clara, would like to put on a 'Circus' in the backyard. She would have tickets for games, prizes, put on talent shows with our dogs and have snacks that cost no more than a quarter. When I saw her on Saturday setting up the props for the shoot and explaining what it was about it reminded me of her Circus days. I was so happy to see she was pursuing what she loves and doing great at it!
I am so proud of all my sisters, all their accomplishments. I am so thankful to have great sisters, best friends and a great family.

Goodie Bags and Back Rubs

Thirteen years ago today my grandpa (Pop) past away. I remember that day very clearly. The sadness, silence and awkwardness of the day and days to come, because, to me at seventeen I felt like, 'we'll now what?' I knew things would never be the same. I just never thought Pop would die! I guess I was kind of in shock.
I still find it hard to believe it has been so long since then and how many things that Pop has not been here for, physically. Holidays, birthdays, graduations, our weddings and the birth of his first great-grandson. I know that he definitely was there and is with all of us every day in spirit. Even in tough times or when I am alone and worrying I feel like his strong hand is right there on my shoulder like I felt every birthday or after every accomplishment.It gives me comfort in knowing that he know everything we've gone through. He has been watching over us. I have had a few dreams where he is there and it's like nothing ever happened and I am the only one who knows he died. One in particular stands out, it's Christmas Eve at my grandma's like it used to be and Pop's there in his chair and I was overwhelmed with joy to see him there! I am just full of questions for him, "what's heaven like?" being at the top of the list. He never says a word though and not much sooner, he gets up and walks to his bedroom. No one says goodbye, or asks where he is going. He wasn't sad or happy, just there. I was so upset in my dream that I missed my chance to talk to him again. I don't know what that dream meant but I am always happy when he is my dream and I get to see him.
Recently we were watching old home movies of us when we were growing up and Pop was in a few of them, and hearing his voice makes me get a lump in my throat. He's right there on TV!!! I just want to pull him out...I know my Papa wishes he could too. 
Pop wasn't just your average "grandpa". A man you would see at holidays and send school pictures to. He was like another Papa. He built me my beloved playhouse, with my name on it! You just knew how much he loved you! Every visit to his house you would always leave with a "goodie bag" just a lunch sack with random candies, sliced sugared oranges are remembered most...He never seemed to sleep! When we spent the night he was awake when we fell asleep and he was awake making oatmeal in the morning! He could make or fix anything. I am so lucky to have all of these memories of him.
As I get older I wish I would have asked him more questions about his life and about his time in WWII. Time goes so fast and I think, I only got seventeen years with him, seventeen years is so short! I wish he was still here, but I know he is with me in spirit always and is very proud of all of us. Love you Pop!

Reelin' in the years, Stowin' away the time

Tonight was a great evening. Alex and I broke out the new grill pan he got me for Christmas and grilled up shrimp, scallops and peppers and listened to the 70's play list on the iPod (I am so lucky to have married a man that shares my love for that usually hated music decade).  Dinner was so DELICIOUS!  The grill pan worked great and everything was cooked perfectly. It made me long for summer barbecues and warm nights.  I decided this morning to make a special dinner tonight for Alex because he has the next three days off and has been working so hard lately. I especially thought to make a nice dinner for him because to today when I went to visit him for lunch he got into quite a disgusting fight with a trash can full of coffee grounds and I felt SO awful for him. (As I write Peter Frampton - Show Me the Way is playing and he is swaying to the music... love it!) As I stood there watching him clean up the mess I felt so bad and helpless. I wanted to tell him, "I'll do it..." but of course i can't do that for him at work...Anyway so we made dinner together, danced a little in the kitchen to some Bee Gee's and  felt back in the groove of things. Again, nights like tonight I wish could be every night but because they are not, that is what makes them so special. After dinner we just sat and talked about the day, highs and lows. No television, just the mystical sultry sounds of the 70's in the background and there was no where else I would have rather been. I try to take a mental video clip of moments like this because they are so amazing. I know that even without trying though I will always remember them clear as day.
Tomorrow is a new day, probably just run some errands together, but you never know....Snick has a grooming appointment so I'm sure tomorrow will include some Golden Spoon while we wait :)