My Mood Ring Says: Grey

Remember Mood Rings? We used to have so much fun with them and I can honestly say that I experienced feelings for every color in the spectrum!

If I still had my mood ring and was wearing it today, my color would be grey.....wondering, questioning, somewhat odd feelings, wanderlust, wistful, forlorn and somewhat sorrowful......I did not feel good a few days of the week and can maybe attribute it to that....either that or the audit or a tough week at work or Steve's stress and bad back or sad news about a good friend or gas being $4.50 a gallon or the 7 marines from our area that died in that Yuma crash or ________(fill in the blank here).....you get the drift....I am focusing on counting my blessings to turn that grey to blue (Happy, Relaxed, Fun) y'all!





I have been longing for a cabinet like one of these to put our board games in....like my sister always says - 'how can you get one more piece of furniture in your house?'....I manage! I moved around a few pieces in the guest room (aka toy room) and found a place for one of these beauties....

I liked this one, but it was way too wide for my little space and I wanted (if I could find it) a shelf on the bottom.....and this one was also $$$$$$$

This was another option, I loved the laurel wreaths, however wanted more cabinet that dresser...again another $$$$$$$$

So since I love repurposing furniture.....I turned to searching on Craig's List and I found this potential for only $60.00!! I loved the lines, it is HEAVY and has a great shelf and lots of cabinet space. It needed a bit of personality so I ordered some wood trim and bought some paint and it is currently being made over - I will post the picture when it is completed.

Was in the mood for some comfort food this week.....fried yukon potatoes and onions...yum

....and a decadent pretzel jello salad with all kinds of fruit.....

Brody stopped over and played with the Fisher Price Leprecaun Train Set from Fisher Price....

Then he snoozed through Monsters Ink!!! See his little figures on the side....

We 'camped out' Friday night and put the mattresses in the family room so lots of jumping and wrestling persued.....we even had a campfire in the fire ring out back by the swing....

Dylan checked the progress of one of his many sunflower plants....he has a green thumb like his Gramps....see little Rocky walking by the wall around the fountain?

...and showed off his American spirit wearing his flag pin all weekend....he is so proud of it and I am proud of him!

Wishing you all a BLUE week!

The Gospel according to Jacque Lou

I sat yesterday in my home office for 5 hours straight working on the audit (yes, it continues) and while I was working away I had the Whitney Houston 'Going Home" service on HLN. It was amazing and I wanted to be sitting in those hard wood pews sharing in that moment....whoever made the decision to share that on tv - Thank You. It definitely made me me reflect on my own personal gospel journey....my early introduction to church was by my Grandmother 'MaMa Auten'....my parents were not church goers until later in life. I think they were so overwhelmed with both working and raising kids that Sunday mornings were just too precious of time for laundry, shopping, etc. So my dad would take me to my MaMa Autens on Saturday night and I would spend the night and we would get up Sunday morning and dress up and usually my Aunt Elsie would come and get us and we would head down to Eastside Church of Christ in Phoenix. It was a wonderful congregation and as close to a church in the South as you could get (my dad's side of the family were all from Tennessee). After the fire and brimstone and great standards like 'The Old Rugged Cross' and 'Go Tell it on the Mountain' the service would be over and all the ladies would stand out front and visit for about 20 minutes. Those were the days when you got all dressed up to go to church....full skirts, my little white gloves, crinoline slips, little purse....the whole deal. I continued with this church all my young life and even when I started driving I would take my MaMa Auten and we would attend together. Sadly, my MaMa Auten 'went home' in 1976 and after her service the pastor gave me a Hymnal that means so much to me....I can just see my young hand and her wrinkled hand holding this hymnal and signing together. My next different experience was when I started dating a Catholic guy. So I would go to mass with him and cover my head with a scarf and was amazed by that ritualistic manner of the mass and I think that is why I am fascinated with Italian Religious Art today. Then I moved to Simi Valley, CA (outside LA) and married a Methodist! That was another great group of people and I was very active in that church and even led the Women's Group and did many fundraisers for that church. We moved to San Diego and did some church shopping and are still searching (however one is looking very promising). In our travels a priority has always been to engage in the religious aspects of where we visit....we have been to Jewish ghettos and cemeteries, synagogues, temples, sites of miracles, the Vatican, Trinity church in Ireland - each and everyone spiritual in its respective nature....but yesterday for 5 hours I found my home church as a member of The New Hope Baptist Church in Newark and that felt good! Can I hear an Amen! :)

Picture of the day challenge - week 2 (and most likely final - this is more than I can commit to!)

Sunday we took the adults out to dinner to celebrate Valentines Day - it was fun to be able to have adult conversations and chatter....but we missed our little ones too!

Monday we said goodbye to Steve's step dad in a moving ceremony in Ft. Rosecrans....




Tuesday (Valentines Day) when I woke up early my tulip bulb had bloomed! Later that day Steve made us dinner and gave me this beautiful orchid and we exchanged sweet gifts....


Wednesday I had a visit from my Lucky Charm and he had some of his Lucky Charms....later that night it was more audit review....

Thursday I decided to put away Valentines Day and encourage the Luck of the Irish to pay us a visit - I hear you saying it is not even March yet - don't be a hater - I need all the luck I can get!

TGIF - outside play and snuggle time with these sweet boys....this week for Gramps Popcorn Feature the choice was Ice Age...Brody had 5 bowls of popcorn and was moving so fast I could not capture his picture fast enough!!!

....sigh....back to the audit.....when/if it is ever over I will write a post on that!

Marie Antionette & Don Rickles - My Perfect Balance

Saturday was the day of the week that defined me and my perfect balance in life.....I was invited by Romantic Homes Magazine to a Marie Antoinette Party....it was incredible.....several vendors were there and they all dressed like Marie - wigs and all and served incredible yummy things like pink champagne and red velvet cupcakes.....they had fab french pastries and candy everywhere....they decorated in French valentines and I was able to speak a little in French and just visual overload of all the beautiful things and feminity and grace....I am totally inspired to create!

They had beautiful gowns and wigs, Hollywood type paste tiaras and jewels....fabrics...oh my.....

Aren't these shoes to die for?????

Ribbons and bows and cakes and more......I was so in my element.....

After the party I came home and changed and Steve and I headed out to see Don Rickles....he was so so funny. His opening act was Frank Sinatra Jr and he did a tribute to his dad - he was nothing to rave about....however when this guy came on stage we laughed hard and out loud for over an hour....he is a national treasure......raw, crude and rauncy....I was so in my element (hey, I said that about Marie - see my Dichotomy!)

For years my friends have been after me to take the POTD (Picture of the Day) Challenge....I tried this week, not sure I can commit to it, however this is this weeks offerings:

Sunday - Lucky Dylan wins $5.00 in the Super Bowl Family Pool!

Monday my little Boo was sick and I was able to stay home from work and take care of him....

Tuesday I wrapped up some Valentines that I delivered.....

...and a new present for a brand new great niece. I bought these hand stitched booties at a boutique in La Jolla - thought they were so sweet.....

Wednesday - my sister in law from Tennessee was in town so we hosted a family dinner here.....I made the individual capriese appetizers and bought that mozzarella stuffed with prosciutto....we love that....

I made my pasta with chicken, asparagus, tomatoes and parm cheese....lots of garlic too....

I chose to use these pasta bowls that my bestie from LA bought for me the 1st year we moved here (23 years ago) I love these and think of her every time I use them

For everything else I used my go to Crate and Barrel basic white tableware

Thursday I decided to make the boys some fun hand soap to use....so I took legos for Dylan and Monster Ink figures for Brody and bought some clear soap, removed and degunked the labels on the soap and inserted the toys

I think they look pretty good and when you pump the soap the toys move.

This is a random picture for a joke based on a dinner conversation in Tampa where we were asked to take a picture of our fridge and share.....I am thinking about sharing the other entries....this is mine.

Friday my little Boo was under the weather again and played quietly while I worked from home...

Later I picked up Dylan and he checked on his sunflower seed and it had bloomed - he has a green thumb like his Gramps

I love this picture....Dylan getting 'the talk' from Mommy about respect and making good choices....he is a good boy and kind and loving however he like everyone else makes some bad choices.....she is good to sit and talk him through it and he is attentive and expressive....

So that was the week!!!!!! Hope yours was full of beauty and laughter - lifes perfect balance!