Our 4th of July Holiday

Here's some fun on our Ventura Beach Trip for the 4th of July
at Aunty Lynn & Uncle Richard's Place!
And a detour on our way back home to Hollywood's Walk of Stars
and a showing of WICKED in the Historic Pantages Theatre.

The Necklaces I've been crafting

O.K. Here's the deal--Idea stolen from cool SBI Surf Shop, where we saw the guitar pick necklaces for sale--I copied both styles (hanging on the diagonal with multiple rhinestones up the side & hanging straight down with just 1 rhinestone as an accent) can use the side showing the pick's logo, or not.........used my tiny hole punch from scrapbook supplies & a little metal/jewelry glue for rhinestone application.....and broke a fingernail opening the split ring to hang it from a cheap necklace purchased for a few cents over $1 at WalMart....

Also, included a photo of a few more of my on-going "bottle cap necklace" obsession-found a few good sources on the web for caps....got an order placed & more on the way to me....it'll keep me from buying beer & soda just to obtain caps.....maybe?!

Camp Rock Premiere

Audra had Claire & Ashley over

to watch the Disney Channel's premiere

of the big summer movie

"Camp Rock"

starring the Jonas Brothers."WE ROCK!!!"

I had fun making Rhinestone studded Guitar pick necklaces,
Guitar embellished Tees,
and Camp Rock Music soundtracks for the girls
to take home as "favors"-
-Even though this wasn't a "Party"
-and-Yes,
Their mommies (supposedly my friends)
gave me a hard time about overdoing it...

"Decade Spa" Party for Audra's 10th Birthday

I will admit to be crazy about planning parties

-especially for little girls!!!

And, many months of shopping go into these events-

That's a confession as well.....

Spa "10", Spa "X", or Spa "Ten".....

Whatever the name is....

We pampered & primped,

Drank faux champagne & mock watermelon margaritas,

and Dipped & Dunked into white & milk chocolate fondue....

Audra says it was the best party ever!!!

Coaches Award!!! & Scholar Athlete Patch!!!

Super Job Jared!!!
Our Freshman Swimmer receives the Fast Lane Coaches Award
& also the recipient of the Scholar Athlete Emblem for his Letterman's jacket

Soda Pop Top Necklace

I admit completely to seeing this necklace on a friend...

& thinking "I could make that!"

So, I am a thief!! aka: Idea Stealer

( P.S. These cuties retail for $80.00 and up !?*!!@#!!)

My League Champ

Wow JARED--LEAGUE CHAMPION in the 500 Free Event.

Look at that GOLD MEDAL & the Happy Faces on you & your swim coach.

What a way to close out your 1st high school swim season!

Water Polo Anyone?

Okay, my darling daughter is giving Water Polo a try...She's the one who's head is barely out of the water!!! But I'll give her this...she wants to sign up for the 6 week program, even though her legs ached and she limped into the house when we got home last night....You Go Girl....I am proud of your "I can do it" attitude!!!

Here's what I spend most of my time doing...

I've been photographing my son & his high school swim team this month....and then editting and setting up a photo site for all the swimmers on his team to access the photos for their own use...It's been a labor of love...

The Big Game Night

My daughter's choir sang the National Anthem for the opening of the Grizzlies baseball game one night this month....and our parish priest, Father Rob, threw in the ceremonial first pitch. The girls ate corn dogs, the mommies drank cold beer, and the night ended with a Fireworks Show...WooHoo

Taking a Field Trip

My Friend, Suzelle, & I followed the bus carrying our 4th graders on their 1st BIG Field Trip of Elementary School. We left at 5am and returned at 5pm-BOY, what a day!!! A tour of a Gallion Ship in Monterey followed by the tour of Mission San Juan Bautista-Fun was had by us all....

Classic Cheese Souffle for dinner

I have been baking a lot recently-had to try out a couple of new recipes from one of my latest food magazines: Classic Cheese Souffle and Coconut cake with Mascarpone & lime frosting-YUM!

Scrapbooking!

I Love this Tea Party Memory.....and

Acrylic Mini Albums are a great way to use all sorts embellishments like Rub-ons, Ribbons, Ink, Felt flowers & Rhinestones

Finally Finished a couple of Knitting Projects

Well, I've been knitting weekly all winter long, and have managed to finish two projects: my 1st ever mittens-a little lumpy, I know....and the super long opera scarf in cheery sherbet colors & not at all itchy cotton fiber...

April Crafting with the Good Things Girls

This month was a paper crafting project...

with a little glitter & ribbon thrown in for embellishment...fun!

I was in charge of the evening's

dessert, since it was at my house :)

Why have 1 kind when 3 or even 4

desserts could be consumed?

So, Rose infused panna cotta,

Lemon squares with coconut crust,

& puff pastry filled with lemon creme.

Off to the side there, is a tray

of the cookies I saw win Best Cookie recipe on the food network bake off- they are Exotic spice with Rose water & cardamon...Yummy!!!

Wonder Valley here we are...

Woo-hoo!!

Audra rides Lacey,

Aunt Ardelle's horse....

what a beautiful day we had with Grandma Lola, Ardelle & Roger, and our family

in the spring weather & this pretty foothills area....

IKEA purchases

My 1st time to an IKEA store-a little day trip with friend, Suzelle!!

So, here's the purchases:

New folding chairs to add to seating in our dining room as almost every occasion requires

Swedish food goodies

Kitchen & household goodies

Extra stuff like outdoor chair pads & flower string lights for darling daughters room :)

My Easter Children

Getting Ready for Easter by coloring some eggs--YUMMY

.....and here are Audra & Jared on our way to Mass on Easter Morning