Where were you...

...on September 11?

I saw this question posted on another blog, the fairyblogmother and thought I would ask the same question on mine. I'll tell you what I was doing when I first heard and if you like, leave a comment or answer on your own blog.

I was shopping with little Jordie after dropping Taylor off at school...our usual routine:-) We were at one of my favorite little shops called "My Paris Apartment". I was holding a hand painted sign that read "La vie est belle" which means basically "life is beautiful" and debating whether or not to buy it for Taylor's bedroom. It was so sweet and pretty but did I really need it?




My phone rang and it was my friend Belinda asking me if I was watching the TV. I told her no, I was out shopping. She told me what had happened and that I should go home right away and turn on the news. I kept saying "What do you mean a plane crashed into the Twin Towers?" She kept saying it wasn't an accident. What???? I just couldn't believe what she was saying.

I knew I needed to get right home but then I looked down at that little sign in my hands and knew that on a day that was sure to be filled with tragic news, I was meant to buy this sign reminding me that there is beauty in life after all. I paid for the sign and got home as soon as possible. (To this day, it hangs in Taylor's room and I will keep it always.) I turned the TV on just in time to see the first tower crumbling down. I was stunned...it was such a surreal moment. I remember thinking that it couldn't really be happening. I think the rest of the day, I sat glued to the TV like everyone else, tears pouring down my face and praying for all of those people and their families.



This is not and never will be a blog about politics but I personally felt very reassured by the words President Bush spoke during this time.

A few years later, we had new neighbors move in next door. I will never have neighbors as wonderful as them for the rest of my life, I'm sure of that. I knew that Jim was kind of nervous about things, such as preparing for hurricanes. He boarded up and got his family out of town before waiting to see if it was even going to hit. I knew he would never fly on an airplane and that he went to mass before work every single morning without fail. I later found out that Jim worked in the WTC and was late that day because he missed his train. He never again took another day for granted.

What about you? Where were you and what were you doing on Sept. 11th?

Time for Twirling Ballerinas...

Today is Taylor's ballet recital...the tutu's are done (whew) the flowers are ready and I would say "Break a Leg"...but somehow I don't think you say that to a dancer before she goes on stage:-) I'm nervous but she is calm...as it should be! Happy Recital Day, my ballerina. We'll be watching every pirouette with pride and joy. XOXOXO

Dog Wisdom

Today, my little guy is 6 years old. Yep...he's a tax day baby!:-) I know what you're thinking...another post about my dogs. You had to expect this...I mean, he had a 3rd birthday party with my daughter and her friends...and he was on the cake! He's just a little spoiled:-)

This is the little boy I never had so bear with me, please. Freddy deserves this, after 6 years of being dressed up in tu-tu's, pushed in doll strollers and riding in Barbie jeeps, trust me:-)

I decided to share one of my favorite pieces of
"dog wisdom", in honor of him. Happy Birthday Freddy Boom-Boom! (That's right, he was named after a famous golfer, Freddy Couples:-)

Things A Dog Can Teach Us
Author Unknown

1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

2. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

4. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

5. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

6. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

7. Be loyal. Run, romp and play daily.

8. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

9. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

10. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

11. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends.

12. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

13. Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

14. Take naps and stretch before rising.

15. Never pretend to be something you're not.

16. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

17. On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.

Say Yes to Treasured Moments

Today, I had the pleasure of taking my 2 beautiful girls for tea. What a treat! Taylor, my 14 year old, loves tea and everything old-fashioned. She was as happy as I have ever seen her. Jordie likes tea too but went along more as a good sister...and ended up having a wonderful time.

We visited a sweet little place called Brambles Tea House in Naples, FL. It is a lovely little place owned by an English couple. All I can say is if you are ever in Naples...

Taylor and I had the Pumpkin Cream tea and Jordie had the Caribbean tea. Both were good but we especially loved the coconut flavor in Jordie's tea. We had the most incredible scones and Jane, our waitress, explained how to eat them. First, you split them in half horizontally, spread the strawberry preserves and on top of that, the devonshire cream. Finish by placing a sliced strawberry on top. And DO NOT put the halves back together sandwich style:-)

Anyway, we had such a great time. I kept thinking how special moments like this are. My girls are growing up so fast. Like everyone else, I had a million other things to do today but I am so happy I said "yes" when they asked to spend the day this way. Sometimes, I have no choice but to say no, so I think they were as surprised as I was that I agreed to their request.

My suggestion to you...before automatically saying no to your child's request, stop and think if there is any way to say yes. Sometimes there isn't...but many times there is. I will always remember the special day that we had because for once I said "yes".

My Easter Basket

hahaha...Okay, it's not usually all about me but I got my Easter basket yesterday from my friend at Tales From the Fridge, Connie. First of all, I was happy just to be a part of the Easter Basket swap that Beth set up but I didn't realize how much fun it would be putting together a basket and especially getting mine. Just look at all of the cute things Connie filled my basket with. I got an adorable mug with some white tea, 2 cute springy dish towels, "chocolate" decorative bunnies (no calories there:-) and cute little chicks. (I used them on our table...aren't they cute?) She also added some easter eggs filled with candy and a few beautiful easter egg ornaments that I have a feeling this talented lady may have made. I took a pic to show you...and my girls and I are definitely going to do this with our ribbon collection next year. Check out Connie's blog for lots of awesome recipes. She was kind enough to include one in my basket that I will be making next week, as well as some special ingredients. Thank you so much Connie and I hope you have a wonderful Easter!!!

P.S. I couldn't resist taking a few pics of my Taylor, taking a break from setting our Easter table.
And just look at the big smile on Maui's face...to go with his big nose:-)

Thought for the day...

We tend to forget that happiness
doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have,
but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.
~Frederick Keonig

Super Easy & Yummy...

...last minute Easter treats.
Okay, you have to bring some sweet treats for the kiddies and you have NO TIME to roll and cut out those cute bunnies and chicks. What to do??? Here are a few simple ideas...all kid tested (many times) and approved!:-)

Sugar Cookie Cups
~1 pkg refrig. sugar cookie dough
~Frosting and cute toppings

~ Grease mini muffin cups.
~ Sprinkle dough with flour to minimize sticking, if necessary.

~Cut dough into 12 equal pieces; roll into balls.
~Place 1 ball in bottom of each muffin cup.
Press dough halfway up sides of muffin cups, making indentation in centers. ~Bake as directed at 350 degrees OR until golden brown.
(Cookies will be puffy. Remove from oven; gently press indentations with teaspoon.) ~Return to oven 1 to 2 minutes, just to set shape.
~ Cool cookies in muffin cups 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack; cool completely.
~Spoon or pipe fluffy frosting into cookie cups
~ Use cute colors, sprinkles, jelly beans...

Easter Brownies
Simply bake your favorite brownies and cut out with Easter egg or any other spring cookie cutters. Pipe on your favorite frosting and you're good to go. (You might even be able to put the brownies on a cookie stick. it could be cute and worth a try.)

Rice Krispie Treat Eggs...
enough said:-)


Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
~you can decorate with pastel easter sprinkles.
These are super easy to do...and always a favorite.
Easter Smores...seriously!
I saw this on cakespy...Is this cool, or what?
Simply assemble the smores using marshmallow bunnies or chicks, pop in the microwave for approx. 30 sec. and voila...instant dessert!!!:-)

Don't you just love Easter treats?:-)

A Happy, Rainbow Cake...

My daughter had a friend visit over spring break and to celebrate,

Taylor made the coolest cake I have seen in a long time.
It is totally wild...just see for yourself!



I first saw this cake idea on lillypulitzer.com
from there, you can find a link to the step by step procedure
and a recipe for cake using a box mix and adding sprite and a few other things.
We didn't follow this recipe, instead just making the recipe on the box,
but I will tell you how we did it and if we can do it... you get the picture:-)

First of all, we used 2 round cake pans and 2 boxes of french vanilla cake mix.
(If you don't double the recipe, the colors don't pop
as much since the layers are thinner but you can use one if you like.)
After mixing the cake batter, seperate into 6 bowls and add food coloring. (we used red, yellow, orange, blue, green and purple.)
By the way, the gel food colorings work much better when you want bold colors
...and this cake is bold!!!:-)
Add a color to each bowl. In the center of the pan, scoop one color batter (approx. 2/3 cup) in the center. Then, you add another scoop of a different color in the center of that batter,
so your pan will begin to look like this.
We baked it as directed, checking it after an additional 5 minutes to see if it was done.
(You have to bake it a little longer than you would if using one cake mix.)
We then used a family recipe for frosting that we love but you could use anything...
even whipped cream. I'm telling you, the girls are CRAZY over this cake!
Kids and adults will love it.
How perfect for a retro-60's or 70's party, too.
Or now that I think of it, you could make one with softer, Easter pastels.
(Another cool thing to do for little kids is ask your bakery at the grocery store
to dye the bread rainbow. I used to do this for our preschool
and make mini sandwiches.
I think the kids ate just because they had rainbow sandwiches:-)
Happy Monday!

What's Wrong with this Picture?????

Can you see it? There is something verrrry wrong with this picture. I just got home from the store and saw this magazine while waiting in the grocery line. It was full of simple diet and workout tips, so I bought it. I was just walking out to my balcony to sit and read it cover to cover when the irony of it all hit me. Yes, that is a BIG sugar cookie on top of the magazine...complete with a bite out of it! (The fact that it is shaped like lips probably doesn't matter, right?:-) It's hopeless!!! But...rather than starting my diet AGAIN tomorrow, I'll get back on track now. Maybe I can actually make it through half a day this time:-)

12 Things I Love About My Daughter On Her 12th Birthday

To: Jordan Suzanne Dutcher...Happy 12th Birthday!

Before I list 12 things I love about my Jordie, let me say two things...first, I don't know of anyone who loves Christmas more than Jordie (which explains the song) and I kind of consider Jordie to be my "miracle" baby. When I was 5 months pregnant, the doctors found what they thought were signs of brain damage with Jordie. After going through an amniocentesis and "genetic counseling", which I later found out was done to help my husband and I make a "choice" as to what to do with the pregnancy, we were told that they could not rule out brain damage completely. In other words, they "thought" the problem would take care of itself but that there was also a chance that she would be born with problems. If the problem did not resolve itself, the best case scenario was Down's syndrome and worst case was severe brain damage. The counseling fell on deaf ears. Of course, we prayed and prayed for a healthy baby. But deep down, I prepared for the worst...and would have accepted it. I know the extra "work" involved with a down's syndrome child...and I know that there is FAR more extra "love" from those children than work so we would have been okay. I even planned her nursery more for a child who would need that extra stimulation. Then on March 28, 1997, Jordie was born and you couldn't find a happier and healthier baby if you tried! So Jordie, my little girl, this is for you...

1. Not only is Jordie a special gift from God, she has a special relationship with him. This little girl has a faith that is unshakeable and always has. I remember when she was 3 years old, almost 4 and came out to the kitchen one morning to tell me Jesus was in her room during the night. After my initial fear that someone had been in the house, I started to really listen to what she was saying. Jordie was always a little afraid of the dark and of shadows so she had a nightlight in her room and in the hallway. She says she was scared and Jesus sat on the bed and comforted her. I asked her what he looked like and she kept saying, "mommy, he had such beautiful eyes." She would often say she thought there was an angel in her room at night. I don't know what was happening but I know this little girl believed this with all her heart, even telling her Sunday School teachers and our pastor. My babysitter was a very spiritual older lady and she always said Jordie was "extra specially blessed". I decided I liked Sybil's explanation so that is the way we left it. I do remember thinking that if we were catholic, she would probably grow up to be a nun or something:-) I do know she is a blessing to us!

2. She loves her big sister. She will spend her last penny to buy Taylor a Starbucks or something else she thinks she would like. They are completely different but already, she appreciates her and has always been so grateful that she has such a good role model. They do fight...but they also have a lot of fun together and more and more, I am seeing special sisterly moments. Even though she has her moments with Taylor, she will defend her and protect her with everything she has. Sometimes I think she will be looking after her big sis later in life:-) For awhile she tried to be like her in every way. Eventually, she decided that being a ballerina like her sissy wasn't her thing but that's okay. She did look really cute in a tutu, though.

3. Jordie is so great at setting goals and going after them. If she wants to accomplish something, she will. She decided a year and a half ago that she wanted to learn to play tennis. She had to begin in classes with little kids but she kept at it and is doing great. This makes me think that her goal since she was 4 or 5 that she wanted to be a doctor...in particular, a neonatologist, might actually happen someday. She is also a gifted artist and paints beautiful pictures. I love everything she does but my favorite is a drawing she did of me when she was little...of course!:-)

4. She is a beautiful girl...and a strong, beautiful, generous person. Who would have thought that my adorable, chubby baby would grow to be this tall, blonde confident, charming beauty!!!:-) She loves people...family, friends...babies to the elderly. She is comfortable in almost every situation...what a gift!

5. She always roots for the underdog and is shattered if someone in a tv show, movie or real life is being teased or hurt. To this day, we cannot watch Hunchback of Notre Dame because of the cruel way he was treated. If she is in public and sees someone being teased, she wants to jump all over the person doing it.

6. She gets my whole obsession with Lilly Pulitzer and Shabby Chic. Her room is lime green and Lilly pink and she loved to wear Lilly clothes...still would. For Mother's day every year, we used to all wear matching Lilly dresses to church. She knows that you either like Lilly or you don't...and once you are a fan, you are always a fan.

7. She is my TV buddy. We love the same shows...cooking, cake challenges, decorating...and wife swap. Seriously! It isn't as bad as it sounds...the show almost always has a happy ending that we love. She even has the same favorite movie...Auntie Mame. And she loves the same treats...vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and once a year, potato chips dipped in slightly melted vanilla ice cream. No kidding! It sounds bad but it is addicting, which is why it's a once a year treat:-)

8. She's smart...and funny. She is not only book smart but she is common sense smart. I am embarrassed to admit how many times I ask her what I should do!:-) And she is blessed with a very quick wit. She can almost always think of something clever or funny to say or do. She just "gets it"...and she is not afraid to be silly.

9. She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES holidays and traditions. She starts planning for Christmas in July...seriously! And she remembers every single tradition we have ever done and you better believe, we have to do it again. I'm sure she will be the only 30 year old outside on Christmas Eve sprinkling reindeer food on the lawn. And she might never recover if we changed the menu for one of the big Holidays. Taylor and I suggested changing things up a bit and she was shocked that we would even think
of such a thing.

10. I probably shouldn't say that one of the things I love about Jordie is how much she loves me, but it is. She is my biggest fan. She just believes I can do anything I want to do, sticks up for me even when I tell her she doesn't need to and encourages me in whatever latest thing I am thinking of doing...and there are many. I hope I give her the same support and encouragement that she gives me! I remember when I was a consultant for Southern Living at Home, she sat on the front porch and handed out my business card to neighbors walking by on the sidewalk. I believe she genuinely likes to spend time with me ( I realize what a gift this is) and has promised me a pink cottage on her property someday so I can bake with her kids and teach them crafts:-) I love it!!!

11. Jordie has a great sense of style and I am seeing more and more of it every day. She can put together outfits better than me and has her own little sense of flair. Lately, she is in to scarves draped around her neck or her jeans. A few years ago, she was into wearing a bandanna. She's just one cool kid!

12. Jordie writes me notes...still. She used to write me notes teling me how much she loved me like the one here. She still leaves us notes...sometimes to tell me how she is feeling, to apologize for something or just because. Those are the best ones and i keep every one...the ones that simply say thank you for being my mom.

Thank you for being such a wonderful daughter, Jordie! I love you more than you will ever know. Happy 12th Birthday, my sweet girl!