Girls' Weekend #143

Birmingham, AL— It was another fabulous weekend with my best friends Kelley, Shona and Amy! Our first, get-together for 2010 was spent primarily chatting in Kelley's kitchen over wine and miscellaneous appetizers. The big event was our trip to Sips n' Strokes, like a Paint your own Pottery place but you actually get to paint your own painting while sipping on wine—bonus! What a simple, yet ingenious concept! The featured painting of the evening was this lovely flower. I think they're all masterpieces. I love you girls!

No smiles for the camera today.

President's day was celebrated with the cousins today. Chicken nuggets and multiple parks were enjoyed by all. But by the end of the day, when I finally remembered to pull out my camera, Jackson just did not want to cooperate. 

I Love Daisies

I painted these daisies from a photograph I saw in the Feb/March issue of Artful Blogging Magazine—my new favorite magazine. Madeline Beishline took the gorgeous photo and you can find it on her blog at madelinebea.blogspot.com. She's inspired me to start carrying my new camera with me wherever I go because you never know what you might see! Ok, so I haven't remembered to bring my camera with me anywhere yet, but I HAVE seen lots of great photo opps! Hmmm. 

Meet Penny Peanut Birdy

Meet Penny Peanut Birdy. She's the little 9.6 lb mutt in the background— the new addition to our family as of this past Friday afternoon. We haven't been able to agree on a name yet, so she'll have all three until one sticks I suppose. Good old Max isn't thrilled about the situation but he'll tolerate her because he knows he doesn't have much of a choice. So how did Penny Peanut Birdy come into our lives, you ask? These things aren't planned you know. I was picking Jackson up from PreK when a friend and fellow school mom found her in the parking lot and didn't know what to do with her. She was going to call Animal Control and I knew where this story would end, so I volunteered to take her. A hundred sixty-seven dollars at the Vet and one Petco trip later, she's making herself at home on Max's bed. This should be interesting.

The Movie Theater Birthday.

Yummy!

Save money this year! Instead of taking a bunch of kids to the movies, make your family room a theater— complete with rows of comfy chairs, a candy concession stand, a toy cash register, play money for all to spend and, of course these yummy Popcorn Cupcakes! Dim the lights and press play. Viola! You’re at the movies!

Download my “Popcorn Cupcake Wrapper” design, print and trim. Then secure the wrapper around the cupcake with tape or double-sided tape. 

Frost the cupcakes with white icing.

Click here for a PDF detailing these instructions.


Enjoy!

A Bird Meeting

One morning on our way to daycare when Wesley was three, he asked curiously looking out the window, "Mommy, are they having a bird meeting?" I looked and saw a bunch of birds on the telephone wires. "Yep, they sure are!" I agreed. Every morning after that he acknowledged the bird meeting in progress. Yes, in today's hectic world, even birds have meetings.

This painting is my homage to bird meetings around the world.