Mom's turn: It's all in the name

My new summer color is definitely ele-FANTASTIC!! I love it and I'm sure I couldn't have done better than by trusting in something named in honor of an elephant!

Mom's turn: Jambalaya anyone?

Today I found my first magnolia bloom!!! I was so excited I plucked it and brought it inside so the aroma could fill the house. To me the magnolia blossom is not only our state flower but also the essence of southern living. Mine seems to have bloomed later than most trees that I’ve seen in the neighborhood, though. I’ve been watching the buds swell and wondering what keeps happening to them. My tree is by far the most mature – standing well over 60’…so what is the problem!?!?!?! AH-HA, there is the culprit. He looks so innocent, huh? Don’t let him fool you…I caught him on the run after he ate one of my buds!! So I told Travis he needs to get the BB gun out and get some of those pests…I’m in the mood for some squirrel jambalaya anyway!

Mom's turn: You look like a monkey...

...and you smell like one too!

Christina and Brooke, "are we there yet?"

We went to the Zoo to Do in New Orleans tonight. This event helped generate revenue for the tropical bird house. We have been a member of the zoo for years but have never participated in this event…so we invited a friend along to share the experience with us as well! First stop was dinner at an outside table with pizza, pasta, and wraps…one of each, please.

ugh - give the girl some caffiene!

mamma's little darling

Then on to the zoo! It wasn’t quite what we expected as it seemed geared towards younger children mostly, but that didn’t stop my giggling duo from finding plenty to enjoy. We were surprised, however, that patrons were unable to access the entire zoo or see any of the animals besides the last few peacocks that hadn’t quite found their roosting spot. Besides the myriad of sweets that were available and tons of give-a-ways, there were several tables set up for face painting and temporary tattoos. I think this is where the girls got the most enjoyment.

Face painting -

Temporary airbrushed tattoos -

the pink makes it "girly", don't you think?

After all was enjoyed we went through the gift shop for more goodies and then piled into the car for the long ride home.

Still kids at heart!

Mom's turn: Lagniappe

All of our work in the yard produces a veritable jungle for wildlife to enjoy and a fertile ground for indigenous plants to spring up. With some encouragement we can promote more “good” creatures to help extinguish the “bad” in a natural way instead of using pesticides. Along with them being useful, we can enjoy their beauty as well.

sweet honey suckle to eat and encourage bees for vegetable pollenation

skinks...great slug eaters

another beautiful plant that attracts humming birds

potential toad house...just needs to be partially burried in the ground


handsome lizzard...that is obviously not phased by the poinson ivy jungle growing up the tree!! Now if I could only get him to eat that!

Mom's turn: Garden Madness

If I’m a biking nerd, as my HH says, then he is by far a much bigger gardening nerd!!! Between composting, babying new seedlings inside with a thermometer on my stove,

and now compost tea. HUH?!?!?!?! He definitely takes organic gardening to heart; I’m so glad he’s got his “happy” back even if it means a bucket of bubbling muck, I mean tea, in his office!

humble beginnings

lots of hard work

a little bit of extra love





protection from the hungry wildlife


and TA-DAH...baby figs

vine ripening blackberries


perfect tomatoes

and sweet raspberries on the way

My HH’s hard work is certainly paying off…we have a beautiful garden that is going to produce tons of fruit & veggies!! I’m so excited!

Mom's turn: Ode to the Moon

The moon is at her full, and riding high, Floods the calm fields with light. The airs that hover in the summer sky Are all asleep to-night.

Author: William Cullen Bryant

Source: The Tides

Dog Gone Boot!

I am back in the boot again! Shucks!!

This time I have a high ankle sprain. It is on the same foot, my right ankle, only last time it was a fracture. Personally I think the high ankle sprain hurts a lot worse. Hopefully I wont have to stay in the boot for too long.

Mom's turn: Phantastic Pachaderms

My elephant obsession has taken me to a new low. I purchased a fingernail polish, sight unseen, simply because it had the word “elephant” in it’s name: ElePhantastic Pink, by OPI. After looking it up on their website at least it appears to be a pretty enough color…I’m so ashamed, not! I LOVE ELEPHANTS, and I thought this was very witty and charming play of words on OPI’s new summer collection based on culture and colors from India. I’ve also purchased Color of the Zen-tury, from their Japanese collection for Christina. I think it’s a fun and simple way to enjoy our passions more and can’t wait to show off my summer toes when it comes in!

BRRRRR - in April????

SOOO we went to the Alexandria soccer tournament a few weekends ago, and before we left it was in the 90’s! Then we go to the tournament and it drops down all the way to the low 50’s!! So of course I did not have any warm jackets or sweatshirts! But my awesome mom came to the rescue and got me the COOLEST(!) sweatshirt. It is light blue tie-dye, and has my jersey number on it along with the picture they used for the tournament. It is warm and snuggly and all my soccer friends were jealous!

Mom's turn: Feeling Scrappy!

I love scrap booking!! Unfortunately I have a hard time finding the extra time to sit for hours and become creative. That’s where my fabulous Stampin’ Up distributor and great friend comes in handy. She holds a monthly “hostess club” and teaches us some new and fabulous technique each time we go. We come away from the night with a bag full of goodies, one completed layout, and all of the ambition in the world that we can now tackle our very own projects at home!!!

no commenting on how OLD the photos are

I adore this layout...when my sweet baby was still amused by her mother!! The definition and poem make it complete!

GIRL - n: a squadron of pink ribbons; will learn to say "gimme" almost automatically


She's a bundle of sweetness and brightness and fun.
The beauty of springtime, the warmth of the sun.
She's Innocence covered with mud, sand and soot.
She's Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.
She's a composite picture of giggles and tears,
of tantrums, excitement, amusement and feers.
A bundle of mischief and often a tease.
A creature of moods, not too easy to please.
She can capture your heart with her pixie-like grin
or chatter and beg till your patience wears thin.
But obedient, naughty, mischievous or coy
she's Mom's little Darling
and Dad's pride and joy.



cathcing up - this was 2007!!!!!!!!! And this is where MY ambition kicked in...


AND THIS YEAR!!!! WAHOOOO. Another one of our Hostess Club ideas

Pictures of pictures really don't do the layouts justice; there are so many fine details on the layouts that get lost in the translation. But I love having them here - it means the world to me knowing that I will have a beautiful legacy to pass down to my DD!!!!

Mom's turn: Time to be spoiled

Today was the grand opening of Sephora, a beauty chain founded in France that has intense, eye-catching makeup colors similar to M.A.C. Christina found this store last year while she was in Arizona visiting a friend and then again in Miami. She has been dancing in her pants every since she found out we were getting one at our mall this spring. SOOOO of course we needed to play hooky and hit the opening day and it paid off BIG. She was fortunate enough to get a time slot with Emily Massa, a make-up artist on Sephora’s Pro Beauty Team. She was in from Chicago to help with the opening day only and was doing make-up consultations. Christina was able to get a total makeover, ask questions for her skin type, eye color & shape, and learn day & night techniques.

As a bonus she found out about the schooling Emily had gone through and the fact that her job (playing with make-up, what girl wouldn’t love that) now takes her traveling across the world! She was originally from New Orleans, too. They hit it off great and Emily was a wonderful help. The way the artists teach at Sephora is that they makeover one side of your face and you follow along on the other side; I find that much more helpful than other places doing it all for you and you forgetting by the time you get home.

more practice when we got home...

Mom's turn: America's Most Wanted

Okay…the washer is STILL out and the clothes are overtaking my world. SOOO – on to the friendly laundry mat…what was I thinking?!?!?!?! Being the only person of the female gender, which was surprising, and definitely the only one of Scandinavian origin, I ventured in at dark. DUH. But when the option of running around naked or doing laundry at a public facility faces you, you tend to loose your senses and jump right in. I ran in to wash only, as my dryer is in perfect working order, and was immediately accosted by a very large, dark, gentleman in a bandana standing guard at the door playing Mrs. Packman!!!!!!!!!! I hurriedly threw the two loads in and ran back to the car to lock myself in and wait there. That did not detour others that came knocking on the window trying to get my attention and get me out of the car…ahhhhhhh. Okay – coast is clear and the spin cycle has got to be finished. I dash inside – while struggling with the exceptionally heavy clothes – again…what was I thinking?!?!?!?! – Mr. Bandana follows me out to my car. Talking the entire time while I, on the other hand, am ignoring him, I jump in the car and take off…he then attempts to pursue me ON HIS BIKE! This has got to be a joke – thank goodness for great horsepower and refined oil!!!

Mom's turn: Fieldtrip

We took a fieldtrip yesterday and were greeted by Gus the friendly turkey...unknown to us at the time!

Gus struttin' his stuff

When we arrived we were having trouble telling if he was in love with the Bug – or overly aggressive towards us! Thankfully it was the former. He followed us all the way up to the entrance of Oakley Plantation House. We were excited to see some of the original items and to learn about the house that had been completed in 1806.

Brooke modeling the slave's attire of the 1800's

It was owned by several generations of the same family so it has one of the largest collections of original antique items. Also, John James Audubon tutored one of the children for a summer and while he was there he drew 34 of his famous bird artworks.

They have several of his pictures on display however pictures didn’t turn out well due to the fact that you can’t use a flash inside. We enjoyed walking on the nature trail where he used to find his specimens to sketch.

Teeny & Brooke taking a rest and enjoying nature

Look at the beautiful Wisteria!! I love spring.

We saw several tung tree blossoms, birds, cherry laurels, and pitcher plants. We then went into the main house for a tour. Unfortunately, Teeny was not feeling well, so she and Travis sat outside and waited for me and Brooke to finish. There were several demonstrations around the grounds, too: bird demonstration with a barred owl,

She was a very beautiful, injured owl that would never be rehabbed enough to be released in the wild again...so the zoo was taking care of her

reptile demonstration with several corn snakes, and other various activities. Again, since Teeny wasn’t feeling well we skipped most of these and went back to the house to get some lunch. It was a wonderful place, though, and we all said how much we’d like to come back again.

Mom's turn: Better Late Than Never

Okay – I know it’s the “thought that counts”, but I really did feel terrible about getting my aunt’s birthday present mailed out to her over two weeks late! However I think it will DEFINITELY be worth the wait…as it is another Teeny Original. She drew this picture of a Boston Terrier – my aunt used to breed these dogs and has always had a soft spot for them. Currently she just has one, her name is Baby.