Some Quick Things....

Clara is napping so I probably don't have much time but there are some cute things I want to share:

~ I saw this quote on Pinterest and LOVED IT.  Hope you  like it too!  I tried hard to find the original source but keep getting led to a bunch of Tumblr pages.  NO CAN DO.  If you know where credit is due, please fill me in! 

~ Lately I've been spending a good deal of time in Sophie's classroom volunteering.  I am LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT.  Don't even bother writing to tell me how I missed my calling as a teacher. I already know this.  Luckily, I can volunteer and still get my fix of these amazing children.  They inspire me.  I read an article recently about how children are not only our future ~ they're also, and more importantly, our present.  This is always at the forefront of my mind when I'm there in front of them.  They teach me as much as I teach them.  I was the mystery reader this morning and I took three of my favorite books to read: It's Okay To Be Different, Big Al and Sunday Chutney (Clearly I like books about diversity!).  One page of It's Okay To Be Different says: "It's okay to have an invisible friend."  After all the books were done and I was helping the kids get lined up for lunch, Sophie called me over.  She told me her friend, Sean, had something to tell me.  He looked me right in the eye, with a HUGE smile, and said, "I have an invisible friend".  "Really", I replied, "what's his name?".  Kevin.  "Well Sean, when you  get home today, you tell Kevin I said hello."  With that he smiled SO BIG and gave me a big hug and asked if I could stay for lunch with the class.  How adorable is that?  I think I made his day. And he definitely made mine!!!  

~ My Iggy Pop post for today will be a little late. I have to get more photos scanned and in digital format.  It's been a busy week with Halloween and volunteering, etc and I haven't had a free moment to look through photos and head to Target.  

~ A quick shot of the Halloween costumes this year (for the grandparents!):

For the record, Soph's costume is supposed to be a witch costume. Were it not for the hat, I would think it to be a space costume or Jane Jetson's dress from the show.

~ Because I CANNOT RESIST, here are a couple of Sophie's pictures in the astronaut costume when she was one year old!

(This last one is truly one of  my favorite pictures of all time! Sophie was an adorable baby.)

Fortieth Fiesta Fun

On Saturday I hosted a Fiesta party in honor of Alain's 40th birthday.  Full Disclosure: his birthday was actually back in December but we were inundated with caring for Clara back then ~ the reflux was bad and we were barely sleeping.  Therefore I postponed the party and held it at the 40 1/2 point mark.  Everything turned out great and we had a wonderful time.  As is usual for me, I took almost no pictures.  Note to self: ask a friend to help take pictures or hire a photographer.  Luckily, Elizabeth reminded me to take pictures of some of my work before the party started. Thanks to her I can share this little glimpse of just a few party details....

Those cacti that I planted in the vintage pots were displayed around the house.

A glimpse of the dessert table.  I need to work on my dessert table skills....clearly.  They always seem fine in person but then look so skimpy in pictures.  Noted.  I ended up making a little garland with those Fiesta Flowers I'd posted about.

As always, Elizabeth made the cake.  I told her exactly what I wanted and she NAILED IT.  Just a nice simple white cake with the mini-pinata on top.  Hmmmm.....

Fruit kabobs displayed on palm leaves and a lovely flan.

Note: If you ever choose to use palm leaves for display, please be aware that they have crazy spines which hurt when they get stuck in your fingers.  Really hurt.  Before using them on the table, I donned some rubber gloves and pulled all the spines out. I'd have to think twice before doing this again....

Favor bags....filled with an assortment of yummy Mexican candies.

Self-explanatory.

A close-up of the vintage fiesta fabric that I purchased a year and a half ago at the Atlanta Country Living Fair.  This fabric is what inspired me to choose a fiesta theme for the party.

I tried my first Jarritos on Saturday and it was so much better than I thought it would be. I'm sure it won't be my last!

Yet one more idea found and saved via Pinterest.

One of my favorite party details was the collection of Mexican postcards.  Guests could choose a card and write a message to Alain.  Sophie's was my favorite ~ it said, "I Love You, Birthday Boy".  She chose the words.  Too cute.

Another of my favorite details.  I borrowed my Dad's Crib Spring and made this sign using old letters I'd purchased at a Collectibles & Antiques Show.

Now you must've known I wouldn't ask for a very simple and plain white cake!!!  The cake was so gorgeous....the colors were perfection....one of the prettiest cakes I've had the pleasure of eating.

A little display for the guest restroom.

And a few lovely flowers tucked in here and there!

I can't believe the party's over. I think I'll rest a few days and move on to the next one.....

PS ~ My Fortieth Fiesta Pinterest Board is where I saved all of these ideas and inspiration.

Pinteresting

I've made no secret of my addiction to Pinterest. If someone were to ask me what my greatest source of inspiration is I'd have to say Pinterest. Ben, the guy who invented the site, is genius. I recently checked my boards to see what was up and WHAT? I had to check several times. Yes, my Party Inspiration board has over 2,200 followers. Several of my boards do. I get about 10-15 new followers each day. The last time I checked the number was around 200 or so. Every once in a while I look around to see which pins o' mine are capturing other people's interests. On my boards, hands down, it's this image.....

At this moment in time, it's been repinned 262 times and has 24 likes. I pinned this over a year ago from Amy Atlas' blog. She originally found the project in Family Fun. Almost all of the repins have occurred in the last month or so. Makes me wonder what suddenly happened to make others take notice of this particular pin. Aaahhh, the wonders of social media!

The second most popular pin is this one....

A very pink and pretty baby shower that I originally found on Style Me Pretty. Currently it's been repinned 164 times and has 14 likes. It's also over a year old but has been repinned pretty consistently over that time period.

When it comes to Pinterest, I know exactly which of my friends and family use the site. It's often the topic of conversation when we're together. I love to pin something specifically for one of my followers. And I love when someone repins and thanks me for the idea (Hi Mariel!). Actually, it's thanks to a pin from Mariel a few days ago that I discovered Clara's Valentine's Day present (via Uncommon Goods)....

I also found Sophie's Valentine's Day present via Pinterest....

Believe me, as precious as this print is in this copied image, it's many times more so in person. I am now a devoted follower of Lori's at Fresh Picked Whimsy. This won't be the last time I make a purchase from her adorable, delicious little shop. Her blog is great too.

My mother-in-law started using Pinterest about five months ago. When we were on the phone one day I asked her about it and she said, "Pinterest has changed my life". It made me laugh at first. I guess because it tickled my soul. Amen, Cristina. Amen. You and me both!

*** smile ***

PS ~ If you're so inclined, you can follow my Pinterest boards here.