I'm Baaaacccckkkk!

I'm back and very happy to know that someone missed me.  The end of the school year is always stressful for teachers.  We have state testing (ridiculous), district benchmarks (not-so-ridiculous), and grades and books and parent phone calls.  Okay, so it's over now, I can stop the ranting.  But I have been keeping myself busy with growing tomatoes.  Yes, I have been nursing a tomato plant.  Can't beleive it myself!!  From start to finish here are the photos.  I even purchased one of those Topsy Turvy contraptions. 

After a couple of weeks I moved the plant to the Topsy Turvy.  Wish I had a video camera for that!

The most exciting part for me was when the tomatoes started turning red!!  This gardening project was so relaxing for me and took my mind off my job!

And then there was the taste-test.  Yummy.  I think I am now officially a tomato-grower.

Curl Up With My Kindle?

One of my favorite things to do is to curl up and read a good book.  I can still remember the first Scholastic paper back book my mom purchased for me - a story about a princess and a dragon.  I can still smell the newness of the book and the way the pages had to be bent back.  And then later on in life, when I became an adult,  I purchased my first hard back book - and it was love at first sight.  After that, I always found it difficult to buy a paper back book -- and then came the Kindle.  Talk about an adjustment!!

What I love most about my Kindle - I don't have to drive to the bookstore, or wait for a clerk to order my book.  I can download a sample of a book before I purchase it and I can download magazines.  Sure, it has been an adjustment, but curling up with my Kindle has been the best experience ever.

The Bird Cage

A few months ago, I purchased beautiful drapes from JC Penny's Custom Draperies.  I absolutely fell in love with the Bird Cage Curtain Rods.  Now, the Curtain Rods literally cost more than the draperies.  That says alot since the draperies are far from standard length.  The drapes are  22ft in length!! I have very high ceilngs. Of course, I saw a Bird-Cage Lamp base at JC Penny's that I wanted but thought that 80.00 for a lamp base was a bit expensive, considering that in a couple of years or months I could possible change my mind - again.  Well, I was right.  I found the exact same item at Walmart (of all places) for 19.00!!! OMG! What a find.  Check out the photos.

This was such an unbelievable perfect match!!!  I love it.

My Backyard Get-Away!

The 3-tier Italian water fountain has been installed.  I was a little nervous at first - thinking it might be too big for the patio, but it turned out perfect.  Had I chosen a smaller water feature,  the patio would have just swallowed it up. 

It was nice to come home after work and sit out on the patio and have a martini.  I have been dreaming about doing this for a year!  The weather is perfect right now for dinner and drinks on the paito.  I am looking forward to inviting friends over for afternoon drinks or maybe even a Spring brunch. 

What I really enjoy the most about my new purchase is that I can enjoy it from the indoors as well.  The effect that I was going for - when guest walk into the great room, the fountain and the paito furniture entice guest to go outside.  The other plus is that when the weather is not so nice, I still have a beautiful view from the great room.  I love this!

Cake Pops

My first attempt at Strawberry Cake Balls

I never claimed to be Martha Stewart, but I do enjoy cooking delicious cakes for my family.  I found a recipe for cake pops and cake balls on one of my favorite cooking blogs called Bakerella. Of course my attempt at cake balls did not come out as beautiful as hers, but they were delicious.

These tasty little bites of cake are great with afternoon coffee or tea.  Check out the recipe atBakerella.  Very easy and simple to make. Enjoy!

Out of the Loop!

day 459: oy vay!
Originally uploaded by snowdeal

I haven't posted any blogs for a while because I have been in bed with the flu - despite the fact that I had a flu shot!! HELLO!!!! Oh, well, I hope to be up and blogging again soon. Miss hearing from everyone.

It's All About the Brush

Recycled Candle Holder

Search Amazon.com for mac makeup brushes

I found a creative way (or at least I thought it was creative) to store my Mac make-up brushes.  When I apply makeup in the mornings before work, the last thing I want to do is get up from my vanity, dig through my handbag -a.k.a. The Black Hole, Bottomless Pit - to look for my makeup bag.   I found a decorative tea-light holder that was no longer being used for that purpose and decided it would be a great way to have my brushes handy. 

This very simple solution helps to keep my brushes clean and displayed beautifully on my bathroom vanity.