Freckled Star

A little something.........

Well my weekend did not go quite as planned........

With Zachary's flights being delayed instead of getting in at 11:30 in the morning it was 8 at night and in LA. Bleh!! But he got home:) Add to that the boat broke down as soon as Frank and Tyler got it in the lake so guess what they came home!! And then our little Sandy Cheeks became very ill Saturday night so we got to take a trip to the 24 hour emergency hospital:(

So my weekend of relaxation, no cooking and crafting didn't turn out the way I planned:)

But when life gives you lemons make lemonade right??!! So I did get some crafting done! Lindsay's "It's all About a Girl" scrapbook is DONE! Pictures and all:) Really so much fun and the Tiffany theme is so stinkin' cute! And even Frank was going thru all the pictures I had laid out all over the kitchen counter. Like the one of him blowing bubbles in our house in Philadelphia New York on a cold snowy day for Zachary and Lindsay. They were 2 and 5 years old:) Brings back so many memories!

I also made these this weekend...........

Add a little bling..........

Then I tied a vintage hankie on the stem........

So sweet right!! These were just a little thank you to all my friends who spent the day with me Sunday for my very belated birthday:)

I won't even tell you much how much they cost to make because you would die!! But I find the simplest pleasures (and most inexpensive one's) have been the best lately. These can be used for glasses. Tie a wisp of rosemary and a little flower on the stem and serve tea or lemonade in them for the hot summer nights that are on their way. Or salt the rim and have a margarita:) My friend Jamie already has flowers in hers. I think Kim said something about pencils or brushes. Oh the possibilities!

Then on Monday my soldiers spent a very relaxing day at home and I made good ol' fashioned macaroni salad for the first time. It was delish:)

It was a beautiful day.

 

I'm here..........

Yes I am.

This life of mine has just been so busy lately I haven't had time to gather any of my thoughts much less sit and type about them:)

This week my oldest son, my first born, is jumping out of planes. Flown by our very capable Air Force. But still a mom worries........

Then he called, he did it, he was safe on the ground, he had landed in a tree. 30 feet up for 30 minutes before they could get him and the guy who jumped behind him down. Apparently after the guy behind him they wouldn't let anyone else jump. You see the wind had picked up. My boy had already jumped. So as the wind carried him away he could see where he was supposed to land fade into the background and the ever lovely canopy of Georgia trees that awaited him. He's laughing about it now. I asked well that does jump count? He said yes as long as you get your ass out of the plane it counts. Whew! So he could of landed in Alabama and it would have counted:)

Also he told me he was fine. But he told his dad his legs got all banged up. Probably feels like he got hit by a car this morning. And now he's probably on another plane getting ready to jump. I try not think about it........

My daughter graduates high school today. She's worked so hard and had to get over many obstacles but she made it. I made it! There were days I wanted to strangle her, days I wanted to punch her teachers and days I wanted to just hide in my closet. I gave her a ring that was my mother's. Hard to believe that when she died that was the week Lindsay "graduated" from preschool. Where does the time go...........

Anyone?

Can you tell me??

Tyler will start working at the dealership this summer. Just like Chris, my brother, did and Zachary did at 15. A Rojas-Villarreal boys right of passage. Washing cars, picking up cigarette butts, pulling weeds, sweeping service bays, freshening up paint and listening to way too many dirty words and inappropriate stories from the salesmen. Yep he'll be my next one jumping out of planes before I know it! That was a JOKE God! Please let this one want to do something safe like go to college and chase skirts! I have a feeling that's not in the cards for me though.......

So Frank bought a motorcycle. May have not mentioned that before. Right after he got home from Iraq. Because you know that wasn't dangerous enough. His gear he has to wear also costs more than a Dolce Gabbana suit with matching handbag and Jimmy Choo slingbacks. And guess what??

Now I have all that crap too because he wants me to ride with him. Brings back memories of when I had to take all the classes to get certified in Scuba. I would rather have had a Louis Vuitton;)

But I went on my first ride Mother's Day weekend and it wasn't so bad. Especially when he took me to an Olive Estate with a tasting room. I also don't think I have mentioned my love affaire with olive oils and vinegars. It's a problem. I blame it on the cooking! But other than it being a little hot and looking like a doche in my BMW jacket that weighs 100 pounds and sporting the boots that make my legs look like tree stumps it wasn't that bad;) I guess I can't be fashionable all the time especially when we stopped at the oldest bar in Pozo and it's claim to fame is the pictures of the public hangings that used to go on out front. Which they proudly display in the restaurant along with the dollar bills they have stapled all over the ceiling. Cowboys back then were scandalous to be certain!!

And now it looks like I'll be taking my second ride on Memorial Day up to Ojai. I so hope a Day Spa is involved:)

So in between the growing of more gray hair I have only been in my scrapbook room to clean. It literally exploded Tiffany!! I still can't believe all the stuff I got. Not only from the event and swaps but the generosity of all the women I was with is just beyond measure!

And now summer is here and Zachary will be home for his 2 weeks soon. Then Lindsay will start college in July. I don't think I'll have time to breathe, I mean really breathe until August:)

I do have a some great classes coming up in Coronado though mid June and I can't wait. I hopefully won't fall asleep in them lol:)

I'll be back periodically so don't give up on me:)

Have a wonderful rest of the week!!

The classes.........

Kecia Deveney..........

The class sample.

The kit.

Mine in process.

And about finished, it's a little blurry:)

Laura McCollough.......

Now that's the class sample but mine came out the same sooooo.........

That's a better picture:)

Lonnie Jenck.........

The kit and a torch:)

Class sample.

And here is mine now.

Still a work in process:)

Jeanne Oliver.........

Class sample.

See the slow fade:)

I unfortunately had to miss Saturday to get ready for my dad's 60th birthday party. So about a 1/2 hour into Lonnie's class it became crisis central at my house when the tent/rental people showed up 3 hours early! Now had I been home they would have been 3 hours late. Isn't that how the universe works lol:) So I missed the last two classes but they will get done!! And when they do I'll post pictures. Can't wait to get my hands on that journal and it's a good thing I've got girlfriends (hint,hint) that can show me exactly what to do:)

But with that said..........

Dad's party was perfect!

And the cake was alot of fun!!

Look at the license plate. That's so cool!

I don't know what was a bigger hit the cake and cupcakes or the cigars! Either way they were all gone!

Well that about wraps it up for me! Leaving for Cayucos tomorrow and I must say I CAN NOT wait to get to the beach!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

See you next week!!

The swaps........

Lots of pictures today!

The Oh So Chic Bottle Swap.......

Mine was made by the lovely Karen France and the swap was hosted by Erin Barraza.......

Forever Holly-Altered Vintage Jewelry Box Swap.........

My box created by Tara Wilson and the swap hosted by Angela Howard.........

A Very Charming Tiffany's Necklace Swap......

There were 20 ladies in this swap, each making a charm. Hosted by the so talented Rochelle Gaukel.....

The Never Go Lightly Tiara Swap..........

My fabulous tiara was made by Erin Barraza and the swap was hosted by Denise Hahn........

The Stylish Girl's Compact Swap.........

My pretty compact made by Terry Frias and swap hosted by me:)

And I am getting a nice collection started! Two more I got from Cheryl and Jessi:)

The Holly Go Comfy Slipper Swap........

My slippers were made by Cheryl Stoneham and she hosted it too!!

And those were all of them:)

I could not have been happier!

They were all absolutely gorgeous and I will treasure each one:)

Lucky, lucky, lucky to know and love such talented women!!

Happy Wednesday:)

 

The Affaire..........

The beginning........

Cheryl and Terry's Cocktail Party.......

Cupcakes provided by the lovely Julie Weller of Cupcake DD.........

The Little Black Dresses...........

And the lovely Erin Barraza.........

Then guess what......

I started drinking and there will be no more pictures;)

Vendor night is a blur but I did get some really cool necklaces from Rochelle, I broke down and got my Mermaid Necklace from Lisa Loria and I had to have this Santos from Kecia that was so beautiful I couldn't stand it!!

After that Kim and her little elves went to work!

This is what we walked into Friday morning........

The ladies started arriving and I just stood at the door watching everyone's expressions as they walked in. It was priceless! So much hard work goes into all Kim's events and I think sometimes she doesn't get to really appreciate it because of course she is working. But it was really something special to hear all the ohh's and ahh's as they walked in. And then of course it's camera action non stop:)

And that's just looking at everything! Then you get into all the goodies!! The goodie bags were overflowing with treats. Inside the Tiffany bag a Pottery Barn jewelry box and cuff. As if the Tiffany bag wasn't enough! Then a chocolate Tiffany Box that is just too cute for words! Everything thought of. The silver trays we got to keep, they hold all our jewelry making kit. The itinerary and Audrey wand. The beautiful brooch on the chairs. All ours!! Incredible and we haven't even started making anything yet:)

I think that's enough for one post. I'm getting overwhelmed lol:)

Be back soon........

Just a few words:)

Well I am back from Missouri!

It was a wonderful trip. We were both so proud of Zachary and he was over the moon proud of himself!!

He stayed with us at the B&B and it was perfect. Much needed R&R for him that's for sure. Home cooked meals, a long hot shower, a comfy bed and an HD t.v. what more could you ask for??!!

We could not have had a nicer place to stay. The Almoost Heaven Bed and Breakfast was perfect! Gorgeous home and land. Out in the middle of nowhere but you know me lol:) JoLynn and Brian were so nice it was like staying with friends. It was very peaceful and relaxing. Wish the weather would have cooperated a little more, the deck was awesome.

Speaking of the weather.........

It sucked!

If it's not hot and humid one minute, it's raining, if it's not raining it's socked in with fog and it's cold. Also seeing tornado shelters all over post was a little disconcerting. Seeing big black clouds gathering made me want to pee my pants as well. Especially driving down some back country road with no cell reception and acres and acres of open space. I'll take earthquakes any day thank you very much!!

So now I know why it's called Fort Lost in the Woods! And although the countryside is beautiful the roadkill and bugs the size of Sandy Cheeks are not!! Which were evident all over our piece of crap Nissan Versa's windshield and hood:( And I used to think armadillos were cute but once you've seen about 50 of them squashed along the side of the road it starts to make your stomach turn a wee bit. It's like something out of a horror movie! They do not get hit by cars well at all! ICK!! And I don't believe they have animal control like here in good ol' California who come and get them off the road. I believe they must wait til something bigger than them comes and drags them into the woods. Apparently armadillos are not the tastiest, not even then vultures would touch them unlike that deer that we could still smell 5 miles down the road!! Moving on............:)

So we left our first born there. It was sad to say the least. He leaves for Fort Benning Georgia this week for Airborne school. By bus lol!! Gotta love the Army:)

Let's see what else........

My birthday was Monday:) I turned 39. One more year til the big 4 0!!

This last couple of days have been about getting all the final details hammered out for my dad's 60th Birthday party on Sunday. Lindsay and I decided to do the flower arrangements so things needed to be bought. Caterers needed to be called, party rentals needed to be scheduled and right now I am waiting for the carpet cleaner. And I just remembered I still need to get back to the Cakery with the cupcake flavor. See always something to do!! Jeez:)

But in less than 24 hours I will be in Manhattan Beach!!

Affaire at Tiffany's this week at the Belamar:) Gosh it seems like this has been in the works forever. I can't believe it's finally here. I am all ready. My swaps are packed. Along with gifties for friends, my craft tote and my little black dress. I can't wait to see everyone! It is so incredible to have friends from all over the U.S. that can come together a couple of times a year and just have the best time.

To old friends and new......

See you soon:)

*No Close to My Heart project this week. I'll get back to the program next week and it's a good one;)