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Adoption Fundraiser :: Eric and Teresa Johnson

This Saturday, May 1, 2010, open house from 5:00pm - 8:00pm at the Home School Building (5625 Burlingame Wyoming, Mi). Please come and support them! We'll have great food and the best of people!

Craft Night :: Adoption Fundraiser

Another Tuesday night festivity for us girls occasionally includes a craft or two. Recently, we worked on some center pieces for this really great fundraiser we're planning. Let me tell you about it.

You see, I have this friend who just happens to be my cousin, Teresa. We've been best friends from day 1; it's just how our parents raised us. And we've just done life together. I was her maid of honor, she was mine. We even share a living space, as it is that we rent the lower half of their duplex. It just works out so well.

So now, we've come to the next exciting part of our lives-families! And I couldn't be more happy for her and Eric to start theirs. And they've decide to expand via adoption. They are currently in the process of adopting a little one from the Congo! And I am so excited! (As are they, of course.)

And this Saturday, May 1st, we will be having a fundraiser to help them get there! It's going to be a grand event, it really is; and you should be there! But even if you cannot, feel free to follow Teresa through the process on her blog http://surveyofalife.blogspot.com/.

Anyway, as I was saying, we recently made some really terrific centerpieces for the whole ordeal, and I wanted to share a what this little gathering looked like...

Michelle with her mad cutting skills.

Brook, modeling what we could potentially use the airplanes for in the future.

Oh, and because they're so cute, I thought Gavin and Rubes should make a special appearance.

For updates on the fundraiser and how these center pieces turned out, tune in next week! (As well as later this week when I will share more deets on the event.)

Cooking :: Eggplant Parmesan

In my world, every Tuesday night is girls' night. It's a delightful event in which some of my favorite ladies and I get together and watch some shows, eat, and chat about life. We used to knit, and I fully plan on starting back up eventually, but sometimes you just need a break from certain things.

We try to rotate who brings food, but our gracious hostess, Brook, usually is the one to supply the goods. This past week, though, I wanted to contribute. So I attempted a new meal that I ended being quite please with: Eggplant Parmesan. I was very excited because this is not something we can make at home; Patrick is not a fan of this lovely purple delight. But thank goodness, my friends definitely are!

Aren't they just beautiful? Straight from Martha's Vineyard.
Just threw them on the grill after tossing them with some extra virgin olive oil and a nice pinch of sea salt. Everything looks better grilled. Add some parmesan...And combine with a salad, asparagus roasted with garlic cloves (thank you Charles), and delicious red skins. It was a heavenly feast.

It's Birthday Week!

So, I just so happen to love birthdays. And I just so happen to really love Patrick. And today just so happens to be, Patrick's birthday! It may be the best day ever!

Patrick has always made sure my birthday was special. One year he threw me a surprise ball. Everyone wore formal dresses and everything. It was magical! So, needless to say, sometimes I feel a little pressure in the birthday category. And while this year, I may not have the means to throw a ball, I tried to do some little things here and there.

Like this...

And this to a photo of Patrick when he was just a little guy...And this...And the Black Eyed Peas part of me did this...And I wish I could say I was responsible for this sweet gem, but irregardless, it was a very nice birthday treat!

Happy birthday, boo. I love you beyond words. And I am so grateful to celebrate your life! You're my best friend and I can't wait to gorge ourselves on infinite amounts of cosco cake.

Frills on Top

This week I had a fun little entrepreneurial shoot with my dear friend Renee who makes these awesome headbands and hats. We took some photos so she can have something to show people who are interested and had such a blast! I loved all the colors she had, aren't they just beautiful?

She even made the tutu!

Project!

Oh the joy of white, glossy spray paint. It has become a dear friend of mine as of late, as well as a great inspiration for a little redecorating of our living room. You need that kind of inspiration every now and again, don't you? It's one of those things that keeps you moving.

So, I've had this gold framer for quite some time. It actually started out as a mirror that I had found in my mother's basement when she moved in. I loved it! I kept it as is for awhile. But unfortunately one particular door shutting led to it falling off the hook and the glass shattered. So, I toted it all the way to Tulsa and back without any reason to hold onto it, besides the fact that I still very much loved it. It was until this past week I decided I really needed to make use of this beauty... and ta-da! Success!

Here's how it went:

Starting Piece

This is what the professionals do if you don't feel like the handle is working well enough.

Add some fabric in the middle, and you've got yourself some pure beauty!

Baby Emma

I am so excited to be an aunt (the favorite, no less) once again! Emma Allison O'Dell was born to my brother & sister-in-law on April 1st. I was hoping to be there for her birth, but scooted in just seconds after she was born. And from that first moment, she was absolutely one of the most precious babies I have ever met. She is just so sweet and cuddly.

Dana and Keri, I am so happy to be an Aunt to sweet little Emma. She warms my heart and I cannot wait to be a part of her life. As always, thanks for letting me taking 2 million photos of your family! It's my favorite.

Isn't she just so sweet?One of the only ones with Grayson actually looking at me... I guess that's your luck with the 3 year old brother.Now, I know this one of Aidan isn't so sentimental in how he's looking at Emma or anything like that. But, I just love his laugh and this is one of my favorites. I think this was the point where Grayson had hit Uncle Patrick with a pop-bottle on the head.

Uncle Patrick was there to keep things going. I love how much they love him.

And how he participates in doing hair when necessary.

Aren't these shirts the cutest?