My Happy List

There are sooo many things on my happy list this week.

I will post pictures once it is done but I finally have furniture in J's old pink room. Big plans for the decor including some super fun wall art....now we just need 2 little girls to move in. I adore the bedding I got on CLEARANCE for $11...adorable, owls, and perfect for a pink bedroom and the new girlie twin white rod iron beds. So stay tuned...*squeal*

What is it about a trip to Costco and the market that makes me feel so happy? I just love seeing my cabinets, freezer and refrigerator full. Not to mention my super cute snack jars...Goldfish, granola bars, raisins, pretzels and sugar free candies...what is not to love? I HEART Costco!

I found the coolest strawberry slicer "kit" at Bed, Bath and Beyond. It had a little strawberry shaped colander and I had it in my basket ready to buy it for $12.99. UNTIL I got to a clearance rack and found TWO colander free slicers for $.98 who needs the strawberry shaped colander (that was obviously cheap since at least two broke in delivery). I use to use an egg slicer to cut my strawberries but after a while the little wires get stretched and weak. This adorable strawberry shaped slicer has actual blades...I love it!




mmmm...AND I picked up the other one to add to my Red, White and Blue Swap package. I cannot wait! I have been gathering Red, White and Blue goodness for weeks now!

I just got the FIRST draft of the illustration portion of my new blog design. Holy cuteness! I just know I am going to love it!! April of AprilShowersBlogDesign designed my current blog and she is doing a little makeover for me. She is working with an amazing illustrator and wowzer, pure talent. I can harly wait until it is done.

I am headed over the hill this weekend for a HUGE community yard sale in my sister's neighborhood. We have sooooo much stuff to sell. I have been doing a major Spring clean purge, just having the junk out of the house is making me feel FANTASTIC!!!

My health has been phenomenal. I just had my labs done and everything looks amazing. I have the diabetes totally under control just by changing my diet and the meds. No more insulin for me. I am determined to get off the meds too. My pain is gone thanks to the new nerve pain medication and I just feel back to my old self...and that feels good!

Randoms and a Winner!

Jordan had her BFF Emma over and Big Daddy was showing the girls a new app he got for his phone called Google Sky Maps. He was showing them how you could type in different planets and constellations point your phone to the sky and it finds what you are looking for. J said, "cool, let's find Earth!!"

umm...OK.

I forgot to announce a winner for the $25 Target card...silly me. The winner Myya was selected by random.org. Congrats Myya...send me your mailing address and I will stick your card in the mail!

Thanks to everyone for entering.

I am going to host another giveaway when my new blog design is finished. I just checked the wait list over at AprilShowersBlogDesign and mine is currently being illustrated. I am so excited. I am so ready for a new design. My current design was the first one April ever did for someone else and believe it or not she has gotten even better and has hired on an illustrator. Seriously I can't wait!!!

AND

Of course there is the monthly drawing EXCLUSIVELY from my list of followers for super awesome prizes...yep, just for following. I know, I am awesome.

Have you become a fan of Dandelion Wishes on Facebook? I am thinking I should also send a little prize out to one of my FB fans each month too...what do you think?

I have had several people ask if I am going to host a Red White & Blue Swap this Summer and the answer is YES!! I have already started gathering RW&B goodness...you should too. Watch for the RSVP list, I have a feeling it's going to fill up fast!

Hmm...I think that is everything for now.

True L-O-V-E!!!

Remember when our little Princess Jordan use to hunt for frogs?

You've seen the VIDEOS of her catching them and naming them (can you believe that was 3 years ago).

And these pictures of her making those little frogs fall madly in love with her...

Watch...it's amazing. Pay close attention to the frog's face and body.

Smoooooch!!!
Now is it just me or is that frog smiling?

See it? (clickety to biggefy)

Crazy right?

Madly, deeply in love. But really, can ya blame a frog?

LOOK at those beautiful blue eyes!!

Now...what you haven't seen is 2 yrs later...

when by chance...

at a random street fair...

the frog and the Princess are reunited

AND

not wanting to lose the princess again

HE PROPOSES!!!

Yep, THAT is L-O-V-E....

Can you believe he has been carrying around that ring for two years in the hopes of reuniting with this beautiful blue eyed girl?

Yea, me too.

Of course the Queen of Everything and the King of Quite-A-Lot are not ready to give the Princess away, I mean really, she is 14...but still she was flattered by his undying love and devotion.

I have a feeling this is just one of the many hearts she will be breaking!

Hosted by Cecilyand Pam

Giggle Girls!

I heard the giggles from the other side of the house. I had no idea what the girls were doing but I knew they were having a great time so of course, being Mamarazzi, I grabbed the camera.

Wii? Really, all that laughter from playing Wii?

Baseball on Wii...who knew it was funny?

These girls...I guess.

Maybe it is just a natural condition of being a teenager, the giggle thing.

I walked away a little perplexed.

Was I that giggle-ish when I was her age?

My mind was flooded with memories of slumber parties and good times with friends.

I found my answer a few hours later when I heard the laughter again, THIS time it was that deep from the gut belly laughter...

so of course I grabbed the camera again. M.A.S.H !!!

Do you remember THAT game? Mansion. Apartment. Shack. House. 3 boys names, 3 #s (for the number of kids you will have) and 3 cars.

I asked the girls, "Are you playing M.A.S.H?"

They looked at me with shocked faces and asked, "You know about M.A.S.H?"

I laughed and said, "Girls, my friends and I practically invented that game!"

They looked at each other and said, "Cool!"

So for a brief moment I was the "Cool Mom".

I say brief because a few hours later I squashed the prank calls...yep, mean mom...that's me!

RIP Dear Hermie

You remember J's beloved pet hermit crab Hermie right? You can refresh your memory HERE . You will find super cute video of a younger pre braces/glasses J introducing him...be still my heart, she is growing up WAY too fast!

Well Hermie died...like 5 months ago.

He was trying to change shells and the shell he was trying to move into had food in it...we had friends over the weekend before and I vaguely remember their little guy asking if he could "feed the crab". Ooops!

ANYWAY...J and her BFF Emma had a sleepover this weekend and decided that it was time to take Hermie's dried up body from his cage and bury him.

Yep...dead. In a cage. For 5 months.

Where the heck is my Mother of The Year award?

So the girls dressed up all in black and sat down to write the Eulogy.

Then they brought Hermie's cage into the kitchen and used a spoon to remove him from the cage.
This is such serious business...body removal.
Then they went out to the front yard to bury Hermie under the lavender.

They each said a few words...

In case you missed any of that since my neighbor's RUDE dog was barking in the background, and the ice cream truck was driving by (I am sure Hermie loved that touch...mmm icecream)...

J said, "Hermie was a wonderful crab. I loved seeing him crawl around and holding him. My BFF Emma was afraid of you. You loved to drink water under your umbrella, it's right here. You had a good life. Amen, Jordan."

Emma said, "Even though Hermie grossed me out, when I got to know him, he changed my whole perspective on Hermit Crabs. I'll miss you Hermie"

Poor sweet Hermie...

Oh..I mean pooooor sweet Hermie, so sad.

He was gross, he was a crab, but he was my BFF J's crab.
A few moments of (giggle filled) silence...
We will miss you Hermie. Rest In Peace our little Hermit crab friend.
These girls seriously crack me up...

Because YOU Are Awesome.

Man there are times I wish I had a personal shopper. I wanna know where the best deals are and just have someone point me in the right direction.

I want to know where to find a deal MY size in a brand I love is.

OR sizes and brands that my family loves. Where is the best deal? Who is having a sale?

Of course we all like the hunt and the satisfaction that comes with finding a good deal.

But aren't there days when you need it NOW and don't feel like hunting?

A personal shopper would come in handy then riiiight?

Well....guess what?

There is a service out there...

really for EVERYONE, anyone!!

It is called Shop It To Me!!

All you have to do is register to become a member HERE and then put in all your info from sizes to favorite brands.

They will send you a weekly (or daily, you choose) email letting you know where the deal are including special discount codes if the apply.

SUPER AWESOME!

I have been using the service for a month or so now and let me tell you the deals are amazing!! So I wanted to share the info with you...cuz I am cool like that.

You. Are. Welcome.

OH...Also if you refer 10 of your friends to the site you can get a $10 gift card to the store of your choice from their listing.

PSF and It Happened...

So this is from waaaaay back in October 2009. Yeah, like forever ago right?

Anyway I never blogged about this super fun weekend J and I had in Hollister.

The Friday before Halloween night we jumped in the car and headed over the hill to meet up with my niece Taylor and the girl's friends for a slumber party at my sister Amy's house. We ordered pizza and the girls got dressed in their Halloween costumes for a fun night out...

(L-R Emily, My niece Taylor, Jordan, Shaelynn and Afton)

My sister Amy was the musical director for a local teen show of Little Shop of Horrors, perfect for Halloween weekend, so she scored us some awesome seats and the girls and I enjoyed the show.

Once the shw was over we headed back to Amy's house for junk food and games...it was a blast, I can't remember what this game is called...maybe if you click on the picture to make it bugger you can tell, but it is a scream, lots of fun, lots of laughter and a little trash talking...that;s how we roll.


Once it got late enough and it was safe to roam the streets...we took the girls to toilet paper a friend's house...all in LOVE, I promise. I never know who has more fun TP-ing, the girls or me and my sisters (miss you Meg).

The girls were pretty wiped out after a few hours of gigglefest 2009 and were hard to wake up the next morning...poor Emily and Taylor had to wake up early and head off to the pits for gymnastics practice.

I love this group of kids. I wish there was a big group of good girls for J to hang out with in our town. There is such comfort to be had knowing that your kid is with other girls who come from families with the same standards and morals.

For now I guess I will just take comfort in the fact that whenever J's friends here gather it is at our house...where I know they are making good choices...like TP-ing...kidding. We would NEVER TP in this town...people don't "get it" here, sad right?


Hosted by Cecily and Mamarazzi

To play Photo Story Friday, check this. Copy this code into your post and sign the link list:
<center><a href="http://mychaosmybliss.blogspot.com/2007/06/photo-story-friday-and-rules.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2526/4235120634_71d9399b5f_o.jpg" border="0" alt="PhotoStory Friday" /></a><br/>Hosted by <a href="http://mychaosmybliss.com/" target="_blank">Cecily</a> and <a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com" target="_blank">Mamarazzi</a><p/></center>

Randoms, Prizes and Giveaways...OH MY!

So I am really trying to get back into blogging more regularly...no you haven't already read this post...I know it seems like it since most posts these days start with that same sentence, sigh.

Got my hair did today...no drama this time. Actually this is the SECOND time I have gone to the same stylist...miracles do happen.

I never thought I would find someone who could do my hair on this island I live on. If you are in the central valley I most def recommend Amanda from Bernie's House Of Style in Hilmar...worth the drive, she is awesome!

You can trust me, remember THIS disaster? It took me a whole year before I let anyone touch my hair again.

Remember when I use to do a monthly drawing for fun prizes EXCLUSIVELY from my list of followers?

Yep, winners every month, JUST for following. No need to stop in and comment everyday (but you might want to) just follow...you could be a winner, I know...I am awesome.

I am BACK and I am going to do the drawings again...so for the month of April our winners are:

Susie from Susie's Homemade and Kat from Heart 2 Heart

Congrats ladies, email me your address (never2pink at yahoo dot com)and I will send a little goodness your way.

ALSO...I am giving away a $25 Target gift card.

Just because.

Yep!

Wanna enter to win it?

leave ONE comment for each thing you do (even if it is worth 10 entries...i will do that math no worries)...up to 25 entries, yeah...that totally increases your chances...right?

1 entry for commenting
10 entries for becoming a fan of Mamarazzi Dandelion Wishes on Facebook
1 entry for following (don't forget to grab my super cute button)
1o entries for creating a post about this giveaway on your blog (link up)
3 entries for tweeting RT@HolleeAnnCFG win a $25 Target card from Mamarazzi up to 25 potential entries, cool right? http://tinyurl.com/WinTargetGiftCard

remember comment ONCE for each thing you do, I will add in your extra entries for Tweeting, Facebook and blog posts...just let me know what you did!

This contest closes Wednesday April 21, 2010 so you've got plenty of time to enter!

I am getting a bloggy makeover...it's time, April from April Showers is creating it. She made this one and I love it. It was the FIRST blog she designed, and she has grown and had even gotten more talented. I can hardly wait to see what she comes up with! We will most def have a party with giveaways when it is done to celebrate!!!

It's Here...Spring Swaptastic-ness

I am sooooo excited!!!

It may be overcast with scattered showers outside today but it is SPRING up in here!!

My package arrived from the ever so fabulous Sami from Symmetry In Motion . And let me tell you this package of Springy awesomeness is just that

A-W-E-S-O-M-E.

Seriously awesome.

I opened the box to find a lovely letter written for me from Sami...very sweet. (clickety to biggefy)

All of the goodness was wrapped in Springeriffic tissue and they were adorned with creative little limericks explaining why each item was chosen...yes really...a clever poem on each item. Umm yeah, she rocked my swappy face off! (I had already ripped open 2 gifts in my excitment, you would think I had never done this before)
you can click on each picture to make them bigger and bask in the pure awesome of her poetry, seriously...very clever...
mmmm, yes...chocolate goodness. Fear not I will consume it in moderation AND I will share.
more, more, more...yeah, she was super generous....
Check out this VERY thoughtful gift....I LOVE THIS!! I am a ball cap wearing mama and to have a PINK one with a camera on front and my pseudo name on the back...so cool! I can't wait to rock this!!
Here is a collage of everything she sent...allow me to brag a little further...

1. PINK Dahlias...I can't wait to get these in the ground and enjoy them year after year
2. Cute little flower pot, "To plant is to have faith in the future" I love that sentiment!
3. My super awesome Mamarazzi hat
4. Yummy sounding BBQ sauce, can't wait to try it!
5. Flip Flops...the girl must know me, I wear flip flops 8 months of the year.
6. Cinnamon for cinnamon rolls she makes them for General Conference every Spring...awesome right?
7. A PINK umbrella...seriously, how did she know?
8. Kleenex...so handy!
9. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers...I sent her some too! Funny, Spring cleaning...pffft!
10. Grasshopper Cookies...you mean i can have "thin mint" goodness year round? Where have these been all my life?
11. Cadbury Creme Eggs...never tried them, can't wait!
12. Reese's Easter Bunny...helloooo lover.
13. Sunscreen...I am most def a sunscreen girlie, this will be used for sure.

As if all that wasn't awesome enough...

Sami also sent me a gift card for my Birthday...so thoughtful and generous! And it is for more than $3...suhweet!This truly goes to the top of my list as far as Swappy goodness goes. Can you believe this was Sami's FIRST swap ever? How lucky am I? Sami, thank you so much for putting together such a thoughtful, creative and generous package...you out did yourself and I am forever grateful. I am so loving getting to know you via your blog and enjoy basking in your bloggy goodness.

Today is also Sami's birthday...if you want to wish her some happiness and see what I sent her click HERE.

Thanks to shortmama from Family of Shorts for hosting such a fun swap. I know how much hard work goes into organizing these swaps and and the stress and worry that sometimes follows as you cross your fingers that everyone who sent a package receives one in return. You can see more Spring Swaptastic-ness HERE.

San Francisco B-Day Weekend

I feel like i am never going to get caught up on my blogging.

How does that keep happening? I really want to be a better blogger but time does not seem to be on my side these days. I remember when I first started blogging AND I was able to get out and blog jog and even leave comments. These days I am lucky if I am able to get one post a week in.

Life will slow down a little...someday...right?

We went to my in laws B&B in San Rafael on my Birthday/Easter weekend.

We decided to jump on the ferry in Larkspur and sail over to San Francisco for Deem Sum at our favorite place.
I love Dim Sum.

I like the whole experience of the servers cruising around with carts filled with stream baskets of goodness.

I like not knowing exactly what you are getting or even what you are paying for. They just come around and ask "shrimp dumpling?" or whatever they are offering and you say yes and they put a little stamp on your ticket and leave you with the goodness...or you say no and wait for another cart to come by and offer something.

THEN you all eat until you are full and everyone guesses what the final total is and your father in law pays the $200 ticket and you say thank you and he says "Thank you, we love having Dim Sum with you guys!"

And the Dim Sum experience is complete. Perfection.

Then we walked around the Farmer's Market at the Ferry building and soaked up a little San Francisco goodness. I love the city.
And just because they make me laugh...Big Daddy and my father in law Jim...total goof balls...
On Sunday we had a lovely Easter lunch with Jim's family. It was great to see how every one's families are growing and spend a little time with that side of the family...I forgot to take pictures. Lame.

We drove home Sunday night in the eye of a horrible storm...a scary end to a really fun weekend.