Thoughts of Easter...

Hello friends!

Hope you are having a great weekend!?

I've been BUSY!

My mom and I took the boys to see a Playhouse Disney Live show on Friday night, then out for ice cream!

Yesterday I had a friend and my mom over to scrapbook for a few hours...

I WAS one year behind in Gage's album.... yikes!

I got several pages churned out yesterday in the midst of my boys fighting, girly chit-chat, making food and doing laundry... whew! What does the word RELAX mean?

I don't think I know what that feels like!

I am still trying to get pics uploaded from our Chicago trip, the Disney show, my easter decor... geez!

Plus I've got 2 essays to write this week for school!

Easter is 2 weeks from today so I thought I'd share some cute GOODIES from Martha Stewarts website!

(MOM... I still DO NOT like Martha for she is DULL to me, but I do LOVE her creations, lol!)

Look at these cute chickie cheese balls!!

Yes these are edible...

Pretty cupcakes...

Yep, you can eat these too!

Fun to make for kiddo's...

I love these... they scream SPRING!

Cute for a baby or bridal shower...

I found out that my friend is having a BOY so no butterfly baby shower theme now...

BOYS are EVERYWHERE lately! ;)

My fave... 

almost too cute to eat!

..........................

I have always loved holidays growing up and as an adult.

My mom and grandma always went out of their way to decorate and make such yummy and pretty things to eat. I find myself now wanting to carry on that tradition with my children/family.

I DO miss visiting my grandma's for the holidays as she has been deceased for almost 5 years now:(

I was scrapbooking Gage's 2nd birthday yesterday and found a pic of my dad standing in the background watching Gage blow out the candles on his birthday cake, and it made me sad to think that he won't be here this year for the boys birthdays:( My dad always enjoyed shopping for his 2 grandsons and sure loved to come eat the cake too. I just pray that they are all looking down on us from heaven on these special birthdays and holidays ♥

Hope you all have a great day today!

Love 

Noelle ♥

SWEET news ♥

Oh my goodness girls...

I am SOOOO excited!!

I just decided to do something SO FUN and NEW!

I signed up to be a CHOCOLATIER with Dove Chocolate Discoveries!!

Here is what I will receive to do in home CHOCOLATE demo's with their products...

So you can go to or host a HOME party where you EAT CHOCOLATE and earn FREE CHOCOLATE products!!

To my knowledge, there is NO ONE in my city that sells this...

so  maybe this is my time to SHINE and earn some $$$$,

so I don't have to go to "work"!!

I can finish my degree, stay home with my kids this summer and through the school year and do yummy CHOCOLATE tasting parties for some moo-lah!!

Click HERE to learn more about Dove Chocolate Discoveries!

I am SO SO SO excited!

I cannot wait for my kit to arrive!!!!!!!

Wish me luck!

Noelle ☻

St. Paddy's Day Fun!

Happy St Paddy's Day!!

Here is a cute and easy GREEN craft for you all today...

I'm gonna make these with my boys after school!

Luck o' the Irish Shamrock Cap

• Print
• Share
• Save Craft

•     
• Rate this craft
• Rated by 13 members

Total Time Needed:

1 Hour

Wearing one of these festive foam hats is a fun way for anyone to show off her St. Patrick's Day spirit.

Materials

• pencil
• ruler
• two 12- by 18-inch sheets of green craft foam
• heart-shaped cookie cutter
• scissors

• hot-glue gun
• masking tape
• clothespins
• 3 green pipe cleaners
• green ribbon

Instructions

1. 
   
    First, mark and cut one sheet of foam (as shown). (Use wider circles for a larger hat.) See cutting instructions for a whole sheet.
2. 
   
    Cut the second sheet of foam in half lengthwise and glue the 5- by 6-inch rectangle to the end of one half. Allow the glue to dry.
3. 
   
    Roll the strip into a cylinder that fits inside the ring of foam (the hat brim), then glue the overlapped edges in place, using the tape or clothespins to hold them until the glue has dried.
4. 
   
    Make ¾-inch vertical cuts (approximately 1½ inches apart) around the bottom of the cylinder, as shown, then fold the tabs outward. Fit the brim over the top of the cylinder, pulling it down to the bottom, and glue the tabs in place against the underside of the brim. Glue the 7-inch circle onto the top of the hat.
5. 
   
    For the shamrock, glue one end of each pipe cleaner to the middle of a foam heart. Allow them to dry, then twist the pipe cleaners into a stem.
6. 
   
   Make two small cuts in the front of the hat, one above the other, close to the brim. Poke the stem in through one hole and out the other, bending the end so it rests on the brim.
7. 
   
   Finally, tie the ribbon around the hat, and it's ready to wear.
   
   
   
   
   ............................................................................
   
   
   Look at these cute cupcakes...
   
   
   
   
   
   Made with Lucky Charms cereal...
   from Betty Crocker.
   They also have a bunch of fun kids activity downloads on their site as well.
   
   
   
   
   ...................................
   
   
   None of this for me today...
   
   
   
   
   
   I do not like beer anyway, lol!
   I'd prefer one of these if given the chance...
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Yummy!
   
   
   ...................
   
   
   I have a midterm tonite in my Music Appreciation class so no celebrating with green drinks, or dancin' any Irish Jigs for me.
   
   
   But I will leave you with my lil' Leprechaun Gage dancing a jig for ya:)
   
   
   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

   
   

   
   

   **Happy St. Paddy's Day from my 2 year old Leprechaun to you!!!**

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   

♥ 9 Years... in love! ♥

9 years... where has the time gone?

I still love this goofball like I did so long ago:)

Life with Brian is NEVER dull...

there's always a joke being told, or played on me!

When we first began dating, he had me believing that he was color blind!

Yup, I believed that for almost 6 months... helped him put together outfits too...

then as he laughed hysterically he told me he WASN'T color blind!!

What a butt!

We've already experienced the good times and the bad...

been together through sickness and health...

he was there for me when my grandma passed away, my dads passing,

we grew closer through each sad time.

We have had 2 beautiful sons together and felt the heartache of our 2 miscarriages...

But I always know that when I NEED him, he will be there!

Our long awaited wedding day was on 11/14/09 and it was WORTH the wait ♥

I was the happiest girl on earth that day!!

You know how much I love this man...

The other day he asked me...

"Why is it that when you fart in a steamy shower, it smells so much worse?"

Wow... I just laughed and knew that is one of the ODD reasons I love him...

because he is ONE OF A KIND!!!

Love you hubby, looking forward to the next 9 years and more with you ♥

~Noelle~ ♥

Spring = RAIN :(

Hi everyone!! How was your weekend? Our trip to Chicago was so-so; to sum it up, the boys were cranky, Chicago was COLD and RAINY and we decided we aren't taking anymore road trips with the kids for AWHILE!! 

So this rain and the spring weather has got me thinking...

I DISLIKE RAIN!

I mean its gloomy, I hate when my hair gets wet ;)... but it IS good for our pretty spring flowers that need to bloom, the chance to see a rainbow after the rains and well, of course... green grass!

I've been needing a NEW umbrella for some time; mine is a boring ole black one that is literally falling apart!

I see cute umbrellas but don't ever by myself a new one.

I said to my hubby on Saturday, "You know what I want for Mother's Day? A NEW Umbrella! Mine is such a piece of junk!"

My oldest son says, "I'm surprised you haven't bought yourself a new one, mom!"

WHAT A STINKER!!

Is he making an assumption that I am a shop-aholic? 

NO NOT ME NEVER!!

LOL!!

Soooo... now that I think about it, Mothers Day is in May... which means 2 more months of using my junky umbrella! Should I just go and get a cute new one?

Like maybe this one with fun bubbly polka dots?

The boys would love this fun pirate one...

Awwww, sweet butterflies for a cute lil girl:)

Oooh now this one above is super cute and from TARGET for $11.99!!

Are you odd like me and ever wondered the "story" behind umbrella's? 

(hahaha!)

"Ancient umbrellas or parasols were first designed to provide shade from the sun."

The basic umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. We have seen evidence of umbrellas in the ancient art and artifacts of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and China.

These ancient umbrellas or parasols, were first designed to provide shade from the sun. The Chinese were the first to waterproof their umbrellas for use as rain protection. They waxed and lacquered their paper parasols in order to use them for rain.

Origins of the Term Umbrella

The word "umbrella" comes from the Latin root word "umbra", meaning shade or shadow. Starting in the 16th century the umbrella became popular to the western world, especially in the rainy weather of northern Europe. At first it was considered only an accessory suitable for women. Then the Persian traveler and writer, Jonas Hanway (1712-86), carried and used an umbrella publicly in England for thirty years, he popularized umbrella use among men. English gentleman often referred to their umbrellas as a "Hanway."

James Smith and Sons

The first all umbrella shop was called "James Smith and Sons". The shop opened in 1830, and is still located at 53 New Oxford Street in London, England.

The early European umbrellas were made of wood or whalebone and covered with alpaca or oiled canvas. The artisans made the curved handles for the umbrellas out of hard woods like ebony, and were well paid for their efforts.

English Steels Company

In 1852, Samuel Fox invented the steel ribbed umbrella design. Fox also founded the "English Steels Company", and claimed to have invented the steel ribbed umbrella as a way of using up stocks of farthingale stays, steel stays used in women's corsets.

After that, compact collapsible umbrellas were the next major technical innovation in umbrella manufacture, over a century later.

..................................................

Kinda some interesting info there...

lets face it, its Monday I'm tired and bored and didn't feel like uploading pics from my camera so this is all I got for ya today!!

Do YOU have a cute umbrella?

Or a "junker" like mine??

Noelle ♥

We have a WINNER!!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: 1Max: 29(There were 31 comments but 2 gals commented twice, I only counted one comment per person... just an FYI:) )
Result:7Winner of the Easter Basket Giveaway Is... Tina from Mommy Scraps a Lot!!!CONGRATS GIRL!Thanks for all who entered and became new followers too!Thanks especially to all my "seasoned" followers; I appreciate all your bloggy love!

Peace Out!!

Just a quick hello and good-bye before I head off to bed!
Tomorrow we are heading off to Chicago with our boys!!
I am SO ready for a weekend getaway!

I've had a good busy but relaxing Spring Break...
ended up getting an 89 out of 100 on my Art History test right before Spring Break...
that I thought I BOMBED!

Hope the Windy City isn't too windy this weekend,
cause I'd like for us to visit Navy Pier (shown above) on Sunday before we head home!

Chicago style pizza, the Nick Jr Storytime Live Show, SWIMMING at our hotel...
ahhhh, HOPE this will be a good time for all!!

I will pick the WINNER of my Easter Basket giveaway Sunday night... so stay tuned!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Love you all,
Noelle ♥