Yesterday was a very happy day. Michelle, Brianne, and I went to San Francisco to see the musical WICKED!!!
We have talked about doing this for a while and the girls made it possible for us to go. The tickets were an unexpected Christmas surprise and a joy to receive - and use!! Everything about it was fabulous.... the theater, the costumes, the staging, the acting...but most of all the singing!! My favorite scene/number was Defying Gravity... it gave me chills as I sat there in the theater.
We popped the CD into the player in the car and sang along and talked all the way there and all the way back. It was a very happy day... and it was FABULOUS!
I found this wicker (?) star at the Salvation Army. It has lights entwined in it ... and fabulous ... it works. I tied it to the back of my little black chair (that I salvaged from the trash can) with a recycled gold ribbon. Placed a gold charger plate, that I found at Goodwill, on the seat and then arranged my dollar store glass nativity on the plate.
It is so sweet to me everytime I enter my home or pass by the doorway. And it only cost me a couple of dollars ... FABULOUS !!!
My "Shanty Apotocary Jars" (from the Shanty 2 Chic blog.) 
Have a Happy Halloween Week! 
I found this broom at the Salvation Army for $.45 cents. All I did was wrap black curly ribbon along the handle and add one of my "signature" (torn strips of fabric and raffia) bows. The paperbag pumpkin is a school project that Matthew made a few years ago.
This is my version of the "spooky black tree" that Michelle and Brianne posted on their blog - "The Tortoise and The Hare." Mine is more of a twig than a tree but I loved the bend of the branch. It fits perfectly on the table in the entry. Anyone recognize the picture on the table ?!? This project was so quick and easy ... and it looks so spooky and "just so FABULOUS!"
Here is a peek at my Halloween decor ... I like to call it "Wickedly Cute." This is my entry. The cute ladder was salvaged from dumptser, I picked up the fabulous twig basket at Goodwill for $1.00. The container for my yard stakes was another $1.00 Goodwill find. It was painted white with tulips on it (YIKES!) Look what a bit of paint and fabic did for it. It turned out really cute.
I know this post is getting long but I wanted to share this one craft project that I think turned out Fabulous! I found this giant, ugly green spoon when I was in Sacramento visiting with Michelle, Josh, Ellie and Olivia. But look at how Fabulous it looks with a coat of spray paint. It's hanging in my bathroom, and I love how it turned out!!!
I have been looking for a way to organize my "bling" cause the drawer was beginning to overflow. (If you see me very often, you know just how much jewelry I wear on a daily basis.) While in the Goodwill recently, this jewelry box caught my eye. Isn't it beautiful - I absoluetly love the color! So trendy right now. It was in perfect condition - just needed a little clean up - and the best part - it only cost me $3.00. I am so happy - no more untangling each morning !!! 
Ellie took us to the fountains at the local community park - check out just one of the cute water fountains for the kids to run through. It is a palm tree... the coconuts at the top spin around and drop water on the kids. Matthew and Ellie had a great time cooling off. We can't wait to go back for another visit :-)
The water flow was very, very low throughout the park, but if you look closely you can see Yosemite Falls behind the boys. 
Once again this year we had a awesome view of Half Dome just by stepping out of our camp site.
No hiking for us - instead we rode bikes everywhere. (Yes - I rode all over the park on this lovely Lady Schwinn bike - brought back memories of the Schwinn I used to ride when we lived in Taylorsville :-) 
Matthew had his back tire blow-out the first day - Eric rode ahead while Matthew and I walked the bikes back to camp. As we were walking the bikes along the trail I noticed a family of deer in the meadow. Great Photo Op ...don't you think?! 
As we were leaving on Saturday this HUGE group (at least 50 or more) of Harley Bikers came riding past us. I had to laugh at Eric - leaning out of the car window to take a picture. :-) We had a great time visting with friends, eating smores around the fire every night, and enjoying each others company in the beauty that is Yosemite. I love spending time with my boys in Yosemite - and look forward to going again next year !!
Don't you love this purse? It's my new Brenda Johnson "Closer" Tote Bag. I love the show "The Closer" (TNT Monday's @ 9:00 pm) and have watched every episode since it first aired. 
If you watch the show you will see Brenda carrying this bag everywhere she goes ... and now I have Brenda's famous and fabulous black purse for myself!!!
With just two coats of my new fav paint color "Black Magic" .... and a pass over with my sander ...TAH DAH !! Isn't it just toooo cute ??!! 
I removed all the "cluttery" items from the bathroom counter, and added this lamp. I love being in this room ... and the warm glow from the lamp does wonders for diminishing the look of my wrinkles !!
Painting....
