Happy Valentine's Day!

Really.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I missed it the first time around and after all, this is my blog, and I can write about what I want to write about.

So.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Okay, I haven't lost it.  You don't need to worry.

I'm just trying to catch up. 

This past February, I was in a swap.  With the FABULOUS Meri from ImagMeri's!  I can't wait to show you all the sweet treasures!  (I know, you've been waiting for this for three months!)

Now imagine my surprise to find this amazing package on my front porch!

A blanket bag!  What a creative and fantastic mind Meri has!  Who would have thought to send a swap in that!  I was so tickled and I made myself be patient to open it until I got my swap items out to her.  I was very strong.  Very. Strong.  (Alright, you caught me.  I did give into temptation and opened it before I sent mine out, but don't tell Meri!)

Can you even begin to guess what was inside there?

Well, I'll make it easy for you.

Here it is!

 It's a picnic basketpalooza of divine crafty fun!

Just look at that cute basket with the adorable button!

I know what you're saying...

Open it!  Open it now Sweet Bee!

Oh yeah baby!  Check it out!

 Where did she find so many vintage valentines?  

And look at these cute little heads...

and a bundle of vintage trim...

and – dare I say my favorite thing – a flashcard...

(must be that teacher in me)

and more vintage trims...

 and sweet paper ephemera...

and a sweet little Pez...

and this adorable dolly....

 and so many little small delights....

buttons and tokens and game pieces and buttons and cute bunnies and....

the perfect Sweet Bee valentine....

and the sweetest little faces on covered buttons....

and look at that lining – isn't it gorgeous? – so perfectly cottage...

and now...

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Thank you Meri and thank you Sandy for organizing this delightful swap!

And thank you for your patience.  

Buzzingly,

Three Totally Random Things

Well, you can't say you weren't warned about the randomness of this post......

Random Thing #1

We were able to set up Baby Bee's room for her and I can show you a sneak peek!  There are still quite a few small projects I need to complete before there is a full reveal, but it just looks so marvelous!  

Every night Baby Bee says she feels like she is swimming and that's what we were kind of going for.  

Wanna' come for a swim?

I can't wait to get all those little projects done and show you all.  Spring Break is coming!

Are you looking for cute ways to redecorate a room? I have some Bed Bath and Beyond coupons if you're looking for a bargain!

Random Thing #2

Baby Bee's birthday party is this Saturday.  I swore off theme birthday parties, but their siren song lured me in again (honestly, I don't know who loves them more - me or Baby Bee) and this year's theme is Nancy Drew.  (If you follow me on Pinterest you might have noticed my Nancy Drew board.)  There are some fabulous ideas out there!  Luckily I found this great site that had some fabulous printables and saved me a ton of time!  Check it out here.

Wanna' see the invitations?

Do you wanna' come?

Random Thing #3

I just have to show you the cute polka dots I got from the Famous Sue (I always think of her as famous because of her fabulous Rednesday) of It's a Very Cherry World.  We were partners in a polka dot swap that Holly from Cutie Pie Cottage organized.

Ummmm.......that little gold bag USED to hold a chocolate heart wrapped in polka dots.  Sorry, that didn't survive for the picture.  

Isn't she a clever tag maker???  

I wish I was that good. 

Thank you so much Sue!  I love them (although I did have to confiscate the noisemaker from Baby Bee) all!  

Random Thing #4 Bonus

Thanks so much for buzzing by my little cottage.  

I just have so many fun things to share with you!  

I'm looking forward to having a bit more time to visit you too.

Have you noticed the ad?  It's something I'm trying, but not sure I will continue.  Please give me some feedback - thanks!

Just a Few of the Reasons I Haven't Blogged Much Lately

Oh my......life!

It sure gets in the way of blogging creatively sometimes!  Know what I mean?

Well, I have some exciting news!  My school was nominated to be a California Distinguished School and today was our visitation.   You know how it is when company is coming over and there are so many little projects that need to be done and so much clean up?  Well picture that at a school with 27 classrooms, 16 classroom teachers, and multiple support staff.  Oh yes....I've been a cleaning organizing fool.  (And we qualified!  It's quite an honor!) 

And.....my principal asked me to help decorate the meeting room for the morning breakfast and luncheon.  So I've had a few projects to work on for that.  Did I take pictures?  Of course not!  But I did bring the lunch menu board home and got a pic of that so you can get an idea of some of the things I made.  

This is actually a chalkboard that hangs in my studio/guest room.  If you didn't guess, our school colors are blue and yellow.  A friend with better writing than me penned the menu with some of those fun chalk markers.  I made the little bunting with my cricut.

Did you see my little bluebird?  It's glued to the top corner of the chalkboard.  It broke off a Mary Engelbreit item (can't even remember what it was) and I just thought it was so stinkin' cute I had to save it and bring me some cheer.  Glue's a marvelous thing!

So, that was one reason I haven't posted or visited for awhile.

Now, I also was in a fun polka dottie swap from Cutie Pie Cottage!  So much fun!  I was partnered with famous Sue from It's a Very Cherry World.  I was pretty sure what color I needed to get for Sue.  So, after sewing the apron (which Sewing Bee helped me on tremendously) I decided I was good enough to sew a scarf!  

Okay....it WAS only a tube and then I knotted the fringe.....but I think it turned out cute!  Baby Bee tried to keep it for herself - that silly girl!

I found a cute tin at Hobby Lobby and decided I had to fill it with something yummy (and cherry, of course).  I found an intriguing recipe for Chocolate Cherry Biscotti.  (I pinned it of course!)

Oh my stars!  Oh my cherries!  Oh my taste buds!

These were delicious!  Just a wonderful combination of chewy cherries, crunchy almonds, sea salt, and chocolate.  Here's the link to the recipe (mine didn't look quite like hers did, but the taste was divine).

YUM!

And finally.....this is the weekend.  No more procrastinating.

We're painting Baby Bee's room and redecorating it with some thrifty finds for her 11th birthday present!  I'll keep you posted on our progress.  It won't be an overnight transformation but I hope it won't take to long!  I'm excited to tackle it.

Thank you so much for buzzing by for a visit!  

I saved some biscotti for you!

(But you better hurry, they're going fast!)

Love Is in the Air

Oh my stars!  Where has the time gone?  Can it really be almost two weeks since my last post?  Really?  

Shame on me, I haven't even posted a winner for my giveaway.  I keep thinking about some person who is almost completely organized, but isn't quite finished because they are waiting to find out if they won those cute Cath Kidston labels.  Well......wait no more.........#50?  Melanie from Country Cottage Living?  C'mon on down!  You're the lucky winner!  

Now, on to why I'm feelin' the love!

Have you met Chris from Perfectly Printed?  She lives very near the town where my Worker Bee grew up and she has a delightful blog.  Well, out of the blue, she emailed me that she had a couple things she thought I might enjoy.  I kind of forgot about it, but on Friday I found a little box waiting on my front steps.  

Inside was the cutest vintage valentine and one of the prettiest Depression Glass teacups I've ever seen.  

I know I will be using this for a nice quiet afternoon spot of tea.  Don't worry, I'll share pics with you! 

So at that point my heart was feeling all mushy....you know that feeling you get when someone does something nice for you totally out of the blue?

Then, my mom, the Sewing Bee, picked up the cutest dish towels for me.  She's been eyeing them for a long time (years, in fact) at the small town pharmacy she works at and finally took the plunge and picked them up for me.   And now my heart was feeling more mushy.

Now isn't she a sweetie?

And she helped me with sewing the apron I made for an apron swap.....

Sorry - haven't been home during the daylight to take a picture!

 Frankly, mom helped sew the hardest parts.  Sadly, I didn't get a good picture before I sent it off in the mail.

This isn't quite Valentine's Day fabric, but I didn't like what I could find and it had bees on it.  How could I resist???  I also stitched these buttons around one of the hearts.

Which brings me to the adorable apron (and coffee) that Sue sent me from Country Pleasures for the apron swap. 

Thank you Baby Bee for modeling it for me.

And then, my dear friend, the Fabulous Phyllis, dropped off a little red bag on my porch Saturday.  (That little porch sure has been busy!)  Would you look at the cute kitchen towel she made?  More bees!!!  

And she had this cute little jar filled with vintage sewing notions.  

So my heart is a mushy mess now.  

But I love it!  

And I feel loved!!!!!!!

I hope you have a sweet Valentine's Day!  

And thank you so much for buzzing by for a visit!  I'll have lots to share about Baby Bee's room and her upcoming birthday party soon!  

Kitchen Swap Extravaganza

Cindy at Rick Rack and Gingham decided to put together the most fun swap - Kitchen Goodies.

She put it together as a kind of round robin, so the person I received goodies from received hers from someone else and then I sent mine to another person.

Well I got my lovely box from Denise over at Bloomin' at Beagle Run Cottage and it was filled with the most scrumptious goodies.  (Apparently scrumptious is my word of the day because I've used it in several comments I've left on others blogs today.)  

Well, see for yourself.......

rip - tear - rip

Ooooh!  How pretty is that!

Love that bowl - always need little bowls like that around.

Look at these cute tags!  Can you see the notecards too?  Perfect for thank you notes after a dinner party - which one day we will have again.

Cute cherry recipe cards!

Do you see the dishtowel?  So adorable for all the grillin' we'll be doing this summer.

And I have to admit - the plates are my very favorite.  I have looked at getting these exact plates MANY, MANY, MANY times and I just never have.  I adore them.  Thank you!

Now let's see how they look (or at least some of them) all settled in.

Oh lookie - there's the plates....

 How sweet is  that saucer with a little vintage creamer sitting on it.

Gratuitous plate closeup.

Won't you join me for lunch?

Had to show the blooms from my picket fence garden and my new cutting garden.

Grew those Cosmos and Cornflowers from seed!  Yes I did!

Heavenly smelling David Austin Rose.

And would you like some delicious baby squash for lunch?  Yep!  I grew those too in my new kitchen garden.  Love how I can just step out the kitchen door to check the progress and pick a fresh crop.  

Thank you so much for dropping in for a little visit.  Lunch will be served soon.  We're having roasted baby squash, Greek pasta salad, and grilled chicken.  I can offer you sparkling limeade or fresh brewed ginger peach iced tea.  

And thank you Denise and Cindy for such a fun swap!

Oh I hope you can stop by and enter my 4th of July giveaway.  Just leave a comment on that post and you'll be entered.