pin it & do it....part 4 & 37 years

Yesterday I celebrated 37.  WOW! That USED to seem old to me....Getting very close to 40ish feeling.  But now....50 will be the new number when I feel "old".  I'm not feeling that old yet...should I?  

  So anyways...enough of the "old" talk.   I had an invite for breakfast yesterday with one friend and an offer for a chauffeured trip of shopping in my town of choice from another friend.  So before I left for the day..I did a little pinning & printing off of the computer. 

Take a little guess where I was copy/pasting before I left for the day??  Yeppers!  Pinterst.  Because I love all the outfit ideas...but who can remember all the great combinations when you are AT the store???  Not me!  SO I printed them off....Just some ideas for the day.  When Donovan saw the printed page....He said, "What's that??? You're TO Do list for the day??"  Well yes, yes it is.  Perfect!  I love a TO Do list like that.  And with my objectives in hand I headed out the door.  But not before hubby snapped a picture, handed over some cash, and gave me a little kissie. 

 So Rose invited me for breakfast...I thought we were going out somewhere, So I asked (the night before) to move the time up a little...to give more time for shopping before the kiddos got home.  Well little did I know the honey was doing a homemade breakfast complete with all pretty things.

She spent so much time making this special....so many little touches. 

 She sure knows how to make a girl feel special.

We share a love of Pinterest...and from there she got some delicious dishes she served us yesterday.   Ham, Cheese and Hash Brown Frittata.  Oh my ~Yumminess.

 Along with Homemade Cinnamon Roll Cake.  Coffee with my favorite creamer. And Jack Johnson on Pandora.  And candles.  And a prayer of blessing.  EVERY SINGLE of my 5 senses were fulfilled. 

Another fun surprise was that our friend Carol joined us!!!!  These 2 ladies I have grown closer to over the last 3 years through small group and they have poured so much wisdom onto my life.  I am so blessed by them both.  Yesterday was no different.  Carol was able to speak truth into my life about a situation in my life and give a prospective of another woman in another season.  I think we can do so well to listen to advise like that.  (And Rose ~hope you don't mind I posted the pre-make up face~I know I kinda rushed you that morning by moving up the time!! SO sorry! But sweet friend your the kinda friend who it makes no difference what you are wearing or doing....or how you look.  I could be sitting in our robes in the fast food drive thru with you~and I'd be happy) 

 

 Some of the treats I opened that day.  Are they for Donovan or me?? I'm not sure.  Well except for the purse!  I'm very sure that's for ME. 

 And next came shopping.  I had an offer by my friend Julie to take off for the day, chauffeured by her, to where ever I wanted for birthday shopping.  :)  COLOR ME HAPPY!  I love me some shopping. 

I couldn't help myself but snap a picture of the cute little silver tray you use when purchasing jewelry at Forever 21.  It's just more fun with silver platters.  I was laughing at myself while trying to discreetly take a picture of Julie.  Trying to ensure the 21 year old's and under  didn't see me taking picture in the store of my friend caring a silver platter of jewelry.  Yep.  It's my birthday and I'll take the picture if I want. 

After tons of stops at all my favorite shopping spots....we enjoyed some Chick-fil-a.  And then a Starbucks Strawberries and Cream.  With whip.  With soy.  For free from my friend.  Awwwww..thanks Julie.  I love your laugh, and smile, and stories, and heart.  You are a good listener and friend <3

And wow.....thanks Rosetta for the gift card you mailed.  And Bobbie for the $$$$ you mailed to make my day even more enjoyable.  You sneaky little lady!!  What the world???? How'd I get so lucky???   

I came home later that afternoon....and we packed up the kids for a family dinner at Carrabba's.  Oh yumminess.  So very fun.  It seems they were on their very best behavior and it went so well to have them all there.  Despite a busy night at the restaurant.  Despite the fact that it was past 7 until we ate.  I was livin' the dream!

But it didn't end there.....this morning.....Came my sister in law, Arlene and family.  With more treats!  A cute little zipper pouch~that she made off of Pinterest.  In my favorite colors.  Awwww....so sweet.

This little cutie pie came in the mail for me.  Along with more fun things from my cousin Sherri.  OH MY GOODNESS!  So much fun to get another year older.  My mother in law also dropped some treats off for me while I was gone for the day.  And lots of cards and treats in the mail.  What a fun day!  You friends of mine sure know how to make a girl feel special!!!

Isn't that sweet??? LOVE!

And here's my "What I pinned and did".....some things to complete outfits ideas I got ideas from off of pinterest.  :) Yippee!  I can hardly wait to go somewhere and trick it up!!!!

Love you friends.  Love all you that encourage me to keep going on this blog especially!  Your comments make me smile.   

loving summer

Saturday we went to Bonneyville Mill Park. We have been there many times, but never while the mill was running. It was very interesting and the man running the mill was having so much fun explaining to our kids they way it used to be done in the good ol' days.

He showed us how the corn looked at different stages of the milling process. And then asked what brought us there to the park for the day. We told him we were taking pictures of the kids for their birthdays. He then gave us a free bag of cornmeal, that he had just ground. In a cute little bag tied with twine. I love free!

This summer is going by so quick! William celebrated his birthday in April...so Yep! I'm a little late on his birthday pictures.

Suzy turned 3 on July 5th and Isabella is getting ready to have a birthday on July 23rd.

It seems so easy to catch the innocence and fun of the littlest one in our family.

She had a lot of wonder about this place she had been to the previous summer...but had no memory of.

Jack my 1st son....had his birthday in June. The boy doesn't really like his picture taken he will say. I think deep down he does. Very deep down he likes the attention. But on this day he wasn't feeling the camera energy. I may have to re-do his pictures if I decide to re frame my pictures in the kitchen.

It was hard to get a casual looking picture from someone who kept asking, "Are we done yet?"

To add to the summer business....Our house has sold! We had an offer last week, counter offered, they counter offered, we counter offered. You know the game. Well we came to an agreement and felt good about it....So let the packing begin...well maybe next week. It looks like if everything goes well, we will be closing around the 3rd or 4th week of August. Moving that same week. We are excited about this new adventure and how it's moving. I'm also excited about the cute couple who are getting the house. They are married with no children and seem so happy about our home, which makes it exciting to see their joy in what we built here.

Let's skip the quote of the day and move onto....
flavor of the week:Vanilla bean
which I bought in powder form from E & S and added cream and milk. It only had to sit for 3 minutes before mixing in the ice cream freezer. I highly recommend for the time factor! It was very delish!
Other flavors we've enjoyed this summer...
chocolate
vanilla
cheesecake
and coffee
Here's the requested recipe for the cheesecake ice cream...
labor intense but worth it.

8 c. milk, divided
6 eggs, separated
3 c. sugar, divided
3 T. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. whipping cream
1 3 oz. box instant cheesecake pudding

In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups milk to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat egg yolks; add remaining milk and mix well. Combine 2 cups sugar, cornstarch and salt; gradually add to egg mixture. Add to hot milk and bring to boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Pour into a clean mixing bowl; set aside. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gradually add remaining sugar, beating well after each addition. Beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into warm milk mixture. Beat in vanilla, cream and pudding until well mixed. Refrigerate at least 5 hours or overnight. Freeze in an ice cream freezer according to manufacturer's directions. Yield: 3 1/2 quarts.