Well, I did it!

Yes, I rolled over this morning barely able to open my eyes, but I did to watch the Royal Wedding. I was up and watching at 3am when his mother, Princess Diana wed and I was going to be there for her son's wedding, Prince William to Catherine Middleton.

It was a beautiful ceremony filled with all of the pomp and circumstance that one would imagine. I wish them all of the best as they begin their life together.

I am going to need a Royal Nap...

Preparing for Graduation

...well, the physical preparations...I am not sure anyone or anything can prepare me for the emotional preparations of seeing our one and only child graduating from high school...

I ordered these sweet punched owls from Cara at CarasScrapNStampArt on etsy. Originally, I was going to use them on pics for cupcakes, but then I saw a great recipe for a rolled cake that you decorate as a diploma. I am going to go with that so then I had all of these owls. I decided to use them as gum wrappers. Didn't they turn out cute?! I am very happy with the results.

Water for Elephants

My daughter, Amanda, encouraged me to read the most fantastic book ever. I was skeptical, I was hesitant, but I borrowed her copy and started reading. I was engrossed, I was engaged, I was entertained. I fell in love with this book. The research that the author must have endured is clearly evident in the pages. It was one of those books when you are sorry that there are no more pages to turn, but there is a triumph at the end of the book. Now, the waiting began for the movie to be released.

So in the car we went yesterday to our local theater. I told the man at the window that I wished to pay for two hours with Robert Pattinson. My jokes fell on deaf ears. Don't you just hate it when you are funny and the people around you don't get it? Annoying, but not so much so as to ruin my plans. In line for popcorn despite it is 10:30 am. Peanut butter and jelly, Hansel and Gretel, movies and popcorn. We settle in, the lights so down, previews to endure, and then...the main attraction.

I LOVED THIS MOVIE! I don't know if there is ever a movie that can take all of the details of a book and portray them onto canvas, but this was close. The details that were left out did not take away from the movie. What was left in was perfect.

I cannot recommend this book and this movie enough...take your Kleenex.

Coupon Clipping

I am not an extreme coupon queen/king like some of the folks that have been featured on Extreme Couponing; however, when I can make some good deals on things that we use, it is a thrill for me. This morning, I made a quick trip to Walgreen's after dropping my daughter off to school and, with the help of the cosmetics lady, I was able to save so much money. Here is what I bought and with the regular prices: 4 Head and Shoulders shampoo/conditioners $5.99 each, 1 Revlon tweezer $2.49, 1 John Freida hair color $11.99, 5 Schick Hydro 5 blade cartridge refills $11.99 each, 2 Schick shaving gels $3.79 each. Total price paid: $15.97. Total savings $80.23. All I can do is grin...

What I Have Read

I was very much an avid reader in my youth and I believe college texts squelched that love of reading for leisure. It wasn't until a few years back that I started to read again and in the past few months, I have been hit by the reading bug. I tend to read books that will have their movie counterparts "coming to a theater near you"...I think as a way to keep me no track and focused so that I make myself finish the book in a timely manner. I then go to the movie and make my mental comparisons. In any case, I enjoy the entire experience from reading to movie to popcorn.

The last few books that I have read have each one kept me enthralled and I have truly enjoyed each and every one...and, of course, one is coming to a theater near you. One is Water for Elephants and it doesn't hurt one bit that Robert Pattinson will the feature character.

The others are Nineteen Minutes and Pictures of You.

I would highly recommend each and every one of these books. If it has been a long time since you read for leisure, pick a book and get started!

Blubonnets have arrived!

Driving around today, I saw my first Texas bluebonnets. I have to say, I was quite excited as I have heard many speak of the arrival of the bluebonnets, the State Flower of Texas. (photo from Ennis Convention and Visitors Bureau)

I have found out that there is a Bluebonnet Hotline (1-800-452-9292), a Bluebonnet Cam at www.wildflower.org, in addition to trails and festivals. There is even Bluebonnet Etiquette: Don’t trample or pick the flowers because it will ruin the flowers for others and it will reduce the number of seeds the flower produces for next year.

In my searching, I discovered that Ennis is the "Official Bluebonnet City of Texas" and that the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) spreads 30,000 pounds of wildflower seed per year. Interesting little tidbits for your next game of Trivial Pursuit!

6th Annual KISD Schoolwalk for Diabetes

Today was the 6th Annual Keller Independent School District Schoolwalk for Diabetes. There are approximately 20.8 million people effected by this disease with almost 5 million not realizing they have this disease. Amanda and I walked this morning in honor of my sister, Jeanette. She was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at the young age of 11. She is now 48 and thriving...although she would tell you that she recently celebrated the 19th anniversary of her 29th birthday...she is such a little sister.

Easy Peasy Clock

A few weeks back, I was fortunate to take advantage of a special offered by The Canvas People. If you have not had them transfer a favorite photo onto canvas, you need to check them out. I so love my canvas.

When my canvas arrived, the box was super sturdy and in a shape that I thought would come in handy at some point in time.

Well, who doesn't need another clock? My love of clocks was instilled upon me by my father. Growing up, if I heard one, I heard seven or more clocks chime off the hour or the quarter hour or the half hour or all of the above. Anyway, I took the box and with trusty Mod Podge and an old book, I covered the entire box front and back.

I then took pages of the book and fed them through my printer to make the numbers and then with Mod Podge, on they went.

I used a 40% off coupon for Hobby Lobby to purchase the clockworks, and voila!

I did purchase more modern-looking hands than what was with the package, but in any case, I am so pleased with the results.

If you ask what time it is in my house, you obviously didn't look hard enough!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my father's birthday. Can you imagine being born on April Fool's Day? Dad was raised in New Zealand, so perhaps they don't celebrate this silly day like we do.

I was so lucky in my life to have two wonderful parents and today I celebrate my father. He has been such an anchor my entire life. I have always respected, loved, and adored my father and I thank God every day that He blessed me with such a terrific daddy. Happy Birthday, Dad.