Nanny Cooks and Creates

How super lucky is our son? A Nanny that not only loves him to the moon and back, but who also surprises him with a velociraptor pancake complete with bacon claws.

Great way to start the day for our future paleontologist!

WILW

Whew, I'm loving lots of stuff this Wednesday, and linking up with Jamie again, so let's get started!

I'm loving the adorable beach ball cake pop my creative and talented sister made! Soooo cute. You can check out her blog to see all her yummy creations.

I'm loving the new Kazakhstan adoptive family group on facebook. Very fun to reminisce with other folks who have been there, and love the country that allowed us to bring home our amazing kids. This picture was posted by another member; it's a street scene from Owen's birth city, Kokshetau, and I love it because when we were there in January and February all we saw was bare branches and snow!

I'm loving this dolphin charm from Chamilia. Hmmm, you know my birthday is coming up ...

I do try to limit my time on Pinterest ('cause boy you can loose an hour there easily!) but I adore this family room picture I found. How gorgeous is this??

I'm loving Texas Caviar! Yes, Cee, I did make a batch last night and I promise to make you some next time you're home!

I'm loving that Peanut Butter & Jelly (pictured) and Mater are still alive and well! Every few days I scoop them out of their hiding spots in the mulch and put them on the sand side so I can make sure they are still with us!

I'm loving that I found my favorite air freshener scent today! It's a "Limited Edition" edition, and disappeared there for awhile, but I was faithful in checking the shelves anyway, and ta-da, today it was there. Yippee! Sometimes, it is the little things!

And today and always, I'm loving my hubby, Cearra and my buddy, who makes me laugh everyday!

WILW

Happy Wednesday everyone! Here we go ...

I'm loving that I had a chance meeting at the mall on Monday with a former co-worker and friend. So great to see her, and to give her a big hug in celebration of her 5-year anniversary free from breast cancer. Karen, I'm so glad you still follow along, and so thankful you are doing so well!

I'm loving the beautiful, genuine, heart-felt smile she's been wearing almost all the time lately!

Although it's really meant for pesto, I sprinkle this stuff in everything - spaghetti sauce, roasted veggies, scrambled eggs, shrimp scampi - yum! And I'm loving that my friend Lyndsie is hosting an online Tastefully Simple party so that I can restock my supply (and try out their seasoned salt). If you want to order anything, just click here and enter Lyndsie Brooker as the hostess at checkout.

I'm loving these cute little earrings from Lia Sophia. They are called "sugar-dusted". Maybe I just love that name!

Do I really need to explain why I'm loving this picture?? sigh ...

And as always, I'm loving every minute I get to spend with my little man! He makes me laugh every day, and I never forget how very blessed we are to have him, and how very grateful I am to Bob for supporting me as a stay at home mom!

WILW

Happy Wednesday Morning! Today, I'm loving that I'm class Mom at Owen's kindergarten! We are going to be focusing on the Wampanoag Indians, and the teacher assures me I will have lots to do helping the kiddos make vests, drums, and headpieces - can't wait!

Maybe it's the sugar hangover from helping my Angry Bird with his Halloween candy, but I'm loving these cupcakes my incredibly talented sister made for a recent birthday party!

I'm also loving this year's opportunity to spread a little Christmas cheer to orphans in Kazakhstan. Two Hearts for Hope is going to provide, with your support, a special gift to each child at Arca Village in Talgar, KZ. Please click here to learn more about this wonderful mission and how for only $20 you can make a difference in a child's life.

I'm always loving silver, sparkle and bright green! This photo is one of my inspirations for my mantle decor this season. I've started to pull things together - bought a huge wreath today that transferred tiny bits of glitter EVERYWHERE! - and will be sure to post a pic in a future WILW!

While I still like the china Bob and I registered for 15 years ago, I think it's time for something new! I've been wanting white plates for a long time - I think it's fun to mix and match with different holiday/color pieces - and I'm loving the Emma dinnerware from Pottery Barn. And yes, we still have a while to go until Christmas, but I'm so excited that my Mom and Dad just ordered me new place settings as my big gift this year!

That's all for this week! Have a wonderful day thinking of all the things in your life you are thankful for - because that's the real message in WILW, isn't it?

WILW - Fall Edition

My favorite season is upon us. I love Fall y'all! This pretty much sums it up ...

I'm loving the crisp air in Fall, football weekends, caramel apples, gorgeous colors, sweatshirt-nights, spicy scents ... everything!

I'm loving all things owl lately

The Ginger Spice cookies are super yummy -
and I'm loving that they have no artifical gunk and no trans fat.

I'm loving Fall clothes!

I'm loving decorating with baby pumpkins and candles.
Isn't this a great, easy idea?

I'm loving that it's time to break out my fall scents!
Speaking of scents, I'll be hosting  an online Scentsy party soon - stay tuned!

Gorgeous! Fall  foliage just makes me feel peaceful.
 Loving!

Oh, happy days! And more things to love!

WILW

Well this Wednesday sure came around fast! I'm loving ...

Baking yummy "gorp" cookies!

This sweet Mama Bird! (thanks for the pic Mom B!)

Westie love!

Our new outside kitty - "Catfish".
I'm heartbroken that my little gray cat has gone missing,
but happy to share some food with this one.

And as always, I'm loving that I get to be a stay at home mom
to my dream come true!

Can't get enough WILW? Check out This Kind of Love for lots of links to other bloggers who participate! Have a great day everyone!

WILW

Happy Wednesday! Let's dive right in ...

Don't like the actual sweet, but I think these candy corn dresses are the sweetest! They'd look adorable on my nieces.

I'm loving this variation on the classic! Long live Alpha Phi!

I'm loving these pretty stamped cookies.

I'm loving that tonight is the season premier of Modern Family! Funniest show on TV!

Finally, I'm loving that my beautiful mom is coming for a visit today - and bringing lunch!

Thanks for playing along, hope your day is filled with things and people you love.

WILW

Yep, I know, I've been slacking ... I will try to do better! Let's start by getting back to WILW. This week, I'm loving:


the updates from Nanny showing all the fun Yama, Rivet, Azer and Stonewall are having on vacation at her house!


my little helper. I asked Owen to take the new package of toilet paper to the bathroom he and Cearra share; a few minutes later I went upstairs and saw that he took his task seriously!


our new outside furniture (although I loved it a lot more before five hours of sweat-drenched, fingernail-breaking work carrying it piece by piece from the car to the deck and struggling to put it together!).


these yummy new cookies. And since they have real fruit and whole grains, I justify eating them by saying they're healthy!


this pretty necklace! Got the picture from an email from Michael's (craft store); perhaps if I'm feeling ambitious I'll try to make it.


and, as always, my boys!

WILW

Welcome back to WILW! This week, I'm loving ...


that after many years Dad got his convertible again!


watching the fireflies blink on and off in the dusk. Brings back memories of childhood and summer nights; catching the little orbs of light and being enthralled as they lit up the palm of my hand.


when Owen is frustrated with something (or doesn't agree with something I've asked him to do), he says "Oh, barnacles!". Guess where he picked that up.


The super cute mini cake my sister made for Riley's spaced themed birthday party!

And finally, I'm loving that everyday I'm getting a little better on this new computer/software!

WILW

Today I'm going to start WILW off with a big thank you to Willis Haviland Carrier*... 'cause you better believe that with three days of over 90 degree temps and heat indexes of 100+, I'm loving my air conditioning!


Speaking of cool treats, we've all been loving Key Lime pie lately! I generally consider desserts without chocolate to be a waste of calories, but the tart/sweet combo seems custom made for this weather.


I'm loving that our friends Laura and Erik introduced us to dominoes last weekend! Honestly, I was under the impression that it might be a little, um, ... boring (I mean, it's matching up dots, right?) but we all had so much fun playing that Cearra and I went out yesterday to get our own set!


I'm loving this sweet picture of two buddies sacked out on the couch together as their parents play dominoes late into the night!


I'm loving the goods at Back 40 Life! I can imagine using this sign for all kinds of countdowns.


And as always, I'm loving how he makes me laugh!

*An American engineer and inventor; known as the man who invented modern air conditioning