What Survived Winter/Reese

Reese has started digging again. Two holes in the yard, and I've lost 2 or 3 lilacs - small ones - that I was hoping would last the winter. They did, but they didn't last Reese :(

The following are pics of my lilacs and some iris bulbs that are coming up already too.

Matt's Surprise!

I am so proud of myself. For keeping a secret surprise I planned for Matt. A secret surprise sounds kinda silly though, since a surprise by nature is a secret. oh, well. You know what I mean :)

I took a half day at work yesterday and went home early to meet the Electrician Scott, who was awesome!

He took our dining room from this,

                                               

 (adding this fixture we got in Sept 2011)

to this!

Woooooohooo! I could NOT be happier!!! It looks awesome, matches the other fixtures in the house and makes an INcredible difference in the space!
I think extra points should be awarded for home improvement projects that are a small dent in the budget (the light plus the electrician totalled, came to less than the original price of the fixture!) with a large impact on the space!

P.S. Yes, Matt loves it too, maybe with not as much enthusiasm as me, but he loves it :)

Strange Weather We're Having.....

Up here in New England! We had some summer like days last week - in the 80's! Where Reese enjoyed some deck time in the sun :) I'm not sure if you can see the neighbors children out there, but they broke out their shorts and scooters!

 This week, the weather has reminded us that it's still only spring - mid 40's and 50's...... oops! I meant to take some photos of the buds appearing in the yard! Next post - I promise!

And, here's a more random photo, but I had never seen one before (aside from TV or a zoo) but this is a pic of a groundhog near the water. I wasn't sure what he was at first, but I managed to get this before he started running towards the rocks by the water. I cracked up so hard - he looked so funny running! (then again, I'm sure I do too as I keep training for my first 5k!)

Baby Shower!

I know I am delayed on posting abt this - I was hoping to have some baby shower pics for you, but I was on camera duty with the new mama's camera not my own.
However! I did get these 2 pics of the simply delicious Allie's Donuts in southern RI. It was the purpose of our (very!) early morning donut run! They were sooooo worth it!

We picked up several dozen for the shower as well as some for K's family and she also gave some to mine! Please feel free to drool over these while waiting for the cutest baby shower pics ever!!

St. Patrick's Day!

This has been a super crazy week for all those in my house and this weekend is shaping up to be more of the same! So while we are trucking all over New England for baby showers, birthdays and St Patty's Celebrations, please enjoy these serene pictures of Ireland!

(photo credit for all photos, google images)

Blender Heaven!

When Matt and I got married, we asked for a few fun kitchen appliances, like a waffle iron, food processor a hand blender (LOVE IT!) and regular blender. The latter has always been a disappointment. It mixes liquids but doesn't do much else - it tries, but gets stuck - and since I wanted it to make smoothies and frappes (my Mum makes the most AWESOME chocolate frappes!!) .................. Well, my handsome hubby was listening the last time I was ranting about not being able to make smoothies, and he found me this:

It's literally the best blender/smoothie maker ever! It crushes ice! It blends it in a to-go cup so you don't even get the big mixer parts dirty (he was CLEARLY thinking ahead on this one since he does the dishes!) and then have to transfer it to another cup!

I know I said my vacuum was my new fav toy - but this is the BEST thing in my kitchen right now!

Is it SPRING yet? :)

My First 5k! eeek!

I have officially signed up for my first 5k. Memorial Day weekend. It's sponsored by Redhook Brewery in NH. Almost everyone in my office has signed up. Pardon the short sentences but I'm kinda freaking out! I'm not a runner - HA! I'm not really even a jogger! I told my boss I would swim it though. She said that wasn't an option :(
So Matt and I have signed up for the 5k. Gotta love the supportive spouse that will most likely help me walk over the finish line!
BUT! My some of my office participated last year and more this year - almost everyone and their families.... so what's going around the office this week? The Couch to 5k Program!
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

I am slowly working my way up! Wish me luck!

Fav Children's Books

 A best friend of mine (sister of my heart) is having her first baby shower in a few weeks. She has asked for children's books to start a library. It started a discussion at work on people's favorite childhood books - what they love, what their children love or loved. The collection is listed below (although people keep running by yelling more at me!). What are your favorites?

 - Tikki Tikki Tembo
 - Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
 - Giant Jam Sandwhich
 - The Hungry Caterpillar
 - Fuzzy-Wuzzy was a Bear
 - The Story about Ping
 - Red Fish, Blue Fish
 - If You Give A Mouse a Cookie
 - Goodnight Moon
 - Corduroy
 - Harold and the Purple Crayon
 - Where the Wild Things Are
 - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
 - The Giving Tree
 - Harry the Dirty Dog
 - The Napping House