From seed...

...to butterfly

"Whisper a wish to a butterfly and it will fly up to heaven and make it come true"

I have to share this amazing birthday gift I received from my blogging buddy & sister of the heart 

Diane 

I thought I lucked out just with the box with that beautiful quote above attached to the lid! The word 

w i s h

in a great typewriter font has been placed carefully on the inside of the lid.

Then I caught sight of my newest prized possession nestled and tucked inside.

A single milkweed seed with it's "fluff" attached inside this adorable butterfly charmed, corked bottle.

I sent Diane a batch of milkweed seeds about a year ago & I'm touched beyond words that she understands how important raising monarchs was in my life. Now I can wear and hold palpable proof everyday, not only for the love I have of monarchs

but also the

love from a sister of the heart.

I have a grateful heart Diane.

Thank you

Happy (find your treasure) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Nifty...

...50!

I don't know what it is, but I love my birthday. No gifts or even an acknowledgement is necessary...Ok, yes it is nice to be remembered but it's not required. I just always feel good that I wake up to live another day, month, and year. This is a pretty big one too.  I am welcoming 50 with open arms. Ok...the AARP card was obviously a mistake, but I had a good laugh anyhow! I'm grateful YOU all come and share in my life here in my little corner of the web. I have so much to celebrate this year that I'm just going to pay it forward. I thought what better way to celebrate a half of century, than with 

50 Acts of Random Kindness

I've watched fun u-tube videos and have written my own random acts to celebrate:

Give 5 lottery tickets to strangers, 10-post it notes with positive messages taped to public bathroom mirrors, 5 volunteer days, leave 5-$1.00 bills on vending machines with "Snack on me" note, tape quarters on gumball/candy machines, 5-YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL-YES YOU cards, leave in women's dressing room, 1-donate towels and blankets to pet organization, 1-buy elderly couple dessert, 1-place chalk on sidewalk, 1-buy coloring book and crayons & leave for person behind me, 1-donate blood

 (I'm O-)

1-bake cookies and take to local fire dept., 2-"TAKE WHAT YOU NEED" tabs, 1-leave flowers in the unhappy neighbor lady's mailbox, 1-leave book in public place, 1-let someone go ahead of me in line, 1-tape change to pay phone (if I can find one) 1- pay for coffee for person behind me. 

1 CONTEST..3 little gifts to 3 followers!

I found all kinds of fun printables to cut out & attach to the goodies I'll giving away throughout the rest of the month. By the way RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS is the week of Feb. 10-16th. Can you imagine our world if one person did just 1 random act of kindness? Are you IN?

I've put together 3 little tokens of my appreciation for 3 random readers. All you need to do is leave me comment and tell me your thoughts on celebrating YOU and your birthday. I'll pick a winner Sat. and announce the winner Sun. Jan. 19th.

Gift 1:

A sweet 5x5 photo with one of my favorite Kim Klassen texture's...

...suitable for framing.

Gift 2:

A set of 5 postcards with a sneak peek at a few I'll be sending in as part of LIBERATE YOUR ART over at Kat's. 

Interested? Go check it out. It's amazing how this project has grown in the past few years.

  MOO  does AMAZING cards. 

Gift 3:

A set of one a kind homemade gift tags that I'll be selling in my ETSY store. 

Phew....Let's get the party started!

Yippee!

Happy (birthday to me) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Random 5...

...Friday

(or more)

Bonjour mes amis.

 Do you even know how fun it was to wake up in France and say that to everyone who'd listen to me! Crazy American in France-that's what I was! (I have NO accent except to say Bonjour)

I'm so happy to be back and playing over at Nancy's today for the 1st time this year.

*Speaking of France...

I was desperate to find color...any color being that it is the dead of winter.

All signs are posted on the corners of buildings in France and because I can be so nerdy, I was tickled that THIS particular sign, on THIS particularly famous street had a "K" sticker on it!

*By the 2nd day watching Frankie slather fresh butter, cheese & salami on his perfectly, fresh baguettes every morning, I couldn't take it anymore...I ATE BREAD! I mean you CAN'T go to France and NOT eat the bread. It's absurd, it's sacrilege, it's....it's SOOOOOO good!

 I never ate any pastries...but the bread...ohhh my... I was conscience tho, ate sparingly & enjoyed every teeny, tiny bite I ate.

*So, yesterday morning my last beauty emerged:

Needless to say I was thrilled that it was a male & I just knew it was sign that Erik was going to make his entrance into this world. But midnight came & went so now I'm wondering if by some off chance, last quarter miracle, he's waiting to enter on my 50th birthday...which btw, is Tuesday!

(c'mon baby boy...come to Grandma!)

*Speaking of birthdays, I've made a list of 50 acts of random kindness I'm sprinkling throughout January. I'll have more on that come Tuesday.

*Remember those Earl Grey Truffles I made around Christmas?

Yeah....THOSE truffles!

Well, I'm going to make them again but for Valentine's Day so I'm thinking I need a little desk calendar to remind me to post the recipe Feb. 1st just in case any of you want to make these. They are SO scrumptious. Austin said they were better than Trader Joe's truffles...

Sorry TJ's!

*I DO NOT want a house with 3 bathrooms in it...period

How's THAT for Random!

Happy ( find some color) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Paris in...

...the winter

Quite frankly, I'd take Paris in any season...well maybe not in the summer...but Spring? 

Oh my yes!

Parisians DO NOT let rain interfere with their daily lives. In fact, I think I counted 22 umbrellas being used in the 4 days we were there! Ok, I didn't  REALLY count the umbrellas, but you get the idea that rain is a non issue. If it's a non-issue for the folks in Paris, well, then...when in Rome... Oh...wait...When in Paris...do as the Parisans.

I'm still on a Paris cloud. 

We took an early flt. to Seattle Dec. 30th. The flight to Paris didn't leave until 5 that night so we rented a car and drove here:

Seriously cool place...

...and the food?

Ate the best fresh, grilled salmon right here!

I actually can't wait to go back and visit Seattle.

Fast forward to Paris...

New Years Eve...

 Paris is divided into 5 zones for use in pricing public transportation passes-

 Bought a 5 day unlimited pass for all 5 zones.

Euros well spent.

 Metro de Paris

While in Paris, you need two maps:

One for the Metro lines...

(which maps are everywhere)

...and a street map of the city.

DO NOT and I repeat...DO NOT walk around the city without this one! 

If you saw all the side streets that aren't printed on the map~you'll totally get why you need it! 

We stayed in the Latin Quarters on Rue Du R. Jean Colly

When I think of Paris...

...THIS is what I think of.

{swoon}

 Snapped this with my i-phone coming up the Metro stairs & getting my first look at the city.

If I had 1000 pictures of the Eiffel Tower...

...it wouldn't be enough.

I'm not kidding!

Seriously

Frankie and I always get into this dispute, discussion when we travel that I never like to have my photo taken. When we're dead and gone (in 100 years from now) we'll have these photos of the amazing places we've visited, but no proof that we were actually there.

Proof I was in Paris!

Oh and by the way...Paris water is NOT condusive for good hair days...

Just sayin'

Update on Jamie:

She was sent to L&D yesterday to be monitored. She's 80% effaced & 3.5 cm dilated but was sent home. I'm packed and ready to go in a moments notice!

Happy (Paris dreaming) snapping!

xo

Kelly

An American...

...in Paris

Bon Annee 2014

Oh My Goodness did Frankie give me the ultimate 50th birthday present...

...Paris baby!

Visiting Paris has been a dream of mine for so-many-years. 

The trip was perfect, from beginning to end.

All I knew was that I needed a coat and to pack for cold weather, rain and possible snow for 4 days. I didn't have a winter coat & had one day to find one. (for those of you that don't know, I had JUST returned from visiting my dad in Fla.) I lucked out finding one that I loved this late in the season.

 We were laying in bed the night before & Frankie had asked me did I want to know where I was going. I said, "absolutely NOT because I'd fret about what I'd pack." I trusted him as I was showing him what was going in my suitcase. It wasn't until our drive &  half way to the airport when he told me.

 I cried.

My heart and head are still there and I can't wait to go back. We packed in as much as two people possibly could in those four days. We got back on the 5th. Jet lag and laundry purgatory kept me from being here the last few days.

 I will stagger my stories & photos in the coming weeks.

 I wanted to be here...with you all and share over at

 Kim's and Texture Tuesday

before the day got away with me.

tour eiffel

Now, we're waiting on pins and needles for our grand baby, Erik, to make his entrance into the world.

Happy (2014) snapping

xo

Kelly

Hello and...

...goodbye!

My goodness, my head is spinning as fast as the globe photo down below so I'm going to force myself to slow down, take a deep breath & explain!

First, did you have a nice Christmas & was Santa good to you?  I'd love you to share a memory or two.

I am happy to report that this trip to Pensacola was the start of some good memories to replace all the nightmare ones from this past year. Spent some wonderful quality time with my Dad-the best part was pizza and crossword puzzles. 

Someone had left a crossword book for him-I picked it up and let nature take it's course. One of two things was going to happen-either Dad would get frustrated or he'd enjoy it. He LOVED doing them. My work with 1st & 2nd graders came in real handy as I just broke the clues down for him. I was blown away at what he could and couldn't remember. But he felt smart and had such a sense of accomplishment after we finished one. He couldn't wait for my next visit as that's the first thing he asked to do. (happy sigh)

Spent a fabulous day with my brother & sister in law and even though we were going through my mom's things, it was really ok. Little by little my grieving process is moving along at a rate I can endure.

Met Frankie in Atlanta on my way back to L.A.  & decided to take a quick 24 hr. detour before coming home-

Uhhhh-hello Aruba!

a room with a view

So,

Now the most exciting news. 

Frankie is taking me on a surprise 50th birthday trip and apparently (as I just found out this morning) we're leaving tomorrow. All I know is I need a coat, the temps are 40*-50*, rain & possible snow. I'm giddy beyond words. 

You can follow our adventure here-   INSTAGRAM    if you're curious.

I decided that Danbo should come along with us...should be fun!

I need to get a move on as I have laundry to do, travel toiletries to replenish, a coat to buy, put gift cards to good use on a few new outfits and pack!

I wish you all a very Happy New Year and we'll reconnect in a few days!

Happy (traveling) snapping!

xo

Kelly

I want to wish you...

...a Merry Christmas

Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, Frohilche Weihnachten,  and Buone Feste Natalizie!

For all my wonderful friends and visitors who celebrate Christmas, I hope you find true joy and happiness and enjoy family, fun and renewed spirit. I'll be away for a few days. I'm flying off to Florida to be with my Dad for Christmas. It's his 1st Christmas in the nursing home and a holiday without my mom. I don't want him to be alone. I'll order us pizza and we'll drink hot chocolate. It's also the first time my brother, David and I have been together on Christmas Day since I was 18! ( I'll be 50 next month!) 

I've got more to share...but I'll you with these...

Happy Holidays and thank you for always coming back to visit a while.

You make my heart happy!

I made Earl Grey Truffles...

...recipe will follow soon.

Austin says mine are better than Trader Joe's truffles...

Just sayin'!

They are very tasty!

Happy (hot cocoa) snapping!

xo

Kelly