photo by me

"A friend is one to whom you can pour out the contents of your heart, chaff and grain alike. Knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.” - Unknown

ありがとう Arigatō!

This week I received some sweet gifts from my BFF Tammy, who recently returned from her overseas cruise.  Tammy & her husband Peter are great travelers and have been so many interesting places! I was excited to see their pictures and I really need to call her and hear more about their adventures in Japan, China, and Russia!  Thank you for all of your prayers for their safe return.  They were completely out of harms way and were able to get a flight back to the U.S. without any problems, Thank the Lord!

Tammy knows I love cute illustrations - especially of darling little children!

Notice the lines are going vertically on the notepaper.  Wish I knew how to write something in Japanese for everyone!  I barely could learn German in Jr High so I doubt I'd do too well trying to learn another foreign language at this point in my life.  I guess you never know til you try, though!

A closeup of the cute little girl and her pup!  Love it!

A few other cute things from China as well.   Such sweet friends to think of me on their trip.   Hmmm now I'm craving dim sum.  YUM!

Hope you all are having as beautiful weather as I am right now.  I was soaking up the sun driving around town and letting the wind blow in my hair.  It's pretty unbelievable how much a good day can raise your mood levels to a nice natural high!  There may be a little rainstorm later but as we all know "April showers bring May flowers"!

I better get going ... have to finish up my Easter tag to send off to my new friend Jenny in Virginia.   I think I may post a few sneak peeks next time.  I'm also thinking of doing my first blog giveaway!  Would ya'll like that?

Me And My Peeps



Peeps by Just Born



Peeps oh so sugary Peeps!  You either love em or hate em.  I am one (obviously) that loves them!  Part of it sentimental and part of it because I like marshmallows... and sugar!  Those of you that like them either swipe them up when they are soft and smooshy or you purposely sit them out so they can be hard & stretchy.  Weird, I know!  I just found out that one of my coworkers dips hers in chocolate.  Now she doesn't have to because they sell them that way, too! 

When I was a little girl Easter was a big deal.  My mom would dress me in a pretty yellow Easter dress, white tights, patent leather shoes and a big hat with the string around my chin to keep it on.
I really wish that I could find a favorite photo of my mother and I on Easter.  She had a fabulous platinum bouffant hairdo a classy shift dress on and we are laughing hysterically!  No doubt my dad said something that had us practically on the floor.  He's quite the jokester!
Anyway, the "Easter bunny" would leave me a basket somewhere in the house that I had to find.  It was filled with lots of yummies like a chocolate bunny (with a stunned look on his face because he was about to be eaten), jelly beans, and little trinkets.   No Peeps... not yet
When I went to my Nana's house to visit ... that's when the Peeps came out.  I loved her dearly and I loved that she was the one that always gave me those Peeps.  Every year.   I miss her so!

Fiona And Twig Giveaway

Check it out!  What a great giveaway (that I super hope I win - loving the feminine feel of the photographs) week.  So many nice giveaways to win out there in blogland!



Fiona & Twig Giveaway

Simple Joy

Photo by me

"The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest."    Thomas More

Oh the joy of simple things!  Last weekend I picked up a bouquet of pretty white buttercups at Trader Joe's.  I popped a couple of them in a light blue vase and they made a great simple gift for a sweet work friend of mine.

They looked so nice in her kitchen window with lots of natural light streaming inside.  After we had a tour of her new home we went off to Kona for a girls night out with two other great gals!  Avocado rolls and potstickers, yum yum!

Old friends, time spent catching up and laughing, and bonding ... these are the greatest joys in life.

I know everyone loves to have their super techie cell phones practically super glued to their hands these days... not me.  I have a normal cell phone, no texting, no Internet or email capabilities (sometimes Internet would be nice as well as GPS) and you know what?  Me & my gal pals did not once have to get on our cells or text.  We had each others complete attention.  I loved it!  I almost wanted to applaud them because two of my friends are busy moms!

Sometimes all the texting & lack of face to face communication kind of makes me sad.  I mean, if we don't want to even hear each other's voices or see someone face to face ....?   SAD!

Now, in some circumstances I completely understand but wouldn't you agree that it's out of control?

We need interaction in the physical realm.  An embrace, to look upon someones face and appreciate their  beautiful eyes, to hear their laugh out loud (rather than LOL), etc etc. 

Boy oh boy I must sound like I'm an old lady!   Ha ha!  I just think maybe some folks out there should treasure life and keep it simple.  

I'm staying up a little too late on a work night and better get in bed soon.   Got a lot on my plate for this weekend.   I'm also gathering a few crafty things to make for my Easter swap.  We'll be hopping into April very very soon!

Have a great day!   Angela 

Mama Bunny

OK so it's probably no big surprise to you that I love bunnies... or maybe you didn't know that?  Our last name means rabbit in Italian so I thing that's where the collecting of cute bunny images and items came from.

I certainly wish that my grandparents would have told me this a long time ago because it was a "fun fact" about our family name!

I found this image late last spring and decided to frame it and will give it to my sweet mama this mother's day.  I added the bow and button to the already pretty frame. 

Marshall's, TJ Maxx and Tuesday Morning all have wonderful feminine frames like these.  They make an easy and lovely gift! 

Now don't tell my mama that you saw her mother's day gift over here - nooooo peeking! 

May You Have Joy

photo by me

                                                       

Proverbs 27:9 (NIV)

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice

Prayer and Thanksgiving

While I'm praying for the Japanese people and the devastation after the tsunami - I am also giving thanks to God that my BFFs Tammy and her husband Peter are safe and sound!
They are currently in China after flying to Japan for an overseas cruise.   I am SO thankful that their ship was not anywhere near where the tsunami hit and not on land in Japan when the earthquake rocked Tokyo!
I am still waiting for more details of their trip and getting a flight back to the U.S. but she has assured me they are safe.
God you are good
God help the people in Japan
God give them peace
God please protect

credit: MSNBC

This image is of a little boy being checked for radiation.   I pray that the people will be protected from the radiation from the nuclear plants.

As much as I would like to post pictures of fluffy pretties and such - I must pause to recognize this tragedy, to ask for others to pray and also give thanks for those that were spared and protected.



The Beauty of Texture

All photos by me

While I was in Phoenix I was having a lot of fun taking photographs of all the different textures surrounding me...

The beautiful ripples in the soft water as well as the reflection of the lights above ...

I see a bit of green popping through on this pokey bush ...

I thought these seed pods were cool ...

 I call this one "beautifully dangerous"!  

                                                 Prickly!! 

This 

only

looks

 Fuzzy!!

                                                                                                                                                           

Beautiful Phoenix

All photos by me

Ahhh beautiful Phoenix sunset  how I miss you!   How I miss my BFF Tammy & cousin Heather ( and their families too).  It was hard to leave and come back to chilly Nebraska!

I had a great time shopping in Glendale at the little storefront cottages in their historic area.   I just love this store and now she has two of them!   See my sidebar for her link.  I bought some Spring goodies and my mom bought a cool necklace from Cottage Garden II.

Here's some photos from inside the store ...

                                     I love this beautiful dress form.  So romantic!



Beautiful Lamps!

I'm pretty partial to this lovely angel lamp especially with the linen shade

Lots of pretties in every corner! 

I think I was in sensory overload!  It was too much for my parents they were waiting in the car for me! 

I could have shopped for hours and hours between to two stores!   Well I'd share more of my adventures but I've got a lot on my plate for the work week.  Trying to get to bed a little earlier and pray to God to make me a "morning person"!  It would make my life so much easier.  I've been a night owl since birth - says my mom - I'm a chip off the old daddy-o's block!   He was a night shift worker, night gig rocker, and Johnny Carson/Star Trek watcher.   I was right there with him! 

P.S.  I still haven't found out the whole thumbnail problem with Blogger.  I sure hope they fix it soon!

*** UPDATE - My thumbnail picture finally showed back up today - Hurray Hurray! ***

Red Birdy

photos by me

My mama has some neat antique trinkets around her home.  Recently, she's been into red cardinals.  Especially during the winter months.  

I thought this would be an interesting photo subject.   Bright red and green ... annnnnd ...  a special surprise this red bird is hiding!

A handy little hiding place for a couple eggs!  Do you ever peruse the antique stores with big question marks above your head wondering why or what something was used for? 

This may be the case on this one for me!  But it's fun and definitely interesting!   Now we need some eggs.







Marching Towards Spring

Awake, thou wintry earth -

Fling off thy sadness!

Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth

Your ancient gladness!

~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"


I cannot believe that come tomorrow we will be in the month of March!  I'm getting excited over the change in season and cannot wait for the snow to melt and the green grass to start peeking up from the earth.   I also am excited for the Easter swap that I'm in and getting to know Jenny from Jenny's Heart!
Last night I came home from a great week with family and friends in Phoenix.   I had a wonderful time with everyone and miss them all already.  
Being in the company of those I love while enjoying some sights, sunshine and fun was just what I needed to get me out of the winter funk that tends to hang over my head when the bitter cold hangs on too long in Nebraska.  
I have a lot of nice pictures from my stay that I will share in a later post.   Have a great day! 







Happy Heart

My heart is so happy!  It's a sunny day and warm temps are melting the snow.  Yes!  So ready for Spring!

I have finally taken a moment to snap a shot of my valentine from Elizabeth of Creative Breathing.   I just love all of her work and thrilled to have something from her.   I will truly treasure it.

Sandy from 521 Lake Street is hosting her first swap on her blog.   Her swap tag is adorable.  Vintage images are just so sweet, arent' they?  Little chickies with big eyes...

I have signed up for this tag swap and can't wait to see what we all come up with.  Craft swapping has been so rewarding to me and it's a great way to make a new friend.   This one will include some "goodies" along with a tag.  It'll be fun to see what kinds of goodies I find.  Once my swap partner is revealed I will begin my creative quest! 

Swaps give me an excuse to get creative and it's something to look forward to in the mailbox!

I've always loved snail mail, receiving letters and packages.   I  had pen pals growing up and one of them, Kristen, is still in contact with me.  We met face to face about 8 years ago when I went to the east coast for  a wedding.   It was so nice to finally meet my old pal!  I still can't believe we sent 50 cents to a teen mag who matched us up and here we are today still friends. 

The electronic age is fast and fancy but there's nothing like having something in your hands that someone took the time to write and send in the mail across the miles.

Think about joining one sometime - I highly recommend it!  



Happy Valentine's Day!

I wanted to show you my sweet valentine from Sue of It's a Very Cherry World...  I exchanged with her and Elizabeth.   Once I receive the one from Elizabeth of Creative Breathing  I will post a picture of it as well.  I'm super excited to see what Elizabeth has created.  She is such a talented woman!

Isn't it cute?  Love it!  I should have taken a picture of the ones I sent out, too.  I'm still new to the whole swapping world but it sure has been fun.  Gives me something to look forward to.   Vintage valentines are my favorite. 

Well speaking of cherries, we have a great store called The Cordial Cherry here in Omaha.   I went for the first time and I loved it!   Splurged a couple of calories on two.  You know, for blogging purposes and all!!

Whimsical and delicious.   The artistry amazes me!  There are your normal chocolate covered cherries, too.  I just had to get the froggie for fun.

Over the weekend I  had lunch and shopped with a couple friends and found the cutest red and white vintage apron!  Isn't it cheerful?

I also found this lamp!  The shade is so adorable!  Polka dota and pom poms - Sold!!   It's vintage as well.    The only snafu was that when I was tightening the lightbulb the plastic cracked.   I really don't want to return it just for that ... it's one of a kind (the shade at least)!  

If anyone knows anything about lamps - tell me if the plastic part where the light bulb screws in can be replaced?   I could tape it but that would be a last ditch effort to salvage it.   

It just makes me so happy when I look at it!!  Sorry if I  concerned any of you from my last post.   I'm okay - just had a bit of a hard week and some things were stressing me.   I have to put my trust in God to carry any burden I may have and I know He loves me and loves you, too!

I thank you for your thoughtful messages and taking time to let me know you cared.  It means so much to hear from you!

Wishing you love every day of the year (not just on valentine's day) AND a big HUG to you all!   









Faith

photo by me

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you."   Luke 17:6

Last week was a tough week for me.   I don't know if it is the cold and unpredictable weather getting to me or what?  I hate it when I get grumpy!  I hate it when I get hung up on something negative and that recording goes over and over in my head.  

I found myself asking God to help me deal some of the feelings that are bubbling up in me.  It also helps to have a friend tell you "stop that right now" when they hear you say things that are not truths about yourself.

I thank God for friends that will do that.

I will not give up faith!   Tomorrow is a brand new day! 

Photo by me

"For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."    Psalm 30:5

One of my favorite scriptures!   Great song we used to sing in church, too.  

photo by me

I am blessed to have a mother who prays for her children.   She participates in a women's small group called "praying moms".   These mamas gather together and lift up prayers for their children every week.

Many prayers have been answered and it's all in the name of love.   God bless the mamas and grandmamas that pray for their children.   How many of us wonder where we would have been if we didn't have those matriarchs standing in the gap for us? 

photo by me

James 5:1 says the "effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much"!