: Where have I been? :

Okay, maybe you haven't missed me as much as I've missed posting. But it's been a crazy few days {okay, week!} and I'm still in the thick of it.

I've been up to my woo-hoo in cake making, this is just one of the special orders I had for this past weekend, I'm currently working on cake no. 3 in the past 5 days.
I got lost in our closet for a full 8 hours - it was a horrendous mess and I was so sick of it not being organized {only due to me being lazy and not putting things back in their appropriate spots} -- but now that it's organized and one jumbo bag of clothes is off to good will, I feel that I'll be able to keep up the new found organization.
We celebrated the first day of Spring break with a stop at Tim Hortons for a sprinkle doughnut for the boys..after Tims we drove to Starbucks for a coffee for me..I'm SO not a Tim Hortons coffee girl. Give me my Starbucks!
I've been working on a rather in depth surprise project that is finally completed today -- I'll be thankful to deliver this surprise and carry on with life ;)
Had an absolutely fabulous night out with Tawn @ Lady Antebellum last night, such a great show, can't even express it! We sat down for one song out of their whole play list. It was a BLAST!
Because I missed writing about this last week, here is last weeks "52 weeks of blessing"
This one was a hum-dinger last week -- God had specifically been asking me to do something and I was basically lazy {& a little stubborn} and didn't listen. What He had asked me to do was not difficult or expensive, I was just being a brat. So then He puts it on my heart to do something that costs more and is more out of my way then what He was asking me to do before, but this time I did it and it was good to be obedient to His prompting. I have to say lovelies, this was probably my most difficult one to do thus far.

Anyway, I have a friend who was going away on a 6 hour flight so I picked her up a few items for her flight: a magazine, some snacks & sugar free sweets and delivered it to her house the day before she left on vacation.There ya go, that's what I've been up to -- we also hosted 2 dinner parties over the weekend, went to church and attended another birthday in the City. Mix all that into everyday life and no school for the kids, makes for one busy Mama...but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Have a lovely Tuesday everyone, I hope to be back with 'What I love Wednesday' tomorrow. But if I'm not, don't fear, I'm probably just cooked into one of my cakes or something, sure to rise to the top again ;)

{XoXo}

: Blessed :

This just happened and I knew if I didn't write about it I would forget it.

I'm sitting in our front office finishing up some work listening to a praise song my friend had recommended when I see my neighbor pull into her driveway and then into her garage. I just say a quick little shout to God "Thanks for great neighbors, we're so blessed" -- Heidi and I chat once a week or so. She's a lovely lady, has two grown sons and is married to Paul {strange, no?} -- anyway she's just delightful, welcoming and warm.

Next thing I know {sometimes I get caught up in my own little world} our doorbell rings, there is Heidi standing there with this...
We had just had a conversation about how I can't wait to get my pots filled with summer blooms so she thought I would love a little thing of spring blooms.

So silly but so great all the same. I burst into tears and told her that I just thanked the Lord for us having such great neighbors when I saw her drive in. She said the feeling is mutual and that was it.

Sometimes when other people do very tangible things for me it continues to overwhelm.

Just the other day when we came home from the wedding our friends that had been babysitting the boys left me {cause it's my job} this gift...
I was so blessed and overwhelmed by the amount of laundry that they did for me, seriously probably 6 loads were washed and folded ready to be put away!May I never forget these tangible ways that God's love and care is shown to me...

"'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them." Ezekiel 34:11

{XoXo}

: Mr&Mrs :

This past weekend we celebrated with the last of our friends {in the original bible study group that Mr.L & I met} to get married.It was a fabulous time of celebrating as we had all been praying for our friend to find the one his heart belonged to for quite a while and 2012 was his year! He found her, fell for her, put a ring on it and now they are wed!

Mr. L had the pleasure of standing up with Tony while he wed Cherilyn {uunfortunately our littlest didn't quite understand that Daddy wasn't marrying Auntie Cherilyn and thus bawled the whole ceremony thinking that Daddy was going off and marrying another woman! HAHAHA - so glad this isn't our reality ;) }! Tony was the one who drove my Dad & I to the church on our wedding day, so it was a trip seeing Paul up on stage with Tony now ready to wed his true love, SO GREAT! We're so happy for the new Mr. & Mrs. S and glad that we're almost neighbors too -- All the best to the newly wed Couple - Enjoy Hawaii!

{XoXo}

*Photos courtesy of Mr.L's BB*

: *Question* :

Hey Lovelies ---

Just a quick question for you, I have had a few comments from readers that you miss my blog role on the right side of my blog, is this true for most of you?

So let me know, do you want the blog role back {blog role: a list of my friends blogs} and do you want to be on it if I do bring it back?

{XoXo}

: Friday ramblings...:

This week like any other has just flown by and I can't say I really have anything tangible to show for it.

I know that I have a had a stirring in my heart on a few different levels and that feels good. I've started writing a sequel to my "rite of passage" post from a few days ago. It's always interesting when God ministers to my heart from my own posts - HA!
* * *
I'm constantly taking pictures {typically with my phone & typically I'll send them to Mr. L to stay in touch through the day}, so here are my photos from the last few days {Wednesday afternoon on} sometimes I find that my photos say much more than I could...

I'm continually thankful for the provision God gives to my and my little family. Today I'm overwhelmed by His grace and mercy and thankful that He sacrificed everything for me..to say that I'm not worthy of this gift would be a huge understatement, but I'm aware of the gift He gave and ever thankful.

Have a wonderful afternoon Lovelies and a great weekend, might be back over the weekend with some of my thoughts, in the meantime check out Jenn's blog post today -- she's got some great tid-bits to share!

{XoXo}

: What I LOVE Wednesday :

Well here we are back at mid point in the week -- I've got a small spattering of things I'm in love with so without further adieu here they are:

Garnish
I found this site as I was stumbling through the internet the other day, and oh my goodness they have beautiful {specific} paper products, I'm a sucker for paper products; stationary, boxes, cup&lids I love it all and Garnish has a beautiful assortment of treasures. Can't wait to have to order them for an event some day!
The Vintage Sisters
Vintage Sisters has been around for almost a year now, they are two local sisters who love to craft and have decided to make it a little side business...I saw some of their work first hand at one of my friends places the other day and let me tell you it is BEAUTIFUL!!! Looking forward to ordering my first item from them very soon!
Royal Design Studio
I'm looking for something to jazz up our master suite and I stumbled across RDS -- I love their stencils -- I think the one below is the one I would pick for our room and I would probably use it {more tone on tone} in our laundry room as well. Check them out, the options are endless! Yogurt Parfait
I'm a huge lover of mason jars and when I found this idea on Pinterest I knew I had to make it for Mr. L -- often times he doesn't have {or make time} to eat breakfast, but this quick and easy {& healthy} meal to go is just perfect! Another reason to LOVE Pinterest -- Pinterest Mr. L loves you too...Proof is here
I'm off to get ready for ladies missions night tonight which is bound to be lots of fun, women, God, faith, make-up & dessert...really, could it get any better!?!? ;)

Have a beautiful Wednesday night lovelies!

{XoXo}

: Movie Review :: Something Borrowed :

I'm home again today with both boys. Jacob napped for 2 hours yesterday and still slept for 12 hours straight last night. Cole on the other hand was up and down 8 times. Mr. L slept like a newborn baby!

I felt both boys still needed another day to rest before we got back into the school groove, but I'm pretty sure they are almost back to normal...still a little cuddly which means they are not quite normal, but I'll take the cuddles any day!

Today I finally broke down and made cookies with them {they had been asking for weeks!}, what's a sick day with Mama if you can't bake cookies together!?!?

Anyway, onto the *MOVIE REVIEW* of "Something Borrowed"

I know I know, I'm a little behind - this movie has been out for well, almost a year...I know I live under a rock, it's true!

So, it was originally a book. I read the book {warning: a little on the racy side} I loved the book -- it was an easy read and I literally read it in 24 hours. But if you know me you know I love to read and almost always have one or two books on the go.
The movie didn't dissapoint either. All the actors were great and played really realistic roles. I could identify with all of them in one way or another.
Here is my top 10 favorites about this movie:
*it's placed in NYC & the Hamptons
*love the Salt&Pepper dance sequence - so fun!
*the girl on the park bench when Marcus is talking to Rachel is reading the book called "something blue" it's the sequel to "something borrowed"
*I love the Lands End tote Rachel has
*Men with deep set eyes and low eyebrows are naturally attractive to me
*I enjoy the fresh looking make-up that Rachel wears
*I wish I could wear lace shorts like Darcy
*I love the thought of a beach house on a beach like that
*I love that they stuck to the book {almost!}
*I really love that at the very end of the credits {which I didn't realize until I watched it a second time} that there is a "...to be continued" sign ~ oh yeah!
I R E A L L Y love movies that are based in the Hamptons or just close to a large body of water, all of my favorite movies are based close to water --- I wonder what that says about me...maybe I need to be moving closer to a large body of water! HA!

That's it for today Lovelies! I've got a few things {like organizing my closet} that need to get done...nothing fun, but must be done!

Have a great Tuesday evening!
{XoXo}

: Weekend Recap :

This weekend was a full one {what weekend isn't really!?!?} -- it was great to have lots of girl time and a good spattering of family time in there as well!

I wasn't around here on Friday as I was preparing a cake for the beautiful Sonia. It was her Canadian wedding shower and her absolutely darling MIL planned a beautiful tea along with one of my cakes. Simply stated, elegant and a little sassy; just like her DIL Sonia. Here is the cake:
Friday night after taking a break from cake making I went to join in celebrating these two lovely peoples..Laura a childhood friend had her second baby, little brother to Kenzie; Levi. Isn't he scrumptious!?!!
The details were perfect! Here is Jessi and the super host Lisa {Laura's older sister} Loved this little frame; gotta find out where Lisa got it!
Such a darling little guy! Congratulations Josh, Laura & Kenzie!
We took some time on the FREEZING cold Saturday afternoon to go fly a kite...it was supposed to be this dreamy family time of flying the kite. In between trying to get the kite up in the killer wind, with the temperature of that wind being less than dreamy, with three out of four of us having no clue how to fly a kite...it wasn't exactly the most delightful family time.
This is the picture I took just before I took the reigns and smoothly and effortlessly smashed Tigger into a nearby cherry blossom tree and got him stuck real good. The Mr. was NOT impressed with my talent in getting Tigger stuck.

Tigger was rescued on Sunday after church and a small fight with the cherry blossom tree. No children or wives were harmed in this lovely family outing ;)
Sunday night we headed out to my parents for my brothers birthday. We had a nice roast beef dinner with all the trimmings. Here is my brother and his wife Lindsey {she due to have a baby boy in early April}
*smile*
This was that shot I took just as I said smile...couldn't help but post such a delightful & happy shot! Happy Birthday JORD! I have a feeling 2012 is going to be one of your best years yet ;)
I wasn't on here on Friday but I didn't for get my "52 weeks of blessing" for last week...this is what it was: Small kitchen candle in Pineapple Mango in the colour of the year "Tangerine Tango" -- don't remember how much it was but it wasn't expensive and I just added the cost into my grocery bill so that it wouldn't be an expense on top of my regular shopping.

Card is made up of a paint chip I picked up while walking past a paint shop on my way to the post office..so cute, no?

{Also I have yet to deliver it as Friday I had a change of plans -- but I will do it before this Friday and the next blessing}Hope you all had a great weekend, our weekend ended with Jacob waking us up at 5 am by puking on our floor and me ushering him towards the washroom stepping in it and well, you know how that goes.

But the sun is out, both my boys are down for naps after a bowl of chicken noodle soup {thanks Cambell's!} and I'm off to do a load or two of puke laundry -- the joys of being a Mama are really endless, no!?!?

Have a great one Lovelies in whatever season you are in, remember the small things are what count the most!
{XoXo}