the chair that almost got away

We were cleaning out our garage over Spring Break when we came across a lonesome unwanted chair that we had stashed away out of sight. 

I told Nick it was time to send it off to Goodwill so that it could find a nice loving home where it would be appreciated.  So we tossed it aside into the unwanted pile.  As we continued our cleaning, organizing and purging, my eyes kept wandering back to the poor little lonely chair.  We had rescued her from my parent's store when it was going out of business.  How could I abandon her?  Could I really let her go that easily?  This was her home, and she was one of my only tangible memories from the store (along with a few other things...ok, a lot of other things that I can't bring myself to get rid of.)  

Oh the guilt! 

(This is why things that I promise Nick I will take to Goodwill sit in my trunk for months on end.  Precious Moments Chip and Dip Platters!  How could I bare to get rid of them?)

So, as I looked upon the little chair and pondered all these things in my heart, a thought entered my mind.  It dawned on me that maybe, just maybe those little cushions on the chair could pop off.  And that maybe, just maybe I could recover them.  So, I took the closest screwdriver and went to work popping those cushions off (much to Nick's dismay...he was worried about his screwdriver and my ability to use it.) But, I am my father's daughter, and I have quite a bit of handy dandiness to me, and those cushions popped right off.  Sure enough.  This would be an easy job.

I can even use a staple gun.

And so it was.  Our little chair got a makeover, and we found love in our hearts once again for her.  She will not be stashed away in the garage anymore, but rather, will be proudly displayed in our office as my desk chair.

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the day that I turned thirty

Every special occasion is an excuse to go to our favorite restaurant in San Juan Capistrano

Ramos House Cafe

So, that is exactly how we started things out the morning of my birthday!

We then drove down to San Clemente to go for a bike ride on the tandem, but as soon as Nick finished pumping up the tire, he pulled the pump out of the tire and the tire popped .  So, we walked instead.

Then we came home and Nick gave me my present.  Two pieces of paper with two options of presents....a Cricut Imagine or a Piano.  I am still debating.  The Cricut didn't get great reviews.  But the best part of my gift was what Nick wrote for me.  I would share it with you, but Nick is not really a fan of that idea.  Plus, if I read it to you, you would probably all wish he was your husband, and I am not a fan of polygamy.

We decided to give the tandem another try in the afternoon.  Nick changed the tire and we headed to Aliso Canyon.

Then Nick had to go to his EMT class....yes, he is taking an EMT class.  So, I was going to spend my birthday evening all by my lonesome until Amy and my parents came to the rescue.  They took me out to the Cheesecake Factory at the mall.  Then we walked around the mall and reminisced about all the stores we used to shop at once upon a time when life was a little more carefree.  And then we went into See's candy to get a free sample, but we couldn't just get a free sample and not buy anything....at least Amy and I couldn't.  My parents had no problem first off asking for a different sample than the one they were given, and then walking right out of the store without buying anything....shameless!  Amy and I stayed behind to clean up their mess and bought a couple pieces to spare us some embarrassment.

And in the Microsoft store, they had a Michael Jackson dance game that I played....so fun.

If my underwear was not hanging out of the back of my jeans the whole time, I would show you the video my dad took.

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Belle and Marcel

Belle got a bath over the weekend.  I didn't give it to her.  This was one of those rare occasions where I took her to a grooming place to have them do the work for me.  They do a lot of extra things that I never do, including clipping her nails.  And her nails were looooong, let me tell you.  So long in fact, that the poor thing couldn't even take two steps without her legs sliding out from under her on our wood floor.

After mosying around Target for a little while, I came back to pick up the pup.   When I saw my little babe for the first time, I couldn't stop laughing.

She waddled out to me looking like this:

Complete with Easter bows and an Easter scarf.

When we got home and Nick saw her, his response was....

"No!  Are you kidding me!  Those people are sick!"

I just think they have a bad sense of style.  Pink is so not her color.

Speaking of dogs, this is really funny...

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30th Birthday Party

Well, my enchanted forest birthday party turned out magnificent.  Not only was it decorated beautifully, but we could not have had better weather.  It was the only night during the past few weeks that has felt like a summer night.  The very next day, the weather got kind of cold and gloomy again.  But Saturday night was perfect!

There was a lot of preparation that went into this party, and it would not have been as amazing as it was if it were not for all the work that Nick, my sisters, and my parents put in.  So, thank you to all of them.  Lots of people took lots of pictures at the party, so there are a lot of pictures to post.  Plus, with all the work that went into this party, I want to make sure every little detail is documented.  So, without further ado, I give you my party....

The Invitations
Made by my talented sister Kristina of Plum Paper

Lots of light...

 Amy and I made the hanging chandeliers.  I will do a post about how to make them later.  We modified this idea.

The Food Table

 The Dessert Table

(my favorite)

Kim made all of these desserts.  They were so delicious.  A vanilla almond cake, grapefruit pistachio tart, lemon tart, and strawberry almond tart.  I can't get enough of the pictures from this table, so here are a few more.

 To help decorate the food tables, I bought a pack of paper that I liked at Michaels that was 2 sided (it was on sale for only $3.50!).  I cut every single sheet of paper into circles on the Cricut, then sewed them together to make garland to hang behind the tables.  This was my favorite decoration from the party.

Some Other Decorations

 Of course, the people were the best part of the party.

I love that people really went all out for the party.  They dressed just like the inspiration board that Amy made.

Don't you love Nick's new outfit for the party?!

Singing Happy Birthday

A Special Visit

Our friend Tim was supposed to come to the party, but ended up having to work overtime as a firefighter.  There just so happened to be an attic fire at a house just down the street from us, so he had his truck stop on the way back to the station...so fun!

Movie Time

As the night started to wind down, we watched Princess Bride on the deck, which had been turned into a lounge area.

It was such a great night, and I am so thankful for the friends and family that I have!  Turning 30 is not so bad I guess.

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Happy Easter!

We had a very nice Easter Sunday.
We spent the morning at our church's Easter services at the Pacific Ampitheater, where Francis Chan spoke....so good!

After the Easter services, Nick and I gave each other Easter baskets....this is the first time we have done that.

We had a bit of a lonely Easter this year.  We didn't feel lonely, but a lot of people were missing.  Kim is in Italy right now, but we got to Skype with her for a little while in the afternoon.  And, Kristina, of course, is in Atlanta since she lives there now.  My parents, Amy, Aunt Karen, Aunt Betty and Grandma came over to have dinner.

And then we had a bit of a lazy Easter evening.  It was actually very nice.

I hope you all had a joy filled Easter!

"Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, the Scripture will be fulfilled:

'Death is swallowed up in victory.

Oh death, where is your victory?

Oh death, where is your sting?'

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.  But thank God!  He gives victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

(New Living Translation)

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