somewhere over the rainbow …..

  I LOVE IT WHEN IT RAINS IN TEXAS

it can happen at any given moment and is always welcome.

rain in the warm weather beckons you to run out in it and dance like a child.

 this is a familiarity to me of growing up in michigan and adoring the summer rainstorms
 – but fearing the thunder and lightening - still.

in texas the rain blows in and out

just long enough to quench the thirst of the land.  just long enough to drench the earth so it can release it’s sweet aroma.

when the rain stops and the sun shines through the clouds

the warming of the earth starts beneath your feet. you begin to smell the steaming dirt, and witness the beauty of the millions of glistening droplets of water left on every blade of grass and each petal of the flowers!

beyond  words

and then, if all is right at just that moment in time ~ a rainbow or two

“somewhere over the rainbow”

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Anti-aging food #1

Anti-aging food #1 –  Avocado

Eye Cream: Build an eye cream by mixing 5 drops of almond oil with 3 ripe slices of avocado. Mix this mixture and dab it around your eyes. Keep it on for five minutes then rinse.

Facial Mask: Make a paste of ½ ripe avocado mixed with one tsp vegetable oil. Apply this paste on a washed and clean face. Leave it for fifteen to 20 minutes. Rinse it with warm water. This masque is very good for dry skin.

Avocados are a good source of healthy monounsaturated fat that can help lower levels of the bad type of cholesterol and raise the levels of the good cholesterol in your body. Avocado contains vitamin E and can help to maintain healthy skin and help prevent aging of the skin.  Avocados are also rich in potassium which helps prevent fluid retention and high blood pressure.

Avocado calories, serving size and nutritional values (click here)

Slice up an avocado and add to your favorite sandwich, burger, eggs, pasta, salads, soups, or chili for it's health benefits.  Visit recipes for meat eaters or vegetarians here http://www.avocado.org

Remember my favorite dinner from a previous post: click the picture to visit my recipe

Instead of adding meat (saturated fat) to your pasta ~ add the healthy texture of avocados and tomatoes!!!

Bon Appetit ! 

autumn favorites

 click on picture to visit old post and credits for my mosaic

I borrowed this mosaic from an older post.  These are still my favorite things this time of year! And these are the colors I love in my life. 

happy “around the corner” October~

Cheryl

engagement party

Cupcakes made…..

Gifts wrapped …..

Celebration to begin ….

When I looked at all the pictures of Brandon & Megan over the last year and a half … i got teary-eyed “again” ~ I loved seeing all the happy moments they have spent together so far as a new couple. 

They just “fit”. 

To my son and his girl ~ I love you both !  xo mom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

To: Lori, Tiffany and Katelyn  (the bridesmaids) ~ Megan is very lucky to have you three silly young women in her life!

You did a great job and you are amazing friends to her!!

~ xo Cheryl

september

It’s all about the way the sun begins to cast it’s Autumn shadows.  The start of everything Pumpkin!
October 1, they will be showing up in my home ~

      Wishing you a beautiful Autumn Season ~ Cheryl

purple & green

Wedding colors have been chosen and with much thought Megan decided on purple and lime green.  First, her favorite color is purple.  Second, she loves lime green and with the wedding being in the fall and at a winery as the venue – purple and lime green just made sense.

The wedding is a year away, so there is much time deciding what flowers and what shades of purple.

  Of course, there is a budget, so the extravaganza of “limitless budgets” will have to be scaled down. But we are going to do our best to put together a wedding of “simple elegance”. 

  Brandon is drawn to vintage.  Vintage pinup girls, vintage cars, vintage photography.  With that in mind, I believe Megan will add a touch of vintage to her wedding.  Like this rhinestone broach. 

Bridesmaid’s dress color.

Little by little – decisions to make.

all photos borrowed from www.projectwedding.com

~ have a beautiful week ~ …. xo cheryl

Bella

While looking through some pictures, I couldn’t help but get a smile on my face when I came across this sweet little thing.  My grandpuppy.

This is when Ms. Bella was not allowed on the couch.  We don’t allow dogs on the furniture in our family.

(unless you are just too dang cute to yell at)

Looking at her, we decided she had a lot of “pointer” in her! Learning the stance.

REMEMBER:       “ NO DOGS ON THE FURNITURE !!!”  

(unless you are as sweet as can be and let grandma snuggle you)

Sweet baby all grown into a beautiful girl!!    (in less than a year)     LOVE LOVE LOVE THOSE LIPS!!!!! 

What does grandma say ????

  “NO DOGS ON THE FURNITURE !!!!”

(unless your back legs are still on the floor)

DO I LOVE HER OR WHAT???   LOVE HER!!!

(and her lips)

~ Cheryl

the venue ……

Well, here it is! They chose the winery & vineyard!

The winery was our last stop. It really had the best of all three venues we looked at (rustic Cotton Mill and far away Farmhouse). At the winery we still get our brick walls and high beamed ceilings like the Cotton Mill. Stained concrete flooring photographs well. Rustic wooden doors, hand painted murals and the casual feel of the wine barrels just made this a terrific choice for what Brandon & Megan had in mind. It is spotless, has a wine bar and the lighting is very romantic ~ and the grounds = vineyard!

But what made the decision easiest of all, is when we were up in the bridal suite (above) and then walked out onto the landing and the woman who was giving the tour said, “Megan, you will walk out and stand here for about 3 seconds with everyone below looking up and then you will walk down the staircase to meet your dad at the bottom” – well, the tears started to flow from both Megan and me ~ that was it!!!!!! Like a fairytale!!!

No question this was the place.

Stay tuned for the wedding color scheme. xo Cheryl

a year to plan a wedding ….

Wedding on the Brain…. step # 1 …. find the venue

As you know, my son proposed to his girl ~ and they will be getting married in the Fall of 2011. Yes, a whole year away …. but as we have found, most venues are already being booked for next year.

Brandon & Megan knew they wanted to get married somewhere rustic and casual. They also knew that they wanted the ceremony and the reception in the same place. Their first visit was a historic flour mill. It was just what they had in mind, except they felt the reception room was a bit too small, so it got nixed right away. Next on the list, a historic cotton mill built in the early 1900’s. Then, a restored farmhouse built in the late 1800’s. And the final destination was a 20 year old vineyard & winery.

I wanted to share the three venues with you.

Cotton Mill

As you can see, this Cotton Mill is HUGE. There are so many different areas of the building that are amazing for taking photos. The area below is the part of the mill that is currently rented out for weddings, receptions, corporate meetings, & community parties and events. Other areas of the building, they rent out for photo shoots for bands, modeling, etc.

The vintage windows make a gorgeous backdrop for the ceremony.
 This venue is filled with antique doors, floors, windows etc.

Those windows are actually blue. In person, they look like blue sea glass!!!!

….bet your heart is going “pitter-patter” looking at those original hardwood floors!

A photographers dream!

(Click http://www.flickr.com/photos/darbig/2708268179/ here) to see wedding photos in this room

The contrast of the vintage, rustic textures with the elegance of a bridal gown ~ well, see for yourself…….

Farmhouse

This 100+ year old farmhouse is on 11 acres surrounded by trees. So serene.

Back of the house and pool area!

The farmhouse has the bride and groom suites used to get dressed ~ and the kitchen is used by the caterers.

The owners built this pavilion to use as the reception area. You can tell we are in Texas !

There are several areas on the property that you can choose to hold the ceremony.
This gazebo is one of those areas.

Vineyard/Winery

Built in the 90’s, this newer constructed winery also has it’s rustic charm and great architecture.

The lobby has hand painted Italian murals.

Then you walk into the doors you see in the above picture. Upstairs is the bridal suite and the  staircase the bride walks down to meet her father.

Below, is the main room of the winery. The ceremony is held in front of the doors at the far end.
 Then staff switch out the ceremony chairs with the reception tables and chairs while guests have cocktails outside by the vineyard.

The buffet table can be set up in the wine vat room (below). They offer this so that the guests can experience the winery as it works.

wine anyone?

So these are the three venues Brandon & Megan decided to choose from. I hope you enjoyed the tour! Would love to hear your thoughts!

There will be more pictures to share with you as we help the engaged couple with their many decisions throughout the next year –

it’s going to be a fun time! Stay tuned ……

~ Cheryl

remember this voice !!!

Not just because she is my neice, my baby brother’s daughter, but because “a star is born” …. she is only 13, and someday very soon we believe you will all know her name ! And to be honest, we all held our ears when she was a baby because she was SO loud and vocal !! How were we to know she had been preparing from day one !!!

(click Drew Singing Hallelujah .m4v here)

I received my brother and sister-in-law’s permission to post Drew on my blog. Enjoy her gift !

~cheryl