GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V.17 {2016}

4.16.16 ~ SHOWER for BABY BEE

BABY SHOWERS are thoughtful, social, & emotional!

SLE's shower was NO exception! While working with my mom, daughter, niece, sister & sister-in-law, it was ALL about thoughtful details. The mother-to-be didn't want a "themed" event, but agreed on greens & yellows. Once the event was in full swing, it was ALL about the social aspect of visiting, eating, playing games, and presents. I hadn't anticipated that I would be so emotional the week following the party!!

SLE told me on the way to LAX (to catch her flight to Washington DC), she "didn't want the party to end!" YEA!!! it was a G.R.E.A.T. success! 

I wish we had taken more pictures of family... urrgh!

Friday, JPE & I met friends for dinner at the Olde Port Inn, Avila Beach. Great conversation, tasty food (although, expensive) & a beautiful evening...

a RANDOM picture of our walk on the pier. We never take for granted that we live in a beautiful community!

Several days before the shower, I scheduled some time to teach Katie to use a sewing machine. She's at that age where she's expanding her creative interests!

Some of the handmade gifts... Katie sewed five burp pads (bottom left)... Nana/Gigi made the baby quilt... Auntie Allie knit the mint green hat & purple headband! the monkey first appeared on this blog a few weeks ago. Auntie Janene (top picture) did all the table decorations for the party! & I know Baby Bee will be getting a handmade gift from Auntie Stacy... Welcome to the FUN club, Katie!!

posting with Tamar at Random-osity

Flying to Washington DC tomorrow!

catch me here, or on Instagram!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY {4.13.16}

this post will be short & definitely sweet!

BUSY... BUSY... BUSY...

cleaning house

packing a bag

packing the car

the E.X.C.I.T.E.M.E.N.T. is building!

pick up ACE & SLE from LAX

on Friday evening

for a 

BABY SHOWER

on Saturday!

memory-making weekend!!

OUR WORLD TUESDAY {4.12.16}

pics taken 4.12.16 - JPE's Garden

in OUR WORLD TUESDAY...

I would have to say... it's all about...

BLOOMING. COLOR. FLOWERS. WEATHER.

we have loads of flowers, in a variety of colors.

the weather? different story!

scattered showers scheduled for today?

oh, that's NOT part of our day on this TUESDAY!!

Isn't this just the P.E.R.F.E.C.T. rose?

the smell is so fragrant!

took this pictures in the direct SUN! 

not the best conditions...

so, blame that on the WEATHER!

posting with OUR WORLD on TUESDAY!

gotta get back to my sewing!

GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V.15 {2016}

all pics taken 4.11.16

Okay. Here's the deal... I'm totally absorbed with the BABY SHOWER! I'm getting so excited. My daughter, SLE, is having a baby GIRL in June... but she's flying out this weekend so her sister, aunties, cousin & Nana can throw her a baby shower! No worries... GOOD thing she doesn't check my blog often (if at all?). More shower pictures will be posted next week!

Of course we have to play some RANDOM games... one of which is "How Many Kisses FOR Baby Bee?" Since we don't know the baby's name, I have lovingly started calling her "Baby Bee" as her last name begins with a "B"...

While waiting for Saturday to arrive, I've been indulging myself... by creating signs using my scrapbook stash & "whipped into shape" some picture frames (purchased from the Dollar Store) using off-white spray paint! (ok, I know my family is chuckling about my spray-paint habit)... 

Another FUN little project... this is a teaser, so you'll have to come back next week to see WHAT this will be! Needless to say, I've got the bug! crafting & sewing... Cleaning? dust balls are swirling under the beds & in the corners. Cleaning will have to wait another day!

posting with Tamar @ Random-osity

{sorry I missed GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. last week} 

see you soon!

GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V.14 {2016}

Oh... this is a cute way to advertise! ROYCE CAFE & COFFEE HOUSE (named for the owner, Joy & Rhoda, her daughter). GOOD coffee, tasty cookies & signage!

RANDOM... Loved this shoe form! How would you use this to decorate your home? I'm thinking I would use it as a bookend... or maybe add a couple of brushed silver knobs and use it to hang a coat or dog leash (if I had a dog!!)... Of course, you would have to hang it on the wall!

When we were in Ohio, we stopped by TAFT'S ALE HOUSE (downtown Cincinnati)... there were several parties of noisy (very, very noisy) people in the downstairs bar. As we passed the door to the outside, we discovered they were taking taking a BEER TOUR. You can check out these FUN tours by going on TripAdvisor.

Well, that's all for now!

Posting with Tamar at RANDOM-OSITY. 

FIVE ON FRIDAY {4.1.16}

 all photos taken 3.23.16 @ The Cincinnati Zoo

JPE & I flew back to visit some of the Elfers Family over Spring Break! On a day that was to reach the mid-70's**, we met Elizabeth & her three kids... Zachary, Charley & Annie. The two big guys, JPE & Greg are cousins.

First stop... the Reptile House. Although the kids were interested in what was inside, I learned this building was the oldest existing zoo building in America. It was built in 1875 & used to house the monkeys & apes. On the bottom right is a "pancake tortoise" which has a flat, flexible shell that allows it to squeeze into small crevices & hide from its predators. 

{Sorry for the somewhat blurry pics - it was difficult to take pictures through the wire & glass enclosures}

The zoo staff had left Easter baskets filled with carrots, lettuces, & vegies. Peek-A-Boo! Can you see the chimp hiding in the bottom right hand pic? JPE measured his hands (& feet) against the model of the chimps. These chimps are B.I.G.!!

Simply beautiful, serene & peaceful! These lovely creatures didn't seem to care if we were taking pictures of them or not.

This picture of Charley says it ALL! Going to the ZOO is EXCITING!

If you think the Cincinnati Zoo was all critters & scary stuff, here is evidence you can see other stuff. I haven't been to a zoo in at least 25 years, so this was an exciting start to our vacation.

** The weather was actually overcast, chilly, perhaps mid-60's... but this fair-weather blogger was pleased-as-punch for the lack of humidity that usually arrives when I visit Cincinnati!!

posting with AMY for FIVE ON FRIDAY