Have A Seat...Comfy?

It is gonna be a LONG post! I was off line far too long! I am also just now trying to catch up with my visits to all of you! I have missed you! I will be stopping by soon so get that tea kettle on the stove okay? Do you remember this post? Ah. Of course you do! Or not but hey. The day before Grace's birthday we returned to Jenna Claire and there it was. The. Finished. Tote. The Holy Grail. The Motherlode. Heaven's trumpets sounded and the angels wept. Grace was so excited she had barely slept the night before. She even chose her clothes based on whether they would coordinate with said tote. Can you say "DIVA"? I knew you could. This gorgeous bag was now in her hot little hands and it has barely left those fingers since. She guards it like a crazed mother hawk. She informed her big brother that it was not to be, "touched, held, looked at or breathed on" by him. Do you think she liked it? Yes, she actually teared up when we got into our car. "Mommy? This is the most wonderful purse in the whole world and they are all so wonderful and I am so happy". She even had Daddy put up a special wall peg from which the tote now hangs. A place of honor. I guess that just about says it all. The owner of Jenna Claire, Daina with her precious daughter, THE Jenna Claire herself! Grace with Public Relations and Project Manager Debby and Workroom Manager, Mary. I can not say enough about how lovely these ladies were to us and how very special this shop is. If you are in the Dayton, Ohio area, PLEASE stop by and see them. They also have a splendid web site. Uh huh..mail order!! Thank you Jenna Claire!! The day before her birthday, Grace requested we dine at The Cheesecake Factory. Also in attendance were Grandma and our dear friends, *P* and *M*. We all enjoyed our dinners and then, for dessert, out came singing wait staff and their Godiva Dark Chocolate Cheesecake. Okay, as I am lying in bed dying, attired in a stunning pink velvet gown, getting more beautiful and glowing more with each step closer to death, ala Ali McGraw in "Love Story" AND surrounded by my loving family AND Brian Dennehy professing their undying love for me...I would like to have a fork full of THIS decadent taste touch my lips. Oh whoa. It was so goooood. After dinner, Grace and *M* went to Grace's favorite clothes shop, Justice. We had presented her with the money for a new outfit, top to bottom...hair band to shoes. It was what she requested. This year she did not want a big BD party and this was her idea of a *Real* grownup girl's party! Yeah baby! Shopping with *Aunt M*! Don't worry now, my feeling are not hurt...Mommy fully understands. I adore *M* too! And Grace is probably quite correct in saying that *M* knows much more about fashion then Mom. Hey, they had the best time together and she picked out some wonderful things. Yes, I DO Have pictures of everyone but am allowing the ladies their privacy in not posting them. They hate their pictures shown! You will have to take my word for it that *P* and *M*, just like all my buddies, are the prettiest of ladies! Just ask Grace!On her birthday, Mom picked up and delivered the obligatory Hannah Montana cupcakes for the classroom party! Then Mom picked up the obligatory Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus balloons. (Uh huh, Boo got his OWN balloons with Cars and Mickey. No Hannah lover he!) Then came the opening of the obligatory Hannah Montana gifts..this one from Uncle Jim and Aunt Lisa.

Then Grace blew out 10 candles on the obligatory Hannah Montana birthday cake! Have you been overdosed on Hannah Montana Grace? Grace? GRACE? I think she is stunned! Boo was just so happy to play with his new Thomas trains and to read his new Thomas books. "Bye Bye Grandma! I had a good time. Thank you for everything!"

We had a delicious dinner and smiling kids and Hannah Montana. What more could we ask for? We were unable to get out of our driveway until late Sunday afternoon. Great timing though! We had been invited to my buddy *T's* for another birthday celebration for Grace! Dinner was fantastic, the conversation great fun and we even were able to watch "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" which I had been anxious to see. So just what did the young eyes at the party do while the older ladies were viewing Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh? They were spellbound by a marathon of Hannah Montana. What else? This is the fantastic gift I received from Lisa Oceandreamer! I was lucky enough to be one of her winners in the One World One Heart Giveaway! To say I was thrilled is a great understatement! Lisa is one of the most talented of women. She is giving, funny, open, honest, kind and gentle. Thank you dearest Lisa. This plum of a prize is on my blue dresser, right next to my side of the bed. It looks perfect there! Then, look what else arrived! You know the contents will be exciting when the box is hand painted like this! I was lucky enough to win Lisa's giveaway but I also won Michelle's!! I could not believe my double luck! Michelle, The Mosaic Queen sent me these wonderful treasures. I absolutely adore them both. The cupcake is on my mantel and the wall heart is above the dresser, right next to our bed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for these gifts.

Please visit both of these amazingly gifted artists. You will be so happy you did! So, how do you spend a snow day? Well, here at Rabbit Run Cottage, we painted! Here is Grace working hard at the priming coat. She and Bill did a super job. Then it was time to slap on that burgundy coat. Dan and I stepped in to help and it is now done. Okay, so there needs to be a few minor touch ups and we must re-arrange the furniture but, in essence, it IS done. Oh yes! We also picked out a new dining room table and 6 chairs. I am so excited about that! We moved the old oak set into the kitchen, keeping the oak and rush seat chairs from the kitchen set. It looks good together. I will post pictures of the completed dining room soon...I hope! But how did the other family members spend THEIR snow days? Gazing out of doors and windows and trying to imagine Spring... Taking a cat nap and dreaming about Spring... Tiring herself out searching the World Wide Web for signs of Spring... Piles of snow to the rear of the house... Buckets of snow to the front...

Nothing to do but make a snow angel...and wait for Spring. I have a few more photos to share, like one of Cassie's sweet gift and my wonderful giveaway win from Gretchen, but Blogger would not allow any more. Is it trying to tell me sumpthin'? I will get those posted tomorrow! Till then, stay well, safe and happy. You look so pretty when you smile! Love and Hugs, Susie Q

What A Girl Needs...

...what a girl wants. Accessories. To accessorize. To punch up an outfit using lots of colorful beads and baubles and hair thingees and scarves and shoes and purses. Maybe this is not how Mr. Webster would define it but it is definitely how our Gracie does. So, what does a diva do when she wins a gift certificate from a custom sewn purse boutique? Ah...um...scream? Oh, that too. Then pester Mom until we git 'er done. So, today we got 'er done. Grace had today off so a Grandma, Mom and daughter shopping extravaganza was long overdo. The scene of pure delight. A clothing boutique downstairs, a designer purse boutique up. Heaven must surely be like this... Now, you have to love any shop that decorates like this right? Okay, I'm climbing...don't push...I've been sick ya know... And then...we reached it...Grace gasped. I panted...hey. That was one long gosh durned flight of steps ya know and I have been sick! Ahem... There we were. Inside Jenna Claire. And it was glorious! You start by choosing the basic style you want...and there were many from which to choose. Then it is off to choose your fabrics and ribbon and, well, you get the picture. Grace was in LALA land the entire time we were there. We were assisted by the delightful Debby and she could not have been sweeter or more help. Grace adored her and looks forward to returning to see Debby again! How can you not love a shop that offers you chocolate covered strawberries? Grace and Debby choose the goodies... Grace showing off one of her choices. Debby introduced Grace to Mary in the workroom and they showed her around much to a certain *almost 10 year old's* delight! Everyone could not have been nicer. It was a fun and memorable experience. Grace is still in serious LALA land over it all and Mom, well, I had a blast watching my girl. Thank you to everyone at Jenna Claire... the shop is amazing!