Turn Ons

Don't worry...this isn't x-rated or anything. Just one of those annoying email forwards I usually delete! But I needed to post so this is what you get!

I was asked to answer "turn on" or "turn off" for each prompt. Feel free to do the same!

Shopping: Depends on what I find!
Mysteries and surprises: Major Turn ON. Maybe the biggest one of all...
Dallas: hmmm- hot, humid weather- Off. Two stepping with a cute cowboy- On.
Firemen: seems too cliche for me!
Gossip: I like to call it "sharing information" and it's a Turn On to share, right?
Health Clubs: Off. Necessary, but OFF.
Cars: Off. Cars are great to get you from point A to point B- but who cares what kind it is?
ABBA: Turn On in a girl power kind of way.
Beaches: Turn On!
Fur: If we're talking about a cute pup with it's cute owner, then turn on. If we're talking about clothing, dead things, or slang for a hairy guy, then turn off.
Musicals and plays: Turn on.
Hats: Turn On...especially if it's a navy baseball cap with a white A.
Cigars: Off...the smell lingers forever!
Talk Shows: I'm kind of a sucker for a good Oprah show and Ellen makes me laugh. But not the trashy talk shows.
Leather: Turn Off.
Gambling: OFF.
Ambition: Turn On- gotta love someone that knows what they want!
Muscles: Scary body builders that shimmer in the light= major turn off.
Oysters: ON
Prince: William? Ummmm- Yes, please.
Gold: Turn Off.
Competition: Turn On- A healthy competition can be fun.
Bikers: Off. Except for Lance.
Glasses: Turn On- Unless they're transitional lenses.
Power: Turn On
European: ???

I'm Baaaaack!

I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend! I FINALLY got a new camera- so Grits and Gossip won't be so bare! What I've been up to...

• Baking from Scratch...

• Practicing my cake decorating skills...

• Celebrating Easter with friends!
  

• Bringing Spring to our porch!

• And trying to stop and smell the flowers! (tulips from our yard)
  

In Bloom

It was one of those really good weekends. The kind when I didn't have any plans or obligations. It all started with some veggie pizza and vegging out on Friday night.

Cleaning and errands on Saturday. Grilled out, watched Slumdog again, and went to the last showing of Sunshine Cleaning Saturday night.

Shopping, yardwork, and piano playing on Sunday. (Yep, haven't played in a while...something very soothing about it!) I conqured wiring the new cable box to my TiVo and TV. FINALLY got a new camera (let's just say I've been to Best Buy 4 times in the last week.) And the weekend was fabulously topped off by the Braves winning their first game! I even caught the last few minutes of the Academy of Country Music Awards and saw Taylor Swift win Best Album of the Year and Carrie Underwood beat out the guys for Entertainer of the Year!

I hope everyone enjoyed the nice Spring weather (while it lasted!)

We're celebrating the Cherry Blossoms in DC. They only bloom for about 2 weeks, but are such a beautiful sight. I'm cheating a little and sharing pictures I took from the past few years. As a friend, who is seeing the Cherry Blossoms for the first time, said last week, "Every tree is a bouquet of flowers!"

April Showers

Literally- all April has brought us so far are showers! Seriously though, what happened to March?

First- to close out March, I thought I'd share a picture of the birthday cake I made Shira. I made my grandmother's chocolate pound cake recipe (FROM SCRATCH) and decorated it with flowers I learned how to make in the cake decorating classes I've taken. I do believe that is the impression of Shira's finger in the side...she really likes the icing!

We celebrated with dinner at Mexicali Blues and had lots of fun.

There's a lot to look forward to in April...everything seems to come back to life! Most importantly- Baseball season begins! Hey, I warned y'all to brace yourself! You know where I'll be Sunday evening- Opening night- Braves vs. Phillies, so please do not disturb. I am not kidding.

Earth Day is also coming up later this month on April 22nd. I know, I know, some people get REALLY tired of hearing the Go Green stuff. But are you really going to argue that it's not important to be more aware of how we're treating our beautiful earth? We can all so something to decrease the waste we create and the resources we use. I heard a stat this morning that if everyone on earth used as much resources as Americans do, it would take 4 earths to provide for everyone! I've tried over the last few years to be more aware and take some small steps. I dream of the day I can have my own rain barrel in my yard, composting system, and own garden. But I know those aren't things I can realistically do right now, especially since I'm a renter and all. So I stick to the small things like recycling everything we can, turning out lights, unplugging things not in use, and using the reusable bags at the grocery store.

Also- have you seen the ads for Disney's new movie called Earth? It's coming out on Earth Day. The directors are from the Planet Earth team- which I LOVE. This will also be the first film in the new Disney Nature series- so there's more to come!

Happy Friday to everyone!