Spruced up the patio

Back in December the Santa Ana Winds howled through my backyard tossing things every which way!!!  It broke my prized pots and blew pillows out of my yard and moved my patio furniture across the patio!  It also broke the umbrella that gave us shade.  My patio faces west and the sun is intense in the summertime.  
I've since put back all of the furniture, but the umbrella had to be thrown away.  After 5 years, it was a goner.
Now that it is hot again we needed a new umbrella (the umbrella also blocks the sun from coming in my french door and blinding my handsome husband as he sits in his chair).  We headed over to Home Depot and picked up a new umbrella and some matching pillows!  Its nice to have some color on the patio!

Bridal Shower Decorations

What kind of decorations do you make with these materials:  coffee filters, cupcake holders, pages from a book, string, tulle and some beads?

What kind of decoration is fun to make but time consuming?

It's garland!  I saw something similar to this on Heather Bullards website and had to make my own for Alyssa's shower.  I still have to fluff these up (crumple a little) but I'm saving that for when they are all done.  I've made three strands, I need to make 7 more.
They will be streaming from the tables and the canopy!  Oh, boy, I can't wait!  My handsome husband does not understand this.  What's the big deal?  Why do you want to make those?  So I had to share with you, because I knew you would understand!!!

Family Vacation Booked!!!

Yes, it's Spain!!!  We will be heading out to Barcelona and the Costa Brava for 2 weeks at the end of July and the beginning of August!  I'm sooo excited.  We found ridiculously low airfare and the 5 star hotels are all under $200 a night.  I know, I can't believe it either!  Yes, it will be hot, but we will be on the ocean so we will get those summer breezes.  We have tickets to a Flamenco dinner show. 
This is the hotel where we will be staying.  (Does the Louis Vuitton purse come with?).  We will have two rooms, one for us, one for the kids.

We will be taking a city tour and a walking modern architecture tour!

We will be visiting all the historic sights.

Try to take interesting pictures ( think I have to invest in some photoshop software).

Then we will spend 5 days on the Costa Brava.  There are a lot of medieval towns to visit.  We plan to sightsee in the morning and lay by the beach in the afternoon.  


We don't have a plan yet for the Costa Brava.  We can't decide if we want a home base to sightsee from or just move up the coast and change hotels as we go!  I like to have everything planned and play it safe, but the handsome husband is not so sure - he is way more adventurous than I.

Tea Party

I've set up a tea party in celebration of Lady Katerine's Birthday!  Please have a look.

Tablescape Thursday- Easter

Please click on this link www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for more fantastic tablescapes.
So, I'm lounging around on a Wednesday afternoon, kidding around with my girls and checking the other blogs.  One of my girls say, why didn't you do a tablescape today?  Oh, I'll do one tomorrow and I tell them what I am thinking about doing.  Then all of a sudden, I realize that today is Wed., NOT TUESDAY!!!!  I have to do a tablescape now!  The one I was thinking of, won't work until tomorrow, so I have to come up with a PLAN B!!! OMGosh!!  Calm down and shop the house.  I made this table with absolutely NOTHING new.  
I used my little crosses that I got from a home party company called Setting Traditions a couple of years ago.  I also got all my table sheers from this company.  A little on the expensive side, but if you have a party... you know the rest.
I added the tall candlesticks from my family room and got out the stars and angel dishes that I have had for at least 15 years.  I got them at Macy's.
Whenever I think of them, I think Christmas.  I was talking to my oldest daughter, telling her that I had the centerpiece set up, but didn't know what dishes to use and she suggested these.  Are you sure?  They remind me of Christmas.  No, I think they're great.  Okay, I'll use them.
I picked these flowers from my freshly blooming back garden and put them in little Mikasa vases that I bought years ago for $2.99 each.  I often see these little sets of vases come out at Christmas.  I like using them in multiples and giving them as gifts.  

Bridal Shower Details!

All the details are coming together.  There is still a lot to do, but I do a little everyday, so I won't be overwhelmed when the big day is here. The invitations went out.   I've got tables, chairs and a canopy ordered.  I'm working on a garland and menu.  Now if I could just find a dress!

Had to be there!

On Saturday evening Bob and I went to our friends John and Cathy's (picture on the left) house for dinner, featuring yummy Carne Asada tacos (made by John on the Barbeque).  They are the parents of 4 young children.  Ryan, who is in kindergarten and 2 1/2 yr. old triplets: Jackson, Savannah and Kiley.  You can imagine how busy they are.  

Cathy put the little ones to bed and we started talking about technology.  John asks, "are you still blogging?".  Cathy asks, "whats a blog, is it like facebook".  So we start the discussion, what is a blog, where do you find time, what do you put in it?  So I reply, "a blog is kind of like a journal and my kids are pretty much grown and since I don't work, I find plenty of time to blog".  Here Bob interjects that my blog is pretty much where I show off pictures of my tablescapes.  "What's a tablescape?".  I proceed to tell John and Cathy what a tablescape is. John has a confused look on his face.  John tilts his head, one eyebrow goes up and then he says, "So let me get this straight.  You set up the table all fancy, every week, with no intention of using it for dinner.  You take pictures of it. You post it on the blog".  We all start laughing! "Yes!! that's what I do, but when you say it like that, it makes it sound so silly", I say.  "Then" says John, "You shop constantly to buy more stuff for your tables, that you don't eat on and just take pictures of!"  Bob remarks, "Oh, John, you have no idea!"  We are all laughing hysterically by this point and Bob says "See what I have to put up with, John".  John calls Cathy over and says, "High Five, Cathy.  Of all the crazy, weird hangups you have, none compare to this!!".  Cathy agrees.  I try to defend myself by saying, "Its like a club.  Women from across the United States do it".  "Do you know them, do you have lunch with them, do you meet?"  No, I reply, but many have become my friends even though I've never met them.  "Cathy, Cathy, I feel so lucky to have you!".  We are laughing so hard, tears are coming out of my eyes!