c.e.l.e.b.r.a.t.e.

Happy Good Friday...I am so excited to celebrate with you all! This week has been completely crazy, but I've been looking forward to seeing and hearing how you all are celebrating this season in your own lives.

If this is your first time hearing about this...you can read this post. In short...I just wanna throw a party. Of course!

If you have a post of something you're doing to celebrate this season (a recipe you're making, maybe a project you're enjoying this Spring, an activity with your kids, a fun Easter tablescape, what have you!) link up in the comment section. Remember, everyone who participates gets an awesome little Easter present from me... (because remember, i love gifts!?! so fun.) And then, three lucky winners will receive one of our below awesome prizes.

1. Grace for the Good Girl (Emily at Chatting at the Sky)

2. Handmade Change Purse (Ellen at Handmade Recess)

3. Bird Pendant (Saucy Mama)

I'll announce the winners Easter Monday!

Welcome to the first Easter Celebration Showcase!

presents...as promised.

I hope you've been thinking of how you can be celebrating in your own home at this time of year. Like I said last week, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ANYTHING BIG! It can be something as little as bringing in flowers to your table, to remind you of the new life that occurs at this time of year. Or switching out the books on your coffee table so your kids can remember what this season is about.

We'll link up on Friday in the comment section and then come visit each other. I can't wait!!

Ok...on to the good stuff...

When I was a little girl I had a record player...yes, I'm that old. A blue and white striped record player, that was awesome. And even though I loved putting on my Disney storybook records (or Michael Jackson...you know), some of my favorite records were of Christmas music. My sister would get so irritated with me that in the middle of the summer I would have Christmas music blaring from our room that was only divided by a set of folding doors. Well, even though now I make myself wait until after Thanksgiving to blare my Christmas music, I've begun a new tradition with my family around Easter.

I love having an Easter CD each year that has songs that remind me of celebrating this season. Usually through the year, there are songs that I hear or come to love that seem to fit perfectly with Easter, so I figured, why not have Easter music, too!?

So, as a fun favor for celebrating with me on Friday, I'll give each of your your very own Easter CD, wrapped up by hand (of course!) to encourage you to continue celebrating even after Easter weekend has passed.

Now, for three lucky people participating we'll have a drawing to win one of these fun gifts! A signed copy of Grace for the Good Girl, written by my sweet friend Emily, a fun homemade change purse, made lovingly by hand by Handmade Recess, and a bird pendant necklace made by my dear friend Stephanie. I know y'all have heard me chat about them before, but I couldn't help myself from these fun gifts for this time of year.

image credits: http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.276931421.jpg

relish + easter + free gifts = fun!

A few years ago, I had an Easter party for my kids and their friends. We go to so many celebrations surrounding Christmas, but Easter many times, gets swept away without much focus at all.

It made me sad to think that what my kids thought about Easter was chocolate bunnies and Easter egg hunts. Don't get me wrong, I love those, too. But, I wanted to celebrate the true meaning of Easter. The fact that our Lord was dead, and then rose from the grave to beat death once and for all, for all who believe? Now, that's something to celebrate.

In an attempt to throw my own little Easter party here, I thought it'd be tons of fun to showcase our own Easter celebrations by linking up in the comments next week. Ok, and here's the fun part...I can't throw a party without having favors. So, everyone who participates will receive a gift from me. And, the three lucky people that link up will have an extra special gift, along with the other freebie.

It's just a little way to say thanks for celebrating life with me. I'll announce the awesome give aways next week...but it'll be good. I promise.

Don't think it has to be major. Maybe, you have an Easter wreath on your door, or just a pretty plant that is adorning your table. You might be doing something cool with your kids that others of us would love.

Or maybe you want to go all out and set a table similar to these beauties by Emily at Jones Design Company! (a little inspiration to get you started!)

How fun are these...

vintage yellow with blue and white polkas

luscious green

cutie pie kids table

teal accents with classic white linens

Can you guess my favorite one?

She has a printable set right now that she's selling over at her place...it'd be sure to look adorable on any table or gift!

Ok, so you have until Good Friday...it's definitely a good day to celebrate.

I'll tell you what the prizes will be next week

So, plan on coming back next Friday to link up.

Then, I'll announce the three lucky winners Easter Monday!

Simply Celebrating

Is it just me, or do you love this. I tweeted about it immediately. Twice. Because the first time I messed it up and didn't give her the link right. But, just saying...Love her!

I'm so thankful for bloggers like her who share their thoughts and creations. Because there's no way that I could do all of this, but how fun that we can benefit from what she is celebrating. Maybe I'll get to a day or two, maybe I won't, but either way, I love that there is such a community of bloggers who share life together. That we are helping each other celebrate life. And somewhere in the midst of all the events and weddings going on, I can take a minute and go outside, and enjoy this creation that we are stuck right smack dab in the middle of. That I can take a second, and go look for Tree Swallow with my little ones. It encourages my heart to celebrate...not just my hands.

There are so many of you out there who share their thoughts, ideas, and fun ways to do this thing called life, and I am so grateful for these gifts. These are truly simple pleasures.

A Spring Fling at Maxie B's

It's no secret that I love Maxie B's. It's where I take my brides for our initial appointment, and it's where I schedule many of my meetings...just to have a slice of their delicious cake! Robin (the owner) and I have a neat story of how we first met, involving the Nester and I...way back when! Ever since, I have loved making Maxie B's one of my favorite local spots.

A few weeks ago, Robin called and asked if I would design a little luncheon for her hard working staff. As you can imagine, this time of year is pretty crazy for them!

I decided to bring in some Spring flare through a mix of colored glass, vintage fabric, and classic white dishes. They posted about it, here, too. These girls are so sweet, and it was fun designing a luncheon to appreciate all they give!

Linking up to Tablescape Thursdays.

Some Say it's Silly, I Say it's Tradition

Last night, we went over to Curtis and Katie's house to watch the Carolina game. But as you may know, this wasn't just any Carolina game. It was a long awaited game, against our archrival, and it was hard to think about how it could have turned out.

I wanted to write something about how wonderful last night was, but my sweet friend Katie said is so perfectly, I couldn't help but share. It was a great night for a lot of us last night, and as silly as a love for basketball may seem to others, it's one of our cherished traditions around here. One that I will always love. If you're a Tarheel, than you know how true it is, and you'd appreciate Katie's post, as much as I did. So, go get teary-eyed with me, as I revel in the glory a little bit longer.

Fresh Flowers and Sleeping In!

We had a glorious weekend of sleeping in and enjoying the weekend. How, you ask? The kids went to their grandparents house for the weekend! It was so great.

I actually strolled around the Farmer's Market with a friend, instead of two little ones pulling on my legs! Imagine that! And was so happy to see that peaches were here! Along with the best use of $5 for my home...my lovely fresh flower arrangement.

It was a great weekend, filled with lots of rest and fun times with friends. And even though my hubby had to work all day Saturday, he took me out for a morning date to one of our favorite downtown spots beforehand. Gotta love being spoiled just a bit.

Did you get spoiled at all this weekend? I hope so!

Strawberry Fields Forever

I know it seems like I won't get off the strawberry subject, but I just can't help myself. For the past several years, we have gone strawberry picking with my sister and her kids. You can read more about why this is such a special tradition here, but I won't go into all the sappiness again this year. It's always a really fun time, and we love being able to keep the tradition. I made a delicious fresh strawberry cake that was beautiful, and was devoured so quickly that I didn't even have time to take any pictures!

Anyway, back to the strawberry picking. Every year, I think I take more pictures than pick strawberries, and everyone else endures the pain of the camera. This is still the best way to explain how my kids pick. Now, they just look a little bit older, but still are very much the same.

Here are some shots from the day this year. Sweetness I tell you!

Go see what other sweetness you can find over at Tuesday's Unwrapped with Emily!

Yay for Strawberry Season!

One reason I love May is because of strawberry season. All year we wait and finally the time has arrived. We love going every year to pick our own strawberries. It has become such a fun tradition that the kids start asking around March, if it's time to go pickin! This is a great site for finding where you can "pick your own" fruits and vegetables, in any state, in any season. These are some of my favorite local spots to go pick your own strawberries:

Rudd Farm

Ingram Farm

However, if you're one who would rather the farm come to you, make sure you check out this free event, tomorrow at the Farmers Market!

May Song & Sterling Silver Sale!

I'm so happy now that it's May,

Birds are singing all day.

Flowers blooming,

Springtime is here.

I'm so happy now that it's May,

Birds are singing all day.

My daughter takes Suzuki violin and all day this song was in my head. Well, I am happy that it's May, after all! Anyone else have random May songs stuck in their heads today?

In other news, I have a half off sale going on right now for all my sterling silver! Any brides out there, this is a great gift for your bridesmaids and wedding party!