LOVING SPRING AND SOME EASTER TREATS

I've been away awhile.  This cold really did a number on me.  I had so much to do last week, like everyone, and I alternated between lying in my bed moaning and then pushing myself to get the littlest thing done.  I would think, "Maybe if I just chill today I'll feel better tomorrow."  And that wouldn't happen.  Then I would berate myself and say, "Pull yourself up by the bootstraps!" I just couldn't decide which little voice in my head to listen to.  Why do we women place this sort of pressure on ourselves?  And to add injury to insult, The Husband arranged to have a new roof put on mid week.  So for 2 solid days I listened to the thuds, bangs and hammering above me, as if my head didn't ache enough.  The dogs were totally freaking out, Milo is protective by nature and he was so confused by the commotion and where it could be coming from that I was really worried about him.  He kept trying to wedge himself into small places, similar to what he does before he has a seizure so I tried to keep him as calm as I could.  

My daffodils always bloom first, and after rain on Monday they seemed to just burst.  And these are long established daffs, I planted all sorts of other bulbs last fall because I had so many daffodils already.   

As much as I love daffs, they don't make the best looking cut flowers to me.  I really enjoy just looking at them bobbing their little heads in the breeze outdoors.  :)

So everything came out just fine on Easter.  I made it to the store and found a beautiful ham.  I cleaned the house and decided on dishes and napkins.  I thought I would have to cut corners on the menu but I did make all the side dishes that I had planned on.  On Saturday I was actually humming a little tune as I made the potatoes and salads and sweets.  It reached almost 70 degrees, we couldn't have asked for better weather.

When we had the roof done the men removed the satellite dish and then The Husband got the brilliant idea to change companies.  That resulted in no television for about 5 days.  Our home without baseball blaring all day long for 7 interminable months is a rarity.  Most of you know I never really watch TV but for the occasional Lifetime Channel marathon, but The Husband was missing his Fantasy Baseball players and his friends at MSNBC.  Saturday evening I went in the bedroom to invite him to join me in coloring Easter eggs and breaking open a bottle of wine and he was under the quilt sound asleep!  It was 6:00!!  And that screwball slept until 9 the next morning!  Emily and Mike stopped by that evening (Saturday) and she was like whoa!  It sure is dead around here!  Welcome to my world, Em!

I broke my 14 week record of absolutely no sugar!  Of course I did.  I'm not crazy!  We had 12 people for dinner and then more came for dessert and we had quite an array.  I tried a little of everything.  And then I got up in the middle of the night and had a few more nibbles.  And then I had a little plate with my morning coffee.  I'm a beast, I can't be stopped once I start!

It looks like Ina Garten is photobombing this picture!  Ha!  I found the greatest recipe on Pinterest for Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownies (if you like shortcuts).  Just make a regular brownie mix, pour 1/3 of it in a 9 x 13 pan, make a layer of those small sized pretzels, pour the remaining brownie batter on and then pour a jar of caramel sauce over.  Sprinkle with sea salt and bake.  Oh!  You will think you went to heaven!  The next time I cheat on my diet, I have a date with those brownies!

I did not have a tablescape.  We had so many appetizers, I needed more then the coffee table to hold them.  I just had everything stacked up and ready to go when the food was ready.  I crammed so many people at the table that I didn't even use place mats.  Now I think I should have at least used round ones, this sort of looks like a picnic!

If you do have space for some festive Easter decorations, you can make a tablescape easily by checking at companies like Shutterfly.  Their home decor area has customized items like placemats and table runners.  How's that for fun?!

I do have to say that I paid for my overindulgence in the desserts.   I was sick as a dog most of Monday, all that sugar did not agree with me at all.  Comcast was here most of the day setting up our new TV service and once again I was relegated to the bedroom with the barking, quivering dogs, a horrific stomach ache and the same old cold that wouldn't quit.  It wasn't my finest hour.  

Yesterday I woke up with resolve.  I tossed out all of the leftovers including a half dozen cookies and the remains of two cakes, scrubbed out the fridge, put away the bunnies and the candy dishes and then I saw my little baby looking forlornly outside...

...and that's where we spent the rest of the beautiful day.  Playing in the backyard, cleaning up, chasing sticks, taking pictures of flowers, listening to the birds chirping and  sunning ourselves in a single chair set right in the middle of the patio.  I wish I could say my head still isn't all stuffed up, that my stomach is no longer queasy, that I never again want a Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownie, but for now I'm good.  And I'm ready to keep moving!  Bring it on Spring!

I wanted to mention that I am doing a guest post over at Laura's blog, Decor To Adore.  She has a Friday feature called My Favorite 5.  I am sharing my latest and greatest beauty products.  I'd love for you to stop over at her blog on Friday if you have a chance.  I'll be back soon! :)

XO,

Jane