BLONDE'S BIRTH CELEBRATION (number 24)

BLONDE celebrated her 24th birthday today! In honor, Brown and I have compiled a list of our favorite things about BLONDE (24 of them to be exact). Please enjoy just a peak into the fabulousness that is Claire. We love her so very much and are blessed to be a part of her life!

[this little gem is from our freshman year- blinking reindeer noses!]

1. She is super health conscious and inspires us to be, too!
2. She loves all things Vera Bradley
3. Her contagious laugh!
4. She likes some George Strait and Tim McGraw
5. Matel modeled Barbie after Claire
6. She's a bargain hunter
7. She is a wonderful and creative cook
8. She's very intentional about keeping her house "green"
9. She's the best Aunt we know! So proud of her little niece Ann!
10. She is a wonderful, dedicated teacher to her little children!
11. She basically invented and then mastered the "Poof"
12. She wears my (brown) rings with everything!
13. Claire+Blake = Barbie + Ken
14. She listens to all the ridiculous problems we have and always has something encouraging and    positive to say!
15. One word : Jessica Simpson
16. Even though she may not agree - she is VERY creative!
17. She is so great with all the girls at Union, always giving them a listening ear and good advice
18. She is such a supportive wife!
19. She inspires us to be more organized!
20. She has such a great gift for making people feel at home and welcome
21. I (red) can go to her with any makeup question!
22. She is my (brown) model for all handbags and jewelry
23. She had a pillow freshman year that said "Caution: Blonde Thinking"
24. SHE IS OUR BEST FRIEND!

Happiest Birthday, Claire! We're so blessed to be loved by you and to have you in our lives - hope this year is one of the best!

with love,

Brown and Red

BIRD Winner!!

My apologies for not announcing this sooner. The fact is I had the hardest time choosing- so I polled everyone around! We so appreciate everyone who contributed - even had someone contribute at the end of the week - this little guy is from Collin in Ohio - he looks so plump and happy!

Our top three entries are from Lindsay (TN), Luke (Chicago), and Laurie (TN).

Disclaimer: the fact that their names all started with L had nothing to do with it.

and the winner goes to......

LAURIE!

We love the colors and the composition and the little yellow birdies! Thanks for sharing, everyone - Please continue to contribute for future contests, we'll be sure to give you lots of notice and I'll try to keep my word better next time in regards to the winner announcement... Hope you're weekends are full of sun and little birdie song!

- red brown blonde

Do you live in an apartment or a college residence hall?

Blake and I have live in both places in the past year and have been wanting to plant a garden. This year I decided to research how to plant vegetables in a pot and have a garden. This is a very easy concept. All you need is a pot, soil, and different types of vegetables. We planned two different vegetables this year to see if we have a green thumb. We planned broccoli and tomatoes.

.... Blonde

TWO.TWO (second observance of whacky holiday)

     We're only two weeks into April and it's already been a busy month! I hope you all enjoyed April 8th whether the day had anything to do with birds or not. Draw a Picture of a Bird Day is so appropriately placed at the beginning of spring when you really appreciate the little creatures finding their way back to your open window with a song. I'm so excited about all the entries we received- they are each so different and so great! I can't wait to share them with you, so I'll stop yapping. But I do want to wet your whacky holiday taste buds by making you aware of a few other great holidays this month: April 13th is Scrabble Day, April 14th is Reach As High As You Can Day and April 28th is shared by Kiss Your Mate Day and Great Poetry Reading Day (both of which I will be observing given that I've got a kissable mate who happens to write great poetry, fabulous) AND it's BLONDE'S BIRTHDAY! We'll be announcing the BIRD winner TUESDAY so check back!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Lindsay from Nashville TN - check out more of her fabulous work at 

http://lindsayanneshepherd.blogspot.com/

and her website here : http://www.wix.com/lindsayanneshepherd/pinsandneedles

Luke from Chicago, IL age 8 - our youngest reader!

Merry from TN - don't tell, but she did this at work!

A watercolor beauty from Beth, Columbus OH

                                                    

some funny birds from Nichole from Columbus, Ohio

This is George Elroy Davis 

who was sent to me via snail mail all the way from Columbia, SC from Emily, RN

and this little action film from Amy in Columbus  - love it!

"Betty" from graphic designer Laurie in TN - you can see more of her fine creations here: http://fancifulink.wordpress.com/

BROWN:TWO Calling all Coffee-aholics!!

Diet coke with vanilla is Claires love second to Blake ( and us) where as Lily and I would never pass up a coffee drink. Everyone has their favorite drink weather its coffee or something else. But we coffee lovers are not as fortunate as Claire when it comes to the cost of our beverage addiction! I just made an iced mocha at home and it was so great!!! Because who wants to pay crazy prices for coffee all the time??!!! Go to the tasty treats page to see what I did! ITS SO EASY!!!

You will need:

-Handful of milk chocolate chips

-Milk ( your % fat choice, I used 1%)

-teaspoon of coco powder

-teaspoon of honey ( optional)

-frozen cool whip

-chocolate syrup

-1/8 cup espresso.

Plan of Action:

Heat up milk, chocolate chips, coco powder, honey in a pot on the stove until chips are melted and it is hot enough to your taste. Meanwhile make your espresso ( or if you don’t have an espresso maker/machine just brew some coffee really really srtong) Pour your espresso in your coffee mug (for a hot drink) and poor your milk/ chocolate mixture on top, stir and top with a dollop of frozen cool whip. Drizzle with some chocolate syrup and ENJOY!

For a cold version, poor over a glass full of ice, dollop of frozen cool whip and drizzle with chocolate syrup!!

( I use frozen cool whip because whipped cream dissolves after a few seconds, but cool whip will last through out your whole drink so you will have a creamy taste to the last sip)

- B R O W N