{ Eggs and Dye }

Time to dye some eggs

Trying to achieve Robin egg blue

The kitchen smelled of boiled eggs and vinegar. That combination always brings back memories from past Easters. But, that was minimal compared to yet another dose of realty...i.e...my daughter is getting bigger and didn't need my help to dye Easter eggs this year. Sigh. Plus, she did a great job and ended up with more dye on the Easter eggs instead of her hands....and she didn't drop any eggs....or crack any..... or tip over a glass full of dye. Sigh again.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Easter Cupcakes }

I made the cupcakes for my daughter's 3rd grade Easter Party. When my daughter saw them, she looked at me with that You're the Best Mom EVER kind of look which made my accidently dropping blue food coloring on the tile grout totally worth it. Luckily, I got the dye out of the tile. I was going for a Tiffany Blue shade in the frosting. So considering the smile on my daughter's face, the pretty cupcakes I made, AND getting the tile clean, I must admit, I did feel like SuperMom!

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Chocolate Keeps Me Sane }

Do you see it? The Godiva white chocolate? This is my little package of sanity, my escape, my Calgon take me away moment, my take a deep breath and count to ten, my......okay, well, you get the point. This is where I keep it hidden. Under normal circumstances, this little package of the world's best white chocolate is hidden behind all the bottles where no one sees it.  Husband doesn't know.  Daughter doesn't know. Only me! I placed it upright just long enough to take pic for this post. And then, feeling wickedly good about myself, I placed it back in it's hiding spot behind the salad dressing and jelly.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Caribbee Key }

Locally caught blackened Mahi Mahi Wrap. Yum Yum

Well now, who can pass up this opportunity?

My husband is one of those who works hard and plays hard. He loves the weekends. I love the weekends. We're a heavenly made match, we are. He loves the beach. I love the beach. See what I mean? So this weekend, like all weekends, we pondered over how to best spend our time. He asked, "Do you feel like going out to eat somewhere?" Me, "Sure. Anyplace in particular?" Without any thought he responded, "Any place where I can see water or the ocean." That settled it. We headed out to one of our favorite haunts--Neptune Beach/Atlantic Beach and because a yummy little beach dive known as Caribbee Key had a few tables out front, we decided to eat there. We'd eaten at Caribbee Key before. But, this time we were dining al fresco AND I had my camera AND the sunlight was just right.....AND they had $3 Bloody Marys!

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

 S.W.A.K.

{ Mornings }

Morning: My husband kissing me goodbye on his way out the door and then my daughter and I leaving shortly afterwards and having our little enjoyable car conversations as I drive her to school. The quick kiss goodbye she gives me. Me glancing to the backseat to make sure she didn't leave her lunch kit behind. Making the decision between going to work-out or going back home and spending the morning getting stuff done. Coming back home, walking into the house which is now peacefully quiet except for the sounds of two purring cats and the lingering smell of coffee.  Pouring myself another cup & opening the back doors before the heat of summer makes that impossible. Enjoying the fresh air. Watering the potted plants. Saying hello to the garden spider who lives in the pot of the hibiscus plant. Feeding the ducks who are already waiting.  Relishing in Me time & pondering whether or not it is necessary to take the laundry out of the dryer.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Brambleberry }

The word, Brambleberry, always makes me think of dizzy bumblebees and Winnie the Poo. Not really sure why... it just does. Brambleberry may not have the same popularity of Raspberries or Strawberries. And well, who can compete with the currently popular Acai berry right now? But, brambleberry tea sounds simple, good, ol' fashioned like the summers you spent picking berries in your grandmother's yard.

P.S. Did you notice the bottle of Tazo Brambleberry Tea is empty? I had told myself to wait until I took some pictures of the pretty purplish-colored tea. Obviously, I am not good at waiting.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Tapping Doll, Smiling Girl, Hero Dad }

Saylor asked if there was a way she could make her little doll tap dance. David set two small screws into feet of doll and then PRESTO!---Tap Dancing Little Doll, Smiling Saylor, Hero Dad.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Little Red Corvette }

I can't ever seem to pass a red corvette without busting out in my acapella version of Prince's song, Little Red Corvette. Lucky for everyone else and their ears that I don't see red corvettes on a daily basis. Same thing happens with berets. Anytime I see anyone wearing a beret (I love pretty Frenchy looking berets), I start singing Prince's song, "She wore a raspberry beret. The kind you find in a second hand store...."

While out and about this weekend with my husband and daughter, I passed this little red corvette and guess what?!?!---I had my camera. Typical moi.

Sealed with a RED Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Country Fair }

Being a Texas Gal, the annual rodeo was always one of my favorite events to attend; favorite jeans, studded rhinestone belt, fancy buckle, cowgirl hat, and awesome boots.

 Moving to Florida means I now have a serious flip-flop sandal collection instead of a boot collection. The smell of tanned leather has been swapped for the smell of tropical scented suntan lotion. It isn't a bad trade off. Although I miss the rodeo, the annual local country fair here in Clay County, Florida is really nice. It has it's own small town charm feel to it especially on a beautiful Spring Day....and nothing says local country charm like a frog jumping contest and pig races, right? It reminds me of the fair in the book/movie, Charlotte's Web.

I picked up my daughter from school last Friday, had her change out of her uniform and into comfy clothes in the car, and told her we were off to the fair. She didn't believe me at first because it also happened to be April Fool's Day. But, I wasn't April Foolin' which gave me uber Best Mom in the World points.

While looking at cows and other farm animals, my daughter made an observation when she saw the bull and asked, "Mom, why do some cows only have one utter?"

Okay, is the cow in the above photo not the most cutest, sweetest, angelic cow ever? What a darling! And what about the grin on that goat?--- An under bite only a mother could love and yet still so cute!

Of course, no fair is complete without cotton candy, lemonade, and candy apples. There is also a bonafide cake and pie contest.

This being the south, you could be sure there were bags of fried pork skins, sweet tea, and fried green tomatoes. And since this is Florida, there were even alligators eggs for any one hungry enough.

The day turned into night. My daughter and I had a great time. My husband came and met us after his day of playing golf and we ended this really nice Spring day together, the 3 of us......and then I saw this totally cute propane tank as we headed toward our vehicles.

I am not by any means ever in a billion years interested in propane tanks. Propane is my husband's cup of tea, so to speak. Whenever we need propane for the grill, he is in charge of it. THIS tank, however, was adorable with the pink and the pig. If more propane tanks looked like this, I would totally take a bigger interest in tank selection. CUTE!

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.