It Started Like This.....

Thanksgiving-2011! We adore our Thanksgiving traditions with our Olsen Family. We begin like this.......watching the Detroit Lyons football game. Come as your are---pj's, sweatshirts, pillows, blankets, slippers, etc. Touchdown's, you score chocolate delights...YUM! When the opposing team scores....someone draws a slip of paper out of a bowl and we have to do whatever it says on the paper....we ran laps, danced, etc. Always fun.

Table clothe art, after the football game.

Here are the results, before dinner was served buffet style.

My husband drew this around his table setting.

And, he drew this around mine....oh, good. You get a chance to see my dinner. It was so good.

When I cleared my plate from the table, I found this......yep, he is a good catch and all that goes with it.

We adore our traditional desserts. We have divine fudge over to the far left upper corner....can't miss the fabulous chocolate cake.....pies---need I say more? Well, a little more. L to R, coconut cream pie (with a bottom layer of nuts, butter and brown sugar), apple crumble pie, and double layer pumpkin pie (theirs a whip cream, cream cheese, sugar layer hidden beneath the pumpkin). This has to be served buffet style so that you can have a little of each. It is a must!

We then, settle ourselves down into the cozy couches and watch a fun movie to top off our Thanksgiving day.

Love the holiday season. Wonderful memories from Thanksgiving with those near and far....loved all the email, texts, phone calls and conversation from before, during and after the holiday weekend.

Happy days to you and yours! xo

Vampire and Music

Hello Mr. Vampire. Just a little bit more of Fall/Halloween delight!
Fall Echo's--- Marching Band final concert. This is such a fun way to end the marching band season. Love hearing the band perform their regular football field half-time show. My son is the middle snare drum player. He is percussion leader this year.
Rats...a little blurry, but you get the idea. The sound is so massive and cool in the gym.

And, a little surprise!!! Fall Echo's includes the senior band members choosing their favorite song from over the past 4 years. They chose, In The Stone...Journey. We were more than a little bit surprised when our son left the percussion section, ran up to the conductors stand, and led the band in this piece of music. Really super fun.

Wish I could have gotten all the band in this picture.

And, a final farewell to the seniors....(our son is 4th from the right) their names were called out along with their parents, who proudly stood to honor their child, and vice-a-versa. Sigh! WE swallowed hard and worked hard to keep our eyes dry. Proud of our son and these kids, but, sentimental about the conclusion of this era of time.

New Tastes

I've been in a weird mood lately. There are times in my life when it feels like a small earthquake is going on inside, when my personality cracks and the templates of who I am shift and former mountains become valleys and vis versa. I always enjoy when this happens because for a few days or weeks the monotony of life's every day repetitiveness gets a make over and fresh air blows through the regularity. At the same time, like when an earthquake disfigures familiar landmarks, I have to get to know these new land masses and make them a part of me and align and expand the beliefs and traditions and habits that have been governing my every thought and action since consciousness.

This long deep glimpse into my soul (haha) is simply an introduction to a new line I've recently discovered in London where they have the most fabulous and INTERESTING shoes....

Bacon and Eggs

Cortesan Floral Bar

Daddy's Girl

Duke the 2nd

Oriento Sun So

Can't Touch This

I probably never would have looked at them twice had this shift in nature not occurred bringing on these new tastes. These names alone are awesome. I can see myself ordering a pair and when it arrives in the mail exclaiming, "My bacon and eggs are here!"Or if I've lost them, "Has anyone seen Duke the 2nd?"

Along with new, weird tastes in fashion this out-of-no-where life altering has brought a gratifying awareness to a new singer, Adele. Have you heard of her!? Sooooo good! Here is one of my favorites, although beware, it's so beautiful it always makes me all teary:




Have a happy weekend!

A Weekend in Las Vegas Part II

We pick up in Paris! Paris casino that is. Enjoying the lovely eclairs and other delights of la belle ville.

A fruit tart from Bellagio. They even have their own chocolate disk with their signature 'B' on it!

They have a galleria/walk-through foyer on the first floor of the hotel that draws a lot of attention as they change the decor depending on the season:


I Looooooooooove these flowers! There are so many! Reminds me of the fields of rows and rows of beautiful bright colored flowers we'd see in France.



These birds were made of flowers and sunflower seeds and egg shells and feathers

A little green house in the center with beautiful, real butterflies inside

I love art. Love, love it. I love flowers. Both together!? I want this in my house!

I love the idea of sitting on this Ferris wheel and letting my bare feet skim the field of flowers with each rotation..

Here is Madelyn trying to wake up Alyson for the day. Is she really in there?!

Someone got into a pen and not finding any paper....ha!

Easter baskets from the bunny! Her first Easter. Thanks for the Easter dress grandma!

She's such a good girl...10 months now!

Eating some bananas....

Cheers! TGIF!