F E B R U A R Y

February. I love it! For several reasons...
it's a short month, which means March is here before you know it
love and crafts {2 of my favorite things}
Valentine's cards
Valentine's foods {a really good reason to buy filets instead of top sirloins... or ribeyes}
Valentine's wreaths
Valentine's candy
Valentine's Day
Of course, there's February 15th when all the candy and flowers are 1/2 off!
... and 2 of my favorite people {mom & Justin} have BIRTHDAYs this month!

**news flash to any male readers: if you insist on buying flowers {which in my opinion, I'd prefer a flat of flowers to plant} please don't buy red roses... they're too predictable, too quick to die an ugly dark-red to black death, and she'd probably like something more fun like these with a super fun polka dot vase!**

To add to the February excitement... the Florida strawberries are hitting the grocery stores. My MIL is a wonderful gift giver, look at these fun & colorful "mini" colanders she gave me for Christmas. I found something similar here.

In other news, the girls were thrilled with the ENORMOUS new corkboard/dry erase board I got for the playroom. It's a whopping 12 feet x 4 feet. I'm anxious to get it hung.

As I've mentioned before... I have a new weakness for the "teacher supply" store... I bought a big roll of paper and we roll it out for the occassional "colorfest" and yesterday I braved a "paintfest"... it was semi-successful.

I couldn't resist the drying brushes next to a few pacis.

Raiger managed to get a little paint on her nose. I went to wipe it off and she exclaimed, "No, I y-ike paint on my nose!" She also dug out a couple tootsie roll pops... can you see the excitement in her eyes?

Shortly after "paint and sucker fest '09" I decided it was high time for a chop. Mommy-scissor-hands to the rescue. It's SO short, SO sassy, and SO the Raiger...

It literally shrunk an inch after it dried. She's got a new-found spunk, I wish I could cut my hair like that. I tried once... didn't look like that on me... more like a birds nest. Anyway, do you see our bathroom? Don't reach for your glasses, or adjust your screen, that is METALLIC silver, green and yellow wallpaper.... and yes, carpet on the floor! :) Lovely, isn't it? I was delighted to read this morning on Elements of Style that she loves metallic wallpaper... maybe it's coming back? Unfortunately, I didn't see any on her blog that looks like mine... nor did I see any paired with green carpet! I'll just keep waiting... surely it will come back soon, right?

And last but not least... my 2 favorite men. JM is wearing Justin's Donald Duck hat that was his when he was a bambino. I think they look so much alike: Morgan, Justin, and John Martin... all have the same eyes. I'm going to see if I can round up a picture of Morgan and JM at the same age.

I've got another post in the works... a recipe that will win over your Valentine in seconds flat! And only 2 ingredients, no baking, and it has chocolate! Stay tuned!