Maigirlz Madness

Traveling Again!

I just returned from a short week in Philadelphia with our family, celebrating the wedding of my darling niece.  It was a wonderful event, my sister in law being the quintessential Hostess with the Mostess- she can feed and entertain so many with such grace!  Only a few photos to share- something is wrong with my camera.

One of our stops was a visit with my college roomie and best friend Nellie:

 

Al and I have alwasy been close with Nellie and her hubby Larry, and our kids were all born around the same time and spent oodles of time together as Littles- here are the boys:

 

My sons Alex and Nick are seated and their son Jonathan is in the middle. Nellie also has 2 girls!

I held lots of babies-( nieces and nephews having babies....)

 

 

But its good to be back in Phoenix where the temperature is high and its very dry.  I feel so lucky to have so many places that feel like home.  But no matter where I am in the world,  my true home is wherever this man is:

 

 

Summertime .....

And the living is easy....

Made some more of these....

 

 I bought a pattern from Charlotte Lyons and I've been making these sweet folding baskets:

 

 

   

 And keeping busy journaling along with my friend Hope's latest journaling e course:

 

Spending time in the pool, grilling outdoors and getting ready for a Philadelphia trip with all my guys!! 

 

My Romance with Tim's Continues......

 

Yes, I love this coffee.  

My only big purchase in Niagara was 3, 5 pound tins of this coffee!!! 

On the second day in our little cottage in Niagara in the Lake, Jenny made these delicious crepes for breakfast:

 

Jenny, being so sweet, brought along these childhood favorite wafer candies- they looked so pretty!

 

Our first class of the day was needlefelting being taught by lovely Vivian!

 

Me and Vivi working away!

 

These three bears show the super talent of some of my peeps.  The big pink bear, named "Ras-bear-ay?" was made by Amy, which she in turn gifted to me.  Little pink bear was made by Jenny and sweet brown bear was crafted by Vivian

 

This sweet blue bird was made also by Amy

 

      

And I made this nest- the eggs were premade!

Our next craft was taught by Jenny...look what we made!!

 

We each created our own birdie mobile.

 

This sweetie with the beak wide open is mine...

 

Jenny and Amy crafting away!

 

    

This is part of our wrap around porch....I love this wonderful cottage!

Random Photos....

 

Here we are, heading into town..Martha, Sandy, Maija, Vivian, Jenny and Amy

 

Shopping madness!

 

BFF's Natalea and Sandy

The Gifts were Sensational!!  Go to this post of Amy's to see all of them in better detail.

 

Sandy made each of us on of these eggs to commemorate the event.

 

We also each got one of these fab necklaces from Sandy!!!
 
 

Pile of gifts to share and open

 

Martha made us each this zipper pouch and bird pin

 

Amy gave us one of her Stitching Kits so that we could all make one of our own.  She is selling them in her store, and they come with EVERYTHING including little scissors!!!
 

Sunday we had to leave, so back to Natalea's house I went.  When we arrived, there was this beautiful tea table laid out for us with a fresh baked apple pie- from Nat's mom!!!  It was so lovely and so perfect!!

 

Nat is a voracious reader, and there are beautiful piles of books all over her house.
 

Lovely Jenny Lollipop Workshop vignette

           

This vignette includes a doll from Vintage by Crystal and a plaque from Every Day is a Holiday.

Special thanks to these wonderful women that make my life a better place to be!!!

oxox

Girls Weekend Abroad......

Last weekend I spent the most relaxing, creative, fun, bonding weekend with these special sisters:

 

My Forever Friends:

Front Row: Sandy Camarda and I

Back Row: Natalea Kandefer, Jenny Kaplinski, Martha Brown, Amy Powers, Vivian Neroni

Truly BEAUTIFUL WOMEN in every sense of the word!!!

Here is the cottage we rented, the Montgomery House, in Niagara On The Lake in Ontario Canada:

 

Photo by Amy Powers

This post must be about the Event Planner, the Hostess with the Mostess, the Goddess of Niagara and All Things Art Sisters, 

Sandy Camarda

She made this weekend so special with all her careful planning and attention to details- look at what she did:

 

Special pop bottles with our photos and event on them!

 

Lovely vignettes all over, and food to satisfy our constant need to snack!

 

Chocolate Face masks hung in the bathroom

 

Goodies for each of us on our bed- a bag, a notebook, foot soak and gum ball duck awaited each of us on our bed

 

Our table name tags, a bird feeder, hung from the back of a chair

 

Natalea's delicious nest cupcakes

 

A Santos to greet us

 

A wreath Sandy created to commemorate the event and to welcome us at the front door

 

A mini Montgomery House

 

             A nest to celebrate our journey- each egg had our initial on it!

THE DETAILS

I arrived in Buffalo, New York on Thursday night.  Natalea picked up Amy and I and we went out for a drink and dinner....

Then we went back to Natalea's beautiful home:

 

More photos of Nat's home from last year, here
 

then to bed to rest up for our weekend :

 

We woke up and made the hour drive to our cottage and the rest of the girls.  

 

Maija, Natalea, Amy Viv, Jenny and Martha and Sandy on the ground.

 

Maija and Martha
 

I'm loving the beautiful apron Martha made for me for our special swap

 

Vivian and Amy
 

Apothecary Museum with vintage and antique pharmaceutical packages and stuff that would make your head explode with craft ideas!!

 

Fun with hats

 

Local jam makers store

 

Beautiful flowers all over town

 

Lots of pastries

Martha, Natalea, Amy and Sandy
 

A stop at the liquor store for afternoon cocktails

 

Maija and Amy enjoying....

 

Martha and Natale indulging

 

Downtown Niagara on the Lake

 

Sangria at Shaw Cafe
 

My goofy peeps....

More to come on the goodies and creations!!!!

                 

Hurry and Join Me!!!

At this event I will be attending:

 

An Artistic Affair, Les Sirenes 

Spectacular, and almost sold out!!!