Keeping Things Simple

So, I'm all about simplifying my life right now. I have cancelled silly subscriptions and memberships, organized closets, pantries, etc, cleaned out desks, drawers, and cabinets, thrown away years worth of magazines and other junk and donated trunk loads to Goodwill. I have made new filing systems both for home and work. And now, I'm taking it a step further with my business and with blogging.

Bodacious Bits started at a time, I thought I was going to change the name of my clothing company to Bodacious Kids Apparel. Well, I never did and it seems kinda silly for me to have a blog built around that concept. So, I'm bidding farewell to Bodacious Bits and am also bidding farewell to co-blogging (made that word up)about my personal life and my business life. I would love for you to follow me over to our new family blog,

http://www.blueeyesandblueskies.blogspot.com/

And if your so inclined (which I hope you are) I would love for you to also follow me over to the new business blog

http://www.marymichaelclothing.blogspot.com/

 I have been working on both of these new blogs for the past few weeks and although they are far from perfect I am ready to make the move!   I hope you will add them to your reader, blog list, etc. and hope to see you over there! :)

Bunny Cupcakes

I have been baking all evening for this little bit's easter egg hunt and party tomorrow...



she was enjoying a cupcake before they all got decorated. If you can't tell, she thought they were really good. :) Anyhow, these are the cutest bunny cupcakes and easy to decorate, although it does take a little time. First, bake a batch of cupcakes and ice with vanilla icing and dip in shredded sweetened coconut...yum!



You could stop there and still have a hit. Or, if you want to get all cutesy, take a bunch of this stuff...



and top it on the cupcake so you end up with something like this...




They are much cuter than they look in this picture...my photography skills are definitely lacking in food close ups. :) Anyhow, I have a couple dozen packed up to send with Lucy tomorrow, and I wanted to share the idea in case you need them for a desert or treat idea for Easter weekend. By the way, they are not my idea...I saw them somewhere and remembered making them last year. Enjoy!


Ingredients
A cupcake (baked from your favorite recipe)
White icing
Shredded coconut
Pink decorators’ sugar
mini marshmallows
large marshmallows
jellybean, m&m's or other candy to decorate

1.Frost a cupcake (baked from your favorite recipe) with white icing and sprinkle on shredded coconut fur.

2.  Cut a large marshmallow in half widthwise. Squeeze each half slightly to give it an oval shape, then decorate the sticky side of each one with pink decorators’ sugar or icing and set them in place for ears.

3.  Add blue m&m's or jellybeans for the eyes and place them with a bit of icing on the back to hold in place

4.Add a jelly bean nose (I forgot to buy jellybeans at the store) and mini marshmallows for cheeks. For a finishing touch, draw on decorators’ gel pupils or whiskers if you like.   You can also use twizzlers (the kind that peel apart) if you can find them.  Just cut them down to size.

and Again...this time Nashville

Last weekend we packed up again and headed north to Nashville. This was an even shorter trip, leaving Saturday morning and coming back Sunday afternoon but we made the most of our time and squeezed a short visit in with more family. So off we were.



Ash's dad had called months ago asking if we would like to see Boz Scaggs in concert. Well, I said sure even though I had no idea who Boz was, so I did a quick google search and recognized a few songs. My parents were so excited for us, so obviously Mr. Scoggs is a little before my time. But none the less we were in and that was the main reason for our trip. We arrived Sarturday around lunch and ate and visited with Ashley's grandmother. And around 6, we made our way to the historic Ryman Theatre.



I didn't think camera's were allowed so I didn't bring mine in, so unfortunately, I don't have any pics of the show. In fact the only pic I have of the night is of Ashley's sister, Jessica and her date for the night, Jennifer.



Well the show was fun, but I think I had the most fun watching Ashley's dad. :) I think it's safe to say he was having a great time. And we did too. Thanks JD for the tix!!

After the show, we made our way to 2nd Avenue to have a drink and hear some more music, but somehow ended up at the Palm, which was dead.



But we enjoyed each others company and another drink before calling it a night. And thank goodness we have sense to call it a night when we did, because these girls of ours get up pretty early. We enjoyed the morning with Ashley's grandmother before packing up to head home. We made a quick top to catch cousin Jackson's baseball game.



Lucy mucked it up with the team for a while...



before making some other friends...



and then we were on the road again, back home for Birmingham. We are staying put this weekend, thank goodness. There is a ton to do around the house and Landon has a lacrosse tournament this weekend. Hopefully, the bad weather will push on through today and the sun will be back again tomorrow! Have a great weekend!

On the Road Again...

In the past month we have been out of town every weekend.  Ash and I start whistling Willy Nelson's "On the Road Again" every Friday as we pack the car...it has become our theme song.  Anyhow, after our Memphis getaway, we headed up the following weekend to Paris for a trip to grandaddy's.  We decided to surprise him (April fools styled) although we broke down an hour away and told him we were on our way.  We knew driving up it was going to be a quick trip arriving Friday night and heading out Sunday morning but we realized it had been six months since we had been up last and we were overdue for a visit.  In usual grandaddy style we were non stop the entire time.  The minute we got there, the grill was lit and the kids played outside...






These two couldn't quite climb the tree so they found the next best thing...



Lynlee just sucked her thumb and took it all in...



The evening was spent playing, eating, visiting, movie watching and enjoying the awesome weather.  At one point I spotted this!



It was a late night, but that didn't seem to matter...everyone was up and adam on Saturday ready for the day's activities...



Lucy is obsessed with stickers lately and somehow found some that morning...



We ate a quick bite and packed up and headed out.  Lucy and Landon got an extra treat and got to ride in grandaddy's new convertable...Landon thought it was pretty cool and asks us daily if we can get one...hmmmm.   :)



Our first stop was the skating rink.  Landon got the hang of it quickly....








Lucy tired quickly...



but nothing a snack couldn't take care of...



even Ash gave it a shot...



and got into it  :)



Afterwards, Lynlee and I headed to my sweet friends house so Lynlee could meet her new friend.


they were so funny sitting there...not sure what they are looking at...



We can't wait for more playdates with B!!!



I met back up with Ash and headed to another sweet friends engagement shower.  It was a blast from the past and I got to catch up with a lot of friends I havent seen in years.



The couple (plus one :))  T and B have been dating since high school and finally bit the bullet.  I am so happy for you two and can't wait for the wedding!




Ash and I had a late night but were again up bright and early along with everyone else...




some were harder to get moving than others...



We had a quick breakfast and hit the road by 9...we had a game to catch for this cutie



he is pretty awesome at this game and is loving it!



And we all love watching him...




look at this sweaty baby!



There he is #17.



He had 10 attempts that game and not one shot went in...however that all changed the next game!  But I am running late so I will post about Landon and Lacrosse another time.  I am off to get our day started...have a good one!

Our Days Here Lately...

...are nothing too exciting.  We have been in and out of town on the weekends which are always fun.  But our weekday is more or less the same.  Lynlee pretty much hangs out here...



...at least for the hour after she eats.  Otherwise, she's on her tummy playing.  But she spits up so much after eating that I force her to play in the exersaucer. She doesn't love it, but in her sweet Lynlee fashion doesn't give me a hard time about it either.  :)

Lucy has decided she wants to start using the potty.  But, I have no interest in potty training now, so what to do!?  Well, we keep a diaper on, because she's not really interested in potty training either...only if she wants to.  But for the past few days, thats all she wants to do.  So, she pretty much hangs out here...



And Landon stays busy doing this...




or playing this...



And I pretty much hang out here...



...getting clothes sewn and out the door.  If you placed an order, it should be arriving any day.  We have been shipping them out daily for the past week and should have them all out the door by the end of this week!  But for now, I'm off to get us out the door for Landon's game at 5!

Her Baby

My morning routine usually consists of me feeding Lynlee and then leaving her in her highchair with some toys while I grab a shower.  Yesterday, when I went to check on her, this is what I found...


Lucy was feeding "my baby" as she kept telling me.



It was too cute not to capture and Lucy did a pretty good job of feeding her baby.



Lynlee was a trouper...



...but kept looking at me to make sure I was aware that her 2 year old sister seemed to be in control of her breakfast.  :)



Sweet girl!



Giving thanks today for all my babies!