Beautiful Flowers

There are one of two reasons why I find myself with beautiful flowers.

The first reason, guilt...as was the case when my handsome husband and I reupholstered a $3.99 Goodwill chair together.

The second reason...a special occasion, like our anniversary, which I ironically displayed in a Goodwill vase.

Often times, if I've been given flowers for the latter reason, it is also accompanied by a celebration that looks something like this.

Believe it or not, all these details are thought of and executed by my husband, who I assure you is not scouring pinterest for his inspiration.

Like using the top of the pineapple as the center of the fruit plate.

Some Tiki men also joined our celebration (souvenirs left in our tropical hut for our honeymoon). 

No detail was spared.

While this was definitely an occasion we could have celebrated with champagne floats, we opted to toast with some pineapple coconut juice instead.

And, though 7 years ago, this little miss was not part of our big day...

Our celebration would not be complete without her.

Happy Anniversary

7 years ago, today, it poured rain.  I splashed through puddles under the cover an umbrella.  I arrived at the church I attended as a little girl and I was married.

So, today, I'll forgo lovingly poking fun of my handsome husband as I have been known to do in previous posts.  Instead of turning him into a meme or tells you the story of his crime fighting underwear, today, I'll focus on the love.

Where I did have one of those love at first sight moments with my husband, when our paths crossed (again).

I did not have one of those love at first sight moments with my dress.  The dress I thought was "the one" had accidentally been altered 3 inches too short 30 days before our wedding day.

But, as I walked down the aisle, on my dad's arm, in my new wedding dress...

wearing my perfect wedding shoes...

The less than perfect wedding dress didn't seem to matter because at the end of the aisle was the man that always knows what to say to make me laugh.

And, I suppose in addition to knowing what to say to make me laugh, he also knew what to say to get me to marry him.

"Ain't That a Kick in the Head" by Dean Martin ushered us into our reception.  The lryics:  "How lucky can one guy be.  I kissed her and she kissed me.  Like the sailor once said, ain't that a kick in the head.  My head keeps spinning; I go to sleep and keep grinning; If this is just the beginning, My life's gonna be beautiful." immediately bring me back to that rainy day and I can't help but smile.

That's not the only song that reminds me of my wedding day, though, "The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra, was the first song we danced to as husband and wife.

Wedding traditions were fulfilled.

Cake was eatten.

Memories were made.

They say, rain on your wedding day is good luck.

I would have to agree because after 7 years of marriage, I am still head over heels in love with my handsome husband.

Dean Martin was right, "My life is gonna be beautiful".

This is Me - April SELF PORTRAIT Link Party

April's self portrait theme was 'LOVE'.

Love is still in the air, 7 years later, as my husband and I celebrate another anniversary...but I'll tell you more about that on Monday.

Last month 14 brave women stepped in front of the camera and shared their 'looking down' self portraits.

These self portraits have become more than just pictures.

These self portraits tell a story.

Sam from Thrive 360 Living

They provide inspiration.

Danni from Silo Hill Farm

They represent love.

Lisa from Wine and Glue

They show style.

Chandra from A Stylish Little Lady

They give you an interesting perspective.

Anne from The Pink Momma

They have allowed me get to know each of these brave women a bit better.

So, now is your turn.  Come out from behind the camera, capture your 'LOVE' self portrait and inspire us all.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/" title="While Wearing Heels" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnvvORsnwZfgA2wSfHxHbZ1YPUtCcVTVHuV01cKBzTC-q7ERQeucbVGOcFsjFcAtjm3K8GUu6_VHmUFDcl_Rp0DR4RigPdpuol1szkGPIEJbOUcZ3QGN_D9yOxbbuIXg5z_F-aQb7Hq2i/s1600/This+is+ME+-210.jpg" alt="While Wearing Heels" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Let's get this party started...here are our linky rules:

• There will be a link up here on the last Friday of every month this year, and the linky tool will remain open to your submissions until the last Friday of the next month.
• Please link back to the permalink for your *This Is ME* blog post or flickr image, not just the general url for your blog or flickr stream.
• Linked entries must be to a blog post or flickr image of your recent self-portraits, not just any old photo. Your photo does not have to relate to the optional monthly theme, but it does need to be a self-portrait.
• Please do link back here to my blog either through a text link, or with my button found below to help encourage others to participate and grow our community.
• And most importantly, be the encouragement you hope to receive and help build our self-portrait community! Please try to visit a few of the links of your fellow *This Is ME* participants and leave a nice comment--it only takes a few minutes and you may be inspired by what you see.

Well, that's it...now get linking everyone! I'll see you back here on Friday, May 3rd, for our May theme announcement, but in the meantime, keep showing us your stuff in the flickr pool.

Wildflower Crown

Amid days of endless rain and even a few snowflakes, spring has made a brief appearance.  One of our favorite spring past times is making wildflower crowns.

The best part of making this crown is gathering the supplies.  

Take the weeping willow branches and begin to wind them into a crown shape.  Twist and wind each additional weeping willow branch to help maintain and secure the shape.

When your crown is complete, adorn it with wildflowers.

Then crown a wildflower princess.

I hope spring sticks around a little while longer, I think I want to make a wildflower crown for myself, too!

Wordless Wednesday

The best things in life aren't things.

I heart fake food - Pineapple Tutorial

A farmer's market just isn't complete without a pineapple or two.  How else would you make a felt piña colada, right?

If you heart fake food and want to learn how to make your own felt pineapple, keep on reading.

You'll need to gather the following supplies:  felt in green, gold and brown, needle and brown thread, a ruler, water erasable pen, scissors and fiberfill.

Using an entire sheet of gold fabric, draw a grid pattern with your ruler and water erasable pen.  The grid does not need to extend all the way to the bottom of the felt.  Leave approximately an inch, at the bottom of the felt, grid free.

Either using your sewing machine OR hand embroidering use brown thread to cover the grid you just drew.
*I opted to hand embroider using a stem stitch.

Fold the pineapple body in half, right side facing each other, and sew down the long side ending at the inch mark that is grid free.

Along the grid free bottom inch section of your pineapple, cut 4 long thin triangle sections out.  You'll need to make these cuts in order to fold the bottom sections over to close the pineapple. 

Fold the bottom sections of the pineapple over.  Either glue or hand sew the opening closed.   You may need to adjust your cuts to get the fold to lay flat.  *If you get your cuts right, you could also attempt to sew the cuts back together to close the bottom of the pineapple.

To give the bottom of your pineapple a more finished look (and to hide any gaps or puckers), cut out a small circle out of brown felt.  Apply some glue to the bottom center of the pineapple and affix the brown circle into place. 

Generously stuff your pineapple with fiberfill until you are about an inch from the top.

To create the stem of your pineapple, grab the green felt.  Cut sections of felt with either 2, 3 or 4 points (it will resemble the shape of grass).  Start with your section of 2 points and pinch them together.  Wrap your section of 3 points around the center 2 points.  Using your needle and thread (I used green thread), do a few stitches by hand to secure to stem pieces into place.  With each new section of green felt, start slightly lower than the section before.  You'll complete between 3 and 4 layers or sections before your stem is complete.

Cut small triangle shapes into the top of your pineapple, preferably not into any of the grid stitches you created.  Fold the tops over so and begin to hand stitch the top of your pineapple closed using yellow thread.  Do not close the top completely.

Insert the stem into the center of the pineapple and continue to stitch the top shut while stitching the stem into place. 

Done.

Hopefully you heart your new pineapple.

If you liked this tutorial, make sure to check out my other I Heart Fake Food Tutorials.

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