My Matchbox for Exchange

Here is the matchbox that I created and filled for Tammy, my swap partner. Tammy sent the nicest comments about the box, I was so honored! Tammy, I'm so glad you liked it. I had so much fun creating this and stuffing it with little goodies like the Marie Antoinette Clothespin and the crystal earrings.

I'm having so much fun with matchbox swaps that I have signed up for two more!

The Rose Garden at Balboa Park

This is a wonderful time of year to visit the rose garden in Balboa Park. And with the rains we have had this year the roses are spectacular. I chose some of my favorites and attempted to get some pretty pictures! I hope you enjoy them. If you could just smell the roses at the same time you would understand what a fabulous garden it is.

May Basket Swap

This year, once again, I am so excited to be participating in Kari Ramstrom's annual May Basket Swap. Kari (www.artsymama.blogspot.com) is such a wonderful hostess and pairs us all up, then we make and buy items to send as a special spring delivery! This year I am so fortunate to have Terri Wilkerson as my swap partner. You can visit her blog here: www.junqueseeker.blogspot.com. I know she likes the same things that I do: all things french, vintage and pastels, for starters. So I set out to find her some special items, and then I added a few of my own creations like the shadowbox above, and the art journal. I hope she likes everything!

Happy Easter!

Wishing you and your family a happy, happy Easter! Every year at this time there is a wonderful display of Easter Lillies in the Botanical Bulding at Balboa Park. This is the 52nd year of this splendid tradition, and over 300 Easter Lillies are on display. Finally, this year I was fortunate enough to make it to the display, and it was beautiful and very fragrant!

Todos Santos

Cassidy and I decided on an excursion out of Cabo to get on a bus and head to Todos Santos, a little artists colony up the coast from Cabo San Lucas. We really enjoyed our trip there as it wasn't quite so touristy. We got to eat lunch in the infamous Hotel California, made recognizable by the Eagles in their song. It really was a beautiful place. We also enjoyed strolling through the shops and galleries.

The bay in Cabo is such a beatiful color, and has some wonderful creatures living in it like this pelican.

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Puerto Vallarta

We really enjoyed our days in Puerto Vallarta. The weather was fabulous, the beaches were beautiful and the shopping was plentiful (much to Jim's dismay!). We took a hike back in the hills, which was a little challenging, and we still all have remains of many bug bites. But it did offer a glimpse into their countryside.

On the beachfront there were numerous very interesting pieces of art. And, many sandcastles were created and left for our enjoyment. The streets of downtown Puerto Vallarta were very colorful, and there we enjoyed the old Mexican architecture as seen in the church photo.

Cruising off to Mexico!

About a month before the kid's Spring Break I received an email from Vacations To Go with a great deal on a Mexican cruise. As I was perusing the itinerary I realized that it was the same week the kids were off so we booked it! Boy was it a wonderful time for our family. We went to Puerto Vallarta for 2 days and Cabo San Lucas for one day. The rest of the days were spent very lazily aroung the ship's pool. Here are some photos off of our balcony on formal night. I beleive this is the first time I have seen my son in a tie. Isn't he handsome!

Matchbox Swap

I entered into a fabulous matchbox swap hosted by the wonderful Laura Ingalls Gunn. Laura matched me up with Tammy Grantz, and boy was I lucky! Here is a photo of the beautiful altered matchbox that she sent me. It was filled with wonderful goodies. Thanks so much Laura and Tammy, it was such a fun Spring Swap!