Zip Lines, S'Mores & Rebels

What a weekend! My daughter, Sheridan and I, attended Leader/Daughter Girl Scout camp at Valley Trails in Castaic, about 10 minutes from our home. They had lots of activites planned for us-arts and crafts, rock wall, zip line, Frisbee golf and low ropes.
This is Sheridan and I ready to tackle the rock wall.
Sheridan must have climbed up at least 50 times. The next morning she asked "Could we do some stretching Mom. My stomach muscles hurt!"
See the hill over my shoulder on the left. That is what we climb up to to get to the zip line.
I walk 4 miles a day (3/4 of a mile up a steep hill) but this hill did me in! It was a lot of fun!
Sheridan wanted me to go first because she was a bit nervous.
That's me!
Here comes Sheridan! THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!
She went on it twice. She would have liked to have gone on it all day!
This is Sheridan's idea of art--painting her hand purple!

At night, we had a campfire and exchanged SWAPs with other girls. The bunkbeds were very loud when you moved on them, so we didn't get a lot of sleep but we did have a lot of fun!
We left camp at 7:00am and stopped by the donut shop to pick up breakfast for the family. After a quick shower, we all headed to Moorpark to The Blue & The Gray, the largest Civil War re-enactment on the West Coast. This was our second time at the event except for Chasen. Last year, he had a sore throat and couldn't attend. I took 262 pictures but I narrowed it down to 10 for you! :) Musicians and Rebels!

Union soliders on horseback. The horses they ride are rescued retired horseracing thoroughbreds. It is amazing how well mannered these horses are around all of the gunfire. The soliders are amazing riders also.

Here are some lovely belles. They were sitting in front of us for the first battle and they said their friend made their outfits for them. So beautiful!

Union troop inspection before the 2nd battle.

Actor Bruce Boxleitner comes every year to participate as a Confederate officer on horseback. His wife, Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls of "Little House on the Prarie") joins him as well.

Very cool sword fight on horseback.

That's the Ronald Reagan library up on the hill to the left.

This is such a great learning experience for the kids. All of the re-enactors are so knowledgable about the Civil War events. I hope next year our family will dress up!

Practically Perfect Pink Saturday

It's a jolly holiday...
After 17 days in the hospital, my mom is finally home. I would visit her once or twice a day in the hospital and I would always tuck her in at night.
Today, I celebrated my friend's birthday at a day spa.

I am making 78 SWAPs for a Leader-Daughter camping trip my daughter and I are going on this weekend with the Girl Scouts. When we get home Sunday morning, I'm picking up the rest of the family to go to a Civil War re-enactment.
I've delivered 2 parties for this weekend and printed Princess party invitations. I've taken my son to 3 baseball events and my daughter to her Nutcracker rehearsals.

I took my Brownie Girl Scouts to vote and got my haircut. The troop passed out water to over 2000 marathoners and I attended a Parisian Holiday Soiree that was a 3 hour round trip.

I handmade my daughter's birthday invitations for her Chinese Tea Party
and hand delivered all 12 of them . I also attended my monthly Disney scrapbook group and made 6 page layouts for my Ariel and Finding Nemo pictures.

Since I have been so busy, I am posting another one of my parties.
This is my Mary Poppins Tea party. I dress up as an Edwardian maid and serve tea as the girls wear MP inspired hats that I created and white gloves.

The guests decorate kites, play Spoon Full of Sugar relay and stuff their own penguins.

This is my daughter, Sheridan, as Mary Poppins in a dress that is also available for rental.

I made the hat out of a white witches hat. I cut off the point and sewed it together

and added the tulle bow.

I found the penguin on eBay. He's my favorite!

At the party, we have music time by playing tambourines to Jolly Holiday and dancing around like Bert and Mary Poppins. I have a carousel horse for photo ops and I have Mary Poppins's carpet bag with her hat and scarf. I also pull out a measuring tape to see how the children "measure up". The favors include a piggy bank to save their tuppins, swirl lollipop, wooden bird whistle and sidewalk chalk to create their own magical drawings to "pop" into.

Happy Pink Saturday!!!

Don't forget to visit all the pinky-ness here.

Election Day

Brownie Troop 118 went to the polls today!

I bought them boater hats from the 99 cent store and made

"Vote" ribbons with my Cricut machine.

They used the demo ballots and cast their vote for Kennedy, Lincoln or Roosevelt.

They thought very hard about their votes.

The volunteers there were very helpful by showing the girls sample ballots
and how to slip the ballot into the holder.
The girls were very excited to keep their ballots and to have received "I Voted" stickers..
They are now ready to vote in the 2020 Presidential election!

Parisian Holiday Soiree

My friend Marina and I attented the Parisian Holiday Soiree hosted by

Heather Bulllard form Present Past Collection.

It was held at the absolutely gorgeous Mission Inn in Riverside.

More than 100 guests were in attendance enjoyed the glittery abundance that Heather

bestowed upon us. As we entered, we were greeted by this unbelieveable dress form all decked out for the party which happened to fall on Marie Antionette's Birthday (how prefect!)

This was my craft packet. I couldn't wait to get started. The first craft was the bon-bon.

We used very simple items such as printed tissue paper and a cello bag with the bottom cut off.

Didn't it turn out gorgeous!

Here are some of Heather's gift wrapping ideas. She didn't use any "Christmas" wrapping paper. She used such unconventional items as maps, vintage wallpaper, Italian prayer cards photocpied and printed at home and ripped up 1940's satin bedspread. She used embellishments such as mini wooden frames, old photographs, vintage ornaments and millinery flowers.

Here is the "Soiree Master" herself--Heather. She is just as sweet as could be!

Here is Heather's boutique booth. I got 3 mini hot pink, glass heart-shaped ornaments and a glitter pink "Marie" shoe ornament

This is a lovely table display by Orange Blossom Tea House.

We started applauding when we saw this lovely bride descending the staircase.







We had a chocolate feast-chocolate fountain, brownies, chocolate chip cookies

and chocolate ice cream bars!

We got to meet the editors of Artful Blogging and Somerset Magazines.

Marina and I were so inspired, we decided to host a cookie exchange and gift wrapping party!

SCV Marathon

My Brownie troop had the pleasure of passing out water to the runners of the Santa Clarita Marathon. This was our second year helping out and we joined Senior troop 106.
We passed out water and Gatorade to over 2000 runners.

Sheridan was saying "Free water. Get your free water right here!"
It put a smile on the runner's faces!
We were stationed at Mile 8 so we were able to see the marathoners and half marathoners.

Next year, maybe I will join the runners!

Now I am off to the Mission Inn for the Parisian Holiday Soiree given by Heather Bullard of

Present Past Collection.