THE DAFFODILS ARE COMING!

Here's Mia checking out the daffodils peaking up from the leaves a couple days ago. Now today there are even more blooming. So I thought I'd treat Woodrow, my office buddy, to a fresh bouquet. He gets Spring Deficit Disorder too. He's so happy he's dancing on the table (you should see him at the office party; gets a little crazy).

APRIL GIVEAWAY

It's a Monday morning, the sun is out and my daffodils are blooming!!! That Spring Deficit Disorder Thingy that I've had seems to be fading away. I'm feeling giddy and springy and so generous. So let's have a Giveaway!!! Anyone buying canvas art on Paula Prass or mimi's collection will get a free picture frame in April. Let me show you some additional ideas:
If you order any 12x12 or 11x14 canvas art you'll receive a 3x3 frame of your choice (a $28 gift). And if you order a 16x16, 16x20, 18x24 or 10x40 you will get a 4x6 frame of your choice (a $34 gift). After you make your canvas art purchase just email us with your frame selection and we will include your free frame when we ship your canvas order. How fun is that? This is just a special for my blog peeps. Even if you don't take advantage of this deal, drop me a line anyway. I'd love to hear from you. paula@paulaprass.com.

IT'S SPRING SOMEWHERE, RIGHT?

SPRING. Clean; crisp; fresh; hopeful. What seemed lifeless comes alive again (usually)....you get the picture. But my longing isn't making it happen. I see other bloggers photos, so I know it's happening elsewhere. I think I have that Spring Deficit Disorder thingie. So, as to not fall into the gloomy, I'll post some images of my own that will maybe make my Spring Envy subside momentarily.

I join my husband occasionally on business trips. Here is a trip to the La Paloma Resort in Tucson the end of February. We left behind lots of snow for 5 days of sun and warmth. The photo of the moon was right off our room at night and the same view of a dove every day. I always take a sketch pad, journal and camera to record ideas, thoughts and inspiration. It's a beautifully relaxing place in February, and it sure beats shoveling snow.

SHOW + TELL MY KITCHEN

Okay, as usual this starts out as another scary, sad room that I tackled. Country blue, mauve and tan plaid wallpaper with ducks wearing mauve bows for the 1980's border. Formica chop block light brown counters on dark stained cabinets. This was actually my kitchen when we moved into a house we purchased in 1999. Not my ideal style of home, but it had good bones, perfect location and one of the only homes we looked at that the kitchen was bad enough to justify gutting it. It was a huge project and I was the general contractor.  The Befores:

I went into this project with the knowledge that what could go wrong probably would, and however long I think it will take, double it. I'll spare you the construction woes, but will tell you my husband tim had emergency gall bladder surgery and my daughter Jennifer had a miscarriage. I'm surprised I found time to take these couple photos, even if they aren't good. That's our dog Tashi in the 2nd shot.



So, here's the big reveal. My husband and I literally drew up the plans, designed the cabinetry and stuccoed and glazed the walls ourselves. I designed for the stove with the hood to be directly across from the dining room opening. At night people are able to see directly through the dining room windows and the doorway into the kitchen frames the stove and hood perfectly. I've actually had people knock on our door and I have remodeled other kitchens in the area, as a result.

SPRING, WHERE FOR ART THOU, DAMMIT?

This has been a common view from our Family Room window for the last 5 months. That's not what it looks like today, which was much prettier than the melted snow. We have been plaqued with back to back colds, flus, ice storms, floods...sprinkled with a few 70 degree days in between. But the crocus are here and the daffodils are on the verge of blooming. Oh, when that glorious day arrives, I'll, I'll...spring forth from the wads of kleenex and leap for joy. I LOVE Spring!

WYATT'S SHOW + TELL

I have to share a wonderful Wyatt Storey story. An example of why children melt our hearts.

First of all, I'd never suggest this to the faint of heart, but Jennifer and I have made a decision to have Wyatt and Amelia be with us in the day to day business operations, which we run out of my home. So, as a side note, if you call to place an order, don't be surprised if you hear a kid announcing they have to poop.

Okay, about Wyatt. He came in the other day with his pillow that he said he was taking to school for Show + Tell. I'm puzzled because this boy has no lack of toys and gadgets. I'm imagining him showing his classmates how he sleeps. So I take the bait...why a pillow? Then Wyatt confidently shares that when his cousin Kyle spent the night they had a pillow fight with dad. He was so animated and excited, giving a "blow by blow" (couldn't help the pun), giggles and glee abounding. I was amazed at the genuine simplicity and the wonderful lesson. An old fashioned pillow fight with special people beats out Nintendo DS for Show + Tell.

CL WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS WEEKEND

I was still not feeling my best and totally lost my voice for the entire weekend. That didn't stop me from having a wonderful time, as you'll see. Such an incredible weekend in Chicago at the 2008 Country Living Womens Entrepreneur Event. So many great women all in one place. Here's gorgeous Heather Bailey who was on a panel talking about the internet and the blogging world (of which Heather rules for her blog Hello my name is Heather).

Vicki Mote Bodwell owns Warm Biscuit and was a 2006 Country Living Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. Vicki, Polly and I all have the same awesome web designer, Ron Giusti, whom we all absolulely adore. We boast being members of our fan club "Ron's Peeps".

Below, I wanted to show you my Jennifer's wedding invitation from almost 10 years ago. This was one of Anna Griffin's Imprintables which put her on the invitation and stationary map. We saved money by purchasing Anna's kit and doing the work ourselves. Oh so many bows to tie!!
Why do I show a 10 year old invitation? Because Anna Griffin was a guest speaker at the event and an absolutely delightful person, so down to earth. Felt as if we'd known her forever.

On Sunday some of us met up to do shopping and lunch in Lincoln Park. Here Heather and I stopped talking 90 mph long enough to get our photo taken.

From left to right: Bari J Ackerman of Bari J, who makes handbags and accessories. Anita Hopper of ReFind Originals. She uses discarded leather to design one-of-a-kind handbags and Woof Packs. On the other side of me is Joanna Figueroa, owner of Fig Tree Quilts, filled with her own fabrics, patterns and other goodies. Heather Bailey, fabric designer and blog queen. Jennifer, my daughter, my pride and joy and my right hand gal.

So now we are all back in our various parts of the country, but fond memories and new friendships remain. An event that's well worth attending next year.

COOL MOM PICKS + COOL CONTEST

Hey, before we take off, I wanted you to know that Cool Mom Picks has a great contest going on over there. We are giving away our Now I Know My ABC's canvas art, either the boy or girl version to one lucky winner. So quit clowning around and enter to win. Check out all our children's products on mimi's collection. Have fun!

COUNTRY LIVING 2008 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS EVENT

Jennifer and I are headed to Chicago for a fun weekend with hundreds of other women entrepreneurs (the event is sold out). I'm still not feeling 100%, haven't packed yet, but do have my camera charging. I'll be back with lots of photos. Have a great weekend.

IT'S A GIGGLE KINDA DAY!!

Hi, I'm Wyatt, I'm 5 1/2 now, but this is a picture of me when I was 2 and my Mimi made me giggle. That's how I feel right now because yesterday 2 blogs featured my Mimi's products. Mimi couldn't appreciate it then. She was real sick. She looked pretty bad, too. My little sister, she's 3, kept telling Mimi that her hair looked funny. Mimi usually thinks anything Mia says is cute, but not so much yesterday. She's getting better, so she can tell you herself how giggly we are around here.

Hi, I'm Mimi (and Paula), and I'm sitting up again, yeah! Good thing: I lost 4 lbs! I know it'll be short lived, but it's the only positive thing I can say about the last 4 days.

Thanks so much to Creature Comforts for the wonderful write up. Ez featured a product of mine in 2006 when I didn't even know what a blog was! Okay, I had my head in the sand. I've been a huge fan of her fabulous blog ever since. Then Suzanne over at S.HOPtalk found me through her visit to CC and she posted me on her blog as well. What an exceptional site!

Thanks to both for making me giggle, and giggles can only make you feel better, right? I hope you all will stop by these 2 blogs to see why they're so FIERCE!!!!