JO Blog

One of my good friends called me to meet.  She was ready and I said that I could be ready in five minutes.  It was 2:00 on Sunday and I was still in my pajamas.  I raced upstairs, put a hat on my head, perfume (just like a shower…right?), changed clothes, splashed a little makeup […]

Isn't it just heartbreaking sometimes to be a mom?  My youngest one is two.  My husband wanted to take all the children to a huge ski show in Denver.  I was fine about the two older ones, but I thought bringing the youngest would be too much…..would they watch him….ok, you get the idea.  After […]

  We were invited to a friend's home for dinner last night and we wanted to bring a dessert.  The children and I decided to make an apple crisp.  We peeled, sliced, zested, stirred, dumped and sprinkled.  As the children were stirring the apples with the nutmeg, cinnamon, orange zest, lemon zest, lemon juice, orange […]

While I was at the Heather Bullard Parisian Soiree I had the pleasure of meeting Beth Quinn and purchasing one of her beautiful necklaces.  I loved this one because it says "She Is Grateful' and that is exactly how I feel.  I feel so grateful about so many areas in my life.  Grateful for Family             […]

OK…it is official….I need a new camera and to learn photoshop.  Please check out Sara's site for some amazing photos of the party.

    Isn't this amazing? Heather Bullard could not have chosen a more beautiful location for her Parisian Soiree than The Mission Inn.  The architectural detail was phenomenal.  You truly felt like you were in Europe.  There was a wedding going on in the chapel while we were there.  After the ceremony the couple walked […]

Who doesn't love fall?  The air cools down, the leaves turn amazing colors, pumpkin patches,  fresh apples and the crunch of leaves under your feet.  It is also such a fun time for the children….   We got together with friends and all the kids made pumpkins.  My friend, Julie, made the coolest Halloween snacks.   […]

    I am excited to fly to California, spend time with my friend Kasey and take part in a fun and girly day. I know I will be inspired by amazingly talented and creative women.  I can't wait to show you the pictures and share the stories.  I also have more new goodies that I will be adding to […]

This past weekend was packed with activities.  We started the weekend with Madolyn's 6th birthday party on  Friday night.  All the girls (and their moms) met at the movie theater to see High School Musical (hence the HSM music on the blog….it will be gone soon:-)).  They loved it and so did we.  We then […]

I spent most of this past weekend getting things ready to put on my site.   I have so many more things that I will be adding this week.  Keep checking back!  I would also like to do a little give away.  Visit the site, let me know what you like and I will do a […]

Today is a day that I wish I could call in sick….but I am a stay at home mom and there is no one available to take my place:-( Mom, could you drive from Illinois today and watch my kids?  Ok.  It is very clear.  I do not get a day off to sleep!  I […]

10 1/2 years ago I watched a man walk into a bar and whispered to my friends, " I would like you to meet my future husband".  Six months later we were married, two years later we had our first of three children and now ten years after saying "I do" I would say it all over again.  […]

    I am so sorry about my stretch between posts!  I never go anywhere and I have been taking little trips like crazy these past weeks.  I recently got back from a girls weekend in Savannah, Georgia.  I met one of my friends that lives in DC and we had a great time.  The city […]

We were happy with two….really happy.  Then when the youngest was about three I started to deeply desire a third.  My husband was not aboard on this idea.  Life was good.  We could get projects done, we were sleeping through the night and we were even taking little getaways….just the two of us.  So as […]

Even though I was still so exhausted from the Country Living Fair, I realized that we had not gone berry picking yet this summer.   Last minute we called another family that we adore and off we all went.  This is our seventh year going and it just makes summer complete!  We picked berries for a […]

For the past three years I have taken my daughter and some friends to dinner, night at a hotel and then school shopping the next day.  It has always been so much fun to spend this time with my sweet girl!  This year the girls wanted to eat at P.F. Changs, go swimming at the […]

  Day 1-The Set Up Kasey, Beth and I all arrived at our hotel after midnight.  We stayed up too late (caffeine and talking).  We had an early morning getting to our set up location for the fair.  The weather was clear and hot, but perfect for getting everything unloaded.  We worked all day and […]

Sometimes it takes something bigger than yourself to gain a new perspective. Like so many bloggers, I have been changed by the accident that Stephanie Nielson and her husband, Christian, were involved in. Her daily writings I have gone back to re-read because her love of her children and husband is so contagious! Like so […]

We recently went to the rodeo/fair and had a wonderful time.  We met my sister and her famly and my good friend Jamie and her kids.  I had just started cutting out all sugars from my diet and then we go to the fair.   FUNNEL CAKES….does anyone else understand the deep need for these fried […]

Do you remember as a child how you could draw, write, paint, make up plays etc. for hours and never run out of ideas?  I used to write.  I would write poetry or short stories.  I was always thinking up the next story line.  I don’t think I could come up with many ideas today.  […]

I love playing around with all of my vintage papers and embellishments and came up with this journal, embellishment kit and an altered lunchbox.  I love that the journal or scrapbook is made up of bits of my vintage papers and then you can embellishment it anyway you want and it all comes nicely packaged […]

  I have been busy at work getting ready for the Country Living Fair that is coming up early September.  I will have new aprons, dresses, clutches, purses, plaques, journals, letters, frames and some new surprises at the show.  My Madolyn is modeling a few of the new dresses that will be at the show.  After the show […]

I live in Colorado and honestly I can take the beautiful weather and mountains for granted.  Whenever someone finds out I live in Colorado they go on and on how lucky I am….which I am.  I grew up in Illinois and I have a secret to tell…..I really think IT is beautiful.  I just returned from […]

On Monday my husband and I went to see The Police at Red Rocks Amphitheater.  We had amazing seats and the weather was perfect.  I have been to other events at Red Rocks, but never a concert.  I don’t think I will ever go to a regular arena again.  I got to watch Sting (yummy), […]