Category Archives: Uncategorized

perfectly placed pearls

A gal called me two days ago to ask permission to use a picture from this post (the pearls) for a big gala she was planning. Upon re-reading the post, I really had to giggle at the irony of it all. It is humbling to realize that my New Year’s resolutions that I THOUGHT were 2015, are actually just recycled from 2012. So… thought it best to re-post. AND recycle… live happy xo

the bunny corsage

As you all know, I’ve been feeling quite nostalgic lately. Posted a pic on Facebook this morning and my “little girl” had her bunny corsage on. Knew I had to re-post this blog…

I thought I loved you then

Yesterday was the epitome of a ‘picture perfect’ day.  Blue skies, sunshine and seventy something.  The kind of day that reminds us to live in the moment.  Close our eyes; feel the cool breeze and the warm sunshine on our face.  Deep breath.  Ahhh…  Perfection.

The groom was all smiles and the bride was absolutely breathtaking… her gown a soft creamy white with delicate jewels and a veil that sparkled in the sunlight.  It was a glorious day for a wedding.

Weddings are magical.  A window into that fresh, warm feeling of new love. Just sitting there in the church, you could feel the happiness, the excitement, the anticipation… I started to reminisce about that day, our day, over twenty-eight years ago.  About to say “I do” to the man who I loved more than anything.  Yes.  There would be hard times, we were warned.  Marriage is a roller coaster.  Ups. Downs.  Some really sharp turns.  Sure.  Life happens.  You learn to hold each other close during the good times, and even closer in the bad.  Yet; as I sat there yesterday, filled with emotion, I realized something very important.  In all of the advice that we received… Everyone had failed to mention one very unexpected consequence of marriage.  When I was waiting to walk down the aisle on our wedding day, I was as happy as you can be without exploding out of your own skin.  Yes.  That happy.  I was absolutely certain that I could never love this man any more than I did at that very moment. 

I was so wrong. 

“I thought I loved you then”.  My thoughts, put to music by Brad Paisley.  Listen with your heart.  If your eyes fill with tears when you hear this song, then I pray that you, my friend, feel blessed as well.  And so I feel a certain sense sense of responsibility to forewarn our newlyweds… This is (if you are so blessed) an unforeseen consequence to a long and happy marriage.  So consider yourself warned.  As for us, this is a marriage that (God willing) still has a long, long way to go.

“What I can’t see is how I’m ever gonna love you more; but I’ve said that before.  Now you’re my whole life; now you’re my whole world.  I just can’t believe the way I feel about you, girl.  We’ll look back someday at this moment that we’re in.  And I’ll look at you and say…

and “I thought I loved you then”.   Brad Paisley

(french) deals and donuts

For those of you who are “Kansas City friends”… You are probably aware of the fact that I have a booth out at Trendz Market.  Well, I have to let you in on some breaking news.  This week (thru next Tuesday), I have the “item of the week” (big gasp; then silence…)  Yes.  It’s true.  While you are sitting here reading my blog post, you could be up at Trendz saving 20% on anything french…!  Oooo la la, my friends.  (Click on my Facebook page if you want a “sneak peek” at some of the featured items!  For store hours and info, click on “shop with me at Trendz” link at the top of my blog site)  OK.  Maybe you are not here in Kansas City, or you are a new reader of my blog, and therefore have no idea what Trendz is…  No worries.  Simply click on the links at the top of this blog page…”who is creations by cathy” and “shop with me at trendz”.  That should get you up-to-date.  So now you’re sad.  You wish that you lived here so that you could stop by Trendz and check it out.  I’m sorry.  I do, however, have two bits of good news that might cheer you up a bit.

Number one; I am working on getting a little shopping page together so that I can share some of my Creations goodies with all of my friends, near or far. It will be the “shop now” link at the top of this blog site.  I will keep you posted.

And reason number two (the more delicious of the two); I found this yummy looking recipe at Camille Styles blog site.  (Thank you, Camille!)  Indulge and enjoy…

Baked French Breakfast Donuts

Adapted from Cooks.com

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup milk (I used whole milk)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat donut pan generously with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add egg; mix well.
  3. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg together. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk.
  4. Fill donut tins half full. Bake 15-20 minutes. Take out of pan immediately and swirl tops into melted butter, then sugar and cinnamon mixture. Makes 6-7 big donuts.

*Note:  These work just as well in a muffin tin, too!

live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

looking for a rainbow

I will be honest with you – My posts have been kinda tough to write lately.  OK…really tough.  And there is an impossible one coming tomorrow.  People that I love are going through some very, very difficult times… and that hurts me deep down in my heart.  So today I wanted to share a pic of one of my very favorite things, rainbows… along with two of my favorite songs made into one.  Less than five minutes to watch this peaceful little video.  You have five minutes.  Do it.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow ~ What a Wonderful World (click here and enjoy…)

the “Maine” goodbye…

We have said “goodbye” so many times over the past couple of months, but I always knew there would be one last goodbye before she left…

My dear friend, Mary, is moving to Maine with her hubbie.  They moved out of their house (only one house between us) and into temporary housing a couple of months ago.  We said goodbye.  The neighbors had a going away party.  We said goodbye.  We got our little “girl’s group” together for one last coffee.  We said goodbye.  Went out for Indian food with our hubbies, one last time.  We said goodbye.  Finally – we met up briefly at a neighbor’s house last night for one final goodbye…

I cried each time, but tried to keep it “polite and reasonable”.  I reserved my gut wrenching “throw yourself on the floor” sobs for private home time.  The truth is – Mary doesn’t do the whole crying thing.  She is “matter-of-fact”, positive and reasonable… on just about everything.  Her determination and positive “never-give-up” attitude helped her survive cancer.  Three times.  Oh ya… and a miracle.  You see, “medically”… Mary really should not be here.  Doctors still have no explanation as to how or why she survived her most serious bout with cancer.  But I do.

And so my heart is filled with an explosive mixture of happy and sad, all combusting within me at the same time.  I am (selfishly) very deep down in my soul sad.  But, in the same breath,  I am absolutely ecstatic for Mary.  She so deserves this happiness.  She has been given the precious gift of time to follow her dreams.  And that is exactly what she is doing.  She is not the kind to sit around worrying and “what iffing”.  She appreciates and savors each moment as it is in front of her.  I’m gonna let you in on a little secret, however; She’s not perfect.  She does have one well known shortcoming…. Mary loves doughnuts.  A lot.

So this morning I am (sobbing) in the shower (which, by the way, works very well).  We said our final goodbyes last night.  Right…?  No!  I have to see her one more time.  One more hug.  One more goodbye.  So I get an idea.  Unfortunately for Mary, I know where she is going to be at exactly 9:30.  I have one stop to make on the way there and miss her by a hair.  Panic mode sets in.  In the end, we meet briefly in a grocery store parking lot for a quick chat and one more hug.  I present her with one little gift for the road… doughnuts.

And we say our final, final goodbye.

She tells me “No crying” (ya. right.) and I get back in my car and watch as her car disappears from my rear view mirror.  As she drives away, I realize that she has left me with a hole in my heart… and I believe it to be about the size of a doughnut hole.

God speed, Mary. 
Your rainbow is waiting…
live happy… laugh, love dream, create