Spring Beauty...and what I've been up to lately!!!

Hello dear friends! I know it's been a long while since I've last posted, but I came across some road bumps along the way. Specifically, the hard drive on my computer completely CRASHED! I knew my MacBook Pro was running a little slow, but I was rather ignoring the "symptoms" of backing up all of my info as well as replacing my hard drive before it completely...well...crashed! All of my vital info, including pictures of the kids, amongst other important documents - were GONE! :( To make a very long, complicated, and a rather expensive story short, today is the first day that I finally have a working computer on hand! I can't wait to catch up on all of your lovely blogs this weekend!!! :) I seriously had "blogger withdrawals" since I was out of a computer for that long! :(

On a lighter note, I hope everyone had a very nice Easter / Passover Holiday! I can't believe the spring season is finally here!!! :) This is the first "Spring" in our home since we moved in last summer, so I'm quite excited about it! Since we plan to renovate the front part of our home between now and the next year or so, I decided to put a halt on any "landscaping projects" for now. Thus I've decided to do some "container gardening" instead. It rained on and off yesterday, but that didn't stop me from planting these pretty hydrangeas that were given to me as an Easter {and "housewarming"} gift from my mother. They were partially pink when they were given to me, but now they are a bluish purple hue. I just love that about hydrangeas! :)

These little lovelies are now sitting on our front porch, which instantly adds curb appeal. And let me tell you...we are in dire need of some of that right now! I was joking with my hubby telling him that our neighbors are probably wondering why it {the front part of our house} looks a little "chaotic" right now. But due to a very strict budget, our fixer upper projects will continuously be a work in progress. I have some more exciting changes coming up ahead, but more on that later! :)

In other exciting news, I thought I'd let you all in on what I have been up to lately. At first I was hesitant to divulge what my new venture was exactly about, as I still wasn't quite sure if it would work out in the long run. But it's been a few months, and I feel confident about my future plans! ....so I'll just come right out and say it! I am currently going back to school to pursue a dream of mine!!! I'm preparing to apply to a specific program, and although it's been a completely hectic, busy, stressful experience...it's been an extremely positive, fulfilling, and empowering one too. I say "empowering" only because I tend to constantly compare myself to other people, and often feel that I'm "too old" or feel that I've just been away too long. But...I'm doing very well!!! And the feeling that I get when I'm attending lectures and labs, just reinforces where my true passions lie. I won't exactly say {just yet} what program that I'm prepping for (when I get closer to my goal, I just might}...but just that it's in the medical field. So please stay tuned for my blog posts about what I have been working on in that respect too! :)

On a last note, if it all works out at the end of the month, I will be attending "Remnants of the Past" this June!!! Woohoo!!! :) I was supposed to go last year {April 2011}, but it didn't work out at the last minute due to scheduling conflicts. So hopefully if my "time management" pans out this year, I will be attending this amazing event for the first time!!! :) Oh, and I was also able to visit my sweet friend's booth {Melinda of Alabaster Rose Designs} at Country Roads Antiques two weekends ago! If you aren't already a follower of her blog - please do visit and click on that "follow button!" :) Melinda is one of my most talented blogger friends on here, and her booth was just beautiful! I can't wait to share with you some of the the lovely vintage items that I purchased from her!!! So if you live in Southern Cali, you MUST visit "Old Towne Orange" and take a stroll through all of their beautiful antique shops {if you haven't already}, including Country Roads Antiques! I promise it will not disappoint! Even my hubby was impressed with all of the beautiful vintage treasures there!

Well my dear friends, I hope you are all enjoying the beauty of the Spring Season! I also want to thank you all for continuing to visit my page and leaving such kind comments even though I haven't been able to visit as much as I'd like to lately. I have started to subscribe to many of your blogs, so even though I'm not always able to visit often, I will be enjoying your posts!!! But now that my computer is up and running, I do look forward to catching up on all of your beautiful blogs this weekend - and so wishing you all a most lovely one!!! Until next time, do take care! :)

Hugs,
Jessie