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p.p.s. If you purchased the magazine and didn't get emailed the link, please email me (amy@inspireco.com)

the spring issue is here!

I'm giddy with excitement to share this with you...

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YAY! I hope you love it.

The Spring Issue!

We're putting the finishing touches on the next issue! 

You won't believe how sweet it is looking. 

Seriously? Just look at that itty bitty Easter basket for a hint of just how cute the projects are.

So here are some things you should know:

• Over 20 projects spanning more than 170 pages! 
• Beautiful, inspiring pages
• Fabulous content, no ads
• There will be a small charge for this issue. $3.30
• We're working to get the issue ready for publication on Monday, February 6
• Join the mailing list to be among the first to see this issue by submitting your email address here.
• Or, check this blog starting Monday morning...

Okay, back to work for me!

catching up

Okay, so I didn't mean to slip out the back door like that. First was Alfredo's birthday party and then before we knew it we were on a plane to California. And then the red-eye back home.

So, let's see if we can do a little catch up...

Alfredo's birthday party was so much fun. We did the party at his Little Gym and it was the best decision ever. The team kept him and everyone else well entertained. This was my favorite part...

They put him smack in the middle of the giant parachute and everyone spun it around while they sang "Happy Birthday" and then they shook it. He had the biggest smile on his face the whole time and it was so touching to me that I had to fight back the tears. It was just magical.

After playing in the gym for an hour, we had cupcakes and treats...

Remember those lollipops? We also made tiny dinosaurs for the cupcakes and big ones for the plate. It was a bit of overkill but we were having so much fun making them that it was hard to stop. (The chocolate molds are from here)

It was a really great day.

Then we were off to California. Alfredo spent a lot of time with his family and it was wonderful. He really misses his papa.

I did quite a bit of work on the next issue. I can't wait for you to see...seriously! But we took a break on Friday to go on an excursion. The weather was a perfect 70 degrees, sunny and beautiful. We drove to Bodega Bay, where the film The Birds was filmed.

With birds on our minds when we saw this weird bird sunning himself on a fence post, we just had to take a picture...

So imagine me with the window of the car just cracked enough to take this picture because I'm actually a bit freaked out...and then just after I snapped the picture, another huge bird flew in and landed on the post beside him. Oh boy, did I freak out. These birds were less than 10 feet away from our car. I was so freaked out that when we got to Bodega Bay I couldn't make myself get out of the car. It's so silly but I seriously thought these birds were going to "get me"! Rich and I laughed ourselves silly.

I finally talked myself out the car and had no problems at all with any flying creatures. But just looking at that freaky bird gets me all over again.

In Memoriam

Samuel Irvin (Si) Beason

May 19, 1921- January 24, 2011

Yesterday, my husband lost his Poppa Si. Although I did not know him well, I do know he was a kind, generous, loving man. Chris can be very proud to say that he was his "Poppa Si."

Our thoughts and love go out to Chris' family in New Mexico and we're glad that Chris can be with you to remember the life of this remarkable man.

dino birthday party

We're working on the treat bags for Alfredo's birthday party and just look what we're elbow deep into around here...

Dinosaur lollies! 

We also made some dinosaur chocolates to go on the cupcakes. Fun fun!

More on the dinosaur party tomorrow...

you can't beat a beet...

I love beets. I really do. But when I think of the mess of preparing them (and the fact that Rich won't even touch them if they land on his plate) I don't eat them enough.

That's why when I spotted these

at my grocery store, I was so excited.

And then I had them for lunch one day. It was the most beautiful plate...a little cottage cheese, some interesting whole grain crackers, and these beets (Sweetfire). Let me just say I have been thinking of them ever since. Not everybody is a beet person but if you are, look for Love Beets at your store.

Besides this little unsolicited endorsement, I also wanted to pop in to let you know that my dad is at home (since last Thursday) and he's doing so well. It will take at least 3 months before he can walk or drive but he's doing really, really well. His spirits are high and he's amazing at hopping around (with a walker).