Rylee's First Birthday!

So, I want to thank Jaime for letting me be a part of Miss Rylee's first birthday and letting me make her birthday invitations! I had so much fun being able to create a mix of different cards. Works well with my personality and my dislike of doing the "same thing over and over again". Ha, ha, ha!

Jaime made Miss Rylee her own "Soy" Birthday cake! YUMMMMMY! (He, he, he) Rylee was pretty cute trying to figure out what to do and knowing that EVERYONE was watching her!

Here's Auntie Darcy and Gerry assisting Miss Rylee in opening her first birthday present. It was the sweetest little scene. Especially with her little dress with wings that Jaime found! Jaime did such a beautiful job decorating. It was a great time and Miss Rylee made out like a queen in the gift department.

Thank you Miss Rylee! You are such a little sweetie and I had so much fun being a part of your special day!

I Did it, I DID IT!!!

I am once again down in Boston while my friend Laurie is doing the Landmark Forum! I'm very excited to be here to support her and to have fun in the BIG city!

So, whenever I make a trip to Boston, my friend Peter begs me to pick up cookies from Spinelli's. I made the mistake of turning off of Route 1 in Lynnfield, MA and finding the most incredible pasta/pastry shop. Peter and I are both Italian and can appreciate Italian cookies. Anyway....today I was going to venture back to Lynnfield to pick up a box of cookies for us to share. When I called the number in the phone book to get their hours, I discovered there was one in East Boston! I went to MapQuest and got the directions. Well, you never know when you come to the city if certain exits or OPEN or CLOSED! I-90 East was closed and there was a detour. "GREAT"! That's what I'm thinking!

In the moment of fear, I decided that getting lost was not an option. I paid close attention to all the detour signs and managed to get myself there. I'm very proud of myself and even claimed to Kristin (Peter's wife) that I take the title of a "Bostonian". :-) I even got myself BACK to the hotel!

Other than that, I have been to Planet Fitness and determined it was too far away from the hotel....considering Gold's Gym is 1/4 of a mile from the hotel. I called member services and explained I was in the area for the weekend and wanted fees to use their facility. I was told that it was $15.00/day to go to their gym. I made a request and asked if it was possible to pay $5.00/day. ;-) Member services transfered me to Tom. I made my request again and he told me to come up! I got there and he told me that I could pay him $15.00 and that he would give me a card for FIVE visits until the end of April! :-) YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S POSSIBLE unless you are willing to make a request! :-) LOVE IT!

So, I'm having a good time and meeting Laurie for dinner tonight! We are going for Thai! YUMMY! I cannot WAIT!

Peace & love my friends

Miss Camryn's Fundraising Mission!

This picture doesn't do ANY justice for seeing this in real life! My friend Julee put this basket together to donate for a fundraising event for Miss Camryn. Miss Camryn is my friend Jaime's niece. She's seven years old and recently had surgury to partially remove a tumor in her pallett. This is just the beginning. :-( A friend of the family wanted to host a fundraiser in an attempt to contribute financially to huge medical bills that will come from her recent and ongoing treatment.

Where that Gerry and I have been unsuccessful in having our own child/children, I have been commited to discovering ways that I can continuously make a difference in the lives of children. This is one thing that came from that intention.

I generated an email inviting friends and families to be a part of Miss Camryn's fundraiser. I have received quite a response from many people. My friend Becky is interested in donating original artwork from a local Maine Artist. Another business woman is donating a basket filled with scrapbooking materials. My sister-in-law made a cash donation. I have a lot of people buying raffle tickets. Melissa has retired Beanie Babies she's donating. It's nice to see communities from all areas come together to make a difference in the life of of a child that they don't even know.

What brought me to tears was Jaime inviting me to the fundraising event. The SAME DAY that our office is contributing to "Give Kids A Smile" (free dentistry for children), is the same day that they are sponsoring a dance/auction in honor of Miss Camryn. :-(

If there is one thing I have gotten out of participating in Landmark education, is sharing my life really makes a difference for others.

Thank you everyone for participating, for looking within yourselves to be a contribution to this little girl.

Peace & Love!

Gourmet Chefs

I'm way behind on my posts. Last weekend, Melissa and I got together to celebrate our Christmas! That's the one fun thing about holidays....it's a continuous celebration right into the new year. :-) I got some Martini Glasses which I cannot wait to use! They are gorgeous! Maybe I'll have a Martini night at our house and have everyone bring a recipe to share and make! I don't think it would be long before we were falling under the bar and acting giddy!

Anyway, here you see Melissa and I putting together a gourmet meal. Ha, ha, ha! She's stirring shallots and I'm sautéing broccoli....one of my FAVORTIES!!! We were pretending to be on a cooking show!

We had a fun night, drinking wine, eating good food and catching up!
THANKS WOMAN! :-)

The Christmas Season is Over...

Look at the little man all snuggled up with "Auntie T". Little Daly Jr. was sporting some festive wear when Forrest and Justine came to one of our MANY Christmas gatherings!!! He was such a ham all night.

I had such a great holiday season. We had two parties back to back starting with a dinner party and then the following night, the annual Christmas party.

We spent time with the family at my Aunt Mary's Christmas party. My grandmother actually came!!! We also went to Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve! Gerry left and went home and my sister Kari and I made our way to her friend, Bo's for his family party. It's our third year. The tradition started when my husband was working a rotating shift. I always have fun and Bo's mother and I look forward to seeing each other and catching up! I spent time with Leslie and the twins which was wonderful! They are growing up way too fast.

My niece was so excited to get her Dora Explorer Talking Kitchen. She was such a good sport! There were A LOT of presents for her under the tree. I ended up having to open some of them for her. She LOVED the fancy boots I bought her...she put them on to wear immediately. She really is another "duchess" in the making.

Gerry and I finally got home and I don't know who was more excited about opening presents...Bailey or Gerry! It is absolutely hysterical every year to see Bailey open presents. He knows which one's belong to him and he'll wait until Gerry tells him he can open his present. He'll take off to a private spot to open it and then eat his special treat. He will then come to Gerry and I and help us open our gifts. He is just adorable! He's an old man but has more excitement than most three year olds at Christmas!




Overall, it was a great holiday season. It's sad to take down the beautiful Christmas Tree. I love watching it through the weeks. It's now just dry and looking like poo.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome 2007!!