Things I Love Monday

Today, I wanted to share with you a few completely random things that have made me smile recently.

1. Unexpected Presents!
A few weeks back, I featured some tiny trees made by Frances at My Laughing Lion.  She had shared them at Shine on Fridays, and I thought they were adorable.  I commented in the feature post that I wished I had one for my dresser, and do you know what that sweet girl did?  She sent me one!  Not just any one, but one she made specially for me using the birthstone colors for myself, hubby, and Little Crafter!  Isn't this gorgeous?!  Love!  Thank you, thank you, thank you, Frances!

2. Recipes I can actually make!

Did you catch Sunday's post?  I shared about how much I'm in need of yummy lactose-free recipes to make for my hubby.  I always drool over the recipes many of you share on Fridays, but can't make them for my family since the hubs can't eat them.  Of course, you all came to the rescue and have already shared some great-looking things I can really try!  Missed it?  Stop by and share your own milk, cheese, and cream-free recipes!



3. Meeting four of the Baltimore Ravens players!!!

If you've been following One Artsy Mama for any length of time, you probably know that we are crazy about the Ravens!  We heart our home team!  Recently, we had an opportunity to meet four of the players and get their autographs on Little Crafter's football.  Take a look...

Here's LC with Cornerback Cary Williams.

We got to meet one of this year's fourth round draft picks, Safety Christian Thompson.

I have no idea what LC is doing to my head.

This is Wide Receiver Tandon Doss...check out that wild tattoo!

And here we are with Terrence Cody, Defensive Tackle.  I feel like a small child next to him, lol.

The best part was LC teaching Cody to do his special fist bump that my friend Kristen made up.  It's just a fist bump that you explode, but you say "Potato...French Fries!" when you do it.  Cody approved.  If you see him do it with his teammates on tv this season, you'll know where he got it, lol.

and, finally...

4. Exciting things just around the corner.

Fall is coming before we know it, and with it there are some exciting things on the horizon.  One, of course, is that the fall drinks will hit Starbucks cafes on September 1.  I'll have to say goodbye to my much-loved mocha coconut for another year, but I'm all about that salted caramel hot chocolate.  And of course, there's also pumpkin spice lattes...need I say more?  But beyond Starbucks, there are also a few things coming that I'm pretty psyched about.  First, there's a new party coming your way, co-hosted by yours truly and two of my bestest blog buddies with a special theme that's sure to be lots of fun.  And, there's the possibility that I may or may not be in the very early stages of working with another good buddy of mine to organize a one-day blog conference here on the East Coast in the MD/DC/VA area that would take place probably this Spring.  More info about all of those things will be coming soon!  But I'm excited.  Really excited.  And I hope you will be too...