Greetings my dear leprechaun-o friends! I hope you are sporting some manner of green to ward off the pinchers today. 🙂 I’ve chosen to start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a bowl of Lucky Charms. I know. Party animal.

We’ve had a wonderful spring break. It’s been a nice week off from school and having no practice to rush to has been absolutely divine.

Let’s get on with today’s favorites!

1. Nate’s 12th Birthday –

Nate and his Warriors birthday cake. Not the best looking cake, but it was delish! #homemadecake

Last Thursday, Nate turned 12 years old. He had a great birthday weekend with friends and family. As he gets older, the parties with friends are no longer at the PlayStation or other places, but out at the farm. Because running in the woods amidst the mud is ideal for any twelve year old boy. So, they roamed the woods looking for deer sheds, spotting raccoons in tree trunks, walking on make-shift bridges that were actually fallen trees, and swinging from vines. Nate, his friends, and little brother Maxim had the best time. This twelve year old, Nate Andrew, is one of my favorites!

2.  The Catterson family…we are smitten with kittens.

Kitten love.

The boys and I spent a few days at my mom and Papa’s house at the beginning of the week. We were so excited to finally meet Max’s kittens! His cat, Ginger (who lives at Grandma Melanie and Papa Joe’s), had babies and we LOVED spending time with the kittens. And now, I will apologize for the overload of kitten pics. 🙂

Maxim with his favorite kitten, Leo

Nate and his favorite kitten, P.J. (Pumpkin Junior, named after Nate’s cat Pumpkin)

Callie and Gracie with P.J.

#adorbs

Leo the kitten licking his mittens

3. Shoulder tops from Von Maur –

I saw this on Von Maur’s website. Apparently this is the rage in the fashion world right now. In true Angela fashion, I’m not on the wagon yet. I like some of the off the shoulder tops that I see out there. (Many are similar to tops I’ve had in the past. But I just don’t know about the latest rage…the peek-a-boo shoulder tops.) (I’m sure I’ll come around to liking them about the time they go out of style…am I the only one who has fashion acceptance problems?)

Anyway, here are a few cute tops (without the peek-a-boo shoulders. Sorry peek-a-boo fans…I’ll get there, I think) that I saw on Von Maur’s website and I could easily wear these…

I love this color and the ruffled cuff sleeves.

This is a top I could easily do. It’d look great with fuchsia skinny jeans.

Now, this next green chiffon top is just so-so. I’m not a fan of the ties on the sleeves. But it reminded me of a black top I had that was similar to this.

And this top prompts me into storytelling mode…

About 12 and a half years ago, when I was pregnant with Nate, I had this cute black off-the-shoulder top that I LOVED. Well, one of my favorite rockstars was coming to town and I begged Hubby to take me to the concert. And like any good husband does when his wife is about five months pregnant…he conceded. No one wants to argue with a hormonal, protruding belly woman. So, we went to see Poison Bret Michaels. You all. I have loved the the rock group Poison since I was in eighth grade. (Back in eighth grade, my friend, Melissa, and I serenaded her mother, Mary…in hopes of Mary letting us go to Poison’s concert. It didn’t work.) Anyway. Bret was in town and I wore the black off-the-shoulder top to his concert because I was a prego stylin’ mama. Well, the highlight of that night was when Bret Michaels serenaded me. ME. as he sang “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn”. Yes, I was right in the front row and he stood in front of me the entire song singing right. to. me. As a five month pregnant mama, I couldn’t feel more glamorous. Anyway, because I’m a functional hoarder and I believe in keeping clothes that are still cute and have special memories…I still have that black top hanging in my closet. See. Fashion truly does come full circle.

4.  This outfit from Old Navy –

So springy!

The pink pants and the navy top (yes, off the shoulder) are so fresh looking for spring! I had to add this one to Fun Friday Favorites.

5. Spending time with Mom and Papa Joe –

Eating at the Maid-Rite in Oskaloosa

Papa fixin’ up some ribs for supper

Spending time with family is always one of my favorites. And I know Mom and Papa loved having us visit over spring break. #familytimes

Enjoy your weekend and have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

xo ~ Angela Banae