Daddy-o!

To my daddy, my pops, my dad, my father, my guide, my friend... Happy Father's Day! I love you!

"They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of HIS splendor." Isaiah 61:3b

Love until forever...

Help please...

I've been experimenting with my header and need some guidance. I'd like to have a frilly happy header with sweet pictures and curly fonts. However, I don't have the expertise to create one of those yet. I will get there, I assure you.

In the meantime. I've created these three and want to know if any of them are worthy of header-dom on this here blog space. Should I treasure or discard?

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Thank you for the help! Oh, and if you know anything about Photoshop Elements 7 and want to shoot the understanding my way, I'd be much obliged. I don't seem to have the patience tonight.

Love until forever,

Estee Renee

Zzzzzzzzzzz... Mmmmmm...

If I had a house. In the South. Or even in the East. Or the West. I'd have this. A sleeping porch. To lounge. To rest. To dream. To read. To nap. I'd use it in the morning. The afternoon. The evening. All the time. I'd have huge trees. Draping over the roof. Rustling in the breeze.

But I don't own a house. And I live in Nebraska. And we have winters. But if I had a house. I'd still have one of these.

Love until forever (and I'll have one someday),
Estee Renee

A Namesake...

A few years ago I met my friend Jana. I was standing at a cosmetic counter, wishing for someone to show my wares to. And in walked a woman with the most magnificent red hair, milky skin, and GIGANTIC purse. We began to talk of potions and cremes and Beautiful soap... Then I discovered that she was THE Jana spoken of often in the house that I lived. You see, my roommate taught Jana's "children." They were always in the school productions and my roomie was the Drama teacher. And there were always stories of this family. So when I met Jana, we became fast friends.

So what does this have to do with a namesake, you ask? Well, let me tell you... Jana sends her stories often through email and has a big group of fans/friends/countrymen and so she must categorize these folks in her own special nickname way. Jana dubbed me "Estee Renee." And I was honored.

It's a name I've kept because I love the story of Mrs. Estee Lauder... I worked for her company, carried on her traditions (did you know she would stop a woman in an elevator and put lipstick on her just to freshen her up), became a part of her family. I left the company for other adventures but yesterday I put in an application to come home to the Lauderettes again. I hope to rejoin the family!

Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Jana! I hope Mrs. Lauder would be proud of me...

Love until forever,

Estee Renee

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

"Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you." ... elsie de wolfe

She must have been a smart woman. She and my mother have the same first name and I think my mother is brilliant!

I'll try until forever...

estee renee (prettily, wittily, AND graciously)

Cloudy Sundays...

I drove down the 10th Street Bridge to meet a friend at a fabulous little deli/wine shop for Sunday brunch. As I parked the Honda, I noticed a wonderful cloud stuck to the top of the First National Bank building. What a glorious way to view this Sunday. I'm so glad I packed the Canon. The rain and the clouds have kept the day cool. And it made for a perfect day of dining, drinking, and exploring in the Old Market.

We enjoyed open-faced ham & swiss sandwiches on fresh French baguettes - served with spicy Dijon, shriveled salty olives, and tart yet sweet cornichons. Add to that a couple glasses of wine and LaBuvette was a shared favorite with a new friend.

After lunch we wound through the Old Market, browsing for treasures at Second Chance, flipping through books and art at Soul Desires Books, enjoying the views of the other strolling folks, and hoping for a perfect furniture find in Niche. I think it was a perfectly prosperous day!

I love you clouds. I love you Sundays. I'm glad when you come visit together!

Love until forever,
Estee Renee

Oh so yummy...

I made a treat to celebrate a successful audit at work... Okay, truthfully... I made these lovely French Breakfast Puffs because I was craving them SOOOOOOOOOOOO bad. And because I had all of the ingredients. And because the auditor was gone so we could have our table and coffee maker back at work. And because I had friends to share them with. And because I got a FABULOUS china platter from my boss for Christmas and it needed to make its debut. And just because I wanted to. Isn't that good enough?

You should definitely try these. They are, unfortunately, not diet food... But make a dozen, eat one (or two) and take the rest to your neighbors. They'll invite you over more often.

I can't take credit for these. I found them here but have heard the tale that they are originally a Better Homes & Gardens recipe from many moons ago...

Call me after you've indulged and we'll take a walk together. We've gotta work these dandies off somehow!

Love until forever,
Estee Renee