sweet success

I saw them, I loved them. They didn't have my size, they didn't have seal brown. They had seal brown, they didn't have my size. They had my size!!!! in black. I obsessed, I obsessed, I obsessed. I am so gooooood at obsessing! ......It only took two hours of my life, but eventually I conquered! They will arrive in 3-5 working days. A 6.5 in seal brown.

Tons of money raised!!!

So, on Friday, over &10,000 got raised. That's awesome huh?

What to Buy for Christmas?

I love people that think outside of themselves. I LOVE this blog. I don't know these people, but I want to be more like them. Anyhow, I came across this today on her blog, and I was really impressed with what I read about this awesome charity.

Every year 4500 women will bury their children because of unclean drinking water.

Lack of clean water is the leading cause of death in undeveloped countries.

It doesn't need to be that way. With a tax deductible donation (100% of which will go to providing clean drinking water to villages in developing countries) many more people will be able to kiss on their babies for many more years to come.

Join us in giving life to those who need it so badly.

new girly pictures

My niece showed this awesome place by her house. I fell in love with it and took the girls over for a little photo shoot, in freezing weather and on/off rain. Awesome. They totally loved it. They only look a little bit frozen. These were some of my favorites.


Thanks Angie and Lynette for helping me do these. You're fabulous!

Caramel Apples

My sister showed me how to make these and I must say it is my new favorite thing.

While the Boy is away

My boy had to go out of town for a couple of days and we decided to make some stuff!! It's always easier to totally trash the house with our artistic senses when we don't have a boy around wanting to do "boy" stuff. So, the girls made fabulous collages. Really really really cool ones. I realize now that I didn't get proper photos of their finished work. I'll get right on that.



I finished my family rules canvas, that I love all too much. Click here for the instructions that I used. The changes I made were minimal. Obviously, I didn't write my instructions by hand, I cut them out with the Cricut, and my canvas is 24 x 36. These are the rules I used:
-be kind
-tell the truth
-serve others
-encourage your sisters, share in their joy
-choose to be happy
-be creative all the time
-be grateful
-mind your manners, yes please, no thank you
-pray often
-be thankful for your family
-Never, ever settle for less than your best.
We had an oh-so-fun night, and this is my new favorite thing!

My top 5

Here are the top 5 things that are making my day lately:
1. Hip Hop Class.
I'm taking this hip hop class with a couple of girlfriends, and I LOVE IT. The teacher is so fabulous, and she's an amazing dancer. I covet her abilities. I look like an idiot, but I'm going to keep at it and let the little gangsta in me go.

2. This Guy.
Ok, technically not a guy, gut wow do I ever love it! I have all the stuff to make it and I can't wait to get started. weekend weekend weekend weekend

3. These Crazies
I am so enjoying my role in life right now. I absolutely adore my little family, and could snack down those girls one at a time.

4. Those crazies
I have the cutest preschoolers this year. Oh my, I didn't think they could have gotten better than last year, but by George they might. I love this job.

5. This to look forward to in December
can't wait can't wait can't wait!!!

The Porch

I have spent hundreds of hours over the last 7 years of my life on the porch with friends that I love as much as family. Our children have grown up, with their mothers on the porch, playing with friends they were born with, that they love like siblings. I have laughed, and cried, been counseled, and given advice, eaten, learned, and mostly I have loved my time spent on the porch. I didn't notice until recently that every time I walk by certain windows in my house, my head pops over to see if the ladies are out, if it's time to gather on the porch until the boys come home and want dinner. The lights were always on there, it was the most comfortable, welcome, happy place that I have ever known. The porch sits empty now. I have cried my eyes out, but they didn't bring back the comfy white wicker furniture that was supposed to sit on the porch forever. I still have my friends that I love like sisters, but we no longer have a porch to sit on, and it's different. I'm so sad.

my favorite!!

I happened across this blog tonight and I'm totally undone! I'm going to make every single thing on her blog . . . TWICE!!! I love everything about this woman.

Mom ADD

I have mom ADD. I don't really know what to do about it. I feel like I am in chaos most of the time. I quite like the insanity, really, I thrive in it. I'm kind of sick of it though. My house in particular suffers. The girls and I go from thing to thing to thing. We have a great time, but at the end of the day, WOW!!! My house looks about like this most days.

please note, this is not my house. I do have some pride although not much.

The feeling that I'm going for is more of this look:

So the plan is I'm going to sell everything I own, and with the tiny bit of money I make I'll buy the essentials, and I'll finally live in a CLEAN ORGANIZED HOUSE!!!!!!

my family

For the first time in years, all of my siblings were together. I was in my glory! I didn't change my name when I married. I love my husband's family, but I came from these people, and I love them dearly. I will always be one of them in every way. It was such a great weekend together, hopefully it won't be so long before we're together again.

new photos of the girls

The girls and I tagged along with my niece for her bridal sitting. Her photographer was all sorts of amazing and took her to the coolest locations. So, I took advantage and got new photos of the girlies. It was a fun and oh so exhausting.

cupcakes galore

I have an event coming up and I am to make a lot of beautiful cupcakes. I have been practicing doing this piped frosting, and I think I've got the hang of it. I took a plateful to my family tonight to have them try them out. My dad instantly told me that I could not use margarine instead of butter for the frosting (seriously, I can't taste the difference), and my sister said x-nay on the sprinkles. I quite like the sprinkles. Any-who, I think they are adorable. I'll post the next trial run, they're chocolate.

black bean salad

I am on a quest to find amazing salads for summer. I found this salad on soulemama and oh my it is so tasty!!!! This is my version of it based on what I had on hand. Not only is this super yum, it is oh-so-healthy. So here it is:

for the dressing, mix together: 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (juice of 1 lime)
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar,
1/2 small jalapeño, seeded and chopped,
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt,
1 small garlic clove minced, 
1/2 teaspoon mustard,
1/4 cup oil

2 -3 big handfuls spinach (or other salad greens), well washed and dried
3 cups cooked black beans
1/4 cup shredded cheese,
1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted.

dress just before serving and top with grilled chicken.

Serves 4 - 6.

I think the next time I make this, I'll slice a fuji apple or two into it and maybe add green onions.

new bed

I decided I was ready for new bedding. With help and advice from a couple of sisters, I stayed up all night before my boy got home from his forever long trip in Asia, and made us a new bed. I found a quilt that I liked, and made the headboard, bed skirt, and pillows to match. It sort of looks like a Las Vegas hotel room, but I love it for now. Here is the before:
and after:

Mmmmmmmmm SOY!

So weirdest thing, but all of my summer clothes have shrunk!! Bizarre I know, so I've been thinking that a steady diet of Cheerios with cream isn't all that healthy, so while I was out yesterday, I picked me up some soy! I like the soy what-not that I've tried, and this is chocolate flavor, so seriously, can I go wrong? Why yes actually, I can. This stuff is SO AWFUL!!!! I couldn't really get it down. So, I'm here to save you the pain of buying this "delicious and nutritious meal replacement", DON'T DO IT!!! I'm going to stick with Cheerios, just X the cream, and I'm golden.

My Boy's birthday!

My poor boy had to go to school on his birthday.  By coincidence, spouses were invited on that day as well to discuss the book Man's Search for Meaning. It was also (my worst nightmare) a pot luck dinner.  So there, among the beans and weenies, pasta salad, cookies, broccoli casserole, and enchiladas were my oh-so-cute mini cupcakes. They were so fun to make, and seriously adorable.

this week's project

this is a dresser I purchased at a yard sale a couple of years ago for $10.  It is heavy, and fairly decent construction i think.  I had it in my daughter's room until a few weeks ago, I got her a new one.  It used to be white, with 3 white knobs, the rest had fallen off.  Now it's this fabulous turquoise color with brushed silver knobs, and houses my clothes.  My boy and I have been sharing a small 4 drawer chest for way too long, now I have 6 all to myself.  yahoo.

This lovely piece is just one of a pair. That's right I have two of these 100 lb. beauties.  They came from my neighbors trash, and originally from her in-laws who purchased and no doubt loved them in the 70's.  Each handle is a whopping 9 lb.'s of solid brass, they are currently on Craig's list, and up for grabs. I'll bet if you rubbed them down a genie would appear, but that my friend you must find out for yourself.
so, I painted the massive guys this great limey green color, and added matching silver knobs.  I still see the nastiness of the original peeking through, but I have to say that I quite like it.  The second one is painted on the other side of my bed.  So there you go

3 Pieces of fairly decent furniture, $10

Knobs, $20

Paint, $14

Two shades of green furniture, and a third shade in the carpet . . .

Priceless!

Happy

I've just had buttered toast and hot chocolate for dinner.  Is there really anything better?  I am reading a book that I love, my house is clean, and I am so excited about this new computer and accompanying software.  I love it.  I took pictures of my girls this morning, along with some of their very favorite friends.  I know the images are processed right to death, but I love them.  I love working in this medium.  I haven't done photography as art for a while.  I've been so wrapped up in lots of other things. I am so happy to be getting back into it.  Creating anything is really important to the well-being of my soul, and now I have so much learning ahead of me, I can hardly contain my excitement.

spoiled rotten

Once again my boy has spoiled me silly for Christmas.  He got me this AWESOME MacBook, and everything Adobe makes to edit photos.  I am so excited I can't stand it.  So here is the first image I have edited.  I think it is so fun.  I have always sort of been against computer editing as I am very loyal to the art, and to light, and film, but man, this is all sorts of fun.  Thank you boy so much, I love it! I love you!