Pssssssst, hey you....

Yeah you.

I would like for you to meet someone.

Someone very special to me and super duper talented....

This is my young sweet second-cousin-first-removed.

But let just call her my cousin. First removed sounds dysfunctional.


Anyhoo, she has just opened her own etsy shop....

Why?

Well she has a passion for photography....

And she has decided to share her passion with us...

Her style of photos are fun, artistic and passionate....

Creative....

Original....

Imaginative...

Romantic...

And right now she is offering 15% off to anyone that I refer.

So go!

Just click on any of those beautiful images on the right side bar.

Your other right.

Or click here.

Just make sure you mention me when checking out to get the discount. :-)

Family Picture Arrangements

No I'm not MIA. Unless you call major focus on my house MIA. I thought I would have more time to blog during break but alas I've completely ignored you. All for a good cause though...my house.

I've been working on the following project for a month and a half. It's taken me that long to gather old family pictures, buy frames, arrange frames, re-arrange frames, find picture mats that fit frames and purchase vinyl lettering.

So how did I accomplish such a symmetrical picture arrangement you ask?

First, I purchased a package of frames from Walmart...an after Christmas sale. I picked up 13 frames for $13. Once I realized what a killer deal this was, I went back and got a second set. I didn't use all of them though. Only enough to make a perfect symmetrical square of pictures.

Starting on the floor, I arranged the pictures several different ways.




Once I was satisfied with the arrangement I hung them. I'm not about to mislead you at this point...there are several dozen holes in the walls behind those frames. I'm anal retentive when it comes to this kind of stuff. I moved each frame until I was satisfied.





Once the frames were in place, I then went through my old pictures and limited them to my favorite. I wanted to keep an "old" theme to this arrangement.

Here are a few...

That cute little guy in the front left corner...the one with the trouble making smile on his face...that's my dad.

This is also my dad...he's so darn cute!

This is my Maternal Great Grandparents holding my Grandfather...

My Maternal Grandparents. My Grandma was 15 and Grandfather 30 when they married.
(check out their washing machine to the left)

My mother when she was 16...

My Paternal Grandparents during the depression. The little girl who would have been my Aunt Carolyn died when she was 1 1/2 of spinal meningitis.

The man on the left is my Paternal Great Grandfather. He is pictured here with his brothers...NO it's not the James brothers.

I printed the pictures at Costco and placed them in the frames.

I also purchased these double sided sticky dots to keep the pictures in place.

The vinyl wall letters are from a local company called Polka Dot Skull. They customize any saying for a reasonable cost. Mine was only $19. I was able to choose the font, size and saying.

And there it is...first project of 2010.

PS. Hobby Lobby will cut picture mats to fit any size picture.

Dining room, play date and new do....

Whew, that's a lot to cover in one blog post so I'll keep is short & sweet.
(emphasis on the sweet)

Dining Room Tour.....

Remember my new dining room table that I purchased off of Craig's List?

Well, I've been busy decorating it.

I purchased these wicker chargers at Walmart.

The glasses are from a yard sale.

I made these napkins out of fabric that I loved.

And placed an already made napkin under it.

Don't ask me why I needed to double up on napkins...I have this weird decorating sickness.

I found these sparkly napkin rings at Bed Bath & Beyond.

I also changed out my side table for this dresser. It may be weird to have a dresser in the dining room but it works.

I have room to keep my holiday plates, napkins, etc.

I also got out a my pumpkin that I made last year.

This is a wise man from Japan that my mother in law gave me.

He doesn't say much, but he looks wise...huh?

Play date.....

I had the honor of babysitting my niece a few weeks ago.

She is so sweet!!

My youngest couldn't keep his hands off of her.

Or in this case...his head.

New Do....

Last but certainly not least...I couldn't take my hair anymore in this 113 degree weather.

It takes about 5 minutes to do.

And that gives me an extra 20 minutes to type a blog post.

Summer in a Nutshell...

How do I begin this post? I've been gone for so long.

See, I thought I would get a class out of the way during summer vacation. Well that class (English 102) took up most of my summer. Darn class.

Anyway, I'm back...and here is my summer in a nutshell...

It began with a homework burning ceremony. Followed by roasted marshmallow.

Lots of time in the pool with the neighbor kids.

Lots of swimming in our undies...because we can. ;-)

Fun in scout camp.

Picking up creepy crawlies.

My attempt at growing a watermelon garden.

Visiting my favorite Aunt on the 4th of July.

A quick trip to Universal Studio's.

And a cruise in the Caribbean.

Well, that's it...summer's over.

Bring on the fall leaves, sweaters and hot chocolate.

Okay, who am I kidding.

Summer isn't over until October here.

I do have one fall decoration out...just to hurry things up a bit.

Christmas Pic, Take 20...

This year I thought it would be COOL to take pictures of the kids jumping on the trampoline for the yearly Christmas card.

I took a few pictures of my daughter and oldest son and sent them on their merry way.

I get to my youngest...

Okay, this one is my fault...

Rapper Z here...

Ornery little booger.

I've also been tagged by Girly Stuff


1. Egg Nog or Hot Cocoa? Definitely hot chocolate every night during the winter.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just put them under the tree? Santa wants to save a tree and skips wrapping

3. Colored lights or white lights? White inside, colored/white outside

4. Do you hang a mistletoe? No, but I should

5. When do you decorate for Christmas? Usually the day after Thanksgiving. This year was the week before because I was so excited about my new tree.

6. Favorite Holiday Dish? Ham with pineapple sauce

7. Favorite Holiday Memory as a child? Asking Santa for two dolls and receiving them. What a shock!

8. When and how old did you learn about Santa? About 8 years old, my stinkin' brothers.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yep, tempted to open all of them though.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? With lots of Santa's. I just love that man!

11. Snow, love it or dread it? Love to visit but hate to live in it.

12. Can you ice skate? Slowly

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My husband

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays to you? Being with my family

15. Favorite Holiday Dessert? Mom's Fudge

16. Favorite Holiday Tradition? Waking up Christmas day, seeing what Santa brought and going back to sleep.

17. What tops your Christmas Tree? Santa

18. Which to you prefer, giving or receiving? Both

19. Candy Canes, yum or yuck? Yum! I love minty fresh breath

20. What do you want for Christmas? Hmmmmm, nothing really.

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party? No

23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or pajamas? Neither

24. Do you own a Santa hat? Yep, one for each dog.

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? My husband and children