Wordful Wednesday - Hoot

On my clay table Tuesday...

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, WW & 7 Clown Circus.
I am also linking to these fabulous parties, here.

Miscellany Monday

1. I have really enjoyed watching the 5 day wedding photography workshop with Jasmine Star on Creative Live.  Yes, I spent almost all weekend watching.  It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!  Jasmine Star is very inspiring and charismatic person.  I am not a wedding photographer, but what she had to say over the 5 days inspired and resonated with me.  Much of what Jasmine talked about could translate over to people running any business.  I soaked up all of the info I could over the 5 days.  I am truly grateful I stumbled upon Creative Live a couple days before the event and tuned in.  I am going to definitely watch more of their creative classes.

2.  We are going camping this weekend.  Wish me luck...I am not a "camping" person.  While I like the outdoors I would much rather stay in a hotel and sleep in a real bed.  The only reason I agreed to go camping is because we are going with wonderful friends.  I know we will have a fabulous time.  It's going to be interesting trying to cram everything into our Hyundai Elantra.  The saving grace is there is a Walmart close, so we are buying most of our food when we get there.

3.  Super excited...my camera lens is on it's way back home.  I am hoping it gets here on Thursday as predicted so I can take it with me camping.  I LOVE my new 50mm lens, glad it is done being fixed.  Lets hope I don't have any other problems with it.  I can not wait to take some awesome shots while camping.  =)

4. Remember last week, when I showed you the bow centers?  Look at how pretty the ballerinas look on these bows from Graceful Girls.  ADORABLE!

Hope everyone has a fantastic week!!

Aloha Friday #35

It is Aloha Friday! In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that people take it easy and look forward to the weekend.

Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your comment below and link in Kailani’s blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

This weeks question is:
Have you ever left your bank card in an ATM?

I had never done this...until yesterday.  What a terrible feeling to look into your wallet and notice your debit/credit card is missing.  Thankfully I knew exactly where it was....in the bank ATM I had driven through earlier in the day.  This morning they opened the machine and retrieved my card.  My husband had put a hold on the card though just in case someone took it.  The only bad thing about putting your card on hold like that is they ask you 101 questions in order to turn it back on.  Great for security, but bad for me because my husband filled out all of my info with his own info (I had no idea he had done this and he didn't know that there were separate login info that should have been done for both of us...we have had this account for FOREVER...you know before on-line banking).  So when I told them answers for myself, they were ALL wrong.  NIGHTMARE.  I finally got something right and they turned it on.

And because I need to look at something that makes me smile...

(taken at the Erie County Fair a couple weeks ago.)

Wordful Wednesday - Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday MOM!!  

Wish we could be there.  

LOVE YOU lots!!

(my mom in 1970)

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, WW & 7 Clown Circus.

I ♥ Faces - Week 34

This week’s theme is: "Beach Fun"

Miscellany Monday

1.  I have been busy with clay.  I have been working on a couple large custom orders.  It takes a while to create something for someone from scratch.  If you are a fan on facebook then you may have seen some of my newest made to match Gymboree bow centers.  (I also made some ballerina ornaments for Christmas.)

2.  I am LOVING the new Baja Salad from Wendy's.  The guacamole is sooo yummy!  I only use one dressing packet (it's only 3 points), don't use the crunchy strips (they are like doritos so I give them to the kids) and save the chili for a different meal.  If I am home, I put baked Tortilla chips on it.  DELICIOUS! 


3.  As of last week I have lost 17.8 lbs.  Slowly it is melting away.  Only 38.7 lbs left to go.  My husband has lost about 20 lbs.  I have been eating tomato sandwiches on light bread with light Miracle Whip alot.  YUM!  One sandwich is only 2-3 Weight Watcher points depending on how much Miracle Whip you use.

4.  I picked up my entries from the fair today along with my winnings.  I am still doing the happy dance.  I am definitely going to enter again next year. 

5.  I went to the beach last week and took photos for a friend and still have to process all of them.  I have been super busy, see #1.  Her kids were adorable and I had lots of fun.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

6.  I have finally finished all of my blog books.  (Go here to see what I am talking about.)  It was wild to look back at when I started blogging.  I am all caught up and can not wait to get the rest of them in the mail.  Now if I could be that caught up with the rest of my projects.

Wordful Wednesday - My Divas

The other day Lily was sitting their petting the cat.  I wanted to see if there was still a problem with my new lens.  (The auto focus isn't working, I can manually focus it myself though.)  Yesterday I finally called about the lens and returned it to the manufacturer.  I can't wait to get it back.

Lily told me she looked "exquisite" with her necklaces on.  It was HILARIOUS!

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, WW & 7 Clown Circus.

Fisher Price

When did 1/2 of August fly by?  WOW, summer is almost coming to an end. 

Lily starts Fisher Price Pre-School next week. 

The Fisher Price headquarters is pretty close to where I live.  They use local people to do toy testing, product modeling shoots and have small preschool sessions there.  After I had Ian I found out about the toy testing program and signed us up.  Over the last 9yrs, Ian, Lily & myself (they even have mom panels) have done testing for Fisher Price.  Ian even did a video shoot for them a couple years ago.  When you test for them you either get cash, toy bucks to spend in their store and/or get to keep the product you are testing.  Ian was able to attend their pre-school when he was Lily's age and I think Lily is going to have so much fun.  She is only going for 8wks, 2 days a week for 2 hrs each day...we are super excited.  There are only 3 girls and 3 boys in each session.

Here is a flashback to Lily on 4-18-07 when she was only 5 months old, with the first toy she tested for Fisher Price.  (This one we got to test at home and keep.)  

Time flies by.

Way Back When-esday posts at Twinfatuation.

Sunday Citar

Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.  ~Pablo Picasso

I entered 3 things into The Erie County Fair and won 2 Blue First Place ribbons.  I won for my santa ornament and my bird photo I took at the zoo.  I was pleasantly surprised when I walked though the creative arts building and saw that I won.  Still stunned and doing the happy dance.

Thank you for stopping by Sunday Citar! This blog quote meme was created by Fresh Mommy. You can stop by her blog to see the quotes and photos that she and everyone else is loving right now.



On a completely different note:
I am trying to reach 500 fans on facebook.  The top 3 people who refer the most friends will receive a $5, $10 or $15 gift certificate to my shop (including custom orders).  Make sure you tell them to post who sent them.  =)

Aloha Friday #34

It is Aloha Friday! In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that people take it easy and look forward to the weekend.

Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your comment below and link in Kailani’s blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

This weeks question is:
Seeing today is Friday the 13th....
Are you superstitious? 

I am not.  I remember as a kid thinking that Friday the 13th was something significant.  Not sure why.  Probably because other kids made such a big deal about it. 

On a completely different note:
I am trying to reach 500 fans on facebook.  The top 3 people who refer the most friends will receive a $5, $10 or $15 gift certificate to my shop (including custom orders).  Make sure you tell them to post who sent them.  =)


And in case you are superstitious....here is a lucky elephant. ;)  Hope you have a fantastic Friday!

Wordful Wednesday -

 {taken at Letchworth State Park on Saturday}

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, WW & 7 Clown Circus.

I ♥ Faces - Week 32

This week’s theme is: "Surprise!"

Summer Bag

Do your kids have t-shirts that they LOVE and are sad when they can no longer wear them?

My son does and gets sad when they no longer fit.

(Since Pre-School Ian has LOVED Pokemon.  So when we find Pokemon T-shirts we have a tendency to buy them for him.  Ian has been growing like a weed lately and he grew out of a bunch of t-shirts.  We passed along to a friend most of them and kept the Pokemon ones.)

My mom made them into bags for him.  Ian likes to use these type of bags for his gym clothes.  She used the bottom of the shirt to make a drawstring for the red one and handles for the black.

My mom made these bags while the kids were there a couple weeks ago.  When she made them for the Ian, Lily wanted one of her own.  My mom told me to bring down a long sleeve shirt.  I had just donated of most of her old clothes...so finding something long sleeve was impossible.  So I grabbed a tee shirt and pair of leggings that were too small (they were size 3).

Here a photo of an outfit that was similar to the one we used.  I forgot to take a photo of the ones we actually used.  Both outfits are from Gymboree.

For Lily's bag she turned the shirt inside out and sewed the bottom of the shirt above the hem and up the seam where the sleeves are sewn on.  She then cut off the sleeves.  (she also added a bottom to the bag by sewing the corners) Then she cut up the pant and made a tube and sewed it onto the bag.  The shirt had ruffles on the arms.  I think it made the bag adorable.

Lily is LOVING what she calls her "Summer Bag".

What I love is when these bags get dirty I can just throw them in the washer.
I am linking to these fabulous parties, here.

You Capture - Summer

Every day when we drop Ian off at basketball or swimming Lily and I go over the the playground or play in the wadding pool.  Last week we spent most of the time over at the playground.  In the playground, the town has a "summer park program" in which you can do crafts.  Lily LOVES doing the crafts.  Her favorite one is making necklaces with the pretty beads.

Go on over to I Should Be Folding Laundry to see other You Capture's for this week.