Packaged Reindeer food

All packaged up and ready for Christmas Eve.

Shoe cabinets?

I was reading a new favorite blog, Pencil Shavings,  and swooned when I saw this post.  I knew I had the perfect cabinets to do such a thing.  Now if I could get a shoe collection worthy of display.

These are the two cabinets I have.  The first one, we used as a pantry in our very first house.  Now it holds craft supplies.  The red cabinet was used as a wardrobe when Palmer was a newborn and shared a room with us.  It had some beautiful, groovy glass in it - but we took it out and replaced it with fabric.  I'm sure it wouldn't be too costly to put more glass in.  I love both of these cabinets very much, but,  at the moment we just don't have room for them.  I also found a cabinet/table combo I like more at 505.  So should I sell these two and purchase the one I really like?  Would I regret it?

Reindeer Food Label Printable

Happy Thanksgiving!  

Now let's move along to Christmas.  My kiddos are giving their daycare buddies tins of Reindeer Food as a Christmas treat.  I made these labels for tin favors like these.

Mine measure 2 inches across and 0.875 in height.  These labels are made for that sized can.  I also thought ahead of myself and was sure to to make the stripes part of the label long enough so that they seal the can.  I'm sure all the parents would love this stuff spilled in their car!  

Click once to go to a new winow, then click image once more

Reindeer Food Recipe:

Plain Oatmeal (uncooked)

Sugar sprinkles

Feel free to use this printable for your own cans (if you can find something sized similarly).  Also, just a word of warning - I've never made a printable before.  So you may want to do a test print before you print on your good label paper.  Hopefully, it works and I look forward to creating more printables!  (Feedback welcome!)

We're Thankful for... Kids saying the darndest things

Last year at work, to celebrate Thanksgiving and all that we are thankful for, I had students decorate turkey feathers with what they are thankful for.  This year I had them write what they are thankful for on leaves.  I cut some vinyl for the big window and hung our pretty leaves for all of our passerby's to enjoy and give them something to chew on(figuratively as their chicken salad sandwich would be something more literal to chew on) while they eat next door.

This little project didn't take much explanation. Most kids "got it" and were thankful for things such as, Mom, Family, Friends, Grandparents.  One teenager was thankful for her phone.  But this one kid had me in stitches.  I almost had to go lock myself in the bathroom to keep from laughing in front of him.  He was thankful for LOL Cats on the computer.

He totally has a point.  It is funny and we can all be thankful for having a good laugh, right?  Funny thing is, I went to get a picture from the website and it's a kitty sitting at a table talking about crayons.  Or crayinz, whatever.  Aww.... how appropriate!

Need a laugh?  Go visit LOL cats on the computer!

From Indonesia with love...

Our custom built beds arrived this week! I finally got my tail into gear and cleaned out my junk room to turn into the boys shared room. (only because I was worried Erik was about to stop speaking to me) I asked Gram if he was excited about sharing a bedroom with his brother and he said no. This is Palmer's first night in a big boy bed! We should take bets on who will get out first. After this picture was taken we added a rail to Palmer's bed (only after asking which bed Gram wanted), don't you know they fell asleep in the others bed and we had to switch both? So much for planning. Nighty night my sweet boys!

Bad case of the I wants

Ever get the "I wants"? I'm suffering with a high fever today. Guess I'll window shop...

I'm not one to rave over 'outfits' but I love this one , and I could get much use from the pieces seperately too:

See this outfit here

Unfortunately, I suffered from the "I wants" last week too! After reading rave reviews I needed to have these pants. I also wanted the abs. Sadly, they were not included in the shipment. They are super great pants as all the reviews state. I just can't justify the price...yet.

Go here to see these pants

I've also been needing these: somehow they have escaped my mouse clicking. Aren't they sooo cute???



Find crocs here

I can't mention wanting things for fall and not include this. Ooooh, the things we could do together!!

Donut pan link here

(at first I typed Donot pan, it should be a do not...ha!)

Besides cooler temps, what are you dreaming about as fall approaches?

Craft night out

I worked on this today. Would you sassy crafting ladies be interested? Leave a comment and if it's a go, we'll schedule a night. (I'm thinking Friday, Saturday or Sundays are best, but could do a Tuesday or Thursday).

Everywhere a sign

Many years ago, I painted my aunt a canvas sign for her classroom. This year she moved into an over 1,000 sq ft room as a reading interventionist instructor and shares the classroom. She asked me to paint a new sign. Well, things didn't go well and one mistake turned into three, then at the eleventh hour I started all over. I ran to the craft store and picked up these cheapo wooden signs and figured me and my trusty vinyl machine could whip something up. And wah-lah!, here's my happy mistake. She loved it and so did some other teachers so now I have a few orders - yay!

Grandma got run over by a reindeer, er Kaela

I got the memo that high school was a decade plus some ago. I however, never got over my issues with one teacher. Not a teacher I ever had, but a club sponsor. Thank my lucky stars, I have not seen this person in 12 years. This summer, we were at the museum of natural science in Houston when I spotted her. The place was packed due to a rare flower that had bloomed and it was easy to hide in the sea of people. But, but! Today I saw her in the grocery store. I quickly turned down an aisle to escape her, then made a run for the checkout when the coast was clear. As I was exiting the store I imagined (for what reason on Earth????) backing my car into her! Gasp! Kaela! What a horrible, awful thought! Needless to say I was real careful backing up. How would I ever explain accidentally running over the one person I'd really want to?

Which brings me to this... I love our small town, I really do! I love running into old friends at random places and seeing old friends of mine, their kids and mine becoming friends. But lately, this town is starting to feel quite small.

20/30

Better late than never, right?

Resuming right where I left...

Gram today is about you! You've always had quite the personality, but these days you have more personality than can possibly be contained in your little body. You ooze personality. This is what happened this morning:

You wanted me to tickle your armpits (silly boy!). But you kept closing your arms so I couldn't get to them. I asked if you wanted to play Simon Says. So we played. "Simon Says touch your nose". "Simon says touch your eyes". "Simon says reach for the sky". And when you reached for the sky I went in for the tickle. You loved this. I totally tricked you, too! It was so fun, you asked to play again, and I repeated the game all over again. Then you asked if you could do it. I said sure. So you get your game face on and say "God is great" in the same inflection that one says "Simon Says..." , you knew you got that first part wrong, and you couldn't think of an instruction to follow so you burst out laughing! Which made me burst out laughing and saying, "Yes, God is good!"

You are loving (I can't get enough of your goodbye routine: little kiss, big kiss, high five, big hug, little kiss, double high five... ad nauseam until you are ready to part ways). You are silly.  You are clever. Let's just say you are a lot of great things.   My cup runneth over because your are my boy.

Green, blue and pretty!

I've had this green linen fabric for a long time.  I thought I was going to make the boys some matching shorts.  Then after several failed attempts at shorts - I gave up.  For now.  I also had big plans for an old dress shirts of Erik's, again that never came to fruition.   So I had this idea at work about combining the two fabrics  - which I knew would look great together.  I also have a shirt I love that I thought would be simple to recreate.  There I go again thinking.  See, I'm inundated with great ideas all day long.  But they hardly ever turn out to be worthy of brain space.  But last night, the stars must have aligned just right.  Although, the shirt isn't quite wide enough for my hips, it still makes me happy.  It might just end up a dress for my niece.

just a little somethin' I whipped up...

A cheap-o target tank that I embellished a little.  Also, I whipped up the cutest burp cloth, EVER!  Is it just me or babies popping out all over the place?   I must  get vaccinated from this baby fever .

I'm in love and I don't care who knows!

I love the internet.  I love all the crafty goodness I find on the internet.  I read this tutorial and knew I must have this tool - the xyron sticker makin' machine.  I'm not sure that's the official term.  This is what it looks like, mine is purple.   You can run ribbon, paper and fabric through this doo-dad and then ta-da!  You just made a sticker.  I haven't put mine down in 24 hours.  Ok, maybe once or twice to change a diaper or fix a sippy cup, but no more than twice!  

These are my own examples of what I've been making with my sticker maker!  Luckily, we have Father' Day and a birthday party this weekend!  Yay for fabric tape!

Erik just finished the most completely ridiculously precious series of prints.  Go here for now, until he puts them in his shop.  These are going to look great framed in our boys' rooms.  I'm voting myself in charge of packaging of his prints and I will totally use my ribbon/fabric stickers on the packaging.  Of course, I'll have to guy-ify!

Again, go visit Natalie's tutorial and look at her great photos!

Oh, and what's in one of those boxes?  Maybe this? 

Goals Shmoals

Oh no!  I had planned 30 people in 30 days to be completed in, uh 30 days.  So much for that plan!  My birthday has come and gone and I'm only at 19!  Maybe I'll just make it 30 people in 1 summer.  Or 30 people in 30 years.  Either way, I will eventually finish this up.  My problem is, I want to say the nicest most flattering things about a person and I want to get it just right, but the problem is - me.  It's me who's writing.  So I pretty much just fumble around, getting lost on tangents then just wrapping it up.  What I thought was going to be a quick little spiel, has turned into something I write, erase, re-write and takes eons.   No bueno. I would just write a list naming  the next 11 people, but that doesn't seem fair either.  One of them might be reading and get their feelings hurt.  And google analytics tells me someone is reading this, so you better delurk soon and leave a comment!

On to my actual birthday.  I received several birthday presents.  One being a stomach virus. Yay!  I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let's start the day in the a.m.  I walked into work and was surprised with my office decorated with birthday streamers.  Then my boss came in with a big ol honking cake.  Then my mom came in with a dozen of cupcakes.  Then flowers were delivered from my other mom and dad. 30 was perfect so far!  After class that morning, we had cake and I unwrapped my present.  It was a beautiful crystal vase.  I joked that I won't see it for another 20 years as I'm afraid it may get broken by two busy boys.  They joked that it was a grown up gift and I should write the date on the box for when I unearth it in 20 years, because I won't remember at 50!  At 11 I began to feel a little nauseated, but chalked it up to too much sugar in my coffee, no dinner the night before and the immediate consumption of a cupcake - sugar overload!   So I packed up my goodies and headed home.

Erik and I were headed to Houston for the night and nausea wasn't gonna stop me.  Our good friends Rachel and Matt met us for a lovely dinner.  Lovely until I sprinted away from the table and yakked in the bathroom.  Sad.  Disgusting.  I thought I was dying.  Or that I was in labor.  I really thought I was in labor, well minus that I'm not pregnant.  I felt so bad I was almost on the verge of suggesting Erik drive me to the nearest hospital.  I had to leave the premise.  Erik got his food to go.  

When I woke up this morning, I was feeling much better.  Not great.  But better.  After lunch today I finally felt relief.  I guess you know you have arrived at old age when you are yakking on your birthday and you haven't had one celebratory alcoholic beverage.  Sad.  

So I had a  whole post running live in my head about how I'm not sad to be 30 but excited. blah blah blah.  I had a few points I wanted to touch on about not being where I expected to be at 30, but very happy nonetheless.  yada yada yada.  But obviously, my stomach contents or lack thereof prove to be way more important.  Maybe one day I''ll honestly blog about that stuff, we'll see.

I wish I had a really cute photo of Erik and I out at dinner, to go with this post - but we never got that far :(.  

Bathing Suits

I interrupt all this cutesy, fun, feel good stuff to bring you these bathing suits.  They are just beyond too cute not to report on them right this minute.  I don't know which one I'd buy first:

http://www.limericki.com/

19/30

Today is my Dad's day.  It's also his birthday. 

My dad is:  an entire laundry list of things.  I've already re-typed this part three times.  This could take a while.  

My dad is a veteran.  He was stationed in Germany and lived there with my mom. After Germany they homesteaded on the "Ponderosa" with  a pig named Arnold.  I wonder if they ever think of Arnold when they eat bacon? I wonder if they ate Arnold?  After Arnold, came three real kids.  A couple of horses.  Some doves.  A gaggle of geese.  Three dogs.   To say the least,  my dad has the occasional "wild hair up his ass".  My dad worked 13 long years offshore.   Between that job and his current job, he worked construction to provide for our family.  He has worked hard his entire life.  He still works hard for us.  I'd never want him to think it wasn't appreciated.  He'll say "It wasn't much, I wish I could have given you more".  But to me, it was the world.  He taught by example, putting family first.

Sophomore year our class read "Casey at Bat", followed by "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes:

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',

And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

I think this fits my dad perfectly.  You have to keep on keepin' on.

Eight years ago on Christmas Eve's Eve, my dad began having a heart attack driving home after working a 12 hour shift.  It began on the bridge.  He drove himself to the nearest hospital.  He saved himself. 

Daddy is the dream maker, the candy man, the pied piper and Joe.  I'm glad we got another year out of you, Old Man.  Keep on, keepin' on.  Happy Birthday, Papa!

18/30

In laws can be so very tricky.  Automatic adopted parents.  Poof!  With the words 'I do', I got a husband AND another set of parents.  Fabulous prize package.  Who thought of that one?  The thing with in-laws is, I wasn't raised in their house and don't know their rules and how their life works, but all of sudden, its my life mixed in with theirs.  It could be hard to find one's footing with the in-laws.

Erik and I were brought up quite the same.  Both of our parents are still married to one another, we were raised Catholic.  And that's about where the similarities end.  It's safe to say, our parents are quite different from one another.

Where's this post going and exactly who is it about?  Ms. Brenda -  Erik's mom and more commonly referred to Nana 'round these parts.

At best, you wish and pray your in laws love your babies, their grandbabies.  Oh and she does!  She'd do anything for them!  I am beyond thrilled for my children to live within minutes of each set of grandparents. They are the luckiest little children to be loved by grandparents so much and we as parents are beyond blessed to have such easy access to willing and loving babysitters.  

Besides being the greatest Nana ever, she's a talented seamstress, an Eucharistic Minister at church and directly handles all of our insurance needs!  I am  so very grateful for our Nana!

17/30

Monsignor DeBlanc.

I was Monsignor's angel.  As I'm sure you were.  And you.  And you.  Having never attended Catholic School, my contact with Monsignor was limited to CCD and church.  He made us all feel so special and loved.

When I was in third grade, Monsignor held an essay contest.  I can't remember the theme.  The prize I remember fondly:  a dinner with Monsignor.  I'm sure that prize only appealed to one 8 year old - me.  There was something so magical about the chance to visit with Monsignor in his home and break bread with him.   I would love to read what I wrote.  I was probably the only one to turn in my essay, as to why mine was chosen.  Beside what was on the menu, fried chicken and spaghetti, most details are fuzzy.  However, it's impact was huge.

A millions years after that dinner, ok, twenty years later, I was standing in my friend's kitchen, reading a magnet which Monsignor published that had his top ten "rules" for living.  One sticks with me.  "Be the friend that brings tartar sauce when going fishing".  I just love that rule.  Naturally, I'm not terribly optimistic, I'm more reality focused.  So I try to remember this at all times, especially those times that present me with a challenge.  Bring the sauce, Kaela.

What a holy man Monsignor DeBlanc was.  How blessed we are to have known him and to have had the chance to be enveloped by his love.

16/30

Palmer.  My beautiful baby boy.  You are the youngest on my list.  How have you touched my life?  How haven't you touched my life.  Like I've said before, you are like a bulldozer - you just bulldozed your way into our family and into my heart, and just made a comfy little spot for yourself.

You've stretched my heart from here to kingdom come.  You've showed me that there's no limit on how much one is capable of  love. That my heart isn't a tupperware container, constructed to hold 8 oz. of love.  But an infinite ocean, ready and willing to swallow up everything.  A mother can love all of her kids, not one more than the other, but differently.  I didn't know it was possible until you.

Your are stubborn, silly and sweet.   A lover, not a fighter.  When you smile, your eyes smile.  You brighten my days and have grown my heart.   I love you, brother.

15/30

The halfway mark.  In case you need a refresher as to what in the heck this is all about, go here.

My friend Jennifer is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.  Truly, she is.  In fact,  people will say, "Oh, I ran into your nice friend today."  My grandparents were big fans of her too.  They loved running into her at the hospital.  I should add here that she's a nurse, working full time and studying for a master's in nursing.  I am so proud of her.  She's the kind of nurse you hope for and the kind of friend you pray for.

She's calm and level headed.  I can say I've never seen her mad or angry or come close to losing her cool.  She's definitely the yin to my yang in that department.   One of the thousands of vivid memories I have with her is the night her car was broken into -  a beloved collection of Pearl Jam and Thinking Plyers was included in the the theft.  Sure she was mad and angry, but she didn't show it.   In stressful situations I think to myself, WWJD.  Sub Jesus for Jenn.  This methodology keeps me in line and my mouth shut.   She personifies grace, I want to be like her when I grow up.

I don't want you to get the wrong idea.  Just because she's really kind, doesn't mean she doesn't know how to have a good time.  I mean, c'mon, she's married to Matt.  Which I've known Matt since I was a kid, so it's funny to me that I would be such good friends with his wife.   My life is much more rich with quite a few more stories to tell with them in it...

And why hasn't it occurred to me until now, to put photos with my beautiful friends?

14/30

Mrs. Debby is a co-worker.  Actually, I couldn't put us on the same plain.  I'm just lucky I get to work with her.

She's wise, kind and patient.  And she has freckles.  Lovely, lovely freckles.

Mrs.  Debby has been in this business for 25 years (her and her husband brought the franchise to town).  She knows a thing or two.  So when she speaks, I listen.  The most important thing I've learned from her is this:  You don't know what these kids home lives are like, so it's up to you to give them one really great hour.  It's up to you to be kind to them.  It may make their whole day.

I think this is true for people in general.  If I could be kind to everyone who crossed my path, cheered them up for the time we are together.  But honestly, it's a daily struggle.  Sometimes my mouth gets the better of me.  Like I said, I'm working on it.  She's so wise...

13/30

Today is all about my grandmother's.  I was lucky enough to have three.  They all taught me something completely different.  (I should explain their names, they are all called Maw Maw (husbands name).  Isn't that funny?  I wonder which kid named them that?)  I wish they were all here still, I miss them.

Maw Maw Les - This maw maw passed away when I was 16.  I wish I had better memories of her.  I know for a fact, I inherited my love of Dollar Tree honestly.  This lady would have logged more visits than I.  Her lesson - the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence.

Maw Maw Allen - This maw maw was as tall as a statue.  Not really, but seemed like it.  Her nails were always perfectly manicured and she always smelled the same.  She was a total lady, all the time.  She had a fondness for short sleeved sweaters and pant sets.   I tried to be on my best behavior around her (it WAS a struggle).  Her and my paw paw could communicate with just a look.  It was amazing.

She showed all of us about having dignity.  Not vanity, but dignity.

It was her who crossed my mind when I was being prepped for Palmer's c-section.  Save a scant sheet, their wasn't much covering me.  Although, this was a necessity, I felt all modesty was thrown out the window.  But I remembered her, and though my cheeks were flapping in the wind, I could still keep my dignity.

Maw Maw Pop - She loved, loved, LOVED her family.  She took her wedding vows to the grave with her.  She loved and honored and served my Paw Paw with every breath she had.  On days when I just don't like Erik - I think of her.  She reminds me that we have taken an oath to love and abide and she fulfilled her duty of marriage well.  I hope I can too.

12/30

Isn't it funny to think I've now known you for half of my life!  That cracks me up.  Although, you probably didn't like me much when you first met me.  Years later, after I discovered your little white lie about Milano cookies - I didn't like you much either.  But like mold after Hurricane Rita, you grew on me.

Rachel - this post is about you!  I'm so glad we've become friends.

Rachel is by far one of the funniest people I know.  Her and her boyfriend together might edge out all the other competition.   Rachel is also, always stunning.  Always.  She's always dressed to the nines in some kind of ridiculous shoe, probably even to go fishing.  That's why we love her - she is some kind of fabulous.

Our friendship may have never happened.  I realize I may have missed out on something really great too!  You see, Rachel has this teeny, tiny, itty bitty problem  er, habit.  She's late.  All. The. Time.  And I'm anally(what a silly word)  early.  See?  Total personality conflict.  But after years of trying to trick her into the right time zone, I just gave up.  I got over it.  Just accepted her as is.  I realized, her punctuality was my problem, not hers.  If she's ok with it, then I should be too.   And after that, a beautiful friendship formed.  And then she moved away.

She's a beautiful person inside and out, and I'm glad I didn't miss my chance to be her friend.  She is some kind of fabulous!

11/30

This post is about my brother Michael.  Since we were closer in age, he wasn't nearly as much as a pain in the butt as my older brother.  Michael was my chauffeur for my early part of high school.   I totally cramped his style. One time I saw his face crumble in embarrassment the day someone stopped us a football game and asked me if he was my boyfriend.  I died a little too.  He soon got over all the years of injustice when he realized he was into my friends.  He all of sudden was very nice and wanted to hang out more.  It wasn't the same for me and his friends, though.  It's definitely not a two way street in that department.  I think all of his friends I was into were scared he'd whip their tails if they hurt me.  They have good reason.  Mike is fiercely loyal.  He works hard.  He plays harder.  And if he can get it right, he tells a pretty funny joke.  In fact, he told me this one that got me into a lot of bars cover-free one summer:

Stone face serious, you ask:

Did you hear about that baby boy?  Yea, he was born without any eyelids.  I know.... terrible, right?  It's ok.  When the doctors performed the circumcision they took the leftover skin and made him some eyelids.  He's doing ok now, just a little cock-eyed!

A little tastless, but an all time favorite!

10/30

Erin is everything I'm not.  How we are friends, I'll never know.  She's incredibly outgoing, she's never met a stranger.   We've been everywhere between here and Florida together, and she always knows someone somewhere.  She's also probably related to them.  She's really smart, too.  Is it the Dean's or President's list for all A's?  Whichever it was, they should have just etched her name in stone on it.  Oh, and she's very calm, not easy to incite.  (Jared may disagree).  At her baby shower, a fire caught outside, and she just kept calm and carried on unwrapping gifts.   That day was just a small example of her bucolic self.  I stopped by the hospital the day she went into labor.  Man, what a champ!  She winced a few times, maybe said "shit" once or twice and that was it.  After the delivery when we were let back into the room, she looked gorgeous - not one hair was out of place or bead of sweat to be seen.  She's such a strong, admirable woman.  I'm glad I finally convinced her she needed to be my friend.

9/30

Mr. Paul is Erik's Dad or, my other father, as he likes to call himself.  One of the very first times I met him, he just got back from the grocery store where he purchased a dozen  yellow roses and passed out ten to his favorite grocery store employees.  He saved the last two for Mrs. Brenda and I.   It didn't take long for me to realize that's just who he is.  That day he showed his love through flowers.  Most days, it's through food.    And he can really cook.  Really, the man can cook.  Also, he has a great sense of humor and on occasion let's me pick on him when he's done picking on me.  I love that he can dish it out and also take it - I really lucked out in the father in law department.  One day when we are out on his pontoon boat I'll be sure to tell him..

6/30, 7/30, 8/30

This little project is turning out to be a little more difficult than I planned.  And I thought I planned it pretty well.  PJ getting sick didn't fit into my plans.  I now need to catch up, and these three have a common denominator, so here we go...

I feel in college and rather specifically the art department is where I really came into my own skin.  I met really encouraging instructors and mentors and discovered a passion I didn't know existed.  I truly enjoyed my time there and learning from them.

6/30
Up first, Marty. By far the most unloved professor in the department. To say he was unloved, well,  is to say he was disliked.  I liked Marty. In my eyes, he served  God first, he also served his country, he's a husband and father to two special needs boys.  He doesn't give a hoot what anyone thinks of him.  He's definitely marching to the beat of his own drum and makes no concessions or excuses about it.  I like that.

7/30
Barry Potter.  Barry and clay class were all time favorites of mine.  Unrequited love if you will.  I gave clay everything I had and it just didn't love me back.  I'm here to tell you that it's not as easy as the movie Ghost portrays it to be.   And you know I only took that class because I hoped to recreate that one very hot scene from the movie.  I can't think of one specific trait I like best about Barry - for time's sake he's an all time favorite person of mine and I'm glad I met him.    Oh, besides my momma, Barry was the first person to display my art in his home (so he said...)

8/30
Lynn, must have been some kind of zen master in another life.  The man has the patience of a Saint.  After his clear and explicit lecture on how to load and unload and develop film (yea, this was old school) I promptly developed a blank roll.  And another.  Third times a charm, right?   It also took me all semester before I actually processed (no pun intended) everything I learned and took a great photograph.  Besides being an example of patience personified - he taught me something about photography I'll always remember.  As a young, budding (not!) photography student,  I was traveling all over town looking for the most interesting frame to capture .  Lynn told me to stop going places and to look for the interesting stuff at home and in my own backyard.  Of course he was right.

Again, I really struggled getting these three out.   I'm not sure why, I really enjoyed college and thinking about those good ole days put a smile on my face.  I think I was just trying too hard.

5/30

Big brothers are a pain in the butt.  At least mine was.  Was.  He's grown on me a little.

Steven - today's your day!

Barring that one time you tried slicing me open with a butter knife when you were supposed to be babysitting me.  And also, to this day, I never want to be within a ten mile radius of you and a bowl of cereal - you've been an okay roomate for the first 18? 19? 20? years of life.  Who's counting?

Heck, who am I kidding.  You're loud. You're obnoxious.  You like to argue about EVERYthing.  You really are a pain in the butt.   Occasionally you say something really funny.  Sometimes you are nice.  Once in a while you are useful to have around.  You do have the most long, beautiful eyelashes for a bald guy!  I also know for a fact, if I needed help of any kind, you'd be by in a jiffy to help me.  

What's the saying?  You can pick your nose, you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family- yea, well I'm not real sure you would have made my short list - but I'm glad you did.  

4/30

I would like to be athletic, but I'm not.  After many years of "not making the team" in middle school I finally found my niche in high school.  Tennis. Not only was the sport a better fit, but so was the coach.   Everyone made the team.  Isn't that refreshing?  Coach Stephens - today's your day!


Now, I'm not an advocate for sport leagues that don't keep score - what's that teaching kids?  That life is fair?  But I do believe in giving everyone who works hard a shot.  Coach assigned us to a ladder and to move up the ladder  we had to challenge those players that were higher than us.  He also didn't let us get away with just being complacent either, it was mandatory to one challenge match per season.  This is a life lesson I'll always remember - not happy where you are?  Well, do something about it.  


I also had coach for a teacher too!  He was just as much a superb teacher as well.  


I loved playing tennis.  I loved finally being part of a team.  I loved my teammates.  I loved Coach.  I really loved everything about it and am so thankful  I had the chance to belong to the team. Thankful that I was never "cut".   By far, tennis was the best experience of high school for me.   

3/30

Miss Peltz - today is your day!

Miss Peltz was my third grade teacher.  She was young, beautiful. vivacious, energetic and a number of other wonderful adjectives.  She instilled in me a love of learning.  And the yearning to ALWAYS be the teacher's pet.  Is that surprising?  Other memorable lessons?  A bagpipe, waves, Kris Kringle,  not to tease friends, how not to get peed on by a lion and that she knew us.  She really knew us, our very complicated 8 year old selves.

I've had some amazing teachers.  Really, I've been blessed.  Miss Peltz takes the prize for number one, numero uno, head honcho, most favorite.  Third grade was so awesome.

2/30

LaQuonda - Today is your day!

Funny thing is - although Shonda and I had the same concentration in college and I even took a class with and graduated with her husband, we never met.  Nope.  Shonda and her husband were Erik's friends.  Lucky for her, it was I who married Erik and not some hot, big boobed, comic book loving kinda gal (can you imagine hanging out with her??)

Shonda has many attributes I admire, but there's one characteristic that I value the most.  One that really stands out. One that I'm striving for.  It's not always easy and never convenient, but she makes the time for this. 

She answers the phone when I call.  Simple.  Easy peasy.  To me, this behavior says "Hey friend!  You are important and I'm making time for you now".  It's such a little thing, but it means a lot to me.  

Not that I'm counting - I don't have a tally mark system on my phone.  It just struck me one day after several weeks of missed calls that Shonda always answers.  I then thought about myself and how facilely I use voicemail.  It's something I want to better for myself.  I want to be a better  friend.  Shonda is an example of how to be a  friend. 

I'm lucky that our paths have crossed and we are able to walk this road this together.  No doubt my life would be filled with a snarky void if it weren't for her.

1/30

Dr. Scroggs - Today is your day.
First day in and I bet you are wondering how I arrived at you?  .  I sat down to plot each day out on my calendar and noticed that today I had a doctors appointment.  (No, I'm not with child - just a yearly check up.)  And I thought to my self, "Self?  Why not?  He is ONLY responsible for literally handing over a couple of my greatest blessings.

You've seen us through the best and the worse.  You laughed with us and not at us as one of us (see, I'm being evasive)  came close to fainting in your office.  I imagine the lady business is a delicate one.  Especially with all those hormones flying around - good grief!  You are kind and caring, top characteristics I choose in a doctor.  Do you know how I came to choose you as a doctor?  My nursing school friend was doing her rotations at the hospital and I asked her to ask the nurses who was the best doctor.  The consensus?  You.  That should speak volumes.  Eight years later after you walk out the hospital room the nurses still sing your praises.

I also imagine your days are long and you sacrifice time away from your family.  If you ever wonder if it's worth it, know that it is.  You are making a difference in women's lives every day.  You and your staff (who are wonderful people too!) are providing women with extraordinary care.  I'll forever be grateful for your wisdom and kindness you've shown Erik and I over the years and those two boys you supervised bringing into this world safely.

30 people in 30 days

Life is short and we never have enough time for gladdening the hearts of those who travel the way with us.  Oh, be swift to love.  Make haste to be kind.  -Henri Frederic Amiel

Thirty days from tomorrow I'll be turning thirty! I love to celebrate but wanted to do something a little different this year.  I wanted to celebrate the people who have brought me along these last 29 years.

When I was a junior in high school a boy passed me a note in the hall.  Typed on the front it read something like  "In 30 days I'll be competing in the state track meet.  I'm dedicating every day I train to a person who has touched my life.  Today is your day, Thank you!".  On the back was a handwritten note that read something like, "Dear Kaela, everyday you smile at me in the hall.  Your smile brightens my day.  I'll be thinking of you today as I run.    Thank You." 

A smile.  I'm certain people remember the small things just as much as they remember the big things, I know I do.  Starting tomorrow until June 10, I'm thanking a person that has traveled the road with my and who has gladdened my heart along the way, dedicating one day to them!

Crafterhours

Have you checked out Crafterhours.  It's crafty blog that I adore.  I also adore the name,  after all it's the brain child of two moms who guess what?  Craft after hours.  Brilliant!  So until we name our own little crafting posse, I'll just refer to our craft nights as Crafterhours.  Yes, I'm stealing once again.  Isn't that what the internet is for?

See, I even went to the trouble of making us a logo.  It was real hard.  For my effort, I'm putting this on a tshirt and wearing it to our next event.  What shall our next crafterhours event be?  Drumroll please.  Oh, nevermind, you probably already read your email! (for those of you that attended last)

Introducing my brand new birthday present:

And I thought I was getting a swagger wagon!  Good news, if Erik can fix the older one it may be up for sale!  I'll make you a great deal on it!

Yea, we'll cut vinyl for YOU!  Not really sure how this will work out (like always).  But the plan is, we'll choose a color at a time, design what we cut, cut it then move along to another color.  So, your assignment is to brainstorm what you can not live without vinyl wise.  Examples: mailbox info, personal tiles, kid's stuff - sippy cup initials, the sky's the limit.  No. No it's not.  Let's just say 12 x 12 in is the limit.  I'm thinking a Saturday, Sunday or Wednesday - email me your ideal day.  Ok, you have your assignment, now off you go...

Dark Transfer Results

Ta Da!  Ok, so I've been seeing these on Etsy for like $18 bucks a pop!  I thought, "Hey, I could do that myself".  No really, I thought that. Just trying to be transparent, folks.   I used Avery Dark Transfer printable paper and it's so stinkin' awesome.  However, I have no idea how it will wash up.  Right now, before washing, it looks like a screen printed shirt.  Also, it's not tricky like the light colored transfer paper - you don't have to flip the image before printing.  That makes my memory smile, I can't tell you how many times I left that very important step out.  (Evangeline, if you're reading this - shut your eyes!)

Aren't these little animals ca-yute?  I have all sorts of combinations running through my head!  Want one?  Maybe make a craft night out of it?

So Excited

I can't wait to show what I made with this. I think it's safe to say, it will be my latest obsession. I've worked with inkjet iron-on paper before, but this stuff is uh-mazing!

She said, He said

The other day, after eating lunch,  I mentioned that it was the best lunch ever.  Erik was quick to point out how often I exclaim something is the best ever.  He said I often exaggerate.  I agreed.  When I exited the truck, I picked up one his business cards and said, "Wow! This is the best business card, ever."  Then I thanked him for the best lunch ever and told him how happy I was about the best weather ever.

I didn't think much of our conversation until this weekend.  He said, "I can't wait until May 15, this new game comes out".  I reminded him about how I often say, "...best ever" and pointed out how he often is excited about the future.  I pondered this.  This is how we work.  I am in the here and now and enjoying every single minute of it.  Not worrying about the future and not spending too much time in the past.  Erik on the other hand, thinks - this is good now, but it will only get better.  He is always thinking about the future, not just in terms of games and technology debuts, but in general.

At dinner last night, I shared our story with our couple friends.  She sided with me, and he with Erik.  So, is this true for all couples?

Pretty, Pretty

One of my most favorite websites is One Pretty Thing.  Rachel features all sorts of different subjects, like kid projects, various craft tutorials, flickr roundup even some crafty reading to start your own business.  One of her features is a DIY Wedding Roundup.  I love to look at these wedding pictures and try to file away notes for ideas I may be able to translate for a birthday.  Lucky for me, my friend Emily has recently become engaged (Hi Em! Congratulations).  She's lucky too, because I get to send her fun links!  Take a look at this photo shoot styled for Style Me Pretty. (this links up to more fabulous pictures from the photo shoot, go look now, it really is so so so pretty!).  I think this would be my wedding dream come true...

image from Style Me Pretty

Craft Night Out

Yay for Craft Night!  We had a great time making our posterized print canvas!  After my test run I was very unsure as to how this would turn out.  How sweet of my friends to actually show up and invest their time in something that may or may not work out.  Luckily, all projects survived but one.  But tomorrow is a new day, and we'll start over on that one!  I mentioned in an email that I like dips - and don't you know the dips just rolled in!  Next time, I could forgo the craft and just have a night out with girls and dips - it was fun!   

Thanks for coming - I hope you had fun too!