Remember my Father's Day Card Post?

I decided it wasn't worthy of ANY blog ink. So I pulled it down. It was horrendous. I made it three times and it still turned out the way it did. Nevermind. I'm going to salvage it somehow and redeem myself.

Stay tuned =/

Warm Fuzzy Alert

I thought we can watch this again for a dose of warm fuzzies on Father's Day. Let's, shall we? ...because its so C.U.T.E.

I Have a Goodly Heritage

Vintage image for sharing. Hi everyone, this is a card that my sister gave me.... she had it hanging in her laundry room and I just loved the verse and the vintageness of it all, so she gave me a copy. I now have it hanging in my bathroom. I read it everyday and there is just something about this verse that gives me so much peace and calm. My favorite part, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places..." I hope it brings you a sense of peace as well in this crazy uncertain world we live in. Feel free to copy and use for your own crafty projects or maybe you just want a happy plaque in your bathroom too (to start your day off on the right foot). Enjoy ya'll.  EDITED TO ADD:  I MIGHT EVEN MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT MYSELF USING OH MAYBE SOME BLINGBLING INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING IT PLAIN.

Inspiration vs. Motivation

Inspiration comes forth from within. It's what the light burning within you is about, as opposed to motivation, which is doing it because if you don't do it, there will be negative repercussions. Motivation is making myself do something that I don't really want to do. Inspiration is having the clear picture of what I am wanting -- and letting forces come into play to get the outcome. 

Hi

Indians & Cowboys!!!

I told you there was more...Acquisition Specialist (Part 2). Shock and awe! I knowwwwwwww...
This is another set that has been on my "A" (Wish) List 4EVER too. Again, not that I am this huge fan of all things "Western" but it's growing on me. I love Colorado. I love the West, yes, I live out here. So that could have something to do with it. Or it could be that....

--------> This guy...----->

--------> and this guy... are HOT...----->

I do have to say the stamps are so much better IRL. Better than I expected even. Did I mention that I've died and gone to heaven. The scale is better (I thought they were larger) but they are not. I won't miss my mani/pedi's, and my first born child.... really I won't. Stay tuned for some fantastic creations in the days to come (hopefully =D)

Acquisition Specialist (Part I)

Woohoo, lookie what I was able to acquire!?!? This set has been on my "wish list" 4EVER people. Don't ask me why, I don't have any affinity for Western Images in general. I just LIKE it. I never acquired it before now because the price was never right. I know I know times are hard and frivolous purchases are not an option. Who me? Never. So to help the cause.... to take one for the team.... I exchanged any monthly mani/pedi/car washes/designer coffee/hair and makeup/date night/dinner night/cable/first born/um have I forgotten anything? Just kidding... in order to justify my purchase of....drumroll.....THIS

DREAM CATCHER (Retired Stampin' Up 2002)

Stay tuned and see what else I acquired lately ;D - you're going to be in shock and awe.

Garden

Look how big my Tomater plants are?  Click on any image to enlarge for details.  These are just a few of the plants.  We have tons more in containers all over the place.  The rats with bushy tails <-----Click here haven't eaten them yet this year or the bunnies rabbits <-----Click here about five images down.

I grew up in a city (Chicago) and while I am a "city" girl I've lived my share of time in the country also.  I live in a city now...but that doesn't stop me from wanting to bring a little of the "country life" back into my world. It makes me happy.  I guess I am somewhere in-between and I'm more of a small-town girl at heart.  I loved country before it was cool people.  Eventually I found myself back in the city.  (Food, a roof over my head, yeah minor details like that).  What's that saying "You can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl"?  Well, I beg to differ.   I feel just opposite of that.  "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl".  Let me know if I completely butchered that quote because that wouldn't surprise me in the least.  It's genetic.  While I've taken compete credit for these Tomaters (like I said its genetic).  In reality, my DH is responsible for bringing this happiness into my world.  I just get to pretend my thumb is green instead of black.

Large In-Ground Tomato Plants 

(Side of house, just outside my kitchen window)

Parsley Plant

 

I just liked it

 

Cherry Tomatoes

 

Bell Pepper (Container Gardening)

 

Isn't it cool?  I just love to grow things.  Don't be jealous.  Don't be a hater.

Well Bust My Buttons!

Am I dating myself with that title?  BLINK ALERT BLINK ALERT. (BLOG INK peeps = BL-INK, get it?)   You haven't seen cute if you don't click on this link and head on over to my Pr!ssy Pal Allison's blog Shadow Castle Stamps <-----click.  Go on over and show her some blove (blog-love peeps)  For one thing, I warned you about the new A Muse release so if you're on a budget and you have an acquisition (hoard, seize, search and conquer one of each in every color, size and shape when it comes to paper crafts)  problem like me.  I advise you to run from A Muse.  Don't go and look at their newest release because if you do.... well you have been warned, pocketbook beware.  That's all I'm saying.  Don't go over there and look because you will forgo food, mani/pedi's, and designer coffees for months just to buy all of the new releases at A Muse <-----click.  In fact, I still have a huge wish list from the last 4 releases.   EEK I'm a goner for sure.  I don't know how Linda, A Muse owner does it?... but she just keeps topping herself over and over.  I am not paid nor do I represent A Muse, I just love all things A Muse.  I usually purchase most of my all things A Muse stuff compliments of my LSS PaperTales <----click extraordinaire.   Have Fun!  EDITED TO ADD:  I love how Allison paper-pieced the A Muse new Sun stamp using the Gingham Yellow cardstock (new release A Muse) and the new A Muse Pirate Bird stamp on top of the oldy but goody A Muse Treasure Chest.  Of course, she used one of my favorite cardstocks for the sand SU Kraft.  I love that color paper.  OK I know it looks like the color of a paperbag.  And?   

...I tell ya' someone else who's "signature" style is using Kraft cardstock, its Heather over at "Pine is Here" blogspot <-----click.  I admire her stuff so much.  I bet she uses Kraft in everything she does.  Too cool.  So just giving a shout out to some Pr!ssy Pals since I've been able to get back here a little this weekend.  Scroll through her stuff and you will see some real talent, tell her I said hey.

I have a big surprise coming up soon.  I'll give you a couple of hints.  It involves BLOG CANDY for you guys AND it involves an invitation that I've been given to be a GUEST somewhere.  Not telling until I have more information myself.  But when I get some info, you guessed it, y'all ul be the first to know!!!!  Oh one final hint.  It involves the color PINK.  hehe.  Ok I know the highlight color I used is bordering on purple but the choice of pink that I have is too light and wouldn't show up well in a blog post so just deal with it.

Miss You!

As promised, here is the upload of the finished work with added bling... I used the A Muse Tiny Bee stamp, it came in really handy because I wanted to add a tiny bee to the sketch but did not have one single bee out of ALL of the trinkets I own. Of course, isn't that the way it goes?  I don't know why I hoard all of those little things like brads, embellies, glitters.  A trip to Michael's is in order, of course with a coupon ...hhhm =D  

 

Supply Dete's:  SU: Kraft & Whisper White Cardstock, A Muse, Red Gingham Card Stock (New Release, LOVE, I bought 2 sheets in every color) from Paper Tales my favorite LSS, SU Feather Friends Stamp Set (Retired), SU Hollyhocks Wheel (I don't remember the name or if it was Foxgloves instead).  I remember I bought it because it matched with Feather Friends. Versamark-Clear Ink, SU Embossing Powder, Hero Arts Sparkle Gems.  All else SU. 

Bee's Close Up

 

Spica Glitter Pens and also Clear Gelly Roll Pens on the bees.  Anywho, it was fun.  I am glad to be back doing something crafty.  But I know why it has taken me so long to get back to it?  EEK. It's time consuming.  I must have spent two-hours or more on the last few posts.  I remember I used to blog daily.  I think life just catches up with you sometimes.  I have been battling insomnia.  I used to be able to stay up until the wee hours of the morning doing this and go to work.  Now I'm lucky if I drag my bum to work and get through the day, energywise.  Oh some things never changes, whine whine whine. Yadayadayada.  You know that's one of my favorite past-times.  

Enjoy~

I AM Going to Share Something Crafty...

I bet I had ya' goin' huh?  "Miss You" guys.  I thought this was an appropriate card as it turns out for my debut back.

Ready...

Set... (Clean slate)

GO...

Inspiration Pieces - Kraft paper, 2 Ribbons, Miss You Stamp

Clear Embossing

"I've "Missed You" guys too...

This is technically not finished yet, I still want to add some bling

Ready, Set,

...GO! Where do I start? I have so many things to share with y'all I don't know where to begin. I've been getting so much @?!#$? from Pr!ssy Pals all over the globe I thought it's time I posted something, anything or else I might just lose all of my followers (all "1" of them). Yeah I highly doubt.  Anyway, I could start with a pic of these guys...

Look how big they've gotten! You can even start seeing the white and markings on their backs (Picture below)

BEFORE - Note the little guy on the ledge - (Picture below)

AFTER - (Picture below)

Wow they are getting big.  I love nature even if they are just rats with bushy tails.  As you can see my backyard is a desert.  Yes, it is, hence, the DIRT.

Speaking of dirt lets dish some...wasn't that somethin' about... no just kidding.  I can't think of any good gossip.  Back to the purpose of my mission.  An update!  (I know I know overuse of the "!")  The glyph mark is not a graphic.  Hehe.  I could start with the rats above (with bushy tails) or I could start with these guys...

He (Prince, my dog) is never allowed on the couch but whenever she (my daughter) is around the animals are attracted to her like a magnet.  He can never get close enough by her side when she's over.  Her skin is amazing.  She's all dewy and pretty all the time.

This is her cat, Punky (below).   This is his carrier that I keep in my front hall when he is over at Gammy's for a visit.  Punky was visiting my house recently for two weeks.  He never once got in that carrier the entire two weeks that he was here.  The day his momma was coming down to pick him up he got in this carrier and waited as if he sensed it was time to go.  It's weird how animals can sense things.  I couldn't believe it.  I grabbed my camera quick so I could show my daughter when she got here to pick him up she could see who was waiting for her and ready to go home.  It was funny once she got here he ignored her for hours.  He really missed her. He was over it.  Look at his face...

Then when she was all packed and ready to go we walked out to put her bags in her car and look what we found (below).... HE thought he was going back with her.  You can't tell in this picture but he was leaning himself into the seat as hard as he could as if to say...just try and get me out of here.  It was the cutest thing ever.  He thought he was going to L.A.

Look at his big ole feet, little dope

And NO its not because they are trying to escape from my house.  They like it here.  They really do.  They just love my daughters tons.  Pied pipers of sorts.  They've always had that effect around animals.  They just love them.

Roughin it at Grammy's (Top of my bookcases) Yes, my only grandchild is a CAT!

Inside the basket looks better

I had just cleared this table off and was getting ready to wipe it clean with disinfectant because the cat always jumping on it (I don't like cats on my tables and countertops).  I turned my back to go to the sink and rinse my towel out and look what I found on top of my table.  I mean the nerve.  The dog is under the table.  What a mess.  It was if that cat was saying, thanks for cleaning my ledge for me.  He made himself all comfy.  Little dope.  It proves he does like it here he made himself right at home.

...I BET YOU THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO SHARE SOMETHING CRAFTY!

HAHAHAHAHA!

Whatever Happened to My Daily Gratitude Posting?

Here...

Golden Opportunities are everywhere for me. Prosperity of every kind is drawn to me.

My Girls!

girl   [gurl]
–noun
1. a female child, from birth to full growth.
2. a young, woman.
3. a daughter: I have two girls.
4. girlfriend; sweetheart.

REASON 1

REASON 2

Today is a great day for braggin' rights of any that I know of. These are my two wonderful, fantabulous, perfection, beautiful, genius, funny, silly, gawgeous, crazy, reasons for being a mom, reason for glad I am a mom DAUGHTERS. These two are my world. They are my family. They are my everything. I cannot say enough about my two grown daughters, individuals, angels that came into my life. I was surely blessed by them. From birth to adulthood all I can say is WOW. I don't know how I got so lucky. They are the one thing that I can say I done right by in this life and I didn't do much. It was all them. They made it easy being a mom. They made it easy to love them. They made it easy for me to be proud. Thanks girls for making me a mom.

Happy Mother's Day!

Angel of God,

my guardian dear,

to whom God's love commits me here,

ever this day,

be at my side

to light and guard,

to rule and guide.

catholic - prayer to the guardian angel

I don't know of a better guardian angel than a Mother~~

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!

CUTE ALERT!!

I swear its feast or famine with me. I either don't post at all and then there's a string of them all in one day. All or nothing. eek. Anyways, I just had to give these next pictures their own post. Every year we have a new litter/batch (what do we call a bunch a baby squirrels?) Merekat Manor (What)? of baby squirrels. Well this year I counted eight in one litter. In years past we had maybe three or four in the litter, tops. These are little tiny babies when they are newborn. So CUTE. I never got a picture of all eight together but I snapped these few snapshots. I had to do it really quickly and I took these from inside the house through a window so I hope they are clear.  EDITED TO ADD:  CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO SEE THE LITTLE GUYS CLOSE-UP  OMG

ADORABLE

2

3

Hi

5

Happy Easter the After Party

I haven't been able to blog much lately. I sure do miss it and my crafty shtuff. If I ever get this chronic insomnia figured out MAYBE I would have my energy back. Oh well... I have so many SPRING photos to share. OMG just the cutest. This Easter it was just a small gathering with hubby, my youngest daughter and pets. Oddly no pics of them or me. Just the table, the dog and Mr. Rabbit who came to visit us on Easter (Bunny) day. Too funny Easter Bunny visited us on Easter Sunday.  This year we went with non-traditional items.  Normally, I do ham, scalloped potatoes, the usual suspects...  Every year everybody says we should do lighter menus.  Well, this year I leaned towards that theme.  On the Easter brunch Menu:

Spring Greens Salad w/Shrimp Cocktail garnish 

Choice of Dressing

Steamed Fresh Asparagus Spears (Yummo)

Hard Boiled Eggs

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (I know odd paring but was yummo anyway)

Fresh Strawberry Wedges

OJ Mimosas

Hot Coffee

Easter Lily (Optional)

Easter Rabbit - Priceless

Killer Dog  =D

Happy Easter

Zoom

Shrimp Cocktail on Ice for the salad

Colored Eggs (I know shock and awe!)

Boring Strawberries but I thought they were cute

My famous homemade cinnamon rolls

Look who stopped over OMG

I'm gonna eat me some Easter Bunny face.  Look at those eyes, they're practically glazed over.  Oddly if I would let him after the bunny.  He always lets them get away.  It is so cute he goes out like a monster and then stops just short of getting them.  And off they hop free.

But I'm really just a Teddy Bear

Happy Easter!

My Nephew...

Dangerous... he's a professional dancer at the Milwaukee Ballet so this little video doesn't do his talent any justice...

I've been thinking about this lately...

Wonder if it has anything to do with the economy?  I love the line... Why aren't they turning?  AND the line "this is bad".  NO ya' think

Live the Life You've Imagined...

Another one layer card. It's also a combo of digital and stamped, I guess they call those hybrids. The sentiment I printed onto the cardstock first lining it up just so, I used a two column layout with a landscape orientation. The font I used was "Lucinda Handwriting" in MSWord. I liked this saying and wanted to use it but didn't have a stamp for it (eeks) so I improvised. The stamp is from Stampscapes of course. I have always loved this stamp ever since I saw a card done with it over on Anna Wight's blog. So of course I h2h one for myself. Of course the ever clever circle mask for the moon. I think this turned out really pretty. I'm into one layer cards today it appears. EDITED TO ADD: IT APPEARS MY CAMERA IS STILL BROKE EXCEPT IT'S A NEW CAMERA...HENCE PROVING THAT IT IS OBVIOUSLY OPERATOR ERROR. THAT'S SETTLED ONCE AND FOR ALL I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA.