More Highlights...

A family BBQ in my oldest sisters amazing back yard. Doesn't this first picture look like a watercolor?? Her yard is more ethereal than these pictures can portray.

Watching my kids play with cousins that they haven't seen in months. Hearing the giggles, the water, and the birds. Watching my sisters giant gold fish swim in schools through her pond.

Smelling all of the flowers!!!

Bonding with my (almost.......practically.......but not technically) twin sister Wendy. That,...I can never get enough of.

Highlights.....

 I am in my favorite place in the entire world....Utah. I have been here for nearly two weeks visiting family and friends, and I am finally at the point where I feel like I can catch my breath, sit down, and blog some of the highlights of my trip. The first one being...........the ECLIPSE festival. Yep, that's right...I went to an entire festival on the 29th of June. All in honor of the movie. Yes I am a dork,...and yes it was the most fun I have had in a long time.  My darling sister, my very good friend, and I spent 7 hours doing all manner of things "Eclipse" related. We got free goodies, watched a costume contest, ate yummy food, danced, shopped, and frolicked until the moment of truth. We watched the film.............and...................I................loved...................it!!!!!!!!!!  It was (in my opinion) by far the best film yet.

I think that I may have joined "team Charley". He was hilarious.

 I met Alice and Rosalie. Now we're tight............

And I got to hang with Napoleon who did a stellar performance of his famous dance. What a stud.

It was such a great night.....

In the near future I will post more moments from my favorite place.

Happy Fathers Day...

I would like to wish a Happy Fathers Day to the two amazing men in my life.....

My Daddy......

And my Mr. Right. The father of my four little ones.

I love you both.......more than words.

Happy Birthday Big Sis!!!!

It is my sister Wendy's Birthday today. Not only is she my sister, but she is also my best friend. I really don't know what I would do without her. I have a bond with her that can't be explained. This picture of her was taken with my little girl in Utah almost 4 years ago, and it was the first time Wendy and I had been able to see each other in 3 years. (Because we lived on opposite coasts of the U.S.) That was way too long and we vowed never to let that happen again.

I am a bit of a poetry snob. Or maybe just fickle. But unless we are talking about the classics, poetry has to be strictly prose, or very abstract, or I have a hard time liking it. I think it's really cheesy. I know I am probably going to get some hateful comments for that, but I'm just 'keepin it real'. But I found this poem on line and I was strangely o.k. with it representing my sister. I wish I knew who it was by so that I could give credit where credit is due.

One more year has passed on by,

Don’t look back

Keep your head held high

For you’re missing the most valuable moments,

You see…

When you are looking down toward your feet.

Walk, if you run, you’ll find yourself wondering

Why or When

What never failed to smile down at you,

Somehow, forgot to grin.

We somehow took for granted then,

The special times we shared-

Smiles, smells of home, were there

Whenever we got scared.

I ran to and from that place,

Yet, never saw that smile.

I look up now, no place to run,

And it’s been here all the while.

I realize late, the things that time

Can’t allow us to hold for long.

The youngest, the oldest, and all in between

Can’t return, once time has gone-

Take time, hold the moments, in time they slip away,

Words one heart fought, with a smile to say.

This year will pass, as the years before,

Smile at the life, that you most adore.

When time comes and you “forget” to grin, too…

Those who remember your smile of love,

Will hold heads high, to smile right back at you.

 

Happy Happy Birthday Wendy!! I love You!!!

 

So Inspired............

For those of you who haven't already discovered this gem it is a book called 'The Artistic Mother' by Shona Cole. It is like a self help book for busy moms. It focuses on different ways for us to work creativity into our everyday lives. I don't know about the rest of you but making art is very much a therapy for me. Even so, I can never seem to find the time to do it. This book is strangely practical as it helps draw you back into making time for your own artistic therapy. So fabulous,...why didn't I think of it? ;)

Worthy of a talent show....

Does your child's art ever pile up over months and months? You don't have the space or money to frame every piece and hang it up, but you don't have the heart to throw it away? Well here is an inexpensive and space economical idea that my daughter and I came up with.

We bought a large canvas on sale at our local craft store and I let her just go at it painting shapes on it with regular old bottled acrylics. She had a blast and the only rule was to not leave any white.

Then she chose which art pieces that she wanted to 'display' on the canvas. We cut them all out and decoupaged them directly onto the painted canvas. To finish it off, since mod podge tends to be a bit tacky (and sometimes collects a lot of dust) we covered it with a coat of clear semi-gloss lacquer.

She is so proud of her masterpiece and is going to display it at a church talent show this weekend.

The bonus for me is that I have a new LARGE piece of art for my kids 'art wall' in my office, and it didn't break the bank!!

I am going to link this up to Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest.

a Facelift...

As you may have noticed my blog has recently had a new (and long overdue) face lift, thanks to Jenna at q.a.design. I was so over the old appearance of my blog but wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do with it, so I called in a master of design..............Jenna is refreshingly creative and her designs are beautiful and whimsical, yet still clean and simple!! Plus, she is easy and fun to work with. So if you are in need of some inspiration for a new design contact Jenna. Thank You Jenna,...I Love, Love, Love my new layout!