PSF - Future Fashion Designers!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Great ready Heidi Klum, because here come future contestants for the 1000th episode of Project Runway.  Aren't they lovely?  Can't you imagine these fashions parading down the runway during fashion week?  They seriously look like some of the crazy clothes that designers call fashion!

Ok, these girls might not be ready for fashion week, but give them a few years! I see some serious potential in these wack-a-do outfits!

Wordful Wednesday

I grew up going to Sea World.  Like many of my friends, after our first visit we all wanted to work at Sea World when we grew up.  But we didn't want just any ordinary job.  Oh no, we wanted to train Shamu!

We hoped that someday we would grow up and dive into that big blue tank and swim with Shamu. Well, for most of us being an animal trainer was not in the cards.  

Now it is our children's chance to dream of one day holding the illusive career title of Killer whale trainer!  :)

For more wordful wednesdays click the logo above!

Birthday Party fatigue!

My daughter has a fairly large circle of friends.  These friends have parents who throw their daughters birthday parties each and every year (unlike me).

The bulk of her friends were born in the first few months of the year, which means that for several months the child has a lot of parties to attend. 

This month she attended three parties, two of which were sleepovers.  Last Saturday's sleepover had a theme.  The guest were asked to come dressed as a celebrity of their choice.

  

Kate and her best friend Jaquelyn wanted to go as twins and the only twins they could think of were the Olson twins, Mary Kate and Ashley.  Blonde wig, big glasses, skinny body, dark make-up and granny style jewelry......the look was complete!

Now it is pretty typical that when there is a sleepover that the girls go to bed late.  The goal is to stay up as late as your 10 year old body will allow.  

Kate came home on Sunday at 9:00 a.m., by 9:30 a.m. she was sound asleep and she stayed asleep until 12:30.  Something tells me that they reach way past their goal.

Awesome Giveaway!

I only post about giveaways that I really really want to win!  So even though I really don't want all of you to rush over to Angie's blog and lower my chances of winning this really cool bracelet, I like Angie and if I can help promote her giveaway then I'm going to do it.  

Cause I'm like that!  

So without further ado.....Here is the Romance Bracelet from Twisted Silver that Angie is giving away!

Isn't it funky fresh?  I think so!  So head over to Seven Clown Circus for your chance to lose, I mean win this really cute bracelet.  

Oh and in case I don't win and any of you want to pick me up a little something for Valentine's day I really like their copper flower bracelet!

Oh, and just kidding about not wanting one of you to win.  I love it when my bloggy friends win cool stuff......even if it makes me just a little bit bitter each time I lose. 

Not really!

Good Luck!

PSF - The Garden!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I volunteer (a lot) at my girls school. One of the many events I have found myself in charge of this year is creating the 5th graders yearbook.

Yesterday was a bit overcast and a perfect day for getting some picture around campus.

I thought you all might enjoy a few of my shots from the garden.

I couldn't help taking a picture of my own reflection! Hi!

I was surprised to see that there we some ripe tomatoes in the "salad" garden!

I hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse of the schools garden!

Writing Assignment - Jump!

Click HERE to join in this weeks writing assignment!

This week I decided to do something rare take the easy route with Kat's writing assignment. Oh, who am kidding! I always take the easy route.

I am going to share the best picture I took last month and explain why it is my favorite. Now, I am not sure if this is the best picture I took, but it is different from all of the holiday pictures from last month.

My girls love to make our dogs jump. Actually the whole family finds it very funny to watch the dogs spring up in the air for a treat. We call them circus dogs when they perform for us!

I took this picture of Molly jumping in the late afternoon when the sun was going down and I absolutely love how I captured her flying shadow on the wall.

When I look at the photo I'm not sure if I should look at the dog or her shadow!

Wordful Wednesday - Beach scene

Join Angie for Wordful Wednesday!

On Sunday the girls and I went down to the beach.  Before hitting the sand we stopped in at a couple of stores on the main street that I have been wanting to visit.

Since it was Sunday the beach bars were over flowing with  football fans.....young loud football fans.  It was kind of funny how they were every where.  They were scantly clad, overly excited and they were reeking of beer (and probably the left overs of a fun Saturday night).

As we passed by a group of good looking college aged kids my older daughter said, "Wow, everyone is so fit down here."

I laughed at her comment because it was true.  We were surrounded by a lot of hot looking 20 somethings.

I am 41 and I don't consider myself old, but walking down the street with my two young daughters and all of these tan wrinkle free 20 somethings I all of a sudden felt very old!

You would think that it was their young bodies that made me feel old.  Nope, it was the fact that I was probably the only one in the crowd that was annoyed that the self centered youngin's ignored the "No bike riding on the side walk" signs and freely darted between the crowd with their beach cruisers!

Just call me Grandma!!!

Photo Story Friday - Dress code

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Once a month the safety patrol kids have dress inspection.  This Wednesday, Kate and several of the other SSP girls had a birthday party to attend after school.

So Kate came prepared and wore her black tank top under her red SSP shirt.  Since it was nearly 80 degrees at recess she and the other girls that had worn an extra layer decided to shed their unfashionable red shirts.

When one of the boys in her class saw that she was wearing a tank top he said to her, "You are going to get in trouble for breaking the dress code."  Kate did the typical kid thing and said, "No I'm not."  

Then he said, "You know it is against the rules to wear NOODLE straps to school!"  

Kate and all of her girlfriends bust out laughing when he said that!  Being girls they know that the straps he was referring to are called spaghetti straps not noodle straps.   

Nice try buddy, but next time you decide to be the dress code police you need to get your clothing lingo straight!

Panty hose for men?

Yesterday in my head cold stupor I thought I heard the morning DJ's on my favorite radio show say something about panty hose for men.  Actually, the word they used was "mantyhose" and I just couldn't believe it was for real.

But it is people!  I googled the word manytyhose and found the website, e-manicipate.  According to the website they are "a project to accelerate the acceptance of male pantyhose as a regular clothing item."  (They also refer to bra's as being organ specific clothing, but that is a whole separate issue!)

Ok, I have to admit that the male models they have showing off the mantyhose look kind of hot, but seriously folks, we all know that Joe the plumber is not going to look this good in his mantyhose.

So ladies what do you think?  Is this going to be the new must have item in your man's underwear drawer?  

Wordful Wednesday

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This edition of Wordful Wednesday is about my youngest daughter Kate and one of the many things that I adore about her.

Kate has always been a very affectionate child.  She loved holding hands, snuggling and giving hugs and kisses.  When she was a toddler and would give us hugs she would wrap her arms around our neck and give us super gentle pats on the back.  Those little pats on the back always melted my heart.

Like most parents, we start off holding our children's hands as they learn how to walk.  Then we hold their hands as we walk through busy parking lots to keep them safe.  We also hold hands just for the pure connection that holding hands can bring.

As Kate got older I realized that holding her hand would eventually come to an end. With each year I knew the time was getting closer and then just after she turned ten it happened.  

We were holding hands as we walked through a parking lot when all of  sudden I felt Kate try to  gently wiggle her hand free from mine.  I looked down at my beautiful ten year old daughter and gave her a knowing look, then I let go of her not so little hand, and the two of us continued into the store side by side.

Lucky for me, holding hands is still an old habit for Kate. She sometimes forgets that holding hands with mom isn't cool and will reach for my hand. For that I am happy, but I know that soon enough, not holding my hand will be her new habit.

I'm going to miss holding her tiny little hand, but I am so thankful for all those years when holding her hand was one of the simple pleasures of life.

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Photo story: I took this picture yesterday at the end of our Girl Scout meeting when the girls in my troop link hands and sing "Make New Friends." Kate is in the middle!  

Tribute Tuesday!

Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.
This is my first time joining in on Tuesday Tribute with Jay and Deb.  My tribute today is quite simple really, and something I think all of you can relate to.
Today I honor the Internet, the world wide web, my life saver!
As a cook, photographer (amateur for both), Girl Scout leader, doctor mom, gift giver, book reader,  and over all information seeker.......you have helped me in more ways than you will ever know.
What did we ever do without you?

Here are the tissue paper flowers my Girl Scouts made yesterday!  All thanks to a tutorial I found on the Internet.
Hopefully, they will bring a smile to the face of the 50 home bound Seniors that will receive one of these little beauties on Valentine's Day.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to the ER we go!

Teen + spooked horse = trip to the ER!  This is the equation that defined the majority of our Saturday afternoon.

The story goes something like this.  It was a beautiful day in our neck of the woods.  Sunny and warm.  A perfect day for being outside with the horses.

I had my camera in hand and was looking forward to catching the perfect picture for my 365 photo a day project.  Around here, Saturday's are about horse back riding lessons.  So there was no doubt in my mind what today's picture would reflect.

Reid and Jim were first up to ride.  Reid was on Newton.  He has the reputation of being a really mellow horse.  As Reid came around the arena towards me she said that Newt was acting really weird. He was snorting and was really jumpy.

A split second after I took this picture, Newt jerked his entire body to the right and took off like a bat out of hell.  The sudden movement caught Reid off guard and she went flying off of Newt landing on her butt in the arena dirt.

She was pretty shook up by the fall and complained that her butt hurt too bad to walk.  As Jim carried her out of the arena her face went white and her head flopped down onto his shoulder. As I realized that she had passed out I felt my heart sink towards my feet.

She came back around fairly quickly (even though it seemed like forever at the time) but she seemed a little disoriented and she kept closing her eyes saying she wanted to sleep. She also complained she couldn't hear.  Heart continuing to sink!

We called 911 and even though she seemed better by they time they arrived, they suggested that we let them take her to the hospital just to be on the safe side.  Who were we to argue?

Reid was rather mortified by all the fuss and was not happy that she had to wear a neck brace and be taped down to their back board.  I on the other hand was relieved that if anything was going to go wrong that their was an army of paramedics there to care for her. 

At the hospital they got her in a gown, asked a bunch of questions and then whisked her off to x-ray where it was revealed that she had broken her tailbone. 

This is a picture of a young girl that has no idea how much it is going to hurt having to sit in school all day on a broken tailbone.  But hey, she is just thinking of the stories she can tell......her first ambulance ride, her first x-ray, her first time fainting, her first broken bone, her first time drooling over a hot paramedic. 

The only thing she is allowed to do a second time is drool over a hot paramedic!  The rest can be one time only events.

For those of you who have had to deal with serious medical issues or injury with your child, my heart goes out to all of you.  Reid will be fine, she is fine....but for that split second when we weren't sure what was going on with her, it was the worst feeling in the world.

Now I have to figure out how to convince the three of them that they really don't love horseback riding!!

Right, like that will happen.

Cool Giveaway!

The ladies over at SITS and Jenni at Jiggety Jigg are hosting a great give away from Shey {B}....a photographer who has an ESTY shop selling these fabulous handmade camera strap slipcovers.

Isn't this the coolest strap every?  The materials she uses are really funky and fun and if I don't win one I'm going to break down and actually buy myself one!

So head over to Shey {B} Esty shop and check out which one you would like to win.

Then stop by and enter at:  Jiggety Jigg and SITS for your chance to win!

Photo credit: Shey {B}

PSF - It's only a rose!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I have always wanted to participate in the photo a day project (365 photo's in a year).  This is the year......the year that I remembered to start the project with the beginning of the new year.

It has only been one week and so far so good.  What amazes me about the process is how much more aware of my surroundings I have become.
For example, this morning as I was getting the groceries out of the back of my SUV I noticed that a few of the roses were in bloom on the bush in our front yard.

The sun was still rising in the east and the lighting was absolutely perfect.  The petals even had dew on them (even though you can't see it well in this picture).

I posted this picture for PSF to share with you all what winter looks like in Southern California.  This isn't an attempt to make any of the snowed in folks envious.....just thought it might make you smile.

If anyone wants to see the start of my 2009 photo a day project please click: HERE!

Oh and if you aren't familiar with Photo Story Fridays, please go check it out (by clicking the pretty icon at the top of the post).  Loads of great photo's being shared.  

Happy Friday!

Obsession.....by Michelle!

It's writing assignment time again over at Kat's pad! Here are the prompts if you feel like you just might want to play along this week:

1.) Describe your latest obsession.

2.) Ask a loved one to use 6 descriptive words to describe you and report your findings. How well do they know you?

3.) Who was your first bloggy friend? How did you find each other? Do you still correspond?

4.) Tell us about your pet! If you have a weird infatuation with your dog or cat we want to hear about it (or if they just plain drive you crazy)...but please don't compare them to children. It's just not the same.

I could write about all four but I am going to choose #1.

My obsession isn't really new, it is actually a long standing obsession. A twelve year obsession to be exact. My obsession is with buying scrapbook supplies.

It gives me great joy to buy new scrapbook supplies. So much so that each year I pay money to shop at the Scrapbook Expo. Last August I bought a ton of great stuff (that I really didn't need).

Funky paper like stickers, trendy patterned papers, chip board letters, sticky felt cut outs, brads with matching flowers, stamps, nestibilites........the list goes on. Usually when I buy a ton of new supplies I head home and lay them all out so I can stare at them. Makes me feel all warm and snugly inside.

Then the new supplies find their place in my hyper organized craft towers.

Would you like to know the most ridiculous thing about my ever growing obsession with buying scrapbook supplies? You do? Good.

The most ridiculous thing about my obsession is that I have the hardest time actually using the supplies I buy. Every year, as I head off to the Expo I realize that I still have stacks of supplies I bought the previous year that I haven't even touched.

It's really kind of neurotic of me. I buy a pack of shiny embellishments and I think to myself, "You know, if I use them then I won't have them anymore." Or if I have something really special, I feel I have to wait for the perfect page to use it.

Last year one of my resolutions was to stop hoarding my supplies and use them with reckless abandon. I'd say I'm currently at the cautious abandon level. 

I have a new rule. When I buy something new I have to use it before the next years Expo rolls around!  Baby steps people, baby steps.

Back to my obsession........I can only imagine how much it has cost me over the years. I told the girls that if I ever die unexpectedly that they are to call my friend Tina, as she would know how much everything is worth. They could sell everything on ebay and probably send both of the girls to college with the proceeds.

So do we have any other scrapbook supply hoarders in the house? Hoarding something different? Come on, let's hear all about it! I know I'm not the only wacko in the bunch!

Another use for glitter?

I don't own a horse, but if I did it would have glittery hooves just like this one!

 

Another Wordful Wednesday post, brought to you by our lovely host Angie over at 7 Clown Circus.  Come and play!

Side note:  I took this picture at a Christmas parade!

The Love Affair Continues

My love affair with Apple computers started back in 1985 when I tagged along with my boyfriend to his after hour job at a computer company. 

The company had one lonely little Apple computer (one of the first) sitting in a room all by itself. 

 

I'm not sure if anyone at the company actually used the Apple computer.  In fact, I think it was there for all the IBM users to laugh at.  

However, the minute my boyfriend turned on that Apple for me I was smitten....with the computer that is.

My first real experience using Apple computers would come a few year later while working for my Dad's typesetting and graphic arts company.  You see, while the rest of the business world used IBM type computers, the graphic arts world was using Apple computers.

The very first computer I owned was a Macintosh Performa. My dad bought it for me so that I could work from home while I was pregnant with my Daughter Reid back in 1995.  

My Performa was my gateway to the world wide web!  At the time it seemed so progressive.

Then in 2000 I moved on to my lovely Strawberry iMac.  I thought this was possibly the cutest computer on the planet.  Apparently having a little junk in your trunk wasn't in back then because Apple moved very quickly to the skinny iMac.

So in 2005 I bought my skinny 17 inch iMac.  She is actually still with me but has been down graded to the "girls" computer. 

She has been down graded because on Christmas day, this little 20 inch beauty joined the family and knocked my 17 incher down a notch on the computer tote tum pole.  

So far, I am over joyed with her performance and sleek beauty.  I am looking forward to our brief life together and  I'm sure I will be just as smitten with her as I was the first time I tapped on an Apple keyboard back in 1985.

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Side note: Blogs that looked good on my 17 inch iMac now look F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S on my new 20 inch glass front monitor.  

So don't be surprised if you hear a lot of ooooohhhhhs and awwwwwws from me next time I stop in to say hi.  :)

PSF - Happy New Year!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

On Christmas morning as I was gathering up the shredded gift wrap, I looked out the window and saw the most incredible rainbow forming over the neighborhood. 

Of course I kicked off my fuzzy slipper, grabbed the camera and ran out back.  I barely had enough time to get the lens cap off, adjust the exposure and snap a picture before the rainbow had vanished.

There is something so magical about a rainbow.  It is one of those rare treats in nature that you can't touch and can only enjoy for a few split seconds before it is gone.  It kind of takes you breath away doesn't it?

Here is hoping that you all have a magical 2009!