March... a time of growth!

So I haven't been keeping up on the blog like I want to but it isn't because I don't think about it... that should count for something!! :)

I've actually been researching someone who could design a blog for me. I think if I was more proud of what I have to offer, something that was more ME then I would be doing more with it. This is just so plain and if I am going to dive in to it I want it to be perfect! So more to come on that.

I love March because living her in AZ it really is quite nice. We've been seeing a lot of rain but with that comes RAINBOWS!! I even got to see one on my birthday so that was truly a pefect day. :) The flowers are blooming, Chris and I turn a year older and we get Spring Break to enjoy it all. What more could you ask for in a month.

Hoping we are able to go to the Renaissance Festival this weekend. The rain has kept us away and it will be ending soon. I need to be taken back in time and enjoy the artisan atmosphere and outdoor activity. I think this weekend will be the one!

I just ordered a Cricut Expressions from HSN. I can't wait to receive it. It is my biggest investment yet for my papercrafting, aside from becoming a Close to My Heart independent consultant. I am curious what I can do with it and excited for the creative opportunity.

Until next time.... :)

Mmmm mac & chz!! Ya, I love this & knew right away this would be my pic of the day when I heard Vinnie was making it. And he made it because Mom asked for it...is he a sweetheart or what! :]
My dad used to make this all the time, then my mom carried it on. Years ago we stopped the Sunday dinner's at Mom's and we hadn't had this for some time. Vinnie decided to talk to Mom one day and get her secret recipe. Let's just say, my sibs are jealous. HEE HEE. I showed them a picture I took the last time he made it and they almost started drooling.
Today when I was talking to Mom she said, you know it is about time for that Mac & Chz. See I took her a container full one time and she was so happy. In my family food is a big happy maker! So it is for Mom that Vinnie made this batch. I will take some to her tomorrow -she will be a happy camper.

Monday Feb 8th - Butterfly Love

I hadn't taken a picture for the day so I set out to find this lost bookmark. I love this for a couple reasons. Those who know me will say right away it is the butterflies & purple! I also love that Vinnie got this for me just because. He is SO thoughtful and finds little things like this which make my day. I treasure it and was a little out of sorts because it was missing. I read a book without it but it didn't feel right. Now all is right with the world. ;)

I included another love in this pic...my first tattoo, of course... Butterfly!

I left the house without my camera today but thank heavens for cell phones! I love that each day I find something I love that I can take a picture of. I know it sounds silly and like a cliche' but when you aren't even looking it finds you!
I had driven by Mother Nature's Farm just yesterday and said OMGosh look at those trees I have to get back here to take a picture. Then not even thinking about it, there I was cruising by and thought perfect day for a picture. So I quickly turned in and drove down to the trees, hopped out of my car armed with cell phone and started to frame it. Then buzz buzz I realized the bees where SO loving the trees too! So I quickly backed it up, ran over to the other side and took a very fast picture. I am happy with the way it came out because you can see the sky & clouds behind. Ahhh the simple things that make us smile.

I wasn't sure what I would find today that I loved, outside of my family of course. I saw all of them today, however it was for a sad occasion. My niece's husband passed away Wednesday night. Today was his viewing at Queen of Heaven. The facility is very nice and all the pictures of his life were touching. The chapel has this beautiful stained glass...I knew as soon as I saw it I had found today's love. I made sure it was OK to enter the chapel and take pictures. It just takes my breath away.

My heart goes out to my niece. I can only imagine what she is going through having lost her best friend and husband of 10 years. With courage & the love of her family and two daughters I believe she can pull through. I do hope she reaches out to us because we are certainly here for her... always have been & always will be.

Friday my day started with one of my new loves yummy cottage cheese & fresh pineapple! I only recently started eating cottage cheese & I have to say I love the stuff the cafe has. I knew it was only a matter of time that I would be taking a picture of food as something I love & it was a bonus to include my good friend Denice! She doesn't like to have her picture taken but I insisted. This was the 2nd shot and she is starting to laugh. :) I don't start every day like this but it sure gets the day off on a happy start when I do!

So I had hoped my pretty flower tree Vinnie planted for me the previous December would bloom during the month so I could snap a pic for my group. On sunny Thursday morning as I was about to pull out of the garage I spotted the first bloom. I snapped a ton if pics that morning & used the "pinker" one for my 28 things I love Flickr group. Then Friday night when I got home I saw a 2nd flower was blooming and boy was it at the perfect stage & color. I think I love it more!

This is Wednesday 2/3's picture for my Flickr group. I got a little behind on blogging this week due to some unfortunate family events. The "girls" were the bright start to my day that went a little crazy. This is typical for them. Kiya sits down, Belle goes over to join her & there you have it a Kodak, or should I say in my case, a Sony moment! :) Belle just pics up her paw as if to say, Ya, I am that cute & then there is Kiya laughing at me!! I sure love these two!!

Today started with me snapping what I thought was a terrific pic of the morning sunrise then to my delight I was blessed with a beautiful sunset too!
I had no idea it was waiting for me as I walked out of the building talking to some friends I hadn't seen around the office for some time. As I left the parking garage stairwell and started toward my car on the 2nd floor I gasp as I cleared the wall and saw this! I couldn't get my camera out fast enough. :)
I do love that we have the most wonderful sunsets and sunrises here in AZ. We've had lots of clouds in the last few weeks which really adds drama.
As I was driving home I called my mom, just like nearly every day, and as I was talking to her she gasped as they were showing the sunset on the news!! We are so alike. I told her I of course snapped a picture of it. :)

It is February 1st and I am participating in a Flickr group where we post 1 picture of something we love each day in February. I changed to my "big" purse so I can carry my camera with me everywhere. It was so fun knowing I had it with me and pulling it out at different times today. On my drive home I came up with the idea of using the Smile Shutter setting on my Sony camera so it could capture Chris and I during his nightly tucking in. Yes, he is nearly 17 - will be in March and a few months back he began asking me to "tuck him in". All he wants me to do is come in - fluff the covers over him and that is it. I did the tucking in for the picture so you could know what I was doing. :) I LOVE that he has asked me to do this again. He is and will always be my Sweet Baby.

My inspiration...

Ok so I've wondered about the whole blog thing for some time. I was finally inspired to start my own by someone I found on another person's blog. It goes like this...

My friend at work told me about her daughter's blog because she is a photographer and occasional paper crafter SO I started to follow her blog WHICH led me to a wonderful little blog by a wonderful artist of handmade jewelry.

Cinnamon Sticks on Etsy (see the links on my blog) is a must see. I love, love personalized unique gifts and she has them. She offered this great contest to introduce other Etsy artists. It is a great world that Etsy. :) So I started a google blog id to post on her blog, then I thought what the heck I will start my own!

I highly recommend you checking out Cinnamon Sticks and sharing it with all your friends - she rocks!

OMGosh I have a blog!

It was just a little over a year ago that I was amazed & excited over having a web site, now I have a blog! The interesting thing will be will any body read this or will it just be my personal journal spot.... either way is fine with me! :)

Today I find myself proud of my Saturday accomplishment. I did my first vendor booth at an event. I represented Close to my Heart as an Independent Consultant at the Mesquite HS Fiddles & Flapjacks. It was fun. I LOVE to meet new people and since I love CTMH and paper crafting, it was just a great morning. My BFF Christine helped me (couldn't have done it without her). I am proud because I had lots of great ideas and several of them made it to fruition. I have jolts of inspiration often and most of the time, well some of the time I write them down. And then another some of the time, well a few times they actually make it from my brain to reality. :) This was one of the reality ones - yeah!

I made a few dollars, which I really didn't expect, and I made a few new contacts, which is what I really had as a goal SO I am calling it a success!! I think I am going to respond to another opportunity available on 12/6 to see if I can do it again and next time I will be even more prepared and maybe more of the jolts will become a reality!!

I also got to see my good friend, my pea Erin, for the first time in months. She was back in town from Maine and we spent some time together Saturday afternoon. I do miss her. I got caught up on her life and am happy to see her prospering in her new career there. It seems she has had some challenging times and am very happy her faith has brought her through it. She is a kind person who deserves the best in life. I know it is coming her way!

Today we got to see Nana, Vinnie's (my husband) grandmother. She is always fun to be around. She had a very busy weekend & considering she is 86 she was a bit tired. We had a nice lunch with her at Dillys (YUM) and then drove her home to Tucson. We stayed a short while. Met her new bird, Scotty and saw Ernie (Vinnie's cousin) then headed home.

I waited for my guys Vinnie and Chris (my 16yr old son) to go to bed and here I am on my new blog! I can't wait to figure out exactly what I am doing but at least it is off the ground. I would like to be able to spruce up the background and get some pictures on here and just make it my place to type til my hearts content.

I am going to wrap on this first post and am already looking forward to the next one.

T