And Another One Goes Down

Or at least off the list!  Woohoo!  It feels so good to be taking things off that "To Make" list I started the other day. 

Today, it was making these really fun home decor items.  And please don't hate me, but I cannot share them yet.  I'm giving them to my family this year for their Christmas gifts.  And since I do have some family members as readers, I just cannot bring myself to share them with you.  I will however share it before the holidays are over! 

I "borrowed" the idea from Diana, who "borrowed" the idea from Tiffany, I think?  I'm hoping I got the name right.  Sorry if I did not.  And, I have to tell you, it was so much easier to make than I thought it might be.  I completed five projects tonight in less than an hour.  And the best part, I was able to work on it at the kitchen table with the rest of the family there as well.  So, I wasn't holed up in my craft room working away.  It was nice.

And since I cannot share that project, I thought I would share some pieces of another holiday project I've been working on this month.



 Round and Round



The Face

I also have a website for my photography work and this year have vowed to create and present holiday themed images during December.  I have been having a really great time shooting and working on these images, and thought you might enjoy seeing what else I do with my time.  If you like what you see, visit my photosite and sign up for the daily photo email.

Well, this girl is going to bed to get some reading before it's lights out.  Feeling pretty tired from all the fun work today - and really, I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings - and how many more items I get to cross off that list!

A LIttle Ribbon Fun

Hello everyone!  How are you doing out there?  Has it been as cold in your neck of the woods as it has here?  I hope not, unless you like that sort of thing and then you can have ours too. 

I just have not been able to get warm over the past couple days and woke up in the middle of the night last night with a wonderful winter cold.  Nice.  Oh well, what can you do?  Stay warm - which requires lots of cuddling with my dogs - and taking it easy. 

Tonight I thought I would share some photos I took of this beautiful black lace in Stampin' Up!'s 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog.  Isn't it fun?

Happy Thanksgiving

On this evening, before we celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to say thank you for your support and for coming here to see what I am up to.  I appreciate the visits and the comments and am glad we have this experience to share.   Thank you.

Untitled

Secret Music Monday

It's not really a secret - the posting that is.  But the song is . . .

I love it when artists use instruments that are a little out of the norm for their style of music.  But yet do it in such a natural way.  That you would not imagine that instrument not being there.  I love when pop, or rock, bands use string instruments in their songs.  It add such a different element.  And today's band choice does it brilliantly.  Probably because every member of this band plays several different instruments.  They are extremely well rounded.

I have had this CD since it came out about a year ago.  And every so often I pull it out and enjoy listening to the great mixture of mellow melodies and songs that really get you inspired.  The band is One Republic, the song I'm choosing to share today is Secret and the CD I am referring to is Wake Up, their second CD that was released in 2009.  (Their debut CD, Dreaming Out Loud is fabulous too.  I recommend them both.)  I hope that you will enjoy it.

Be sure to listen to the song on the Music Monday Pick of the Week section on the right.

It was a pretty busy weekend.  Lots of fun family activities including a fund raiser at my son's school and a visit to the State Fair.  I spent most of Sunday taking it easy and even got to watch an entire football game.  That was nice.  And it felt good to be a bit "lazy" for a day.  You need those every so often. 

And in honor of taking an easy day, I thought I would share with you two other loves of mine - my photography and one of my beagles.  Hope you have a great Monday!

The Guard

Take My Breath Away

Ryan's Ghost

I just had to share.  And some of you out there have already seen this picture.  And guess what?  You get to see it again.  I'm not sure if I mentioned this here or not but I love Halloween.  Okay, just kidding, I know I've mentioned that before.  What I really lvoe about Halloween is all the fun things that we do.  It's a very busy month for my family but one that we look forward to every year.

This past weekend, we went to a local Pumpkin and Chili Festival with my family and my niece and her family (we love going with you all - Ben, Brittany and kids!)  I love going there for all the fun we get to have and all the pictures I get to take!  So, it's a double bonus for me. 

My son, Ryan, does not really enjoy having his picture taken.  I started studying photography before he was born.  He has spent most of his life being photographed.  His second word, Daddy was the first, was camera!  He will help me out in projects that I am working on, especially if it includes something like blurred images or cool lighting or such.  And he really enjoys setting up scenes for me with his toys to photograph.  That usually involves some sort of battle or such.  But taking his picture snap shot style, not his favorite.

Battle

Soldier

I am so glad that on this occasion he allowed me to be a mom and take a picture of him after he got his face painted at the festival.  Okay, maybe he knew that I would put my own little twist on the photo.  All I'm saying is that when I finally got this up loaded onto my computer and pulled it up full screen, it literally took my breath away.

Music Mondays . . . Blue Man Group

Okay, when I am looking for some music to increase my energy, I think of the Blue Man Group.  Have you seen their show?  It's so fun and energetic and entertaining.  The music is great as is their sense of humor and the message they are trying to deliver. 

As I am typing right now, I am listening to one of my favorite songs by them.  Time to Start.  Really gets your toes tapping and you just want to get up and dance.  Or at the very least, get up and do something, anything!

Be sure to give it a listen on the right hand side under the You Tube section.  Good stuff.

And while listening, here's a pic of my very own blue man.  Well, kinda . . . this is my son before a planetarium show we went to.  The entire room was lit up blue.  Fun.

My Very Own Blue Man

And, don't forget, my Halloween class is coming up this Saturday.  We will be making four really fun projects.  I should be getting my order in the next couple of days and will be posting the projects then.  So, check back often for more stamping fun.  Here are the class details:

Halloween is almost here - and I can hardly wait. I love the decorations and all the fun that comes with this time of year.


And that includes my Halloween Stamp Class
Saturday October 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Class fee: $20

We will be making four fun Halloween projects - including a framed decoration (as is or add your own photos), candy jar, card and a mystery.

Items to be used in the class -
Big Shot
Rub-Ons
Lots of Designer Paper

RSVP by Thursday October 14 so that I can be sure to have all the materials needed for you in the class.
Click here to sign up or for more information.

Would you Believe it?

Something I thought would never happen, I have no pictures to share.  Sorry.  I spent my day at home with a sick child.  Nothing serious, just an upset stomach.  And since he wasn't achy all over or feverish, he felt pretty great.  That is except for the rumbling in his tummy.  So, that means computer games!

My husband has connected all of our computers together locally so that we can play some really fun strategy games together.  We use the intercom on our phones to chat with each other since my computer is in a completely different area of the house.  We have a great time playing the games together.  And, honestly, part of me figures, as long as he wants to play those games with me, I am willing to also.  (Although I do really enjoy them too!)

So, that was my day.  Tomorrow hopefully we are back to business as usual and I will have more fun things to share.  Oh, wait a minute . . . I do have a picture to share one of me and my son from our trip a few years ago to Sea World in San Diego.  This was definitely a happier day than he was feeling today.

I hope you all had a great Thursday - with no upset stomachs.  And look forward to the weekend!  Thanks so much for stopping in.

Another part of me

Something else that I really love is photography.  I've loved it ever since I can remember.  I love looking at old pictures.  I love the way the camera feels in my hand.  And they sound of the shutter - at least on the old school cameras.  I love the idea of forever capturing a moment in time.  I hope  you don't mind, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite photos.

Bench

Cowboy

Bamboo 2

I have often been accused of having a very different personality when I am photographing.  And I think to some extent that is very true.  Once I get that camera in my hands and am looking through the lens, I just get all excited about what I see and cannot wait to capture the world around me.  I hope you will enjoy these images.  I will share more another day.

I have finally finished reading Return of the Jedi.  I have not returned it yet because I want to copy down some quotes.  I loved reading all three books. They were very enjoyable.  And so I started another book yesterday and have already read 200 pages.  Diana loaned this one to me and I cannot put it down.  Thanks for sharing with me Di!  It's the second in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.  So, I'm off to get in a little more reading before I absolutely cannot keep my eyes open.

Great Time at the Game

It's official - I really loved going to an NFL game.  Even if it was preseason.  Even if the team I wanted to win lost.  Oh well.  Thought I would share of the pics from the game. 

My favorite picture taken from the evening, as featured on my photo website. MelzDezines.

Two of my Favorite Things . . . and then one more!

What a crazy busy day - but what an awesome one!  I got to do two things that I absolutely love!  How can you go wrong there?

My day started nice and smooth.  I was up and getting things done earlier than I needed to and that makes for a happy me.  Then, due to a communication issue, I was suddenly an hour behind.  Oops!  I hate being late.  But, what I was late for was a good thing.  I was taking my oldest brother's family pictures.  I got there at about 8:40 in the morning.  And already it was hot.  I finished up all the photos in about an hour.  Really, I was doing my best to get them done before we all melted.  I haven't had a chance to look them over yet, but hopefully there are some fun ones in there.

After that I had to do my "day" job.  I work at home, so really I cannot complain.  I get to work at my own pace and schedule for the most part.  There are some parameters that I must follow, but really it's not bad.

Just before I sat down on my computer just now, I spent the past hour or so stamping.  My husband and son are outside getting some much needed yard work done and I was informed that that would make a great time to get some stamping in.  You don't have to tell me twice.  I jumped right on that.  I was feeling a little bummed because I hadn't had a chance to get to my stamp desk for a couple days.  So, it was a good day all around!

And since today was a double good day for me, the item I have chosen to share with you combines these two things - and another "thing" that I love.  I made this a few years ago and so some of the items have retired and are no longer available, but you will get the idea and hopefully be inspired nonetheless.

This used to sit on my desk. It's fun to look at. I have moved it to rest on my dry erase board for the moment, or until I can find another place for it. Don't you just love all the attitude in the last picture. He is definitely my child. I can't get mad at him for all that attitude because I know exactly where he gets it from!