A Lovely Blog Award...

I'm always so very grateful to receive such lovely awards for my little place in Bloggieland. Thank you so much to Push the Button Alpha for thinking of me for this sweet treat.

You must, must go visit this beautiful person's Blog. I adore it - mostly because the writings there inspire me so. I love to be encouraged to be philosophical and to think outside the box and every time I visit there, I do just that. So to that I say a big Thank You - for the award - but especially for gracing your readers with such mind candy! xox♥

I haven't been here much lately... tomorrow I will share a little why - til then! xox

Blog Party Invite! ...

August 1, 2009 - "5 Degrees of Inspiration" Blog Party

My wonderful team members of Inspiration Avenue are hosting a Blog Party! Yay! I won't be participating due to personal time constraints, but I am sharing the news with you cuz there are some beautiful prizes to be had and these ladies are so very talented that I wanted you to go have a look and sign up to participate yourselves!

Have fun, get inspired, write about what inspires you and make connections with some amazing people - it doesn't get any better than that! xox♥

I'm back - refreshed and happy!...

I had such a lovely time away - just me and a dear friend for a few days. I missed my girls of course, but sometimes a gal needs a little time away for just herself♥

My summer plans include lots of time spent with my girls and hopefully another 'holiday' coming again soon - probably won't venture too far away - summer is wonderful though, isn't it?

Hope you all are able to make some wonderful summer holiday plans of your own. xox♥

Away for awhile...

So much excitement is going on in my house today! My girls and I are going to the Jonas Brothers concert tonight! Yay!!! They are off the charts excited - must confess - me too ;o)

I will be away for a few days following that for a much needed little holiday... I'll post when I return. Hope you all are keeping well and happy xox♥

Summer is finally here...

Well, summer has finally arrived. Although it won't truly feel like it until Monday arrives and there is no school schedule to rush around for - Yay!! I love this time of year. I'm an early riser - not by choice, lol - I'm so not a morning person ;o) But on school days I'm up at 6am and my days are full all the way to around 11pm at night. And June is a crazy month for my girls with final exams etc.

They both finished the year with happiness and anticipation of summer and the next year of school. My Victoria is a clever cookie... she has accomplished excellent grades with 'Honors with Distinction' recognition awards and she'll be in Junior High in September. My Stephanie has done well too and will go in to Grade 12 - that will be an exciting year for her for obvious reasons, but extra special for her as her Cosmetology class will be attending various 'shows' and training in that field in California for a week.

I haven't been creating lately... my schedule has been too hectic on the home front, and I'm missing it. Hopefully we'll all settle down a bit now as we ease in to a summer time schedule and I'll be able to spend some time with my creative spirit. Here's a couple of digital collage treats for you to play with in hopes that you are able to find time in your busy schedules to enjoy your creative spirit ;o)

Happy Sunday and week that follows, everyone xox♥

It just never ceases to amaze me all the wonderful people I have come to know and continue to meet through Blogging. I consider it a privilege that I get to enjoy the words you write through the experiences you live, the creativity and art you share, and the enormous giving and caring spirit you so generously give of yourselves. Thank you to all of you.♥

I have been given 2 more Blog Awards within the last couple of days. I am truly grateful to be considered for such things and I thank you very much. Because these are awards that I have received in the past as well, I've decided to bend the rules just a little (when don't I, lol). Instead of listing Blogs that I will forward the award to, please visit the Blogs I have listed below. They belong to fabulous women who are to be commended for all that they share through their own Blogs. They are the wonderful ladies who gave these awards to me. When you've had a visit with them, come back and peruse my list of Blogs I like to visit. I know you'll find something there to inspire you, relate to, and learn from.

Kitty Designes
Push the button Alpha
Mana Moon Studios

Early happy weekend everyone.... "... And the award goes to......" All of you!!! xox♥

Fun with the number 8...

I've been tagged by sweet Sharon from Mana Moon Studios. She's such a dear lady with a huge giving spirit and I love this particular tag game, her answers were wonderful. I'm happy to play along too ;o)

8 Things I'm looking forward to...

1. Trying something completely new to me.
2. Visiting a friend I haven't seen in years.
3. The end of this school year, bringing summer.
4. Jonas Brothers concert with my girls.
5. Summer thunderstorms.
6. A flat tummy, lol.
7. Being quiet amongst nature in the mountains.
8. Finding my muse again.


8 Things I did yesterday.....

1. Smiled and laughed til my sides got soar.
2. Exercised for an hour.
3. Spent alone time with my eldest daughter.
4. Spoke on the phone with a dear friend.
5. Had lunch with a wise senior friend.
6. Watched golfers tee-off.
7. Got my car washed.
8. Thought about the future.


8 Things I wish I could do...

1. Take a trip to Paris.
2. Make more hours in a day.
3. Be financially free and share it.
4. Take a long walk on a tropical beach.
5. Lighten the load of a friend.
6. Meet in person the beautiful people I've come to know here.
7. Surprise a friend with a trip of their dreams.
8. I'm with Sharon on this one - I'd love to fly - I do have lots of flying dreams, lol.


8 Things or shows I've watched lately...

1. My daughter experiencing the feelings of her first love.
2. My other daughter being a wonderful role model for younger kids.
3. My girls laughing.
4. Grey's Anatomy (recorded the season and am finally watching it, lol).
5. Fried Green Tomatoes - Again! - Love that one.
6. A Mother Duck guiding her babies across the street.
7. Discovery Channel
8. Bachelorette (Cuz Jillian is from close to where I live, lol)


8 Of my favorite Blogs...

1. Mana Moon Studios
2. LuLu Kellogg
3. Push the Button Alpha
4. Thursday Sweet Treat
5. Everyday Possibilities
6. Here Be Dreams
7. My Romantic Home
8. Etsy Cottage Style


I found this little tag game fun and please feel free to consider yourself 'tagged' if you'd like to play along too - no obligation here - just a little fun if you choose. It's so nice to get little personal glimpses of the wonderful people of Bloggieland.

Happy Friday and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! xo♥

ATC Background for You...

Oh my, where does the time go? I can't believe I haven't posted since last Thursday! And that was a vent post, oh dear - time for a cheerful post ;o)

My girls are really getting anxious for summer. June is a little tough for them to get through while summer is approaching - final exams, early anticipation for the next grade level, etc. So it's been a very busy week, but a wonderful week just the same.

I haven't even had much time to create digitally this week.... hmmm - I better take my multi-tasking skills up a notch, lol. Here's an ATC Background I did manange to create for you to play with.

Hope you're all well and looking forward to your weekends xo♥

Venting About a Bad Day...

Yup, it's been one of those days where things just go the wrong way. I usually like to post on Thursday's and considered not posting because of today's events, but then I thought a little venting might be good for me, lol.

My Stephanie had her cell phone stolen this morning and because she's in school, couldn't call me about it until lunch time. Well, you can guess what comes next. Almost $200 in Internet connections and calling charges between 9am and 12:30pm were incurred by the time I could call in to freeze the account. Yes, someone had a wonderful time with all that 'free' access through her phone, didn't they? Fortunately the charges can be reversed on the next billing cycle due to the fact I reported it stolen. Phew!

The most unfortunate thing is that is was a Blackberry. I don't even have one of those and when she asked if she could get one, guess what the answer was? She has a job at Starbucks and she loves her job; she's the go-to girl when someone wants a shift covered and of course she gets her own hours, so she earns a pretty decent paycheck for a gal her age. She worked a lot of hours to get that phone and all the little accessories she bought for it. She's very upset to say the least. I'm pretty sure she'll be replacing it with a much cheaper phone ;o)

Picking up my Victoria from school today was the next adventure. I'm traveling on the road and all of a sudden a firetruck with sirens blaring and lights flashing decides he can't get around cars on his side of the road, so he veers in to my lane to get by and whales on the horn. Scared the pants off me as I pulled the car in to an intersection so he could get by. Sheeeesh.

Last thing, I promise - lol. I turned in to the school parking lot to find a traffic jam with a truck stalled with hazard lights on. I saw Victoria waiting for me, so I went to give my horn a little honk to wave her over my way so we could escape the jam. My horn got STUCK. Yup, there's me in the car with my horn blowing, looking like a complete idiot! I got some really lovely looks from other parents, I'm sure they thought I was being impatient and honking for them all to move. Sigh.... It stopped, but not before I drew the attention of a couple hundred people - it was track and field day today - the place was packed.

So there you have it - not all my days are filled with pretty butterflies and digital fun, hehe. I hope you all have had a much better day than I did and I wish all of us a wonderful weekend ahead. xox♥

Aaaachew...

My goodness, allergies are kicking in big time with all that's coming in to full bloom outside! Yuppers, although I love this time of year, it comes with a few minor nuisances such as that ;o)

Thought I would post a couple of images for you to play with. Hope you're having a wonderful start to your week. xo♥

Wonderful Finds on Etsy...

Awhile back I posted that I would like to feature an Etsy Seller each Monday. I discovered that this idea was a little tricky for many reasons unless of course you're featuring someone you already have a connection with. First, there are some sellers who don't want to be featured because they worry about copyrights etc. (understandable). Lots who do - but then because only one is chosen each week, some feel a little left out or picked over. There's a few who would like to be featured, but perhaps don't fit in too well with my blog (adult themed items and such - yikes!). Sometimes it's just plain tricky to get approval from some to go ahead and feature them.

Now I know there are so many of you lovelies in Bloggieland that do features on others all the time... and you do it very well. I've decided that for now, instead of doing features each week, I'm including an Etsy Mini of 'Wonderful Finds on Etsy' aka 'My Favorites' over in the right hand column. This way, I can share with you some of the most lovely things I've found on Etsy. I really enjoy looking at others favorites too when I visit shops and I almost always find treasures that I may not have otherwise found. I will still feature other Artists and Sellers every now and then though, because I love to shine a spotlight on fabulous work ;o)

Sending you early Happy Weekend Wishes! xo♥

Happy Friday Everyone!...

Yuppers, I love Fridays... it's pizza and slurpee night at my house, so I don't have to cook - Yay! I watch movies or play Wii with my family - sometimes in to the wee hours of the morning because we don't have to get up early Saturday - Yay times two! Friday's I try to catch up with all my sweet Bloggieland friends to see what you've all been up to... and how I love my visits to each of you!

It's the long weekend here in Canada - Victoria Day (Queens Birthday). So my girls get a long weekend. Traditionally it's usually the weekend that we get our gardens in shape and potted florals out, but we've had some unseasonal weather the last couple of days... so that may have to wait a wee bit longer. Last week I was able to leave my bedroom window open while I slept and the sound of the frogs singing in the neighborhood ponds was so wonderful to fall asleep to.

But there is unpleasantness looming... I have to 'Spring Clean'. Yup... I posted way back when, that I would be getting down to business and doing some organizing around my house. Well, that never happened - it's sooooo easy to put that job off! Well it really can't wait any longer, so I must tackle it starting this weekend. Sigh

My new rule is going to be: If I haven't used it, touched it or looked at it in the last year or two, then it's outta here! Yup, I'm going to be really strong - ok, well my intentions are good. Now, of course you know I am not talking about my supplies, bits and baubles right? LOL A girl can never have too much of that!

Hope you lovelies have a wonderful weekend!♥ xox

"What makes my heart skip a beat" Blog Party...

Lovely Marcela at Etsy Cottage Style is having another wonderful Blog Party and the theme is "What makes your heart skip a beat". When your visit is finished here, go have a peak at what other lovelies have shared.

Hmmmm... where do I start? I could write a novel about this one! Don't worry... I won't, lol. I'll give you a list - the short version ;o)

Well, one of the obvious things would be my ♥girls♥ of course, but for this Blog Party, I'm going to list some other yummy things.


♥ Images... old and new especially of castles, floral vignettes, and the Victorian era.
♥ Digital art... oh how I LOVE to create digital art!
♥ Beads, baubles, buttons, jewelry and all things sparkly, then add lots of ribbon.
♥ All things Shabby Chic, Cottage Chic, Paris Chic... you get the idea, hehe.
♥ Baroque and Rococo art, architecture and furnishings.


Those are a few things, how about experiences...

♥ A thunderstorm at night that produces the most amazing fresh air.
♥ Sweet birds chirping their songs.
♥ The smell of beautiful fragrant flowers and perfumes.
♥ The sweet connection of a dear friendship.
♥ Random acts of kindness.


Truly, my list could go on forever. There are so many things that inspire me. I'm grateful for all that "Makes my heart skip a beat". Or as I like to call it... "Makes my heart sing".

I'm so looking forward to visiting you to see what your heart is singing! xo♥

♥ Happy Mothers Day ♥

This is a day that fills my heart... I love my sweet girls and we are very close indeed.

It's also a day of remembering my Mom who passed of Alzheimer's Disease 3 years ago... I loved my sweet Mom and we were very close indeed.

When I was little, I wanted to give my Mom something special for Mothers Day along with the usual hand made card she reveled in. I came across a decorative plate that had beautiful words for a Mother as if I had written it myself, I thought.

My Mom treasured it and it always hung in a special place where she kept things that were dear to her. After she passed, the plate became mine and it now sits on an easel near other things that are dear to me. The precious words read:

Mother

To one who bears the sweetest name
And adds a luster to the same
Who shares my joys
Who cheers when sad
The greatest friend I ever had
Long life to her, for there's no other
Can take the place of my dear Mother

For all of you beautiful, wonderful Moms... Happy Mothers Day♥ xoxo