New Etsy Goodies!

 

 

 

Got some new goodies added to the Etsy shop!

Click HERE to go check them out!

Candlesticks, postcards, ornaments!  Oh my!

 

 



I Choose Joy

Don't care what anybody says....happiness is a decision.

Period.

Luna's fun house!

Hi there!  Happy Thursday!  Just a quick show and tell today....this is a dog house I painted for this crazy little pup with an underbite, named Luna!  I had so much fun doing this for her.  If you met Luna, you would understand fully why she needs a pad like this!  My process was really easy, since this is going to be an indoor playhouse for Luna.  (Luna's mom has the condo TRICKED OUT in Dreaming Bear creations already, so this fit right in!)

To start,  I gave it a light sanding, added a couple coats of primer, and painted it with bright water based acrylic paints.  A couple coats of Polycrylic sealed the deal and gave it a nice shine.  I'm hoping to receive some pics of Luna in her house soon!  Have a great day!

Derby Fun

 

Wow, what a weekend!  Saturday morning, Lovin Man got up and competed in the Squaw Creek Army Challenge.  He did great!  I'm so proud of him!  And in the afternoon, my team and I traveled to Leaf River, IL to play the River Demons on their home turf.  It was amazing!  We came back from a 40 point deficit, to win!  Very cool, very exciting to get our act together, figure out what needs to be done, and get it done!

 

There's something special about these ladies. 

 

 

 

Derby has brought out a part of me that I love.  I'm constantly challenging myself, pushing myself, and trying new things.  It's not just a challenge physically....it's a challenge mentally and emotionally.  You are really putting yourself out there when you play.  And that takes guts.  And bravery. And moxie.  These ladies have got that, and then some.  I'm blessed to have some of it rub off on me!  Lovin Man and I have both come a long way in the past year on our path to over all wellness and fitness.  We are doing things we never would have dreamed of last year.

 

 

And that's just plain fun.  :)

Back from Vacation!

 Hey friends!  We have been trying to get back into the groove the past few days, after having a wonderful family vacation, celebrating Lily's high school graduation!  We traveled East to see family and eventually the fab city of New York, which we had never been before!

First we drove to Pittsburgh, where my wonderful cousin, Jennifer, and her sweet hubby Mike live.  Jen and I hadn't seen each other since we were young teens, and we have only recently reconnected on Facebook.  She is such a kindred spirit.  One of those friends in which it doesn't matter how much time passes...you can always pick right up where you left off.  Our time together was too short, but it was so good.  I hope we can get them to come West next year for shenanigans!

This pic of our families together makes me laugh.  Check out the laser beam eyes!  Ha!

 

They showed us Pittsburgh at night, and it was absolutely beautiful!  We rode an incline car up to the tippy top of the city, and stood on the platform where they got married a few years ago.  Breathtaking. Can't wait to spend more time with these sweet souls.

 

 

The next day we drove on to Downington, PA, where auntie and unkie live now that Unkie has retired.  Pennsylvania is GORGEOUS.  So green, and lush, and rolling hills....and the houses are OLD and well loved.  Lovin Man and I adore old houses....so we really enjoyed walking around checking out the scenery.  We were not far from Brandywine Creek.  Beautiful countryside. 

 

This is a pic of Marsh Creek Lake, which we paddled all the way across, while Little Man kayaked across.  (we should have kayaked instead of paddled, but it was a good work out!)  Felt so good to be out on the water.  Gorgeous place.

 

A delicious hearty breakfast at the Downington Diner....where the movie, The Blob, was filmed. 

The waitresses here were sweet and sassy.  Just the way we like them.

 

 

The girls stole away for some beauty maintenance.....pedis and manis, in preparation for our big city debut!  What is it that is SO WONDERFUL about getting your nails done?  LOVE IT.

 

 

 

In New York, we stayed not far off of Times Square, which seemed like a different planet in and of itself.  It's crazy BUSY there.  Talk about over stimulation......but it was cool.....we stayed cool.  :-)

 

 

Strange characters with matted fur costumes wanted us to take their picture with them for a tip.  We indulged them only once, and then dodged them the rest of the time. 

 

 

 

We were treated to a wonderful harbor cruise the first evening we were there.  This was so lovely.  Learned a lot about the history of the city, and got some beautiful shots of the new WTC, which was very moving to see.

 

 

 

And of course.....our lady.....we loved seeing her.......

 

 

We visited the 9/11 memorial, which was awe inspiring and moving.  It is so beautifully done.  The site has been turned into a beautiful park, so peaceful and serene.  This is a shot of the "Survivor Tree"....the only tree on the site to survive and grow back.  Amazing.

 

 

A big highlight for Lily and I was seeing Mood Fabrics (of Project Runway fame) in person!

This place is a crazy (yet organized) maze of every fabric, trim, notion, bauble you can think of for design.  It was so cool to see.  We sort of wandered around with a glazed over look in our eye.  I'm sure the employees there are used to it.  You could definitely tell who were the local designers there to conduct business, and who the gawkers (us) were.  Tee hee.

 

 

Other highlights included eating salads at Rockefeller Center, treats from Magnolia Bakery, visiting MOMA with Auntie and Unkie (where we spotted Owen Wilson, which was soooo cool!), an early morning run in Central Park, a carriage ride in Central Park, and we girls wearing our zebra print bathrobes provided by the hotel, and watching Project Runway while the boys in the next room played poker with Legos. 

 

 

Good times.  But always happy to be home again, home again, jiggity jog.