When I stand before God at the end of my life,
I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say,
"I used everything You gave me."
~Erma Bombeck

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June 26, 2012

Reminder... Oh Sully! Let's help an artist realize a dream!

Please take a moment to click the link and help Kevin get his great book published. It has such a wonderful message! As of this posting, Kevin is 30% funded. His deadline to reach $15,500 in funding for the project to be published is July 11.

Please take a look and contribute!


June 25, 2012

Monday Musings... What a difference a year makes!

Last year.

This month last year, we found out we were having a boy. So exciting!

Last year.

This month last year, we were deep into one of the hottest summers on record for Texas. I was getting big, starting to waddle and was very hot and very tired. I'd do it again to get this end result... 

This year. On the go baby!

Keeping up with this little guy is a challenge, but worth every second!

June 22, 2012

Inspire Me Friday (6/22/12)


Another installment of Inspire Me Friday. My favorites from around the blogosphere this week.

Don't forget to grab a button to the right if I featured you!





Beautiful Embroidered Handprints at Ducks In a Row.

Cute, sweet and yummy recipe for Jello Cookies at Just Helen.


Braided Seed Bead Tutorial at One Artsy Mama.


Cool off with an Orange Whip recipe from The Gunny Sack. 


Other links that struck my fancy...
ENVY - A Love Story at The Daily Love
50 Roadtrip Ideas for Kids at Six Sisters' Stuff.
A Parents Guide to Better Photos at Making The World Cuter.

Happy crafting and cooking! Have a fantastic weekend!

June 21, 2012

"N" is for.... Doodle

Copic RV09 Fuschia, Copic YG07 Acid Green, Copic B04 Tahitian BlueFaber Castell Pitt Pens (shades of gray) and Marvy Zig Writer in Black


"N" is for my sweet little Nikki girl! She chose 3 colors. I wasn't sure about that, but as I got going, I was pretty pleased with the outcome.


June 20, 2012

Mandala coloring on a rainy day

It's been a little rainy the last couple of days in southeast Texas. So, to pass the time, I went HERE and printed out some mandalas for coloring.

I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet the kitchen got as we all concentrated on our coloring. Coloring mandalas can be very relaxing. A few years ago, when I was having trouble sleeping, I would color them to relax and get sleepy. They worked wonders!

Here is my 6 year old hard at work on her mandala.

Here is her finished piece.


This is my 9 year olds finished piece.

Here is my finished piece.

Katie asked me if I had ever tried to draw my own. I told her I hadn't and she said she wanted to try.

Here she is hard at work. She amazes me with her artistic ability.

I have been informed this is an animal mandala. Can you see a one eyed dog, a green lizard, a flamingo, a red parakeet, a yellow parakeet, and a cat with extremely large ears?

And check out the free Kaliedoscope app for the Kindle Fire. Super fun! You can make your kaliedoscope and replay making it as a movie. The kiddos love it!


Happy coloring!





June 19, 2012

"K" is for.... Doodle

Copic B04 Tahitian Blue, Copic FV2 Flourescent Dull Violet, Faber Castell Pitt Pens (shades of gray) and Marvy Zig Writer in Black


"K" is for Katelyn.

This one is for my 9 year old. She has become quite the artist herself and requested a letter K after she saw me do the C for Charis.

Next up will be an "N" for my Nikki girl.

Happy doodling!

June 15, 2012

Inspire Me Friday (6.15.12)


I flit around Google Reader often. Starring my favorite posts that inspire me. Each Friday I like so share my finds. If you are featured, feel free to grab a button on the right. If you want to be featured, follow me and I will follow/subscribe to you so that you show up in my reader too. You never know when you will inspire me to star you too! :)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these seaglass necklaces at Journey and Adventure! And she sells them in her shop too!


Such a sweet idea for a last minute Father's Day craft at Craft Envy! I would love to do one of these with all three of my kiddos hands.


Just plain inspired by this garden art quilting at Art Quilt Maker! I absolutely love the colors. It is just so vibrant!


I'm pretty sure I'll be making these crockpot chicken tacos from Somewhat Simple. So yummy looking and easy!


Check out this tutorial for kitchen napkins at Fiesta Resistance. I have always wanted some fabric napkins for my kitchen. I'm pretty sure I could follow her easy tutorial!

I also loved these links:

Have a great weekend!
Happy creating!

June 13, 2012

Why we need moms, sisters, girlfriends...

I had lunch with a friend today. T confided that her sister was recently diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. I was so glad she shared. She brought to mind my mother and my relationship with my sister. And I thought of all the amazing friends I have. There are so many emotions involved in having a family member battle such a disease. We want to lift them up, encourage them, help them in their fight in anyway we can.


I remembered this video from a few years ago and wanted to post it for T and her sister.

will be praying for you all on this journey.

June 12, 2012

C is for....

A new doodle finally. I found that I couldn't put down the pens once I got started.

Copic RV09 Fuschia, Copic YG07 Acid Green, Faber Castell Pitt Pens (shades of gray) and Marvy Zig Writer in Black

C is for Charis!

What do you think?

Linking to:
SuzysSitcom.com
http://salttree.blogspot.com/

June 11, 2012

Oh Sully! A fantastic children's book in the making...

Stopping in tonight to help promote a friend's project. Kevin Gard is my sister's brother-in-law. I love the story of Sully and I love the beautiful illustrations.


View the video and stop in to support the project if you are so inclined.



Monday Musings... Back, and learning to "let go".

Original art by The Art of Michelle on Etsy

Okay, so. I have taken a little break from everything for a few months. About 3 to be more exact. After having an unfortunately ugly fallout with someone I thought was a friend, I have chosen to step back and reevaluate my relationships. My real friends have been very patient with me while I go through this process. I am so blessed to have understanding, concerned, wonderful women in my life.

I have also been thinking about my other personal relationships with my family. My husband, daughters and son. I never realized how much I wanted to control them until I recognized what I was doing and am catching myself to stop the madness. The other day, this was posted on facebook and it just fits what I have been going through so well.

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring. It means I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off. It's the realization that I can't control another.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another. It's to make the most of myself.

To "let go" is not to care for, but to care about.

To "let go" is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To "let go" is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle, arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To "let go" is not to deny, but to accept.

To "let go" is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.

To "let go" is to fear less and to love more.

~ Author Unknown~

So, I am back. Posts may be sporadic as Kyle is now 8 months old and on the go. The girls are out of school for the summer and I am trying to make this summer more fun than last year's. I was pregnant and it was extremely hot. So bless my little girls, they didn't get to do much at all last summer. So far we are off to a fantastic start to this one.