things i've come to know

Things I've come to know lately- or reminded of:   PART 4 in random order
~Having a milk man deliver the freshest milk on the planet to your house is awesome.
~I can get 5+ Etsy orders in one night.
~Boy, oh boy...sisters can f-i-g-h-t, and do it often.
~The heart speaks way louder than the mind, if you listen.
~Good dental care is so important.
~Huge life, important things can change drastically in a day.
~Hermit crabs will go to hermit-heaven if neglected.
~I am not a "doomsday prepper" and never will be.
~Hand, body lotion and deep conditioner is so essential to living here.
~I heart Pinterest.com. (omg, it's a world that will suck you in.)
~Trials definitely create perseverance and character. And patience. And faith.
~Kids grow overnight.
~It's a lonely job being your own boss.
~It's great to listen to Dave Matthews band every time you paint.
~It is often well with my soul even in uncertainty and chaos.
~Being 12 is being stuck in between childhood and teen-hood.
~I yearn to draw.
~Those tween Disney shows on t.v. always make me giggle.
~Friendships always comfortably grow and blossom beautifully in time.
~Being a Momma rips your heart out.
~I love my "Sweaty Bums" breakfast girls.
~I so need an organized desk.
~Your personality can (and will) show through email/text.
~It's a good thing to work like an adult and play like a little kid.
~It's warms my heart when the girls ride their bikes to Nana's house- to say HI.
~God wants us to be uncomfortable at times.
~Spring here rocks.
~Take advantage of the fun, innocent kid-things when your kids are still kids.
~It's good to be reminded that love is the ONLY thing that matters.

(if you feel like seeing the other 3 "things I've come to know" go to my creative juices on the left side-n-click on it)

lil' birdie paintings

I love that in our Art Gypsies group every month there is an example/teaching of what we will create, the supplies provided...and everyone puts their own personal spin on their own. Isn't that what art is? It's a personal expression, a feeling, a flow, and a creative endeavor of our very own. It can come through all different ways of inspiration.

Here are some cutie birds that we did on a 12x24 gallery-wrapped canvas.

Some went just with paint and a paintbrush, some went with adding some dimension.

Some went with paper and abstract free flowing paint.

Some went with stamps and distressing.

Some with color.

All in all, a great art group session.

Hermie and Bubbles.

"How many miles, days and effort does it take to buy a pet?"
(Even if you have already had a dog, hamster... and currently have fish and a dog.)
1. Beg and plead with Mom and Dad for months for a new pet.
2. Ask for a dog, cat, iguana, snake (yes, Lauren), hamster, ferret, bird.
3. Mom and Dad say NO because we take care of them in the long run.
4. Begging and pleading get old and Mom and Dad (mainly Mom) cave in.
5. Enormous smiles/grand excitement because we agree on a hermit crab.
6. Children go on the computer for hours to research all about hermit crabs.
7. Parents say they're not helping ONE bit or spending ONE penny on them.
8. Drive to Petco, no hermit crabs.
9. Drive to PetSmart #1, no hermit crabs.
10. Children are sad and moping around like a lost puppy.
11. Parents try to be supportive and encouraging.
12. Children look online for a hermit crab. No luck.
13. Disappointment once again lasting for several days.
14. A week later, run errands and need dog food- stop in PetSmart #2.
15. Children decide they don't want pretty painted ones. They will paint their own.
16. Children look at hermit crabs and finally decide to go-for-it. Mom sighs.
17. Make a choice along w/all their housing needs after way too long at the pet store.
18. Children fork over $30 cash each=crazy happy faces. Joy in their hearts.
19. Then children worry about them being in the car too long.
20. Absolute pure joy when home and name them "Hermie" and "Bubble's."
21. Set up their homes carefully. Still in awe and parents know they will soon outgrow the joy.
22. Make mess of kitchen table playing w/them and feeding them corn flakes.
23. Put them up in their room.
24. Forget about them.*
25. Realize they are not fun anymore. Complete neglect happening here, people.

*Mom/Dad are hoping they are still alive so they don't stink up the entire upstairs.

Etsy sellers

 I started my Etsy shop in October of last year. It's been fun- and was crazy busy over the holidays. I have busy weeks and then not so busy one's. All in all, it's been great to be online and I have had awesome exposure with not advertising one bit.
                        
I have done many of the ever-popular name signs. The Winnie the Pooh (classic and Disney style) have been a hit, teacher name signs and these one's below have sold the best. I did this flower one above for the girls bathroom...put it on Etsy as a sample... and is sold so quickly. I just kept it super simple and put words on it that I wanted them to read when they were getting ready. Sweetness!

Then I thought- birth stats! These have also been a hit and such a special baby gift to give. I did one for a new mom and she said she cried over it when she got it because it was just precious to receive as a gift.

Very custom and something to cherish forever. 

This one made ME teary. It was a huge canvas. The mom wrote a love letter to her daughter on it. Talk about precious. Her daughter will grow up with these beautifully written words from her mom.

Spring break and Easter happenings

The girls had TWO weeks for spring break a couple weeks ago. On week two, Daddy decided he had some work to do in his New Mexico stores, soooo we HAD to go with him. Daddy works, we play. There's something not right about that. We got caught in a blizzard on the way down (after sunny 70's/80's the week before). Well, it didn't stop us from swimming when flurries were coming down.

It was cold, wet...but we hit some shops and galleries in Santa Fe. This one was a favorite- originals of Looney Tunes/Tom&Jerry, Dr. Seuss in the Chuck Jones gallery.

Went to the oldest church structure in the U.S. 

Went into the oldest home in the U.S. 

very cool.

of course, ate goooood...here is us at one of our favs

Headed to Albuquerque Hard Rock hotel.

very cool.

egg dyeing/decorating at Uncle Steve's

church, egg hunt and yummo dinner at Nana's

here we come, springtime!

Here are a couple projects we have done with Art Gypsies. We did these great topiaries- put our own styles on the pot (with paint, stain, sandpaper) and using greenery, flowers, burlap, ribbon etc.

I'm sure that they all are adorning our homes in a lovely way! 

This past meeting we got even more in the spring mood! We had fun with paper mache eggs. We used a delightful selection of papers, fabric forms paper, ink to splatter, stickers, burlap, misc. goodies! 

Sweet to keep out in a nice spot all year long if we want.

Add some feathers, burlap, tissue for the base in the nest.

a little about Lauren

"I am" by: Lauren

I am from waking up to the sweet smell of nature
From the good taste of blueberry pancakes
From getting dressed in the big camper
From putting my brown shoes on my feet


I am from climbing into the comfortable hammock and swinging with my sister
From going on the yellow and red four wheelers with my dad
From playing with my nice cousin
From feeding my dog some food


I am from patiently waiting in the cream colored camper
while the pouring rain slows down
From the good taste of all kinds of good snacks
To eating a late dinner


I am from getting my red cozy sleeping bag ready
To watching the twinkling stars in the dark sky


That is where I'm from.
--------------------------------
L-train (a.k.a: Lauren) is finding her place in this new life here.
Not only does she love the outdoors- she has been brave and has had a gentle, open heart to all things new this past year. The poem above was written in a book that was published by her class. Her artwork even made the front cover for the class. She is crazy creative and has this big, ever growing imagination that inspires ME all the time.

She was born this way. Putting her own creative twist on... whatever!

She stole my heart the day she was born.

She was born with being funny, honest, sensitive, quiet, emotional 

....and always up for fun. 

She goes by the beat of her own drum and knows what she wants. 

She wears her heart on her sleeve and is lovable in so many ways. 

This sweetheart-stubborn-at-times-cutie-patootie is a bright, blonde sparkle in our lives.

Girl Scouts are a pretty big thing here. It's the one thing she wanted to get involved with this year. Being that I was a huge scouter as a kid, I am loving sharing in this with her. 

(thanks for reading... these blog entries are such a journal- to never forget who we are: where we have been, where we are, and where we dream to go!) 

more Texas...

I can't say that I haven't been free of being Texas "homesick" from time to time. Being that we lived there for 14 years, we have incredible "roots" that can never be replaced. We grew, learned, loved... and ultimately became who we are today from our time in Texas.

What a thrill it was to see my precious forever friends that are such a special part of my life still. We spent plenty of time in the sun walking with tank tops and shorts (such a breath of fresh air), we caught up, relaxed, laughed...

I treasured the moments.

It was just like it always was. Precious. I miss everybody already. (sniff sniff)

So apparently Josh and Lauren bonded too while we were gone for the 4 nights. On top is a pic sent to me on Friday (9in. snow) then the other on Sunday (sunny,70temp) and YES those are Josh's toes (with no surprise that he hasn't taken it off yet!) . Lauren "blinged" them up for sure. 

What-a-Daddy.

off to Texas

Hannah has this adorable BFF in Texas. They have been friends for 6 years or so. She is about the sweetest girl with the most pure heart ever. Their birthday's are 2 days apart. This year- the big 12. Hannah wanted to surprise Ellie for their birthdays. Well, the surprise part didn't happen (they couldn't keep their excitement in!) but we did fly in last week. Hannah paid for half her plane ticket with her birthday money and it was perfect timing because she had 2 days off of school, spring was springing in Texas (here we come- cuz i am SO done with winter here!) and I wanted to see my BFF's too! We have officially been living here for A YEAR. Seriously? It worked out perfect and Hannah (and I) was crawling out of her skin with excitement.

They played (like, a ton outside because it was sunny and around 75), went to get pedicures, to a local fun water park, made their own birthday cake (again), Hannah was missing Whataburger...so we just HAD to go there too. It was all about the ginormous smiles, giggles, the love, the lovely friendship that will grow and blossom in years to come I hope. 

Certainly a birthday celebration that will never be forgotten by both.

Hannah is TWELVE!

Every year since she was ONE year old, we have had the tradition to go to the Olive Garden restaurant on Hannah's birthday with family. We found one here and of course had to keep that tradition!

Okay- another tradition. My Mom always makes her cake. This year they made cake pop's. 

So easy (so I hear):

Bake a chocolate boxed cake according to directions on box- in a 9x13 pan.

Let cool and crumble the cake in a large bowl.

Add a container of chocolate frosting to crumbles. Form into balls and put in freezer for a bit to set.

Place stick into ball, melt chocolate and dip balls in. Then add festive sprinkles. Moist, deeeelicious and CUTE.

(You can do this with any flavor of cake/white chocolate.)

Love this 12-year old to pieces. You are my dream/wish come true, Hannah.