Sweets 'n Treats for Santa

It has been such a busy weekend, that I never posted about being featured 

at Groopdealz.com again!

I love this design, so simple and fun!

Don't miss out...today is the last day to get this for $3

Have a great Monday!

Spooky's Magic Shop on Groopdealz

I am so excited....

I am being featured this morning over at Groopdealz.  

You should check it out!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!

Parking at The 36th Avenue

I can not believe it....I am so excited to be blogging today over at

The 36th Avenue,

stop by and check out Desiree's blog...

 Rumor has it that there are some  awesome giveaways going on over there as well!!

Hmm, where is he?

Silence, not a good thing with a busy 17 month old little man in the house.

Hallway bathroom door open.  Shower curtain pulled back.  Toilet seat up.  

Toilet paper on the floor.  Cabinet open under the sink. 

Blankie sticking out.

 Yeah, there he is.  I wouldn't trade him for anything!  Love him to pieces!

A thumb's up!

This little man is not so little and he is so much fun! My aunt is here visiting from Scotland and she brought candy with her for us! Some for Mike and I....and lots just for the kids! After lunch each day I let the kids have a piece or two. The one that Preston really likes is called Jelly Babies...

 When I ashed him if it was good, I laughed when he gave me a thumbs up, I had never seen him do it before. So naturally I had to get the camera and give him another piece so I could get a picture.

I think he likes it!

The first day, twice!

We had our first day of school last week, actually we did the first day twice! Tuesday morning was the real first morning of preschool with Mrs. Maegan, however mommy turned the alarm off after working until 2am. So our morning was rushed to say the least. Thursday morning we had a second go at it...and we were successful!

She got in the shower, let me wash her hair and then do her hair...all with no fight! Then to the kitchen we went, I tried to talk her into french toast...she was adamant about wanting cold cereal. She put her apron on, to not get her new outfit dirty.

 And out to the car we went....I tried to get a couple good pictures outside, she wasn't having it! "Mom, we are going to be late", is all I kept hearing. I finally got one smile out of her....

  Jordan is loving school, and I love that she loves it!

May we NEVER Forget...

A "NEW" Treasure

Over Labor Day weekend,  I found myself some "new" treasures.  My husband doesn't agree, he sees it as junk and more "to do" projects in the garage....which means we are still parking on the driveway.

I have really been wanting shelving units or some form of "organizational" something or other for my office....and I have found them. I got 2 matching 7', solid wood book shelves for FREE.  One of them had been dropped and was broken, but I knew it could be fixed...and Mike did it for me!

1. We laid it face down and removed the staples, they were not very cooperative and kept breaking.  Then we carefully removed the back and we Mike pulled out all of the broken staple pieces.

2. I then held the sides together while Mike nailed them back into place. Now the test...are the shelves level? Yep! We stood it up and put in a couple shelves....

all is good! YEAH!

 Mike headed to bed at this point, and I 

3. Sanded the edges of the backing where the staples had been and cleaned it. 

4. Then I painted it a flat black.

5. I am in love with the quatrefoil pattern, so I created it and cut it out in vinyl, then I applied it to the backing. LOVE it!!

 Now, I am NOT a huge fan of mixing black and brown.  I would normally paint the entire unit, my cousin Ian even called me out on it last night when he saw it put back together. I am striving for a very cohesive feeling in my office, and there is another piece of furniture that I don't want to paint and it will match the stained wood....there really was thought behind mixing the two.

This is it finished, I need to still do the other one, and once I do I will get a better picture. My office is to little to get a really good picture of it where it is sitting for the moment...I just wanted to share!

 I am thrilled with the way it turned out! And I really don't think that the black and brown look that bad together...here!

I am partying here

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A Quick Lesson

Just recently one of my dearest friends was offered a promotion with her company that actually moved her here from LA....darn! I hope Texas is good to her, I would be sad to see her go back to LA! We were chatting and I was telling her that I had broken my small camera and really wanted to buy something new and bigger. Without hesitation she offered her Nikon for me to play with, to see what it really is that I want, and I am here to tell you that I don't want to give it back!

While at the park with Amy, she helped me figure out things about the camera. She was also kind enough to give me pointers on subject matter....we used Buzz Lightyear!

 My favorite is the last one....I think I might be learning a little something!

The Park with Liam and Owen

I am LOVING this whole template thing....loving it! I so badly needed something in my life to be simplified, and so far this is defiantly working!

This week we ventured out in the 200* weather here in Texas, to meet Amy and the boys at a splash pad. Due to a water ban, that had gone into effect that morning, we found the splash to to be void of water. There was going to be no splashing that day or any other until next season...so on to the park.

Preston and Owen chilled in their strollers while Jordan and Liam played. After a short while it was decided that a snack was needed. The crackers and juice pouches were enjoyed by all. I loved watching Jordan and Liam interact, and I found it so endearing that she was hanging on his every word!

 I love the small chubby hands and toes!

A New Lamp Lineup

One of my favorite places to shop for both home and work is Lowe's. During my weekly trip, this past week, some new items caught my eye. They have a new display of lamps...cute lamps and shades, that are actually affordable.

These two shades were my favorite....I am thinking that I might need the blue one for our bedroom!

 They have several cute lamps....but I love these green and blue ones!

 My shopping partners were actually in a good mood that day as well, and this is not always the case. I can't wait for the awkward 3yr old smile to be real again! I sure love my babies!!

Commitment & Templates

I am trying very hard to simplify my life. As many of you can relate, I feel like I am being pulled in 1,000,000 different directions everyday. I often feel like life is out of control...that it controls me, but I want to put the reins on it as much as possible.

I have decided that one of the reasons I have stopped blogging is that I don't have the time to do a cute layout of pictures for every post....and pictures are really the best part, I think! So, when I decided to join in the fun over at The 36th Avenue, things had to change here.

I find my inspiration everywhere, life is full of it! However, I often feel very inspired by Amy, she is my cousins sweet wife and she is amazing! Ian has recently made her some templates for photos on her blog....I know lots of you have already done it, but I joined the template world this weekend. I made my self several, and I am so excited to use them! Here are just 2 of the many that I did...

a NEW challenge

So, I am taking on a new challenge, one that I have wanted to do for a while...I am going to start blogging again! I am going to remember the reasons that I started blogging...the people and things that I love, not just work! I need to do things that I want to do again, and I found the push that I needed...

A New Home....

I am so excited about my new home at The Shoppes at Brownstone Village and wanted to share a few snap shots with everyone out there.

I have inherited my Oma's love of crafting and creating, I wish that I could share this with her. The coffee table in this picture belonged to her...I love having it in my space.

This is the amazing oak pedestal table that Mike and I found in the trash pile on a curb...on our way to buy the one that I found on Craig's List. 

I need to give a huge shout out to my sweetheart, this would not have come together so smoothly without him. He hung the pegboard, that was from my display walls for shows, and then framed it for me. Love Him!

I still have a few touches to take care of, and I really need to get busy making stuff to keep it stocked. As usual I have too many irons in the fire!

New Items

With it being Teacher Appreciation Week, I did a couple new things for my booth...

With one closing, another opens...

When did this happen? When did he get so big?

I haven't posted about him turning one yet because I think I am in denial. I vividly remember a year ago standing (I should have been on the couch, I was on bed rest) in our bathroom sobbing that I was ready to have him...and then later that evening sobbing in the shower because my dr had called and we were going to meet him for an emergency c-section. Along with having our little man I also had my tubes tied, it was a medical decision, but I never thought it would effect me the way it has. 

On his birthday, a year later...probably down to an exact minute or two, I found myself sobbing in our bathroom again. All of a sudden I was am having second thoughts. I know that we prayerfully made the right decision for me medically, but I am having a really hard time with this chapter of my life to come to a close. I will never again feel the sweet movement of life growing, hear a first cry or hold my new born again.

However, I am truly enjoying the opening of a new chapter in Preston's little life. He is such a sweet, gentle spirit. The Lord knew what he was doing when he sent us this little guy.

We had his party at my parents house, and I will post those pictures later...but here is one. He ate SO much cake. I was sure he was going to be sick...but he never was.

Gosh, I sure love him!

$20 for $10 deal

I am SO excited! Today is a big day for us, we are being featured on Our Hometown Deal, a new website based here in the metroplex. Check it out! Share it with your friends!

Changing....

Things are ever changing...and I will admit I normally don't really like change. However, these are good changes. We have moved into a new spot in the Brownstone, and I am LOVING our new space. I will post pictures soon, promise!

And there are even more changes coming in July, as we will be moving into The Plaid Peacock.

sharing some creative time

 While Preston was sleeping, I decided to take my work to the kitchen table and hang out with this cutie as she was creating her own little masterpiece.

While working on this one she said, "Mom, this one is for Sarah, and she is going to love it!" I think this piece is going to find it's way to Milwaukee to her big sister.  

winner, winner

And we have a winner for the St. Patrick's Day design...

Amberlynn

 and then as promised...the first 5 that became friends on Facebook, get this guy.

And those ladies are...

Emily(8:13), Natalie(8:32), Glenda(8:37), Tracey & Janlyn(8:47)

a new giveaway....

It has been a long time since there has been a giveaway here...and I am excited to have a new one. 

This giveaway is for St. Patrick's Day.

The vinyl will fit perfectly on an 11x14 frame, you could also apply it directly to the wall or any other flat surface for the holiday, removing afterward.

 So, here are the details for entering to win...

• 1 entry, become a fan on our facebook page, and leave us a comment on the status about this giveaway to let us know you are a new fan.
• 1 entry, follow our blog for the first time, and leave a comment on this post to let us know that you are going to be following our craziness.

You can do 1 or both, to increase your chances.

 The vinyl for this little guy will be going to the first 5 people, that become fan on facebook. 

This giveaway will close at 11:59am on March 4, 2011. Winners will be announced on Saturday March 5, 2011. This giveaway is for the vinyl only and does not include the frame or the plate shown in the pictures.

 

"Luck, Love and Laughter" has been moved

Ladies are you feeling lucky this Valentines? Here at Brownstone we wish you much luck, love and laughter this Valentines Day! We have just the event to pass on a little fun and good fortune as you prepare your Valentines gift list.

Join us for Smooch-aritas, sweet treats and scratch offs! We will be handing out Texas Lottery scratch off tickets at Brownstone Too. (Brownstone Too is located to the west of Brownstone. It is limited to the first 75 people and it is one per person.) Once you receive your scratch off ticket, it is as easy as 1, 2,3.

1. Scratch off your lotto ticket
2. If your lotto ticket is a winner, show it to the front desk at Brownstone and we will MATCH YOUR WINNINGS WITH A BROWNSTONE GIFT CERTIFICATE. That's right! You can win up to $1,000 on your lotto ticket and then get a gift certificate to Brownstone for $1,000!
3. Sip, sample and shop for all the gifts on your Valentine's list!

So I ask you again ladies...are you feeling lucky this Valentines?

Spring Fling

This past November I had the opportunity to be a part of the first fall show, The Experience, put on by Funky Finds and it was a blast. It was the best, well put together show that I have been a part of. The staff was fun, vendors were friendly and so creative...and the music made me want to get up and dance. So, naturally I am excited about being a part of the spring show. Here is the info...