[L O V E]   1.) Feeding the Animals  2.)  Comfy, Air Conditioned Cabins  3.) These Awesome Trail Bikes  4.) Rosy Swimming Cheeks 

[L O V E]   1.) Wild Flowers  2.) Board Games after Smores  3.)  That Mason had his suitcase packed a week in advance!  4.)  The Bike Trail  5.)  Our Table 

WE sure did rough it didn’t we? 

Can’t wait to go back!

xoxoxoxoxox

Think about what you loved to do as a child, and then do it.

Susan Branch

My gift to you—  a set of VEGGIE CHARACTER CARDS for a game Go Fish, Memory or Match- up!

Download Veggie Cards HERE!

Download includes 12 different vegetables.  I simply printed image as a 4×6 photo, trimmed in half and mount on printed card stock.    For personal and/or classroom use only.  Please do not redistribute.  Download will be available through July 15, 2010.

ENJOY!  

(on the left) 

My dad is extraordinary.  Not just on Father’s Day. EVERYDAY.  

He has taught me the art of kindness, generosity, perseverance and determination.

One of the greatest gifts he has given me is my CREATIVE spirit.   

Proof my dad is CRAZY CREATIVE: 

1. He lives in a purple house.
2. He creates zany food dishes.  Can you say sauteed Honey Nut Cheerios with cinnamon and sugar?!  
3. We did family style whip-cream fights when I was a kid! 
4. He has an old telephone booth, a McDonald’s amusement ride, and a hand-crafted stain glass fence decorating his BACKYARD.  It’s amazing.
5. As a kid he wallpapered my room, top to bottom, with my artwork.

So when you see all the wacky-crazy-silly-messy things I do with my kids…  

don’t blame me! I was just blessed enough to have a fantastic and amazing role-model.   

“THANKS DAD for teaching how live creatively.  Because you believed in me, loved me and cherished me that I am able to be the mom I am today.  

 THANK you for being the most wonderful father in the WORLD! 

Happy Father’s Day Dad!

 I love you!”

my fantastic photographer friends and I took

to the streets of Chicago to spread a little CHEER!

We wanted to remind everyone just how 

Dazzling

Beautiful

Charming

Unique

&

Delightful

they are!

 It was especially fun to get folks who were kinda “grumpy” at first and then make them SMILE and LAUGH!

 We gave each person a Polaroid picture and a chocolate as our “thank you.” 

   My favorite comments:

“WOW! This is the coolest thing ever!”

and

“Now you are going to say we are on candid camera, right?”

Me with Kate and Tracie– two outrageously creative and inspirational gals!!!!   

You’ve gotta see more SMILES and behind the scenes shots on their blogs:

TSJ Photography

Kate Bogot Photography

Decorate

Cook

Sew

Garden

Clean

Bake

Knit

Paint/Draw/Sclupt

Play a Muscial Instrument

Carry a Tune

[Proof: My Beastly-Overgrown-Weedy Garden]

But I can:

Take Pretty Pictures

Organize

Make Fun & Educational Things for Kids

Teach 

Be Crazy Creative

Encourage

Parent

Love

Laugh at Myself

Be Silly, Goofy, Kind and Generous

[Memorial Day 2010: Hearts & Raindrops] 

I love this quote from Max Lucado:

“You can do something no one else can do in a fashion no one else can do it. 

When you do the most of what you do best, you put a smile on God’s face.” 

and this one from Joel Osteen:

“Dare to be different; be secure in who God made you to be and then go out and be the best that you can be. 

You don’t need anyone else’s approval. 

God has given us all different gifts, talents and personalities on purpose. 

Learn to be hapy with who God made you.”

The “album” is really just little stacks of name badge sleeves tied with a ribbon and rings.  {Digital Template: Shabby Princess}

Favorite trash to treasure projects from the archives:

1. Robby the Counting Robot {recycled spice tins}
2. Mason’s Shape Box {recycled Playmobile toy container}
3. Birthday Invite {recycled Altoid tin}
4. Coin Counting Book {recycled paint chips}
5. Photo Soup Cans {recycled soup cans}
6. Birthday Countdown {recycled board game}
7. Coin Bank {recycled coffee cups}

Some of my favorite Easter memories:

I’m currently reading The Christ of Easter: 48 Days of Devotions by Calevin Miller and really love these snippets:

“Let the child you used to be praise Him and the adult you have become will be refreshed.”

“Grace is unexplainable.  We are all waling miracles of mercy.”

“Live in such genuine simplicity that who you are is who you seem to be.”

Yesterday I received a SURPRISE package from my inspirational friend Tracie!! {Her Blog Here}

WOWSERS.  It was so pretty I didn’t even want to unwrap it. 

Inside I found three books and letter press cards— OH MY!  Funny thing is we sent each other packages on the same day without even knowing it!  :)  Thank you so very much Tracie!

And look at this necklace!!!  Christy from Beachbrights (remember my I pick you, Valentine) recently sent me this.  Just because.  JUST BECAUSE!  I mean come on.  How incredible is that?

I had to search for this photo… a sweet gift from last summer… Candies wrapped in PAPER STRAWBERRIES!  From my ultra creative friend Heather!    

And ALL the sweet treasures from friends afar I haven’t photographed… my heart is going to burst with gratitude and love because of you guys!

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship:

 it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovered that someone else believes in him

and is willing to trust him with his fellowship.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you friends.  I cherish each and every one of you.