Life Appreciated

9-11

2011-09-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

Hello! I have had a super full schedule the last few weeks with school and work and unfortunately blogging has taken a back seat. That bums me out so I am going to try to post more often. I suppose I should start with today...it is September 11th. A tragic day for all Americans. Because we are at the ten year anniversary, there have been many documentaries and specials on TV highlighting different aspects of this day. I have been engrossed, watching many of them. New footage, untold stories, heartbreaking sadness. Definitely an emotional time. Praying this never happens again and learning from this day and being reminded yet again, how precious life is.

One special documented the actions of two selfless heroes From Tower 2 that helped save dozens and dozens of lives while ultimately sacrificing their own. Another show followed the children of 9-11 who were all born fatherless soon after 9-11-01. It was so heart warming to see the photos of the children now at age 10 next to a photo of their father. The resemblances were amazing. Cannot imagine what they have had to endure and it is heartbreaking. I watched a show about Al-Qaeda and how much hate Bin Laden had for us and how that hate just grew and grew and traveled from person to person in that organization over the years. Scary to have that much anger and evil feelings for something or someone.

This morning I watched the tribute at Ground Zero. The huge water fountains where the towers stood are beautiful. I hope to visit on our next trip to the city. After that, I watched the movie about United Flight 93. Can you imagine knowing you were going to die in a plane crash and having to call those you loved to say goodbye. I always say I am ready for Jesus to return and be done with this life but that actual moment -it must be so intense. ABC news had footage with this Beyonce song and the song really moved me. It not only reminds me of all of the people lost on 9-11 but of all the children {and adults too} that have died from cancer. Gives me chills. Amazing lyrics and truly all anyone wants to know is that their life mattered in some way. That they were here.

Since I promised to be better about blogging... this week I will have the girls photos from back to school as well as sharing about an opportunity to see President Obama. How exciting!

Earthquakes & Hurricanes... that's how we roll in VA

2011-08-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

To say the weather has been a bit crazy this past week may just be an understatement. We started the craziness off on Tuesday. Emma and I were working in the studio, Ellie was watching a movie in the family room and Steve was in Nashville. All of a sudden there was a vibration sound and the windows started to rattle. I was thinking it was a military helicopter flying by our house. We are on some sort of travel path and often one or two of these large, low flying helicopters will go by and rattle the house. As I stood up thinking 'Just how many helicopters are out there because that is some shaking' it got louder and the ground began to violently shake. I headed out of the studio with Emma following close behind to find Ellie with a panicked look on her face. I said "We're having an earthquake" (which sounded extremely strange to say & hear) which quickly made Ellie burst out into sobs. I had to yell at her and tell her to calm down that it would be OK that I had to get us outside. As soon as we stepped outside it stopped.

Many of my neighbors were outside already and we all confirmed that we were OK and just what the heck was happening. Earthquakes in Virginia? Who would have predicted that? The only other earthquake I have experienced was in Los Angeles 3 years ago. That was a 5.5 and we barely felt it. This was much different. It was scary. My legs shook for about 45 minutes after the earthquake was over. I tried to call Steve right away but phone service was out. Oddly, after knowing we were fine and there was no damage, I knew Steve would have disappointment about missing out and not being here. He loves wild weather. Turns out the quake would rate as a 5.8 magnitude and it would be felt all up and down the eastern part of the US. It was centered about 35 miles or so from Richmond so I suppose that is why we felt it so strongly. Amazingly, not one frame or book or anything in the house was disrupted. Hard to believe because we were really shaking. There were a few aftershocks but I just felt one of them. I am hoping to never have to experience that again - once in a lifetime is enough.

All of the earthquake news, took center stage for the next two days but Hurricane Irene news was begging to be back in the spotlight and by Thursday she was. I am so grateful we live in an age of communication and technology and we can predict hurricanes and prepare for their arrival but man, the news loves to scare you silly. Our local news went back and forth I would say 4 or 5 times with "it's going to be really dismal for us in Richmond to we barely will notice the hurricane". All the models showed we were on the outskirts of the wind and rain so we weren't too worried. Storm chaser Steve secretly had his fingers crossed for bad weather because, well he likes that - but me, I was thinking long term and thinking about no electricity. And I certainly do not like that. So we did the normal storm prep things. Bought ice, charged every electronic device we own, washed clothes, stocked up on pop tarts and Steve went and bought a generator. What? Come again? I totally thought it was an impulse buy (encouraged by CNN and the weather channel) and we would be returning it right after the storm still safely within the walls of its cardboard packaging.

The storm begins to roll in early Saturday morning. The wind picks up and the rain is falling. There are a few wind bursts here and there but nothing really exciting. We watch North Carolina and the Outer Banks get pounded on TV. The storm creeping along at a snail's pace of 14 miles per hour is not expected to really affect us until late afternoon. So the afternoon was spent appreciating a gloomy day. I actually enjoy a storm and since we have had a very hot and dry summer, the rain is quite welcome. Steve and I cozy up on the couch on the screened-in porch and watch the wind blow and feel the rain lightly spray our feet. Around 2 pm the electricity finally flickers out and we are left in the gray afternoon without the hum of the air conditioner or the sound of the news filling our ears. The girls love a power outage so they run off with flashlights but as I mentioned, I am not a fan. It's fun for about 2 minutes and then I was itchy to get that generator up and running. I know, the irony. Within the confines of that box, my computer will work, the refrigerator will get cold again and we can have light. Open it up...OPEN IT NOW!

We decide to wait to see if the storm gets worse because we cannot see any real damage and the power may be back on soon. As the afternoon goes on conditions do actually worsen and it gets very windy. Tree limbs and leaves litter the yard. We can hear trees falling in the woods behind our house but nothing in our yard. Around 7pm, after the winds die down, we go for a drive around the neighborhood and witness trees down in many yards. We fared well at our house but many neighbors lost trees. Nice, decorative trees. We decide to get the generator up and running because it looks worse than we thought. Within 45 minutes, Steve has the refrigerator running and the big screen TV is reporting all the damage in our area. Emma lets out a big sigh and says she doesn't think she could ever make it for more than a few hours, she says this while hugging her laptop. Ellie loved the excitement of no electricity and using lanterns and candles but I am sure it would have gotten old pretty quickly. I decide I love the new generator even if it noisy and I am glad we are keeping it. The local news confirmed about 1 million people were without power in Virginia and it would be several days before it was restored. I loved the generator even more after that newscast. I am thinking we need to give it a name.. I guess Irene would be fitting.

That night we had the windows open for air circulation (it was getting hot!) and I did not sleep at all listening to the wind rage outside. I thought for sure the trees had had enough and they were going to start snapping and landing on my bedroom. It was a long scary night. By morning, it was over and the sun was shinning once again. Around 5 pm, to our surprise, the lights came back on. How wonderful! We were lucky because there are still many homes in central VA that are in the dark as I write this. It was great to get all the extension cords that were crisscrossing the house rolled up and put away and to sweep up all the leaves that made it into the house and vacuum it all up. The generator has a nice resting spot in the garage now and the piece of mind it brings knowing we are more prepared for disasters is comforting. Earthquakes and hurricanes in one weeks time... and we survived! Invigorating!

Ellie has her bug lantern all set to go when the lights go out.

As the storm raged outside, I enjoyed a fun game of scrabble on the ipad. Thank goodness for battery powered technology.

The hummingbirds seemed to enjoy the rainy day.

Great place to watch the storm... that was until the sight of Pine trees bending way over scared us back into the kitchen.

Tucker is a good sport once the power goes out. He played dress up with Ellie

candles.... the staple of every good hurricane

Fun in the dark... Steve is quickly assembling the generator as we wait in the darkness

My vinca that line the stone wall took a beating. These are the before photos. Hoping the sunny weather perks them back up like before.

summer time collage

2011-08-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

Game on...

2011-08-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I said I was going to post about Hilton Head... I will...I just have to finish all the photos first. Almost finished!

I wanted to share a photo of my beautiful daughter who will soon be entering high school. Tomorrow she plays her very first scrimmage as a high school field hockey athlete. She put the uniform on tonight to ensure it all fit and I almost cried... So proud of her and who she is growing up to be.

sooo grown up. happy & sad about that!

best of luck this season! ♥

Going off the Grid...sort of...

2011-08-16T15:41:00.001-07:00

I am thinking of making this blog private. Just feels like the way to go. I know there are 100s of people that visit each day and many are regulars that I already know. So... if you want to continue reading, please send your email address to me and I will add you. You can drop me a line at cbgrfx @gmail.com (take out the space between the "x" and the "@").

Next time - All about our trip to Hilton Head...

the dog days are over

2011-08-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

Well, hello August… second week of August at that! Heading into the final days of summer and I am getting a little excited for Fall and back to school time. It’s been a good summer, albeit a super hot one. I wonder when all is said and done if this summer will be hotter than last summer. I think it will be a tie. Last summer was a major scorcher too. Yeah, I am thinking that maybe it was a little hotter last summer. I am ready for the high 90's to be replaced with the mid 80's. Oh, and a breeze, I would like to put my order in for a nice breeze.

I have been in major work mode this summer. Lots of orders and designing and adding of new products – I am so grateful for this company and what I have created. Makes me happy and grateful. So… lots of work has been happening around here. This has left little time for nature walks and photography sessions. I miss that but I know come the fall and the cooler weather, I will be back out on the trail, camera in hand. We head to Hilton Head soon and I will of course be taking tons of photos but I am also really looking forward to just relaxing. On a chair by the pool. With a drink in my hand. Or on a blanket. With sand between my toes. And a drink in my hand. Oh and a spa day. That sounds like heaven. I'm relaxed just thinking about it.

Oh…. have to share, Emma made the high school field hockey team. So proud of her and that she is starting off her freshman year on the right track. It’s not easy getting up at 6am for practice while on summer break. So my hat is off to you Emma… you did it! Ellie is also making great strides with her reading. Her tutor has been great and she is doing well. She has been reading a lot more on her own. Her accomplishments also make me very proud. Yep, one proud mamma sitting right here.

As I mentioned not too many opportunities to take photos lately but I do have a few....

emma before heading out to practice

bumble bee in the front garden

me and ellie and matt dinardo on set for our st jude interview

lots of orders for back to school ready to head out

red-bellied woodpecker on the feeder

the girls playing air hockey

Smurfin' new post

2011-07-30T17:09:00.000-07:00

It's the second to last day of July. And. It is hot. We have been close to or over 100 degrees all week. Fingers crossed rain is on the way and some lower temperatures too. Tonight the girls and I went to see the Smurf Movie. So smurfin' cute. Steve was wavering about coming but he opted to stay home but I am thinking he would have liked it. It was funny. I am not smurfin' kidding.

So... let's see what have we been up to besides sweating.

Ellie & I taped a St . Jude interview with our local ABC station.
We talked about the upcoming Give Thanks walk in Richmond
It airs sometime in August
Ellie's last week of summer school is next week.
Emma is having her physical on Monday so she will be cleared to play field hockey. JV & Varsity team tryouts are August 8th
We leave for Hilton Head soon.
I don't want to even venture out of the resort we will be in.
It is an amazing place and I wish we were there now.
Emma and I were talking about friends and I realized how lucky I am to have so many good ones.
I am glad Steve is home from being away for a few days. I really miss him when he is gone (don't tell him I said that)
Emma & I have been enjoying the Real Housewives series. Those ladies are messed up and we cannot get enough of them!
Steve and I have been enjoying Weeds and the Big C on Showtime.
I wish those two shows were on longer than 30 minutes. It's never long enough.
Great writing on both shows. I love, love, love me some Andy on Weeds.
Ellie's little friend from next door is back from her summer vacation.
She went to China for a month.
She brought her back lots of little Chinese presents.
There is a nest of yellow jackets under one of our Leeland Cyprus trees.
It makes me nervous but it is far enough away from the house and where we are when we are outside. If they wanted to relocate themeselves though, I wouldn't mind.
The tall garden phlox in my front garden smells heavenly.
Tucker pee'd all over my black-eyed susans that were around the mailbox and killed them all.
Black-eyed Susans ~~are~~ were my favorite flower so I am sad.
Sterling Jewelers releases their St. Jude stuffed animals at the end of August.
Ellie is on their team this year and her artwork will be on all the hang tags.
Buy a plush puppy at Jared - the Galleria of Jewelry or Kay Jewelers and support St. Jude
We have a lot of fun trips and events planned in the next few months that we are looking forward to.
Disney World
Adele concert (I am BEYOND excited to have gotten tickets!)
ALL of our birthdays are coming up and a few more events after that!
One being a possible TODAY show appearance... stay tuned...
I am busy with work and designing.
Hoping for lots of back to school business.
I scored a new account that has BIG potential. (so excited)
I have learned this week that I have no tolerance for certain people anymore.
Bad questionable behavior, no manners and having a false sense of entitlement when you do nothing to earn it is really... well... just wrong.
It feels good to be honest.
Our cat Kanye figured out he likes catnip this week.
We learned he does not like to share his newfound love of catnip.
Life is good and I have not complaints... well except for the weather.
This a photo free post.

Catching Up

2011-07-26T17:04:00.000-07:00

Wow...where has the time gone? Summer goes by way too quickly, it always does. Routines are off, days are lazier and my pace slows way down. Sleeping in an extra hour and staying up late at night. Going to the pool and enjoying margaritas and hanging out with the girls; I love it. The girls love it too (except for the margarita part). I wish it wasn't August in a few days.

As I mentioned last time, we headed north to Cape Cod for 9 days on July 8th. The girls and I along with Grandma Marilyn had a long, rainy and slooow drive on Friday to Connecticut. We had many laughs on the near 11 hour drive but I sure was so beyond glad to pull into the hotel parking lot and do a face flop onto my bed. Steve was already there waiting for us to arrive.

It was wonderful to have just a short 3 hour drive the next day onto the Cape. We rented a house in Brewster Mass which is part of the lower Cape. It is such a quaint New England town. Charm oozing from every corner and flower box. (which were everywhere) Hydranges, roses & daisies cascade over white picket fences which surround homes that are weathered and inviting. I fell hard and fast.

The house was very nice with lots of personality - it was open and had great light. There were lots of knick-knacky things here and there but it was done tastefully and above all else, the house was comfortable and spacious for the 5 of us. The bathrooms were on the small side and they seemed to have some plumbing issues. We didn't experience any during our stay but signs on the mirrors made it clear that when you had 'AN EVENT' you should flush midway through. Really? I guess we all followed directions carefully because there were no 'issues'. The sign provided us with laughs and running jokes throughout our stay. Really priceless. There also was an outdoor shower that got lots of use from all our company and from Steve too. The grounds were beautiful. Lots of big hydrangea bushes and bird feeders. You know I love the birds! It was really just perfect. oh...and we were just a 5 minute walk to the beach. Would have been really great to have been ON the beach but around the corner is good too.

Instead of boring you with all the details, I will let some of my favorite photos do the talking. It was a great family trip and I was so happy to have my mom with us. The girls just adore their grandmother. She has come full circle because when I was little she would take us up to the Cape and she has so many fond memories so it was nice to be able to take her this time. So, it was a great trip and it hurt to come back home to reality and to 100 degree weather but we will be back again soon. A little piece of my heart is there.

this is my favorite photo. just beautifully sums up what cape cod is about to me.

my favorite photo of ellie. she just melts my heart.

headed to crosby beach in brewster/orleans

♥

my mom was so happy to be at the beach. so glad she could come back to the cape again. love the happiness in her eyes.

ellie playing in the sand at saints landing beach

beautiful sunsets over the bay

my favorite photo of me and my mom
she looks great in this photo

random boy chasing seagulls photo but it is such an iconic image - i love it.

enjoying the relaxation part of vacation. the house was a great place to hang out.

gorgeous emma on the beach

enjoying chatham beach. there were dozens of harbor seals behind us on a sand bar

this is classic. we were in provincetown after the sunset and my mom so wanted to make it to the beach to put her feet in the water. this is one of her favorite places ever so we took a nice photo and then {crash} the waves slammed in. all our faces are priceless and the story about getting to the water is even better.

oyster beds at low tide

caught a crab. pinch pinch

steve and emmy. they look so much alike.

house along main street in chatham. love it.

view from the mudflats

some of my bffs came for a night with their kids. lots of laughs...way too many.

life is good on the bay.

final sunset. cannot wait to return...soon

rainy wednesday

2011-07-06T13:40:00.001-07:00

It's been raining and thundering all afternoon. Which deserves a big woo hoo because one, we need rain badly and two it is now a pleasant (although rainy) 72 degrees. This morning it was close to 90 and humid. I love thunderstorms so long as I don't have any trees falling on my house and it's not in such a close proximity that I have to unplug my office. Printers, computers, laminators - they all have to be unplugged because no one likes a lightning strike.

They other night Steve was away for work and we had a thunderstorm that was pretty close by. The lights went off and on at least three times and I received a call from my neighbor who was stuck across town and needed their dog brought in. I was in my pjs. It was lightning. It was scary but I ran across the street and rescued their poor dog who did not look like he was having much fun. He was glad to be let into the garage. As I ran back, I saw the girls faces pressed into the living room window yelling to hurry up and then KABOOM! the loudest clap of thunder. Ellie hugged me tight when I sprinted thru the door and Emma told me I really should be wearing a bra. Did I not say I had my pajamas on!! So, I do love a storm but only when I can enjoy it from the comfort of my own home.

So the first week of July is almost over. Nothing too exciting happened. Ellie & Steve have been to the pool and over the weekend we all went out to dinner and to see Super 8. It was PG-13 and I thought Ellie could handle it but sadly no. It was too scary. Thankfully, Steve took her out and they snuck into a showing of Cars and Emma and I enjoyed the rest of our scary movie. We also re-subscribed to the cable premium channels (HBO/Showtime/Starz). Steve and I love to watch Weeds & the Big C which are both Showtime shows and they started up again last week. The deal for 3 months was just $45.00 and all the premium channels came with it. We'll cancel it again in September. As well as enjoying Weeds & The Big C, we are watching movies again. Last night the girls and I watched Jaws. The original 1975 movie. Ellie was scared silly about Super 8 but surprisingly, a large man eating shark attacking unsuspecting beach goers does not seem to bother her. We head to Cape Cod on Friday. Hopefully, they will venture into the water while we are there and I will not regret this movie choice.

July 4th was low key. We enjoyed a lazy day at home instead of going to our neighborhood shindig. It was a beautiful day that ended with a thunderstorm. Ellie and I watched the Macy's fireworks from NYC on TV. That was some display. You know when it translates on TV well that it must have been incredible in person. Ellie started her reading program this week and her tutor comes tomorrow for their first session. Fingers crossed she will have improvements by the end of summer. I know she can do it.

Sadly I have no photos to share. I have been working a lot getting ready to shut the studio down for 10 days. I can share some new halloween tote bags that I just listed. They are super cute and are going to sell well.

Puts me in the mood for Halloween! I ♥ them!

Next time I will have plenty of photos to share. Photos from the beautiful shores and sands of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Until then...

the last day of June...

2011-06-30T16:54:00.001-07:00

Isn't that sad? The first month of summer is over. July starts in a few hours.... It always always just goes way too fast. Thankfully we have lots of fun events to look forward to over the next several weeks of summer but that doesn't help me get over that this is June 30th. I turn 42 in August... how is that possible?? Time just keeps on a ticking.... tick tock tick tock
Ending June with photos of my girls and summer flowers. Begrundingly welcoming in July.

one of ellie's favorite summer time activities - bubbles!

container plants on the patio. they make me happy

the face of summer :)

pant pant pant

me and emma - photo courtesy of ellie

Shenadoah National Park

2011-06-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

Sunday the mister and I took a day for ourselves and headed west to the mountains. Emma was with a girlfriend at home and Ellie got to have some one on one time with grandma. We dropped her off on our way. She was thrilled to pieces about it too. There was partaking in sundaes, shopping, movie watching and hanging out and chatting about life. A perfect day for Grandma and for Ellie. We also had a perfect day.

We went to the Shenandoah National Park which is one of my favorite places in the world. Everytime I am there, I see or experience something new. It's never a disappointment. The weather was gorgeous. A warm 72 degrees and the birds were singing and calling from everywhere.

We decided to take a hike on a trail that was posted as relatively easy. Just 2 miles roundtrip. One mile up to the mountain top and one mile down. Oi vhey, I am so out of shape. The mile up was tough and I was sweating and breathing heavy and Steve would look back and say "are you OK?" which made it worse because it was no big deal to him... but I made it! All the way to the top and I didn't have a heart attack or stop to rest too much.

it doesn't look too tough but it was a long way up!

It was worth all the panting and cursing because the feeling of accomplishment when we reached the top was amazing. The views were beautiful and to think that we were just on the road 30 minutes before was super cool. I also realized that I need to invest in some hiking shoes for our next trip. My 2.5 year old Keds that have no traction were not really cutting it. I think a walking stick would help too oh, and maybe a hat...Once I am properly accessorized, I can go back and laugh in the face of that uphill trail.

skyline drive from up above. see.. it was a big trail to climb.

♥

the view from the top.

we had a chuckle over the bong that we found in the woods.
I don't know if I would enjoy being 'high' this high up with such a looong way to fall down.

After our hike we headed to the lodge for a late lunch. The lodge is located across from a big field and I was keeping my fingers crossed that there would be deer and fawns. I was not disappointed. There is nothing cuter than a baby fawn. The big eyes, the wet nose, the long eye lashes and those precious spots dotting their backs - love them! We spied three fawn that flitted between two moms. How very nurturing and caring each mamma deer was, even if it wasn't her offspring.

precious, just precious.

how could anyone shoot one of us? look how cute I am.

fawn in the meadow.

We saw lots of birds at the meadow too. Barn Swallows were zigging and zagging all across the road, American Robins were uncovering earth worms and a Brown Thrasher parent was teaching junior some life lessons. It was great and I could have stayed all day. My partner in crime was very tolerant but there is only so long that he can look at birds so he went off to the car to listen to some talk radio and relax. Again, I could have stayed for another hour just watching and observing and appreciating.

brown thrasher family
notice the baby hasn't 'matured' into his golden eyes yet

finally, one took a break. barn swallows fly for a looong looong time

baby barn swallows!

We ended our day hiking down from one of the overlooks to a grouping of rocks. We heard a Barred Owl call and saw several warblers. Three new life birds for me. I was so happy. Sadly, they were too fast for me to photograph as they flew from tree top to tree top in mock speed. AND...Steve was standing too close to the edge for my liking and he was taking the edge off my bird high because I was afraid he was going to fall. Next time we go, I am bringing a tent and a sleeping bag and some hiking shoes and I am staying for a day or two...or three.

see....see how close to the edge he is. made me very nervous!

goodbye shenandoah national park. until next time...

The month of June

2011-06-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Summer is in full swing. We have had fabulous weather and so far we have been quite busy. The girls finished school on the 18th so this is their first 'official' week on break. They both did well in school. Emma heads to high school in September and Ellie will be off to 3rd grade. Cannot believe I have a high schooler. She is excited about this transition and I am excited for her. Third grade is known to be much more challenging than 2nd grade so we will have our fingers crossed that Ellie will do OK. She starts summer reading school next month and we also have lined up a reading specialist to tutor her twice a week. Hoping it all pays off by the end of the summer.

We have been busy since our trip to St. Jude. We enjoyed having our friends Laurel and Tony visit us for a long weekend. Laurel and I shopped and had lunch and many laughs. They also brought down their kayaks and we took an early morning run at the lake. It was amazing. I was able to kayak down into a little cove and see 3 Belted Kingfishers. I think mom was teaching a class on fishing. I was able to get really close which was a treat for me. We also spied the Osprey and several catfish jumping out of the water. I so love the lake we live on. It's a blessing in my life.

After our visit with Laurel and Tony, Steve's cousin Karen was next to visit. She is such fun and we all laugh at her fun spirit. One day I had to work and she played with Ellie for most of the day. Ellie was overjoyed! We also went to Busch Gardens amusement park in Williamsburg. It was just Emma, her friend, Karen and I. Since Ellie is not a fan of all the 'big' rides she stayed home and went out to the movies with Steven. Us big ride fans were not disappointed in the least. It was the first time for Emma and I (Karen too) going to Busch Gardens. It wasn't very crowded so we were able to ride the roller coasters all day without much of a wait. Love when that happens. When you purchase a ticket you can come back all summer long so I am sure we will be back in the very near future. There are still a lot of things that we didn't get to, that I would like to do there.

Weather wise, we have been fortunate to have pretty great weather. It hasn't rained much and there has only been one or two thunderstorms. It has been a bit on the hot side but nothing horrible. The life in the backyard has been a pleasure to watch this season. So many birds and their babies, chipmunks, lizards, the two Mallard ducks that come everyday, frogs, toads, deer and racoons. I love to just sit and watch from the porch. My favorite summer time activity.

One of Ellie's favorite activities is swimming and she has already gone to 3 pool parties. She did have to bid farwell to one of her good friends who moved to Utah and another little friend has been in China for 2 weeks but thankfully, there are still lots of little girls in our neighborhood to play with. Emma has been hanging out with friends too and last week I went to "chaperone" with a girl friend whose older daughter was having a party at our clubhouse. Emma and her friend were invited to come along but they were so nervous because these kids were sophomores and juniors (I know right!). Well, I spied this really cute boy and inquired about him (a rising sophomore) and then he was introduced to Emma and now they are texting and he just asked her out to the movies. We haven't put a dating policy into effect yet so we aren't sure how to handle this. It's fun to be a match maker though!! Who knew!

I have been busy with work too. Hoping to get to some new designs out this month. Emma has been helping a lot in the studio which is great. She does require payment in clothes from Hollister but so far the arrangement is working. Next, we are gearing up for our July vacation to Cape Cod. Cannot wait. Here are some random photos from the last few weeks of our summer thus far.

We took my mom the Melting Pot for her 75th Birthday. Oh my...was it good!

Ruby Throated male humming bird at the feeder.

photo from Busch Gardens. A scary one of me but man riding roller coasters in 95 degree weather makes you look a bit beat down.

Steve after one of our canoe rides on the lake.

Emma and her friend. Such pretty girls.

We have two chipmunks in the yard and I love to watch their antics.

Emma & Ellie enjoying a summer night.

Ellie headed off to another pool party

Shot from our canoe ride on the lake.
See what I mean about this lake - such a blessing.

Trip to Memphis

2011-06-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy start to the summer. First, the good news, Ellie had a wonderful check-up at St. Jude. Her scans came back clear. Thank God! I was nervous about this one since it was our first time going for 6 months without an MRI. When you are used to checking on things every three months and then to have to wait twice as long - things become a little unnerving. So, BIG sigh of relief for a good report. Dr. Gajjar feels now that we are heading into year four, we are in a good place. Statistically, the odds are starting to go in her favor for being cured. One more year to go. I know we will always be apprehensive and I don't think I will ever truly let my guard down about cancer recurrence but each day out she gets a little closer to that goal and we breathe a little bit easier.

While at St. Jude we made friends with a new family. The beautiful thing about being a St. Jude family is that you can instantly bond and connect with another cancer family because they truly understand and relate to what you have gone through or will go through. No words need to be spoken. Sharing Ellie's story is something I have promised God I would do and it is such an honor to have her testimony in our lives. I know Ellie's journey made an impact on them and hopefully encouraged them as well. I hope I continue to have many opportunities to talk about everything we have witnessed and experienced in the last 3 years.

During our visit Ellie finished up some loose strings with the Sterling Jeweler campaign. She needed to redo some video footage that was corrupt from our last visit. I cannot wait to see the final edited piece because there were so many starts and stops to this process that sometimes it is hard to imagine what the end result will be. I am sure it will be wonderful and we will cry and hopefully laugh too. Of course we got to see Dr. B on this visit. We both look so forward to that part of the trip. He does a great job of keeping me focused and keeping my faith strong for a positive outcome while Ellie goes to sleep and the scans probe the depths of her brain looking for changes. I know she is in the best hands possible while this takes place and I take great comfort knowing he is watching over her while she sleeps. He is getting ready to retire in the next year and that makes us sad but we know he will always be a part of our lives. We actually enjoyed some out of the hospital time with him and his wife and daughter this time. Ellie fell in love with his daughter as she is just as warm and compassionate as her dad. Whoever takes over this position will have HUGE, GINORMOUS shoes to fill. HUGE...did I say HUGE?

Here are some photos from our trip. We won't be back until December. That sounds light years away doesn't it! Time to enjoy the summer!!

Ellie and Dr. B before sedation and her MRI.

Blowing Kisses

she's just the cutest kid ever...

Video shoot in the craft room

Summer!!!

2011-05-28T04:32:00.000-07:00

Happy start of Summer! Woo Hoo! It has felt like July the last few days with our 90 degree temps. Feels good for now but by July I will have had enough. Hoping we can still have some more 75-80 degree days before then. Pretty please Mother Nature. I really have no place to complain at all because we did have a really great spring and I know many did not.

I am working this holiday weekend because on Monday afternoon Ellie and I will be heading to St. Jude for her 6 month scans. Not the ideal way I wanted to spend our first weekend of summer but I am grateful she survived her cancer and she still can go and have check-ups and to go to a wonderful hospital like St. Jude. Speaking of St. Jude. How wonderful is John Rich? He won Celebrity Apprentice, mentioned St. Jude about a gazillion times on air and then presented the hospital with a 1.3 million dollar check. He is kind of sexy too, for a cowboy. Emma and I watched the entire season and we were so thrilled he won. Emma loves his side kick, rapper, little Jon. I actually like him too. Who knew. I don't find him sexy though. Just clarifying that.

So flying off to St. Jude on Monday, with a Friday afternoon return, means that I have to pretty much clear my work board with orders. I have lots of them too so in between sips of margaritas and bites of hot dogs, I will be working most of the weekend. Our neighborhood pool opens today so Steven will take Ellie for a while. She loves, loves loves the pool. Emma will probably stay home and stare at her new phone all day. Her phone met and early and untimely death. I cannot recall what type of phone it was. A touch screen of some sort but it did not have internet capabilities. So because we have phone insurance, (like any good parent of a teenager should) they replaced it. The company that does this did not have any more similar phones to give her so they sent her a droid phone of some sort. A smart phone. One that has apps and can get her online. Oi Vhey! She is thrilled - but me not so much as my phone bill has increased by $20.00 a month. At least I can sweat $20.00 worth of new chores out of her each month. That's a bonus. So, yeah, she will be lovingly gazing at her phone with a smile spread from ear to ear this weekend. Because, you know, it completes her.

Back to St. Jude. I wish we never had to go back again. I want a doctor to come out and tell us, 'Guess what Ellie, you are cancer free, you will continue to live your life without cancer, you will have no side effects and we never want to see you again.' Wouldn't that be nice. Wishful thinking on my part because I feel like we will never be out from this cloud. For the most part the skies are sunny and we live our lives but when it is scan time, we revert back to nervous balls of energy trying to stay positive but letting in the darkness of recurrence sneak in. I know what we have seen. I know how strong and healthy Ellie is. I know that the presence of God is and was with us every step of the way, like He is with all his children and I know He is in control. Whatever that outcome may be. So this scan is out of my control and we just have to pray for the best news. Ellie's MRI is Tuesday morning so if you are inclined to say a prayer of healing, please do. (pretty please!)

I have been so consumed with work that I haven't taken too many photos but I do have a few. I took a quick walk to the lake after dropping Ellie at school one morning so here are the shots from that. Like I mentioned we have had a beautiful Spring. Great weather, sunny skies, rain at night...it was all good. Here's for the trend to continue into the summer months.

Thanks for your prayers!

Starting off with beautiful Ellie. After everything she has been through and she looks like this. Melts my heart. ♥

A shot of our lake in the morning haze.

Babies at the lake. Guess these are more like teenagers by now but I loved seeing them.

Caught this little guy sunning on a rock. The reflection is wonderful and the peek through the reeds at him is sweet.

My neighbor has bluebirds in her mailbox. (Sounds like a disease)
The proud parents take a rest on my mailbox post before heading off to feed the kids.

Off goes dad...

Love the sign-age at their place.

blue bird babies

2011-05-22T07:19:00.001-07:00

garden tour

2011-05-20T09:23:00.001-07:00

The Spring weather has been wonderful the last few days. Thought I would share what my gardens look like in mid-May. My back garden is forever a work in progress. I don't know if it will ever get to the place I have imagined in my mind. I need more sun back there and more money too (plants are expensive!!) but it is a peaceful oasis for me and it brings me great happiness - so we (the garden and I) grow together and find what works for us and what doesn't and we keep nurturing and maturing and looking better. There is truly nothing better than a warm summer day relaxing with a drink, watching the birds and butterflies enjoy my little beautiful patch of happy....oh, add in my girls blowing some bubbles on the back porch & I am complete! Oh... and add in Steve sitting by my side and now it's complete... oh and add in ... :)

The little garden in the front. Growing out of control.
Yarrow, Tall Phlox, Sage and Lamb's Ear think they run the place.

Columbine that I cannot remember planting. Anyhoo - It is huge and I love it. It's ready to start reseeding and I need to get those seeds in back for next season.

I love this little frog that sits in the front garden. He gets pushed out and covered up by June but I just find him a new spot to stand guard at.

Front Garden

Tucker is always with me in the garden. Always following me around with his ball - just hoping I will give it a toss.

Something new in the garden this spring. I found this colorful owl stepping stone last fall for $5.00 on clearance. I love owls.

Clematis climbing up the light post.

View of the back garden from the driveway.

Catmint. Love love love it!

Front part of this garden. Lots of reseeded beard tonuge in here. May be too many colors but I like it.

A view of the patio. Definitely needs a table or firepit. It's a wonderful place to sit and take in the backyard, birds and garden.

Container of Zinnia (some need to be dead headed yikes)

Container planting on the deck.

Welcome! Come on over!

weekend getaway

2011-05-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

The sun is shinning as I type, creeping through my closed office blinds and making my office nice and warm; however, rain is in our forecast all week so I am not too sure how long the sunshine will stay today. We have had a rain deficit in central VA the last few years so rain is a good thing and it is suppose to be out of here by Friday.

This weekend we all drove up to Connecticut to our friends Laurel and Tony's. Laurel, Emma and I had plans to attend the National Stationery Trade Show in NYC on Sunday. I was wishing I had exhibited this year but the cost to have a booth (and do it right) and the economy still not running at 100% worried me. I have been closely monitoring the show attendance over the last few years and all the reports I received from friends that had a booth were less than exciting. Low attendance and people not committing seemed to be the trend. But I was hearing some really positive reports about this year being the turning point so I was feeling torn about not going. So the next best thing to do was to go and walk the show and get inspired and see what new things were coming out.

The show was great. I did see a lot of people walking the show and placing orders. I saw a few new products that caught my eye but what walking the show really did for me was to validate my business. I am so pleased with my products and designs and how wonderful they are. Sometimes when you are the designer, you are your own worst critic, but after seeing what was out there and what Tickle Bellies brings to the marketplace, made me proud. Being with a group of your peers and measuring where you think you fit in can be humbling but I was happy to pat myself on the back with our designs and quality. It was a good feeling.

After the show Laurel, Emma and I went to lunch downtown and then went over to the latest buzz in the city - Dylan's Candy Bar. It's a 3 story candy store. It's the new trendy hot spot for celebs and their kids and I was envisioning Willy Wonka , ompa loompas and fountains of milk chocolate flowing from the ceiling. What a disappointment. Overpriced candy (that you could get at CVS for a fraction of their price), cheap displays and nothing too original. It was getting rather late after that and the rain had started so we took a CRAZY cab ride back to the convention center and headed home. We had lots of laughs and were super silly at one point. It was great to be in the city and the business validation was priceless!

While we were enjoying the big apple, Steve and Ellie were keeping a very busy schedule visiting family and friends. They started early in Massachussetts and ended late in Watertown, Connecticut. They even crashed one surprise birthday party for our friend Eric. They had a great day. Wish I could have been in two places at one time.

On Monday, we were planning on joining Laurel and Tony at the Cape for 2 days but the rain was upgraded to an 80% chance for the rest of the week. We decided to come home and just look forward to our Cape Cod vacation in July...and it better not rain! Are you listening Mother Nature??!! Also, last week Tickle Bellies was featured on Groupon in the Washington DC area and sold 376 vouchers so I am slammed with work this week so it is good to be back home cranking out the orders.

I don't have any photos to share really but here is one of the girls on the way home yesterday sleeping on the same pillow. I love them. :)

Springtime Collage

2011-05-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

I so love springtime...breathe it in! ahhhh....
These are all photos I snapped around the house this week.

What's Happening

2011-05-06T05:01:00.000-07:00

Time for a 'what's going on with us' post.

Steven put on his handy man pants yesterday and replaced our garbage disposal which was leaking and corroded. It left a nice wet mess on the sink cupboard floor as well so today he is replacing the cabinet floor.
Our green tree frog from last year (yes I am assuming it is the same one) is back! And this year he brought some friends. We have spotted several of these emerald beauties around the yard this spring.
Homer, the lost homing pigeon, is still our guest. He likes us.
Emma's last field hockey game is Saturday.
Trying to decide which art summer camps to sign Ellie up for. One will be with a friend and one she will do on her own.
We rented a house for a week in Brewster, MA on Cape Cod. A 5 minute walk from the ocean!
I planted my first Honey Suckle vine this spring and I have my fingers crossed that it likes where it's planted
The hummingbird that was here for 2 weeks has continued on northward and no one has come to replace him yet. makes me sad.
I am so not liking Sonya's attitude this season on the Real Housewives of NYC.
Speaking of the housewives, Betheny Frankel has some serious issues too that I hope she can deal with. Lots of crying jags this season.
Steven finally bought his dream TV. It replaces our old huge floor one. We also bought a nice piece of furniture to put it on. It's a win win for everyone.
I have been listening to Adele all week. She is my current fav and I wish her DC concert wasn't sold out and that the tickets on Ebay didn't cost $300.00
My thumb nail that I shattered last October in the car door still looks gross. It will never look right and I will be disfigured forever.
I sold a lot of my new melamine platters for Mother's Day
My Groupon feature went well so they are featuring Tickle Bellies again in DC on 5.10 and Hampton Roads (va) on 5.17
I want to go to Chincoteauge Island in the next 2 weeks.
I also want to go up to the mountains.
I am loving all the new life that is around us this spring
I can sit on my screened in porch on a warm day for hours and the smile never leaves my face.
I donated to an online fund drive so a couple could adopt a downs syndrome boy from Europe and I won one of the prizes. Wasn't expecting that but it was nice.
The prize was a knitted tea cozy that is really cute.
I arranged 3 vases of flowers in Ellie's class this week. It was teacher appreciation week and all the kids brought in flowers. One little boy must have forgotten and picked some flowers from outside... it made me sad and happy.
Cannot believe Emma is almost in high school.
The scrolling message at the bottom of Celebrity Apprentice that the president had something to say at 10:30 on a Sunday night and that it involved National Security totally made me nervous. I was beginning to think the Mayans were right.
I got to have lunch with a girlfriend yesterday that I don't see too often even though she lives down the street
Heading to my mom's place for Mother's Day
This is the first Mother's Day in 4 years that I will be at home
2007- I was stuck in an airport in Dallas coming back from Vegas with friends - no flights (bad weather) meant we had to spend the night. In 2008 we were with Ellie at MCV Hospital in Richmond. She just had endured 2 brain surgeries. In 2009 we were in LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis and she had just had her 'miracle' brain surgery to remove a tumor that wasn't there and in 2010 Ellie and I were at St. Jude for routine check-ups. It will be good to not be in an airport or hospital setting this year.
According to some religious heretic guy the Rapture begins on May 21st. Better make sure you're on good terms with the big man, just sayin'
I watched Black Swan and I didn't like it
Ellie and I watched Rio and I did like it
I sometimes wish I could read blogs all day long. They make me happy
Michelle Obama looked gorgeous at the Press Corp dinner last week
The roasting of Donald Trump at the aforementioned Press Corp dinner was super funny and well deserved.
I am working this morning, then reporting to Ellie's school to watch her class for an hour or so while the teachers are treated to a special lunch, then photographing a new Tree Swallow nest I found last night and then going to the flower nursery for some container plants.
Life is good!

May Day!

2011-05-02T05:01:00.000-07:00

Took a mid-morning walk to the lake Sunday. It was peaceful and full of life. The air smelled sweet and the sun was warm. The promise of hope and love drifting on the breeze. Happy May Day!

i was so thrilled to see the bald eagle way across the lake up in this tree. a patriotic symbol of the news to come later that day perhaps.

wood duck babies!! I saw this scene 4 years ago and so glad to see it again. nothing beats wood duck babies. :)

this little guy was floating around on a leaf.

i watched two catbirds forage around on the ground for about 5 minutes. they were noisy and didn't care who knew it.

this toad was deep in a hole. blended right in with the dirt

adele

2011-04-29T18:46:00.000-07:00

So in love love love with this song. Heartbreaking and goosebump making. What a voice. It will be an Adele summer for me. If you have not heard this song, trust me, you will love it as much as I do. My favorite line is this: Nothing compares, No worries or cares, Regrets and mistakes, they're memories made, Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste? wow!

spring break and easter

2011-04-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely spring break and Easter holiday this year. We started by driving down to Myrtle Beach, SC to visit with Steve's parents on the 16th. The drive normally is 5.5 - 6 hours but that wasn't happening on this day. Traffic on I-95 was horrible in Virginia. We were either crawling along or stopped. The weather was stormy looking and as we drove south, the wind picked up with light rain. Since the traffic never improved much we decided to get off the highway and take a back route. That is when we noticed the black storm clouds rolling in quickly. We turned off the satellite radio and tuned to a local station and heard tornado warnings blaring. The radio is telling us to take cover immediately because a tornado is in our area. We were ahead of the storm because we could see it behind us but crazy weather is unpredictable so I begin scanning for ditches and storm drains just in case. Ellie is crying because she hates storms and the guy on the radio is freaking her out and Tucker is in the back window panting like crazy because his built-in canine storm tracker is going off in his head like a car alarm. I mention to Steve that we could take cover in those storm drains if we had to and Emma pipes up from the back to tell us that she has a new shirt on so she will not be going into some dirty drain pipe. So the mood in the Volvo is a bit tense to say the least that is until the tornado warnings stop bleeping and the radio station goes back to music and it is the middle of the new Kesha song 'This place is about to blow..." Oh my gosh, I burst out laughing. It was so funny. Ellie yells to turn it off but in a few seconds she is laughing right along with all of us. Thankfully we drove out of the bad weather and onto my in-laws. We had no idea about all the devestation and death that series of tornadoes brought to North Carolina. I am so glad we were not sitting on I-95 because on our way home we saw many areas along the highway that tornadoes went over and obliterated.

Our visit with grandma and grandpa was short but sweet and we did get to celebrate grandpa turning 76. He is in great shape and is like the engergizer bunny...keeps going and going. Steve and I got to spend an afternoon together at Brooke Green Gardens which is a beautiful sculpture garden and it also has a wonderful nature walk through old slave villages. The history was interesting and the birds and wildlife along the trails was great. We even spotted a baby alligator. The garden has dozens and dozens of moss draped Cypress trees. These trees are so magical to look at. I just wanted to climb on up and nestle in and watch the world for a while. We finished up with a drive and walk along the beach. Always a lovely vision to see the sand and the surf...I miss it this time of year. The girls had a fun day with their grandparents too. They went to a new place near them called the upside down house. It is more like a educational and fun activity center. We came home and had a great steak dinner and sang happy birthday to grandpa. We headed for home at the beginning of the week because it was back to work for Steve and I but the girls had great weather for the remainder of their spring break.

Easter was a wonderful day. We started with my mom coming over for the weekend. We caught up on the patio while I potted up the first of my container plants. zinnias, red pentas, petunias, snowballs, lantane, ivy geraniums, dianthius and a few others now are beautifying my patio and deck. The humming bird is more than happy to have some flowers to drain instead of just sugar water. Speaking of new visitors to the yard... we have a pigeon that has been with us for over a week now. He is really pretty and has a band on his leg. He sleeps on the porch roof at night. We have never had a pigeon visit before. The girls have named him Homer as they think he is a lost homing pigeon. He certainly looks like a homing pigeon. Wonder where he belongs. Along with Homer, our ducks have returned. They are a mallard couple and they still have no babies. They are here every year at this time for a few weeks. They swim in the creek and nap in the backyard. I also spotted an agile little chipmunk in the backyard yesterday. Dodge had killed two chipmunks last year and I thought for sure they were wiped out. So happy to see this little guy scurrying around. And finally we have babies... 6 Carolina Chickadees and 6 Tufted Titmice have been born. Mazel Tov! What a spring!!

So after our day of planting up pots, the girls, grandma and I colored eggs and made peep s'mores. We then tried to give grandma a heart attack by letting off one of our SC firecrackers near her but she wasn't too spooked. We brought out the sparklers and had fun playing in the darkening night with our glowing wands of fire. Oh...almost forgot... Ellie went to our neighborhood egg hunt earlier in the day and scored a basketful of colorful eggs. I think this may be her last year. She will be 9 next Easter.

Last week Tickle Bellies was featured as a smart deal on Groupon for the Richmond, VA area. We did well and now they would like to feature us in DC and all the other cities in VA. That is great news - so excited to have this exposure.

Here are some photos from our week! Enjoy the gorgeous spring weather!

baby titmice ready for dinner. they are just 2 days old.

dad brings in some grub (literally)

then dad has diaper duty on his way out.

this is homer the lost homing pigeon. sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it?

ellie hanging with grandma shirley and grandpa rodney

emmy in her grandparents backyard

cypress tree at brooke green gardens, s.c.

great blue heron in the trees at the garden

juvenile yellow crowned night heron. i never see these birds. :)

gull at the beach along the shoreline

score! ellie had fun at the egg hunt!

easter weekend with grandma marilyn

one of my newly potted containers. purple lantanna and petunias

a rose breasted grossbeak at my in-laws feeders. beautiful bird.

a native south carolina fox squirrel. we saw three of these rare guys.

prothornary warbler. i see them often but have never gotten a good picture

mockingbird in my in-laws backyard. he kind of runs the place.

a purple finch stopped by our yard for a snack on its way north

Tickle Bellies on Groupon

2011-04-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Our local feature in the Richmond VA market is running today on Groupon!

Our deal runs for two days... check us out! Woot Woot!

Oh...and go buy a voucher while you're at it...

Tuesday Happenings

2011-04-12T05:40:00.000-07:00

Ellie has a sinus infection. She has been sniffling, coughing and draining for two days now. I know the 'draining' part sounds so gross doesn't it? For some odd reason on the first day of this cold, her eyes were red, crusty and goopy. I thought for sure it was pink eye. But no, turns out it is a sinus infection that just kind of exited through her eyes. She is on antibiotics now so health improvements are around the bend.

I have been working on more new designs for Tickle Bellies. Knocked out a new theme of notepads last night and listed several melamine platter designs. I am so loving the platters. I also have 20 aluminum water bottles ready to head out today that I just got back from production. These bottles are just too frickin' cute. Really jazzed to be offering them. On April 21st Groupon.com (you know the social media site that has 6 millions subscribers - yeah, that one!) will be featuring Tickle Bellies. Unfortunately the feature is not for all 6 million subscribers (can you imagine!) but for the Richmond/Roanoke arm of Groupon. Fingers crossed we will sell some vouchers. This isn't my first go round with marketing via social couponing, I have worked with a great company called Jasmere twice before and the experience was really wonderful. Groupon is waaaaay bigger so we shall see what the response is. I always get nervous and think I am just going to sell one or two. I would be mortified if that happened. In any regard, I am trying to stock up the site nice and pretty in anticipation.

Steve has been up to some manual labor as well. Spring cleaning our screened-in porch. It has been over 5 years that we have had our porch and all the lattice and trim needed to come down and get cleaned and repainted. He is finishing it up this week and so far it looks fabulous. Love when things look pretty. The inside of the porch is next on the agenda. It's truly my favorite room in the spring time...that is once the pollen goes away.

Saturday night we had date night with our friends Debbie and Tom. I so love that Emma can babysit Ellie so we can sneak away for a few hours and recharge. We had a lovely time but came home to a goopy, sniffling Ellie. We are hoping to sneak away to Chincoteague Island in early May for an overnight. That calls for the big guns though and a visit from Grandma to hold the fort down. She is always happy to stay with her girls.

Next week is our Spring Break from school. They always have it coincide with Easter so it is really late this year. I so would love to fly to Sanibel Island in Florida for a few days but it's just not going to happen. However, I think we will definitely enjoy a day trip or two. Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is top on the list or perhaps a trip up to the mountains or just maybe I will spend our spring break budget on perennials for the garden. hmmm.... Speaking of the garden and spring- I have to share that both of our nest boxes are being occupied this season. AND... it is our first year with a nesting Titmouse. We usually have a nesting Chickadee family or Bluebirds. This year we have a box full of Carolina Chickadee eggs and one filled with Tufted Titmouse eggs. I also see the Robin busily collecting straw so I am hoping she is nearby with her nest. Cannot wait to see the babies!

OK... time to get back to the grind of working on new products and helping little hands blow their nose and dreaming of being beach bound for spring break.

Aren't these eggs beautiful! She is actively sitting on them now so it won't be too long until I have to get the meal worms out for feedings.

the tufted titmouse nest was harder to see (the box is higher) but there are 6 eggs lining the nest. She too is incubating them. Love springtime babies!

busy girl

2011-04-08T09:22:00.001-07:00

I have been in blog neglect the last several days. I have just been busy...with...life I guess. I have been working on a lot of new products for Tickle Bellies and when I get into design mode I have no patience or time to do much of anything else. Then I have to load it all on the site and before I know it 4 days of my life is gone. Last week I had a March Madness sale at Tickle Bellies and it was very successful and I am still getting orders out from that one day.

Also, Steve was in Nashville for a few days so I had many more 'things' to do than normal. I like being busy with life but it's hard to fit it all in. We have gone to field hockey practice, tennis practice, nature walks, trip to DC, cheered on VCU in the basketball tournament, went to a morning showing of 'Born to Be Wild' (super cute), worked on posters for the PTA carnival, watched Bravo and American Idol, watched a movie with Emma, took a trip to the Apple store, took walks with Steve, took care of our neighbor's dog, did homework with Ellie, made cookies, online shopped with Emma, spring cleaned the upstairs, administered daily hormone shots, removed 2 ticks. spotted the first hummingbird of the season and a zillion other things I cannot remember.

I did happen to have my camera on hand so here are some shots from the past few days.

I enjoyed a lovely pedicure

I watched Ellie play tennis.

~~All of us~~ Emma dog sat our little neighbor Macy

I enjoyed a new birding spot along the James River in Richmond

It was a very cool area to explore.

We are in the Easter spirit and filled our cookie jar with jellybeans.
No Cadbury Minis this year. They are the death of me.

This little guy watched me in the garden one afternoon from across the creek.

There are now 3 chickadee eggs in the nest box.

ELLIE HAS NEW HAIR.
took a trip to DC for her new hair which we are so loving
(isn't she just beautiful)

my favorite new plate design for Tickle Bellies

new waterbottle designs at Tickle Bellies

...and new dry erase boards for kids! Lots of great new items!

random photo friday

2011-03-25T05:14:00.000-07:00

phoebe and tucker sharing the dog bed

3 cute chicks at our local tractor supply... there were ducks too!

me and emma at our friend's farm - posing with slippers the horse.

canada goose stretching at the lake

beginning of my neighborhood with a storm rolling through.

red bellied woodpecker way up in a tree - someone just found a nest to raise babies.

beautiful emma posing for me.

kanye jude enjoying the warm spring days on the porch

sweet ellie on the way to school

swan portait....taken at the lake

the camera definitely loves her

2011-03-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

I was finally was able to ~~bribe~~ convince Emma to let me take some photos of her. She is such a beautiful model to photograph. Be on the lookout for more in the coming weeks.

Spring certainly has me in the photo taking mood. I am headed to the James River wetlands this Friday for some birding and hopefully I will get a few good pics. (fingers crossed)

A beautiful spring day

2011-03-19T05:39:00.000-07:00

OMG - Absolutely gorgeous weather yesterday and today! Welcome back Spring! I have missed you so. Yesterday I watched a Carolina Chickadee bussle to and fro with moss in her beak. She has claimed our blue bird house and is busy making a nest. Last year we had a bluebird family raise a brood so it is nice to have some variety this year.

such a wonderful sight to see on a beautiful spring day

I walked around the gardens and they are in need of so much work but among the dead leaves, pinecones and spent plants from last summer I see the emergence of lots of green. I am going to do a lot of moving and relocating this spring and I hope that this is the year that we finally put in the water garden we have been dreaming about.

The Lambs Ear in the front garden is already thriving. Last year it was a bit space hungry and reseeded itself in a few new spots so this Spring some of our Lambs Ear friends are facing some redistricting.

I have 4 peony bushes and 3 are coming up nicely....not too sure what happened to PB#4.

I am not growing any plants by seed this year except for some Zinnia. I heard these were so easy to cultivate so I am going to give it a go. Last year the Coneflower I planted from seed did well so I am hoping for more good luck.

Today is another beautiful day. A bit cooler than yesterday's low 80's but 75 is just perfect in my book. Steve is out doing some neighborhood community service; working on beautifying our nature trails and I am working on orders. Lots of fun new projects that I am working on for Tickle Bellies. New projects equals new excitement and creativity for me. Need to keep it fun - that is for sure!

Two funny things to share from last night. The girls and I are headed out to do some dinner and shopping so on the way we call my mom to check in on how her day was. We put her on speaker phone because I was driving. She tells us about her day as well as her 'friend' Bill who lives next door. She was telling me about a baseball game they were going to today and about the Sketchers that she bought (Ellie thought it was funny that grandma was wearing Sketchers and asked if they lit up when she walked haha) so to inject a little humor into the conversation as she was talking about Bill I interupted her and said "Don't forget you are on speaker phone and the girls are with me - make sure to keep your story PG13" which if you know my mother -everything is kept at a G level so it was just funny for me to say that - so she is thrown off by my comment and says "Of course I am keeping it 3D!" The three of us burst out laughing.

On the drive home from our outing Emma is sitting in the front with me and Ellie is in the backseat watching a movie. I pull into the bank to do some late night deposit drop offs. While I am working the ATM Ellie bursts into tears. My heart stops and Emma and I both whip our heads around to see what is wrong. Through streaming tears Ellie sobs out "This movie is soooo sad!" I nearly had a heart attack. She was watching Charlotte's Web and Charlotte was dying. This kid is surely trying to put me into an early grave.

leaving you with our beautiful blooming pear tree in the front yard. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

catching up

2011-03-15T09:03:00.001-07:00

Wow...it has been a little bit since I last updated. Let's see, what have we been up to. At the end of February Ellie and I flew into Memphis for a St. Jude event. Ellie was selected (with another little boy) to be the patient representative for the 2011 year for Sterling Jewelers. Sterling is the parent company of Jared the Galleria of Jewelery and Kay Jewelers. They are huge supporters of St. Jude and raise a ton of money every year. When we were there they presented the hospital with a 4.3 million dollar check for the 2010 year. It's really an honor to be on their team this year and I hope they raise even more money in 2011.

So our visit consisted of interviews, video shoots and public speaking instead of our usual round of needle sticks, MRIs and anxiety. What a nice change! It was a fabulous week and we got to explore downtown Memphis because we were staying right off of Beale Street so that was fun too. We just love to go to the Peabody Hotel and see those cute ducks! We also visited with our favorite people which is always the best part of our trips to Memphis. We don't have to return to St. Jude until the end of May for scans and a check-up. Our next commitment/event with the Sterling team will be in September when they take all of us to Disney World to rally the sales troops. In the fall they start selling a plush animal until January and all the proceeds go to St. Jude. Ellie and Roman's artwork will be on the stuffed animals tag. So this fall go and buy a bear or two... We are going to make it a vacation and stay in Florida for a bit after our meeting with Sterling. So cannot wait for that!

Ellie and Steve went to the annual father/daughter dance last Friday that is hosted by our local Girl Scout council. This is our second year and it's always so nice to see all the dads dressed up dancing with their pretty girls, having fun and making memories. Of course I cry at everything these days so I was all weepy this night. So glad she is here to participate and experience moments like this.

Emma has started field hockey. She had practice last night and scored 2 goals. She will be going out for field hockey in high school next year so I am hoping she excels this Spring and finds her passion with the game. Ellie is taking tennis lessons from a neighborhood girl who is on the high school tennis team. I am hoping to get her on a team this summer.

Steve and I are looking forward to going away this spring. Maybe up to Cape May NJ. They are known for great birding. Finally, the pear trees are blooming or just about to. The daffodils are up as well and there is lots of pretty green popping up all over. I so love spring and all the newness. It will be warm this weekend too! (high 70's) Woo Hoo!

Of course, the images from Japan are almost unbelievable to watch. The force of that water...what incredible power it has. It's so hard to see how everything we have built up can be wiped out in minutes and how we really have no control over it. Puts things into perspective.

Here are some photos from our trip to St. Jude and from the dance. Emma has been hiding from my camera lens lately but I will be blackmailing her in the very near future to get some photos. hehehe...

Roman, the other patient in the campaign, and Ellie

No St. Jude visit is complete without a visit with our favorite doctor.

Ellie stands in front of her image at the Memphis International Airport. Cannot believe it has been almost 3 years.

Spent an evening with the Dooners...our Memphis family.

During Ellie's taped interview for Sterling Jewelers

My new favorite photo :)

Here's one of Emmy.... love my girls

Steven and Ellie twirling the night away.

me and Ellie before the dance. Her dress was so pretty.

Ellie the star poses with her daddy

random photos & thoughts

2011-02-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

The other night while watching American Idol, Ellie says to me referencing Jennifer Lopez.... "I really like Jennifer Aniston...no wait...George Lopez... what's her name again?"

Emma and her cousin Karen were having a heated debate via Facebook about Justin Bieber. Emma was mad at Karen's comments so Karen said to her "Come on Emma, blood is thicker than Bieber."

Steve called me from Nashville last night all excited because Tornado warnings were sounding outside. He was out standing on the balcony when he called me.

At the get togther with my girlfriends last weekend, it was lightening outside {in the winter - in New England} but because we were deep in conversation and slightly intoxicated my friend Linda kept saying - "Is someone out there taking our photo?"

Here are some random photos to go along with today's random insights.

Aren't these two precious... found them in the bird food one morning.

Phoebe is so chubby that she bird watches lying down.

Ellie's Valentine's for her class

Phoebe and Dodge share a snuggle in the sunspot.

girls weekend in boston

2011-02-22T08:13:00.000-08:00

STILL recovering from my long weekend visiting my high school girlfriends. This time we met up in Natick, Massachusetts where my girlfriend Linda lives with her husband and two boys. I normally don't make it to these get togethers because I live so far away but surprisingly, a direct flight from Richmond to Boston was rather affordable, so off I went. It was a weekend of laughing, drinking, eating, shopping, dancing, more drinking, and lots and lots of belly laughing. I don't know what it is about these girls but they definitely encourage the ~~out of control~~ 'fun' side of me.

While waiting for the other girls to drive up from Connecticut, Linda took me to Concord, MA to do some real New England shopping. It was just what I needed and one shop took my breath away. It was called Nesting and it was all bird inspired with folk artsy flair. Boy I wish we had shops like this in Richmond. I really could have spent all day there. I did snap a few photos for your viewing pleasure. I am looking forward to our visit to Cape Cod this summer so I can do more shopping like this. The shop owner told me to drive down Route 6A for all the really good shopping...I so cannot wait until July!

So I am back to work today, girls are in school, the warm weather has disappeared (it was 73 yesterday and now it is in the 30s) and Steve is off to Nashville for work. I love being back on a routine. It would be nice if it was a bit warmer though...just sayin'.

my wonderful girlfriends - we have been friends for so long.

getting ready to go to the bell in hand pub in downtown boston.

lots of spirits were enjoyed over the weekend...

...as well as lots of good food. mindi and linda are fabulous cooks!

downtown concord mass on a warm winter day (it was in the 50s)

sampling of the store - nesting.

this the nest and eggs I bought. heart this!

leaving the snow of mass and heading to the green grass of virginia

flying over the delmarva penisula - heading home

the TRUE adventures of flat stanley

2011-02-15T08:13:00.001-08:00

I was cleaning my office this weekend and came across a letter from my girlfriend Laurel. Last year in Ellie's class they participated in the 'Flat Stanley' project. Flat Stanley is a little boy that the kids draw and cut out and then he is mailed to someone who takes Stanley around to new places and photographs him having life experiences. It's an opportunity for first graders to learn about new places and correspond with someone through mail.

So Ellie created her flat Stanley and decided to send him to Connecticut to one of her favorite people, my girlfriend Laurel. Laurel is so creative and fun that I knew she would jump at the chance to do exciting things with Stanley and share that adventure with Ellie. And she definitely did. She mailed a great set of photos with Stanley having all wonderful New England adventures. Ellie was very thrilled to bring the report back to school.

Little did Ellie know that also in the envelope from Flat Stanley was a letter addressed to me. You see, Flat Stanley seems to have a darker side to him and Laurel wanted to warn me about it. Here is the letter and photos she sent to me. Totally cracked me up when I found them the other day.

Dear Colleen-

I wanted to let you know what really happened when Flat Stanley came up for a visit. To tell you the truth, I was saddened and shocked as I had only heard good things about him in the past.

My first warning should have been when we had a fire in the fire pit his first night here. What a pyro!! He kept taunting us, getting really close to the fire and threatening to put his hand in it. I could not even imagine trying to explain to poor Ellie that he had burned himself up...intentionally!!

The next day, when I brought Flat Stanley to work, I had to really keep and eye on him. At one point he disappeared and after looking ALL OVER for him, I found him in the back alley with the smokers, just puffing away. He had already gone through a whole pack of cigarettes - he just kept bumming them off of people. Man, did he reek of smoke for the rest of the day. I had to hose him down with Glade when we got home. Even after that he would sneak up on the cats and make them sneeze with the strong odor of Glade that followed him around.

One night Tony and I went out to dinner and when we returned home we discovered he helped himself to the beer in the fridge. He was toasted! He couldn't even stand up and I had to stay up with him half the night in the bathroom. NOT a very good houseguest!

The last straw was when he stole the neighbor's car one night and went joy riding. Unfortunately the cops caught up with him and threw him in the slammer. We let him stay the night in jail with hope it would teach him a lesson. When we went to bail him out the next day, he was in the jail yard yelling sarcastically at us from behind the bars, mad as hell that we left him there as long as we did.

I was all too happy to send him on his merry way. I just wanted you to know the real Flat Stanley so you could monitor him around Ellie. She is so sweet and I would hate for him to be a bad influence on her. Just be careful.

By the way, he also eats out of the litter box....

wow...that Stanley sure is bad news! He is going to need to kick this dirty habit!

Good thing he didn't find Laurel's stash of pills too.

Tough love is what this Flat Stanley needs!

happy valentine's day!

2011-02-14T09:22:00.001-08:00

valentine treats for ellie's teachers

2011-02-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

Ellie and I made Valentine gifts for her 4 core teachers today. She has been blessed with fabulous teachers and I so love love love her main teacher and her reading specialist. They feel the same about Ellie and she is having a really great year academically thanks to them. I feel she is making good progress from all the time she missed when she was in treatment and it warms my heart to receive her progress reports this year.

So, we took mason jars and filled them with Hershey Kisses and topped them off with a big Reese's chocolate heart. We then tied ribbon with a cute Valentine gift card - we thought they were adorable.

Ellie is working on her class Valentine's tonight and tomorrow. Oh what fun to be 8!

we had fun filling the jars and making the cards

next time I will place two hole punches and thread the ribbon through better.

Top of the mason jars.

fun in the studio

2011-02-11T10:05:00.000-08:00

Ellie is always in the studio with me. She is either on the computer playing Club Penguin or coloring, gluing, or glittering something artistic. She parades the cats in here, works on homework, watches TV, stollers in her dolls and whatever else she may want me to see. We put the music on and dance til we cannot stand anymore and then we crack up laughing. So many good memories of fun times in here.

However, I have a love/hate relationship with having my space invaded on a regular basis. There are often cookie crumbs on my work table, a grabage can overflowing with juice boxes, little fingerprints on my spare computer monitor and little teeny tiny cut out pieces of paper littering the floor. Somedays I want to post a DO NOT ENTER / OFF LIMITS sign on the door that only allows access to me. But as soon as I cast her out, I invite her back in. I love having her around me all the time. Sitting on glue or cleaning off the monitor for a second time in a day is a small price to pay. These days will be gone before I know it so I have to breathe deep and open up the door and let the good times in and they are ~~good~~ great times!

The other day while I was working on some designs, Ellie was playing with my little monsters and erasers. She loves them. Making up stories and having them make friends with each other chatting in different voices. So cute. On this night they were acrobats in a circus.

spring is coming...

2011-02-07T08:19:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was such a beautiful day. I took a walk to the lake and brought along the camera. There were lots of ducks and geese soaking up the sun and I even heard the familar splash of a sunning turtle sinking back into the water as I walked by. The geese were extremely vocal - honking and honking (and honking). Perhaps getting into the baby making mood and finding mates for spring. It was wonderful to get out into the fresh air and sit and enjoy nature for a bit. I am officially ready for spring...ticking down the days.

loved seeing this bended tree in the woods framing the path

berries berries berries

I left a valentine treat for the birds on a picnic table by the lake.

I also lined the long bridge with seed. upon my return, this little guy was nosching away

a lone ring-necked duck flew in while I was walking. so pretty

geese flying over ruddy, buffle head and ring necked ducks.

honk honk honk

great day for a walk. breathing it in...

goodies in the mail

2011-02-04T13:46:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I purchased a discounted jasmere.com gift voucher for a company called Bungalow. They sell cute tote bags and bins in really lively patterns and colors. I thought they were super cute. Visions of using the voucher for a girlfriends Christmas present swirled in my head. Well, I forgot about the voucher and it was too late for Christmas gift giving when I stumbled across the email with my giftcode. Finally, this week, I ordered some goodies for me and the girls and today they came in the mail. They are even cuter than the website portrays them to be. So nice to have a flash of bright color on this dreary rainy day. Don't you just love them?

I purchased a pool tote that is waterproof and very roomy, a cool lunch sack for Emma and a magazine holder that will fit in perfectly in my office for holding papers. they are so colorful.

loving this hot pink pattern

close-up of the beach/pool tote

surprise! free flip flops were in my box too! woo hoo!

hello sunshine!

2011-02-02T16:10:00.000-08:00

Today was a fabulous sneak peek into Spring! 66 degrees and sunny. It was rather windy but it was so nice to have the back door open again and not lug around a big coat and mittens and hurry into the car because it's cold and turn on the fireplace to stay toasty and it was nice not to curse old man winter for a change. I feel horrible for the majority of the country that had the exact opposite weather today but oh well, I will get over it. Especially if I am wearing flip flops!

So today, as I mentioned, I was able to throw open the porch doors and let the sun shine in. The cats were thrilled to roll in a sun spot and to hear the birds sing happy tunes. I offer up their ~~happy~~ annoyed faces below.

Kanye doesn't really have a happy face here but trust me, he was overjoyed about being on the porch without the cold. He was up on his cat ledge and loving life.

Phoebe, content as always, was extra jazzed to be out smelling all the goodness.

Charlotte who usually has a less than pleasant disposition, was a bit cheery once she found a sunspot to park herself in. (she does look thrilled doesn't she?)

random photo friday

2011-01-28T08:05:00.000-08:00

I am so loving these cashews....num...num...num...

the innocence of youth. what fun to twirl and twirl in a pretty dress.

new sharpies put a smile on my face

custom window treatments - way too much money.
one cray kitten from the local shelter - $45.00
watching crazy kitten slowly destroy curtains with antics - priceless

hanging in my office. :)

tucker and ellie share a squeeze before school.

there isn't too much love out there for snowflakes anymore
but we still are keeping the welcome light on...let it snow!

introducing....

2011-01-25T13:59:00.000-08:00

Ellie's new look! A few days after Christmas we went up to DC to get Ellie's new hair matrix. The treatment Ellie endured to cure her of brain cancer was brutal and has many long lasting effects to her body. Radiation was one part of her treatment plan. Radiation to the brain is as horrible and cruel of a treatment you can receive but in her case it made the difference between living and dying. Thankfully Ellie tolerated it very well and we just have a few issues to deal with, none that compromise her quality of life. Every child is different and uniquely responds to radiation. For Ellie, 80% of her hair was permanently damaged, for some kids there is no hair loss at all. It's so random. I am actually happy that her hair did not grow back because I wanted whatever that radiation beam was penetrating to die and never come back again. We thank God that Ellie's brain and her ability to think rationally and cognitively was not really affected...I will take hair loss over that on any day.

For the past 2.5 years after Ellie lost her hair she has been wearing cute designer head wraps. She has several colors to match all her outfits and they looked super stylish on her. Everyone just got so used to her that way and she fit right in at school. Some of the girls in her class even asked where they could get the same wraps for them to wear. { I know, isn't that sweet! } After treatment ended we thought her hair would grow back, perhaps be on the thin side, but it would grow back. After 2 years we realized it was not going to happen. Ellie was really fine with it all. I know she understands that some of her 'before cancer' life was gone but she had so many new rewards and appreciations that she didn't have before. In the big picture, hair wasn't so important. On occasion she would mention how she missed her long braids and of course, that broke my heart.

After accepting her hair loss we decided to check into some other hair alternatives. She didn't qualify for a hair transplant. A wig was uncomfortable and we heard that they often shifted or fell off making active play for a little kid difficult. So when we found the Hair Club for Kids and their 'hair matrix' we were intrigued. It's basically the same concept as a wig but is semi-permanent and adhered to her head with glue. It's real hair so she can wash it, swim in it and style it with a straightener. We were excited about our consultation but kept our excitement to a minimum just incase it wasn't what we wanted when the day came to have the hair put in place. Thankfully, it all worked out and she loved it and it felt fine on her head. We opted to have the hairdresser style this first time on the shorter side. This way we can gradually build up to longer hair. It's a bit boxy and full for us but we now have a better idea of what we want for the next time. In mid-Spring she will have a new hairpiece that we can style from scratch.

It's crazy to see her with hair but it melts my heart to see her growing up and away from cancer. Hair was the missing piece and now if you didn't know better, you would have no clue what she has been through. We are so grateful for all our blessings! Just look at that gorgeous little 8 year old!

winter pick me up

2011-01-22T10:28:00.000-08:00

I made a plant arrangement this week to fight the winter blahs. I actually do not mind winter for the most part. I like the snow and colder temperatures but here in Virginia we don't have as much as I did when I was growing up so I guess that is why I can tolerate it a bit more. My friends up north have totally had it with winter. They are so beyond done and there is more snow on tap mid-week for them. My girlfriend who lives outside Boston said that over 20 inches was expected this week. Really? She did happen to be skyping with me and had a few cocktails so I am not so sure about that total. Maybe they should go out and make some planters. That is if they can get out. {Insert evil grin here.}

When I was shopping at Target a few weeks ago they had galvenized buckets for $2.00. I love these buckets and you never know when you're gonna need one so of course it found its way into my cart. Last week, more shopping, but this time to the plant nursery because Emma needed 3 plants for her science fair project. (control subjects) while there I was enjoying their plant displays. All sorts of great arrangements. The price tag was not so great though. $35.00-45.00. So I purchased six $1.99 plants and decided the new galvenized bucket was the perfect home for these beauties. So for less than $15.00 I have a new planter in a hot pink tub to marvel at on drab winter days. See, the perfect winter pick me up and just think of all the new oxygen that

we will be breathing in.

lots of different plant varieties in here. Can't wait to watch them fill out.

I think I have ADD

2011-01-17T17:52:00.000-08:00

It seems I have no time lately because I am so busy but I also don't seem to be accomplishing all that much. I may be getting mid-life Attention Defecit. Please tell me where my focus has gone? I find myself getting absorbed into the world of Facebook way too much. It's such a black hole to get sucked into and I think I need an intervention. There is also a new game (on Facebook, where else) called Zuma Blitz that I am addicted to. You play against your Facebook friends and you know of course I want to beat everyone. It's a challening game to play too and it has basically been taunting me like a mean spirited little kid to keep playing and to get better and have the highest score. I easily lose an hour to two hours of my life without even realizing it. Yes, time for a Facebook intervention.

The other part of the problem is not being on schedule lately. The girls started back to school in early January but then Mother Nature decided to send some snow and ice our way so we had school closings and delays. I like a snow day just as much as anyone. But I only like one. Two in a row starts to make me cranky. Also, while said inclement weather was happening, Steve was in Nashville for work for 4 days. I have to give my husband props for all he does on the family level. He has no problem making dinner or carpooling or doing laundry or anything like that. We are a pretty good team when it comes to household chores and responsibilies so when he is gone, I really feel it. There is so much more for me to do. So I am hoping, with fingers crossed, that after today's MLK holiday, the girls will be back in school with no interruptions from here on out. I will try to ignore Facebook and focus on work and other meaningful activities and actually accomplish things. Now that sounds like a plan! Now if only I could get those Zuma Blitz drumbeats out of my ears that are constantly calling to me to play just one more game...

I love these plates...

2011-01-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

Ellie and I decided to stop at Pier One Imports on our way home from the post office today. When we walked in these amazing bird plates caught my eye immediately. I fell hard for them.

I knew I had to have them and at $5.00 a plate it was easy to convince my pocketbook that I should have them too. I decided that the kitchen would be the best place to display them since that is the room we are in the most and I want to see them, like all the time. So I moved my wrought iron trivet from one wall to another and within a few minutes my kitchen was adorned with 3 cheerful bird plates. I so heart them. Don't you?

Isn't this the cutest plate?

I like the green and red the best but yellow needs to be in there to break up those 'Christmas' colors. A wedgewood blue plate would have been fabulous in the middle.

They make me happy. :)

Friends Forever

2011-01-07T16:47:00.000-08:00

Sharing a photo of our oldest cat Dodge and our lab Tucker. Dodge is 12.5 and has been with us since we found him as a wee baby living in the engine of our old Dodge truck. He is a good and faithful feline that has about 1 life left. He has been through a lot in his 12 plus years and all of it is due to him being an outdoor cat. We would keep him in if we could be he loves to be out on warm days chasing after squirrels and he will meow and meow and meow (you get the point) to go out.

Tucker is 5 and was a birthday present for Emma's 9th birthday. He is OCD with playing ball but he has a good heart and wants to be everyone's friend. He's not much in the guard dog department which I guess is good since he wouldn't hurt a fly and definitely would never even think about growling at the kids. He tolerates all 5 of our cats really well with Phoebe being his BCF (best cat friend). Dodge is his outdoor buddy though and they will often share food, sun spots and his dog bed as demonstrated in the below photo. Notice the tennis balls. OCD all the way...

I ♥ Faces ~ Best Face of 2010 Challenge

2011-01-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

I love this photo of Ellie.

Check out the other great faces of 2010 on iheartfaces website

Year in Review

2011-01-02T19:32:00.000-08:00

Birds of Winter

2010-12-29T15:13:00.001-08:00

Cold and snow mean lots of birds in our yard. Here are few shots from the last few days.

I was so excited to see a Cedar Waxwing mixed in with the flock of Robins. I hardly ever see these birds and they are so pretty.

BERRIES!... it's what's for dinner!

Hold on tight little lady cause it sure is windy today!

Dark-Eyed Junco sitting atop a snow pile.

One of my favorite winter visitors. This bright Pine Warbler hangs around all winter.

Blue Jays love them or hate them, they are fascinating...big gluttonous pigs....but fascinating.

Why have all this bird action if you can't play with them??
Jeez, no fair!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-27T12:06:00.001-08:00

Christmas was perfect this year. So many times I reminded myself to take in the moment and breathe it in and lock it away. That's one of the good lessons that cancer teaches you - being aware of trying to live in the moment more often.

My mom spent the holiday with us so it was just the 5 of us. It was wonderful to be with the people I love and spend time just being together. No schedules, no orders, nothing but being in the moment and being together. We were again thankful for the reason we actually celebrate Christmas. The birth of Christ. He revealed himself to me that first night Ellie was in the hospital and I am so thankful for his birth and the sacrifice he made for all of us. Ellie is here with us and we are so very thankful as a family for this amazing blessing.

The other side of Christmas was great too. Ellie and Emma were so happy with their gifts. We are fortunate to give our girls many things and we know better than to spoil them silly but we do like to go a teensy bit overboard. We also spoiled my mom a little this year too. I got her a few Williraye pieces and Steve got her a George Forman grill so she can whip up a nice juicy steak without having to go and turn on the gas grill outside and then we gave her her favorite gift...a new color Nook. It's the latest e-reader from Barnes & Noble and I know she is going to really love it. She reads a lot so this was perfect. She can also borrow library books with it and lend books to me on my Ipad. Glad my mom is so hi-tech and savvy in her golden years.

Steve and I don't like to over do it with each other at all since we both agree Christmas is for the kids but we both gave each other some really nice things. We decided this year to have turkey for Christmas dinner. We were so sad that we didn't have leftovers at Thanksgiving this year (we went away for Thanksgiving) so it was a no brainer to make turkey. Steve actually made it all. He always make a delicious turkey. As we sat to eat in the dinning room, the snow began to fall really hard. It was perfect. I wish my dad were with us but he was there in spirit and I know he is much happier where he is now.

Merry Christmas everyone - I hope you enjoyed yours as much as I enjoyed mine.

Christmas Eve after Santa arrived and the girls were sleeping.

Grandma Marilyn and the girls on Christmas Eve

Holiday treats!

Merry Christmas from Ellie!

Surprise! Emma so wanted this jacket but didn't think she was getting it. Love when a surprise actually works out!

A new DS game for Ellie. She has Cooking Mama, Gardening Mama and now Crafting Mama.

The DS is compliments of Grandma. She was using Emma's old one for a long time and now she has her very own.

Justin Bieber times 3! She is in heaven

Steve adores his new coffee maker!

New Brighton Jewelry for me!

Christmas Day as the snow started to fall.

Almost Finished...

2010-12-17T06:26:00.000-08:00

I am nearing the light at the end of the work tunnel. Finally!! Oi Vhey, I am getting too old to work these many hours. My yearly cold decided that last week would be a fabulous time to visit too and I have been suffering through with some painful sinuses over the last few days. I can deal with that for the most part - cannot deal with the lovely cold sores that sprung up because of the virus. So with my scary looking thumb (the nail came off this week so I have half of a flesh thumb at the top because the nail hasn't grown that far yet) and my oh so pretty mouth sores, I am looking like something more Halloweenish than Christmasy. Stress, the gift that keeps on giving. But all the major stresses are behind me now. First and foremost, clean, clear and cancer free scans for Ellie, work orders are almost done and my yearly cold has pretty much come and gone. It has to be smooth sailing into 2011. I'm ready.

Next week the girls have off (and the past two days due to snow) and we have some craft days lined up, pedicures, going to see Tangled and some baking. Lots to look forward to... Yeah for normal hours and having a life again!

A days worth of orders in early December.
We were doing about 35 teacher notepads a day.

We sold a ton of melamine plates this season. They are so cute!

Christmas Ornaments

2010-12-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

I am working as hard as one of Santa's elves these days getting all of the holiday orders for Tickle Bellies out the door. 10 more days or so of the craziness and then I am thinking I can take a break. I have been able to sneak in lots of online shopping over the last two weeks so I am actually chipping away nicely at my gift list. Kudos to me and to online shopping too! So since I am soooo busy right now with work and not venturing out of the house much, I thought I would show you some of the ornaments that adorn our tree.

Our Christmas tree is quite the hodge-podge of ornaments. Some are handmade by the girls, some are of their favorites characters or shows from whatever it was they were into that particular year, there are those that Steve and I got together as a couple or that were given to us and then ones that I have fallen in love with and purchased myself. I try to get at least one special ornament each year. So many memories hang on those branches. There is nothing better than sitting with some hot cocoa at night in front of the tree reminiscing.

So here is a little photo display of some ornaments that adorn the Bouchard Family Christmas tree.

This beautiful ornament sits atop the tree, a bit crooked, but I love it!
Williraye are one of my favorite collectibles and I have many pieces throughout the house.

This was a wedding gift. So glad it hasn't broken over the last 18 years

Ornament from my girlfriend Laurel from many years ago

Emma made this in elementary school

Ellie loves Ariel...
She got this several years ago but still smiles each time we take her out. Oh and she sings too.

This is probably my favorite ornament. I bought this the year Steve and I were married to go on our first 'official' Christmas tree. Classic Hallmark. The cookies in Santa's belly move around and now it is one of Ellie's favorite ornaments.

Krinkle ornament that I got in a cute shop in downtown Richmond a few years ago.
Sadly that shop became a casualty of the recession. :( ba humbug!

Just look at them!
Ellie was about 13 months old & Emma is 7.
We lived in Marlyand at the time of this photo.

I believe my mom got this for me. She knows I love birds almost as much as Ellie loves Ariel.

More Williraye - sigh...

This is for our Shepherds - Austin and Shane. We miss them

This snowman isn't technically on the tree but he is sitting at a neighboring table so I am including him. Another cute Williraye snowman.

Woo Hoo!

2010-12-06T05:32:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for me to be super duper busy! A quick update to tell you that Ellie had her 3 month check-up at St Jude on December 1st. Thanking the good Lord above that she remains cancer free. We don't have to head back to St Jude until May 31st now. What a nice break that will be! So happy that stressful time is behind us (for a while anyway).

Plugging along with work for the next 2 weeks so I will update when I can... Enjoy the beauty of the season!

Cheers!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

We drove up to Connecticut at 3:30 in the morning on Wednesday. We hardly encountered any traffic at all and we were extremely pleased about that. So worth not having any sleep. Our first stop was at Steven's Aunt Ann's house. She rallied up the troops so we were able to visit with a lot of family that we just don't get to see that often. Ellie and Emma love seeing their cousins and getting to catch up... we love it too. They are so full of love and it always makes us reconsider living so far away. After our day with family, we headed to our friends Laurel and Tony's place. We stay with them every time we go home. Laurel and I have been friends for years and she makes us feel so comfortable when the four of us stay for a few days. She always has a little something waiting for the girls in their room and they have the fridge stocked with all our favorites. They are the best - such good friends - we are really lucky.

That night my girlfriend MaryAnn came out to pizza with Laurel, Emma and me. Steve and Ellie hung back with Tony so they could all go to bed early. We went to Pepe's pizza and it was AMAZING as it always is. So wish we could have something even halfway as good as this pizza in Richmond. Of course, we did a little shopping after dinner as we caught up some more.

Thursday morning Steve, Ellie and I awoke at 6:30 to get ready for the Manchester Road Race. This race is one of the biggest and most famous ones on the east coast. The race is 4.8 miles and it started in 1927 and there are 15,000 runners and about 20,000 people lining the race route. When Steve was a police officer in Manchester he had to work this race every year. Running was not an option. So this year we decided we were heading home for Thanksgiving and that it would be perfect for him to finally run. He did a fabulous job and crossed the finish line in about 46 minutes. Ellie and I stayed with some friends who have a house along the route around mile marker 3.5. I was so thankful to have a warm house to duck into with hot apple cider- it was freezing cold and my thin Virginia blood was not happy. We had a fun morning cheering on the runners and seeing all the goofy costumes too.

After the race we headed to Wilbraham, Massachusetts to Steven's sister's house. It was the perfect spot to spend our New England holiday. They have a beautiful home located on a wooded lot and inside there was a crackling fire ablaze in the fireplace and all those wonderful smells of turkey and stuffing...just picture perfect! Darlene and John were fabulous hosts and dinner was de.lic.ious. It was really great to be there with Steve's sisters and the girls' cousins. Once again we were wishing we didn't live so far away. Emma mentioned several times about how nice it would be to live back in this area, she was really enjoying all the family time over the last two days. The day was perfect and on Friday after a quick visit with my niece and a little shopping, we headed home and again there was no traffic problems at all. That in itself is amazing. We have so much to be thankful for in our lives. Healthy and happy girls, wonderful family, fabulous friends and the best part of all - realizing how thankful we are and not taking it for granted. Now if only I had some Thanksgiving leftovers....

Here are some photos from our holiday.

Steve with his Aunts Rose, Ann and Joan.

Ellie and her partner in crime, cousin Gianna

Pepe's pizza. OMG

15,000 runners ready, set, GO!

There's our runner boy! He stopped to give Ellie a kiss.

There were hundreds of costumes. I have dozens of funny photos -this one is pretty interesting... did I mention it was about 35 degrees out?

Shazam!

There were pilgrims, indians, many turkeys and one very large turkey head, santas, ballerinas, Teletubbies, Smurfs, chickens, tacos, french fries, angels, elmo, cookie monster, bananas, astronauts, sports players, wizards, super heroes and many many more costumes.

I have no idea how this Christmas Tree could see.

After the race. Great job!!

4 wheeling at Aunt Darlene and Uncle Johns! What fun

Ready to hit the trails

Ellie had a BLAST with her cousin Jeff

Steve and I take a spin. :)

Hold on tight Emma

The girls with their cousins Jeff and Greg. They are great kids.

Steven with 3 of his sisters (he has 4 total and one brother). Denise, Linda and Darlene

BFFs

2010-11-21T10:40:00.000-08:00

A Sunday shout out from Phoebe and Tucker! Aren't they just the cutest?? Tucker tolerates all of his feline sisters & brothers so well. Kanye irritates him the most because he likes to bite his face...kind of cute...heh. Phoebe is Tucker's BFF. She loves to hang out with him. They are great friends.

I am falling short in the photo department these days... too busy with work to do much photography. We are headed to New England for Thanksgiving so I will have lots of photos to share upon my return. Family, road races, new england sights...cannot wait. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Fall is fading fast

2010-11-19T07:53:00.001-08:00

The leaves are falling fast. We have had some wind and rain recently and all of the gorgeous fall colors are slowly dropping to the ground. Fall was exceptionally pretty this year in Virginia. So wish I had more time to get out and enjoy it. Soon the cold weather will be here. A little piece of me is excited for winter and all the cozying up, hot chocolate, scarves, nights by the fire and warm jackets that are to come. I am sure by the beginning of December I will be begging for Spring but for right now I am enjoying the season and looking forward to some colder air.

Justin Bieber

2010-11-15T07:11:00.000-08:00

Finally, after months of anticipation, the night finally arrived for the Justin Bieber concert. Emma is 14 and she is obsessed with Justin Bieber. She had been waiting all summer & fall to go to this concert and the day had finally arrived. (I thought she may pass out at some point.) Emma brought her friend Jordan with us to the concert and Ellie made the cutest little sign that afternoon to bring with us.

Isn't that just precious!

When we got up to the front to have our bags checked we were told that no signs could be brought in. Poor Ellie was heartbroken but she realized when she saw the trash can full of "I love Justin Bieber" signs that everyone had to relinquish their posters. I actually had a bummer moment too at that check point. Seems my camera is too professional to bring in. Really? So we decided to go back to the car and stow away Ellie's sign and my camera. I probably could have gone to a different check point and smuggled in my camera because it was in my backpack in the way back part that usually goes unnoticed. We just happened to be in 'Mr. overly thorough pants' line. I just thought I would play it safe though and not bother so back in the car it went.

We purchased our tickets in June. It was a very long wait for the girls.

Outside the arena waiting to go in.

We ended up with great seats. 9 rows from the stage. Emma and her friend were across the aisle from Ellie and I so it was like they were almost on their own. I am sure they were thrilled about that. Ellie was very excited. Screaming and smiling and dancing like crazy. Everyone around us enjoyed her and her enthusiasm. Many of the young girls seated near us were clutching their chests and crying. No really, they were crying. Ellie was like - 'what's wrong with them?' They are teenage girls ,I told her, and this is their big crush.

The concert was really pretty good. I did loose some hearing from all the high pitched screaming but other than that it was quite entertaining. There were 4 acts total with one being Sean Kingston. He is the Jamacian teenager that has a slew of top 40 hits. Don't tell Emma but I liked him best. It was a night the girls soon won't forget. They all thought it was one of the best nights of their life. So glad to be there for it. Thanks Justin Bieber for making them happy!

Here is a video from someone at the concert of the last song, just in case, you know, you wanted to have the experience. I think I can hear Ellie screaming at one point. Put your volume up 27 times the normal volume and that's how loud it was. Oh to be young again!

Website Work

2010-11-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

I am finally getting around to updating the look of Tickle Bellies. I have wanted to steamline the look for several months and have just been too busy to complete it. It's not necessarily hard to do just really time consuming. Well, I realized today that it will never get finished if I use the excuse that I am too busy because truth be told, I am always busy, so I decided today was the day to get it done. I started the transfer and incorporating the new look to all the current pages this afternoon. I had to take a break to bring Ellie to Brownies but I am now back to work and (fingers crossed) it will be finished tonight. Steve made some wonderful smelling (and tasting) pumpkin bread to keep me fueled for the long night ahead. If you could only smell the heavenly scent in the house right now. Yum....

Here is a sneak peek...simple and streamlined design.

Girls Weekend in the city

2010-11-09T05:04:00.000-08:00

I left last Thursday for a weekend with the girls from high school in New York City. We had so much fun and laughed so hard. It was great to see them and hang out. We packed a lot into our 3 days. Shopping, gabbing, drinking, eating, walking, dancing, comedy clubs, rich foods, catching up, people watching and just a really fun fun time.

I am now recharged and ready to head into the next 6 weeks of holiday orders. I see lots of late nights in my future. As good as it was to go away, it's even better to come home to Steve and the girls. Corny, I know, but I miss them when I am gone.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-01T09:36:00.001-07:00

We had a lovely Halloween weekend. Emma and Ellie's grandparents came to visit and we had a great spaghetti dinner Sunday (compliments of my mother-in-law) topped off by a fun night of trick or treating and visiting with friends.

Ellie decided to be a doctor for Halloween. We already had the costume so it was a financial win-win!

Steve and I enjoying a fabulous Fall afternoon on the front steps with our pumpkins.

Ellie and two of her friends at our neighborhood party.

Emma getting in the Halloween mood

Ellie and her friend heading out to trick or treat

Emma and her friend hand out candy so I could go visit with a neighbor. That Corona beer is mine not theirs... just wanted to mention that.

October

2010-10-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

I am liking storyboards lately.... here's one for October

Beautiful Fall Day

2010-10-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

aahhh...Sunday. I was able to sleep in until 8:30 this morning and then Steve made me a yummy breakfast that I ate out on the porch and then I topped that off with a nice long walk to the lake. Can I just tell you it was such an incredible, amazing Fall day today. The sun was shinning and the weather was crisp but not too cool. The kind of weather that has you starting out with a jacket and within 20 minutes or so it can be found tied around your waist. Love it!

I have plenty of work to do for the rest of the day but I got to play this morning so no complaints are coming from me. I also am tempted to go to a friends get together later this afternoon but that may involve cocktails and then I most likely won't want to work later. hmmm... what to do...

Here are some photos from my walk to the lake and a few from yesterday when Ellie and I took a late afternoon ride into the country.

brown creeper. even though 'creeper' is in his name, I love these little guys. they can be tricky to see as they tend to blend in really well with the tree trunks.

lunchtime!

fall in central virginia

earthy, crunchy brown colors of fall

old tractor in the woods

yellow rumped warbler showing off how he got his name.

lots o' brown headed cowbirds that I startled in a pasture

heron flying off

Birthday weekend

2010-10-19T18:26:00.001-07:00

I think I need a personal assistant. Today was one of those days that felt like there wasn't enough of me to go around and everyone needed something. Glad today is almost over and I can go and snuggle into bed soon.

Lemme see ...lots going on over the last few days -Emma's birthday was Friday, Ellie's birthday party was Sunday, Steve left for Tennessee for work today, I had to leave the comfort of my bubble several times today and run errands (so hate that!), I am super super busy with work stuff, it's bizarre to see my website in another language (Tickle Bellies is going international), the candy corn is taunting me each time I pass by the bowl, I think my camera is on its last legs, the tree frog is back on the front porch and he brought a friend, Monday night TV was great last night, my thumb is still really sore, Ellie has another loose tooth, Ellie and I are getting used to our nightly growth hormone shots, Emma found her earring today that she lost at school on Friday (she cried for 45 minutes over it on Friday - they were new birthday earrings), I had a fabulous carmel hot coccoa today at Starbucks and I made $250.00 today by really doing nothing except placing a large order for blank labels for another company using my distributor...I think that was the highlight of my day...that and the caramel hot chocolate.

Here are photos from over the weekend...

Candy corn is evil

Emma's birthday Cake. It was so yummy.

The 14 year old blows out the candles.

Sephora body wash and shampoo from MaryAnn

Kanye was so over me wanting to play with him when he wanted to sleep.
Payback for 3am bed pounces isn't fun is it sweet boy?!

Halloween....ooo...scary....

More scary Halloween in the kitchen

Ellie's 8th birthday party with 7 of her friends. It was a wonderful time!

The girls made their own sundaes. Bellyaches to follow...

The girls also beaded necklaces for themselves and their American Girl dolls.

Happy Birthday Ellie! xxxxoooo

Year 14...

2010-10-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

Today is Emma's 14th birthday! At 10:29 pm tonight it will be official. Cannot believe all this time has gone by. I do believe we weathered her first teen year rather well. And I am hoping the next 365 days are just as smooth.

Tonight she is opting to go to a high school football game with friends instead of out to dinner with her parents. Really? My feelings are so hurt. :) We will go shopping tomorrow night to spend some of her birthday cash so maybe we can sneak dinner in then. I have no photos yet of the birthday girl but I will take plenty tomorrow. I do however, have a photo of Ellie to share that I took this morning. She is always around to indulge me. Love that.

Now, that's going to leave a mark!

2010-10-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

Today Ellie and I drove around to deliver her birthday party invites. We were having fun until I decided to shut the SUV door on my thumb. OK...I really wasn't rationally deciding to do this and I really don't know how it happened...but boy did it hurt. As soon as I released the door, blood started squirting all over and then the pain arrived in all its pulsating glory. The poor dad whose house we were at did not know what to do. No one else was home and I am thinking he doesn't normally take care of any of the 'emergency' stuff when it happens. I was bleeding all over and he gave me a tiny Halloween Dora band aid. It was actually ~~kind of~~ funny and he could not for the life of him, find their first aid stash of supplies. I think I will be dropping off a first aid kit for him later this week. I did leave with ice and lots of paper towels and many apologies on his behalf.

Ellie felt terrible about my injury. She is just so sweet. It really looks worse than it feels and having a black nail for Halloween will be pretty cool. I am going to load up on some Tylenol (20 of them sound pretty good) and go to bed.

Here's a photo of my thumb. Hope it doesn't gross anyone out.

It's not easy being green... but it sure is cute!

2010-10-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

Isn't this little tree frog just redonkulously cute? He was hanging out on our front door for a few days last week when we had some rain. He would sleep on the glass door behind the flower container during the day and at night he would feast on on the buglets that the front porch light would lure in. I haven't seen him in a few days but I am glad he stayed with us for a little while. Fingers crossed he comes back again.

Here is where he hung out during the day. We could watch him from inside the house and Ellie thought it was the coolest thing ever! If only the cats could see up that far on the door, I am sure they would be in agreement with Ellie.

Here he is after I woke him up (so rude I know). He hopped, and boy can he hop far, onto the side of the house. Love the little alien suction cup toes.

a visit to the state fair

2010-10-04T17:11:00.001-07:00

The girls and I took a quick trip to the Virginia State Fair over the weekend. The weather was just too nice not to go. Much to Ellie's disappointment, we bypassed the rides. I am so leary of traveling rides and those individuals that assemble them. I always think someone forgot to tighten a bolt or run a safety check. That's all I need is to be 8 stories up on the Ferris wheel when our lap bar gives way.

Instead we spent our time enjoying all the livestock and fair food. The animals were great, especially the piggies. There was a momma and about 12 little piggies that were the absoute cutest little balls of pink blobs ever. Sadly, I could not get a decent photo because someone had slipped those piggies some redbulls. They were in hyperactive mode running all over. Sliding, skidding, pig piling on top of one another. We had lots of laughs thanks to those little guys. We also saw a 4 hour old calf. The mother still had some signs of birthing around her and the girls were grossed out, yet mildly intrigued. Oh to live on a farm....

Chicago!!

2010-10-01T07:31:00.001-07:00

Wow... what a city and what a wonderful time we had. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and breath-takingly beautiful the windy city is. It was less crowded than NYC with a tad bit slower pace, the shopping was more reasonable, the city was pristine with flowers around every bend and the architecture was absolutely incredible. In comparison, we did miss the street vendors selling items and food on the street corners and the energy of NYC is a bit different - it's a little more seductive and spirited in the big apple, however, we all really fell in love with Chicago...in a big way.

Our main reason for going to Chicago was to speak on behalf of St Jude. A true honor and we are so fortunate to be able to share our story about what this hospital means to us and to Ellie and her quality of life. We did this Monday night at a dinner for Kmart managers and executives. The dinner was held in the Sears Holding complex in Hoffman Estates, IL. What an impressive place. I don't know if you were aware that Sears merged with the Kmart corporation several years ago (... you probably did know that and I am the only one living under a rock that had no clue.) Kmart is a huge player in the upcoming Thanks and Giving campaign for St. Jude. They raised the most money last year out of all the campaign sponsors and this year they were formally recognized as St. Jude's corporate partner for 2010. Last year they raised close to 7 million dollars in the 2 month time frame of Thanks and Giving. Isn't that amazing! Like I said, it was a privilege to share Ellie's story. Tony Thomas (founder Danny's son) spoke before us and he really gave Ellie such a build up calling her a superstar and playing her commercial with Jennifer Aniston. The best part was being able to tell them all that she just celebrated her 8th birthday and is cancer free. Wonderful words to say over and over again!

Ellie and Tony. He looks a lot like his dad.

Steve and I have already talked about going back to Chicago for another long weekend sometime in the Spring. We learned that 80 inches of snow is normal for the Windy City in the winter months so I don't think we will go in the immediate future. It was also quite the romantic city with many cool hotels, clubs and restaurants. A nice getaway without the girls would be fabulous. I think Emma may kill us though because she was really loving all the shopping in Chicago. That girl has fashion in her blood and loves to window shop. We did treat her to her first leather coat on this trip. (I think we were just feeding the monster though.) Ellie loved the American Girl Doll Store and brought one of her dolls with her for a makeover. We have now been to the American Girl Doll stores in Chicago, NYC and LA. Mall of America in MN is next on the list. My girls are just like me with their love for being in a big city. It was really a wonderful time! Here are my favorite photos. You can check them all out by going to the photo link on the right side of the blog.

The view from 94 floors up at the John Hancock Towers

Lake Shore Drive & Lake Michigan. Beautiful!

This is my favorite photo from our trip. How I love my girls!

Stage Avenue = lots of shopping

Michigan Avenue.... beautiful church in the background. Look how windy it was...

The architecture was incredible.

Art Studio downtown

I was taking a photo of the flowers and noticed Ellie's pose afterward. cute!

Emma in the Hershey Store

Our hotel lobby... 2 disco balls. That's how we roll.

A segway tour - what a great way to see the city

Me & the Mister
photo by Emma

Ellie beaming at the American Girl Doll Store

Giordono's deep dish. :)

In our hotel lobby right before heading to the airport to come home.

Chi-Town

2010-09-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

Just finished up today's orders and I am now ready to go pack for a long weekend in the Windy City. We have not had the pleasure of visiting Chicago before so we are all smiles to go. We are staying downtown at a very nice hotel and we will be packing in all the fun touristy things we can in 3 days. I am already dreaming of eating deep dish pizza and hanging out with my new BFF, Oprah. We are also going to speak on behalf of St. Jude and share Ellie's story. Praying for the right words to convince everyone to donate to this amazing hospital. They really only need to look at Ellie and how wonderful she is doing to know that aligning with St. Jude is definitely the way to go. :)

It's Kanye Thursday!

2010-09-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo collage of Kanye Jude for your viewing pleasure.
These were all taken this week. He is still loving his porch time during the day and watching the butterflies and birds tease him from the outside. After lounging on the porch for a bit, he manages to meander into my office looking for a playmate. He misses his buddy Ellie during the day. I don't tolerate as much playtime as Ellie so thankfully he's happy enough to hop up in the mailbins and take a nap. The other cats only tolerate so much Kanye time too and after a few pounces he gets the message. He certainly is a delightfully crazy little furball.

Birthday Wishes

2010-09-20T05:09:00.000-07:00

My sweet baby has turned eight years old. I am finding it hard to believe that my oldest child is almost 14 and my youngest in now 8. Yes it needs to be repeated because you can never ever say it enough... 'Boy they sure grow up fast!'

Ellie has fought hard for the last 2.5 years of her life to continue to have birthdays and I am so privileged to celebrate them with her. She had a great day with family yesterday and in a few weeks she will party with friends when she throws a birthday bash. So proud of you baby. You are healthy, happy and always the brightest spot in my day. Wishing for you all the very best this year. xoxo

Look at the 8 year old smile.

Make a wish!

Ellie and Grandma Marilyn and our new friend Drift the dog that walks, pants and barks. Oh yes, the cats are beyond thrilled.

Lots of Webkinz hamsters from Grandma. So cute.

The girls and I made chocolate covered marshmellows, pretzels and strawberries. They were so yummy!

Fabulous!

Just look at these little chocolate vultures.

Wednesday Thoughts

2010-09-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

I have been thoroughly enjoying the first 2 weeks of school. I do miss the girls a little bit but man I love the uninterrupted time. I can get so much more accomplished.

I have added new T-shirt designs to Tickle Bellies. I love, love, love these. There are a ton of everyday and Halloween designs over at Tickle Bellies. Designs on onesies too. So cute!

This week I have educated myself about growth hormone therapy. Ellie should start getting injections next week. We just need to be checked off on the procedure from a nurse. All of the supplies arrived the other day. I am praying this only has positive side effects and nothing else. There is a scary undertone with growth hormone in the cancer world. Nothing that has medical merit but still it can make you crazy to read it. I am beginning to hate the late effects of cancer treatment. Managing and keeping an eye open for all the endocrine issues that may arise after brain radiation is a game I don't want to play anymore. Ellie is a trooper though as always and takes it all in with a big smile and a positive attitude. Mommy is the one that is being a baby.

My sweet Ellie turns 8 this weekend. Mouth watering treats are on the agenda so we can properly celebrate. Don't these look amazing!? Really, anything dipped in chocolate has got to be good. In early October she is having an American Girl Doll party with her friends. So happy she is here to celebrate another birthday! You know just what it is that I am wishing for when she blows those candles out.

There are a slew of amazing cupcakes just like this one here Prepare yourself before clicking.

The weather was horrid all summer long. It was hot, humid and just plain gross and now that I am able to focus 100% on work - mother nature showers us with absolutely gorgeous days in the 80s. What is wrong with you Mother Nature? Not cool.

OMG!

2010-09-10T05:28:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Emma brought in the mail after school and started doing the happy dance. The Justin Bieber poster and wristband she bought had arrived. She certainly loves that little mop of hair. She can barely contain herself with anticipation because in November we have floor seats (in the front section nonetheless) to his concert. Oh to be 13 again....

On Mountain Time

2010-09-09T05:05:00.000-07:00

Our day trip to Shenandoah National Park was wonderful. The weather was just right. Sunny and between 70-75 degrees. The fresh air, intoxicating campfire smells and crispness did wonders for me. I had my eyes peeled for birds but in early September there isn't too much southern migration going on. I think I was a week or two late.

We did see hundreds of butterflies. Too many varieties to even know what I was looking at. We also did not see any deer on this trip. I am sure if we were still there at dusk we would see plenty but we headed out around 5 pm. When we visited the park in early summer it was like a game of frogger trying to avoid hitting all the deer. I think mid-June is one of the best times to go to see all the birds and wildlife. Definitely going back next year at that time. Steve has promised to take me a little farther west in October to the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. I cannot wait to see beautiful autumn colors.

Here are some of my favorite photos from our day.

The girls in front of Old Rag mountain. Breathtaking...

Newly freed Monarch Butterfly

Well alright then!

From Maine to Georgia and even into Venezula sometimes

Me and my boy

Emma in Big Meadow Fields

Another winged beauty

My girls - they rock!

First Day of School

2010-09-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

The girls went back to school today. We were all happy about that (especially mommy). It was time. Ellie has a fabulous teacher that has a great reputation of kindness, fairness and warmth. She has several friends in her class too and we are excited for a wonderful 2nd grade year with lots of learning accomplishments. I saw several kids crying today as I walked Ellie in. Some where little ones in kindergarten or first grade but there were a few older kids too. Ellie has always jumped head first into social scenes and fully embraces school. I am so grateful for her wonderful sense of self.

Emma entered her last year of middle school this morning. I am sure she had many ~~potential suitors~~ boys noticing her today as she continues to mature into a very beautiful young woman. She said the boys all seem to have changed - getting taller and filling out more. This may turn out to be an interesting year. Better stock up on margaritas and extra strength tylenol. I remember having my first 'boyfriend' in 8th grade. So it begins...

We had a fabulous holiday weekend and took a day trip to Shenandoah National Park on Sunday. It was the best weather of the summer by far. Perfect 75 degrees all day long. I wish we had more days like that over the last 3 months but more than anything I am grateful that the cooler air is coming. It was way too hot this summer. It was back into the 90s this afternoon so I guess I will have to practice patience a bit longer. I have a slew of mountain photos for next time. Today I will end with my girls heading back to school. I only have 2 photos of Emma because Steve drove her and a friend and he wouldn't dare take a photo of her at school. I so would.

Ellie's backpack and ladybug lunch sack.

Emma with her first day attire. Skinny jeans, Hollister shirt and pretty sandals.

See what I mean about the booze and pain killers?

Ellie is a vision in purple. Even with her wet hair and shirt.

Ellie and one of her biggest advocates, Mrs. Edwards, the principal of her elementary school.

Farewell Summer!

2010-09-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

- Robert Frost

Currently...

2010-09-02T07:17:00.000-07:00

... I am still in catch up mode from being gone last week from work. I am grateful to have lots of orders to process so no complaints from me. I am eager to get working on some other projects though so I am hoping to be caught up by today.

What else has been going on....

Steve celebrated his birthday on Monday.
Ellie received her 2nd grade teacher notification in the mail yesterday. She has scored one of the best teachers! Yahoo!
I caught Ellie reading on her own two times this week. Melts my heart that she is finally there.
Emma has been driving me crazy with all things Justin Bieber.
It's still hotter then, well you know what, outside. Where is Fall?
I am thoroughly enjoying Dan Brown's 'The Lost Symbol'. Fantastic reading.
I am soooo happy Hurricane Earl will not be bothering us in Richmond.
Steve wants to go to the OBX to watch the seas churn and the waves crash. He is a storm chaser at heart
Ellie and I head to Chicago at the end of the month for a St Jude speaking engagement with Tony Thomas.
We have never been to Chicago and are uber-excited to go
Thoughts of meeting Oprah swirl around in my head. (Don't be a dream crusher, I know it won't really happen)
I am loving this season of 'Weeds' on Showtime
Also loving a new show that follows 'Weeds' called 'The Big C'
I am currently designing a new line of T-shirts for Tickle Bellies
I am planning a fun weekend with girlfriends in NYC in early November
September is Childhood Cancer Awarness Month
Please donate to St Jude or Stand up to Cancer which airs this month

That's about all that is running through my mind over the last few days... now back to work!

Cancer Free and Feeling Great!

2010-08-29T10:43:00.001-07:00

We are back and back with a healthy and cancer free Ellie! It was a busy and emotionally draining week but the end result was a clear scan with no cancer. I am still detoxing and I am so grateful it is the weekend so I can move slowly. I will have a very busy week playing catch up but that is fine by me! Here are some of my favorite photos from Memphis.

Thanks for your Prayers!! :)

No better place for us to have been for cancer treatment. We thank God each day for St. Jude.

Sweet Ellie ready to get sedated for her MRI

An evening with the Dooners. We just love our Memphis family

Enjoying the elephant fountain outside of the Target House. We have such fond memories here.

BELIEVE! We sure do!

Our worst day because of so many needle sticks and IVs. I think 3 veins blew this day. Ellie was undergoing growth hormone testing to see how much her body is making. She broke my heart that day. :(

Our favorite St. Jude doctor - Dr. Bihkazi. Comforting Ellie before she goes to sleep for her MRI

Just another day at St. Jude.

Me and Ellie outside the hospital. See you in 3 months St Jude! Thanks for everything!

Where Angels Hang Around

2010-08-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

The girls and I fly out to St Jude today. Ellie has her 3 month check-up. Please pray with us that we return home with a cancer free little girl. We accept God's Will and I am praying with all I have that He believes we still need her more than He does.

We will be gone all week for some additional testing regarding hormones which means Ellie gets a few more needle pricks than normal but she is OK with that and we have some fun activities planned along the way. It'll be good to be back in Memphis. Emma hasn't been in about 15 months or so and she is very excited. We will visit good friends, places we love and again be humbled by it all.

This is a song by James Otto that is a beautiful testimony to St. Jude. It's such a visual and moving song. This particular video is not about St. Jude but I liked this version of the song live. It is however about a brother and sister that both passed from brain tumors 20 years apart on the very same day. Isn't that incredible? I included the lyrics below.

Thanks for your prayers!!!

A hundred miles out of Little Rock
Windshield full of rain
I-40 eastbound drivin’ while I pray
She’s asleep in the backseat
Holdin’ tight to her teddy bear
She’s got her daddy’s smile and her momma’s hair
But one word knocked our lives off track
Just one word keeps us comin’ back

Chorus:
Across the Mississippi
A mile or two from Beale Street
Not too far from Graceland
Where the king of rock and roll sleeps
To a place for children
Where God sends his mercy rainin’ down
In the heart of Memphis
Where angels hang around

All the deals I’ve made with God
The conversations that we’ve had
Tryin’ to accept things I could not understand
I wanna walk her down the aisle
While those church bells ring
See her get the chance
To live all her dreams
But one word knocked our lives off track
Just one word keeps us comin’ back

Chorus

So sleep tight baby while these four wheels roll
’Cause just beyond the clouds there’s a ray of hope

There’s a place for children
Where God sends his mercy rainin’ down
In the heart of Memphis
Where angels hang around

about us

2010-08-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

Thought I would post some randomness tonight and recap what we have been doing lately. I have been super busy with Tickle Bellies orders. Yeah! It's back to school time so that means dozens and dozens of vinyl labels and bag tags going out the door. I am also designing two logos. One for a new diaper vending machine company (interesting, I know) and the other for a non-profit company that will be selling T-shirts in support of kids that have allergies. People have the most intriguing ideas for business and I am so grateful logo design is in their start up costs because sadly most of them just don't make it past the first year or so. (However, they have a super cute logo by yours truly that will last forever) I have also been busy designing new products for Tickle Bellies and this fall I will be introducing T-shirts and iron-on labels to our line. Another exciting thing happening is that I am aligning with a new company in the Netherlands that is very eager to represent our stationery. There is a growing market for personalized goods currently there and we have worked out a great arrangement so I am thrilled to see what unfolds this Fall with all of this. As if that wasn't enough on the work front, I am also redesigning the look of the Tickle Bellies website. I am really excited as I love the layout I have recently designed. I have hired someone to do all the coding so I am just responsible for the graphics. My brain is beyond happy about that. Website construction is just not my favorite thing to do.

The other half (should I have said better half?) is great too. He is coming home from Nashville tonight from a few days in the field. He has been exercising a lot all summer, mostly running. Walking with me and then running a few miles each night on his own. I told him the other day he was 'Manorexic' and to stop slimming down. I think he may have a road race in his future. There is a particular race up north that he has always wanted to run in. I think this is the year. The only other thing that I can think of that is going on with him lately is his hate-hate relationship with the fast growing crabgrass that is in our front lawn. It's really not playing nice this summer. I hate it too.

Emma has been babysitting a lot and is permanently attached to her phone and laptop. I try to paint a picture for her of life growing up in the 80s and how we had no computers or texting and that our phones were attached to cords that were attached to the wall and she just gives me that blank Yellow Labrador look with a tilted head and confused eyes. She is also spending time with friends having sleep overs and movie outings. She is not getting outside enough but in her defense it has been so very hot this summer. Let's see what else... Oh, she has been telling me on a very regular basis how much she loves and I mean loves, Justin Bieber and that he is following her on Twitter... no really... it's officially him. I don't know what to make of that. We are seeing him in concert this November maybe she should make a sign to alert him that she is in the audience. As much as she regularly tells me about her undying love for Justin, she has asked me about 821 times if she can get hair extensions. um...no...oh, and she pierced her ears on her own with ice and a needle. These are her second holes and I told her that I did that when I was her age. I guess some things are better left unshared because she thought if I did than she could too. I'll let you know if her ear turns green.

Ellie continues to be wonderful, happy, funny and loving. She has had several playdates and gone to a birthday party over the last week. She continues to get up at 6:30 each morning and take a nap with her cat Phoebe by mid-morning. Phoebe is always by her side and acts more like a dog than a cat. I love their relationship. Ellie has been reading and working on her 2nd grade workbook a lot too. She has greatly improved this summer. She spends time each day playing in our playroom up in the attic, singing with the cats and playing doctor, or restaurant or family. She has a great imagination and her laughter is contagious. She helps me with work by packing things, assembling envelopes and filling the mail bins and just about every day I find a love note left in my office with many "x's and o's" or a beautiful picture.

So that is an update on the four of us. I cannot believe the summer is winding down. I wish we did more fun things but being together and being healthy is really what's important. There never seems to be enough time or money to do all the things I would love to do over the summer months but there is always next summer to plan for. I have already decided that if next summer is as hot as this summer then we are heading to someplace much cooler for July and August. I really felt like I lived in the Sahara with the heat and a South American rain forest with the humidity. I am looking forward to fall weather and I cannot believe there are no photos in this post....

Go Shawty...It's Your Birthday

2010-08-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

My birthday was on Saturday. Woo Hoo! Another year older. Each year gets better and better for me so I have no sadness about adding another digit to my age. It's really just a number after all.

I had a lot of great birthday wishes and cards, my favorite one being from sweet Ellie. She drew a picture of the two of us together holding hands and had everyone sign their name. Emma will be generously treating me to a pedicure later this week with some of her hard earned babysitting money and my sweet husband surprised the $%*# out of me and bought a brand new Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera and lens. I totally didn't expect it. I had mentioned one day that I wish I had a Canon instead of a Nikon because they have really sharp lenses and good vibrancy. I bought a used Nikon D200 off of Ebay about 3 years ago and I really do love it. It is a bit beat up now but I am still in the learning stages of photography and so much has to do with the photographer and not the camera. It is definitely a learning experience each time I reach for the camera. He also knew this D200 was used and wanted me to have a brand new one and not a used one. Isn't that sweet? However, because I have 3 Nikon lenses, a speedlight, batteries and other stuff that I cannot use on the Canon, I decided to return the Canon and continue learning on the D200 until I am ready to upgrade. It was super expensive for a birthday gift too and I couldn't see spending that much on me... well... OK... I could totally see it and it is really the fact that he did get it that makes it so amazing. So instead of the Canon camera, I have decided to buy two more good Nikon lenses that I have wanted for awhile as my birthday gift. I so love Steven for buying something that he knew I would love and for splurging on me. He is the best! I am ready year 41... bring on all the best you have to offer!

Sunday Afternoon

2010-08-10T06:53:00.000-07:00

Steve, Ellie and I took a Sunday stroll down to the lake. It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the high 80s. Quite enjoyable compared to the 100 degrees days we have experienced all summer. Here are some photos.

Early Birthday Present

2010-08-05T11:20:00.001-07:00

My birthday is this month! Another year older...blah blah blah.... Really, I could care less about my age, I am all about the gifts. Normally I sashay around with Brighton handbags which I have been so in love with for years. I have not been one to partake in the big Vera Bradley craze that has been going on for years even though I sincerly like their handbags. But because they were so very popular all over the country, I opted for something different. It's my pull to go against the norm I guess.

However, I decided this summer that I really wanted a large sized Vera Bradley duffel bag for traveling. My mom was all over it as a birthday present as soon as I mentioned it. I emailed her the patterns I liked and let her pick which one. So when she received it in the mail early, she couldn't wait to give it to me. I told her no that we should wait until it is officially my birthday that I couldn't accept any early presents - OK - who are we kidding, I tore that box open in a New York minute. Inside was the sought after duffel bag... and...and... a large tote bag as well. That was such a surprise added bonus gift. Thank you Mom! I love the pattern she chose too. It is beautiful. Now I cannot wait to go away and use my new duffel bag and tote. Woo Hoo! I love birthday month!

This is the tote bag. It has so many pockets inside and now I will be able to keep all my 'junk' organized while looking pretty.

love, love, love this duffel bag. Cannot wait to use it. I do have a trip coming up too..

This is one of my favorite patterns. It is so me.

Photo courtesy of Ellie Bellie -
Showing off my new tote bag. Thanks Mom!
(ignore the no make-up and ripped up shorts)

Our new little friend

2010-08-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday (7-25) my neighbor called at 11 pm to ask if our cat Dodge was missing. He wasn't. But... she had a little kitten that she was trying to rescue from under another neighbor's enclosed deck and wasn't sure if it was Dodge. She was taking care of our other neighbors dogs when she saw them go after a small cat. They had it pinned until it escaped through the trellis and under the deck. I came over to help. All I could see way in the back on the dirt, in the unreachable corner, were these little ears and a little face that would occasionally pop up to look at us. He was obviously scared to death. There was no physical way to reach this kitten at all. So, to make a long story short, we got out the garden hose and squirted it out. When he finally ran toward us and up against the trellis, I was able to bend back a section of trellis to get to him. I was so afraid to put my ungloved hand in to pick him up though. I have rescued wild kittens before and they are little spitfires with sharp claws and teeth. I wasn't sure if he was wild or not but I had to scoop him up before he ran back the other way. Thankfully, this beautiful boy exhibited none of that bad behavior and just let me pick him right up. He was so grateful to be rescued. Of course I had to take him home. He was about 7 weeks old and very thin with two small puncture wounds on his back legs. When I got him home, Emma woke up Ellie and we gave him a bath and moistened up some cat food for him. He was starving.

We all would have loved to invite him to join our family but with one dog and five cats already, it didn't seem like the best idea. We put out adoption feelers.... and we had a taker! This past Saturday the kitty went to a new home in our neighborhood. He is very lucky and will be well loved and we can visit whenever we want. The girls are sad but they realize we cannot keep every animal that crosses our path. Helping out to save his life was the important part of the story and then finding a good home for him to live in was just as crucial. It was a good lesson for them. Here are some photos of our time with 'Drew' as the girls called him.

So Hollywood - Ellie and her fashionable purse pet get ready to hit the clubs.

He is so giving me the hairy eyeball here. He was loving all of us and I like to think he was sad to leave.

A picture speaks a thousand words for sure.
Kanye watches as the new kitty goes under his chair and Phoebe is so over any other cats coming into the mix. He was favoring his back foot here, the one that the dogs punctured. By the time he left for his new home it was all healed.

Ellie loved this little guy. Emma loved him even more though and was so sad to see him go. Even though 2 twin boys that are in her grade and that she is friends with adopted him so she can visit whenever she wants.

Don't you just want to squeeze him... such a sweet boy with lots of happy purrs. Have a happy life (you have 8 more left) and stay away from those dogs.

Ruby Throated Beauty

2010-07-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

We have two Hummingbirds this summer that are hanging out in our yard. We usually just have two each year. I am waiting for the day that I have 5 or 6 at one time. Won't that be cool?! So this year we have a male and a female that are enjoying our little spot of earth. I had excitedly hung out the sugar water at the beginning of the season but for whatever reasons the Hummingbirds weren't too interested...but...the ants were. I couldn't for the life of me find the ant guard (little moat like thing that prevents the ants from making it to the sweetwater) so I took the feeder down. My gardens contain plenty of humming bird friendly plants and I knew they would have plenty of choices to drink from so I wasn't too worried about them finding nutrition.

However, I did miss seeing them up close. When they feed from a feeder they perch and stay longer and seem more relaxed so you can get up close and personal. I debated about putting the feeder back up but then we were on vacation for a week and then it was so unbelievably hot and the sugar water turns bad quickly in 95 plus temperatures. So....to make a long story short, the garden is looking rather spent after a month of 95 degree days so yesterday I put the feeder back up and made a big batch of sugar water so I can keep the feeder filled with fresh food each day. I still don't have an ant guard but I moved the feeder to a different location away from the deck. It was fun to watch the hummers up close again tonight. They are so beautiful. Now if only they would play nice with each other.

Treasured Photos

2010-07-26T06:57:00.000-07:00

My mom had a bunch of slides that she had found recently so she asked if we could convert them to photographs for her. They were slides my dad took back in the early 60's. We had them transfered and were happy to find lots of great photos of my mom and dad, brothers and great grandparents and grandparents from over 40 years ago. Sadly, my dad, brother, grandparents and uncle are no longer with us. I am so cherishing these little glimpses into my family life 10 years prior to my arrival on the scene.

This is my dad. He must have been in his mid twenties. So laughing at the wallpaper in the room and what looks like a Hollister shirt from back in the day.

My parents are a new couple in this photo. Aren't they adorable?

These are my great-grandparents. I remember my Nanny but my 'old' poppy as he was referred to, I do not recall at all. My Grandma Dot, who is one of the loves of my life, is in the background looking hot in her mink jacket. This was taken in New Haven CT

My brothers Joe and Michael... look how my mom dressed them! They look like little pimps or wiseguys or something and to top it all off, Michael is wearing BRIGHT BLUE shoes...what is up with that?

My mom is pregnant in this photo with my brother Michael. I wish she was looking at the camera. Dad is looking sexy with that skinny tie!

My grandparents owned an Irish pub in New Haven, Connecticut. My dad would tend bar there...I wonder if he ever wore this outfit that the guy in front has on.

My great-grandmother Carrie and my Grandma Dot and her son, my uncle Mike, sitting around drinking tea. I remember playing lots of keeno around this table when I was about 4 or 5.

A Glimpse...

2010-07-24T05:01:00.000-07:00

Emma is away for the weekend visiting with my mom. So on Thursday Ellie and I decided to 'straighten' up her room. We really just dusted, vacuumed and organized some of the ~~chaos~~ clutter. She definitely has a mutant gene somewhere growing in her body that she inherited from her father that allows her to look past the messiness in her room and not care. At. All. One. Bit. Totally something that would have made me nuts at her age. I was basically an undiagnosed OCD kid growing up. No, not really that severe at all but I did like everything 'just so'. I remember whenever my girlfriend Barbara would come over and she would be in my room picking up everything and then putting it down in all the wrong places, it would just make me start hyperventilating... well, that's what she would say anyway. She always would just laugh and say "I am going to move something...I am touching this..." I don't know why I stayed her friend. She was so cruel, oh, and may I add in that she was quite unorganized and messy! (hope you're reading this Barb!) I am still neat and tidy and I can visualize where I have put things because normally they are always in the same spot so when Steve looses his keys or Emma looses her phone I just chuckle and remind myself what a blessing it is to be like me. Oh, by the way, Ellie is a carbon copy of me. love that!

Because Emma's room was a bit neater I decided to take a few random photos to remember her at this age. She is going to be 14 in the Fall and her tastes are always changing. At this moment she loves Justin Bieber, Twilight, makeup, technology, sleeping in, Twitter and Facebook, lamenting daily over the fact that she should have an IPhone and that we are evil parents for not buying her one, hoarding snacks and water under her bed, drawing hearts and peace signs on everything including her body, little monster animals and her big pink soft blanket from pottery barn. For risk of overstepping my parental boundaries I will end the list right there as to not share too much. I am sad she is growing up so quickly. Although she spends more time on the messy side of the street, she is a wonderful daughter that makes me laugh and I am very proud of her.

This I didn't touch other than putting Minnie on the bed. She actually made her bed before heading to Grandmas.

Last Summer we saw the Idols tour and visited with them backstage. They all signed Emma's poster. She really loved Adam Lambert and she still does but not as much anymore... See how quickly it changes...

A typical teenage girl at heart.

Twilight and Justin Bieber adorn the walls.
Steven got the volvo poster when we purchased our new SUV. (Didn't they used to give cash back incentives instead?)

A little corner of her bookcase. Twilight books and stuffed animals and an energy bar. I am always finding food in her room. When you hear about a house that was taken over by ants, it will be us.

Ending with this little gem. No further comment...

P is for Pizza

2010-07-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

Steve left yesterday for a few days in New England for work and Emma headed to my moms for some grandma time; leaving just me and Ellie in the house. We are so thrilled to have each other all to ourselves! After we cleaned Emma's room (and removed our hazmat suits) we headed to the grocery store for homemade pizza fixings. I haven't made pizza in ages and I don't think I have ever done it with Ellie. So off we went.

We have a new grocery store in town. Well sort of, it really just has new owners and a new name and a new philosophy. These new owners have thrown all of the Christian values that this older store used to embrace out the window because you can now shop on Sunday and buy booze and lottery tickets. Personally, I am liking the changes or shall we say improvements. The other super cool thing they have is one of those fabulous Redbox DVD kiosks. Can I proclaim my love for the Redbox now? Love, love, love it! So easy and so cheap. Ellie picked out 'The Spy Next Door' and I chose the 'Book of Eli" both fairly new movies for only...wait for it... two bucks! Two dollars for two movies and I didn't have to talk to anyone. No one asked me if I wanted a tub of popcorn or wanted to enroll in a frequent movie plan...it was heaven and did I mention only two bucks?!?

Our pizza making endeavour was quite fun. We made half cheese and garlic for Ellie and cheese, caramelized red onions, pepperoni and garlic for my side. Aesthetically, it wasn't much to look at but it sure tasted wonderful. I watched my movie after Ellie went to bed and it was pretty good. Had a neat little twist at the end which I always like. So far, our girls weekend is off to a great start!

Pizza ingredients...check!

yummy onions...check!

Cutest pizza chef in the world...check!

Spreading the sauce with precision...check!

Everything in place and ready for the oven...check!

One delicious pizza ready to eat...double check!

Girls Weekend!

2010-07-20T07:39:00.001-07:00

As always, summer is zipping by me way too quickly. I hate that - I so wish it lasted longer. To cash in on some summertime fun, the girls and I took a little trip to Virginia Beach this weekend. We had a marvelous time. Steve stayed home to work and keep Tucker company. We didn't want to put him in a kennel for two days when it is this hot.

Below are some photos from our fun girls weekend. This week will be back to work - designing new items for Tickle Bellies and a logo for a new client. Ellie will head back to summer school and Emma will be off to my moms for some grandma time. It's suppose to be another hot week here in Virginia so I think some ice cream and movie time will be necessary and possibly a trip to the pool, although, I do think we are officially 'pooled out'.

My beautiful girls on our balcony

Virginia Beach - crowded and hot!

Cheers to drinks in the pool - aaahhh... the good life!

Ready for the beach!

Me and Ellie by the King Neptune sculpture on the beach.

Fireworks!!!

Ellie checks out her newest Silly Bands on our way back to the hotel.

Ipad Love

2010-07-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

We bought an Ipad in the Spring and I just wanted to spend a second gushing about its fabulousness. Hopefully this photo will demonstrate my love adequately... sigh....I really could go on and on.

Studio Stuff

2010-07-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share with you some of my designs that will be making their debut in the very near future. Some of these are for Tickle Bellies and some are for a stationery house in Miami that I do exclusive work for. Their 'back to school' catalog will hit thousands of homes next month and will feature my pirate theme along with an ice cream and dinosaur theme I did.

I am starting to explore the idea of licensing some of my designs to corporations. I certainly have a fat enough portfolio by now so there is lots to choose from. The next step will be to contact a licensing agent to see what they think. Stay tuned...

5 things...

2010-07-09T18:41:00.001-07:00

Saw this on a blog the other day and thought I would do one too. 5 random facts about me.

Happy Friday

2010-07-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

Such a beautiful morning. It was the first time in a week that the temperature was cool enough to enjoy breakfast on the screened-in porch. I love lazy mornings like that where you can linger and just give thanks for the moment and be content. No problems, no schedules just sheer gratitude and appreciation for where you are right at that moment.

Hot Day for a Cool Treat

2010-07-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Look how hot it is out there. Can't you see it? OK, well I guess it's kind of hard to tell from this photo but trust me it is way toasty out there. We are staying cool by remaining inside for the most part. I do have to run out every few hours to put ice water in the bird bath and water all the container plants because by noontime they are sucked dry from their 8am watering. They really don't look like they have been sitting in 102 degree weather for a week though so it is worth hauling the watering can around for 20 minutes. Also, my feathered friends are very happy with my bird bath water replenishing service. They need fresh cool water on days like today. I think a Mourning Dove smiled at me this afternoon when I put some ice cubes in his bath.

We decided to make rice krispie treats while we were looking for something fun to do while keeping cool. I have never made them (I know - what a shocker) but there are only 3 ingredients and I am all about simple when it comes to projects in the kitchen. They didn't quite taste like the store bought ones - mine didn't seem to be as compact but they were still yummy. Of course my assistant Ellie did what she does best and assisted me.

American classic...yum!

Marshmellows and melted butter

Ellie stirs it all up

Add in the cereal and put it in the pan to cool.

Add frosting and sprinkles and enjoy!

Random Photo Tuesday

2010-07-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

I am getting back into the groove, the routine, the schedule, the flow... Ellie started summer school today at 8am and I am grateful that I have to be up and dressed by 7:45 to bring her to school. If I didn't have to be somewhere I may linger a tad bit longer in my PJs and get a later start to my day so thank you summer school for getting me up and going!

I have lots of work to do today so I am going to share some random photos from the past few days. If you're on the east coast - stay cool! It's a schorcher out there.

Purple Coneflower- one of my favorite summer perennials. I wish I had more sun back there.

The bumble bees love coneflower.

Tucker! Where's your ball?

I love being able to cut flowers from my garden to bring inside.

I picked up this little lamb in Connecticut. It's a watering can and I just adore it.

Back from Paradise

2010-07-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

We have returned from our week in Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was our first time going there and I so loved it...we ALL loved it! It was really perfect and so very beautiful. The resort we stayed in was great with several pools and activities and grounds for walking and ping pong and ice cream and little lizards and palm trees and frozen drinks and Jimmy Buffett music and sunsets and sunrises and pelicans and ocean breezes and great food and koi ponds and facials and pedicures and boogie boards and belly dancing and maid service and big fountains and room service and s'mores and bean bag tosses and soft sand and daydreaming and laughing and more cocktails and going under water while holding your nose and relaxing and happiness - and memories that will forever be etched into my brain.

I have uploaded all of the photos from our trip on flickr (over 100) so take a look at them to see how pretty this little spot in the world really is. I am now headed out to light up sparklers with the girls and to watch the fireworks (if we can see them from here). I will show you my ~~five~~ seven favorite photos from our trip below. It's tough to narrow them down but I will try - I will also try my darnedest not to cry because we are no longer in paradise. I want to go back. I am in Hilton Head withdrawal.

This is one of my all time favorite in the history of my life favorites. I just love it!

Emma is just growing up so much. She is really beautiful here.

This reminds me of the relaxed and easy goingness of Hilton Head. The colors and the breeze capture the attitude for me

I am doing everything in my power to hold onto these days. They will be gone before I know it. I cannot tell you how much I love this little girl

Another all time favorite for me. When I look at this I realize how blessed I am.

Hilton Head is gorgeous around every corner. This was taken from our boat ride. Love how green and alive everything is.

Ellie so enjoyed our boat ride, especially when we were cruising at top speed. I love this photo because Steve just beams around his little girl.

Dip in the pool

2010-06-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

It's been hotter than 'H E double hockeysticks' lately so last night the girls and I went to cool off in the pool. Today is hitting the 100 degree mark so we are all staying in the cool air conditioned house while we get our last minute things done before our vacation starts. Here are some photos from the pool.

Relaxing and watching the girls swim. ahhhh....

Me and Ellie. The water was so warmed by the hot sun all day that it was more like a heated pool... still refreshing though.

Sweet Ellie

Emma so did not want her photo taken... I had to bribe her with new clothing... oi vhey!

flip flops are our shoe of choice in the summer

Summertime flags hanging from the clubhouse

Toweling off. :)

Poisoning our land - AGAIN!

2010-06-22T05:19:00.001-07:00

Last night I watched a documentary on HBO called 'Gaslands'. It was a film that brings attention to all of the natural gas companies that drill wells (thousands and thousands of them) across our country and then in turn pollute the drinking water for those that live in the area. They then claim no responsibility and force these people to haul in pure drinking water or should the people be able to retain legal counsel the gas company will pay for their water and in turn make them sign non-disclosure contracts so they cannot speak of the issues. Most of these people cannot sell their land because it is now ruined and they are finding their health is in major danger. Head aches, vomiting, dizziness.

In the past 10 years there was a huge boom with thousands of wells being drilled all over the US... especially in Colorado and Wyoming. There is land called BLM that is essentially public land that the government has set aside for its people. The Bureau of Land Management kept this land free of drills and pipelines... that is until the Bush administration and our good friend Dick Cheney comes into power. Dick Cheney because of his position with Halliburton 'persuades' the BML to let gas companies start to drill on this land. The land is now dotted with toxic drill sites that are contaminating air, land and water. Wildlife populations are affected in the area not to mention the people that have made their life there. Their lifestyle has been greatly compromised over the last 8 years.

Isn't it interesting how many environmental disasters and pollutants seem to point right at Dick Cheney lately?? The basically non-existing emergency backup plans that should have been in place for crude oil leaks can be traced back to Cheney. He is suppose to have loosened up the regulations so the oil companies could pump more oil at unsafe levels and gee look what happened - an overloaded system exploded and there was no back up containment plan in place. The out of control gushing of oil is slowly and painfully ruining the Gulf and all those precious wetlands...and now this comes out about the natural gas and all of the drills that Cheney paved the way for. He needs to be held accountable for his actions. I was never a Bush administration fan with the type of government that he had in mind but this, this is so unacceptable. This is environmental terrorism.

Sadly, Dick Cheney will most likely never be held responsible and the gas companies will most likely not suffer either. What I hope this documentary accomplishes is just what it did for me, opens eyes and educates and makes us realize once again what we are doing to this earth and all the inhabitants. All for money. It's just gross.

To see more about the Gaslands documentary click here

Father's Day

2010-06-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to the father of my girls. Steven is a really wonderful dad and his girls love him to pieces! Hope my own dad is enjoying today up in heaven but I am sure everyday up there is enjoyable.

Today has been rather low key. I think the thermometer reached the official bagillion degree mark today. Due to all the heat and humidity we decided not to go up to the mountains like we had thought about doing earlier in the week. Officially I think we hit 97 but it may as well be a bagillion degrees. So this morning we let daddy sleep in and relax all day. He's actually out for a walk right now - yeah - I know, didn't I just tell you it is a bagillion degrees! Have heat stroke on Father's Day why don't you! If we aren't in the ER getting re hydrated tonight we will enjoy a dinner of grilled steak, shrimp, baked potatoes and corn on the cob and afterward I think we will head out for some ice cream.

Yesterday we took Ellie to see Toy Story 3. Such a fabulous movie that had me tearing up at the end. Toy Story 2 was the very first movie Emma went to see in the movie theater. She had just turned three and we went to the cinemas in East Hartford, CT. Good memories! It definitely was a long wait in between these sequels but well worth it. Last night we went to a neighborhood pool party. There was a live local band playing and here and there they would insert some obnoxious Obama wisecracks while singing. Totally annoyed us and it was so inappropriate and really pointless. I felt like saying something but I took the high road and let it go. They ended one song with 'Hey Barack - go clean up that oil spill'. Huh? And can you tell me what you have done to help out? Definitely made us leave early. Other than that - it was a delightful evening.

Here are some photos from today of the girls enjoying this lazy Father's Day...

Ellie getting her painting groove on with some water colors.

...and here is Emma in the family room watching Justin Bieber videos.

S'mores & Lightning Bugs

2010-06-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week Ellie and I watched dozens of lightning bugs light up the darkening sky as we sat on the porch. "There's one! Look over there mommy! That one was so close! They are just so cool" I remembered being her age and watching them too back in Connecticut on a warm June night. I caught them in a jar one summer evening and I was so fascinated when they all glowed in unison behind the glass. So last night we decided it would be a good night to catch a little magic.

We knew we would have to wait until it was close to dark so before all the lightning bug fun began we decided to celebrate the end of the school year and the start of summer vacation with s'mores. S'mores make everyone smile and are such a summertime treat. I always flashback to the very first time I had one. It was 1979, I was 10 and I was at my first overnight Girl Scout camping trip. We sat around the camp fire and I watched in amazement as a hot, toasty marshmellow was placed on the chocolate and graham cracker sitting before me. Oh my God! It was the best tasting thing I ever had! I was hooked after that night and I so look forward to the first s'mores every summer. So back to last night, we don't have a firepit so we had to make due and use our gas grill. Steve took the honors of marshmellow roasting. The oohs and ahhs from the girls as they took their first bite was priceless.

Yeah for summer!

A blurry photo but it still looks good enough to eat... oh... and it was!

Ellie's mouth is still a bit swollen from her mini-surgery but she managed to eat this without any problems whatsoever!

So we've enjoyed our s'mores and the sky is getting a bit darker and in the woods across the creek we can see pops of light making their way toward us. Little bursts of energy lighting up the landscape. I think we waited until it was a bit too dark because it was quite challenging to get some good photos in the low light.

Ellie is not a girly girl but she really isn't a tomboy either. She falls somewhere in between. She is up for participating in things she may be unsure of but she does it with caution. She wasn't sure if she really wanted to catch a lighting bug. She kept asking me if it was going to pee on her. I think she was recalling the little gray tree frog that climbed up my arm a few weeks ago. He peed all down my arm. I reassured her that there would be no lightning bug pee and that they are really gentle. After I caught one and put it on her palm she was OK with the idea. It was great to see her running after the glowing bits of magic. We decided to only catch 5 of them. We should have caught more but it was getting really dark and I believe the mosquito population in our yard was texting all of their friends to come over for the feast. It was fun and we have a few more nights that the lightning bugs will be around so we may go back out a little earlier one night and fill up a whole jars worth!

On the hunt...

Can you see it? It is hovering right in line with the wheel barrow handle. (looks like a white splotch). This is one that we caught.

Checking out God's amazing work up close.

3 of our 5 little glowing prisoners... Of course we let them out early for good behavior.

Dog Days of Summer

2010-06-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

What happened? It's June 16th already? Spring is gone - although not officially - but sadly, it is. We have been having August like weather here in central Virginia. Many days in the 90s and they have been rather steamy and thick too. So I am proclaiming that the dog days of summer have arrived. I even have a photo to prove it.

Our dog Tucker spends less and less time outside, favoring being inside enjoying the cool air. When he is out for some tennis ball time or a walk around the block he is on major panting overload. His whole body heaving for air. Yesterday and today aren't as brutal and I even worked in the garden this morning cutting back Clematis and doing some weeding. The flowers already look spent and droopy after the last few days of humid air. Hopefully all the trimming and deadheading will force new growth and give them a lift.

Today is the girls last full day of school. Ellie has beach day today (at school, not the beach - although we do so very badly need a real beach day). She had two baby teeth removed yesterday and she did just great. Her little lopsided grin warms my heart. She woke me up at 4:30 this morning to inform me that the Tooth Fairy made an appearance and to squish into my bed. Steve is away on business so I was more than happy to have the cuddle time. So, two more half days and they are officially on summer break. I think I will need to bake some cookies in celebration. Friday we will take them to see Toy Story 3 and then maybe a trip up to the mountains for the weekend. I always get so itchy to go on road trips when school ends. Time to make those fun memories. Bring it on Summer - we're ready and willing - just turn down the heat a little OK? Thanks!

baby teeth and lobsters

2010-06-14T06:38:00.001-07:00

Today begins the last day of the final school week for the girls. I will be glad to be on summer break - sleeping in, no homework, no stress....ok... well...new stress will be in its place but I am still looking forward to it. Tomorrow Ellie will miss school so she can have two teeth extracted. She has some crowding and two baby teeth that should have been pushed out of the way seem to be staying so we will remove them tomorrow. She has to be sedated by an anesthesiologist. No longer do they numb up little mouths with novacaine and pull teeth. They want the child to have a positive dental experience and if they are sedated then they likely will not remember or be scared. This method is suppose to encourage a good relationship with the dentist and only happy memories thus ensuring future visits to the dentist. (who are they really kidding!) I'm all for that but unfortunately my dental insurance is not. $275.00 is my cost to have a visit from the anesthesiologist and unfortunately it's not a choice - this is the only way her dentist will do this procedure. I remember being a kid, all novacained up and ready with my fingers in a death grip around the arm of the chair, in a panic waiting to have my tooth pulled. My dentist back then didn't even wear gloves or a face mask and he had super long and really gross nose hair that I couldn't stop staring at. Yea- I guess not remembering would have been a good idea.

The weather here has been HOT and HUMID! I took Ellie to the pool yesterday. Her third time this season, my first. Emma was already there soaking up the rays with a girlfriend. I brought my new book, a cold diet coke and I found a comfy chair with an umbrella. I had a perfect line of sight of Ellie and her friends so I could make sure she was above the water and not below. A quick dip in the pool to cool off and I was ready to read... er... change of plans. A neighbor that I haven't talked to in a while was coming in too and she was ready to catch up. She had lots of stories to tell me about what was going on with her teenage daughter and some of it was intense so I felt compelled to stay and listen. When we finished an hour later, I realized I did not do the best job of sunscreening myself for this full on hour of sun. So today I am a little lobster-esque. I haven't been sunburned in a while and I forgot how much fun it is. Summer's here!!

Ellie and her friend having fun in the pool.

Emma & her friend at the pool. They didn't really want their photo taken... hee...oh well.