newsworthy: social print studio rocks

I recently printed some photos with Social Print Studio and they ROCK! Once you hold one of their prints in your hands you will know what I mean - they feel great! Chunky and smooth and perfect. Their little books and stickers, well, just order some to see how great they are - saaaweeet!

Their site was user friendly, fast and affordable. I will order again very soon! Just thought I would spread the word since I was totally thrilled with my order! (p.s. they didn't pay me to say this stuff and probably don't even know I am posting it - I was just really loved my photos!)

instagram: a peek at summer thru an iPhone

This is the first summer in years that our family has not been able to take a vacation- big or small. This was also the first summer I would be without my big girl camera. I dropped it. I was sure we would be bored, that time would crawl and I would never have another photograph. Boy was I wrong. June 6th was the official start of our summer break and our plate has been full since that day. We have run the gammit from the saddest of days- losing a loved one, to the happiest of the year- the birth of my first granddaughter, and a summer full of everything else in between. Here is what filled the weeks of a good old fashioned "Stay at Home Summer."

DAILY EXCURSIONS. sea world. brevard zoo. universal studios. mini golf. harmony golf course.

BEDROOM MAKEOVER. painting. sanding. figuring. gathering. sewing. re-purposing.

IN THE STUDIO. stamping. dyeing. journaling. stitching. recycling. sketching.

JUGGLING JULY. time with dad. rainstorms. fireworks. working out. big top baby-q.

THE BIG DAY. on our way. waiting with our girl. meeting lincoln. thankful for miracles. making memories.

ROCKIN THIS STUFF.  hairdos. mannequin moves. Gavotte. iTunes. shades.

THIS STUFF HAPPENED. dirt road detours. pit stops. jewelry making. beach days. together. sunsets.

LEARNING TO LIVE WITH (2) LENSES: this route every 2 weeks. the day i couldn't see at all. trying out some glasses. i can see this now. getting there. these over sclera lenses might just be the ticket.

LOVING OUR LINCOLN. with aunt liv. with mama. pretty pink toes. with gram. resting. with pop.

SWEET SURPRISES FROM BIG SISTER AND HER FRIEND. harry potter world and islands of adventure.So you see, we survived a "stay at home summer." We probably garnered more memories than twenty beach vacations, and we didn't even document all of it. We played games, ran at the lake, went to the movies and out to dinner with dad. We had company from Pennsylvania twice and visits from nieces and nephews. We made pancakes and cupcakes and ate fast food too many times. We watched a tree fall on our roof and then helped dad cut it down. We felt loss and the blessing of a miracle. We laughed until we cried and then laughed some more. It was one of the most companionable summers we have had in years. It was memorable. It was perfect. And I didn't even have a big girl camera.

my style: sneak peek fancy photoshoot fun

My baby was twelve last week. Not possible, but they tell me it is true. I surprised her this week with a trio of special friends and a fancy photoshoot and tea party! I will share more photos later, but could not resist this one sneek peek. Baubles, bubbles, crowns and glitter - what could be better?

instagram: march in review

dyeing. in the distance. lovely. random love. on the worktable. i made this. my green yard. Easter sunset. all county orchestra.a sign. 21 secrets workshop. haute handbags feature.

instagram: a look at february

workshop peek. yourself. finishing. where i stood. full. makes me smile. home.

bedside table. fork. starts with E. my girls. 3:00 o'clock. collection. entrance.

walking. bad day. in my fridge. perfect. in your hand. something i don't like.

Instagram: in review

Photo Walk: Everyday Life

• Sophie, as part of The Youth Orchestra, performs at the Center for the Arts.
• Looking for the Postman to arrive.
• A much needed perk for the afternoon.
• Happy Mail with a surprise feature.
• Waiting for my son to finish Golf.
• A fun night out with the Family.

Photo Walk: November

• My view every day at 3:40 PM as I wait in car line at school.
• Things you will find in my car.
• An evening on the town with hubby.
• Headed home from town.
• My son, THE READER.
• Reminiscing. Last fall I was out west with great friends.

{sometimes you just dance to the music in your heart}

Some things in life just make us smile. For Sophie it is {MUSIC}.

The beat is something that lives within this child. She is lovingly referred to around here as {the happy child}. So happy. All the time happy. Wake up kinda happy.

She loves to hear music. She loves to sing and dance. Not in a class. Not on a stage. Just for herself.

There is not a time when she is not {dancing} through the room, or {trilling} her thoughts out loud. If she has something to tell you there is a very good chance she will sing it to you. In {OPERETTA} style, no less. She thinks that this is a perfectly fine way to communicate. Sometimes, when the {OPERA} is out, she sing songs her message to you in a British accent. It matters not to her that even British accented singers don't sing this way. It is entertaining to {HER} and that is all that matters.

Why does she do this? I asked her one day. She told me that she was {dancing to the music in her heart.} There is nothing more perfect or wonderful than an answer such as that...and so she is the happiest child we know. Dancing and singing her way through the days...

...making us {SMILE}. Enjoy today's feature presentation!

{THE END}

 

{the beautiful wild west}

 I journeyed far from home recently, and my travels landed me in the breathtaking states of {UTAH} and {IDAHO}. My eyes alighted on sites that took my breath away. Overwhelming feelings of awe surged through my mind, flooded my senses, as I beheld the grandeur of of these raw and gritty patches of the {WEST}. To realize the uninterrupted allure that this part of our country possesses it quite astonishing.

Everywhere I was surrounded by God's artistry.

I felt a deep respect for the land in the simple beauty of a farm...

 ...considered the humble dwellings that swelled with years of life and living...

 ...realized the escape that the desolation of such a land can offer...

 ...imagined the immensity of God's greatness...

 ...felt the madness of nature in her most inelegant state...

 ...enjoyed the warmth of the landscape in one moment...

... and in the next, felt my smallness in the shadow of a towering storm...

 ...witnessed the change in God's palette...

 ...I felt a surge of happiness at the beauty of simple of things...

 ...I felt keenly aware of God's power in nature...

 ...there was thrill in leaving the {known} behind...

 ...and reverence for the {unknown}...

 ...I experienced the labors of a {local love}...

... and tasted the  proverbial {fruit of the vine}...

 ...felt comforted with the simple order of everyday things...

 ...observed delicacy in color...

 ...regarded Mother Nature with a wary eye...

 ...and admired Heaven from afar...

 ...I perceived the constant and steadfast loyalty in {ONE}...

 ...and the strength and dependability in {MANY}...

 ...I glimpsed a rare beauty, found only in the day's end...

 ...and felt the love and bond of {friendship}...

 ...I felt solitude...

 ...and fear of the unknown...

 ...I felt joy in God's unending gifts of beauty...

 ...and of color...

 ...I understood the perfection of the forest...

 ...my breath caught with the rise of the sun...

 ...my heart soared with her setting...

 ...I was a loving admirer of God's canvas...

 ...and rambled through his gallery, ever aware of his Glory.

I was a {traveler}.

I was a {witness}.

I was {BRAVE}.