I ♥ ______________

I (heart) ______________. (not in any certain order)
I ♥ Sunny days.
I ♥ Vivid Colors.
I ♥ Dogs!
I ♥ a clean house.
I ♥ Family.
I ♥ My Husband.
I ♥  Meaningful Friends.
I ♥ Sweets.
I ♥ The Beach.
I ♥ Vacation!
I ♥ Making Things.
I ♥ God.
I ♥ The Stars.
I ♥ Seeing Movies.
I ♥ Music.
I ♥ Love Notes.
I ♥ Presents.
I ♥ Cats.
I ♥ Photography.
I ♥ DayDreams
I ♥ Sleeping In.
I ♥ Open Windows.
I ♥ Long Walks.
I ♥ Snowmen.
I ♥ ART.
I ♥ Blogs and Blogging!
I ♥ Happiness.
I ♥ Peace.
I ♥ Cloud Pictures.
I ♥ XOXO
I ♥ Babies!
I ♥ So many people, so many things, so many places.............. my ♥ is filled with LOVE. 

Cat eyes are cool

I see lots of eye balls where I work and I have to say the cat eye is the most interesting.  They are all so different.  I think they look like little planets.  Someday I'm going to take my camera with me and get several different close ups of cat eyes.  These are my own two cats whom were totally "put out" by yet another photography session. 

Along those same lines (well, kinda) I purchased a really cute cat postcard that I'm going to frame and put in my art room. Check it out here. The room is ALMOST finished!  Once I get moved in I'll post pictures.  I'll feel like the most spoiled person on earth :)

What a day....

Do you ever just have ONE person that really rubs you the wrong way?  Man-o-man, that would be my boss!  Today he tells me he needs an IV catheter put in and then as I'm ready to poke the dog he just grabs the stuff from me.  (Lately he has been horrible at letting his technicians do their jobs.)  I asked him, "am I doing this or are you?" and his reply, "I don't know (nastily) then just keeps going and says that he needs more practice.  I walked over to the computer and timed out and went home without saying a word.  (It was time for me to go anyway, thank God.) He can just be so irritating.  I needed to vent especially since I have another 10 hour day of working with him tomorrow.  aggg.  I know, could be worse, I could be unemployed.  On the bright side, I did just order the new Steven Curtis Chapman c/d "beautywillrise".  I'll wait to listen to it on my way into work tomorrow morning and maybe that will help my crummy attitude.  I'll keep telling myself, "I love my boss, I love my boss, I love my boss"  Smiles to all.... :)

The Lovely Bones

Yesterday was my day off and I woke up with a head cold.  I was so glad I didn't have to get up and go thru the whole process of getting ready and going to work, bla, bla, bla.  I rolled over, grabbed this book called The Lovely Bones and began reading.  I read the whole thing yesterday!  I couldn't put it down.  I borrowed it from a girl I work with and by the time I got to chapter 12 I decided to buy it so I could send it to my sis in Marshall, MO.  (if your reading this sis, it's already in the mail!) And BTW, staying home and reading all day must be the cure for the common cold because it's gone today!

I know it's been made into a movie that is out right now.  Has the hottie Mark Wahlberg in it. :) I am curious to see it because so much of what I like in the book was "thoughts and feelings" and I don't know how they would capture all that in a film.  I usually do not like a movie if I've read the book but I'm going to go and see this one and soon.  I recommend you read the book.  It has a serial killer in it and some parts of the book are disturbing but that is really not the main focus as much as setting the stage so to speak and the author really doesn't go into horrific detail but you still get the picture.  I'm not sure I would of ended it the way it all ended either but the book on whole really was great.  Curl up and start reading! 

Prayerful Moments

Colton had his surgery today and all went well.  He ended up with double hernias.  Poor guy.  While we were in the waiting room and he was in surgery an alarm went off and over the loud speaker they announced CODE BLUE, INFANT...CODE BLUE, INFANT.  My heart sank with worry as I envisioned it could be Colton.  Then the thought of:      if it wasn't Colton it was still someone's baby. 

Jim and I have often discussed how blessed we are that we have not had to endure some of the painful situations and hardships that we know other people are faced with.  We think of ourselves as lucky even.  Then, the other day in church our pastor said, "Those of you that are never faced with grief and hardships may consider yourselves lucky but how do you know that those that are faced with grief and hardships are not closer to God and are the lucky one's?  He may be pulling them closer to Him thru their suffering?"  This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your Word has given me life.  Psalm 119:50  That is a powerful thought.  I could totally see that to be true as it is in my deepest dispair that I cry out with ALL my heart and soul for my Lord. 

I'm not saying we NEVER face a hardship but wow!  compared to some we have NEVER faced a hardship.  Haiti is a good example and I hear those people praising the Lord thru song and I am inspired.  I listen to Steven Curtis Chapman sing his song about his little girl and how Heaven is the face of a little girl...  

I'm left speechless.  I can only pray for those that are hurting, grieving and suffering.

Colton meets Clifford

I love this picture!  Colton just adored Clifford, which makes me wonder if it was the bright red color or the fact that his Grandpa was underneath all that dog?  The little guy will be having surgery on Wednesday to repair an inguinal hernia.  Please keep him in your prayers.  Such a youngster to go under anesthesia and then to have to worry about MRSA in this day and age makes me crazy. 

Poster Magic

I was asked by my boss to make a poster for a fundraiser for our local dog park.  When I went to my local arts and crafts supply store they had 50% off of poster art.  I thought what a fun background to work with for my own poster.  The poster is of the woman walking the dog with the French word for French Rivera up the right side. Everything else I added for our benefit.  I had to add food labels & other supporter remarks.  I did all this right on the plastic so when the fundraiser is over I can tear the plastic off and have a nice poster for my house.  I think I will find some good dog quotes and carry on the concept before I frame it and write up the leash and around with a quote or poem.  I thought I would share the idea in case any of you have to make posters too.  Have fun! Too bad you do not live close enough to attend the Chili Dog Dinner for the Dog Park.  My husband will be Clifford again this year. I'll take lots of pics, I promise!

Haiti relief

I think it is very cool that in this day and age we can easily make a donation with just a touch of our cell phones!  If you text 90999 you will be making a one time $10 donation to the American Red Cross for Haiti Relief.  If you text 864833 you can make a simple one time $5 donation to the United Way for Haiti Relief!  In the body of text write "haiti" for either one.  You will then get a auto reply sent back to you, requesting that you reply back to it with a "yes" to confirm that you did in fact make a donation. Awesome! Check out CNN if you want more options.  Let's help our world when and where we can.

A gift in my life

Being married is sometimes very difficult and I married a really great man.  I have to admit we have had our share of ups and downs but lately there just seems to be a whole lot of ups.  I don't know why but I consider it a great blessing and it makes me very happy.  Last night he showed up to dinner with this book in tow.  It's really great and so is he.  Just for no reason and it was so unexpected.  How did I get so lucky?  I don't know but I like it.

I know "things" don't make a life but you start putting the sentiment behind those "things" and they really do start to add up.

Free Canvas 8x10 print!

I took this photo of my friend's wedding in October.  I hope they liked it because I made a canvas wrap of it using this free 8x10 coupon.  It cost $14.95 to ship it.  The Canvas People are giving away one free to every household!  This is a great deal and I wanted to share it with all my blog friends.  Let me know if you use it and what you thought. 

Another snow storm! I'm soooo bored!!!

I knew I couldn't NOT make something, especially since it's too cold to do much else!  I got a catalog in the mail and it was full of wonderful jewelry and clothing and handbags, I'm drooling just thinking about everything I wanted.  Their prices were a bit high on most things.  They had these really neat earrings that they called the "Spiral of Life".  I thought, I bet I could make those.  So I did.  The one on the left turned out better than the right one but still not to bad for my first try.  (sorry for the poor photo quality, I didn't have my good camera tonight) I used sterling wire and I hammered them just a bit in the center like they showed in the book.  I struggled with getting the exact match on roundness but then after the fact watched a couple of youtube videos and discovered how to make that easier.  Here is a simple video on wire spiraling.

Thinking and thinking

My mind has been busy even if nothing else has been!  Jim is almost finished with my new artist room.  I'm trying not to start new projects until I get moved in but that is making my mind crazy!  Anyone else feel like that?  You just have to make something or else?!  I'm looking forward to my little art space that I can leave everything out in and I can just walk in and solder if I want, or paint or sew or write.  Whatever I want, whenever I want, without having to drag all my supplies out from 3 different locations!  Without having to clean it all up and put it away because company is coming or because it's covering the kitchen table...I'm so excited!!

Great first day of 2010

I started off the new year with a fun filled day.  I went to a New Year's Day Auction with my friend Donna.  My first purchase was 16 rings for $11.  Most are costume jewelry but I fell in love instantly with this pinkie ring with Jesus on it.  It's from Italy as that is all that is stamped on the underside.  Also you will notice in the photo the green & white squares.  We bought this very unusual chess set that appears to be made of jade or ivory but I couldn't tell you for sure.  We went in on it together and paid $30 a piece which is a total bargain.  We are going to try to resale it and hopefully find out it's worth a lot more than we paid for it.  Of course, I know ZIPPO about antiques so I'll keep you posted on what we discover.  Too bad The Antique Roadshow is not in the KCMO area anytime soon.

Donna bought a really old airplane peddle car.  It's red and very cute!  She only paid $100 for it.  We decided it would look really great as a picture prop for children.  I can't wait to try it out! 

My husband and I topped off the evening with dinner and a movie with friends.  We seen the Sherlock Holmes movie.  It was good, a bit long but everything explained well.  Of course they left the ending for a part II. 

Today is my family Christmas party (we had to postpone due to the blizzard over Christmas).  I'm making homemade bread (1st time ever!) and going to try to organize a few places around my house today.  I'm sure the day will go by super duper fast and I won't get anything done at all.  Such is life.  I love it! 

Happy New Year!

I want to wish everyone reading this a Happy New Year full of blessings from God above!  It's been a great year that has went by really, really fast.  I'm sure 2010 will be one of many challenges for me as I look at my goals.

1. Lose weight- seriously now!
2. Set up an Etsy store and be more creative this year.
3. Read my bible more and go to church on Sundays
4. Spend more time with my kids and my new grandson
5. Write a cookbook
6. Start recycling everything.
7. Say "I love you" often
8. Be more diligent at everything I do.
9. Learn more about my blog and how I can improve it.
10. Just be "me" and have lots of fun this year!