A Photographer in the Making....

I am always amazed with my children and the things they can accomplish. I believe in letting them be who they are, go along with what they are into, and encourage them to be themselves and to ignore what others may say or do about it. If it is something they like... then that is what's "cool". This past school year was the first time I had to talk to Olivia about a girl who made fun of her outfit. I knew this would come due to the fact she wears mismatched earrings and socks, handmade clothing usually designed by herself, fun shoes and countless other silly things. I have caught myself a few times before she heads out asking if she is sure that is what she wants to wear....she always leaves the house in pure confidence so why not!!! Well this  girl really must have said something really mean because Olivia's favorite Pinafore was staying in the closet. The same pinafore I stopped hanging in closet because as soon as it was washed she was wearing it. To be frank I was ticked...at the girl for being mean and at the fact Olivia cared so much what this girl said. I mean who did this girl think she was...... So after days of discussing the situation and the fact that she (Olivia) sure wouldn't give up Poke' mon or Star Wars for this girl...why would we give up our favorite pinafore....2 weeks later and back to the washer twice a week it went....

   I just want to paint a picture of my child... She wants to be involved in everything, always wants to be doing something, she keeps three journals #1. her Animal discovery book...she draws animals and logs facts she knows about each one. #2. her sketch book this is were she draws her characters and totes along to draw random things at the places we go. #3 Journal she writes made up stories and actual things that has happened and draws blueprints of her inventions .... And she also has a Project Runway book she designs outfits for me to make... Someday I would love to make every single one. When She grows up she wants to be a Singer/Scientist/Zoo Vet...not just one but all three...because she says she can. She is so stubborn if you tell her she can't or she is wrong she will believe in herself till proven otherwise... Yes OLIVIA is AMAZING...and I love her for who she is...

To my point of this post... Olivia wanted to use my camera on vacation and take all the "vacation pictures". After saying "no" two or three times I finally asked myself...Why Not??? Sometimes I think I tell my kids "no" out of habit or maybe because it is what I think I should say...but really...WHY NOT???? This was their vacation. So she took my CoolPics...cheap <$200.00 camera (3 years ago) and carried it around the whole vacation. Of course I kept an eye on her, she is a kid and a very unorganized forgetful kid... but she did great!!!! Not once did she set it down and forget to pick it back up. It did take us twice as long to see things because she had to wait and get the perfect picture. At the time my husband and I rolled our eyes, giggled and just went with it. Let me say... now that I have seen her pictures I am soooo glad we let her do this. I will now be giving her and her brother a camera every vacation. Not only did she take the most amazing pictures but we got to see our full vacation from a 48" child's perspective. One never really thinks about what we see at eye level, our children are looking up at and what we are looking down at they see at eye level...it was exciting for me to experience our vacation as they did.... I definitely recommend this to all parents! And I do have to say ... Olivia will grow up to be a singer/scientist/zoo vet/photographer no doubt.

Mothers's Day Garden Party!

 Jamie Matzinger and I decided to throw a Mother's Day Garden Party this month for our second "mommy & me" event.  What a perfect time of year for little girls to spend quality time with mom. That doesn't happen very often here at my house. Quality time with the kids one-on-one is convincing one child to stay home with dad while the other joins you in what was supposed to be a quick trip to the store. Conversation in the car consists of them speaking a mile a minute about something or someone you do not know (come to find out neither did they it was a made up story)...So your 15 min car ride was completely frustrating. My in and out shopping trip turned into 45 mins not to mention a quick trip to "look @ the toys".  By the end I am feeling guilty because secretly I wish they would have stayed home with dad also....
   I LOVE special times with the kids one on one. I need it. It's the only time they do not interrupt each other, start tattling, yelling and aggravating...OH THE AGGRAVATION!!!!  This was the point of throwing these parties...haha...and even though O and I didn't get to spend the time at the party. It seems the preparations for the party was our "us" time. She is my big helper and when it come to crafty stuff, she is all in...... Sorry Rambling...lets get to the point :)

  You have no idea how much fun I had making the dresses for this party. I wanted something fun...spring...funky....and FUN!!!! Yes I am aware of saying that twice but isn't that what it's all about? My daughter is getting older and floral ruffles, as cute as they are,  started looking silly on her. Maybe it's not her age... more her spunky personality?????  Maybe a bit of both??? All I do know is she loves her dress and I could tell the girls at the party loved theirs also. To see them all  wearing dresses I made and LOVING them was such an unexplainable amazing feeling. You see... my goal is to be the lady who made"the dress" in your girl's closet that she ALWAYS wants to wear. OOHHHH... You know that dress...the one you cringe putting on them because you do NOT want it to get dirty :) Yes I want to be the culprit for your Mommy Daughter Dressing Wars...heehee. (that would be a blog itself)

  So Much time went into this party and with two kids of my own it gets pretty stressful. Making sample dresses, getting The photo shoot done, Jamie M designs the flier, we print and pass out fliers, make the dresses, drop off dresses, getting supplies and decoration...putting all that in a pretty presentable way(this requires time, ribbon and a lot of glue), making food, ironing (OH THE IRONING)...my check list is two pages long and promise not to bore you with it I am just amazed at how much time goes into one of these parties. It doesn't help I am the type of person who always wants to do more, more and more. More then I could ever fit into a 24/7 work week. Sleeping more then 5 hours a night is a luxury for me. I love this busy life. When I finally have nothing to do, I start filling my check list of things I can do...no joke :) However at the end of the day it is always worth all my time and effort. I get that "good feeling inside" some of it pride but honestly I just love seeing kids happy, excited and having fun.
 So here are some pics of the party. My dear friend Keri was sweet enough to take pre-party pictures and thank you Mel for tagging me in all your wonderful party pictures.

Jamie M did a wonderful job with the girls pictures. I especially like the vintage prints!Checkout her web page, she does some beautiful work :)

**I want to thank my Mommy...she is the best :) wish she lived closer!!! XOXO

*** Special Thank YOU to my friend Keri, a dear friend that has helped me so much not just with these parties but life in general. She is my main support system and my "need to do" organizer...lol... My morning coffees are not complete without her :)

Lil Blue Boo/ Dharma Trading Company Design Contest

Okay So for the Lil Blue Boo Dharma Trading Design Contest I am also going to send a picture of one of the many dresses I have been into making. I Got the idea for these dresses because, well my daughter LOVES color and funky clothes... She loves to wear mismatched earrings and socks everyday and honestly... I LOVE IT!. She is almost 7 and as much as I hate to say it...ruffles and "plain" is just not her style anymore. So I have been mismatching away and have had a blast doing so. Every dress comes out completely different. There is no planning, just do as I go, so I have no idea what it will really look like till it is done! So much fun. NOW if only I could get that Etsy shop full....

Now go check out and "like"  Lil Blue Boo on Face Book also and look at all the pictures of other entries. Some pretty creative things have been popping up.....

Am I crazy???

Okay so I have decided to enter the Lil Blue Boo Dharma Trading Company Contest. I figured why not? It certainly can't hurt to send a picture and see.... right???  They give you pretty much free reign.... basically make something interesting and send it in. So... here is my first creation using Embelishments...surprised??? You know how I am with embelishing...never enough!!!! HeeHee  I LOVE these pants they are fun and have a 70's feel. On each side of knee is a strip of elastic for a cute tug on each side....and seriously WHAT would these pants NOT match???? I personally love them with sandals, Mary Janes, flip flops and of course the ol' Converse. These pants are a very light weight denim perfect for spring, cool summer nights and fall. They make me smile and better yet they make my daughter smile evry time they come out of the dryer!



Go and check out the contest and other entries...I am sure there will be some AMAZING things!!!        !Lil Blue Boo/ Dharma Trading Company Design Challenge

The Maddie James Foundation

For my first "real" post I want to make it an important one. Well, I don't think it gets more important then this.... I have "liked"  Rainbow Dolls on facebook for quite awhile and noticed a post she had posted about The Maddie James Foundation. I clicked on the link and instantly started reading a journal about Maddie and her family. I of course was in tears ( I am very emotional when it comes to children). I found myself still in tears just thinking about it a few days later. This is when I decided I needed to donate to the auction Megan was holding. I am sure Megan has many contributors that are out of my league but I just needed to do something.

If you haven't read about Maddie I strongly encourage you to do so. I myself have a soon to be 7 year old daughter and could not imagine my life without her.... She IS my life along with her brother! but not only was Maddie taken away from her family @ the age of 5...her family only received a 10 week notice. It just breaks my heart and makes me hug mine much much tighter and even a bit more often.

So this is what I donated. A huge Octopus Beach Bag to go along with the Ocean theme. I will post more info about the Auction as soon as Megan gets everything together!

I will never write a Blog....

I have never had the desire or temptation to write a blog....not because I don't like them. I LOVE reading them. I actually spend way to much "free" time (also known as laundry and dishes time) reading everyone Elses blogs. I search for tutorials and get inspired by all the creative people out there...some blogs I read just because their life seems so similar to mine and find amusement and comfort in them....But I will never start a blog...... I am eating my words today.

I guess It is the whole writing thing. I am a horrible writer. English was my worst subject. Math and Science were easy but writing a paper then actually having to edit it...HA... and don't get me started on spelling. And I would say the other reason is not having the time but from reading other Blogs I can not mention this. I read about moms with 5 kids and a steady sewing business and always posting items for sale...full Etsy shops and doing photography on the side for fun..... Here I am with only two kids and deciding whether I should make the husband happy and clean or make myself happy and skip it to sew during those few hours of "free" time.

So starting a Blog is not likely...And yet here I am.