Monday, July 28, 2008

Best Shot Monday - Cannon Ball!

Cannon Ball!


Now for more great shots, head to Tracey's!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

IT'S CONTEST TIME!

It's contest time again...yay!

One of the great and fantastic things about Pay It Forward Contests is that if you win, you get to have another giveaway of your own! And I had a super-duper run of great luck and won the contests that were hosted by Jenny at Sticky Feathers, Becky at Totally Serial, and Laura at Family Photos!

That means that I get to have THREE more contests -- hooray! Shopping for other people is, hands down, one of my very favorite activities!

This prize will include:
*A reusable Target shopping bag
*A $5 Target gift card
*Cute Post It Notes
*Handmade Note Cards
*And a few other amazing surprises to be determined once the winner is picked.


You have between now and Friday, August 1st at 11:59 PM to enter -- all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. You can leave any comment you want. And if you can't think of anything amazing to say then I want to know what your favorite beverage is...adult or otherwise!

One entry per person, please.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Summary Saturday: Project 365, Week 29

July 19:

July 19


July 20:

July 20


July 21:

July 21


July 22:

July 22


July 23:

July 23


July 24:

July 24

Friday, July 25, 2008

A Bit of Friday Randomness

I am currently one day into the Minnesota vacation adventure. Which, I should point out, involves camping. At this time I will also mention that I don't camp. I know that lots of people do, but those people are not me. I like the out of doors - to look at, from the inside. Preferably with a nice, refreshing drink in my hand...of the adult variety.

Luckily beverages of the adult variety will be included on this outdoor experience.

But for something fun to do, check out the fun thing I saw at Jenny's blog the other day! Poor girl, I win her blog contest and then won't leave her alone. Sorry Jenny!

wordle cloud

It's a wordle cloud! You can type in your blog address, and it will make you a cloud of your very own...how fun is that?! Now quick, go make one and post it so that I can see!




Thursday, July 24, 2008

Theme Thursday - Summer Fun

This week's theme is Summer Fun....and what could be more fun during the hottest part of the summer than a dip in the pool?


splash



For more fantastic glimpses of summer fun, check out things at Stacy's!

**This is also my submission for Melody's Splash Me! Photo Contest. Have you entered? Quick, you still have time...you can enter until July 30th!




**A quick note that I will be out of town until the middle of next week(camping. in Minnesota. with toddlers. I KNOW.), so I won't be available to comment until then (and then it will probably take me a week to catch up!) but I have posts scheduled to go up while I'm gone. Including a new contest starting Sunday, so be sure to enter!**

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Wordless Wednesday: Got Time?

Got Time


There's lots more Wordless Wednesday to be had here and here!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Best Shot Monday - Shining Sun

I have a million things to do and my weekend is quickly drawing to a close. But I couldn't bear to miss out on BSM! So here is my best shot from the last week:

sunset
For more gorgeous shots, check out what everyone else has been up to at Tracey's!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Friday, July 18, 2008

The Perfect Remedy

It has been a long week. I'm not trying to complain, just making the general observation. And since it's been a rather long week, I was a bit of a grouch when I headed home the other day. And then I opened the mail box.

I got the greatest Pay It Forward gift ever from Jen at StickyFeathers!

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It should be immediately said that my crummy photo does not do this fantastic gift justice. There was candy! There was a craft book! There was a $20 Target gift card!

This single handedly has convinced me that I can, in fact, survive another day. Have I mentioned that I have a tendancy to be a bit dramatic?

But seriously - thank you Jen, for the wonderful gift. You are too kind, and you couldn't have better timing if you tried!

**********

And because some of you asked, I will show you what I sent to Whimsy as the winner of my Pay It Forward contest. Whimsy, your gift should be there soon, but if you haven't seen it yet then close your eyes!

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An outfit (have you see little Miss Alice...she is adorable!)
A reusable Target shopping bag...that folds into itself
A book
Handmade Cards
Post It Notes
A $5 Target gift card


And since I was the winner of the contests held by both Jen and Becky, I will be holding two more Pay It Forward contests in the next few weeks. The next giveaway will start on Monday, July 28th, so mark your calendars!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Theme Thursday - Unrefined

Since I missed last week's celebration theme, I don't want to look like a slacker and miss two weeks in a row -- although I will say that this one is a lot harder....I guess I should have been more together last week!

I wish that I would have gotten some time to try to shoot in RAW this week, but I didn't quite find the time to make that happen. So that means that I have to be a little creative with something for this week.

I will say that while I attempt to be somewhat refined, and I think that I mostly manage to pull this off. This is not to say that I always succeed. Which is why if you would have looked in the backyard this week, you *may* have seen this:

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Why yes, that is me. On a slip 'n' slide. That has been doctored up with a lot a little soap. I assure you that there are many other pictues from this little event...unfortunately due to that pesky time factor I didn't have time to process any more of them.

Ahhh, the internet. It's good for nothing if not embarrassing yourself.

Head to Stacy's to see some other bits of unrefinement!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Wordless Wednesday: Fireworks!

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For more Wordless Wednesday, see here and here!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Best Shot Monday - Best $10 Ever Spent

As previously mentioned, school has been kicking my behind. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some time for fun…

BSM Collage


Now who says you can’t buy happiness? This was pure happiness, and it was under $10! If only everyone were so easy to please…

Tracey has returned, so go see what she and everyone else has been up to this week!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Send Out A Search Party

Oh, dear internets, how I have missed you. I will be the first to admit that I have been pitifully absent this week. And although I wish that my reason was because I had been off on a cruise like Carrie, I’m afraid that the true reason is much less exciting. And much more time consuming.

School.

Classes started this week and I will be the first to admit that I was woefully naïve when I estimated the time that such an endeavor would take. I figured that I was used to being busy all day, so this wouldn’t be much different.

Get your pens ready and mark this on your calendars, because I am here to say that I was WRONG.

I’m not sure if it is because I am still getting used a new school and graduate level classes, if it is because I have gotten dumber with age, or if the summer heat has simply fried my brain. And it might be a combination of all three. But I am here to tell you that it is most certainly kicking my behind. Not to mention making me completely exhausted. I mean it’s interesting and all that too, but I can hardly think about that because I am so busy being tired.

Although I suspect that the fact that I have been out of town the last three weekends may have something to do with it…

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Summary Saturday: Project 365, Week 27

July 5:

July 5


July 6:

July 6


July 7:

July 7


July 8:

July 8


July 9:

July 9


July 10:

July 10


July 11:

July 11

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

The Story of Saturday - Alternate Title: Feel Free To Laugh At Me

Ok, so maybe it wasn't as bad as I am making it out to be. And in hindsight, it wasn't as bad as it felt at the time.

But at the time it was rather trying.

A snippet:

6:45 am - Garrett wakes up.

7:15 am - Garrett dumps chocolate milk all over the floor. Under the couch. How? I have no idea.

7:30 am - Bennett wakes up.

Breakfast, etc. No major trauma ensues.

8:45 am - I got upstairs to get clothes for the day. Garrett POOPS ON THE FLOOR. Oh yes. ON THE FLOOR. Please imagine how excited I was about this. Then double it. His response as to why? "Just 'cause" My response to that? Large eyes and an excellent display of self restraint as I avoided LOSING MY MIND.

9:30 am - Go for bike ride with bike trailer to lake to feed ducks. Ducks are nowhere to be seen. And the day before, there were literally 50. Where did they go?!

10:00am - See Jacob, Ben and their dad playing in driveway, so ride over to say hello. Where I display my ultimate gracefulness by FALLING OFF THE BIKE. Right onto the driveway. Funny factor? Very high. Pain factor? Also very high. Embarrassment factor? Ditto. Oh yes, it was good times. *It should be noted that I am not just a total moron -- I was wearing shoes that clip into the bike pedals, which I had never worn before, so I fell out because I couldn't get my foot unclipped. And yes, I realize that this really doesn't make me sound like any less of a dork.

10:30 am - Return home, after fighting with Garrett multiple times to keep his helmet on. And then fall off bike again. Oh yes, I did. Not quite as funny. Also? More painful. Am reminded yet again by Garrett that I am "not very good at riding bikes." Thanks, I am well aware.

11:00 am - Garrett poops in his pants. I resist the urge to strangle him, as I don't look very good in orange. Bennett plays broom ball with a plastic onion...this is quite cute, and quells the urge to stab myself in the ear to cease the why questions.

12:00 Lunch. Where everyone is quite cute and well behaved and I wonder if I just dreamed the earlier portion of the day. However the battle wounds present on my arms and legs all tell me that I did not. Bummer.

And then the countdown to naptime wass on. Because seriously? It couldn't come fast enough.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Best Shot Monday - Success!

Ever since Bennett's second birthday, I have been trying to find a time to take some frame-able shots of him for his 'annual' photo. And while I take a lot of pictures, I hadn't come up with anything I was totally in love with.

Most of the problem lies in the fact that Bennett is at that special age where, when asked to smile, he gives you any number of goofy faces. So the only way to get a quality shot was to have an extra adult on hand, so that there would be someone to tickle wrangle encourage an actual smile.

So last week Sarah (and of course Jacob and Ben) joined us for a lovely trip to the Arboretum, where I managed to get a couple of shots that I was really happy with. You seriously have to love good luck!

July at the Arboretum (40)


July at the Arboretum (46)


July at the Arboretum (56)


July at the Arboretum (96)


July at the Arboretum (38)


Tracey is still on vacation, so the lovely and talented Melody is hosting Best Shot Monday again this week -- be sure to check it out!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

And we have a winner!

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Drumroll please!


The winner of my Pay It Forward Contest is....Whimsy, of The Creamery! Congratulations! I would share with you all the details of her amazing prize, but I have decided on everything just yet. Besides, I don't want to spoil her surprise!


But if you didn't win, fear not! I just found out that I was the lucky winner of the Pay It Forward Contest by Jenny at Sticky Feathers - yay! So I will be having another contest with more fabulous (and yet to be determined) prizes in a few weeks -- stay tuned for your chance to win!


And also, a HUGE thanks to Swistle for coordinating such a fun group of contests!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Summary Saturday: Project 365, Week 26

June 28:

June 28


June 29:

June 29


June 30:

June 30


July 1:

July 1


July 2:

July 2


July 3:

July 3


July 4:

July 4

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Theme Thursday - Linear

This week's theme is linear. I really can't wait to see what everyone comes up with - there are so many different options!


Here's what I've got:

A Sunday in Omaha (15)


I know, it's perhaps a bit of a stretch. But I think that the building has great lines - not only the vertical ones, but the horizontal window lines as well.

Now head to Stacy's to see what other linear things people have to share!