Quote

                                     photo by me

"Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal"   - Thomas More

I have been thinking a lot about the devastation in Joplin.   Praying for a quick restoration, healing and finding those that are missing.  

                                                                       

My First Friday Photo Feature

Well hello! Tomorrow is finally Friday and a long weekend! Yeah!  It's been a very slow moving week.  Do you agree?
I thought I'd hop on board to a linky party that will challenge me to get out and use my camera more this summer.
I'm joining up with the lovely blog A Rosy Note.  I love the photography and gain so much inspiration from the photos that Tricia posts.  We haven't chatted yet but I'm hoping to make some new friends who also enjoy photography.  Wish you could see me smiling right now!

** Update 5/29/11 It looks like the party is over before I even got to join in. Today Tricia blogged that the First Friday Photo Feature has been unplugged due to the amounts of time it's taking out of her life.  I understand her need to do this and although I'm disappointed there are other fun parties I can join up with or maybe I could just make my own someday.   She was very sweet to leave me such a nice comment on my blog the other day so it was a bit of a surprise to hear it's now kaput. I had to laugh because it's just the way it goes sometimes when I get on board with stuff a day late and a lots of dollars short.  I don't know what God has planned in my life but I have to trust that He has every single teeny minuscule part of it in His capable hands ***

An old friend of mine has asked me to take photos of her daughter's wedding this July!  I am both flattered and nervous at the same time!
Last summer I took photos at a wedding for the first time, ever.  I posted a few of the pictures here.  The couple was looking to save some money by using a new photographer (or student) and I was looking to add some experience under my belt and some new pictures to my "portfolio" (even though I really don't have a portfolio ...yet)!  It was a great learning tool for me and even though I was a bit stressed I was happy with the results.
I love weddings but it was very challenging to do everything on my own.  I also had to rent a flash for the indoor church photos, use a tripod, and have nonstop energy and ideas!  Wow!

                                                 photo by me

I'm very glad this next wedding is small, outdoors (gotta have that beautiful natural lighting) and for a good friend who wants to encourage me in my photography. She blesses me with her wonderful compliments... 
The link party theme is "flowers" and I have so much fun photographing the lovely ranunculus.   I always feel like I'm misspelling that word!  I think they are also called buttercups, too. Below is a pretty vintage canning jar that I bought my mom and a single flower bud laying on top.   It's fun to try unique ways to photograph different items. 

                                             photo by me

All my photos have minimum editing and I try very hard to take a good picture with natural lighting so I don't have to do a lot of clean up. 
I would  very much like to try Piknik and Photoshop because there are so many pretty layers I could add to make the photos have more character as well as give them a vintage aged look.  Photoshop is not in my budget and I hear it's hard to learn.   Piknik is free, though!

                                                 photo by me

I couldn't resist re posting a previous photo I've used earlier this year.  Love the pink, white and brown combo!

                                               photo by me

I've been missing your comments lately!  If you stop by please say hello!  I'd love to meet you.   Have a fantastic weekend.  Remember our soldiers who fought for our freedom which we are so very blessed to have!

Much Better!

                                               photo by me

I'm back and feeling much better! Thanks for the kind words and offerings of prayers for healing, too.  I really really appreciate it!  My doctor gave me some antibiotics and I've continued taking some allergy meds, too.   They are reporting it's one of the worst allergy seasons and that people that normally have minimum allergies (like me) are pretty miserable.

Yesterday I felt so much better and my energy returned!  I was able to get a lot of things done and it was a nice change. 

I even hand-washed my car!  You know what that means... it will inevitably rain!!

                                               photo by me

We had a storm that blew through our city last night which brought some hail, too.  It was short and thankfully my car was under the carport for protection from the pellets falling from the sky.   I ran out with my camera after it was all over.

I just love how the clouds look here.  I see the shape of Africa, do you?

                                          photo by me

I really enjoy seeing the clouds move along quickly by the stormy winds and I hoped to capture the lightning up in the sky but it was quicker than I was as well as being a little unpredictable!  I'm not sure if I'm camera savvy enough yet, anyway!

Today was a perfectly sunny day hitting almost 80 degrees.  The sky was blue and the clouds were puffy white.  I should have taken my camera out with me so I would've captured the beauty after the storms... 

Isn't that just like our lives?  Once the storm passes we can see the beauty around us again.  Have a blessed week!

Soothe

Soothe  - I just love that word.  Saying it just evokes calmness.  I am longing for a nice cup of hot tea with agave nectar or honey right this very moment.

I have been taking allergy meds for about 5 days and hoping my throat and cough will be soothed soon!  The windy and cold weather has arrived and lots of pollen has been blowing everywhere.  All the changes have been hard on everyone.   Healing is another of my favorite words.  Praying for healing as well...

Bear with me as I take a little rest and get better!  Have a blessed week!

Happy Mother's Day!

May all of you lovely mamas out there have a great day today! You deserve it!!

Yesterday I was invited (along with another friend)to take photographs for our church Mother's Day brunch.  We were instructed to take shots of the mothers and daughters as they arrived and once we were done a person went out, had them all developed, then gave all the prints as souvenoirs as each of guest left.  It was sort of being like paparazzi but it was fun nonetheless!

My mother and I were able to also enjoy the delicious food, fellowship and guest speaker.  

Here's the card I made her:

I used some beautiful vintage lace trim to frame the heart and really like how it turned out.   Prima flowers make everything beautiful, too!

Right now Michael's has a dollar bin full of alphabet stamps.  I grabbed up a couple that had nice fonts.

May your all your days be full of precious moments like these... hugging and bonding with your children and being the the most loving and best parent you can be.   God bless!

Tag You're It!

Wow!  What a week!  So much going on in the world and sometimes it's a bit overwhelming.  The highs and the lows.  The heights of celebration and the sadness of loss.   Tornadoes, romantic royal wedding, and Bin Laden.  Gotta say it again- wow!
I've decided to press in and focus my attention on family and a bit of creative time for some healthy and positive outlets!
The recent Easter swap got me in the mood for making more tags!  Using some of my vintage card images I decided to do a couple " thank you's" ...

I just love this cute bear with its sweet eyes and big red bow!  Gingham, polka dots, and fun embellishments.

It's hard to see in the picture but the flowers are pale yellow and creams.  I also added some Stickles glitter to the ice cream cone, flowers, and bow.

This one I decided to add an actual red bow and keep it more simple.   One of these days I will try doing some 3D effects in my cards and tags.  So many options with such a sweet array of images.  

Friday I'll be working on a Mother's Day card and hoping to make it feminine and pretty just like my mama!

I'm also hoping to plant these pretty perennials in my flower bed this weekend.  They have been inside for protection from frost, believe it or not!  The cold just wants to hang on for a long time!  Before I do my planting I will first have to buy fresh fertilized soil to help in their success.  Please work out!

 

 

I'm not the best gardener but I couldn't resist getting these plants because I like the tiny delicate petals and they also are supposed to be attractive to butterflies!
My butterfly bush did not make it last year! It's just a little dried stick in the soil!
What can I say?  I don't give up!  I love having flowers around my humble little home!  Have a great day!

Easter Gifts for Jenny

How was your Easter?  I hope you had a great holiday with your family and friends!  My Easter was spent at church with a friend and with family/friends in the afternoon for brunch at a local restaurant.
I would have loved to have been volunteering in the nursery at church on Sunday because I just get a kick out of those little kiddos in all their Easter finery.  Although, it's a little hard changing their diapers when they are wearing three piece suits!  I heard they had a little egg hunt during the services, too! 
Well, I heard from Jenny that she finally received my Easter goodies sent via snail mail!  I learned a lesson about not sending a package priority mail.  It can take forever! She's been very patient and so sweet about it arriving later than Saturday, which was my original plan. 

Here's the tag I made Jenny - a sweet lamb image I found from a vintage card I bought in Arizona.   I kept it pretty simple yet colorful.

 

Jenny said she liked tulips so I found some fun tulip embellishments, a notepad, and a some other springtime goodies, including an antique doily. 

A cute chick pick for her garden or plant.  "Welcome Spring" - can you bring some sunshine now?  We've had enough rain for the May flowers to grow.  It's been pretty chilly in Nebraska as of late.

A little bunny for her to remember me by!

 

A nut cup basket I made with some goodies inside.  Baker's Chocolates are made in Nebraska and melt in your mouth!  Yum!

It been really great getting to know Jenny! Her heart is full of God's love! Glad we've become friends thanks to Sandy matching us up. Have a great day!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Happy Easter my friends!  I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday celebrating with your familes and enjoying the beautiful Spring weather!
I'm home after church waiting to hear where my family and I are having brunch together.  It's a bit chilly and cloudy today but the drive home made me smile as I was enjoying all of the blooming trees around town.  Bright purples and yellows and of course the pretty whites and light pinks, too!  Be blessed on this beautiful day!

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. "

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”   Matthew 28:1-10 NIV



Adorable Easter Tag!

Yesterday when I arrived home I was greeted with a package at my front door.  A package I couldn't wait to get!  Craft swaps are so fun for me and I really look forward to something happy in the mail. 
I participated in the Easter swap hosted by Sandy of 521 Lake Street and was matched up with Jenny of Jenny's Heart.  Needless to say it's been a blessing getting to know Jenny and we have a lot in common.   We both have a strong faith in Christ, close family bonds, enjoy cute stuff, sweet stuff, and paper crafts.   Emailing eachother has been a joy for me and reminded of me of my pen pal days way back when (which I have missed).  I told her that "Jenny's heart is full of God's love"!  She has spoiled me with all of her thoughtful gifts!
Here's what I received:

I also had some cute yellow marshmallow Peeps!  Ummm they were unavailable for a photo.  LOL!  

Here's the adorable tag that Jenny made!  I love it!  She is quite the artist and I cannot believe this is her first tag, ever.  

My little "joy-Phil" bunny friend!  She remembered that I like bunnies and my last name means rabbit in Italian.  

It was a pleasant surprise to receive a cute bunny chickie made by Elizabeth of Creative Breathing!  Jenny knew how much I liked Elizabeth's crafts and missed out on the opportunity to buy something when she was cleaning out her craft room.   Very sweet of her to share what she bought!  If you'd like to make one of these Easter chicks Elizabeth shared a pattern on her blog and here for the pom pom pattern as well.

 

Delicious Whitman's chocolate marshmallow cross with a beautiful scripture on the front.   I can't tell you how much that scripture meant for me to read the day I received it.   There are some things I'm believing for in faith and it was such a sweet (literally) reminder!

I do believe!  Waiting for some great things to happen!

Look at all the pampering goodies!  Great colors for my toesies!  I'll be proudly wearing my sandals as soon as the temps get a bit warmer. 

Here's a basket I made before I received my tag from Jenny.  We don't have similar tastes, do we?  I think I found a kindred spirit and a great new friend.  Thanks for everything Jenny - you blessed my heart with your sweet one! 

I would love to share photos of the goodies and tag that I sent Jenny but I don't want to spoil it for her so once she gets her package via snail mail I'll post the photos.  

Check out Sandy's blog for more linkys to the other bloggers who swapped as well.  Lots of great goodies were received by all!  

Sweet Ruffles

Tonight when I was out shopping at Von Maur, I took a little detour to the baby girls clearance rack... just to take a gander.  I don't have kids but I have lots of little ones that I know and love. 
Sometimes it's just fun to look - especially at Easter time!  All those adorable dresses are out and it's hard not to oooh and ahhh at them.  Since so many of my fellow blog friends adore ruffles in their crafts I bet they'd love ruffles on their daughters and granddaughters, too!

The brand is Baby Biscotti by Kate Mack and there's a lot of online stores to find these items.  Please check out Little Colony Kids for some of these featured. 

 I saw something similiar to this sweet pink number!

photo by me

"A friend is one to whom you can pour out the contents of your heart, chaff and grain alike. Knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.” - Unknown

ありがとう Arigatō!

This week I received some sweet gifts from my BFF Tammy, who recently returned from her overseas cruise.  Tammy & her husband Peter are great travelers and have been so many interesting places! I was excited to see their pictures and I really need to call her and hear more about their adventures in Japan, China, and Russia!  Thank you for all of your prayers for their safe return.  They were completely out of harms way and were able to get a flight back to the U.S. without any problems, Thank the Lord!

Tammy knows I love cute illustrations - especially of darling little children!

Notice the lines are going vertically on the notepaper.  Wish I knew how to write something in Japanese for everyone!  I barely could learn German in Jr High so I doubt I'd do too well trying to learn another foreign language at this point in my life.  I guess you never know til you try, though!

A closeup of the cute little girl and her pup!  Love it!

A few other cute things from China as well.   Such sweet friends to think of me on their trip.   Hmmm now I'm craving dim sum.  YUM!

Hope you all are having as beautiful weather as I am right now.  I was soaking up the sun driving around town and letting the wind blow in my hair.  It's pretty unbelievable how much a good day can raise your mood levels to a nice natural high!  There may be a little rainstorm later but as we all know "April showers bring May flowers"!

I better get going ... have to finish up my Easter tag to send off to my new friend Jenny in Virginia.   I think I may post a few sneak peeks next time.  I'm also thinking of doing my first blog giveaway!  Would ya'll like that?

Me And My Peeps



Peeps by Just Born



Peeps oh so sugary Peeps!  You either love em or hate em.  I am one (obviously) that loves them!  Part of it sentimental and part of it because I like marshmallows... and sugar!  Those of you that like them either swipe them up when they are soft and smooshy or you purposely sit them out so they can be hard & stretchy.  Weird, I know!  I just found out that one of my coworkers dips hers in chocolate.  Now she doesn't have to because they sell them that way, too! 

When I was a little girl Easter was a big deal.  My mom would dress me in a pretty yellow Easter dress, white tights, patent leather shoes and a big hat with the string around my chin to keep it on.
I really wish that I could find a favorite photo of my mother and I on Easter.  She had a fabulous platinum bouffant hairdo a classy shift dress on and we are laughing hysterically!  No doubt my dad said something that had us practically on the floor.  He's quite the jokester!
Anyway, the "Easter bunny" would leave me a basket somewhere in the house that I had to find.  It was filled with lots of yummies like a chocolate bunny (with a stunned look on his face because he was about to be eaten), jelly beans, and little trinkets.   No Peeps... not yet
When I went to my Nana's house to visit ... that's when the Peeps came out.  I loved her dearly and I loved that she was the one that always gave me those Peeps.  Every year.   I miss her so!

Fiona And Twig Giveaway

Check it out!  What a great giveaway (that I super hope I win - loving the feminine feel of the photographs) week.  So many nice giveaways to win out there in blogland!



Fiona & Twig Giveaway

Simple Joy

Photo by me

"The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest."    Thomas More

Oh the joy of simple things!  Last weekend I picked up a bouquet of pretty white buttercups at Trader Joe's.  I popped a couple of them in a light blue vase and they made a great simple gift for a sweet work friend of mine.

They looked so nice in her kitchen window with lots of natural light streaming inside.  After we had a tour of her new home we went off to Kona for a girls night out with two other great gals!  Avocado rolls and potstickers, yum yum!

Old friends, time spent catching up and laughing, and bonding ... these are the greatest joys in life.

I know everyone loves to have their super techie cell phones practically super glued to their hands these days... not me.  I have a normal cell phone, no texting, no Internet or email capabilities (sometimes Internet would be nice as well as GPS) and you know what?  Me & my gal pals did not once have to get on our cells or text.  We had each others complete attention.  I loved it!  I almost wanted to applaud them because two of my friends are busy moms!

Sometimes all the texting & lack of face to face communication kind of makes me sad.  I mean, if we don't want to even hear each other's voices or see someone face to face ....?   SAD!

Now, in some circumstances I completely understand but wouldn't you agree that it's out of control?

We need interaction in the physical realm.  An embrace, to look upon someones face and appreciate their  beautiful eyes, to hear their laugh out loud (rather than LOL), etc etc. 

Boy oh boy I must sound like I'm an old lady!   Ha ha!  I just think maybe some folks out there should treasure life and keep it simple.  

I'm staying up a little too late on a work night and better get in bed soon.   Got a lot on my plate for this weekend.   I'm also gathering a few crafty things to make for my Easter swap.  We'll be hopping into April very very soon!

Have a great day!   Angela