Matting 101

Backstory: On Saturday we went Antiquing at the Charleston Antique mall and Hubby found Lion King laser discs that came with 6 lithographs that were sealed. When we got in the car he opened them up and decided he wanted to frame them. He let me know later in the evening that he saw a matting tool in one of the cases for $20.

We ended up going back for the tool and I learned how to mat this weekend. Man those math skills really came into play perhaps I should have started with something simple with maybe just one hole.

I may have had a few frustrations with the learning curve but once I got it I enjoyed the process.

The final project.

Bountiful Baskets

Today I picked up my first Bountiful Basket. It is a food co-op I spent $15 and got all of this yummy food. I may need your help with ideas on what something is and how to cook/eat it.

Neatly lined up one fruit and one veggie basket each!

The Veggies

Yellow Squash, I can't wait to grill this up and eat it over couscous! Any other ideas?

Nice small potatoes

I think this is cabbage not ice berg it is a little thicker then iceberg. I don't know if I like cabbage any ideas on how to prepare it in a yummy way?

Spinich, mmm wraps here I come!

Any ideas what this is? I heard someone say a sunchock??? How do I prepare this HELP!!!!!!!

A closer look (I know it is not ginger)

Fruits (no group picture I accidentally deleted it oops!)

Strawberries these will make yummy snacks and maybe go on cottage cheese

Bananas (they need to ripen a bit!)

Mangos besides a smoothies any tips on eating a mango????

Dainty little pears they are so small!

Apples Yum!

Oranges they started it all, last week a friend brought a few to work and gave me one and they were so sweet next thing I know I was joining a co-op of produce yumminess!

Cantaloupe Lucy is excited for this one!

No I do not plan on photographing every piece of produce I buy! I am working on a challenge and these fir the challenge so I was playing with y camera a bit.

Here is the website if you are curious check it out http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/

Happiness is

Happiness is....

Chilling out on the couch under my comfy quilt made by a friend as a wedding gift, reading a book on my Christmas gift (love you hubby,) with my warm Lucy curled up between my legs, while listening to a concert. I don't think life gets much better!

Thank you Hubby for snapping this picture of my perfect afternoon today!

Family Craft Night

Chrissy and I decided to have a Christmas Craft night as an excuse fore craftiness and time to spend with family and friends.

*Warning this is a long but fun post!

Sydney making a necklace with foam hearts and beads. Watch for the hearts you will see them latter.

K helping her son R make his necklace.

R making a snowflake ornament. Look at his expression!

A and her advent calendar

Syd working on her advent calendar. *PROUD AUNT ALERT* Look at that awesome coloring for a 3.5 year old! She is also demonstrating great 1:1 skills with the glue.

Waiting to make ornaments

The Chrissy's AKA Mom's need time to craft to.

K took the camera she thought A was shy until she asked her to pose for a picture. This is just one of her cheese ball poses!

The kids had a great time taking a break playing outside.

And using the craft supplies to cook with, notice the foam hearts on the grill. R showed great imagination and 1:1 skills putting the hearts in the squares of the grills with a spatula. He also wondered out loud why the girls were still talking he was done cooking. Poor guy learning the realities of life so young!

The trio of artists M was there also but she had to go home since she was not feeling well.

Chrissy taking care of Av A's little sister. Chrissy took these awesome close up's after she passed Av back to momma.

Sydney was so excited to hold Av and patiently waited until the end of the night. She was a bit timid at first.

Then she was in love!

Av was getting fussy and I told Syd she needed to hold her head. She took the job VERY seriously, notice the grip! Av's head was going NOWHERE!

Thank you to everyone that joined us and we were sad about those that could not but understand life happens. We look forward to doing it again and playing with more families, and friends! I challenge everyone to get together and have fun together.

4th Anniversary

I am a little behind but I will be playing catch up this week.

In October we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary but the planning started months ago. I came home from work in May and Max handed me a mini album full of pictures. Each picture was related to a song. All by Jimmy Buffett to be specific the weekend before our Anniversary. It was a wonderful surprise. The morning of the concert I had a shoot when I cam e home Max presented the rest of his plan. We had lunch at Margaritaville and partied at the Street Party next to it.

While at the Street Carnival I loved everyone's crazy hats and bought a shark hat. We came home for a nap and while at home I stuffed my hat and added lights to it.

At the concert!

We had a great time being Parrot Heads for the weekend!

Yummy

I am playing a little catch up!

So cannoli's are my favorite desert, but I only like them fresh. One day back in September I decided it was time to learn how to make them. So I went to the bakery and bought shells. Find a recipe on the internet and gave it a whirl. Not bad for the first time the taste was spot on but the filling was a little runny. Marie any clue what I did wrong?

What makes a fresh cannoli better? A great glass of Chilean wine from a friend!

Day 2 Crew and Closing

Day 2 started with our crew duty of tearing down the Wellness Village. We tore down hundres of tables and chairs, scanned the area for garbage and tent stakes, and had fun doing it in record time.

each stack has 50 chairs (that is me in blue in the center)

As you can see the energy in the bus ride to closing cermonies was a little more muted than leaving opening. Who knew crewing was so much work, but fun work!

Chrissy on the bus ride

When we got to closing cermoines I went to the med tent for a little love and care on my back. How often can you get a massage/adjustment with a perfect view of the golden gate bridge?

View from the table AMAZING!!!

After I was relaxed I pushed my struggling voice and cheered on the walkers who were finishing see MORE the next post for pictures from that.

Chrissy before closing ceremonies

Finally it was time for closing ceremonies

Crew marching in

The view behind us

Chrissy and I crewing ro end it together! Notice our cool hats! Thank you do everyone that helped us fundraise we had to raise $500 each for the hats.

My team at closing ceremonies during the stories and emotional parts, I take pictures to keep crying and love their faces.

Laura and Jerry

Liz

Chrissy

Patty

Mike, Jean, Cheryl

Me and Pinky at Closing ceremonies

Rais your hand if you are a survivor of breast cancer, Lost someone to breast cancer, know someone who has had breast cancer, are in it to end it raise your hand.