Caardvarks Challenge: L♥VE

I have this thing for cards...making them especially. Recently, my interested has been sparked by a little ladies get-together at church, where we made cards for our missionaries. Now, I'm officially hooked. I found this blog called Caardvarks that has monthly challenges, which I thought, if I entered them, it would be a good way to keep me motivated with my cardmaking.

So, here's my first entry.

The theme is Red Hearts. I think I did a pretty good job staying within the guidlines, don'tcha think? ;)

So, we'll see what comes of this! :)

Stockings!

Oh, wow. I haven't written a post in for-ev-er...and I feel like a loser. Well, only KIND OF like a loser. A little bit...

I mean, seriously - it's been so C-R-A-Z-Y busy. I can't even begin to tell you.

But, I'll try.

First, we went on a road trip to Colorado for some meeting and to see the fam. Fun times, I tell you. FUN times. :)

I have lotsa pictures - none of which I have prepared to share. Because I am...so...busy.

Anyway - THEN, we got stuck in a blizzard on my birthday. So, I call it the Birthday Blizzard of '09. Pretty Snazzy, huh? So, the Hubs, Josefine and I stayed at a hotel on my birthday...with an indoor waterpark, which happened to be closed down because of the fa-reezing water temps. Se, we just hung out in the hotel pool, which was awesome enough, for sure. Josefine had the time of her life...I swear...this girl is a fish!

And, we finally got home last Thursday. And EvErY night (and day) since...has been BUSY. The night we got back, I had a party...Friday, Jim took me out *sigh*, Saturday we had one amazing Sunday School Christmas party with a fabulous (and hilarious) White Elephant Gift Exchage. Sunday - church, of course. Monday - a visit with our Germany-Bound friends. Tuesday was a Sign Language Class and Test, which I don't even think I've mentioned to you that I've recently taken up (and fallen in love with) Sign Language. Holy Cow...I totally don't need to bore you with my EVERY day of the WEEK busy-ness. BUT, it's just a little taste of how busy it's been.

Today, I had a wedding shoot. Beautiful and busy day for sure...I always adore weddings. I never cease to shed at least one tear out of happiness for the lovely couple. And here, I'm supposed to be taking pictures! Anyway - I've got tons of photos to update my photography blog with, too. See what I mean? Is your head spinning with MY schedule yet? I wouldn't be surprised. Mine is. ;)

And here, I've titled my post "Stockings." Oh, rabbit trail.

This is one thing that I've been spending all of my free time on...stockings! :) I have to make mine yet, but I was too excited not to show you Jim's and Josefine's! :)

This is where I got the pattern!

Another Food Post, But Not What You Expect

I know...it's Monday. And for the last several Monday's I've been posting a scrumptious recipe for Fall Into Flavor at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

But, today, I'll be posting about a different kind of food. Felt Food. Mmmmm, looks delish, no? :)



Bacon, Eggs and Blueberry Pancakes! I'm already hungry (again) for breakfast!

Well, I don't have a recipe for these adorable creations, BUT I can tell you where you can win some!!! Check out LadyBug Soup and enter to win a $12 Gift Certificate, and you could be drooling over fake food, too! ;) Or, these just might be the perfect Christmas gift for a special little girl who loves to pretend!

I'm thinking Josefine might enjoy them, too...not so much now (she really will try to eat them - and NOT because they look so much like food), but maybe someday!

And on a completely random note: This is the day that Josefine looked like a little Dutch girl. :)

This is NOT a Giveaway, but you WILL win!

I just ordered 100 4x8 Customized Christmas Cards from SeeHere. The best part: I only paid shipping! :) Wahoo!

Here's the dealio - and how YOU can score 100 FREE Customized Christmas Cards, too.

Ok, so my photographer friend, who took our family pictures, sent me this *amazing* link with TWO *amazing* deals, and {free} is what I call a DEAL!

And a little something to get your Holiday Cheer on the right foot! :)

My Man Needs a New Band

I wish I could guise this post as not "I want to enter a giveaway" post - but as a viable, "My Man REALLY Needs a New Band" post. Well, he doesn't REALLY need a new wedding band - but, if I had the chance to win a free one for him...I'd take it. (Plus, he deserves it.)

So, here I am taking this chance.

HomeSpun Threads is hosting this amazing giveaway for a ring from Tungsten Wedding Rings...I found out about it because my friend Sylvia entered it as well. Pretty popular stuff, I say! ;)

I like this one. :)

And because this makes me reminisce our Day - here's a nice wedding-y picture of our rings!

Show Us Your Life: BABY SHOES!

Show Us Your Life at Kelly's Korner

Ok...I have a fetish. Shoes. And not just ANY shoes, but baby shoes. Before we even knew if we were having a boy or girl, I was buying gender neutral (from my perspective) baby shoes. They are just too adorable! Sadly, my little one was born with big feet. And most of her *size zero* shoes didn't fit so well...I learned the hard way...buy AFTER baby is born. Anyway - these are a pair of shoes I should love to get for my little Josefine...mmmm, Owls (pictured below). Obsess, much? You can win a pair at LadyBug Soup!

Don't forget these darling birdie shoes (pictured below) from Bugaloo also featured in this post.

The bottom picture is of Josefine wearing her cute little (boy) loafers for the first (and possibly, last) time. I ♥ Baby Shoes! Oh, and as a side note - the top middle picture is of Josefine's swing mobile. Owls! Suprise...

*WishList* Wednesday: Knit Pick

Ugh, you won't BE.LIEVE. this knit...beautiful. Makes me *wish* (hence, WISHlist) I had the guts to start such a project. I'll start with just learning the owl...a little less *whoa* if you ask me. Maybe if I *wish* hard enough, I'll get brave...maybe make an itty-bitty one for Josefine...

In this color, perhaps???

The Mail & Soft Leather Shoes

What does the mail have to do with leather shoes???? Good question. Well, the way my brain works - it makes perfect sense - so hang on for a bit - you'll see the connection in no time. :)


The mail comes at 1:30pm give or take (mostly give) an hour. Just moments ago I realized the mail could possibly be here, so I ventured out to the mailbox to find:

• baby bill.
• baby bill.
• mediacom-schmediacom ad
• MY NECKLACE and EARRINGS from SYLVIA C.

The earrings will be shipped of to my HonorMommy friend today because she was the winner of my first ever giveaway!

Which, leads me to leather shoes...

I L.O.V.E. these little shoes and think Josefine could stand to have a pair from Bugaloo - perhaps these little Bluebirds will suit her?

Well, Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking is giving a pair away!!!! Can't pass that up, huh? If I don't win them...there's a itty-bitty chance I might stow away $15 (that's all, $15 - unlike the other soft-leather-shoes-for-babies-companies that sell them for oh, TWICE that much!). Not only that, but 5% of each purchase goes toward ending child slavery. Worthy cause, I would say.

7 New Things and a Surprise Ending

New Thing #1 - My Photography Blog, Ministry Blog and Josefine Blog (that's 4 blogs, Teena - including this one) are all newly designed and have MENU BARS! Woot! It looks sooo much more professional even IF the first try took, like, EIGHT hours. This one is NEXT! And my Josefine Blog has a new design, which rocks my face off...

New Thing #2 - New (and FIRST) family pictures! Jim's mom snapped these and this is the one we're giving to our home and sending church for the prayer board - will probably send them to our supporting churches as well. We're using this one on our ministry blog and for prayer cards.

New Thing #3 - I have a newfound interest in cooking lately. Especially baking! And will soon be posting the recipes and pictures for YOU to try!

New Thing #4 - My friend, Stacy, got Josefine some adorable new hair clippies. One is pictured above in our family photo (the yellow flower). I ♥ New Hair Clippies! Sooo, I've tried my creative hand at making one myself. Josefine's Granny got her a new dress, which she'll wear to the shower tomorrow night and I made her a new custom hair clippy to go with it!

New Thing #5 - My interest in knitting has been re-charged. That happens about this time of year. I can't seem to knit a single stitch during the summer. The idea of it just raised the temperature another 10 degrees. Another thing about fall - it just makes me want to break out my running shoes. But, I won't go out on a limb and add it to my list of New Things yet. My friends Sarah & Julie should be credited for inspiring my back-to-knitting days. I'm starting a new beginning on an old project. - and if you read her latest post, she's also inspiring me to start running again. Last year on Labor Day weekend, I tried and strained my achilles tendon. Since then, I've been in the pool. But, that has nothing to do with knitting, eh? ANYhoo, it's going to be a purse, and I'm currently working on the strap and gussett.

New Thing #6 - Josefine has a new head.

New Thing #7 - This is a FUTURE new thing, but I must, must, must tell you about it right NOW, but not without a preface. So, I was made aware of a jewelry giveaway that a million and one people will probably enter. I, on the other hand was reminded of my super-fantastic jewelry-making friend, Sylvia. She's a very creative designer of so-cute and so-fabulous (that one's for you, Sylvia) jewelry, and you must see her work. I am going to purchase this necklace with Josefine's name on it. THAT is my future New Thing #7.

Aaaand, because I teased you with the word "Giveaway" and a picture of some snazzy, handmade jewelry AND because we ALL love new things, I suppose I'll give in to the trend and host a giveaway of my own. It IS 09-09-09 and all, a perfect reason to give something away, no?

Soooo, I'm giving THESE away...a pair of Sylvia's MUST HAVE earrings. Very dainty, very pretty, very FREE when you enter to win! I'll purchase them at the same time I purchase my necklace, so they'll be ready to ship to one lucky winner.

Here's how to enter (four entries max):

1. Comment on this post - 1 entry

2. Link back to this post (leave a comment to tell me that you've linked) - 1 entry

3. Check out Sylvia's Etsy Shop and come back and let me know which piece is YOUR very favorite by leaving ANOTHER comment - 1 entry

4. Tell your friends on Facebook! Post a link to THIS POST on your profile page and come back and tell me that you did...on your honor! :D example post "I entered to win a free pair of earrings on Sarah's Blog!" - 1 entry

You must leave 4 separate comments for them to count!

That's FOUR chances to win! Now, go do it!

The deadline is next Wednesday, September 16th. I will draw at 11:59 pm (CST) and announce the winner then! :D Thanks for participating!

I like to Eat, Eat, Eat Eeples and Baneenee's

I have a friend who directed me to this blog called "Heavenly Homemakers" and it looks quite inspiring! I'll be making plenty of visits to be reminded and motivated to be that homemaker God wants me to be. At present, I'm pretty lame. I really enjoy the OUTCOME...but, the motivation to get there...not really there right now. So, I'm going to start somewhere. And that somewhere is by eating more fruits and veggies (as suggested and challenged by Heavenly Homemaker herself)! Random. I know. BUT, if I have this goal, then my family will reap the consequences, no? Jim will be healthier for it, and so will my Josefine! Hey, it's a step towards something...and I'll be interested in seeing what that something is!

You interested? Good. I thought you would be. ;)

Check out the link in my sidebar for MORE!

Pregnancy Diaries: Us 'R Babies

I just took advantage of some super-sweet deals at Babies 'R Us. Picked up 3 for $20 packages of Newborn Diapers. Good deal. And when Jim came home for lunch, he observed that the Diapers are good up to 10 pounds. He said with a Southern Twang (not sure why he used that accent), "They'll hold up to 10 pounds until we have to change 'er..." :D Bahahahaaaaa....Jim made another funny.

On another note, I also picked up our Pack 'n Play AND the swing that matches (from the Graco Utopia Collection)! Woo! (We already have the stroller/travel system.) All because I waited (amazingly) and saved up (more amazing) for the Pack 'n Play...a few weeks ago I had enough money saved up from photoshoots and babysitting that I could get the Pack 'n Play, but never made it to Babies 'R' Us to pick it up. In the meantime, I got a few emails informing me of some super good deals...and one of them was $15 off the VERY Pack 'n Play I wanted and 15% off ANY Pack 'n Play in the store! So, with all I had saved up, I was able to get both the Pack 'n Play AND the swing (which was also $15 off this weekend). I felt SO stinkin' awesome about it, I stopped by Krispy Kreme on the way home and got a dozen doughnuts, plus one for the road. A Baker's Dozen.

Oh, and to boot, the swing mobile has owls on it! I'm using owls as the decor for Josefine's room (or corner of the room!) and verses from the Bible about wisdom. Here are pictures of my "Inspirations for Josefine's Room."

The Knitted Lyra Hood - Courtesy of The Golden Compass

The other day, Jim and I checked out "The Golden Compass" from the Library. Although I may not have been THAT impressed by the film, I fell in love with Lyra's knitted hood that she sported near the end of the movie. So, I googled it right away. I found lots of patterns...some were less impressive than others (some were VERY BULKY). But, I found the BEST one at THIS site. It's SUCH an easy knit and a quick one, too. I'm ready to knit one up for Josefine already - which, of course, will be an even quicker knit!

Here, in dramatic Sarah-esque fashion (I wouldn't have it any other way), are some photos of my new Lyra Hood.

Oh, the drama...and the stick up my nose....niiiiice.

2 Things for FREE

1. IHOP is giving away a FREE shortstack (3 pancakes) today...it's National Pancake Day!
2. Fellow Blogger, Ashley at Jaded Mission is giving away FREE handmade cards. They're quite adorable and she's the arteest! Enter to win!

Love Bottles...and other ramblings.

"Love Bottles?" you ask. I know, I know. Sounds a little - uh - strange. But, really it's a cool thing and I plan on getting one. I think I need to insert here (for your entertainment) that I just overheard my hubby and his bro discussing the organization of their clothes drawers - not the sock drawer or the shirt drawer or the pants drawer - the drawers drawer...hmmm...okay. Now you know what it feels like to be home. Anyhoo, back to Love Bottles. I was thinking about how much I loath drinking from plastic bottles. For one reason, we go through so many - it seems a waste of money and and just plain old not healthy. I mean, really, it's a conscience thing. I can't let myself drink so much bottled water that I feel like my insides are turning to plastic remnants themselves. So, I googled glass water bottles...because everyone knows beverages taste better in glass. Coke for instance (which, for your information, contains a natural "thing" in the cocoa bean that helps relieve nausea - and I know this because I am now 13 weeks pregnant and have tried this myself. Doc says it's the only time during pregnancy that she'll recommend Coke.) Surprise. I guess I let that little piece of info slip in there, huh? Yep. July 4th. Okay, back to the Love Bottles, which have nothing to do with the pregnancy, although some might venture to guess they did. Eh-hem. So, I think I'm getting one because yes, it's healthier to drink from glass and they're kinda cute...and I'll think of it as a gift to myself for being pregnant...now the baby doesn't have to drink plastic, too.

Oh, and here's the Love Bottle link.