it's been awhile...

2011. Wow. My life has been crazy and hectic and fun and exciting. It's also been stressful and sad and had some sorrow and worry, but I don't try to dwell on that. I'm starting a new semester in school in a few weeks, going back full time. I cannot wait to get rolling. I got a new computer and I'm going to the school today to pick up my books and get the full info on my first round of classes. I am so excited.

This has been a crazy month. Money worries, friends with ill children, and I just heard that a woman very dear to me has lost her husband. All of these things remind us that every day is a gift, every smile from a dear friend has meaning and any happiness you can give is a treasure. I feel so lucky to have two happy and healthy boys who are smart and funny and handsome and who make me proud. I count my blessings.

This year was my 20th year spending the holidays with my husband and his family. They are an amazing group of people who are spunky and fun. This year was difficult for us, we lost an amazing man this last June. Uncle Ray was a man with a big heart and a great laugh and a man of very few words. When he spoke you listened and it was usually a great story about growing up in the midwest with an out house on the farm. He was a great man. He is deeply missed. We got through the holidays with thoughts of him heavy on our minds. We all pitched in to support Auntie Lilla at this time. They were married for 40some years (I am sorry I don't know exactly how many). It was sudden, and extremely difficult for her. She is doing so well.. I am so proud of her and her strength.

The boys have been doing well, too. They start baseball here in a few weeks... it makes me sad to say it, but I won't be volunteering for "team mom" for their teams this semester of school. I just don't think I should tackle that as well at being a full time student. I will be in school all Saturday's and it's not fair to the parents if I'm not around to take care of the snack bar stuff, picture days, etc. I know that I will miss that. I love being the Team Mom. :-)

I'm not sure if anyone reads any of this stuff, but I know that I go back over time and see what I wrote and see how I was feeling and I love it when I come back and find a comment on my blogs. I love the idea that you can send your words out and someone can find them... maybe something you said reaches them... Really cool.

Life begins anew for all of us. I am going back to school, Auntie Lilla is embarking on a life on her own... my boys are growing into fine young men. Newness is scary and difficult and wonderful all rolled into one. A New year is a blessing, simply because we are here to enjoy it. Count your blessings everyday... realise that the best things in life are not the fancy cars or the newest gadgets or the expensive gifts under the tree... they are the things that hug you back, the things that greet you with a smile, the things that love you unconditionally, the things .... I could go on and on. The things that are most important in our lives are the people whom we love, the ones who love us back.

I have thought about that more in the last few weeks than ever before.

Happy New Year... May it be a blessed one for you, and may you we all start anew.

Trying to win an new IPAD

Hey, it's worth a shot. I heard about this from a girl I went to high school with, Jen Leo. She posted about it on Twitter. :-)

Here's the link to the blog that is doing the giveaway... it's a blog about kids apps for IPOD... really a fun blog to read!!

www.bestkidsapps.com

It talks about what apps are good for keeps kids busy, or happy, or smart. :-)

LA INK, Dan Smith, Beautiful women

Last year I got a phone call from the producers of LA INK. They had received my application to be tattooed for the show and I had been chosen to be tattooed for the show. Wow! I was elated about being chosen. I had completed the application some two years prior.

I think I received that phone call in the end of Aug. By September I was chomping at the bit to get this done, and by Oct I was in LA shooting and being tattooed. The experience was amazing. It was a *bit* crazy.. but worth all of it.

Originally I was chosen to be Paulie's color tattoo for the episode that aired a few weeks ago. Something happened the day of the shoot and the American Electric studio was not available. I got that phone call about 1/2 an hour up the freeway. I was disappointed and hurt that this would not be happening. Shortly thereafter I got another call that it was a go. Derrick and I headed back up the freeway to get things rolling. About 20 minutes outside of LA we get another call. When the phone rang I was worried and kind of pissed... I hoped they weren't cancelling now. They informed me that Paulie would not be available today.

Paulie was not available. OMG. They tell me that I have one option. I can have it done by another artist, and we can do the intro shots today, but that I will have to come in some time next week to have the actual tattooing done. That artist will be Dan Smith. Holy Sheet!! OMG, Dan was always my first choice. His color work is amazing, he's super cute (not a prerequisite for a tattoo, but eye candy is always good). Needless to say I was not happy about having to come back a second day.. but I was very excited about being tattooed by Dan Smith.

We filmed that day. My entrance to the shop, a few questions about what I wanted and why. I had an opportunity to sit with Dan Smith and go over what I wanted, show him my photos. He was very nice and set me at ease. I discovered that day, too, that Dan is NOT that cocky dude they make him out to be on the show. This season is not as bad as last season, but last season he came across as arrogant. He's very down to earth, very polite and he LOVES his wife like no other. Such a cool guy. He totally put me at ease.

We came back the next week. It was actually the day before my birthday. We filmed a few parts during the tattoo, filmed the after shots, more questions in front of the camera. They fed us lunch (Derrick was with me) and once it was done we came home. We were gone all day and I now had some amazing art to carry for the remainder of my days...

I am very proud of my tattoo. It consists of three flowers. The Sunflower sits in front, and guides me. It symbolizes a woman who is a great role model for me. Her name was Valerie Farris. She was my neighbor growing up. She was tall and beautiful and charming and loving. She taught me so many lessons. She was a nurse. She "took over" when my mother died in 1989. She was the one I called when I wanted to cook for Derrick the first time. I called Val when my boys were sick or I needed advice. She was good friends with my Mom, she knew me and where I came from. She understood me. When we lost her to Bone Cancer I came home for her funeral. Her casket was covered in sunflowers. So fitting for such a cheerful beautiful woman. Whenever I see sunflowers I smile and think of Val.

The Calla Lilly is for my mom. She was an amazing woman. She was strong and sweet. She understood people. She taught me to be polite and kind and good. She fought cancer for 5 years and we lost her to breast cancer in 1989. She touched everyone she met. She was creative and loving and taught me how to crochet and needlepoint. I miss her everyday. I regret only that she never got to meet my husband and children. I carry her with me in my heart always, and she's got my back. I know she's watching over me.

The Dahlia is me. It's pink and pretty and open to everything! I love that Dahlias come in all colors and they always make me smile. We are all tied together. My mother and Val were great friends... they both took good care of me. The Farris family is my family... her daughters are my sisters. My brother is theirs as well.

I am extremely disappointed that my segment was not chosen for the show this season. But I know that everything happens for a reason. If Paulie had done my tattoo, I may had been on the air... but I don't believe that I would have had the tattoo I wanted. I strongly believe that this was what was meant to be and that Dan was my artist for a reason. He's a good guy. I took Derrick back a month later and Dan did a tattoo for him. He rocks.

Free Ugg Boots!!!

I was just informed that a site called Whoogaboots is doing an Ugg Boots giveaway. Pretty cool, huh? Fall and winter are just around the corner so people will definitely be needing something to keep their feet warm and cozy. Click on the WHooga box on the right to enter for your free Ugg boots. What could it hurt?

I read this today on someone else's blog and thought it was interesting to sit and reflect on myself and my life. I pulled this from SweetFunkyVintage.. my amazing friend Missy and her friend Liz have a darling clothing line made with fun and funky fabrics and darling patterns. They amaze me to no end. I really need to get this blog rolling along, so I thought that this was a great way to do so...

For Today

Outside my window: It's dark. Night. Cool. Night brings me creativity.. quiet. It's good.

I am thinking: about my future. I plan to go back to hair dressing this fall. I am excited and nervous and happy and sad all in one. I love being home with my boys, but I love the fullfillment of working in such an amazing and creative way. I MISS doing hair. With all my being I miss it... but I am sad that I will miss being my sons' Mom at home.

I am thankful for: my life and the blessing I realize everyday. I have an amazing husband. He is a good man, good father. He has put up with me and my kooky ways for a long time now.. we met and started dating in 1991. We married in 95. 15 years in FEB. He's still as handsome as ever...

From the kitchen: I'm making friendship bread. Over and over again... and it's wonderful. I keep a starter with every batch, and bake it again in 10 days. I keep one loaf for us. We don't eat all of it, but we do enjoy what we have. I send one loaf in for the guys in Derrick's office. They devour it quickly and send home Thanks with Derrick. I enjoy the whole process.

I am wearing: my capris. A blue T shirt. Bare feet. I'm comfortable. I am wearing something saucy for my 20 year reunion in two weeks, though... *whistle*

I am reading:- No books. I want the new one by Cecelia Ahern. I've read all of her books and she is wonderful. I do read my newspaper every morning.

I am creating: cute owl jammies. I bought vintage looking velvet ribbon for the tie string. They are capri legnth and I"m putting a bit of cotton lace around the bottom. I cut them low so they sit on your hips. Cute Comfy Cool.

One of my favorite things: Housewives of OC, NY, NJ... I love those crazy housewives!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Derrick is working on finishing the yard. I am working on my jammas, a few purses... getting Gavin ready to go to Tucson for a week with his buddies. My reunion is in two weeks! Going to the beach with the Dewey family and my boys on Weds. Life is good. The air is sweet and I am feeling so blessed with my life.

Welcome little Oliver!

We got a new pup. I'm not sure if anyone knows what happened with our French Bulldog, Gino, but it was sad and horrible and he's no longer living here with us. He had a genentic issue and had to go back with the breeder.

We got a Boston Terrier!! His name is Oliver. He's black and white and cute and sweet and such a good little pup. We are so happy with him.

Oliver is 11 weeks old and fun and bouncy. ;-)

Welcome home, little one...

Hey, I'm still alive.

I'm not sure that anyone even reads this, but here's my latest post. I've been horrible about this. I plan to get blogging and back on track.

I've started working on my sewing room, it's no where NEAR completed and not really functional yet. I got an "order". Not really, but I have someone who liked a bag I made and I decided I'd go ahead and use that as motivation to start sewing again. I"m going to make her a bag and surprise her. ;-)

I"m not sure where this cherry garage thing will go, but I trust my creative juices and feel like I can keep it going. I had a few people who really liked my work in Tucson and I think if I start working on them again I can get that going here as well. I think I do quality work and I think that I've really got a good product..... not that Paris Hilton will ever have one of my bags... but when my friends carry my bags they get stopped on the street and asked where it came from. That makes me happy. Everyone wants to be appreciated.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my life... hairdressing again?? I do miss it. Should I go back to school? Do something totally different? Derrick and I have discussed me going to nursing school since Graham was born. I don't know. What is my purpose? Other than creating cute cool stuff?? Not sure. I'll figure it out. I'll let you know when I get it at worked out.

Derrick and I are just rolling through life with our boys and our families and loving being home right now. Gavin said this morning how he loves having family to our house on the weekends. Earl and Jo and Auntie Lilla and Uncle Ray stopped by yesterday on their way home from Palm Springs. It is so nice that we live in a place where that can now happen. "just stop by anytime".

Enough for now. ;-) In the mean time, be kitchy, crafty, or cool... whatever floats your boat.