Fabulous Etsy Finds

Just wanted to share some of the great finds I found on Etsy the other day.

If I could just go shopping, I would buy these.

This Hobo fabric bag by threadpoets
I love, love , love this bag.  And I am such a bag kind of lady. Not to be confused with a bag lady. :)
Anyway, I love the colors and the silk just draws me in.
I want to hold it. 

This beautiful Wave Bowl by ClayGalNaira

I would love this bowl for my front entryway.  The colors and shape would be so great if this was the first thing you saw coming into my house.

How cute is this for warm summer days?

by kolonclothes

I think this is the PERFECT dress for the Arizona summer.  And if this Crossfit does me right, I am seriously going to buy it.  It must be mine.

You know I love me some Dave Matthews Band

by DreamingTreeCreation

Let's just throw it out there right now.  I love the Dave Matthews Band.

My husband always is using this quote from one of their songs so this would be great to have.

Hmmm, Christmas present??

And for the boys new Lego room

by HomeWallDecor
Soon I will have a post about the boys room in our new house.  Every wall is painted a different lego color!
And I thought about having oversized legos come out of the wall, but these would be a lot easier to install.

What would you pick from this list and do you have something you have been eyeing?

If you haven't checked out Etsy....what are you waiting for?

In all Follower Seriousness

I have been doing this blog thing, on a consistent basis for only a few months now.

I originally started the blog because I wanted somewhere to keep all my recipes in one spot without having cookbooks, binders and lone recipes everywhere.  It has still worked out great and I can just send someone the blog link and they can copy it or write it down.  

And not to toot my own horn, but people constantly ask for recipes.

So then, I get going with my art again, now that the kids are in school and it is at this point that I get going with all my blog posts.  Funny thing is, not very many have anything to do with my art but that will come when school starts.

ANYHOW.... I digress.  

My thing is, the follower thing.  

I have to admit that I really have found some great blogs that I truly LOVE to read.  And I would like to think that there are some of you out there that really do like reading mine. 

Here's the thing I don't get.  Becoming a follower, just to have someone "follow" you back.

I just don't get it.  Really.

And if you are one of those that followers everyone, please explain it to me because

maybe I'm missing something,

I couldn't possibly have my reader filled with blogs that I don't want to read.  And I'm not saying that they are bad blogs, they just don't catch my fancy.  Just like mine won't appeal to everyone.  

When I pick a blog to follow, I will read their posts.  I really try to keep my reader at 0.

It doesn't always happen but I think I do a pretty good job.

Alternatively when someone begins with following me, I visit their blog and thank them for 

visiting but don't always follow back.  I think this is where I am finding I feel a little guilty.

Anyone else out there pick and choose there blogs carefully?

Wordless Wednesday- Double Olives, Please

check out more wordless wednesday at 5minutesformom.com

It's a Colorful Life Challenge- Yellow

Yes, I'm a slacker.

I know some of you have wondered

"What the heck happened to all the color challenges"?

No worries, I'm back on track!!

OK...here we go.

This week's color is YELLOW.  Every week, I will present a new color in my blog and it will be your job to contribute a photo of that color.  The photo must contain 90% of the color of the week. Enter as many photos as you like. I will collect all the photos and put them together in a collage.  And at the end of the summer, we will have a very colorful piece of art! 

Photos can be submitted on my Facebook page, and while your at it...

become a fan.

For those of you just are joining us for the first time, take a minute to check out the other color challenges we have done. White, Black, Blue, Brown, 

 NOTE:  I was going to pick a random winner but some of the qualities of the photos have been really low resolution.  I'm still working on getting them in a collage but I may just have to post it for all to see instead of print it. 

This challenge is hosted by Creative Flair.  Be sure to follow to get the update as we go through the colors this summer.

Lake Tahoe Boat trip

We did an evening boat trip the other day on Lake Tahoe.

We used to live here but right now, we're just up for the summer.

Which, is a pretty SWEET place to be for the summer.

Schmoopie, my personal boat driver.

Notice the moon in  the background...provided a nice ambiance.

Thing 2.

He's tolerating.  He hates wind.

Ahhhh, nothing like a Lake Tahoe sunset

Our night time trip back, by moonlight. 

Are you Reading Your Blogs with Foursquares?

In the last month or so (maybe more, it all tends to go by so fast these days), I have discovered Foursquares.  It is by far the best way I have found to read all my blogs and keep up with everyone. Yes, I do read them all, which is why I don't follow them all...but that's a different story.

This is what my screen looks like.  An assortment of blogs, each in their own square.  Click on one and you get all the posts within that blog.  And the best part...all the ones you haven't read are highlighted.  When you read them, they go dim.  Perfect.  

I use Google chrome and it is an easy extension through that.  I have no idea if it will work with other browsers.

Big plus: I read many blogs on my iphone and it syncs with my google reader, meaning it will dim those I have already read.

Big Minus (but not really):  There is this square in the middle called Top Picks.  I have no idea how it picked those, what it means and why numbers don't add up.  All  look at is individual blogs and if I have read this, then I'm good!

They Picked Me!

Well, today I'm feeling pretty darn good.

Friday Follow is a great blog to go to check out interesting blogs and this week, 

I am one of those blogs.

Go ahead and pop on over, check it out.

Crab Pomodoro

Oh Yes!!! This was a BIG hit in our house!

If you need a great pasta recipe, this is it.  

 Katie over at Food, Wine & Mod Podge has it going on...

go on over and get the recipe.

Wordless Wednesday- Indian Paintbrush

More Wordless Wednesday at 5 minutes for Mom

AOR- Schmoopie & Straight Penises

My acts of randomness will now be referred to as AOR.   It's my free therapy.
Bare with my while I ponder.

When you change your blogspot blog to a .com, all of your previous comments disappear. :(

Magnetic paint actually takes about 4 coats before things start sticking, instead of the 2-3 coats they say on the back of the can.  At $25 a quart, I would have just bought a big magnetic board for the boys room.

I just realized I missed my Wordless Wednesday post this week.  I really like doing that post.
That just confirms I have been way to busy moving.

The ONLY reason I am in front of the computer writing and not unpacking at this ungodly hour is that I am exhausted and need a break from the paintbrush and boxcutter.

I found the 90"s station on Sirius radio today in the other half's truck. And I liked it!

I actually was going to put hubby instead of other half.  Then I remembered that someone in their blog hates the word hubby and, really, I don't like it much either.  BUT, I'm having a hard time thinking of a really good word for him.  We sometimes will playfully call each other schmoopie.  You know, like the Seinfeld episode. It's really only to be a smartass, I don't ACTUALLY call him that.  But I thought that might be kinda funny for blog purposes too.

My youngest (4) asked why his penis gets so straight.  I had to pass on that one and told him to ask daddy because mommy doesn't have one of those.

Admit it, your only reading this because I named it Schmoopie & Straight Penises.

Oh great, now I have that song from Crash Test Dummies in my head.  You now it, it's the only one they ever had.
Mmm, Mmm,Mmm,Mmm, Mmm,Mmm,Mmm, Mmm

Now it will be in your head too...I'm evil like that.

Check Out Our New House!

I have to admit that I have been lagging in the blog posting.  Sorry.

I have a good excuse though....We finally moved into our new house!!!

Come take a look at what is happening so far.  I have been unpacking and painting walls like mad.  We still have a long way to go but so far, I LOVE IT!

If you were to drive up, this is the view you would get.  

That front courtyard captured me right off the bat.

Front walk way to the front door.

View from the front door, again, my lovely courtyard.  

I can't wait to eat dinner here. Maybe in the fall though, it's about 107 out there right now.

 Here is a bookshelf area I painted today.

One of the few things that is actually done.

This is the mess of a master bedroom.  We are all camping out here until I finish painting the boys' room.

AND, I am almost done! They wanted a Lego room.  Can't wait to show you that.

Here is my beautiful kitchen! A few little tweaks left but very usable.

It has great storage, I just love it.

A view from the backyard. Camelback mountain in the background. Pool to the far left. 

Well, that's it for now.  Hope this gives you a good idea of what I've been up to from sun-up til sun-down.

So, what do think????

Wordless Wednesday-Best Seat on the Boat