My New Look

A few little things have changed here on my blog

courtesy of Shell from {Not Quite} Susie Homemaker.

She did a wonderful job, all in a timely manner and great with the communication. So, if you need something done, you should DEFINITELY contact her.  And if you don't, then just go check out her blog.

Here's my new button....cute huh?

<a href="http://www.creativeflairart.com/"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/Count2Four/cftaketwo.png" /></a>

Go ahead and feel free to grab it for your blog,

I will forever be grateful. :)

I also have a new header,  you probably won't notice the difference. It's subtle, but different. And matches the  button.

Also, I had a cute little icon added to my blog title, Shell's idea. 

And some other things moved and deleted.

She did a GREAT JOB! I highly recommend her for any of your blog makeovers of creations.

Thanks you so much Shell!

Oh, and the signature too!!

Rice Krispie Decadence

Happy Monday All!!!

I am so excited! Today I am the guest blogger over at Amber's Life

I will be showing you how to make these little treasures.

Oh Yes!

Go on over and get the full recipe here.

Also, today I am hooking up with Meg and her Mingle Monday.
Go on over and check it out.

Comment Moderation

The other day I was reading Jen's blog over at Jen's Ink Pen.  She posted a cute little story about blogging etiquette that I really think everyone should read. Click here to view the whole story. You will have to follow the links, but so worth it.

One of the great things that I got from it was comment moderation through e-mail.  I had only wanted the comment moderation because I didn't want to miss any comments, especially on the older posts. But with this tutorial, it is so easy to have the comments sent directly to your e-mail and then the comments post immediately.

So thanks you to all who participated in passing on this etiquette post.

Did you pick up any great tips or hints from this piece?

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.