I Heart Faces - "Collages" Photo Contest

  This week's photo challenge over at I Heart Faces is "Collages".  I LOVE photo collages!  I have been making photo collages since high school.  These came in handy when I went away to college and when I moved away from home and started my first "adult" job.  From decorating my dorm room to my office, photo collages are a great way to capture a "theme" all in one.  And most importantly, have helped me whenever I have had a bad spell of  "home sick".  So of course I jumped at this week's challenge.  Just one problem, I had never used Photoshop to create a collage, so that was a new challenge for me.  Overall, I think it turned out good and I really enjoyed learning something new.  Here is a photo collage of the adorable Chase and his adventures of wagon pushing and bubbles!  Enjoy!

Make sure to go on over to I Heart Faces and check out everyone's awesome photo collages!

Have a fabulous day!

                                                                    

Props- Antique Quilts...I want!

This week has been mad crazy, which is why my last post was on Tuesday!  Sorry....  But I have lots of photos in the works including a surprise renewal vow ceremony which was absolutely adorable.  As some of you may have noticed, I love antiques.  With the many photo sessions I have approaching, I am loving the idea of incorporating props.  Especially vintage props. :)  I've been on the hunt for an awesome antique quilt to use in family sessions, but those things can be expensive!  Especially if they are really detailed and colorful.  I have had my eye on a few at the antique shops in my area, but still haven't found "the one."  I am a bargain shopper but with expensive taste?  So I always want the most expensive one....but love me a good deal!  I don't every pay full price for anything shopping wise.  "IT WILL GO ON SALE SOON..." is my motto.  So I have been holding off in hopes of finding the "perfect" quilt with the "perfect" price.  Props are a great way to add a personal touch, especially when the "prop" is something meaningful to the person/people in the photograph.  Here are a few antique quilts that have inspired me.  Enjoy!

Love this quilt by Threadbear

This quilt is from 1610 .  Gorgeous!

English inspired quilt made from scraps.

An Irish Chain Quilt

LOVE this red and white beauty.  Wouldn't it be cute to play checkers on???? 

LOVE this chunky colorful pattern...

Lucky for me there is a flea market happening next weekend, so hopefully I will find my "perfect" quilt!

Wish me luck!  Have a fabulous weekend!

Tremendously Terrific Tuesday! SHOUT OUTS!

Hello everyone!  Yesterday's Cardinal Rally was lots of fun!  Here is a pic I wanted to share with you all.. :)

Keiner Plaza- Downtown St. Louis

(taken with my blackberry- don't hate)

They dye the fountains red!  Love it.... :)

I would like to give a big shout out to Mere and her fabulous blog Idle banter!  Thank you so much for nominating me for the Sunshine Award!  SO sweet of you!  Thank you Mere!

Everyone please make sure to check out Mere's Blog!!

The rules of the award are:

1.  Put the logo on your blog within your post.

2.  Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.

3.  Link the nominees within your post.

4.  Let them know they have received the award by commenting on their blog.

5.  Share the love and the link to the person from whom you have received this award.

AND the nominees are....in no particular order....

...It's Simple Love...

Life in Dawleywood

A Little Slice of Domestic Bliss

Fashion Daydreams

From Here to Zerr

My Heart Sings

Sweet Laura Photography

Bunny Days

Nuestra Vida Dulce

The Cat Said Quack

Veranda Interiors

Tatertots and Jello

With that said, ALL of my favorite blogs are listed to the right!  I know a lot of fabulous bloggers/ladies have already been nominated for this award (Anh, Andi, Veronika, Andi, Steph) but yes all of my FAVS are listed to the right. (To the right...to the right...to the left...to the left...)

Finally, I would like to give a huge shout out to Ana of Knock Off Wood for featuring my "Herb" Bench on her fabulous blog.  If you have not checked out her ADDICTIVE blog yet, then please head on over to Knock Off Wood! Thanks so much Ana!  LOVE your blog! :)

That's it for today!  Looking forward to a busy week...and...GLEE starts back up tonight! :)

Have a fabulous day!

                            

GO CARDS!

Today is the home opening game for my favorite baseball team in the whole wide world...the St. Louis Cardinals!  I do miss the old stadium and I am still a little bitter that the Cards decided to win the World Series the year I moved to Florida, but I love my team!  Today some friends and I are headed downtown to the pre-game pep rally.  And I get to show off my new Pujols Jersey!  Woot Woot!

Even when I lived in Florida...you better believe I represented every chance I had... :)

GO CARDS!

Have a fabulous day!

                                    

Toot! Toot!....

Hi everyone!  Just wanted to make a quick post.  This week has been very long....and then last night my Gracie (dog) had a seizure and I had to take her to the emergency clinic etc.  Long night....  Then the lovely Michelle informed me that one of my photos had been featured on I Heart Faces today!  That TOTALLY brightened up my week!  Not sure how long the page will be up...but if you get a chance stop by I Heart Faces and check out my "piece of cake" photo! :)  Not to toot my own horn or anything.....but this is my first time having a photograph featured on a website...so....

TOOT! TOOT! :)  Thank you I Heart Faces!

Have a fabulous weekend!

                                                                           

First DIY Furniture Project...

So in case you didn't know, there is this wonderful, fabulous, AH mazing blog out there that shows you how to build furniture, gives you all of the plans, AND all of the ideas are affordable AND pretty.  What?  You didn't know about this blog?  WELL....let me just warn you, you will be addicted.  Knock Off Wood is one of my favorite blogs.  The gorgeous and fabulous Ana White builds her own beautiful furniture AND gives you step by step guides on how to build your very own.  There are SO many projects on my "list" thanks to Ana, and the other day DH and I decided to check one of those projects off the list.  Of course I plan (want) to build an armoire, kitchen island, and our children's beds (when we have children) but for now we decided to start out with something small, cute, and useful.  We decided (I decided) to build this cute little bench.  DH and I like to do projects together (quality time) and I got to "play" with power tools!  Woot woot!  Thanks to my friend Dana for introducing me to this fabulous website! :)

All you need....oh and some nails and paint....please excuse DH's golf clubs...

I'm a hand saw pro!  NOT....My dad used to let me "cut a few" years and years ago, but I was way out of practice.  DH encouraged me to step up to the plate.  I love a good challenge...

"Give me that!....get out of my way....punk..." :)

I don't think "sawing" barefoot is a safe idea....

*Kids- do not try this at home*

I didn't want DH to feel left out....so I handed over the saw....

(actually I just wanted to take pictures!)

And we would have been there ALL DAY if he hadn't taken over...

(Ah look at all the dust, ouch that's hot, oh crap it's not straight, look at the squirrel..)

It's starting to look like a bench!...success...

That black thing on the ground is called a clamp...did you know that?  I did...(not)...

Time for some nails...which means another fun power tool!

After the cutting and sanding was finished, it was time to paint! 

I could sit in the garage and paint all day long...need something painted?

Drying.....a hair dryer helps speed up this process....

My version of a freehanded fleur de lis....it's def. not perfect but whatever...

Some scroll on the front....

 

TAH DAH!  Our new "herb" bench!  :)

Now on to our next project.  Make sure to check out Knock Off Wood

Have a fabulous day!  And I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who reads my blog and leaves such nice comments!  I REALLY appreciate it!  :)

                                                                               

Easter weekend....

This past weekend I relaxed and ventured out to a few antique shops.  Even though I go to the same antique shops all the time, I never get bored.  Yes, they always have the same "inventory" but it's always nice to see the new items...and to try and figure out which items have found a home.  I just wanted to share with you all a few pics from this past weekend.  Enjoy! :)

This little beauty....1960's black purse.  It instantly reminded me of "Jackie O" and I loved the textured look. 

Just a little fact...A "Jackie O" style purse does not collapse when you set it down, it maintains its shape..

Like this little beauty. :)

LOVE the texture....they also had an alligator purse but it smelled horrible.  I hate when that happens....

I also found this gorgeous 1960's Amber Pitcher.  I guess I was in a 1960's mood that day?  I thought it would be perfect for a lemonade pitcher... :)

Love the circular details...AND guess what?!?!?!?  They have a cake stand to match!  SO guess where I'm headed next payday?......Please please please still be there....   Now all I need is 4 glasses to match!  OH and 4 little amber dessert plates...see what happens....(I'm addicted). :)

Oh so vintage....And speaking of lemonade, that's exactly what I did!

Here is the lemonade recipe I used...

I do not have a juicer...so I had to use my own two hands. 

My hands were killing me, but it was very tasty! :)

Then we sat on our deck and enjoyed our Easter dinner, sipped some lemonade, and enjoyed some blueberry sour cream coffee cake.  And enjoyed the view of our blooming trees...this one is my favorite. 

(And it's purple!) :)

So pretty... :)  Hope you are all having a great week!

STAY TUNED!  I'm working on a project...

Is that a saw in my hand??? That must mean I built something....right? :)
(Dang I am so pale...practically blend in with the wall.....hehe...)-

Have a great day!