Wow...I won!

It seems I never win anything, but this time I actually did it...I actually won something really cool over on

...and this is what I won...

Can you believe it? I know me either!

I can't wait to get it...the magazine's not quite out yet so I will have to have patience for it to arrive, but that's OK by me...

when it gets here I will let you know, and share some of the goodness inside :)

http://www.blogguidebook.com/2011/04/summer-with-matthew-mead-sneak-peek-and.html

5 things...TASTE...carrot cake

Over the weekend I baked a carrot cake Birthday Cake for my beautiful Daughter who happened to turn 22. It really turned out good ...I'm just sayiin"...

Here's what I did:

I used the Betty Crocker Carrot cake mix and used the ingredients listed on the package except I subsituted canned pineapple juice for the water. Then I added all sorts of add-ins to make it taste more home-made.

I added :1 tsp. vanilla, 2 c. peeled grated carrots, 1 c. raisins, 1c. chopped walnuts,  1/2 c. diced pineapple...

I allowed extra baking time due to the added ingredients and whoola! a moist delicious carrot cake...

I grabbed a cream cheese frosting recipe I had on hand and put that together:

3/4 lb.(3 sticks) butter, softened

1 lb. cream cheese at room temp.

3/4 lb. powdered sugar

1tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp lemon juice

Whipped it all together until light and fluffy and covered the cake.

It made plenty to add as filling and have enough to tint and pipe.

And even though we were all pretty full from just having consumed massive amounts of grilled shish-ka-bobs, we all couldn't resist that cake, yum...

I wanted to share the recipe just in case you would want to make it for your Easter dinner dessert or jot it down for future use...Hope you enjoy!

April Challenge...memories of summer past

 Last week, I wanted to see if I could keep up with posting a little more frequently and just found that although my intentions were good, life keeps stepping in my way...none-the-less, I won't give up on the idea of the "5 things" posts...I'll just have to rethink how I might want to do them in the future...maybe all at the end of the week? or just whenever something comes up to insert in one of the themes?...I don't know yet... I guess, I'll have to get back with you later on that :0)

So for today I decided to jump in on the 

April Collage Challenge at

Mary Green's Green Paper Press...

I did a digital collage using using parts of each of her ephemera

I felt that the piece could be interpreted that the memories could be by the birds or by the girls...you choose :)

Happy days to you!!!

5 things~ touch tuesday

I wanted to use a vintage photo of a hare in celebration of the upcoming Easter season...

I also chose the image of the Hare because of the idea of how soft bunny fur is to touch for my post on Touch Tuesday.... 

Mind you I have never touched a Hare per-se but I figured even if it had rough fur I bet its ears would be velvety soft...and their noses too!

XXOO

Kim Klassen Cafe...Texture Tuesday 

Our  photo must contain at least one layer of Kim's WarmSun texture
this week...

NOTE:

I tend to work a bit heavy handed with my background textures, liking the vintage

 loved-worn feel to them and the above image as well as the one I used last week 

were layered over the photos twice...

I decided trying again using a lighter hand and different approach...and really liked 

the different feel it gave the image and so decided to add that here as a addendum...

Kim Klassen texture warm sun with color dodge layer properties 

Things to share later in the week...

hear:

taste:

smell:

5 things...Sight Monday

sight: bokja design

via
Bokja is the Beirut-based duo of Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri, whom along with their talented team of craftspeople create these amazing chairs and lounges. Using beautiful vintage textiles from Central Asia and the Silk Road, each peice is unique with an amazing story behind it.



...These are so beautiful and so creative to me...you never can tell where inspiration like this will pop up in my art at a later date :)

Things to share later in the week...

touch:

hear:

taste:

smell:

Kim Klassen textures

Yesterday I shared with you one of my latest flower arrangements...white calla's,pink roses and white lilies that I made for my Hubbies Grandmother's funeral...

the photo was taken up against such a stark white backdrop I wanted to play around with some photo textures and see if I couldn't warm up the arrangement and give it some more LOVE!


after-all I was thinking that was what the day represented...a celebration of beautiful!...who she was, what she accomplished in her life (who she touched and loved) and those she left behind to carry on :)

The textures I used on the photo were by Kim Klassen...thanks Kim for your design beauties...

I used Grey Days and Dusty Rose...quite an improvement? no?!

from Central Oregon to Central CA in a weekend...

A little over 1050 miles and 20 hours round trip...
 but the drive was worth it to  attend my hubb's Grandmothers funeral...and to see relatives.

We took our youngest son with us and made the best of a long road trip...




I got to make a bouquet for the funeral service in memory of Hubb's Grandma Hazel...she was a lovely and special lady...
...a vintage Haeger vase that I had and  purchased some white calla lilies, pink roses and white lilies and greens...

I put the arrangement together in the hotel conference room ( I brought the vase and the clippers with me)...

We went to Hubb's Uncle's house afterward and visited and caught up...

 His Uncle has several acres in Waterford CA...
He is raising chickens and rabbits and that made me excited for the coming Spring season! Aren't the baby bunnies cute?!

So glad to be back home...

Grandma Hazel you will be missed XXOO

A Monday kind of Monday

Today is Monday...and a Monday kind of Monday at that!...I am trying hard think of it as if were Tuesday or Thursday ...but alas I am faced with the fact that it is a Monday kind of Monday...

Given those facts before me this morning I decided to retaliate over my cup of coffee and found some things that made me smile...Who knows maybe there's hope for this day yet!

and

http://www.theydrawandcook.com/


                                                                               and

alphabet-letters-in-objects

fun idea!

for Japan with love

dear Japan...I am saddened for your loss...



I pray you will find peace amongst the ruins and hope amongst the ashes...

I pray for you...

making us happy...

 Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners 

who make

      our souls blossom.

—Marcel Proust

 As I dropped off my son at elementary school yesterday I

 happened to notice a mother and her young daughter. I couldn't help but smile BIG as I witnessed a happy moment with them.

The mother was holding the girls hand and skipping with her to school. Yep, I said skipping! Both of their hair had caught the breeze and was happily joining in their fun as they made their way to school flapping and swooshing in the morning sunlight.

I hadn't expected to see such joy and happiness at such an early hour and it nearly made me wipe my sleepy eyes in disbelief but there was a long line of parents in cars right behind me so I only slowed for a moment though the image lasted with me all day.

I'm certain that that mom never knew what an impact that she had on my day but more importantly what an impact she had on her little girls life by taking a moment out of her morning and skipping with her daughter to school.

I hope you find a happy moment in your day!...XXOO