bbq'ing in NJ

memorial day??  already!?  summer is almost upon us, and we kicked off the warm weather with a picnic at my parent's house in NJ...it's officially summer in my book!  flip flop weather, bbq's, and lots of fun!

Happy Birthday Brandyce!!

we went to New Jersey this weekend to celebrate the 28th birthday of one of my oldest friends :)  hibatchi dinner, and drinks and dancing in New Brunswick...brings back memories :)

Happy Birthday B!!  loove you!

Towson Town Festival...year 2!

Erica, Anne and I are braving the elements for Towson Town Festival this weekend...come on out and see us!!

first game of the season

a quick visit from Bob, and our first Orioles game of the season...it was mighty cold!

3rd Annual trip to TX!

my yearly visit to see the Borchers crew in Houston this year came in April...and we finally had some warm weather!  I was really excited to see my old roomie, and to see how big Hunter and Haley had gotten in the last year...and they were walking and talking!!

it's always nice to see Liz and the rest of her family, because it's like no time has passed since our last visit...and we even did a family photo shoot in a field of Texas Bluebonnet flowers!  I would love to make the trip more often, and am searching for some shows in that area so I can make some business trips and see some of my favorite little people!

Cherry Blossoms in the springtime

in the last 6 years of living in Maryland, only 30ish miles outside of DC, we have never been to the Cherry Blossom Festival, so this year, B surprised me with a trip down to see the flowers and trees, and be touristy in our neighbor city.  We walked the tidal basin, and even to the monuments and museums- something I hadn't done since our 8th grade class trip!

we took tons of photos, but here are some of my favorites...

SURPRISE!

This weekend we celebrated our friend Shawn's 30th birthday with an 80's themed surprise party at their house, thrown by his fabulous wife Ashley :)  We got all dolled up in our neon colors and headed to Leesburg...I miss the 80s!

FREE Ritas!!

it's the first day of spring...and that means...FREE Ritas!

Kelley and I ventured out to get some italian ice...and it was goooooood :)

kitty comes home!

it has been a very trying three days...thankfully Kevin has come home...after countless calls at ungodly hours to the vet clinic (who were all wonderful and very patient with me and my hysterical fits of tears), several boxes of tissues, many visits to check in on our patient and some shaved paws...he is home.

it's still very unclear how things will go, and I've vigilantly resisted the urge to Google kidney failure in cats to see what lies ahead...because the few searches I did do, I realized it could be very grim or he could live 15 more years like this...hopefully he'll respond to the treatments we give him, and he'll get many more years, because 6 is way too young for a cat!  I am determined to help him get healthy again :)

it is really scary though...for the next six weeks I have to give him fluid injections, some antibiotics and he gets to take antacids...I hate needles, so this is going to be tough...but I will learn to do it, and he'll hopefully love me for it :)

it is strange to think, that we have to feed our cats at certain times now, rather then leave the food out...but it's important also to monitor that he is eating all the time, since that was the warning signs of his sickness this time...

wish us luck...it's going to be a difficult road, but it's how things are now, so we will get used to it.

the diagnosis

so...Kevin is sick...he has Kidney Disease :(  we took him to the emergency vet this morning and he has to stay for at least three days.  I have no idea what is going to happen, and I am so worried about my little guy...everyone think good kitty thoughts please!!

DDS!!

we got to see my favorite cover band, Drop Dead Sexy again tonight...Bonnie and Andy came up from VA and Sarah came in from Baltimore with us to see them at Looney's...awesome as always!

poor kitty

poor kevvie had to make a trip to the vet today...he's seeming a little off lately- yes he's always scared and hides most of the day...I still think he's not totally used to our new home, and his new 'brother' eddie...but he seems to have lost a lot of weight, so B convinced me to finally make an appointment at City Pets...fingers crossed we'll get the results back and it's just an infection...

Thursday's Shoe Story

for a long time I rebelled against the ugg-ly boots...I think it was the whole worn by all the celebrities...in California...in July that got to me...also the cost...they looked comfy, but I really couldn't justify spending over $100 for a pair...

but then back in December, when I was home in NJ for Christmas, I happened to stop in Old Navy, where they had on sale...for $12...these boots...

I had tried on a few pair in Payless, and never really thought I could pull them off...I didn't have the right pants, they looked like they didn't fit...etc...


these were different though...they were like little clouds, little pillows for my feet...so very unbelievably soft and comfortable (not to mention the price was right!) so they were finally mine...

and now I wear them all the time, and I feel the weather starting to turn...it's going to be in the 50's this weekend, which means time to dust off the flip flops, and retire these boots till the fall...because you will never see me wearing them with shorts or a skirt...and if you do...you have permission to hit me :)

Saturday's photo

they love each other...really they do...

image compliations

so many shows ask for 2-5 images of your work...and when you have just an allowance of two to submit...how do you really showcase all of your designs? collages! or at least that is what I started doing...not sure if it's 'legal' but they are just two images...

here's what I've come up with so far...what do you think??

Friday Finds on Etsy!

in honor of tonight's plans...going to see my FAVORITE cover band, Drop Dead Sexy play at Looney's...

ROCK & ROLL!


Beatles Abbey Road Cuff Bracelet by GetPersonalArt



















Keep Calm and Rock On print by QueensSpoof























Recycled Chain long necklace by SavageSalvage

one application down...oh so many to go...

first show that I've officially applied to for the 2010 spring craft show circuit...


Richmond Craft Mafia's Spring Bada Bing!

oh, how far I've come...

as I was sifting through photos of my jewelry designs to submit for a few craft show applications...and I came across a photo of one of my very first 'booths'...















how sad is that?! it was one of the first shows I had ever done, and I am so glad that my style has evolved...into something like this...















I am glad, however that I kept a record of this, and all the original designs I came up with, to see how awful some of them were, and most importantly...to see how far I've come :)

six years later :)

Happy Birthday Bean!!

photo circa 2003 :)