American Pride

I completed this layout today of pictures Gino had sent me a while back. They are him and the other Embassy Guards meeting Lt. General Allen, a 3 Star General who is 2nd in command of the Central Command. United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) was established January 1, 1983. As its name implies, USCENTCOM covers the "central" area of the globe located between the European and Pacific Commands.

For this layout I used my Cricut electronic cutter to cut American Pride, the eagle and the letters for General. I used the Stand and Salute cartridge to cut this.

U.S. Independence Day Celebration at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent

These are a couple of pictures I pulled down from the Uzbekistan Embassy website. My handsome son is on the far right hand side of the picture.

Queen of Paradise Island Challenge

I just discovered Croppin Paradise. They are having an annual summer scrapping survivor-style challenge! There will be 4 big winners, including one Queen of Paradise! Scrap your way through the challenges, win immunity, risk being voted off the island, make some new friends and maybe even win the crown!

Follow this link to sign up!http://www.croppinparadise.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6660

Hope to see you all there!

New quilt

I had purchased some additional fabric the last time it was on sale to make another quilt. Here are the scraps of the fabric. (no, I still haven't finished the purple quilt. I hit a roadblock and haven't quite figured out my way around it yet) I will post more on this one when it is done!

Our poor Butter

Butter has been limping again, this time on his front leg. We took him to Garden Grove Dog and Cat Hospital yesterday and then back today for ex-rays. He has really bad knees and a bad back. This doctor thinks that he is beyond surgery at this point in his life, but has referred us to VCA All Care (where we take Bailey) for a second opinion. there are times taht when he goes to lay down, his back end just flops down. Heavy sigh, it pains me to see him do that. We are currently going to try and treat him with pain meds and anti-inflammatories.

{friends}

These precious and silly pictures were taken the night of Arianna's school's open house! The papers are from Urban Anthology's February kit available here.

Scott Kelby Photo Walk

Saturday we participated in the 2nd Annual Scott Kelby Photo Walk. We went to the one in Redondo Beach with these lovely ladies and their partners (well we missed Chris - next time Chris)
This was my favorite shot of the day. Doesn't he just look like is strutting across the pier?
I think everyone had a great time.
Me being really serious about this stuff. The photo walk just reminded me that I have alot to learn!!

Pink's Chili Dogs

So this past Friday night, Patrick and I went back to the Orange County Fair. This time we went specifically to eat a Pink's Chili Dog. They don't have Pink's in the OC, the are a Hollywood Legend. I enjoyed my chili dog, the chili was good and the wiener wasn't too big. Patrick said it was ok. I will have this again the next time we go.

Slip n Slide

Jillian and the kids came by last night to play in the Slip n Slide as it had been a scoarcher of a day.

The girls really love it. Amara always has to have the ellow (yellow) side and she wants Arianna to have the orange side.
Since Mandre isn't too hip to the slip n slide yet, I picked up this other little water toy for him. It shoots the balls up into the air where they remain suspended on the water spray for a bit.
Arianna made me this vase and paper flowers! Isn't it jsut the cutest!

Drop Dead Diva

I watched this really cute new show last night on Lifetime. I encourage you to check it out.

"Drop Dead Diva" is Lifetime's spirited new comedic drama series that puts a uniquely compelling twist on the age-old battle between brains and beauty.
The show tells the story of a beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe, Deb, who has a fatal car accident and suddenly finds herself in front of Heaven's gatekeeper, Fred, who declares her a self-centered "zero." Outraged, Deb attempts to persuade Fred to return her to her shallow existence but is accidentally relegated to the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum (Brooke Elliott). A brilliant, thoughtful and plus-size attorney with a loyal assistant (Margaret Cho), Jane has always lived in the shadow of her more comely colleagues, whereas Deb has always relied on her external beauty. Now, by a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention, Deb must come to terms with inhabiting Jane’s plus-size frame in the ultimate showdown between brains and beauty.

It looks like Lifetime TV will be running the show again tonight (and possibly again during the week). Check your local listings to see if you can still catch the debut show!

new Coconut M&M'

If you get a chance to sample a pack of the Limited Edition Coconut M&M's, go for it. I saw these one day recently when we went to 711 and it has been the only place I have seen them. They were $1.00 for the small pack - but woth it. They were really, really good!

UPDATE - I found the larger bag today at Target!!

Good bye Mr. Mop

and hello Mr. Steam Mop! I hate cleaning the floors. With a mop, all you are doing is pushing dirty water around the floor. Lately I have taken to getting on my hands an knees using a bucket and rag - which goes back to why I hate cleaning the floors. I have been looking at these steam cleaners for some time now. So I was watching the guy today demo Mr. Steam Mop at the fair and I told Patrick I would really like one of those and he said Mr. Steam Mop should come home with me! I think Patrick actually hates to do the floors even more than I do.

So while I actually kicked mr. mop to the curb a while back, the bucket and rag are gone as well! I just love the way this thing works. The floor is dry immediately. There is no streaking or chemicals to deal with. I did all the floors as soon as I got home (well and put the house back together - I am still running the dishwasher to get any bug spray residue off my dishes and stuff) !!

Orange County Fair

Today was de-bug the house and the 1st of many visits to the Orange County. For the past week or so, something has been biting me. I have spots and sores all over my body from scratching these bites. We prepared the house this morning for spaying and then left for the fair.

There are all types of fried foods to sample at the fair, a zucchini weeni and even Fried Frog Legs. Neither of these did we try. I have tried the deep fried avocado before - don't need to do it again.
The fair is really about trying new things. What is this you ask? Try chocolate covered bacon!! Not too bad. We also had Hawaiian food for lunch (no picture). They make this really good macaroni salad that comes with the plate. Next time, maybe just the macaroni salad as a side.
Look who joined us for the fair. Anthony hung out with us all day. Well he couldn't hang out at home cause of the bug bombs.
We shared a blooming onion (it is a huge onion deep fried - looks like a flower when served) with my parents. I didn't get a picture of that, but Anthony and I had a chicken kabob. These were sooo very good!
Patrick had his usual chicken and rice burrito and then some fried chicken.

We have plans to go back as we didn't see it all and when we were leaving today - my little eye spied Pinks hot dogs. That will be 1st on my list. We are hoping to go Friday night and listen to the dueling pianos.

New Addiction

Well, actually it is an old addiction made new again. My mom got me hooked on Bejeweled a while back and I could sit on the comptuer for hours playing that game. Last night, I downloaded the game to my iPhone and promptly played it most of the night - even at bowling!!

The objective of this game is to swap one gem with an adjacent gem to form a horizontal or vertical chain of three or more gems. Bonus points are given when more than three identical gems are formed or forms two lines of identical gems in one swap. Gems disappear when chains are formed and gems fall from the top to fill in gaps. Sometimes chain reactions, called cascades, are triggered, where chains are formed by the falling gems. Cascades are awarded with bonus points. There are two variations of the game to choose from. Although normally the player gets only 3 in a row for gems, sometimes they can get 4 or 5 in a row. And rare conditions, they can get 6, 7 and even 8 in a row

Whatever you do - don't download this game unless you plan on spending more time than you currently do in front of your computer!!

Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday America and lest we forget, Freedom isn't Free! thank you to all our armed forces for keeping us Free! (Love you son!)

Pinocchio Wishes Upon A Star

Many of you know of my love for Thomas Kinkade pictures and my Patrick's love of Disneyland. I have a few Kinkade prints and a canvas celebrating Disnyland's 50th anniversery. Wouldn't this make a great addition to the walls of my home?

"The Disney Dreams Collection celebrates great moments from Walt Disney Films. The artist calls these paintings "narrative panoramas" because each painting tells the entire story of the film in one image. For the painting Pinocchio Wishes Upon A Star we see Pinocchio upon a hillside overlooking the setting of his adventures. We see Honest John and Geppetto's workshop where Pinocchio was formed. On the right we see Pleasure Island and Monstro the whale preparing to engulf Geppetto's sailing vessel. Butterflies and sparkles lend magical accents as the Blue Fairy and Jiminy Cricket look on. "

Here are some notes I found about the painting:

1. Pinocchio is the second release in Thomas Kinkade’s Disney Dreams Collection.

2. Thom has placed a total of 25 N’s in Pinocchio Wishes Upon a Star as tribute to his love for his wife Nanette, as well as in celebration for his 25 years as a published artist.

3. Thom has incorporated many hidden Mickeys in Pinocchio Wishes Upon a Star. Can you find them all?

4. Take a look at the far right side of Pinocchio Wishes Upon a Star and you will see Pleasure Island, as well as the whale, Monstro!
5. Thom has recreated a fanciful scene in this painting, based on original sketches that the movie backgrounds were based on.

6. The natural bridge featured in this work is not in the movie, but Thom placed it in the painting as a symbol of the passage of time.
7. Thom has incorporated important characters from the movie into Pinocchio Wishes Upon a Star. Is that Honest John and Gideon coming up the walkway? Can you spot the Blue Fairy, which per Thom, is a symbol of hope? Jiminy Cricket is also somewhere in the painting. Can you find him?
8. Thom has placed the letter “W” in Pinocchio Wishes Upon a Star as tribute to his daughter, Winsor.

9. Thom placed over 300 hours of work in Pinocchio Wishes Upon a Star. Make note of all the detail in this painting, including the cobblestone road. This is without a doubt one of Thom’s most detailed works.