Favorite Photo Friday - Vintage F&S Covers

I sure would love to get my hands on some of these vintage Field and Stream covers.  I am thinking the orange one pretty much fits me to a tee!  Something many of my friends may not know about me is how much I love shooting trap.  My dad used to take me target shooting and trap shooting the mornings I was going to a prom or homecoming.  I am thinking it was because he knew I would tell my dates all about it that night, therefore he wouldn't have put too much effort into the traditional 'you'll have my daughter home at what time?' speech. 

In college I used to go with one of my roommates to her home town on some weekends where she would sit in the trap house to pull trap for the guys back home.  The first time I went along an older gentleman asked me if I would like to shoot a round.  I was so excited, he loaded all up for me and showed me how his shotgun worked and I think he was a little surprised when I put those boys to shame.  I won the round and the next, and the next and took home the 20 pound frozen turkey and the money in the pot they were all there trying to win. 

My roommie and I learned how to cook our first turkey a few weeks later and needless to say that was the best meal we'd eaten in months as college students.  I swear we ate on that turkey for two weeks.  We made turkey noodle soup and sandwiches and it was like winning the lottery when you are two broke college kids just trying to pay the rent and eat!

  

Thankful Thursday - Last Day of Work 2010

I just have to say how delighted and happy I am that today was my last day of work for this year.  Yeah, yeah, I will be back there on Monday, and although at times my I may not be showing my thanks, I am thankful everyday that I have a job to go to, even if it isn't the dream job I had in mind.  There are so many people struggling and having difficult times finding work so my daily struggle is to adjust my attitude and  to wrap my mind around the thanks I should give out daily for being able to contribute in providing for Critter and myself.  We may be just two right now but we are a family and we are building a future for whatever the good Lord has in store for us.  We are blessed and we are thankful! Welcome 2011, we are excited to see what you have in store for us this year.

Project Monday - Cabinet Plans Complete

If you go here it will take you to the post I did on December 6th about the plans I drew up for my dad to make Critter (and me) a rustic baker's cabinet for our kitchen from old weathered barn lumber.  My dad as always never fails to make not only a fully functioning item but makes an incredible piece of art.  This cabinet is beautiful! 

(Pre cabinet)

I wanted to make more space in our small kitchen and Critter and I had been discussing a cabinet.  It couldn't have been a better idea and the best part besides having an amazing and talented dad was getting to see the look on Critter's face when he walked in the door and saw it filled with cookbooks and spices. 

I'm fully convinced even as an adult that if I can dream it and draw it up my dad can work miracles and make it become reality.  He is a true craftsman!



(Critter's Surprise)



(Loving the new Cabinet!)



Simple Sunday - Vintage Hunter's Wife

(Vintage Hunter's Wife)

Like most of you probably are, I am exhausted from all of the Christmas hustle and bustle and I am seriously holding this post to its name.  I just love this picture, to me it simply is a vision of a 1940's era hunter's wife in my mind.  Had I been my age (mid thirties) 70 years ago I probably would have resembled this woman.  Seriously, how cute is she? I wonder what I would've been like born in my grandparent's era... hmmm...

Current Event Saturday - My Christmas Story

(A Christmas Story Gift Shop Tee Shirt)

The year that I first saw the movie 'A Christmas Story' was the year it came out on TV for the first time.  I was probaby somewhere around 5th grade.  That would make me, what, about 10 or 11-ish, yeah something like that.  I remember the gifts all wrapped and sitting ready to open weeks before Christmas.  I never was much for trying to figure out which ones were for who, but my sister was, so I always ended up knowing which ones were mine without even a slight peek here and there.

This particular year there was a long slender box for me.  I thought long and hard for weeks about what in the world could that possibly be.  Most years my dad has never been good at keeping a straight face when you guessed what your gift was. This time though, I never got that face from him.  So as Christmas drew closer our plans that year were that we were spending Christmas in Southern Californina with my grandparents, my mom's parents. 

Christmas Eve we all gathered around the big TV in Grandma's living room, a room that rarely was ever used, so that was exciting all on its own. The big show for the night, yep, A Christmas Story!  I was LOVING this show and about the time Ralphie opened his gifts it hit me, OMG, in the long slender box... it HAS to be a bebee gun, that seriously HAS to be it! Finally, I got that 'look' on my dad's face and wouldn't you know it the next morning, my dad got me my very own bebee gun.  It wasn't a Red Ryder but it was a Daisy.  I still don't know if this was a coinscidence or if my dad is that good. But it was the best hidden hint ever if that was the case.

I spent the rest of the day shooting pop cans out in the desert behind my grandparents house.  My story isn't the same as Ralphie's as I never asked for a bebee gun, but my dad just knew I would love it.  He was right.  It wasn't the first time he was right and I'm sure its not the last.  And as luck would have it I asked my dad if he still had my Daisy about 3 or 4 months ago and he said he couldn't find it, then low and behold last week he found it.  He even said he fixed up a little for me.  Guess its time I go pick it up from him!

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope this year has brought you the most memorable of moments with you and your loved ones and that you may never forget the reason for this blessed day.  Happy birthday to Jesus Lord and Savior.  A King is Born, Praise be to God!

Favorite Photo Friday - Stained Glass Baby Jesus

(Stained glass Baby Jesus)

Jesus is the reason for the season!  This picture is a favorite for more than just one reason.  My sister texted it to me last year at Christmas when she was with her family in Nashville visiting our mom for the holiday.  We always liked the part in the movie Talladega Nights where the family is praying before dinner and are praying to little Baby Jesus.  So when she saw this stained glass likeness of Baby Jesus she said she just had to send it to me.  It makes me smile not only because there is nothing more precious than Baby Jesus but because its just one of those connections between my sister and I.  Two people I love so dearly and all in one thought because of a photo of a Christmas display. 

Happy birthday Jesus on this Eve of the celebration of your birth!  Halleluja a King is Born!!

Thankful Thursday - Christmas



(Love & Blessings on the inside of our front door)



Plain and simple I am thankful for everyone and everything in my life.  I'm even thankful for the things I don't like because they give me better appreciation for the things I love.  During this 2010 Christmas season I want to take the time to thank all of my friends and family.  You all mean the world to me and I am thankful as I stand back and look at the cards on my front door from all of you!  Wow!





(Our lovely tree, presents wrapped & ready!)





I am thankful that I have been able to afford the gift of giving.  It gives me great pleasure to be able to have gifts to give to those I love and wrap them pretty to add to the pure excitement and celebration of Jesus's birthday!  What a wonderful time of year and delightful season of celebrating for one man who gave his all for us.  Halleluja He is born!! 

Project Monday - Doe Color Collages

My friend Chanda got married in August.  I have known Chanda for about 10 years now and she is the reason I met Critter.  I think its great how everything happens for a reason and in its own time.  Anyway, here's the project part of the post....  the colors she chose for her wedding were navy blue, cream and paper bag brown. 

Those colors got me inspired to make some color boards adding a 4th color into the mix.  I ended up creating 4 different color boards with her colors as the base colors and incorporating a different accent into each one.  The accent colors being pale yellow, aquamarine, baby girl pink and ice blue.  Here are the color collages. 



(Bluberry Lemonade)




(Midnight in Tahiti)




(Strawberry Shake Royale)




(Iced Blueberries)

 I would like to be able to reference the photos but I lazily didn't note where they all came from other than I pulled them from several different sites on the web.  If you see of something that I should link to in any of them please do not hesitate letting me know.  I would be happy to give credit where credit is due!

Simple Sunday - Dark Kiss & Pink Sugar

(Bath & Body Works, Dark Kiss Shower Gel, Body Cream & Body Spray)

I used to frequent Bath & Body Works on a regular basis.  I really haven't gone there much latley but was feeling the need to check in there and see what some of their new scents are.  Plus I really love the Vanilla Bean Noel and tis' the season!  I found some yummy men's line scents for Critter Twilight Woods for Men, from Santa of course!  I picked up the Vanilla Bean Noel I was dying for, got some yummy hand soaps to refill the soap dispensers in the house and low and behold found my new favorite, Dark Kiss. 


Simply & perfecly this is the yummiest smell I have come across in sometime.  Then to add to it my awesome Christmas gift from my mom came in the form of a big box of goodies from one of my most favorite stores, Ulta.  Unfortunatley we don't have an Ulta (yet if I can change that I will try) in the Tri Cities.  Inside the big box of deliciousness was a perfume sample called Pink Sugar.  It pairs perfectly with Dark Kiss.  It smells so amazing that I could seriously just eat it up.  Critter loves them both on me and simply I think I have found my newest rage.  Please don't all want a piece of me at once just because I smell like cake, haha.  Yum!

(Aquolina's Pink Sugar)

Current Event Saturday - Fat Olives

I am always proud to support local independent businesses.  Today there was an article in the Tri City Herald about Kennewick's newest restaurant, Fat Olives.  Not all that long ago Fat Olives opened a restaurant in Richland right near my office and I am thrilled to now have one not far from my dad's house in Kennewick.  Its a little spendy for my budget to frequent on a regular basis but I definitely try to make it there when I can because it is delicious!!  They have pizzas, salads, sandwiches and a great atmosphere.  I can't wait to check out their transformation of the old Country Gentleman location. Congrats Fat Olives Kennewick and welcome!!

Favorite Photo Friday - My Dad

 

(My Dad circa 1950)

(My Dad circa 1950)



How adorable are these pictures!?!?! I just love them, they are my dad when he was about two years old.  My dad had them the other day and I just had to borrow them and scan them.  I love old photos and I love them even more when they are of my dad.  He was such a cute little guy!  I love you dad!

Thankful Thursday - Netflix Instant

Critter and I decided to not have cable TV (my large dislike for Charter) plus Dish & Direct TV are both ridiculously priced in my opinion.  Therefore, we have the standard local channels and Netflix and also Netflix Instant.  I've even considered the new Hulu that we can watch on our Roku player in which we get the Netflix Instant.  The Roku is pretty great there are many channels you can choose from like the Netflix Instant, Pandora, and the new Hulu for Roku and many others. 

For the price of 3 Netfilx DVD's we can watch all of the instant Netflix we want.  Its been perfect!  Sometimes it doesn't always run the best because of internet ins and outs but I guess that's just what you get with wireless services and new technology.  Either way I am thankful for Instant Netflix, I have watched movies I would have never rented and then loved and they keep adding more and more TV shows that I have heard people talk about that I would have otherwise never watched.  Its been a big money saver and has still provided Critter and I with more TV and entertainment than we can keep up with for around $20 a month. 

Project Monday - Bathroom Cabinet

Speaking of cabinets... (last Monday) Here is one that my dad and I designed and built last summer.  This one is in our front bathroom.  I use that bathroom in the mornings to get ready.  Our house is pretty small and if I use our master bath I have to be extra quiet since Critter's day starts later than mine and I don't want to wake him.  I wanted this cabinet since the bathroom is so small and I didn't have much for storage space of my things.  I keep my perfume, earrings, lotions & lipsticks in it.  And since I still shower in the master bathroom I use the bathtub in the front bathroom for storage as well.  Its actually a pretty handy place for extras.

(Bathroom Cabinet)

Simple Sunday - Ellembee

I love, love, love Etsy (more about Etsy someday soon)!  And I love, love, love this simple white screenprinted hoodie.  Here is the Ellembee link to the Etsy shop where there are other simple items of clothing.  Check it out!!  If you are a simple girl like me you will love the things you see!

(White Berrylicious Pullover Hoodie)

Current Event Saturday - Illegal Deer

So this guy is an Oklahoma State Legislator that helped write hunting laws for the state.  Ooops!  The story says after bragging about his 'kill' he found out the piebold deer was illegal and turned himself in.  It caught my eye because it is an odd and young looking little deer.  Here's the link to the article, you can make your own conclusions on his honesty.  Piebald Deer News Story   

State Rep. Terry Harrison and his "illegal" piebald deer. (Photo: McAlester News-Capital)

Favorite Photo Friday - Scott & Leslie

(Scott & Leslie 1 year anniversary)

Leslie asked me to take some photos of her and Scott to celebrate their one year anniversary.  How could I say no, these two are adorable.  I met Leslie through her step brother and sister in law who are good friends of mine.  They are not only fun but they make a beautiful couple, I enjoyed capturing some images of them in the beautiful fall foilage to enjoy for years to come. This is my favorite shot from the day. 

Thankful Thursday - Braxton

(A Smiling Braxton)

I am thankful for everyday Braxton is still with us.  He is getting old, he's 13 now and he is pretty tired... and grey in the face but we love him.  He's a retired bird dog and other than a few accidents in the house now and then he is an amazing pal.  He came to me as Critter's dog and as Critter will tell you he is now a Mama's boy.  I have to admit he pretty much is.  Animals are special companions and great friends.  I love him and I am thankful for his unconditional love everyday.

Project Monday - Cabinet Plans

This post is about an upcoming project.  Critter has been bugging me for months to design and build a cabinet with my dad to put in our kitchen.  We have the perfect spot to put a handmade rustic vintange wood cabinet.  The plan is to fill it with my cookbooks and our spices. 

I will post pictures after it is built but for now here are the plans for my design.  The best part of designing and building with my dad is that typical design rules go out the window and I draw it based on the way my dad and I work best together.  We are kinda on our own plan when it comes to working together, whatever it is, it works.  He gets me and I get him. 

Feel free to use my design if you'd like and can make it work for you.

Oh and DON'T mention this project to Critter, its a part of his Christmas present from me!

Simple Sunday - Outfit

Critter and I don't spend much money so I haven't purchased a new outfit in quite sometime.  However, if I was to get one, something like this is what's on my mind.  Simple, neutral, comfortable, classic.  Not only do I love this outfit but Ann Taylor makes it easy to find all the pieces.  Go here and see how they put together outfits for you. All you have to go is click the picture of the one you like and wahlah, there you are, order page for each piece is right there all on one page.  Simplicity at its best right where I love it most, shopping.  Now if only to do something about those prices... coupon please! 

                                                           

Current Event Saturday - The Spokane Finger

I just had to share this with you, The Spokane Finger.  If you click the link you'll see the story from Fox News.  It just made me laugh, I bet you'll get a chuckle out of it too.

Favorite Photo Friday - Colt

This is my nephew Colton.  A few months back I took some pictures of him and his brother and this picture just keeps standing out as one of my favorites.  Colt is Critter's brother's little man.  He's such a sweet kid and I think this picture captures his gentlemanly side just perfectly. Love you buddy!


(Colton)



Thankful Thursday - Girlfriends

This morning I had coffee with one of the phenominal ladies in these photos.  Afterward I was thinking about how lucky I am to have had such amazing women in my life.  We may not all talk everyday or every week or even every month, as we all lead busy lives with jobs, husbands and kids and in several different places, but that just makes those times we do get together even that much more special! 

Of all of them I've known Kim & Heather the longest, since our elementary days.  Looking back I cannot believe that has been nearly 30 years ago! Wowzers!  The photos are from my wedding, all of them there with me celebrating yet another amazing day in my life. 

I am thankful for each and everyone of you and am extremely blessed to be able to call you friends.  You are all strong, talented and beautiful women and in so many different ways and you all continue to amaze me with the things you have accomplished, have done and the friendship you have given me.  I love you all.

(Chanda & Me)

(Adrea, Jolie, Erin, Tawni)

(Heather, Melissa, Kim, Candie, Lisa, Nicole, Carol & Me)

(Heidi & her hubby Eric)

(Samantha) 
This is the only picture I have of Sam up at my wedding, it was
the day before and she's weilding an axe.... Hmmm :)