Getting Festive for the Fourth...

I told you guys the other day that I really love the 4th of July.  :)

I had thought this year that we would have a little get-together and cook out or something... Unfortunately, it's looking like "we" won't be doing that.  However, maybe I can.  To get in the spirit, I've been getting crafty.

I made a wreath, which has a tutorial on my friend Erika's blog today as a guest post!

Do you like it? If so, go check it out and learn how to make it!

Tomorrow I'll share some more Independence Day craftiness, including some super cute things for a table at a get-together. Hope you'll come back and see it. :)

Independence Day Nail Art

I don't know about you guys, but I really love the 4th of July.  You're about to find out just how much I love it in the next couple of days... lots of 4th of July stuff! :)

Today I thought I'd share some nail art.  Usually, I just paint my big toe as a flag.  This year, however, I decided I really wanted to switch it up a little, so here's what I came up with.

If you like it and want to give it a try, it's super simple!

Here's what you'll need...

A clear coat for your base coat/top coat, blue polish, red polish, white polish, and a white nail art pen.

Start by applying the base coat.  When it's dry, paint your big toes blue.

Follow that by painting every other toe red and the rest white.

Make sure the blue is super duper dry, and then draw little stars on tip with the white nail art pen. (You may have to go over them more than once for the white to be nice and bright.)

Don't worry about it being perfect... No one needs to be that close to your feet.  If they start inspecting, just kick them. ;)

 

Let the white stars get good and dry, then add your top coat.

Next step, enjoy your patriotic nails!

Happy Wednesday everybody!

Tail Wagging Tuesday: Special Pup Feature- Cabo

This week's special pup belongs to a friend here in Hawaii.  Megan is a fellow military wife, and her sweet Cabo is full of life and as sweet as can be.  :)  I'm so happy that she agreed to share her furry baby with us.  Let's see what she has to say...

What kind of dog is Cabo, and how old is he?

 Cabo is a Boxer/ American Bulldog. He is 2 and a half years old.

What is Cabo's story?  How did he come to live with you? 

     After Josiah and I got married we decided that we wanted a dog to keep me company and guard the house when Josiah left on trips, so we spent several weeks looking at different puppies online and at the Humane Society. We loved all the dogs that we saw but none of them seemed to be exactly what we needed, so we didn’t take any of them home. This was no small feat for a girl who wants to adopt every animal she sees!  Finally, we saw an ad for a litter of 7-week-old puppies. The picture was a gorgeous silver and orange brindled pup looking over the side of a cardboard box. I knew I wanted to see these puppies. One problem. The price on them was $400 each and we didn’t want to pay more than $200.  We decided to call them anyway and when Josiah mentioned that we really couldn’t pay more than $200 the owner said, “Oh, don’t worry about it, I put that price up there because I wanted to find good homes.” Yes! We drove over to look at the litter immediately.  There were four pups with tan bodies and black faces, the silver and orange brindle and a dark brown and orange brindle. The silver pup turned out to be a girl and we knew that we really wanted to get a boy. We held every one in the litter. Each one had their own special personality. We stayed for at least an hour and a half playing with each puppy and trying to decide which one we liked best. I was standing and holding one of the more docile boys when I turned and looked into the corner and saw Cabo doing flips over himself and chasing around a leaf. I picked him up again and new that this was the right one.  He slept snuggled in my arms the whole ride home. 

How did Cabo get his name?

     After bringing our sweet little puppy home we started the task of finding a name for him. I went through lists of dog names and thought through the names of characters in some of my favorite books and names of some favorite classic authors, everything from Harper (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird) to Gatsby to Sebastian. Nothing fit. Ever since we began to look at puppies we had had an idea that we would like to name it something that was meaningful to both of us. We had just gotten back from our honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We loved the idea of embodying this wonderful memory by naming our cute little puppy after it. Cabo has turned out to be just as wonderful as that special memory.

What are Cabo's favorite things to do?  Any silly things he does or crazy quirks that make him unique?
      Cabo is pretty much always ready for whatever comes his way in the day. Whether it’s watching a movie on the couch, going to the beach to play or going for a long hike or run. If he gets bored with what the humans are doing he loves to pull out his squeaky toys and throw them in the air for himself or sit down and chew on them and try and make a melody out of the squeaks. When we go to the beach Cabo likes to try and “save” anything in the water whether it’s a leaf or a human. He will swim out, gently grab whatever is in the water, and swim back to shore and lay it out on the sand. Needless to say, we don’t always want to be saved but it’s hard to convince Cabo of that. Cabo also loves to be vocal. He doesn’t bark that much unless someone is coming up to the front door but if he wants your attention, especially when someone is in bed too long for his taste and he wants to get up and start the day, he will sit with his face about a foot from yours and “talk” while he wags his tail. Somehow he always seems to be able to convey exactly what he wants. 

What makes Cabo so special to you and your family?  Particular times he's really "been there" or special things he's done?

     Cabo seems to be able to worm his way into the affections of almost everyone he meets.  I am no different. He touches my life everyday and makes it plain that he would rather be with me than anywhere in the world. He makes me feel special and meaningful everyday. A few months ago he really showed me that he knew where his place was and didn’t want to leave. I was working on a school project very late and one of my neighbors forgot to close the gate in our yard so Cabo got out. Getting into the road is only a matter of walking down our driveway, but Cabo stayed sitting in the front yard all night till I got home around 2 am. As soon as I opened my car door he couldn’t stop licking me and trying to “talk” to tell me about what had happened. As for being there for me, he is unmatched by any human. He is never too busy for me and always is up for being my friend and doing anything I want. I can’t count the times he’s been a sport and come to the grocery store with me, waiting patiently until I got out just because I didn’t want to go alone. His understanding of what is going on in my life never ceases to amaze me. 

What a special guy!  Thanks again, Megan, for sharing him with us! :)

P.S.  I could use some more volunteers for special pup features. :)  Let me know if you'd be interested.  Leave me a comment or e-mail me at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com

Giveaway Results :)

Remember these little guys from last week?

It's time to find out who the winners are!

I used Random.org's sequence generator after plugging entries into a spread sheet in the order the entries arrived.  Then using the random sequence that was generated, I found numbers one and two, who will be the new owners of these little guys. :) So without further ado...

..:Drum roll please:..

The winner with the first choice in paintings is Sara!

Winner number two is "EB"!

Thank you soooo much to those who entered!  :)  Hopefully I can do another giveaway soon.

Winners-  Please e-mail me at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com so we can get these little guys on the way to their new homes as soon as possible!

Hope everyone has a fantastic Monday!

Five Things Friday [#2]

It's finally Friday again! Woohoo!!!  This Friday I'm linking up with the fabulous Erika again for "Five Things Friday."  I'm listing five great things about my week in an effort to focus on the positive instead of dwelling on the negative.  It's amazing how pointing out five good things can completely change your outlook.  I think everyone should try it! :)

1.  My creative slump has passed!  (At least for now, anyway...)  I have had a productive week-- picking up on my coffee table project again, creating some new paintings, working on a baby quilt for a friend, and crocheting... not to mention a 4th of July themed project to be revealed at a later date. :)

2.  I've gotten back into hitting the gym in full force.  After slacking (skipping a day or two more per week for a little bit), I've been going full speed ahead and working hard.  Nice long, fast runs, lots of stairs, weights, and fun Spin classes to name a few.  I feel more like myself than I have in a while, and I like it!

3.  I am no longer a ghost!  Since I was a bum last week and did a lot of laying by the pool and reading, I have a bit of a tan once again.  I think the Vitamin D has helped my mood, as well.  It's a win-win. :)

4.  I have two sweet pups to keep me company and make my house not feel so empty.  Weeks of hearing zip, zero, zilch from your other half can start to take its toll, and you start feeling pretty lonesome.  Luckily, I am greeted like a celebrity every time I walk in my door.  If I didn't have that, I'm afraid I would be super depressed.  Thank goodness for these guys.

 

5.  I had some Etsy orders this week that kept my motivation going.  Plus, one of the recipients sent me a picture of her little girl beaming and holding her new painting.  It absolutely made my day!!! (And my week!)

Hope everyone else had a wonderful week!

Old Soul Fun

Have I told you lately that I'm an "old soul"?

Well, I am. 

Old movies? Love them.  

WWII era fashion and hairstyles? Adore them. 

Big band music? It's all I listen to when I paint. 

So does it surprise you when I tell you that I had a "crochet date" yesterday?  It probably shouldn't.

Yep, you heard, er... read, that right.  I had a super fabulous and amazing "crochet date" with my lovely friend SueAnn yesterday.  We met up at a nearby Starbucks.

We sipped yummy drinks and ate delicious goodies.

We did all this while we worked on crochet projects and people watched.

Yep... We're the dorks who sit around in 80+ degree summertime weather in Hawaii and crochet blankets and scarves.  But you know what?

We were happy as clams while we were doing it. :)

 

It's nice to enjoy a relaxing hobby with someone you really enjoy being around and who is in the same boat as you.  We were able to talk and enjoy some company for a while, even if it was just a few hours.  It sure does help when you haven't heard a peep out of your husbands in nearly a month.  I'm so blessed to know wonderful people like this.

 

Anyone else an "old soul"?  If so, how? :)

 

P.S.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway!!!  There's still not much competition.  You have a super chance of winning, and entering is as easy as leaving a comment! :)

Back in Full Force

Hello! And Happy Wednesday!

I know I was a lazy bum last week. Literally, the only things I did were work out, lay out, and read.  

Motivation for creative projects had temporarily left me. 

But....

It's baaaaaack! (At least for the time being.)

I've been quite the busy bee since this week began.  Between running errands and hitting the gym hard (since I'd been my version of a slacker... skipping a day or two and only working out 4 days a week), I've still found the motivation to get cracking on the projects I meant to start last week.  

So far, I've cranked out quite a few paintings.  Some were custom orders of designs I've already done, but some are new in my shop, and I'd like to show you...

Here's one of a desert sunset.

Last week, two of the books I read were set in the South West.  I was inspired 

by the idea of sunset in the desert, so here ya go. :)

I also got around to a couple more in the "Puppy Love" series.

I did another cute little Bulldog in red and black for any "dawg fans," and a regal Great Dane in hunter green.  I had planned on doing a few more because I'd just gotten a shipment of canvases... but when I opened the box, the canvases were the wrong size.  Bummer... :-/  Oh well, hopefully I'll get the new ones in soon.  Until then, you guys can tell me what you'd like to see next.

In addition to these things, I did a little more on that coffee table I picked up what feels like ages ago.  I am probably three-quarters finished with it (and have been for about 2 1/2 weeks), but I just got tired of looking at it and left it for a while.  Yesterday, though, I decided to get back to work on it so I'll have it finished soon. :)  

And finally, I picked up a few things for another baby quilt that a friend asked me to make, plus some things for a 4th of July Wreath Tutorial that I'll be doing on a friend's blog soon.... Whew!  Like I said, motivation is back, and it came back full force!  Hopefully, I'll have lots to show you in the coming days.  For now, Happy Hump Day!

Oh, and right now there's not any fierce competition in the giveaway.  If you haven't entered yet, hop on over and do it!  Right now you have a good chance of winning!

Tail Wagging Tuesday: Special Pup Feature- Jasper

This week's special pup belongs to one of my newer bloggie friends, Sarah from G.I. Joe's Wife.  She is super sweet and has a great blog, so you should check it out sometime!

What kind of dog is Jasper, and how old is he?

     Jasper is a Boston Terrier mix. Don't ask with what because we don't know! =) He is 2 years old, but I still call him my puppy. Truth be told, he acts more like a teenager most days than a puppy. Haha!

 

What is Jasper's story?  How did he come to live with you?

     Ah, the story of Jasper. =) We adopted Jasper from a local shelter when we were living in NC in 2009. I had been dying to adopt/buy a puppy for several months. My husband, Joe, actually attempted to adopt one without my knowledge - to surprise me - but it ended up not working out. One day, my sister-in-law texted me and asked if I wanted to go with her and her father-in-law to a shelter in a nearby city to look for dogs. I happily agreed and met them there as soon as I got off work. I walked around with them, looking at all the precious dogs waiting for someone to love them. It was so loud from all the barking...and it smelled too. I felt so bad for them. We went to the next area and I saw 4 puppies in a kennel. 4, sweet, Boston Terrier mix puppies. Joe and I had been thinking of buying a Boston puppy, but couldn't afford a full-breed. I picked up one of them, called my husband and waited in their lobby until he got there. Since we needed an okay from our landlords to get a dog, I had to wait until the next day to fill out paperwork to adopt him. One week later, I picked up our sweet Jasper from the shelter and he's been with us ever since!!

How did Jasper get his name?

     Jasper is named after one of mine and Joe's favorite characters from the Twilight books. =) Joe and I both read the books the previous summer and were dying to get two dogs - a boy and girl - and name them Jasper and Alice. Yeah, we're corny like that.

 

 

 

What are Jasper's favorite things to do?  Any silly things he does or crazy quirks that make him unique?

     I think Jasper's favorite thing to do is sleep. =P I mean, he's really good at taking naps. Haha! His favorite toy is his "binkie" - his blanket. I bought it before we got him because our house was cold, and it was January. I didn't want my precious pup to freeze! Little did I know his favorite game would be tug of war. One of Jasper's quirks that I really love {most of the time, anyway} is that he loves to cuddle or be near us. For instance, if I'm at the sink doing dishes, Jasper is most likely to be sitting next to or on my feet. He's a sweet boy.

What makes Jasper so special to you and your family?  Particular times he's really "been there" or special things he's done?

     Jasper is my battle buddy. 6 months after we adopted him, Joe enlisted in the Army and went off to basic. After that, Joe was in AIT. Then, we moved to Hawaii and he deployed. Through all of it, Jasper has been my buddy. We hang out and watch TV together {I'm convinced that he does watch TV}, we play fetch and tug of war together, and he keeps me laughing...even when I've had a hard day. And Joe is his favorite person to play with. =)

 

 

 

What a sweet boy!  Thanks so much, Sarah, for sharing him with us.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday!

Giveaway!!

I think I remember telling you guys a while back that when I got to 50 followers, I would have a giveaway. 

Well.... It happened! 

I know to some people it's not a big deal, but it's a little milestone for me, so I wanted to say thank you.  Thank you to those who have become "official followers."

Sooo.... I'm giving away two little paintings!

When I say "little," I do mean little.  These little guys are 3"x3" but painted with all the love and care of any bigger painting.  They will even go off to join their new owners with their adorable little easels. :)  Since my current obsession seems to be sunsets and silhouettes, I went with some sweet horses grazing and some tropical palms.  Hope you like them!

By now, you might be wondering just how you can win one of these little guys.  Well, here's how.

There will be two winners, and everyone will have three chances to win.

1st Chance (must be completed before further entries):  Be an "official follower" through Google Friend Connect.  Click the "Follow" button to the right of this post.  Then, leave a comment on this post and tell me whether you like sunrises or sunsets better and why.  That comment is your first entry. (By the way, I know that some people have had trouble commenting lately since Blogger has been acting nutty.  If you have trouble, just e-mail me your comment at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com.)

2nd Chance:  Become a fan of my Facebook page.  Then, come back to this post and leave another comment telling me that you did or that you already are. :) (Same thing applies about the comment.  If it just won't work, e-mail me.)

3rd Chance.:  If you do the Twitter thing, you can tweet about the giveaway.  Just be sure to mention me @Tails2Tell so I'll be able to verify.  Then, come back and leave one more comment saying that you tweeted. (Again, the same thing applies about the comment.  If it doesn't work, just e-mail me instead.)

 

It's as simple as that.  You have until next Sunday, June 26th to enter, and the winners will be announced next Monday.  The first name chosen will their first choice of the paintings.  After winners are announced, I'll get them mailed out to their new homes as soon as possible.

Good luck everybody!

Let me know if you guys like these new super tiny sizes.  I may be creating some more for the shop.  I'd love to know what you think and what you might like to see! 

Stepping Back...

"It's only when you grow up, and step back from him or leave him for your own career or your own home-- it's only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it"  ~Margaret Truman

I stole this quote from my mom, but I don't think she'll mind.  :)

When I read this particular quote, it really rang true for me.  Maybe it's just because when you're little (and blessed as I was to have your family that loves you all together) you just don't think about what your Daddy means to you.  He's just always there.  Always taking care of things. Always doing what needs to be done.  You know that all you have to do is ask, and he will find a way to take care of any problem that comes up... because that's what daddies do.

In 1986 when I came into this world, I'm not sure my Daddy knew quite what to do with me.  One of my very favorite photos (that I wish I had access to right now so I could share it), is when I was a super tiny and super new baby, and my sweet Daddy is holding me with this look on his face like I'm going to break at any moment.  It's a look on his face that shows care and gentleness that he was obviously not quite accustomed to, and it's also a look that gave a glimpse into what he would always be for me-- a protector, provider, and a rock for me.

When I was a little older, since I didn't have a sibling until I was 5 and it wasn't until I was 7 that I had a brother, I tried to be everything Daddy could want.  I knew men wanted sons, so I tried to be that for him too.  It might have annoyed him some of the time, but I followed him around like a puppy dog when he did "guy stuff" like working on things around the house or riding in the truck to go pick up fencing and whatnot.  I just wanted to be where he was, learning about the things he was doing.  He never showed me if it bothered him.  He was patient with me and taught me all about different tools and how to figure things out.  (And I must say that it was pretty darn good training for the life I lead today since I often have to do "guy work" if I want things to function at home.)

As my little brother got a little older, he became "Daddy's boy."  I probably would have had my feelings a little hurt had I not been turning into a teenager.  At 13 or so, it's not always "cool" to be with your Dad all the time, so I started doing what most teenagers do-- retreating into my room and trying to find "privacy."  All through my middle and high school years I feel like I took my Daddy for granted.  I certainly didn't do it on purpose, but looking back, I know I did. 

My daddy has worked hard my whole life to give me the things I needed and wanted.  He and my mom sent me to a good school, bought me the clothes I needed, got me a car to drive, and helped me with gas until I finished college.  I don't know where my younger self thought all that came from, but I know I didn't give him enough credit.

After a day at the lake...

Sometimes my Daddy isn't the best at showing emotion, but there are two days in particular that stand out, and that proved to me in my mind that this man loves me more than I can imagine.  The first was when I moved away to college for the first time.  As a freshman, I brought entirely too much, but Mama and Daddy just helped me move everything into my room and get it set up.  After everything was set up and when they were getting ready to go, I was too excited to be sad about the hugs good-bye.  Then, I saw my Daddy's eyes.  He hugged me really quick and turned and walked out pretty fast.  It wasn't fast enough, though, because I saw him tearing up and swallowing hard.  When he left, I sat and cried for a little while because I knew just how much we were going to miss each other and that nothing would ever be the same.  

 

The second day that really stands out was my wedding day.  After walking me down the aisle and answering "Her mother and I do" when asked who was giving me away, I saw the water in his eyes again.  It was probably the hardest part of that wonderful day... knowing I was leaving my Daddy's house.

I might have left his house, but I think now we are closer than we've been since I was 7 and tagging along at his heels.  We talk on the phone a lot, and I am always happy to see his name and picture pop up on my phone's caller ID.  He's still my rock even thousands of miles away.

Now that I think it's safe to say I'm pretty much "grown up," since I'm married and living on my own, I can see so clearly the sacrifices this man made for me and my brother and sister.  I don't think I could ever thank him enough for all he's done for me.  All I can do is say thank you, take pleasure in our almost-every-other-day phone calls, and enjoy every minute together on visits.  I only hope my Daddy knows how much he means to me and how much I appreciate him.

Five Things Friday

This Friday I'm linking up with my bloggie friend Erika from Rouge and Whimsy.  (If you've never seen her shop, you should totally check it out.  She has beautiful things for your hair.  I own a couple of her pieces and LOVE them!)  She's starting a new series called Five Things Friday.  It's where you list five things that you are grateful for each week, and it's a little reminder not to dwell on the "yucky" parts because there really are many more better things.

1.  It may sound silly, but I'm thankful for my cell phone.  During the past weeks with no contact from the hubby, hearing the voices of my sweet family and friends back home has made me smile more than once.  Technology is awesome!

2.  I made a couple new friends this week.  It's always so nice to know more sweet people when you're away from your family.

3.  The sun finally came out long enough for me to enjoy some outdoor time and catch a few rays!  It sure makes you feel rejuvenated to enjoy some nice fresh air, a good breeze, and some warm sunshine.

4.  My doggies are finally feeling better, I've stayed nice and busy, and I met up with friends.  Add all that together, and it means I didn't see much of my unwelcome guest (anxiety) this week!

5.  I got some custom orders this week (and some paintings purchased from my shop) that renewed my confidence and will keep me busy and productive in the next few weeks. :)

So there you have it!  Five reasons that this was a good week!

Wherever there is light...

"Wherever there is light, one can photograph"

~Alfred Stieglitz

 

Lately, I've been missing photography... not taking digital pictures....

I mean I miss photography.  

You know... the artsy side of it.

I miss using a good ol' film SLR or a super fabulous Holga or an amazing twin lense reflex.  I miss playing with the shutter speed, f-stop, and all that jazz.  I miss taking that roll of film into the dark room, winding it up in the pitch black dark, and praying that something would turn out.  Then, if I was lucky enough to have something turn out on the film, I miss taking it into the dark room for developing.  Playing around with exposure time, dodging and burning certain areas, and then that purely magical feeling of watching the image appear when dropped into the developer.  ...:sigh:....

One day..... One day, I will have a place in my home for a dark room.  I will.

Since the dark room thing is entirely out of the question in our little base housing situation right now, and since I was feeling that longing for photography (not simply taking pictures), I decided to go out and play with my digital SLR the other night.  It's definitely not the same, but I did have a lot of fun playing with the manual settings to manipulate my images.  

When the inspiration struck, I decided to do "double duty" and go on my photo expedition while I rode my cruiser taking Duke on his evening jog.  I loaded up my little bike basket with my camera and my tripod, and we went down by the water in my neighborhood to see what we could do.  I hadn't attempted much nighttime photography with my DSLR.  I thought the light from the full moon would make things a little easier though. (Each photo I'm going to show you was taken after 9:00PM.)

On this particular adventure, I mostly played with exposure time.  It sure is cool how a couple of seconds can make such a difference.  Check it out...

I took several photos down by the water.  Here are a few that I thought turned out okay.  (I've done very little/if any editing.)

 

And then I had a little fun going crazy editing a few...

I know they aren't anything super spectacular, and I didn't get to take as many as I would have liked because of the dern mosquitoes.  (They must have been super desperate the other night because mosquitoes NEVER bother me... like EVER.)  I enjoyed my little expedition, nonetheless, and I plan to do it again soon.  

Even though it still doesn't compare to film, it is fun to have more control than the "automatic" setting.  :)

Oh, and just because I haven't asked in a while... If you read regularly, please, please, pretty please show me some love and become an "official" follower through Google Friend Connect.  (Click "Follow" to the right of this post.)  I love knowing who drops in and feeling the love! ;)

My List Just Flew Out the Window....

I don't know if I've told you guys, but I'm a list person.

I mean, it's kind of bad.

At any given time, I might have 5+ lists going on.... my grocery list, my future household projects list, my artwork ideas list, my projects to finish ASAP list, my things to clean list, and of course my to-do list of the day.  (I know... I'm a little anal and a little nuts.  I'm okay with that, though.)

Well, anyhoo... After a weekend full of running around, baby showers, finishing paintings, and cleaning house-- followed by a Monday with more cleaning and work to finish, my Tuesday To-Do list seemed a little daunting.... and no fun....

All of my photos today are iPhone photos through Instagram... 

I didn't carry my "good camera" around all day.

Even though most of the things on my list were "creativity-related," I just wasn't feeling it.  (And believe it or not, it seems I do much better in the creative area when I'm actually inspired.  .:sense the sarcasm:..) 

I thought I would give it a go though, so I pulled out my running shoes and crossed off the first thing on the this.

I got in my 5 miles, and felt pretty good about it.

When I got back home, it was a gorgeous day.  I decided "my boys" needed a little time at the park since they haven't been lately because of our weird, funky, rainy weather.

After enjoying my outdoor time with them, I decided I needed a little outdoor time as well.  I was a little tired of wandering around Oahu looking like a ghost.  Who knew you could get so pale living in Hawaii??

So I grabbed my suit...

And some "brain candy"...

And went to sit by the pool for a while and get some good ol' Vitamin D.

By the time I got back inside later, I was pretty sure nothing else on that list was going to get accomplished.

I simply accepted it and decided to turn it into a nice relaxing and rejuvenating day so I could start fresh and inspired the next morning.

Sooooo..... I came in and read some more, fixed myself a little supper, read some more, and then decided I needed some of these....

Sometimes you just need a cookie.

Then, I read some more and some more and some more.... until I had finished the first little book!

(Not really a huge accomplishment... It was one of those two books in one things, and the first was only 150 pages... haha)

When I finished my book, it was late in the evening, so I decided to turn on my Golden Girls, have myself a little glass of this....

And start a new little crochet project.

All in all, it was a pretty fantastic day... even if the list did fly out the window.  Oh well!  You can't win 'em all!

I guess we'll soon see if it was enough to refill my dwindling "creative juice" tank....

Happy Hump Day everybody!