happy v-day

I probably should have stayed in bed today.
Not 'cause it was V-day,
Just 'cause it was Monday.

I did get the best valentines card
from one of my darling little friends!
AND 

Oh my, after all my efforts to be kid-like,

I'm still perceived as "the grown up"!!!

(Sister wrote that at the behest of the sweet girl!)

heh!

Aren't the fish too cute?  They're smiling!  

Duck Duck Quack!

And there's a beautiful butterfly...

I managed to get some cookies baked for the Burge Clan...

The tiny heart sprinkles (Wilton, I believe...got 'em at Michaels) 

and the hot pink sugar made the cookies magical, doncha think?!

Honestly tho', I'm glad its almost over...

back in the saddle...again?

bikey, bikey, bikey...

Dr. André (my chiro) asked me how everyone around me was doing 

since I hadn't been working out.

No one has said anything to me directly...

But I did apologize to Aldien last weekend for

"ranting" heh.

 ; xP

I've been having trouble sleeping and 

I've been waking up in a panic,

many times a night.

I think its because of lack of endorphins.

So today, I went for a little bike ride.

20 miles might have been a bit too much,

but it was beautiful and I really needed to sweat

and enjoy clean air and sunshine.

Ignoring the pain in my foot...Its probably nothing, right?

(Note to self:  Don't forget gel seat or padded shorts or both for next ride.)

At the halfway point, I stopped to watch the rowers on Lexington Reservoir.

I decided I'd really like to be the person driving the speedboat.

Off to bake some V-day cookies : x)

Bacon of Hope

This morning I was quickly scanning my email in-box and I saw an eletter from Sark.  

What caught my eye was the greeting, "Dear Buttercup".  

I was surprised that Sark knew my alter-ego/(other) secret superhero moniker 

(from the Powerpuff Girls)!  

In my rush, I read the subject line as

"BACON OF HOPE", 

instead of the actual title Beacon of Hope...heh. 

Ok, I laughed louder that that.  

I crack myself up!!!

That gave me the idea for this post,
a list favorite bacon things or bacon things I'd like to try!!!
Considering that its almost Valentines Day, 

I say this was a perfectly timed homage to my love, BACON!!! 

Are you ready?!

1) Vosges Mo's Bacon Bar

I've had this.  Its amazing!  

An interesting fact:
Chocolate covered bacon strips are not really that good.
Too greasy. 

But this choco bar, a perfect balance.

2) Bacon Salt

Must find this!!!

 

3) Bacon cups with sweet potato hash as seen on What Would Brian Boitano Cook?!

Couldn't he just come over and make these for me???

4) Paula Deen's Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps as seen on Marie's blog, 

via this blog...click the blog link to get the recipe!  

Paula Deen's my girl!!!  She did a low-fat FoodTv show once, 

she giggled the entire time as if it was a huge joke.  Sooo funny!

What number am I on? 

I got distracted by all the BACON, bacon, bAcOn, bacon, BaCoN!!!

5) Bacon Flavored Scrapple.  I have to credit Mike Rowe 

(SWOON!!! I'm gonna marry him!)

for bringing this to my attention on his show Dirty Jobs!  

Yes, somehow I will try this!!!  

Pig snouts, yum!

I'm adventurous!  Anyone else?  Anyone?!

6) Bacon flavored dental floss...

Yeah Baby!!!  Must not shirk on oral hygiene!!!

7) Bacon Air Freshener.  

Aaaahhhhm, Eau de Puerco!!! 

Disappointingly (is that a word?!) it really reeks!!!  

 Mary bot this for me!!!  hee!!!  

It currently resides in the garage.

8)  "I LOVE YOU MORE THAN BACON" button from Sweet Meats on Etsy.

I can't wait to meet the man I would give this to!!!
I keep it handy, just in case! 
(oh wait...Mike Rowe duh!)

9) Keep Calm and Love Pigs

  Not sure they intended this for bacon lovers!

snort. 

(BB - Before bacon!)

And finally...

10)  BACON!  The original!!!

Bringin' it home!!!

After all that, I bet your arteries aren't even clogged!

supahbowl?

Again, I had to google who was playing this year...Snort.

I haven't been impressed by any of the commercials so far...

I was gonna go to a salvage yard today and look at house parts with Shan,

but I decided I shouldn't be on my foot for as long as she expected to be there, 

so I ended up staying at home.

Watched Easy A , it was a cute movie : x) 

I got a few things finished up this weekend...

 Inspired by Tim Burton...

I used up some scraps here.

Does anyone know why Tim always uses bleu butterflies in his movies?

 Inspired by Tim Burton and Teesha Moore...

Not really liking the water soluble oil pastels

(Maybe it was my paper, not watercolor???)

I just love that little guy with the {burning} heart!

 Inspired by a stamp in my "collection"...

 

Added finishing touches to this.

Yes, more turquoise and red.  

Evidently, I am not done with those colors yet.

I started a crocheted heart pillow, will take pixs later.

Mama Hummingbird is diligently warming her eggs.

It was beautiful here this weekend, 71 degrees on Saturday...

I left the front door open until midnight, 

sorry that the weekend is over.

Busy week ahead.  I hope it goes quick.

See ya soon!

I can't wait to see the story unfold...

right outside my door!!!  hi mama!!!  don't you just love her mosaic nest???

In other news...Yep.  We're dating again.  But I only took him back for 2 weeks.

That's it...

Ooooh and the new prompt is up at Scrapping the Music!!!
New Shoes by Paolo Nutini.

I thot that the Toms philosopy and mission was a perfect
"fit" with the song!

I really love those pink glitter Toms, but I am not a pink glitter shoe wearing girl.
I'm thinking about those black botas : x)

Come play along!!!

week-ish in review

things are a bit discomboobulated lately.  I am doing things, but without direction.  and I am forever stopping and trying to remember what it was I was or wanted to do...I can't keep track of schedules and I forget to do things. a lot has happened in the past two weeks and there's anticipation of things happening (not necessarily good either), AND I got SICK and took a day off from work.  I never get sick!  still trying to get a grip.

I'm disappointed that I feel like I've lost my mojo/motivation for all my favorite things:  Starbuxs (oooh banish the thot!), my journaling (I was ON.A.ROLL, 125 days before forgetting and skipping days here and there.  I'm having to start over for the second time!), getting sweaty (I haven't been to the gym in a week!), and even art (I can't seem to find any inspiration.)

BUT...there were dog tongues, and holding new bebe Megan, and tea, and scones, and darling kid friends, and cooking men (Gail's husband!), draft tattoos, home renovations and new paint colors, picture tag, anniversary cake (choco buttermilk with cream cheese frosting), martinis, and cute faces, de-dotted bed-head, and a wedding long time coming, Donna & Als, rainy days (which I love), completing work projects, that was all good.  (don't you hate bloggers that go ON?! heh!)

in any event...here are a bunch of photos I've taken:

*     *     *     *     *

I got some ATCs mailed off to Marit for a trade...

these are the cards I received, verra cool, yeah?! 

 

and some peeks at the cards I made : x)

o.k.  that's that!  bring on the new week!

Publishing a Couple of Draft Posts...

Ha, I must have been distracted...I found a couple of draft posts that I never published.
Or at least I think I never published 'em.
If you recognize them, you can stop reading!!!!

; xP

Here's my final submission for Marit's Musical Blog Party!
This was for the 31st, NYE!

Thanks D for the very very cool ROCK duct tape!!!

My go-to inspiration song for my marathons!  

I'm  hoping to listen to it prior to Disneyworld someday!

Gotta love Freddie Mercury & Queen!

Also, a ways back, Smiley Julie tagged me...

List of Fours! 

It's a fun way to get to know your 
fellow bloggers a little better 

(???) 

1. Four shows that you watch: 
*Dirty Jobs, my new favorite show.  I'm going to marry Mike Rowe!!!
*Ghost Adventures.  "Oh my God, Dude!!!  Oh my God!!!"
*I Survived, Beyond and Back
*Ghost Hunters

 
 2. Four things you are passionate about: 
*My quiet time

*Starbucks

*Arting & Crafting

*Cuties Tangerines

 
 3. Four words/phrases you say a lot: 
*dude (much to my own chagrin)

*wt... 
*faaaahck!

*geez oh pete! 

4. Four things you've learned from the past: 
*You can't go back.

*Have no expectations.

*It tastes good going down, but you'll regret it

when you get on the scale tomorrow!

*My intuition is usually right.

 
A FAVORITE quote:  

"Do something creative every day."

5. Four places you would like to go: 
*Kauai, HI with the BFF for her 50th b-day this year 
*Sedona, AZ
*Somewhere in Canada 
*To visit all my virtual friends 
 
6. Four things you did yesterday: 
*Got a Starbuxs vanilla latte

*Worked in my art journal
*Blew my nose a lot
*Laundry...exciting, I know!

7. Four things you are looking forward to: 
*Running again

*Tea Party & Crafting

*Getting my taxes done

*New season of True Blood

 8. Four things you love about winter: 
*Rainy overcast days.

*Bare branches.

*Cold temperatures

*Down comforters
 
9. Tag four people to play along: 

anyone who wants to join in...

I've been working in my art journal and on some projects, Valentine's cards, etc...

Too lazy to photograph the stuff right now, 

actually a feeling like I have a cold (allergies?), which in itself is unusual...

I never get sick.  I eat tons of citrus (vitamin C), and 
I drink massive amounts of  green tea (antioxidants).

Goes to show you, sometimes all your efforts to 

preempt illness are all for naught.

sigh.

Maybe I can get to pixs later this week.

project... whatever!

along with new year's resolutions, 

there are a bunch of challenges floating around the interwebs for 2011

 for example:

project 365

project 52

daily pages

daily photos

daily ATCs

etc...

etc...

etc...

oh my.  tooooooo much pressure.

I am attempting, however, to put something in my art journal at least weekly.  

you know, as inspiration hits...

last week I started this and it evolved yesterday and today into this:

(as usual, you can click on the image to see it bigger)

(the text sez: to love requires courage, the ability to take a risk, the readiness even to accept pain and disappointment. Whoever insists on safety and security as primary conditions of life cannot love; whoever shuts himself off in a system of defense and possession as his means of security, makes himself a prisoner. I'm not sure who wrote it.)

thanks Als for the quote, thanks Marit for the tips on how to do the lettering!

I had the next idea bouncing around in my head for awhile.

I saw posters that said the same thing at Renegade Craft Faire.

I wanted to do 4" glittered corregated cardboard letters,

hung like a banner on some jute.

It ended up being this page in my art journal.

I hand cut all the letters and I gold leafed each and every one.

 messy, 

but really really worth it and really really cool in real life.

I think I used 4 colors of spray ink/glimmer mist.

the photo really doesn't do the piece justice...

went to Uvas with Kath and the kids,

here are a few of my fav shots...

 the D's

me & sirius

an accidental effect, but cool nonetheless...

Annie Bananie!

Red Velvet Mushroom???!!!  

Awesome!!!

(btw readers, Sunday has two posts...check it out! : x)

Stand by Me - Scrapping the Music

Oh, and how could I have forgotten my first design team post!!!  This week's challenge is to do a piece related to the song, Stand by Me.

I thought I'd use a picture of me and my trusty friend, Smokey Bear.  He's been with me through thick and thin.  Always present and never impatient : x)  Seemed fitting...

Michelle used the version of the song by Playing for Change.  You can go listen to it on the blog, and hey... play along!!!