And we have Winners!!!

This was a tough one I have met so many wonderful blogger friends and it was hard to find some who hasn't received this award already! I would like to thank those of you who have been so kind to me in my new adventures here in blogland. It has been a blast getting to know you all and see so many talented people who inspire me! Sooo without further adue here are the winners of the friendship award...
Lisa at cranberryflats.blogspot.com
Jersey Girl in D.C. at beachyinthecity.blogspot.com
Cheryl at blueberrybuttons2008.blogspot.com
Penny at http://lavenderhillstudio.blogspot.com
Pam at http://antiqueornot.blogspot.com
Okay girls you know how to play the game it is your turn to answer the questions below and find some fine blogger friends to pass this fun award on to. Have fun! :)

My Very First!!!

WoW~Hooray~Yipeee!!! L@@k what Kristen from

http://something-about-nothin.blogspot.com/ Gave me~It's my very first blog award!!! How cool is that? I know-I am so excited. What a very nice surprise to find this morning. Thank You Kristen! (Kristen was one of my first blogger friends)

1. Do you have the same friends since childhood?

Yes I do have some of the same friends-I am a very lucky girl. One of my dearest friends has been my BFF since we were silly giggly mischievous six year old girls. And I have several others from my tweens and teens. We are all spread out in different states now but keep in touch. I also have lots of friends I have made in my adult years and of course my newest friends from blogland :) I am very grateful for all of my friends-they are like family to me. True friends really are worth their weight in gold!

2. What do you value most about your friends?

We are always there for each other through good or bad thick and thin. We accept and love each other for who we are.

3. Are your friends sounding boards?

Absolutely! And I am always there to be a good listener for them too.

4. What is your favorite activity to share with friends?

Life happenings- Funny ones are my favorite. And boy do I have some stories to tell! LOL!

Thanks Kristen that was fun! Now I shall find some blogger buddies to pass this fine award on to!

Trick or Treat Bag

This was a fun little project I did a year ago for my grand daughter. She adores her trick or treat bag! It is a easy project that takes very little time. The festive panels on the front and back were done using a favorite product of mine-printable fabric. I found the free clip art on line, printed, pinned and then just whip stitched them to each side. You can even print up a photo to use.

I also use that same printable fabric to make my own labels for all kinds of projects-Love It!

“This is not my dad!”

Ok where do I begin? I have sooo many crazy, silly, funny motherhood survival of the fittest mother stories to tell.
We like to say it is a Rob Riener movie in our house most everyday-and it really is! Our three children are now just about all grown up and I have made it with most of my marbles –I think? On second thought how would I know? Anyhow, my now 24 year old daughter has been telling me that we should have a TV show about the funny family life we have had. Here is just one of those experiences.
Our Daughter, our first born and only girl was an amazingly smart girl she could speak very well by age two. I thought I was doing myself a favor by trying to give her a head start in life with flash cards, tapes and books about everything you can imagine starting from infancy. Including safety (we’ll get back to that topic later). You know the type of kid they ask why, what and where for everything. Well one day my efforts to be the best mom ever back fired big time! Now I know this may seem like a long one but bear with me it gets good at the end!
One day I needed to go to the fabric store. Gosh I love the fabric store-unless I had to take our two year old daughter. I just needed to get a couple of things really fast. At least that is what I told my husband. We decided that it would be best and so much faster if he stayed outside of the store in side the mall and I would run in real quick. Ok I didn’t exactly run. It was so wonderful to take my time and enjoy my little bit of time to myself.
But then not too long after I was in the store I got this sick feeling in my gut like “oh no I had better hurry” kind of instinctual feeling. So I quickly got in line, the long, long, freakin really long line. I thought to myself gut check- is this a “man I better get out of here life or death something is wrong feeling?”-Hhmm-“No”. Thank goodness for that I thought, just relax mom it isn’t that bad. Oh god yes it was! And I had no idea what was waiting for me when I got out of the store in the mall.
As I got more restless and the line was moving slowly but surely something caught my attention outside of the store. Hey something was goin on in the mall! There were a lot of people gathered around and I thought I saw a security guard run by! I thought “thank goodness I’m about to pay for my things and get out of here!” Just when I did I worried about what could be going on out there where my husband and little girl were waiting for mommy. Then suddenly as I left I realized the commotion was because of my husband and daughter!
An elderly woman was hitting my husband with her purse and a security guard was looking very sternly at my husband with one hand on my husbands arm. With great relief in his voice my husband cried out “there is my wife now!” “Honey please tell this security guard” and as he looked scowely at the elderly lady “and this lady that this is my daughter!” There was quite a crowd around and our daughter was very upset. I said “Of course she is your daughter and I’m her mother what is going on?” Well our daughter was so distraught that I didn’t take her in the fabric store with me (and my husband wasn’t about to give in to her either) that she did something very naughty but also very smart for her age. She was taught very well after all. She was shouting what she had learned from the safety kid tapes and books “Help! Help! This is not my dad this is not my dad!” Over and over again struggling with her father she kept shouting this! I was so embarrassed! The elderly lady’s expression changed from unsure and stern to a snicker and great relief! The security guard and all of the folks that had gathered around thought that it was pretty funny too. My poor husband was exhausted, but very happy to have that experience over with! As you can imagine our shopping day at the mall was over! Of course we did explain to our daughter how important it was that she only do this if someone really is taking her away. And as I often do-
I think to myself ”So this is my life!”

The photo is from a friends wedding we were both in and she was the same age( 2 ). Our daughter was one of the flower girls-the lil stinker got scared when the photographer started snapping pictures as she walked down the isle just ahead of the bride(one of my best friends). So what does she do? She screams throws her flower basket up in the air and runs out of the chapel!!! And I mean outside outside-my husband had to run after her to catch her!

Of course I thought to myself why on earth would this day be any different-what made me think we could actually have a uneventful day? Oh well that friend ended up divorced some years later-maybe it was a sign?

Mother's Cookies~You will be missed!

These cookies were some of the few store bought cookies my grandmother would bring home. When these cookies were around all was well in my little girl life~I knew I must have been good. They bring back so many wonderful memories for me. I have passed the Grammy~ rainbow sprinkled animal cookie experience to my little grand daugher. Only to find out this week that Mother's Cookies will be no longer-they have closed their factory doors~OOOH Nooo! Luckily my husband and son were able to grab the very last bag at our local Safeway store. I thought it best to photograph a plate full so I can refer to it whenever I need to. And so sadly another end to a long time favorite. I fear to think what will be next to go???
I must admit they do not taste as good now as I remember. But oh that exciting feeling of goodness still comes over me as I choose my favorite animal shape to pop in my mouth!
R.I.P. Mother's Cookies!

Just Getting Started

Hello Kids!

Well it is another rainy day here in the great northwest

-BiG SuRpRiSe!

Although there is some sun breaks with beautiful dapples of light shinning through the trees. It is defenitly fall with winter not far behind.

This as you can see is my very first post, please bear with me as this blogger site is still under construction.

I'm sure I will change the appearance at least 100gazillion times before I stick with one "Uniquely Me tAM" design. I can't stand to be "normal" or like anyone else. So if it looks different each time you visit so what-get over it! Lol!

I have always tried to find a way to stand out and be different.

Stick with me you will eventually have some good laughs and perhaps some serious conversation and points of view and some cool pics sprinkled about.

I encourage feed back so please by all means "YAK BACK"! Become a follower or as I afectionately call them"Yakkers."

I am an avid crafter, love to sew and design. I make clothing of all kind-but truely enjoy making children's clothes. My gorgeous grand daughter is my muse. I also sew for my home, quilts, Curtains,table clothes, napkins, pillows and so much more!

My kids describe me as a cross between Martha Stewart and McGuiver-and that's okay with me!

One of my passions is Real Estate-I love homes the way men love cars! I can spend a whole day just driving around exploring a new area soaking up the architecture. That is almost as good as chocolate!

One of my favorite things is interior design -I can't help but shuffle my furniture around at least once or twice a year to get that feeling of a brand new space.

I enjoy art of many different mediums and will be sharing much of my handy work on my blog.

There is nothing like curling up with a good book with my cats and dog. And then sharing what I got out of my reading.

I LOVE All things that are what I call "Good for the Soul"

Living here in the Great Northwest one cannot help but enjoy the outdoors. Which includes boating, walks by one of the many lakes and gardening. It is a very inspiring place to live! Having grown up in Los Angeles California living in the burbs of Seattle is like being on vacation all year long! We get to have four seasons and most of the time winters are not too bad.

I have fun talking about my fun filled family life with my husband of 25 years, three children and two year old grand daughter~how I survive and stay a somewhat mentally intact? You all know how it is being mom the motivator, keeper of the knowledge of all schedules, lost shoes , planner of meals, etc...

I am looking forward to getting to know as many diverse folks and welcome new friends.

Good friends are worth their weight in gold and make my heart grow! Thank You for stopping by and please come for a visit again!