come visit my new blog!

I am now blogging here.

changing our view

A few months ago we were innocently enjoying our simple suburban life. You know, summer grilling, late night walks in the balmy air, sleeping in....when BAM life hit us on the side of the head. It came out of nowhere. But I've seen it before. It seems every time my husband gets a new job opportunity it comes out of nowhere. I should know to start preparing by now, shouldn't I? I should continually hold on to something....

Mid- summer Rod was asked to join a wonderful non-profit organization called charity:water. I love this group and what they do. It seemed like a no-brainer when they asked Rod to be a part of things. So we prayed about it for a while and felt good about moving forward. And by moving forward I mean this:

Soon my family will trade this view:



For this view:



We are moving to New York City in the fall. We, a family of six.

Let me tell you I have had a whirl-wind of emotions about this move. Don't get me wrong. I feel a great peace inside about moving, but it is going to be quite a change. The transition is going to be a stretching experience for me. And because I am a control-freak, I know it is going to provide for some interesting moments. Don't worry, for your entertainment I will share those moments with you here.

I have to run now. I need to go figure out how to cram a 6 bedroom Colorado home into a 3 bedroom NYC apartment.

hello? is this thing on?

It has been a while, hasn't it? The truth is I can't blog when I'm stressed. So if the stress level in my life rises about the normal for mother of 4, wife of one, and master of 2 dogs, I can't blog. I resort to eating large amounts of food instead.

The stress over the past few months has been enough to make me want to breathe into a paper bag and apply for a medical marijuana permit. Just kidding- not that bad, but I feel I have finally regained my footing and am ready to blog again.

I have some big things to share and will do so in the next few days, but I'm just curious....what about you? Do you find it difficult to blog when you are stressed out?

a great cause

The story of charity: water - The 2009 September Campaign Trailer from charity: water on Vimeo.

back to school necklace

I have been absent from the blog world for a few weeks, haven't I? A lot going on and I will share more about that later. But I wanted to let you all know about some wonderful new jewelry available now on The Everyday Mom.

Here are a few items available for your kiddos as they head back to school. Do your kids have allergies? How about this necklace:



Maybe you just want them to have their emergency numbers close by:



Let me know what you think about these new products and check out my site for more details.

Remember I can make these necklaces for you with any text you like. Your options are endless!

a little help at the grocery

Do you make a list when you go to the grocery? (Please note that I never add the word "store" after the word "grocery." I am southern. To be more specific I am Nashvillian. Thank you.) For years I was organized enough to make a list, but I always seemed to forget one or two items that were written on said list. My list was always scratched out on a piece of notebook paper and was just not that organized.

Lookey what Rod created for me.



Isn't it divine? It makes my OCD tendencies quite happy! The template follows the order of the grocery aisles. I've found most groceries are pretty similar, but even if they're not at least you have your list grouped in categories.

So click on the image to enlarge it and print one for yourself. It's my little gift to you. As Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

altering photographs

I love to try new art techniques. Love to be challenged to think outside my own creative box. This past weekend I took a course in altering photographs. Nothing is done in Photoshop. It's all done by hand. We started with photo lab prints of our own photographs, then altered them with paint, stamps, oils, etc...It was a blast! I thought I'd share with you a few of my new art pieces. Enjoy!

First I'll start with the unaltered photo:


Then the glammed up version:


Before:


After:


Before:


After:


And my last one. Before:


After:


I'm looking forward to learning more about these techniques and experimenting a bit more. What about you? How have you pushed yourself creatively lately?

a little photowalk

This past Sunday my daughter Lily and I participated in the Fort Collins photowalk. There were over 32,000 people around the world who participated in their city's photowalk. I knew this type of event would be right up Lily's alley since she takes approximately 3,267,259 pictures a day with her little pink camera. I'd also like to mention that her pictures are clogging up my Mac.

Anyway, I thought I'd share some of my favorite shots from that day with you:






Here is Lily prancing around with her little pink camera, following the rest of our Fort Collins group. Can you sense her attitude from this picture? Quite a confident girl.



Lily's best shot of the day:



She thought those leaves were so pretty with their jagged edges.

I'll leave you with one final shot and a little challenge. Go pick up your camera. Go for a walk in your neighborhood. See things with new eyes. Look for the beauty. Look for the unusual and take a pic.

inspiration

Don't you love Audrey Hepburn? And Breakfast at Tiffany's? Such a classic. I heart her wardrobe and jewels from that movie, don't you? She has such style and grace.



OK, maybe without the long cigarette.



Don't you love her necklace. The pearls, the jewels...ahhh... That Audrey Hepburn necklace was my inspiration for this:



You can find it in my store here. It is a vintage brooch strung with a triple strand of glass pearls. You can wear it dressed down or up. And the best part is that I've marked it way down. Take a looksy and see what you think! Shouldn't it belong around you're neck just like Audrey?

chicken salad recipe

3 cups cooked white chicken breast, shredded
3/4 cup celery, chopped
3 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 TB parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp celery seed (Don't use celery salt. It's not the same.)
1/3 tsp black pepper
Salt to taste
1 cup Hellmans mayonnaise (Don't substitute Miracle Whip!)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Chill. Serve as a sandwich. Or you can serve as a salad on lettuce or stuffed in a tomato. It's really delicious! I know you'll love it!

where are your feet today?

Sometimes I'd like to be flying up in the sky. I heart blue skies with a few fluffy clouds. Maybe this picture is me trying to avoid terra firma sometimes? Maybe I flung my feet up in the sky because life can be hard. In fact I think life is hard most of the time. Thank God for His grace to get through the day.

Clearing out Spring/Summer Jewelry Collection!

I am having a HUGE sale over at Michelle Grace Designs. I am clearing out my Spring/Summer 09 Collection to make way soon for the Fall/Winter 09 Collection.

All the pieces are designed and made by me. I adore vintage brooches and have found a creative way to turn them into modern designs. If you like vintage and would love to own a one-of-a kind piece of jewelry, then stop on over and check it out! I know you'll find something you love!

Here's a few samples of what is there:





There's also home decor, bracelets and earrings! Lots of vintage beauties to choose from!