I used to be a morning person

Until Peyton (aka as Missy Moo) started her morning breakfast moods. This is what happens when she gets bored with her breakfast. Uh - huh. It took all of five seconds for her to make this mess. As I was turned around making hot cocoa for Skylar and Deacon. Care for any cereal art, anyone?

This is Missy Moo on time out.

"Wha - dat?" she points on the floor. Like she doesn't know.

Chris comes down all showered and dressed while I'm still in my PJ's which now have hot cocoa stains on it. "What's going on here?" he asks. I point to the breakfast table and then to Peyton who is still on time out. "Ho-ly cow!" he says like he's never seen his kids make a mess before. Then all of a sudden, his hair needs some more fixing and off he runs upstairs. Men. Grrr. Off to clean the mess before the dog does.

Mornings, I would like to reclaim you but for now, I need coffee.

Lots of it. I'm on to you, Missy Moo.

I HEART MY DOG - FINALISTS!

The finalists have been chosen! After sorting through the entries and loving all of them, it was very hard to come up with the top three. I finally had my daughter pick from all the photos. Here are the top three for the photography category:

Fergus

LoveCharles

Teddy

I loved hearing all the stories in the comment division but these two really touched my heart. Read these two wonderful comments from these lucky dog owners:

lfer2002 said:

"I will email you a picture of my boy Ben, he is a staffy x whippet who we rescued as a pup. He is now 5. He is so special as 4 nonths ago he became paralysed overnight by a condition called Hansens Disc Disease. It literally happened spontaneously. He was rushed to the vet hospital wher he was given a 50/50 chance of survival and a remote chance of gaining near normal mobility. He had a long operation removing discs from his back to release his spinal cord and we were told he'd be in hospital forr 2 - 3 weeks and by 2 weeks they'd no better how bad it was. 2 days later my wee boy, my best friend, sat up and tried so hard to stand, his trerier spirit shone through and gradually he battled until he could stand and shuffle. 4 months on he can run along the beach and be almost as good as he was before this awful disease. He has now started a website www.lferr2009.webs.com so others can learn about spinal injury causes and treatments.

He is my best friend and a true battler."

maxandmollydesigns said:

"Max is my beautiful brindle boy! He's a 7 1/2 year old ex-racing greyhound who my partner & I adopted from the Retired Greyhound Trust 2 years ago.

Back then, I was in a pretty dark place: struggling with a job that I hated, my health was suffering & I was forced to take some time out. Max strode into my life & brought a ray a sunshine with him. He gave me a reason to get up in the morning when I could see no other, he motivated me to get daily fresh air & exercise, & he introduced me to other dog (& particularly greyhound) owners who I would otherwise never have met.

Through Max, I became a regular volunteer at my local greyhound rehoming charity, Gracehounds, walking & eventually fostering dogs for them. Along with Molly (our second greyhound, who came along just 6 months later - it's true what they say, you can never have just one!), he is the inspiration behind the art work which I now sell online & at craft fairs, & the key to the new career I have successfully embarked on: dog walking!

I could never buy him enough gravy bones to thank him for the way he has changed my life for the better (although I'm sure he could eat them!). Thank you Max - you're one in a million!"

So there you are - stay tuned tomorrow for the big winners!

The Paint Me a Picture Giveaway! (ENDED)

Lindsay Hopkins with Mr. C

I was lucky enough to meet Lindsay through my blog. She is mommy to 8 month old Mr. C and she makes these beautiful works of art.

"I am a stay-at-home mommy to a very active 8 month old little boy, aka Mr.C, who only gives me time to paint when he is taking a nap or has gone "night-night". I have always enjoyed art and crafting. I began painting a few years ago creating gifts for friends in their new homes and nurseries. Just last year I started taking my painting seriously and sold paintings at a local holiday market. This led to people ordering custom paintings, and one customer suggested I check out Etsy...and here I am!

I am currently on an "upcycle" kick...I went through my craft box and found tons of scrap paper, cloth, buttons, and all sorts of things that should have been thrown away. I have used some of those things to create Scrappy Little Bloom and Scrappy Sweet Dreams.

I really enjoy creating affordable paintings for people. It is so rewarding when a friend or a customer's reaction is, "I love it!". It's my way of sharing my joy with others."

Just take a look at these gorgeous pieces from her Etsy shop, Paint Me a Picture:

Personalize Your Design (Letter B)

Don't Worry 12x16 Canvas

Personalize Your Design (Not so Square) Monogram

How Does Your Garden Grow 16x20 Canvas

This super creative mom also has a generous, giving heart. She saw a post that I made about this little girl named Cici who suffered a choking accident a few months back. Then she made this beautiful owl to donate to Cici's fundraiser - Bids for Cici.

Cici's Owl

And for you lucky readers, she is also generously giving away your choice of one of these two handpainted canvases.

Scrappy Little Bloom OR Scrappy Sweet Dreams

Scrappy Sweet Dreams 8x 10 canvas

(made out of upcycled scrap paper and old buttons)

Scrappy Little Bloom 8x10 canvas

(made out of upcycled clothing and an old button)

Here is how you can enter (please leave a different comment for each entry):

1. Visit Paint Me a Picture on Etsy and choose a favorite

2. Follow Lindsay's blog, Yellow and Green Make Blue

3. Become a follower of my blog (if you already are, please state that in a comment)

4. Grab my pretty button for your blog

5. And for extra credit, visit Bids for Cici and bid on one of the auctions

* if you don't have your email on your blog profile, please include it in one of your comments.

Good luck everybody! The winner will be picked through random.org

on Sunday, October 4, 2009.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for all the entries!

WINNER! WINNER! WINNER!

Congratulations to

#82 Tylerpants

for winning the

Bellflower Textiles Giveaway!

Congratulations and enjoy your new coffee cozy!

And a surprise winner!!!

Joeandbridge said...

"Do I like coffee? Only with my Oxygen. I make normal coffee at home and add chocolate/caramel creamer. Last week we were out of coffee and I HAD to stop at Dunn Bros. The person in the car in front of me bought my coffee as a random act of kindness. I was blown away. Can't beat a story like that".

I put everyone's name who suggested their favorite tea or coffee in a hat and pulled one. Joeandbridge is that lucky winner. You will receive a $5 coffee card from Dunkin Donuts from me.

And if you didn't win, there is another giveaway coming on Monday.

This lady is so talented, you don't want to miss this giveaway tomorrow!

I HEART MY DOG - our new contestants!

There's only a few more days to join the I HEART MY DOG CONTEST. I will name the top three dogs in the photography category and the top two in the comment category on Tuesday, September 29. The winners for each category will be chosen on Thursday, October 1st.

The winner of the comment category will win a bag of Organic Blueberry Treats from Grandma Lucy's and the winner of the photography category will win a custom needle felted sculpture of their dog by BenMcFuzzyLugs. Thank you alll!

Look at all these cuties! So many wonderful dogs and so many wonderful people who love them - it really warms the heart!

Wilf

Shanuk

Remy

Paisley

Max

LoveCharles

Lola

Libby

Cholo

Jack

Baby

Amber and Jojo

Aaaahhhh!!!

image courtesy of sweetheartsinners

The shop has been really busy this week with both Etsy and wholesale orders. So please forgive the lack of posts - mainly my Sunday Dinner feature. I promise that it will be back - along with my sanity! And if you are missing an email response from me, please send me a reminder. My box has gotten bombarded lately and I don't want you to think that I've been ignoring you. It's just my disorganized mommy brain - and I think that it's about to explode!

I'm also working on two special, limited edition items for this little girl. I will put some pictures up as soon as they are ready.

Pssst....

If you want to win one of my Happy Flower Headbands, head on over to Karen's blog,

Pocket Full of Pink.

She is giving one away this week. Happy, happy!

The Bellflower Textiles Giveaway! (ENDED)

BOO Coffee Cozy

Meet Megan - mom to one, crafter, avid gardener and tomato grower, and owner of these fantastic textile creations appropriately named Bellflower Textiles.

"I’m a stay at home mom of a three year old in rainy Seattle, Washington. I left a 14-year-long stint in the corporate world three years ago to take care of my little girl. Since I stopped working 60 hours a week, I’ve found myself awash in creativity like never before! I’m constantly making, dreaming, finishing, starting, embellishing, and otherwise exploring the world of fabric arts.

I love to create, to make beautiful and useful things, and most of all to play. My first love is quilting fabric -- all colors, all prints -- which I collect greedily from a million different places. I’ve been quilting since 1994, drawn in from the beginning by the joy of playing with color. Most of my designs are made without patterns, just from a sense of creative experimentation. "

Her work is amazing - you can spend a LONG time browsing her shop with all her nifty goods. Like these:

Deluxe Makeup Brush Roll

(as a makeup artist in my former life pre-kids - this caught my attention!)

Crayon Roll - cupcake and gingham

Custom Big Letter Onesie

Tooth Buddies Tooth Pillow

And now for my favorite item in her shop - the coffee cozies! Megan has a HUGE selection of coffee cozies in her shop! And they are ALL super stinkin' CUTE!!! Just take a look at these cuties:

Crazy Daffodils

Posies

Owls Love Coffee Too

Do you want one? Do you want to sip your coffee (or tea) in style? Lucky, lucky day! Megan is giving away ONE COFFEE COZY to a very lucky person! And you get to choose your own from the designs she offers in her shop (I think that this is the hard part)!

Here is how you can enter (please leave a different comment for each entry):

1. Visit Bellflower Textiles on Etsy and choose a favorite

2. Follow Megan's blog, Growing Notes

3. Become a follower of my blog (if you already are, please state that in a comment)

4. Grab my pretty button for your blog

5. And for extra credit, what kind of coffee or tea do you drink? Any favorite coffee shops?

* if you don't have your email on your blog profile, please include it in one of your comments.

Good luck everybody! The winner will be picked through random.org on

Sunday, September 27, 2009.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for all the entries!

WINNER! WINNER! WINNER!

Congratulations to

#15 Anne

for winning the

Scrappin Corner Giveaway!

Congrats and enjoy your beautiful handmade cards!

And if you didn't win, there is another giveaway coming on Monday.

Calling all coffee and tea lovers - you wouldn't want to miss this!!!

This song.

"I'm hangin' on

another day

Just to see what

you will throw my way.

And I'm hangin' on

to the words you say.

You said that I will -

be okay".

- Broken by Lifehouse

I was touched by Julie's post from today.

And this post that I read just last week.

And this blog that I've followed for a while.

Please take the time to read all their stories.

All broken.

But with a chance to heal.

With our help.

Tuesday

CiCi

Carter

And off she goes!

Peyton Isabelle, 22 months old started preschool yesterday.

My little baby. My youngest.

Where I stood outside the very same room just two years ago - with her inside my belly.

Her older brother was in the room then.

She walked in, hung up her coat and backpack and never turned back.

I was by the door waiting for the tears on her face that never came.

{ sniff, sniff. }