Antiquing with Dee and the kiddos

Every time I go on an antiquing adventure I try to find a good cookbook. Debbie eyed this one and told me she had it and loved it, so I'm sure its a good one!

We made a little trip to Opelousas to Crossroads Antiques and after a quick stop by our friend Missy's house near Cecelia we trekked into Breaux Bridge. I had quite a good day and found some awesome things! (Even something for a friend, betcha can't guess which item and which friend! Hahaha!) Here are some pics of my goodies. The cook book is a very good basic Cajun cookbook with classic recipes, I'll be trying out a bunch soon I'm sure! Will share the ones that are super! Stay Tuned! The other book is a little novel set in New Orleans, I collect these old stories!
I started off with the pitcher shown in this image below, then found a cute little syrup dispenser, the napkins and the little pyrex dish. I think this will make an adorable breakfast tablescape. When we hopped over to a Dollar Tree for the kiddos to get a snack or treat of their choice I spotted the dinner plates! What a great find, huh? huh? Some days a girl just gets lucky! I just adore the blue, aqua and green in the pitcher and napkins!I had three Bailey's cups at home and knew I'd eventually find more of them, today I hit jackpot with one in a booth, then two, then two more, ALL in different booths at two different places! The light blue Fire King dishware was all found in great condition and at super prices! Nothing I bought today was over $10! Talk about super deals in Breaux Bridge!

Great Big Accomplishment

Layout created using Shabby Miss Jenn's little French Attic kit at Shabby Miss Jenn Designs.

Summertime Fun

With Kali, Alex and Eli!

Earlier this summer Kali went to a dance camp at Catholic High School in town and won the big spirit stick for her age division. She did a great job learning the dances they taught and was a super spirited camp kid. This past week she completed her second week of swimming lessons. She is Red Cross certified in Level 1 and Level 2, having completed a battery of tests and accomplished a whole lot in just two short weeks with her swim coach who is Red Cross Certified Lifeguard and Swim Coach, Phillip.

Saturday the cutest boys in the world came over to spend the day. They got to wear their new boots which were a gift from Brooke and Breyton for their first birthday. They fit them well and they love them! They went walking out in the pasture to the barn and around. It was a little bit muddy and wet but that didn't stop them from having a blast! Here are a few pics of the cuties in their boots!

You're Welcome and Thank You...

Dave and I took my sister Deb and her husband Normand on a little adventure in June to Staniel Cay, Exuma, Bahamas. This weekend when we had a little party to celebrate the beginning of our new home construction they showed up with an adorable gift. Deb knows all too well of my dishware obsession and she found adorble pieces that will always remind me of the wonderful vacation we were all so fortunate to share together. The real thanks goes to Dave for his generosity and love. I adore you! Enjoy the images!~

Click on the image below to join us for Tablescape Thursday!

One More Early Morning Layout

I just had to do something special with these adorable beach photos. Kali, Eli and Alex together in the sand. Just three of my very favorite people... hangin out on vacation. Enjoy! SMJ Designs ... various kits. Check her out!

I love our vacation photos of the boys in the water with Davey and Claire. Here's a layout with all of them enjoying the pool. Shabby Miss Jenn Designs little Splish Splash kit is perfect with all of its pool toy elements and fresh water colors! Click on the layout to see a larger version of it in my SMJD Gallery.

Food With Style Blog

I love beautiful photography and fabulous recipes, finding both in one blog in a rarity but my friend over at OnceInABlueMoonIris has that magic combination going for her. She's both a gifted cook, food stylist and a very talented photograher. She's created a new blog featuring what she describes as "gorgeous food and tables that will tantalize not only your eyes, but all your senses"

She had a call on her new blog for submissions of email and blog addresses so I sent mine in to her. Fortunately she found me worthy and featured one of my images and linked back to my post. I would love to share her blog with you. You're going to find her recipes and images amazing!

These are her food blogs. they're both beautiful and the recipes are fabulous!
http://www.tastespotting.com/search/onceinabluemoon/1
http://foodgawker.com/post/archive/onceinabluemoon/

Click on the image above to go to her new blog. The link to her original blog is listed below! Enjoy!
http://onceinabluemooniris.blogspot.com

Little Bitty Photographer

Kali is in love with digital photography. Any time she can get her hands on someone's point and shoot camera she takes advantage of it. While on vacation Aunt Alexa allowed her to take photos with hers and she loved it. I created this layout with papers and elements from Shabby Miss Jenn's two kits: Whimsical Spring and Splish Splash for Girls. Click on the image to see a larger version in my online gallery at SMJ Designs.

Swamp Spirits on Tour

Along with the Vermilion Arts Council I would like to cordially invite you to attend our "Meet the Artists" reception on August 6, 2009 from 6 to 8 PM in the Vermilion Arts Coucil building at 200 Magdalen Square, Abbeville, LA 70510.

I will be honored along with ten artists who painted renditions of my photograph shown above. I was chosen from numerous submissions in early 2009 to be the featured photographer in this wonderful project. I was honored to have my "swamp" image chosen and the artists have created beautiful works of art with the image as their inspiration. I would be honored to have you attend this event.

The exhibit is now on at the museum, if you are unable to attend the event, please feel welcome to see the exhibit at your leisure.

Two Layouts - One Template

Creating matching layouts for the little ones using the same basic design is always quick and easy, not to mention a fun way to get loads of photos scrapped. I love beachy layouts and these both came out adorable. I used elements from Little Prince and Little Buckaroo Princess with the same background from the Little Prince Kit by Shabby Miss Jenn. I customized the journaling to focus on their individual vacation times.

SMJ Does it Again!

Shabby Miss Jenn has been putting out the good stuff for us digital scrapbookers for quite some time now (Lucky for me, I get to play with everything she makes!)... this summer she's gone and done it again! Not one but two lovely kits. Little Prince and Little Buckaroo Princess kits are both just packed with lovelies! She sure does make it easy to scrap your favorite photos no matter what your personal scrapping style! Check out these lovely layouts.

Little Prince Kit:

Created with Little Prince:

Little Buckaroo Princess Kit:

Created with Little Buckaroo Princess:

Mexican Last Night

We went to an authentic little Mexican Restaurant called Vallarta last night, the food was quite yummy. Here are a few pics of the six of us.

We're spending the day out in the sunshine today... going to the beach this evening to play and take family pics for Natalie and Brett with their adorable little ones. More pics coming later!

Here Comes the Sun

Yesterday our friend the sun came back to meet us at the beach. It was a beautiful day out at the pool, Chandra, Dave's sister and her daughter Natalie, Nat's husband Brett and their two adorable kiddos also spending the week here at the beach spent the day with us. Riley and Kali had a super time playing on their shark pool floats and Anna Claire was the cutest thing in baby sunglasses! She was an angel at the pool, everyone had a fun day! More photos of our adventures from last night later!
Note to Kim: You so should have let Kayla come to the beach, the kids miss her and she would have had a wonderful time!!! Maybe next time!

4th of July Vacation @ the Beach

Using a beach photo I made a layout with Zach, Ian, Kali and Kris! Love the Little Kahunas beachy kit by Shabby Miss Jenn!

Taking advantage of the situation...

On this rainy day after sleeping in and having a yummy breakfast we decided to go to the movies in the afternoon. Dave, Alexa and Kali saw Ice Age 3D and Erica and I watched Proposal. Then Kali and Eri rode the ferris wheel then we ate supper at Cosmos.