Sugar*Sugar

Day Dreaming

I made this sweet little mosaic of some of my favorite flickr photos...

hoping for some renewed inspiration....

I am so ready for a PINK CHRISTMAS!!

I can hardly wait!

In the meantime, I am busy just trying to make it thru this month. I just have so much going on, it's really probably too much.

I was up really late last night, just because I couldn't sleep, too much to think about. I can't WAIT until November 1st.

My BFF Aly and I are planning a girls day... I'm thinking beach, pedicures, drinks and silence... sounds like a dream!

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes for our church's Trunk or Treat... I'll take lots of photos to share!

I was tagged this week by Betty at She's Sew Pretty to share 7 weird or random things about myself. So here goes...

1. I am half Mexican. My dad's name is Perfecto. (really)

2. I lived for almost a year in Russia, on the Black Sea coast.

3. I love Conan O'Brien, but have seen Jay Leno at the Tonight Show live!

4. I've been to Mecca: The Original Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Store in Santa Monica!

Think this parking spot is for Rachel???

5. I have been to 41 States and 8 Countries... hope to see as much of the world as I can!

6. I HATE SEAFOOD.

7. I keep a detailed journal, and re-read it a lot so I don't forget.

So, now that I've shared just a few random things about me... I'm going to tag a friend...So, Shelly at The Pink Barn... TAG! You're IT!!

Thanks for stopping in everyone!

*hugs*

Analise

Fall Finds

A is for Analise... that's me! ;0)

I've been so bad lately about keeping up with my blog!!

So today, we will play catch up. I've had so many things going on this October! My husband's birthday is on the 8th, my oldest daughter's birthday is this Saturday and my son's birthday is next Monday! Whew!

Aaannnd, I decided to plan a Trunk or Treat and Harvest Festival for our church! So I've been CA-RAZY busy planning that. But, I do have some fun things planned for the Trunk or Treat... if you've never been to one, it's a fun and safer alternative to traditional trick or treating (door to door). Each family opens up the trunk of their car, decorated in whatever theme you like and pass out candy... kids go from trunk to trunk collecting candy and prizes... FUN right?

I've decided to decorate my trunk in the theme of "CANDYLAND". My favorite colors, of course! I'll be sure to post pics of how it turns out... any ideas y'all have are WELCOME!

I have had a few happy visits to my mailbox too!

I swapped some goodies with Cerri from Little Pink Studio... I *LOVE* what she sent!

Look at these adorable vintage perfume bottles! They are holding vintage glass glitter in pink and blue... SO PRETTY!

I also got a vintage French Pink Baptism Cone... the VERY BEST!

I can't wait to use these goodies! And isn't Cerri's business card just the sweetest?!!

Find her adorable shop, LittlePinkStudio.etsy.com here! Thank you Cerri!!

Let's see... Oh, I have found some really fun items! I can't wait to show my blog friends, because I know you can appreciate what a great find these are!

Vintage Raffia/Straw in the BEST colors!!

Just look at these LOVIES! Vintage Alphabet Stencils! A few letters are missing, but these were just too pretty to pass up!

I'm excited to use those on some tags and gifts!!

Those small stencils came in this SUPER COOL vintage box of Animal Stencils.

Here are just a few of the animal stencils... there are about 20 - 25 total!

There were also a large stack of vintage image stencils with some SWEET pictures...

Aren't those too cute!!?? So fun!

I've also found some fun items for fall...

Vintage Satin Ribbon in Orange and Yellow...

These vintage Dennison items I just ADORE! I think my mom had these Halloween decorations out when I was a kid... just a few years ago... j/k

And finally for today, I wanted to show you some vintage crepe paper streamer I found in the nicest colors. I like using these to make ruffles on tags, and also adding a bit of foof to packages and crafts!

Well, thanks for stopping in...

I'm off to clean house... we're having a birthday party this weekend and I have a mountain of laundry to climb!

Good Times, Good Times

a better week

Whew! What a week! My family and I spent the entire day Thursday at the county fair. We did have a lot of fun, but I was EXHAUSTED after a day of walking around! It was like the walk you have after a day at Disneyland... your legs are all weak, the smell of hot fry oil makes your stomach turn... your clothes even hurt!

The first half of the day I was a chaperone for my daughter's third grade class. We had a scavenger hunt where we had specific questions to answer about the fair... like "Name two breeds of cattle" and "Find a your favorite quilt...what it is geometric pattern?" and "What is your favorite greenhouse flower?"

So we ran around like chickens with our heads cut off, searching for answers... but a good time was had by all...

My husband and my other two kids met us and we stayed the rest of the day... walking around the exhibit halls, riding a few rides and eating funnel cakes!

These are my girls sitting on the prize winning pumpkins, weighing about 260 lbs. each... the pumpkins, not my girls! hardy har har

These are some of the grapes in one of the booths. We live in California's Central Valley which is 400 miles long and supplies one-quarter of the food America eats!

This is the view from the ferris wheel, which was funny because I started to really get scared!! Funny, I was the only one screaming from the top while my 7 year old says, "This is so boring!"

And finally, the Candy Factory... I just love the colors! You can see the shadow of the ferris wheel over it.

So I came home and plopped on the couch for the rest of the night, whining about how my legs were sore!

The next morning, I met Betty from She's Sew Pretty and her daughter Christy for coffee. We had such a great time together! We ended up sitting for about an hour and a half, just chatting and laughing and getting acquainted... it was the highlight of my day!  Betty and I found each other thru etsy and blog-land.. turns out we live really close to each other... it is so nice to meet such sweet people who can understand your point of view! Thank you so much girls, we definitely need to get together again!! :0)

On a serious note...

I want Sugar!

Well, dear friends, it's been over a week since my last blog. I'm sorry if you are waiting on a package from me... it's going out TODAY, I promise!!!

I need some Sugar! or hugs or love or what ever...I need my peeps!

I've had a very difficult 10 days. Lots going on that I really can't share so publicly, but things have been a bit rough.

I've shared a little about some of my struggles and I have quickly been thrown into some new situations that I have to deal with.

I have found myself to be quite strong and able to handle some of the things that 9 months ago would have taken me out, so there is improvement!

It's hard to share this with the world, but hey, why not share the reality of being a pastor's wife? If we only knew the real stories of others, I think it would be a shocking surprise to most people.

I've chosen to be open about the reality of my life. My husband and I are real people and we don't buy into the "fake it 'till you make it" idea. I think that's kind of dangerous because it can become something of a crutch for people who really should look at their circumstances in an objective and realistic way. On the other hand, I also see the value in postponing feelings, etc. until a more appropriate time and place to really deal with them in a safe and healthy environment.... does that make sense?

Aaaannnywhoodle, so this week has been a bit of a "testing of the waters" for me as I re-enter the world of...well, people! Things got testy.... already.

It doesn't take long to make people hate you, all you have to do create some small, tiny change for them that they don't like.... and ....BOOM! You've got yourself a group of folks who think you are the devil! :0)

Oh, and I *LOOOVE* it! I loooove being screamed at, accused, being called a liar, hung up on...it's greeeaat!! Especially when it happens in public, in front of other people, that's even better!

(I HOPE YOU KNOW, I'M BEING SARCASTIC!!!)

Okay, okay, I'm gonna stop because you're gonna drag this dumb story out of me if you keep this up.... *wink*

My friends and I are thinking of writing a book, I think you might love it! All of our stories. It would be juicy, too! hee hee hee

So, I'm trying today to look back at my priorities... the things that bring me joy. My family, my children, my home, CUPCAKES, writing my blog...sharing with you, much prayer, MORE CUPCAKES, reading scriptures and books that help, creating...crafts, MORE CUPCAKES.... (hence, my double chin...)

I want to shout out to Ann of Keeping Up With the Tatums, she's my girl. We had a little swappy poo. I saw this fantastic altered card on her blog and asked if she was going to sell it...she said it's for another swap, but she could make me one like it with the "SUGAR" quotes...

Well, she ended up sending me that very card, AND I LOVE IT!!! Isn't it adorable?!?

Thank you ANN! You're a DOLL!!

Also, just wanted to show you these SA-WEET taggies I got from PurdyGirlStuff.etsy.com.

Made from old quilt fabric scraps... they are just my colors!!

Well, thanks for letting me vent... I'm feeling much better now.

Blogging can do that to you...