2009 September

Happy Birthday Renee

September 28, 2009 By Heather 2 Comments

Wow, its your 40th! I can hardly believe it. When Issa sent out a shout out to all of us who know & love Renee, I have to admit I was shocked to learn that she was turning the big 4-0!!

What?!!? You have no idea who I am talking about? Well you may know her as But Why Mommy over at her place. Where she documents life with her adorable 3 year old daughter, Bunny.

I know that if we lived closer, we’d probably be fast friends. She makes me laugh, she makes me cry, but mostly I love that she is tall. Us tall chicks have to stick together.

Renee, I wished that I had gotten a chance to meet you face to face this Summer at BlogHer in Chicago. Time was limited and fleeting and so this was not a reality. But I do hope to meet her and her beautiful Bunny one day. And your gift from me, because I didn’t all fancy and make you a cake that conviently got eaten up by a certain birthday boy like Issa. Or sing you a song like MommyGeek, or even get you a ~~creepy~~ awesome pinata like Matthew.

But I do promise you this…..while I am not the best blog reader/commenter around, I will promise you in your 40th year that I will give you 40 heart felt comments for your blog to grow on. Now this means that you are committed to being here for at least 40 more posts, not that I heard that you were going anywhere, because girl…I love me some Bunny and you need to keep us informed of her journey with you and well as the many more exciting journeys to come.

So Renee, even though this post isn’t filled with unicorns and rainbows, because duh…who wouldn’t want that for their 40th birthday…I picked this out especially for you!

Filed Under: birthdays, blogging friends, Issa made me do it, life

There once was a Party…

September 25, 2009 By Heather 4 Comments

to celebrate the Emmys that was hosted by the lovely OHmommy

and all of her classy friends over at Suave.

Not only is OHmommy the hostest with the mostest-she is

also an excellent photographer-just look at her mad skillz.

Lola & Fifi-OHmommy’s beautiful daughters are the lucky ones

to get the very first manicures. (I just love the look on Fifi’s face here)

In the end we had a fabulous time. I met many of OHmommy’s neighbors,

local friends, and a group of seriously classy bloggers. Well worth the 40

minute drive (not 50+ minutes thankyouverymuchgooglemaps) and back.

Next time you have a get together, dear friend, I promise not to be

15 minutes early and I will bring you a big bottle of vin!

Me, Chef’s Widow, OHmommy, Managed Chaos, & Yankee Drawl

Filed Under: 2009 get togethers, emmies, Friends, OHmommy, suave

You Capture-Happiness

September 24, 2009 By Heather 8 Comments

This week at You Capture, the theme is happiness. Now I posted a bunch of photos that made me happy in my post about our town’s apple fest. And then yesterday I posted another happy image. Now, there is hardly anything left, but I did have these two photos that bring me happiness when I see them.

Look at the shadows from the sunset. I haven’t seen one like that EVER!

And I captured it-sheer happiness!!

The leaves are starting to turn! Fall is possibly my favorite

time of the year. I love breaking out my favorite jeans & sweaters.

The cool crisp mornings and the sunny afternoons. Fall makes

me giddy with happiness.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Wordless Wednesday-Sunsets & Neon Edition

September 23, 2009 By Heather 12 Comments

For more wordless Wednesday please check out here and here

Filed Under: life driving in my car, neon, photography, sunset, why my kids cringe when I see something I like to take photos of

A Tale of a Fest named for Apples

September 21, 2009 By Heather 3 Comments

This past weekend our town celebrated its annual Apple Festival.

Although for a festival named for apples there was a sad lack of apples there.

I’m just sayin’.

This booth has been at the fest for as long as I can remember.

Enticing the children to play games at the Lion’s booth for only 50 cents.

No, we didn’t play-because I am mean like that. No Goldfish for You!

If you have ever wondered where the Tin Man hangs out, wonder no further as he loves him some funnel cakes and cold drinks.

The Chicken playing a game with her friend of “Which Balloon is Higher”

While it may appear hers is higher in the photo, seconds after the fact her balloon

escaped off of the ribbon. She was declared the ultimate winner.

A high school friend and local art teacher had his own booth drawing caricatures.

He is really good. Are you local? He does parties and events.

Many a looks were given to this trio, so when I asked them if I could take their

photo (because seriously look at that girl’s eyes-they are AMAZING!) They asked

me why, I handed them a card and the guy in the middle was all into it. They are from

a band, happen to be on tour and decided to take in the sites at our ~~non~~ Apple Fest.

Hopefully they email me so I can get them a photo-as promised.

Taking a moment to view the memorial that is set up for the veterans.

Looking to see if we know any of the names on the bricks.

The Chicken found a CPL Chris (insert my mom’s maiden name here) but he is of no

relation to us. Not that I know of anyways.

Stopped to listen to some vintage sax players playing on their vintage saxes.

Contemplated getting some Fresh Cut Fries, because when you have a

green light for fries you should probably jump on it. (We did, but on Sunday)

Finally heading home. Those street lights weren’t on when we got here!

Filed Under: 2009, Apple fest, fun stuff, happiness, life, photography

You Capture-Macro Edition

September 17, 2009 By Heather 33 Comments

Over at Beth’s place today she is hosting You Capture once again. I just love You Capture. If you aren’t playing along you really should. People with all levels of photography skills play along, its really fun! C’mon, you know you want to.

The challenge this week was Macro or Close Up Photography. Now if you have seen my photos its no surprise that I love me a lot of negative space in a photograph.

Now some of you may be wondering what ‘negative space’ is in a photograph. Essentially it is the ‘empty’ space around the subject in a photograph. I think a lot of times I vere away from macro shots just because I think that I can’t have the negative space in the photograph. Not that I have to have negative space. When I compose shots a lot of the time I don’t even think about it, but some of my favorite photos that I have taken, as well as others are ones with more negative space.

When I saw this grasshopper hanging out in the backyard I called for The Chicken to bring me my camera. I moved ever so slowly, as not to disturb the insect so I could get all up close and personal. And you know what? I think he liked it. He let me take so many photos of him that afternoon and would actually move slightly here or there, but never really jumped away. Then when I declared I was done, he hopped off. Just like that.

When I began to edit the photos I was amazed at the fact that I got all up close and personal, but there is still negative space. (Like I said it isn’t crutial to a photograph but I LOVE it) Thank you so much for hosting You Capture, Beth. You have really allowed me to think outside my box and have made me an even better photographer. You totally rock!

So what are you waiting for? Get thee over to I should be folding Laundry to check out the other awesome close up shots!

P.S. Don’t forget to check me out over here as well today-where we wonder about sugar or spice.

Filed Under: bugs, fun stuff, macro, photos, you capture

Wordless Wednesday-On the Back of a Horse Edition

September 16, 2009 By Heather 4 Comments

For more Wordless Wednesday you can go here.

Filed Under: cantering, flying, Giggles, hobbies, horses, life, love

Not just another day

September 11, 2009 By Heather 2 Comments

Thinking of those who died on that day. Thinking of their many loved ones they left

behind. Thinking of how we, as a country, bonded after that day.

They couldn’t bring us down- They only made us stronger.

So please, let’s not let them die in vain-let’s rally together.

For them-For us.

Filed Under: 9-11

Thursdays are Random Update Days, right?

September 10, 2009 By Heather 1 Comment

Yesterday Hubs had an extra day off because of the Labor Day Holiday, we decided since the home next door is on the market we needed to do some stuff outside to improve our curb appeal and not scare off good potential neighbors. Do you want to weigh in whether or not you think Curb Appeal is important? Go here.
My dog is a bit neurotic. He is highly allergic to flea bites and so I am pretty anal about keeping up with all the stuff so that he doesn’t get bit, because when he does he is a bit more neurotic than normal. He won’t stay in one spot for long, he is jumpy and just odd. He did enjoy his oatmeal bath today, I think it helped to soothe his skin from the ONE flea I found on him.
My dog is also shedding like mad. But unlike a typical dog his hair comes out in fluffy chunks that looks like a stuff animal was ripped apart in my house. His tumbleweeds are common place in the dining room and landing. I have to vacuum and hand pick up the fluff at least 2x a day. Its driving me a bit crazy because of my heavy as #$&**@ vacuum.
Because of the last bullet I wouldn’t be overly sad if my vacuum cleaner died or suffered any kind of tragedy. That thing weighs like 20 pounds and in my opinion doesn’t clean that well. I mentioned getting a vacuum for our bedroom so I could vacuum each day-his response was that if I got rid of the dog we wouldn’t have to vacuum at all. Ummm, okay, but EEEWWWW! So no new vacuum and the dog stays.
The Chicken was sick yesterday and I have put off running my errands today in case she calls and needs me to pick her up. She seemed to be fine this morning with no fever, but you never know. Plus the school lets the kids call for the dumbest reasons. Trust me!
Giggles is going to Homecoming this October. I KNOW! She is going with her new boyfriend! AHHHH! She is growing up so fast. The boy is a sophomore and we have requested that we meet him. Thankfully he only lives a few blocks away, but that may come to bite me in the toosh later. I can’t believe she is going to homecoming….with a boy! Now to figure out what we are doing for her dress and everything else. I may have to laugh at hubs “We’re only going to give her $25 for a dress and shoes rule.” But I probably won’t. I will try to get her a dress at Plato’s Closet-that is where we got her 8th grade formal dress for the Graduation Dance last year for $8!
Alright I think this is all the updates I wanted to do. I need to defluff the carpets again and make my list so that when the girls get home from school we can head to the bulk store.

Filed Under: 2009, Chicken, Giggles, life, updates

TGIF with some winners!!

September 4, 2009 By Heather 4 Comments

Happy Friday everyone! How are you doing this wonderful day? I really hope things are going great and that you have some wonderful plans for the weekend. We are going out to Put in Bay and NOT losing the dog this time. He will be attached to my side at all times and will never be left in the uncapable hands of the children.

But talking about not losing a dog that isn’t lost yet isn’t what you came here for today. I came here to tell you who the winners were of the giveaway of 250 7×5″ cards from Uprinting.

So congrats to Meredith & Liz! I will be emailing you shortly and I will be sending Uprinting your email addresses so they can send you your coupon code.

For the rest of you that didn’t win-be on the lookout next week when I am hosting another giveaway sponsored by Uprinting! And if you are anxious to sign up for a giveaway RIGHT NOW! I suggest that you head over to Moosh in Indy’s place where she is giving away an awesome Magazine Subscription-that is really too awesome for me to explain about here!