Fall Festivities!

The other night we had some friends over for dinner. What a fun night it was! A reunion of sorts of Table 11 from the wedding. A few people were missing...so we will just have to do it again. :)



I had a great time decorating the table for the evening. I even spray painted the floral frogs from the wedding and used them for place card holders. How fun! I plan on doing this for Thanksgiving too, only next time I am going to bling them out a little. I will show pics when they are finished.



It is always a good day when you spend it with friends!!!

What Do You Think?

**added this photo today when the bird was on our roof. I just don't think there is any doubt that it is the same bird as the pic below!! (11/2/10)




OK...one of the above photos is off of the internet and the other is from my backyard. It is a bit blurry as I tried to zoom in quite a bit. But I think you can still get the idea.
Here is what happened: the other morning I was brushing the pool and a bird flew to the peak of our patio roof. It was a very different bird than I have seen around here before. We do get quite a few varieties with the irrigation. Anyway...I looked up and just then it started making the strangest noise. This bird call that sounded like something straight out of the jungle. My first thought was a Kookaburra. But I quickly dismissed that idea because they are only in Australia and New Guinea. It stayed there for a few minutes before flying to the telephone pole. I followed it and got some video. I ran inside to compare it to what I could find on the internet. Oddly enough it had the same look and the same sound as a Kookaburra. I still wasn't convinced.
A few days later he came back while John was working in the backyard. It actually dipped into our pool and then flew to the fence to preen itself. Wow! So I got more photos and a video which this time included the bird call.
So my question to you is....What do you think? Do these two birds look alike? Is it even possible? They aren't migrating birds so it would have had to escape from somewhere. They are in the Kingfisher family but I haven't found any kingfishers that look like this bird.

Tell me-What Do You Think?

Candy Creations!

It is Homecoming time once again and a good friend has a daughter going. The theme is "Canyland". What a great idea! So she came over today and we created candy corsages and boutonnieres.


Look how cute they turned out! The one above is for her daughter. She is wearing a zebra strip dress with hot pink trim. And of course black and white converse. How cute will this be on her wrist!


The next one is an option for her date. We tried a few different ideas.


This one is for her friend....her dress is yellow.


This last one is another option for her date. We were so excited that they turned out so adorable. Hoping the kids think so too!

Random Halloween

Found a few pics online today and decided to share. Love all the cute ideas out there. I am not much for the gruesome Halloween things but I do love fall! Autumn is my absolute favorite season and I always decorate!


Look at this gorgeous carving! Now that takes some serious time.


Cute little decorations with beans & candy...add a glue gun and you are set. Super easy! And super cute!


These are deviled eggs....so dang cute! Gotta try this one. Just a few cut up black olives on top!



I added this one just because it made me laugh! I think it is hilarious! :D
Happy Decorating!!

Joining In

So I decided to join in another Art Journal Session. This one is hosted by Rebecca and her friend Liz. I met Rebecca when she came to help Donna Downey out with her classes at the store here in Chandler. I was so excited when I read on Rebecca's blog that she was hosting some Art Journal Prompts. Just something fun and simple to share. So here is my take on Week #1. The prompt: What Bugs You? Use at least one stamped image or word.
I kept mine pretty simple and just went with what was on my mind. I focused on the positive and just wrote how I felt. I am happy with the outcome and am excited to share with the group. I know there will be some that are much more elaborate...but that's OK. I did it and that's what counts. Thanks Rebecca!

Art Swap

Recently I participated in an Art Swap put on by Journal Girl. I was nervous at first but decided to just jump in. I am so glad I did! It was so much fun. This is what I made for my swap partner. I have been in contact with Emma and it is so fun to now have a new friend that shares the same love of art & journaling that I do. I will definitely do this again!! Thanks Kira for putting on such a fabulous swap! Oh and welcome to Arizona!

Absolutely Amazing!

Our trip was absolutely amazing! The weather was gorgeous, the beaches were beautiful, the people were friendly and the excursions were a blast!



We tried to leave plenty of time to lounge on the beach and just relax. Lots of books were read and even I got a tan. :P Our trip to Paradise Island was so much fun! We were up early to catch the van. It took us 2 hours to get there. The scenery along the way was stunning. I loved seeing the small villages and the way the people lived. I must say they didn't have much but everyone was smiling and happy. We did not meet a single unpleasant person. Most everyone on the island traveled by motorcycle. Even families of 5 all rode on one bike. Or you would see a guy with a very large load of coconuts or bananas wrapped in burlap riding along the road. The driving was a little scary. When we went to Cozomel we rented a car and drove around the island....not here. They drove fast and fearlessly. I didn't see a single accident but I still wouldn't want to drive. Once we arrived at the beach we took a boat to Paradise Island. It was really a small sandbar in the middle of nowhere. Our only complaint was we were told that we couldn't bring our camera because the excursion was too wet....so wrong!!! Everyone had their cameras. So now that we are back we are anxiously awaiting photos from a couple in Scotland and a couples ladies from Canada. For now we rely on internet photos others have posted. We snorkeled and you felt like you were in an aquarium....gorgeous!!! The water was so crystal clear!
On the trip back we got a tour of the mangroves and then a ride through the jungle. We saw how tobacco was dried and rolled into cigars. And we got a chance to shop.



The views on the island were just beautiful. Every time you turned a corner there was a photo opportunity. From the beaches to the jungles to the simple life on the island. We loved it all.







Another excursion we took was the Zip Line! We took an open truck up into the jungle. Again the ride up to the spot was breathtaking. I guess we didn't realize how lush it would be on the island. Once there panic set in...I am not a big fan of heights or that feeling of falling. My thoughts were simple "What have I gotten myself into?!" But I did it and it only took a couple seconds to realize that I absolutely LOVED it! We were high up in the mountains, 100 ft off the ground and I loved it! I didn't brake once (thought for sure I would). We flew through the trees! By far my favorite part of the trip! So proud of myself for conquering a fear!





All in all the trip was a blast! We are glad to be home and grateful for the wonderful opportunity to get away together. We have memories to last a lifetime! Now that's what I call a Happy Birthday!! Wahoo!!!