Wordless{ish} Wednesday-Stick People

So I have obviously never had a 3 year old before...but I have to say that I think that this is pretty awesome for someone his age....

His first stick person....

And after that first one he drew...he continued drawing the whole family. I do believe that is me on the right and Daddy is on the left. Oh and of course, we can't forget ears. That's what the two circles are at the top. Like Mickey Mouse he said.


Linking up with Three in Three, Project Alicia, Sincerely Paula, The Paper Mama, Live and Love Out Loud

Oh, and did you check out my new blog design?! More on that later on!!!!

    Follow along on Twitter  Facebook  Pinterest  



{Featured Sponsor}

July Wrap Up & August Happenings

Ok, I know that ALL of you did this as a little kid, I know I sure did...so much fun, especially with a lil' dance to go along with your clothes pins!

Wow, this month has flown by...I don't even remember anything that happened, that's how fast it went. I do know that the last few weeks around here have been quite hectic...again, not sure why, cause I don't remember...LOL...my inbox is full, I have big plans to do things, but nothing ever gets done and I am not sure why...story of my life, haha! Plus, these cute little kids I have-at each others throats!!!!! Probably why I haven't been picking up my camera as much either...mmm...

Anyway, let's take a look back and see if I can jog my memory...

Ok, well I guess the kids were good in those photos! HAH!

So let's see...July was full of hot summer days, mornings spent outside, afternoons spend inside in the AC, unless a pool day was planned...impromptu naps when we couldn't stay awake any longer, me- crafting up a storm for my new shop, a special pedicure courtesy of my mom :) The boys in their pj's cuddling with Dad on the couch after a long day, hanging with little friends...the usual.

July happenings on the ole' bloggero...

We had a giveaway {still open and low entries so-GO NOW}!! I Co-hosted the Self Portrait Mini Series with Kristine  {linky still open-GO NOW and link up your self portrait post!} Some lovely ladies, Colleen, Chelsea, & Kristina, joined me as Co-Hosts for Loves on a Thursday, I announced the big 50% Off Sale {code JULY50} in my Photography Shop {which will be temporarily closing-not sure what the future holds for that}and gave you a sneak peak into my new shop! I also shared with you my first What I Wore Wednesday post showing off my Pink Skinny jeans, which don't fit now because I ate to much of this yummy Crock Pot Chocolate Cake! Oh, and we got an I-Pod Touch, yep, we are finally coming into the 21st Century! Who would have known how handy it would be to reply to emails while the kids play in the sandbox..love it!!!

Ok, well, I guess July wasn't too bad and my memory is starting to come back...

NOW! For August... BIG things happening around here. Starting with a new blog design, you may see some changes starting already, and hopefully by August 1st everything will be all up and running. I am streamlining everything, getting rid of my big header, and focusing on the post part of my blog. So many bloggers lately are writing about how they want to take back their blogs, and focus on the writing part. Well, I am agreeing fully with that and am making a bigger post area for those words {but really for bigger pics-yay!} Going along with that I am changing up my sponsorship details too. I have been focusing way to much time and energy on tracking people down to get their guest posts and info for giveaways, plus I forget and then scramble last minute, tweeting and facebooking have been taking lots of time and while I enjoy promoting the heck out of my sponsors I also want a bit of down time. Time where I can actually shut off my computer {did you know I never shut it off?}. So you can go here for the full run down on Imprintalish's new Sponsor Program, basically I will have ONLY TWO feature sponsors, one in post AD and one sidebar Ad, and those two will be my true focus for promoting during the month. I will have smaller spots available for swapping {very limited} and for purchase, but they will be sidebar ads only, with maybe the possibility of a tweet here and there...ALSO, I've mentioned this before, but my new shop, Imprintalish Handmade, will be debuting this month, so keep your eyes open for that! 

AH...what else should I tell you...? Mmm...YOU ARE AWESOME! Yes, all of you, I do not thank you guys enough, but all of you fabulous readers...I love you! It truly shocks me that even just one of you reads or comments, let alone the shockingly large number that shows up when I sign into my Stats account. THANK YOU!

Hope you all had a fabulous July!!!

Handmade Shop-Sneak Peak

Well...here it is...a sneak peak at what I have been doing in every spare second I get...

Seeing these photos makes me nervous. And excited. But mostly nervous. Nervous because now it's out there. I've told you all, I've shown you photos and now there is no turning back...

Imprintalish Handmade will be open for realz mid-August. A collection of fabrics, beads, chains all carefully chosen to produce one of a kind fashion accessories for every day wear. Interchangeable and easy care scarves, necklaces and bracelets. Soft, fun, brightly colored whimsical style.

Meet Sarah from All About Blogs

Thanks Lish for having me here today to talk about my blog!

What I  blog about......

I blog about anything and everything!  But mostly I blog about crafts, my dog, my life, and occasionally my shoes!  I blog around 2-4 times a week, I have a 5 Things Super Cute Saturday!  I started my blog, because my typing fingers were getting itchy! It's been helping me get out of my "shell", I LOVE to blog!  I've always read blogs and knew that I wanted to start one of my own.  The story behind my blog name All Things Blogs is: I started this blog to share giveaways and blogs, which is why the name is..... All Things Blogs!

Why I keep blogging.......

I love getting comments and followers! I appreciate all my readers and followers!  If any of you are reading this THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I love you guys!!! You all are so sweet, and you are the BIGGEST reason why I keep blogging!  If it weren't for you guys you wouldn't be reading this right now!  I especially wouldn't be blogging still if it weren't for my BFF bloggy friend..... http://acreativecookie.blogspot.com/! You are the sweetest Kate! I <3 you!

Me Me Me!

I am me! Me is: A up and coming spunky blogger who loves chocolate, her dog, her life, her blog, and smoothies.  I love customizing accessories, braiding my hair, creating, buying shoes, making money, and blogging!  I LOVE taking pictures, maybe someday I will be blogging and be a photographer, I love my Olympus camera, which is what I take most of my pictures with!  I love "LOLing" and "XDing" I ALWAYS laugh at anything, even something that isn't funny!  I love my three side kicks: Hot glue gun, my camera, and washi tape! Gotta love it!

Crafts....Crafts.....Crafts.....

I LOVE to craft! I love to make things! I normally don't make recipes, just because, I'm too lazy! LOL I love yarn, washi tape, beads, cupcake liners, glue guns, lace, ribbon, needles, thread, sewing machines, Styrofoam, charms, flowers, paint, wood, buttons, cardboard, velvet, and fabric!

I love.......

I love life, my computer, love, Pepper, my family, my BFFs, crafts, blogs, my blog, Twitter, Gmail, Blogger, flowers. :] I love to LOVE!

Thanks again Lish for having me!!!

blog lovin//hello cotton//twitter//pinterest//email

Thanks for sharing Sarah! Now go grab a cup or coffee, orange juice or whatever you please, get comfy and go on over and say hi to Sarah! :D

Self Portrait Series-Wrap Up {Link Up}

I figured since I was Co-hosting and all I should probably make a stab at a Self Portrait...hehe...

Obviously I did not think the first one through cause I forgot to clean my mirror! Ha! The joys of kids and fingerprints! And even though the flash went off....it kinda looks cool...

While this angle works, the cloudy day did not, hence why my flash went off in the first photo but without the flash, I look grainy...oh well...trial and error, my friends!

I finally got some good ones after taking a billion photos of myself {enter conceited joke here}..hehe...and got these two on a bright day. AND I managed to do it with the big ole' M button! Now, I don't have a fancy DSLR camera, but my little Canon Powershot SX20IS is pretty powerful and I love the option of being able to adjust the settings depending on the amount of light and stuff. After taking some test shots I adjusted my camera to 1/60  & F4.5. The I set up my Gorillapod and camera on a nearby desk and got comfy in a chair. It was around mid afternoon and used our white curtains as a back drop. It was the perfect reflector for the natural light streaming through the windows! I actually love how true the color turned out, the softness of the shot and that I barely had to edit anything...

This is YOUR week. Just a couple quick rules:

1) Head Shots ONLY! 

2) You ONLY. No kiddos. No pets. 

3) HAVE FUN!

ONE WINNER will be chosen by Kristine Lynn Photography! 

Winner will be announced: Friday, August 10th Prize: $25 Starbucks Gift Card

Loves on a Thursday-For the Boys

It's time for Loves on a Thursday!!! 

Today's Co-Host is Colleen from Paisley Boulevard. 

Although I am sure most of you know who she is without an introduction...if I was to describe her to you I would use the words witty, beautiful, and genuine and her blog is a true reflection of all of those qualities...

So go on and check out her loves out this week after you link up :)

Around here we've been making some big changes...decor changes. I decided late last week, that 'stuff' was consuming our lives, it was creeping into our bedroom, it was piled high on the dinning table, it was finding it's way into the bathroom even...and by stuff I mainly mean toys, but papers, projects and all of the above are were also part of it. So changes had to be made to make mama{me} a bit more happy and a little less stressed...so the boys now share a room upstairs across from us. So that freed up a room on the main level for a toy room!!! Which freed up our sunroom {hey! I never showed you guys the after of that makeover, did I?} to house my projects and computer! Anyway...The move is complete but the organizing is not, and of course the redecorating part too...fun...

So here is some inspiring bedrooms for boys...

1. Holly Mathis Interiors  2. The Socialite Family  3. Houzz

4. Shelterness 5. Hyphen Interiors  6. Project Nursery

7. Casa Tres Chic  8. Apartment Therapy

Design Sponge

Oh, and how cool is that ceiling fan?...I know of one that needs a little personality...

Are you a Pinner? Etsy stalker? Blog hopper? Photographer? Have cute kids? Loving life? Always looking for pretty things? I would love to see what your loving lately!

Grab a button and link up your pretty finds!

&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">href</span>="http://www.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">imprintalish</span>.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">blogspot</span>.com" target="_blank">&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">img</span> alt="Loves on a Thursday" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">src</span>="http://i1126.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">photobucket</span>.com/albums/l607/Alicia_<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Hummel</span>-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Kettlewell</span>/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lovethursdaybutton</span>.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">jpg</span>"/>&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;/a>

Guidelines:

We'd love for you to follow your Host and Co-Host
Please credit the original source when using other's projects and photographs.

Link up your blog post about your lovely post not your homepage.

Leave your blog name in the title.
Link back with a button or text in your post :)

Be friendly and have fun :)

Also linking up with Framed Frosting and Baxtron {Life}

Pink Pants & Drinks

I finally wore my Pink Skinnies!!! They have been sitting in my closet for about a month now and I pulled them out for some celebrating over the weekend...

You guys will probably only ever get this {full length} view of me...for some reason my feet never have fat days {well, except when I was pregnant} and I seem to be a bit judgmental on my self when I see full length body shots.... Anyway, I am trying out WIWW...except it should be WIW Saturdays...cause technically I wore it on the weekend...anyway...

Pink Skinnies from Walmart, 

Sandals by Jessica Simpson, 

White top by Vero Moda, 

Black Tank-?

..and of course the perfect accessory for cheersing {is that a word?} you hubby on 9 years of marriage?...a Pina Colada!

Happy Wednesday! Have you checked out the July Giveaway?

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy.

Crock Pot Chocolate Fudge Cake

Sometimes when birthdays {or even if your just craving chocolate!} fall in the middle of summer and it is hot and humid out, the last thing you want to do is turn on the oven to bake a cake. So here is a great option that uses a crock pot...

In under 3 hours you can get this delicious, moist fudge like chocolate cake with a scrumptious chocolate sauce to boot....

Ingredients

Cake

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tbsp cocoa

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup milk

2 tbsp cooking oil

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Stir first 5 ingredients together in a bowl. 

Add milk, cooking oil and vanilla. Stir well. Turn into crock pot. 

Sauce

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tbsp cocoa

1 3/4 cups hot water

Stir brown sugar and cocoa together in bowl. Add hot water. Pour carefully over batter in crock pot. Do not stir. Cover. Cook on high for 2-3 hours until wooden tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean. Serves 6 (or 2 adults and 2 kids if you like full bowls like us!)

Comes out looking like this and then...

Ooey gooey goodness comes out from underneath when you scoop it out. 

Enjoy!

Linking up with 52 Mantels, Live Laugh Rowe, Happy Hour Projects, Tatertots & Jello, Create & Inspire

July Sponsor Giveaway

I've got some Monday goodness planned for you all today...A GIVEAWAY!! I can honestly say that my Sponsors this month have been so incredible to work with and all of them have blogs or shops that you need to go check out. A few of them have volunteered up some pretty sweet things and...

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL WIN ALL OF THEM!

BLOG  TWITTER  PINTEREST  FACEBOOK

BLOG  TWITTER  PINTEREST BLOGLOVIN

BLOG  TWITTER  PINTEREST  FACEBOOK

BLOG  TWITTER  PINTEREST  FACEBOOK

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday Confessions & Photos

1. I have a tad bit of an obsession with taking macro photographs of flowers-they are just so pretty!

 

2. It's been so dry the past few weeks actually months is what it feels like, that my Cone flowers are actually the only plant still living in my flowerbed! Where is that rain?!

3. I have been pretty lazy this past week, and barely picked up my camera, or anything else for that matter. 

4. I loves these little guys, but sometimes, they push my buttons so much that I want to set them on the step with a for sale sign-that's illegal isn't it?!

5. I think I ate too much yummy food this week to, which could also be why my pants feel tighter...I hate that. Can't a girl eat some a lot chocolate and pizza without feeling like a cow?! Oh ya, then there was that yummy Cream Puff tooo....
6. We had pancakes for breakfast this morning...I don't really enjoy pancakes but my husband loves them and since he actually makes them himself...I can't really turn done someone else making a meal...so I eat them.How was your week?

Self Portrait Mini Series-Week 2

Were you able to read up on the Self Portrait Tips last week? If not, be sure to swing by and catch up!

Ok…now on to the nitty-gritty details. {smiles} I shot the 4 images below with my Canon 5D Mark II and used my 50mm lens.

 

I used a mirror to capture two of these and the other two I was holding the camera at a distance. If shooting in manual, you’ll want to test the light and settings before holding your arm out. These are all pretty close….which is all you can really do using a 50mm lens. If you want a little flexibility, use a wide angle and then crop them to how you’d like them. Some challenges I had {I’ll be brutally honest….hee-hee}:

1. My camera is heavy, so if I held it out too long….well, it cramped my arm.
2. I had a hard time figuring out the right length to hold the camera out to capture myself and not just my forehead and chin.
3. Shooting on manual was frustrating at times….I think that’s why I kept the ISO so high.
4. I wanted to be more creative, but ended up laughing hard at the ridiculous captures and insane faces!

What will I do different next time? I will try a couple different locations, use a wide angle lens, wear makeup, and have as much fun as I can. The series of images below was captured with my itouch using Instagram! I love the creativity that Instagram gives. It’s fun to play with the filters…and the BLUR…well, that makes my heart flutter!! The nice thing about your iphone/itouch is that you can reverse the lens so you can see yourself. I did that on one of these, but the others were done in front of a mirror so I could see myself. I’m a little controlling like that. {big grin} .

If nothing else, I encourage you to have fun capturing yourself! DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE CREATIVE!! Can it be frustrating? YOU BET, but having a couple GREAT images in end is worth it all. HAPPY SHOOTING!

Next week, it's YOUR turn.

Teaming up with Kristine Lynn Photography, the host and co-hosts will pick one lucky winner. The winner will receive a $25 Starbucks card. Have you started to capture your self portrait? If no, be sure to start NOW. We'd {love} to have you link them up on the 27th! Please note that you do NOT need a professional camera. Camera phone shots, point and shoots, and/or Instagram photos are ALL welcome. ONE RULE: Head Shots ONLY. Any full body shots will not be considered for the competition. One winner will be chosen and will win a $25 Starbucks Gift Card, provided by Kristine Lynn Photography. Here’s to capturing an AMAZING self portrait!!

Brought to you by:

Subscribe to Updates | Like on Facebook | Follow on Pinterest

I can't wait to see what you guys have been working on...it's so hard to turn the camera around and photograph yourself!! But I am up for the challenge and hope to see you guys back next friday for the link up :)