Display Ideas for Selling Art at a Market
1 week ago
I have committed to making 30 cards in the 30 days of March with Heather over at Scottsdale Stamper. I purchased all my card making supplies on Sunday and have become a little distracted since to start my challenge. 
{Here is an example of a card to make that I stole from Heather's very cute blog}
Now that I am feeling back on track, I sat down and made a list of all the birthdays/holidays/events for 2010 that I want to focus on making. So far I have:
18 Birthday cards
7 Party/Event invitations
3 Sets of thank you cards for birthday parties
20 Holiday cards and
30 Christmas cards
to make. Not too bad if I break them down into projects. My goal is to get started tomorrow and work through the rest of March. I hope to post them as I go.
Be sure to check the challenge out at:
http://scottsdalestamper.blogspot.com/
Hope you are all having a great Tuesday!!
This 10 digit number is my police report number. Yes, you read correctly...I am cited in a police report. Now, before you go jumping to conclusions...it was NOT my fault and I am ok...
Yesterday afternoon I was involved in a car accident on I-17 southbound. I was in the left lane going about 60-65 mph. I had a large F350 in the right lane next to me, I actually was behind him not but 2 minutes before but decided to pass him. Suddenly, I heard a loud noise to my right. I looked over thinking the truck had a blown a tire. When I looked, however, I was graced with the image of a red 2 door sedan that had obviously just merged from I-40 Westbound onto I-17 Southbound and had just hit the truck next to me. After colliding with the truck, the red sedan spun around to the left and came head on into my lane. Before I could even think about it, I was slamming on my brakes to avoid hitting this car and plowing right through it. I swerved quickly to the left (this saved both our lives and left skid marks on the freeway if you happen to look leading into the median). I still collided with the red sedan with my right bumper, bounced off and ended up in the median.
Well...actually...that's not where I "ended up". I plowed down--into--and through the median (dirt/rocks/vegetation)and up the other side to finally cross 3 lanes of oncoming Northbound traffic. I ended up in one piece on the Northeast side of the freeway...quite a distance from where I began on the Southwest side. (I noticed after the fact that there is a large (about 3 feet around) cement light pole in the median that should have been in my path that I avoided?!?!)
As you can see, not much damaged occurred to my beast of a machine. It handled the impact quite well. I have some damage to the back tires as I went off-roading at top speed (there is a red bull can shoved into the engine under my car from nosediving into the median). I will know more about the damage to the Yukon after the adjuster and auto repair take a peek at it.
I am thankful that all I sustained is a very sore/jacked back, sore arms, ribs and neck. (My organs feel jostled and tender from my bumper car adventure.) The highway patrol man casually mentioned to this shock induced survivor (me) that he was surprised I was alive, he should be picking me up off the freeway right at that moment. If you think that came across as insensitive...it wasn't...he was reminding me that I could very well have been slammed into at 65 mph by a semi-truck that was traveling north when I made my ballet dance across the freeway. I don't know how I got so lucky. I can't decide if I was in the right place at the right time or in the wrong place at the wrong time...
My only goal as I was barreling down/through/up the median was please don't roll...please don't roll...I will die. No, my life did not flash before my eyes...I was focused on controlling my car and STOPPING!! I don't even remember skidding across the northbound lanes or finally stopping. I just remember reaching into my pocket and grabbing my cell phone to call Jay and 9-1-1.
All I know today is that I was thankful to be able to come home and hug my family. I was granted an extension...there is something/some reason as to why I am here. My mind is reeling. I feel as if I'm in a fog. I keep replaying the accident, what could I have done differently...
I catch myself staring off into space, thinking...pondering. I guess I'm still reacting. My doctor has told me that he expects the adrenaline to wear off today or tomorrow and the complete reality of the situation will hit me in the face. Its crazy how our minds/bodies go into survival mode...the consequences are that to protect it, it numbs it. I will need to feel what I went through. Its hard to put a price on the emotional/mental aspect of this accident. I will know how much my car was damaged by the total number...what about me?
I have had people downplay what happened..."the car looks fine, your so lucky, must have been nothing..." If the car looked how I feel...there would be nothing left. I am lucky my car doesn't look worse, it means I survived. Now I just need to heal.
Interesting fact: If you are driving at the speed of 65 mph, it will take you a footballs field distance to come to a complete stop.
and you know what that means, soccer!
Yes, Zeek plays on a traveling soccer league through Flagstaff United Soccer Club and we are committed to soccer games every Saturday (almost every Saturday). It can be a little trying...weekends are meant to relax, right? Not drive 2 hours to play/watch a 1 hour game to drive back another 2 hours. But guess what, its worth it.
Zeek has officially, after 6 years of soccer (this is his 3rd year on the traveling league) turned into a true athlete! He plays with passion and takes every opportunity to shoulder shove his opponent or show off his fancy footwork. I gotta admit...he looks great out there...very natural and focused. He claims he eats/sleeps/breathes soccer (can we say ADIDAS anyone??) and I think he's right.
Although his team lost 2-0 (they did score once but it didn't count since they were offsides), they are winners in every right. They played hard, worked as a team and really gave the other team a run for their money.
Next weekend we have an actual tournament (4 games in 2 days) in Phoenix. Check back to see some action shots of Zeek in all his glory. 
{The boys on the field...gorgeous location surrounded by lush foothills and cacti}
{QJ toeing the line...that boy thrives on pushing the envelope}
skier that is! Tika has taken a couple ski lessons this winter (begrudgingly at first) and has magically, almost overnight, turned into a pro! She enjoys skiing down the slope fast (racing Zeek on his snowboard or Jay on his skis) and she seems almost fearless (which I fear!)!
On Thursday her kindergarten class went on a field trip to the Nordic Center to cross country ski (which she has never done before). 
She had so much fun and although she fell several times, she got back up and kept her gorgeous face smiling. 
Jay was lucky enough to tag along and share the moment with her and he caught some great pictures of her in action. 
I can't wait until I can go with her next time!
Thank goodness its Friday!! I can admit to being completely exhausted by the end of a long work week (56 hours long to be exact) and I am the first to confess to being poor company come Friday night.
Between you and me...I don't want to see another diaper, bottle, or sippy cup nor hear another knock or ring of the doorbell for ATLEAST 61 hours. I want relief from my dishwasher, dust buster, and hand sanitizer. I want a break to make breakfast/lunch/snack for only the Smart 5, not the nose dripping (said with love) 12.
I NEED quiet time and relief from the constant whining, 2 year old attitudes, 3 year old tattling, 9 month old crying, 1 year old screaming, and the all ages toy throwing. If I hear the word NO! one more time....
{{OkOkOk...I admit...I love how Logan tells me he Wuves me or that Molly will follow me around the house until I finally sit and she crawls in my lap as if she belongs there. I giggle when I think of how Grace will perch wherever her little hinny will fit (usually on the edge of the bouncy seat) 
or how Chloe tries to manipulate me into an extra snack because Molly's still hungry. I visualize Linus' or Dylan's smile when I least expected them to grace me with one or I melt when I hear Nova or Kaeleigh's belly giggle that only 9 month olds can make. I smile thinking of how Austin 'sleep walks' for the first 20 minutes after I wake him from nap or Autumn's grunts when she wants your attention (sounds like a mix between hey/uggh). I look forward to Violet's little wave when she leaves each evening as if she was entering the Miss America pageant and I listen in awe when I hear Mae Mae's vocabulary at 2 (she speaks as well as Tika at 6!!). I marvel at how each child knows the others shoes, sippy cups, mommy's and daddy's and even, yes, who has "the" poop. Yes, there are amazing moments and amazing little individuals in my little world at the Smart Start Daycare that make each day worth it...they keep me going (the Red Bull helps).}}
With that in mind...I am so thankful for my decision to move the daycare up to the loft 
and I pat myself on the back for the brilliant idea of consolidating my highchairs (they are as hidden as Waldo) from 6 to 3 which has giving me back my main level. I can even entertain...if I can find the energy...
I love that I moved the diaper changing station from the hallway by the bathroom to my laundry room so I don't have to bump into it when I turn the corner since seeing all those diaper bins and wipes boxes was too much of a reminder/nightmare of how many diapers I change each day (63 give or take)..jpg)
(Hallway AFTER moving diaper station...space better used in my humble opinion)
(Diapers in said laundry room...how organized am I?!?!) :)
I love that I can pretend (Friday night through Monday morning at least) that I actually LIVE here!! No, I don't have a closet (its now a nap room)
nor an office OR my "craft room" any longer which has moved from the spacious loft (shared with my office) to my hall closet 
and my 'office' to my dining room...
but heck...we can't have it all. I'll take what I can get at this point and right now its...perfect! I love what I do...I really do. I just thank goodness for Fridays.
Enjoy the view from my perspective and see what I see now...would you have ever guessed that I watch 16 kids here!?!?
Now you get it...
Have a great weekend...I will!!
doll that is. I'm thinking about getting Tika an American Girl Doll for her birthday in April (she'll be six if you can believe it!!). The fun part is that you can have the doll look just like you, dress like you and even comes with pierced ears, if you so choose, which is way too cute considering Tika got her ears pierced a couple months ago (that's a story for another day!). Anyway, here's what the doll would look like:
Too cute, I know! I sometimes think she's too 'old' to play with dolls but how fun is that to play with a doll that looks like you and is dressed like you?!? Or is that just weird to be playing with "yourself"?!? All of us girls come with the maternal desire when we are 5/6 years old, right, or was that just me?
Jay and I just saw Crazy Heart over the weekend with Jeff Bridges. First off, great movie but even better acting and music!!
Great video and song:
Zeek was expressing his envy at Tika being "ONLINE", he wants to be online. I told him I would take his picture to put online, in a minute. Well, I caught a great pic of him studying his spelling homework when he wasn't aware of me watching (proof of his steady concentration, in short supply I fear). It is Wednesday after all and we all know what that means, tomorrow is Thursday. See, Thursday is spelling day...
Tika is very excited to move up from the "Little Books" in her kindergarten class to the "Big Books"! Last night she brought Max home and has slightly struggled through it. Every time I hear her read I envision this great relationship she is day by day forming with reading. I imagine us sharing books when she's older, recommending books to each other and talking excitedly about them over a cup of tea. I really, truly hope Tika love...love...loves to read as much as I do (no pressure here Tika) but...it all begins with Max.
Having a blog that is dedicated to the workings of our family is quite exciting! Not only am I able to share it with friends and family that may not be able to see us often due to distance or time but I also get a "scrapbook" of our family without breaking out the scissors!
To break the ice I decided to introduce our small family for future reference. You will be hearing these same names over and over throughout this blogs lifespan (names have been changed/abbreviated to protect the innocent):
Jay (Dad): 35 year old small business owner (hVac) that loves watching movies, skiing, poker, football and soccer
Britt (Mom/Me/I): 29 year old daycare provider that loves reading, baking, sewing, creating, scrapbooking and writing
Zeek (brother/son I): 9 year old third grader that loves soccer, playing video games, memorizing football stats and snowboarding
Tika (sissy/daughter): 5 year old kindergartner that enjoys dancing, 'wearing' makeup, stealing moms high heels, Hannah Montana and skiing
QJ (son II/toughie): 2 year old devil that thrives on Dora, playing with hotwheels, sugar and little sleep
We are lucky to live in the gorgeous mountains in Northern Arizona. Here is the view from our front porch:
I should warn you--this blog is written from my perspective but the other 4 characters I named are my inspiration (they deserve some credit....) :)
::Stay tuned to read about funny stories, interesting adventures and crazy moments::
