The Cult of the Oreo Cookie and Blog Hop

Oreos and Blog Hopping...what could be better?

So as you have probably heard, I have decided to put my life on hold in order to be able to Focus on my Quest for the Fabled "Candy Corn Oreo"..

As yet- our Town and it's surrounding Hamlets have not been blessed with a 'Sighting'.  I have heard from many of you that you have partaken of them...and are now firm Believers in it's Candy-Corn-a-licious-ness...

So, in honor of this, 

the "Ultimate Evolution of the Esteemed Oreo"

- I have combined my "Share the Linky Love" with a brief Pictoral Salute to the Oreo.... 

These Blogging Creatives are Always so Generous with their wealth of Information and Inspiration.  Grab a Cup of Coffee and your Preferred Version of the Oreo and Take a Hop to these awesome Sites!

 Like you weren't already dipping them in Peanut Butter.....

1)  Julie Gibbons Pastel Faces Tutorial!!  This is a very Wise and Deeply Thoughtful Woman so there is always much to learn in her Daily Blogs.   I am pretty much a 'Stalker' level fan of her Pastel Faces though....so that's where I'm going First!  OH- and here's a bonus on "How to Transfer Images"  that believe it or not I always wondered about.  Thanks Julie!

Obviously the next Evolutionaly Step in Cookie goodness...

2) Theresa Cifali's Blog- I think that she is Secretly Cloning herself.  I'm seriously not sure how she does everything that she does.  But I know- if you visit anything Theresa you are bound to Walk away Enlightened! 

Conservatives and Purists would call this kind of 'Fruit Related Mayhem' Heresy...

Next is 

3) My Girl, Adrienne Rose- You will remember that she is "The Fearless Leader of the Cult of the Naked Narwhal"...Check out her "How to Color Chart"....and THEN- bask in Glory that is her "White Board Meal Planning Chart of Much Wonder"!

I am every bit as Stunned as You are...

4) Handmadeology- Ya- you should pretty much have them on 'Speed Dial'...or whatever the equivalent is in Social Media Terms:)  Every day there is a wealth of stuff that I don't even understand yet!  Check out this one on Business Planning... really Excellent Information...

Only in 'Merica would we need ANYTHING called a "Triple Double" It's Food Porn folks...

5)  Hydrangea Hippo's Jennifer Priests Crafty Blog.  First of all, Hydrangea Hippo is the Single Most Awesome Blog Title of all time...Seriously.  Second- she rocks, then she rocks some more!  I'm not listing a specific link because...well, girl you know they all rock...

And now for a Confession.  I was sorely Tempted to leave my quest for the Perfect Candy Corn Oreo!
My love for sweet Candy Corn Goodness is equalled only in my love for all things Coconut....
Fortunately- I was to short to reach them on the top shelf...so here's a pic from holding the Camera over my head, on tip toes:)

So I have remained Pure...and the Search Continues....

Disclaimer:  I have no connection with Oreo, or Nabisco other than my intense desire to eat my Body weight in them...

Love to all!

Keep Crafting through the Chaos!

 I'm Crafting Right on through the Chaos! 

Happy ADD/ADHD Awareness Week! Well I think it's just on one day this week.   I was reading about it- but then I saw something shiny...

If you ever wondered what it's like to have ADD/ADHD...allow me to present this Visual Representation..

So here's what My 'To Do' List looks like to everyone else...

This is my "To Do" list as I see it in my head. 

Now- Pick it up and Spin it around while Flipping to other pages randomly and add in bursts of music that change every 20 seconds under a disco ball.....and you're getting close:)

So folks- next time you see that little guy running around the Grocery store driving his Mom and everyone else nuts...remember me....I just did that to my Mom last week...

I know that as the Weather Changes and we all start Hoarding Candy Corn Oreos for Spring, we all feel that ' Ever present Looming Fear'...."Will I have enough __________ to sell at the Craft fair? " "Will Aunt _________ever get that hand knit sweater made of Cat hair?"  "Will I be able to make 27 dozen Christmas Cookies for little Tommy's class without eating half of them?"

 I'm not sure about you, but this is what my Studio looks like during Pre-Craft Fair/Etsy/Chirstmas Prep

Sophie, like me,  is not quite sure where to start...

Believe it or not- it spilled over to my Extra Bathroom...which I like to call- the "Room we pretend isn't there"...

 "Seriously Mom?" -Sophie

But Remember!  "Creativity is Messy- and I am VERY Creative"....

Progress was made:)  Here's one of my Altered Frames with 'Handmade-Burlap-Flower-Bottle-cappy-Buttony' Goodness.

This is a Rescued Awesome Box all 'Collaged and Antiqu-i-fied'...

And here are a few more of the Soon to be Craft-Faired Goodies:)

So- it's time to fess up...  Stop pretending your Studio still looks like the pics you took 2 months ago when you had all the time in the world to organize it:)....

Where my Messies at?!  

If you Craft in Chaos- Stand Proud my Sister!

Send in your Worst Messy 'Christmas Prep' pics and we will all feel just a little better abour ourselves:)

Mollylollyloo@gmail.com

Love to All!

The Moments Challenge- Weekly Roundup

The Moments Challenge- A bit Scrambled but Here!

 

This is the Latest Awesome Challenge from my Fave Tammy Garcia over at  Daisy Yellow!  One, Imperfect Quote and Picture for each day of this month.  I am now Addicted to Instagram- so I was so excited to start this! 

"The Skies are declaring the Glory of God and the Firmament shows and proclaims His Handiwork"

Psalms 19:1

 

 

The Pictures just never do our Arizona Sunsets Justice!

 

 "The moment one gives attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious awesome indescribably magnificent world in itself."

Henry Miller

 

My Daily Nature Walks with Sophie are one of the things that keeps me 'Somewhat Sane'.   It forces me to take time to slow down and focus very closely on something...the birds,  the ants...horses...

 

And trust me- my Brain speeds along like a Runaway Train so it's not easy !  But  it really brings me back to staying in the Moment and realizing that my purpose here is to Appreciate and Glorify God's works...especially what is right in front of me:)

 

"Simplify"

-Lots of really smart People

Sophie and my shadows on a 'Farm Run'

 

 "Put your Air Mask on first before helping others with theirs."

-United Airlines

 

I am trying hard to take the time to Eat right and Take care of myself. Sometimes we Moms get lost in the Shuffle and we end up not Taking care of ourselves and then we wonder why we can't 'get the mask on anyone else'...:) Are you eating your Veggies?!

 

 

 

A few of our Babies...Fur and Other-wise..

"Consistency.  Follow Through."

- Colin Powell

 

 

My Attempt at Keeping Organized and On Track for the Holiday Season...

 

Sometimes we face Difficulties not because we are doing something Wrong, but because we are doing something right.

-unknown

 

 

Trying to Kick an Infection Naturally.  This stuff with the Little Blue Circle is Reliv- we all do that daily.  I added the others to fight the UTI.

 

"Do Small things with Great Love"

 

 

Butterfly wall.  Waiting to finish these up:) 

 

I hope you will join us in The Moment's Challenge!

 

I just love getting to see a little peek into everyone's life.

 

See you tomorrow!

 

Love to all!

 

Organizing, Planning and Scheming...Oh my!

From 'To Do' to 'Ta Da!!!

Tis the Season!  October that is...or to my Crafty Sisters...'Crunch Time'!

This is only my Second Year doing a Christmas Craft Fair....while trying to Stock an Etsy Shop....while Also trying to make Hand Made gifts for family...while still making sure my Children don't go hungry and/or naked.

It's a very Strange mix of Lighting Pumpkin Latte Candles while Painting Two Dozen Clay Pot Nativity sets:)

My Mom and I both had a Booth last year and it was Fabulous!   We had so much  fun just hanging out with all the Artists and Crafters...drinking Hot Chocolate and listening to Christmas Music!  Good times!  And we did really well:)  They had a lot of traffic and we seemed to have the right 'Niche'.

The 'Hot' Items were Purses, Scarves, Bird Houses, Angels and Owls...pretty much in that order.   I did end up wishing I had more inventory so this year so that means keeping track of a LOT of open Projects.

So, this was a Stretch of my 'Right Brain Planning' powers...I had to come up with a Visual way to Keep track of all the Craft Fair, Gift and Etsy Projects and making it at least Look like I was making progress.

So I combined my Mad Love of Office Supplies with my Infatuation with To List and came up with......

wait for it.....

The Ta Da List!!

Ok- ya, I guess it's a little less Glamorous than the Build up....

But Note the Brilliant use of Two different colors- Blue for Craft Fair, Pink for Christmas Gifts...

AND! There's the highly Technical Process of moving the Post It  note...from the Left side of the Board- to the Right Side of the Board!

How do I come up with this stuff?!

So Here is my Stash of "Thrift Store Rescues":)

Here we have the Two Main Staples of my Craft Fair 'Soon to be Irrisistables'...

Ugly Wooden Plaques and Outdated Frames No One wants:)

As of Tonight-  This is the Progress I've made...

Ta Da!!!

It's a Start eh?!

What is on your Craft Fair/Christmas Present 'Ta Da' List? 

Right Brain Planner- Monthly Social Media Plan

 

Monthly Social Media Plan!!

 

I know right?  I finally got around to actually doing it!  Woo hoo! 

 

 

 

I guess I could have done it on a Spread Sheet, or in my Spiral Notebook 'Brain'- but Obviously that hasn't been enough to Motivate me in the past!

 

SO!  I got out my Favorite Sharpies and my  HUGE 16 x 24 Notepad and just scribbled it out.

 

I will admit to have made some notes this past week on what I thought I might do, but it was so much 'Funner' to do it in Color and in "BIG"!

 

So what is Inspiring all this 'Get Organized' madness????

 

PREMATURE CHRISTMAS ANXIETY SYNDROME

 

Ya, it's real folks- there I was, mindlessly looking for Size 16 Nike's for my Gi-Normo-Son Nathan  and over the Kohl's Loudspeaker...

 

"There are Now only 85 days until Christmas Shoppers..."

 

That was it...end of message...you could see the Glazed look of Fear pass over all of us...

 

Ya.  CHRISTMAS!!!!

 

I know it's October- but I am Preachin' to the Choir here Girls!!! If you're gonna Craft for Christmas- you are already behind! AAAAEEE!!!

 

 

Over the last few years, the Desire to Craft Gifts has been there- but because of our Chemo Schedule it just wasn't doable.  We have been blessed EVERY year with the Generosity and Wonderful-ness of Ronald Mc Donald House Charities and Our Church Family and Friends- Christmas has been wonderful every year. 

 

BUT!!! This is the YEAR!!  We are Home...and Baby- I am gonna Craft if it kills me!!

 

Everyone might get Tacky Life Savor Planes- with Popsicle stick wings held together with yarn,   but they will get something Hand made!!!

 

 

 

Share the Linky 'Blog Hop' Love is back!

The Linky Blog Sharin' Love is back!

 

 

 

I really missed Hopping around with everyone while I took a little Break to wander around DC:)  But Daisy Yellow and Crafty Pod are at it again- with this weeks theme:

Blogs that made me Laugh!!

 

 

So here we go!  Grab a cup of Joe and have a Giggle or two!

Warning:  I have inserted some Silliness Here and There...

 

1) Ok- I almost peed my pants on this one... Karen Isaacson...http://iamrushmore.blogspot.com/2013/09/drapery-rods-on-your-mind.html  Drapery Rods?  This girl is Hilarious...love this blog!

Seriously Mom?

2)  Ok- I know- it's Rushmore again- but I can't stand it....she sent an ACTUAL  Naked Sock Narwhal Through the United States Post Office Mail!  Like with a stamp and an address stitched on it!! She is Truly my hero....I am starting a Cult...The Cult of the Sock Narwhal...Karen shall  be the Grand Poobah  I shall be the "Keeper of the Sock"  http://iamrushmore.blogspot.com/2013/09/heres-what-i-sent-in-return.html

 

"You know you want me..." -Muy Macho Lizard...

 

3) You all know I am a huge Brenda Fan-  Junktique - Fantastique!  Check out these awesome 'Junk-o-Lanterns'...hilarious in a Steam Punk Kind of way!
http://bit.ly/15HzUrq

Hilarious post by HydrangeaHippo

4) Now we move on to one of my Favorite Blogs- my lovely Friend Tracey Fletcher King.  God bless her- her blog is always Tongue in cheek hilrarious....even now that she is boldly battling Breast Cancer.  I know what you're thinking- what could be funny about Cancer?  Nothing- let me tell you- we've done 6 years of it- but humor can keep you going and get you through.  And she is Rocking the Bald!!  Read her "Tale of the Wig" here...she even painted the IV pole!  We just Dress him up- and name him Steve...just a wig and shades usually, he likes to keep it simple...  Enjoy this one!http://ow.ly/pu26H

Nuff said...

 

5) Ok- this one is Miss Tammy of Daisy Yellow herself...she snuck into her daughter's classroom because the teacher brought in an old typewriter...hehe! 

Tammy Repels into her daughter's Classroom to use the old typewriter...

 

When you read it- picture Tammy repelling down "Mission Impossible" style all in black and hovering over the typewriter to type out her quote...and then having to keep that bead of sweat from rolling down her nose as she snaps the Perfect Instagram pic...We love you Tammy! http://ow.ly/pu2Q9 

Socks is a big Tom Cruise fan...

 

5) This one is a new one for me.  I just love this guys style and his paintings are fantastic.  Reading about his recent trip will make you giggle...and there's the fact that he thinks he's a squirrel.... http://tommykane.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-church-is-temple.html

This is the way we roll in the Country...

So there you have it Folks!  Hope you had some fun!  Stay tuned next week for "Blogs you actually Made something from"!

 

Love to All!

Painted Butterfly Love

Butterfly Love

 

So I wasn't sure what I was going to add to my Project for Part 3 of Dealing with Anger and Hurt- but I really wanted it to be Symbolic and well, just Pretty:)

 

If you missed the Series you can Check it out Here.

 

 

I hadn't taken the plunge and tried a Butterfly in Acrylics, but on my last Pilgrimage to Hobby Lobby I scored an Awesome book called "Painted Butterflies" put out by Leisure Art and Produced by Kooler Design Studio, Inc.  And YES that's a $4.30 tag on it...Booyah!!

 

 

The Artist here is Chris Thornton-Deason and I was really happy with the Step by Steps as I was pretty Intimidated by such a Big Image.

 

So Here's my Monarch Buddy:)

 

I've been watching Literally 100's of Huge Monarchs feeding off the Butterfly Bush in our front yard.  I've always wanted to 'Pay Tribute' to the Amazing Artist that creates these Beauties- Jesus Christ- the Ultimate Artist:)

 

 

Here are a few Step by Step if you are interested:)

 

Pencil in on Big Paper...

 

Basecoat added with my new Best Friend- a One inch Brush!

 

Several layers in using Acrylic mixed with gel medium:)

 

 

And here she is all Done!  It's going to go on my 'Working through Anger and Hurt' Collage- so that will be the Next Step:)

 

 

I'm thinking about doing a totally Imaginary Blue Monarch- well, I don't even know if they come in Blue... Guess I need to do some Research there:)

 

I'll keep you posted as I finish that up:)

 

OH! and I am Definitely 'IN' for Tammy Garcia's Daisy Yellow 31 Day Photo Challenge.  I'll be Posting it both here and on Instagram:)

 

Hope you'll join me! 

 

Love to all!