My new lens

I finally caved and bought the Macro lens I have been drooling over for quite some time now. I have been plying in my yard taking pictures of various flowers. I can't seem to put the camera down!! The detail this thing picks up is amazing!

Tag, I am it! You might be too!

I was recently tagged by a very cool fellow blogger-Junk Girl, check out her site, she has some great junk!!! So I have to write 6 things about myself and then pick 6 (I could pick so many!) other bloggers to tag. if I picked you, you have to pick 6 yourself and list 6 things about yourself!! Fun! Here goes:

1) I am married to my wonderful husband Mike, we have been married almost 8 years, together 11. Wow, times sure flies when you are having fun, and that we are, he is the love of my life and I couldn't imagine my life without him! He is very good to me and our boys, he cooks, cleans, and so much more! Can I just write about him?? :)

2) We have 3 wonderful boys! Austin 14, Nicholas 5 3/4, & Zach 4. They are all very good kids and we have so much fun watching them grow and become little people! They each have their own personalities, and are so much fun to be around every day!

3) My latest, most expensive obsession is Photography. I have become quite serious about it over the last year, and am hoping someday to be good enough to turn it into a "weekend" job. I love to create in so many ways, photos, scrapbooking, card making, paper crafts, junking, you name it! I love having something to do all the time!

4) I am a stampin up demonstrator, I mostly do monthly clubs to keep my business going. I love their products and think they are a great company!

5) I am a TV junky! Love TV watch it all the time, have many shows that are my "must see TV", I could not live without my DVR, and I can convince anyone that they need one as well!

6) I love music! Mostly rock and Country, but especially KEITH URBAN!!! He is a little of both! If you have never seen him in concert, you are missing out! I have currently seen him 6 times, #7 happens on June 27!!!! I would call him another one of my obesssions! Scroll down a few postes to see my latest Keith encounter!

ok now for my 6 fav's:

Krista @ http://snowmanhill.blogspot.com/ She got me addicted to junking and inspires me everyday!
Erin @ http://thinkinbellecruz.blogspot.com/ She is one of the most creative people I know!
Kate @ http://misskatespictures.blogspot.com/ She is an amazing photographer!
Liz @ http://elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com/ She is one amazing scrapper! and the first blog I ever looked and and still follow to this day!
Maggie @ http://maggieholmes.typepad.com/my_weblog/ She is also an amazing photographer, and I am taking her class right now!
Ki @ http://junkcamp.blogspot.com/ She has got some great Junk! I also LOVE her book!

Artisan Award Entry

Stampin Up had their annual Artisan award contest again this year. So I decided to give it another shot, but unfortunately, I didn't win! What the heck are they looking for??? I really don't think I will enter again, not because I didn't win, but because you have to send all of your projects into them, and you don't get it back! Which now, having not won, I am a little sick about! I spent a lot of time and money on these projects, and now who knows where they will end up! I did have fun creating these projects and at least I have photos so I can duplicate them if I want!

Summer is coming!

Today I spent some time taking pictures of flowers, budding leaves and other signs that summer is coming! I could take pictures all day this time of year, there are so many great things to shoot! And these subjects always cooperate!

Hugging Keith Urban, Once again!!

Yup!!! Here I am in St. Paul, MN. Our 6th time seeing him in concert! Keith Urban is by far the best in concert I have ever seen! but May 14 was a night like no other, at least for me & the Lisa's anyway! Keith had left the main stage to sing a couple of songs in the back. We knew he would com out into the crowd, he always does, but it is usually just once. Not tonight! He left the stage and went to the back via the right side of the arena, so I had a feeling he would go back to the stage on the left, which is where we were! I had been "chatting" with the Excel employee "guarding" the set of stairs we were next to that led to the floor. I told him that I wanted to get on the floor when Keith came by, and he left me just enough room to squeeze by! I was on the floor and ready! Pretty soon, there he was and no one was blocking my way! I took my chance and grabbed him, gave him a huge hug, a kiss on the cheek, and asked if we could get a picture, so he turned towards my friends & let them take a picture!!!! Wow!

Yes I now realize after seeing this photo that I had a serious death grip on him! He eventually had to go back to the stage, so I did let go! He was on stage and sang a few more songs and then it was time for his usual crowd pleasing "you look good in my shirt", this is the song that he always sings from somewhere in the crowd, and sure enough he came right down our side again! Lisa gave it her best shot, but the crowd was so out of control, I could not get a photo when she was next to him! He could not even get to his "secret" location, So he turned and went back to the stage. A few more songs had gone by and then it happened....One of his security guards came up to me and tapped me on the shoulder and said "come with me", I looked at him, then back at the girls in complete dis-belief, I looked back at him and he said, "come on, all of you, stay calm"

And he escorted us right to the front of the stage! We were right on his ramp leading down to the floor, no fence, no barricade, nothing between us and Keith!!!! The guard then said "have a nice night ladies" and he walked away! We got to spend the rest of the night watching right in the front! it was unbelievable, amazing, simply the best concert experience that I have ever had!

We are usually the ones watching these things happen to other people, we are not the ones it happens to, until now! I still can't even believe that it happened!

Thanks girls! It was another great Urban adventure!!!!!!

Extreme makeover...bathroom edition!

I could not look at the wallpaper fish one more day in the kids bathroom! So we did a little extreme makeover bathroom edition! I did a lot of shopping at Snowman Hill's booth down at Old Town Antiques. I found some great little things to complete the remodel. We painted, added wainscot, put in a new counter top, light fixture, and some really fun decor!



Junk find from good will, just add some spray paint and fake bird!I love old dressers! I just sanded it down and gave it a fresh coat of paint! I love the new bathroom, the kids like it too!

Old Windows Anyone??

I bought these old windows at an estate sale a few months back. Mike found them in a closet in the attic with no price on them. The seller said 2 bucks each! I couldn't pass them up, even though at the time I had no idea what I would do with them...Until today! I used the small one to put on an empty spot on my wall, just used a grapevine wreath, a bird nest and some greens from outside to decorate it.

The second window was quite large and all it took was for my sister in law to mention something about an old window she saw hanging above a bed, and I knew exactly where I was going to put the large window, above my island! 4 ceiling hooks, some chains, and there you have it! I used some things I had around the house to decorate the top. I love how it looks in my kitchen