Monday Mugs - Umbrella

Yes, it's true...I have officially returned to the blogosphere after...well, after a really long time. I have my reasons for not feeling bloggy this year, but that's another post. For this post, I am joining up with Oswald Cuties for Monday Mugs.

This week's theme is Umbrella.

If you've followed my blog for a while, you know who this is...my favorite sidekick and partner in crime, lil' J. She was 3 in the first picture. Second picture, 2 years later, same raincoat and umbrella! I love to look at those pics and see how much she's grown! Now she's 6 1/2, the raincoat is long outgrown and the umbrella broken.

Just a few more cute "umbrella" pics of my little buddy. We used to love going for walks in the rain!

update on me...

OK, I know I've been really, really crappy at blogging lately. I have a few reasons. For one thing, we FINALLY got some real summer weather (not that I mind temps in the 60's and low 70's...I'd be cool with that year-round!) so I've been outdoors more than usual, which means less computer time. For another thing, there just hasn't been much going on that is truly blog-worthy. Sorry. And last of all, I ran out of a lot of my jewelry-making supplies so I haven't had any new stuff to show you. Fear not, dear readers, I have finally ordered new supplies, and now that I'm not babysitting Lil' J anymore (*sniff, sniff* I KNOW y'all miss the almost-daily pics of her!) I actually have some free time on my hands so I should have some new pieces done over the next few weeks. With the holidays fast approaching (I know, I know, it's ONLY September, but pretty soon we'll all be saying "Where has the past year gone?!?!) I'm hoping to get my Etsy store well stocked..fingers crossed that I move some merch!!!

So, what has been going on in my life lately? Like I said, not a hell of a lot, but I did go to the NY State Fair with Lil' J and her mama. The day consisted mainly of eating (butterfly fries, roasted corn on the cob, Dippin' Dots, caramel apples, strawberry shortcake and kettle corn) and watching Lil' J go on the rides, but it was fun. Of course we HAD to check out the butter sculpture, and also made a stop in the dairy building to see the cows. And I won Lil' J a great big stuffed penguin at the water squirt game, whatever it's called.

Well, that's it for me. Anyone else been to any fairs this summer? I want to know...what are your favorite things about fairs? Favorite ride? Favorite game? Favorite fair food? And what's the best fair you've ever been to?

I Heart Faces Week 33 - Nostalgia

August 24th & 25th Photo Challenge - “Nostalgia”

This theme is going to be a fun one because it is going to be completely unique for each participant! What we are looking for here, is a photo that you have taken that brings back a nostalgic feeling for you (and you can explain why in your post.)Some ideas are photos that include a face (of course!) and a nostalgic item like....

*A rubik cube

*Red Flyer wagon

*Oldtime candy

*Converse sneakers

*Etc...

Or a photo that has a face in it and was taken at a place that makes you feel nostalgic (ie. your grandma's old farm, grandpa's old tractor, your mom's flower garden, sitting at your uncle's old desk, etc.)Just please explain how your photo fits the “Nostalgia” theme when you are writing your post.

Whew, another tough week for I ♥ Faces!!! Oh, the pictures I could use for this challenge. I was torn between millions (OK, dozens, maybe) of photos of Lil' J playing Chutes & Ladders, Candy Land, and Memory, riding her bike, hurling herself down a schoolbus-yellow Slip -n- Slide, swinging at the playground...all things I loved as a child. Ultimately I chose this one, because of the hopscotch board drawn on the pavement in the background. Remember how much fun you could have with a few pieces of chalk and a pebble? (Or pinecone, or whatever you could find to toss!!!) Hours of entertainment and fun for all!!! Of course there was that one time my sister and I couldn't find any chalk and drew our hopscotch board in crayon...do I need to explain just how not happy mama and daddy Quail were when they discovered that, and how not fun it was sitting in the corner after? (FYI...crayon does not wash off the sidewalk in the rain. Just so ya know.) But I digress...my point is, hopscotch was fun back in the 80's (though I'm pretty sure actual sidewalk chalk had not been invented yet, and even if it had it was not 3D and did not come complete with acid-green 3D glasses!), and it's still fun in 2009! And just for some added nostalgia...who doesn't remember having those missing front teeth?!?! Heh...I was one of those poor kids that had the misfortune of losing mine right before Christmas. Naturally, everyone felt compelled to sing that obnoxious song to me..."All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!" Good times, indeed. Why was I just mourning the passing of my childhood?

If you're longing for the days of your youth after that, click on the link here or on the button at the top of the post to check out the I ♥ Faces blog to take a few more strolls down memory lane.

Hoppy Wednesday!

OK, I had to rush to edit those pics so I could get them up while it was still Tuesday (because Toothless Wednesday...just doesn't have the same ring to it) but here are some more pics of lil' J (who, I hope you noticed, lost her second tooth!) from yesterday. It started out grey and dreary but by noon was beautiful. After having a bath, getting dressed, getting her hair done, and making her bed (complete with tucking in the stuffed animals!) lil' J had lots of fun getting tickled (seriously, the kid demands "TICKLE ME!!! Who am I to argue with that?), playing hopscotch, petting her bunny, and riding her bike while waiting for mommy to pick her up for a birthday party. Seriously, the kid's got it pretty good, don't ya think?

New stuff!

Yup, I've got some new pieces. I whipped up these 4 bracelets this evening while listening to my favorite band, The Elders. (Yes, I know I've mentioned them a few times, but seriously. They ROCK.) No time to take nice, fancy pics so they won't be listed on Etsy for a few days but I thought I'd give you guys (or girls...or girl as the case may be) a sneak peek.

I'll be honest...the last one? It's my favorite. I know, I know, how can I pick a favorite? It's like picking a favorite child. But seriously, I love that bracelet. So much that I actually made 2. One to list on Etsy, one for...I dunno. Keep? Birthday gift for my BFF? Win-It Wednesday contest prize? Who knows. I don't, and I'm guessing that if I don't know, and it's MY bracelet, then the rest of you don't know either. Guess you'll have to stay tuned to find out.

OK, not jewelry, but it is new stuff! I was in Albany earlier this week, hangin' with my sis, when I saw these on display at Gymboree. My first thought was not "Hmmm, lil' J really needs some new summer clothes," (because I am not her mother, it's not my job to worry about whether or not the kid has summer clothes!) but "Ooooo, those would be super cute for some new summery pics!" So I bought them. And...it rained all week and was flippin' cold. So, no new pics yet. (And yes, that is my unmade bed...I'm just glad you can't see the (totally awesome) polka dotted flat sheet that SO TOTALLY does not match the (equally awesome) striped fitted sheet. And the green pillowcase. Yes, I mix and match my sheet sets. I'm wild like that.

I guess I should update...

...even though there's not much going on. My life is BORING. No new jewelry, no more Etsy sales, haven't discovered any more must-hear music, can't even think of any cute, creative post or anything.

I did go see Angels and Demons last weekend. It was pretty awesome (even though my friend talked through half of it), though not quite as good as the book. There are a few changes from the book, but nothing too major and nothing vital to the storyline.Obviously the movie is the sequel to The DaVinci Code, even though the Angels and Demons book actually came first, but to be honest it doesn't really affect anything. Tom Hanks is great as usual...I don't believe I've ever mentioned how much I love Tom Hanks. Well, I love him. A lot. He's in my all-time favorite movie...A League of Their Own. I probably would have gone to see the movie even if I hadn't read the book (3+ years ago, so I've been waiting for this movie a long time!) just because he's in it. But Tom aside, it really is a great movie. ALL the actors were absolutely perfectly chosen for their characters. The sets are amazing...I don't know which were filmed on location, which were filmed on a Hollywood set, and which were computer-generated. It all looks amazing. And the music is good too.

What else, what else? I did go out to Crossgates mall on Monday with my sister and her friend. It kinda sucked. We went in the JC Penney entrance and I saw a handbag in there that I wanted but they wanted to eat ASAP so they told me to get it on the way out...well, they dragged their feet so much that by the time we got back to Penneys it was closed! So I didn't get my cute little red, pink and green polka dotted handbag after all. Boo. I did get some yummy treats from Harry and David though...Royal Riviera cinnamon sugar Pear Chips and dark chocolate covered bing cherries. Mmmmmmm. Also got a few cute little shorts sets and hair accessories from Gymboree for lil' J...nice bright colors and patterns, perfect for new pics! Unfortunately it was cold and rainy this week so she didn't get to wear them yet.

And that, in a nutshell, was my life since my last update. I'll leave you with a few previously-unposted (I think) pics from last week taken...where else?...at the playground and ice cream shop, just because lil' J is cute and I like posting pics. Because apparently we don't do anything but play and eat ice cream, which I believe I've covered already. ;)