I did it!

I sent in my entry to the Costco photo contest...how about you? The deadline is tomorrow and it's super easy to submit. Go ahead, you just might win...

COSTCO Photography Contest

Yikes!!! The deadline for the Costco photography contest is closing in on me...Have you submitted 'your best shot'? The deadline is September 30 - that's tomorrow!!!
https://www.costcophotocontest.com/omnicontests/register_custom/register.cfm

Butterfly Bathroom Valances

I love butterflies...my sister gave me a vintage doily a while back and I just didn't know what to do with it until I moved and was decorating my new bathroom. I cut up the doily (there were stains so I didn't feel too bad about cutting it up - it was that or leave it folded in a drawer). I think it turned out pretty darn cute - and I made it all while I watched Dancing with the Stars last night!!! See what you can do during commercials...

My New Home

Wow, I feel like I haven't posted anything in quite awhile - I even had to stop and think how to start a post...well, I am in my new home and the craftiness in me has taken over. Take a look at these inexpensive and quick ideas to decorate your home or even for gifts.


I took several of these photos on my trip to London last year when I was visiting my high school friend, Kathy. All you need to mount the photos is the photo (of course) - I love to upload my photos from my home computer and send them to COSTCO - they're inexpensive and the quality is great and not to mention, they're done in an hour, some spray adhesive, foamcore, ruler, craft knife and mounting material of your choice (I used the 3M removable strips)
How to Make It
1. Spray the adhesive on the back of the photo following instructions on the can.
2. Smooth the photo on the foamcore with your clean hands.
3. Cut to desired size using ruler and craft knife.
4. Place the mounting material on the back and hang on the wall.



I've taken tons of photos the last couple of years, so I took my stash and laid them out to see how they'd fit over my couch - an after picture soon...

Better Homes & Gardens Fall Centerpiece Photo Contest

Fall Centerpieces Photo Contest

Check it out...fall is upon us and Better Homes and Gardens wants to see your best fall centerpiece idea.

Win $1,000 and a place of honor in Better Homes and Gardens. Submit your best fall centerpiece idea that shows your love of the holiday season. We're offering a $1,000 grand prize - plus a spot an upcoming magazine issue. So enter our Home for the Holidays: Fall Centerpiece photo contest and share the ways you celebrate the season.
Here's the website: http://www.bhg.com/photos/bhg-photo-contests/fall-centerpieces/

Morro Bay

I had noticed the odd looking ship hanging out by Morro Rock yesterday but I was very surprised to read the paper today and see my friend Alan's boat in the picture of the multi-million dollar yacht. If you live in Morro Bay or visit our lovely town, Alan's Lost Isle Adventure harbor tours are inexpensive and fun - only $10 for adults and $5 for kids for a 50 minute boat ride. He'll even take you over to the sand spit - something you could only get to with a boat or walking a very, very long time.

I never know what oddity I'll experience living at the ocean...can't wait to see what tomorrow holds...

Friends, Hike and New Experiences

It was a wonderful weekend filled with friends, exercise and new adventures.

Saturday, a friend and I ventured out on the Pecho Coast Trail for an almost four hour hike to tour the Point San Luis Lighthouse. We do a lot of walking, take an exercise class and I do Zumba, so I figured we could do it - there were times, especially at the end, where my knees were telling me that I need to stick to more level ground in the future. But the hike was absolutely gorgeous and the lighthouse is being beautifully restored!!! It is a guided tour (through a locked gate) and you have to sign up at least two weeks in advance at www.pge.modwest.com/pgereservations/trailshome.php

On Sunday, a friend and I went to see Eat Pray Love starring Julie Roberts. I need to see it again because there were some very interesting points that I need to ponder...AND, I ran into a woman at the theater I used to work with at Duncan. Small world...

It's a new week filled with visiting a friend who is on vacation here, meetings, follow-up to my doctor's visit and some creativity wherever I can find it!

Make it a great week!
Joan

Me Day!

I had my annual physical today and from there let the day unfold - this was pure luxury for me and I'm thinking that in the years to come, I want to set aside the day to do it again. It was a treat and gift to myself - not only the physical exam but the day...

Have I mentioned I LOVE my doctor??? I was very ill back in May and my regular doctor wasn't available to see me, so I was given the option to see another one in the practice and I am soooo glad I decided to see him. He makes you feel like you really matter (and not rushed!)

After my appointment, I decided to visit a fabric store I had recently seen advertised - I used to be a quilter and made custom shirts for years for my family but sewing just hasn't been a part of my life for a while now. I slowly went up and down the aisles with no projects in mind. It was a nice treat to see the colors, textures and themes.

From the fabric store I decided it was time to treat myself to breakfast and treat myself I did. I went to Apple Farm and indulged in Banana Pecan Pancakes and they were delightful - I savored and enjoyed every single bite!

My next adventure took me to Pier 1. I get their emails and I have say that when I got the latest one I really perked up seeing the mini serving dishes they offer - they call them 'tastings'. I'm a believer in moderation, so I do have desserts, but these adorable little bowls, dishes and plates are perfect to serve small amounts, yet you feel extra special. They are so popular they didn't have the ones I wanted, so I had to order them. I was already formulating a party in my mind...

The day was still young, so I decided it was the day to take my Make Healthy Fun! book to my local bookstore. The ladies were so delightful and encouraging. I sold a couple of books and have signed up to do a book signing / make it and take it September 25th at the Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay!!!

This day has reminded me to enjoy food (in moderation - I did get the short stack of pancakes), step outside of my comfort level and see where it will take me and to mark my calendar next year to make Physical Day a Me Day!

Joan

It's Time for Tea...

I have been going through my photo archives, sorting, deleting, reminiscing and I came across these tea pictures and thought I'd share them with you.

Sea Glass

I walk a lot on the local beaches and love looking for sea glass. I've been VERY fortunate to find quite a few pieces.

The Cayucos Sea Glass Festival coming up - here are the details:

Calling all Sea Glass enthusiasts! Sea Glass craftspeople!
Sea Glass jewelers and artists!
Come join us in beautiful Cayucos for our first beachside Sea Glass Festival.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
10:00am - 4:00pm
Cayucos Vet’s Hall (at the foot of the Pier)
Cayucos, CA

Butterfly Pins

I LOVE these butterfly quilting pins I received as a belated birthday gift!!! Can't wait to use them!!!

My Birthday Goes On and On and On...

Don't you just love it when your birthday celebrations go on and on??? In my case, it's two months - yes, two!!! I got together with my friends from the Aleene's TV days - Jean and Denise (and Denise's daughter, Leslie) this weekend and we had a fondue meal, went to see Inception (still scratching my head on a few of the things from that movie) and went back to Jean's and had this most decadent cake!!! You can't see it in the picture, but there are cookie chunks on top, on the sides and mixed with the frosting between the layers!!! Yes, I walked a TON the next day!

Bracelet Napkin Ring

A Napkin Ring and Favor Gift in One

I recently attended a dinner party at a friend's home and she delighted us with a bracelet / napkin ring as our gift. It was so fun to select our bracelet, wear it that evening and get to take it home! Such a nice surprise and wonderful personal touch!




Flowers from my yard!!!

Oprah's Breathing Space Gallery Photo Submissions

Send OPRAH your beautiful nature images!

Are you a great photographer? Oprah wants to see! Share your beautiful and inspiring images of nature to help create the Breathing Space Gallery on Oprah.com.

It's SUPER easy to send in your photo:
https://www.oprah.com/ownshow/plug_form.html?plug_id=70

I already sent in mine!

Joan

Class Reunion

The pictures from my reunion keep rolling in and I love it! Here I am at The Red Rock Saloon - notice the purple cup, yup there were gold ones too! This was near the very end of the evening and I still had on my shoes!!!! I seem to have lost a leg, though...

I finished up my post reunion notes last night and passed them on to the other committee members so we'll call it a done deal.

Once again, thanks to everyone who attended and the helpers who made the weekend extraordinary - you're the BEST!!!

Joan

Thank You Gift

So, what do you give a dear friend who takes you to her lake cabin for a long weekend, feeds you and entertains you? This is a person who has everything and expects nothing for her generosity, so the search for something special was especially hard...

The photographer / crafter in me decided to print some cards from the photos I took while I was there - Michaels has great inexpensive blank cards that I love to use! Once I printed the cards, I placed them in a plastic envelope, tied them with some raffia, included a twig, some bark and a little moss from our trip to make it extra special.

I made a photo collage too - she doesn't get to the cabin as often as she'd like, so I'm hoping the collage will be a nice reminder of the lake and cabin that she so dearly loves.

Joan

Fourth of July

My class reunion was over and it was time for some R & R!!! A friend invited me to her 'cabin' at Huntington Lake to kick back and relax. Yes, we kicked back but in that kicking back I met some amazing people and did some amazing things. Some of her friends invited us on a party boat they rented for an afternoon of tootling around the lake while enjoy good food and great company. More about them in another post because we had a lot in common - meanwhile, it's time to unpack, regroup and get going on some projects.

Lemoore High School Class of 1975 Class Reunion

The following posts about my class reunion are a bit disjointed, but you'll get it after you look at all of them. Last weekend was my high school class 35th reunion and I was on the committee with two other core individuals who were dedicated to making this event a wonderful reality. For two years (actually longer) I have searched and searched to find our classmates - I wanted to give as many classmates as possible the chance to come celebrate and reminisce with friends. The reunion took a lot of planning but my friends Mike and Diane made it a lot of fun - I will miss our emails, phone calls and meetings - such joy, such fun, so rewarding.
The picture above includes a few of my elementary school classmates that I also graduated with from high school - a couple of them I went kindergarten through high school. We only had a graduating class of about 40, so that's a pretty good turnout.


The barn is incredible!!! What you can't see is the airplane propeller on the other side of the building that is run by a giant pulley to act as a fan to cool the barn. The setting among the oak trees was stunning, the pond with a bridge was cooling, the Red Rock Saloon is so nostalgic, the jail - well, it's a jail, and the greenest grass I've ever seen...an amazing place...thanks, Mike, for working your connections to get us such a terrific place to hold our reunion...

To those who helped with making this reunion 'come to life' - thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your work. To the classmates who attended, thanks for coming and thanks for being a part of my life...

Joan

Lemoore High School

Here's where it began in 1971...my high school is soooo beautiful! The community made the decision many years ago to retrofit the school vs tearing it down. Thank you, thank you, thank you for preserving our beautiful school!

Looking down from the balcony in the auditorium.


I wonder if I noticed this beautiful column during my four years here...

or this stunning old chair...

We got a SPECIAL tour of the school - one of our classmates works there and has the keys to the place...

Keepin' it cool & Other Class Reunion Goodies

My purple and gold trash...


I knew it was going to be hot at the reunion, so I made these purple and gold fans complete with our school logo in the center.

Purple and gold paper, a little glue and Popsicle sticks and you're ready to be oh, so cool!

I used the school logo everywhere - fans, centerpieces - I even glued them to flat backed marbles and attached a self-stick magnet on the back for a little favor.

Check out these other cool favors I made.
They are coasters personalized with the school logo and the classmates' yearbook photo. Everyone LOVED them! I got them at http://www.favorfavor.com/page/FF/PROD/3952- they were only $1.15 for two.