Looking for a few good names

I've always been crafty. When I was little I liked to cross-stitch (I know, ??), draw, and just about anything else I could get my hands on. A few months ago I started looking for a creative outlet to relieve stress. A few years ago I started coloring again when I had issues to deal with, but there are only so many geometric pictures you can color. Anyway, I love the concept of scrap booking but can't seem to let myself get into it. I've been looking for other ways to do that kind of stuff without doing that exactly. I started getting cutting and playing and ended up with this:

I really enjoyed making this for a certain adorable 1 year old I know. I'd like to create some more as a basis to maybe start an Etsy shop. I'd like to find 5-10 more to make and try some ideas. I'd like to make them for real people, not just random names. Anyone want a name garland for a kid's room perhaps? I've got lots of embellishments and ideas for color schemes, etc. Leave a comment or e-mail me and I'll contact you to talk some specifics!
Thanks in advance for your help!

This is the face of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is the "unofficial beginning of the summer", a time for fun and relaxation. It's a great holiday but it does have a purpose. Since the 1800's there has been a specific day to commemorate U.S. men and women who died while in military service. This is Mike Cifuentes. He was my little brother in the co-ed service sorority we were in in college. He was a fun-loving, funny, social man that was involved in ROTC as well as other activities. He was very serious and very intense when it came to his training.

At Homecoming 2004 I ran into him and we were able to catch up. He was in grad school, was still active with the military and was dating a great woman. A few weeks later I got a voicemail from him that he had proposed and was engaged. Later we found out that his company had been activated. He left school and went to Iraq to serve our country.

On August 4, 2005 we found out that several people from his company, Lima Company, had been killed by a roadside bomb. And Mike was one of them. This man with everything ahead of him was gone.

I know while Mike is very special to the family and friends that loved him, he is just one of the tens of thousands of brave men and women that have signed up to protect us. And one of the thousands that didn't come home. That's what today is about. Those thousands, the millions from World War I and II and the other wars and "conflicts" throughout our history.

I think about Mike often and I give thanks that I knew him. I give thanks for the men and women in the military. Pray for peace and be safe.

I miss you Mike.

Photo by Laura Burling

The Mutts Did Strut

Today was the 2009 Mutt Strut for the Humane Society of Indianapolis. It was the perfect day for it! They were expecting 6,000 dogs and their owners to the event and there were at least that many in attendance. Big dogs, little dogs of all shapes making their way around the turns. It is a great event because not only is it for the Humane Society but it is at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500. I don't know why I find it so humorous to see dogs on the track. I think it has something to do with the fact that next week there are going to be cars going 220 mph on it! The weather was perfect; if not a little too warm. Luckily, the wind kicked up and cooled everyone down a little bit.

There was also a carnival atmosphere off the track. There was a DJ playing 'Who Let the Dogs Out', Clifford the Big Red Dog, and the doggy mascots of the local sports teams. It was a great day and Hawkins is one pooped pup!

Great source of inspiration!

I've been following the blog Creature Comforts for several months now and enjoy Ez's posts. She has a weekly post where she takes an inspiring quote and frames it in one of her beautiful pictures. Then she encourages you to download it and print or use it as your wall paper or whatever you want, awesome! Above is this week;s quote. I hadn't heard it before but LOVE it, how true is that! Below are some of the past quotes that I've saved. Be sure to check them out!

Color Trends '09

I found the Pantone Color Forecast for Spring '09 and it is very beautiful. Eye Spy put together a great article about each of the colors and their take on the palette. Check it out! I have to say I feel very in-trend having painted my living room 3 lovely shades of colors resembling Lucite Green last summer!
Nosing around the Pantone website I also found that they announced the 2009 Color of the Year...drumroll please...Tah-dah!

In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow.
"The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."

I wasn't sure about the color but I like the thinking behind it. Happy Year of Mimosa!

Background-for anyone not familiar with Pantone,

In 1963, Lawrence Herbert, Pantone's founder, created an innovative system for identifying, matching and communicating colors to solve the problems associated with producing accurate color matches in the graphic arts community. His insight that the spectrum is seen and interpreted differently by each individual led to the innovation of the PANTONE® MATCHING SYSTEM®, a book of standardized color in fan format.

The color fan is mesmirizing. I get so excited to see all the different colors and see them as opportunities! I don't have to do too much color matching in my business but if you're looking for a color Pantone will be able to show it to you!

Take Action Tuesday-Participate!

I know that the economy is weighing on everyone's mind. It's not an easy time right now. BUT--there are ways that WE can make a difference. If you're like me, you have causes you care about and contribute to. The Komen Race for a Cure was in Indianapolis this last weekend and it was amazing to see all 42,000 participants! There are all sorts of reasons we decide to support a cause-personal experience, support for family member or friend, aligns with our values. I've been finding that a chance to participate means a lot more to me than it did previously. Cheap entertainment? Maybe...More likely I think it is a need to be a part of something positive.
So this week I challenge you to make a commitment to participate in an event that supports a cause you believe in. There's so many great ones, big and small. I'm walking this coming Sunday in the Mutt Strut that benefits the Humane Society of Indianapolis (off subject-you can donate to my fundraising effort click here). A friend of mine knows a woman that just in the last few weeks lost her infant dausghter and it makes March of Dimes March For Babies mean that much more. Happy Walking, or Running, or whatever you might do!

Here's A Head Scratcher

Came across this post on another blog I read regularly. Many interesting questions, especially for us single gals; food for thought. Some of the Would You Rathers are slam-dunks for me (hilariously funny) and others I don't know. Cool guy or nerd? Cool nerd would be ideal. I think it's possible(?). Kiss or orgasm, I have no idea! What do you think? Any slam dunks for you?