A Delayed Father's Day Present

Due to crazy things happening in June, I didn't get to spend Father's Day with my dad until dinner tonight. My mom had us over for steaks, baked potatoes, mac n' cheese (for Nic mostly) and salad. Dinner was delish. That girl can cook!

I set out to make something for my dad for a small token of my appreciation. Remember this print I made for my mom for Christmas...?

Well, I thought my dad deserved his own. But smaller. Not that he DESERVED a smaller print, he just doesn't have a ton of free office space.

In Photoshop, I created a new 8x10 layer and got to work. After some serious thought, here's what I came up with:

I used a few different fonts (ChunkFive, Stencil, Impact Label and Cavier Dreams), and stuck with 4 colors (black, red, tan and gray). Using my dad's company's tag line, name and the date it was established, I created a simple subway art.

I was going to frame it in a black frame, but decided that was BORING. Okay, not boring, but predictable. I dug around my craft room and found an old clip board - one I wouldn't mind using. I grabbed some Matte Modge-Podge, a paint brush, and the prints I picked up from Walgreens (TIP!! don't modge podge over regular printer ink, doesn't work; it streaks!).  I used a 30% off coupon and paid $4.21 for two copies (8x10).

After I did a few coats of the modge podge, I decided it needed a little something more. When I was at my brother's house back in October, I borrowed a box of pens.

These are my FAVORITE! Growing up on several Army bases - as an Army brat- they were everywhere! I figured it would be perfect to add to the clipboard.

I found some ball link chain in the husband's garage. I attached it to the pen and then to the clipboard, so that it was hanging in the front. 

The clip still opens, but I told him to just hang it - and use it as an art piece. Not a real clipboard.

Here it is hanging (in my house... his walls are gray - and it will look cool above his desk). I gave him the second copy in case he wanted to frame one.


Simple and easy Father's Day present for one of my special heroes!
This would make a great present for Veterans' Day, too.

He loved it.
I think.
No, I know he did.

Let's all sing together now...

Isn't this exciting?! TWO WHOLE YEARS OLD!!
Of course, if you look in my archives, you will posts that are older than that, but that's just because I recently imported posts from old blogs, to keep everything together (you know, for when I finally get around to printing the darn thing off).

Here is my first post as Queen of the Creek. Classy, huh?

We've come a long way, baby!

Thanks for sticking around and reading all about the crazy shenanigans. Oh! And go visit Ashli (http://www.maillardvillemanor.com/) and wish her a happy blogirthday too!

Presents galore can be sent to my home, here in AZ! ;)

XOXO,
me.

Love Love Love the 4th [Free Printables]

Memorial Day has come and gone, but Independence day is right around the corner. One of my FAVORITE holidays for sure. Which is why I had such a great time making FREE printables for YOU (and me, because of course I will be printing them off to showcase around the house)!

You can view and download them below. Easy, I pinky promise.










You can also click here to see the rest of the printables I've created. Sharing is caring!

P.S. See who I am partying it up with --->

Gabriel - My Nephew - Graduate

It is my pleasure to announce that my nephew, Gabriel, graduated high school (from my Alma Mater, no doubt) tonight. He is the first of the cousins to graduate... and we are so proud.

We have another graduation next year, Gabe's sister Amber, and then Alex is class of 2014. Thankfully, there will be a slight reprieve until Isa graduates in 5 years. =)

We are so happy we were there to witness Gabe's important milestone! We love him dearly!

My Mother's Day

As I mentioned in my previous post, Marcos had to work on Mother's Day. So it was just me and the kiddos. We actually were having lunch with my parents, my Aunt and Uncles, my cousin and my grandma at our house. Which meant we had to get up and get going pretty early.  The kids helped with the chores while I ran to complete some errands. I needed to pick up the frames for my mother's present, as well as pick up a little something for my aunt and for my grandma.

Our meal yesterday was scheduled to be light; tuna salad, chicken salad, veggies, deviled eggs, etc. I made, for the very first time, Ambrosia Salad. Easy. :) Pineapple, Mandarin oranges, marshmallows, coconut shavings and almond slices. Mixed with homemade whipped cream.

I will never buy cool whip again. Seriously.  It was so easy to make and it tastes so light and delish. But that might just be because of my beautiful Kitchen-Aid mixer. =)

The day was quiet, easy and fun. My aunt brought several of her HUGE binders filled with a million pictures from the past 10 years. To reminisce and to also share with Abby, my niece who missed all of those occasions. That was a blast! My kids used to be soooo cute! ;)

Speaking of kids, Isabel delivered a handmade card to me yesterday...

This voucher is my absolute favorite:

I am trying to determine how she sees that as a present?! lol... Alex is a decent driver, but it still wouldn't be something I'd consider a cruise around town. What a silly girl.

Finally, Nic also gave me a present...

Told you Nico loved the Avengers...  What I am not loving?! That he took it upon himself to put thumbtacks in my walls. Crazy kid.

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day (if you are a momma). And I hope you made your momma's day wonderful. My momma LOVED her present! I knew she would. It's those darn grand kids.

=)

THIRTEEN!!!

I spent quite a bit of time combing through photo albums (online and in books) looking for a series of pictures of Isabel I could share. I think I've found a well-rounded group.

Why am I sharing?

Well, today just so happens to be my Uncle Mike's birthday.
And my brother's birthday - he's 38.

But a little closer to home, today my only daughter turns 13. As in, OMG - we are BARELY just starting with the teenage years?!??

I swear it feels like she's been 16 for five years now. ;) But she hasn't.

Bring on the pics! (please note that some of these are pics of pics [my scanner wasn't working] and because I got PS happy, I grouped them by color [action] so as not to make you super dizzy!)

Here is Isabel at her Winnie the Pooh 1st Birthday party in 2000. 

In 2007 - most likely helping give her baby brother, Nic, a bath!

May 2007 (Mother's Day to be exact)

Isabel LOVED sweet pickles. And rollers in her hair (4th of July 2002)... and catching rays. 

 Love all these pictures of my girl.

 This is one of my favorite group of pictures. Starting top left to right, Marcos and I with Isabel in San Diego in 2005. And then Alex and Isa at Hoover Dam in 2002. Then bottom left is Isa on the day she was born. And then bottom right is Marcos, Alex and Isa when she was about a year - we were at Sea World in San Diego.

Here is my chula (beautiful) getting her drink on in Mexico in 2008. :)

And her and Nic in 2007.

And then her last year, on her 12th Birthday; it was jersey day at school.

 

Isabel has been a true blessing. She is funny and witty and beautiful. She is a great helper around the house. She is a fantastic companion at the park with Nic - she gets down and dirty and plays what he wants to play. 

Happy 13th Birthday  

to my beautiful daughter. Daddy and I love you sooooo much!! 

We see a ton of potential in you and cannot wait to see where the next 13 years takes you.

Sixty Years ago Today

Sixty years ago, today... Earth was blessed with a bouncy baby boy. Oh, I realize that there were probably hundreds of thousands of bouncy baby boys born on that very same day. In fact, here are a few:

• James Manuel Costa - U.S. Representative for California's 20th Congressional District
• Erick Avari - Indian-British actor with a starring role in The Mummy
• Sam Bush - Noted blue grass mandolin player
• Warren Anderson - Former Canadian hockey player
• Ron Dittemore - American Space Administrator

The guy I am talking about studied political science in college, but was never a politician. He is a character, but has never been in film. He can play the guitar... but mandolin, I am not sure. I could never imagine this guy on ice skates, but maybe I am wrong. And this guy has never had his head in the clouds (well... he did live through the 70s. hmmm.), unless you count the multitude of airplane rides he's taken in his life.

All of that is OKAY. Because what he's been able to pull off in the last sixty years is even more impressive than most.

My dad was such a cute kid. And he's such a handsome man. Above all of that, my dad has been (and still is) a fantastic father. I've known it since as long as I can remember. He is proud (in a chest-puffing sort of way), he is supportive (as he's shown time and time again), and he is SMART. Like very, very smart.

He has given us a life that was solid, without fear, with little to no drama (until I hit 18 of course, but that was mostly on me), and a lot of love.

When my dad became a grandfather, he put all other grandfathers to shame. Really.
There is nothing he wouldn't do for his grandchildren. Or his grand-dogs, for that matter.

And because of how he loves them, there is nothing that his grandchildren wouldn't do for him.

My dad is patient and kind. He loves my mother fiercely. He's hardworking. He's patriotic and proud.
Over the years, his hobbies may have changed... from hunting and camping, to building trains and playing golf, but his diverse interests show that he is engaged in life.

My dad's not fancy (although he cleans up nicely!) - most days (heck, everyday?!), you find him in a t-shirt and jeans. I love that about him. Too bad I couldn't find a picture of him in his cut-off jean shorts. Although, I don't think they've seen the light of day in at least 20 years. <<fingers crossed>>

As my brother and I have gotten older, I know we appreciate all our dad has done. We understand the sacrifices he has made. We understand the punishments we received. We understand the pushing, prodding and dragging. It all makes sense now.

Marcos' father passed away when Marcos was only 3. My dad has been our dad since Marcos was 18. And while it's not always been easy (those two are pretty similar considering there is not a drop of shared DNA), I know (because he's told me), that Marcos considers him as his dad.

I am so proud to have my dad in my corner. We are friends. We gossip like school girls. I depend on his knowledge. He cracks me up. I love him with all of my heart and soul. Forever and ever, Amen.

Happy Birthday, dad. I hope that you have a wonderful day (of course you will, Carne Asada and tacos for dinner tonight!).  We love you to bits.

Da Hoppa

Have you seen that new series of Dish commercials regarding the Hopper?!
The husband works for Dish; I sometimes pay attention.

Da hoppa one gets me every time I see it.

Speaking of da hoppa. Someone evidently told my kid that in order to participate in an egg hunt, one must act like a bunny.

And look at that Ring of Chocolate around his mouth. Fire schmire. Johnny Cash, eat your heart out.

We hosted our Spring Fling {aka Easter} & April Birthday's at our house yesterday. The husband was at work, so he missed out.

Here are some pictures of those who were present:

My beautiful cousin, Chell. It's almost like she was getting her sun burn on right then and there!

My momma.

Alex and my Aunt Julie

Chell and her youngest Evan. Her oldest, Austin, was too busy scoring all the eggs to be bothered with a photo-op.

My niece Charlotte

Her brother Ben

My cousin-in-law, Darryl (Chell's husband).

Oops. Can't see Chell. My memory card is fried, me thinks! Sorry, cuz!

So there you have it. Kids, eggs, chocolate. Yep, I immediately took a nap after everyone left.