Hello from O-Hi-O

I just love visiting my family here in Ohio, my Mom, step-Dad, Brother, Sister-in-law and my niece are all here. Oh and I have another niece on the way, she is due to arrive Sept. 9. So excited. We have just been hanging out, made a quick (well not really quick) trip to Jo-Ann fabrics yesterday. It is the one place I *have* to visit every time I come here. The fabric selection is amazing. I can find things there that I can't in Memphis. I was able to score a nice variety of fabrics for buckets, mini-albums and some pj pants for the girls and I for the winter. I can't wait to get busy working on some of the ideas I have for stuff. We went to the Honda Homecoming parade last night and watched all of the motorcycles ride the parade route. OK, the girls are waking up so I am off to get ready and go find my brother, hopefully we can have some brother/sister time today. Surely the grandparents can handle three girls for a little while. :)

Taking a break..

I am taking a real quick break from the 75 wedding announcements I have been working on and I am happy to report they are about 98% complete. I have also been busy with monogramming orders and some other custom orders for buckets. I have been neglecting my etsy shop trying to get these orders filled and feel just terrible about that. I have so many pictures to take of the new stuff I have been working on, I hope to get on top of that when I return from Ohio. Mallory and I are headed there to get Big Sister on Thursday, David has a lot going on at work and can't make this trip. I think I said last year when I went by myself with Mallory (3mo. old) that I would never travel without him again, well she is a year older and has done pretty well in the car on our other vacations this summer. We will see. Heck there are a ton of Hampton Inns between here and there, we can always stop. OK back to work.

Bucket Love and other fun stuff

I made this bucket for a friend who was hosting a baby shower, she wanted something she could use for a centerpiece yet give to the Mom to use in the nursery. I think it turned out really cute.



And take a look at the bucket with the flower arrangement, so pretty. (Thanks for the pics Farrah!)

She also asked me to applique a onesie.

Did I mention that I am a monogrammer for hire?

Ok off to finish up the 75 wedding annoucements my neighbor ordered.

It's been one week Lulu...

pssst..it's me Mallory. Lulu are you reading Mommy's blog at J's house? I hope so, because I really miss you. You would not believe all of the mischief I have been getting myself into, well at least Mommy says its mischief, I say I am just having some fun. Like for instance, I don't know why she had a cow over this:

I didn't realize that climbing on the coffee table would be such a big deal.

You know she keeps that camera of hers close by at all times, she says it's for capturing memories but I say it is for evidence later on when I am older, but whatever.

Then I thought she would really appreciate me helping her organize then kitchen cabinets and drawers.

Not that they really needed organizing I mean Mommy and Daddy keep them organized, well you know how they are about things being neat. She didn't seem upset about me helping she laughed mostly. I think now she will take me with her when she is folding laundry in the bedroom. Thank goodness she hasn't gotten pics of everything I have been into these are enough.

Except me hitting redial on the phone and calling folks, no big deal.

See Lulu if you were here I know I would be able to keep myself out of trouble (maybe, can't make any promises), we could play our daily game of chase and hide and seek. OK gotta go, here comes Mommy. See you Thursday.

xoxoxox

Mallory

My two crafting loves

So recently I have been able t0 combine my two crafting *loves*; monogramming/sewing and scrapbooking to make these mini albums. I have had so much fun coming up with ideas on these. I have so many sketches in my journal on different design ideas.

So many possibilities. I am in the process of making one for my step-brother's new baby boy, with his name and birth date on the out side and space for Mommy and Daddy's favorite pics on the inside. will have pics of that when I am finished. I found some yummy cupcake fabric yesterday that I want to do something with, perhaps a mini-album, who knows. Any ideas?

Naps *Are* important

My dear sweet Mallory, I know you think I am being just horrible when I make you take a nap, but honey this is why you should not fight the nap...

She barely made it through dinner; I had just cleaned her up and went to put her bowl in the sink and this is what I came back to, less than a minute later. She was still grasping her fork.

Happy Birthday Mom

This is my Mom (and Lindsey), such a beautiful lady inside and out!



Love you so much woman! :)

*Cupcake Friday*

We are in the midst of planning *Cupcake Friday*. What is *Cupcake Friday* you ask? Well it is where Lindsey and I , Mallory too perhaps, make cupcakes; all kinds of cupcakes. So far on the list are:

~Plain Jane yellow cupcakes with sprinkles of course
~Cosmopolitan Cupcakes (sooo *YUMMY*)
~Carrot Cake Cupcakes

What is your favorite cupcake? We'd love love to know.

Why HFM?

There are two questions I keep getting asked:

1. How did you come up with the name *Half Full Martini*
2. Do you drink a martini every day?

Answers:
1. Have you heard the saying "Is your glass half full or half empty? Well I try to look at life with a Half Full attitude. Sure things can get a little crazy, but you know what; it always passes. No need to dwell on the negative. The martini part; because Martini is a *fun* word and let's be honest, martinis are *fun* to drink. So many variations to chose from.

2. No, I do not enjoy a martini everyday, if I am lucky it might be once a week, if I am lucky. :)

When in Atlanta

On our way home from Amelia Island we stopped in Atlanta for a couple of days so we could go to the Georgia Aquarium. It is the world's largest aquarium. It was very cool. David has been wanting to go for some time now so we made plans to stop on the way home from the beach. We saw Whale Sharks and touched sting rays among other things.

It's worth the trip.

Kit Club

Some HFM tags are in this kit for the month of July. Too cool! Thanks Beth.

New Stuff in the shop

Lindsey and I have been busy, she has been working on her projects and I have been working on mine. She has decided she wants to sell some of her creations, so in the shop there is a section called *Lindsey's Creations*. Check out her stuff!

I was very fortunate growing up, both my Mother and Grandmother are very creative, crafty women. They always included me when they were making stuff. I *LOVED* it. Still do. I do the same for Lindsey (and will for Mally when she is older) she pretty much has free reign in my craft space to create whatever pops into that pretty little head of hers. I am so happy she likes to create stuff. I have so many great memories of my Mom and I crafting together. I still love sitting down with her to make stuff when we visit each other. I hope Lindsey and Mallory look back on the time we spend creating together and have the same fond memories.

The "My Best Friend" mini album is in the shop as well as some of Lindsey's goodies. Check them out. I have so many other things to list so keep checking back, will work on that in between my girls and I making Summer memories. :)

etsy orders

All orders placed in the month of July will receive a surprise pack of goodies.

Also be on the lookout for some of Lindsey's creations going in the shop soon. She has been super busy making some really cute tags. The girl *loves* to create stuff and now she wants to sell some of her fabulous creations. We are busy taking pictures and writing her descriptions check-out a few of her things below...





The lighting isn't that great in our craft room at night so we are taking more pics outside tomorrow, this is just a teaser. ;) She is really excited about listing her stuff. Stay tuned.

Pain in the rEAR

I have had a stupid ear infection all weekend. Just finished up some antibiotics. I am 35 and so far this year I have had at least 10 ear infections. When I was a child they were painful, as an adult they are still painful but more of a pain in the rear to deal with. It totally messes me up. Well enough complaining, at least my girls are healthy and that my friends is all that really matters anyway. They ROCK!