WW & #iPPP time...Bubble Style

The next time you hear a kidlet grumbling about being told to go wash their hands for the bagillionth time, tell them about all the fun they can have with the bubbles they make...just like my husband did during one of those get-hands-clean moments.

He rationalizes that it's a science lesson for the kids about surface tension.  I say he just likes to play.  But, either way, it's still pretty cool to make a bubble bigger than your head!

Little Things Make Me Smile: Glue Stick Edition

I was all ready to blame good ol' Murphy....

I rarely wear makeup...just a handful of times a year.

And for some unknown reason (probably that Energizer Bunny I was channeling all day today), I actually put a li'l on this morning.  Including waterproof mascara.

So, guess what product I'm without right about now??

I had some eye makeup remover...somewhere...but, it's gone missing.

I was all for blaming Mr.Murphy when I reached for what I thought was a tinted lip balm...and found a glue stick.

Yes.  A glue stick.  Elmer's.

There's only one person in this house who uses glue sticks.

And it's a good thing I already put her to bed.

Mr. Murphy is officially off the hook.

Which is kind of a good thing.  'Cause when Mr. Murphy causes hijinx, I'm usually pretty darn grumpy.

But, a wee girl, curious about Mama's stuff...just makes me smile.

It's the little things, really.

Isn't it?

What's making you smile?

{ MAGIC }

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Source: madiillustration.blogspot.com via Karen on Pinterest

~ Ronald Dahl

Magic bits of our days carry a key for me.  That key unlocks all those little bits and pieces, small moments that make me smile.

Laughter floating through air, a leaf coasting upon it.

Sun shinning through a spider's night shift masterpiece.

Felines stretched long; furry bellies soaking up sun.

Painted toes, never seen beneath a warm winter shoe.

Fresh crayon boxes, filled with pointy rainbows.

Overflowing tubs of broken crayons; hand pressed stories in every break.

Rain water's curbside travels, breaking at each tiny pebble in its path.

So thankful to believe in the magic.

What about you?

Happy to be linking up with Bits of Bee today on her meme hosting maiden voyage!  I have always been driven by, inspired by, made better by taking in the words of others.  I've had quote journals, walls covered in quotes written on post-its, and now, thanks to Pinterest, a Letters Word Type Talk board celebrating words themselves.

And a meme dedicated to that very thing I love?  Perfect.


I found the above image on Pinterest and via that, have had an opportunity to check out the rest of the artist's site.  Definitely go see Madi Illustration for yourself!

Unexpected

Yesterday was unexpected.

I unexpectedly blew a tire on my way to drop a carload of li'l kidlet stuff at a donation drop off.

I unexpectedly blew a tire on a country road.

I unexpectedly could not call for help when the number I needed to dial contained a 3.  Yes, my #3 button had not been working on my old phone for quite awhile.  Did I mention it was old?

I unexpectedly found an old(er) man, who did not have a phone.  Then, found a mean lady who said she didn't have a phone.

Then, unexpectedly, from the mean ladies place came a gal with her cell phone and offered it to me.

I was relieved.

Unexpectedly, she offered to change my tire.  I was ecstatic.

Unexpectedly, her little chihuahua came running across the street.  He was adorable and I held him while she changed my tire with my very slow to rise jack and minimal tools from my trunk.

I thanked her repeatedly, though I don't know that my words conveyed how grateful I was.

The rest of the day remained unexpected.  But, that unexpected act of kindness carried me through.

And what did I learn from having a flat tire on a country road?

A)  I need to learn how to change my own tire.

and

B)  Have a cell where all the buttons work!

Many thank yous to everyone who stops to help a stranger.  You make a greater impact than you know.

5 Things that make me { Smile }

1)  Fort Bragg

Nothing injects peace and stillness, like the fresh ocean air and the rhythmic pounding of the waves.





 

Really, what's not to like?!

 

Sunsets on the coast

 

Most any beach will do. Though, I do have a preference for the coastline from Northern California up through Southern British Colmbia.

2) Kidlets playing together sweetly...especially when there's a hug involved.

This is definitely an older pic from their li'ler years, but it's one of my favorites and most definitely makes me smile.

3)  Color

 

I love color.

I love color from nature,

 

from moments spent with a creative craft in hand,

 

or from the vast amount of inspiration across the interwebs, much of which ends up on my Pinterest boards and those always make me smile!

4)  Music

Whether from memories of playing the piano, violin, and flute while growing up, or from my daughter sweetly pressing the ivories, or from a cd played in the car while the kidlets and I take one of our country drives, or an iTunes playlist singing in my ear while I write, or my kidlets dancing to music played on YouTube, it just about always makes me smile.

I love that music can transport me or firmly plant me in the moment, etching a memory into my heart.

5)  Writing

Growing up, I was always writing...in many journals, from Judy Blume journals to ones with a lock on them to nicely bound ones, on random pieces of paper, writing about my day or a short fictional passage or some poetry.

And for awhile, after getting married and having my kidlets, I strayed away from it.  I had strayed away from what makes me tick.

Writing again, whether for a blog post or a piece of fiction, it brings me home and makes me smile.

Linking up with just.be.enough the first time today and couldn't think of a prompt that I mesh with more than things that make me smile! :>

She Makes Me Smile

Okay, I confess.  My profile pic, the one I use here, on Facebook, and Twitter is a little old.  Before you cast bloggers' shame upon me, let me plead my case.

*  When Bruna of Bees with Honey interviewed me, I searched for another pic that could be used.  Would you believe that in 2011, I only found one, only ONE other pic that would semi work?!  I'm almost always the one behind the lens.

*  I've gotten some nice compliments on this particular picture.  And when I told my friend Elise, what picture I cropped my head out of to use as my profile pic, she responded, "Oh! OF COURSE! People always look better when they're doing something that makes them HAPPY!!!"

And yes, holding my kidlets, my girl in this case, makes me happy! :>  I keep trying to come up with another, more current pic, but until I do, I'm using this one.  'Cause you know what??  Seeing my girl's wee fingers poking in the corner of the pic makes me smile.  And that's good enough for me.

 Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop
Share Your Sunday Best at Feels Like Home
Sunday Funday at The Fence

 

Meet { me } at Sarah's Fence!

There's a smile on my face today...would you like to know why? 

I am guest posting at Sarah's The Fence today!

Sarah, @MamaRiceCake, first popped into my world one #wineparty many months ago on Twitter.  And after many tweets, Facebook posts, blog shares, and emails, I have found her to be one of the most genuine people I've had the opportunity to connect with through this fabulous blogosphere.

Now, I have been known to trip over my own feet, but at The Fence today, I'm Dancing with Rainbows & I promise, no one will get hurt. ;>

I'd love for you to click on over, tell me what you think, and make sure to give Sarah a wave hello!

Writer's Workshop - A kiss & a smile!

I love Mama Kat's prompt number five: On a piece of paper write down something that makes you happy…take a photo of your paper and wa la…there’s your post. 

In fact, I love it so much that even though the day is winding down, I still am hopping in on the party workshop!

My Princess wanted to "do art" today and spent most of it cutting out words & pictures from an old magazine to use for collages later.  And I thought it was the perfect time to color right along side her.  Coloring, just to color, not for a pretty purpose is so full of happiness in and of itself.  Add that to some precious time spent with a sweet girl and I was definitely smiling!

I just adore it when I am the victim/benefactor of a sneak attack kiss for no apparent reason from my kidlets!

So, spread the happiness, what's making you smile today?

Perfect Time

Thought that Valentine's Day is the perfect time to celebrate some of the Little Things that Make Me Smile!

* Listening to the rain.....made me smile!

* Handing my girl a few sheets of cardstock and seeing her pull out a heart stencil, scissors & glue......made me smile!

* And then watching her hand crafting Valentine's for her Dad, brother, & I, all by herself today......made me smile!

* Tucking a mini Valentine into my boy's lunchbox this morning.......made me smile!

* Seeing him smiling & excited as he told me about his rockin' awesome day today.......made me smile!

* Hand cutting hearts for my family today.......made me smile!

* Opening the door this evening and seeing Hubs walking up with a pot of pink tulips in his hand.......made me smile!

* And then hearing that the tulips are for both wee girl and I....made me smile!

* Finally getting to see the Valentines that wee girl had spent all morning creating......made me smile!

* Having the whole family together.........makes me smile!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

What's making YOU smile today???

A Roofline's Peaceful Offering

Every school day, when my little Princess & I go to pick up her big brother at school we take in a bit o' peace before the flood of kidlets spill out of the classrooms into the open hallways.

Some days, we stay in the car and sing away to whatever music we've got playing and many other days, we go into the hall outside the classroom and quietly wait for the bell to ring.  On those days, when the sky is dry, we like to look up!

The school is still quite new and the open air hallways are covered by the most beautiful planked ceilings.  At the roofline, the red tiled roof against the blue sky is striking.

We both look up and smile.

Then the bell rings and a sea of kidlets overtake the halls!

Where do you find those little smile worthy, peaceful moments in your day?

Linking up for Wordful Wednesday!

Will you {Indulge} me for a minute??

Generally there's a creative share here, but also those Little Things that Make Me Smile.  And if  you'll {indulge} me for just a minute (pretty please?), I have a little thing that has elicited cheering, shouting, and yes, outright screaming at the box in the room playing the Saints vs. Seahawks playoff game today.

The 12th Man rocked today as it prompted the 107th False Start as the loudest stadium in the League.  That's pretty amazing considering that its an outdoor stadium...its louder than the domes!!!

And while I'm in California, I asked those fantastic Boys in Blue via Twitter, if my screaming still counts and was ensured that it does!

SEAHAWKS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a happy gal & thankful for my Niners loving family & friends (Hubs, son, Jenn, Deb, Siobhan, and Falcons fan, Wayne) who were willing to cheer on the Hawks today! :>:>

Are you cheering any team on during this NFL playoff season?

10 in 2010

2010 has been an eventful & busy year for us. And since with the close of 2010 (in seven hours here), we will also have said goodbye to the first decade of this century, I thought I'd look back a bit and celebrate 10 in 2010!

* After a few attempts, I created a new blog header this year and finally created a matching blog button.  Come & grab it, if you'd like!

<center><a href="http://timecrafted.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Time Crafted" src="http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/TimeCrafted/TmeCraftedBlogButton.jpg"/></a></center>

*  Time Crafted celebrated its first blog birthday in 2010 and I'm looking forward to celebrating number two quite soon!

*  We, as a family, fulfilled one of my main goals behind choosing the One Little Word {Life} for 2010 with our veggie and herb garden.  We all enjoyed planting, tending, watering, and harvesting summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes and many other tasty delights.  Looking forward to continuing this family activity in 2011 as well!

*  Created a page dedicated to Autism & GF/CF Links and have recently updated with three fab mama bloggers who share their stories (they are most definitely Worth the Click).  I'll be adding some fantastic gluten free, GF/CF, and other food allergy/sensitivity bloggers on that page in the coming weeks!

*  2010 had me spreading my wings creatively through photos & fun Flickr play, altering journals (I didn't do a lot of altering in the past & now I'm loving it, with more altered projects in the works!), writing & bringing story back into  my words, and while I've stalled a bit in my journey with paint, I'm looking forward to pushing through in 2011.

*  Signed up for a social media hot spot that I never thought I would get into:  Twitter.  And can I tell you a little secret?  Lean in and I'll tell ya.......I really like it!  Come find me @timecrafted!

*  Found some uber fun weekly hops to participate in, including Tickled Pink at 504 Main, Writer's Workshop at Mama's Losin' It, and SITS Back 2 Blogging event in September.

*  Speaking of 504 Main, Holly has put together "THE BEST of Tickled Pink 2010" this week, with five different categories and I was incredibly honored that my story Meet Grandma meets Jerry Rice has been included in Part 3A Cool Ideas!

Thanks so much, Holly!

*  Holly is also doing a Tickled Pink link up today for this Best of 2010 party and I very quickly knew which post o' mine is my favorite this year.  I've linked up with a story of my Four Musketeers and our adventures through over twenty years of friendship:  A Special Day...Five years in the Making.

*  And I've saved the best for last.  What's that you ask??  YOU!!  You are the part of the blogging equation.  And I'm grateful for all the connections I've made in the beginning, the new people I've connected with in 2010, and I can't wait to continue in 2011!

Thank you for each of your visits and every comment, tweet, and email!  I can be a chatterbox in real life and I love chatting with you! :> 

Here's to a wonderful 2011 for all of us!  What plans do you have for the coming year?

Random can be kind of Great!

Visiting with my Dad, his wife, and my brother made today {Great}, all by itself, but then as they were leaving, Random struck, which also had a bit of its own greatness, too!

As my family was getting in their car to leave for the night, a dog trotted across the road to the car to say 'hello'.  I didn't want him to get hit as they were about to pull out, so I patted my leg and he trotted on over.  He wasn't huge, but a good size, taller than my knees, white with some large black spots, and quite mellow.

I held his collar as they left and then we went back up the house so that I could call the phone number on his tag.  As I was dialing, I found his name, "Coolio".  Have to admit, he was pretty cool.  The kidlets, of course, came clamoring to the door to see why I had a dog with me and to ooooo & ahhhhh and get some petting in. 

Unfortunately, I didn't have any luck with the number on the tag....not right away.  And Coolio had decided to go for a walk.  So, I followed him, hoping he was visiting someone on our street.

Coolio led the way and I followed.  If he got too far ahead, he trotted back and got me and then we proceeded on down the street, then back up, then down and into the next neighborhood.  At this point, I realized it was close to eleven o'clock at night and with no jacket, a wee bit cold.

But, we walked some more, Coolio sniffed every walkway, every bush & shrub, chased a couple cats for about 1.2 seconds each, and I followed.  When I realized I was starting to sleep walk and turn into a popsicle, I knew I needed to turn around and walk home. 

I was torn though, I didn't want Coolio to get hit by a car.  To my utter surprise, when I turned at the end of the street, Coolio stopped, turned around and followed me all the way back home.  When I got home, I realized why I had been cold (besides the no jacket thing), my glasses immediately fogged up from the warmth of the house....that and the thermometer read 36 degrees (F). 

We gave Coolio some water, my boy came back out of his room to pet him some more, and just as we were about to try calling his owner again, the phone rang with that very same person:  Coolio's owner!

While I was waiting for Coolio's owner to come & pick him up, I noticed the writing on his collar.  It read, "Coolest Dog Ever" and ya know what?  I think that about sums it up.

All of it felt random, but ya wanna know what else?  Random can be kind of {Great}!

What {Great} bits of randomness have entered your life lately?  I love a great story!

It's Time.

I've said it before, little things often make me smile even brighter than the big things, and again, it is oh so true! And you know what?!  I just realized that it has been Quite awhile since I have shared a few of those little things!! 

Sometimes, when life's actions, reactions, movement, tragedies, triumphs, challenges, and often fast pace are swelling up our world, it helps to recognize and remember all those wonderful little bits and pieces in a single day that can add up to a great day.  And what never ceases to amaze me is that if I stop (halt, cease, pause, wait, close my eyes & breathe), even if I feel like I am having a lousy day, those little things can often add up to a larger sum than those un-fun incidences in the day.  With that said.................

(Oh yea....before ya get y'er panties in a bunch about a non-uber neat boy begging to clean, read to the end....I promise he had good motivation...........but, the action, nonetheless, made me smile! :>)

*  My son waking me early to ask what he could clean..........made me smile!

*  My boy telling me I was ruining his cleaning time when I told him that we needed to take his sister out to Grammie's for dance class today........................made me smile!

*  My Grande Light Mocha Frappuccino to battle the Benadryl today.......................made me smile!

*  Watching the beautiful butterfly flit across Mom's driveway and into the trees...............................made me smile!

*  Wee girl giving me a kiss on the nose when I left her with Mom for dance class.......................made me smile!

*  Looking through the peephole when our doorbell rang and at first not seeing anything, then seeing a speck of my wee girl's head, waaaaaaaaay below, returning from dance class.....................made me smile!

*  Hearing the surprised smile on Hubby's face when I called from Costco to ask what size the golf shirt that I bought him a couple of months ago was...because I was there to get him another one.......................made me smile!

*  My boy jumping up and practically tackling me when I said that the salami that I had in the fridge for a macaroni salad that I'm making for the BBQ we're having Saturday is safe for him to eat (gluten, casein, nitrite, msg, preservative free!) and telling me, "I love you!  You're the best Mom ever!!".................made me smile!

*  Hubby exhaling first and then smiling when he saw that I brought home something as simple, yet 'necessary' as coffee, while on my mega grocery store run this evening (to Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Safeway)...................made me smile!

*  Wee girl running, charging, out of her room when she heard me come home from insane grocery run, jump up and hang from my neck...........................made me smile!

*  Eating a Cold salad at home (courtesy of Safeway) while watching the So You Think You Can Dance results show after sweating like a bucket of ice in a sweltering sauna in a Hot car for the grocery race..................made me smile!

*  And yes, I confess, watching "Bethenny Getting Married?" ....................made me smile!

Little things!!  Little things, from the trivial to the pivotal moments, make me Smile!!! 

Now, for reality's sake, I should say that my boy is not usually that excited about cleaning.  In fact, its more than not his favorite thing to do.  The night before his Excited Day to Clean Day, his Dad offered him up a big carrot, a Really Big Carrot.  Both he and his Dad like their computer games and his Dad offered him up his own player on his Dad's game............if, IF, he helped Mama out with the house (aka more than the usual chores) as we have company coming on Saturday (can't wait to see you, Auntie Jenn, Auntie Monique & Uncle Matt!!!). 

I would have settled for much less than him waking me early to ask what he could start cleaning or when he could use a Swiffer to dust (quite honestly my favorite cleaning tool....ever!...no sneezing!!).  As it turns out, that carrot that Hubby held out for him was sooooo BiG, that I heard More phrases out of my boy that I Never Ever thought I would Ever hear!!  Not too shabby, Hubby!  And, most definitely, Smile Worthy!

I would Love to hear from You!!  What little things have made you smile today?  Can't wait to hear! :>

Merry Christmas!

After staying up late to wrap presents, my eyes are puffy, and I'm a wee bit tired. But, truthfully, in the end, seeing someone's face all lit up when they have a wrapped present in their lap, is worth it. :>

I like the little things in life. Its the little things, life's little moments, that make me smile. I thought I would share a few of those little moments that have placed smiles on my face and in my heart this season.

* Strolling down memory lane as I took each ornament out and hung it on the tree.....made me smile!

* Handing my Princess a box of ornaments to hang all by herself for the first time....made me smile!

* An Auntie taking the time to track down a gf/cf chocolate advent calendar......makes me smile!

* Children racing, checking the date to see whose turn it is, to open the next door on that advent calendar......makes me smile!

* Taking the kidlets on our annual Christmas lights drive.......made me smile!

* Hearing squeals of delights and sounds of awe when we saw a beautiful or fun display of Christmas lights.....made me smile!

* Cheering a friend on and smiling from the inside out when we all welcomed one of my closest friend's newest baby into the world.......made me smile!!

* Singing Christmas songs with my kidlets......makes me smile!

* Listening to my son sing in his Winter Concert......made me smile!

* Getting inky and making some Tim Holtz Christmas tags.....makes me smile!

* Winning one of Tim's giveaways during his 12 Tags of Christmas and having a couple of girlfriends immediately know that it was me because of my :> greater than smiley face smiles.....made me smile!

* Telling my son that the present he just shook and swears is Legos is really just a box of rocks....made me smile! (Don't worry....he's laughing too!)

* Having Hubby home for four days this Christmas.......makes me smile!

* Chatting online with my best friend last night while I was wrapping presents.....made me smile!

* Family and friends, emails, phone calls, cards, pretty pictures, smiles and happy faces....make me smile!

* And of course, YOU and this fabulously fun blogging world.....make me smile!!!

Thank You!!

Source: freefoto

Little Things

Friday, I celebrated and shared a whole lotta blog love. And when I listed seven tidbits o' me for the Kreativ Blogger award, number seven said, "Little things often make me smile even brighter than the big things." That is oh so true! And since I spent much of last night, through the night, up with my precious baby girl (okay, so she's not a baby anymore, but close enough!) as she coughed and sniffed, and sniffed, and sniffed some more while whimpering for a tissue, I thought today was a perfect day to celebrate some of those little things!

* My kidlets and I crouching low to watch an ant colony move themselves and all of their eggs across the walkway to a flood free zone (aka away from the sprinklers)........made me smile!

* A calendar on the desk filled with family photos........makes me smile!

* Beep, beep goes the microwave, reminding me that my reheated coffee is waiting for me......makes me smile!

* Glistening droplets, left behind from a morning sprinkler shower on the grass, basking in rays from the sun that finally decided to greet us........makes me smile!

* A lazy Sunday spent online with a great friend..........made me smile!

* My daughter asking if we can please go to Trader Joe's "next morrow" (aka tomorrow).......makes me smile!

* Downloading pics off of my camera, just minutes ago........made me smile!

* Listening to my daughter sip her "tea" from her pink Disney Princess tea cup......makes me smile!!

* Listening to beautiful bird chit chat outside and deeply soaking in the fact that the blue jays have not arrived for the day yet.............makes me smile!

* Knowing that my Princess will want more than her usual share of cuddles today......makes me smile!!

* Looking down at the Monopoly board game that still needs to be put away and quickly hearing the laughter that fills the room when our son plays with his Dad.........makes me smile!

* Clothes fresh out of the warm dryer to put on this morning after being chilled from being awake most of the night.........made me smile!

* And just as much as all the happy little noises that fill this house and my life, quiet too.....makes me smile! :>

Another bit that makes me smile is hearing from all of you! But, that is no little thing as I'm always grateful for you taking the time to stop and say hello! What little things make you smile?