Doesn't really feel like a monday for me today.. I have been thinking it was Sunday all day long..

Last week was Lorynn's graduation from her preschool playgroup. We went to the park and I snapped some adorable photos of her and all her friends.. I had this one particular photo that was SO cute, but had a really terrible colorcast, plus I just didn't nail the focus on it. (I hate it when that happens!)  So.. to fix it, I created this uber cool action to make my 'photo errors' look more purposeful :)

hehehe, I love Photoshop :) Anyway.. Said cool action is now in the shoppe. It is only compatible with Photoshop, not photoshop elements because I used curves and channels to color correct and I am just not sure how to replicate that step in Elements.. <sorry peeps, I just don't use it enough!>

So, in other news :) We are happily starting off our summer vacation. Taking a little trip to go visit Lori this weekend.. I expect cool foofie dresses and old barn photos to come :)  AND.. I just wanted to also post here, (in small not as noticeable print) hehehe.. As most of you know, I have been dating.. Well. I've met someone UBER terrific who I'd like to share with you. His name is Chris and I get those fluttery butterflies every time he smiles at me.. In fact, new hottie bio photo was actually a self portrait that I took for him :) SOO.. Since most of you know my history.. I just wanted you to know, that I am very very happy and life has been treating me extremely well..

Now, if I could only channel said happiness into productivitiy.. Well, a girl can wish, right? :)

It just wouldn't be right if I didn't share this LO of Lorynn too :)

It's pure happiness, I assure you.

Yes, two posts, and two layouts in one day..

Yeah.. Don't get used to it :)

Not to shock and awe you with two posts so close together ;) but.. I FINALLY have some new goodies for the shoppe, and I just had to share :)

Let It Shine

A kit packed full of fun summery colors, it's bright and cheery and it just makes me happy :)

Of course I had to scrap with it.. YEAH :)

Brenna was being adorable with her umbrella :) and, no.. It wasn't actually raining, she was dancing in the sprinklers.. but.. you know.. it's semantics ;) Had the rain come earlier, she would have been out there enjoying it.

So, YEAH ME! Now I am off to reward myself with an iced soy chai for a job well done..YUM.

Hell, I've got a quiet house to myself, I might even take the afternoon off and watch Nurse Jackie on SHO.. <how cool would that be??> (Have you seen this yet? It's brilliant!) Man, I love premium cable, it's so much better than boring old TV.. And to think I had actually thought of canceling it. ;)

Enjoy your Tuesday!

So, it's been a while since I've posted.. It would seem that the month of May has really kicked my butt :) May is always busy with Fancy Pants, creating fun new product for CHA Summer.. But this May has been particularly interesting for many reasons.

So, where to start.. First. I am grieving for the loss of a dear friend. She unexpectedly passed away last week. I think I am still in shock over it. Melannie was the little sister to my best friend since the second grade. We all grew up together.. I think I was at Nikk and Mel's house more often than I was at my own. There were three of us, Myself, Nikki and Kristie. We were inseparable.  Mel was the tag along little sister, but honestly, we had more fun when she was with us..  Usually, late at night after Nikki and Kristie called it quits.. Mel and I could be found perfecting our sneaking out techniques, singing Heart at the top of our lungs, or burping our ABC's together.  Ah.. those were the days :)

Here is a little perspective, this is a photo of Nikk and Kristie and I, ninth grade recognition dance :)

Aren't we cute?? Yes, we had big hair, after all, it was the early 90s :)

Here is a photo that was taken of us at Melannie's funeral.

I think it's funny how we change, but remain the same. I am so grateful for these friends of mine. They are really more like sisters. Losing Melannie so suddenly, has really made me put people and friendships into the proper perspective.

It also makes me appreciate my girls, just that much more. I've been trying to find more time with them to just play.. It's SO easy to get caught up in life and work, that playtime can sometimes be missed. Yesterday we went out to lunch and then stopped in at our favorite downtown fountain :) to just play in the water.. It was extremely crowded, apparently we were not the only ones with the same idea.. I didn't get any fabulous photos, but I am sharing them anyway :)

This one would have been cool, had anonymous child from the right not ran into my frame..

Oh well.. I did get a thumbs up from Lorynn, and that was the point, right?

SO, today, I am still working.. Trying to wrap up my new lines with FP. Tomorrow, I think we are going to head out to Lagoon in the morning and then maybe we'll grab a matinee of 'UP'. It looks SO cute! :)

I've been told by more than one person this week that my blogging has been slacking :)

Ok.. I got you.. However I've been tackling a hundred+ projects this week, and I today I am finally WINNING! Woohoo!! My progress could have something to do with the fact that it wasn't very sunny today.. I will admit to being slightly distracted by these inviting sunny days we've been having.  It is just too difficult to spend them inside behind a computer.. Instead, I've been biking, hiking, jogging, playing at the park, swinging; going for long drives with all my windows rolled down, music cranked up and just enjoying life. Yep. It's good.

I've also been doing a little cooking <gasp> I know. I've told my girls to NOT get used to it ;) as I am sure it's just a wild hair.. I've been playing with some cool vegan reciepes I've found. Now, just let me state here that for the record,  I am not vegan, as I will NEVER be able to give up my thick, juicy stakes or my dairy.. (drool).  But I've been into cooking healthier lately and I've learned that vegan can actually be pretty yummy. Who knew.

I recently designed a website for a client that wanted to feature vegan recipes (hence my kick). She post's the coolest info.. You must check her out.  ClearlyVegan.com (and of course my handy design work ;)

Today being Cinco De Mayo, I wanted to kick back a cold one, and say, Olè! :) Cinco De Mayo is also the day we celebrate Frog's birthday (as he is just one of the family)... The girls threw all of their frogs a birthday party complete with games, prizes and of course cake and ice cream.. Sorry, no photos to share.. It would seem that I have also not been living my life behind my camera very much lately either ;)  Ok. To spice up this otherwise graphic-less post, how about a cool Olè :)

Now that just makes me happy :)

If you feel so inclined to use said graphic in a festive layout, please do!

You can download it ::here:: ENJOY!