Hi all - just wanted to let you know that I've turned the comment moderation on on my blog. I think my little blog has been targeted by a few bots and I've been getting a fair amount of spam. This seemed the best course of action for now (since I loathe comment verification and didn't want to make you do that!) :) Just so you know - your comments won't show up now until I "publish" them. Thanks for our understanding!
Please don't miss my KSS Monday post below - there are details about a release and how you can WIN!!
With the 4th of July holiday fast approaching I thought you might like a few quick decorating/crafting ideas! These neat ideas came from the Better Homes & Garden's website and it's stuffed full with lots of projects to make your 4th more festive!!
How cute is this little bucket!! This one happens to be used to hold those cute star bubble wands (that you can see here how to make). But you could also just use a cute red bucket, fill it with red, white & blue M&M's and then add some flag & stars picks- totally cute!!
Check out this link for 4th of July Craft ideas - lots of things for moms & kids to make together! I love the Wind Catcher on the first picture - something so easy and quick for the children to put together and it's made with everyday items, no trips to the craft store needed! :)
Then this link will take you to some star-spangled Decorating Ideas!! Oh my goodness the pictures of homes and their decor! Makes me want to redecorate my whole house using red, white & blue!!
Better Homes & Gardens has always been one of my mother-in-laws favorite publications! She keeps old copies, seasonal issues, and uses them to decorate her house when they are in season - seriously! It's always neat to pick up 3 or 4 years of holiday issues and browse to see how things have changed or not! Head over to BHG.com for lots of beautiful ideas - you may even get an idea for a card! *wink*
The day almost passed by with out notice. . . but a sweet reader (thank you Teena in Toronto) reminded me that today is my 2nd Blogaversary!! What an amazing 2 years it has been too!
When I started this blog I never dreamed where it would take me, or the friends it would bring me! I am so very grateful to all of you who visit my little corner of blogland, your visits and comments truly make my day!! I want to say Thank You properly so please stay tuned for some Jules Jewels (aka blog candy) coming up soon! MWAH!!
I was honored by two sweet friends last week with some blog awards and I am late in acknowledging them - so sorry!!!
First, the amazingly talented Claire Brennan gave me this pretty award. If you've never visited her blog Waltzingmouse Makes you need to go NOW! Claire comes up with the move innovative and beautiful creations I've seen in a long time! They always make me say WOW! Plus, she lives in Ireland and I just love reading her Irish accent in every post! :) Thank you so much Claire!!
Second, my friend and equally amazingly talented Becky Oehlers tagged me. I'm sure you've all seen what Becky can do with a few stamps and an idea - amazing!! I'm choosing the second one she had posted so here are 5:
Things I love: God, my family, my friends, stamping, a really good book
Things I don't love: carrots, being sick, folding & putting away laundry, rude people, comment verification (LOL!)
Songs on my Ipod: lots of Christmas right now, (Harry Connick Jr, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Casting Crowns, Jim Brickman, Robert Shaw, Kathleen Battle),
Favorite Food or Drinks: Coffee, a really good piece of pie, lobster, stuffed peppers, a good steak
Thanks so much ladies!! Should I tag people? I know I'm supposed to . . . but how to choose?? Ok, how about some of my friends from the cruise - missing you girls!!
Charlene Austin
Wendy Bond
Rhonda
Charmaine
I am back today with a few pics I snapped yesterday on our trip to the apple orchard. Fun times!!
I love this pic of the 3 older ones running down the lane of trees! 
Meanwhile, Aaron was cleaning the ground of all the drops - he must have bit into half a dozen apples - lol!!
We all had a piece of delicious apple pie for "snack" last night and boy was it tasty!! I used a recipe (I know recipe for apple pie?? but I wanted to try something different) from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. I also tried her Pate Brisee recipe for the crust. Let me just say it's highly yummy but I think I'll stick with my Better Homes & Garden shortening crust - much much easier!! (not sure about the comparison of Crisco to butter either but the MS recipe has 2 sticks of butter!!! No wonder it's yummy!) It did make quite a pretty looking pie though and as I said - super yummy!!
Ok to wrap it up, I was tagged by two of my Prettie Girls, Jodi & Jessie - aren't they sweet?!! :) They know I love them - and meeting Jodi last week was just the coolest!! Can you stand hearing 7 more random things about me . . . if I can even come up with them! So, the rules:
Ooops, I almost forgot . . . very sweet Babs with 8 (Barbara Jean) over at My Pink Pajamas . . . Late Night Stampin' and Scrapin' tagged me! She's recently started her blog and has some very cute creations - go check it out! She's got me beat in the children department - 8!!! Yikes! :) Thanks very much for the tag Babs!
I'm not sure if I can come up with another 7 random things, I'm just not that interesting! LOL! So, if you care to look, check here and here.
I just noticed that my hits have passed the 100,000 mark - yeah!! I guess that's a good thing to celebrate with some Jules Jewels, what do you think? Ok, I'll work on that and post something soon! Have a great weekend! :)
My fellow Prettie Girl, Jessie tagged us so here goes:
What was I doing 10 years ago? Well, if I have my years straight, I had just moved to Maine from NY. I decided it was time for a change and since I LOVED Maine from all my growing up years vacationing here Maine it was! I decided while on vacation in July, came up a few weekends for interviews, took a job, got an apartment (4 houses from the beach!) and moved the first week in September. By December my parents had bought a house (that they would eventually retire to) just a few blocks away and I moved into that house.
5 things on my To Do list:
1. Get the children to pick up their room and mine! :)
2. Put the laundry away
3. Call the oil company about next year's heating oil (ouch!!!)
4. Get working on some swaps due soon!
5. Catch up on my Google Readers posts
Snacks I enjoy: Well I'm off snacks lately, but if I could have anything right now it would be a close race between Cinnamon Wheat Thins (have you tried them?? YUM!) and Peanutbutter M&Ms.
Things I would if I were a millionaire: Come on, we all know that's not happening right? :) But as you can imagine I would pay off all my bills and make sure my family was set. After that ... who knows! But it would be fun wouldn't it?!
Places I have lived: Albany, NY; Greenville, SC, Atlanta GA; Clifton Park, NY; Ocean Park, ME; finally, East Waterboro, ME - not very exciting!
I'm suppose to tag 5 other people . . . but I cannot do it - go read what the other Prettie Girls said, it's sure to be interesting! :)
Ok, I had to put this here . . . Saw this on Allison's blog this morning. Today is now Global Anti-Word Verification Day (totally made up new day by Julie - (click on the link to read her post).
I don't know about you but I think Blogger's word verifications have gotten much tougher!! Yesterday I found myself having to try 3 and 4 times before I got the right "answer" to post my comment. What a pain! Now I just love you all and really like to leave you comments but why or why do we need WV?? Take a tip from Julie and enable comment moderation if you have a problem with spammers. Seems like Typepad people have it more often and it just takes so long to click through the hoops.
Ok, end of rant . . . . Sorry - but since someone else put it so well, I had to share! :)
Hi there! I received another nice award from Alex over at California Stampin'! I'm sure you all know her and her great work! Plus she leaves such wonderfully encouraging comments on lots and lots of blogs!! Thanks so much Alex - you made my day!
I recently received to tags that I am so happy to acknowledge. First, Adela over at Creations by AR tagged me to share 7 random facts about myself. Thank you so much Adela!! She has a great blog with lots of pretty things so check it out!! Since I just did the 7 random post myself not that long ago, I'll just point you to this post! :)
Second, my good friend Christie Ortman awarded me the Art and More award. Thanks so much!! I'm honored! :)
The rules of this award are....
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity,design,interesting material,and also contributes to the blogging community,no matter what language.
2. Each award has to give the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4. Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte y Pico blog ,so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.
I think this award has been around for a while and there is so much fabulous talent out there that's it's hard for me to choose 5 (and only 5) bloggers who haven't received it. But, here goes (if you've received it already, oops!):
Tracy Durcan
Kim Schofield
Maria
Becky
Lexi Daly
Really, I could go on and on . . . actually I have over there on my blogroll! :) More taxes this weekend - this time the in-laws! Wish me luck! :)
Good morning! I got a chance to play with Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch #28 this week and my 3 Step Honey Bunny and Playful Ovals sets from Kitchen Sink Stamps. The Playful Ovals set is wonderful - lots of possibilities, and it fit perfectly in an oval Nestabilities!!
I've had this SEI paper for a while and really wanted to use it - the colors are soft and pretty and the paper is slightly glossy. This is the "busiest" card I've done in a couple of weeks, I was getting used to plain I guess - lol! :)Ok, I'm sure you've seen this going around the blogging world, it's been fun to read other people's answers! I was tagged by my friends Julie Campbell and Alex. Thanks ladies!! Here goes:
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) -Ruby Villager
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Strawberry Cowboy
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) JMass
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) - Green Dog
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)- Lorraine Rome
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) - Massju
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put “The”) The Purple Juice
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)- John Edward
9. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Ellen Coons
Ok, sorry but I had to edit the questions to protect the sensitive! :) hope you understand! Overall, nothing to funny although I like my Gangsta name and my Fly name - just call me Jmass! LOL!
Ok, who to torment?? How about Jana and Joanne.
Quick post today . . . I bought these adorable bee images (I know, I'm way behind the times!!) made by Stampendous from the fabulous Corner Store at Paper Pretties (where BTW as a member of Paper Pretties, you get 10% off in the Member's Only shopping area, every day!). I bought the DP there too as a "Suggested Add-on" to I think the April My Favorite Things Card Kit Package. I've seen sooooo many great cards made with these little guys I had to try one!
Isn't he cute?? I know you don't see sparkly aqua bees in nature but then how many of us think real bees are cute??? I did a little paper piercing and added some glitter to make him extra fun!
So much to do, so little time!! Oh, but I do need to say a huge THANKs to the fabulous Beate Johns for the beautiful RAK I received yesterday! Doesn't she do gorgeous work? and how in the world does she fit it all in?? Amazing!! Thank you so much Beate, you definitely brought a smile to my face! I'm sure the whole planet visits her blog Fresh & Fun, but if you haven't - GO THERE!!
Card Details: Cardstock: Bazzill Walnut, DP - don't remember! Stamps: Stampendous, Ink: Black Stazonm Soft Sky, Prismacolor Pencils, Accessories: brads Making Memories, ribbon Michaels,glitter, Dazzling Diamonds (SU) and Martha Stewart, dimensionals
Ok, I don't want to get tooooo mushy on you today but . . . I was reading in Psalms yesterday and just felt that I needed to take a day to give thanks! Here's one of the Psalms I read, Chapter 96 (you really should read the several surrounding it too!!):
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Reading these passages caused me to remember that I have SO MUCH to be thankful to God for!! Sunday was my 7th wedding anniversary. Since we just got back from vacation and it 
was a Sunday we really didn't do anything special - actually we didn't even exchange cards yet. But, I am so thankful for the wonderful husband I have been blessed with! He puts up with a lot and even encourages my crazy obsessions. :) In those 7 years we have been blessed with 4 beautiful children, how amazing!! I get frustrated sometimes with the craziness of it all, but I don't know what I'd do without each individual one of them - they are so precious!!
I am thankful for all my family, my parents, my in-laws, my brother & his family, my husband's brothers and sister and my extended family. We had a family reunion last week for my dad's family. It was my dad's siblings and 1 of my cousins and it was so great to see them!! Some of my fondest memories are of Thanksgivings spent with these aunts, uncles and cousins. I don't see them very often anymore and this time spent with them was precious - I wish it could be more!!
I have been having so much fun lately with my new Design Team for Paper Pretties. Christie Ortman has been so encouraging and sweet and I know I've formed a friendship that is precious! Thank you Christie! The other ladies on the DT are equally wonderful - we've only just "met" online but I'm thoroughly enjoying them!
I could keep listing things like my home that I love, my church and the wonderful church family where I have so many friends, my friends far and near (including you wonderful bloggin buddies!), my health, my husband's job, etc., etc. I will leave it at that for now. And I will leave you with 3 beautiful RAKs I received recently - loving the happy mail!!!
From one of my fellow DT members, Kristine Reynolds, how cute is this Bella card!! Kristine is the Queen of RAKs - I love this card!! The bejeweled brads, cuttlebugging, doodling - so much work went into this card, she is so talented!!
And from another DT member Julie Campbell, this cute Rubber Soul card - I've fallen in love with these stick people!! Oh and Julie has some up for blog candy on her blog Stamped in His Image so go enter for a chance to win! This card has so many cute layers and paper piecing and ribbon - it's heavy! There were also some goodies tucked inside - thank you so much Julie!!
Last, but not least, this great card from Melissa Ferr (I don't remember if she has a blog - sorry!!). Isn't this Cruisabella so hip on her tie-died card?? I'd love to know how you did this Melissa!! Thank you so much for your note and for the cheery card!
Ok, sorry for the long post - but it all needed to be said! Have a great day everyone!
great time. 
Here are a few shots of our trip.
I'll post a few more another day of our first ever family mini golf outing!
Before we left I received my great blog candy prize from Bethany Paull. Look at this wonderful bunch of goodies!!! I can't wait to try out those chipboard letters and yummy flowers!! Her blog is awesome - you need to take a look! Thank you so much Bethany! :)
While we were away I received this cute card and adorable vinyl name tags (what a great idea, huh??) for the baby from Lexi Daly. I simply love Lexi's simple, pretty style! You really must check out her blog - she even got an honorable mention from Nicole Heady for her Papertrey Ink submission - which is fabulous!!! I'm so happy to have her as one of my bloggin buddies! Lexi, do you have one of those sweet New Orlean's accents??? I wish I could hear it! :) I was in New Orleans once for a conference - had the best food ever there!! Barbeque Shrimp at a great place in the French Quarter - can't remember the name but the dish was to die for!!! Thanks so much for thinking of us Lexi!
Ok, I'm hoping to get a package with some new stamping stuff today . . . I'm looking forward to playing!! Thanks for checking in, I hope to have new projects soon!! :)
Ok, I've been very bad about this . . . just so busy lately, but I know it's the same for everyone!! I was tagged by the very sweet Sharon at Dew Drop Inn Designs and oooohh, I can't find it now, sorry there was someone else!
7 things about me, hmm
1. I hate carrots - in any way shape or form, actually I really don't like any orange vegetable! I love most others though - zucchini being my fav!
2. I play the piano, have since I was about 5 or 6. I'm not up to concert standards but can amuse myself and have played at church - more frequently in past years, children definitely cut into practice time! :)
3. I direct a tone-chime choir at our church which we started 2 years ago. Tone chimes are like handbells only different! :)
4. The spring before I got married I traveled to France for 10 days with a language school. We stayed in Venesque but I also traveled with the teacher and her husband to her parents home just near Geneva. France is amazing! Don't ask me to say anything though . . . haven't kept it up! :(
5. My husband is a chemist . . . I don't understand much of anything he does! I never really got science.
6. I love animals . . . all kinds! I think I should have been a vet but then I'm not big on blood! :)
7. I have 5 chickens and 1 rooster - fresh eggs are the best!!! One of our hens just successfully hatched 2 eggs and now we have 2 adorable chicks - the next generation!
So that's all for now. I know this has been around for a while so I won't tag anyone for now, but you never know . . .
I think I may get to stamp today - yea!! Until later . . .
I'm sure most of you have seen this cute little pink tag. Well, Anna of Stampanna has nominated me!!! Thanks so much Anna! How cool is that? Well, I guess I'm supposed to nominate 5 people. This has been around for a couple of days so it will be hard not to repeat, but I'll try (and if they have been already nominate, they deserve it again!) Ok,here goes:
1. Jana's Creative Pursuits in Stamping
4. Sweet Somethings (BTW Heidi where are you???)
5. Confetti
There are so many others that I KNOW where nominated, I could list probably 50 easily!
Baby slept through the night last night, only his 2nd time! Yea! Hopefully I'll get time to stamp later today, I feel the need to play with my Bellas again. :)
I had this whole long post done this morning and pooofff! away it went!! It totally frustrated me so I took and break and now I'm back to try again! :)
Ok, I was tagged some other great bloggers, Colleen, Rose Ann and Christine. They are all terrific stampers, bloggers and new friends . . . I just love the blogging world, don't you?? I know I'm supposed to list 5 of my favs, but since I did this once, I'm going to this time just point you to my "Blogs I Love" on the side and say any of those are awesome. I also want to take this opportunity to say if you'd like me to list your blog, please leave a comment here and I'd be happy to do that. If you'd like to link to my blog also - I'd be thrilled!!
Next, I was tagged by Jana and Heidi to list 7 things about myself. I've seen this particular one going around for a couple of days and have really enjoyed reading little tidbits about people's lives!! Now that it's my turn I'm afraid I'll bore you to death, but here goes:
1. Like Jana, my first job was at Burger King. I was 15 and I loved it! (except the part about coming home smelling like a giant french fry!). I worked there through high school and was a weekend breakfast manager - how important, huh?? :)
2. I graduated from h.s. in 3 years and went to college at 17 - which is sooooo young to go away to school. I'm afraid I thought I was terribly mature but I'm sure I must have driven my roommates crazy at times!
3. In my "other" life (the one before children) was a paralegal for a criminal defense attorney, a paralegal in a laboratory company and a risk manager for a health care company - all jobs I enjoyed!
4. My husband and I met through mutual friends - he thought I was a very modern "career" girl and had no interest or talents in domestic areas. He was pleasantly surprised after we got married and found out I cooked, sewed, craft-ed, etc., and was not at all upset to leave my job when the children arrived!
5. My husband and I were married a little over 9 months from our first date. I was 30.
6. Most know this, but we are having our 4th baby any time now and that will give us 4 children ages 5 and under (remember I was 30 when we got married so we had to giddy'up!).
7. I'm running out of things . . . hmmmmm, I hate water! Hardly ever drink water. I drink a lot of juice, cranberry grape (but it's always watered down about 3 parts water to 1 part juice). Hate orange vegetables - carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, anything orange - yuck! I love summer squash - zucchini is my fav, love mushrooms and love lobster (big part of moving to Maine!!)
See, I told you . . . totally hum-drum! It was fun though. So who should I tag?? How about, Charmaine, Kim, Kimmie, Joanne, Lexi, Alex, and
Rose Ann. Whew . . . you go girls!!
How exciting - I've been tagged!!! You have to check out Lexi's fabulous blog Confetti, if you haven't already. She does amazing work - and also had a card in Nicole's Honorable Mention post.
I have such a long list of blogs that I read it's hard to pick just 5 but I'll try to give you a few:
Oodabug Alley
Colorful World
It's My Life
Jana's Creative Pursuits in Stamping
. . . Just a Little Something
All of these (and many more) provide such great inspiration and have fabulous creations on them - hope you check them out, if you don't already! :)
More to come . . .
