Things I Like - Retro Prints

Everyonce and awhile I think I'll post something that I just like. I love looking at photos and I see all different kinds of things that make me smile. I thought what a fun idea it would be to have an online collection of things I find as I browse; things that I find attractive in some sort of way. It could be a specific thing, a blog, a quote or video clip, a color...whatever I feel like liking at that given time. I told you about Faye and Greer the other day and now when I go to the site I see their photos have been removed. That bums me out so guess its time to find something new to like.

The past week or so ago I came across a seller's page on Etsy called Papermoth. It is so cool, I am just loving all of these retro paper designs. I sit and think of things I could make with it, maybe baby shower invites for Kasi, Bridal shower invites for Tawni, a card to tell someone I'm glad they're in my life or just for scrapbooking.

Benny saw me looking at the site the other day and made sure he told me he thought they were ugly, I just rolled my eyes and told him not to worry I wouldn't be using any of them as wallpaper for the house. I sensed a great sigh of relief in his eyes.

BA - Is there such thing?

Hello, my name is KariAnne and I am a blog addict. Yep, someone please send me to Blogger's Annoymous. I could search and read blogs all day long, is there a way I can get paid to do this cause I could be a millionare for sure!

Of course I especially love the photography blogs the best, but as I was looking for little ideas to use for Tawni's bridal shower I came across the most fabulous of all blogs when it comes to pictures...its got them, when it comes to ideas for events...yep those too. The only problem, the ladies who put the blog together aren't posting anymore things on it to focus on personal things. Well, phfft...at least I can look back at all the beautiful things on their page for inspiration in my own creativity.

I highly suggest if you like pretty things...to give Faye and Greer a looker when you have a moment! http://fayeandgreer.blogspot.com (I can't get the link to work from here for some who knows why reason) Make sure while on their page you check out the links to other blogs listed under 'Daily Little Luxuries.' Gobbs of great stuff there too! It never ends...all this amazing blogging.

I've posted the link in my list of just great blogs for easy access. Enjoy!!

The First Five

First Five......

The first FIVE people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1) I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2) What I create will be just for you.
3) It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)
4) You have no clue what it's going to be.It may be a story. It may be poetry, shoes, bags, or a little invention of my own! I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5) I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. Believe me... it may blow your mind!

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it! Sounds like fun, right? So, let's play!

Me, Funny?

As of late I've been in the mood to act a little bit like a smart ass and Benny doesn't seem to appreciate this sarchastic side of me...although recently, he has been a bit on the silly side himself at times. He's normally a serious kind of guy but I like when my playful smart alek-ey side brings out his silly side and that seems to be what has been happening.

There are things about me that I'm not sure if I want to admit to outloud although I am certain most of you would find these things amusing if you were to see them in motion (some of you may honestly say you have seen me this way before). I get in these goofy moods and I'm going to have to attribute them to the fact that its just overwhelming happiness emerging from my soul...or something poetic like that, but what happens is that I tend to dance around the house, and I am a terrible dancer, (think Elaine on Seinfeld) to whatever is playing on the radio or I mimic things I see on TV. This tends to make Benny sit and look at me like I am a damn fool...but then I start seeing him come around to my cheezball ways.

Benny will start to smile, then his eyes light up and he tries to tell me I'm beautiful and I sooo know he's lying because I know I probably look like a monkey in a blender, but he'll do this... tries to ignore me little thing, and he then just can't hold back and laughs. The best part...he usually ends up joining the lil' comedy circus I have going on.

I'm not sure what we were even talking about last night. I think it stemmed from us seeing the trailer for the new Friday the 13th movie coming out next week. The result of the conversation was that he ended up trying to emulate the little girl from the Exorcist. I only wish I had a picture to put with this post to show you his face. I am laughing on the inside just thinking about it. He was absolutley hilarious and almost had me in tears. I kept making him do it over again because I swear it was funnier each time he did it.

All I know is that laughter is contagious and seriously makes just a regular day a better day. I love to end my day snuggled up on the couch watching TV with Benny, that's just a good ending to a regular day, but add laughter in there somewhere and that makes a regular day become a good memory too.

Playlist

I put up a playlist today, so check out some of my new...and maybe older favorites. Sometimes it only plays part of the song...not sure why but guess if you don't have it and you like it you'll have to buy it. Cheater, Cheater...that song just makes me laugh its my new favorite song to sing in the car. Enjoy!

There is a Reason

I heard a quote yesterday that for whatever reason is sticking with me. "Dependency destroys the human experience." Looking back on my life and seeing all of the struggles and all of the triumphs through them it just makes me realize even more why I deeply believe in another quote, "Everything happens for a reason."

In this time of 'change' that everyone so desparatley seems to be wanting, I see people relying on getting that change from someone else or hoping someone else will create and provide for them. I hope you realize that 'change' lies within ourselves. And personally I'm not comfortable relying on anyone creating change for me except for myself and those close to me.

Everything that is happening is happening 'for a reason.' What that reason is, I don't know, but in this time of change and transition in our nation it is now more than ever that I feel I must rely on my faith to get me through because I will not be relying on my nation's government to create my 'change' for me.

God has put me through trials and tribulations in my life to make me the person that I have become today. The person that I have become today needs to be who I am to get me through difficult times with ease. All of the tools that I need to make my life happy and prosperous are right in front of me and not dependent on someone else to put them there for me. Its just my job to figure out how to use those tools to my advantage. Back to the dependency quote, you must keep in mind that the more dependent we become on other people and means the less we learn about ourselves. Hence the reason you are destroying your own human experience.

I am an extremely independent person and if you ask my parents I am pretty sure they will agree that I have been that way since birth. I've always done my own thing and I will mow down anyone who gets in my way. Does this mean I have more human experience than most people because I haven't relied as heavily on others, no, but does it mean that I've learned a lot of things the hard way, yes. Am I thankful for that, yes. The best part is that I now have an amazing man in my life. The one that I always hoped I would find and the one I prayed God would bring me and God prepared me for him just like he always promised me he would.

Take time to enjoy life, take time to appreciate why you are who you are and thank everything you've been through to get you there. Make sure you create your own happiness and realize what happens now is continuing to make you who you will end up being in the future. For everything, there is a reason.

2008 Recap

I was realizing yesterday that I hadn't put up a post since Christmas and we are ever so quickly already approching the fact that its been a month since Christmas. Then I got a comment from Kim reminding me I hadn't posted in a while. Yes, its time for a post! I've been kicking around ideas about what I wanted the post to be about this time. I think since 2008 was a year that was about a million times better than 2007 I want to do a recap of some of my 08' highlights.

January: A year ago today I arrived back in the Tri Cities from Phoenix. A week after I got home there was the ice/snow storm that welcomed me. That's shadow of my truck and the U-Haul trailer somewhere outside of Salt Lake City on my way back home to Washington from Arizona.

February: Had a new job, was living with my sister started getting used to the fact that I wasn't in Phoenix anymore and I had to remind myself that going outside to warm up because I was cold wasn't an option this time of year here at home.

March: Had a horrible blind date. Not sure why someone would think I would be interested in a guy that was recently divorced with two kids, had no job and was missing a tooth...


April: Chanda and I met for hamburgers then I went with her to meet this new guy she'd been dating for a few weeks...Greg. It was then at Greg's house that my life would be changed, I officially met Benny for the first time on April 4th. I also went on a girl's shopping trip to Seattle with my sister and her girlfriends.
May: My renter moved out of my house and I moved back in! I'm happy everytime I walk through the door because I'm truly home again and am back in my house!!!

June: Spent every waking minute with Benny and hung out with friends BBQing and loving summer and warm weather (finally warm weather again!).



July: This was a busy month for us and I took a ton of pictures, so hard to pick which ones best show all of the happenings cause there are so many good ones. Benny and I went on our first vacation together. We went camping and Steelhead fishing for the 4th of July weekend. Started to re-connect with tons of friends from my childhood. I also attended my 15 year class reunion (since we didn't have a 10 year) and Benny's second nephew, Cash was born.




August: Spent lots of time fishing and soaking in the sun at Ringold with Benny. The picture is Benny holding my 1st Steelhead. Benny's nephew Colton turns 3.













September: I love September, mostly cause its my birthday month. Chanda made me steak fajitas for my birthday and Benny got me white cake cupcakes oh and a gorgeous pair of silver and peridot drop earrings.




October: Deer camp in the Blue Mountains with Benny's family. The view up there is amazing!

November: So much to be thankful for, finally finding the man of my dreams, being back home with my family, living in my house again and the condo in Phoenix is finally dealt with. Not the outcome for the condo I was hoping for, but I don't have to worry about it anymore, ever!


December: I am told that there isn't much work at work and will be sent home if there isn't anything. Therefore the job hunt begins...yet again. Our first Christmas together and it was awesome, my mom even stayed with us for a week! Masynn's 6th birthday and Masynn loses her first tooth. Got the stomach flu on New Year's Eve and counted down the seconds to til midnight puking and feeling miserable.