Bend It Like Grover

And yes, I realize it's the exact OPPOSITE of a goal... =) But it's so hilarious how intensely he concentrates that it might as well be a goal to me. It's a heck of a lot funnier than if I actually "score".

A special gift at Thanksgiving...

Hopefully everyone is fat and happy and napping by now... stuffed with turkey, stuffing, and pie. :) My Thanksgiving was a bit different this year than in years past, but no less special.

For the first time in my life, I saw a photograph of my grandparents' wedding. I have no idea why I've never seen one... old photos just never seemed to exist in my grandparents' house, even though my grandfather was a huge shutterbug and fed my addiction from a very young age.

After visiting with my grandmother today and having a delicious turkey dinner, my mother and I came across a pile of photos. And it was the funniest hodgepodge EVER... my mother in high school in a diner uniform, my parents looking pretty darn hippyish ;), me in my 7th grade swim team photo, and even some shots I took at Christmas about 10 years ago.

But this one I had to bring home with me... this beautiful photo of my adorable grandparents.



How adorable are they? I wish my scanner didn't flash out her dress... she had a lovely, simple, flowing bouquet. And my grandfather in the pinstripe pants and morning coat? Dashing. :)

In addition to my curls, I inherited my goofiness from my grandmother. We were forever playing pranks on each other while my mother just watched and shook her head. I think I can almost see myself in this photo... I see my mom in my grandfather. I look just like my mother, but there are some photos where I also look just like my grandmother. So how does that work?! There's no mistaking us when we're together, that's for sure.

All I know is, I cannot wait to dig through more of these photos. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

One of my favorite things...

(I feel like Oprah saying that.) But I have to blog about something goofy. Something so dumb and simple, but you know when you have something that really makes your day so much easier and that you just LOVE?

I KNOW everyone dislikes Rachael Ray. Some with a severe passion. ;) Others with just a "Meh, her voice is so annoying." Others who boycott anything related to her because she has over saturated the market. I personally think she's adorable and have found over the past year that I love her recipes. Fast, easy, and yummy. (Though I put my foot down at using her terminology.)

ANYWAY. Her Moppine towel/oven mitt ROCKS. Genius, I tell you.




I cannot imagine life without it. :) I'm a klutz and am forever dropping things and burning myself and, oh yeah, over- or under-cooking things. This this oven mitt/towel drapes perfectly over my oven door handle, ready for action. (And ready to protect me from injury. Ha.)

Perhaps Carla Ten Eyck will start to offer Ten Eyck Thursdays where she teaches photographers how to cook efficiently and well? =) Hee hee...

That's my public service announcement for the day. I'm off to deliver the brownies I just made that inspired me to post this. =)

P.S. It's $5.99!!! Can't beat that!

I'm a girlie girl... and I'm loving it!

=) I'm having a blast decorating my house in über-girlie things. I'm embracing the fact that I actually enjoy being a girl... who happens to be a new sole homeowner. Heehee!

Check out what I did this weekend. I've been wanting to do it forever...



It looks a LOT more impressive than it is. :)

It's a giant sticker! No paint brushes involved. No, paint brushes are for tackling the next project... painting my living room!

The holiday season is upon us! Only one month left to order Salty Grapes Holiday Cards!

For the second year in a row, I will be offering my pooch friends special custom designed doggie holiday cards!



Click here for all the details!

They are 5x7 flat cards printed on Kodak Professional Endura Paper with a Lustre finish and include envelopes. Pricing is $1.25 per card, with a minimum of 25 (in increments of 5 thereafter) I'll be taking orders from now until December 15th to ensure they can be done in time for mailing before Christmas.

Some sample designs from which to choose:


























I also do press printed people cards of course... More details are available here: Custom Holiday Card Design

Contact me if interested! :)

Designs are infinitely modifiable if you want something slightly different. And if time permits, I might whip up a few more, but no guarantees. ;)

(I can't believe I got my act together to think about Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving. Usually, I refuse. :) )

Adults can rock facepaint too!

Live from the holiday boutique in Madison, CT! If you can't be a kid at a holiday fair, when can you be one?! =)

Short lines!

Get out and vote! The lines in my district were efficient and fast moving!

And you might get the new sticker! =)

"Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken." ~Frank Herbert

And this is what awakens me.

What's better than seeing this fuzzy face pop up along side you first thing in the morning?


Thankfully for me, he LOOOVES to sleep in.

Change is a very good thing. =) Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween weekend!