she loves to help out...

by offering a pre-wash of all the dirty dishes. she is always willing to help her grandma with that task. if you need some help around the house she is available...and you can pay her in dog bones.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

cause i reeeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyyyy wanna win!!!

i am posting this.

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
fabric, williams sonoma food chopper, yudu machine, real simple mag, metal
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
a quilt from my grandmother
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
a quilt for my mother
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
baby alive - she peed on my big sister!!
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
stuffed animals
6. What is your favorite holiday food?
ham
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
tote bags and jewelry
8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
elf
9. Favorite holiday song?
o holy night
10. Favorite holiday pastime?
reading the best christmas pageant ever

metal yummies...

i tried to post these last night but the internet was acting up... whatever...
these are a few samples of what i did at the certification class. hope you like them.




man, they make me happy.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

tomorrow...

i will be writing love on my arm.
twloha is a movement that has been close to my heart because i work with teens and so many of them are hurting and aching and need to feel love. the story that started twloha can be found here. go there and read it. it is not easy to read but it is too common among young people today. stand with me tomorrow by writing love on your arm and let those that are hurting know that there is hope and love and peace.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

texas + pjs + metal = bliss

last may i went to an artist retreat where i discovered ten seconds studios. i loved the class that cheryl taught there and was instantly smitten with hand embossing metal. so when i found out that they offered a certification class where i could learn all about the yumminess that tss has to offer, it took about 2 milliseconds for me to sign up. the class was held over a long weekend and we learned everything from embossing to antiquing to using molds with embossing machines. we stayed at the bra-free retreat house that is run by the tss gang. i was in heaven. from thursday night until sunday morning i was able to create to my heart's content... in my pjs...with an unlimited supply of m&ms. megan, jeff and cheryl (the tss gang) are really great. we were provided with tons of supplies and given a discount on additional product that weekend. that said, they don't take themselves seriously at all and i laughed as hard as i created. so today i am going to share some pictures of "the warehouse" of tss. this is where day classes are offered and all of the product is stored and from where the product is shipped. check out their site - you can watch a few taco tuesday videos to see how crazy this gang is.

i only have ten minutes...

to get a post in today. sorry i have been mia. i have been with my bff 24-7 helping her to recover from a partial knee replacement.
so my brain is fried and i don't have the wit in me to write an amusing post... so you are going to get some links to my favorite blogs...
visit these people...the rock!
jennifer - my bff (not the knee one, the one that wants to adopt 400 children from africa)
heather - one of the best photographers on earth and someone i am glad to call my friend
"heather from canada" - a very cool girl who makes really really great scrapbook pages...
casii - my friend who is also an amazing youth leader with some crazy game ideas!
cz - amazing graphic design. and a cynic to boot.
lisa leonard - such pretty jewelry...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

i'm making a list...

and checking it about four times - afraid that i will forget someone on the christmas card or gift list. i have already started. i know. it is crazy for those of you who did all-nighters with me in college to think that i am actually getting an early start on something. i feel a little weirded out too! but last year christmas was truly stressful for me. i wanted to make gifts but waited to long and ran out of time (i know, surprise, surprise) and actually addressed christmas cards but didn't send them out. yeah. real nice. so, i came across this site that totally gets you organized and has you make lists (which i <3 ) and sets weekly deadlines so that you will work on things that i usually wait until december 23rd to start. who knew the postal service couldn't deliver cards to sweden in a day? so yeah, i am doing this system and so far i feel good. it helps that this lady has christmas on the brain and talks about it nearly every day. so i don't feel so weird addressing christmas cards when it is barely november. you need to join me. i am serious. if i can do this, anyone can. seriously. anyone.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

it's no burrito...

but she still won.
you may remember the all nighter i did last halloween to make my best friend's costume. this year i wasn't up all night but i do think it turned out pretty cute. our theory is that no matter what you dress up as, if you have a cute dog as a part of your costume then you are sure to win.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

you've got me...

at least for the next month...
if you look on the side you will see a little button about national blog posting month. i really need this to get back into blogging. so you got me... hopefully you aren't saying, "crap. i don't want to listen to all of her blathering for an entire month straight..." if you are, too bad. and maybe, just maybe i will be giving away a quilt at the end of the month... you never know...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna