Looking for a few good names

I've always been crafty. When I was little I liked to cross-stitch (I know, ??), draw, and just about anything else I could get my hands on. A few months ago I started looking for a creative outlet to relieve stress. A few years ago I started coloring again when I had issues to deal with, but there are only so many geometric pictures you can color. Anyway, I love the concept of scrap booking but can't seem to let myself get into it. I've been looking for other ways to do that kind of stuff without doing that exactly. I started getting cutting and playing and ended up with this:

I really enjoyed making this for a certain adorable 1 year old I know. I'd like to create some more as a basis to maybe start an Etsy shop. I'd like to find 5-10 more to make and try some ideas. I'd like to make them for real people, not just random names. Anyone want a name garland for a kid's room perhaps? I've got lots of embellishments and ideas for color schemes, etc. Leave a comment or e-mail me and I'll contact you to talk some specifics!
Thanks in advance for your help!

This is the face of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is the "unofficial beginning of the summer", a time for fun and relaxation. It's a great holiday but it does have a purpose. Since the 1800's there has been a specific day to commemorate U.S. men and women who died while in military service. This is Mike Cifuentes. He was my little brother in the co-ed service sorority we were in in college. He was a fun-loving, funny, social man that was involved in ROTC as well as other activities. He was very serious and very intense when it came to his training.

At Homecoming 2004 I ran into him and we were able to catch up. He was in grad school, was still active with the military and was dating a great woman. A few weeks later I got a voicemail from him that he had proposed and was engaged. Later we found out that his company had been activated. He left school and went to Iraq to serve our country.

On August 4, 2005 we found out that several people from his company, Lima Company, had been killed by a roadside bomb. And Mike was one of them. This man with everything ahead of him was gone.

I know while Mike is very special to the family and friends that loved him, he is just one of the tens of thousands of brave men and women that have signed up to protect us. And one of the thousands that didn't come home. That's what today is about. Those thousands, the millions from World War I and II and the other wars and "conflicts" throughout our history.

I think about Mike often and I give thanks that I knew him. I give thanks for the men and women in the military. Pray for peace and be safe.

I miss you Mike.

Photo by Laura Burling

The Mutts Did Strut

Today was the 2009 Mutt Strut for the Humane Society of Indianapolis. It was the perfect day for it! They were expecting 6,000 dogs and their owners to the event and there were at least that many in attendance. Big dogs, little dogs of all shapes making their way around the turns. It is a great event because not only is it for the Humane Society but it is at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500. I don't know why I find it so humorous to see dogs on the track. I think it has something to do with the fact that next week there are going to be cars going 220 mph on it! The weather was perfect; if not a little too warm. Luckily, the wind kicked up and cooled everyone down a little bit.

There was also a carnival atmosphere off the track. There was a DJ playing 'Who Let the Dogs Out', Clifford the Big Red Dog, and the doggy mascots of the local sports teams. It was a great day and Hawkins is one pooped pup!

Great source of inspiration!

I've been following the blog Creature Comforts for several months now and enjoy Ez's posts. She has a weekly post where she takes an inspiring quote and frames it in one of her beautiful pictures. Then she encourages you to download it and print or use it as your wall paper or whatever you want, awesome! Above is this week;s quote. I hadn't heard it before but LOVE it, how true is that! Below are some of the past quotes that I've saved. Be sure to check them out!