A Date to Remember

Way to go Babe!!!!!!!My daughter won second place at the Art Show at her High School!!!!
Most of her work is oil or acrylic painting with candy wrapper collages.  The top left the backround and sunglasses are buttons---you know I love that.
This ended up being contreversial....the backround is beer and champagne caps.  The high school didn't think it was appropriate, so she couldn't have it in the show.  Well I thought it was great and am proud to show her to the blogworld.  Her hair is made from magazine clippings and her shirt Hershey truffle wrappers and the jewelry is can tabs. 

 

More good news---my niece had a baby boy at 4:05 pm today.  He is 8 lbs. and his name is Brady.  My grandparents last name was Brady.  We are so thrilled with the name.  Welcome to the world Brady!!!  I did get on a jury today, so I have to do my duty next week, too.

Out with the old in with the new

Stop me now...I thought I would do some research of ebay by buying some things. I got a little carried away. I love everything I purchased. My favorite are the Victorian ladies on the Christmas patterns. They were used in the 20's to wrap candy boxes....I love them!!!!!! Stop buying Start selling....I know I know. Like the title says out with the old in with the new. Why do I like the old so much and have such a problem parting with it?????

This is a picture of the albums I finished last year---did I just say I finished them?????? Yes, and that is huge for as many classes I have taken and projects I have started I don't finish them. So, this feels good I can move on to new things.
Today I also took pictures of my swaps that I sent out. I will share these later as not to wreck any surprises. The vintage heart shop hosted by Dolly.was really fun to put together. I just tried to do the linky link thing and if that works that is another accomplishment for the week. I just have to remember to have the sites addresses near me when I go to post.
OK transitions into the new year.....a lot slower than I like. Everytime I feel better and get back into the groove I start to feel whoozy. Anyway this week is over.....dentist, car inspected, resume changing and the never ending search for work. The computer is great, but not having actual contact with people is frustrating.
Next week I have jury duty......I will also be doing a job search there during lunch to save on gas. I tested myself typing. I thought I was pretty good, but I just about qualify for something in the judicial world of jobs--but, it's worth a shot.

Time for a Change

I have been glued to the television all day. I wish I was better at inputting images other than photos. History being made is quite exciting---with it's ups and downs with Ted Kennedy. The sea of humanity is amazing to witness. I join Obama in his crusade for hope for America.

Where we went in Paris

I love the first picture of my daughter in the last post---honestly I didn't want to post so I picked a picture I love of her, also. I call it "peace babe and the eiffel tower". This is my last post of Paris. I hope you enjoy it. Please say hi too, I'd love to hear who is out there in cyberspace.

I took so many pictures of the eiffel tower at night. Some great ones New years eve, but the tower is blue in the dark---not a good mix. This is the only one that came out---so sad.....if that's my best.

My battery went dead shortly after this picture....so I don't have that many digital pictures. I was able to take some with a thow away camera. But this is my best eiffel tower picture with my digital camera.

I am not a big fan of the pyramid building at the Lourvre---I really like the old architecture. I took this picture because with the arrows on the fence everything is pointing up---it is my optimist photo. Teresa on her blog My Minutia is giving lessons on Photoshop. I really need them. She is the best.

This one of the views looking up in the Louvre. I always buy postcards of my favorite paintings....Kaylyn would keep taking pictures of the ceiling saying you're not going to find a postcard of that. She was right but you are not really supposed to take pictures---everyone does though.

Most of my pictures I took at night---they didn't really come out too well. This is the Opera. I took it from the taxi. This building is my favorite. The gold heads are Bach, Mozart, Beethoven etc...

The creche at Notre Dame....nothing like I expected for a almost 1,000 year old church. I guess that's why I don't visit the contemperary art wings in Musuems any more either......I like old stuff. This was such a surprise to me.

It was beautiful to see the Christmas decorations especially at places like Notre Dame. The tree was huge, but with the Massive church behind it, it doesn't look so big--does it? This is it for Paris pictures so if you have stopped by, please say hi!! I am going to be home all weekend and I am feeling a little lonely.

Let's Eat in Paris

This photo pretty much says it all. We loved the food in Paris. We ate in the musuems we visited, cafes on the corners and visited all the bakeries and chocolate shops we could. A lot of times it was just as satisfying to just look at all the foods. They are so artistic and creative in the presentation of their foods. I miss that already.

This was my must see Laduree famous for their macarons. I was actually happy to wait outside (about 20 minutes) just to look in the window. I couldn't wait to see the graphics on the boxes and bags. We made a small puchase and took it back to the hotel to have for breakfast the next day.

I enjoyed looking at all cafe windows being painted for the holidays...mostly that is how we chose where to eat....ooooh that window is nice.....let's eat there......they did have heaters outside and many people dined outside in weather that was below freezing....not me---we'd wait for a table inside.

We always finished dinner with a desert. Creme Brullee was perfect and enough to share for sure


This is ham and cheese and hot dogs parisian style outside of Notre Dame

Sunday at the Louvre

I can not believe this was two weeks ago!!!!!!!! I can't think of anything better than a walk through the Louvre on a Sunday....As you can see many other people this time of year like to do the same thing. We tried to take my husband and son there on New Years Eve and they said they were full--could you imagine that building full. We ended up walking to the Eiffel Tower--much longer walk than it looks---but oh it is beautiful just to gaze. Anyway enjoy your Sunday stroll through the Louvre.

Please join us on our jouney to the Mona Lisa

Once you get in you realize you are in for a long journey

These halls were the richest of renaissance works all in one place I have ever seen, it was amazing

She gets a lot of attention even if she is headless, you couldn't even get up the stairs, because everyone gathers around her

Mona Lisa---we just passed her by---the room to view her was so full we just followed the crowd in the hallway around her

This was the view looking up close to where we had lunch after passing by the Mona Lisa

Shopping in Paris

I don't know if you can get a true appreciation of this from pictures. Yes, this is a Department Store. The first three are of the inside of the store and the last is the outside at night. Believe it or not we spent the majority of the day in Printemps and after a rest in a cafe we weren't too sure we were just going to look at the windows outside. We were so tired. We went back outside and sort of just got taken away by the crowds and ended up inside. Could you imagine if we missed this? I was blown away by the design and architecture. I tried to take a picture of the arches so you get an appreciation of the art nouveau arches.

The outside of Printemps at night.

A corner at one of the flea markets.

This was our favorite window. The tree was made out of calico fabric.
Jodie please email me your address so I can send you more than a dozen Paris Postcards. Her answer was the closest. My daughter and I spent the week in Paris. My husband and son flew to Paris and then on to Rome. They came back, so we all four spent New Years Eve in Paris and celebrated together. So her answer seems the most correct.
I wanted to show pictures of the Department Stores in Paris. It was Christmas time so the windows were dressed for Christmas. I was so impressed. These two buildings alone is where we spent a very long day walking the perimeter of every floor of each of these buildings. My daughter is 17, so this was her highlight of the trip, I'm sure. We really didn't buy much. We pretty much just looked with our mouths wide open in awe.

Bon Jour!!!

My word for 2009 is shine. Ali Edwards is so inspiring. I love that she listed everyone's words. The reason I chose this word is nothing compares to watching my children shine. I am really enjoying seeing the growth, hearing their music and the sound of laughter when they are on the computer or have friends over. I like the thought also that stars don't shine ALL the time. The clouds, fog or rain may get in the way, but you know some day you will see that twinkle in the sky. My biggest goal is to concentrate on the good. I have my book I made in Kollette Hall's class in Creative Escape. I am looking forward to starting this.
I am still feeling under the weather, but I am glad the high fevers are gone and I can sleep at night. I am looking forward to sharing pictures and thoughts on Paris. I want to show pictures of my completed 24 days of Christmas book. My goals for this month is to set up a Lollyshop. I have thought a lot about this and I would like to give it a try. I love the thought of it. If you know me I always wanted to have my own store. It makes me feel like a little girl........."I want a Lollyshop"!!!!! I also would like to find a job. I have gotten quite good at sending resumes by email, but it frustrates me to hear nothing. So, this month I am going back to the phone and try to talk to HR depts----wish me luck. I truly believe everything will be fine in 2009, after all it is our time to shine!!!!!

Bonne Anne

Well we're back. It was a great trip. Lots to share with pictures and souvenirs. I'm not feeling up to the winner of the postcards. I must have gotten what my mom had. My brother was also treated for pneumonia right before Thanksgiving. So, I will put off announcing a winner until January 5, so there is no pressure to get to the post office. We had an excellent time and lots of memories to share. This picture is the only one of all four of us on our trip. It is another good hint of where we were.