delish

step aside Campbell's tomato soup.
this signature soup from Vons is insanely good.
perfectly seasoned and reminds me so much of La Madeleine's Tomato Bisque.
yum.
pair with a grilled cheese and you have yourself a killer dinner.


and a link to this album was shared on SIS today and i about feel off my chair.
i have had little records forever and now, i am using them.
soon.

and these two at the pumpkin patch.

it does this mommy's heart good.

Pumpkins and holding hands and bundling up...oh my.

i love Fall.

slow down and enjoy.

i need to create.
do you ever have those days where you crave the creative outlet?
i have been having a few the last week, but life gets in the way.
tonight i say...
forget the dishes.
put off that laundry a day more.
turn off the tv.
and get a going.
thats my plan.

maybe i'll work on a challenge i have coming up over at SIS.
maybe i'll get to crackin on sB's online class.
or how about finishing up on some swap action?

never know.
maybe i could do all 3.

cheers to a creative day.

in happier news...

see this beauty on the left?
yeah, i eye that thing in every PB catalog i get.
could i ever spend 129.00 on it?...no!
plus, i knew if i was meant to have one, it would surface one day.

that day was Sunday.
place: Ventura swap meet
condition: great
price: 10 dollars.


As we walked out, the hand stamp guy says to Anthony who is carrying it,
"wow, you found something good!"
A says,
"i guess so, that's what she says"

little does he know.
It was a major find in my book!

a red sun?

Due to the fires here in Ca, this is what the sky and sun looked like yesterday afternoon.
embers are flying and the air is unbearable.

Very eery to say the least. Here's to hoping the winds die down so these fires can be put to a stop.
and to keeping the energy and spirits high in the firefighters.
my heart breaks for those losing their homes.

flattered on this Saturday

Meet the Sparks, our Kauai friends who now live in Seattle.
I miss them like crazy, but got this on an email today.
They took this at Pike's Place Market, a place that holds many great childhood memories for me.
And you know i love the photobooth shots!


and the Berry's.
this brought a few tears to my eyes.
my partners in crime.
the good kind though.
the crafting, photobooth friday, storage auction hunting kind. and Miss Morgan for making this killer unpacking mix for me.
i am so saving this for when i unpack my scrap stuff.
looove it (just like they say on Dragon Tales)

and hell must have frozen over because Aida, my crazy Coke drinking, good idea thinking but not following through friend, joined SIS!!!
and you know i mean that in the sweetest way right?
you better finish up that mini we started and post it up.
don't make me fly to San Antonio.

i love my friends.
sheesh, i could go on and on , but for today this is all she wrote.
this kind of stuff does my heart good.

i ♥ fridays

started out with some cereal with fresh raspberries.
am thinking it would be so cool to make a mini with all morning pictures.
need to follow through on this thought.
maybe i would even become more of a morning person huh?


then i got a face like this.
love the drama of a 3 year old.
My mom says i was just like her.
stinky fish were found.
a carousel ride too.
mom got a little dizzy but the kids loved it.
its an old school one, not that the kids cared, but it was a beauty.
all of that adventure was just part of the quest to find a CA photobooth. we did and its a dollar cheaper than we paid in VA but only has one little stool.
hence the crying and me in the picture.
it'll take time.

Happy weekend time!

this girl has priorities

Today i need to be inspired.
so what would one Michelle do?
go to downtown Ventura.

it is chalked full of antique stores, boutiques ( my new favorite was found), super good mexican food and some of the best thrift stores i know.
gotta love that.
found:
old wallpaper
an orange tray
some old forks
vintage patterns and for men at that
and some art in close to 6x12 size.

as i packed up these goodies i thought, how cool would it be to make a mini out of stuff i bought each time i went thrifting?!?

good way to not hoard huh.

we'll see how it turns out.

and for my mini me thrifters...

Olivia found a Belle dress and Pocahontas shoes =$5.00

Kyan found 2 Thomas the train books=$2.00

today was good.

we meet again

may 2007
october 2007

nothing is broken.

it all made it.

we love our house.

beach air smells dang good again.

kids are happy.

our bed sleeps like a dream cloud.

cooking with my own stuff is awesome.

yeah for CA living once again.

away we go

to Delta passengers traveling today,

Just a warning.
Today i am traveling with 2 kiddos and no husband across country.
Please keep your dirty looks to yourself if the kids are fussing.
I have a huge bag of toys, a dvd player, and lots of snacks.
Hopefully these things will keep them happy.
If not, please pass over some candy or liquor will do too.
and if i am stuggling with the stroller, 2 carseats and bags, know that i will get you a drink for helping this girl out.
thanks!
I just colored my hair so its sparkling black.
I am wearing a white tank, brown Juicy pants and my favorite tennis shoes, just so you know its me and what to look for.

Thanks for making this trip an easier one for me.
You know i've got love for flying.
oh and pS... be nice to your flight attendants.
They are there for your safety.

Sincerely,
Michelle Ramirez

2 dollars and 75 cents

no not the tattoo or that cutie in the red shirt.
that bad boy typewriter.
cha ching.

wowza

now this is something is spend your money on.
papers and kit created by ms. Contes herself...oh yeah, its good.
and Scrap In Style has a fresh online store filled with tons o goodies and many more things to come.
Love what Jeanette's vision has in store for us all.



This weekend we enjoyed some beach time.
full of carnival food, sculptured sandcastles and art.
fun fun.

and now we are in full hang out with friends because we are leaving to CA on Thursday mode.

packed up the house today and feel so much more together about it all.

and first thing Friday morning we are going to see a house for rent that i think i am gonna love.

mind you, we have no boat, but this house is on the water and has a 40 foot dock.

i think a jet ski might be in order if we get it.

wish us luck on that and luck to me for the cross country plane ride with 2 wee ones.

mama is nervous.

damn, i need my dvr

i mean really.
how else i am suppose to watch these on abc...

these on CW...(yeah i think i'm a little old for these but whatever)

not to metion Top Chef?
or maybe i just watch too much tv huh?
hmmm. i'm on good tv overload for sure.
and then dun dun dun....
welcome back gReys anatomy!!!!

silence on the floor at 9pm.

i'm pulling up the ice cream, dr pepper, and hubby for this bad boy!

happy watching all.

its on like donkey king...round 2

the dare girls get us all thinking and producing mad crazy projects when its LSS time.
oh yeah.
loved it last year.
and clearly i am back for round 2.

check out the clear creations madness here.

dang.

i am in awe!

♥

got it and this makes me happy.
simple and silly, but i like it.
♥
thanks girls.

todays ponderings

1. how do you make those hearts on the keyboard?
you know, like i {heart } fall?

2. ever since meeting up with the east coasters, i have been dying to get those stamps from the Ali kit a month kit, Everyday beauty.
if you have these are are not using them, i will totally buy them from you and send some extra goodies too.


3. have you seen this?
crazy cool how things come full circle.
be on the lookout for more goodness coming from SIStv soon.
warning warning!!!
some up some cash for October, i'm hearing some jingle bells a ringing.
yep, its gonna be like Christmas in October.

4. Chili's is so generous.
all day today they are donating 100% of their profits to Childrens cancer research.
we did our part and it made our hearts, not to mention our bellys, very happy.

5. on the tv tip.
this and
this premiered and i am one happy girl that its fall and my shows are back on.
bliss.

sold

the beater, commuter car, not the stunned looking cutie in pj's.

in less than an hour people.

one more thing off the to do list for moving.

love when things happen so easily.

a few things for tonight

see that time?
dinners done.
and i may even leave this out tonight.
kids are asleep.
enjoying sweet bliss from Sonic.
watermelon Dr. pepper to keep me going. working on the color ATC swap .
think yellow.
and sorted out 2 bags full of stuff to get rid of before out big move out to CA.
the countdown is on.
2 weeks and counting.

a few days worth

ps.

those $ spot stamps from Target are a new fav.

gimme gimme more

time with these girls. gettin all crafty
and making fun stuff like this.
round robin east coast style.

dang.
LOVE.

more finds

goodies from my weekly trip to the best thrift store in VA.




and this baby.
not found at the thrift store but found here
thanks sara.
i have adored the look of fish eye pictures for years , but don't have the big bucks to throw into it.
this baby is under $40 and is old school point and click.
love that.
i will be sure to share the greatness it produces as soon as i get it.
fishfacing it out of here...