Many, Mini Snails.

Last Monday, there was NO school. President's Day. A.J. and I stopped by the corner market to get a tasty beverage. Me, a hot mocha. He, a Gatorade. On our way out the market door, we almost stepped on a huge worm. It was a little wet out, not raining at the time, but it had been earlier. We got into the Jeep and then I had a thought...."We need to save the worm!" Save him or her. Are worms asexual? I don't remember. I just remember middle school worm dissection. Cut it open and name all it's parts. Who thought of that? And why, at that age, do we need to know about worm parts? In middle school, we are just barely figuring out our own parts!!!

Any who. Moving on. All I could think about was that poor, huge worm getting smooshed by some shoe coming out of the market. So, I opened the glove box and grabbed a Taco Bell recycled brown napkin. I always have some fast food napkins in the glove box - you never know when operation worm rescue might be in effect.

A.J. got the worm in the napkin and air-lifted him to the safety of the grassy area. Whew! Worm smooshing disaster averted. The guy parked next to us, just coming out of the market, gave us a chuckle and complimented A.J. on doing a good deed! (see we aren't the only ones with a heart!) 

Sure, if the worm was lunch for a bird, that would just be the circle of life. But, for a poor, misguided worm, lost in the concrete jungle, to lose it's life under a waffle-bottomed shoe...well, we just wouldn't stand for it!

Note: I stopped by the market yesterday, and the pest control guy was on the grassy area spraying all sorts of toxins from the "sky". NICE!!! Slink, worm, slink!

Now onto the snails. Same day. Monday. Same Me. Same A.J.

Our day to connect with nature. On the sidewalk leading into my office, he spied these guys. Can you see them? 

 

 They look like little pieces of pea gravel.

Here's a little closer look. Many, mini snails. 

These are not the regular snails we always see. Must have just hatched!? Do snails hatch? Or are they live births? Never thought about it before. But, clearly these little ones were new to the world.

Never thought I'd think SNAILS were cute! These snails WERE cute!!!

After their photo-shoot, A.J. promptly relocated them OFF the sidewalk. He's such a good Samaritan.

My Secret Valentine.....

Dear Angie, 

Upon receiving your name as my Secret Valentine, I read your blog in its entirety throughout the month of January and enjoyed learning a bit about you and your Hope More Studio.

Although, I rarely work with a pink pallet, I was inspired by your all-pink blog logo.  

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

A friend,

Tina

It all began with a brown paper mache box. Add some REALLY cute pink papers, Mod Podge, vintage buttons, die cut chip board, a page from a vintage children's story book, some cardstock, Staz-On ink pad, a brown cat's eye stamp pad, a friendship stamp, some classic glass glitter, cut out papers, printed friendship tape and you end up with a Secret Valentine Box!

 

 

Inside the Lid.

 

 

Be Mine Sticker inside of Card. Will You Be Mine acrylic stamp on the front of the card.

But wait....There's MORE......

A box Valentine Box cannot be given away EMPTY!

I read on Angie's blog that she likes glitter...

3 little vials of Red, Pink and White Glitter capped with heart stickers and all wrapped up in white tissue paper tied with ribbon and pink paper posies.

 

A little muslin bag full-up with quips and quotes, all tied up with pink grosgrain ribbon, a silver metal heart charm, and a Big 'Ol  A  for ANGIE!!!

I read that Angie likes to create and use her imagination...So....

Acrylic Stamps Angie can use to create her own Valentines.

Next up. Some mints in a cute little silver tin embossed with the word "love" in pink - all wrapped up in matching paper, a couple of silver eyelets to seal, and another little quote....

A mini flip book of friendship, inspiration, and love....

 

 

 

Mae West said it best....

 

I'm a MOM.    

Angie's a MOM. 

All Mom's know Krazy from time to time....Right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hugs and Kisses....xo xo xo xo xo

Lastly, a stuffed pink felt  heart Angie can hang somewhere in her Hope More Studio.

 

 

I hope Angie enjoyed her Valentine.

...and the Valentine I received from Stephanie Corder of Dragonfly Design Studios.

This is the FRONT.

Here is another view of the FRONT with the Hidden Tag Exposed!

What a cute TAG! So Vintage.

And if all that wasn't cute enough, the HEART is dimensional and opens up into a pocket, of sorts!

 

Here is a side view. Just look at all the different paper Stephanie used. I love it! A girl after my heart, no pun intended, when it comes to layers, secret pockets, and lots of paper.....

Here it is laying flat...well, if you can call all that dimension FLAT!

....and the BACK....

Thanks Stephanie!!! I was really surprised to receive my Secret Valentine SO FAST!!! Way before our mail-out deadline....It took a TON of patience to have to wait to say THANK YOU!!!! 

Happy Valentine's Day to ALL that participated in Christine's Secret Valentine's Swap.....xo xo xo

...AND for the GRAND finale, I'm participating in a Vintage Valentine Blog Party.

 

Make sure you go check out all the Party Go'ers!!!

 

A NEW blog look....

Bigger. Wider. Better....

O.K. get your minds outta the gutter!!!!

I've been wanting to make my blog bigger, wider, and better for a while now. I am somewhat computer literate, but not a techie by any shakes, and this was a bit of a challenge, but I like challenges. Puzzles. Yep, that's me. AND I'm as stubborn as a mule.

In addition to making my blog easier to read, tonight I made my fonts larger; added a signature; removed a bunch of outlines; and added Links Within.  

I want to send out a HUGE, Bigger, Wider, Better THANK YOU to Donna at Funky Junk Interiors.

I have been reading her blog for a while now. Lots of really fun interior posts, but I have gotten the most out of her posts regarding how to make your blog better....THANKS, DONNA!!!! You certainly are a get-it-done kind of girl!!!

She will be posting more how-to's about blogs on her site, I'm sure. I suggest that if you wanna know more, shoot her an email. She ROCKS!!!!

There's still more I want to do, but this was a good start, I think.....

(Hey, looky, looky. There's my NEW signature...)