• Buddies,  illos,  Shop Talk

    Workin’

    BA-banner19-CA
    BA-banner18-moon
    BA-banner17-holidaycalm
    BA-banner17-holidayDC
    BA-banner16-oneplace

    So this is what I’ve been working on lately. I don’t usually blog my work but I want to someday when I ramp up my business site (which doesn’t exist yet). Anyway I asked Bethany if she’d mind if I posted her banners I’ve recently made and she said go for it! It’s great working with friends.

    BA-banner15

    I especially love this one. My execution is not perfect but I love the idea of Annalie as Katara from The Last Avatar. When I was visiting the Actually’s this last Spring I witnessed Annalie’s infatuation with Avatar. She dresses up in all kinds of interesting outfits (usually made from pieces and parts of other costumes) and dances around the room with great sweeping arm motions. She’s water-bending of course.

    BA-banner14

    And lastly, this one. Bethany’s pregnant, as most of you know. Being pregnant has muddled her brain a bit (as it commonly does) and she’s found herself making all kinds of silly mistakes like misplacing things, forgetting things and making typos on instant messenger…which is great because now she’s finally knows what it feels like to be me!

  • Buddies,  party party

    Blog*Sugar

    BlogSugar centerpieces networking

    I went to a little Southern California blogging get-together this last Friday called Blog*Sugar. It was pretty cool. I love getting in on things when they are in the newly forming stages. It’s exciting to be part of something that might grow to be really big and amazing. Of course if it stays small I’m cool with that too.

    A little well-timed networking should never be underestimated. And of course making new friends is always a good thing!

    call to order

    I was feeling a little bit shy so I wimped out and stuck with my buddies CC and Madge most of the night but thankfully there were other people who were not shy and so I made a few new friends! Woot!

    dessert table

    There was yummy food and drinks, of course. That’s really all the reason I need to drive 40 minutes to a place I’ve never been before. CC on the other hand got stuck in traffic on the 91 when a big rig blew up. Poor girl, she was wearing heels and driving my old Honda Civic that has a very difficult stick-shift and no power steering. I’m amazed she didn’t turn around and head home. Good thing she left early because about four hours later she managed to get to Madge’s house. Then we all met up in Long Beach for some pre-party, we’re-out-without-our-kids celebratory drinks and chips and guacamole. Woo Hooo!

    margarita

    Jen sans children snagging some desserts

    This is the second girl’s-night-out I’ve gone out on without Toby or Bug. Amazing! Toby was such a good Dad. He took Bug to the beach and then when they got home they snacked on great big bowl of broccoli with ranch dressing (Their idea, not mine!) while they waited for a pizza to be delivered. Toby even gave Bug a bath and washed her hair “with too much creme rinse” she confided to me the next morning. When I got home later that night Bug smelled like sleeping peaches. I know a lot of Dads give their kids baths and this is not really a big deal but it’s a big deal in our house. I was really happy.

    But anyway, back to our girls night out. I’m sad I didn’t take a photo of us three wall-flowers. I was in shy mode I guess—which is really stupid since I think all the other bloggers would understand some weirdo going nutzo with a camera at a party.

    silly Jen

    CC did take this one of Madge. I love it. Nothing cures the party jitters better than a funny face and a sideways tongue! I love my whacky friends.

    I think we all really had a good time and will be happy to do it again. It was close enough and just the right price (free!). I can’t wait to see what this little party grows into. You never know, it might be the next Blogher!