Aspire to everything Inspired

Must See! "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

Yes, it's just as good as those reviews say!  Well crafted.  Well acted.  Simply, well done!

And seriously... Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint?  Amazing.  Their acting skills just get better and better with each film.

I was really impressed with how the script worked in so many different elements of an increasingly complex story.  And even snuck in a few plot points (like a passing reference to Regulus Black!) that needed to be picked up from prior films.  Though I did think there were a few things that made more sense if you've read the books (like the scene of the Death Eaters attack in Diagon Alley), but that shouldn't deter you!  Get a ticket and get in there!

P.S.  We saw movies #4 and #5 at our favorite theater on Tuesday night.  Hurrah!  It was simply perfect, since the start of movie #6 picks up within hours of #5's ending.  Perfect!

It was a Rockin' 4th of July

Last minute purchase of four concert tickets:  $300.00
3 sodas and a salad:  $18.50
Parking:  $7.00  (okay so that was a bargain compared to what I was expecting!)
Watching my nieces totally rock out at their first concert:  Priceless!

The evening started with a very cool flag show.

The lead-in group wore black.  Personally, I think they should have gone for red.  and white.  and blue.  But black's always chic too.

Followed by acrobats with fire.  We're talking serious pyromaniac activity here!

Waiting for the main show.  Just a little excited.

Seriously. Thrilled to be here.

Um.  Yeah.  She SCREAMED when she saw...

The Jonas Brothers

And most of the rest of my photos of the nieces came out something like this...
 

I did manage to get a few photos of the band in action too...
  

And when the whole stadium was complete pandemonium, singing along to "Sweet Caroline" (right - who would have thought the Jonas Brothers would do a Neil Diamond cover?!)... somehow Rabbit knew every word.  And led the dancing on our row. 

The crowd around the stage was a mob. 

Personally, I think all those cameras 'rightupthereinyourface' are a little frightening -- remember the days, pre-cell phone, when cameras were off-limits at concerts?  Then again, I did take a gazillion photos over the evening too.  Just from further away.

Here's the real view from our seats...   It was a pretty amazing evening, especially with that gigantic flag billowing in the background.
 

One advantage of these close-up shots is being able to see what's going on backstage.  Does anyone else wonder what those 12 people are doing standing around back there? 

I can account for the two or three roadies who are tuning instruments & moving that piano around, but the rest?  No idea.

Still, all those screaming girls who were singing along didn't seem to give it a second thought.

They were totally focused on the music and the band.

Yep.  Screaming, Singing, Dancing.  My girls were 'the triple threat'. 

And I'll freely admit... I stood there grinning ear-to-ear the whole time!

Seriously.  Priceless.

Crazy Days

Was it just me or... was the last week so crazy-busy that it was certifiable?  No time to breathe!

Just sayin' ...

"Hurray for the Red, White & Blue!"

It's another fun swap organized by the ladies at Sweet Goodness Swaps!

Theme:  "Hurray for the Red, White, and Blue!"
The Rules:  Items should be in a red, white and blue and Americana theme.
« At least one handmade item,
« One thrifted/second hand/vintage item, and
« One sweet treat

« And just because I could... I included a bit of Something Extra too!

And, believe it or not, I actually sent out three swap packages!  Here's a peek...  though, in all fairness I should mention that I used the same wrapping style, handmade tags, and ribbons for all three packages, so without showing you the contents, well, they all look surprisingly the same - LOL!!

First, a 'private' swap (as in, we decided to swap directly, without registering with the gals at SGS) with the lovely and delightful S...

Then, by a comical set of circumstances, I was lucky enough to have TWO official swap partners!  Very exciting!!

Box 1 - sent to Carol in Washington state

Box 2 - sent to Charlene in Maine

Now, the exciting wait for packages to be delivered... and received!  Hip Hip Hurray for the Red, White & Blue swap!

"Oooo la la!"

My beloved cousin A. was having a blog giveaway and I won!  My surprise package was the most delightful goody bag of Chanel treats...  "Oooo la la" indeed!

Seriously:  darling!  THANKS, A!

Sent! June Book Club Mailing

After that last Book Club post where I mentioned the RSVP postcards, you'd think people would just be johnny-on-the-spot to get them returned as quickly as possible, wouldn't you?  Well, not so much.  I'm still waiting for FOUR.   Though, when I reminded one of the FOUR... he jumped up and down with such excitement to get home and Find. His. Postcard!   That sort of excitment tends to happen when you're five years old.

And just for you, my dears, here's a sneak peak at all the lovely literary goodness that's gone out the door this week...

See anything you're interested in reading?

Oh what DO you do in the summertime? (Part Deux)

Sometimes it's not enough to simply READ about adventure.

You want to LIVE it too...

Even if it is only vicariously... on a much smaller scale than actual events... when the sun is shining outside and you're safely inside where it's cool and bright...

Messenger Tote Mania

It all started with a pattern I saw at Diary of a Quilter, the blog written by Amy, a talented Utah Mom who, well, loves to quilt!  Amy created an easy pattern for making a messenger tote and, bless her!, she wrote up instructions and photographed each step of the process too.  I saw the post and thought "hmmm... I could do that... and what if I change it up a little and.... "

And thus started the mania.  Soon I was improvising pattern enhancements... double pockets... a closeable top-flap... adjustable straps... two-tone exteriors... double straps (or call them handles)...  matching wallets... 

It definitely takes me longer than the 32 minutes Amy suggested, but obviously I'm not complaining!  I'm totally loving this project!  With gorgeous fabrics, customized details, and extra finishing touches, it makes a sweet Birthday present, hostess gift, surprise package...  ummm, yeah.  Mania.

"Now what if I take that heavyweight linen and that lighterweight linen and combine it with that silky sateen... "

Got tote?

Oh what DO you do in the summertime?

Besides sleep-in and get up late?

(Of course.)

Maybe you could build yourself a comfy reading nook and cozy up with a good adventure...

It's just a suggestion...

Adventures in Blogland: The Sugar City Journal

Two talented sisters-in-law, living on opposite coasts, sharing one blog.  And - wow! - are they talented!    Sewing, painting, story-writing... there's just all sorts of creativity happening in their homes and it's always a delight to see what they'll come up with next. 

Here's one of their latest ideas...   The Sugar City Quarterly:

Simply Fabulous!  My copy came last week.  I wanted to savor reading it over a couple of days, or even weeks...  but I couldn't resist the lure to keep turning the pages.  It's filled with creative stories, and projects, and charming sketches, and even a few well-placed color photos.  So delightful!    I wish I'd come up with this idea (though I don't have anywhere near the blog readership that Lynne & Melissa do, so it definitely wouldn't have had such a wide distribution if it had been from me.  LOL!).   However...  Lynne and Melissa are taking submissions for the next issue, so I'm definitely thinking of a few ideas... hmmmm.... ideas percolating...

To see more about their Quarterly idea, go here.  This issue is currently sold out, but if you ask nicely -- super nicely -- I just might share!  :-)