cedars of lebanon state park: milkweed

next year i want to plant all the milkweed in my yard, so i can have all the butterflies, bees, froggies, and cool bugs.

so far, i have noticed three varieties of milkweed growing in the mid-state area.  i had not noticed the one above before, but now i see it everywhere.  it grows taller than people!  so awesome!

this one i have seen for the last few years in early summer and there is a similar pink variety that grows in late summer.  i remember seeing this orange one a few times in florida as a kid.

i have the hardest time photographing the black swallowtails.  they are such busy butterflies!

froggy on the milkweed.



bee on the milkweed.

butterfly on the milkweed.  and i have since found out that this cool bug is a milkweed beetle, also on the milkweed.  :)

i have learned to take a quick "junk shot" of living creatures before i try to compose the "perfect shot" as living creatures don't always make the best subjects.  this was the only snap i got off before this guy flew away.  sometimes you just have to take what you can get.

one photo and twenty words

proud mommy moment finding the boy at camp in the same shorts he'd been dropped off in two days earlier.

whimsical whales

 i've got a blog post up at cocoa daisy this morning all about creating monochromatic layouts.

you can check it out HERE.

raindrops on roses . . .

here are a few more from my last sunday evening walk.  i saved out the ones with the best raindrops for this post.  rain is beautiful.  rain is life.

summer vacation wrap-up: week one

summer is my absolute favorite.  not only is it finally hot, but i am also (mostly) off school for a solid eight weeks.  i am determined not to waste a single moment of summer bliss this year.

in our first week:
g had two sleepovers
we went to the lake with friends twice
we participated in national donut day
we went to the creek twice
we went to a bbq/dance party
i went out to dinner with a friend sans children
we had a scrappy/minecraft playdate
i recorded five planner videos
i went on two flower photo walks
i cleaned the fridge
i packed g up and dropped him off at boy scout camp
i went to cedars of lebanon state park

i'm kinda impressed with myself.  this week will be much more challenging, at least for me.  i know g's going to have a blast at camp, but chances are i will enter the hermit zone without him here to motivate me.  i'm planning my little heart out today in hopes that if i write it down i'll actually do it (the reality is i'm currently hosting a personal challenge to see if i can go a whole day without speaking to anyone and without changing out of my pajamas. so far so good.).

i originally created the photo collage here for the 1+4=life link up at meet me at mikes, but it appears she hasn't done it for the last couple weeks.  i hope she continues.  it's a cute idea in which you share four photos that sum up your life in that week.

mine are:
1. celebrating national donut day with friends (and uncle greg via facebook and a coke)
2. planning out my week and recording my memories in my cocoa daisy day planner
3. majorly skinning my knee at the creek, super proud of that one (don't even think i'm joking)
4. enjoying an adult beverage at a friend's bbq and remembering how much fun it is to dance

menu plan: battle of the bulge

the man child is, for the very first time, off at boy scout camp all week.  the psychological impacts for both mother and child are deep and profound.  on a superficial note, someone else will be feeding him, therefore i do not have to cook.  i should eat a salad every day, however i did stock up on some favorite canned goods at the dg last night.  i think we all know which team will be victorious in the battle of the bulge this week.  #teameatlikeakid

#plannerlove #creativemidorichallenge #youtube

 

well.  i have developed several new addictions here lately.  the first is that i totally went planner crazy in the month of may.  everything i said i wouldn't do i've done. pens, decorating, photos . . . you name it, it's in there.

 

part of my planner frenzy is due to florence antonette and her creative midori challenge.  i just love this list.  the top page above holds the last three prompts from the month of may.  then directly above you see her new list for the month of june.  i can't wait to play!

and then there is my new youtube addiction.  i bought a selfie stick.  i know, i'm shocked too.  but i bought it so i could use my iphone to make videos at my desk.  it works like a charm and now i'm addicted to making videos of my planner.  in fact, besides the one here, i've made FOUR more for our upcoming class at cocoa daisy.

the class begins june 15th, so there's still plenty of time to get signed up!  i personally can't wait to see what the other girls do!  this planner thing is AWESOME!  i haven't been this excited about paper in a long time!  :)

note:  if you watch the video, i wanted to mention a few changes that i made to the final page and why.

1. i outlined the yellow #summer letters with pen to make them show up better and then added some washi tape to the bottom because they weren't sticking well and also to add additional color.
2. i added the yellow washi at the bottom and circled june because that's what's up next.  i meant to do it while filming, but it's hard to think and talk and play with paper all at the same time.  :)