from baby to mommys little girl .. 3 years in the making .... Happy 2010

First let me say, I must have had one too many egg nogs this evening , since I am crazy enough to put a pic up of my 9 month pregnant bare belly for all the world to see... but I don't care...I loved being pregnant ... loved the belly... and ..well..there it is in all it's glory!

This New Years Eve, I feel reflective on the last three years , and how quick time goes (not just a cliche after all). My daughter was born on Janary 2nd ... she will be 3 years old in a few days... and it is so amazing to watch a "little me" see the world. It seems like only yesterday I felt her moving in my belly, with her big brother talking to her ... saying "Hi Helicopter, I can't wait to meet you" or "Good Morning Poopi Sinai" yep... , that was not a typo.... my son wanted to call her Helicopter or Poopi Sinai ... don't ask ...... luckily for her, he didnt win ...and she was named Gianna ...

I love when I get to work on maternity canvases for moms to be ... i love the words they choose .... I love the artistic ways people photograph their tummies ... I think it is so beautiful...and such a special time in a womans life...it is great to have something to remember it by ... it is not too often us girls are proud to show off our stomachs ...know what I am saying?? One of my favorite songs on these canvases are "You'll Be Blessed" , by Elton John ... I had it playing in my room at the hospital when my son was born ...

Now my daughter is turing 3, helping me cook pancakes in the morning for her Daddy and her Brother.... giving me GIRL attitude one minute and loving and kissing me the next .... she is stubborn like me and silly like me...and I love watching her grow ....

Another one of my favorite lyrics lately (thanks to my great clients!) has been "I loved her first"
But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me ......

You get the idea.........what a tear jerker ... do you have any songs that bring a tear to your eye about your child or loved one?? I would love to hear them....

To all my readers ...Have a Happy and Safe New Years .....

I look forward to an exciting 2010 with you!

Gifts are out, new year begins, Hope everyone had a happy holiday!

I worked hard these last 6 weeks, to get out all Geezees custom canvas gifts, and have taken the last few days to just sit and enjoy.

To watch my children enjoy the magic of christmas.....to sneak down the stairs to see if Santa ate the cookies and drank the milk (which he did...and boy is he messy!)

To open up packages, and try to assemble the most impossible toys...or should I say , as any parent knows...the impossible packaging the toys come in ... CRAZY!!! lol

Just taking these few days to soak it all in ... to enjoy each moment , to relax.....

and it feels so good....This week, it will be back to normal, and only 363 days til we do it all again :)

Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays, enjoyed their canvases.... and I look forward to sharing an exciting contest that I will be hosting in January..... get your camera's ready!

To all a good night ....

Anyone you know getting engaged christmas?? Or got engaged on a holiday?

Check out these vows (photo on right) that someone used in their wedding....

most unique ones EVER!!!

I don't know anyone that has ever got engaged xmas morning....does anyone have any neat stories?? I would love to hear them! I think it is such a romantic idea......

canvas gifts are shipping out ... I gotta get some sleep

Well, today is the day .... my mailbox store is opening an hour early for me (Thanks Pat!) so I can ship the last of the Holiday Canvases out for holiday delivery .... WHAT A CRAZY MONTH!

I am a mix between excited and exhausted , me and the hubby have been working around the clock ... Geezees Custom Canvas sold 85 holiday gifts this holiday season ... Thank you ALL for an AMAZING and succesful year ... I look forward to 2010 !

I have a really fun contest that will start in January for those who have a Geezees hanging in their homes... so be on the look out for that in the next few weeks....

Off to deliver these packages ....then off to sleep .......

And on a side note .... (and in no way an ad), my son got this toy called a "Bop it" for his birthday the other day ...and I have to say , in this day, when I am usually disappointed by the quality of toys .... it is the most fun I have had with a kid toy in a long time...

What is your favorite gift pick this holiday season ???? Would love to hear other opinions....

wordless wednesday and the potty training continues . . .

took a break for a day ... 2 birthdays , one party, and a whole lotta ice

I took a break from creating canvases for the day to celebrate both my kids birthday's ...

things don't always go as planned....we had a huge rollerskate party planned for them....and that morning we woke up to an ince storm, roads closed and the roller rink couldnt open, some family and friends got stuck on roads on the way to the party, one got into an accident (they are ok) ...and I had to tell the kids, that the party was cancelled....

a few tears later, and some rearranging of plans, we threw together a quick birthday party at the house with whovever was able to walk over....the day was saved...a relief....

Now the home stretch is in for all the christmas canvas deliveries.... ....a lot is left to do for Geezees and home...feeling a bit like santa right now, he must get so stessed the week before xmas....lol

How much do you all have left to do??

what does it take to get to 50 years? love this reading "The Art of a Good Marriage"

Just a quick hello...can't chat long, swamped with holiday orders I must get out...so I will be quoting a little today from Peterson ...whose words a couple just used on a canvas..and I thought they were worth sharing.



The Art of a Good Marriage”,
by Wilferd Arlan Peterson

"A good marriage must be created.
In marriage the "little" things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, ”I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is having a mutual sense of values, and common objectives.
It is standing together and facing the world.
It is forming a circle that gathers in the whole family.
It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is not only marrying the right person -- it is being the right partner."

looking for balance, found some ... and Cindy Lou Who?

First a special thank you to Jodi ,

for letting me create a canvas with her, to remember her baby boy,

who she lost to spina bifida.

It was a beautiful, but bittersweet project..and I was honored to work with her.

Had to take the pic of my daughter today in her new jammies...
rocking her baby to sleep.
Who knew I gave birth to Cindy Lou Who ...lol
(gotta love the grinch movie !)

Balance ...

which I talk about every so often has been a bit hard to find this month...
orders have poured in for custom canvas orders, and I am so grateful ,
but it does stink that the busiest month for business is also the busiest month at home..
holidays, both kids birthday parties, shopping...baking...well..more like driving to the bakery....

Trying to remember to take it all in and remember to

breathe ....
and enjoy .....but some days are harder than others...
So this afternoon, I shut down the computer for a few hours..

popped some popcorn, snuggled on the couch with my kids

and as the snow fell outside, we watched a christmas movie together.
and for a few hours I was ...

present
in the moment
and it was good.

How are you finding balance during this crazy month??

Friendship, weddings, vacations and a chicken ...... ???

What crazy thing have you done for friendship?

or

What has someone done for you?

I want to hear your stories....and if you keep reading...

THEN I will share mine...embarrassing as it is...

because we are all friends here... in blog land... right??

Some friends vacation together.....

and then create a Geezees canvas collage to remember their trip by ...

(yes...a shameless plug... lol)

Some ask their best friend to be their Maid or Honor or Bridesmaid

to share in their special day ....

and some friends

(YOURS TRULY!)

dress up like a chicken at their friends wedding

when their chicken doesn't show and dance with their guests....

ok...so I have shared....now it is your turn.... hope you dont think any less of me...lol

what have you done or someone done for you

.....in the name of friendship?

What makes you happy?? Wordless Wednesday, You Capture ...

Following the rules of I should be folding Laundry's blog, and You Capture theme...

What makes you happy? Holiday Decorating with my family

If you have a wordless wednesday photo up on your blog, please feel free to enter the link to that page in the mcklinky below.

Destination Canvas.... Where have you been?

I LOVE these... they are fun to make and fun to look at ... i love the concept and what they represent.... special places you have visited , place you want to go to... places that represent moment in your life... good times...



Where is your favorite place to visit?



Where is one place you want to go???





I would have to say my favorite place was New Orleans ... loved the architecture , the people... everything about it...

Where would I like to go?
toss up between Greece and Italy

What about you??

win a little bit of serendipity

The Shabby Chic Cottage ( a lovely blog ) is hosting

a wonderful 24 hour Christmas Carnival of Giveways.

Stop by her site, enter to win some lovely gifts...including a

GEEZEES Serendipity Canvas.

(choose your color from 4 options)

Good Luck!

Remember when shopping this holiday season RED IS THE NEW BLACK friday

Have Fun shopping this weekend, be safe, be patient and shop handmade!

(Deadline to order Custom Geezees Canvas Art is Dec 8th -after that date stock art and gift certificates available...and rush charges/expedited shipping may apply to custom work)

What is the one thing you REALLY want this holiday season??

(I would like a whole day to myself to read, take a bath, sleep in late ... who sells that??)

(sent the kids outside to run of the sweets they ate...

but they REALLY wanted to come back in)

lol

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Wordless Wednesday Hands Photos, MckLinky if you have a wordless Wednesday Post

Do you have a wordless wednesday post? If so, feel free to link it up below using MckLinky

so thankful , so many things.... what are you thankful for?

In the spirit of Thanksgiving... I would like to share a few of my favorite things that I am thankful for...and hopefully you will share some of yours with me.... they will be in no order... I will start with the first keeping in theme with my canvas images to the right ....





MY CHILDREN
... so ok, I lied...I had a bit of order..lol...but that is where the order will end...

marshmellows

health

having a great first year in business

our leaf blower

my family

my sister (and assistant)

pink tu-tu's

dvr

a good book

my hubby

mashed potatoes

pumpkin ANYTHING

watching my parents love my children

coffee

quiet

laughter



What are some of the things you are thankful for?????

Gift Ideas ... has any started shopping yet?

Good Morning ... ok, I am curious to know everyones shopping habits...

I know I have yet to purchase one gift for anyone yet (yes, I am one of those Dec 23rd shoppers!).....but Geezees is busier than ever right now...so I know people are buying...

I thought I would start the morning out with some suggestions ...

For the just engaged, or just married couple

A funky canvas with their photo and wedding song (while they can still remember it...lol..dont get that joke? go back and read my post last week ...asking people what their wedding song was...very funny)

The HARD to buy for man in your life or teen boy...a distressed or grunge canvas with their favorite lyrics....or quote.....

How about some beautiful fabric art from one of my favorite etsy sellers SoBright Designs

She was so sweet to offer one of our our readers one of these beautiful onsie sets last month...you should go check out some of her new fabric/designs for new babies...they are SO afforadable and adorable ... I LOVE LOVE LOVE this reto christmas fabric.... it is awesome isnt it?

So...what is your status?? Are you no where near ready to shop?? Have your purchased all your gift items already? Are you going out BLACK FRIDAY? Will you buy all online?(that is how I do 80% of my shopping the last few years!)

What are your shopping plans this holiday season?

Watching old wedding video... Mommy, why are you smiling so much?

With the recent post showing my wedding photo, inspired me to bring the VHS tapes out of the closet ...and watch a little video with the kids from when "mommy and daddy" got married...

It was so much fun to watch them watch it. My daughter (2) was a lot more into it than my boy (7) ...but with it came some really cute questions... I will share..





Why aren't you wearing your glasses? Cause I wanted to look fancy.
Why weren't we invited? cause you werent born yet.
Mommy, why do you look so happy? lol..cause I was footloose and fancy free!!



My daughter watched it 3 times in a row...it is her new favorite movie...too cute! She loves looking at the brides in the wedding canvas orders Geezees gets...
(to all the brides who have ordered from me...my 2 year old thinks you are all princesses!)

How often do you watch your wedding videos? Do you ever look at your parents wedding photos?

You Capture , wordless wednesday post ...our life in sunsets ....

What makes a marriage or relationship work?? Answer with One Word... Also, some Black and White Canvas Photos

First ... I have to say thank you for the great response/answers to "What was your wedding song" post ...(not to late to go put your 2 cents in) ... You guys were so honest ...I loved it! Especially those who said they couldnt remember what song they danced to at their wedding ... bravo for your honesty ... to be honest ..me and my hubby always get out wedding anniversary date wrong...we are both off by one day... some sort of mental block or something...who knows...

So my question today is ... if you had to describe what makes YOUR marriage/relationship work??

(I say "your" because.. everyones relationship is different) ... what would the most important thing be?? If you had to pick only one word....which one word would it be? Hard? Or maybe not ... Will your partner answer the same??

I just did a test here...I knew my word.... asked the hubby..and it was a match! What was the word??

RESPECT
What is yours??