IF - Late

I have elephants on the brain. What would that be called? Pachydermis-cephalitis? I've been asked to chair the White Elephant booth at the school's fundraising festival next month. A White Elephant sale is basically a huge yard sale, with items donated from hundreds of families. It's a huge undertaking, but I'm up to the challenge. So forgive me if I disappear for a little while. If you need me, I'll be the one under the elephant.

And yes, I was most definitely a late bloomer. How about you?

Tag, I'm it!

I’ve been tagged by the ever so sweet and multi-talented Yoon See. Actually, it was a triple tag, but I’ve been swamped with school duties and will only do the first one for now. (I hope that is ok, Yoon See.)

Handbag Tag
Here are the rules:
Find a safe quiet place free of significant others, nosey meme makers, priests, nuns, all things religious and men in general. (If you're a guy just reverse this process to male and tell us about your wallet, tool box, briefcase or metro sexual accessory.)
1. Dump the contents of your handbag in a pile.
2. Take a photo of your handbag and the contents.
3. Be brave and 'splain to your fellow bloggers what lurks inside the handbag.
4. Tag others who might want to embarrass themselves.
5. Answer these questions:

Describe the contents of your handbag.


What's the most important thing in your handbag?
My wallet.
What's the most embarrassing thing in your handbag?
Trash, including old chewed-up gum in an old receipt.
What's the smallest thing in your handbag?
Ponytail elastic.
Is there anything illegal in your handbag?
Does the sugar packet I stole from Segafredo count?

*******************************

I was also tagged by she-of-nimble-fingers and-wonderful-humor, TattingChic. She makes the most amazing -- and I mean amazing -- things out of thread. You really should check out her work. Mind boggling.

This Meme is about 7's

7 Things I plan to do before I die:

1. See my kids grow up and become parents themselves. Then sit back and enjoy the revenge.
2. Needle felt something really cool.
3. Make a tiny zoo of beaded animals for no particular reason.
4. Conquer my fear of acrylics and watercolors.
5. Have an incredibly beautiful garden.
6. Become good enough at playing the piano.
7. Become fluent in a foreign language.


7 Things I do now:

1. Sneak in extra cookies.
2. Surf the Web too much.
3. Draw.
4. Collect craft ideas and never do them.
5. Knit, but only square and rectangular things.
6. Curse the Enjoli commercial from the 70s
7. Buy books but never get around to reading them.


7 Things I can't do:

1. Paint
2. Accompany my husband to karaoke
3. Drink
4. Iron clothes well
5. Watch a scary movie
6. Accounting
7. Drive to a new place without getting lost


7 Things that attract me to the Opposite Sex:

1. Humor, humor, humor
2. Love for kids and family
3. Intelligence
4. A passion or talent for something, anything
5. Compassion
6. Sensitivity
7. Humility


7 Things that I say most often:

1. No way!
2. Oh, honestly.
3. Sure, no problem.
4. How high?
5. Go. To. Bed.
6. You drive me NUTS.
7. I’m sorry.


7 Celebrities that I admire:

1. Hayao Miyazaki
2. Al Gore
3. Tina Fey
4. Angelina Jolie
5. Paul Newman
6. Condoleeza Rice
7. Berkeley Breathed


7 Favorite Foods:

1. Lots of Korean
2. Lots of Mexican
3. Lots of Italian
4. Doughnuts
5. Ice cream
6. Cream puffs
7. Corned beef hash


7 People who need to do this:
You, if you want to. Please let me know if you do. They were fun, and I'd love to know more about you.

IF - Strings

Sometimes I feel tied down and constrained by motherhood.
Yet I realize that without my children, I could not soar.

I read an inspiring post this morning by Aimee at Artsyville about the challenges of being a parent and an artist. About the tears and frustration and hair-pulling moments when time is not your own. And about the joys and wonder and curiosity and seeing life anew. After I read her words, I finally understood why I've become so attracted to children's art. It's because my kids inspire me and make me see the world through their eyes.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To promote awareness, Cookie Sunshine is giving away one of her marvelous drawings, signed, matted, and framed. And it's pink! You, too, can enter to win one of her delightful pen and ink confections. The deadline is October 31. Please visit her site by clicking here.

IF - Sugary

October is a wahoooooo-wonderful month, as evidenced by all the fantastic people celebrating birthdays (wahoooos to Random York, and Vanessa Brantley Newton and Christer, to name a few). Tomorrow is my daughter Nona's birthday, too. She will be turning the big double-digit of 10. So, today was spent baking giant, warm, gooey, and sweet chocolate chip cookies for her to share with her class. These cookies are absolutely decadent and to-die-for. And I was sure to add in a little extra sugar and chocolate for Eric Barclay who always appreciates a little added goodness. For anyone interested, I found the recipe here.


Whew! Speaking of sugary sweet, look at this gorgeous gem of an award created by Yoon See!

Yoon See is an incredibly thoughtful and sweet artist, and her work is tender and brilliant and fun. I do so enjoy seeing what she's up to. She has so many different and wonderful styles! Thank you, Yoon See, for this beautiful award, and for your many words of encouragement and friendship. I am going to take this opportunity to pass this award on to several artists I deeply respect and admire. Please visit each of their sites and be prepared to be awestruck:

1. Nancy Lefko
2. Valerie Walsh
3. Studio Lolo
4. Bobo's Slave
5. Indigene
6. Roberta Baird
7. Chris Leavens

Yoon See has several different "models" of this award. Please visit her site and select which one you'd like to display.
1. Put the logo on your blog.2. Link to the person who gave you the award.3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.4. Put links to those on your blog.5. Leave a message on those blogs.


Ok, well, it's late and my sugar high is leaving me. Off to dream of sugar plum fairies and visit other Sugary posts tomorrow. Have a wonderful week, everyone, and if it's your birthday this month, then a warm wahoooooo to you too!