Wordless Wednesday - New Route 66 Photos

New Year, New List, and more.

Last year my big new years resolution was to start a blog and keep up with it. I think I've done okay. I would like to say I posted at least twice a week each week and kept up with my Route 66 stories. I can't, but I can make that a goal this year.

Other things I would like to do is finish my studio space out by the garage. It is a disaster and I have devoted little to know time to it. I would also love to be more organized and to cook heather from scratch dinners for my family every night.

But before I get lost in lofty goals that may or may not get completed this year, lets have some fun. I found this list on Giggleberry Creations blog and thought it would be fun. It has made me feel a little better to know I have accomplished so much and has made me think that I should add one fun thing to my resolutions list for this year. What? I'm not sure yet, but I do have a week to think about it.

The things that I have done are in bold. How about you? What have you done? What could you aim to do in 2009?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Elementary and Middle school marching band counts, right?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (I have been to Disney World, but Disneyland is defiantly on the list)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (grew up surrounded by them)
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (not the proper way, but have climbed some steep rocks when hiking)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (my voice in a documentary about Salvador Dali, counts?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (with my husband)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Feel free to share the things that you have done, and leave me a comment if you blog about it too so we can compare.....

I'm Deaming No More

When we moved this summer to Santa Fe, NM I had hopes that we would have a white Christmas. I was told that it often snows just a little around Thanksgiving each year, but not much else until January and like clockwork we received a few inches of snow on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was just enough to thrill my daughter and make her want more. After that when I asked her what she wanted for Christmas she would often include snow to play in on her list . We were both dreaming of a white Christmas and it looks like we got our wish. Yesterday we received about 9 inches of snow, plenty for snow balls, a snow family, and to make it a little difficlut to go anywhere. Which is actually just fine with me. We might even get a little more tonight.

It is only Christmas eve, but the joy of Christmas is already burning brightly in our hearts. The snow fall fulfilled childhood dreams and has made us slow down and enjoy time together. Presents have yet to be opened and Santa has yet to visit us, but the joy on my daughters face is irreplaceable and means so much more then anything we could have purchased.

I hope your Christmas and New Years is as wonderful as ours. Remember to cherish the special things that you share with those you love and just for a day or two let go of those stresses that sometimes put a shadow on the joys in your life. Celebrate the beauty around you and the giving that abounds. And remember a smile goes much father then a frown.

Tonight as I tuck my daughter into bed we will read once more "The Night Before Christmas" and as St. Nick does at the end of the poem, I wish you, "A Happy Christmas to all and to all a Good Night."

New Route 66 Photos for Sale

I finally got some new Route 66 photos listed in my etsy shop and I thought I would share them with you.


This Motel Sign still stands in Kingman, AZ, but the motel is long gone.

Sleeping in a wigwam is lots of fun in Route 66 in Holbrook, AZ. The motel is still owned and run by the original family.

Laguna Pueblo is in New Mexico on what was Route 66, but is now covered by I-40. The view from the tiny rest stop is beautiful.

The Frontier Motel and restaurant still serves up greasy road food in Truxton, AZ, on the longest strip of Route 66 left.

Last Day for Great FAM Deals

Visit the FAM Holiday Gift Guide to see Today's Feature:
**STOCKING STUFFERS**
http://fam-fabulousartisticmoms.blogspot.com

And get great deals with participating shops, including mine.

**TODAY'S SPECIAL - 12/12/2008**
BOGO 1/2 off - Item of lesser value will be discounted 1/2 off. See below for details and a list of participating shops. Offer may not be combined. Offers expire at midnight Etsy Time.

All Purchases made at participating FAM shops during the FAM - Made Holiday Gift Guide Event, December 1-12, 2008, will be entered in a drawing for FAM Bucks. Mention "FAM Entry" in notes to seller when checking out.

Participating Shops~
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5962556
http://andreabaker.etsy.com (offer can not be combined)
http://berrycreekcandles.etsy.com
http://imaginethatinc.etsy.com
http://keepyourbabyclose.etsy.com
http://kellydnlvy.etsy.com
http://ljdesignphoto.etsy.com (offer can not be combined)
http://ljdesigncards.etsy.com (offer can not be combined)
http://michon.etsy.com
http://newenglandquilter.etsy.com (Custom Orders Excluded)
http://momosbows.etsy.com (custom orders excluded)
http://RedBessBonney.etsy.com (custom orders excluded)
http://RedBessBonneyToo.etsy.com (custom orders excluded)
http://valeriesgallery.etsy.com (including clearance items! )
http://bluetricycle.etsy.com
http://appleblossomfl.etsy.com

Free Gift Card with purchase today!!

More FAM wonderful deals.

Visit the FAM Blog for today's Gift Guide.

And these wonderful shops for today's special:
http://imaginethatinc.etsy.com/
http://jeweledelegance.etsy.com/
http://jewelryinfusions.etsy.com
http://ljdesigncards.etsy.com/
http://ljdesignphoto.etsy.com/
http://macaroniandglue.etsy.com/
http://mholland.etsy.com/
http://newenglandquilter.etsy.com/

What is the special?
**TODAY'S SPECIAL - December 2, 2008**
Free Gift Tag with Purchase - Please mention "Gift Tag" in notes to seller when checking out. Offer expires at midnight Etsy Time.

More info can be found on the our Etsy Forum Tread: On the 2nd day of FAM-Made my true love gave to me........Dec. 2 Surprise!

12 Day of December - Holiday Art and Handmade Gifts Speicals

Fabulous Artistic Moms (FAM) of Etsy's Holiday Gift Guide is now online. Each day a new theme and special deal will be posted. You can enter to win free FAM Bucks to be used in participating stores by purhcashing your Chirstmas gifts. Today you can be entered to win if you blog about the Gift Guide and Daily specials. Just go to FAM's Blog for more infomation.

I'm not sure what day I will be featured in, but most day I will be running a special that will be announced on the FAM Blog.

Today is last day of my Free Shipping on all Prints. Also, recieve 10% off any purchase over 50%.

Route 66 Calendars and Shirts - Free shipping Monday only!!!!!

CafePress is offering Free shipping on orders of $75 or more this Monday, Dec. 1st only. This is a great time to stock up on gift for the Route 66 lover in your home from my Route 66 tee-shirt and more shop.

You can get tee-shirt and sweat shirts for both men and women with some of my classic route 66 images on them. There is also a calendar featuring 12 classic route 66 stops and more! This offer can be combined with any items on cafepress. So come and find that perfect gift for the holidays or just for yourself.

Black Friday to Cyber Monday Free Shipping and More Sale

Fine Art Prints for the whole family are on sale at my Fine art Photography shop on etsy. Route 66, Southwestern Landscapes, Motherhood, Flowers, and more.


Free shipping offer is already in each listing, but if you spend $50 or more you will also receive 10% off your purchase. Just wait for me to send you a revised invoice to pay. Offer good though Midnight PST, Monday, December 1st.

And look for more deals during the first 12 Days of December, a different offer almost everyday with my Fabulous Artistic Moms Group!!

Pumpkin Pie and Other Things I'm Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

I've been looking forward to this post since last year. I wanted to share the fun experience of making a pumpkin pie from scratch with my daughter. We started the tradition last year and I plan on it being one of the simple and fun things for us to do each year.

Last year just as this year, my daughter helped me scoop out the seeds and other yucky things in the center of the pumpkin. Last year we rinsed and baked the seeds, but they were not a hit with the family, so we didn't bother this year.

Then we steamed the pieces until they were tender and soft. This way the skin peels off very easily. By cutting them in small pieces it took very little time to steam. Then we put the pumpkin in the blender to make the puree. From here you can use any pumpkin recipe you choose. Last year I made our from the Fannie Farmer cookbook. This year I tried and Eagle brand recipes from Allrecipes called Perfect Pumpkin Pie. I'll let you know how it taste this weekend.


I love a good pumpkin pie and last years was wonderful. So much better the the store bought ones and the starting of new traditions with my daughter warms my heart.

This year I'm thankful for my family and their good health. That my mother could spend time with us this Thanksgiving. That this year we found our home, a new house in a new city and a place that feels just right. I'm thankful for my friends. Friends from school, from towns I've live, those I've met online, and for the new friends that have welcomed me so warmly into my new community. I feel very lucky sometimes and I'm thankful for that.

I hope that everyone feels as thankful and fortunate this year and always. Thank you so much for reading my blog and allowing me to share with you.

The Journey of Motherhood Celebrated in Art

Recently I was contacted by Rachel Leavitt of the blog "The Beginning of Motherhood" about an online exhibition she is hosting called "The Journey of Giving Birth". She asked if I would be interested in contributing anything from my motherhood series, and in particular my photo "Touch". It sounded like a great oppertunity and I sent her a few photos and info on them to use in her blog.
Her blog is about what she has learned though giving birth and motherhood and is very touching. Many of her post are about the feelings of becoming a mother and how motherhood starts with the birth.
Right now the exhibit includes three artists; Erika Hastings, Eugenia Algaze Garcia, and myself. I believe she is hoping to expand it in the future. This is a beautiful way to celebrate mothers, birth, and motherhood.

Etsy Front Page!

Etsy Front Page 11/10/08 Winklepots, originally uploaded by Etsy Front Pagers.

I finally made the front page of Etsy again. This time with my new card shop. You can see my Queen Butterfly mini cards or gift tags on the left, third down. Yea.
Thank you so much Holly of Winklepots. Your a wonderful curator and your have a beautiful etsy shop.

Just wanted to do a quick post. So much more to do soon.
Thanks for looking.

Wordless Wednesday - Obama Mama, Hope

Make sure to visit the other Wordless Wednesday entries (or submit something of your own) by clicking right here.

And now for the Winners!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really enjoy doing giveaway's and I think it is a great way to introduce my blog and stores to new people from all over. Also, I really enjoy reading all the positive comments and love to see what people are drawn too.

Some of my favorite comments this time are:
Mistress Meeyee said who said, "Cedar Pipeline Ranch, NV..Thats the one that caught my eye the most.Breathtaking and somewhat lonely,I love it."
It is a lonely area and it is nice to know that I captured that and the beauty of the area in the photo.

Kay made me laugh when she said, "Okay so my hubby just about knocked me over to look at your route 66 series. He is a rusty crusty car guy.
Your art work is amazing. Thanks for the chance to win some!"
It is funny, I originally only photographed old cars, route 66, ghost towns, and landscapes. When I did art shows, men would linger in my booth, but I had very few sales to women.

Elsie said, "The photo of the Kelso Dunes in the Mojave National Preserve would be a treasure to me, to look at, as I listen to the music of the Southwest and to the drummers drumming...I can imagine animals, nature's wind and sun, and people weaving their way through this fantastic view..."
Thank you Elsie.

Paige said, "I love JOY- a study of motherhood. I wish I had a picture of me with my girls like that. Can you come and take one for me?"
Thank you, part of photography for me is capturing the moment and this to me is a great example of that.

OH, and there are so many more. Thank you everyone who participated!!!! As a special thanks I'm going to offer everyone 20% off one item from my etsy stores. Just use coupon code fallgive20, and wait for a revised invoice to pay. This offer is got though December 21st, 2008 and is limited to participants of my Fall Bloggy Giveaway.

I know, but what about the winner. Who Won??

After writing everyone's name (and comment number) on a slip of paper each, folding them

and mixing them up in a bowl, my daughter mixed them again.

And picked out just one.

The winner is Andrea Baker of Handmade by Andrea Baker. She has won a $30 shopping spree. I wonder what she will choose, especially since her husband is a wonderful photographer, too.

But wait!!!!! I decided to giveaway second place prizes; 50% off one item in any of my shops, to 10 more winners, since that is about as high as my daughter can count without swiching numbers and getting frustrated (she is only three).
And the second place winners are:
eyeslikesugar (80)
kristinwynder (68)
jessica (25)
pastormac's ann (79)
Katrina (101)
Sarah M (58)
Karen&co. (95)
Oh Mandi (29)
leigh (37)
altermyworld (8)

I will contact each of the second place winners with information on how to recieve your discount.

Now for the Winner of the Second contest, The Butterfly Gift Cards. This was a bit easier with only 39 entries to write on paper. Again, my daughter mixed them up and picked one.

(Isn't this a great felted bowl? I got it from Valeriesgallery on etsy.com )

And the winner is:
Sandy

Thank you, again, to everyone who participated. Please come back and visit me again here at my blog, in my stores, or become a fan on Facebook at LJ Design Photo.

And now for the small print: I will be sending email to all of the winners. Winners have a week to email me back and claim their prize. The shopping spree and 50% one item must be used before the end of 2008, hopefully sooner. If I winners have not contacted me to claim their prizes by Sunday, Nov. 8th, new winners will be chosen and notified.

Another giveaway - Butterfly Gift Tags

As I finished these gift tags last night I thought wouldn't they be a nice thing to give away. Okay, not a free $30 shopping spree in my stores (click to find out more), but still very nice. So here it is.
You can win four queen butterfly gift tags, two of each color/design shown here. Each, as a set of four, will be offered in my handmade card shop on etsy. Just leave a comment and make sure I can contact you when it is time to claim your prize.
Shipping is free, even internationally. Nothing to lose, just some cute cards to gain.


I will pick a winner on Sunday right after picking the winner of the shopping spree. Feel free to enter both giveaways.

For more great giveaways visit Bloggy Giveaways Carnival which runs though November 2nd. Check out all the wonderful giveaways and free stuff you can enter to win at BloggyGiveaways.com.

Giveaway Time: Shopping spree with LJDesignphoto.

Here we go again, time for a Bloggy Giveaway!!! This time I'm offering a $30 shopping spree (with free shipping) in my etsy stores and my personal site www.ljdesignphoto.com. You get to pick your prize if my daughter picks your name out of a hat on November 2nd. You can chose from prints, cards, magnets, gift cards, and more (you can even mix and match from my different shops). And don't worry where your from, I will ship internationally.

But first, you do have to do a little something.
-- I need to know what you like from my shops. So go to my website at www.ljdesignphoto.com, my fine art photography etsy shop, or my latest card and tag shop and pick something.
--I also need to be able to contact you, so if you are not a blogger, but wish to enter and don't want to leave an email address in comments you can email me via etsy or my website with your contact info, but be sure to leave a comment and a way to connect the two.

I will close comments on November 1st around 9 PM PST. On Sunday morning I will put the names of everyone entered in a bowl and have my three year old daughter randomly pick a winner. She will just loves playing this important roll. The winner will have five days to claim their prize by sending me a shipping address.

This giveaway is part of Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival which runs though November 2nd. Check out all the wonderful giveaways and free stuff you can enter to win at BloggyGiveaways.com.

Just FYI: I will not use the info you provide to contact you for any other reason.This really is a free $30 shopping spree, no shipping, no hassle. Thank you for your time.

Autumn in New Mexico: Balloon Fiesta

So I continue the story of my busy October and a fun week (see last post for Monday's adventure ). Two weeks ago Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta was in full swing. My friend Mandy asked me if I would like to go down to see the special shapes take off on Thursday morning with her and another friend. I thought it sounded like a wonderful idea. We decided to leave a little later then recommended because we all have small kids and getting them up too early would just lead to melt downs later in the day.

The morning started off not so well, my alarm not going off and Mandy's call to see where I was woke me up. I told her to go without me and I would catch up with them at the fiesta. I grabbed clothes, my daughter, and the lunch and bags I packed the night before (good thing I did.) I ended up about 10 to 15 minutes behind them, and as I drove into Albuquerque I saw that most of the balloons were up and taking off already. My daughter enjoyed seeing the special shapes from the car because you could see a ton from the highway. There were flowers, a cow, bees, beer, and so much more.

We were so late that there was no one taking money for parking or at the ticketing gate. Basically the big event of the morning was done and they were not expecting anyone to bother coming so late. But after an hours drive and with friends already there, I was going. And I'm glad I did.

I knew that there was still a competition on the field, something about trying to hit a target as you drop something from your balloon as you fly by. Sounded interesting and with a nice large grass field it was a great place for the kids to play.

The target competition was great to watch. I was amazed how many times the balloons circled back around to take another turn to try for the target. And while I didn't get to see the balloons as they got set up and took off, I did get to watch them fly and they flew close, at times almost touching down. Also, I was glad to see the traditional shapes and colors.

Next year I'm hoping to get there very early and see the balloons that fly before the sun rises. I love the idea of the glow and rise in the dark. Hopefully my alarm will go off next time.

Here are some photos from the day. Again visit my Etsy Fine Art Photography store to purchase prints.

Fall: Aspens and the First Snow

Life has been so busy lately that I've been terrible about posting. I've been so busy with Autumn activities and illnesses that I'm behind, again. But that isn't going to keep me from posting the wonderful fun I had two weeks ago.

Sunday, about two weeks ago, the first snow fell at Ski Santa Fe, a skiing facility in the mountains above Santa Fe, New Mexico. The next morning my husband and I drove up the mountain to view the fall foliage. This trip was planed for a week, but the first snow of the season was a bonus. It was my first time on a chair lift, and it was beautiful. Here are some photos:





As you can see it was a beautiful morning. These photos of the first snow are available through my etsy shop, LJDesignphoto.

My second installment about my busy week/month is Autumn in New Mexico: Balloon Fiesta.
Thanks for reading.

New Gift and Thank You Tags Accomplished

So finally on to my update from the second of yesterdays Tackle It projects.

The dinning room table is, mostly, cleared (some things I need to mail out and my address book are still sitting on top) and about 70 more tags are done.
I like the results and will be listing them in my new esty card store very soon. Once they are listed I will add links to the photos so they are easy to find.

So here is my clean(er) table:
And this tag is my Autumn Thanks. A simple be elegant 2 x 2 inch card to tuck in with a gift or lunch. A simple why to say thanks. It is blank inside for your personal note.
Here is a Pink Butterfly Thanks mini card. Great for all ages.
I made another butterfly card with fall colors that works well for men too.
This little smile card is great for any note. Great for to tuck in a pocket, lunch, or to say thanks.
"Wish" mini card is one of my favorite little cards. And the last little card is this white flower on dark purplish pink. I haven't come up with a title for it yet.