video of the day

The Evolution of Dance

(I know, it's an oldie, but still a goodie.)

paradise in a cup

Sitting here this morning and relaxing with a cup of 'Bananas Foster Float' coffee, part of my most recent shipment from Boca Java. It tastes like flamed bananas with cinnamon, brandy, and brown sugar!

For those of you who are wondering, "What the heck is Boca Java?", well it's a company in Florida that was "founded out of the pursuit for the perfect cup of fresh-roasted, gourmet coffee." I found out about it from my sister, Mary, who sent me a gift package from them when I still lived in Arizona. Whether your beverage of choice is coffee, tea, or chai latte, Boca Java has a great selection of quality products, including delicious gourmet coffees and teas in rich, exotic flavors.

You can purchase directly or join the Connoisseur Club, which is what I did - all you have to do is maintain a minumum order of 2 bags of coffee, which is automatically sent to you every 4/6/8 weeks, depending on what you want. Prior to each delivery, you get an email reminding you that a shipment is scheduled for delivery and a link to your account page in case you would like to update any information. You choose your coffee, delivery date and delivery frequency online. Best of all, you get a 10% membership discount and every time you order you earn 'Boca Bucks', which will translate into deeper discounts as you go along... My new thing is ordering gifts online, so this company fits the bill perfectly.

Here's a link: http://www.bocajava.com/

Now, on with my day!

all about me...

These photos answer the following questions about me:

1. What is your first name? (Teresa)
2. What is your favorite food? (anything Cajun)
3. What high school did you go to? (Wahlert High School)
4. What is your favorite color? (green)

5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Johnny Depp)

6. Something you collect? (craft supplies)

7. Favorite dessert? (cupcakes)

8. Favorite flowers? (roses)

9. What do you love most in life? (my family)

10. One word to describe you? (dog-lover)

11. Dream vacation? (Disneyworld)
12. Your favorite holiday? (Christmas)

Okay, I cheated on question 10 and hyphenated... Thanks to my friend Jennifer Stewart for the idea! Visit her blog at http://www.jenniferstewarts.blogspot.com/

Here's how to do your own photo mosaic:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions above into Flickr Search.

b. Pick an image you like of the ones that pop up.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.(make sure your mosaic is 3 columns, 4 rows)

d. Right click on your mosaic and save it to photobucket, or your favorite hosting place.

e. Share it on your blog! The mosaic maker gives you the html to put under the mosaic on your blog so all of the links will show up....

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Photo credits:

1. The Shape Of My Heart, 2. crawfish, 3. Bus Gals, 4. ♫ YO Yo yo, there's no place like a green penthouse... so i told the genie i wanted to be well hung. ^o^ ♫ nah... wildlife from singapore♫, 5. Johnny Depp, 6. Art, 7. vintage tea set with cupcake, 8. rose, flower, 9. Day 27/365: Two years, 10. Jimi, mi perro - my dog, 11. castle, 12. candy tree

guilty pleasure

Here's something that's going to be just pure entertainment for me this summer. I have been watching the previews for the last month and laughing my ass off every single time. It's called "WIPEOUT" and premiers tonight on ABC:

thought for the day...

My friend Leah sent this to me. Take a minute to read through it; it really makes you stop and think. Have a wonderful Sunday!

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Excerpts from: A Message by George Carlin

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

- George Carlin

wednesday

As I continue to get caught up on my scrapbook I've completed another page this morning. This year my niece Shelby took up the challenge of playing bass guitar with the school's Jazz Band. I wanted to do a page to commemorate her first 'real' performance:

the power of a second chance

From msnbc.com:

"It’s a dog’s life. And for Leo it couldn’t be better.

Leo, rescued from heavy chains that confined him as one of the pit bulls in former NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring, is a lover, not a fighter. He now happily frolics in a clown collar as he makes the rounds at the Camino Infusion Center, where he brings comfort to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Animal advocates are divided over whether fighting dogs can be trusted to have new lives as pets or working dogs. It’s the age-old story of second chances. By living his, Leo helps tear down entrenched stereotypes that pit bulls are irredeemable killers."

> the complete story can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25214356

I get around...

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/map.php

I'm quite the U.S. traveler, aren't I? Looks like I need to head southeast.

I have also been to Canada and Mexico (several times).

But, no matter where I'm going or where I've been,

I'm always happiest here in Iowa.

crafty weekend

Here are my latest scrapbook pages...

Planning this page cracked me up. We were at a buffet on Mother's Day and my nephew Jacob decided it would be fun to take a picture of everyone taking a bite, so I let him have the camera and decided I'd work with whatever he shot - this is what I came up with. I decided that since there were so many pictures I would keep the embellishments simple.

This page was tougher. I wanted to commemorate the kids' school play, but didn't have good pictures of the production, so I focused more on them being in the cast with all of their friends.

Happy Father's Day!

I miss you Dad!

lazy day

It's a beautiful day and we just got back from the Farmer's Market. Bailey is already down for the count and I was just inspecting my 'loot' from the morning - bread from the Sinsinawa Dominican nuns, a mini rhubarb pie from Moundside Bakery, fresh baby lettuce, tomatoes, radishes and green onions, honey from the apiaries in Potosi, WI and sour dill spears from the pickle guy. Whoo-hoo! Now, I honestly think I need a nap as well.

the race to higher ground

It just keeps getting worse! Rising water forced the evacuation of a downtown Cedar Rapids hospital Friday night after residents of more than 3,000 homes fled for higher ground. A railroad bridge collapsed, and over 400 city blocks are under water.

The water supply is at a critical level. The Cedar Rapids Water Department is currently only able to produce water at 25 percent of normal operation. City officials are urging residents to use water only for drinking, to use paper plates and avoid doing dishes or running a dishwasher. Residents are also being urged not to flush the toilet after each use, to use hand sanitizer rather than water to washing hands, and to avoid operating a washing machine.

Flooding also closed Interstate 80 from east of Iowa City to Davenport. The flooded Cedar River crosses the interstate in Cedar County, about 20 miles east of Iowa City. This re-routed interstate traffic is now coming through Dubuque. Gov. Chet Culver declared 83 of the state's 99 counties to be state disaster areas, and nine rivers were at or above historic flood levels.

Take a look:

Once again, please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers...

Iowa Flooding

Dear Friends,

Sorry for not updating the Blog in over a week; I've been so busy. Many of you have called or emailed in the last couple of days to check on us. I just wanted everyone to know that we are absolutely fine! Yes, we have experienced several severe thunderstorms over the past few weeks, including a couple of real good tornado scares. But the flooding in Eastern Iowa that's all over the national news is not hitting Dubuque like many other nearby towns.

Downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was submerged Thursday by the rising Cedar River.

Around 100 blocks were under water, forcing some 10,000 people to flee.

The sad part is that many of the rivers have not even crested yet, meaning that it's not over by a longshot. I think the worst is yet to come... Anyone who wants to help should donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster you can say so at the time of donation.

Please keep these folks in your thoughts and prayers,