Just a Few of Life's Choices

I'm stealing this from Mama Smurf at My Life.

Here is a little insight about me...lol!

I choose......

• Tom Hanks over Tom Cruise
• avoidance over confrontation
• Mexican food over Chinese food (although I like both)
• Nights over early mornings
• Beer over wine(hmmm...that is really a toss-up)
• NBC over CBS
• Salty over sweet
• Beach over mountains
• Chocolate over vanilla
• Dogs over cats
• Mistakes made over opportunities missed
• Lipgloss over lipstick (any time, any day!)
• J.R.R Tolkien over J.K Rowling (honestly, I am not into either, but chose Tolkien for my dad)
• Football over Hockey
• Cake over pie
• Half full over half empty
• Sense of humor over sense of style (you can always buy new clothes, you can't change a personality)
• Wheel of Fortune of Jeopardy (unless it is the Teen edition)
• Pro-life over Pro-choice
• Soda over iced tea
• The Breakfast Club over Dirty Dancing
• French Toast over French Fries
• Belle over Cinderella
• Small Town over Big City
• The Olympics over the Oscars
• Too cold over too hot
• Ketchup over mustard (again a toss-up. I like both)
• Caesar salad over house salad
• Movies over books
• Pedicures over manicures
• White wine over red wine
• John Cusack over John Malkovich
• Apples over oranges
• Fast cars over big trucks
• treadmill over elliptical
• winter over summer
• time with girlfriends over alone time
• vacuuming over mopping

Bringing back the Barter System

Wouldn't it be great if I could always get fabulous things from others just by offering up my wares? No money changing hands, no receipts, no sad faces because I simply can't "justify" another purchase. Nope, none of that is allowed in my happy bartering world. I would see something I like and the owner of that something would just want my products in return. Wouldn't that be amazing if it worked everywhere? Hmm...I feel like a Starbucks. The barista will take a Foofy. Off to the market for some organic produce and diet coke (staples in my life.) Well, that'll be one Cotton Candy Tutu as payment. Gasoline now...that is surely worth a custom Growth Chart these days.

Somehow, the rest of the world doesn't feel the same way I do. Go figure. One fabulous girl did let me live in my fantasy for a moment though. That is Natalie at Cotton Candy by Natalie. I saw something I just had.to.have! I knew that after shelling out a pretty penny on the camera itself, that I could not justify another purchase at the moment. I took a leap and contacted the owner of the shop and asked if (just maybe) she would be interested in a trade....and SHE WAS! (Insert happy dance here!) I traded some personalized silver jewelry for this absolutely amazing, colorful, beautiful, fantastic, fabulous camera strap!

Isn't it AWESOME! I seriously get so happy every time I look at it. Thank you Natalie for believing in the barter system with me.

**Disclaimer: The barter system worked for both parties this one time. This does not mean that either party will be interested in trading again, but it never hurts to ask! :)

My first love...

...is Photography. Without aging myself too much, I have to say that I loved "old school" photography. The real stuff. Film, the dark room, the chemicals, manipulating the photos with your hands and tools and light...not a computer. That is what I did in highschool and college. Once my degree title turned into "Photography...and Digital Imaging" I began to lose interest. I didn't want to do it on the computer. I didn't like it at all. Like an immature child, I took my toys and went home. I put my camera in the closet and moved on.

That doesn't mean that I haven't taken thousands of photos since then, but they were all just snapshots of friends, family, myself, and things that I found snapshot worthy. I took these photos with a snapshot camera and I was happy with it.

Lately the photo bug has been biting me so I went and bought a new camera and started dabbling with some "digital imaging." Don't laugh or criticize the next few photos. My goal was to take everyday things and turn them into something I wanted to look at. I didn't leave my front porch or back deck to take these. I put my zoom to use and had to hope the neighbors didn't mind. This is what I came up with. Not bad for not leaving my porch.

This little guy was on my porch. When I grabbed my camera he ran up the tree to the "hole" and sat there.

These flowers are waaaaaay far away on my neighbors back deck. Just a simple dandelion.
A little treasure in my other neighbors garden.

Wine? Anyone?!

I love a great glass (or bottle) of wine. I enjoy it room temperature while sitting on my deck as the sun is setting and the air is brisk. That is my favorite way to sip and unwind. Most of the time I am in my comfy pants, a teeshirt, no socks or shoes and my hair is wildly fabulous. I'll most likely have paint on my pants and antiquing gel on my fingers somewhere, but the wine is good and I am happy. What do you do with all the empty bottles? Well, if you're me, you turn them into something useful.

These were done for a friends wedding shower...also wine enthusiasts. The bottles have been kiln-fired to a scorching 1200 degrees and they are now fabulous cheese trays or wall art - whichever you'd prefer.

Are you a wine lover? Know someone who is? Why not order them their very own Whimsy Wine Bottle?!

Family Circle

New stamps have arrived at Little Painted Polka Dots! They are a wonderful addition to my hand-stamped silver line. They are big and funky... and SUPER CUTE! They have proven perfect for creating the new Family Circle charm. Mom and Dad's intials in the middle surrounded by the precious names of all the little ones.

I also want to point out that each and every one of my silver pieces are hand crafted by me. I am not buying pre-cut silver bases and stamping into them with metal stamps. I am creating them by hand out of pure silver clay and then firing in a jewelry kiln. After firing, I burnish and polish each piece. The result is a 99.9% pure silver piece of art, created just for you!

Bloggy Sale

Hello Bloggy World! As you can tell from my lack of posting, I have been busy. Busy with what, you say? Besides birthdays, vacations, and hustle and bustle of summer livin', I have been creating new products!

Here are a few of them! I am trying to reach my Summer sales goal, and I am offering up a Blog coupon in an effort to do so! If you are interested in any new or original products, please check out my entire line at www.littlepaintedpolkadots.com and use code BLOG10 for 10% off any purchase!!

Foofy - Tutu Inspired Hair Ties

Foofy Headband
Foofies!!
Infinite Love Necklace
Foofy - Tutu Inspired Hair Ties

All in a days work.

I have been too busy to post lately. I will look at that as a blessing, because it is. I miss the weekly meme's and I am striving to get back on track with those next week. They are fun, and keep me connected to the bloggy world. I hope everyone out there is doing well. Not just well, but FABULOUS. I have used that word a lot lately, and I will continue to. I bought a headband with a FABULOUS little bow. In the midst of a storm last weekend, the wind blew down and broke my FABULOUS patio umbrella. I hope Tammy has a FABULOUS time at Kid Rock. My doggies ears are doing better and that was FABULOUS news from the vet....just lots of FABULOUSNESS! So on that note, have a FABULOUS night. Hugs...

And the Winner is...

- Marybeth I. said...
i would love my daughters' initials in the heart pendant!

Let's all congratulate her!

I will honor the sale prices until the end of the week (ie. Friday July 11, 2008) After that, regular pricing will be in effect. ORDER YOUR PENDANT TODAY by emailing me or leaving a comment here.

Whimsy Wishes,
L

Something New!

I know I haven't been around much these past few days. I have been so busy! I am in the process of adding a fantastic, new product to my site. All my supplies arrive tomorrow morning. It is going to be FABULOUS! Really, you will want one. Your kids will want one. Your grandma will want one. Your hubby will want one too...really, he will! I cannot wait to debut this awesome little item!!

Moments for Me Monday

Moments for Me Monday originated as Tammy's Happiness Challenge. Well, what makes me happy? My silly, little, loving pup!! Really, he is the love of my life. Diesel is the best dog in the world. I gush and gush about him all the time. If anyone even begins to mutter "he's just a dog" they will get that nasty scowl face before they even finish their sentence. He is my baby! For many, many, many years "English Bulldog" has made it on my birthday lists and Christmas wish lists and I never got one. So, when J and I bought our first home, I thought "I'm getting one, and no one can stop me." And so we did!!

I began looking into the Bulldog Rescue because I know how many are out there that need good homes. They have the potential to have lots of medical issues and people don't want to or can't deal with that. Frat boys think they are "cool dogs" and they get them and can't take care of them, etc. etc. The bottom line is there are many amazing bullies that need rescuing. So we did. There was only one in our area at the time, and to be honest with you...his picture was so very ugly! Sorry Big D, you are adorable now! You old mama claimed to not be able to get a good pic of you? Was she nuts? I can't stop snapping the camera on him. He is just too cute! We went about the process and filled out forms, and made calls, and then one night around 10pm J and I were laying in bed and WE GOT THE CALL!!! We had been approved for the rescue and they wanted to set up a "get to know eachother" time.

I know this is long so I will cut the rest down - - we met, I couldn't wait so we went within 48 hours. Diesel was coming from a great big loving wealthy home. The only teeny problem was that he was becoming dog aggressive and the other bully in the family had been there longer. Diesel was fighting with her and they had small babies in the home and it wasn't safe. His old daddy was heartbroken. This was his boy and we can see why. I cried the moment this chubby, short little fella came running out of the house. I couldn't believe it was him (I told you about that pic!!) It was love at first site. We were allowed to pick him up within about 48 hours and after more tears (his old daddy broke my heart) we were taking our baby home!!

That, my friends, is happiness. I love my bully so very much. He is an amazing boy. Oh yeah, and what was that about not getting cute pics? Look on...