MamaSeal Photography

The Finale

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-06:00

The Serenity Garden, as expected this place was very peaceful

The front of Graceland decorated for Christmas

The shoes I wore for our tour of Graceland ;)

I hope you enjoyed all my posts of Graceland, thanks for visiting! Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Where I Get Verklempt...

2012-01-26T08:07:00.000-06:00

This is the place where Elvis would play his piano and sing his songs. During the tour we were told that the day Elvis died he was at this very piano singing one of his songs just like any other regular day.

I believe this was called the Records Room and was just so amazing to see all of the hit songs/albums Elvis made.

The Graceland Tour Lives On!

2012-01-25T08:19:00.000-06:00

So one week, or technically four days, definitely wasn't enough time to post all the photos I snapped during our tour of Graceland, so let the fun continue! Well it wasn't all fun, I'll admit there were times when I got a bit verklempt.

This is the part of Graceland that has all of Elvis's memorabilia plus all of his gold and platinum records.

Singers putting their name on beauty products is nothing new. Hello, Elvis lipstick and it was only $1!

Did you really think there wouldn't be shoes in at least one of these posts? ;-)

If I remember correctly this Gibson guitar is worth fifty thousand dollars!

Graceland Tour Continues...Beyond the House

2012-01-20T08:30:00.000-06:00

After we left the house and walked through the backyard we walked through the office, what used to be a firing range for Elvis and his friends and the stables that are still functional.

Elvis's Office. This is where all the fan mail would go to. And Elvis also had his own desk in the office.

My hubby would've loved to do this at our house!

Graceland Tour Continues...

2012-01-19T08:30:00.001-06:00

The Jungle Room. Who didn't have shag carpeting back then?

The Waterfall Wall in the Jungle Room

The Backyard

Walking Through Elvis's Home

2012-01-17T08:30:00.000-06:00

The Kitchen

Media Room. Back in the day, having three television sets was a big deal.

My hubby liked this room, I think mainly because it reminded him of his Steelers.

Pool Room. That fabric was draped everywhere and was also used to upholster the couch.

Our Visit to Graceland

2012-01-16T08:30:00.000-06:00

I finally finished going through the 200+ (yes I said 200) photos I took while we were on the tour of Graceland! We didn't get through the whole tour, we missed going to Fashion King (I think someone made me miss that one on purpose) and '68 Special and Sincerely Elvis, but if we ever make it back to Memphis we'd like to take Lil Seal with us and take him on the tour. I did go to the many gift shops and found some cute things and some things for the fam too. I've decided to make this a week long post since, yes, I did take that many pictures. Enjoy!

We were there during the holidays so Graceland was decked out for Christmas.

This is one of my favorites. Imagine Elvis sitting at the piano singing Christmas songs.

Anyone else have a "flocked" Christmas tree when they were little? We did. Brought back memories.

Stair case that leads upstairs. No one was allowed upstairs.

Dining room

2011-10-16T11:00:00.000-05:00

Hope you enjoyed my Week of the Monarch. Here are my finally two. I used two of the presets in Lightroom for these.

Monarchs for your Friday

2011-10-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

I love this shot because it looks like the black lines running through the wings are veins

This makes me think of a fairy

Busy Butterfly

2011-10-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hide and Seek

2011-10-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

When I was taking some of these photos it looked like the monarch was trying to hide from me. I nearly stepped on a fire ant mound!

I See You

This one looks like he's looking right at me!

Taking Off

2011-10-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Ready to take off

This reminds me of a plane taking off

The Climber

Monarch Week on the Blog

2011-10-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning all! This week will be nothing but the Monarch photos I shot a couple of weekends ago when I went "fishing" with Papa Seal and Lil Seal. My hubby and son really wanted me to go with them, but we were going out to a different fishing hole rather than our usual spot so I didn't know what to expect. Well when we arrived there were some butterflies enjoying the pollen from some trees in front of the fishing shack and that's where I spent most of my time, just me and the butterflies. Hope you enjoy them.

And thank you Columbus for sailing the ocean blue! :)

I know this isn't a monarch, but I thought it was pretty cool looking and perfect for October

The Monarch

Remember when...

2011-09-02T07:09:00.000-05:00

We were all stuck at home for a few days, no work, no school and you had to wear snow boots, a heavy jacket and gloves?!?

This was the temperature outside! I will never complain about it being too cold ever again.

Goodnight sweetheart...

2011-08-26T06:30:00.000-05:00

The last photo from our time at the beach and I was reminded of these lyrics while looking at this picture:
Goodnight sweetheart well, it's time to go
I hate to leave you but I really must say
Goodnight sweetheart goodnight…..

Time for a Bike Ride

2011-08-18T08:29:00.000-05:00

Paleta Anyone?

2011-08-17T09:09:00.000-05:00

You wouldn’t think anyone at the beach would want any type of ice cream, but you would be wrong! When he finally came around to our spot he was nearly out of everything. Wish I were back at the beach….

How Do You Relax?

2011-08-16T08:58:00.000-05:00

Only footwear you'll need at the beach

2011-08-15T09:04:00.000-05:00

Sand Castle

2011-08-14T10:16:00.000-05:00

I always wanted to stop here, but we’re usually in Corpus Christi for the holidays so we never stopped. This time we were there during the Summer and I made sure we stopped. I can’t believe that’s an actual sand castle!

Wish I Were Back at the Beach

2011-08-13T09:00:00.003-05:00

For @cariblogs

2011-07-27T09:16:00.000-05:00

Me and my Hubby...

2011-07-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

See what happens when I try to take a self-portrait! lol

Postcards from the Beach

2011-07-25T09:15:00.000-05:00

I titled this “Postcards from the Beach” because that’s what this set reminds me of, postcards. We had so much fun and can’t wait to go back...maybe even permanently.

Hang Ten!

2011-07-24T09:41:00.000-05:00

This was Day 1 at the beach. We had so much fun and the water was nice and warm, it felt great! We're usually at the Island for Christmas and I only dip my toes in the water, this time I went all the way in. It was great!

My Beach Boys

2011-07-23T20:58:00.000-05:00

Bluebonnets were rare this year

2011-07-06T09:08:00.002-05:00

Or at least for me they were. I finally found some on our way back from Frederick one day back in April. The good ol’ Texas – Oklahoma border.

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T20:01:00.000-05:00

Please remember why we’re able to celebrate today and thank a solider.

Rain!!

2011-07-04T18:08:00.000-05:00

A Walk in the Rain at Lucy Park from Mama Seal on Vimeo.

Cherish Every Moment

2011-06-29T13:20:00.001-05:00

Hug your children every day, tell them you love them every chance you get, be there when they have a wondrous story to tell you. Life is precious and can change with every passing minute don’t take it for granted.

The Ones That Didn’t Get Away

2011-06-24T09:13:00.001-05:00

After they came back from weighing in their fish (I think they were perch), they told us they came in at 7.5 pounds each. Those fish seriously looked much heavier than that!

Fishermen

2011-06-23T09:29:00.001-05:00

Growing up

2011-06-22T09:55:00.001-05:00

Happy Father’s Day

2011-06-19T09:22:00.001-05:00

Fish Fry for my Birthday

2011-05-17T12:26:00.001-05:00

This past weekend my hubby finally decided to fry all the fish he’s been catching the past few weeks and we also celebrated my birthday so he also made some chicken tenders, fries (they put Ronnie’s and Pat’s to shame and I’m not just saying that because he’s my hubby) and his best friend brought over some hush puppies that were quiet yummy! And my brother and his girlfriend brought over the cake…from Circle M! Hello buttercream frosting!! So here’s our Saturday in pictures:

Sunset

2011-05-10T11:28:00.001-05:00

Empty Nest

2011-05-09T11:48:00.002-05:00

Brothers and Sisters Part II

2011-05-06T11:15:00.001-05:00

Proud Parents

2011-04-29T10:42:00.001-05:00

Day 4 - 9

2011-04-27T10:28:00.002-05:00

Well I’ve discovered some things since Day 3. First, I love the chocolate shake! I’m tempted to put one in the freezer to see if I can make it taste like an actual milk shake. It’s already thick to begin with, but I will tell you that I actually had to use a small coffee cup and pour it in there through out the morning. Yes, it took all morning to finish one bottle partly because it did start to get warm so I had to put it back in the fridge. Thanks goodness we have a fridge at work! Second, thanks to my new found love of the chocolate protein shake, I think I’m going to change up my meal plan for the day and have my shake for lunch and have my meal of choice for dinner because like melissa commented on Day 2; you never know what will happen for dinner and if my hubby decides he wants to cook there’s no way I can resist! Third, the weekend isn’t as bad as I thought it would be! The weekends are about the only time I actually have breakfast, probably because I usually make breakfast for Lil Seal, if he doesn’t go fishing with his daddy so I have my cereal. Fourth, in my opinion it takes more than two weeks before you see any weight loss because the first week is spent becoming accustomed to eating only Special K food, unless of course your superpower happens to be Will Power (mine definitely isn’t) so I’ll probably add another week.
Monday I was actually suppose to start Bootcamp at the Y, but thanks to my pinky toe not wanting any part of being stuffed into my tennis shoes, I had planned on coming home and working out on our Wii and having my mom bring Lil Seal to the house, well that didn’t go as planned because a Sprint tower decided to stop working which meant our phones weren’t working either so I had to stop at my parents house instead making Monday an exercise fail. So here’s to a better Wednesday!
And now, I know you’ve been waiting for this pic…the chocolate protein shake with the cup I used in the background!

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T09:26:00.003-05:00

Easter Bunny has Arrived

2011-04-24T00:39:00.001-05:00

Posted via email from MamaSeal's posterous

Rain Water

2011-04-22T18:50:00.001-05:00

Posted via email from MamaSeal's posterous

Cereal cup

2011-04-22T18:07:00.001-05:00

Posted via email from MamaSeal's posterous

Brothers and Sisters

2011-04-22T10:41:00.001-05:00

A Robin’s Eggs

2011-04-21T12:39:00.001-05:00

Day 3

2011-04-21T09:08:00.001-05:00

Started like this: alarm buzzes, hit snooze, alarm buzzes, hit snooze, snuggle next to hubby, finally get out of bed. Lil Seal, as we’re headed out the door starts to complain that he’s getting itchy, I can’t give him benadryl because that will knock him out and he won’t be able to go to school, so some Cortizone it is. When we get to school the nurse has to check him out to before he’s finally cleared to go to class. When I finally get to the office I realize I’ve forgotten my snack and meal bars! So of course I get hungry before it’s time for lunch (which I still had from yesterday since my parents surprised me with Atlanta Bread Co.) and I pay a visit to one of my co-workers who’s so evil she has a bowl full of Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Almond Joys at her desk! And I walk away with a Snickers and a Cup. Here’s what my plan should’ve been:

~~Milk Chocolate Protein Shake~~
Chocolate Peanut Protein Snack Bar <---I did have a Reese’s Cup and a Snickers (snack size) :)
Chocolatey Delight cereal
~~Chocolate Delight Protein Snack Bar~~
My Choice

Well 2.5 out of 5 isn’t bad right? I finally figured out I need to add my meal plan to my calendar so I have a reminder and then I can put my snack bars with my lunch. It would be nice if I could add my plan straight from the app or even the website, but alas I can not. I also had a #duh moment today, as you know, I rarely have breakfast, but I then realized I could have my Milk Chocolate Protein Shake for breakfast, so that’s what I’ll start doing tomorrow. Breakfast time here I come!

Day 2 and a photo…

2011-04-20T12:24:00.001-05:00

‘cuz that’s what this place should mainly be about anyway.
So here’s what my meal plan should’ve been for the day:

~~Chocolatey Delight Cereal~~ (have I mentioned I rarely eat breakfast?)
Chocolate Peanut Protein Snack Bars (this I had)
~~Milk Chocolate Protein Shakes~~
~~Chocolatey Pretzel Cereal Bars~~
Dinner – My choice

So like I said before, I’ve switched up my plan to have My Choice meal at lunch instead of dinner. My parents decided to take me out to lunch today so we went to Atlanta Bread Company. I love that place! I had the turkey sandwich on honey wheat bread and a chocolate chip muffin. So my plan was to have the protein shake for dinner, which I was looking forward to because, hello, it’s chocolate! And then things started going downhill. First, Lil Seal’s school called because right after lunch he broke out in hives! Twenty minutes and a trip to Walmart later we had picked up some Epsom salt and Cortizone and Lil Seal and his grandma were off to the house for a soak in the tub and a slathering of Cortizone. Things seem to be on the upswing…until I got home. The hubby had decided to give our Boxer a different type of dog food last night, and yep you guessed it he didn’t like it and the kitchen looked like that scene in Stand by Me (if you haven’t seen it go rent it/Netflix it/stream it) right after the pie eating contest. I waited for my hubby to get home to help me get Andre out of the house and then clean up the kitchen, needless to say after that it was time for some Sonic and that’s exactly what we had. Sonic burger, fries and a large coke baby! That was my order anyway.
So to end Day 2 I figured this photo would be perfect.

What do you think?

From the Journal of Jocelyn Fray

2011-04-19T13:16:00.001-05:00

Why do I keep this job? Luke has told me we could run the bookstore together. Maybe because I still want some independence, maybe it’s the approaching wedding, but really I don’t know how much more I can take. Here’s what I'm talking about. I started a new job a few months ago to help pay for the wedding and I love most of the people I work with, but there are a couple of people who seem to think that if I’m gone (including when I have to call in sick to take care of Clary) that my desk somehow turns into a trashcan. Exhibit A:

Oh yes that would be the outside wrapping of letter sized paper left on my desk while I was out sick for one day, waiting for me when I came back to work the next day. The printer happens to be next to my desk so I guess for some people it’s easier to drop the trash on my desk instead of the actual trashcan. And the rest of the paper? Faxes and mail that some think belong in a pile on top of my keyboard instead of my tray. I tell you some of these people make most Downworlders look like girl scouts! And the actual trashcan’s location?

On the other side of my desk, about two feet away! Oh yes. So I have to visit another office this week and decided to leave a reminder at my desk…

I think Clary’s rubbing off on me.

Day 1

2011-04-18T16:24:00.001-05:00

Today I've started the Special K diet, I had thought about doing it once before, but back then their selection wasn't the greatest. Now they have different ways you can go with it, if you go to their website http://www.specialk.com you can choose between four different types of diet plans including a Chocolate Lover's Plan, hello! Can you guess which one I chose? On my plan it has my "regular" meal as dinner, but since I would get a lot of "is that all your eating??" type of comments at work I decided to switch my "regular' meal during the week days to lunch time. I'm also hoping to start boot camp at the Y next week to get some much needed exercise in and hopefully start using my Wii Fit Plus again. Lil Seal keeps asking me when I'm going to charge the balance board so I can't put it off forever. lol So we'll see how it goes, of course I did buy all the stuff for the full two weeks so if I don't complete it my hubby would probably be mad there's all this Special K stuff laying around in the cupboards!

Here's my meal plan for today:

Chocolatey Delight Cereal in the morning (which I didn't actually have)

Chocolatey Pretzel Cereal Bar as a mid-morning snack

My Regular Meal for Lunch (I had the cereal bar here so it's like dessert)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Meal Bar for dinner (I'll probably switch this to the Cereal I didn't have in the morning and have the meal bar if I'm still hungry)

Chocolate Delight Snack Bar as an afternoon/evening snack

They say you can have your normal drink(s) like you would if you weren't on the diet, but what's the point in going on a diet when you're going to have a Route 44?!? So now I'm trying to completely kick my Coke/Pepsi/Rootbeer habit and I'm making more pink lemonade, ice tea (the California kind not this dang Southern brown water stuff) and I bought some Crystal Light to try. I've already tried the Crystal Light Pink Lemonade and I didn't really care for it, it was ok, but it left a chalky taste in my mouth. I think I'll stick to Country Time and keep the Crystal Light as back-up and of course there's the good old fashioned water!

Well wish me luck! Day 1 is almost done and I didn't kill anybody or go out into the woods and hunt down a deer.

I had an affair…

2011-03-30T12:40:00.001-05:00

With another hair dresser! And let me tell you I don’t know how people have actual affairs because I still feel guilty! My affair started during Spring Break when my hubby knew I wasn’t feeling my best and that I really wanted to get a hair cut and possibly a color. My split ends were getting so bad I contemplated taking scissors to my own hair, but I just can’t do that, it’s not that I’m afraid of going short, I’m not the type to cry when I get my haircut shorter than an inch and I know some people who will put a Flobee to their hair and call it day (hi Babe, love you) but I just can’t do it. So my hubby told me he was giving me a “spa day”! Woot! I called my hairdresser, left her a message, left her a message on FB, but I knew it might be difficult to get in. So I did a good ol’ Google search and found Mode Hair Utopia I like calling it Mode because it reminds me of Ugly Betty (I miss that show). I liked their site and they have an FB page, but I still wanted to hear from people who had gotten their haircut there. One of my twitter friends @ohsnapitsjayrod is a client and recommended I give it a try. So after 4 days of not hearing from my hair dresser I called up Mode. To say I was nervous is putting it mildly, I’ve been to that hair dresser that tells you your hair will look great short and spikey and proceeds to make you look like a porcupine! This is how I found the hair dresser I have now, she helped me get my hair back in shape after going to that hairdresser. But I made my appointment with Victoria because I knew my “spa day” window wouldn’t stay open for long.
When Friday came around, I was excited that I was going to get my hair done! I must admit though I was secretly hoping something would go wrong so I wouldn’t feel so guilty about cheating on my hair dresser. But it didn’t, Victoria was great, I showed her the cut I was going for and the color I was hoping to achieve and she talked to me about the colors and explained how the color would come out and how it would work with my natural color. She explained everything she was doing, which was great and then once it came time to rinse off and wash my hair came the head/scalp massage! I was in heaven and yes I almost fell asleep (it was that good) I was also given a hand treatment which left my hands feeling very soft. By the time it was all said and done I had actually cut about 6 inches off (I didn’t realize my hair was that long) and when I went to work on Monday I received so many compliments and a lot of people were asking me how I got my hair to curl that way. I’m actually taking the time to do my hair where as before I would just straighten it and go.
Here are my before and after pics…

I took my after pic the day after I got my hair done because by the time we finished it was already about 8 and I still had to go to Walmart. So what do you think about my new do? Have you ever cheated on your hair dresser? Did you go back to your original HD or did you stick to your new HD?

Bye, bye Sonic Happy Hour

2011-03-08T22:16:00.001-06:00

It's been a week since I decided to give up what was becoming a bad habit. I noticed I had been taking my lunches so that I would have enough time to make the beginning of Sonic's Happy Hour. A large coke everyday? Very unhealthy. So I went to Walmart and bought some Crystal Light 5 calorie drink mixes, which I haven't tried yet and I still have my Cherry Blossom Lipton To Go drink mix, but I use that sparingly because as per usual when I really like something the makers discontinue it!! Does this happen to anyone else? Now I still have the occasional soda, I haven't gone cold turkey I'm just not drinking sodas everyday and in such huge amounts. Although I do hope I can give up sodas completely, since I have in the past, but I'm not going to sweat it if I don't, but here's hoping!

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Bye, bye Sonic Happy Hour

2011-03-08T22:13:00.001-06:00

Calgon Take Me Away!

2011-02-24T21:54:00.001-06:00

It's been one of those weeks where even though it was a short week it still seemed to take forever! So I was happy to see that Trashcan brought me some Calgon lotion to use at work. Makes me wish I was on the beach in Hawaii!

Ode to Mocking Jay

2011-02-01T18:08:00.000-06:00

My favorite book of 2010! Thanks BTFF (@cariblogs) for recommending I read the series.

Mothers Can I Get an Amen If….

2011-01-23T01:41:00.001-06:00

Sometimes/most of the time it feels like you’re a single parent even though you’re married. You’re the one who has to play the good cop and the bad cop. You set the rules. You help with homework, sign the school work, permission slips. Take them to school/daycare in the morning, pick them up after work. If they’re sick? Yep you’re the one who stays up with them and then you go to work the next morning or have to take a sick day from work to stay home with them. And then, and then…pow! Somebody wants to throw their two cents in! Really? Now you want to tell me because he feels hot to you that I should give him some Tylenol, never mind the fact that I just pumped him full of another medication. Now you want to know why he can’t watch a certain TV show? Could it be because it comes on during the school week at 9 o’clock and oh yeah he should be sleeping already?!? Now you want to know why his teacher is giving him sooo much homework? Could it be that he’s no longer in Kindergarten and needs to learn more than his ABC’s and that he’s had this much homework since the school year began?
Now this doesn’t happen often (and if it happens to you all the time, you have my deepest sympathies) and usually when it does it’s because he’s working extra hours or the night shift, but really that’s no excuse for this type of behavior. I guess what irks me is that he thinks he can come into the middle of whatever situation may be going on and insert himself into the scene. If he would just ask for an update about what’s been going on, I would be a much happier wife and mother! Has this every played out in your household? How do you handle it? I guess I’m handling it rather well considering I haven’t appeared on a “very special episode of Snapped”.

My love of the beach continues…

2011-01-20T23:09:00.000-06:00

the End

2011-01-11T22:15:00.000-06:00

I’m beginning to see a trend. I really do love the beach.

A freebie from @shabbyblogs

2011-01-04T23:16:00.000-06:00

This is a cute photo collage freebie you can download from Shabby Blogs. So what are you waiting for? Go now!

Favorite Place to Be

2011-01-04T20:28:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year 1/1/11

2011-01-01T01:53:00.000-06:00

Silent Night

2010-12-22T01:26:00.000-06:00

Never forget

2010-12-21T01:37:00.000-06:00

Day 5

2010-12-20T09:17:00.001-06:00

We are now under a week away from Christmas day! And in other news I'm a poet and didn't know it. Just a little Monday morning humor there for ya.

Hackberry Flat in Fredrick, Oklahoma

2010-12-19T17:12:00.000-06:00

I know it’s not October anymore but…

2010-12-18T23:50:00.000-06:00

I just had to post this pic of my Lil Creature and @melissafleeting and @twofivethreetwo’s Bat Girl and Iron Man!

Days 59-8!

2010-12-18T15:07:00.000-06:00

Now is the time everyone is running around like a mad dog trying to get all their gifts together and downing a few shots before driving out to the mall, Walmart, Target, etc. to fight other drivers in the parking lot to find that one prime parking spot before heading inside to fight over the last must have toy/shoe/purse/gadget of the season. May the Force be with you!

Days 67-60

2010-10-25T23:42:00.000-05:00

So this past week I saw my first Christmas commercial, which I planned on posting here, but I couldn't find it on YouTube. Maybe you've seen it, it's a Sears commercial? Of course there's the LL Bean commercial that could be a Christmas commercial, of course I couldn't find that one either. So this post is all sorts of fail! Kinda like the Cowboys lol sorry had to do it. So have you seen any Christmas commercials yet?
And by the way we now officially have 2 months before Christmas Day!!! Not time to panic just yet.

Days 79 - 68

2010-10-19T14:06:00.001-05:00

Seriously people if you can afford to (and if you go to Starbucks everday you can!) go get a flu shot! If your work place brings a nurse to the office to give shots, get in line and take it in the arm like a big girl/boy because this flu season doesn't look like it's messing around. I unfortunately wasn't covered by insurance yet so I had to go w/good ol' Nyquil which I almost didn't get because apparently there was a shortage although now I think i've built up an immunity to Nyquil's power because I need to take the full dose instead of my usual half in order for it to knock me out. Trust me people you don't want the flu this season. Go get your flu shot or you may get a gift for Christmas that's worse than a lump of coal in your stocking!

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Look what I made for dinner!

2010-10-18T20:18:00.000-05:00

This was my first time cooking pasta and I was scared i'd turn it into one huge lump! But I didn't. I also had to figure out how many cups equals a quart and I also figured out that you don't have to follow the directions on the box! I also did some substitutions with the ingredients, but not too much. All in all I must say (and my hubby says so too) this was quite delish! And believe me I don't say it if it isn't true just ask my hubby about my Chicken Teriyaki and fried rice.
By the way it's great to be back!

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

80 days…

2010-10-06T23:59:00.000-05:00

Nearly a year ago today…ok 1 year and 1 day ago today, I decorated my camera bag like this because I knew my chances of receiving a new one for Christmas were slim no matter how many hints I dropped. Some of you will recognize the runes I stenciled , but let me tell ya decorating my bag was not easy! I started out with some sort of fabric spray paint, but in Texas ,humidity is always a problem and the spray paint came out in globs! I was getting frustrated and then I saw the Sharpie commerical! Duh!! Why didn’t I think of that in the first place. And by the way if you decide to do something similar, Sharpie does not make a white pen; something about the ink pigment. So I went with silver and the Sharpie was much easier to use with the stencils I made. I’ve since graduated to a newer bag that holds more since I added a second lens (I already want another lens I wonder if I’ll get that for Christmas) and is more girly-friendly, don’t get me wrong, I still love this bag and I don’t plan on giving it away or selling it, but it’s small and really only fits one lens and my camera so you can see why I needed the upgrade.

So now that we’re nearing the 2 months until Christmas point, how ready are you for the big day? Me? No where near ready!

81 days...

2010-10-06T23:10:00.000-05:00

Consider this my mulligan

One thing I dislike about the holidays, the clean-up, because inevitably I'm the one that gets to clean it up. Contrary to popular belief I do not enjoy washing dishes! I've even made that a stipulation when we either look for a new house or build a new one, there must be a dishwasher! That is one job I will gladly relinquish.

MamaSeal

82 days...

2010-10-04T22:34:00.000-05:00

Another thing you can count on during the holidays? Catching a cold. So, if you can, get that flu shot! But if your like me and you're afraid of needles you suffer through it. (I know BTFF you're probably shaking your head at me) Luckily for me my parents live in the same city as we do and are a major help when I'm sick because the last thing I want to do is give what I have to Lil Seal. And for most people a batch of chicken soup is just what the doctor ordered, but for me it's my mom's potato soup and homemade tortillas. I don't know what it is about my mom's soup, but once that first spoonfull goes down my throat I feel 10 times better! Thanks mom! What about you dear readers, do you have a special food you enjoy eating when you're sick?

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

83 days...

2010-10-03T23:41:00.000-05:00

I know this is a countdown to Christmas Day, but there's other holidays that fall in between. Like Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving! The juicy turkey, yummy mashed potatoes and the pumpkin pie and of course the football! There's nothing like enjoying a great Thanksgiving lunch after going to church with Lil Seal's great-grandma and then watching the Cowboys loose. Oh yes and once again I'll be preparing some Oreo Balls and other assorted treats (for some reason everyone loves these treats and the pumpkin pie becomes all mine!) ;)

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

84 Days...

2010-10-03T00:05:00.001-05:00

Remember that one night out of the year where you would stay up late preparing for Santa? Getting the plate of cookies ready setting the milk out, writing one last note. Well it's still the same only now you're up late putting together a bike, pulling out presents from their hiding spots and for some of us dressing up as Santa because as we all know Santa needs help too! ;)

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

85 days...

2010-10-01T13:58:00.001-05:00

And it's October 1st! Can we officially say it's the Holidays now? This time of year plenty of us, myself included, will be visiting this place...the post office! Whether it's sending care packages overseas, sending Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas cards, or trying to figure out when is the last possible day you can mail something so it reaches it's destination before Christmas day (this would be me - just ask my BTFF she'll tell you), we will all know the workers behind the counter and the person who delivers our mail. So be nice to them or Santa may leave you a lump of coal and the postman will leave you a lumpy box at your door!

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

86 days...

2010-09-30T21:32:00.000-05:00

And already hints are being dropped! Someone has drawn a picture of a Monster High laptop so they can video chat with their best friend. And took it one step further by telling me "mom don't worry if you hear me talking to myself because i'm not. I'm just video chatting on Monster High". As my aunt says all the time...have mercy!

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

87 Days!

2010-09-29T10:25:00.000-05:00

We've started decorating for Fall/Halloween around the office this week so I decided I would try and do a count down to Christmas post each day starting at 100 days. Well imagine my surprise when I realized we were nearly 2 weeks passed the 100 day mark! I felt like the ghost looks in the pic above!
So I've decided I'm still going to attempt the countdown to Christmas and to add a photo to go with the post, so a way we go!
87 days until Christmas...

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Attention animal lovers! Help out a shelter dog.

2010-09-19T17:02:00.001-05:00

Pedigree has provided many ways for us to help out our four legged friends in need. The easiest way for everyone to help is to head over to Pedigree’s Facebook page and click on the “Like” button, by doing this you will be providing a bowl of food for a shelter dog. And bloggers you can take an extra step and simply by writing a post about Pedigree’s Adoption Drive and linking it here Pedigree will provide a 20 pound bag of their new Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs to a shelter. Today is the last day to write a post, but you can head over to their Facebook page anytime to provide a bowl of food for a shelter dog. So what are you waiting for? If you have a twitter account you can also tweet @PedigreeUS with your blog post URL and the hashtag #dogsrule. So write that post and head over to Facebook and provide some food for a shelter dog!

This #Artoosday Someone is Hungry

2010-08-31T15:11:00.000-05:00

This bag of Cheetos is for dear Suzi who only had a cup of coffee for lunch! Don't worry bananas are on the way. Artoo would also like to remind you to say Happy Birthday to @cariblogs tomorrow, drop by her blog http://cariblogs.blogspot.com and leave comment.

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

#Artoosday! The baking edition.

2010-08-24T21:56:00.000-05:00

I decided to make this recipe I saw on Hungry Girl called Yum Yum Chocolate Cake and Artoo helped with the ingredients. All two of them! Yep that's right the cake is made with only the two ingredients you see above. It's quite a workout for your arms let me tell ya! I haven't tasted it yet so we'll have to get back to you on that, but I can tell you it smells delish! It's suppose to make 12 slices and one slice has only 181 calories and if your on Weight Watchers it has a Points value of 4. So for Artoo and myself...enjoy the rest of your night, I know I will after the cake has cooled! :)

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

What Will She Wear Wednesday is Back!!

2010-08-18T23:48:00.001-05:00

I’ve started a new job that is the polar opposite of where I worked before. No more jeans and boots here. So for my WWSWW return I give you a brand new outfit.

My top and skirt I purchased at Kohl’s one of my favorite places to shop. I actually bought the outfit using my Kohl’s Cash and it was on sale as well! The skirt and top are by Heart Soul and my shoes are by Michael Kors and yes I did start with the shoes and found the outfit to go with them. The shoes are very comfortable they have a nice heel (I’ve worn higher) and needless to say they are my favorite pair! I am not parting with those suckers anytime soon. I love the color of my top, it’s a pretty turquoise color perfect for someone who is trying to incorporate a color other than pink into her wardrobe. The one thing I don’t like about the top is that it gives me a bit of cleavage, I’m not really a cleavage kind of girl so I may add a button to the front. I was just talking to my BTFF about how I really don’t wear dresses, skirts are as close as I’ll get to wearing a dress I think and it’s taken a while before I felt comfortable enough to wear a skirt, maybe it’s all that time I spent in jeans. I really like this skirt though, it’s cute, but not too girly. Perfect for an office setting.

Now to bring back WWSWW with a bang here is one more picture (this one is for you Suzi)

My Kathy Van Zeeland Croco Club cross-body bag! I love this bag! Oh who am I kidding I love KVZ!! This is a great color for summer and it will transition into the Fall season, unless of course I find another KVZ before Fall and I can sneak it past my hubby. I love the fact that I can carry this bag two different ways: on the shoulder or cross-body. It also has the zip pockets in the front that fit my phone perfectly and a hidden zip pocket in the back. The one thing I don’t like about this bag is that if I carry it on my shoulder it’s difficult to pull out anything from the inside, but if I carry it cross-body it’s easier to pull things out and put them back in the bag with ease.

So there you have it what I wore Wednesday plus the bag I’m carrying.

#Artoosday is back!!

2010-08-17T14:33:00.000-05:00

Artoo has been very busy this summer. After a stay in Paris he flew back across the pond and stopped in Florida for a visit to the Star Wars Celebration! Wish I could've gone. Now he's back and ready to resume Artoosday.

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Happy 83rd Birthday Great Grandma

2010-08-08T23:28:00.000-05:00

I couldn’t decide what to do for my 100th post, which is why it’s taken me so long to post something. Well here it is. My 7 year old’s great grandma celebrated her 83rd birthday on Sunday. We drove up to Frederick and went to church with her and after church we took her to Pizza Hut (options in Frederick are limited). I love listening to her stories and up until a year ago she was still taking care of her great grandkids! And if any of her great grandkids get out of line while she is watching them she has a fly swatter at the ready!

Our 4th of July

2010-07-18T19:36:00.000-05:00

This post isn’t going on my other blog since we didn’t/couldn’t have a proper 4th of July in Texas since our county has banned fireworks! So we actually had to cross state lines in order to have a great 4th. At first we were worried that the rain wouldn’t stop. What is it with it always raining on the 4th of July? We were invited by James & Melissa to go with their family to Lake Lawtonka in Oklahoma, when we arrived it was a bit misty but not really raining, but once we unloaded everything it really started to rain. I was not dressed for the occasion! Silly me, I wore my bathing suit and only brought shorts and a t-shirt to change into, well it turned out to be cold rain, but thanks to Melissa’s dad we had a tarp to put up to block some of the rain and then some other people had gone to the Dollar General and bought shower curtains (yes, shower curtains) for the guys to put up and voila! The rain was blocked. Luckily the rain did come to an end and we had a great time shooting of tons (and I’m not exaggerating lol) of fireworks. Here’s just a few:
This reminded me of La Push :)

See the tarp and shower curtain?

52nd Wedding Anniversary

2010-07-18T18:45:00.000-05:00

I’ve been out of commission for a while (well my laptop anyway), but I finally bit the bullet and got it fixed. 1000 + pictures later I have everything downloaded and I’m ready to blog again! Here’s some photos from my Tia and Tio’s 52 wedding anniversary. Everyone had a great time and it was a family reunion of sorts with everyone coming together to help them celebrate such a special occasion.

Second Set of Sun Star Photos

2010-06-03T01:08:00.000-05:00

Pocket Edward says PEW

2010-06-02T10:52:00.001-05:00

What kind of snack is that??

An #artoosday good night

2010-06-01T23:13:00.001-05:00

It's been a looong day and I nearly forgot it was Tuesday aka Artoosday. Artoo hopes you had a great Memorial Day and remember to support the troops whatever galaxy they may be stationed in!

A Guest Star for PEW

2010-05-26T22:34:00.002-05:00

I knew I smelled a dog!

Thanks BTFF for my birthday present!

What Will She Wear Wednesday

2010-05-26T21:56:00.001-05:00

It's Wednesday and I'm posting my WWSWW on Wednesday! Can you believe it?? Yeah me either.
Today was definitely one of those days so I wore my trusty Levi's, and a blouse from Walmart made by George, my shoes are by Villager a Liz Claiborne Company and I believe I bought them at the Shoe Carnival. My shoes are quite comfortable and I can wear them all day including at the courthouse. So there you have it...what I wore...TODAY! :)

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

A Very Special #Artoosday

2010-05-25T16:33:00.002-05:00

Artoo would like to say beep, boop, beeep! Translation: Welcome into the world Baby Noah! Noah is my BTFF's newest nephew. :)

Pocket Edward says...

2010-05-19T16:40:00.000-05:00

Homework is PEW! Lil Seal was watching New Moon so PE decided to keep an eye on him so he would get his homework done then he could watch New Moon. PE is so helpful!

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

What Will She Wear Wednesday

2010-05-18T12:43:00.002-05:00

Finally! Someone has made an app to edit pics on the Palm Pre! Thank you @rustyapps!!
So here you go what I wore the last Wednesday in April! My blouse is from Kohl's and was a great find at about $5 on clearance! And I love the purple! Trying to move away from pink and I think this is the direction I'm going in. My Levi's jeans of course and my black sandals I bought from the Shoe Carnival a while back. They're not the greatest if i'm going to the courthouse but they are quite cute. ;)

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

#Artoosday: The Birthday Edition

2010-05-18T10:28:00.001-05:00

Look at what Artoo got me for my birthday! I'm not sure what happened to the other cupcake though...

MamaSeal
-- Sent from my Palm Pre

My First Attempt at Sunstars

2010-05-18T00:44:00.002-05:00

I found this blog thanks to Digital Photography School and their Weekend Photography Challenge and Jessica had a quick recipe for Sunstars. There were a couple of spots I would’ve liked to try taking some shots, but they were occupied so I’m hoping I can go back tomorrow, if the weather cooperates! I didn’t have a beer at the end, but I did have some ice cream cake! :)
Let me know what you think.

Where was Pocket Edward?

2010-05-12T09:34:00.000-05:00

Did you miss PEW last week? Well dear PE was enjoying Cinco de Mayo and missed his photo shoot and it seems he decided to make it a week long event. And PEW does he reek of tequila!

MamaSeal

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

My Lil Seal

2010-05-12T00:38:00.000-05:00

#Artoosday

2010-05-11T23:54:00.000-05:00

I've worked for Jabba the Hut! You don't scare me.

MamaSeal

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

An Important Message for Artoosday

2010-05-04T13:37:00.001-05:00

MamaSeal

-- Sent from my Palm Pre