Please Meet...

So my cousin Lindsey...Hi Lindsey!, has some BFF's Ashley and Stephen. They are locals just like me in Upstate New York and I got to meet them a little while back. Very cool people indeed who also share in the love of running, cooking and creating.

I would like to introduce you to their blog:

(never home)maker

In it you will find incredible recipes, crafts, decorating amongst other great finds. I do enjoy reading their blog and I will be making their recipe for miso soup tomorrow. YUMMM!

For now I leave you with this great blog. Sit back, pull up the computer and enjoy a glass of your favorite drink. Mine just happens to be champagne, OJ and cranberry pomegranate right now.

Have fun reading and I'll check back with you all later!

Christmas Re-cap!!

Christmas is over already and I can't believe it has flown by like it has. It is always sad for me after Christmas because of all the preparation it takes but I need a well deserved rest. I walked around the house tonight and snapped a few reminder photos of the house. Stitchie enjoys the light of the garland on the Hoosier and does is best to knock it off when he can.
Graydon brought home an adorable angel which promptly took her seat on a Christmas tree.

Many handmade ornaments adorned the tree this year. Smack in the middle is a beautiful star from Nancy. To the left is an ornament made by a friend from the studio. To the right, the wool wreath was made by Graydon as a classroom Christmas project that we did the last day of school. I truly enjoy a tree with many different types of ornaments, especially handmade ones.

To the left is SNOOPY. A childhood ornament that I have treasured throughout the years. I even remember picking it out when I was a child. Now my child loves it an looks forward to hanging it every year.

You gotta have a sock monkey hanging somewhere!!

My Fontanini Nativity set that I love setting up...take a look at the right side of this photo.

A potter!!

One of the few lego sets that have invaded our living room!!

I love it!!

Here is our advent calender that I made several years ago. Each card is a different photo that you flip over on that specific day. We always enjoy seeing who is peeking behind a card.

Here is an adorable dwarf Alberta spruce tree that I picked up in the flower district of NYC. I picked up these kitchen ornaments a few years ago and they look so cute on this little tree that adorns our kitchen island.

The annual gingerbread house...

A Charlie Brown tree in our upstairs hallway...

My childhood Christmas Tree that now lights Graydons room at night.

And finally Graydons nutcrackers.

Merry Belated Christmas

and a

Very Happy New Year!

2 Days ?????

Seriously....

2 days....????

Where did the time go???

***

I am pretty much ready but there is always something more that I want to do. Tomorrow I am hopeful to get a bunch of cookies made, cinnamon rolls and the beginnings of Christmas dinner. I think all the presents are wrapped except two things that need to be finished. That will be tonight.

***

Today I am off to a Christmas party at school. Me of all people signed up for the Christmas craft...what the heck was I thinking? So pondering the computer, I found a great idea. It happens to be one idea that my mother-in-law made last year. I went to the good old Salvation Army yesterday and bought some 100% wool sweaters, sent them through the wash on hot two times and then in the dryer. This morning I cut them all up into 1" squares, cut wire in 14" lengths and the kids are going to string the wool pieces onto the wire to make Christmas wreaths. It isn't too baby-ish which was my goal for 4th graders. Hopefully they will enjoy making them.

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After school, I will be heading to the cemeteries to put up Christmas wreaths which is my annual duty. I enjoy doing it but it was pretty chilly out there in the snow, making the wreaths this morning. I should have done them earlier but as stated above the time just got away from me.

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A couple of deliveries need to be made and then I will be home all night long...Thank Goodness!!

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The above photo was taken last night at the mall. Callie was prancing into the mall like she had been there a million times. She enjoyed the sights and sounds of the chaos!!! Santa just loved her too, even asking her if she was a dingo?! Funny huh!! I was a little worried about how she would sit for the photo but she did awesome!! Even a big smile!! Graydon was talking to Santa and he asked him what he wanted for Christmas...Graydon replied

"Peace on Earth"

Now wouldn't that be nice!!

NYC and Martha Stewart

So in the madness of Christmas shopping and getting the house ready, yesterday Michelle (my co-hort) and I took a little trip to Tannersville, PA for a little shopping, had a delicious dinner at an incredible Italian restaurant, spent the night in Secaucus New Jersey and headed today to NYC for the Martha Stewart Show.

The above photo is our view of NYC from our hotel room in the morning!!!

How stunning!!

We headed to the studio at 7:30AM with a call time of 8:30AM. Thinking that we had enough time to get breakfast before the show, we mistakenly timed our arrival wrong! Bummer, no coffee for me and believe me the headache set in. Thank goodness I had gum and water...I even swallowed my gum so my stomach wouldn't growl. Pathetic huh!!

We had to wait outside for about 1/2 hour and it was sooooo chilly. That NYC wind just blew down the street as if there was a tunnel around us. It was about 21 degrees out and being all dressed up, (as this was our assignment because it was a cocktail party and Martha required us to look our best), we were slightly frozen by the time we actually got into the studio!
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We were finally ushered in the studio and then up into the actual studio where she tapes. The show surprisingly started an hour early and we were all done by 11:05. We had some delicious cocktails during the taping and also received a few free gifts. All in all it was a nice show and let me tell you, Martha was in rare form!!

Rare form you might ask...yes. Very funny and candid, especially about drinking. The show today was the last taped show of 2009 and I think she was starting to party a little early!!
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But in all she is a beautiful lady...

...with very skinny legs!!

After the show we headed to Mustang Sally's for a well deserved lunch and also to get warmed up!! We decided to hit a few little stores near there and ended up in the flower district of NYC. Neat to see, the street were lined with evergreens, trees, branches and many other things! I purchased a little tiny live Christmas tree. I think it is only about 7-8" tall. Very cute!!
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We also went into a very cramped store that had many, many silk flowers. While walking down the aisle, I thought that this cat was fake. He was curled up sleeping in this pot of silk flowers. I walked over to where he was and started petting him. He woke up and crawled into my lap where he proceeded to purr. Ohhh, I could have taken him home!!!
***
So in all, it was a fun, busy, jam packed two days. Thanks Michelle for a great time!!
Now, back to reality...7 days to go!!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

A girl really never does grow up you know....especially this girl! I have always loved miniature things as well as dolls and for Christmas some year I would really love to have a Blythe Doll. They became popular back in the 70's and although I grew up in the 70's, I never had one. Maybe they were a little too weird back then with their large color changing eyes, big heads and small little bodies but I really, really would like one...some day!

Thank you,

Dani

Pull the reigns in and slam on the brakes!!

Christmas is coming and I am stressing out!

***

I feel like my life is spiraling like a tornado and being torn into five million pieces. I am working, creating, working (wait I said that already), selling pottery at our studio sale, loading kilns, baking cookies and cinnamon rolls, sewing like one of Santa's elves, decorating, cleaning and more. I'm sure there are many of you out there that feel the same way as I do

but

please, Oh please Christmas slow down and wait for me...

I promise I will get it all done but I need the days to go by slowly...

Please?!

I have been so busy between getting ready for the pottery sale (note above postcard image) and running the Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon.

***

I will post more about my life later but if you are in the Binghamton, New York area, stop by the carriage building building behind Roberson Museum for some GREAT one of a kind pottery gifts. Stop by my table "Thistle Farm"....and check out my work!!

***

Happy Black Friday Shopping!!!

I DID IT!!!

For those of you who would like to read all about my adventures during the marathon, please check out:

www.onegirlsrunningdream.blogspot.com

Almost There!!

Well I did make it to the studio last night and had a semi productive night.

I glazed two colanders that were orders, make 3 ornaments and also threw a nice lidded container. Photos will be coming for the container. It turned out pretty neat.

***

I'm all packed and ready to go. We are heading out around 8:00AM and it should take about 4-1/2-5 hours to get there. Ugh!! I hate being in the car that long! Maybe I will try and take some knitting with me to pass the time. I do get car sick though...

***

I will make sure I get some photos posted of the festivities...oh and Nancy, I am going to try and make it to Baltimore Clayworks. I really want to see your jewelry on display!

TTFN!!

Excitement

EXCITEMENT

ANXIETY

NERVOUSNESS

HAPPY

All rolled into one!

I will try my hardest to attempt to create tonight at the studio. Although the nerves my have something else in mind for me. I need a distraction and hopefully clay will fill that for me.

***

So I am off to get ready...

Maybe tomorrow I will have some cool new photos of pottery I can show you, otherwise you just might see a huge lump of waste clay!

:)

Almost another whole month has gone by without a post and I am so very sorry for that. I am just about there...where might you ask...well the Baltimore Marathon!!

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8 days from now I will be leaving for Balitmore to spend the weekend. Friday will consist of having a fun day at The Aquarium. Graydon is so excited for this weekend as well as myself. Friday night we are meeting up with some friends from here who also will be running the marathon. A nice Italian restaurant will be our choice of pickings although I will only be having buttered pasta for my carb-load dinner. Saturday morning the marathon starts at 8:00AM and Todd will be giving live feeds on Facebook. If you would like to know how I am doing throughout the morning and you have a Facebook account, just add me as a friend, or just sign up for a FB account and the same.

***

I am so excited and nervous altogether. It is a HUGE feet for me and I have trained my heart out. I'm ready! On another note, I am running this race to honor one person in particular who has inspired me to run this race. Her name is Trish O'Neill and right around the time of me deciding to start running, she was battling for her life. You see, she was diagnosed with Leukemia last year and by February this year, needed a liver transplant. By the good graces she was able to receive a new liver and a new lease on life and I am proud to say she is living a happy and healthy. This marathon is dedicated to her and her charity DONATE LIFE!

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DONATE LIFE is a non-profit organization which offers patients a new chance at healthy, productive, normal life and returns them back to their families, friends and communities. You have the power to change someones world by being a donor. Please consider signing the back of your license and also informing your families about your decision to become a donor...IT MATTERS!!!

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If you could please spare $1, $2, $5 or more to really help turn this marathon into a great fund raising event for me...I would greatly appreciate it. 100% of all proceeds will be given to DONATE LIFE! For more information on this organization, please see www.cdtny.org or www.donatelife.net. Please use the button to your right of this page to make a donation. Also, please email me your address if I don't have it already for a post race information.

***

THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS....

Life gets in the way!!

So I am sitting here at my computer on a beautiful sunny day with a salad for lunch and I am trying to figure out how to put the last 4 weeks into words. As you have noticed I have been absent from blog land for a little while. Life has seem to taken me by the back of the neck and dragged through this month screaming my lungs out. Seriously...where did August go???

***

Between Graydon being in so many camps this summer and me training for this marathon, I am totally consumed by family life. Which is great, don't think for one second that I would give up this crazy busy life I have. I do love it and am proud to be a wife and mom...

I just think I need a vacation!!

***

So while life has been whizzing by this is the last four weeks:

Golf camp ended on the 1st Friday of this month. After that we had family come in from Florida for Graydons Survivor 10th Birthday party. It was great as always seeing them with busy days and nights...on Graydons birthday we went to Camel Beach for the day and then that night headed off to Kampai for dinner. The dinner ended on a sour note with a woman accidentally going up in a blue flame at the table kiddie corner to us. They took her away in an ambulance and I really don't know anymore than that. Strange though!!

***

So then on that Sunday we had Graydons Birthday party. A beautiful hot day with lots of fun for the kiddos!! Survivor games and cake, what more could a ten year old ask for!

***

In between all of this there is work and trying to get some pottery made for 2 upcoming shows, not to mention the mileage I have been putting in for the marathon that is only 6 weeks away. Even though I will be running my "arse" off that day I am really looking forward in seeing some different views than Broome County! We have not ventured out of the State or nearby Pennsyltucky in five years...how sad is that!!

***

So....that's that! And now I am off to finish my lovely salad for lunch, get some stuff accomplished this early afternoon before I have a delivery to make and then off to the hospital where my mother-in-law is having some surgery today! Whew....

Happy Birthday to my Dad!

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday dear Dad...

Happy Birthday to you!

***

I wish we could be celebrating here on earth

but I hope your family and friends in heaven have something special planned for you!

I miss you!

Summer Soccer Camp

So last week was a little bit chaotic. We had a house guest who split his time between my in-laws and our house throughout the week. Last year we had him as well and he is from the Red Bulls franchise. Tom and three other coaches came up to Binghamton to coach a week long soccer camp at the school. It was a great experience for the kids and a lot of work for the parents. Every night we switched houses for dinner and drinks. It was a fun time but I am enjoying the peace now.

***

On Saturday we took Tom fishing down at the pond...right on his first cast he caught a small trout. His very first time fishing and he was a natural. Unfortunately the trout swallowed the hook and Todd could not get it out. I could tell that Tom felt bad as the fish went bellied up on the side of the pond. Well...needless to say Todd took it home, cleaned it and grilled it. Tom really enjoyed that!

To top it all off, this is the Brits humor.

He said in his British accent "Look, I made a goldfish".
Weird sense of humor but we all laughed!

On other news, I have been creating a little lately. This serving bowl is quite large and I'm pretty pleased with it. I do have to fix one of the handles yet as it dried a little too quickly and the handle pulled away from the bowl. Any color suggestions??

Is this not the cutest puppy you have ever seen?

Her name is Paisley and no she is not mine.

Her parents brought her up to my in-laws house on Friday night for our dinner. She is a Yorki-Poo and sweet as sweet can be. I hinted around to Todd but to no avail. I did convince him into getting another hamster that Graydon was begging for. So the photos of Mario will be posted at a later date or whenever he will hold still long enough.

The Weekend Festivities

What another whirl wind weekend we had. Friday ended up at a friends house for several hours hanging out with people that Todd went to high school with. It was a great time and the kids all had a blast playing together. We ended up home pretty late and off to bed we went for an early wake up call.

***

Saturday morning was packing up the cars and heading out to the Greene Arts and Crafts Show EARLY! We set up, the sun came out and it was a gorgeous day! Hoards of people roamed the streets of Greene looking for that treasure. I saw a lot of people that I knew and it is always such a fun time! Business was pretty good. I met my goal for the day so I was satisfied with the day. It is always so hard prepping for something like this because you never know what will sell and what people are interested in!

***

So off to bed early we went on Saturday night for another early wake up call. This time for the Tim Fancher Memorial 5K race in Great Bend, PA. Graydon wanted to do the kids run and I was doing the 5K. Friends of ours (Hi Kim) raced also! The above pic is us before the races.

It was quite the humid day for a run but a lot of people showed up and I knew some of the runners which was great. Graydon and Anastasia (on Graydons left) headed out on the run.

I think it was about 1/2-3/4 of a mile...

Here is my kid in 1st place!!! Go Graydon!!!

He has pretty good running form too!

So in the end, Graydon got 1st and Anastasia came in 2nd. I was so proud of these two!! Maybe we have a couple of new runners in the family!

Kim and I before the race!! She has been such a good friend. She's a great running partner who encourages me to get out there and perform!!

THANKS KIM!!

Yours truly!!

I came in 3rd in my age bracket!! I was so surprised!!! I guess it was a good day for a run!! After the race, Todd dropped me off at the Red and White close to our home so I could put another 4-1/2 miles in to meet my 7 mile quota for the day. You know I gotta keep to the training schedule or else I'll never be ready for the race in October!

Me and my buddy after the race!! I'm so proud of him!!

Saturday, July 25th 9-4:00PM

Greene Arts & Crafts Show

THIS SATURDAY

July 25th, 9-4:00 PM

rain or shine

If you want a good excuse to get out of the house, stop by to the Greene Arts & Crafts Festival in historic Greene, New York! There are tons and tons of wonderful artists with many different arts. It really is a great show and I always have a lot of fun at it. You can find me in the above photo...

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Make sure you stop by and say hi!!

Wedding Weekend

What a fun filled jam-packed weekend we had! Saturday my cousin Patrick married his fiancee Melinda in a beautiful catholic wedding held at St. James. This photo above was taken outside the church after they got married. I just love the look of it, very vintage! Melinda looked absolutely stunning in her beaded dress with her headpiece made of white feathers and a vintage looking veil. The reception was held at the Binghamton Club where we were entertained all night with dancing and music (Rooster and the Roadhouse performed). So much fun!! Graydon even danced a bunch of songs with me.
Here is a photo of my sister D'Lynn on the right and my cousin Brooke on the left. Brooke is from California and the only real chance of seeing her is for weddings! But is was great to talk to her and her adorable son, Tristan.

Here is another cousins shot, minus a few who were partying!! Liza, Mitchell, me, Graydon, Dustin (back), D'Lynn and Shea!

In between the wedding and the reception, my sister and brother-in-law hosted an in between party. During the party, they had a birthday celebration for my niece Shea. She turns 8 this Friday!!! The cake was specific to her request! Flip flops, palm tree, sand and ocean!! Do you think she liked her cake!!

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Notice MoJo under the table. This dog travels the country. He normally lives in California with my aunt and uncle, but he summers in Michigan and travels to New York!!

Boy would I love to be him :)

Then on Sunday we went to breakfast with my family at Park Diner. I think there were close to 50 of us from the wedding including my cousin and his bride. It was great to catch up with family and friends and afterwards we went to see the new couples house they just closed on and moved into a couple days before their wedding.

***

After that we took Graydon fishing to our favorite spot. My fish catch of the day was a sunny and then perch and then a BASS! Graydon also caught a bunch as well as Todd.

It was a perfect ending to a perfect weekend.

I'm exhausted!!

Happy Wedding Day

Today my cousin Patrick is marrying his lovely fiancee Melinda.

It is going to be a jam packed day full of family, wedding and even a birthday party to boot. We are going to an in between party at my sisters where we will be celebrating my niece, Shea's birthday! So far the day looks good outside, there is a chance of rain but HEY, what else is new here in Upstate!

***

So for now I leave you. I am off to get 6 miles of running in, come home, wrap up the wedding gifts and get ready for the big day!

***

Congratulations Melinda and Patrick!

Absent

Yes, I have been absent from blog world lately with really no good excuse except for I have been really busy with life in general. Summer, time for relaxing and hanging out but not for this chic. I feel like I have been living in my car...going to school, work, back to school, doctors appointments, errands...ugh!! I am so tired of it already! I wish for one day at home where I have nothing to do except for pottery and hanging out. I'm not too sure when that will be though!

***

The above photo was last Wednesday night at around 11:30 PM. Todd had an idea for making tie-dye shirts for Graydons soccer tournament on Saturday. Needless to say it was for a contest and I could not pass up an opportunity to create. So for an hour and a half I rubber banded the shirts and then proceeded to dye them. All in all I think I got to bed at 1:30 AM.

But the kids came in 1st place and they received a McDonalds soccer ball. I was happy to see the kids thrilled with that ball...was it worth no sleep....hmmmm, sure!!

Graydon and I were walking home from my in-laws the other day when we came across this tiny little frog. We brought him home and I proceeded to take these photos of him to show you the actual size of him. The daisy was just a little wild daisy that grows everywhere. He only fit right in the center perfectly!

This is Graydons hand with the little frog on it. He was sooo cute and we put him in my flower garden to start a new home for himself!

Tippy toes Stitch peeking at the birds in the front yard!

Too funny!!

And who is this you might add...well it is Frodo and Graydon and I saved him from being killed on Route 12 in the construction zone. Apparently he got out of him leash and ventured onto the busy road. He is almost deaf and blind and really didn't know where he was going. I stopped the car and ended up grabbing him before something happened. Turns out we knew the owner and the owner was very happy to have him back.

As was I!!