pinkcherrymama

{first post of 2012!}

well, it's already february and i have yet to write my first new year post...old habits die hard? yes, they do!!!

*just a note: this is more of a personal update post for today...crafty, shop talk and creativity will follow shortly...

Christmas was quiet around here...anyone who has a split/mixed family can probably feel me when i say that the holidays can be...difficult, sometimes. the girls {"his and mine", for lack of a better term} were all with the "other" parents this year, which made it a very low key holiday, but we were totally ok with low key! little buddy {"ours"} wanted to write just one thing to santa this year...

made me laugh :)

 

to the side you can see my super-rad lamp that i found at the thirft store! little buddy accidentally dropped it on the floor while we were decorating the tree and instead of breaking it, like i thought he did, he actually made it work...see the spiffy built in night light? didn't even know it was there until it was dropped - cool.

my annual Chirstmas morning breakfast got postponed until the girls got home the next day...

yummy vanilla, banana waffles with whipped cream.

not long after Christmas, i got my "annual" haircut. it was a pretty substantial cut!

ok, so, i am SOOOOOO SUPER excited for this next part! for new years, we went to the bay area and spent a few days with my family. i gave my daddy, my hubby and one of our daughters tickets for the raiders/ chargers game for Christmas, so we all went along for the ride. i went to THE most AWESOME super market, EVER! it is called Mi Pueblo and it is in San Jose. i have never in my life seen a cleaner, more organized store, EVER.

the bakery was amazing...no simple icing roses here. the cakes and tarts were perfect...

 

don't laugh...it's the little things that excite me in life :)

while i was freaking out about super markets, the dads were at the raider game with my little diva. i guess she made quite an impression on the "regulars" and was being asked if she would mind taking photos with other fans! they nick-named her "the raider angel"...oh boy...

apparently, they thought her bow was wings...

also on this joyous day, i got to go to santana row....*sigh, so rad! i got to shop at some of my favorite stores, maido and paper source,  but since it was new years day, everything closed early - boo!

oh paper and office supplies, how i love you so :) eh, now i'm sounding like a weirdo....oh well.

early in january, i was asked by a new dear friend to make a star wars cake for her son...i had never made one before, but thought, what the heck, so here's what i came up with...

horrible photo :/ everything, including the plaque is edible. i thought it came out quite nicely :)

been busy baking other things as well..such as...

best ever choclate chip cookies from HERE

came out perfect, no?

usually, i get the fever for baking all winter long, but with this awefully dry, warm winter, it has been different. i feel like spring has been knocking for months! this was one of the only snows we had all year...so sad :(

and last, but not least....my baby girl is grduating this year, so we decided to take out an ad in the year book with a photo of her and her longest friend...

THEN... {on the right}

and NOW... {on the left}

how time gets away from us...

*sniffle, sniffle...

and that's all for now folks! thakns for stopping by and getting through such a LONG post!

i'll be posting a crochet pattern and maybe some other fun stuff tomorrow :)

have a wonderful evening!

~r

{charity event}

a few weeks back, i was asked by THE PARTY GODDESS, to donate some items for a fundraiser being held by leona lewis for hopefield animal sanctuary in the UK.

with only about 24 hours notice, i went into a mad dash, along with my mother and 2 daughters, to get almost 400 pieces finished for the event!

{cupcake toppers, drink swizzles}

unfortunately, after all that hard work, the post office didn't get my "express overnight guaranteed" package to the party goddess in time for the event....

BIG. HUGE. BUMMER.

even though it did not work out, i was reminded how my mom and my daughters could step up when i need them and without any hesitation or complaining :)

apparently, the charity event for the animal santuary went over well, and, while my items didn't get used for the purpose originally intended, i am told, they were used for charity, which makes me happy!

here are some of the things i have been making for the holidays, but have not had a chance to list in my shop for this season :(

{paper carnival straws}

i am going to take the day off {insert rolling of eyes and sarcastic huff here} to make fudge and cookies while i nurse my baby boy back to health and finish up gifts that i started adn more than likely will not be able to finish!

have a wonderful day!

~roberta

{a year to the day...}

yes, it has been 1 year, to the day, since my last post....

so for anyone out there in blogland... friends, family or the occasional happened-by-accident visitor... i am happy to say, I AM STILL ALIVE! i am so embarrassed for having neglected my blog... i have made it through some major bumps in the road this year and i am  finally ready to come back to blogging. i have missed sharing creative things, ideas and experiences of everyday life so much. just as i was starting to get the hang of it, i gave up. BUT, like i said, i am ready and excited to be back and share what i have been up to and some of the little things that make me happy - or, sometimes, not so happy - in life.

SO much has happened this past year! so for today and tomorrow, i'm going to try to sum it up as short and sweet as possible...

late december 2010:

new additions to our family! louie dog...

and shelby girl...but i can't seem to find any photos of her :(

february 2011:

another day in s.f. nothing really different than any other day...BUT this time, my girls decided to try a new way of taking photos...hang mom's iphone out the window and snap... i LOVED how they came out!

{by the way, HIPSTAMATIC is my MOST FAVORITE APP EVER!}

my oldest decided to compete in dance this year and her team did awesome! i have to admit, i am glad it is over though...lots of travel and fun, but very expensive...

{she's the one on the left}

little buddy began his obsession with boba fete {spelling?} and has not gotten over it yet...

 

March 2011

little buddy turned 5 and had his first trip to disneyland...that he actully remembers!

"sissy b" got a chance to do some modeling for a very good, VERY talented friend of mine... he makes the most wonderful metal art. he lives in a beautiful old mansion in the middle of alfalfa fields where the photo shoot took place...she was a trooper! she stayed in the kimono for 4 hours without a potty break! there were about 5 or 6 layers to the costume and it took about an hour and a half to get dressed. if you have a chance, please check out his work HERE 

little buddy also started playing t-ball this year... what an experience that was (for both parent and child)!

april 2011

grama and grampa had their 50th wedding anniversary! we had to rent a tent last minute because it started to sprinkle. it was FREEZING, but it turned out great...even having to pack everyone into the tent.

(i made an almost exact replica of their original wedding cake and restored their cake top...)

 

June 2011

My baby girl (oldest child really) graduated! oh my goodness, this was a big one for me this year...

AND....she turned 18!

...so we had a carnival :)

August 2011

AND THEN... she went to her very first dance audition at THE EDGE in hollywood. she ddn't get into their dance program, but it was an awesome experience...

the following week, we were back in L.A. for another audition, this time for disney... another no, but no regrets for the experience! i decided to take my baby girl for a "secret" trip to disneyland while we were in socal. it was such a blast...i haven't ever really spent time with her alone since she was a baby...

{photos to come tomorrow :)}

i really want to finish up telling about my year and feeling like i have a new start :) i am exhausted for now, but i will finish up tomorrow.

So for now, i am going to say good night.... sleep well and "see" you tomorrow!

~r

Wrapping, wrapping, wrapping!!!!!

Wrapping presents is always more fun with the beautiful mountains to look at! I am so blessed! Having a very badly needed day off from filling orders and getting lots of Christmas stuff done! I LOVE LOVE LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!
TOMORROW: I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes for christmas goodies :)

I have lots of new Christmas stuff on my etsy site so check it out for some inspiration.

Have a blessed day!
~r

{this weeks giveaway}

 

GOOD MORNING!

this weeks giveaway is...

{set of 8 thanksgiving place cards}

you can also find these in my etsy shop ;)

TO ENTER: leave a comment telling about a thanksgiving tradition you have...tell a friend too! remember, the giveaways will get better, the more people that enter :)

this week will be a bit different...the winner will be chosen once i receive at least 10 comments. i will also be posting some yummy recipes and traditions of my own when i announce the giveaway winner.

anyone who lives in the reno/tahoe area, please come by and visit me at the VALHALLA HOLIDAY FAIRE  on november 20-21 at the talc historic site in south lake tahoe {near camp richardson}.

before i go...

as i look out my window at the snow capped mountains and the green, yellow and orange colors of the valley i am so blessed to live in, i can't help but thank God for his many blessings and for the beautiful world He has created for us. although i try to celebrate thanksgiving everyday,{and don't always do a very good job of it} there is something so special about this time of year. the crisp, cold mornings, the changing scenery and the sudden need to bake and cook comfort foods for everyone i know, make this time of year like no other...

enjoy your weekend and remember to give thanks...always.

~r 

{giveaway, spooky bodie and a little venting!}

{giveaway}

to enter, please leave a comment on this post (not on Facebook) telling me the name of your favorite halloween candy.

i will choose a winner on monday this week since i am late

AND

i skipped last week :)

~ set of 10 treat bags ~

you can see them here in my etsy shop

 

{photos from a recent trip to bodie, ca. great place to take spooky photos!}

all thats left of the bank...

what i found in the schoolhouse window...

little buddy liked the sage grouse the best...

 

if you live in the area, a day-trip to bodie is definitely worth it, BUT watch out for ranger rick! he is a little grumpy :)

{and now for the venting...}

so, i know that purely by putting things on the internet, or offering them for sale, period, i am risking the chance of having my designs/ items/ ideas/ etc., copied. that being said, i had NO IDEA how blatant people could or would be about copying!

here's the deal. last night, after a look at a certain etsy shop from the UK,  {which shall remain un-named}, i came upon many items which bore an uncanny resemblance to many of my own items. while i can't really complain about the images used on the items, {it seems alice in wonderland is VERY popular these days ;)} which are not protected under copyright, what i do have a problem with is the way in which they are being used... i have worked very hard to come up with new, original designs and ways to use images that are flooding the market at the moment. when someone takes that hard work, copies it, then proceeds to pass it off as their own, it is very frustrating!

i have thought about contacting this person and confronting them with the facts, but i have decided it may only make matters worse.i will let it be, for now, and hope that this persons conscience will be enough to make them stop. if not, i know that all things happen for a reason and i will just keep working on ideas and designs, doing business honestly and with the best customer service i can give. i know that God will continue to bless my business. i know that, ultimately, i can't stop anyone from copying designs or ideas. what i can do, is continue to conduct business in a way that glorifies God with honesty, integrity and respect.

if any of you have any advice or want to share how you have responded to a similar situation, please feel free to leave comments!

have a WONDERFUL weekend and see you on monday :)

~r

winner!

heidi is the winner of the giveaway! since there were only 2 entries, there was not much competition, but lets get some more people here next week!!!

next fridays giveaway will be...

SET OF 10 TREAT BAGS WITH TAGS AND EMBELLISHMENTS

you can find more in my etsy shop here.

the bags are not distressed like in the photo anymore. i found that it makes the bag too unstable so i have decided to leave them plain in order to keep the bags from becoming weak. 

i will re-post the giveaway this coming week sometime.

tomorrow i will be sharing some photos from a recent day-trip to BODIE state park...

have a wonderful weekend!

~r

a long goodbye to summer...

i hate to admit that summer is ending, but today i was actually chilly... i am known for my long goodbyes, and summer is no exception...

bye, bye to flip flops...

naps on the beach...

 

camp...

 
late summer rain showers and double rainbows...

   
 lazy days on the boat...

my "little bros", little buddy and his turtle...

   

sand castles and my shirtless hubby...

 

 

evening boat rides...

 

the ocean...

 

the boardwalk...

 

goodbye summer...it has been one of the best yet!
 
the worst part of the changing seasons for me is the realization that my children are growing up faster than i want them to and that they will never be the same as they are now...

the best part for me is also knowing that they are growing into the people that God intends them to be and i have the honor of being able to share in their lives daily and watch them grow...

so many new and exciting things to look forward to...

junior and senior year...

  little buddy's 1 year of pre-school...

 

tomorrow i will be posting some photos of what i have been up to in my little closet of a studio :) i will be doing a friday give away every friday in october, but for those of you who have stuck with me through my irregular blogging schedule and wishy-washy postings, i am doing a giveaway this week as well! leave a comment tomorrow, when i post the giveaway item, and i will be drawing a name friday evening...sometime before bed! i will post a winner on saturday morning :)

thanks so much all of you have been so encouraging during my first full year of blogging!

There is a time for everything, 

       and a season for every activity under heaven...

Ecclesiastes 3:1

have a wonderful evening!!!

~r

{week of rest- day 3, back from chiapas, day at the boardwalk}

and the journey continues....

july 21, 2010

 today we picked our oldest daughter up at SFO. she had been gone for 12 days on a mission trip to chiapas, mexico, with a group from our church. they have amazing stories to share with us and i can not wait to hear how God worked in so many peoples lives!

on the way to the airport, we passed by this amazing construction project...

click on the photo to learn more, but basically, highway 1 is unstable and they are digging a massive tunnel through a mountain to bypass the parts that are slipping into the ocean! 

finally at SFO and my baby {on the left} is home!

 the team was very tired but in great spirits and with lots of awesome stories to share about what God did through them in mexico...

my poor baby was so upset when i told her that we would be camping for a few days, that she started crying! i thought it would be a good time for our family to rest and for her to readjust to being home....and it turned out to be a great few days!

on the way back from the airport, we saw so many beautiful sights...the kite boarders were sweet!

 

something about the fact that the artichoke and strawberry fields are set right on the coast is just so cool to me...
 

we ended up going to the boardwalk for a bit and people watching... and then going back to camp to rest up for another day on the beautiful coast...

more on sunday!!!

have a great weekend!

~r

"Great are the works of the Lord;

they are pondered by all who delight in them."

Psalm 111:2

{ week of rest - Day 2 - pescadero and pillar point}

on to the next day of our trip...

july 20, 2010

today we got to spend the day in pescadero, a great little town about 2 miles off of hwy 1, near año nuevo.

if you are ever in the area, you absolutely have to stop by the local bakery.

 

 they sell the best artichoke bread and yummy pies...

 

 

 

and the staff is super friendly too!

 

the town had such a neat style. i couldn't stop taking photos... 

 

 

 

 

super cool palm tree that was overtaken by some kind of vine or something...we thought it was a normal shade tree at first...but then we looked up...

 

 

down the road a bit, there is a cute little goat farm that is located in a 100 year old house...

 

 

 

 

 

2 of the resident goats:

black- big boy

white - arm pit

 

    

   

 

pillar point harbor for another afternoon walk...

 

a day well spent...

see ya tomorrow!

~r