11.17.2009

Surprise!

Today I checked my RSS feeds for the first time in a few days and when I went to check Tara Whitney's Blog and catch up on all the posts I missed, this is what I came across! 
Happy Day! I won a contest!  I will be receiving a beautiful necklace made by Lisa Leonard!

YEAH!!!!!

What is so funny is that I only entered one time.... and as most of you know I entered SEVERAL times when Rach and Caroline had their giveaways!  So, you never know! 

I will post a pic of me wearing the necklace when I receive it!

Lachiem!!!

11.11.2009

Tap Class

For those of you who don't know:
 I am teaching an after school tap class for 12 at risk 2nd grade girls.  We have been having class for about 5 weeks I think and it has been wonderful!  The smile on those girls faces when they get to make noise with their taps is priceless. They are doing really well at learning their steps, following directions, and even keeping their feet quiet while I am talking!  I had one little girl write for her teacher that her favorite thing to do at school and at home was tap dance!  That was wonderful to hear!  I am really hoping that this will give them hope and encouragement to try new things and be creative.  Most of them come from homes where they aren't encouraged to work hard, do their best, get exposed to art, or smile and get and give hugs and encouraging words....but in our class we smile, laugh, encourage each other, give hugs, be positive,work hard, and get creative.  Hopefully the Lord will use our 45 minutes once a week to make lasting impacts on these girls futures!  
I love black and white films, big band music, 50's and 60's music, Fred Astaire, Ellenor Powell, Frank, etc,etc......and these girls no nothing about any of that so I take some time each week to remedy that!  Tristan made me a DVD of lots of old black and white tap clips from old movies and I show a clip every week.  The girls love it and constantly remark on how old the videos must be!  I came across a wonderful video of Ellenor Powell in my search for clips and just have to share it with the blog world.  I wish I could have made a career out of tapping like she did!  Also, I am such a fan of Ms. Powell that I hope to one day name a daughter after her!
 I hope you enjoy the video and that it reminds you to pray for all my little girls! 

Click Here to watch the video!

11.05.2009

Woodsy Table Scape


If you didn't know yet that I LOVE to decorate.....now you do!  I LOVE IT!  And beautiful pictures of creative ideas inspire me soo much.  I ran across this pic on a blog a follow called ReNest, and fell in love.  Somehow I will re-create this table, in my own way with things I can find here at my home.....somehow...somehow(part of the fun of decorating for me is figuring out how to do things....especially when it involves using something to decorate that usually doesn't have a function relating to decor).
Here is the link to the blog post: Woodsy Table Scape

11.02.2009

Tea




Another must have tradition for the fall is the drinking of tea....and espescially the drinking of tea in the company of people you love! 
Here is Tristan and I enjoying some of that warm goodness together.
Check out the contest Caroline Joy Photography is having...tomorrow is the last day to enter.

11.01.2009

Holly...she's the perfect fall treat!


My sister(she is actually my sister-in law.....I hate to put the in-law part on any of my sister-in-laws titles because they are all like real sisters....or what I imagine a sister should be since I don't have a blood sister....by the way...if you include all the Russo girls I have 7 sisters....pretty amazing huh?) Holly came to visit this weekend and we had a wonderful time.  She reminds me of fall.  She has gorgeous Auburn curly hair like Anne of Green Gables, and Holly herself goes perfectly with any fall color!  She loves fall just as I do and enjoys the smells, the colors, fall attire, folk music, the fall weather etc....so I would have to say that spending time with her is one of my favorite fall traditions.  
I love you Holly!!!!

Don't forget to check out:
for an AWESOME give-away!