I admit it...

I ordered this book the day it came out....

I paid extra for overnight delivery....

It's Blogging for Bliss.

I am devouring it as I have time...kudos to you, Tara Frey! You've managed to create a beautiful how-to book. For all of the harried bloggers with short attention spans out here, I salute you!

And as a good student should, I am taking notes. But being the realistic gal that I usually am, I know I will never achieve the heights of some of the absolutely gorgeous blogs featured in the book.
Honestly, it's not really "me" anyway. I like things with worn edges, a little tattered and not so amazingly perfect (how am I doing?).
I will always write how I talk- lots of "..."s , a few typos that sneak through, and you can't even imagine how often I really want to add a smiley face after something I have written. I know, it's sad (a grown woman am I!)...but I really like an occasional (0; !

None of these things are really conducive to a beautiful, grown -up blog, are they? Sigh...But there's room out here for all sorts of bloggers: the beautiful, the clever, the adorable, the witty, the "total packages" that have it all. And me.

But I am doing a few simple things that Tara suggested...playing with photo frames and effects is one you may have noticed over the past few posts...it's a work in progress, but I will tweak it 'til I am satisfied. I do like a simple frame around the photos- they look a bit more finished, but some of the other effects just take too much time to do to every single picture that I include here. I suppose I could reduce the number of photos....on second thought....

And I have finally admitted that maybe some people may not share my taste in music. Or may not want to hear it when they visit. Every. Single. Time.


So I came up with my little helper here. Isn't she cute? Isn't she helpful? If you'd like her to help your readers too, feel free to right click and take her home with you....

And seriously, I hope I did not sound negative about Blogging for Bliss. So far, I love the book and have learned a ton. One of the things that I have learned is that I love to visit lush, frilly, gorgeous blogs (and admire their authors oh so much)... but I gotta be me. And I'm OK with that.

(0;

Until Next Time,

Monkey-in-the-Middle MONDAY...

Yes, Monday...already....time is flying...

To learn a little more about Monkey-in-the-Middle Monday, click here.

Before I share my Monkey this week, I am so excited! I have new links for you!

Still figuring out exactly how this is going to work because I attempted to join the Mr. Linky thing but when they started talking about altering you you blog template, I got a little nervous...

So for now, until I feel a bit more confident in the template altering field, I guess I will just give you a list, similar to what the gals at Show-n-Tell Sundays are doing (except mine's allot shorter, for now.... *smile*)...It would be easier if you emailed me directly with your Monkey link. That way I won't miss anyone (if I missed you this week, feel free to send me a nastygram through the link above...;0) )....and feel free to right click and save the monkey banner above and on the sidebar. That way you can post it on your own blog...let's spread the word!

So get ready to clickity-click on a few new fun sites...hopefully I can add yours next week??

Out on a Whim Studio

Lisa's Retro Style

Always Inspired

Catnip Studio

Now, on with the show. I had very little free time last week, as my kids were in soccer camp all week. Add a few games, sleepovers, movies, etc. and I didn't get much work done beyond filling orders and driving my car to and fro...

But I did complete my final version of "Home Sweet Home".

What do you think? No Huge differences, but, from the first go-round, I learned a few things I'd like to change-colors, shading, etc ...

I guess, technically, I am not in the middle of this project, but kinda-sorta, I am. Now I start the process of finding a printer and figuring out cards, etc...lots to learn about what to do with a project to get it to it's selling state. I was even thinking I might like to do some tags from this...how cute would a housewarming gift of a cupcake basket tied with a "home sweet home" tag?

This is a whole new direction for me. I seem to be wandering away from the decorative painting, at least for now...have to admit I am a little burnt out....plus I absolutely LOVE the fine detailing I can get with pencils and a good drafting pen. I missed that with the acrylics. I will definitely still be offering hand painted goodies in my Etsy shop (Big plans for the holidays- more ornies than you can shake a stick at...ok maybe not that many), but for the time being, I think the only new patterns I will be offering are those that appear in Create and Decorate....I want to continue with that. And all of my current patterns will continue to be available on my website .

Wow, seems I am making big business announcements in the Middle of the Monkey....how'd that happen? I just started typing and -BOOM- there it is....sneaky, sneaky....

Something else we worked on this week....I say WE, becasue my dear teenage daughter is working off a huge (OMG it is 2 HUGE! IDK how she did it!) texting bill....Mothers of Teens (MOTs!), you feel my pain, I know u do...so I have slave labor to cut out all sorts of tags for me this summer...great time to get ahead for the holiday rush, but these are new...I am loving stamping on the vintage text. It's a little tricky, but the results are 2die4!

So what's your Monkey this week? We'd love to see...

Until next time...

Steph

Another Contest!

Yes, it's true....FREE STUFF!

I need to build up my mailing list and you NEED free stuff!

Seriously, this is a win/win situation for you....you'll get entered in the drawing; you'll get updates on everything new in the Sunshine -n- Ravioli (website, Etsy, BLOG, whatever!) world and you won't get spam! I won't send updates more than twice a month EVER (honestly, you'd be lucky to get that many...once a month is more my speed, at most) and I will not share your info with anyone else. But if I do ever annoy you too much, you can opt out any time after the drawing day (Feb. 29) and still keep the loot if you win!

All you have to do is go here and sign up for my Newsletter. You've got 'til February 28th- I'll save my magic winner picker from the OWOH giveaway and put every name signed up for the list in. Heck, come back after you've signed up, post a reply on this message and I'll throw your name in a second time! The winner's name will be drawn the morning of February 29....

Most of the loot is a secret (even to me at this point), but the winner will get to choose two patterns from my site. I will build the rest of your mystery goody bag with those patterns in mind.....I promise, it will be good!

So sign up, post a reply, do what you need to do.....just do it by the 28th!