Southern Bliss

Do YOU have....

2011-10-09T17:50:00.011-04:00

a PINTEREST yet??

This new social site is the bomb ya'll! It's an online pin board that lets you plan parties, gives you ideas for the home, helps you plan dinner meals, and for me....just plain inspires me!! I am addicted people! And best of all....it's FREE!! To give you an example of what I am talking about, here is mine. Feel free to follow me too if you'd like :) http://www.pinterest.com/southernbliss So far I have used pinterest for planning my daughter's 2nd birthday party, and my husband and father's birthday as well. Check out the cool cakes I made for my hubby and father! Both like baseball and I went on pinterest to find the ideas for the cake and cupcakes!

Btw, I also made both of these from scratch! Here is the recipe if you are interested in trying your hand at a cake made from scratch, the recipe is simple, and easy to follow: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/simple-white-cake/detail.aspx

September Quarterly Top 5 Photo Linky Party

2011-10-05T09:02:00.011-04:00

Hey all!! Dropping in for a quick summer re-cap and my first blog "link up!" Wanna join in the fun? Here is the link, and here are our top five summer pics (this was really tough btw!!)

Number 1. "Ooooh baby look who's turned 2!"
There were so many other favorites, but this one just seemed most appropriate for spot number one. Need I say more ;)

Number 2. "Who Me?!"
Isabella kept drinking the water from the splash fountains at The Florida Aquarium, (yeah, I know gross) and everytime I told her "No, no" she thought it was the funniest thing! These were pretty much they only smiling pictures I got of her that day, go figure ;)

Number 3. Yellow Rose of Texas
This summer we had the wonderful opportunity to model some beautiful couture headbands for a boutique on etsy! We even got to keep them! Yellow is a pretty hard color to pull off don't you think?

Number 4. "Who you Lookin at!"
This is one of those fluke portraits I got lucky on ;) I just kept snapping pics and when I went to edit them later that evening I found this one of her frowning!

Number 5. We love America!
You know I had to include a 4th of July pic!! This was taken just before the sun started to set. We enjoyed a day at the Splash Ground in Dunedin and then came back to do some fireworks with our neighbors :)

Interested in sharing your top 5 summer pics? Visit Amber's Articles to link up! Enjoy the beautiful day everyone!

Deal of the day!

2011-09-23T19:52:00.013-04:00

As promised, here's my find of the day!

(LANDS END Lilac Flower Tunic Dress)

I love Lands End clothes! Today I found this sweet little girls tunic dress top for less than $10! This would look so adorable paired with some white leggings! The original price is $24.50 plus tax and shipping. It's been marked down to $11.99. Today Lands End is having a "take an extra 25% off plus free shipping on orders over $50.00" sale. So then 25% off brought the top to $8.99! However, because the dress was previously in my shopping cart they honored a prior free ship coupon! So $8.99 plus the tax and free ship put this cute tunic at a grand total of $9.62!! Well worth the price for a quality name brand piece of clothing! The sale is still going on if you want to check it out: http://www.landsend.com/ Happy shopping ya'll!!

Greetings All :)

2011-09-23T11:32:00.005-04:00

Wow, yeah aaaaaagain it's been a while! Well lets just say I haven't done the best with my "changes" list in the area of blogging more! A little more challenging than I thought it would be! Maybe I should set my standards to blogging twice a month so I can hopefully better meet this challenge. Perhaps the posts will be more rich in sharing as well, we'll see :)

Anyways....Happy first day of Fall ya'll!! I am squeezing in one last official summer picture of Bella in her suit enjoying the "Lion Fountains" at Kate Jackson. Yeah, there will be more visits to the fountains as our real Fall tends to show up around mid November, that is if we are lucky ;) Whether or not I get around to posting is an entirely different story!

So quick up date for my friends and family here! Bella just celebrated her 2nd birthday at the beginning of the month! Hard to believe that I have a two year old now! She and I have both started "BSF" - Bible Study Fellowship (Thank you Amber :) and we are very excited to begin studying the book of Acts. Interested in joining in? Drop me a line: southernbliss79@yahoo.com. I have also opened up the shop again and have added my newest line of vintage Illustration images and photos to the store! Check it out if you wish: www.southernbliss.etsy.com And finally for now, yes I am going to continue to share my "deals of the day" posts with you because I'd love to share the savings with you! Just keep in mind, at the pace I've been blogging they may be more of "deals of the month" instead ;) I stumbled across a good one today that I will post for you later on today!

Getting ready to head out and plan some birthday festivities for my beloved husband, father, and father-in-law! Yep you heard me right, three in a period of two days. Wishing you all a fantastic first day of Fall! Until next time friends ;)

Quick House update and a hike ~;o)

2011-03-23T11:58:00.025-04:00

Hi friends!! Gosh I miss blogging!! Well here is the latest and greatest!! We have finally painted and put up new blinds in all the rooms. New locks on all the doors. New stove and washing machine have arrived and both been hooked up. Whew!! Yeah, kinda ridiculous that it took us this long huh? On a happier note, I am glad to share with you all that we will finally be moving into our new home this Saturday!! Boy are things a BUSY mess right now!

In related news I have a confession to make, instead of moving things into the house last weekend like we were suppose to we decided to take a much needed field trip to the Hillsborough River State Park! Who would have ever guessed that there were moving rapids right here in Hillsborough county! Thats right friends!! The Hillsborough River State Park has two sets of Class II river rapids, now these are not huge cascading river rapids friends, they are smaller ones. But for the Floridian, it is a big deal to see these, as there are less than a handful of these here in and around the State of Florida. There is also a suspended bridge too btw!! The trail is fantastic, even bumble bee hiked half of the trip on her own! She fell asleep in the hiking pack on the second half of the hike back, not bad for a toddler ~;o) I could go on and on about all the fun things there are to do in this park, but I'll just give you a teaser instead this time ~;o) Enjoy the video clips!! And for those of you who've been there done that, why didn't you tell me?! You know I gotta give you a hard time about it ~;o) So if you've been to this park already I'd love to hear what your favorite part of the visit was...I'm all ears ~;o)

All hiked out ~;o)

Happy Valentines Day!!

2011-02-14T12:57:00.004-05:00

Sweet yummy confections that I made for my sweet husband, my best friend♥ Wishing you, yes YOU a lovely Valentines Day!

Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever! ~Psalm 106:1

A House to Call Our Own....

2011-01-28T19:55:00.008-05:00

I know I mentioned in my last post (regarding New Years changes) that I would like to blog more, and I still intend to do this. We have just been a little preoccupied lately ~;o) What an exciting day it has been for our family! As many of you know, we've been trying to purchase a home. After a long and slow process of house hunting, inspections, paperwork, appraisals, and I really could go on, I am very excited to share that today we purchased our very first home! What a roller coaster of emotions it has been for us! However, we are very thankful and happy new home owners!! Here it is, our little "Diamond in the rough♥"

"With wisdom a house is built. With understanding it is established. With knowledge its rooms are filled with every kind of riches, both precious and pleasant." ~Proverbs 24:3-4

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-06T21:43:00.011-05:00

I'm a little late posting on this, but in the words of a wise friend, "better late than never!" I wanted to take a moment to ponder on some changes I would like to make. I don't want to call them resolutions or goals because I think that these two words have a different meaning from the word "Change." In my mind resolutions and goals can only go so far until they've been met. Change will require consistency. And this is what I'm aiming for regarding several matters. These changes are intended to be for the good. So without further ado, here they are:

1. My Appearance: This one is a very difficult one for me to admit, but I would like to focus on putting a little effort into my appearance. Flattering outfits, a little bit of make up for a soft glow, and the perfect handbag to top it all off. So not me, but willing to give it a try, we'll see ~;o)

2. Saving Money: In order for me to go back to being a fulltime "stay at home mom" this will be a must. I have decided that for now, it is best that I do not have any credit cards because I simply cannot control my spending habits with them. For those of you facing the same exact problem, freezing the card in a block of ice doesn't work, had my card all thawed out under 5 minutes. Here's a tip that I found to be most effective, use a pair of scissors instead. So from now on, it will be strictly cash.

3. Blog More, Facebook Less: I need to take a step back from facebook for a while...as we all know, it can become quite a distraction. I am not deleting my account, just feel I will be able to focus better on the tasks at hand in doing this. As for blogging, I will be shifting gears more towards this instead as it allows me to reflect on many important subjects that matter to me. It is here that I will expand on my ideas about family, nesting, photography, traveling, thrifting, and much more. I am very excited about this!

4. Cooking: This is a sore subject for me, although it shouldn't be. I will have to get back to you on this one.

5. Fellowship: This is another difficult change for me to admit and talk about. What is so hard about finding Fellowship? Genuine Fellowship has been challenging for me to find. Some of it is my own fault. There is much involved in this change that will be needed. Perhaps I will expand more upon this subject another time when I am ready. Nevertheless, it needed to be mentioned.

I feel that writing this out will be a better reminder for me of what I need to focus on. This is very tough for me friends! How tough you ask? Ok "Peanuts Gang" fans, you know how Lucy had a name for every phobia out there when she was lecturing Charlie Brown? She never mentioned one for "writing." Anyone know what phobia this is called? Not a big fan of it. Ask me why another time. Change can be scary. But change is also necessary to achieve good. As you all know I prefer to express myself more through pictures instead of words. Sorry I didn't have one to post this time, less distraction perhaps ~;o) Lets turn things over to you now dear friend. What changes do you plan to make this year? I'd love for you to share them.... I'm all ears ~:o) Until next time darlings.... ♥♥

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

2010-12-25T20:57:00.005-05:00

.....I snapped this picture on Christmas Eve!! I love decorating my home for Christmas!! I enjoy putting up the Christmas tree and hanging up the wreath on the door! I enjoy wrapping presents and baking sweet treats in the kitchen, everything about Christmas is beautiful. But what brings me the most comfort and joy about this magical holiday is God's greatest gift to us all! Let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas dear friends!!

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." ~Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

Wishing you all much Peace and Joy this Christmas!!
♥, The Nunez Family

Milk Glass, and Thrift Store Finds....

2010-12-16T23:23:00.011-05:00

I love thrift stores....I feel like I'm on a treasure hunt everytime upon entering one, (I know, such a ridiculous comparison I just used huh.) It's the best way I can describe my feeling of thrift store shopping though ~;o) So anyways, I have taken a recent liking to collecting Milk Glass! I like Milk Glass because it is so fresh looking, something you can keep out year round. In my opinion, it just goes with everything. Many collectors like to display a collection of one color on shelves, oh yeah...Milk Glass can come in different creamy colors folks ~;o) The good thing about collecting Milk Glass is that the pieces can be relatively cheap to buy. But they do range in price. Btw friends, I am by far an amateur in collecting Milk Glass, I do not even know if the pieces I have are the real deal. But I do know that I like the ones that I have anyways ~:o) I saw one person make good use of their single Milk Glass goblet by filling it with fresh blueberries set on the table amongst a lovely breakfast spread. I want to do the same thing. I think I would prefer to use my pieces instead of display them, although I am not opposed to doing this either. Do you have a cherished collection of something? Is it something you like to only display or do you use it? Perhaps you do both? Feel free to share, I'm all ears ~;o) Here are a couple of pictures of my tiny collection.

(Hen on Nest, covered dish...aka keeper of extra sewing thread~;o)

Ruffled Hob-Nob Vase

Okay...I know...how does "The Shy Little Kitten" relate to Milk Glass Rebecca? Um, well....it doesn't. But it was too cute not to share with you ~;o) This was a recent thrift store purchase for my daughter, she has recently taken an interest in these happy looking vintage characters from the "Little Golden Books" series, (and to cats in general.) Can't say that I blame her, just look at that adorable kitten face! What child wouldn't want to open this book to find out more about this mischievous little character?! ~;o) It is so funny to watch my daughter look at the vintage "Little Golden Books" characters. She gets so focused on them and then starts babbling to herself, or anyone else in the room about the pictures! I wonder what she's thinking when she sees them?! Perhaps you remember reading Little Golden Books with your parents as a child, do you own any today? If so, which ones? And which were your favorite when you were growing up? Yes you know it, I'm all ears ~;o)

Thanksgiving Highlights.....

2010-11-26T22:26:00.011-05:00

I thought I'd share a couple of Thanksgiving highlights with you! This lovely arrangement was our Thanksgiving centerpiece for our table! I decided to keep it simple since we are limited on space.

I created this centerpiece for just under $15!! Publix had a wonderful selection of Autumn bouquets to choose from for $9.99. I choose plums, oranges, and yellows to work with. I purchased the vase from a thrift store for 80 cents. (Got one around the house? Use it and save even more $$) Finally, I attached a vintage Thanksgiving postcard that I bought from ebay a couple of years back for about $3.00. The results - simply stunning!! Most of the finished arrangements at the grocery store were priced between $20 and $30, the savings are big!! ~;o) This fun arrangement can be done for any holiday. Have fun, be creative!!

Another favorite of the evening was this delectable delight!! This berry tart was super easy to make friends!! Wanna make one for Christmas dinner or upcoming party? Feel free to click on the link under the photo for the recipe!! Got any thrifty holiday decor ideas? Recipes?? Feel free to share them!! I'd love to hear them!! Until next time friends ~;o)

Click here for recipe!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2010-11-24T12:50:00.005-05:00

For me, it has always been a little tougher to blog during the holiday season. Maybe I need to slow down some....and relax and bask in all the hidden beauty around me. Hot Chocolate, fresh flowers in the season's most richest of Autumn hues, nature walks, the smell of freshly baked pumpkin cookies as you enter into the room....all of these "Diamond in the roughs." During the holiday season we tend worry about everything getting finished on time, or things looking perfect. Then we miss out on the simple blessings. I am not one to open up personally on a blog, I never have been. Maybe it's because people will start to notice my feelings. Not sure if I'd like this. I have much to be thankful for this holiday season my friends. We will be holding Thanksgiving at our place for the first time ever!! I am sooooooo excited, and yes I want everything to look perfect. But if it doesn't, I suppose it's okay ~;o) Where are you having Thanksgiving at this year? Will you be making something special? Will you be cooking a huge feast, or ordering your meal? Maybe you'll make a non-tradional meal? Whatever it is, save me a piece, kidding ~;o) So yes, tell me all about it! I'd love to hear ~:o) I would like to wish all my family and friends a very safe and blessed Thanksgiving Day! I am sending these wishes to you a little bit early....as I and you both know tomorrow will be a busy day for all of us. May you savor every beautiful moment of it, and let us not forget to thank the Lord our God for the many blessings he has provided each and everyone of us with this year!

‎"The joy of enjoying and the fullness of living, are found in the heart that is filled with Thanksgiving." ~Helen Steiner Rice

Mosaic Collage in post is courtesy of Flickr.com

We Have a New Fan Page!

2010-10-22T12:20:00.009-04:00

Have you seen our new facebook fan page yet?

Our etsy paper shop Southern Bliss has a new fan page!!

Become a fan today and follow us on facebook for sneak peeks, give aways, and more!! See ya there!!

www.facebook.com/southernbliss

BJ Reece...a U-Pick Farm!

2010-10-13T19:34:00.019-04:00

During our stay in the Ellijays we visited our very first u-pick farm!! Fyi, Ellijay is the land of apple orchards people!! There are many to choose from! We chose to visit BJ Reece Apple Orchards!! Most of the u-pick apple orchards in the area are Saturday/Sunday only, BJ Reece's u-pick is open daily though. They also have a store filled with, ready to buy apples, fried apple pies, apple cider and slushies, honey, maple syrup, and so much more!! They even have a bee observation and a petting farm!!

The Apple Orchards.....

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings. ~Psalm 17:8

Bumble bee was just fascinated with these bright red tasty treats ~;o)

To God who gives our daily bread a thankful song we raise, and pray that he who sends us food may fill our hearts with praise. ~Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)

Thank you BJ Reece for such a wonderful experience!! Your apples are amazing!!

Confession.....

2010-10-08T20:16:00.017-04:00

we've been on vacation.....

we have been away for the week enjoying and exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Ellijays, and Chattanooga!! During our time away we did A LOT of this.....

on a lot of these.....

and even across one of these!!!!

We picked tons of these.....

and ate at lots of these!!

There were lots.....

and lots.....

and lots of these around!!

We even rode through the Tennessee mountains on that.....

and this breath taking river was beside us for pretty much all 3 hours of the ride!!

Yup, we even went to one of these!! And we picked the prettiest and sweetest little pumpkin in the patch!! ~;o)

There are way too many beautiful pictures to post, but I will write a couple of more blogs about the trip and add a few more pictures again soon!! Until next time friends ~:o)

More Birthday Celebrations!!

2010-09-27T12:18:00.007-04:00

This week is my sweet Husband, father, and father-inlaw's birthday!! Yup, the boys!! So we decided to celebrate on Sunday!! We went to El Puerto for dinner, they have the best selection of meats ever!! The atmosphere is very bright and festive too!! You can find this great restaurant in Historic Ybor City. After dinner we headed back to our place for some homemade birthday cake!! Yup, I made another one. No complaints either ~;o) We had a fantastic day celebrating with family!! Happy Birthday to my sweetheart Emmanuel!! And happy birthday to my wonderful father and father-in-law!!

LOVE how this came out!!

You can find this cute little clown HERE.

Hope you all are having a fabulous week so far!! Cheerio for now ~;o)

a simple cotton tote.....

2010-09-19T21:19:00.007-04:00

.....so I tried my hand at making something new today, this was my first handmade tote. I had a lot of fun sewing this, I was going for a shabby/cottage style.....what do you think?

Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people. ~Colossians 3:23 (ISV)

Curly Ribbon Cake Picks

2010-09-12T20:01:00.009-04:00

Spruce up a plain cake with Curly Ribbon Cake Picks!! These are so easy to make and can be done in any color combination to match your party theme ~;o) All you need are twisties, curly ribbon and a pair of scissors....thats right just 3 items!! My kind of project, fast and simple ~;o)

Just cut your ribbon to desired length, curl each color on each side, place the twisty in the center of the curled ribbon and twist tightly into a straight line, all the way down....and tada!!! You have your sweet little cake embellishments!! Then just push them into the desired spot on your cake.

In this small 6" inch round smashcake that I made for Isabella, I created 4 Curly Ribbon Twisties for the cake, I added edible confetti sprinkles, and topped it off with a cute Mickey and Minnie Mouse character. My daughter absolutely LOVES Mickey Mouse!!

A close up of the details...

Btw, I found the Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters at Party City for 99 cents each! They have all kinds of different characters at dirt cheap prices. Happy Baking!!

A Birthday Celebration!

2010-09-07T21:58:00.008-04:00

Today is my baby girl's 1st Birthday!! We celebrated with family and friends this past weekend, and then took her to the zoo for the first time today!! We couldn't have asked for better weather!! I took over 481 pictures, way too many to post.....so here are bits in pieces of the festive atmosphere, and some of the lovely faces that attended ~;o)

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ~Psalm 139:14

Happy Birthday Isabella! Mommy loves you!!

2010-08-31T12:04:00.006-04:00

Downtown Tampa just got a little more kid-friendly! We recently visited Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and we were both really wowed by the new surroundings....

Baby's day out ~;o)

Love the angle of the city and the fountains in this picture....

There's the fountains for the children to cool off in, as well as the lighter mist fountains in the back of the park, the new playground, the riverwalk, and of course the new Glazer Children's Museum! I could go on of course ~;o) Have you visited Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park yet? Well worth it!

Halloween Punches are Here!!

2010-08-27T12:22:00.007-04:00

Planning a party for Halloween this Fall? Let us help you decorate with these fun new punchies just listed in the Shoppe!! These are great for scrapbooking, confetti for parties, embellishing cupcake toppers & treat bags and so much more!! Want to purchase some? Visit Southern Bliss on Etsy to find them!! See ya there!! ~:o)

it was another hot one....

2010-08-25T19:45:00.012-04:00

....so we put on our swimsuit, slathered on the sunscreen, grabbed a bag, threw in some diapers, a towel, a big sippy cup filled with ice cold water, and headed to the fountains to meet up with some friends ~:o)

This is Bella's really good friend Evie :)

Evie is a bit older than Bella. She keeps a watchful eye on her. Come back Bella!! ~;o)

We definitely know how to cool off! Bella threw a fit when we left the fountains, but became easily distracted by the playground shortly after ~;o)

We played and swung lots and lots.....

But then it was time to go home. We had a super day though!! How do you beat the heat?!

nature walk....

2010-08-17T13:07:00.014-04:00

.....we went back to Upper Tampa Bay Park on Sunday afternoon. If you will recall, we were there during the holidays a couple of years back in November when the park was decorated with beautiful Christmas lights!! Unfortunately the park no longer decorates for the holidays due to budget cuts ~:o( But it is still worth the visit, there is a boat ramp for launching canoes, a playground for the kids, several scenic nature trails, and an air conditioned indoor educational facility with real marine life aquariums, honey bees, and fossils of all sorts....the total cost to visit the park is $2.00 per vehicle. Here is a little bit of what we enjoyed on the nature walk....

This is a neat little park to visit if your a lover of nature and the great outdoors, and are in the Tampa vicinity! Perfect for the kids too!! Until next time darlings ~:o)

a little surprise.....

2010-08-11T20:07:00.008-04:00

Look at what we won!!

Pamela over at Pammydawn had a give away to win this adorable little pumpkin!! So I entered for fun and I won!! This is the first time I have ever won a give away!! And it fit her too!! I thought for sure we would have to put this away for next fall, I can't wait to pair this with some cute outfits for Fall!! I just L O V E the detailed stitching on this sweet little pumpkin!! Want one? Head over to her etsy shop where you can purchase this one and many other beautiful pieces that she offers.

Your work is amazing Pamela!! Thank you for having a give away!! We love our new little pumpkin clippy!! Thank you so much!!

New Picture Portraits!!

2010-08-07T22:30:00.005-04:00

Last week we took Isabella to JC Penny for picture portraits!! The last couple times we took her for portraits she cried! But this time she was a happy baby!! I was thrilled when JC Penny called me last night to tell me that they were in, so today I went and picked them up!! Here are a few favorites of my lovie....

I am one happy Mama!!

New in the shoppe....

2010-08-04T12:25:00.007-04:00

Happy August everyone!! I have added a few more items to my etsy store!!

(Elephants on Parade!!)

(Tropical Fish Mix!!)

These two items are both new to the shop!! They make great confetti for parties, showers, holidays, and so much more!! Love them both!! You too?! Psssst.....you can find them HERE....will be posting some Fall and Halloween punch outs pretty soon so be sure to check back often!! Until next time darlings ~;o)

on Sunday.......

2010-07-27T12:08:00.004-04:00

.......we went to Sarasota!! We first visited the Mote Aquarium, and then we took Isabella to Longboat Key Beach!! This was not her first time to the beach though. If you will recall back in November, we went to the Ruskin Seafood Festival, and then after that we went to Ruskin Beach. Bella was about 2 months old then and stayed in the travel system. But this time was her first time on the beach exploring!!

(First time in the water!)

(First time in the sand!)

Baby loves the beach!

New.....

2010-07-21T12:16:00.007-04:00

jumbo-sized paper die cuts in the shoppe!! These measure at around a generous 4" inches in height and width!! They are great for birthday and high chair banners, holiday garland, and so much more!!

Want some? Visit the {shoppe}!! I will be adding more jumbo-sized shapes to my store soon so please feel free to bookmark the shoppe: Southern Bliss and check back often!! Until next time darlings ~;o)

a little pool.

2010-07-12T12:43:00.012-04:00

it was just Bella and me for the first half of the weekend because daddy had to work a little overtime, soooooooo we decided to try out Isabella's new little pool!

we splashed.......

we tasted.......

and we played alot!!

We really LOVE our new little pool!! Thank you Grandma ~;o)

Hope your having a fantastic summer so far!! We are ~;o)

We are....

2010-07-10T16:37:00.005-04:00

venturing into something new and exciting.....
I am a little late in posting this, we are happy to announce that we recently launched our new website!! We are looking forward to this new adventure!! If you haven't already and would like to, become a fan!! Follow us on Facebook!! Like our new and beautiful logo? Visit KMarshPhotos on etsy for fabulous graphic designs, banners and more!!

Happy 4th of July!!

2010-07-04T23:27:00.007-04:00

We woke up to this.....

so we decided to go out for some breakfast.....

and then went to buy some of these.....

most of the day looked like this.....

but then things finally cleared up just in time for this.....

and this.....

and this!!

we had to save the sparklers for another day....

but all in all, we enjoyed a wonderful 4th of July Holiday!

We hope yours was just as wonderful! ~:o)

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Nunez!!

2010-06-11T20:19:00.003-04:00

I am very happy to announce that we tied the knot on Monday June 7, 2010!! We had a small and private ceremony followed by pictures and some yummy southern food!! This is a very joyous time for us and I can't begin to express how happy I am to be a wife and mama!!

Winter Park in the Spring ~:o)

2010-05-29T17:31:00.014-04:00

(Kraft Azalea Park and Gardens)

(One of the many reasons we love Florida)

We recently took a family outing to beautiful Winter Park, Florida!! I found out about this Diamond in the rough through the March/April edition of Victoria Bliss Magazine!! I was so thrilled when I found out that this area so close to where we live at was featured in one of my favorite magazines that I just had to visit!! There is plenty to do in this area just outside of Orlando. They have a Winter Park Canal tour ride, The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens, several stunning public parks, and a village of shops for the shopaholics ~;o) Well worth visiting if your in the Orlando vicinity.

On another unrelated subject, I am very happy to announce that my sweeheart and I have recently become engaged!! We will be getting married in about a week and I am going coo-coo with the last minute details!! We are both very excited!! Hoping to blog more as soon as everything settles down!! I am very excited about June and this summer!! Lots of fun things to look forward too!! Got any exciting plans for the summer? Going anywhere special? I'd love to hear!!

2010-05-15T21:40:00.006-04:00

I've been a bit behind on my blogging because I recently started back to work part time. I miss being a full time SAHM! We took a family trip to Mount Dora a few weeks back! Lovely area, here are a few pics of the highlights for your enjoyment! Keeping it short this time, cheerio darlings ~:o)

Historic Bok Tower Gardens

2010-04-24T22:08:00.008-04:00

We recently had the pleasure of visiting beautiful Bok Tower Gardens. What an overwhelmingly breathtaking place!! It reminded me of our visit to The Biltmore Estate during our Winter Vacation. There were just too many gorgeous pictures that I snapped to pick through and narrow things down. So I decided to condense them all into a slide show. This place is a must see if you haven't been yet, well worth the visit if your in the vicinity!! Enjoy the slide show ~:o)

New Camera Lens!! ~:o)

2010-04-11T13:37:00.002-04:00

This past Monday was my Birthday!! My sweetheart surprised me with a new lens for my camera!! It allows me to take close up pictures without disturbing the wildlife ~;o) Isn't this plump little duck just adorable?! We have a lot of them, turtles and squirrels that reside at our apartment complex. I snapped this one with the new lens!! LOVE it!! Can't wait to share more pictures again soon! Until next time darlings ~;o)

Happy Easter!!

2010-04-04T21:32:00.002-04:00

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter Sunday!!

Strawberry Festival 2010

2010-03-21T21:12:00.005-04:00

(My favorite Carnival junk food!!)

(Couldn't resist snapping a picture of these cute little bananas!!)

(The berries ~;o)

Finally got around to posting these pictures!! We went to the Strawberry Festival last week, on the last day of the festival. Don't go on the last day of any special fair or event friends, it was ridiculously crowded!! And for those of you shaking your head and thinking to yourself (rookie)....all I have to say to you is....."touche." Anyways, I was able to take lots of great pictures, the day was just beautiful!! Enjoy ~;o)

Pretty Scallops!!

2010-03-18T22:36:00.006-04:00

New Gorgeous patterns and colors, now in THE SHOPPE!! I just LOVE the way these turned out!! All of my scallops can be made into squares, circles, ovals, and rectangles. I can also make them in any size up to 4 1/4 inches depending on your choice of shape. These lovely scallops are just perfect for scrapbooking, gift tags, jewelry cards, party banners, party picks, and so much more!! Wanna purchase a set? Visit: www.southernbliss.etsy.com

Happy Wednesday!!

2010-03-17T14:58:00.007-04:00

What a perfect day for the park, beach and many other fun outdoor activities I could think of!! ~;o) Hope everyone is enjoying the SUNNY beautiful day out!!

A Day in Downtown, Tampa

2010-03-10T13:51:00.009-05:00

(Lykes Gaslight Park in Downtown, Tampa)

(Details of the Cascading Fountain.)

(I didn't even know about this fountain, what a refreshing surprise it was!)

(City Hall Downtown, Tampa.)

(Taking a break for some yummy Gourmet Pizza!)

(Bumble Bee, enjoying the warm weather.)

We took my dad out for pizza this past weekend in Downtown, Tampa. And we stumbled across a bonus!! Apparently the Gasparilla Art Fest was going on ~;o) I didn't bother to try and get pics of the vendors at their booths because I wasn't in the mood to ask them if I could or for being rejected, yes that happens sometimes ~;o) But I did manage to snap a couple of pictures in Old Downtown Tampa for your enjoyment! For those of you who share a love of photography, there are some excellent points of interest! Just be sure to start early and be prepared to make a day of it!! Until next time ~:o)

Getting so Big!! ~:o)

2010-03-10T13:16:00.005-05:00

My pretty baby is 6 months old now!! I can't believe how big she is getting!! And I can't begin to express how greatful and Blessed I am to be a mama to this happy and determined little one ~:o) She's my little princess, bumpkin, jellybean, and bumble bee just to name a few ~;o) Mama loves you Bella!

Spring Family Portraits 2010

2010-03-03T19:04:00.005-05:00

Hi family and friends! Yesterday we went and had our first family portraits taken! So very exciting (at least for me) and overwhelming!! Getting them both to take pictures is like pulling teeth! Little Bumble Bee does not like having picture portraits taken. Being that I take my Digital SLR with just about every place we go to, you'd think she would be use to the camera by now, ha ha -- wishful thinking on my part ~;o) What a struggle we had!! But, here they are, and all in all I am very satisfied with them ~:o) To view the whole portrait session, visit me at facebook, until next time darlings ~;o)

Waterfront Dining in St. Pete!!

2010-02-15T10:38:00.009-05:00

(Appetizer -- Lamb ribs -- YUM!!)

(The Pier in St. Pete, Florida.)

(We have plenty of these to go around~;o)

(The usual crowd, waiting for a free meal~;o)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day and got to spend it with someone special! Isabella spent the afternoon visiting with her Grandpa and Grandma while my sweetheart and I drove to "The Pier" for some waterfront dining at The Columbia Restaurant! There are several Columbia Restaurants here in Florida and I have visited two. My favorite of the two is in St. Petersburg. I love this one because of the view, it is surrounded by water. There are also many shops, an aquarium for the kids (and young at heart of course~;o) fishing, stunning parks, and of course the beach near by. Stop by for a visit sometime, well worth exploring~;o)

A Day at the Park!

2010-02-09T23:06:00.007-05:00

(Winter time in Medard Park, Florida.)

(Isabella, 5 months old! ~;o)

(First time in the swing, she LOVED it!)

(Orange Groves across the street from the park.)

We took Isabella to the park this past weekend. This was a new park for all of us, but it wasn't her first visit to one. She was however, able to sit in the swing for the first time! She just loved it!! She was distracted by pretty much everything from the other older children playing to the squirrels scampering up the trees!! It was fun to watch her happily kicking her little feet in the swing~;o) I have posted a couple of pictures of the Edward Medard Park above. This is a fantastic park to visit if you are in the Plant City vicinity! There are many MANY shelters for Birthday Parties, docks for boats and canoeing, an Equestrian center with horse back riding, camping grounds, nature trails, a lookout tower, and of course a playground. It appears to be a little slow during the winter days, but we look forward to visiting again perhaps in the spring and summer time. This is by far, certainly another Diamond in the Rough!! Until next time darlings ~:o)

Slow Start to the New Year....

2010-01-28T12:03:00.014-05:00

(Campbell's Covered Bridge, Built in 1909)

(We don't see this in Florida, AMAZING!!)

(Asheville, North Carolina. A Winter Wonderland!)

(On top of Cesar Head Mountain, 3200 feet high. Loved all those little homes clustered along the mountain!!)

(There were lots of these too~;o)

(And as always, a little bit of History~;o)

(I want to go back in the Spring and see this when everything is in BLOOM!)

(We spent our Christmas Eve at The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. Just beautiful!!)

(Our little Snow Baby, all bundled up!! 3 Months old here.)

I'm a little behind on my blogging. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year's Day. As you can see, I'm off to a slow start so far, but it's okay~:o) Haven't really had the chance to blog since the Holidays till now!! I've missed blogging, it's my therapy and down time. A lot of family in and out of town and we have been sick for the past couple of weeks. Isabella got her first cold, and a yucky one. So we've been doing double time over here. She is doing much better though and we are so Thankful for this. Well we spent our Christmas in the Carolinas!! Greenville and Asheville to be exact. It is always a wonderful thing to go out of town and see new beautiful places~:o) At first I was thinking Charleston (In LOVE with this place!!) But we stayed closer to the mountains. And it was so worth seeing!! So very different from seeing the Charleston area during last summer's Baby Moon!! ~;o) This was one of my Christmas presents from Emmanuel~:o) My sweetheart (blushes) ~:o) I am almost convinced that I could take a trip to the Carolinas once a year and never get bored! I almost think I could move to Charleston, if Daddyo said "Lets Go!" Not quite confident yet, but almost there~;o) Here are some pictures of our Winter Vacation and here is another more recent one of Bella, my little Kewpie Baby!! She is 4 months old in this picture. Until next time darlings~:o)

Baby Shower!

2009-12-14T14:35:00.006-05:00

(I just adore this little Kewpie Baby!! It reminds me of my own~;o)

(All in the details baby.....~;o)

(A beautiful diaper cake, handmade by the Grandma-to-be!)

(And of course the mama-to-be and I stop for a pose~;o)

(Yes, even "You know who" joined in on the festivities~;o)

Yup, still catching up on my blogging~;o) So this past Saturday I went to my good friend Iris's Baby shower!! She will be a first time mama like me! Her shower was just lovely!! And of course I jumped at the wonderful opportunity to practice my amateur skills~;o) Family, friends, and great food!! What more could you ask for? Thanks for having me mama!! And enjoy this very, very special time!! It goes by so quick!! Until next time friends~:o)

A Visit to Santa~;o)

2009-12-14T14:15:00.004-05:00

We went to visit Santa a couple of weeks back! Mama has just been slacking on blogging and posting pictures~;o) She surprisingly did well! I expected her to have a melt down but apparently she hasn't hit the separation anxiety stage yet~;o) Which in return made for a great photo session with Baby and Santa~;o) So how did your kiddo's visit with Santa go? Comments are welcome, don't be shy! Send me a link to your blog with your Santa visit! I love to see new blogs and places!! Cheerio for now~:o)

Plant City Rib Fest 2009

2009-11-29T10:36:00.008-05:00

(Camellia Rose Tea Room)

(The best kind of fine china, oh the nostalgia!)

(She's such a little Ham~;o)

(Old Rustic Charm)

Last weekend we visited Plant City to attend their annual Rib Fest!! There must have been over 20 different vendors selling ribs to choose from!! I didn't get too many pictures of the festival because it was too crowded. However, after enjoying some yummy samples from several different booths, we made our way to the Historic District of Plant City. They have a good handful of antique shops in the area, a tea room, a nice little park, and a really neat railroad station. The homes in the historic district are well worth driving around to look at too. If you enjoy these things and your in the vicinity, check it out! Until next time~:o)

Ruskin Seafood Festival 2009

2009-11-22T21:23:00.011-05:00

(Picture courtesy of Daddyo~;o)

(Salt water marshes on the beach.)

(Yummy fried food!!)

(More serenity.....)

(A single palm tree graces the beach.)

(Isabella enjoying some fun in the sun~;o)

So we went to Ruskin a couple of weeks ago to attend their annual Seafood Festival. It is actually a lovely little family friendly, recreational area! To my surprise, it was right by the beach and E. G. Simmons Park! The park kind of reminds me of Picnic Island only better~:o) It was a busy festival! Some of the activities included: Various artsy vendors, moon walks, games, the Mote Aquarium and some of their fantastic sea animals, a live karaoke band, multiple raffles, and the food of course~;o) And the beach was a bonus!! If your in the area and looking for a diamond in the rough, visit E.G Simmons Park and Beach in Ruskin, Florida. Until next time friends~;o)

Tarpon Springs November 2009

2009-11-12T13:33:00.007-05:00

(I'm smiling lots now hee hee!!)

I absolutely LOVE Florida!! There are so many fun things to see and do!! All we need is more rain and a little bit of snow (which we never get) and this is one of the top ideal places in the US to reside~;o) That is at least I think so~;o) So we took Isabella to Tarpon Springs for the first time. She loved it!! Practically slept the whole time!! Have ya caught on to my sarcasm yet? "Yeah Rebecca, it was rather cheesy, just stick to the post and cute baby. Okay ya'll no problem he he~;o) This was another great opportunity to practice my amateur photography skills~;o) The sponge docks are always fun to visit here, they have a trolley that circulates around the vicinity, a park and a beach right up the road. If your in the area it is worth visiting. Wanna read more about this area? Click the orange link in the post, you can also click here. I thought I'd also post a new recent picture of Isabella, this was taken while in Tarpon Springs and she was about 8 weeks in the picture. We also went to Ruskin this past weekend, I will post pics of this in a new post soon!! Until next time friends~;o)

Fall Carnival

2009-11-05T12:52:00.006-05:00

So every October, St. Patrick's School holds their annual fall Carnival. I took advantage of the opportunity to practice my photography skills. No entry fees means free photos~;o) I think that carnivals, state fairs, and festivals hold many points of interest, so I was very excited about going~:o) I went towards the evening time when I took these, just around six o'clock. A little help from you professional natural lighting comrades out there please....when is the best time to shoot clear and beautiful pictures? When do you shoot? And finally, I have a Nikon D40, absolutely love it!! I want to get the bigger lens now: 18-200mm lens. Anyone know where the cheapest place to purchase this lens could be? Your feedback is most helpful. Until next time~:o)

HAPPY HARVEST!!

2009-10-31T10:02:00.009-04:00

(It's the Great Pumpkin!)

(Old Hyde Park Pumpkin Patch.)

(Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere!)

(My little Pumpkin!)

(She was the cutest in the patch, so we picked her~;o)

I'm a little late with these but, here they are! We took these pictures of Isabella in the pumpkin patch at Old Hyde Park Village a couple of weeks ago. She was six weeks old in the photos. I'm so glad we took them when we did. Unfortunately with the awful heat again in Florida this year, many of the Pumpkins rotted. I wish there was a pumpkin patch here in Florida where you could just cut them right off of the vine! That would be a lot of fun~:o) Yes I'm that easily amused folks!! It's the little things that get me~;o) I love pumpkin patches and this time of year is always extra fun! As I've said before, I love to see new beautiful places! Send me a link to your blog or site with your pumpkin patch outing, I'd love to see your pumpkin patch pictures! Wishing you all a Merry Halloween and a Happy Harvest!

Points of Interest....

2009-10-21T17:02:00.008-04:00

So I'm thinking of taking a couple of photography classes here in the Bay area, any suggestions? I really enjoy photography and have decided that I would like to learn more about taking better pictures. Does anyone know of any good sites on the web that I can visit to learn more in the mean time? Any links you post would be most helpful. The pictures posted above I snapped last weekend when we took Isabella to the pumpkin patch, I will post those pics soon too btw~;o) These were taken in {Old Hyde Park Village.} I am hoping to do some more practice photo shoots again soon. Keeping it short this time but will post again soon! Until next time~:o)

My Little Flower~;o)

2009-10-19T19:08:00.006-04:00

My pretty little baby is six weeks old already!! I can't believe it's already been a month since I had her!! She just started wearing her new size 0-3 months clothes now. It's so funny because before I had her everyone kept telling me not to buy that many clothes in size 0-3 months because she would grow out of them in a couple of weeks, but just now she can fit into them lol! I guess it's a good thing I had a couple of cutesy newborn outfits too~;o) I'm so excited to dress her in some new outfits! I've been alternating between about five different onesies!! We thought for sure that she would be a big baby since her mommy and daddy were both born weighing 9 lbs, and then on top of that me developing gestational diabetes during my pregnancy. So changing the subject, I just recently started to put these adorable little headband hair flowers on her, aren't they the cutest?!?! The headband is an interchangable one and comes from EmbroideryPoo on etsy! This seller is wonderful, she even sent me an extra interchangable headband, interested in one?? Check out her {Shop}! The hair flower comes from Little Keira's Bows on etsy! This seller has the most gorgeous hair flowers at the best prices!! Want some? Visit her {Shop}! Both of these products are beautiful, practical, and well worth the money! Until nextime friends~;o)

Surprise in the Refrigerator~;o)

2009-10-18T11:04:00.005-04:00

So I decided to surprise daddyo with a little something just because he's such a wonderful daddy~;o) Yummy German Chocolate Cake.....sprinkled with much {LOVE} on top!! I'm so pleased with the results~;o) Something simple, something sweet.

Time now for crafting news~;o) Need to get the creative juices flowing?? Here's some eye candy for ya! You can find these wonderful "Wordy Birdies" and "Chic Country Scallops" in my {SHOPPE}. Christmas is just around the corner!! Pick up these fun "Recycled Crayons" for the kids! They make great stocking stuffers!! Head on over to {Southern Bliss} today for more delightful craft items!! Until next time friends~:o)

My Newest Best Friends~;o)

2009-10-13T16:19:00.018-04:00

So these wonderful 3 items have made taking care of baby much easier these past several weeks~:o) If you are expecting your first baby soon or if you are looking for great gift ideas, I highly recommend any form of these items:

Bjorn Carrier (A must have for every new parent!!) Travel systems are the bomb, but when you don't need the extra bulk or you are trying to fit into smaller spaces at fun events, this is the problem solver~:o)
Evenflo Travel System (Great for walks in the park, shopping, and much more!!) Mine has a spot for baby wipes, cup holders for drinks, a very roomy basket below for diaper bag, purse, and shopping bags, and then there is this really cool secret compartment for cell phone, wallet, and keys, love it!! Very afordable too!
Fisher Price Swing (Great for when you need a break~;o) Mine is the Tropical Rain Forest style. It plays music, makes nature sounds, and has a mobile for entertaining. Isabella LOVES hers~;o)

There ya have it new parents and parents to be!! So tell me alumni.....what are your favorites?? I'm all ears~;o)

Hyde Park Arts and Crafts Festival

2009-10-11T11:02:00.014-04:00

(Vending booths stretch around the corner filled with many different treasures.)

(The Krewe of South Shore Marauders)

(One of many goodies sold by the Krewe volunteers to help support Locks of Love.)

(Yup, even Pottery Barn Kids joined in on the festivities~;o)

(Want one of these? Visit your local PBK stores.)

(Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Booth.)

(Holy Cow Kettle Corn snack booth.)

So we finally took the baby out on her first official outing last weekend and did I remember to get a picture of her? Of course not, I forgot. Where on earth was my brain at the moment? (Please don't answer that.) So we went to the annual Hyde Park Arts and Crafts Festival and stayed for about two hours. Baby was a VERY GOOD shopper too! I could get use to this~;o) Fall is definitely here as all of the local festivals, craft fairs, and pumpkin patches are in full swing. I just LOVE this time of year! So much to look forward to and so many family friendly activities!! I absolutley LOVE these kind of festivals because they always have so many interesting activities going on, (not to mention they are free fun for the family too~;o) Some of the highlights there included: Locks of Love and The Krewe of South Shore Marauders selling many yummy goodies to help support a good cause, Pottery Barn Kids Halloween Costumes, Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine, Holy Cow Kettle Corn (Very YUMMY popcorn btw, check out their site if you are interested in purchasing from them: http://holycowkettlecorn.com/index.php) and various vendors selling their beautiful handmade items. And finally, a word to the wise for all the new moms out there: Travel systems and vending booths just don't mix well. Save yourself the trouble on these types of outings and invest in an infant carrier. What, you already knew this?? Well why didn't you share this wonderful secret with me?? Thanks to my wonderful mom, I finally have one now. These carriers are the best thing since ziploc bags!! Thats all for now friends, until next time~;o)

Busy Days....

2009-09-28T14:18:00.003-04:00

(Doing laundry and diapers.)

(A little bit of this.)

(And a lot of that.)

(Isabella at 2 weeks and 6 days~:o)

I just {LOVE} this pretty little BABY to pieces!! And boy has she sure kept us on our toes!! Not much time for anything else between bottles and trying to catch some zzzzzzz while "You know who" is sleeping~;o) Nothing new to you guys though right~;o) Yes we are both very exhausted, but it is so worth it right now!! Isabella will be a month old in about a week. And I am so looking forward to the holidays!! We want to take her to her first pumpkin patch and get pictures~:o) Hey btw Tampa folk, know of any good patches around the vicinity? Please do share them with me. I found a couple already thanks to a good friend of mine, but the more the merrier! And if you aren't in the area maybe you could post a link to the pumpkin patches where you live. It's always fun to see new beautiful places!! I'm keeping it short this time because I am behind on some things that need to be done around the house, but I just wanted to drop in to update you and also to say Hi and let you know I haven't forgotten about you and my fellow blogger friends of course, I will post more picture of baby again soon to keep you coming back though~;o) Until next time friends!

Isabella Grace

2009-09-08T21:22:00.005-04:00

I spent my Labor Day in labor~;o) It was 12 hrs. of labor all together. And at 10:35 am on September 7th 2009, I gave birth to Lovely Isabella Grace! There are no words to describe how much we love her! She fills our hearts with love and joy!

New Reading and a Tutu~:o)

2009-09-03T12:58:00.005-04:00

So I was at Wal-Mart a while back doing some light shopping for some things we needed around the house. I always love to go past the magazine racks to see what's new. Well I stumbled upon a new read that I really enjoyed! This magazine reminds me of a Christian based/Martha Stewart type of reading material! A different perspective on decorating, crafts, cooking, money, and it also talks about the family too! I'm not sure how long it's been out for but I can't wait for the Fall issue!! Just thought I'd share this wonderful new reading magazine with you all~:o) If you should happen to come across one, it is well worth the read~:o)

In crafting news I finally completed my first Tutu a couple of weeks ago!! I have been meaning to post pictures of it but have been a little busy trying to balance things out around the house lately. What a tedious chore it was to complete this!! So worth it though! Hope it fits you know who when the time comes to try it on her~;o) I went by a sizing chart and this should fit a size 3-6 months. Doesn't appear to look it though lol, we'll see!! I thought these colors were just lovely for the Fall season! I really enjoyed making this too, it beats paying those outrageous boutique prices. I'm thinking of making some more, but then I have about a dozen other ideas swarming around in my head too right now~;o) Yes, crafting is my addiction. I know there are more of you out there who suffer from this wonderful addiction as well! So then share with me, what is your crafting addiction? I'd love to hear~:o)

Just Listed....

2009-08-31T21:40:00.008-04:00

(Kitchen Gift Tags)

(Autumn Maple Leaf Die-Cuts)

(Nine Months Preggers~;o)

I listed a few items at my etsy shop today! Trying to stay busy while waiting for you know who to arrive~;o) Still working on the kitchen gift tags, but if you are interested in the fall leaves feel free to take a peek in the shop: Southern Bliss I am hoping to add a few more different varieties soon too!! I also added an updated picture of the baby bump, enjoy! Until next time friends~;o)

The Nursery~:o)

2009-08-28T14:02:00.003-04:00

(One of many lovely gifts we were showered with~:o)

(Changing Table/Dresser)

(I think she already has more clothes than me now.)

(Rocker/Glider.)

(A little library/play station.)

(We purchased her crib from Ikea.)

Well, the nursery is finally complete! That is, for now atleast~;o) I wanted to go with a COTTAGE CHIC look and I think I achieved it!! I would like to add some more pictures, perhaps a bunting, and a handmade mobile. It's a work in progress, stay tuned~;o)

Caladesi and Honeymoon Islands

2009-08-02T09:31:00.011-04:00

(The Ferry to Caladesi Island)

(Sand Dunes on Honeymoon Island)

(A pose by the Sand Dunes~;o)

(Serenity)

(Love the way these Kayaks were tossed upon the deck.)

(Caladesi Island Beach)

(One of the local residents of Honeymoon Island)

(Boat ride back)

(I really like the boat on this Sundial.)

We went out of town for the day to visit Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands. At first it rained when we got there for about a half hour. I was bummed out, but after that the day turned out rather beautiful! I was able to get a couple of great shots in, and Caladesi was filled with many beautiful shells! This time I made sure I brought a ziploc bag for them. Who ever invented those was a genius and a lifesaver!! If you'll recall last time when we went to Egmont Key late in November of last year, I had to use my hat. Caladesi and honeymoon Islands are definitely worth visiting, though I will say this, Egmont Key has been my favorite Island to visit so far. It costs $8 per vehicle to get onto Honeymoon Island, and the ferry to get to Caladesi is $10 per person round trip. Not bad compared to a theme park friends~;o) Some of the highlights include cafes on both beaches, a dog beach, kayaking, biking, a playground for the kiddos, wildlife nature trails, shelling, and of course the water! Enjoy the pictures and until next time friends~:o)

Maternity Portrait Studio Session

2009-07-21T20:22:00.008-04:00

Hi Family and Friends, we're pretty much moved in now we just need to get the boxes out and put things in the right place! It has been such a busy past two weeks for us with moving, the baby shower, and pictures! Here are a couple of photos from our recent portrait session. I'm keeping it short this time but will keep you updated with the new place! Until next time darlings~:o)

2009-07-09T21:04:00.004-04:00

Hi family and friends! I hope everyone had a safe, fun, and relaxing 4th of July holiday~:o) Sorry I haven't been on lately. We are in the process of moving and there are boxes everywhere. Looking forward to putting some recent purchases to use soon though! I went to Ikea a couple of weeks ago and purchased some really cool items for organizing the home. I LOVE IKEA! I will be sure to keep you updated. Check back soon!

Savannah and Charleston Highlights

2009-06-18T22:24:00.008-04:00

I could have added so many more pictures from the trip to this post. I must have taken over five hundred! So as you can see, I had to REALLY narrow it down a bit~;o) To see them all, visit my facebook page. Wow where to begin....most of what we visited was all historical, which I love. This way I can put a short story with a picture. This was a truly amazing little vacation we took. And my ankles only managed to swell up twice during the entire trip! Twice and only twice so far, I want to keep it that way! Word to the wise fellow pregger friends. While touring other cities during vacation, don't go gallivanting all around town in sandals. And for those of you who already knew this (which would probably account for about 98% of you) why didn't y'all warn me?! So we were in Savannah for six days and Charleston for one. Yep, that's right. We made a surprise visit there instead of Hilton Head Island, it was a last minute change of plans so sorry to say that there are no beach pictures this time. Although we did manage to squeeze a couple of lighthouse pictures in. We toured a lot of Savannah, and we did this by foot pretty much most of the the time. But everything was close in and there was much to see and visit so it was well worth the walk, and exercise~;o) We were up at the crack of dawn practically every morning and back at around 8pm almost every evening. Long days for us yet we still didn't manage to squeeze everything that we wanted to see in. But for the most part we did very well and now we have an excellent excuse to go back~;o) Although I do have to say, after visiting one would hardly need to come up with an excuse for visiting, the scenery alone is enough! Some of the grand highlights of our vacation included: A trolley tour, City Market, the 22 Historical District Squares, Tybee Island Lighthouse, Fort Pulaski, the Cockspur Lighthouse, Wormsloe Plantation, the Lady and Sons Restaurant, southern food, and blueberry picking! It is good to be back, though I will say after seeing Charleston, we almost wanted to move there! Enjoy the pictures~:o)

A visit with the locals.....

2009-06-15T16:40:00.025-04:00

While at the market in Savannah we visited the second floor expecting to see more shops but instead got a bonus! Several of the locals rent a decent sized work studio on this floor. Some of these type of studios include: jewelry, knitting, and painting. We were lucky to run into Derek Larson of Addikt Space Studios. Derek and his friend Kyle Stavella, are both graduates of The Savannah College of Art and Design or (SCAD). Their studio is located in The City Market at the intersection of Jefferson and w. St. Julian St. on the second floor. Some of their work in includes various forms of painting, and unique digital comic strip art on vintage window panes.

When we planned our trip to Savannah I made certain to squeeze some time in to visit Wormsloe's Historic Site! Oaks trees stretch for about a mile before reaching the historic ruins and their museum (which by the way is filled with all kinds of reasonably priced treasures.) The staff was extremely helpful and friendly too! If your heading into Savannah, this is a must see! A special thank you goes out to Thomas and Kathy for making our visit an extra comfortable one!

Before heading into Charleston, we were fortunate to stumble across Champney's Farm. One of the highlights of this farm is their blueberry bushes run by John and his daughter Cameron. Very friendly and helpful people, they give you the option of purchasing blueberries right off the table, or grabbing a bucket and picking them on your own. And if your lucky, you might get to see their cute new puppy Isabel! They are located in Ravenel, SC 29470. If you are interested in purchasing from them they can be reached at (843) 763-6564.

As we were on our way to the visitor's center in Charleston, we came across a jolly bunch of men who were so kind to let me snap a photo of them~:o) The Charleston Fire Department has to be one of the kindest crew I've ever met. If your in their neck of the woods your sure to get a friendly "hi" from them~:o) Their station dates back to 1882. Thats about all for now friends, my next post will include highlights of our visit in both cities, stay tuned!

Were back from vacation.....

2009-06-14T23:18:00.008-04:00

We are back from our vacation to Savannah! I am exhausted yet completely satisfied!! We even made a surprise stop in Charleston, SC! I will post pictures of some of the locals and also some of the historical and scenic areas as well as soon as I can.

In crafting news I made this lovely name bracelet for a friend's little girl who just turned 3 years old! If you are interested in one you can find them in my etsy shop: Studio Bebe. Until next time darlings~:o)

Going out of Town.....

2009-06-08T18:04:00.004-04:00

I am just about finished packing for our trip to Savannah, I'm so excited!! We will be away starting tomorrow through Sunday. I will have my laptop with though so I won't be without email. I can't wait to get pictures of Savannah and her beaches!! I look forward to sharing them with you too! For now let me leave you with the craft of the day, at least I think so. I am always having trouble with ideas for Father's Day. Thanks to a dear friend from work I won't have any problems finding the perfect card for my Dad and Daddyo~;o) I hand made these cute little Father's Day cards from scrapbooking card stock and some buttons!! I am hoping to put some of these into the little shop soon! They also make great Birthday cards for those special guys in your life! Keep an eye out for them in my Southern Bliss etsy store! Cheerio for now friends~:o)

Some Fun Splurging.....

2009-06-04T18:42:00.004-04:00

Well we know where I have been spending my money at lately~;o) I purchased a couple of fun little toys for the baby and everything was so beautifully presented and reasonably priced! I LOVE etsy!! The top are some soft and sweet shabby chic baby blocks by MoreCookiesPlease. The next is a baby journal handmade from a little golden book by thishandmadelife. And finally these adorable little handstitched felt animal cookies by DaisyDaydreams. Want your own? Be sure to checkout their shops to see what other goodies they have! Until next time friends~:o)

The Zoo, Sulphur Springs, and UT.....

2009-05-30T13:46:00.006-04:00

(One of my favorite zoo animals~:o)

(Baby hippo and mama)

(Diamond in the Rough)

(Sulphur Springs Water Tower)

(University of Tampa Structure)

(A look inside the school)

(Five months pregnant~:o)

We went to Lowery Park Zoo, Sulphur Springs, and the University of Tampa a couple of weekends ago. I have been meaning to post the pictures and have just now finally gotten around to doing it! I also had a little fun and added a picture of me finally sporting a baby bump~;o) I find I am moving slower these days with a bigger belly too! Savannah should be interesting, yes we booked the hotel~:o) I am so excited! I'm really looking forward to a relaxing vacation, I am also looking forward to taking lots of pictures and sharing them with you soon!! Until next time~:o)

Babymoon in Savannah?

2009-05-14T14:10:00.009-04:00

We are trying to plan a little summer vacation getaway to sweet Savannah, Georgia! Key word here, "trying." We didn't wanna wait too long before going only because of my pregnancy and not quite knowing what the third trimester will be like. No hints at what it's like either please. I've already had my fill without even asking. So we are hoping to go in mid June. One writer suggests it to be a babymoon. I'm still trying to figure out what one of those are myself, all I know is that it has to do with being pregnant, taking a vacation, and a spa being thrown into the mix somewhere. Sounds good to me! Although the spa part is highly unlikely at this time, it's okay, I can pretend. I'll keep you posted on Savannah though~;o) As for the tissue paper flowers above: inspiration. So where are you going this summer?

Sugar and Spice.....

2009-05-01T14:00:00.009-04:00

Hi Family and Friends, I went to my first sonogram this past Tuesday, and according to them, I am having a Girl!! I thought for sure it would be a Boy because everyone kept saying that I am having one, so unless the machine made a mistake, it is a Girl! Please do continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers for a safe and healthy pregnancy and a safe and healthy delivery. I would be forever grateful. In the meantime, I have been trying to keep my mind occupied with pretty thoughts. Here are a couple of things I splurged on, all can be found at etsy.com~:o) Like em? The top picture is a tutorial guide to making tutus you can purchase one at: Bella Symphony Studio. The next is a lovely pink toile tote, they are very reasonably priced and can be found at: Pint Size Home. The third (also reasonably priced) is a take along burp cloth/changing pad by: Blue Jean Jess's. The last is a chic little flower headband which can be found at: Banner Boutique on Etsy. Have fun shopping! Cheerio for now~;o)

Epcot Birthday Pictures

2009-04-09T09:33:00.003-04:00

As promised, here are some highlights of my Birthday spent at Epcot! Sorry for the short post, but I have the day off and am off to enjoy it~;o) Until next time!

YUM!

2009-04-07T10:52:00.011-04:00

This is one of the many sweets I received for my 30th Birthday!! One of the children in my class told her mommy that it was my Birthday and that she wanted to surprise me with cookies! So her sweet mommy brought in Nestle Toll House cookies for the whole class, and she had one especially decorated for me! It was too beautiful to eat without getting a picture~;o) A special Thank you to Emily and her mommy Melissa for spoiling me on my day!! My actual Birthday was this past Sunday and we spent the day in Orlando Florida at Epcot! I will post pictures soon!

And I have been wanting to mention this one sooner but have been hesitant because of other circumstances. We are expecting a baby sometime this September. We are very excited and nervous! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for a smooth pregnancy and delivery and I will do my best to keep you posted~:o) Until next time friends~:o)

Macdill Airfest 2009

2009-04-01T13:23:00.005-04:00

I was coaxed into going to the Airfest. Don't ask! Although you are probably wondering: "What's so bad about going?" Well....I do not live to far from the Base so I have had the opportunity to attend the fest a few times already. Not my cup of tea. If I had it my way, we would have gone to Ellington outlet to shoppe the whole day instead. The only thing that kept me entertained was taking pictures. You know me~;o) So yes, the boyfriend talked me into going. In return, I got a scathing sunburn on the back of my legs, an enormous bug bite (oh you have no idea), and a handful of beautiful photos to remember it by. I posted a couple for your viewing enjoyment~;o) Until next time!

It's Almost Here!

2009-03-11T19:14:00.004-04:00

(We ate here.)

(My signature favorite.)

(The locals kept us company while waiting for our meal!)

(Longboat Key Beach.)

We went out of town for the day on Sunday. We ended up going to Venice Beach, (by accident~;o) Jungle Gardens in Sarasota, and beautiful Longboat Key Beach! We had lunch by the water. I wanna move to Sarasota lol! I thought I'd share a couple of pictures I took while we were there. I am so glad that it is almost spring! I can't wait to wear shorts, skirts, and sandals again!

A Solution.....

2009-03-07T16:42:00.008-05:00

In order to comply with the CPSIA standards, I have made a couple of changes to my baby and children's jewelry line. After much consideration and thought, I have decided to swap out the Swarovski Crystals that I use in my girls and baby bracelets, to Fire Polished Czech Glass instead. I am very pleased to announce that they are lead free! (NOTE: I will still use Genuine Swarovski Crystals, but only at buyer's request, the amount I use is less than a gram and safe.) I was fortunate to find a couple of suppliers that carry these beauties so now I will be offering them in my etsy shoppe! Look for them soon! In addition to this change, all of my beautiful bracelets will be made with Freshwater pearls instead of Swarovski Pearls because of the fact that Freshwater Pearls are natural. All Sterling Silver findings will remain the same. These following changes DO NOT apply to my teens and Ladies Jewelry collection. I am looking forward to sharing my new baby and children's collection soon!

In other creative news, I purchased a generous handful of these sweet vintage baby announcements and shower invitation cards on ebay! Aren't they just darling?! I can't wait to put these to use!! Time to get the creative juices flowing~;o) Any ideas? Please do share them!

My Pretty New Totes!!

2009-03-07T15:27:00.013-05:00

I am so excited! I just purchased two of the prettiest totes I have ever seen! I love my taste~;o) I can't wait to receive these beauties!! If you will look in the top picture posting, you will see the ones I purchased. The ones I chose were the aqua with red roses (on the left) and the white with light blue roses (one on the right). These totes are just wonderful for taking along to flea markets, the post office, the beach, diapers, your laptop, and so much more! Want one or two for yourself? Visit Ginger Louise Clothing at etsy to purchase one! Laura also makes beautiful skirts, dresses, hair accessories, and many other gorgeous pieces as well. I have also pictured a couple of more items you can find in her darling little shoppe!! Love shabby chic and country style too?! Then take a peek! Until next time friends~;o)

A little Motivation.....

2009-02-12T18:59:00.013-05:00

Never have I been so excited about SPRING and SUMMER! This Winter beat me up good! I got sick two times and my immune system has been rather weak now because of this. The colder than usual air certainly didn't help things either. So finally, after a few months of hiatus, I decided to create something. Yes I have been depressed and sick, like a walking dead man. Unmotivated, the creative juices are sucked dry, I don't even know where they went. Although these clippies didn't really require too much effort and thought, it was a start for me to "do something" again. I am happy with the way they came out. I think they are pretty. I used a thicker ribbon just to try something different and I like it, I think I will continue to use this new length as well. I will try to make more beautiful things, I think I need to so I will push myself to, it truly is therapy for me. Perhaps the beauty of spring will cheer me up and bring more life into me, we'll see. At least the air will be a little bit easier to breath! Fresh new life, the warm sunshine, State Fairs and Festivals, just the thought of these brightens my mood!

A Cold and Crisp January Day

2009-01-21T19:40:00.008-05:00

(Downtown Tampa is just between those two trees)

Sorry I have been MIA for the past couple of weeks. I've been very busy trying to get so many things organized. I was on my way to sign up at a local gym this evening and made a quick pit stop for my camera. The gym is by the park so I took a couple of pictures at around five this evening. Yes this park is "Down By the Bay" like the kids song (hence the reason there is so much water in the pics)~;o) What an extremely frigid day it was today! My hands went numb after a couple of snapshots! I really enjoyed this quiet time to myself. Life can get rough at times. Then there are those truly magical moments where you run into familiar friendly faces. You know, when the room is busy with chatter, and your just stopping to take it all in, then a pair of eyes glance up and the chatter becomes faded until it comes to a full stop that lasts almost half a minute. And then this incredibly huge smile comes across their face that words can't even express. What joyous and rare moments to lose yourself in...

My First Handsewn Baby Blanket!

2009-01-07T22:32:00.007-05:00

Practice makes perfect right? Well after practicing quite a few squares (which eventually became coasters) and place mats, I decided to kick things up a notch and sew a blanket. Today I sewed my first double-sided flannel baby blanket and I think I'm hooked! I am thinking about adding some satin trim to this receiving blanket too so we'll see~;o) Although I am clearly still amateur, I plan on making more of these. Stay tuned!

A Placemat and some fabric squares.

2009-01-04T22:35:00.007-05:00

I tried to make a handmade mini tote out of the lovely fabric squares shown at the top, but it didn't turn out that well. Guess the next pair will be made into coasters~;o) I really love the way my double-sided placemat came out though, I think I'm going to make a whole set using Michael Miller fabric~:o) The pictures came out real light for some reason this time, I took these in the evening and will try and take them in natural lighting next time so that they come out better. I also sewed some practice squares using some baby flannel fabric, I made a little doll pillow using the same fabric, I'll try to list pictures soon. I LOVE SEWING!!!!! I love my new mania~;o) Stay tuned!

A Little Pin Cushion

2009-01-02T21:38:00.003-05:00

(I think I'm addicted...this wasn't even the hint~;o)

I call her Betty.....

2009-01-02T18:56:00.008-05:00

(Blackberry and Strawberry Tart)

No not the tart, that would be the sewing machine lol~;o) I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years Day celebrating with family and friends! I spent the day cleaning shop to make room for one of my new best friends! So then today after waiting for a week, I went to Walmart and got my new sewing machine! Complete with how to cd and everything! I actually surprised myself at how quickly I was able to thread the bobbin and all that good stuff...I was able to even sew a couple of things! A tote strap and in the picture above, a little pouch with roses on it! Although both came out totally amateur, I was just thrilled to be able to work the thing! I have a couple of works in progress and I'll drop ya'll a hint soon~;o) For those of you wondering how the tart fits into this post I just thought I'd share with you what I recently baked for our company New Years Eve potluck. My blackberry and strawberry tart was a huge hit at our luncheon! Want the recipe? CLICK HERE. Until next time darlings~:o)

CRAFT SALE!

2008-12-29T23:00:00.004-05:00

I am having a sale at my NEW etsy shop! Visit my Southern Bliss Etsy Store for some fantastic deals on all my destash items! Here are some of the items you can find there. Get em' while they're hot! http://www.southernbliss.etsy.com/

Seasons Greetings

2008-12-28T20:48:00.008-05:00

Seasons Greetings! I finally had my camera on me to take pictures of some Christmas lights! I still have a lot to learn about this camera though. I am in the process of purchasing another lens for my new camera. The new lens would allow me close ups for better detail in my photos. I am in search of the 55mm-200mm VR. Anyone know where I can find this one new at a cheap price? I'm all ears~;o) So we went to the new Wesley Chapel Mall in Pasco County to see their Musical Christmas Lights display. I am really impressed with this new Mall! The best way for me to describe it: a mix between International Plaza Mall and Ellington Outlet. Why you may ask? Well it has many of the same shops that International Mall has (Macys, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, etc.) but the outdoor shopping atmosphere and structure is similar to Ellington. Fantastic Mall! If your in the vicinity check it out~;o) In other "Winter Cleaning" news, I decided to clear out old inventory this weekend to make room for some more storage cases for my studio. I want to be able to have a clear table for my much anticipated new friend! After much thought, I have decided to finally purchase a sewing machine! More details in 2009~;o) Stay tuned!

Christmas Baking

2008-12-23T13:34:00.003-05:00

A busy day of baking, baking, baking! I just finished seven jars of homemade caramel sauce. Now I am getting ready to make a pineapple cake! Fortunately I have only had to go into work this week for about a couple of hours a day. This has really helped me to catch up on things. I am certainly looking forward to some down time though so that I can relax and enjoy stitching a few new sets of cookies~;o) And finally, I did decide to have a quiet grand opening of my new etsy store last night. Please stop in for a visit when you get a chance: http://southernbliss.etsy.com I hope you all are enjoying the Holidays! Until next time!

More Cookies!

2008-12-19T23:17:00.007-05:00

I'm getting good at this~;o) Time to change these up a bit. Perhaps some scallops, hearts, and other lovely embellishments? We'll see~;o) Stay tuned!

A Midnight Snack~;o)

2008-12-19T00:21:00.011-05:00

It is way past my bedtime and I should be sleeping but I just couldn't resist! The creativity juices are kickin in at high speed and I just had to share! Although I'm sure that pretty much the rest of the southeast is in a lovely little slumber right now. (insert giggle) I saw a cute little pink felt sprinkle cookie on etsy and thought about purchasing it. Then I remembered the oodles of felt I bought during the summer and a light bulb went on in my head. Why let it go to waste right?! For those of you shaking your heads at me right now please realize I'm half awake~;o) What a time to get inspired huh!? Happens to me all the time. So anyways I plan on adding these into the new shop too.....yes that would be the one that I still haven't added anything into yet. I will most likely open it sometime in January after the holidays, until then stay tuned!

Tampa Bay Brewing Company

2008-12-14T21:13:00.013-05:00

I chose a Burger and Fries.....

I should have chosen Shepherds Pie.

( Practicing my amateur skills with Miss Lilac)

Snugglebear and I met up for dinner with My Brother (The Smiler) and his Wife (AJ) at Tampa Bay Brewing Company this evening. This was our small way of celebrating Christmas together~:o) Because it is so hard to try and visit everyone on Christmas day, we meet a couple of weeks sooner. This was also another great excuse for me to bring along my new slr digital and test my skills~;o) I am most pleased with the results. Snugglebear surprised me with a Camera Bag complete with a CD video on how to use my new Nikon! This video saved me the hassle and struggle of trying to figure out the directions in the manuel. I am a hands on learner when it comes to electronics people~;o) The video made my practice this evening easy as pie! The last picture shown I took yesterday evening and is a random one of Lilac, a.k.a. "The Pterodactyl." She is a feisty little Amazon Parrot in these parts, but to my surprise, she is quite "The Ham" in front of the camera.

My New Camera!

2008-12-10T18:07:00.007-05:00

(Photo Courtesy of: Ken Rockwell)

I took this from across the street.

This camera even lets me get close ups of these little guys~;o)

I love this new camera!

I am so excited! My new camera finally came in the mail! As you can see I didn't waste anytime trying it out~;o) So I drove to Hyde Park this afternoon and decided to put my amateur skills to use~;o) I probably took about a total of around 40 pictures. As you can see I have alot more practicing that needs to be done! I am thinking about taking a couple of photography classes too, I need all the pointers I can get! In the mean time here are a couple of my first attempts with this new camera. Until next time darlings!

Retro Flourish Tags

2008-12-04T18:01:00.005-05:00

Good evening Friends! Just checking in to say hello and also share my newest tags with you! I REALLY LOVE the way these turned out! They remind me of a kitschy kitchen~;o) These are great for scrapbooking and embellishing gifts with! I will be adding them to the Southern Bliss etsy store soon! Yes the same store I have been mentioning for the past two month but not listed anything in yet~;o) I miss working my old part-time hours *insert sigh* I am hoping to create and post some more fun color scheme layered tags soon! Stay tuned!

Chic and Chenille~;o)

2008-12-01T19:56:00.004-05:00

Okay so now I am hooked on Chenille Pipe Cleaners! Aren't these chic little handmade {ornaments} just darling?!?! I had so much fun making them! The Candy Canes are so easy to make. Just take two 12 inch pipe cleaners and twist them together, then trim each end till the stick is about 9 inches and bend one side to a crook, and you have a sweet little candy cane! The Snow Flakes are a little bit more involved than the Candy Canes. Here are my instructions on how to make them:

Take three 12 inch white pipe cleaners and trim them all to about 6 1/2 inches.
Hold all three trimmed 6 1/2 inch pipe cleaners together and give them one to three good twists in the middle. (This will hold them together)
Now spread each stem apart.
Add 5 to 7 clear plastic beads on each stem. Be sure to curl each end with needle nose pliers or the tip of a pencil will work.
Add string or yarn to one of the snowflake tips by curling the tip of the pipe cleaner end around the string or yarn. Enjoy your snowflake ornament!

The Christmas Wreaths are the most time consuming ornaments to make so I will leave it for Martha to explain to you. To make them go here: Martha How to video These ornaments are so easy to make and are great for decorating the Christmas tree, gifts, and so much more.....enjoy!

Dinner on a Trolley

2008-11-30T19:56:00.022-05:00

I wonder how they got it into the restaurant??

We ate in here~:o)

This was our appetizer.....

( I had Fettuccine Alfredo~;o)

I guess we can say that I have become somewhat of a camera fanatic these days.....in a recent post I mentioned that I was in search of an upgrade. After much research and the help of a good friend (Thank you Aimee~;o) I have decided on the Nikon D40. <----- Go here if you want to learn more about this camera. Because I use my camera so much I have decided to kick it up a notch for more professional results. Yes, I think I'm ready for an SLR! (Key word here friends, "She Thinks") With that being said, I will be looking into purchasing one within the next couple of weeks. So today we decided to go to one of snugglebear's favorite restaurants. Now "The Spaghetti Warehouse" is a franchise Restaurant.....but does yours have a Trolley in it?? The one in my neck of the woods does. We went around late afternoon and to my surprise it was quite empty. I insisted upon sitting in the trolley to dine, and to snugglebear's delight, it was empty. Usually he doesn't like to sit in the trolley because he complains that it is too stuffy and crowded with people. He was in a rather cranky mood so for us to have the trolley to ourselves was a plus for both of us. He concluded that most people were out shopping this weekend, so we enjoyed a nice quiet lunch in the old wooden streetcar~;o)

This is Upper Tampa Bay Park located just outside of Oldsmar.

This is the canoe launch in the park.

These beauties were lit throughout the entire park.

Much happier after eating, he posed for a picture, unusual for him~;o)

This is all salt water!

After a delicious afternoon meal, we headed into Town and Country where snugglebear had recently learned of a nearby National State Park and Wildlife nature trail. We love these because they are free, they are great for exploring and for taking pictures~;o) We stumbled across a bonus....they were having a "Holiday in the Park" event for families, the festivities included Christmas lights throughout the park, cookies, games, and a hayride~:o) To my knowledge the Christmas Lights display will be going on till the end of December. If your in the vicinity I recommend a visit, you'll certainly be glad you did~:o)

Its time for change.....

2008-11-30T14:35:00.012-05:00

{Southern Bliss}

Hello Family & Friends! I hope everyone had a bountiful and refreshing Thanksgiving Holiday! After much thought and consideration, I have decided to retire the blog name Studio Bijou and appoint a new name. I am happy to introduce: Southern Bliss! Same inspirational blog, great new name~;o) The new blog address is: www.southernbliss79.blogspot.com. Until next time darlings.....

2008-11-26T18:30:00.000-05:00

Wishing you and yours a safe, fun, and relaxing Thanksgiving Day!

(Picture courtesy of: Photobucket)

add one more to the list of manias.....

2008-11-22T11:36:00.009-05:00

Here's another peek at my latest mania! Though it is closely tied with my other new obsession for photography~;o) Another new mania you say? I promise it is the last one people, okay no wait....I take that back~;o) It happened during my recent new love for traveling. I have decided that the best souvenirs during my ventures are captured on camera~;o) (psst hey friends....translated this means she's cheap!) So now I am currently looking into upgrading my digital to a professional one. Any suggestions? Right now I am leaning towards a Nikon D50. Does anyone have one of these? What are your thoughts on it? Any SLR will also work. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Come on all you photography gurus, I know your out there and I need your help! I'm all ears.....

Egmont Key Island in November

2008-11-10T19:45:00.005-05:00

This past weekend we decided on a last minute venture to beautiful Egmont Key Island. I'm so glad we did! This little island is located just outside of exciting Fort Desoto! The only way to get there is by ferry, so.....by ferry we went! I love boats and I love being on the water so this was nothing new for me. However, the name of the island alone didn't sound very "catchy" to me, but I decided to give it a try anyways. To my surprise there was much to do! I had no idea you could camp on the island too! I won't bore you with every little detail, I'll just give you a quick little outline instead~;o) Egmont Key's highlights include: snorkeling, shelling, fishing, swimming, dolphin watching, hiking, nature trails, exploring Historic ruins, and a 150 year old lighthouse. Did I tease ya enough yet? If your ever on the westcoast of Central Florida, Egmont Key is certainly worth visiting~:o)