EJ on Etsy!

Finally....
I've got my *Elephant Juice Designs* store open for business on Etsy!! I've only got a few things listed on there so far, but there is more to come! I'm very excited! Check it out and let me know what you think. Use the link below or I've got a link over to the right! I'm new to this, so suggestions are welcome :)

I'm trying to build my business, so if you know anyone needing invitations, please send them to my Etsy shop!
If you've never heard of Etsy, go check it out...it's an awesome and growing site for buying and selling all things handmade! It's where I discovered The Vintage Pearl and Lotus Jewelry~the talented ladies that have made name necklaces for me, my mom and mother-in-law! AND my friend Bethany even has an Etsy shop *Pixie Dust & Paper Fun* where she sells hair bows and all sorts of fun goodies!

Bluegrass Pictures

Here are the rest of my favorite pictures from Bluegrass '08!
(WARNING: picture overload ahead)

Another year, come and gone...the countdown has already started for 2009!

This is a design I made for our camp t-shirt. The stinkin' people at the screenprint place in town were very frustrating to work with, so we didn't get the shirts printed by Bluegrass Friday. I've found a place online CafePress where you can upload designs to make your own t-shirts, so I'm thinking about trying that...then all the members of Camp Wannadriakre can go there to order their own, if they want them!

Okay...picturesCamp Wannadriakre members:
Justin, Mitch, Gale. Nikki, Laura, Brandy, Heidi, Tonya, Mary, David & Bill

Tom-The wonderfully generous owner of the Boxcar. He was so kind to let us set up camp there for Bluegrass 2008. We kept him well-fed to show our thanks :) AND Ellie

Justin doin' his job, keeping an eye on the fire.
Ya, that's my husband...is it just the fire, or does he look hot in this picture?!?!

Camp Mom & Dad-Gale & Mary relaxing at camp

Nikki servin' up our campfire peach cobbler...yumo!

three years of friends

We started a picture tradition three years ago with our friends David & Tonya..

Each year we take a picture of the four of us in the same pose. Tonya and I say when we're 60, we'll still be camping at Bluegrass and taking our annual picture :)

Just for fun, here's three years of friends!
Justin, Laura, Tonya & David

Bluegrass 2006

Bluegrass 2007

Bluegrass 2008

Piddlin' with photoshop

So, now that I have my new MacBook, it's time I start learning how to use the programs that will help me create some fun custom invites! My little brother is being very patient, trying to teach me the 'ins & outs' of photoshop and illustrator. I seem to think I'm picking it up pretty quickly, and he even said I'm not doing too bad :) The past few days I've been piddlin' with some of my pictures in photoshop.

In honor of our friend David, who's having a birthday tomorrow (HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!)...I photoshoped a picture I'd taken this past spring of his truck.
Here it is before:
And here it is with a major overdose of photoshop:
It's over the top altered, and I know it looks a little funky...but I was playing with almost every effect I could and wanted it to look a bit unrealistic. I left the original truck coloring, and gave the rest of it a painted vintage feel. Then I had to take out the other cars and the tent. That was a challenge! It's amazing what you can do! If you're a photoshop pro, please don't look too close!

A friend of ours, Amber Dawn, has a photography business-Making Smiles Photography. She's the one that did my maternity pictures (which you can see on her website). She is having a photo contest! The theme is best crying picture, so I entered this picture of Barrett from the summer. I call it 'trying to muster up a good cry.' I had a couple other pictures of him in full out cry mode, but I love the feel of this picture and those long eyelashes!

Here is the crying picture before photoshop:
Here it is after using the warming filter--it gives it a little bit of a vintage look--I didn't think it was possible to makes this picture look sweeter!

The contest opens for voting on Monday! I think the pictures will be displayed on her myspace page and you can vote there.
VOTE HERE for Mr. Barrett :)

Fall recipe box~ #1

Here is the recipe for that yummy pumpkin trifle I told you about earlier this week!

It's from the Gooseberry Patch 'Fall Family & Friends' cookbook! My sister-in-law got me this for my birthday a few years ago and everything in it (soups, appetizers, drinks, desserts) is soo yummy!

Pumpkin Trifle
14-1/2 oz. package gingerbread cake mix
1-1/4 c. water
1 egg
4 c. milk
4 1-oz. pkgs. sugar-free instant butterscotch pudding mix
15-oz. can pumpkin
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. allspice
12-oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Combine cake mix, water and egg in a mixing bowl. Mix well and pour into an ungreased 8x8 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes; turn out of pan onto a wire rack. When completely cooled; crumble cake and set aside, reserving 1/4 cup crumbs for garnish. Whisk together milk and pudding mixes in a bowl for 2 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Let stand for 2 minutes, or until softly set. Stir in pumpkin and spices; mix well.

In a trifle bowl or 3-1/2 quart glass serving bowl, layer one-quarter of the cake crumbs, one-half of the pudding mixture, one-quarter of the crumbs and one-half of the whipped topping. Repeat layers, ending with topping. Garnish with reserved cake crumbs. Serves immediately or refrigerate.

HAPPY FALL!! Enjoy :)

Look at the newest Autumn cookbook Gooseberry has out! This is definitely on my want list!

time for a change

HAIR change, that is!!

I haven't had my hair cut since the beginning of July and it was starting to get out of control :) I was patiently waiting for Bluegrass to be over so I could chop it off! I don't have much time for styling during Bluegrass...we usually make a quick trip home in the morning to shower. Justin always wants to get right back down to camp, so I only have time to throw my wet hair up in a pony tail. BUT NOW, it is shorter and I love it!!!
My personal stylist (sister-in-law, Kim) did an awesome job!
Thanks Sis-Love ya!

It's kinda hard to tell from this picture, but it's an 'angled bob' and is layered in the back. The front pieces are actually a little longer than my chin too, but I have them tucked behind my ears here.

Why I love FALL!!

I finally got my wreath out and on my front door...so in MY world, it's officially FALL! My favorite time of year! I love watching football on the weekends~Cheering on the Packers and Wildcats. We don't get to do it as often anymore...but even better is going to Manhattan to watch my Wildcats! Nothing beats the feeling of being in that stadium! Although I'm K-State Alumni, I was born in Nebraska and my dad and brothers are all die-hard fans...so I cheer on the Huskers every weekend too!

I love decorating my front porch with mums, pumpkins and gourds!

I love decorating the inside of my house too! My house is done in reds, greens, yellows and burnt oranges all year-round, so I don't have to do much for Fall. I also have a lot of leaf decor out year-round too. Here is a table setting I did for a gallery exhibit a few years ago using my own dishes and decor.

Justin and I both love to carve pumpkins! We're almost 30, but I don't think it will ever get old for us :) Here he is carving with Emily last year.

I love the tree-lined streets in my beautiful little town! The leaves turn an amazing shade of Autumn.

I love our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with Justin's mom, Kim and the girls! We have so much fun finding pumpkins and taking lots of pictures. I can't wait to take Barrett for his first time next month!

I love our annual pumpkin carving night at Megan and Brent's! Each year, we all (Justin, me, Megan, Brent, Audra & Kane) sit around their dining room table carving away, as we chat and snack. After everyone is finished we take our masterpieces out onto the front porch for pictures. Here we are last year...the ladies all had babies in the belly!

I love celebrating my Anniversary in October! We were married October 26, 2002. Our wedding was amazing and beautiful, and every October we take a little trip together to celebrate our anniversary.

I love Thanksgiving dinner with family! This was Hannah and Jake pouring the wine at Thanksgiving two years ago, at Aunt Deb's. I love her decorated tables.

And, while we're talking about Thanksgiving...I love Mamo's stuffing!! Here she is telling Uncle Rick and Audrey just how to make it :)

I love fall cooking....ciders, pumpkin bread, pumpkin seeds, soups...

Here is a pumpkin trifle I made last year. I will have to share the recipe with you. It's sooo yummy!

These are just a few of my favorite things about Fall!

What are yours?

Home, sweet home!

We're home, and it's back to real. normal. life tomorrow. It was a great Bluegrass...different, yet fun...but we're glad to be back home. We're watching the Packers game tonight (not doing so well and it's the 4th quarter) and resting up. I'll post pictures soon :)

AND...while you wait for the Bluegrass pictures. Here are a few we just took this afternoon out at my parents to capture our little man at his eight month mark! There is usually wheat in the field behind their house, but this year they planted sunflowers and they are so beautiful!

EIGHT months!!!

Happy 8 Month Birthday, Little Bear!!!

Here are some pictures Mommy took of you yesterday (September 17th) in your K-State gear! It was the first time you got to watch the Wildcats on TV, so I had to have you all decked out. I told Daddy you looked good in purple!

We love you!

Welcome to Camp Wannadriakre!

Yep, we "wannadriakre, we got a dry acre...or more," and it's beautiful! Our usual spot for camping in the Pecan Grove on the festival grounds was out due to flooding, so we've moved to a new home for Bluegrass 2008, and it's amazing! I'll have lots of pictures to share from the festival week, so I'll start with a few today. Well, maybe more than a few.

First, some daily shots of the Walnut River water level going DOWN!

September 15th~

September 16th~

September 17th~ And now, a tour of Camp Wannadriakre! WELCOME..... Right now there are eight of us camped here, with a few more friends coming in soon. We've all met at Bluegrass over the last few years, only seeing each other once a year :)Four of us are from here, two from Tennessee, and two from Western Kansas.

Here we are pulling up to camp. Camp "Mom & Dad, " a.k.a. Gale and Mary are to the right. The boxcar and campfire area are right in the center, with a great view of the river. This is our social area and where we eat our dinners. To the left is the "tamper." Dave and Tonya's place! Further to the left (not pictured) is Bill and Nikki's camper and our camp kitchen!

Here's Tonya in the kitchen! Fully equipped with plenty of counter space, a sink, two grills, plenty of lighting and a great VIEW! It's bigger than my kitchen at home...no, really, it is! We have theme nights for dinner. Monday was Italian, so we grilled pizzas. Tuesday was burger night, and tonight was Soups and Chili! Still to come...Mexican, Grilled meats and more!

Here is our home away from home! We've got our monster tent set up in the center of all the campers on a shady island of grass. We bought this tent a couple Bluegrasses ago, and it's great! Inside there's room for our queen-size mattress and a pack-n-play for Barrett. He doesn't sleep down there with us, but it's nice to have for him to play in during the days when he's hanging out at camp!

Here are the boys putting up the flags at the boxcar.

And a few other pictures from camp the past few days....
David and Justin cleaning the dove they shot. I didn't watch for too long!

Pickin' after dark!

Barrett and YaYa around the campfire. It was way past his bedtime, but look how excited he was to be up and hanging out with everyone!

Back in the trees there's a perfect little spot with a hammock. We took a family walk (through a little soggy grass) to check it out.

The festival officially started today, but the shows and craft booths will all be open starting tomorrow. I'm getting excited! More pictures and stories to come!