I'm pleased to announce that I am part of the newly formed Etsy team...Handmade in Vegas.  Creative people all over the valley are crawling out of the wood work to join forces and promote creativity and each other.  Please stop by and visit the blog at http://handmadeinvegas.com/.

And the award goes to....

me!  hahaha  Thank you to Lyndsey over at Lindseys Craft Spot for giving me this award.  I appreciate it.  I swear I scour thru a ton of blogs daily seeing what other crafty gals are up to.  What great inspiration you all are. I think you can really get to know some people by reading their blogs, building a connection with them.  I totally love blogs!  All you crafty gals keep up the good work...and keep blogging. 

So for this award here is what you need to do:

1. Accept and thank the person who sent it to you.

2. List 10 things about yourself.

3. List 5 additional things you don't like.


4. Pass the award on to 10 other bloggers
 
10 things about me...Crystal
1. I've been married to my high school sweetheart for almost 28 years.
2. I live to craft...I swear....it's in my DNA.
3. I've spent 17 years in Cub Scout and Boy Scouts with my family.  It's an awesome program!
4. I've taught crafting classes for about 20 years...general crafting, tole painting, etc.
5. My family and I love to camp, explore and ride our ATVs.
6. In July we will compete in our first BBQ competition...excited and nervous.
7. I've been blessed to be a stay-at-home-mom and raise my children. 
8. I recently submitted a few projects to magazines...still waiting to hear what happens.
9. I've done craft shows for 25 years...lots of work but love them.
10. I live in Las Vegas but have never really been on the strip to see the sights. 
11. I want a vinyl cutter so bad I can taste it.  (ok, I know that's an extra one)
 
5 things I don't like:
1.  Yard work...I know it has to be done, like the finished look, but I don't like to do it.
2.  Scary movies...never have, never will.
3.  My extra layer of fluff....I've lost almost 30 pounds of it so far.
4.  Staying on budget...it's so hard and there are things I want. Discipline is hard...hence #11.  lol
5.  Cleaning bathrooms...love a clean bathroom...can I have a maid for that part please.
 
I'm passing this award on to:
1. The Old Cupboard Door
2. Not So Idle Hands
3. The Creative Homemaker
4. Pumpkin Seed Productions
5. Crafty Sisters
6. Joys of Home
7. Soft in the Head
8. Palette Primitives
9. Marie's Country Woodcrafts
10. Margo's Junkin' Journal

My crazy life...

Many of you may be wondering what I've been up to lately because there haven't been any new post or crafts being made around here in the last few weeks.  Well, I've certainly been busy but not in a crafty way.  The rain has given us a weed explosion on an epic scale this year.  I've been pulling, mowing, weed-eating, and spraying the darn things and they are still growing faster than I can keep up with them.  We purchased a torch to burn them little suckers to the ground and will try that next. 
The week before Mother's Day was spent at the flower shop.  I put in 70 hours that week and I feel like I am still trying to recover from it.  Volume tripled fom Valentines Day and we were doing our best to keep up.  As much I enjoy working the holidays, they are very hard on a person.  Not much gets done at home that week but I prep meals before hand so it's easier on me.  The week after events like this are spent bringing the house back up to par with laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc. along with errands that didn't get done.

Now, we are preparing for a huge BBQ at the house next weekend. (hence, the panic on the yard)  Looking like 50 people or so will be here.  You see, we have decided to start a new adventure into competiton BBQ and this is our kick-off event.  This will let eveyone have a little bit of fun with it and share in some dang good BBQ.  It's also great practice for us as well.  We are excited and nervous at the same time but I know it will be something fabulous, exhausting and enjoyable all at the same time.  Our first competition will be in Williams AZ on the July 4th weekend.  We've been gearing up (literally) for it with lists, equipment, practice cooks and more.  If you're in the Vegas area, come on by....see the flyer for more information.  Oh, next week we are taking a judging course for competition BBQ as well.  It will give us great insight as to what judges are looking for, making our 'Q even better. 
Amongst all this, I am prepping for my one summer show in Duck Creek in July as well.  I purchased a souble booth so I'd best get my butt in gear so I'll be ready for it.  I told Timm to get a booth and sell some yummy BBQ but I think I need to be in that one as well.  BBQ is not a one man operation.  Who knows...if all goes well, next year a BBQ booth may be where I'm at next year. 

Happy Mothers Day

I just want to wish all the mothers and mothers to be, that were, and wish they were a wonderful Mothers Day.  My mom has a broken ankle so she's not up to much at the moment.  My hubby's mom passed a couple of years ago...we miss her greatly.  My sis is enjoying her day with the girls and hubby.  My son's wished me a great day.  I received a digital picture frame...wanted one for a while and was a nice surpise.  Dinner with my hubby will be tomorrow night.  I spent my week working at a flower shop making Mother's Day joyful for countless mothers out there.  It was a fun, gratifying, exhausting week that I feel like I barely made it through.   I'm glad it's only a week of 10-12 hour days. Big shout out to my new Sketcher Shape Ups, they made my feet and legs feel pretty good this week.   
Bless all the mothers out there!