{ Photo Booth Fun }

Our nephew had a photo booth at his graduation party and we got these fun photos, such a great idea for a party! I wanted to wait to post these until I had the ones that my sis-in-law has been promising to scan and email to me but I haven't got them yet and it's been a month so if and when I get them I will post them (they are really fun ones of myself and Jim's two sisters).

{ I got the Sunshine Award }

Sarah over at Life Uncommon (http://sweetcakesxo.blogspot.com/) nominated me for the Sunshine Award.

1. Thank the blogger who gave it to you
- Thanks Sarah, I always love reading your blog and about your beautiful family!
2. List 7 things that people may not know about you
3. Pass the love to 5 deserving bloggers that you have discovered recently and let them know you gave them the award. (Psss, this number was at 15 but I changed it to 5 since Sarah who gave it to me only gave out 5 and it's easier that way, lol).

1. I turned 30 this past November
2. My husband turned 40 this past February
3. I have 2 sisters and 3 brothers
4. I've worked at my current job since '95 (I started as a co-op student in 10th grade), so I've basically worked here half of my life!
5. I have terrible eye sight and wear extended wear contact lenses all the time, I ONLY take them out when it's time to change into a new pair every 6-8 weeks.
6. I have very neat handwriting and get complimented (mostly by strangers) often about it.
7. I am pretty fearless when it comes to most adventure type things and I want to skydive.

Here are the bloggers that I'm passing this award onto, they are blogs that I've discovered in the past months and have enjoyed following.

1. Tammy, Matter of Fact http://tammy-nelson.blogspot.com/
2. Kelly & Sara, Peace Love Taco Bell http://peace-love-tbell.blogspot.com/
3. Mere, Idle Banter http://beancounteridlechatter.blogspot.com/
4. E, Beauty in the Attempt http://beautyintheattempt.blogspot.com/
5. Amanda, Bagel & Cream Cheese http://mrskeith2b.blogspot.com

{ Take Me Home Country Roads }

We spent the early days of July on vacation in the mountains of West Virginia with Jim's extended family. This is an annual vacation that I've been a part of since back in '98 and we look forward to spending the week of the 4th of July there each and every year. The weather was unusually hot there this year so we spent a lot of time in the pool cooling off, we also spent a lot of time relaxing and hanging out with family members from near and far. We got to spend a lot of quality time with Jim's niece and nephew along with my little brother, as we helped play the role of their "parents" on this trip (none of their parents were there so they came with my in-laws and us) and we loved having the time with them. I'm mad at myself for this now that I'm home but while on the trip I wasn't very inspired to take pictures, I think it was a combination of the heat, the time we spent doing "nothing" and the time we spent doing the same things we do each and every year that I wasn't excited about photography and now looking back there is so much that I missed and will miss because I didn't feel like taking pictures. Here are some photos that I did manage to capture during our 9 day stay.

Canaan Valley Fire DepartmentGorgeous View Lead Mine, WVMe and JimMy kids for the week (nephew Jacob, brother Jared, niece Kerstyn) and YES I'm short!Swinging Bridge

The kids went on a treasure hunt, here are two of the lil' minersChief Minor in charge of safety and photography (it was dark and about 120 degrees down there)!The boy miners, they loved it!

I attempted firework photos, most were a big fat FAIL, this one is sort of cool.Family Football I purchased a waterproof case for my P&S camera earlier this year and I LOVE it! The kids really got a kick out of taking pics underwater with a real camera and being able to review them so I let them have at it and within a week we had over 500 pictures of us at the pool, but that's where we spent a lot of our time so it's only right that is where most of the pictures are! If you're interested this is the case I purchased, it's awesome and my Sony P&S is very well protected in there, not a drop of water got on it and it was submerged a lot! http://www.dicapac.com/I give this vacation two thumbs up!

{ Picture Perfect Sunset }

We celebrated our nephews high school graduation last weekend and his party was held on the lake where we got to enjoy the most amazing sunset. I think a sunset like this every evening of my life would be the perfect ending to each day. These photos are all SOOC (straight out of the camera/no editing).

{ Leap Brother }

It always impresses me that my little brother Charles can do some really cool tricks on the trampoline, on a skateboard or just in general, I wish I had some talent (heck, at this age I'd take ANY talent). We took this series of pictures last weekend that show just how high this white man can jump, he's jumping over myself and our little brother Jared, and he makes it look easy!

{ I'm a Winner }

I recently won this beautiful bracelet in a blog giveaway from one of my favorite fashion bloggers, The Budget Babe (http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/). I couldn't believe out of 182 entries that I had won, especially because it was such a beautiful prize to win! The bracelet is the Bardot Spiral Bangle by Stella & Dot and I love it, I've already worn it and I've only had it a week! I'm so glad to have this beauty to add to my jewelry collection, so I give the Budget Babe and Stella & Dot stylist Jenny Ratkovich a huge THANK YOU!

If you're not a follower of The Budget Babe become one by visiting their site which I've linked above and also you can check out all the other wonderful items Stella & Dot has to offer by visiting www.stelladot.com/sites/jennyrat/my-business.

{ Dinosaur Suckers }

I spent my evening yesterday making these for my nephew Nicholas' 5th birthday party which is later this afternoon.

Chocolate Dinosaur Suckers

{ I Raced For A Cure }

On Saturday I, along with almost 30,000 other people gathered in downtown Detroit to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It was a truly amazing experience to be surrounded by that many people gathered together with motivation to fight for the same cause. I had never run a 5K before and to be honest I'm not a runner, back in February I started to do the c25k program but I only made it to the fourth week so I was nervous about how I'd do on this race. My sister Tina, niece Megan and myself decided to join the runners at the front of the line and try our best to run it, and we did do good, we jogged and fast-walked to finish in 38.03. I'm proud of myself for taking part in this cause and finishing my first 5K race.

Tina, Megan & Me

Cousin Kelly & MeTina, Aimee, Me & SURVIVOR Doreen

Pink Ribbon Panera Bagel

{ Waving the White Flag }

I'm officially waving the white flag on the T365 project. It sounded like a great idea in the beginning and I did enjoy it for the 40 days that I did do it, but I just have to be honest and say that I can't keep it up! I'm still going to update this blog on a regular basis and it will continue to be my photo blog, so please keep following me, I'm really enjoying being a part of the blogger world. In other words, T365 1 and Me 0!

{ Cupcake Pebbles - T365 #40 }

Are you kidding me, CUPCAKE PEBBLES! I went grocery shopping after work today and somewhere about aisle #7 something happened, it was as if my prayers had been answered as I laid my eyes upon a cereal box, this cereal box! I actually ran into one of my good friends mere seconds after jumping for joy over this treasure I found and I believe what I said to her was "OMG, you have to see this, OMG have you seen anything this cute in your entire life". I know, it's ridiculous but I love cupcakes and I love cereal even more so cereal that taste like cupcakes is a dream come true! Of course reality soon hit, reality that I told Jim I was making a surprise dinner for him, and believe me the thought of serving a big bowl of these for dinner did cross my mind, after all it would have been a big surprise! After dinner I decided I'd do a little taste test for dessert and I couldn't believe my nose as I opened the box, for a minute I actually thought I was in a bakery, the aroma was delicious. The taste does not let down either, it's like a million tiny cupcakes with the perfect blend of yellow cake and vanilla frosting exploding into your tastebuds, oh how perfect. I cannot wait to make Cupcake Pebble Treats (like Rice Krispy Treats, but I'm sure better), in fact I'm pretty bummed we don't have marshmallows on hand here at home because you better believe I'd be making them now!

I'm just as excited as Pebbles and BamBam!

{ Pizza Tuesday - T365 #39 }

On Tuesdays I tend to look forward to dinner all day because it's "Pizza Tuesday"! I could eat pizza daily and not ever get sick of it but Jim couldn't, so our compromise is once a week and it happens to be a tradition for it to be on Tuesday. I know some would think I'm crazy but I prefer plain cheese pizza so I pick off my pepperoni and give them to Jim since he likes extra. The next best thing are the leftovers that I get to take for lunch tomorrow!

{ Lilac Tree - T365 #38 }

I spent some time at my in-laws house this evening so my picture of the day is of a lilac tree in their yard. It's such a beautiful tree in full bloom and the smell is just delightful and intense. We are going to do some landscaping in our yard and a lilac tree is on the list, although I know it's late spring already I can enjoy it for many years to come, the thought of reading on the patio with that sweet smell in the background sounds wonderful!

{ Aperture - T365 #37 }

I will be the first to admit that there is so much about my camera (Canon Rebel T1i) that I don't understand, it's just so intimidating. I've decided to participate in an online photo course called "12 Weeks to Better Photography" by Two Peas in a Bucket, thanks to a few friends that also were up for the challenge and have helped motivate me. I completed the first weeks assignment today which was all about exploring aperture by taking three photos of the same subject with various apertures, showing the different depth of fields as the aperture changed. As you can see in the photos the lower the number the less in focus the photo will be and as the number gets higher more of the background will come into focus. I'm really hoping my friends who are also doing this challenge are proud of me when they see these photos as they all took great photos early in the week and I waited until Sunday evening, not to mention the few overachievers that already did the second week (yeah, I'm talking to you, you know who you are).

Week #1 ~ http://is7.twopeasinabucket.com/photocourse/weekone.pdf

{ Metro Girl - T365 #36 }

Gasp! I didn't do a T365 post yesterday! We didn't have any specific plans for the day which is very unusual for us, we are usually rushing from here to there on the weekends, so while Jim did some house maintenance I spent the majority of the day reading on the back patio in the sunshine, it was lovely. (NOTE: I wasn't entirely lazy, I did do some laundry and light cleaning, went out to dinner and spent the evening over one of my best friends house chatting and eating way too many chocolate chip cookies, thanks Tina).

I recently went through my books to do some cleaning out and organizing and found that I have 42 unread books, because I tend to buy them when I see them on sale for prices I can't pass up. I've made a commitment to myself that I will read all these books before purchasing anymore, as I've had some of them for YEARS and still haven't read them!

I started this book in the morning yesterday and didn't know what to expect because I've never read any books by her, but I must have really liked it because not only did I start it yesterday but I also finished it (okay, it was 12:03 am when I finished it, but still). I loved that it was action-packed but also filled with humor, I did laugh out loud a few times, so that was a good sign. I will definitely be picking up other books by her, that is as soon as I read the other 41 books in the pile!

I also have recently started using GoodReads on a regular basis to track all my reading, so if you're a member please add me and let me know you're coming from my blog. I really enjoy seeing what other people are reading and recommending, I generally read mystery and chick-lit but I'm open to read just about anything and would like to get some more heavy reads in. The link to my profile is www.goodreads.com/tamarajean.

{ Smoothie - T365 #35 }

I made myself a strawberry-banana smoothie to enjoy this evening, its healthy AND delicious! I generally try to drink a smoothie per day and it's always the same flavor, in my Bella Cucina Rocket Blender I add strawberries, a banana, some crushed ice and milk and mix it all together to create this delicious treat.

{ Thoughts & Prayers - T365 #34 }

My thoughts and prayers are with one of my best friends and her husband, as it has been one year since they had to say hello and goodbye to their baby boy.

{ Jigsaw Puzzle - T365 #33 }

I love putting together jigsaw puzzles and have since I was a little girl, I will forever cherish the countless hours I spent in the basement doing a puzzle with my dad and siblings or the days we spent over my late grandmothers doing puzzles (she was always working on a puzzle). This past Sunday we had our families over to celebrate Mother's Day and instead of playing games like we normally do when we are all together I suggested making a puzzle. Unlike the days growing up where we couldn't go to bed until the puzzle was complete our guests had to leave it incomplete as everyone had to get home for work or school the following morning. Although I didn't get to finish this puzzle with my dad, I finished it with Jim and he let me put the last piece in. If anyone else is a fan of puzzles AND football this is a great one to put together that features fun NFL and Superbowl items.

Springbok "Fantasy Football" 1000 pieces

http://www.springbok-puzzles.com/store/store.php/products/football-fantasy

{ Painting - T365 #32 }

In conversation with Jim last night I mentioned I wanted him to paint the upstairs hallway so I could print and frame some of my tulip pictures (see previous blog post). Well, he listened and started painting as soon as he got home from work today in hopes to have it done before I got home a little while later. I was glad to "catch" him in the act because I got this photo just as he was finishing up. I'm looking at the finished product now and it looks wonderful, we painted the main floor and foyer this color a couple months ago and knew we wanted to extend it to the upstairs hallway.

Sand Trap by Sherwin Williams

{ Tulip Time in Holland, MI }

Last week I spent a wonderful day in Holland, Michigan for their annual Tulip Time Festival with my mom, mother-in-law and grandma. We visited Windmill Island, home to the 248-year Dutch Windmill "De Zwaan" (meaning graceful bird) that was shipped from the Netherlands in 1964. We got the opportunity to take a tour of the windmill and learned that it is the only authentic working windmill in the United States. During the tour we got to see it actually working, and got to meet the miller, the first Dutch-certified miller in America and the only female master miller in the world. We spent the rest of the day walking around the town and shopping at the cute little stores, admiring all the beautiful flowers and we had dinner before heading back home. Here are a few of the photo highlights I thought I'd share, I'm absolutely in love with the dark purple Tulip "Queen of the Night", they were just amazing in person.

Click Photo Collages To Enlarge!