Holiday gifts that I LOVE

Whimsical Clothes Lottie Da

Grace Hester Designs

Interesting and original designs via Virtual Lori

Sandusky, Ohio and Cedar Point Family Vacation - a short trip from Columbus, Ohio!

We have not had a family vacation in years. It's true. The money and time and family business has made it impossible for us. I almost jumped out of my chair when Cedar Point and Shores and Islands contacted me for the idea of hosting us for a few days to the sights of Sandusky.

I said YES. OMG. Yes.

Joe shows off his water park skills!


We were hosted by Great Wolf Lodge and the family fell promptly in love. The water park is like a paradise for kiddos. The truth is that we all loved it. Joe liked showing off to the boys with his water skills and even I rode the giant water slide! Scout enjoyed the lazy river and we all spent hours together as a family. The staff was attentive and made us feel special with cookies and milk delivered to our room and lots of smiles. The resort is clean and well run and the perfect place to spend a few days as a family. I liked that the rooms had small refrigerators and microwaves as it allowed us to bring a cooler and save money with breakfast and lunches. They thought of everything. Have you been to GWL?




They could have stayed for a week!



This happens every ten minutes or so! Fun!





gorgeous

The islands are amazing. We wanted to live there. We started making little romantic whispers of moving. It's what a good vacation will do to you. Jill Bauer from Shores and Islands was fantastic. She was able to set us up with days of fun family activities and exciting tours. We love her!




Jet Express


We went to South Bass Island and then to Kelley's Island. The amazing tours of Put-in-Bay made the kids squeal! They loved the train ride and the caves and Miniature Golf that they had ready for the children. Perry's cave was cool and the winery was my favorite!  We enjoyed the tour and history of the islands. The kids were amazed that there was only one school for the whole set of islands! The school graduated 13 students this year and sometimes in the winter the kiddos have to go to school via airplane. It blew their mind to hear about island life from our train guide. We loved the family friendly feel of the island. {I recall going to PIB at night in college and it was a party island- not like that at all during the day!}

Our short boat ride to Kelley's island was beautiful and we also loved the slow pace of the island. It was the island we imagined having a tiny little summer house on and coming back each year. We had golf carts waiting and the kids enjoyed gem mining and swimming on the lovely small beach. It was a blast touring the island with the golf cart! We asked the locals about good food and they directed us to The Village Pump. It was a really nice meal. We ate tons of fresh perch and Walleye for our dinner. We left so happy and relaxed.



South Bass train ride!

Perry's Cave.

Jet Express!



PIB break.



The people of Kelley's Island are so nice!

Gem Mining

The Port at Sandusky.

The Beach. We loved it.

Cedar Point!

I had forgotten how much fun Cedar Point was! We enjoyed the day and when we checked in at Guest Services they told us about the Parent Swap pass they offer. It is often hard for parents of small children to be able to ride all the rides that they love too, but with this pass you can both ride all the cool rides! We rode it all! Finnian rode his first real roller coaster! {THE CORKSCREW} We walked and spent time together and had an amazing time. The kids discovered Snoopy at CAMP SNOOPY! {perfect for the boys to enjoy together}  and we all had to sample some yummy amusement park food. {hello funnel cake sundaes} I loved seeing my kids smiling all day long.
We left sun kissed and tired, but we left so happy.



Thank you to Shores and Island and Cedar Point. You rejuvenated a family!
You made us fall in love with Sandusky! We will be going back next year!
If you live in Ohio- Check out Sandusky!


{This is a sponsored post. The opinions and expressions are all mine as I was hosted but not paid for a review}



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How to Mistletoe

Put yr right hand on the nape of the neck and glide it up upwards to the back of the head.
Open yr hand wide, fingers lacing between hair or gliding on soft bald skin.
Direct eye contact always. Keep a distance between yr bodies but lean in ever so slightly.
Tilt yr head and let yr lips part. Move yr eyes up and down in tiny glances.
Let yr pupils dilate and stare swoony onwards.
Lick yr lips, tugging on the bottom one with yr front teeth.
Make yr breath so tiny and compact that the other person is drawn into your face like a little vortex. Make the moment of contact the kiss you always wanted.
The one that would be on a giant screen in the movie of yr most spectacular life.
Do not stop kissing.


image

Let's go get the shit kicked out of us by love

“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.”


for you Karey xo

{Holiday Gift Guide Day One Treasure Hunt}

follow the stars to learn about IGLOO LETTERPRESS *********************************

It took me until just then

The snow falls slowly and we all feel warm in the house. Cookies are on the counter and Catherine "the babysitter sent straight from God" is here and making things feel relaxed. I may have a nap today. Our shop is now finished with holiday goodies all sent and sorted and it feels so good! We had a busy etsy shop and a crazy busy dot com this year!

I found my Christmas spirit late last night
I found it in a dive bar and my friend Keith was there too
and the fairy lights everywhere reminded me of my childhood
and I wiped my eyes with my sleeve
And one fat tear fell into my drink and
it is OK that the holidays are a mix of sweet and sad

I think that is what happens the more times we go round the sun.

pic via iamblessed

We went to our local MLK Jr. program today and it was very inspiring. The boys loved it and we were able to gather with community neighbors, friends, and elders for a luncheon. I felt a swell in that church. I felt a movement of powerful hope.
How can you serve today? What dialogue will you have with yr family?
How can the spirit of the day continue all year long?
Happy Birthday Dr. King. Thank you.






photo via cacv.org

Let your heart be light

I hope you get everything you desire today.
Happy Holidays. Kiss Kiss.

photo from flickr

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Bound with all the weight of all the words he tried to say

Who do you miss during this time of the year? I miss people far away and gone. I miss people who are here but not really here. Everything is so nicey nice in December but it is also a month full of big fat tears for some folks. How lucky to be smiling and garland wrapping round yr tree. I am trying to remember this. In the car yesterday I heard this song and it was a song played at a funeral of a boy too young to never be 35 years old like me right now.

And I wonder even when I am very old will I still remember the wood paneling and the hard cushioned seat of that tiny town funeral home and know that I am lucky and know that I am blessed?
And does my grandma miss my grandfather more now in December than any other month?
Wrap yr arms round those you love
tighter...

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Don't You Know Now Is The Perfect Time

Today has been really productive. I am thinking about holiday gifts and the lack of coin in my handbag. I already signed in blood the handmade oath, but I jut still worry about time and all even though I started way back here. I am making keys and also these and have lots of ideas- I just hope I have the time.

Then I found this sweet sweet shop.
I talked about the smart card PDF first over at Kirtsy.
Then I discovered the calendar PDF!
OMG! What a smart cool perfect gift!

I am smitten with this shop! And she is a doll! Check it out!

So today I sat with my new printer and made cool calendars!
I mean how cool is this? I got this amazing printer to review!
I love you One to One network!
I almost frenched the UPS guy.
I was so excited to try out this top of the line printer.

It was simple to set up and I have to say my calendars look amazing. I love the photos of the boys that I printed out today too. Fast fast fast photo printing!
The coolest thing for me is that my husband and I can share one printer thanks to the built-in wireless and wired networking.
I have owned a bunch of printers and this one seems to be the best with photo printing. I have never used Epson inks before, but there are way more than a black and a color cartridge to install. It is like a spectrum of small ink cartridges designed to give the truest colors. I loved it. I might have to say I am an Epson gal now for photo printing.


I love days when I get stuff done
don't you
happy Sunday
don't you get the Sunday blues

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Field and fountain, moor and mountain

I know it is July and any talk of Christmas is madness, but I must start now for my Handmade Holidays if I want to have any sense of bliss and joy during the real season. I like to make gifts for folks I love and last year we made a promise to start early so we would not be insane in December.

I think the holiday time is really for hanging out and enjoying each other. I used to love the rush and hustle bustle of finding perfect gifts, but as I get older I like to shop all year and buy things that speak to me for certain folks and make things that mean something.

This year I want to make some funky jigsawed key holders I saw in a cool Japanese book from the library and I found some old mirrors and doors from salvage that I want to pretty up. I also wanna make my own DIY version of these for folks and perhaps some lovely freezer paper stencil t-shirts. Kiddos are going to get wood toys from the shop and some new cool items are in the works. I also wanna keep making art smocks bc I think they are great gifts when paired with art supplies. I have to reign my enthusiasm in and choose three or four projects or I will go wonky and nuts.
Does anyone else start early on handmade projects?
One more thing...Are you going to blogher?
Email me yr cell number if ya wanna meet up and have a drink!
amytsharp(at) gmail (dot) com
and a partridge in a pear tree

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My whole life was like a picture of a sunny day

We love to make paper crafts here and Finn is collecting a little scissor collection. He loves to cut! When we go to the craft store he heads right to the cutter isle as he calls it.
(HELP-should I be buying left handed scissors for him? He is a lefty - am certain)

We made recycled lanterns this year (check it out) and it was fun, but Finn had trouble helping me then, but now he is like Edward Scissorhandhole.

Daddy sometimes has leftover blueprints and plans from work and we like to recycle them into art. Today we made giant lanterns to hang outside tomorrow night for our 4Th of July festivities. (It is our first real firework and such night- Joe the Brit and young kids ya know?) It was Joe's idea though, to let em stay up late and watch the fireworks! I am so excited!

You can make lanterns with any size paper and the simplest way to make them is to fold over the paper and cut on the fold. Make a bunch of slits but do not go all the way across the paper- leave an edge at the top. Unfold the paper and staple the short edges together. Cut a strip of paper for yr handle and VIOLA! It is good fine motor practice for the little guys and I can't believe how gorgeous they look hanging from the trees. If I were a real fancy pants I would string fairy lights through them too!

It rained on a few of them today, but the rest are safely tucked inside for Friday night. They look amazing against the green lush trees. I cannot wait to see what 20-30 of them look like in the backyard with some luminaries and sparklers. They are really simple, but make a major statement!

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