Super Nanny
No, I'm not talking about the tv show. I'm talking about my mom! Last weekend, while hubby and I did a vacation/craft event at the beach, my mom pet sat our 7 kids and my boss's dog. That's a total of 4 cats and 4 dogs!! Even more impressive is that she also medicated three of those fur-kids. Aron and I never go out of town. This was my first night away since Labor day of last year (when Mom also pet sat). She's the only person we trust to take care of our kids. It's not that they are ill-behaved or difficult; I just worry a lot. Yay for Mom- you're awesome and much appreciated!
The day before the show, we walked around Newport's bayfront and had lunch at our favorite restaurant, The Whale's Tale. Aron says they make the best pasta he's ever had.The craft show was a fundraiser for the Lincoln County Animal shelter. It was pretty successful- $2200 was raised and 4 puppies and 2 kittens were adopted. And, although the adoption booth was right next to my booth, I did not bring home any more fur-kids!The day after the show was a vacation day for us. We went to the Newport Aquarium. Aron had never been and I hadn't been there in a long time. Overall, we had a great time. It was crowded- with lots of noisy children. I think we both could have stayed and watched the sea otters all day!
The beach house we stayed at was wonderful. It had ocean views from the kitchen and living room. It was a quiet, peaceful, relaxing place. I can't wait to go back!

Lady Luck
Although I usually feel as if I'm jinxed, this past weekend I was lucky all around:
1. It was warm and sunny at the beach (a rarity in Oregon, especially in May)! This made for a wonderful day for the Cause 4 Paws fundraising event. And, hubby, friend, and I were able to take a late-night walk on the beach without freezing our butts off.
2. I won an auction for a pet stroller! I've been wanting one for my special terrier boy, Sandy, for a long time. He's 13 years old and has some medical issues. He loves going places and almost always accompanies me when I have a booth at outdoor venues. I have a pet sling that I carry him in during the street fairs. However, my shoulders, back, and arms get mighty sore after carrying around my 21-pound baby. So now not only do I have a super-nice stroller for him, but the money I spent on it all goes to the animals at the shelter in Lincoln county.
3. Hubby and I made an awesome new friend! We shared a beach house with another crafter. Since I had previously only met her online, who knew what we were in for? Luckily, Gloria turned out to be a really cool person. Gloria, Aron, and I hit it off and became good friends almost immediately. We quickly realized we have a lot in common: a love for dogs and reggae music. We all had a lot of fun hanging out together. The only bad part is that she lives about 4 hours from us, so we won't be able to get together very often.

Heat Wave
Hubby, Sandy, and I will be braving the sudden heat wave to man our booth at the Alberta Hop today. This is our 3rd year doing it. We'll be sharing our booth with Bread and Badger, who makes super-cool etched glass accessories. If you're in the Portland metro area, come on by. It's always a ton of fun!

Mommy Dearest
Yesterday was my mom's birthday. In honor of that, here's my favorite photo of her. I'm not sure how old she was when it was taken. I think she looks like a movie star!

If You Were A Little Girl In The 70's (or early 80's)...
-You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a plastic basket with flowers on it.
-You learned to skate with actual skates (not roller blades) that had metal wheels.
-You thought Gopher from Love Boat was cute (admit it!)
-You had nightmares after watching Fantasy Island.
-You had either a "bowl cut" or "pixie," not to mention the "Dorothy Hamill".
-You owned a "Slip-n-Slide", on which you injured yourself on a sprinkler head more than once.
-You begged Santa/Hannukah Harry for the electronic game, Simon.
-You had a pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals (the ones with hard sole & the buckle).
-You wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder really bad; and you despised Nellie Olson!
-PONG! was the most remarkable futuristic game you've ever heard of!
-You know who Strawberry Shortcake is, as well as her friends, Blueberry Muffin & Huckleberry Pie. -You carried a Muppets lunch box to school and it was metal, not plastic.
-You and your girlfriends would fight over which of the Dukes of Hazzard was your boyfriend.
-YOU had Star Wars action figures, too!
-It was a big event in your household each year when the "Wizard of Oz" would come on TV. Your mom would break out the popcorn and sleeping bags!
-You did lots of arts and crafts, like yarn and Popsicle-stick G-d's eyes, decoupage, or those weird potholders made on a plastic loom.
-You made Shrinky-Dinks and put iron-on kittens on your t-shirts!
-You had subscriptions to Dynamite and Tiger Beat.
-You learned everything you needed to know about girl issues from Judy Blume books. (Are you there God, It's me, Margaret.)
-You thought Olivia Newton John's song "Physical" was about aerobics. (?? its not??)
-You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes, or shoelaces with heart or rainbow designs.
-You wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer.
-You drowned yourself in Love's Baby Soft - which was the first "real" perfume you ever owned.
-You glopped your lips in Strawberry Roll-on lip-gloss till it almost dripped off.