A Web Award!

ok....first off, several posts ago, I mentioned that I was going to make myself blog more often...obviously from the date of the last one, I'm full of you know what! With that being said, I received a Brillante Web Promo Award and must nominate 7 other blogs that I feel worthy of an award as well! Not hard to do with all of the fabulous artists/bloggers out there! Here are my 7:

1) http://decor8blog.com - an extreme inspiration to those of us who love interior design!

2) http://designspongeonline.com - another lovely interior design blog with sneak peeks into what is hot and new and upcoming!

3) http://shuttersisters.com - beautiful and inspiring photography!

4) http://hulaseventy.blogspot.com - wonderful projects, ongoing works and moving photos!

5) http://inspiremethursday.com - just that...features inspiration we can get from every day objects!

6) http://kimberlyhurst.com/blog - all about life, business, photos and more!

7) http://dispatchfromla.typepad.com - absolutely stunning photos and great stories!

Duties when receiving these awards:

1. Put the award logo from above on blog sidebar.
2. Link to the person you received the award from.
3. Nominate at least seven other blogs.
4. Add links to those seven on your blog.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you nominated.

These are just a few that I love and find great ideas and inspiration from them every time I check out their blogs....thanks to all of you....

Relay For Life Fundraiser Cookbook

My fabulous Coldwell Banker Complete Realty office has participated in the Relay For Life fundraiser for the last couple of years. We lost our dear friend and broker Richard Conley to cancer and he is still to this day missed sitting at his desk. He is, however, on our minds all of the time and I swear he watches over us. I can also guarantee that he laughs at half of what he sees. Sherry Conley, his wife, has been our broker ever since and she came up with the idea to do an office cookbook for our team to raise money with. We all thought it was a wonderful idea because most of us really enjoy cooking and share recipes all of the time anyway. Why not put them all together! She came to me and asked if I would do the cover for it...I was scared to death. This to me was something I was doing for Richard and his memory and I wanted it to look good for the short time I had to get it done. I did a collage, mixed media painting and of course, had to add Richard's precious smiling face to it. This years theme for the relay was the 80's, so we chose the song "Love Shack" as our theme - appropriate don't you think since we sell homes. You can see Sherry and our Marketing Director Wendi in our booth set up which Sherry had done to match the cookbook cover. It turned out great! I am really proud of how our office pulls together not just at work, but out in the community for such a good cause. We do this for Richard, for Sherry and the rest of the family, for us, as we've all been affected by this dreaded disease in some way and for the hope that a cure will be found someday.

It's Now My FAVORITE Time of The Year...

except for the fact that I fried myself in the sun yesterday laying out by a friend's pool! I did go and purchase sunscreen, but lo' and behold, the darn can wouldn't spray. Needless to say, I am taking it back!! Wonder if they'll pay for some aloe since it's their fault I look like a lobster!!! Just kidding...I thought I would share with you some of my favorite items from my CafePress store - you can go to http://cafepress.com/kellyvanhook and see everything, but I've posted a few samples! If you are heading out for a vacation, or just sitting by the pool, these would be great to take with you! I pretty much stay in shorts, a tank top, hat and flip flops when I'm off work...much better than jeans, sweater and cramped up feet, stuffed in boots wouldn't you say?!! I love, love, love this time of year!! Grab you a journal, tote bag, a hat or a tank and head on out!!! Have fun and don't forget the sunscreen!! P.S. Just an idea...spray it in the store to make sure it works first!

My Obsession with Golf...

...is starting to get in the way of my art when I have any spare time! This time of year (I am a fair weathered golfer only!) I really get the itch to get out and play. It's really the only outside activity I do besides some lightweight gardening and sitting on the patio relaxing. I have the best golf pro in the world that I took a lesson from last week and now I am bound and determined to make my golf swing look like a pro...ok, maybe not a pro, but much better than it is now! For all of you that have young children that may have an interest in the game, please find a way to get them some lessons! I really wish I would have played at a younger age - 31 was a little old to start, but at least it's a game you can play until you can't get around well anymore! My hubby is a great golfer and of course, encouraged me to start. He sure didn't know what he was getting into when he bought me my first set of clubs!! We do have a great time playing couples tournaments together and on our weekly night play on Thursdays. I do take my camera some and enjoy taking lots of pictures of our friends and different things you find on the course. You never know what you are going to see. Last night we saw huge bass fish trying to eat some baby ducks - it was the strangest thing I've ever seen! It is beautiful and peaceful, for the most part, to be out there and enjoying the scenery and good friends. I hope you all have something that you enjoy doing that is a great diversion from every day life...

Art in the Park for an Important Mission

This past Saturday, I actually did something I've never done before...put my art out for sale to the public (minus hiding behind my etsy storefront!)...now that doesn't sound like a big deal to some, but for me, it was. I've pretty much kept it to myself, in my little room for me to see. I think I had a guilt about actually collecting money for something I did to help myself, for my own mind and well-being and for the pure enjoyment of it. It was an absolute blast! My friend Robin talked me into doing it...and of course, mom thought it was a great idea. Robin is a co-worker of mine at Coldwell Banker Complete and she serves on the Board of Directors of The Robert Elliott Foundation, a foundation whose mission is to educate and be a resource for those suffering from depression and need help. Dr. Robert Elliott is the father of a very dear friend of mine, Mark (in the center of photo of the 3 guys! Along with him is Jimmy Simpson, another friend I love - I've known them both since 9th grade! Keith Pike, family friend is on the left) and father-in-law to Mark's wife Leah, one of the most beautiful and inspiring people you will ever meet on the planet. Dr. Elliott was a wonderful physician and member of our community and has been sorely missed since he passed away. His family and friends strive to help anyone in need from going through what they have and to keep Dr. Elliott's work to help others alive to this day. You can check out the foundation at http://www.robertelliottfdn.com/. I actually sold 5 paintings that day...it was a beautiful day. Lots of sunshine, kids, a 2k and 5k run, a petting zoo with I swear, the ugliest cow on the planet and wonderful laughter. My mom and dad came to see me, along with my grandpa and Aunt Sandy. It was like my coming out party! I will definitely do it again and am glad to finally be getting my name out there...it's a journey all in itself, but one I love going on...the paintings I sold are pictured above and I hope the fantabulous people who made purchases with me enjoy them as much as I did painting them....

Happy Mother's Day.....

to my beautiful mother and to all of yours as well. I am very lucky to have my mom close by.....we talk daily, well, usually multiple times throughout the day. It's why I live where I do - can't imagine living somewhere off and not get to see her all of the time. She keeps me calm, which is a chore, is the rock of the family and is so encouraging and postive - the polar opposite of my dear father! It seems as if she fixes everything and is always there to try and make things better. Mom has an etsy store as well, http://birdnestontheground.etsy.com; a place with beautiful handmade items such as quilts, pincushions, and very pretty pillows. Our tastes are not the same whatsoever, but we share the fun in having a place to sell our craft. You should really check it out - I am very modern in style but am so amazed at her level of talent and admire it very much as do many others in her field. I love you mom and hope you have a PIECEFUL day..........

Digital Enhancements

It is so amazing what you can do with images these days. I am always looking at the great photographers on etsy and admiring what they come up with. I have enjoyed so much, learning some of these techniques and just having fun with the outcome. The images here were taken from one photo of a tree limb. You can do anything if you try and want to know bad enough.....although I have to say, I'm not focusing very well because every time I turn around, there's something else that piques my interest! We had storms with heavy rain and tornados yesterday afternoon so I sat, once again, with my laptop and played on the computer. I really should quit messing around with nature pictures and get outside and get my flower beds in order!!