The Smile Spot :)

Baked Avocado & Egg

2012-02-28T12:28:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I came across a recipe for baked avocado & egg on a different blog. Click here to see the recipe. I LOVE avocados and I LOVE eggs, and the picture looked amazing, so I decided to give it a try.

The result was visually appealing, but I didn't really like the flavor. Here are a few additional pictures I took of my baked avocado and egg. For me personally, I would rather just slice my avocado, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and eat. Baking avocado, did not improve it in any way.

Crochet Spiral Topped Hat

2012-02-27T09:31:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures of the hat that I made for my oldest nephew, for Christmas.

This hat features a neck/ear warmer, tie-straps and 3 spirals attached to the top.

This hat is EXTREMELY thick and warm....

especially good for cold, snowy days!

This hat can be special ordered in any color/s you want.

The price range is $20 - $30 depending on your choice of yarn and the size needed. If you are interested in ordering please post a comment below or send me a text message at 616.308.6922.

***PLEASE TEXT MESSAGES ONLY, NO VOICEMAIL.***

Crochet Hat with Mouse Ears

2012-02-26T22:45:00.001-05:00

I made these "Mouse Ear Hats" for my two youngest nephews for Christmas. It's hard enough to get one baby to sit still and smile....getting them both to do that at the same time was pretty much impossible.

These hats can be special ordered in any colors you want.

The price range is $15 - $25 depending on your choice of yarn and the size needed. If you are interested in ordering please post a comment below or send me a text message at 616.308.6922.

***PLEASE TEXT MESSAGES ONLY, NO VOICEMAIL.***

Hawaiian Themed Dinner

2012-01-16T13:31:00.002-05:00

Yesterday around noon, my friend Adriana told me she had received an apron as a souvenir from some family members who had traveled to Hawaii. She then said that she wanted to do a Hawaiian themed meal, so that she had a good reason to wear her new tropical print apron.

By 4:30 we had thrown together an impromptu "Hawaiian" meal!

Our menu featured a pork roast, seasoned with fresh herbs; a freshly made salsa that included fresh mango, pineapple, tomatoes, peppers of assorted colors, freshly picked herbs and some seasonings, garnished with fresh picked mint; rice noodles cooked with sausage, cabbage and coconut milk and a tropical inspired mixed drink that included tequila and orange liquer, garnished fresh strawberries and pineapple.

DELICIOUS!

Fresh From the Garden - Cabbage

2012-01-13T10:20:00.000-05:00

While at my Aunt & Uncle's house last week, I got to bring home some super fresh goodies from the garden. One of those items being Cabbage.

Often when I incorporate cabbage into a meal, the cabbage tends to be part of the main course, but two nights ago when I decided to cook up one of these beautiful, crunchy heads, I was going to be serving it to children, and I wasn't sure if they liked cabbage or not. So I wanted to make it a side dish. I decided to bake some fish and instead of making fresh coleslaw, I went with a cooked cabbage side.

I cooked the cabbage with an onion and some pork sausage, then added some softened Asian rice noodles to round out the side, so that it provided not just veggies but also some grains/carbohydrates. The result was a unanimous success!

As the 3-year old put it, "Cabbage is good!" Yay! Anytime I can get a 3-year old to say those words about any vegetable, I consider it a job well done. :) Rachael

Fresh From the Garden - Turnips

2012-01-12T15:12:00.000-05:00

Those of you who know me, know that not only do I have a fondness for plants and gardening, I also LOVE to cook! This past week, while visiting family in South Eastern Georgia, I was fortunate enough to receive some fresh picked veggies from my uncle's garden.

One of the items I received was some turnips. I know a lot of people do not like turnips and the truth is, if they are not cooked correctly, I don't particularly like them either.

However, if they ARE cooked correctly they can be delicious! And being the fantastic cook that I am, they were delicious! I even fed them to 3 children who had never had turnips before and they all loved them and ate seconds!

Smashed turnips & potatoes with onion and bacon....a HUGE hit!

Vintage - Cowrie Shell Necklace

2012-01-02T12:26:00.000-05:00

This is a beautiful vintage Cowrie Shell Necklace. It is quite heavy and features a double row of Cowrie Shells, with a round, red bead nestled between each set of shells. It also has a very cool pendant made from 23 Cowrie Shells, with a larger red bead in the center. The pendant is part of the necklace and cannot be removed.

The necklace is a 15" chain, with the pendant adding an additional 3" in length. For a total hang length of 18".

Price: $35 (shipping included within the United States) (Additional shipping fees required if being sent outside the United States)

To purchase or for more information, please text me at: 616.308.6922. Be sure to mention the item that you are interested in and the best time for me to call you to make arrangements for payment and shipping.

Adventures in Crocheting - Part 3 - Handbag of Errors

2011-12-30T13:52:00.002-05:00

Story continued from: Part 1 and Part 2

Bolstered by my relative success with the pattern free potholder, I started looking online for something simple that I could try making. I found a little handbag with an online video tutorial.

Remember though that I had only purchased 1 small ball of yarn, but I started out following the tutorial and making this small bag. I realized once I got the bottom completed that I was going to run out of yarn, so I put it away for the night and went back to Hobby Lobby for another ball of yarn the next day. Of course, when I got to Hobby Lobby, they were out of that particular yarn...so I chose another color that I thought would compliment the turquoise (lucky me, I got to figure out how to change colors mid pattern). I also, picked up another size crochet hook and 2 additional balls of yarn (for future projects).

Here is the final bag...it has a lot of errors. Truthfully, I still hadn't realized how important counting is in the world of crochet. So somehow, I managed to add enough extra stitches, that by the time I got to the point where I was ready to make the handles, I had an extra 13 stitches in my top row! AAAGHHHH!

Of course, I had no intention of going back and fixing the error, so I did my best to recalculate where I needed to begin and end my handles, and the length that they needed to be, given my extra stitches. So no, this bag is not perfect...but it's nice enough that I can actually give it to one of my young nieces, without having to apologize for it.

To make up for my errors, I found a tutorial on how to make a simple rosette and I added it to the bag for a little extra detailing.

OH, I almost forgot! I now KNOW what a single crochet is!

Here is the yarn info for anyone who is interested...

Turquoise: I Love This Cotton (Hobby Lobby Brand), 100% Cotton, Color #/Name - #70 Turquoise

Purple: I Love This Cotton (Hobby Lobby Brand), 100% Cotton, Color #/Name - 252 Purple

Adventures in Crocheting - Part 2 - Pattern Free Pot Holder

2011-12-30T13:18:00.003-05:00

Continued from: Adventures in Crocheting - Part 1 - Sad Little Dishcloth

After snipping the thread on my sad little dishcloth, I decided that perhaps, I should try making something circular, rather than square....so I flipped to the easiest circular item in my pattern book.

Yeah right...who was I kidding, I was going to need to take a class just on READING crochet patterns, let alone actually doing the stitches. So I decided to venture out on my own....to just crochet without being hindered by the confines of a pattern.

Surprisingly, the results were not as bad as one would expect, given how horrible the dishcloth turned out.

Here are a few pictures of my pot holder...just don't ask me to make another one because I didn't know what I was doing and I certainly didn't write down what I did. :)

In the event that you might want to purchase this particular yarn to make something for yourself, here is the yarn info: I Love This Cotton (Hobby Lobby brand) 100% Cotton, Color/Name: #70 Turquoise

Adventures in Crocheting - Part 1 - Sad Little Dishcloth

2011-12-30T12:52:00.002-05:00

So the day after Christmas found me in Hobby Lobby around 3PM. I had stopped by there to grab some discounted Christmas wrapping paper for a friend, who isn't celebrating Christmas with their family until the 2nd week of January.

The good thing...I had nothing else going on that day, and I was happy to be able to help a friend. The bad thing...letting me loose in Hobby Lobby, with no time constraints usually ends up with me wandering around for at least an hour, just checking things out. On this particular day, I found myself in the yarn aisle...I'm really not sure why...that's just where I ended up. I looked at all the different textures and beautiful colors before going down the next aisle, which put me smack dab in front of all of the books of patterns for knitting and crocheting.

I can't knit. That is a fact. The whole, coordinating two hands thing just doesn't seem to work for me. My mother tried to show me how to knit back when I was around 14-15...I attempted (the key word there is attempted) to make a scarf. That scarf never actually got completed...in fact, after a whole evening of attempting, pulling stitches out and repeating "knit one, purl one", I think I ended up with 3 rows, which had dropped stitches all over the place!

Crocheting on the other hand...hmmm, that I might be able to do! I remember that my mother first showed me how to crochet with I was somewhere between 10-12...maybe a little younger. I don't actually remember ever completing any crochet projects (perhaps my mom can remember if I did or not) but I do remember it being a heck of a lot easier than crocheting.

So, finding myself standing in front of the knitting and crocheting books, I automatically gave preference to the ones for crochet. I picked up several, flipped through them, put them back...and then I saw IT, it was beautiful, it was perfect and I HAD to make one for my sister's soon-to-be baby girl! I picked up the pattern book and turned it page by page...each one was more beautiful than the last! I could make this...right? I mean, my mother had taught me how to crochet some 27 years ago. How hard could it be? It's probably like riding a bike.

Noticing that the patterns I liked were marked Intermediate and Intermediate +, I decided that I should probably start with something simple, like a dish cloth. So I put back the pattern that I HAD TO MAKE and found a book with 36 different patterns for dishcloths, pot holders, etc. Several of the patterns were marked Beginner and Easy...I found the simplest one in the book, looked to see what type of yarn and size of hook it called for and put it in my cart. I picked out my hook and then went and selected my yarn. This was going to be so much fun! And easy, it was going to be easy! I mean, I already knew how and the pattern said it was easy....no problem.

After getting home, I immediately pulled out my yarn, hook and pattern book. I flipped to the easiest pattern in the book and read the instructions.

Pattern Book: "With first color, ch 31"

Me: "Ok, that must mean chain stitch 31, I can do that, I know the chain stitch. Ok, done. What's next?"

Pattern Book: "sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn (30sc)"

Me: "What? What the heck is a sc? Flip to the appendix in the back of the book. Ok, sc means Single crochet. Simple enough." (except the stitch that I did was NOT a single crochet.)

Pattern Book: "ch 1, sc in each st across, turn, continue to last row. Fasten off."

Me: "Ok."

I continued doing what I thought was a single crochet...never counting a stitch...I mean, how hard could it be?

After about 45 minutes, I had about 18 sad, sad little rows....they were different lengths as I had dropped and added stitches at will (easy to do, when you aren't counting and you have NO clue what you're doing.)

Frustrated that my SIMPLE dishcloth wasn't even close to being square, and frustrated because I had ZERO idea how to read the pattern, I pulled out all of the stitches (well most of them anyway....once I got down to the last 3 rows, I had such a tangled mess that I just cut it off and threw it away.)

Determined, I started again. Still not actually doing the correct stitch...at least not intentionally. After about 4 rows, I remembered a stitch that my mother had taught me and decided to incorporate it in. (It actually was a single crochet, but I had NO idea that's what it was called.) I tried to be more careful about not dropping or adding stitches...and what I ended up with was, if not perfect, at least close to being square.

Now to do the edge....what does the pattern book have to say?

Pattern Book: "Join 2nd color with sc in first st, 2 sc in same st, sc in each st and in end of each row around with 3 sc in each corner st, join with sl st in beg sc. (148 sc)

Me: "Oh good Lord, what does all that even mean? Why can't they write these things in English?"

I decided to disregard the pattern at this point and just do the edge with whatever stitch I could manage to do. Of course, not knowing how to do corners correctly caused my square dish cloth to curl inwards around the edges. Oh well, I don't care...it's just a dish cloth, afterall. I tied off the end of my yarn and called it good.

I have titled this first crochet piece "Sad Little Dishcloth". Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure!

The Daily Pic - Dinner Time

2011-11-30T10:02:00.001-05:00

Ibis' feeding in the shallow water at
City Beach Park in Punta Gorda Shores, Florida.

Handmade - 9" Blue & Silver Holiday Wreath

2011-11-29T23:25:00.000-05:00

This 9" handmade, holiday, reed wreath features an elegant silver and blue color scheme. A glittery silver poinsettia bloom, silver berries and a silver ornament are tucked into a bed of artificial evergreen and sheer blue and silver ribbon. The same ribbon is woven through the wreath. Due to the design of this particular wreath, it can be hung or displayed horizontally or vertically.

The colors used in this wreath make it suitable to use throughout the winter season, as opposed to only being a Christmas decoration.

The smaller size of a 9 inch wreath makes it the perfect adornment for windows, mantels, desks or bookshelves. They can also be hung over the corner of the back of chairs or entry-way benches.

This is the only wreath that I made using this particular grouping of materials, so this is truly a "One of a kind" decoration or gift!

A percentage of the sale of this wreath will be donated to Traffic Jam, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to "jam" up the traffic of children into sex slavery and child militias by funding trafficking prevention, rescue and aftercare programs around the world. Learn more about Traffic Jam at: http://trafficjam.org

Available for $12 plus shipping. If you purchase multiple items, shipping can and will be combined. Located in Orlando, Florida, if you are local I am happy to have you stop by and pick up anything you purchase so that you can avoid shipping charges.

To purchase this wreath, call or text: 407-900-4968

Handmade - 9" Green & Gold Holiday Wreath

2011-11-29T18:58:00.002-05:00

This particular wreath has been SOLD.

This 9" handmade, holiday, reed wreath features an adorable green and peach bird, delicately perched on a collection of silk evergreen foliage, gold-dipped pinecones, and glittery gold berries. A sheer green ribbon is woven through the wreath, with a large sheer gold ribbon bow completing this welcoming holiday decoration.

The colors used in this wreath make it suitable to use throughout the winter season, as opposed to only being a Christmas decoration.

The smaller size of a 9 inch wreath makes it the perfect adornment for windows, mantels, desks or bookshelves. They can also be hung over the corner of the back of chairs or entry-way benches.

This is the only wreath that I made using this particular grouping of materials, so this is truly a "One of a kind" decoration or gift!

To purchase this wreath, call: 407-900-4968

Handmade - 9" Red Holiday Wreath

2011-11-29T14:44:00.006-05:00

This 9 inch reed wreath features a glittery red bird nestled in a bed of evergreen silk foliage, red berries and a pinecone accented with a metallic golden spray. A large gold ribbon bow completes the look.

9 inch wreaths are perfect for hanging in windows, on the backs of chairs or setting atop the fireplace mantel, the bright red and green color scheme will add a touch of festivity to any room!

This is the only wreath I made using these particular materials, so this is a one-of-a-kind decoration!

A percentage of the sale of this wreath will be donated to Traffic Jam, a not for profit organization whose mission is to "jam" up the traffic of children into sex slavery and child militias by funding trafficking prevention, rescue and aftercare programs around the world. Learn more about Traffic Jame at: http://trafficjam.org

Available for $12 plus shipping. Located in Orlando, Florida, local buyers are welcome to pick up purchases in order to avoid shipping costs.

To order call: 407-900-4968

Handmade - 9" Gold Holiday Wreath

2011-11-29T13:08:00.003-05:00

This 9 inch reed wreath features a golden bird nestled in a bed of evergreen silk foliage, glittery gold berries and poinsettia, and tied with a gold ribbon bow. A sheer green ribbon is woven through the wreath to complete the look.

Perfect for hanging in windows, on the edge of shelves or setting atop the fireplace mantel, the gold and green color scheme make it a great choice for the entire winter season, and not just for Christmas!

This is the only wreath I made using these particular materials, so this is a one-of-a-kind decoration!

Available for $12 plus shipping. Located in Orlando, Florida, local buyers are welcome to pick up purchases in order to avoid shipping costs.

To order call: 407-900-4968

Creative Design - An Introduction

2011-11-09T12:33:00.000-05:00

A little girl, introducing herself to a horse. Opinions, Thoughts, Insight....please leave a comment.

The Daily Pic - Look Up

2011-11-08T12:17:00.000-05:00

I took this picture on September 22, 2011 in Melbourne, Florida. I really liked the vertical perspective. Leave a comment and let me know what you think! :)

The Daily Pic - Brother & Sister

2011-11-07T10:00:00.002-05:00

I took these photos of a brother and sister in August of 2011

The Daily Pic - Picnic Table

2011-11-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

A regular, old, picnic table seen through the lens of a camera becomes a work of art.

The Daily Pic - Stones

2011-11-05T10:00:00.002-04:00

Stones....cool, relaxing, beautiful.

This picture was taken September 20, 2011 in Melbourne, FL

The Daily Pic - A Family of Snails

2011-11-04T22:57:00.000-04:00

I recently had quite the snail infestation....eating holes in all of my plants. As obnoxious as they are, I couldn't help but take a few pictures. :)

The Daily Pic - Muhly Grass

2011-10-27T22:27:00.000-04:00

Question for you....do you take your camera with you when you go garage saleing? You should...you never know when you'll spot something photo worthy. For example, this past weekend, when I saw the most beautiful ornamental grass. I bought a baking dish but I also got permission to take some pictures of their yard. It's called Muhly Grass. I had never seen or heard of it before, but I'm definitely a fan!

Two Adorable Nephews

2011-10-27T12:58:00.000-04:00

My two youngest nephews! I hope they grow up to be great friends, as well as, cousins!

A Day at the Fair!

2011-10-26T23:46:00.001-04:00

In my hometown in Michigan, every summer, we have a fair. The Lowell

4-H Fair. And it's pretty much a given that if I happen to be in town while the fair is on, I am going to gather as many of my nieces and nephews together as I can, and head on down to check out everything there is to see. Here are some pictures from our time at the fair this past August.

Here we are waiting for the horse-drawn wagon that shuttles us in from the parking area.

I love these two! I think this was the 4th time that they have been to experience the fair with me.

This was his first fair ever!

Giving Aunt Katie some love!

I love this picture of the two of them! I love to see them enjoying doing things together, just like my brother and I did, when we were their ages.

Everything is so new and interesting!

While we were in the chicken barn, he realized for the first time that all of the animals at the fair were raised by kids. "Aunt Rachael, you mean kids are the ones raising ALL THESE ANIMALS? I want to raise a chicken! As soon as I see my mom, I'm going to ask her if I can have a chicken!" He then requested that I take pictures of several different chickens. So, sweety, these next few pictures are for you!

And here are a couple turkey pictures, for good measure.

Horses are always one of her favorites.

Check out the looks of wonder, disbelief and amazement on his face in the next few pictures!

This one makes me laugh every time I look at it...if he could talk, I imagine the conversation would go something like this. HIM: "This is unbelievable! Do you SEE this thing?" HER: "It's just a sheep, no big deal."

Deal of the Week - Christmas Cards (Up to 50% Off)

2011-10-21T19:14:00.002-04:00

Christmas Cards - Half Off!

Through October 28, 2011 - All of my custom Christmas Cards will be up to 50% off!

Hurry! Get yours ordered today! Email me (Rachael) at: rmcreativedesign@yahoo.com.

All Christmas Cards feature:

Original photography and/or artwork
Customizable Inside Message
*Optional - Words on front can be customized
*Optional - Business Logo can be added to either front or back
Available in multiple sizes.
Envelopes included
Minimum purchase required. Starting at less than 20 cents each**

Available Designs

Red Barn

Red Flower Painting

Silo with Star

Frozen

(**price per each based on quantity)(*may include additional fee)

Creative Design - Bright Colors and Flowers

2011-10-21T09:42:00.000-04:00

Here are my latest works of art. Which one is your favorite?

Healthy Sexy Photo Challenge!

2011-10-20T20:45:00.001-04:00

To all of you love photography as much as I do....check out my blog: Healthy, Sexy, You. and take part in our new monthly themed photo challenge! The date of the first challenge will be November 1st!

To find out more about this challenge, visit Healthy Sexy Photo Challenge

Greek Vacation Giveaway

2011-10-18T13:54:00.001-04:00

Greece....it's a place that I have always wanted to visit. And FAGE is giving away three, all expense paid trips to Greece. The trips include First Class airfare, three nights luxury accomodations in Athens, 4 nights luxury accomodations in Crete and exclusive tours through Athens, Crete and the FAGE factory. I'm entering to win...you should too! (If you win but have no one to go with, I'm always available!) Good luck! CLICK HERE TO ENTER

The Design of a Palm Tree - 4

2011-10-18T09:00:00.002-04:00

So this will be the last post featuring the photo of the palm tree that I took on September 20, 2011. Click here to see the original photo and my first set of designs, my second set of designs or my third set of designs.

In this last set of designs, I used the colored blocks that I posted as part of my third set. I took the blocks, put them together and then made a few alterations. What do you think? :) Rachael

Garage Sale Photo Shoot

2011-10-17T20:37:00.000-04:00

While visiting family in Michigan this summer, I went to one garage sale....nothing there caught my fancy, but my mom and aunt where finding treasures galore. So, my nieces, nephew and I used the time to have an impromptu photo shoot. Proof that what makes a good photo is the subject matter, and not necessarily the background. :) -- Rachael

Small Business Solutions & Creative Design

2011-10-17T20:00:00.001-04:00

Everyone has things that they are good at...these happen to be some of my strengths. If you could use any of these services, please let me know! I'm going to be running crazy specials over the next 2 or 3 months!

The Design of a Palm Tree - 3

2011-10-17T09:00:00.001-04:00

This is my third post that showcases my creativity in manipulating a photo I took of a palm tree. To see my previously posted pictures of this palm tree, click here for the first set and click here for the second.

Here I have taken the original photo and made it look vintage.

In this image, I tiled the original image in evenly spaced rows.

In the next four images, I have given the palm tree photo the look of a hand-carved, rubber stamped image. I liked it so much, I repeated it in multiple colors.

So, what do you think? Leave a comment and let me know which one is your favorite!

Summer Vacation in Michigan - 2

2011-10-16T20:25:00.001-04:00

Here are a few more pictures from my August trip to Michigan....more to come over the next few days.

Summer Vacation in Michigan - 1

2011-10-16T20:10:00.001-04:00

This past August I went home to Michigan for a long weekend....needless to say, I took a ton of pictures...Here is the first group. Enjoy --Rachael :)

The Daily Pic - Monarch Butterfly

2011-10-16T17:33:00.002-04:00

I took this picture right outside of my apartment. A gorgeous Monarch Butterfly....enjoying the sweet nectar of the beautiful Lantana.

The Design of a Palm Tree - 2

2011-10-16T09:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I posted six different takes on the photo I took of a palm tree last month. Click here to see those photos. Today I am posting a few more! To me, these have an Andy Warhol, art deco feel. I really like them, I think that they would make a cool set of notecards. Enjoy! And please leave a comment and let me know what you think and also, which is your favorite! Thanks :) Rachael

In this first image, I have kept the integrity of the original photograph's colors.

The Design of a Palm Tree - 1

2011-10-15T16:59:00.001-04:00

So it's no surprise to anyone who has viewed my blog before that I enjoy photography. What you may not know is that I also do graphic design.

I took this photograph of a palm tree, September 20, 2011, in Melbourne, Florida.

I then digitally manipulated the image to come up with some cool alternative images....check them out!

Leave a comment and let me know which image is your favorite! :) Rachael

The Daily Pic - Cycads

2011-10-13T09:00:00.001-04:00

Here are a couple pictures of one of the many Cycad plants in my yard. Enjoy :)

The Daily Pic - Moss Roses

2011-10-12T09:00:00.002-04:00

Moss Roses - I love these bright, cheerful flowers, whose blooms open every morning to the sun and close up every evening...waiting to open again the next day.

Here I go getting artistic.... :)

The Daily Pic - A Yellow Rose

2011-10-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

A yellow rose bud.
Simple.
Beautiful.

The Daily Pic - Mexican Petunia

2011-10-10T09:00:00.002-04:00

Here are a few pictures I took of a Mexican Petunia. I love this flower. It's beautiful, it's strong, it's hardy and it's difficult to kill...but at the same time, it's delicate, it's blooms sometimes only lasting for 1 day. Kind of like some people. Resilient when necessary but still sensitive on the inside.

The Daily Pic - Mystery Succulent

2011-10-09T13:52:00.000-04:00

I bought this small, mystery, succulent at a garage sale last year...I have no idea what it is. However, 1 year later, and I now have at least 20 new plants growing. It's unusual looking and I like it. If you have any idea what it is, please leave a comment and let me know!

Round Robin Photo Challenge: Relax

2011-10-09T12:18:00.000-04:00

The Daily Pic - An Unknown Wasp

2011-09-25T13:08:00.000-04:00

This wasp looking thing, outside my door...

...is it a wasp or is it something else all together?

Thank you waspy creature for indulging my desire to photograph you.

The Daily Pic - A Walk After the Rain

2011-09-24T21:24:00.001-04:00

Here in Central Florida we have about one more month before the "rainy" season is over. For some reason, the end of a shower or thunderstorm inevitably seems to draw me outside with my camera. Here are a few pictures that were taken on such a day.

Peering through the leaves of a Bird of Paradise plant.

Raindrops on Orchids. I love these flowers!

I feel so blessed to live in a place where they bloom year round!

A Maple tree, the leaves of which, are heavy with rain drops.

The delicate shoots of Coleus in bloom.

Reflection in a puddle.

On this particular afternoon, Roman joined me for my walk.

I love how the rain makes everything green again!

Sometimes life is hard...we should take a lesson from this little plant.

Thrive - whatever your circumstances...

even if you find yourself between a rock and a hard place

...or in this instance a brick.

And last, but certainly not least...my favorite picture from this particular day. Raindrops on a fern. Why do I like it so much?

I'm not sure, I just know that I do.

Around Town - Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards

2011-09-10T19:20:00.002-04:00

Back in July, a friend and I went and toured the Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, located at 19239 US 27 North, Clermont, FL 34715. On the day that we visited, there was free blues music out on the lawn. Here are a few pictures from that afternoon. Enjoy!

The front of the winery

Some shots of the vineyards

Some of the people out enjoying the live music

A very cool carved door

A potted plant.....whose vines and leaves make for an interesting ceiling

Some antique wine making supplies

Each barrel served as a tasting table for a different type of wine

This machine is used to shake the grapes off the vine

Florida is so humid that they can't make wine in oak barrels...

...instead they used large stainless steel vats

An amusing mouse pad available at the store

Corks in a cork cage

The tour is free and takes about 45 minutes and is extremely informative and educational. It also includes free tasting samples of 8-12 different wines! I highly recommend spending an afternoon there!

For more information on the winery, visit their website at: http://www.lakeridgewinery.com/

Round Robin Photo Challenge: Shades of Grey

2011-09-10T12:21:00.000-04:00

A close up picture of a metal sculpture.

Around Town - The Tiki Bar on Lake Minneola

2011-09-09T19:05:00.002-04:00

On July 30, 2011, I visited the Tiki Bar on Lake Minneola in Clermont, Florida, with a friend of mine. Good food, good company and gorgeous views!

Tiki torches line the path.

A popular gathering spot for locals.

No tiki bar would be complete without island decor.

The view from my barstool.

We had a fantastic time and if you are ever in the area on a bright, sunny day, I suggest you stop by!

You can find more info on their website at: http://www.lakeminneola.com/

The Daily Pic - One Nation, Under God

2011-08-02T20:05:00.000-04:00

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Another picture, taken out my driver's side window, while stuck in rush hour traffic.

The Daily Pic - Best Graffiti Ever!

2011-07-30T22:31:00.000-04:00

I'm not typically a fan of the defacing of structures with graffiti....but I'm ok with this example!

The Daily Pic - A Beautiful Door

2011-07-23T15:59:00.000-04:00

An old, beautiful, heavy, carved wooden door....It makes me wonder, how many people have passed through this door? How many hands have knocked? How many storms has this old door weathered?

A door. A work of art.

Introducing my new blog "Healthy, Sexy, You."

2011-07-22T16:53:00.001-04:00

Check it out! Follow it! Comment! Make Suggestions! If you are an expert in any of the categories of health (physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, mental) and you'd like to be a guest blogger or have content featured, let me know!

Healthy, Sexy, You.

xoxo...Rachael :)

Get Featured

2011-07-22T10:22:00.002-04:00

In the past, I have featured other people's beautiful photos, craft ideas, things that make them smile, etc....but I'd like to start featuring people who WANT to be featured.

If you are trying to build your blog or Etsy following, if you want to share your creativity, if you'd like to generate some website traffic, if you have something that you'd like to have me feature on my blog, please let me know!

Post a comment to this blog posting and I will contact you! Let's get the ball rolling and help each other out!

xoxo...Rachael :)

Around Town - The Resort & Club at Little Harbor

2011-07-21T22:21:00.004-04:00

Recently I had the pleasure of staying at the Resort & Club at Little Harbor on business. Imagine my delight as I pushed open the door of my "hotel room" to find this...

...A lovely sitting/living area...

...The sun washing the room in beams of light...

...Pale shades of blue creating a relaxing sleeping area...

...A fully equipped workspace with free high-speed internet and plush seating...

...A kitchen featuring all the utensils needed to enjoy a bottle of wine for two or cook a full meal for ten...

...A spacious bathroom with charming brick-like tiles...

...Great artwork and accessories...

...And an ABSOLUTELY STUNNING view! Sunset or Sunrise...take your pick...

...As if that weren't enough, The Resort and Club at Little Harbor features loads of amenities, including grills, bon-fire pits, on-site restaurant & tiki bar, multiple pools and hot tubs, marina, athletic and workout facilities, and last but certainly not least...a private beach, private fishing pier & paddle board rentals...

...I CAN'T WAIT until my next visit!

The Resort and Club at Little Harbor is located at 611 Destiny Drive, Ruskin, Florida 33570

Check out their website at: http://www.staylittleharbor.com/

The Daily Pic - Having Fun!

2011-07-17T11:38:00.001-04:00

Here's a picture of my niece and nephew....courtesy of my brother. It made me laugh...and then I looked at their shoes and I laughed even more!

Round Robin Photo Challenge: Something Old Something New

2011-07-16T21:14:00.000-04:00

The theme for today's challenge was "Something Old, Something New". I took this picture at a local, out-door, community market this week...it's a place where local farmers sell meat, veggies and milk, local artists sell jewelry and all manner of home-made crafts and down-home, earthy items. This picture is a snap-shot of a modern day mother with her two daughters....and yet, if the picture were in black and white, if the people were wearing different styles of clothing, and if the child were not wearing a bike helmet....it could have easily been taken back in the 50's. I thought about making it a black and white picture...but I didn't want to lose the vibrant colors of the bikes, food truck and clothing....a little piece of modern day nostalgia. Enjoy!

The Daily Pic - Pigeons in the Rain

2011-07-12T22:44:00.000-04:00

The heading says it all...

The Daily Pic - On End

2011-07-11T14:07:00.000-04:00

Due to my job, I am often driving on Interstate 4, between Orlando and Tampa. Here is an interesting piece of folk art, recycled art, or camper art...whatever you choose to call it, I have driven by many times and EVERY time I do, I think to myself..."Self, you should really take a picture of that next time." Well, here it is....I couldn't get all of the campers into the picture, as it was during rush hour and I almost got myself run over by an 18-wheeler and I couldn't get far enough away to fit the whole thing into the picture....but I think it turned out good, all the same. :)

The Daily Pic - Stormy Sky

2011-07-08T10:53:00.000-04:00

Here in Florida we were having a fairly bad drought, but over the past two weeks we have had more than our fair share of rain...it has provided me with ample opportunity to take some stormy sky pictures.

Around Town - Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

2011-07-04T13:20:00.001-04:00

One place that I really enjoy visiting is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. You never know what you will see, but no matter what you see, you are guaranteed to find plenty of things to take pictures of. This last time that I was there, it was raining like crazy!

The rain made for some beautiful and unusual lighting, but it also made it difficult to get my camera to focus on anything...

I'm not sure what type of tree this is...but if I had to guess, I'd say it was some type of juniper tree...whatever type of tree it is, it was covered in little white berries and I thought it was pretty.

Eventually, the rain stopped and the sun came back out...the greens and the blues looked so vibrant!

Look at the motion in the water....after the rain, schools of hundreds of tiny fish all started surfacing at the same time! It was very cool to see! This also brought out the big wading birds...it was so interesting to watch the birds running around chasing after the schools of fish.

And then we rounded a curve and I saw something I have never seen before...I wild hog! It was quite far out, in the middle of a pasture type area.

Almost immediately after we saw him, he turned and started walking towards our vehicle.

And sure enough....he found his way all the way out to the road.

He didn't even care when we pulled up right next to him, to take a picture!

Check out this bird, spreading his wings to dry, after the rain.

And last but certainly not least....we came upon a very large alligator that was laying in a puddle, in the middle of the road. He didn't want to hang around with us, so when we got there, he got up and walked away.

If you live in Central Florida and have never driven through the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, I totally recommend it! And if you are a tourist in the area and want to see wildlife in their natural habitat...I cannot recommend any place better!

The Daily Pic - Portrait of a Friend

2011-07-03T16:54:00.002-04:00

Here are a few pictures I took of a friend, while at the beach.

Around Town - Cape Canaveral National Seashore

2011-07-02T21:21:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned I love the ocean??? Here are a few pictures from a recent visit to Cape Canaveral National Seashore. Beautiful! :)

Round Robin Photo Challenge: Sign of the Times

2011-07-02T16:26:00.000-04:00

This is a photo that I took of a sign, the week of Father's Day...it made me smile, so I thought I would share it!

To see the other entries in this week's Round Robin Photo Challenge, click here.

Wendy's Wild Berry Tea

2011-07-01T19:49:00.000-04:00

When it comes to iced tea and fast food restaurants, I would have to say that McDonald's wins, hands down. However, with the temperature feeling like close to 100 degrees, when I pulled off the interstate today to get some gas, all I cared about was getting something to drink, there was a Wendy's next door to the gas station. I pulled through the drive through and saw their advertisement for Wild Berry Tea, "infused with a natural puree of real summer berries," I KNEW I had to try it!

All I can say, is it is quite possibly the most delicious tea that my taste buds have ever experienced! It was so good, that 2 hours later, as I was still on I-4, in the midst of the heat and craziness of Orlando rush hour traffic, I intentionally looked for an exit with a Wendy's so that I could quench my thirst with another Wild Berry Tea. Two in one day, a repeat customer....that is the best review a person can give!

The Daily Pic - Sunset at Fort DeSoto Park

2011-07-01T13:06:00.000-04:00

Yesterday evening we went out to the North Beach at Fort DeSoto Park. Here are 2 of the many pictures I took of the sunset. It was more beautiful than I can describe and the pictures do not do it justice!

Around Town - Baldwin Park 5

2011-06-28T15:30:00.000-04:00

I love this top picture! It's one of my absolute favorites that I took while in Baldwin Park, last week. At the rate I've been going, there was a distinct possibility that by the time I got around to sharing all of my pictures from that day, that I might have a while new bunch to share....so, I decided to make today's post a long one and to include all of my additional Baldwin Park pictures...at least until I take more. Hope you enjoy!

Some sort of grass....it's either getting ready to flower or going to seed.

Framed by the fence...

I love the dark blue color of the water in this picture...

and the fact that you can see a full reflecting of the reeds growing along the edge.

I should really save these next two pictures until I hear of a photo challenge with the topic of "Green"...

but I'm not going to.

The unique bark on these trees caught my eye...and made for some pretty nice pictures!

Resident's decorating their homes for the upcoming holiday!

A pretty path...

Neighbors....one house invokes images of Americana...while next door I am transported to the Mediteranean.

I love the stark contrast of the branches against the sky.

It's all about perspective...from one point of view, the tree branches provide an arial border to the walking path...and from another point of view, they provide a natural frame to this post-card perfect home.

And there we have it....say good-bye to posts about Baldwin Park...at least for the time being! :)

Roman's Senior Pictures

2011-06-27T19:57:00.000-04:00

My dog Roman...he's getting up there in age. This coming December he will be 12, which means that right now, as of June 2011, he is just over 80 years old (in dog years.) Since the life expectancy of a Labrador is 10 - 12 years, I am faced with the truth that he could pass away at any time. With this in mind, I figured we should do a senior picture photo shoot...

As with any senior picture photo shoot, we took several different poses...

And of course, half way through the photo shoot, he needed a bathroom break, so during that time, I took some pictures of the scenery...

After his break, we got a few more shots...

Another break to stretch his legs....which meant more scenery pictures for me...

One important piece of information that you can't tell from these photos is that Roman does NOT like to have his picture taken...if you notice, in almost every picture, he is looking away from the camera. I am not sure why he is like this, but he has always been this way. When he was younger and I would take his picture, he would actually jump up and bark ferociously at the camera....now he just looks away...

After about 35 pictures were taken, this was the look he gave me...which I took to mean, "Enough is enough! Don't make me come over there and bite you..."

...which would be difficult for him anyway, since somehow he is missing his two front teeth. But I figured that I had harassed him enough for the day and made that his last pose. :)

Around Town - Baldwin Park 4

2011-06-27T02:10:00.000-04:00

Today, I am posting pictures of some flowers that I took while in Baldwin Park, last week. It was a perfect day, sunny, and the colors of the flowers just POPPED against the blue sky and the green grass!

These next 2 pictures, are my favorites that I am posting today! I LOVE them!

Links of Interest

2011-06-26T10:22:00.000-04:00

I live in Florida and I love the ocean. I love the smell of the ocean, the wind, the beauty of it, the birds, the sunshine, the wildlife, you get the point! It only stands to reason that I would like craft projects that make use of shells, because even though I have plenty already, it is downright impossible for me to go out to the coast without picking up (and bringing home) additional shells. Rhonda Spiers at Blue Creek Home shares a great step-by-step photo guide to making a Shell encrusted mirror.

In the "SAY WHAT?!" category...apparently there is a group of South Florida ob-gyn offices that "outright refuse treatment to ALL women over a certain weight." Lesley Kinzel of Two Whole Cakes offers an insightful editorial on this topic.

Talk about an unusual traffic stop! Police in Michigan finally stopped a 7 year old, after he had already driven 20 miles! Crazy!

Questions, Comments or Just want to say hi? Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond!

Around Town - Baldwin Park 3

2011-06-25T21:15:00.001-04:00

Ok, so today I'm posting some pictures that I took of shadows. These pictures are all very similar but all a little different. I liked them all and couldn't decide which to share, so I'm sharing them all!

The Daily Pic - Baby Lizard

2011-06-25T12:40:00.000-04:00

So with all the lizard mating going on outside my front door, it stands to reason that I'd start to see baby lizards running around. They are SO cute and tiny. I took these pictures 2 days ago, of a baby lizard who had positioned himself on my pineapple plant. His body (not including the tail) was only about 1 inch long!

Can you spot him in the above picture?

Macro Flowers Saturday - 6.25.11

2011-06-25T00:12:00.001-04:00

Around Town - Baldwin Park 2

2011-06-24T15:59:00.000-04:00

Today I am sharing some more of my pictures that I took in Baldwin Park, earlier this week. In the portion of Baldwin Park where I happened to be, there is a lovely bridge...here are a few pictures of it. Enjoy!

McDonald's Mango Pineapple Smoothie

2011-06-24T12:53:00.000-04:00

Today while going through the drivethrough at McDonald's to get my daily large unsweetened ice tea, I noticed this picture prominently displayed.

Now, I enjoy a good smoothie, and when I order or make a smoothie, 9 times out of 10, it is going to contain mango and/or pineapple. So I decided to give this product a try and added one to my order.

I would like to preface my review of this product by saying that while I have tried the strawberry and mixed berry smoothies at McDonalds, my opinion of them was not high...in fact, they were downright disappointing. So it was with some trepidation that I decided to give the Mango Pineapple Smoothie a try.

Great color, great smell....now for the real test...a sip through the straw... WOW!!! Fantastic! This has to be the best tasting drink I have ever gotten from McDonalds! Homemade smoothies not included, this is one of the best mango smoothies I have ever had. The texture is perfect, it really tastes like fresh mangos and I thouroughly enjoyed every sip!

Perfect for a hot summer day! :)

Around Town - Baldwin Park 1

2011-06-23T18:32:00.001-04:00

Spent a little time in Baldwin Park yesterday and took a TON of pictures...I can't share them all with you, but I have narrowed them down to my top 50...lol. Since I can't post 50 pictures in one blog posting, I shall spread them out and share them with you over the next several days!

Today, I am going to share the pictures of birds that I took.

Momma was very vocal anytime any other birds came near her babies!

3 Males and only 1 female....the female was fine with it, but the guys not so much. It happened to fast for me to get a picture of it, but I watched one the males grab ahold of the tail feathers of the other males and attack them until they flew away!

I think this is my favorite bird picture from yesterday...

I love the full reflection of the reeds and the bird, in the water!

This little bird was fishin' and did not at all like the fact that I was interrupting his dinner!

I really like the contrast of the grass and the water in these last photos....and I love how the grass is blowing in the wind, between the camera and the birds! :)

The Daily Pic - A Pretty Weed

2011-06-22T22:08:00.000-04:00

I have been busy with work this week and missed posting a few days worth of "The Daily Pic" so today I am posting two. This is a weed that is growing outside of my front door. When it started growing, I didn't pull it, because it was small and wasn't bothering me....as it has gotten larger I have continued to not pull it, because I think it is pretty. Does anyone know what it is? If you do, please let me know!

The Daily Pic - More Lizard Love

2011-06-22T21:59:00.000-04:00

Ok....so I don't know what the deal is, but today when I can home I saw another pair of lizards mating. Kind of cool....but not sure why my entrance way is a lizard hook-up spot.

Coconut Milk Health Benefits | eHow.com

2011-06-19T23:57:00.001-04:00

Coconut...it's not just for cookies!

Here's a little insight into the benefits of the coconut....more to come soon! :)

Coconut Milk Health Benefits | eHow.com

The Daily Pic - Shining Down on Me

2011-06-19T22:58:00.001-04:00

I snapped this photo of the sun streaming through the clouds yesterday. Thought I would share it...Enjoy :)

SING!!!

2011-06-19T12:31:00.001-04:00

There are many things that a person can do to lift their spirits, improve their attitude and outlook on life, and increase their happiness and feelings of well-being. One of them is to SING! Even if you don't feel like singing, do it anyway! Pick a song with a good beat and a positive message and sing it at the top of your lungs! You will feel better and you'll typically find that once you start to sing, you won't want to stop!

Here are a few of my favorite "positive message" songs to sing to!

Around Town - Blue Bird Bake Shop

2011-06-18T16:20:00.000-04:00

Rarely do I walk into a retail shop and find myself truly impressed with the entire experience, with every, individual detail. However, that is exactly how I felt the first time that I found myself at Blue Bird Bake Shop, located at 3122 Corrine Drive, Orlando FL 32803. Even more extraordinary is the fact that each of my subsequent visits have been equally or even more impressive than the first!

This little shop is located less than a mile from my apartment and yet somehow I managed to live in such close vicinity for about 8 months before I stumbled upon it. I was driving by and thought it looked "cute", so I decided to stop in. When I entered the shop, my first feeling was surprise. Surpise at the decor, surprise at the decidedly small case of baked goods, I actually looked around to make sure it was open. Sure enough, there were customers sitting, drinking coffee and chatting....it was open.

It was open...and it was CHARMING! From the decor to the chalk drawn menu boards, everything about this little place screamed "Vintage Chic!"

Besides homemade cupcakes, brownies & coffee, the Blue Bird Bake Shop also offers a very small selection of vintage gum and mints. Is there any other place in metro Orlando that sells Violet scented mints? Probably, but I don't know where it is!

I remember thinking, "I wish I had my camera." But I didn't have my camera, so I walked up to the counter and took a closer look at the bakery case. It was late in the day, and they only had two varieties left. I ordered my PB&J cupcake and was delighted at the careful attention to detail and presentation that was given to my one little cupcake. And then when I took a bite....WOW! It was absolutely fantastic! Perfectly moist, homemade peanut butter cake with light, smooth, creamy peanut butter frosting....with a jelly filled center.

On my short drive home, my internal conversation with myself (yes, I do talk to myself ) centered on the fact that if I had a blog, I would post about this experience. But alas, I did not have a blog.

Since my first visit to the Blue Bird Bake Shop, I have been back a handful of times and I have enjoyed every visit. The staff is helpful and courteous, the customers are friendly, and the ambiance makes me yearn for the days of yesteryear, when times were simpler and no one made cake from boxed mixes.

Which brings me to today....I now have a blog, so today, when I stopped in I made sure to bring my camera! I ordered two cupcakes today (one for today and one for tomorrow.) My choices today were strawberry and blueberry lemon...and as I bit into the homemade cupcake, with real blueberries in the batter and homemade lemon buttercream icing, topped with a fresh blueberry, I said, "Mmmm....exquisite!"

So if you live in Orlando or if you ever find yourself in town, head on over to Blue Bird Bake Shop. I HIGHLY recommend it!

The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Challenge: Big

2011-06-18T01:39:00.000-04:00

The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Challenge: Big