Melissa Miller Photos

Music

I constantly find myself describing my moods in terms of music  -- right now I'm in a Steve Miller Band kind of mood.   Early in the morning, pre-caffeine,  my mood is typically The Fray or The Wallflowers. 

Different activities mean different music in my world. Working out means Pink or Avril to get me moving; goofing with the kids translates to 80's one hit wonders; chillaxin with my man and a glass of wine is Coldplay or Maroon Five; proofing at midnight is Gin Blossoms, 3 Doors Down, and All American Rejects to keep me motivated. 

When describing my kids and their very different personalities, my mind tends to go to music too.  My oldest son is very Billy Joel ; my middle child is Tone Loc or Bare Naked Ladies; my youngest is Alanis Morrissette.   My dog is usually Violent Femmes, all frantic and wild and 90 miles-an-hour. 

Music makes me happy. I am completely tone deaf, but that does not stop me from singing along to the tunes on my iPod or on Sirius in the car (dont' know how I ever functioned without satellite radio?)Who sings the soundtrack to your life?

Go Big!

I haven't shared these canvases, and I love them! My tomboy has a cowgirl inspired room, so we had a mini photo shoot last fall with her sassy boots and stick pony.
I decided to go with BIG canvases in Miss J's room, instead of using a headboard.  These are four 20x20 canvases, with .75 inch depth.  That is a queen size bed, so it covers most of the wall.  Love them, love watching Miss J wave to herself, too!

Summer To Do List

At the beginning of summer, I always make a to-do-list with my kiddos to get them in the mood for vacation fun.  We brainstorm ideas, write them down and cross off when accomplished.  This gives us motivation for outings and ideas for rainy days.  Most are simple summer pleasures (the park, swim, make root beer floats) and some require planning and tickets (Driller's game, Worlds of Fun, aquarium). Do we accomplish the entire list? No way, but we have a blast trying. 

A picture collage including items completed so far:

Yearbook Yourself

I am cracking myself up!

Yearbookyourself.com is the funniest free entertainment I've had in a long time.   You upload a photo and  your face appears in yearbook photos from 1962 to 2000, complete with feathered hair, dreds, bouffant bee hives or whatever style was hip for the time period.   Sadly, I found many a 'do from my grade school and high school years that I recognized with shame. 

Humbling myself for YOUR entertainment pleasure:

Is it just me, or am I totally rocking the Farrah hair?

The bottom two pictures are so authentic, that it's frieking me out.  My sorority photo from college is EXACTLY like the lower left, and the lower right photo is an exact replica of my lion mane of hair from 1990. 

Junior Shutterbugs Contest

Tulsa friends...
I love this summer contest! Check it out on the Junior Shutterbugs website. Junior Shutterbugs offers lessons with digital cameras at different age levels.  Cameras are provided for the small group instruction, for events from play groups to birthday parties.  Kids love digital cameras -- almost as much as they love looking at themselves on the digital view screens.  

Children ages 3-6 years and 7-10 years are invited to submit their best photographs for a contest that runs through the end of July.   Each category has a first place prize of $150 savings bond! The theme is summer fun. The details are posted on the website, so get your kiddos snapping this summer.  Clients, please let me know if you have a winner!

One of Big B's (age 8) masterpieces from our Memorial Day adventure.  We even followed the "No Photoshopping" rule:

Tick Tock, Tick Tock

Tick Tock, Tick Tock
Now it's time to pray

We bow our heads and close our eyes
And this is what we say

God is good, God is great

Thank you for our food. Amen

This is often the best part of my day, thanks to the prayer from the kids' preschool.  E-Man has become the 'peek police' and reprimands us if we don't close eyes or bow our heads at the right moment.  My big second grader will put his two cents in, as the religious expert who recently received his First Communion. I just smile and appreciate these simple moments with my babies.

(These photos also taken with my new point and shoot, Canon G10)

Corn Salsa

There are certain foods that just feel like summer --  watermelon, grilled hamburgers & hot dogs, bomb pops from the ding-ding man, lemonade, and my delish corn salsa.  I use the serving size below to top off tilapia or grilled chicken, or double the recipe to use as a party dip. It is sweet & salty & citrusy good!

Corn Salsa

1 large ripe avocado diced

1 large tomato diced

1 c frozen corn

1/4 c red onion

1/4 c cilantro

1/4 c fresh lime juice

2T Olive oil

2t Sugar

1/2 t salt

Let it chill in the fridge for 20 minutes then serve. 

An old friend

An old friend stopped by today....the sun.  We have had so much rain in the last month (over 20 days) that it's ridiculous! My backyard is a swamp, the soccer fields have puddles that look like ponds, and I'm so sick of buckling car seats in the rain.  Thank you, sun, for making that very brief yet welcome appearance today.

Shoe shopping

And I wonder why we can never get out of the house without a ten minute search for shoes? Little Miss J is a total bag lady lately, "shopping" from around the house.  Anyone else have a Klepto Kid?

Husker Membership Drive

Any Huskers out there?  It's the annual Cornhusker Club membership drive.   I know it's a long shot in the heart of Sooner/Cowboy territory, but I have been shocked by the number of Nebraska families we've found here in Tulsa  (with five familes at Big B's elementary school alone, including someoneI went to grade school with!).  Email me for more info or download an application from the website listed below.