Annemaj Sporrong of Maybemej Photography is surely the sweetest Swede I’ve ever met!

Okay, so maybe she’s the only Swede I’ve ever met, but I’m positive if you lined her up next to all of the rest,

she’d take the cake… the icing if you please!

It is a breath of fresh air, unique, playful, authentic, and good enough to eat… you know, all that SWEET Swede it’s infused with.

Not only that, I was taken back to find that ALL of her beautiful work she posts on her blog, she gives away!

Yep!  Freebies for all… I think I ate up (downloaded) all I could that very day.

{This is one of my favorites!  I love the curly frames and birds never go out of style! You can see her designs also on flickr here.}

So because of her generosity and talent,  I decided to tell her so and sent her an email.

We have chatted back and forth for a few months, before it became clear some of her elements

would be perfect for the S.O.S. article I helped with for The Sandbucket Volume 2.

{she speaks great English to boot!}

She, again, graciously allowed us to use her designs.

{This is an excerpt from the magazine.  I used elements from her fun “Summer Breeze Card Kit”}

So, here she is being so generous again and giving away her gorgeous “In the Garden” printable  to one of my lucky readers!

All you have to do is go “like” maybemej on Facebook and come tell me you did.

Bonus entry for sharing on your blog or Facebook!

It certainly wouldn’t hurt to go say hello to Annemaj, as she is giving away a digi copy of The Sandbcuket magazine Volume 2!!!

Yep!  Lots of goodies to be had!

*Giveaway open until Friday, May 18th 11:59 pm PST.  Winner will be announced Monday, May 20th.*

Besides, you will instantly get sucked in by all of the gorgeous images and designs.

In addition to the eye candy, she has a smorgasbord of frames, templates, printables, Photoshop actions, and free resources for personal use!

She really has some serious talent and style!

I would like to thank Annemaj for being such a lovely and giving person.

Not only is she a gifted designer and photographer, but her heart is a gift.

She is as sweet as can be and loves making new friends.

It’s just one of those things you can feel even from miles and miles away.

Be SWEET to one another!!!

Smiles,

Dana

Stephanie Corfee.

or as I am now glad to call her… friend.

She had me at hello with her inviting voice…

and then at her love for cookies…

and then at her love for Anne of Green Gables…

and then at her big, giving heart…

and then at her mad skillz in gangsta talk.

The stimulating, witty, creative and intelligent conversation that oozes from this girls mouth is

enough to wish she was your best friend.

Not to mention she has more talent oozing from her pinky toe than most I know.

Even at my ripe old age of 37, my concern for finding kindred spirits in my life, like Anne Shirley, doesn’t stop.

For me that means someone you have an immediate connection with and who you can instantly feel is a good one.

I like good ones.

Mama raised her well.

I, like Diana Barry, have romantic notions for love and friendship.

So, once you’ve touched my heart, that’s just when you go straight inside of it.

One who I would let cut some of my “black tresses” for.

I could talk about Stephanie’s character all the live long day, but let’s get down to why we’re here discussing her in the first place…

the girl is an AR-TEEST!

So much so, I think paint runs through her veins.

Her aesthetic is vibrant, whimsical, bohemian, detailed and downright colorful… kind of like her!

Add in the amount of heart and soul and detail she pours into each piece, and you have success!!!

It is authentic goodness that makes it impossible not to feel joy!!!

Such a good one, in fact, that I contacted her a couple of months back to ask if she would be a part of my next article in The Sandbucket Magazine.

It just seemed like the perfect fit for the vision of my article.

And boy, did she deliver.

Her “doodles” (way too good to just be called doodles, but I have a love for that word myself) were overlayed

on some of my images and like magic, it all came to life.

Her doodles even inspired me to change some of my text, they were that perfect.

She was easy to work with and went above and beyond what was expected of her.

What a peach.

What a pal.

What a bosom friend.

I want to thank her from the bottom of my ever bloomin’ heart for her hard work!!!

But wait!  Her artistic prowess doesn’t end with doodles… oh no.

Her painting and designs can be seen on clothing of one of her bosom friends, Ashley of Li’l Blue Boo.

They can also be seen on household items like pillows, canvas, or wall art and she even has two published books.

So.  Do you want to see what she did to make my article bloom?

Head on over  to Stephanie’s blog to see how to enter to win a digital copy of  The Sandbucket Magazine Volume 2, all of the doodles you see on

first image above that she used in my article, “Raising Good Ones”, and some surprise doodles from Stephanie!!!

Told ya she was nice.  Make sure to tell her I sent you!

I’m giving a bonus digital copy away (NO Doodles here) for for liking  Stephanie Corfee-ARtist and The Sandbucket on Facebook!!!

Bonus entry for sharing on Facebook or your blog and commenting here or on my Facebook page that you did so.

Too much lovely inspiration not to share.

Two chances to win!!!

Good luck!  BUT…

If you don’t win, then go buy a copy of Volume II of The Sandbucket here  (there’s a sneak peek too) and see all of the goods in person…

including an inspirational interview from my tween daughter, another collaboration with my bestie, Kelly Stocksen, and much, much MORE!

Shine on,

Dana

Hey there, friends!

So sorry for such spotty blog posting by me, but sheesh,

a lot is going on around these here parts!

Including some relocation happening way sooner than I’ll be ready for.

Remember the TV show, Bewitched?

LURVED that show.

LURVED that Mom… she was the coolest. I wanted to be Samantha.

{They don’t make TV shows like that anymore-good stuff}

When I was younger, I totally thought when I was a grown-up I would have the ability to wiggle my nose

and everything would magically happen how I wanted it to.

“WELL!”, my eyes were opened the older I got… man, was I disappointed.

HA!

So, although I can’t do a little nose twitching and have my house immediately packed,

I can have some magically delicious product show up on my doorstep before I go.

Pro Digital Photos has an awesome deal going on right now for Mother’s Day on some fan-TAS-tic product!

Take a looksie!

I have been using PDP for all of my photo and product needs for the last year and a half, and they have not disappointed me in the least.

I had so much hand holding needed in the beginning and they held it all the way!

Great customer service.  Great Results.

I am in love with these metal frames with templates… in love!

They are gorgeous and unique and perfect for a different take on displaying your photos.

As a matter of fact, I have a couple very cool tricks up my sleeve using the metal frames that I will share with you soon.

Can’t give it all away at once… you gotta come back!!!

And you gotta head on over to Pro Digital to get hooked up with this goodness.

Tell them Dana sent you! ;0)

You can even “like” them on Facebook while you’re at it… don’t be shy.

You’ll be seeing a lot of them around Dana Ohlsen Photography and The Sandbucket!

Just being.

What does that mean to you?

In our house it means not needing to be entertained by the television or cell phone apps.

It means watching a butterfly move it’s wings up and down while sitting on a leaf.

It means snuggling together on the couch and listening to the birds chirp outside our window.

It means holding hands.

It means playing with eachother’s hair.

It means comparing fingers and toes to see who’s more like Mommy or Daddy.

It means singing silly songs at the top of our lungs like no one is listening.

It means tickle fights with girly giggles bouncing off of the walls.

It means watching raindrops trickle down our window panes.

It means there’s no such thing as being “bored”.

That’s the “B” word in our house.  Not allowed.

There is always something wonderful to be explored.

Around every corner…

just waiting to be found.

This world is full of too much loveliness to waste on such a word.

And when all else fails…

Just be.

It will do you good.

If it’s been a busy week for you; full of technology and busy-busy life stuff…

find a moment this weekend to enjoy

JUST BEING.

Even if it’s all by yourself.

Keep sight of what matters most.

Smiles and happiness,

Dana

p.s.   If you need some help adjusting your perspective,  go here for some inspiration.  You won’t be disappointed.

Have a lovely weekend.

Breakfast.

My FAVORITE meal.

Last week,  The Sandbucket Blog did a daily post dedicated to foods of the early hours of the day.

There were several mouth watering, sweet recipes, with equally mouth watering photos of the goodness.

Mmmmmmm…

Then there was me.

I featured a fresh, sloppy, protein and veggie packed sandwich that warms my tummy-tum-tum.

The T.A.B.L.E. sandwich.

All while vacationing with my family at Disneyworld.  HA!

So if you want a fun twist on a BLT and a meal you can for BLD, go check it out.

Breakfast, Brunch, Brinner.

It’s good for you.

Sorry for the bad Instagram pic from my cell phone… we were at Disneyworld and I only had one corrupt memory card.

Boo.

Lesson learned… always have back up.

Smiles,

Dana

MATT AND KATIE PHOTOGRAPHERS WORKSHOP

Grand Junction, Colorado.

aka Junctown.

In my eyes, not so much ” junc”, but gems.

Not so much gems that are hard and cost money (HA!), but the kind MK and J’s souls are made of…

And all those who gathered for some friendship making and picture taking.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

This post has been drafted in my head for days now, but my perfectionist side kept it there.

{That and I’d been missing my images from the workshop… small detail. hehe}

Not that I haven’t had any words to say, but because my words just might not do it justice.

So.  I’m going to keep it as simple & sweet as my prattle mouth possibly can…

I’m going to try and let the photos do the talking.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

First and foremost, my weekend in Colorado would have never happened if it weren’t for the kindness and hospitality of one, Jami Davis.

Great gal, she is.

She made this happen, not just by having the guts to email Matt and Katie photographers (complete “strangers”) months ago

to see if they would like to come all the way from Australia, to little ol’Junctown USofA and teach her a thing or two…

{Matt and Katie, being free spirited and kind, said why not.}

but by being a good friend and making good things happen so I could be there too.

My kind of peops… putting it out there and living your dreams.

{Matt and Katie… aren’t they cute?  You don’t even know how precious their love is.}

{MK doin’ their thang and doin’ it well!}

{I think Katie is checking out Matt’s bum here… good butt jeans? & The hostess with the mostest, Jami D. doin’ her thang}

So here we all were, months later, being pampered by the good graces of Jami, Matt and Katie giving 14 great gals

all the knowledge our brains could hold, and being unwittingly adored by all in the process.

You know the song, “You’ve got a way about you… don’t know what it is”…

Well that’s MK… they have a way about them-something humbling and special… that makes all those around them feel at home.

{the adorable Vanessa of Cat Mayer Studio Photography in Colorado.  It was such a treat to meet her and finally the incomparable, Cat herself.  Great gals!}

{This dress form was meticulously handcrafted with crepe paper and a beautiful vintage blouse by the awesome

Robin Brown of  TOAST Event Planning and Design.}

{I think I personally downed half of those homemade macaroons by Jami.  YUM!}

Did you say 9-6?  They said, so what.

We went until brains and bellies were about to burst, well into the crisp night.

It was more than I hoped for and worth every penny to be there.

The goodness of the middle and the end still to come…

Smiles,

Dana

Let it shine,

Dana

Note from ME:  I had every good intention of getting this out early yesterday… ON Valentine’s Day, but alas I had to bring a sick lovey home from school.  My time was spent with her, not my blog.  So even though it’s late, I’m still posting. 

Hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind…(just had an Elton John moment)

and hope you enjoy. 

I was away for several days last weekend in Junc Town, Colorado for a Matt and Katie Photographers workshop.

(stay tuned for a post on my trip…)

Although I could spend every waking hour hanging out with MK and the hostess with the mostest, Jami, the

love and missing of my daughters weighed heavily on my heart.

The kind of heavy that renders you breathless.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed EVERY second of my mommy time, but they

were never far from my thoughts.

Luckily, people not too shy to share the weight of their love, surrounded me.

Matt & Katie and Jami gave it freely…

in HEAPS.

So much, in fact, that I felt loved like family.

So much, in fact, that I miss them like family.

So much, in fact, that I am touched for good.

And as much as I loved each best day evah that came, I am delighted

beyond measure to have my sweet loves back in my arms.

At the airport, and after being greeted properly by my Mister, first thing I did

was suck face with my little Katie Pie.

I nuzzied (that’s what we call nuzzling) her neck, practically ate off her cheeks, and took in

deep, long breaths of her sweet goodness.

Thank goodness my big girls still don’t mind all the mush, because

they were next in line for the same treatment.

Ahhhhh… bliss

So today is Gooey Hearts Day.

And although I could be stressed after a long trip and time difference, I am content.

For the first time in my life I actually prepared ahead! 

Before I left for the trip, I made little bags for them to enjoy.

Filled with a darling antique book, a bud vase, chocolate of course, conversation hearts, special tights, and a cute and simple homemade t-shirt to wear on the special day.

I thought this morning of what my jet-lagged body could do last minute to make this day

a bit more special, having been out of town and not on my game.

Here are a couple of quick & easy, last minute DIY’s I did today for those of you in my procrastinating shoes:

1.  I designed Warm Fuzzies Valentine’s Day cards for my lovies with handmade Warm Fuzzies.
2.  I printed out a bingo game via simply fresh designs (via my Pinterest),  to play with them after school

(also used for 1st grade class party that morning).

3.  The cute Gooey Heart’s Day shirts I made my girlie birds before I left for Colorado.  My two big girls wore shirts in French.

The gray shirt says, “all you need is love”  and the white one says, “love is all you need.”

(Freebie coming soon)

Since they are lovers of all things french, they were seriously in love with the shirts.  Mommy points-Woohoo!

4.  I made my version of some whipped cream hearts for their afternoon hot cocoa-DIY below!
(Inspired by this and this from Pinterest)

If I would have had time before, I was going to sew on some
easy sew t-shirt fabric roses or some chiffon flowers.
If you have a second, run to your local craft store for iron transfer paper and have at it!
It is SOOO easy with great results!
Get ready for the compliments.

Here’s two (of MANY) of our favorite Valentine’s Day reading:

Ooey Gooey Whipped Creamy Hot Cocoa Hearts

 Note:  I like my cream a little on the, how should I say, cream tasting side, so I use a light hand with the added ingredients.  Do it to taste.  Okay, so one of the links uses Cool Whip, which you may do if you feel so inclined.  But I always have heavy whipping cream on hand and ALWAYS use homemade over store bought.  There is no comparison.  I know, I know.  I too was one of those girls that ate Cool Whip by the spoonful, like ice cream, when I was a kid, but seriously.

Ain’t nothing like the real thang baby!!!!!

1.  Make your fave version of homemade whipped cream.
In place of confectioner’s sugar, I used decorator’s red sugar (like sprinkles). This makes it sweet and pink at the same time. Feel free to use a little red food coloring if that’s all you have on hand, but make sure to add powdered sugar too for taste.
(I usually use heavy whipping cream, a wee bit of confectioner’s sugar and a little vanilla)

2.  Spread pink/red whipped cream into glass cake pan or smaller, depending on how much you made. I only had less than a half of a carton of whipping cream, so I used small glass pans. My silicone heart shaped muffin pan was packed up or I would have used it. Place in freezer (approximately 3 hours).

3.   When it is time for hot cocoa, remove pans from freezer and cut with small heart shaped cookie cutter.  Use right away or cut out and place back in freezer for later.

4.  Place a few hearts in hot cocoa and ENJOY! I liked a few hearts floating on top, but one large heart would be adorbs too!

Happy Ooey-Gooey Heart’s Day…
Show your loved ones the weight of your love today!!!

Lots of gooey love,

Dana

There’s a common theme going on on some of my favorite blogs right now.

The Sandbcuket Magazine debut and good peeps.

Good peeps meaning good women.

Good women meaning good friends.

Good friends meaning the kind of people that lift you up and make you better.

I don’t know how I got so lucky to be surrounded by such stellar ladies that I call friends.

Better yet, that call ME friend… ME!

These are kindred spirits that take up a very special place in my heart.

Sandi is one of them.

If y’all remember, I met Sandi at a Matilda Jane photo shoot

that our girls were chosen to paricipate in.

I swear that Denise of MJC  has a secret edge on that “inner voice” thing we all hear about.

It’s a gut of steel that she follows with unrelenting gusto.

Somehow she knew to put 4 of us mommies and daughters as housemates for our Florida weekend, and that would lead to something good.

She didn’t know what the good would be at the time, but she followed that hardcore gut.

 So glad she did so we could all find each other.  It was so meant to be.

I treasure each of these women beyond measure.

They help to keep my eyes up.  If I said come now, I know they would run.

Now out of that Sandi has done the same… followed her gut.

SO…

“Please join us for the debut issue of The Sandbucket.  This issue is chalked full of fun articles.  Come be inspired to get reading with your children.  Gather new recipes that you’ll want to try out for yourself.  Get to know Denise Demarchis of Matilda Jane a little better.  Read of the giving adventures of families in Atlanta as they went out to feed the homeless.  All this and many more articles that touch upon raising and teaching our children.  There is even a fun teen section where we meet some real teens and talk about their talents as well as some fun DIY projects.  Each page of the magazine is filled with beautiful and useful content, never being interrupted with ads.  Only useful content that can strengthen you and your famlies.”

I am excited to be a contributor for The Sandbucket and all the lovely things to come…

in it’s pages and in my life.

 I love surrounding myself with good peops and I feel more connected to these women already, as a part of this wonderful journey Sandi has started.

So do you think you know that “Atlanta” family???

You better check out the mag to see…

then maybe you’ll find some treasures of your own, feel a friend or two in the lovely pages and be filled with some of that goodness too.

Smiles,

Dana

The Sandbucket on Facebook

Memorial Day 2011, kicked off the summer with a roaring start.

It was filled with the usual sights and sounds of summer, like watermelon, corn on the cob,

Barbecue chicken on the grill, Izze’s, potato salad, and swimming at the pool.

But this summer will be memorable for my girls not because of these things, but because of how

they felt doing something more than just entertaining themselves that day.

Oh, yes.

My girlies spent all morning, through lunch, decorating adorable

cupcakes and making fresh squeezed lemonade to sell at the pool in our ‘hood and

raise money for the Matilda Jane Habitat for Humanity House.

Go figure on a mucho HOT-HOT-HOT day, that customers were more interested in their adorable cupcakes than

the refreshing lemonade…and told us we should have charged more for them.

They were right.

{The girlies just might be able to take a piece of the pie… errr…cake in the cupcake industry.  ;)}

But  I digress…

They have been filling these MJC House of clouds banks (thank you, Ellen) for a couple of months now and are full of joy for their efforts… me too.

They have passed them around to all of their teachers and friends at school, had lemonade stands,

and little middle wants to forego gifts at her birthday party and have them

donate what they would have spent on a gift, to the cause.

Awesome.

But this lemonade stand was officially the first  project for our

S.O.S. {Summer of Service}.

My bosom friend Kelly and I were talking one day, about how we were excited for summer…

to be with our kids and to do a little MORE than we would normally do in ways of thinking of others.

I mean come on.

We all know summer is fully spent in thinking of how we can do things for our own

pleasure and enjoyment or working on a tan.

And the rest of the time, it can be filled with whining, tantrums, bickering, and boredom.

We have both been on the same wavelength (we do that a lot) of wanting this summer to be different.

This summer was going to be one where MORE time would be spent on helping others or making them smile.

This summer was going to be an S.O.S…. a  S.ummer  O.f   S.ervice.

Kelly had already come up with that name before we even talked and I think I just about jumped through the phone with excitement on how perfect it was.

{Kelly made that awesome logo… isn’t it cute?}

And she kindly obliged my idea to start a Facebook page and spread the word to other mom’s who might be interested in a change this summer, but maybe not thought of it on their own.

It will also be a great spot to share ideas and experiences and hopefully inspire each other to raise our kids to think outside of themselves and in doing good to all men.

So please join us, if you feel so inclined, in whatever way you can this summer.

Look for ways to work in a little something or a big something

as often as you can and come report… or not.

I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with and how awesome it will feel to be

spreading some good-lovey-sunshine from wherever we are…

but together.

Now go shine and help someone else’s light shine brighter.

Because you know what happens when two candle lights are put together…

Have you done any good in the world today?

Let it shine,

Dana

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