I have been off to a slow start posting My Favorites, but I am getting there.   I've posted my favorites for probably the first 8-9 items on the list so far.  I haven't felt very good this past week; first a cold and then the past few days I've had a bad headache that won't go away- probably my goofy sinuses.  I started the Photo Hunt Challenges blog initially as a way for me to learn and practice using a wordpress-installed blog.  It has been a learning experience but I am a quick-learner and I absolutely LOVE it!  I am considering moving both this blog and Twin Cities Restaurant Blog to a Wordpress platform.  I only hesitate with the TCRB because there are so many permalinks with high rankings that I don't want to lose and I know it will be time-consuming.  At some point I will do it, though.  I have discovered that Wordpress is WAY more technical than the user-friendly platforms of Blogger and Typepad but it is pretty awesome all the things you can do! I am learning how to tweak and customize and how to use plug-ins.  I wish I would've gone this route a long time ago, but only recently did my brother Jeff show me the light.  Anyway, I felt that the interest and popularity in the Sweetsauer Photo Hunts was getting big enough to warrant its own space on the Internet.  Hope you enjoy it.  A new challenge will be posted every-other month, the next one is August 1st running through the month of August.

So yeah, I have a ton of stuff to blog about and photos to edit & post, but I just haven't felt good enough to find the motivation.  Head over to check out the Photo Hunt Challenges and check that out in the meantime :)

Last weekend I attended a couple of the graduation parties. Here are the photos from Natalie's party:

1. A View from Above (looking down at downtown St Paul)

2. A Macro Shot 

3. Laughter

4. Relaxation

5. A Celebration

6. A Sunset

 
7. Sun/Lens Flare

 
8.  A Bridge

9.  A Shadow

10.  A Garden

11.  A Park

12.  A Street Scene

13.  Signage

14.  A Summer Activity

15.  A Summer Treat

16.  Earth

17.  Air/ Wind (To be added ASAP)
18.  Fire

19.  Water

20.  Something Vintage (pre-1980)

21.  Something Made of Glass

22.  Something Made of Wood

23.  Something that Floats

24.  Something Railroad Related

25.  Something Round

• All Photo Hunt Challenges (including the current one, #2) will now be posted at the new site (make sure you subscribe & add it to your feed readers!). 
• Please direct traffic to http://photohuntchallenges.com.
• Please go check out the site and if you completed the Photo Hunt #2, please make sure you leave your name/location & permalink!!  I can't wait to see everyone's pictures!

To say last week was hot is an understatement.  Especially when its 90'+ and you go a week without A/C in your house.  The condenser blew and it needed to be replaced with a whole brand-new unit.  An expensive one (of course!), which we were not able to have installed immediately.  I am grateful to have great neighbors with cold houses who gave us refuge from the heat in the evenings up until bedtime.  There were way too many sleepless nights with having a bedroom on the third floor and afternoon sun beating down on it, making it at least 100'.  Fans didn't do anything but blow hot air around.  I was so dang miserable and exhausted from lack of sleep,  I swear living without a/c  is detrimental to my health!  The last few nights I slept in the basement, which helped some.   The good news is a new unit was installed Saturday and my house is cold again.  Yay! I will appreciate it forever and ever ;)

This past week was also the first week of summer school.  I am teaching 5th grade reading to my class and the other 5th grade class.  Its going great so far, my kids are all very well behaved and the room is nice and cool.  Summer school takes place in this building (taken on a rainy morning last week)

This is the view out of my classroom. I had been waiting for a clear day and the right lighting to get this photo all week!

Speaking of pictures, I bet you're wondering why your blog readers were filled with photo posts from me yesterday.  Well, I decided to import all of my posts from my Daily photo Blog into this Mi Vida Ocupada blog.  I just don't know if it makes sense to me to keep two different blogs when I post so many photos over here anyway.  I have a lot more traffic on this blog and sometimes it seems redundant to post my photos in both places.  Initially the point of the Daily Photo Blog was for me to challenge myself to take better photos more often and  I think I have proven to myself that I can do that.  Especially with all the interest in the Photo Hunt Challenges that I have been posting.  Photography has become my biggest passion in recent months, completely replacing scrapbooking (which I haven't done in a year now and have lost pretty much all desire).    I hope you all don't mind seeing more of my photography right here!

Now about the Photo Hunt:  On Tuesday, June 30th I will be putting up a new post with Mr. Linky so everyone who completed the Photo Hunt #2 can link to their entries.  I know summertime (and life in general) can sneak up on ya when you're busy, but I hope we have a good turnout of people who completed it.  I have just two more photos to take on my list, then I will be posting My Results.  FYI- I am in the process of creating a brand-new blog just for the Photo Hunts.  Stay tuned for more information and when it is ready, I will start redirecting all Photo Hunt related info to that site.

So much happened last week and it was just too dang hot for me to sit down and blog about any of it.  Biggest news of the week: Michael Jackson died.  I was a little shocked at first, but not really.  I guess I had a feeling he wasn't doing very good.  I loved MJ as a kid (didn't everyone?).  Thriller was my very first album and I loved, loved, loved every song.  He has had so many great hits over the years.  I never hated on him with all the drama in his adult life, although there is no doubt he had issues.  I don't know what is wrong with me that I didn't cry when I heard of his passing, I mean I cried when Crocodile Hunter was killed?! Anyway, thank goodness the music of Michael Jackson will live on.

Last but not least, I wanted to direct your attention to the Product Giveaway on the Twin Cities Restaurant Blog.  There are three things to choose from 1.  Lounge Shaker set 2. Bottle Holder  3. Salt & Pepper shakers.  Leave a comment on this post saying which product you like best and a winner will be randomly selected on July 7th.  Feel free to direct anyone in the USA to the site.  Blog about it, spread the word!

I have said it before, but my niece Bianca is the funniest little kid! She is talking so good and she has the cutest little voice and how she says things.  She is also the queen of funny faces. Here I caught a genuine smile and I just love it

For dinner we had Smoked Ham, cheesy hashbrowns, grilled veggies, baked beans, corn and dinner rolls.  Don't these grilled veggies look amazing? They were!

My Gram & Gramp also came to dinner.  The past year since their 60th Anniversary party went so dang fast! They celebrate their 61st in less than 2 weeks.

I hope everyone had a lovely Father's Day too!

The strategy I use for my entry is to create a post at the start of the month with the list of items (in draft form), then insert pictures as I go throughout the month.  I'll publish it June 29th or 30th.  So far this month I have multi-shots for several specific items and have had a hard time choosing which to go with for my entry, or I have specific photos that would be good under a few different categories and don't know which one to put it under.  Decisions!!  Some categories I have absolutely nothing for as of yet.   I really need to get them all organized and then start focusing on which shots I still need.  Time to get a move on!!
Anyway, just a gentle reminder to get crack-a-lackin on the photo-taking if you're still game for the challenge!