Have you heard of Evite?

Planning my son's birthday party has always been a challenge because it happens to be in the middle of summer. I never remember to make sure I have the addresses of all of his friends before school lets out so I can mail out the party invites. As his birthday approached this year and we were planning a mega party with many guests I started to panic a bit. I did have some addresses, and most phone numbers..should I start calling everyone? With over 20 kids on the guest list this seemed a bit overwhelming, not to mention time consuming! Then I remembered that my sister-in-law had used Evite, an online party planning site. Aha! That was the answer because I did have everyone's email addresses.

It's so easy to use and it helps keep track of your guests responses. They can leave comments, and rsvp easily through the email link. We even added a poll with questions for the kids to answer, such as what do you take on your hotdog? This helped with planning our menu. After your party is over you can upload party pics to share with your guests, and send out thank-you evites! And here's the best part...it's free! I give Evite a thumbs up for helping me plan a successful party!

Sand Sculpting...an art!

Art takes many forms. At the San Clemente Ocean Festival, sand is the medium used to create these incredible sand sculptures. Many hours go into the making of each one, and the results are just amazing.



I love big dogs so I really fell in love with this pooch. The expression on her face makes her seem very lifelike. I wonder if the sand sculptors modeled her after their own dog?

This giant sea turtle looks like she just came out of the ocean, they even added coloring to make her "green"! You can't see it in the photo but they had a cute little starfish that was squirting water! They also added great texture on her legs. "Going Green" was the theme of their sculpture.

Can't make it to China for the Summer Olympics? Here's a mini version of the Great Wall of China, not quite like the real thing but very impressive. They even finished it off with the Olympic symbol!

I think the saddest part is at the end of the day...these beautiful pieces of art are washed away with the high tide. Well, I'll be sure to come back next summer to see what the sand artists come up with!

It's Hard To Say Goodbye

I knew this day would come, but it still didn't make it any easier. We had to say goodbye to our best friend Buster. I miss him like crazy!
He was my third furry son. I really think Buster thought I was his Mom. The first year of his puppy hood was crazy! Buster was as stubborn as an ox and had as much energy as a teenage boy on Monster energy drinks. Then he grew, and grew, and grew until his body caught up with his enormous paws. I really could write a book about all of the crazy "Marley-like" antics he did...if you are a Labrador owner then you know what I'm talking about!

The thing I'll miss most is his loyalty and companionship. He was always by my side and watched over my kids like a celebrity bodyguard. Love, kisses, and a "I'll do anything for you" attitude all rolled into 115 pounds of beautiful brown furriness. These are the memories I try to keep, it helps to ease the pain. Buster, I hope you are having the best life ever in doggie heaven, chasing cats, playing with your friend Paki, and eating tortillas...we miss you but will never forget you. Buster Brown, the best dog ever!

Surf Shack Birdhouse EMA Challenge

Surf Shack Birdhouse EMA Challenge
Originally uploaded by smashgirl

I belong to a great group of mosaic artists on Etsy! Together we share tips, ideas, and stories...some make me laugh until I cry! I just participated in the EMA "For the Birds" Mosaic Birdhouse Challenge. There were 24 amazing entries submitted. My birdhouse was inspired by the many surfboards that hang over my head in my garage studio!

You can view all of the entries and vote at etsymosaics.blogspot.com until July 16th at 11:59PM EST.