I’m addicted.  It took me forever to upgrade to a smart phone, and I must admit that my desire for Instagram tipped the scales.  I now have the option of using my iPhone camera, my purse camera, or the ‘big’ camera when heading out in the world.  A sampling of my phone pictures:

Left to right:

1. Reunited with Runza fries  2. Cannon ball for Big B  3. My sister and I (yes, we are twins)  4. Pink faux hawk for soccer tournament  5. Orchid  6. Deserted DFW at 4 am  7. Grilled shrimp  8. Chinese Lantern Festival in STL  9. Cousins playing Sequence  10. Cafe du Monde deliciousness

…so proud that my first ever self-portrait was selected for an empowerment campaign to benefit RAINN.  The online photography community I participate in offered a donation for each self-portrait entry representing  “I am a…”.   The slideshow compilation of these selected entries is beyond amazing.   To view the entire slideshow , CLICK HERE.  {Pay attention at the running time of 5:00 (of 6:24min) to yours truly.}

Narrowing down my identity to one word was not easy, because there are so many different versions of me.   I am a mother, wife, aunt, daughter, twin, teacher, photographer, friend, soccer mom, book worm, bubble bath aficionado, domestic goddess, sister, cousin, baker, blogger,  and more.  I am me.

I’m so proud of my first Pinterest- inspired project!  These boy and girl canvases are made from Miss J’s kindergarten classmates’  hand prints  (for the big school auction fundraiser).    The Very Hungry Caterpillar was a favorite book from my teaching days, and these handprint caterpillars make me smile.  Here’s to my short-lived moment of craftiness!

This little Route 66 gem is part gas station, part diner…a  total feast for eyes with over 600 flavors of bottled soda!  We found Pop’s this summer during a jaunt to OKC, and the kids were in heaven.

Popsicles and snow cones are getting us through this extreme heat! We have had 24 days so far in July with 100 degrees or higher (out of 29 days).  Oy! Hoping for a cooler August.