New Music and Summertime Fun

I have been in need of some new music.

Desperate need.  ; )

I had an iTunes gift card that I had not used and as I was browsing iTunes last night, I discovered Kari Jobe’s CD. 

Kari has a beautiful, clear, pure, almost ethereal voice.

Her music is peaceful and worshipful…wonderful.  My favorite song of hers is “Beautiful”…I just get lost in that song…love it. 

Kari has a very cool website too…you should check it out.  : D

A little transition…

Speaking of COOL websites…  Across All Borders…an organization that is committed to providing orphan care and outreach to families living in extreme poverty in Guatemala has just opened an online marketplace featuring Guatemalan goodies (art, dolls, textiles, etc.)  You should check out their new digs and what they have to offer!  I had a wonderful time helping them with this project.  : )

Before I sign off…  A few photos from yesterday that I LOVE… 

Please, precious girl…don’t grow up so fast…

God bless, Tera

Blog Your Heart Out

I have blogged about this before but I feel the need to blog about this again…

Do you have a blog?

Do you use Blogger, Typepad, Wordpress, Live Journal, etc.?

If so, then do yourself a favor…you MUST (yes…MUST) give Windows Live Writer a try.

I do ALL of my blogging with Live Writer.  I hardly ever…almost never…log into Blogger to  compose a blog post… (sorry, Blogger…I do love you…I just prefer to compose my posts in Live Writer).

Windows Live Writer is a FREE program that you can download to help you to compose your blog posts.  It makes blogging a dream (okay, I’m being dramatic but Live Writer really is great).  You compose your posts directly on your computer…no more logging into Blogger…and when you are ready to post, you just click “Publish” and then boom, you’re done.  Live Writer gives you all sorts of fun options for your photos…

You can do this…

I cropped, resized and added a drop shadow to this photo without having to open a separate photo editing program.  And, you can do this:

I cropped this photo and I added an instant photo frame with one click and a watermark with the name of my blog.  Oh, I tilted the photo too!

Rounded corners…with one click.  Love.

View Full Album

 

You can make a little album like this.

You can save drafts directly to your computer…you don’t need an internet connection in order to compose a blog post.  When you are ready to publish your post, you will need an internet connection and then you simply click “Publish”. Also, it’s a very easy program to use…it has the same sort of an interface as other Windows programs like Word.

I have helped many people with their Blogger blogs.  Every time that I need to help people with posts, I cringe if I have to post to Blogger without using Live Writer.  LOL.  I am a spoiled blogger.  ; P

Get it.  Love it.  Windows Live Writer Beta 2009.

God bless,

Tera

Happy New Year!

A new year and a new look for my bloggy.  : )  Yes, I will post Christmas pics…I’ve been slacking!  ; )

I hope that you had a fun and safe New Year’s Eve!

God bless,

Tera

Little Ladybug

* One large roll of red tulle

* A bit of elastic

* A few yards of red and black ribbon

* One bag of black pom poms in various sizes

* A stapler, a scissors and a hot glue gun

Use them all together and what do you get?

Emma's sweet little costume and new favorite dress up outfit.  : )

 

Oh, how I LOVE this sweet little BUG!

God bless, Tera

Mommy's Lipstick and a New Blog

Toddlers and Mommy's makeup do not mix.  ; )

I have a brand spankin' new creativity blog.  It made its debut tonight.  Check it out.  : )  Enjoy your week!!

God bless,

Tera

The Invitations Have Been Sent...

My baby girl will be TWO in less than one month!  I am having a very difficult time wrapping my mind around that.  I have said it before and I will say it again...when I look at her "baby" pictures, I would love to be able to reach into the photos and scoop up that sweet baby so that I can snuggle her.  *sigh*  I really am cherishing each day with Emma...even the challenging days ("the twos" are HERE...hee hee).

I have been thinking about her party for a while.  It is going to be a simple party with immediate family and PIZZA.  : )  We are celebrating her birthday at the end of September.  On her actual birthday, we will be at the Apple Festival in Bayfield, Wisconsin!

I completed the invitations a while ago but I wanted to wait until they were "in the mail" before I posted one to my blog.  (Click the photo to see a larger version)

Speaking of little Emma...  She could use some prayer.  She has at least four teeth coming in right now.  Babies/toddlers who have reflux can really struggle with teething.  Teething can exacerbate reflux and this has been very true with Emma.  She has maybe had 4 - 5 decent meals in the past three weeks.  : (  This is very disheartening.  For most meals, she will not even swallow one bite.  : (  We have her on a daily Pediasure regime to make sure that she doesn't lose a lot of weight.  We are SO GRATEFUL that she drinks!  Please pray.

It's officially FALL (well, at least it seems like it is to me)!!  MY FAVORITE season!  I could not resist giving my blog a fall/harvest look!  Have a great week.

God bless, Tera

Back from My Blogcation

Jason's sister Jennifer visited us for a few days this week.  Emma enjoyed meeting her Auntie Jen for the first time.  : )  We shopped, enjoyed a few tasty meals and hung out a lot at our house and watched the Olympics too.  : )  Don't you think that their hair color is almost identical?

We have an owie to report...  Jason cut his head last night at work and he now has eight stitches in his forehead.  YOWZA.  Poor guy.  Will someone leave a message at his blog and tell him that he should at least use a Band-Aid?  LOL.  He isn't listening to me.  ; )

Emma has two new phrases.  We were watching the Olympics during Jen's visit and one of us said, "WOW...that's EXCITING!"  And then, she said the same thing!  We were like...did she really say that???  And then she said it again!  That very same night she said, "Woah...that's impressive..."  LOL!  She can basically say anything that we ask her to say.  When I go through her picture books, I point to each thing and say the name and she repeats almost everything that I say...even words like octopus and abacus.  I am very excited for her!

Before I sign off for tonight...  I helped a sweet adoption friend with her blog.  She was very supportive to me during our adoption process.  She is now facing a very difficult challenge in her life...she is surely in my prayers.  It seems like yesterday that we were receiving the referrals of our beautiful daughters.  Click HERE to visit her and to see her fun new blog...I am absolutely in love with it  : )

God bless,

A Visitor, a Blogcation and GO USA!!

Jason's sister who lives in North Carolina will be visiting us for a few days...she will arrive tomorrow morning.  : )  I am sure that Emma will have a fun time visiting with Auntie Jen for the very first time.  : )  I am taking a mini blogcation.  I might not post until the end of the week.  : )  I didn't want you to wonder why I am not posting!!

I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Love.  Did you see the men's swimming relay tonight???  Un.real!

I received a cute little friendship gift from Tania and a blogging award from Ruthie.  : )  THANK YOU so very, very much, ladies!  : )  SO KIND OF YOU BOTH!

I helped my very sweet and very kind adoption friend, Rhonda with her blog.  Click HERE to visit her.  : )  Rhonda's oldest daughter was fostered by the same family that fostered Emma Grace in Guatemala.   : )  I had a lot of fun helping you, Rhonda!!  : )  I just love your blog!

Before I go, we have a SEVEN WORD phrase from Emma Grace...

Ahem...

Drum roll, please...

"Wonder Pets, Wonder Pets...(we're) on our way..." 

She doesn't just say this phrase...she SINGS this...IN TUNE...LOL.  She is "tune-ical" just like her Mama.  : P  In case you are wondering, "The Wonder Pets" is a show...with a guinea pig, a duck and a turtle...they go on rescue adventures..."  *sigh*  Maybe her first eight word phrase will be inspired by world peace or freedom or by the beauty of God's creation.  ; )

Have a wonderful week, everyone!  When I blog again, I promise to post pics!

God bless,

On the Subject of Purty Blogs...

I have received quite a few very sweet emails regarding my previous post and my own little bloggy (most of the emails have questions about using digital scrapbooking kits and digital pre-designed blog graphic kits for creating blogs).  You all asked a ton of really good and thoughtful questions!  : )  So, I thought that I would post to try to answer some of the questions...

There is a difference between digital scrapbooking kits and pre-designed digital blog graphic kits that were created especially for creating blogs.

GORGEOUS and fully designed banner, button and background kits (like the kit that is featured on Amber's blog) make putting a blog together fairly simple if you have basic blog design skills and Adobe knowledge.  The pre-designed kits allow you to simply add your own pics and text to the fully designed banners, buttons, etc. and then you add the graphics to your blog.  No graphic designing is needed because the banners and the buttons are already purty and ready to roll!  Make sure to read the terms of use that come with each kit...for example, some kits allow for commercial use and some do not, some kits can be used to set up blogs by a paid designer and some can not, most require you to give credit where credit is due, etc.  Please email the designers directly if you ever have any questions about the use of their kits...they are usually very helpful and knowledgeable too.  : )

Also, besides pre-designed blog kits, you can purchase kits filled with miscellaneous coordinated digital scrapbook graphics.  The misc. kits do not include completed banners, buttons, etc.  The misc. graphic kits require you to use the graphics that are contained in the kits to create your own designs for scrapbook pages, crafts and sometimes even blogs.  Design work fun is involved in working with those kits...you aren't simply adding text and pics.  My current blog was created by using this type of a kit.  It is important to read the terms of use that come with the kits to make sure that the artist has approved the use of their art for blogs, etc.

Was that helpful at all?  An expert I am not, by any means.  : P

One of the most common questions from recent emails:  "Are you going to start a blog design/redesign service?"  Maybe, but I am just not sure.  Is that a lame coy answer?  *blush*  I might like to but nothing definite has been decided.   I may decide to start something at some point in the future.  : )  Tinkering with my blog has been a hobby for some time and I like to help friends for fun from time to time.  I have recently really enjoyed using digital scrapbooking graphics on my blog...it is so challenging and fun!  If I decide to set up a formal business at some point, I will certainly let you know.  But as of this moment in time, a formal TLC design business does not exist.  : )

God bless,

A Beautiful Profile, And a Really Fun Blog Project

Hmmmm...can you guess why I took this profile photo of Emma Grace?  You will find out in about four weeks.  : D  Hmmmm...  : )  So mysterious...  : D

Onward...  : )

I helped a sweet gal with her blog set up as a fun favor.  : )  (With permission from SMJ).  Amber had lots of fun ideas and I just helped her to put things in place.  I really love the result...and so does she...and that's what really matters!  Check out her blog!  Click here to visit Amber...below you will see a sneak peek.  : )  Amber, you're a sweetie...don't be a stranger.  : )

Not much is happening here.  Jason has been really busy with work so Emma and I have just been hanging out.  We went to a fair in our town this morning.   We had a great time people watching...Emma loved seeing all of the other little kids.  : )  On Friday, we had a fun play date with a few families from a local Guatemalan adoption group.  It is always fun and interesting to get together families who have adopted. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  : )

God bless,

{ Here I am!! }

You found me!!  : D  Welcome to A Little Bit of TLC aka Guatemama...BLOGGER style!  : )

I have a lot of tweaking and such to do but I'm up and running.  I posted the final post from my previous blog below (just in case you missed it *wink and smile*).  And, don't worry, my old posts can be found archived in the left column...the older posts will be very generic looking and they will open in a new page...but, they're accessible, at least.  : )

I hope that you will be able to get used to my new blog...I hope that it won't be too difficult to navigate. 

Don't forget to bookmark me and change your old links!  : ) 

Oops!  Edited to say...  Thanks so much, Pam for your Live Writer help!  : D

Edited one more time to remind you that I/we have a new email address. I will not be accessing my old address any longer.  If you sent me an email in the past two weeks, you will need to resend.  Sorry.  : (  Here is the new address placed in a text .gif

God bless,

{ Snippety, Snip, Snip!! }

Sorry for the lack of regular posts. I am working on a few projects...on and off of the computer. My bloggy might undergo a few serious changes over the next few weeks...so, keep your eyes peeled. : )

Before I delve any further into this post, please make a note that our email address has CHANGED. I had to change it...we were receiving too much spam. : / Also, because my hard drive crashed, I lost all of the emails and email addresses in Outlook. : / So, if you have emailed us within the past 2 weeks and I/we have not responded, please resend your email! Here is our new email address: jason and tera and then at and then dot and then com. : )

Onward... : )

My baby girl received her very FIRST haircut this past week!

I was concerned that she would be scared but the salon had a Backyardigans DVD (Emma LOVES the Backyardigans).

So, she sat pretty contently. : ) She got a little bit concerned when the stylist wanted to blow her hair dry but she was a very good sport!

After her hair was dry, the stylist put in an adorable partial french braid on the top of Emma's head and put her flower clip back in her hair...ADORABLE! Here is a "before shot"!!

 

 

 

 

 

Holding a little Scooby Doo toy. I love how she is sticking out her bottom lip in this picture. : )

 

 

 

 

 

Sitting very still!! Good girl!!

An after shot!!

You can see her darling little partial french braid.

 

 

 

She is as sweet as she is beautiful!! : )

I just love my sweet baby girl!!

 

 

 

God bless,