renee rodriguez designs

Summer Bliss ~ New Illustration Project

What a blissful project!  I had the best time creating the fun illustrations below for the Dotmine Planners "Summer Bliss 2011" promo.  Every week their subscribers will receive a cute little coupon with a fun, memory making idea for their family - it is what summer should be about - making memories!

Stop by the Dotmine website or FB page, they are the BEST ladies with beautiful ideas!

 

Introducing... Gracie & Jax!

Yesterday, the entire family headed over to the local Petco to "just look" and "maybe" adopt a kitty. Well, as you can see we did look and we did adopt -two kitties. Gracie is 5 months old and Jax is 7 months old (they were actually named Vinnie & Viola, which didn't really suite them)

They were found together - abandoned - so the sappy Mueller family just couldn't separate the lovable pair. Armed with two kitties, pet food, beds, litter boxes, toys, bowls & treats we made our way home. 

 

Gracie is very tiny & cuddly. Jax spent the entire day under our bed, hopefully this will pass soon.

 

Two years ago we had to put our family cat of 16 years, Luna, to sleep. It was  a devastating ordeal that I can't think about without getting teary eyed.  Of course I swore that I could never have another cat,  but I broke down and now we have two new additions to our home.  Go figure!

Now, if I can just keep them from shredding the new leather couch.

Hello Monday!

Hello & Happy Monday!

I hope you had a lovely weekend. We celebrated my husband's birthday this weekend by closing our dueling laptops to spend time together. We Indulged our senses with a delicious dinner,  some live music and a trip to the art museum. It was wonderful!

Wishing you an absolutely fabulous week!

xo

photo: Lovelie Blog

Airing My Dirty Laundry

Welcome to Monday!  And I  am ready to take on the week, especially one enormous and slightly overwhelming task - my garage sale. Yep, I have crap and lots of it.!  I am officially admitting it right here and now on my little ol' blog!  I having been pretending for years that it doesn't really exist and that all the "stuff" I have been hanging onto means something and I just might need again one day.  But, I have come to the realization that it is just taking up too much space in my life and is not important to my existence on this planet -  the time has come to get rid of it - I am a woman on a mission!

 

Over the last month I have been a crazy lady cleaning out the attic, the basement, the closets, drawers, cabinets - 10 years of stuff that I thought I needed - the pile is embarrassing! Really! I look at it and I don't remember where it came from and why I own it,  I half expect Neicy Nash from Cleen Sweep to show up for an intervention.

 

But no tears, no regrets - the stuff has got to go - I AM ready!  ( are you cheering for me?)

Now I do have a few concerns, mainly, what will my neighbors think when they see this crazy pile of stuff on my front lawn. You see, this Saturday they will witness for the first time what I have been hiding in the nooks and crannies of my little house for years.  Will they start looking at me differently?  Will they allow their children to continue to come for play dates? My hope is that they run home and grab their wallets!

The big day is almost here - so think of me as I sit on my front porch welcoming the treasure seekers - probably a few gawkers - and make deal after deal and wave goodbye to my stuff. Bliss!

photos: flckr

Here Is To A Fun Weekend!

With Kindergarten officially over as of 11:51 today - let the summer fun begin!  Tonight Marc and I are taking Olivia out for a celebratory dinner and ice cream at one of our favorite outdoor restaurants. Tomorrow will be jammed packed with a little work and a little socializing. Sunday will be spent hanging out as a family and pampering dear old Dad!

Hope you take time to kick up your heels and have a bit of summer fun this weekend.

photo: Sarah Kaye 

 

Cake With A Few More Candles

Today is my birthday! Another year older - sigh....  Oh well, that is why there is Oil of Olay Regenerist - right?

Anyway, once I move past getting a bit older and hopefully wiser, I like to count my blessings and reminisce on some of my happiest memories.

 

Things I remember...

Visiting my grandparents every summer.

Playing outside until dark.

Birthday cake - the icing actually.

Drinking coffee with my grandfather (yes I began my addiction at a very early age)

The sound of my grandmother's knitting needles.

The smells in her kitchen

My little brother always trying to get me to "pull his finger"

Playing Barbies with my sister

My first pair of high heels - they were red patent leather and I am sure that explains my current footwear obsession. 

My mom teaching me how to put on makeup

Marc asking me to marry him.

My wedding

My beautiful family

The list goes on, and I feel very blessed that I have such beautiful memories and such a beautiful life.

To celebrate my day I have included a mini gift wrap download for you - just click on Download June 3 b for your personal use :)

 

Enjoy!
 

A Star Is Born!

Yesterday was the highly anticipated Spring Ballet Performance for Olivia. Family and friends filled the front row at the local high school theater and patiently awaited for our little Lilac Fairy Princess.

 

 

 
Finally the moment arrives! I  nudge my snoozing husband as our little princess walks on stage with her class, we hold our breath in anticipation.  They all looked so beautiful in their glittery lilac costumes, perfect little buns, "real" tiaras  and a sparkling fairy wands.  The room is silent as the lights dim and all the little princess are in their places waiting for the music to begin and then.. Olivia scratches her butt - yep thats my girl!  A recital I will hold close to my heart for all time.

 

Oh you know that I am buying that $45.oo video now!  
 

Have A Beautiful Weekend.

Do you have any big weekend plans? Our weekend is pretty exciting, Olivia will be performing in her ballet recital as a lovely fairy princess! We will be filling the front row of the theater with friends and family for Olivia's two minute and thirty four seconds of fame! 

   

 

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

photo: mary ruffles tumblr
 

An Enchanted Weekend!

Please indulge me a bit today as I share a little from our absolutely enchanting experience in the Magic Kingdom. 

 

 

 

 

After standing in line for thirty minutes Olivia was able meet the head mouse and his girl!

 

At the end of the day Marc and I looked at each other and said: " Wow, we just took our daughter to Disney World"! 

And we all lived....

 
 
lovely blogs: Dipity Road

the inspired room
 

Thinking of Mom

Last night Olivia and went shopping to pick out a Mother's Day gift for my mom. Since she lives in Austin, Tx and I live in MI, we don't get to see each other very often, however, we do talk on the phone a few times each week.

My mom is very tiny with a big fabulous fun personality. She is funny, smart and extremely fashionable! She never goes out of the house with her "face" on and always matches her handbag to her shoes.  When she isn't on the golf course with her "girls" she can usually be found in Hobby Lobby pondering her next big project!

 Mom was the Queen of Crafting before crafting was even poplar. Armed with a can of spray paint, Elmer’s glue and fist full of glitter, she could turn the ordinary into the extraordinary – all the while dressed in a Pucci mini-skirt, frosted lipstick and glamorous false eyelashes.

 

I celebrate everything about her!

 

 

xo!

photo: vintage rose