Am I really lucky, or just a spoiled brat?

Now, I don't really want you to answer that because I know what most of you will say! Shame on you! Although, I really do think it is the latter of the two also! My birthday was so wonderful! All of you and your well wishes for my day was so nice to read! And it was so much fun giving away the blog candy! I love giving things away like that! I noticed that I'll be coming up on 30,000 hits soon so I guess I'll have to start getting another goody pile together! Anyway, on with what a brat I am! I had been drooling over a $500 macro lens since I first got my camera. For the last month I had been joking my my hubby about getting it for me for my b-day. "You better order that soon honey if you want it to get here before my birthday!" or "I saved some money with coupons at the grocery, so there's a little extra money for my lens." or my favorite "I promise I'll act surprised when I open it!" He laughed it off every time and said "yeah right!" I honest to goodness didn't expect it at all, I was only teasing him. I had also mentioned that I wanted the lens to, well.....pretty much anyone who would listen, including my in laws! Apparently being a good DIL and a good wife and mother really pays off because hubby and in laws went together and bought it for me!! You don't even know how excited I am! I have been sneaking away every chance I can get to take some pics!


This lens is different from my other 3 lenses because this one is a 100mm f/2.8 macro USM and is specifically for up close photography. It's used best with things such as insects and flowers. I love taking pictures of my children and family but my most favorite photography is definitely the flowers and insects. It's made this acrachnaphobic want to get as close as possible to a spider! Who'da thunk? Here are a few pictures I have gotten so far with my new super awesome lens!






But, the fun doesn't stop there! I got some birthday money in the mail (aren't mommas and grannys the best!?) so of course I couln't let it burn a hole in my pocket! I was going out to eat later that day in Springfield so I decided to go a craft store called Crafts2000 (also known other places as Pat Catan's). I hadn't been in there for about a year since they put a Hobby Lobby cloer to me and I don't need to go over that way any more. Boy did I hit the jackpot though! They had See D's stamp sets (now Inque Botique) for $1.97 each! I got 6 different sets although they probably had 15 different ones or so. I haven't gotten a chance to use them yet but I am so excited to! I also got a polka dot alpha set (had to pay $8 for that one) and a small $1 Christmas tree stamp. They have a big selection of $1 stamps too! After that I had to run next door to Hobby Lobby (yes, it's next door, and JoAnn's is next door to that!) and see if they had the Rock Star stack. They did! I snatched that up at half off and also found the Basic Grey file set that I had been looking for since Craft Critique had this article about it a few weeks ago by Lexi Daly. I used my 40% off coupon for that and also got some individual sheets of paper for Halloween cards and such.



I also wanted to show my take on the light box I just rigged for myseld. I saw Amy Westerman's idea of using a wooden crate lined with foam board and wanted to try it. I looked at JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, and even Walmart for a crate and to no avail! I ended up just using my foam board that I already had to make the shape of the box and taped it together on the backside with thick masking tape. It's actually pretty sturdy! If you have any questions just email me!

Lookie what else I got in the mail! Sweeter than sweet birthday cards! Thank you Susan, Amy, and Rose Ann!!!






I'll be back soon with some cards I got to make this weekend!