Great Little Article for 'Lambs & Ivy Boutique'

Greetings Friends from Snowy So Cal!!!

Most of you know by now that I own & operate a little shop in my mountain community of Crestline, CA which is my 'real job'. While on the Internet this morning working on some advertising for the store, I found this fun article from the LA Times...what a GREAT surprise! I remember when this gentleman came into the store in the fall & asked if he could "take some pictures", but I never heard back. Well, this was the result...a nice little acknowledgment for my 'Home Away From Home'!!

Big Smile... ;) {click below to read article}

Crestline's overlooked antique rows L.A. at Home Los Angeles Times

Lovely Lynn, Lambs & Ivy & SIGNATURES

What a GREAT & FUN day I had at my Lambs & Ivy today!!! My dear friend Lynn from Blue Skies who's blog I just created a fresh, new look for, came by the shop today with her beautiful 2 daughters Brenna & Lauren...could they all be any cuter??? I don't think so!!! It was such a pleasure meeting them & we had so much fun talking about all our arting & blogging, I feel we are instant best friends with so much in common. How fun is that...sooooo fun! She also brought me some lovely hand-crafted items that I'm putting in the store that I love, love, love, especially the awesome vintage M&M filled bottle decorated for Valentine's Day with one of my FAVORITE vintage lady perriots on it {above}...Great Minds Think A Like!!! I look forward to many more visits & laughs & craft brain storming adventures...her daughter Lauren even has a talent for making the sweetest paper roses. I have her making me some custom hair combs to sell in the store so she can make some extra $$$'s too. Then when you think things couldn't get better...I learned how to create a digital signature, a new trick of the trade that I can add to my blog design services. I had fun making mine & hope you all love it & if anyone is interested in adding one to their blog, fly over to http://vintagesusiecustomdesign/ & I can make a custom one just for you for $5.00. Just shoot me over an email so we can get started & you TOO can have this little bit of personality at the bottom of your posts!!! LOL So bye for now friends & today...I'm Feeling The Love! ;)

Custom Blog Headers for Sale on etsy by ME

Well, I've made my very 1st blog headers for sale & listed them in my etsy shop which can be viewed on my sidebar...yippppeeee! The 1st is American Pie & the 2nd is Everything French. I'm following the ideas in 'The Secret' & working on creating my own destiny. {well, at the very least I am TRYING, right! lol} Have any of you read The Secret? What did you think of it? I believe it's basic principles to be true, BELIEVING is the thing, but I also believe that just doing a thing has got to be just as important. So, I'm just doing for now & I'm happy with that. What could you be 'just doing' to get you closer to the destiny you want to create? Let's inspire each other! I'm confident that we will only get better at it, but in the meantime, wish me luck! ;)

The Three Muses 'Old & New' & Telluride, CO

{background by Painting With Brushes, eggs by Rian Design}

My sister Kristen in Telluride, CO

vintagesusie out & about & having fun in Telluride

The main street of this little western town

My trip to Colorado was a short 4 days, but my sweet sister managed to stuff as much fun as humanly possible into that short time frame! LOL One of our journeys was to Telluride, an awesome old mining town turned resort town high in the Colorado mountains. One of it's claims to fame is that in June 1889, Butch Cassidy before becoming associated with 'the wild bunch', robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank of $24,000...that was a lot of money for back then right?? Now in the same building is The Appaloosa Trading Company & lucky me, Kristen bought me the coolest boots there ever...I love her, I love them & I love that they're from Telluride! More of my journey to come...don't miss my pics of Ouray's Ice Park, beyond amazing...it's insane! Have fun getting ready for the New Year...I'm rolling around the idea of taking Kai to the Rose Bowl Parade, I have to mull that one over for a while! :)

Lots of Llama Love in Colorado

Whitewater, Colorado

My sister Kristen feeding her llama's in the mountains above Grand Junction.

Her very AWESOME log home...what an amazing view she has!

The vineyard, ready & waiting for the snow to melt to show the first bud of spring.

Lots of Llama Love!!!

In the barn looking out.

Regal & Proud, her llama's are packers.

Face to face...

A smile only a Mother could love....

I had the BESTEST time in Colorado visiting Kristen, John & their furry friends! I fell in love with Grand Junction, mesa's, llama's, jerky & pellet stoves. My holiday has been amazing & I hope all of you are having an amazing holiday too! With the 2010 fast approaching, I'm going to sit back, sip a glass of wine & take the time to reflect on the many blessings this past year has given me. One of them has been the serendipitous great fortune of finding all of you!!! :)

{more pictures to come of course}

Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn in Riverside, CA

Can you believe it...only 2 weeks left before Christmas, where does the time go? In the hours & days between Halloween & New Year's, time just seems to be so fleeting. I take it all in & enjoy & revel in every minute, like a child revels in summer wishing that school would never start.

There is something so magical about this time of year, it makes me feel all things are possible. I love coming home from the shop when it's just starting to get dark & as I turn the corner towards my house, I see the twinkling lights reflecting off the snow creating a path for me through the night.

As I open the door & see my family warm & cozy inside & the glow of the Christmas tree, I feel a sense of joy that only the holiday can bring. My daughter Courtney has been on a cruise with her boyfriend this past week & Grandpa & I have been watching Kai. Last night he was having a hard time falling asleep as Mommy usually sleeps with him. While laying together on his bed I realized he could see the Christmas tree from his room. I told him I was jealous & I wished sooooo that I could see the tree from my bed & how very lucky he was. After a bit he said he thought he could sleep in his bed by himself & while watching the tree sparkle & twinkle, he fell into a sweet sleep...how magical!

I believe in Santa, I believe he lives in the North Pole & that small people help him make all the toys & presents he gives out on Christmas Eve. I believe that reindeer fly & that one small sack can hold all the toys that Santa gives out to all the children around the world. I believe that there's one night during the whole year that nothing bad can happen, that magic, love & hope can actually win. I believe in miracles, the miracle of a baby born in a manger with a shining star showing the world The Way!