Five Facts Friday: Penny Edition

I'm changing up Five Facts Friday a little bit this week, to talk about our Terrier pup, Penny, who is turning two-years-old this month! She is the sweetest little girl, combined with (the occasional) biggest pain in the ass. I love her to death and she is way more easy for me to talk about than myself! ;]

1. We rescued Penny in October of 2009. Jordan wanted her brother, who was a short-hair, but I wanted Penny (who was called "Champagne" by her owner). Penny interacted a lot more with us so we took her home.

2. Her two favorite places in the world are cuddling under the covers or laying out in the sun.

3. She has the softest belly!!! I could lay on it all day.

4. Penny knows the word "bubbles" and will immediately get excited and wait for you to blow bubbles for her to jump at to catch.

5. She's the fastest dog at the dog park. No one can catch her, not even the big dogs.

Penny is the first dog I've ever had the pleasure of loving, training and watching grow every day. I'm so thankful that she's in my life to bring a smile to my face whenever I need her too. Have a lovely weekend, I'll be taking this little girl for a bike ride or two!

Five Facts Friday

1. I love olives. And pickles.

2. In the first grade, when most girls are princesses for Halloween, I was Captain Hook. I seriously wish I had a picture of this to share because it was LEGIT and awesome!

3. I've seen Vanilla Sky a hundred times and would watch it again right now.

4. I have so many new ideas for cards for my store, I wish I could find the time to create them.

5. I have ridiculously straight hair. I can spend an hour curling it and 15 minutes later it's straight again. I'm envious of the girls who can have both!

Tonight I'm doing the final preparations for the show I'm participating in tomorrow. If you live in southern California, the event is at SEED People's Market in Costa Mesa from 11-4. It is sponsored by Quiksilver and there will be music, food and lots of handmade goodies. Come say hi!

Five Facts Friday + Winner

I'm so glad it's Friday! Today after work we take the flyer over to Catalina Island for a special anniversary weekend! Before I go, I want to announce the winner of my Sponsor Spot Giveaway! Let me just say, the response to this giveaway, along with the various e-mails I've been receiving, has been humbling. It's very special to me that so many people want to join in on the ride of Julie Ann Art, in hopes of helping their blog or business! So, congratulations to #20, Wear The Canvas! I'll e-mail you shortly!

For everyone else who is still interested in advertising through Julie Ann Art, don't worry! Sponsor spots are extremely affordable! You can get more information here, or don't hesitate to send me an e-mail at julie.astra AT yahoo DOT com!

1. I'm a huge sap. I haven't always been this way. But in the last like five years I've turned into one of those girls who cries at movies, weddings, movies about weddings, American Idol episodes...yeah it's BAD. I cried three times during the last Harry Potter movie.

2. I am so so bad at getting my picture taken. Just ask Jordan. We've had multiple attempts at photo shoots for blog-related things. They never end well. I'd rather be behind the camera.

3. I'm an organized messy person.

4. I have a pretty intense sweet tooth. Over the weekend I had a huge sugary craving and I threw together the only thing I could think of that we had ingredients for in the house. Sugar cookies. They were not so good. I need my chocolate.

5. I'm super indecisive. It's pretty much a joke how long it takes me to decide say, which body wash to buy at the store. I can't help it! All the different smells, and prices, and textures....there's lots to base the decision on!

Have a great weekend! xo JA

Five Facts Friday

Happy Friday! It doesn't feel like Friday to me since my week has been so out of whack with traveling. But that makes it even better! I'm just about back on track with everything, including giveaways! I'm SO happy to say that I will be hosting weekly giveaways from some really wonderful Etsy shop for the rest of July!


Now for Five Facts Friday!

1. I'm a Harry Potter nerd. I've read all the books (some more than once) and seen all the movies (all more than once). And I just bought our tickets to see the last one next week. I know I'm going to cry.

2. I took piano lessons when I was younger. I can still play a little bit but I'm sort of bummed I dropped the lessons.

3. I used to want to be a veterinarian. (Then a marine biologist when I saw Free Willy.)

4. I really like to bake. The problem is I have to give the treats away or else I will eat them all in one sitting.

5. I always always have to have my toes nails painted. Otherwise, gross.

Have a lovely weekend! I will be working on a new DIY Tutorial to share with you guys and hopefully doing some relaxing at the beach. :]

Five Facts Friday

It's Friday! More importantly, the Friday before a three day weekend! I hope you all have a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend! Here are my five facts for the day:

1.) I love to ice skate. When I was younger my Dad would make an ice rink in our backyard. I would skate out there all the time, day or night. Now ice skating has a special place in my heart.

2.) The last time I chopped my hair it went awfully wrong (aka: the stylist didn't cut it correctly). I now have a fear of cutting my hair short again.

3.) I love to wear rain boots. Problem is, not much rain or snow in California!

4.) Before I moved to California I never used hot sauce. Now I use it all the time on all kinds of things. Maybe it's because of all the mexican food they have out here?

5.) If I fall in love with a song I can easily listen to it over and over and over again. This tends to drive people around me crazy. Lately, it's been "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele. The boyfriend is not exactly thrilled.

I've gotten several compliments on my Five Facts Friday posts and that makes me so happy! It really has been the best way for me to open up about myself. If you guys have any questions you'd like me to answer on Fridays let me know!

Five Facts Friday

It's Friday! Too bad a.) I have to work tomorrow and b.) I'm sick! :[ I made some homemade chicken noodle soup last night but that did not do the trick. I'm hoping to get lots of rest this weekend because I want to be in top shape for my trip home in less than a week! Which brings me to Five Facts Friday.

1.) When I was 24 I made the move from Michigan to California. I was basically just at that point in my life where I needed a change. I knew if I didn't move anywhere then, I probably never would.

2.) After literally years and years of contemplating and designing and brainstorming...I still don't have a tattoo. But I still want a tattoo. Will I ever go through with it? I honestly don't know.

3.) I want to go back to Hawaii and take more pictures like this. It only took like 47 tries to get it right. (It's ok, he's a good kisser.)

4.) I have never felt so motivated and passionate about my business. I've always enjoyed what I do but in the past few months this drive has taken over me. It's the most refreshing feeling.

5.) I make To-Do lists every day. Every day. I get so much satisfaction out of being productive. I guess it's a good thing but my obsessed list making still makes me feel like a nerd.

I have a really great giveaway for next week! Want a hint? It's clothing!! And don't forget to enter this week's yummy giveaway!

Five Facts Friday

TGIF! I'm really looking forward to this weekend.....friends, the beach, and a DIY project I'm excited to share with you guys! But first, it's time for Five Facts Friday!

1.) Give me a dark room, a flashlight and a camera and I'm amused for way too long. I blame my painting with light photography assignment in college.

2.) 10 years of driving and I have never gotten pulled over. (knock on wood?) And this is not because I don't speed.

3.) The only drink I ever order at a bar is rum and coke. Bacardi, please.

4.) I have scoliosis and wore a back brace throughout high school. As a teen girl who wanted to wear cute clothes, it was really hard on me.

5.) I kind of love line dancing. Now, before you judge, you must know that when I lived in Michigan my friends and I went to a country bar called Coyote Joes (think Coyote Ugly with a little bit of class). I'm not a country girl, I don't own a cowboy hat, but we sure ran that dance floor. I miss those nights.

Happy Friday!

Five Facts Friday

I thought Five Facts Friday would be a good way to help you guys get to know me! Some of my favorite blogs are personal, lifestyle blogs that really make you feel like you know the blogger. Making blogger friends is so important in this business. I don't want my difficulty of talking about myself to hold me back from that. So here are today's five facts!

1. I'm an only child. Although when I was younger I used to tell people I had an older brother named Michael.

2. I'm super shy. It's really hard for me to be myself around new people.

3. I finished up my degree in Photography with an internship at Martha Stewart Living. This was during her tethered ankle days. (She had no shame in it and wore capris to show it off.)

4. I want red hair. Bright red. But obviously it will probably look awful so I'm chicken.

5. The "coolest" pet I had as a kid was a guinea pig. They now have a special place in my heart. My kids will never have hamsters.

Happy Friday! Have a good weekend! :]