Mud Puddle Girl

Mud Puddle Puppies...

2009-12-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

In our family we have not only Mud Puddle Girls, but we also have Mud Puddle Puppies too! Mud Puddle Puppies make a splash just being themselves; just like our girlies!

If you have followed my "Life on Fishing Creek" blog- then you already know we have several rescue dogs. With the holiday approaching I thought I would share their story~ three dogs~ three rescues~ three different stories...

MEET SAM (male, sheltie mix, 11-14 years old). We had just lost a 4 year old Sheltie to cancer when someone sent me an email from a Sheltie rescue with a picture of Sam. Sam had been rescued from the second shelter in less than two weeks and his future was bleak. The rescue family said he was a fine dog, loved his belly rubbed AND loved her grandchildren. Well that's all it took- if this dog was good with grandchildren~ that's all I needed to know.

We have had Sam since 2001.

Sam

Sam is different- Sam doesn't play with the other dogs- Sam doesn't play with dog toys- Sam loves to sleep- Sam also LOVES to grab your food if you're not looking, AND Sam does love my grandgirlies.

Last month I took Sam to the ocean for the first time. You see-Sam is getting old-fast- and I wanted special time just with him. I wanted him to run free along the waves, see the birds flying above, and feel the sand between his toes- Just Sam & me.

MEET BELLA~ CINDERELLA (female, yellow lab, 3 years old) My daughter-in-law's mother emailed me that a yellow lab would be going to the dog pound over the weekend because the young family was not able to take care of her anymore.

Bella is such a good sport
The young family had a handful of small children, one with autism- and it was getting cold- and the dog wouldn't be able to come into the house.

When we picked up Bella~ she had a thick black mark around her entire neck. This marking was from the collar she had worn~ outside on a rope for the 1st year of her life. Sad.

It took Bella a week to learn how to climb up & down stairs. She army crawled very gingerly up and down, up and down. Also- I thought we had a miracle lab because she didn't shed a hair for weeks! But it ended up this was natures way of protecting her from the elements of weather- keeping her fur as long as she could. Well, that ended and she a true hair shedding"lab"!

And best of all Bella LOVES LOVES LOVES everyone and especially children. My grandgirlies have learned alot from Bella and vice versa...

Bella is my shadow, my friend, one of the kindest animals I have ever known. I am blessed that she found us.

MEET CHARLIE: (male, mix Shepard?, 1-2 years old) Sadly Charlie was also a victim of the foreclosures in the USA. His family thought they had NO choice but to leave him outside their home when they left for good. He managed on his own for a week with neighbors feeding him, BUT then he got real sick and the Animal Control picked him up and took him to a pet hospital.

Charlie

Since Charlie snapped at the Animal Control man- he was going to be put to sleep- BUT the wonderful wonderful smart people who cared for him at the Kingsview Animal Hospital knew that Charlie was a wonderful dog- that was just very very sick!

An email went out- I saw his picture and fell in love- another rescue dog found us!
I can't say enough about the goodness of Charlie- he gentle, kind, Bella's best friend, loves being a dog, loves chasing rabbits, loyal, loves to eat, play- he's just about perfect!

Bella & Charlie

Grandgirlie & Bella

My dear Sam at the beach...
Well that's their story~ and I think our family is pretty luck to have each of them find us! If you are looking for a new pet- you may want to consider a "rescue". Animal rescues are people that home an animal for a time until they find a forever home.

The Art of being a flower girl...

2009-10-11T17:59:00.000-07:00

Three flower girls...Ashley, Grace, & January...

At my son Kirk & Lindsay's wedding last month- niece's Ashley, Gracie, & dear friend's daughter January (Isn't that a beautiful name?) were the angelic flower girls... White chiffon flowing gowns, little caps sleeves, hair brushed---and I must tell you- they each had shorts underneath because after all being a flower girl on the water---there's a lot to do after the ceremony!

January & Gracie (the little one)

You get ready to take pictures with the beautiful bride...

Bride Lindsay & her flower girls

When picture taking is over~ you head straight to the dock to do what you love to do...find crabs, fish, etc... Oh those beautiful white dresses!

The girls had so much fun! It was so special to be part of this wonderful & blessed event.

Soon they will be flower girls again...

2009-08-01T20:15:00.001-07:00

Like sweet little fairies~ my granddaughters ran up our family property to the ceremony just before the bride made her entrance~ last May-08

Last May our granddaughters were honored to be flower girls for our oldest son's "Uncle Joey's" wedding ... This year they were asked to be flower girls for our youngest son's "Kirk" wedding, along with a dear family friend's daugther... My granddaughters have grown by leaps & bounds~ and are looking forward to make this exciting trip to the next wedding ceremony... I'll post pics of this year's wedding in September.... Stay tuned!

Girlies~ with beautiful bride Jodi

New! UNCONDITIONAL LOVIES!

2009-04-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

UNCONDITIONAL LOVIES tm ~ organic covering and decorative stitching

I'll admit I haven't blogged much lately... I have been crazy busy~ with an upcoming wedding, and lots more. So when I'm at my busiest...nothing is more relaxing then creating something that is not only fun, but something that warms my heart...something for children & animals.

To find out more- you can visit my UNCONDITIONAL LOVIES here.
No two LOVIES are exactly alike & are posted for sale when they are made.

Broken Arm...

2009-03-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

Oldest granddaughter with a boo-boo...

It's the call we all hate... we were away taking our granddog to the vet~ when our daughter called. Our oldest granddaughter fell out of a tree and broke her arm. Did I mention she is always climbing trees? And as we know what goes up---must come down--and down she did. She will be alright- 5 weeks in a cast. And did I mention this is the SECOND time she has broken her arm climbing...ummmm I think she needs wings- all tomboy.

I couldn't wait to have a "girls" weekend...

We made soap in my soap kitchen...the fan is to allow the soap to "cool" faster....clever.

My youngest granddaughter looking quite sassy & happy at her creations...

The final project. My oldest granddaughter decided to label and package the soap all by herself. She named the soap "Mystery Soap." I thought this was genius because she can make soap of any color, any batter, any fragrance and they all can be called "Mystery Soap." Now why didn't I think of that? And she's selling them to family for three dollars each.

Settling down for bed. This was the first time we all slept in the Carriage house on our property... It was fun- the girls had fun and so did our dogs.... I told the girls they could stay up all night... I think I heard snoring by 9:30 (smile)....

Also if you have a minute... Ginger from Enchanting Cottage had a beautiful post for Spiritual Sunday about "A pray for Grandchildren."

Let it Snow!

2009-01-28T12:11:00.000-08:00

Youngest granddaughter with sweet Sam~ Charlie & Bella in the background

The girls...at the top of our driveway...

I had an unexpected visit from my granddaughters last nite. It snowed and both their mommy and daddy had to work through the nite. My daughter works at a hospital emergency room; while their daddy was out clearing streets... SO the little ones got to play a bit in the snow. It was fun, and cold and our dogs bee-lined all over having some fun too!

Hey what a one-two inch bit of snow will do for a lot of fun!

Homemade Biscuits...

2009-01-23T18:12:00.000-08:00

Start with wholesome ingredients...flour, egg, peanut butter, water

(don't worry it's an older jar used many many times!)

Weekends are great~ especially when we have visitors...it can make life so fun! Tonight~ to give mommy & daddy some quiet time- we grabbed the granddaughters and made Dog biscuits.

Don't worry about getting messy! It's always okay at Gigi's house... In fact the messier the better the batter will taste! Hey they worked real

hard so they should sleep real good tonite (smile)...

The spectators were hit by flying flour!

Charlie & Bella~ Cinderella wait for "anything" to fly off the counter....

Here are the final biscuits~ let's just say they are super floured! That's my girls!

The house smelled like warm bread baking---yum!

POST SCRIPT~ I used recipes from the THREE DOG BAKERY

book by Dan Dye & Mark Beckloff (thanks Teresa I meant to add this...) and one more thing that was fun for the girls to clean up with Twin Birch foaming hand wash! See pics below.

Whaaaa--almost gone! This was one terrific and

long lasting foaming hand wash

from Heather at Twin Birch Bath & Body...

Little Money Makers......

2008-12-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

Making Pine Cone ornaments for their tree (ha!)

This weekend started by having the kids & grandgirls down to our Eastern Shore home...Grandma (me!) would do an ornament project with the girls and let the big girls go shopping for the day.... So what started out as a Pine Cone decorating display turned into a little money making venture for my granddaughters... The conversation started out like this, "Gigi- maybe we can sell the pine cone ornaments for 25 cents to your neighbors (they were suppose to be for their tree)" and I said, "Ummmm...let's wait for mommy to get home" (smile).

But instead my oldest granddaughter then decided we would take them to the holiday party (at my oldest son's home I blogged about here) and perhaps they would sell them for 25 cents each there or 2 for a dollar (cute). So later that night- the 25 cents Pine Cone ornaments soon went for 1.00 each because the 1st sale -turned out to be a 1.00 (ya know keep the change...)

Beautiful glittered Pine Cones...

My granddaughters made LOTS of money...even took the Pine Cones that their mommy bought and re-sold them!

That's my girls!!!!

Cute as a Cupcake Billows...

2008-11-03T19:01:00.001-08:00

" Cute as a Cupcake" Billows
If you are looking for a special gift for that little "CUPCAKE" in your life...
you need to check out the newest Billows....here. They are under the "Girly Girl" Billow section.

"If you need to hold a pillow tight...
The size of this Billow may be just right.."

Mud Puddle Girl goes Etsy!

2008-10-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

Mud Puddle Girl

Be Yourself. Make a Splash!

Looking for a special holiday gift for that special girl who does what she does best? Just being herself...She's fun, creative, and knows who she is...a real girly~ girl who not afraid to step in mud puddles!

Check out our Mud Puddle Girl Etsy Shop here.

Girls just wanna have fun!

2008-10-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

Trying to "fish" out a tire in the water...great practice for the sport of "fishin'"

My granddaughters are true MUD PUDDLE GIRLS. In fact it wasn't hard to be inspired to make products for the MUD PUDDLE GIRL LINE when I see the girls (who really are girly!) just wanna have fun....AND fun my granddaughters had lots this weekend!Practice paid off...a very very BIG fish caught!

Finding a Fig Tree and taking some figs and cutting them open~ and hey that's Birch Bark Shake an all natural dry shampoo for dogs on the table. The girls gave all the dogs a dry shampoo...what fun! And the weekend at Gigi's wouldn't be complete without the little ones climbing a tree and making a homemade swing! In the background is my son and his new fiance putting in an electric dog fence.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Treasure Wandering Bags!

2008-10-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

Twinkle Pink
New to the Mud Puddle Girl line... Treasure Wandering Bags on our new website:
http://underthewillowgiftshop.com/

What is a Treasure Wandering Bag? It's a sturdy wandering bag that a Mud Puddle Girl can take anywhere! And it's perfect to tuck treasures in, OR it's really sweet to take for sleepovers (like grandma's house!), or even school! It's lined, washable, 10 by 17 inches of pure fun! And the sturdy cord handle is great to hang on a tree branch or on a shoulder.

I WON! Lots of Suds to Love!

2008-10-07T19:04:00.001-07:00

I recently entered a fabulous giveaway from Trisha~ Suds to Love. I LOVE entering giveaways, and although I have entered many I have never WON~ until now!! Lucky me!!!!!!

This HUGE BUNDLE of goodies really is just unbelievable! Trisha sent this SUPER generous box included soaps of Spicy Banana Bread, Sweet Lavender Lemon Martini, Creme Brulee, & Sweet Lemon Sugar Cookies~ AND Foaming Sugar Scrub (with a green loofah), Reconstrutive Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Foamy soap in a refreshing wonderful scent called RELAXING, AND 2 Relaxing Bath Fizzy Bath Salts, AND two yummy lip balms of Mint Julep, & Vanilla Banilla.

Trisha I really can't thank you enough~ Is anything missing from the list? After all I had one of my sons open the box because I was away....and NOT that he would take anything home, but he was very impressed by all my goodies (smile).

And Trisha~ I love your packing~ soaps wrapped with special coordinating paper, and the rest was simple & elegant. Just beautiful.

The hardest part will be which one to use first. The lip balms are already in my purse.

Hugs to Trisha! I love it all!

New!

2008-09-30T18:12:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

As many of you know I have a website that people are able to purchase handmade gifts. Beginning tonight all Under the Willow gifts for sale will be here. It was a difficult decision, but I believe it was a smart business move. The NEW shop will be updated as handmade gifts are made...And without the cost of a running a website I can actually lower my prices. And HEY who doesn't like a bargain when shopping for gifts? I know I do & I hope you will too!

For a peek again visit here.

So if you have time to stop by~ let me know what you think!

That's My Hope...

2008-09-28T20:02:00.000-07:00

The first thing my granddaughter said to me when I saw her this weekend was that she received a very special book in the mail with a picture in it that she had drawn. She was able to take the book to school to share with her teacher and classmates. We are soooo proud that our granddaughter Ashley was part of this book...

The author of THE HERO IN MY POCKET and THAT'S MY HOPE: Featuring a Gallery of Multi-generational Artwork loves Under the Willow's all-natural products, Mud Puddle Girl products, and our little Billows.

I was happy to help honor injured Veterans and their families when I was asked to customize a line of my all-natural soaps with the special message of "Hope". These soaps also have their own special brand name: Heaven-Scent Hope. Please visit here to read more about this very special book.

For a peek at the rest of the weekend and our granddaughter's first visit to our new waterfront home please visit here.

FROGS, DOGS & Little Girls...

2008-09-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

WE HAVE BEEN BUSY! Sorry I haven't posted lately but~ we wanted to squeeze alot into some dwindling summer days... We adore having our granddaughters visit, as do all the animals we have. As soon as they enter the house~ all the dogs run around like it's Christmas morning... lucky us...lucky them... So here are last minute pics of the last of our summer days before school started... Our garage pet frog (okay maybe a toad) a bit dusty~ was a grand find!

Littlest one looks at the gloves BIG sis will use to place a baby bird back in a nest...

Just the "girls" . One of their "four legged" friends is never far behind...

Serious soapmaking is always part of the visit....

It's easy to be tired..the little one fell asleep--upper right corner (smile)

Ummm...always enough energy for one more hug... Bella's in love!

Fond memories...And when they are older I'll have to understand that one day they might want to spend weekends with friends (frown) more than visiting with their Gigi & Paw Paw... so for now we enjoy every moment we share with them...We are blessed.

Post Script: Shhhhhh...let it be our secret- we let them have tacos for breakfast & ice cream & they can run barefoot in our fields & play in the mud with their clean clothes...

Thank you Ginger...

2008-07-30T15:56:00.001-07:00

Dear Ginger from ENCHANTING COTTAGE passed this wonderful award to me...Ginger is someone I have been blessed to know through blogging...her blog is a wonderful array of gardening, warm to heart stories, craft notions, and a whole lot more!
Many hugs to you...

Rules link who presented you the award, then pass this along to seven others... So nice to be thought of...

Here are seven I would love to have this award. I am so blessed to have gotten to know all of you...and we are friends through this funny but warm world of blogging....

1. Susie from: Green Dreams

2. Michelle from: Blog of a Soap Pixie

3. Joanna from: Product Body

4. Heidi from: Soapalcholic Anonymous

5. Trisha from: Suds to Love

6. Elizabeth from: Gassner Custom Soaps

7. Heather from: Twin Birch

Each of you have touched my life in a special way...

Whimsical Willow Soap Fairies...

2008-07-09T18:13:00.000-07:00

Willow Soap Fairies....

I have been searching high & low & here & there; leaving NO leaf unturned to find the perfect soap for an addition to my Mud Puddle Girl line...they will be Willow Soap Fairies...They are the most beautiful soap molds I have ever seen...whimsical, magicial, fairy tale in creation...

One for the Twinkle Pink Girl, One for the Sky Blue Girl, & One for the Nature Girl? And if you notice there is an extra fairy...ummmm...well I'll tell you about that later.

For now~ Let me know which one is the Twinkle Pink Fairy, the Sky Blue Fairy, & which one is the Nature Fairy. The first one to guess correctly will win a Willow Soap Fairy of her to choice to be sent to a special "Mud Puddle Girl" in her life...

Hint: The colors portrayed may or may not be the color of the Willow Soap Fairy paired with the Mud Puddle Girl (wink)... Give it a try! You'll make a little girl very happy when she receives one of these special soaps in the mail!

Post Script: Since there was a winner so quickly (see Heidi's comment)~ Let me know what you'd think the "extra" Willow Soap Fairy should represent~ & I'll chose a winner to receive her or sent to someone of your choice!

Any Clue...?

2008-06-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

I recently picked up this framed picture at a flea market (1.00!). I have never seen a picture like this before in a frame. The wooden frame holds an antique mirror with a picture of sorts inside. The picture almost looks "etched" into the old mirror.

I fell in love with it because of the whimsical feel of it. The trees, the children, & the little dog they are holding back are quite intriguing...BUT I have NO clue about it's history. If you can help out or have seen a picture like this, please let me know. Gotta love those flea markets!

Would you do this?....

2008-06-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

One word. NOPE. But by the smile on my oldest granddaughter's face ~ she loved holding this...yellow, BIG...well you know. This is Ashley~ my nature Muddle Puddle Girl, not an animal goes by her that she doesn't stop to look at, hold, bring home...and complain to people at Pet Smart that she has a mean mommy because she doesn't let their chickens sleep in her room...I would after all I'm her grandma Gigi :)....

Mud Puddle Rocks!

2008-06-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

They are really handmade soaps...in the form of rocks

New to the Mud Puddle Girl line...Mud Puddle Soap Rocks. Pink for Twinkle Pink Girl~sweet like a delicate rose. Blue for Sky Blue Girl~ fresh & clean fragrance, & Nature Girl has the dark cream handmade soap rock~ of sweet honey & oats...

Just some soapy info: Each soap rock is handmade with a natural batter soap containing olive oil, palm oil, & other skin loving ingredients. Each soap rock is approx. 1.5 oz. & a set of 6 is 10.00 plus shipping...

Update: Go here to view the soap rocks & other new Mud Puddle Girl products...

Give Away Winner is...

2008-06-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

Bella waiting for the mailman to come...
Hey did you think I forgot? Really I didn't I was just waiting (still am) for a supply to come in the mail... BUT I know I hate waiting so after putting names in a bag~ the winner is Nature girl SusieQ from Greendreams.
Susie~ A Mud Puddle girl product will be on it's way~ next week....really! :)

Recap of give away ...and I would like to thank everyone who left a comment~I loved them all!

Gassner Custom Soaps...

2008-06-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh~ this thank you is soooo long overdue...The week of the wedding (my brain was mush) a package came from Elizabeth, owner of Gassner Custom Soaps, & I carefully tucked it away for future use. You see on Elizabeth's blog she had a picture of a tree with some scraping & asked if someone knew what the marks were...& IF identified correctly she was generous enough to send out some of her Black Beauty Facial Bars.

Elizabeth~ Thank you! Your creation is just delightful & the scent is invigorating. Elizabeth is a master of creating custom soap orders. Believe me~ I have ordered some cool soaps from her including soap embedded with money (granddaughter LOVED this), and her famous moon soap with a coconut custard scent.

She also has a stand out Esty biz . I really don't know how you do it all with your busy home life filled with adorable little girls, but I'm glad you do!

Again many thanks!

Say...What do you think?

2008-06-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

I have my logo, I have some products launched,

so I need to take the next step...

I will be adding your thoughts in the colored sections, when you tell me the why...

What type of MUD PUDDLE GIRL are you or someone you know? I have defined a Mud Puddle Girl into three categories i.e. Twinkle Pink Girl, Sky Blue Girl, & Nature Girl. The following is my (growing) description, but I would love to hear your input, your opinion, and your thoughts… Here we go…

Twinkle Pink Girl: Sparkle, shine, a princess, loves to dress up, loves anything feminine (thanks Sharon), somewhat of a glamour girl in the making, but certainly not afraid to get her hair or hands dirty.

Sky Blue Girl: Water, rain, snowflakes, the beach, the moon, the sun, the stars; this is her. She’ll stop to collect shells or take a wild ride on a sled, and again she certainly knows how to dress girly while wearing boots in the mud…or she can be seen in t-shirts & jeans sporting flip-flops to high heels...(thanks Joanna!)

Nature Girl: She loves to stop at any animal that crosses her path, and has been known to take a few home. Dogs, cats, farm animals, frogs, turtle, insects…this is what she’s about. She loves the trees, flowers, ponds, and anywhere creatures exist. And she certainly doesn't mind trading a bikini suntan line for a farmer's tan while working in the garden! (thanks Ginger!)...

Or she or you may even be a combination of all three…So what am I? Probably a Twinkle Pink Girl, & Nature Girl… I love to dress up, but never mind getting my hands dirty doing projects, & I can never pass up pausing to look at an animal & have been known to take a few home.

What about you? Any thoughts? And in the next week or so, I will be giving away a new Mud Puddle Girl product…now sure which one, but I’ll let you know. So please leave any thoughts or comments to be entered.

MGP~ This will be the monogram of the MUD PUDDLE GIRL

This is a Mud Puddle Girl...

2008-05-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

As most of you have known...the family has been very busy in a bliss of wedding preparations, etc... My granddaughters were the flower girls, & after the ceremony the beautiful bride gave this little flower girl her veil... So keeping true to the Mud Puddle Girl motto of "Be Yourself..Make a Splash" my granddaughter quickly changed into "play clothes" after the ceremony...but chose to wear the veil given to her :)

You can visit here to read all about the wedding bliss...

This is MINE....

2008-05-13T17:11:00.000-07:00

ALL MINE...and I'm not letting anyone~ who visits walk away with it! Period.

As a Mother's Day present to myself I re-ordered some decedent Coconut Milk Bath Soak, some "original" Mama Bomb & Vanilla Mango "Crush on You" sugar shea scrubby wash from Product Body. I couldn't wait to try the original "Mama Bomb" ~ because it gives me a sense of how the company began, etc... Along with my ordered goodies, Joanna~ owner of Product Body, tucked in some incredible products for me to try....OHHHHH... I am feelin' spoiled & loved~ all wrapped in one. And if my order wasn't enough I received some blue Bubble Rubble (champagne)~ Joanna--I must tell you this smell is so fresh, so crisp, delightful---it just may be a new favorite. Also tucked in was a sample of Crush on You sugar shea scrubby wash in grapefruit, and a cream (Coconut???)- oh my! I LOVE IT ALL.

The first Bubble Rubble I tried was Carrot Cake~ and this is what I did: Draw a bath, break up the Rubble~ watch the bubbles, then take some decedent sugar shea scrubby wash to shave legs, etc... and say good-bye to dry! Pure luxury.

Joanna~ ya crack me up with your note!

Visit Joanna's fun blog here!

Hugs to you

Wedding Countdown...

2008-05-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

Wedding Countdown here...

Soaps for Hope...

2008-04-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

Author Marlene Lee presenting That's My Hope book to my granddaughter...

A few weeks ago my granddaughter received an honorary copy of That's My Hope a new book written by authors Marlene Lee and Lil Ingram. As stated on Early Light Press LLC, the book is "For children and families of injured service members, a story of hope, inspiration, and love of adventure."
That's My Hope
Author Marlene Lee showing my granddaughter the new book...

My granddaughter received a copy of the book in appreciation for her having drawn a picture that was selected for publishing. We are very proud of our granddaughter, and just humbled by the book itself because of all the lives it will touch.

The picture on the upper right corner ( a person in a wheelchair) my granddaughter drew.

So about now you are probably thinking--What does soaps have to do with Hope? Author Marlene Lee knew I made soaps and asked if I would be willing to make some small soaps that will be used to add a special touch to sharing the book. Really just a small token, a small gift~actually another gesture of just how BIG this author's heart is. The books will be donated across the country. So, she wanted this soap to be special~ so I thought that something special would be a simple stamp...

Soaps for Hope
I showed the author the handfuls of soap stamps I own and she chose two stamps that had been gifted to me from Anne-Marie, owner of Bramble Berry . It really made me smile because out of ALL the soap stamps I have--the Sunburst and the Ladybug from Bramble Berry were chosen. It just seemed more than perfect to make the soaps with these stamps. And Under the Willow would donate all the soaps; afterall, it was for a very good cause.

About 150 soaps made for Hope...

I wanted to customize the soaps labels so I decided to label the soaps using my Mud Puddle line because author Marlene Lee, and myself talked about how Hope was a Mud Puddle Girl. There are three types of Mud Puddle Girls i.e. Nature Girl~ loves trees, animals, nature, etc... Twinkle Pink Girl~ loves to sparkle, shine, princess things,and then there is the Sky Blue Girl~ wind, rain, snow, the sea, skiing, etc... We decided that Hope is Sky Blue..." And the wording on the label "Heaven-Scent Hope" seemed a perfect fit.

If you would like to learn more about this new book, and more please visit Early Light Press, LLC here.

The Perfect Rose...

2008-04-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

The perfect rose embedded on top of a baby handmade soap bar
I must share with you just how fun it is to participate in a soap swap...Besides meeting some wonderful, creative, fun people~ you could receive some beautiful handmade soaps like I have. Heidi from Soapaholics blog sent me these two beautiful handmade soaps. The swap was about "fruity soaps"~ the blended color bar is scented with Kamquat~ oh my! This is a sweet almost candy scent, that I have never smelled before~ it's divine! The swirls really make the handamde bar something special. The soap with the "perfect rose" has been make with apricot kernel oil. This bar also graces some glitter along the top.

Heidi~ hugs to you! The soap I received is just beautiful!! I can't wait to use it, or maybe I'll just look at them for awhile, they are so lovely!

Also, another of my soap swap packages came. Joanna from Product Body sent some goodies! You can view this on my Under the Willow blog...

Gassner Custom Soap Creations...

2008-04-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

Handmade to order...custom made...creative...Gassner Custom Soaps are impressive. Period. I have been looking at her picture of the "Moon" soap for months & couldn't stand it anymore---I had to order-so off to her Etsy shop I went! I ordered the Moon, the soap with money embedded inside (clever!), and also received the fairy (shown above)...and a vegan Red Apple Loofah Shaving Soap, and even a small square of Caribbean Coconut (yum!)...

First you open the package you have to say, "How did she do that?" The artwork and craftsman is unbelievable. The fragrances are so divine-- I really don't know which one to use first--or maybe I'll just keep them around to gaze at-or to fill my rooms with their sweet fragrances. Either way, I am sooooo lucky to receive such a package of bath & body goodies!!!!

This is one very young soapmaker with a very bright future! Many hugs to you!!!! Also, you can visit her blog here for an inside look of a very busy mom in the world of creating some very special handmade soaps and more.

And lucky me...I received another package today from Twin Birch Bath & Body...see my blog here.

Is that Peter Cotton Tail???

2008-03-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

The color is right, the size is about right too, BUT this littlest ball of fluff is actually an adorable 13 week puppy that made a visit on Easter...courtesy of one of my nephew's girlfriend who asked, "Can I bring my puppy over?" Certainly I said---After all how much commotion can a 2 lb. ball of fluff make in a house that already has 3 dogs, lots of visitors, & two little girls who I knew would think this was a "very" special little visitor... The answer LOTS! Everyone fell in love with her!

Meet little "Millie"...

Can you tell what type of puppy this is????

It was the luck of the Irish...

2008-03-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Tami!
She was born Tami Christine March 17th, weighing at 7 lbs. 10 oz., at 8:02 pm...31 years ago...Our oldest child with her youngest daughter.

The whole family went out to celebrate...There was corn beef & cabbage, green pizza, nice wine, ice cream with mint syrup- and dang it...a silly leprechaun left a beautiful green crayon drawing on the wall next to our Twinkle Pink girl...hummm....

One of my favorite pics of my "girls"....Where else- but in a tree

And lastly another fav photo. This one is of me & my daughter when she was about my granddaughter's age...Listen Mommies-hold on to those little girls---they grow up so fast (sigh)...

Update--Billow Giveway...

2008-03-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to those who emailed me a request. As to date, there will be two Billows sent to children & their families.

Thank you to Jessica Nash from Nash Photography ~ I was deeply moved by your email & quite taken by the work you have done for special families with special children. You have certainly earned your wings...

Post Script: 3/11/2008--- Just heard from Jessica & the Billows have arrived. She is going to make the delivery for me (and her!)---hugs to you Jessica.

Giving...

2008-03-07T14:04:00.000-08:00

Billows before pillow inserts added

Last weekend as I spent lots of time sewing Billows (small pillows of comfort) with my oldest granddaughter popping in & out of my sewing room. I have been making Billows for years, that all come with a coordinating storybook card I have designed....Then my granddaugher suggested something-- I knew was a good idea....

The conversation went like this:

Granddaughter: "Gigi- Who's that for?"
Looking at a finished Billow before the pillow inserts were added...

"I sell these to people."

Granddaughter: "What if someone doesn't have money? Why do they have to have money? Can't you give one to someone without money?" (She's six)

I told her that was a great idea. And between you & me--we know giving is not about money...

So, in the next week or so--if you know a child who could use an extra kudo, perhaps they lost a pet, or have been ill, or maybe even having family problems---or it could be something as simple as---you'd like someone to know you are thinking of them... The reason why--is all up to you. A Billow & storybook card (either the original storybook card My 1st Billow or Simply Thinking of You) will be sent their way.

To enter---just email me at info (at)underthewillowgifts (dot) com, and let me know someone who could use a little surprise in their life, that may brighten their day.... Once I decide who the Billow should be sent to--I will post the picture of the Billow sent. And of course it will be a secret where the Billow is going....shhhhhhh :)

Hope to hear from some of you...a little Billow & storybook card is waiting to be shipped to someone special....

Jewelry Making 101...

2008-02-25T18:09:00.000-08:00

What could be more fun then to make special bracelets for my granddaughters?...I had quilted little pieces of fabric together, then they picked out the charms--signifying something important in their life...Two little girls, with two different ways they view the world, so with that in mind~ I put on the counter a BIG box of charms, & notions....

My oldest granddaughter will be entering her second year of soccer, so she chose the quickly chose the soccer charm & asked to put it in the middle. Then she filled the other areas with animals, & treasures of the sea...She's my Nature Girl...

My youngest granddaughter chose everything pink...A pink princess gown, a pink sparkle bead, a pink crown & if there had been pink broccoli-she would have added that too :) If it's pink & shines it usually finds a way in her heart...She my Twinkle Pink girl....

So two different little girls, but really that's the real charm of it all~ At times they play so well together I can just smile... While having them over this weekend I overheard the older sister whisper to her younger sister, "You are the most beautiful girl in the world." And the little sister whispered back, "I know (after all is really is a princess), you are too."

Two Totally Cool Mud Puddle Girls...

2008-02-22T11:34:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I just like to treat myself to some handmade goodies. Recently I ordered two items, & they both came in today! Lucky me because today, here on the East Coast, we are under an icy forecast & it's cold! What a way to warm the weekend!

Product Body- Mama Bomb Coconut Milk Bath & other goodies...

First I had ordered some Mama Bomb Coconut Milk Bath (pure yum!) from Product Body Shop. But tucked inside the package was a sample shea butter--tangerine, & the most daring little box that held a cocoa butter bath melt. If Joanna Schmidt, the owner of Product Body Shop, had not noted that the little box was a butter bath melt---I swear I would have ate it---it smells that delicious! This is not the first time I have treated myself to Joanna's products...next to my kitchen sink are Product Crush on You-an ultra plush sugar shea scrubby wash in Pecan Praline & Yuzu. They are wonderful! Also, Joanna has a several blogs that will not only entertain you, but keep you informed about soap, body care products, & a whole lot more!

Next I had treated myself to this gorgeous pillow from Afterall Designs

Pillow from Afterall Designs...

After all-- I do love making handmade soap...so I had to have this when I saw it on Susan Mack's Esty shop. Susan set's shop in beautiful Vermont, & her Esty shop has some beautiful handmade items...check it out! The pillow came wrapped like a gift, and the package also included one of her cards that she makes with fabric---so cute! Thank you Susan.

So why do I think Joanna from Product Body, & Susan from Afterall Designs are totally cool Mud Puddle Girls? Because they are real neat business women who are making a splash!

Thanks ladies-you totally made my day!

Girlie Aprons...

2008-02-10T18:15:00.000-08:00

When I asked my grandaughters what they liked the most about their Mud Puddle Girl aprons...I thought for sure they'd say, "The Sparkles..." no---or "The Gemstones" no---it was the two BIG pockets on the front to store treasures in...& lots of treasures they can find when visiting!

These girlie pink aprons come with a brown, pink or blue bow from the Mud Puddle Girl line.

15 dollars each...but someone special in their life can fill their pockets with treasures!

Something New! Just for You!

2008-02-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

Bubble Gum Tree Natural Lip Balm~ Mom requested LARGE top!
Newest product from Mud Puddle Girl... Bubble Gum Tree Natural Lip Balm!Creamy, rich & bubble smackin' good~ Delightful pink bubble gum flavor loved by girls of all ages...Whipped up with rich olive oil, almond oil, even mango butter. This is a LARGE lip balm (.75 oz.!) that comes with a Mom requested, easy to remove...hard to lose top.

A whole lot of bubble delicious natural lip balm for 6.00 each.

Update: Monday 2/11/2008~ Lip balm on special for 4.00 each this week!

Mud Puddle Girl

Just too cute!

2008-01-30T19:41:00.000-08:00

These thank-you cards were just too darn cute not to share! I had sent one of my cousin's children a package of goodies...& each of the children sent me their own thank-you card. When I asked my cousin about the cards, she told me they were purchased from Oriental Trading Company. In today's busy world it was a lovely gesture to receive this cute little cards just to say "thank-you." And lucky for Mom-- they are perfect when children are too young to write a note...My cousin said, "Those cards make it much easier for me to get the kids to do their thank you's."

Hugs to Lisa!

Stampin' Can Be Fun!

2008-01-29T08:53:00.000-08:00

When I ordered a large birchwood soap mold from Brambleberry, owner & Soap Queen Anne-Marie tucked in two of her favorite soap stamps~ a sunflower stamp & a ladybug stamp~thank you! Anne-Marie's blog Soap & the Finer Things in Life is a great wealth of information; not only about handmade soap making, but about the business of business. One recent tutorial was about layering soap. So combining this technique & my new stamps I created layered soaps that will be tucked inside a Valentine's Day gift box to be sent to my granddaughters. The bottom layer is made with Mud Puddle Girl new fragrance Bubble Gum Tree, the middle layer is Life by Chocolate, & the top blue layer is....well- it's a new fragrance from Mud Puddle Girl soon to be released....

Bella's Bonnet...

2008-01-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

Have I ever mentioned my own mother is a true Mud Puddle Girl? She is smart, witty, beautiful, sensitive, always lending an ear, just being herself... Now back to the witty part... You see- my mother is always cleaning out her place putting little treasures in bags & each time I see her I get one of these "treasure bags"... Most recently it was a bag of vintage linens- many with crochet edges that I love! What made me think to go through this bag of vintage linens was reading a post from Ginger at Enchanted Cottage who blogged about some beautiful white vintage linens from the past... The bag was filled with beautiful old delicate pieces, & one thing that I had to laugh about (because I know my mother put it in there waiting for a response) was a large vintage bonnet. I thought, "Now mother, what do you think I am going to do with this bonnet?" Adorable yes, but grandbabies are too big to sport such a wonderful bonnet...so I thought about one of her granddoggies... Bella, our young yellow lab rather liked the idea of wearing this beautiful linen bonnet from the past. And yes Mom- I did try it on-but as you can see from the picture above it looks rather nice on Ms. Bella.

vintage linens from the past

Love to all our Moms who make our heart laugh at unexpected times!

A Bubbly Delightful Gift...

2008-01-18T21:33:00.000-08:00

Mud Puddle Girl's Bubble Gum Tree

This fragrance will be introduced nestled in a gift box filled with three Bubble Gum Tree Frosted Cupcakes handmade soaps, & a rich creamy Bubble Gum Tree lotion. A bubbly delightful gift fit for any princess in your life will be available soon at Under the Willow...

A whole lot of sweetness!

According to the dictionary...

2008-01-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

Aprons use to be a piece of cloth that was tied around the waist to protect clothing....BUT not anymore! The apron is making a comeback as a very savvy fashion statement...and the Mud Puddle Girl can wear her own apron that sparkles & shines with glitter, rhinestones & more!

They look adorable over any clothing attire like turtlenecks, t-shirts...with skirts, jeans, even dresses. Actually, the more the layers the cuter the look! The aprons also come with two large front pockets for treasures to be carefully tucked away... These aprons are perfect for the girlie~ girl who is making a splash whether it's helping mom in the kitchen, making crafts or just doing what she does best...Being herself!

The pink aprons come with either a Brown Bow, Blue Bow, or Pink Bow...one size fits age 4-12 comfortably. They can be checked out here http://underthewillowgifts.com/

She's Going to Sparkle & Shine...

2007-12-29T11:22:00.000-08:00

New Year sneak preview & lots of fun!!!!... She'll sparkle ~ she'll shine... Sporting a bow, glitter & rhinestones...just what a Mud Puddle Girl can wear while she's being herself & making a splash!

Soon the latest product from the Mud Puddle Girl line will be launched...

Totally Cool Soapmakers!

2007-12-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

Check this out... Each of these soaps were handmade, using fresh ingredients like palm oil, coconut oil, carrots, coconut, even hibiscus water! I recently received these wonderful handmade soap goodies during a soap swap. I was totally blown away with their talent of creating handmade soaps...

To read more about the "who" created these soaps, please visit: http://www.underthewillowgifts.blogspot.com/

Mud Puddle Girl & Jake...

2007-12-14T13:55:00.000-08:00

What do you do when your family pet eats your pumpkin--you painstakingly took the time to carve for Halloween?--This Mud Puddle Girl remembered her friend (and what he likes) for Christmas & baked him some Pumpkin filled dog biscuits & cookies...pure yum!

Newest Mud Puddle Girl!

2007-11-19T04:25:00.001-08:00

What fun! My soon to be "daughter in law" Jodi, & her adorable cousin Brianna, 6 years old, learn the fine art of spinning a different type of wheel. By the excitement on Brianna face I think she's enjoying herself! Weeeeeeee!

You can check out Ms. Jodi's own Mud Puddle Girl story here: http://mudpuddlegirl.blogspot.com/2007/10/look-whos-mud-puddle-girl.html

Post Script: If Ms. Jodi sends me an email with little Ms. Brianna's address; I'd like to send her a Mud Puddle Girl t-shirt.

Future Card Making Entrepreneur...

2007-11-11T17:12:00.001-08:00

When you are only six, & you have made some beautiful handmade cards....of course you want to sell them. When asked the price for each of these little beauties she didn't skip a beat, "One hundred dollars each." After all a real Mud Puddle Girl knows anything is possible, because she believes in herself. But for the time being~ let's just say her grandmother told her they were "Priceless."

Wonderful Shout-out!

2007-11-03T05:33:00.000-07:00

Very cool business woman, Anne-Marie from Soap & the Finer Things in Life blog, gave Mud Puddle Girl a wonderful "Shout Out". Anne-Marie's blog is not just about soap, but about the business of "business". Clever, inspiring, & just plain "fun reading"~ a place you'll love to visit!

Anne-Marie had taken this picture of the Mud Puddle Girl items I sent her, & I loved the pic so much, she gave me the A-okay to use it. Thank you Anne-Marie! You can check out the article at: http://soap-queen.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html

This is for the girls...A new AWARD announced...

2007-10-31T18:09:00.001-07:00

It's more than playing in mud...it's about making a splash! Because so many girls from 1-99 are so amazing in what they do...this is for them! So much talent~ behind so many blogs~ so many interests to share & learn by...This award is because someone has made us take notice of the splash they have made. Once this has been awarded, the person who receives this award, simply passes it along to another who is making a splash~ It can be as simple as someone sharing a great pictire to posting an inspiring blog...it's up to you!

The 1st person to receive this award will be:

Michelle from http://blissfulcreativity.blogspot.com/

Michelle is certainly making a BIG splash, because it doesn't stop there with her creativity, she also has a blog called "The Soap Pixie" at: http://soappixie.blogspot.com/ where she is candid about the fine art of soap making...& there's more; she also blogs about Minnesota, creatively called "Don't Forget Minnesota"at: http://dont4getmn.blogspot.com/ & if that isn't enough you can visit: "Pixie Lee's Forum at: http://pixieleesoaps.com/soapforum/

Congrats Michelle! It's been fun traveling through your inspiring blogs & forums!

New Mud Puddle Girl...

2007-10-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend, not the cold, nor the wind or the lack of experience of playing, would have stopped my sister from trying out a "new" game of golf on this beautiful course in Bennington, Vermont.

Over the weekend my sister & I traveled to visit cousins; one who built her a set of exquisite custom golf clubs in his historic wood workshop nestled next to his 5Th generation farmhouse sitting on over a 100 family owned acres.

Sporting new clubs in hand, my sister~ the novice~ went 9 holes on the historical Mt. Anthony County Golf Club, built in 1897. She braved the elements of the Vermont brisk fall weather & got to yell "FOUR!" And with history watching over you... in the background towers the Bennington Monument (built in the late 1880's dedicated to the Battle of Bennington that took place during the Revoluntionary War of 1777)....what could be more magicial than that? I rode in the golf cart, wrapped in 4 layers of clothing to lend my support as my cousin & his wife patiently showed my sister the "rules" of the game... Proud of you sis! You've certainly made a splash!

To visit & learn more about our trip to Bennington, Vermont~ & pictures of the historical farmhouse, please visit: http://underthewillowgifts.blogspot.com/

A Precious First Kiss...

2007-10-24T20:12:00.001-07:00

When you are only two & your Daddy has been away for over a year serving his country~ that 1st kiss~ is especially special & fills our heart with joy. A dear friend of mine sent me this picture of her granddaughter & son's recent reunion.

Christmas came early this year.

Thank you Ginger...

2007-10-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

Ginger from Enchanting Cottage (http://enchantingcottage.blogspot.com/) was nice enough to send this award my way... It's the "You Make Me Smile Award"....awww...how nice!!! That was sooo sweet, and if you want to read a blog that's warm & fuzzy~ with some wonderful pics-stop by and say hi to Ginger. So, I would like to pass this award on to some bloggers who certainly have put a smile on my face...

Michelle from http://blissfulcreativity.blogspot.com/~ she actually has more than one very creative blog from soap making, to visiting her home state of Minnesota, & more! She is one heck of an entrepreneur! Now that makes me smile!

SusieQ from : http://www.susiesqs.blogspot.com/ ~her blog always make me smile because she not only can hold a bug (what a Mud Puddle Girl!), but takes great pictures of nature and her wonderful pets!

Denise from: http://cameragirldenise.typepad.com/~ Talented! A lot of creativity in her blog. She can take pictures, create scrapbooking cards, and even handmade soaps...

Gomer & Opie: http://dogsayeview.blogspot.com/~ If you like dogs, you'll love visiting here. Guaranteed to make you smile! Woof!

Anne-Marie from: http://soap-queen.blogspot.com/~ Very cool business woman, queen of the soap blogs, down to earth blogs of life in the business world...

And shortly there after, dear Ms. Ginger tagged me to list seven things about myself...So here goes:
1. My family is the center of my life...
2. My grandchild are the "bright" light in the center...
3. I am 5 foot 2, eyes of blue...But my sister & brother have brown eyes.
4. I have 3 rescue dogs, but would love to have more!
5. I wrote a Home-Tip column years ago, just before the BIG bang of home improvement hit..
6. I finished my degree after (cough...cough) after many years of almost finishing...
7. I love traveling the world without ever leaving home~ by blogging!

So, I now tag all the wonderful people who I passed the "You make me Smile" award to list seven things about themselves too!

Have a wonderful week!

Look Who's A Mud Puddle Girl...

2007-10-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

Isn't she lovely?... Soon to be daughter in-law~ Jodi takes on the task of Home Renovating 101. Recently son Joey & Jodi (doesn't that sound cute) purchased their first home together.

You see~ their "new" home, built in 1941, needs quite a bit of TLC...& although our son is not a stranger to home renovations~ our family wasn't sure if Jodi would gladly trade her 1st weekends off in years, after just finishing college while working a weekend job~ for stripping 60 year old rooms of wallpaper, & restoring authentic 1940's moulding...But she is & she has made quite a splash in our family!

You go girl! Ms. Jodi is a real Mud Puddle Girl!

First Mud Puddle Girl Products Available...

2007-10-09T20:59:00.001-07:00

You LOVE chocolate~ can't live without real rich choc-o-late, or how about rich & creamy Vanilla Cherry? It's all about lip smackin' good lip balm...Both are now available as new products offered with the NEW Mud Puddle Girl line... http://underthewillowgifts.com/

Thank you for visiting!

Something to Cheer About...

2007-10-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken from GMA, October 1, 2007. The caption under the article read: Destiny a unique cheerleading squad geared toward special needs children. (Dream All Stars).

What makes this particular team something to cheer about is that the children here have down's syndrome or autism. Their ages range from 8 to 14. This team caught my attention because they are a Maryland based team, and practice in a gym in Gaithersburg, Maryland. I'd say these are some wonderfully talented Mud Puddle Girls just being themselves, and certainly making one terrific splash in the world of cheerleading! To read the full story go here:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3673974&page=1

Mint Chocolate Puddle...

2007-10-02T19:17:00.001-07:00

Thank you for everyone that recently emailed me to receive their free 1st product from the Mud Puddle Girl line...I hope you enjoy! Many other products are in the final development stages, & close to being released...the featured lip balm will be available on our primary website: http://underthewillowgifts.com/ soon. For those who had left a comment, but didn't email me yet~ no problem~ I still would love to hear from you.

Time to email me your address...

2007-09-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you all, that took the time, to leave a comment during the first week of the Mud Puddle Girl blog. And as promised, if you left a comment~ please email me your address~ & a little something is going to come your way. Wondering what?

One of the first products to be released exclusively from Under the Willow will be :

Mud Puddle Girl

Mint Chocolate Puddle Lip balm

(Promsie to be lip smackin' good!)

To make it easier; here's my email: info@underthewillowgifts.com

Hope to hear from you!

Just a Mud Puddle Girl Weekend...

2007-09-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

Before the last swim of the year~ if you're a

~Mud Puddle Girl ~

you have lots to do on a beautiful weekend...

First you could sport a fancy bow, grab a basket & go pick some apples...

And you could quickly learn how fun it is to shake an apple tree branch to get apples!

And you only take a break when a nice friend stops by...

And as a Mud Puddle Girl, you know your manners, & offer your friend an apple...

Together you have picked enough to share with everyone...

And only after your baskets are almost too heavy to carry, you decide it's time to go...

Swimming!...

But not to be out done by someone bigger, this little Mud Puddle girl takes her very 1st flight...

taking us all by surprise... She jumps! She soars like a little bird!

After the swim it's time for discovery...This means a trip to the pond where you can't resist

putting your toes in the water...

Or picking up a snail or even...

to discover that fish are very curious about little toes...giving little fish kisses...

Something a Mud Puddle Girl will always remember...

And Mud Puddle Girls need lots of rest, after the apple picking, after their swim & after their discovery in the pond with fish that "kiss"....

Do you have a story of a Mud Puddle Girl? Love to hear from you!

Happy Weekend!

Catch the buzz...

2007-09-19T19:05:00.001-07:00

Read Post Script for a new "Give Away"!

There are four generations of Mud Puddle Girls in my family alone. This would include myself, my mother, my daughter, & granddaughters...Don't think your a Mud Puddle Girl? Think again...

Do you love to run, jump, sing, play with a new friend, ride a bike, play with bugs, climb trees, walk in a creek, be creative, adventurous, & jump in puddles? Perhaps you are business, home, family or craft savy...You are the type of girl that does not mind getting dirty, because you can do it all & still be beautiful… You sparkle even when you raise a bit of thunder…You know your manners, & you know when it’s okay to say “no”. You are amazing. You know it... even if you were covered with mud.

Girls are so lucky! They can play in a mud puddle, just like boys, & still be beautiful at the same time. So find that mud puddle because you can do anything, be anything, accomplish anything & still take time to be the real Mud Puddle Girl you are…beautiful, spirited & ready to make that splash!

Here are some "Quick Splashes" about several Mud Puddle Girls in my life...

Trading ballet toes shoes for cleats.... After years of classical ballet, graceful as a dove~ I was surprised when my daughter inquired about playing a competitive game of softball in our community. It was more than trading the 5 o'clock practice on a dance floor for a playing field, it might mean "maybe" breaking a nail...and getting just plain dirty. Real dirty because not only did she decide to play in the "dirt", but she chose to be the catcher. Her years of ballet paid off as she quickly mastered the physical actions it took to play a defensive catcher. And those years of ballet, well they taught her to discipline needed for life...& to give her the confidence to try something out of her known "comfort zone." Yes...quite a Mud Puddle Girl.

Down on the farm...Growing up in the 30's wasn't easy...especially if you were a girl! My mom lived couple blocks from a cow farm on Long Island, New York. So...what's a proper young lady girl to do? Of course find some fun! My mother & a friend went to the farm where a boy who lived there started to tease her & her friend. So my mother & her friend put the boy's face in cow mud (well~ you get the idea)...Later that night when the boy's father came by my mother's house to have the girls scolded for this playful act...my grandmother made sure to let the father know that girls don't have to put up with teasing...Maybe the girls shouldn't have settled the teasing this way, but they had stood up for themselves...true Mud Puddle Girls.

Bugs to Lip gloss...A simple act of watching children can make you quickly realize how simple life can really be...One balmy summer day my granddaughters were intensely investigating every bug & frog in our pond. They didn't give a second thought to picking up slimy snails, scooping up handfuls of pond muck, & feeding the fish...And when their "life lessons of the pond" was finished, they quickly wiped their hands on their shorts...& headed to the picnic table to the waiting now "almost" melted lip balm to splatter all over their lips. A little pond mud was not going to stop them from learning to discover & making sure they were beautiful...true Mud Puddle Girls.

Now what about you or your daughter, your mother or aunt, perhaps a friend? I am sure you have a Mud Puddle Girl story to share. If you do, I would love to hear from you.

Remember girls can do anything, be anything, and ready to make a splash...what's your "Quick Splash Story"? I have seen tons of Mud Puddle Girls on many of these blogs...savy business women, SAHMs, nature lovers holding bugs, animal lovers, horse gals, children doing what they do best (have fun!), etc..all these and more are out there making a splash!

Soon to be released a new line (from Under the Willow) called...Mud Puddle Girl. This will include bath & body products, & many other merchandise items for girls of all ages!

And there will be lots of give aways! And lots & lots to splash about! Catch the buzz...

Post Script: The 1st "Give Away" of the new Mud Puddle Girl products begins now....for the next five days...all comments will be entered...HINT~ Do you like chocolate? Then there could be somethin' a little lip smackin' good coming your way!

Have a wonderful week!