My Favorite Photo - August - from Happy Mom

Hello swappers!  I'm putting this together on Labor Day, 2019 and just can't believe that August has come and gone!  I love my Summer and August is my favorite month, so I really hate to see it go.  I know most everyone is dying for cooler temps, less humidity and Pumpkin Spice everything.... LOL!  I enjoy that too, but I wish it would hold off just a bit longer.  Come on Indian Summer!

My favorite photos this month are a bit random, but I hope you like them!

One reason I love August is because of my Birthday :)  

August 10th - gift from my brother

My daughter and her boyfriend celebrated one year of officially dating - They've known each other for about 12 years, but have been "together" since last August.

Matt & Callie

This next photo is a screen shot from a game I'm now officially addicted to, called WORDSCAPES.  I got the biggest kick out of having ILYSE as the letters for this particular hand - I almost never see my name in print anywhere, and even though the game didn't credit it as a word for the game, I had to take a picture of it!

Love these flowers - I snapped this outside my church a few weeks ago.  They are so pretty!

This next photo was taken with the Portrait setting and a filter on my iPhone.  It's of "Fella" - a bust of a street urchin that used to be in my grandmother's apartment when I was a little girl.  I used to count the change in his hand and give him candy :)  Great memories!  I just loved how this photo came out - Looks like a museum painting to me.

Next up - This is some new merch for the rock-climbing gym where my son works.  He designed the artwork and he manages the gym's social media.  

And last, but not least... this was one I snagged off someone's Facebook feed.  I love it - and it describes my life perfectly!  My prayers can a hot mess, but it doesn't matter... God can sort it all out and make sense of the madness!

So - that's my swap this time around!  Have a great September and thanks for posting a rating so I know you've received this.

My Favorite Photo swap from Happy Mom - July

Hello once again!  Feels like we just finished the June swap, and it's already time to review July.  Hope you're having a good summer - It's been busy here, as that's the norm anymore, and I'm not complaining.  I love summer and I'm happy to share these pictures with you.

First are 2 pictures from the baseball game in Richmond - Loved seeing the rainbow off in the distance over the city skyline, and the second is my goofy family and me.

L-R:  Hubby Michael - Daughter's Boyfriend Matt - Daughter Callie - Son Jacob and me

The next pictures are from my quick trip to Las Vegas.  Most people think of Vegas as a big party trip, but I went out there to help settle my aunt's estate after her passing.  Though the purpose of the trip was a sad one, I did have a good time celebrating her life and spending time with family and friends.  

Beautiful flowers in the lobby of the Bellagio, and the Chihuly glass artwork on the ceiling

For someone who loves hot weather - this is HEAVEN!

This is a picture I took from the plane as we were landing in Las Vegas.  I thought it was a cool shot - looked like the Earth from Outer Space 🚀🚀🚀

Back at home and back to work ... I had a quick road trip to SW Virginia, and snapped this shot at the Ballast Point Brewery.  I get to visit some amazing places for work, and this property is gorgeous!

So - those are my favorites from July - Hope you enjoyed them.  I'd love to see your photos too, even if we're not partnered on Swap-bot.  I always enjoy these swaps!

Have a great August,

Ilyse - Happy Mom

My Favorite Photos from June - from Happy Mom

Hi everyone!  It's been a few months since I posted on my blog, and since I have a bunch of photos for this swap, I decided to get back to the blog!  Thanks for checking out my photos for the swap.  By the way, I'd love to see your photos too, if you care to share, even if I'm not one of your "send-to" partners.  

It's been a busy summer already, and I know I say this all the time, but it's going by so fast!  As I'm posting this, it's the last day of the first half of the year, and it seems like New Years wasn't all that long ago.  

June was a fun and very busy month for us.  Here are some highlights.

We started off with my niece's wedding on June 2nd in Indianapolis.  I made a collage of photos that I'll share here.

The big photo in the center is of my family and me (my son and his girlfriend, my daughter, hubby and me -- Daughter's boyfriend couldn't come with us because he had to work.)  The other pictures are family...My daughter was a bridesmaid in the wedding.  We all had a fantastic time and the wedding was simply perfect!

Also in June, we had dinner at our favorite restaurant right at the waterfront, 

and got the prettiest sunset!

Another fun night was from dinner last Sunday.  We tried a new location of another favorite restaurant.  The new spot is even better than the other one.

Here's a picture of all of us.  

Ande-Callie-Michael-Me-Matt-Jacob

I spent yesterday making Friendship Books and ATCs.  Here's a picture of the pile when I was finished:

I could add more, but I won't go overboard!  I hope everyone has a great Summer, and for us in the USA, a happy and safe July 4th holiday!  

Till next time,

Ilyse

My Favorite Photos from April - from Happy Mom ❤️

Hello friends and swappers!  I haven't posted my swaps on my blog in a while, and I decided to get back on here and share my favorite photos from April with you.  Hope you enjoy the visit - It was a great month with some road trips, good business meetings, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and of course - Spring flowers always make me happy!

This first photo was from our dinner out last Sunday.  Our anniversary is April 21st, which was Easter this year, so we opted to wait a week and had a lovely dinner.  Here, you see our son, our daughter and her boyfriend, and hubby and me:

Jacob, Matt, Callie, Ilyse, Michael

Next are two pix from my house.  First - a gorgeous sunset I caught right outside my front door.  I thought the colors were magnificent, and I even used this photo for my National Postcard Week card to share with other swappers.  Second - these amazing flowers out at my mailbox.  I love getting my mail, and these flowers make me smile, even if the mail is mostly bills!

Next are two photos from my son's trip to California.  He's an avid rock-climber, and had a blast at Yosemite.  Yes, that little speck is him!  He coaches a youth climbing team and does graphic design work for several climbing organizations, including the gym where he works, Peak Experiences. You can check out a lot of his work HERE.

I had a fun road trip that took me from Richmond through SW Virginia, and on to Tennessee.  I met with managers at a lumber mill, hospital, chemical company, foam manufacturer and heavy equipment manufacturer.  I also got to spend the weekend with a long-time tape pal and dear friend of mine.  I loved seeing the purple flowers on the trees along the way!  Here's a picture of Bonnie and me, a view from one of my hotels along the way, and a video clip of the trees on the highway.

             

That's it for this time around...Hope you enjoyed seeing these photos.  Please post a rating so I know you received my swap, and I'd love to see  your photos too, so please share, if you'd like.  Have a great month!

My Favorite Photo - January - Swap from Happy Mom

Hello friends and swappers!  I thought this fortune cookie message was a great way to start this swap, and I hope it's seriously gonna happen for all of us.

This year got off to a great start.  My company's National Sales Meeting took place in San Antonio, Texas and I love traveling to the southwest.  

My first few photos come from the trip.  We only meet once per year, so the meeting is part reunion, part business and a lot of fun.  Especially when the company had a record year, and I made the President's Club for the 3rd time in 8 years.  Some of the sights and friends from the trip:

Our VP of Sales, Me, our President /CEO

President's Club award

Marlin's awesome Southeast Division

Desserts

At the famous San Antonio Riverwalk

 Would you believe, that with 40 sales reps, only 5 of us are women?  And let me tell you -- WE ROCK!

Kansas, Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, Virginia 

Once I got home from San Antonio, it seemed our weather went a little crazy with record highs and lows all at once.  I think the doggies are ready for Spring, and so am I.

Leia

           

           Pica

And the final picture is one I found online and used for my Facebook cover.  If our winter scenes looked like this, I might not dread winter so much.  

Idyllic Winter

Hope you have a great month and Happy Valentine's Day!  Thank you for posting a rating, so I know you've received my swap.

ESG: 10 Questions - from Happy Mom

Hello everyone!  I'm posting my swap here on my blog, and I'm glad you stopped by to read my answers 😀

I'm Ilyse Johnson - AKA Happy Mom on Swap-bot, and I live in the Richmond area of Central Virginia, in the USA. 

This picture was taken last week in San Antonio at our National Sales Meeting.  We stayed along the Riverwalk and had a very positive week.

And now.... on to the questions:

What's the most interesting thing you've read lately?

I just started John Bevere's book "Killing Kryptonite" and so far, it's very good!  He's one of my favorite Bible teachers and this book is already challenging me to think outside my comfort zone.

What's a fact about you that's not included in your Swap-bot profile?

I'm highly introverted!  I'm not shy, so most people are surprised to know that...but I'm always content to be home alone, doing my own thing and being in my 'happy place'!

Do you listen to any podcasts? Which ones? If not, what topics would interest you?

I occasionally listen to Gary Vee, Sandler Selling Skills or just anything random I land on while driving.  I would like to be more intentional about listening to motivational people.

If you were in charge of the playlist right now, which 5 songs would you play next?

I've got my SPOTIFY PLAYLIST I call "Heart of a Woman" on right now.  We're listening to:

1. Overcoats - Nighttime Hunger
2. CSNY - Find the Cost of Freedom
3. Nashville Cast/Connie Britton - Stronger than Me
4. Third Day - Soul on Fire
5. Lauren Daigle - Come Alive (Dry Bones)

What's the best gift you've ever gotten?

My dad wrote me a beautiful letter when I left home for college, and I still have it today.  He poured his heart out about how proud he was that I was on a path he admired so much.  I have cherished it ever since, especially after he died.  He was an amazing father.

What's your favorite part about living where you live right now?

I grew up in the midwest and we always had a lot of snow every winter.  I moved further south for the more mild weather, but it's been cold here too!  Still, it usually is more mild and Virginia is a beautiful state.  Our neighborhood is quiet and safe - that means a lot!

Least favorite?

We are having one heck of a time with drainage in our yard and under our house.  We need to spend a small fortune on new French drains, tree trimming and new grass (again).  I look at old photos of our house, and when I see how full and thick our grass was years ago, it makes me so sad!  We're had so much rain the past 2 years that we truly live in one big mud puddle! 

What's something that people assume about you, that isn't true?

I have it all together 😀and don't have bad days or have to deal with drama.  I have it like most everyone else does - but I really do try not to let it get me down for too long!

If you had to sum up 2018 in three words, which would they be? 

Trying - Challenging - Busy

What event/trip/holiday are you most looking forward to?

My niece is getting married in June, and I'm excited about the wedding and being together with family again.  Our family is scattered between Vegas, Chicago, Indiana and Virginia...so, getting everyone together for a happy occasion is a treat!

That wraps up my answers....Thanks for swapping, and for posting a rating for me.  Enjoy your day!

Ilyse

My Favorite Photos from December - from Happy Mom ❤️

Happy New Year!  Our final look at pictures from last year... and I had so many photos to choose from!  I narrowed it down to these, and hope you like them!

I'll start with our photo from Christmas evening.  Here you see my husband and me, plus our 'babies' and their 'significant others'. 

L-R: Ande, Jacob, Me, Matt, Michael, Callie

We had a great Christmas and a fun New Year's Eve...hope you did too.

I always like to share pictures of the doggies. Jacob and Ande were out of town a few times in December, so we had their dog, Pica, with us.  She and Leia get along well, and they're both so cuddle-able.  This month - 2 close-ups:

Leia

Pica

This next photo is Jacob bouldering on one of his out of town trips.  Look at those arms :)

Jacob

And I'll leave you with a gorgeous shot of the Swift Creek Reservoir - So pretty and peaceful!  I can't take credit for this one - I snagged it from Facebook, but I love it.  

I hope your year is off to a great start, and that 2019 is a happy, healthy and prosperous year!

Please remember to post a rating, so I know you've received my swap.  Till next time....

Blessings,

Ilyse