Inky-Dinky-Do Blog

Plan B has some fun with Brooke & Fernando

Jen & Kim got to play this afternoon with Brooke & Fernando.  They have a wedding planned for May 17th at the Guild House.  They had a great time with this fun loving couple.  I only regret I didn't get to come play!  They left me behind to pack the gear for the inky-dinky-do wedding on Saturday of Erin & Scott.  It is a good thing that I had something to do too!

Here is a little peek from today before I'm off to bed to rest up for tomorrow!

Miss Jen in action this evening

Madi's Rock Song of the Week

This week, we have a song by Social Distortion. These guys put on a killer concert that I got to go to. It was awesome-possum!

-The video's not that great, just listen to the song.

The Scavenger Hunt Winner is....

JOE!

You simply have to check out his entries!  You did a great job Joe!  Hope you don't mind me posting the link to your entries!

The Winner

Angela will have your Gift Certificate at the new Boutique from us and because your wife is so unbelievably cool she gets the $50 Gift Certificate to Denise Haddock Unique Interior Designs!  The Best Buy Gift Card- well you two can argue over who gets that, but I think your little helpers deserve it towards a new game!

Confession time.... no I did not finish mine.  It has been so crazy lately I don't know how I thought I would get it done!  So to make it fair of course I would honor my original offer, plus I will get it done in the next couple weeks just so I can share since you guys went to all that effort coming up with crazy stuff for me!  In fact maybe we will spin that into something fun and educational too!

The Duke & Dutchess came to the studio

Yes, the Duke & Dutchess came to inky-dinky-do... and they even brought those people with them!  The Sosa's came in for a little update since Duke has a new friend... Dutchess!  These puppies have some serious energy!
It was fun and they are beautiful dogs.  First is Duke and sporting a fancy pink collar the new Dutchess!

Madi's Rock Song of the Week

This week I decided to go with Ozzy...

Crazy Train by Ozzy Osborne 

This kid is six, plays really wel, & he's adorable so how could I not include him too?! Here's Crazy Train being played by a six year old:

Relay for Life is tomorrow!

We want to invite anyone out to come by campsite #230 the inky-dinky-do campsite to stop by and say hi!  We can't wait to see everyone this year and have a great time.  We will be wearing our Girls Giving Back shirts of course!  Stop by and say hi and visit for awhile.

I have to give a special thanks to Damien Wolff who has really taken care of our team this year.  We are co- captains, but Damien has really done everything for our team!  He let me focus on the Girls Giving Back and that was great!  Thanks again Damien!

photo for the day

How could we not share the latest member of the Murphy Clan!  Congratulations to DeAnne & Craig! 

inky-dinky-do welcomes Keria Frances Murphy!

The New Boutique Location

Excuse our dust this week as we are getting moved int othe new place.
1430 Calloway Suite B.  We hope to have the new sign up by the 15th on the marque.
I have updated the directions on the side of the blog so it will take you to the new place!
I'll post photos soon, gotta give Angela the chance to get unpacked first!

Raid the Rolodex

This weeks spin.....

Snyder's Pool Service
P.O. Box 42122 Bakersfield, CA  93384
661-706-7655 (cell) how I reach him
(661) 587-4518  / office hours M-F 7am-5pm
Stan Snyder- owner

Stan the Pool Man keeps our inky-dinky-do pool clean and looking sparkly. 

Why Stan?  Well aside from the fact that he and his wife Sharon are just really wonderful people (and good dancers!) One of the things that sets Stan apart is that after those storms that blow everything around your yard he does clean up without extra charges.  That is nice when you have 3 weeks of really bad weather and you don't end up with a huge bill or a green pool.  Of course for us it is critical that the pool is photo ready at any time so this is a big deal for us.  He also cleans the main filter twice a year, something I didn't know had to be done- good thing he did!

Cool tips for Your Pool Care too!  In case your husband is going to try and maintain that pool yourself (yes, mine did and I had to fire him- great hubby not so great pool boy!) here are some great tips to help out!

WATER CHEMISTRY

CHLORINE LEVEL        1.5 – 3.0 PPM (FREE CHLORINE)
PH. READING        7.4 – 7.8    7.6 IDEAL
ALKALINITY        80 – 120 PPM
CYANURIC ACID        30 – 100 PPM       50 IDEAL (CONDITIONER)
WATER HARDNESS    150 – 450 PPM (DRAIN EVERY 3 YRS)

MECHANICS OF A CLEAR AND CLEAN POOL
1. CIRCULATION: RUN POOL PUMP MINIMUM OF 5 HOURS, DAILY
2. FILTATION: KEEP FILTER CLEAN, 3 TIMES A YEAR
3. CHLORINATION: MINIMUM CHLORINE LEVEL 1.5

LITTLE KNOWN POOL FACTS
1. CHLORINE DOESN’T TURN HAIR GREEN, ITS COPPER IN THE WATER.
2. CHLORINE NORMALLY DOESN’T BURN YOUR EYES, THE PH. IS OFF.
3. RUN POOL PUMP WITH THREE OR MORE SWIMMERS TO KEEP THE WATER CLEAR.
4. T.S.P. IS GREAT FOR CLEANING CARTRIDGE FILTERS (SOAK OVER NIGHT)
5. NEVER COIL UP A POOL-VAC HOSE
6. NEVER PUT CHLORINE TABLETS IN A SKIMMER BASKET

Madi's Rock Song of the Week

Inky-Dinky-Do will now have a weekly post for "Rock Song of the Week", posted by  Madi! Yay! I thought we would start the first week with a Bon Jovi classic.

Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi

St. Francis attends the Track Meet

Today was a crazy day following the Girls Giving Back.  I actually spent the day with some crazy young ladies from St. Francis.  Yes, Madison decided to give track a try this year.  So of course we had lots of fun watching the different events.  We decided we had to share some of the images I caught today while I was being just another Mom at a track meet!

 

The only way to them all was to do a little video.  So let's check it out! (yes, you can add the video to your own website- of course a link back is always appreciated guys.)

St. Francis at the Track Meet- photos of course by inky-dinky-do.

Happy, Exhausted, and now moving!

Boutique moving... not the studio!

We will post more later about Girls Giving Back, which was fabulous!  For now just posting a quick note that we are moving the boutique this weekend (I know, no rest for the wicked they say...).  So we might be experiencing some down time on the phones.  Angela will be answering calls on Monday.  The boutique is closed Monday-Wednesday to allow us to get everything in a proper place.  (or at least stacked up orderly where you don't see it!)
Best method of reaching us will be email over the weekend, but please know with last night & the move it might take a couple days before we get back to you!  We still love you all, we just are burried at the moment!

Thanks again for a great time everyone last night & I will post photos later this weekend!

Can't wait to see everyone tonight!

The Hunt is extended....

OK just to show I have a heart I am going to extend the Scavenger Hunt just a little.  I've had a couple calls and emails asking.... well begging!  So while DeeAnn has a good reason (you will soon see the latest addition to their family) the rest of you are most likely sipping margaritas without me a little too much.  I should be all stern and say with my best Seinfeld Soup Nazi voice... "No extension for you!"  Alas, I do have a heart and so I am giving you guys until May 4th at midnight.  No more stalling!

Now let's go be creative!

New Deadline May 4th at Midnight!!!

photo for the day

inky-dinky-do is happy to announce we have a new rock climber on our client roster!  Little Miss Sierra Jade.

Congratulations Patrick & Stacy!

We are off the Womens Business Conference today

In that spirit we thought we would share something interesting that we just received.

(click the photo to make it larger.)

This was passed onto me by Dana Fabbri, President of the American Business Women's Association.  Thanks Dana it looks very interesting.  I know we have some amazing business ladies out there that might get a lot out of this!

Tell them Stephanie and Dana sent you! 

Congratulations to a fromer groom...Seamus Dever

We just had to share great news....
Seamus Dever one of our former grooms, and all around handsome & nice guy, landed the roll of Dr. Ian Devlin on General Hospital.  We know ladies he is dreamy, but don't waste your time... his wife Julie is stunning, sweet and a nice person even!  I know it hardly seems fair, but she is.  We had such a great time with them at their wedding last year.  They had a touching ceremony complete with flower girls....errr flower dogs..... bearing floral wreaths.  Too sweet.   Some of you may recognize Seamus from some rolls on CSI, Without a Trace, NCIS, Hollywoodland,  and some theater & Indie films.  We like to joke that he is usually the last guy to have sex with the lady that is now dead <insert sinister and suspicious music here>.   

inky-dinky-do was very pleased to have recorded their wedding day...

You can catch his latest interview on TVbuddy. Click here.

Congratulations again Seamus from all of us at inky-dinky-do! 

However, thanks for giving my girls an excuse to watch soap operas at work!  You know they will say it is for the good of my clients now! 

This is too funny not to share

OK I'm not a big cat person, I was as a kid, but I'm more of a dog lover.  Now, my brother who used to play "kick the kitty" by tossing up my cat in the air and trying for a drop kick (thankfully he wasn't very good at it) ironically is a cat person now.  I had to share this because it made me laugh.  For those that have been around engineers- it is even better!

OK for all audiences.....

April... the prefect time to swim

Well this weekend warmed up so the kids had a couple friends over to go swimming and of course play a little Rockband!

Breanna, Madi & Stacia.

I don't care what Madi & Stacia say- that had to be cold!

Victoria and Dominic were already swiming and splashing around. 

Madi & Stacia have been friends for years.  Madi asked the other day how Paula and I met... had to think for a few and realized that Paula was a client that became a great friend.  Our kids ended up friends and years later we all feel blessed.  It was funny to think of some of my best friends I've met because of work, no wonder I love my job- I have great clients/ friends! 

Welcome Baby Graham

We just had to say congratulations to the Joseph & Terri.  Baby Graham is just plain yummy! 
It was so nice visiting with you Terri & Mom- I still am impressed at the crochet skills you have!

Meet the fabulous Miss Katie

We had the pleasure recently of photographing a wonderful young lady that definitely knows her style!  Katie is just the sweetest and funniest little lady I have met in awhile.  My favorite part- when she had Dad bring her a latte while we were shooting!  Her parents are just wonderful and I think I want them to adopt me!  We had a great time and I can't wait to play again soon!  Thanks for the fun guys!

So let's learn a little about Katie....

What is your favorite food?
I love food in general.  My favorite food depends on my mood, but it is
usually what my Mom and I create together in the kitchen.

What is your favorite sport?
I don't play sports for insurance purposes.  I do bowl occasionally but
not well.

What do you want to be when your grow up?
I want to be a servant of God, a loving wife and mother, a caring
daughter, a good sister, and a best friend.  Oh, and the owner/designer of
my own clothing company, Pure Apparel Co.

When you were 5 what did you want to be?
I wanted to be everything when I was 5, and still do.

Would you rather live without music or live without T.V.?
Definitely T.V.


What place would you like to visit for a month?
ITALY...I'm already learning Italian for the trip!

Have you ever had a pet that was not a cat or dog? What was it?
I've only had cats.

What are three of your favorite T.V. shows?
My three favorite TV shows are: Extreme Home Makeover, A Baby Story, and
Who's Wedding Is IT Anyway (or Platinum Weddings, which ever isn't a
re-run).

Would you rather eat a lime or lemon?
Lime, yum!!

What do you do most often when you are bored?
Bored? What is bored?

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
I would be a pearlescent light blue, the light blue that is in between a Tiffany's box and an aquamarine.

What store would your like to be trapped in for 24 hours?
I would love to be trapped in Bergdorf Goodman,  I would try on all the
clothing that I could never afford, eat at their restaurant where you
order in French, and sleep like the Queen of Sheba in the housewares
department!

What super power would you want?
I would love to be able to fly.  I could get so much more done if I didn't
have to drive everywhere.

Favorite color?
That is really hard question for me.  I love so many different colors.  I
love the color of brown eggs.  I love the color of sea glass.  I love the
purple color hydrangeas...the list just goes on and on.

What played last on your ipod?
"Isles of the Shoals" by Tim Janis

What song of your parents drive you crazy?
"Some Enchanted Evening"

Is your VCR still flashing 12:00?
No, it isn't.  Everything is so automated now I don't even have to set it
for daylight savings time.

What is your favorite coffee order?
Chai Tea Latte

What is your favorite dessert?
I'm not good with favorite food questions, but if I had to choose, it
would be panna cotta with raspberry sauce or double rainbow coffee blast
ice cream.

Are you bringing sexy back?
I'm bringing classic femininity, grace, and sophistication back which are
sexy in their own way.

What was the last magazine you read?
Vogue

Would you rather cut a 1/8 of an acre of grass with your teeth, or lick up
a rain puddle 6ft by 6ft?
I would rather lick up a 6ft.x6ft. rain puddle.  Since we live in a
drought stricken dessert, it would be awhile before we had a storm big enough to make a 6ft.x6ft. puddle.

Thanks for being so much fun guys! 

It's Scavanger Hunting time...

So we thought we would have some fun again!  Now for those that don't know how this works- you submit photos, but you are not judged on the "professionalism" of those photos- let's be real people they can be camera phone if you really want.  The point is to find the most unique or fun or whatever interpretation of the following list.

On the Hunt #2.......

#1. Show me someone dancing.
#2. Show me your favorite place to shop
#3. Show me your vice that you really should give up, but just cant
#4.  Show me someone over 65 years of age
#5. Show me something forbidden
#6.  Show me someone - anyone that knows you are taking their photo.... the catch?  You have to have somewhere in the background or foreground a sign that says "inky-dinky-do loves you"- but the person posing can't know it is there!
#7. Show me something Tangerine
#8. Show me joy
#9. Show me circles
#10. Show me something refreshing
#11.  Show me something reminds you of inky-dinky-do
#12.  Show me something that is fishy
#13.  Show me something hot
#14. Show me someone in uniform and they have to pose for the photo- no fair snapping on the run!
#15.  Show me something from a unique perspective- can be anything- set it up and then change it up before you snap the shutter.
#16.  Show me someone at rest.
#17.  Show me someone that never rests!
#18.  Show me something flexible
#19. Show me a funny face
#20.  Show me a fabulous pair of shoes!
#21.  Show me the green
#22.  Show me someone on the cell phone- but it can't be black or silver!
#23.  Show me something messy
#24.  Show me a grateful heart
#25.  Show me what it feels like to be you on a good day.

Each item will be worth 3 points.  So 75 points possible.  That being said we know we need the bonus round with you guys!

Bonus Points.....
+5 points- any shot of you with a local "celeb" or complete stranger holding a sign stating they don't know you.  If you think we wont check you are mistaken.  :)

+5 points- show me a scene from a movie- costumes are allowed, but you can't tell me the movie in the scene, props are OK and using as many people as you like is fine.  Think something everyone might know.

+10 points- the most creative use of inky-dinky-do on a sign in anyway (heck why limit you guys when Jen tacked inky-dinky-do rocks to Iger's sign I was laughing for a good 1/2 hour!) Think creative and have fun with it.

Prizes:
$100 gift certificate to inky-dinky-do
$50 gift certificate to Denise Haddock Unique Interior Designs
$20 Gift card to Best Buy

and for a fun little spin........
I have agreed that this time YOU guys can challenge me too!  So you guys can come up with a list of 25 things.  Now they have to be reasonable, no "photo of you with Bono" sort of thing!   So anyone can post the questions- let's just add them to the comments below.  When we have 25 we are good.  You can offer up multiple at a time. 
IF I don't complete your list (which you have to have 25 for me by Friday at 6pm) then EVERYONE that participates will win a $100 gift certificate to inky-dinky-do!  I think that is fair!

So let's have some fun again guys!
Once you have your entries email them or a link to your on-line gallery, or drop them off to the boutique 4x6's are fine.  please # them so we know what goes with what.  :)

Deadline:  April 24th at midnight!  Winners will be announced at the Girls Giving Back on the 25th and then on-line. 
Who can participate? Everyone.  Kids- be sure to ask your parents before as always with the web.  See you can win mom her mother's day gift!  My art students that are out there- this is a great excercise for you too!

Congratulations Michelle & Joel

Plan B (remember that new little wedding division of inky-dinky-do) had a great time this weekend with Michelle & Joel at the Metro Gallery!  What a fun group.  Michelle couldn't stop smiling and Joel, well it didn't take long to find out he is a little joker himself.  Everyone was in tears during the ceremony with poetry and vows that softened even the big tough guys.  Then when you thought you were in the clear at the reception the Groom's mom breaks out a gift followed by toasts that really had everyone crying tears of joy.  It was a very touching wedding.  Plan B had a great time and I even snuck in to join in the fun for awhile and got to visit with  JC & Jaime Lynn (he was the DJ for the wedding).  You might remember them for our previous Plan B wedding!  Thanks for referring Michelle and Joel to us guys!  Kim & Jen did a great job and of course met lots of wonderful new people!

So how about a little peek....

            

Happy Birthday Miss Presley

We couldn't resist posting a couple quick pictures of Miss Presley at her party today.  The kids are most likely still have fun!  They did pony rides, they were getting ready for the treasure hunt and of course... the slaying of the dragon was still to come!  The kids were having sooo much fun, but alas I had to go.  So thanks for inviting me Miss Presley, it was a fabulous 3rd birthday fit for a princess.  I'll post more later, but for now...

Happy  3rd Birthday
Miss Presley

from everyone at inky-dinky-do!

First Friday Downtown

Did you know that downtown is all a buzz on the first Friday of the month?  Well 19th & 20th Streets around H & Eye are!  Even though they are tearing up the streets currently lots of people were out.  There were vendors, artist, KELLY radio, channel 17 and 23 and even carriage rides!  The little boutiques rolled out sales (like Bambini Carini 65% off!!!) and were serving food and drinks!  Now we did notice that is was very family friendly until after dark and then it was more bar scene downtown.  Definitely worth a look if you are downtown next month.

Various Artists had art on the sidewalks and media was buzzing around with kids getting balloons from KELLY..

Autumn's Eve had yummy lavender scented lotions, soaps, candles.. and they are at the Farmer's Market each Sat. at the old Montgomery Wards I think she said 9-12.  She can do custom blends too.  The owner was a super sweet lady Cheryl Misener- tell her  my car smelled yummy all the way home if you stop by!  With her was Susan Brown a jewelry artist who did custom beading.  "Illusions" and she is from Clovis.  Really cute stuff.

Of course I had to stop by Bambini Carini.  As you know I simply love the store and Stacey the owner is just the nicest lady.  If she doesn't have what you are looking for- ask cause that woman can find anything!  They had some super cute new spring/ summer clothing in.  The best part- 65% off sale on the sidewalk and let me tell you there were so steals on that rack!

From there I popped in Metro Galleries next door.  They have some cool renovations going on currently.  It looks like when they are done it will be quiet to cool spot.  Currently on display is of course a Basque Artist (like I would miss that!) some sculpture and of course some paintings that are worth a look.  Viewing then while sipping on wine and nibbling on some fabulous hors de vors is always a good way to go! 

After that... how about a little retail therapy at Jezabelles!  Super cute and super chic!  The lady working was very attentive and helpful too.  I always love finding new places!  They had some cute shoes and accessories.  They even had a SUPER cute black dress- $50 yep $50.  I'm telling you it must have been a typo 'cause it was cute!  Definitely worth a stop.

 

 

While in the retail therapy spirit we had to pop over to Tangerine.  Now if you are just in need of a new purse, shoes and some unique jewelry to go with it.. you may have to stop by.  By this time in the night is was winding down and everyone was just kind of casually hanging out.  Nice relaxed vibe and this one little girl just stole the show.

Alex was the name and being cute is totally her game.

Only someone soo cute can pull of the smooched against the glass look!

So with a slightly lighter pocket book and having nibbled on some tasty treats and met some interesting people we stopped back by the metro gallery which was now getting ready for the wedding Sat. which inky-dinky-do's own Plan B will be covering!  It was a flurry of activity as everyone helped get ready.  We can't wait to see you guys all dressed up in a few hours!