July is just so crazy.  At least for us.  It always fools me into thinking that if we just get past the 4th, it will be all downhill coasting from there.  And then about July 6th hits, and oh no, not so much.  Another hill to climb.  Or two.  This week is the real last leg though with County Fair looming.  As I’ve mentioned before, I’m still heavily involved in my “home” county fair – the one in Racine.  I have a history there, and my Mom and I share a Superintendent position, and therefore spend quite a bit of time volunteering out there.  This year we have added an En Plein Air painting competition on Thursday.  Participation is limited to 15 people, but anyone can be among those artists.  You will be given a prepared canvas and three hours to complete a masterpiece on site.  If you are interested, please contact the Racine County Fair office at 262-878-3895  to sign up!

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My friend Joel Serrato is a deeply talented filmographer.  He shoots exclusively in Super 8, and has a real passion that shows thru in his work. He is currently giving away an engagement film.  If you would like to enter, click on over to his blog for more details.

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Hubby saw an end to the ongoing Kidney Stone saga last week with a lovely kidney stone removal procedure.  (the “lovely” there was tongue-in-cheek)  I wasn’t able to be there, as I was judging at the WI State Fair, but there is proof positive that he handled it all just fine.  He bought his own get well balloon:

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The wedding blog Elizabeth Anne Designs is looking for new brides to blog for them!  If you would like to flex some writing muscles and document your planning journey, give it a shot!  Click here for details.

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In addition to things being that special July brand of crazy around here, we’ve had a few exciting developments.  Not the least of which was being invited to be a part of Style Me Pretty’s “Little Black Book“.  I’m honored to have been selected, and I can’t wait to see who gets introduced to m three studio because of it!

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Another exciting development was introducing our photographer friends to a new venture Hubby and I have been working on for almost a year now.  If all goes according to plan, we will be introducing it to everyone next month!  The response has been really great so far, and I can’t wait to go 100% public with it.  If you are a photographer and didn’t get an email from us – please email me at: molly (at)blankmywalls.com  with “add me” in the subject line.  It was difficult to construct a comprehensive list of all of the photographers we know and love, or have ever met, and we didn’t intend to leave anyone out!

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I still haven’t seen Toy Story 3 and it is eating at me.  As a former animator, I loathe not keeping up.   Hubby and I have also been totally charmed by the commercials for Despicable Me, and we might have to see that one too.  I keep hearing what an amazing film Inception is, so I might have to talk him into that one.  Of course, I better get this list accomplished before Eat, Pray, Love comes out, because nothing is keeping me from seeing that one!

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The terrible storm we had last week (tornadoes, flash-flooding, giant sink-holes, foundation collapses) had one good side-effect for me.  The day after I was out in the yard making sure Hubby didn’t fall off the roof, when I gave a weed next to the ladder a yank.  Our yard is over-run with weeds, thanks to the aforementioned crazy July and June.  The weed practically jumped out of the ground.  I quickly realized that the dirt was so saturated, weeding on this day would be a breeze.  One of the benefits of being self-employed?  Taking an impromptu break mid-day to weed the yard.  I accomplished in one hour what would have taken me all day any other time.   The joy this gives me, I can not express.

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This week promises to be one packed full of fantastic fair food, crashing demo derby cars, the fun-filled wedding of Jenny and Brandon, and who knows what else.   I hope yours is as much of an adventure!