SOCIAL MEDIA

A Layout, Around Here + a Fun Share!

9.29.2009
adored & loved

Around here lately:

  • Zoey's on day two of being home from school sick, after taking her in to the doctor yesterday we've determined (and are treating her for) that she's got a sinus infection and pink eye. A part of me has been really enjoying having my little buddy home with me again these past two days (is that terrible of me to say)? It just seems that since school started she's been on this roller-coaster ride and all of us have been thrown off kilter in the process and time has quite simply flown. We've been having some quiet, crafty time together here at home the past few days, we've had fun re-arranging her bedroom and making some fun little changes, we've had time to cuddle and read stories and we've even baked some special treats (turtle bars...yum!).

  • Speaking of reading; I just finished up reading Uncle Wiggly's Storybook by Howard Garis (an old favorite of mine from when I was little) to Zoey, I'd read her a chapter a night before bed, and she absolutely loved it. If you are familiar at all with how the chapters end in Uncle Wiggly Stories then you know the silliness that's involved...the endings always make Zoey laugh out loud. After finishing up that I started right into reading her my old copy of The House on Pooh Corner. This book is just delightful and I have to say that Pooh bear is simply a genius! Every single chapter there is something that Pooh says, or sings, or shares that makes my heart just smile and even sometimes giggle out loud. I need to start thinking like Winnie-the-Pooh. I'm seriously making that a goal for myself. Some favorite Winnie-the-Pooh quotes:

    Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake.

    Before beginning a Hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin looking for it.

    Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.

    I don't see much sense in that," said Rabbit. "No," said Pooh humbly, "there isn't. But there was going to be when I began it. It's just that something happened to it along the way.

    Poetry and Hums aren't things which you get, they're things which get you. And all you can do is go where they can find you.

    Some people care too much, I think it's called love.

    Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.

    You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.


  • As far as reading for myself is concerned, I recently finished up reading the book titled Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos and was completely taken off guard. I was totally expecting it to be strictly a chick lit book and while some would argue that it is, there is something much deeper within and that I took away from it. A very good book, one that I held off reading the last few chapters for a couple days just because I didn't want it to be over and done with. Now that I've finished this one up I've started in on reading The Ten Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer.

  • The weather here is getting more "fall like" every day. Last night we closed up with windows for the first time at night (I'm an open window kind of girl so this was kind of hard). One thing though, I'm enjoying pulling out my sweaters, cuddling up in quilts that my grandma made on the couch and snuggling with Zoey.

Regarding my fun share, I was checking my email yesterday and was thrilled to find a couple of emails in my almost full in-box that were of surprise. I discovered that I got a layout picked up for publication in one of the upcoming issues of Creating Keepsakes Magazine and I was informed that one of my projects using the SLICE die-cut machine by Making Memories will be featured on the Making Memories website in October! Super cool and exciting news! The layout that will be pubbed in CK is one of my favorites too, love it when that happens!

For the layout above (yes, those photos are of me, I think I was about three years old at the time) I kept things pretty simple using little bits and pieces of things around my art desk. I've been wanting to use that scrap of cotton lace on a page for awhile now, glad I finally got around to it.

Supplies: Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket pp, Basic Grey pp + chipboard (&), October Afternoon pp, American Crafts chipboard (cherries), Doodlebug Designs flower, Theresa Collins transparency (ruler), Heidi Grace Designs letter stickers, 7gypsies phrase stickers, misc: cotton lace, stitching

Currently am loving:

Painting Pumpkins

9.26.2009
Painting Pumpkins

Since Zoey was a toddler I've always let her paint one pumpkin of her choosing a bit earlier than the others that we would later get (that were for carving) mostly because I don't want the carved ones going all mushy on us before Halloween actually arrives.

Painting Pumpkins

After school on Friday we went outside and she painted away.

Painting Pumpkins

I absolutely love fall, love everything about it...and this little happy pumpkin is just the start!

Finally Friday (or the Week That Threatened to Kick My Butt)

9.25.2009
Seriously crazy week here for me. There was not one day that I wasn't completely exhausted and in bed by 9:30pm. Actually last night I was still baking at that time (it was Zoey's treat day at Kindergarten today and it was for Johnny Appleseed Day, which of course meant baking a little something with apples).

Zoey has now started ballet (this will be her second year) and that is one day a week (this was our second week of that). I pick up another little girl and take both Zoey and her to dance class right after school which has been working out nicely. It's been fun for Zoey to get to go with a friend. The start of ballet means the end of soccer.

Last Soccer Practice of the Season

Last Soccer Practice of the Season

We had our last soccer practice this week (last night, before my baking spree in the kitchen) and her last game is this weekend. I have to say that it's actually a tad bit bittersweet now that it's ending. At the start of it I was terrified that I had gotten her into something that was going to be painful for all of us involved but now she's out there and actually having fun, working together with her team, she's made some special buddies and has grown yet even more and pushed those life skills to the test yet again. So proud of her for sticking with it (proud of myself too for not pulling her out of it!).

Last Soccer Practice of the Season

Last Soccer Practice of the Season

There was a time that if she was on the ground like that (above photo) I would have been right there in a second...I've learned to wait it out a bit and let her figure it out. And I've discovered that she does (figure it out), eventually.

Last Soccer Practice of the Season

I really love her team too, they are such a fun mix of kids and each one brings something different to the table.

Zoey's got mid-week bible school every other week now that started this month and that's been going well. I've been helping teach her class too which has been fun and it's been good for me as well as for her. This last week's class we talked about letting go of our wants and needs and handing them over to God. Everything is up to Him after all and when something isn't answered in the way we think it ought to be, we just need to remember that there is a reason and He will show us that reason eventually, we just need to trust in Him. I so needed to hear that this week and I almost started to cry in front of all those little kids. Gentle reminders are sometimes (most of the time actually) a really big deal.

MOP's has started up again and this year I am participating as just a member and am not acting as the Creative Activities Coordinator. I have to say, it's nice to just sit and enjoy the meetings now rather than be stressed about all that I prepared and may have forgotten to prepare for. It was super fun to be a part of the Steering Committee, but it was time to pass on the torch (after two years) and take a seat elsewhere. I'm really excited too about the year ahead, our coordinator has planned some beautiful things for us this year and has taken great care in making this group a comfortable and safe place for women to gather and share and support one another. Yes, that's you Betsy, thank you! =)

Zoey just got back her school pictures today and I have to say that I just am in love with that smile and sparkle in her eye!

Kindergarten School Picture

If you knew what she was doing to that poor photographer you would be amazed that any sort of "normal" photo came to fruitation. She was seriously being a ham that day, making faces, laughing, jumping around, just being her silly little self. The photographer would say, "Okay, stand up super tall!" and she would then raise up on her absolute tippiest of toes and then he'd say, "Well, get a bit lower now." and then she crouch way down...and this went on and on and on, the poor guy didn't know what to do and was stressing I think that we (the parents) were going to be upset and all I could do was laugh. Once the photographer realized that we just wanted her to be who she was and didn't need that perfect shot, he loosened up a bit and had some fun too. I've never been one of those people who is after those forced posed shots, so this one just makes me smile.

So now it's the weekend and I have one day of work and one day of rest. Going to sneak in as much rest as I can on that one day I'm thinking!

Fall Colors

9.21.2009
are finally starting to show themselves here.

First Signs of Fall 2009

Zoey and I went out in search of some beautiful colored leaves yesterday and while there weren't a ton of trees showing off their splendor, there were a few that we found.

First Signs of Fall 2009

First Signs of Fall 2009

First Signs of Fall 2009

First Signs of Fall 2009

Zoey also was thrilled to discover some fairy houses while we were out and about!

First Signs of Fall 2009

The weather has been just perfect here as of late, spending time outdoors with Zoey yesterday was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Earlier This Week...

9.19.2009
after school:

After School

After School

After School

Right now I'm enjoying a glass of red wine and listening to Joshua Radin's song When You Find Me. Got up early (5am is early for me!) and worked the Paper Studio booth at the Rhinelander, Wisconsin annual Fall Scrapbooking + Stamping Convention today. Had an absolute blast, I am so thankful for the opportunity to work at Paper Studio and to be able to share my passion for paper arts in the manner in which I do through teaching make-n-takes, classes and getting to go to shows, etc. Truly has been a great ride that I look forward to continuing. Sure does help that the people that I work with are an amazing (and incredibly fun) bunch! Thanks Micaela, Grace, Gerry, Patty, and Misty! You guys are just so awesome and I am a richer person because you all have crossed my path in this life. =)

Zoey had a birthday party to go to today which Ethan dropped her off at, this was the first one that she went to without having one of us there with her and she did just great. The theme of the party was "camping" and when I got home this evening she had chocolate smeared on her forehead, and on her mouth and had a big old bag (one that was made to look like a backpack) filled with camping themed goodies including her very own flashlight, magnifying glass, things to make smores with and more! Sounds like (and looked like!) she had a blast. She's growing up so fast and into such an amazing little person. Often times I look at her and just wonder how it is that she can be the amazing and complex little person that she is. I am so lucky. We are so lucky. Looking forward to spending some quality time with her tomorrow.

And because I am obsessed with Joshua Radin as of late (and because I'm on my second glass of wine), for your weekend listening enjoyment:



Marks Paper Company Layouts

9.17.2009
2008 xmas

I found a bit of time to sneak in some crafty time for myself yesterday so I finished up these two layouts each using patterned papers from Marks Paper Company's August Collection as well as their Old Fashioned Courtship collection. The one above I have fun mixing papers from the two collections together and for the one below I kept it pretty simple by just incorporating a strip of the patterned paper and using one of the MPCo. paper patches that was made available as a digital download awhile back on the Marks Paper Company blog.

Supplies for 2008 Xmas: Bazzill cardstock, Marks Paper Company patterned paper Porch Swing # 1008, Snap Dragons # 1003, Prima alphabet chipboard letters, 7gypsies sticker, Bazzill flower, Making Memories journaling tag, Creative Cafe buttons, Stampin' Up border punch

busy girl

Supplies for Busy Girl: Stampin' Up kraft cardstock, Marks Paper Company patterned paper Log # 1002, American Crafts Thickers, Glitz Designs rub-ons

Creative Imaginations : South Seas Collection

9.16.2009
Time Away Together

Thought I'd quick share a layout that I used the South Seas Paper Pad of mixed patterned papers with you...the pad of papers includes several of the South Seas collection of papers as well as some of the papers from Christine Adolph's Tidepool's collection. A beautiful combination of designs and colors in my opinion....perfect for tropical or beach layouts and/or projects!

Powerful Book + a Giveaway by the Author!

9.15.2009

I ordered this book by Brene Brown earlier this summer from Amazon and just the past week or so I started reading it and I have to say that there are several if not more pages that I've folded over and dog-eared in that way that I do to those books that say things to me in a way that make them seem as though the words and ideas were just meant for me and for me alone...to hear and to understand and to grasp in some huge and important way that would make sense if not now than at some critical point along further down my path. There are stories (sometimes painful stories) shared in this book by several different amazing and powerful women and when reading them I sometimes find myself taking in deep breaths and letting them out ever so slowly and then feeling better. Better about who it is that I am and better about those things that have come up in my life (that come up in many women's lives) that I just didn't quite know what to do with or how it was that I was to deal or simply cope. I'm trying to pace myself with this book as there are excercises involved and places for reflections to be made and I want to make the most of it and let it roll around in my brain as well as reside in my heart for a bit. If you would like a chance at winning a copy of this book for yourself be sure to check out Brene Brown's blog today as she is going to give away three copies of the book on wednesday. All you need to do is leave a comment and you will be entered into the drawing.

Creative Imaginations : Snap Stories

9.14.2009
Snap Stories - Hip Hip Hooray!

Snap Stories - Hip Hip Hooray!

I am so excited to share one of Creative Imaginations' newest products with you, Snap Stories! They recently released a new collection of books that you can simply insert your pictures into directly and then either leave as is or embellish to your hearts content! What a snap! These make wonderful keepsake books for special events, amazing and thoughtful gifts to give to loved ones and fun projects to put together with the help of friends! There are several different themes already (for my project above I used the Hip Hooray it's Your Birthday Collection) and there are more to come soon I am told! To check out the collections themselves check out the Creative Imaginations website and to view some adorable samples that the other Creative Imaginations Design Team came up with check out the last several blog posts here on the Creative Imaginations blog.

Post-It Love

9.13.2009

New Music Love + Another Layout





Autumn fallin' from trees
The snow is up to our knees
O let you borrow my keys
To sleep in my room

You threw away my shoe
I brought you to central park zoo
Then I drew your eyes very blue
And I stuck 'em on the fridge

I believe it was you
Who I wanted to be walking next to
And I believe we were friends
And I believe we will be again
You sighed and swept your broom
Under the wintry moon
When I called up this afternoon
Your words were goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

I believe it was you
Who I wanted to be talkin' to
And I believe we were friends
And I believe we will be again
If I knock on your door would you let me in?
Do you know any more than I do?

Wonder about you
Even if you do not want me to
The girl you once knew
Is the person we are
I believe it was you
Who I wanted to be walkin' next to

And I believe we were friends
And I believe we will be again

And another layout that I finished up recently:

Watching You Grow

Supplies:

Bazzill cardstock + scalloped die-cut circle paper, American Crafts letter stickers + Flair + felt flower, Making Memories brads, Dream Street Papers patterned paper, Doodlebug Designs paper frills

Top 10 at Two Peas in a Bucket!

9.12.2009
Top 10!

Woo..hoo! I just found out that one of my layouts (the one of Zoey in her leopard suit) is listed in the Top 10 by Votes section on the main gallery site over at Two Peas in a Bucket (thanks for letting me know Vicky)! You can see it in the screenshot above. So cool!

Spots...Just For the Day!

9.11.2009
spots

Thought I'd quick share this simple layout that I finished up the other night of Zoey sporting her leopard costume that she got from my grandmother awhile back. It was a garage sale find and what a score it was! Zoey just loves putting it on and playing around the house and even has been known to go out and about town and if not wearing the entire get-up then she's at least got the hooded headpiece on! The big question around here lately is what she's going to dress up as for Halloween this year. Will it be a leopard, fairy princess or something else entirely?

Supplies:

Bazzill cardstock, Creative Cafe word stickers, American Crafts Thickers alphabet stickers, Jillibean Soup scalloped journaling spot, Sassafrass Lass cardstock stickers, Making Memories brads

Getting ready for a fun "girls weekend" here with the Zoester. It's just us two hanging out this weekend so I've loaded up on some fun groceries for some special meals (some favorites of Zoey's) that we usually don't have when Ethan's around (he's a strict vegetarian so we're going to have tacos tonight with real meat...not the "fake" kind as Zoey and I like to say!). We've also got some special movies to watch and have a little adventure planned already for tomorrow if the weather cooperates. I'm looking forward to a bit of time to read, scrapbook (yay!) and perhaps even sneaking in a chic flick or two myself in the evening hours after Zoey's in bed. Oh...and I'll be keeping tabs on the football games as well of course!

Making Me Smile

9.08.2009


You’re better then the best
I’m lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler then the flip side of my pillow that’s right
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me
Lets me know that it´s ok yeah it’s ok
And the moments where my good times start to fade

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed sing like bird
Dizzy in my head spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile

Even when you’re gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking
Through the sidewalk crack and just like that
You steal away the rain and just like that

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed sing like bird
Dizzy in my head spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile

Don’t know how I lived without you
Cuz everytime that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed sing like bird
Dizzy in my head spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile

From the Weekend...

This Afternoon

We picked wildflowers...

This Afternoon

and hiked in the woods.

This Afternoon

Sometimes on the trail and sometimes off.

This Afternoon

We picked berries (black and red raspberries).

This Afternoon

Snacking on some along the way...Zoey was soooooooooooooo hungry she just had to have some right then and there (and I have to admit there is something to be said about eating a fresh picked berry while it's still warm from the sun).

This Afternoon

This Afternoon

It's moments like these that I want to remember and keep in my heart and be thankful for.

This Afternoon

Because there truly is so very much to be thankful for when I am mindful and careful to take the time to see it.

This Afternoon

This Afternoon

This Afternoon

This Afternoon

This Afternoon

Beauty

9.07.2009

just because...

9.06.2009


When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.
When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.
Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes to recognize its own.
There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.
The dark will be your womb tonight.
The night will give you a horizon further than you can see.
You must learn one thing.
The world was meant to be free in.
Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.
Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn
anything or anyone that does not bring you alive
is too small for you...

~David Whyte

Kindergarten

9.03.2009
Here are some photos from the first day of school for Zoey this year. She was so excited, so brave and so grown-up. I was the one that had issues with her leaving, but I too was very brave and didn't let on (at least that she could see anyways!).

First Day of Kindergarten

She's been having good days at school this week, she likes her teacher and loves her new friends from her classroom. She's really in a good group of kids I think. There is one boy in particular (who also happens to be on her soccer team) that has been pretty sweet to her. She shared with me that he latched her lunch bag to her backback for her so she wouldn't have to worry about keeping track of it the other day. =) What a guy!

Kindergarten Collage

There's also a little girl who just so happened to be wearing the same headband as Zoey one day and now they are calling one another "my twin" and from the sounds of it, play quite a bit together when it's free time.

Kindergarten Collage

I am really pleased with our choice to send Zoey to the school that we did because pretty much all of her friends from Pre-K last year (different school) are now here, she knows lots of kids from being in MOPS with me over the past few years and even though most of the kids she knew prior to attending Kindergarten ended up not being in her class, she does get to see them out on the playground at recess and at lunch which is a pretty cool thing. Her world is getting so much bigger, I am so happy for her.

Kindergarten Collage

Almost finished up with her first week of Kindergarten! It will be nice to have the longer three day weekend to get her all rested up for week number two!

Right Now.

9.02.2009
Right Now

Was motivated last night to get some scrapping done. I have been struggling lately with feeling overwhelmed or uninspired when it comes to creating...it felt good to sit down last night and actually feel inspired to create and then end up with something that I actually liked. I'm thinking that my lack of motivation is just due to being busy with other life stuff and am hoping that now with Zoey in school again I'll have a bit more time on my hands to get back into the creative groove again.

Supplies: Bazzill cardstock (cream + aqua), Making Memories; trims, American Crafts; alphas + corduroy flower, Sassafrass Lass; heart sticker + decorative brads, Adorn-It; mini-letter stickers, other: baker's twine, pom pom trim, pin

And There She Goes...

9.01.2009
Zoey Polaroid

just like that. Out farther into the world just a bit more without me.

Working Together by David Whyte from The House of Belonging.

We shape our self
to fit this world

and by the world
are shaped again.

The visible
and the invisible

working together
in common cause,

to produce
the miraculous.

I am thinking of the way
the intangible air

passed at speed
round a shaped wing

easily
holds our weight.

So may we in this life
trust

to those elements
we have yet to see

or imagine,
and look for the true

shape of our own self,
by forming it well

to the great
intangibles about us.