journeys in parenting, crafting, and keeping up with the laundry...

our weekend...

playing at friend's...down on the little "farmette"...

now don't freak out, this is a rescued squirrel my friend found when it was only a day old, it has no rabies, has been to the vet a couple times and is very sweet and tame-ish.  he's being released into the wild next week since he's now 3 months old...his name is mr. skimbelshanks, however he might drop it once he's back with his homies...

then over at ana's pool party...

pool party with sparklers

would ja like a cool one?

or skate a bit in the garage?

me remembering the good 'ol days...i won a hoola hooping competition in summer camp once...yep...

 

yummm...blueberry pie!

a little rock band...flash forward 10 years and these 2 will have a girl band...

happy birthday erin!

ana...always the life of the party!

today; more packing, cleaning and then bbq with friends before we head out for mexico in 2 days...hopefully life will return back to normal in the next couple weeks.  i feel like we've been shot gunning all over...hope you had a nice weekend! all the american friends out there, happy independence day! did you do anything fun?

SisCon '09

While I do admit I love scrapbooking and all things crafty, I never thought I'd actually spend money to fly somewhere to scrapbook.  But I did and I'm so glad I did.  I met the coolest chics around. Many of them I've already been emailing and blogging with, but to meet them face to face, hear about their interesting lives, have happy hour, laugh so hard we had the front desk tell us to shut it, getting lost everywhere we went, talking in southern accents, spending way too much money here and here and here, not getting enough sleep, food or scrapbooking in (but made it up with margaritas), totally worth it all!!! I can't WAIT for next year!!

Patty and Sandy, I just adore them!!! 

love me some Big Dinners.  Here's BP/BD and me, we made each other Sis yearbooks.  She's the sweetest tart ever!

Here's a picture when Heather kept rubbing up against me...but I sort of liked it...Okay, I loved it...

Patty, we just couldn't keep her out of the bushes...she loves to bird watch...

Coolest gang

Hey! It's Jen Renee, Amy (so talented) and Sandy (Paper Poopies,I mean Poppies!)

here's the layout I did for Amy (her picture-long story). She did one for me, I'll have to take a pic and post it. It's super cute!  The funniest thing is I only had 4 photobooth strips at Sis, no real pictures...Who goes to a scrapbook convention without pictures??? Did I mention we had margaritas though? 

me and Vanessa, the PA girls!

Me and Martha, here's the layout she did for me (she didn't seem to remember the restraining order against me, so that was cool...)

Amy doing her Beyonce dance, so cute!

(stolen from Jen) doesn't JJ look thrilled to be there with me?

Yes, I take scrapbooking VERY seriously, people! "Now, should I put poop head or poop face, what did Amy tell me????"

me and amy=me happy!!

I stole this from Mandi, my newest idol! Man, she can jump!

 Vanessa, AW and Mandi

What did I tell you? I had a problemo,pero nada no mas... 

Mandi and Michelle

 

as Patty said, the 4 Georgia Peaches...

holy crap Big Dinners, put 'em away now!!! Oh, I LOVE her!!!

SHHHHHHHH!!!! Pillow fights in undies happened right after this!

well, right after this, I mean...

do not try this at home!

then it was nighty-night time...

I pretty much spent the entire weekend attached at the hip to 3 of my newest favorite girls (Sandy, Patty, Jen), and totally fell in love with a few more (Big Dinners, Mandi, Vanessa, Amy and Heather). We all mentioned doing another girls weekend sooner than later and I'm totally ready!  I can't imagine only seeing these chics once a year!

The last day the fab 4-some went shopping in Nashville at Anthro,

 

ate lunch and then headed to the airport where we sat at each person's gate, saying good-bye one by one until we all flew off into the sunset (insert sad violin music here)...

This is my famous "deer in the headlights" look, feel free to use it...

Bye Jen!!! And Patty!!! And Sandy!!! Hasta Luego! Until we meet again...soon, oh, yes, verrrrrrryyy soon....

I'm a little bit...and a little bit...

I'm uploading the Sis '09 pictures right now and will post them tomorrow. I've totally enjoyed looking at everyone else's and reading about everyone's experience there.  It sounds like everyone had a great time and will go again next year.  I concur.  I want to do it quarterly!

Scrap Mojo is back, the newest challenge is "I'm a little bit...and a little bit..." and the second part of the challenge is to use dots, anyway ya want, just use them.

Here's mine, "I'm a little bit good... and a little bit evil..."

 

she says, "she had not yet decided whether to use her powers for good...or for evil..."-HA! My motto...

I went and saw the new Johnny Depp movie tonight, Public Enemies.  Pretty good.  He's lookin' pretty good still...in the words of a wise friend, Meat Fest...plus Christian Bale (Chandra, I should tell your story about him?) yep...

I'll do my best to get the Sis pictures up tomorrow! Gotta get to bed now!

If I were a fictional character...

I'd be Mary Poppins, one of my favorite movies!  Her cool carpet bag, the talking parrot umbrella, the colorful adventures...she's fantabulous!

Come play over at Category Stories, the newest challenge, "If I were a fictional character." You could really have a lot of fun with this one...I thought of Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bennett, Sara from The Little Princess, Pippi Longstocking, Charlie's Angels (watched it every night as a latch-key kid), Lara Croft, Carrie Bradshaw, Madame Bovary, Scarlett O'Hara, even Foxy Brown from Undercover Brother.

Here's my project I did.  The girls love Mary, too, so I made this material and felt wall hanging.

Come play along! As always, there's prizes to be won!!

And I just got back from Sisiversary LATE last night and it was AWESOME!!!!!!!!  I had a ton of fun and was so happy to finally meet so many people whom I've talked to over the internet.  So many talented crafters with such different styles. I'll definitely go again next year!

The scrapbooking was rad, meeting new people, putting faces to screen names, etc. was so nice, but I am so happy to meet a few people in particular whom I know I'll be life-long friends with!  Sandy, Jen,  Patty and I were inseparable, but also Beth(love her!!), Mandi, Vanessa, Heather (who I made a solemn promise to start stalking), Amy, Martha, I can't wait to see them again soon. It sounds corny, but I really loved this convention.  It was way more than scrapbooking for me. I have about 300 million pictures to upload so a post with pictures will be here in a couple days.  Oh, and do I have stories to go with the pictures.....

and counting...

only 3 more days until I'm on a plane for Sisiversary!! I'm so excited to finally meet so many cyber friends whom I've totally enjoyed getting to know!  Classes, parties, classes, more parties-it's going to be so fun! Next week I'm sure I'll have loads of pics to share! 

I stayed up last night making the atc swap Ally set up.  The theme is transparencies. I got cute brown damask Hambly transparencies and did a cupcake thing.  Most of my stuff has now been delivered to my place in Mexico, so I had to buy a few things at the store to get them done.  I was nervous I wouldn't get it done in time with everything we've had going on, but they are done and I'm mailing them off today or tomorrow.  Can't wait to see what I get back!!! 

Finally, today it looks like we may get a little sun here in Philadelphia-geez!  I was beginning to wonder??? It's officially summer and everything is soggy and while I don't necessarily love the Philadelphia summers with the unforgiving humidity, I wanted a couple pool days here.  Anyhoo, last weekend was spent with some of my favorite people.  I miss them already!!!

and Uncle Matty, for his b-day, his first ever pedi...

whew! And Cricket needs one, too!

 

Talk soon!

Shop till you drop!

Coming up today or tomorrow, Category Stories newest challenge is "shop till you drop." Now, this was a hard one for me, because I hate to shop. Ha! just kidding!  I loved this pic I found on the net, someone collapsed on a bench with a ton of bags on top of her.  Too funny. Go play along with us!

 

Well, I've been in Mexico City for over 2 weeks and tomorrow I'm heading back to Philadelphia for a week, then Nashville/Franklin for the Sisinaversary for 4 days. (I'm so excited for it!!) Then July 1st or 2nd we'll return to Mexico City for the rest of the summer. Being here for 2 weeks has been both awesome and trying, mostly awesome though. There are so may things I take for advantage in the states. Communication is one. My Spanish isn't the greatest and everyone obviously speaks very fast here, with their own dialect or slang, often slurring words together, as most native speakers do. Communication for even basic things has been more challenging that I thought it would be, but it has forced me to SPEAK in espanol.  I know in 2 years when my hubbies contract is up here and we are heading back to the states, or if Dave has his way Europe, I'll be so grateful for this opportunity. I already am. There are so many amenities here that I know won't get hard to get used to. I love our apartment, like a resort with the beautiful pool and landscaped gardens and lawns, guys serving smoothies and fresh made salsas on the weekends in a gazebo by the pool, like Isacc on Love Boat. The gym here is wonderful and I've been going a few times a week at 1 in the afternoon, it's dead and I'm all alone and love it!!  I have exercised more in the last 2 weeks than I have in the last few months. My husband surprised us with a live-in muchacha that has been wonderful. Araceli is from Oaxaca and is rad!!! She's an awesome cook, is from a large family and so she knows all the yummiest dishes-which counteracts my exercise I've been doing, but o'well. She speaks zero english, so it's been challenging, yet fun trying to communicate in a serene environment rather than a busy, overcrowded store. The other night I was standing in la cocina, talking in my broken spanish, watching her prepare dinner (I do breakfast and lunch, and dinners on the weekends, but having her do dinner during the week has been fantastico!!) and thinking what a cool experience this is to meet and get to know someone who comes from such a different life than I've had or has grown up in a totally different culture, and my daughters get to learn Spanish, see a part of the world they may never have otherwise.  I felt totally content and at peace with being here.

Another surprise from my esposo simpatico (nice husband) was a puppy.  Now, normally I'm a big animal lover and would love a new puppy (he named her Frida- the girls okayed it- after Frida Kahlo), but I was a little annoyed at the thought of taking a 4 month old puppy every hour for potty training down 19 floors from our apartment, but she's so adorable (even though she's chewed up a wooden toy, a shoe and part of our new coffee table)that I'm glad we have the addition.  It also forces me out of the apartment and across the super busy intersection into a quiet neighborhood lined with colorful hacienda- style homes and unique boutiques. It makes for daily walks that have provided me with deals on 2 dozen roses for $6 US dollars or some of the best chilies or produce I've ever seen. Muy fresca!!!

I forgot my camera, so I couldn't take any pictures of some of the cool, unusual places we went to this last couple weeks, but I will in the coming posts.  These are all STOLEN off Flickr...

Of a few things I'm sure I'll love list: the fresh foods, the friendly people with social niceties such as "Buenos Diaz" from everyone, the luxury of a pool, gym and a helper close-by, the awesome museums and sites near me, endless sunny,pleasant days, fresh flowers that are cheap, avocado on everything (including my new avocado facials), lovely hacienda style homes on winding city streets, old spanish architecture, the beautiful, handmade crafts on each corner or in open markets on the weekends, fun and bohemian-ish clothes, having the opportunity to learn another language...

Of a few things I'm sure I'll dislike; traffic that's never ending, city smog that's disgusting to look at out my tall apartment windows(I can only imagine what it's doing to our bodies), lack of good craft stores (or rather what I like), the huge bonanza of overly dramatic telenovelas, the crazy love of soccer and lucha libres and missing my home in Philadelphia and my family and friends.

and finally, a pretty picture I just love, so I'm throwin' it up...

only 2 more weeks!!!

and I'm off...

well, I'm on my way south of the border (swine flu seems over there) and I'm excited to embark on a new life adventure.  It's been a month almost since we've seen Dave so we're all pretty happy about that! My sweet hubby went last week to pick out furniture so when we arrived we'd have a place to park ourselves other than the SWEEEET blow-up bed we've previously used as a couch for 3 months.....long story...

Before I go, I think I'm even a day or two early, but I wanted to tell you about Category Stories newest challenge.  Titled, "If I could have any job..." which sounds really easy, right??  Well, I had so much trouble with this one. I honestly couldn't think of anything.  So dorky...after I did my layout I thought of a few, but it was after the fact and I was packing and going to a beekeeper field trip and having a 3 day house-guest, etc. So big sis is always talking about her dream to be a fashion designer.  She takes private sewing lessons weekly and loves browsing through magazines and cutting up outfits, making inspiration boards, etc.

  

The journaling reads "When McKaylah took the tour at Free People's design offices, it pretty much clinched it for her that her dream job would be a famous fashion designer."  My sweet gal pal Ana is a head fashion designer there and was so kind to give us a tour a few months back and told McKaylah what she needs to do to prepare for the life as fashion designer (pouting, lots of eye rolling and critical tisks-tisks of unknowingly unhip citizens was not part of her advice, but surely it must be so-JUST KIDDING A!!!  love ya!!) No, good, hearty advice about getting good at sewing and having an eye for fashion, not being scared to take a chance, making inspo boards to practice, but also stuff like getting good grades, which mommy appreciated. Ana actually works her freakin' butt off, it's for sure a cut-throat biz-ness, and she's stayed on top with hard work and of course, a fab-u-lous eye-rolling eye for fashion. To see that post click here, it has lots of good pics! Of course, Amy's custom made shirts are an inspiration to big sis as well! Awwww, surrounded by talent!

Here's some pics of Ana's b-day party this weekend...pool party with a "Sacred Heart" theme.  Dang, I'm gonna miss these people...

the birthday girl, loving her new mirrored bowl ( Kristal and me in the background)

and her Sacred Heart cake, so yummy, from the Night Kitchen Bakery

   

man, Erin and I need tans!

Kristal and me

me and Sarah

my favorite couple!

Sarah and I (bartender extraordinaires!)

night swim

(happy birthday A!)

And I wanted to tell you about a sw-eeeet atc swap coming up, click here to see what Alli Serrato has planned if you want to get in on this. I just recently became blog pals with her and my girl Euphoria who are making me wish I was back in California.  This swap is going to be pretty rad, so come play along!!

Okay, go play at Category Stories and have a great week!

the Secret Life of Bees

big sis has been studying insects for a couple weeks now for science. She's read a few books, watched 2 documentaries on insects and has been keeping a insect log. But did you know an insect has to have 6 legs and 3 body parts (head, thorax and abdomen) to be considered an insect?  Spiders are not insects.  I thought all little creepy crawly things were insects, not so...We've went to a show put on by the Philadelphia Insectarium and went to a local beekeeper today to learn about the process of beekeeping. The beekeeper has this amazing backyard with a beautiful koi pond with a waterfall, a deluxe chicken coop, many raised garden beds and now she's a beekeeper extraordinaire.  I dream of a backyard like

this..  I love that waterfall...

homeschoolers enjoying watching the dancing koi fish...

it tickled when they bit on your fingertips

little sis was in love with them

big sis' best friend (with the white sunglasses on her head) was visiting us

then we went and said hi to the chickens

"whachu lookin' at???"

then we went to the the bees-ness of beekeeping.  big sis learned about "smoking them out."

(she loved her oh-so-fab hat) (all this time little sis was giggling at the koi fish, she could care less about bee bees-ness)

sugar water for the bees

honeycomb

more gardens beds just built

whew! This is hard work!

hi

hi,

rain, rain, go away

 

this is a layout I did a week or two ago, with my rainboots on, inspired by kk's pic.  I'm diggin' all the spring layouts and pictures I've been seeing people do.

This one was from our Annual Easter Talent Show, my dad LOOOOOVES it! (ha!)

Like this one <3 I am in love with cherry blossom trees<3.  One day I'll get the guts and continue my sailor jerry bluebird tat I have on on my back into cherry blossoms and such.  Peek...

 

and this was just for fun...where the fairies live

and I was so stoked to find out that I won the last Creative Type challenge!!!

Thanks ladies-you made my day!  I was so excited to be able to order $20 worth of goodies from the Living Room Floor!  It was hard to make up my mind!

And just so you know, Scrap Mojo is taking off the month of June, returning to one challenge a month in July.  I think a lot of us, especially Marie, are feeling overloaded at the moment.  But don't worry, the fun challenges will be back in July! 

Big sis started learning how to needle felt in her sewing class. Here's the bluebird she's made this week. I can't wait until she starts making the adorable figures like we have on our nature table. 

 

The last few days have been super busy. Getting ready to spend so much time in Mex, and even though it's taken forever to finalize everything and you'd think I'd be more used to the idea, but many changes have happened, I definitely feel overwhelmed with the upcoming move. I'm having some anxiety over the thought of leaving my home and neighborhood, our friends and the convenience of life here.  But the beginning of June we'll sojourn down to Mexico for a the beginning of a 2 year experience.  We'll return to the States throughout the year, but the bulk of the next couple years will be lived in a high rise apartment in a super crowded city. I'm trying to see the positive in this experience, my daughters and I learning a new language, living another culture, having some amenities that we otherwise don't have here.  But I'm also pretty nervous about things like safety and the inability to just run to the store and grab some yogurt.  Everything takes FOREVER there.  Or not being able to stop by the organic farm to pick-your-own flowers, or running into Trader Joe's for milk (organic here, finding organic there is difficult), or running into the craft store for glue dots, the craft stores I've seen there are not really geared towards what I've got in mind...It's the silly little things like that that make me feel a bit claustrophobic. So life while we're there will be simplified somewhat. Hard for me, I'm always ready to go, have trouble settling down and am definitely at times a little high strung.

But these pictures are making me smile.  Little sis joined a gardening class through Pennypack Farms not far from our home. "Little Sprouts" is a class for ages 3-5 and each week they do some sort of gardening activity and read a book. This week she planted eggplant and peppers, weeded some and picked lots of fresh chives and mint.  She is beyond happy with her hands in the soil and digging around.  She loves to uncover worms and delicately cover them up again. Big sis liked seeing her friend from gym and swim and they explored the greenhouses and took pictures of the chickens over in the coop while the class was happening.

this place was beautiful, too! Sarah took us here earlier in the week.  All the kids had a great time splashing in the water, looking for rocks, minnows and exploring.

lastly, so drooling...

 

what's cooking, hot stuff?

Whew! It's been a great week, lots of errands and school projects trying to get finished up, lots of spring cleaning and crafts...so TGIF...

Come play along with us at Category Stories, the newest challenge is up,"What's Cooking?"  I loved this picture of big sis in her vintage-y lace shirt and pearl necklace, smiling so demurely with her milk-glass cake platter of lemon-blueberry cupcakes. So June Cleaver-ish... Little do you know she was also wearing her rollerskates in the other pictures, which was too funny. 

 

the picture of big sis looks a little dark and grainy here, what about there?  I don't think it looks like that on Flickr, hummmm...who knows, Well, she's a doll, take my word for it!  Don't you love that Sassafras paper, god, I'd totally wallpaper a room with that!

And speaking of cooking, or eating rather, I can tell this is going to become an obsession for me...this blog has me drooling...

I can tell, this is gonna be baaaaad...I have 2 already, but these cuties are making me want more.

Dave is back in Mexico, I miss him, but we'll be going down the first week in June for 2 weeks. Then I come back (girls in tow, of course) and we pick up our new family member (a South African Boerboel, "practical" for apartment living in Mexico, I said...but I have to pick and choose my battles), then I'm off to Sisinaversary in Tennessee  (I'M SO EXCITED---yes, I was just screeching there) with my gal-pals (you know who you are!!)

And lastly, look at what my sweetheart of a friend sent me...Beth Perry, you doll! It was so unexpected and I think it's amazing, just like her.  I'm so thankful for our new friendship and I can't wait to party down with her at Sisinaversary!

 

Isn't it so pretty???

Okay, have a groovy day people! 

rain rain, go away...

It's been raining here for a week and a half...not that there's much you can do to control the weather, but seriously??? I mean, I'm getting soggy over here!!  Although I must admit my hostas and ferns love the cool, wet spring days.

 

big sis reading on the front steps...I just noticed the 7 in my address is crooked, hmmm...

pansies reaching for the little bit of sun we've had...

fairies live here...

fallen petals...

one of my favorite places to sit a spell..

my rain boots get much use here...

The Creative Type has a new challenge up called (and I love this, snicker...) "hand job." It's about using your handwriting to determine details about yourself through hand writing analysis. Mine was done a couple years ago and I was was told I am "artistic, loyal, private, can be worrisome, adventurous, likes to live life to the fullest." I love those girls, they're so awesome, go play along with them.

I had the Easter photobooths pics blown up individually and I made a 8x11 layout for each pic. The last one is of my mom and the girls, I miss her so much!! 

What's up doc?

there's more, but I'll leave ya be now, and post more later this weekend!

hola!

For scrap mojo's newest challenge, the Cinco de Mayo inspired theme is so fun, go play!!! What would you do if you had one day all to yourself?  A full day of spa treatments?  Hike a mountain? Relax on a tropical beach? Go shopping in NYC? Party with your friends or favorite band? Go make something muy bonita and use Mexican or Cinco de Mayo inspired products or decorations..

now now, I hope not to offend anyone here.  I mean, c'mon, we're all adults and this is meant to hold a bit of light-hearted humor, but you may want to divert your virgin eyes from the following scrapbook project... 

Hola!

(and a close-up for you-ha!!)

Well, as you may have picked up by now, I'm a little (just un poco) bit of a smart ass, and when my friend Sarah gave me this card, I about peed my pants!!!  She wrote my hubby's name for the hot lil' enchilada sitting on the donkey, and innocent me playing with my beach ball...

and for NSD/weekend, I managed a few layouts.

Sunshine Smiles

 

one for each of the girls albums, slightly different...

  

big sis, keep on smiling, girl.  I'm not sure why this pic looks like the layout has a gangsta lean, hmmm...

and little sis, same layout basically, same pp and such...I loved the angle of this one and the slightly blurry, orangy-ness, but it looks like she's got a red spot on her check which she doesn't. hmmm...

 

and so sweet Amy Tangerine made these little beauties for my girls. Big sis was all about the seriousness of modeling them, awwww, the drama, so her...

   

 

 

we watched the movie Doubt on Sunday night.  It was pretty good although yet a little sad, and slightly disturbing. I worked on some embroidery. We made a super spicy arrabiata sauce with turkey sausage and pasta, spinach salad, yum!  I indulged in a couple Hoegaarden beers, I LOVE it, with a couple orange slices, delish!!

Oh, and I'll give a little shout out to Seeds of Change Tikka Masala (Sarah, you'll love it!), it's no Tiffin, but hey, it's pretty darn good!  I made chicken masala, a spinach salad with a homemade garlic-ginger dressing, brown rice, curried chana with potatoes, and naan Friday night. SO GOOD!!! 

now adios! 

Unexpected

Hey ya all, I was supposed to be on a plane bound for Mexico yesterday, but with the swine flu in full force we have postponed our trip. Scary what's going on...it even sounds awful, "swine."

Speaking of the unexpected,Category Stories newest prompt is "Unexpected" and I hope you'll come play along with us! What is the Unexpected for you?  A flu pandemic?  A cancelled trip? A new found love of dark chocolate? Sounds like me...hmmmmm... Here is my layout about matroyshkas since the girls and I collect them. We're always on the hunt for them at yard sales and thrift stores, excited to see how many are inside. It's the unexpecting part of guessing that makes it so fun! (For the record, our matryoshka with the mostest is 16, the smallest is the size of a seed bead....)

 

 

and I asked the totally tubular Amy Tangerine to be our Guest Designer over at Category Stories.  She's not only one of my most fave scrapbooker's, but she's well known for her awesome designer t-shirts that sells in high-end boutiques like Kitson and Olive and Bette's in NYC. I actually had a couple of her shirts from a couple years ago before I ever knew she and I shared the same love of scrapbooking. Now we've become chums and I'm so excited to meet her face to face at Sisiniversary the end of June! She's even shipped me custom shirts for my girls, big sis is especially thrilled! I'll take a pic soon and post it. She's adorable, huh?  Go give her some love!!!

now, I know this doesn't have much to do about scrapbooking, but I just had to give a shout out to this new jewelry company I found. I was shopping in Old City Philadelphia (a neighborhood downtown) and went in this cool store to find a display case of the raddest jewelry I've seen in awhile.  Hot Cakes, oh, how I adore thee...

 

I picked up 2 necklaces and 2 rings, awwwww..so fab...they are hand cast resin that are reminiscent of vintage Bakelite jewelry they say, I agree...

I'll be back in a few days to post my scrap mojo layout, you'll love what the prompt is.  As always, the mojo girls aim to please!! Marie is always coming up with awesome ideas to spark our creative fires!  And hopefully get my hand-writing Creative Type layout done for their challenge...go check them out-really fun!

and finally, scoot over a little will you because I need a little bragging room if you please....look what my super talented, fabulous, amazing little 8 year old made!!! Can you believe it? She's been taking private sewing lessons for about a year now with a wonderful teacher. Big sis made this for her Grandma Rose (my mommy) for Mother's Day.  She wrapped it up all pretty tonight in lime green paper and fancy chenille ribbon so we can mail it off tomorrow.  

now ciao ya all!

tired fingers

I have been feverishly typing to so many people the last couple days I feel a little carpel tunnel comin' on and my fingers hurt. Let's be honest here people, I spend way too much time as it is looking at other blogs and answering emails.  But the last two days after planning my trip to Sisinversary, it's been nut-so.  Back and forth, all happy-go-lucky emails, good info, good planning, Amy, Beth, Sandy,Jen, Sandy, Amy, Beth, Amy, Sandy, Beth, Sandy, Jen, Beth, Amy, Sandy...it's going to be AWESOME!!  So I'm gonna make this short, and sweet! 

Simona asked me the other day to be a guest designer for her Italian scrapbooking club, Scrapbook Club Cafe. She said I was their first international guest designer! Wow! I was of course super honored and excited! I truly admire Simona and think she's a fabulous scrapbooker. The theme was spring.  I had taken pictures of the girls the week before playing in some blossoming trees at the park, so I used those. (I don't think it will be posted on her Scrapbook Club Cafe site until May 1, so I hope you don't mind, Simona.) 

 

and my Easter layout (one for each of us)

 

and thanks to Teresa for giving me this award-you're so sweet!

Really, everyone out there who reads my nerdy blog, leaves comments, etc., you don't know how much it means to me. All the new friends I've made, seriously, I truly enjoy chatting with you and getting to know you. I've been inspired by so many, both with your crafting, but also just your fun stories and smart ideas. So thanks bloggers!

whew-that was cheesy... 

oh, and look what I found blogsurfing (shocking)...on this site you can insert your pics into these fun scenes...

 

 

seriously David, you've GOT to let me go!!!

what's next

Hey there,

and here's scrap mojo's newest challenge, come play along! The theme is Peter Pan and the second part is to use a frame.  So come along now, get your crafty-ness going and come play!

and my Category Stories layout, come over and play along.  The theme is "Going to the Movies."  I rarely go to the actual movie theater, so I used the Polaroid from my friend Ana's Twilight DVD release party a few weeks ago.  And I'm FINALLY done with all 4 books-THANK GOD!!!  Don't slam me Twilight lovers, because while I did enjoy the books (except book 3 was SO BORING) and the movie is fun, I was getting so annoyed with Bella.  Could she be more of a Sad Sally, a Debbie Downer, a Negative Nellie, an Unthankful Ursula?  Geez!  I mean c'mon!!!  Your'e dating a super hot vampire-freakin' lighten up! 

  

Plus, my super duper friend Beth Perry is Category Stories Guest Designer for this challenge and she's so fun!  Go see her layout and read her bio. She's always cracking me up and making me smile.

look at her, isn't she a hoot???

Well, I think our plans of going to Japan are off as of now so I decided to take the plunge and decided to go to Sisiversary!  I've been a member of Sis now for about a year or so and last year I remember seeing the details of the convention and thinking how fun it would be to go.  It's in Franklin, Tennessee (June 26-28)and I'll be taking the Amy Tangerine and  Martha B's classes and maybe some of the other Fashionistas.  I'm so excited.  And my girl Beth Perry will be going, and Sandy and I found out Jen Renee, woo hoo!!! Do I sense some serious shenanigans comin' on?  Franklin, TN may be too small for us...just kidding, I'm really quite harmless.  You should come along, too!! Wanna??

and we're attending a wedding in Acapulco in a couple weeks.  I got these shoes today for the girls to wear to the wedding, so fun!

for little sis who has a serious punk rock thing going on sometimes...

and for big sis, very bohem, eh?

Why didn't they make cool sandals like this when I was a kid??? Although I also saw these on Zappos, remember these babies?

 

except I remember mine had an actual pouch on the side.  Kids of the 70's, do you remember the days? You and your kick-ass Kangaroos, Lip Smacker TIN of lipgloss (watermelon flavor, maybe strawberry...), and your Charlie's Angels metal lunchbox?  DY-NO-MITE!

tree huggers

I'm beginning to see a pattern here...we have a pair of tree huggers here...okay, young naturalists, if you will...

and a bee, Mother Nature's postal workers, coming to deliver more pollen, or pick some up...

but not everyone can appreciate local, uncooked honey (good for allergies)

I want a cherry blossom tattoo...

wow, you're really smelling the flowers, little sis!

my new front porch seating-our old seating was taken to the west coast and is in storage, these fun red babies are from Ikea, as well as the bench and floor cushions. All my cool lanterns were taken away (Boo Hoo!!), but I reordered the blue one from Anthropolgie again. Here's last year's lanterns:

anyhoo, I enjoy sitting on our front porch so much and relish the nights when the girls and I can read out there, or when we have friends over and the kids run wildly through the yard, adults listening to music and sipping on the "cocktail of the summer" (last summer it was bay breezes, this summer it's yet to be decided, any ideas???)

and finally, my new shoes I picked up. Mary Janes falls in love with Crocs, makes happy bouncing baby rubber wedges, so fun...

TGIF, huh?  I'll be back tomorrow or the next day to post for Category Stories and Scrap Mojo, so stay tuned...the challenges are super fun! This weekend I'm going to be outside as much as possible, I love  spring in the NE! What are your weekend plans? 

what an egg-cellent week i had...

I know, that title is pretty cheesy...first our photobooth pics from the good ol' dip-n-dunk at El Vez. Bunny ears and all...

Grandma and her girls
we took mi madre there for dinner last Wednesday night.  She'd never been and it's SO freakin' good...

Dave and I had a strip of photobooth fun, too, but I finagled the manager of El Vez to get me a t-shirt made with it like the waiters and waitresses wear. In a month I'll get my new shirt with a copy of the pic down the right breasteses...very cool!

and my rva felt pin I made and gave to my mom on Easter. The class is almost done and I have about 6 projects to do, but did more than half that was "assigned." It was/is a goodie...

and my latest layout... and for no reason other than I just adore Anne Taintor..."They Hated to Spread Gossip"

(made with the Noel Mignon kit, really cool!)

We dyed a couple dozen eggs, but also I was inspired by my lovely friend Angelina over at the Little Traveler's blog.  You separate a paper napkin and basically decoupage the printed paper onto a hard boiled egg. 

We have such a great street for kids.  Our neighbor down the street has a big Easter egg hunt party each Easter. They do a hunt that spans over 3 yards and then have a party afterward.  I also made lemon-poppyseed bread for 5 of my neighbor families and tied them up with a neat Ikea towel and ribbon.

 

(my girls waiting for the block Easter egg hunt...)

Dave left this morning for Mexico for 2 1/2 weeks again.  We'll go down for a month in May.  We'll miss him, but we're looking forward to spending Cinco de Mayo in Mexico-should be fun! 

How were your holidays? Are you coming down off your sugar high yet?  Did you do anything special?

my people

Having my parents here has been awesome.  My house is 100 years new so my dad planed old, funky doors that didn't shut properly, rewired a bath light, so graciously bought me new furniture for my front porch since all mine was taken away to storage on the west coast when we thought the girls and I were moving to Mexico for the whole year (confused?  Me, too..read past posts if you want more info), we planted flowers in pots on the front porch and my mom and I are painting my small half this week. But more than all the gifts and handy help, there's NOTHING better than subjecting your 70 year old dad, good old dad, Papa as the Little's call him, to impromptu dance parties,talent shows and walks through Philadelphia to leave "love notes." For those just tuning in here at our home, we are known to every once and awhile go out for the day, stopping by stores, coffee shops, visiting cracks in the walls of 140 year old buildings and topiaries by doorways, with tiny, teeny notes with the words written on the outside, "read me." We think it's hilarious to watch innocent passerbys faces when they see them tucked under the jar of sugar at a coffee shop or in a shoe display at a store. The messages are fun, light-hearted messages like "you make the world a better place," or "someone has a crush on you!"  Anyhoo, back to my story, my dad is more a no-nonsense type of gent, he really gets embarrassed to have to do these type of things.  Dance parties (music booming with Culture Club, Kajagoogoo and Feist) and talent shows with costumes and cheering, it's almost TOO much for him.

On Sunday I took my parents downtown to the Betsy Ross House.  I thought they'd like that. We'd gone on a fieldtrip earlier in the school year to do some of our Pennsylvania history requirements, and the Little's loved it. My dad likes history so I thought he'd like to take a break from grinding and sanding and get out...

Betsy Ross house, small, huh?

we weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but we did leave one love note in the sweet little courtyard.

who, me?

of course afterward we walked around a bit and left our loves notes.  My mom, the girls and I love it, even Dave thinks it's pretty funny.  

Hi Edward!

cute shoes, huh? I got them...

stopped in for an iced chai here...

and this guy is riding across America with his cute pooch to raise money for shelters. His dog was so sweet and gentle, even not seeming to mind in the least wearing his googles, even seemed more comfortable with them on. 

and the 2009 Annual Easter Extravaganza Talent Show Night...so fun.  Big sis was the MC and did a great job.  She also did a magic act that was awesome and danced with Grandma. Grandpa read jokes from Highlights. Dave said a joke from The Office and did a couple magic tricks. Little sis did a rollerskating and hoola hooping dance with me. 

the Great BigSisterlini!!

Big Sisterlini has her lovely assistant help her with a disappearing act

 

magic moving rocks

Dave doing the "which hand is it in?" trick

Papa, otherwise known as "Mr. Jokes"

death defying acts abound...

Lil' Sis doing her famous hoola hooping while rollerskating act

and throw in a little "robot" and crunk and move

dancing partners

I love you all!

Have a great week!

mojo and stories...or mojo stories

well, the April Scrap Mojo challenge is up.  Imaginary Friends is the theme, with animal crackers as the second part of the challenge.  You all should go on over and take a peek at what the other mojo girls are doing-pretty flippin' cool!  I'm so excited to be part of another stupendous craft team!  

True Love ( made with the Dozen's March kit-I am IN LOVE with this kit!)

 

and an up close shot-looky-looky at my hot boyfriend, he's a beefcake, huh?  Jealous?  I know, it's okay... (hey, check out my white legs-sexxxxxyyy...)

And the first challenge of the month is up over at Category Stories as well.  This theme is Bedtime Rituals.  Come over and play, we have an awesome prize from Paper Pixie!! Often I'll have cup of tea before bed (or while crafting late into the night) and so this is dedicated to that cup of tea...

Tea

 

Sew Much

 

(made with March's Dozen's kit)

As I mentioned in the last post about my friend and blog design helper, Shawn over at Eclectic Whimsy is redesigning the Category Stories blog, so check back in and see what new and amazing designs she so generously donated to us!  If you're thinking of redesigning your blog, give her a jingle, she's so sweet!

Just getting ready for Easter over here. My parents are here and we're so excited to be able to spend some time with them! 2 weeks of forced talent shows, piggy back rides and impromptu dance parties my dad will be ready to head back home...

Here's a peek through the keyhole into our world and things that are making me smile!

I love him! I ordered him for the girls bedroom! But he goes with Easter, too...

I also ordered this from the same etsy seller, totally my girls; nature and sewing, braids and whismicalness...

 the flowering Dogwood tree in my front yard

good ol' Martha...

and look at my smarty-pants...

McKaylah's homeschool science class, last week was the respiratory system and here is her own respiratory model using a bottle, 2 straws for the trachea, 2 balloons for lungs and a balloon as a diaphragm.  The week before was the circulatory system and she did blood typing on microscopes. 

and the Little's found a caterpillar which big sis determined to be a moth, not a butterfly, and they made a little home for him (he was named Sammy) and are eagerly awaiting the time when he makes his chrysalis.

 

Little sis loves to cook. "Little Chef" has started making one meal a week (okay, with help from me obviously).  Sometimes she picks something on a country we're studying, this night she felt like BBQ.  We made handmade sweet potato fries with a sweet and tangy bbq seasonings and handmade chive-garlic turkey burgers. 

  

 

the girl's nature table, complete with the cherry blossom maiden, daffodils and Mr. Garden Gnome...

The girls also took a horseback riding clinic and started a new gym and swim class.  It's been a busy week!

   

heeeeyyy cowboy...do I have something on my nose?

Have a great week! 

 

super duper!

Hey there, sorry it's been awhile, just have had a couple super busy weeks...

first, I'm so stoked to say that I've been picked to be a new Scrap Mojo designer!  I think it's a super duper big honor since all the ladies on the design team are so talented!  Wow! Thanks guys for picking me!  I can't wait to get crafty with ya all!  Here's my glitter moustache shot that goes on the Scrap Mojo Blog...and for those out there that know me, know I have a "thing" for moustaches (look at past posts or on Flickr, me as Frida Kahlo, me as a pirate, me as a french waiter...).  While I am known to occasionally paint one on my face for goofy pictures (or my girls faces), I am HORRIFIED at the idea of actually having a real moustache, so the request for a glitter moustache for the scrap mojo blog is bitter sweet, I'll admit...

Thanks to Shawn over at Eclectic Whimsy for helping me with my blog again.  She's the one who designed my header above and helps me with adding blinkies, etc. because I am SO NOT computer savvy.  If you're thinking having your blog redesigned, give her a shout! 

 and last weekend at the release of Twilight on DVD my friend Ana had a little Twilight party.  All the girls wore matching Edward shirts, here's a Polaroid group shot...

 

from left to right; Kristal, moi, Sarah, Erin and Ana 

and the little panties I made for Ana as a hostess gift, I accidentally deleted the pic of the final product-so bummed...I cut out "bite me" and hand stitched them on the bum, along with two white fangs on the first "e" in bite.  I can't believe I deleted them, but you get the idea here. She loved them! Now I'm half-way through Eclipse, gotta power threw!!!

 

and in the rva class, my fabric mobile..

 

 

vintage plastic toothpick for my needle and different fabrics for sewing machine parts and letters on Hand Made

and finally pics from a last weekend, rollerskating down along the Schuylkill River...

 

dad and girls playing crack the whip on rollerskates

 

yeah, mom on skates, check-it-ouuuut!

 

little sis

we're thinking of starting a skate (Dave) and rollerskate club, complete with vests and emblems on the back,

what do you think? What name of the skate club do you recommend???