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

Happy December...

Let's see, I have been busy on a few embroidery projects, one of which I was hoping to get done before December 1st, and I have 95% of it done.  We're still opening the notes in each pocket, but I'm trying to sew december and the last embellishments on tonight.  I let big sis sew on 10 of the pockets...I'll show pics in a couple days.

Here's my The Creative Type project.  The prompt is to use newspaper print.  I made this Christmas inspired shadow box...that's a page from the book "The Night Before Christmas," a book from the 70's I found in a  thrift store in California a couple years ago.  As always we have great prizes from sponsors!

Then my Category Stories, the prompt is "the Best Present Ever."  I got this card for my birthday a couple weeks ago since my family knows I adore John Hughes films. I LOVE (said in a super high-pitch squeal) his films, especially 16 Candles (well, all, but this is a fave). 

Go play, there's awesome prizes to be won!!

Then, I don't think I ever showed these...the first is a cool old sign not far from Matty's apartment in Chicago.  In September a group of us girls stayed there for a fun 3 days weekend.  I love this sign, makes me think of them and the windy city...

and this one, little sis learning to read...

and Autumn, this picture was taken last month in Philadelphia...

BTW, big sis is doing much better at school. A couple weeks ago she was having a rough time, but she has made a couple little friends, and it seems slowly breaking into the group.  She's even having a sleepover this Friday night! She's doing awesome and had to give a short speech in front of her class and 2 teachers today, all in Spanish.  She memorized it and her Spanish accent is fabulouso, much better than mine.  Little sis started a Montessori school full time today (sob...) so I'm all alone...the first time in 2.5 years.  I already miss homeschooling.  What am I going to do???  Craft all day? Well then, things are a-okay...

Chapultepec Park

Today we went to Chapultepec Castle, otherwise known as Castillo de Chapultepec. What a beautiful castle and area.  It started to be built 1725 by a Spanish leader Bernardo de Galvez and was used as a home to royalty and presidents, as a military outpost, and now as a museum.  Similar to Alcatraz, you have to walk up this long, steep hill to reach it.  However, unlike Alcatraz it has a regal beauty and luxuriousness that you can soak up.  Amazing portraits, artwork and artifacts from Mexican, Spanish and Aztec times are displayed throughout the great halls and ornate salas.

Walking through Chapultepec Parkto get to the Castle.  Vendors selling everything you can think of (also called tiangas) are lining the sidewalks.

 

Cotton candy in vivid colors, as well as tongues...

little sis and me, happy feet

a huge mural by the front staircase, a remembrance of revolution

and another,

and another,

these are actual skulls found at Aztec temples dating from the 1500's. There were 7 men and 7 women sacrificed here. They displayed the skulls on huge sticks...eeewwww...

fashion and photography

then of course, here's your choice of sexy bachelors to choose from back in the day

Bachelor Number 1

He likes bread pudding, dark comedies and eyebrow molding wax

Bachelor Number 2

He enjoys reading historical texts, playing gin rummie and hitting the garage sales on the weekends

Bachelor Number 3

He enjoys riding his Schwinn 10-speed through the park and powdered sugar on his pancakes

Bachelor Number 4

He enjoys baking cupcakes, brownies and strudel and then eating them in bed while watching chick-flicks

Bachelor Number 5

He enjoys roller-blading, chatting on the Twilight fan club site and listening to the Ting-Tings.  He claims to be very focused in life...

the gardens upstairs, pretty poinsettias to celebrate Christmas

family portrait, taken in huge golden framed mirror

 

taking a drink...

then we rode off into the sunset...

What did you do this weekend?

just the right shade...

I try really hard to be one of those moms that lets her kids explore.  When we're out in a park, let them over turn rocks, put their feet in the cold river, pick up a lizard, climb a tree.  The same theory applies to us in our arts-n-crafts.  We've been busy with just life the last 3 weeks (hence the lack of blogging and my commenting on my friends blogs) but we've been doing our almost daily arts-n-crafts.  Little sis was experimenting this past week with paint colors.  Yellow and blue make green, red and blue make purple, then it all went sideways...I turned around from my embroidery project to see paint going up her arm.  It did have a cool marble effect though, and little sis loved the tactile feel the cool, wet paint had.

the beginning of here comes trouble...

and she painted a little wooden snowman, with just a dash of glitter paint to spruce up his winter coat.

Big sis was doing some hand sewing.  She misses her sewing lessons she had in Philadelphia.  I think I may get her the green Hello Kitty sewing machine for Xmas...or, ahem, Grandma??????

speaking of Grandma...my wonderful mommy was here visiting us for 2 weeks.  Not long enough for my tastes, but even though for one of the two weeks she was here big sis had a fever, we enjoyed just relaxing, just huanging out at home, playing Uno and board games, crafting and watching movies.  I miss her already.

I have more crafts and such in the next few days, just have to take some pictures...hope you're having a great week! What's your Thanksgiving plans? (US friends)

starting black friday a little early....

since I live outside of the States this Xmas, I need to get on the ball with my holiday shopping to allot time for shipping down...

1 thumbprint stamp kit...look at the tips for matryoshkas and squirrels!

2 pillowcases that she loved when she saw them on the net...

 3 cute retro bento boxes...perfect for school lunches...

4 rolls of deco tape

5 russian nesting dolls, of course every holiday the girls get another matryoshka to add to our ever growing collection...

and for little sis...

one Calico Critter townhouse (it lights up at night)

2 knitted slippers

 

3 felted dolls

 she loves them...

 

4 super cute hair clips

and of course, 5 matryoshkas...

 

I was hoping to make it back to the states around Thanksgiving for some craft fairs, but alas, no...I must admit I'm bummed about not to be able to do the shopping in person, but then again, it's nice to sit back and order everything without the crowds.  Hope you're having a great weekend!

 

Heathers

Does anyone remember this movie?  This is my oldest daughter's life right now...She started a new school where unfortunately there are 3 "Heathers" in the class. Now, normally it wouldn't be a big deal because there are many girls in a class, however, there are only 5 girls total in the class (16 boys!) and these 3 girls have made it impossible for all the group of girls to be friends. The other 2 girls are terrified to rock the boat and do whatever the 3 Heathers say, including excluding the new girl. Emotional bullying is a fun thing to do, I guess.  It's so awful to drop your daughter off to a nasty little group of Heathers.  Now, it's been awhile since I've seen movie, so help me out...doesn't it have to do with a couple murders and a scrunchie??? I'm not a violent person, I like to "talk" out feelings, encourage cooperation and open-heartedness (is that a word?)and normally don't believe in such harsh behavior or drastic measures.  But, I'm beginning to reconsider...minus the scrunchie...

some new ones...

 

bye 

 

For a good cause...

Please go to Patty's blog here for details and to buy tickets.  This is a very touching story, one full of sadness and at the same time hope.  Please, if you like scrapbooking (which WHO doesn't??) please go buy a ticket or 10, you'll probabaly win this huge, great basket of prizes! It's for Cecilia, a little girl who needs a lot of support right now.

Craft Therapy

the new Scrap Mojo is up.  ___________ therapy is the prompt (you add whatever therapy is yours, shopping, exercise, eating, etc.) and the second part is to use paint.

I picked Craft Therapy....and it is my therapy...whenever I feel stressed out, I can always count on crafting to make me feel better.  Keeping my hands busy seems to occupy my mind.  This Renegade Craft Fair pic is from a couple months ago in Chicago.

Now go play, as always there are fun prizes to be won! 

Sugar Skull Tour

Yesterday we went to Toluca about an hour outside of Mexico City for a sugar skull market tour. It was so interesting to hear the history of the Mexican candies and of other traditions and customs of Dia de los Muertos.  Dia de los Muertos is November 1st and 2nd, but people prepare for weeks. Dancing skeletons and coffins, skulls with colorful designs and bones are all part of what they view as a duality that while we must celebrate and embrace life, we also must celebrate and embrace death.

  

they have many alters to honor those who have passed...

 


at the Botanical Gardens,

Our apartment complex had a huge Halloween party tonight. There was over 70 trick-or-treaters in the buildings running around. After the 2 hours of trick-or-treating they had a party in the Salon de Fiesta downstairs.  More candy, food and games.  For Mexico not really observing Halloween, it was pretty cool. The girls dressed up early in their costumes.  Big sis was a "truth or dare" devil and little sis was the on-land Ariel.

cutest baby ever...

Little sis and her friend Minnie Mouse 

Hope you have a great Halloween, too!

Autumn in Philadelphia

Here's some pictures from our trip a few days ago to Philadelphia.  We went to see our home, get it cleaned out and furniture moved into storage and put it on the market.  It was a really hard week.  I cried at least a half dozen times, as did my girls.  It was a shock to us to really come to the realization we may not return to Philadelphia after our 2 years in Mexico.  Dave isn't sure where we'll end up, he think west coast again, or Europe.  Doesn't sound too bad, but when you've become attached to an area and a group of friends and neighbors, it's hard. But I do feel relieved today back in Mexico City. I feel like out of sight, out of mind.  I don't want to be a debbie downer, so I'll just roll the pictures now...

and going to the pumpkin patch, always an autumn favorite...

hayrides..

days spent joyfully at the park down the street from our house...

carving pumpkins with neighbor friends...

our street, I love it in the Autumn...

finding a furry new friend...

hope you're having a great week!

Bad Behavior

The next Category Stories prompt is "Bad Behavior."  So fun and great prizes from Elise Blaha.

here's my layout...

this picture is from when Jen, Patty, Matty and me visited Chicago at the Oak Street Beach bar...now go play!

Here's my Chicago trip mini book-from Elise Blaha, speaking of her and Chicago...I love to look at it and remember my 4 fun days in Chi-town with some of my favorite people...

I'm slowly uploading my Philadelphia home visit from last week.  It was a hard week, but I'm so thankful to have seen some of our old friends.  Our house is officially for sale now.  The market there is a bit slow (like everywhere) so we'll see what happens. It gives me a reason to return a couple times a year!!!

more scissor sisters and other stuff...

well, I'm off to Philadelphia. I leave tomorrow morning ...hopefully I'll get to see her and do some thrifting...hopefully he'll meet up with us since he may be going there when we're there. We can't wait for the pumpkin patch and hay rides with this family and this family.  This is going to be an extremely difficult trip.  While we're excited to see all our old friends and do all the things we love to do (hello photobooth at El Vez, hello Honey's, hello Urban Outfitter's, hello AMERICAN Starbucks with non-fat milk and Pumpkin Spice Lattes... ), yet we have to pack up our house, and that is NOT going to be fun...

Just wanted to share these I did this week, more scissor sisters as we like to say...I have 3 others half done and a couple more planned, so stay tuned...

Mandi, I used some of her Housewife collection papers.  She's so super talented that I'm always in awe of her photography and crafty style.

and my lovah-extraordinaire Heather, I'm STILL waiting for her to do my make-up...

just added, Sandy, my good friend whom I adore...

And just to end, I will be going to Philadelphia to close up shop...my sweet, old house...the house we have decided for now to move everything into storage and put on the market...yes, my house.  I am BEYOND heart-broken, my girls are upset.  But unfortunately, my husband does not think there is a place in his company for him back in Philadelphia...He is always looking forward, the glass is half full kind of guy, always reaching for more.  Which I am immensely proud of him and his success, he is a risk-taker and a dream follower, yet with a practical, business-savvy head on his broad shoulders.  I feel fortunate many days to have the experiences we've had, lived some of the places we have. I feel like it's been a good thing. And who knows where we will end up next?  Mexico now, maybe Europe or back in California. But today, I am truly, truly super sad.  So, I will try my best not to type anymore sad posts about leaving my home, friends or Philadelphia, but I will miss it more than I can say.

mirror mirror

Mirror Mirror is a class by Kim and Rhian all about creative self-portraits.  They also have a Flickr group, go look, there are some rad pictures! I know the pdf file is available when the class is all over, so even if you miss the first few days, you can see the lessons...fun.. 

today was #1 for me

and I FINALLY got some stuff delivered today. A dresser/side table and a wood divider.  I am still shopping for more furniture, however Mexico City is at least double in prices, if not more, than the States.  I have ordered more pictures for the walls, and am bringing some back with when I fly to Philadelphia this next weekend. Here's my new table and the start to my wall art collection. Some are from Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and a couple from etsy. Also from Kristina I have one of her pictures framed (the blue fence framed at the top), and she's the one who told me about the Mirror Mirror class, as well, so gold star for her!!

I have a large black and white flower painting from Urban outfitters that will go in the left upper hand corner on my wall here, just waiting for my wonderful mom to mail it to me...

and a close up of my pics...

yep, that's a photobooth pic on the bottom right, from HulaSeventy, another photographer I adore.

I will wait to show you my other bare walls until they are dressed in a couple weeks....I'm bringing/shipping back oodles of milkglass and matryoshkas and pillows and vintage cupcake toppers and anything else I can fit into 6 suitcases...the rest I'll ship!

Okay, ciao for now people!!

mas escuela en mi casa

My girls started an international bilingual school last week.  After Xmas they will attend full-time, but now it's 2 days a week (plus private Spanish lessons twice a week). My heart is both super happy for them to have this experience, and super sad.  Some people say they don't know how I do it, homeschool and stay with my girls all day, and I answer, neither do I (insert a blubbering sound and finger vibrating across my lips).  But I do love it.  Everyday. So for now, I hang onto every fun moment...

Dioramas; this is made by little sis, after reading "Clara the Klutz."  It's Princess Clara's bedroom with a bed, vase of flowers, fancy throw pillow and birdcage.

And big Sis' after reading "Boxcar Children" last week. Quite bare compared to Clara's spread, but that's the whole thing about the boxcar children, they're homeless and live in a boxcar. Now she's reading Astrid Lindgren's "Children of Noisy Village."  So far it gets 4 out of 5 stars. But she'll give a book report on it once she's done.

They wrote a play and acted it out.  "The Princess and the Pirate," complete with flyers, tickets and costume changes.

Big sis read about leavers, pulleys and catapults.  She used a clip, rubber band and spoon and fashioned a catapult to knock down her line of Jenga pieces and dominoes. 

Success!

and little sis took a crack at scrapbooking last night, not too shabby I must say...

okay, back in a jiff with some other news...

new ones

yeah, lame title, but I can't be catchy all the time people...

I did these this week. I hadn't done Cricket's 9th birthday in Acapulco yet, I still have a few others to scrapbook, but I like to have just one pic to feature for a big event or special day.  This was a great 3 day weekend (we made it a 3 day weekend) and all I know is I never celebrated a birthday at a resort on the beach....my fondest birthday memory is Chuckee D'isease's or the regular party with cake and pin-the-tail-on-the-Donkey game...but she was very thankful and actually so was I... this was when she had her cake and was serenaded by the mariachi band.

And here, this is me next to the pool with little sis...

and here's one weekend in Curanavaca, a small town about an hour outside of Mexico City...

and me by the pool in Curanavaca...

and again, Acapulco, not my fave, but I still wanted to get it done...

and what do ya know? Jen picked me for the catwalk!!  Yay and thanks!  What a wonderful surprise and honor! I hope you all had a good week!  Do anything good?

Me Gusta Mucho

My first prompt over at The Creative Type is up.  Go play, it's a fun one.  The technique used is masking.  Here I used some old letters I had laying around to write Me Gusta Mucho, then I sprayed some ink (thanks Vee for the class), let it dry a few minutes, then removed them. Easy!

  

Creative Type newbie

I'm proud to announce I've joined The Creative Type!  Some of my favorite crafty people are on there and I feel super lucky to able to join such a talented group! 

Tomorrow I'll be back to reveal my first prompt!! Hope you're having a great weekend!

Charlotte's Web

The new Scrap Mojo is up. Charlotte's Web is the prompt as the first part, use a quote.  The second part is to use a page from a book.

 

This is one of my best friends Sarah who lives in Philadelphia.  She's got the biggest heart and such I just love her!!!!  I see her in a week when I fly back to Philadelphia and can't wait!!!!!!

some scissor sisters

As Patty's man likes to call us all, Scissor Sisters.  I have 3 layouts I've done here on 3 out of the many scissor sisters I share a special friendship with.  I feel really lucky to have been able to meet them in person, some more than once.

Patty (here at in Chicago a couple weeks ago), she is always SO funny!!

and you may recognize these shoes, her signature sort of speak, my sweet friend Jen.  Again, this was in Chicago a couple weeks ago.

and last, but CERTAINLY NOT least, my BP, Beth "Big Dinners" Perry.  I just adore her.  She's got the biggest heart and is so fun!  We met in Nashville this past summer at Sis '09.  I hope to see her again soon!

I have quite a few other pictures of scissor sisters I'm working on, stay tuned...

Laugh

The new prompt over at Category Stories will be up tonight or tomorrow.  The theme is "Laugh", an easy one I hope you all can participate in. Of course there are great prizes, so come play along!

and she does, love this little so much!!!

I'll be back soon with the new scrapmojo and some other fun, crafty new news!!!