I really am the luckiest. Two nights ago I stayed up late after watching the Real Housewives of NJ reruns and did this. Taken a few months ago in Naples, Florida, I love this picture of my husband and me, but mostly because when I look at it it reminds me of how lucky I am to have him.
| | | |
| |
Love me some cinco de mayo, I rarely have a picture of me, rarely alone either. Big sis snapped this picture while Dave was making me laugh when we were enjoying some Mexican food in a new restaurant on Cinco de Mayo. I thought I should add it to the PL. Other good things; big sis and her new friend Emily have graduated officially to mall rats when we took them shopping at the Boca Mall. Little sis had the cutest show at school where they learned sign language to 2 songs. I.am.going.to.eat.her.
It was good times.
| | | |
| |
My lovely, sweet friend Vee invited me to come stay the weekend with her and I jumped at it. It had been almost 2 years since we first met face to face, but for awhile before that we'd been blogger pals. She is such a good person, kind, funny and of course talented. We hung out at her house and had cocktails at happy hour at TGIF, walked around DC Saturday and drove through Virginia and had her yummy chocolate chip pancakes Sunday. Her children are wonderful, polite and I look forward to when our kiddos can all get together. ( and I got to sit in the Vee craft space...pretty rad.)
Smithsonian American Craft exhibit, (taken by Vee)
We were so bad, we didn't get any pics of us together and I lugged around my big ass camera and barely took it out. So lame.
Can't wait to see her again soon!
| | | |
| |
Moving along...
It was a good, but busy week. Are you doing a PL? Are you loving it?
| | | |
| |
I love the concept of Project Life, but I must say that I have a hard time staying caught up. I love looking over the pages of the weeks past though, the faces of family and friends makes me smile, so I'm going to stick with it. Even if I am a little behind.
And I added a 3 picture insert.
Week 16 is almost done. And what is it? Week 19? O'well.
| | | |
| |
Hi ya all! I am getting worse and worse about blogging.
Just wanted to share with you a folding accordion style book I made my mom and mother-in-law for Mother's Day. Inspired/copied from the talented Marcy Penner, I just loved this book! She used most of the same American Crafts papers and stickers, and I thought it was so sweet.
Front side Back side
I made one in light green for my mom (this one is my mom's above) and light blue for my MIL using the same papers and embellishments for American Crafts. I think they'll love them and I wish I was able to spend the day with them, but I hope when they see these they'll know how much they mean to me.
| | | |
| |
( little and big sis, circa 2009, El Vez, Philadelphia)
Happy Easter out there to all who celebrate, and to all who don't and celebrate their own holiday, many wishes of good health, happiness and peace to you!
| | | |
| |
Just a few pictures from yesterday's St. Patty's Day. The leprechauns left a bunch of gold chocolate coins, some glittery, rainbow colored pencils and some minty chapstick for the girls. They also made a mess in the kitchen, poured flour and cocoa powder all over the floor and counters, geesh... Then we took the girls to the town center to listen Irish music.
Later just the adults went to the town center for a band and a wee bit of Guinness drinking with our pals from the Scotland and Ireland ( oh, and Panama, but whetev.) It was bloody good time.
| | | |
| |
A good week really. Big sis got 3 A's on really hard tests (she studied a lot!, good chica), I had lunch Amy Tan and Kelly Purkey in Miami Beach while they were here for a couple days( so nice to see Amy again and meet Kelly), little sis got on a soccer team and we made some cute little candy bags for her to hand out to her classmates since this week she's on Spring Break.
Are you doing a Project Life? How's it going for you?
| | | |
| |
I loved this picture of little sis in one of her favorite shirts. Then I saw an October Afternoon sketch from a couple weeks ago and I thought it would work well with these 3 pictures. I also used the latest Studio Calico kit, Storyboard. I have a couple other pages in the works, plus last week's PL, so I shall return.
| | | |
| |
A good week.
I used the slim American Crafts 3 pocket sleeve. Then next is a Becky Higgins page.
Renaissance Faire, Tom Jenkins BBQ and Ft Lauderdale beach, new blog design, started a new photography class, walked and did yoga 3x. Yep, it was good.
| | | |
| |
We went to a large Renaissance Festival this past weekend in Deerfield Beach. It was very well organized and had a ton of fun things to see, eat and do. Having lived the last couple years in Mexico City, where Renaissance Festivals and Faires are not popular, we missed these types of fun and quirky events.
and Kiss? Who knew they were around in the 1200's??? Well, whatev. ( P.S., look at the tongue on little sis, givin' Gene Simmons a run for his money...)
Turkey legs, henna tattoos, bountiful bodices, sword fighting soldiers, cackling wenches, throwing tomatoes, men in tights. It was a good day.
| | | |
| |
week highlights:
-Valentine's Day, I got a dozen long stem roses and the girls got daisies and Roses from Dave. -Little sis had her second grade Olympics, she won 2 first place ribbons and 1 second place ribbon. She also had the Second Grade Hero Show at school with singing and poems. (so cute!) -Ladybug Release Day at the Science Museum, the girls were handed about 20 ladybugs to take out to the garden and release. The new otters were there, too. Dave got another tattoo, his right arm is a full sleeve now (oy vey...)
| | | |
| |
A couple weeks ago little sis had her school's Fun Run to raise money for new technology. My little sweet-tart ran 2.5 miles in 40 minutes!
She raised $450 in pledges and we're super proud of her!
| | | |
| |
This week is more than half over and I am still remembering last week like it's right now. Agh, I wish life would slow down just a bit........
| | | |
| |
week 5.
and page 2 of week 5
Weeks highlights;
-we spent a lot of time outside, nature walks, skateboarding, playing soccer, etc. Got my nails painted pink to get ready for Valentine's day, I painted an xo on my ring fingers. BBqed and watched the Super Bowl (Hello Madonna!), Dave invited a well-known MMA guy to his jujitsu school, little sis got another A on her spelling test. Yep. It was another goodie of a week.
| | | |
| |
From last weeks daytrip to Naples, same design, but different pictures, each tailored for each girl's albums. (When I finally PUT them into albums, but, hey, you know...)
It has been "unseasonably warm" people tell me here...I can tell you, I am feeling slightly jealous of my pals in the northeast or Lake Tahoe area, who are getting some snow and brisk air. It seems unnatural to have summer all year 'round...but I guess I shouldn't complain, there's nothing you can do about the weather, right?
| | | |
| |
I am loving this.
( liftable sleeve I made)
This past weeks highlights;
Little sis ran 2.5 miles for her school's Fun Run to raise money for technology. Big sis made some rad duct tape crafts, she is really into it! Dave came home Sunday from London with gifts from our favorite city. We made paper crystals for little sis' door at school, they were the Crystal Kids for the Boosterthon Fun Run. I taught the second grade Matisse art lesson. Big sis was asked out by a boy at school (middle school), she kindly declined. Selina (my fur baby) also declined the advances of a couple dogs at the dog park.
| | | |
| |
I used the new Crate Paper line (and some oldies stuff) to make a Valentine-inspired page with my favorite guy.
( my Valentine gets back later tonight from being in London for a week, so excited to see him!) I'm also wanting to make a couple crafts for Valentine's Day, I have 2 ideas in the works. Any craft ideas you want to share?
| | | |
| |
Okay, I was a little behind starting this, but I'm ready to go with my Project Life album for 2012. Here's weeks 1-3, I can't believe how much has already happened in 3 weeks, agh, I'm exhausted...
week one (front first, then below back) ) (I used the 3 long sheet insert )
week 2
week 3
and close- ups of week 3, I copied my friend Vee with her liftable sleeves ( thanks Vee!)
I've already started week 4, so I'm finally ahead of the game... I've seen some awesome PL albums out there, but I'd love to look at yours, too, let me know if you're doing one!
| | | |
| |
We went for a little picnic on the beach today in Naples. Dave had to fly to London for work, feeling rather bummed we couldn't go with him this time, we decided a beach day was in need. On the way down we drove through Alligator Alley and I'm not joking that we easily saw 100 alligators on the side of the road in a canal and on the shores. Crazy!! Then we were star-stuck by wild dolphins swimming along the shore at the beach, it was lovely!
It was a good day.
| | | |
| |
From my winter Christmas mini album to warmer weather layouts, I finally scrapbooked some of the dolphin swimming pictures from our day in the Keys a few months ago.
Same design, just different pictures, one for little sis, one for big sis. And below, my three favorite people!
I don't know about you, but I am having a hard time keeping up with blogging. Sometimes I think I should just go on a blog vacation. Do you ever feel like that?
Well, I ordered my Project Life album, I'm getting things together to start it hopefully this week. Anyone else doing one?
| | | |
| |
I took the pictures of the rest of the album yesterday. I don't know why, but I feel like the last month has been SO hectic! Anyhoo, here's the rest;
So that's all of it! Even though it feels like December flew by, looking over these pages makes me feel so happy for having such a wonderful family and group of friends. I hope you had a good holiday as well, and a awesome start to the new year!
| | | |
| |
I know, so bad. Here's my 2011 December album. I'll do a a few pages today and a few another, a few another. I bought this rad mini kit from Marcy Penner who I adore.
okay, more next time! Stop by Marcy's, she has a sweet store with some pretty cool products!
| | | |
| |
Hello all and happy new year! I hope you had a smashing time ringing in the new year! 2012 is going to be a great year! It's the year of the dragon in Chinese astrology (starting January 23), which means it will be a year full luck, passion, excitement and new accomplishments. What are your hopes for 2012? I am hoping for many things; exercise more, eat healthier, learn to bake better, get better at photography (like take some classes and get the right photo editing software), make more dates with my hubby, keep traveling, keep practicing my Spanish before I loose it. And there's more, but that's just the first layer...
Here's my The Creative Type layout for January, all about what else, resolutions. I wanted to have a picture of the stockpile of fireworks we bought for our New Years's Eve party. Everyone wrote down a resolution, wish or goal for 2012, then I taped them each to a huge firecracker my hubby purchased at the Indian reservation ( like, totally scary and unsafe... but a great way to usher in 2012!) It was so cool to see each person's firecracker explode in the sky, sending that wish out into the new year!
We have the amazing Revlie as our guest designer, she is one of my favorites! She is also donating a pdf of one of her lovely classes as the prize this month, soooo, check it out!!!!
| | | |
| |
The girls are loving being on winter break and doing all this holiday-ish. We've been baking, sending out cards and drawings, watching movies with snowmen and miracles, listening to our favorite Xmas tunes and wrapping lots of presents. We had a small Xmas Cheer party, with gingerbread decorating and snow-globe making and cupcake eating ( oh, my Xmas jammies are getting tight.) ( I need to start my New Year's resolution of more exercise sooner rather than later.) ( oh, and I have been working on my December Daily album, but I am way behind, all mixed up and will take pics hopefully in the next couple days.)
sugar addict.
cookies packages for friends and neighbors
this is little sis' snow-globe...she glued 2 little critters together kissing while another guy hides behind the tree watching....I don't know, I don't know.... ( we still need to add snow and water at this point here)
finished gingerbread houses
Lil' Siszilla strikes again!!!
No matter where you are or what holiday you celebrate, I wish you lots of love and peace!
| | | |
| |
I'm feeling rather festive here in south Florida. Minus the weirdness of December and it's 76 degrees, I am loving being back in the States for the holidays. The girls, Dave and I have gone looking at Xmas light shows, gone to see Xmas movies and have made a couple batches of holiday cookies and treats.
I have more pictures and I'll post them later! Are you decorating for your holidays? I'd love to see pictures!
| | | |
| |
We all can come up with things that we've gotten as gifts that mean a lot to us, and this month's prompt over at the Creative Type is to scrap it. I searched my brain for what I could scrapbook; the trip to Europe, my favorite purse, a mom's day at the spa coupon, the toilet paper roll decorated so pretty with crate paper and macaroni...they all mean a lot to me. But at the chance of sounding corny, really the best gift is time. I cherish the time I get to spend with my friends and family, that's honestly the best gift.
So come play along with us!! There's fun prizes, special guest designer, You Tube vids, come and see!
| | | |
| |
I made these little sewn pockets for gifts for my mom, sisters and MIL this Thanksgiving. I cut the paper and rounded the edges and then sewed them into pockets. I then made 4-5 pages/tags (depending on the number of photos I was going to add) to slip inside. Each recipient had pictures specific to them, as well as handwritten notes of heart-felt sentiments. I added washi tape, old Spanish dictionary pages, doilies, and paint/mist to decorate. The front of the pocket is a copy of a vintage Thanksgiving postcard, along with feathers, jute twine, stickers, theatre ticket, etc., I tucked some small flowers in the top as a little somethin'-somethin'. I would have loved to have received this gift, and you could certainly tailor it to any color scheme or holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!
| | | |
| |
The other day I glittered some fallen twiggy branches to make a "thankful tree." We made one of these a few years ago when we lived in Philadelphia, and the girls loved it. It's nice to have an activity that reminds us to remember what we're thankful for. I also wrapped a G (for Grateful or the first letter of our last name) in burlap and made a burlap flower with a nice yellow organza ribbon middle. I hand cut some autumn-inspired felt feathers to go along with it.
And I decorated a bit for Thanksgiving...My Mayflower...
Do you have any family traditions?
| | | |
| |
2 Peas has a scraplift yourself challenge this last couple days and I haven't done a scraplift in a long time. I decided to do the all smiles layout I just completed as the design. I made my delight, big sis blowing bubbles with her friends. The Delight layout is vertical where as the all smiles is a horizontal picture, but it's still pretty much the same design.
and all smiles,
I also wanted to point out Amy Tangerine is guest designing this month over at The Creative Type and is giving away a prize of a set of her washi tapes!!! Better go over and play along!!!
| | | |
| |
I used most of October's Studio Calico kit for these 2 layouts, and a little of American Crafts fall line, too.
and fall festival, a great day, sweet carnival games and hay rides...
I have more fall crafts and projects I'm working on, so hopefully I can get them done soon and share. Are you working on any fall-related crafts? I'd love to see them!
| | | |
| |
Another lovely sketch by October Afternoon, so I had to use it. I had these 3 pictures laying around staring at me these last couple weeks, so I decided this sketch would be perfect! Oh, and almost all is October's Calico Studio kit, Field Guide, too.
and here's the sketch;
Hope you're having a great weekend! Any plans?
| | | |
| |
Just wanted to share a few pictures with ya alls. We had a Halloween party with themed foods and trick-or-treating. I was so busy cooking and putting out food and talking and making spooky cocktails I was terribel about taking pictures. Here's just a few...
What a fun, spooktacular night! I'm already planning for next year! Now onto decorating for Thanksgiving!
| | | |
| |
The Creative Type's November prompt is "the best advice I ever received..." I had this picture of the girls from a couple months ago, lounging, cuddling on the couch, and I loved it. I am so happy my daughters have a good relationship and truly care for each other. They occasionally butt heads and we talk and I tell them they have every right to their feelings, but remember to always cherish each other and love each other because no one else is ever going to love them the way a sister does. I hope it is good advice and they'll always remember that, even when they're seeing red.
Come play along, we would LOVE to see your layouts and projects. We have Amy Tangerine as a guest designer and some fun prizes!!
| | | |
| |
We made a ton of these little candy corn gift bags this week. I punched out the scalloped circles and hand cut the simple paper ribbons. Big sis has 6 teachers now that she's in middle school, so these will be easier to take with her. We also made extras for neighbors and some friends.
I wanted to do something kind of special for my littlest's teachers. She is so lucky to have an amazing staff at her school that help her and treat her with so much love and kindness. I bought these metal luminaries and kitchen towels from Target and baked a ton of miny pumpkin muffins. I lined the luminaries with the towel and added the muffins. Tie on a tag and I was done. The teachers loved them.
Happy Halloween everyone!
| | | |
| |
This time of year is my favorite time of year, I love fall!! This past week it cooled off considerably, and I felt renewed. South Florida summers are humid and hot, and I felt like I might just freak out as I don't really love the heat...but since this past week or so has been mild, I may just stick around...We went to the pumpkin patch with friends and got a couple pumpkins, walked through the butterfly garden and enjoyed some apple cider...
It was a good day.
| | | |
| |
Halloween is my favorite holiday! I love all the holidays, but there's something about Halloween; the goofiness of costumes, mummy dogs and trick-or-treating, plus the magical, mystical and aura of the unknown, I must admit I find it captivating! I pulled out my decorations last week, mostly sticking with a black and white palette, but adding some orange here and there. I love the old, retro decorations, too. Most of my decorations are vintage-inspired by artists like Bethany Lowe, Wendy Addison or Lori Mitchell.
I still have a bunch of ripped cheesecloth to hang up over windows and drape across tables, as well as a cemetery to build in the front yard. We're having a Halloween party here, with themed foods, games and trick-or-treating around the block. Can't wait!
| | | |
| |
There was a sweet, little fall festival here. Actually, in my terms, a fall festival should not be 89 degrees and humid with you searching for shade under a palm tree, but I shouldn't complain. There were some carnival games and a hay ride, that's very fall festival-ish, right?
We're off to a pumpkin patch next weekend, and word on the street is it'll get much cooler 'round these parts soon. It better. Or else.
| | | |
| |
Giggle. That name makes me giggle, but as I'm always trying to do something different for dinner around here, then I saw this fun little contraption at Target the other day. Like empanadas or turnovers, these could be filled with almost anything. Little sis loved making them for her dad. Turkey meatloaf stuffing and hand-cut sweet potato fries for dinner, followed up with 3 different types of pies. One cinnamon apple, fresh raspberry and the last banana-nutella, yum!
These little pockets of yumminess were as autumn cozy-comfort foodish as it gets here in south Florida when it's still 87 degrees and humid...
| | | |
| |
15 years ago today, I married my best friend. Since then we have made two beautiful, amazing girls, moved almost countless times living abroad and across the US, laughed and cried, traveled the world, supported each other through thick and thin, brought each other coffee in bed, can read each others thoughts, and he still gives me butterflies in my stomach. I love you Bear.
then.
(Wellsville Canyon, Utah, 1996)
yep, rockin' the 80's eyebrows in the mid 90's... rad, I know...
(omg, even from the side my eyebows are huge...and those ringlets through the crown...major, I know. Don't be too jealous.)
now.
(Eiffel Tower, Paris, France)
He's been gone on a business trip for 9 days and gets back tonight. I love you Bear, can't wait to see you!!!
| | | |
| |
It was my good friend's birthday a couple days ago and I wondered what I should make her. She loves handmade, crafty things and she likes retro, thrifty stuff. I decided I'd make her white and milk chocolate dipped pretzels sprinkled white nonpareils. I layered the pretzels in a glass refrigerator dish and added this cupcake liner flower on top.
I'm going to make more, these were so easy and I feel like a gift I would LOVE to get.
| | | |
| |
Yesterday we went down to Marathon, Florida to the Dolphin Research Center for a "dolphin encounter" as they call it. Little sis had said she wanted to swim with dolphins for her bday gift from us, and after asking around about places that have safe, clean and humane dolphin experiences, we found out this place was the best. The DRC is the original home of Flipper and they currently do rehab and house dolphins that other aquariums cannot keep. It's a beautiful little place and you can tell the staff really love these flipper-ed guys and take really good care of them. What a beautiful afternoon! The girls loved it as much as I did! Bear acted as photographer and took pictures.
Little sis started it off with a hand shake, so cute, they come up and stick their little flippers in your hands.
Then they gave us each a kiss on the cheek!
We got a dorsal pull ride and got to do hand signals for them to show us their favorite tricks!
The DRC also has small water park area and some beautiful waterfall and gardens.
After we grabbed lunch at this neat little place on the water (the ahi tuna nachos were delish!). The windows are all open and while it was warm and humid, it was also relaxing. We watched the boats pull up and dock in the back, people coming to grab a piece of key lime pie or a cold beer from the bamboo-covered bar. (And while there was a lot of Tommy Hilfiger tropical shirts going on, but it was still nice...)
(Pretty sure she cheated here...)
and finally, had to laugh and snap a photo of this beauty. I just about peed my pants at this billboard, so fab-u-lous!
| | | |
| |
October Afternoon's Sketch Thursday was a great sketch, and it prompted me to grab a couple pictures. These are from our European vacation 2 years ago...I still haven't scrapbooked that trip...or the European trip last year, I am slacking...
Hope everyone has a happy, safe weekend.
| | | |
| |
we left some love...
Love notes that is. Positive little messages that will hopefully brighten someone's day. In between the walking around and leaving of notes, the girls got feather-like hair extensions and little sis got a glittery tattoo from a street vendor.
and then we left one more note.
Keep an eye out.
| | | |
| |
That was the girls' pick for the party yesterday. Big sis had seen these adorable pink and yellow salt water taffy at the store last week and that sent the wheels a'turnin' for the pool party we wanted to have to get back in the mood for school starting soon.
All the girls had a fun time and hopefully it set the mood for this next week when school starts. School is gonna rock!
| | | |
| |
