Splendid

halloween treats

Hello.  I have no excuses, life has just been so hectic these last few months.  I haven't crafted, scrapbooked or done much creatively. I did however make these gifts for my daughter's teachers. The bigger bag holds a Halloween inspired insulated tumbler, the smaller bags have candy corn.  

I cut vellum paper and sewed them into small pockets and filled them with Halloween colored sequins, added some spooky-ish tags and that was it. I am trying, really trying to figure out a balance between life's things. Family, hobbies, cleaning, exercise, sleeping... how does one do it all? 

If you know, please do tell. 

terrarium: mystic black sand

Those who know me know I love terrariums.

Loved these tiny crystal points I found, I think looked so cool with the black hematite sand, monterrey beach sand, amethyst clusters and tiny pebbles. 

 
a little video taken from my instagram. Is there anything you're really into lately? 

Letterpress

Signed up for this awesome class with one of my favorite crafting ladies.

and just bought the Studio Calico letterpress kit and a few inks, so looking forward to doing some fun things again with ink and paper! Hooray for school being back in!

You should totally join, too! 

it's a good day.

She's a morning person...

Taken from my instagram

well, hey....

Hi there....I unpacked the LAST box the other day...We moved from southern Florida to southern Nevada. My girls have made friends already, I couldn't be happier for them. With every move, I always stress heavily that they'll be upset or that aclimating will be difficult. Then things turn out okay, they make friends, join volleyball teams, take cooking and art lessons and are excited to see new places. Dave is happy in his new postition, he is still traveling a bit, but feels really good about all he's doing. I am enjoying buying new knick knacks and decorating our new home and feeling at home in our new space.  I hope to be around more, get back to crafting and maybe blogging? 

So I'll try to be around more. I'll try to blog.  I'll try to read others blogs more often.  I'll try. But no promises. You know me. 

instaweek

It was "Take your Child to Work Day" and Dave was out of town so I took the girls with me for the day.  We ran errands and then decided to stop by Aruba Beach Cafe on the beach.  It was such a pretty day we thought walking along the beach and enjoying the blue ocean views was a great way to spend some time together. Little sis commented once however, "This is what you do every day while we're at school?" Ha!  I wish!  No, I do not go and have virgin pina coladas on the beach with friends, but it sure sounds like a nice life.  Later in the week the adorable Kelly Purkey came to town and we picked her up and went to Shake Shack for dinner, always nice to see her.  Other pictures are dinner another night at a fun little place we go to on the waterways with lots of fish and wild turtles just a few feet away from us while we eat. South Florida this time of year is beautiful.  I will say I think I will miss it when we move in May. 

it was a good week. 

doors shutting...

I snapped this picture in London while we were waiting for the tube to come.

 

Made with Studio Calico Front Row kit, Marcy Penner printables and evalicious flair.

cheers mate

I love the instagram prints from Persnickity Prints!  I was so excited when these arrived the other day. 

     

(using the Studio Calico Front Row kit)

instaweek.

Well, we had a nice spring break...Las Vegas wasn't very warm so we didn't swim or hang by the pool like we'd hoped, but we were busy house and school hunting anyways.  Anyone who knows me either in person or through this blog knows we are a family of gyspies.  My husband is a corporate gypsy and he has a great opportunity within his company that he couldn't refuse, so we're moving again...Us, you say, that's weird... but yes, it's true.  Las Vegas was pleasantly better than I thought.  We'll live in the outside suburban areas, with more greenery and nice outdoor spaces.  So come May, after the girls' finals, we'll be moving westward.  I hope you'll bare with me through the moving process and my absenses. 

Thanks. 

windowlust

I just found this, I thought I'd put it up before. I saw this window while walking in Amsterdam last month and fell in love with the fun, eclectic assortment of globes and plants.  I dream of a window like this, although you need a super cool house for it to go in... fingers crossed for one day...

 

(most of the supplies are Studio Calico Front Row kit)

<3 <3 <3

I love this picture of Dave and I in Amsterdam last month.  We took one of those hop on-hop off canal boat tours (well, actually we bought a 2 day pass because it was nice to go on the many canals through Amsterdam and be able to get off and go eat or go to a museum, then get on again and go somewhere else) (plus it's much cheaper than a cab) (plus it was freezing a couple of the days there so it was nice and toasty warm inside).

I snapped this picture with my phone and uploaded it to instagram. A couple days later I noticed the sweet Alexandra had this on her instagram.  At first I didn't notice who it was, then I did and was so excited, she totally suprised me. Isn't it cool? 

evalicious europe mini

I won this seriously awesome scrapbook mini kit from the talented Evalicious' blog hop.  I was super excited when it arrived, once I saw all the colors and scrapbook flair and tags I knew I'd use it to document our recent trip to Europe. 

 
       
   
   

 
 
         

Thank you evalicious for this fantastic mini book, I absolutely adore it!!!

Stay lighthearted

and free spirtited...

   

Using the Studio Calico City of Lights kit, I love this picture of my little one.  She is one of the sweetest and funniest person around, and I hope she always stays that way, light-hearted and free spirted. 

European vacation recap

Just a photo recap...Even while it was cold this time in Europe, seeing old friends and favorite places makes me smile when I think about it.  Dave and I went to London for a week and Amsterdam for 6 days, and it was the longest I'd ever been away from the girls. That last few days I won't lie, my heart was aching for them, but it was great to get away with my husband who I don't get to spend too much alone time with. (most of these are from my iphone, sad, but carrying around my huge Canon does get tiring. I used it in London and Amsterdam a couple times, and at Stonehenge).  

There are many more pictures, but I won't bore you further.  This was a great trip, so many interesting things to revisit in London, seeing my lovely friends Diane and Jen, yummy restaurants, hair of the dog, British trains and countryside,  Stonehenge...and Amsterdam so many new experiences, Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh musuem, old cobblestone streets, the canal tours, walking through the Red Light District (gross) and Jordeen neighborhood, these are memories I will remember fondly. 

the best things in life

are free...

   
I used the Studio Calico kit Summer of 69 (so sad, I just opened it...)(and I have I think 3 other's unopened) (I really need to get it together!)

California Academy of Sciences

Last summer while on summer break in San Francisco we went to the California Academy of Sciences. These are just 3 of the many pictures I took while we were there, so I have lots more to scrapbook. 

Using part of an Amy Tangerine kit and some of her super cute products, I love the cheery, bright colors, reminds me of her :)   and this fun day! (I realized I spelled Francisco wrong after I sewed it on, duhhh.)

Currrents

Tina had a currents post on her blog, I needed something to put on my blog while I edit Europe pictures and a few pictures of scrapbook pages. Hopefully I will get them done tomorrow :)

Loving: having a long weekend

Drinking: water with a splash of green tea

Wanting: another couple days to this long weekend

Loathing: the cleaning that this house needs

Eating: nothing, already ate dinner (pizza and salad)

Needing: a good night's sleep, my internal clock is still on Europe time

Making: progress on the pile of dirty laundry

Thinking: I should go to bed

Wishing: another couple days to this long weekend (did I already say that?)

What about you? 

around we go.

I loved this blurry picture from the carousel from Pier 39 in San Francisco over winter break. We spent a few days in the bay area and went to some of SF's fun family spots, this night was Pier 39. We ate clam chowder in bread bowls, watched the sea lions barking at each other and all other normal Pier things like salt water taffy and the big carousel. More of some Amy Tangerine goodies are here, the kits she gave me have some of the loveliest goodies!

I do love that city!

2 peas

(Taking a moment over here in the UK to tell you about something you might want to join in on). I was uber flattered when Wilna over at 2 Peas asked me to design a few pages for an upcoming class she is teaching.  My design element was fabric, and I loved using it in these layouts, something different for a change. I used a couple different Tina Givens fabrics that have this fun and funky color scheme. I also used some buttons on two of the layouts staying in line with the whole fabric thing. 

Like Forever

Love this picture of little sis' toes, I want to eat them!  This was our fantastic camping trip in Bodega Bay a couple summers ago. 

Sewing Pretty with Hello Kitty

   
I used some old sewing ephemera to decorate this page of big sis sewing a pouch on her cute little sewing pretty with hello kitty sewing machine. 

Love Everywhere

     

I love this picture of this beautiful egret outside a restaurant we frequently go to.  South Florida has so many interesting animals around, and this bird I thought was so pretty, when he relaxed his neck there was a heart shape in the silhouette.  

The class Wilna is teaching looks amazing, go sign up over at 2 Peas! 

mind the gap.

We're here.