Splendid

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???