Splendid

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!

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???

I'm Lucky...

"I'm Lucky" is the next Category Stories prompt, please come play along with us! I am never without my camera it seems, but I didn't have any pictures lately that made me feel they were "I'm Lucky-ish" so I thought and I thought...then I thought I'd use the embroidered family portrait from the rva class a couple weeks ago.  But because it was another project I felt it was cheating a little in some strange way.  Then I kept thinking, "lucky...lucky...lucky..." and then I thought randomly about my sweet husband who travels a lot away from home.  I thought I'm lucky to have him, but I didn't have a recent picture of us...then I thought about how he's been so good to me over the years, how hard he works to support his family, how he's such a good dad, friend, hard-worker, easy-going, generous, then I went back to lucky, lucky...and I thought about he's coming home soon, how I've missed him, lucky, lucky...lucky...he'll be home soon, agh yes! Maybe for this LUCKY prompt, I'm {getting} lucky- so the sweet little panties with the embroidered pin-up girl and the lucky 4 leaf clover of the backside would be a little present for my lucky husband when he comes home next time...lucky him!!! Hey, we've been together 14 years people!

 

  the 4 leaf clover on the back

And I'm lucky to have been chosen by the most superb Martha on Sis catwalk for my family portrait project, what a surprise! Thanks Martha! Isn't she too cute???

And I'm lucky to be able to make fun crafts such as this funky eyeglass case from the rva class.

 

and finally, I'm lucky to have such sweetheart daughters that busy themselves building fairy homes in our yard while mommy is sick on the couch with stomach flu all day Wednesday...

Hope you're feeling {getting} lucky, too!

  

Girl love...

I was so pleasantly surprised at the warmer weather here this weekend.  Such stark contrasts to the frigid temperatures earlier in last week.  I did some "light" spring cleaning (which means hardly at all) and cleaned up some yard debris, scrapped a little. The girls played outside all day Saturday and Sunday with neighbor kids, building a fort, playing explorer and drawing with colored chalk on the sidewalk. I wore a dress without my over the knee socks and had the windows open, yay for spring-ish weather!

Here's my Creative Type prompt, using a stitched title..."Girls Night Out" with the Dozen's kit.

  

 

and my two blog pals sent me these...so sweet...

First, my super duper girlfriend pal Sarah here in the Philadelphia area, sent me a tag challenge to pick the 6th picture in the sixth picture folder on my computer. Here's mine...

  Little sis in the subway in Washington DC,2 years ago. Don't you love that pixie do?  She had everyone call her "punk rock Ava" for a couple months.

And I just wanted to share a couple photos of my wonderful friend Sarah who performed last Friday night at First Friday.  Her new band played at a Starbucks and she sang, drummed, played keyboards and hoola hooped for the crowds. She's got an amazing voice and her a LED hoop fit right in with the eclectic crowd gathering around to listen to her band's music.  It's always been a bit of a dream of hers to sing in a band, and now she's doing it. I'm really proud of her! 

   

And second,my super sweet friend in the Netherlands, Vivian, gave me this...

  Thanks Viv!!! 

Lastly, my bf Lainie is in Chicago right now meeting her biological dad and his family. She was adopted when she was only a day old and never knew who her mom or dad were until a few months ago.  She met her biological mom a few months ago and has developed a sincere friendship with her and her mother's family. Then she was put in contact with her dad.  I am so proud of her for being so open-minded and brave meeting them.  She has told me some wonderful stories about their last 2 days together and I am just so happy for her, and them, because she's a pretty fabulous gal, I'm glad they got to meet her, too.

I couldn't think of a good title for this post, but with all this girl stuff in here, (the layout, Sarah, Viv, Lainie, etc.), I'm feeling the girl love...

so ready for warmer weather...

While I truly enjoy all 4 seasons, I must admit I'm rather growing tired of the bitter cold here in Philadelphia. I wouldn't say I'm the most outdoorsy gal in town, but I do like to go for nice walks and sit out under a tree once and awhile...

the high yesterday was 22 degrees...my windshield wipers froze to my car on Monday and would not work until I had the defrost on for 20 minutes and finally MANUALLY moved them, I mean, c'mon here...but the cold weather does help me hunker down (love that phrase) and get some crafting done I guess...and the last few days, here I've been...hutled by the heater (secret: late at night I've been watching reruns of this, shhhhhh...so embarrassing, so trashy, so fun!) Here's 2 of the few projects in the works over here...

the RVA class has been so cool.  I've thoroughly enjoyed it...my embroidery picture, the latest project from Rachel, fun!

and my "I'm Lucky" family portrait, getting ready for St. Pat's Day.  It's my next Category Stories project, so shhhhh...don't tell anyone...Dave's portrait makes me laugh a little, I can't tell if I think he looks like the Uni-bomber or not...and do you see his arm with the tattoos? He's actually much more tatted up than that, but I didn't know if I should add more and it would look even stranger than it does...

 

and on the homeschool front, another wonderful class at the Morgan Log House.  We take monthly classes there for our little group, each time another lesson on early American colonial life. A new aspect of colonial life is discussed, another tour of the house with a theme in mind, and a craft related to that theme is done. This time it was on light; candles, sunlight, firelight, etc. We had a scavenger hunt through the house to point out all types of light sources.  The kids loved it. Then we learned about using a flint to start a fire and made punched tin window designs. Both girls made cats.  Pretty stinkin' cute!

 me helping little sis with her tin punching project, and below big sis doing her project. There's the Flat Sandy from her pen pal in the UK in the picture...

 

And we've been studying Mexico for the last 2 weeks for geography and social studies, the girls finished it off with a sugar skull project.  We bought these kits from Hearthsong, and they were pretty good. Both the girls are really into Mexican culture; sugar skulls, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead dolls) or La Catrina dolls are a hit with them.

 

our royal icing was a little runny, wouldn't you say??? Very Jackson Pollock, eh? 

Oh, and I won the challenge this week over at Scrap Mojo with my for the Love of Vintage page.  I consider it a great honor because all the studly gals who entered the contest are so talented and did AWESOME layouts! And to be picked by the mojo gals, fab-u-lous! All of them are dreamy!

Have a super weekend!    

In like a lion...

This week has been a craft jamboree over here.  I am trying to complete my projects for Category Stories before we move (although, once again, my husband's visa/FM3 has been messed up by the powers that be...I feel like at this point I'll never move...) Check out the new prompt over at Category Stories the beginning of March, it's a fun one.

"Precious Things" is the first prompt for March... come on over and play!!!We have awesome Nut and Bee prizes!!!!

 

and here and here, I couldn't resist these fun challenges... 

this challenge, using the prompt, "For the Love..."  I said, For the Love of Vintage,

  

and this challenge on this wonderful site...using lace in a project, not hard... a pin cushion in an egg cup...

and finally, trying to keep up with the laundry, school and other "wifey" duties has been hard with this lovely class...the RVA  girls have made the last two weeks full of crafty goodness!

My felt tee-pees have been a hit in the girls little fairie village (the one on the left has a bit of a gangsta lean...) even Cricket is making a cute one.... 
and my vintage doilies table-runner, so fun to make. I used buttons with embroidery floss and hand sewed them together. Two of them are my Granny's.

 

There are a lot of other projects I'm behind on, plus I'm done with Twilight, starting on New Moon.  Hard to choose what to do next, make dinner, craft or read???

date night, and other fun crafty stuff

Even though it just passed, in the romantic spirit of Valentine's Day Category Stories has up a new prompt.  The theme is accordingly "date night" and you should see all the super fab projects we did.  Come play along, there's some yummy prizes to be won!  I also wanted to let you all know that Category Stories has decided to try a twice a month prompt, since so many of us want to keep the creative juices flowing.  It gives us something to shoot for and in a supportive, fun community of fellow crafters.  Feel free to do each prompt and play along, make new friends and win some fun prizes!

 

 

and El Vez, my sweet, sweet El Vez...yummy Mexican food, delish cocktails, fun atmosphere-and best of all, an old-fashioned photobooth-hooray!  Heaven...

 

Cricket made these last night for her dear ol' parents...so cute, huh?

   

And I'm taking the Red Velvet Girls class, there are a couple projects a week. With everything going on I probably won't finish half of them, but I'll have the rest of them to do while we're in Mexico as well as looking at everyone else's pictures online will be inspiring! 

Here's project #1, a rainbow scrapbook with fun felt strips and cardstock inside.  I LOVE felt! My oldest sewed along the edges for me yesterday in her sewing class. Thanks Cricket!

     

and lastly, I've had quite a few people in the last couple months email me directly about things on my blog...they say they don't know how to leave a comment on the blog...well, right below any "post" or story there is a set of computer lingo stuff like "posted on________, permalink and then the word comments (#), then backtrack (whatever that is...).  Just CLICK on the word COMMENTS, a little box will pop up, you type away. Click submit, then a verification code will pop up, type it in, hit submit.  It's seriously that easy people! Now stop being so stinkin' coy with me...say hi! 

what i love about...

Come play along with us at Category Stories!  This month's theme is "What I love about______." I kept hearing the song in my head "What I like about you!", then I'd hear "What I love about shoes!" Aren't all these Anthropologie shoes delish??? I'll take them all in a size 7, please...  

here's my latest Polaroids, only 4 left now (boo hoo!)  I might have to suck it up and just another pack on b and h or somethin'.

gettin' pedis with the girls

new black toes...all cleaned up for Mexico...see ya in a week! 

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year! 

We hit the photobooth last night, dressed in our Chinese new year garb...

     

 

all of us, with my fake moustache...

From the Sweet Spud's kit, our Karaoke Chinatown. 

and from the Dozen's, 3 reasons to BEE Happy

Don't forget to check out the new Category Stories challenge on the first, you'll love it!  Come play along!

We plowed through a lot of schoolwork this week.  The cold and gloomy weather lends itself nicely to getting a lot accomplished. Always an inspiration is The Little Traveler's who I check in with a couple times a month.  She always doing great cultural studies and we won one of her DVD, Japan. Her kids have gotten to experience so much of the world through immersion and I'm always jealous of their trips. At home they are always doing fun and creative things, too.  I loved her idea of 52 meals; essentially one meal a week for 52 weeks, covering all parts of the globe. Her kids color in the country or area on a map they are making that traditional meal from.  We do something similar, our Passport Dinners, but we only do those every 2-3 months.  For a week we study a country or region, watch documentaries or movies about it, read children's books with that theme, do crafts, and then we end with a big dinner, with traditional foods and we try to dress up like the traditional dress if possible. I like the idea of 52 dinners though, that seems like a great way to study geography as well as learning cooking skills. I'm a big believer in allowing kids to help out in the kitchen!  Even if they make a mess, it's teaching science and math as well as life skills. 

our lemon-blueberry cupcakes were divine!

straight out of the oven!

mmmmmmm.....

Some last pictures of us the last couple weeks in the homeschooling world...

a geography book we love, Search and Find Around the World, has great cartoon illustrations with fun facts about the areas. 

   

Cricket's 3D art

clay heads on wood board, Cricket calls it "3D Flat" 

(Note* after writing this post, I found out Angelina from Little Travelers and I are old friends.  We did a Doula training together like 10 years ago in Phoenix. What a crazy, small world!) 

Yay!

Two days ago I got an email from Lee over at Category Stories about being picked to join their design team.  I was so honored and excited!  All the gals on the DT are really sweet and I look forward to getting to know them, and everyone who does the monthly challenges.  There is still a few days left to do this month's challenge with is the theme "I remember" and SIStv is sponsoring us, so you should play!

Spring Fever

Already I have spring fever.  I got a pair of these so I can join in the fun my girls have everyday.  

While it's been bitter, frigid cold here and we haven't been outdoors as much as I'd like, the girls have been rollerskating throughout the house all day.  Especially Ava, she wakes up and IMMEDIATELY puts on her roller skates.  She takes them off for baths and when we run errands, the rest of the day they are on her feet.  She goes up and down the stairs (makes me a little nervous) on her stoppers, but is getting pretty good, I must admit.

Now, I'm not trying to stick a feather in my cap, but back in the day, I was pretty good on a pair of these...so...watch out...

Here's my latest scrapbook pages.  They both are using the Dozen's kit. Fab-u-lous...

Luckily he doesn't mind my lil moustache

we had gone to a Pirate themed party and I had a drawn-on moustache and small goat-tee.  I LOVED it.  Anytime I can have a moustache (not the real thing, horrifying) I do.  Like when we are the 3 Fridas, fab-u-lous! 

Coolest Field trip of all Times! 

Our friend Ana (and Kristal and Erin) had given us a tour of the Free People design office where they are designers and we loved every minute of it (and the Anthropologie and Urban Oufitters offices, too.)  McKaylah's dream of being a fashion designer was further fueled by miles of fringe, boxes of sequins and racks of fun and fab-u-lous clothes. 

And this Lovebirds door hanger was inspired by Martha.  She had the same little birds from Target and made a super cute sign.  She's amazing! One of my favorite scrapbookers! (gush...)

Mine is made with a Hambly frames overlay, fabric backing, embroidery floss stitching and pink pom poms around the edges. I would have added more, but as usual my squirrel brain was onto other projects.   

After 2 weeks of being away working, my hubby gets home tomorrow tonight.  We've missed him so much!  Hopefully we can get in date night. I'm craving mexican food, so maybe we can get that. Although, quite frankly, finding good Mexican here is hard. But the girls and I went with Matty to one of our favorite restaurants this past week. El Vez is so good (pricey, but good), located in downtown Philadelphia, if you have a chance, I highly recommend it, it's so choice. They even have an old dip-n-dunk photobooth.  Yeah, $23 dollars later...yeah, we have photobooth problems...

   

 

  these are just a few...

the bar at El Vez

pomegranate margaritas-que bueno!!!

Have a fab-u-lous weekend!

Well, it's been awhile...

Hi ya all...it's been awhile...

I forgot my camera at my mom's on the west coast and had to wait until she could ship it to me, hence the lack of uploaded pictures or posts. Also, to report about our upcoming move...we were supposed to be on the West coast for the month of January returning only for a week or so in February to let the packers/movers in before the trip down south of de border. But alas, my hub's visa is taking longer than expected, so it looks like March until we leave. But that's okay, since we love our house and friends here in Philadelphia and I'm happy to be able to spend more quality time with them. Plus I love it around here, we're never without something to do. Which leads me to the book I got the other day at the bookstore, called How to be an Explorer of the World, by Keri Smith, is so much fun!  Basically it has a ton of smart ideas about seeing the world in a new way, to people watch, collect items out on a city block or forest floor, conduct simple experiments and enjoy life's little, serendipitous journeys.  Those close to me know I love these quirky little day trips; hiding "love notes" for unsuspecting people at coffee shops or stores, tucked into nooks and crannies, in bushes and inside containers.  Hopefully it'll make someone smile when they read it.  Or when we do nature studies one day, collecting one specific thing from nature, like different shaped feathers or pine cones.  Or when we have a "theme" for the day and we take pictures of it, like red shoes, people with hats, cars with lots of bumper stickers.  Our fascination with photo-booths, so much so that when we travel I try to look up where the local photo-booth is.  Or every thrift or antique store, we must search high and low for dolls and milk glass... This book has a lot of the same types of ideas in it, with inspiring quotes and neat photos.  I highly recommend it...

Then here's my latest for the Category Stories challenge. The phrase that pays is "I remember."  This was a hard one for me since many of my old photos have just been taken away to long-term storage (again, I thought we were moving sooner than later) and so I had to think, think, think...

I remember...it like it was yesterday! (and I think it was because we love to watch old Facts of Life series on dvd)  

 

The Facts of Life, Bewitched, Who's the Boss, Different Strokes, those were my favorite tv shows growing up.  Being a latch-key kid I probably indulged too much in the ol' boob-tube. But I love the general themes of the shows, with the spunky and often melodramatic ups and downs, makes me smile.

Mac and cheese
I found this small partial kit from awhile ago last night.  "He is the cheese to my macaroni," I think it was a Sis kit, can't remember.  I quickly did this one of Dave and me.

And our Xmas layouts...from a few weeks ago during my mom's Xmas party, also done with the Dozen's last kit. What an awesome kit, I got some much from it!  I'm also making an album from the Dozens kit, hopefully I'll have it done this week. 

That's all folks, just homeschooling and getting ready to move.  Hope everyone is enjoying 2009!

Coolest fieldtrip of all times!!!!

Okay, so this was hands down the all time best, coolest, most dreamy, most delicious, most blissful, most exciting fieldtrip of all times.  McKaylah has always wanted to be a fashion designer and luckily for us we have a good friend in the fashion industry.  Our friend Ana works for Free People/Urban Outfitters/Anthropologie, but for the Free People design department. She gave us a great tour a few days ago around the offices and even let the girls see where they do the photography shoots, letting the girls get some pictures taken by a photographer and later we went to the accessories department and got to make a Free People wrist cuffs they are putting in the stores.  McKaylah was so excited! Okay, I was, too. 

 

where the magic happens

 

trying on the spring line, fun fringe!

more spring line

 

big smiles in the entryway at Free People offices-what a neat bench, huh?

 

Ana helping McKaylah look through the upcoming Spring line

 

the mannequins in the entryway at the Free People office

 

McKaylah getting to try her hand at making wrist cuffs

 

making wrist cuffs with our friend Erin, a designer in colors and textures

 

our friend Krystal was overseeing a fitting on a "fit model" who is a perfect size 6 and let us watch what they do, how they plan lengths, etc.

professional photo-shoot with the FP photographers

 

It was amazing to see all that goes into producing such a huge, popular clothing line.  From the conception of a new skirt to it arriving in the store, it was pretty impressive the amount of people and time it takes to make it all happen. Thanks Ana and everyone!

Pirates, Peace and Projects

My friend Julie had her daughter's 8th birthday party this weekend with a Pirate theme.  It was super fun and a great way to see everyone before we take off for the holidays out west, and then onto Mexico.  I know my last few posts have been dreary and a bit glum, so I'm going to put on my happy face for this one, people. 

 Mrs. Pirate and Mr.

swashbucklers!

Pixie says "Arrrrgh Matey!" Yes, my hubs did dye her bangs and tips red (wash out) for the party, she's a "faerie pirate"

Sarah and Beth

Smooches under the mistletoe

These chipboard cards are for Ana and Sarah, I made them last night at 12 when I should have been sleeping...

 

And I recently got this book which has some really awesome ideas in it to promote bettering others lives.  It's about and by an organization called Peace Jam that helps spur projects that are helping those less fortunate.  I read through some of the stories with McKaylah the other day, it is so inspiring. 

 

  

this must be heaven!

For category stories newest challenge.  The theme is "redecorate" and I know you're shocked I picked an Anne Taintor pic, but it was that or some Anthropologie pages I've been salivating over for our Mexico apartment.  But Anne won...

 

 

My honey gets home tonight after being gone for 2 weeks!  Hot Damn! I missed his big paws! I scrapbooked a bit, got my sassafrass project almost done and got acupuncture today, what a super day! Have a great weekend!

I'd like to thank...

For this acceptance speech I'd like to thank Category Stories for this award and all the little people...ha! ha!  No, I was totally stoked when a fellow scrapblogger emailed me congratulating me for the challenge win.  The theme was "phones" and this layout was so fun to do. 

 

Then last night I did this one.

for my super duper friend Sarah.  She's got those fab cat-eye glasses and swell apron goin' on.  I loved these pictures of her.

   

and this one...

  for our election party; a Starbucks little mini newspaper and the door knocker  (I cut off the doorknob hole).

 Halloween night, I wanted to get this done before we move...

Which is only a week away...and brings me to another issue I am having...

MOVING...in a week...leaving my sweet ol' house...

 

and her...refer to above picture for reference...

 

and these terrific people...

uncle Matty, our Manny-Nanny

 

Ana and Joe 

And the guilt over my daughters having to leave all their friends, ahhhh, yes, the sweet guilt... 

Living here in Philadelphia has been so great. The museums, outdoors, history, hidden hot spots, fun outings, new friends. It's taught me so much and has introduced me to areas of my life I might not otherwise have done, namely homeschooling, which has been a deeply enriching experience in our lives.

Although I am looking forward to a new chapter, life in Mexico will be both exciting and rewarding, and challenging and sad. I look forward to learning another language, I am NOT looking forward to the language barriers before I learn Spanish. We are moving to a very large city (the largest in the world if you want to be accurate) and we will live in a skyrise penthouse apartment, sounds neat, but confining...

I know after it's all said and done I'll be happy for the experiences we'll have there, the places we'll have seen, the people we'll have met, etc., but tonight, I feel a bit melancholy... 

What's that saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?" Okay, that's very dramatic there...

On the up side I will get to spend the holidays and most of the month of January back on the west coast with my mom and BF Lainie, Stef and the rest of the old timers...that will be nice.  They always cheer me up. 

I'm trying to end on a note of "the glass is half full," like my always optimistic hubby, even though I feel like hurling the glass against the wall like a frantically emotional chic from that show Rock of Love Charm School (god, what a bunch of sweeties there.) 

Anyone else out there ever feel like this? 

recap of the week and a couple days...

                      

I have seen a few Flickr groups that are doing the videos of snippets of someones day.  I have a problem with videotaping, I always forget.  I am forever with my camera in my hand, but for some reason I forget to shop video. I always enjoy looking into other's lives, very voyeuristic, really.  And not that I think my life is so dandy or interesting, but I'm making a BLURB book soon and so this is for me, too.   

So I'll do a condensed list here;

Friday;

-put away dishes from Thanksgiving

-Friday night head to Chinatown in downtown Philadelphia for karaoke with friends

Saturday;

-missed Spanish lesson

-got old tattoo covered up with Sailor Jerry style vintage bluebird and roses 

-helped Dave pack for Mexico

-made flights home to the west coast for the holidays

-did 3 loads of laundry

Sunday;

-kissed Dave off on his way to the airport

-didn't miss Spanish lesson

-went to Honey's for a late lunch with Matty and the girls

-looked up places to see in Philadelphia the next 2 weeks before we leave

-shopped on etsy for Xmas presents

Monday;

-exercised briefly

-let movers/packers in to take what we not taking to Mexico to storage

-did more laundry, scrubbed bathrooms and changed the sheets on the beds

-did homeschool lessons

-missed Dave's phone calls from Mexico about ochenta times

-looked up places to visit in Mexico

-watched the night sky and was in awe of the brightly shining Venus and Jupiter illuminated by a small crescent moon

-scrapbooked into late in the night again...

Tuesday;

-homeschool lessons

-listened to this song too many times...reminds me of my childhood with my dad, the cowboy...

-started sassafrass lass project

-art class for M

-downloaded new tunes

Wednesday;

-homeschool lessons

-M has private sewing lessons

-do Xmas cards

-went shopping at these rad places; Art Star , Scarlet Fiorella and good ol' Urban Outfitters...even with kids in toe they were on awesome behavior and were gladly rewarded with Brown Betty's Dessert Shop, yum...hand's down the BEST cupcakes I've EVER tasted!!!!

Thursday;

-exercised for a whooping one minute 34 seconds

-homeschool lessons

-girls had nature observation classes at Briar Bush, M was "Interview with Nature" and A was "Plant a Home."

-Spanish lessons

Friday;

-exercise for 30 minutes! Success!

-homeschool field trip to Betsy Ross' house 

Saturday;

- experience the great kids reenactment called Join the Constantinople Army at Valley Forge 

-went to Krystal's baby shower, sweet mama!

-worked on sassafrass lass project

Whew!  Glad the week is over...

cool kits and challenges

I won an award yesterday!  From a scrapbooker/blogger in the Netherlands, she gave me this award they are sending out mostly in the Netherlands, and she kindly sent it to me.  Thanks so much Scrapoholic-you're the best!          

                                              

And I'm loving the new scrapbook kits I got from The Dozens and Sweet Spuds.  I was planning on going to bed early after our "adios and farewell" work party the night before last (see last picture below...), but these are too good to leave alone by their lonesomes, so I stayed up too late again fooling around, and here's my layouts, this one using the Dozens (and some autumn extras I had.) 

My Pumpkins

  

This one is for a challenge on Catagory Stories, another rad scrapbook site. The theme is anything phones. I used an old vintage (not Anne Taintor, but almost as funny) ad.  So true...

They keep getting in

 

I have a real problem with Polaroids and am soooo bummed they are discontinuing them. If you have a pack lying around, send them my way, k people? I even joined the Flickr group Save Polaroid which is a pretty fanciful idea if I do say so myself because the company was bought up and then dissolved, but we polaroidians can dream! I also used my new Sweet Spuds kit (awesome!) and did the challenge on the Creative Type.  This challenge was to use paint to paint your lettering. I did mine on of course Polaroids and added a couple of them to the lo. 

I LOVE Polaroids!

 

 At Patty Wacks bar on South street in Philly, Dave in the back with fellow co-workers, the 3 muscle suits are jokes about Dave and his compulsivity to exercise and the Hombre fellow, well, because it was an "adios party" for us moving to Mexico. Hilarious...

Have a good Turkey day ya all!

late night scrapping

Last night I felt like scrapbooking a bit...

 

it's true...

 

and for the beautiful Fall Carnival Ana took Sarah and me to a month or so ago....at the Urban Outfitters and Free People design offices down at the Naval Shipyard...

 

you know I LOVE photobooths! There's Sarah, Ana and me, that's just 2 of the 6 or 7 we took.

Speaking of Sarah, today is her birthday...Happy Birthday fellow Scorpio!  Hope your day is awesome!

Lainie flew back home yesterday, I miss her already.  It's been pretty hectic here the last couple months, with visitors and people living here, added with the stress of moving out of the country...homeschooling, my hub always out of town, keeping up with the laundry...(humph...) and add a dash of early darkness with winter approaching fast...geez, no wonder I feel a little tired and down... 

Not that life isn't good and things could be worse, but I think I'm gonna bitch for just a moment, if you don't mind. My man is working his butt off for us, but I feel like a single mom.  The holidays are quickly catching up to me, but due to the move right after Xmas, I've not feeling very festive...all my fanciful ideas I had of homemade gifts and a winter cupcake party for the kids with iridescent course sugar sprinkles upon aqua-colored icing, topped with a vintage Xmas cupcake topper sounds too much to endure.  I'd probably be bawling and upset the kids....Having to fax, scan and have in triplicate all these documents from the moment of my birth (and my hubs and kids births) to expat attorneys and relocation people has made me feel anxious and spent...trying to learn Spanish is making my brain feel soggy...guilt over having my kids leave their friends again, ahhhhh yes...the guilt...the cold weather which I usually love is getting to me and the time change and it gets dark so early, makes me feel like eating cookies or left-over Halloween candy and not doing anything else...Anyone else feel like this?  Oh boooo-hoo me! I know, put a sock in it already! I just feel a little bummed out my friends, I'll be better tomorrow, promise...now where's that bucket of Halloween candy?

it's beginning to look a lot like All Hallow's Eve...

Halloween is hand's down my most favorite holiday!  You get to dress up, eat candy, get to have scary fun, and there's not as much pressure as Christmas or even Easter. And I LOVE some of my Halloween decorations, especially the Lori Mitchell and Bethany Lowe, their vintage-inspired whimsicalness makes me smile.

 

 

 

I made this All Hallow's Eve banner a few weeks ago. I think it was a Making Memories kit...

 
 

As some of you know we are moving to Mexico in a couple months (right after Xmas when my Hub's Visa is complete) and we'll be keeping our house here in Philly, renting an apartment in Mexico. I'm excited to learn Spanish better, and my girls I'm sure will become fluent in the 2 years we'll be there. We'll be coming home (to the west coast) more I think, just because I'm pretty sure I'll be needing a dose of my American roots more than living here on the east coast.  I'll miss my grand ol' house, but we're keeping it and we'll have it to come back to later.

This last weekend I scrapbooked a bit with my mom. I loved it just being the girls hanging out, crafting and laughing. McKaylah was crafting secretly under the table making me a birthday present (it's coming up November 5th, but I'll be excepting presents thereafter as well...) I love having my mom here.  I hope I always have the special bond that I have with my girls now, and the way I always had it and still do with my mom.   

  

here's the two layouts I finished (x3).

The Amish Country, from our trip out to Lancaster a couple weeks ago.

 

Lady Liberty, from our trip up to see the Little Lady a couple weeks ago.  

 

Then Saturday night I went out with Ana and Sarah to a benefit Urban Outfitters hosted again.  An Autumn Carnival theme and it was beautiful!  They had a huge big top and booths like ring toss, darts, skee ball, caricatures, photo booths (yay!), bucking bull rides (go Sarah, she kicks a*# on it!) and the food was so delish!  The pumpkin mousse was divine! Here's some of our photo-booth shenanigans...

Ana walked us through the Free People design offices (Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters are next door.) It's like a girls' dream...pretty freakin' rad! I can't wait to be her personal assistant one day ;)

My mom leaves tomorrow, I'm bummed.  I'll see her in a couple months, but the 4 1/2 weeks she's been here has been AWESOME!  I'm so lucky to have her. But Halloween is this Friday and we'll have a small trick-or-treating shin-dig here with Ana and fam and Sarah and fam, then it's election day (so exciting) and then my b-day (mucho excellante!) and then my BF Lainie comes for a week visit!  Fantastico! (see, I'm practically fully bilingual!) 

That's all folks! Have a tubular week!

Apples

Here's my latest layout I did this morning before school.  These pictures were from our apple picking trip with a group of other homeschool families to New Hope, Pennsylvania.  What a beautiful farm! 

While I was waiting

I did these last night while I was waiting for it to be time to go pick my mom up at the airport.

Farm

 

 

and I made 3 (one for me, for for Cricket's album, one for Pixie's album) although they each have the same pictures, they have slightly different embellies and some stickers and tags. 

Frida

we went to see the Frida exhibit a few months ago at the the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  What an amazing experience.  Can't wait to see more of her work (hopefully next week???Casa Azul perhaps?? Dave and I are going to Mexico this next weekend----more on that later...)

 

  

My mom is here now.  She's upstairs talking and laughing with my girls.  I can hear them all together in the bathroom. Agh, girls... I'm so happy to have her here.  It's been since May that I've seen her.  We have a lot of things planned. Other than the 7 days Dave and I will be in Mexico (like I said, I'll explain more later, it's half leisure, half biz-ness) we have a short list of activities for the month she's here;

1. Craft jamboree at least 2-3 days a week.  Hopefully she can fix whatever I did to my sewing machine...

2. Statue of Liberty since it's only an hour and a half from my house, we need to do it.

3. Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair, boobies in a tight corset?  My cuppeth floweth over...need I saw more?

 4. Franklin Institute's Pirate exhibitt. The first of it's kind, a traveling exhibit of real Pirate bootie found on the bottom of the ocean.  I've heard it's awesome! 

5. Take mummy to Delaware to see Winterthur Gardens Enchanted Woods where we had Ava's b-day last year.

6. Take a day trip out to Lancaster to interview some Amish folks for a homeschool project McKaylah is doing on diversity. We may even try to stay over at a farm since some offer that. Oh, and hit the rad antique stores out there-you can find some real jems out there!

7. See Valley Forge and Gettysburg reenactments. 

We have some big changes coming up for our family and I feel like I have this to do list to hurry and get done. There is so much to see and do around here, we've already done a ton, but I feel like we need to CRAM in more...

Have a great day!

Forgotten challenges

I just found these this morning and realized they were both forgotten challenges.  The first is from Scrapjacked #36, Cristina Clouse jack.  I had been waiting on pictures from Kodak, and the jack challenge passed. 

Summer Rewind, I used pick felt sheets and cut out shapes, stitched around, etc.

 

From the challenge, Current Events at The Story Matters.  I did mine on the scary economy, in particular the housing crisis.  I can't imagine losing your home, whether you obtained a loan you shouldn't have or because losing a job. 

   

 

Have a nice weekend!

Scrapjacked and Urban Out

Here's the latest layouts I've done.

For scrapjacked, their newest challenge;

here's theirs-

and mine, The Big Friendly Giant Ava

   

 

And this one, I was invited by my friends Ana and Krystal who design for Free People to a benefit thrown by Urban Outfitters and Free People.  They had skate board demos and a bounce house, dancing, cocktails.  Super fun! Sarah and I danced until sufficiently sweaty.  It was a   blast!

    

Have a great day!

Photobooth Friday

I recently joined this group, Photobooth Friday on Flickr. I've always loved the nostalgia with a photobooth picture. Here's the girls, our manny Matty, and me.

My friend Sarah and her fam came over last night for dinner and so we could scrap together. These are what I did.

My favorite place to eat

J.G Posada sticker, velvet ribbon and lace, K and Co. twinkle gold letters, felt border/frame, and more

Pardon My French

 

 

Passport to China

 

 

We do every couple months a passport dinner to another country.  This time we had studied China for a week, learned some phrases, it's geography and cultures, watched a documentary, etc. This night we adorned the dining room with decorations I had from a Chinese New Year party I'd thrown. We got dressed up and made homemade won tons, egg rolls, brown rice and sesame chicken. Our friend Eva stayed over for the fun.

Camping in the Poconos

 

Here's Ava and her BF Ruby making brownies, and a mess...

 

Have a great weekend!

Can't think of a title...

Look what I got this weekend...

I'm lovin' it already.  The feel of it, the look of it. The features. The possiblities. The high powered, high flutein' buttons! I still need to read the owner's manual.  I want to take Karen Russell's photography class.  I need to learn how to use it...

And I made this in the dark of the night...

 

Pixie's ladybug birthday party last week.  What a fun party.  I can't believe she's 5.  Up until just recently she had this "baby" smell when you kissed her.  Kind of like that puppy smell, but human (that's good).  Her little plump cheeks still had this mushy goodness you could almost eat up.  She's starting to lose that.  I remember McKaylah lost that cheek yumminess earlier, like 3, but McKaylah is an old soul, with agendas and a schedule to follow.  She didn't have time to cuddle like Ava did. Don't get me wrong, McKaylah is super affectionate and at times still is clingy, but with those skinny, boney elbows and knees, Miss Boney Butt herself can't usually SIT still long enough for a nice settled-in snuggle. I would NEVER tell McKaylah that, or want to make her feel like she not snuggle-soft or snuggle-worthy, because she's wonderful and bright and lovely to lay around and read with, tell secrets, share information, etc.  But I'm just saying Ava has a certain something that makes her feel like you want to squeeze, squeeze, squeeze her 100 times to release another "whiff" of her baby-smell goodness. Do I sound weird? O' well...  

 

This is not my favorite layout, a little underdone for me. But my parents had come to visit and I'd taken them to the Liberty Bell and I wanted to scrap these. I did 3 of them (ya know, one for each of our albums).  

It rained here like a small hurricane yesterday.  So I stayed in and I scrapbooked and embroidered. I  made brownies and salad dressing.  I watched Frida.  Then I left and I got soaked on the way to the store. It was literally like a river down my street. I love the rain though, and we needed it here.  It has been unusually dry for the northeast.  I had on my knee high wellies and walked with abandon through the rivers in the street and parking lot, felt so good. Everyone else was tip-toeing, as if that keeps your feet less wet.  Well, it may, and I'm sure I'd had done the same. Yet, I sloshed right through...

My little garden was happy to be showered upon. I love the way it smells after a good rain.  Today there is a breeze that hints Autumn will be coming soon.  I LOVE Autumn, we're old friends. It's my favorite season by far.

Have a dandy week!

serendipity

My Serendipity layout.  I picked a word out of the dictionary, copied the page, highlighted and circled the word, then added a bunch of junk around it and the picture...

I was sick Friday and part of the day yesterday, so I laid around and embroidered this on an old towel...

a Kurt Halsey design, well, kind of, I hand drew it because it wouldn't transfer, so it does look a little different.  Then I hand cut felt hearts and blanket stitched around the edges.  I do feel much better today though, thanks for asking...

and more of Rachel D's summer journal project, slowly but surely...

Then the girls tried on their new raincoats since it was sprinkling a bit here. McKaylah in a jacket inspired from the book The English Roses .  

Ava's new smart rainy, Fairylicious, of course...and her new rainboots to boot...

I love this new dress Ava got for her b-day from my mom off an etsy seller. She loves it, too.

Have a great weekend...

Scrap Mojo

I have never done a Scrap Mojo challenge, so last night at 11 I found this as I was getting ready to "retire" to bed, and suddenly had to do it. The challenge stated you had to use glitter somewhere in the layout and any title show from School House Rock(remember those?  Oh, I loved them!) and when I saw "Three Ring Government," I couldn't help myself....I saw the Dumbo book lying in the book box by my feet, I saw very circus-y colors and clowns. It came together in like 12 minutes.  Even the face I found over what became the symbolic Republican elephant was so simple to find just the right size.  Okay, if you like Republicans (hi mom...), lighten up, it's just a joke...

Lovin' these online scrappy classes!

I signed up for Ashley Wren's Sistv class a couple weeks ago and did I think about 7 of her assignments (okay, not assignments as they weren't graded or mandatory) and this week I'm doing Red Velvet Art Rachel Denbow's Journal class. I'm loving her tips and journal tutorials.  Now if I could find a few hours a day to just scrapbook and craft....darn family and laundry...

Here's what I have so far.  A summer journal is my theme.  I'm using an October Afternoon journal book.

 this is one of Rachel's techniques, using a checkerboard like design (she painted them, I added this paper) with the pink and white hearts for what I love in summer, the other page (only 3 things, ;) optimistic, positive me ) with the Summer Bummers.

this is a simple one using a single color background and then monochromatic colors.  Rachel painted hers, I used a black marker for the outline and then painted the inside bubbles and loops of the letters.

these are my designs

I have a few more pages, I just need to get the pictures printed.  Later this week hopefully I'll have them...

Then this one was just for fun this morning...I LOVE Ann Taintor, she's so awesome! I think I'll do a monthly tribute to her and these fabulous old ads (even though she cleverly adds her own commentary-genius!!!) 

oh, and this was a project from Ashley's Sistv class, I forget the concept, but it used her cute cards in the layout. I doodled on each of them though..

McKaylah made a softie pillow in like 4 minutes for one of her best bud's Gryphon.  This is her garden monster since they're both real" herby" and junior naturalists. 

Then anyone who knows us knows we are a little matryoshka crazy here.  We collect them, and have  plates, necklaces, clothing (you get the idea) with them on it.  My granny had a few when I was young and they've always reminded me of her (along with hobnail and milk-glass, gnomes, aprons, glass milk bottles, old farm-style tablecloths, and big rainboots for some reason).  Anyone who knows me knows I was really close with her and I miss her so much.  But I know she would have howled when she saw her two little girls (and she did howl when she laughed). The girls dressed up in old aprons and looked like  little matryoshkas.  I almost peed my pants.  The pictures are actually blurry because I was laughing so hard. 

 

   

Animal House

These are the two latest layouts I did (Thursday night).  Strangely they both have to do with animals. 

"Oh Deer"

From Danielle JQ and her very cute kits, "Oh deer."

"Zoo Party" for McKaylah's b-day party we had a couple weeks ago.  The Philadelphia Zoo brought 4 animals to our house, did face painting, a game and craft.

Here's one I did a couple days ago for Ashley Wren's Sistv class, "Unpredictable Requests. "

"Puzzled" in which we had to use a crossword puzzle in a lo.

Here's a chipboard card (or ATC) I made for my very extra special friend Annette's birthday yesterday.  I put it inside this slightly embellished felt pouch.  I also added a cute necklace from Urban Outfitters inside...

  

I was limited on what I could do since I just grabbed a handful of scrapbook supplies and headed to  Beachcombers.  I wanted to embroider something pretty, but alas, it was not meant to be...

What was meant to be was a fun girl's night out to celebrate Annette.  Here's some pictures...

Erin, Ana, moi, Sarah and Annette.  We went to watch our hooping teacher Marlanah at a bar in downtown P-town. It was a benefit for PAWS, to help homeless animals. The bar smelled like a pet store though ( a sure sign I'm getting older, I used to never mind that offending odor, a mix of old urine and stale beer...but now, um, yeah, not diggin' it...) 

 Marlanah's glowing hoop-very cool!

Even Sarah got into it---

However, due to the small enclosed space of this bar and it's unusual fragrance gaining momentum, we headed to Old City to a bar called the Khyber, well...I am paying for it today...I am getting too old...

The Ins and Outs

Here's my latest layouts this week.  The first one, "1234" is from a Ashley Wren Sistv class I'm taking. Those are my hand-prints. Of course I had to add the lines of my hands (for the gypsy lover in me) and then the lyrics to Feist's 1234 song.  For those of you who don't know the words to the song, she leaves out numbers 7 and 8 - I do have those fingers, don't worry...

"hoop" is from the hoola hooping dance class my girlfriends and I took a few weeks ago.

This one was also for Ashley Wren's SisTv class. We had to use a receipt in a layout.  Here's mine from Barnes and Noble. 

notice the receipt- ha! ha!!!

Then this one was supposed to be like a middle school collage, cutting out words that went with the picture.  Fast and easy, but fun to peruse through the magazines like we did in 8th grade. Rather therapeutic, really.  

I have 2 others I'm working on from the class this weekend, too. 

When we weren't inside this week, we were outdoors (shocking, if you're not indoors, you're out? Hummmmm???).  It hasn't been as humid this week and we're loving it!  We went hiking up in Fort Washington State Park one day (not too far from us really) (and only to to find a tick in Ava's head a day later, followed by Lyme Disease paranoia once the site of the bite became super inflamed...oh, east coast and the ticks here...joy...let me tell you, asking a 4 year old to get a blood test, not fun...) and to our lovely Beachcombers Swim Club a few times as well.  I love sitting under the big oak trees there, reading.  Summer seems like it's the only time I can get a few books in. This last month (not including August of course) I read The Mermaid Chair (excellent), Garden Spells (excellent) and the Sugar Queen (also very good). Today I'm reading Midwives and after Law of Similars. 

I recommend all you nature lovers to check out this website, The Children and Nature Network has some really great information about clubs that are forming all over to get families out into nature, hiking, exploring, unstructured playtime (I'm a HUGE believer in unstructured play!) Hooked on Nature is another good one for information regarding getting kids outside into forests and wild areas.  Just wear some tick repellent (stinkin' east coast ticks...) Oh, and Ava's test came back negative, thank goodness! Whew!

Well, bye...

Thrift

My "Thrift" LO for our fun day of thrift store shenanigans...

My good eggs

Finally getting my Easter LO done (times 3, of course...)

McKaylah has been taking sewing lessons for a few months now and loves it.  However, my stinkin' machine was acting up last week so she hand sewed this fashion ensemble for her AG doll. She wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up like our good friends Ana and Krystal who design for Free People. Maybe she can summer intern???

all finished...even little sis was getting crafty making a stuffie man...

Well, we're off to the west coast for 3 weeks-don't know if I'll be able to write, so if not, tootles all, and have a lovely time!

Our House LO

I did this LO last night...

Our House

our house, is a very, very, very fine house, with 2 cats in the yard; who wouldn't cooperate for this photo----drats!

Have a nice day!