Splendid

well, hey....

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

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

donate

I don't now about you, but watching the news on tv and the internet, I am brought to tears at the incredible devastation from Hurricane Sandy.  Living less than 2 years in south Florida now, I have heard many stories about hurricanes and their powers, but this blows my mind.  I feel so deeply for the millions affected, my heart aches for them.  Please donate whatever you can now to the American Red Cross to aid people with food, water, medicine and the essentials so they can start, ever so slowly, to rebuild. (to call the # is 1-800-HELP NOW  or text  RedCross at 90999 to make a $10 donation)

California dreamin'

Hey everyone, we've been traveling around the western US for 3 1/2 weeks enjoying seeing family and friends, being here makes me miss them all like crazy. Lake Tahoe beaches, rafting down the Truckee River, lots of meet-ups with old friends, a day trip to Virginia City, staying up late, sleeping in, walking around San Fransisco (de Young Art Museum one day, California Academy of Sciences another, Golden Gate park, clam chowder on the wharf), high school reunion, big sis' 12th birthday, water park, shopping in SF, Saturday morning farmer's markets, and much more...   Soon we will return to Florida, but this has been a great summer vacay so far.   

We have loved seeing old friends, visiting old stomping grounds, feeling the cool California and Tahoe breezes, and of course being with close friends and family.  It had been too long.  

Now, 3 days back in Florida before we're off to Portugal and Spain!

How has your summer been so far?

 

bon iver, bon.

We went to see the Bon Iver concert last night at the Fillmore Jackie Gleason theatre, omg.  I have no words, so better than better.  I was blown away.  He's already one of my favorite performers, but it seriously made me smile from ear to ear. Just beautiful, magical, seriously. 

The Jackie Gleason theatre was so cool, too.  I love the art deco style of that part of Miami Beach/South Beach, and this retro theatre was so lovely. Bon Iver played many of his more popular songs, and some less popular, but each was amazing. His fluent, elastic lyrics are weaved so beautifully with all the different instruments. 

 

I am tired, by the time we got out of there, through the traffic and construction and the 14 miles home it was midnight.  Then I had to help Bear pack for his trip to Argentina this morning at 5:00 am and I had to did the last Book Exchange room this morning at 7:00 at my youngest's school. The night before the girls and I went to The Lion King in downtown Miami, too, thank god it's summer vacation starting tomorrow!

Do you have any summer vacation plans?

hear ye, hear ye...

We went to a large Renaissance Festival this past weekend in Deerfield Beach.  It was very well organized and had a ton of fun things to see, eat and do. Having lived the last couple years in Mexico City, where Renaissance Festivals and Faires are not popular, we missed these types of fun and quirky events.

and Kiss?  Who knew they were around in the 1200's???  Well, whatev. ( P.S., look at the tongue on little sis, givin' Gene Simmons a run for his money...)

Turkey legs, henna tattoos, bountiful bodices, sword fighting soldiers, cackling wenches, throwing tomatoes, men in tights.  It was a good day.  

PL: week 4

I am loving this.
 
( liftable sleeve I made)
This past weeks highlights;

Little sis ran 2.5 miles for her school's Fun Run to raise money for technology. Big sis made some rad duct tape crafts, she is really into it! Dave came home Sunday from London with gifts from our favorite city. We made paper crystals for little sis' door at school, they were the Crystal Kids for the Boosterthon Fun Run. I taught the second grade Matisse art lesson. Big sis was asked out by a boy at school (middle school), she kindly declined. Selina (my fur baby) also declined the advances of a couple dogs at the dog park.

scrapbooking with FX

Anyone who knows me I have trouble sitting still.  I wouldn't say I am high energy or overly talkative, definitely not fidgety or unable to complete tasks, but I do have this calm hyperness.  My husband always says, "geez!  Can't you just sit here with me?"  I do have trouble sitting still and watching tv or movies.  I need to be folding laundry, checking emails, writing lists or doing some hand-work. I scrapbooked these last week, one while watching Sons of Anarchy with Dave. I must say I like me some Jax, and I like him better with shorter hair. And the other show that I'm starting is American Horror Story, ummmm, scary and weird, but I like it.  Anyhoo, this was produced in those 2 hours of tv.  I think that nervousness relates back to my dad who had a funny motto, " you should never sit on upolstered furniture during daylight hours" meaning we should be busying ourselves, and I guess I still think like that.

Do you have any nervous ticks?

pop culture

That's The Creative Type's prompt for October.  Come and play along with us!!!  This one is a pretty easy one to pick a topic, and I thought about doing a LO on Twitter or Facebook, but, I really don't do either of those.  Then I thought about all the Vampire groupies, Twilight and True Blood in particular, but, no.  Music groups, thifting, Indie/hipster something or other.  Then I looked down at the stack of cooking mags I have collected in just a couple weeks (Halloween and Fall cooking is like eye candy in magazines) and thought about how popular cooking has become again.  Like Food Network and all the other cooking shows, I really love them.  So, that was my inspiration for this layout.

 
 
Come play along with us!  We've got awesome prizes! Great You Tube tutorials and more!! 

 

a quick hello

Well, it's been awhile, we've been really busy getting settled into life in south Florida, hence, my lack of posts. We have started a new school, new job, new gym, new swim lessons, just had our furbaby arrive here from Mexico (poor girl, she hated that trip in the crate!) We will be buying a home in 2 days and moving (once again) from our temporary apartment, but I've had a jolly time buying lots of fun new things from Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie and Etsy and the local thrift stores for the new house. So, I am still here, just been busy trying to juggle everything, but I anticipate soon returning to Blog Land. I have some exciting crafty-related news coming up soon, too!!

What's new with all of you??

toffee magazine

I was beyond honored when Toffee Magazine asked me to do a couple crafts for their second issue. Toffee is a fabulous magazine with beautiful photography, crafts, cooking, current trends, eye candy galore, free downloadables and articles from Indie Artists and Crafters.  They are sort of a Martha meets Frankie love child (with DIY as an Uncle) kind of magazine. I highly recommend you check them out and get a subscription!!

They sent me a file of their lovely Spring papers to make something spring-y...I made these two projects, a paper cone with a little bird, ready to be displayed for spring or Easter. Chirp, chirp... 

 
and an Easter card, complete with a vintage Bunny cupcake topper.

 
Both are super simple crafts, just perfect for quick Spring decorating. You are able to download for FREE all their super sweet and beautiful papers here!!!  Go and take a look at them, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Toffee magazine

I am IN LOVE with this magazine.  It's an e-zine right now, I hope they go paper  (while I love the environment, I really love HOLDING a magazine) and this magazine is pure deliciousness.  The photography, crafting section, recipes, interviews (like with Danielle Thompson, etc.) Just lovely.  Check it out here.

 

converse wedding

While looking over different Flickr groups that have to do with fashion or clothing+ photography, I stumbled upon this group and thought I'd share, Converse Wedding.  Apparently there is a large group of lovers that wear their Chuck Taylors' in their wedding photos.  All the more power to them, I love fun, funky, original ideas for what sometimes is the utterly proper, traditional day...

(Jen, I could totally see you like this.  Above, Jen, above, not directly below. No.)

I love the bride in the cherry red dress, too.

Do you have any fun or different wedding stories?

For a good cause...

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

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...

Downtown P-town

 

I love Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market.  What a fantastic place to eat lunch and get a few goodies like a fresh baguette or lovely bouquet of sunflowers. Last weekend Dave, Matty, the girls and I took the train from our house to downtown and walked through the market. 

   

   

 

Then we walked over to Chinatown.   

   

 

After, we hit Johnny Manana's in Manyunk for dinner...

   

my birthday dinner..my hubs and cricket with me ...and pixie and Matty   

birthday spent with my family is the best gift (although the new clothes weren't so bad either... )

Stop the Junk Mail!!!

I don't know about you, but I am up to my eyeballs in junk mail.  I cannot believe how much junk mail I receive on an average day!  Flyer's for plumbers, home-security, hams on sale, magazines for trap shooting and human anatomy study aids.  Ridiculous!  I just moved and already the onslaught of telemarketers has begun for every possible thing under the sun.  I signed up for the National Do-Not Call Registry which helps, but then thought about all the junk mail I get. I recycle it, but thought why even get it at all???  I remembered seeing this website and thought I'd sign up.  For each $19.95 subscription they stop all flyer's, catalogs and unwanted junk mail (unless you specifically request a catalog from a company, they will stop coming), but also plant a tree for you!  Cool, huh?