Splendid

halloween treats

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

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

If you know, please do tell. 

terrarium: mystic black sand

Those who know me know I love terrariums.

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

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

Letterpress

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

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

You should totally join, too! 

well, hey....

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

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

instaweek

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

it was a good week. 

doors shutting...

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

 

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

cheers mate

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

     

(using the Studio Calico Front Row kit)

instaweek.

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

Thanks. 

windowlust

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

 

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

<3 <3 <3

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

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

evalicious europe mini

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

 
       
   
   

 
 
         

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

Stay lighthearted

and free spirtited...

   

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

European vacation recap

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

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

the best things in life

are free...

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

Currrents

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

Loving: having a long weekend

Drinking: water with a splash of green tea

Wanting: another couple days to this long weekend

Loathing: the cleaning that this house needs

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

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

Making: progress on the pile of dirty laundry

Thinking: I should go to bed

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

What about you? 

mind the gap.

We're here. 

Remembering last summer

Still continuing on with my pile of pictures I need to scrapbook.  Here's a quick page from an Amy Tangerine kit she gave me last summer when she was teaching a class here in Florida.  It was great to see her again and have lunch and catch up, and of course take her class. I just opened the kit the other day and love all the bright colors and fun pieces!  These are from our trip last summer in Portugal, these are from Lisbon, I have 2 other pages coming soon. 

I love these pictures, it makes me smile at the memories associated with them.  Tomorrow Dave and I leave for Europe for 2 weeks, 1 week in London, 1 week in Amsterdam. My mom came out and is staying here with the girls since it would be too much school for them to miss. Usually they travel with us, and I have never been away from them for so long, so I'm freaking out a little.  I know it'll all be okay and they are super close with my mom, but I have to admit my heart feels a little sad to not have them going with me this time. But I look forward to seeing old friends, like Steph Baxter, and spending adult time with Dave (wink). 

these pictures are oldies, but still goodies

Hi there, I know we're in the winter months, many of you up to your eyeballs in snow, but I am still back in 2012 with pictures to scrapbook, so please forgive me. 

These pictures are from our annual Halloween party last year.  Themed foods and Halloween songs, trick or treating and fun costumes. It's really my favorite holiday, so little pressure, just plain goofy fun. ( Big sis went as Big Bird and little sis went as Dorothy, I was a possessed doll and Dave was a devil as you can tell).

2 more days and we're off to Europe!!!  A week in London and a week in Amsterdam!  Whoop!

well, it's been awhile Mr. Gluestick...

I didn't make any new years resolutions this year because I never keep them. But I kinda thought about trying to be better about doing more things that bring me joy this year.  We have a wonderful life and I should document it more.  With instagram and all the other quick social outlets, it's hard sometimes to get those pictures printed out and then onto pretty paper. 

This is a little out of season, but well, you know...

I loved getting these onto paper and recording these memories, maybe I will get it together and keep it going...

no promises :)

hello January...

Hi all!  I know, it's been awhile, but a new face lift of this sad old blog and maybe some frequent blog posts and this baby might revive itself? I don't know about you all, I find it really hard with just all of life's things to keep up with blogging, or looking at others blogs, and there's so many good ones out there, too. For shame...

This is us today, and I have pages for later, too. Gulp, I may even have more later in the week, too. What??

Hello January...

tres vite

I have wanted to scrapbook this picture for 2 years, a cute little car from the streets of Paris.  Throughout Europe there are these older, tiny cars and even though in the States we have Fiat or Mini Coppers, I find these old beauties so charming. 

Alexandra, I thought of you:)

Dearest Heart

Pictures from our Labor Day weekend celebrating little sis' 9th birthday at the beaches around Bonita Springs on the Gulf. Loveliest beaches around Florida in my opinion. 

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Thankful

I am thankful for so many things this year. My husband and best friend, who works so hard for his family and after 18 years still brings me a Starbucks often just because, or sends me sweet emails to say hi while he's traveling. My daughters, each so different in so many ways, yet both so sweet and caring and genuine. My extended family, I miss them often, but am thankful they are all healthy and I look forward to seeing them during winter break. My wonderful friends, each I enjoy to share a cup of coffee with or instagram post. I am thankful for my health, my families health and for the help we have received from my youngest's therapists for her dyslexia. She has come so far this school year. I am thankful for the traveling and life experiences we get to have in this amazing, lovely life. I am thankful for the freedoms and opportunities afforded to my family and for the roof over our head, the food on our table and the warmth in our beds. 

Yes, very thankful. 

Amy Tangerine summer mini

I know, it's fall and Thanksgiving, but I just finished the Amy Tangerine summer mini book that we put together when she came here a couple months ago.  She taught a series of classes at the LSS and I was so excited to see her again and make something from her awesome line, as well as just catch up with my old friend. 

I left out a few pages, but you can see Amy put together a great mini kit, right? I love mini books, they are so fun to look back at a certain time like a vacation or day. As you may can see, I underestimated the amount of pictures I took over the summer and so I made many fold-out accordian style pages so I could add just 5-8 more each page. San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Portugal, friends, family, birthdays, bbqs, swimming, beaches, it was a good summer!

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it was a frightful night...

We had our annual Halloween party last night.  Themed spooky foods, spooky music and trick or treating. It was so fun.  We love our new neighbors, the girls have become fast friends and we had two other families join us. I also included a couple pictures of the girls and Dave carving pumpkins the day before Halloween. The last picture is the girls and I, big sis is Big Bird, little sis is Dorothy (don't you love how her hair kept falling out...) and I am a forgotten doll from underneath your bed, hair matted, dirty faced...and I am angry you have forgotten about me...very angry. 

It was a good time. 

pumpkin patch

Another autumn spent here in Florida, our second, and I think this fall festival was better than the last. We went up to Boynton Beach/Delray Beach to this cute farm stand that had quite the nice fall festival. The wind was out so it cooled it down a bit, making it feel almost fallish. Hurricane Sandy is heading up the coastline so we've had little humidity and I can tell you I LOVE IT!!!

Apple cider donuts, pumpkins and scarecrows, corn mazes and crafts, reminding us of the northeast or western US fall festivals, it was a good day. Any good fall festivals around your area? 

it was a good weekend

Hanging out with my pal Vee back in May was a great weekend.  We have lots in common and I just think she's one of the sweetest, nicest people I know.  I finally scarpbooked these a couple days ago.  I need to go see her again. OR Miss Vee, are you coming here soon for a family trip? 

secret woods

Living in south Florida in my opinion is not easy in the summer months.  I do not love the heat and we're used to getting out and about and get to know our city or nature areas, however here, 7 months out of the year it is so freakin' hot unless you are submerged up to your eyeballs in water, it's just too stifling. Living here now a year and a half, I can see come October it does start to cool down just a bit.  Last weekend we decided to see a nature area, little sis is 100% naturalist in spirit. She loved walking through the mangrove trees and acres of ferns, tiny creepy crabs scouring across the path, butterflies landing on delicate daisies, Secret Woods Nature Area beautiful place. 

What a lovely place and a lovely day!

feed the birds

Two years ago when we went to Paris we visited Notre Dame Cathedral and saw an older woman feeding the birds in the front courtyard.  The girls naturally found it charming and much like the scene from Mary Poppins.  The woman obviously spoke French, but we communicated through gestures and smiles and she shared her bird feed with the girls.  She even poured some over little sis' head and the birds flew all around us and a few landed atop her head. Big sis and I laughed with delight, but Dave, always the germaphob, was worried that the birds would give little sis some weird bird flu. :) 

 

After I was all done with these two layouts I realized I put pics of the Eiffel Tower... I should have put Notre Dame..duh. I made two almost identical layouts, one for big sis' and one for little sis' albums.

Foi bonito!

(That's Portuguese for "it was beautiful!")

Finally I uploaded last month's trip to Portugal.  This summer was wonderfully delicious with so many awesome travel experiences and seeing old family and friends and making new friends, I neglected crafting and blogging.  But I felt as the days whipped by at light speed, each day was a joy. 

First off, the Portuguese are lovely people, warm and friendly and the area we stayed was serene and smelled of the sea.  Estoril is about 20 minutes from Lisbon and each day we walked along the cragly stone walkways that frame the coastline, past many shops and beaches, past cafes and kiosks selling local novelties. The last 3 days we rented a little Fiat and drove to Lisbon and other days up to Sintra where we hiked forever it seemed to reach an old Moorish castle and sat in the town center people watching and having a foamy cappuccino. Cascais by the sea is quaint with it's narrow streets, paved with bluish-grey and white tiles designed into waves that are lined with brightly painted storefronts and restaurants. And the countryside up towards Spain is something from a storybook with vineyards, small villages and orchards dotted along the skinny two-lane highways.  I felt at times like Clark and Ellen Griswold from National Lampoons European Vacation when they rented the small car and drove through parts of Europe.  Dave drove like he was on the Audubon, zipping past old men weathered from the sun selling fruit on the side of the road in huts or children playing soccer in an open field.  Every once and awhile we'd climb over a small hill and get a glimpse of the sea below, then quickly turn away and headed north. We ate at smallish family owned restaurants with handmade rolls and garlicky shrimp and chicken. We ate two nights at a yummy Indian restaurant (Indian you say in Portugal?  But I was smitten.), and there was the nightly espresso and lemon gelato... 

Dave had 3 days of work and I met a couple of the other wives there with thier hubbies, lovely ladies who I can't wait to see again. Then the last 4 days was just Dave and me, it was our Luna de Miel... we got married when we were very young and nver had a real honeymoon, so we made this our luna de miel (honeymoon in Spanish). Foi bonito!!

Paradise Coast

Hello there!!  Are you still talking to me even though I have been absent?  This past couple months have been awesome, full of loads of great adventures and travels, but I have neglected crafting, blogging and keeping up with regular life... But now back to reality, the girls are back in school and last weekend was our last summer hoorah in the beautiful Paradise Coast ( Naples and Bonita Springs, southern Gulf coast really). We went for the 3 day weekend to celebrate little sis' 9th birthday (today!! Happy birthday big girl!!) and enjoyed days at the beach, mini golfing, jet skiing, shelling and lots of yummy food. 

It was a good weekend.  Happy birthday my little one, I love you so much and am so proud of you. We wish you a year full of lots of love, safety and good times. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

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?

 

true

Using most of the October Afternoon 9-5 line, I made this for an older pic with my hubby and me.  We were at a concert in a park in the bay area. He's my best friend, my confidante, makes me laugh, makes me feel safe, makes me proud, frustrates me, makes me smile when I see him with my girls, and we truly enjoy each others company even after all these years (almost 20!!)

grand

(using the Studio Calico So Cal kit...love.)

the glades

Yesterday we spent the day in the everglades for Father's Day.  The girls thought it would be a fun outing with their dad to do the whole airboat thing and see an alligator show. We've lived in south Florida for a year now and haven't ever been on an airboat or seen an alligator show, so it sounded like a good thing for dear ol' dad. The everglades are huge, and as beautiful as it is, it is also very dangerous. 

The weather was beautiful, not as hot as it usually is in June, and the captain of our airboat gave us a great tour of the beautiful everglades. We saw 3 alligators and many different species of wildlife. He explained about the exotic vegetation that grows there (most of it is dangerous), the insects that live there (most of them are dangerous) and to never put any body parts over the edge of the boat or in the water (also extremely dangerous). The alligator show was interesting, although it's not a career I'd fancy,it was pretty cool. The show on Animal Planet Gator Boys is shot there and our gator show entertainer J-Mart is on the show. We held a small baby alligator, and while it used my hand as a diaper, the little gator dude was pretty neat, too.  It's crazy to think all of this is literally in our backyard, like our house was the everglades at one day long ago. We often have gators found in residential areas, and it's not strange to hear about people finding gators in the small lakes behind their homes or even in their swimming pools. One thing is for sure, the everglades are beautiful, mysterious, and for sure someplace you do not want to get lost. (or run out of hand santizer). 

my girl.

I got the new Studio Calico So Cal kit last week and made this yesterday.  This picture is from our week seaside camping last year in Bodega Bay, Cali. I loved this picture of big sister between some huge rocks on the beach.  This picture mirrors her personality, too, sorta deep, thoughtful, sensitive, sometimes dark and stormy. (especially in these tween years), yikes...

 

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?

today forever

I really am the luckiest. Two nights ago I stayed up late after watching the Real Housewives of NJ reruns and did this. Taken a few months ago in Naples, Florida, I love this picture of my husband and me, but mostly because when I look at it it reminds me of how lucky I am to have him. 

PL week 18

Love me some cinco de mayo, I rarely have a picture of me, rarely alone either.  Big sis snapped this picture while Dave was making me laugh when we were enjoying some Mexican food in a new restaurant on Cinco de Mayo. I thought I should add it to the PL. Other good things; big sis and her new friend Emily have graduated officially to mall rats when we took them shopping at the Boca Mall.  Little sis had the cutest show at school where they learned sign language to 2 songs. I.am.going.to.eat.her. 

It was good times. 

DC with Vee

My lovely, sweet friend Vee invited me to come stay the weekend with her and I jumped at it. It had been almost 2 years since we first met face to face, but for awhile before that we'd been blogger pals. She is such a good person, kind, funny and of course talented. We hung out at her house and had cocktails at happy hour at TGIF, walked around DC Saturday and drove through Virginia and had her yummy chocolate chip pancakes Sunday. Her children are wonderful, polite and I look forward to when our kiddos can all get together. ( and I got to sit in the Vee craft space...pretty rad.) 

 

Smithsonian American Craft exhibit, (taken by Vee)

We were so bad, we didn't get any pics of us together and I lugged around my big ass camera and barely took it out.  So lame. 

Can't wait to see her again soon!

 

 

PL week 17

This was a good week. 

Ups and downs, it's life, right?  But all is well. 

PL week 16

Moving along...

It was a good, but busy week. Are you doing a PL?  Are you loving it?

PL week 15

I love the concept of Project Life, but I must say that I have a hard time staying caught up. I love looking over the pages of the weeks past though, the faces of family and friends makes me smile, so I'm going to stick with it.  Even if I am a little behind. 

And I added a 3 picture insert.

Week 16 is almost done.  And what is it? Week 19?  O'well. 

Mom's Day book

Hi ya all!  I am getting worse and worse about blogging.  

Just wanted to share with you a folding accordion style book I made my mom and mother-in-law for Mother's Day.  Inspired/copied from the talented Marcy Penner, I just loved this book!  She used most of the same American Crafts papers and stickers, and I thought it was so sweet. 

Front side                                                       Back side

I made one in light green for my mom (this one is my mom's above) and light blue for my MIL using the same papers and embellishments for American Crafts.  I think they'll love them and I wish I was able to spend the day with them, but I hope when they see these they'll know how much they mean to me. 

as cute as a cottontail...

( little and big sis, circa 2009, El Vez, Philadelphia)

Happy Easter out there to all who celebrate, and to all who don't and celebrate their own holiday, many wishes of good health, happiness and peace to you!

green

Just a few pictures from yesterday's St. Patty's Day.  The leprechauns left a bunch of gold chocolate coins, some glittery, rainbow colored pencils and some minty chapstick for the girls.  They also made a mess in the kitchen, poured flour and cocoa powder all over the floor and counters, geesh... Then we took the girls to the town center to listen Irish music.

Later just the adults went to the town center for a band and a wee bit of Guinness drinking with our pals from the Scotland and Ireland ( oh, and Panama, but whetev.)  It was bloody good time.

PL week 10

A good week really. Big sis got 3 A's on really hard tests (she studied a lot!, good chica), I had lunch Amy Tan and Kelly Purkey in Miami Beach while they were here for a couple days( so nice to see Amy again and meet Kelly), little sis got on a soccer team and we made some cute little candy bags for her to hand out to her classmates since this week she's on Spring Break.

Are you doing a Project Life?  How's it going for you?

sk8ter nerd

I loved this picture of little sis in one of her favorite shirts. Then I saw an October Afternoon sketch from a couple weeks ago and I thought it would work well with these 3 pictures. I also used the latest Studio Calico kit, Storyboard. I have a couple other pages in the works, plus last week's PL, so I shall return.

PL week 8

A good week.

I used the slim American Crafts 3 pocket sleeve. Then next is a Becky Higgins page.

Renaissance Faire, Tom Jenkins BBQ and Ft Lauderdale beach, new blog design, started a new photography class, walked and did yoga 3x. Yep, it was good.

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.