M E H

Finally getting back to things now that I've got my laptop almost cleaned up and my wifi back on! For those of you who have experienced the dreaded "scratch disk full" error, you know my pain. It's actually a good thing this has happened. I'm learning to clean up files as I go. One step closer to my getting organized! A skill I truly lack.

I am so behind on my DD13. Feeling a bit of the Christmas MEH lately because of that. This weekend will be dedicated to Christmas movies (Family Stone & Love Actually), hot cocoa with a splendid amount of marshmallows & documenting my December thus far.

happy weekend, xot

**MEH is a apart of the letterpress plate set I designed for Studio Calico. It's going to get some good use this weekend.

oh Monday

 

+beautiful sweater +very appropriate quote

You know how I feel about sweaters + fall. I think it's pretty much all I've been pinning as of late. Don't forget to grab your fall time LLP printables! Use code SWEATERS13 to recieve 10 percent off your purchase now through Wednesday.

Did you get a peek of Studio Calico's November kit? It's pretty amazing and has made my top 3 kits of 2013. It definilty has a cozy, slightly masculine feel.

Well....it's another Monday but I have a feeling it's going to be an epic one. Or at least I'm hoping for an epic Monday. xot

TGI...go to sleep!!

I am currently listening to my toddler jumping up and down in his crib yelling "mom, mom, mom". He's always been so good about bedtime until his second birthday. I really shouldn't complain because this only happens a handful a times a month. I should be so lucky. He just seems to pick the nights when I have several things I need to scratch off my to do list before I hit the sack. #workfromhomemomproblems.

It's good. I'm just venting to whoever will listen. I know some of you moms feel me on this.

SO. Here are some of my February Studio Calico sneaks. I'm loving the kit overall. I'm in this weird "block everything in the center of the page" moment in my scrabooking.

I can't seem to leave a wood veneer anything off a page. : )

sidenote.....the boy is finally settling down. *sigh

Ok, I'd love to know. Those who have a bonified winter. I'm talking snow, dark, COLD. What do you do to beat the winter blahs? Do you treat yourself to anything special? Or just full on embrace all that winter throws at you?

I'm just curious as to what others might do. I keep it half and half. I'm ok with winter. We're not best friends but we're cordial. There are some days that just get to me though. On the plus side, we are gaining daylight! I noticed it today a little after 4pm. L O V E  THAT.

Happy Weekend! XOT

weekend review

Hope everyone had a nice weekend! It snowed so we pretty much stayed in (like we usually do) with the exception of getting bundled up and playing in said snow. I really wanted to do a "no spend" weekend but of course, it's incredibly hard to not spend a single penny especially when it's coffee/cocoa Saturday & the newest issue of Martha Stewart is out. Plus the other things that have become essentials...milk, Pull Ups, mailing envelopes. How do people do it for months at a time?!

Well...in great effort to not drive to Target or browse Etsy, I kept myself busy creating/making and enjoying.

I saw something like this on Pinterest but I didn't follow the recipe. Seemed simple enough. I didn't want to let the prepared pie crust that was purchased for Christmas dessert (that never happened) go to waste. I just rolled it out a bit, cut into squares and plopped in some cream cheese and a dollop of strawberry preserves. It was pretty good. It's actually the first time I used prepared crust and was quite impressed.

I scrapbooked a lot. Mainly because it's crunch time. SC is really stepping up their game with cool artwork from Matt Wilson. The card shown is from the Project Life kit. I'm cutting it down to fit onto a layout. Why? Because I'm on the scrapbook team and I want to show the versatility of the Project Life kit. I used part of it in my personal 2013 Handbook and the other part in my Studio Calico gallery layouts. I love that I'm able to do that. I feel like I'm stretching my kits and using them to their full potential.

Tyler's uncle Brian got him the raddest gift this past Christmas. Too bad he can't take it outside yet. Until then, we'll be practicing our trike riding indoors. The things you do as an Alaskan tot.

I'm sad to report that this old guy isn't doing so well. He's just not eating and seems to be going down the same path our first dog went through. Tootie's passing was a devastating blow to my heart. I'm not prepared to deal with another loss, especially when we have to factor in a little boy who kisses his dog good night + whose third word was "jes". I'm trying to just enjoy the time I have with now + make him as comfortable as possible.

Ok, time to get sh*t done. Go Monday! XOT

Thankful + full.

I'm nursing a bit of a belly ache this morning. I ate more than my share of side dishes + pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving was quiet for us this year which was actually quite welcome for us. Enjoying each other, watching football, cooking, even snuck in a little creative time....it was really a great day. So many things to be grateful for, things that need to be acknowledge throughout the year rather than just a day. Something I need to remind myself of daily, especially when I think things couldn't get any worse because they certainly can. Or when I think I need more than what I have or what I can afford. I have to remember that we have a home to keep us warm and safe, food in our stomachs to keep us nourished, vehicles that get us from here to there and most importantly, each other. Yes, all that sappy stuff you say you're thankful for when it's holidays, right? Some other things I'm thankful for.

Having a creative outlet whether it's scrapbooking, photography, screen printing, or designing. I'm thankful that I can make time for those things. I wouldn't be complete if I couldn't be creative in one form or another.

Companies that truly offer free shipping to Alaska. THANK YOU for not charging me an arm and a leg. (Amazon.com, Fab.com, Myhabit.com)

I'm thankful that I have laugh lines. Yep, wrinkles. Why? Because it's a constant reminder that I have laughed more in my lifetime than frowned. Wrinkles are inevitable, no matter how much cream I slather on my face. If I'm going to have them, they better be signs of a good life.

I can now say that I fit my old, pre-baby jeans. That feeling Miranda had when she pulled out her skinny jeans and was able to zip them up....I get that feeling now.

Other silly things include the invention of the DVR + Demand. I wouldn't be able to watch any of my shows.  Greek yogurt, loose fitting shirts that cover the right amount of butt when wearing skinny jeans, fingerless mittens, Macbook Pro, Instagram, 50 Shades, Washi tape + Twine, quiet time alone, inappropriate conversations, my camera, eskimo kisses, dancing to yo gabba, that first cup of coffee in then morning, + cyber monday.

Whew. I could go on but I need to get the day started. Before I sign off, I wanted to show a quick layout I did for my Handbook album. It's a 6x8 layout, the first layout I've done in this size and I'm really feeling it. Nice to take a break from the usual 8 1/2 x11. I used stamps from 2 sets of rubber stamps that will only be available TODAY at Studio Calico.

 (supplies: Noah outline stamp, New Year stamp, white chalk ink, Today Handbook)

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Now it's time for the mad rush, right? Oy. XOT

a few fair photos.

The outcome of Tyler's second annual fair visit didn't play out as I envisioned. I now know what my son is like without his afternoon nap and it's not pleasant. There were fun parts here and there but the overall day was on the cusp of being a disaster. Mommy learned her lesson on not planning well enough and skipping nap time. I only snapped a total of 4 photos with my digital + about the same with my iPhone. Part of me was bummed but it was nice just being in the moment with Tyler and Jeff.

Highlights of the day? First merry go round ride and the boy's utter excitement around the farm animals. I'm talking the funniest exaggerated laugh. I need to get that on video.

Did you see Studio Calico's October class?

I'm pretty excited about it. We are working on some amazing things for this class. If you have a passion for photography + scrapbooking and are looking for some insight and inspiration in your daily picture-taking, this is the class for you. Aspiring photographer? All six teachers will offer critique on at least one photo you upload. Are you a blogger looking to take better photos? Well you're in luck. We'll be covering that too. There's a lot more and more to come. Don't regret not signing up. It's going to be a good one.

xot