so the chocolate milk did help as well as getting out of the office for lunch.
it always helps to get some fresh air.
it's always sweet to pull up to a parking meter that still has 52 minutes left on it.
It's always awesome to walk into the kitchen and find pastries from the good bakery.
It's always comforting to know time can only move forward, even if it's slower some days.

ready for an SC stampede?

And my layouts for July:

This last one is my least favorite layout. It feels incomplete and thrown together. I do love the journaling and the photo so I think I'll re-work it later this week. 
 
t.

Girl fights Tuesday.

Holy shmoly, I so do not want to be in this office today.
pure torture.
I'm trying to buck up and deal but I can't seem to focus on anything at the moment.
I'm fighting it so bad.
My day is only a third way over.
I'm literally just pushing paper around.
Am I crazy for blogging this in fear of a coworker or even my boss reading this?
No, not really.
If you worked here, you'd understand.
Off to the kitchen for some chocolate milk.
Hoping this will help.

More later.

girl loves friday.

Such great responses to yesterday's post.
I was surprised to read how many of you kept your hobby a "secret".
I get it though. It's not something that usually comes up in conversation.
It's usually my family or a friend who knows I scrapbook who spill the beans.
I use to just change the subject right away but lately, I've just come clean.
I scrapbook, big deal.
Some perk up and are genuinely interested. Some, not so much.
Here's what makes the "not so much" responses worth accepting

1. When my husband picks up a layout and says, "that's cool, I love that photo" or talks about what I've journaled. He's my biggest cheerleader and is always the first to bring it up to people. He even raids my scraproom to make me Valentines day and Birthday cards for me. 
2. When my father ask me to put together a scrapbook of all this treasured photos of his dear friend who passed away tragically a few years back. I was honored to use my love and skills to create a keepsake for him.
3. When my niece was snooping around in my scraproom while I was getting ready to take her out. She runs to my bedroom holding a page I had just finished with her photo and yells, "that's me!". Her excitement was pure joy and it gave me such pleasure, I can't even tell you.

onto girl loves, which is just one today.

Scrapbooking, naturally. Anything to do with pretty paper, colorful paints, & wonky sewing. I love it all.
Some sneaks for Studio Calico's July kit and add ons.

Be sure to check out the reveal Sunday night! Miss Vee is the GDT this month!

Have a happy, fabulous, summery weekend folks. We all deserve it. 
T
 

explain thyself scrapbooker!

So, met up with the ladies last night to help address wedding invites.
All in all a good time laughing, sharing stories and getting to know each other a little better.
And there of course was belly rubbing but it's ok when done by some one you know and like. (this occurrence has been happening quite a bit in the past few weeks. odd that one thinks it's ok to just reach out and rub one's pregnant belly...moving on.)

Then it came up.
Scrapbooking.
This is always a strange subject to touch on for me and I know for others who scrap like me, especially when you're childless.
I explain myself. I try to make it sound "cool" but I'm failing miserably.
I hear the usual..."I just don't have time" and "I'm just not that creative" when we really know it means "I'm just not that into it", no?
Totally cool. I get it. We all have different hobbies and/or activities we partake in.
Different folks, different strokes.
I know that what I do which is basically a form of documenting and archiving will be with me to the very end and even beyond.
Simply put, it makes me happy.
I wonder why I feel the need to defend my hobby as one that is not dated or geeky or be made to feel like I'm not a busy person myself.
But because this is a form of release from the everyday things like office gruel, traffic and life in general, I make time. It's not a lot, trust me.
I appreciate the few hours I get hovered over my paint covered desk, cutting up paper, & positioning photos.
I wish I had more time to do dedicate to my love.
 
So, I'm curious to hear your thoughts.
Even if you're not a scrapbooker, I know many of you are creative in some form.
Do you feel the need to defend your art? Your hobby?

holy smokes...3 blog days in row.
seems I have a lot on my mind or more time on my hands. or maybe a little of both.
continuing on with "currents" post just because.

listening: The Cure, Talking Heads, The Decemberists
eating: oatmeal but really wanting an over-medium egg with generously buttered toast and a slice of super crispy bacon. oh and a side of home fries.
drinking: hot chocolate & ice water.
wearing: my new Gap Maternityskinny black jeans I scored on Ebay for $10.
feeling: content.
weather: a little humid.
wanting: a free, no make up, in pajamas weekend to myself.
needing: a free, no make up, in pajamas weekend to myself.
thinking: I need a pedicure in a major way.
enjoying: life....hmm..sounds vague. how about a drama free week so far. (knock on wood)
wondering: what will by little peanut look like?

1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/36425193@N00/437643549/">acup of chubby goodness, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/52852286@N00/3438608808/">travelbreakfast, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33230210@N04/3369593248/">stargazing...>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/23022617@N00/4624432751/">Journal collage</a>

girl pays more attention to salad than hot runner.

Being that it was so beautiful out yesterday and I had an hour to kill before my hair appointment, I decided to grab lunch and head to the park downtown and eat outside. It was a great place to people watch. Lot's of lawyers taking their brisk lunch walk in their white tennis shoes and office wear, tourists fresh off the bus, children playing joyously after being stuck indoors for a week due to the rain. Lot's of runners and mommies with strollers. An ideal setting to sit and enjoy my lunch and get a little sun.
As I drench my fresh asian salad (which I had been looking forward to all morning) with rice wine vinaigrette, I overheard a few women whispering on the park bench next me. I noticed in my peripherals a bare chested, ultra tan runner coming our way.
Pre-pregnancy me: would coyly look up and maybe give a smile.
Pregnant me: too interested in getting the first bite of salad in my mouth to look up and admire.

t.

weekend scrappies.

well...more like Friday night scrappies. I didn't get much else done this weekend since I was hardly at home.
It's nice to have busy weekends and outings but my home is still a wreck since I do all my cleaning on Sundays. Oh well. Can't let life go by just because your house is a mess.

yeah, a blurry mess. 
this week's dare is about mail art.
just head over to the Dares blog so you can view Jen's as well. 

 
want to try something new with FabRips? 
head over to the Studio Calico blog to see how to bind a mini using them.

another wonky photograph. 
something I did for Joy's BOLD challenge, also on the Studio Calico blog.
You can see a close up here.
 
Saturday: a yummy lunch at SushiYa with my girls. I feel like I'm always saying "we gotta go eat" everytime I'm out. We were headed to my nephew's 10th birthday party at the roller rink and I HAD to eat. No sushi for me though. I opted for the bento box with bulgogi and tempura veggies. It was quite tasty.
I wasn't going to skate at first but after a few laps walking with Reagan while she skated, I had to throw on a pair. I use to skate at this roller rink as a teenager and it brought back some crazy memories. It was really fun although I didn't skate for long. I didn't want to over do it. I pretty much crashed on the couch when I got home.

Sunday: met up with the girls again and ran a few errands before heading to a small carnival in town. Reagan had carnival on the brain so she was quite pleased when the ferris wheel was visible. My brother showed up just in time to meet us right from his fishing trip. I was happy to see him spend the day with his kids on Father's day. I just adore observing him with his daughter.

he's in there somewhere. I swear getting a picture of him is like getting a picture of big foot....rare moments I tell ya.

The little guy was not happy at all so all so I didn't get many photos of him. I think he's still a little too young to handle the excitement of fair rides. 
 
monday isn't going too bad so far. could be because I'm out of here at noon for a long over-due hair cut and some "me time". :)

t

girl caught making out with friday.

Give yourself a big pat on the back for surviving another work week folks.
And for those momma's who have had to entertain their out of school kids all week, kudos to you as well.
It's going to be another busy weekend for me. Looking at my calendar, it looks as though it'll be awhile when I'll have a weekend all to myself but hey, I can't complain. I guess I'm just trying to get in as much "me time" as I can before the mr/mrs is born. Oh which btw....baby shower planning has commenced! I know, seems early and it is but time is flying by I tell ya. I never thought I would be one to be into all this party planning and having me as the center of attention (I get a little awkward when everyone's looking at me) but frankly, I'm damn excited.
This lovely lady is going to design my invites which was the very first thing I was excited about doing with the baby shower. You know, it's paper. Got to love that.

Onto girl loves. 

This concept which has been added to my "to do" list. The cover art is also inspiring me to no end.
(Green Wedding Shoes)
So friggin' fraggin' genius. Another thing to add to my crafty "to do's".
(100 Layer Cake)
This haircut. I'm planning on chopping off 2-3 inches of my boring long thin hair but I'm not ready to go short.
(Pretty Mommy)
 
 The prettiest cake. Filed in my baby shower ideas.
(A Little Sussy) 
OMG. A must watch for TB fans. Totally made my day. 

http://www.hbo.com/bin/hboPlayer.swf?vid=1101662

Snoop Dogg - "Oh Sookie"

Happy Friday! 
T

currents.

listening: the Smith's: Please Please Please Let Me Go.
eating: oatmeal.
drinking: hot chocolate. dad lectured me on not getting enough calcium, this is the only way
I can stomach dairy.
wearing: my softest thin gray sweater.
feeling: cozy and also have an overwhelming urge to scrapbook.
weather: rain, the smell is beautiful and my grass needs it.
wanting: a day with my aunt & to finish up purging insanely old scrapbook paper. I can't believe how thin
it was back in the day.
needing: a new read.
thinking: so much to do, so little time & what I'm going to eat for lunch.
enjoying: tumblr & this blog.
wondering: why JCrew doesn't have a maternity line.

your turn.
t.

girl loves friday and honesty.

I'm thoroughly enjoying all the honest, "real" reality's in blogland this week.
Feels good right?
I've never been one to overly exert myself for some one to like me. I often times push people away.
I'm comfortable with my surroundings and having a very small group of "real friends". It's limited I tell ya.
But I am so good with that. More taste, less filler if you catch my drift.  
My point is, I'm not here to impress anyone or to network and I appreciate blogs who share the same virtues.
I think that's why I fell in love with blog reading in the first place.
Not to say that every post needs to be gut-wrenchingly honest about our personal lives. TMI, no?

Onto girl loves...
I'm really into summer dresses right now. I feel more feminine and beautifully pregnant rather than plump.
I really really want a white eyelet dress like this one.(Satorialist)

uh, and those worn in chucks. heaven. 

This colorful project. (Color Me Katie)
 
This salad. (PW) 
 
I'm having huge craving for fresh, crunchy salads right now. I can't wait to try the dressing for this one. My recipe book is getting quite cluttered with printed out recipes from PW. 

That's all for me today.
Enjoy the weekend!
T

perfection is boring.

I was inpsired by Steph's post today about her "real" reality.
It's no secret that I don't sugar coat my life.
I don't always like to come on here and complain.
That's why you won't see an update for week.
I may be having a sh*t week.
Like these past few days....sh*t.
They've been few and far between though.
Especially after finally getting pregnant, all the stupid b.s. seems to mean nothing to me now.
But there are days where I've just had enough.
Here's my real reality this very week.

1. I was lied to by 2 coworkers and that infuriated me because there was no reason for it. I tossed and turned all night thinking about this incident. They were covering their ass for a mistake and tried to pin it on me when I was out of the office. Go figure.

2. I'm not a clean person and often avoid having last minute company.

3. I worry about our finances and wonder if we can afford for me to go part-time after the baby is born. I really don't want to go back to my job at all.

4. I can hold a grudge like nobody's business. I'm trying to change this.

5. There is a lot of work that needs to be done on our home. It constantly gets put off.

6. I love the kinship I share with my 3 1/2 year old niece. I hope that our friendship grows as she gets older.

7. I often have grand ideas but lack the motivation and confidence to go through with them.

8. Some mornings I wake up and wish I were in a different city.

9. Most mornings I wake up and love living in Anchorage. The sweet smell of birch trees and dew on the grass is comforting and reminds me that this is home.

10. I love my husband and we are with each other a lot. But I'm a fan of alone time which are nights when he goes to his friends house to play Modern Warfare.

11. I eat a lot of junk food, candy especially.

12. I rely heavily on spellcheck. 

what i've been up to

the usual.
work, food, polaroids, editing photos, napping, & reading.
that is all. 
oh and growing by the minute. 
how's the summer treating you so far?
xo t.

documentary winner!

...........Andi M!
Please email me at lifelovepaper@gmail.com

Thanks again for all your lovely summery comments!
Until Friday
Tina

Blog Hop

 
In celebration of Studio Calico's new line, Documentary, each dt member is giving away the entire collection on their blogs.
To enter, hop to each blog, and leave a comment. Then hop back to the Studio Calico blog for another chance to win.
I want to know what your simple summer joy is right this very moment.
Today it was the sweet smell of nectarines I have on my kitchen counter.
I had the pleasure of working with Documentary over the long weekend.
My personal faves?
I'm a fan of the stickers, FabRips and the Polaroid rub-ons. You can find the entire line at Two Peas.

 
Next stop?
My sweet friend, Waleska Neris.
Don't forget to the Studio Calico blog as well.

girl loves the friday before a holiday weekend.

Well...sort of.
When you work in the wide world of retail, it gets pretty hectic insane the week before a holiday weekend.
but alas, it's Friday and I'm so ready to enjoy my extra day off.
Flowers are bought, just need some more soil and I'm the hunt for a nice lounge chair for the back yard.
I can see it now....kicking back with a big ol' glass of ice tea, a book and me soaking up the sun. (also need to purchase sun screen)
We're not big on traveling over major summer holidays. it's just too busy with only 2 highways out of Anchorage.
Nope, I'm all about chillaxin' this weekend.

Right now, it's a little after 8am and I'm taking my little break and eating my left over tamale, rice and beans from yesterday's lunch.
Yes, mexican food at 8am. The perks of being with child.

Onto girl loves......

Well, I gotta start with some SC love.

Plenty left in the shop! 
And please do check out the dt gallery. My fellow scrappers amaze me each and every month.

This tweens room. (via Design Mom)

I love how they did this on the cheap.  

Salted Caramel Brownies (via Pioneer Woman)
Me and brownies are like this. (insert finger cross)
Seriously can't wait to try this recipe. I first came across salted caramel candies in Seattle and thought..ewe...but oh no, it was the perfect balance of sweetness and I just can't eat regular caramels anymore.

This. (via Wit+Delight)
For no other reason but the mystery & glamor. Who is she and where is she going with that hot dress and to die for slingbacks? 

This outfit which looks almost identical to my weekend wear. (via Pretty Mommy found by following above link. Don't you just love when one blog leads to another awesome blog?)
flowy tee, check. destroyed jeans, check. gray chucks, check. camel leather bag, check. the only thing thats different for me arethe cuffs. I rarely leave the house without my Coach bangle but I do love the cuffs shown.
 
  
Nothing says summer light fresh berries. (via Paper Tissueon Tumblr. wish I knew the original photographer)
 

Now I'm really ready for the weekend.
Any big plans for you? 
Whatever they are please be safe when traveling and enjoy the summer kick off! 
XOXOXO:) 
T
 

girl shares favorite paint techniques....

....over at the Studio Calico blog. 
 

girl loves friday!

fo' shizzle.
I'm in a silly mood this morning because it is gorgeous outside. Simply gorgeous.
The sun is brightly shining, the trees and grass are getting green, and I plan on skipping out of work a few hours early.
Yesssss.
Plus the kings are running and I know the guys are happy about that. (kings=salmon=yummy)
Nothing better than freshly caught salmon baked on the grill with some salt, pepper and few slices of lemon.
As I type this post, I look down to admire my freshly manicured nails.
Turquoise is the color, inspired by my friend.
Not sure if this is something I can fully pull off since my skin is so pale but it's fun for summer days.
Oh and let me add 2 more things to not say to not only a pregnant woman but one who has struggled to become pregnant. Granted these 2 ladies where "joking", I just didn't care for their comments.
1. "I'm sorry" (said from the snake in the grass employee)
2. "You whore" (said from the 20 something, potty mouthed employee)
I kid you not.
And because I could really care less about the opinions of these 2 women, I'm brushing it off but I thought I would give you an idea of what I'm working with.

Onto girl loves.

I'm seeing so many beautiful things from the stationary show. Wish I was there. (via Old So Beautiful Paper)
Ink + Wit stamps. so cute.
Sapling & Press. what I want our baby announcements to look like.

This quote: (via Kind Over Matter)
 

Studio Calico rubber stamps:
 Creeping my way back into creative life. More picture taking, more personal scrapbooking.
 
Online magazines. (just found this one and I looove. I cannot wait to share my camera with my young one)

So true for me, especially Friday nights. (can't remember where I originally found this)
 

happy friday!
t

I will never forget the struggle.

I've been meaning to write this post since I first became pregnant.
I know there are still quite a few of you who have followed my blog and who have shared the same path of struggling with infertility.
Even though I'm pregnant now after 4 years of trying, I will never forget the struggles and heartache and the whole self discovery process infertility has brought me, not to mention what's it's done for our marriage.

With so many pregnancy announcements, I know they are bittersweet.
I know the feeling. You're happy for that person but.... not that happy.
I'm not sure what the right thing to say to you at this point since I am pregnant now. I hated the usual "hang in there, it'll happen", "try not to think about it, and poof, it'll just happen". Yeah right.
I did try that and you know what? It didn't work, not for me at least.
What I can offer is some insight as to why I think it happened for me this year.
Of course I did have an IUI. I had no major issues, did all the testing and was basically put into the "unexplained category". Very helpful (said with the utmost sarcasm)
We decided 3 IUI's at the most. Then it was time for another path.
When the 3rd came along, I had done a lot of soul searching and crying and came to the conclusion that I was ready to give up on conceiving. What I was not going to give up on was becoming a mother.
I had plans to meet with a woman who had adopted a baby from China. She would share her contacts and fill me in on the process. My husband and I were set on making the journey East to bring home a child.
I was completely and totally content with our decision.
So when I lay on the table, knees in the air, I felt at peace. That was so different than my last IUI's.
I wondered and hoped and prayed I would get pregnant where as this last procedure, I lied there, reading Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential (Jamaica's book recommendation) and waited for the nurse to come in to tell me I could leave. Of course I said a little prayer and left it in God's hands.
I feel know the combination of being content and at peace with my outcome no matter what it would be, played a huge part in my pregnancy. I fully trusted my future and his plans. No doubt what so ever.
I know that sounds easy but it's not for a woman who has been trying to conceive for so long.
But through this journey, I have learned a great deal about myself.
For one, I'm secure in the woman that I am today.
I know it's ok to let go and cry and to show weakness.
I learned to lean on others. That was so hard for me to do.
I learned how to pick myself up after falling hard.
I love my husband more now than I ever have before. He has been the biggest support and overall comfort.
I learned to not only stay positive for a short amount of time but to embrace only positive thinking as a whole. I still have days where I'm a grump, I'm not even going to front about that.
And I'm not going to act like an spokesperson for infertility. I know there are those who have been through far more painful procedures and have tried for many, many years.
This is just my story.
Don't give up, just let go.

(photo via Kind Over Matter)

10 things.

1. Microwave bacon isn't half bad.
2. I've got a bit of a chip on my shoulder this morning for no particular reason other than being tired and not wanting to get out of bed.
3. I'm addicted to June's kit. Pretty much all of my faves from CHA.

4. I will probably never go back to the Glacier Brewhouse to eat again after yet another bad service. I can just recreate their delicious blue cheese salad. 
5. It was a nice weekend to go to the market. I got my bag of mini cinnamon donuts. 
6. I feel like the only thing that will get me through this day is my Band Of Horses Pandora mix and making said blue cheese salad. 
7. I've got 3 mini book covers made but no pages. 
8. I added the movie Eastern Promises to my top ten.
9. I want to go home and scrap and take a nap.
10. People are starting to talk around my office wondering if I'm pregnant. I'm to the point where I can suck in my gut anymore. 

That's all. 
T
 

Girl Loves Friday!!!!!

mmm...it's so comforting to know that this time tomorrow I will be sleeping in and snuggling with Jeff and the pup. I'm also thinking of heading downtown for the market. I'm seriously craving those fresh mini cinnamon donuts that you get still warm from the fryer. That will be my first stop. Maybe my only since the market is geared towards tourists and I'm not needing any kind of native art or alaska sausage at the moment.

I will then be lock down in my home to finish up editing and burning the photos I took from my first wedding shoot. I have one more wedding and that will be it for me. I knew it was going to be a lot of work but you never know if you're good at something until you try. After this past shoot I feel I'm 1. not good at directing a large group of people 2. not good at the constant go, go, go. The most important aspect is that it wasn't fun and it's definitely not my type of photography. Don't get me wrong, the wedding itself was a joyful occasion and a fun one at that but actually working at a wedding was not. I also did not enjoy the neck cramp I endured a week afterwords due the heavy lens I chose to use and 3 weeks of editing. It's one thing if this was my sole profession but it's not. I work a regular job and to be quite honest, the last thing I want to do when I get home from work, especially now that I'm pregnant, is to get back in front of a computer and edit, edit, edit.

So what's my type of photography? I'm much more comfortable with newborns and individuals. I like the slower pace and the one on one interaction much much better. It suits my personality much more as well. It's so delightful to work with young ones  than a huge group of adults on a day of rushing around. I always admired those wedding photographers that take stunning photographs and now have great respect for what they do.

Onto girl loves.

So I'm starting to be on the lookout for cute baby stuff and one of the important things on my list is a cute diaper bag. I know, not really super important but I don't want to get into clothes and nursery stuff right now. The thing is, I'm having a really hard time finding one I like until I saw this one.

 I must have it. It doesn't even look like a diaper bag and that's what I love the most. (found via Ohdeedoh)

I also want to brush up on my sewing skills so I can make a few of my own crib sheets. How inspiring is this classroom? 

I've always liked chocolate and ice cream but now I crave it daily. I've been stopping in Baskin Robbins once a week for a quart of my favorite ice cream ever, World Class Chocolate but It's getting spendy and I'm looking for other ways to satisfy my craving. I came upon this recipe and I knew this would be it.
 You had me at hello.

This girls style minus the cancer stick.
 
a few of my favorite stamps getting the pink slip. get 'em before they're gone! my favorite add on that includes most of my picks from CHA winter 2010. washi tape!!
Sneak Peeks for June's kit and add on's here. 
 

Happy Friday!
T