A Thousand Words A Day

Most teachers think that by cutting class, I might improve my grades.

2011-02-25T17:44:00.000-08:00

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

I have had a very hard time with this one.

I can't immediately think of a person I'd love to trade places with for a day.

My dog? Absolutely.
There's nothing more appealing than sleeping.all.day.

At the moment, I'd like to trade places with someone who does not have allergies.

I guess if it would be anyone, I would pick someone from the Glee cast. They just look like they have fun.

And Britney? She's the funnest of them all. Hands down!

If you're vaguely attracted to roof tops

2011-02-24T18:44:00.000-08:00

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

I don't even know where to start on this one.
Well, I do know where to start.
By plugging my external hard drive in and searching pictures.

Searching for a memory. (Right now, I just can't scan a picture. But I may incorporate one into the scrapbook I keep kidding myself about making out of this project.)

Here it is.
Guatemala 2008

This trip was where I stood atop a water slide in the mountains while the lightning flashed around me and the thunder rolled in the distance. I climbed a volcano and fell down once I got to the top. I went to the market place, and held babies all day long. I went to a third-world hospital and saw what it was like in a country with socialized medicine. I stared into the stars from a bus while Phil Wickham's Cannons played through my iPod. I came closer to finding out who I was in Guatemala in 2008. Much closer.

And if you're partial to the night skies...

2011-02-23T18:30:00.000-08:00

Day Four- A picture of your night.

I could go several different directions with this picture.
I could take a picture of the laptop on my lap, with my bare feet poking out behind it.
I could take a picture of my dinner on my coffee table.
I could take a picture of my toothbrush, night time meds (I love you melatonin!), and face wipes. But I won't.
I could take a picture of Daisy asleep on the pillow by my side (but that could be any time of day.)

Instead, I went to the favorite part of my night: right before bed:

Every night, I try to get to bed by 9, to get maximum relaxation time. I play a little iTouch (Angry Birds), and then read my Kindle to really relax.

And you feel free to ooh and aah over that there pillow. It's sooooooo soft, and The Aunt made it for me. Lay my head down at night on a soft puppy's-fur soft pillow? Yes, I think I will.

Look at my arms flailing. I'm like a flamingo on Ritalin.

2011-02-22T17:20:00.000-08:00

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

This is my favorite show! It's one of two shows that I watch repeats of whenever I get the chance. I laugh every time, and send texts with the quotes to The Aunt. I get so excited when I can say Bazinga and someone else understands me!

Here are second and third runners up, while I am on the subject:

bones

glee

Day Two

2011-02-21T19:34:00.000-08:00

Picture Challenge Day Two

For the entire list of challenges, see here.

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.
That's easy - peasy.

It's me and The Aunt. She's the person that's been there and back with me. She knows my secrets. She knows why I'm the way that I am, good and bad. She's there to back me up when I need it, and if I ever need to hide a body, well... I'd go to the BFF for that, but I tell her about it and she wouldn't judge.

(I was going to put a better picture of me up- you know, one where I don't have eight chins- but I couldn't find one right away, and I just wasn't in the mood to look.)

Thirty Day Challenge- Day One

2011-02-20T15:46:00.000-08:00

So, I've been absent from this little place for roughly two months, and at one point last week, I was just going to delete the whole thing. And I still might.

To get my creative juices flowing again, and mainly because I want to document this, but not on my main blog, I'm doing a little thirty day challenge, involving pictures. It looks fun, and I'll probably scrapbook it, since I can apparently only scrapbook if I have a project for it.

Oh, and I decided to start this today, because it's 30 days before my birthday.
And then last night, I did the math, and discovered that my birthday is in 29 days.
Ah, February.
And that means I'm a day behind.
It shouldn't be any other way.

Without further ado, here's day one:

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts

1. I've been to two painting classes, and I am not only addicted, but think I'm an actual painter.
2. I'm totally digging the banjo sound right now.
3. I'm on the fence about whether I should get an iPhone.
4. I never sit at my dining room table to eat. I'm always at the coffee table, and I hate it, but I still never go to the table.
5. For two days straight now, I've taken about 3 hour naps. I feel lazy, but I think I've needed it.
6. I am three weeks behind on my yearbook deadline. THREE WEEKS!
7. I don't really care that I'm three weeks behind, and no one else seems to either.
8. I have tomorrow off from work which leaves me exactly NO sense of urgency to do ANYTHING.
9. It's a smidge of a challenge to put this list together today for some reason.
10. I need to get up and get ready to go to the movies now.

Here is the list for the challenge:

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your night
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory
Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Day 19 - A picture and a letter
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

December Second

2010-12-02T16:14:00.000-08:00

Before:

You may notice that it looks an awful lot like the first.

I didn't have anything planned on the second day of December, so I was going to just put my Christmas CD in there, but then the BFF called me up and said "hey! Let's go watch the longest parade ever" and so I went. We didn't know it would be the longest parade ever at the time, but we went and found that out the hard way.

After:

The picture in the bottom left is my favorite ever. As usual I hate the journaling.

I'm loving the credit card sized photos I'm printing. Long story, maybe for another post...

December First

2010-12-01T15:53:00.000-08:00

I've decided to document my December Daily a little differently in the electronic form. I'm going to do a post here every day for it, and add it to a master post. If I can figure that out.

For every one, I want to tell a story about it, as if I'm talking to you, and that's just too much to do on the regular blog. So here's the space for it.

Here's Day One:

Before:

After:

Now, apparently, we've gone from sideways to completely upside down. Awesome.

This is so far one of my favorite pages. I'm going to put in My Modern Christmas, that I've listened to when I haven't given the cd away to someone. I've given out about 12 copies of it. Don't tell iTunes.

It also has my sleeve from the Starbucks cup, and the picture is of my annual Starbucks ornament, that I love as much as any other ornament.

I hate the journaling, but I pretty much hate all forms of journaling that I do with my hands. But I don't have a printer, so I don't do it digitally.

Each day I'll jot down for my own memory what I like and don't like about each page, ideas for next year, and probably whine a lot about not liking my journaling.

December Daily Foundations...

2010-11-23T07:18:00.000-08:00

At least... what I've finished of the December Daily foundations. Which is Dec. 1-4. I wanted to get through at least the 8th or 9th, but I also wanted to watch Monday night television on Monday night, which is something I rarely get to do due to Young Life.

Here's what's going down so far:

I'm using an 8 x 8 clear acrylic album, and I think I may use this same album forever and ever more amen. It's great, and opens up a wonderful world of creativity for me:

Here's the finished look for the cover. (Yes, I know the #1 is missing. Haven't decided what to do with that yet.)

But here's what's tricky and wonderful about the clear acrylic album. That believe glittery word... it's not attached to the paper.

It's attached to the clear acrylic cover. That's the part that makes me squeal with delight. The extra dimension it gives the album makes me so happy!

Here's the inside paper cover. I love the green background, with the calendar on top. I bought a sheet of those calendars a while back, and I've gotten my $3.99 use out of them.

And those white numbers? I rubbed them on one.at.a.time. And not even "23" together. The 2, then the 3. Lord have mercy I was ready to quit.

Now, the days. This is always the hardest part for me, because I have a general idea of what's happening in the month of December (I'm a planner), but I won't know about the spontaneous things that come up, nor will I be sure I get any pictures, and what if I have some trinkets or papers that I need to include?

Welcome to why it's so slow going. So, I'm making them very basic, and still struggling with finding papers that match the facing page. I am my own worst enemy.

So, here's Dec. 1. It's a very generic page, where I typically show pictures of my decorations. The tag says "Trimming the Tree".

Dec. 2
Songs of the Season. I have very little planned on this day, so I'll put in a cd of songs that I've listened to this year, as I've found much more new music than usual. I'll document the songs on the journaling tag at the bottom.

The spread together.

Dec. 3- two-page spread. Sideways, of course.
This day is my student teacher's last day. So I used the teacher-y stickers to denote that.

This day is also the Children's Christmas Party at church. It's also my staff Christmas party at church, but I don't mind missing it one bit.

Here's the day's spread.

And finally, Dec. 4. I have absolutely nothing planned that day, so I haven't even adhered it to the acrylic album yet, lest I decide I want to use a brad or something to attach something to the page.

And there is what I've gotten so far. Dec. 1-4. Hopefully today I can get through day ten today. In between appointments, and cleaning the house to get all of the Christmas stuff out.

Yeah. I don't see that happening, but we'll see.

Not all blank canvases are square

2010-11-22T18:15:00.000-08:00

That's been my mantra as of late. I've been thinking about all of the wonderful things I want to do and they all start with non-square canvases.

Yesterday evening's project has been milling around in my brain for so very long. I figured out what I wanted to do, and then quietly collected the materials. Yesterday I was hit with a sudden urgency in making the project, so I headed out to the grape vine and got the final piece.

See, my wonderful and most favorite pair of shoes of all time ever have been worn so much that my toe pokes out of a hole in the top of them. Not kidding. I've worn and loved them that much.

So, I headed out to Grapevine to get a new pair of Toms, because the in-town supplier I have is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and I couldn't wait until Tuesday to do this project. I went online last night to decide on the color, and walked right in and picked them right up. I had to work hard to resist another burlap pair, but I'm happy with this choice.

Then, came the embellishment. See, Toms are okay, but once I got my super-awesome hand-painted and designed for me pair for my birthday, I couldn't settle for just a regular olive green pair. It had to have some of me on it.

I found these iron-on flowers this summer, and ironed them on to a cammo hat for camp. I loved it and it turned out beautifully. I knew they had to go on other things. Just wasn't sure what.

This is my favorite picture of the Toms. I think it's very artsy and it shows off the shoes.

I just wanted something very feminine for my shoes.

Now I just have to go and break them in.

Oh, and I hate how my feet look in these Toms. I think I have old lady feet!!

Did I invent hip hop? No, but I was there...

2010-11-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

A shot of my notebook that started the kraft paper covering phase.

As per usual, I'm just not sure why my photos are always turning sideways.

Little of this and that

2010-11-20T19:45:00.000-08:00

I'm itching to be creative again soon.

Of course, it helps that I went to a mall that had a place called "Paper Source" and I might have wanted to die there. Oh the joys of it that I cannot express.

I wanted to share a few pictures to show you what's on my creative plate lately.

Some notebooks I got at the Paper Source. Don't know if I'm going to embellish them, or what exactly I'm going to do with them.

Now, for my new obsession as of late. About two Falls ago, I got some kraft paper book covers from Target on super-clearance after school had already started. Then, this fall, due to a miscommunication with my team regarding composition books, I ended up with 25 extra composition books, but was only out a quarter a piece. And since I use them for everything, it's not a big deal.

My new obsession combines the two. I needed a new notebook for this year's YoungLife meetings and such, so I covered one with kraft paper and then embellished at will. ( I still don't think I'm done yet). Since I had the composition books laying around, and the kraft paper laying around, I decided to go ahead and cover them to serve as a blank canvas for the next time I needed them. Can't wait to see what I will be able to do with them.

Of course, I had to work on one, just because I had the stuff out and the inspiration had already hit. Just don't know to whom I should give this.

I saved the left-over rolls from the kraft paper composition books, because I have something in mind for them.

And then. Then.

I got out my Christmas playthings. I decided (rather spur-of-the-moment) today that I would do another December Daily album. I've started two, and completed exactly none. I'm hoping this year will be different, because my work is so much more relaxed and I'm in a better place than I was last year at this time.

I've decided to do an 8 x 8 album, and found the one I wanted to use at the Hob Lob. It's got a couple of interesting features that will open me up to some creative ideas and features. We'll see how it goes.

And finally, this.

I've got an idea for this stuff.

It could be a cute, fabulous idea.

It could also go up in creative flames.

We'll see what happens for the next few days.

I didn't mean for you to have to wait that long

2010-11-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

So, it appears that I've kept you hanging a smidge long. I teased with a little crafty project I was working on.

One of my friends turned 40, and I wanted to make something special for her special day.

I pulled out one of my wooden boards from Canton, and then decided what I wanted it to say, and how I wanted to do it. And that totally worked out for me. Like, totally.
I painted the part I wanted lettered black. I used a bunch of stickers I got from Big Lots, for $1. I might have bought about $25 worth, but that is neither here nor there. I covered up the black with the stickers.

Then, I spray painted the entire board red, including the letters. And let it dry.

I peeled the stickers off one by one with tweezers. It.was.brutal. None of the letters came off in one piece. I may have said some inappropriate words over the special sign I made my friend.

When I was done, the words came through the negative space. I don't think that's the right artistic term, but it was a pretty cool effect that I'm fighting the urge to try again.

As a finished step, I painted the border the same black that the words were showing in, and voila! A beautiful sign for a beautiful friend!

Wait for it...

2010-09-09T11:33:00.000-07:00

I have been creative as of late, and I was going to post my newest creation after I got back from church last night.

It's for a dear sweet sister's birthday 4.0, so I had to wait until last night when it was given to her to put the pictures up.

But Hurricane Harry Potter took up residence over our little hamlet, and so church was cancelled lest the church took on water and 9.1.1. needed to be called.

So you'll have to wait a whole week to see the mahvelous and frustrating new project that I was inspired to create.

A little Mraz-inspired art

2010-07-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

Mraz's song "Details in the Fabric" has been haunting me a little.
I knew I had to do something with the lyrics, specifically the chorus.

I wrote them on the inside of my new journal, but that wasn't enough.

They needed their very own canvas.
And I've needed to explore canvas painting for some time now.

The finished project:

Summer To-Do List

2010-06-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hi! Remember me?
I used to do crafty stuff.
Sometimes I still do.

Here’s my latest crafty project. I needed something quick and simple to ease my way back into the craft world. So, when I saw a very simple and very cute idea on another craft site, I jumped right on that bandwagon and made it right up.

Materials:

- 11.75” x 36” frame (mine actually ended up being 12 x 36)

- fun scrap paper

- sharpie

It’s so simple, I could do it!

First, make your header. I took a 6” x 12” sheet of paper. The original instructions said 8”, but that looked huge to me! I loved this paper because it had a little bit of notebook paper feel to it, which was a little reminiscent of school, but the flowers reminded me of summer. Then, I took my American Crafts Thickers in summery colors and added my header. I just decided to put the title, and later added the '2010'

Next, I pulled out the long paper from the frame. This wasn't on the original instructions, but it works for me. I used the long paper as the base on which to adhere the header and strips. I put the header on the paper, and began to cut my strips.

I found bunches of papers that I liked, and cut them into 1.5" strips. It doesn't matter that they didn't all go together perfectly. As soon as I got them all cut, I did go through and put them in a different order to see which ones went better together a bit.

Then, I just adhered them to the long sheet of paper.

Replace the glass (or in my case, plastic-glass-ish material).

Finally, write your to-do list on the plastic-ish-glass-ness with the sharpie marker.

Then, hang on the wall and start marking off the list!

blogs I'm reading (a.k.a. photoshop attacks again)

2010-04-17T10:25:00.000-07:00

So here's another part of the "life right now" pages of my project.

Blogs I love. Since this one is not a standard size (7.5 x 7.5), I'll have to print it on the color printer at school.

It took some mad computer skillz to pull this one off. Mad computer skillz.

And yes, my photoshopping has gotten a bit out of control.

At least there are cookies.

More about the project

2010-04-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

So, I'm still working here and there on getting everything together.
Ali Edwards has been getting her stuff together for two weeks in preparation of her documenting next week.
I decided Wednesday night that I'd start on Thursday morning.

Yeah, I'm doing this a bit in the wrong order. But I think that may be more successful for me.

One other thing I'm doing for this album: not buying anything new.

See, I'm a scrapbook-supply-hoarder.
I buy things that inspire me and then don't do a darn thing with them.
For years.

But then, when I start to work on a project, I find them and get re-inspired, and have gleeful little moments in my apartment. For example, I was looking through papers to find backgrounds for this project, and I discovered these little file folder tabs. And the calendar. There were exactly enough for me to do one for each day of the week and have one that designates my "Life Right Now" section.

And the calendar. I can use it for my intro page. I had a lot of fun with that part of it. The letters "april" are my favorite stickers ever. If I could do every layout in them, I would.

But those nifty days of the week label... Individual stickers. Thus the tweezers. And my headache. And sore fingers.

All in the name of creativity.

Another photoshop project

2010-04-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

So, I'm bitten by the photoshop bug...for the moment.
One of the things I want to document this week is my iTouch and the aps I love to play with. I took screenshots of several of them, and put eight in a quick little 5 x 7 picture.

These 5 x 7 pictures are going to cost me an arm and a leg. But I want them.

Thursday

2010-04-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

I've already decided that I'm going to play with photoshop a lot during this process of documenting the week in my life.

Here's today's pictures. Lots of stuff happening, plus a little "oh-so-daily" shot of Daisy and my desk. I'm going to print this out 5 x 7 and try to feature one 5 x 7 picture. I'm afraid this is going to get expensive.

Week in the Life

2010-04-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

So, um, I had to view this blog to remember what it looked like.
It's been that long.

I'm starting the "A Week in the Life" project that Ali Edwards is doing on her blog. I started it last year. I got as far as getting all the materials gathered. I printed a whole three pictures.

And then I stuffed it in an envelope.

She's doing her project Mon. - Sun. but I'm doing mine Thurs. to Wed. I babysit a couple kids next Thursday, and I've got lots going on between now and then. Like science experiments, a YL fundraiser, and a few other things here and there. So, I'm documenting that part of my week.

I'm going to have an opening section that documents my life right now:
- tv shows I'm watching
- music I'm listening to
- things in the news
- projects I'm working on
- blogs I read
- aps I love

Then, I'll do a daily recap:
- things to do list
- expenses for the day
- conversations I have
- pictures I've taken

We'll see just how far I get...

Oh Good Lord, she's pulled out her sewing machine.

2010-04-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

I have a sewing machine, and I am afraid to use it.
Without strict supervision.

I made some fabulous baby slings a while back for my trip to Guatemala, and haven't really had a project to inspire me to bring it out again.

For a project that only requires straight line sewing, because I'm still a little fuzzy even on that one.

Because while I was surfing the interwebs for something else, I found this:
And so after I decided to definitely do this project immediately, I decided to surf the site and see what else they had to offer. And I was alarmed.

From this site, you can find tutorials to make a varitey of Pokemon related projects, a few Tim Burton inspired items, and an alarming number of Harry Potter-themed crochet items.

I was afraid to click on the tribal fusion pants made out of crazy skull fabric. I'm not even sure what that means!

And as for the project, here you go:

It was not exactly as easy as they said. I might tell you about it tomorrow.

A quick Easter necklace

2010-04-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

I've been gone for so long. I haven't been crafting at all.
And especially as of late, it's shown in my mood and attitude.
I haven't really had a reason to craft for some time.

Until I got my Easter dress. I am in love with my Easter dress. I've been attracted to ruffles as of late. They just scream femininity, which is something I struggle with- my own femininity. I am hardly a dainty little flower. So this called my name and fit just right.

I love the ruffly top, so it needed just the right accessory. And I'm not an accessory girl. So I tried my pearls, but it turns out they're choker length and that will.not.do. My mother's pearls are a little long and very fragile, so they were a no go as well. Then, I saw this tutorial and decided to make my own. With a French flair, because I think my dress is a smidge French.

I gathered all of my materials. I had some paper from an old French book, and a perfectly-sized rub-on of a fleur de lis. I also had a glass gem saved from a project I never completed.

I used the marble to trace the paper. (I actually doubled the paper and cut two circles- I wasn't sure how the rub-on would look).

Then, I put the perfect little rub-on on top of the paper. Have I mentioned that this fit perfectly? And that I love it? And that it's perfect?

Then I mod-podged the marble on top. Isn't it pretty? Isn't it perfect?

The tutorial said to use a bail to attach it, but good Lord I couldn't find one, so I had to improvise. I used a make-your-own-clip-on-earing back and attached it to the necklace with my favorite E-6000 glue.

Then, it was just a matter of figuring out what to put it on. I didn't want to introduce the black into the outfit (I'm accessorizing with pearls), and didn't have a pale pink ribbon to tie it on. I did, however, find a strand of fake pink pearls while looking through my ribbon stash. So I decided to attach it to that instead.

Here is the finished product, roughly fifteen minutes start to finish. And I love it and it is perfect and I feel very French while wearing it.

All in all, I'm glad I save everything, like the marble gem and the pearl strand. Otherwise I wouldn't have my lovely and perfect necklace!

Back to Basics

2010-02-12T20:08:00.000-08:00

Just when I think it's time to change the background of this bad boy, we get record snowfall, and the snowy theme is again appropriate.

We've had a couple of days off due to the snow, and I've taken loads of pictures to document it.
I decided to go back to basics to and just block scrap it. One of the pictures will be changed, but otherwise, I think I kind of like it:

As usual, I have no idea why they are sideways.

It's about time I finished some kind of project...

2010-01-25T17:13:00.000-08:00

When I moved out on my own (you know, in 2003) a coworker gave me this great piece for my entry. It had hooks and a shelf and a mirror and places for pictures. It was great.

The pictures were from about 2003 as well. Please do not look at the shoes in the bucket, even if that was the best organizational thing I've ever done.

Anyway. I loved the utility of the hooks. I kept my keys there and never lost them. I kept Daisy's leash there, and it was easy to access and hang up.

However, it was dark, and had no red on it, and it stuck out a little and it wasn't my favorite. I toyed with the idea of putting a chalkboard there, so I could write myself notes, because for the life of me I cannot remember things like 'take out the trash' and 'don't forget your lunch'.

So I decided to take it down and make myself a chalkboard to go there. I have chalkboard paint and the unpainted front of a cabinet. I painted the inner section with chalkboard paint, and painted the outer section with red paint.

I still thought it was a little plain, and I had nowhere to hang the keys or leash. In the two days that it has been off the wall, I've misplaced my keys once and Daisy's leash once. It still needed hooks.

I have a couple of different options for hooks, but I really liked the ones on the old piece. So I just took them off the old piece and put them on the new one. I got to use my drill and my screwdriver. And I didn't use that many curse words. I was pretty proud of myself.

Here's the finished product. I added a few subtle scrapbooking stickers to the corners to make it just a smidge more dainty.

Now, I can write myself notes and still have a place to hang my keys and leash (and a fun old purse and a little angel from a friend that I think I will keep up year-round.)

The shelf is missing, but at the time it was taken off the wall, it held a small Christmas tree, a headband, a can of spray something or other, a pair of gloves, a pair of sunglasses, and a button.

The shelf won't be missed.

True creating

2010-01-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

First of all, yes... I am still creating.
I've got a few projects in my head and I'm trying to bring them to life.

But I wanted you all to know one thing about creating.
It doesn't always work out perfectly:

Someone got a little messy with the mod podge. Which led to the paper tearing.

Luckily, I only paid $2 for the nekked wood and about 50 cents for the paper.

I'm going to keep trying...

I'm working on it!

2009-12-22T19:03:00.000-08:00

If you read my other blog, you know that my life is so interesting right now that I wrote an entire post about a computer virus.

I had some time on my hands. So, why not get my freaking december daily past the 3rd already!

Sorry for the language. It's been incomplete and taunting me from the dining room table.
It's said some rude things about me.

It was just time to show it who's boss.

I have been collecting all of the pictures and ideas since the first, but just haven't put them together.
Now, I've got the layouts decided, and the pictures glued down, but I still need to do the journaling and add the embellishments.

That may or may not happen before Christmas.
I'll post pictures either way.

I'm forcing myself to get this finished before I work on my New Year project, that I'm all of a sudden excited about.

Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian

2009-12-20T19:57:00.000-08:00

For a couple of days, The Beatles has been bouncing around my head. Today added fuel to the fire.
I spent the day watching The Sing Off, followed by Across the Universe.
Creatively, it was the best decision I've made in a while.

Today's creative adventures are brought to you by the word chandeleir. I'm pretty sure that's not how it's spelled, but it's the word of the day nonetheless. And I'm not going to share today's creative breakthroughs, my magnum opus if you will. They were a Christmas present, and The Aunt might stumble upon this here little site, so I've got to be super secretive until the 25th.

For today's show and tell, I'll let you in on what I did yesterday.
About a zillion years ago, I found a project to make your own "designer" plate on television. Bought the stuff. Then couldn't decide what to put on the plate.

Finally decided to do it this weekend. Friday afternoon/evening.

First, I printed out the picture I wanted, and taped it to the back of the plate.

Then, I traced the image on the front side of the plate with a fine-point sharpie.

I found it helped if I slid a piece of plain paper between the plate and the drawing, just so I could see where I had drawn. It also made me feel better about the progress I was making.

When I was done tracing, I flipped the plate upside down so I could get to painting. I just painted the bottom in the lines I'd drawn with a paint pen.

Here's the finished product... so far. When I saw it on television, they painted the design on the bottom, and then painted the background, so make it a solid plate with the design on it.

Still haven't decided if I was going to do that or not. We'll see. I just love it like this. My aunt said to do it on a set of salad plates for her.

The plate was less than $2 at the Walmark. I have a salad sized one as well.

But this is not even my favorite project. I'll tell you about that one the day after Christmas.

Do innkeeper's wives have naturally curly hair?

2009-12-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

What have I been up to in the crafty department (because it certainly hasn't been the December Daily)?

J. Crew-inspired barrettes and headbands. Well, it would be headbands if I made more than the one...

The J. Crew headbands are around $20 in the stores, and I don't even pay that much for shoes, much less headbands that I don't even know if I will keep in my hair all day.

Also, I've been exploring the more feminine side of me, and have always longed to be that girl with the flower in her hair.

So, I got this big bunch of flowers half off from Hobby Lobby, and some barrettes and some E6000 glue, and voila! Less than $1 barettes and headbands.

This is going to be one of those big flowers at the back of a pony tail or bun. I have one that I made a while back that is pure white, and I wear it during the summer. It makes me feel very girly.

Finally, I have a few more flowers, because I've been asked by a few friends to make them flowers similar to the ones I wear in my hair from time to time.

Oh, and here's a picture I took of myself with a flower in my hair.

When I went to a party.
That no available boys were at.
And then went to church.
Where no available boys were at.
Shoulda worn sweats and a ponytail.

December 1

2009-12-03T18:26:00.000-08:00

I am a little slow on my December Daily, but I'm happy with how it's coming along nonetheless.
Here's day one. Presented on Dec. 3rd. It's how I roll...

Sorry the first picture is flash heavy and the second is blurry.
Long day.

I typically have my decorations up the day or so after Thanksgiving, so I typically dedicate day one to my decorations. And by typically, I mean both last year and this year.

I have three trees. Two at home and one at school. My "primary" tree at home is not fully ornamented yet, so I just took a picture of my favorite part: the star.

On the other page, I put up my decorations. I am trying some new stuff with my decorations, and I'm loving it. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll be able to put together both day two and day three. And I know that tomorrow is day four.

Joy to the World Garland

2009-11-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

I think a new little personal tradition I started last year was to craft a new decoration of some sort for the season. Last year, I made an advent calendar. Not my favorite, may redo it, but it’s a good start.

A zillion months ago, I ordered this Joy To The World Garland kit from Oriental Trading. You can’t go wrong with the Oriental Trading kit, because they send you everything you need, right? Except…instructions.

When I ordered the kit, I wanted it to look just like picture from when I ordered it. Except I can’t find that picture anywhere. So I’ve got to do it on my own.

Here’s what I have to work with. This is what I’m doing during the Florida game. I will have to try very very hard not to paint the letters orange and blue. I make no promises.

First, I had some decisions to make. I have all these pieces, and all of the double-sided paper to use. The paper came in greens, pinks, and blues, which was a challenge for me as my decorations are red, green, and silver. So, I decided to only use the green sides of papers and paint the chipboard letters silver.

As you can see, that went real well. Four coats later, it resembles something silvery. Four coats. There are now four coats of silver paint on my fingernails as well as a coat or two on my pants.

While the four coats of paint were drying, I traced out the paper to the size of the chipboard backing. I used Mod Podge as an adhesive this time, just to try it out, and I’m quite pleased with the work.

Then, I used regular adhesive to get the silver letters to stick to the background. I also used stars to separate the words. I had to cover them in old scrapbook papers, because I wanted a little more red in the project.

I needed to figure out how I was going to hang this sucker. I wasn’t sure where I was going to hang it, but when I figured out how I wanted to hang it, I instantly knew where it would end up. I got some clothespins I have from the classroom, and used scraps to cover them to match the back of the letters. I took some of the leftover chipboard and stuck those on the clothespins to add a little something. Turns out it just added busyness…

Here’s the finished project on my stunningly beautiful plastic vertical blinds. Don’t be jealous of the blinds. They match my ridiculously pitiful carpeting. But that’s a whole other post…

December Daily Progress

2009-11-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

So, it's noon, and I was totally going to be at the gym by now.

Let's talk about December Daily. I wanted to be completely done with the whole project by now. I'm not. I'm on day 7.

I had a really hard time with this. Last year, I sat down for a whole day and did the whole project in almost one sitting (a girl's gotta get up and eat some mashed potatoes, you know). This year, not so much.

I almost quit three times. I was trying so hard to go all over-the-top with the decorations and such. When I gave up on those ambitions, it started to come together.

Also, I gave up on the idea of doing it sequentially. I wanted to sit down and start at day one and finish at day 31. When I gave up that idea and started with day 7, I was able to let go and get it together. I started with 7 and filled in the days after that. Now that day 7's done, I'm going to jump to the teens before going back to day 8.

For the sake of my living room and my couches, I hope I can get the rest of it put together soon. Real soon.

Here are the pictures of what I've gotten done so far. Naturally, several of my pictures are in portrait mode, because that's just how technology works for me.

Day one: Showing off pictures of the Christmas decorations in my house. Hopefully I'll actually have them up before December 1. If not, I can still put them in there when I get them put up.

December 2: music of the season. I want to document some of the old favorites and some of the new favorites.

December 3
I'm taking the day off of school to go to Canton with Wendy. We should have great fun and there will be lots of laughter and wonderful Canton-y finds. I. can't. wait.

December 4.
Nothing on the agenda for the day. We'll just see what that particular Friday holds. Maybe something fun and classroom related.

December 5.
Why orange?
That's the day of the SEC Championship game, which promises to be the best game of the season. I refused to use the traditional Christmas red because that's one of Alabama's colors, and I will absolutely not even entertain that in the scrapbook. At all.

December 6.
Sorry it's sideways. Don't know what's up with that.
These two days are dedicated to the Hanging of the Green at church. I love the decorations at church, so I want to document them.

December 7.
YL Ice Skating.
This promises to be both fun and hilarious. That's why it got two pages. That and the paper was beautiful.

There you have it, the first quarter of my album done. We'll see how the rest of the book goes...

Holidays in Hand

2009-11-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

I am taking an online "class" by Jessica Sprague called Holidays in Hand.

I'm hoping to have a more creative Christmas, and take some time this year for reflection.

The December Daily album from last year didn't go so well. I made a beautiful album that I was very proud of, and filled out for a few days, and then it just faded away.

This class has some very different ideas in it. Instead of focusing on what happens day to day, like the December Daily (that I am still doing), it takes a look at traditions and the past and such.

I'm thinking I'm going to like this.

Here are two things I've created for this project:

This first is a clipboard to house the daily prompts. I have tried this before to no avail, and have finally figured out how to do it. I'm rather impressed with myself. And yes, I know the ribbon is not straight. That's just how I roll.

I decided to make an album to keep it all together. Then, I got today's "assignment" in my email inbox that says to put together an album.

The bad news in all of this is that I ran to Hobby Lobby to buy the album and discovered it was on sale. How is that bad news? It was on sale and so was everything else scrapbook related. I went in to pay full price on a ten dollar album, and got it at half price and ended up spending three times as much as if it weren't. Curse you Hobby Lobby!

I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Please forgive me Hobby Lobby.
Whew. That was close.

Moving on, here is my album. It's plain and simple, and I really like it that way. I'm very much a minimalist lately. I guess too much going on in the other areas of my life to clutter up the creative scene.

I've been hoarding some supplies and papers here and there since...well, since the dawn of time. I'm going to try to use them in this and the December Daily projects. If I can keep myself out of the scrapbooking stores and from purchasing more...

December Daily: The next step

2009-11-05T18:43:00.000-08:00

The next step in putting together your December Daily (after making an album you love more than anything in the world) is putting together the pages. Now, if you're like me, you have all sorts of page ideas saved on a file on your desktop.

When it's time to go on to putting the pages together, you look through all the images, unable to decide which one to start with first. So you go find more images on the interwebs of other pages and then get really inspired.
Finally, you pull out all of your supplies and get them arranged on the living room table.

And then...

You freak out at the task ahead of you and call it a night.

True story.

Dear Santa Claus, How have you been? Did you have a nice summer? How is your wife?

2009-10-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

I know it's a few days before Halloween, but I've started the Christmas-ness a little early. That right there is a quote from A Charlie Brown Christmas. That is one of my favorite of Christmas traditions. I'm in the Christmas spirit because I have something to show you. Something I love with all of my heart and most of my toes.

My December Daily album. Look. Here it is:

I am so proud of the album. It is my everything and then some right now. Last year's album was the best to make, but it was small, and this year I think I want to incorporate pages of all shapes and sizes. So I made this one huge album, and the insides can be all eclectic!

And now, because I have delusions of grandeur that I am like Ali Edwards, I am going to show you how I made it. Because there is not an album like this anywhere in the world but on my coffee table in my living room.

First, I gathered my materials. Two albums I got at Goodwill for $1 each. Or $1 for both. Can't remember. I also used some cardboard from my classroom, left over from the backing on a writing tablet or something. I also used a 3 in. binder ring I ordered this time last year. At the time, I ordered 3 1in rings and 3 3in rings because I seem to have no grasp of the time/space continuum and I have no idea how big 3 in rings are. They have sat in a pile for a while, but I knew I'd use them for something!

I measured how big to make the spine so that the two albums would close. I drew lines and took some very scientific measurements, and I couldn't replicate it if I tried. Then, I cut the excess off with a craft knife. Bad idea. I couldn't remember to bring it to school to use the big paper cutter, which would have made it so much easier, and-oh yeah...straighter. This part was not fun and extremely dangerous (for someone like me, at least).
Then, I had to cover the cardboard, because I didn't want it to show, and I wanted to add some "scrap" elements to the album. I had to mark a place on the cardboard for the holes to punch in order to screw on the binder rings. I adhered the paper to the back. I punched the holes with the craft knife (again...not the best idea), so I could see them punched through the scrap paper. Then I adhered the same paper to the other side. Viola! A spine for my book!

In order to attach the binder rings to the spine, I used the screws I bought that worked fine with last year's album. Only, they didn't work at all with this year's album. So, I scrounged around my nails,etc. box and found two other screws. Those didn't work so much either. Finally, I gave in and E6000'ed the sucker to the cardboard and E6000'ed the screws in place to give it the look that it's screwed in. Appearance is everything...

Now, it was time to put the albums to the spine. I'd like to say that I used some sort of fancy pants new book binding machine that a fabulous company sent me in the mail to test out. I didn't. I opted for masking tape, and then some more masking tape, and then a little more masking tape, wherein I finished it off with...more masking tape.

Notice the spine is not as long as the album covers. So what? All the pages and such inside are going to be different sizes anyways, so it didn't matter to me. Until I tried to cover the masking tape up with ribbon, in which it was a big deal to me because it was a pain in my neck and lower abdomen!

Here it is standing up on my coffee table all pretty-like. It stayed like this for quite some time because I couldn't decide how I wanted to decorate the cover, and Lord have mercy I was getting frustrated with the ribbon edging.

Little did I know, the fun was about to begin.

In doing my now-nonexistant Project 365 album, I put a calendar at the beginning of each month segment so I could see a "Month-at-a-Glance" element. I decided to do that with this, and it turned out beautiful. I found this rub-on set with the whole month, and I put it all together and I am in love with this calendar beginning element.

Look at it! Isn't it the most beautiful inside cover you've ever seen? I love you sweet calendar! You are my friend and my favorite and I will treasure you always! I will work hard to create a loving environment for you and I will create beautiful pages filled with miscellaneous holiday tales and snarky little phrases. This I promise you.

I finally went back and figured out the cover. The green foil letters I got for $1 at Big Lots, which actually is a decent place to get some scrapbooking supplies. However, the C is going to be the death of me because it will not stay on and it was the only C in the package. A curse upon you C!

I wanted to cover up the strip that said "Christmas with Chet Akins" in bright yellow, so I put a strip of scrapbook paper over it and used old red letters for the word "Daily". I put "09" in the corner to remind me of what year I did this, and because I didn't have a 2 to make it 2009. I work with what I got.

Now, I just have to fill the insides. Last year, I sat down for a weekend and did every page in many hours. I don't anticipate that happening this year. At all.

But for now...did I mention that I LOVE my December Daily album?!

For today.

2009-10-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

I’ve seen these before and CBar and {A} did one yesterday, so now I need to be a copy-catter.
Outside my window...the sun is finally shining and I feel like myself again. I didn’t realize how sun-influenced I am.

I am thinking...of consolidating my creative blog and my life blog, of changing the background of my other blog again, and of taking Daisy to the dog park.

I am thankful for...good friends and college football and naps on Saturdays and that my dream last night wasn’t real…

From the kitchen…a gigantic mess and a t0-do list. I need to clean up the aftermath of making salt dough for a class project and dispose of some old food. I also need to meal plan for next week.

I am wearing...my favorite brown yoga pants and my bright orange Gators shirt. I could live in this every day and pretty much do after 5pm.

I am creating... a special book for a special friend, my December Daily, and a few other side projects, one involving chalkboard paint.

I am going...to take a nap and clean my apartment while I watch the game and do the laundry I swear!

I am reading...A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. It. Is. Good.

I am hoping...that the boy will man up and ask me out on a date or at least acknowledge the chemistry and flirtations we’ve got going on.

I am hearing...the halftime report on tv, a plane flying overhead because the windows and door are open, and the big pink blanket under which I nap calling my name.

Around the house…is laundry waiting to be done, crafting waiting to be crafted, and floors waiting to be vacuumed. And let’s not discuss the shoes by the door, k?

One of my favorite things...how much I love my church family, both here and afar. They really make my world go round and make it worth getting up in the mornings!

A few plans for the rest of the week...church tomorrow, YL club Monday, LiFE groups Tuesday, AWANAs Wednesday, hibachi with the Peace Corps Queen Thursday, Football game Friday night, and another lazy Saturday…looking much forward to it…

A picture to share...

I bought Daisy a new sweater, since the weather's getting cold.

She is not amused.
At all.

She sat on the bed with her back turned to me and refused to look at me.
Until I took it off.

And now I'm a little afraid to take that nap.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2009-10-14T20:10:00.000-07:00

This is what I've been working on. I want to consolidate all of my Christmas planning and such from my other creativity journal into one dedicated solely to Christmas. Presents I'm planning and making. December Daily plans. Secret Santa ideas and plans. Decorating ideas. It will all go here.

I want to do something on the top, but I haven't figured out what yet. I have an idea, but I'm not sure I can pull it off...

My Fancy Frame

2009-10-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

So I went to IKEA. On a Saturday. With my mother. The benefit of doing so was this.

Look at this frame.

Oh the places you could go with this one! My mom bought it for my sister a while back, and they turned it into a mirror. Not really my thing.

I had no idea where to put it or what to turn it into.

Then, The Mom told me exactly where to put it, and that I should turn it into a bulletin board. Perfection.

So, first I had to get the corkboard attached to the back of the frame.

I had rolls of corkboard from something else. I’m not actually sure what it’s from. But it came in handy today.
Just so you don’t think I’m good at this or anything, here’s the part where I staple-gunned it to the coffee table.

That wouldn’t work. On to spray adhesive.

Except the can I grabbed was not the spray adhesive, but instead the black spray paint.

I was really wondering if this would turn out at all.

I finally got the corkboard on the frame backing. It doesn’t look pretty, but it will do.

Turns out the combination of rubber cement and regular staples worked well, and didn’t adhere it to the coffee table.

Then, I stretched the burlap over the corkboard. I’m not going to show you the back, because it is ugly.

Ugly.

Luckily, it faces the wall and is seen by no one.

After that, I marveled at the presence of burlap shards on everything I own.

Here is the hung frame. I don’t call it the finished frame, because I have some more ideas of what to do.

With a frame this fabulous, I can’t use ordinary thumbtacks to hold up important notes and such.

For starters, I can’t seem to find the ordinary thumbtacks in my apartment.

When I do, I will attach these beauties to them. These are scrapbooking brads that I have been saving. I’m a saver like that. I’m never sure when I will want them. And this board was just such the occasion.

Finally, the finished project. Here is “my office”.

It’s in the corner of the living room, and I would ask that you please ignore all of the stuff stacked on the printer/end table.

And the stuff on the floor.

And the stuff…

Boo.

2009-09-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

I have had this wreath stuff since Labor Day. It has sat in the original Hobby Lobby bags since I walked in the door. I've had it in the back of my mind since I bought the stuff.

Tonight, I was cleaning off the table so I could move the scrapbook supply explosion from my living room to a more functional space on the dining room table.

I really only set out to clean off the table and get the supplies out of the bag, but I never can tell when inspiration is going to strike me. I can usually guarantee it is when I'm completely exhausted, as I am today.

I followed the lead and put the wreath together. It's not my favorite, and I can't decide if I'm going to leave it or redo it. But it's late, and I'm utterly exhausted, and I have to get up very very early in the morning, for a long day.

So it stays on the door for tonight. And possibly until Christmas.

Bartholomew Me and The Oobleck

2009-09-22T19:00:00.001-07:00

Here’s the Monday night picture of the day.

This is what my apartment looked like after an evening of preparing the Oobleck for classroom investigation.

It’s no wonder my one desire was to have a glass of wine after work. But I didn’t.

My back to school prize

2009-09-12T08:36:00.001-07:00

One thing I always do for myself is to buy myself a little back to school prize. Sometimes it’s pens, sometimes it’s markers. Always something somewhat creative.

Today, I was very excited to see this box on my porch, waiting for me. I knew it was filled with all sorts of creative and happy goodies. Let’s look at them, shall we?

Look at all this stuff! Let’s talk about all I’m going to do with it!

This was so fabulous I needed three of them. Not just any ‘ole chipboard book. A cocoa colored chipboard. With thick, cocoa-y chipboard pages that seem to be sturdy and wonderful. I’m going to make two baby books with these. And the third? It’s anyone’s guess. I do have a feeling I’m going to be ordering more of these bad boys soon.

Look at this beauty! It’s black chipboard, and I really don’t know what to do with it. The possibilities are so many! I have a feeling it’s going to sit for a bit while I decide what to do with it. Oh, and I have some specially flocked paper that might make an appearance here.

This is a Christmas banner. It says “Joy to the World.” I will be making it and putting it together and probably hanging it outside my classroom. I’m all radical like that.

This guy is a five-tabbed chipboard album. Each tab has two chipboard pages for decorating. I’m thinking something recipe-ish. Or not. Still thinking about this one.

These are beautiful. Old typewriter keys. It was a random assortment, but they’re mostly numbers. Again, not sure where I’m going with these.

This is a big disappointment, and I have four of them. The covers are great, and the inside is full of the thinnest paper I’ve ever seen. Did I mention I have 4 of them?

These beautiful wings came too. They’re metal brads. I love them something special. I’ll have to figure out what they do with them. These too will be saved for something special.

Maybe I’ll be able to put these together into something special that I can take a picture of the day. Wait...do I even still take those?

Crash and burn...

2009-08-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

So, since I got back from Guatemala, I've taken approximately 4 pictures. Scandalous, since I've been back for 22 days.

I just can't bring myself to pull out my camera.

I'm not sure how much longer this project will go on, but that's okay. I pulled out my camera today and took a couple of pictures today. I am going back and capturing some of the daily elements of my life that I hesitated in the past to take pictures of because I thought it had to be something spectacular.

But my life's not spectacular. So, we'll see if this develops any further.

The weekend...and back to work

2009-08-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

Friday. The sattelite. This screen is very familiar. It says "retrieving sattelite information". Only, it's not. They're coming sometime Tuesday (tomorrow) between 12 and 5. They better hope they're on time, because they will be faced with one unhappy lady if they aren't. And this better fix it. Because if it happens again, I'm telling my mom on them. And nobody wants that.

Saturday. I spent a good bit of time in my classroom, making it look like a classroom. Yes, I had to give up my weekend, but in doing so, I got to get things ready with little to no interruptions, and it made this week a lot less stressful.

Sunday morning. Someone wasn't ready to get out of bed. Daisy either. I have to laugh because I get up and some mornings, like this morning, I have to drag her out of bed.

As for today...well, I wasn't the only one who didn't want me to go back to school...

Last afternoon of summer

2009-08-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

Today was pretty much my last afternoon of summer. I spent it with some young life kids and leaders out on a boat in the middle of the lake. There was tubing and grilling, and it was absolutely perfect. Couldn't have asked for more.

Oh, and yesterday, I made my apple dump cake, because I just needed to bake something, and this something is gooooooood.

I'm sorry...I can't hear you over my dress...

2009-08-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

Here's today's picture. See, I can't take pictures at the nursing home, due to HIPPA laws and such, so I couldn't actually show you a picture of the residents, but tonight we went and served them their formal dinner. It was lots of fun! I wore a long dress, and then put an apron over it, and oh my lawd was I a mash of prints and patterns!

Here are some of the amusing tidbits from the elderlies:
me: Can I get ya'll anything else?
Mr.: Oxygen
me: Well, I can't fix that for you but I'll get someone who can!

other requests were for Pepto Bismol and a refill on time and space. Not sure about that last one!

Starting over...sort of...

2009-08-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

So, now that I'm back, and the interweb is back, I'm going to try to start getting back to posting the photo of the day more often than a month at a time.

So, here's the documentation of the last two days:

Sunday, what I had to step over to get out the door to church. Unfortunately, I had to step back over the exact same scene this evening when I came in from dinner.

Monday. Today.
I went to what will become my other home for the next month or so. I've got a long road ahead of me to get this thing ready for chitlins to come and tear it up.

Catch up…

2009-07-25T07:20:00.001-07:00

So, I know it's been like 743 days since I posted last. July's been very busy. I was going to comment on each of these pictures, but that would take me days. Instead, I'm just going to throw out the pictures.

So…here you go:

July 1

July 2

July 3

July 4

July 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

July 9

July 10

July 14

July 15- wrote a big check for my Guatemala trip. Almost finished HP6.

July 16- Found this dress at Old Navy for $1.97, when it was originally $34.50. So I got three. Another sideways picture. Damn it!

July 17- Made these flower hair clips for my hair for camp. They were worn every night but one, and were beautiful.

July 18- Two new dresses, and then I’m packed and ready to go. Daisy’s just happy I put the pink blanket back on the bed.

July 19 part one- Panda Girl sound asleep in the backseat, before we even left the church parking lot. But she swore she wasn’t tired.

July 19 part two- PandaPop and Panda Girl playing rock, paper, scissors at dinner.

July 21- 70’s night. Dancing to YMCA.

July 24- Bag unpacked. It’s not put away, because it will begin to be packed the minute the laundry gets done. I’m heading out again in 8 days.

Yes, I know I skipped a few days. I’m working on it.

And I won't be waiting a month ever again, as posting this many pictures almost caused me extreme old age.

P.S. I know two of those are formatted all weird, and I am not fixing them because I've tried three times with no luck. Sorry.

The week in pictures

2009-06-29T11:20:00.001-07:00

For Father’s Day, I took my dad down to Waco to a few museums. I took many many pictures. Here’s my favorite:

Monday: I began work on my friend Ashleigh’s wedding present.

Tuesday: Daisy’s been staring out the window again. This time, it’s too hot to go outside!

Wednesday: I think Daisy feels like I’m spending too much time on my scrapbooking projects and not enough time on her.

Thursday: I decided to go to the pool. Got everything ready. Got sunscreened up. Got out the door. The pool was closed.

Friday: Bought the bumpits to try. Worked like magic!

Saturday: My friend’s wedding. I sat in the very back and talked to my other friends through most of the ceremony. Then I fell down walking to the reception. Then I waited there for an hour and finally bailed because they hadn’t made it yet.

Sunday: By the time I went to bed last night, I had all my laundry done, including my bedding. I love me some Clean Sheet night. This is the first time it’s all been done by Sunday night.

If Nick has one goat and Maria has nine, how soon will they marry?

2009-06-26T20:02:00.001-07:00

My friend’s getting married tomorrow. I’ve had her date down in my planner since March or April, when I got her save the date card. Of course, this means I started shopping for her wedding gift about, um, yesterday. Or a few days ago at least.

When I checked out both of her registries, I had two options: spend a million dollars and buy them something like a grill, or buy all the bits and pieces and put them into a basket. So, here’s a basket full of a butter dish, two washcloths, a potato baker, a wooden spoon, some door hangers, a pan scraper, and a shower curtain. Oh, and a toothpaste-tube squeezer.

Instead, I chose to take the creative route. For all my friends having babies, I make a brag book that is completely scrapbooked so all they have to do is put in the pictures. For her, I made something similar. I made her a “first year” book. I made a little scrapbook with a page for each month leading up to their first year. That way, they can put pictures of each month of their first year and write little notes in it.

Allow me to show you. The cover is my favorite:

The picture is from her save-the-date card. Here’s the inside, with the wedding invitation. (What else was I going to do with it?)

They’re going to Cabo on their honeymoon.

Here’s the rest…don’t worry, I’m not posting all 24 pages!

And the last page. Again, not sure why it’s sideways.

Hope she likes it!

All the cool kids are doing it...

2009-06-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

This was floating around a few creative blogs and friends' blogs yesterday, so I'm doing it today.

For Today

June 23, 3009

Outside my window... a playground, some trees, and more apartments.

I am thinking... that I really want to take a nap, but I shouldn't. I haven't been sleeping at night.

I am thankful for... an afternoon off with just a few things to do from home.

From the kitchen... a salad for lunch. Yum. Sarcasm.

I am wearing... my favorite shorts, a tank top because it's a million degrees, and as always, flip flops if I'm even wearing shoes.

I am creating... a wedding book. I have a wedding this weekend, and I'm making her a book of her first year of marriage. I usually make already-scrapped baby books so new moms just have to put the photos in and they're complete. This one will be for her first year. I'll have pictures up when it's done.

I am reading... blogs right now. I finished a book last week and need to really commit to my next book. It's either going to be Crazy Love by Francis Chan, or Lonesome Dove. I have to watch that series first, though...

I am hoping...to get married someday.

I am hearing... fans. The small fan in my bathroom that has made getting ready in the morning much more bearable, and my ceiling fan over head. I've developed a love for early afternoon quiet.

Around the house... is laundry and scrapbooking supplies. I've got to get this under control soon. Got to.

One of my favorite things... is

A few plans for the rest of the week... nursing home tonight, dentist on Thursday, hopefully a movie (Away We Go)

A picture to share...

where Daisy's been spending her summer.

Having done this, I think I'm going to scrap it next...

Reason #874 I need a husband

2009-06-20T20:07:00.001-07:00

So, the light in my ceiling fan went out. I finally bought light bulbs and set about to change it. I found the three screws to take down the globe and unscrewed them.

Which leads me to the picture of the day and why I need a husband:

Never to worry. I figured it out and now I have light:

Of course, I took three screws out and could only get two back in. At least if it falls in the middle of the night, it won’t fall on my head. However, Daisy better watch out.

The Week in Pictures

2009-06-19T11:20:00.001-07:00

I’m going to have to accept that I don’t post the picture of the day on a daily basis, so I’m just going to start doing them a week at a time. Of course, then I’ll need to remember when the last picture I posted was…

Tuesday: I’ve spent the week painting words in the children’s wing at church.

Wednesday: What my hands look like when I’m done painting for the day.

Thursday: Two-parts. We went to a new restaurant to celebrate Father’s Day. My parents are a little psycho about crowds, so we always go well before or well after the holiday to celebrate. We had flan, which is my favorite of all.

After that, I had them take a family picture. It’s not the best, but that’s Don Quixote in the background.

Tonight, I’m headed out to a piano bar, so that should provide some excellent photo opportunities!

More Pictures

2009-06-15T16:31:00.001-07:00

I’m going to try to use Live Writer once more to post pictures. I’m hoping that this time it will work.

Here’s the pictures of the days of late…

Saturday. Daisy’s had itchy skin, so every night I’ve been making her a conditioning mixture for her skin. She’s a smidge high maintenance.

Sunday. Clean sheet day. I took a picture of the bed all neatly made, but that’s not really the best part of clean sheet day, so I pulled the covers down, ready to climb in. I love clean sheet day. Mmm…

Monday. Today. I signed up for a gym. Yet another workout place. Here we go again. My first workout is tomorrow. So what does someone do when they sign up for the gym? She goes home and has dinner.

(By the way, this was my favorite childhood staple: cheesy hot dogs. Auntie confirmed this for me after she stopped drooling over the thought of cheesy hotdogs. And this was on the menu well before my impromptu sign up for the new workout place.)

Of course, the picture upload didn’t work. I think I know why, which I can't fix soon, but I will say I can place them and it makes formatting the words a little easier, so I may just stick with it.

Southern Girl by Amos Lee

2009-06-11T19:19:00.001-07:00

So, I made another layout last night. It seems that every time I try to clean up the crafty materials from my living room, I just end up making another project.

I love love love music and it is where I get my connection with God, people, and my creativity. I have a list of songs that I want to scrap in some form, and a list of lyrics to play with. Since I'm so behind on the journaling part of Project 365, this often takes a back seat.

My June layout featured this picture I'm in love with. When I printed it, I printed it as 4 x 6 and as 5 x 7 so I could play and decide which size I wanted. For the June "Time" layout I used the 4 x 6. But I was still going back to the 5 x 7.

So, I meshed the two: the picture and a song. I typically just go with whatever song pops into my head, and in this case, it was "Southern Girl" by Amos Lee. Though I grew up in Texas and Florida (two questionably 'southern' states), I am southern because I was raised by Mississippi women.

Here's the layout:

Here's my favorite part...a silk-screened rub-on of a chandelier. Love it!

Here are the lyrics to the chorus. I wrote it in pencil because I wanted it to be subtle. I couldn't find a marker or colored pencil that looked okay with it, so I just went with regular old graphite.

The words read:

Something 'bout a

Southern girl

makes me feel right

like a Mississippi morning,

she's an angel in flight

in the blink of an eye,

she'll be out of your sight...

* Oh my WORD this is so much easier to do in Live Writer! Except, Live writer won’t let me put pictures in. Which is the whole reason I decided to switch to Live writer in the first place! Damnit!

Sorry the pictures are sideways. If I could figure out how to put them the regular way, I'd probably be able to figure out how to publish them through Live Writer!

Picture and wind

2009-06-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

Here's the picture of the day. This is the apartment complex two down from me:

I took a bunch of pictures of the damage, and a song got stuck in my head, so I decided to print them and scrap them immediately. At first, I struggled with what embellishments, etc. to add to the layout, but in the end I decided to go simple.

The rub-on letters say "any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me." I used a bunch of rub-ons from Heidi Grace, and I hated them. They were awful. I'm glad I used a bunch of them on this layout, so I can justify throwing them away!

Debris! We've got Debris!

2009-06-10T18:20:00.001-07:00

(another quote from "Twister")

Today's Pictures of the day will be from the freak storm we just got, from which I haven't gotten my cable back...

My BFF texted me to ask if my apartment was the one that got a bunch of damage. I told her I wasn't sure, but when I went to investigate it, this is what I found:

(It was a smidge windy)

Oh, and the roof was not spared...

During this whole process I got to get reacquainted with my up-upstairs neighbors and a set from across the way...with their two cats. Awesome.

Layouts and fun stuff

2009-06-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

I have been creating here and there...I've just been lazy about posting it. And some of my creations haven't exactly been current. One that's not picture here because it's not done is over a year and a half old! But it will get done!

In the mean time, here's what I have been working on:

A cute little book that I was inspired to make into a quote book.

The book before:

The book cover:

The final book cover:

Here are a couple of layouts I've been working on. With my Project 365 book, I decided to do a layout for each month, since I rarely do 12 x 12 layouts anymore. Since the theme of the year is time, I decided each layout would include the word time.

Mind you, I made all of these well-laid plans in January. When I had all the time in the world...You know where this is going. I got January's layout done and all cute. It was called "Time for something new"

And now it's June. But I got June's done!

Here's "Time for a break..."

While I was at it, I went ahead and did April's layout as well. I call it "Time for a little fun."

I don't usually use this many embellishments, but one of my students specifically bought me these stickers because I went to the ballgame, so I kind of felt obligated to use them.

Now, maybe I can work on February, March, and May. Before July. Or December...

Mono-poly

2009-05-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

One of my students tries to say monopoly, but puts the syllable break in the wrong place, so it comes out mono-poly. Our reading buddies came to play for the morning, and after they left we began working on reading. As I was explaining something, the door creeps open, one of the buddies puts something on the floor, and then the door closes. As I walk over to see what it was, I begin laughing because on the floor are three little mono-poly pieces. Apparently our buddy "forgot" and "accidentally" took one...or three...with him.

We've been studying invertebrates in science. Tuesday was insects, so we read Diary of a Fly and compared the realistic elements versus the fictional elements in the book. Wednesday was spiders, so we read Diary of a Spider and did the same. Today was earthworms, thus Diary of a Worm. If you haven't read Doreen Cronin's books, including the Click Clack Moo series, you're missing out on great literature. Even Cha-Cha knows how much I love it and pulls out Duck For President when I come over.

Yesterday's deals, Field Trip Day, and a sign

2009-05-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

Here's yesterday's picture of the day. I got a great deal at Old Navy. The explanation is on my other blog. And again, I'm not sure why the picture is sideways.

Today, the class and I went to the Ft. Worth Zoo. It was a great trip and a good day. I'm just exhausted.

And this...well, I just couldn't resist taking a picture of this:

A visitor

2009-05-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

I'm still sort of keeping up with the project 365. I had something a little different planned for today's picture, but this one takes the cake.

This was found outside of my classroom this morning. As in, in the hallway outside my classroom. It wasn't found by me, and I'm glad, because if I had found it I would have been convinced to keep it. I'm such a pushover like that.

P.S. I have no idea why this picture is sideways. It just showed up like that, so I'm goin' with it.

Pictures of the Days- again

2009-05-08T19:37:00.000-07:00

So I'm not so good at even keeping up with showing my pictures of the day. So, here's Tuesday through today. Except Thursday. Because that has some kids in it, and it doesn't get to go on the web.

Tuesday, May 5: Teacher Appreciation Day at CFA, my favorite fast food joint. They gave us little stuffed cows to encourage us to eat mor chikin.

Wednesday, May 6: Defensive Driving. I hated hated hated Defensive Driving, but I had to take it to dismiss my ticket. So I carried my laptop all over the apartment complex with me so I could keep going.

Thursday....we made bath salts for the kids. My picture is of one of my boys stirring the salts looking exceptionally disgruntled. He had a headache forever because of the fumes.

Friday, May 8: The bottles. This is what we put together today. It turned out so well, I couldn't be happier. My carpet could, though, and I imagine the custodians as well.

Today's Project

2009-05-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

I made a notebook for myself to keep all of the organizational stuff I have downloaded and printed (in color, thanks to my mom's old company).

Well, my aunt loved it, and as I was perusing the half- price-ness of Hobby Lobby on Saturday, I picked up another notebook to do for her. Like me, she tears pictures out of magazines, but then she doesn't have anywhere to keep them, so she ends up throwing them away.

So I made her an idea notebook. I love it so much I want it for myself, but then I remember I made myself one and go pet that one. I intend to do something to the spine, possibly, but I'm not sure and may just leave it as it. Here's what I've done today with the help of Pandora...

And here's a close-up of the bird, my favorite part. The pictures don't do it justice. The bird is one of my favorite scrapbook pieces adhered to a wood cut out of the same shape, with a little rhinestone eye. Love it!

I like waking up to the smell of bacon, sue me.

2009-05-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

Picture of the day today:

I made myself breakfast this morning, as part of Swine Break 09. Later on in the evening I made a margarita pie and a sopapilla cheesecake for tomorrow as a celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Hopefully, I will get a good chunk of my Project 365 book done tomorrow. We'll see...

And I'm not going to explain this title. If you know me, you know what this title is from.

Two days in may and a banner

2009-05-03T20:27:00.000-07:00

Here are the May 2 and 3 pictures of the day (man it's hard to get back into this habit!!!) and the banner that I finished this afternoon. I've been meaning to do it um...forever!

First, the banner. I took a board book and spray painted it and turned it into a banner for my dining room. I would do a few things differently next time, and still have two board books to play with!

This is yesterday's picture of the day. Just writing about it seems like it was light years away! She love love loves our new coffee table, and spends an inordinate amount of time underneath it. There was much lightning and even more thunder yesterday so she felt quite cozy under the table.

This is today's picture of the day. Now that I have a coffee table, I seem to have to bring every little piece of my scrapbooking out into the living room so I can craft and watch endless viewings of "Pride and Prejudice" and "Waitress". So, now my living room looks like a TRAIN came through it, scattering scrapbook debris here and there and everywhere.

Since I have the week off, I'm going to spend the days with the iPod on and working in the studio/craft room instead of the living rooom, which will hopefully give me some time to get that particularly small area of my apartment cleaned up.

Dark and stormy and scrapbooky...

2009-05-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

So, last night, in my glee from the prospect of a week of nothingness, I ran to Michael's to see if there was anything I had to have. Of course I found a few things here and there.

I have been wanting to make a recipe box, and I had even found a white box to do it. Well, actually, I'd found another box that I tried to spray paint, but that was a complete disaster. So then I thought I'd scrapbook this white box.

But then, at Michael's, I found this box on clearance. For $2. It was relatively awesome, even before I embellished it.

Here's how it opens up into the inside. Again...awesome.

Anyhow, I started to do the top with these beautiful flocked photo corners. I was all set to do four of the corners, and then even use some more details on the inside, because oh-my-word-they-are-flocked-and-I-love-me-some-flocking. But there are only two corners. Because oh-my-word-it-was-a-whipping-to-do-even-two-corners...

Then, I put the title on the top, because I just felt obligated to write the word recipes on the top of the recipe box.

I also wanted to decorate the snap on the box, which by the way is going to remain unsnapped because it is challenging to say the least to get unsnapped. I had two designs, but I finally decided on this one, and love it.

Finally, I added this little jewel to the inside, because I love it. It's from a collection that I absolutely hoard and only use very sparingly.

I am so excited about a week off and all the scrapbooking possibilities!

Back in business

2009-05-01T16:46:00.001-07:00

So, I've taken a smidge of a break from my picture of the day. April's been a very challenging month for me, emotionally and time-management wise. But today is May first, and I'm starting fresh again. Of course, since I now have a whole week off, you can expect much craftiness headed this way...

I took a picture of the day for today.
Only, I can't post it.
Because it's of my two most precious little ones.

One day in the near future (think 5 years), their mothers will be asking me for this picture.
And 10 - 12 years from now, it will go on the front of their save the dates, or at least in the post-ceremony slide show.

They were in my class when I taught second grade. I fell in love with both of them way back then, and it hasn't stopped. When I agreed to teach fourth grade, I had two stipulations for my principal: him and her. I was going to be their teacher again, or not at all. As I told their moms on our field trip, they were the two I personally requested, though I never expected this to happen. He is like a son to me, and she just gets me, even in her young age. I've kept him and his brother while his parents were in Mexico, and carted him to baseball games.

See, they like each other. Like like each other. I've noticed it since about September. Few others notice it, as far as I know, and from what I gleaned from the moms, my little ones only recently started figuring it all out.

Today, during elecrtonics day, they were both playing on his iTouch, and their heads were close together, and their knees were touching and even though I know they're starting to notice each other...it was all so innocent. So I had to take a picture. In the dark.

And we're all so clueless about it, even the rest of the kids in the class didn't put two and two together that I only took one picture all day and it was in the dark and it was of the two of them.

They hold my heart.

Welcome back internet

2009-04-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

I finally have my internet back. Okay, so it was only gone two days, but they were two long days...

Here's my newest book that I put together. I got the blank "friend" book from a friend in December, and then finally got the inspiration last week. Funny how it works like that...

I'm not going to say much about it, other than I still have a few finishing touches to put on it but you get the picture...I'm just going to show you the series of shots...I know some of them are sideways. You have two options:

1. Turn your head.

2. Turn your computer.

Apparently tonight I am both lazy and sassy. You're welcome!

Inspiration or Work?

2009-04-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

The answer: The Love Saga from the Hallmark channel (on DVR, of course)
**Updated to add: The movie I'm watching has Haylie Duff and one of the Backstreet Boys in it. It had greatness written all over it.

I have had a huge dose of inspiration over the past few days, thanks in part to my new dining room/ workroom/ studio. I got the finishing touches put on a few projects, and then finally figured out what I needed to do to finish a project that has been in progress for roughly four weeks. And I want to start on it right away. RIGHT AWAY!

The problem: I have a TON of work to do. We are in the middle of so many things at school, and I need to get a few things prepared, as well as review and give feedback on 21 movie projects.

The good news: I can do it on my laptop, so I can watch the last two movies of the Love Saga that I've on DVR.

Oh, and I would take pictures of my work this weekend, but I left my camera at school, which feels like I've left one of my appendages there!

My new kitchen cabinets

2009-04-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

I am ashamed to admit that this was the state of my kitchen cabinets prior to this evening.
Don't stare too long. It's not pretty. I shudder to think of it.

This is, however, a project that has been ruminating in the right side of my brain for quite some time. I have wanted so much to put it together. I haven't been able to pull it all together until I finally got the inspiration I needed. Once I got this done, the rest came flowing forth, and it all happened at once. I've discovered that frustration often leads to inspiration.

Now, that dream is realized. I have a beautiful new kitchen cabinet setup that I won't mind showing off.

Here's the best part, with the inspiring frame front and center.

Next is the second part, with my favorite crazy chicken. I got it from a student about three years ago. He went into a store to buy me a birthday present, and came out with this. And I love it. Now, I finally have a place for it. I still haven't decided what I'm going to do with the frame.

What I love about this is the blessed sign from a friend, the bottles I've collected, the antique mixer, and the towel from my auntie.

The last two home makeover projects left me staring at them in awe for a rather long period of time. Now, I'll be spending a very long period of time standing in my kitchen.

Here's a big picture of the final project.
It's an awful picture, but it'll do.

Friday Evening Project

2009-04-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

While I would love to do a project a week, like last Sunday's project, I can't get myself together to do it on a regular basis. So, today's project was a Friday evening kind of project. Put the iPod on shuffle, and got down to business.

While I was out this afternoon, I got this.
I went to Lowe's and got some chicken wire.
I had a little something in mind.

I had a frame that I bought from Hobby Lobby. All the rest of the frames that I bought for my workroom were black. I got this one because it was an exceptionally good deal.

While I've got it flipped over, let me just show you the lovely clearance sticker, placed right next to the original price sticker. Let me do the math for you...it's 90% off. I'm more than a little proud.
Let me take this moment to tell you that I. Hate. Chicken. Wire. I'm still going to use it and craft with it, but let me reiterate now that I hate it. While it is easy to spray paint, and as of late I'm spray painting everything that goes too long without moving, it's otherwise a very hornery piece of material to work with.

At this point, I stretched the wire across the frame to see where I had to cut it. I. Hate. Chicken. Wire. This was not easy. I spray painted it black, though you can't really tell. Then I stretched it out to fit the size of the frame. There was a tearing of clothes, due to the wires, and while there wasn't any gnashing of teeth, I may have said an unfortunate word or two. Just keepin' it real.

I used a staple gun to secure the wire to the back of the frame. This took some creativity. As previously stated, the chicken wire is a smidge difficult.

Here is the finished frame. I took two old photographs and some binder clips and put together my finished project. I'm going to redo the cabinet tops in my kitchen, and have wanted this up there.

Here's my final project, that I'm particularly in love with.

Peanuts and Cracker Jacks (and other pictures)

2009-04-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

Friday night: Dinner at Uncle Julio's. Dad was very proud of his four sauces and multicolored plate. He also took two pink flamingo stirrers and attempted to take the salt/pepper/sweet-n-low, but that was promptly stopped.

Saturday: Spent the day at dance competition. There was a trip to Sam Moon involved, as were flat wallets. And mockery. Lots of mockery.

Sunday: Put together a fancy clock. I was, in fact, Hip in a Hurry. And it was a whippin' to put together.

Monday's picture of the day: Played hooky to go to Opening Day. It was spectacularly fun. And cold.

As for yesterday and today...

I got nuthin.

Sunday Afternoon Craft

2009-04-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

Today's afternoon craft came a little unexpectedly. I went to JoAnn's to get something for another craft I'm doing, and also because I had to use a 20% off coupon. I got what I needed, and had to walk to the back to go to the bathroom. On the way back, I found today's little crafty bit of goodness. Okay, actually I found something else and then something else and then I found this.

It's their new line called "Hip in a Hurry." Apparently it didn't catch on, because it was all on clearance. I found this clock base for $14.99, which was half price. It's a clock that you decorate and put together yourself. It's super easy. (Yeah, okay.)

What really stopped me in the aisle was the decoration of it. It's a sticker you buy to "customize" the clock. It was on sale for $2.97, and it matches pretty much everything I own. So I threw it in the cart and went on my merry way. I couldn't wait to get home to put this masterpiece together!

Step one:
Peel backing off of the clock face.
Marvel at how easy this project is coming along.
Pause to cry at television movie.
Check directions for next step.

Step two:
Assemble clock mechanism. Seriously. That's all the directions say. "Assemble clock mechanism." Do you see how many parts they included? I understand that they included enough for two clocks, but really? No directions. No pictures. Apparently the directions were created by an IKEA worker.

It is not easy. It is hard. It took many many attempts. This is a picture of Daisy, when she came up to me and asked me why I was cursing so very much. What's wrong? She says. Just put the little thing there, she says.

Smarty pants.

This is the finished project. My new clock. I haven't put a battery in it yet to see if it works, but it's mighty pretty nonetheless.

Now I just have to figure out where to put it.

Shoes

2009-04-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

Wednesdays are my long days. Go go go. I leave the house at 6:45 (or 7...) and work all day, come home for less than an hour, and am gone again. I finally get home just before LOST, and finally get to take off my shoes. It's the best feeling, to take my shoes off after a long, hard day. It doesn't smell very good, but it sure feels great.

Oh, and last night I cooked a yummy dinner. That was my picture of the day.

Not happy.

2009-03-30T18:20:00.001-07:00

This weekend, I got Daisy a new crate. Today was the first day she had to stay in it. Despite the fact that it's about three times the size of her old crate, she couldn't escape it and therefore...let's just say it's a good thing the neighbors moved out yesterday...

The Finished Project

2009-03-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

I wasn't really sure if I'd get the dining room/studio/workroom done this weekend, but thanks to a creativity surge today, I got it all done. I'm writing about it on my other blog. How lazy am I that I'm not even interested in linking anymore?

Anyway, the finished project:

Pictures of the Days...

2009-03-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a while since I've gotten something up.

Here are some of the random pictures of the day as of late:

Wednesday, it rained, it poured, the old man snored. So I got to wear my new Wellies.

Thursday. The re-enactment of the Mexican/American war. In my classroom. The smaller pieces are the standard artillery, and the bigger wads are cannon balls. Yeah, we live in a crazy place.
Friday night:

My new and improved picture wall. Step .5 in the dining room transformation process.

And, finally. Tonight. Here's what I did all day. And yes, it took all day. You can read about it on my other blog. I'm not even interested in linking to it. It was that stressful.

Therapy

2009-03-24T19:27:00.001-07:00

Art is my therapy. Craftiness is my therapy. Here is my creation for the day that I'm so excited about my little matchbook notebook. I found the tutorial online when I got home on Saturday, and the original idea I had for it wasn't going to work. Our Bible study activity tonight called for everyone to get a small notebook for a week, and so I made one for everyone.

I got nuttin'

2009-03-09T18:15:00.000-07:00

I don't have a picture of the day. I left my camera at school. I didn't really have one planned, either. I have a nametag that I'm going to put in place today, from a meeting I went to this afternoon. I hate nametags, so I never wear them. I had to go to a local 9th-grade center, and got lost like only a 9th grader could. So that's my artifact of the day.

Spring is here

2009-03-08T19:28:00.000-07:00

Spring is officially here when I go buy these:

I love Reefs! They're the only thing I wear during the spring and summer. Every year I purchase a new pair and retire an old pair. Last year, towards the end of the summer I retired the brown ones. I can't tell you how excited I am that Ross now sells these. I used to say that Reefs and Crocs are the only shoes I pay full price for, but now even that's not true.

I love you Reefs.

A special gift!

2009-03-07T18:26:00.000-08:00

Oh my word...look at what I got from my aunt:

And look how fabulous it looks in my fabulous bathroom! My heart is filled with joy!

She is the best. My aunt, I mean. But the gypsy's pretty awesome too.

Dinner date

2009-03-07T18:22:00.000-08:00

Every Saturday night that we're available, which is most Saturday nights, Daisy and I head to the parents to have dinner. Daisy is always treated well, and there's usually a crazy story to be told.

The great outdoors

2009-03-06T18:18:00.000-08:00

Took the kids to LISDOLA today. This is not the real picture I'm showing. The real picture is one of my class using compasses, but I didn't really feel like blurring 19 faces.

My new black

2009-03-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure what to do as my picture of the day. Lately, my life has been so very daily.

I went to Target today, and as I was checking out, I noticed something about my basket:

Apparently, it's my new black.

Ouch.

2009-03-03T19:07:00.001-08:00

You didn't think I could take a picture of the actual test, did you?

We are done. Thank GAWD.

More catch-up

2009-03-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

This caffeine deprivation is killing me. I'm just now catching up and getting fully detoxed.
Here are Sunday and Monday's pictures:
Sunday: Brought to you by the letter p

Monday: The things I carry to school on Monday mornings...

A few days late...

2009-02-28T10:11:00.001-08:00

Here's the last few days of picture of the day. I've been taking them, but I just haven't felt like posting much...

February 25: I actually have two pictures for this day, but this one is the one that's about me...

It was Ash Wednesday, and I gave up soda. Of any kind. I'm not sure which one I'll miss more...the Mountain Dew or the Chik-Fil-A coke. It's mighty good.

Here's the other one. We've been working on this puzzle with an almost obsessive nature for about three-four weeks. Today they finally got it finished. Except for the one missing piece. Funny how life works like that. About two weeks ago I bought them a new one, and now that this one's finished we've already moved on to obsessing about that one.

February 26: On the way to work, I had to stop my car so two ducks could cross the road. Seriously. In the middle of our neighborhood. I couldn't get my camera out fast enough to get them in the road, but I did get their little ducky backsides waddling up onto the curb.

February 27th: McGuinty. I was overnight sitting for a family at my school and they have this dog. It's the awesomest dog. He's part wolf hound, part Great Pyranese. He's pretty much a horse. When I come over, he greets me by putting his front paws on my shoulder and looking me square in the face. He's actually taller than me when he does this. And he's the most docile dog ever. He's good stuff.

I will say I'm still impressed that I'm still doing this as we are moving into March. . My scrapbook is a bit behind, but I'm hoping to correct that this weekend.

Technology

2009-02-24T19:09:00.000-08:00

Today's picture of the day is from the classroom, which is why the faces are blurred. We worked on the NOW labs today, which are individual laptops. Before the description comes the picture.

Oh Good Gawd I didn't think we were going to make it out alive without someone getting bludgeoned to death by a laptop, with me as the bludgeoner. For the first thirty minutes of the hour, I was running here and there and to and fro and back and forth, swearing in my head that I would never ever ever ever ever do this again. And then, the kids got the hang of it, and were doing so well that I was quite certain that I would be checking them out forever and ever amen.

We'll see.

UUshi

2009-02-23T22:03:00.000-08:00

That's what the girls call my favorite Japanese restaurant. That's where we went to dinner last night.
Oh, it was so very yummy. Very yummy indeed.

It's there but it's not

2009-02-23T19:30:00.000-08:00

I have a picture for the day today. But I'm up to my earlobes in yearbook madness, so I can't post it today. I'll post it tomorrow and then cheat and timestamp it today. If you read this before you see it tomorrow, you'll think you've gone back in time and you'll think you're on LOST.

Busy Busy Way Too Busy

2009-02-22T17:39:00.000-08:00

No time to do anything today except work on my yearbook. 40 pages due tomorrow. I have about seven done....

Must go yearbook it...

In my purse

2009-02-21T21:04:00.000-08:00

So, this morning, I got a phone call, and as I was searching for the phone in my purse, I kept feeling a powdery substance on everything I touched. I knew immediately that the Fun-Dip I had in my purse had escaped its packaging. Which meant it was time for The First Great Purse Clean-Out of 2009. The first of what I imagine will be many.

Here are the contents of my purse:
- wallet
- money and change purse
- checkbook
- iPod
- cell phone
- make-up and etcetera bag
- flash drive
- guitar tuner
- school badge
- sunglasses
- Burt’s Bees
- Entire package of Starburst wrappers, all wadded into a neat ball (until Daisy carried it off somewhere to be torn into very small pieces)
- Piece of chocolate (which was quickly consumed)
- Empty pill bottle (so I could hand it to the pharmacist for a refill)
- Quarter
- Paper clip
- Hair clip
- Peppermint (which I always keep handy as I am recently prone to car sickness, even when I’m driving)
- Pink-rhinestoned cross with broken chain (as I break every necklace I ever attempt to put on)
- Valentine card from one of my students (I don’t know which one because they signed the inside with my name…not sure why)
- Small package of designer tissues for a friend
- Two chocolate wrappers, one empty gum wrapper, one used gum wrapper
- Pieces of the check I tore up this morning (Thanks to online banking, I’m so removed from check writing that I can no longer do it without messing up)
- Note from a parent (“Have a great day! We love you!” that came with a muffin)
- Two pencils and two pens
- Four wadded up receipts, one coupon, one grocery list
- Empty Fun-dip package (with the stick still intact…mmmm, sugar!)
- One square black rhinestone from my scarf
- Another grocery list

And that, my friends, is the contents of my big bag o’ crazy!

The mothership was calling

2009-02-20T18:37:00.000-08:00

Today's picture of the day is my before-and-after bathroom. I cannot tell you the joy it brings me. I was going to be all fancy-like and put the words before and after on the picture, but my Photoshop Elements tried to harsh my mellow, and I would have nothing of the sort. Actually, I would cuss a lot and then eventually catch a glimpse of my shower curtain to regain my calm. The picture on the left is the before. The picture on the right is my current whisper from heaven.

Tryin' a little sumpin' sumpin' new

2009-02-20T17:51:00.000-08:00

I found a new free template spot, and though most of the designs are not my style, something about this one struck me. Maybe because it's titled "chandeliers and flourishes" and when I took the quiz to find my personal decorating style, it told me I was:
56% French Eclectic
25% Classic
19% Nantucket Style

Whaddya think? Later, you'll see some real French Eclectic when I show you my new shower curtains, which is my picture of the day.

Confucious say...

2009-02-19T14:56:00.000-08:00

Today, I was greeted by the door with "my mom says if you want Pei Wei for lunch, to just text her and she'll bring you some." I guess we've gone straight past the email age and moved straight to texts! I was quite glad, since I had nothing at home to bring, and I was just going to have to take my chances with the cafeteria food. And that's always risky.

I put the fortune in because I opened it in front of my coworkers, who had just read this email that I had sent them.

The cookie says "your co-workers take great pleasure in your great sense of creativity."

A cushy place

2009-02-18T19:10:00.000-08:00

Today was a long day. Wednesdays usually are. I didn't really have time to think too much about a picture of the day. February has not been easy. So, today, I took a daily kind of picture. Here's Daisy's favorite spot on the cushions of the couch. Because she thinks she's a cat.

Fourth and Long

2009-02-17T18:41:00.001-08:00

Yeah, for today's picture of the day, I'm totally punting it. Technically, I took the picture yesterday. But I'm certainly not the one to be splitting hairs over something like that. Today was a very routine day. We had a couple of victories in the classroom, but they weren't really picturesque. So, I'm going back to a picture I took yesterday, documenting my new tv stand and the white-trash element it brings to my living room now that I have no place to store the dvd's.

My brain is so big it won't fit in my head!

2009-02-16T16:59:00.001-08:00

I'm trying to get into a few pictures, and one way to do that is to let my princes and princesses take pictures. Today, we studied the brain, and made "Brain hats." We got much more into this than I expected. They actually wore them. Pretty cool...

Excuse me, my cerebellum is showing.

A Run-down of the missed days

2009-02-16T16:02:00.001-08:00

Here's what I took a picture of on the days I was computer-less...

29th- the replacement laptop
30- Daisy looking out the window as we drove to Lubbock
31- Cara at the restaurant supply store

My February self-portrait: my face in the rear-view mirror
1- the open road out of the windshield, as I drove home from Lubbock
2- Little Caesar's pizza box, which is many a Monday night meal and always a Friday night meal
3- my journal and Bible...started new LiFE group
4- the Gator gnome that broke in front of the DVR that was installed!
5- Daisy's empty crate, as she has started escaping while I'm gone during the day
6- my alarm clock, as I love it when I get to turn it off right before going to bed on Saturdays
7- the Fantastik spray, which was my only weapon against an uninvited visitor
8- the copy machine, in front of which I spend my Sunday standing
9- a soaking wet and mad Daisy because she had to get a bath
10- the tickets in the visor, since I got a second one today!
11 - a picture of me holding Holen, and a picture of the Chik-Fil-A cow, since I have CFA every Wednesday night
12-a picture of my computer, since I got it back, and I love it dearly
13- Frog princes, from my aunt, delivered to school (I'll have to post it...they are so cute!)
14- the message on the car, of course!
15- all the cute love stuff I got on sale 1/2 off at Target!

Later tonight I'll post today's picture of the day and hopefully get back into the swing of posting every day!

Almost. Not Quite.

2009-02-13T20:53:00.000-08:00

I am almost back. I've gotten my computer back, but I'd gotten so used to life without it that going back to posting daily will take some work.

I'm still doing my Project 365, though February is proving to be a little more challenging than January.

I'll be updating and getting back into the swing of things soon.

Still Here

2009-02-03T15:09:00.001-08:00

I'm still doing the project, I just have no access to put it up on the internet.

I will say it's a lot harder to remember it when I don't have to get it on the internet!