Verbally Challenged

It’s not my studio. I’m not quite there yet (but it IS now painted). THIS is the playroom that I was working on last month. And while it has been finished for weeks, I have been waiting on one piece to finish building the last cabinet (you’ll see in the photos where the cabinet doors and top still need to go). It came without the top piece and I’ve been trying to get one…for over a month now. It’s frustrating but I’m moving on! So here is the very organized playroom where everything has a home and there is room to grow! And when we fill that room it’s time to get rid of something! It’s all for Liam (right now) with photos of him on the wall (he loves that), his artwork on display, a quote that I just love and a big letter “L” (that still needs to be altered). Nate and I painted the walls in a very neutral yellow (super pale which is way mellow for me) but I wanted a nice backdrop for all of the other colors since the kitchen set is cobalt blue and his table is well…Thomas. We’ve needed to do something like this for a long time and I just got sick of the piles and mismatched storage pieces. Plus Liam should have a fun and inspiring place to play, imagine and grow – right?

And a huge THANKS to everyone who has left me a comment! It’s always nice to hear from the folks who are reading but equally nice to have more blogs to read (and sites to visit) to learn more about you! We all have a story to share!

Have a great day!

I just thought that I post a little something that I did with the September kit from Memory Creators. It was full of some fun NEW Sassafras Lass papers (they challenged me with the pink girly stuff), laser cut arrows, flowers – super cool product! I still have more to do with the kit but this is just a sneaky peek…

Also I’m getting VERY excited because I’m getting closer to my studio renovation! We purchased paint yesterday (went with a golden color instead of the aqua blue) and ordered some furniture on Friday. Now the wait for everything to arrive so that I can start assembling this puppy! I’m hoping that it ends up being a warm, inviting and inspiring place to be (with room for Liam to design whatever he wants to as well).

In the meantime, I’m looking for fun items to really help me define the space. Cool artwork, accessories – the things that really make a room your own. Of course I already have quite a few of these items (not to mention artwork) but I’m always eager to find more! Let’s take this lampshade for example – LOVE IT! And the wall hanging that goes with it is equally yummy. And how about this pillow! Decisions, decisions.
I may just have to splurge. We’ll see. The poppies are calling me!

***OK…I made a purchase but I won’t share what the items were just yet! You’ll have to see if you can find them when I get the studio completed!

Toy forests exist? And Liam got to swim in one today?

At least he told me so.

AND finds it to be productive! Yes folks, I’ve just discovered that staying home is a GOOD thing – and apparently not something that I do enough. Yesterday, Liam and I didn’t leave the house (even though I really should have gone to the grocery store). I’m not good at staying home. I like to be active – go places with Liam and have fun. Perhaps that explains the memberships to the zoo, Children’s museum and other places we frequent. I see my playgroup once a week and visit my parents one to two days as well. Throw in life’s necessities (errands and what not) and I’m rarely home. And with Liam starting school in a couple of weeks we’ve been even busier. Squeezing in some of the more important trips that last more than one afternoon since I won’t have entire days with him to myself anymore (I’ll stop there before the tears start forming). But yesterday was a really good day. And Liam had a ball! We did puzzles, and played in the playroom cooking up some really creative meals before having a picnic…it was just nice to stay home. And believe it or not, it was productive for me around the house! I got things picked up, laundry piled (not completed just piled) and discovered that a three year old can be pretty darn helpful! Let’s take this moment of insanity I had yesterday. I took all of my potted houseplants outside and hosed them down. I then removed all of my screens and turned that task over to the three year old who was more than happy to work the hose and drench the screens (and himself). I cleaned the insides of the windows (LONG overdue task) while the three year old had a ball throwing away all of the used paper from the windows (dang he’s easy to entertain). And now…I have a clear view to the outside and I’m wondering if I really in fact need those screens. Not a bad problem to have eh? So now…I’m going to try and stay home just a little bit more. What a concept for a stay at home mom?

Care to enjoy my view?

Now I need to hire a gardner.

I’m a sap, sentimental….whatever you call it. I love looking back at old photos of me, home movies – you name it. It makes me happy. And there is something about revisiting those old memories and sharing them with my family now that makes me giddy. Let’s talk Idlewild Park. It’s an amusement park in Ligonier, PA (a smaller one) full of rides for the entire family with a little place called Storybook Forest attached. I went to storybook forest as a kiddo – I remember it there. My parents have told ME stories about that place. And this year they’re celebrating their 50-year anniversary. That’s a lot of memories for a lot of people! Kind of exciting, huh? Anyway – I’m not one to stage photos very often but I resist grabbing a few on our recent trip there. It’s hard for me to believe that my boy is playing in the exact spot I played in around 25 years ago. And I wanted to capture that just as my folks had. Memories revisited…pretty cool huh?

Oh, and I’m the little one in all of the photos!

And then I had to compare this one of Nate and Liam…the difference of only one year.

Where does the time go?

I’ve been having a lot of fun in my studio lately. I have deadlines to meet but I’ve been trying to squeeze in a ME layout here and there (or maybe an altered piece). I’m getting close to redesigning my space since Nate is moving his office space…it’ll be nice. I need to decide on a paint color…time to paint again! And yes folks, I get excited about that stuff.

But since I don’t have too much that I can share right now, why not talk about some of newer products that I’m LOVING these days!

The new Basic Grey – Urban Gypsy line. Do you have it? The color palette is fab and the papers designs very refreshing. I just finished up an altered piece with this one. OH and it used the new magnetic closures! They are so much stronger than I thought they would be. I highly recommend them!

I’m also loving some of the items from a new company, Imaginisce. Perhaps I’m a bit a bias because the folks who are part of this company are amazing – beyond friendly. But check out some of these embellishments! The metals…the buttons (which are rubber by the way)…so cool.

Something else that I can’t stop using are the clear overlays and printed vellum from Hambly Screenprints. The colors and designs are so rich – they’re instant inspiration. And check out their blog – their design team gallery is FULL of inspiration. LOVE this company!

These (along with American Craft letter stickers) are considered my old faithfuls. The Heidi Swapp ghost letters – any font, size or color. I keep grabbing them…probably should stop but how fun would that be?

That’s enough scrap talk for now. To be continued…

And I’ll hold off on the snack talk until tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll be waiting on the edge of your seat.

These guys ROCKED!!! And we ALL had a great time! Did I mention that we were in the third row? Yep – we were up close and personal and Liam could dance in the isle! While Liam was most content sitting on our laps he did bust out a few moves at the very end.

After four years, the Wiggles still have it! They did not disappoint!

So I’m back home now after surviving my trip…or the flights I should say. I had one too many delays but it’s all good – I’m home aren’t I? The experience was fantastic and I met some wonderful people. Kind, genuine people who really seem to care about what you have to say. Now that’s refreshing. I also got to meet two gals who I’ve spoken online with for about two years. Candice, who is just a doll and so easy to talk to (in fact I think that I may have talked her ear off at times). But she was so sweet (and she’s super talented). And then I met Dana Smith who I briefly met at CHA but had the pleasure of really getting to know on this trip. She’s just plain awesome and I felt like I had known her for years – she was that easy to talk to. I really had some great company while I was away! But as always, it’s good to be home and back spending time with my boys. Love my boys. And tomorrow, we have something big planned for Liam (but we kind of enjoy it too). We’re headed to a Wiggly concert to rock out! This will be our fourth year going (should I be embarrassed about that?)! We took Liam when he was just a baby (before he turned one) because he’s loved the music and just watched all of the colors. No photos during that concert – shame on me!!! Then the next year we went all out and bought first row seats. BIG mistake. Apparently the Wiggles couldn’t even decrease the temptation to take off running on the floor. These photos were snapped…oh…within the first 30 minutes of the show. And I should note that my camera was purchased THAT DAY…I had no clue what I was doing. Ignore the quality…just enjoy the little dude!

After that we found open seats WAY IN THE BACK. So that was money well spent on front row tickets…not!

And then last year Liam had the best time! He totally got into the concert – wearing the gear, singing the songs, clapping and even gave Murray Wiggle a thumbs up. And yes folks, Murrray made one two year old boys day by returning the thumbs up. I missed that photo darn it! And another note about the photos…this was when I started attempting to shoot manual. You win some…you lose some and apparently I still had a lot of learning to do for indoor shooting.

So tomorrow we’ll see what the Wiggles concert brings. We’re back on the floor again, third row – hoping he’ll get into the show and rock out during a few songs. Nate and I sure will! Photos coming soon!

why I don’ t like flying much. I’ve been in the airport now for about four hours. Darn flight delays! Now if someone were telling ME this story I’d ask, did you have a computer? Because well…I can waste HOURS on the computer. Literally. But now I’ve been on the computer for a good three hours and folks…I’ve reached the end of the Internet. That’s what Nate and I say when we’ve read everything that we normally read. And now…that’s me. I’d have more if I would have remembered some of my favorite bookmarks and links to more blogs but alas…I’m working from memory.

Please have my plane arrive soon!!!

Well I had a few days there where I was on a role. But I also didn’t have any looming deadlines then either! I think there were three days where I was able to scrap for me – FOR ME! Loved it! I felt so free using whatever I wanted – old, new or otherwise. Granted I don’t mind scrapping for assignments but I’m usually required to do something in one area – but it’s all good!

Here is some of the work that I did with my “free time” –

This one uses the new “Tickled Pink” line from Three Bugs in a Rug. Just when I think that I can’t use pink, I’m able to pull something off.

And then this photo was taken at the amusement park a week ago and I just needed to capture something that Liam said.

And then this photo was just speaking to me one morning. There is no facial expression, it’s not a perfect *staring at the camera* shot but it captures my boy in the swimming pool we had at home (until a certain dog chewed through the dang thing).

Today I’m getting ready for a trip to Salt Lake City – never been there! It should be a good time – despite the whole flying thing right now (and the fact that I’m literally there and back in 36 hours. Good thing I’m not taking my trusty three year old sidekick – now that one could be tricky! More on the trip later.

Have a great Sunday!