this wednesday we...

…went to the local library!

Every Wednesday, I pick up my youngest nephew and two nieces and we have a day hanging out together. It's really the highlight of my week. We usually just stay at my house with favorite activities being reading books, playing with Little People, or playing/working around the yard. The other week my nephew (who is 7) planted all of my flowers and then greens in the garden! I thought it would be fun to shake things up a bit and every now and then go somewhere fun that we haven't been or its been a while since visiting. This past week, I picked them up with their backpacks on and library cards in hand to hit up the local library for some new-to-them books for nap and bed time. They were so cute and excited - I had been talking to them about it for a couple of days, so they were all ready to go.

When we got there, they each emptied their bags of books I had gotten them a couple of weeks ago and then we hit up the children's section for some reading. Of course they went straight to the building blocks and letter-sound bean bags, but that's ok! We were surrounded by so much written imagination that even being in that environment was inspirational. I gave them a "flexible" time limit for free play and then they were allowed to get five books to check out.  Since my nephew decided that all of the picture books were "girl books," I encouraged him to ask the lady at the information desk about hide-and-seek books - so he was pretty excited about that. So, we loaded up our 5 books (myself included), checked them out independently (it's all self-checkout now!!), then loaded up our totes and packs and left with new characters to love and new stories to remember.

There was not a peep of sound on the ride home. Only the turning of pages.

what's on my...

via Ali Edwards
vanity: I don't have a vanity…and I have never really wanted one. I love the romantic look of a mirrored table and cute poofy stool or chair (...and then catching your lovers eyes in the mirror while he tells you how beautiful you are…ONLY IN THE MOVIES), but I've never had one. I just use my bathroom countertop as a vanity I guess. And I do contain my toiletries and makeup on a little shelf unit hanging above my toilette.

perennial to do list: wash dishes, do laundry, decide what to make for meals, make the meals, print pictures, call this person, text that person, work on Project Life, etc., etc., etc.

refrigerator shelves: Oooooh right now I've got fresh greens from a friend just waiting to make me healthier, raw milk, leftover soup that is delicious, and cheese. Lots o' cheese. Always.

itinerary: I've got a possible beach in May with one of my oldest pals and her family, hoping to make a fun trip with my brother and his family in June, family beach week and Floyd Fest in July. I'm sure there will be weekend jaunts to NC, but those are all of the biggies.

fantasy itinerary: Paris (I lived there for a semester abroad in college and I am dying to go back). Disneyland/Harry Potter World. California Coast again. I'm not one for airplanes, matter of fact, I just flew for the first time in 11 years two years ago…and not since. It really takes a lot for me to get on one.

playlist: First Aid Kit, Ed Sharpe, and always rotating in some Langhorne Slim.

nightstand: So many books that I want to read. I always come to bed too late to read so therefore the piles just keep on piling up. Although, I am actively reading Looking for Alaska by John Green.

workout plan: Cut the grass with a push mower.

iphone/Android: Instagram, What's the Word, texts from some folks, Drudge Report, Pocket.

top 5 list: working upstairs in my craft room, a new season of my favorite shows on DVD, iPad, Fern's yawns, my bed.

bucket list: Have a baby. Go on short day trips to new places. Get the contents of my house to a manageable, bare-bones (for me), pile-less environment where I love everything that I have and have passed along those that I don't. Love myself for who I am, not who I think I should be.

mind: Is is time to get my eyes checked again? I hope I stay on track this month. Planning this big trip with my brother and his family and really hoping we do it. Happiness for being outside today with a picnic lunch in the grass. Hoping I'm not getting my niece's cold. Making plans for school this week.

blogroll: Elise Blaha, Exactly, Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno, Chalk White Arrow

walls of your favorite room in your house: I just painted an accent wall in my kitchen and I am in love with the color. It's a dark greenish/gray/brown and I hung two wood shelves and it looks so good (if I may say so myself…)

liquor shelf: Vodka and Coffee Liqueur

last credit card statement: oh geez. I'm not even going to go there.

screensaver: One I got from a blog that I am ashamed to say I cannot remember…I do try and change it up every month though. It's a circles graphic that has the most wonderful color combo.

tv every night: I just finished all 3 seasons of Walking Dead (I was seriously looking out over the fields for Walkers), and Sons of Anarchy Season 3. Also on rotation: Shameless (my fave), Girls, Parks & Rec, Modern Family, The Office…I like something on in the background when I'm home.

I'd love to find out what is on your…..!

project life: week eleven

Week Eleven…here you are. 

Yep, I'm fully aware that we are currently on 15 (?), and yep, I'm a little behind on the postings. But most importantly, I am almost totally caught up with the actual album. And I am loving that feeling. Project Life is a huge part of my creative life, and it certainly doesn't feel good when I am so behind that it is just an added project I never completed or got behind on. I don't stress about it, but I do really enjoy my time with it. 

I do try to keep my spreads organized according to the week's happenings…just part of my particulars. ;) And I try to at least get one picture from my Wednesdays with my youngest nieces and nephew. Even though it usually ends up being more because they are just so darn cute. My niece gets so excited about clothes (especially when they are cozy) so she was thrilled about her new-to-her pink slippers passed down from a cousin. The 'love this' die-cut was a gift, and I think it's safe to say it came from an Ali Edwards file. And how about that pizza? Looks delish, right? It was.

I love that 'hello" card that I just had to document how the time change through me into complete upheaval. It was so ridiculous this year! Do I just forget how it affected me the previous years, or does it just get harder to deal with the older I get? It knocked me on my buns…big time. Loving using my vintage typewriter on journaling cards, and especially love when all I have to say fits so perfect in the space.

Sidenote: I'm totally digging working on a custom cross-stitch for my 'pseudo sister and brother-in-law' (I say pseudo because really my sister-in-law's sister and brother-in-law, but we're all super close to feels weird to not call an in-law…ahh family dynamics…), and they have been so excited over it. Lucky for me, their birthdays all fall in monthly rows, so I completed one in February for one birthday, added another for a birthday in March, and will complete it with a little gal for her birthday this month. It has been so fun, and something I have been considering adding to my Etsy shop. I plan to do a post all about it when I have a completely finished product. 

Weekly Supplies used (that weren't noted otherwise): Seafoam Core Kit, Studio Calico Monthly Project Life subscription, Design A photo pages, American Crafts Slick Writer, black Uni-Ball fine point pen, Fiskars 1/2-inch corner rounder, Martha Stewart Avery labels from Staples. I print all photos at home.

To find out more about Project Life, check it out here.

here + there

Please pardon the silence around here…days are just chugging along full and good. The weather has been b-e-a-utiful this week and there has definitely been some outside hang time. Although just last week at this time there was snow on the ground. Needless to say, I enjoy the sunny days when they decide to show. We even got some greens in the garden on Wednesday (all thanks to my 7-year-old nephew who did it ALL), and I'm planning what else I want to grow this year. I want my garden to definitely be a focus of daily activity…not just something I tend once a week. I'm pretty excited about it.

I've been doing lots of spring cleaning and decorative updates around the house. A college friend came for a visit last weekend and she provided support as I cleaned out my main closet and my 'junior' closet. I have a huge bag for Salvation Army, another bag for consignment, a stack that is already listed on eBay, and a bag I handed over to a niece. Feels so damn good. And I'm not even close to being finished. I greatly recommend it…everything feels so much lighter and it is amazing how that transfers into my thoughts and daily outlook as well. Perfect for this new season.

birthday card: march

 

Only one this month…the lone ranger. I have been holding onto this one for a while, waiting for this birthday to come around. The person this cute postcard was for is an owl lover, so I thought this wood veneer card was just perfect. This company Night Owl Paper Goods has such cute stationary to choose from, and I am a huge fan of their wood veneer line. A couple of years ago I purchased their wood calendar and I have to admit here that I still have not gotten rid of it. It's just too darn cute. I figure I'd use the illustrations for something!!

 

Writing this post is reminding me I need to search for some April cards…time is just moving too fast!