I re-did my 30 day journal challenge.

Photo album personalized with Smilebox

I made a digital scrapbook of my new 30 day journal challenge designs.  I'll post the pics to flickr too, because the design cropped some of my photos.  :(  I think it's cute though.  I'm glad I re-did this journal.  I really prefer the look of scrapped pages....not just pen and ink.  You guys should check out SmileBox--it's fun.

i made something.

 

Lately I've been crafting up a storm.  I've been crampy so I've been lounging around this weekend.  Saturday night was so great because the girls played barbies, my boyfriend played video games, and I made stuff.  I've sort of been feeling bad lately that I hadn't really finished the 30 day journal challenge, and I wasn't really happy with my journal pages, so I decided to start over.  My new 30 day journal is SO cute!  It will get it's own post when I'm finished....I can't wait to show you!!  While I was waiting for the gesso to dry on one of my journal pages, I spotted an unfinished wood photo frame across the room.  I had painted a blue dahlia in my journal and had some left over paint on my cute little daisy palette,  so I went straight to work painting the picture frame.  I'm so happy with how it turned out!  It looks really really cute with a real photo in it, and up on the wall.  It was just a cheapie Michales wooden frame I got in the kids craft section, and I just used my cheap Wal-Mart craft paints on it.  This is a fun craft that anyone can do.  Dahlias are easy....just paint a bunch of black ovals and fill them in with whatever color you like (tone on tone colors would look great too).  If you decide to do this project, please leave a link to your work in the comments....I'd love to see your dahlias!

 

new journal class!

 I am so excited to get started on my latest project!  I am taking a journaling class by Shimelle.  The class entails of creatively documenting the lessons you learn each day in September.  I am really looking forward to the crafty part of it, but also the experience of becoming aware of little life lessons and having a beautiful record of my life in September 2010.  My journal is a tiny moleskine.  It has graph paper inside, and just enough pages to document 30 days.  I've never worked in a journal so small, but I figure it will be quick and fun.....not to mention adorable.  I'll be posting more as I go along.  Happy creating lovlies!

book worm.

Everyone in my house loves to play this game called Book Worm.  It's a really great Nintendo DS game that is kind of like a cross between a word search and Tetris!  It's super addictive and time consuming, but at least it's educational right?

change

You know, I can't stop changing the look of my blog.  It's because I don't like the way it looks, but I don't know web design either, so I mess around pretending I do, and I still don't like it.  I spend hours and hours working on blog design, and in the end I still don't like the results.  One day I'll get it.  But for now........I'm reverting back to the simple layout and my favorite background.  It'll have to get me by for now, because blogging is supposed to  be fun, not frustrating.

coffin cartoons- Thundercats

I always get these exaggerated responses like, "you've NEVER seen Thundercats (or whatever else I've never seen)?!".  Apparently I haven't seen a lot of very key tv shows & movies.  Anyway, my boyfriend showed me Thundercats last night, and I like it.  Cartoons are the best.  Check it out...(it's not a full episode, but youtube should have more of what you're looking for.) enjoy!

first day.

*bellies full of french toast with blackberries, off they go to read and write and make new friends*

4 simple goals.

 Elsie, over at A Beautiful Mess came up with a great idea, called 4 Simple Goals.  The goals are to be achieved by the end of 2010.   Here are the guidelines:

1. choose simple goals that will make your life richer and happier on a daily basis. choose things you may not otherwise get done, but that are not difficult to accomplish.
2. do not choose result oriented goals, choose activity oriented goals. for example.... instead of "lose 10 pounds", choose something like "eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day". get what i'm saying? positive actions instead of just the end result!
3. choose goals that are personal that you believe will truly make your life richer just by doing them! they can be daily, weekly or one time experiences.
4. choose a reward for each goal as it is accomplished! it can be a small or large reward.
5. blog your goals, each one as you achieve it and a big post when they are all finished before the new year!

.......and here are my goals:
1.  Serve my family breakfast every day.  School is about to begin.  Gone are the lazy summer days of sleeping in and eating when we feel like it.  My goal isn't to cook breakfast every day, but rather to serve breakfast every day.  I will want to cook most days, but realistically we will be having cereal or yogurt and fruit days.  The point is to have a descent healthy breakfast on the table every morning so we can start the day off right.  No more last minute granola bars or McDonald's like last year!  The reward- the peace of mind knowing that I fed my family well before we all go off on our separate ways to face the day.
2.  Carve out an hour for myself each day.  More than likely I will be taking the hour I have after I drop the girls off at school.  I might sit at a coffee shop alone and work on blog stuff.  I might snuggle up on the couch with my morning coffee and a real book.  I might work in one of my journals.  I might walk.  Just me time.  The reward- This goal is the reward itself!  I feel less stressed and more optimistic when I take time to be alone.  My family will have a happier me, and I will connect more with them in the evenings.
3.  Work harder at work.  I have one of those jobs that the more you put into it, the more reward you get from it.  I'm not going to take on extra hours or anything.  Just look a little nicer, clean a little more, and be willing to make myself available to help out in any way that I can.  The reward-more $, with which I will splurge on a new pair of comfy work shoes, and a few new pairs of work pants.  And probably a new smock.
4.  Wash my face and brush and floss my teeth every night before I go to bed.  Sometimes All the time I get so tired that I fall asleep watching a movie with my boyfriend, and then drag myself to bed with my make-up still on!  This is a horrible horrible horrible habit to fall into.  I want to feel fresh and clean before I go to bed.  If it takes taking my shower as soon as I get home, than that's what it takes.  The reward- clear skin and healthy teeth and gums.  I might be inspired to treat myself to a new lipstick or eyeshadow, and some whitening strips.

I hope you all choose to join in on this exciting challenge!  What are your goals for the end of the year?

Monday Music. ......new feature??

 I've been loving this song lately.  Not my favorite kind of music normally, but the lyrics are cute (and so is Nicki Minaj)!

Freaky Friday

turn that frown upside down.

Why do we often treat the ones we love the most, the worst of all?  We all do it.  Not on purpose of course, but you know when you've been having a rotten day and you come home with the weight of everything that went wrong and having to be polite to strangers, and then snap at your family?  I've been wondering why we do it.  Perhaps it's because we can let our guard down around our families and truly be ourselves, ugly emotions and all.  We feel so comfortable around our loved ones that we can vent to them and subconsciously direct our frustrations at them.  It's sad.  One person's bad mood can definitely bring everyone else down.  It's beyond ok to talk to your family about your feelings, but when it's to the point that your terrible mood is making someone you love feel that way too....I think it's time to take a step back and try, for the sake of everyone around you- the ones you love, to feel better.  My boyfriend taught me that you can choose how you feel about things.  I used to get so mad at him for telling me things like that.  I thought it was impossible to choose your feelings....that they just happen, like a natural reaction.  Feelings do happen quickly and automatically.  But you can take those feelings and turn them around.  You can see your problems in a more positive light if you try hard enough.  It's not easy, but it brings you so much relief to dry those tears and soldier on with a new determination that you can feel good, and even excited about.  Even the worst things can teach you valuable lessons, and make you a much smarter and stronger person.  It kind of forces you to be a better person in a way....to persevere in spite of life throwing you lemons all the time.  There is so much negative out there in the world.  We need all the positivity we can get.  I'm going to try to give myself (and my blog readers) a little more positive inspiration, because when you're naturally pessimistic like me (I like to call it being a realist- it sounds better).....you need it! We don't have to walk around with big cheesy grins on our faces, but when you let people know that you're feeling bad but it's not their fault, and that they shouldn't feel bad just because you're feeling bad........it's much better than  un-purposefully dragging everybody down to the depths of your depressive mood.  So cheer up buttercup!  It's not as bad as you think.

I want to learn.

There are so many many things I want to know how to do.  Stuff like this:

• play the guitar (not really well.  just well enough to feel pretty and sweet singing songs when we're all chilling out at home with a few beers.  I want a cute vintage acoustic.  Nothing fancy.)
• speak french.  It's a beautiful language.  And it would drive my boyfriend wild.
• sew.  It's a very practical skill to have.  And also an extremely creative and rewarding one.  I want to make quilts for my family to picnic on, mend my boyfriends favorite shorts, make clothes for my daughters dolls, de-construct and re-construct cute clothes for us girlies, make handmade gifts, and make Halloween costumes, whip up adorable plushies in a flash, and so on and sew on....
• digital scrapbooking.  Have you seen the stuff you can do with things like Kitchy Digitals?!  If I can learn digital scrapbooking, I'm certain that I can make my blog look exactly how I like, and easily too.
• sew on my journal pages.  How do people do that?
• knit better.  Anything beyond a dishrag, a potholder, a barbie blanket, or a scarf is beyond me.  My boyfriend would be very happy if I could learn how to knit a beanie with an arrow on it so he can look like Eng from the Avatar cartoons.  The girls have requested animals.  I want to make Christmas stockings.  Hmm...we'll see.
• use a digital SLR.  They're so intimidating. 
• use Photoshop.  I'm pretty sure I would need to know it to do digital scrapbooking, and also photo editing, and blog design.
• crochet.  I got a book and some hooks a few years ago.  I tried it, but I didn't give it much effort.  People crochet a lot of really cute things.  So that would be nice to know how to do.
• organize.

The list goes on an on and on.  What do you want to learn how to do?

Morning Cartoons- SheRa

I've heard about a newly restored set of SheRa dvds coming out, so I thought I'd check out the cartoon on youtube.  I want to start watching cartoons every morning (esp. since school is starting!) while getting ready for my day.  So, today's cartoon to watch, while brushing my teeth and straightening my hair, is this:

I hope you like it.  Hmm....I might start posting a new  old cartoon every morning!  Have a wonderful day.

What is Monster High?

So I got these dolls.  I found them at Target over by the Moxie dolls.  I was looking for a birthday present for my 7 year old, Daisy.  I saw these, and I couldn't believe my eyes.  I had to have them!

They are the coolest dolls I have ever seen in the kids section.  I got the 2 prettiest girls...Frankie Stein, and Lagoona Blue.  Frankie has 2 different colored eyes, and Lagoona has webbed fingers!  I don't think I'll be able to give them to my daughter.  I love them too much.  When I saw them I kept thinking, "What is Monster High?".  So when I got home I did some investigating and found out.  They are a line of dolls by Mattel.  They are supposed to be like the daughters of the classic monsters we all know and love.  If you check out the Monster High website, you can see all the dolls and learn more about them.  Apparently Mattel has a cartoon television show but hasn't been able to find the right partner to get the show on the air.  They will be selling Monster High clothes at Justice this summer, and there will be 6 books coming out this fall.  Obviously this stuff is geared towards tweens, but I don't care.  I'm already in love.  I hear they are a few years away still, but that they are working on a movie too.  I am such a geek.

"101 Things About Me" 51-75

51.  I'm really vain.  I like to stare at myself.
52.  I want a Blythe doll SO bad, but they're ridiculously expensive, so I don't have one.
53.  I'm a night owl.  I love staying up late.  Night is so peaceful but also mysterious....and really romantic.
54.  I have a master list of disgusting words.
55.  I tried out for cheerleading every year in school.  I didn't make it.  I'm not peppy.  I really just wanted to wear the outfit.
56.  I always wanted to go to some kind of all girl school or boarding school.  I love school uniforms!
57.  I have never been to camp.  And I haven't gone camping since I was a kid.  Oh wait...yeah, I have been camping.  I went on a float trip a few years back.  There were jello shots and jungle juice and snakes and rain involved.  That's probably why I sorta blocked it out.  I want to go camping though.  Soon.
58.  I think mustaches are gross.  They are only acceptable if they are part of a full beard, or on bearded ladies at the circus.
59.  My favorite candy ever is a Milky Way candybar.  Mmm...so good.
60.  My new favorite flowers are carnations!
61.  My favorite job was working at T.C.B.Y.  I liked making waffle cones.  They were the best waffle cones ever....so light and crumbly.  Filled with 98% fat free strawberry frozen yogurt.......perfect.
62.  If I had the time, I think it would be so much fun to do roller derby!  I like coming up with the names.  Rawberry Shortcake.  Rainbow Spite.  Smackie Chan.  lol
63.  I don't like clothes shopping.  At all.  I like shopping for other things though.  Like books, music, dvds, antiques, candles,.....stuff.
64.  I like saying old school phrases that people don't say anymore, like "the bees knees" and "peachy keen" and "the cat's pajamas"
65.  I wish I had enough time and money to take a chunk of time off to fix and decorate and make my house cute.
66.  I didn't used to, but I like anime.  Some.  Anime.  I like DragonballZ.  It's silly.
67.  My backyard is the perfect environment for growing peppers.  I'm an amazing pepper grower.
 68.  I don't like sports.  I've never gotten into team sports.  It's fun to mess around with sports recreationally but not competitively.
69.  I don't like being tickled.  So of course my boyfriend tickles me.  All the time.
70.  I don't like manicures.  I don't want some stranger rubbing my hands.  That's way too personal.
71.  I'm not comfortable sleeping in anything that isn't 100% cotton.  And not knit.  Cotton.
72.  I don't watch the news.
73.  I've lived in Columbia Missouri since I was 5.  23 years.  I think the thought of living somewhere for your whole life is really depressing.  I'll move away someday.
74.  It doesn't bother me at all to do things by myself (most things).  Or spend an evening alone.  In fact, I actually like it.
75.  I wish I had to wear glasses.  I tried to wear fake ones once, but it felt so silly I only kept them on for half the day.

*New Music!*

I'm up way too late, but I had to share this with you.  I just found the music of Cass McCombs.  So far I have loved the sounds of all the videos I watched on YouTube.  I really like this one!  I hope everyone has a nice relaxing Sunday.

 

signature

Hello Lovlies!

I was playing around with my new blog design, and somehow my signature got taken out of my code.  This is just a little test to see how my bright and shiny new one looks.  If you want a signature of your own, you should really check out My Live Signature.  It is super fun and easy.  They even have the magic to use your own handwriting!

  How to install a fancy signature to your blog posts:

1.  Go to your dashboard. (assuming you've copied your signature html code)
2. Click on "settings" and then on "formatting" (at the top of your screen)
3. Scroll down to find an empty "post template"
4. Paste your code into the post template.  Your signature will now show up in all your blog posts!

I hope you all like my new blog design.  Let me know what you think!