Just me My Soldier and our 4 little chicks

filling my heart with joy

1. my beautiful, talented, amazing friend Laura had her baby boy this morning. finding the email from ken in my inbox this morning warmed my heart. welcome to the world, baby charlie. the two of you are going to be such incredible parents and charmer will be a wonderful big sis!

2. i pick j. up bright and early tomorrow morning. we will have 12 days together!!

3. this video. i swear i must have watched it a million times and it makes me laugh every single time. yes, we are dorks.

playground

i wanted to do a post all about my may studio calico projects, but i have a couple of things to share first.

a. i know my NSD contest post is a bit confusing, but please don't link your layouts to my blog until I put up the NSD post on Saturday, may 2. they have to all be in one place, so i can see them all. 

b. for those of you that asked how much i spent at the flea market this weekend, i think about 20 bucks.

c. j is on his way to kuwait, slowly but surely he's making his way home to us! some of you asked if this means  he is home for good. unfortunately, no. he's coming home for an awards ceremony next weekend (may 7-9) in dc. afterwards he will return to afghanistan until his deployment is over some time in july.

d. okay. so if you aren't crafty, you don't have to stick around. you might find the rest of this post boring. teehee!!

this month i purchased all three add-ons in addition to receiving the may kit, Playground.

i did six layouts and part of an album. i'm going to share a little bit about each project and if you have any questions, i will respond to your question in the comments section!

this month each design team member used a member layout for inspiration. i chose barb's layout, Luke. i just loved the over all design.

my version uses the main kit and both addons (not the project kit, just the 2 addons). the scallops are cut from the SC exclusive patterned paper in this month's main kit (my favorite SC paper so far).

this one uses two punches. the apron lace border punch by fiskars, and a martha stewart butterfly punch. well, i guess three punches, i also used a corner rounder.

this uses the buttons from the project kit, and papers from both add ons.

i know the butterflies aren't in perfect rows, and yes i know there is ripping...but i don't care. ;) letting go and letting mistakes happen when you are crafty is the fun part of it. if i ever take it more seriously than that, that's when i know it's not a fun hobby for me any  more.

this one is super personal, and was truly therapeutic for me to make. i honestly almost didn't turn it in as one of my projects, but I decided to at the last minute because i thought maybe it would help someone else scrapbook something emotionally private. it was fun just to let go and do whatever i wanted to do and say what i wanted to say.

this uses maya mist in orange

the numbers and patterned papers are from the main kit, as is the alpha and the label stickers.

the leaf pin is from the project kit.

the butterfly is from the chatterbox chipboard in Double Dutch

i used a chatterbox cork piece as the mask that surrounds the title.

the background is composed entirely of the Kentucky Dam vintage postcards that come in the simon says add on. 

the journaling is pretty much just one long run on sentence of things that run through my head constantly.

this one makes me grin. every year a do a layout of things harper loves to say. i can't believe it's time to do this years, i feel like i just did "on repeat at 2"!!!

the background paper is that same scallop PP i was talking about in the main kit, the one i love so much. it's the B side, and you can see i also used it on my "mantra" layout. obsessed much???

the label and circle stickers are the sassafras stickers from simon says. all of the stars are from the chatterbox die cuts.

the title is made up of the alphas from the main kit and double dutch.

this layout uses the number chipboard and alpha from the main kit.

the button stamps are from Simon Says (LOVE THESE)

and the paper is from Double Dutch.

the buttons are embellished with baker's twine. 

this one symbolizes that we are 3/4 through and that we are 3/4 of our family.

the grid is the 9 months we've been apart. dorky, i know.

i used a martha steward scalloped circle punch to punch different papers from the main kit.

the ribbon is from double dutch.

the alpha and small dots on the buttons (From number chipboard) are from the main kit

and the buttons are from the project add on.

the butterfly is by chatterbox and is outlined with claudine hellmuth paint.

last is the album from the project kit.

everyone is doing such fabulous, creative things with this album.

to be honest, i felt a little overwhelmed and intimidated. i don't sew, and i don't ever complete  mini albums if they are complicated.

i get frustrated so easy when it comes to mini albums.

so i decided i'd do something different.

i made the album into a "crafty to-do notebook".

it will contain notes, ideas, dimensions of rooms, on grid paper, and the accompanying page will be an inspiration board of sorts.

on the cover, i simply adhered the accents with liquid stitch. everything here is from the project kit, except for the polka dot block stamp i used for the dots. the paint i used is claudine hellmuth.

i traded out the neutral ribbon that came with the book for this ribbon, which is from the project kit.

each pair of pages will have a page protector on the left, with notes and photos of the space or project i will be working on.

on the right will be a canvas page with inspiration pieces adhered. i used glue dots and straight pins.

yes, i have a bit of album envy when i see the fabulous things the team members did with this book. 

but i have mini album ADD, and this works perfectly for me.

i'm already working on the next pair of pages, which are scrapbooking projects i want to do.

i hope you enjoyed today's post.

many of you have asked for more detail on my projects, so i hope this is helpful. 

happy tuesday!!

xo

yay for reveal night and for flea market finds!!

and yay for the email from J. saying he's in Bagram and on his way home.

he should be here just in time to surprise H for her 3rd bday, which is Sunday.

he's going to buy her a big bouquet of pink roses (she's obsessed with wanting daddy to send her flowers from ahgannisann),

hide his face behind them, and surprise her at our front door.

don't worry, i will have the FLIP camera out.

i get teary just thinking of it.

on the other hand, i get teary in another way thinking of the fact that our roof is leaking YET AGAIN. the entire scrap/play room is covered in plastic sheeting and buckets.

focusonthepositive

focusonthe positive

focusonthepositive.

wanted to share this photo of miss h during nap time yesterday.

how sweet is she? she's getting big so fast, it's just amazing.

but she still looks like a baby when she sleeps.

Studio Calico May kit reveal is tonight, make sure you come over.

I bought all of the addons this month, and I will have six layouts and one partially done album to share. Needless to say, I'm a fan of the kit. ;)

I went to the flea market this weekend and I want to share what I found.

Sarah, one of my very best/soul sister friends came with me.

We had a combined total of 5 children. It was awesome. HEE!!!

She couldn't believe how cheap things really are here (she grew up in New England and said she's never seen anything like it).

a glass dish and a fire king bowl

love these sweet roses.

pyrex

love love old books.

so how's that for a random post??

have a beautiful monday, my friends.

off to watch the rain fall. blech.

xoxox

NSD Challenge at Studio Calico

I have been told that I will soon be giving this pretty away:

this is the sold-out Gingham add-on from the Garment District kit.

Here is the scoop. Each design team member at Studio Calico is holding a NSD challenge. You have one week to complete my challenge and if you do, you will be entered in the giveaway. If you look in the side column of my blog, you will see "SC DT". In that column are all the other blogs. Feel free to enter as many, or as few as you want. Each member will have a different challenge on their blog and a different add-on to give away.  They are all due next Saturday (National Scrapbooking Day). 

On May 2, next Saturday, I will do a post here at my blog. You will link your challenge layout in the comments section of the post.

If my explanation doesn't make sense, check out this SC Blog Post. 

So what's the challenge you might ask??

I'm calling it "something old".

Incorporate something old on your layouts.

Now, this can mean several things in the context of this challenge.

1. You can use something "vintage".

2. You can use an "older" scrapbooking product that you have in your stash.

3. You can use an "old" Studio Calico kit, meaning not the one from this month.

I thought I'd share some examples.

for kelly purkey's sketch class at two peas.

patterned papers- Studio Calico, Lily Bee

alpha- american crafts

chipboard accents- basicgrey

rhinestones- k and co

bingo cards- vintage 

punch- fiskars apron lace

ink- clearsnap chalk ink- creamy brown

pen- american crafts precision pen.

This layout could be entered into my challenge b/c it uses one of the "older/earlier released" SC patterned papers, and it also incorporates vintage bingo papers.

chipboard stem- basicgrey

alphabet- american crafts

butterfly- k&company

metal letter- vintage

flowers- prima (tulle), american crafts (felt)

buttons- joAnn fabric/vintage

pearl flower and felt heart- jenni bowlin

This layout could be entered into the challenge because the "s" and one of the buttons is vintage.

So there you have it. Hope you will join in.

Have a beautiful weekend!

xo

wish list

in no particular order.

1. this handbag from {A03} Designs. i mean seriously, i've looked at it over and over and over.  the yellow and the vintage touches are almost too much for my eyes to handle.

2.  this tray from john derian. i've been looking at this one for over a year and i think i need to get it for jimmy.

3. these pretties from mini boden  for the girlies. summer in tx. is brutal, and these are not only cute, but seem beyond comfy.

4. anthropologie dress currently in my dreams

5. some j crew for my tootsies:

6. Love love love the farm chicks. This one combines mouth-watering recipes and vintage looks for the kitchen. I've been hooked on it ever since I read my friend Sarah's copy.

7. This necklace from candysart . i think sadie should buy it for me, she owes me one. hmmph.

8. and i probably won't buy many things on this list, but i WILL buy this pouch. i lovelovelovelovelove it. simbiosisbyjulia.

hope you enjoyed a session of blog/window shopping.

love you all!! xo

heeee

j isn't going to know what to do with these two when he comes home!!

xo

big, huge sigh of relief

big huge sigh of relief

for the fact that:

a. i feel so much better today

and

b. i got an email from J. today. i can finally let out the breath i've been holding for the better part of this week.

big awkward grin of embarrassment 

because:

a. harper kept loudly saying "where's your NUTS??" in target. she meant "nets" as in the butterfly nets i got her in the dollar spot, but it doesn't really matter does it. we got lots of chuckles.

b. sadie kept grabbing my "bosom" (or lack thereof)  with her sticky animal cracker coated hands. 

if you saw a frazzled lady with handprints on her boobs and her child asking about nuts, that was me.

big time gratitude

that my friend nancy handed down this awesome piece of furniture to me. it now resides in my craft room and is the EXACT height i need to stand and scrap. YESSS!!!

thank you so so much nancy.

big time excitement

(that doesn't even begin to cover it)

that i got this in the mail today:

is it appropriate to attempt to make out with your husband in the pentagon?

just asking....

maybe someone out there knows the protocol on this.

big girl like i can't believe:

(yes, she is indeed eating the head off of a pez dispenser. what, is that weird???)

that's about it in my neck of the woods.

hope you all are well,

love you all!

xo

man oh man

i don't know what's wrong with me but i have felt so bad since yesterday

it all started after i read that ny times article, i was so nauseated. 

and i've felt like that since then.

before you say it, i *know* i am not pregnant, ha!

i suspect that i have a touch of a tummy bug. good times,

i know you guys wanted to know that.

just being lazy over here. just got these shoes from zappos (for my JCrew coral dress i'm wearing to DC)

they are more metallic than they look here, they are GORGEOUS.

and perfectly conservative/yet still hot. ha!

we have been doing this for most of the day:

swimsuits from old navy

well they have been doing this. i've been laying on a towel like the life is sucked right out of me. i'm a sloth i tell you.

i never should have read that article, it started my down fall. ;)

some more randomness, don't forget to check out the Lily Bee Contest.

i want lots of you guys to participate!

for those of you who have been asking about more photos of my parents house, i'm sorry to say there won't be any. long story, but thanks for understanding!! 

and last but not least, i have an october afternoon layout and some studio calico may sneaks.

happy tuesday!!

off to be worthless and slothful (slothful?? sloth-ish?? sloth-esque?)

whatever you want to call it, i'm ready for it to be over. 

xo

s

layout done for October Afternoon Blog Profile

pp, stickers, die cuts- October Afternoon

alphas- american crafts

ink- colorbox chalk ink (creamy brown)

punches- ek success (notebook paper), firskars apron lace (border on green PP), marvy scallop punch (pink circle), ek success circle punch (center of pink scallop)

made using studio calico may main kit and both addons

YES THAT IS STAMPING!! HALLELUJAH!!

using studio calico may main kit and both addons.

back home and recovering.

seriously. my 2 year old is a bigger party girl than I am.

you should have seen her, she was a rock star.

friday night we had the rehearsal dinner and then after the dinner, there was a kick off party. i was planning on taking the shuttle back to the hotel,

but harper walked off with some of jimmy's friends telling them she was going to the party.

she looked back and said "you comin' mama??"

uhhhhh yes i'm coming, you are TWO!!!!!!

she danced on the dance floor until an ungodly hour, but she was the belle of the ball.

she danced with lots of her daddy's friends and i was teary-eyed all night b/c he should have been there. but his friends are amazing and i'm glad she got to get to know them.

then saturday was a looonnnng day for her.

there were some major delays in the weekend, because of the torrential (and i mean torrential) downpours that occurred both fri. and sat.

so there was a lot of waiting.

and a lot of her having to sit still so that she didn't get her gorgeous dress dirty. but she was a real trooper:

for those of you who asked, her boots are ariat fat baby boots.

her beautiful dress was strasburg children.

i was a tad concerned about how she would do during the wedding.

she had to walk down the aisle with a precious little boy and hold his hand.

she kept giving him the stink eye all day long and mumbled things like

"that curly-headed boy is going to try to touch my flowers".

but they were SO CUTE. they held hands and walked slowly and she was

verrrrrrrrry serious about it all.

and then she danced and danced again all night long.

she kept saying " i want to PARTY PARTY!!!" and she danced like the energizer bunny.

well, the help- yourself candy station and lollypop the size of her head probably had something to do with that energy.

so we are home. and i'm STILL tired.

harper seems just fine though, ha!!!

i wanted to share a link with you guys.

jimmy and his guys were in the new york times again today.

today it is a cover story.

you can find the story and multimedia here.

i watched it this morning and i'm just heartbroken.

the multimedia portion made me cry.

i just wanted to share it with you all.

have a beautiful day...gosh it's good to be home!!

xo

we are out of here!

H is the flower girl at a wedding this weekend.

I'm having a really hard time convincing her that she does not indeed get to

"dress like a flower".

She does get to wear these, though:

and is verrrry excited about that.

I hope she doesn't start walking down the aisle and yell

"HEWWO EVERYBODY, I'M HERE AND  IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!"

like she does when she walks into ballet.

i also wanted to share a layout i did for October Afternoon:

pp, die cuts- october afternoon

punches- fiskars uppercrest (border), martha stewart (butterfly)

alphas- american crafts

ink- colorbox chalk ink (creamy brown)

That's all I can squeeze in today, I've got to pack and clean and get ready.

There are crazy thunderstorms all day and this weekend, so I'm a little nervous to drive. Eeeeek.

Love to you all, I'll be back Sunday with more photos from my mom's house.

Happy Friday!

xo

s