Shop Girl

12 of 12 - January 2010

Cheers to the start of a new decade! All fresh like the first day of school. And to start it off I'm hopping back on Chad's 12 of 12. I figure it might help me get back in touch with my blog self. We don't really need to explain where I've been have we? Let's not go there and just have fun with this 12 of 12 post.

Even though it's been about a year and a half since my last 12 of 12 it seems like I live the same day over and over - Oh Wait - I do!

I start every day the same - feed the kitties. Buffy waits patiently. 

 View from the Markham Bridge. A nice big grey sky over Portland. 

Morning dew.

On a dry erase board in another department at work.

A new display in my shop.

 

Like the sands of the hour glass so are the days of our lives. Is it 5pm yet?

All the pretty lights on 217 at 5:30 make me  C R A Z Y.

At home, goofing with Alex. Or Butt Niblet as I named him tonight.

Quizzing Alex for his spelling test.

Fresh load of laundry to fold. I hate folding whites.

All folded. I do love a clean stack of white washcloths.

 

End of the day - I make it to the craft room to finish up my batch Conversation Heart gift boxes I'm working on for my etsy shop. Then load these pictures.

   
Thats it for now - don't forget to check out all the 12 of 12 ers on Chad's blog. Chad has announced this is the last year of 12 of 12 so let's make it good!

See ya around...maybe.

 

status updates i would have put on facebook if i didnt have so many "friends"

and since no one reads my blog I can put them here:

Andrea says "wow" to the guy who ordered a Quad 20oz Mocha Breve this morning.

Andrea doesn't think adding an A onto the end of the name will make it any better.

Andrea has trust issues and would like to believe but doesn't know for sure. 

Andrea is sorry she didn't ask you first but that doesn't mean you didn't need them.

Andrea wants you to know the 72 minimum really isn't that many when you break it down by 5 sizes and 4 color ways.

Andrea wants to tell you that if you had told me I would have set it up that way but since you didn't....

Andrea wants to tell you that it's not necessary to forward me and email that I was cc'd on and say "you were cc'd".

And if I could of text-ed in my car while driving home tonight you would have read this:

Andrea wonders if it's smart to drive home all the way with the gas light on and 10 miles to empty.

Andrea thinks you better answer your phone if you are hungry for dinner otherwise it's every man for himself.

Other witty status updates from today:

Andrea thinks it's crap that she woke up to rain on her day off yesterday and this morning's alarm clock brought her streaming sunshine.

Andrea wants to know why she came home to 2 grumpy pants.

My life is could be one status update after another! Instead of facebook I love how choose to post them here because no one reads my blog anymore. That's probably why I stopped blogging - because people were actually reading it! Now that I have so many "friends" I don't want to facebook anymore and have passive aggressively posted my status updates here. I'm so messed up. I think I've been watching In Treatment too much.  It's a tangled web I weave.

A few more I just came up with:

Andrea thinks it's crazy our portion of the insurance was $147.75 per tooth. FOUR teeth. It's a racket I tell you. 

Andrea wants Tom to know he makes a wicked chopped salad and I love him for it.

Andrea is so proud she posted today after 3 months of nothing.

And I leave you with that. 

things that make me happy at this very moment

Cupcakes. I want to bake lots of them and buy things from LayerCakeShop. And I just ate one for lunch with a big glass of milk. It was delicious and I dont feel guilty. Nope. Not one little bit.

Lavender sachets. I've make bunches this weekend. Finally finding something to do with all those yoyos I was making. I like the patterns, especially the Amy Butler ones I got at Boersma's down in McMinnville about a year ago.

 

These will probably make it on my etsy shop because one girl can only use so many sachets.  Then I can buy stuff from the LayerCakeShop and my life will be complete. 

merry merry

christmas to all!

now you might think i have dropped off the face of the earth but i'm still around and kicking. just taking a break but wanted to drop in and wish you all happies so if i dont talk to ya before the end of the year - happy new year too~!

xoxo

i hate daylight savings time

and it depresses me.

Can you tell I'm a Cancer? I've been hiding in my shell feeling anti-social. I get like that every once in awhile but the blog got really hit by it this time and I haven't been on here forever. I think I was feeling overwhelmed with life and needed to let go of a few things. Things have settled down now so here I am. What have I been up to you ask? Whats my excuse? None. Just been reading allot, going to soccer games, not crafting one little bit, cooking just a little more than normal, and watching way too much TV (movies mostly) which is not a usual thing for me. Work has me really tired out but the couple of big pprojects we have been working on should come to fruition here shortly. 

I feel like I should back track and load a bunch of posts and pictures here but that tires me out just thinking about it. So I think I will start fresh here from TODAY. There are still things I want to talk about it but need to ease back in. Alex and I just got back from the library today and we checked out a bunch of book so I think I will settle in and do some reading. See you soon,

xoxo Andrea

EDITED - For some reason I currently have a yo yo addiction. Maybe it's because I can sit, watch a movie and whip up a bunch. Tell me - What should I do with them all now???

happiness

I ordered this book for the shop and have been waiting for it all summer... 

 

And it arrived today. Happiness!

Stumbled across these lovelies which was like finding buried treasure in my scrap area. Put them up in my etsy shop today. I love Halloween. Happiness!!

It's the little things in life. Ah - but I must remember... whats the quote? Happiness is not in things, it's in us. Something like that anyway. A hard one to remember when there are such shiny pretty things adorning the world.

yum yums

I knew when I bought that apple peeler thingy about 3 years ago it would come in handy one day. Sure enough, last weekend I found a *great* apple strudel recipe ~ Claudine would be proud!

 

First off ~ I must explain my love lOve LoVe LOVE for honeycrisp apples , I wait for them all year. When they appear back in the store I know fall is coming and I crave caramel apples and apple strudel.

 

The contraption is from a pampered chef party I got sucked into. It is a fantastic thing because who wants to peel and core two pounds of apples?

 

The house smells delish with the sugar, cinnamon and apples cooking ~ oh my!

 

Instead of making a whole strudel I made little individual pockets so you get the extra puffy pastry aeffect in every bite! A little vanilla ice cream on the side and I'm in heaven!

 

Another yum yum is one I found at Barnes and Noble last weekend ~ a great eye candy book. $35 so I will have to wait a little to buy it but it's on my list for sure.

And my new favorite yum yum - this~!

I look forward to it all week! Finally - I have a new TV show to look forward to! There are only like 3 shows I tune in for and this is now one of them.  I even went out and bought the first book in the series it's based on. Total fluff read. Very entertaining. I LOVE it!

And the best part was when I sat down to watch in last night and eat my apple strudel - yum yums all around! 

i love september

labor day BBQs, first day of school, sharpened pencils and school supplies, sunny days and crisp nights, piles of freshly laundered flannel sheets ready to go, new school clothes, gathering for the Sweet and Sinister, oktoberfests, the annual cleaning out of the garage, leaves are getting ready to hit the ground, prepping the pantry and readying the baking goods, saturday soccer games, farmers markets, a new crop of honeycrisp apples, new TV to look forward to, picking out bulbs to plant, getting into a routine again, it's darker earlier and i'm longing to nestle in my studio and create... fall is my new year. i love it!

odds and ends

Well....hellooooo.

I'd like to announce that Gina is the winner of my Beastie Boys trivia from the prior post. You are so much cooler than you kids even know Gina! Send me your address for a little goodie bag!

My kiddo is on vacation at my parents house this week so my husband and I don't even know what to do with ourselves. I will probably will get caught up on long lost blog reading while Tom power washes the deck. Sounds good to me.

Speaking of reading, got the new Stephanie Meyer book 11am Saturday morning and was done by 6pm Sunday. Loved it! But I always have been one for loving juvenile stuff. I was a huge Buffy and Roswell fan after all. I just discovered the Twilight series mid June and ravaged through the first 3 so was very excited to know the 4th was coming right out. Very very good story. And I highly recommend the The Host.

My good blog friend Elizabeth gave me an award. Isn't she the cutest?! I just adore her! I'm a horrible tagger though so don't hate me for not passing the tag along. I guess this is a warning to fellow bloggers that Andrea aka shopgirl is a lazy blogger (but maybe you already knew that) and she wont pass on tags so don't bother awarding her anything. smooches E and thanks for putting up with me!

I'm so far behind posting- - Like a month ago I got Gwen's Graffiti journal passed onto me from Michelle. 

Loved her concept. All messy and fun. Did my best at doodling on my tag. I'm not a doodler usually. Not that I had to doodle mind you. But it was an exercise in doodling. I really just wanted to type doodle here a bunch. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Anyway....here are my pages ;)

There is absolutely no significance to my graffiti.

Just messy paint, numbers, icons and such. Playing with tools to see what mess I can make. It makes me happy.

So thats that. All my odds and ends worth hearing wrapped up for you in this neat little package we call a blog.

Now my plan -  - get off the computer and go enjoy the summer while it lasts.

xoxo Andrea

summer oh summer

long time no post, my friend.

It has been one hot and busy summer so far. I'm sure for you too. As I sit here (eating a popsicle - orange creamsicle actually) my computer is downloading 434 pictures off my very full memory stick. So at least I have something to show for it. But I miss you guys - have been cruising blogs this evening trying to get caught up.

I'm a hopeless summer blogger. I usually do this in the evening, but now with summer here... there is that watering to be done, cant ship my monster child off to bed until it's at least dark, it's too hot to eat dinner before 7 and oh the summer reading...have read six books in six weeks. So lovin' it. Summer is glorious and she is here - bing cherries, tan lines, mojitos and all!

Where oh where to catch up? This is my only journal after all...The June vacation? The trip to the lake? Me, turning 38? Alex's Pokemon Birthday Party? Maybe the latest Circle Journal entry? How about 4th of July at the Ball Park? Nope - probably should begin with the latest 12 of 12 from last Saturday. (Am now eating an Eskimo Pie).  But I think we will begin with introductions...

Everyone meet Buffy. Buffy meet Everyone.

Buffy is the newest addition to our family.

Nice to meet you! I'm 10 weeks old now and weigh two pounds. Alex named me Buffy after one of his Mom's favorite TV shows.

I'm a pretty girl, don't you think?

But I'm no lady. I'm trouble waiting to happen.

I blend well into my natural habitat.

I'm very curious.

I'm interested in everything and anything you are doing but take lots of naps. 

I keep my humans good company.

 

My favorite things to do are: maneuver myself into really small tight places, make quick escapes into the garage or out the front door, crawl up the trash can shredding the can liner only to fall inside and the play with the trash, attack my humans and fling myself onto their pant legs (or skin) as they walk by, and my most favorite activity - claw my way up the screen door and get stuck at the top and whine until someone gets me down. Oops I forgot, I also love to chase my tail, preferably at 3am onto top of my humans bed.

 

And I have a new BFF. His name is Oscar. He just loves when I attack his tail and jump on his back with my claws. And now I'm eating his food instead of my own, who needs kitten food?! And the best part, we cuddle together.

But I'm a good girl and use my litter box with not one accident so far. I don't scratch and only bite a little. Alex carries me everywhere. I love my humans! 

 

And we love Buffy too!

Did I creep you out with cute-ness or what?  Tomorrow less cute-ness / more pictures. Promise!

xoxoxo

  

taking a break

As you can see I haven't posted for awhile. Just been tending to the family and household and enjoying it. I know it can be annoying when people don't post for awhile and leave you hanging. So please don't delete me from your blogroll or feed. I will be back, don't know when...could be 2 days, 2 weeks, whatever. But just wanted to let you know in case you were wondering what was up. All is okey dokey, just living life. Promise to be back soon.

Since its Friday and we haven't had one for awhile here is Lloyd to start your weekend:

Lloyd Dobler: [leaving the last of a series of messages on Diane's answering machine] "Maybe I didn't really know you. Maybe you were just a mirage. Maybe the world is full of food and sex and spectacle and we're all just hurling towards an apocalypse, in which case it's not your fault. I'm been thinking about all these things and... you're probably standing there monitoring. And one more thing - about the letter. Nuke it. Flame it. Destroy it. - It hurts me to know it's out there. Later."

See you,

xoxo Andrea

12 of 12 ~ April

This month's 12 of 12 is a few days late but we are on vacation. I should be packing to go home tomorrow but am procrastinating I think to make my vacation last a little longer. So here is another edition of 12 of 12 this time from Ventura, California...

Good morning!

An open surf shop so we go in and buy a bunch of tshirts to take home. We are such tourists!

A rainbow of surfboards.

Having lunch at the harbor.

 

Shopping on Main Street and I trying to figure out how to take one of these gorgeous pots home.

 

The rest of the afternoon by the pool.

And my Dad's fish tank at night to close out this 12 of 12. 

Don't forget to visit Chad at the other 12 of 12ers. Thanks for looking and see you next time!

long time no see!

as far as the blog absence goes I was sick, worked, sick, worked, sick, made some art, worked and was sick again. this flu thing wont go away! we have a couple week to catch up on so here goes...

first and foremost - the X show at the Crystal where we caught up with a few friends including the fabulous Gellers and had tasty drinks & dinner beforehand at Cassidy's

 

it was freakin a w e s o m e. i felt like it was my birthday...hanging out with my fun & cool friends, having the best lemondrops with a tasty dinner and then going to see one of my all time favorite bands...loved all if it!

also made some art journal pages, I had little bursts of energy while coughing & sneezing so messed around with paint and had some fun...

last page there still needs a quote. i wasn't even sure where i was going with these when i started. it was easy to rip pages out of an old encyclopedia, slather some paint on there and then cut quotes out of a book. doing that still kills me by the way, vandalizing a book that is, but I figure I'm giving it a new life in a way so maybe thats a good thing. anyway, since i'm on a roll with these i think i might bind the pages together with my newly acquired zutter and make myself a little quote book. maybe, maybe not. I'm going to see where it takes me...

well Ghost Hunters is on in 2 minutes so my circle journal update will have to wait. thanks for tuning in with me here, long absence and all, and i do appreciate you all reading my blog and have missed you so will be catching up reading yours this weekend....xoxo.

tonight!

spring brings....stuff

Spring is here in the Pacific Northwest and with it came a big ugly flu bug with my name on it. I had my head down at work trying to make it through a 10 day work stretch and then this weekend, my 4 day weekend I might add, I was wiped out and finally this afternoon got a little respite. Just in time to make a justjohanna project...

Isn't she a sweetie?

Speaking of which they have some lovely new stamps. I must buy the mushrooms!

In other news...we got a bird bath this weekend which the birds have yet to find but the squirrels did find the feeder we picked up for them as well. I thought I had better feed them since last spring they ate up all the bulbs I planted and destroyed a bird feeder. Pesky little rodents. But they are kinda cute.

I do have some circle journal layouts, easter stuff and some other projects to share but I'm afraid this is all I can manage. Must go lay down. sniff. and watch some more movies. cough.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. xoxo

12 of 12 ~ March

Welcome to another mundane edition of shopgirl's 12 of 12... 

8:25am ~ Dropping Alex off at school. His little compadres in the background.

8:30ish ~ The drive thru is backed up again through the parking lot. Must I actually exit the vehicle to get my morning joe? Why should I have to actually walk in when it would be so much easier to just set an IV drip up in my car?

8:39 ~ When I order extra foamy is it too much to expect? Today it is. See the big bubbles? Not good. Don't mess with me and my foam.

8:50ish ~ Feeling better now that the caffeine is coarsing through my body. But watch out...it's a cattle crossing here in Forest Grove.

9:03 ~ Arrived at work. And the morning paper for your amusement. Or disgust, whichever you prefer.

9:08am~ Heading down to the basement to begin work. Gee, that guy has long legs.

10:45ish ~ Claudine strolls in to say hi and she's working on her 12of12 too!

5:20pm ~ This is how Alex eats his "masgetti".

6:25ish ~ I guess spring is here. The magnolia tree in my side yard is starting to bloom.

7:15ish ~ Making a nice cup of chamomile to take into my craft room.

8:10 ~ Putting the finishing touches on Michelle's circle journal before I get Alex ready for bed.

9:00 ~ All tucked in bed ready to watch the new episode of our favorite TV show Ghost Hunters. Night Night!

 

Check out Chad the guy that started it all and visit all the other 12 of 12ers out there ~ it's good stuff!

Thanks for looking and see you next time!

happy weekend to you

Today was a good day. A GOOD day. Nothing spectacular happened it was just a happy contented good day. Worked, pedicured, shopped, played. And we just got back, Alex & I, from having some damn good sushi with a couple girl friends. Alex out with the girls having sushi. And he eats it to. Not just the tempura and edamame beans either. We're talking the raw salmon on rice deal. And he eat the whole thing. If your in the area of an uwajimaya they have a fab little japanese restaurant attached. Not to mention a cool book store where they not only have Pokemon to entertain the 7 year olds but a whole huge display of copic.

But why I logged in tonight was not to go on and on about nothing but to show you my latest art journal pages that this cool chick has challenged us with:

Connect~

A strange little thing I concocted there huh? Chipboard pieces I had lying around. I wanted to actually connect something on the page. I guess after this any size will do in my once supposed 8x8 journal.

Feel ~

mmnnn...velvet. Added a little vintage feather butterfly I got a couple of at an estate sale last summer.

And I sewed too! Actually broke out the sew crafty which I've had for about 3 years and never used.

So my journal now has 3 pages...

And I have to say I even like this odd composition of them together.

Cover not completed yet. Maybe tonight...

xoxoxo

playing show n tell

I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed after cleaning out my scrap room with the masses of photos and supplies I have on hand. You've read about my New Years vow (and if you know me had a nice giggle over it, thanks) but for those that missed it... I vow to not buy any supplies (tools and staple items excluded) for the next 6 months. Less time shopping=more time creating!

So in December, before my vow was to begin, I went over to Scrapbook Attack and picked up a few things including some of the new Hambly clearly heavy overlays. Didn't have much time to do anything with them until now....and they rocked my world so much I had to go pick up a few more today. Vow broken. But I'm getting back in track. Tomorrow. I swear. At

So here's what came of heavy overlay ~

A nice little 6x12 mini book of our trip to pick berries at the Smith Berry Barn. I love that place. Not only do they have great produce but a perfect little shop. Not your average farm shop more like a boutique. I made an album on the side bar if you want to see all the pages of the mini book.

Used up some of those clear My Minds Eye transparencies I've hand on hand for-ever. As well as some Hambly thats been collecting. I have to force myself to use Hambly. Not that I don't like it. Liking it TOO much is my problem. I have to remind myself I buy this stuff to use it not collect it. I think you can relate, right?

This next album I made online at Kodak Gallery. I love that place. After taking like 350 (not kidding) pictures at the zoo last summer and was feeling so overwhelmed about the mass of photos and what route should I take... make 10 layouts of them, have them be in their own book etc. At the end I decided what was most important was to just get them done so we could enjoy them. So now we have this nice little slice of last summer on our coffee table to enjoy.

It's about 30 pages long and I plan to go back and pencil in the journaling. But you do have the option to type in journaling under the photos.  My next project at Kodak Gallery is to make a personalized story book for Alex using this book. Doesn't that sound cool?

Well hope your Saturday is going grand.... My fun is about to begin. Michelle and Claudine should be over in the next hour and we are going to share our each others last round of Circle Journals and have some grapefruit martinis ala Michelle. Claudine is bringing her fabulous clam dip and I have an array of nummys to get out so I better get a move on...

Cheers!

 

3 Days to Christmas

and we are officially ready! Last minute gifts bought, presents wrapped, cookies made, groceries done, stuff packed up to go over the river and through the woods tomorrow for the Peterson Xmas extravaganza. 

With a little help from Ginger I'm enjoying the holidays even more than usual. Far less resentment then if I worked all day and then had to come home to clean for the holidays...I've actual had time to create a few things, hang out, watch some of my favorite Christmas movies such as Christmas in Connecticut, White Christmas, Love Actually, & How the Ghosts Stole Christmas but I'm saving this one, this one and this one for the next few days.

So tell me, what are your favorite Christmas movies?? I'm always looking for new favorites!

Last night Alex wrapped Tom's gift up...he was feeling very christmasy as you can see.

Do you think he used enough tape?

Last night I also made some favors for my friends coming over on Christmas Eve. Got the idea from Martha in the Christmas issue. I have to tell you those Williams Sonoma chocolate filled peppermint snaps are delicious!

Then today I made Rosettes. My Mom made them when I  was growing up, so did Tom's Mom and Grandmother too. We haven't had them for years so my Mom ordered me the tools. It was challenging at first but once I got going it was pretty easy!

Of course we just had to make sugar cookies for Santa too! Alex really did most of it himself with  little coaching from me.

So like I said we are just hanging out now, ready for the action to begin tomorrow. Then Christmas Eve I work in the morning and we are having friends over in the evening and then the big day!

As far as my Christmas journal...I'm only up to day 16. But I'm having fun and I made it through alive another retail year!

I will be taking a blogging break the next little while while I celebrate the holidays, do my year end inventory at work and maybe when I return I will have a few Christmas Journal pages to share!

So I leave you for now wishing you a very Happy Holiday my friend, hope it's a brilliant one, and I will see you in the New Year!

and the Petersons were nestled all snug in thier beds while visions of

... oh sorry...I was daydreaming. That's what happens when I barely leave the house for 4 days.

I'm at home again today...the 4th day in a row. Strange because I rarely get to just nestle in at home in December since I work retail. But Alex has been sick since Friday. Went to the doctor today and it's been confirmed, Strep Throat. So I rearranged the schedule at work so I can go in tonight when Tom gets home and get some things done at my desk and maybe help on the floor because I. need. to. leave. the. house.

Friday was my company's Manager party and they have it at Lola's which is always a good time because my company knows how to entertain I can tell you that! But I missed out and stayed home and hung out with my little man while he slept on and off all day. He only got out of bed twice to use the restroom and didn't eat a thing! But I did run out when Tom got home and bought him the new Harry Potter movie which he watched part of before falling asleep!

Then Saturday was Tom's company party which I missed out on but I did make a batch of chicken noodle soup for Alex.

Sunday Alex & I had plans to go see The Chipmunks with our neighbor friends so Tom & his brother could put together a present Santa had to deliver early  because it just wouldn't fit in his sleigh.

But since Alex was pretty much trapped in bed they got to put it together anyway while I played about 48 games of Connect Four with Alex.

Excuse our mess of a garage but I had to share because I think it funny that while they are assembling the monster of a table they set up a TV in the garage so they could watch football!

Here is Alex camped out on my bed. He was a pampered prince all weekend I can tell you that! All was missing was a little bell he could ring for me. Instead it was "Mommy!" every 15 minutes on Sunday because he was feeling better he needed me more for snacks, juice, play Connect Four, watch a movie, read a book, sometimes he would just call and then forget what he needed. 

And we also entertained ourselves by dressing up Oscar, that poor cat!

So we missed out on the Christmas parties, the Christmas movie and other things we had planned and even though Alex was sick I have to say it was kinda nice to be home all nestled in for the weekend.

I even made a few Christmas journal pages and played around with my justjohanna stamps.

I'm lovin the Tim Holtz crackle paint right now that I used on my tag. By the way, have you seen his 12 Days of Christmas Tags? I'm sure you have because like, who hasn't right, but each and every one are amazing. I salute you Tim, god of techniques, distressing, dimensional glaze and all things that are good in this world.

Well, gotta go post some Christmas Journal pages in the flickr group and get ready to go to work.

See ya around!

i have a new best friend

and her name in Ginger. I love her and I've only met her once.

The two weeks before Thanksgiving I added it up and I worked 55ish hours each week. I didn't live at home anymore, I had moved into crazytown. 

To help me out my Mom hired a housekeeper to come in and clean my house before Thanksgiving since she and my Dad were coming with a herd of family members, 14 to be exact. So Ginger came over and cleaned my house for 3 hours. It was the best money I ever spent. And Ginger came back today for a post cleanup. I tell you ladies, that it is worth the $66 a visit. And I've asked Ginger to come back every two weeks forever until the end of time (or at least the holidays) and I feel like a black cloud has been lifted from over my head. JOY I tell you, it is JOY.

My Mom has offered this before and I always refused on the basis of 1- what a waste of money when I can do it myself, 2- someone would come in and see that "wow, her house is dirty", 3- that I would feel like a crappy wife/mom that I couldn't keep on it myself, 4- that it would feel intrusive have someone come in and clean. Well I got over all that after one visit from Ginger. All I can say is sign yourselves UP people!

Since I've already come up with a New Years Resolution I figure I can afford her. How, you ask? Well, since I'm up to my eye balls in scrapbook/stamp/crafty STUFF I've decided to not buy anything for six months. July 1st is my birthday so I will treat myself to a big fat shopping trip but until then I'm not buying ANYTHING in that category unless it's a staple and I'm out of it. I'm talking things like adhesive, paint colors, solid cardstock. Staple items I cant create without. If it's not a staple I don't need it. Why am I doing this you ask? Well for one, I want to afford Ginger and two, I feel suffocated with stuff. It sits in piles at my feet around my desk, it's crammed into my closets. Things are starting to pile up in places that aren't the craft room such as tubs in the garage and my linen shelves. I feel like it is taking away from my creativity having all this stuff so I want it gone. But sadly I'm too annoyed to take the time for ebay, craigs list, etsy and all that. My plan is to wait til Spring and have a huge garage sale.

I have my resolution and I have a dream. My dream has always been to live in a clean house and have time to craft. So here goes!   

a little happy something

My happy somethings for today~~

today is finally a day off

a clean house that I didn't have to clean myself

a pedicure

the laundry is half done

some dinner out

a little stop at Williams Sonoma

watching a a movie while blogging in my clean house

and the little card above created with my justjohanna stamps.

gawd I'm boring

If you read my blog I'm sure thats what you think anyway. You click on shopgirl and the same damn post has been up for weeks. I get irritated when that happens to me. So long time no post.

And to be honest I'm I thinking how tiring it would be to do an update of the last couple weeks.... Halloween Decor, Halloween Party, Halloween Trick or Treating, the Beeswax Class, Alex's Soccer, the new POS system at work, the caramel apple fiasco of 2007, last weekends californication marathon and so on...but I can share some infinite wisdom which I should have learned from the last time but repeated last weekend anyway. Girls, it's not good to go out drinking after work with your BF and then to the mall. 4 Mojitos = a bunch of stuff you don't need but was all shiny, pretty and calling your name at the time.

And because I've got etsy orders to wrap up, justjohanna projects stacking up, a birthday and a thank you card to write, about 27 loads of laundry to do, and I have to go help Alex finish his homework this very minute I'm taking my leave of you and promise to post again soon. And maybe with some beeswax projects!

xoxo

Why I like Fall

It's not too cold out yet so one could still enjoy the outdoors and the crunch of leaves underfoot.

But at the same time I don't feel guilty about staying inside watching movies or crafting.

Cheering at my son's soccer games is fun.

I get to wear knee high socks.

The Fall/Winter wardrobe comes out of storage all still pressed and folded in their dry cleaner bags. It's like having a closet full of new clothes since they haven't been worn since very early this year.

Mushroom Soup with crunchy french bread and brie from Zupans Market.

The house gets cleansweeped for the upcoming holidays so I feel very organized.

Fall movies like last years Monster House. Tonight we saw The Nightmare before Christmas in 3D. It was awesome.

Fall is the best time to feed the ducks.

Other good stuff...Caramel Apples - Oktoberfests - Beef Stew with Potato Rolls - Trick or Treating - Vanilla Candles - Kettle Corn - Smith Berry Barn - Plumper Pumpkin Patch - Cardigans - Funky Rain Boots - Raking Leaves and Alex jumping in - just to name a few.

How about you?

saving the environment one step at a time

I just want to share with you how I impacted saving the environment last night...

I ate the last piece of chocolate fudge Entenmans cake directly out of the box. It makes me feel good to know I saved a paper plate or having to wash a dish.

I did my part. And you can all make a difference like me, one piece of cake at a time.

blast from the past

For those of you that know me from way back you will appreciate this...a tribute page to drunk at abi's. And just in case you were a real fan I will let you know they are even on itunes.   

For my new friends I will fill you in...I spent many a night in a darksmokybeerstinkinclub watching that band. Long story short...the drummer is my old boyfriend....then I married him.  Nowadays we are not nearly as cool as we thought we once were.   But it's nice to reminisce.

what is a girl to do?

What a busy week. Worked 6 days straight. Most of which were not amusing days. But we wont get into that because I'm done with it.  OV~ER. I would like to say something else but this is a rated "E for Everyone" blog.

We also celebrated our 17 year 8 year wedding anniversary (we lived in sin much longer than we have been married). Then the usual soccer practice, grocery shopping, house cleaning, blahblahblah. This week also included had some very sad news about a friend so I was a little down all week after that.

But I hope to have a lighthearted weekend including Alex's soccer game tomorrow (he made 4 goals last game!) a card making date with a friend tomorrow, Alex's play date to Chuck E Cheese Saturday night, and I made NOT ONE plan for Sunday! I worked the last two Sundays so this one is ALL MINE and I will do what I want, so if that includes 14 loads of laundry then so be it.

And by the way, I have to tell you we are watching Wild Hogs right now as I type this post and it is a riot!

So I will begin this hopefully lighthearted weekend by sharing some justjohanna cards I worked on earlier this week...

And don't forget tomorrow is World Card Making Day...

....you can join in the fun HERE!

This weekend I also plan to get together the goodie bags for my winners. Here is a little sneaky peekie of what's inside...

Hope you have a wonderful weekend too! :)

we are now tuning back to the scheduled program

Well here Iam, back after a bunch of super fall cleaning and nesting. And I'm ready to go! Now I wont say I'm completely done with my fall projects and I will spare you the details regarding the goodwill trips and garage organizing torture. But I will tell you I can now somewhat comfortably live in my house feeling a little better about all the "stuff" and not drowning in it as much.

So to thank you for hanging in with me here and still wanting to be my BFF I'm going to have a drawing! All you have to do to WIN and be a BIG FAT WINNER is comment below. That way I know you still love me and in return I will send you a GOODIE BOX with fall deliciousness. Winner will be chosen OCTOBER 1st by Alex. International blog friends are very much welcome indeed to comment so comment away...!

Will post some craftiness later this week...Now tell me, whats up with you?

nothing in particular

all messed up and crazy.  thats how I feel lately.  i know the blogs been boring.  and i'm cranky too.  cranky that i haven't let myself create since the middle of last week.  oh sure, i've had time but instead have been doing my fall cleaning and getting my house organized. so everything is upside down with purging, cleaning blahblahblah boring.   when i haven't been organizing this week i've been under my new fluffy down comforter watching some movie now that the weather has finally turned fall.  i love fall, it's my new year and i get all nesty.   so maybe next week you will get to read something exciting here on shopgirl once i'm done purging through all this STUFF that surrounds my daily existence.  hopefully i will return lighter and with some craftiness, until then my friends...!

the weekend in pictures

Camping last weekend at Beverly Beach was just marvelous! Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't say no to a  nice resort with cabanas and pina coladas but you have to try all sorts of things right?  The campgrounds were pretty nice, a ways off the beach, very wooded so it was chilly but it was walking distance to the beach. It seems every camping trip we forget or need something so we have to make a trip to find a store. This trip was no different. We drove into Lincoln City to the Fred Meyer there for batteries and ended up spending $100. I don't know how we do that. But as luck would have it we saw a little beach about 1/2 a mile up the freeway from Beverly so we decided to go there since the beach right off the campground was a little crowded for us. It was absolutely wonderful and ended up spending 3-4 hours there having all sorts of fun. I would love to take credit for the sandcastle but I cant. It had apparently just been made that day but there was not one person around we set up our blankets to thank. And Alex definitely enjoyed their efforts.

One of my favorite things about camping is using the french press to make coffee in the morning! This time I brought my watercolor pencils and my new moleskin journal. Only messed around a bit but it was fun to play. Last summer we camped three times, this summer only once. It is something I don't want to miss out on again next summer. That is as long as spiders stay out of my tent!

And my favorite picture, the grand finale~

ah...the great outdoors, until next summer then!

well, hello there!

I know, I know...I said in my last post I wouldn't be around the blog much this week but a girl has to get her craft on now and then.

I had to stamp a little last night to wind down. Here is a card I made for the Lime Tart blog using their August sketch...

I used all justjohanna stamps! My favorite stamp of theirs so far is Michelle's Big Scroll. One of many stamps I have my eye on. My card is kinda colorful for me but I'm feeling all bright and cheery I guess, what's up with that?

Maybe because tomorrow we are off to Beverly Beach for the lovely weekend. Cant wait to sit around, read, play cards, dig my toes in the sand, make smores, all the fun good time camping stuff!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend too and check back tomorrow for Lloyd Friday, it's a goodie!   

whats up?

Boy oh boy, I had some fun this last weekend. Made some crafty goodness and have more than one exciting story to tell but all that will have to wait because....

I'm signing off here on the blog until next week since I'm off to the gift show the next two days then Friday afternoon we are off camping for the whole weekend!

Lloyd Friday will of course post since I can do that in advance and I know you wouldn't want to miss that, huh?!

Until then I leave you with some eye candy from my last trip up to the show...

Catch ya later alligator~!

Happy Postcrossing

One day while on etsy I found this blog and was introduced to Postcrossing. I received my 8th postcard today in the mail and I have to say this is allot of fun! The one from today is a good example about why...the postcard is about 9" and oval shaped with a picture and recipe on the front of BeetRoot Whitefish Tartar. As Tuula from Finland explains to me on her postcard this is a very popular dish in Archipelago where she just came home from her "summer holiday". How interesting to hear from people I would normally never even come near to crossing paths with! There is even a flickr group who share their received cards.

Once I received a few cards I knew I had to organize them somehow because I like them too much to recycle them, and well, I just like to have things in containers of some sort. Originally I planned on using a little postcard album to store all the cards in but then got a few odd sized cards. So I made this...

I cant believe I actually made something functional and not just eye candy! I like that I can just toss them in as they arrive and it keeps them neat.

I highly recommend postcrossing if you need to keep up on your pen pal skills, like postcards or stamps from far away, or just like to get some thing unexpected in the mail every once in a while! Check it out!

the weekend in pictures

Wow ~ what a weekend! No work, just all play. It was wonderful~!

Cleaned up and played in my craft room....

I still cant call it a "studio". I want to but when I do the word doesn't come out. Maybe one day I will play along with Studio Friday and then I could comfortably call it a studio.

Mandarin Pixie madness all over my desk...trying to create the perfect card to submit!

I was talking on the phone to my friend Michelle a couple nights ago. I saw she organized her alphas like mine and asked her how long it took her. Mine took 2 evenings and we had a good laugh about how we spend our time. She spent an evening rolling thread into little balls. I spent one separating out all my letters. Thrilling Madness.

My calendar is perpetually stuck on this day. When I changed it to July 19th it had been on a day in January for that whole time. Maybe I should go change the date on it? Nah.

Some lovely little tags I made and put in display. Don't know what to do with them...any ideas?

I never told this story about those Arts and Crafts books before. One day I though to myself "I'm gonna see what this thing called Craig's List is all about." I searched crafts and the first listing that came up were a set of craft books from the 70s. The cover alone did me in. I had to have them because I love the colors and the owl! I called the gentleman. Asked him to hold them. The next day drove over to Lake Oswego and picked them up for about $12. They are fabulous and I love them. The painting was done by Alex in Kindergarten and it sitting there waiting for me to get it framed. His use of colors blows my mind.

I have a ribbon filing system. This is part of it. Spooled ribbon lives on the shelf in my closet. This is ribbon scrap sorted by color way and then I have ribbon hung over the doorknob of my closet waiting to be sorted. It's all very important to me, my ribbon, and must be organized so I can find it at a moments notice.

Remnants of my Mandarin Pixie work which is of course Top Secret and if I showed you, well then I would have to kill you. And we don't want that cause then who would read my blog? But isn't it fun sometimes to see the work area and what remnants are left behind?

Now onto the rest of my glorious weekend...

Had a few of the girls over for some rum~n~cocacola, a few mojitos and some lemondrops for good measure. My camera pooped out so I have crappy pictures of the fun other than the one above.

We had tons of food. You can see the cake Claudine made and here are the savory little tartlets my tarty new friend Michelle made:

Now, is it the camera that's blurry or maybe the camera operator had a few too many drinkies? Judge for yourself.

Where are the people you ask? Was the party really just me and my food? I swear there were guests. Hopefully Claudine or Victoria will send me pictures to prove it.

Now onto the finale...I found an estate sale Saturday morning after my pedicure on the way to my haircut. (God that was awesome.) Anyway, I don't plan these things out. If I see one and have the whim to stop thats just what I do. Not allot of stuff but some goodies for sure...

I fully bound blank book which will be perfect to alter for...$4. I cant WAIT!

I don't know if I should actually play the Rummy game or use the pieces on projects? The game board though was $1 and will be used. It is hand painted with Snakes & Ladders. Alex & I will have some fun there. The cupcake pans arent for cupcakes. I saw somewhere...cant remember sorry, someone who sorts little pieces out in the cupcake pans to get organized for a project. Perfect I think! Also, got a bunch of maps for $3. Some butterflies for 25 cents each. Painted tip tray for $3. Metal box for $2. Wooden lap desk for $12. A little glass dish that was $6 which they tell me is depression glass. Whatever that means? I will use it for a candle holder. And my favorite...

...a little box of vintage hair pins for $1. Which has very neatly in cursive penciled on the bottom "mother". I like to think they belonged to the person's mother and they kept her hair pins after she was gone. Maybe not, but I like a good story with my purchases.

I didn't participate in Chad's 12of12 AGAIN this month because I'm a big LOSER and forgot this morning about it. So this post will also serve as my small attempt at that project. But you should go check out the global 12of12'ers cause it's allot of fun! ~

Hope your weekend was grand also! Cheers!

the day that will not end

i wish.

this is my one day off so I'm staying up late trying to make good use of it. yes, this is my 2nd post. you may not hear from me again for awhile. so far today i've done all kinds of important stuff like:

cleaned out my favorites on the computer

did a little laundry & grocery shopped

packed up my esty sales from all week that need to be mailed (note - this is a multi step process which requires addressing, stamping, diamond glaze, stickers, & little notes - and thats just for the packaging & envelopes!)

watched Big Love

bought a couple songs off itunes to complete my "flip flop" playlist - i'm all about creating playlists, it's like mixed tapes but instant gratification

bought the final Harry Potter installment, read the first chapter, then in another Harry style jumped to the last chapter, read it and the epilogue. i know i suck. i'm forced to squeeze in a whole weekend into today so gimme a break.

then finally, sorted out all the magazines & catalogs that i need to read

I lead a glamorous life, huh?

stay tuned for the next thrilling update.

summer respite

I'm so thankful to be at home today. Just finished a super busy seven day stretch at work and enjoying the day even though we have a not so typical summer day happening. Nothing exciting to report, just trying to get relax and get ready for a new week. catch ya later alligators!

What should I do on this Friday night?

Lloyd Dobler: What I really want to do with my life - what I want to do for a living - is I want to be with your daughter. I'm good at it.

I'm on the verge on my three day weekend here this Friday night trying to decide what to do...

Already made a lego theater with Alex...

Tom isn't home...the house is mostly clean...Alex is watching Ghosthunters which is on for the next couple hours so that will keep my strange child occupied...

Should I email the couple I met at Kenny the pictures I promised them?

Shall I burn to CDs the Christmas music playlist I made for my ipod while on vacation?

Should I break out the beeswax, encaustics stuff I recently got and make a collage?

Should I just go and stamp?

Or maybe scrapbook the pictures I just printed out?

I know! Maybe list some stuff to my etsy shop?

hmmnnn...

Whenever I have time I don't know what to do, then when I'm busy I wish I had the time...

What I really want to do tonight - what I want to do because it makes me happy - is I want to create something. (i *heart* Lloyd!)

What about you?? How did you spend your time Friday night?

weekend warrior

After working six days straight and only having one day off last week I was planning on having a nice relaxing three day weekend. Not so much...

Friday all day was spent on errands and laundry. Earlier that week we decided to go see a Beavers game at PGE Park Friday night. It was such a great night and we had lots of fun. But be warned my fellow Oregonians, tickets are a steal at $17 but the Miller Lites are $7. (they don't have Bud Light?!) Sure they have Hefeweizen but I have to have the cheap beer at stadiums, esp with the peanuts. It just goes together if you know what I mean. Here are the highlights~~

Now onto The Good Stuff...

That's a hint by the way...

If you remember my last post I gave you another hint, Seattle and Sand...

Can you guess?

It all started earlier that week, Claudine ever so casually asked me what I was doing Saturday. I said just a family thing with Tom's family. She told me her Mom couldn't go to Kenny Chesney with her so did I want to go? Are you even kidding? With no hesitation I said YES. When he played Portland it was the best show I had ever been to! (You can read Claudine's whole Kenny story here. And Shelley's too.)

So first thing Saturday morning I picked up Claudine, stopped at Starbucks and hit the road to Seattle and Qwest Field to see Kenny Chesney on his Flip Flop Summer Tour where a Bud Light is $8.25.

First up was Pat Green, love him~~

Then hottie Sara Evans~~

Then Sugarland (who just canceled Portland but thats ok cause the girl was a firecracker!)

Then Brooks & Dunn ~

Then Kenny ~~~!!

I took 405 pictures of the whole night. Yes 405~! The battery died on my camera before I could fill up the memory stick. It will take me forever to post some so click here for a bunch in this photo album!

And that my friends was quite a weekend if I do say so myself!

here is what Lloyd has to say this Friday...

Lloyd Dobler: You must chill. You must chill.

Lloyd is telling me to chill and I will listen to my inner-Lloyd because I have been shopping this week a little too much.

I know Fridays are supposed to be about Lloyd here on Shop Girl but it is only one of my many obsessions.

Another one would be shopping, hence the blog name. I'm a retail buyer for god sakes so you would think I would get it out of my system at work. Oh NO! I just don't shop to shop. I hunt for things I cant live without. Don't like to buy stuff thats too pedestrian if you know what I mean. Not that I don't love Target and go there often but I desperately stay away from the mall. Online shopping & boutiques are for me! 

Here are some goodies that came in the mail...

anahata art      ~  A. Bel Emporium  ~ Poppy Ink Stamps 

Also received my new strappy slides and my Cocoa Daisey kit. Didn't even take pictures of the Mandarin Pixie stamps because I ripped them open too fast. A trip to Peddlers Pack, Smith Berry Barn, plus a couple other boring shopping errands not worth mentioning and I'M DONE. Wallet closed.

Then when the Fed Ex guy dropped this off yesterday I thought that the heavens parted and heard angels singing.

It not too fancy like some people I know but thats good because I don't read the manuals so probably couldn't figure it out anyway. It is my belated Mothers Day / upcoming Birthday gift all in one. It f-ing rocks and I love it!

But I'm done now. Vacation OVER. Back to reality.

PS - Interesting how I can tie any kind of life event to a Lloyd quote, huh?

Lloyd Dobler Friday is here once again

Lloyd Dobler: Why can't you be in a good mood? How hard is it to decide to be in a good mood and be in a good mood once in a while?"
Constance: Gee, it's easy.

Thats why I love Lloyd! He just decides to be in a good mood. Even if you have crap going on IT IS possible to just decide how you want to be. Love that.

And here all you people thought my Lloyd Dobler Friday was my immature infatuation with John Cusack. Well OK, it kinda is...but really he is like the Buddha of 80s movies.

Am I in a good mood you ask? Well hell yeah I'm in a gooooood mood! Why you ask? Because...at High Noon earlier today I started my vacation!  picture me arms wide open spinning in a circle kinda like Sound of Music...wheeeee....!

good stuff

I love getting things in the mail! And believe it or not I actually like going to the Post Office. It makes me feel nostalgic especially when it's an old post office and they have cool architecture going on. 

Today I felt so international!

I mailed to Emilia in Taipei a box full of goodies as her prize for winning my blogaversary drawing!

And I mailed 3 of my covered journals that sold from my etsy shop over the weekend to Spain, Australia and Belgium today!

I also mailed out goodie bags to Jenna and Elizabeth since they have completed their portion of our circle journal.

And I almost used up all my cool mailing labels which means I get to go order more tonight!

Wow ~ what fun!

I spent allot of time cleaning out my craft room this last weekend so when I'm on vacation next week I can just get in there and create. I told my husband that last night and when I said it I threw my arms open big and wide at the word create. Does that give you a good visual of how excited I'm to have some free time next week to spend in my little room!? Of course I will be spending most of my time with my little guy. He turns 7 on Friday and I'm taking his first week of summer vacation off so we can go do fun stuff around town and in our back yard....fun stuff & good times ahead!

day from hell

It started beautifully, sunny and 75, Alex got up with no issues, I knew what I was going to wear, I wasn't late, no traffic and actually got to work a couple minutes early which was nice, then the drama began and I had the most  d r a i n i n g   day at work today.  I Love  My Job.  Seriously.  I Do. But the staffing part can be tiresome.  TWO separate staff issues. I got 3 minor things done, everything else was HR related. I left work with my shoulders tensed up - yuck.

Then I come home and find my fish had died. We will have a burial in the back yard tonight since I cant flush "Charlie Wonka Tutu Peterson" as my son named him. Say goodbye to Charlie...

Browsing through the mail I see Oregon Department of Revenue. Not a good thing. I apparently owe them $142.98 from our 2004 taxes. Lovely.

Then I find out that I sadly didn't make the Just Johanna design team. I will give myself a break though since it was my first time out submitting for a DT. Do you think it was my ugly Pee Wee Herman card that scared them away??

I thought it was funny! I like to think Pee Wee ruined it though since I do think my other cards were kinda cute:

Thankfully, the other DT members had cool stuff so I feel OK. Then Johanna sent me a nice email which makes me feel less like a loser.

And thankfully, I stopped at the store on the way home for chicken so we could BBQ and while I was there picked up some strawberries and pound cake which I will now go prepare and douse with whipped cream.

And then maybe have an...

...my new fave drink.

That, or some tequila.

And go to bed.

Tomorrow is another day after all...

one of the best kind of days

I rarely go out with "the girls" so to speak. Usually Sunday is spent slothing so it was one of the best kind of days today! I met up with Claudine and Michelle to go shopping! Michelle took us to some of her favorite stores and it was such a good time. As soon as we got to the first store Poppy & Ivy I knew Michelle and I were kindred spirits!

Let me give you some background story on how I met Michelle before I go on about our shopping extravaganza. Out of about 800 of the people participating in Shimelle's Christmas Journal class I found Michelle's blog. I recognized that she was from Portland so started chatting with her via comments and the occasional email and we made friends. Then when we started this current group of Circle Journalers she decided to join us. We kept saying let's get together and have a beer etc. but never made firm plans. Then when Donna Downey came to teach a class at our LSS we ended up signing up for the same class and sat next to each other. We are still in the middle of our Circle Journal and last week I was in Michaels checking out the latest Martha products I heard some one come up behind me and say "Hello Shopgirl", it was Michelle! We were totally chatty and we walked the aisles pointing out stuff to each other and it felt like we have been friends for a long time! Well, we have after all we have been reading each other's blogs for months so I feel like I know allot about her even though we've only spent a couple hours together. (I feel kinda like a stalker now saying all this...) So when Michelle offered to take me & Claudine out to some of her favorite shops (after I begged her on her blog) I said "OK"!!!   THEN, one night a couple weeks ago I was sitting at my craft table and noticed I had a tag that said "Ephemera to use and Amuse"and I thought the writing looked allot like Michelle's?? After a closer look I realized the tag was from her! It had come from an ephemera swap that Artsy Mama hosted and Michelle was part of it too and I never knew until now. CRAZY, I know. See, we were meant to be friends. (Now Michelle will really think I'm her stalker.)

Now. About our fab shopping trip.

First shop was Poppy & Ivy which is a perfectly wonderful blend of vintage, retro & crafty goodness. The girl working was a doll and we had fun talking to her. I asked if I could take pictures since I'm a sucker for good displays...

Here are the treasures I brought home from Poppy & Ivy

Then we went across the street to Collage

Then we drove over to Scrap

Copied from their website: SCRAP--The School and Community Reuse Action Project--is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our mission is to promote creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the community. Our Typical Inventory Includes: Fabric, yarn, notions, carpet squares, tile, fake flowers, magazines, corks, office supplies, various types of paper (decorative & office), framing supplies, metal remnants, wood scraps, industrial widgets and much, much more!

Then we walked down the block to Pix Patisserie and had a little lunch.

How could we not love  Pix Patisserie? Fabulous food AND they had flocked velvet wallpaper. The picture above was taken from my seat and look...! I could see my friends in the mirror!

Like I said, it was one of the best kind of days!

so much cool stuff, too little time

Well, the last couple days I feel like I've won the jackpot even though it was me spending money rather than winning it~!

I've been to Michaels the last two nights checking out the Martha stuff as they get the merch out onto display. Got some cool stuff and didn't spend too much! Note - the 40% coupon doesn't work on Martha. Thats OK cause she is worth it. Michaels is finally becoming a serious player, they have a whole aisle of K&Co in addition to the M stuff.

And today I got a package in the mail...a Gocco! All my etsy earnings I've been hoarding in my paypal paid for  it! So basically just swap the stuff I already own so I can buy new stuff. Makes sense to me! I read about Goccos in Craft magazine. It's a new magazine that I found on the Fly blog. I picked it up at Barnes & Noble on vacation and immediately subscribed. Maybe I can make some more stuff to etsy?

And for the grand finale, yesterday I got in the mail my free iPod. 80GB of empty space waiting to be filled. How was it free you ask? Well, from the reward points from my credit card. Isnt really free, I know since I did have to charge up a bunch to get the points, but it makes me feel better saying that.   

Like I said I'm a stuff swapper. I buy stuff to get points to get free stuff and I sell my extra stuff so I can buy other stuff. It's like the circle of life.

Now what should I go play with??

alive and well here in lala land

I've been keeping busy the last two weeks even though all I have to show for it on z'blog here are my Lloyd posts.

I know they are super interesting and keep you on the edge of your seats but I figure it's time to share what I've been up to so I don't scare you all away from visiting me with my Lloyd obsession.

Well, there was Easter...

The fabulous daffodils are from my neighbors yard.

 

 

I'm proud to say the Lilacs from my yard! The cake however was purchased...

Alex started spring Basketball...

He is very serious about it as you can see..

 

Tom's band played a show on a Wednesday night and we actually found a babysitter so I got to go see them play at their first gig together. I haven't been out after dark for so long it was weird to be out in the world. Sadly there aren't many good pictures of Tom I can share since he is the drummer and they are always hidden behind their set...

Dana came over one afternoon and we hung out in my scrap room until the boys invaded...

No Circle Journals but I was able to keep busy with some other crafty projects...

 

Got a kit that I just love...discovered it on Vee's blog...the paint set is stinkin' cute and cant wait to use it!

Thats about it! But before I go let me introduce a couple new friends that Alex has moved into my scrap room...

Aren't they cute?!

See you in another two weeks. (jk!)

vacation photo journal

Got back from vacation Wednesday and went straight back to work Thurs-Sat. I'm finally free to post a few pictures from our trip so rather than typing out everything we did here is my photo journal of the trip!

 

babies, sunshine and flowers

That's what this weekend was all about!

Meet my new boyfriend, Nolan. He is nummy and I wanted to take him home but then he sneezed spit on me and I realized "oh yeah, I already did this so, here ya go back to Mom". No, he seriously was so cute and sweet and a well-tempered little guy.

I realized that I have been talking so much about the circle journal of late that I haven't posted so much about LIFE. And since I have no Circle Journal Recap (we took a break this week) here's my Weekend Recap instead:

Friday Night ~ Bowling with Alex, Vik and Amy and her daughter Jasmine who is 9 or 10. Ate corndogs, burgers and fries and bowled 2 games. Quote of the night was by Jasmin "I got my butt kicked in bowling by a 6 year old."

Saturday ~ Slept till 10:30am. Can you believe it? I cant. Since my kid learned how to make himself cereal he doesn't wake me up to feed him. Tom wasn't home and Alex played video games all morning, next thing I know I wake up look at the clock and jumped outta bed, took a shower and drove Alex to his playdate and I went to get my nails done. What a glorious day that was. That afternoon after I picked Alex up I decided to work in the yard and ruined my manicure. I haven't had one since 1999 when I got married so it was a big deal for me to get my nails done, pedis all the time but never manis. I learned my lesson. Gloves are not enough!

Saturday Night ~ Tom goes off to band practice while Alex and I stayed home. The Naked Brothers Band is on at 8:30. Alex and I watch it every Saturday night. Then in bed asleep at 10pm. I lead a full life, what can I say?

Sunday ~ Got up at 7am because I think my body wanted to make up from the day before. The boys slept in til 9am while I read the paper, drank coffee and picked up my house, again a glorious thing.  Then to brunch with Nolan and Alex. Oh yeah, Nolan's Mom and Dad came along for the ride, plus Vik, Tom etc. the whole gang. Vik had a Sex in the City moment at breakfast. At the end the waitress brought us the bill and asked if we wanted it split. We said sure, why not. She says pointing "So you three, 2 and 1."  3 being me, Tom and Alex. 2 being Steve and Shawna.The 1 single person being Vik. When we got home I was so full but forced myself to work in the yard some more and I'm proud to report we are half done doing the spring clean up outside! I would like to share some of the lovelies in my yard with you...

And that would be it because my yard is pretty much gross other than these. For example:

Is that a ocean of pretty green velvet you ask? Oh no, that would be my side yard walkway covered in moss which I will now have to pour moss killer on and the gorgeous green will turn black and I will have to scrape it off with a shovel. And rich people wonder what we mere normal people do with our time. Oh what joy to afford a landscaper!

So this weekend was sunny, I got to hold a baby, sleep, hang out with friends, eat, and be productive around the house - I call will it a good one and leave it at that.

good things a'la andrea

Since I'm in a sharing type of mood, and to borrow from Martha, here are some recently found good things that are making me happy:

3191 inspiring in many ways, photography & lifestyle to name two.

Cookie num-nums. I googled this and was shocked to find them on amazon, strange me thinks.

My new necklace that I've been wearing lots, probably too much.

Velvet ric rac, wish I had every color...

Eye candy for Buffy geeks like me. I spent about 2 hours on her site when I found it. I NEED to learn photoshop. If I keep saying it, it might happen.

And, yes, my new banner above. Since I suck at photoshop I made myself a banner the good ol' fashioned way, paper & ink!

Exciting for me, most likely boring to you, but a totally random site that I found interesting. I was sparked on during Donna Downey's class this last weekend because she was talking about how much her husband likes Pearl Jam. Since I'm doing my circle journal on music and am looking back on my 'music history' I remembered that I saw Pearl Jam back in the day at Satyricon. I was hoping to find a little memento on the internet that I could include in my journal and while doing my important research I found the set list from 9/28/91 on that site! Who keeps track of that stuff you ask? Well big music geeks (oops I meant historians) for big geeks (oh I meant scrapbookers) like me. Ah the power of the internet. I guess you can really find everything here.

If you made it this far through this long and boring post here is your reward, have a laugh at this. It's from last Saturday night. Yep. Another BIG night on the town. Had a couple girlyfriends over for dinner and afterwards...well, the marshmallow shooter gun Alex got for Christmas came in handy. This was about the 6th take when we added background music. We had a couple more takes after until my arm got tired. And we ran out of marshmallows. Marshmallow Shooter Gun = A Good Thing.

an unexpected day

A here I thought today was going to be filled with work, appointments, covering lunch breaks, and paperwork.

Nope! We woke up this morning with the rest of Portland to a big surprise snow day! So much for the few flurries. I would say we got about 4' in Beaverton so far.

We watched the news thinking all the schools would be closed. Everybody but Beaverton! So off we went. I took Alex to school and even walked him inside and asked a teacher if school was on and she said yes. I made it to the freeway no problem. Then once on I basically inched my way towards downtown so slow that the MPH didn't register on my speedometer. At about 40 minutes later I get a call from his teacher saying school was closed. Luckily I hadn't made it but like 5 miles in that 40 minutes so I got off the freeway downtown, got back on the other way and made my way back up the hill. Crazy. Once at school I said "no way am I going back out in this mess". Called work and luckily my Asst made it in to open the shop.

So it is a stay home day for me and Alex after much aggravation this morning.

We got home and played in the snow right away!

After playing we came inside for a snack...

...of Hot Cocoa & Cinnamon Sugar Toast. yummy for your tummy.

Now I'm off to do some house cleaning since I will have to work Saturday to make up for today. But before I go check this out:

Without Flash

With Flash

Without is a little more realistic but I think with the flash is so much better.

What do you think??

I must be stopped.

I'm watching Pride and Prejudice for the 3rd time in 5 days. I've consumed about 1/2 of the 2 pound box of Sees Candy in the last 3 days.  ~Someone please help!~

Instead of working on my Christmas Journal last night I sat on the couch with with the above mentioned movie and candy.

I have work to do tonight and I'm beginning the cycle again. So I stepped away from the TV and candy to talk to you people and plead for help.

Anyone else burned out after Christmas or is it just me?

You know, I thought it was Colin Firth that made P&P so great on A&E but it really is the character itself and doesnt matter who plays him I've decided.

Mr Darcy is to die for. I must go.