Fun stuff coming up!!

Happy Thursday everyone!

Just a couple quick things to share.  First, I realize I need to change around my header again, I'm limited with the photo editing when I'm on the netbook, so I'll try to get over to the bigger computer and fiddle around with it this weekend.

Most Important! Creative Soup is now up and running! Please come and join us! It's a really fantastic group of women.

We will be starting our weekly challenges and quarterly classes with the new year, but for now we're just gonna have some fun getting to know each other, with a couple little creative challenges here and there. To kick things off we are going to have an informal crop tomorrow, I have at least one challenge planned, and I'm hoping to get one more! The challenges will go up tomorrow! Please stop by and play with us! We would love to see you!!

I haven't gotten a chance to scrap any more of my December Daily, yesterday I was working on a wrapping a gift for Jeff's holiday work party.  I think it came out pretty cool. I have a whole cropper hopper thing full of holiday paper from past years, so I just pulled out a few sheets and had some fun. It was the first time I made one of those cool paper fan things. It gave me a chance to play around with what I want to do when wrapping some of the more important presents later on.

Also, in anticipation of this holiday party. Jeff decided to shave off the beard he has been growing since the middle of September. Here he is before the shaving happened. I'll try to get up a good picture of the newly shaven Jeffrey tomorrow. 

My Studio Calico box is slated to get to my door anytime now, and I've promised myself I am going to dig right into it and play with it as long as I possibly can today. So hopefully I'll have a lot more to share with you tomorrow, because I have been anticipating this kit for a LONG time, and I'm so so so excited for it to get here!!!

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Today is Tuesday!

Hi hi everyone,

So today I'm determined to get some stuff done, and kinda just ignore the pain in my shoulder until some stuff gets done. I'm so terrible at not constantly running around doing things.   I have managed to finish the first three days of my December Daily, you'll have to excuse the terrible pictures.  I can't hold up my camera, so I need to take them all with my iphone :/ 

December 1st - Front

December 1st - Back

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Good Monday!

Hi hi, just a quick post for now, I have a lot of crafty things that I would like to get started on today.

But just a quick run down of some stuff thats going on.

- I fell down the stairs last Sunday, and at first it was pretty funny because only my butt hurt, but it looks like I may have screwed up my shoulder. I'm giving it one more week to get better, and if its not on the mend, then it looks like I'll have to go to the doctor and get some x-rays.

- On Saturday I took an altered book class with the awesome Julie Fei-Fan Balzer in NYC. Now I'm anal-retentive, and methodical, so I am not anywhere NEAR being finished with this book, but here are a couple pictures of what I've worked on so far.

Those were both taken during the collage phase of the book making, I used a lot of different holiday catalogs (Urban Outfitters, Anthropology, etc) to create my collages.  Holiday catalogs are awesome for crafty inspiration.

- Also, Julie is doing this way cool Holiday Handmade week on her blog, she's gonna have at least 4 posts a day, with some guest bloggers, and really cool projects. Its already up and running, so head on over there and check it out! (PS -- Valerie's cookie post is AMAZING!)

- Finally, things over at Creative Soup are almost up and running, but I wanted to share a little sneak peek with you all to get you a little excited! I'm working on some cool challenges that will hopefully inspire everyone to get just a little bit more creative!

I'm off to work on my December Daily, and some other projects I have lined up. I'll post them here as soon as I get them finished up and photographed!

PS -- Go Jets!

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Re-Vamp (again)

I know, I suck at keeping this updated. From now on I'll try harder. I'm always just way too worried about making every post perfect and pretty and blah. So from now on its just gonna be some raw content :) I think I've made it so that I can post from my phone a lot easier too. We'll see how that goes. Anyway. I'm working on my December Daily, which I'm also trying to incorporate Shimelle's Journal your Christmas. I'm finding the journaling part to be a little easier, writing has been coming to me on a pretty regular basis lately. Its just finding the right inspiration to get my pages done and posted online. But I guess this is step one of that :)

As you may or may not know, I'm pretty much obsessed with the NFL. Sundays are off limits to anything but football, food, and cuddling.  We get on the couch, pull up our fantasy football teams (I'm beating him BTW) and enjoy the company of each other and the Red Zone Channel.  Even though I'm big into pro football, I don't really love the college game--there's a lot going on, and so many teams to follow.  I do try to pay a little bit of attention to Rutgers football and what they are up to. On October 16th, during a game vs Army, defensive tackle Eric LeGrand was paralyzed from the neck down, he was taken to a local hospital and faces a long road ahead.  I want to share a video of you that I came across today. It made me tear up a little bit, but I hope it makes you as hopeful as I am, especially now during the holiday season.

Link to the video
Link to send Eric a Get Well Soon message

As for the blog stuff, I'm gonna try to design a header sometime soon; I'm seemingly not very good at the digital kind, so I'll make a physical one and then take a picture, unless someone wants to be awesome and make me a cool one :D

Till then!

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Scrappy Stuff :)

Now that I've gotten back into the swing of scrapping and creating things on a daily basis. I'm going to try to blog about them as well.

Jessica Bree has asked me to join her Who's That Girl design team, challenges are posted twice a month, focusing on All About Me Challenges.

Last week's challenge was #19 Holiday Blues.

Here's my take on the Challenge: "Less Stress" -- Challenge and Journaling after the jump

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10.1 Foto Friday - Trees: Yoko Ono's Wish Tree

Its Friday! and over at ScrapFreak that means awesome challenges! As soon as I saw this week's challenge, I knew exactly what photos I wanted to post, as well as share the fantastic story behind them!

It's Foto Friday!

Each week we challenge you with a new theme. We'd love to see you get out that camera, brush up on those photography skills, and take a NEW photo based on the theme. However, we realize that might not be possible for everyone, so you're welcome to share photos from your stash that fit within the theme of the week.

This week's photo challenge is trees.

Here are two pictures I took in DC at the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden that I thought fit the challenge perfectly. All of the tags hanging off the tree branches are people's wishes.  The tree is part of a Yoko Ono installation to promote peace around the world.  People take tags, and write their wishes, and eventually they are "harvested" and sent to Yoko Ono's Peace Tower in Iceland, the Smithsonian Magazine blog goes into more detail here.

Thanks again to the Freak for their wonderful challenges, and inspiration. These pictures make me want to do a project about wishes. What would you wish for? I wonder what kind of project I could come up with.

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DC through the Lens of the Hipstamatic

Jeff and I spent last weekend in DC. We drove down Friday afternoon and left Sunday morning (so we could get home in time for football of course).  Friday night we got in and went to an incredible restaurant, Brasserie Beck, hands down the best meal I've had since Vegas. We spent Saturday out and about in the city, we walked by the White House, went down to the mall--where the National Book Festival was going on, and then went to some museums before heading over to Ben's Chili Bowl for dinner. Here are a couple shots that I took using my iPhone and the Hipstamatic app, I really loved the vintage look with the historical buildings. The shots are pretty much all using the Helga lens or the John S. lens.

Friday night at Brasserie Beck

On our way down to the mall, cool building.

The Capitol

Laying down in the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden.

My favorite shirt.

National Book Fair on the Mall

We had a fantastic time, and are looking forward to going back soon and spending more than just the day.  There are tons of museums we need to visit, and lots more pictures to take. 

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Thursday Media Consumption

Not much to report on media consumption today. Had a bad headache this morning and didn't get around to watching as much as I would have liked. I mostly laid on the couch and read the internet and played a bit more Puzzle Quest!

But I did get around to watching two episodes of Firefly--the Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel) show.
 

Episode 3: Bushwacked - This one was probably the most "Sci-Fi" of any of the episodes so far. Introduction to some more of the anti-government sentiment.


Episode 4: Shindig - My favorite episode yet. What was there not to love? There was a fancy party with beautiful dresses. The Captain defended Inara's honor in a duel. The absolutely adorable Kaylee (my favorite character that isn't named Casey) was featured in that frilly pink dress, and all the boys started to adore her when she started showing off her smarts. And River saving the day! I had such a smile on my face when she was telling the silly little man with the accent to go to hell.

Well, more media tomorrow! And perhaps if I'm a lucky girl...I'll be back to report on the Season 3 Finale of Mad Men!

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Thursday Internet stuff!

20x200: Art for Everyone
(limited editions × low prices) + the internet = art for everyone 

Nifty art, great prices, fantastic prices. Totally bookmarked. Might make some fantastic holiday presents. Will definitely help me art up this apartment, these white walls are seriously putting me into a coma.

Check out this awesome piece:
ny.10.#01
by Jennifer Sanchez 

I'm in love with the geometric patterns of color on the white background. Really love that shade of blue in the background. She has a whole bunch of awesome art up over at 20x200, my favorite of hers is already sold out! 

Duke University Sex Powerpoint Presentation  NSFW

Not at all safe for work or kiddos. But this graduate put together a whole pp presentation of the men she slept with over the course of her schooling. It includes pictures, rankings, descriptions...lots of Duke athletes--even the famed (infamed?) laxers. Crazy stuff.

Design Sponge - DIY Project Recycled Scrap Paper Notebooks
Nifty green project, added to my possible holiday projects list.  I love notebooks, and I love reusing that would otherwise go to waste.
If you have some extra time, the whole Design Sponge site is pretty awesome. I've spent a lot of the day over there just clicking away at some of the stuff they have and the links they've posted. I think its going to easily become one of my favorite sites to visit. Psst, here is another link from Design Sponge's guest blog, if you're like me and you love color pallets and home decor, you'll go crazy! My favorite is the yellow kitchen down in Day One. Check her out over at her regular blog as well. Color Pallets galore! Inspiration abound!

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Real Quick - Sketchbook Project 2011

This seems really cool.

Its called The Sketchbook Project: 2011 Edition.  They send you a sketchbook, and you do what you will with it, and then send it back to them.  It costs $25 to sign up, but it seems like it would be a really fun project to do, something that could be really inspiring.

http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

Thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the country.

After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view.

Anyone - from anywhere in the world - can be a part of the project. 

And here is a link to the arthouse co op site; there are a bunch of artists already working on their sketchbooks and blogging it, some of them are absolutely incredible!


If anyone signs up, let me know. I'd love to know what you're working on!

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Today's Updates

Woke up late today, combo of allergies and staying up late playing Puzzle Quest 2 -- my current obsession.  Its a great mix of match-3 and RPG, highly addictive.

Now I'm gonna put firefly on and start to tackle that closet that I has been working on yesterday.

Couple of interesting things going on today.

The Senate has finally passed a bill saying that commercials need to be the same volume as other tv programming.  As stupid as this sounds, I've been waiting for this for a long time, its so annoying to have the tv set at the perfect volume, only to have your ears start bleeding when a commercial comes on!


Underwire bras make you poop less? What?

Here's another story from Jezebel, about an FTM who becomes Mr. Fix-It. 

Alright, I'm gonna start making some dinner too! Be back later with a round up of today's media consumption!

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Two Mad Men Episodes

I had thought there might be some Mad Men in my future when I was writing up that last post, and alas I was correct.  We watched two episodes near the end of season three.  If you don't watch Mad Men, you should. First a few words on my favorite television program (maybe ever), and then my thoughts on the two episodes I watched tonight.

Mad Men: The best show ever created for television, hands down.  Reasons: innumerable.  Over time, I'll get into all the little things about the show that I love about Mad Men.  But for now the two biggest reasons: Feminism and Art.

Feminism: Extremely strong female characters. Strong in different aspects of life--which is hard to pull off in a television show. They show the struggles of middle and upper class women very well, and make you reflect on how it really was different for women back then, and yet very much the same. The story lines create such perfect fodder for my personal addiction to critical feminist thought. 

Art: What more can I say? I am in love with the fashion, the design, the style, the color, everything from this era. This is my perfect vintage. The color pallets alone make me swoon. I think this is a show that everyone should try to get into...and give it a serious go, 4-5 episodes.  It might not be for everyone, but its one of the most amazing things I've seen.

Warning: Spoilers Below

Season 3 Episode 11 - The Gypsy and the Hobo

This was a solid episode.  Not one that evokes a ton of emotion (except at the end), but one that really helps move the story line along and wraps a bunch of loose ends together.  Much appreciated.

There were a couple things that did stick out in my mind though.   The women seemed especially weak/vunlerable in this episode.

First, the whole Don/Sally's Teacher relationship. I just don't get it. I guess I'm not understanding what it is that she wants/what she thinks she's going to get out of this relationship, I just can't relate at all, and I'm very put off when I can't relate to a woman in this show. For some reason, she makes me very uncomfortable.

Next: I have a big problem with the way that the family lawyer treated Betty.  She had asked for his advice in confidence, and instead of giving her legal advice, she gets a paternal lecture about how she should just go home to her providing husband.  What I have a problem with most, is not the advice itself (which by the way does suck), but the way in which the lawyer treated her, not as a client, but as a child.  His words at the end, "what I would tell my own daughter" illustrate perfectly that he thinks of her not as a client, but as a little girl who just needs to be taken care of.

Now a few things that make me happy! Joan and Roger talking to each other! I love their relationship on the show, they are so much fun to watch.  They both thrive on the same attention, and give it to each other in just the right dose, it makes me happy inside! And Betty confronting Don about the desk drawer. It was important for Betty to see him cry like that. Just as it was important for Don to realize that he can't bully her forever.

Season Three Episode Eleven - The Grown Ups

The Kennedy Episode.

Pretty much says it all.

Done perfectly.

Everyone's reactions.

But yet the world still went on...in a fragmented sense at least.

I have about 8 minutes left to watch tomorrow. Until then.

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Media Consumption

So while on the path of my life that consists of me staying home alone during the day, I thought it would be a good idea to catch up on some of the awesome media that I might have missed over the last few years.  Coupled with the internet, as well as Netflix instant streaming. I've really gotten into the whole tv/movie thing again. I'm gonna try to keep a running list of what I've been viewing, we'll see how that goes.

Today's media consumption:

The Tutors - Season 2 Finale

Season Two was wonderful, Anne Boleyn is by far my favorite character, and it sucks that she had to die. But alas, Anne Boleyn has just been beheaded and we are moving onto wife #3 for King Henry. Can't wait to see what season 3 holds in store. 

The next two seasons are not on instant streaming, so I guess I'll have to download them tomorrow and finish up the series that way.  I'm really getting into this show. Its like a combo of AP European History and softcorn porn; absolutely fantastic. I've caught myself multiple times researching the actual history and comparing it to the things in the show. There are so many things to love, the dress is incredible, all of the women look so beautiful.  Its nice to get a little bit of perspective on how people may have actually felt during history; even if it might not be entirely factual.  It brings a whole new perspective for the way I have been looking at history and its makers. We are moving onto wife #3 for King Henry now, and he's not getting any younger. Can't wait to see what season 3 holds in store. 

Firefly - Episodes 1 & 2: Casey is in this! (from Chuck) and he's totally Casey! but IN SPACE! I'm geeking out and really enjoying this. I'm planning on episode first thing tomorrow.

Bones - Season 6 Opener: Such a comfort show for me. Episode was a little on the slow side, getting everyone back together and whatnot, but I'm excited for the season to come.  Its such a great show to put on while I'm scrapping or doing other things in the room.

Glee! - Season 2, Episode 2:

We forgot to record this on the DVR last night, so I had to download it this afternoon.  Mixed feelings. I hate that Terry was in the episode, she just makes me a little ill every time she's on the screen. I didn't love the music.  And the nitrous storyline with John Stamos? It all seemed a little contrived, like this was the only way they could say that they "made a Britney Spears episode".  Although it was nice to see Britney get some face time (Britney S. Pierce, that is), she's one of my favorite characters, she has fantastic delivery on those stupidass lines. And the show did end on a strong note with Lea Michele's version of You are the Only Exception by Paramore.  We'll see what next week has in store.

There might be a little bit of Mad Men later tonight, we're almost at the end of season 3, and it would be best to catch up all the way before this season's finale; which of course will get spoilered all over. Until then!

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New Look

New look. Tryin a couple things out. More updates to come!

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Couple Quick Shots

Here are two nifty modern art photos from our trip to DC last week.

















Taken in the outside sculpture garden at the Hirshorn museum. It was Jeff's idea to lay down on the grass underneath the sculpture and take a shot straight up.
















Taken inside the museum, in a completely black room except for the spotlight you see in the upper right hand corner, and the metal ring the light is shining on.

Some more photos later :)

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Hello!

Hello!

Just a quick post. Hope to be updating more shortly.

Now that work has ended, I'm getting back into art and crafting a bit more, so I thought it would be good to resurrect the blog, and show off some of my work.

Good to be back!

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Yay New Computer!

Quick post:

1. I got a new computer! My awesome friend built it for me; and it is just incredible! Which means I can finally live up to being an awesome blogger.

2. I have a totally new scrap area; it takes up half my living room--its fabulous; pictures to follow.

3. I went on a date on Saturday; it was pretty amazing. Possibly the best food I've ever eaten; an insanely wonderful concert; and then an authentic Philly cheesesteak. omg. so cool

4. Now that my life is totally going in one direction again (for the most part); I hope to be scrapping a lot more and be around here a lot more!

5. I leave you with two photos I took (with my iPhone nonetheless) at the concert on Saturday!






Till laters!
<3/K

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Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Happy Sunday to everyone; and Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. I'm going to head up to see my own mother in a little while. She's still in the hospital, but apparently she's doing pretty well.

Yesterday CD and I went to the Philadelphia Zoo, we had a really good time and I took some pretty awesome pictures. My favorites are below!

I leave for Atlanta in just a couple days; and I am NO where ready to go. I'm not nervous at all; which is pretty good. I'm really very very excited to get out of Jersey and hang out with the girls for a weekend. I think we are going to have such a good time!!! Now lets just see if we get any actual scrapbooking done hehe.


















Thank you so so much for looking! Talk to you all soon!
<3/K

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hi hi everyone!

Hey everyone; hope you all had a great NSD!
There is actually a lot going on in my life; and I'll give everyone a quick run down of the things that I'm ready to talk about publicly.

My mom is having surgery today; as some of you remember she was really really sick the end of last year into this year; and today she goes for her final surgery to correct everything once and for all; so my thoughts are with her today. I love you lots mommy.

I'm going to Atlanta next week! omg I am SO SO SO SO SO excited. I totally 100% need a girls weekend and to get the hell out of Jersey for a bit. Jersey darling; I love you; but absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Work is going really well; I enjoy it a lot.

Samantha is almost ready to have her second baby! Its going to be a girl, and her name is going to be Lucy. I'm very very very excited at the prospect of scrapping a new baby girl!!

I've made a few changes in my life outlook; I've decided that I need to embrace who I am right now; and not necessarily worry about growing up too quickly. I mean; its going to happen whether I want it to or not; so I might as well get as much out of my youth as I can!

There is a lot going on in my personal life right now; its a bit topsy turvy, but I'm really really happy. Once everything settles down some; I'm sure I will share with everyone all of the things that are going on; and most of what has gone on.

Here are a couple NSD layouts that I worked on over the weekend!







Till later!

<3/K.

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Quick Couple of Things.

I'm just here real quick; I have a zillion things to do before tomorrow and its already 3:30 in the morning!

Firstly; I was over at Ali Edward's Blog; and she posted this link about the Autism Society of America and AMC theaters teaming up to show some sensory friendly films. How totally cool is that? Stuff like that just makes me so friggin happy.

Second; I wanted to share a layout that I made last week for Tamara's recipe challenge. The recipe was:

• Stitching, real or faux
• rub-ons
• a winged thing(bird, butterfly, fairy, etc.)
  

I hope you are all excited for National Scrapbooking Day! I'm going to my aunt's house to hang with my mom and my aunt for a while; I have a bunch of stuff I need to get done. But I'm really excited, and like I said before---everyone should totally hit up the Freak and check out their cyber crop; they are always awesome!!

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