ramblings

TGIF{13}? And what’s coming next week…

Posted by Nat on Jan 13, 2012 | 6 comments

Friday the 13th.  For sure.

Today we were running late (or so I thought- in the end we were fine).  We had to stop for gas.  When we got to the gas station, the card reader was broken so I had to go…. into the actual STATION to pay for our gas.  I don’t think I’ve done that for at least 10 years.  It was weird.  I remember when we could start paying at the pump- it was soooo revolutionary.  But I digress.  I got back to the car and my daughter, Anna, was a sniveling mess.  She thought I was leaving them when she saw me go into the station.  Neat.

I walked around to the other side of the van to give her a wipe so she could clean up her face, and as I leaned into the car I toooootally biffed my head on the roof.  It felt… GREAT.  Instant headache.  I hit my head so hard that my son, Jack, said, “Oh, Mommy, you okay?”  at least four times in a row, like this: “Mommyyouokaymommyyouokaymommyyouokaymommyyouokay?????”  So sweet.  That boy is so adorable.

I’m starting my new job in the next week or so.  The best part?  It’s all on the computer, for the most part.  Rad.  More to come about that.

Next week I’m going to be participating in the SITS Girls Blog Challenge, also known as 31 Days to Build a Better Blog.  I’m hoping it won’t take over my posting too much- just some here and there.  But keep your eyes peeled- you may see some subtle changes around here.  {I nearly wrote “suttle” instead of “subtle.” Ha!}

My goals for my blog this year include

• building my reader numbers and
• figuring out how to use this here blog as a medium to achieve a creative life for myself.

We’ll see if that happens.  If you’re a blogger you should check it out- it’s a great way to find new blog friends and encourage each other.

Sorry for the lack of photos- sometimes you just need to write, eh?  Happy weekend to you!

My Weekend

Posted by Nat on Jan 9, 2012 | 1 comment

Have you ever had a weekend you just didn’t want to forget?  Everything seems to work right, things get done but you’re not feeling rushed…. that was my weekend.  It was awesome.  It started Friday night- a date with my husband- a much-needed date. We didn’t do anything but go to dinner, but that was sufficient because our meal was awesome, and so was our waiter (I have such an appreciation for a good waiter since I was a horrible waitress).  San Diego friends, if you haven’t been to Whisk n Ladle, get there soon.  Yum!

Saturday started with working on our chairs– I’m done (post coming soon)!  My husband took the kids on a walk so I could enjoy a long shower (I also cleaned it) and get ready for an evening of fun with my friend Dana.   Just after Christmas, Dana asked me if I wanted to go to a launch party for a book called Creative Pilgrimage.  The party was taking place in Santa Ana, which is a nice little drive from San Diego.  Yay!  We drove up and got there just as it was getting busy.  Studio Crescendoh is a lovely little nook of artistic wonder, and there were so many beautiful things to be inspired by.   Some of my favorite parts….We met Jenny Doh, brainchild of Crescendoh.  She’s exactly how she seems on her blog- friendly, warm, sincere.  We got to make our own bracelets:

There was some simple garland strung up in the window.  It was so neat.  Here’s a shot of them in the window:

Here’s my attempt at a close-up:

Dana is so good for me- she doesn’t know a stranger, so she introduced us around as if we were supposed to be there and people should want to meet us.  I did have Emily with me, so that got lots of smiles, too.  Today I checked the blog, and Dana and I are in their slideshow (so is Em, too).  15 seconds?  Ha!

As we were leaving to have some dinner, Dana couldn’t help herself.  She had to take a picture of this guy in the window of a studio next door.   In case you can’t tell, he’s painting a picture while wearing a spikey helmet.  

Dana and I got a bite to eat before our drive back to San Diego.  We told stories of dogs flying out of cars and remarked several times that we are so happy we are married and don’t have to wear 4-inch heels and hussy dresses.  If we weren’t driving a good distance I have a feeling the evening would have involved a few glasses of wine or some drinky-drinks.  We’ll have to work on that next time.

Today we went to church and then had Emily’s Godparents and their kids over for lunch.  Then our little ones napped, and we ended the evening with our first viewing of Toy Story 3.

Perfect weekend.

Can’t wait to show off my chairs tomorrow.  They are awesome!

What did you do this weekend?  Have you ever had a completely pleasant one like this?

2012: Resolution Schmezolution!

Posted by Nat on Jan 2, 2012 | Comments Off on 2012: Resolution Schmezolution!

Happy New Year!

(photo taken by the lovely Amber of LifeArt Photography)

Hello everyone!  Happy 2012!  I hope that you had a marvelous holiday season filled with family, friends, and food.  Don’t forget the food. 🙂  I had a wonderful visit with my family in Kansas that included lots of giggles with grandparents, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins, as well as… you guessed it… FOOD.  My family knows how to EAT- I love it!

Every year I sit back and marvel at what 12 months can bring.  One year ago I was pregnant, anticipating the arrival of our baby girl, Emily.   Now she’s here, adorable and healthy, and our family is complete.  I’ve left my teaching job, I’m a SAHM but soon I’ll be a WAHM part time. Un. Real.

The trend, of course, is to talk about what resolutions we might have this time of year.  I have done resolutions in the past- entering them into a list on my phone to “help me remember.”  Yep- doesn’t work.  Out of sight, out of mind- that’s me.  Plus, life with three kids always keeps things busy, interesting, and crazy, and other things tend to creep over those resolutions.  So this year, I’ve decided to have a theme.  I’m going to come up with a print or something to put somewhere to remind me daily what my theme is and try to stick to it.

What’s my theme?

“Keep it happy.”

Why?

Who doesn’t need happiness?

I’ve seen too much hardship in 2011.  Too many friends losing loved ones, too many struggles, too many battles with illness.  And really, all anyone wants, is to be happy.  So I want, this year, to make sure that everything I do focuses on keeping things happy.  Sort of like Ella Fitzgerald and her song, “C’mon Get Happy.”

I do have a few “must do” items on my list that will likely disappear.  I need to go to the dentist yesterday.  I need to make good on a laser treatment that I bought on Groupon- I’m thinking upper lip.  I need to go to the dermatologist because I have NEVER BEEN to the dermatologist and I live in flippin’ “TAN” DIEGO!!!!   But those should not be resolutions- those are more like, “Dude, it’s 2012 and you said you’d do this stuff in 2010!” kind of things…

I look forward to posting more this year, learning, and hopefully expanding my little corner of real estate on the WWW!

Do you have any resolutions or themes for 2012?  I’d love to hear about them!

Christmas Week: Some Decorations {and a FAIL}

Posted by Nat on Dec 15, 2011 | 1 comment

Today I thought I’d share with you a few random things I am loving.  I will also show you a Crafting Crazy fail.  Woo hoo!

Let’s start with the cute stuff.

Have you seen these at Target?

 If you missed them this year, and you have a pre-K kid, be sure to get them next year.  I snatched some up and somehow got them home without Anna seeing them.  Everyone once in a while over the last few weeks when I need to keep her occupied, I have pulled out one of these.  Next year I will grab every single one- at $2 each, they are a deal.  They really work fine motor skills, but are also fun.  And the pictures make it easy for the kids- they just refer to it to see what to do.  Here’s Anna’s handiwork:

We also did snowmen and penguins.  They are super cute.  Anna insists that they be together on the tree so they don’t get lonely.  Cuteness.

Do you have any favorite Christmas decorations?  I asked Michael what his favorite was, and he told me this story of a paper mache nativity scene that he loved growing up because you could take the gifts out of the three wise men’s hands and put them back.  You had to be there, but it was super funny.

My aunt sent me this little guy several years ago and I still look forward to finding him a spot every year.  This year he’s on our shelf in the kitchen.  I love that his little legs dangle, all the buttons…

…but I especially love his little painted face.  So cute!

And just in case you think my house is spotless or perfect, check out what’s keeping him company.  This shelf is almost always a mess.

And here we are at the Craft Fail. Get ready to laugh…

So, Anna loves crafts.  She loves to draw.  She loves to make stuff.  It’s hard to keep up with her sometimes.  I bought her these fuzz balls for her birthday.  Her birthday is in May.  Whoops.  I’ve been putting her off since then because I wasn’t really sure what to do with the fuzz balls.  I decided to give this a shot, and while I think the concept could work, I need to rethink my supplies and technique a huge tad.  Not a wee tad- a HUGE tad.

Here’s how it went:

Gather fuzz balls and a four-year-old.  Be sure you shove your hand in a basket full of fuzz balls- it’s so nice!  (Heh.)  No really, they are soooo soft.

As you can see above, I had Anna find all the green, red and white ones.  There were a lot.

Below you can see our progress.  We selected the largest styrofoam tree form- probably my biggest mistake.  I painted the glue on and then Anna would stick them on.  We set it on wax paper to keep the glue off the table, and I was hoping once all was dry it would just peel off.

Here’s the problem:  we ran out of Christmas colors.  So instead of a cute, fuzzy Christmas tree we have a psychedelic fuzz ball mess.  I also need to look into getting one size.  This thing is a nightmare to look at.  I kind of want to cry looking at it.  The real kicker, though, is that Anna LOVES it.  I don’t have the heart to get rid of it.  I’m tempted to take all the fuzz balls off and start over.  Who knows.  At least Anna likes it.  🙂

Tomorrow I have one more thing to share before the holidays and then I’m taking a 2-week break from blogland.  Can’t wait to come back with more fun stuff!

Right now…

Posted by Nat on Dec 8, 2011 | 1 comment

I’m totally going to be a copy cat.  I have no post ready for today.  So I’m copying Lindsey– she has one of my favorite blogs.  She copied Meg, who also has one of my favorite blogs.

Right now I am…

Watching:  Umi Zoomi.  So adult.

Eating: Nothing.  I’m so hungry!  It’s almost 2 and I haven’t had lunch yet.

Drinking:  I’m going to have some water and then another cup of coffee.  I just gave up soda.

Wearing: a nursing tank and jeans.  So fashion-forward!

Avoiding:  blogging.

Feeling:  tired.  Emily was up three times last night- usually she gets up once.

Missing:  my family in Kansas.  Can’t wait to leave to see them for Christmas!

Thankful:  For my husband, whose hard work allows me to stay home right now.  And for my cute kids.

Weather:  I think it’s supposed to be 64 right now, but it feels warmer with the sun shining in the windows.  Our 1970s, non-UV-protectant windows, that is.

Praying:  for Kelptyn.  He’s the son of a friend of mine.  He’s very sick- please pray for him, too.

Needing:  Someone to come finish my organization tirade.  I want to be finished- I don’t want to go through the process, I just want to be there so I can feel okay about crafting again.  It will be great when I’m done.

Thinking: about our Christmas cards- they are so cute!

Loving:  My sweet Emily, even though she kept me up in the night.  She’s such a sweet baby.  And Anna, for being every bit of 4.  And Jack, for being every bit of 2.

What is it with Mondays?

Posted by Nat on Nov 14, 2011 | Comments Off on What is it with Mondays?

Our weekends have been hectic- that’s what it is.  I have lots of things in my mind and on my post calendar, but here’s a rundown of our weekend, just to give you an idea:

–  Flat screen TV delivered late last week- hooray!  We are going to be part of the 21st century of TV viewing technology!

–  I prepped the hall closet so we could install new Elfa shelving.  The only problem:  I put enough holes in the wall to require a huge drywall patch.  Enter: my amazing husband.  Whoops.  Guess what he did all weekend?

–  I cleaned the fridge from all of our left overs.  There were a lot.  I didn’t want stinky meat in the trash attracting raccoons and coyotes (for reals), so I put them down the drain.  And clogged it.  Enter again:  my amazing husband.  Double whoops.

–  We opened the box to start working on the TV (did you know that plasmas have to be “primed” for 100 HOURS?!).  The screen was cracked.  We were less than pleased.  Thank goodness Amazon has good customer service.

–  I upgraded my iPhoto and now it’s not working the way it used to, which meant that I had to waste time I would have spent prepping a lovely post for you all and try to figure out what’s up- which I am still doing. Argh.

So, until tomorrow, I guess.  I did just find out that my husband has a work dinner tonight, so guess what I’ll be doing?  Blogging, Pinning and perhaps enjoying a glass of wine or a beer, depending on how things go before then. 🙂

A tout a l’heure!  (That’s French for “see you soon!” but without the appropriate accents)