Squeebie Smash

So, I am the world's latest gift giver ever.  This year, Patchie got her Christmas gift several weeks late because I failed to notice I ordered her awesome TARDIS iPhone case from Hong Kong.  Fail.  And Squeebie... well, her very later birthday/Christmas gift was finally mailed off yesterday.  I wanted to make a fun little stop motion video of her gift before I sent it, but I was lazy.  So I did a little photo shoot (boring) instead.  I used my new 35mm f/1.8 lens that I scored for a ridiculous small sum to shoot.  I am in love with my slowly growing prime lens collection.  Anyway...



Squeebie sent me a link on Facebook to this video a loooong time ago.  She was all about the Smash Book.  I have to admit, it looked fun.  But I also figured it would be expensive and gimmicky.  And I am wary of gimmicks.  Cut to Christmas at my parent's house, when I opened a gift from my mom which wound up being a red "doodle" Smash book and some accessories.  I flipped through it and looked at the goodies and realized: this is a scrapbook I can take with me on the honeymoon and actually complete AS I am experiencing things!  Gone is the pressure of remembering where I took that picture or why I took the other.  Gone is the memory lapse of remembering that funny incident that happened on the Wednesday of that vacation we took last year.  Awesome!  I went online and found their site... and the albums are actually really affordable.  With all the fun little add ons, you can still get a good set for $30 or less, which is saying a lot for scrapbook type gear.  The scrapbooking trend is on the rise, and so many neat gadgets come out every year.  To make a truly awesome scrapbook, you may invest hundreds in raw materials.  Seriously.




So I went to our local craft supply shop and found (after asking assistance and learning the kiosk was literally two steps in front of me, duh) the Smash Book section.  I chose the "simple" orange Smash Book for Squeebie, as she wore tangerine for the wedding and my girls will forever more be color-coded in my mind.  I picked out a few fun accessories and brought it all home, where I intended to be crafty.  Except I wasn't.  I am so lazy sometimes.  Also, you will note that I linked to the official site's Smash kits for the journals.  If I had paid attention, I would have gotten more bang for my buck by ordering online, and shipping directly to Squeebie.  But then I wouldn't have doodled all over the box I used for shipping (and forgot to photograph).  Doodled packages are the best.



This post was not sponsored, I just wanted Squeebie to see what was on it's way and get her all excited for it to arrive!  According to the tracking I put on the package, it is expected to arrive TOMORROW.  Hooray!  So, why a Smash Book?  Aside from the obvious fact that she's been pining for one for half a year or so, she is also moving back to MD soon!  I thought a Smash Book would be a fun way to document her remaining weeks in KS.  We also tend to be into similar stuff, so I am excited to see how she uses hers and how I will use mine.

Of course, you can make your own Smash Book if you wanted to, with any kind of book.  The journals made by K&Company have lots of colorfully designed cardstock pages which adds to the "this is an easy scrapbook" feel, and include a pen that is a gluestick on the other side.  Convenient, no?  But you CAN buy the pen separately and use any journal you want to.  Art journaling is totally easy to accomplish.  It's just nice that the fancy version is affordable, too, for anyone who feels the task of creating decorative pages from scratch is asking too much.  If you are interested in finding ideas for art journaling and are willing to spend $30 for a year's worth of ideas, check out Elsie's Art Journaling class from Red Velvet.  It does look cute.



Well, that's all for now!

xo

How we spend our evenings...

I already mentioned we like to stay in, which sounds boring to some, I am sure!  We keep ourselves pretty occupied with our hobbies and games and films and other things, so we tend to enjoy just hanging out and being.

Last night, Bear was working on his miniature for a game of DnD he's playing with some friends.  I will never for the life of me understand the allure of RPGs, but I apparently have issues playing pretend anyway, so maybe that's part of the reason!  He loves it, though.  We have quite a few friends who are into the whole RPG thing, so he's never alone... and the only person who makes fun of him for it is... me.  Because sometimes I can be unsupportive when I really, really don't understand something.  True fact, big flaw.  But, it's part of what makes me human, I guess.

Anyway, the one thing I can get behind is when he paints his miniatures for the board or whatever they are for.  I go through my craft drawers and supply him with fine, camel-hair paint brushes, brush cleaners, and a palette, which he never seems to use.  I don't paint much these days, so having someone use the stuff and take care of it makes me happy.

It's pretty obvious I spent my evening photographing him.  Haha









Of course, when it was finished he texted his friends a picture to brag about how he spent his evening and day off today!  hahaha

Even though he is sometimes the nerdiest person I know, I still love him so!

Happy Thursday!

xo

Brief Hello!

Today I had a morning meeting for work, so I am leaving here early.  We have a ton to do at the house before the wedding!  Last night, my future mother-in-law painted our living room our new not-so-dirty blue shade (as opposed to the old, really dusty dingy shade of blue).  When I got home, I tried to help her without getting in her way... she is a pro at painting walls!  It's practically faster to stand back and let her go, but I felt pretty guilty doing that.  We have yet to finish the kitchen, which I imagine is the goal this weekend, and we have to construct the hallway closet since the portable furniture closet is being relocated to the new room (also currently under construction) on Tori and Doug's side of the house.  Then I will be in massive cleaning mode: dusting, vacuuming, organizing, moving furniture, etc.  We also were gifted a new-to-us fold out sleeper couch to replace the ugly old futon (which will find a new home on the porch so we can retire the current porch couch with huge cat-claw-induced holes in it).  I am pretty excited to get our apartment looking new and cute... and mostly functional.  I cannot wait to wash dishes in a working dishwasher!!!  I still have to pick out fabric for new curtains and see if my vintage sewing machine can be salvaged to a working condition... phew!  We are some busy busy bees these days!

I still have a ton of photos to share soon!  I plan on doing so tomorrow AND Friday.  It will be a double Photobomb feature!  I hope it will make up for my moderately lame posts as of late.

I will also try to post a finished product for the coloring/activity books I am putting together for the wedding and have plans for a new video to share!  Eep!

Thanks so much for bearing with me as my life spirals into crazy wedding mode.  I am learning so much for my own, and have brilliant ideas I have to share soon!  Here's a hint: may involve camping, outdoor movies, and other fun activities incorporating our love of all things theatre, color, art, lighting, pasta, local bars and local parks... all on a really moderate budget!

xo

Wedding Prep at the House

As you know, we are gearing up for the wedding of Bear's sister... which is taking place at our house... in 18 days!  AAAAHHHH!

Anyway, I am putting together a coloring book from photos I took of Tori and Doug for their engagement.  I planned on using Photoshop... and then the PC my Photoshop was installed on died.  So I had to think outside the box.  Thank goodness for Picasa and the link to Picnik.  Lame?  I think not.  It did the job!  I also made a cute word search online pertaining to the couple and their wedding specifics, like the wedding colors and party.

I am also going to be working on the slideshow for the wedding, and then photographing the event!  Patchie is going to be my second shooter... her first wedding!  YAY!

I couldn't resist coloring some in!

If you plan to do this, here are the easy steps!

Get Picasa and download it.  It's free, easy to use, and really useful!

1. Import your photos.

2. Convert them to black and white.

3. Open each photo (one at a time) using Picnik via Picasa.

4. Choose "edit", and scroll till you find "pencil sketch".

5. Play with the sliders until you get an effect you like.

6. Save to Picasa.  I save as a copy so I always have my original, in case I decide I don't like the way it turned out the first time later.

7. Export to folder to move off Picasa if you want.

8. Print and color!  Easy as pie!

Hope you had a happy Tuesday!  Our AC unit died, so I waited all morning for the AC guy to show up.  Of course he arrived when I was running out the door to work, so Doug stayed to answer questions (and make sure he doesn't steal anything, ha).

Hopefully when I get home I will have cooler air!!!

Has anyone else made a fun wedding activity booklet for attending children?  What did you do?

xo

Subtle Changes...

Or drastic ones?  I revamped some features on my blog.  Firstly, the background.  It's now a picture of some sort of fabric I took with my iPhone once using the lomo app.  It's visually interesting and colorful without being as jarring as the orange background already available via blogger.  I also got rid of the navigation bar at the top of the screen.  It was driving me nuts aesthetically.

Secondly, I added links to my other accounts on Tumblr, Twitter, and Flickr (on the right sidebar).  I am posting my 365 Grateful project to Tumblr as I take the photos (via my trusty iPhone), if you feel like tracking daily instead of waiting till Fridays when I will be posting the images here.  I don't use my Flickr as much as I used to, but I intend on changing that!

The original designs, before cropping them down and making them smaller buttons.

Thirdly, I moved the buttons to many blogs that I follow to their own page "Blogs I Love".  I felt my sidebar was getting too cluttered.  Does anyone know of a way to move my list of blogs I follow via GFC/Blogger to the page instead of as a click-and-drop widget available under the design option?  I'm not a very good coder...yet.

It's been pretty rainy here, but tomorrow is supposed to be sunny!  This makes me happy because, well... my sunroof on my car is jammed slightly open, so every time I park my car I have to stretch a sheet of plastic from the passenger door to the drivers, and close the doors on it to keep it in place.  Not only is it pretty cheaptastic, all the pollen sticks to it and gets to sit on the passenger side of my car as I drive from point A to B.  I am allergic to this pollen, as well as the subsequent mold collecting in my car from any moisture that gets in, so I am hoping to get someone to fix it tomorrow.  I also have to change the motor in the passenger side window (which is currently dead and the window is held up by a bolt wedged under the glass inside the door... wow, my car is a POS!).  Hopefully, the rain will hold off until my garage-less car is better prepared to handle it!

In the meantime, here are some goodies on the interwebs my dears!

This relaxing "bathtub tea"... what a brilliant idea!  I am all about making this. If only I had a beautiful old claw foot tub to relax in, so I could soak up to my cheekbones in warm water (I find modern tubs are disappointingly shallow, unless of course you can afford a lovely spa tub...)!

via: radmegan (in words & pictures)

There is an AMAZING giveaway going on over at One Pearl Button right now!  OPB has been an active blog for 4 years now!  That's a huge commitment!  I am secretly hoping that I will win it, but I seem to have no luck in giveaways.  If you want to enter, click on the link under the photo and follow the instructions!  And good luck... I guess... :)

via: OnePearlButton

I am a HUGE literature nerd, so I am taking this moment to share what I am currently reading: Memory & Dream by Charles de Lint.  Charles is my absolute favorite author of all time, and has been since high school, when I picked up The Blue Girl in 2004, the year it was released.  I have since read about fifteen of his novels.  No, that's not right.  I have DEVOURED them.  I even have Bear hooked!

via: the CdL cover gallery

I purchased this novel from Borders to help cope with my own depression and grief associated with losing someone I love, since the novel is about that... and magic.

The story follows an artist named Isabelle, Izzy for short, who studied under the reclusive but brilliant prestigious artist Vincent Rushkin. Rushkin passed on his technique to painting images with soul to her, bringing magic and wonder in Izzy's life, as well as confusion and great responsibility. Izzy's best friend and roommate in her college years, Kathy, is a brilliant writer and Izzy's biggest fan.  Unfortunately, tragedy strikes, and Izzy returns to her childhood home far from Butler U., her memories, and the paintings she loved to create.  She changes her style dramatically from realistic surrealism to abstract studies of shape and color, the only kind of paintings she produces twenty years later.  A close friend of Izzy's and Kathy's from college, Alan, reaches out to Izzy in her solitude, asking her to illustrate some of Kathy's writings he wishes to publish, in her old style, the one Rushkin helped her to realize.  Izzy is faced with the promise she once made to her friend, the return to the city that holds all her memories and demons, and the possibility of seeing Rushkin again, with whom she parted on less than amicable terms.  But mostly, she is faced with the terrible possibility of the outcome of unleashing the magic of her brush again, and the reciprocations that could entail...

Needless to say, I am enthralled.  I am ALWAYS enthralled with his works.  You can learn more about CdL by visiting the WordWood online (a site originated in the novel Spirits in the Wires, nonetheless!  I was so excited when I tried looking up the link for fun and discovered it was a real site made by super fans like me!).

Anyway, I highly recommend checking out his works.  If you aren't into the fantasy genre already, try checking a book of his out from your public library first.  I find even those who aren't diehard fantasy nerds fall under his spell, but it never hurts to spend time at your library!  If you ARE a fantasy geek like me, you can go buy one of his works.  You probably won't regret it!

Have a wonderful Thursday.  Is anyone else reading something wonderful or have a brilliant author to rave about?  I'd love to know!

A Busy Day Ahead...

I should probably be asleep, but it's technically Tuesday so I will go ahead and post earlier than 3pm for a change.  Tomorrow I have a job interview, so I am excited and nervous!  I am hoping I get the position, but a lot of people are vying for it, so I am trying not to get my hopes up...

In the meantime, here are some neat things around the interwebs...

*LinkLove*

* An e-course about interior decorating... I could probably use some help once we finish renovating (which may now also involve ripping out a sink and a bathtub, as well as knocking out a few walls and building new ones...).  I love that Rachel is all about vintage finds and art pieces, but I have to say my style is definitely not as cohesive as hers seems to be.

* This one of a kind ring is amazing... and was made by a man for his wife on their wedding day!  The engagement ring is equally as amazing and thoughtful.  Guys, if you have these skills and creativity, this idea is so much more amazing than "going to Jared's" (barf).

* I am a serious literature nerd.  I am also a craft lover.  This series of book covers has me drooling!  I know it's a gimmick to promote classic literature and up sales, but it's a really pretty gimmick!

* Clearly, I like cupcakes, which is unusual for a girl who doesn't really enjoy cake or lots of sugary foods.  Anyway, this poster about cupcakes is so adorable and simple!

* Living with four cats, a dog, and a guy, I find that Fabreeze is my best friend.  However, sometimes, Bear and I can't agree on a scent or we buy a dud spray bottle that won't spray, or I simply look at the price and figure it's not worth it.  Recently, I've noticed that it's not environmentally friendly either.  This tutorial about making a green alternative to Fabreeze is fascinating, along with the debate and discussion in the comments.  I guess I never figured it was something I could make myself without a Chemistry degree...

* After the whole bird fiasco I experienced on my porch recently, I have begun to wonder about the other birds moving in on the property.  We have a few acres, so I know there are tons of birds.  I always try to grab the camera and telephoto lens to snap some moments of quirky birdness, but I can't always get the moment.  This bird camera lives where the birds do.  How great is that?!?!  There is also a camera for time lapse photos of your garden growing! I bet watching that as a gif would make winter seem less barren!

* As a photographer, I love seeing a body of work that inspires me, tells me a story, and educates me about a cause or condition.  Heck, as a PERSON I love seeing those qualities in art!  This series about breast cancer is so haunting.  The images are all beautiful, and none of the women appear a victim of the camera- or of their cancer.  They are tough survivors who volunteered to help the photographer depict that breast cancer is "not a pink ribbon".

* This is another photography series that is gaining a lot of attention and has a wonderful message: being grateful for something daily.  A lot of us overlook the small things that make us smile.  Taking time to appreciate one aspect of life a day can completely change your outlook on life.  Hailey is now embarking on a journey to create a documentary about the project she started, and how it's effected those who have participated around the world! (You can see Hailey's original project, shot entirely on polaroids, here!  This is where I first learned about the project, back in 2009, exactly a month after she completed it!)

* Finally, a little fun project!  There are a lot of camera bags marketed to women that look like a typical purse, but inside are constructed to protect and support heavy and fragile cameras and lenses.  These are beautiful and I really want one, but they are a bit pricey.  This instructional teaches you how to take a cheaper bag and modify it to be a custom camera bag!!!


*I am starting my own 365 Grateful!  I am learning quickly that the people and things you appreciate may not last forever, and I want to train myself to fully appreciate them while I can.  I will be posting my photos here from the week, once a week, as part of Photobomb Fridays.*


Okay, I am off to bed before I have to wake up and collect myself and my references, resume, and conflicts list for tomorrow's interview!  Wish me luck!