Just Make Stuff

The Mad Hatter wore Converse, right?

because this one does...

Our annual Halloween party starts in a few minutes...Sean's out picking up the pizza...he and I decided to dress up at the VERY last minute so I'll share photos of that later.

Happy Halloween!

 

Invasion...

Ran some errands after school today...one of which was Target...I figured with Halloween two days away I'd better get candy...and so now it sits in a basket on the steps of our entryway where I will no doubtably be grabbing out of it...I am way too much of a sugar fiend not to.  Milky Way, 100 Grand, Twix...it's going to be a good (or bad depends how you look at it) couple of days. :)  On November 1st whatever is leftover goes with Sean to school to give out to his students that way I can't do too much damage...hopefully. :)

I also started stocking up on leftover containers...

I store them on the shelves in the laundry room and try to keep extra on hand during the holidays...since we're hosting an early Thanksgiving dinner next weekend with about a dozen friends (it's our third year celebrating together early...we call it Friendsgiving) I wanted to make sure I'm ready to send everyone home with lots of leftovers.  Since Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday I'm a little way too excited that I get to host for both my friends and family...if only I had lots of time to really revel in all the details and cooking...darn schoolwork.

Speaking of which back to studying...

If only there hadn't been flashcards...

on my desk this would have been a perfect afternoon...I was in my pajamas all day...I had movies playing on the computer...You've Got Mail and The Holiday which are two of my favorites...Sean took a break from yard work when I dropped a not so subtle hint that a Caramel Apple Cider from Starbucks would be the best thing ever...but I was doing schoolwork. 

All my flashcards are done for the two tests I need them for, and for the third test I have my essays written to hand in.  I also got all my torturous Astronomy chapter busywork done and ready to hand in this week before the test.  Finally I even managed to write a brief introduction for one of my Critical Thinking papers. 

All my work today was to make up for being out of the house for almost fifteen hours yesterday between going out to Redlands for Homecoming and then getting together with friends we hadn't seen since our wedding which was so fun. 

I didn't get many photos out at the UofR except for my pathetic attempt at sports photography...but I did get this one...

 

Sean and his basketball coach who retired last year after I believe about 40 years at the university.  Coach Smith is truly one of the most gracious people I have ever had the opportunity to know and both Sean and I admire him immensely so to get a photo of both of them in action in a game they love so dearly was all I could of hoped for from my attempts at getting something on film....well that and silly pictures of Mac and I watching from the bleachers...

 

Now it's 10:30 and I'm off to bed...with those damn flashcards to review as I fall asleep...

I have nothing interesting to say...

I think I'm just worn out...can't help but feel crappy with the heat and smoky air, but in relation to what other Southern Californians have had to deal with I am an extremely fortunate girl that I have is to clean up is a bunch of leaves, put the rest of the Halloween decorations back out, and decide what to do about our tree that got torn apart by the winds...

We've got to get ready for next week's neighborhood Halloween pizza party before trick-or-treating...I can't believe I'll be sitting on the front porch drinking hot apple cider and passing out candy in less than a week.

Other than cleaning and Halloween preparations, we're spending Saturday out in Redlands for Homecoming and Sean's alumni basketball game...and I'll be studying for the three tests I have next week and hopefully working on some of the three papers I have due in the next three weeks...so I might be pretty boring for awhile...unless I start procrastinating with organization projects, scrapbooking, and/or blog posts. :) 

You win some, you lose some...

I don't share all my layouts...I'd say I share about 80%...the other 20% I don't even bother because I'm not thrilled with them...or they're super simple and functional to get a memory recorded...or it's my 74th pocket page for some kind of memorabilia in Mac's book and they're all the same...or I used Dr. Seuss letter stickers or something to go along with the theme...stuff like that.

Then there's the pages that while I'm making them seem like they're going to be a non-event...like part of that 20%...but when it's all done...even if it's different or simple or not what I planned, I actually sort of like it...

not my best work...not terribly meaningful since it has no journaling...details like the brads that are too big kind of bug me...but I like it better than I thought I would when I was making it...I like the white and blue...I like the letters layered on top of the patterned paper, I like that I used up a bunch of flowers and that it came together quickly.

The there's the page that seems like it's going to be oh-so-cute and I don't think it totally worked out that way...

It started out well...how could you go wrong with multicolored bits of patterns?  Then I decided to break out my sewing machine for the first time in a couple of years and it looks okay...but now where do I put the title?  Down the side...mix up a couple of chipboard letters to fit it all in...stamp a little heart...but where do I put the journaling? I'm too lazy to write the whole story...or even part of it.  Break out an envelope, print out two of my blog entries from a couple of weeks ago and now what the heck do I do with the envelope? So I tried to figure it out as best I could and it's done.

Sometimes it just feels good to cut my losses and call it done...and I admit 9 times out of 10 when I go back to these types of pages in my books I usually think, "Oh, it's not that bad"...not every page can be your favorite.

Here's a couple more I made on Friday...

I stamped a tree on the heart...and then realized it totally looks like arteries...and the stamped lines are a family definition over and over...didn't turn out the way I expected because I didn't line it up well...but I really like other parts of it like the combination of patterns and colors and the typed list of the similarities the four of us share.  Again, ultimately it's done and it only took me about a half hour.

Then this one took me, on and off, the rest of the night...

I had this photo sitting on my desk, I love it, and I had no idea what to do with it...then I got inspired by a song title as I often am, but still didn't know where I was going...then it occurred to me to use a blog entry I wrote to Sean earlier in the day...we had a tough week last week and I miraculously decided to relent on my usual bitchiness by writing this to him...and it made the weekend much better. :)  This page makes me happy...it has stamping that worked out well enough (I actually didn't line it up well in the middle, but I hid it behind the photo), it has patterns and colors and something meaningful written on it (even if it has a typo that I found later)...this is part of that 80% I can't wait to share.

Speaking of sharing here's another page...

and it's on here as of today...where I talk more about my thought process when putting together a page with stamping...which is seriously such a juxtaposition of being compulsive and yet free-spirited...and, as you can see from reading this ramble, is a big part of each of my layouts.   

Yesterday...

was a long day, but oh was it fun...minus the long, winding tram rides up and down from the observatory and the gale force winds as we stood on the roof waiting for our turn with the massive telescope pointed at the moon...but everything else was fantastic...especially dinner...dinner was ridiculously good.

So now it's almost 6pm today and I have managed to do nothing...hiding inside from the relentless winds in my pajamas futzing around the house watching the hours tick by too fast...Sunday always seems tortourously short.

So I will relive Saturday in the form of a few decent-ish, kind of blurry (or really blurry), but oh well what are you going to do photos :)

Off to attempt a little productivity so today isn't a complete waste of time...

All I need for a good day...

We're at Lawry's right now, one of my favorite restaurants, waiting to be seated.
I got to see Van Gogh and Monet at the Getty Center (which was altogether an amazing place) and now I get to eat prime rib and creamed spinach...really what more could you ever possibly need in a day? :)

So I'm having a panic attack...

We're speeding (well only 4 miles over the speed limit) towards the Getty Center for a fieldtrip for my Art Concepts class and I'm stressed about getting there on time even though we're 13 miles away and have an hour and nine minutes to get there...it's the damn LA freeways.
Sean and I have a whole day planned out here...the Getty, then an early dinner, and then the night at the Griffith Observatory that we have always wanted to go to and will count as an extra credit assignment for my Astronomy class...hopefully all these freaking freeways will behave enough for us to really enjoy it...

Cue the holiday music...

and yes I do break out the Christmas playlist on my I-pod for this, please don't judge me :)

It's that time of the year...when I seem extra-super crazy because I'm wrapping Christmas gifts...but it works...I'm never up late stressing out about it close to the actual holiday...so I embrace the extra-super craziness.

Thursday afternoon I created this little wrapping area in the guest room which required Sean moving one of the twin beds into the attic since it's a small room that was just about stuffed with furniture mostly from the nursery once upon a time. 

Now it's holiday central for the next couple of months and, as you can see under the table, I've already started in on the pile of gifts I've accumulated so far...complete with post-it note reminders of what it is and who it's for before I make the tags for them...so the now the goal is wrap gifts as I buy them so come the day after Thanksgiving I can pile them under the tree.

This always makes me happy...

Totally random thought as I sit in the waiting room at Mac's quarterly physical and occupational check...I love when I have an hour waiting and my purse stuffed with magazines to flip through...it's like a mini vacation...especially since I've got my I-pod to help tune out all the noisy therapy toys and occasional screams from children :)

Oh that's better...

Don't want to leave the grumpy/stressed/complaining post up too long...but it did feel better yesterday just saying it...always does.

Yesterday I took this photo of the leaves that are starting to drift to the ground from the huge trees between our house and Mr. Kelly's house (he's our next door neighbor like our own Mr. Rogers except he's from Boston, served in the navy, is a fan of his "night-caps" and staying up all night reading...but who knows maybe Mr. Rogers was really like that too). It's not quite the as pretty as the trees in Oregon, but it's a sign of my fall season so it makes me happy.

The midterm is done (hopefully well)...and that nasty basket of paperwork is empty...so this is the moment I've been waiting for all week...and it feels good...especially since I've been scrapbooking for the last hour...

I have different things to talk about this weekend...but for now back to relaxing...

Bonus time...

My Art Concepts class was cancelled so I'm sitting in the library ready to make use of my bonus time...the 80 extra minutes of my day that I really needed with my midterm tomorrow and just being behind in life in general...it's been a bad week...too much stress coming at me from every direction and I'm so bad at taking it in stride...I'm trying to learn to do better and figure everything out...I could be less vague and outline all my stressors and issues, but that's not going to help anyone and I don't want to take the time, instead for now I'll just reaffirm that someway I can get through, get a handle on things, and contain everything to a bad few days...okay time to get studying...

The life of a puppy...

I can't believe we've only had this guy for six days...it feels like forever both because he's a lot of work and is the cutest thing ever.  Shamrock is worth his weight in gold since he started playing with him on Friday...it only took 3 days.  As I type Paddington is chasing Shamrock around my room and the two of them are wrestling...best thing is it will tire Paddy out for a good couple of hours...seriously that dear Shamrock is six golden pounds of puppy tiring goodness.  The other thing that will keep Paddington busy is all of Shamrock's old chew toys...so far he's on the right track of not chewing things in the house besides the toys that are getting scattered around in each room...now if we could just get him trained that all the banisters in the house are off limits I could breathe a lot easier.

I will also breathe a lot easier when this overflowing basket of things to do/handle/call/organize/type/put away is empty...

and when my Critical Thinking midterm is done on Thursday...until then I'll be studying, emptying that basket, and asking for the 144th time, "Where's the puppy???"

Answers

Okay answering these questions here and there throughout the weekend has been so much more fun than answering Astronomy and Critical Thinking questions...so thank you. :)

The random number generator said numbers 2, 52, and 54 so counting from the first comment up that means...

#2 I don't think it's narcissism, I think it's wonderful that you actually take the time from your busy schedule to capture your family's memories. I wish I was half as good as you are about keeping up with your scrapping!

Posted by: Susanne | October 12, 2007 at 12:17 PM

#52 I loved your segment on Scrapbook Lifestyles and I love your scrapbook room. Can I come play with you?

Sue in Alexandria VA

Posted by: Sue | October 13, 2007 at 02:11 PM

#54 Nora, would you adopt again? Not only would I love to have an envelope from you but I would just love you to know that I read your blog every day and that you inspire me muchly.
Robyn~

Posted by: Robyn | October 13, 2007 at 12:18 PM

Please e-mail me your addresses so I can get the envelopes in the mail to you this week. :)

So here are my answers...sorry if the format is screwed up...I tried several times to make sure that my typing was green and a little bigger, but Typepad is being super grumpy...thanks again...

---------------------------------------------------

pick me please
but I do have a question

Where on earth do you find all your awesome stamps?

Posted by: veronica | October 14, 2007 at 05:02 PM

I answered the same thing somewhere below...but my LSS, online and a local convention

Delurking a little here - LOVE your blog, your scrapping and your style - thank you for sharing with us. My question is - would you ever consider teaching some online classes so us Aussie girls could learn your style and techniques? That would be brilliant!

Thanks x Janelle

Posted by: Janelle Wind | October 14, 2007 at 04:08 PM

Sure, I wouldn't know the first thing about how to do an online class (or really have all that innovative of a style or techique for that matter), but I'd be more than happy to try...

G.A. shout out...pick me...choose me...love me

No really, how do you decide where to stamp on your lo's? they are always very fresh looking...

have a great day!

Posted by: courtney | October 14, 2007 at 02:47 PM

Basically wherever I want. :) I use them for a lot for backgrounds...even over patterned paper sometimes...but I'll stamp anywhere...on chipboard letters, on tags, on labels, as a border, as journaling lines... 

Hope I'm not too late! Nora, I LOVE Your work...and your workspace!! :) My question is...how can have a fab-o organized, beautiful room on a budget?

Posted by: Carla | October 14, 2007 at 12:37 PM

Ikea...desks, jars, wood boxes, shelves...most of my stuff is from Ikea over the years

Hi Nora! My question is:
What advice do you give to someone who wants desperately to be organized (me!), but has NO IDEA where to start? This would include everything- home, schedule, scrap supplies, etc.
Thanks! Hope I get picked!
:)
Crystal

Posted by: Crystal | October 13, 2007 at 11:19 PM

Okay there are rules...you have to have a place for everything and put things back in their place.  If you have too much stuff and there's not room for it how will you ever keep it organized?  So you have to start by clearing stuff out...donate...we are big on treking boxes over the Goodwill a couple of times a year. 

The putting things back in their place is a daily thing...you have to be committed to always taking the moment required to put it away where it belongs...my house can go from spotless to disater with just one day of not putting things away. 

I'm big on lists...breaking tasks down...one drawer at a time...that kind of stuff.  Also investing in the tools...go to target and buy plastic boxes a few big ones to put stuff to donate and then always keep smaller ones on hand to group stuff together and label it...batteries, lightbulbs, kitchen tools you don't need often but need to hang onto for occasioal use that way they don't overcrowd your drawers, grouping together kid's toys...gather like things together, get them in a box so they're easier to see and stack and label them. 

Hopefully that's a decent crash course?  I'm always up for more questions about this...please remember I'm the dork that loves talking about organizing. :) 

My question

What is your favorite holiday? and why?

Pick me-Pick me- Pick me.

Posted by: Lynne | October 13, 2007 at 10:17 PM

First of all I'm a holiday freak...always have been always will be...my very favorite is Thanksgiving.  I love that it's about gathering around a table, I love the menu and all the cooking and setting the table, I love that it's like the quintessential fall holiday, I love being in the kitchen and stopping often to watch the Macy's parade. I love that it's always a long weekend and I love that afterwards it's the start of the Christmas season.

How do you go about picking your pattern paper? YOu have such a knack for mixing and matching PP...love your style!!!

Posted by: Lori | October 13, 2007 at 08:39 PM

First of all I have it pretty well organized which helps and then I think I just let myself flip through and grab what looks like it'd be fun to put together...really what the worst thing that's going to happen?  The page isn't that great...but the memory still is.

I have been following your blog for a long time now.. I moved to Texas from So Cal in the summer of 06 so I live vicariously through your stories of "back home!" LOL!

I'd like to know how you find the time to scrapbook so much that you have begun an 8th edition! Wow! I need to find more time to do that.. You go!

Oh, and just for good measure.. PICK ME! PICK ME! :)

Posted by: Jen LaPittus | October 13, 2007 at 06:24 PM

I can usually be fairly prolific if a spend a day scrapbooking so that helps...I have months in the year where I can get 40 pages done...and months where I'm lucky to get 3 layouts finished...right now school is making for a lot more of those 3 layout months but I'm hoping after Christmas and over the summer I can really get at it again.

Nora,
It's not narcissistic to make scrapbooks on yourself. Besides, Mac will really treasure them someday. And he'll have NO questions about who you were or what you liked! I'd like to think of it that way! ;)

OK--here's my ???: What is your most favorite scrapbook line?

Posted by: Colby | October 13, 2007 at 04:30 PM

No way can I pick just one...favorites are Hambly, 7 Gypsies, Anna Griffin, Scenic Route and Basic Grey...but really I could just keep listing companies...I love to have a big mix of stuff. 

I'll say....pick me, pick me....ha!
Can't think of any good questions to ask....
How about....what's your #1 favorite organized thing in your house....I'm always aspiring to be as organized as you seem to be!

Posted by: Beth | October 13, 2007 at 04:25 PM

Number one?  Oh that's tough...I really love my pie safe pantry that gives us more room in the kitchen and is kind of mine with all my snacks and teas and favorite ingredients and I have stuff in old colorful pyrex bowls and baskets.  I also love my drawer of headbands and hairclips all organized in baskets...there is also a dresser in our living room that holds candles and serving pieces and some holiday stuff I love opening up those drawers...I'll stop before I get too boring. :)

8?! That is so wonderful. I started an 8.5x11 at the beginning of the year about me, and I was pleased with a dozen pages so far, again...you are my idol.

Do you ever apply for design teams?

Do you submit your pages for publication?

and, pick me!

Posted by: tracy | October 13, 2007 at 04:24 PM

I have never applied for a design team, but I have been lucky enough to be asked to be on a couple and guest design a few times.  I have submitted my work maybe half a dozen times...I really have a hard time putting myself out there like that.

LOVE your title page!

What kind of music do you like to listen to?

Posted by: Shannon B. | October 13, 2007 at 04:21 PM

Oh I LOVE music...I pretty much have it on everywhere I am all the time.  It would probably be easier to say what kinds I don't like because I love so much...just a little of everything though...I am constantly making playlists on my i-pod...I usually carefully make one for every party we host...combining music is one of my favorite things to do.  I still haven't answered your question :)  I love 70's folk songs, and good Jazz and lots of Classical pieces, and trendy inappropriate dance music, and some classic rock.  I love the Indigo Girls, Diana Krall, Sting, James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkle, Ella Fitzgerald, Neil Diamond...I seriously could go on FOREVER about this.  

I would love to know what you use your Palm organiser for. I have been thinking of getting one.

Posted by: mel | October 13, 2007 at 03:52 PM

Everything...it has a great calendar system...multiple to-do lists...a memo section to keep information organized...and wverything has an area for notes so I will copy and past e-mails when I've made plans with someone, directions to where we're going, notes on events like lists for parties...I could go on and on...it really is like the other half of my brain. 

I loved your segment on Scrapbook Lifestyles and I love your scrapbook room. Can I come play with you?

Sue in Alexandria VA

Posted by: Sue | October 13, 2007 at 02:11 PM

Well, I do have an empty desk in my room... :)

Nora, would you adopt again? Not only would I love to have an envelope from you but I would just love you to know that I read your blog every day and that you inspire me muchly.
Robyn~

Posted by: Robyn | October 13, 2007 at 12:18 PM

Honestly, we were pretty hurt and damaged by our experience with Darby and then our agency basically turning us away when we wanted to try again.  I actually had someone e-mail from my blog last spring about a baby, Sean and I even met with the birthmom who was an amazing girl and then we never heard from her...that kind of pushed us a little farther away from the whole idea too...we haven't ruled it out, but we are too hesitant to really try...we've decided to believe that this has all happened for a reason and to try to be really grateful for what we do have...and just see what happens...

When you start a layout, what inspires you first? Picture, paper, stamp, color...etc?
Hey, Pick Me!

Posted by: Ann S | October 13, 2007 at 11:46 AM

Usually photo...but closely followed by all the other stuff. :)

Everytime I try to make a scrapbook about me, I feel conceated about it. Like my life is so great, here let me shove it down your throat. So I end up not making one! How do I get past this, I want to document my life for my son (he's 24) in case I die one day, he will know all about me. btw...love your new puppy, that photo was stunning...oh my gosh he is adorable!!!

Posted by: jackie d. | October 13, 2007 at 07:36 AM

I used to not journal on any of my pages...until one day when scrapping some pictures of my childhood it occured to me that it's just like a conversation to have with someone when you're not there...and just think about how cool it would be to your mom's life, or your grandma's and be able to read directly from them what they think...you just putting the same thing out there for fun.  And I don't just scrapbook the happy stuff...if life is crappy I'll make pages about that too.

ok - pick me! love to stop in from time to time to see your creativeness. You have endless energy! :)
And, if you really want to see fall, come to New England!

Posted by: rhonda | October 13, 2007 at 06:53 AM

I've been on three bike tours in Vermont, but all in the summer...it has been a dream of mine for year to go back there in the fall.

Where do you get all of your awesome stamps from? I can't ever seem to find the ones I want. Thanks. I love your blog:)

Posted by: oceans5 | October 13, 2007 at 06:48 AM

I'm lucky that Scrapbook Oasis orders from my favorite companies so I can get them there...or I order online directly from the company and I go to a stamp convention in Carson a couple of times a year. 

i'm really sorry if someone has asked this but, how do you keep motivated when scrapping? You have the most beautiful pages that are fresh and inspiring and just darn cool. I am starting to have problems getting myself back in my room sometimes because I sit down and the ideas just don't come (cause I'm busy, cause I'm tired cause, cause, cause.) So how do you not get burnt out?

oh and pick me :)

Posted by: marie | October 13, 2007 at 05:47 AM

I don't really get burned out, but there are plenty of times that pages won't come together for me...I'll start over, walk away or just keep plugging along with it and end up with a page I'm not 100% crazy about, but am always glad I made it.  That and I sound like a broken record with this, but there really are no rules in scrapbooking...just do what you want, how you want, when you want.

If you could design a scrapbooking line or a stamp design what would it be?

Posted by: Jennifer | October 13, 2007 at 05:02 AM

I don't have any really good ideas nor any artistic talent whatsoever to be able to design, but I always love collage type elements like clocks and stuff...oh and trees...text type things like definitions.

I have 2 questions. 1-Is it hard to start a blog? 2-In your post before this one- what is that red tool laying on top of your paper?

Posted by: jenny | October 13, 2007 at 04:28 AM

No, not at all...I just started one for myself for fun about 2 and half years ago when I started one for Sean and I as a Valentine's gift to him (we always make each other something) to write notes to each other.  The tool was an ATG which is a massive adhesive thing.

i saw someone else asked how you and sean meet so i will have to think about another one

what was your wedding song

and how is sean feeling after his big race. i am training for a half marathon in may. what training program did he use....MAYBE AN ASK SEAN SESSION MIGHT BE MORE INTERESTING!!!!

you and gotta love when thursday is the new friday when monday didn't really "cut" this week
Tami

Posted by: tami | October 13, 2007 at 03:44 AM

Our wedding song is a quick little story...it was Fly Me to the Moon sung by Frank Sinatra, double checked that the DJ had it...practiced dancing a little because it's a little upbeat and my dress had short sleeves that I couldn't get my arms all the way up in...and we planned to pick up Mac to dance with us after a minute or so...the DJ played Frank Sinatra Come Fly with Me...but we tried to make the best of it...

and Sean's feeling pretty good...but I don't know what program he used...if you want to e-mail me I can forward it to him since I'm sure he'd be happy to talk about it...

First question...when are you going to teach a class at Oasis again?? Soon I hope

Second question...what really is your favorite color?? I love to see all the colors you use, but what's your fave??

Third question...will you pick me??

Posted by: Mary Ann | October 12, 2007 at 11:41 PM

I don't have any classes planned right now...I mentioned why further down in the answers...and my favorite color is green...most especially the 70's lime-pukey-chartreuse type shade

I have a question: How on earth do you have the energy to accomplish all that you do? I feel so inadequate after reading your blog - you do it all girl!! I just want to know how????

Posted by: peggy | October 12, 2007 at 08:39 PM

#1 I don't have a job

#2 I am so very blessed to have a husband who does anything and everything that I ask...seriously at least 82% of the credit of whatever I accomplish should go to him for working with me

#3 I only have half a child...Mac is at his Dad's house every other weekend and every Wednesday night

So PLEASE don't feel inadequate...I could never do 1/5th of the things I get to do without those three defining aspects of my life

I really enjoy reading your blog! Your layouts really inspie me and I LOVE love love seeing pics of your home decor and organization!
OK, I guess I will ask a question: have you started Christmas shopping yet? I really enjoyed your Christmas-related posts last year!!!

Kristen

Posted by: Kristen DeSimone | October 12, 2007 at 08:02 PM

Yes, Sean just got the wrapping paper out of the attic for me last week so I could start wrapping...I have bought about a dozen gifts so far...I really try to get it done now so I can enjoy later. :) 

Nora,

My Queston to you is did you go to any of the GREAT scrapbook stores while you were in Oregon?? There are some really good ones and no tax Yippie.

Pick me..
HAHA

Have a super weekend and cute new family menber..

Posted by: Melissa S | October 12, 2007 at 06:21 PM

No, I didn't this trip...but I have gone to the Art House on previous trips and I'm all about the no sales tax. :)

Noran,

Thanks for the fun here.
My question to you is not scrapbook related.
How did you and your husband meet?

I no you said he went to school in Oregon, Go Oregon I am from there to.
I move to Ca about 9 years ago.. I Love reading your blog I look at it about daily hoping you have posted something new.

Oh and yes of course. PICK ME !!!
Have a GREAT weekend. Oh yes one more thing isnt Grey's Wonderful my daughter at long beach got me hooked. But I want mcdreamy and Meridath (how ever you spell her name) to get together or break up for good. This will get old the off and on stuff. BUt have to watch Greys. Sorry this is so long..

Posted by: Terri E | October 12, 2007 at 06:18 PM

We had a bunch of mutual friends when we went to school at the University of Redlands, but never really talked to each other much until one night at a party.  A couple of weeks later my sister came out to visit, met Sean, and thought he was a nice guy so she invited him to go home with me for Thanksgiving...literally within a couple weeks after hanging out a lot talking late into the night I just knew he was it...thankfully he felt the same about me. :)

I don't think it's narcissism at all...and don't you know Mac is going to cherish each and every one of those albums about his mom one day?? Second question....would you please pick me? Thanks for sharing your lovely and inspiring blog.
Pam

Posted by: Pam B. | October 12, 2007 at 05:28 PM

Hopefully...poor kid is going to need a lot of bookshelves considering he has nine of his own books so far. :)

Here's a question - I watched your episode on Scrap in Style (loved it) and loved your great scrap space - do you organize at all by brand? For some reason, even though I have no desire to publish and would have to know the brands I used, I'm hung up by organizing by brand to a degree or at least keeping it in its original packaging. It looks like you just organize by color or letter--which looks so free! Is your system totally brand/label free?

Great idea for a post!

Posted by: Frances, New Yorker in the OC | October 12, 2007 at 05:18 PM

I have pretty much nothing in it's orginal packaging nor do I store it by brand...I have only submitted a handful of times so it's not really a problem for me.

I have a question for you, was your trip to Ireland as good as you were hoping it would be ? Did you love the place?

Posted by: Leonie -Australia | October 12, 2007 at 05:13 PM

It was better...it was perfect...it very well could have been the best week of my entire life.

Hi Nora! Here's a question for you - do your three little puppies have middle names? If so, what are they? :)

Posted by: kristina | October 12, 2007 at 04:50 PM

Nope, no middle names...which is strange considering I take naming VERY seriously...Sean teases me about how ridiculously analytical I can get about a name.

I just love your blog. I wish all the time I was organized like you! I'd love to have any old scrap you might tuck in that envelope !!! I know what I can ASK you...maybe you've said before...but since you are back in school and all, what type of work or plans do you have once you finish up with the schooling?? ok...Thanks much ! Kathleen

Posted by: kathleen | October 12, 2007 at 04:14 PM

The plan is to earn a degree in Sociology with a minor in Women's Studies, go on to earn a master's in Sociology, and hopefully teach at a community college...I cannot wait for that first day.

You didn't say there was a limit to the questions so you may get a few from me hehee :)

Where do you keep ideas for future pages? Do you print photos as you go or a whole bunch at a time and then work with what photos you have printed? How many photos would you take a month?

This is fun :)

Posted by: mel | October 12, 2007 at 03:12 PM

I keep a list in my palm pilot of pages I want to do and usually get photos printed in little batches.  I can easily take 150+ photos at one event so it depends...minus events and holidays I'd say about a 100 a month.

mmm green, red and aqua, I love those colours together.

I would like if you could tell us about the AC binders that you are using. What ones, cloth or modern and how do you think they will hold up over time. Also do you scrap anything special for Mac and his schooling, ie do you have a separate album for his school photos and such, I am trying to get together a school album separate from my son't other album and I am looking for ideas.

thanks :)

Posted by: mel | October 12, 2007 at 03:04 PM

They are the cloth ones and so far I'm happy...they seem like well made binders.  Mac has his own books...pretty much chonological and everything of his goes in there.

I would like to know why my silly computer doesn't show your new blog entries for days and then all of a sudden there are 3 or 4 of them! lol!!
what did you think of Greys last night? is it bad how much I loved Christina playing the *sad* card?!?!?
and while I am at it......you know I am still in love with your patterned paper curtain topper. I have ideas around that......just need to find a tall ladder and do it! lol!!

Posted by: susan | October 12, 2007 at 02:31 PM

I just caught up on last week's Greys on Wednesday night and then saw last night's episode so they're both kind of lumped together in my head...The Meredith/Derek thing is really getting me...I can just relate to her character too much...I'm totally the kind of girl that can barely let you love me...so to see a man try from an outside perspective really helps me realize what I pain in the ass I can be to poor Sean...other than that hitting too close to home I am loving this season...it seems to have some good playfulness back.

Pick Me...Pick Me!
I check your blog almost everyday...I love pattern paper and love your style of mixing so many different prints. How do you decide what to use?

Posted by: Sharon | October 12, 2007 at 02:29 PM

I just grab what I like and trust that it might go together and reassure myself that if it doesn't it is okay anyway becasue I liked it

Love, Love, LOVE your style! Is the word ARTIST a stamp or just letter stamps? If it's a full word stamp, where did you get it?
Oh ... and pick me!!

Posted by: Brigitte | October 12, 2007 at 02:04 PM

It is one stamp and it's made by Stamper's Anonymous.

Love your blog and your recipes! Just wondering how it is going with Weight Watchers. I've recently gone back, so I love reading about your progress.

Posted by: Adrianne McDonald | October 12, 2007 at 01:48 PM

I have been on a self-induced plataue for three months now...lose a little, gain a little, loss it again...and on and on...I need to recommit...I'm getting lazy...thanks for the reminder. :)

what's your favorite class this semester? I for one am jealous of your art class, but love the vocab words you've taught me from the critical thinking class! ;)

Posted by: april | October 12, 2007 at 01:38 PM

I'm lucky all four are pretty good, but it's a toss up between Critical Thinking and Art Concepts for my favorite...they are both the kind of classes I could happily sit in all day and not be bored...now if they just weren't so tough and have so much work to do... 

I am avid reader of your blog and a stamp collector/lover as well. How many stamps do you think you have? Do you use acrylic too? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your style. I also have made a couple of your recipes. Okay, now I am freaking myself out by all the inspiration you bring to me!!! Thanks for sharing!!

Posted by: Tana P. | October 12, 2007 at 01:37 PM

Um, yeah...I have a lot.  Super rough, top of my head, please don't judge me estimate? About 700ish maybe...and I really prefer wood-mounted red rubber stamps. 

Ok, I have a question for you (a silly one).

Did you bring home any of those leaves from Oregon? (I totally would have).

I love reading your blog. I love your work. Thank you for opening up your life and sharing so much with us.

Long time fan

Katie :)

Posted by: Katie | October 12, 2007 at 01:30 PM

No I totally didn't think about bringing home leaves...good idea...

ok, here's a question: if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would you take w/ you?
ps. I gotta throw in a "pick me" here too!

Posted by: lisa | October 12, 2007 at 01:10 PM

Oh good question...can I say Europe?  I dream of going to so many places there one day...oh and I'd take Sean and Mac 

I'm not sure I have a question other than "Can you please continue to post pics of those cute dogs?" I've been following your blog for a little more than a year, and I didn't remember that you had dogs. I could just be confused though. It happens.

I enjoy your blog and seeing your pictures. Even though you post when you're stressed or down as well as when you're happy, this blog seems to be a happy place. :)

Posted by: Stacey R | October 12, 2007 at 01:10 PM

Yes, I'm sure the addition of Paddy will reignight my dog photography :)

Question: Most of your pages seem to use unrelated pattern paper. I think it is what makes them so interesting and creative. Do you pick out 5-6 papers before you start a page and make them work or do you know when you look at them that they do work???
I shop, I buy the newest and greatest paper, I think "WOW" this is going to look great, but sometimes it just looks bad. I work for hours trying to find other papers and finally come up with something that falls short of the dream. I love your style, so how do you do it? Can you teach a class? You make it look so easy and it is NOT; what a GIFT. :-)

Posted by: susan | October 12, 2007 at 01:08 PM

Wow, thank you...I wish I could nail down some tangible element of how I do it, but I just pull paper out as it catches my eye...I don't think about it much or anylyze anything specific...which probably means my answer is no help at all...I'm sorry.

I don't think it's narcissim, either. I think it's an awesome tribute documenting a life well-lived. :) I do have a question - I totally admire your work. I love that it feels so free. Has this always been your style or has your style evolved? Do you have any tips on how you successfully combine colors, prints, etc, to share? You rock. :D

Posted by: Kristi | October 12, 2007 at 12:37 PM

I'm trendy girl...if you look through my books you can see a major progression through eleven years of scrapbook trends...not much is classic or timeless unless that was a trend...so I guess it's always evolving.  My only tip is totry...if my work looks free it's becasue it is...I really exercise the idea that there are no rules in scrapbooking...anything goes...

when are you going to teach another class? Oh, and PICK ME!

Posted by: Christy | October 12, 2007 at 12:20 PM

When I am finally capable enough to come up with a good, original idea that works well in an affordable, multiple manner...which seems like it's not really my strong suit...but thanks for asking :)

PICK ME PICK ME! ok now that that's done i luv your work, your space and your honest nature. one question- where do you purchase most of your products? traditional scrap stores, office stores, thrift stores?

Posted by: Renee | October 12, 2007 at 12:18 PM

Yes to all three...I buy most of my supplies at my local scrapbook store, Scrapbook Oasis, I've found various things at antique stores, and I love office/school supplies 

I love your cover and especially the stamp that you used about this scrapbook was created by...... Here's my question for you: Where did you get that stamp?? I love your newest family member, too. So cute! :)

Happy weekend,
Tricia

Posted by: Tricia Gray | October 12, 2007 at 11:57 AM

It's a Catslife Press stamp

One more...

I played a little more last night before Sean and I watched Grey's Anatomy...I needed a title page for my eighth scrapbook so here it is with a photo that printed out with kind of too weird color, but I decided to try to use it anyway oh and it's a little cut off on the side from my darn scanner...

I feel like quite the narcissist having made eight scrapbooks of myself in the last few years...but "myself" really means my life which then means my family so maybe it's not that bad...maybe. :)

Oh and when I was putting away my office supply stash that I purchased in Oregon last week I made three little envelopes up to give away...they're not too exciting, just some tags and a few different colored label sheets, but I ended up with so much from the various packs that I want to share. 

I was going to see if you all wanted to do one of those ask-me-questions commenting for the drawing, but that seems to perpetuate the aforementioned narcissism.  So, if you happen to have a question for me than please feel free to ask since I'm an open book kind of a girl...but also please just go ahead and post "pick me" or something if you want to just get in on it...I'll use one of those random number generators on Sunday night to pick three people to send the envelopes to.

Thursday is the new Friday...

Thursday really is becoming my new favorite day of the week...I only have one class and a seemingly endless three day weekend ahead of me...that's always over in like 2 minutes and then it's Monday, but for a little while on Thursday I can just hope that the weekend will last forever and I have plenty of time to do schoolwork and not schoolwork.

This afternoon was not schoolwork...a trip to Costco where I picked up a pile of new photos, about twelve pounds of beef, and two Christmas gifts for Mac.  Then I came home and just had to make something...with the photos not the beef :)

Still trying to get used to this 12x12 business...so much fun to be able to shove four 4x6 photos on a page though.

Hopefully there might be more not schoolwork this weekend...

Official introduction...

I'd like you to meet Paddington...he has three of the five of us won over...Meri and Sham aren't quite convinced yet...he slept through the night in his kennel without much of a peep, has been surprisingly decent at being house trained so far, and tried to eat every dried leaf and plant in the front yard within two minutes of me taking this picture...

My saving grace in all this puppy business is that we got out Mac's OLD playpen that we've kept in the garage for some reason even though we have an newer bassinet/playpen from when we had Darby that we kept for when we babysit and I rarely will keep anything we're not really using...but it's the best thing ever now...he has tons of room to hang out and I have peace of mind that he's not wandering around getting himself in trouble.

I can't get over how teensy-tiny Paddy is...Shamrock only weighs six pounds and yet he looks massive in comparison...

Having these photos (and all the ones from Oregon) really makes me want to scrapbook, but I have to behave for now and really get some schoolwork done...

Three has always been my favorite number...

So now we have three dogs...a little boy puppy we picked up earlier tonight that doesn't have an official name quite yet...or, as you can see, a good introductory photo...so he'll be properly introduced later when I can try to catch him with the camera so you can see his cute little face better.

In the meantime you get this waiting in the bathtub shot...Meriwhether and Shamrock were a couple of days over due on their bath because of our trip and our new little guy needed one too so Sean successfully bathed all three of them.

It all happened because I got my haircut last Wednesday and my hairdresser showed me this little yorkie puppy...the last one left from her dog's recent litter...Meri & Sham were the last ones left too so I have a soft spot for that...but then his tiny face just melted me.  When I got home I told Sean all about him and it turns out we had both thought of getting a third dog, but had never said anything to each other.  Sean met him on Thursday before we hopped on the plane then we took the weekend to think about it and discuss all the possibilities during the plane & car rides and apparently Sean even thought about it while he was running...so we went to meet his parents tonight and within a few minutes it was a done deal.

We're officially on puppy watch now...you forget that these things are a lot of work...but it's worth it...our canine trifecta is complete. 

Back in the saddle again...

Couldn't resist posting one more fall color photo since I'm back home in the land of palm trees.  The suitcases are unpacked and it is ever so clear that vacation in over. 

I wrote a to-do list earlier today and it has 23 things on it...and most of them are pretty big tasks...half of them are for school and all of them need to be done by the end of the week...good times.

My calendar is filling too...one fun thing...I signed Mac and I up for this in a few weeks...I joked when I called asking if this class would make him a more respectful, grateful child...but that's a post for another time most likely titled, "I'm not patient enough to be a mom to an eleven year old"...doesn't bode well for his teenage years.

Other than that I might have an announcement soon of a tiny little addition to the Griffin family, but it's not official yet (nor is it human)...   

Bye vacation food...

I'm the type of Weight Watcher you're not supposed to be...when I go on vacation all bets are off...and the name of the game is stuff as much crap as possible into my mouth and enjoy every minute of it. I did good job this trip even managing to repeatedly drink Starbucks caramel tall apple ciders, but in grande cups to get extra whip cream.
So I just had my last vacation meal...a hot dog and fries at the Portland Airport...I tried to savor every bite since I'm going to have to do some serious behaving when I get off the plane in a couple of hours...

Okay that was amazing...

We were at the start line and I purposely tried to catch the blurriness of the first runners...caught Sean as he took off...met him at about the 5 mile mark...and camped out at the finish for over an hour trying to get my finish line shot...it's blurry, but I was busy crying.  It was just so totally cool...he finished in 3 hours and 46 minutes, was 854th out of the 3,442 men, was ranked 162nd out of the 504 men in his age bracket, and was 1,118th out of 7,232 participants overall...oh and his average pace was 8.38 minute miles.

The energy was amazing...watching people run and walk through the streets of downtown Portland...hearing a couple of the various performance stations at each mile with all different types of music and entertainment, and then watching one person after another accomplish an incredible feat.

My favorite shot of the day was the walk back to the hotel as he was wrapped in his heat blanket thing...like the superhero that he is...

Seeing him reach this goal just made my heart burst...I swear I fell in love with him 100 times more today.

I'm waiting...

He'll be here in a little less than an hour or so...my in-laws and I saw him off, caught him on part of the run, and then went and stuffed our faces at Mother's Bistro...a recommendation someone was kind enough to mention on here earlier in the week...eating a frittata while Sean runs a marathon is my idea of a good time. :)
Now we're camped at the finish line...it is AMAZING to see runners come across...cannot wait to see mine :)

Now this is fall...

I've been borderline obsessive about getting photos of the trees...they're just so pretty and so what I have always dreamed of fall actually being...a real chill in the air...I've been stubborn about not wearing my jacket because I want to be cold...because I have to go back to Southern California on Monday and it'll be the perpetual seventy-eight degrees.

Yesterday Sean and I met up with Amber who owns The Ribbon Jar.  She has one of those blogs that has me endlessly drooling...over her house, her artistic abilities, and all the old thrifted coolness she finds.  I was SO lucky she took the afternoon to show us around...stuff like old fashioned office supplies stores in Salem and antique stores in Aurora with cheap Pyrex that's going to be a pain to pack into my suitcase, but worth it...AND I got to shop in person at The Ribbon Jar...her basement with a perfectly lime green floor which really was the best thing ever. It was a GOOD day. :)

So, today Sean and I are headed into Portland for the night and tomorrow's the big day.  Tomorrow by this time he'll have finished something he's been working towards for a year and a half...have I mentioned I'm proud of him?  I'll try to hop back on my in-laws computer when we get back to share the great photos I'm going to get of him crossing the finish line...now if you all COULD cross your fingers for me please that I actually really get a great photo. :)

Oh and speaking of photos...on the way back to Colton last night I made sure we pulled off the road so I could do a photo-shoot...with the one yellow blinking light...it's always the frame of reference I use when referring to Sean's hometown...all it is is one yellow blinking light and which point he always jumps into defend by mentioning that it's red going the other way...because that makes a difference apparently?

Back woods...

There are actual leaves changing as we're driving through the winding back roads on the way to Ellie's work so she can show off her marathon running son...at least I'm not the only bragging to everyone who asks why we're here...including the lady sitting next to us on the plane and the guy at the rental car place...I'm just a little proud. :) So I took the photo of the football field score board as we were walking on the high school track this morning. I'm in Viking country :)

I love John Wayne...

A random sounding title unless you're from Orange County and know what a great airport it is...we're pretty darn lucky that we can hop on the freeway for a few minutes and be there...especially considering I HATE the drive to the airport...every minute that I can obsess over, "Did I remember this?" "Did I forget that?" is torture. So now were boarding in a few minutes and I'll be settling into my seat to write flashcards for the entire flight...good times. And yea for phone blogging...hopefully I can update more during the trip...

I just need a few more hours...

Just a random picture...this was one of our kitchen chairs until it broke so we saved it and made it a planter...so now there's a little galvanized bucket garden on the side of the house...

Okay...so not what this post was about, but it's much more pleasant to talk about gardening then having to listen to me complain that I need more time before I hop on a plane Thursday afternoon...need time to pack for the cold, rainy weather I'm excited to get to...need time to do schoolwork so I don't have too much hanging over my head when I'm gone...and an hour or two to be lazy would be fun too...but no such luck. 

Off to work on Astronomy and Political Science stuff before heading to bed in a couple of hours...I'll pack tomorrow...