Okay I can't see the photo very well from my phone so this probably is the most unflattering picture ever but oh well...now you've seen my stomach in all it's massively flabby glory. :)
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And we're off...
So it's time for mobile blogging again since the three of us are on our way to Oregon in a few minutes...I'm pretty sure I've said it before but I'll say it again, I love John Wayne Airport. We cut it a little too close and still made it to the gate in plenty of time to sit and eat the turkey cranberry sandwiches I made this morning in an attempt to clean out the fridge which is one of my obsessive tasks before we leave on a trip.
Okay off to board the plane...
It's a whole new world tomorrow...
Today was my last day of freedom...I relished it in my pajamas...doing next to nothing...because tomorrow my life is over...not that I'm being dramatic or anything.
Tomorrow starts summer school...the thing that sounded like a decent idea about a month ago...Introduction to Intercultural Women's Studies from 10:30am to 12:50pm and Statistics for Sociology from 1:00pm to 3:20pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The saving grace will be that no matter how hellish it is...no matter how much I cry or stress or freak out...it will all be over on July 3rd and I will be free until the end of August. It'll only be six weeks...get it over with...that's my mantra...get it over with. (Oh did I mention I have to miss Thursday's Stat class because of our trip to Oregon planned months ago? Guess when my first test is? The next class on Tuesday...yeah,...I'm screwed)
So this basically the last chance to read my blog without having to endure my endless bemoaning about school...there's a high chance that there won't be much cuteness around here either...not a lot of time to scrapbook or wrap gifts or organize something...so you might want to jump ship now...I wouldn't blame you. :)
Before you go though one last burst of creative attempts from this weekend...
So it's been fun...but I have to go and be all responsible and stuff now...if for some reason you do decide to stick around I promise I will try to not complain too much...but bear with me...it is Statistics after all. :)
I fell in love this weekend...
with my neighbor's shop-vac...where has it been all my life?
I discovered it because I decided we had to clean out our already fairly clean garage...we have had a few items piling up outside our cabinets and I wanted to make room to put everything away so we cleaned out things like my maternity clothes from 1996 and Mac's casts from his surgery 2 years ago...for someone who prides herself on the fact that she keeps stuff relatively cleaned out and clutter free I could not begin to tell you why I still have stuff like that.
It's all cleaned out and donated to Goodwill now (well not that casts) and I vacuumed everything in sight...like even vacuumed the push broom...and I wasn't the only one enamored with the shop-vac...
Other than the garage vacuuming excitement we went to a party last night to celebrate our friend's new home...she actually made a request for something I had made a couple of years ago as a birthday gift for one of our other friends...so I had fun making a new version yesterday...
and of course got it all wrapped and ready to give...
Today Mac is going to go hang our with my mom and Sean and I are going to check out the sales and try to find a little something cute to wear on our trip to Oregon next weekend so I don't feel quite as dumpy next to my gorgeous sister in law...wish me luck :)
I need to clean my desk...
since it's a big, pink mess right now...I'm one of those crazy people that cleans up after every layout...like put everything away and start over...like adhesive back in it's place only to be taken out again in a minute kind of crazy.
Okay here's what made it messy today...
So I have decided my new favorite color combo is gray and yellow...or yellow and green...so I put the three together and threw in some blue too. The stamp has the earth's seasonal rotation around the sun.
Okay and then the pink seemingly disaster that in the end I actually love...this was one of those one mistake after another layouts but I kept coming up with an new idea each time to try to camouflage my screw-ups...
Hopefully more scrapbooking tomorrow, but for now I'm off to watch the Grey's Anatomy finale and then start the endless complaining that it's over until the fall...night.
I'm in the mood...
So I haven't scrapbooked at all today...instead I was in the mood to get stuff done...like run errands and actually cook something for dinner AND set the table which is pretty much freaking momentous around here...I always hope to better with the whole home-cooked meals and family time around a set table, but it usually doesn't happen.
Other plans for tonight include asking permission to take photos of Mac at karate class for the first time and hoping he gets to spar since the get-up he has to wear is quite something...and I just-maybe-might have a new niece tonight too since my sister is thinking she might be in labor enough to head to the hospital at some point...we'll see...
I did get one whopping (totally simple) layout done yesterday...
Okay it's almost dinnertime...
Just one...
I spent most of the day with my nephew and my sister trying to will her into labor since this is a really good week for me to have a new niece...it fits into my schedule perfectly (we've been teasing her for the last couple of weeks about delivering around our schedule...which thankfully she still laughs at).
Anyways that means I wasn't terribly productive with scrapbooking, but I have a couple of things to share...one totally meaningless yet gloriously flower-laden layout and one shaker tag on a stack of gifts that last to give away from last week's pile...
No. 9...
In the fall of 2002 I started an album just for me...I would scrap Mac's photos and keep a family album but that's it until I made the decision to try to have my own "just because" album...here's the very first title page (it's amazing how quickly things look dated, but actually I love that it shows constant change)...
Over the weekend I finally filled in the blank square on the cover of my eighth book...
because it's pretty much stuffed just like the rest of them...it seems there is a heck of a lot of "just because" in my life...
and I made a title page for the start of book #9...
can you imagine if in almost six years I'm starting on my ninth book how many I'll end up with? Ikea better keep making bookcases. :)
The kick off...
to a week (hopefully) full of scrapping...here's my first couple of layouts...
had to use a file folder again for this one so I could tuck all kinds of little birthday memories inside...probably should have put it sideways with the way the pattern is but I had already stuck down and written everything inside...
Then one with the photo I took last week of Paddy as he was at the start of his post-op perking up (rest assured he's back and rearing to go now)...I tried to use a little stuff too...
Okay have to get to bed to read...I got the syllabus for my summer school Women's Studies class and want to get this book completely read before class starts on the 27th...that way I'll have one less thing to worry about while I'm buried under statistics homework...you know I must be REALLY scared of stats if it has me doing schoolwork on my vacation...more tomorrow...
So far so good...
This was my wussy end-of-the-semester celebration margarita on Thursday night (I asked for very mild tequila and not much of it yet still had to send the first one back because it was too strong...yep, I'm that much of a wuss).
So I've been off having having fun at the beginning of my brief respite from school, but now it's time to buckle down...and scrapbook. :)
And the all important "stuff" drawing was #9 (I guess I got lucky this time the random generator thing saved me from counting dozens of comments) so #9 was...
The Stuff...
Since I'll be off from school next week I am already preparing myself to indulge in a major scrap-a-thon...it occurred to me last night that I no longer seem to use "stuff" when I'm scrapping...sure I use plenty of patterned paper and stamps and even punches and a label here and there but I have collected up so many embellishments that just sit...well not anymore...I will try to be better about using the "stuff" from now on...
and I want to share...I have a stuffed envelope of "stuff" to send out...just leave a comment and I'll do the whole random number drawing thing sometime on Friday afternoon...
Today around the house...
I was actually home today...no long day of classes since it's finals week and I didn't have a test until 5pm tonight...so here's a little what's went on around here (besides studying of course)...
there was the stack of various produce my sous chef Sean chopped for me last night so I could make my version of this recipe take take over dinner to our friends that had a baby last week...
The pile of gifts I wrapped yesterday...it's almost like Christmas...gifts for my mom's birthday today + a couple of baby gifts + Sean's Mom's Mother's Day gift since she's flying in from Oregon on Thursday + birthday gifts for a friend's daughter + gifts for my brother-in-law's birthday = a lot of cards and tags to make
And this guy...who went for his haircut on Saturday but squirmed so much they couldn't finish it therefore he came home shaved in the back and just as shaggy as he was in the front. I didn't get a picture of it before he went to the vet yesterday to be neutered (and have the haircut finished off thank goodness) he came home so pathetic and dazed yesterday and is just getting back to himself today
One more final on Thursday and then I'm FREE! (for about 12 whole days until summer school starts)
I love this book...
I don't do a lot of this mini-book stuff, I'm more of a layout kind of a girl...so I struggled with what I was going to do for my mom because I wanted to do something SO good that I wouldn't want to give it away. I had this sitting on my desk for the last couple of days with a pile of wallet-sized photos from Easter and could not figure out any inspiration to make it into something.
Then yesterday I got a little order in the mail since I had needed these in every color...I looked at the 12x12 piece of shipping cardboard in the box and, along with the inaugural use of the green Crop-a-Dile I got for Christmas, a mini-book was born. (by the way that crop-a-dile thing is freaking amazing)
"No Rope" is part of my mom's e-mail address and what she's always wanted on a personalized license plate...it's a combination of our three names..."No"=Nora "Ro"=Rory "pe"=Peggy
I was a little worried as it was coming together but by the time I was done I had accomplished my goal...I didn't want to give it away...
but I did because she's my mom. :)
I get to be a mom...
Mac and I attempting to get a photo of ourselves at his school's Mother's Day Tea on Friday morning.
So last year I talked about my mom on Mother's Day...this year I'm thinking about how I get to be a mom and what a privilege it is...all because of who I get to be a mom to.
Nowadays I often feel like I'm preparing myself for disaster...that all my parenting shortfalls will soon irrevocably damage poor Mac and all I'll be able to do is feel horribly regretful for the rest of my life.
Then I see his smile or revel in the fact that he's starting to really develop a killer sense of humor and I relax for a minute and think maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay.
Either way I'm damn lucky to have this chance...to have this child and be blessed that he calls me mom...or an occasional lingering "mommy"...or "mother" when he's annoyed because clearly he knows more than I do. :)
So what are we doing today to celebrate? Well currently I'm in the middle of this...
trying to finish up a little scrapbook to give my mom when we're having lunch in about an hour...better get back to it...
The pack...
We have been trying to take the dogs out for half of our walks to get them some exercise too, but it is quite a feat. Sean takes Meri and I take the boys who walk practically pressed up against each other like they are one dog with eight legs...well except for when Shamrock is trying to stop to pee on everything in sight.
I believe when we got Paddy I said that our canine trifecta was complete...and boy is it ever...we certainly have learned that we truly are at maximum capacity on the dog front...thank goodness they're small.
It's a happy canine trifecta though...that are in desperate need of haircuts which they're scheduled for Saturday morning.
The beginning of the end...
I sent off my birthday thank you notes yesterday (copied them just like I said I would) and they are probably going to be the last creative thing I get to do for awhile since it's the end of the semester and I have a final this Thursday and on next Tuesday and on next Thursday too...oh wait, I have Mother's Day and birthday cards to make for my mom at some point once I get her gifts...this really is going to be a busy week.
At least I'll have an excuse to put aside studying and will HAVE to make stuff...because with my academic fortitude and studious perseverance I will really NEED an excuse. :)
On fire...
My sister's shower was fun...I tried to keep busy helping the entire time so that I didn't have to totally pay attention...it just kind of seemed to feel better that way.
The keeping busy part also meant everything was pretty much clean when the shower was done which allowed for us to sneak away to this super cool event my mom told me about and get there with a glorious half and hour left to browse all the creativity...I told Sean that my mind was on fire looking at it all...
Here's some of the great stuff I found...
necklaces...this was a favorite that I resisted buying
super cool letterpress cards
amazing collage prints...this one I could not resist buying...I don't know about you, but it just makes me want to make something...
but for right now that making something feeling will have to be channeled into working on birthday thank you notes.
Scrapbooking...
Today is the day to celebrate it which I'm sure sounds totally cheesy, but I think it is something to be celebrated...I want to celebrate the fact that I have had the opportunity to try to be creative for the last twelve years, celebrate that I have tons of random memories and inane details saved that otherwise might have just been passed over on the way to big events...my thoughts and feelings are down on paper...our family photos have a colorful home...and that makes me happy.
So I will stay home today (in my pajamas of course) making stuff...here's the first layout...
hopefully there are at least a couple more before I need to get ready to go to a dinner at what looks like a super cool place my mom is taking us to.
E.T.A. 12:17pm
I had to straighten up the house when I realized it was quickly becoming a disaster downstairs...but I've made one more page too...
Next up lunch and hopefully one more layout...
E.T.A. 1:44pm
Had soup and watched soup for lunch...and got another layout done...(which the scanner did a lousy job with...I promise it's not quite as crooked as it looks)
and there's still time to try to make more...
E.T.A. 2:23pm
E.T.A. 3:34pm
Last one before I have to hop in the shower and get ready to go out...kind of disappointed in my inability to space the quote (by Knute Rockne whom I didn't credit) properly...oh well it adds more "character"...after all who wants things perfect? (Um, usually me.)
Okay so that was a GREAT afternoon...perfect way to celebrate.
Living on the edge...
When my sister and I sat down at lunch today at my very favorite restaurants we were asked what we wanted to drink...my sister encouraged me to get a glass of wine or something, but I said I was going to live on the edge and ordered a Shirley Temple...I know, I know...I am one wild and crazy girl.
That's probably also why I spent my birthday night like I've spent so many other nights...hanging out at home in my pajamas...not before I went on a date though...not really with Sean, although he was there...kind of more with Patrick Dempsey. :)
All in all it was a fantastic birthday...filled with e-mails, phone-calls and a few great gifts like the one Mac gave me when I woke up...of course with the apparently inherited gift wrapping details...a poof of curly ribbon and a homemade tag.
So tonight at home in my pajamas I made the scrapbook for my sister with some serious stamping help from Sean...I kept it super simple so it came together pretty quickly...
I used a 9x9 album, included a note to my new niece in the envelope in the front, and made a special page for 6 & 12 months because I could only get 11 sheets of the light pink polka dot paper I used for the other pages so I had to figure out something to do and couldn't have just one page be different.
Speaking of scrapbooking...that's what I'll be doing tomorrow as much as I can...HAVE to celebrate the national holiday you know. :)
Scheming...
I came home grumpy this evening. I got of school and battled traffic to get to Scrapbook Oasis where I wandered in frustration for an hour to pick out paper for my sister's baby album...usually I have no problem picking out patterned paper but for my sister...oh my sister...first of all we're complete and total opposites...second of all for her everything must match...perfectly...see what I mean about opposites? I finally got it figured out and made my way through more traffic to get home.
Mac met me at the garage door and told me I had to close my eyes and make my way up to my room until he and Sean were done with what they were doing. I heard the Kitchen Aid mixer going and knew they were baking something and I pleaded that I could not go up to my room and wait for it to be done so I got to open my eyes...only to see that Sean was making frosting...and I was horrified.
I exclaimed to Sean "you don't know how to make frosting!" He danced around waving a printed out e-mail and then I realized that yesterday when he e-mailed me asking for my frosting recipe for one of his fellow teachers that wanted it he was just trying to get it from me. Control freak that I am I finished making it and then the two of them did this...
and frosted a red velvet cake for my birthday tomorrow. The two of them had it planned all week...and since Mac will be at his Dad's this weekend they made it tonight...which means I get to have a nutritious birthday breakfast tomorrow because there is simply no way to resist having a glass of milk and a big chunk of cake.
Oh and Mac gave me a birthday-eve card...
not totally sure what he meant, but it seems as if he really can't believe I'm turning 32 tomorrow...me either.
I have recently re-vamped my room to be able to see more of my "stuff" as well. Nobody mixes up the PP like you. Love the picture of Sean and Mac. Thanks for the inspiration.