I cannot get enough of stars right now so I piled them on for a little thank you note I needed last week.
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Ten on Tuesday...
1. A highlight of my day was having broccoli cheddar soup in a sourdough bread bowl...thanks mom.
2. Another highlight was getting this in my wrapping paper heaven. For some reason I had to add it to my stash.
3. A third highlight was finding 48 ounces of ketchup for $1 at Target. I bought three since I've been obsessed with making my own barbecue sauce lately.
4. Soup, wrapping paper, and ketchup...it's been a good day. :)
5. I also bought 100 sheets of paper bag cardstock today...that should last me awhile.
6. I never shared photos of Mac in his play this past weekend...they did a review of musicals to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the theater group. I won't bore you with all of them, just my favorite one...
7. This also happens to be one of the three photos that weren't blurry out of the 72 I took during the performance.
8. Speaking of Mac, he and I made a baby rattle shaker card yesterday for a family baby shower he's helping host at his Dad's house next weekend. He's very excited to show you, but his mom hasn't gotten the photos off the camera yet.
9. He also mentioned wanting his own blog so I have been googling internet safety and thinking through the pros and cons. I think with lots of mom-monitoring it might be a good idea...some encouragement to practice writing beyond texting "thx", "k", and "idk". Any thoughts are on the topic are welcome.
10. Have you ever heard of a church birthday? I learned about it at the Godparent class I had to take for my nephew. They suggested celebrating your Godchild's baptism each year as a church birthday. I thought it was the cutest idea...then I got distracted as the class teachers went into a unsolicited infomercial about natural family planning. Anyways, I have celebrated three church birthday's now...this year it was with coloring books about Jesus and the Apostles. I made a tag with this kit...and even found abible verse, which is a feat for a heathen like Auntie Nora :)
The schedule...
Our plans for this week include getting ready for the big 4th block party next weekend...I keep coming up with ideas so we'll see what I can pull off.
So it's Sunday night and tomorrow "the schedule" starts...my overly dramatic title for the plans Sean and I have each morning while Mac is at a few hours of summer school. It's just some exercising and school work type stuff...Sean will be working on developing math curriculum while I get a couple of hours of reading done. This way when Mac gets home we can all have some fun.
Super exciting Saturday night...
Sean and I are settled in at home tonight...he's catching up on the soccer game he recorded earlier today and I'm crocheting...we went for a walk and are going to watch a movie...I commented about the action packed life we lead...and we both agreed that we'd like to be teleported to Iowa tonight for Sean's brother's 30th birthday party.
This was the card we sent earlier in the week...trying to go along with with all the World Cup excitement that Sean and his brother are continuously texting about pretty much everyday.
Okay time for the movie, but first the drawing for the banner...it goes to #7
Carrie K said...
congrats on the cartwheels gig...i was thrilled to see you over there :)
love that banner and since im sewing challenged i'll cross my fingers for the win :)
cant wait to see the upcoming well wishes cards!!
June 25, 2010 at 10:49 AM
Starred...
1. our new toy shelf, 2. le sunroom., 3. wee paper houses all in a row, 4. I'm Done ..., 5. seeking etsy world domination., 6. flea market:, 7. Untitled, 8. Hopefull Hexagon Pillow
Good stuff from the past week...
- Scrapbooking...loved seeing this...great ideas for our upcoming travel.
- Parties...this is endlessly appealing...and this idea includes gives a great step-by-step process.
- Love this idea...especially as a gift. Great ideas in this room.
- Recipes...this sounds good for dinner...and this for dessert...and these for every minute of the day.
And not a minute too soon...
Oh has this week been all about catch up and keep up...and I did a borderline decent job of it all.
I didn't get around to Well Wishes this week (or last week), but they will be back next Wednesday since I already have the cards for the next two weeks created and the kits made.
I did get my first article finished for Cartwheels about all things 4th of July all done. As you can see from the photo of my current computer screen background (with a photo collage from last year's block party) I am super excited about the upcoming holiday.
If you check out the article you can learn a little bit more about the banner over the mantle. I had plans for a third row, but we couldn't get it to work properly and had to trim off a piece just over six feet long.
I have the piece to share if you'd like it...just leave a comment and I'll post a winner on Saturday night.
Another "Starred" post tomorrow morning...I was saving all kinds of good stuff tonight...
Ten on Tuesday...
1. I was going to title this post, "The Sunday night post on Tuesday" since I never posted anything on Sunday night. However it occurred to me that since it's Tuesday that means it's time for a list.
2. I last had the stomach flu about 13 years ago...I still remember laying on the hand-me-down couch in my cinder-block apartment by myself and wanting to die.
3. That was until yesterday.
4. I lost an entire day of meaningful existence...it was replaced by an inordinate amount of sleep and pathetic moaning.
5. However I also lost four pounds...a silver lining on that deep, dark cloud of nauseousness.
6. If I had posted on Sunday night I would have excitedly shared this...
7. We spent time in the newly arranged backyard after we had a little Father's Day dinner for Sean.
8. We had June Bug drinks in canning jars.
9. The backyard is my new favorite room...I had planned on spending a couple of hours on the longest day of the year out there, but we all know what happened to that idea.
10. Okay...back to work...I have my first article to prepare for this week.
Since I didn't get you a card...
I went back and put together some stellar Griffin family portraits....2005 through this year.
Sean...
We're really starting into the thick of it now...this whole parenting thing. I have to admit we spend a fair amount of our days reminding each other to have patience and compassion. Yet through it all we work to our strengths and are trying to raise someone to know that we love him endlessly. Thank you for every last thing you do for Mac and for our family. There is no one I would rather be a parent with...through thick and thin. Happy Father's Day.
To the moon and back...
Nora
Starred...
1. porch swing, 2. dots, 3. a sign..., 4. A N E M O N E ~, 5. lisa congdon's house -- kitchen storage and plate wall, 6. Pink lamp, 7. Five, 8. the sfgirlbybay home office.
Okay we're getting caught up this week with the favorite stuff from the beginning of June on...
- Scrapbooking...this book is one of the coolest things I ever seen...then I love these layouts and these too...so many awesome details. Really loved and this layout too.
- General craftiness...I love this idea (especially making your own bubbles)...these tags...and i have to make these clips...oh and while I have the fabric out try this too.
- Home stuff...this house is endlessly inspiring as is it's owner...and I love all the colors here.
- Recipes...not much lately but I love all these since 4th of July is coming up fast.
So proud of him...
I have noticed people taking last day of school photos and decided I needed to do it too. Except I wasn't home when Mac got back from school today so I asked Sean to make sure it was well documented. Here is Mr. McIntosh O'Kane Jordan before and after his 6th grade year...
In all seriousness though he has worked incredibly hard this year. Everything is an effort with him. Even a simple spelling test takes hours of preparation, yet he plugs along. Sure there were meltdowns, but every single time he came out of the haze of stress and frustration and got the job done.
He is the type of person who is trying to get Thursday's work checked off the list by Monday. I am continually amazed by his work ethic and am dedicated to doing every last thing I can think of to preserve it.
Now it's time for summer. Sure there will be a little school so that he can review and maintain what he has learned, but then there will be the good stuff too. Annual Griffin family water games, the return Fun Fridays, a 14th birthday and a big road trip.
Cannot wait for lots of summer fun.
Ten on Tuesday...
1. Thank you for the garage sale success...so happy to have sent those packages off in the mail today.
2. I am about five years late, but I finally read this book. I took Mac to school and climbed back into bed to finish the last 150 pages while bawling my eyes out.
3. Since I was the laziest person on earth reading this morning I figured why not go all the way and make myself a little brunch. I really wanted to try making carbonara after seeing this breakfast episode of "Best Thing I Ever Ate" (a total favorite show) so I found this recipe and made about 1/8 the amount for a perfect little meal. I was really living the life this morning.
4. We watched "500 days of Summer" over the weekend and I officially fell in love with it. I had iTunes gift cards from my birthday burning a hole in my pocket so I bought the soundtrack and the movie. The soundtrack will be on repeat until further notice.
5. More and more I am saving images in Tumblr. I realized the other day that I had an archive so I went to check it out...look at all this goodness.
6. The other thing that's been inspiring me lately (as I mentioned over the weekend) are good color combinations. Today I needed to finish Mac's teacher gifts and saw this...I had already picked a similar blue cardstock as a background for the little recipe books, but didn't know where to go with it. Within 30 minutes this was done...
7. This gift is a blatant copy of a teacher gift from 2008.
8. Here's the other thing I've made so far this week...
9. Mac and Sean are done with school on Thursday. In July Mac will go to half-days of summer school, but Sean will be home since his school district pretty much eliminated all summer programs.
10. I received the e-mail telling that our patio furniture is ready to be picked up. Party in our backyard on Friday. :)
It's finally garage sale time...
I mentioned almost three months ago about having a blog garage sale. I have finally gathered all my extra supplies into big sets and have them listed in my Etsy shop.
Everything has already been packaged so that I could try to properly estimate the most cost-effective shipping.
However since each item is packaged separately I cannot reduce shipping costs if/when multiple items are ordered. Also, I am only shipping within the United States. Sorry about that...darn shipping.
So there is lots of stuff to check out...
Cards...Embellishments...Rub-ons...Alphabet Stamps...Labels...Vintage Items...Pattern Books
I was also wondering if there would be any interest in large flat rate shipping ($14.50) boxes filled to the brim with patterned paper that I would sell for $6. If there is please send me an e-mail and I will set up a custom order for you.
Thanks for going along with me on this crazy idea. :)
I have been teased all weekend...
Sean participated in the Pendleton Mud Run again this year. He finishing time was pretty much exact to last year...although his number bib thing came off in the last mud pit so it was not official entry...which he was less than thrilled about (especially since he would have placed 6th in his age group).
So after I pestered him for post mud run documentation photos he showered and changed while I updated his mom via text message...the conversation went like this...
Nora: "I'm waiting for him to change and enjoying the physique parade...but if you tell him I said that I'll deny it. :)"
Ellie: "Tell him what...wink, wink"
Nora: "Seriously I think you need to fly out for this next year...it's quite something"
Ellie: "I would love to"
About this time Sean walks out to me and asks what his mom and I are talking about. I cannot wipe the sheepish grin off my face that lets him know I am up to no good. It's like he administers truth serum every night when I'm sleeping making it virtually impossible to ever hide anything from him.
Therefore I cannot help but fess up to the "physique parade" comment...and I have only been teased about it 104 times in the last 35 hours.
So if you ever hear Sean referring to the "physique parade" you know the story...however he has embellished it saying I was slack-jawed and moon-eyed taking in the sight of his fellow competitors. He has even offered me tips on how to discreetly check someone out.
I'm off to bed now...surely my dose of truth serum is waiting somewhere.
Starred...
1. Paper Lace Boxes, 2. Untitled, 3. bliss, 4. Untitled, 5. happy mothers day 2010, 6. Chamomile , 7. girly cottage livingroom - sally conran, 8. storage drawers
Because I had a couple of Saturday posts in May I am behind in sharing favorite links...but we'll get a little more caught up this week...
- Scrapbooking...loved these layouts and cannot wait to try out these ideas.
- Cards and tags...loved these and this set and love these simple tags too.
- Summer ideas...this is a great teacher gift...this is great red, white and blue inspiration and how cool is this project?
- Color combination ideas...love this one and this one
- Around the house...this is a great reorganization project...love these office ideas...and this inspiration wire
- And food...want to make these for Sean who always loves pineapple...and want to make these for me who loves all things garlic and buttery.
I have never been able to do a cartwheel...
I pretty much have no balance, flexibility, or the slightest bit of athleticism.
However now I am officially doing cartwheels since I have been asked to join in over at Cartwheels in my Mind. It's a new web-based art magazine that is growing by the day and will be full of all kinds of creativity.
Here's a favorite new layout I shared today...
I'll be writing two monthly articles, "Nice to Greet You" about making cards and "Happy Everything" about seasonal projects...looking forward to crafting up some new stuff!
"Is this going to make the blog?" he asked me...
Mac walked in as I was taking photos of a recent layout...
He wanted to show me the graduation cap card he was working on for his cousin and insisted that I put it on the easel for photos too. I then insisted on getting photos of him with his creations (including a few little duct tape roses like he made me for Mother's Day)...
I am lucky to have a partner in crime when it comes to being crafty.
Well Wishes...
Just a little things card to tuck away in case I need a thank you note or something to send to a friend.
Ten on Tuesday...
1. There was a state primary today and my sister called this morning asking if I would be canceling out her vote today. Apparently my nephew was fascinated by the whole process and had numerous questions. After the political explanation he arrived at school and told his teacher that his mama is an elephant and Auntie Nora is a donkey.
2. And of course I went and canceled out my elephant sister's vote.
3. Made this for dinner...it's been a family favorite since last fall.
4. I'm pretty sure Mac thinks I'm a good mom today...this is because I took him for frozen yogurt after his parent teacher conference this afternoon and helped him buy five songs for his iPod.
5. I finished up a layout last night and spent a moment thinking about how much I like scrapbooking...
6. The layout is about forgetting Mac on Easter...it'll be shared soon.
7. The other recent crafty project involves my school binder from this past year...it's been re-purposed for the summer...
8. Just like our road trip two years ago I'm going to put together a binder with all the information we need for each stop...and at some point I'll get a scrapbook ready to fill too.
9. I invited Sean on a "date night" tomorrow night...it involves running about half a dozen errands and maybe getting some dinner. So romantic.
10. Okay it's time to watch the Glee finale...can't wait.
I'm caught...
At my niece's 2nd birthday party this afternoon my sister asked me to head inside the house and catch a photo of her opening presents all by herself...
It's blurry, but I love it.
It's also indicative of how I feel tonight...like I'm getting caught...I was having fun this weekend when I was supposed to be getting some stuff done. Oh well that's what Monday is for, right?
Here's the weekend fun...
Fabric shopping with Mac since he wants to make a graduation gift for one of his cousins...we actually liked the same ones which is increasingly rare.
Going to afternoon tea with a friend and deciding that since we've tried half a dozen tea different places by now that next time we're going for pot roast instead. (at a favorite restaurant my family calls Schmugenlaugens).
Sean and I watched Up in the Air which I loved.
Of course my niece's princess party...I am so lucky to be a part of three more themed parties a year... especially when my sister makes this amazing Bacon Bacon dip stuff.
And we did a little major shopping...getting a patio set. Which has me dreaming of adding a couple fancy pillows and really needing strings of globe lights so my backyard can look like the set of Parenthood.
Starred...
It's been awhile since a Starred post so here are some favorites from a few weeks ago...
Well Wishes...
As much as I love lots of stamping and patterns somehow simple cards always end up being a favorite. Just a few good details and leave it at that.
Ten on Tuesday...
1. So happy about this announcement...I am super lucky...and even more super excited.
2. Finally using this pile of fabric...hopefully it'll be here in some kind of set sooner than later.
3. We're going on another big road trip this summer and a week of it will be spent at my in-law's house in Oregon. I may have expressed concern about what we're going to do for a whole week in a town with only one yellow blinking light. Besides spending time with my amazing sister-in-law who will be reading this and thinking, "Wow, thanks a lot."
4. Sean had suggested one of the things we do is go to Multnomah Falls which I was kind of snotty about since I'm not the biggest fan of that outdoorsy hiking in the middle of nowhere stuff. Then I saw this today. Um, yeah okay I'll go...and not just because they have hot honey wheat bread a restaurant that's there.
5. Speaking of restaurants...I saw this today too and spent $5 for a $25 certificate at two different restaurants...that's an amazing deal.
6. Okay scrapbooking...here's the latest...
7. I really love that tree mask too much.
8. As I'm writing this it is 2:47pm and Sean will be home in just about 13 minutes...after a school year of a 100 meetings and coaching three separate sports it is finally time for the 3pm arrival...cannot wait to hear the garage door open.
9. But when he walks in Sean will discover I am still in my pajamas which is pretty shameful.
10. Being in my pajamas is indicative of how much my level of productivity continues to sink on this daily summer vacation basis...I really need to get my act together.
