Me {an update}

*Chugging along with my school work. It is alot....and today is one of those days that I just want to cry but I wont.

*I've been snapping some pictures while out and about for work. Makes me feel alittle better about not creating as much as I was.

*I've been drink WAY too much mountain dew....I blame it on stress....and I love it....the mountain dew that is.

*I am off the wagon with my diet....oh well

More later....Heather

What Would Ali Do?

By Ali I mean Ali Edwards. I reference to her because she is my favorite source of inspiration. Love her blog....love her new site!! I recently (just a little while ago when thinking of my current craft related dilemia) thought to myself "What would Ali do?".

Here is my dilemia, the short version...
I have these big thoughts in my head. All of these crafty things that I want accomplish.
I have a full time job that I have to continue for the obviouse reasons.
I am a part time student.

Where do I fit in crafty time and crafty space? I have no time...well, I have a little time. BUT how do I do it. We are living in cramped quarters (a whole other story that would require a very different blog) and I dont have the room to keep school stuff and crafty stuff close by.

So that's the dilemia. Fast forward to the epiphany and this is what I came up with.

1....have to make room for school because that HAS to be my priority
2....have to have an outlet for these thought because honestly, some of them are brilliant if I do say so myself (haha)

THE PLAN

Well, step 1 is done. I packed all of the crafty supplies that I kept close at hand into bins. The only thing I kept by me where glue, scraps (paper scraps from past projects that are yearning to be used in some way), pens, and scissors...and a few other little things.

I now have room for my school stuff.

are you still with me???...here's the good stuff.....

Step 2
Until I am done with school I will still have an outlet for me creative energies. I will use the shortened supplies and my blog to record my thoughts, ideas, plan of attack :) in a art journal of some sort and here on this blog...my virtual journal.

When I am done with school I will "attack" all of those ideas!!

Yeah, that's what I am doing folks.....

Monday Mosaic {and then some}

Yesterday while traveling in state for work, I took a detour to Paper Source. A girl can drool over their catalog for only so long before she needs to just go there!!

I have to say.....it was a little slice of heaven(no your not getting heaven pictures)!!!

If you have never been, perhaps these pictures will help you get in your car and drive to the nearest one!!!


1. Paper Source, 2. Paper Source in Carlsbad

I came home with this print...you know how I have that thing for bee's? Well this one spoke to me.....really spoke to me!



Also.....
Feeling a little under the weather here with the change in temp and seasons so here is a bonus mosaic! :D

My favorite thing of all when I have a sore throat is Tea with Honey.....Big tea drinker but this is the only time I drink tea with honey.


1. tea & honey, 2. Hot Tea with Twist of Lemon and Honey, 3. Cuba Gallery: Photoshop / tea / smoke / color / red / nature / light / green / photography, 4. Tea/Coffee and Books...

ME: A to Z

I am doing this great workshop with Cathy Zielske over at Big Picture Scrapbooks in September and you should really check it out! I think it is going to be great fun!



So I am reading this book in preparation for it...Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life By Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

Loving this book! It is basically her life (Amy Rosenthal's) from A to Z....what a great way to tell it.

Reading it has been a great help with prompts for my own little list from A to Z about me.





(warning: really bad picture to follow)





This is my little tag book that I put together to record somethings for the class.


Please let me know if you are doing this class to! Would love to chat about it!

Do you know you? A to Z?,
Heather

4 Simple Goals....

When I read this post on Elsie Flannigan's blog I just knew it was something I wanted to do because I need some simple things in my life and I have got lots of somethings to do before the end of the year.



Here are my 4 Simple Goals to do before 2011...

1) Be Creative Daily

I went from very VERY actively creating to zero really fast last year. I have been done with that. Whether it is drawling, journaling, blogging (which I also see as journaling), or jotting down my creative thoughts daily....a little something everyday is a must.

2) Finish Afghan for "My Love"

Seriously, I am soooo close to having it done. Almost there. Want to get it done so he can finally enjoy it.

3) Eliminate Carbs!! (Be gone with you!)

The only carb I should be having are fruit and vegetables. Bread and Pasta don't exist anymore.

4) Eliminate debt totally, Live within means and more frugally

We are already on our way to being secure enough to enjoy ourselves and start looking for our own home. Need to totally eradicate the cc's and save save save!! We are almost there.


What kind of goals are you working on right now?,
Heather

...daydreaming!!

While sitting in an incredibly boring nurse meeting yesterday I got an idea for a new paint. {{That's right folks....I am painting again.}}

I started scribbling on the back of a handout and cant wait to do more with it. I can tell you it will have some blue and orange and a tree and a house. :)


[above photo from: nattu]



[above photo by: Ben]

What are you daydreaming about?
Heather

Mosaic Monday?

Mondays are for mosaics!!

Here are a few pics from my one of my new favorites! 3LambsStudio



1. Keep Calm Parody - Red, 2. Dahlia Days II, 3. I Believe in Pink - Audrey Hepburn Quote in Raspberry and Dark Pink, 4. Witch Hazel Sky

I am sooo totally in love with anything that has the "Keep calm..." on it. But there is no much more to 3 Lambs that you should check out.

Keep Calm and share your thoughts,
Heather

P.S. Mosaic made with help by BigHugeLabs!

Where's the blog Heather?

It's here.....just on pause!

Today I am...

• Feeling more upbeat than usual
• Going to upload pictures to Flickr for the first time in forever
• Drinking homemade ice tea
• Have the worse heartburn ever
• Baked a cake and iced it by 11AM
• :)

Live laugh LOVE,

Dear Little Blog....

Yes I still love you even though you have been very neglected these past few months. But no worries, I'm making a come back!!! HAHA

Live laugh LOVE,

Woh!!!...

I'd like to report that yesterday I actually took a picture (actually several) and that I have serious plans to scrap them! I also almost finished organizing all of the scrap stuff to the corner of the bedroom and did some journaling!!

I know it doesn't sound like much but it is for me....the gurl that lost her creative mojo.

So here is one of the pictures....

My 5 year old niece graduated to her yellow dragon belt in karate.



So glad that I got myself out of the house to go see her promotion. She was completely adorable. I love that after she got her belt from the sensei she tried to give it back...too cute!!!

Live laugh LOVE,

Keeping busy

I am here! I haven't been far.....just been keeping myself busy with work and reading and going to bed early! (yes...sleep is good when stressed)

The month after Christmas and new years...up until my birthday and valentines day is hard for me....it's cold and dark and I just don't care for it. Guess that is why I have been so introvert.

I finally took a break from working on the weekends and actually relaxed this weekend....or at least what I call relaxed.

Here's what I have been keeping busy with...

Nightlight: a parody -By The Harvard Lampoon Apparently there have been spoof books around for a while and someone failed to mention it to me. LOL...in any case...I have read a little of it and I am still on the fence on whether I like it or not.

In Defense Of Food: an eater's manifesto -By Michael Pollan He has several good titles....I am actually enjoying it alot!! it's making me think!!

The Lovely Bones -By Alice Sebold I read chapter one and it was amazing!! I know when I pick it back up I need to have more time on my hands than 30 minutes. I know wont be able to put it down once I start.


The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun -By Gretchen Rubin ok....this is really where my head has been the most...I love this book...I admit that I am following it and working on my own project. I'll keep ya posted...I think it a great thing!!!

I am going to try and get my head out of the books today long enough to create a cute garland for valentines day. I was in Michael's on Friday and picked up a K & Company kit! Picture coming as soon as it is complete.

Live laugh LOVE,

DO {2010}

So for the past few years I have been choosing a word, just one, following AE's idea. I keep this word posted in a poignant place that I see daily as a reminder of the things I am working towards.

I have chose DO for 2010...it seriously just came to me this morning and I really think it is a perfect fit!

My goals for this year....

DO something CREATIVE everyday!
DO something for us everyday!
DO something healthy everyday!

Choosing my one little word has worked very well for me the past few years and it is something that has helped me greatly!

Live laugh LOVE,

Hello 2010!!!

Happy New Year!!!

We didn't get to see the ball drop here but I hope you all had a great time celebrating!!

I am cleaning today while hubby is off at work. Time to make our limited space work for us!!!

I've been wanting to share this picture from the image is found blog for weeks. I love this blog, and these amazing photographers. I saw this and instantly wanted one of these for my very own. Santa must have been inside my head because I got one for Christmas in white!! Cant wait to give something like this a try!

Live laugh LOVE,

Merry Merry!!!

Merry christmas to all! I hope this day is a good one for all!

We are spending the day at home and are currently waiting for the mama to get home from work so we can open presents!

I've been up all morning baking a 4 layer chocolate cake and making homemade buttercream icing to go on it. Later we are going to try and make a apple pie...I stress the word try because I have never made one before so we will see how it goes. Any advice is welcome :)

Live laugh LOVE,

Sunday Love

The snow stopped early this morning and so far has totalled around 21 inches here in Southern NJ. We have yet to see a plow.

I'm taking the time to enjoy this lovely magazine in bed this morning as my sweetie sleeps.
{Image Source}

Such a great collection of inspiring blogs here!!

Live laugh LOVE,

Snow day!!!

{Image source}

We are expecting 8 to 14 inches of snow here today so I am taking the time to relax in bed a while this morning and surf the net on my handy new computer. (I am working up the courage to use the webcam to take a picture...LOL)

Just came across this article on the NY Times site that I wanted to share about ETSY and the crafters that are making their living from selling. Here is the link....its a good read. Definetly dream of a job if I wasnt a nurse. Even a little side buisness would be a dream.

Anyway...this afternoon will be dedicated to moving my scrap area to a little (seriously little) area of our bedroom. I hoping it will spark some creative movement in me. I have sooo much to do.

As always...Live laugh LOVE,

December Daily {1}

So excited that it is December!! So not excited that I have no shopping done yet!!

I finished filling the little drawers on our Advent Calendar last night just in time for today! Chocolate treats and some cute prizes for hubby and sugar free candies for me.

I plan on printing this photo out and journaling on the back of it as page one! Nice and easy!!

Happy December peeps!!

As always...Live laugh LOVE,

14 answers

I usually don't do these...never have the time, but I was inspired by AE's post in October. Been sooo busy the past few weeks, so I am just getting caught up.

Outside my window...the sun is trying to peek out on a cold November day here. At least it is dry!

I am thinking...about all of the things I need to get done today before another work week starts and I have no time for anything. Thinking about my next ME project.

I am thankful for...my family and their health, and my new lease on life that my surgery brought me....and for the weekends off to recharge!

From the kitchen...half of banana and some natural peanut butter on a spoon for breakfast and not much else today....time to order out some pizza and relax

I am wearing...my favorite old navy yoga pants that are getting loose on me (yeah) and a layered tshirt...warm comfy husband socks

I am creating...designs for a new mini book to hopefully teach a class on...thoughts on a homemade garland for the house...maybe some cute granny square slippers!!

I am going...to stay in and enjoy the warm house on a cold day.

I am reading...another vampire book of course...think I have read all of the series out there now...think I have a serious vampire issue going on.

I am hoping...to get organized so I can simplify and declutter before Christmas is here.

I am hearing...my sweetheart deep in slumber, deep in dreams. The puppies running around the kitchen downstairs as they usually do after waking up in the morning.

Around the house...it is quiet except for the pups running around doing their thing.

One of my favorite things...early mornings on the weekend when I get to listening to my sweetheart sleep while surf blogs and read my email. It's kind of calming...and it really helps me start off relaxed. Gives me time to make my lists and jot down my ideas that are going around in my head.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Definitely going to get back to the theater with my friends to see New Moon again (once..ummm...twice is soooo not enough)...Try and finish my December Daily before December gets here.

A picture to share... well it has to be a blackberry picture since my camera is broken still :( A view of the beautiful tree I have walked under every morning on my way to see a patient. After today's wind, I am sure that there will be no little leaves left on it next time I see it.
Thank you little blackberry...I don't know what I would do without you!!

As always...Live laugh LOVE,

{{Sweet}} with a cherry on top!!

This is the one and only time you will hear me say this so listen up my friends......sometimes working Saturday's doesn't suck!

Of course this applies in the followinf case ONLY:
Working on Saturday's doesnt suck when you find this sweetie on your way home and you only pay $2.00 for it...



It is sooo vintage and it is sooo in mint condition. Even has the original paperwork and plastic tray inside. When I paid my $2.00 to the very nice man that sold it to me, I practically ran to my car with it thinking is this seriously possible. It's my favorite color and I am soooo in love with it!!

I think it is going to be my tool's case for going to crops. maybe not, I just cant decide.

As always...Live laugh LOVE,