Just Make Stuff

I'm lucky to have Monday...

I've said before that Mondays are my saving grace for all the catch-up stuff...especially schoolwork...between loads of laundry I finished all my reading as I sat out on the front porch during a rare rainy morning...it was even chilly enough to put on a sweatshirt...almost like it was Fall or something.

And speaking of Fall here is my mantle...

in years past I have had lots of country crafty stuff and leafy garlands but lately more and more I am drawn to a little simplicity and open space. I'm ashamed to admit how much brainpower this took from me this weekend...but I kind of just reveled in the analysis of each detail until it came together. 

My favorite part is this...

 

wool felt + old sizzix leaf + jute = a little homemade garland

I have a random selection of leftover leaves sitting on my desk to send to someone...just leave a comment if you'd like them...

To the point...

I could ramble about my weekend...about fall decorating that's not done...or other tiny home details I think about sharing on here as I pass by them on my way to get something done...or I could just share the three layouts I've made in the last couple of days...

Tomorrow's my usual schoolwork catch-up day...and hopefully it will include a chance to finish the layout on my desk...and also hopefully share my seasonal fireplace mantle decorations that I have been kind of (totally) obsessing about all weekend...

Okay just one...

Yesterday as I sat in class my mind wandered to dreams of today...at home in pajamas...with a movie on in the background...scrapbooking.  I have plenty of other other things I should be doing like studying for the test I have tomorrow or running to the grocery store for dinner making supplies (by the way we've only eaten out once now in five weeks and that one time was because we met friends at a favorite restaurant) but I wanted to make just one layout this morning before I go be responsible for a little while...once I get stuff done I hope to have time for more irresponsible layout making later. :) 

Comfort...

 

I made a big pot of chicken noodle soup to celebrate the first day of fall...it was serving dual purpose as I also tried to plan ahead since Mac's dentist appointment to fill his cavity was today and I thought it be a good dinner for him...turns out the dose of Valium wasn't enough and he was still way too anxious and upset to let them do it.  Poor guy really tried but was shaking and crying uncontrollably...so by the time we dealt with that we all needed some comforting food. After discussions with the dentist and pediatrician we decided to try again with a higher dose next week.

All is well now though as he heads off to bed after watching half of the the premiere of Dancing with the Stars...I'm off to pack my lunch for school tomorrow and get to bed too...

I'm pretty boring...

 

don't have much to say tonight...no super exciting weekend activities to share...it went too fast though...I was really inspired by all of this and started thinking of ideas for this year's card...and other than Christmas crafting the highlight of my weekend is right now eating dill dip and pretzels for dinner while watching The Emmy's since I'm always a sucker for award shows...I promise I'll try to be more interesting this week...hopefully :)

Can I keep today?

Today was an allaround good day...especially when Mac and I could compare our matching "A"s when we got home from school this afternoon...

 

I wish there was a way to hide this goodness down in a pocket or something so I could pull it out when things are particularly stressful...or just plain crappy. Or as a reminder of how good it can feel to succeed and that it's worth it to persevere through whatever reading and studying that I always find myself not wanting to do.  Please remind me of this next time I mention that I'm procrastinating. :)

Simplicity...

 

I have been craving simplicity around here and have been going through and cleaning out the decorative clutter...the stuff that's just there because I thought it was cute at some point but doesn't have any symbolic value.  The chickens in my kitchen window box stayed though...because when I look them I'm reminded about how darn excited I was eight years ago to be moving into this house and I couldn't wait to have them sit in the window box which was one of the many things I loved about my new home.

Other random things from today...

I'm excited for dinner...Sean and I are making grilled cheese sandwiches and creamy tomato soup

I made something today but I can't really show you because the recipient won't receive it for a few days...

 

I love that there are still plenty of roses blooming in our backyard...

 

Oh I "made" something else too...my coupon/gift-card holder was looking ragged and things had a tendency to get lost in there so I decided to try something new...a small binder with page protectors to hold each category with super simple kraft cardstock dividers...

 

 

And finally the stamp drawing...you guys were amazing...I loved reading every word of your heartfelt responses and got several great ideas for my project ...I might be e-mailing a few of you in my attempt to expand on your thoughts and will definitely be creating a survey at some point that hopefully you'll all be willing to participate in please. :)

I wish I could give all of you a stamp but I've only got one and it goes to comment #67...

Posted by: Sandy | September 16, 2008 at 12:14 PM

Sandy please e-mail me ([email protected]) so I can get it off in the mail to you.

I'm bribing you...

 

So here's the extra little stamp I ordered to give away to someone and I have a huge favor to ask as you leave a comment for the random drawing. 

In my Gender and Technoculture class I have to do a semester long project and I have decided to focus on motherhood and the internet.  I'm still brainstorming exactly what I want to do, but it's something along the lines of the images we put out there and the perceptions that can occur...and also taking a look at the internet as a resource that has shaped modern motherhood...this will surely involve a more specific questionnaire at some point, but I would love to get some feedback early on if you don't mind.

So here's my question...

What has been the most meaningful aspect of your internet usage? 

I'll be back on Wednesday to send this stamp off to someone...thanks so much for humoring my initial "research". :)

Craziness...

It's been a strange day around here...Mac was on Valium this afternoon and Sean was in the linen cabinet...but I can explain... 

 

First the Valium,,,Mac needs two cavities filled and goes berserk over needles...I know every kid does to an extent but poor Mac just tortures himself and everyone around him so I spoke to the dentist about an attempt to be proactive in anticipation of the injections.  He discussed having a dental anesthesiologist come in and I swear I actually heard cash registers ringing in my head as I imagined how much it would cost. I asked about maybe trying a dose of anti-anxiety medication. He said that'd be fine but he wanted us to give Mac a dose as a trial before the appointments to make sure it works appropriately and doesn't just make him fall asleep.  So his pediatrician gave us three doses one for each cavity filling appointment and one to try...so we tried it today and it seemed to work as it should so hopefully we will have averted a needle crisis when he has his appointment next week.

Oh and Sean was in the linen cabinet because I was cleaning it out and he said we should leave that shelf empty because it'd be a great place to hide...I didn't believe he could actually get in there...but as you could see from the photo he can fit.

That's about as exciting as our weekend has been...I am ashamed to admit I have kept the Friday mentality going all weekend and have barely done any schoolwork but I guess that's what tomorrow is for.

Oh and speaking of tomorrow keep an eye out around here because I am anxiously waiting on some stuff to arrive in my mailbox and I ordered just a little tiny something to give away...

A total waste of a day...

and it has been wonderful...I did just about nothing today...just reveling in the oh-so-relaxed "it's Friday and I have a whole weekend ahead of me" mentality...did just a little bit of srapbooking though...

 

Have a great weekend! :)

The middle...

It's the middle of a busy week...just the usual school stuff (which means oh my goodness do I have a lot to read) plus trying to put together a presentation for a class tomorrow and writing a paper that's due.

I made a new blog banner this past weekend since I figured we're all back to school now it's time to move on...to Fall which of course I love but am trying to hold back on right now.  I have developed a crazy theory based on the fact that every year with the first taste of cool weather I'm totally excited to get out our fall decorations and then it ends up being 95 degrees the next day and in the weeks ahead.  So I'm impatiently waiting a little this year to see what happens...because surely the whims of Mother Nature depend on if there are fake pumpkins on my porch. :)

Sean will be home in a few minutes so we can head off to his post-op appointment and then I'm making dinner for my sister and my dad since he's in town staying with us for the rest of the week.

Oh and I made a layout...

that pretty much sums up all the excitement around here.

3 for 3...

So as of tomorrow we're all back at it...Mac starts fifth grade in the morning.  His lunch is all packed in his new technicolored Scooby Doo lunch box and I tucked this note inside...

I also took a little time today to craft up a little gift for each of his teachers...I took 4x6 lined post-it pads and made them into a covered magnetic notebook...

 

 

So it's officially a school night and I'd better get to bed early but before I go I have a favor to ask. 

Sean and I just signed up tonight to do a 5K walk next month to raise money for the Lupus Foundation of America.  Mac's aunt (Bryce's sister) has been severely ill a few times in the last several years so we are eager to join in with their family and try to help.  If for some reason you feel inclined to make a donation it would mean a lot to me to me...every dollar will help.

See you tomorrow with the official back to school photos...hopefully Mac will dazzle me and the camera with sincere smiles...keep your fingers crossed :)

Tried...

So I tried to be productive today...of course I barely touched schoolwork because why would I ever make an actual effort to get it done ahead of time?

Instead I wrote stuff in here because I officially decided last month that I need to have a calendar where I physically write in an attempt to combat forgetfulness...I am loving how compact it is and that there are the days on one side and a blank lined page on the other.

I also tried to be ahead of the game and sat down at the computer with Mac to earnestly analyze possibilities and finally decide he's going to be a doctor for Halloween...it's all ordered and on it's way to us. 

My scallop punch was in full-force this morning as I made very simple cards that I wanted to send out to various friends...

 

 

 

 

I also made plans to cook good stuff for Sean and I this weekend because I have made a concerted effort not to eat out at all...no restaurants or take-out for over two weeks now which is fairly momentous around here...now I want to see how long I can go without it.

And that's about it...making plans for the weekend...having friends over for dinner and card playing tomorrow night and super excited to be heading here with Sean tomorrow morning...as much as I complain about school I'm finding it does have some perks...like the brand-spanking new bazillion dollar recreation center which is basically a state-of-the-art gym I get to use for free and even Sean gets 21 free weeks since he paid into it as they were building it when he was there getting his credential and master's degree.

Okay I'm going to get some schoolwork done now...I promise...

Felt...

I was very fortunate to be asked to be the guest designer over at Scrapsupply this month and got to participate in their great newsletter working with felt...so of course I stamped it...and I actually broke out an old Sizzix die-cut frame for one layout...and I just stapled it on another.  I finished three layouts before we left on our trip, but made one more at the last minute on Sunday and it's my new favorite...it's messy and mixed-up and it's simply heartfelt...I just love being with the two of them...except when they're bickering...but I decided not to write that on the layout. :)

2 out of 3...

So Sean heads back to school tomorrow which just leaves lucky duck Mac who doesn't start back until next Monday.

We had a great last weekend of summer...we had Sean's birthday dinner and super messy chocolate with peanut butter frosting cake...can you tell I had no idea what I was doing with this thing?  Granted I always make the frosting around here, but Sean is the official froster...clearly I am lost without him...no matter how it looked though it was pretty tasty stuff...

 

Other aspects of our weekend were all of our neighbors getting together for a great impromptu barbecue last night, Mac and Sean playing a lot of Wii, and I procrastinated on school work and instead scrapped a little...

Don't worry though I've been making up for my misbehavior and working on school stuff all day today.

I'll have more layouts to share tomorrow since I was super lucky to be asked to guest design somewhere this month...in the meantime here's a peek of my new favorite layout...