Just Make Stuff

G3: February

This month...

• We really enjoyed two 3-day weekends.
• Mac and Sean went to see the Justin Bieber movie.
• Sean said Justin Bieber was really charasmatic and I've been laughing ever since.
• We bought and used up a can of paint. 
• Sean got better playing the guitar (he's practicing as I type this)
• Sean also ran 108 miles (you're going to get sick of me telling you about that, huh?)
• We ate a lot of cheese between a fondue party and a food truck.
• Mac started making plans for his 15th birthday (it's only five months away you know)
• I did a lot of Sociology and a little scrapbooking.
• We went to our nephew's construction themed 4th birthday party (and setup the tripod for a second before we went out the door)

Starred...

1. Love Note #3, 2. sarah richardson dresser, 3. Week 2-Get Your Paint On, 4. Untitled, 5. ATC trees and houses 1 : It is quiet at home, 6. Berlin Apartment, 7. Labels and Stamps, 8. snippets of color...

This week's favorites...

• More inspiring color combinations...here, here and here. 
• Two parties that I'm dying over...a picnic party and camping themed baby shower...and I don't even like camping.
• Loved this post on home tours.
• Two crafts I loved...pinwheels and garland. Oh and a cute scrapbook layout.
• This must be printed for St. Patrick's Day.
• And these pretzel bites sound ridiculously good.

{Starred is a post every Saturday that includes recent Flickr Favorites and the blog entries I've saved (with a star) in my Google Reader}

You should bake a cake...

I thought to myself this morning, "You should bake a cake." for the following reasons...

1. The chocolate chip cookies from last weekend were stale.
2. It helped me feel exceptionally June Cleaver-ish...like a cheerful master of domesticity.
3. Sean and Mac love dessert. 
4. I love dessert.
5. It was a good way to procrastinate on the readings for class tonight about how to conduct a survey.
6. It meant I could dig out the big dome cake plate from the back of the cabinet on top of the oven. (a wedding gift from eleven years ago)
7. I thought it might be nice to bring big slices to the group project meeting I had before class tonight...to make up for the skimming I did about how to conduct a survey.
8. It'd remind me to share another favorite recipe.
9. So I could plop that big cake plate right smack in the middle of the kitchen table to announce that I actually baked something. (since I usually don't)
10. And maybe, just maybe, I can have a slice for breakfast tomorrow.

Loving lately...

Just a few little things I've been happy about...

Groupon...

You have to sign up. Even though I have no interest in about 90% of the offers, that other 10% more than makes up for it.  For instance now there is English Cut Prime Rib in my future.

Fiskars Stamp Press...

My mom taught me to be dedicated to wood-mounted rubber stamps...none of this acrylic business. Occasionally I would buy an acrylic stamp when I just had to have a particular image and usually I'd end up disappointed with the way it stamped...until this. I read about it here forever ago and finally decided to give it a try a in the last couple of months....it's the best thing ever.  Mom, you need one.

A new Paper Source color...

I really would really like to purchase some new Clover cardstock and send St. Patrick's Day cards to everyone I've ever met.

Would really love to hear what some of your favorite finds have been lately...

Well Wishes...

Ten on Tuesday...

1. This past weekend was a really, really good one...relaxing, productive, and fun.

2. Of course this particular definition of "productive" includes watching many of the recorded televisions shows that have been waiting for us on the DVR.

3. The TV watching confirmed that Parenthood is my very favorite show.

4. The weekend also included a lot of twine (thank you so much for all the orders).

5. I used the last day of our three-day weekend to do the best thing ever...clean out my closet.

6. I was fairly ruthless which resulted in this happy rainbow and a few even happier inches of space on both sides...

7. I'm pretty sure that cleaning something out is one of my top five favorite things to do.  Granted the process isn't always a good time, but you can't beat the feeling when it's all done.

8. Things I've Googled today include...how to say "we miss you" in Spanish, orange construction cones clip-art, and italian wedding soup recipes.

9. I compulsively save jars now because of this and this. Earlier tonight I just had to make sure an empty spaghetti sauce jar made it into the sink to be washed and ready for the day I actually make that stuff.

10. I learned last week that my city requires a packet of paperwork including a "Barking Dog Log" to report incessant barking. Because you know what's better than hearing yippy yappy dogs in the middle of the night? Having to make careful notations about the time and duration of the barking.

I'm halfway there...

I set two goals for 2011...to run a 5K and to chase down the Grilled Cheese Truck. I am halfway there.

I'm just starting week eight of Couch to 5K and am closing in on being able to run two miles (ran 1.8 this weekend).

But more importantly the Grilled Cheese Truck was in Orange County for the very first time on Saturday so we caught up with it. Sean and I waited in line for just over an hour...out in the rain at times...and ordered an obscene amount of food so we could try it all...Cheesy Mac and Rib, Brie Melt, Mom's Apple Pie Melt and an order of tater tots with roasted garlic aioli and bacon aioli...oh and a "shot" of tomato soup. It was definitely worth the wait.

However, after this weekend's smorgasbord the treadmill is definitely calling...

Starred...

1. COLORS, 2. tiny book tutorial, 3. Green wall, 4. blossom tag, 5. Summer Of Love - Art Journal, 6. Untitled, 7. bluebird papers label, 8.

I just went scrolling through what I've saved this week and it turns out it's all just color combinations and food...

• Really ready for spring colors...how fun is this combo...and this one...and this one. 
• This quesadilla has to go on the menu one night when we don't have Mac since I've yet to convince how good mushrooms are (even though I only came to that conclusion about a year ago).
• But Mac would totally go for these brownies. 

I need to keep an eye out for more good stuff next week.

{Starred is a post every Saturday that includes recent Flickr Favorites and the blog entries I've saved (with a star) in my Google Reader}

More about twine...

The twine goes to comment # 73

Kelli said...I saw a card with this twine on it the other day and comment about how much it appealed to me. The local store just started carrying Washi tape and I have do to buy 4 or 5 rolls. That stuff is so neat!My friend makes cottage cheese with green onions and salt and pepper, I love it. When I make it, it's not the same. February 18, 2011 at 07:43 AM

Kelli please e-mail me your address.

So glad to hear that many people love twine as much as I do.  I was asked a few times where I've purchased it...it's all from either Divine Twine or The Twinery...keep an eye out since both sites will occasionally have good sales. Or ask Sean to fill your Christmas stocking with it like I did. :)

And since I was cutting twine anyway I added some sets of it all to my Etsy Shop... 

Twine and cheese...

Just a few thoroughly random bits of information on a late Thursday afternoon...

Growing up my mom taught me to eat Knudsens lowfat cottage cheese with a tiny sprinkle of Lawry's season salt. These past couple of days I've had it for lunch and have been reminded of how strangely delicious it is.

We're having a fondue and appetizers potluck with friends this weekend.  It means I need to make sure to get another fondue pot reflection photo.

A little re-organization a couple of weeks ago revealed that I have amassed an obscene amount of twine over the last couple of years. 

So I think it's fair to say we can add this to my list of crafty addictions...stamps, patterned paper, washi tape and twine. This list really needs to stop growing.

I would love to share some though, so if you'd like a yard of each please leave a "Pick Me" and I'll do a random drawing tomorrow evening...

Well Wishes...

Wonders never cease...

It's like magic...start a semester full of schoolwork and all of a sudden I really want to scrapbook.

I made all of these last week and over the weekend which is how I ended up having to spend today reading hundreds of pages for class tomorrow night.

It wasn't my best choice, but it sure was fun.

I think I've learned my lesson...read first...scrapbook later. 

Or maybe just read a little...scrap a little...read some more...

Ten on Tuesday...

1. My right eyebrown has this tiny tuft of hair that will not lay flat no matter what I do and I have not been able to figure out why. Finally it occurred to me last week that this injury, and the hidden scar that resulted, might have something to do with it.

2. I have pushed the possibilities of procrastination to their limit and need to read a 400+ page book and write something on it by Wednesday...I'm on page 56. All speed reading tips are more than welcome.

3. If you have a Trader Joes anywhere near you, please get yourself into the freezer aisle and buy a box of their chocolate croissants. We've had them on numerous occasions, yet I must have said at least five times this morning that they are the most magical item on earth.

4. My repeated proclamations of croissant wonderment during breakfast kind of annoyed my Valentine...but I think I won him back over with the gift I gave him after all the flaky, buttery goodness had been devoured... 

5. I love the idea of a manifesto. I made a scrapbooking one years ago and thought it would be fun to make one for our relationship...just some of the things we do or the little details that are important to us. 

6. Clearly I'm nowhere near being a graphic designer, but I tried my best to blend all the words and fonts. No matter the imperfections it's already found a home on a shelf in our bedroom...

7. Last year I contemplated going into a graphic design program during the weeks where it seemed that I wouldn't get to attend grad school. As much as I'd love to learn more about design at some point, I'm still very grateful for Sociology. Please remind me of this while I'm reading for the next fifteen hours straight.

8. I was super fortunate to get a couple of great Valentine gifts too...Sean wrote me a letter where he planned half a dozen different little outtings we could go on together in the next few months. And Mac gave me my favorite candy bar and the best card ever...

9. I'm not quite sure what a "caramel and chocolate mom" is, but I am so very happy to be considered one.

10. And speaking of kind and thoughtful sentiments...this overwhelmed me.  That evening was an amazing gift, as are the images Erin captured of my little family. 

Oh and if you want you can get a good look at my weirdo eyebrow. :)

Shhhh don't tell them...

Mac gets his first bottle of cologne tomorrow.

Sean gets a homemade gift because our tradition is to always make something for each other.

And we get to have chocolate croissants for breakfast.

I love Valentine's Day already.

Starred...

1. Untitled, 2. V♥Day, 3. Untitled, 4. Tags, Envelopes, Paper, 5. 39 | 365, 6. , 7. tiny book swap envelopes, 8. Sister Birds Wreath, Detail

This week's favorites...

• With Valentine's fast approaching these hearts are just too cute...this is an amazing breakfast...these are perfect little cupcake toppers...and these hearts made me gasp.
• Loved this card...this color combination...and this craft.
• This is the cutest thing I've seen in awhile.
• These cupcakes will made at somepoint, but these bars are being made this weekend.

{Starred is a post every Saturday that includes recent Flickr Favorites and the blog entries I've saved (with a star) in my Google Reader}

This plus this...

This idea and this digital kit came together for Mac's valentines. What would we ever do without the internet?

I heart our mantle...

I keep a corner of our guest room closet filled with decorating details I like to switch out so I went digging and put together red stuff like an old window and vintage "G" (on top of a few of the antique textbooks Sean collects). Then I got together a branch in a bucket to hang the polka dot hearts that were sewn last year. Last thing was filling a frame with dictionary paper and handcut hearts to complete a little fireplace mantle love for Valentine's Day.

Well Wishes...

Ten on Tuesday...

1. I ended up with photos of Mac on Sunday because he has requested more "photo shoots" after having dinner with his new favorite photographer on Saturday night.

2. I think this was my favorite photo...love that he will wear a tie with almost anything...

3. Speaking of Mac, I sent him an e-mail today with a link to a website I thought he might like. I signed it, "Love... Mom" and it made me realize that I should write him more notes and stuff. I don't sign, "Love... Mom" nearly as much as I should. 

4. I have a new stamp I would really like to use.

5. I bought this stamp last week as a consolation prize for having to go to the Apple store to have them fix the sudden, unexplained death of my iPhone.

6. Thankfully my phone miraculously resurrected itself in the store, but it was just the beginning of six hours on the phone over two days to fix unexplained "glitches" between my phone and computer.

7. Six hours on the phone with technical support needs a lot more than one consolation prize rubber stamp.

8. I have a basket of Fun Dips sitting here with me in the craft room waiting to be made into Valentine's for Mac's classmates. Mac and I love them. Sean's totally grossed out by them. 

9. My "master syllabus" for the semester is all set. I combine the readings and assignments for each class so I can always have an idea of the total workload for each week. It's not pretty.

10. Good thing I can balance all that intellectual stuff by totally being sucked into this season of The Bachelor. 

Why I loved Superbowl Sunday...

Because it was a legitimate reason to sit around eating chips and dip...and because this guy was very entertaining while he picked out his Superbowl outfit.

Starred...

1. Trader Joe's Bags Continued, 2. White Kitchen, 3. january mini book, 4. mason jar pincushions-2, 5. Ollalieberry Ice Cream Quilt, 6. monet, 7. IMG_6984, 8. Untitled

Here's what I loved this week...

• My dream kitchen and the color orange.
• This idea for making something everyday.
• This quilt...I have to make something like it...just have to.
• The cutest roof ever...cupcake toppers...visiting art musuems.
• This color combo...and this one too.
• A great stack of cookbooks...and spinach dip in a muffin? Yes, please.

The stamp goes to...

Comment #12

AmySorensen said...  Ok, if I DON'T win that stamp I am totally buying it. Funny and a little snarky and SOOOOO me! I've loved your blog since I-don't-know-when and will continue loving it even with the name change!!!  February 03, 2011 at 07:34 AM

Amy please e-mail me your address.

Worked on a little Valentine's decorating for our mantle...I'll share more next week... 

G3: January

Not to be confused...this is not "Like a G6"...a song that I still don't entirely understand which is probably not a good thing when you're parenting a teenager.

Okay moving on. I love this project and this project. So I would very much like my own monthly recap for our family in 2011...

This month...

• We all went back to school. Sean was the only person truly happy about that.
• Mac played three parts in "The Wiz".
• I did not get caught up on scrapbooking.
• Sean coached 8th grade boy's basketball.
• Mac's room was rearranged.
• I brainstormed new blog names with my sister.
• Mac and I had too much fun exchanging Christmas gifts at American Apparel...and thanks to a Groupon I got a cardigan that matches one of his.
• Sean went to class to learn how to properly prune roses.
• Mac was going to get braces, but then he didn't. (the orthodontist wants to wait a little longer)
• Mac was not happy about having to wait.
• I started "running" with Couch to 5K.
• Sean ran 103 miles. (I just sent him a text to ask and of course he knew the exact amount)
• Mac stretched a lot since his Physical Therapy check-up revealed his muscles are tightening up more than they should be.
• And I remembered on the very last day of the month that I wanted to do this "G3" thing...therefore a quick timer photo right before eating dinner was all we got.

Just Make Stuff...

This whole blog situation has been on my mind for awhile.

I sat down and started it six years ago this month and at the time, had no idea what the heck to call this new blog thing...no clue...okay let's just use my initials (a blatant AE copy) and call it a day. Time flew by and the initials stayed... 

Those initials have served me well over the years, but I have finally figured out the change.

It came from here and a little from here.

I'm not some astounding producer of crafty innovations...I'm not an artist...I just like to make stuff.  

So my blog is officially www.justmakestuff.com

I'll be working to change everything over to the new URL...including my Etsy shop. If you wouldn't mind changing any links or feeds you might have I would really appreciate it. Both addresses will work for now, but in the next couple of weeks I will disable the old URL.  I'll put a post at the top of my blog as a reminder.

So we have to celebrate a little, right? I have one of those "I just like to make stuff" stamps to giveaway...I'll draw a random name on Friday evening.

I guess with this new name I better start making some stuff. :)

Well Wishes...

Ten on Tuesday...

1. I have had way too many typos on here lately...sorry if you're reading my blog on a feed since I can't fix a post after it gets sent out.

2. Maybe it's because I'm rusty in the writing department after six weeks off of school...now that I'm back I have no excuse.

3. My first paper is due tomorrow and I've only written the first line.

4. I'm fairly certain there are no typos in it though.

5. We almost had a grad school note-taking disaster...I couldn't find the brand of narrow ruled, 20 lb paper pads I love for school...and I'm down to my last one. Thankfully, I just found an equivalent. Crisis averted.

6. My sister has finally sucked me into her Bacon Bacon, Onion Onion, and Garlic Garlic loving ways. I have an order being dropped off at my house tomorrow.

7. Our super bowl party for two (since Mac's at his dad's this weekend) will probably have some Bacon Bacon dip and these sandwiches.

8. Last night I purchased a domain name for the very first time.

9. I'll share what it's for sometime soon.

10. But for now I have to go write that first paper.