Just Make Stuff

Sucked in...

It took me a while to come around, but in the last several weeks I have decided that Instagram is my favorite. I am checking it out often and sharing little details.  

This whole social media phenomenon facinates me. I have always liked Twitter well enough, but remain skeptical of Facebook. For some reason I struggle with the fact that I can know random things like what someone, whom I haven't seen since third grade, decided to have for breakfast. 

Ultimately I always get sucked in by images, so I like that Instagram gets right to the point. And today I liked it even more since it gave me a peek into what a good time Mac is having at cheer camp through the photos he shared. 

So what about you...what's your favorite? Is there anyone you following on Instagram that you absolutely love?

Best party ever...

Considering we have practically hosted a three ring circus for almost all of Mac's birthdays, a simple dinner at home with family and friends seemed a little strange. But that's what you get when you are supposed to leave for cheer camp at 6:45am the next day and will be on a plane to New York next weekend to continue celebrating your sweet sixteen.

Tonight's dinner celebration had hamburgers and french fries, a little attempt at chalkboard art, a balloon idea found on Pinterest, little s'more pudding cups, and a banner (thanks to finding it in the party supply aisle at Target) that ironically proved that this was the best party ever...

Sweet 16...

Every single year with you has been amazing, but I'm guessing that sixteen will be the best yet. We love you so much Mac...happy birthday!

Starred...

1. , 2. INSTANT PACKAGING, 3. project life| week 15 details, 4. Vintage Gift Wrapping 3/3, 5. vintage buttons, 6. Around the house.., 7. all wrapped up, 8. Molly's Sketchbook: Picnic Roll

A few good things from the last couple of weeks...

• A book of totally amazing and completely inspiring collages.
• Dreaming of being able to build a coffee table that's as cool as this one.
• Love these packages so very much.
• Every square inch of this house is awesome.
• Mint Chocolate Cheesecake...and that's all I have to say.

{Starred posts include recent Flickr Favorites and the blog entries I've found & saved (with a star) in my Google Reader}

Grateful...

Mac decided to start complaining about everything on earth this morning so I challenged him to write a list of a hundred things he was grateful for.

And by "challenge" I mean I hung on to his cell phone for him until he finished his list. That didn't go over too well, but within 30 minutes he was announcing that he would read it to me.

Highlights included...

#1 His Room
#3 Cheerleading
#23 Blankets
#37 Hair Stuff
#53 Pinatas
#57 Grandma's Cooking
#74 Scotch Tape
#95 Garlic Burgers

Oh and coming in at #100...Mom

I decided to write my own list too...my #1 was McIntosh.

And, yes, that is a plastic flower lei wrapped around his head...that's what you wear around the house too, right?

From the Archives...

It occured to me last week that since I have kept this blog for the last seven and a half years there is a heck of a lot details stored around here. So I thought it would be fun to peek into the past at this week from the last seven years. Here is a look at either exactly July 25th or a day right around it...

July 25, 2011 I was starting to document a week in our life.

July 25, 2010 We finished up a great weekend that included some Woodchuck Hard Apple Cider.

On July 26, 2009 I shared Mac's thirteenth birthday party we hosted the day before.

On July 22, 2008 I shared our new "Guest Wrap Gym".

On July 25, 2007 I multi-tasked getting my nose re-pierced right after getting a new fake tooth. How's that for a weird day?

Only to be outdone in the pecularity...a year before on July 23, 2006 I took a photo of sperm.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea to go back into the archives. 

And on July 23, 2005, when this blog was just five months old, I discussed school supplies that I could not resist. At least some things never change.

Do you make yours?

Thank you so much for your encouragement and support with yesterday's admissions about trying to refocus and find my way. With that in mind I have one other item to share that I made in an attempt to improve my outlook.

I made my bed.

As I'm sure you might have suspected from the joy that organizational projects bring me, I am pretty compulsive about keeping our house uncluttered. My deep, dark dirty secret in this whole "nice and neat" persona is that I rarely make our bed. Our comforter was way too heavy so we didn't sleep with it most of the time and it never fit well, I am an atrocious morning person so getting out of bed is hard enough sometimes, and it's been easier to leave it a mess if I ever need to crawl back into it with a migraine. 

Last week I discovered this information about making your bed and what a difference it can make in your whole day. Studies have shown it can help you be happier over all. People also have repeatedly sited making their bed everyday as a catalyst for other accomplishments in their life.

I need those small motivators right now, so I turned a couple graduation gift cards into a lightweight quilt that fit the bed easily, I cleaned out the storage box at the foot of the bed and dug out some shams I found months ago. 

It already feels so much better. I love that something so simple can help improve your outlook every day. 

Okay, now that I admitted that I've been remiss in my bed making over the years it's time to fess up with me...do you make your bed everyday?

Not tomorrow...

To tell you the truth I am struggling. I was well aware that it would be hard to find an opportunity to work as a community college instructor with my shiny new master's degree, but I was naive about how hard it would be on me. Altogether it took me eighteen years to earn these degrees and I desperately want to use them. I dread that the fall will come all too quickly and I will not be successful in my pursuit to lead a classroom. 

I wish I could say that I'm able to stay positive, but I have to admit that this fear is wreaking a little havoc in my life. I am so focused on what might happen in the immediate future that I am not really appreciating each day for what it is. I am not accomplishing anywhere near what I should be. I am feeling a little lost. 

On Sunday afternoon I decided to craft up a little reminder to myself that life is not all about tomorrow and that I need to stay focused on each day...

I dragged a paint brush across some watercolor paper in a dozen different shades and when it was dry I flipped it over to draw the messiest attempt at letters. I have spared you a shot of the million wonky pencils lines I attempted...let's just say I showered the carpet with eraser bits. Somehow those lines and some sharp little scissors made these skinny letters I was actually pretty happy with...

I mounted the letters on an 8"x10" canvas with some foam tape and it was done. Love that this whole little idea came together in less than an hour.

It's sitting on one of the little shelves above my computer monitors and will hopefully be a good reminder to stay positive as I keep working towards accomplishing my goals.

Off to the post office...

I couldn't resist picking out a couple super cute boxes of crayons to send to my niece in Iowa... 

And since I'll be mailing these off, I also got together the little garage sale giveaway I asked about last Thursday.

You can check everything out here.

Three dollars and a typewriter...

Just a peek a little organizational happiness from today...

I spent three superfluous dollars at Target tonight. One on a mini rainbow weekly schedule whiteboard I could not resist and two dollars on little divided boxes. A shelf in our linen cabinet holds various empty containers ready for when we need to organize something and these boxes looked like they'd come in super handy at some point.

When I was putting them away it occurred to me that either one would be totally perfect for a teacher gift like I gave Mac's teacher's a couple years ago on the first day of school.

And earlier today I put my typewriter to work making tiny tags with a scrap of graph patterned card stock. I just used scrapbook adhesive to stick them to the tabbed dividers I've had for a few years. Just like when I covered post-it tabs with patterned paper, it was a total, "Why didn't I think of this sooner" moment. 

And speaking of organizing, I have a bunch of party supplies from earlier in the year...especially fabric banners. I would love to to give them all away, but shipping would add up quickly. So I was thinking of another little blog garage sale, but this time just pay shipping. The items would all be free. What do you think?

It's not summer until...

Tonight we went to our first concert in the park of the season with my mom and brother. Sitting outside with music and food is one of my very favorite parts of the summer. I concocted a chopped cobb salad sandwich for dinner and was super happy when it received votes of approval. For dessert, Sean baked the cookies we tried for the first time last summer. I am pretty sure he has cranked out the recipe 27 times in the past year. What's frightening is I don't think that's actually too much of an exaggeration. 

I gasped...

If you are as enamored by patterns as much as I am, you might be able to relate to when I saw this floral fabric. There it was looking almost like vintage bed sheets tucked in the shelves at the local craft store. I literally gasped it was so cute...and had to get half a yard just because.

Within days I was using some of it to wrap a little gift for my mom's best friend. Then I attempted a matchy-matchy birthday card too. 

Sucker...

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I am a total sucker when it comes to trends. Since I am still a little bit obsessed with neon I had to put my new ink pad to use this afternoon...

 And I included a feather design so I could knock out two trends with one craft.

Weekending...

Some rainbow order reorganizing as I waited to go to an appointment that had me very nervous.

Stuffed Mushrooms

A house in our neighborhood sells huge bags of amazing oranges fresh picked from their orchard.

A little surprise to leave on my mom's doorstep.

The start of a summery mantle.

A Chipotle coupon and messy kitchen table turned into a picnic in the front yard.

Starred...

1. Pretty Inspiration, 2. The balcony season is open now, 3. Do small things with great love embroidery, 4. Diamond Jubilee cupcakes, 5. Ranunculus and peonies, 6. Untitled, 7. Fruit salad for lunch, 8. art journal prep pages

Inspiring stuff from the last couple of weeks...

• This makes me want to go on a picnic.
• Such a cool card.
• Love the idea of giving a handmade recipe box as a gift.
• One of my favorite movie sets of all-time...I have had this apartment memorized for years.
• Love these scrapbook layouts...one, two, three, four (can you tell I found a new favorite blog?)
• Baked potatoes with brocoli cheese sauce sound really good.
• I am dying to make this bacon jam and eat it exactly how it is photographed on toast with an egg. 
• This is an amazing dreamy vacation.
• We need to make these popsicles.

{Starred posts include recent Flickr Favorites and the blog entries I've found & saved (with a star) in my Google Reader}

12 on the 12th...

Here are twelve little details from the twelfth of July...

1. Rarely write a check 2. Couldn't resist 3. Navigating a new campus to drop off an application packet 4. Flowers on the dining room table 5. I'm eating a tomato everyday 6. The crayons from the graduation party ended up in a jar in our family room 7. Making cheddar ale dip for a party tomorrow 8. These mantle decorations will come down this weekend 9. A very rare rainy summer day...so humid 10. I was part of a research panel on religion...completely fascinating 11. Sean ran to Costco 12. Tuxedo brownie cups made late at night for tomorrow's party

{I'm keeping track of the 12th of each month in 2012...you can see all of them here}

For at least the next few minutes...

I have updated photos of my little craft room that I included in the new blog organization last week, so I thought I'd share them here before I inevitably rearrange again.

If you have been sticking around here for awhile, you are probably well-versed in my endless desire to move stuff around. It is a charming trait I seemed to have acquired in childhood...along with other random characteristics like a insatiable desire to consume a box of Cheez-It's in a hideously short period of time.

It is just that I love how a room can feel new and fresh after finding a different home for a few things. I don't think I will ever be able to resist getting out a measuring tape* several times a year around here. And it is guaranteed I'll occasionally succumb to the Cheeze-It cravings too.

So the space has already been changed twice in 2012, but here is what it is looking like recently...

Here is more about my dual computer screens.

My sister scoured Craigslist last year to find a tanker desk my brother-in-law wanted for their company office. They ended up finding someone trying to quickly sell eight or nine of them from an office. I am so super-duper lucky that they gave me one. You can see here how it hold a tons of stuff, but I've also found the drawers can be dangerous.

I have had the "beast" card catalog for years now...it's the best organizational tool imaginable as you can see here.

The metal shelves were the wonderful cause of the last room rearrange.

Thanks for looking around my little crafty space in it's current condition...we'll see how long it stays this way.

*Sean and I have a long standing debate whether the proper terminology is "measuring tape" as I call it or as he says, "tape measurer". Care to help us settle the argument? 

Is your heart beating faster too?

Basic Grey//Studio Calico//Pebbles Inc.//Glitz//Amy Tangerine//Crate Paper

I have to admit I really love the couple of times a year that lots of new crafty supplies start popping up...so many fun items and colorful patterns to look forward to. Are there any new supplies you're super excited about too? 

Project Thirty Six: 02

Here are the next couple of pages I worked on over the weekend...

{Project 36 is my small little take on Project Life. I am keeping track of a few details each week of my 36th year.}

Randomness...

Just a couple of things tonight...

1. Late last week I finished getting this blog reorganized and decided to go with two columns to include links to past projects...

I am excited to gather together my fall and holiday projects and add them as they get closer.

2. In my continued pursuit of new found tomato loving I made my very first BLT over the weekend...

I am officially obsessed with them. So now that I've tackled caprese Salad and BLT's what tomato recipe do I need to try next?

Weekending...

Every weekend goal that I mentioned on Friday afternoon was accomplished, except having to turn on the air conditioner, which means this weekend was complete and total perfection.

This weekend...

It's late Friday afternoon, Mac has gone off to his dad's house and we are about to start the first quiet weekend we have had in awhile. Here are the plans...

Make this salad dressing.
Gather the couple things Mac needs for cheer practice starting on Monday.
Challenge Sean to a game of corn hole.
Sadly start using the air conditioner again as the heat comes back.
Finally work on Project 36.
Continue re-watching Friday Night Lights and get excited for all the high school football games in our future.
Keep working on crocheting this blanket.
Sit and read on the beach for a couple of hours.

Hope your weekend plans are fun too!

This is not art...

For my graduation party thank you notes I broke out the water colors and tried a little "painting"...otherwise known as swiping a q-tip across paper. A quick thank you stamp and they were ready to write...

Stars and Stripes...

Just a little something I made at the last minute to decorate our mantle for tomorrow's festivities.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful celebration...Happy 4th of July!

3rd of July...

Mac's cheer leading squad is hosting a fundraiser at a local fireworks show tomorrow evening and they asked for baked goods to sell...minus chocolate so it doesn't melt in the late afternoon sun.

We're sending many, many bags of cake batter rice crispy treats and frito snack mix...

Now we start cooking for our own celebration including my mom's potato salad recipe. We're also trying a few new recipes...Apple Bacon Salad, Rolo Cake Bars, little salami mozzarella sticks, a berry bruschetta on pound cake, and a little Sangria.

Production...

 

The tomato plants are starting to pick up in production. I have been diligent in my attempts to be an adult and try the tomatoes even though I have always insisted that I don't like them. Yesterday I started catching on to this whole caprese salad concept...fresh mozzarella and tomatoes do seem like a good match. Except I haven't had basil...I don't like it. 

So along with the increase in tomato production around here in July, I need to make a much higher level of productivity happen. Summer is my chance to crank out the crafting and it's wasting away. I also should be reading heaps of articles on pedagogical techniques. And, most importantly, I need to get to a bunch of Sociology departments and try to sell my wares. I am realizing a job search is a little extra tough for someone who really struggles with rejection. 

July can go one of two ways. It can be whittled away in a haze of assuming these days will last forever. It could also could be focused with a crystal clear plan of attack. I know which one I need to make happen.

I also know I should probably try basil. 

G3: June

This month...

• It was Mac's turn to graduate and give an amazing speech about creativity.
• I finished student teaching with one last lecture on education.
• Sean competed in his favorite Mud Run.
• Thanks to his grandma, Mac has a new iPhone to stare at eight hours a day.
• We hosted our long awaited graduation party.
• We got to spend time with my sister for the first time since she was three years old.
• Mac said goodbye to karate classes and finished his last musical.
• I had my first cheer leading board meeting...it was over four hours long.
• And somehow in between the end of school and building various party games Sean ran 111.24 miles.

{G3 is a end of the month wrap-up for our little family}