Happy Mother's Day!

happy mother's day to all of you wonderful moms out there!


happy mother's day to my mom who...
... encourages my creative side
... teaches me by example, how to be strong in life's adversities
... makes every holiday a fun celebration with her thoughtful gifts
... is an awesome quilter
... was there for me every day when i got home from school.  it was always reassuring to hear "how was your day?" when i walked through the door.
... made the most awesome peanut butter and sugar on toast when i was a wee one
... makes the YUMMIEST spaghetti sauce!!!


this is my first mother's day away from my family and i'm pretty sad about it.  it's the first one i've missed in YEARS.


i was fortunate that my mom was able to stay at home.  i never had a babysitter.  i never had to go to daycare.  a lot of people say that i was sheltered, but i call myself blessed.


thank you mommy for being there for me, for all that you've taught me, and for being a friend.  i love you.

Easy Peasie Letter Writing

i stumbled across the coolest thing and had to share!


as you know, i'm all into paper crafts and a pretty card, but more than all that, i totally value a handwritten letter.  in an age when we are bombarded by text messages and emails, a handwritten letter is a wonderful surprise for the recipient... at least i know it is to me! :o)


so i'm totally loving this site Letterfu!  they make letter writing easy.  there's no need to go out and buy a card.  there's no need to come up with a creative card design.  just print, write, address, fold, stamp, and send!  it's as easy as that!

you gotta check them out!

Happy New Year!

wow!! we have flown through another year!  i loved 2010 and i'm looking forward to all the amazing things that are in store for 2011! :o)

i just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to you for stopping by my blog!  YOU are what makes it fun to write and post on here.  i really am grateful for YOU. *big hug*  :o)

ever since i woke up this morning i've been thinking about this new year... will i make any resolutions?  what changes am i going to be intentional about?

i have to be honest and say that i'm not one for making huge, regimented goals because that makes me feel stressed out.  i like to focus on little changes and work my way to big things. 

something i started this year that i'm going to carry into the new year is praying each day focusing on the fruits of the Spirit. 

Source

each day i have written in my outlook calendar one of the fruits of the Spirit and i ask God to help me embody that trait throughout the day.  i learned a lot and loved doing it in 2010 and look forward to what He'll teach me in 2011.  :o)

another thing that will carry over into 2011 is moving every day.  i like "moving" over "exercise" because i have the freedom to do whatever i want as long as i'm moving... it could be biking, walking, yoga, stretching, hiking... whatever.  i rediscovered this year that i get bored with doing the same thing every day and then i eventually poop out.

i have a bunch of other little goals, but those are my main ones.  :o)

i'm looking forward to doing my annual- watch the Sound of Music tonight as the new year rolls in!

i pray that you have a wonderful, safe, and most of all BLESSED 2011!

Parchment Paper- Multiple Uses

i must fess up and admit that i only recently started using parchment paper for baking.  maybe for the last year and half? and i L-O-V-E it.  i can't remember what my baking life was like pre-parchment paper.  i love how my cookies just pop off of the cookie sheets now.  no more wrestling with the spatula.  no more frustrating cookie pieces left on the cookie sheet.  and the clean up?? easy peesie! :o)


since i have this glorious stuff sitting around, i started using it for a couple other things...


wrapping...
i've stacked cookies, wrapped them up in parchment paper and then finished it off with a little bakers twine.


bread for giving away...
line a bread pan with parchment paper, fill with batter and bake.  when it has cooled, pull up on the paper to remove the whole loaf.  wrap with cello paper, finish off with a ribbon, and it's perfect to give away!  no need to purchase aluminum tins. 


muffin cups...

and here's an unexpected use... 
my new craft work surface!


whenever i bust out my hot glue gun, i always look around for a good surface to work on.  a surface that won't get ruined from or stuck to the hot glue.  i had my parchment paper out for my Christmas baking and i thought i would give it a try...


applying the hot glue...

pressing it down until it hardens...

pulling it up... it literally popped off.. it didn't stick to the parchment paper at all!

success!!!

 

and here's the finished project...

i love how easily it came off of the surface.  i literally pushed one of the glued snowflakes with my finger and it moved!!!  i'm totally loving parchment paper!  since i made these snowflakes, i've used other adhesives on the paper and any adhesive that gets on the surface just rubs right off.  i've also done some stamping on the surface and any ink that gets on the paper wipes off with a baby wipe. LOVE IT!!

smart and final sells a big box of parchment paper sheets that would be perfect for my craft work surface.  when it's folded in half it fits perfectly on a standard cookie sheet.  hmmm... i have to splurge... or perhaps a Christmas gift??? ;o)   ;o)

Christmas Decorations

finally! some Christmas decorations went up this week! :o)

i'm super simple when it comes to decorating for the season... 

most Christmases i just want a little Christmas color and smells in the house to get me in the mood for baking Christmas cookies and wrapping gifts.  since Christmas is coming soon, i stopped by one of the local Christmas tree lots this weekend on my way home.  they are usually wonderful about giving away scraps for free.

this is what i walked away with...

i cut up the branches and put little sprigs up throughout the house and now it smells like Christmas! :o)

i love the look of the red and white bakers twine with the silver ornaments... a perfect combination!

My Christmas Present

merry christmas to me... :o)


i treated myself to this very beautiful camera strap this year for christmas and i LOVE IT! :o)

i've been wanting to dress up my camera strap, but i never seem to get around to making things for myself... so i thought i'd splurge!  plus, i love supporting a fellow etsy shop!  good excuse right?  ;o)  it actually was a great price and i really wanted to buy one in every color, but i resisted.  


i love, love, love the little pocket for the lens cover... i'm always afraid that i'm going to lose it, so it's PERFECT for me.

this weekend is... Buble (sigh), Unique LA, Renegade, and i'm starting my cookie baking!  whew!  i'm a little overwhelmed looking at the list... but it's TOTALLY going to be worth the craziness.  :o)


ok, for cookie baking so far i'm thinking...
toffee squares
peppermint meringue cookies
and then should i do some old school oatmeal chocolate chip cookies?  i'm not sure. 
help!  do you have a favorite?  please... share... pretty please?  :o)

i hope you're all having a beautiful week!  

Babies... the movie

i just got finished watching Babies... omgoodness!! what a precious movie!

it was so fascinating and heartwarming to watch these babies in different corners of the world, grow and experience the world.  :o)

also, on a side note, i just signed up for the "watch instantly unlimited" plan on Netflix.  i'm liking it so far.  the just released movies are not available, but there are a lot of other semi-recently released movies to watch.  i'm thinking about getting an Apple TV so i could watch the movies on my tv and quitting my cable service altogether.  i would save a lot of money every month by doing that... does anyone have any experience with Netflix's watch instantly unlimited and/or the Apple TV?  would it be a smart move or not?

Problems with Blogger

i looked at my blog from another computer and noticed that it is acting all wonky. 

duplicate pictures and GINORMOUS pictures showing up on posts.  i'm so sorry!  

has anyone else had this problem?

i logged on and edited some posts on Safari and that seemed to fix the problem.  i normally work from Firefox and i couldn't see the problems... 

has anyone else had this problem?  i'm wondering if i need to work from Safari all the time? 

hmmmm...

Online Magazines

some of you may know that i don't like subscribing to a lot of magazines because i don't want the clutter in my home.  i've limited myself to 2: Real Simple (that my generous sis subscribes to me every year since forever ago) i love that it covers a whole spectrum of things inspirational articles, the non-obligatory book list, recipes, fashion, decorating and more.  my favorite part of the magazine is the new uses for old things section- in one particular magazine they shared 10 uses for a rubber band... it came in pretty handy!

the other magazine i receive is House Beautiful.  i subscribed to it last year when Amazon was running a special- 1 year for $10.  how could i turn that down?  if you're looking for a bargain, check in frequently with Amazon.com under their "magazines for $10 or less" section.  when you're there just beware of signing up for the auto-renewals.

to get my magazine fix i usually camp out at the library or the bookstore and browse through their selection.  if i find an image i like, i'll either snap a picture with my camera phone or if i'm at the library, i'll splurge the 10 cents and make a photocopy. 

another way i satisfy my magazine fix is looking at online magazines.  they are awesome, convenient, and i just love them. :o)

here are a few i have found:

Nonpareil Magazine

"Nonpareil Magazine is the result of a collaboration between Maddy Hague of the Inspired Bride and Kristen Magee of Paper Crave. Nonpareil is an online magazine that approaches weddings and other occasions with a focus on hip, stylish, do-it-yourself projects and inspiration, and our goal is to awaken your creative side and to help you plan a beautiful wedding in a more accessible way."

Nonpareil Magazine

Lonny Magazine

"Launched in October 2009, Lonny is a bimonthly online magazine that focuses on lifestyle and home decor. Founded by designer Michelle Adams and photographer Patrick Cline, Lonny highlights extraordinary interiors, innovative bloggers, and the latest market finds. Lonny has been featured in Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and blogs worldwide, and has highlighted design luminaries ranging from Cath Kidston to Kelly Wearstler.

At Lonny, we believe in making design choices that lead to personal happiness. We value individual style and independent thinking, and are convinced that inspired design can be achieved anywhere—from the smallest studio apartment to the grandest estate.

OUR MISSION is to open the doors to accessible design and connect our readers to their favorite products and resources at the click of a mouse. Our freedom from page limits means that we can share more content in each issue, delivering an intimate look into the way people really live."

Lonny Magazine

and a new one i was introduced to by a friend through Facebook...

Gifted Magazine

"Inside the magazine you will discover incredible projects and freebies dreamed up by an amazing team of contributors, interviews with some of my favorite online friends and of course heaps of gift giving ideas. As you browse through each virtual page my hope is that you will feel a sense of excitement for the Holidays come over you and that any stress over seasonal shopping/crafting will be whisked away."

Gifted Magazine

if you know of any more, PLEASE feel free to leave the links and information in comments.  :o)

HAPPY READING!!

Home Tours

on martha stewart's site this month you can go on a little home tour of her editors' homes. 

my favorite was the gray and white apartment. the gray and white together look so simple and calm.

i love the gray sofa in this picture!

Martha Stewart

gray, white, and silver... YUM!

Martha Stewart

the little pops of color really stand out in this color scheme.

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

if this gray/white look isn't your thing, there's lots of other looks featured on her editors' home tours... hop on over and check them out.  :o)

Saving Water

i let out a squeal when i saw this at costco this week... my dad happened to be with me because he was in town and he came over wondering what all the commotion was about...

i pointed at the box and told him "i've been wanting one of these FOR-EVER!!!'  

the dual flush gives you two options when flushing the toilet... a 1/2 flush for #1 and a full flush for #2.  LOL   i'm SOOO sorry that this isn't a creative post and that i'm talking about #1 and #2.  i hope i don't lose any readers because of it, but i'm just TOO excited about saving some water!

it says it's easy to install... the box says, "no special skills needed... if you can screw in a lightbulb, YOU CAN DO IT!"  ok... we'll see about that.  i'll let you know how it goes. ;o)

My Work Office

since i showed you all my little dresser that went into my office, i thought i'd show you the rest of the space.  this is my work office, not my home office.  since i'm in my work office just as much as i'm at home, i wanted to make it feel homey.  i also wanted everyone who meets with me to feel comfortable and at home.

this is what it looks walking into my office.

on my bookshelf i have a lot of things, but the things that are the most meaningful to me are:

-the vases on the middle shelf.  they belonged to the wife of the past president of APU.  she was an incredible woman, my mentor, and she passed away from breast cancer.

- i have an oil diffuser on the next shelf down.  i love an environment to be all encompassing.  i want people to be effected by what they see, smell, and touch.  next to that is my tea pot and a pretty mug.  i love starting the day with a nice cup of green tea... it helps calm me and it gets me in the right mindset for the day.

- on the next shelf down is a picture of my first kindergarten class.  they were a wonderful class.  they weren't the best behaved, but they taught me so much. because they were a rowdy bunch, they helped me to learn to be calm in the midst of chaos.  that's something that has remained with me and i think i'm a healthier person because of it.  next to the picture is a SMALL collection of my children's books and a small collection of my mom's vintage Dick and Jane books. many times parents bring their kiddos with them to our meetings.  i love having something there for the little ones to read (and sometimes you'll find me reading the books with them too!).

- on the bottom shelf are some of calligraphy books by timothy botts.  he's an A-MAZING Christian calligraphist.  seriously amazing. 

here's another view of my dresser.  i really love having it here.  it has enabled me to clear all the ugly binders off of the bookshelf and now they're tucked away.  :o) 

i have my university's mission statement sitting on my dresser. it says, "Azusa Pacific University is an evangelical Christian community of disciples and scholars who seek to advance the work of God in the world through academic excellence in liberal arts and professional programs of higher education that encourage students to develop a Christian perspective of truth and life."

i truly feel blessed to work where i am.  i love what and who we stand for, i love that we're always striving for excellence, and i love that we're always reaching out to others and our community.

this is my desk. i really love my little space.  it's calming and functional.  i keep the blinds open all day and when it gets dark, i turn on my desk lamp.  i always try and keep the florescent lights off because they make the space feel "officey" and they give me a headache.  i love the wreath on my garage sale find shutters.  the little shelves are garage sale finds. on them i have tea cups (you guessed it... thrift store finds) and sweet cards i have received from students. on the corner of my desk is my unique business card holder which is also a yard sale find. :o) 

this is where people sit when they come in to meet with me.  i love having the shutters there.  it brings more light into the room and i love being able to see what's going on outside.

this completes the tour of my work office. ;o)   thanks for coming and visiting!

Plans in the Making...

this came in the mail today and i'm so excited!!

stampin up's big shot lattice die cut.  i have some plans for it... i can't wait to show you.

A Cheap Thrill

i love going to my local farmers market every week.  i almost took my camera with me today, but decided against it because my arms are always full of all of the yummy organic fruits and veggies i pick up.  one of these days i'll tote it along with me.

if i had my camera, i would have taken a picture of Tom, my favorite flower vendor.  he always wears a flower tucked behind his ear and always greets everyone with a smile.  he has THE BEST flowers.  they are so beautiful and they always last me 2 weeks.  he sells every bundle for $5 and he'll even throw some filler in for you if you ask nicely. :o)

a side note... i've heard a lot of opinions about how to make your flowers last longer... i like using the bleach method.  i keep a tiny bottle of bleach by my sink and i add a couple of drops to the flower water each time i change it out (usually every other day). 

i should have taken a before picture of the bundle of flowers and filler... what a bad blogger nori!  sorry. :o(  but this is what i did with them. 

these are lisianthuses. i love how romantic and delicate they look.  Tom carries them in a variety of colors- pink, white, purple, and this pink/white color.

this is some of the extra filler he gave me. 

and here are all the flowers together... as you can tell, i'm not a pro flower arranger, but i give it a good try every week. :o)

i love that i was able to create 3 arrangements with my $5 bunch of flowers!  i love trying out different vases or containers to give the flowers a different look too. 

over the weekend i put them in different areas of the house i frequent the most.  then during the week, i usually take one of the arrangements into work with me so i can enjoy them day and night.  :o)

i'm a novice photographer too... although i'm reading up on it and trying to learn more about all the different settings of my canon rebel xt.  here, i was playing around with the Av setting using a 50mm 1.8 lens. 

focusing on the flowers:

now, focusing on the stems:

kinda fun!

and that... is my cheap $5 thrill that i enjoy every other week. :o) 

what's yours? 

Weekend with the Family

this past weekend i drove up to the bay area to visit my family.  i had a nice early birthday dinner with my parents, surprised my grandmother with her bachelor's degree, and went out to fenton's with my sis and her friend.

this is a video about fresno state's 2010 nisei project:

and a picture with my grammie:

if you are ever in the bay area, you have to stop by fentons.  now they have 3 places you can go to get their delicious cold creations... oakland, oakland airport, and at the nut tree.  we went to the newest location at the nut tree.

i love the old looking signs.

and here's me with my favorite... the junior size black and tan.  yummy almond ice cream with hot fudge and caramel!!!  

man... just seeing the sundae... i'm dying to drive up and have another. ;o)

Happy Father's Day

happy father's day to my wonderful pappy!

my dad has always been a hard worker. he taught me what it meant to have a strong work ethic and to never speak an ill word towards my competitors in business.  i can't tell you how much that has both saved and helped me over the years.

he started traveling for work when i was in high school, and although i missed him a lot then, it became a blessing when i moved away for college. whenever he was in town, he'd take me out for dinner and i got a chance to really get to know my dad as an adult. i loved our conversations over dinner and i still treasure those opportunities today. :o)

my dad has a huge heart, he's always young at heart, he's patient when i call him with my techie problems, he's a great golfer, and he loves my mom, my sis, and me. 

i love this picture of him because it totally shows his mischievous side.  isn't he adorable???

fast forward to his 60th birthday... he's still got that mischievous grin! :o)

happy father's day daddi... thank you for being a wonderful father and sacrificing so much for us.  i'm so grateful for you and i love you so much!

Produce for People- Community Gardens

i love where i live... i love the weather... i love the pace of life... i love the people... i love that people still stop and say hi at the grocery store... but most of all, i love the community.  when a problem arises, businesses, the chamber, schools, the city, and non-profit organizations put their heads together to come up with a solution.  

a problem plaguing our nation in this recession is the low inventory of food available at food banks, more specifically, the low inventory of fresh produce.  the city of murrieta, the chamber, several businesses, and non-profit organizations have been working together for over a year to put together Produce for People.  it is an organic community garden that is run by volunteers and all of the fresh produce grown there will be distributed to local food banks and senior centers.  isn't that AWESOME??? 

today was the "grand opening".  several people from the community woke up early to eagerly plant hundreds of seeds.

it was an amazing, heart warming sight to see people young and old getting together to start this garden. 

i'm going to be giddy with excitement to go back month after month and see our garden grow.

a funny side note... this is what happens when i wake up early and i'm excited to head out the door... i get ready in a jiffy and i mistake the eyeliner for my lip liner...  i busted up laughing when i saw the black line on my lip! a new look for me??? ;o)

Success!

oh. my. goodness.  after many hours of wrestling with photoshop, i finally completed my butterfly assignment.  granted, my final class was last night and my professor gave me credit for the assignment because i put in a lot of effort to unsuccessfully complete it.  i really appreciated that, but i couldn't go down defeated... i gave it another try today and.... SUCCESS!!!!  hallelujah!!!  here is my beautiful photoshopped butterfly:

so you can fully appreciate the after, i have to show you what i started with:

and this is an example of one of about 30+ failed attempts to complete this assignment:

seriously... i'm SO happy! now i can rest easy knowing that photoshop did not defeat me. :o)

i can't take all the credit though... my class used this AWESOME book: adobe photoshop cs4 one-on-one by deke mcclelland.  great book.  excellent tutorials. i highly recommend it.  we weren't able to go through every chapter, so i'm going to work my way through it again over the summer.  photoshop seriously blows my mind and i want to learn as much as i can.

all that being said... classes are over and summer is officially here!!! wooohooooo!!!!  i can't wait to jump into some refinishing/decorating projects!!!