little gi:

August 27, 2008

choose love....

as i was thinking of what i wanted to create i kept coming back to the words "choose love" & how there are so many ways each & every day that i am faced with that choice...there are tiny itty bitty ways (like smiling & giving a hug to my kids as i lug them into their car seats rather than just buckling & thinking of my grocery list) & their are big ways (like all the incredible sacrifices mike makes for us all each day & he does it w/o complaint)...

& then yesterday as i was sitting at the light coming out of a parking lot a car pulled up next to me w/ a woman in the front seat & a man in the back seat w/ a baby carrier...& she was totally screaming her head off at him (dude...SCREAMING at him...window wide open, cursing her head off at him screaming)...& yes, i have no idea what the heck was the deal...maybe he was a creep & deserved screaming, i don't know...but my heart sank...it was just so sad....& that whole idea of "CHOOSE LOVE" just came back at me full force...how it is a struggle sometimes to actually choose to act with love at times....

& i don't mean that stuff that is inexcusable gets excused or that you are lovey dovey all the time walking around throwing flowers...but i think if i conduct my self & my actions from a point of love...true blue love...the kind of love that has at its core a basic respect for others & recognition that my actions affect others...i think that this may just be the way to go

& then i came home & i had these beautiful wedding photos of our dear friends, alex & jenny...jenny had given me a bunch to scrap if i wanted to....& i couldn't think of a bigger wish for them & their future...that they can always choose love as they begin their life together as man & wife...that, each & every day, they make a conscious choice to love each other in their actions & words...what a wonderful foundation for their marriage that would be :)

so there a ya go...a little mushy, weirdo philosophy for your wednesday...lol
(told ya my mind was mush! lol!!)

have a happy wednesday!
xoxoxo

Aug 27, 2008 10:59:11 AM | one little word

August 26, 2008

in a blur...

my mind is mush...this past week has been a whirlwind & school starts next week & i'm no where near being prepared at all...seriously...who gave me my mommy license anyway? so, yes, this post is going to be scatterbrained :)

* the photo above was taken last week when my parents & my nephew visited & we had another birthday for kate since they weren't able to be here back in july...kate, of course, did not object :)
* once i get off the computer i've got to do my onelittleword layout for tomorrow...great word up on tap
* the fantastic holly hanks was super sweet to give me a blog award the other day...hopefully the scatterbrain thing will go away soon so i can pass it along this week
* i'm trying to clean up the thousands of photos on my computer...loaded them from iphoto onto dvds...thought i could then take that dvd to target to print photos...not happenin'...another appropriate question may be who in their right mind has allowed me to work w/ a computer? i, admittedly & obviously, have no idea what i'm doing...help!!!
* the above statement is frustrating the heck outta me b/c i totally want to do some digi/hybrid stuff like some of ker's kenner road digi kits & the tarisota monthly digi stuff which are both gorgeous...oooh i hope stuff settles down in september so i can figure it all out & i do have jayne to help me, so don't feel too bad for me...lol
* i'm suffering from olympics withdrawal...good thing football season starts soon...my fantasy football draft is tomorrow night...fingers crossed for a good pick placement :)
* the other day while i was reading the jcrew catalog i noticed that they use genuine python skins for some of their handbags & crocodile skins for shoes...as a real animal lover (hello! did you see little rocky in my last post??) & conservationalist, that is totally not cool with me...just trying to sift through the whole issue & figure out what i think @ it...not sure yet...
* super psyched for my wonderful friend ronda who is a MMM!!!!! & amy!!!!!!!! & gretchen!!!! & vee!!!!
* here some more of my august tari stuff :)

those were those cute little 7gysies matchbooks...i tucked a lttle note & photos for kelly & ryan inside & they will go in their backpacks w/ a little surprise for their first day of school...so i guess i've got 1 thing done...lol

ok....peace out :)

happy tuesday!!

xoxo

Aug 26, 2008 3:04:43 PM | family, scraps

August 21, 2008

sum up summer weeks 7 (a little late)

* we went for a family picnic at the park on wednesday night...kelly climbed to the top of the spiderweb!
* kelly & ryan learned to fingerknit...made super cute bookmarks for grandmom & grandad
* chilly mornings have started already...which translates to a freezing cold pool...lol
* we made homemade pizza dough together...absolutely delicious...kelly made procuitto "hair" & a mozzarella cheese nose & mouth on mike's
* michael phelps totally inspired the nation with his 8 gold medals...especially that nudge at the wall to win the 100m butterfly...it was awesome to see the kids cheering "GO MICHAEL PHELPS!" at the TV...now both ryan & kelly swim freestyle so they can be just like him
* ryan went to grandmom & grandad's for the weekend (heard he cried the first night b/c he didn't have his special music "i should have bbbbbrought my own CD"....such a tender hearted little nutjob he is)
* the girls missed him terribly while he was gone, actually right after he got in grandmom's car to go & we got on the highway to come home kelly said "mommy...i miss ryan already"...of course kate followed up with "i donna miss my browther!"
* on rainy friday i made some little blankets & pillows (kelly sewed one of the pillows :) for the girl's groovy girls dolls...really so much fun...definitely have a fabric obsession now
* we found a new little friend, who kelly promptly dubbed "rocky", in the front yard...such a cute little baby garter snake...kelly, particularly, really fell in love with him (update...we released rocky back into the "wild" this week...kelly shed a lot of tears but agreed it was for the best & we found him a great spot to live in our garden so he can stay out of danger of those mean blue jays :)

see rocky in there? right by his rock, of course :) he really is a cute little bugger...God speed little guy :)

my little tip/technique went up yesterday on onelittleword...hope you like it :)

have a happy thursday!!

xoxo

Aug 21, 2008 9:31:39 AM | craft, family, funny kids, one little word

August 15, 2008

on tap for today...

* heading out to the market in a bit...we need a fresh peach fix
* going to be re-watching the women's individual gymnastic all around competition from last night w/ kelly...go USA! gold & silver!!!
* the crafty crow has really links for great kid's craft projects...this one definitely caught my eye...hoping to give it a go
* hopefully catch up with beth..talked w/ her briefly the other day & i miss her :)
* make stuffed peppers for dinner
* a little bit ago soulemama posted really great instructions on how to make her gratitude wrap...what a cool project! wouldn't these make really great gifts! need to start making a gift list
* hit the hardware store for wooden dowels...found in our library book, kids knitting, that we can make our own knitting needles...such a cute idea
* try to contain my excitement @ taking a class from terri ventura on sunday with jayney

like always i've got so much in my head i want to do...since the house is a bit quieter w/o my little crazy man i'm hoping to have some time to create (read...keep my brain focused so i don't miss him too much :)

hope you have a great friday!!

xoxox

p.s....don't forget! kenner road pre-sale subscriptions go on sale today here!!! check out ker's blog for more information...YAY ker!!! i'm SO excited for her & i'm psyched to see her kits...i KNOW they are going to be awesome

Aug 15, 2008 9:00:39 AM | coolio cool, craft, family, good tutorial links

August 14, 2008

faith...

word up over at onelittleword & it is my turn :)

this is a big word for me...
i've, admittedly, some trouble with "having faith" at times...more so than i used to have...i don't know if it is a once bitten, twice shy kinda thing...or maybe it's because now i've got so much more to loose...
i think i ask way too many questions...
but i'm working on it...

LauraM left this awesome quote up in the comments section yesterday & i totally love it:

When you come to the edge of all the light you have know and are about to step out of the darkness, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen…there will be something to stand on or you will be taught to fly.

hope you can play along w/ this word too...i'd love to see what faith means to you :)

in other news around here, my boy ry is heading to grandmom & grandad's for the weekend...last night we went to the park & had a picnic dinner & then hit the ice cream stand...on the way home i was telling mike how quiet it is going to be w/o our little crazy, psycho boy around...mike goes to me "yeah...it is going to be weird. i know he drives you crazy, but you are going to miss him the most of everyone you know"...he's right too :) altho the girls have already started w/ the dramatics...kelly: "i'm going to miss you ryan!" & tater: "i donna miss my browthder"...yeah i know...adorable & hilarious...lol

the above photo cracks me up...he is trying so hard to contain himself inside the restaurant...but i can see the fidgeting, wiggling, ready to let loose at any second...lol...ahhh...the joys of little boys :)

just overheard ryan giving them instructions : "ok guys...while i'm gone you can make messes in my room...but you HAVE to clean them up ok?" kelly, of course, shot back "well when i was gone did YOU make messes in my room & clean it up???" ahhh...so funny!!

so go have a great thursday!! :)

xoxo

p.s....don't forget to check out kenner road tomorrow! it is the big pre-sale of subscriptions! yay!!!!!!

Aug 14, 2008 9:19:52 AM | g the philosopher, one little word, scraps

August 12, 2008

it's a good thing...

i have been totally engrossed in crafting at the moment...
devouring some new craft books like sweet needle felts

and bend the rules sewing

and warm fuzzies

such cool stuff i can't wait to give a go...

& i've been super inspired by the fantastic mel lately...she has such great little sewing projects on her blog & i'm totally looking forward to creating some felt food for the kids this week so they can have a little picnic w/ their "guys"...am even thinking of stitching up some & putting in little baskets for Christmas gifts

today we were super crafty around here... i taught ryan & kelly to finger knit & they did so great..they added some beads on the ends of their little knitted strands & made sweet little bookmarks for grandmom & grandad...& now i just found a great tutorial on another method, so we'll be picking up some more yarn to try this way as well...and then, just to add to my june cleaverish day we made homemade pizza dough together for dinner...oooh it was so delicious!

tomorrow is my turn over at onelittleword...really enjoyed creating this for this one and pulled out that sewing machine again...i'm totally hooked sewing everything right now

have a happy rest of your tuesday!
xoxo

p.s...go michael phelps!!! ANOTHER gold medal AND world record tonight!!! SO FANTASTIC!!!! i think he has one more final tonight...fingers crossed it is gold # 4...love watching how excited his mom gets during & after his races...she is adorable :)

Aug 12, 2008 10:55:59 PM | coolio cool

August 11, 2008

YEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok...who else was screaming their heads off last night for the US men's relay team...

OMG! SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!! HOW FREAKING FANTASTIC!!!! i mean i thought it was silver for sure when Lezak was a full body length behind going into the turn for the last 50M...but MAN! talk about fighting back!!! and shattering the world record by 4 seconds! i mean really.....i love it :)

so, SO cool...GO U.S.A!!!!!

& some more fantasticness for this rainy monday....August's tarisota gallery is up & it is gorgeous! (still smiling big time that i'm included in there...eeek!!! :)
i had so much fun creating with this collection...i think i got back to what i really love to do & how i create...back to me & my "style" so to speak...the colors & all of that satin ribbon just called my name...& i went a bit crazy with my sewing machine...but dang! was it fun!!

here is a peek at a mini book i created from the collection:

my fave pages from the book:

awwww...i know :) they LOVE being sisters...i'm thinking i've gotta savor all of this sisterly love b/c i have a feeling the teen years won't be so lovey-dovey...lol

hope you have a great monday!

xoxo

Aug 11, 2008 1:30:18 PM | FANTABULOUS & FANTASTIC!!!, scraps, Sports, Tarisota Collections