hello 2015!

we've had a busy start to the new year as always - a birthday, a kid going back to school, another birthday, the other kid taking a little trip then going back to school and some etsy orders in between.

finally got a new planner. you can see how much i've been using it.

you know when you get that craving for cheesecake, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and stuffed portobello mushrooms? this is what your kitchen looks like when you try to make them all at once. can you find ginger, the wonder dog, waiting patiently for something, anything to fall to the floor?

and no my counter does not always look this good. or bad depending on your point of view.

and here is our new light that my oldest son made, yes made! following this diy at the gathered home. i freakin' love it! now i just hate the room it's in. time for a trip to the paint store.


hope your'e having a lovely start to your new year.

i have a feeling this is going to be a good one.

christmas wishes

i'm having so much fun making this home made wrapping paper!

here's some supplies. the paper we're using is a huge roll of contractor's paper found in the painting section at lowe's. there were 2 thicknesses and we got the thickest. better for painting on, a little harder to wrap with.

wishing you the merriest, happiest christmas, warmed with light, laughter and loved ones.

xo

fortune cookie wisdom, plastering canvas and snow patrol

it's time to start on the second annual humble hand drawn fortune cookie wisdom calendar!  kind of a mouthful, yes?  i like the sort of pretentious unpretentiousness of the name that describes the style of the calendar so well. i made one last year (the first annual) and it was so much fun i decided to make it an annual thing. 

here's a few months from last years calendar

realistically i should have started this a month ago but i'm going to work my butt off to get it done quickly.  here's my inspiration.

so, when you open your fortune cookie, do you eat it or is it all about the fortune inside?  is it bad luck not to eat it?  and no, my chinese food take out place doesn't know my order by heart.  not yet anyway.

oh the joys of pixlr.  guys, i'm sure you all know about this awesome photo editing site, but i've just found it again and am actually teaching myself how to use it!  don't laugh, it's hard for a woman who used to do graphic design with a rapidograph, a waxer, an x-acto blade and a compugraphic typesetter.  we were known as paste up artists, but me and my oldest friend called ourselves paste heads way back in the mid 80s.  it's actually very frustrating having an idea and knowing how to do it with my hands but not on a computer.  anyway, i'm so happy to have figured out how to do these collage thingies.  which color do you like for the lines - the black or lime green?  i need help!

what's in the collage thingies is something i've been wanting to try since doing the plaster work during our bathroom renovation.  i loved the texture of the walls after patching them up and thought it would be awesome on a canvas.  i started with a painted black canvas and spread a pre-mixed spackling compound all over it and then before it dried, wrote in it with an old ice pick.  it pulled up some of the plaster stuff and i did press down some of the really bumpy stuff but i think it's kind of interesting.  i'm letting it dry and we'll see how well it holds up and sticks to the canvas.

here's a little bit of the soundtrack to my day.  love to hear what yours was.

happy hour

cocktail  +  visual inspiration = happy hour

i'm in the mood for a healthier happy hour this week so...

mojito smoothie from my new roots - more than just a smoothie!
serves 2 as a snack, 1 for a meal

1 1/2 cups nut milk or coconut water
3 tbs. hulled hemp seeds
1/2 - 1 tsp. spirulina
4 tbs. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 avocado
1 frozen banana
2 dates, pitted
handful fresh mint leaves

place all ingredients in the blender.  blend on high until smooth.  taste and adjust flavors to your liking.

re-foundobjects

re-foundobjects

MiesEnScene

LITdecor

ionesAttic

and here's a really simple diy on how to make these gorgeous votives at armas design via a-ladys-findings

armas design

i plan on trying this lemon tart recipe this weekend.  it's got yogurt in it so it can't be that bad for you, right?

do i need to use a tart pan?  do i even have a tart pan?
oh we'll figure something out :)