Crunch Time.

Everything is happening so quickly, I haven't even had time to think. Not even in a--I'm too stressed sort of way. I just kind of turned myself on an auto-pilot robot. Buy, find something better, return, pin some more, et cetera. That's been my schedule as of late. 

The last two days I've barely seen the outside. I've been crunching away, designing and organizing. 

I'm not a designer by any standard but I can dabble in photoshop. These aren't perfect but they still have personality and fit us pretty well. 

inspired by jill and matt

protea prints/designs from lara cameron. 

Diy: Christmas Cards

///wrote this last christmas and completely slacked on it... what perfect time then now?

Every year it is the same drill. Christmas cards. I always decide I have to make them. While, every year it's the same thing. I procrastinate and everyone receives their christmas card a month late. (or not at all) It's the thought that counts, right ?

Also, I've been making it a point to stop hoarding as much.  As well as using what I have. A couple years ago, I was given some christmas paper. Let's face it. I would never use it for anything else. Also, I had some buttons that I knew I would never use and I didn't want to throw them away. So after some collaboration with crafting supplies sprawled out on Jessi's living room floor. I came up with some simple card ideas that repurposed elements I wasn't 100% thrilled with but now LOVE them.

Enjoy. 

Breakfast Diaries: 10:15

It's 10:15.

I've woken up.

I did not make my bed.

But I've made scrambled eggs and pancakes from scratch for more than just myself.

I've had two cups of coffee.

Done two loads of laundry.

Started dinner. 

Washed dishes.

And am perfecting the art of the Pinwheel.

I'd say not too shabby for an average tuesday morning. 

the rest of the day shall be spent walking the dog, finishing laundry, folding laundry if I don't decide to find something more important to do and maybe finish a book. 

happy tuesday folks. 

Independence Day

To all the American's out there, I'm hoping you're Independence day was fabulous and you had glimpses at how lucky you really are. Aside from all the negative of the country and silly politics and scandals. There is something we still have in some fashion or another. Freedom. I hope you're wearing that. Because aside from it all, we're still luckier than most. 

America makes prodigious mistakes, America has colossal faults, but one thing cannot be denied: America is always on the move. She may be going to Hell, of course, but at least she isn't standing still. 

e. e. cummings 

Okay, I'm finished with my rant. 

Living in South Africa, I'm not without anything, really. But you start missing familiarities or certain ways of life.  For instance, I miss sno cones, ranch dressing and marshmallows. Strangely enough South African marshmallows tastes different. You start missing all sorts of things you never thought you'd miss.  Silly, things like knowing that if you left your cell phone at a restaurant there is a 95 percent chance that someone would turn it in. It's that mindset that you start missing. Not that it doesn't happen in America. But maybe I'm just more blinded by it. 

I'm sure I'll compile a lis sooner or later.

Have a safe weekend. 

Organizing: mind, spirit and life.

Do you ever have the problem to where you have one thing churning in your mind?  

You want to release it but lack of energy, motivation, or even tools seems to win. Then in conjunction, corresponds with the rest of your ideas, existence, or being. That this one thing manages to manifest into the simple, less thought-provoking things and that fixation that you still haven’t done the one thing you were wanting to do in the first place hasn't been done. Yet somehow,it effects the day-to-day and everything else manages to be placed on the back burner.

That’s how I feel with most aspects in life. Not just metaphorically but the physical, the spiritual, and the emotional.

I decided to put the one big thing that’s been churning at me, the one thing that I want to get out and explain, I decided to take the pressure away and start working on the little things.

Besides, isn’t it the little, small things that begin to add up? It’s the small things that become overlooked until we’re drowning in small issues and tasks that just originally needed to be pruned and maintained a bit. But they add up, and then restoration has to happen. Often times stripping the entire piece just to get to the core of what it is and start over.

Wow, I wasn’t intending to pour all this out.

I wanted to take the time to show you some of the details in my room in South Africa. Nothing fancy, just a couple visuals. 

please note the crooked lamp. it just doesn't want to stay straight. 

some random crafting + painting. had some bad dreams one night and decided to paint a dream catcher. 

postcard from time spent with my friend ashley in boston + a note for Jayde's wallet

tink the cat + perfect window lighting 

Creative: Pretty in Purple Pearls

There is this bead shop that I really love. The only problem, it's in Oklahoma. Lucky for me, bad for my wallet, it was only a few blocks from the house I grew up in. Any time I make it back to Oklahoma I make a list of places and people. The Bead Merchant is always at the top of my list. They have such a unique selection of beads. The place is still bad for my wallet. Now, it's even worse because I want to buy everything. I always find a bunch of great beads and then consolidate at the end. I suffer from extreme buyers remorse. It's the only way that I can justify what I do. Here are some of my latest creations with beads from my favorite shop. 





This one was inspired by this one. (I'm not sure why it turned out sideways.) 

Source: shopbop.com via Samantha on Pinterest

And then some earrings I made over the weekend. 

Crafting: 5 minutes

Hello...

The last little while I've been swamped with life. I am sure you all can relate. The problem, I kept trying to set aside time to focus on a Mother's day card. And anytime I had more than 30 minutes, I was too drained to even think about it. Also too drained to go to the store and find a heartfelt card. I am an awful daughter but when I say I have been brain dead-- It's not an overstatement. 

So last night before bed, I realized this has to be done right now or else I will be more than late on a card. If I am late on doing something, I eventually just don't do it. 

I wanted to do something simple and colorful, not complicated. I came up with some cards that I actually really like and they took me less than 5 minutes. What can be better. 

Crafting Frenzy

If crafting was a major;

I would have been all over it.

Maybe my Master's degree.

Have I shared with you my love of crafts?

Whenever I go into a store, specifically Indie-type stores. Or places like World Market. My first instinct is to question, "Could I make this." Saves me money because I don't buy everything in sight but it sometimes projects take me far longer than I anticipated.

But, here are some that I did not procrastinate on. But I bought some fun stuff from Michael's the other day and was far too excited to let them sit.

Walk into my room, and you will find boxes of paper, beads, buttons, glue, tools, paper cutter, scissors, stamps overtaking the floor. Sorry Jessi, I know you put up with a lot. Especially since it's on your side of the room too!

In the last three days,

I have restrung four necklaces.

Here are some fun earrings. (look for an etsy comings soon)

finished my mother's birthday card, (may 27 is her day)

and threw together this fun little headband.

But yes, this is my life right now. Work is slow, but also a good way to keep myself motivated and constantly being creative.

Enjoy.

What are your favorite DIY things ?

martha stewart has nothing on me

Although, I may check out her DIY section far too frequently

This weekend has been grand. I needed the rest, although I will beat myself over the head for it this week. It's going to be another tough one. That's how it goes.

I've been so productive this weekend.

A couple of months ago, I bought this cute little desk from a thrift store. The only problem was it was covered in stickers and crayon.



It wouldn't have done so well in my room. So, I went to homedepot and picked up some oops paint.

I painted my desk and it looked beautiful

Then I also bought a shelf to go above my desk, and it fell onto my desk and kind of biffed it up a bit.

I've been bitter at those shelves for a couple of months now. Also bitter than I didn't understand how to find studs in a wall. But enough was enough. I had to overcome my fear of this darn shelf. Becca and I took a short walk to homedepot and bought me some studs. I drilled some holes and now there is a shelf with only a couple of scars later. Yes, i did bleed in the process and have a nice bump on my nose, don't ask.





there's some minor stuff that i'll originally get around to doing but it's what i've got.

I also did laundry and baked some rosemary bread. Yummy.

Also this week I made some rad guacamole. Maybe even better than Lor and Erica's El Chico skills.

Other highlights of the week. Sayhitoyourmom [teenagehood dream to see them] and I did not hear let's talk about spaceships and David Bazan of Pedro the Lion. Also another favorite. His voice is so smooth. Detroit was packed.

Abolition of Man will change your life. Read it. Someday I will do a blog on itself someday.

It was good to see an old friend. Really good actually.

Other happenings of this week, I have had the strangest feelings this week. I could write out a story and never expect it to happen. Then everything I wrote began to come true. By chapter 3
the story shifted. Ten chapters later loose ends are connecting again. But those last ten chapters were only outlined notes to see where the characters could possibly reach to. Now, it's time to start writing again, will this happen too?