Congratulations

You left me.

-Blue October

It was a "kid-free" weekend. My kids go to my parents on Friday afternoon & we get them back Sunday evening. Adam and I usually go have dinner on Friday when we have this time alone. This week....it didn't happen. (long story) I was thankful that my friend was available to have dinner with me or I would've had dinner solo; which I wouldn't have cared too much cause, when you are me....any moment alone is welcome.
(Maybe only child syndrome?, idk.)

ANYWAY! Moving on....

It's an art haul kind of post...

I feel, well, kinda groovy. I hadn't been FUN shopping a while.

$45 spent. Lots saved!

*Multi-Function Scissors by Paper Studio. On sale for $1.19!

*Glue Sticks by Paper Studio. On sale for $2.99!

* Ink Potion No. 9. On clearance for $.84! Orig price $6.49.

*Pilot VARSITY Fountain Pens. On clearance for $8.99. Orig Price $24.99!

*3 sheets of the Paper Studio Cardstock Stickers. On sale for $1.19 each.

*Strathmore Drawing cards w/ envelopes (10). On clearance for $2.87. Orig 6.99.

*dylusions ink spray $9.99 - used my 40% coupon ....paid 5.99! -yeah buddy!

*Magnet buttons on clearance for $.71. Orig price 1.99. (not art related but my dry erase board was lacking new magnets heehee)

*Value Pack craft bruses $4.99 - not on sale, no coupon.

*Aleene's glitter & gem glue $3.49 - not on sale, no coupon.

*Tulip fashion glitter (silver) $2.99 - not on sale, no coupon.

*SELF magazine (bought at HEB) $4.99.

Needless to say I'm very thankful :)



Blue October was in San Marcos, TX this weekend. And I wasn't.
Very sad.
Very Very Sad.

Here's a classic!

<3

{{Listening to: some dance mix on the TV. I have no clue what it is or why it came on!}}

List It Tuesday

The useless drag of another day
-Smashing Pumpkins

Music has always been a part of my life. Growing up with young, hippi-ish, parents in the 70's/80's who were always throwing parties, always had people over at the house & ALWAYS had music on, I learned to appreciate it (all kinds) at a young age. This is probably why I can safely say that music isn't what it once was. (& that's not necessarily a good thing, IMO)
(Side bar: You'd think w/ all the entertaining my parents did & still do, I'd take a special liking to hosting gatherings or gatherings in general...I totally do not.) 

Needless to say, for this week's {NOSTALIGIC} List It Tuesday (@ artsyville), my focus is music.
I know everyone can relate to hearing a song & being transported to a certain time in your life or a certain event that made you happy or sad....
Well, that nostalgia is what sometimes gets me through my darkest days.
& not only the music, but certain people, & even certain weather can put a dazed & confused scowl on my face, or a HUGE smile. Most of the time it's the latter ;)

My List this week looks like this....

1) Fresh Sunday Mornings. Listening to *Jethro Tull* or *Genesis*, or the like.
Sitting at the breakfast table with Dad. He read the newspaper while Mom cooked breakfast. I was writing or reading. <3

2) Fall/Winter. The cold air & crisp wind.
(Not to mention some pretty rad tunes that go hand in hand with cool valley weather)

3)  *Van Halen* particularly When It's Love, Right Now and Dreams. 
hanging out with JB.

4) *Smashing Pumpkins* Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness -> the entire album is peachy ;)
but Thirty-Three, Here Is No Why & 1979 were my faves.
#goodtimes anytime! but in particular JJ's & living with Dolly in Mcallen.

5) *Mad Season* -> Long Gone Day.
Reminds me of Adam coming to my apartment at Holly House. towards the beginning of our relationship & right around Christmas time  (& all the presents he used to buy me lol.) Boy, how times have changed! ;[

So....me being me......gotta compliment this particular post with the tunes that I so adoringly referenced!
Enjoy. And thanks for tuning in ;D

Jethro Tull: Aqualung

Van Halen: Dreams

Smashing Pumpkins: Here Is No Why

Mad Season: Long Gone Day (upright bass + sax solo! adam would sing this & I would melt)

{{Listening to: all sorts of goodness!!}} 

Dreams

In all my dreams, it's never quite as it seems......never quite as it seems.

-Cranberries

When I read "List It Tuesday" on Aimee's [artsyville] blog. I almost peed my pants! :D

Lists.....it's on my list of best things ever!!! 

I'm going to try and participate every week & I'm going to try & stay on topic. Fingers crossed!

This Tuesday the list topic is "Goals". More specifically, goals to accomplish by end of 2012.

This particular list actually took me 2 1/2 days to complete. Eesh! I normally linger around on lists, tho. It's never just a cut & dry thing with me. It's kind of a neurotic process.  & this one was trickier because I am a not a goal setter by nature. (I know, I know...goals are good; goals are dreams with deadlines....lalala)

My current goal is to place a moratorium on goals.

-Jessica Savich

;)

here's my participation for List It Tuesday!

1) Read 3 books. 

2) Go to the beach.

3) Try a new recipe.

4) Clean the storage unit

5) Eat more Nutella :D

Maybe you wanna join in on the list making fun?! 

Grab some nutella & graham crackers & head over to Artsyville to take a look!

& Enjoy this dreamy tune...I certainly do!!

<3

{{Listening to: the Cranberries: Everybody else is doing it, so why can't we?}}

I Won't Give Up

Our differences, they do a lot to teach us how to use the tools & gifts we got...

-jason mraz

I have enjoyed & have learned a bunch from a whole gob of blogs & artsy creatives. From photographs to art journal pages to prompts to video tutorials, it's all been a blessing to me. I'm super appreciative of the ones who have chatted with me on twitter or via email. All of them have been an inspiration in one way or another. (And not just in an artistic way)
Perseverance is one of the things that a lot of these people have in common. :)

This blog post is just me sharing the ones that are saved on my toolbar.

Why don't you take some time this week to visit these lovelies!!...

Donna Downey
Tammy @ Daisy Yellow
JoAnne @ Whimspirations
Charissa @ the Smashbook
Samie: Journal Girl
Paula: Journal Artista
Leslie @ Comfortable Shoes
Jennibellie Studio
Graphics Fairy (some really groovy printables on this site)
I AM RUSHMORE
Scrapping the Music
Inspiration Everywhere
ARIEL
Chongolio
Creativity UNLEASHED
Dawn DeVries Sokol
Dina Wakley
Becky Higgins
Amy Tan
Ali Edwards
Kelly Purkey
Jenna Kannas
Christy Tomlinson / Scarlet Lime
Elvie Studio
Lindsay Ostrom
Art Du Jour
Artsyville
Dale Anne Potter
SmashBookCrackBook

<3

{{Listening to:  voices in my head ;P}}

Free To Be Me

Sometimes I believe I can do anything, yet other times I think I got nothing good to bring.

-francesca battistelli

Man alive. Talk about a trying summer!! & it doesn't seem to be over yet.

I have been on an emotional AND physical roller coaster the past, um, 4ish months?

(This blog post is catching me on a semi-goodish day.)

HUGE side bar: I wish I could be one of those persons who can blog their innermost thoughts & feelings, true to life. But, I'm actually the absolute opposite. I'm really surprised that I have kept up this blog for as long as I have. I don't share stuff so easily, nope, not even feelings or concerns. (only child syndrome? ha jk)

It's the only thing I am guilty of hoarding.....my thoughts. That being said,  there's a time for everything... even a time for me to burst, then, watch out because it's verbal spillage all over the place. eek!

^ This is a mixed media page I did earlier this week.
My canvas was a cereal box.
I used gesso, acrylics, stamps, book text, ephemera, india ink, washi tape. 

When I was a girl I thought I had it all figured out.....

Last weekend I was so gone - I couldn't get out of bed to do a journal page with Savannah. My heart hurt because she REALLY looks forward to our pages together; but I sincerely couldn't get myself out of bed. Awful.  But my dear daughter, the ray of sunshine in our household, said, "don't worry Mom, I'll be here when you feel better" 

UGH! <3

Needless to say, I woke up this morning, got out of bed, made the kids waffles & then cleared my art space so we could do our journal page.

And here's what we did...

Yup, Savannah's is the one with the SMILE's on it. Go figure ;) Sometimes I wonder how this child is even mine.  Maybe she is more like her Daddy. 

^ Sept 15

While we are doing our art journal pages, we are usually listening to Klove & I usually journal the words to whatever song is playing at the moment. 

In our home Francesca is a fave...& this song....well, we love it. 

Enjoy!

{{Listening to: Klove, an oscillating fan & my tummy growling}}

When The World Stopped Turning

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?

-Alan Jackson

We lived at Jackie & Audrey's Apartments on Davis Street.

Savannah was about a year and a half & walking around the living room. 

I was on the computer, getting the hang of the internet thing.

Adam was getting ready for work.

I clicked on the MSN homepage & saw the picture...you know the one....

I remember not knowing what to make of it.

Then we decided to turn on the TV. It was everywhere.

From that day on, our lives would never be the same. Not just for me & my family, but for  our entire country. Even now, I can't see footage without my heart in my throat.

I pray that everyone would take a moment this Patriot Day to remember & pray for the families that lost loved ones & for the soldiers who protect us. 

{{Listening to: Mozart}}

Enjoy The Silence

...come crashing in, into my little world.

-depeche mode

Sav & Me & our art journal pages...
(see our other pages here)

^Aug 25th

 ^ Sept 1

Enjoy the Silence - no video this time :)

{{Listening to: Nothing}}