A quickie

It's friday and there's a new challenge up at LP. Take a look at everyone else's pages here. It was a super tricky challenge for me but I think I came up with a doozy! If I do say so myself. I have an extra flower similar to the one in my layout. Leave me a comment and a random commenter will receive my spare pink & black flower in the mail :) Gotta share the love!

Ray and I are taking in a 2-day agriculture conference today & tomorrow so our days are gonna be pretty full and our brains mostly melted. But for a good cause. I think I"ll make sure I take a sketch book with me so I can jot down any great ideas that may come to me. What are you doing with your day today?

Not lovin' Halloween

Halloween. Ugh. My least favorite day on the entire calendar. It's loaded with obligation (costumes, god help me!) and going against my personal beliefs about my kids and candy. My boys get a little candy now and then but they're the kind of kids who, when given a bag of M&M's, can't believe how lucky they are. Let's face it, kids get WACKED when they eat lots of refined sugar and dye. My kids are, anyway. And when they're WACKED, they get in trouble because they can't harness the excessive energy. So trick-or-treating (hello! Telling our kids to take candy from strangers?? Anyone else notice how this is just a little hypocritical? or is it just me?) makes me crazy. I freeze my ass off - did I mention it's -5C (20F)- so there's some serious lack of enjoyment for me, then the crappy costumes that are buried under snow gear so no one sees them is another waste (of money cuz I have NO time to make them) and then they come home with a giant bag of candy that I have to inspect before I can let them eat it - y'know, the razorblades in apples or opened packages or home made stuff from folks you don't know. Great. Sounds like lots of fun.

Instead, we're having a party at our house. I like my house. It's warm. We bought a few treats for the kids and even have fun jack-o-lantern goodie bags. There's chocolates, gummies, chips and candy apples. No one is being deprived here but no one is going to overdose on sugar and barf their guts out all over the bed again. I just can't do it again. An ounce of prevention, people!

So a few other families are joining us and I must say, I'm really looking forward to it. Some winter BBQ, great convos, some snacks and even Halloween treats. Not too shabby.

And as if all this weren't enough to keep us totally busy, we're planning for Craft Show Mania! I've also been swamped with Etsy orders. Yay for me! My advent calendars have been just flying out of the shop (Thank you Etsy Admin for your support!! ♥)

There are four more craft shows coming up (check my FB Page for details) and the inventory is piling up around me! There are gonna be loads of amazing new products. You don't wanna miss out. If you are thinking of ordering anything from my shop for the holidays, you might want to get on that. Availability for custom orders is quickly disappearing but message me for info!

Oh, and before you go, read this great post from Shutter Sisters. Their blog is one of my go-to places for inspiring reads. This one is a little older but it won't disappoint.

layouts and photos

Yesterday was the kind of day that left my muscles aching because I had stamped so much. That's good, right? Saturday is the first craft show of the season and I'm feeling a little panicked that there isn't enough stuff! That always happens and you know what? I always have way more than I think (and more than I need!). Hopefully being the first show of the season, it'll give some indication as to which things I need more of and which things I don't need to bother making again.

Hey, by the way, keep your eye on the Lotus Paperie blog. We're putting the call out for a new Design Team soon. You know you want in on that action!

My kidlet (Sethy) is home today - parent/teacher interviews begin today and both boys are home tomorrow. That's one long-ass weekend!

Sundog was a wicked good time and I finally got a chance to play with my TTV camera a little.

Oh, I also got nine pages made ::

And away we go!

Dude. It's friday and that means that our 3-day retreat at Sundog starts today. I gotta say, I'm pretty excited about it and am really looking forward to getting to know a bunch of new ladies as well as spend some serious face-time with some "old" ladies (hee hee). There are 14 of us in total and we're pretty much taking over the place. The event is fully catered so we don't have to lift a finger...except to scrapbook.

I have so much packing to do and did I mention that our power company has informed us that there will be a scheduled power-outage right about the same time I'm setting up my stuff at the retreat. I hope it doesn't last too long. I hope it's a sunny day.

I haven't decided if I'll do much scrapbooking this weekend or if I'll make cards n' stuff for my craft shows coming up. I'll probably scrapbook because I can always MAKE time to work but don't always make time to create for creation sake.

It's dark and cold out this morning...there's been talk of going back to bed once the kids get on the bus! We'll see. I might be awake by then. Maybe not. Update for ya next week.

The Recap

You know what I like about Thursdays? They're really just Friday eve which makes me feel motivated to get a few things done and since this upcoming Friday is extra special (since we're off to Sundog for another scrapbooking weekend!) I'm feeling double excitement for the impending weekend.

Yesterday was kind of a bust because I have absolutely NO self control when it comes to the multiple box-sets of House. We have wasted a lot of perfectly good daytime hours watching our favorite show. Which isn't all bad. Except I do have real work that needs to get done and clearly isn't getting done! So today the hubs is off on an all-day project with his dad and I am going to be at my desk scrapping. That's some serious business!

There's a new challenge going up tomorrow and you don't want to miss that!

Last week, Ray and I were parent-volunteers with Noah's class' field trip to the MacBride Museum in Whitehorse. I'd never been before and was so glad to have gone. When I was on my earlier quest to find a letterpress machine, I phoned all the printers in town as well as the newspapers. The kind folks at the Whitehorse Star informed me that an old letterpress machine had been given to the museum years ago but they weren't sure what happened to it after that. Well, I found it. I also found the story that accompanied it regarding the museums acquisition of the press. After they received it, it actually sat outside (rusting!) for several years. It has since been restored - she's a beauty!- and I wish she were mine. But at least it's not still sitting outside rusting!

Now, those of you reading this may or may not realize that the whole Gold Rush thing happened in this area. (sorry if this is completely redundant for locals) So that means there's some really amazing stuff that hails back to that era. I'm a lover of photography and one of my most favorite kinds of imagery is the glamour shots from back in the day. It is the most tasteful, artisitic and provocative kind of image...just see for yourself!


Also, don't forget the "real" reason we were even at the museum in the first place...Noah's class were hard at work exploring the Arctic Adventure exhibit. Before Ray & I took off to see the rest of the museum, I grabbed this photo. Any guesses as to whose skulls these are?



Okay. I'll leave that with you to ponder. Leave your ideas in the comments section. There'll be a surprise for the first correct answer. Please don't play if you've been to the exhibit...

I'm gonna rock a little yoga just as soon as I finish my coffee and then I'm gonna get dressed (cuz I'm sitting here in my flannel jammies at the moment) and then I'll get down to business! Ready? GO!

Gratitude for piles of work?

Yeah. crazy concept but there it is...the very thing I seem to have an unending battle with (painful, boring work) was the very thing that saved my ass yesterday. I was called in for jury selection. On a murder trial. Being self employed mostly lacks glamour & glory but yesterday my job left me feeling full of gratitude. I didn't have to sit on a jury for three weeks while my life & work went on without me.

Oh who am I kidding, the work would not move at all. In fact, I think it would just ferment and get worse. I never thought I'd be grateful for bookkeeping, sorting receipts, remitting payroll deductions...but I am. Perspective is a good thing to change up from time to time. Like when you think you've got it all figured out. Good time to change your perspective and check things out from a new position. Reminds you of how crazy things can get and to stay on top of your shit.

So the vow of today is to knock the to-do list outta the park and get ready for the Sundog Retreat that starts on Friday. Yeah. Gonna need this weekend. I heart pre-christmas sales and other peoples' cooking.

Building a crazy display structure with the hubs today and definitely squeezing in some sun salutations. Might even make some pasta if the day goes right.

(btw, weight hasn't changed but the muffin top is shrinking and I feel pretty awesome about the way I wear my super low-rise jeans right now. Sounds good to me!)
Alright Wednesday. Bring it.

Holy Cow, where have I been?

Well hello there blog land...been a little while it seems since I last wrote a post. I guess the weight loss plateau is a little disheartening...time to knuckle down a little more I suppose. It's the day after way overeating post-Thanksgiving and I will not be getting on the scale. That would be counter-productive! and a little depressing. We want to see the numbers getting smaller not bigger, right?

So in my real life, things are just ticking along, the to do list gets revised over and over again but somehow it feels like I've done nothing. I've mostly done stuff I have to and haven't exactly gotten to do the stuff I want to. That could be the reason it feels boring. Everything I've been doing is boring.

I have fun stuff to work with but man, there's just not enough time in the day. PHEW! So pooped. Let's see how this week shapes up.

Check out what's happening on the Lotus Paperie blog, there's all kinds of artistic goodness (and freebies!) going on!

I'm such a yawn today. I'm gonna go do boring stuff to make room for the cool stuff.

Body Rescue Day 24

I love yoga. I forgot just how much I love it but I'm delighted that I've rekindled my love affair with it. Joy. (joy for exercise! Who knew?) So I'm not gonna talk about weight today because I'm certain that I'm still digesting my massive dinner of locally raised elk roast, locally grown roasted Yukon Gold potatoes and asparagus with fresh parmesan...oh and did I mention that there were Yorkshire puddings too? I make mine in muffin pans. I ate four. Big ones. Covered in gravy. Terrible, I know but SOOOOOOOOOOOO good! No guilt whatsoever. I always eat lots of them so I only make them once in a while. YUM!

Today is Friday so that means there' s a new challenge up on Lotus Paperie. I love the page I created for the sketch. Go check it out...it's a fun one. Oh, and we have a new guest designer too. Lots is happening. Gotta go see for yourself.


Oh and remember that paper poinsettia wreath I mentioned the other day? This is how it turned out. So cute. So time consuming but SO CUTE!! Might make another one. Bigger. Crazy? Yup.

Body Rescue Day 22

I love the way a new haircut allows you to sort of see yourself from a refreshed perspective. I've been trying to whip my carcass into better shape for a little while, had the shit kicked outta me with "the sickness" and lost 8lbs anyway. Not all bad I guess. But today after my trembling, sweaty muscles dragged me into the bathroom, I looked into the mirror and saw someone who appeared to resemble the version of me that's inside my head. A little ways further to go, but that's totally okay. I'm down with that!

I measured my waist last night. Stoked to see a smaller number. Not fully recovered energy-wise from the sickness so I'm not quite ready for the elliptical, but Yoga and I have rekindled our ancient love affair. That makes my heart all swoony. YEAH!

Oh and did I mention that I made a few layouts a while back that never got posted? I was busy dying so there wasn't really a chance to share them till now. Here they are ::



and I saw a super fun tutorial that Ronda shared HERE that was a bit of work but so worth the trouble. I'll share pics of mine once I actually take some! LOL

I completed the project and wrote the entire tutorial for October's craft project at Our Big Earth too. Nice. I love progress. I also love yellow hilighter ALL OVER the to-do list.

Alright. The stats...here they are
Sept. 30

Yoga :: 45 mins (sun salutations and a few standing poses)
Weight ::a hair under 130
Waist :: 29. Dude. That's an inch and a half since the last meaurement. WOOT!

A haircut & the perfect burger.

Um...yeah. Something really crazy happened to my day today. Like, it's gone. It started out with the best of intentions (isn't that always the way?)and then my narrow window for Yoga was quickly devoured by one very satisfying phonecall with a girlfriend who I haven't spoken to since she moved into her new house and was overcome with the massiveness of renovations. I'm pretty sure I made the right call in choosing the phone over Yoga this morning. Feed the soul, nurture relationships. But then, I had a hair appointment today which always makes me feel like a rockstar (especially since I LOVE my hairdresser who is, in my book 100% rockstar- I just absorb her coolness thru osmosis!) and I had gone in to town with the hubs which meant that I was 'stuck' going everywhere that he went...so long story short (and boring errands omitted from the story), I didn't get home till after 6pm. Ugh.

I did find a great little hole in the wall diner that had the most ooey gooey burgers though. Y'know, the kind that are so juicy and delish that the burger guts run down your arm? MMM...love that.

So the hair cut is fab (was there ever any doubt, Kerri? I think not!) and just for shits & giggles, I thought I'd measure my waist. Big thrill there...tell ya tomorrow. Weigh-in Wendesday.

In the meantime, I'll knit, watch house and maybe even have a G&T.