A Whole Lotta News!

My, oh my. Isn't it crazy how you think you're reached your busiest point only to find yourself even busier? That's where I find myself at this very moment. I'm used to being busy, but this new level of activity is brand new to me. It's all for good reason(s) though.


The first news is that I got a somewhat semi-normal picture of Kevin and I! You don't understand how rare this is. One of us is usually manning the camera and on the few occasions where we stop for a shot of ourselves, we usually are faced with lazy eyes and droopy faces. Sexy, for sure.

The reason we got this picture was an exciting one! Kevin (and his brew bitch) won 2nd place in their category in the Orange County Fair homebrew competition. For this being their first competition, second place is nothing to scoff at.



That's them in the back with the second place sticker! I never thought I'd be a beer girl but I am quickly falling in love with the stuff.

Another big announcement is that I got promoted! I am now Senior Managing Editor and couldn't be more thrilled with the new title and responsibilities. I feel so fortunate to be able to go to work today and do what I love. (I have no picture to go with this!)

And perhaps the most exciting news is ...

... Kevin and I found and were approved for an apartment! It's a darling little one bedroom apartment with a rather large patio in Tustin. We are just waiting for them to re-paint and carpet. We've been slowly buying things for our new place and it couldn't be more fun. It will be so nice to have a place that is just ours. In the meantime, I've started packing, which sort of blows! I have a ton of stuff! Naturally I've found ways to make it fun. and cute.



and of course I had to start making things for the apartment. Like this key hook that can't yet hold keys. Some hooks and a clear coat and this baby is done!



That's it for now!

Introducing the number one reason I will never use a flash again.

Well, my nephew Logan (Isn't he absolutely adorable. I'm not being a biased aunt here. He really is precious and I'm sure he'll be breaking hearts soon.) isn't exactly the reason, but this picture is. Why use a flash when natural sunlight is so incredible on its own? Though, the vividness of this picture may not be from the sunlight alone, but the practically glow-in-the-dark bounce house my sister bought for the kids. Also, why have kids when I can play with this munchkin (and his three siblings) whenever I want and send him right home to mama?

But sometimes natural light doesn't work. Like... when there isn't any.
The ideal time to take any pictures in my room is right when I wake up, but who is rushing to grab their camera when their breath stinks and their eyes are all fuzzy with sleep? Not I. But still, crappy picture or not, I have some plans for these blocks. Some fun will be had.

Really now.

Tag, I'm It!!

In my apparent effort to not actually create anything and just continue to horde supplies, I thought I would share a random gift I got from Kevin's mom. Fruit paper! It is the cuuutest paper I've ever seen. Maybe not ever, but it's up there. Anything paper with apples and cherries has my vote. The orange background is a little hint for you, Cara. It's your fabric!

Speaking of Cara, she tagged me, so I am happy to oblige!

A is for Age: 26

B is for Burger of choice: I really don't like burgers very much at all, but if I have to have one, it has to be from In-n-Out.

C is for what kind of car you drive: 2008 Honda Fit.

C is also for your favorite past vehicle: I had a '99 Mercury Cougar. It was okay, but far from a favorite of mine.

D is for your dogs name: I don't have a dog, but I have my future dog's name planned. I'm getting a dachsund and naming it Rick Moranis. Heck yeah.

E is for essential item you use every day: Deodorant. Toothbrush. Hairbrush.

F is for favorite TV show at the moment: I have different favorites in every genre of television. Favorite Food Network show? Iron Chef. Favorite Reality Show? Top Chef. Favorite show-show? How I Met Your Mother.

G is for favorite game: California!

I is for instruments you play: I was fairly decent at the flute in middle school. My attempt at the french horn was laughable.

J is for favorite juice: I can't bring myself to waste calories on juice. Horrible.

K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: These kids that are on that Baby Borrowers show. I kind of want to punch a few of them.

L is for last restaurant at which you ate: I had El Pollo Loco for dinner. Pseudo-restaurant?

M is for your favorite Muppet: Gonzo! I can't wait for the new movie!

N is for number of piercings: Zero. Shocking with the number of tattoos I have, I know.

O is for overnight hospital stays: Other than when I was born? None.

P is for people you were with today: All of my co-workers.

Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Read. Read. Read.

R is for your biggest regret: I kind of regret that pollo bowl.

S is for status: Very happily taken.

T is for time you woke up today: Which time? 5, 6, and then finally 7.

U is for what you consider unique about yourself: My disdain for lettuce makes me pretty unique.

V is for vegetable you love: Zucchini is my current favorite.

W is for worst habit: Being overly critical of myself.

X is for x-rays you've had: Teeth, finger, and currently my esophagus. Hello ulcer!

Y is for yummy food you ate today: Sushi!

Z is for zodiac: Sagittarius.

Oh, and I tag anyone who may see this. I'm resisting the urge to tag-back Cara.

Oh, and I lied earlier. Sometimes I do make things. I don't make them well, but I make them.

Horrible picture (I lost the sunlight), semi-wearable shirt. Laughable (and possibly invisible) leaf on the apple. I'm spent.

The Convenient Crafter

I have a shocker for everyone: most of my crafting is done out of convenience. I know, you're completely speechless now, right? I used to be the gal who needed the latest and greatest crafty things out there. Then reality set in. Reality, in the form of needing to eat, pay bills, buy clothes, and you know, live. I haven't really added to my supplies in quite a few months, with the exception of what I can buy through work. Hello wholesale discount! Love you! Usually I make do with what I have, and it's usually not the right thing, but I try. But then I'm also completely bewildered when said attempt does not work properly.

This is an example of making do with what I have. I, obviously, don't have a winder for my yarn. After many attempts to knit straight from the hank (Important: don't do this ... unless you like knots. Lots of them.) I realized the importance of center-pull balls. I might not have a winder, but I do have a toilet paper roll. In fact, I have many of them! So, what I did was cut a slit in the top of the roll, slide my yarn through and wrap and then wrap some more. Voila! I know have the much-needed center-pull ball. Dishcloth here I come! And yes, I do most of my work in bed. I figure as long as I don't take up pottery (which is bound to happen with my track record), I'm just fine being the bed crafter.

And I promise no more posts with that darn yellow yarn for awhile. Or at least until I finish the dishcloth, which I'm sure won't be for a year. I'm slow, but I'm convenient.

Edit: and I know my spacing is completely weird, but I can't fix it! Bleh.

I think it's about time for ...

... some dishcloths. I'm dusting off my knitting needles so that I can start making some dishcloths for the big move! Only two months to go!

Don't you just love my new shirt that I used for the background? I got it from Forever21 and it's quickly working its way up my list of favorite shirts! One thing I love about Forever21 is the awesome fabrics they work with. It's too bad their clothes are such a crappy quality most of the time. After this shirt has died, I just might have to cut this up for a little coin purse or tissue holder or some other item that I don't know how to sew, but will pretend that I do.

In other news, Kevin and I thought it would be a good idea to buy a Slip 'n Slide on Saturday. After opening it up, we laughed at the warning that it was "not for adults." Two days later, I couldn't agree more. While a complete blast at the time, the aftermath of stiff necks (Kevin) and sore muscles (me) makes us realize that we just aren't as young as we used to be. I feel like I went though Billy Blanks' Boot Camp or something. But still, I'm sure we will be back on it this weekend. All the memories that were stirred up made me feel like I was 8 again. Wonderful.

Summer Reading Update

I've penned this summer as the summer I get back in touch with my bibliophile-self. Thanks to Booksfree.com, I am reading more than ever and feeling more grounded and inspired than ever. Yay!

I just wanted to give you a quick glimpse of what I've read since posting about World of Pies. Nothing fancy.


Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! by Fannie Flagg--Loved it. City girl returns to small town roots. Made me want to read more of her books.


Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella--Liked it. Didn't love it, but it made for a quick amusing read.


The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde--I thought this was a no-fail book. It failed me. I couldn't even get through the first twenty pages. Sigh.


True Blue by Luanne Rice--I really didn't expect to like it as much as I did. The cover reminds me of one of the sappy romance books my mom used to pick up at the grocery store. However, I LOVED THIS BOOK! It made me feel so warm and fuzzy on the inside and really made me take a look at myself as a person. The setting felt like home to me. I cannot wait to read more of her books as they are all set in the same place.


My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult--Being the second book I've read by her, I know her books are hard to read. I loved this book and hated it at the same time. The ending was upsetting and inconceivable, which is apparently her style. The movie adaptation will more than likely not do this book justice since Cameron Diaz is playing the mother, who is also a lawyer. Yeah, that's believable.


Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray--Not life-changing, but adorable and heart-warming. Anyone in need of a quick read or a pick-me-up should definitely grab a copy of this.

Not too shabby, considering summer just officially started!

NOT Failing to Plan

I'm huge on planning things. We won't get into whether or not I follow through on these plans, but I enjoy the process of planning. I love having a place to record my lists and with my job, I need somewhere to keep track of to-do lists as well as deadlines. It's quite obvious that I haven't completed my transition to adulthood yet because what I'm currently using is a school assignment book. To me, they're more practical. There is plenty of space to write in, and they're already dated. I've attempted a real "adult" organizer before, only to miswrite dates because it's impossible for me to be trusted with such important tasks. Plus, I'll be honest. They're MUCH cuter.

And then I found this gem at the happiest place on earth: Target. This one is laid out exactly like a school assignment book with a bonus monthly calendar included as well. What's also great is that the paper part comes out and can be replaced with refills. No pesky binder rings either ... this one is purely spiral bound, baby. Since I can't let anything remain as I found it, I added this cute date twill ribbon by 7gypsies. I'm debating sewing the strip down to the book and I know somewhere I need to add a pop of color ... either red or turquoise or yellow. I can't wait until August to use this bad boy. Speaking of which, how awesome is it that my current planner ends on August 1st, which is exactly when this one starts?

And because I feel like this post is lacking color, I leave you with something pretty that has been sitting on my desk for some time now, waiting for me to return them to our craft room at work. I REALLY need to get a set of my own.

Oh happy day

For reasons that no one needs to hear about, I haven't been in the most wonderful of mood lately. I've felt like I've lost my mojo and have been searching for it desperately. Well, I think I found it, sitting in my mailbox this morning when I arrived home from a night at Kevin's.

Oh, hello mojo. That Emily, I tell you, is really something. I'm not sure she realizes what an inspiration she is to us younger gals in the craft scene. When my discovery of the blogosphere occurred a few years ago, it seemed like all the successful crafters and bloggie ladies were all much older than myself. Cara and I would even jokingly tell each other that we had many more years to get to their level. Then we discovered Emily of The Black Apple and realized that even us young gals can do something. If I had an ounce of the talent that she had and an ounce of her style, I would be a happy lady.

This really is a great little sketchbook. The cover is adorable, of course, and it is filled with quality paper. I can't wait to sit down with it and doodle away.

A Little Sad

Tasha Tudor was one of my absolute favorite illustrators, and I am convinced the reason I love The Secret Garden as much as I do is because I owned the version illustrated by her. Whenever Alicia mentions corgis, I immediately think of Tasha, who was known for her fondness of the breed.

While it is terribly sad that she passed on today, she lived a long life doing exactly what she wanted to do. I wish that for everyone.

Inspiration Times Four

Delightful.


Heartwarming.


Electrifying.


Dreamy

Tales of a Paper Investor

I have far more patterned paper than I'll ever be able to use, but I still continue to buy it as though one day it will become extinct. Imagine if it did! I could make a fortune off my little collection. See, it's not an addiction, it's an investment. I'm going to make something out of this little scattering of paper.

...And believe it or not, I have a plan.

... and we're back from our trip to Windsor! It was a really nice little getaway and confirmed that I prefer small towns to big cities, even if my allergies are making me feel rather close to death right now.

As much as I would love to post pictures of the whole trip right now, I'm really tired and so I thought I'd give you a little peek at some of my favorites. I must be some sort of vampire -- out of over 100 pictures, I managed to get 2 pictures with me in them. Naturally, they are both horrible too.


A little art we saw while driving through San Francisco. It was my first time there. Verdict: gorgeous, but way too windy and crowded for my taste.


San Francisco is really blue. And did I say windy?


I've never seen a double-decker carousel before. I was so deprived as a child.


This place had amazing nachos. My thighs are currently enjoying them.

I'm happy to be home, and I'm trying to get back into the groove of things. Sadly, the only thing I feel like doing is curling up in bed with a book. I'm currently reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult. I wanted to read it before the movie comes out, because I have no intention of seeing that. (Don't get me started on my Cameron Diaz issues.)

Now that we're back, I want to get started on functional crafty items. Dishcloths, coasters, and other things for when Kevin and I move. I have a couple painting ideas too. Now if only I could get off my butt. Ever.

What's on your desk?

A lot of crap, apparently. As messy as this looks (is), I actually prefer to work this way. To create, I need some sort of creative clutter surrounding me. Having paints and stamps out is inspiring to me. The piles of stamps on my desk? I am hoping to use them to submit some Christmas cards to Somerset Studio. Yes, even the employees must undergo the art selection process, which I'm glad of. I don't ever want my work to show up in a magazine simply because I work there. I want it to be up to the standards.




This is something that is on my desk that is important to me. I'm a big-time collector of quotations. Ever since I saw the movie Big Girls Don't Cry They Get Even saw that the main character, Laura, recorded quotes in a journal, I started recording some of my favorites. Somehow in the chaos of life, I threw out several of my journals that contained these precious treasures, so I've started over and made it prettier this time. Whenever I'm feeling down, or lacking the motivation to do something, I open up this book and am instantly cheered. It's really a beautiful thing. Over the course of working with my Director of Publishing, Jenny Doh, I've learned how near and dear words and quotes are to her, and because she is such a wonderful mentor and source of inspiration, it's been particularly touching to be able to share this love with her. She gets it.

Don't mind the banner. It is a failed attempt at making one myself. It's too small, but I am too tired to care about it right now. Anything looks better than the plain text, right? Tomorrow is another day, so maybe I will fix it then. Don't be surprised though if it looks like that forever and ever.

I mentioned before that I was going to work on some clothespin dolls ala Alicia and Jenny. In all that free time I have, I've managed to start two. Just two.




Voila! Don't you just love my cute cupcake placemat from Target? I wish I would've bought more that one. Seriously, who buys one placemat? Me, apparently. They are really fun to paint, I must admit. I love giving them crazy colored hair. So cute.



This is something else that I made a while back, but I still love it. It's supposed to be a case for my Ipod, but I was too lazy to run out to my car to grab my Ipod so it's slightly large. I got the idea from someone on Etsy, but it was so long ago that I can't remember who it was. It was a lot of fun to make. I love the combination of felt and blanket stitch. It feels so child-like and cozy at the same time.

I must say, I had big plans for this post. Big plans. However, after an hour at the gym, the only big plan I have is for sleep. Oh, sleep. How I crave you.

Cheese & Crackers

I can't believe the weekend has already come and gone! The next week is either going to drag or go by incredibly quickly. It will drag because I have something to look forward to, or it will fly by because I have a crap-ton of work to get done by the time I leave Friday.

What do I have to look forward to?


Going here.

and here.

and staying here.

Kevin and I, along with three of his friends, are going up to Windsor for a nice little getaway. Why Windsor? Kevin's best friend's parents (can you follow that?) belong to a time share thing and Windsor is one of the places they can go. Windsor is surrounded by many of their favorite breweries, and being the afficiandos that they are, we will be going on many brewery tours, tastings and dining at some of the fine restaurants they have. While I don't really like beer all that much, I do like going out of town and tours, so I'm expecting to have a good, relaxing time, which is just what I need. As long as I take a pile of books with me, everything will be just wonderful.

I was hoping to post some pictures tonight, since I got my camera cord back, but now the computer is saying I can't load the CD-ROM for my camera on this operating system (OSX), which is just what the pamphlet thingie says I need. Who knows?! I am not meant to show pictures, I suppose.

The diet starts tomorrow! I re-joined www.calorie-count.com since that is worked wonders for me nearly two years ago. I hope it does the same this time around! Fingers crossed!

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!

I think it's time to officially welcome me to the 21st century. It's been a big week for me--a computer AND my first Photoshop attempt. I'm just so tech-savvy now, I can hardly believe it. Really though, the above is my first attempt at Photoshop. I've never touched it until tonight. Well, actually last night, I opened it, scratched my head and closed it. I was so intrigued by it though, that today I declared my new curiosity to Kevin. He told me to search online for some free brushes, and free brushes is what I found. Laugh if you want to, but the above picture took me QUITE some time to do.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about how to decorate the apartment Kevin and I will be moving into at the end of summer (or early fall). He is very much a no frills kind of guy, and that's exactly why I love him so dearly. My inner female, however, wants to decorate. Both of us love the color brown, so I think we can reach somewhat of a compromise. While browsing Etsy, I've seen a lot of different vinyl wall stickers listed, and I must say I want one, or five. What's even better is that Kevin likes them. This one is silly, but absolutely adorable:



Doesn't it make you want to hug your wall?

"... and still I feel so warm inside."

You know, now that I have a working computer AND a fabulous camera, I should be able to post my OWN pictures. Should. We have been transferring pictures from my camera onto K's computer, and of course, he has my camera cord. Not that I have any pictures to post, but still!

Truth be told, I haven't been in a creative mood lately. My life has been consumed by books, t.v. and sleep. My days have been going as follows: wake up, get dressed, go to work, come home, make dinner, change into pj's and hop into bed with a fantastic book. It sounds wonderful and relaxing, but let me tell you, it leaves you feeling empty. So, in the likeness of Cara, I am going to make a list. It's a list just for Cara, since she is my only reader. Hi Cara! Here goes!

Christen's List of Things She's Loving as She is Typing This


1. The Hungry Girl cookbook. I've been a longtime subscriber to her daily e-mail newsletter, so I was ecstatic when she came out with a full-length cookbook. So far I've made two recipes from this and they have both been fantastic.


2. Booksfree.com is my new best friend. It's like Netflix, but for books. With the subscription I have, I pay $14.99/month and can have 4 books out at a time. I managed to read 3 books within a week and am about to start my fourth. That's just about the cost of a new book, so in my mind, it's a bargain. Sure I could go to the library for FREE, but i'm LAZY.



3. Not only do I love The Weepies' new album, "Hideaway," I love the album artwork. I think of The Weepies as an "aww" band. Their music just makes you say "aww" and evokes so many warm and fuzzy feelings.


4. And I am digging these little friends. I loved them when Alicia made her St. Lucia dolls, and I love these that were made by Jenny. In fact, I'm going to attempt to make some of my own this week. I have the clothespins ready to go (in assorted sizes, might I add. Fancy.), I'm just waiting for the correct lighting to work on them. The sun is still going down, so my room is a soothing orange tone. Soothing, but not very work-friendly.

Because I don't have the patience that Cara has, (since she is a mom and all), I'm going to leave my list at 4. I like 4. It's a nice even number. Don't you think?

A Screen Porch Summer

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.

-Albert Camus

We are all searching for something. No matter how far along we are in this journey of life, there is something that we are each still looking for. Each time we finally grab it, we cross it off the list and tuck our new finding into our heart, adding yet another layer to the person we are.
What is it that I have been looking for? Words, can do it no justice, but I can try. I have been yearning for a spark--something to make me feel more alive. The work day can become monotonous, no matter how much you love your job, and it can become easy to lose track of yourself. What is it that gives you that spark? What gives you that glimmer of life in your eyes?
With summer approaching, I couldn't help but rack my brain, trying to recall my favorite summertime memories. I can't recall one single memory, but I can remember specific feelings. Clean, brightly-colored vintage sheets. Spending most of my time outdoors, making do with whatever was out there. Pretty sundresses with matching sandles.
I've always had a sort of "alter" life, much like a superhero has an alter ego. There have been times where I long for the ability to relive my childhood, with the same people but in a different location. I'm not convinced that i'm a city girl. My heart aches when I read books that take place in small towns, complete with their traditions and gossip. A lightning bug and a screen porch would make it heaven.
So, why the name "A Screen Porch Summer"? It is a feeling, an emotion, that burns deep inside of me. Though I can't spend my days frolicking through the sprinklers, I can keep the feeling of summertime inside me. It's hard to explain, but it's who I am.
With a computer with an internet connection at home, I'm back to the blogging world. And since I am back, I thought I'd start with a book recommendation. We all love books.

World of Pies by Karen Stolz made me feel that little spark. Plus, I finished it in a day. The perfect way to begin my summer reading!