art in its urban form

We went into DC this morning to see this 500 ft mural off of Rhode Island Ave. This mural was created earlier in the month by a collection of graffiti artist from all over the US.  After many U-turns, crazy drivers and a fail attempt at a shortcut we arrived at this urban piece of art! It is so gorgeous and amazing!


okay, off to finish up homemade pizza and s'mores on the grill!  I hope you are having a great Sunday! True Blood tonight, I can't wait!
xo

happy birthday mjj....

whee!

(photo credit: whee!)
That is how I feel today, it is a total whee day because................ it's FRIDAY! This week has been a very busy work week and I looking forward to kicking back and getting some R&R.  Today is a relax post because of it, new dare went up earlier this afternoon.... confess something bad you did as a child. I have a few but the one that I remember involves my sister and me baking sugar cookies almost every day during summer vacation. Our mom couldn't figure out for the life of her what was happening to all of the baking supplies....we would run away or blame it on our daddy,as soon as she reached for the surgar, lol.  I forgot all about this one...( in first grade) I took an entire purse full of nail polish to school one day and preceded to paint my nails in class! What in the world was I thinking.....hahaha!

I am hoping to play with Ali's Favorite Things kit as well over the weekend.  It was so hard to keep the contents a secret because of the contest but I am in love with the stamp and journaling cards she designed! This kit goes on sale at Cocoa Daisy on September 3rd, this one is a popular one and will sell out fast! Subscribers are guaranteed a kit- discounts on subscriber rates ($2 off the 3 month price and $3 off the 6 month price) this month too!

It is supposed to rain almost all weekend but hoping to check out a graffiti exhibit and make some homemade pizzas and s'mores on the grill. I also need to watch Project Runway and almost  the entire second season of Gossip Girl. I think this all calls for a glass of wine, right?!
Cheers to a faboulous weeked!
xo
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still time to advertise -really affordable rates and great exposure:contact me for details!

afternoon crumbs....

I decided to try a new recipe from smitten kitchen, have you been there before? It is an awesome recipe source! ok, so I modified the blueberry crumble bar, mine has cherries in it as the fruit. It is delish, but eh...not so much for my two little munchkins! My favorite part of the recipe is the crumble, I always love that part and this one is perfect! It almost has the consistency of a cookie. I also love the balance of the sweetness, it is perfect not to sweet at all. I think that is the problem for my two, they love desserts that are sweet, lol.
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tv talk:
who is looking at project runway? I really like it so far, can't wait to see what happens tonight. Any favs yet, I think I will after tonight. I will say the dude that made the slip,who in the world was he making that dress for in the beginning or should say is he designing for women in the twenty-first century, oye...i can't!
xo

lists...what's that about?

I made this layout from the BOM (book of me) prompts on the board at cocoa daisy, I love prompts because it take the fuss over a topic to scrap about away. The prompt I worked with was "life list"; I am typically not a list person,totally fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal! For me whatever happens in life happens, but it was nice to put some of the thoughts onto paper.
Although the way my brain is working lately maybe I should take a look at making lists, lol. My mom was joking me the other day about not being able to remember stuff!

I am really excited about crafting, fall,fall fairs, sharing and to new things happening period. It is crazy that I am already thinking about the holidays? I can not believe we are almost about to start another month! xo
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excited to announce new sponsors, want to advertise or be a sponsor...more information here!

a good tee: the boyfriend

the boyfriend trend is hot right now: jeans, shorts, blazers and scarves but my favorite is the tee.

gap ( i love this color and they are on sale right now too!).

j.crew

also love and have this one from old navy, but couldn't get the image to load, it is on sale as well ($6.99)

very close second are scarves....I love scarfs! They can dress up the basic tee too! Both pieces are great for layering, especially with fall coming up...great staples to have in your wardrobe arsenal. hurry up fall, i can't wait to see you!:) What are your fall staples?

A scrappy post tomorrow, I have a layout to share,xo

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interested in being a blog sponsor or advertising...more information available here!

you just get ready....

That was pretty much our motto for the weekend! :) I hope you had a good one, had a quick fun one in jersey.

I went to a bonfire party with these two wonderful ladies! It was so fun, first time bonfire experience for me with s'mores, great music and I loved it, wish I could go to one every weekend. :)



These two little ones went back to school today! Although as you can see, Saadiq is not so little anymore, he is almost as tall as me! I can't believe he is in third grade, where have the years gone?! They were so excited this morning, first day of kindergarten for Synai. She was so cute this morning when I walked her to her room. Wow, I have two school aged kids now...it is a good feeling! I love them so much and feel so blessed to have them in my life!
Happy Monday!
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true blood: pure magic and just awesome! Lafayette, can you be my protector and bff please? Two more episodes...i want this season on dvd for sure! This show is just so cool and funny, I am liking Andy but the voice has got to go, sounds like his throat is in torcher and sore!
xo

a chance to win a cocoa daisy kit...

The September kit is going to be major at Cocoa Daisy, it is designed by Ali Edwards (her favorite things). Here are details on how you can win a kit:

All correct entries will enter into a prize draw for a chance to win the Main Kit for September!!
Here are the rules:

1. Each member of the message board is allowed a maximum of 5 guesses.
2. Your name will be entered a maximum of 5 times into the draw. Only CORRECT entries will be entered.
3. You may enter your 5 guesses at one go, or separate posts if you wish.
4. Your guess MUST include the NAME OF THE PRODUCT, and contain a corresponding link to an image of the product to count.
5. You DO NOT have to specify if the product will be in the Add-on or Main Kit.

The contest is open from now until 26th August 6pm Pacific.

Submit your answers here: What's in the AE kit?

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hint: if you followed my "likes" before cha you know that a few of my favorite new products will be in this kit!

have a great weekend! xo

today's post brought to you by the color: yellow

1. Fast Food, 2. allinarow, 3. Summer Gardening, 4. the map, 5. Untitled, 6. Purchase #3 - $12

I love yellow and especially in home decor. Oh...how could I forget the ampersand, I am addicted to using it in scrapbooking. I wish I had the one that Pottery Barn had a few years ago, crossing my fingers to the thrifting fairies that I find one like the one above one day! :) But until then I will make my own, did these this morning, one for me one for a friend. I hope she likes it! On my list for Friday night is craft night with s2 to make a banner like the one top left corner for their room, they love to make stuff so we are going to dig into my scraps and see what happens!


tonight is major for tv pleasure: project runway and real housewives of atl all in night!!! I can barely contain myself, lol...xo

paint, adhesive and lots of photos= contentment

half way thru the work week and I couldn't be happier!
glued, painted and inked the morning away= creative contentment
laughed so hard with my sister last night at Flipping Out, oh that Jeff Lewis cracks me up.
looking forward to saadiq's first scrimmage tomorrow and hoping that it doesn't get rained out.
started on the next mini workshop, details coming soon and a peek in the photo below:






more photos of my inspiration journal... to say that I love photo collages is an understatement, my home has them everywhere. I love groupings and will do a post about it in the future. Every time I see them in catalogs I rip it out and stick it here, so inspiring to me. The one above is my all time favorite! :) I love watching movies, especially ones that center around a home, love set design. Two od of my all time favorite apartments is Kat's in The Wedding Date and of course Carrie's apartment in Sex and The City: The Movie.
I love how movies, tv, print and the internet are all sources of great inspiration in life.
xo

the best

The beach was just the refresher we needed to put a skip back into our step. I love it when Mondays feel new,fresh and energized!
How about you? How was your weekend? What did you do?
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true blood: Eric had me almost in tears this week, love him! Lafayette was no joke for real, double yum! Maryann is a bad b*! This show is the best for real and only three episodes left....double boo!

dare 145 is on a poppin'....check us out here! I am in LOVE with Maxwell, always have been and his newest release is a total eargasm for sure! He sings like an angel, have him on constant repeat.

Thank you to everyone who registered for my class, registration will stay open until Sunday! :) Also wanted to say thank you for all of the congrats on me joining the Cocoa Daisy team! I am so excited to be there with Tricia and the daisy divas.

It has been a really busy Friday and we are off to a day at the beach tomorrow! I can't wait and it is so hot here! It will be nice to be able to sit on the beach and feel the ocean breeze.

The winner for the punch is:

Tiffany Moyer said...

Wow! I've been trying to get my hands on this EXACT border punch 4EVER! Thanks 4 the chance to win...

7:53 PM

Have a great weekend! xo

a thursday giveaway.

Today is a giveaway...this apron lace punch from Fiskars. I see people make this work really well for them, but I can't seem to make it work as well. I've only used it twice.There was a lot of buzz around it when it was first released in the winter. So if you would like it leave a comment and I will pick a winner tomorrow!

thoughts on TrueBlood- freaking awesome, I love this show more and more each week!
off to twitter for my job... follow my event (plane pull)!
xo

PHOTOBOOTHS.

yes...i am addicted to them because they are so much fun. The more people the better the photos, if I ever get married a booth will have to be at the reception! ;)
My current quest is to find one at Rehoboth Beach this weekend. If you know where one is located hit me up because the locator on photobooth.net doesn't have one listed.


I made this layout for Audrey's letters and words challenge: to use masks. You know how I love the mist, so this was fun and I sprinkled some new Hambly on it as well. I am in love with the butterfly stickers and lace overlays!


Morgan and I pretty much violated the photobooth at DCWV while at CHA...lol. I have so many pics, but I am sure know she has more! :) I know, scrapped two photobooths layouts back to back but I couldn't help it and honestly forgot that I had done the first one, whaeves. Last week's dare was to scrap your hangout... you guessed it this is my new favorite hangout. I can't wait to get the kids in one with me! :)
Well off to do some work, peace!
xo
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Haven't registered for round two of the delight workshop?...more details here.

insert [lump in throat]...

okay...trying not to get too emotional but in summation last week we as in Saadiq and Synai finished their first week of competitive sports training. The verdict...they love it! I hope they continue to have the love and passion for their respective sports as they do now.

We enjoy watching them everyday, Synai is super cute learning the cheers and fundamentals. I can't wait to see her in her uniform and I know I will have some pics with her in a cheer pose soon....so cute!

On Friday Saadiq had his first practice where they almost had all their gear on minus pads. I arrived at practice with his team hitting the bag with their coaches. I watched my son hit the bag perfectly and then go on to do it several more times per the request of his coach because he was doing it correctly. I was so proud of him, because I want him to be a leader not just in sports but in life. After he did the drill the second time completely and came into my view doing some agility foot work, that is when I lost it....my eyes filled with tears. I couldn't believe how confident, sure, agile, swift and big he looked at that moment. whew....it was a good feeling but it was such a shock! I didn't expect to be quite so moved, I didn't cry when he went to kindergarten but playing football brings me to tears....lol.

He loves football just as much as I do and really wanted to do a few years ago. I am so happy I put away my fears to let him have an opportunity to make his dreams more of a reality. I never felt more than in that moment how precious these times as children really are...they do not stay this way forever.

I took a picture with my camera phone so that I can always remember, can't wait to put it to paper
xo

delight workshop II details...

I am excited to offer this workshop again! I received a good response from the first class. I really had a great time teaching them as well. This session will begin on Monday, August 17th. It will be a six day class in which you will receive: a daily prompt with instructions,a technique and an example. The cost of the class is $10 USD. Registration starts today and will end on 8/16. Within 24 hours of your registration being received,you will receive a confirmation, supply list and invite to the private flickr group for the class participants. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. :)

registration is now closed........

Q&A about workshop
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When and how are prompts sent out?

Prompts are sent out daily to the participant each morning from 8/17-8/22. A pdf. file will be included in the email and can downloaded to your computer at your convenience.

Can you tell us a little bit more about the supplies?

Supplies include spray inks, ink pads, paint, white cardstock, black pen, chipboard negatives; most are things you may already have in your supply arsenal. ;)

What spray inks do you use?

I use them all (Tim Holtz colorwash, Maya Mist and Glimmer Mist) but I use Tim Holtz the most....

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Happy Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I awoke this morning with the need to get inky. Once I fixed breakfast for my little brood, ate, let Aiden out, wash a little laundry...I got busy with these atcs. A few more paint splodges to be added but I love the colors..my favs of course. I love getting good fun mail but love sending it out just as much. So if you want one (i have 20) of these email me your details. No mail needed in return just putting some ink love into the universe! :)

Plans for the weekend: summerfest concert (Erykah Badu, Raphael Saadiq, Michael Epps, Chrisette Michele and Chuck Brown) for me and GI Joe movie for the kids and trueblood watching!
Have a wonderful weekend!
xo
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registration for the delight workshop II opens on Monday, August 10th!

some inspiration.

My magazine/catalog collection (anthropologie, domino, urban outfitters, j.crew,crew cuts and O) has been stacking up for a while. I have stacks of them distributed throughout the house but it was getting a little out of hand. I finally was inspired last night to start pulling the images, colors, poses,fashion combos and decor elements that I love all together in a mini-binder album.
The cover is a work in progress.






I lined the inside of it with the fabulous letterpress inspired anthro catalog from this spring. Snippets of it are sprinkled throughout as well as pics of family, friends, tv icons (yes... Mariska) and atc's.This will be a source of inspiration for me in creativity and life. I love having it all in one place and hope to continue to make additional journals as each one fills up. I know my style and likes/dislikes will change but that is part of the fun...correct?! :) What inspires you?

green thumb...maybe :)

Things are looking up and growing. :) We finally have some what....tomatoes!!! The tomato plant has grown so big I had to tie it to a stake. It has about 10 little tomatoes on it right now, so excited! Just a few weeks ago our garden looked like....this! The bell peppers are growing at a slower rate but look...some buds are starting to peek out. They grow in clusters and this plant it loaded with them!


My mom has a green thumb when it comes to gardening...take a look. :)Her tomato plants are taller than I am! lol

Promise to have a more crafty post tomorrow! :)
xo
eta: I am losing the battle with the beetles too Jude, my zucchini's blossoms keep getting chopped off! :(

hello august, my you are tempting!*

Where in the world has the summer gone?! I can't believe August is here and the summer activities are almost done, kids start back to school in three weeks and fall is just around the corner....wow!! We enjoyed a hot weekend in southern VA -we chilled, picked vegetables in my mom's garden, took photos and ate some really good southern food...yum!

Speaking of good food...this is some of the good things we ate while in Orlando. I love good company, food + conversations= great dinners in my opinion!

....yummy right?! Another layout from my '09 MMM entry, Saadiq is totally my carbon copy, he loves to pose for pictures just as much as I do plus he is my lil' boy doppleganger. :) Synai is starting to give him a run for the money with lens though.... :)

For the True Blood fans out there, it was out of this world good last night ,right?!!!! Finally we find out what Maryann is, knew she was up to no good. That scene when she came into Sookie's house with the rabbit (poor poor bunny) and Eggs (which is fine as wine by the way) and Tara are on the sofa, she looked stone crazy and their faces was priceless! I love the dual plots and poor Andy....lol he just can't get a break. Godric is a total cutie, can't wait to learn more about him (love that he is young and like 2,000 years old) and I knew Eric would save Sookie. She didn't get on my nerves this week, thank goodness. My sister has a good theory about Godric's capture....can't wait to see if we are right. I don't think he would have gone with them willingly.... Hoyt and Jessica are just plain adorable!!! I can't wait to see what happens next week....bam!
xo