Getting excited

for fall.

Also, blowing bubbles with the new bubble machine.
Wearing red for red day (Clifford's birthday), followed by pumpkins for pumpkin day. Avi made that one up himself, and later added pumpkin socks.
Buying fresh flowers and pumpkins at the grocery store, I guess it was pumpkin day. 
Visiting the zoo.  Can't wait for all the halloween decorations and daily trick or treating to start. Also, pushing the stroller all the way to the zoo is a lot more fun than going to the gym.
Watching the Mindy Project.  My favorite comedy of the year by far.
Reading Anne of the Island, because I love her sense of whimsy and could use more of her optimism.  Plus, it was free for download on google books. 
Eating vegan ginger cookies, made by my husband.  They are so spicy and warm and good.  Imagining how good they would be made with real butter instead of oil.  Maybe next time.

Feeling in a bit of a creative slump.  Not sure what direction to take in the future.  I think my insecurity about staying home with the kids and uncertainty about the future have a lot to do with this.
Linked up with Stephanie Howell for her blog your heart series. It is not easy to be that vulnerable on your blog, but I tried.

What are you up to?

Project Life - happy times.

This was a really fun and busy week. I used lots of triangles, circles and ampersands this week.  I printed out half my pictures at home and already had some stamping done on them from last week, so that helped things come together quickly. Here is the left side of my spread:

I used a couple of my Art Journaling Cards on here as well.  Love the color they add to a spread.  I wrote out the story of Avinash volunteering Nandini to get her head chopped off.  I stamped the photo with celebrate life and card with you are love last week, thanks to Viji ;) 

 

I love hearing about 'the News' from school.  Avi got to be the pretend Shabbat 'daddy' this week at school too, which meant he also got to blow the shofar.  A huge treat for him.  He was super into apples and honey as well.  I pasted a few photos on a grid bag, and misted a few wooden apples in overdue and custard to go on top.  Still loving these little alpha stickers for mini titles.

I have been hoarding this soccer ball flair for years now.  I was almost tempted to save it for a layout about soccer, but I took the plunge and put it on here, ha!

I did a mini-layout style for this pocket.  I layered a banner ephemera, circle tidbit, some washi and a leaf sequin together. 

Ampersands!  I stuck one on there and then decided a random collection of them would look cute together too.  They are from the Ali E thickers, Hey Day ephemera, circle tidbits and ReadySetGo thickers.

Here is the right side:

Lots more pirate pictures.  A card about my mom's overnight visit to Houston and another about bathtime (they are yearbook journaling cards). Nandini reading with Ryan.  She brings me books all day long and it feels like she learns a new word everyday, here she is saying 'go go'.  I stamped so RSGo paper with a KP 'Get it Girl' stamp.  Loving the word bubble paper too. 
 

I love this collage title.  I used Baxter stickers,  printed RSGo Thickers, an old SC sticker, red shoreline thickers, and white letter stickers.  The paper is A boy's Life and has tiny skulls and crossbones on it, I stuck a word bubble post it on for journaling.  I used a few chipboard banner pieces (that have been sitting in a box for ages) as triangle embellishments along the sides.

Let me know if you have any questions. Linked up with The Mom Creative for Project Life Tuesday. The PL kit I am using is the Clementine kit, multi-pack page protectors, and grid journaling cards. I love the new 3x4 cardstock pack too.  Thank you so much to everyone in this wonderful community. I love all the feedback and looking at everything people do each week. It definitely keeps me motivated. Also, please include a link to your projects below so we can check them out too!

Shiver Me Timbers!

Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day!!  

This is our third year in a row celebrating at the museum. 

Avinash finally agreed to wear the pirate costume that I bought him last year.  Hopefully we can get him to wear it again on his birthday and maybe Halloween as well. Avinash has learned a few pirate phrases, probably from Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  It is hilarious to hear him randomly interject, "Shiver me timbers!" in the middle of conversation.  And I'm pretty sure I heard a few good "Arrgghs" from Nandini.

Last year Nandini dressed up as a mermaid, but I was at a loss again this year.  I just pulled out a mickey pirate shirt with a striped skirt and striped pants.  Pirates seem to wear a lot of stripes.  I guess I should just get her a girly Pirates jersey next year.  With pearls of course.

 

 

 Just give me back my bottle and no one gets hurt!

We had so much fun at the museum, they had a few pirate themed crafts, like making paper hats and a balancing bear to 'walk the plank', but the main attraction was the awesome pirate show.  Avinash was laughing hilariously the whole time and Nandini was clapping after every trick.

Avinash even got called up on stage to help with one of the tricks.  The pirate called him "Captain Shortpants" and told him that "Hugh Hefner wants his jacket back", ha!  Avinash just laughed and waved proudly from the stage.  Until he found out what he had to do. Even though I told him it was a joke, he was not about to let the pirate put his head in the stocks and run a sword through it.  He did obligingly volunteer his sister to do it.  Nice.  Some other kid jumped on stage and Avinash held out his hands, ready to catch his head when it rolled off.  He was seriously shocked when the kid's head didn't fall.  He's definitely a trusting kid, but I'm not sure what that says about his concern for Nandini. 

Holy Mackerel!

A look at year's past:

2010

2011

I love this holiday.  It is the beginning of great weather in Houston.  We get to dress up and act silly.  It marks the beginning of the holiday season and allows the Halloween dressing up to start waaaaay early, which I love.   I hope you all get to celebrate today too!

PS-If you have any ideas for a pirate party, I'd love to hear them!

School Pages

I had so much fun scrapping pictures from Avinash's first day of school.  I made two pages and I still feel like I could make a few more, heehee.

I made this page for One Story Down, using lots of printables and a digi stamp set as a mask and a guide for a die cut as well.  Of course I had to use my school- themed washi tapes: math class, yellow airmail and math notes (do you think I'll buy anything with the words math in the name?  yes, yes I will).  Putting this up for the tape challenge at Simon Says Stamp! too. 

I love this picture of Avinash and my Dad, they are such a strong pair and I'm glad he was here for Avi's first day.  I made this page with this month's SC kit the night it arrived.  My favorite part is the library card and apple paper cips. 

And in fairness, because I'm nothing if not fair, here are some pages about Nandini's naming ceremony over the summer using Amy Tangerine Sketchbook line.  The doodling reminds me of a mehndi design, so it was just perfect for this.

I fussy cut lots of paisleys here and added pearls and doily sequins as well.

I also used some of the Michael's version of the Amy Tangerine paper, which also came with yummy vellum and tons of these tags.  Had so much fun glittering this vellum using Martha Stewart chunky glitter.  It's not exactly a two pager, but they do coordinate well.

Project Life - climb.

I got to crop with my friend Viji this weekend again. Even though we talked a lot with each other and the other ladies at Archivers, I swear I actually got something accomplished. I still had to finish up journaling and a few bits and pieces, but it was fun and relaxing to get together. Plus, I got to use all of her new Ali Edwards stamps! I was in love.  I still need practice stamping on photos but it was fun to try.  I found the stamps to be a little squishier than the acrylic Studio Calico stamps I normally use. We used a dye based ink, but not Staz-On.  I also got to use my new Yearbook and ReadySetGo stuff this week. 
 

This page came together so quickly because the middle row was already in place from last week, some stationery and the b-side of Everday Eclectic cards.  I made a collage of pictures from school again.  A little one of Nandini meeting Darth Vader snuck in there too. 
I got some new color magic alphas and am already in love.  I stuck a wood veneer word bubble and  the A colored in teal chalk ink.  I repeated the idea below with a picture of Nandini but added a glitter letter instead (what?  there are not many Ns in the pack, and I was being stingy, ha!!) with a remember this banner stamp.

The last kid's lab of the summer.  It was so fun because all the teachers knew Avinash so well by now and he even got to bring along a friend.  I used more wooden word bubbles, with some SC kit stars and a Martha/Avery label.  The textured labels are the best ones. 

Some random pictures of them playing outside on the patio, because, yes, here it is finally cool enough to go outside mid-day! I put a polaroid die cut frame around some journaling in the middle.  Nandini's picture is stamped with delightful.  It looked a little fuzzy, so I traced over the letters with a gold slick writer.  I added a few Amy Tangerine stickers to Avi's picture.

I fussy cut this cute circle graph paper to layer with my photo, a wooden heart and stitched vellum heart.  I just used the sentiments on the new RSGo date stamp here. 

I made a few extra Art Journaling Cards for an etsy order this week, so I used them here.   They are such a nice and colorful addition to the page.  We didn't remember to take a picture together on our anniversary, so I all I have are a few instagrams.  I added some flair and those color magic alphas in red this time.  I am so in love with them.  I have been waiting forever for someone to make a budmo jig font chipboard.
The rest of this page has a lot more pictures from a walkathon we took the kids to this weekend.  I stamped love.love.love on the picture of the boys looking at leaves in a drainhole.  So cute to see the silly things that interest them.  They had a really long conversation about whatever it was, heehee. 
On the bottom photo of Avi walking I stamped you are love and wrote more journaling directly on the photo.  It is a little hard to read here, but looks great in real life.  I use an ultrafine sharpie to write on photos.

We were so proud and amazed watching Avi climb to the top of the rock wall.  I used another polaroid frame from my shop.  I added a fun good for one ride button, even though he took about five or six turns.  I love the quality of the wooden MME embellishments.  It was a really fun week and we have another fun week coming up!

Let me know if you have any questions. Linked up with The Mom Creative for Project Life Tuesday. The PL kit I am using is the Clementine kit, multi-pack page protectors, and grid journaling cards. I love the new 3x4 cardstock pack too.  Thank you so much to everyone in this wonderful community. I love all the feedback and looking at everything people do each week. It definitely keeps me motivated. Also, please include a link to your projects below so we can check them out too! Direct post links please, and a link back would be much appreciated.

I'm ready to play soccer!

Ryan signed up Avinash for pre-K soccer this year. He was so into it, going out to buy shin guards, socks, shoes and a size 3 ball at three different stores before he found everything in the right size.

The first night he and Avinash kicked the ball around on the patio trying to score goals on the rug while Nandini toddled around them trying to grab the ball. We both shouted gooooooooooooooaaallll whenever he scored and tried to teach him not to use his hands. The second night Avinash decided he would rather play football because he could use his hands. When we went to visit one of my friends he asked her if we really were allowed to use hands in soccer. As if we are just tricking him. Where would he get an idea like that? We played sporadically after that and I started to wonder how long his initial enthusiasm would last.

The first practice was rained out.  Many, many questions and requests from Avinash to go to soccer practice followed.  Luckily, our awesome new coach set up an extra practice for everyone on Sunday.

He put oil in his hair before we left, just like his Nana taught him.  Love that he was thinking of Nana this morning, I know he is a big comfort to him.

The field was muddy but he was ready to go anyway.  Jumping over the mucky mud puddles was just part of the fun.  We loved all of it and think he did too. 

There was a lot of this:
"No hands."

"Keep going.."

"Maybe we'll just stop at one lap around the field..."

"You're going to the wrong goal, other way!"

 

and just general toddler chaos, ha!

Nandini wanted to play too in the worst way.  She even ran into the goalie net after Avinash played goalie for a few minutes (before clearing out with everybody else to head to the other goal, ha!). 

And, Ryan got us all ring pops as a reward on the way home.  Avinash was tired, but still excited and talking about kicking and playing again.  We are so proud of him and can't wait for the first game.

Graphic Shape Challenge

I am bringing you this fortnight's challenge (fortnight?  fortnight!  I love being able to use fortnight in a sentence on a regular basis now.  It just doesn't come up in conversation enough) at Beyond Grey.  I tend to buy lots of florals and themed embellishments, but I was really inspired by some of the geometric projects that have been popping up on pinterest.  I love to get inspiration for layouts from non-layout sources, so I thought I'd give it a try.

img source-I ♥ mathematics

 This fortnight's sponsor is

Go check them out.  The prize is a mystery stamp set!!

Here is what I came up with. I fussy cut some hexagons here, added a few more chipboard hexagons and one large hand cut hexagon.

I ended up using this dark pink cardstock to match the shiny red train in the picture.  Then, the pink sort of took over and I just went with it.  It was actually a lot of fun, and I think it turned out not too over the top girly and will be a nice breath of fresh air in the album.  I have been hoarding that bee stamp forever and am so glad I finally just broke down and used it, even if it is a bit random.  The wood veneer was a chance for me to add something neutral to the page, they had broken a bit in the package, but that just gave me the chance to layer them on top of one another.

Supply List: AC cardstock, MME patterned paper and chipboard, gold airmail washi, label sticker, SC wood veneer titles, SC kit stamp, ribbon and sequins.




Take the challenge and create something outside of your comfort zone.  Can't wait to see what you all come up with! Add your link to your direct post below!   You have one fortnight to go for it.