Dugout

So I'm still not completely dug out of my craft-room yet, but I am a couple flat-rate boxes lighter, and minus about 15 sets of Stampin' Up stamps, and a large flat-rate box full of corks, and I'm about to be two bridesmaid dresses lighter. So that's something.

Yeah, something.

I feel like its never ending. I know one day I'll have the craft-room of my dreams, but this space I have is just too small for the stuff I own. So in order to be able to be crafty and be productive I have to get organized. For me, its the only way.

So I ask you, my friends, my confidants... for help. How do you organize your ribbon, your punches, your odds and ends, your Glimmer Mists, your rulers, your ATC's, your thread, your paints, your stamp pads (and I could keep going on...).

I did get a fantastic idea from Miss Stephanie on paper. I'd seen it when I was back at her house in June of this year and of course, like everything else in her freaking craft room, it was perfect. And... I was jealous. Her craftroom is the size of my master bedroom, but really, who's comparing???

Anyway, here's a peek at my new paper organization system. Thanks Steph:

Just to show you I'm not a complainer (usually)... here are a few (material) things I am thankful for this November:

(My very most favorite Jade plant that I got at the Farmers Market in Tacoma)

(Some flowers my mom gave me Sunday when they came over for dinner)

(My November calendar I made with Purple Onion Stamps)

(COOKING LIGHT. Say no more!)

(My Starbucks city mugs)

A Good Thing

Just a little aside... People always say I'm a dark haired Martha Stewart. And-- I secretly like it. (Well, minus the whole going to jail for insider trading thing, lets just pretend that part didn't happen, mmmmkay?)

I wonder if Martha Stewart is good at photography. Probably not, she has people for that. I bet she doesn't even cook anymore. Or buy her own groceries, or clean her own toilets. But shit, if I had that money, I wouldn't clean my own damn toilets either. I would probably cook and buy my own groceries though. And take pictures, duh.

I woke up feeling awesome this morning so I thought I'd buy myself a little treat. I hope my husband is not reading this because as luck would have it, I've been feeling pretty awesome a lot lately and buying myself lots of little treats. However, I think I'm worth it, right?

Here's my new toy:

I think even Martha might have fun with this. TEE HEE.

Ahhh, summer, it makes me so giddy. I wish for picnics and green grass with no shoes and I wish to quit my job.

Also, I don't know if you've heard, but Purple Onion Stamps is having a MONGO sale.



Limited quantity of grab bags are now available. They contain around 25 stamps of different styles & sizes.$15.00 includes domestic shipping. International orders will run around $22.00. I will need your address for the exact total. The grab bags are all very similar so there would be lots of duplicates if ordering more than one. However, they make great gifts or break them apart to send out RAKS to friends. The grab bags are not on the website.

If you would like to order them please:
-Email me at: michele@purpleoniondesigns.com
-Indicate quantity you would like to order
-Full name & shipping address
-Method of payment: check, money order or Paypal (please include Paypal email address)

I've been feeling a little uninspired lately. I don't know if its the crap weather we've been having here or the fact that my activity is so restricted I feel like I'll get in trouble if I bend over to pet the dog. Maybe a little combo of both. For me... I whine and bitch about working out (dejavu much?) but I do know this... it definitely makes me a more motivated and happy person. Something about those endorphins really gets me going. I can't wait to get out on my new bike, go hiking and camping, and get my arse off the couch. It's not as much fun to sit around when that's all you can do. I thought about maybe planting a pot or two last night... but that's about as far as I got, just thinking about it. I'm hoping the motivation comes back soon, cuz its driving me crazy... I'm trapped in my own body.

I had a little creative spurt last night and made a layout for OLW. The stamps are all Purple Onion... and honest, that little filigree corner, how pretty is that? I just love it... and that little tiny leaf stamp? Its precious, seriously.


Do you guys have any good music you've been listening to lately? I've been addicted to the new DMB Single "Funny the Way It Is" and I love it. Happy Thursday.

Going Under the Knife

Have you seen that Purple Onion is having a HUMUNGO clearance sale? Better go check it out ... they have lots of stuff on sale! Here's a LINK TO THEIR OVERSTOCK SALE !!

Also, I am having surgery tomorrow. Remember those stupid little ear infections I kept getting? Yeah, due to a hole in my ear-drum... since I was SIX. HOLY CRAP. I dunno why it never got fixed sooner, but now it'll be done and over with and I'm hoping I'll be feeling up to par Friday so I can spend the day recuperating and scrapbooking.

I've been battling a cold (OMG, this post is so negative) since we got home from GA so I've been trying to go to bed early and rest up before getting cut into. I think its slowly getting better...

On a happy note, I made buttermilk pancakes for dinner because a. we had buttermilk to use up and b. we've not gone shopping since we got home. They were SO good :) They really reminded me of the pancakes my grandma used to make us. She always had buttermilk on hand.

I'll update Friday and let everyone know I'm not dead. (I'm so joking... I know I'll be fine).

Oh, and I'm pregnant.

(April Fools)!!

And she purged, but the taste in her mouth was not bad...

So, this past month, Stephanie has been purging her scrap-room and other areas of her house like a madwoman. She keeps telling me how good it feels, and how much more organized and creative she's been. (Honestly, she doesn't have to tell me, I mean, have you seen all the layouts she's done this month? She is ON FIRE!!) Then she posted those killer pictures of her crafty-space in all its organized gloriousness and the Virgo in me came back from the dead and INSISTED I clean my shit-hole disorganized mess up, and SOON.

So today I went through all the bins underneath my sewing table. I got rid of glass/ceramic paints, glitter, old colored pencils, watercolors, stencils, foam stamps, gift bags I've been hoarding, magazine photos of Paul Walker and Leonardo DiCaprio I cut out when I was in seventh grade and had on a bulletin board in my room to drool over. I giggled over old love letters from high school boyfriends and silly tidbits they'd given me over the years that I'd saved. I filed some of them away. I purged my bookshelves, my game stash, my stamp collection, and tried to sneak out a few things of hubby's but he caught me and I was shut down. Damn, next time he's out... hahahaha (evil laugh). I photographed it all and put a bunch of it on craigslist. Keep your fingers crossed people want my junk so I'll have money to spend in Atlanta in a couple of weeks.

I've also been working on a super secret project for purple onion. It's been finished for a while now but Michele just posted it on her blog. I loved working with her perpetual calendar set, its awesome because while this project took me a while to complete, I'll be able to use it year after year by just switching out the small calendar piece. As each month comes up, I've got it out on my bookcase to show off. (SUCH A DORK, I know).
I've gotten some special little tidbits in the mail from a couple of friends recently. You know who you are. Thank you so much, you made my day.

I hope everyone's weekend is going swimmingly!!

i don't think you're ready for this jelly

okay, time for the winner... i did the random integer generator for complete randomness and no favoritism...

so because there was one duplicate post, kristi, you're the winner! email me @ adripofcoffee@hotmail.com and ill send your loot.

made a layout tonight using some purple onion goodness and its also for one little word, which i haven't done in a long time, but was feeling inspired.

journaling reads:
26 years old
learning to love herself
struggling to accept her body image
courageous
mature
decisive
kind
becoming confident
loud and quiet
quirky
collector of vocabulary words and hugs
i see me.

busy weekend!

holy crap, its been a week since i blogged. so many things have happened since last monday.

1. i made orange marmalade! (i used the recipe off the sure-gel box if anyone's interested).


its really good... and was really easy! and, i discovered something wonderful (well, i think its wonderful due to the fact that the thing i despise most about home-made goods of this nature is water-bathing) you can invert the jars as soon as you've filled them. let them sit for five minutes upside down, and then turn them right side up again and the suckers will seal. i tell you no lies, its a miracle. i almost squealed with delight as i realized i wouldn't have to water-bath my jellies ever again.

2. we had crown moulding hung in our bedroom. its not quite done, but it looks absolutely STELLAR. last week i also painted my bathroom and we'll soon hang more moulding in there. i can't wait to post the before and after pictures. there really is a pretty big change. i can't wait to start decorating!!

3. i bought a new outfit! and i wore my hot-pink shoes from jamie's wedding with it!

4. i went to my first ever 'commitment ceremony' and let me just say... it was way classier than any other wedding i've ever been too... well, except for the part where one of the grooms was wearing undies that had a big heart on the buns that said "rob's bitch". yeah, aside from that, it was classy and gorgeous and i thoroughly enjoyed myself. they had a full bar (which i happen to like and think is nice at weddings). i partook in the lovely beverages. in fact, i had three wonderful cosmopolitans... all made with grey goose, muddled with lime, and superb in flavor.

i can't not tell you about the dinner... i thought about skipping it, but we all know i LOOOOVE food. so first course... butternut squash bisque with a dollop of creme fresh. second course, baby spinach salad with berry vinagrette and topped w/ fresh berries and candied nuts. third course, lamb chops and risotto. mmmmm, holy crap it was good. and the cake. boy oh boy the cake... key lime with a cream cheese marionberry filling. or... banana if you prefered. both wonderful.

mom and i walked through the market for a bit before the wedding and froze our asses off. at least she had pants on, i was in that damn skirt. i must say, after the first half hour, i was mostly numb, so it wasn't that big of a deal.

5. got an ear infection. yeah, lovely, third one in the last month. so today i go to the doctor, hoping to get yet ANOTHER round of antibiotics. armed with knowledge. this time, i'm fairly certain of what has been giving me these dreaded ear infections. it is my headphones. they sit in my ear. they block out all other noise, save the music. i love them dearly. they are the greatest headphones i've ever used. however, i'm fairly certain (sorry if this is too graphic, but its my blog and i'll say it) that sweat has been pooling in my ear and being trapped by these little lovely beasties as i work off my donut at the gym. so anyway, i went to the doctor today, had to miss work, which sucks because where i work, leaving is frowned upon, we don't get sick time, etc etc. (i know its ridiculous). the doctor looks in my ear and all but screams "you have a hole in your eardrum!" honestly, i wasn't that surprised as i daily poke q-tips down there with reckless abandon because i thought i faintly remembered something of that nature from when i was a kid... something about tubes and the doctor saying it was small enough it wouldn't ever really bother me and not to worry about it. long story short, damn doctor doesn't give me anything for my ear infection because he can't get past the fact that i have a godforsaken hole in my damn ear and should see a specialist. so i get...wait for it.... wait for it... a referral! and i can't get in there till wednesday. so until wednesday i get to deal with sloshy crap in my ear, a fever, and lots of other goodies. whatever, its probably best i go to a specialist, but damn it, now i have to take more time off work.

so the conclusion i've come to is that: i will never see this doctor again (it was the first time, he was the only appt left available today...gee, i wonder why?)

i will write the company i bought the earphones from a strongly worded letter. perhaps i can at least get a pair of foamy headphones to replace my bacteria inducing pieces of crap.

6. i made this card for my sister for her birthday a couple of weeks ago, and the second i made for my grandma for her birthday:


i went to work with a hangover this morning, for the first time in a long time. oh, did i mention that not only did i have three cosmos, but i also had three glasses of wine? yes, i am a lush.

how was your weekend?

exhausted!

we had a great weekend!

saturday we celebrated my sister's birthday. my mom (and I) made pepper crusted filet mignon with a blue cheese cream sauce, homemade onion rings, roasted asparagus, and sauteed wild mushrooms. then my cheesecake for dessert. there is only one word for such a feast... I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E. of course, with such rich food... comes a stomachache. which i had promptly after finishing my last bites of tasty goodness. alas, 'tis the price we pay for succulent treats and i am more than willing to pay it again in the future. i came home stuffed and promptly passed out in a food coma.

today, callista came over and we had a little scrap date. it was super fun and great to meet her! she is a sweet girl and i hope we can do it again soon. we watched "across the universe" and chatted. i had been to the store before she came and bought some fresh whole wheat rolls and made a pot of my grandmother's hamburger soup. it turned out very yummy and now i'll have lunch for most of the week!

here's the recipe:

grandma leona's hamburger soup
2- 29 oz. cans tomato sauce
1 to 1 1/2 quarts water (depending on how thick you like it)
1- lb 7% fat or less ground beef, browned
2- cups chopped and peeled carrots
1- onion
1- cup celery chopped
2- cloves garlic, finely chopped
3- cups peeled & cubed russet potatoes
1/4 cup brown rice or barley
salt and pepper to taste

mix together all ingredients except for potatoes in pot and let simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally. add potatoes last and cook until done.

(i know, super hard, huh?). its perfect for a snowy day like today... i love soup. i think it may be my favorite food, well no... not favorite... but second only to pie.

here's a layout i did two weeks ago that i've never posted and one i did today with an old picture of me i found in my stash. i was five! just graduated from preschool, it was 1987, how hilarious.




how was your weekend? anyone have news to share?

Project 52 Week 1

i really know how to pick em. i seem to always find the slowest line at the store, or get behind the person who has decided today is the day that they will open a credit card and save 2.50 additional. i change lanes to get out from behind a slow person only to find that the person in the other lane has decided its time to slow down and the person i was behind has sped up like mario andretti. i pick the treadmill at the gym next to the old guy who crop dusts like a mofo and then peeks at me out of the corner of his eye to see if i've smelled his stinkosfield. yes, i've smelled it and am running operation no-gag at this very moment and failing miserably thank you very much.

i guess i'm just lucky (wink wink).

last night i finished up a page for project 52 and started another while watching vanity fair. cute movie, i'd never seen it. i liked reese witherspoon ... she played a great character.

heres what i did for week one:

goals09
Originally uploaded by adripofcoffee

i've been loving the studio calico kits (thats mostly what i used on this week one page) and there will definitely be more layouts coming too... week 2 is all the january studio calico and it makes me SWOON.

also, have you been over to the purple onion blog lately? michele's been posting a bunch of projects and we've all got galleries over there. so fun! i can't wait to be able to post a super secret project i've been working on. its been a while since i've done something crafty that's not sewing or scrapping... and this one falls under misc.

also, i bought gossip in the grain, the new ray lamontagne album per recommendation by stephanie and I am sooooo sooooo in love. i loved his first, but i love this one too. and on a side note, doesn't he kind of look like all known pictures of jesus christ? i mean... the traditional one you see? it makes me giggle. where are your birkenstocks dude? lets see 'em



have a happy day all!

falalalalalalalalalala

okay, how can craigslist not be addicting when i've gotten rid of my jalopy treadmill, sold the ugly hutch i've hated for 3.5 years, and sold the old kitchen sink that was in my house for three years? (and has since been replaced by a gorgeous masterpiece). tell me? how can i not love it?

last night i was involved in some stitchery. (doesn't that sound like a debacle of some sort? i assure you... it was not as treacherous as it sounds...).

okay, i'm so dorky, passing off 'stitchery' as a wily evening game.

enough.

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i did make some simply divine corn chowder. which just so happens to be something i've never made before. shall i post the recipe? is it worth posting recipes?

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michele has posted a gift-wrapping challenge over at the purple onion blog along with some schnazzy examples done by the design team. she's giving away prizes. i think it is a must-do.

also, these are some new stamps in the shop, okay, i don't have them yet because they just came out, but i am in love, and i must have them. period.

vintage snowflakes by liz tamanaha


the design team's been putting up some pretty great stuff lately. here are a few of my favorites:




(The first giftwrap is by Anna Björklund, the second using the ribbon stamp (WOW) is by Laura Craigie, and the third with the awesome swirlies is by Jenn Biederman... you can check these and more out at the purple onion blog)

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okay, i'm posting the recipe anyway.

Corn Chowder

1/2 lb. bacon, diced
1/2 c. onion chopped
1/2 c. chopped celery
2 tbsp. flour
4 c. milk1 can cream-style corn
3 small russett potatoes peeled, cubed, par boiled
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
paprika

In large saucepan, fry bacon until crisp; remove and drain. Pour all but 3 tbsp. drippings from saucepan. Add onion and celery to drippings in pan; cook and stir until onion is tender. Remove from heat; blend in flour. Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in corn, potatoes, salt and pepper; heat through. Stir in bacon. Sprinkle each serving with paprika!

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christmas tag (from callista)

okay, Callista tagged me. i think she likes to tag me. i still haven't posted my randomness from her last tag... although i have a saved post somewhere where i started too... but this is holiday tag, so its more fun. have i rambled enough?

Here are the rules for Holiday tag.......1) Link to the person who tagged you 2) Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6) 3) Write 6 random holiday things about yourself 4) Tag 7 people at the end of your post and link to them 5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog 6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up

1. last year was the first year i ever had a fake tree

2. i bake a ton, i can't help it... i can't stand storebought crap.

3. once i bit my sister on christmas and my mom made me sit in time out.

4. we got a puppy right before christmas and my mom let him in and he peed on my sister's present and she cried. i thought it was rather hilarious.

5. i don't like mincemeat pie, its ICKY

6. i love christmas music and start listening to it in november.

i'm not going to tag anyone cuz i'm lazy, but if you want to fill it out, please do and link up!