Wishbook

When I was a kid every year we'd get the Sears Wishbook, until they stopped making it.  My sister and I would circle items that we just had to have for christmas.  And the rules were that we couldn't choose the same item.  So it was a race to see who could 'get' what.  I think my parents did it so they would know what to get us, but moreover it was just entertaining.  We'd spend hours just looking at the 20+ pages of Barbie bubble-gum-pink-paraphernalia hoping Santa was watching and knew exactly what we had circled in the wishbook.  Whether or not he was watching, circling items in the book became a big deal for both of us.

During college I worked for Sears in almost every department learning the many facets of the day to day operations of the store.  I no longer work there but received a small gift card from them this year due to a class action law suit.  Also this holiday I got a gift card to Sears from my grandma.  Now I am in a similar circumstance as with the wishbook.  I have over $400 to spend at Sears.  And their website, the digital version of the wishbook, has become the new place for me to 'circle' items I want by placing them into my shopping cart.

Circling all those toys when I was little was a fantasy.  Hoping that I would get maybe one of the large playsets was all I really wanted.  And I imagined if I had the money that I would buy all of them.  Well now I 'have the money' and I can't decide what to get.   I keep thinking 'practical', use it for new glasses in the optical department, or go 'indulgent' and get those $169 Ciao Bella Boots.

Off to peruse my wishbook.  Happy 2010 everyone!  May you have a safe and happy holiday and I'll see you in the new year.

2010 I await you...

I am making my resolutions list public this year.  Hopefully this will help me accomplish more by putting them out there for everyone in cyberspace to see.  Along with stringent non-fun things I will add in some spontaneous and creative goals for myself.

So here goes nothing....

1. Save more money
    -after cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning up stuff today I see how bad an addiction to shopping that I truly have.  I have known  this for a while, but with two family weddings in 2010, both out of state, I'd like to be able to afford more than just food and hotel rooms.

2. Save more money (that isn't for vacations), and (gulp) set a realistic budget.
    -One that allows me to still indulge in my daily starbucks fix but limits my visits to Anthro and Sephora.
 
3. Do at least one craft project a month and post it online.
    -To satisfy my creativity and need for self expression through a paper medium.

4.  Recommit to losing weight
     -In 2009 I lost almost 30lbs, and in 2010 I want to lose another 30.

5. Use my annual passes!
     - I have annual passes to Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo and I will set up plans to use them in 2010!

6. Take dance classes and meet new people!
     -My friend L and I are going to make good on this promise in 2010!  Latin American Dance here we come!

7. Post on my blog regularly.
     -enough said. ;)

8.  Plan regular vacations and time off from work to recharge.
     -Possible destinations, LA for a long weekend, Vegas for, well, just for Vegas and all that it brings, Hawaii, because I've never been.

9.  Explore my hometown!
     -Try a new restaurant, explore a different part of the city, or just take my camera out and shoot the unexpected.

10.  Take my car in for regular car washes and treat it right.
     -I know how stupid this one sounds, but really the last car I drove, I ran it into the ground.  Rarely washed, rarely cleaned.  For the biggest purchase in my life so far I should take care of it beyond scheduled routine maintenance.

This list is unfinished...but hopefully I will accomplish most if not all of them.  Its a fresh year for new adventures...nothing ventured nothing gained.

Christmas is coming the geese are getting fat....

Yes, they are getting pretty plump..and thus I have neglected my blog.  I decided on my commute home tonight that on my 'resolutions' list for 2010 would involve this little space on the internet I call mine.  I really enjoy expressing my creativity to the few people that might stumble upon this site.  Musing about my favorite music, shopping excursions and crafty expressions is something that I would love to expand upon in the new year. I realize that this will require some dedication...and maybe even some 'planned posts'.  But in the end I will have a creative outlet that lets me reach the masses...however few they may be.  You never know my blog could end up with its own book, like Pioneer Woman, or even a movie like Julie and Julia.  But even if my blog only expands to a readership of 6 close friends I will be happy.  

For now, please enjoy this photostream of Christmas decor from my home to yours.  May you enjoy a joyful holiday filled with family, friends, and geese...er..turkey!  Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!!!

Update

Now that November is almost over (and I only have two work days left this month...be jealous!) I figured that I'd include a small photostream of november occurences so it appears that I wasn't just avoiding blogging. 

Out of Town Bags -- Food Labels

(San Diego skyline stamp is from Paper Tales in Pt. Loma)

Bridal Bouquet

Place Settings at the Wedding & My Bridesmaid Bouquet

Sparkler send-off at the end of the night

Minnie!!

The one of very few video games that I am good at.

One of the many reasons to visit Disneyland at the Holidays!

Hopefully December brings as much excitement and fun as November did!  And more Charger wins!!!

Have an exceptional Thanksgiving and I'll see you in December!

Unexpected Haitus

Hello out there!  Yes its me and I didn't forget about you.  Its just that I have been super busy with getting ready for our out of town guests and wedding stuff for my sister.  So I will post soon about the current events in my life and the creative ones. 

Current Projects:
1. Out of town bags for family, including a handmade 'fyi' book with our cell numbers, a thank you and directions to local attractions.
2. Designing and assembling the 'time capsules' for my sisters non-traditional guest book table.  I still need to create the forms (the easy part) and the labels that wrap around the canisters (the hard part). And create the instruction form for guests to follow.
3. Baking cookies and packaging them into ziploc baggies for the oot bags and labeling with the custom labels I made for their stuff.  yes.. I did need 'another' element to make the food 'personal'. 


While doing these projects I hope to document the process to share the ideas with you.  For now I leave you with a sneak peak at the covers of the 'fyi' books.  I have such a busy but exciting weekend and subsequent week ahead.  Off to create!

Halloween frenzy

I don't think I have been this excited for Halloween since the year my mom made my princess costume.  I was about eleven.  I wish I still had that costume.  My mom is an excellent seamstress and I loved twirling in my outfit, especially when she'd try to hem it.  But I digress.  This year I am dressing up for work complete with a neon wig, tights and hand sewn costume (courtesy of a great friend/coworker).  We (myself and two coworkers) are dressing up as highlighters complete with highlighter cap hats that we fashioned from neon posterboard.  Trust me we look adorable.  Or at least in a group we will look cohesively adorable. Tonight I'm making the 'barcode' portion to stick on our bums.  So we can scan ourselves and be purchased...hehehe

Until Halloween!!

p.s. I'm the green one!

Spooktacular Treats

This Friday is 'technically' Halloween at work.  And being such I am dressing up with my coworkers...we work in office supplies and thus will be sharpie highlighters. I'm the neon green one.  Should be fun.  But this weekend while watching my Chargers (hopefully) crush the Chiefs I'm crafting up a storm.

For most major holidays I create some type of food gift for my friends and coworkers.  I get to create and they get to eat. Pretty much a symbiotic relationship.  This halloween I purchased a few of the key edible/container ingredients early (good thing because when I returned they had sold out!).
I had a preview of this craft earlier in the past week so here it is from assembly to completion. 

Paper Crafting Element:
To create a Halloween tag you will need these essential elements

1.Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist  in Fully Purple

2.Making Memories Scrapbook Shimmer  in Grapesicle

3.My Little Bicycle  clear stamps in Frightful (sadly they are discontinued...but any stamp will do )

4.The Essential Glue Pad, used to adhere the shimmer to the cardstock.

5. White and Black Cardstock, 2-3 pieces of each.  This will yield about 20 tags.

6. Paper towels, to catch the overspray of the glimmer mist.

7. Small spray bottle filled with water and paper towels to clean off acrylic stamps.

8. Acrylic Stamp block

9. Something to catch the glitter when poured out of container, a cardboard box will do. 

10. Ink for stamps, I chose a matte black to coordinate with the border.

11. Adhesive for adhering the two layers of cardstock together.

12. Hole punch

________________________________________________________________________________

Assembly:

Cut the white (inner) pieces of cardstock into 2 3/4"x 2 3/4"squares.  And cut the border pieces of black cardstock into 3"x3" squares.  After cutting all pieces of cardstock put aside the black cardstock and pull out paper towels and pre-cut white cardstock.

After spreading out paper towels now the fun begins.  I sprayed each square of white with at least one pump of the glimmer mist. The richness of the color depends on how much and how many times you spray.  The squares will be wet and must be set aside before completing any other steps.  After about five minutes the squares should have retained their cardstock consistency and will be ready for stamping.

Ink your acrylic stamp with chosen ink. I prefer pigment or chalk ink to dye ink.  Nothing personal, I just feel you get a more even stamping surface and create a crisper image when using pigment or chalk inks. Tsukineko creates some amazing colors with awesome dimension, especially with the shimmer colors. 

Once the stamping is dry make sure to adhere all of the stamped/sprayed white pieces to a black cardstock border piece before putting the glitter on.  This way you won't smear your glitter...learned this one the hard way.

Next is my favorite part, get out the essential glue pad and stamp your chosen image into the glue pad and then onto the tag.  Then sprinkle glitter on top of the sticky image and then dump excess glitter into your receptacle.

Your finished product will need to set up for a few minutes to let the glue dry.  The shimmer will still be somewhat pliable.  It will stay attached to the card but don't be dismayed if some of it flakes off. 

After all is dry punch a hole in the top corner for easier attachment to the rest of the treat. 

___________________________________________________________________________________

Candy Corn Goodness:

Essential elements

1. Candy Cauldron Cups from Target ($2.99 for a pack of 9)

2. Brach's Mellowcreme Pumpkins and Candy Corn, Hershey's Pumpkin Spice Kisses. (Target two for $4 candy deal on brach's, $3 for kisses)

3. Wilton Skull printed Treat Sacks (Target $2)

4. Grey Curling Ribbon (walmart $2)

5. Scissors to cut ribbon

Assembly:

Dump candy into a bowl for easier distribution into cauldrons.  Also makes it easier to see how much you have left for remaining packs.

Place cauldron into base of treat sack and sprinkle some excess candy around base of cauldron.  This makes it appear as if candy is bubbling out of the cauldron.  Using twist ties that come with treat sacks secure the bag closed.  Cut ribbon into 10-12" strips.  String tag through hole and tie onto treat sack.  Use scissors to curl ribbon and tie curled ends into a bow.  Finished product will look like this:

Hand out and enjoy with friends.

Using existing papercrafting products and buying around $20 bucks worth of candy and supplies you too can create a fun treat for family, friends, coworkers, and even for little ones classmates.

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

New Coat

In sunny San Diego you rarely need a coat. But being a native surprisingly enough I love the fall weather and getting an awesome new coat. For the last few years I haven't needed one.  But this year I am 25lbs slimmer than the last time I bought a coat almost a year ago (hell yea!).  My current favorite wool coat is a boiled green wool cropped peacoat from the gap.  I also have a black full length dress style coat from H&M.  Both of which I hate to get rid of and I am seriously contemplating taking them to a tailor to get reworked because I love the versatility of both of them.  In my coat repertoire I have a few blazers, sweater coats, and lightweight jackets.  Don't get me wrong I love California living and our-year-round-perfect-weather but for the few blustery days we do get nothing thrills me more than the feel of wool and frilly scarf around my neck. 

Style guidelines for my new coat:
1. The most important criteria...it must be affordable.  Since I do live in a warm weather climate there is no reason to spend a fortune on something I only wear a small percentage of the year.
2.  It has to have a great shape.  I have an hourglass shape and want something to accentuate that and still provide some element of warmth.  Everyone has different body proportions and must work within those parameters. Don't try to convince yourself that you need something if it isn't right for your body.
3.  If at all possible it needs to be multipurpose.  Meaning, it can take me to work, weekend errands, and even out at night.  I know that is a lot to ask from a coat, but when in doubt refer to rule number one.
4.  It must fit into my daily life. I know this sounds a little odd.  But there are coats out there that appear adorable on the hanger, enchant you in the dressing room, and once hanging in your closet mock you for your bad choices and leave you with buyers remorse.  I happen to have several items like this in my closet (you know the ones that still have tags on them...too good of a deal to pass up. It's okay we all do it).  Plus, a coat should work well with existing pieces. You'll be incorporating it into your daily wardrobe it has to be right.  Overall it must fit in with your style. Whether it be bohemian or preppy.. there is a coat out there for you. 

Here are some options I'm considering...

This little number is from the gap and is in my favorite color...RED!  Its similar to my emerald green favorite.  I tend to sway/bolt toward tailored peacoats that give a nice carved out waistline.

Last week I had an hour to wander before my bridesmaid dress fitting and I walked into the newly remodeled Old Navy in mission valley.  And I spotted this little coat.  Very nice and less than a hundred bucks. 

I have loved this coat from Victoria's Secret for a few seasons now.  And I just got a belated birthday gift card in the mail, thanks L!  So my new coat could be coming from VS!

This one  from VS is adorable too. More likely to suit more of my daily needs. La Jolla weather is finicky.  Sometimes hot, sometimes blustery...always overcast.  I really like the side tabs that create a nice girly shape.  The last thing any girl wants to be is compared to the Michelin man.   This is the main reason I stay away from puffy coats. 

Purple is such a hot color this season and this is a great silhouette.  And a major plus for this coat is that it comes in a variety of colors, twelve to be exact, including the above plum plaid, and sugared violet plaid.  Best of all its $99!

We'll see which one gets my vote or if I just end up at my favorite inexpensive coat shop...H&M.  Although they are a 'bargain retailer' (seriously...anyone who charges $90 for boots that aren't leather is not a bargain retailer..I'm just sayin') they have an amazing selection of well priced coats that walk the fine line of trendy and seasonless.  They incorporate the feminine shape in everything they do.  Unfortunately they don't have an online shopping site in the US...therefore no pictures.  BOO!  But, they are in most malls in the greater U.S., so go shopping and find your new special coat to keep you warm this winter!

Halloween Preview

After a day full of movies, food, and friends I spent today creating (and a tad bit of shopping...shhh...no one needs to know).  Anyway, me and my new anthro cardigan went home after errands (costco gas, home depot for a new garage remote, sisters bday gift, and a trip to anthropologie).  I started on the card portion of my halloween treats for my friends, coworkers and students.  They will look adorable once I am finished putting everything together.  For now here is a preview as to what the card looks like. 

I'm not much of a halloween fan but I do love to papercraft!  So excited to see them all come together.

P.S. Thanks to the hot guy at home depot for checking me out. You made my day!

Blog Action Day 2009

Its blog action day on the interwebs.  And here I have found some 'cute' stuff to help support the environment and the sustainability movement. 

Here are just a few items I have found:

Eco water bottle from real goods.

Recyled tote from Green 3.  I have a problem remembering to carry my eco friendly totes into stores I've purchased them from, but this is just 'cute' enough to carry as a daily work tote. 

 

Sea Glass pendant from GhostShip   So ethereal and perfect for fall sweater weather.

One of my favorite gift sites Uncommon Goods has two sections devoted to all things eco chic, one for decor and the other for jewelry.  Perfect gifts for wedding showers, birthdays, anniversaries and those 'just because' days.

For those eco-friendly dog lovers comes items from West Paw Design. And while I have two shih tzu's that love stuffed toys they also offer a large selection of rubber designs suitable for larger dogs who would shred the toy pictured below. 

 

I have two new mom-to-be friends, and I think they would think this is adorable.  Its from Eco Baby Gear.  

My favorite style/fashion/beauty magazine is Lucky.  They have an entire section of their website devoted entirely to eco friendly beauty.  And from their selection I stumbled upon this lipgloss, of which I think I now need #7, sea berry.  

I hope you have a great day and find some way to be environmentally aware today. 

Cupcake crawl

I love planning my weekends. So much to do in san diego, and usually I end up doing the same things. Going to lunch/dinner with friends and ending the day with a movie.  Last weekend's choice was 'couple's retreat', I'd normally add the link to the movie, but really its not worth paying 11 bucks to see. Wait for the dvd and add it to your netflix cue.  This weekend 'where the wild things are' comes out and I know I'll be at a theater somewhere this weekend to see it.  But in addition to my 'routine' I'd like to add something fun to list.  Beer drinkers call it a pub crawl, where you hit up several bars and taste your favorites or local specialties.  But I'd like to do a cupcake crawl, where we hit up several local bakeries and taste cupcakes.  I'm thinking Heavenly cupcake, cupcakes squared, babycakes, twiggs.  There are so many amazing places in my hometown to explore. And well eating cupcakes all day sounds so appetizing its better to share with others. So I'm inviting my friends to share in this 'experiment'. 

north county

This past weekend was my sister's bachelorette party. Which explains the lack of posts.  I had to pack, give myself a pedicure, pack some more, find a new outfit at anthropologie, and pack some more.  And with all that packing I still forgot to bring a toothbrush.  But anyway, we had an awesome weekend in Temecula celebrating my sister's upcoming nuptials.  Wineries outside of San Diego are so gorgeous!  Such a beautiful locale to have a party. We visited four wineries (leonesse, briar rose, wilson creek, wiens) via limo.  Then spent the night dancing our butts off at silk at Pechanga.

Dancing all night makes me want to go to Vegas. I keep getting all of these coupon emails offering super cheap hotel rooms. And I found out that Justin Timberlake is playing at Mandalay this weekend.  $20 bucks for an aftershow ticket.  Now if I could just convince one of my friends to jump a plane and come with me!  Wanna come?

Blog for a cause

Tonight while doing my normal 'bouncing around the internet' in search of 'cute' things and new blogs I found Young House Love courtesy of a friend's reading list.  And the most recent post is about blogging for a great cause on October 15th. Blog Action Day.  To register go here.  I registered tonight and can't wait to see what others post on this day.

birthdays, cars and a coyote

September was so busy.  Work is hectic with all the students coming back and all the back-to-school events associated with new freshman.  So this year to celebrate the three September babies (myself included) we decided to push our friends dinner back to the first weekend in October. 

We started the night with dinner at San Diego Brewing Co.  Amazing pizza.  Seriously the best I have had in a very long time.  Crust is a big thing for me. It's gotta be fluffy and flavorful, enough that I want to dip the remnants into sauce. 

They put grated parmesan cheese on the crust.  As Rachel Ray would say "YUM-O!"  Excellent atmosphere as well, tons of big screens all over, a huge bar and family friendly.  A great place to watch the big sunday game! 

Then we traveled to the 'secondary location' in Balboa Park.  In our travels we stumbled upon a wedding happening at the Prado. 

 

 This blurry photo doesn't do the 'warm-amber-wedding-reception-glow' justice.  It was beautiful. And there were two empty tables outside with six seats.  And my friend A said we should've crashed (so unlike her), but we had a moonlit picnic awaiting us.  

The architecture of Balboa park is an awe-inspiring gape-mouthed location perfect for the photography freak.  So I am already thinking about when I will return.  I think the last time I was there was for fifth grade camp when we did a week of museum visits. 

 

 

Above are the awesome baked goods made by three wonderful friends of which I consider family.  We have red velvet cupcakes, blueberry boy bait, and peanut butter cup hamentashen.  Nom nom nom, ala lol catz.  Great ending to a birthday(s) celebrations night!

Then came today. I purchased my new car! YAY!  Cartwheels, fireworks, celebrations all around.  

2009 Civic LX in polished metal metallic. All mine!  So excited to drive it to breakfast tomorrow and every day after.

Then came the coyote.  Yup, the little bugger is back, sans anvil and roadrunner might I add.  It's sort of afraid of people, but not until it notices you.  This is the second time I have seen it.  And man can it run when spooked. 

 

All of this excitement was in a span of less than 24hrs.  Busy, busy, busy.   If this is any indication of what October brings I can't wait.  I just hope its sans-coyote.