martha & me

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martha has a christmas village.

i have a christmas village.
martha has francesca and sharkey.

i have ben

i love martha.

on another note this week is a frenzy of christmas prep - have all but one gift and have wrapped almost all.

made my own gift tags this year with kraft paper and stamps and ribbon - was worth it but timely, forgot my camera at my mom's this weekend so photos to come.

have to work up till christmas eve and then it's off till the 4th - we are hosting christmas morning and boxing day so the preparation is already underway.

i will be back with the recipe rundown later this week

ready.

Pin It Now! christmas candles lit.

flower arrangements made.

hair, makeup, outfit, check.

s'mores lollipops.

peppermint bark.

more cheese than is healthy for human consumption.

coloured champagne glasses polished.

ben's sweater.

we are ready.

T minus 24 hours

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in less than 24 hours there will be a party in our house.

candles will be lit, music will be on and we will be toasting another great year.

so much to be thankful for, so many people we love.

we literally have not done one thing to get ready. don't have any wine or food - but all of that will take care of itself tomorrow.

ben will don his reindeer sweater.

it will be great.

(but we will miss you again this year n&p)

xoxo

the list that keeps on growing

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sundays

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i kind of forget sometimes the things to be most thankful for.

last time i was on a plane i was listening in on a conversation behind me (kind of hard not to in close quarters like that) - anyway there was a lady talking about how she knows someone who gets together with their family every sunday night for dinner. she was going on and on about how nice it was and how special and how rare.

we do that in my family except until then i had always just kind of took it for granted really - just something we have always done, part of our family ritual...but when you think about it it is so nice. makes sunday nights something to look forward to and i find the weeks that we don't get together i get that dreaded "weekend's over" feeling.

it's nothing fancy just a day for us to visit and get caught up;

• to put on music and give the kids piggy backs around the house
• to pack up leftovers for dinner the next night so monday isn't such a busy day
• to have my dad say once dinner is done and he's ready for us to go say (without fail) - "alright see yas"

this sunday will be extra special

i'm so excited to see these girls:

(this pic kills me btw)

and these kiddies:

can't wait

it's official

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i am the guest designer this month at The Scrapping Turtle

i'm so excited to play along with the ladies at the turtle this month. this is my first time on a DT and i'm thrilled! it is a busy month with work and Christmas coming up but it has been good motivation for me to stick with scrapping this month.

here is the layout i did for the sneak peak:

...all about the big tree in nyc. As fabulous as it was to go to nyc before christmas last year and to mexico after christmas i am really looking forward to christmas at home this year - this will be k and my first year hosting family so the pressure is on.

lazy sunday morning

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i wish every day could be sunday morning.

i love being able to sip coffee slowly with pajama's on in front of the computer, instead of the usual am scramble where I feel like i have to guzzle coffee to keep my eyes open.

i have some exciting news up my sleeve that is scrapping related but can't share it just yet.

wanted to pop in and share this layout i did using my studio calico kit (i scraplifted the design from one of davinie's layouts from an issue of sb trends):

Have a happy Sunday

Labels and Baskets and Scrapping oh my!

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I bought a LABEL MAKER this weekend. Be still my beating heart. I have wanted one for a while and got one this weekend, i think it was under $45 with tax and now my basement is totally label-ized. It's so nice.

If you are thinking of getting one here is the one I got. Also bought 7 baskets for storage, just random things that were causing clutter; magazines, CD's, photos, etc.

Am rocking out right now to the Glee soundtrack. If you have not yet bought the entire thing from itunes go and do so. Right. Now. It's that good (and I also decided that if I had a gay alter ego it would be Kurt from Glee. Love him, i have also just discovered via google search that he has a Facebook fan page. wicked.)

Here is what's been keeping me crafty:

A few pages from Disney:

(those darn letters took forever to cut out, I decided to mount them on paper and then pop dot them.)

Love that pic of M. with the Mickey cone. I think we have one of me at around that age with the same thing. So cute.
Love this pic and love these girls. This was 10 years ago? I can't even believe it. These girls are still the ones that make up a big part of my heart. I really love them.

Finally this one of K and I - using the new stamps I won from Davinie's blog (love this blog BTW) this chickie is a hand sewing superstar, I am inspired, going to have to buy a needle and some floss for and J and my upcoming scrapbook weekend.

If you are looking for some webby goodness here are some good links I've stumbled upon lately:

The story behind Hollywood logos

Nienie's Blog

Pioneer Woman

here is one more pic - i couldn't resist:

Real Mail

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I like email.  But I love real mail. 

Traveling pants

Pin It Now! Here's what I love about traveling:

• Getting boxed lunches to eat on the plane
  
• looking at (and laughing at) book titles in the airport bookstore (how to have a new husband in one week - not sure how any husband would feel about seeing that title on the bedside table)
  
• that it's an adventure
  
• shopping after work
  
• shoe shopping at nordstroms
  
• J Crew
  
• The courtyard dinner setup; pajamas on, takeout in room, wheelie table pulled out to accomodate my spread of dinner and a laptop
  
• moving into bed right after dinner with PJ's, ugg boots and a towel turban
  
• wondering about people in the airport; where do they live, what do they like to do...
  
• watching movies on the plane that K and i wouldn't watch at home; My sisters keeper; the proposal
• having time to listen to my ipod (did you know i know the entire rap in the TLC song waterfalls?)
  

What i don't like

• people who stand up in the aisle of the plane beside you to talk to someone and put thier bum in your face
  
• plane farts
  
• peeing on the plane
  
• missing Kirk
  
• missing Ben
  
• Missing my house
  
• Missing my sissy
  

Wishing I had more time to do this lately: 
Can't wait for Memories Manor 2010 with J and crew - do you know what i meeeeeeannnnn?

My sissy

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My sissy is so cute. she's a little button of a girl, so funny and sharp and sweet. She told me she wanted to be sisters before we went to Florida and it stuck. now we are sissies for life i think. She came over for a sissy sleepover few weeks ago. we had a pajama party. we sat on the couch covered in blankets wearing our PJ's and ate dinner (pasta with pancetta, tomato, basil and boccocini for me, pasta with butter and cheese for her) and we watched HSM3. It was $19 from appletv. i wasn't planning on buying it - was just going to rent a movie but all the kiddie ones to rent were babyish; mickeymouseclubhouse etc - (aka claw my eyes out) plus when i told her it was only availible to buy she said "but sissy we were supposed to watch it in florida remember?" so really i had no other choice. it wasn't half bad.

please return to tiffany & co.

Pin It Now! the first christmas k and i were dating he gave me a jewlery box (which i love) and a silver ring with a teeny tiny diamond in it from tiffanys. i wear it every day. that was 8 christmases ago.

the most ironic thing happened to it. the little stone fell out. i was cheering on the marathoners on Sunday; clapping my hands together and banging them against the metal rails and the little stone must have just popped right out. i have a habit of running my thumb against my rings and when i did so at dinner i noticed it felt a bit sharp; so i checked it and sure enough - crack down the middle, it had literally split in two and the little stone had fallen right out.

i'm ok with it. i'm going to give it to the new york gods. the heart and sould of the city can have it. that's where we got engaged, where we went for our honeymoon and where we were for our anniversary when it happened. yes i'm a bit sad becuase i loved it because it was one of the first thing that K gave me but if it had to be lost i'm glad it was lost there of all places.

why i heart new york

Pin It Now! there are a million more reasons but here are a few:



- sitting on the steps of the MET eating lunch pretending i'm Blair Waldorf (K had to be Serena haha)



- eating magnolia cupcakes; definitley a huge cliche but i'm ok with that



- watching 40k runners run through the streets of ny for the 40th NY Marathon; was so inspiring i just stood there for about 20 minutes like a crazy lady, tears streaming down my face cheering people along. i wasn't alone though; have never felt that kind of love in a huge crowd before

If you weren't already convinced

Pin It Now! that i was a huge spaz then i'm pretty sure this story will do it for you. 

so you know how i was training for my "marathon"? (was really a 5k relay as part of a marathon but to me was a bit deal).  was SO nervous leading up to it - didn't want to let my team down, didn't think i could run that far, didn't sleep a wink the night before. 

it was last sunday and it was a gorgeous day (thank GOD - can't imagine having to run in the rain!!) so i was feeling good.  and you know what?  I did it, i actually did it - it felt great.  

my spaztic moment came at the transfer point.  we had to wear this ankle brace type thing and then transfer it to the person who was going next.  my friend Rima went before me and of course i made her put it on my leg (nevermind that she had just run up a 1km hill) 

at the end of my leg i was supposed to transfer it to one of my colleagues.  who i love.  like as a friend but also he's cute.  and not in a way that is bad just in that he's nice and cute (makes it more embarassing that it's a cute guy).  my parents were there and my Kirk and Ben all cheering me on.  

i ran around a corner and saw the finish line.  i was feeling good,  wasn't going fast but i was going, saw my parents and Kirk and was so excited.  when i got to the finish line i was trying to figure out what to do, how i was going to get the ankle bracelet off.  i was so happy with myself.  and so tired.  and overwhelmed that i had just done the race. and i got to the tag point and cute co-worker gave me a hug (which was so nice)  and i tried to bend down to do the ankle bracelet thing but i couldn't, my arms just wouldn't work.  so i just sat down.  on the ground.  on the course.  and the cute co-worker had to remove the ankle brace for me.  in front of everyone.

yup.  there's a photo.  

Fall Fun @ Aunty Extravaganza's

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ahhhhh my fave season is here!  

we had an awesome 3 day weekend here - i even (wait for it) went for a run.  and did 5k.  in 32 mins!  not even kidding.  i was doing full on dance moves to the jersey boys soundtrack the last km to get me through which i fully plan on recreating during the real race this sunday (anything to get me through).   i have some new glee music on my ipod that will do just perfectly.  

roasted up some beets for an arugula, walnut and feta salad:

and roasted some asparagus for thanksgiving dinner

had this little birdie over for a visit: 
she forgot her hat and mittens but loved borrowing mine

those of you who know me know that i have an auntie extravaganza.  she's just fabulous.  we affectionately coined the name after her love of all things in excess - lots of food, lots of decor, lots of fun that's her.  see exhibit A: 

each child got one of these pumpkins FULL of candy.  

me and kirk even get one b/c we don't have kids yet. 

Fun - told you ;) 

I'm a big gleek

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i had heard a lot about the show glee but didn't think it could live up to the hype -but it's so awesome; like half musical and half high school memories all wrapped up into one show.  i'm a total convert. i downloaded some of the songs this am on itunes and we are rocking around the kitchen to some walking on sunshine/halo magic.  

am totally enjoying the luxury of this 3 day weekend.  Fri night went to Couples Retreat - was so funny, i love vince vaughn and the last two days have been full of turkey.

seeing this little girl today for a visit:

excited for her to come over - we have so much fun together.  

did this layout a while back to document one great summer day: 

happy thanksgiving!

xoxo

the early bird gets the worm

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i taught M. that expression in Florida - she was dilly dallying about something and I told her that early birds wake up early to get the worms - she loved it.  Then she wanted to be an early bird.  So cute.  

i am an early bird today - ironically.  b/c K is typically the early bird in our house 9 (i'm more the night owl type) -  i love to sleep in when i can and that doesn't happen very often but woke up with the dog at 6 and am too excited to sleep; i love thanksgiving.  

There is so much to be thankful for.  

 

Made a few cards yesterday - this one for my neighbours who helped us out this week when we needed someone to check in on the house:

 

and this one for my nephew - he's already almost 3!  Same birthday as my and K's anniversary: 

have a happy thanksgiving! 

lots to share

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i have been so swamped these last few weeks that blogging has been on the backburner so this is a photo heavy post.  

here is a recent layout i did - pic is about a year old but i love it, was holding onto it for a while because wanted to get it "just so" - i'm so lucky to have many great girlfriends; this pic isn't all of them but a few of the great ones.  we really have been through so much together, love having them in my life. 

i don't have many pics of me as a child - i think my parents just weren't picture people - but love this one of me, my brother and dad dressed up @ halloween.  
have started scrapping some of the disney pics - there are so many great ones to choose from!  this was really our magical disney moment, maya got to meet the HSM cast (from the musical @ disney) and she was thrilled
k this one may have been mean to scrap but this is what i'll always remember from the trip - how M was so chicken of the rides - so cute, i was the same way when i was younger.  so funny b/c she wasn't scared at all to meet any of the characters or even be away from her parents but there was something about certain rides that spooked her 
this kid is just the cutest.  love him.  
finally here is one of the pics from vancouver with a twilight reference (nerd alert) 

have a great day

xoxo 

addendum

Pin It Now! i need to *ahem* make a errrr slight addendum to my previous post.  

it was not 30 mins.  in fact it was 40.  

math was never my strong suit.  

shoot - guess i still have a while to go.   i had a feeling it was too good to be true

and just to prove that i'm still cool on some level even though i'm not able to count 30 minutes here's a photo.  of me.  and justin bobby - of the hills fame.  ha ha funny right?  (he was a little on the creepy side!) 

Guess What?

Pin It Now! I just JOGGED  5km.  ok well not quite 5km but almost....honestly!  can you believe it?  It took me half an hour... my friend Rima told me that's good for my first time but she's probably just saying that.  either way i am running in this charity race for diabetes in less than a month so i just need to be able to hold my own, it's a corporate relay so i don't want my co-workers thinking that i'm a couch potato (even though i totally am); i have these visions of crossing the finish line with my hands above my head as though it was the NY Marathon (in fact when i reached my half way point today I did the above the head fist pump) - dramatic i know.  

i really didn't think i could do it.  all of these much older much fitter people kept passing me and all i could think was they must have been doing this for a long time and how am i ever going to make it and then i did it!  slow and steady but still, that counts.  

k well that's it for now.  hoorah for me.  

booya

xoxo   

so

Pin It Now! having one of those weeks. where there is not enough time in the day. where i feel like life is passing me by because i'm so busy. it's slightly ridiculous. makes me appreciate when i do have time to do things i enjoy (scrap, watch tv, really do anything besides just work) but honestly those times feel so fargone right now.

am tired. frustrated. grouchy. ick.

the good news (great news) is i have a GOOD weekend lined up. Dinner with my girlies on Fri. Sound of Music Sat with my mom. Dinner with friends on Sat and then a visit with friends and fam on Sun. Thank. The. Lord. Above.

back from the happiest place on earth

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so i have to admit - before going back to disney (i had been a few times when i was a kid) i was apprehensive.  i was pretty sure i'd think it was bs and wouldn't live up to the way i remembered it from when i was little.  i was wrong.  it was everything i remembered and more.  and seeing it with my a 5 year old was just the best.  our group may have seemed slightly unorthodox, my mom and dad had talked about taking my niece for a while and when i told them i was interested in going we just booked it kind of sporadically - kirk couldn't come because of his work schedule and my parents plan to take my nephew when he's a bit older but honestly the four of us were a great match.  we got along so well and had an awesome time.  we really did make a million memories. 

i took over 300 pictures and still feel like i didn't get pics of everything we saw/did.  i wish i would have taken more videos with my camera - got a few of maya and they are priceless.  she was in full on freak out mode at the disney breakfast.  

it was not that busy - if you ever want to book a trip to disney go the first week of Sept - i think with kids being back at school it must not be a popular week...that and we were there over sept 11 which may have had something to do with it, but was great for us, we never waited more than 5 minutes for a ride and were able to see everything we wanted in the 4 days we were there.  

it was the first time in a long time i felt like i got a real "vacation" - sure i've taken time off work here and there but this was a full on sight seeing, jam packed adventure.  

it was just awesome.  

it's a wrap

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and just as quickly as it came summer is gone

found this new resting place this summer and loved watching the world go by 

it was the summer of weddings, stormy weather and being busy with work but we managed to sneak in a few  weekends here: 

and that made it all worthwhile. 

love the word i use most

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have you seen this site? it's super cool. takes all the words from text that you input or a site that you give it and makes a word cloud with the words you use with the highest frequency being the largest. this is mine from my blog - i'm going to save it and then do another one in a few weeks. i can't find my two faves on here so: kirk, ben, kirk, ben, kirk, ben, kirk, ben. :)

Made my first Etsy purchase today for this:

i am hoping it will work by the front door of the house so i'll see it every morning when i leave.

i love this line of products:

i love this campaign - it is so inspiring; and makes me happy to be a part of it....bittersweet symphony is also possibly one of the best songs. ever.

on the fence about a cast iron boston terrier door stop at the antique market. sounds like a no brainer right? me + bostons + antiques....that kicker is it's $149 so a tough pill to swallow. i'm going to keep my eye on it and see if the price goes down...tough to justify when we spent almost quadruple that on the real deal this past month at the vet.

i'm gonna let you in on a little secret

Pin It Now! last night i had a can of coke, a double stuffed oreo, a chocolate chip cookie, a peppermint patti, 2 pepperette pepperoni sticks, chips and onion dip and a chocolate cupcake.  for dinner.  and i loved it.  ha ha.  i never really do that - will normally just have a treat here and there and eat healthy the rest of the time.  but last night i just felt like it.  so i did it.  to be honest was the best dinner i've had in a while. 

also realized i never posted this layout from nicki's wedding.  it was a perfect day for my two friends.  

Finally, can't stop laughing about this site someone sent me in an email - these "random thoughts" are too funny

on a roll

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i really don't know how it happened but i'm on a bit of a scrapping roll ever since i got my first Studio Calico in the mail.  i'm like the energizer bunny i just keep going and going and going....

warning this is a photo heavy post.  

first though i had one of the best - if not THE best weekend of the summer.  even though it's freezing now here.  and not even joking, it's that cold.  Sat night our friends Paul and Joanna came over with their two little boys and we all had so much fun.  went to the park with the kiddos and then after they went to bed pigged out on food and K&Paul watched Transformers while J and I scrapped.

did some of these when J was here and some prior: 

i have been saving this pink paislee scalloped paper for a while now and finally decided to use it.  did this layout of kat and i - the journalling is all about how different we are yet similar in the ways that matter. 

when i saw this American Crafts paper i knew i wanted to cut it like a city scape - had this pic of layna and i and so used it in this layout, there was a man in the background but covered him with a felt sticker ;) - in university i gave layna a card and told her she was my little black dress of a friend so made that the title of this layout.  
i LOVE the way this one turned out.  had these pics from this summer by my parents pool.  i love the colours here.  
this one is my fave of the SC kit this month - i love this emblem (the red one) and made the flowers from the jenni bowlin crepe ribbon to match my hair band in the pics.  
decided to try an altered project so covered this journal (and i have to admit, i think the title is SO clever) 
love this page b/c of the story behind it - my brother in law does this funny face (no that's not his actual smile ha ha) - he and his friends each have one, slightly different but each ridiculous.  i think it's so funny when he does it.  it used to take him a few minutes to set it up but now he can do it almost instantly.  
loooove this memory - my niece's 5th bday party - she was so hilarious, almost delirious with excitement. 

last one - i tried rub ons!!!! i was nervous but i think it turned out well.