One Little Word -- April

I think this week I'm going to do a series of blog posts catching you all up on what I've been working on the past few months with my One Little Word workshop at Big Picture Classes.  I've been having a lot of fun working on the project!!  I'm pretty sure I've already covered the first few months in previous posts, so I'll start with April.

April's prompt was called "Note to Self."  I had to write a letter to myself -- taking stock of where I am right now (or back in April), envisioning where I want to be, setting intentions, and writing it all out.  Also had to take a self portrait and make a cover sheet.  One of the cool things about the class is the instructor, Ali Edwards, creates templates for us to use.  We just have to fill in the information, either hand-written or typed, and pick out our own paper to use.   

Here is my cover sheet and self portrait for April:

Most of the patterned paper I've been using for this OLW workshop has been from a monthly scrapbooking kit I purchased from Freehand Scraps over a year ago.  Lots of colorful paper -- I've been using a lot of lime greens, bright pinks, and turquoise on this project.  I chose to keep my self portrait a little funky, using a picture I had taken with my iPhone one day when I was playing around with some glasses from my Tickle Trunk.  Tangent -- "Tickle Trunk?  WTF is that??" -- is probably what you're thinking.  I got the term from my bro-in-law, Mike, who is originally from Canada.  Apparently in Canada there was a kids show where there was a trunk full of props and costumes called "The Tickle Trunk" -- anyway, despite the creepy name for it, I have my own Tickle Trunk full of costumes, hats, and strange glasses.  You never know when you're going to need a Wookie costume, am I right?  I have a Wookie costume, BTW, so if you need to borrow it, just let me know!  Soooo, where was I..... yes, my photo.  I'm wearing some glasses from my Tickle Trunk. 

And my letter to myself:

I'll write it out because only like 4 people actually read this blog and I'd show you this letter in person if you asked, so why not write it out here.......right? Right.

Dear Jess,

Right now you are: Content. Emotionally you are feeling fantastic! Armour thyroid has truly changed your life. You are loving your new home and how happy you are creating this long term space for yourself. You are working on processing Aunt Judy's death - time and reflection will help you heal. You still think of Milo often, sometimes there are still tears. But you are looking forward to opening up your heart and home to another dog. Frank is doing as well as can be expected - you have accepted the fact that he will not be here forever and you must enjoy every moment you have with him.

One year from now I hope you'll be: Emotionally solid. Content with where you are in your personal and professional life. Drinking lots of water and sweating on a regular basis. Taking care of you. Opening up your heart to the possibility of falling in love. Loving Frank or loving your memories of Frank. Creating new memories with a new dog (or dogs!!). Laughing!! Connecting with friends and family. Continuing to be strong. Continuing to heal.

Love, Jess   

Ten Things -- iPhone photo edition

I've been taking a shit ton of photos with my iPhone lately.  It is super convenient just to whip out my phone and take a photo.  I can email it to myself on the spot and print it out within minutes.  Pretty much awesome.  So this Ten Things post is going to revolve around my most recent iPhone pictures, in chronological order.

1.  Spuzz has taken to retreating under the table when he's got something in his mouth that he knows he's not supposed to have.  Usually something that I'm worried about him swallowing and actually digesting.  Like a penny, or a button.  He loves to put everything in his mouth and my worst fear is that he'll choke on something or eat something that will cause an intestinal blockage.  His number one thing to chew on outside?  Tiny little bark chunks.  And he loves it even more when I chase him around trying to get said bark out of his mouth.  I've learned that it is better not to chase.  I have never acted so casual in my life.  Despite me acting like I don't care that he might as well have a grenade in his mouth, he still can sense my paranoia and continues to chew on bark like it is his last meal.

2.  I finally figured out what the mystery flower is in my back yard.  A lily.  Actually, my mom told me what it is.  She's like the Stephen Hawking of gardening.  She's a genius.  She would have made a great high school horticulture teacher.  But she raised two beautiful daughters instead, so eat your hearts out kids who had shitty horticulture teachers.  The flowers are actually a really cool orangey color, can't really tell in this picture because I used the super cool Instagram app to make it look super awesome.

3.  My back yard is currently being transformed in to an oasis.  First there was grass, then there were shrubs and flowers, and now there is a deck.  Well, about 50% of a deck.  The deck frame was built this week, and I'm pretty pumped.  It looks great and I'm excited to get it all finished up so I can start doing all my cocktail drinking outdoors.  Plus, who has two thumbs and a bunch of mint growing?  This girl.  Fresh mint + rum = homemade mojitos!!

4.  Frank.  Hmmmm.  Well, Frank is technically 'alive', but I'm not sure he is really living life to the fullest at this point.  He used to sleep 22 hours a day, and now he sleeps about 23 & 1/2 hours a day.  He rarely comes out of the bedroom and when he does it seems like he's in a haze.  He'll eat a little then retreat back to either under the bed or on the bed.  Sad as it is, I'm waiting for him to give me some sort of sign that he's ready to go.  I guess that sign will be not eating or not bothering to make it to the litter box to relieve himself.  Neither of those things have happened yet, so we wait and keep him comfortable.  And take pictures of him.  Like this one.

5.  Spuzz doesn't sit still long for the camera.  I gotta get the shot in when I can.  Here's a favorite ShakeIt app shot from today.

6. Random shot of my car seat fabric.  It was a total accident.  I was trying to get a shot of Spuzz in the car while we were in the drive thru line at Firehouse Coffee.  Have I told you they make the best iced mochas in Seattle?  I probably have.  Anyway, this fabric shot ended up happening and I kinda like it.  Looks abstract and cool.  Probably will put it in the ol' SMASH book.  

7.  Music.  New and old.  I was down in Ballard today and popped in to Sonic Boom to check out the Kid Robot and new music situation.  I ended up scoring big time in the Kid Robots department.  See #8 below.  And also scored in the new music department.  Picked up the Rave On Buddy Holly album -- it is an album of bands and solo artists doing Buddy Holly covers.  And it is freakin' awesome!!  I have a soft spot in my heart for Buddy Holly because it reminds me of my dad -- his favorite song is Oh Boy!  The stand out tracks on the album for me, so far, are Karen Elson's cover of Crying, Waiting, Hoping, and Julian Casablancas' cover of Rave On, and Patti Smith's cover of Words of Love. 

Also picked up the 25th anniversary R.E.M. Lifes Rich Pageant box set.  Well, I wouldn't really call it a box set, more than just a box.  Lifes Rich Pageant is, hands down, my favorite R.E.M. album of all time.  I'm not really sure what happens when an album gets digitally remastered, but I know that I love this album so much I couldn't not find out.  Favorite R.E.M. song of all time?  Fall On Me.

  

8.  After my Kid Robots luck from last week (Millhouse!! Otto!!), I didn't think I could possibly top it.  Well, today the Kid Robot gods were smiling down on me because check it out!!!  I got Devil Flanders!!

Kid Robot nirvana has been reached

9.  Look who decided to help me with some yard work?  This little guy.  He hasn't told me his name yet, any ideas?  But he's got a wheelbarrow so I'll let him stay for awhile.  I have a weakness while I'm in the garden section at the Ballard Fred Meyers.  They have soooo much stuff!  It's insane.  Not quite insane in the membrane, but close.  Couldn't resist getting this guy to put a little pop-a-color in with the dirt.  There is a yard and garden art store on 85th that I pass on a daily basis.  They have roosters the size of people and Snuffaluffagusses that I'd love to put in the yard at some point.  Probably after I can pass the purchase off as part of my quest to be an eccentric old woman.  I'm thinking I'm about 3 cats away from that happening.  So basically soonish.

10.  Jam-tastic.  Two of the people closest in my life are now making jam.  My sister has been making jam for a few years now and recently gave me a jar of peach jam.  I opened it last night and holey moley, is it delicious.  I'm planning on having some with every meal until I run out.  She just made strawberry-vanilla jam that I'm super duper excited to try.  I'll make sure to think about posting about it.  I can't guarantee a post given my lousy posting record as of late, but I'll definitely mull it over.  Gina has also started to make jam.  She used to help her dad can when she was growing up, but just recently tried making her first jam.  Strawberry-rhubarb.  I haven't tried it yet, but I definitely will after I'm all finished devouring Chris's peach awesomeness.

** I have been listening to Rave On Buddy Holly while writing this post and seriously, you need to go out and buy this album!  It is fantastic!!  It will definitely be on my list of favorites for 2011.**      

I *love* my SMASH book!!

I've been a crazy, lazy blogger as of late, and I apologize.  I don't really have any excuses, and I actually have stuff to blog about!!  I'll try to be better, pinky swear. 

Sooooo, a few posts ago I showed a video of K & Company's awesome SMASH book.  Well, they started shipping them out at the end of May.  This book and accompanying embellishments were made for me.  I have collected so much ephemera over the years, and where am I going to put it all?  Where am I going to put that newspaper clipping of a teenager break dancing for the Pope?  Where am I going to put that picture of Bea Arthur that Kim ripped out of that magazine on our plane ride to Las Vegas when I had mononucleosis in 2007?  In my SMASH book, that is where!!  I've been slowly putting years worth of pack rat papers into my first book, and it has been super fun.  Yesterday I actually worked on putting some more recent stuff in there.  Here are a few of my SMASH book pages:

One of my recent favorite pictures of Spuzz.  He's such a fluffy little guy, or at least he was up until yesterday when he got his second haircut.  I call him my little teddy bear, because when he's all puffy and floofy, his face looks like that of a bear, like a cartoon bear, not like a grizzly bear.  He's just so adorable.  That picture was taken of Spuzz right after I brought him home from the groomers.  A few months ago I bought an Epson Stylus Photo 1400 printer.  It prints photos up to 12in x 12in.  Not that I am in to digital scrapbooking, but I like the idea of being able to print out photos last minute for my scrappy scrap scrappin' projects.  Anyway, I took that photo of Spuzz with my iPhone -- ShakeIt app, of course -- and printed it out.  So fast and easy to have a photo printer at home, love it!

Some of you know my obsession with Kid Robots, some of you may not.  Anyway, long story short, I buy a lot of weird shit.  I saw Kid Robots for the first, and really only, time at Sonic Boom in Ballard.  I'm a fan of The Simpson's and Family Guy, so I was of course drawn to these little figurines.  Or I guess they are referred to as Art Toys.  Whatever.  Anyway, I bought a couple only to realize that you can't buy a specific character, meaning you buy an unidentified box and it is a surprise what character you get.  It's like Russian roulet but with cartoon characters and no one dies.  Not surprisingly, I didn't get the characters I wanted, so it became an obsession for me.  Every week or so over the past few months I'd go in to Sonic Boom and buy a couple Kid Robots.  The characters I *really* wanted?  Groundskeeper Willy, Millhouse, and Otto.  Well, I ended up getting Groundskeeper Willy fairly quickly.  And now that I've been playing this Kid Robot game for a few months, I actually have four, yes four, Groundskeeper Willys.  I have a Willy Army.  I don't even want to know how much money I have sunk into this venture.  I could probably add it up, but how much fun would that be?  It would just make me feel bad about myself, and I have no problem doing that on my own without bringing my "art toy" obsession in to the mix.  Yesterday I had a "feeling", it was like the gods of ridiculous crap were shining down on me and I felt their love surge in my general direction.  So I marched on down to Sonic Boom and bought 6 Simpsons Kid Robots.  Want to know a secret?  I cleaned them out.  Literally.  I bought every last Simpsons Kid Robot.  And what did I get?  Millhouse and Otto!!  YES!!!  My mission is completed and now I can focus my money on other ventures, like books, CDs, dog toys, and maybe retirement.  Oh, and SMASH book products!

Did I tell you I bought a super sweet polaroid camera?  A couple bloggers I follow have a fun little camera by Fujifilm called the Instax Mini.  It takes polaroid photos the size of a credit card.  How fun is that to tote around for instant SMASH book photos?  Well, I bought it a few weeks ago and have been having fun with it around the house and yard.  It takes MUCH better photos in natural daylight.  The photos inside the house have been mediocre at best, but hey, it is a "fun" camera, so I'm not expecting Annie Leibovitz results here.  I have another "fun" camera, a fish eye camera, that I should start using again.  It is an actual film camera.  So vintage!  Anyhoo, the above SMASH book page is capturing some pictures from around the yard. 

Anyone else out there SMASHing away?