Creative Chaos

It's been a non stop tour.......

This is what I've been doing since my sister and niece arrived last Thursday........San Diego Fair.....swimming at my friend's house....Sea World - twice....hitting the beach......and last but not least........

 

Heading out to Legoland today....See you later!   Karin

 

Leaving for a bit.....

{Check out all of these at my Flickr page}

I'm heading up to San Jose for my niece's graduation.  (I'm still trying to figure out how she was just 5 years old and now she's graduating from high school.......)  I'll be back in a few days.  Hopefully, if everything works out I will be meeting up with this blogging friend!!!  I just have to get the non-blogging community on board....... i.e., my mom.   It's funny when you meet up with people that not only don't blog, but, (shiver) have no clue what blogging is.  Once I was at a gathering of friends and was trying to explain to them about blogs and swaps and art friends.......My one friend said "you give this person your address? what if it's some crazy guy that's going to stalk you?!?"  I tried to explain about how you get to know a person through their blog, blah, blah, blah...... She responded with a blank face.  That's when I knew there were two types of distinct people in this world........Bloggers and non bloggers.   Now I suppose Heather can be some big burly guy named Jed living in a cabin in the woods somewhere in Montana crazily sitting at a computer looking for crafty type woman who loves vintage wallpaper, glitter and complains about her lack of crafting time because of her kids.   However, lets just take a look at exactly what "Jed" would have to do in order to make his "cover story"......Develop a blog and a talent in art. Come up with a online computer graphics business in which "he" would have to have an incredible talent and actually produce art for said business that was good enough in which other people paid.  Coordinate complicated 12 day swaps in which "he" would have to organize a multitude of people and postage........... My guess is that if there is a "Jed" out there he's trolling My Space for a cute 20 year old......not craft blogs where he gets me....a mom of two who is in desperate need of a dye job.   But how do you explain that to a non blogger?  You don't. They'll never get it.  You just nod your head and realize that they are missing out on a whole other slice of life.  

See you when I get back....... Karin

You have no idea how many titles this post had.....

within a span of five minutes......

First it was "Don't Hate Me Because I Live in San Diego"......then it was "Holy Crap! I Just Lost All the Pictures I Took Yesterday When I Tried to Download Them. I Hate My Computer!" ..... then it was "Lady Luck is in the House!  I Just Recovered Them!  So Now You Can Hate Me Again!".......

Phew!  That was a close one.  When the pictures didn't come up I felt like a piece of history was erased.  But here they are.  And this is what we did all day yesterday.......

 

So all my midwestern friends, family and readers can all feel free to hate me right now as we spent the day at the beach.  Although it wasn't exactly hot (it was probably somewhere in the range of 60 degrees with a chilly wind) it was warm enough to feel like summer is on its way.  The water was COLD though.  But that didn't stop some people from going in.....or slipping in as the case was for Carlos.  Poor guy was trying to build a dam and then slipped and fell into the puddle of water.  But, as all kids do, he managed to recover nicely and didn't seem to mind wearing wet jeans for the remainder of the day.

Andres preferred to stay dry and play with James in the sand......

And, cavort with the local squirrels who were looking for a snack.....

 

Yes, that is a woman in a bikini.  I intentionally cropped that in.......

So much work to be done on the beach....so little time......

So on Saturday I did some "Spring Cleaning" at the Chaos household by tackling my extensive flower collection.  Back in the day when I used to design and manufacture picture frames, I managed to build up quite a stash of flowers.   They have been stored away in my garage/once my studio collecting dust.  I decided that this was the day I was going to clean and organize all the flowers.  While the kids were playing in the backyard, I took out almost all the boxes and went through all of them.  I got inspired with some new ideas for them as well as decided that I will sell a bunch also.

Here's a small portion of my flowers looking all organized in their nice clean boxes.

ooohhhh Look!  A valentine for my 2009 Collection! 

Oh alright.  It's from the 2008 Collection that never happened.  Whatever.

Talk to you soon!  Karin

The Flu Kicked my Ass.........

And how I survived to tell about it....  OMG....Last time I left you all, I was complaining of a few sniffles and coughs, making fun of those crazy kids we call weather people over here and showing off chicken soup garnishes.   Honestly, it was as if I was hit by a truck. 

Here....Let me illustrate....

One minute....

The next....

You think I exaggerate...but I don't.  It all started as a normal Tuesday morning. While my mom was watching Andres, and Carlos was at school, I was filling out an application for the San Diego School district so that I could start subbing.  All of a sudden, somewhere between "where can we reach you in an emergency and what special skills do you have," an Arctic wind measuring 21 degrees below 0 blew through San Diego and right into my office.  All of a sudden I was freezing and shivering and hit with a wave of exhaustion that I haven't felt since both my kids were infants and prone to midnight feeds.  I stumbled over to the couch where I lay down my 30 pound head and hope that the three blankets I just threw on top of me can warm me up.  I then realized that I still had to pick up Carlos in about 45 minutes so I stumbled back over to the phone, called my best friend and secured his ride home.   I lay back on the couch awaiting his arrival and wondering if it was snowing outside because it was so cold in the house.   He finally arrived home and stormed through the door armed with graphs, charts and depositions as to why he should be able to play on the computer today even though he got a warning at school.  Despite his being welcomed at the door by a mom wrapped in a multitude of blankets and mumbling incoherently, he was completely oblivious to my deteriorating plight. The conversation went like this:

Carlos:  Mommy.  I got one warning but it wasn't my fault. But I still got four stars but......

Me:  Carlos. Go on the computer or watch cartoons.....

Carlos:  But Mommy...it wasn't my fault it was Juniper she wouldn't let me open my book and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.....

Me: I don't care. Go on the computer or go watch tv.....

Carlos: But let me show you what happened she took my book blah blah blah......

Me: (thinking little does he know he could be telling me he was expelled and I wouldn't care) GO PLAY ON THE COMPUTER......I'm going to lay down.....

Carlos: (Incredulous that life could take such a quick turn on easy street for him) says "OK"

I then go lay down in bed and don't get up for approximately another 30 hours.....

So there you have it.   This is where I've been since last Tuesday at exactly 1:10 pm.  I know a lot of you have been hit by this....but geez oh man....the way it just hits you is something else. Has that happened to anyone else?   

I finally crawled out of bed to the couch on Thursday and spent the whole day there, as well as Friday, watching tv.  Finally a started feeling human on Saturday.

I now have to catch up on reality and life as it was left last Tuesday......I'll catch up with everyone later! Karin    

Welcome to the "Celebration of Traditions.......Chaos Style!

 

Jill at Follow your Bliss asked everyone to talk about a few of their Christmas traditions........ 

Well, first things first......Pour yourself a steaming cup of Mexican Hot Chocolate piled high with whipped cream.   Hmmmmmm....smell that cinnamon?  That's what gives regular hot chocolate the boot out the door in the cold.  That...and the fact that I make it with whole milk and some half & half.  I will also be standing by with the whipped cream can in case you need a topper........ Yummmmyyyyy........

I have to admit that my favorite tradition right now is the fact that Carlos still believes in Santa Claus (or Sanna Claa as Andres likes to say) I will confess that I have my purely selfish reasons amongst the sentimental.  First, it's like having a virtual servant, if you will, at your beck and call..... "Carlos, honey, can you get mommy the remote"...."Carlos, honey, can you please pick up your room and all the tinker toys Andres dumped on the floor"......"Carlos, will you please serve mommy breakfast in bed"......And it is always answered with a smile and a chipper "Sure Mommy!"  Of course, any dissention to a request is met with my shaking head and a look of consternation...."Sure hope Santa didn't see that....."   

All month-long maid service aside, I adore that he still believes.  Christiane over at Seeing Red had a great post about her kids still believing the magic.  Every year since he was 3 years old, "Santa" would write him a little note telling him why he got his gifts and what a great kid he is.  It's so much fun watching him run to the living room to see if the cookies on the plate were eaten....... The presents left under the tree...... Oh, then there was the year when "Santa" forgot to fill the stockings......Oh sure, "Santa" remembered to wrap last minute gifts....."Santa remembered to write the note to the nice little boy"......"Santa" even remembered to clean the reindeer food from the sidewalk.  But that fateful year, "Santa" forgot to fill the stockings. 

To all of you listening to this sad story, I attribute it to the fact that "Santa" was nine months pregnant with Andres.  For Carlos, however, I attributed it to Santa's tight schedule and lack of a Blackberry  and reliable cell phone service to keep track of all his scheduled appointments.  I reassured Carlos that an elf would stop by the next day to deliver the forgotten goods.  I told him that I had heard of this happening before and there was no cause for alarm.  The elf got the job done the next day.

I really thought for sure some kid at school would blow the whole thing out of the water for him.  But it didn't happen and he still believes. So this year I feel as though I got the gift of magic for one more year before he start piecing the puzzle together.  And, that tradition for this year is my absolute favorite.

Another tradition that we do every year is ice skate down at Horton Plaza.  We take the trolley downtown and meet my mom at her work.  We walk over to the ice rink and do a little bit of traditional Christmas ice skating.  If you squeeze your eyes and pretend it's not 63 degrees you almost believe you're at Rockafeller Plaza with snow gently falling on your head.......

 

After skating we always head next door to this cozy little french cafe and have hot soup and sandwiches and Hot Chocolate with lots of whipped cream....

Bringing down the decorations from the attic is a huge deal for Carlos (and now as well for Andres).  It signifies the beginning of the countdown for him.  His favorite things to put out are the Christmas Village whereby he arranges it.  And then rearranges it.  And then adds things to it. And sometimes just stares at it.....

And across the room on the piano sits the "Island of Misfits"......

Cookie Baking and decorating is another big thing over here in the Chaos household.   Now, I really need to do another post on how I let go of the "artistically designed cookie baking" fantasy and replaced it with "the cheapest grossest all-in-one cookie/decorating" kit.   Even though they were the messiest, inedible cookies you had ever seen, it was such a great time!  Letting go of perfectionist fantasies is a gift in itself....... 

Well......that's it for now!  If you are here early, I will be adding more traditions later in the morning.  Time for me to hit the sack! 

 

It's been a week.......

and no relief......Ugg.... I swear I'm not going to complain here, but if anyone listening to my moans and whimpers here has ever suffered from a pinched nerve, what did you do for relief?  I'm at the end of my Prednisone course and am going back to see my doctor this week.  But if anyone has a secret that helps, please let me know! 

Here's a picture of my gifts for a 12 days of Christmas swap that I'm doing with a bunch of immensly talented ladies.  I hope my gift makes the grade....... There has been a huge debate going on via email on whether to wait to open the gifts on the assigned days or open the gifts right now.  The group is divided on the subject with half already tearing into the gifts.  I was firmly planted in the "do not open" camp. However, now that I have opened the box, I feel myself swaying to the "lets rip it all open now. Damn the torpedos"  sect...... What to do....What to do.......

I wanted to let all give away recipients that your gift is on the way as of Monday.......I've got everything wrapped and ready to go......And Tricia that means you too!  My poor Ornament swap partner Tricia from Vintage Bliss is still awaiting her packsge from me.  She already sent hers....but I'm holding tight on opening it until I have hers safely in the mail.

Ok...I'm off to Christmas shop....Talk to you soon.....

Ugg.......Sick at home.......

I've been sick since Wednesday night.  Yuck.  Andres started getting sick on Tuesday......so I'm blaming it all on him.  I'll be back though.....

Here are some Halloween pictures.....

Carlos in our scary graveyard......

Andres enjoying the fruits of his trick or treating labor.....

Waving "Hello" amid the smoke.........

For those of you who don't know, I live in San Diego where the wild fires are burning out of control.  Although, my family and I are at no risk of any immediate danger, as we live close to the city, other parts of our county have been devastated.  The air quality has been extremely poor.  Schools and business have shut down and people have been pretty much been told to stay home. It's crazy to imagine that almost a half a million people have been evacuated. It's been a tense and sad couple of days here.  The last fire that blew across the San Diego region was the Cedar fire in 2003.  Just  days before this fire broke out, the papers were printing up the "anniversary" stories of that fire.   And then this happens..... The fires are still at 0-5 percent containment with no sign of letting up soon.   It's going to be another long night for the folks at the evacuation centers and the bone tired fire fighters.   Let's hope for some let up.....

Talk to you soon, Karin

Where did Karin go.........

She was:

a)  Lounging on her couch catching up on 2 weeks worth of dvr'd Judge Judy reruns and Top Chef......

b)  Dealing with a ripped apart bathroom and broken refrigerator......

c)  Entertaining one of her favorite Aunt's who was here on vacation from Michigan for a week......

e)  Sweltering in a San Diego heatwave....

d)  Frantically running around getting supplies, uniforms and new shoes for Carlos for the start of school..... 

e)  Spending time with good friends visiting from out of town......

f)  Spending time on her luxury yacht sipping appletini's and perusing through Vogue occasionally peering over her Chanel sunglasses and barking orders to the nanny to make sure the little charges were having a fun, yet, educational time of their lives while waiting for the onboard chef to make her a scrumptious healthy lunch.....

g) All of the above....

And the correct answer is....... g) All of the above. (except "f"....HEY, a girl can dream!!!!)  I can't believe it has been two weeks since my last post.   And what a two weeks it has been, might I add.  It all started with the simple request of my husband to put some caulk around the tub and shower.  I wanted to spruce things up a bit for my aunt who was going to be visiting.  Well, have you ever ever read the children's book "if you give a mouse a cookie...he'll want a glass of milk"?   It was a very similar tale over here.  Except it was titled....."If you ask a husband to caulk the tub two days before your aunt comes into town.....he'll want to tear the whole thing down."  Expect it to hit the book stores late fall.  It's a real nail biter.

Anyway.  As that was going on I noticed that our refrigerator was not as cold as it should be.  I chalked it up to the heatwave we had thinking that the refrigerator was having to work too hard.  Of course, I had just gone grocery shopping and most of my meats and such were lost causes.  On the bright side we managed to get someone out here....ON Labor Day....and repair it for $160.00.  Which is much cheaper than the new refrigerator we were anticipating having to buy.

On the crafty side of life, I have been plugging along making some new things to put in my poor little neglected Etsy shop.  These two birthday tags are some of the new designs I came up with.   I'll be back with some more pictures of the other stuff I'm working on.....Talk to you soon!

I can't believe it's been a week.....

since I last posted.  Wow.  Time is sure flying around here.  It feels like just yesterday I had Andres walking around in one short leg...... Anyway.....More chaos than usual over here in the Chaos household.  Lots of drama going on in the last week. I won't bore you with the details. But it involves a 20 year old niece, a broken heart and lots of tears.  She arrived two weeks ago to live and go school and is now packing to head back home...... (I am going to have to do a separate post on being 20 and actually having the time and leisure to spend all day crying over a boy instead of bills, cranky children and mortgages.....ahhhh those were the good ol' days!)

One of the things that I intended to show was the pictures I took at the concert we went to on Sunday.  Unfortunately, I only had my camera phone so it fails to show the awesome seats and view we had of the stage.  We had 3rd row seats to a REO Speedwagon, Stray Cats, Pretenders, ZZ Topp line up.  I seriously have not been that close to the stage since the Billy Squire/Foreigner doubleheader in '82.  And, my ear drums thank me profusely......I swear my ears are still ringing.  We met up with a bunch of friends from Cosme's work and laughed at how they started the concert at 5:30pm and ending at 9:30 for all us "older" fans.   Remember when we used to go to concerts that didn't start until well after 9:30?!?  hahahahahah HA.   Not anymore, folks...... not anymore.....

Here are some pictures to prove that gifts are heading out the door.  So Analise, Cheryl and Lori check your mail boxes! 

   

I've been working on some special orders which has been fun and trying to get some other projects done so I can get them into Etsy.  I have a bunch of stuff I'm doing for my sisters. So I will show you all of that when I get it done.  Part of the problem is a husband who has been on my back to clear off my desk so he can put more supports under it.   I have no idea why he can't just work around me....he claims he's a professional....who knows.  Anyway, everytime I clear the desk off he takes to long to get to it and I start just "one little thing"  which leads to the desktop being covered every square inch.  It's his fault.

I leave you with the Stray Cat Strut!