Creative Chaos

Mayday....Mayday....the internet has gone down....

the internet has gone down....... It's true.  I was stranded for two hours without an internet connection. TWO HOURS!! I just got a signal a few moments ago and I am writing this like it's an episode of LOST where I'm in the 'under the sea" station with Charlie frantically hammering out a SOS on the keyboard before "the Others" come to get me.  (By the way, did any Lost fans see last night's episode?  I totally caught up with the entire last season in a mere two hours....although, thank goodness for DVR, because I had to keep rewinding in order to keep up with the pop up recaps on the bottom of the screen.  Unfortunatel,y my sense of sight and sound don't multitask like they used to. )   

Anyhow.... Today started out like any other day. The birds were chirping. The day was full of possibilities. Andres and I ran errands in the morning after dropping off Carlos at school.  I then came home tfully intending to catch up on returning a bunch of email messages......Oh Look!  Jeanne gave me an award on her blog!  Woo hoo! Off to check it out.....hmmm.... that's funny. It won't connect.   hmmmmmmm.....Now, I've lost Outlook....Hmmmmmmm......Now, nothing will come up......No, No, Noooooooooooooooooo! Say it isn't soooooo!!!!!!  Ok. Stay Calm.  I then proceed to check all my cables, wires and whatnots to see if I can get this going again.  Nothing.  I make sure I remembered to pay the cable bill.  Yes.  Now I need to take drastic measures and an urgent call is put into the cable company.  (Funny how I've been needing to make an appointment with my dentist for the last 3 months for a cleaning. But the macro second the cable goes out I'm on the phone like a 911 call.)  I try to remain calm as I explain the tense and potentially life altering situation to the representative.  But, already, I can tell she thinks I need to possibly spend more time reading books.  She says if she can't get the modem to connect they will have to send a technician out.  I say "within the half hour?".....she laughs, and says "next week.".....I say "over my dead internetless body"......She hangs up.  Actually, she said I probably need a new modem and if that doesn't work they will send a technician out.  Phew.  In the meantime, after I write this I am going to go out and get a new modem. Hopefully, I will still have a connection later and return all emails.

If everything works out as planned, tomorrow I will have a bunch of new pictures to show from some things I've been working on.

Talk to you soon! Karin

Winterbella....Lost Scissors......A Messy House.....

and the neverending paralyzing fear of losing all my pictures on the computer.   Those items will basically comprise this post.   First up.....The always fun Teresa McFayden and Winter Bella.  I decided to do her class of projects to inspire and motivate me. Well, as of 2 days ago, three weeks of tutorials have been presented and I have completed not a one of them.  Zip. Zero. Nada.  So, I thought, this is totally and completely ridiculous as usual and was determined to start on at least one of the projects.  Guess what....I did it!!!  Woo hoo.......Here it is...

The project was based on taking a Bingo card and making a sort of self-reflection piece of art.  I, unlike Teresa who has the ability to show an amazing amount of artistic restraint, went crazy with this project once I got started.  Luckily, I had the right size Bingo card for the project. Once I got that and all my supplies in order, I got started on the challenge. Which leads to me to the lost scissors part....Am I the only one who has about 7 pairs of scissors, but midway through a project I then has one pair left that keeps getting misplaced under a pile of scrap paper? Is it just me people?  I swear I lose more time looking for those scissors than anything else.

Ok, back to the project..... First, she wanted us to use a picture of ourselves in the piece.  Hmmmm....not in the mood for a picture of myself. So, I thought maybe I would use the boys pictures.  They always provide good photo ops..Plus they're way cuter than I am....Hmmmm....that's kind of getting away from the theme of "SELF Reflection" so I just nixed the whole idea of the picture all together.  Now she wanted us to use words that related to us and the picture...hmmmm...not using a picture...what to say...what to say.  I know. I will use words to create a challenge for me for the year. 

Define My Dream to Create

Meaning, I know that I want to be creative.  But, where do I want to go with it.  I feel like I really can't go anywhere until I have some sort of semblence of an idea what it is I want to do and where it is I want to go.  What do I want to do with my love of being creative?  That is the thing I need to explore this year.

Luckily, on Friday when my husband came home from work, I was free to do my own thing that evening as he took over the evening shift at 'Chaos General Hospital' in the Cold & Flu Ward.  He suggested that I should go out and get out of the house for awhile. I felt that I should clean the very messy trail of random items that had been scattered about the house over the past two days.  He wouldn't let me.  I insisted. He said to leave and go out for awhile. I said "you got it."  However, I realized as much as I wanted to go to the bookstore and stock up on all the new magazines, I really had to consider the fact that I didn't want to scare anyone with my "I've been in the house all day with two sick kids" face and hair (which, as any mom who has been in a house for two days straight with snot nosed, coughing and sneezing kids knows exactly what I mean. I was thinking my hair alone could cause major pandemonium in the Border's magazine aisle) and, really, the bottom line was...I didn't want to get out of my pajama's.....so I stayed in my craft space for the evening.   I even managed to squeak out another one of the projects.....

We were to use glass jars to embellish.  She did hers in a beautifully simple understated way.  I, once again, blantantly disregarded all "less is more" hints from her and glittered and pom pom'd my way to crafting happiness.  See...part of the problem is I just don't know when to stop.  Kinda like in the early 80's when I could never get enough purple eyeshadow or flourescent accessories.

   

So there it is.  Some crafting done over the weekend.  Hopefully, it's a sign of things to come.  Although, first things first.  I HAVE to start taking all my pictures off the computer and put them on cd's. I have nightmares about the computer crashing and I lose almost 4 years of pictorial history. And no one wants to be around when that happens......You'd find me holding the motherboard while pleading and crying "for the love of rewritable cd's....I'm begging you....give me a second chance!"   

So since NONE of us want to witness that meltdown, this is my goal for the week.  Talk to you soon! Karin

Plenty of Chaos.......

little creativity.  Well, just a little bit of creativity between the chaos......I do want to share my contribution to Karla & Beth's Sweet Treat and Roses Recipe Card Swap.......

I can't wait to see how they all come together.  Both Karla and Beth are hand making each of the 42 covers for the recipe books. You can see what they have whipped up here on the flickr site.  We also needed to make a tag to go with our recipe cards.  I coordinated my tag design with the card......

I really like the color combo, if I do say so myself.  I also did tags for both Beth and Karla for all the hard work they did.....

   

Can you see all the glitter I put on there?  Let me assure you, it's tons.....

After making these, I decided I want to be known as the one who does "double ruffle tags."  I think that would be kind of cool.  It could be my signature look.  Now, of course, if anyone out there knows of someone who's been doing double ruffle tags since 1994, please let me know so I'm not trotting around blog land thinking I've come up with something unique and different. I mean I know the ruffle isn't different....but the double ruffle is...I think.  I've also been thinking about how I want to try to define my style.  I'm not really sure if I have one.  I don't know if someone would recognize my stuff without knowing it's me.  But, I think that it's something I'd like to work on this year. 

Here's a crown I did for a little girl.  It's before I put all the glitter on it and you can still see the all the glue gun strings but I like the pink and white combination.  I already gave it to her so I don't have the finished picture.  But I'm going to do another one that's just in all soft colors.

Ok....here comes the chaos part.......between a bruised tail bone that apparently take 6-8 weeks to heal (severely impeding my ability to sit down and craft) and potty training a just turned 3 year old (watching him run down the hallway with his Thomas the Train clad butt yelling "pee n' pot...pee n' pot" is making it worth it all)....I've got this to deal with.... Semi-sick kids.  Kind of like Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade cooking, but with out the blond hair, cocktails and cute color coordinated kitchen.   Now, before I get my signature as an "uncaring mom" instead of the "double ruffle gal" let me just point out the one with a smile on his face on the right.   The one who was lucky enough to have poppa make the initial diagnosis.  The one according to my husband who was somewhere between malaria and a trip to the hospital upon his waking.  The one, who just an hour after calling him in sick for school, was fighting with his younger brother over the green covers and a space on the couch.  Now, granted, Andres has been running a slight fever and snot down his nose.  However, that has in no way precluded him from wrestling with Carlos, stealing his pillow and taking all the toys out of the basket in the living room.    

I figured them for lying on the couch all day watching cartoons while I brought orange juice to them in which to sip quietly and gratefully....napping on and off all day long.  In the meantime, I would catch up on my blog, emails and general nonsense that I have been dying to get to.  Ha! It's taken me all day long to write this post in between arguing semi-sick children.  And, lets just say....No one's having fun until someone fall off a couch with a little brother and hits his leg on a coffee table......

The sequence of events that lead to a bruised tailbone......

This is what happened to me on Monday afternoon.  I decided to do an illustration of sorts..... as words can not adequately capture the stupidity that took place in this fall.......

Here is the box that I needed......

The step stool in question.......

How it (literally) all went down.......

Brand new basket from Ikea destroyed.....

The morale of the story: 

Don't be too lazy to move items off of a step stool before getting on it and reaching for something that is to high to be reached by the step stool in the first place.

Snark Alert!!!! If you don't watch Real Housewives of Orange County no need to read any further....

RHOC RECAP:

Vicky......The bible says thou shall not covet neighbor's diamond encrusted $40,000 Rolex at birthday parties.  I thought I saw a couple green horns sticking out of that head of yours.  Remember....botex can't help you with jealousy.

Tamra.....I'm thinking that Simon should have spent the money for a burial at sea rather than a birthday party on a yacht since according to you turning 40 is akin to dropping dead from old age.  For the love of plastic surgery, you're turning 40.....not 98....get over it....

Jeanna..... Of course you have a Rolex just like that tossed away somewhere in your linen closet ....but just in case we couldn't have guessed it, thanks for bragging it, I mean telling us.....

ok...back to regularly scheduled crafting.....

 

A resolution update.....and some leftover Valentines......

Well, I guess that sounded weird.....like the Valentine's are leftover ham and green bean casserole from Christmas.  What I really mean is leftover Valentine's from last year.  I wanted to be able to post something other than distraught children pining away for their friends.  But haven't had a chance to start on any of my pending projects.  I am dying to sit down and do some crafting.  So I thought I would just intersperse some "has been" Valentine's in with my updated resolution list to add a little "punch" to the blog (I had to use the word "punch" being as I heard it no less that 5 times within this week while watching various hgtv shows....I promise never to use it and "juxtaposition" again)

I've also added little notes to update the original list (which you can read  *here*) for what was actually accomplished, or, more likely, not accomplished. Those will be marked with a little star *.   However, being the positive thinker I am....There's always next year.....

So, anyhow, here is my resolution list from last year.  I realized that I didn't include some very crucial resolutions in it. So I wrote them in just so I could cross them off.  Do you ever do that with your to-do list.  Get something over and done with....yet write it on the list, or, better yet, specifically make a list where one never existed just so you can cross it off?   Well I do.....I love the feeling of accomplishment.

Revised 2007 Resolution List

1. Get organized (circa. 1996)....... 2008 update - The jury's still out on this one.  Although, I do think I have made strides in this area. One thing I've learned though, no matter how organized your setup, it doesn't make one whit of difference unless you follow through on the plan. Hypothetically speaking, for example, you can have the best filing system in town. However, if the papers never move from the 2 foot high pile on your desk, the cute little colored file folders you paid too much for are useless.....hypothetically speaking, of course. 

2. Stop procrastinating (circa. 1970).........2008 update - I really think I have made considerable progress in this area.  Although I still have quite a way to go. I think finding there is a much bigger payoff to just getting things done on time, verses, pushing it off, has helped me go in the right direction.

3. Watch less tv (circa. invention of HGTV)........2008 update - It's never going to happen. Permanently taking it off the list this year.

4. Learn Spanish (circa. Meeting of Spanish speaking husband 17 years ago)....... 2008 update - Nada.  But since I am going to be teaching, I am much more motivated to stick with it

5. Get more exercise (circa. birth of children)...... 2008 update - Ok. Let's first "define" exercise...... 

6. Return calls promptly (circa. invention of answering machines)....... 2008 update -  Somethings are just never meant to be.  However, this will remain on the list, as you never know when a miracle will come your way.

7. Stick to New Year's resolutions (circa. first year I started writing them.).......2008 update -  I'm beginning to realize the whole issue of "resolutions" needs to be reevaluated in my opinion.

**8. Do something creative everyday........ 2008 update - YES!! I did it!!!  Maybe it wasn't everyday.  But over the past year I am very happy with the progress that I have made. I feel more creative than ever and have my art work to show for it.

**9. Continue writing my blog on a weekly basis......2008 update -  I stuck with it!  I thought maybe the novelty of writing a blog would wear out the first few months.  But what I discovered was every time I wrote a post, it just fueled my desire to write more.  That and the unexpected friendships I have made along the way have made it even better than I expected.

So, here's looking forward a creative filled 2008!!  I'm looking forward to seeing what the year holds!! 

I'm back.........

and to my surprise and delight Motivation joined me for the ride home.  And thank goodness for that. Because, let me tell you there was a a lot of catching up to do when I got home.  Not to mention it was good company compared to the two companions I had in the backseat.....Andres slept almost the entire way home and Carlos was distraught over the fact that we had to leave a day early due to the "Storm of 2008" bearing down on the southern region of California.  So my entire ride was punctuated with sobbing phrases such as...."Whhhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyy did we have to leave Sean's house today"......."Life is better with Sean"....."Why can't we move up there?? Pappa can find a new job." ......."It's not fair"........   And, I said "Not Fair?  I'll tell you what not fair is!  Not fair is mommy not getting to go take a picture with Judge Judy's gavel because they are on hiatus and the stage is totally locked up! And, don't even get me going on the fact that Auntie Gail gave away the box of See's Candies to the neighbor and refused to go get it back when I asked her to. So, don't even talk to me about not fair buddy!"  Of course, I didn't really say that to him. But, I thought it......

(two very sad boys getting ready to go)

Of course, this was all on the heels of me shooting Sean and Carlos's big plan down in flames.  The morning we were leaving he proposed this idea to me as I stepped out of the shower ....."I know, mommy.  You and Andres can go home and I will stay here with Sean at Auntie Gail's."  To which I replied "As well thought out as that plan sounds honey, I'm concerned as to how you would get home." He responded..."I'll just go to school with Sean." And then I said  "Sure!  Sounds like you two have it all figured out! Just let me know how much I owe for tuition"  Actually, I said "No."  Of course this resulted in Carlos running back to tell Sean the devasting and completely surprising news which resulted in tears all around for both of them.  Gail later told me that she overheard them discussing how he would be able to go to school with Sean. And how Sean would let him borrow one of his uniforms.  Those two kill me.....

(one happy boy getting ready to go)

Anyway, we had a great time. Fun was had by the kids.  Resolutions were made by Gail and me. Lot's of eating and talking.  We got to watch a bunch of oscar nominated movies on dvd because Jeff votes.  Saw Michael Clayton....two thumbs up.   And, best of all, motivation hitched a ride on the way home.  I couldn't have asked for more except  maybe getting to go to Judge Judy with Jeff and eating that box of See's candy.   But it looks like I'm just going to go back at the end of the month or Febuary on a taping week and just spend the day with Jeff.  That way I can go see a taping and go get my pictures.  Now that my mom is retired I can go up and do this sans kids.   If any of you Southern Cal gals are interested in going to see a taping, just let me know and I will see whats available from Jeff.

So like I said....Thank the stars above that Motivation decided to return from his hiatus because this is what I returned to.....

Frankly, I don't remember leaving it this way.  Really, I don't.  I somewhat suspect my husband was in there while I was gone whipping up some snowflake ornaments and tussie mussies. He denies it.  However, I still have my doubts. It was all to much to deal with upon first returning home. Kind of like sifting through the rubble after a tornado. I walked in and then walked out. I decided to turn my attention to something more realistic........The Christmas decorations. 

And so it goes every year when I put them away.....my quest to have all my Christmas ornaments completely organized, indexed and dewey decimaled for next year's events.   It always starts the same with the all comsuming task of just exactly how I'm going to organize it.  Although it may look like I'm simply sitting on the couch drinking a cup of coffee while watching the morning news, I'm really figuring out the most sensible way to put away the items for the most effecient decorating experience next year.  Should I put all tree and bough related decorations away together or should I do it by the way I decorate......  Should I put the ornaments away by color, year or memory factor?  Should I buy those cute light stringing gadgets or should I roll them on paper towel holders that I was supposed to be saving throughout the year but neglected to do so.......Should I run out to Costo to buy industrial sized papertowels in order to use the rolls......Decisions, decisions, decisions.......

So I start wrapping every ornament lovingly and carefully getting meloncholy over each memory it holds.  And then after about 2 1/2 hours I've had just about enough and just start throwing things into the plastic boxes with no concern that Bumble from the Island of Misfits is in a box with Christmas candles......I don't care that the lights are a tangled mess.....just get it all up to the attic where I don't have to see it.  What the heck....I've always have next year to start being perfect.....

Let's bring on Valentine's Day!!!!

Get the body moving and the mind will follow.....

(the moon light shines all night!  As written by Carlos) 

Anyway, isn't that what they say?  "Get that body going and hopefully the mind will follow suit?" Because currently my mind is still on the couch watching Project Runway reruns eating all the leftover Christmas chocolate while my body has been cleaning and organizing the kitchen for the past two days.  Somehow motivation left for a holiday right after Christmas Eve and I haven't seen it since.  Motivation seems to think I can get along just fine and dandy without it.  However, it's really hard to get things done without motivation smoothing the path ahead and somehow make the job more enjoyable.  So now everything feels like a chore.  But I had to get the kitchen cleaned and organized in order to let all good luck and fortune enter my residence for 2008.  According to the Redbook article titled "Get Lucky in 2008" I needed to have my house clean and organized before New Year's Day.  I couldn't do ANY cleaning on the Day. It all had to be done beforehand.  So motivation be damned I did it.  Phew. 

So today I am leaving for a place where I need absolutely no motivation whatsoever.  My Friend Gail's house up in Los Angeles.  Where the kid's will play while she and I sit on the couch and talk, eat and watch bad reality tv.  And, with any luck (I wonder if my good luck will follow me up to LA or if Gail had to have cleaned her kitchen...hmmm....) Quacker Factory will be on QVC whereby sending us into catatonic amazement of Jeanne Bice and her headband.  (of course I'm well aware that she and that headband are laughing all the way to the Quacker Factory bank as I write this.)  But the point is..... I don't need any motivation to do this little venture.  Well, I will need some if I decide to go with Jeff to the Judge Judy set to take my picture in the courtroom since she is still on break.  Hopefully, I will be able to get my lazy butt off the couch in order to bring some fun pictures back with me to show.  We'll see.

Anyway....we are ready to take off.  Carlos has packed his suitcase containing a Transformers Chess Set, a stuffed snake, gift for Sean, an Australian Flag, two pairs of pajama pants, motorcyle game and one pair of shorts.  Luckily, he has a mother who double checks is packing efforts to make sure he has a couple clean pairs of underwear and some tops to wear with the pajamas.   

Happy New Year and see you Friday!!!  Karin