august already?

Above is a shot of our wonky little backyard + our heirloom tomato plant and the herbs (basil, mint, flat leaf parsley, rosemary and lavender). This was from earlier this summer; we have some tomatoes now. I want to backyard camp this weekend to celebrate the end of summer and I have enjoyed eating lemonade popsicles while sitting in my fake adirondack chair back there.
Cory goes back to school next week. The summer flew by as usual. I still need to finish my IDSS summer art journal - another goal for the weekend, maybe I'll work on it outside in the sun! I signed up for Elsie and Rachel's autumn craft class...so excited for it! I am studying for CPCU right now (insurance certification for work) so the autumn class will be a total treat. It's part of the reason that I've been so MIA. And we've been trying to get in shape & be healthy lately, which also takes time. I'm getting into a rhythm with all of it now. :) I have been doing some embroidery while watching CSI NY in the evenings (totally obsessed with it on DVR). I'll try to take some photos of Addie Grace wearing the newest embroidered onesies this weekend. I'm sad summer is coming to an end but I do love fall.

the weekend

* Cleaned house, did laundry, chores chores chores.
* Pizza party with family + bananagrams (new favorite game).
* Girls day with my sister (home from NYC) , mom, and niece (endlessly surfed inet for dresses).
* Cookout with family + all 4 grandparents; laughed hysterically at animal in you test.
* Went swimming for the 1st time all summer (was finally hot enough).
* Drank vodka & tonic w/lime + olives at Canteen and listened to live music (Lexicon).
* Made monkey bread for brunch with family...yum!
* Drove my sister to the airport (NYC via Chicago) and ate Portillos. I love you Portillos.
* Gearing up for going back to work tomorrow & trying to get lots done this week. Yikes!

what animal are you?

Take the test here.

I am a.........photo source

Penguin

Description
Now you see it, now you don't. Aggressive yet gentle, outgoing but shy, stable yet flighty -- everyone sees the penguin in a different way. It's that black and white thing -- the penguin only reveals the side that it wants to you to see. So, whether you like this darling-devil or not, you have to concede that it's a fascinating and enigmatic individual.

For penguins are birds condemned to live out their days on the ground. Unable to fly, their excess energy has no outlet save their creative talents and emotional outbursts. Penguins are poetic, artistic, and intellectually gifted, and as writers, penguins have no equal. But, if unable to channel their impulses in a positive way, the resulting turmoil proves damaging to their relationships and careers.

With a natural aptitude for languages, penguin personalities dominate the world of publishing as writers, editors and journalists. A strong sense of drama draws them to the theater and cinema, although unlike typical bird personalities, they avoid the spotlight unless they're able to hide behind the characters they play. Once on stage however, they prove to be excellent performers with their multifaceted personalities conveying the full gamut of emotions.

However, a lack of confidence affects their work and penguins tend to give up too easily. So work never dominates their lives and they always put their families first. Those intimate with their penguin personality are impressed by their unswerving loyalty. They are sentimental at heart and always remember anniversaries and the birthdays of nieces and nephews. With a strong compassion for others, they place their family's needs ahead of their own but often end up being taken advantage of.

In matters of the heart, penguins connect poorly with other bird personalities who look down on them because of their terrestrial connections. Mammalian personalities also treat them with suspicion too, finding them to be flighty and unpredictable.

Since penguins have the coldest feet in the animal kingdom, it's no surprise that within its conflicted bosom there beats the warmest heart of all. Unfortunately, most of us will never experience this gentle compassion, for penguins ration their love only to family and close friends.

wish list

This album, Sea Sew by Lisa Hannigan. Click the album cover for link.
We have an awesome Nikon digital SLR, but it's not the kind camera I feel comfortable lugging around all the time, like say to a concert or a party. I also love the pale aqua color on this baby.
Click the photo for a link.

The gocco, because they're flippin awesome and I think everyone who crafts either wants one or has one. The Japanese invent the coolest stuff. Did you know I lived there for a summer when I was 15 and then again for 2 years after college (teaching English)?
Yellow is a color that's really been on my radar lately...I never used to like it so much. It's kind of funny how your tastes and favorites kind of change as the years go by. I also like the green one; green has always been one of my favorite colors. And I really want an iPod. I have an older MP3 player that works just fine but I got Cory an iPod for Christmas and he is obsessed with it. Now I want one...my birthday is far away :(

random...

Here is a photo of Cory with Lulu and Bella on the boat at Lake Sara...I think from last summer.
These three (along with the damn cat-who is on a probation period) are the loves of my life.

dimensional art journaling + 4th of July

We came home from the lake early on Saturday morning because it had been raining since like 5 am and was supposed to rain the rest of the day. I was fine with that; we had been there since Wednesday night and I was pretty exhausted from sleeping on the floor with my snoring brother like 10 feet away. We went to an antique store the day before where I found a ton of awesome ephemera and I had my dimensional art journal set from RVA already (it is Rachel's design). Cory played video games and I worked on my block set. It was totally relaxing...a perfect, rainy 4th of July. Luckily, we had pretty much already celebrated the 4th the day before with a fried chicken picnic, homemade ice cream and fireworks on the boat with all my family. I really love summer!

Fireworks at Lake Sara

I love the purple fireworks, totally my favorite. It's always fun watching the fireworks from the boat on Lake Sara...

M.I.A.

The month of June completely got away from me. We have actually been getting lots done, taking tons of photos, grilling out and making lots of things out of our new favorite cookbook:

I have been trying to get lots of projects done, like working on my summer art journal from Rachel's class. Here are pages one and two:

I am still working on getting lots of photos uploaded to flickr...will be back with more!!