Happy Happy Heart day!

Happy Valentine's Day!
I've never had a problem with today as a holiday. When I was single I had a huge group of friends I would go dancing with and now that I'm married I have a husband I can "ask" (beg) to go get bagels for me as a present- it's been great!

I just heard a super interesting conversation on an NPR talk show and I wanted to share!

It was about improving the quality of your relationships and the primary thing the relationship expert said we should do: (wait for it- it's kinda obvious)

-Try new EXCITING things together. 

If you tend to go see Opera together try going on a hike. If you go hiking together go see an opera. The theory is that a good long term relationship requires intellectual stimulation to maintain the "spark" that first drew you together.

Dave's card. I had a lot of fun recycling the Maya Road packaging bubble for this
but the pinked edges of the photos inside refused to play nice- this is literally the
 only shot where you can see all 3- it took 30 minutes to get them to do this.
Word to the wise- don't pink the friggin edges!!

Dave recently helped me by shooting a video for Gauche Alchemy (I'm still trying to figure out how to edit it) and suddenly he "got it"- that I really love talking about art and shooting the video was a way for him to participate. 

Before the video his eyes would just roll to the back of his head whenever I started up. 

I can't get him to sit down and scrap (a good thing actually!) but this was a way for us to share. 

I just have to figure out a way to "share" in David's primary loves- RC helicopters, kites, telescopes and electric bicycles. 

Hmmm- I just realized how geeky we are. Perhaps it's time we go Kayaking or something.

If you want to take a listen here's a link: WNYC-RelationShow- it's funny as all get!

I also wrote up a funny article on Valentine's Day crafting for Gauche Alchemy- swing by if you have a few moments: Plastic, hot glue and you- Some do's (more don'ts)

GRATUITOUS FAMILY PHOTO:

To heck with happy family shots! It's nap time.

Have a GREAT day people. Hug the ones you love!

MuChoS SmOoChEs!

Michelle

3 King's Day & St. Valentine's Day in 1 page

Ah love- the very thing you strive for then spend your time questioning once you have it. Stop that! Be happy and present in your love! Speak it to your love object! Celebrate it in true ROCCOCO fashion. I have resolved to do just that in 2011.
Here is another Valentine's Day piece:

NOT generic.
Materials: We R Memory Keepers Gridlock paper, Sassafras Lass My Type (scallop heart), Cosmo Cricket  Tiny Type brown/clear & Paul Bunyan alphas, EK Success Sticko Retro Puffy alphas, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses alphas, MAya Road Man chip board, EK 2" scallop heart punch, Prima Barcode clear 48mm tape, Hambly Studio pattern rub-ons- brown

Dave is incredibly patient, tolerant and empathic. He's also a true analytical personality so how he's attracted to an Emo nutball like me is a mystery. I'll be yammering away about the latest thing I took as an insult and he'll just look at me like: "Dude...." I frustrate him in my ability to squirrel out implied disses. He ignores most pesky things (me) with Tibetan Monk-like complacency. And unlike cheesy 70's chick flicks- he's perfectly willing to say (and mean) I'm sorry.

Here I used white Mister Huey under Sunshine yellow and THAT happened- see? It' like the 3D glasses effect only it's 2D and invisible to the eye here. I also used a Maya Road man that turned out to be 8 inches long which surprised and delighted me (that's what she said)- sorry.

The heart is an improvisation- the rub on never attached to anything- not the paper, not the tranny I was intending for it- nothing. So I punched it out the sheet and sewed (SPL???) it on. Then I thought- wearing your heart on your sleeve hmmm... David reserves that for only 1 person. Miss Lola. I love the string- hate how crappy the rub-on looks.

New camera keeps Lola from looking down in anti-flash anticipation.
Polaroid- very few film cartridges left- WAAAH!

Lastly, Dave got me a 3 King's Day present! 3 King's Day is celebrated in Spanish speaking countries. On the eve of January 5th, kids put grass under their beds for the camels of the 3 Kings who visited Baby Jesus bringing Myrr, Gold and- sommin' else.  Next morning they get 3 presents, 1 from each king. My parents used to celebrate it along with Christmas when we lived in PR but that stopped abruptly when we moved to NY and they paid NYC rent.  I was SUPPOSED to go with Miss Thing to the Parade in front of El Museo Del Barrio but I forgot- AGAIN. That makes it 10 years in a row I forget to shoot that wonderfully artsy event- SO not cool.

Lola helps. Fuji shoots

Anyway I got a Fuji Instax camera!!!! (They were sold out during Christmas) I mourn MOURN the loss of Polaroid. It's a huge hole in the heart of American coolness- not to mention US jobs.

So awesomely awesome I SQUEALED
 when I opened the package!

But thankfully the Japanese have risen to the challenge and taken the coolness and IMPROVED upon it (figures!) Thus the Fuji Instamatic with credit card sized instant photos in a nicely rectangular shape. Now if they would just put out a square shaped format I would be SO insanely happy! But I guess I'll get an app to do that...

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

M.

My big Announcement

I wanted to post news of a fun development in my scrapbook life-  I made another DT for a great scraplift challenge blog.  YAY! But my name and the names of fellow new DT members are not online yet so I want to hold back just in case.
This for an upcoming challenge on that site but it doesn't hit all the parameters so THIS page is nixed :

And another page which will be on hold till the website XOXO GIRLS (Hee hee hee hee HEE! and much delighted wrangling of the hands) goes live with the news.

He Said/ She Said

Materials: Cosmo Cricket 1934 grid paper, Shabby Chic Crafts word bubbles, Maya Road Acrylic people (digi altered), Sassafras Lass Monstrosity paper, Martha Stewart multi butterfly punch, K and Co mini embossed alphas, Smooch spritz in black, Prima vine (digi altered), Ranger Acrylic paint dabber in black.

This page is about the inevitable arguments couples have. Specifically how Dave and I always argue about 3 things:
1. He thinks I spend too much time online shopping and reading blogs. (He wins)
2. I think he's bananas with a generous side of nuts for buying electrical gadgets. His latest is an electric skateboard imported (much to our dismay as it arrived- broken- 3 months late) from the UK. (I win)
3. I think he should wear his wedding band at all times. This is a draw as get this- HE LOST HIS WEDDING BAND IN THE BATHROOM AT WORK!!!!!! Yes you read that right!!!! He left it on the wash stand!!! But I'm no better. I just lost a diamond off mine because I literally NEVER take it off- not even for  the yearly REQUIRED upkeep. DARN!!!

But we both agree on one thing- Miss Lola is the Beez Kneez.



MuChOs SmOoChEs!
M.