12/12/12 Day of Complete AWESOME! (A photo post)

Good Morning folks!
I hope you had a great 12/12/12 yesterday!

Along with some great news that I will have a page in the May 2013 Scrapbook Trends Magazine,
Lola and I went on a day-long adventure trying to capture 12 images of totally awesome things- we only got to 8- it's hard to be that awesome when you're three and your legs are short.

Awesome item 1: Polish Napoleon pasties- FOR BREAKFAST!

Awesome item 2: Street Art

Picfx is my new favorite camera app!!!

Awesome item 3: Sticks

Awesome item 4: Chicken Noodle Soup

Still looking for a good Bokeh filter. This one from Snapseed is ok.

Awesome item 5: Paper Presentation on 18th street.

Laser cut snow flakes at the Paper Presentation store front on 18th street.
I LOVE this place!!!

Awesome item 6: Wonder Woman and Michael Jackson pressed tin ornaments

From Mayan Dreams

Awesome item 7: Book stores- real ones.

Awesome item 8: Empanadas in the dark WITH Mexican Coca Cola

 

This place- Union Square Christmas Market

New York City Park Christmas Markets are all amazing.
If you visit, make these a priority. They are the best bets for affordable and original crafts in NYC

Today we are going to experience the mountain of totally awesome that is Central Park.

Wish me luck- I had to go to bed at 10pm yesterday after all the awesome. My brain couldn't contain it all.

Have a great day folks!
It's the little things.

Michelle

11 random things- a post

I LOVE these type posts!
I love reading them. I love writing them.
Thanks Kristy and Leah for starting up the latest run.
Here goes:

There are five rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you’ve tagged them.

Random things

1. March is the hardest winter month for me. I just want it to be SPRING already!!!!

2. I love math symbols and equations- they are so mysterious and beautiful.

3. My favorite writer is Terry Pratchett. Neil Gaiman is a very VERY close second.

4. I can't wear high heels, ice skates OR flats. I have flat feet. Shoe shopping SUCKS for me.
Before you ask- the tape is from the Labelbox app. You're welcome.

5. I stopped being able to watch graphic movie violence the second I learned I was a Mom.

6. I love ferns. How's THAT for random?

7. I love the New York Yankees but if they play the Mets I root for the Mets.

8. This is my tattoo. It's a Taino Cemi.
Can't believe I've never blogged about it before!

9. My idea of a good vacation involves hiking, my bicycle and possible burro riding. 

10. I love Laffy Taffy grape candy but only the big bars- the minis taste like corn syrup.

11. I'm easy to prank but tend to punch arms and yell a lot when it's over.
Also, I like this fish toy.

Questions from Leah:

1.  If you could cure one disease what would it be? Greed.

2. Your happy place is.. ? On my bike.

3. Favorite summer/winter activities? Summer- riding my bike and walking. Winter- scrapping and eating (I know but that's what summer bike riding is for!).

4. Most asked for recipe? My Guacamole- I put mango in it.

5. Person you admire the most? My sister Leticia.

6. Biggest crush when you were a teen? Ralph Macchio (grinning!)

7. If you could only listen to one band the rest of your years, who would it be? Oh SO EASY- U2!

8. Favorite time of day to get crafty? Anytime Lola sleeps!

9. When is the last time you got a traffic ticket? What was it for? I don't know how to drive (grinning again)

10. Your dream home is? 4 bedrooms with a garden larger than the actual house, lots of windows and closet space and there's a tree with a swing in it and my Mom lives near by and we have a dog and a cat and a chicken coop and maybe a goat. And the house is somewhere warm. And there is a scrap shop within biking distance. And my daughter can walk to school alone. And my husband has a garage to himself so he can wild out on his toy helicopter fetish.

11. Where do you want to live when you retire? Dave and I want to be wherever Lola goes. We've already talked about it.

I tag Misty, Margrethe, Miae, Gabriella and Cheryl. Guys please answer the questions above. I forgot to post my own and now am drawing a complete BLANK. 
If you want to participate or have already leave me a link so I can visit! I LOVE reading these posts!!!

GRATUITOUS ABUELA/ TODDLER PHOTO:

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

Michelle

Project Life (or 365) and why it matters

I'm seeing lots of scrappy goodies in all my CHA spying! So far I'm most inspired by what I see from Hambly- I love the bright color, the trendy prints. I'm also super excited by the new Crafter's Workshop stencils and Heidi Swap's Pink Paislee collections. (Office supplies in neon? LOVE!)
Quickie page made with a pad I found in Staples (while shopping for a new computer chair)

75 pages of these awesome mini goal pages- so ready for a mini book!

I wish this notebook was 3 by 5- it's PERFECT for Project Life! Alas it's 5 by 7 so I will be adding these pages to my Project 365 binder sans page protector.
Here are my 2 latest pages for 365.

Week 3- Lola turned to me one night after having spent 3 days indoors due to poor weather and asked- Mom let's go on an adventure. And pointed outside. She's TWO! I blame PBS! So I had a total brain wave- how do I make Lola's idea of an adventure more visual? A wheel of fortune! But mine is made from a View Master reel- (my latest obsession) This also covers visits and phone conversations with Grandma, the birth of a new niece and my visit to the Art Library.

Week 4- This week's highlight was a visit to The Highline Park- a park made on an old elevated train track. (!!) LOVE that place! I feel like I'm in some sophisticated European city without ever leaving the L line!  I also shot Lola eating sushi, journaling about our wonderful (not) trip to the Food Stamp office and the first snow day this season. 

I've been shooting every day and really wish I had pages that allowed for more detail- isn't that funny? I thought I would be hurting for "stories" but to an open mind (rather a blabber mouth) stories are EVERYWHERE. I'm seeing some debates on whether Project Life interests people outside the subject's immediate family.

After all, do you really want to see us brush our teeth?

Here's my theory- my own family doesn't care! Seriously! I couldn't get my Mom or husband to look at my binder come hell (pizza) or high water (beer) so I'm shooting just for me. In fact I think of my binder as my personal diary even if I post it online- here's why:

There are some very real reasons why doing a Project Life or Project 365 type projects is good for you-

1. Commitment and responsibility towards growth in your craft. Yes you can fussy cut, layer and embellish like a mad woman but can you finish an extended project? Why not? Things that make you go: hmmmm. Not a judgy HMMM!!!! Just Hmmm?

Week 1 (redo)- week one always bothered me- the canvas heart I thought was DA BOMB- well- bombed. 

So I took it out and you know what? It's fine! Still can't get photos of this page to focus!

2. Keeps you shooting. Do you think your life is boring? Who's fault is that? Sorry- it's YOURS. Make your life the FUN READ it is! No don't shoot the feet again! Don't shoot that cup of coffee- AGAIN. Find the individuality in your routine! Do you wiggle to top 40 songs while doing the dishes? HELLO? Put that camera on a timer! No kids? I already have one I want to see YOUR kidless life! Lots of kids? I only have one, wanna see how you manage yours! SHOOT YOUR STORY!

Squishy hats- I love 'em! Do you care? Probably not. But that's ok.

3. Gives you "ideas"- I will say it right here right now- your Project Life DOES NOT have to look like everyone else's! Does your LIFE look like fill-in-the-famous-scrapper's name here? NOPE! But does that make it less valuable? NOPE!!! You rock. You are unique and your story IS interesting- use your individual verve and humor. Be frank. Be introspective. I believe your kit can set you free! Just paint outside the lines a bit and you'll see! Uhhhmmm- channeling Dr. Seuss there for a bit.
I got several ideas making my latest page:

This first started as a chart, then turned into a "Ooo let's use that Studio Calico stamp!"
then I thought- here's something I haven't seen yet! I didn't even have to buy anything-
that's a scan from an old View Master reel!  Project Life keeps your creative flow going!

I really wish I had done a Project Life for Lola's first year- it would be SO AWESOME to look back on her first days now with full notes. A kit would have been PERFECT for me then too- I was so confused by all the scrap product choices to be made!

AAA! Look at that perfectly round head!! 2010

Ahh well. That's life.

A long walk- recorded. 

When you're ready. You're ready.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle