Monday, May 31, 2010

do you live under a rock?

meet my friend jamie.
if you don't know her, then you've been living under a rock! she's sweet, beautiful inside and out, and so totally inspiring :) what's even better is she's having a HUGE giveaway for her birthday. see what kind of amazing gal she is? instead of getting presents, she gives them! uh-may-zing. check out the giveaway here :)

ps...happy memorial day! remember those who have given their lives so that we may enjoy our freedoms :) i'm proud to be an american...are you? :)

xo
em

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Sunday dinner


Every Sunday, after church, the whole family (aunts, uncles, cousins...the whole lot) trek over to my grandma and grandpa's for lunch. Family time is one of my favorite things. :)

What's your Sunday tradition?

Friday, May 28, 2010

photobooth friday - show and tell :)

today i painted my fingernails girl scout green...

and i lovelovelove them!

happy friday folks...i think three posts in one day more than makes up for my absence these last couple of weeks, right? :)
have a great weekend!
em

summer goals :)

we heart it

this summer i have decided to set some goals for myself. some are career related, some are personal, some pertain to my home and others my dreams. i'm posting them here so that i can share with you my triumphs and failures, for encouragement, and above all, accountability. i'm giving myself three months...from june 1 to august 31. here we go...

1. read a classic
2. finally complete my home's organization
3. bring Lilah to the vet
4. completely understand the P&L report and drilldowns at work
5. learn patience
6. finish painting all rooms in the house
7. plant something
8. finish amanda's baby blanket
9. refinish the cedar cabinet
10. buy 2 pieces of art
11. make 1 piece of art for myself, rather than someone else
12. donate items i no longer have a use for
13. go to my first estate sale
14. visit my best friend
15. be ready to announce my secret project :)

i think 15 goals is a good number. 5 per month.

we'll check back at the one month mark, k? :)

xo

my home, from A to Z

i saw this on Carrie's blog, and thought it'd be fun to play along :) if you want to play too, leave a link in the comment section!
if anyone knows the credit for this print, please let me know...i want one! :)

A- My AIR CONDITIONER is set on: 69 F

B- My BEDROOM theme is: right now, messy. but generally, peaceful

C- The CAR in the driveway is: in desperate need of a wash

D- My DESK looks: invisible. because i do not have one. :)

E- The EXACT time I wake up daily is: ever changing. today it was 9:36am

F- The FIRST thing I wash in the shower is: my body. i only wash my hair once a week

G- My GARAGE is filled with: more invisible things. (i don't have a garage)

H- My HOME is: oh-so-cute :) well, when it's clean...

I- If you peeked INSIDE my bathroom you'd see: a flat iron on the counter, a towel on the floor, some super cute art work on the shelves and a patch of 1970's wallpaper peeking through the paint up near the ceiling over the tub because i couldn't reach it with the roller :)

J- My favorite JUICE is: grape. but i like to mix juices too :)

K- The best part of my KITCHEN is: my pyrex collection and my anthro ceramic measuring spoons

L- The LAST person who visited my home was: probably lizzer (my sister)

M- The last piece of MAIL for me was: fun mail? craft swap :) lame mail? electric bill

N- My NEIGHBORS think I'm: probably lazy because sometimes i let my grass get too tall. if they only knew how little spare time i have!

O- If you OPENED my fridge you'd see: a bowl of eggs, multiple fruit juices, a head of cabbage, yellow squash, fresh parsley, fresh asparagus, fresh corn on the cob that needs to be shucked, portobello mushrooms, three pounds of ground beef, some fresh fish, a tub of butter, bananas, oranges, purple grapes, a bowl of yellow onions...you get the picture :)

P- My last house PARTY was: eeesh, game night with the boys and their ladies?

Q- A QUICK meal I like to fix is: rice-a-roni

R- My favorite ROOM of the house is: my bedroom

S- The SHAMPOO brand I use is: john freida

T- My largest TELEVISION is: actually my mom and dad's. they gave it to me because it wouldn't fit in their armoire.

U- UNDER my bed you will find: two rolly tshirt boxes full of cane's tshirts (i have over 75), balls of cat hair (gross i know), and an overnight bag

V- The last time I VACUUMED was: today. i can't wait to get rid of all the carpet in this house.

W- Looking out my WINDOW I see: kids playing in the street. ahhhh, summertime

X- I wish I had X-TRA: space in my master bath. it's 1/3 the size of the guest bathroom. wtf?

Y- My YARD is: a little bit marshy in the back. kind of wish i could afford some dirt to fill it in

Z- ZZZZZZZ My bedtime is: like my wake up time...ever changing. most nights it's between 1am and 3am

:) love y'all mucho!
em

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

organizing for the right brain

i've come to the realization that my home will never look like this.


let's face it. creative people have messy homes. now before you start protesting, i didn't say dirty, i said messy. you know it's true. i love looking at photos of cabinets with neatly labeled boxes all in a row, and i think, "that's so lovely. i'm going to do that in my house".

hah.

hahahahahahahaha.

nice try.

the reality of it is, organizing for a right brainer isn't that simple. i mean, if you think about it, it makes sense...you can't be both a creative free spirit and anal retentive.

don't get me wrong...i yearn for those neatly labeled boxes. and files. and drawer organizers. i long for the day that someone will ask me where the fingernail clippers are, and i'll respond, "i know just the place!" many days it feels hopeless...like i will forever be doomed to spending half an hour every single morning looking for a clean pair of socks, or ending up with a dozen nail files because i buy one every time i can't find any of the 5 i know i already have.

but it's not hopeless. here are some solutions to sorting, storing and displaying your possessions that will work for you, my fellow right brainer :)

1. keepsakes/ephemera
everyone has them. to the untrained eye, it may look like trash, but to you, that tattered piece of paper so faded you can't read the ink anymore means something. ticket stubs, photos, wine bottle corks, and sea shells from your trip to the beach 5 years ago generally end up in a junk drawer somewhere, only to be seen once every few years. and only because you were digging around for that other flashlight battery that seems to have walked off. if they are so dear to your heart that you've kept them all these years, then why are they tucked away in a drawer? here are some simple ways of displaying these items that both free up some drawer space and create a remarkable showpiece for your home office, kitchen, or living area.

glass jars, hollowed out books and a cork board are beautiful ways of displaying pretty things. think of this display as being over your desk or a mid century modern side board.


these poloroid photo walls make my eyes so happy.

2. jewelry
if you're anything like me, when it comes to jewelry, you generally end up leaving the house without any because a) you can't untangle the giant mass of necklaces that have somehow magically intertwined themselves together b) you can't find the match to that damn earring or c) you have no idea what you even have in stock because you get an overwhelming sense of anxiety by just glancing at the hodge podge of costume jewelry overflowing from your jewelry box. this need not be anymore. here are some ideas that i find helpful and use in my own home when it comes to storing jewelry.


here's how to achieve this storage solution: 1. check out hobby lobby's damaged frames section way in the back by the frame counter. you can find some pretty rad frames that are marked 90% because they might have a dent or a chip. you can either choose to keep it as is, or paint it like i did mine. 2. cut a piece of foam board to the same dimensions as the inset of your frame. 3. either cover the foam board with cork or fabric. 4. wedge into the back inset and voila! use stick pins to fasten your items. :)

i also have a small bowl that i keep all of my rings in and i'm hoping to get my hands on a small pair of deer antlers to hang necklaces on :)

3. the kitchen
some folks are blessed with spacious kitchens and lots and lots of cabinetry. i, however, am not. my kitchen is the smallest of small. it makes cooking a breeze, because i can reach the fridge, the sink and the stove all by standing in the center of the kitchen, but when it comes to storage my kitchen gets a big ol' stamp of disapproval. this is where creative thinking needs to kick into gear - think outside the box. if you have limited cabinet space, try storing your prettier dishes on the counter top. baskets are a good way to organize recipe books and produce. decorative mixing bowls can serve has a holding area for things you grab regularly, and glass jars with a dymo label can store things like flour, sugar and pasta. here are a few (bad quality) photos of some of the things i do in my kitchen to alleviate the pains of minimal closed storage.

here i used a bamboo shelf that i bought at walmart for like, $5. on top is my anthro sugar bowl and tea cup, some of my late grandmothers dessert plates, and my most very favorite [aqua] pyrex bowl. below, i use another mixing bowl to store clothespins (used to secure bags of chips and frozen foods) and a basket that i regularly keep bread or produce in.

right now, it's being used to store some red potatoes :)

pretty mixing bowls are good for so many things other than mixing. i use this set of bowls to store things like eggs and onions and other regularly used food items in my fridge.

the basket on the left is perfect for storing the many food and recipe magazines i've collected, and the top of the microwave serves as a nice place to both store and display one of my sets of dishes.

4. lists, lists and more lists
lists are essential for any person, whether right brained or left. but for the right brained, i think they're even more so. those of us who fall into that category are generally a bit...scattered. but what good is a list if you don't look at it? if you're anything like me, once something is out of sight, it's completely out of mind. for years, i've loved making lists, but could never figure out why they didn't help me. it wasn't until recently that i realized, "duh. it's because it gets shoved in my purse or tucked away in a drawer and i forget about it!" make things visible. whether it be a list of goals, groceries or grateful dead albums you want to get on vinyl, never underestimate the wonder and practicality of chalkboard paint. it's affordable, oh-so-cool and comes in a ton of different colors other than the traditional green or black. for me, a giant (and by giant i mean 3 ft by 5ft) chalkboard wall calendar in my kitchen did the trick. (DIY coming later this month). it's a place that i see every single morning, and afternoon, and evening, and it's the perfect in-your-face way for me to keep up with deadlines, projects, work schedules and more. here are some other ways that chalkboard paint can be both a useful and funky addition to your home decor.

i love the look of the floor to ceiling green chalkboard walls in this rustic kitchen.

the inset of a pantry door is an ideal place to keep up with messages, phone numbers or your social calendar

whoever had the idea to paint a globe is a genius in my book. how creative!

betcha didn't know you could paint your appliances, did ya? you should definitely do a bit of research first, but with the right primer, you can paint your refrigerator like the homeowner in the photo above did. what a unique way to keep track of your grocery list!

along with chalkboard paint, similar companies also make white board paint (that you can write on with dry erase markers!) and magnetic primer (so that your chalkboard wall can be a magnet board as well!) i've never tried the dry erase paint, but as far as the magnetic paint goes, i suggest doubling the amount of coats the can recommends so your magnetic bond between wall and magnet will be strong enough. i learned from experience. :)

you see? just because you've spent the last 20 years living out of piles, doesn't mean that organizing your home has to be a daunting task. just know what works for you and go for it. i'd love to see what you guys come up with! send me a link so i can check out your awesome right brained organizational skills :)

xo
emjay

(click on photos for credit. otherwise, photos were found via google or are my own)


Friday, May 14, 2010

my weekend

last weekend that is...i know i know, i'm a little late with the sharing. but better late than never, right? ok so...

saturday, me, this sister, and my mom and dad drove down to Pierre Part to my aunt and uncle's house for our annual mother's day crawfish boil. my mom's family is HUGE and almost everybody got to be there this year! my aunt and uncle live on Belle River. like, literally. they're back yard is a few feet of grass, then a deck built over the water. it's pure cajun and looks like a scene out of a movie... i love it!




Check Spelling
uncle duane, uncle don and my cousin steve did a great job working the crawfish pot.

my little cousins brought their fishing poles and were gracious enough to teach me how to bait a hook, cast a line, etc. believe it or not, in my 24 years, i'd never fished before that day! and i caught one on my first try!


it was a tiny little brim, but it's still a fish none the less :)

the crawfish were big and soooo good.



we spent the afternoon fishing off the dock. :)





and we even found a momma duck nesting with her eggs :) can you see her? she blended in really well.


sunday, i spent the evening with an old friend, and made this for another old friend :)



the photo quality is pretty poor because these were taken at dusk. but i still love the pieces. i was sort of tempted to keep them for myself :)

lastly, i finally learned how to do this...

and it quickly turned into this:

which finally ended up like this:

and then i made a fancier one :)


how was your weekend/week?

xo
emjay

ps, really random, but i miss this face like whole lot :( can't wait to see her in august!


Friday, May 7, 2010

yard sale update

all items have been updated for rounds 1 and 2 of the virtual yard sale :) all items purchased by monday evening will be mailed out on Tuesday, 05-11!

xo
em

crafty yard sale, round 2!

wow, you guys are quick! a lot of stuff from the first round (PAPER) of the virtual yard sale went fast...but there are still a few things left so check them out before they're gone!


remember, all prices include shipping. if you want to purchase part of a set, email me and let me know what you're thinking and we might be able to work something out. leave a comment or send me an email at emjay0121@gmail.com and let me know what you'd like to purchase and i'll send you a paypal invoice shortly after. :) happy shopping!

now, for the second round of the crafty virtual yard sale...

first up, is a spare parts grab bag of sorts, from the paper studio. includes mini brads, rhinestone brads, marquee letters, colored paper clips, large colored brads, fancy brads, decorative brads, other letters and shapes, and those arrows and punctuation are also brads (for easy attachment :) ) each pack of spare parts range from $3-$8 at hobby lobby and your various scrapbooking boutiques.


$15

next up is a pack of gel stickers and rubber charms from KI memories. both have never been opened and all pieces are in tact and unused.

$5 (SOLD)

below you'll find a winter grab bag. it includes two sets of unused glittery snowflake rubons, two bags of white pompoms (to simulate snow), an unopened pack of heidi swapp ghost snowflakes, a jolee's boutique 3d sticker pack that include a skit jacket, skis, and various winter gear, 4 packages of glitter in gold, red, green and silver, and a jar of felt winter shapes (over 70 pieces)
$13

next is a journaling grab back. included in this set are many different journaling squares, prompts, tags and various tags/journal spots from elle's studio. other items not listed included as well.
$10 (SOLD)

this one is the mack daddy of floral embellishments. in this grab bag there are two rolls of orange felted floral trim (measures about 3 inches high), a pack of burgundy felted floral trim (unopened and unused) and what has to be over 100 paper, felt and fabric flowers. container can be included, just specify in comment/purchase. expect an extra dollar in shipping costs for container.
$15

this is a box full of used and unused rubons. there's a lot of typography, and also some patterns and various images. the second photo is just a peek and doesn't include all of the packs that will be sent. the box is included.




$18

this listing is for HAMBLY rubons only. there are frames in two colors, owls, wingdings, mod flowers, wood grain trees, mix tap, birds, banners, corners, housewares, etc. there are a LOT, and about half of them are unused.
$18 (SOLD)

last listing for today is for 4 unopened black framed cork boards. each board is approximately the size of a regular sheet of printer paper (8.5x11 ish). they would be a great alternative to clipboards for an inspiration wall! :)
$8