The Kate Effect

99 Pinterest followers.... what?

 

 

A good friend approached me today and said she had seen my Pinterest boards and loved them....to which I blushed at appropriately - partly because i was truly honored that she liked what she saw and mostly because I knew that her compliment would be followed with a comment about how MUCH or OFTEN I pin. 

Which she did comment about but in a sweet friendly way.

I admit that if I see it - I pin it. 

*********if you are reading this and thinking "what in the world is Pinterest?" *************

*************Click on the link below to get the Pinterest 101 *************

http://pinterest.com/about/help/

But I will also like to state that I do not sit and peruse Pinterest for hours on end Re-pinning (mostly because I have a timer I set so I do not pin-away the hours). Do you hear it? The slight defensiveness and justifying. I come from a long line of justifiers. 

I do love to "pin" and I love using it as a tool to really book mark my ideas. I am incredibly visual - it the way I process the world around me - and Pinterest gives me a way to store and collect images and ideas very similarly to the way I imagine my brain to collect the thoughts. 

It's my favorite way to discover an emerging style I am working on and organize my want to do desires....and to simply share it with other. I love looking at the boards and seeing the collecting of photos and getting the big picture. 

The book-marklet helps me pin things all over the web super quick which is probably why I have close to 2000 pins. 

I use it for recipes, project for Kate's school work, books  I want/have read, style board for each room of my house....

After my friend mentioned it  I thought I might pop on my board and was shocked to see I have 99 people "following" me. What? Who are these people? I had no idea. I have been so busy using it for my sole purpose I had no idea I had more than the hand full of followers I started with... the ones I convinced to join in the first place. 

More shocking was the 38 "boards" and the 1788 "pins"  - which may grow by the time to you read the post. WHOA. Those are not super high numbers - but they do represent a good chunk of time.

All of this has inspired me to do a few things.

- Make a REAL collage. I haven't done this in a while and it 's about time to bring this virtual thing into my real touchable world. I get back to you on the subject of the collage and process later.

- Start tackling the projects I pin. The list of ideas is long enough and I am spending more time organizing ideas that realizing them. Time get down and dirty with these projects.

- Challenge myself with interesting boards - most of what i do is super useful - but what if I did a board labled: God's Love at Work or Sadness...  Then I could pin things I interrupt to fit in the label...basically and artsy virtual collage...

- Ask myself often : Who am I following...is it a style board or my Father in Heaven? Am I looking to see what someone else is pinning or avidly looking what awesome thing God is doing in the lives around me? Who is following me in real life and where and I leading them? 

Alright - there you have it, another thing to add to my list of vices : Pinterest.

You can check out my pins here: 

http://pinterest.com/carriedanna/

* There is no sign-up requirement to look at pin boards.

little old lady cart.

 
this is my fantastic goodwill find of the week.... or month even. I have never been so jazzed about a find. This little rolling cart cost a whopping $4 and is adorable as all get out. It seems quite red-ish in the photos but it real-life it's a wonderful dark melon-ish color. which is a double score since that has been a hot color for a while now - seriously - when have you EVER seen a melon little old lady cart?

We call it the little old lady cart because Kate immediately asked me why I bought a "little old lady cart" when I pulled it out of my trunk. I found it amusing since Kate is all of 5 years old and live in the suburbs of Austin, Texas. When & where she would have been to form that stero-type - is beyond me. But regardless it is appropriate and fitting. 

I knew it was meant for me when I saw it across the cluttered aisles. I have been trying to devise the perfect Library book bag/box/system at the house ....and I was failing miserably. bags are heavy hard to carry and do not look great plopped around. Books are forgotten about and never read if said bag is stored out of sight in closet. The family is too busy to be putting books from bag to box or other storage area.... and when they are put near the reading chair in a nice looking well organized manner.... well they never get returned on time. 

The little old lady cart is going solve it. the books get put in the cart at the library and rolled to the car - saving everyones back and shoulders - then wheeled from the car to the reading nook. When it's time to head back to the library ... just grab the handle and go. 

Seriously, it's a lifesaver. With the our school year fast approaching and our current checkout averaging at 22 books....it's going to be used ALOT.

*PS it folds flat too - oh my love only grows for my little old lady cart.

Found: three leg footstool

This is my new footstool. I have no idea where he is going to reside in my house but I felt he belonged here. A nice $3 buy at the local Goodwill. I initially thought I would recover him...but the leather is actually in great condition. I think I will wait until the focus pieces in the room are in place and decide whether we recover him with some color or leave him subtle.

Lollies

.

Source: thedecoratedcookieblog.com via Carrie on Pinterest

The moment I saw the Lollipop photo on Pinterest I KNEW I had to try it. immediately. 

Having tackled homemade suckers before and finding myself in the midst of a sticky mess - I felt like i was really rolling the dice. I dreaded the sticky cleanup I experienced last time... but if this was really as easy as it looked....well it was worth the risk. 

The general idea is to take three jolly ranchers *unwrapped of course * and lay them side by side on a sheet of parchment paper, which is one top of a piece of foil, which is on a baking sheet. warm up the oven and let the candies melt for about 6 minutes.... 

Pull out hte pan of semi-melted candies and slide sucker sticks into the gooey candies - let cool.

(The link to the full How-To is at the top of this post.)

Here are some things I learned:

- Don't get distracted (like kate and I did ... we were squirrel watching and forgot about suckers in oven) The sucker really only need 6minutes...any longer and they spread out and liquify. *see photos below of first batch.

- When putting stick in ...lay the lightly where you think you want them, press slightly down and then turn or roll so sucker is all around the stick and sticks stay put.

-it's faster if you have two cookie sheets/ baking pans ready....then you can just switch them out...your only going to fit about 6-8 suckers on each pan.

 

our entire first batch over melted and we had four sets of twin suckers...kind of fun actually. 

Our second batch looked exactly like the photo at the very top.

Found: Retro Dick & Jane Reader

I am over the moon about this find! It's a retro Dick & Jane reader. It has all the stories in a sturdy little hard bound book... I love the pictures and Kate is reading the stories quite well... perfect for the emerging reader. 

here enjoy a few photos and feel the smile stretch across your face!

hold your horses! thats KATE!

Source: spoonflower.com via Carrie on Pinterest

 

WHOA! this IS kate.  

It's like Heather Ross came to my house and watched kate play and then drew tiny little picture of her on her fabric.

I really enjoy Heather Ross fabric. It's small whimsical drawings are so nostalgic and wonderful. Unfortunately my aesthetic for creating sometime doesn't jive so i just sit and daydream at the fabric all day instead of actually using it. 

but don't let that deter you from ordering a few yards and sending it to me.... if you where thinking about it or wondering.

i would immediate frame it a small square just to remember kate this way and then whip up something wonderful! I promise I would. 

now I think Iw ill go play ponies with Kate before she grows up.

 

 

Kate meets Ella

OUr library has the best little collection of CDs and I only recently discovered the richness it can add to my life!  I have begun to borrow CDs for Kate to listen to at night as she goes to bed. Stories, songs, musicals... It seems Kate is like me int he sense that she has a few favorite but is not big on repetition. While she likes some music and will ask for it when in the mood - she is always asking do we have anything NEW?

God bless the library for always having something *new and interesting. This week I grabbed two CDs -one Dan Zanes which I was not impressed with but I will give him another try hoping it was just this particular album that is not interesting.... and one from Universal Music Family that was AWESOME.

This is the cover of the CD:

We loved it for it's Jazzy tunes appropriate for kids sung by really awesome Jazz artists. Ella Fitzgerald open the album up with her own version of Old McDonald and later does a great rendition of The Muffin Man.  My favorites are Rag Mop by Lionel Hampton and Lois Prima's YES! We Have No Bananas Today. It's all tied together with Louis armstrong ending the album with What A Wonderful World.

I checked out the website: http://www.ilovethatsong.com/family/index.html

and noticed they have an entire album by Ella Fitzgerald. They also have other CDs with Motown/Disco/Broadway - we will have to look it this and try them out. I was sad to see that they CDs are sold at Target and Amazon  - but I had no luck at iTunes. I guess I will have to look for the songs individually.

There you go - my first kid music recommendation...which is a big deal since we don't listen to a lot of "kid music" around here.

 

books + stop motion = birth of a new obsession

this makes me want to stop my entire life and just learn & create stop motion videos. it's like i have caught some kind of sickness and all i can do is dream of great stop motion opportunities...

 

int he meantime i will let these guys totally rule the stop motion world with this excellent book organizing video. bookcase, get ready.

 

a locket, a cheese, & snitch

Kate got a cute little locket for valentine's from my mom. It's just a little cheap metal locket with gold paint from Walgreens - a trinket in her valentines gift bag - but she TREASURES it. 

I tried to take a quick snapshot of her but she was refusing - Finally she says "Mom, I will smile once - i hope you catch it." 

Ha! I did catch it you little mischief maker!

I shouldn't be so surprised that she loves her locket. I also received a locket for Valentines! 

Brad gave me a Snitch! I really love it. Now everyday I have this huge dilemma of figuring out whether to wear my awesome photo album locket from my mom or my Snitch. Such decisions!

wood: to burn or not to burn

 

Recently my dad tackled the project of replacing his fence and along the way he built this nook for his firewood. Although I am sure he did it for practical reasons...I am completely spell-bound by it's neat design.  I just can stop looking at the all that wood piled up and I love the seemingly clean repetition but know that it's totally made up of irregular mis-matched forms. 

So can you imagine my joy to find a photo of a fireplace full of logs just like this....

What a perfect way to make use of a fireplace in this warm weather land called Texas. Granted Brad will never agree to letting me purchase a house solely based upon the fact it has a fireplace with the intention of filling up the fireplace with wood, never to be burned. 

But I must admit that when I am browse houses online I am avidly look and thinking about this very thing.

 

Source: curbly.com via Carrie on Pinterest

 

Sweet but Fashionable.

Inspiration:

This great Valentine's gift on Creature Comforts Blog - It looked like the prefect party favor for a girly baby shower.

Source: creaturecomfortsblog.com via Carrie on Pinterest

 

 

And so it begins with a bowl full of ribbon, gum-balls and sharp objects.

I have to say the hardest part is poke the hole ... I ended up using a mechanical pencil (empty and clean) to poke hole and then twist into a bigger hole. Then turning the gum-ball to the other side make the other hole without crushing the the gum-ball.  

I was watching TV while I did this but that turned out to be risky since during intense scenes I would crush the ball and then eat it. Three bracelets later I had a mouth full of gum!

the sad part of the story is that I had more guests at the party than bracelets and so I never used them - but kate and I wore/ate them for DAYS!

love shoes, dislike feet

i am not a foot person. but I love a good pair of shoes.

boy, girl. heel, flats. boots.

i love shoes and what they express about us.

i stumbled upon these shoes today and then followed the little path back to the creators Etsy shop to find equally adorable kids shoes.

this is my crush for the day.

 

                                                                LaLa's Shoe Shop

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/52197386/little-pinks-ballet-style-baby-shoes-for

the new love of my life: nut butter.

ok, so that post title could go in so many directions...but we are keeping it clean here. at least for today.

seriously, I have an a crush on this Almond Butter:

 

it is AMAZING. I grabbed a little sampler pack at the store - just a very small ketchup like packet of nut butter to spread on my toast. i was feeling adventurous. i had no idea it would rock my world. 

I like almond butter because it its strong nutty taste but it can be a bit dry and peanut butter is kind of a staple this household... until I met MAPLE Almond butter. it is just plain awesomeness in a jar. It's not utterly smooth like peanut butter but it is not chunky either. It has this wonderful texture that is complemented by the subtly sweet maple mixed in.

I loved it so much I went back to the store the same day to buy a whole jar. A very expensive jar, compared to regular old Jiffy.  We finished off the jar by the end of the week. Kate and I pretty much ate it on EVERYTHING including spoons.

just can't get enough of it.

building a library.

 

a long time ago one of my mentors told me "Sell your bed, buy a book"

i loved that saying and i kept all the books I was ever given. After moving around a billion times over the past few years i learned that not every book was worth packing and unpacking. I started dropping off books at Goodwill and sellingbooks to Half-Price books and just getting rid on the ones I was done with...

It was like one extreme to another. I read a book and then gave it away. Rather than buy a book I borrowed from the library or read online. no material trace on ever having held the book in my hand.

Now I think I have come back to middle ground. I am sad about my small collection of literature and realize that I want a library but a library of books I love not just books I have for no reason.

It is only the bginning but I am of to a nice start.  I have filled in the missing pieces of my Harry Potter Novels and I have managed to replace my favorite paperback books with their hardback versions. Dust covers? forget it.

I want to see the spine and the gold lettering.

I am enjoying the rebuilding process - especially now that I have been alive long enough to have a list of favorites to acquire.

right now anthropologie (and a few other places) have classics in beautiful hardbacks. visiting anthropologie and caressing the covers gets creepy if it's more than a weekly activity so i have to just pine for them via the website.

I also have library cards! yes, old school cards that live in the book until it is borrowed. it's my favorite thing about having good books. Sharing.

What are your favorite books? 

The ones you want in hardback - all stained and worn pages?

 

we seal the pages with salt water and promises...

i am still reeling a little from last nights marathon reading of Mockingjay. after a wonderful time with some girlfriends getting out all my pent-up words from the long day, I came home finished up a few bits and pieces and rewarded my self with a few chapters of this long awaited novel.

It's not the longest or wordiest novel and judging from the past two books I could easily devour it whole. But then the story would end. done. over. I wasn't ready yet.

So I thought myself wise for trying to draw it out. Savor it in morsels. A few chapters here and there... only after all the days work was done.

I underestimated the writers ability to overwhelm my thoughts. I overestimated my ability to leave District 12 and come back to my own world each day. It's a fault I have always had. If a book is great then I emerse myself in it. It becomes a filter that I see my current life through. Until the story is finished I am it's prisoner and I can not free my mind. If it's not a great book, I don't make it to chapter three.

So in the stillness of the night I read and realized that I was completely lost to the story. I weighed the consequences and decided to press-on to the end. A tired mother is better than one whose mind is lost in some war-torn land.

The story was truly worth it - although I can say that it was tied up at the end a little too neatly to be consistent with three books of tribulation and irony. Still it was worth it.

There are MANY scenes that are somewhat haunting and stick with me. Even little Rue from book one is still with me. One of the lines that stuck out at the end of this book and attached it's self to me was,

"we seal pages with salt water and promises..."

It refers to a book written by people mourning and trying to desperately capture & record things they ought not forget. it stirs me. makes me pick up my camera and shoot.

**I will warn anyone who is considering reading this trilogy that the final installment is quite a bit more violent, graphic - scenes are little haunting and there is a lot of thought about death, dying, and worthi-ness. i would read first before deciding whether it is fitting for your teen/child.**

 

this rug wants to live in my home, i can just tell.

i spotted it in Pier 1 while scoping out sales. although the iphoto is giving off this bright red it's really rich and darkens one each petal... oh and if the design and color were not wonderful enough...it's demential. each petal is raised for a layered feel. oh this is love.

current blog crushes

i am loving a few specific blogs right now that deserve a little limelight.

First Up....

HOMESICK TEXAN: This amazing little blog that I just found TODAY is chalked full of beautiful photos of wonderful Texas and Southern Food. A Texas girl now living in New York the author is artful in her descriptions, writing  and photography. She makes want... no crave to cook and create. 

This is a miracle, considering I generally abhor cooking.

A miracle. *In the photo: Cantaloupe Ice Cream. seriously.

   

After all that foodie reading it's nice to switchover and read about sweating.

Second on our list....

FLAT GUT: A bodybuilding journal of sorts by a guy who writes straight from the heart... or shall i say gut. What i love about this blog is the writing. It's a little gritty and truthful and my favorite parts usually follow the phrase "some might be offended by..." 

The forth right-ness keeps me hooked. The way I can laugh about what I often times just experienced that morning or week in my own strength training journey. More often than not I am shocked by the feeling that Danny has literally reached right inside my head and grasped my very own thoughts and then managed to share them with world in an honest in-your-face way I could not have achieved.

love it. daily. it keeps me going.

Now for some indulgence... A Beautiful Mess

 

i adore this blog. elsie also writes, manages, owns...Red Velvet Art, which i also love. 

but her personal blog owns me. she is wonderful and true to her personal style. She makes me feel both like I am sane in my eclectic-ness and yet completely under-using it. this blog inspires me and gets my creative juices flowing. The frequency in which blogs is also awe inspiring. I am spoiled by her multiple a day posts and how I depend on them to get me unstuck from a train of thought or jump started in morning.  Besides of of that...what an absolutely cool name: Elsie Flannigan. 

* AHHH, elsie just got engaged so the name is about the change. I am sure it will be equally as cool.

well, there you go. three of my current blog crushes. enjoy.

 

guerilla kitting: austin, tx

  i forgot to post these  - a few months back I was downtown austin meeting a client and saw some guerilla knitting. If you have never heard of guerilla knitting it is this funny interesting concept of knitting vandalism. people knit covers or accessories for common objects...poles, signs, statues. 

I really like it when they knit clothes for statues. 

then they go out and anonymously leaving the knitting attached to what ever they have decided to beautify.

These are signs on the road way.

 

the city has taken the knitted pieces down now. I am glad I stopped and snapped a few shot while I did.

 for examples of guerilla knitting check out this previous post.

http://thekateeffect.typepad.com/the_kate_effect/2009/01/red-robe-theory.html

dear bake it pretty, you have my heart & my wallet. love, me

stumbled upon this fabulous site/shop/piece of heaven : Bake It Pretty via A Beautiful Mess and have literally surrender all consumer will power.  Ok, maybe I go too far. but only by a small margin.

so what did I purchase....

MUSTACHE molds!! Oh yes, chocolate mustaches on a stick are soon to be eaten in this house.

and Button molds. Buttons are fast becoming my favorite objects...

there are other items I want (like owl molds and mushroom cookie cutters) but choose to show restraint.

Mom always said it was best to take things slow ...

lights up, eyes on.

http://ransomtv.typepad.com/ransom/2009/12/dj-promote-lights-up-eyes-on-ep.html

last weekend i got a client on top of the roof of a very old motel. thankful he is married to my cousin and i am pretty sure he wouldn't have sued me if he fell...well at least i hope not.

it's all good though, because he didn't fall. despite the cold fog and rain!

He is DJ Promote and five of his tracks are up at RansomTV for free download. yep, i said free.

you gotta check'em out. awesome stuff and a nice new sound for the holidays.

Kate is loving them so much that she is now rapping everything and she wants headphones to wear like Mote. i am so glad she has a fantastic appreciation for music.

Better yet we have had some great conversation based around the words on the tracks...like "who's eyes and I keeping on?" and "where should i go when I die?" and "whats goodwill, mom?"

moments i live for.

take  a moment and stick this is your ear!

http://ransomtv.typepad.com/ransom/2009/12/dj-promote-lights-up-eyes-on-ep.html

you haven't been to New Orleans if you haven't been to Cafe' Du Monde, so they told me.

this is cafe' du mondeand these are the world famous beignets.

this little cafe has been around since 1862 and is open 24 hours a day - 7 days a week...all year except christmas day. The beignets were wonderful. As my friend said, " i always like fried dough".

I hope someday i can bring kate - i know she will have a blast making powder sugar mustaches with me.

 

read the sign carefully.

yep it says coffee stand. what did i order with my beignets? dr pepper. worse they got it wrong and brought me a diet coke. i hate when that happens. i had just inhaled at the wrong moment and breathed powder sugar, then i was utterly disappointed when i went to find relief in my dr pepper and gagged on the awfulness of diet coke. (diet coke drinkers, don't take offense. i would completely understand if you gagged on DrP)

my best advice for visiting Cafe' Du Monde... breathe in before you take a bite not during

and order coffee.

 

this is some random guy who looked to be exploring the city on his own. I gathered that fact from watching him frown at the map and turn it round and round. Instead of offering to help him find his destination i photographed him and his snazzy hat-vest combo. oh, yeah.

 

 

Librairie Bookshop of the French Quarter

on one of our photo-walks through the french quarter we stumbled into this wonderful little bookshop where the books were piled up everywhere. i wish I had a shot of the enormous floor to ceiling bookcases with glass doors that held giant books with old leather bindings.

on the second floor was the books were stacked on the floor and the staircase.

just inside the front door was a stack of books and a large box with a plump furry cat lounging. The cat definitely felt like it owned the place. The gentleman at the counter used a very old cash register and wrote down the purchases in a wide rule notebook. I am think their accounting is done by hand and i didn't even bother to ask for a receipt.

I picked up a hymnal that I just loved and with photograph and write about that another time.

love how these subjects seemed to cluster together...made for interesting spine browsing.

I almost purchased this worn little book but decided on the hymnal I had seen earlier. i hope kate can use it when she plays piano some day - or I play piano...

I sound like some victorian mother all of the sudden.

Anyways. i could definitely see myself frequently a little shop like this. But since I live in Round Rock, I will have to settle for half-price books.

 
 
 

dear graffiti artist of New Orleans,

 i was somewhat disappointed to find aconsiderable lack of artistic graffiti in the city of New Orleans.

some might think that this is a good thing. i was saddened. it is one of the few things Austin has on New Orleans. good deviant artists.

on the up side, i was able to spot these awesome little designs in various places. i love them. i wish i could find the hands that drew them - i loved finding the art like hidden gems in the city. I know they must be done by the same individual because the styling is so similar.

although one looks like a sticker..

i felt like i had this whole other group of friends i would run across when i least expected it.

  

 

 

 

 

 

pumpkin tips for texans

October in Texas is never predicatable, like most months in Texas. Sometimes it is hot as heck and others it is freezing. But October in Austin is alway pretty moist despite the tempature and moisture makes pumkins rot fast. Especially if you liek to carve those beautiful designs in them.

so i have been digging up tips and advice for keeping pumpkins fresh as long as possible.

The first thing we did is not buy them to early :)

How to Perserve a Pumpkin

10 Tips to keep halloween pumpkins at very-scary best

 

 

 

AUSTIN MAKES A BOOK

I just heard the THE most awesome project on the way to drop Kate off at school.... it's called AUSTIN MAKES A BOOK.

Maybe it's because I am so incredibly happy to have my child healthy again and back in school so I can have tiny space of time to create and think clear-coherent-not interrupted-thoughts...the sheer joy of a few hours of freedom... but I became very excited about this project and immediately drove home to submit something.

So here is the deal.

100 austinites submit one page worth of media. picture, writings, grocery list,  - whatever. Along with $30 to cover the cost of their copy of the published book. 100 people = 100 pages = 1 book.

There is not a theme or a direction just 100 pages of Austin. Sort of a collection, collaboration...social experiment if you will.

My greatest fear is that so many people will have drove to the nearest computer and submitted something before me and therefore causing me to be left out.  I would be very disappointed but still  so very excited to see what came from the project

Bookplate

I was doing a quick search for a printable bookplate and having little luck with finding something i liked until i stumbled upon Urban Nest! She offers these wonderful free downloadable bookplates - click on the image to head over to her site and download.

 

 

in the meanwhile I was inspired and created my own.

slow motion marvel

if you haven't seen the movie duplicity yet ... run to your local REDBOX or Blockbuster and rent it. then promptly return home, slide it in the DVD player and settle in for the THE most AMAZING opening credits I have EVER seen. There is no sound, no words, just paul giamatti and another great actor battling in out on a the tarmac of a private airport. IN. SLOW. MOTION.

yes, two middle aged business tycoons pounding each other in slow motion. the filming and art direction is awesome. - you will be mesmerized. it's comical too.

then once you have arrive at the title screen for the movie immediately turn the TV off, eject DVD and returning to the rental location. immediately.

the movie is not that great and somewhat disappointing. but the open credits are worth the money!

i tried to hunt the video down via the web so I could share it but I did not find it - email me if you manage to find it.

Fallen Princesses at JPG Magazine

Rapunzel II  by Dina Goldstien as seen on JPGmag.com

 

I was browsing along and stumbled upon this amazing photo essay called Fallen Princesses.   I am in awe of the creativity and even more so at the execution of this great idea. I would hate to taint the concept with my horrid spelling and grammar so I can only encourage you to click on the link and see for yourself.

I am quite attached to the image above of Rapunzel. From that statement you might assume that I know someone who is or has suffered from cancer and that it has left it's mark on my life. That would be a very misplaced assumption. I do not know of anyone who has or is suffering from this disease. Not in the sense that it touches my everyday life. No near a dear family member or life long friend. Only whisperings of "so and so's cousin from church" or "that uncle's brother's first wife."

I like this image because it has raw sterile emotion that cuts at me. It seems so blatant and exposed. Nothing to soften the blow. I remind my self that it is set up and created. A set. Not someone real. But it seems more real because may be is feels accurate.

Having said that -the Cinderella and Jasmine are wonderful - and every wife will LOVE Snow White.

i want it bad!

my brother just sent me  link to this photo of the most awesomest tattoo ever!

credit where credit it due :

By Bryan Krause at Atom Bomb Tattoos in Willoughby, Ohio
www.atombombtattoo.com/ 

Check out her other photos on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaylah7/3013093882/in/set-72157607706942038/

a hint to what i want to learn next.

I Don't Know from ATO Records on Vimeo.

brad is nervous about the scissors.

because i want to be that creative...

Lisa Hannigan - Lille from ATO Records on Vimeo.

found: Polaroid circa 1950 (i think)

 

found this in fredricksbrg while browsing shops after the retreat....yea it totally rocks. it is hauting my dreams a night.

Joshua Radin

I'm lovin this artist!

"I'd Rather Be With You" Official Video

discovery: scarlet fig

Spoonflower, a design & print your own fabric shop, is now open to the public. To celebrate the wonderfully unique creations they feature four designs each week for visitors to vote on. The winning fabric design is available for sale to the public for one week.

ONE week!

This is not good for my pocket book. The Law of Diminishing Return is at work in my life! I can usually con myself in department stores bytelling my self "this will still be here later...save up and come back." I rarely save up or go back. If you say it will only be availbe for a short time - I am compelled to purchase for fear of eternal seperation.

This is winning fabric is torturing me! I want it so badly.

OOOOh, how lovely it is as pillows.

The designer of this sweet little tempation is Laurie Wisburn of Scarlet Fig.I learned from her blog that she is based here in Austin and just opened herEsty shop this year. I can' wait to email her and pledge my undying devotion. Obviously, I have had very little sleep and lots of sugar - I am gushing. 

It is time for me to get back to my christmas projects. I am not sure which I am more excited about; Seeing everyone open their handmade gifts, or blogging all the photos I am hoarding of the handmade gifts.

If you are browsing the blogs while avoiding some creepy family member over the holidays check out:

 

torchy's tacos @ the trailer park eatery....

   

(yes. i will get in big trouble for the pic.)

I love Austin for this reaso: The food rocks.

I did a fun little shoot with a couple girlfriends who let me use them as models to practice with...In the cold rain we decided to grab a bite to eat. K* takes us to this fantastic trailer park eatery where you order from a trailer and sit on park benches to eat. The Tacos are amazing! I had the Fried Avacado Taco and I think it is the best thing I have ever put in my mouth. The queso (which also has avacados) is equally as yummy. Oooh, the creamy sauce ....it is just that good.

It gets even better! They serve coke is glass bottles and have menu items called the Republican and the Democrat ... and Little Nookies!

the quirkie-ness steals my heart.

LiveMom.com

   

this is a little plug for all you Austin moms : LiveMom.com

I have been lurking around this site for a few months after discovering it through Apartment Carpet, and I took the plunge this past week. I actually logged on, posted on the discussion board, and signed up for the discount card!

things about this site that i enjoy? Simple. It is simple. Not gaudy site with tons of junk. I like the design, I like the fresh new feel. It doesn't seem jaded like some online communities who have so many various members they could care-less whether you are there or not. it has that Austin vibe without trying to be "all things Austin". I love the list of things to dofor the weekends...a nice clean concise delivery of the events! And they are actually event I would take Kate to!

Head on over and wander around this hip new site. I post as k8sm0m.

whoever you are, i love you.

i passed by this car on the way into HEB the other day and had to go back and snap a photo. i am learning to use my ipohne to document everything i find interesting - it is like a life size treasure hunt, only i make up the list as i go and there are no prizes. i had the overwhelming urge to find the car owner. i considered calling for her/him over the PA system. "Excuse me HEB shoppers, could the owner of the Scion with the Esty.com sticker please report to customer service where your Soul-Mate is waiting."  but that sounded too creepy. so i settled for going down every isle spying on shoppers seeking someone who looked like they might own the car with the rockin' bumper stickers.

only came across one guy who was wearing a pink paisely cowboy shirt and a blue-haired granny with a crocheted chain for her glasses.

If you happen to see this bumper sticker- please alert me! Brad will never consent to putting it on the car but I can tape it in the window. Roller Derby Rocks, too!

How About Orange links us the most awesome way to waste time.

I love How about Orange - it is quite possibly one of my favortie blogs. Besides the fact that she designs fabric and has a passion for orange..... she also has awesome posts on how the waste time... like this one.

yes, drool is dripping from my face

i am loving this rug right here. i discovered it all rolled up and stacked up in a box at lowe's. it whispered "carrie, i am here. i have been waiting for you. take me now."

it broke my heart to leave it behind but i have this momento. I can drool and dream.

(photo from iphone)

*** Update: I have had a handful of emails asking about the size... it is 4.5'x6.5'

what i should be doing vs. what i am doing.

I should be cutting, stuffing and addressing the fabulously mod baby shower invites i designed for my cousin. I am very destracted by the wonderfully simple and easy little fabric birds I found on How About Orange - which she posted from Spool Sewing!

I have made my own little feathered friends but I have not sewn up their little tails yet - I am telling myself to finish the invites first. After I have them all stitched I will post so you can see if I did ok.

Honestly, I hate birds. Maybe hate is a strong word. No. It's about right. I am not much of an animal lover to begin with and birds just don't do it for me. In real life they are messy and loud - I much rather see them at your house or the zoo. This why Brad looked at me as if i had truely lost my mind when i showed him my first try at the fabric birdie. He didn't once look att he bird but stared at my face as if determining whether he should call 911 or just drive me to the ER.

To make matters worse I have fallen in love with this fabric from Anna Maria Horner! It is covered with birds!

I have no clue if this is just a faze or a new leaf. I do know that I am heading to a fabric store downtown tonight and with luck I will get to rub this fabric all over my body. ok, maybe just caress is with my fingertips until I get home. Don't be suprised if the next post is all about how I tattooed this across my back.

love fondant, need inspiration

I recently shared this link with a friend and realize that i have been stingy with my finds lately...

I will be more intent on sharing. the first site I want to share with you is all about cakes and fondant.

I seem to have had a hard time really finding good sites for inspiration- although I must admit I am picky and have a unique style.

this little blog is sweet and smooth. great picture and clear information and beautifully put together.

enjoy!

blown away (unfinished post from january 2008)

    I am absolutely blown away by the amount of thing we did this past year... I didn't create world peace or feed the peoples of Sudan but I did teach a two year old how to put her clothes on. I introduced her to the Trail of Lights at Zilker Park and how to drive her little Barbie Jeep.

I let her experience the warmth of a Starbuck hot cocoa after a trip to the park in the freezing wind. 

I showed her how to "match" her shoes to her out fit and sing the alphabet. Nevermind sing it - Kate can sign most of the letters as well. Last year I was excited to see her tiny body  walk and now she run and jump and even gallop.  She is now aware of music such as rap and salsa which a cue for her to little body to dance until she passes out from exhaustion.

We now also know the art of manipulation or shall I say we have matured in our manipulative abilities...

pure genius

  With 2008 looming on the horizon and the pressure to set goals and project our future, Brad and I took some time to educate Kate in a few essentials of life. Thanks to my iPhone I was able to document Kate learning the fine art of Spitballs. I forsee amazing things for my daughter's future. I was quite thrilled to find a preschool program that offers scholarships for gifted toddlers. I can not wait to fill out the Talents and Hobbies portion of her enrollment form.

billboard in west texas

" Be nice to strangers,visit your in-laws."

This had me in stitches for at least a good eight minutes.

texas equivalent

I have always loved pictures of kids playing in the street of New York under a huge geyser of water from a fire hydrant. It's one of the few things I thought could not be replicated, you had to be in the middle of a big city at the right time in the right neighborhood to have that kind of fun.

This picture reminds me of those New York City Fire Hydrant pictures. Kate this is your Texas equivalent. And by the look on your face, just as thrilling! 

luv u

peter pan syndrome

Kate discovered her shadow this weekend. Here it is caught on film. The sudden realization that some how ...that dark, kid shaped shadow is connected to her. It was the highlight of my week to watch her move her body this way and that way to see if it would follow. I giggled when she ran from it like it was chasing her. I snorted when she tried to lean down and touch it. But when Kate tripped and fell right on top of her own shadow then sat up quickly and said "NO" while shaking her finger... thats when I laugh so hard I almost Peed ! Now Kate and her shadow are good friends and she says "Hi!" in the most cheerful voice when it appears.

the next mona lisa

are you bored??? have nothing better to do? or are you like me, have tons to do buut trying to avoid doing any of it.

visit the face transformer site

I saw this on the Apartment Carpet blog.

you can see wha tyou look like as a baby.. older adult... famous work of art or even a cave man.

HAVE FUN!

ladybug refugee camp

for some reason i have come to find many lady bugs in my house. special K found this one on the soap bar in my bathroom. i think my house is some kind of lady bug sanctuary... i'm sure that will stop after kate finds one and eats it. then the news will spread among the refugee colony that a giant ladybug eating child lives here and our house will be abandoned.

special k was amazed by my ladybug representative. this is her trying to figure out whether it is a boy or girl.

Gladys from Austin

The best 6.55 minutes you will have all week. Check out this YouTube video. You will especially appreciate it if you live in Austin. Sorry I could not blog it right into the post.. YouTube doesnot support TypePad yet. For Shame!