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 :)
10 Tips to keep halloween pumpkins at very-scary best
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
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.
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.
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/
found this in fredricksbrg while browsing shops after the retreat....yea it totally rocks. it is hauting my dreams a night.
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:
(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.
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.
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!
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'
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.
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!
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...
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
this is the face of a little girl in her dream Ikea room!
you would have thought she had died and gone to heaven. She made this face at the kids bed, and the toys, and the couches, and the tupperware... by the time we got to the kitchen stuff she figured out that this face made us laugh so she made it at EVERYTHING.
She is also wearing her favorite purrrpel (purple) beads that make her preetee (pretty). She makes mommy wear the green ones because she can not say green yet and purple and pretty start with the same letter.
today kate decided to unroll the toilet paper after her bath. yes i had time to stop her and redirect her attention, but I didn't. instead i just sat back and watch for a minute. she stopped and looked at me like : hey why aren't you dragging me way and prevent me from creating this fabulous mess. i giggled and told her it was ok - she could play some more. then I crawled over and mummified her :)
It was great fun. more for me that her I think. what can i say? I love my mummy.
Our Playgroup (the bagel mama's) took a trip to the Austin Zoo last friday - It was a blast. But I must warn anyone thinking about going to the Austin Zoo in hopes of showing their young children what real animals look like. The Austin Zoo is a rescue zoo. Therefore some of the animals, namely the monkeys, do not look like a normal healthy animals. Some of them are missing arms are legs or are sick. There was one section of monkeys that were kinda scary looking and I had to tell kate that these were not your average run of the mill monkeys. oh yeah, the sheep were kinda strange too.
On the other hand the tigers and lions were awesome. Kate loved the big tiger!!
Thank you Flip & Flip's mom for giving us a ride to the ZOO!
OK so I have already gone on and on about Signing Smart but now I must pay my dues to Signing Time. This is our favorite show! And although I am not a huge advocate of sitting your baby in front of the TV - if you and your baby have some time to chill out in front of the tube - this is the show to watch. Rachel shows how to sign various words in ASL (American Sign Language) with the help of Alex and Leah (her daughter and nephew). There are songs and other kids signing and the signs are super easy to pick up!!
I love this show because it supports me in learning signs to use with Kate and it allows both Kate and I to see other adults and children signing. the goal of the Signing Time Foundation is to help children of all abilities communicate! WOW - what a huge goal. But guess what!? It's working. Kate sees Rachel on the TV and starts using all her signs. This week at church, where I help register kids for the Sunday morning program, I came upon a child and later and an adult who were hearing impaired. I was able to use a few signs I had learned while I connected them with the volunteer interpreter!! If you are like me and can't seem to grasp Spanish or any other language for that matter and yet want to expose you child to various ways of communicating - Try Sign Language!!
It is never too early or late. Sign Language is like any another language and starting it early is great, you would be amazed at how your baby can use those tiny fingers. If you little one is older - no problem! Signing time is perfect for kids and is geared for pre-school and up. We DVR Signing Time on KLRU - check out your listings (or click here) to see when you can catch a sneak peek.
This is Kate signing MORE to us on Fathers Day (seven months old) She is asking for more syrup. She managed to grab a handful of french toast from her daddy's breakfast in bed plate.
