latest project- grad photo album

As you may know from reading my blog, that my daughter is graduating high school this year.  so I've put together this photo album for her to take with her. 

It's lacking the pictures yet, as actual graduation has not occurred but now its all planned out and ready to go!  Using a Pre-cut cardboard book that said grade- drop the E so you have grad.

Trace the letters out on card stock Using the school colors- Hers were cardinal and black. I then ran the card stock thru my xyron to attach to the cardboard letters.  Although I've seen some really cool papers and accessories made for specific high schools, no one in our area has ordered those.  Even the local scrapbook store which is closest to the high school.  So I looked for papers that would work finding white background with crimson, black and a green yellow accent , a lovely raised congratulation paper with black and grey and bits of sparkle, as well solid black, red, white.

Using some varying shade of green brads to attached the dream, explore, and discover tags.  The congrats grad tag, tucks into the congratulations pocket.  Lots of Ribbon used for this project, I had black organdy, red organdy, a black & gray stripe. I found the cap & gown by Jolee'. It also had a few other pieces with it. I was able to find some sayings that I used throughout the book.  The last page I used an actual announcement from her class, which does open, and then the MT SI  & 2010 numbers were from a raised letter set, that has red felted edges.  If you make one, have fun personalizing it for your child.  Most of my daughters activities, have not been at the high school, as the last two years she's been in the running start program at the junior college, and all the rest of her outside activity is dance related. So I will make another album for her dance from early childhood thru current.

Letters to Juliet

I can't recommend this movie enough.  It has beautiful scenery, a lovely story, and a bit of romance.  Definitely will be more favorable with women, but so be it.
I loved Vanessa Redgrave in this part. I really didn't recognize her at first. But she is so elegant and down to earth here, but that bit of whimsy in looking for her long lost love.
Yes absolutely delightful!

It's warm!

Oh we are having some warm days here.  It's lovely and what people move to Seattle for.  Blue sky, mild temperatures- our warm days are usually low 70's.   Growing up in Southern California, that was a typical day, which I loved as well. Living at the beach was the best because the mornings were cool and foggy, and the fog burned off by noon, so it warmed up into the 80's, but we always had a nice ocean breeze.

Our Party is on.  Finally have the time worked out with the musician.   Yeah! That's a big one off the list of things to do.

Another showing today, so running thru with the vacuum and dust cloth.  It's interesting that we can't normally keep our homes so clean.- But then again it means not much of a life; clean then run out for and hour here and there to wait. several times a week. And every single time something shows up- oh look its sunny, there's streaks on the windows, or fingerprints on something, blah blah blah.  I know why I was a clean once a week mom with the occasional run of the vacuum during the week. You don't have time for anything else, AND seriously this is boring.  Make the bed when you wake up, and put your dishes in the dishwasher when you use them. But obsessively making your home look like a model home sucks. Omg, I worry the water in the flowers isn't fresh, or the trash needs to go out, or did I remember to close the toilet lids.  It's insanity at its best!

not meant to be a whine....

Oh I know this is going to sound like a whine.  I'm in flux on a few things, trying to plan a date for our annual party in June- used to celebrate the end of the school year, my birthday, and just my friends in general.  We have my birthday, my daughters high school graduation, and our wedding anniversary in May and June this year.Then my daughter leaves in July for San Francisco.  In order to work around every one's schedule and get the musician we want its all getting very complicated. 

My daughter was/is not very excited about walking for her diploma, but she has no choice on this, few things parents expect but to see their child participate in this event, is required.  But she had someone ask her if she would skip it and perform and that really is kind of a PISS off, (pardon my language). I hope that same individual has to deal with their own children asking to not participate in graduation.

I have a realtor open house tomorrow, and therefore must do the super cleaning tonight~ granite clean, stainless clean, etc, etc.  Realtors are more picky than buyers sometimes.  You want them to like it so they will bring clients.  I could and probably should be doing that this afternoon, but frankly I'm bored with cleaning.  And I spend all my time looking around my house inspecting things.  Wondering if I should pack another item away, or have some other item professionally done.  Realizing the weather has warmed up and the duvet covers need to be changed to lighter ones. Are the flowers fresh, the grass mowed, every crumb and thread picked up?  That seems to be focus of my life right now.  Which can be a bit frustrating. Last time we sold a house, we had already purchased a new house, which had incredible stress on our lives, never again. This time we are just waiting patiently for the house to sell, so we can decide what we want- a new build or a an existing home.
see you next time
trev

mother's day.

Mother's day is always kind of bittersweet.  I lost my mom when I was 23, and since then it just never been the same to me.
 Even with my own child, I can usually pass on the day unless we just do a family activity.  This year is even harder, as its the first one without my mother in law as well.
I was reading that the woman who actually was involved in starting mother's day to honor her own mother, and used the day to develop mother's groups to help better sanitary conditions and decrease infant mortality in West Virginia spent most of her life fighting against the commercialism and politics of the day.
So go figure.
I believe that we should love and honor our family and friends all the time. Not just one day of the year.  To me , birthdays are special- lets celebrate the life of our loved ones. 

So let's celebrate all our friends and family not just mommas today.