Favorites in February - Scrapbook Essentials

I've been scrapbooking for about six years now. I've found that sometimes I get into a real scrapping groove, constantly taking great photos, using lots of cool products, and making great projects. There are some really great items out there that make scrapping easy for me and are real essentials.

1. A great scrapbooking website

I love twopeasinabucket.com . I've been visiting the site since April 2004 and love that I can post my layouts there, learn what products are worth buying, and learn the latest and greatest about the industry. The gallery at 2peas is filled with amazing cards and layouts and I use it often for inspiration.

2. A fabulous cutter

If you can work at home and have endless space, I recommend the Tonic Guillotine trimmer

It cuts through several sheets of cardstock and acrylic and is super sharp.

For crops and simple scrapping, I use my Fiskars Euro Trimmer (this isn't exactly what I have, but it seems to be a newer version, hence the NEW circle).

It is precise and cuts very well. You do need to buy replacement blades, so slight bummer.

3. Strong, acid-free adhesive

I think you need both dry and wet adhesive depending on the project.

I like Scotch Quick Dry Tacky Adhesive

and I am looooooving my ATG gun.

Yes, it's large,but the refills are so inexpensive and last forever and are so super sticky.

4. Glue dots

These little wonders make ribbon, metal art, wood, stick to anything.

5. Fabulous Cardstock

I use Bazzil or Prism mostly. Great texture and very easy to work with. I have learned I do not need every color of the rainbow, I now just buy those go-to colors I use most:

white, black, dark brown, kraft brown, greens, teal/icy blue, and pomegranate red.

6. A fabulous Local Scrapbook Store

I've been shopping at Scrapper's Playground since the week it opened. What helps is that this store stocks all the latest and greatest and is open to any suggestions on what to stock. They have amazing papers, a "wall of color" with every ink, paint, copic marker, chalk you can imagine, a knowledgeable staff to tell you how to use the product, and awesome classes with their talented staff members and "celeb" scrappers too (it's where I went to Donna Downey's classes last year when my hair was way longer).

Most of all, just enjoy the process. Once it becomes a burden, I have learned to take a little break, pack up my stuff and ignore it. Then the bug hits and I am back in the groove.

So go get scrappy :)

Favorites in February - Beauty

I have a crazy obsession with makeup and skincare products. I have tried them, fell in love with some and ditched many others. These are my current favorites.

1. My skin is the only skin I have, so I do have a pretty serious skin care regiment. And I drink a lot of water to keep my hydrated.

-Face wash for AM is Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash

Gentle and effective.



-Face Wash for PM is Philosophy Purity Made Simple



Really gets my skin clean.

-Daytime Moisturizer is sadly, no longer available, as Prescriptives said goodbye to the beauty world this month. I have a new bottle of All You Need + SPF 15 to get me through a few months and then I'll be finding a new moisturizer

.
-Eye Cream is also Prescriptives, so alas, I am unable to tell you to get it.

-Evening Moisturizer is Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream

I have some slight redness and this soothes without making my skin too oily

2. Foundation
I am pretty fair-skinned (some may say pale, that's ok) and so I am constantly in search of the best foundation with even coverage that lets me still look like me and not too masky.

-I love Clinique's Perfectly Real foundation

Good coverage, great colors, and affordable

-NARS Sheer Matte foundation is also lovely.

Way more expensive, but really nice stuff.

3. Powder

-I am really liking Bare Essentuals Hydrating Mineral Veil

I do also like the foundation powder, but right now I am liking this powder for everyday. It does have a teeny bit of luster, so if you are very oily it may not work for you.

-Stila Sheer Pressed Powder

This is always with me in my bag. Love the flawless coverage.

4. Eyes

-Mascara I have fallen in love with is Sephora Brand Waterproof Triple Action Mascara

It's natural for everyday and truly doesn't clump or smudge.

-Eyeshadow Cargo Essential Palette

Very natural and wearable, smooth application

-Undereye concealer and highlighter Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector

Instantly makes me look a little perkier. Affordable and a great formula.

5. Cheeks

I never used to 'get' blush and I kind of avoided it. Now, I am loving it. Especially cream versions for their natural flush look.

-Stila Convertible Color

I've been liking Poppy lately

-Smashbox OGlow

This is a build able gel formula so you can go from day to evening.

-Sephora Blush Me

My favorite powder version. I like all their colors.

7. Lips

I adore gloss. I am constantly searching for that perfect pink shade that is naturally pretty.

-Cargo Classic Gloss

This is the least-sticky gloss I have ever worn. My favorite shade is Tobago.

-Stila Lip Glazes

Get the mini set and you are going to love all the colors. They add instant plump and the colors are great.

-Philosophy The Supernatural Superglossy Lip Gloss

Glowy and smooth.

What are some of your beauty essentials?

Me Right Now - February

1.What is your current Obsession?
I'm really into organizing. I joined Simplify 101's Organizing 101 workshop. And let me tell ya, it is a great class that has really motivated me to get more order in my life.

2. What are you wearing today?
Black lounge pants, blue v neck top, and my bathrobe. It is one of the rare days that I am sick and had to take off from work (my mantra is, if you are stick, stay home, so I listened to my own advice).

3. What’s for dinner?
Leftover macaroni and bean soup.

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
cleaning products from Target

5. What are you listening to right now?
HGTV's House Hunters.

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
Not tagged, just choose to do this.

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Definitely close to home, probably on Long Island's South Shore.

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
Flowing skirts and jcrew flip flops.

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
A museum.

10. Which language do you want to learn?
French. It just sounds so cool.

11. What’s your favourite quote?
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi

12. Who do you want to meet right now?
Oprah.

13. What is your favourite colour?
Sage green.

14. Give us 3 styling tips that work for you.
Gel, not hairspray. Took me a long time to realize this.
Under-eye highlighter. Totally brightens my face.
Moisturize face and body.

15. What is your dream job?
Magazine research.

16. What’s your favorite magazine?
Real Simple.

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Clothes. I really want some new layering tees.

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Leggings without something additional covering your butt.

19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
That's tough. I usually like most of the icons. I think Paris Hilton dresses a little too young.

20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
I like my short choppy hair.

21. What are you going to do after this?
Finish my mac and cheese and take a nap.

22. What are your favourite movies?
Crash, Hotel Rwanda, Newsies, Elizabeth

23. What inspires you?
A moving book, crafty people.

24. What do your friends call you most commonly?
Just Kathleen. At least to my face :)

25. Would you prefer coffee or tea?
Tea. Always tea.

26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
I scrapbook. I tend to become depressed and then become a slight recluse, so I have to surround myself with good things and uplifting people. That, coupled with some scrapping, really helps.

27. What makes you go wild?
When people are fanatical. About anything. And feel the need to tell me.

28. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
Besides those of my friends (who read this anyway and know I love their stuff), I like Lisa Leonard, Ali Edwards, InCourage

29. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
I'm not much of a sweets person, but I guess ice cream

30. How many tabs are turned on in ur browser right now?
2

31. Favorite Season?
Fall.

32. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
My husband would cook, not me :)

33. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
I usually just avoid them totally. This happens rarely though, fortunately.

34. What are you afraid of the most?
How I will die.

35. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
uck, I DO look pretty bad!

36. What brings a smile on your face instantly?
New magazines in the mail.

37. A word that you say a lot?
Flip.

38. When was the last time you did something nice?
I try to do something nice everyday. Don't really keep track though.

39. What would you do if you were made President of the US for one day?
Put in a holiday between President's Day and 4th of July.

Major Blog Renovation :)

Today I decided it was time to do a major overhaul of my blog. I want it to look less generic, more like a scrapbook page I would make.

So after some searching, I found Shabby Blogsand oh my, is it the site for me. It took some time figuring out how to work with blogger and its layout, but less than an hour later, viola! My blog=my style. Do ya like?

Favorites in February - Books

I have always been a reader. I have vivid memories of walking down to the corner to visit the mobile library as a kid in the summer. And I was always a member of our summer reading programs at the local library.

My dad has been an avid reader, so I like to think my love of reading came from him.

I used to be obsessed with keeping every book I bought, but now I have realized they just grab dust and I tend not to read books a second time anyway. Plus, now I have a Kindle, so I don't need to have all the clutter of all those books.

When I moved out of my parents' home, I only brought with me those books that really mean something to me. Here is a list of some of my most favorite reads:

The Lovely Bones

I read this when it first came out and remember it as one of the very few books that made me cry. Sob, actually. So touching.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Not a book I would ever have picked up without the help of a Border's associate. And I loved it (I am reading the sequel, Girl Who Played with Fire now). It is a mystery/adventure/action book, keeps your attention the entire time. Fast read. Enthralling.

Velvet Elvis

We all know I have an obsession with religion/spirituality. I think my whole life I will be on the quest to come to terms with belief in my life. It was hard picking one book to represent how I want to believe, but Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis is the best choice. Live with love. Love with all your heart. Be the person who does what is right. Act with kindness. You get the point.

The Life of Elizabeth I

Ah, Tudor England. I could read constantly about the mundane details of food, clothes, and drama.

White Oleander

The first book I read that I highlighted. The imagery is just awesome. The story is chilling.

I Know this Much is True

A HUGE book (I think over 700 pages) and very worth the read.

Madame Bovary

I hate classics. I really do. I try over and over to read them and rarely enjoy them. Except for Madame Bovary. I guess because it is risque and dark.

Handmaid's Tale

Oh, so up my alley. Fundamentalism, women's freedoms. Love it.

Bell Jar

Without a doubt the one book I read in college that I totally "got."

Catcher in the Rye

Loved this book in high school. Still remember reading it in Mrs. Beuser's English class.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Well, all the HP books are my guilty pleasure reads. I can read them over and over and over. And they never get old.

Simplify: February Update

As per Ali Edwards's influence, I will be checking in with my word here each month. It's a good way for me to see how I have put the word into action.

For the month of January I:

-Purged my ginormous pen collection keeping only those I will really use

-Went through all my clothes and pared my wardrobe down to those pieces that I am truly happy wearing. They have to feel good and look good.

-Set up online bill pay for most of my expenses

-Kept things out of my car. If it doesn't belong there, it gets outta there

-Writing in my gratitude journal daily.

-started Zumba classes

-Worked on organizing the kitchen with my Organized for Life book. It was a lot of work and required some journaling, but now all the drawers have a purpose and I know where everything is.

-and got the Lisa Leonard necklace with my word. And I love it>

How is your word doing?

Favorites in February - Cleaning

This month I will highlight some of my favorite things, from products I love, favorite books and movies, to everyday stuff.

Today I will highlight my favorite cleaning products and helpers. I actually don't mind cleaning. It's one of those things that has to be done, so I just grab stuff that works best and get going.

1. Our Kenmore Canister Vacuum

I grew up always using a canister. I know, some people are cringing, they don't like to have to pull the canister around, but it is lightweight and I find it easier to move around. An upright can be too heavy for me, so this vacuum was an easy choice. After consulting Consumer Reports, we knew we were heading to Sears for a Kenmore. The features of our model are a very easily detachable head, a light on the head, lightweight, serious power, and a bag (bagless just get too messy for me). Plus, c'mon, it's a cheery yellow color :)

2. Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner

I love this stuff! One of the things that I need is a product that has a pleasing scent. No orange, no nastiness. This product is fresh-smelling and cleans every surface in the apartment, especially the stainless garbage pail.

3. Cleaning Cloths

In my attempts to be a little greener, I try not to use many paper towels as I clean. Instead, I stock up on microfiber cloths that have specific uses (glass, wood, bathroom, etc). When done, bleach 'em and they're good to go for next time. They attract dirt, deep clean, and cut down on waste.

4. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Ahhh, memories of my mom scrubbing grease off the stove with these. And they really do work. We have the mop, too. Like it.

5. All things Swiffer

Love the sweeper for the kitchen and bath, use the duster and cloths for quick dusting sessions.

6. Method Shower Cleaner

Just spray after you take a shower. The bathroom smells clean and the shower truly stays clean.

7. Soft Scrub

This stuff seriously cleans. Works in the bathroom and kitchen (and on stained cutting boards).

What are some of your favorites to make your home sparkle?

Simplify scrapped

So I usually get around to scrapping my word of the year in June. And it is usually long after the word has had its effect. And it is usually just to have it scrapped.

So this year, I scrapped it first thing at a private crop in Sandra's new scrap room.

In a sense it is a journal moment for my word with a photo of Freddy and me on New Year's Eve.

Th journaling reads:

Simplify - my ford for 2010. Need less, want less, keep less. Love more, learn more, organize more. Be "ok," be grateful, be me. Make goals, make a schedule, make time for what is important. Keep it simple.

This was definitely a fun way to get back into scrapping this year. And it made for a reflective moment.

Seeing your word

One way to remind yourself of your word daily is to have it as a visual reminder. It's easy to find some words on plaques or wall art if you go and search online or in stores and having the word in a special, highly visible place helps to keep it on your mind. It may even spark conversation with those you love who can help you live your word.

I made a couple of framed SIMPLIFY pieces for me to display.

One will go on my desk at work (since I am there most of the time) and the other will find a place in the apartment. I used paper that made me happy and whimsical stamps to make them fun to look at. The frames were really cheap from Michael's and fit with most decor. I also whipped one together for a dear friend who is living a very vibrant word.

So, find a cool way to see the word you want to live in 2010.

Thoughts on my 365 2010

So I don't know what really made me want to shoot a 365 again, but I was very motivated and am really enjoying it. The photos can be found here or on a straight calendar view here. I think this project gives me a chance to search for what made my day meaningful.

I noticed that in 2009 I really didn't take very many every day photos and I missed that. When it came to scrapbooking, I was missing those moments that captured who I am and why I do the things I do. I resorted to scrapping just the big events or not scrapping at all. I want to change that (maybe go digital? not yet sure).

I have my 366 photo in an album at home and I look through it every now and then just to check out what was cool about that year.

I noticed the following:

-I liked my face that year (in terms of makeup)

-I get lots of different hair cuts

-When in doubt, I photographed me feeling whatever it was that day

-I am lazy on the weekends

-I like getting new things

-I love celebrations in life

-I seem to have lived in clutter for a long while

-Freddy sends me flowers all the time

-I love reading and creating

-I do my own nails and it shows (they looked pretty ugly in lots of the photos)

I want to get more photos like this:

Watching, dancing, being like a child. I want my 365 to reflect the good, the bad, and the incredible.

Some things I hope to capture this year:

-What is making my new life special

-People I cherish

-Moments, things, people that I love

-The little things that I do but think as unimportant (cleaning, paying bills, walking through the front door)

-Discovering new hobbies

-Embracing my word SIMPLIFY.

Day 2 1/2/10

Loving a day with snow, which was totally unexpected. Loving that I get to stay warm and cozy at home.

Make it simple

And the word for 2010 is SIMPLIFY.

This is an all-encompassing word for my life in 2010. I want so much to de-clutter. De-clutter my mind, my stuff, my attitude. I just want to be happy with what I have and embrace it. I want to literally get rid of those things that make my life complicated. I want to be happy with life as it is and focus less on how it should ideally be.

And thus, the reasoning for selecting simplify for this year.

I have a couple of books to help me with the organizing side of the word. They have layouts for the week to keep me on-track with my goal to live an ordered life. I selected Organize Now, The Life Organizer: A Woman's Guide to a Mindful Year, and One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good. If the books become a burden and make life less-simple, they'll be out, but I have really enjoyed reading their perspectives about organizing and how it is a life-long process.

I am going to be journaling a bit more on paper this year in the hopes of getting to the core principles and values that I care about and to de-clutter my mind, get the stuff on paper.

And I am going to take the challenge of another 365 photo project on flickr. I loved doing this in 2008 and I enjoy looking through the album I made. If this becomes a hassle, I will bring it down to a weekly photo, but it wasn't a hassle the last time, it was something I truly embraced and I hope it can remind me to find the beauty in the simplicity of each day. I also think I will use Ali's soon-to-be-released digital templates to scrap this. I have much less room to scrap and a fabulous mac, so this may be my turn to dive into digital scrapping.

So cheers to 2010 and happy new word!

20 Questions of 2009

Ok, so I am taking a look back at 2009...


Inspired by Incourage, I am taking the challenge to answer these questions about the year. NOTE** I had no idea how deep this would be until I started answering them. So it is a little intense to me, but I am still going to share it, even if I feel it is a little revealing. I didn't think too much about the answers, just let them come to me.

Reflection Questions for 2009

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?

Easy answer - I married the man of my dreams.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

Easy answer again - being married to the man of my dreams. This takes lots of work, people. I think lots of other newlyweds have lied about that. And I so should write a book about it.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?

Getting a great promotion to further my career and help me be proud of myself.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

5. Pick three words to describe 2009.

Change (my '09 word), exciting, intense

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).

intense, hectic, adventure

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2009 (again, without asking).

adventure, thrilling, experiment (cooking mostly for that one)

8. What were the best books you read this year?

God is Not Great

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Jesus Wants to Save Christians

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?

My husband, my parents, really getting to know them better and watch the love grow

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?

Marriage (next year should be a little more deep)

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?

I learned that I have to change how I do things, feel about things, and live my life. This caused me to put aside my previous independence and embrace being with someone who loves me as I am, but needs my total commitment to him.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

I shrunk here. Losing faith in a lot of things, especially where God is or isn't in my life. Not that I haven't searched, believe me, but I think that I am slowly moving to non-belief, which has become less frightening to me.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

Eating better and dancing.

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?

Embracing my parents as who they are and learning more about and appreciating Freddy's family. Learning how to be proud of the people in my life who make me me, who make us us. Finding women in my life who are true friends (Paige, Jamie, Katie come to mind immediately) and having couples we can hang out with and just be. Learning to just be friends without jealously, caring about keeping up with each other. Now that's freeing.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?

Setting up my closets perfectly and eliminating stuff I didn't need when I moved

16. What was your most challenging area of home management?

Moving out of my lifelong home to start a new life was crazy. Everything needed a place and I needed to decide what came and what stayed behind. This was stressful and emotional, but worth it.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?

Oh, so definitely gossip and caring about what people think of me. I need to get over these things.

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

My Antioch retreat in April. That was one weekend I didn't want to have, but it became a moment of grace for me. As I move through my faith journey, I have looked back at that weekend to find what impacted me the most, and that weekend wins. I try to hold onto the love I felt that weekend and I think I want it to bring me towards a belief, but again, I'm kinda ok if that doesn't happen I think.

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?

Choosing change was the best word I could have selected for a year jammed with unexpected and anticipated transitions. I learned that although I don't like change, I can accept it and move forward with it, which was my goal.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you.

Learning the ropes, being myself, loving intensely.

Have a happy 2010!!

My word of 2010 post should be tomorrow.