The Living Room Floor

Cocoa Daisy: Revealed

2011-12-31T11:52:00.005-05:00

It's time for a new year! This New Year's just happened to come around the time of the Cocoa Daisy reveal! I really enjoyed the kit this month. It included lots of great papers (namely BasicGrey), and lots of bright colors! Not to mention that now, CD is offering stamp subscriptions, and embellishment add-ons now. Great ideas, in my humble opinion.

Now onto the layouts!

And a card, because everyone enjoys getting something pretty in the mail.

To all of you who check this out, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you are blessed beyond measure.

This Christmas

2011-12-27T21:49:00.004-05:00

I didn't send a single Christmas card.

I didn't do a December Daily.

I watched a lot of TV.

I slept in a lot.

I said "no" to a lot of things.

I said "yes" to a lot of things.

And I didn't feel guilty about any of that. Not at all.

I also got a little crafting time in. Here's a few sneaks of my Cocoa Daisy layouts:

I really am hoping to blog more in the new year. You know, with resolutions and all.

Hope your season has been merry and bright. Here's to a new year!

Somewhat Busy

2011-11-30T22:55:00.003-05:00

Working some late nights, neglecting my house and barely having time to shower is what's going on in my life right now.

Fortunately, I got some scrapping in over the Thanksgiving holiday.....here are my Cocoa Daisy layouts for the month:

Sorry to pop in and pop out, but it's bed time in these here parts, and I have one more busy day until my much-needed long weekend!

xoxo

Cocoa Daisy Crop!

2011-11-11T18:01:00.008-05:00

Come visit me at the Cocoa Daisy Crop, going on now! There's a ton of challenges, prizes and inspiration over there. I made a layout for the vintage challenge I'm hosting Sunday night at 5pm. Visit Cocoa Daisy's site for more info and to play along!

Here's the schedule so you can play along all weekend:

Hope I'll see you there :D

A Layout! And a Winner!

2011-11-10T13:35:00.004-05:00

The winner of the Fact or Fiction Flair is:

I also got a little crafty last weekend and made this:

smenglert30 said...

Every year on Christmas Eve, my husband's family gets together and has a dollar gift exchange in which we fight over which wrapped dollar gift we will get to keep. It's always funny to see what the most coveted gifts end up being (often just a slinky!).

Please send an email to livingroomfloor [at] gmail . com and your treat will be on its way!

I also got crafty last week and made this with some new Ormolu goodies:

It's one of my favorite layouts in a while.

Sorry for the short post, but I gotta get back to work! Happy Thursday!

My Life in Instagram (and a Giveaway!)

2011-11-01T21:51:00.009-04:00

So. Obsessed. with Instagram right now. I've had my iPhone for a mere week and it's amazing how much my life has changed since.

I really wanted an iPhone to consolidate my phone, my iPod and my camera. Don't get me wrong, I will never give up my DSLR, but it's nice to have a teeny camera that I can stick in my pocket that not only gives me options for quick editing, but can also send photos to my personal email for fast downloading and use.

Here's a little peek into my life, via Instagram:

In honor of the post over at Ormolu, Kaitlin has been kind enough to give me a set of Fact or Fiction Flair to give away to one lucky reader! Just leave a comment with your favorite holiday tradition (Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, whatever!) and an EMAIL ADDRESS (so I can get in touch with you) and I'll pick a winner next Wednesday!

Cocoa Daisy: Revealed

2011-10-30T22:57:00.005-04:00

I can finally reveal the layouts I made with this month's Cocoa Daisy kit: Bed & Breakfast! I got the main kit as well as the Homespun Plum add-on. Kits go on sale November 1!

I loved the combination of patterns in this month's kit, and I was especially excited about the grungy grid stamp , which I used in this layout about my new boots:

I loved the American Crafts chevron fabric paper in the main kit, and I used it on this layout about my husband's affinity for clothes:

And I used the warm fall colors in the kits for this layout about my trip to the most recent Country Living Fair in Georgia:

It feels great to be scrapping again, anyone out there doing anything crafty these days?

Well, tomorrow is Halloween...I hope you all have a safe and fun holiday!

Bed & Breakfast Sneaks!

2011-10-28T08:13:00.005-04:00

So this is my very first kit working with Cocoa Daisy and I couldn't be happier with the layouts I had the pleasure of making. And, because I'm feeling super generous, here's a few sneaks!

Hope you'll be around for the reveal of the whole kit, and Happy Friday!

It's good, I promise.

2011-10-18T21:07:00.004-04:00

If you're like me and you A) always have some tilapia hanging out in your freezer and a lonely orange in your fridge, B) have more cherry tomatoes than you know what to do with, and C) want a fast, healthy recipe for Tuesday nights after yoga, you may want to listen up.

I found this recipe in my newest Women's Day magazine:

Total Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

For a lighter take on winter cooking, try this bright-tasting fish dish. Sautéing the tomatoes (the grape variety are best in colder months) and orange slices bring out the sweetness of both, and the combo pairs terrifically with cooked ginger and garlic.

Recipe Ingredients

1/2 cup whole-wheat couscous
1 large orange
3 tsp olive oil
4 small tilapia fillets (about 1½ lb)
Kosher salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 1/2-in. piece fresh ginger, very thinly sliced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
2 scallions, thinly sliced

Recipe Preparation

Cook the couscous according to package directions. Cut away the peel and white pith of the orange. Working over a bowl, cut the orange into segments, adding them to the bowl along with any juices.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tsp oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Season the tilapia with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper and cook until opaque throughout, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
Wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining 2 tsp oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and cook, tossing occasionally, until beginning to break down, about 3 minutes. Add the oranges and any juices and gently toss to heat through. Serve with the tilapia and couscous and sprinkle with the scallions.

It is really. Good. Really good. My husband even said he'd serve it for company. I thought it might be nice if we tied it up in parchment bundles and served it when friends come over.

If you make it, let me know how you like it!

SALE!!!

2011-10-07T12:11:00.003-04:00

Ormolu is having a sale on some super cute, super low-priced items!

Check it out here: Ormolu.

Vintage Finds as of Late

2011-10-01T11:59:00.008-04:00

I'll admit it. I'm like most girls, I love shopping. Especially shopping for vintage stuff. I love the hunt for something old that someone's stopped loving, something that has been buried under a pile of junk for years.

I snagged this light-up globe for $10 at an antique store while visiting my hometown,

found these on Etsy to go with my Tupperware picnic basket,

this was a gift from my sweet mom for my birthday this year,

I snagged these hairpin legs at an estate sale for $10, in hopes of making myself a coffee table soon,

found this oddly-shaped bowl at an estate sale for a mere $3.50,

this magazine/knitting basket for $2,

a Mayfield Dairy milk crate for $1,

being the total geographic fiend that he is, Bo found this set of Tennessee Valley Lake maps

for $1,

I just recently found this enclosed metal crate at an antique store for $15 (a splurge, but less than they usually go for), and a seemingly unused vintage gas can for $1.

Last but not least, a 40-ish piece set of patterned melamine Texasware for $17.50.

I guess you could say it's been a good season for finding new homes for old stuff.

Happy Monday.

Ormolu: Line & Letter

2011-10-01T11:11:00.004-04:00

Check out the Product Spotlight over at Ormolu! Here's a peek:

Also, I'm happy to announce that I have accepted a position with Cocoa Daisy's Design Team! I am beyond thrilled that they've asked me to come aboard...and really happy to be a part of a DT again. Deadlines and expectations are what I need to get myself scrapping on a regular basis again! I can't wait to get my first kit and get crafty.

Pinterest Friday

2011-09-30T12:39:00.003-04:00

Loving Pinterest lately, I love being able to find recipes, crafts, design and scrappy inspiration all in one place.

Here's what I'm looking at today:

Finding lots of design inspiration here: designworklife

Loving seeing new projects from the team here: ormolu

Happy to have found a new scrappy community home here: cocoa daisy

Thankful it's Friday.

Stolen from Michelle: A to Z

2011-09-21T12:45:00.005-04:00

Stolen from Michelle's blog. I never can resist filling in the blanks :)

A. Age: 28

B. Bed size: King, and never going back.

C. Chore that you hate: Mopping. Ugh.

D. Dogs: Absolutely not a fan. I can say with certainty that I will never own a dog.

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee and checking email.

F. Favorite color: Grey, at the moment.

G. Gold or Silver: Most definitely silver.

I. Instruments you play: None, but I do sing.

J. Job title: Designer.

K. Kids: None for now, lots to do before I pop out a kid.

L. Live: Chattanooga, TN

M. Mother’s name: Susan

N. Nicknames: Step, Stephamie, Woobie, Stef

O. Overnight hospital stays: None as of yet.

P. Pet peeves: people with bad work ethics, companies who mistreat people under the guise of "changing things up", people who don't think for themselves, laziness

Q. Quote from a movie: "This agression will not stand, man" - The Big Lebowski

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings: One older sister.

U. Underwear: Important.

V. Vegetable you hate: Onions, unless cooked to pieces.

W. What makes you run late: When I have to get ready for something. I'm pretty low-maintenance on a regular basis, and when I have to actually get up and put makeup on and do my hair, I'm hopeless.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Teeth, chest, leg.

Y. Yummy food that you make: Macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, chicken and rice, apple crisp, Brooklyn Blackout Cake, brownies, soup, pot roast.

Z. Zoo animal: Hippos!

Week in the Life: Finished

2011-09-21T12:32:00.001-04:00

I posted this on Ormolu's blog a few weeks ago, but wanted to make sure I posted it here, too. I'm constantly posting over there, then forgetting about my own little blog. Enjoy.

Hey everybody! I'm so excited to share my Week in the Life minibook with you.

Let me start out by saying that I'm not really a Week in the Life project kind of person. I typically have issues with committing to large projects, and since this one requires me to do something every day, it made me a bit nervous!

I used a basic rectangle blackboard album for this project. On the front, I tried a technique I've been wanting to do for a while. I simply glued chipboard letters to the front, then once they were dry, painted the entire front the same color, except for the little peek of yellow paper in the center of the heart.

I wanted to use all small photos in my album. I feel like for this size, smaller is better, and I'm a sucker for mini photos anyway.

Sunday started off with a bang. Photos from every part of the day, from church to time for bed. I chose to do list journaling instead of paragraph form. For me, this is easier than trying to make up a paragraph about why I made peach crisp for dessert or decided to organize my scarves.

On average, I took about six photos a day. I find that this number was pretty realistic for me...I forgot to grab my camera on a few days, so I had to make up for it in journaling and later in the evening (see, told you I was bad at this!)

I used the Two-Day Hooray Days of the Week Buttons in Black to mark my days. I'm a total sucker for buttons, too.

For this page, I took the punch outs from the Negative Number Package Tags, placed them on my paper and used them as a mask. I wanted to throw in a few pages that weren't covered in photos to break things up a bit. After misting and drying, I used my sewing machine to make a scalloped border to give it some interest.

Here are the supplies I used for this album:

2-Day Hooray Days of the Week Buttons in Black

Negative Days of the Week Package Tags

All in all, I didn't use too many embellishments. The buttons were a perfect fit for this project...just enough shine for what I wanted.

I hope you enjoyed a little peek into my Week in the Life.

Feeling Spooky: Pinterest Style

2011-09-20T13:14:00.006-04:00

Fall has finally arrived in Tennessee. The realistic side of me believes that these fantastic cool days we are having will be interrupted by at least one more hot spell, but the dreamer in me hopes that the cool weather is here to stay.

I have always loved fall. It is by far my favorite time of year, followed by the summer, which, to be honest, annoys me just thinking about it.

One of the most fun things about the fall is Halloween! I've been

noticing stuff here and there that just gets me excited about decorating, watching scary movies and eating more candy than one ever should.

Pinterest is giving me lots and lots of inspiration lately:

(all images can be found on my Pinterest, follow link on the sidebar)

Are you into Halloween? What's inspiring you? Any creative costume ideas?

I miss blogging.

2011-09-13T21:46:00.002-04:00

I've been at my new job a little over a month and I've decided that I really miss blogging. I'm working on a plan to use my lunch break to do some blogging so that I don't give up completely.

Any suggestions on how you keep your blog rolling? I'd love to know.

xoxo,
Steph

A Week in the Life: Noted

2011-09-01T21:37:00.003-04:00

Head over to the Ormolu blog and check out my Week in the Life project (if you're so inclined). Here's a little sneaky-peek:

Happy almost-the-weekend!

Yep, Still Here.

2011-08-28T19:33:00.003-04:00

Last time we talked, I was getting a new job. I started on August 10th, and I can't believe I'm about to start my third week there. I thought it would be tough transitioning from freelance/part time work to working a full 40-hour week. I was oh so wrong.

The days seem to fly by, the weeks are full of learning and stretching my design skills. I got my list of accounts last week and on Friday, turned in my first set of projects. I am so grateful for this new season of change and am excited to see where it leads me.

I have actually found myself feeling much more motivated that I have been...maybe it's the steady workflow or that I'm doing something that satisfies me creatively. Either way, I'm thrilled to be scrapping again. I even placed a couple of orders over the weekend for some supplies that I really don't need, but am excited to start playing with.

I made this the other day, an ode to my fantastic mid-mod hutch:

And I have a few new layouts to come with the new Line & Letter goodies I received from Ormolu, plus my Week in the Life is going up later this week!

Hope your Sunday is fantastic.

Week in the Life: Friday

2011-08-09T12:29:00.001-04:00

Week in the Life: Thursday

2011-08-08T18:01:00.002-04:00

Week in the Life: Wednesday

2011-08-06T16:14:00.004-04:00

Week in the Life: Tuesday

2011-08-05T12:05:00.005-04:00

And again on Tuesday:

New Layout: Ormolu

2011-08-05T11:29:00.003-04:00

I have a new layout over at the Ormolu blog! Here's a sneak.

Head over there to see the whole thing!

Week in the Life: Monday

2011-08-04T22:14:00.003-04:00

Totally spaced on taking my camera to work. Monday:

Week in the Life: Sunday

2011-08-03T21:49:00.005-04:00

So I started Week in the Life this week. Here's what I saw on Sunday:

The Best Peach Crisp, Hands Down, Ever.

2011-08-01T08:26:00.000-04:00

What's one to do with a basket of peaches? Well since I'd already checked Peach Ice Cream off my list, I thought I'd try out a Peach Crisp. Know what? I'm reaaaaalllly glad I did. Probably one of the best desserts I've had, ever.

Peach Crisp
(Adapted from my good friend, Joe Casola)

1.5 sticks butter
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
cup sugar
dash cinnamon
3-4 cups fresh peaches

Chop cold butter. Blend into flour, oats, sugar and cinnamon. Cover peeled, sliced peaches with mixture.

Bake at 375-400 for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ice cream - I tried Butter Pecan and it was pretty awesome.

Ormolu!

2011-07-31T21:44:00.004-04:00

I'm loving the new Line & Letter line from Ormolu. Bright, happy colors and who can resist chevrons? Can't wait to get my hands on this and use some of it (hopefully) in my Week In the Life project, which I started today. I'm notorious (at least in my mind) for starting projects like this and never finishing, but here's hoping I'll at least make it to Wednesday.

Are you doing a Week in the Life? If so, I'd love to see what you're working on!

Cha-cha-changes.

2011-07-28T01:22:00.010-04:00

For the last five years I've been piecing work together. Working a couple part time jobs, freelance design, photography, doing whatever I could to pay the bills. Enjoying my freedom, a couple days off every week....just basically chilling out because my job allowed me to.

There was a time when I loved my schedule - sleeping late, taking off in the middle of the week, moving my schedule to fit my personal needs, working with Good Fortune was a huge blessing - Jennifer, the owner, came around at the perfect time and I learned so many things in the year that I worked there.

Working for my contract freelance job was also fulfilling - learning things on my own, learning how to run my own business, take care of taxes and having the flexibility to work whenever I wanted allowed me the freedom to do a lot of things that most people in the workforce don't get to.

Somewhere along the way, freedom turned into stagnation. My creativity waned but rarely ever waxed. I might have a burst or two of inspiration, but mostly I spent my free time cleaning the house and watching TV, not crafting and creating like I used to.

So when my friend Noelle mentioned offhand that her company was hiring designers, my first thought was: You're not good enough. The same thought that had been haunting me since I got out of college. That since I didn't have an actual design degree that I wouldn't be able to do what they needed. That since I'd learned almost everything on my own, I wouldn't be able to learn the correct way to do things.

Then I remembered that I had been praying SO HARD for a change. Any change. Fast-forward three weeks, a re-vamped resume, and two nervous interviews later. I got the call. They did want me, and they offered me a job.
Now I'm beginning my last week of the work that I've grown to know. My new job at True North Custom Publishing begins on August 10th. Yes, I will be losing a little freedom. Yes, I will have more deadlines and responsibility. Yes, it will be a challenge. But I am so ready for it.

A Want, Fulfilled

2011-07-19T22:31:00.004-04:00

So I've been wanting a hutch for a while now. Probably since I saw this post from Mandi about her thrifting score a while back.

I've kept my eyes open, found a few that I liked but wasn't willing to pay for. Then I got a text from my mom, with a photo of this sweet deal at an antique store back home.

Found: Broyhill Brasilia dining table, four chairs and a hutch for $500. At that price it's a darn steal. Told them I wouldn't pay more than $400 and finally settled on $410. Little did I know that apparently Brasilia is A) much sought after and B) very expensive. One trip to Ebay told me that we paid less than a third of what it typically goes for.

So it finally arrived, after much time and attention from the parents, I am most grateful to them for finding it and trucking it to my side of the state.

Mom and I did a little scratch cover and some polishing (and a little refinishing on the top, which I'll talk about at a later date), and this baby is much more than I could have ever imagined:

Most of me cringes at the fact that I bought MORE furniture. But the other part of me knows that this is a piece that will last forever and will someday be passed down to my kids. I feel very lucky to be its new owner.

Summer School

2011-07-15T10:31:00.002-04:00

Ahh, I managed to squeeze out another layout. I used some Ormolu tags here and some bits and pieces that have been hanging out on my table.

It feels great to scrap, but man, this summer has gotten me down. It has been SO HOT in the South and I feel like I've been running from one A/C to another. My bestie Erin Willis is coming to visit today, so here's hoping for some great productive crafty time.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend...oh, and I'm offering FREE SHIPPING over at the shop!

Layout!

2011-07-09T00:34:00.003-04:00

Over at the Ormolu blog today! So happy to be a part of this creative team. A little sneaky-poo...

Pinterest Inspiration

2011-07-06T23:31:00.003-04:00

Haven't had much time to check out Pinterest lately. The summer slugs have hit me and I have been less than motivated to do more than shower.

Summers here are hard for me. Granted, we do have air conditioning, but I feel a general lack of energy and drive when it's so darn hot down here. Since I'm not feeling very inspired and therefore unproductive, it's nice to peruse my favorite website and see that other people are actually getting some stuff done.

Head over there, type in "Logo" and see what you find. Yum.

The Perfect Muffin

2011-07-03T12:46:00.004-04:00

I so took a picture, and my memory card was so in my computer. Guess you'll just have to trust me on this one...use your imagination. I made these over the weekend and they were to.die.for.

Perfect Muffin Recipe
Adapted from Cookie and Kate, which was adapted from Cooks Illustrated.

Makes 9 to 10 standard muffins or 8 jumbo muffins

Ingredients

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (I used 0% fat plain Chobani yogurt)
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest (I left this out but it's in the original recipe)
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (if frozen, don’t bother defrosting)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Line a muffin tin with paper liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
If you have an electric mixer, use it to beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, otherwise mix by hand
Add egg and beat well, then yogurt and zest.
If you have a sifter, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and sift half of dry ingredients over batter. If not, mix together with a fork until blended.
Mix until combined.
Sift (or add) remaining dry ingredients into batter and mix just until the flour disappears.
Gently fold in your blueberries (or whatever fruit you’re using).
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the tops are golden.
Enjoy!

The Making of a Dollhouse

2011-07-01T12:03:00.005-04:00

About 10 years ago a friend of mine heard me mention that I'd always wanted a dollhouse. Santa never came through on this, so when she asked me if I'd like to have her extra kit I was very excited to get started on the construction.

I took the dollhouse home with me after my freshman year of college and got started. Then I realized how much work a dollhouse could be. Sanding. Priming. Cutting. Painting. Sanding. Trimming. And I gave up. I packed everything away and continued carrying the unopened, untouched box with me throughout the next few years, knowing that one day I'd be interested in working on it again.

I'm not sure what sparked my interest, but last week I decided that this summer would be the time to start working on it again.

I had already bricked and finished the foundation and wood flooring years ago (please excuse the mess that is my dining room work table):

I primed and painted the bay windows and supports and started priming the walls:

Painted the steps a glossy black to match the future black accents on the house:

Then last night I set the bay windows into the supports and secured the bricking below:
Then this morning, started taping so I can stain the wood floor:

I must say, I'm finding it relaxing and I'm really excited about working on it over the next few months.

Have you ever built a dollhouse? If so, I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Practice.

2011-06-21T23:00:00.010-04:00

I had the honor of shooting my very first wedding last month. My husband called in a favor when Jackie & Kyle's photographer broke his contract the Monday before the wedding...and I couldn't say no.

In all honesty, this being my first wedding, I was petrified. Scared. Unsure of my abilities.

Even after the wedding, although I was impressed with the shots I got, I counted all the ones I missed in my head. Then I checked out some photo blogs and kicked myself for all the things I'd hadn't done.

Then I realized it's all about practice. No one is born a photographer. At least no one I know, anyway.

So without further ado, the photos:

Thanks for letting me share.

Pinterest Love

2011-06-14T10:53:00.002-04:00

Getting lots of Pinterest inspiration lately, as I'm sure most of you are. If you're Pinterest-ing, I'd love to follow you! Maybe leave me a comment so we can meet up over there?

Giveaway!

2011-06-12T12:51:00.005-04:00

I released a new print a few weeks ago, but I completely forgot to do a giveaway!

So, if you'd like the chance to win this print, just leave a comment with your EMAIL ADDRESS and a website you often go to for inspiration.

Happy Sunday!

In Print

2011-06-10T09:34:00.011-04:00

In celebration of my sweet friend Jen Waters' wedding tomorrow, I thought I'd post the paper goods I designed for her wedding.

She decided she wanted a simple, elegant invitation, an RSVP, and an enclosure card with reception details tucked away in a chocolate pocketfold.

She also asked me to design a little sticker to hold the pocketfold closed
A poster for guests to sign at the reception

and a seating chart.

It was a lot of work, but it was so great to work with Jen and her husband-to-be, Nick.

I wish them the absolute happiest marriage and pray for their new life together. I am so grateful that they let me be a part of their special day.

The First Cut is the Deepest

2011-06-08T12:29:00.003-04:00

We bought a Honda Pilot less than two weeks ago. We were getting dinner ready last night when someone rang our doorbell, and we walked down to the street to find this:

Fortunately the driver of the other was insured and unhurt. He was also on his way to Bible study. Unfortunately, his '77 Buick is probably totaled.

Bo and I were both really mad at first, then the driver said something unexpected: "Can you ever forgive me?" Then and there I realized, of course. It's just a car. Granted, we have yet to pay our first payment on it, but it will get fixed.

It's times like this that make me remember how important forgiveness and grace are. I hope you experience a bit of this yourself today.

Happy Wednesday.

Some Truths.

2011-06-04T01:29:00.005-04:00

(via Pinterest)

I haven't scrapped in nearly a month.

Any photography I've done in the last few weeks has been for someone else.

Some days I feel like I don't have a creative urge left in me.

As much as I love my husband, I needed some me time today.

My husband's car died last week, leaving us to decide whether to get a new one or wait it out. The decision to buy a car on Monday leaves me nervous and anxious...and ready to start a new outlook on how I spend money. Not because we don't have it, but because honestly, we don't.need.anything.else.

Everyone I know is on vacation and I am thrilled to be hanging around here in Chattanooga. Last year was a busy travel year and it feels great just to be...here.

The summer heat is draining me of any and all energy. All I want to do is stay inside and watch TV. Mostly Jersey Shore re-runs, I'm embarrassed to admit. I wish I could react differently to the heat, but it just does something to me - angers me, frustrates me, and makes me really sleepy.

I miss blogging, posting photos, scrapping. All of those things that define me creatively. I keep waiting for that boost of whatever it is that makes me tick, and wondering where the heck it went.

Something Fun

2011-05-20T09:44:00.002-04:00

I'm honored to accept a position on the Ormolu Creative Team! I have been a fan of Ormolu for quite some time, especially since I don't really have the time to design tags for myself, much less anyone else!

I love Kaitlin's classic, clean style, and I can't wait to get my first pack of goodness to scrap with.

Check out her blog here, and see who else will be playing along with me :)

New Stuff

2011-05-19T10:49:00.005-04:00

So since I work there, I thought I'd post about the newest addition to the Good Fortune family. We now have ALL-NATURAL, Paraben-FREE Lotion!

We've been working on this baby for a while...package design, bottle choice, scents, etc, and I'm happy to say we have a ton in stock and the Grapefruit Orange is my favorite and probably the best.scent.ever.

If you've never checked out Good Fortune before, feel free to hop on over and check it out. Also, you can sign up on the front page to get our newsletter and get $5 OFF your first order.

I Told Myself:

2011-05-17T16:22:00.004-04:00

"No more furniture. You don't need anymore furniture! No more estate sales. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean you need to buy it."

And then I found this. And they made me a deal. And I wanted it really, really bad. And I totally...um, kinda needed a new sewing desk.

From what I can tell, this is a surplus school desk from Hamilton County. I love that it has the original mint green paint and the top is in almost perfect condition. Other than that, I don't know much about it. I assume it's from the mid-50's, but I'm not well versed enough in vintage to actually know.

I think it's a gem, though. I can't wait to see it in that new house I'm totally not shopping for....

On Buying a House.

2011-05-16T00:02:00.009-04:00

(English Tudor?)

So last October Bo and I started saving my salary. We decided we'd live off of his checks and put mine in savings. For whatever. A trip to Europe, a weekend away, a new dining table.

Then it hit me. House fever.

They say that you know when it's time. Time to get married, time to buy a house, time to start thinking about kids. If a trip to Target in the middle of the day has taught me anything, it's that I'm definitely not ready for the last one on that list. But a house? A house I can do.

(Bungalow?)

Because my job has been kinda here and there for the last couple of years since the economy tanked, I really wondered when we'd be able to afford a home. Now don't get me wrong - when the city you live in has a medium home price of $143,000, we're not looking at a huge amount of money here, compared to most cities. Regardless, it is a HUGE step and in this market, buying a house isn't something to kid around with.

We decided early on that we really didn't want to buy a starter home - one with two bedrooms, one bathroom and have to turn around in a few years and sell it. Thankfully we didn't because even bigger, reasonably priced houses aren't selling right now.

We also decided that we absolutely.will.not. buy a fixer-upper. Neither of us is really into home improvement, and while we don't want to buy a brand new house, we need something that doesn't need a lot of work. That pretty much sets us up to start looking for a house that costs a little more to begin with.

Soon, our little nest egg started growing and we started realizing that we may actually be able to buy in the next few years. After selling my 1974 Chevy Nova to my parents, getting a couple of good freelance jobs and doing some calculating, we've realized that we have enough for a down payment. On a house that we want, not just something we'll have to settle for.

Here comes the tough part. We're still not ready, at least for about a year. We'd love to have a down payment plus an emergency fund set in place before we even think about shopping for a home to call our own.

(Rancher?)

And if my Home board at Pinterest is any indication of what's on my brain, it's going to be a tough urge to suppress.

So when did you buy your first home? Any tips for me? Words of wisdom? I'm really excited to start preparing for this. I have faith that the right house is out there. Now for the wait...

A Few New Prints

2011-05-11T00:41:00.005-04:00

...are available in the shop. Remember, prints are still only $10, with profits going to Tornado Relief. Thanks to all those who have purchased!

A Little Update

2011-05-10T17:19:00.002-04:00

+ I have enjoyed a great day of not doing a whole lot and not feeling guilty about it.

+ I got to spend a couple of days with my parents and it makes me realize how much I want them to live on this side of the state. Waiting for that is hard.

+ Bo and I have reached our first goal of our savings plan for buying a house within the next 1-2 years.

+ I shot my first wedding on Friday and am in the process of building a little side business with my friend Justin and making a go of it.

+ My mom got me the coolest contact paper and American Tourister luggage ever. Pictures to follow.

+ I'm eating steak tonight.

+ I think I'll go to the movies this week.

+ I took this picture:

+ It's been a great few days around the Wheeler house.

Plans Have Changed

2011-05-03T09:02:00.002-04:00

So I was asked yesterday to shoot a wedding this Friday. Hrm. I've only been a second photog at a wedding before, so needless to say, I'm a little nervous about it.

But, it gave me a good excuse to buy one of these:

I've been eyeballing this ring flash adapter since I realized I would have to sell both my legs to get a real one. Hopefully it will add something fun to the wedding and will give me a chance to do some new stuff! I'll do my best to post pics if it works out.

I'm about to go give blood, then come back and do a little organizing/purging/cleaning on this house of mine. Hope your Tuesday is fantastic!

A Request and a Question

2011-05-02T17:33:00.006-04:00

First, a question:

Distressed:

or Not Distressed:

(that is the question.)

Second, a request.

As many of you know, my surrounding area was slammed by tornadoes last week. So along with running my prints on sale for $10, I'll be donating the profits from the sale to local disaster relief responders. If you'd like to help out by buying a print, I would be most thankful, and I know the people in my area would, too.

If you'd rather help out by simply donating, you can visit the American Red Cross here.

Print SALE!

2011-04-25T21:13:00.003-04:00

I totally meant to have an Easter sale, but I suppose later is better than never.

And, I designed a new Ampersand print:

I have a ton of pictures and a few projects to blog, so once I get some important files uploaded tomorrow, I should be back around.

Happy Monday!

I Designed a New Poster

2011-04-21T18:46:00.002-04:00

Okay, so maybe "designed" is a bit of a stretch.

I have been in serious love with this ampersand as of late and thought it proper to give it a home on paper with this charcoal grey.

You can get one for yourself here, if you want.

Around the House

2011-04-20T23:28:00.005-04:00

““He is the happiest, be he king or peasant,
who finds peace in his home”
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Pinterest Love, in a Mini

2011-04-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Remember that Pinterest love? I made a mini book out of it :)

Using Jump and Jive, with a few vintage sewing patterns, doilies and paint thrown in.

Happy Wednesday!

Pinterest Loves 4.19.11

2011-04-19T12:16:00.005-04:00

Find my boards here.

The Arrogant Butcher

2011-04-17T16:39:00.006-04:00

I am pretty obsessed with this design scheme at the moment (found via design work life) : The Arrogant Butcher

That neon light inspires me to no end.

I'm alive! And I made a scrapbook page.

2011-04-13T23:37:00.004-04:00

I feel like I have been the walking dead for the past week. So many deadlines, photoshoots, more design than I have time to do, so many things on my seriously-need-to-get-done-list. Oh, and I just burned a pot of cauliflower.

Somehow in the midst of it all I finished a page:

(Jump and Jive, NoelMignon)

I also designed a stamp, since there seemed to be no shops out there with cute "Do Not Bend" designs. I eventually gave up and just made my own.
I finished that big secret job I was talking about...and once the check gets here, I'm gladly treating myself to this iTouch:

This:

and maybe this:

What can I say? I'm addicted.

I really wish I had more time to devote to blogging right now - reading blogs, taking pictures, getting around to scheduling things I'd like to chat about, but it's that season....the season of being busy and trying to shove everything into one short 24-hour-day.

I miss you all. My commenters, my readers. I wish I had more to give you right now! But we all know there's no shortage of inspiration out there.

Hope you're all well. Be back soon!

Catching Up

2011-04-06T23:21:00.002-04:00

...after being gone to the beach for a few days...stopped off in Charleston for some fantastic seafood and sweet tea and a little relaxation with my sweets.

Back soon. Promise.

Where things are.

2011-03-29T17:39:00.006-04:00

The last week has literally.flown.by. I have been up to my eyeballs in design work, which has been great for my wallet but not so great for my free time.

I had a HUGE project due this week, and after hours of stressing, it was approved and POOF! Over. Leaving me feeling a little lost after being so busy. I wish I could divulge more here, but alas, a signed paper says I must to keep my mouth shut.

I did manage to fit in a little scrapping this week, though...the scrap-on-the-couch-thing has pretty much revolutionized my life. It's multitasking at its very best.

I made a layout about being 27:

And one about the fantastic view from the roof of The Met:

Both were made with the fantastic Jump and Jive kit from NoelMignon.

A Few Things:

2011-03-21T11:14:00.005-04:00

First, thanks for all of the blog hop comments!

I pulled a winner for the print and it is:

mollydianeh said...pretty colors!

Molly Diane, email me and send me your address so I can ship your print out!

+++++++++++++++++++++++

The newest Noel Mignon kit, Jump and Jive is up for sale now! I can't wait to play with this kit. My mojo has been in underdrive and I need some crafty girl time for sure this week.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Also, I finished this print yesterday. This is a favorite saying of mine, so I had to get it on paper.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Also, if you're the praying type, say a little prayer for me today. I'm working on a big project and I'm really hoping it pans out!

Happy Monday!

Time for Another Blog Hop!

2011-03-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the April Kit Sneak peek Blog hop! This will be a two day event, so be sure to join us both Saturday and Sunday to join in on all the fun.

This is more than just a fun way to get a bunch of sneaks all in one weekend, we have also turned it into a fun game! For April, we are revealing the name of the kit through jumbled letters (this is a 3 word name, with 11 total letters). The first stop on the hop is the NoelMignon LO/Project blog. So if you are stopping here first, please head back over there and start over to be sure you collect all the letters.

Also, be sure to leave comments along the blog route, as there will be one lucky winner of a $10 discount pulled from all the comments left along the way. We are going to pull the winner from ONE blog, but that blog is a "mystery", so be thorough, and leave comments on every blog so you don't miss out!

The kit goes up for sale bright and early Monday morning! There will be a full reveal and kits will start shipping that very day! Get your order in early, as this one has the lines that have been getting a lot of attention since they debuted at CHA, and it won't last long!

Next stop: Diana's Blog!

****added bonus****

I'm offering a FREE print for one lucky winner who leaves a comment. This could be yours:

Make sure to include an email with your post so I can contact you if you win!

Blog Hop!

2011-03-18T15:22:00.002-04:00

We're blog hopping at Noel Mignon tomorrow....

check out the Inspiration blog to start! See you there!

Pinterest Picks - House Fever Edition

2011-03-15T14:35:00.006-04:00

Most people my age are currently in the midst of baby fever. My loins, however have not begun to cry for kids, so I am smack in the middle of house fever.

Pinterest has really helped me put all of these fantastic images in one place so I can peruse and be inspired. Like my own little online filing system filled with more visual goodness than I could ever possibly need.

Grey and yellow inspiration board. Perfect.

Cubby holes. Full of vintage stuff. Heaven.

I love, love, love this grey rug.

I am a huge lover of Pyrex. My collection is about as half as large
as this, but one day it will rival that of even the biggest of Pyrex hoarders.

Something about the yellows and greys in this make me crazy, oh,
and the file-cabinet-ish side table? Genius.

I'm digging this tulip chair and the cool chandelier.

I loooove this tiered organizer. I wish it were mine.

Um, this Amy Butler wallpaper? Yum.

A little peek into what's driving me nuts lately. Off to file it all in my collection for my one-day dream house.

Happy Wednesday.

St. Patty's Day Sale!

2011-03-15T10:25:00.005-04:00

Buy any print, only $10, now until Friday! Extra prints always ship free!

All purchases go into a drawing for a $25 shop gift card!

Scrappy stuff is 50% OFF!

(sorry, custom orders not included in sale)

Mojo Rising

2011-03-08T17:31:00.004-05:00

What a month it's been, and it's only the 8th!

My mojo is in serious order, I'm designing like a madwoman, Pinterest is my new online love, I'm working on custom print orders, and attempting to corral all of my ideas into realities.

I made these for a couple of friends who are getting married in the coming wedding season, what do you think? I'm thinking white mat, black frame. Classic.

++++++++++++

So many things on my to-do list; so much excitement with designing again, which is exciting after the lull I've been in. I've also been approached to design a national ad for a very well-known brand, but at this point it's not for sure, so I'm trying not to get my heart too set on it. I know good things are possible, and if it's meant to be, it will be.

++++++++++++

Thinking about my far-away friends and how much I miss them, also about my family who I wish lived closer, and the people I have in my life right here in Chattanooga - how happy they make me and how blessed I am to have them.

++++++++++++

Excited about all of the visual inspiration I've had lately - it keeps me going, doing what I love. Now back to it!

Happy Tuesday!

Shout Out

2011-03-03T08:27:00.002-05:00

Kirsten at 6th Street Design School had some nice things to say about my "The Future Belongs" print. Happy for my print to have a home in her snazzy office.

confessions // losing weight

2011-02-22T17:19:00.005-05:00

Right after college I gained a lot of weight. I think it happened for a few reasons - not moving as much and getting my first graphic design job. Fortunately for me, I'm built in a way that 40 lbs looks like 10 or 15, but a mere year after I graduated, the scale wasn't lying, and my pants didn't feel as roomy.

I ignored it for a while, life was busy with planning a wedding, travel, work. Then in 2008 my back started hurting. I went to the chiropractor a few times, and he straightened me out, but once I realized a weak core was my problem, I had to make a decision.

That decision was to start doing yoga. Twice a week. Fortunately one of my husband's benefits at work is a membership to our local YMCA, so I didn't even have to shell out any money for it.

About 6 months later, I started getting the "you look thinner" comments. I was flattered, but didn't really believe what I was hearing until I stepped on a scale at my friend's house (I refuse to own one) and noticed that I was 15 lbs thinner. A few months later I was 25 lbs thinner. And then the other day, I tried on a pair of pants from my "skinny" college days and they were too big.

I have, at this point, dropped almost 30 lbs.

I've always subscribed to a life change vs. dieting, so I just made it part of my weekly routine to go to yoga, Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's now like anything else...work, church, it's what we do. There are times where I'm absolutely exhausted and we skip it. When that happens, we try to take a walk or do housework to compensate. For us it's become so.important to stay active.

My New Year's resolution this year was to drop a little more weight. This time with trying. That involves going to Zumba and yoga twice a week. It's quite a workout and I'm really tired the next morning, but it's worth it to know that I'm doing something good for my body.

What's a good story without a picture? I know it's not a dramatic change, but I can defintely tell a difference.

Me, circa 2006

a smaller me, circa 2010

I know weight is something we all struggle with - and I'm far from an expert, just someone who saw good results from simply getting up and moving. Anyone out there have any tips/suggestions?

Finally.

2011-02-22T17:02:00.003-05:00

I found this 16" x 20" frame (mat included) for $13 and put one of my prints in it. I'm so bad about buying art and letting it sit. I figured it would be ridiculous not to frame one of my prints for myself. :)

Instantly.

2011-02-21T15:25:00.004-05:00

I'm absolutely loving playing around with my new Instax. I love the teeny photos, the surprisingly great color, and, of course, the instant gratification.

Sure, I can't do any fancy focusing, I can't "approve" my picture before I take the next one, and my cats really move too fast for it, but it's been really nice to take a step back and realize how much fun instant film really is.

+++++

I'm offering FREE shipping on any of my prints with the code FREESHIPPRINTS, just in case you've been eyeing any of them.

Getting Creative

2011-02-17T22:07:00.012-05:00

Right before Christmas, I was asked to put together some invites for Bo's cousin, Tovah, who's getting married in April. I happily obliged, as I'm always stoked to design something other than ads.

Her colors were brown and chartreuse, and we settled on a linen stock for the base. Here's what I did with it:

The brown is so rich it's almost black, but it looks fantastic on the linen stock.

Once I get these babies back from the printer, I'll start on Jennifer's invites...and I can't wait! Maybe she'll be sweet and let me show them to you when we're done.

Missing...

2011-02-16T20:30:00.002-05:00

those days when I just worked at home, but torn because I love my job so much.

Wishing I had the time to have dinner on the table, laundry washed, dried and folded, put away.

Wishing that I didn't have to ask for help with those things I don't really have time to do.

Wishing I could blog, design, scrap more.

Wishing the days didn't end so quickly.

Feeling just a bit overwhelmed. What do you do when it's all too much?

I Love:

2011-02-14T17:29:00.002-05:00

+ handmade valentines

+ talking about the future

+ working with women

+ having a valentine who doesn't send me typical gifts, and shows me that he loves me every day, not just on made up holidays

+ knowing that someone's making me dinner tonight

+ two sweet kittens

+ the BEST friends

+ fantastic family - especially my parents and my mother-in-law

+ being HERE, experiencing NOW.

Winner!

2011-02-12T23:24:00.003-05:00

The winner of this print is:

Sarah said...

I love the Eleanor Roosevelt one! Good Luck with these in your shop- they're great!

Congrats, and thanks for your sweet comments. Remember, you can get 20% OFF at the shop with the code 20off if you'd like to have your own :)

Layout!

2011-02-08T14:38:00.001-05:00

Happy early Valentine's! I have a layout up over at the Noel Mignon blog if you wanna go check it out :)

Something Exciting

2011-02-06T20:57:00.003-05:00

I got a little designing bug about a month ago and I started putting together a set of prints for my shop.

After shopping printers, packing vendors and searching through about a thousand fonts, I've come up with these:

I've been wanting to do something bigger for quite a while, and I'm pretty happy that these will (hopefully) find their way into someone's home. As a matter of fact, if you use the coupon code 20OFF, you can get 20% off any print you want.

Maybe you'd like to win one? Tell me which one is your favorite and I just might give one away on Friday.

Just Because You Can.

2011-02-01T22:03:00.003-05:00

Catching Up on Scrap

2011-02-01T10:15:00.003-05:00

Happy Tuesday ;)

Winner! And a Layout

2011-01-28T11:12:00.003-05:00

The winner of Christina's kit is :

Jingle said...

I am thankful for a husband who supports my need to create!

1:00 PM

Send me your address at livingroomfloor [at] gmail . com!

For those of you who didn't win, I LOVED reading your comments! It makes my heart swell to hear what you're all thankful for.

Also, if you had your little heart set on getting this kit, it's only $10 over at Christina's Etsy Shop! That's quite a bargain.

++++

Now for the layout! I participated in the most recent dare, #173. Tina sent us some super sweet goodies and here's what I made with them:

Props to the aforementioned Christina for letting me use her awesome app to take this photo and to Tina for sending out such a great stash of stuff.

Now I'm off! I'm in the midst of a much-needed day off and I have a kitchen screaming at me to clean it up and a pile of clean laundry that needs to be folded while enjoying season one of Designing Women (you know a Southern girl can't resist) ;)

Happy Friday!

Giveaway Day!

2011-01-26T23:34:00.003-05:00

Today I'm giving away a super awesome kit from my sweet friend Christina Clouse!

Simply leave a comment with something that you're thankful for.

Contents include:
- 1 Handmade fabric and chipboard mini book with silver grommets
- 2 One inch silver book rings
- 1 Art mounted rubber stamp with exclusive design by Coffee Girl Crafts
(as seen here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/31330097/moments-stamp-sale)
- 12 double-sided 6x6 pieces of Amy Butler Lucky Flowers pattern paper
- 1 single-sided 6x6 piece of woodgrain K&Company pattern paper
- 5 sheets 6x6 cardstock (white, cream, kraft, khaki, brown)
- 4 acrylic transparency sheets (4.5x6.5)
- 1 Sheet woodgrain contact paper
- 2 Pages graph notebook paper
- 2 Pages wide ruled notebook paper
- 10 assorted vintage dictionary and textbook pages
(Maths, French, Latin)
- 14 Hand-stamped journaling labels
- 6 Hand-painted chipboard buttons
- Various embellishments including a strip of cork, a 12 inch length of brown ribbon, two playing cards, four vintage buttons and 15 punched embellishments (tabs, tags and journaling spots)

Visit Christina's Etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/coffeegirlcrafts.

I'll pull a winner Friday morning!

A Little Eye Candy for Your Wednesday

2011-01-25T23:21:00.007-05:00

Sorry for the blog absence. I've been working overtime this week, so the last thing on my mind is playing around on the ole internets.

A few pieces of visual goodness from my design-hero and real-life-neighbor, Steve Hamaker:

Sigh.

Loving This...

2011-01-21T10:19:00.004-05:00

...Black Swan poster. Makes me want to go see it again.

I'm not telling you to go see it - if you're squeamish, this one's not for you, but if you enjoy a film for what it is, not what you think it should be, then you should definitely go see it. It's probably the best film I've seen in the past few years.

It's Up!

2011-01-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

If the blog hop got you all excited about the new Noel Mignon kit, check out the full deal:

It goes on sale today, over at the Noel Mignon website!

Font Love

2011-01-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

(all fonts available at myfonts.com)

Just a little inspiration for me lately - fonts and colors. Contrast. Finding new loves.

Blog Hop!

2011-01-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the blog hop for the NoelMignon February kit,
"Truly Scrumptious"!

Let's play a little word scramble game, shall we? As you can see, there is a letter showing in my sneak, and there will be letters in everyone's sneak peek.

Here are the rules:

1) Follow the hop in order (go back and start at Kim's blog if you are starting here).

2) Leave a comment on each blog showing that you have picked up your letter from their sneak.

3) Collect all the letters and unscramble the word.

4) Leave a comment on the last blog of the hop on Thursday, revealing the secret word, and you may be one of 3 lucky winners to win $10 off their kit purchase!

A little sneaky peeky:

Next stop: Virginia Tillery's Blog!

More, More, More

2011-01-18T09:53:00.002-05:00

So a few of my pages aren't quite done due to some things I didn't have with me while I was on my retreat, so they'll have to wait.

But I did finish these babies:

We had such a great time at the Highline in NYC. Nothing beats a free day of fun. We took hundreds of photos, ate great food at the Chelsea Market and hung out for hours. I'm pretty lucky to be married to my best friend.

And a page about my sweet friend Erin. Every time we talk about how long we've known each other, it amazes us that it's only been a few years.

Well, I have a full day of working on my super secret project...and waiting for the dryer repairman to come and fix my blasted machine.

Gettin Scrappy

2011-01-17T20:51:00.004-05:00

Just came back from a fantastic weekend with some awesome ladies. It only takes a few minutes to remember why I love them and my hobby.

I made a layout for the latest Noel Mignon challenge over at the NM Challenge blog, using this palette for inspiration:

Me & Very Virginia

+

Go check out the rest of the layouts if you're feeling froggy.

++++

I also pulled a name out of my Random-Number-Generated hat for the big Noel Mignon giveaway:

Nitasha said...: My favorite quote is posted on my computer at work and sometimes I just look at it and giggle....

"Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes me. How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It's beyond me." Zora Neale Hurston.

Congrats, and thanks to everyone for leaving a comment and your inspirational quotes.

++++

I made a slew of other layouts and hopefully I'll have them posted tomorrow...but until then, Happy Monday.

Favorites As of Late

2011-01-12T00:00:00.004-05:00

1. This little cutie, which is on its way to my house at this very moment. I'm really excited about taking it with me on my upcoming trip to Seattle.

(uniquephoto.com)

2. These recipe cards, a gift from sweet Emily of the Black Apple and her Head Partner In Crime, Josiah. She also sent a copy of her new book...which is a fantastic book not only for your paper doll fix, but for a great read as well.

(the black apple)

3. This Le Cruset enameled skillet. Oh heaven.
I can totally see serving a bad-a cornbread in this one.

(le cruset)

4. This peppermint lip balm, which is the best I've ever used,
and I promise it's not because I work for them.
(good fortune)

5. This cute faux-Hermes canvas bag...I've wanted one since the episode of SITC where Samantha lies to get one. Now my dream to own one is actually attainable! I'd like one in red, please.
(thursday friday)

6. This Hatch Show Print/Yee-Haw-ish paper from SC, even though I'm not horribly crazy about the rest of the line.

7. And last but not least, this lovely grey twine that I cannot bear to pay for, because honestly, it's way too expensive. I've been told by an insider that a very popular twine website is working on getting grey in stock. Once they do, half price and a bigger cone says I'll be buying it.

(divine twine)

Sigh. At least a girl can look. Happy Wednesday!

Scrapping Christmas Cards

2011-01-11T17:36:00.002-05:00

Head over to Noel Mignon's blog to read about how I scrapped my friend Tammy's Christmas card:

(Very Virginia)

Happy Tuesday xoxo

Kick Drum Heart

2011-01-10T01:28:00.001-05:00

Something strange has happened since the turn of 2011. I've been designing. A lot.

I have a love/hate relationship with design. Some days are great...very productive and therapeutic. Others are stressful and nonproductive. That's what comes by being a designer who does freelance advertising. I don't always get to design what I want and I often have to design things that aren't exactly "me."

No complaining, though, because freelance pays the bills. I just have to find my artistic outlet elsewhere.

This week it's been a super secret project. One that I'm giving lots of thought and energy. I'm hoping this week will give me the information I need to take the next steps to see it come to fruition.

Here's a little peek into a little lyric that got me going the other day. It's from The Avett Brothers "Kick Drum Heart." It was just the boost I needed to get creative. And it never fails - I always get a little giddy when I design something I really, really like.

Don't forget - you can still enter the giveaway on Friday's post HERE.

Happy Monday.

Giveaway Day!

2011-01-07T22:06:00.001-05:00

We had a couple of these Bedford Falls kits left so I get to give one away! Need a stash of Christmasy goodness to scrap your holiday memories?

Just leave a comment with your FAVORITE QUOTE below for 1 entry, and Like Noel Mignon Kits on Facebook for another entry, make sure to come back and let me know you added us.

Here's a couple layouts I did with this kit:

I'll pick a winner on the 14th!

Happy Friday :)

Looking Back

2011-01-04T09:32:00.003-05:00

(Very Virginia Kit)

I tend to scrapbook the same photos over and over. I keep a folder of edited photos on my desktop and when I just want to scrap and don't want to pull out new photos, I just grab one and go.

The other day it was this one, a shot of Bo at the bluff of The Cliff House, in San Francisco. This was my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean, and our first trip together as man and wife.

Bo planned this trip - where we'd go, what we'd see...and it was the perfect honeymoon. It wasn't on a cruise, or a tropical island, but in a city with character and history. One with bright lights, winding roads and a giant bridge.

I love my first look at the West. It's quite a departure from what I'm used to on the East Coast, but it's gorgeous and will always make me remember those first days after we were married.

A New Year

2011-01-03T09:07:00.008-05:00

2011. Sigh. Another start to a new year.

I'm excited. Really excited. I have so many things I want to accomplish this year. So many things I want to design, so many ideas I have for my shop, some re-branding and possibly going in a new direction all together. I have goals that are reachable, but not stifling.

I want to scrapbook more. I want to delve more into my life story and not focus so much on the surface things that are a part of my daily life.

I want to blog more. I wish I had it in me to blog every day. When I worked solely from home, I could, but now it's just so difficult to find time to get a post together. I want to sit and take the time to write what I'm feeling, to post pictures that I love, to share stories and life.

I want to buy less. Especially when it comes to my hobby, I've honestly grown sick and tired of the consumerism that surrounds it. I'm happy to be free of messageboard posts where people compare lists of the unnecessary items they've purchased and will probably never use. Maybe it's harsh, but it's true. It's taken me a while, but I've broken out of the "need to have the new" habit. This year I will break free even more. I will use what I own and I will love it.

I want to volunteer more. I live in the inner city and I should be serving my community when I have the chance. I should be connecting with the homeless that live in the empty lot down the street from me. I should be bringing them dinner and taking them blankets. I should be loving them as I love myself.

I've got plans for you, 2011.

New Year's Layouts

2010-12-31T11:27:00.005-05:00

I was very excited and honored to be asked to Guest Design for Cocoa Daisy's January Kit, Domestic Bliss.

A few pages:

and a card...

It was so great to get a chance to play around with this one.

I have another on my table that I'm hoping to break into this weekend -

(Very Virginia - Noel Mignon)

There are so many goodies in this one, but my favorite has to be the 1oz Maya Mist. What a perfect size.

Okay, ladies and gents...time to get to the gym to get a head start on my resolution then have lunch with a sweet friend.

Happy New Years!

Noel Mignon Challenges!

2010-12-28T14:14:00.002-05:00

You only have a couple of days left, but if you're planning on scrapping on your days off, check out the "Outdoor Decor" challenge, link up your layout and get a chance to win a $20 gift card to the shop!

Here are some of the great layouts the team did:

They still have a few Bedford Falls kits left, and the new Very Virginia kit is out now. It's pretty gorgeous, and there are only a couple left.

Happy Tuesday!

Wishing You..

2010-12-22T17:42:00.003-05:00

A Merry Christmas!

And wishing myself a more productive blogging year. I probably could have posted a little note telling you that I would be away for a while.

Things just got busy. Etsy got busy. Life got busy.

I'm taking off until after Christmas. I need a little time to decompress and just enjoy the holidays. I need some refreshment, some time to write down my ideas, things I'd like to blog an write about.

So from us to you, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Best Gift

2010-12-07T11:43:00.001-05:00

I'm a big fan of scrapping objects. My grandmother's cameo, my favorite coffee drink, and thanks to Noel's challenge, my favorite Christmas gift.

It's easy to remember those childhood gifts that made me smile, but nothing warms my heart like the collection of handmade ornaments I have from my Grandmother.

She started making ornaments years ago, and has given myself and her other grandchildren one for every year since birth. I have mostly ceramic ornaments - trees, wreaths, bells - all carefully painted with no detail spared, along with crocheted snowflakes with red stitching or gold paint, noting the year they were made.

I used the Bedford Falls kit for this one - I love this peppermint stripe paper and I'm so happy it went well with my Santa picture.

So this season, in the midst of getting those cards out, wrapping presents and eating lots of good food, don't forget to document those things that make the season so very special.

And don't forget to enter the challenge over at the Noel Mignon Challenge Blog! We're giving away TWO Bedford Falls kits!

xoxo,
Steph

Whew.

2010-11-29T18:25:00.010-05:00

Back from Thanksgiving! It was a wonderful holiday - and a four days off. Four days I desperately needed to bake, clean, stuff myself, sleep in and scrap, with a few trips to the cinema thrown in.

After stuffing ourselves on Thursday and doing a little shopping on Friday, Bo's Aunt and his brood of cousins came over for a little Bananagrams-turned-Guitar Hero free-for-all at our house.

There was singing, laughing, Christmas tree smells, admittance of an undying love for Fleetwood Mac, teaching of the "sexy dance", and a surprise guest, the fantastic Emily Martin of Black Apple fame, who just happens to be my almost-but-not-yet-cousin-by-marriage.

I made yummy treats like gingersnap pumpkin bars, red velvet whoopie pies,and the always-gone-first chili cheese dip.

All in all, it was quite the weekend. We managed to decorate three trees and I reached my goal of not taking off my pajamas for almost 48 hours. Pretty much all that a holiday weekend's supposed to be.

Hope yours was grand.

BLACK FRIDAY SALE

2010-11-25T21:30:00.005-05:00

Hooray! Let the shopping begin!

Starting NOW, take 25% off of your entire purchase at The Living Room Floor Etsy shop! Just use the code 25off when you check out.

Happy Black Friday!!

I almost forgot..

2010-11-24T17:01:00.003-05:00

I have the honor of working with Noel Mignon Kits for the December - May term. I'm really excited about working with a kit club again - hoping it will boost my creativity and get my butt into gear about getting more layouts done!

My first kit is Bedford Falls. It's totally Christmas-ed out, and I am loving every bit. I'm not your typical Christmas scrapper, as I somehow leave out important holidays and family events, but this kit really had enough in it for me to do a little bit of everything.

Here's my first layout:

Keep your eyes peeled for a few more in the future.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Aaaand,

2010-11-23T23:43:00.002-05:00

The winner of the set of Christmas tags from this long lost post is:
Karen!

Karen said...: i get inspiration from the sc blog. love those tags!

Email me your address at livingroomfloor [at] gmail . com.

I Haven't Forgotten About You

2010-11-22T20:40:00.002-05:00

And the winner is.....

Hope said...

I'm looking forward to holiday food! Making pumpkin pie. Working Black Friday weekend. Congrats on reaching 1,500!!

Hope, I'd say just email me, but I'll email you!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm working on a project that will be over tomorrow, then I'm taking some time off to enjoy some stress-free holiday-ing.

Hoping to get some posts together about my decorating and my Christmas cards this year. Thanks everyone for your sweet comments about my shop...I loved hearing about what you're excited for this season.

If I don't talk to you before then, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!