currently//8.28.14

loving// words. it feels good to be writing them again... now i just need to get back to the reading of them.

loathing// potty training. need i say more?

drinking// coconut iced latte from dunkin. i apparently always type up my currents in the morning, and i'm always drinking coffee.

watching// catching up on the final three episodes of true blood. it's kinda odd to not be shocked when a main character dies... cause you know the end is coming anyways, so like, what does it matter that someone dies when essentially the whole thing is over. i'm delaying watching the season finale.. i'm just sad for it to be over. they got all crazy there the last two seasons, but seriously.. it's been good to the last drop.

listening// i have a couple of favorite songs that i am living for right now.. secrets by mary lambert, cool kids by echosmith, boom clap by charlie xcx & as much as i friggen don't want to admit it... shake it off by taylor swift. the girl is a talented writer/musician, obviously, but something about her kinda rubs me the wrong way...

thinking// about motivation. about pushing out of your comfort zone. about trying and failing. my head is full of motivational quotes. i'm contemplating my 2015 one little word, already. i've breathed my way through 2014, and i'm ready for another action word!

anticipating// fall. oh fall. i am always ready for it, and it never lasts nearly long enough. i just whole heartedly wish for a cool one. please. please please be a 70-degree weather fall, florida.

pinning// halloween inspiration & layout design

currently// 7.18.14

loving// bamboo paper for iPad. i downloaded it a few days ago, picked up a stylus, and spent 4 hours last night (like 10-2am), and another 2 this morning (shh!), just doodling. it reminded me of the crayola color studio i had when i was about 11 or 12 that used to hook up to the tv & let you draw on it. i sat on that thing for hours.

(i think my friend nita was ready to stage an intervention this morning if i didn't stop doodling!)

& also the babe (who i guess really needs a new nickname, since he's almost 4) has been coloring up a storm. i picked him up one of those color wonder travel kits when we took a weekend road trip, and he's been coloring up a storm since. went through the first pack, had to pick up a second for the ride home.. he made me print out a ton of coloring pages monday, and then made his dad do the same tuesday. i love it, because the dude never really liked coloring...

loathing// cooking. i'm just so over it right now. i don't even want to think about food. i just want someone to fix a plate & put it in front of me. i'm bored with food for the most part...i guess?

drinking// water. not enough, but a lot. & yes. iced. freaking. coffee. i give up.

eating// about the only thing that looks appetizing these days is avocado. on my burger, in my chicken salad, on a sub, in a car, in a plane, on a train.. oh, wait.. that's green eggs & ham.... just generally eating it on everything that sounds like it would go well with it. and i want some salsa from this restaurant in town, latinos, so badly, i have half a mind to make the 20 minute drive just for a jar of it!

watching// investigation discovery!!! due to a rather sad & tired computer chair, and a requirement of many hours in front of the computer for school, i've been rotating my time between the bed (where there is a tv, and no kids) & the computer room (where there is no tv, and often 2 noisy kids). it's no secret i'm a big true crime tv junkie. i'm a die hard city confidential, & forensic files fan, and seek out reruns often.. well somehow i landed on investigation discovery & was hooked. it's all day everyday of csi type shows. warning: it will make you terrified to leave your house, question everyone you come into contact with, and make you worried that the most bizarre things could quite possibly be happening inside your very private next door neighbors house.

SO GOOD.... BUT YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

listening// i don't have anything i'm particularly attached to at the moment. except maybe this paramore song..


catching up on// project life.. i have 4, that's right FOUR more spreads until 2013 is finished & i can move onto 2014. so so so excited about this.

until next month..

xo-k

currently// 6.23.14

a random list of things i'm currently crushing on: 

found here

this poster from emily mcdowell. i'm STILL in love with hand-lettering.. don't think that will pass anytime soon.. and this quote is something i so need right now. i often have to remind myself i'm in the middle of this design process, and not to be so damn hard on myself. making mistakes is part

of fine tuning your tastes, and knowing where your talent/strength/interest lies. 

found here

came across this set of stairs on pinterest from funky junk. oh my. this is so totally right up my alley. with yardsticks as risers.. i just have to convince the hubs that this is a good idea... i think that'll be harder than getting it done! 

here

above: the best chocolate chip cookies i have EVER made. below: death by chocolate cookies my friend Nita swears are the best cookie EVER (seriously, she couldn't stop talking about them for weeks) i made two batches of each of this cookies for the family gathering after my grandmother's service, and they lasted less than 24 hrs. all the other desserts were still hanging around when these guys were gone. if you make them, i PROMISE you will not be disappointed! 

here

found here

this bracelet from bourbon & boots. here's the thing.. i know some people don't consider anyone from florida to be 'raised in the south' (i.e., my husband) i was born in miami, and have lived in a sleepy little horse town since i was 7. i always considered myself from the south, and was proud of my southern roots, until i became an adult, and realized that more often than not, people from the south are classified as bible thumping intolerant individuals. that is the farthest from the truth in my case. i know that i live in a area where people fear change, and struggle to accept anything that may go against what they were taught in the bible, but i'm hoping that i can strike a balance between being proud of my southern heritage (which spans back to my great great great grandparents on my mom's side, and on 1/2 of my dad's side, back just as far) and being forward-thinking. 

Tina Aszmus @ Studio Calico

i'm so ready to jump into the smaller sized album for my project life style scrapbooking for 2014. i opted for the smaller size because last year the 12x12, weekly format just became to overwhelming with school.. even though the organized part of my brain loves that chronological "everything has it's place" approach, i needed something less 'strict', and smaller, so that i didn't get stuck when i had weeks with not nearly enough content. so i have  3 SC handbooks patiently waiting to be filled. i haven't printed a single picture for 2014, and i'm still buying. i am on school break next week, and i have vowed that i will finish up 2013, and start 2014 in the midst of mini-day trips with the kids! 

otherwise.. i'm currently obsessed with planning out my menu and attempting the whole 30. i'm scared, and excited and so so ready. i feel a little like i did when i cut gluten & started doing my best to eat clean... it's soooo much info to take in! 

oh, and there has been lots of drinking of this: 

until next month..

xo-k

currently// why i am deleting facebook

so.. in lieu of my 'currents' list for may, i'm just going to explain why i'm deleting Facebook.

(borrowing & modifying from the campbell house)

reason #7: the game requests  all from family. i dearly love these people, but i want to strangle them over game requests. i mean seriously. i promise, if i played any of the crazy time sucking games people play on Facebook, i'd be annoying you will all the same requests and notifications you are sending me. daily. and sometimes hourly.

reason #6:  the comparison trap you know, someone posts that they went somewhere and did something, or someone did something for them, etc, and you find yourself comparing some aspect of your life. as someone who spends 98.9 % of my time at home, either cleaning or doing homework, i've found myself falling into the trap more and more frequently. i was aware of the sacrifices i'd have to make going into this deal, and i know it's all worth it in the end...but somehow watching everyone have more fun is just a big bummer. i don't expect everyone to stop posting, it's not their problem, it's mine. deleting Facebook prohibits me from throwing weekly pity parties that are just lame, and totally embarrassing.

reason #5: the false friendships this is one of the big ones for me. people 'friend' you on Facebook and then say NOTHING. are you stalking me? if you aren't going to talk to me, then why are you here? i always saw Facebook as a way to reconnect with people who maybe you lost touch with, but if your just gonna stare at my pictures, and then act like you don't know me when i see you in real life, expect to get deleted. and no, it wasn't an accident, so don't try to re-friend me.

reason #4: the martyrs  i'm a realist. i posted a picture of the dude on the first day of school & said my kids back to school picture is better than yours. i talked about my kid chowing down on money, and pooping it back out. life sucks sometimes, i get it. i try to deal with it through humor. i NEVER expect a sympathetic comment. i expect you to laugh at my misfortune, cause life is crazy, and i need you to laugh with me. with that said... the 'oh whoa is me' people SLAY me. the vague "i just can't deal with life, i can't believe this happened to me" posts, and then the "what's wrong" comments with replies of "inbox me".. i'm sorry.. you just blasted your issues, and NOW it's private. so you just wanted someone to ask. OF COURSE someone is going to ask, people are nosy and just wanna know your dirty laundry. if they really care, they'd be finding out some other way than Facebook. just saying. this is one of the biggest reasons i'm deleting. it's everywhere, and i'm way over it.

reason #3: the time suck so, remember when i said i'm at home with kids 98.9 % of the time? ya. so i get bored. i crave social interaction. i get on Facebook to kill time, and before i know it, i've jumped from one link to the next, and 3 hours are gone and i've got nothing to show for it but some random gossip, and useless information about why shailene woodley worldly possessions all fit in one suitcase. cause i really needed to know that one, right?

reason #2: the negativity i'm totally guilty of this one too. politics and religion are best left off Facebook. i read a study a few months into my classes about how many people unfriend people on Facebook because of posts related to one or the other. i wasn't shocked, people are passionate about what they believe in on Facebook, myself included. i got so worked up over people posting crap supporting that damn duck dynasty guy, talking about how a&e violated his first amendments rights, i almost deleted Facebook then & there. i never cared much if someone deleted me because i posted supporting marriage equality. i'm not afraid to speak up for what i believe in, but that means i have to accept that i will get upset by people on the other side of the fence doing the same. deleting Facebook means i lose a platform to share my thoughts, but i also don't have to bite my tongue and fume over things others post. it's worth it to me.

reason #1: the human connection everyone i interact with in real life will still be there. they are the ones i'm most concerned about staying in touch with. i have phone numbers, and can call or text. someone will have to pick up the phone to invite me to a birthday party or family function, but i'm looking forward to that. so much of our relationships have been delegated to technology, i've decided i'd rather hear about your trip from you, than read your status updates, or look at pictures where i have no idea what's going on.

so there ya have it. i'm not completely social media free.. i don't think i could live without instagram. it's just too darn pretty :) so you can find me there. my husband still has his Facebook account, but he is way less interested, and treats it more like an old email address he forgets to check more than once a month. i've made sure all family members are friends with him, so i can continue to update pictures to those family members who live far away.

i deleted Facebook from my phone two weeks ago, and haven't even been tempted to put it back on. i think that's a good sign.

here's to a Facebook free life. :)

xo-k

currently// 4.17.14

it's crazy how much life changes in 1 month. 4 weeks. 30 days.....

drinking// iced coffee. i've given up the attempt to cut it out again. it's the one non-water beverage a day i allow myself, so i'm just going to embrace it.

watching// i really wanted to read the book first, but the hubs convinced me to watch the movie 'the mortal instruments: city of bones' & now i can't get it out of my head. i'm hoping that next week while i'm on spring break i can sink into the first book in the series. you say teen lit? i say so what.

listening//i'm really obsessed with neon trees 'sleeping with a friend', and bastille's 'pompeii', as well as a great big world's 'say something' (the non-christina version)... although i've been listen to a lot of oldies.. think dirty dancing soundtrack, billie holiday, & my fair lady soundtrack. it's a weird mix i know.

reading// lots of information on marriage inequality. my class this month is not design based, but presentation. speaking. gah. i hate it... but our one big project is a persuasive speech called and ignite presentation. i choose to talk about how same sex couples shouldn't be fighting for their right to marry, they should already HAVE the right. i've long been an advocate, but the information is still interesting.

wanting// to get some house projects tackled. i've hit a mine of creative energy it seems, and i'm desperate to create something, anything... and house projects seem as good as any these days. maybe one day i'll stop buying project life stuff, and start using it again. i'm really sad about the state of my album this year (and lack of completion on 2013).

thinking// a lot about my Oma. she passed away unexpectedly april 6th, and while i have little regrets left with unsaid words (she was one of the recipients of my grateful heart letters last november), i'm sad because i didn't get more from her on her life. i bought her this book, but i have no idea if she finished it.. and i'm kicking myself for not going over there & helping her tackle it. i miss her so much everyday. i think about all the ways she filled me up, and changed my life. i think about all the ways she helped me see beyond my own circumstances, and recognize the plight in others. i have so many thoughts, so many words, some days are past hard and into unbearable. i hate death. i hate that our time is limited.

loving// the weather. i'm desperate for a hammock swing for the tree out front before the weather becomes unbearable. this is the florida i love. sunny & high 70s... i wish it would last all summer!

xo-k

currently// 3.17.14

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

It's the one day a year I can get away with force feeding my husband corned beef & cabbage. The rest of the year he makes a stink face.. so here's to holiday eats!

drinking// irish creme iced latte from dunkin' i've gotten attached to my morning coffee again, and it's a habit i'm working to kick. i feel much better without all the sugar first thing in the morning, but i miss the caffeine for sure.

watching// i'm still so far behind on all my shows. last time i got caught up was over christmas break. i see a marathon of vampire diaries watching come spring break next month. i'm also super excited that the great gatsby is now on HBO, and in 3d, so I totally have an excuse to break out the 3D glasses for our tv.

listening// lately, i've been so focused, i forget to start up my music while doing homework, so there is a lot of paw patrol, rabbids, & mickey mouse clubhouse in the background.

reading// lots of design blogs, and books associated with school. that book i started in january? ya, still haven't picked it back up. :(

wanting// to get some kind of handle on time management. most days i feel like i'm running from one task to the next, throwing laundry in & running back to make a few more tweaks on a design for school, then running to pick the dude up from school, and before i know it, it's 10pm, and i feel like i haven't gotten a single thing done, and i'm exhausted mentally & emotionally.

dreaming// about having all our diy projects done. ha. my best friend told me that a 'fixer up' house is always in a state of 'fixing up', and though we've only been here a little shy of a year, and have gotten a tremendous amount done, i know what she says rings true. i read a statement on young house love that said to love the process, and learn to live with the constant state of improvement, and you will be much happier. i'm trying to embrace this, but it's definitely work for me.

anticipating// easter. for YEARS, stephen & i (well maybe mostly just me) has wanted to take some of the burden of hosting holidays off my mom & aunt. the two of them share hosting duties at easter, christmas, and thanksgiving. our old house was just way too small to accommodate my rather large family (mom's 1 of 6 + spouses, kids, and grandkids, you do the math ;) last year we had a housewarming party (at the insistence of the hubs co-workers) & the babe's 3rd birthday, both of which were successful at holding the majority of our family & friends, with overflow to our covered back porch, so we volunteered to host easter at our house this year. i'm excited & nervous!

loving// despite a pity party i threw myself on saturday when i felt like like i was left out of several happenings around town, i am loving the challenge of school. some assignments i loathe, but i'd rather be doing it than pretty much anything else, school-wise. i know that those around me have just gotten so used to the 'i can't's', they don't ask anymore for me to do stuff.... but it still sucks.

loathing// the fact that i haven't finished my 2013 project life yet... and haven't even started on 2014. it's a good thing i opted for monthly this year, cause weekly would probably leave me so overwhelmed i'd never even start.

until next month ;)

xo-k

currently// 2.18.14

time// 8:47am

eating// just finished a bowl of frosted mini wheats, which i will probably pay for later. i've been eating far too much gluten lately, and man is my stomach telling me about it.

drinking// water, & i just realized i haven't had coffee in close to a week.

watching// still on the forensic files kick. i honestly don't watch much tv these days. i turn it on when i get into bed at night, and i'm usually out before the half hour is up.

reading// bloody lessons. i started it... now let's see how long it takes me to finish it. & also reading an ENORMUS amount on graphic design for school.

needing// to get the house cleaned. i ran around last friday like a crazy person trying to get everything clean for my sister in law & her family who were coming into town to visit... and now that they are gone, i'm almost certain i'm right back where i was on friday. five kids does not a tidy house make!

loving// the weather, when it decides what it's going to do for a few days, it's actually pretty nice outside. the other 50% of the time it's 80 and humid, and i'm wondering if it is in fact still just february.

thinking// about one of my old bosses at the pediatric office i worked at. he lost his battle with cancer on friday, & i am brought to tears every time i think about it. he was hands down one of the best bosses i've ever worked for. he was kind, generous, and always wore a smile. he treated those of us in the office with as much grace and respect as those in the office with medical backgrounds (which is NOT common practice, though it should be) i graduated high school with his daughter, and though we didn't run in the same circles, my heart is breaking for her, as she is due in 2 weeks with what would have been his first grandchild. i just can't even put into words how special this man was, he truly touched so many hearts.

listening// say something is at the top of my repeat list, as well as pompeii, and of course happy.

currently//1.17.14

Life is a bit of a whirlwind these days. It's a delicate balance between house & school & hobbies. If I'm honest, some months it's a struggle to keep my head above water. My best intentions sometimes fall short. I have to say no to invites, stay up late to finish assignments, and ask for help. I'm not good at asking for help.. what I am good at is getting mad when the hubs doesn't offer, like he can see into the rolodex of my mind and know everything that has to be done. Fortunately, I'm also really great at knowing when I'm wrong & apologizing.

I'd like to say 2014 will see me re-commit myself to blogging.. but that'd be a stretch of the truth. I spent some time over my holiday break re-reading past entries, and I'm sad I don't have entries like that to look back upon for 2013, but I'm giving myself a break. Life is a liquid mass, it moves & turns & shapes itself around whatever you stick in it. Right now, blogging regularly isn't something I'm dedicated to, nor do I feel it's something that needs precedence in my life.

Instead, I'm vowing to do one currents post a month, on the 17th, as a sort of 'checking in'. I'm cutting back in other areas as well, making room for what's important. I am still absolutely head-over-heels madly in love with project life... but I can't keep up. Sitting at my computer for several hours throughout the week doesn't leave me with a whole lot of material to work with. (And when I say several, we are talking like LOTS) So I'm cutting back to a 6x8 album, just for 2014. I'm also going chronological/monthly vs. weekly. It's my compromise to keep my hobby, and not have the frustration that I'm not getting it done in the time that I'd like.

My one little word for 2014 is breathe. I could have chosen calm... but I do better with words I can chant as a mantra, or words I can stick in my ignition hypothetically. Last year my word was fierce, and let me tell you, it took on a whole new meaning for me. I thought 2013 would be a year of getting my butt in shape, I wanted to fiercely go after my goal. I had no idea in January when I choose it, that come February, I'd be in school. But let me tell you, I attacked my schooling in a way I don't think I ever have before. At the beginning of every month I started a new class, and every month I'd stare at my assignments and think. "HOLY CRAP! There is NO WAY I can do this! I can't do this! I CAN'T DO THIS!!" Sometimes there were tears, or texts to my husband lamenting the tasks ahead.. and then a day or two would pass, a deadline start to loom, and I'd pull myself together, sit down, and kick the crap out off the assignments. I ended 2013, and my first year of school, with a 4.0 GPA, shocking no one but myself.

So yes, my 2014 word is breathe. I've already proven to myself I CAN do this, I just need to remember to not get so stressed out trying to maintain every aspect of life during the process. Sometimes there will be dirty dishes, and toys strewn everywhere. Sometimes a bed won't get made until right before we get in it. Sometimes clothes will wait 3 days to get hung up. But baths are had, and bellies are full, and we are healthy. The rest can wait, the rest I CAN get help with, it only takes asking.

So. 2014. Let's do this.

time: 10:25 am
eating: applesauce & oatmeal pancakes with a side of bacon
drinking: homemade iced coffee
watching: trying to catch up on episodes of the vampire diaries & american horror story: coven, but more interested in watching the first 48, and forensic files.
reading: i have this book downloaded, and i'm trying to make time to read it.
needing: to get back to work on home improvement projects. little things here & there that have just gotten lost in the shuffle of day to day life.
loving: the sense of calm i have right now... hoping i can remember it & reign in back in when needed.


Until next time :)
xo-k

currently

eating// this combo i saw pinterest? instagram? chopped up fuji apple (loving these right now) with chopped up pecans, a few raisins & a splash of coconut milk. i'm totally addicted.

drinking// coffee. i've decided to give up trying to kick it. i enjoy it. it makes me look forward to getting up in the morning. & it's certainly not the worst thing out there to drink. i make folgers french vanilla in the coffee pot, let it cool & pour it into a container & put it in the fridge. in the morning i pour it over ice with a splash of vanilla extract & a little milk.

needing// more time. i had halloween projects i wanted to do. thanksgiving ones too. between school & the house & kids & life, there just never seems to be enough time in the day. i can't even keep up with my shows, and i haven't read a book in forever.

watching// american horror story. it's about the only thing i'm current on. ok, so i'm current on 2 broke girls & the new girl too. i watched the first episode of the vampire diaries, & not a single one of the originals. add glee to the mix, which i really can't seem to find interest in this year, i think partly because finn is gone.

loving// walking. last month i walked 65.8 miles in 31 days. i challenged myself to 2 miles a day, and only fell short one day. the 31st, when i spent the morning in the ER finding out i had a kidney stone (holy cow that is some serious pain!) that night we took the kids trick or treating & walked just a mile. i've taken it easy since then, partially because i was doped up on pain meds & couldn't drag myself out of bed the next few days, and the the following week i spent playing catch up on school work.

learning// photoshop & adobe illustrator. it's crazy to think a year ago i was dreaming about what it would be like to know how to use these programs, and now they get a heavy weekly workout. this week we are working on photo compositing. lightbulbs are going off everywhere. it's crazy good, scary & trying all at the same time.

thinking// that this blog is on it's way out. it is severely neglected, and i don't know how to connect to this space anymore. i used to craft & share. i used to bake & share. now i scramble through daily activities, work on homework & try to take pictures & jot notes for project life. how interesting is that? i share on instagram readily (read: i'm addicted) & can't imagine why i still need this platform.

favorite apps// camera+ & pictapgo. they by far get the most work out on my phone, and i couldn't live without them. camera+ lets you pick a focus point + an exposure point. genius. pictapgo is a mobile editing app from radlabs. must have.

currently: 6.11.13

adjusting: to life in our new house. new house? yep. we moved about 3 weeks ago. i had this big post planned to share the story, but who knew moving was so much work? soon though, i promise! 

making decisions: on paint color, furniture placement, what goes where.. it is truly exhausting, even for someone like me, who thrives on organization. there are more places to cram stuff in our new house, but i'm trying very hard to eliminate the stuff we really have no use for (like the boot from when i sprained my ankle two years ago while i was pregnant with rance. i HOPE i never need it again, but if i do, isn't that what insurance is for?)

working: in between painting walls, and trim, and switching out light fixtures, and refinishing furniture, and doing all the 'other' normal house stuff like cooking & cleaning, & laundry, i'm still plugging away at school. last month was art history, and we got a quick feel for photoshop. this month it's designing computer graphics, and illustrator. i was scared, and for good reason.. this stuff is intense! and so intimidating for someone like me who didn't even know something like illustrator existed! 

planning: the dude's birthday trip to wet & wild. as a florida resident, you would think i love water parks... not so much. over chlorinated water, standing in hour long lines to get a 15 second run down a slide, and being a breath away from sweaty, barely clothed strangers is not my idea of fun. add in the fact that the cool deck-skid resistant coating they put everywhere does a number on your feet, and i'm a total party pooper. i'm roughing it out for his sake though. wish me luck! 

what i'm not doing: reading, watching tv, working on project life. i'm happy to be busy, but i'm missing those things i love to relax doing. 

until next time...

xo-k

currently: 4.9.13

 

excited:

 

 

let's be honest.

if you are a die hard truebie, like me...

(read the sookie books & have watched since season 1)

last season was crazy bad.

and i mean crazy bad like, awful & horrible.

(kinda like the newest season of glee. disappointing)

steve newlin a gay vampire.. saw that coming.

sookie all up in fairy town.. inevitable if you've read the books

vampire headquarters nut jobs... what the what?!

vampires doped up on blood of the first vampire... huh?

vampire bible... seriously?!

crazy blood bathed bill?

i seriously hope it gets more good crazy.

(although i may be totally alone in how i feel on last season)

 

finished:

 

i had behavioral science last month.

i was sort of scared about diving into it...

because.. uhm.. i've actually attempted psychology twice before.

it's totally boring, and i find it difficult to stay on task.

so i was totally delighted to find this class was less intense.

and ya. i aced it. :)

 

out with the old, in with the new:

 

 

we started looking on craigslist for a new to us couch about two months ago...

we weren't particularly motivated, or on a timeline...

mostly browsing.

and then two weeks ago the hubs got totally serious.

ya see the old couch (above) is a piece o' crap.

and that's putting it nicely.

it's microfiber, and a light tan color, and i don't know what i was thinking when i thought that was a good choice for a house full of boys.

it's been dirty since the beginning.

it's endured spilled bottles, baby spit up, and leaky diapers between two kiddos.

it's been a launching pad for the dude to hurl himself across from one side to the other.

it's been thrown up on. more than once.

and lord help me, the 75lb dog has pooped on it, through the doubled up sheets that were on it.

about a year ago when the dude puked all over one of the cushions i cleaned it the best i could, but it was still grossing me out..

and i thought, this thing is so sad looking, what could it hurt to wash the cushion covers.

so i tossed two in the wash.

and when they were dry, i washed the other two.

you sink way down on the cushions, and the top of the back cushion forces your head forward.

it's far beyond being comfortable, and the back cushions are starting to tear free of the seam.

it (as evidenced by the sagging end pillows) seen better days.

 and i'm embarassed for people to come to my house and see it.

so like i said, we were browsing craigslist..

and when we settled on getting some type of leather, blended leather, wipeable type of surface..

my husband started noticing it wasn't THAT much more to get a new couch..

and if we got a NEW couch.. we could get NEW recliners.

(because I haven't heard the end of how I got rid of the one we had 8 years ago)

so we went out shopping a few nights & settled on this one from rooms to go.

and i am SO excited, even though they are backordered  until MAY.

it's a sectional, so we were able to customize our set up.

we ditched the chaise (though it would have been nice)

and the armless chair next to it,

kept the console piece & added a left arm recliner.

so we have a total of three recliners.

did i mention how excited i am?!?!

 

disappointed:

 

 

we officially quit soccer this week.

it was a long time coming.

last season was great.. this season not so much.

as anyone with a child with special needs can tell you, everything is a learning process.

last season we were in a younger age group, and the coaches were very responsive to our input on how to coach mason.

this year, not so much.

sadly, our coach is ALL about winning, and several kids, not just ours, suffer because of it.

unfortunately the kids who are not 'star athletes' don't get coached.

they get 'dealt with'.

the dude was eager, and improved drastically in his skills from the beginning of his last season, to the end.

this year, if it's possible, he's back to were he was in the beginning.

the bad coaching along with his ADHD made for a vicious cycle.

the coach wouldn't put him in during a game, so he'd start goofing off..

and then he didn't get put in, because he was goofing off...

and when he did get in, he was only in for 10 minutes (if that) before he was taken off the field for no reason.

when he put forth his best efforts, they were never recognized..

which for a kid like him, praise is SO important.

on a team of 13 kids, with 9 on the field, only 2 positions were being rotated.

it was disheartening for him and us.

when i spoke to the coaches about the game rotation i got

'well we get so wrapped up in the game, we forget to sub people'.

what?

and then the kids on the team started bullying him.

and that was the final straw.

because the dude already struggles with low self esteem,

& soccer was making it worse by the minute.

so, when for the third time in a row, he came across the field crying about something someone said to him, when it was clear he was doing his best to actively participate & control his impulses,

we called it quits.

 

it's not the end of the world, just the end of our 'soccer era'

next up to try is karate.

he's obsessed with the ninja turtles & eager to try.

and we have always preached 'ya don't know until ya try' to him when he says he 'can't do something'

so, looks like i'll be bleaching karate uniforms sometime soon..

 

so that's what's filling up my head these days..

along with a little something else, but that's for another day :)

blogging because hopefully one day i will get back to project life..

as i am seriously, SERIOUSLY behind.

 

xo-k



currently: 3.21.13

drinking: lots and lots and lots of water. using a new app called idrated to keep me in check. it keeps track of how much i drink and reminds me to drink when it's time.

watching: well WHEN i'm watching it's 'the first 48', 'city confidential', 'bizarre foods', 'mysteries at the museum', & 'notorious' i'm current on 'new girl' and waaaay behind on 'vampire diaries' and 'american horror story'. i usually watch while i'm folding laundry & when i go to bed, and somehow i never have enough time, or little eyes around when i'm ready to catch up on those two. it's clear that had i the stomach for it, i should have been a detective, i can't get enough of csi stuff.

listening: currently obsessed with these three songs:

enjoying: more random lunch dates with friends i don't see enough. it's nice when we can carve out a small amount of time during our busy schedules to catch up. so far i've lunched with a different friend each month. it's pretty awesome, and one of the small goals i set for 2013. i'm looking forward to many more :)

wanting: to go some place new. even if it's only for a weekend. i think it's because i spend so much time in front of the computer, but i can't wait to get out of my house at the first chance!

anticipating:  busy weekends. this is the time of year were we literally bounce from birthday to graduation party to company party to easter, and everything in between. busy weekends are a fun break from my homebody routine!

loving: the dblcam app. i haven't mastered it yet, but i'm loving the possibilities.

reading: school stuff. i have read one book since december, and it was kind of lame. i just don't have the time, and right now, i'm okay with that. so much for my goal of 60 books in 2013, just not realistic now that i'm in school.

blogger seems to be spazing out this morning, so i'm going to stop there.
see ya soon... i hope!
xo-k

currently: 1.29.13

(at the weekend scrapbooking retreat, this was at 6am, bre & i were the last scrappers standing until she took a 30 min nap!)

 

eating: that should probably say stress eating. because my diet + energy levels are totally disgusting right now. i came out of the gate january 1st on the right track, and have somehow lost sight. i hate that i am a comfort eater, and my jeans are reminding me that my body doesn't like it either.

drinking: water, but not nearly enough. every night i go to bed telling myself no coffee in the morning, and every morning i wake up wanting it. most days i am successful. the fact that i can drink it straight up with just milk is an indication of how serious my addiction has gotten. it's like i'm a grown up who actually likes the taste of it now. what's up with that?

watching: toy story 1, 2 & 3. it's always ALWAYS on it seems like. when i get remote control i try to stay current with new girl, 2 broke girls, & vampire diaries. my heart about lept out of my chest when elena FINALLY broke up with stefan & went after damon, and then my eyeballs actually popped out of their sockets like a cartoon character when after FINALLY getting what i wanted in the elena/damon department, they made it out to be a sire bond thing. SERIOUSLY?! just shoot me! glee is on my 'there is nothing else worthy on' list right now. what the heck happened to this show? even the hubster, who NEVER really watches it, says it's not the same. i'm afraid they've lost 'it', they've just cut out the magic somehow. mr. shue leaving was like the last straw.

listening: the twilight soundtracks, all 5 of them. on repeat. on spotify & on my iphone. i can't seem to get enough of them these days, and they are totally my go to playlist when i'm scrapbooking.

enjoying: project life. so much. even though i'm playing catch up on the last few weeks of 2012, and i still haven't started on 2013, i know where i'm headed & i can't BELIEVE i have an entire year of our lives scrapbooked & DONE! (well almost)

wanting: a new cell phone case. the one i have has seen better days, and it's gelly texture makes for a constant greasy feeling i am SO over. i'm seriously considering this one, although it's well above what i would normally spend on a cell phone case.

anticipating: lots of work. LOTS of work. lots of change. something new. something exciting & yet so incredibly terrifying. i'll share more soon!

loving: camera+ is my new go to camera app on my phone. you can touch the screen once to focus, and then a second time to pick  your exposure metering. hello properly natural lit cell phone pictures!! love it!

 

and thank you thank you thank you, for saying you'd miss me if i was gone. i know that posting is going to be far less frequent than ever, but i promise not to give up on blogging just yet. ;)

 

xo-k



wordless wednesday: having fun

my life: i have pink hair

so... if you've hung around since last year..

(and bless you if you have, because things have been quite boring around here the last few months)

you may remember when i posted about having purple hair.

well.. i knew FOR SURE, that when swimming season dwindled down this year, i wanted to give the outrageous color another go.

this year i picked 'flamingo pink' by jerome russell.

i LOVE it.

i went with a little more subtle application of it though..

i had my hair trimmed a few months ago, and she went a little shorter than i wanted..

and cut it straight across the back..

i didn't think it would look as good to do the 'dip dye' thing because of this..

i convinced my bf to dye with me this year..

and we put some peek a boo highlights in her light brown hair..

and after a you tube video we watched, i ditched the peekaboo idea for my own hair..

and went with doing the underneath.

i am in LOVE with this color..

and while it may look a little more purplish..

in the sunlight it is full on fuchsia.

awesomeness.

...and it's still good to do your own thing & not worry about what someone else thinks.

so glad i got that monkey off my back last year.

xo-k



my life: perspective

i turned 33 on wednesday.
it was an uneventful, normal everyday type of day.. and it was wonderful.
it's crazy how much my perspective has changed since those gloomy days surrounding 30.
when i turned 30 i was in an awful state emotionally.
we were in the midst of our second round of infertility issues (the first was with the dude), and everyone around me was pregnant.
and.. if you've ever been in that situation.. you can appreciate the toll it takes on you.
it's like no matter how hard you try, you have tunnel vision.. a one track mind..
and even though you try to be happy for someone who is bringing a child into the world..
it still serves as a reminder for your own issues.

that's not what i want to dwell on right now though...

'cause 33, well, it's kinda awesome.
life is not perfect.
i mean let's face it.. life is NEVER going to be perfect.
but if you choose to dwell on the positive, dwell on the possibilities instead of letting the negative drown you..
life can be amazing.
it's all about perspective, and changing it.

project life has been an AMAZING influence on my life, and my overall perspective of it.
it's made me realize how absolutely blessed i am in EVERY LITTLE DETAIL of my life.
from the trips to the doctors, where nothing life threatening has been wrong with my children..
to the appearance of friends & family..
and then the times when i spend hours agonizing over what pictures to include because there is SO MUCH LIFE on some weeks.
i am BLESSED.
BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE.

but... it also made me realize.. while my words are the voice in our album..
i MYSELF am rarely seen... and what few appearances i make..
are pictures of me, by me.. and with no one else present..
usually the product of me saying.. i guess it's about time i show up in this album again!

so as i was ordering pictures last week, and reevaluating what i want our project life to be..
i made a mental note to grin & bear the not so perfect shots others might capture, and get 'em in there.
so wednesday after i neglected to charge my dslr battery, i handed over my cell phone & had the hubs snap some pictures.
ONE out of about 20 was acceptable enough for me to share..!
i love him, but he definitely doesn't have a photographers eye! :)

so here is my blurry, poorly lit, one kid not even looking at the camera birthday photo.
and as evidenced by my huge smile.. i'll say it again..
life is good.
life is really really good.

xo-k

currently: 10.2.12

it's the most wonderful time of the year!!!!!

no, i don't have my seasons mixed up.
you can keep christmas.. give me halloween... give me october... give me fall.
and contrary to popular belief.. october is RAD for so many more reasons that just because it contains my birthday.

bats.
pumpkins.
orange & black.
smells of apples & caramel & fall.
school carnivals.
craft shows.
corn mazes.
haunted mazes.
pumpkin patches.
piles of hay to jump in.
scary movies.
soccer.
halloween.
trick or treating.
the list goes on & on.

i don't have high hopes for getting much in the way of crafting done in october. i'm being realistic. we have every weekend from now until the end of the month jam packed with soccer games & other fun stuff. i can hardly contain my excitement!!! :)

i'm going to do my currents in pictures this time.. just to mix it up a bit. if you follow me on instagram, you've likely already seen these.. so hang in there :)

 

my reaction to getting the iphone 5 would be more akin to someone suffering from shock than say someone screaming at the top of their lungs in excitement. when the hubs told me we were switching carriers & that he pre-ordered me an iphone as an early birthday present, i was speechless. and fortunately, even though our pre-ordered item didn't come in at best buy, we were able to scoop one up from radio shack on the day of release.

i am in love.

 

soccer is back in full swing.. our first game & opening ceremony was this past weekend. we moved up a division to U10, and the field & goals are bigger, along with some of the players.. we lost our first game, but the kids did well considering. it was a scorching 90 something degrees with sweltering humidity that made every article of clothing i had on stick to me in every way imaginable. it was completely disgusting, and only 9am!

 

these curls are the source of much debate these days. i'm starting to get hounded about getting him a haircut, and even though i am NOT a fan of long hair on boys.. i can't seem to bring myself to cut off these sweet curls. the only thing nudging me these days is the temperature, because his little head is always matted with these precious curls when we leave soccer practice at night..

 

trying to appreciate and embrace these two for who they are right now. sometimes they just make me scream in my head. the dude with his 1000 +1 questions, and the babe with his 'mama mama mama' on repeat. sometimes in the heat of the moment i lose my cool with them, but when i remind myself they are imperfect little humans, i remind myself i'm imperfect too.

the thumb sucking & 'ludie' (lovie) toting has increased substantially lately, so i've tried to give him extra hugs. i know his little mind is working hard to process all the world around him, seems he made need some increased mama love these days...

 

 

i spent all last week making these sweet treats for an event a friend was having at her scrapbooking store. 19 boxes of cereal, 38 bags of marshmallows, 4 1/2lbs of butter, 2lbs of chocolate, 28 hours & 263 treats later i am happy to be done! :)

 



 

i bought running shoes. first time in my life i bought sneakers for a purpose other than something to put on my feet to go out in. i was so stressed about buying the right kind of shoe, like that'd make running easier.. i hesitate to put this out there.. but my goal is to run a 5k sometime in the next year.

 

and this was at the end of my first day of couch to 5k. today. i'm not sure if i'm more surprised at my having finished it, without giving up, or the fact i drag my butt outta bed at 6am to do it. i almost chickened out when i walked out my door & it was still pitch black. i contemplated the voice in the back of my head that said it wasn't a good idea for a woman to go out running in the dark.. and then i told myself no excuses, find a way.. so i stayed on my street, and only ran/walk in the 1/2 mile or so between my house & the last lighted house on the street, always staying in the light, looping back on myself like it was a track.

 



and that's what's currently up with me.. what about you?
xo-k

currently: 9.13.12

i started this post on the 6th.. 7 days later.. here is what's current :)

eating: my weight in tomatoes & salad. it's safe to say i'm currently obsessed.

(egg whites & fresh roma tomatoes with a sprinkle of fresh grated parm cheese)

drinking: coffee. i figure as long as i can keep the sugar out, and the milk/coconut milk to a minimum, what's the harm in treating myself.

listening: the lumineers. i love their song 'hey ho'. i am seriously head over heels bonkers not only with the song, but with the video. it's magic. it's my fall anthem.



reading: the stephanie plum series by janet evanovich. and LOVING them. i'm on #7. i made the hubs watch the movie with me tuesday night. so does NOT do the book justice. i love katherine heigl as stephanie, but the movie lacked.. something. and the guy who plays morelli. oh WOW.

dreaming: about a new plan/career/path. it's not something i've ever thought about before, and i'm sort of excited about it. i'm hoping it all works out, and i have the drive to follow through.

loving: this autumn leaves candle from bath & body works the bf gave me. she said she didn't like the smell. i think she's crazy, but i'm happy her loss is my gain :)

enjoying: having my little slice of quiet time back during the day. dude went back to school 3 weeks ago, and the babe is back to his napping routine. thank you thank you!

wanting: an iphone. it's so selfish, and my phone works fine... but i still want it. (and have for oh.. 5 years or however long the darn things been out!)

anticipating: october. if you've been around here long enough, you know i love the ENTIRE month. craft shows, carnivals, pumpkin patches, corn mazes. HALLOWEEN. and... ehem.. my birthday! :) plus american horror story comes back on AND so does vampire diaries. oh.. and soccer has started up again.. and i somehow thought it was a good idea to volunteer as team mom. crazy. crazy. but i'm excited for the new season & nervous about the new age group!

learning: to embrace the ebb & flow. of life. creativity. of my own emotions. learning to manage my downs & figure out what gets me back to the ups.

feeling: proud of myself despite small set backs. i am down 45lbs & 4 sizes since april 1. i currently weigh less than i did before the babe was born, and i'm only 15lbs shy of my pre-dude weight. i CAN do this.

celebrating:the babe turned two sunday. TWO! where has my baby gone. it was a small & low key party. my grand party plans of a bounce house & mickey everywhere fizzled out when he fractured his clavicle last month. i just rolled with the punches, and was still happy with how everything turned out.

hope you have a great weekend! :)
xo-k

currents: 7.26.12

hi.
remember me?
i'm still here.
just plugging away at life.
i haven't felt up to blogging.. haven't felt up to much lately.. if i'm honest.
and my mama taught me if i didn't have anything nice to say, then i should keep my big mouth shut.

i have lots of things to be thankful for in my life..
but right now, i am struggling with happiness.
it affects my husband, my kids, and i'm trying my best to claw through it.
there are things going on that i can't talk about, and i think that makes it more difficult.
it seems like it always helps to get things off your chest.
and it also helps when people know what is going on so they don't make innocent remarks that just stab you in the heart.

ya. it's that heavy.

but i am HOPING that there will be a turn in the tides soon.

i'm putting this out there, not to beg for sympathy, or pity, or well wishes.
i'm putting it out there because i need you to understand how heavy my heart is...
i need you to understand, this is NOT about me...
because i can't change the situation...
and that's why i'm asking begging you, PLEASE pray/send positive thoughts our way.
i'm not one to reach out for these things, but since it's not for me specifically..
i'm asking you to help someone i love.. send healing positive thoughts.
PLEASE.  PLEASE. PLEASE.

and because i haven't blogged in a month..
and i have nothing really to blog about...
here's a new list of currents..

time: 1012am
location: hubs pc

watching: scooby doo & the monster of mexico. technically i guess i'm listening to it, and the kids are watching it. the babe is absolutely obsessed with 'dooby doo' & everyday he latches on to the dude's old mystery machine & scooby doo action figures & totes them around the house.

listening: the new maroon 5 album. i feel like it's a tad different from anything they've done before. it's totally sad, but totally good. maybe it's just speaking to me right now because of where my heart is. at any rate... i love it.

(i love that this method allows me to capture the somewhat 'insignificant'
moments of our week that would have gotten overlooked by me in 'traditional'
scrapbooking)

loving: project life. i get small pockets of time to work on it throughout the day, so i'm slow in catching up.. but i'm still enjoying the process, and LOVING that i don't have a mound of memorabilia in a file that hasn't made it into a scrapbook yet. when i get to the week, the pieces either go IN the album, or IN the trash. it's kind of refreshing to dump the clutter.

eating: nothing. i mean nothing. i'm on a water-fast. a detox. it's my second one this year. i've gotten over the hurdle, the first 3 days.. now hopefully it'll be a little less daunting. (i still need to blog about that whole experience)

reading: 'the dirty parts of the bible' sound strange right? it's fiction, so don't start throwing stuff at me. i couldn't help but pick it up free after reading the title & the reviews. most people hated it, which usually makes me want to read it, simply because i typically route for the underdog. that & the fact that it was described as being for people who liked 'water for elephants'. i LOVED water for elephants so i was sold. imagine jacob jankowski as the son of a preacher, and a little less worldly & you have tobias henry. with commentary on the bible.. but it's not preachy. it's actually pretty hilarious.

(our neighbors moved away in april, and we now have officially NO kids
in our neighborhood, it's been a LONG summer, and i can't seem to keep him
constantly entertained, poor kid)

anticipating: the dude entering third grade. i have a small amount of anxiety over what his teacher will be like. last year his teacher was such a patient & kind lady, he did so well under her instruction. we requested her on the advice of a former teacher... this year.. we are going back to letting the school dictate. it's nerve-wracking honestly.

(lots of swimming & hanging out at nana's this summer)

obsessing: over instagram. over pinterest. the hubs asked if i needed to be enrolled in a ten-step for my addiction. i am just addicted to visual candy right now.

pinning: healthy food choices. i'm constantly looking for ways to tweak my favorites into better choices. this year alone i've added tilapia, spaghetti squash & summer squash to my diet. i wouldn't have touched fish with a 10 foot pole before, and now we eat it once a week if not more. i have to make myself only buy one spaghetti squash every two weeks, or i'd eat it everyday.. and remembering how my mom used to try and force feed me summer squash as a kid and i gagged every time.. it's a surprise i even risked trying it. now, i'm totally glad the hubs planted it & i can't get enough.. we are eating more than we are growing!

feeling: i think we already covered that above...

craving: coffee. i just want a big HUGE enormous glass of mcdonald's vanilla iced coffee. i have yet to find a acceptable substitute for my previous homemade concoction of vanilla syrup using equal parts sugar & water boiled down, with vanilla extract added. i've tried coconut almond milk. adding almond milk & coconut sugar, and the addition of a a few tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder (which is actually not bad for you), coconut sugar & almond milk. i guess i just need to keep experimenting, or get used to less-sugary-sweet coffee!

contemplating: dip-dying my hair again once summer is over. i don't know if i'll do purple, or some other color.. but it definitely needs to happen AFTER our summer swimming sessions.

avoiding: sugar. gluten. school shopping (he's 8 now, and if last year was any indication, it's going to SO not be fun... boo on having his own opinion of clothes.. he's so damn picky!!)

here's to hoping the next blog isn't a month away :)

xo-k