thegoodlife

hits + misses + end of year memories

You know what's fun to do at the end of the year?

Reading all the 2008 entries from the blog. Thank god I took such a big break from blogging this fall, otherwise I would still be reading.

It's fun to look back, it makes me glad to have this thing. In most ways, this blog is my Scrapbook- sometimes I may make an actual page or two to go along with the blog stories, but really- this is where I store and harvest most of my memories.

I had to laugh at a few of my entries- like the ones where I said, "more on that later," and never got around to the later part. I never did manage to share the pictures of the Zoo from last spring, or tell you that Sleep Number actually will sell you shipping labels to return the bed at a major discount and that even though we didn't like the mattress, we loved the customer service. I didn't even tell you that after all the sadness of Autumn and Mitch losing their daughter Sydney, they returned home from their trip to Mexico to find out they were pregnant again- this time with a baby boy, Grayson, who will be here in March- things are much better this time around, and we can't wait for his arrival. Or to tell you that 2 other babies are on the way- Kelly and Travis will give birth to a baby boy any day now, and that my friends Denise and Matt are also expecting a baby girl, who should be here in a couple of months.

And then there was the redecorating project, the studio move and all that jazz. Didn't get a chance to share much of that either, I missed out on posting a bunch of Scrapbook Pages I made for the 2peas Creating Garden, and didn't really finish my favorite products series or highlight any of the fun new fabrics I bought for the hoop.dee.do's. I didn't get to focus on making more digital products or moving forward with more additions to the Etsy shop, the new features and regular posts I planned on adding to the blog never arrived (I have still yet to edit my DT's and update my links on my sidebars). We didn't move to Texas or Portland or Chile or any of the other places we fantasized about. We didn't buy a kayak, I still haven't gotten into shape for skiing and I haven't done nearly as good of a job staying in touch with my friends- in person and online- as I wanted and still want to do.

But, for all that didn't work out, 2008 may have been the best year for me so far, and the best year of married life. John and I really worked on some big "issues" this year- mostly dealing with cleaning up some messes we'd been procrastinating about, having a riot of a good time out at the Canal house, and the redecorating has made John so happy to come home. He now actually sits down on the couch and plays guitar or watches TV, and seems relaxed and content- especially since I got rid of most of the clutter (ie: junk store finds) in the living room. Drake still needs obedience classes, mostly because he's learned he likes to bark now- a lot- whenever he wants something, like for us to get his ball or let him up on the new couch or give him his dinner 2 hours early, or anything really. I may have taken some time away from blogging and crafting, but I needed it, my life wasn't balanced before, and while it's still not quite how I need it to be, it's SO MUCH BETTER!!

I talked to you last year about reading up on my "Personal Year" every year- getting excited for what will be in store for the next 12 months- this year is no exception- I am starting a whole new 9-year cycle, and I am ready for it!

Personal Year 1. . . .A New Beginning In Your Life
The current year is the beginning of a new nine year cycle for you. It holds the promise of being an exciting new adventure, with life taking on new challenges that pave the way for the next cycle of nine years in your life. This is a time to clarify your goals and it is a time to act on them. Hard work may be necessary to get a new venture moving. Your physical strength will be up during this year, perhaps higher than it has been for some time, as you have some special needs for this extra energy. If you are unable or unwilling to answer the call to change and make the move in your life the appears necessary now, your prospects may be delayed until the next cycle begins in nine years. Because of this, you feel like an adventure, a major change in your life, something new. New goals should be clearly set and worked toward, as this is really a new beginning of a nine year cycle and it is best not to dwell on the past at this time. This will be fairly easy for you to do because most of the problems and disappointments of the past will tend to disappear, leaving the way open for these new challenges. This is a great time; use it to its full advantage.

I can't agree more with this "forecast" for 2009- because 2008 really was the year where I sat down and finished up with the leftover issues- and I really feel an internal pull to branch out into new territory in 09. I don't know what that means yet- but that's okay- the answer will come to me when it comes. 

As for resolutions- I haven't sat down to work on the list yet- but I know there are a few changes I am ready to make in the new year that I haven't been as keen on in years past. I still have lots of items left on the "to do" list that have to get done- we still have stuff we want to do with the house- like repainting the bathroom and hopefully getting a new wall-mount TV so we can get rid of the behemoth one that holds about 8ft of space captive and covers up our fireplace. And the garage. Oy. As soon as the weather warms up enough to actually allow for extended time in the garage, we'll be cleaning out that junk pile. I look forward to working through these to-do's- I like to see visible progress.

So I guess that sums up my end of year thoughts. Not sure you wanted to read all that, but like I said, this is where I store my memories, so I better get them all in before 2008 is over.

 
The Cougar Mountain Zoo from February 08.

 
Freak Spring Snow: March 29, 2008

 
(before) The Living Room Rant: Early Spring

 
The Great-Grandkids: May 2008

 
Baby Seal at Westport: Memorial Day Weekend 2008

Drake's Swimming Feet: June 2008

 
Watching Fireworks: July 4, 2008

 
Painting the Canal House: July 2008

 
Josh Waiting for Autumn: September 2008

 
My New Boyfriend, Tristan: September 2008

 
Painting the Bookshelves: October 2008

 
Laird Hamilton Book Signing: November 2008

 
A Muse Instructor Weekend: November 2008

 
Apple Cup Party: November 2008

 
A New Clean Desk: November 2008 

 
A Thanksgiving Weekend Paddle: November 2008

 
Autumn + Baby Grayson Christmas: December 2008

 
Drake and Josh, BFF- Redmond Lights: December 2008

 
GG Secret Santa Gift: December 2008

 
Drake Waiting to Open Presents: Christmas 2008

There it is, almost all the important stuff I didn't blog about but still wanted to share for 2008.

((((hugs))))

better late than never

um...Merry Christmas Everyone!!

 

(The Snow Seizure: if it wasn't so funny, it would be embarrassing)

We had a very white Christmas- I promise, we had at least 20" of snow in our neighborhood- Drake thought he died and went to heaven. He would eat snow until his teeth chattered.

We hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday! New Year's is just around the corner, I am working on some important resolutions and finishing up some leftover tasks- (uh, we'll be sending out "new year's" cards this year- blame it on the blizzard)...We're officially back home and back to work and back to trying to stop eating the leftover holiday treats.

From our home to yours,
Happiest of Happy Holidays!!

new additions + cozy christmas

We've been hunkered down all day preparing for tonights big blizzard here in Redmond. The news has reported that we're up to 5" of new snow already tonight, and we're expecting some pretty big wind gusts- keeping our fingers (and toes) crossed that we don't lose power. It's too cold to be without power.

I made a few more updates and additions to the Etsy shop that I think I should tell you about (especially if you are still needing to buy last minute gifts)... We've listed a few options for Gift Certificates and also made to order, custom listings for the hoop.dee.dos (we don't make 'em till you order 'em). 

       

It's nice to be back to making these and being part of selling on Etsy again, I really enjoy the whole experience of it.  

2009 is going to be a more focused year for me, especially since all of the house redecorating projects are just about finished...that really took up quite a lot of my time this fall- I think it's all I did or thought about from September to just a week or so ago. Now, with the projects finished and the snow piling up outside, I am finally in the Christmas spirit- I made this village today, and now I want to shrink myself down so I can live there:

 

 

 

Seriously. I want to be the mayor of McCuteville.

These were super easy to make, I just got the kit, (Swell Noel Paper Village kit from K&Co.) fired up the glue gun and went to town. During dinner tonight, I told John I was having a productive day and he said, "well, of course you are, you built a village!" :P How dorky.

I have a lot more stuff I wanted to blog about but I am sooo dang tired after my business that I am going to hit the hay! I feel a cup of tea, warm jammies and flannel sheets calling my name.

Have a great rest of the last shopping weekend before Christmas!!

Etsy shop update

 

This is just a super quick post to let you know I have added more hoop.dee.do's to my Etsy shop. I will be adding a few more in the afternoon as well, just a few things I didn't get done in time for tonights additions.  

We will be adding a few "custom" options- so you can pick your size and fabric. Stay tuned for that.

In other news, we are pretty much totally snowed in. Redmond got a record 12" of snow today and almost all the roads in and out of our town were closed. It is really cold at night and on our walk we could see some scary icy roads starting to form for the morning commute. I have a feeling tomorrow might be another snowday at the Pebbles house.

Here are some pics:

 

our frozen house

 

late afternoon measurements

 

John monitoring the news updates

 

Drake spazzing out in the snow with his tennis ball.

I love the snow, love that I don't have to go anywhere, and love that Drake is so funny when he goes outside. He runs around like his tail is on fire- he's pretty cute.

I will be back tomorrow with more updates.
Stay warm fellow Seattlites!

my week so far

1. There is bird shit ALL over my car.

2. I am swamped. I have a Christmas Party I am putting together tomorrow night at my house which has only recently become acceptable for visitors, and I have deadlines to meet that don't care about my party. I think I am going to be up until the wee.

3. Homemade Pear Martinis are yummy. But they taste like fire when you use Monarch Vodka.

:D

KI Blog Challenge

Yo! Happy Monday!

I am hosting the Blog Challenge this week on the KI Memories Blog: It's a Wrap! I made a quick and easy wine bottle sleeve with a matching card:

 

Come on over and play along!!

a quick tip

 

If you are like me, you probably have a whole bunch of stamps- wood mount, cling mount, clear, etc.- all of them scattered in various places in your supply stash. Sometimes, you might even accidentally buy a set or a stamp that you pretty much already have- or at least something similar.

That kind of happened to me. I found a Christmas theme stamp set that I really liked and wanted. I was thinking about buying it...but then I remembered that I had a few stamps that might be similar- freakishly similar. So, I went through all my scattered stamps, and pulled out the ones that most closely resembled the set I wanted to buy, along with a variety of other images that would work great for Holiday projects. I was so excited! Not only because I was saving money, but there was the added bonus of instant gratification!! I decided right then and there to make a little index sheet of my "new" stash of stamps and keep it and these stamps within easy reach- so when inspiration strikes- I will know exactly what I have on hand.

The longer term project that I would like to finish is creating a stamped index binder of all of my stamps. That will probably take me way too long, and since I like having a life, I am putting this one away in the "someday" file. Like, maybe when I am retired?

That's my little craft tip for you today.

On a totally unrelated and weird note...I think a storm is a brewin'.

I just spent 20 mins staring out my window watching what can only be described is as a real life "homage" to Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" right in my backyard. We are being invaded by 3 types of birds, Robins, some kind of medium/small size Brown Bird, and Chickadees...all swarming all over my yard!!The Brown Birds were in the grass, the Chickadees in the trees and yard, and the Robin's are all eating the berries off this bush on our fence. Honestly- you know how they say animals do weird stuff before storms or earthquakes? I really think this one might qualify. Strangest thing I have ever seen. (aside from the night of the asteroid where my street lit up like broad daylight at 2am- but that was a few years ago.) I can't remember the last time I saw a bunch of Robins- usually 3 max in the same area...there were 12 in our little tiny berry bush, and more were dive bombing the fence and the roof!

Wack. eee.

There was supposed to be a huge storm this weekend, but the weatherman keeps switching it around. They like to sensationalize the weather around here- they're calling it Storm Watch 2008!!!

Instead, there is no storm, and everyone is hysterical anyway. Last night it took us 2 hours to get from our house in Redmond, to dinner in Downtown Seattle. 2 HOURS PEOPLE!! This is a trip that normally, even in heavy rush hour traffic, usually takes about 30-45 mins MAX! 20-25 on a good day! Traffic was literally not moving and the worst part was right outside of Redmond, where all the Microsoft traffic funnels onto the freeway. It was at a dead stop, and the merge area had stretched from about 5 normal lanes of traffic to 9. 9!!

WTF? I kept waiting for someone to come by and sell us hot dogs and newspapers while we were sitting there. They would have made some serious scratch. By the time we got to dinner, I was ready to eat my hand.

I am taking it super easy today, making the hoop.dee.do's, working on some decoration projects and planning for our Christmas Party on Tuesday. And of course, I am trying not to get pecked to death by the approximately 300 birds outside my sliding glass door. It sounds like thunder when they take off.

and Drake could care less.

 

Giveaway Winner + December Deer

Whoa!

Holy Moly people! That's alotta comments! I decided to stop the contest before there could be a potential power outage out here in Redmond, the wind is blowing and it's supposed to get super frosty cold here this weekend. I love the idea of snow, but after the power was out for almost a week at Christmas 2 years ago, I am pretty done with the power being out. I like being warm.

I did the random number generator and we have a winner:
(ps: I wish I had 200 of these sets to give away- when I win the lottery, I promise, good stuff!)

Drumroll please....

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd....
"...joy to the world!....."dddddddddddddddddddd...

Commenter number 104:

Hey Jennifer! SO glad you're back! Love that photo of you and your beautiful layouts, too! Thanks for the chance at the awesome giveaway! You're too sweet, girl! Have a Happy Holiday Season! Hugs! :)

Posted by: kristina | Dec 12, 2008 6:23:43 AM

WOOT WOOT WOOT!!!!

Kristina, Come on Down!! Happiest of happy holidays to you m'dear!! Congrats!!

If you didn't win, don't walk away just yet...I know free = fun...and it just so happens that I did the Free Pea Kit for December at 2peas! So, if you are technically inclined, go on over and snap it up! My favorites are the deer paper and the little deer image..I kinda like the wood grain and the word art too...

 

If you make something with this kit and want to post and share, I would love to see it!

Lastly, I promised you some more crafty fun stuff- that will be up for your enjoyment some time tomorrow, weather and power status permitting. :D

Thanks for playing along!! Have a great Friday night!
 

Holiday Happenings

Hello peeps! I am back after trying to decorate the house for the holidays- and I have to say, it didn't go very well. I actually am still in the process of sort of staring at our living room/dining room wondering what I could do to make it more festive without making it look more cluttered, but I don't think I have any answers, and I for sure don't have any kind of inspiring photos to you show you on the house front...

but...

I do have some other fun stuff to share!!

Today I am the featured DT Member on the KI Memories Blog! You can check it out, and while you are over there, don't forget to take a look at the KI Memories Idea Gallery- the DT has been cranking out a ton of inspiring projects that are very scraplift worthy.

And speaking of scraplifting and inspiring- I am so excited to share this with you guys:

I was so fortunate to be asked to add a few pages (some all time favorites, I may add) to this great new idea book put together by the delightful Courtney Walsh! The concept behind the book The Busy Scrapper is really quite smart- being as we are all so busy, how do we find time to make great pages for our scrapbooks? Courtney does an amazing job of sharing design tips and jump off points for all kinds of layouts: from using a greeting card as a hidden journaling panel or assembling your own "kit" from your stash- all ideas that help you save time and get more pages finished. If you are looking for a gift for a scrapbooker in your life, this book would be great for under the tree.

Here are a couple of my projects in the book.

 

And, since the holidays are upon us, and we're all so busy running here and there and picking up all kinds of treasures for our loved ones, I figure I better start doing some gift giving myself!

Actually, I am embarrassed to admit, since I took such a long break from regular blogging, I have let a whole bunch of fun bloggy goodness slide- like a few special treats and giveaways! I don't know about you, but when I saw this freakin' adorable Owl stamp the first time on a project at 2peas, I was so smitten- I had to get my hands on one fast!! I mean, is he cute or what?? So, not only did I get this cutie patootie- but Hero Arts generously gave me another one AND this cute Birds and Branches clear stamp set to give away to one of my readers. So, shame on me for being such a fat slacker and holding out on you this long.

And since I just happen to have an extra copy of The Busy Scrapper, I am going to throw that in along with a Stampin' Up ink pad, and a little sheet of gift labels too.

I am totally not going to even make you work for it, just go ahead and post a comment below (make sure I can find you if your name is drawn) and I will pick a lucky winner in the next day or so.

How festive is that??

It's already helping me forget about my sad attempt at my holiday decor. :D

Now I am off to finish my slow progress at putting the new hoop.dee.do's into the Etsy store! I will be back to let you know when they are up- I am hoping for tomorrow- but might not be until Saturday. Either way, there will be plenty of time to order one or two to put under the tree from Santa. :)

I will be back with a winner and I am going to share some ideas for simple craft projects you can do with your friends on a wintery afternoon that will leave your heart feeling all warm inside when you're done.

Stay tuned!! 

Mid-Century Modern Christmas Ideas?

Just when I said life was back to normal...

I decided to take on the major task of putting up my Holiday decorations... and since I just finally got the house looking sortofthewayIwantit...now comes the struggle of adapting my layout to incorporate my various Christmas trees.

If anyone has some links to some fun holiday decorating ideas, link me up! I need the inspiration. I love this room from West Elm:

 

If I could shove my couch about 5 feet over from the window, I could almost pull this off, but me thinks me house is too small for such nonsense. :)  However, that yellow wall is screaming at me to do something like this in our entry way. I do have a yellow chair, maybe a paint match is in order?

So for at least the next 2 days, when I am not looking for more inspiration photos online, I will be covered in silver tinsel and tangled up in tree lights.

Happy Holidays- hohoho.