We stayed home all day, what a blessing! I did manage to dig my car out so that Thursday morning won't be so difficult!
It was really such a beautiful day! The sky was that gorgeous color blue that we get here so often during the winter. I am not really a fan of snow days, I hate making them up in June, but today was really the best kind of snowday!
Other than the shoveling, Christmas got put away. We got all of the remaining trees bagged up and moved to the garage. I even reduced our Christmas decorations by one box! We even have room in the garage to walk around!
As it gets close to bedtime I am feeling so very grateful for this day. My little snowman outside is feeling very proud of the work he did to bring on the snow. Can't wait to see what he has planned for the rest of winter!
Week three has come and gone and I still cannot believe how fast time flies. The fact that my Christmas Trees are still up doesn't help. At this rate I can keep them decorated and be ahead of schedule for next year! Oh well, I am making progress but I just do not see any point in rushing the process.
Week three started a little rough and then got worse. I was nursing a cold that became full blown Tuesday afternoon when I left work early because I could not speak. I was home on Wednesday and Thursday mainly sleeping and trying to get better. Back to school on Friday, still not feeling great. There were not many photos from the week and, needless to say, that is part of the explanation about Christmas!
One thing I did do while I was home on Thursday, I cleaned up the pile of books and magazines next to my nightstand. I have a horrible habit of just laying things down and not putting them away. It felt good to clean it up especially since I was spending so much time in bed! I took a picture just so that I could say that I know I had it clean, once.
To help me get through my Friday at school, my hubby brought me a Starbucks treat! Boy did I need some caffeine around 2pm. There is nothing quite like a soy chai latte in the afternoon. I stayed at work until 5:30 just trying to get a handle on things before I drove home and collapsed. Actually, once home I was inspired to firgure out my Silhouette Portrait! I had so much fun! Saturday was the perfect kind of lazy, waffles and hot tea, packing away ornaments, puttering around the house, just relaxing!
Overall I am loving the Midnight Kit for Project Life and I believe that it is easier for me to feel "done" each week without having to add any embellishments.
Again, if you would like to find out about Project Life, check out Becky Higgins' site. She has lots of information on the new kits introduced at CHA and I actially saw a few of them at Michael's on Sunday. There are also many great sites for Project Life inspiration, Pinterest, Studio Calico (they offer a monthly Project Life kit) and of course Ali Edwards to name a few.
Week 2, was actually the first full week of 2014. It started with me taking down quite a bit of our Christmas decorations and then not touching the rest!
This was to be my first full week back at school. The weather started off reasonable and then by Tuesday we were looking at -15. The pipes in the kitchen and the downstairs bathroom froze! Monday I went to the gym for the bike and elliptical and Mark decided to hit the treadmill. Tuesday I decided not to swim and make cookies instead! Struggling to be motivated for a full week of work!
Trying to stay a little late each day to clean up my classroom. Thursday it was back to the gym to swim, food shopping and getting ready for my trip to Brooklyn. Friday, turned out to be a disastrous morning commute. It took me nearly 45 minutes to make the 5 minute trip to work. Many of the teacher's didn't make it in, and many of the kids stayed home also. Busses did not pick up the students in the morning because they still had not gotten the high school students to their destination. Both Evesham and Springdale Roads were closed due to accidents. Crazy day! I picked up Mark right after work for dinner with Naya and then a quick stop at The Little Shop where Bunkey was holding my mother's wok hostage! I needed to pick up the wok to take to Jess on Saturday. Still feel like I am catching a cold but I keep forging ahead. Perhaps the cold will get the idea and stay away. Ha! Because I have already lived the third week of 2014 I know that that did not happen!
Saturday was a great day to head up to Brookllyn. The temperatures were mild and we had such a great time making sauce, lemon chicken and picking up groceries and shopping at IKEA. I left Brooklyn at about 8 and made it home just before 10. A perfect day!
My Silhouette that is! After a rough start, and a few helpful emails from Silhouette support, I sat down tonight to figure this thing out.
Perhaps, with a cold, that wasn't the best idea, but I knew how good I would feel once I got it working. I found this great cut file on Pinterest and decided to put my little machine to work.
It was a little touch and go in the beginning. I must admit I still do not understand the whole bladesetting thing but I got it to work!
These two were something I had downloaded way back in November or December. There were three files on the template and I am not sure how to re-size or change the canvas by eliminating designs so I just went with it!
I still have to finish up my Project Life album from 2013 so I think I can use this one, and the next, Holly Jolly, who can't use that?
Such fun I had playing with my new toy! I am so happy that I figured it out. Now I am sure there are files to find and things to cut...
“I love snow for the same reason I love Christmas: It brings people together while time stands still. Cozy couples lazily meandered the streets and children trudged sleds and chased snowballs. No one seemed to be in a rush to experience anything other than the glory of the day, with each other, whenever and however it happened.” Rachel Cohn
I am hoping, that by starting 2014 very organized, I will find it easier to maintain my Project Life albums. Last year, about the time we left for vacation, I fell off the bandwagon. It was so hard to catch up after not completing a spread in over four weeks. It was also difficult to maintain my momentum because my photo printer was on the blink.
But, begin 2014. Photo printer, which I love, is back in working order thanks to my hubby and a newly installed printhead!
I amorganized and I have simplified the process for myself.
This year I purchased Becky Higgins Project Life Midnight Kit. I love the simplicity of the black and white with a little grey and gold mixed in. It is soothing to look at and to work with. I am not embellishment crazy and I do not approach Project Life like I have 7 or 14 mini canvases to create each week. That thought would drive me to distraction! I started doing Project Life because it was simple and it allowed me to capture the essence of our crazy ordinary lives.
As I move forward this year I will focus on that intention. My studio has been rearranged and is nearly done. My work table is cleared off and I am ready.
I have chosen a few stamp sets to keep in the basket, other than my date stamp, that I think lend themselves nicely to Project Life.
All stamps are from Close to My Heart and I am not sure of their continued availability. The first is Save the Date/English:
The next stamp is Moments in Time:
Third is Noteworthy:
I htink the final stamp is one of my favorites, Notice the Details:
Way back in November, when I was first getting ready for this year's Project Life, I decided to focus on a few main embellishments. I selected a package, plus a bit more of twine featuring the colors that I would be using. I also selected a couple of spools of washi tape that matched the colors. So, when I get ready to pull my spread together for the week, I do not have to search for coordinating embellishments.
The twine is in a basket on my table (excuse the out of focus photo):
The washi tape also sits in a place of prominence on my desk:
I have included not only black and white patterned washi tape, but also some gold and red. Also in the same container I have bookbinding tape in colors that coordinate with my Project Life kit for this year.
Here's hoping that by keeping it simple it will be easier to stay on track!
As we begin 2014, this is how my cover page looks. I am hoping to add our names to the page, but for right now, I am happy with the way this page turned out.
Second graders are marvelously curious! Today when I announced that we would be doing a water experiement they were so excited!
I found the experiment here and we decided to give it a try.
Each student was handed a small, sealable baggie. On the bag they drew a water line, a cloud and the sun. Once they had finished their drawings I added a bit of water to the bag, sealed it and then hung it on the window.
Before I left for the day I could see condensation and I am so excited for the students to notice what is happening!
I can't wait to find other experiments for my little scientists to experience!
on Monday night! I so wish today was Sunday, again. I am having a hard time dealing with being back at work this week. I just love watching the playoffs and the time to hang at home. Oh well, just another 6 days...
Saturday I packed the car, sauce pot, bottle of chianti and lots of Italian mojo. The weather cooperated, no rain for the early trip and an easy ride up to the Verranzano Narrows where we became inundated with fog. Still not a bad drive.
Once the sauce was simmering it was off to IKEA for a few necessities. We had such fun tooling around the marketplace. So many items made it to our "wish lists". Our primary reason for heading to IKEA was to purchase Jess a magnetic knife holder. We left with that and just a couple of other necessities!
Jess drove us around Brooklyn and I was able to photograph the fog which encased lower Manhattan!
Once back at the house we made Lemon Chicken, hung the magnetic rack and took care of other household chores. A great visit! Sometimes I need a little Brooklyn time and sometimes I need a little Jess. I always need a little Christmas.
I left my baby with plenty of pasta sauce, lots of pasta and a few containers of lemon chicken. I consider that a Italian Momma job well done!
