Beantown trip

I am so so excited to be in Boston! I'm here for NWP's Urban Sites Network conference, but I'm also hanging out a few extra days to see my friends! Wahooo! I'm really looking forward to drinking beer at Boston Beerworks, watching the Sox play (they'll be in town!), walking through the Common, celebrating my 30th birthday (!), and of course, going to my favorite pub in Brookline (Publick House). See ya next week!

Chicken Update

It's been a long time since I updated ya'll on my chicken operation (i.e. 3 chickens). My dad and Paul recently completed their brand new coop (a whole 12x4 foot mansion!) The girls are in heaven - in fact, they are not quite sure what to do with themselves. I find them still hovering around each other, not realizing how much space they have! Anyway, they are each still laying 1 egg per day, which means we're getting a 1/2 dozen every 2 days. It's awesome! Coco has finally been introduced to them, and she's been great - no barking or rough housing, just lots of sniffing.

The building...







The girls...

Camera time

I finally did it. I bought a DSLR camera. I'm been drooling over this one for a while, and it finally went on sale at Best Buy. So, I did it. Sure, I'll be unemployed in a month, but I am trying to drum up some event planning business (and need to take great pics of the work I'll be doing). Anyway, I need to take good care of my new snazzy camera by keeping it in a stylish bag. I've scoured the internet for the cutest/most functional bags. Please, my friends, tell me what one you like the best!

The Backgammon bag from Ketti Handbags

The Ginger from Epiphanie

TheSLR Sloop from the PhotoJojo store (comes in different colors!)

The Rose bag in Pewter by Jo Totes

What do you guys think??

A weekend at the parents

A few weekends ago, we made the trek up to my parents house to meet our new niece Riley, and introduce Coco to the family of dogs. At first I was a little nervous, as Coco had only met 1 other dog in her short life. Over the weekend, she interacted with 8 dogs; not just interacted, but played, ran, and jumped with them. She had a great time as part of the pack, and it was so nice to see her running around in the meadow. She was so good and kept close to us, despite the 90 acres she had to run around. And boy, was she tired! I can't wait to bring her back (and I'm sure she can't wait either)!


Sitting pretty

The view of the house from the meadow

Coco watching Reggie in the pond

My little bearded lady!

Easter Plans

It may come as a surprise to some, but Easter is my favorite holiday. Yes, Christmas is a very close second, but even as a child I always loved Easter the most. I think it has to do with the changing of the seasons - flowers are blossoming, gardens are being planted, the sun is finally shining. And there are crafts involved with Easter - dying eggs, making treats for baskets, and creating yummy spring food. This Sunday we'll be hosting Easter at our house for the first time. I have so many ideas in my head for decorations, food, and of course, an egg hunt for the kiddos. I might even get a few baby chicks for the occasion! (I was planning on getting some soon anyway). Here are a few things from around the interweb that are inspiring my Easter plans...


Easter basket card from Two Brunettes

Egg toppers from Potter and Butlerr

This Easter table scape from Styled

Hank and Hunt

Hank and Hunt is my new favorite website. Really, you should check it out.

How cute is this free font?? It makes me wanna make something pronto.

E-reader Case

Loving this DIY e-reader case over at thimble. I too, have resisted the e-reader craze - mostly because I love the way the pages of a book feel, how they smell, the fact I can write in the margins, or stare at its cover. An e-reader doesn't offer any of that, but as many of my e-reader-owner-friends say, it offers a whole lot more than that. If and when I do purchase one, this is the cover I will make:

On this cloudy, April day...

I'm inspired by this...
Creative Mint

Oh Martha...

Your Crafts Dept. has done it again. They've gone and interviewed Christine Smith of Yellow Owl Workshop. How cute are these Cyanotype scarves? Not only are they a fun DIY project, but they are the perfect weight for spring time temps (i.e. not too heavy, not too light). I think this would be a fun project even to do with kids.




P.S. Christine has the cutest rubber stamp sets for sale. You should check them out!

DIY business card holder

Spotted at Blue Cricket Design - A DIY business card holder. Since I'll be out of work soon, maybe I should make one of these for my new business cards?

I love Twig and Thistle

Seriously, they post the best stuff ever over there. Like these milk bottle measuring cups from Anthropologie...




and, AMAZING save the dates! Too bad I'm already married...

Must Make

Felt peeps for Easter - aren't these the cutest? Made by Megan.

April Books

Thanks to Thimble for posting a list of books to check out this April. The ones I'm most interested in checking out are:

The Edible Front yard







Undecorate: The No-Rules Approach to Interior Design





While on our trip to Pennsylvania, we stopped by this awesome independent bookstore named Farleys in New Hope. I was able to get a copy of The Backyard Homestead, which I've been drooling over for a while. I can't wait to start reading it!

Family time

I'm so lucky to be spending this week with Paul's family in Philadelphia. We haven't seen all of them since November 2009, so this visit is way overdue. I won't be posting this week, so have a great one! And I'll be returning to the Golden State soon....

Next up: Cheese and Yogurt making

In spite of the fact that I'll be out of a job soon, without expendable income, and with lots of time on my hands, I've decided to read up more on Urban Homesteading. I've blogged about this before, and I can't say enough about how excited I am to grow my Urban farm and become somewhat self sustained! (I know - naysayers beware - if I have fresh eggs and veggies, and a compost pile, then I am way more self-sustained than any other city folk). Anyway, cheese and yogurt making seems something that I could do that would save a lot of money. Granted, I wouldn't get a cow to get the milk (well, I would if Paul/the HOA would let me!) but at least I can use good organic milk to begin with. This book has me dreaming of all things dairy. Mmmm.....


So, what do you think? I know that paying $4 for a tub of Greek yogurt makes me mad, considering it's simply milk, with some bacteria, strained. I'm hoping someone gets this book for me for my upcoming Dirty 30th birthday (hint hint!)

DC Bound

I leave today for NWP's Annual Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C. Obviously, this year the visit is vitally important, since we have been zeroed out of the budget and are needing to fight our way back into it. I'm excited to return to D.C., and I'm excited to see all of our teachers fired up about the writing project. I'm hoping they will take that frustration and anger and turn it into positive stories that impact those with whom they speak. Scratch that, there's no doubt in my mind that that's what they will be doing. Case in point: 1,000 blog post in support of the NWP. Read the growing list here. I'm so proud to see my fellow writing project supporters post what the writing project has meant to them. I'll even be more excited to see this enthusiasm in person. On the flip side, I'm a little sad that this will be my last Spring Meeting, barring any unforeseen circumstances. That definitely brings a tear to my eye (and I'm sure to everyone else that's attending the event). I'll have to remember to pack the tissues....

How I'm doing

Well folks, it's been one helluva week. Last Monday I found out I was being laid off June 1 (hence why I haven't posted all week). I'm not going to say that yesterday (one week later) was the best ever, but it was tolerable. See, the sun is starting to shine in California, and plans are starting to be solidified.

What does that mean for me? Well, many things are in the works. Going to work on getting my childcare provider's license so I can watch kiddos in my house if I need to. Working on a new website/blog for an event planning business that I've always dreamed of starting (links to come - soon!) Maybe starting a crafting co-op with some friends of mine - and organize a few craft shows around the country for small vendors. Maybe watch my niece Cadence for the summer. Plant my new garden and order 3 more chicks for our mansion coop (still being built - the relentless rain has finally stopped). Make a list of free things to do in SF that I've never been able to do (i.e. museums, beaches, etc). Work out. Visit my parents more often. The list keeps growing and growing.

Most importantly, I'm keeping my head up. And thanks to all of my friends and family, for their outpouring of support during this rough time. You have all given me permission to be sad, and strength to be optimistic. Basically, you kick ass.

Sad, sad day

Monday was a sad day here at the National Writing Project. Our ED let us know that they have to reduce staff by 60%, due to the fact that our federal funding was cut. My emotions have been all over the place - from sad, to angry, to optimistic - to everything in between. I was told that my last day is June 1. I bawled. I knew it was coming, but there's something about getting a letter of termination that makes it so official. I know that I'll be fine, that every cloud has a silver lining, and that this is an opportunity for me (despite the shitty circumstances). I can get over getting laid off.

I can't get over what this means for our country.

The message our politicians are sending: that it's okay to devalue teachers and educators - people that are creating our future citizens. While other countries are investing in children, we are divesting at a seriously alarming rate. It's hard to wrap my head around how we have gotten here. It doesn't matter what political party you are. We are all members of the human party - and if we don't value our children - our future - than what is worth valuing?

Best bag tutorial

Here's my next project: A pleated tote/beach bag from thimble:


The tutorial looks fairly easy with lots of pictures (which are always helpful!)

Help Japan

This has been a pretty overwhelming week for me - returning from the high of attending the NWP Rural Sites Network Conference, to the low seen in the horrific images of Japan. Though I would consider myself to be a pretty optimistic person, I'm not going to lie - I'm feeling pretty down these days. I'm trying to concentrate on work, on the puppy, on life - but, it's been hard.

W+K Studio has created this beautifully simple print to raise money for relief efforts in Japan. If you can, please donate - I already have. It's made me feel like I've contributed somehow.