saturday

Today was baby shower #1, which was friends only. We had tons of food, a bucket of sangria and all my closest girlfriends were there! Anita was absolutely glowing, she looked great and was the sweet host. The theme wad picnic casual, so we really just sat and talked the whole time, as none of us get together anymore. I am glad it went so well and that I was able to see so many friends and all the new babies. Tonight its back to getting stuff for the next shower done, maybe a movie.... wanna see The Rite!

my beautiful sister

my beautiful sister

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My Productive Morning!

My Productive Morning!

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Another Summery Day!

It's such a nice day already, the Santa Ana winds are nice and warm, getting warmer as the sun comes up.  I just wish it were nice enough to have a REAL beach day!  The card above was made last night.  I told myself that I was going to get away from the baby shower stuff for one night, and make something else, but I couldn't do it!  I thought maybe I'd give this to my sister, since it's the colors that her party stuff is.  I got those cute little clothes pins at this HUGE craft store downtown, sort of by the missions near skid row, but it was the store of my dreams.  They had SO much stuff... kind of overwhelming.  I couldn't find an album to make her baby book, I think I may have to use eBay or Overstock for that.

The party is eating up all my free time and money, and so I look forward to being done with it, not that it's a burden or something that I am not fully enjoying (FInally!), but I am so ready for a weekend of shopping and sleeping in.  And maybe even a trip somewhere... seeing the skiing on telly lately has me really wanting to go.  It would be something fun to do with a few families, rent a big cabin or something... anyway, some sort of "yay me" treat is in order... like, asap.  My office is DONE, all the way (have ONE picture to hang and that's IT) and I'm so happy with the outcome.  After I thought I was done last time, we found another piece that I wanted, and that changed everything, the whole layout of the room.  I had to move it around, making sure to have a clear getaway in case of a rogue client.  It's happened before!  Anyway, I was going to post a few pix of that, but that sounds pretty corny.  I will just say this, it is all light wood, and I have SO much storage space which cleared ALL of the clutter that tends to gather with time.  My desk is bigger and I even got a little workspace with a computer for an intern.  Things at work are great.    Anyway, I don't have room anymore for a little sofa or comfy chair, but that's okay.  I don't have time anymore for sitting around anyway.  Hence the need for a vacation.  AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I'm so happy it's sunny outside, it's such a relief...

:)

Weekend is... over :(

This weekend was busy, busy, busy.  I had baby shower shopping and Dad to take care of (cooking for him), and the photo above is my attempt at homemade waffles that I did in Mom's waffle maker machine on Saturday.  It was way harder than Mom makes it look, I promise you.  The recipe, although AMAZING, was complicated.  I made bacon at the same time; picture me running to and fro, it was a comical sight!  I managed to make some okay breakfast and everyone loved it.  The waffles were made later with icecream and fruit topping... yes, I'm putting on weight, but who the f cares?  I sure don't.  Bikini season is ages away, and so I eat.  After breakfast came shopping, which was done downtown; besidees my knee giving me pain, like it has been doing lately, I had a pretty successful day.  I have all the gift boxes stuff done, and all the plates and stuff like that, plus the decorations and table dressings.  All that is left is the food, flower arrangements and balloons.  I will be glad when it's DONE, it's stressful planning a party.  I want it to be perfect.  Anyhow, on the way home, I made the scary walk through MacArthur Park; it is pretty amazing, I have to say.  It's bigger than I thought, and so nicely designed.  If only there weren't crackheads and weirdos there all the time.  Oh well.  Here are some of the things I saw:

The boombox, I thought, was pretty cool... too bad there were drunkos sleeping (face down, scary) right nearby, I would've sat for awhile.  I'm still glad that I live across the street from a park, I bet 100 years ago, it was a nice place to be!  Bless Downtown LA, it's never boring there, that's for sure. 

Gift Boxes... the saga begins

I promise you, this won't be the only post about these things.  I have only just begun really making them, and would have been done earlier if I had paper that I loved for them.  I finally found some that I fell in LOVE with, and began them last night while watching this bugged out movie called "Devil".  (Seriously,  it was scary in a not-too-gory-sort-of-Hitchcock way)  So, I will keep making half a dozen of these puppies per night (at home, when I'm not working on the banner).  I have thought of the possiblity of getting a few more kinds of ribbon just to mix it up, and so that they all don't start to look alike.  I think it would look much nicer with an assortment of colors and designs.  Today I will order some die cuts from eBay to decorate the tops of the boxes, maybe some diaper pins or baby bottles.  I can't WAIT for the day when I get my own Silhouette or Cricut... I almost hussled my way into the deal on QVC some weeks ago, but didn't jump on that boat.  I am kind of kicking myself... all that cutting hurts the hands! 
This week I will work on buying the rest of the stuff for the party and take care of my Dad w hile my Mom is out of town; today I'll put some food in his fridge and cook him something to stick to the ribs.  I will also enjoy some real down time, as this week has been extra extra.  I get home and just collapse (after cooking dinner, of course) and just want to cry when the alarm clock goes off at 5:15 am.  I need a vacation.  Won't go into details, but it's time I put in for my 10 or 12 days off from the salt mine.

Here's another pic of the boxes...

That's all for today. 

The You Suck Card...

Since nobody but me knows that the card was made without bad feelings, I thought I would say that it just felt too cutsie, and I had to cut that somehow... there you go, you dont suck! Today is a day off for MLK day, and I plan on enjoying it by (wait for it) working on my banner. How exciting is my life?!
Happy Birthday, Dr. King...

truth be told...

truth be told...

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Baby Shower Works

The baby shower is around the corner, so why don't I have the invitations in the mail, you may ask?  Because.  That's the best answer I have at this time, sorry!  No, honestly, we are kind of doing it late, and since it is primarily for family, we don't have to be too early in asking folks to come since they HAVE to, and  have been WAITING for this day to come.  One of the Rodriguez girls is having a baby... it's like, a freakin' miracle.  Our family in Michigan is probably surprised it's even happening!  Well, you know what they say, once one sister goes and does it, the other isn't far behind. 

So.  The card.  I have to admit, the only reason that these suckers haven't gone out yet is because I haven't been able to absolutely stand behind one design I've come up with, and this since before Christmas!  Yesterday I went to Michael's on my lunchbreak and found this paper that totally inspired me to do a very simple design.  I have done a diaper shaped card, and at least three others, but this one seemed most like my sister: no frills, but very pretty and classy.  You dig?  She's one picky Nicky, so I was real glad she liked it.  I will re-do the banner that I started (kind of like my "Angie" one) and make it more with the pastels and dots.  The gift boxes too, and will post pictures of the outcome.  I'm starting to get really excited for the baby... I can't WAIT to have a little cutie to hug and love.

Well, it's time to leave the office (got my new furniture today, FINALLY!  LOVE it!) and take my dead-person-nap on the bus.  Later!

Paper Works Continued

This little nugget is called an explosion box; see, when you undo the ribbon and take the top off, the sides fall down into a sort of oragami-ish fold out and the contents sort of fall out.  I used this idea originally as a card, putting the sentiment or message on the bottom panel of the actual box, but this time I have something very different in mind.  I plan on making lots of these and adding a mini-manicure and nail polish gift set for all my sister's baby shower guests.  This way, I can actually spend more on the actual gift and not on the boxes, even though they are probably super cheap.  I plan on getting a new paper pad today at Jo-Ann (lunch break) and cardstock pack for these boxes.  I also will make the banner out of the same paper.  I had another idea for little candy holders (http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.115272576.jpg) something like that link, but maybe with an embellishment on the front instead of on the inside.  That is the general idea, anyway. 
This weekend, we go downtown to look at the cake stands and to get some champagne flutes.  We will have champagne cocktails for drinks, I found a recipe that looks amazing.  I just hope that it's a warm enough day to enjoy it outdoors. 

Other than the baby shower planning, I have gotten settled into my new apartment downtown.  I have a trip to Baltimore coming up for work, so that is something that I'm looking forward to, in addition to all the new stuff happening at work with reorganization of the facility.  I have been at the past few board meetings, and they are looking at major change in anticipation of healthcare reform.  Also, marketing a newer image of who we are... it's all very interesting, and I love being a part of it. 

That's all for now. 
:)

My Banner Project

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The holidays happened, and I made it through okay!  I made many of my Christmas gifts and cards and even managed to still have it in me to begin a new project immediately after: the banner you see in the photo above.  I wanted to test run a banner and see how I'd layout a similar banner for my sister's baby shower in February.  I think I want to do something like this for the party, and little party favors in the same theme.  I wish I knew my niece's name, it would help... :)
I hung my banner in my office at work, and I'm happy with it.  I have begun my niece's baby book ("Baby's First Year"), and so I'm knee-deep in the works, still.  I love crafting, thankfully, and so it doesn't feel like work.

Happy New Year, all!  Let's hope 2011 turns out better than 2010.