Merry Christmas

A nearby Stake puts on a great production of The Nativity and we went to see it for one if it's few precious nights. It is always so well done. There are beautiful narrations, music and lighting, angels up high that appear from no where who sing and make me cry, ...the set was really cool complete with live animals AND the best part is? It's under an hour. We bundled up the kids and went on a beautiful, calm evening. Isn't it amazing how something like this can create such a beautiful spirit? It was a great prelude to the season.
We had some friends in the show and, as an interesting side note, my friend Katherine was Mary. They took professional photos from the evening for the cast members and I loved this one of Kath +her husband (and a baby from a family in our ward. See? We're even pals with the wee King). Isn't it beautiful? This is untouched and from the live performance.

I also loved the music from the Christmas Devotional that our church broadcasts every season. This song is so, so beautiful. I suggest as you sit here online while escaping the world, that you stop you for a moment - click the link to listen - and feel the purpose of this season and bring a peace and calm into your soul. And if you like it, you can download it for free here.
Happy Christmas Eve! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas among family and friends you love and find comfort in all of your blessings!

Little Luke

So, we signed up Luke for Basketball season this year. He is in the youngest group and it shows because the poor kid has never played the game in his life. He's enthusiastic as ever, though... runs all over and he has an awesome coach that has taught him quite a bit already! Last night he was telling me about his "Z" drills and defense stuff.... it's so cute it makes my mouth water.
He is a foot shorter than any of the other kids. Look at those shorts. Oh he's so adorable. I love my little Lucas.

Me Oh Moi

I am telling you... 2011 has some wicked awesome tunage awating.
Here is a peek of more to come.
This track from the upcoming Toro Y Moi release is off the hook!
*via Stereogum

Wii Can't Wait

This is wrapped & waiting under the tree with a tag saying, "To: Everyone".
Elliet has picked it up and guessed that it is this movie.
I told her it is a Wii game that teaches kids how to clean toilets. She's not buying it. Butcha know what? I am quite savvy in computer graphics so to ME, her response has become a challenge. I think I'm going to make a fake sleeve of 'said' game, slide it into one of our old games and wrap it up to really throw her off.
I love Christmas.
For realsies, though...I can't wait until we all watch this together.

Gingerbread Houses

Well, this year the Gingerbread houses were a little less of an execution, which was just fine with me. I had all the supplies on hand and we happened to have an open evening so we had a last minute get together and let the kids go at it. I am a loser Mom because I have to exercise major restraint when we do things like this. I watch the mess form : crumbs and sprinkles going everywhere...eegh.
They love it and it's fun to see what they come up with.

Mallow Out

So the week has been crazy but it's over. The kids are now out of school until after New Years so I was trying to get as much done in order to enjoy Christmas time together next week and relax. Is that even possible the week before Christmas?? I'm going to try.
This week was full of meetings, appointments, visiting teaching, helping with class parties at school and parent teacher conferences. The latter motivated me to get some baking done and delivered. One of the things I made this week were homemade marshmallows. I'm not fond of them, mind you.... S'mores, fluorescent peeps, mud pie cookies or rocky road... blech. Then why would I want to try them? Curiosity. And most people like them, right? Hopefully the receivers enjoy them anyway...Plus, I hear once tasting them, they convert non-mallow lovers into believers. So I googled this recipe by Alton, whipped them up with Luke one night and they worked wonderfully. Since I am giving them away I didn't venture into funky flavors or coating, but I really want to try some clever combo's. Alas, I have enjoyed a few and they do taste great in cocoa & postum. Too bad (or maybe it's good) I won't eat them because I really want to keep playing with it. Think of home made Peeps in the Spring!
Anyway, the point of me posting this was to say: they are really easy, fun to do with kids and taste yummy.

I wanted to share this idea for teacher gifts that I *ahem* sort of swiped from a source online. It is hard coming up with new things every year to give teachers and I always appreciate finding something to inspire me so perhaps this will inspire you in the future. My talented and very nice friend (Thanks, Jackie!) cut these out of vinyl for me so all I had to do was find a big, heavy cup (Ikea), stick them on and fill with pencils. Check!

Sans Red

Have you seen this picture circling the web of the "Desaturated Santa"? Thought this was really clever. This is not photoshopped in any way. She made this B&W Santa costume and wore make up to look completely void of color in a sea of red Santas.
Brill.

Why Notsy

I did it. I succumbed and created an Etsy shop. I have a few of of these shield necklaces left and thought it would be an easy venue for that.
Go have a look if you'd like.

Kids Are Cool

I have had these sitting in my office for months (you can tell by the date), waiting to be scanned.
Thought you may get a giggle out of them.
Highlight from the first:
"frod". Awesome.
Highlight from the second:
Apparently these punctuation questions came off more like a personal interview. Needless to say, we never 'finished & returned'. I selfishly kept it. Or, perhaps I should say, I didint return it.

Ear Prezzies

Until lotsa good stuff comes out early next year, I have been foraging to and fro for music discoveries.
Thought I'd share some things I have been enjoying lately. Wanna hear them now? Click the links.
-Crystal Stilts - Shake The Shackles
(I am in serious love with this one right now.)
-Cut Copy - Take Me Over
-Erol Alkan MGMT Remix - Congratulations
-Alexander - Truth

Colorful Bums

Despite the mass Pantone branding everywhere, I can't help but to like it.
These chairs are the most "cheeky" yet! So cool.
*via DesignSponge

Halloween Weekend

With Halloween on a Sunday + many days school free before and after + Scott moving the remains of the old office all weekend, I heeded his recommendation to take the kids to Utah. Saturday night the kids put on their costumes and ran around happy as clams eating their huge candy stash from our ward trunk or treat the night before. After all the kids were in bed, my Mom, Julia and I slipped out and went to "Dracula". It was done as an old Orson Wells Radio show with about 10 total participants all in 40's attire reading from dimly lit stands. A few were in the background playing the piano, tapping shoes on the table for 'walking' sounds, wiggling panels of sheet metal for thunder, etc.... it was awesome. It was a small, damp room up at the Castle theater so we all sat there, huddled together... shivering from the chill... or was it the eveeel vampire HIMSELF?
Luckily the rain did not extinguish the annual reign of ghost flying around my house. They were at it again- flying across the yard to the neighbors, across the street and back...the kids loved it.
On Sunday morning I thought it would be fun to make pumpkin pancakes so I used apple slices. YUM. Sunday night was our big family celebration. We ate tasty food and played Just Dance.
Oh Yes.
Just Dance.
This is a new phenomenon around our house and I brought it with me to spread to my family. WE LOVE IT. The music is awesome, the dance moves are sweet, and the laughs are the best. If you haven't played this yet, I really recommend it. And then I challenge you to Rasputin (Click on it. Seriously.) Yes, we did look scary most of the time. Disco kicks and the running man do not come easy to some, but we had a frightfully good time nonetheless!
Besides, what could be more scary than these foot long Twizzlers I found!?

Chain Gang

I've been wondering how to efficiently display/store my necklaces and this is the first idea I've come across that I like. Awesome, no?
But for $50 I think I can make one with some dime store animals meself. AND... what if it was all painted white, hm?

Pre-lloween

The week of Halloween was really fun. We had a lot going on so I will start with the first half.
I am all for buying costumes if A) they see one they love and B) if it's worth the price (which it usually is). So Sadie's, I bought. Only for some reason most of the Sleeping Beauty princess dresses were all knee length or overpriced, so I bought the less expens. one and added a fluffy skirt below. Done. Luke and Elliet, however... were harder. Luke wanted to be a Minion from 'Despicable Me' so... yeah. I had to make that one. And Elliet saw a Peacock costume for over $100! in a kids magazine. There is no way I was paying that. So we made that one, too. The talent was happy and that's what is important, no?
The great Mr. Shenkberger lobbied hard to get the trunk or treat back this school year with success. I was so happy! This is a great event and the kids love it. They have a costume parade and go from car to car (parent volunteers), collect candy and end with a huge group Monster Mash dance. I am glad he keeps Halloween fun at school. I have such a dorky grin on my face watching all those kids in costumes dancing to that. Halloween is the BEST.
I decided to go for a monster truck this year using foam cushion for big teeth and had a gaping red mouth complete with a child skeleton. I put a treat in his rotted teeth, too and told all the kids that may happen to them if they get too close. The best part was I found some awful belching mp3 audio files and made a playlist of those so the car would sporaticaly burp. Tell me what kids wouldn't love that?!
We also shared this with our ward trunk or treat night (another great time) and left for UT the next day. More on that next!
(Look at Luke in that bottom pic smiling at me from within the hungry teeth)

GND

Well Hi! Long time no blog.
Yes, it's like a slippery slope. The more you put it off, the easier it is to lose a desire all together. But I really have been super duper busy. And guess what! I have caught up on back posts, too. And have future dated those so you'll have more to read throughout the week. I know, it's so freaking exciting.
I thought I would start with the GND show because it was hoppin'. We had a great turn out which always brings a tear to my eye. I love being able to showcase cool design/products for people and have it so strongly supported. I really love the girls who do this with me year after year and see the vision. And then to have such cool people who appreciate and support it.
I was so busy during the night that I never got pictures of the evening. I wasn't able to make much this year (big surprise) but did fit in some creative things that were floating in my brain. I had these shield necklaces made so you could have one alone on a chain or with a little 'honorary' ribbon. They are a small 1/2" tall, perfect every-day jewelry. I was really pleased with how they turned out. And they are quite affordable, I might add. Only $30 for the plain or stud-edged style and $35 for a ribboned one. It's the holidays people- if you think this would make a rad gifty for that stylish someone (ahem- even you, perhaps?), there are a few left. Let me know if you're interested. Easy Peasy Christmas Gifty.
The second creative execution I tried was vintage string art. I know, I know. Totally weird. I bought this random 70's kit on Ebay in the summer that started it all. I have more ideas I want to try but only had time to make some geometric designs this time. They are big suckers, though- two feet square. And thanks to my Dad and his wise woodworking ways, we figured out a way I can whip these out without using a hammer. So I got to boogie down (more on that to come) in the garage with an air compressor brad gun. Good times, good times. I really thought this was almost too odd a venture to display, but people actually liked them and I sold a few!
I am looking forward to a little breathing room this week. Where I will eat. A lot.

Why

Well, one of the reasons why I have been neglecting posts. I thought things were going to slow down after Halloween but they haven't. The speed has maintained and the rest of my month continues to look that way. But soon- soccer practice/games will end, events will pass and then it's December. So yeah, no comfort of calm there. Life is good though, and I'd rather be busy than not I suppose.
I am making some cool new things for our show next week. Perhaps I will post some peeks for you all.
School is out tomorrow and Friday and S will be on a boys trip so I will have lotsotime to wax creative and play with the kids. Hoorah.
Plus I have a long list of music to investigate. Watch for new recommendations soon (unless you're not tired of those silk stocking gams?).

Framed!

Talk about a custom bike!
Then I can sit on meself.

Party! Yep-yep-yep-yep-yep

Last weekend was our 7th Annual Halloween Party. The theme this year was TV Characters. I still haven't had time to post all the pics but I at least needed to post (esp. for Juls who keep asking) our Yip Yip costumes. Yes! That is what we were this year. One of my enhancements included a velcro mouth so you could open it up and talk to people face-to-face. You know, instead of face-to-gapingyipmouth. It was quite the useful feature. And as with many of my craft projects, an ambitious little pain. But overall, success wouldn't you say? S and I had many giggles even before the party. If you have forgotten the Yip Yips from sesame street days ago, shame on you! Now go review here. And include your kids! They'll laugh, too.
This was another perk of having Rich come for his Birthday. They could attend our famous party. Now all of my siblings have attended our party at one time or another. Woot!
And what looks better than Rich, as Robin, donning the awesome Photoshop Birthday hat?! Happy Birthday, Rich! We sure hope you enjoyed your weekend because you are SOOOO OOLD. :) Loved having you guys!

P to the Arty

Last week was stacked with one thing after another. Mostly in preparation for one of the highlights of the season: our Halloween Party! But my camera has not been cooperating lately so I won't have pics of that for you just yet (I borrowed one).
Rich & Randi came to Vegas for the weekend and joined in the festivities. But mostly I talked him into coming for his 30th BIRTHDAY! And what better gift to give than tix to CHROMEO!!
This was the first time they have performed in Vegas and it was a great show. We were pretty bummed out to discover that the promised Holy Ghost (the band, not the spirit :)) did not play that night, even though it was advertised so. Boo! Otherwise, the night was funk-a-licious. What talent! What style! What awesome lit up leg synth stands! It was a super weekend kick off.
As for the rest, busy but successful. It feels nice to have the big plans in the middle of the month so I can now enjoy the rest of Halloween fun sans party stress.
Also, big announcement this week: Scott's new office in the NW will be open tomorrow! They have been setting up all week. It looks really great and I'm so proud of him and all his hard work. Now we cross our fingers....

Rogers Gardens 2010

Alright, my fellow Halloween fans! Get ready for this years tour of Rogers Gardens in Newport.
If you are not a fan of Halloween, you may skip this post (Bore!).
This store does such an amazing job. I cannot express my awe at the creativity and obvious fun they must have doing it. I smile at every turned corner, every shelf, every room. I've decided that this would be my dream job. I would love to make people feel that way. So- if you have a store and want me to this, I'm available! How fun would it be?!?
Without further blibbidy-blab, let's go!
Now, c'MON. They turned the already-rad "It's A Small World" art deco design into a haunted entry. Disney macabre? GENIUS, I say. They even honored the tick-tock clock face movement twisting back and forth... back and forth...

A beautiful cuckoo clock all black. It was huge! And notice the bird....

I thought these clip boards on the walls in this room was a clever idea. Photocopies of weird things. Some ordinary and some way creepy, like that clown near the top and the woman screaming.

Check out the vending machine in the back. Yum!

The theme inside was basically a toy factory gone wrong. All these happy things that are now haunting. The first thing you see coming in is a ventriloquist doll sitting on a table who keeps making scary jokes about how you won't leave or how he did something veery wrong.
As you keep walking through you see the elements of this idea everywhere.
This wall of Frankensteined Jack'O's was really clever. They blinked on an off with the fun music. I love all the circuitry and plugs and spray painted 'burn out' marks everywhere.

The ceiling even had huge, rotating gears.

Then in the middle of the back room was the big ventriloquist machine, making the same dolls we just saw greeting you at the front of the store. Look at that thing! That's an intense project!

And peeking inside will show you they are escaping with minds of their own.

Nearby was an area that looked like creature/machine experimentation.

In the entrance to another room, the door frame was made to look hot and burned away like this, entering an area where a blast occurred.

A blast of toy dolls! Check out all that work. And all those charred, black dolls. Oh boy. Delightfully sinister. This is when Scott had had enough and he returned to the car. Said it was all too twisted for him. (teehee- I love it!)

A close up of the plastic devastation....

Everywhere there were pieces of things.

Even tucked here in a cabinet.
I didn't get a picture of this but they had pretty girl dolls in their boxes, just as you would see at a toy store, all dressed up and smiling, mounted on the wall and on shelves. But some of the heads were wired so they would turn back and forth randomly. And they were named weird things like "Bedtime Betty" or "Sleeping Sally". I don't remember exactly, but titles that were super creepy.

I liked these pumpkin faces. Thought they would be easy to make with funkins and save the $30+ price tag.

Now this.... This table was beautiful. Weird, random sculptures of faded wood. I loved it. But they were pricey!

Hope you enjoyed the tour and are inspired to enjoy the rest of your October!!!