Yeah, Write

Why So Quiet?

For the past several weeks, this blog had to take a backseat to, well, life in general.

Tragedy struck some close friends of ours when their 16-year-old daughter (a friend of Jeremy's) was killed in a car accident, along with her grandmother and step-grandfather. I've thought of little else for the last couple of weeks, and it has just seemed wrong (as it tends to do) that life was carrying on as normal for everyone else. But life has to carry on. That's the way of things. And it's good that it does, becuase it keeps our hands occupied while our hearts try to heal.

And in the meantime, Keira Jane figured out how to crawl, which means a whole new world for this first-time mama.

And Keira's boyfriend, Calvin, came into town (along with his mom) for the funeral. I was so grateful they stayed with us, since babies are the best distraction in the world, and I needed more than anything to talk about and process my grief with another close friend who knows and loves the family, too.

And I've had this nervous energy that won't go away and seems to require physical activity at all times. I've been cleaning my house non-stop, cooking for my family and others, tackling projects in my house left and right. (I'm not complaining about that part; I'm just going with it.)

Here's a mirror wall I started working on before Keira arrived, and which has taken a backseat until now. I made paper templates so I could figure out the arrangement I wanted, and I finished painting and decoupaging the frames. Now I just need to hang them. (Here's hoping that doesn't take another 10 months!)

And all the plans for Ella Publishing Co. that were put into place months ago had to march on, and really it's been good to keep busy.

First, I was a guest on Paperclipping Roundtable last week, and we covered a topic that was near and dear to my heart: personality types and how it affects your crafting! Another very welcome distraction, to discuss things I'm passionate about with people I love and respect. Some people loved the show, others didn't, but one thing's for certain—it drew out a lot of comments.

Second, we've had Digital Scrapbooking Month going on at Ella Publishing Co., which meant articles to edit and upload, a new eBook to edit and project-manage, and lots of stuff happening on the blog. You've got to check out the latest, by Liz Tamanaha, all about digital kits. It's got one of my favorite mini-albums I've seen in a long time.

 

And third, Wendy and I have been putting the pieces together for Ella's upcoming Boot Camp event (September 19-24). It's going to be so amazing. Click this link (or the banner below) to view the video Wendy and I finally managed to record yesterday, after weeks of trying to synch our schedules, complete with pink-camo hats and everything!

Well, that about brings us up to date. My new routine (now that the baby is mobile) is starting to take shape, and we're just adapting as each new milestone and event comes along.

And just like always, I'm experiencing great joys alongside great sadnesses, and the key is to try to keep it (and everything else) in balance. Some weeks, that's easier than others. But that's life.

Baby Photos: 9 Months Old

"Are you ready for the big reveal?"

"Ta-da! I'm 9 months old! And I have been for about 3 weeks. But we were busy learning lots of new things about swimming and the ocean and baby horses, so I'm glad we got these pictures just in time, before it was time to put a 10 on my belly."

"Do you like my rubber ducky? Unless I have this in my hands at all times, I simply can't resist tearing down mom's black backdrop. Hey, I'm a baby. I can get away with these things."

"But honestly? It's amazing how calming a little rubber ducky can be. This shot here is mom's favorite. She likes the serene expression on my face—but really I'm just thinking about how much I love my duck."

"No offense to Mom, but this shot is my favorite! I had to prove her wrong about the whole 'baby-horse-teeth-are-so-cute' thing. Whatevs. Baby human teeth are WAY cuter. Don't you think?"

The pictures this month are really SO much better than her 8 month photos. I owe the improvement to the fact that I had just finished editing Don't Say Cheese! How to get great, natural photos of your kids, by Rebecca Cooper. It was enormously helpful!

Baby Horse Teeth and Other Adorable Photos

I sat down to post Keira's 9 month photos (because, after all, she's now 10 months and 6 days) but I got sidetracked by a treasure trove of everyday shots. So with my apologies to my sister Alli, I'm delaying the posting of the 9 month photos for another day or two.

I simply cannot resist sharing these everyday scenes from her life right now. July was such a BIG month for my little one.

She spent lots of time with her big brother, whom she adores.

She met a baby horse for the first time (and immediately grabbed him by the nostrils).

Sidenote: Aren't baby horse teeth the CUTEST thing ever? (Perhaps even cuter than baby human teeth. Perhaps.)

She figured out how to pick up Cheerios with those two tiny fingers.

And feed them to herself.

And feed them to Jovie.

She went swimming for the first time, in Aunt Michele's swimming pool.

She made her first trip to the zoo.

She saw the ocean for the first time.

And dipped her toes in the surf.

And to top it all off, she was placed inside a baby-sized pot by her big brother. Because...why not?

 

5 Inexpensive Essentials for Your Kitchen

#1 Toast Tongs

Whenever I'm visiting someone's house and making toast there (which, you know, I do a LOT), I wonder how they can stand NOT having some Toasty Toast Tongs at the ready!

Bread comes in oh so many different sizes, so no toaster can pop every piece of bread far enough out of the toaster for you to grab with your bare hands without getting burned. Enter the tongs, which are guaranteed not to cause electrocution if you stick them into your toaster. They slide right in and out with ease, grabbing bread, bagels, crumbly English muffins, and even Pop Tarts (which can somehow reach flesh-melting temperatures in mere minutes!). And there's a magnet on the back. Since my toaster is right next to my fridge, I have a safe and handy toast-removal tool within reach at all times. I'll toast to that!

 

#2 Gryptonite All-Purpose Wonder Blob

Believe it or not, I discovered this little gem at a crafting tradeshow. This little guy does EVERYTHING, and it's kind of a cute blobby shape too. Mine clings to the tile behind my stove, so it's handy if I need to peel garlic or an onion, use it as hotpad or trivet, or use it to open a jar! Apparently it also transforms into a funnel and can be used as a mat for a glue gun or soldering iron. I'm sure it does other things, too, like clean my kitchen while I'm asleep—I haven't quite tapped into its full potential yet.

 

#3 Magical Mitt

My mother-in-law, who is also responsible for the Toasty Toast Tongs, gave me some Dexas oven mitts (mine are red) and I'll never use another pot holder again. I have a 1958 kitchen with some of the original appliances, and my stove top is frustrating, to say the least. I can actually reposition a red-hot burner (which, yes, I have to do on occasion) with one of these things on my hand, and the heat doesn't reach my fingers! (Caution: do not then wipe your brow with the oven mitt, as I did once, because you know the outside DOES get hot. It just takes a while for the heat to tranfer through to the inside, if it ever does.) I'm half convinced I could pick up molten lava with one of these things. Do you dare me?

With all these tips to avoid getting burned, one might wonder if I'm catching myself on fire left and right. Really, I'm not. Because I have all this great gear!

#4 Mini Colander

I picked up a little 6-inch colander like this one at Target (mine's light green), and I'm shocked how often I use it! It's perfect for holding one can of something, like black beans that you need to rinse, or corn or hominy that you need to drain. And it's great for rinsing tiny things, like lentils, since the holes are so small. I bet it would also make a great hat.

#5 Salad Spinner

Boy oh boy is this thing handy! It helps me thoroughly wash my lettuce (even my garden lettuce, which is often full of dirt and bugs) and spin all the dingy water right out. And salad stays fresher much longer when I store it in the basket within the bowl. (There's an interchangeable lid.) I also recommend an accompanying Lettuce Knife , which won't cause your lettuce to discolor. But don't ignore the "top-rack dishwasher safe only" warning, as I did, or the end of your lettuce knife will melt like a piece of taffy.

What about you? What are your inexpensive kitchen essentials? Tell me, because I'm in the mood for some new gadgets. :)

FREE Today!

No, I don't mean "Free Today" as a sentence, as in "Free Tibet." No, Today is not in captivity, as far as I know, but today there is something FREE that I think you'll like.

It's this cute digital garland. Aren't the colors just scrumptious? And can't you imagine how cute it would be on a scrapbook page background or (gasp!) on a card? Click on it to see it all nice and large.

To get it, just visit The Daily Trumpet today and follow the link to the digital freebie. (There's also a giveaway too!) This product is by Pretty Little Studio, and it just takes moments to download for your very own.

It's all in celebration of Digital Scrapbooking Month at Ella Publishing Co.!

I personally only dabble in digi every now and then, although I do have some mad digital skills. Wondering why? I talk all about it in this blog post.

Have a happy Wednesday, free or not!