Gone Camping

Today is the first day of Camp NaNoWriMo, the summer edition of National Novel Writing Month, and I've decided it's time to start writing!! Except I'm going to be a rebel and, instead of writing a novel, I'm going to write and co-illustrate a childrens book with Ammy. Today I worked on the concept, and I'm hoping to start on the fun stuff tomorrow with my girl. Kate will, of course, be our muse, as well as Ammy's favorite lovey, Pandy the Panda bear. I should have stamped my headband REBEL NOVELIST.

If you need us, we'll be off -- as Camp NaNoWriMo's slogan goes -- on an "idyllic writing retreat, smack-dab in the middle of your crazy life"!

fresh starts

It's been a bit of a whirlwind for us around here since August or so. I started back to work after a short summer and we got back into the swing of things. Our routine is weekly and the weeks have been flying by and now it's nearly December.

Mondays we get ready for the week. I am home with Ammy but we always are cleaning, cooking, preparing.

Tuesdays we pack up early in the morning and head for the mountains to my parent's home, where Ammy spends the day with Grandma and Grandpa and I give a quick goodbye and go to work.

Wednesdays, Ammy's sitter Mackenzie comes over. Ammy loves Mackenzie and they spend the whole morning just having fun. I get home before the afternoon really begins and Ammy is still napping.

Thursday we head back up to the mountains and Grandparents.

Friday we rest.

Saturday and Sunday are family days, project days, and days where I get some time to work on my latest creations.

My goal was to open my new shop by October -- I did it!! I call it Circuitry, a collection of accessories for women, stamped with bold inks. The stamps hand-carved and cut by me. I set up Circuitry on Etsy and I developed my own independent shop here: www.circuitrystudio.com.

Here's a peek at what I offer:

Super Soft, Cotton Headbands

Cozy Arm Warmers

Stretchy, Soft Fabric Necklaces

Colorful & Casual Fabric Bracelets

I've really enjoyed the whole process of starting my new shop, and I'll be launching a separate blog soon that is dedicated to the challenges, lesson and fulfillment that come with starting an online business.

What about Punksy and my monster hoodies? Still going strong on etsy: www.punksy.com

On top of it all, we're getting ready to welcome Baby Daly. We got a sneak peek last week:

Boy or girl? Still a mystery :)

The three of us are so excited to meet baby in January!!

Thanksgiving Day

busy bees

The last couple of months have been super busy in our house. With the school year starting, I was back to my part time job (at a local private, non-profit high school). The first taste of fall has us rushing around the house and yard, finishing the zillion projects we had so zealously started at one point or another in the summer. Along with my mom and sister, I participated in my hometown's fall festival, Broomfield Days. It's been crazy!! Here are some moments I captured on camera.

Open gym for tots at the rec center's gymnastics area. Ammy had a blast with her good buddy Junior. 

Tekka (our goofy dog) took us to Dog Daze at the Broomfield Bay. He didn't like the swimming much but he sure had fun running around with all the other dogs.

My mom, sister and I hosted a booth at our hometown festival, Broomfield Days. It was an awesome experience and I had so much fun working with my mama to get all the visors and headbands put together. And, as a result, my monster wear army grew.

My sister, Mindy, and me bright and early that morning.

Me with my assistant and daughter, Amelie.

My mama, Mindy, Ammy and me manning the booth.

My husband , Jeremiah, brought Ammy to Broomfield Days

Our Ammy is a toddler now, running, climbing, singing and talking. She learns something new every day.

Amelie likes to do yoga in the kitchen.

The cosmos like the late summer.

Ammy and I went to the zoo with my mama, our neighbor Monica and her grandson (Ammy's buddy), Junior.

We're spending more time in the backyard now that the evenings are nice and cool.

Jeremiah is starting the big job of landscaping our front yard.

Jeremiah broke out the Halloween decorations today. At first I thought Ammy might get scared of them. As it turns out, she thinks they are pretty alright.

Pointing at the bat hanging from the ceiling.

 I'm sure there is plenty more, but this is the story the photos tell...

chasing a dream

Last week I celebrated my 30^th birthday. It was a typical weekday in many ways, but made extraordinary with little things like flowers at my bedside when I opened my eyes in the morning. I finished Chris Guillebeau’s The Art of Non-Conformity and started to list my own short and long-term goals, with deadlines around my 31^st and 35^th birthday. Check out this book, it is refreshing and encourages the active chasing of dreams. So I started making strides towards my own goals each day.  I’m still working on my lists and I’ll be sharing soon.

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My birthday, always a long summer day, unraveled slowly and I followed along. In the morning, Amelie and Tekka took me to the park.

 We went out to lunch with Jeremiah.

My talented friend and neighbor, Monica, created this beautiful and incredibly delicious cake (lemon, mmmm). Two layers just for me (I shared a few bites).

So far, I like 30.

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We visited the Denver County Fair this weekend. It was part old-fashioned fair complete with ferris wheel and other rickety rides as well as a freak show (is that politically correct?) and part trade show with a variety of local businesses. My friend, Michelle, and I spent a few minutes with a psychic (a first for me). Jeremiah and Amelie enjoyed the petting zoo the most.

The fair was a good reminder for me to get started on my inventory. My sister and I will soon be setting up shop at Broomfield Days, our hometown festival, and I have about six weeks to get ready.

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Back to dream-chasing. Have a wonderful week.

thirty wonderful things

 

Thirty. It really feels like one of those milestone birthdays. This last year has been an incredible journey. When I turned 29 I was a new mom, stumbling my way to the next chapter of my life. As the pages keep turning, I find myself humbled by all that has happened and all the people who have lent a hand, some empathy and good company.

Here are 30 wonderful things I am grateful for as I complete my 29^th year.

 

- My sweet little growing daughter, Amelie, who has turned my world upside down and gave me a new start in life.

- My funny and loving hubby, Jeremiah. 

Celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary

- Our menagerie. Furry, feathered and finned.

- Yummy cakes made with love.

-The good fortune to work not only with an incredible group of young people but amazing, talented and caring colleagues.

- A trip to see the Dalys in Virginia, where everything slows down and the past is present.

- A hot cup of coffee with just the right amount of cream.

 - Donuts.

 - Having the luxury to witness birds in flight and other masterpieces each day.

- Our amazing, generous and giant family.

 - Girlfriends.

 - A good book. I’ve read many since Amelie was born: The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Momma Zen by Karen Maezen Miller, The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett, At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom by Amy Hempel, The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood and so many more.

 - French fries.

 - My daughter gets to grow up with views like this:

- Amazing works of art created by family and friends.

- Warm sunlight on my back.

- Any stretch of sleep that lasts longer than two hours.

- Our van that goes and goes, is comfy, fits almost anything into it and keeps our daughter safe.

- The library. My favorite use of tax dollars. 

- Loud, passionate female musicians. 

- Soft grass under our feet.

- My Mama.

- My Dad.

- Finding the time and giving myself the space to create, and the opening of my little shop.

- A trip to Kansas to see Amelie’s great grandparents and great-great grandparents. 

- Late nights with friends in the front yard.

- The big, open Colorado skies.

-  Long walks with fun companions to important destinations like McDonalds breakfast, garage sales and grazing cows. 

- All the family and friends who have traveled from far away to visit with us. 

- Discoveries.