do you know about tumblr? well, i didn't until yesterday. after spending hours browsing and clicking, i created my own: happiness.is . i decided that happiness.is would be the home for all the images of inspiration that i collect, along with quotes and project ideas. that way, this blog can focus on life + larger projects. think of it as an entire website of my inspire me feature. just be careful, tumblr can suck away all your spare time!

good news!

as i was browsing my google reader this morning (at 6:00 am to be exact- don't worry, i wonder why i wake up that early too) i discovered some of the best news i've heard, since at least tuesday...keri smith's new book, this is not a book will be coming out september 1st!


if you have never picked up a keri smith book, then do so. she has to be one of the most inspirational women people ever. her blog is full of goodness, and i'm currently loving the adventure that another of her books, wreck this journal, is taking me on. i have yet to purchase how to be an explorer of the world, but it is on the top of my list.

i really like to think of myself as a creative person, but in reality, i know i'm definitely not filled to the brim with it. what i love most about keri smith is that when i read her blog, or complete a project inspired by her, i'm reminded that anything one does is creative. everyone puts their own little mark on things, and that makes you creative. i like to start off my creative time by working on a page in wreck this journal, or browsing her blog or flickr. many of her prompts can be finished fairly quickly, or are ongoing, so it doesn't take too much time to add to it. many times i spend more time than i intended on a prompt, but once i wrap it up, i am much more inspired than when i began.

back at home. back into our routine.
the wedding was perfect. it turned out better than what was in my head.
i had an amazing florist and amazing photographers.
i have amazing parents, amazing in-laws, and a pretty amazing husband.

we don't have all of our pictures done yet, but these are the few sneak peeks that i have received.
(my profile picture and blog header are also wedding snapshots)

so, today is thursday. and i am getting married on saturday. woah. slow down life. not that i'm not excited- i am so beyond excited that there are no words. however, i thought that these last few days would never get here. and they are here- which shows how quickly time has flown by.
(p.s. 2009 is halfway over!)

so, instead of sitting on my couch anxiously waiting for this day to fly by, or stress about what could be forgotten, or even pack, i am browsing the internet and sharing what i'm loving. i've been feeling super inspired ever since i got my order of 150 pictures in the mail- and i'm needed quite a large distractor.

i think i'm going to try my hand at making these fabric covered spine minis by jamaica (who did this tutorial for ali's blog)

love how elise stamped these frames and cut around them- to hold pictures + journaling.

go-ventures:: day 1:: green & dizzy

so, elise and kal have a week-long inspiration challenge called go-ventures.
just some prompts everyday this week to get the inspiration started.
any one can play along, and interpret the prompt however they wish.
here's my take:

golden

so, today is my golden birthday. 21 on the 21st. i plan on making it a pretty mellow day. some internet surfing, some america's next top model watching, some coffee drinking, getting a new license, a little shopping, dinner with the boy, and maybe a few drinks, or a bottle of wine. the big 21st shindig will be tomorrow night.

my 21st year feels promising. it feels big. maybe because it is my golden birthday. maybe because in the one year that 21 is, i will get married, and graduate college. that's some pretty big stuff. massive stuff really. life changing stuff. and i am on board. i am ready for it, excited for it, looking forward to it. but because this year is so big, so full of awesomeness i don't want to let it slip away. i have a feeling, deep inside that this will be the best year yet. and i want to embrace it. i want to enjoy it. i want to cherish it and not let one moment of it slip away.

so, in order to help me do this, i am making the list. i have done it once before, and truth be told, i didn't get too far on it. i let it get put to the back burner, you know, the one that is so far back it's practically invisible? yeah- that one. but i've been inspired by elise to create a mini. full of pictures and goodness. i want to be held accountable for this list. i'm posting it here. i'm taping a copy to my mirror so i will see it every morning. i'm carrying a mini verison in my wallet. 21 will be the year of promise, of accomplishment, and of accountability. let's do this.

1. get into a weekly workout schedule.
2. read at least 2 books a month.
3. plan monthly date nights with adam (i totally borrowed this idea from elise too, but i love it)
4. buy 6 new art prints for the walls.
5. take at least 3 pictures a day.
6. get a tattoo
7. pamper myself with something once a month- and not feel guilty about it.
8. find little things we can do to go green (lightbulbs, reuseable bags, organic food and cleaning)
9. make an effort to build my own relationships and friendships- adam will always be there.
10. keep my toenails painted all year
11. catch up on LOST
12. get married
13. buy an original nintendo and games
14. graduate college
15. start seriously looking for a house
16. buy more coffee mugs
17. finish projects i have started (both crafty & home)
18. go to mexico
19. go to a st. louis cardinals game
20. start looking more put together (a.k.a. accessories, make-up, layering..get out of my jeans and tank top rut)
21. document this whole amazing, crazy year

tour time!

time for a little tour of my crafty space!

this is a little cranny in between my large craft table and the wall. this was originally a hanging file holder, but i don't use those, so adam cut a piece of plywood to make it a mini table. it holds a box of photos, stamps and random things to keep on top, and the bottom has magazines and layouts.

this is my inspiration board above the file-folder table.

i got this marvelous bookcase from target and i love it. i picked up 10 of the target $1 tins a while back and they hold everything- dymo, glitter, punches, hot glue supplies, pens, clear stamps, random bits and pieces. i also keep ongoing projects in the colored pouches, inspirations binders, atcs in the bowl, and scrapbooking books. the white box on top is from target and holds all my paints. the print in the frame is from elise's etsy and the love one is from rarrar press. my little sister made the snowman.

this is an old dvd holder from big lots that i keep jars of ribbon in. the bottom shelf holds felt and fabric, and the wire basket on top holds blank mini books.

this is my main craft table. the large 3 drawer organizer holds basic supplies, post-its and scrap paper, and life paper that i want to keep. all my stickers and rub-ons are haging from the wall- i found a tutorial for it online, but have no clue who it's by. adam made me the white shelf, which i love. it holds vintage tea-cups and bowls that i keep buttons, brads, gems, and other tiny embellishments. the smaller 3 drawer organizer holds some atc supplies- cards, labels and whatnot.