T-Shirt Diaries and More

If you were driving around the Cleveland Museum of Art during the Summer Solstice of 2009 you might have seen this.... So what happens to 18,720 pool noodles when they are no longer gracing the Cleveland Museum of Art's East Wing? Well Nicole McGee of Plenty Underfoot has been storing quite a few of them for the past few years.  They popped up at Collective Upcycle this season: My sister hanging with the noodles at Collective Upcycle So when Collective Upcycle was over for the summer, Nicole, gratiously offered to let us take home a noodle or two. My daughter jumped at the chance to bring some noodles home, and set up several different configurations at the store before we got even took them home.  Audra from Little Tiger and the Milk Bellied Princess was their with the milk bellied princess and miss milk bellied princess and Phoebe used the noodles as a table and chairs, a boardwalk surrounded by hot lava, and an island of some sorts. Audra shared her ...

As you know I love running. Well, love is probably not the right word, it's more like I try desperately to love it. I like the idea of living a healthy lifestyle and challenging myself. I like the excitement of 5K's, the atmosphere, and the people. In an attempt to run at least one a month, June's 5K was the Color Run, a 5K where a different color tossed at every kilometer. You start the race out white and end it looking like a rainbow puked on you. I recommend checking it out if it comes to your city, but prepared to be scrubbing the colored powder off your skin for at least a week (my back is still blue). Running makes me thirsty, and I am not talking about being thirsty for water (wink, wink). I also need to watch my calorie count. I LOVE cider. That crisp, apple flavor hits the spot after a sweaty workout. The problems with cider are the whopping 180 calories per serving, it's heavy, and can be pretty sweet. It's good, but not right after ...

I have a problem with my shirts, they are all just a little too short. It is like I am stuck in some bad 90's video wearing baby doll T-shirts showing off my belly, and really no one wants to see this mamma's tummy anymore. I absolutely adore the neckline of this shirt. I love the shirts colors, and stripes. I do not love that it bunches up over my belly button whenever I put it on. So I got a little creative and added a skirt too it. Now she is a cute and sassy little tunic/dress. I can wear her with leggings, jeans, or even tights. Now who wants to hit the town in this new little lady?

I was invited to try out The Artist’s Way Toolkit by Julia Cameron. I was excited to delve into an interactive learning experience. During my trial I had access to the toolkit, which included:  My Contract Artist’s Date Artist’s Way Exercises Creative Pages Creative Notes It was simple and straightforward. I had to commit to myself to write daily morning pages (beautiful, but not realistic for a mother of two under five), take myself on dates, and journal. I love the concept, giving yourself time to be creative in your own mind. Sadly I had a hard time writing every morning. When a toddler wakes up you cannot tell them to stay in bed until you have three uninterrupted pages written, and peacefully purge all of the brilliance in your mind. I did like the concept of long-hand writing. So my morning pages turned into afternoon pages as I snuck away into the bathroom for a moment of peace to write.   There is something about wri...

I love the summer. The sun, the sand, the excitement There is just so much to do and experience. So much to see, and so many fairy houses to build. There are food trucks to wait outside of (Seoul Sausage from the Great Food Truck Race 3) and lemonade to be consumed. Summer for me is about experiencing the excitement with my children and experiencing the joy of my little ones. I tend to go on a sort of blogging vacation during the summer months. I am still here, stalking creative ideas on pintrest and sewing t-shirt goodness. I just do it at my own pace. So if you are looking for regular updates, never fear, they will be back in the Fall. I will be here, but on a very casual basis. The blog will be around forever, but my children won't be young for that much longer. So keep popping by, just don't be sad if I don't update too often. Thanks,

Summers are for having fun, and nothing, I mean nothing, is more fun to me then being part of Collective Upcycle. Yesterday was their Grand Opening celebration (complete with cupcakes and champagne!) There was just so much amazing recycled art I was completely jaw-droopingly, floored. In a good way of course. Check out some amazing upcycles ( oh and I had to explain to my mom yesterday what upcycling is so if you do not know it is taking something pre-loved and giving it a second life.) Audra from Little Tiger and the Milk Bellied Princess My friend and fellow blogger Audra created these amazing fuzzy wigs out of felted sweaters and yarn remnants. She saw several of them make their way to a new home last night. An adorable little high school student made these upcycled pins as a way to raise money to become a foreign exchange student.  Her mom and co-artist Maudy is a seamstress and I love how she inspired her daughter to take on this creative venture. ...

I love American Ninja Warrior. I am not a Ninja, but after this weekend, I am a warrior! Start! Before My husband wanted to do the Warrior Dash for his 40th birthday.  I have been running for the past two years so I thought, why not. We started out relatively clean. I honestly was not prepared for the fact that the event started with a mile long run up a muddy hill. I mean how the heck do you train for that one. It of course did not end there. We swam threw dirty ponds of questionable cleanliness, ran over fire, walked on tightropes, climbed a two story cargo net, jumped over barricades, crawled through the mud under barbed wire, climbed a bunch of ropes walls, waded through a knee deep river, and of course swam under barbed wire in the mud to complete the wildest 3.5 miles of my life. I seriously did this.  So we made it out a muddy mess. They give you beer and a warrior helmet so it was worth it. I think I will make this one my facebook...

Well I am doing it again. I have signed up for another round of So You Think You're Crafty. I love this competition and some of my favorite crafters have competed. While I can not tell you which craft is mine please vote and fingers crossed I make it into the actual competition. Thanks,