Someday... {i will}

Someday I will have my own home.
I'll decorate it all bright and fun.
I will have a little family.
I'll take photograph's of lots of people.
I'll settle down.
Happy.

But until then,

I will be here,
in this little room,

dreaming.

Inspired by J. Peri

Giveaway!

Check it out! My mum's sharing her skillz with a giveaway!

Go join in.

PS. Rumour has it there might be a sweet treat in it for the winner too. I'm just sayin'.

Blue Lily and a picnic.

Yesterday we had a sort of Seattle adventure - strike that off the list. My fave! We headed out after Stuart got home from work - and after he broke his chair in the car - to meet up with our pal's, Wendy and Tyty. They were in town for some pictchur takin. I had the chance to get my grubby little mitts on Blue Lily's camera - and I'm sort of nervous the pics I took are out of focus. I was just too excited. Ain't no thang. Right? I also got the chance to snap a few of the Blue Lily team. See them here.

We first went to the Fremont Troll, which to me is always fun. I just like seeing it and getting to share it with friends is always fun. Then we went to the Space Needle which didn't fail to impress Tyler - like the Empire State building did. We walked about and over to the EMP building and back to the car then went to Azteca for some grub - and also a slight burn on my finger from the 'hot plate' which I actually think was made from fire. Hot? What a trickster that waitress was.
Then we went to Dick's for milkshake. It was a wonderful experience for all.

After that Wendy wanted to scout out a spot for picture taking which led us into the most terrifying part of the world ever. Our GPS was even scared so she (JaneJane) stopped working leaving us stranded under some motorways in the "light after dark" aka, dark. We survived without being abused or killed to death and hung out at their hotel for a while. The conversation got quite deep and now I don't believe I exist. This world we live in belongs to Wendy and we're just playing along. Also, Tyler only exists in his head (?)... Totally deep.

We left only to end up stuck in traffic at 11.30 at night. I know. I still don't understand it myself. We got home at midnight and felt quite happy with how the day turned out.

I had a great time. Thanks for letting us hang out with you two, Wendy and Tyler. I'm glad it wasn't awkward.

Then today, Stuart took the day off and we went to the Dutch Bakery to pick up some lunch because we were meeting Kirsten at the park for Picnic in the Park - a thing the city puts on which is great. There was a Bluegrass band playing. We hung out, ate, then came home.

It's been the best two days.

I only wish I'd taken more pics.

Giveaway postponenment:

The opening and giveaway on Handmade in Scotland by Helen is postponed for now but it'll be here soon!

Handmade In Scotland by Helen

Tomorrow we're (my mum, dad and I) going to be launching a new site where you'll be able to witness the wonder that is my mother, the knitting machine. We'll be kicking it off with a giveaway so be prepared! If you don't win you'll have a chance to buy some stuff.

Here's what the mumma has to say:

"My mother taught me to knit when I was three years old (and that was not yesterday).

I love knitting, especially baby items.

For some years I have considered selling these beautiful little articles but have always been too busy to actually do anything about it. But thanks to my clever daughter she is trying to help me achieve this dream."

So, if you have children and want them to look as adorable as I did and my other sibs (evidence to follow) mark the grand opening of Handmade in Scotland by Helen on your bloggy calender for tomorrow (unless my internet goes down again).

Evidence:

Here we have Beki in a little lemon number and a sweet little hat with one of my Cabbage Patch Kids sticking out her mouth - see the "L" on it's foot? "L" for "Laura".

Here I am having a hoot (and probably a toot) in a Handmade in Scotland snowball type ensamble. Talk about cosy. I would like this hat and cardigan in adult size. Don't pretend you don't too.

This here is my first day of school. I'm sporting a little grey cardi. You know how people say "Who is John Galt?" and it means something. Well, my primary school was John Galt Primary School... Just saying. This all means something but I'm not sure what. Grey Cardigan.

Just when you think I can't be any cuter here I am! I'm going to call this jumper AKA sweater, robin egg because of the blue and speckles - robin eggs are like that, right? Either way it was knit by my mum. Did you know that I get my photography skills from her too?

Project Boo:

Hey friends, go check out our first summer movie over on Team Boo.

Part Two: Birthday Shenanigans

We had a lot of fun laughing and squeeling in the garden on Saturday. We took some video for our summer movie and had a grand time celebrating Stuart's birthday.

Part One: Birthday shenanigans...

We started Stu's birthday yesterday by going out for some Indian food.

Here's my gifts for him - he opened them last night so his dad could be there because he's working today...

I wrapped the gifts when Stuart was snoozing before dinner.

We came home from dinner then he got some prezzies.

He spent some time becoming acquainted with his new ukulele that I got him whilst everyone went to watch Harry Potter 5 in preperation for tonights birthday treat of the new one. I'm so excited! Then after bonding with the uke it was dark so we went out to do some light painting.

We plan on doing more of that tonight after Harry Potter with Danielle and Megan. Rumour has it that today there's some slip and slide fun to be had in the garden. I'll document the rest of the celebrations but wanted to get a head start on uploading.

Happy 26th Stueeeee!

Two more little beauties:

I'm shlumpy.

Yes, this is a slump. I knew I was already in one but I know it's bad when my older sister emails me from the other side of the world - is Denmark the other side of the world? - and wonders why I haven't blogged. Ain't no thang (thanks Liv, I can't stop saying that and I sound ridiculous!) Here I am, upsadaisy! It happens to the best of us, right?... no, seriously, it does, doesn't it?

Last night I was working on a silhouette that I've posted on here before in it's more casual form. I love silhouettes. Nie nie loves them too and some day I'm going to have a wall just like hers. I sent one to said curious-sister-in-Denmark and I also made one of a little princess, daughter of said Liv-who-says-quirky-things-that-rub-off-on-me. I also learned a new skill in photoshop called 'clip masking'. I think that's what it's called. Basically it's like stenciling or maybe screen printing. You have solid shape and then you can fill it with a pattern...

From this:

to this:

Cute eh? I'm totally digging it. I've been sifting through pictures trying to find good profiles of loved ones. Not much luck yet. This one is still precious though:

I love that noggin.

One week down...

I can count on two hands how many weeks are left of this summer and then (hopefully) we'll be on our way.

Stuart got a phonecall this past week from the school in California that he applied to. The call was from his school financial adviser telling him they have all his application stuff and are considering accepting him for this fall - September! We're both SUPER excited. He'll go to school year round and we should be done in 3 years. It feels good to feel like we're moving forward again. Maybe someday we actually will start a family!

There's probably only about 4 or 5 weeks work left at Jansport and then we'll spend a week in Oregon. The countdown is on for us. Let's hope my leg gets better fast!

I don't think I mentioned "the leg" yet. I've been putting off blogging mostly because of that one thing. Basically I've been in extreme pain all week due to my leg. It feels like the whole thing is cramped and squeezing at my nerves. I'm not sure what to do. Amputation? I pray that I wake up and it's gone just like how I woke up and it was there. - not my whole leg but the pain.

Yesterday Stuart took me out to buy some books because I've been whining about having nothing to read since I finished "I capture the castle" a few weeks ago. (I found another copy of that and bought it up for my mum. I love it a lot.) He bought me a good selection and I've made it through one already. "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson. I loved it. I've been trying to discover what kind of books I like to read because when I stand in a book shop I become overwhelmed and a bit frustrated not knowing what I'm looking for. After reading this book I think I can say I thoroughly enjoy historical fiction. I have to give an extra star to a book that makes me cry. This one made me cry a tear or two. (Linzi, I think you'd like it. It's set in Montana for the most part :)

That's pretty much all I've been up to this week. Next weekend is Stuart's birthday so I'm sure I'll have more to report then if not before :)

A treat for you:

So, my good friend Wendy AKA Blue Lily is hosting a pretty rad giveaway. You need to check it out. Basically it involves a photoshoot, a 24 x 30-something canvas, a disk of 20 pics, a free meal (brilliant)... Tallied up the value of this shindig is $940.

Is that not mental?

Check out her post to see how to enter.

You want it.

Not convinced you really want it? Check out her portfolio - and turn on your speakers whilst you're at it.

Four Play

Why vote you say...

You have made a young girl's dream come true... she's not terribly young, like a child... or younger than me but she is a girl. A grown up girl. A grown up girl with a dream fulfilled! All thanks to you! Emma wants to thank you herself.

You are all my favourite!

Now I'm off to make that peach pound cake that stole first place - kidding!

To win! Alwaaaays to WIN!

This one isn't for me. It's the most unselfish plug I've ever done.
Go here and vote for Racincake.
You won't be sorry.
The only way you will be sorry is if you don't do it.
I'll punch you.