A Fun Project.

Thought it might be fun to create a project as a gift for Stella's teacher. Fun because Stella and I could do this together. Some background on me. I am a perfectionist, if it's to be done right, it's to be done by me and me alone, period! Obviously once Stella got old enough, that mentality had to go out the window, but my attitude did not. I can remember putting a project together with her when she was about 3 for Halloween and finally she looks at me with her little face and says, "I know momma, you do it yourself." What a horrible mother I was. I've gotten a little better since then, at least now I let her do more and then I try to "fix" it when she is in bed, then she is none the wiser.

I was cruising around in bloggy land and stumbled upon this little gem. It is only the coolest site I've seen in some time and was the source of this amazing and oh so simple project that we created TOGETHER for her teacher. I also went to Starbucks and purchased some cinnamon something almonds and a special gift card for the girl who is giving Stella some extra help in class. Tomorrow is the big party and this is the big gift. Have a great night!

Changes Are Coming.

With the new year only about 2 weeks away, I thought I'd start to make small changes beforehand and get a jump on all that new year, new your mumbo jumbo. One of them is with this blog. I've toyed with letting it go altogether, but realize that there are often times that I need this blog, so on it will continue. However, it's focus is going to shift a bit, but only a bit. I've decided to try to really focus on more creative pursuits and maybe a little less bitching, but we'll see about that. I've been dealing with difficulties with Stella both with her attitude and her learning curve at school, so I need to find strength to overcome my frustrations with her and hopefully this can be a place I'll seek solace, confidence and friends who've been through it before. So, I look to you bloggy and real friends for your support and advice.

I will be taking this Thursday morning off work to attend Stella's kindergarten Christmas party. I'll be spending the entire time with approximately 24 five year olds, yes I am crazy! A friends mother suggested that, for reasons of bonding, I take Stella to the Bulk Food store and buy some candy and treat bags so she could make a few gifts. I thought it was a great idea and, why not just do it for the party. She had a good time buying the candy and then packing each of the bags. I pretty much let her do it all, which is a big BIG step for this neurotic momma.

So, here they are in all their glory, 29 beautifully stuffed treat bags! She will have so much fun Thursday and all with her loving mommy.

Yeah For Winners!

I've been absent but ever busy. School and my schedule is kickin' my butt. Alas I will persevere. On to the winner of the 250 business cards, sorry Richard, but Mary is the winner as Stella liked her usage of the word "fabulous," she loves the big words. Mary, you will get 250 of the best quality, fastest delivered and in general best customer serviced business card via Uprinting! I only use them now, as I had a bad experience with a competitor and when I realized I would not be receiving my order in time for my event, promptly cancelled that order and reordered them from Uprinting and received said item today just in time for my event tomorrow evening. Let me know if you need help with your cards, I'm glad to be here for you! I'm hoping to giveaway something amazing next, be on the lookout for the next one.

Halloween was cold but fun. We had our friends the Guthrie's over and my parents. Stella was a cute little bee and she even wore a cute black and yellow tutu which I made with my own little hands. Mr. Cohen was a pirate for all of maybe 10 minutes, but cute nonetheless.

As for school, I honestly don't know if I'd be making it through without the help of my amazing hubby, he knows his stuff and I can't wait until next semester is over and he finds a job he truly loves with web design. Strange, but every now and then I have this glimmer that we'll start a business for ourselves, who knows but I'm open to the possibilities. Aren't we all?

You Could Win 250 Business Cards Totally Free!!

Finally back and offering some freebies. If you don't know about Uprinting yet, you'd better get on board. I can't sing their praises enough! They are the only place I go to print my clients business cards and I have yet to have a dissatisfied customer. This particular freebie is from Uprinting and you can get 250 business cards absolutely free including free shipping. Now, who can beat that? And, you're not limited to standard sizes. They also have 2"x3", 2"x2" the square card and my new personal favorite, the 1.5"x3.5" all the cool kids are doing it skinny card. And, you also have a choice between glossy, matte and uncoated. And, even better, full color on both sides. That's crazy you say, NOPE, this is how Uprinting rolls.

In order to enter and win, tell me how you'd use 250 FREE business cards and I'll let Stella pick the winner according to what she thinks is the best idea. :) My contest ends this Friday at midnight, good luck everyone.

A Blog is A Blog of Course, of Course...

And no one is talking to my blog it seems. That's why I haven't been posting. Although I am guilty of the same behavior, so slap my hand. Things are still busy around here and while I'd like to think I'm getting used to the schedule, I think I still have a while before I learn to wake up early like a grown up should. I struggle with it because I stay up way too late and then find it hard to get up when I need to. Stella isn't late, but I on the other hand always am. You wouldn't know that I was raised by a man that thinks you are late to work if you only show up 5 minutes early. :)

Creatively, things are flowing like never before. It's amazing to me how a few years of bad jobs can really throw off your game, and while working where I do is NOT ideal, it does free me up to take on other ventures. My Vegas client even said that by the second or third quarter of next year, he's hoping to offer me a full time job working remotely to Vegas from Michigan. Again, not my ideal job, but it would definitely make life around here a bit easier to stomach. I also have a new company I am working with and things are going well there too. I do have one client that it won't surprise me if he lets me go, but if I'm to be honest, it wouldn't hurt my feelings. I may be able to create something from nothing, but I'm no psychic. I can't hear what you don't say and I don't read minds. He is the nicest man, but asks me to do things like I know what he's asking for. For example, what if someone came to you and said we want to do a Coke ad??????? OK? What do you want it to say? What is the important info? Do you have text? So incredibly frustrating. :( And then, he'll criticize (nicely) what the outcome is, my fragile ego can't take that sometimes. I'm sensitive. 

Halloween is starting to creep it's way into our home and we've even started buying items to make costumes. Stella wants to be a bumble bee and Cohen will be an ice cream "Cohen," french vanilla of course. I have a few projects in mind for the holiday so if I get to them, I'll take some pics. Enjoy your day, I know I will because I'm working from home today!! Yeah for little white lies. ;)

Busy Busy Days

Been a busy girl adapting to my new schedule. Stella started kindergarten on Friday and Matt was called back to work for the day after Labor Day. Getting him back in the mind set was no picnic I will tell you, but I am thankful at least for the moment that he is back. It means more money and health insurance for all of us. I will tell you, getting him back there created quite the fight between us, but that is for another day. :)

But, since Matt is no longer home, I am the one who does everything during the day. Let me just tell you my schedule is hellacious. I spend about 4 hours a day in the car three days a week and I only drive to Livonia for work. I am taking 2 classes, on Monday and Tuesday mornings. Luckily my friend Kelly is willing and able to pick Stella up from school at 11:34am on those days as I am still in school at that time. I don't know how you ladies do it. The whole working and taking kids to and from or even simply just the to and from. She doesn't even have any extracirriculars and I'm already done. Off to do more work, later.

Coming Out of The Fog.

I'm feeling better today and that's surprising for a rainy Monday. Here is my short list of reasons to be happy today:
1. A tough client phoned me yesterday to say that the job we have been working on for about 2 months is done and he is approving the proofs to be printed!! (My lord, this is the one project that I just feel like I gave birth too, sans epidural.)
2. I applied to a part time teaching position at a local community college and I hope they call me, I would love the chance to see what it's like to teach college before I actually go out to get my Masters. Fingers and all bits (as Jenn would say) are crossed.
3. My birthday is Saturday!!
4. I updated my portfolio for the first time since March!!
5. We had to rearrange our kitchen due to some water/heat damage, not too bad, probably wouldn't even notice it if I didn't point it out to you, but I noticed it. I know you shouldn't typically be happy about home repairs, but I love a project and look at it as the how little can I spend on this kitchen challenge??

Explanations:
1. This client is a friend and while it's been stressful for both of us, he is happy, I am happy and he and his wife want to do dinner with Matt and I as a way of acknowledging that this project is finally finished. Amen.
2. Even though I only have my Bachelors degree, I am allowed to teach a college level course in graphic design because it is a technical skill. The position pays quite well, so it would really benefit us in more ways than one. Maybe it could even tie itself into completing task #5 (kitchen problem) too.
3. Don't you just love birthdays? Even though we most likely won't be able to do anything fancy, it's still my day.
4. I desperately needed to rejuvenate my portfolio lastnight for this morning just in case the people from the College I applied to even consider looking into giving me a shot. Wish me luck.
5. OK, who puts Pergo flooring in a place where both heat and water are a given??? Anyway, our thoughts are that while the rest of the house is hardwood anyway, the ugly Pergo like flooring looked stupid butted up against the other flooring. So, we think we're going to go with a black and white checkerboard pattern!! Yeah, great idea Matt! And, then we'll probably paint, not sure what colors yet and then maybe even make curtains and paint our kitchen table chairs, they so don't match now. We had to store our old larger table because we had to move the fridge into the area where our table is. I feel so ghetto now! Oh well, gotta do whatch gotta do.
Keep on keepin' on!

On The Road Again.

Been neglectful of the old blog here, but I've been super busy yet again. Trying to get a job printed right for a client who can be a tad bit picky. It will get done, maybe not exactly to their specifications, but it will still look great. One more day of stuff that I've obligated myself to do and we're off on a short vacation. Garden City is having it's first annual Downtown Days celebration and I am a part of that. I created a logo for them, Matt completed the design of a new website for them just in time and we even volunteered at the kickoff event. Tomorrow from 4-8pm I will be helping to head up a kids craft tent behind Albert's On The Alley. Should be fun, but when I get home I have to bake cookies, bake brownies and pack my stuff and the kids stuff. 

Saturday morning about 7am, we're heading off to Chicago for a family reunion. No, we're all from Michigan, but my aunt and uncle live there and thought it was a good excuse for everyone to travel. Thankfully for me I had work come in and pay at the right time and here we are preparing to head off. It should be a nice time for all of us and I've promised Stella, absolutely NO COMPUTER for me and she is thrilled. I borrowed a friends portable DVD player and bought the Coraline DVD, we should be good to go. 

It's 1am, I have a long day ahead of me, good night all.

Oh yes and to those of you on Facebook who wondered why I defriended my SIL, this is why. Matt and I work very hard to do what little we can do with our kids at the moment, but yes we owe his mom and my mom a small some of money. The other day Matt let his mom know we were going this weekend and she tried to make him feel guilty by saying "well we never went anywhere, why should you!!" I have not gone anywhere fun since February 2003 before I got pregnant with Stella and damnit, we NEED a vacation and I'll be damned, it's a family reunion. So on Facebook the other day, I vented and said that just once I'd like to be able to do something without the least bit of guilt. VOILA, that's all it took, my SIL basically tattled on me, telling her mom and leaving me no choice but to defriend. I felt invaded and stabbed in the back. She doesn't work, sleeps all day and basically has nothing to do all day but worry about what other people are saying, I'M DONE feeling guilty and if she wants to have an honest and frank discussion about our situation, she's invited over to discuss, but I can't live like this anymore. I am tired of being judged for what I think, what I say and what I do. I like to say what's on my mind, I'm often mildly inappropriate and don't take too well to criticism. There, I said it, I AM HUMAN and damnit, don't treat me like a piece of shit. Does that tell you anything?

I'm Not Gone.

Just in case you were wondering, not abandoning this blog for the new blog, just adding a new one. I wanted a place to track my progression because I think it's going to be a worthwhile journey to document. Things have been pretty normal on the home front with a BBQ with my in-laws on the 4th. They came over, weird as they are, I know they mean well. Matt's sister just doesn't really understand that I think she stresses Stella out. It's like when they are over here, Stella is supposed to stop being 5 years old and wanting to play with her friends and only hang out with family. She just got to the point on the 4th where she ran in the house crying and I had to follow her in and let her know that we are the bosses around here, not Aunt Sarah. Sarah even got all riled up when I invited my friend Julie, who's on bed rest and having her baby on July 21st, and her husband over to watch our fireworks. And, she got bent out of shaped when the little kids in the neighborhood came over with there chairs to hang out too. Eventually she loosened up and went with the flow, but every time they come over we have to start over. It's stressful for me too. Oh well, it's my cross to bare. Cohen is rolling over all the time now and stands pretty well when you hold him up. It's only a matter of time before he's crawling and pulling himself up. 

Lately I've really been itching to scrapbook. So, I ordered some prints from as many places as I could find that offered a bunch of free and cheap prices. I have so far ordered from 4 different places for a total of about 500 pictures and only spent $45. I sorted through all my patterned papers to find ones to give Julie and then I'm going to pick up a boy album for her. Since she's on bed rest she's been wanting to get ready to scrapbook the photos of her baby to be. We talked lastnight and I offered to get her an album and the next thing I know they're offering us a television. After Cohen was born our hand me down tv died and all we had was a small 12" one. Well, this is beyond generous at 27" and instead of being a standard screen, it's flat. We have been blessed in so many small ways this year, maybe instead of lamenting the bad things, I need to stitch together all the wonderful little things.

Follow Me.

If you are interested at all in all the ins and outs and steps and such for me on my journey to receiving my MFA, I have started a new blog. It can be found at Destination: MFA and will also contain all things that inspire me along the way. Thanks for all your reading. It doesn't look pretty yet, but it will.

Brooke

MFA Bound.

I'm actually doing it. I met with the graduate adviser at Eastern Michigan University and I will be making my submission in early February of 2010. So, what happens now? Work, and lot's of it, all while in conjunction with the endless trail of what I already do everyday and quite possibly taking 3 classes at Schoolcraft College to get some web design skills. Stupid? Smart? Tired.

I have plans to meet with an old professor to discuss my current work, where in I know he will challenge not only me but my work. Good! I am looking forward to it. A wise woman once told me that without frustration you would not overcome anything. Bring on the frustration. 

I know this sounds weird or pretentious, but my goal is to teach, but also to mold people who are interested in design. I know that I spend entirely too much time in front of my computer and it is my challenge to tear myself away from it from time to time, but that is the part of me that knows I want to/can teach! Also, if I could throw in to the mix getting published, writing a book and holding gallery show, bring it on!

I will keep you posted and may even possibly have an additional blog showcasing my journey to my MFA. Thanks to everyone who reads this crap, I read your words and stay inspired. Thanks for all the support. :)

Signs of My Time

Stella's party was a success! In spite of colder temps, overcast skies and a few obnoxious neighborhood girls, she had a wonderful birthday party. The present du jour this year was the Hannah Montana Barbie doll she received from her Aunt Yaya and Uncle Paul, her excitement over this doll was all over her face. The next day however, we paid dearly for allowing her to stay up past her bed time, and for the intake of sugar and "treats" as well. Bed time is not just a number in our house, it is a lifestyle. We all do what works for each of us and we know that if Stella is not sleeping by 9pm, the next day she is a wreck, crying at the least little thing and unable to focus the entire day. Cohen however is verging on not being able to stay up past about 6:30, he's my little party animal.

This week has been very introspective for me. Remember back a post or two when I talked about wanting to teach? Well, I've been gearing myself up to go back to school at Schoolcraft for web design with the idea in mind that I simply wanted a better job, that paid well and maybe offered some decent benefits. I never thought it would be a problem "getting in" to Schoolcraft though, I never bargained for that. Turns out, if you already have an associates from that school in the same program, you'll be hard pressed to get any aid at all (I can't get FAFSA money as I already have my undergraduate degrees) from the school. So, our work around is me achieving my Web Specialist Certificate instead. I had to write a little letter to the Financial aid department explaining my situation and now it will take them 2 weeks to make a decision. Fingers are crossed.

While contemplating this new "situation" I realized that in order to achieve my real dream, I would need much more than improved skills in web design, I NEEDED my MFA. So, I'm starting on this journey. I've looked into a few, but Eastern looks the best suited for my needs. Close to home (sort of), I don't have to be a full time student, they take more than 10 students per year and compared to Cranbrook and U of M it's less costly. One bright spot is that because of our current financial situations, it should make applying for financial aid next year be to my benefit, hopefully I'll get grants.

I just know this is something I MUST do, since losing my job after Cohen was born, I can see how my work has improved in leaps and bounds. I'm not bragging by any means, it's just that working for someone where all you could do was emulate there style for three years, left no room for creativity and not time or desire to do anything for myself either. And then before that, I worked for a marketing company and I didn't have the drive to do anything outside of work to further myself. I was young and thought, "I have my career now, there's no need to do any extra." Boy was I wrong, I might be a lot further along if I never had that attitude.

So, lot's to think about here, but I know some day I want to teach and I guess be able to say that I have my MFA, I guess it's the equivalent of a doctorate. I'm happy right now. :)

Big Bash Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is Stella 5th birthday party. She officially turned 5 on the 9th, but since she was in preschool this year, figured it might be fun to invite her little friends from school to swim and have a little cake. Speaking of swimming, what's with this weather? Is the May or June? I have no idea if it will even be warm enough to swim tomorrow, bummer. And, geez, what's with people not RSVPing? So far I've had one no and 2 yes. Hmmmm, what to think about the other 13 children that were invited, SCARY! We also have friends and family coming, so all is not lost. Stella won't care as long as someone comes. :)

Took her to the doctor today and she is just big, in all manners of speaking. The doctor says her weight is ok, and that as long as she stays the same by next year she'll fall right in line with her height. She is 95th percentile for her height and the doc said the size of a 6 or 7 year old, this I figured. And so, people will expect more of her based on how she looks or think she is not very smart. And, she may need glasses, poor kid. :( Apparently Matt got glasses in kindergarten and I think both of my brothers did as well.

It was funny tonight we went to Plato's Place for dinner and the waitress suddenly said, "oh my god, he looks just like that baby from The Incredibles," pointing at Cohen. This made me laugh out loud as I have said this to Matt and Stella on more than one occasion.

OMG, I fed, or rather, tried to feed him peaches tonight and he would have none of it. I was telling the doctor about his #2 issues and she suggested starting peaches, even before veggies. In a word, HATE, and that isn't too strong a word either. Even 15 seconds after having tasted, his little body would shiver in disgust. I tried mixing it with cereal too and UCK, hell no. He even refused the bottle, choosing instead to get to bed. Such a sweetie!

Well, I should get to chilling out as all the housework is done, food buying is complete aside from Cake and ice. I need my rest, because if it rains, I need not be stressed if I am tons of people in my itty bitty house.

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Another Winner & More!

My lovely cousin Lorrie won my last giveaway since none of ya'll even bothered to enter. She will receive a beautiful poster print made from her choice of photo. Check them out, they also doing some amazing things with canvas prints! Lorrie wasn't just the only entrant, she also made a very compelling argument and in my heart would have won no matter what. So Lorrie, I truly hope Esteban enjoys his Father's Day gift. In Kroger news, I found out last Monday that I was a "potential top ten winner" and I will find out for sure if and what I've won by about this Wednesday, can't be sure absolutely though. I am very excited as over 37000 folks entered the contest. But, let's face it, most of the designs sucked!!! LOL If indeed I do win the top prize, you are all invited to a BBQ once I receive the gift card. Hell, I have a 1 in 10 chance of taking the top prize, why not me?

Matt and I are currently dabbling with Vinyl and a vinyl cutting machine. I am going to be adding to my Etsy shop or potentially opening a new shop, not sure how that will work. But I am going to focus for the moment on laptop decals. Here is one I

 just made and LOVE. 

Let me know if you know anyone who would dig something like that and of course, beside E.T. I will be putting together some other lovelies and are more pretty and abstract too. I want a real variety that appeals to many people. Maybe I'll post again tomorrow.

Switching Gears!

Been feeling lost lately, hence, no time for blogging, well, aside from the last 2 giveaways. Aren't they fun? I've been doing a lot of soul searching and trying to come to some positive conclusions and I think I'm slowly stumbling towards clarity. I work for a local community college and on an almost daily basis am referred to as "the helper.?" I'm 31 years old and have 10 years of graphic design experience so feel that I am well beyond the condescending title. With that title, for all intents and purposes, I could be an elf working for Santa. Anyhow, I've decided quite recently that in order to improve our life, I too must go back to college. Nowadays it's not enough to have an Associates and a Bachelors degree, you need to continue to educate. I'll be taking web design classes and I think that within two semesters I could most likely get a much better job. However, it occurred to me today that I think I would like to, in time, position myself to be a full time professor at this college. Honestly, it surprised even myself. Those of you who don't know me don't know that my mother is a teacher and for me, it was the LAST vocation I ever thought of pursuing because I saw how hard it was for her in the beginning. But, she was teaching junior high, much more difficult than college students. So, that's where my mind has been. It didn't help today that I saw 2 folks I went to high school with working at the college also and just based on appearance alone, I felt reduced to that 9th grade inferior feeling fat girl who knew someday she would succeed. Welp, here she is still, proud of her accomplishments, but knowing deep down that she is not done yet. I have this drive inside of me that is unrelenting and unforgiving, maybe I need to loosen up huh?

Ah, my beans...

Cohen is growing so fast. He's been moody lately, maybe he's getting a tooth. Stella's been quite introspective and questioning things in 

a way that I can appreciate. I love my kids. They are good in heart. Stella is very kind and would NEVER hurt anyone. Cohen is sweet and always smiling. God I love life right now.

ANOTHER GIVEAWAY! Just in time for Father's Day.

We all love our hubbies and fathers, and wouldn't you like to surprise him with a gift that will make his heart melt? How about an 18 x24 Print of yourself, your child, a special place you know he'll just love, ANYTHING! Here is the company that's offering this amazing deal and once again it's absolutely FREE. They do amazing work with poster prints and you will be so pleased to have won such a prize. Get this, they even offer canvas prints. I think some time soon, I've got to try that, I've got an amazing photo I'd love to see on canvas.

Ok, so how do you win? Tell me about the photo or image you'd love to have blown up to 18 x 24 and I will let Stella decide who's got the best and most amazing idea. I will announce my winner next Friday evening, June 5th. Also, if you want a second chance to win and you have a blog, please post about this giveaway and link back to www.digitalroom.com and you will have double the chances of winning. Alright, NOW enter.

Here's The Haps.

Ok, I have been bad about posting, BUT with good reason and I'll tell you why.
But first, I must announce the winner of the free business cards. Miss Sue!! Sorry, Jenn, but I figured since I've done business card printing for you already, and Sue has a sweet Etsy shop and well I've never had the chance to do a card for an Etsy shop owner. So, I'm sure you understand Jenn. Of course though, I thank the both of you for being the sole entrants of my contest. :P to everyone else who chose not to enter. I have been crazy busy. Here's a list.
1. Participating in contests here.

2. Busily making 15 flip flop invitations which I will take a picture of when all is said and done to show. I will be making 10 more, but 15 had to go to school tomorrow for last day of preschool.

3. Making 2 apple chipboard books for Stella's teachers, SO CUTE. I will also shoot a photo of these when I'm done.

4. We bought a pool for Stella (*for me really). Filling it up as I type. 

5. Getting prepared to do a lot of work for my Vegas client.

So, not a whole lot of time to be here.

But, for #1 on the list, the latest contest I lost. I was designing the look of a Twitter page, shown temporarily here to reflect what I created. Although I lost the contest whose prize was $300, I did however gain them as a client and they want me to work with them on their marketing campaign. I CANNOT wait. Obviously a much bigger prize was had by this loser. That's all for now, I am still to be finished with items #2 and #3 on my list up there.

Later ya'll.

*GIVEAWAY ALERT!! FREEBIE including free shipping!!

*Update*

For anyone interested, I can design your cards if you like, FREE of charge in the spirit of my giveaway. Good luck everyone!

Do you need business cards? How about 500 of them, and they're all FREE, including free shipping? Well, tell me why you NEED free business cards and I will pick a winner next Wednesday at noon! Anyone may enter, however, if you live outside of the US or Canada, you must pay shipping. This giveaway is being sponsored by

and if you are ever in need of business card printing, they are the guys to use. I personally have used them for mine and I can't say enough good things about them. OK, so there are 2 ways that you can win this prize. One, simply enter a comment on my blog, telling me just how creatively you would use this prize. And 2, write a post of your own about my contest in which you must link back to my blog and link to www.uprinting.com. Do one, do both, do nothing, but won't you be sad if you don't win because you didn't try?

Nothing else could be simpler! Now, get to it.

I Won, I Won!

I can't believe it, and it came at just the right time, but I won my very first design contest and got $200 to boot. Here it is, check it out. I'm so happy! Can't you see me smiling? Cheer everyone, have a great weekend, we are tremendously busy! Wedding today and kids birthday party at Chuck E Cheese tomorrow, oh great fun.

Not Ignoring...Swearsies!

Been keepin' busy trying to make extra money. I was offered a position for our downtown development authority but decided that I wasn't quite ready to sell my soul just yet for nothin'. I have been here a lot in the last week. They have these really cool design contests and while I haven't won anything yet, I have come very close. :) Not to mention I feel like I'm really amping up my portfolio and getting some really good feedback. Stella and Cohen are growing like weeds. Stella will be 5 June 9th and Cohen will be 4 months on Sunday. OMG, it feels like just yesterday that I pushed that kid out at the speed of light! But, I just got the bug to have another, someone please take my temperature, I must have a fever causing delusions. Matt is about to enter finals week, yeah. But, he won't be officially done until next semester, a couple more classes he wants to take, but he'll be looking for a job shortly I'll have you know. GMAC modified our mortgage, it's pretty good too, my only complaint is that it is still an adjustable rate, but it won't adjust until 2014! That's it for now, I will be back, never fear, you know I love you.

Snow Day, Snow Emergency.

Rough day for me, probably because it was a Monday and it frickin' snowed, but we won't go there. Haven't posted in a while because I've been feeling lost. I'm not sure how it is for other professions, but I imagine everyday work issues are not quite the same as in graphic design. I'm not saying that other professions don't have it more or less difficult, but what I am saying is that sometimes it sucks to be a graphic designer. I am always selling myself to someone and I'm having to keep up on everything that is current and trendy, which I'm horribly bad at lately, and I'm always having to improve myself and appear hip and with it. Anyone that knows me knows that I am neither hip nor with it, BUT, I do know what I like. I am not lamenting who or what I am and I am so grateful to be a mother of 2 very healthy kids, but I am so damn tired of the devoutly cool! Come on! Sleeping till noon, dinners out every night, staying up til 3am because you were "inspired." Please, real life and real hard work comes in between working your job and your child's nap or in the morning before your daughter wakes up with her list of demands or at the end of the night once she's gone to bed for the eighth time and it's 10pm and now you're forced to work until 1am because now you must get that job done. Never you mind what you had hoped to do for yourself today. Tell me, what makes a designer? Time? Coolness? Cigarette smoking? Obnoxious pontification about frivolous topics of conversation? Or, is it simply doing what you love because it's the only thing you think about other than the everyday aspects of your life? Something inside me knows the truth is what I hope for, maybe someday I will be confident in that. :)

Oh My Aching Back.

Put my back out on Saturday and I'm still dealing with the pain. I can sit and sleep, I just can't walk for very long standing up straight. I hate going to thechiropractor, I think it's creepy, but in this case, I know that I must. My chiropractor while very kind, makes me feel sort of uncomfortable, he's almost flirty if that makes sense. The bad part, he's a real throw back to the 80's, I'm talking he's got butt hair and molester glasses. Basically I've got a pinched nerve in my spine and it's been a year since it's acted up, and so it goes. I have however spent the better part of yesterday and today sitting in front of my laptop creating a poster for Garden City's first ever Art Festival (fingers crossed it actually materializes) and I've been busy. With the back pain I can't even pick up Cohen, so sure it will send my back into convulsions, so I sit and I'll feed, but someone has to transport the little man for me. Anyway, here is the poster, I'm proud of it. It's always fun to create something for a cause you can get behind. I take any and all chances I can to be creative lately. Even Saturday as we sat with the tax preparer, I offered to create some new business cards. She took me up on it and I'll be dropping off my business card to them some time this week. I'm trying.

Keeping Your Head Above Water.

I'm trying not to get bogged down in the everyday. It's hard though right when you watch the news and you hear them say how bad things are. "Alright, we get it already, times are tough," except for probably the folks who are actually reporting the news. Ironic huh? Maybe if the news reporters started only reporting on positive news stories and then only running a ticker at the bottom of the television to post the bad junk, then maybe people's vision of the world would improve. Maybe? Optimistic? I'm tryin'.

Friday we have our final home visit from Stella's preschool teacher. I know everyone grows up, but I'll really be sad when Mrs. Dunwell is not her teacher anymore. I too know that she will have other amazing teachers, but Stella has grown up so much in the last 8 months or so and I credit some of that to her saintly teacher. So, she will sit with us for 20 minutes or so and tell us how she has progressed according to her records. What that won't tell me, I can see with my own eyes, my baby has grown. Looking at her class picture that arrived about 5 weeks ago, I saw the face of a baby. Rounded and scared, school was very new to her. Now, probably a few inches taller and a longer leaner face, she is growing into a beautiful young lady, I am lucky. 

In my vein to be more creative again, I would like to make her teachers day planners. Using of course my stash of scrapbooking supplies. Since I am moving to digital scrapbooking (more on that later) I don't need as much "stuff." As I design, I will show pictures. I think I'm going to created the actual day planner info digitally and then print on blank paper. We'll see.

Work is good. It's a typical office, you have the worrier, the bitch, the nice guy boss, and various other characters. I believe that I am currently the "alli." My direct superior is almost continually complaining about her equal and referring to her as either foul or as an expletive that I will leave out here but it starts with an "a" and ends with a "hole." It doesn't make for a hostile environment, but it does feel like it's own little powder keg and you never know who has the match. What I'm frustrated with is the fact that I make a subpar wage at a College where they educate folks to get jobs just like the one I have. You'd think at least that they would consult the professors about what is an appropriate wage to pay a person of my expertise and vast experience. But, really the blame is all on me, I'm the poor shlub who had to take the job right? Today though, maybe the tides will turn. I have applied to a company that I am more than qualified to fill their position and it requires Department of Defense clearance. x) Kinda cool. I'm wondering if it would help me if I were to get an interview to inform them that my cousin was just appointed as a secret service agent. Hmmm....something to mull over I'd think.

Wish me luck to get an interview.

Past 10 Days In Review.

A. Stella is sick.

B. We're waiting for Cohen to get it.

C. Dealing with a difficult woman at the new job.

D. Cohen slept 8 hours straight one day last week.

E. GMAC is working with us at the moment to the tune of saving $400.

F. Scored a new client from Vegas.

G. Starting to say what I mean and sticking to it.

H. Tired of struggle.

I. Want what I deserve.

J. Proud of my portfolio.

K. Can't wait to show off my new business cards I designed. (*Later)

L. Hoping Matt finds an amazing job when he's done with school in May.

M. So happy to call Barack Obama my president!

N. Trying to get enough sleep these days.

O. Guess that's about it. 

Can I Use Your Toilet?

What a difference a week makes right? 

A new job that I love. GMAC has approved us for a partial loan modification, hopefully in the end, an entire modification. So far, $50 less per month. Funny how in these times negotiating your mortgage is like getting an interest rate lowered on a credit card. They lowered the rate by 2% on the one so far. 

There was promise for Matt with a job interview on the horizon, but he received an email from the employer asking when he could meet but was informed that it would only be part time. That's just crap. People are so afraid to hire someone full time, it's insane, how do companies think people can live on part time money? Then, Matt is supposed to call in for his unemployment on Wednesday's 

at 1pm, well he forgot. So he couldn't call until the next morning. I paid the insurance bill and of course, what happens, the unemployment check DOES NOT go in the bank this morning. So, we had to put a stop on the check. Then, my check doesn't go in the bank because I'm not "in the system" yet. WTF? Then, I get home from work and what should I find? Water filling up the street in front of 

my house. A WATER MAIN BREAK!!! And, now they have cut down our tree and still digging in the front yard and no one is allowed to poopie.

 Thank God Stella is spending the night at grandma and grandpa's. But, I'm still feeling positive. Things are looking up and I can see that, plus, with this little face smiling at me when I least expect it, I can't help but be comforted, right?

Happy Valentines Day!

Hope everyone has a romantic day! <3

I've Started My Etsy Shop!

In my small attempt to make extra cashola I have started an Etsy shop here. I am starting out with Etsy banners so far, but hope to drum up business creating logos and avatars. Hell, I'll do anything you need and it won't break your bank. Please check me out and if anyone needs something digital, please don't hesitate to ask me.

Thanks to everyone who has been silently supporting me. All your words of encouragement mean so much. :)

Something Good in All the Bad.

So, I've been trying to help us keep afloat on just whatever freelance work I can muster up, along with whatever hours are tossed my way (ahem: meager). Well, Matt goes to school 3 nights a week and on Thursdays he just adores his teacher. He learns a lot and she's just really a very nice person. On Sunday night, Matt gets an email from this teacher and says for me to forward my resume to her. I do and by Monday morning she asks me if I would like to come in to Schoolcraft with my portfolio so that she can talk to me about a part time job with the colleges marketing department. I was thrilled! While the money isn't going to save our house, it will however save my sanity and what's more important in the grand scheme of things right? I go in and good lord I just thought I totally flopped and she probably thinks I'm a wet blanket, untalented hack. I told Matt that if I did get the job, it would only because she likes him. That night I took the kids to Target to do our typical baby food and bunch of crap I don't need shopping trip and to my surprise when we got home and I checked my email, I got the "You're Hired" email. I was completely stunned, but so thrilled. It will only be part time, 8:30-12:30 Monday through Friday, but it will allow me to do my other job as well as work flows in, so all is not lost. Some how, some day we will own a home again, but at least until then, we won't be homeless. Fingers crossed anyway. :)

We Have Movement.

*Ah, may have been more of a bowel movement because something smells a lot like bull@&%t!

Don't know how monumental this is, but GMAC is working with us. We'll see. Matt said they told him that this month they decided that they won't wait until your behind to help you out. GREAT!!!! We always miss the boat on things. But, they want a list of all our monies that go out. It's funny, we were calculating everything and our list comes to 16 items that we spend money on including car payments, insurance, energy costs, phone, tv, internet, 3 credit cards all told just over $1000, groceries, gas, baby needs, 2 very small loans and the IRS. When we were first married we would have had to add to that at least 10 more credit cards. So sad we were. We've cleaned up our act, we've cut spending on all things, heck we didn't even formally shop for groceries as a way to cut costs this week. We aren't bad people, we just made a bad decision and now we are trying to get help. Is that so wrong? Now at least I have an ounce of hope, Matt however only has half an ounce. :)

He Smiled. It's All I Need Right Now.

I'm Sorry, I Was On A Hiatus.

I haven't abandoned everyone, just had some real issues that had to be dealt with. The long and the short of it? Welp, Matt and I and Stella and Cohen will be losing our house this year. :( It is devastating and sucks and nothing I ever imagined I would go through, but considering the circumstances, it is what it is. I won't be going into any details, but leaving it in the most legal way possible is the best choice for us, because our situation here is NOT improving with Matt still laid off, my hours greatly cut and both of us actively looking for work. We are as Matt says "now a statistic." 

One of the hardest parts of all of this for me is that like everyone, I strove to do better than my parents did. Both Matt and I have our bachelors degrees check 1 on my list, we own/owned our home check 2, we have two beautiful children check 3, but sadly and thankfully this is something my parents never had to go through. I. Have. Failed. :(

The bright spot? We have amazing friends, and you all know who you are. One set of these amazing people has offered up a home to rent to own for us, and mind you a fully updated home that was the childhood home of a very good friend. Sadly her father died and then her grandfather and so now her mother is moving from that home she shared with her now deceased husband and into the home of her now deceased father. Scott and Julie have agreed that they will rent this home to us for as long as it takes for us to own it. :) We had no idea what we would do before this option was presented to us, mostly just the greater hope of new and better employment. The home that we will call ours possibly as early as June will cost us a whopping $600 less per month, hallelujah! Taking so much strain off of our already delicate income. 

I cannot express to them enough how grateful we are about this and will probably annoy them so much with the amount of times I say thank you for saving my family and helping us stay together. You don't want to know what I thought our other options could be. 

As I know things I will post them here, mostly for myself for "memories" in the future of tough times, but also to show you why I was unable to keep up with my new download for everyday. I simply don't care anymore and now have bigger fish to fry.

It's A Hard Knock Life.

Matt and I currently have a VERY large decision to make. Either way we go, it's not a good or easy choice, but it is in fact a choice we HAVE to make. If anyone knows a lawyer that either doesn't charge much or would do a free consultation regarding real estate, I would be greatly indebted to you and would find some way to return the favor. Thanks everyone, just prey for us that things will turn out the way they are supposed to.

This Little Light of Mine.

I'm trying to let it shine. 

Things are not good at the moment.

I don't know how to go about recharging my battery or if I would be able to run better on some other form of energy. It doesn't seem to matter what I do in all aspects of life, it is never the right thing and it doesn't work the way I hope it will. I had hoped by this point in my life I'd be where I wanted to be, the way it is now is not how I imagined it. This sucks. 

It's An Obama Nation!

I will refrain from pontificating about what this day means as we are already aware of the magnitude and gravity of todays events. I will just say that I am a sensitive person and last week I even cried during an animated Disney movie, "Meet the Robinson's." In my defense it's about a little boy who is an orphan and when given the chance to go back in time to meet the mother who gave him up, instead chooses not to because his mother was really the woman who ran the orphanage. Come on your heartless if that is not touching and it made me think of Cohen, how people can give up their little babies I'll never understand. Anyway, while listening to the radio this morning they were talking about Martin Luther King Jr. and as the woman got choked up, so did I so I had to change the radio station. Then, as I was feeding little Coey, I caught Obama's actual speech and that got me quite a bit teary, I had to leave the room. It's not that I didn't want to cry so to speak, it's just that I feel silly. Am I weird as a white woman to feel positive emotions about such an impactful day? Would someone think it was not right for me to get these feelings because how could I truly understand what today means? I'm not sure, but what I do know is that for now I feel safe, at ease and happy. Something I have not felt, well, almost never about my country. 

And, for your viewing pleasure, Cohen in his new hat. And, anyone that knows Matt and his infamous hat, will truly appreciate this one. 

First Time In 4 Years.

I have been taunted the last day or two by my Yahoo "In Box." How is this possible you say?? Last night and this morning I received not one but 2 emails encouraging me "not to miss out" on seeing my very favorite musician in the entire universe perform live in Ann Arbor. I first discovered Ben Folds about 15 years ago I think just matter-of-factly listening to the radio with my friend. I instantly loved his style, mediocre voice and what he had to say. It spoke to me at a time when I felt no one knew who I was. It felt good to be able to align myself with someone, something tha I understood, even if only in small part. So, I even married someone miraculously whom resembled this person at least to me, not on purpose, but by sheer chance and fate. Funny how that works out. 

Anyway, we've both been to his shows I think 3 years in a row or so, I even won tickets one year, while working at my bosses house sitting on the commode, "can't believe I just typed that." But, I thought it was the coolest thing. He puts on an amazing show and if you are the least bit interested in his music, you should attend at least one show, it won't be your last. Sadly this year, I cannot justify the cost of the ticket, even though it is only $30.50 per ticket, a very small price to pay for such entertainment. And, really, I can't unload my children on my parents with Cohen only being not quite 7 weeks at that point. Even a doting grandparent would probably say "NO" to that request.

I guess what I'm saying is that this year there will at least be 2 extra seats left available to 2 lucky newbies to discover the true joy of Ben Folds experience. Have a great time, I'll be dieing of jealousy.

Revising Plans

Call me what you will, slacker, lier, fibber. I am all those things. I have been caught up in the stresses of life right now, some scary realities and yes, some lack of determination. All this along with my baby love at my side or on my hip, both proverbially and actually. He is pretty much an appendage from about 9am until 9pm or so. As much as I strive to put him down, he strives to rest his head on my heart and who am I to complain. 

So, my plans have had to suffer a bit and I am being forced to revise my plans on creatng a new download every day. So, for the moment I am planning on doing one per week. For now though I leave you with yet another childhood photo of me, my grandma and a couple of old, old, OLD friends from elementary school.

What's funny about this picture aside from our wardrobes and hairstyles, I actually almost got into my first and only physical fight with another girl over this very dress that I am wearing. You see, this is a photo taken at my 6th grade graduation. A couple weeks before this I went to a friends house and she showed me the dress she was going to wear to our graduation. When I went shopping with my mom at the ever fashionable JCPenney, I spotted the very dress she bought and also purchased it and wore it the same day. She freaked out. And after that summer upon entering Junior High and the ever horrible 7th grade, through other people, she declared that she wished to fight me over this. I was mystified, never had this happened to me before or since, but somehow I got out of it, probably with the help from friends, but I've never forgotten about it and will probably pass along the advice to Stella in the future. Funny.

A Glimpse Into My Past.

Over the last week or so I have been color correcting some of my moms old photos of my brothers and myself when I stumbled upon this little gem.

Me in my circa 1977 stroller complete with all the dangerous crap manufacturers compiled into one contraption. Note first the metal bar within close proximity to my itty bitty mouth fully capable of bashing the teeth out of my head. Not to mention all the fun little pinch points for little fingers to fit in between. In addition, this thing looks like it could topple forward if I were to lean too far over. Great job moms of the seventies, how did we survive with these dangerous "baby items" and sleeping on our stomachs?

Curious Cohen, The Curious Little Monkey...

Matt was holding Cohen last night feeding him and when I saw how he looked, I did not hesitate and took his picture.

Doesn't he look just like one of those baby monkeys?

I'm #3!

Alright, here's the moment I'VE been waiting for for the last week or so. I've never been so excited to be slated as #3. Yeah Brooke, I feel like I'm finally on the map. Thanks Erin, you rock the mic!! :)

Check me out!

#6 Download - Tiny Notes, Big Love

Today I will be featured on Design For Mankind and so I wanted to create a new download. I decided to create little Valentines cards that can be downloaded. Since Stella is in preschool, the subject of Valentines has already come up. These are tiny at a folded size of 1.75" x 2.75" I thought they might be nice little notes to place in your hubbies lunch bag in the morning for an afternoon pick me up, maybe slide in that crushes desk at work or just something "small" to mail to a loved one. I love tiny things that are cute, like my little Cohen. Pint sized treasures. Please enjoy!

Get them right here!

I Been Slackin'!

But, who could blame me when you have this face to stare at each and every moment. I've also gotten a little work thrown my way, and I can use anything at all at the moment. Be sure to check in tomorrow. I am hoping to have a cool download because I will be featured on Design for Mankind as part of a Friday Round Up. Not sure exactly what will be said, but I'm hoping it creates a little traffic to my blog and maybe some interest in my work as an illustrator. So, I'm hoping to be a busy little beaver, as long as the little guy participates.

#5 More Paper

These are some papers I did like a year ago, but rediscovered tonight. I had done them for submission to a company but didn't love them and never did submit them. They are simple, but they appeal to me. Maybe they will to you as well. This will have to do for today. Have some little lovelies I need to work on for a project with my Los Angeles contact (yes, I am that cool!) Then hopefully tomorrow it will be new business. Chow.

Oh Yeah, here's the link!

The Fourth Times An Alphabet

I decided to go with an alphabet because I personally like alphabets and secondly, it was pretty easy to get done in the time I was alloted. I used Century Gothic and a set of spray paint grunge brushes from Deviant Art. Not completely original, but it is what it is. Sort of ran out of steam today. I do hope though that you'll enjoy.

Get it here. 

Stella said something funny the other day. We were in the car just making conversation and I asked her if she was going to go to college. She said "No, I'm gonna be a mermaid!" So, today were talking about going to France and seeing artists and I mentioned to her that she could go to college and make art all the time and paint. She got a very excited look on her face and said, "I change my mind, I want to be an artist, not a mermaid!"

Number Three: Late, But As Promised.

Here is another paper. I know, sort of a cop out, but I've been really tired, what with a newborn and a 4.5 year old to take care of. Is anyone enjoying any of this. Please, let me know if you've done anything with this beyond downloading it. I would love to know. 

I call this one, "The Forest For The Trees" and, grab it here, as for the brushes used, I cannot take the credit and have misplaced the peoples names, but I found them here at Deviant Art, it's a great website for all things creative, check it out. Of course, if I ever do turn around and sell it, I cannot include those brushes and will indeed have to come up with my very own grunge brushes. I can do that, I've just been lazy. 

Well, I hope you like it.

Just A Funny.

Matt sent this picture to me, just made us laugh. Reminds us of Stella.

Whoop Dee Doo, Here's Number 2!

As promised, here is the next download. So far, so good. It's a 12x12 digital scrapbooking paper in which I expanded upon the previous wood grain bird theme. Please enjoy. Now, you can strictly use this digitally or if you have a large format printer, this should print out quite nicely there too. Of course, your paper won't include pictures of me! You can find the download here. 

In baby land, we are doing fine. He's still sleeping most of the time, so I'm able to go about most of my daily business. He does occasionally freak me out with strange noises he makes and he even made sounds like he was laughing today, twice. Now, I know that newborns don't laugh, but it did seem to sound that way. Welp, I'm tired it's 1am and my shift is over, I took the first shift and Matt is taking the second. Ahhh, here's to sleeping in a little tomorrow. 

First Creative Pursuit of The Year.

I'm trying to start rebuilding my portfolio, well, because I'm bored with myself and need the creative stimulation. So, for my first of hopefully many future *FREE* downloads, here is a set of bird and wood grain inspired address labels.I made these using an Avery label template available here. Nope, not trying to help Avery make more money, just trying to see if anyone would actually use these and trying to make it easy for you, but I assume that these would fit on any standard 10 up 2x4 address labels. 

My little birdie address labels are available here for a limited time download. I will be sure to give a warning before I take them down.

Thanks for looking and I do hope you try it out. If so, please give me some feedback to let me know how they turn out.