sweet november: thankful

It's so simple really, but I'm truly thankful for how I feel right now. Last year at this time, I wouldn't have been able to say that. My new recently found health that seems to be pretty good, is something that I stumbled on randomly this last January. I've spent most of my life being, for lack of a better word, being sick. I lived on one prescription after another, month after month, trying to figure out what would help. Diagnosed with more than 5 chronic illnesses, I wondered how I would ever just be normal? How could I make plans when being sick kept me either in bed or at home 2 to 3 weeks a month? How would I be able to spend meaningful time with the kids? Then, while laying on the couch sick yet again one night, an idea popped into me head: I know what's been making me sick. From that moment on, much like a light switch being turned off, all of my 'chornic illnesses' were gone, problems that I've lived with almost since birth ~ no longer an issue. I cured myself - much to the disbelief of all my Dr.s - and I haven't been sick since. (Well, except for one time in Oregon, but I'm not going to count that, it was an accident.) I'll write more about this later on, it's such a long unbelievable story.

No longer being sick meant that we could start making plans and we started traveling - alot. Flagstaff, Tucson, San Diego, Oceanside, Nor Cal, Oregon, Pinetop and Sedona a few times. I've become the traveler I always wanted to be. Looking back on my blog this year, it looks more like a travel blog rather than a crafting blog. My absence on my own blog has been substantial as well. Before, I was always stuck at home, there was nothing else to do, so I would spend time crafting and blogging, but now I'm not home that much because I don't have to be. 

The kids have a healthy mom now too. I can make plans to be in their classroom without having to cancel the morning of. I can take them places and we can travel and explore together. I don't feel like I'm constantly missing out on their lives and that means so much to me. I really am grateful that I'm finally the healthy person I had always hoped I'd be - it took about 31 years to get to this point but I intend to make up for lost time. 

This year, and hopefully for the coming years, I'm thankful for my health.

sweet november: layered

Hi there! It's going to be a quick late night post today, there are little kids to get ready for bed and Alaina has her Endocrinology apt in the morning. (Never a fun a apt to go to as there's blood work involved and she invariably works herself into a panic the night before her apt. It's sad, she's 9 and has been doing this since she was born, she has Congenital Hypothyroidism, but it's still so upsetting for her and yet it has to be done. It's the part of parenting that brings on such an incredible amount of guilt. I think we loathe taking her to these apts. probably as much as she detests going. I really hope that one day it will get easier for her or just less stressful!) 

Today's prompt was layered. I originally intended to complete a couple of scrapbook layouts - but that certainly didn't happen today. Alaina and I ran errands for much of the day. I took her out for a 'girls day' of shopping and lunch - anything to take her mind off of tomorrow. So it's back to Polyvore ~ my trusty back up plan!  

grey by taraanderson featuring adjustable rings

We're getting ready.... I'm mentally preparing for a trip up North that we have scheduled for next month. Snow and sweaters, jackets and boots, I'm so excited. I've been putting together this mental list of cozy sweaters and really heavy jackets to bring along with us. Last year when we got off the train it was -9 degrees, this year I'll be ready for it! I made a quick collage using my favorite color: grey! Grey really is my happy color! 

I'm off, to take some notes and get kids into bed for the night.  

xo ~ Tara

sweet november: warm

 Today was gloriously cold. I woke up to a dark sky, a light drizzle of rain and temperatures that barely reached the 60's. It's not often that it's cold here and even more, it's not often that we need a sweater. Today though, was one of those days. It's crazy to think that just a few months ago in summer, the temperatures had peaked at 120 degrees. Today at nearly 60 degrees cooler and with a very obvious chill in the air, sweaters were a welcomed sight. I love the cold, I find it refreshing and motivating.... ironic since I call the Valley of the Sun home, but days like today I'm perfectly happy that the sun stayed hidden away and the best part - I didn't have to turn the air conditioner on once today! 

Warm was today's prompt, so I combined some of my favorites; hot chocolate and old wool blankets. They just seemed to fit our grey day! (I inherited a set of these cute pinecone mugs from my Grandmother. I had been looking forward to finally being able to use them this season!)

I also played around a bit with Polyvore. It's been such a long time since I logged in over there but it's really fun to play with clothes, especially sweaters and mittens! 

It's cold outside! by taraanderson featuring mitten gloves

Have a good night and I'll see you here tomorrow! 

xo ~ Tara

sweet november: leaves

Leaves. Paper leaves vs. real leaves. I've taken quite a few photos of the real variety this season, so today's focus will be on the paperish kind!  

 I wanted a quick and simple garland to string up around my chalkboard and I wanted to use something that I had on-hand. I had plenty of different leaves to choose from, but I opted for these brown crepe leaves. (I think I found them at the dollar store last year!) They had a longer wire stem, which made it really easy to tie together using some silk seam binding. I just made a knot at each of the leaf stems. In all, I probably spent 5 minutes making a Fall garland for our front entry! Quick projects are the best!  

Little hands are seemingly always drawn to chalk. I smile as I type this, because no matter how many times I erase my chalkboard globe and re-write my welcome sign it's a sure bet there will be little kid finger smudges in the chalk. I'm also pretty sure I did the same thing as a kid... apple doesn't fall too far from the tree in this family! Here's another idea for crafting something this season! I believe I bought this bird while out antiquing with Jessica while she was visiting us down here in the desert and no, I didn't absolutely need another bird, but I knew eventually I'd think of something good to do with it!

I started off scrapbooking last night with the idea that I would only use vintage fabric and some paper leaves. I wanted to be able to scrapbook a few more layouts but today got the best of me. (I'll try it again this weekend!) Since we've been out hiking a couple of times this season, combined with the kids' photos, I thought putting together a Fall scrapbook would be fun!

 

I'm off to do some tidying up and then I'm going to get a jump start on tomorrows prompt! Hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead of you! 

xo  ~ Tara

sweet november: everyday

I thought today's prompt was going to be really easy, but it actually took me awhile to think of something. I have, for the most part, the same schedule everyday. A true creature of habit. I like to do the same things, in order starting from early morning to late night. Taking a photo of my routine wasn't as easy as I had hoped and it wouldn't be an interesting photo either! A constant though, throughout the day is music. Whether I'm playing the trumpet or piano, listening to the music channels on tv, or playing an old record, there is almost always music being played in some room of this house. 

  

That's what I chose for everyday: music - in the form of vintage records. My record player was a Christmas present from Peter a few years back. Since then, I've collected some great records, mostly old instrumental records and Christmas records that remind me of the music my Grandparents played during Christmas time at their house. Then there are some of my favorites - Joan Jett, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, and Frank Sinatra. I think the kids know those records by heart from listening to them so often! 

   

That's my everyday! I'm off to go pick up some photos and then I have my fingers crossed that I can spend some time scrapbooking tonight! I love getting new photos, it's just the motivation I need to get started on some new projects! 

~  Tara

sweet november: old (tutorial)

Today's word was old. How old? Well that was up to you, but when I think of old I think vintage. Of course. This project was one that I meant to post way back in Spring and for whatever reason I never made it happen. So, I thought old as in old jewelry and a tutorial - what a great combination! We're going to make pretty Fall inspired magnets to hang up little kid artwork, schedules or just to-do lists. These magnets will make anything hanging on your fridge look infinitely better and with only a few materials you can whip them up in no time! 

First, you'll need to collect some older jewelry, preferably vintage clip on earrings - the type that your Grandma most likely had. I don't recommend using Grandmas heirloom jewelry collection though, instead check your local thrift stores! They're usually really inexpensive to purchase at thrift stores! After you've collected a few pairs, you'll also need a pair of small pliers, E6000 glue and small magnets. (I love using Rare-Earth magnets.)

Start by removing all of the backs from the earrings. Use the pliers to gently snap off the clip on parts. Add a small dot of the E6000 glue to the back of each earring back. (E6000 glue has a history of oozing out and making a mess, so I like to work quickly with it and get the lid back on asap.) Once the glue has been added, place a small magnet into the glue.

E6000 glue is also really smelly, make sure the area you're working in is well ventilated. Take each magnet separately and move them to a place to allow the glue to set. I suggest out in the garage. Just remember to keep them separated with enough space in between each magnet. The rare earth magnets are incredibly strong and they will attract to each other making a mess of the glue. It's possible I know this from experience. :) 

Let them dry at least a full 24 hours before you use them. I love how they look on the fridge, vintage jewel magnets that sparkly in the light - what's not to love! I'm also thinking they would make lovely little hostess gifts this season, displayed in a pretty box all wrapped up!

Thanks for stopping in tonight and happy crafting! 

xo ~ Tara

sweet november: black & white

Looking back on today it was really similar to yesterdays events, where I sat glued in my favorite spot editing photos and getting packages ready to be mailed. I tinkered around with this camera for awhile, debating on what to do with it since 1.(I have 2 of them) and 2. this one still has film in it, and it came with a couple of extra boxes of film. Could I develop my own photos? What would the photos look like from a Kodak Brownie? What photos did someone already take with it? That's the questions that intrigues me the most! What would I find if I could figure out how to develop the photos!

So, this camera got me thinking about my ttv photos. I've been wanting to take out the Anscoflex again, there's something about old cameras, that despite the crazy looks I get, I love using them. Not lately though it seems, I've been really unmotivated to use my favorite little box cameras. They've sadly sat on a shelf collecting dust all summer.  Then, this idea popped into my head today: 12 days of TTV photos in December. I could totally come up with 12 different Christmas/winter themed ideas to photograph! 

 Anyone up for doing a Christmas photo challenge? 

Back to editing photos tonight and possibly cleaning that disaster of a room - also known as my craft room!

Happy evening to you! ~ tara

sweet november: special

   

Special, that word could mean so many different things and it could be depicted in many different ways but as I was editing photos last night, I glanced over to my notebook and discovered this little gem of a drawing. 

I have notebooks in almost every room of our house. That way as I'm walking around I have paper close by to jot down ideas or notes or important stuff to remember. Lately, Chase has been leaving me these little scribble drawings at the bottom of my paper. I find them everywhere, my shopping lists, grocery lists, to-do lists. Mostly happy faces; pumpkins with happy faces, sun and flower happy faces, people with smiley faces. I love his little stick people and that he draws them for me. I never thought scribbly doodles could be something special and yet they are. 

xo ~ Tara

sweet november: to-do list

Rather than post a photo of my to-do list, which only had one thing on it today, I thought I would show you what I did instead. 

To do: go on an adventure

My sweet friend Erica and I decided it was time to take an adventure up North together, and although our plans hit a bit of a bump once we got there, it lead us back down the road to this trail: the Huckaby Trail in Sedona. Sometimes plans not working out is the best thing to have happened! 

We parked in the tiny lot right off of the bridge and followed the carved in stone steps down to a look out point. Since neither one of us had hiked this trail prior, we didn't really know what to expect but happy to see that the trail went down to the water below! (Us desert dwellers get really excited with the idea of water; rain, creeks, monsoon floods - all good things!) From there, there's a steep switch back trail for a half mile until you reach the first creek. It's amazing to be at the bridge and within minutes to be on the canyons floor looking up. (I won't lie, hiking down the canyon was a whole lot easier than coming back up! It was a slow moving process for us there at the end of our hike.) I think both Erica and I agreed on this one, it's a hike worth taking! Especially right now during Fall when the colors are vivid and crossing portions of the creek is still manageable. Hope you enjoy the photos!   

Thanks so much for visiting tonight! Hope you're having a lovely holiday weekend! 

xo~  Tara

sweet november: inspiration

When I think inspiration, color comes to mind. Of course. I have alot of fun putting together my color wires, I start with a stack of magazines and a clip board. Usually, I have a color combination already in mind that I want to use, but sometimes I'll see an photo in a magazine that is so pretty or inspiring that it will shift the initial color combination. 

For this color pallet I chose warm tones inspired by traditional Fall colors with the addition of a rich berry color. It's always been one of my favorite colors to use, finding scrapbooking papers in that color isn't always easy but I can almost always find it in fabric! 

dove grey - warm pumpkin - black raspberry - cedar brown

The next time you have a project to complete, or even just a scrapbook layout, try putting together a 'project board.' Just grab a clip board and add things that you find inspirational to help you with the creative process! I love making these little fabric charts - I take small snips of fabric and sew them together. Seeing a combination of fabrics helps me decide on the colors I want to use or the patterns that I want to combine for my own projects! 

Color is what inspires me to create, what inspires you? 

xo ~ Tara