The One with a Typical Week

Google Calendar is my lifesaver. I used to use Franklin Covey day planners, but they were expensive and now that everything is digital I've come to love and majorly depend on this - no pens or pencils or erasers needed, AND I can change and update it on the go from my phone!

Here is what a week in the life of Paige Evans looks like:

Pink = Daily Life

Yellow = American Crafts work

Aqua = Scrapbook Trends work

Gray = TV shows/random things I don't want to forget

This week is filled with work, work, and more work, a Dr. appointment for Fox, a double baby shower (there are soooo many babies being born around here this year - as always!), the latest and greatest Studio Calico reveal, blogging daily, lots of great TV, paying rent, and so.much.more. Just another typical week in this stay-at-home-working-mom's life!

PS - It was exactly 8 years ago to the day that I met my eternal companion! Read our story as told from Chris' perspective HERE. Happy 8th Meetiversary Chris!

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The One with Country Music

Story time!

I grew up in San Jose, California. Not exactly the country music capitol of the world, but there's bound to be a station or two featuring country music where'er you go. I guess my mom liked country because my first recollections of singing out loud to music (to something besides Raffi) were to the tunes of Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and the like. Oh how loud we would sing "She's in Love with the Boy!" "X's and O's", and "Tall Tall Trees"! I loved me some country music. I would sit down with album booklets and memorize lyrics and then dance around in circles whilst singing them at the top of my lungs. I will forever hold a special place in my heart for these albums:

Flash forward to 1995 when we moved to Redmond, WA. I was 10 and in the 5th grade. Upon introducing myself I said I liked country music and was immediately scorned and made a laughing stock. Who knew 10 year olds could be so mean and degrading? I vowed never to listen to country music again. So I switched to alternative music like The Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox Twenty and Third Eye Blind, then as I went through high school I got into more hard core bands like Rage Against the Machine, Chevelle, and Linkin Park. I do love some good screamo, which seems so out of my shy and reserved character. But it's true: I'm a closet hard rocker. 

Still. There's nothing like the feeling of listening to a good ol' country song with the windows down and the wind rushing through your hair. Lately, Taylor Swift has rekindled my passion for that twang and honkey tonk. I have a major girl crush on that girl! She has the voice I've always wanted and the looks to go with it. 

I'm not embarrassed or ashamed to say that I love country music anymore. And even though I only listen to it in rare moments when I'm driving alone in the car, it always brings me back to growing up in California and singing with my mom. 

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The One with Yet Another Batch of CARDS Challenge Cards

Yesterday I made not one, not two, not three, not four, but FIVE cards for the CARDS challenges on the Create: blog! Woo-to-the-hoo! They are as follows:

Challenge for 1.19.12 - rolled paper

I LOVE YOU CARD

How to: Roll about 18 pieces of patterned paper into tubes. I used all papers from the Chap collection by American Crafts. Cut a heart from scrap cardstock, cover it with strong adhesive, place the paper tubes down the front, and trim the excess. Wrap mint green ribbon across the top and add a blue banner sticker on the right side. Back a gray chipboard frame with white cardstock and place yellow "i" and "u" foam letter stickers inside. Cut a heart from a red patterned paper tag and set it between the letters using a pop dot. Adhere the frame over the banner sticker. Tie a bow from more of the ribbon and place it below the right side of the frame. Set the rolled paper heart on a square dark gray cardstock base and trace around it with a pencil. Remove the heart then sew three borders using white thread around the heart. Glue the rolled paper heart to the middle and you're done!

Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, chipboard frame, letter stickers, ribbon, adhesive: American Crafts; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

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Challenge for 1.26.12 - cards using a square punch

THANK YOU CARD

How to: Punch (19) 1" squares from assorted patterned papers then fold two opposite corners of each square to the middle. Adhere the shapes side-by-side in a row of 6, 7, and 6 on the front of a robin's egg blue cardstock base. Straight stich across the middle of each row using white thread. Add various buttons to the front as shown. Draw a border around a chipboard banner using a black pen then place yellow mini alphabet stickers on top to make a sentiment; adhere the banner with pop dots to the bottom right side of the card.

Supplies: Cardstock, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Patterned paper, chipboard banner: All from the Handmade kit by Studio Calico; Buttons: My Mind's Eye; Mini alphabet stickers: Cosmo Cricket; Square punch: McGill; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

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Challenge for 2.2.12 - 6+ hearts

THANKS SO MUCH CARD

How to: Handcut lots of hearts of various sizes from coordinating patterned papers. I used the Peachy Keen line from American Crafts. Layer concentric hearts then adhere them in a circle on the front of a square yellow cardstock base. Sew three circles over the hearts using white thread. Place a pink sentiment badge in the middle. Pierce two stickpins (one pink pearl and one jewel) into the foam adhesive behind the badge then knot gray baker's twine in a bow around the base of the stickpins.

Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, badge, adhesive: American Crafts; Stickpins: Making Memories (pink), Maya Road (jewel); Baker's twine: The Twinery; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

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Challenge for 2.9.12 - Valentines

I LOVE U CARD

How to: Make a card base from white cardstock then trace around a small round plate on the right side and trim to make a curved edge. Trace around the card edges using a brown pen and add three set of three 'x's as shown for detail. Three-hole punch a bunch of patterned papers (I used the Garden Cafe line from American Crafts) to make confetti. (I love the confetti trend these days!) Trim a heart from a transparency then place a tiny bit of adhesive on the edges before placing it in the middle of the card. Start sewing around the edges of the heart, fill the heart with the confetti, then finish sewing around the heart. Glue a pink baker's twine bow on top of the heart. Place an aqua "i" foam letter sticker above and "u" below the heart to finish.

Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, transparency, letter stickers, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Baker's twine: The Twinery; Three-hole punch: Office supply; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

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Challenge for 2.16.12 - 3+ ribbons

THANKS THANKS! CARD

How to: Trim lots of small pieces of various ribbons, fold each piece in half, and secure with adhesive. Glue the ribbon tabs across the top and bottom of a light gray cardstock base. Add a multicolored striped paper block across the middle then sew across the top and bottom edges of it to secure it and the ribbons in place. Cut a gray accordion paper flower in half and glue them to the middle with a gap between. Cut out a banner from a journaling card, add a red button to either side, then place gray mini alphabet stickers and a yellow sentiment sticker on top; adhere the banner to the middle of the card.

Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, buttons, ribbon, banner, accordion paper flower, adhesive: American Crafts; Stickers: Cosmo Cricket (sentiment), October Afternoon (gray mini alphabet); Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark

Until the next batch, TTFN, ta-ta for now!

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The One with Thoughts on a Thursday

My brother of all people said I need to blog more. I didn't even know he reads this except when I tell him to. So this one's for you Eric.

On Tuesday we went to Disneyland (and renewed our passes - yay!). I took exactly four pictures the entire time we were there. This is the best one:

Either A) I've run out of things to take pictures of at Disneyland, B) I'm realizing it's much more fun to be "in the moment" rather than trying to capture everything on camera, or C) Having such a big camera is preventing me from taking it places and documenting everyday life. I really like taking pictures of our day-to-day events and blogging about them though, so I'm going to make a better effort to get back on the picture-taking-wagon, even if that means I use my crappy little point and shoot. 

Poor Mr. Fox is sick again. He got over the virus right before my parents came, then as we were pulling into the parking lot of D-land he threw up. He has a cough and a stuffy/runny nose and is all around miserable. Lots of snuggles and Toy Story on repeat help. 

I have a Dr. appointment tomorrow to hear baby #2's heartbeat! I hope there's an ultrasound machine available too cuz I love seeing the little lemon every month and makes it feel more "real". One more week then I'm officially in the 2nd trimester! I didn't take a nap today - the first time in a couple months - so hopefully I'm getting my energy and drive for life back! 1st trimester hormones really do a number on me physically and emotionally and psychologically and mentally and creatively...

I made FIVE cards today for the Create: Blog CARDS challenges that I make up every week! I haven't participated in a few months (see paragraph above as to why) but today I sat down and whipped some out! I only got to take pictures of three of the cards before I lost my sunlight so I'll show them all first thing tomorrow. Or, if you're super impatient, you can see the first of the five on the Create: Blog here. 

I'm getting up to 1200 posts! I didn't do an 1100th post giveaway, I have no idea why, maybe I was still wiped out from making those 10 handmade books for the 1000th post giveaway. But I've got a box of stuff accumulating for 1200 which should be in about a month! Stay tuned!

My mom and I were sitting at the kitchen table Tuesday night when out of nowhere she says, "You're a very lucky girl." She then proceeded to list off a bunch of things to be grateful for. My husband, my baby, my stay-at-home jobs, our apartment, and so forth. I have a very pessimistic and negative personality so lots of times I revert to whining and complaining when really, we've got so many things to be happy about. I resolve to focus on the positive instead of the negative!

That's all for now!
How's that Eric? :)

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The One with the Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Blog Hop

Another CHA brings another awesome Amy Tangerine line - Sketchbook! Vibrant colors drip off the page in the latest Amy Tangerine collection from American Crafts, Sketchbook. Featuring hand-drawn details and a bold watercolor effect, Sketchbook bursts with eclectic goodness for your everyday projects. Splash some color on life!

Here is a sneak of some of the stamps included in this fabulous line:

Once you've visited all the stops on the hop:

lisa truesdell
cindy tobey 
shimelle laine 
jennifer mcguire
kelly purkey
amy heller
jenny chesnick 
paige evans (this is your final stop!)

and seen all the photos of new product, go to the American Crafts blog and leave a comment about which of the products you're most excited about, and be entered to win the ENTIRE Sketchbook collection!

Congrats on another great line Amy!

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The One when the 'Rents Came to Visit

My parents flew in from Seattle Saturday night and before we even drove home we made a pit-stop at The Hat. I was so not in the mood for a burger and fries though so I walked across the street and got some yummy Yogurtland. By the time we got home it was nighty-night time!

Sunday morning we hung around the house until church. Even Joey got in the "chillaxing" mood.

If my dad sits still longer than 5 minutes he falls asleep. Like so:

Chris was a super guy and made cinnamon rolls.

Grandma and Fox had some good laughs and giggles.

Fox has been a much happier boy with his grand'rents in town!

After sacrament we drove out to Thousand Oaks to see my Aunt Natalie play the mother in Cheaper by the Dozen. My cousins Cat and Daniel were nice enough to watch Fox while we were out.

We got front row seats! It's not what you know - it's who you know :)

The play was so great! I didn't know it was a real story and based on a book. I was expecting the movie! I liked this version better and Natalie was a star :) Afterwards we met her backstage (we had to flash some fancy passes - not really, but I imagined we did!) and I loved looking around at all the props, especially the dozens of old antique chairs dangling from the ceiling.

Back at the Taylor's we ate delicious BBQ for dinner then drove back home.

Today we saw and did it all! First we went on a hike to the Hollywood sign.

Back in the car I gave Fox some oreos. He looked like he'd been kissing a pig!

For lunch we drove over to West LA and ate at Fat Sal's. We've been hyping this place up for months now and my parents didn't even get a "Fat" sandwich. Wah wah.

I got the same thing I get everytime - The Fat Texas BBQ: bbq pastrami brisket with chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, bacon, sautéed onions, melted cheddar and mozzarella, fries, mayo, and honey bbq sauce, all on a garlic hero. And no the chicken fingers and fries aren't on the side - they're IN the sandwich! Soooo good. 

We were all tired by then so we came home and took naps all around. Except Chris who doesn't nap... I was still fatigued so my parents took the metro into Union Station to walk around and see the sites while the Evans family stayed at home to recuperate more. When they came back we hopped in the car and drove to Galco's Soda Pop Stop.

We all chose two drinks and loved tasting them all. 

Now we're home and watching the premier of Alcatraz! 

So far so good. The music is IDENTICAL to LOST. And Fringe. That J.J. Abrams likes one kind of music and one kind of music only! 

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The One with Fox at 15 Months

Another month has come and gone - making Fox 15 months old! These stats were taken last Saturday when we went to the doc to find out what was wrong with him (result: a pesky virus. He's all better now):

 Length: 32" (50-75%) 

 Weight: 23.2 pounds (25-50%) 

 Head circumference: 19.25" (75-90%)

How has Fox grown and developed in the last thirty-some-odd days?

(This is the best "15 month" shot we got... keep reading...)

He said his first word (besides "uh oh"): "Shoes!" I'm a proud momma :) Except it sounds more like "eeesh!"

Sometimes I'll find him sitting in his room "reading" a book. It's pretty much the cutest thing in the world to see him turn the pages, point at things, and "talk." He really thinks he's reading!

Fox is still a picky eater. Finding things for him to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is a challenge every day. He'll like something for 2-3 days then never eat it again. So we're trying and experimenting with lots of new foods.

A pacifier might as well be permanently glued in his mouth. This could be a problem.

He does this new corny laugh/smile where he throws his head back and opens his mouth real wide and laughs. Gotta get this one on video.

We went on the "big kid" swing for the first time the other day! He loves it.

He understands some things that we say to him. For example, I'll say, "Fox, go get your shoes!" then he'll go into his room and bring me a pair of shoes. Or I point at a toy and say, "Go get your toy!" and he'll get the one I'm pointing to. I'll say, "Go get a book and we'll turn the page!" and he'll bring me a book. I'll say, "It's bath time!" and he'll walk to the tub. Next step: Harvard. 

We've watched Toy Story 13985719865 times. He loves it. It's the only thing that calmes him down during a meltdown. 

He's in a bit of a rotten streak right now and screams and whines and bangs his head all the live long day. It's been a rough couple weeks, but hopefully he'll outgrow it soon.

Fox loves to be outside and exploring and prefers that to any of his toys.

We love you baby Fox!

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The One with XCVI

I'm working on a top secret project with Amy and today we got to "pull our wardrobe" (how official does that sound?!) from XCVI! She has all the hook ups. I met her at a big warehouse in downtown LA (thank goodness for GPS cuz I woulda been crazy lost) along with her Mommy. 

We jumped right into it and started looking through racks and racks and aisles upon aisles of CLOTHES. Practically every girl's dream come true, no?

me + that gray jacket = love

We tried some things on and then while our items were being taken out of inventory I walked around to document the experience. 

Sewers making samples. 

The cutting room. (I have no idea what it's really called.)

Bolt of lace trim and a super old Singer sewing machine. 

Copious amounts of colorful thread. 

Lace, trims, and string, oh my!

More lace, more clothes. 

A big ol' box of hangers. 

Ad wall. 

Zoomed out. 

All checked out and ready to go!

I got two shirts, a pair of comfy pants, and shorts that aren't technically maternity but the stretchy waistband will come in mighty handy when I'm mighty pregnant this summer!

The summer 2012 collection from XCVI is full of so many awesome mix and match items (that are modest - bonus!). I'm a big fan!

Always fun times with Amy and Mommy!

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