{this moment}

Joining SouleMama, and many others, in this moment.

doodling

Okay, can I just say that I love Sachiko Umoto’s Illustration School book? I wrote a little bit about it yesterday, but I just have to say it again…awesome!!! I have been having a blast doodling! Here is a drawing I made of Alice and the Cheshire Cat!

alice

I wholeheartedly believe that grownups should set aside time to doodle, with no expectations or pressure to make anything in particular, but just to have fun. It’s good for the soul.

thirty-five

Well, I didn’t get a chance to finish my husband’s present, but now he knows what it is, so I can talk about it. I was knitting him a tie, and I am about halfway done, but I was concerned that if I rushed to finish it, I would probably make a lot of mistakes. I’m a pretty new knitter. But, he will get it eventually and I will post the pattern details after it’s done (to make sure it actually works!).

Even without his awesome knitted tie, my husband had a great birthday (I hope!). I gave him two books about the artist Edward Gorey (my husband was an Illustration major in college and graduated with a BFA, and I took several art classes in college, as well, so we have a lot of art books). The books were Floating Worlds: The Letters of Edward Gorey and Peter F. Neumeyer and Elephant House: Or, the Home of Edward Gorey. I will say that I am green with envy over the enormity of Edward Gorey’s book collection, and I really, really wish someone would send me illustrated letters, and I would love to send some back!

edward gorey books

I also made him this cute card, using a book called Illustration School: Let’s Draw Happy People by Sachiko Umoto, which I read about in a post by Nicole Balch (of Making It Lovely). I love this little book, and it is so great to be able to draw something that actually looks kind of like I want it to!

I baked him a cake using Wilton’s Basic Yellow Cake and Buttercream Icing, which are the exact same recipes that my mom always used to make our cakes growing up. For me, it’s not a birthday cake if it doesn’t taste like this.

blowing out the candles

The best part was when, two seconds after this photo was taken, my daughter screamed “Ow ow ow! Daddy! You blew hot wax on me!” (she wasn’t seriously injured) and my son started screaming at the top of his lungs (not from hot wax, but I think from confusion). My stomach hurt from laughing so much.

Happy Birthday to the best husband ever, Damian! XOXO Love you lots!

the start of something

At the very last minute, I decided that I’m going to make a little something for my husband for his birthday. His birthday is Wednesday. That gives me two days. But, I was inspired!

So, here’s just a little hint about what I’m making. I can’t disclose the details until after Wednesday, just on the off-chance that he sees my blog before then.

Happy Monday, everyone!

haircut

I can’t believe it, but we finally broke down and trimmed our little guy’s hair. He’s only just five months old (tomorrow) so it seems kind of ridiculous but, as the photos illustrate, very necessary. The kid couldn’t see!

before haircut

after haircut

Hope you are all having a great weekend!