The Beach in November... 11/15/2010
Sometimes I just need the beach...We live only 45 minutes from Ocean City, NJ and I find myself as attached to that place now as I did when I was a kid in flip flops and a bathing suit loading up the van for a day at the beach. It doesn’t matter if it’s 100 degrees or cold and windy...it’s one of my favorite places in the whole world. Were I rich and famous ;), that’s where you’d find me living. I surprised the kids today and drove down for a half hour walk after I picked up Niamh from school...It was too foggy and dismal a day to stay for longer...but we enjoyed the beach for a half hour or so. It’s such a different place when it’s chilly...like it’s all yours. No crowds. No souvenir shops open—just the taffy store and the Christmas shop. Just an older lady getting a brisk walk in. A couple running their daily three miles. The crashing of waves, so much more clearly heard than in the summer. A seagull. A favorite memory that makes you feel all warm inside...I love the beach on a November day! We walked down by the water and looked for shells. Niamh asked if she could get sand on her pants. I thought she meant down by the ankles, and I said that it was okay. She then fell completely forward and started rolling in it. Hmmm...not really what I had in mind- but I know how she felt...just want to take it home with you...They chased the seagulls and took some pictures. We visited the Christmas shop (I was good—only bought a candy garland...my mom hung up something similar when I was a kid)...and then we headed back to the truck, finishing our little adventure at Wendy’s, like we ALWAYS doJ...A frosty is good, even on a cold day!      I was hoping to write a book review today—but I don’t want to make this a novel...So, I will keep it short and sweet. If you need a special gift this Christmas for a child, or if you just need an excuse to feel like a kid again yourself, pick up Wave by Suzy Lee. It is a unique book because there is not a single word in it. Now, hold on just a secondJ...It is one of the most magical stories you’ll ever flip through...She illustrates the story; it doesn’t need a written word—just your words. Her lines are simple and free. (Oh, to have her ability to give expression and movement in so few rigid lines!) The pictures and story are there on the pages for you to tell in your own words. Change it up every time if you’d like!!...There is just enough structure to keep you from feeling overwhelmed—and the perfect amount of freedom to invent as you go along. Pick it up and flip through it next time your at the bookstore. I promise, you’ll find it hard to put down.   If you live near the coast, I encourage you to visit your summer getaway for an hour on a cold day. It will make it new and special all over again! Hugs, Krista  1 Comment Kid at Heart... 11/03/2010
With Christmas fast approaching, I finally have an excuse to wander down the toy isles...Although, I’ll be the first to admit, I’m good at finding an excuse no matter what time of year it isJ. I’m not really sure why I never outgrew that stage of life—maybe I never really grew up at all;), but I love to look at all the fun new things in the kid’s section during the holidays...and well past. I think it’s because my mom always encouraged us kids to just “be kids”...My sisters and I would spend hours and hours setting up Barbies during the summers...We would even give our little brother a Ken doll and his “own town” (it was the ugliest Ken doll...and his town was across the hallway in his own room...but at least we did try and include him... )J Anyway, I think I take a lot away from being able to just love playing with toys—Being allowed to leave our creations up for two or three days, no matter how much of the living room or bedrooms they consumedJ...and I do draw and illustrate with those ideas and memories in mind quite often. So, now with my own two children, I love watching them create and play...just have a good old time...And boy, have I got some really great pics to show them some day J...And some really inspiring ideas to draw from!!   Pet shops are one of my favorite things EVERJ...Why did it take them so long to come out?!! I collect them for Niamh (although I feel like her collection is a little bit mine, tooJ ). She will set them up in little cities and name them after our family membersJ...Oh, and the fridge creation—that cracked me up!!...  Little towns of Disney and dolls and super heroesJ  And the day Philly turned into Iron Man J  Philly and dad play “armies” in the living room...I love to watch Philly play a battle with his soldiers! It’s so hard not to giggle out loud...he is all boy!...  Oh—and my kids are obsessed with tents. I’ve put up so many tents inside the house, I can’t count...They just love them, especially with lights draped around!  Hmmm...Playing with markers behind the couch. Phil and I both knew we had to correct them, but we couldn’t bite the insides of our cheeks hard enough to keep from laughing. I scrubbed and scrubbed—but they still went around with faint purple and green faces the next day.   And my favorite –All Time Favorite—toy pics..We were playing dinosaurs (Phily) and babies(Niamhy) at the kitchen table, and I knew I’d get a laugh with this setupJ...It’s still good for a fit of laughter every time Niamh sees the pictures!...So creepy and ridiculous!! Each Christmas, the kids are allowed to ask Santa for ONE thing...Sometimes it is a difficult thing for Santa to make (Last year Niamh wanted a baby manatee. Santa came through;), but that was a close one!!) It’s just such an exciting time for a parent—making little wishes come true, with the help of some Christmas magicJ...And it’s sort of nice to feel like a kid again yourselfJ...Keeps us young at heart! J...What are the toys that bring back memories for you—or do you have a collection of new onesJ??... Leave a comment...I love reading them...and then I won’t feel so bad when I head down the toy isle—more for myself than my kids;)!! HugsJ, Krista  Hangin Out With My Boys:)... 09/22/2010
Right now, Philly is totally into anything and everything military. He sets up his little army guys a few times a day, plays his army video game, and even watches the documentary shows about training the different branches. Phil and I decided to surprise him with a fun trip to the Battleship New Jersey while Niamhy was in school last week. HE LOVED IT!!!...I think he told us it was "awesome" at least 40 times on the boat:)...We played like we were a squad of soldiers moving through the ship shooting enemy invaders;)..It was a blast (except for the guided tour we kept accidently running by:) shooting our pretend guns...Yeah, we might have been a tad annoying to them;)  AHHH...Such a nice pic of my guys:)!!    Steering the ship:)  Philly with the city named after him;) in the background! I finished up a military illustration after our trip...It's in my ETSY shop now and 10% goes to a great charity for military children, Dog Tags for Kids. I used brighter colors than I normally do (I like my neutrals:)...and I think it is sweet and meaningful:)...Check it out!  I also found some time to add a pumpkin print to my shop (which I had wanted to do for quite sometime:)...And a fairy that I started on became, well...a lovely wishing girl:)...   I am so excited by the slow and teasing reveal of my rubber stamps by Karen on the Sugar Nellie blog...I just love them all and think her design team is AAA-mazing!!...I'm so excited to look each morning at the new cards they have made...Really beautiful!! Well, here's my favorite pic of our battleship trip...I can't stop looking at it:)...He is just so cute. I know I am going to have to cut that beautiful hair sometime, but I haven't been able to do it-- and this picture isn't helping:)...We've shaved it, mohawked it, and now let it grow out-- this is my fave...He is so kissable:):) Night, Krista  New Colors... 09/14/2010
I went out this morning and bought some new markers...Which, to me, is almost as exciting as buying new shoes!...I waited these babies out forEVVVVERRR!!!...They went on sale for half price (then I tried to use a half price coupon on top of that--- but the sales lady was not buying it;)...24 new PRISMACOLOR markers...Makes me feel fresh and wanting to add some new art to the ETSY shop;):)...   Took the kids after school to check out the new Halloween decorations at Target...That was not a good shopping trip for the bank account-- but I DO LOVE HALLOWEEN...plus, I had these two chirpping birds in my ear convincing me we needed these things!... Check out the *PINK* glitter skull we picked out:)...Thats' a shot of color...and probably not quite appropriate for my mostly country decor...but, who can resist a pink glitter skull???...Not me:). Also picked up some totally sweet wall decals and now i have bats, pumpkins, and spiders all over our living room:)...I just know I'm going to forget about those spiders and freak out tomorrow morning when I turn on the lights:)...They are super creepy!!...   While browsing around the fall decorations at the mall last week, Niamh and Philly found these jewel colored potion bottles...and simply had to bring them home and have a swig:)...I absolutely love holiday traditions-- and saw some potential here. Now they have a sip every night, right before bed...(Just water inside:)...And it magically turns them into a monster of their choice while they sleep...AAAHHHH!!!-- I love their ages!! They will believe anything 100%, and it makes for some great fun!...Philly will be a skeleton tonight and Niamh is turning into "the prettiest ghost in the world", as she put it. The only problem is that Philly calls the drink his "poison"...That makes for some interesting looks when he decides to beg me for it while we stand in line at the grocery checkout:)..."Mom, can I PA-lease have my poison when we get home?"...Oh well, it's worth it:)...  Back to School it is... 09/02/2010
I know it's just September...and the New Year is still months away-- but this is always when I feel like the year is starting fresh:)... My daughter started 2nd grade yesterday...I almost cried, but am proud to say I held it in:)...She is my little girlfriend...so fun to be around, I'm sad to have to give her up each day...She was pretty okay with going back, though...She gave me "the EYES" in the hallway when I took my 1,556th picture...Like, 'Mommmm!!...Get outta here:)' I'm glad she is so independent and such a friendly, outgoing girl, or else I probably have grabbed her and ran back to the truck!!  She's too cute in her frilly socks and chucks:) I have lately become obsessed with all things NERDY...I ordered a faaaaAAAAbulous pair of nerdy looking glasses from UO and can't stop wearing them...They are the perfect dose of geekiness...And they make me feel all down to business while I sit and check my Etsy store/ emails in the morning;)  Speaking of which...I have a few nerds/geeks in my store...and this particular one is being made into something cute and wearable by little girls....Yes, collaborating with another ETSY artist to put my girls (and boys) onto clothing!!....Will keep you updated-- I can't wait to see the finished product!!...  So, here goes another school year...:)...Good luck to all the geeks out there!:) haha XO, Krista |  My name is Krista. I am an artist and this is my blog about lovely things in life that inspire me, make me laugh, and keep me a kid at heart. Enjoy!
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