IDSS page 5.

from Rachel Dendow's summer art journaling class.

IDSS page 4.

I Grew Up In..
from Rachel Denbow's summer art journalling class.

XO holly

blog*button

Add {create*loves} to your blog! Copy this code:

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The lovely Ashley made me this blog button. I love it, and now you can spread the love by adding it to your blog if you wish. :)

xoxo, holly

ps: this is a fab post. :)

handmade*font*looove

this website was a good source of visual inspiration for me this evening.

Handmade Font!

I think the crust is my favorite. :)

hmmm.... if I could make a font out of something, what would it be.... 

maybeeee, orange tic tacs!  I'm gonna try that.

What would you make a font out of??

In other news, I scored 40 vintage embroidery hoops, like half a year ago (lol), and I'm trying to think of something wonderful to do with them.....

either:

1. design my own embroidery patterns

2. re-birth of 'you're fancy.' etsy shop.

3. home decor with favorite remnants

4. ________________________

ideas?

happy almost weekend everyone!

xo holly

survey to spice up my wednesday.

Saw this on Janel's blog. :)

Outside My Window
crazy rain clouds in the sky, big tree in our back yard (biggest on the block)... and Nelson St.

I Am Thinking
about how sore my muscles are, but how motivated I am to do the 30 day Shred. :) (I've only done 2 days)

I Am Thankful
that our salon is doing well so far, and that Ryan & I are able to get it all done together.

From The Kitchen
you would see a clear countertop thanks to Ryan.. and my black/white/red decor.

I Am Wearing
my lululemon groove pants & top, just did the shred with my girls. (lululemon is my faaaaave. ever. the end.)

I Am Creating
lots of busyness.

lots of plans.

not a whole lot for crafts... but soon.

I Am Going
-to go to bed in about 10 minutes.

-to Clear Lake at the end of July.

-to make yummmmy ribs for my family on the weekend

-to work tomorrow morning for the last of the grad updos

-to do the 30 day shred

Around The House
toys, spilled milk (ew), old newspapers, TONS of laundry (washer broke...), messy office, you know.... the yooj.

One of My Favorite Things
going to sleep with my husband in our cool basement bedroom. Air conditioner would be another favorite thing as well.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week
work, clean, laundry (once the washer gets fixed!), maybe have a date night??, work some more, motocross nationals on sunday!  :)

ok goodnight.

oh. ps. I think this book is the bomb.

aaaand I've been dreaming of embroidering this on an American Apparel hoody for myself.... :)

just so you know.

shout*out

to my cousin Danton on his graduation day!
photo by: me (08)

things that make me smile:

-Elsie contributed a list for Top Ten Colorful & Crafty blogs to Inspire, and create*loves was on the list!! I was so pumped, thanks so much Elsie!

-this *adorable* alphabet by Emily Martin.

-wooden airplane brooches in Alphabits. :)

-giant squids who iron more than I do... ;) (cred)

other things that make me smile....

-borrowing pretty clothes from friends

-making graduates have pretty hair

-"shredding" with Jenna & Anita

-spinach dip (yeah I'm sorta hungry, and we had some at a meeting tonight)

-bike rides

-my husband

life is busy right now, but life is good.

Hoping to take time next week to create, stitch, and finish my IDSS journal. 

More grad updos tomorrow!

(and my cousin graduates! Congrats Danton!!)

XO holly

.....what is making YOU smile today, please share! <3

to Dad:

I have a really cool Dad. Love you!

I actually have 3 (!) really cool Dads, and I'm thankful for all of them.

I'm also thankful to me married to a good father to my son.

Happy Father's Day!

XO holly

IDSS page 3.

I didn't have any photos of myself that were summery, so I thought this one of simon was perfect because you can just see in this eyes how much he loves being outside. I want to spend lots of time outdoors with him this summer. xo

friday afternoons.

are for chilling.

I'm art journalling.

Listening to her: (love)

wishing I had one of these:

editing photos.

cross-stitching.

happy weekend.

XO holly

IDSS page 2.

:)
xo holly

IDSS page 1.

Simon had a nice long nap this afternoon, so I could start my summer art journal tutorials from Rachel's class. :) More to come!

create.

photo cred. (prepare to be inspired!)

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates. ~Thomas Szasz

honored.

to be a friend. :D

I looooovie RVA (and I want to go back)

**lil life update: 

- I photographed my last wedding on saturday, and it was  good way to end my wedding photographer career, everything went well, and the weather was GORgeous.

- I got to play with kittens on sunday. (I mean, we brought Simon to play with kittens..)

- Fireproof is a great movie to watch with your significant other.

- I'm on day 6 of a 7 day cleanse, and feeling good.

- planning to do hot yoga again, apparently. :P

- planning our salon's grand opening on July 25th.

- desperately wanting some free time to make my IDSS art journal.  (summer class by Rachel)

- speaking of Rach, I think she's having a BOY. :)

- hoping to do lots of home cooking for the rest of this week.  (ribs, enchiladas, salads...) I have to get better at meal planning.

busy busy busy, I haven't been able to craft or make anything in a looooong time. (it sucks!) I'm hoping to get less busy next week.

I wish everyone a beautiful sunny day!

XO holly

I'm a nerd.

and I want to be just like Jill. (the bachelorette)

love love!

lol.  I watched the episode with Jenna, and we all loved her canadian pride. She was nice enough to tell me this evening that the hoodie is from Aritzia! I love that store.  Totally preordering the blue one. <3

I love the bachelorette.

oh, and just so you know... Hot Yoga is hard.  And vvvvvvery HOT. oy. (love you jbean.)

XO holly

watch shopping.

You're thinking: you don't have anything better to do holly?? 

In fact, yes. But after editing some hundreds of wedding photos, my eyes were longing for some inspiration.  I seem to find my inspiration in strange places sometimes and today it was in these cuuuute watches by Paul Frank. <3

look at this one! It has the McKenna Salon logo all over it! ;)

I think one is my favorite.

and look at this alarm clock!! love it so much.

ok, back to work...

XO holly

I want to be a reader.

Just putting that out there.

I want to make time to read. (hah. what time?)

I want to read everyday before I go to sleep.

I've never been a reader before, but I want to be one.

I love bookstores, they're my favorite place to browse.

I have lots of books.  Lots of good books!

Ryan has lots and lots of good books.

So why am I not a reader?

Because I don't have time.

But I should make time right?

Yea, why don't I just make time....

like now.... I'll go read..... instead of blog.

to-do:

wash face.

brush teeth.

make tomorrows to-do list (you know there's a problem when making lists is on your list... oy)

read.

sleep.

I'll reeeeeeeeeead...hmm, Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell.  (Pete if you read this by chance, yes that is your book, and yes I've had it for a ridiculously long time, yes I will read it, and return it....  you'll probably never lend me a book ever again, and I understand. lol)

that was random. can you tell I'm tired?

ok. go!

late night art inspo.

enjoy the whimsical and beautifully colorful artwork by Jeremiah Ketner.

[personal favorite]

goodnight.

XOxo, holly

Raspberry Lemon Cupcakes

mmmm.

I love raspberry & lemon together. These cupcakes are a basic white cake, with added raspberry puree, and my "secret" faaaabulous lemon butter cream tops it off. :)

You'll need:

-1 box of your favorite moist WHITE cake mix. (it makes it easier than making them from scratch)

-6oz package of fresh raspberries.

Combine ingredients with the cake mix according to the instructions on the box.  (oil, milk, eggs).

Take half of the raspberries and mash them slightly with a fork.  Add to cake mixture and mix for 2 minutes.  Divide in baking cups, and bake according to the instructions on the box (usually around 20 minutes at 350 F.

While the cupcakes are baking you can prepare the YUMMY Lemon Buttercream.

You'll need:

-2 1/2 cups icing sugar

-1/4 cup butter (room temp is best for mixing)

-1/2 cup "Fluff" marshmallow topping

-2 tbsp whipping cream

-1 or 2 drops yellow food color, for fun.

-zest of 1 lemon

Combine all ingredients and mix with electric mixer until smoooooth. You'll want to taste test.... for no other reason than pure enjoyment. :)  **A little trick.  If you have a tool for icing, with a rosette tip, it's best to put the icing in the fridge for 15 minutes so it thickens up a little.

**If you're not into lemons, try adding a few tbsp of raspberry puree, and omit the zest. (i've tried this with strawberries, and it's fabulous!)

Allow 10 or more minutes for the cupcakes to cool, before icing them (or the icing will melt, and run off!)

Top each cupcake with one beautiful raspberry.

I sure enjoy making cupcakes, and even more so, the buttercream!  This is my own buttercream recipe that I worked out, after many many trials and errors.  I hope you enjoy!!  Simon loves them, he says "lummy! lemmy!"  Guessing that means yummy lemon? lol.

XOxo, holly