Happy Halloween!

October 31st is one of my favorite days of the year. Seriously, I am giddy right now... & I am also wearing a blonde, curly wig. Trying to figure out what my character's name is... Last year it was Cliff. I can't believe I was pregnant with Lola last year at this time. Sheesh, I can't even image what life was like with out her now. Gotta go & finish the rest of my get-up.

via Martha Stewart

above image from Sundries&Plunder

I hope you have a Happy Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!!

Here comes the smolder...

A random mix of Instagram photos with deep, intellectual thoughts.

1 Patiently waiting outside of the grocery store for Collin. He ran in to get the necessities. So I am thinking, great, he'll get some apples, vegetables, something for dinner, a treat for me. Nope, he came back with bread & Shasta Zazz. haha!

2. Last week I taught an art class for Avery's class at school. When I walked into her class she said: "That's my mom!!!...She's thirty."

The lesson was on Color Theory then we painted tissue paper squares with watered-down glue onto paper. The colors mix when the tissue paper overlaps and the kids thought that was cool!

3. My cousin, Jaclyn, came over last week because she wanted to see the girls & she wanted me to help her make a card for her boy(friend). She thoughtfully adopted a lion for him (there's some cool reasons why he loves lions.) Hello? I doubt he's going to really care about a card after that present.

4. Sharing our favorite Toasted Coconut cupcake at Sweet Tooth Fairy! It even doesn't matter if you hate coconut you will love that cupcake. Buuuuut if you do hate it after one bite I will gladly finish it for you.

5. This is Collin's smolder... reminiscent of the Tangled movie... no frying pan was needed.

6. There's the prettiest restaurant in Provo called La Jolla Groves. The food is meh at least what I've ordered but there are freaking lemon trees filling the entire place. Who cares about pasta when you're surrounded by a fruity oasis.

7. I got her this new owl hat and she is obsessed. When she loves something she sleeps with it under her pillow. Books, toys, collected rocks, pictures and this hat have all had a turn making their way into the elite pillow club.

8. Car pool day is a fun day. I don't say a word as I drive six 5 year olds home. I just listen and laugh.

9. Last night was our annual pumpkin carving night. This picture doesn't include pumpkins instead my sister, Camille, and her darling bebe. You couldn't notice but this is my older sister, by 19 months. It's not fair that she looks twelve and keeps getting younger. If you need a reminder about my age read #2.

Happy Halloween Eve bloggies!! Need to pull a costume together for me and the Mister tomorrow.

The cutest witch you've ever seen

Yesterday we were supposed to jump on a hay bed and take a Ride To a Witch at Gardener Village but someone (me) didn't look at the calendar right and we were a day early. Whoops! Thank goodness there was a witch around every corner of this festy village.

This darling hat originally had an invitation to a witch hat party but seeing it's the perfect size for Lola's noggin' I dressed it up with some fabric flowers and added a headband for her to wear. How cute of a mom would I have been when she met the witches wearing her witch hat?! (Mother-of-the-year nominee here I come!) Oh, yeah, I forgot. I'm not that mom. I'm the mom who's brain is mush and we missed the hay ride & had to feed ducks popcorn instead. ;)

This was about the time my kids nearly jumped into the pond... and thank goodness Collin was there because there is no way I would jump into that smelly swamp after them. Oo00ookaaaaaay, but only after I took off my boots.

This scene is reminiscent of the fruit stand photo. (Why yes, I do often look like a frantic mom.)

Happy Friday!!

Teaching another Something Splendid class is exciting! Be sure to join us for our Thankful class. Here's all the goodies that are included in the kit. (Including a really pretty grey trim.)

eat at your own risk

My mini baker is such a big helper. Except I can barely turn my head to grab the next ingredient because who knows what she will stir in, making it her own tasty concoction. That's why it's always eat at your own risk. So far so good... I haven't been poisoned (yet) & the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are delicious!

Ready for the world's easiest pumpkin cookie recipe?

Spice Cake Mix (no eggs, oil, water etc) + Can of pumpkin 16 oz + Chocolate chips. That's it.

I bake them small about 3Ts and then cook them at 350 for about 15 minutes. Don't overcook them. I check them like I do cake with a toothpick or small knife in the center.

Thanks to my sister Em for that recipe, although my toosh does not thank her.

They are soooooo yummmmmmy!!

what to Smash

Dear Lizzy,

I hope you'll post all of the "smashing" that you've done. I got a Smash book, but don't really know what to put in it. If I should come up with some type of theme before I start it or just kind of go with it each day & have all types of things in it. Drama Queens Mum (Kimberly)

Kimberly, I totally know what you mean and understand how at first you're thinking, "what do I do with this?" That's how I felt too. Well, don't hate me when I answer this with one of those creative cliches: There's no rules... OR whatever makes you happy.

Simplifying an idea helps me not get overwhelmed. So don't think of filling up a whole album or a Smash book. Just start with one page.

If thinking of a theme helps you get started then go with that. Whether it's a creative journal and you include sketches, magazine clippings, catalog pictures. A travel journal and you include things you've saved from a vacation. Or, for me, it's a day-do-day journal and I include fun pieces from life and Instax photos.

The above smash was from a bowling birthday party. The bottom left Instax photo is Avery right after her first-ever strike. She was pretty excited! I got a couple strikes myself, so what if it was bumper bowling!

From that event I included the print out of our bowling-fun for proof of our mad skills & tickets. The family picture is using the Wide Fujifilm Instax that's why it's larger then the smaller ones I take.

The next smash is from a dinner with my friend, Jennifer, who was in town from Mississippi for Spark. We went to a restaurant that is filled with lemon trees. I smashed my receipt, Instax, and I cut up what we ordered form a take out menu when we got home. Added some washi tape, epoxy & journaling spot titled: "reasons why we get along so well." Smash book has some fun journaling pads that help to jumpstart what you want to write about too.

InLinkz.com

She wanted to say Hello, Darling to all you bloggers!

No. 3

"Each of us has a spark of life inside us, our highest endeavor ought to be to set off that SPARK in one another." kenny ausubel

This quote pretty much sums up why Rhonna, Margie and I started Spark three years ago over lunch... it was to be inspired by others and to then share your spark! ! Spark's message & inspiration is brighter than ever. Margie & April and their team did an incredible job planning Spark No 3 this past weekend and it was amazing!

It was fun to come and just soak in all the decorations, details and creative energy and not plan anything but be the beneficiary this year & just enjoy and appreciate others' hard work. I can't wait to share more, once I steal pictures from Maggie & Jefra. Apparently, I was too busy having fun to take my camera out of my purse.

It was undoubtably Sparky & I loved it.

bonus points for counting how many times I said spark in this post. (wink)

xo, lizzy

No such thing

While on a shopping adventure with us girls, I couldn't resist taking a picture of Q standing in front of a pink door in her matching pink shirt. Just when I think, "meh, I am kinda sick of pink" she reminds me how sensational the color is. Can you ever have too much pink? Actually, Collin would answer that with a resounding YES! Poor guy. ;)

The journaling reads:

No such thing as too much pink

No such thing as a day without hugs + kisses

No such thing as a quiet house or a full night's sleep

No such thing as a day without crying

No such thing as too much love

No such thing could make me happier than you

No such purpose in my life without you

Misted a pattern then pieced different patterned papers inside & added some teal watercolor polka dots and layered butterflies inside of those.

Layered tape, papers, trims under the photo. Left the journaling and the title white so that the pink in the picture and the pink honeycomb texture would stand out... although that might be tricky to see in the photographs.

The pictures on this page started off on my Instagram (dearlizzy) next stop was twitter and facebook. Then they were printed, layered, sewed around and photographed and now posted on my blog. Sheesh, covered all my social media bases here.

SUPPLIES:

InLinkz.com

PS Thanks to everyone who signed up for our Something Splendid workshop! I'm always so amazed... & grateful for your support. If you haven't already check out the video.

Thankful Journal: New Something Splendid Workshop

Hi Splendid Ladies!

I am so excited to announce our newest online workshop at Something Splendid. It will be a perfect way to celebrate November up until the Thanksgiving holiday. This Thankful Journal has room for 10 photos to showcase the blessings in your life, as well as room to share why those things are important to you.

Collin Kartchner Studios, yes I am very official with this introduction... made this awesome video to inspire you to join us. It's filled with subliminal messages. ;)

To read more about the lessons schedule & a breakdown of what we will be making click here at our Something Splendid site.

Our site always includes video tutorials and clear instructions with photos. Some of my favorite things we will be learning are:

-ombre paint technique for the Maya Road canvas pages,

-flower technique

-felt bow tutorial

-simple stamping additions.

Each kit will include Tim Holtz Crackle paint, adorable Lawn Fawn Stamps, Crate paper and stickers, American Crafts rub-ons, paper and metal flowers. There are also a mix of handpicked accessories and trims including burlap, doily and even a feather (it's faux, don't tell PETA :) Read more about the basic supplies needed on our Splendid site & sign up.

Join us!

our awesome SPONSORS:

InLinkz.com

a fresh start

Here's to a brand new week!

a fresh start of dishes & don't forget the laundry

a fresh start of creative mid-day snacks

a fresh start at approaching that ambition...

at trying something marvelous

a fresh start at finishing that project that's been laying around for months gathering dust

at smiling more and complaining less

at finding the opportune moment to make someone's day

at laughing at yourself when you take life too seriously

a fresh start at loving more

at not being hard on yourself

at embracing what makes you distinctive

Feeling inspired for a new week! Face each day like a new adventure. ---Hopefully that was enough of a pep talk for myself that I won't hide under the covers in the morning until the kids find me. (wink)

The weekend was filled with a whole lotta of nothun. Collin had some video shoots and so I just hung out with the kids and took it easy. Picked my second awesome garage sale furniture find, Smashed, worked on some fun upcoming projects, laughed with friends and visited with my amazing mom!

Other noteworthy adventures: Was so distracted while shopping at my favorite local boutique I failed in the mothering category & looked over and Q peed her pants. Good thing I always have extras for that girl. Cried at Cafe Rio. A good cry. (That is a blog post in itself.) Tried to wear cobalt blue eyeshadow. (Fail.) Bought Collin a bright red suit coat so he could MC our church Young Women Talent Show. Next stop, David Letterman.

What was a talking about when I said "nothing"? It actually was quite an eventful, fall weekend!

Hope yours was too!

Tights: H&M//Romper: Delia's//my favorite boots & Sweater: Shop Ruche//Stringy hair: my own laziness

Fall Frenzy

If you weren't excited for Fall well I'm sure these pictures will fling you into a Fall frenzy! So much inspiration there I could kiss that gold gnome! via 100 layer cake.

Also, inspired by:

Making your own Abstract Art at Oh Happy Day

Mix and matching socks, tights and shoes at Ruche

A post of mine wouldn't be complete without an Instax picture... Loving this color coded polaroid wall spotted at one of my new favorite blogs: You are my fave.