My first Gocco print.

For my birthday this year I received my first Gocco machine from my fabulous husband. Honestly, although I was so excited to start printing, I have been very intimidated by that little machine. I have seen all of the wonderful things others have been creating and psyching myself out a bit. Not sure if I would be able to create something I’d be happy with. 
 

The inks. How pretty!
 

Well, I got up the nerve last night to try it out. Armed with a plethora of inks and ready with my photocopied design I had made earlier, I set out to attempt my first batch of note cards. I cannot even describe how excited and pleased and giddy I was as my first print was revealed!! I am so far beyond hooked to this machine! Can’t wait to create some more designs. 
 

Gocco screen after cleaning and cleaning.
 

My question to you seasoned Gocco-ers, how do I get these screens clean!!?? I’ve tried and tried to get this screen clean by using the screen cleaner, windex… blotting and blotting. However, as you can see, I couldn’t get it all off… or even half of it off! Any tips on how to clean these bad boys? Also, can I reuse this as is? I think I got all of the ink out of the design on the screen.
 

FYI: I will be putting a batch of these notecards in my Etsy shop soon! Will keep you posted!

Haleakala at Sunrise, Maui, Hawaii, 2007

Monday, July 14, was our 3 year anniversary. It’s amazing and sad how quickly time passes when you are enjoying your life together. Shouldn’t it be the other way? Why does time just drag when we are miserable. I wish life would slow down a bit so we could soak up so much more of the wonderful, happy times.

We have had a really incredible three years together. We began with two weddings, lived on a sailboat in Key West until Hurricane Katrina came through and sank it. Next we were homeless before moving to Oahu, Hawaii for 2 truly amazing and breathtaking years. It was really a 2 year honeymoon!! Camping on and exploring the other islands, snorkeling, hiking and beautiful beaches. Taking in all that Hawaii had to offer. Now we are settling in on the East Coast, and can’t wait to see what’s to come.

Our life has been such an amazing blessing. Not always perfect, sometimes things get hard, but in the words of Hannah Montana, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock!!”

…Kua ‘Aina Burger on the North Shore of Oahu. They have the best Mahi Mahi Burger on the planet, and I miss it today more than ever! What is it about food that brings such joy to my life!?

FYI: If you order the Mahi Burger, get it with avocado and on wheat toast… AMAZING!

What are you craving?

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…all my new goodies I picked up this past Saturday at the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair. I am already saving for the next Crafty Bastards in September! YAY! My cousin and I had so much fun drooling over all the crafty goodness. It was so hard to choose how to blow my cash… I wanted everything! I am so amazed at all the talented artists and crafters out there.

While checking out all the yummy eye candy, I made a new goal for myself.***Next year, I am applying for the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair*** I don’t know if it’s just me, but it’s very intimidating to take that step. To open myself up to face head on the reality of all my countless days of dreaming. I’m ready to stop dreaming and start doing. But, I’m really am quite nervous! 

Alright, enough about my silly nerves, want to see what I bought?! Of course you do. So here goes (in no particular order):

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Rad new blouse from Loyalty & Blood.
Sorry you don’t get to see the whole thing, can’t photograph it while I’m wearing it!

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Fun buttons from Fishcakes.
Not quite sure where these will live, but I couldn’t pass them up.

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Typewriter key necklace by The Weekend Store. 

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Coolest guitar strap ever, for my brother, if he likes it.
If not, I guess I need to learn to play! By Bright Lights, Little City.

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Birdie Zipper Pouch by Art School Dropout. 
This was far too cute to pass up! And, I need a place for all the change I never seem to have on me.

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I also purchased a really cool leather wrist cuff from Jon Wye for the Hubs, but he is gone for the week and took it with him… maybe I’ll show you next week! It’s this design.

Did I mention I am already saving for the September Fair! I really cannot wait! And, hey, get out and support your local artists and crafters! We need creativity and originality to survive… or at least to make life more interesting!! 

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Better late than never, right? Last Saturday, my cousin and I headed out to the local Vegetarian Festival. We went with very empty stomachs ready to try some veggie goodness! It was a lot of fun and running into old friends is always a good thing. It did however start pouring rain about half an hour after we got there, but it was a beautiful, temperature-cooling afternoon rainstorm. Needless to say, we left completely soaked and very full of indian food!

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Indian food, I forget what it’s called, but it was so yummy!
I know it had chickpeas!

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Amanda, my cousin, enjoying some jerk veggies!

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It was so good, I have to show you a close up!
Jerk veggies and fried plantains.

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Did I mention it rained?

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We did have a great sunny end to the day!

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I would definitely encourage anyone who loves food to check out your local vegetarian festival, even if you are a meat eater. It was a lot of fun! Who needs meat to have a good time!?

My cousin and I at Kings Dominion. 1988

I was flipping through some old photos yesterday with my little sister (she is 9.) and we came across this photo of my cousin, Amanda and myself from 1988. My sister says, “Who is that?” I answer, “That’s me and Amanda.” She says, “No, who is that person dressed up as?” My jaw dropped! I can’t believe she didn’t know what a SMURF was! That’s like… her not knowing who Spongebob is! Suddenly, I realized… I’m getting old!

Alright, alight… I know I’m not THAT old yet… I turned 26 today, but I will say it was quite an eye opener to know that my childhood is fading away… faster than I want it to! I know that the future holds some wonderful things, but it is always a little sad to finally realize you are an adult. However, who says I have to act like one!! 

Happy Birthday to me!!

The biggest thing I am thankful for on this birthday day… my wonderful, adoring husband who loves me enough to buy me my very first Gocco!! Now, if I can just figure out how to use it. 

This is Cracker, our newest edition to the family.
He made the very long journey with us across the U.S.

As much fun as it is to see family and friends and drive all the way across the country… I’m having major withdrawals from making and creating… I’m so ready to get some of these ideas out of my head! A few more weeks though until we get settled into our new home in D.C. It would help if we even had a home to look forward to! Yes, we are currently homeless, but hopefully not after our house-hunting expedition this week. Will keep you updated. 

Until then, enjoy Father’s Day!  

Unfortunately, we did not have internet access after we left L.A. so you’ll be getting an all-in-one overview of the last three days of our trip! Enjoy the smattering of photos! 

Jack Sparrow followed us to Vegas!

Tried to eat the mussels at The Buffet at the Bellagio
for my uncle Dennis, but just couldn’t do it.

At the New York New York hotel, can you spot us?

$1,000,000!!!

Us at the Grand Canyon, amazing!

I loved this tree overlooking the Grand Canyon.

Curbside.

The aliens got me!

Four days in a row of In-N-Out, still ridiculously good!

I swear it was Johnny Depp!

Life has become completely insane the past couple weeks. One day I am happily living in Hawaii, enjoying the surf and sun and the next… I’m mingling with Jack Sparrow, Wolverine, Yoda and TWO Marylins! Alright alright, so we are in Hollywood. The Hubs is transferring to Washington, D.C. and we decided to make a road trip of it!

Huntington Beach

The lull in my posts is most certainly a product of this very time consuming move halfway across the world. I promise once we get settled there will be many more posts. In the meantime, keep checking back for updates on our adventure across the U.S. - up next… Las Vegas! Looking forward to the Bellagio Buffet!! 

Los Angeles sans smog.

How cool is that!?

What a great way to finish the post. In-N-Out. YUM!

About a month ago, my husband brought home a plumeria branch. Rumor has it, if you let it dry out completely, you can then stick in the ground and it will grow into a tree. Well, what’s the hurt in trying, right? So, I threw in down on the rocks beside the house, completely forgetting it was even there until yesterday when I turned the corner.

I was welcomed by these AMAZING little blooms. I will certainly miss these trees the most. My favorite time of the year over here, other than when the trees are in bloom, is when all the flowers begin to fall off the trees, but are still so beautiful as they scatter the ground.

Last picture is a bit dark, forgive me. I’m still learning how to use The Hubs camera. Aren’t they just the most beautiful flowers? I hope they brighten up your weekend!