stay awhile

*updated! see below



Having fun snapping photos around my home. I took these photos with my little seagull buddy Mr. Handsome gifted me for my birthday. I LOVE the grain in the photos. I miss that. I miss film. But I don't miss the cost of developing. Oh goodness that was shocking. I really do have to be careful and plan out some shots to make it worth while. I used to jump into the photo lab and reel the negatives and develop them myself. I plan on looking into renting a darkroom and processing everything myself. I always enjoyed that part :)

I also enjoyed playing with this months Kenner Road kit and having some pictures to create art with. It was so easy this time around. I usually regret not taking enough pictures throughout the month that when it comes time to create something I'm left using the same pictures in previous pages. (I'm such a picture repeater-shame shame i know).

Here are some pretty sunflowers for you to enjoy :)

And here they are again with a cute little cluster and my favorite little bird. I like how the yellow pops out of the page. xo


I think one of my favorite rooms in our home is our bedroom. It's simple and sweet. I heart that little R!


I just LOVE the bird tags that came in the kit. I cut these little love birds out of one and added them to this page. It makes me want to rest and dream a little. I don't dream too much anymore and I think that's kind of sad. Do you still dream ?


Me and the mister. I have so many fond memories of my birthday just last month. I'm trying to plan a little surprise for Mr. Handsome's birthday coming up in November. He's such a sweetie. He doesn't like getting his picture taken lol! Even still, he makes me happy :)


***** Updated the shop with the garland mentioned here: click here to visit listing
So last time we talked I had mentioned putting garlands up in my etsy shop. ( If you'd like to reserve one or have a custom one made please e-mail me) I had so much fun I made one for this page. XOXO. So the garland really isn't stitched to the page, it's taped down. I wanted this garland to be free. I couldn't decide if I wanted to hang it or stitch it down so now it's a little of both :) The pictures are just taped down over it to look like they are swaying in the air. The little bits of paper brighten any room.


What's happening around here:
Designing my sister's wedding invitations
Taking more photos
Still working on my webpage re-design
Finishing up a baby afghan. I will crotchet until my fingers bleed. I just started the little blanket yesterday and need to finish it by this Saturday. Yikes! (Wish me luck- lol)

I hope you have a happy week!
bye loves xo
-d

festivities & paper

Hello sweets.
I just dug myself out of my studio to share this little cutie I made using the Kenner Road kit. I really need more projects that help me use up my pretty paper scraps and this one was perfect. I think it took more time editing and staging the photo than making the tag lol! Ahh. Hope it inspires you to make a couple.



I also made this little paper garland to help celebrate my birthday.



I wanted to make something very pretty and whimsical. And a garland was the best fit. I just sat down behind the sewing machine and sewed these little beauties together and I think it came out so lovely. Everyone kept asking where I bought the garland. It was nice to say it was handmade. ( psst...I might be putting this in my belladrummer etsy shop soon. I just need to get more shipping info) There's more than enough paper hoarded up in my studio to make plenty more of these. I might make one with fall colors and one for winter... I just loved the welcoming colors!



I had so much pretty paper confetti stored up for a while, it was nice to finally see the pieces of paper displayed all together. We kept the garland up for a few weeks after my birthday just to enjoy it a little longer. xoxo so so so sweet.

Lately me and the mister have been making our home look cozy and sweet. See?



We waited forever for the sofa to come in. (Almost 2.5 months) But I think it was worth the wait :) We haven't finished putting the final touches on the living room but it seemed peek worthy. :) Just don't look at the remote and the tissue on the ottoman. I'm so glad the sofa shopping is over. My feet and back were killing me after all the store hopping!

The white, striped and leaf pillows are from IKEA. The Elephant pillow is from my trip to Cambodia. The lamp is from West Elm. The huge floor mirror in the back, the white vase, white ottoman and white side table are all from from IKEA. The sofa is from Pottery Barn. ( The room has changed quite a bit since this photo was taken, will update soon. promise!)

Still making progress on my art studio. Paint needs to go up. I am itching to spray paint all over it. OOOHHH wouldn't that be cool? I'm scared. I totally could mess it up. I keep telling myself to be brave. Very very brave right? It's either spray paint or some sort of wall instillation piece. I'm gonna head over to starbucks later this week and sketch a few ideas out... will share that too.

Hope you are having a happy October!

xoxo
-d

goodbye 29

hello 30 :)
Seems like this birthday crept up on me. I still feel 25. I don't think of myself as "older". I hope maybe a little "wiser". But definitely happier. 29 you've been a pleasure. I'm sad to close this chapter (marriage, love, Mr. Handsome) but I'm ready to go onto the next. I anticipate many more happy memorable moments. He's the best pre-birthday party date ever.

Pre-birthday celebrations started with this little guy:


I haven't shot film with one of these since college! Yikes. I got nervous all over again :) I LOVE this camera. I can't wait to share new prints from this little guy. I had once mentioned to Mr. Handsome (at Urban Outfitters) how cute and cool these cameras were. How we'd never be able to afford one. How it's expensive. How they take the coolest pictures. How much fun i had shooting with one of these back in the day. I put the camera back and that was the end of that. Mr. Handsome loves to surprise. :) He got me good.

Next: He took me to see my FAVORITE of all time group The Gipsy Kings. Hayayaay! I am not much of a dancer but my heart could not stop dancing and I could not stop smiling all night :) Wow! Even still. WOW.

And just yesterday we both took the day off and we headed up to MOZZA (go figure lol) next a shopping trip to Anthropologie and last to potterybarn ( all things I really wanted to do to celebrate my birthday). 5 hours plus 300 miles later, we were home. Tired. But very happy after a day well lived and full of happy moments. And i hadn't taken ONE single picture! I asked Mr. Handsome for a pic and he was wonderful enough to pose for some sweet shots xoxo.





Silly us. I am totally head over heels for him. He puts up with my crazy. ALL.THE.TIME. LOL!
(pray for him)

To top it all off, i had the chance to make some art pages with KR's September kit. <3
Inspired by matisyahu's "for you" lyrics. Totally making me happy :)



And a page dedicated to Mr.Handsome and I staging our engagement for his mom's camera. I'm glad we did. I think this beginning part is just as important as every part of our relationship. I totally wish i had a picture of my parents during their engagement time.



Totally missing playing the drums. But Just another page with feelings and love for the drums. (head over to your local music store and hit some for me!)


Remember the crazy times you had when picking your hair style for your wedding? This is a page for mine. I had so much fun buying stuff on etsy and planning the hair style I felt best made my special day perfect. I LOVE my sweet sister in law Sara. She just worked her magic and voila! I think she's amazing xo. She made me feel pretty and happy.


And lastly, this page completely inspired by the amazing Sabrina W. Harrison.


Today, go treat yourself to something. Celebrate life. Move yourself to do something that makes you feel happy. I hope and pray you have an amazing week. Sing at the top of your lungs while driving in traffic. Get down and bust a move in your copy room. Or even treat yourself to some Starbucks love for me. :) Today . We celebrate!
with love and blessings,
xoxo
d

[:: unplugged]

{ life }
it's been passing by way to fast.
it's really important for rest.
a break.
time out.

i need to get myself up and on task.
In the mean time, know i luvs u and send you super art powers.
i will be coming back... and let you into a new site, a few previews... and some giveaways.
The countdown to my birthday is coming up fast on the 15th this month.
the big 30.
I'm ready.
I think that's what's causing the break.
in a good way. :)
promise.
just changing things up.

I'm currently listening to MATISYAHU (For You)
(LOVE these lyrics!)

When you dance in the drizzle fizzle out
Fist out, blissed out, shout it loud
Through the clouds, oh and rock out
I can't stop now coz I move like the breeze
With ease and grace we stay laced
As we move through the space dancing on a blade
Of grass at twilight a firefly fly free through the night
I shine bright from the ground to the sky

<3 very much

back to my corner of the world to dance and rock out and shine out loud
xo
-d

feeling better?

I am.
I really am. I buckled down and committed to physical therapy once a week...and there is progress. Had to change therapists midway through. But I'm happy with the change. I like hope. I want to get better. Building back the muscles in my left arm. woo hoo! I promise to not overdo it. I don't want to end up looking like my governator...Arnold Terminator. :) wink wink. (ps: please take the time to stretch and step away from the computer every now and then! Srsly. I hope you do. This video is just crazy funny and healthy all in one.

My macbook needs help. Or maybe just a new battery. Whatever it is... it's making me a little crazy. ( I completely need my computer for work and when it starts going crazy, it makes me crazy... or just crazier lol.) So please be patient with me if I don't make it back here soon. And if I owe you an e-mail, I will e-mail you soon! In the mean time, back to the apple store we go. :(

So just sneaking in to share some Kenner Road art. But first. Let's cheer up and pretend we just bought a tall favorite something something from starbucks and a cute tasty little muffin with Zero calories. We are both wearing a cute something from Anthro we bought shamelessly. And we are both having a fabulous hair day. Oh you look fabulous! yes? Who's with me?

Sit. relax. enjoy some sweet eye candy.









sweet. I feel better. thanks for following along. :)

I've got a birthday party to plan.
An HOA meeting to attend (our first one! I kinda feel like it's going to be just like the Gilmour Girls town hall meetings. All crazy and interesting :) I plan on having fun at least. lol)
An office to move
A computer to heal.
Some house painting to do.
Some exercises to do ( i really don't like running. but hey, gotta get this body moving. So woop-de-do)
And hopefully a nap in between :)
This week is going to be a great week. One day at a time.
Stay sweet.
loves,
-d