Creative Collective Game!

Reminder: Creative Collective Meet-up this Friday 12/2 @8PM at my house!
This woman is the ultimate foodie and is doing a hands-on demo with us involving holiday sweets and all I need to say is: chocolate. Now combine that word with her awesome skills and you know you're in for quite a night. You don't want to miss it. Mariko has been very gracious to show us her awesome ways so I think we should pitch in for supplies if you can- just a dollar or two should do it! See you there!

*Don't forget to give us an update on how you are doing with your goals - bring samples of your progress if you can!

Now let's play a game shall we? Yesterday I was cleaning-out a drawer and finally found all the cute hair things I have been missing for like a year at least! Then I noticed that all of them are from friends and all but one were made by friends! Even the one that wasn't handmade is so creative and totally my style. I am thankful for cool, stylish, thoughtful friends! So, no matter if you know these people or not, let's play! Which piece of hair-flare belongs to which creative type?
Ashley

Melissa

Katie

Echo

And Matti (pictured here with her sister, the bride!)

Goal #2 progress: Open Across the Sea Shop

7 bags designed, materials collected, cut, sewn, and happily waiting to be sold.

Here's a preview. It just so happened I was dressed like a sailor today (most days if I'm being honest here...)

Inside you'll find an iPhone sized pocket with the lining color of your choice:

sea kelp


or sea foam


Ambrose saw them and got all excited, "What are those for!?"

"Mermaids," I said.

Alright, this is getting exciting. Shop opening soon!

Making things.

By myself, with you, my kids, Thomas, with my mother-in-law...


I've been making a lot of things lately and I like it.

Right at home.

The trails behind Laie are fun, some a little steep, mostly easy, and numerous. Thomas Robertson basically grew-up back there and he knows them all. Today he showed us all around and we felt right at home. I expect we'll be back again and again really soon.

Not entirely generous, but true.

There will always be stupid people making awesome people feel stupid about being awesome.

This aha-moment has been brought to you by self-relefction today I guess. I honestly don't know, it just popped into my head and I thought, "That's true." Maybe I heard it somewhere, but maybe not.

Whatever the case, I know I've been on both sides of this equation before and neither are very fun. Let's just all agree to support each other and not let our insecurities cloud someone else's genius ok?

Now go eat turkey! You're cool. Bye!

Reason No. 7,426 why I enjoy being a Mom.

As we were pulling up to preschool today I said, "Ok bye Ambeasty, I love you!"

To which he sighed and answered in a very sincere tone, without hesitation, "Yeah, I love you too mom, as big as a quesadilla and SPACE!"

Woah.

27 before 28

Inspired by Elsie of A Beautiful Mess, here is my 27 before 28 list... and I turn 28 in 6.5 months so I better get with it!

1. Create my dream ENG201 course for Winter
2. Open Across the Sea Shop!
3. Be completely comfortable in a swim suit
4. Establish a bedtime for myself and keep it
5. Add to our family or be on that path before my birthday... I've been practicing my baby tending skills with my friend's babies a lot lately and I'm fairly confident that I could do this again, well at least before I turn 30. Yep, we'll shoot for that.

6. New family photos
7. Learn to play the banjo
8. Date night twice a month with my Thomas
9. Temple twice a month
10. Print a year from my blog to keep as our family history
11. Finish the Book of Mormon
12. Visit another island
13. Bare my testimony in Sacrament Meeting
14. Mail a letter every week to a loved one
15. Go to dinner with my in-laws
16. Organize an inspiring creative space
17. Sew 10 things for my home/family
18. Create a piece of art for my home
19. Sew 5 things for my wardrobe
20. Make fun home videos of the kids
21. Write something to submit for publication
22. Collaborate with K on a kids book
23. Eat things that make me feel good
24. Read Daughters in My Kingdom
25. Collaborate with S on our Etsy shops
26. Continue to help my family stay out of debt
27. Read to, play with, and love my kids more and more everyday!

I'll report here when I make progress. Will I get it all done? No. But it will be an amazing half a year working on living all these dreams!

The truth about Ash

He doesn't just look like Thomas. He is baby Thomas in many ways.

He is not obvious or loud and obnoxious (usually heh heh). He doesn't want your attention, not really anyway. He is funny in a quiet way. He is clever and sweet and happy to be on his own or just with me and his family, but especially me. Just like his daddy. I feel lucky that these shy types prefer me.

I rub them the wrong way sometimes because I am more forthcoming and loud. I can be extremely obvious.

I've had to learn their subtle ways and admit that my way is not the only way to interact with others and show love.


And there is something more worth the earning in their way sometimes and it can be pure magic.

So, while other kids (ahem, Ambrose) are running up to you yelling "Hey Aunty want to see my shark dance!?" and charming the crowds, the quiet kids (ahem, Asher) are being their own kind of amazing:

without a shout, or waving their arms, silently being awesome. We are all so different and so important and we all matter. The loud ones, the quiet ones, all are great.

Just kidding!

Hey Creative Collective.

Remember how I said the next meeting was Sat 12/3? Well, I was just kidding.

I know. I'm hilarious.

It's really Friday 12/2 @ 8PM so be there or be square.

Mariko is doing a foodie demo and we all want to hear how your projects are coming! Bring samples of your work to inspire us if you can please.

See you then.

My favorite kind of craft

I love making things for new babies.

A) They're not picky

B) It's fun to use the parent's interests and hobbies to personalize them

C) You have like, nine months to think about what to make and actually do it... a deadline I can sort of handle...

D) You get to put all your love for baby and family into what you do

Here's something I made for Hayden Jack Jones:

my newest nephew. He's so handsome!

Ambrose even helped:

Hayden's daddy is a big Volkswagon and Beatles fan so....

and the onesie I am the proudest of -- of all the onesies I've painted:

Those are a lot of tiny cuts with a cheap exacto knife my friends. And it's all one minuscule piece. I almost lost my cool about three times, but everything turned out alright. Just call me steady-handed-Steph.

After all that work I couldn't let the remainder of the sketch go to waste so I made a onesie for my future child.... the one I am absolutely NOT pregnant with and won't be having until like 2013... yeah, that one.
I'll find a nice place in the attic to store it or something. Ok, thanks for looking.

What's YOUR favorite kind of craft?

Friends.

And here's my original best friends. This picture must be re-blogged every few years because it's da bomb.

We are still like this I feel: Brittany keeping her emotions in check when all is crazy around her, Natalie being good and looking at the camera but she just can't help laughing, Ashley with her head back in glee at my sorrows, and me... the emotional one.

Today I'm thankful for friends.

Friends who also happen to be my sisters: calling me to check-in and laugh (Nat), calling me with news of amazing vintage finds and more laughs (Britt), calling me to make sure it's ok to eat pizza right before giving birth to another gorgeous baby boy (CONGRATS Ash).

Friends who force me to exercise and push myself.

Friends who encourage me to craft and go for it and make me feel like a creative genius- so much support.

Friends who feed me really good food and teach me new things.

Friends whose homes feel like my own.

Friends who I trust with my children almost more than I trust myself.

Friends who live far away but consistently keep in touch, thus making the distance not a barrier, but more of a coincidence.

Friends who inspire.

Friends who uplift.

Friends who are nerdy English types like me. We have too much in common just by loving words and books. Deep, nerdy love.

Friends who provide opportunities to listen and friends who listen.

Friends who make Hawaii home. A true paradise.

Friends who love me and friends who make it easy to love right back.

Unlikely friends I find in my classroom each semester who frustrate me all the time and make me wipe away happy, proud Mama tears every couple of assignments.

Friends who I think about all the time and pressure to visit me.

Friends who can always be counted on for a good time or to go along with all my hair-brained schemes.

Friends who raised me as close confidants whom I still have in my phone as "Home" and can always call with my problems, joys, and whims. I miss those friends the most and wish I could still crawl in between them at midnight as they sleepily listen to every single detail of my wild, teenage life with patient and drowsy interest.

Friends downstairs who support me all the time in my creative pursuits, healthy goals, and in loving my children. These friends don't hear thank you from me enough, but I really love them a whole lot.

Friends who live with me and love me unconditionally and are my greatest joy and best friends of all. Where would I be without them? Too scary to think about.

Friends who I can pray to, strive to be like, and feel comfort from.

Today I am thankful for friends.

Better than therapy.

Clockwise: Thomas. Ambrose. Asher. Stephanie.

Ambrose and Asher love this song (Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri)...

and it cracks me up.

Ambrose knows about 90% of the ultra dramatic lyrics and sings them with feeling. He frequently requests it in the car and we drive around the 'aina quite a bit... lots of practice time.

"You're gonna catch a cooooold..." You really should hear him.

That last, grand crescendo in all it's glory... oh man, you really should hear me.

I sing it out to every one of my worries. Telling them right off.

I hope I'm not secretly on that show where they put a video camera in the dashboard to capture all the karaoke humiliation. In my mind I give this gal a run for her money.

But boy does this song, full blast, full-out, full of every frustration of the day feel just right. Like a good cry. HA! Goodnight.

A pile.

I have to grade all these. I should have days ago. I will by time I go to bed tonight. I will. Even if it makes me sick. And it will.

My life feels like this pile right now.

Lots of to-dos
grading
projects
intentions
people waiting on me
committments

cute little faces that are way more important than all of that needing lots from me too

a husband who doesn't demand much, but deserves a lot

health

sanity

spirituality

all feeling like a distant but important goal too

...

a big, messy pile. I think I'll make a master list with a great playlist as my companion tonight and fight the good fight...

so I can get back to those cute little faces and that husband who waits. Health, sanity and spirituality will follow.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

The boys now sleep in a big kid bunk-bed arrangement:

It's a set-up from the original Robertson children and just about everybody has had a turn sleeping in these beds, so it's fun to have my kids be a part of the tradition.

Ambrose and Asher had their first dentist appointments yesterday. Ambrose was an apprehensive champ and Ash barely let the dentist look at his teeth. Both mouths look fine though and the boys were pleased with their prizes from the treasure chest! Woot!


I got called to be the First Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency and I am just as shocked as you. I know. Odd choice. They probably didn't know I dressed as Madonna for my birthday.... a modest Madonna though. Or that I dress as Amy Winehouse for fun... a modest Amy Winehouse. HA! Anyway, I went from preparing a lesson every other week to every spare minute I have being filled with something. I had no idea the First Counselor did so much! I have new respect for sure and am learning a lot. It's actually really fun once I stop being shocked and terrified that they asked someone as silly as me (or thinking that just people in my mom's age group do stuff like this....).

I guess that's it for now. I'll leave you with some pictures from the day Ash and I tagged along on Ambrose's preschool fieldtrip. It was great day!

Creative Collective goal time!

We had a fun time at our first meeting. Everyone (somewhat reluctantly) admitted what they wanted to do with their hopes and passions and then we made goals to get started over the month of November.

What do you want to do? Write it down. Admit it to yourself. Make a realistic plan to get it accomplished. Tell us what it is! You'll be a little more accountable that way and more likely to get it done.

I am committing to finally sewing the seven bags I cut out for a future etsy shop. It's a big goal for the month of November, but I can do it!

Some people are starting handmade Christmas gifts, selling at craft fairs, baking or creating a Pinterest project for every two pins they put up, getting things up on their walls to make their house a home, honing their photography skills, simplifying their work schedules to spend more time with their children, stocking up on handmade cards to have on hand for special occasions, and looking into a dream business idea.

Pretty fantastic right? I was bubbling with excitement and inspiration just being in the presence of so many great ideas.

You can do cool stuff too so let's work together! Comment on what you want to accomplish in the month of November and I'll check in with you by the next meeting and maybe even post your progress on the blog if you'll let me! We can do the things we have always wanted to do because now we all have a creative support team!

Next meeting: Saturday Dec 3rd @8PM-- my house.

Bring what you've accomplished or an update on it. Come to get inspired! Come to plan and scheme. Come to hang-out with cool, creative people. Come for a foodie demo by someone I haven't asked yet, but am hoping she will do it because she's seriously amazing!
I'll even give her one of these if she'll do it. :)

Let's do this!