27 is the new 12.

Seriously...27. Please don't say it, "honey, you don't know old". See, to me 27 is old, it's the oldest I've ever been, you can at least give me that! When can you start pulling that "don't ask me my age" card? You know the type (and maybe you are one) the type that is forever 29. Well, I'll take forever 18. I woke up this morning to a mass celebration. Tiff has planned my entire weekend, along with a printed schedule. How perfect is that, not only has she planned super fun stuff but a schedule...she knows me all too well. 27 requires more pictures than previous days of birth so I will be sure to post a few. Happy Friday!

In other news....

Simple Spiel is in full holiday mode...putting together holiday gift packs and such. I'm headed to Cali. next week to get some inspiration from people I love in a place where I love spending Christmas. Look for all sorts of holiday fun real soon. I am also taking orders for custom Holiday cards....fun stuff. Please let me know if you would like a custom design or if you are interested in joining the revolution by giving Simple Spiel this year.
Cheers!

It's been awhile....

Sorry!
Once again things have been crazy. I know, that's not much of an excuse anymore. I need to get over it. Anywho...I spent last weekend Grandview & had a great time! Here's a few shots from my trip.

Trev had a soccer game...and you can't miss that sort of thing. He totally dominates (surprise, yeah right)and he's real cute to boot.


Ahh, high school football. Turns out Cade is cute AND fast, I'm a big fan! Prosser beat Ellensburg 70-0, again no surprise there!


Little man had his 2nd birthday...Bob the Builder...did we party? Yes we did!










Yeah, so he's pretty much amazing. Nice shot Jon.

I also need to thank Sarah, Bre, Ty and Mandy for my early Birthday gifts...I love 'em, you guys rock my world.

McMinnville Art & Wine Walk

What a amazing day it has been. The McMinnville Art & Wine walk was a ton of fun. We had a great time hanging out, meeting new people and selling a few cards. Big thanks to Tiffany, Courtney and Liz for all their help. You girls are amazing! I'm looking forward to more events like this one. Don't worry I'll keep you updated to where Simple Spiel will be next!

Represent!

Need something to do this weekend? Or looking for a distraction from what you should-a, could-a, would-a been doing on Saturday? Head over to McMinnville and check out the McMinnville Art & Wine Walk. It's a great event where the downtown shop owners open up their businesses and showcase some of the best local art and wine. It's a fun opportunity to shop at some fun shops, see awesome local art (including Simple Spiel!!) and taste some amazing local wine.

The Mac Art Walk blog is a bit neglected at present but check it out, September's info is the same.

I'm so excited to be a part of this event! My wonderful friend Liz asked me to be the featured artist at her shop "All Fired Up" and I can't wait...so if you get a chance stop by and say hi! I'll have plenty of cards for sale and will be featuring the new "straight up" line. Come on, who can resist a bit of witty slang?

The next couple days are going to be full of "prep", getting my table ready, packaging cards, etc...I love stuff like this, yea for Mac Art Walk!





McMinnville Art & Wine Walk
Saturday, September 15, 2007
11:00am - 8:00pm
on and around 3rd Street in downtown McMinnville, Oregon


See you there!

Boy Band!

I can't help but share this pic. Looks like these cuties are taking after their uncle Jon. If the nephews were a boy band, this would be the album cover...here they are in all their rockin' glory. Love it!

Home....

In attempts to keep the revolution alive I must admit it seems as though over the past few weeks Simple Spiel has been on the back burner. This was not intentional and, truth be told, I haven't been home.

Home where I have my home office, where I am free to create, spread out, and don't have to clean up unless I feel like it. See, I tend to make chaos when I create. I am visual, I have to see everything, the colors, textures and layers inspire me. I'm longing to be in a place of great inspiration. At "home" in my design, which has lead me to thinking about home. Really what is home? And when does the place I live feel like home?

I must admit that I (at the present time) feel homeless. I am blessed to have a roof over my head, I have someone greater than I realize, who provides all, and recently I have been so clearly reminded of that fact. So the roof is there but it seems like a different roof every night.

I try to think back to when the last time was that I felt at home. Honestly, I think it may have been my junior year in college. It was the last time I didn't feel transient. Time passes so quickly, I have moved 8 times since then and I felt "at home" where I was living, but I have never felt like my place of residence has been my home.

I know that some may envy my situation, not being responsible for much, able to "fly by the seat of my pants", and living my dreams. But with dreams (I have come to learn) come sacrifices, and some of those are so unexpected. I'm starting my own business, I expected to sacrifice, time, finances, etc., but never my home. And I'm to the point where I miss home, and it's so much more than a place to put my stuff, although that is part of it.

Home to me is a place where worries drop at the door and confidence thrives. Where self-expression surrounds me. Where I can be myself with those I love and a place that you never want to leave. I want home. This whole rant is not intended to be a downer. See what I realize about home is that it can have different forms. It's not only a roof. It's the people you are surrounded by, it's where you find peace when the world is crazy, and it can be any place that you find yourself at your best.

The truth is this home is temporary, so it's ok if I never feel at home. I don't want to become too attached when there is a better home, one that is forever.

So I keep on keepin' on. My etsy shop may not reflect it lately, but I have been working. The revolution is alive and expect new things to be happening real soon. So take some time today to send some snail mail...to someone @ home.

Cheers!

Back to School...

I hate to study. I'm not good at it. I've never done much of it. But I did graduate (twice actually)from college and I'm still pretty stoked to be done. Well, because of recent events, involving the Temptress, I'm back to hitting the books. More on that later, but first here's a quick Temptress update...

...she's back, and she runs. Still making a few weird noises (I'll give her that, she's old)but she has developed one new "special feature". My key no longer opens the driver's door. That's right, if I want to enter my car I must now unlock the passenger side door, push the power lock thing (that only opens the driver's door) and then manually lock the passenger door (the power to that one broke a couple years ago) and then walk around to the driver's side a get in. What a process, I'm thinking of buying some mace. I mean come on, it's quite a routine and in a dark parking lot at night, yeah, I'm going to be prepared. And I'm pretty sure my Uncle Brian would agree with me.

So why school? It's not really school, it's more like at home learning. Ok, here's the deal. I have realized, and I've been talking about it forever, that I need to get a new car, it's time. But the thought of looking, test driving, buying, hoping it's not a lemon and, getting to know where all the new buttons are, really overwhelms me. So I have decided to finally buck up and get a new car, which requires me to get an Oregon drivers licence if I want this whole thing to be as economical as possible (no tax). This in and of itself is a huge deal. I have lived in three states and countless cities since leaving home and have yet to change my residency. So I'm taking the plunge.

Here's the thing, I go to the DMV,take a number, which now is a box that prints a receipt looking thing (they have really advanced DMV tech. in the last 11 years). I'm number D52. At the front of the building I find the little red sign showing what number they are currently helping. 12! WHAT! It looks like there are only 20 people in the waiting area. This is what always surprises me about the DMV. The people come out of the woodwork when their number is called. They just kept appearing out of no where and I'm wondering if there are people who wait in DMV lines for other, busier people. This could be big business, it could be an untapped market. I'm considering standing at the entrance to busy DMVs and offering my services. I'd take a number, wait, and then phone my client when their number is approaching. My charge could be based on the number of minutes spent waiting. Genius. And think about it, it really is a win, win, the DMV is great for people watching, and I'm totally into that. Also,as a side note, my number was D52, no one ever addressed the letter at the beginning of the number, weird. I should have asked.

My number is finally called and I approach the counter, bracing myself for DMV peeps, you know the type, mostly never friendly, always mad at the world. The lady I spoke to actually broke all DMV stereotypes. She was near nice and very informative, even though what she informed me of was bad news.

*I MUST TAKE THE WRITTEN TEST TO GET MY LICENCE IN THE STATE OF OREGON*

What the ___________!?!

This is something that I have not done in 11 years, count 'em ELEVEN! Not cool DMV, not cool.

So here I am studying my little book that the quasi-nice lady gave me with big smile. It's like they find joy in my pain. And yes, I'm actually studying. I figure I should, because if I fail, I have to wait 28 days to try again. Sheesh!

Wish me luck.

Sarah...is a kick in the pants!

Back to the women of She!

This is Sarah...and I love her! Sarah has been one of my best friends since high school. And when I say best, I mean love, hate, I stole her boyfriend, she was mean to me (I wonder why?) and we still made it through. To tell the truth I am glad that we have been through it all. She has proved to be one of the most loyal people I know.

Sarah inspired the card...you...are a kick in the pants. And anyone that knows her knows that this is right on. Sarah is the kind of friend I find a fiasco with. We revert back to high school together...and oh man it's always a good time. She's always up for a prank!

One of my favorite stories with Sarah was in high school. We were in Yakima trying to visit a boy I liked. While driving to his house and I really, really had to go the the bathroom. With no where else to stop but an outhouse I got out of the car and did my business. Now Sarah, being the thoughtful friend that she is pointed the headlights of her car towards the outhouse (it was darker than dark outside). So I'm sitting there thinking what I great friend I have and all of a sudden she rams the outhouse with her car, yeah, no kidding. I jumped out, as quick as I could. So funny. All we could do was laugh. Really, what would we have done if it had fallen over? Aahh, the memories!

I love that Sarah, can always make me laugh. I love that she feels everything I do and cries with me. I love that she listens with her whole heart, and does not judge me. I love that no matter where I am in life it does not matter to Sarah, she love me unconditionally.

So here's to you kick in the pants!

You really are are a kick and for that I'm thankful! Thank you for never giving up on me, for always making me feel welcome, for giving the best gifts and for believing in me. You are wise beyond your years, more genuine than you know, and I'm so very proud of you! CHEERS!

Get Over It!

They say everything comes full circle. I agree. Like yesterday...
I followed my usual routine, I weekend in Salem (beginning of the circle). My schedule was full, leave Tiffany's drive to McMinnville, interview, drive to Tigard, interview, drive to Beaverton, unpack, get ready to repack for Thursday when I head back to Salem. Have you ever read the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Day? Well, that was me.


I left Tiff's apartment, got the heel of my cute interview shoes caught in the deck. Propelling me forward, ripping my foot out of the shoe and causing one of those situation where you get up and look around to make sure no one is watching. If someone was watching, I 'm pretty sure I made their day, it was pretty funny. In fact, I wish I could have seen me!

So I get to my interview, it went fine, we will see what happens.

Driving to my second interview I thought I would stop to grab something to drink, that's when it happened. The thing I have been dreading for about 6 years, yes it has happened before, but it's happening more often, and friends, I feel that the end may be near....


....for the Temptress. She has put in her time. Yeah, so she broke down, in a random Taco Time parking lot in Newberg, Oregon. Thank God (and the 'rents) that I have AAA. So she gets towed, by a guy who is missing most of his teeth on the top. HOT!

So, because I weekend in Salem, and who knows how long it will take to fix the Temptress, I have it towed to Salem. And there we are full circle. I am sitting in Tiffany's office/my weekend bedroom typing this blog entry. It all comes back to Salem folks.

And yes, I was able to reschedule my second interview, it's this afternoon, wish me luck, but even more wish me a typical day, you know one full of things NOT to write home about. Truth be told, I always find a fiasco so looks like I'll be writing home...