Pillow Talk

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There’s this one small thing that’s keeping me from updating my blog posts lately.

Sleep.

For the past several years, I’ve been known as a night owl. I would stay up to 2am finishing a blog post for the next day. But these days, with a full time job, a house to clean, an upcoming wedding, and other priorities, my blog has taken a back seat. It is what it is.

Same goes for my FontCrafts site. I had a mini virus invasion on that site a few months back, and I have yet to bounce back, even though I got that one fixed. Sometimes there really is too much to do, so little time. And I’m ok with that.

I figure one of these days, I may have a little one and even less time for work and a blog. We will see if that day ever comes. I’m just all about keeping it in perspective these days. It’s hard to do, but worth it to stay sane, don’t you think?

Of course, this could all change if I have a hot DIY project idea that I must.post.this.second. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do 🙂

And total credit goes to my friend Paul McRae for the quote above. I’m not sure if he came up with it originally or not, but I love it so much!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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Tay’s Crafty World

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tay's crafty world

So, a lot of you may have already read about this if you know me or are my facebook friend, but I wanted to share it again! My niece Taylor, my little mini me in crafting just started her first blog and it is sooooo awesome! I’m so proud of her. I really think she has a knack for it and her personality really pops!

She’s going to posting some of her favorite craft projects along with recipes and other fun activities she might be doing. Taylor is a very creative girl. She goes everywhere with a pad of paper and a pencil and she loves to doodle and draw! It really is her passion and I’m very proud to be her Aunt Pex! I love you Tay Tay!

taylor

Here’s a picture of Taylor and I from about 4 years ago. With an aunt like me,a super seamstress named Nana, and a super supportive Mom who lets her shine her creative light, I guess it was destined that she would be a little crafty too!

tay_0864

So, hop on over to Taylor’s blog and check it out. I know she will be excited to see that people visited or commented!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Wednesday randomness

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So a few things I have going on right now…

1) I am going to try to start posting mini posts to my blog from my iphone of interesting stuff I observe throughout the day. They will be short, mini blog posts, so when I do, please let me know what you think about them! I hope to incorporate them in with my daily blog posts, so that if I miss a day of blogging, I won’t feel too stressed out…I will be able to let myself off the hook I’ve created for myself. Also, I’m sure you noticed my new header and twitter updates on the side of the blog. I plan on revamping some other sidebar items in the next couple of weeks, so look for that! My blogs in my sidebar and fave sites are in major need of an update, just haven’t gotten around to it!

2) My good friend Carey is coming in to the LA area this upcoming weekend, so I think I’m going to try to meet up with her. I drove down that way last week for CHA, and it wasn’t an awful drive, but it was long. I look super forward to seeing her and exploring Southern California. We may go to Disneyland, but I’m not sure just yet!

3) I have yet to get the craft supplies out. Yikes. I really need to get them organized, but I just haven’t had the chance. I can’t wait til they are out and about and I feel back in my natural crafting mode.

4) New Kids on the Block is appearing 5 minutes away from my house next month. It’s my chance to go!!! I never went as a kid, but honestly I was joking. I’m not really feeling it like I used to. I’m not too excited to see middle-aged men trying to do hip hop moves.

5) Just downloaded an app called Lose it that lets you record your calorie count and exercise. If I you hadn’t already guessed, I am trying to lose some weight. I just hate looking up in the mirror and seeing a double chin. This thing has gotta go! As soon as I’ve been getting home, I’ve been going to the gym to walk/run. I’m so not into exercise, but if I get on a routine, I’m pretty good at doing it. Wish me luck!

6) Keep my family and friends back in Kentucky in your thoughs. My mom, dad, grandmother, and brother (and I’m sure some other folks I know back there) are still without power from the crazy Kentucky ice storm. From the sounds and looks of what I’ve seen online, it is really something else. Being without power for weeks on end is something most of us can’t even imagine, but they’re hanging in there and are dealing despite the tough times!

Martha’s Blog Contest

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Several twitterers are talking today about Martha Stewart’s blog contest. Seriously, her whole show today was all about blogging and I think that is absolutely fabulous. There is not enough attention on web related topics or viral marketing on regular network shows. I definitely think there’s a lot of people out there that have little to no understanding of blogs and that there should be more mainstream discussions about them. I’m watching her segment (the same one you can watch above) and the whole topic of blogging is just so fascinating…all the stories people tell, photos they share, and information to communicate.

Speaking of bloggers, Perez Hilton was on the show today and he looks so great. He has been losing a lot of weight…good for him. What an exciting show. I’m going to have to add a comment later on her site. I’m sure that the selected blogs on Martha’s site will be beyond fabulous. I can’t wait to see the chosen ones.

I know this post is so incredibly random. I’ve not been in the best frame of mind this week (I guess having a few days off does that to you). Tell me about some of your favorite blogs. I’d love to see some new ones. Oh, and if you want to exchange blog links, leave yours in the comment field. I’d love to share your blog with others.

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

P.S. I never knew Martha had a sister.

Finding my blog niche and Friday Faves

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scanned nostalgia
I know this pic is really random, but that is my head at the moment and I just didn’t have any pic that screamed BLOG. Also, I think this one is some visual 80’s eye candy, and I am sending it your way straight from my heart 🙂 BTW, I submitted this for a now Defunct 80’s desktop article for Creative Techniques. It was of 80’s memoribilia that I collected and I was trying to show the way you could scan in objects to create a custom desktop background for your computer. Anyway, I digress…

One of my main focuses as of late has been updating and reinventing this blog. I’m sure if you have a blog, you know the chore involved in posting, staying active, and keeping it fresh with fun and interesting content. But, seriously, it is a really hard thing to do. I keep asking myself, “What do people want to read?” This is a legitimate question, but I think when I really analyze it, I need to really be centered on WHO AM I? and WHERE DO I WANT TO GO?

See, the thing is this…I don’t really know. I am a person that pours my creativity into many different avenues. You name it, I like doing it. Tonight, for example, while over dinner I came up with some fun party planning ideas for a bachelorette party and then discussed taking candid photos at a wedding. I then gave my friend some tips on scrapbooking and then told her that we should have all our friends together for a cupcake decorating party. Yes, I’m all over the place, indeed. It’s not a bad thing that I have a lot of creative outlets, but reeling them in is the difficult part. I want to emcompass all my passions…trend-spotting, marketing, blogging, photography, crafting, digital crafting, jewelry making, entertaining, (and the list goes on) into my blog. I don’t think it has to be just one thing, but it is still a challenge for me, a random girl who has ideas popping up all over the place.

I’ve been searching as of late for ways to market and create traffic on your blog…I came across this insightful article that I found to be insightful. I am discovering a lot of new things and things like memes and bloglists. It’s actually all a little overwhelming.

So, as I go along, I’ll be tooling with the format of this thing and figuring out what works best for me. I’d really like to discover a way to more efficiently post (and have it not feel so excrutiating – coming up with ideas and executing them is work!). I’ll try not to bore you with anymore details, but you have any suggestions for me, I’d really appreciate them.

And while we’re at it, if you are reading this and have your own craft or life blog, I’d love to trade links! Leave a comment or e-mail me at swelldesigner@yahoo.com. Us creative types have to stick together and be supportive of one another. I truly feel that friends (internet ones, too), are invaluable for success in what we want to do, and I’d be more than happy to help you out, if you help me 🙂

Now onto my Friday Faves…. Today, I want to share a couple of my recent fave craft blogs and sites I’ve discovered. I’m just dipping my toes into some of this scene, so excuse me if it is old news, but it is new to me and I wanted to share…


Design Sponge
Really love the layout and look of this one. So simple and fresh. Lurve the mini trends section and the diversity of crafts,trends, and décor this site has to offer.


Geekologie
 This site is really smart and witty. And it’s got the perfect portion of craft, technology, celebrity gossip and pop culture. I think I’m in love!


Remakeables
 This is a great blog. Love the illustrations and the observations and all the little details in between. It really is a nice, little slice of life I appreciate.

Anyway, off to bed. Going tomorrow back home to visit the folks and to photograph my parent’s 45th high school graduation. My dad has organized it and I’m taking photos and selling CDs to all the folks with the pics on them. Should be fun. From what they’ve told me, they are some of the spirited reunion goers I’ve heard of. Placemats with senior pics, red and black everywhere…they’ve got it going on and I look forward to sharing with them and meeting some of the people I’ve always heard them talk about.

Toodles, Swellions.

Alexa

My lame blog attempt turns out halfway decent afterall!

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I apologize in advance for the next few lame-ola paragraphs I’m about to spew.

OK. I admit it, I struggle with the whole blog thing. I want to come up with thes incredibly witty, thoughtful, inspiring blog entries, but usually, I just sit in front of my computer for an hour trying to think of a topic, experience, or area of interest that I think others will find inspiring. As Brit Brit would say, “It’s hard, y’all”.

So, like back in Ms. Johnson’s 5th/6th split class, I wish when I couldn’t find a blogworthy topic, I could just type in…”I am writing in my blog, I am writing in my blog, etc., etc.”. Actually, in her class you had to write…”I am writing in my journal, etc.”, but you get the point.

So today, I’m just going to post some fabulous web sites I’ve visited over the past couple of days. Maybe you will find them interesting, maybe you won’t, but I did blog something and something has to be said for that, right?

Noah K. Everyday is a fascinating look at this guy Noah Kalina. I know nothing about him, other than the fact that he taken a photo of himself everyday for the past 7 years or so. Check out his youtube video where he ages over the course of 6 years. Just intoxicating, fascinating, and kinda haunting (maybe it’s just the music, but I don’t think so).

I came upon this cool shop called Atypyk filled with all kinds of fun goodies. I lurve really humorous gifts as well as things that graphically speak to me (after all, I’m a graphic designer). This Miss World t-shirt spoke to me (SO FUN!), as well as these Techy adhesive Post-it knockoffs

There’s some fabulous gift ideas to be found at Hostess with the Mostessâ„¢ This blog design is so much fun (I’m a sucker for color, always have been, oh and a little bit of girly flair). I was especially fond of their product suggestions like these Mod Ornaments, Marilyn mug set (to match my Marilyn glasses, and these Rainbowtastic plate collections.

Lastly, if you want a little shock to start or end your day, check out this flickr photoset of Lenora Claire’s Golden Gals Gone Wild gallery show. But enter at your own risk, some of the photos are pretty shocktastic. You will never think of Bea Arthur or Betty White (who made a funny cameo on last night’s Ugly Betty, BTW) in the same light again!