One Blue Chocolate

Happy Earth Day!

In the last year i have become more passionate about taking care of our planet.  And I love that my husband is so into it with me.  I now cringe at the thought of using throw away paper plates, utensils, cups... too much waste.  I feel like more and more people are wanting to be "green" and that is a good thing!  People who use to roll their eyes at us are now doing their part to help the planet. Now, if we can just make EARTH DAY be EARTH WEEK, and raise more awareness!

So, since its Earth Day, i wanted to share with you the things i have been practicing in our household:

1) we use cloth diapers.

2) along with cloth wipes.  I love that i dont have to buy disposables of both of these!

3) cloth napkins.  We've had the same 5 rolls for over a year now, since w switched to cloth.

4) as of today, i started using reusable swabs for my face.  I love them!

5) we use reusable bags for EVERYTHING!  Grocery shopping, Target trips, even to the mall.  They are not just for groceries :)

6) 80% of my babes clothes and gear are hand me downs.  I love reusing, and i love the friends who pass them on to me.

7) I love my starbucks, and that is why i have a tall and a grande reusable tumbler.

8) and when i dont have them in my car, i do have my cup kozy handy :)

9) i dont use plastic kitchen containers.  My husband takes his lunch to work on glass dishes.

10) We are all about our Kleen Kanteens.  No plastic bottles for us!

11) we recycle!

12) i reuse my boxes and shipping peanuts for my business.

13) now that summer is coming (because its not as cold!) , i turn off the water when i am shaving or lathering in the shower.  it saves so much water that way!

Another obsession: checking out Etsy for earth friendly products!  My next move is reusable sandwich bags, for those small snacks that one must take along. 

So what are you doing to help the planet?  Post on your blog and leave your link!  I love new ideas :)

Oh my, too long...

 I cant believe its going to be two months since last time i posted!  Time does fly.  Well, believe it or not, an 18 pound bundle of joy keeps me quite busy.  He is growing so much every day, learning new things, and keeping our schedules busy!

Besides washing diapers, starting a new career as a runner (while pushing the babe on the stroller), and doing a million errands, i still find time to do work.  Wedding season is here... and has been here... keeping me busy with lots of fall weddings.   Custom wedding maps have been popular lately, brides just love including a custom map for their guests in the invitation, as well as in "out of town guest" baskets to show them around.

I am also planning a another giveaway soon!  So stay tuned :)

Could this be the beginning of something great?

I've been waiting for this day, the day that Calvin sleeps a full night sleep.  Dont get me wrong, he is a great sleeper.  But no matter how early or late he feeds before he goes to bed, he wants to eat again at 3:30-4 am.  But last night he feel asleep really early, at about 8:30 and he did not wake up until 7:30 this morning.  Amazing.

Little things that make me happy.

I feel like my life has been a roller coaster lately.  One day i have all the time in the world, and the next day i have a million things to do.  One day Calvin is a sweet angel, the next day he is a wild monster.

I've had this cookbook for over a year now, and i finally cracked it open and found some delicious recipes.  Oh, and quite healthy i should add.

And i was so happy when the UPS man showed up yesterday!  I said i was going to buy one of these last January... as in 13 months ago.  No more little scrapbook round cutters!  Now i have this beast that works awesome.

And on the same trip, i got my new business cards :)  I know, the whole XOXO is so Valentines, but i really like it... what do you think?

:::99 things:::

Saw this here, and thought I'd play along ...

Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia- i lived there :)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Modish Handmade Spaces

Jena over at Modish created an awesome Flickr group called Modish Handmade Spaces and i had to join!  I love and enjoy looking at people's work space and their creations.  Its like being backstage at a concert :)  I have long ways to go before i create my dream work station, and Josh knows that a craft room is going to be a must when we buy a home.  The above picture is the craziness i go through right before a craft show.

Talking about craft shows, I am so excited to have found out that Renegade Craft Fair will be doing an LA show!  That is amazing news!  July will be a crazy month for me, if i get accepted *crossing fingers*.  I have some much to plan... and new ideas i want to make a reality.

A few of my favorite things...

I used to post of about my recent purchases, and i wish i would think of doing it more often.

I want to share with you some amazing finds on Etsy...

Baby rattle from Blossom Joy's:

Wooden helicopter, from Wood Toy Shop:

And i am saving my pennies for these!

The Marilyn dress, by Ureshii.

Poppy Pins, by Modest Maven.

Nerdy Flashcards, by Electric Boogaloo.

This used to be easy...

I love my baby Calvin.  But sometimes i wish he would sit still... its that possible with a 15 week old?  I had a handful of work to photograph, but it takes forever now... and its a bit tricky.  But he is my love, sunshine, butterball, monkey.  So i got to make it work, right?

Oh, and dont forget to take advantage of the free recipe cards in my shop!

Free is always nice.

I got a request from a bride to use the image from my "How can i resist you?' valentine cards, and turn it into recipe cards for her upcoming bridal shower.  And and the end results where so nice!  I gotta give her credit for this great idea :)

So because the idea was so great, i decided to give some away for free!  I will be giving away a set of 12 recipe cards ($7 value) to the next 5 orders of $15 or more (before shipping.)  Now, how can you resist that!?

My shop has some new personalized stationery sets, as well as some sweet Valentine cards, so go check it out!  Oh, and mention the freebie on note to seller :)

Hello 2009.

I've been a bit spoiled the last two weeks.  Josh has been off from school, so he's been spending a lot of time with Calvin.  Which allows me to go to the gym, run errand by myself, and even take long showers!  Oh, and i have not changed one diaper since he has been on school break.  Yes, he is the best.  He tries to do so much for Calvin when he can, he loves their bonding time.  They even watched Lord of the Rings together... except Josh would not face Calvin towards the T.V (we have this thing of no T.V until 2 years old), and instead he narrated the movie to him.  Yes, he can be a bit extreme :)

 But Monday, things will get back to normal, Calvin and I get to do our daily errands, naps, and play time together.

I also got to do a lot of designing done!  Valentine's is just around the corner, and last year was a good year for me.  I posted some on my Etsy shop already, along with new personalized stationery designs.  I really want to be ahead of the game this year, so i plan on creating for spring this month already.