Succulent Propagation Progress

I wrote about trying propagation and wanted to share a little update on how it's going. Here is the progress of several leaves I pulled and there are more. Every single one is growing and I'm enjoying watching them transform. I laid mine out on a tray (without the soil as suggested) because I didn't have any succulent soil on hand but they seem to be doing great so I just left them. Now I am going to lay some soil down because many are getting close to detaching from the leaf and I'm pretty sure they will need to take root. You can see how some leaves are just about shriveled and others are taking longer. So neat. Once I have them in the tray with soil I'll have to get some wee pots and figure out what I'm going to do with all these beauties. Time to start planning/pinning succulent ideas. I will share as I continue. Now to figure out what other succulents I can try propagating.

Experimenting With Water Color

I have been wanting to get some water colors for a while now and after quickly looking at what was out there I started doing that that justification thing. You know how it goes? Don't you?. "Do I really need these?" "Should I invest in more craft supplies?" (Please tell me I am not the only one with this dilemma, please!)

There I was at Target to buy some face wash and I decided to have a look-see in the craft supplies section and I decided on the good old, tried and true, Crayola kids set of water colors. Yep! A small investment for a new venture in the arts/craft arena. I also managed to purchase a very decent pad of water color paper. Again, advertised for kids. Ha! I have a cheap set of brushes that have been sitting around and wrong or right type I have no idea but they'll do. So with said paper and my little basic set of water colors I headed home guilt free knowing I got what I needed without spending too much to have a go at messing with water colors and experimenting.

It's been fun, to say the least, and my favorite part is mixing colors and seeing how they turn out because I have just the basic colors not one of those fancier sets with more color choices. I am thinking of getting better paints and brushes but for now I'm loving how to figure out and play with just the basics which I think a good idea. Like anything, it isn't the equipment or gear or supplies that produce good results, it's practice.

I've done a practice piece for three days now and I'm going to try and continue because it has been an encouraging exercise and fun. I've been sitting outside in the morning painting away because it is good to be outside (bonus) and the light is so good out there (I need a new prescription for my eye glasses, sigh).

I also discovered this account and found it inspiring.

Weekend Links | Nº 5 - Flowers & Vegetables

Lately I've been really interested and fascinated with all things floral and garden. The whole idea of growing and cutting your own flowers or harvesting your own veggies is my love language. In part because I've got plans [a vision] for my front and backyard. One day I keep telling myself. It feels possible one day and overwhelming the next wondering if I will ever get there but I am determined. I know having a plan and chipping away at it little by little is how this will come to fruition. I've got plans to grow a lot more veggies (more than the current tomatoes and herbs) and landscape this home properly. I want a garden where there are flowers aplenty to cut and display inside and a 'just right' vegetable garden to eat from.

Here are a few things flower or garden related. My fave at this moment.

• These paper flower makers are to die for. Seriously! Tiffanieturner and the amazing feed of apetalunfolds.

• Recently started reading SouleMama again. Enjoying her food & garden posts. Simple, real and inspirational to read all about their growing farm life.

• I'm following these super simple instructions for my first attempt at propagating. Gorgeous and informative site. Their Instagram is a serious source of inspiration too!

• Hoping to plan a trip and make a visit to NY's High Line. Have you been? Such a wonderful vision and fantastic idea.

Enjoy your Sunday.

xo, Collette

Project Life | June

I wanted this post to be about Project Life® and the half page spread I did for the month of June. I wanted to celebrate that I'm back and catching up and it feels good and fun and encouraging because if anything, doing any small creative project always makes me feel good. But first, let me share a little of my Instagram feed because, well . . . . . I'm getting to that

You see, I finally got around to picking up Project Life again as I have not worked on it (or blogged) or much else related to scrap/journaling for way too long but it is always so good to jump back in. Fortunately, I have all my photos fairly organized thanks to iPhoto and me categorizing things by month and/or event. It really helps because looking at images truly does jog my memory and I have a visual of life's happenings so completing things from months back isn't all that difficult.

These images, except for the one below, are from my IG and most of what I used to document the month of June. I think one of the reasons I drop off from doing spreads is because I do have gaps where I haven't taken photos, or I feel like I haven't really done anything interesting or document worthy which is soo dumb when I actually think about it. And I have not traveled (a huge part of my life) or had a proper vacation because it is a different season in my life and I long to get back to some of those things I miss but the everyday is document worthy (if only for me) and I enjoy looking back at this stuff even if it seems simple or mundane. It is what it is and it's a part of my journey. And if nothing else, it is a great creative outlet to document things and share.

So when I went to photograph the spread I did for June with my trusty and only camera, my iPhone, I was reminded that trying to photograph these spreads with it is not good. Ugh! It does does not do them any justice at all. They look great in person and I love my iPhone camera (I am an iPhone only Instagrammer) but it is a reminder that I really need a proper camera. One day. Hopefully sooner than later. Until then, please don't run away. Please!

So there you have it (poor quality and all). I used Midnight Edition Kit from Project Life® and few things from Studio Calico's Underground kit. Trying to use what I have and I really like the 4x4 page layout as it's perfect for IG photos. I am trying to keep things a little more streamlined and minimal but it's not always easy as I find myself feeling like I need to add more but I don't. The pictures can do the talking. I go back and forth with this but that's the beauty of no rules and being able to change things up. I just need to keep on keeping at it and have fun.

xo, Collette

Weekend Links | Nº 4

Do you have any plans for the weekend? Going anywhere or doing anything exciting? I don't have any plans but I wouldn't mind if my weekend consisted of sitting on the beach all weekend long, under a shady tent of course! We had a girls day out at the beach this week that consisted of lunch, ice cream and dipping our feet in the ocean. It was rather overcast but nonetheless the ocean is always amazing. I have a rule that if we are there we must at very least get our feet in the sand and preferably dip them in the ocean. I have so many fond memories of summer days spent at the beach. When I am there I'm transported back to those precious teenage years and the long anticipation that was summer break. Just smelling the salt air and hearing the waves crash takes me back and it's all good.

I haven't shared a weekend link post in so long but here are some I saved but never shared. Enjoy!

• This birthday party. Gah! Handmade goodness to the max + the most adorable wee girl. And her blog is just filled with gorgeous photos all the time.

• Enjoying this series from Prêt à Voyager.  Her about page has the coolest diagram by state/country detailing her geographical whereabouts. Just so cool!

• This has been my go-to pasta sauce since 2008. It is so simple and so good. Try it. I promise you will like it.

• How is your grammar? Do you care about spelling and using vocabulary in the proper context. I do! This is a great help for the grammar fans out there. Go on, even if you say you aren't interested you know you are. 

• I could live in here. Every photo is gorgeous + then some.  A visual feast for sure. I had heard about MilK but never checked them out. Thank you Holly of Decor8 for sharing their magazine.


xo, Collette

Currently: Summer Infused Goings On

Growing basil, mint and three different types of tomatoes. Simple but so rewarding. There is something really rewarding and neat about growing, tending to and then consuming it. Amen.

Dreaming [planning] a future garden full of all sorts of veggies and flowers too.

Reading up on composting. Again, this is all in part due to my desire to grow a garden. It's all about the compost I hear.

Enjoying all the simple things that summer provides like more daylight, hot days that make me so appreciate air conditioning, more barbeques, church in the park and sitting outside talking until the sun goes down. Good stuff!

Consuming plenty of Arnold Palmers [homemade of course], iced coffee, La Croix sparkling waters and popsicles. All great things to beat the heat. Yes!

Planning and looking forward to a one-way cruise up the coast to Vancouver, BC where we'll stay on for a few nights in the city and take in some gorgeous sights, good food and all that I hear is so wonderful about Vancouver. Excited and thinking Christmas season will make it a little extra special.

Looking forward to 4th of July with my immediate family which means a barbeque + swimming + fireworks at dark. And some fun, sparkling, fruity & alcohol free drinks I've been concocting in my head. Simple. Simple is good in my book.

Project Life | August

Here is my August spread for Project Life. I know I am out of chronological order but I'll get those previous weeks/months posted, I will. My biggest challenge right now is photographing these spreads and having them look some what decent. Hoping it will get better as I go.

I still really like the whole gold/sparkle/shimmer thing. Gold is fun and happy for me right now, so I'm going with it. I'm keeping things simple as far as supplies go. I'm using Midnight Edition Kit + a variety of other papers, stickers and the like. Trying to find my groove, looking at all the amazing scrappers doing PL and wow there are just so many crazy good pages out there and a lot to be inspired by.

August was: my niece's 15th birthday, my sister-in-law's birthday, #augustbreak2014 challenge on Instagram, lots of summer veggies from my dad's garden, serving with my church, the start of the back porch renovation (need to work on that a lot more), Lucy and the everyday stuff of life.

The first of #hooptydooptyscaliforniacollection on my Instagram. I really like this accidental collection. I have it framed right above my desk.

September monthly spread coming up soon. This project is still so enjoyable and creative. I am enjoying the process.

xo, Collette

Weekend Links | Nº 3 and Lucy

This dog. Oh this dog. I love her to bits. I really do. Every morning, after I have gotten out of bed, she manages to find her way up into my spot and take what I like to call her morning nap. And sometimes she brings a toy. This day she brought this very faded plastic squeaky toy, pink squeaker as I call it, from outside as a gift, an offering if you will. That's what dogs do. Or this dog anyway. And I love it!

Have a terrific weekend.

xo, Collette


• I love the idea of a tiny apartment.

• Oh this is good. Geometric wood flooring DIY. I am so smitten with this blog.

• I was so glad to see a proper ode to the baked potato or puh • tah • toh. This is the way they are meant to be prepared folks. Never, ever, I repeat never, ever microwave the classic potato please.

• I'm kind of gaga about These Girls/This Girl series. So good!

• Blue slouchy cords. Yes please! I need a pair for each day of the week thank you very much.

• One of my fave feeds on Instagram. These guys are genius and I want one of every item they sell, yes please.

• Not a boring business story! It's fun, filled with her enthusiasm (which btw is contagious) and she has stuff to share that is helpful. Go read the series.

• And this birthday party. Gah! Handmade goodness to the max. And her blog is just filled with gorgeous photos all the time.

Things I'm Looking Forward To This Fall

image via Martha Stewart

Finally, it is starting to feel *fall*like here in Southern California. Instead of it being 90º the day is only peaking in the low 80's. Crazy I know but folks it is So. Cal. I'm hopeful it will get cooler and we will see some rain and the leaves will change. At least the evenings have cooled down. Please Lord let there be rain, and soon!

Nothing says fall like apples. I am looking forward to some hot apple cider. The difference between cider and apple juice. So simple, right. Looking to make cider? Watch how simple it is here. I will definitely be making my own cider.  I am thinking a trip to the apple orchards at the base of our local mountains is in order. Hello all things delicious made with apples!

 image via Old Navy

I am definitely looking forward to being able to wear a cardigan and long sleeves. I'm not asking for much here so please get your act together So Cal and bring the cooler weather.

What are you enjoying/looking forward to during the Fall season? Do tell.

xo, Collette

Free Printable From Studio Calico

Found this via Design Editor. Studio Calico has a new free printable for Fall + and a chance to win stuff. Good stuff. Share #scinspires and talk about what inspires you. I like that prompt. What inspires you? Please feel free in the comments. Let's talk inspiration. Don't be shy.

xo, Collette