family workspace redo!

i was using a regular desk, but quickly ran out of space so we tried these folding tables. the cloth drove me crazy, but the look of the folding tables uncovered drove the surfer guy crazy.

i decided to start looking at dining tables instead of desks for the length and the depth they have. i wanted to be able to sew, blog, iron, write letters, cut prints, design, help my girls with homework, scrapbook, draw, ponder, plan, cut playdate cards, package, ship, and learn all at my desk.

another space cheerfully upgraded, organized, and saved by 

the budget friendly and smart IKEA.

the basket on my desk holds file folders, journal, 

and my much ado about you planner :)

the flowered box holds scissors, pens, pencils, and gluesticks.

my "desk" measures 84 5/8 inches long

at work: ironing and shipping out an order will updating my mac to mountain lion.

i love the cart!

• there is a drawer under the printer that holds my stapler, 3 hole punch, ruler, camera USB cord, tacks, and printer ink - i love not seeing all these things out!
• i kept a cafeteria tray to set printer papers on when printing multiple things, and a little stack of notepads. 
• i have art supplies in buckets for the kids - crayons, chalk, and paint brushes with a roll of art paper behind.

yay! thank you IKEA!

.....

behind the scenes...
deciding on the table was easy, it has a super smooth top, i love that it's white and it was the perfect size. the chairs took me forever to decide on, my little shopping partner for the day, Francesca, was growing impatient with my wavering between styles and colors, "if they only had an aqua or turquoise swivel!" i had said. there was a turquoise folding chair that was great but i could just see the boy getting snapped up in it. i liked the green, but i worried about the green and my red accessories looking like Christmas all the time, but Francesca reminded me how cool it would look with the aqua i have and the white desk - she's savvy. once we decided and wrote our numbers down we went to the warehouse - if you've never been to an IKEA (you are slightly deprived, something to look forward to someday for you) there is a showroom and you write down the aisle number and bin number of where to find your stuff in their warehouse. we got to the warehouse grabbed the forklift-like cart and found our items and loaded them. 

this is where i realized i needed a man to help, but my stubbornness prevailed and with a rush of adrenaline i was able to load the heavy items into my cart and slide them into the back of the swagger wagon. once we got home i thought i could open the box of the dining table and unload small pieces a bit at a time... nope. it was the table top in one box and the legs and leaf in another. the top was impossible for me to unload without that cool forklift-like cart at home. so i knocked on the door of my barbie-like neighbor and she foolishly, and a little over enthusiastically, said, "of course". i told her my plans to unload it bit by bit didn't work and to let me know if it's too heavy. we carried it into the house successfully with two stops along the way. we both almost died. my arms were sore for days after. i felt guilty and later made her and her roommate chocolate chip cookies. the surfer guy usually works super late and i didn't want him to come home to more work, my plans were to set everything up and then have dinner on the table for him. however, my plans don't always go so well. at least i was able to get started putting it together with the help of a certain 3 year old boy, he loves tools. and i had put dinner in the oven already, successfully heating up the house to a sticky and cranky 87 degrees. boxes were everywhere the table was put together and standing in it's place, as the boy and i were putting the cart together, in walked the surfer guy home early from work, on the phone, tripping over boxes into a hot house with a sweaty, disheveled wife and a boy playing with his father's tools. a blank stare and he headed upstairs. well, the boy and i cleaned up, got everything put away, and got dinner on the table. all was well, just not exactly as planned - he only comes home early when i am not ready for him, hahaha. does that ever happen to you? does any of this sound familiar to you or am i the only capricious wife?

xoxo,

krystina

my boy

my boy is like a puppy.

he even whimpers like one sometimes.

 he like to wrestle and tumble all over the place.

 he likes to pee where he pleases.
(i caught him peeing in the garden outside several times now - i will have to take a picture of him)

this time i caught him like this... the milk goes right through him ;)

do you have a boy who is kinda like a pupppy?

show business

there's no business like show business...
i have whole a lot to learn. it's like an entirely different world, really.
with it's own language, it's own way of working, and it's own rules.

© 1968 Embassy Pictures Corporation

and in other ways it's just like our world;
the actor must portray real feelings, be highly professional, and enjoyable to work with.

firstly, i would like to clarify - this is going to be a process (as i excitedly, possibly, haphazardly mentioned in my post last week). i am not quitting anything right now, i still have my shop with paper goodies, i am cultivating a web design business -this will help pay for me to go back and forth to LA for auditions, and i will continue to have my blog :) i may phase out of paper, however, it would be in about a year or two from now, and i may not phase out of it, it's hard to say right now (i love it so much!)

what i know (or think i know) i'm supposed to do in "the biz":
first get very good headshots from a photographer who knows how to do headshots
(i used the timer on my camera and found some decent shots -shhhh don't tell mmmkay?!!)
then get an agent. agents are only interested if you have experience or have gone to reputable, known schools for acting -or you're just incredibly beautiful. i have none of these in my pocket (my experience is minimal) then submit yourself for roles and hope your agent (which i do not have, submits you as well) go on auditions, get parts.

at this point the odds are stacked pretty high against me,
however that's what dreams are right?

i read this the other night:
"Dreams are why we stay alive. If you leave out your dreams you leave out the very best part of you as a human being." -Michael Shurtleff

one foot in front of the other, one step at a time, many well thought-out choices along the path to fulfilling the dream. we all have to start somewhere. the key is progress, no matter how small. to do something every day...

so i am working on a demo reel (a video of me acting). so casting directors and agents can see if i am worth their time. i am currently studying Shakespeare and learning Iambic Pentameter. i am reading (devouring) books on acting and the business. i am rehearsing roles and bit parts for proficiency of technique.

i will keep you posted :)

xoxo,

krystina

here goes nothin...

hello friends, i have dearly missed you. i wanted to tell you something,

why i have not been as attached to my blog as usual.
it is hard for me to share as i believe some of you may not understand,
but here goes nothin...

via

it seems i've fallen off the virtual cliff of the internet world. back in March i felt God nudging me and i had to ask myself WHY i wasn't pursuing my lifelong dream. i had to take a break from regular blogging, tweeting, and whatnot to research, pray, listen, ask... pursue. at this time i feel i can blog regularly again while pursuing my big (pipe) dream. it is hard to have an identity and then add to that identity without feeling like you've kicked out your readers and friends. i will always love photography, blogging, paper, handmade, and all the great friends i have made along the way.

we are not one dimensional, however, this seems hard to communicate in the blogging world in some instances; like handmade paperie and blogging and mom go together fine. what about handmade paperie, foodie, photographer, decorator, blogger? not so sure. or what about handmade paperie, blogger, web designer, mom, movie-star? hmmmm. well, i guess it doesn't sound so bad to say it out loud, takes some getting used to. (the latter is me) this is big news.

besides my family and God, my main focus now is web design, blogging, and acting. i hope you take this news with heart and understanding that we are all passionate people with big dreams and aspirations. the plan is to create income with my love of web design to help fund my dream. as acting takes off (fingers crossed) i plan to design less and act more. you are welcome to pray that God gives me the wisdom to thoughtfully choose each step along my path. i would love for you to continue to join me on this big exciting journey as i share the ins and outs, ups and downs, and events that take place along the way!

thank you for your amazing friendships.

feel free to ask any questions :)

xoxo,

krystina

have you ever had the feeling...

...that God was trying to nudge you?
i have been having that feeling, however, since i am so lost
i am having a hard time listening.

at this point i think He is beating me over the head.
i think i will stop to listen to God.

i am taking a break to listen, to figure out what it is He is calling me to.
i will try to post, although my priority right now is just to stop and listen.
my blog, in the grand scheme of life, is of infinitesimal significance.
i know there are things of such great importance that i may never understand and
if i don't stop to listen they may pass me by, therefore
defeating the entire point of my being Created.

love,

krystina

the hair: after

remember my horrible hair mishap last week?
it's fixed thanks to my favorite stylist at Vanity:

here's what not to do:


yes, i know what you're thinking. i watched this lady and several others. don't laugh, they're just trying to help people save money and teach them how to cut their own hair. i said don't laugh! if you watch the video you'll see she uses huge scissors, not hair cutting scissors and she uses a technique that while it may work for some it hacked my hair. why i was convinced to try it on my own, i do not know, except maybe the fact that earlier in the day i had a starbucks double shot guarana +B energy drink to drive a car full of 13 year old girls home from six flags magic mountain, and not fall asleep driving on the freeway somewhere between Hollywood and Huntington Beach. it is possible i was not totally myself. and maybe don't try everything you see on youtube is my lesson?!! oh, yea, that old saying do not try this at home.

i promised my stylist i would never cut my own hair again. she was like oh, it's not that bad and then halfway through she was like, oh, dear, um... ok so we have to cut quite a bit off to fix this. i knew it, i was prepared for it. i got a glass of wine when i walked into the salon...
i told her about my youtube experience, i had her laughing, i think she felt sorry for me until she finished. she rocks. i love my new hair!

if you want her number email me and i can send you her way :)

what kind of hairstyle do you currently have or want?

xoxo,

krystina

turns out i'm not good at everything...

ok friends, i hope you still love me after this post.

i think i am humble enough to post it.

what you are about to see is something horrendous.

something not for the weak at heart or weak in the knees.

consider yourself warned...

i decided to cut my own hair.

it was layers, so i thought i could give it a trim,

uh... no.

exibit A:

not so bad you say?

how about with the longest layer back?

here are the short layers.

too short, and not at all like a salon goer.

go ahead, laugh.

no really, get it out.

it's good for you.

really? REALLY?

yea, really.

going to the salon any minute now.

the stylist who gets me tomorrow will call me her karma under her breath

and secretly want to kill me for all of 30 minutes until she works her magic.

i had one other horrible hair mishap in my life,

i was getting it bleached platinum blonde too often so it started breaking off.

so my friend helped me shave my head.

now you're scared. i can tell.

don't worry i was 19, a little punk rock, and 

i kept my bangs so i looked like a pixie.

yep, only a 19 year old can claim to be a punk rock pixie.

tell me your hair mishaps and make me feel better

in your embarrassing miseries while i put on a hat.

xoxo,

krystina

...

it's all i'm going to say tonight:

fitting in

via

i have a confession to make: for over 6 months i pondered this post and it took me this long to get the courage to share it. and as you'll read during those 6 months i grew in the process, i think this is the best time to write this post -where i'm at now in this journey...

keep up or give up?
tough to keep up with the jones's - i think the jones's are from here, in del mar. i say this because we are surrounded by maseratis, ferraris,  porches,  dolce gabbana, coach, louis vuitton... down the street a house just sold for $38 million... yes that's dollars (not stones, or grains of salt; dollars) most people won't make the annual property tax on that thing alone. imagine the down payment. i can't even fathom this kind of cash, as we squeeze into our cozy little condo on the side of a crooked hill. there is a natural psychological reaction in american women to being surrounded by this kind of wealth while they themselves have lower or middle class incomes. for me it went like this... first disgust, then anger, jealousy, seclusion - i felt very alone. depressed. complete and utter sadness...

(i know you are thinking, "how superficial, there's more to life"... please keep reading)

"why are we here?" i kept asking myself, my husband, even my kids (unfortunately). my kids don't need this stress, but maybe it's ok to get them thinking at this age (pre-teen), maybe it's ok for them to see that their mom isn't perfect. are we here on earth simply to work hard make money so we can send our kids to college so they can get good jobs? so they can work hard to send their kids to college...? we work hard to spend money, spend money, spend money. my husband is the hardest working person i have ever known in my life and sometimes even he is tired of working his tail off... just so we can "spend money"

money is the harsh reality - dr. appointments cost money, food costs money, fuel for our cars, clothing.
sometimes i just want to sell everything i own, move to a 3rd world country, live in a tent, and live life with my family and the surrounding community who aren't living for money. give up. the rat race is not for me as i am not a rat. i am an artist, mother, wife, child of God. i truly love to love deeply, live honestly, giggle, chase ideas, whisper in my children's ears, tickle, cuddle, sip wine, look at the stars, have meaningful friendships, create, inspire, read, pray, connect, run through the tall grass, swim in the ocean, help people, hug, and truly smile... essentially, be alive

money decides opportunities, money decides where you live, money decides your child's education. money decides so much it's hard not to let it define us, isn't it?

so then i realized that this last thing i feel is sadness for them. those who decide that money defines who they are.

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.  Matthew 19:24 NIV

the worst part of all of this is i felt and still feel pathetic - we are healthy, we have more than we need, i really have nothing to complain about - i know so many are hurting and truly struggling right now. this weighs me down more, just the sheer thought of it alone. so i continue to try to dig myself out of the downward spiral.

it's been easier not to make friends, remain anonymous so i don't feel pressure to keep up... but, it's been long enough, the time has come for me to suck it up and move forward. life isn't going to invite me to the party, i just have to put on a dress and show up. so today i will be trying my very first ever women's bible study (i chickened-out back in september) please pray that i overcome intimidation and feel welcome and find some friends.

my goal is not to get you on my side or anger you but more to share my journey in hopes that it inspires you or maybe you have had a similar experience that we can connect with. thanks for reading :)

it's been a tough move to "so cal" and honestly i don't know 

what i would have done without my blog friends through this. thank you.

via

i am with you on this thing called life :)

hugs.

Digging a Little Deeper

God's canvas.

Perfect.

.....

My thought for you today...
Introspection:

noun /ˌintrəˈspekSHən/  Introspection is the self-observation and reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations. It is a conscious mental and usually purposive process relying on thinking, reasoning, and examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and, in more spiritual cases, one's soul.  - quiet introspection can be extremely valuable

The Women

i'm posting this with the blog writing prompt "the women" from
"the gypsy mama"


scrapbookers...
gather anywhere there is a work surface and enough light.
you might have to feed them chocolate treats from Trader Joes to sustain their night.
offering a glass of red wine is always good etiquette, in fact it's protocol.
the paper they tow, the gear they pack isn't small at all.
most scrapbookers make two hefty trips to "unload" the car.
i haven't met a scrapbooker i didn't like. each and everyone is a star!

they take their photos and crop them up.
they lay them out, design the page and add some stuff.
most of the time they talk and talk.
are you having a scrapbook night? scrapbookers will flock.

i had a wonderful night at Heather's with Paula, Betsy, and Tiffanie.

have a wonderful weekend lovelies ;)

xoxo,