cozy

I am a reader.

Like hard core.

I love to read,

One of my guilty pleasures though are these book series called "Cozy Mysteries."

These books usually combine murder mystery and CRAFTS!

I mean seriously, how could I not love them right?

I love that they are a "fun" read but that they also keep my thinking and trying to work out the mysteries.

So far I have read :

*  an embroidery series

*  a cake making aeries

*  a Sudoku Series

and I have just finished reading

*  a knitting series

So while reading the knitting series, they begin to talk about this yarn that is spun from deconstructed vintage saris.  Just reading about it, I knew that I had to find this amazing sounding yarn.  I did a quick google search which led me to this site.

I ordered this yarn and this one immediately and it was at my door in no time.   I love the texture of this yarn, the fact that it's recycled and that deep down there is a story behind each fiber in this skein.

Plus, the woman who owns this HUGE site, gives you her home phone number to call if you have any knitting questions?!  How cool is that?

Anyway, I am really excited to start making up a lovely scarf for the fall.

xo

janel

script school.

This past weekend, I signed up for an online class by Kal Barteski, called Script School.  Seriously you guys, this class has awakened my creative soul!  I have been painting all of the time.  When I am not painting, I am thinking about painting.  It's almost as if I am craving it.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Kal, she is the creator of these two beautiful scripted prints below, and many many more.

She is also the founder of the Link with Love movement (which is so important so if you haven't heard about it yet, click over and read).

So yeah, I am loving this class and I STRONGLY recommend it to anyone looking for a creative outlet this summer (or any season really).

Kal is so adorable and encouraging and real and I am loving Script School.  You can sign up for Script School yourself right here!! We can be classmates :)

xo
janel

I have a fairy BLOGmother!

Hello Friends.
Welcome to my new space!

The AMAZINGLY talented Erika of T.E. + Baby created this new look for Run With Scissors and I couldn't be more happy.

She is THE fairy blogmother :)

Erika was so amazing to work with. I gave her a vague idea of my vision, yet she completely read my mind and came up with layout that exceeded my dreamiest expectations!!

This whole layout and all of our communication and installation took less than a day to do.

I tell you, she is amazing!!

Some Points of Interest:
1.  The new navigation bar at the top of the blog :)

 Now you can read all about me and the blog, you can contact me (easily), check out the shop, and read through some Frequently Asked questions!

2.  I finally have all of those adorable social media links!!!

Now you can check me out on Facebook, Twitter, RSS, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Flickr! 

Did you even know I had all of those awesome things??

3.   A new fresh blog button over there on the sidebar!! Grab it!

4.  This cute new photo of me and my best girl :)  I like it, I like having a for real photo of myself on here so you know who you are talking to!

5.  And this is one of my favorite parts...I have these awesome little links on the side with some of my most blogged about topics.  If you want to read about adoption; click it!  If you want to see our home; check it out.  It's all there!

6.  Ok and now is my most favorite part of the blog re-do.  If you hover your cursor over the photos in the posts, a button will show up that says "Pin It."  All you have to do is click it and you can instantly pin that photo!!

How rad is that?

This will be available on all of my new posts :)  

The first photo will have the pin it button and then you can pin any of the photos in that post!!
How stinking cool!!

Anyway, I just wanted to give another HUGE thank you to Erika for all of the time and love that she put into my new blog design.
If you are considering a new look, for an affordable price, please seek out your very own Fairy Blog Mother, Erika!

xo
janel

a first.

Yesterday was the first time Amelia has tried "solid" food.  We are starting her off with oatmeal and will move on to the veggies next week.  Watching Adam feed her was the best thing ever.  I will let the photos tell the story :)

priceless.

xo

janel

happiness is...

Happiness is... Amelia wearing the outfit that my mom brought my sister and I home from the hospital in (I only wish I had this back when I did bring her home).

Happiness is... capturing the first time Amelia held her arms out to someone to be picked up!

She loves my dad so I am not surprised it was for him to pick her up :)

They are best friends.

Happiness is... seeing my dad dancing with Amelia.

Happiness is... watching her grab my dad's glasses off of his face and then laughing at him.

Happiness is...seeing my dad rocking out on a Phineas and Feb guitar while making up songs to sing to Amelia.

Yesterday was full of happiness.

xo

janel

Catch-All Room Turned Playroom

While Adam was away in Massachusetts a couple of weeks ago, Amelia and I stayed with my parents.  They were very generous to let us stay with them, and take advantage of some extra help while the husband was away.  

We stayed in my parent's spare bedroom/catch-all room.

This room has been used by everyone in our family for the past 30+ years and it has collected bits and pieces through all of it.  This room was filled with spare/mix-matched furniture pieces, a ton of random toys, a day bed, a TV, and anything else that didn't have a place.
In fact, here is a before photo:

  There was so many cool things in this room but they were lost because of the clutter.

If you know me, I am always up for re-decorating. 

With Jack on the way, and Amelia getting more and more ready to play with toys, I thought it was time Amelia and Jack had a playroom at grammy and grampy's house :)

With three short days and a very VERY small budget, I had my parent's permission to transform this little room :)

I knew that I wanted the room to be gender neutral but not "cookie-cutter" gender neutral.  I wanted the colors to be primary based but not just primary colors. 

We started with this Orla Kiely bedspread and used it as color inspiration for the rest of the room!

Another thing I knew, is that I wanted a little reading nook in the room.

I made a bunch of tissue paper flowers to hang from the ceiling in a color pallet that I think worked well with the bedspread.  I ordered the vintage letters "Read" from this easy shop, and my mom had these floor cushions already on hand (which I will probably re-cover sometime in the future)

Another must have was the flashcards.  I remember learning to say my ABC's backward from looking at flashcards that hung in my sister's nursery.  I used twine and clothes pins from the dollar store to make this lovely and educational wall art!

These are the flashcards we chose.

Target has these adorable little accessories right now for dorms.  The stuff totally reminds me of Urban Outfitters. I scored this chihuahua pillow, the balloon animal lamp, and the sweet yellow cuckoo clock.

My favorite part of the room is definitely this chalkboard wall!  What child doesn't want to draw on the walls? I know I did :)  We also took my mom's bedroom furniture (and gave her Adam and I's old bedroom furniture) and placed it in this room to showcase all of the amazing toys and books that my parents, sister, and I have collected throughout the years.

The bookshelf was once mine, and then was stored in my parent's basement and now it has a perfect new place in the playroom.

Finally, we scored the PERFECT rug from Urban Outfitters.  The color and design were perfect.  Not too bold, just bold enough for this room.  The smallest size worked wonderfully for this room.

This room is by far, my favorite spot in their home now.  It's colorful and happy and fun, which I think is the perfect recipe for a playroom.  I know Amelia and Jack will both be enjoying this room really soon. In the meantime, it's Catalina's new hangout :)

xo

janel