Being a Bean

Moved

2008-04-17T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hi to anyone reading this,I am no longer updating this blog. I will eventually have a business/craft focused blog, but in the meantime, just the family and friends one, which I don't advertise. No fear, all is grand in the life of this Bean - our son was born in July of 2007 and we are happily settled into our house and life. Wish you all the best! I'll try to remember to post here when I get

Due Date

2007-07-11T01:08:00.000-07:00

It's official. Today is supposed to be the day my son enters the world. But I highly doubt he is going to choose today to do so. And the doctor agrees. Ugh. Another few days, another week, who knows... I am SO ready for this! I feel huge and sleeping is out of the question. I just keep tossing and turning, number one trying to get comfortable, number two thinking about how my life (or OUR lives)

Settling In

2007-06-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to say that we are here and have been in Seattle for a few weeks. Currently living in a friend's rental home while we look for a house, which I was hoping would be cheaper than S. Cal, but apparently is not. {sigh}Baby baking is going fine, although I am beyond ready for the little guy to be here. We're still waiting for him to turn head down even though I'm 36 weeks. I may have

On the Road Again

2007-05-13T23:25:00.000-07:00

The house is near empty. The truck is all packed. Soon the tears will be shed and goodbyes said. Moving home again. Starting another chapter of life... It is all so strange, so welcome, and somehow so new. New because I never thought leaving would be so hard to do. Somehow, we've made a home here, with wonderful friends and amazing neighbors who are really there for you. We've changed our clothes

Going Home Again

2007-05-03T17:55:00.001-07:00

I've been sitting on a piece of news for a few weeks now, figuring out the details, but now is the time to let you all know.... (drum roll please!)WE'RE MOVING HOME!Home being Seattle. Yep, Peanut accepted a position at his company's headquarters up there and he starts May 21, so we're moving in two weeks! It's so crazy because we weren't sure if we'd be moving to Portland or Seattle or when

Womb Service!

2007-04-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

I just had to share with you all a cute story from our latest ultrasound. It really was quite humorous and I'm sure is at least a little bit of an insight into what I'm imagining will be our little man's personality.I had an ultrasound appointment on Thursday morning to check in on our progress and just make sure everything was kosher with the little guy. Since they wanted to check out all of my

23 Weeks

2007-03-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last posted, but much has been happening in the land of belly growth. Our little man is kicking every day, many times a day (and night) and is now, according to BabyCenter, about 11 inches long!Last night Peanut and I went to a ballet (it was my Christmas present from him), so while I was at least somewhat dolled up, compared to my work-from home gear or going to art

My Valentine

2007-02-17T07:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! We are thrilled to announce that we're having a SON in July, which we found out on Wednesday morning. The ultrasound was just incredible to see and made everything all the more real. We even have a few shots using 3D ultrasound, but our little man is quite a mover, so the images are even more blurry than usual, making him look a little like an alien. It's

Ti-i-i-ime Ain't On My Side

2007-02-01T17:13:00.001-08:00

Ever notice how time can just utterly drag one minute and then seemingly fly by the next? For instance, I feel like it is going to be forever until the baby gets here, but then I realize that I'm already down to only 23 weeks! Everything with the baby-baking is going grandly. At 17 weeks now and I feel like I'm huge, but apparently the rest of the world still has yet to catch on, for the most

Nothing like a cold day to inspire a post

2007-01-17T16:34:00.001-08:00

I've been meaning to post about my fun new craft project, crewel needlework! I can't remember how I found out about it, but I was so impressed with all of the projects featured on Wool & Hoop's site that I bought the book, "The New Crewel" for my Mom as a birthday present. Little did I know that just a few days later I'd be getting a copy of my own for Christmas! When the fam was here, we women

One more week till the 2nd trimester...

2007-01-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

(Baby is in the top, head on the left)Yay! I'm just over 13 weeks now and just amazed at the journey so far. At our ultrasound this morning we saw the tiniest of feet kicking around (although I still can't feel anything just yet) - SO cool! It's hard to believe that we are really going to be parents in a few months. I'm looking forward to entering the second trimester; hoping that the morning

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-26T10:42:00.000-08:00

Hoping you all had wonderful holidays!

Worry = Love

2006-12-20T10:03:00.000-08:00

I'm now 11 weeks along in this whole "growing a human" thing and can hardly believe the miracle that is happening inside me (and yes, that makes keeping my mind on work VERY difficult). We saw the little Garbanzo last night, moving all around, waving arms and legs like crazy, and assuring us that everything was right on track. It has been so interesting to watch it go from the pod that it was to

It's Official!

2006-12-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay. I know, I know; it's been more than a month since my last post, but I have good reason, I swear! You see, the only thing that has been on my mind much lately is....WE'RE PREGNANT!!!!Yep, I'm 8 weeks along and after a great ultrasound this morning, I feel comfortable enough shouting it to the world. Peanut and I are having a baby in mid-July! I'm feeling pretty good most of

THIS? Is FALL?

2006-11-07T15:15:00.000-08:00

Can I complain just a little without anyone hating me for what I'm going to comment on? It's ninety-nine degrees outside right now (according to WeatherBug). And yes, the date today, for those of you that may have been locked in a dungeon and have lost track of days, is November 7. NOVEMBER!I know, I know - it's the Seattle girl in me begging to come out again. It's been a while since I've been

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T18:48:00.000-08:00

Dixie the Amazing Stinking Skunk says trick safely and get lots of treats!

Pumpkin Crew

2006-10-30T18:10:00.000-08:00

Last night's pumpkin carving party was an absolute blast! Good food, great friends, guys watching football, women chatting (and doing most of the carving, I might add), and even a few little cuties showing off their costumes. The winner (as voted on by their peers) was a black cat. Tied for second was a cute little twist on the traditional face and a cool one with holes all over. There are some

What a week!

2006-10-29T11:28:00.000-08:00

I was without a computer for more than a week... Just got her back on Wednesday, so the rest of the week was spent in catch up. I know, I know; what about the rest of the time since my last post? Um, well, ah... Yeah, life happens. But I am now back in the land of twenty-first century living, technology drip hooked into an IV and all. We're having our annual pumpkin carving party this afternoon!

Playing with Holga

2006-09-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

This photo was one of my first attempts at playing with my new Holga camera. I love how artsy the shots turn out, with the darkened and slightly blurry corners! I'm definitely going to have to play around some more because out of 24 possible pictures, only 18 turned out and I really only liked 5. Still, there is something so authentic about taking pictures (without going digital), getting them

Vote for the new name!

2006-09-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

Here are the finalists for the new business name. Please vote by leaving a comment with your top pick (write-ins welcome).Front Porch Studio (this one is one of my faves, but the URL is taken by another design firm in Georgia, so I would do something along the lines of .biz, etc. I like the welcome feeling it evokes; a place where friends gather. Any ideas for similar feelings?)First Light

New Name

2006-09-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

This new business name thing is driving me crazy! I know the essence of the sort of concept I have for my business, but finding the right combination of words or even just one word that captures what all I need for it to capture is proving to be quite a feat! It's graphic design, custom invitations, announcements and greeting cards, plus I'd like it to someday be transferable to, say, hiring a

Last of the 20-somethings...

2006-09-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

So yes, Peanut's birthday was on the 7th and he honestly was surprised with the surprise party, even though he got home a full 45 minutes earlier than he should have. I tried to stall by sending him to the grocery store, but apparently my shopping list wasn't long enough because when he did pull up there were only four of us ready to jump out to suprise him. The rest of the crew arrived about 15

30 year old Nut

2006-09-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Today is Peanut's 30th birthday!!! I'm throwing a small surprise dinner for him tonight (and I can post this entry because I know he won't get to check it out today) and as far as I can tell, he doesn't suspect a thing!Happy Birthday, babe! I am so thankful for the miracle that put you on this Earth and in my life!

Final Letterpress Class

2006-08-30T16:18:00.000-07:00

Monday is the last day of class... and the day that I finally get to print! Since it was only a four-week class I opted to not do an ultra intensive design and just went with a clean Christmas card that Peanut and I will be sending to our friends and loved ones. (If you want one, drop me an email to kathy at bluebeancreations dot com.) I'm really excited to see how they come out but even more

Swing Doll

2006-08-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

There's a chain of stores on the west coast (mainly Seattle area) called Fireworks that sell amazing goods produced by local artists; everything from jewelry to paintings to furniture to fun knick-knacks. One of my absolute favorite things are these dolls/figures that look like they are flying! They are so whimsical and have a bazillion different forms, activities, looks, etc., some even with

Break in

2006-08-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

My car was broken into last night. Parked behind our house, as usual, but not per the norm, I left my cell in the car. It was one of those "I'm making a number of trips between the house and the car, so I'll grab my phone in a minute." But then of course I forgot. And now it is gone. And I feel like a schmuck.I also feel a bit helpless. I mean, what the heck was anyone doing BEHIND our house?

Two Years Later

2006-08-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

Two years ago today Peanut and I were on our way to our honeymoon after an incredible wedding the day before (anniversary is August 14). Have I mentioned how much I love this man?

Unwelcome House Guest

2006-08-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday one of my friends came over use my computer for some work stuff and while she was scanning I decided I better get started on some letters I've been meaning to send. I keep some of my letter writing papers in a wooden crate that I've had for years and have the crate resting on shelves in my office. I go over to pull the crate out and just about dropped the entire thing when I noticed two

First press class!

2006-08-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first letterpress class at the Armory Center for the Arts and, wow, am I excited! This is going to be such a great few weeks and hopefully by the end of it I'll actually be able to not only power up Gertie, but also know how to use her! Turns out that the instructor for the class lives not too far from me, so she has promised to come by and take a look at Gertie and all of the

Back to the real world

2006-07-29T00:32:00.000-07:00

As we're leaving San Fran, THIS building caught our eye... Moving out? Or moving in? Either way, someone had way too much fun with this!There's way too much to post at the moment, but I wanted to let you know that we have survived and have actually been back in the real world for a few days now. There sure was a lot of life happening while we were gone! Click on the photo above, then click on

And we're off...

2006-07-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

The car packed, the dog seat-belted in, the cooler stocked (although I have to say, DO NOT buy a Greatland cooler from Target!! Cruddy insulation and it leaks.), the camera battery charged and a back window so full we can't see behind us to back up, we leave for the roadtrip.I'm posting a bunch of pics here as separate entries just because it is so much easier that way. It has been a great trip

Hearst Castle

2006-07-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

This was our first big planned stop. Dixie was at daycare at The Tail Wag's Inn (Cambria), so the Nut and I got to wander around Hearst Castle as long as our hearts desired. If you are ever in the vicinity, I highly recommend this stop. There are four tours plus one evening thing. We did the main intro tour, which focused on the ground floor of the main house, one of the three guest houses and

Hearst Castle pool

2006-07-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a shot of ONE of the pools... I believe this one is the Venus Pool. The man brought over actual relics from all over the world, including stone statues, sarcophagi, tapestries, etc. However, if you had visited during the time Hearst was alive, you would have paid little heed to these amazing pieces because you would have been distracted by the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Rhett Butler,

Zebras

2006-07-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

Did I mention that Hearst had a zoo for ten years? And that some of the animals are still around, such as these zebras? Ok, so they're a little far back in this pic, but they really are there, just grazing with the cattle. Zebras are known for being fairly nasty, but maybe the crazy folks in the know are hoping that the happy cow attitude will rub off a little. You know what they say: "Happy

CA Coast

2006-07-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

Views like this are one of the reasons why I am so excited about this road trip. Driving along Hwy 1 you get to see some incredible coastline.

Henry Coe SP

2006-07-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

This was our site at Henry Coe State Park (night two) just outside Morgan Hill. GORGEOUS! It's a smaller campground with about 20 spots for car campers and a bunch more for hike/bike in. There wasn't a bad site in the entire place, so even though we were the last ones to arrive, we still had an incredible view of the valley below. It did take about a half an hour of driving up a windy hill to

Henry Coe at dusk

2006-07-11T10:04:00.000-07:00

This was actually our view when we first arrived at the campground (it was 8 o'clock at night). It was so peaceful, with the colors of the fading day melting into the landscape below. The temperatures stayed warm all night and into morning, so we slept with the rainfly off to look up at the stars all night long.

Fido's Fantasy

2006-07-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

Talk about a dog's dream! Upon arrival at our hotel in San Fran, the Harbor Court Hotel, Dixie gets spoiled with a dog bed, food bowl, a doggy magazine and a bunch of snacks, including two rawhides, a handful of misc. treats and a "Chew-gar." She must have felt like I was the "Pup-aratzi" snapping picks of it all! I am now a huge fan of Kimpton Hotels because they are so happy to host the entire

Bay Bridge

2006-07-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

After a few nights camping, this is the view from our hotel. Not bad! I'll be sad to leave this behind as I do love San Francisco. We got to wander around much of the city, including the waterfront, the Financial District (H&M!), and on over to Berkely and Oakland for a great evening with family. The one bummer was that we didn't get to ride the trolley even though I had Dixie's muzzle (it's a

This Busy Life

2006-07-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

- - - Warning: long post! - - -It's been almost a week since I got home and I'm still not totally caught up with everything. Add on to that the fact that we leave again in less than a week for our roadtrip, and you've got yourself a woman with a whole lot on the to-do list but little idea as to where to start. I've got three clients in need of some sort of paper good before I leave (one surprise

Ten Years Later

2006-06-27T00:52:00.000-07:00

I survived. And it was actually fun. A little bit o' wine to help us out the door, a last-minute check of hair, makeup and outfit finaggling, and we were set. At least physically. Mentally, I think we all needed a shot of tequilla. But by the end of the evening we had a stash of memories to tide us over for another ten years. There were quite a few folks that I hope to see long before our

Where I was Ten Years Ago

2006-06-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

I finally sold the dress I wore to Senior Prom at a garage sale this weekend. I think I held onto it because everyone always associates good memories with Sr Prom. Unfortunately for me, my date left me at the dance that night, thus rounding out my feelings of ambivalence toward high school. Yes, Senior Prom was ten years ago, but also a lifetime ago. This weekend I'll actually be heading up to my

Gertie Gets a Home

2006-06-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

My girl Gertie (the press) is finally moving into what will be her home for the foreseeable future in a matter of moments... The excitement is killing me! I keep looking out the window, hoping to see a neighbor friend of mine driving up with a pallet jack in the back of his truck. She's only moving about 25 feet, to a garage next door that I'm renting out, but I'm still nervous about all 725

Ikea marketing

2006-06-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

Point your browser over to this site for some very cool advertising by cool company Ikea. Talk about making a statement!

Road Trip!!

2006-06-06T15:42:00.000-07:00

The time has come to take a vacation. Peanut and I were looking at some of his work stuff and realized that, whoa, he has way too much vacation time saved up! Well, I guess that would make sense... considering that the last official vacation we took together was our honeymoon and we're coming on two years. So we're taking a road trip! (Yes, even with gas prices what they are. See side note below

CS3

2006-06-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

This just in - Adobe Creative Suite 3 will be released during the second quarter of 2007! AND they're doing away with GoLive (because of the Macromedia accquisition, in case you are way behind the times)! So if you've been struggling with learning that program (like moi) just fah-ged-about it! {Whew!}Update: Ok, so maybe the phrase "this JUST in" doesn't quite fit the situation since apparently

Unplugged

2006-05-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling a bit too cozy with technology lately. Not that I don't appreciate the ability to check email every ten minutes or watch a movie On Demand or cook dinner in a flash as opposed to spending four hours over the stove in the already stifling heat of summer. However, I have had a few moments where I felt like the glaze of the computer screen all too comfortably

100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall...

2006-05-11T17:56:00.000-07:00

This is my 100th post! It's crazy because I seem to be coming across quite a few other blogs that are also celebrating 100 postings or other such blog-stones. I've seen a number of lists touting various things, or "100 this" and "100 that"... I thought I'd do something a little different. I'm going to do ten-tens; that is ten lists each containing ten random things. Here goes!Ten Favorite Foods

She's here!

2006-05-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

The beautiful girl arrived today - all 720 lbs! For the moment she is sitting outside at the bottom of our steps while I figure out how exactly to get her into the house, if indeed in the house is where she ought to be. I've been searching for an artists work space around here, but haven't found anything yet.It is all happening so fast, I'm not sure what to do if I can't get her inside! I'm not

Oh. My. Gosh.

2006-05-08T21:26:00.000-07:00

I think I just got a letterpress. Like, we're moving it here either tomorrow or the day after. And it is the perfect press for me!!! C&P 8x11, motorized, even impression, fully restored. I am shaking I'm so excited. I've been dreaming of this for so long and can hardly believe it. I just don't know what to say. Besides of course: Oh. My. Gosh.Oooh, I better get working on a name. In fact, I'll

Oh. Wow.

2006-04-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

THIS place is a dream come true. 5,000 people of like-minded values coming together not only to interact with each other, but also to have a positive impact on the society they will be living near with as little impact on the Earth as possible. I have been digging through the site for the past few days and am just overflowing with excitement, possibility, inspiration and so much information that

Earth Day

2006-04-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is this Saturday!! I sent out an Evite to a number of folks around here to see if they wanted to do a beach cleanup and I think we'll have about a dozen people, which is great! The nice thing about it is that all I supply are the garbage bags and plastic gloves. Should be a couple of hours cleaning up the beach and then I was thinking I might see if the local ice cream parlor wanted to

Whistlin' Dixie

2006-04-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to introduce the newest member of our family, Dixie! We adopted Dixie over the weekend and she is an amazing dog! We know she is part bulldog, although we get mixed reports of whether it is English or American Bulldog. The rest of her is all mutt - a little of this, a little of that. What I can say for sure is that she has already taken over 100% of our hearts.

Tuneage Tune-Up

2006-04-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

I love music. Specifically, I love dancing/jumping/wiggling to music in my office as a nice little brain break. It can sometimes be a great way to turn up the creative juice! What's a milk shake without the shake, you know?But even I can only listen to the 500+ songs on my iTunes so many times. I'm always on the lookout for new music and was thrilled to stumble on Lisa's fabulous idea for a CD

Wink! Wink!

2006-04-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

Did you ever notice that some people are winkers? In the midst of conversation there can be a random flick of the eyelid, a quick little batter, but only from one eye. It can signify a quick lite flirt or a "you know what I mean" or who knows what else. This weekend hubby and I met a guy who was a winker. First he winked at me and I thought, "Whoa, doesn't he know the guy I'm with is my husband?"

Simple Swap

2006-03-30T14:47:00.000-08:00

I've decided I really want some snail mail. It's Spring and that is the perfect time to refresh everything! SO, with that in mind, if anyone is interested in a simple swap, let me know. The ground rules will be simple: it can be bought or made, big or small, from here or there, etc. How about just something that represents at least some part of who you are. That way, when the exchange is done,

Tax time

2006-03-30T14:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay in posting! Not to fear - I am here! And doing just fine, thanks for asking. Although, I did just get back from being stood up by my tax guy... Seriously? He hasn't even seen the books yet, so I can't have scared him off that much! Hmmm... Any last minute tax preparers out there? I really don't want to go the H&R Block route (nothing against the company, I just want to develop

Pain

2006-03-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

Boy, this is just the bad news bulletin, isn't it? I just found out that my aunt has breast cancer. Just got the call. Just hung up. And am still processing.How? Why? They mentioned radiation; will she lose her hair? What about the breast? What can I do? How far along is it? Where are the best doctors for this sort of thing located? I just can't believe it... She is my mom's twin, so genetically,

To Where You Are

2006-02-28T08:46:00.000-08:00

My Great Uncle passed away on Friday morning. It had been coming for some time, so we'd all gotten our goodbyes in. He was 90 and lived a long, happy life filled with love, friendship, good fishing and intelligent conversation. As death often seems to make you reflect on, I began thinking about how well I knew this wonderful man, how often I got to spend time with him, and even more, how often I

Did you miss me?

2006-02-15T09:59:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is now the day after Valentine's Day. I had fully meant to post more lately but, well, I was on vacation. At least, that was my excuse for last week. Leading up to that point, I plead the fifth.Back in the Seattle area again for a week to watch my incredible nephew who is growing SO flippin' fast - I can hardly believe it! He is running everywhere, and on the verge of talking, but does a

Favorites!

2006-01-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

Ah, yes, it's time again to share some of my favorite recent online finds. What with Valentine's Day just around the corner, there are plenty of sweet and snazzy ideas abound! Enjoy!Intamitts are a sweet way to hold your loved one's hand even when the weather is chilly! There are a few sites that sell these, but this one has three colors to choose from - black, chocolate brown and red. Prices

Sales underway

2006-01-19T17:29:00.000-08:00

The day before yesterday I sent out a dozen promotional pieces to various folks who I would love to have accounts with. Big brown boxes filled with goodness and my business card - I'm sure they have no idea what in the world it is, but that is part of the idea. Now comes the waiting.Some of the boxes were delivered yesterday and a few today. I guess it is a bit much to expect the phone to be

Yipeee!!

2006-01-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

I just found out that an incredible woman that I am fortunate enough to call friend has recently become engaged! I just have to give a shout of congratulations to Cathy and Eric! I hear he proposed via a duct-taped message on a tarp - SO them. I am very happy for you guys!! Let me know if I can help!On other good news, my nephew is half-way potty trained. "Say bye-bye to the poop!" is a phrase I

Resolutions

2005-12-31T22:29:00.000-08:00

Ok, so if I post my New Year's resolutions here, does that mean I have a better chance of sticking to them? I say we start a "Resolution Tracker Team" - who's with me?!Resolution #1: Get more exercise Plan: Bike a min. of 1x week and yoga 3x week, along with the walking and running already in place.Resolution #2: Budget finances (work and home) Plan: Create spreadsheets, use Quicken, track

Merry Christmas

2005-12-25T08:45:00.000-08:00

I have a confession. A few days ago, I wasn't feeling too merry.It is hard to be away from family, knowing that they will all be together, remembering all of the old traditions that are hard to keep when you are so far away. I was also letting the grinch in me see too much of the commercial side of Christmas (and you have to admit, it certainly has gotten a little out of hand). I had to spend a

Sevens

2005-12-20T17:13:00.000-08:00

Aagh! I just found a really old to-do list and double checked it against Gnome G's blog and I am indeed WAY late on a Seven's List! As in like almost two months late! (Ummm... can I blame genetics?) (Love you, Mom!)So here goes...7 Things to Do Before I Die Buy a house Write a book Own a letterpress Start a foundation/company/nonprofit/whatever focused on the environment Start a

Anyone else feeling un-blog-ivated?

2005-12-18T08:15:00.000-08:00

Is there interesting stuff happening in this corner of globe and elsewhere that could have even two sentances scratched out about it?Sure.What with the big holiday of the year (and my favorite, I might add) a week away, isn't there some sagely advice about gift giving or wrapping or what to do with a two-pound fruitcake that could be posted?Probably, although the sagely scale is highly debateable

Craft Sale: Success!

2005-12-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the first ever craft sale held by me and the girls and I have to say I think it was a success! We weren't sure what to expect, either in terms of how much would be available for selling or how many people would show up to buy, so it was pretty much spread by word of mouth and the 60 postcards we sent out to people we know. There were a lot of mothers, aunts, and friends, and I was

Big Red Button

2005-12-01T11:31:00.000-08:00

I sent off 3 jobs to the printer for custom work this morning and am working on some design ideas for a restaurant's gift cards. I've never done gift cards before, so this is something new. When you have a new project, I think that one of the hardest parts is just getting over the fear in the back of your mind that says "You've never done this before. What makes you think you know what you're

It's all about the food...

2005-11-25T17:38:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you all, but my stomach is having a heck of a time trying to get back into its original shape. Or at least the shape that it has been the last few months. Why is it that the holidays/colder seasons always make you feel fat? It's like the age-old question: which came first - the bulky sweater or the gut beneath it? Either you wore the sweater and didn't realize how quickly your

Ding! Ding! Ding!

2005-11-14T09:56:00.000-08:00

In my last post I mentioned that we are having a big sale here soon; "we" being me and some of my girls. It has definitely been at the forefront of most of my activities lately, spending as much time as I can sewing, cutting, designing, ordering supplies and plotting out who will be laying out their wares where. And of course, as is always at the back of my mind: determining pricing. I really,

Wonderful-ness

2005-11-13T02:00:00.000-08:00

We had a GREAT visit with the fam. Man, that little boy has grown! And, apparently, grown quite attached to my husband, whose leg he crawled up whenever he could. We threw a small surprise party for him (yes, more for the benefit of the parents than for the little one) at a restaurant on the waterfront, complete with gifts and a candle in a brownie. Also got to do some good shopping damage with

Twenty-four hours and counting!

2005-11-04T07:50:00.000-08:00

My sister, brother-in-law and sweet nephew will be here in approximately 24 hours!!!! I can hardly wait! They haven't been down to visit us since we moved here because of events going on (something about giving birth...), but now they are going to be here for three days! Think I've used enough exclamation points?!Needless to say, it will be very hard to concentrate today. I put together my to-do

Tagged!

2005-10-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

Oh, how fun! I've secretly been wanting to be tagged and guess what? Andreagirl, a.k.a. Ruby Red, tagged me! So now I get to post 20 things about me that I haven't talked about on this blog. Here goes! My nickname, and thus the title for my blog and company, is Bean. My family started calling me Bean when I was little because I jumped around a lot (according to some, I still do). Most of my

Pumpkin contest

2005-10-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

The highlight of this past weekend was definitely our pumpkin carving party! We munched on "bloody stubs" (lil' smokies in bbq sauce) and devoured a graveyard (chocolate pudding with crumbled choc. cookies on top, a few gummy worms scattered in and Lady Finger cookies cut in half to make the tombstones). Everybody carved a pumpkin, then it was time for the judgement.Here are the entries. Care to

Houston, we have liftoff!

2005-10-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

Yes! I finally got my scanner! I can now create/manipulate/design with so much more ease! Check it out: the first pass at scanning in some of my artwork. This lightbulb came to me in a dream... seriously. Or at least during that boarderline between willing yourself to sleep and actually achieving it. I love that with the scan you can see the texture of the oil pastel, although there was a bit of

Teaser... the logo

2005-10-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

With the website unveiling to be commencing soon, I thought I'd start the anticipation by rolling out the new Blue Bean Creations logo! Ta-da! Whadda ya think?

Speaking of trends...

2005-10-10T21:42:00.000-07:00

Marketing specifically to teens? Check out this report on the creators and marketers of pop culture for teenagers... They actually make an attempt at getting inside the heads of these young thangs and trying to understand how they think.

Watching the trends

2005-10-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

Being in a very consumer driven profession, it is important not only to follow trends, but also to try to stay ahead of the curve. "Futurists", the apparently new PC name for trend spotters, claim that they are cultural anthropoligists for the modern day, tracking how, when and why society grabs on to certain ideas or themes. They watch societal movement and translate it into what will be the

New Favorite

2005-10-07T22:14:00.000-07:00

I'm hooked.I really enjoyed Friends in its heyday (althouh, not so much in the later years. The writing seemed a bit lacking). Loved Ally McBeal. Sex in the City - well, I didn't have HBO while it was on (college budget...), but I've rapidly devoured the DVDs. I still wonder what happened to "Two Guys and a Girl", an old favorite that had many great laugh moments.So what have I been enjoying

Mini vacation

2005-10-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

The past few days have kind of drained my creative resources, so I decided to take a mini vacation. Didn't even need to pack a suitcase. Put on my sundress and flip flops, grabbed my iPod, sketch pad and favorite graphic design mag, and marched on down to the beach. A whole two blocks. Hee hee! There is something good about living in Southern California. It's the start of October and 92 degrees!

The Bean with Horns

2005-10-02T22:30:00.000-07:00

I finally got the Nut to go to a flea market with me. SO many great finds! Yes, even including this monstrous-sized pair of bull horns, but no, we didn't buy them. I think the poor old guy whose booth it was thought we were making fun of him, but really we were admiring the man who could amass a collection that even included something like this. I mean, either he shot it himself or he bought it

Get a lasso on that deer!

2005-10-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

Also from the flea market, let me present to you the next big cowboy, my Peanut. Or rather, "deerboy", since the only thing he's trying to get a lasso on is that metal deer.

Today is one of those days...

2005-09-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

...when there is a ton to do and not enough time to do it....when I have a million ideas in my head, but can't get them onto paper. (or computer, as the case may be)....when I wish that I could be meeting my best friend's new little boy, but respect her need for a day or two to take it all in....when the lunch that looked and sounded so good has ended up being fed to the cats....when I hear that

Favorites for fun

2005-09-19T23:24:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more favorites for you to enjoy!Envelope and Letter folding: (See image to the right) Some definite "must-try"s for a few new designs. Too many to list here, but check it out!The Food Loop: I thought this was kind of a cool invention, especially for the cooks in the family. It's a heat-resistant loop thing that is great for holding things together, such as meat rolls, etc. while

To Do

2005-09-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

On the to-do list: 2 new biz card clients, each requiring min. 3 designs to choose from Covers for the bottoms of kiosks - 4 designs for each set of 4 panels 3 birth announcement clients requiring unique designs 1 website + printed colateral (mine) 15 sets of personalized stationery Christmas card designs Preparation for November sale New bag designs New jewelry designs1 Save

Happy Birthday to me

2005-09-11T17:27:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday. Yes, the same day as the attacks. Hey, it was my day first. It was also this day four years ago that hubby and I had our first kiss. Awwww... tain't that sweet?

A Few Favorites

2005-09-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

Looking for something to tide over your weekend web browsing? These are some of my favorites!Free music from Amazon - That's right - completely free, no strings attached! Not a lot of mainstream, in fact, most I haven't heard of before, but isn't that the best kind? Discover some new favorites of your own.Last FM - More on the music scene. Type in a favortie band here and see who else is

Ugh... the website

2005-09-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

I made a promise to my hubby before he left to see his family for five days that I would lock myself in the office and work on my website. I can assure you that I have turned on my computer and started GoLive! too many times to count. What do I have to show for it?Well, I finally got a haircut, went to the flea market, sewed a new bag, got caught up on my magazine reading, played with the cats,

Hurricane Katrina

2005-08-31T08:21:00.000-07:00

My thoughts are with all of those affected by this disaster. Please do your best to remain safe.

Summer: two months late

2005-08-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

I was having dinner with some family and friends last night and one of them mentioned that "summer is finally here." Odd, I thought, my calendar shows that it is August, and therefore almost the end of summer.When I woke up this morning, I understood what she was talking about. I've only been in California for just under a year, but I remembered it was swealtering when I first moved down here

Going somewhere, coming from somewhere...

2005-08-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

I spent the last week in Seattle with the fam for my adorable nephew's baptism. The last time I saw him he was just over 4 months old. He is now almost 9 months old and those gorgeous blue eyes just keep getting bigger. I must say, he looked like quite the cutie at his baptism, decked out in cords, a blue shirt and the little red necktie I made him. (Have you ever tried to find a necktie for an

Golden Gummy Bear Awards

2005-08-15T16:12:00.000-07:00

Let the testing begin...And the Golden Gummy Bear goes to (drum roll please.....): Kroger! The generic store-brand gummy bear around here, which was somewhat surprizing! Check out our results!*Note: We were unable to find Black Forest Gummy Bears, but I know they exist. We used worms instead, figuring they likely have the same taste and texture, but different shape.

Anniversary

2005-08-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

Today is my one-year anniversary. One year ago, I married the most incredible, supportive, intelligent, warm and loving man. It's hard to believe how quickly time goes by. I hope everyone out there always remembers how precious a day is, the miracle of just one minute, and how life can change in a second.Happy Anniversary, Peanut! You are a dream come true!

Gummybear-less town

2005-08-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

Ok all you Southern California natives, what gives? Did you grow up living a depraived childhood with only generic gummy bears? I know it looks like I've been slacking on my taste test, but you wouldn't believe how many friggin' stores I've visited in search of the grand gummy bear! No Tyroli, no Black Forest, no nothin' but Kroeger (generic store brand). Ugh.Still, I will NOT go down without a

Little Bits

2005-08-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

(***The Golden Gummi Bear Awards will be coming soon to a blog near you! Stay tuned!***)I don't have much to say at the moment, as life has been busy working on various projects and getting my line for NSS in order, but I realized that I posted quite a while ago that I would list some things about me. I asked for questions, and the one I got back was from my dear sister: If you were a

Philosophically eating

2005-07-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

The hubby and I were in the car last night on the way to try and make a bit more progress in cleaning up the old digs. In typical late-night, tired-of-cleaning, just-want-to-be-done-with-this-move-thing fashion, a deep philosophical discussion ensued about the merits of gummy bears.Yes, gummy bears. They are one of his favorite forms of sugar and so of course, to help make the cleaning more

Home Sweet Home

2005-07-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

All is grand here, although it's been a tough day. It was moving day. Ugh. And it was just me and the hubby doing it all. Double ugh. And we had major issues with the moving truck, especially since we realized once we got to our new place that we'd left the hand-truck (part of the rental package) at our old place. Can we go into "ugh" over-drive now?I'll have to take some pictures of how

Visual Thesaurus

2005-07-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

Some of my greeting cards are fairly text-based. That is, I tell stories, make up poems, etc. I've always loved writing and someday I WILL write that book. Till that day (and also likely during the process) I think that I've found a fun way to get past some writer's block; those moments when the perfect word is hard to come by. If you're at all a visual person and like to see one version of how

The Good Student

2005-07-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

My folks recently came down for a visit (yes, just in time to see the new pad - and to buy us a Weber for a housewarming gift!) and I had a great talk with my Mom about what she's going to do next, since she has just retired. She spent the last 28 years in public education - a job that I consider one of the toughest out there. Unfortunately, it is a job that doesn't get near the recognition and