For Karen ;)

Merry Christmas

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I think I got an eye roll from Santa!
Do you think he thinks my request is unrealistic?
(I wonder what I was asking for ;)

age 6 • Seward, Nebraska

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Hope you have a blessed Christmas Day.

done, done, done and done...

Since it was snowy and blowy all weekend long I stayed inside my warn cozy little house and accomplished a lot! It is such a good feeling.

• I finished two custom jewelry orders for a total of nine pieces.
(photo above: 7 necklaces for a January wedding)

• I finally put up the Christmas tree.
(I know I almost did not mess with it)

• Wrapped all the presents (for those of you who are or know designers this is not a fast process).

• Made 3 batches of required cookies to bring home for Christmas (the cookie tradition has been passed down to me now and I have to make them exactly how my mom made them). Also if you have ever made spritz cookies you know what a pain that is! Maybe someday they will make those easy to make.

Now all that is left is laundry and car packing and driving to Lincoln. All is well ;)

art girl cookie baking...

Sunday was the first annual art girl cookie baking day (we might need a shorter name for that ;)

I think we made about a million cookies at least that is what it felt like. Here is how it broke down...
• 4 batches of dough.
• A giant bag of cookie cutters (thanks mom!).
• Sprinkles of all colors.
• Sticky yummy frosting.
• Talking & Laughing.
• Hearing Bobbi say "what is this cookie cutter" (about 12 times ;).
• Oh and one really burnt snowman. He is just kind of funny.

Here are the resutls...




To see more photos click here.

catching up...

This has been a busy week. I am still recovering from our girl weekend and a cold. I think I am on the mend now ;)

The last two weeks have been busy at Paulsen (work). We have launched a new website, had a big party...the First Annual Paulsen County Fair and redesigned all our print materials. Katie and I have been working on this for months and it feels so good to be done. Everything is bright, shinny and new.

Tonight is our Paulsen Christmas party and Sunday is cookie baking with my art girls. I love this time of year. Oh, and I have completed almost all of my Christmas shopping without leaving the comfort of my house. Online shopping is the best!

girl weekend of fun...

Bobbi, Cassie and I got up early on Friday morning to head to Minneapolis. Cassie was selling all her cool creative stuff at the No Coast Craft-o-rama. We had a great girl weekend and of course I did a little shopping for myself! (how could I not)

On Friday night Cassie introduced us to garlic mashed potato pizza. YUM!


I also bought this super cute print. I can't tell you how happy it makes me.


Thanks girls for another fun weekend!

paulsen is sad today...

A really cool guy and a friend to all of us at Paulsen (work) rolled his car on Saturday and was killed on interstate i29. We are sad...

On Wednesday before I drove home for Thanksgiving I downloaded a new CD from Jeremy Camp. Little did I know that one of my favorite songs on the album kind of applies to how we all feel right now (lyrics below)...

"There Will Be A Day"

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that trys to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel your walking on your own
But there has never been a step
[ Jeremy Camp Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]
Where you’ve walked out all alone

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing….

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day, He’ll wipe away the stains, He’ll wipe away the tears, He’ll wipe away the tears…..there will be a day.

We are going to the celebration of life service tonight.
We will miss you Chaddles (Chad)!

happy thanksgiving and go huskers...

Dad called me yesterday and wanted to know if I wanted tickets to the Nebraska game on Friday. Of course I do!!! So after our thanksgiving festivities on Thursday (which include nintendo wii competitions) I will get to go sit in a sea of red and have the best hotdog in the world. I can't wait!

We play Colorado which is our traditional after thanksgiving day game. I wonder who I will cheer for someday when I live in Colorado...probably still Nebraska.

(I wonder if I need a cute new red sweater or something warm ;)

crafting...

I made this scarf on Sunday (I am wearing it today ;). It is from Martha Stewart's site...usually her projects take about 4 days to complete, but this one is so easy and instant satisfaction! I will probably make a couple more to perfect the technique. It also helps to work with a boy scout leader to teach you how to tie the knots (thanks Mike!).

Here is the link if you would like to make your own...
http://www.marthastewart.com/good-thing/no-knit-scarf

Tip: The Martha directions say to use 1 1/2 times the length of yarn for the scarf you wish to make. I used a little over 2 times the length of yarn and my scarf is just about the perfect length.

Time to make: Under an hour!!!

how do you know you live in south dakota?

The freezer at your work is filled with dead pheasants!

This has made me stop putting ice in my water. Who wants pheasant ice cubes? Joan sent out a mandate today to remove the pheasants. I hope they really do find a new home.

We may be the only advertising agency in the world with dead pheasants. I wonder if anyone has ever done a study on that ;)

p.s. take note that the pheasants are next to the cookie dough. Now that is who we really are!

love

lucky girl...

Last night this cute little girl was baptized and I was lucky enough to be one of her sponsors. It was fun to see her and her family and to be part of something so special. Thanks Rani!

joining this century...

That's what the boys at work say about my new purchase. My old TV was "old school". My new TV arrived yesterday and it is pretty and skinny. Next purchase an apple tv ;)

Now I am ready for winter...

bathroom complete!

It's done. I have finally had a my color fix. I am not really sure why I did not paint it before now and of course I forgot to take a before picture. The brown makes such a big difference. The bottom half was white before and the top was a strange blue. Someday the bathroom will have a major over haul but for now I am happy. Now the girls can come over ;)

why...

Over the summer the girls at work stared a girl dinner night. Friday is my turn to host the dinner at my house (this is where the why comes in). Why am I so crazy that I have to do a great big project before people come to my house? Why do I think I need to paint the bathroom and completely redecorate it? Why am I worried that people will not think my house is cool/clean enough?

So I am a little tired today. I finished painting one of the colors at 12:30 am, I have to go home at noon to do a coat of the dark brown paint and then do another one after work.

I think I might be insane...
(but those of you reading this probably already know that ;)

Happy Birthday Rani!

Hope you have a great day.

birthday swag

I am the luckiest girl in the world with the best friends in the world!
Thanks to everyone for making my birthday so special!

happy halloween!

In Paulsen tradition we are having a fun day. We always go out to lunch as a group also, so watch out Lone Star here we come.

I have posted all the Halloween Photos here...

Happy birthday...to my little brother.
He is the big 3-0 today ;)

i'm back...

Ok...so I am finally posting. I was so far north that my cell phone barely worked, no tv, no internet and only one radio station. I did actually pay $4.00 for an hour of internet on Saturday, but that did not give me enough time to post photos.

So here is the run down of the vacation...

• We stayed in a cute little cabin. Very rustic.
• Zero moose seen (although we spent an entire day looking for them).
• No northern lights :(
• Kayaking on a lake that looked like glass while it was 48° outside.
• A little bit of shopping.
• A little detour on the way to the north to Stillwater, MN. Very cool!
• We got kind of lost on a forest road.
• Beautiful fall colors.
• Cool weather.
• I saw Canada.
• Hiked to the largest waterfall in MN.
• Hiked for 6 miles up a mountain on Saturday (I thought my legs were going to fall off ;)
• Went to the moose festival in Grand Marais (no moose their either just a lot of shoppers).
• Collected rocks and looked for agates.
• Had 5 layer chocolate pie at Betty's Pies for breakfast ;)

Now back to civilization. I kind of fell like I need a Target fix now although getting away for the week was amazing!

Here are the photos from my trip...

more fun...

Last week was a week of fun and this week is going to be awesome too. Last Wednesday we rented a photobooth here at work. It was so fun. We are going to use the photos on our new website. Above are some of the photos Cassie & I took ;)

This afternoon I am off to Northern Minnesota. I am the luckiest girl in the world. I will try to blog from there. My internet obsession might be limited. I will post photos when I can.

The goals for my vacation week are:
• see moose
• see northern lights
• see fall
• relax
• kayak in the cold

stay tuned...

one day...two hats

I had the most wonderful surprise when I got home tonight. There is this really cool girl named Kirsten and she made me the most coolest hat! She is a super fast crafter and she does not even need a pattern.

I am the luckiest girl! I can't wait to wear my bear hat.

Thanks Kirsten!

p.s. it was a little hard to photograph my head, show off the bear hat and take the photo ;)

what happens in an agency...stays in an agency

(well kind of)

My super cute hat that i bought from etsy.com (pictured above) came today. I LOVE it!

Pictured below is superman/senior art director Mike. You may not know it from this photo but he can actually bench press 420 lbs. Who knew he would also make a great hat model.

I guess this is what happens when we get back from design camp ;)

We're back ;)

I have been back from design camp for little over and hour and just got all my photos posted to flickr. I decided if I did not do it right away it might not happen.

We had a great time! I LOVE Minnesota. I think I could live there. The resort was wonderful, the workshops were wonderful, the speakers were wonderful and the people I went with were wonderful and fun. Design camp is such a great weekend. I feel so creative right now.

Mae, Marnie, Mike and I had a great time. Lots of laughs, giggling, making fun of each other and just over all fun. There are so many stories to tell I don't know where to start.

I am so thankful we are able to go. We are so lucky. If you would like to check out more photos here is the link...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristieweiberg/sets/72157607772203834/

Design Camp is...

Design Camp here I come!

fall...

Since the cool girls are posting their next projects I will too. Above is my next project. My goal is to finish it before spring. Although I do need a Bobbi crocheting lesson first ;)

(Thanks B)

Welcome fall!
I am so glad you are officially here ;)

finally...

I have been wanting to sew these pillows for over a year now and I finally got to do it yesterday. Bobbi and I bought this fabric last summer for only 99¢ a yard (possibly the best deal ever!). We might have been the only people in Sioux Falls to buy it. But we could not have been more excited.

Finally project complete ;)

it's bobbi's fault...

Normally I would not be on ebay looking at vintage Suitcases. But Bobbi has ruined me ;) I saw this suitcase the other day and no one had bid on it...so of course I had to. Oddly enough I am the only one who was bidding on it and i got it for $10. It is so cute I had to have it. I wonder what a girl does with a million suitcases.

happy birthday...to my car

September 15, 2000 is the day my car came home with me. I know...how strange is it that a girl would know this. My yellow bug was and is my dream car, so September 15 is a very special day. If for some reason I ever have to get a new car, I am buying the exact same thing.

Happy 8 years!

(The photo above it my car in the happiest place ever. I am pretty sure she wants to live there too ;)

p.s. my co-workers think I am nuts for knowing my car's birthday...

this week...

Saturday was a lot of fun at the Sidewalk Arts Festival...although it was pretty miserable in the afternoon. It started raining at about 2:30 pm and kept on going. Everything in the Flatwear Jewelry tent was wet. I think I finally have everything dried out. Maybe the next event I will do will be inside.

A special thanks to my wonderful friends (Janet, Cassie & Bobbi) who helped me on Saturday. I truly never could have done it without you. I owe you guys! Cass you're next ;)

I don't have much else to report on this week. I LOVE the weather. I even love it when its cloudy, windy and cold. I know I am just strange.

Other than that I have been working, thinking about making soup and visiting Cassie in her new house ;)

Tonight Janet and I are going fabric shopping and I am so excited. I have been thinking about sewing a lot here lately. Maybe its time to pull out the half-done quilt and finish it this winter.

Happy Fall!

Fall is here and I could not be happier ;)

most fun day ever!

Besides it being a million % humidity and super hot. The concert was the best ever! It was a super loud crowd and really good music and totally packed. I LOVE Third Day. Of course I had great company also ;)

Above is the one photo I took during the concert. I am pretty sure Mac is pointing right at us.

On a side note. Dad just saw me downloading my photos and saw the picture of Mac. He said...oh that's the guy with the voice I can't stand. WOW! I am not sure we are related!


Here are some of the things we saw...

Fall is here!

Really cool sand sculpture. I kind of want one in my back yard.
Could this be the next Mike Dowling project?

fun day...

Third Day + Bobbi + Carey = Wonderfulness

I can't wait to go!

super cool...

This cool website makes me happy.
http://www.catherinesanimals.com/#mi=1&pt=0&pi=1&s=7&p=-1&a=0&at=0

shinny pretty...

My old ipod officially died this morning. It literally came to a grinding halt. I did not know noise like that could come out of an ipod.

Here is my new toy. LOVE IT! I can't wait to get all my music on it and play with it and check email with it. I don't think it could be more perfect!

Happy ;)

now available...

FlatWear Jewelry is now available at Your Daily Dose.

Your Daily Dose is a super cute coffee shop/pharmacy/gift shop in Harrisburg, SD. So if you are ever in the area stop by. I met the owner Janice at the Brookings Art Festival. She is really cool. I am excited to try something new ;)

Your Daily Dose
220 S. Cliff Ave. Suite 100
Harrisburg, SD
57032

this...

This is what my ipod has on it's screen today. I am sad also. I have emailed Larry the Mac guru and am awaiting his response.

Does this ipod not know how much I love him? How I rely on him every day? How it holds my Third Day library including the new Revelation album that I listen to several times a day?

;(

last night...

Last night I went to watch the Paulsen Kickball team (toe jam) play. It was fun and it actually was not 100° out! After I hurried home to watch Larry King Live.

Steven Curtis Chapman and his family were guests on the show. In May their daughter was killed in their driveway. I kind of feel like I know them even though I don't. My mom was a big music lover. We started out as kids with Psalty the Singing Songbook and graduated to Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman (I guess this was probably more me, than my brother ;) So I have been listening to SCC since the late 80's.

They are a strong amazing family. It was kind of hard to watch and yet I was glued to the show. I am still thinking a lot about them today. Their faith is so strong.

They have posted the segments on www.youtube.com if you want to see it.

Here is what Larry King said after the show...
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/08/08/lkl.about.thurs.cnn