new blog home...

I have decided to move my blog and switch from blogger to wordpress.
Here is my new blog address:
http://kristielou.wordpress.com/

random fun...

I was cleaning my hard drive today because when the backup runs on my computer it takes away all my speed and storage. I know weird problem to have. But I came across this photo that I scanned a while back. It is one of my most favorites!

The photo is of my mom (on the donkey/zebra) my grandpa and my great grandpa, circa 1965, Mexico. I think it hysterical! So fun.

posting...

I have really been lacking in the posting department here lately. I must fix that.

It's 6:45 on Friday and I am sitting here at work. I am pulling a co-works email off the back-up because all their sent mail is missing. Now back-ups are a great thing but can be a pain for the person dealing with them. So what better time than to blog!

Lets see...where to start?

This week was work crazy but we had a very fun girl night on Wednesday. My house is a mess! I totally have to deal with that this weekend and also do a little design work at work.

I decided I really like the word "dwell" today. I don't really know why. I think I like the way it looks.

Katie & I went to lunch at Camille's today and we saw our pairs there...Bobbi & Carey. Which we all thought was hysterically funny. Artist, writer, artist writer. I kind of wish we could all just sit and chat all day long. You girls are the best.

I have on new black knitted uggs today that I kind of accidentally "won" on ebay. I though I was out-bid because I was not seriously bidding anyway and I "won"! But I do love them.

I have gained a couple new facebook friends this week (addicted). One classmate that moved away from our small town and I have not seen or talked to her in forever! Crazy how things connect back up.

Only two more back-up tapes to go and I can go home. Happy weekend!

For Karen ;)

Merry Christmas

__________________


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

__________________

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!