business cards

Business cards for me!  What?  Yes, I now have business cards.  I actually won a giveaway on ISLY blog.   Since, as mentioned before, I am working on a big project, I thought now was the time to get my first business cards.  I'm really happy with my choice of design (I designed them).  They look perfect for now. 

The look on his face says it all!  My intern was just as stoked.  A whole 500 free business cards and they look awesome, meaning the quality is really good.  The cardstock used is extra heavy and the print is just as I expected, perfect.  Unfortunately, I can't comment about color since I chose just black and white.  Perhaps my next go around I'll use some color...

*  I am almost ready to debut my handmade collections.  They are simple but I have found my passion!  That alone feels so good.

// Get ready to spread the word about LMT - Handmade!!!

Daily Holidays coming up in July

click calendar to enlarge

*  Date ideals from HERE.  And somewhere I read that one week in July is Be Nice to New Jersey Week.  That's funny.  And JULY IS NATIONAL HOT DOG MONTH!  

//  I am totally celebrating a bunch of these!  Which ones will you celebrate?

craving the delicious fish at Tjöruhúsið

Ah, food.  This is some salmon that I made and must remember.  Thus, the mention here.  I was craving this particular catfish dish we had in Iceland.  It was made with cream, capers, new potatoes, tomatoes and onions.  It was so fresh and so rich.  I did my best to recreate the flavors using some salmon we had.  My version as seen above has:  salmon, whole milk, olive oil, tomatoes, russet potatoes, green olives, onions, lime.  It was really good, not quite what we had there, but almost. 

*  So, just for the record: the best place to get fish in Iceland is Tjöruhúsið in Ísafjörður.  Read a bit about Ísafjörður and see a mention about this restaurant here.

//  I want more!  This might become a Linda specialty.

a party

I can't wait for access the other pictures from the party.  Technically, I have them since my husband took them but I'll wait until they are posted by the party people.  It will be fun.

*** Update:  here is a post by the bells of the ball about the party. *** 

// I hope by the time I share this party pics, we'll have some fun things of our own to share...

Tohoku Tote

I have been wanting to do make this bag for a while now.  It feels great checking if off of the list!
I got this pattern from a charitable person after I donated funds to the Japan relief effort.  You can read about it here.  I was happy to donate and I was grateful for this generous gift from someone not benefiting from my donation.  I am always a fan of charitable causes and I like to support.

I had a random tea towel from Ikea that I used for the other half of the interior.  I don't know why I did it like this when I had more of the main fabric.  I actually don't love the polka dots with the other pattern but I'll live.  I do like the pockets that I added on (the polka dot ones you see and there is another on the other side).   And I'm so glad I found some snaps to use too.  I like the closure capability to a bag.  I think I'll use this for my new diaper bag since I don't need as much space anymore. 

 

*  a few things:  I can't seem to focus enough to read a pattern.  I just looked at the pictures and winged it.  That made it take a lot longer and it wasn't that easy to make.  I really don't like the polka dots on the interior fabrib of the bag, like I mentioned above (I actually love my polka dot skirt).  And can you believe that my sewing machine broke right before the interior and exterior pieces were sewed together and the handles needed to go on as well?!!!  It was fun to be forced to hand stitch, though.  I really like to feel like I am working hard for a craft.

*  I posted this super flattering picture of me so I'll always remember how humid this day was and how I sat in my hot kitchen sewing away while my baby was screaming at me for more food every few seconds.  This was a nice day believe it or not.  I love getting things done.

//  and now on to finishing a gift I'm working on...

(Do you hate it when you are making something for someone and you can't stop thinking about whether or not they'll like it and you really just hope to pieces that they really like it for all the time you are putting into making it?  In the end I think it will just feel good to get it done and I love giving gifts so its all good either way.)

our Anniversary date

 

The other night I was looking at past posts and came across this one. This grainy photo was taken when Zack and I were dating.  It was from a fun night.  Happy Anniversary Date, Zack!

current favorite drink(s)

Have you ever tried Egg Cream?  Its this awesome old fashioned classic drink.  I loved the vanilla version.  (its white one in the top left corner)  This is a Brooklyn Farmacy specialty that I had at the Kiehl's flagship store.   The red drink is the "1851" named after "Kiehl's - Since 1851" The barista made it up special for Kiehl's customers.  Anyway, I totally was a fan of both of these, but my absolute fave was the egg cream. Yum.

* You have got to try one of these.

//  I think I just figured out what we're going to do tomorrow if I can talk Zack into going...

pieces of progress

I can't seem to focus on one project at a time.  Right now I am working on 4 different ones and I just finished one other one that I'll share later.  I think I'm starting to get the hang of having a baby and doing little things I want to all while maintaining some sort of clean/orderly home. 

 

 

*  the only bad news is that my sewing machine broke today.  I was just sewing and then the error flashed and beeped.  That was the end of that project.  But Actually I hand sewed after that.  That is how determined I am to finish my projects lately.  I am just sick of unfinished-ness in my life.  It feels good to get stuff done!

* I am in a really good rhythm right now.  I hope to bring together my thoughts and motivations to share here, soon.

//  Now to the 4 waiting projects!

Highline

 Again, we walked the Highline.  My favorite part is always getting to the end where the water is.  Actually, I'm not sure if that's the end, we only go that far.  I guess we need to explore some more.

What cute boys playing together!

I love to travel.

visited 28 states (56%)

Create your own visited map of The United States

This is where I've visited in my own country.  I think my love for travel comes from my mom (although my dad also traveled a ton).  Both of my parents grew up in military families that traveled all over the world.  In fact, they met and dates in Argentina before marrying in California.  Anyway, my mom always wanted to visit all 50 US state.  I loved that goal, and although it isn't mine, it was exciting when she finally accomplished it.  I just have a goal to travel as much as I can and to document every big trip.  So far, so good.  Saw this here.

visited 3 states (23.0%)

Create your own visited map of Canada

We did a really fun road trip from New York to Canada.  It was really beautiful and so fun.  We went at the end of May and it was so quiet and not yet crowded by summer tourists.  Cape Breton, is a gorgeous drive.  See some posts from our Canada trip.

visited 13 states (5.77%)

Create your own visited map of The World

I feel like I've had many opportunities to travel, and for that I am grateful.  We'd love to live abroad and work but are just waiting for the right opportunity.  There are certain places in the world I don't care to "waste" my vacation days on and others I'd go with out pay for.  I love to travel but as my family grows and the dollar signs not as quickly, I hope to adventure to my bucket list places, at least, in my lifetime.  

*  Here's to the love of traveling.

//  Speaking of traveling, I'll be sharing highlights from our trip to Iceland soon.

yikes, help, save me, take me away, help already, make it go away, etc.

 CLICK HERE TO SEE THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK

That's a troubling title and there is good reason.  I'm going crazy over here!  I need some intervention.

My husband is barely recognizable because, well, he has a ton of hideous facial hair going on right now.  If you've seen him recently, you may have noticed (how could you miss it) a very large and quite impressive beard.  Well, since its finally too hot to handle, he has decided to shave it off in stages, like he always does.  It has been a long time since I've seen his face and in all honesty, I am not enjoying the facial hair in its stages at all.  These so called parts and shapes he is creating on his face are distracting and frankly, not cute!

Do I love him still?  Yes.  I just can't look at him.  And don't even talk to me about kissing him.  I think it looks disgusting.  (I couldn't handle a blank/cold spot where hair used to be.)  Yuck!!  Can you tell how sick of my husband's facial hair I am?  It finally hit me, I want his face back.  If anyone can do anything to get my husband's entire, soft, shaved face back, I would greatly appreciate it!

*  All of his facial hair sculpting antics are really getting to me.  Can't you tell?

*  Here is this night in his own words.

//  Back to my many projects that gratefully, keep me really busy and distracted from looking at The Beard...

*  I love Zack! 

break in : a pitty party post

 I don't even drink coffee = not mine!  Anything else that looks like it would aid those who fix and that acts as fixing tool, that is not mine.   Maybe I am really posting because I am so happy with the cleanliness now.  I don't know.  ha.

 

When we got back from Iceland, it looked like someone had been in our apartment.  There was all sorts of evidence including things left behind, an unlocked front door and TONS of dust.  Turns out, our super had to break in because of a flood from the apartment above us.  Unfortunately, the workers that came in to take care of business left a big mess.  I was MAD seeing all the stuff moved around, left behind and the dust everywhere.  That is so not what I wanted my first moments at home to be like.

// Now my home is the cleanest and less cluttered that its ever been.  That's better!

A TREAT A WEEK

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!  

This has been a nice day.  We took a little happy picture of us on this special day.  I already called my dad, too.  This is a good holiday.

* I gave Zack these.

Sunday Skirts

I loved this outfit, like, a lot.  This was my first outfit back from cold, windy Iceland (more on that to come.)  I've never stopped liking or wearing long skirts, they're just cool.  I tend to lean toward darker colors but this number totally worked for me, all light and bright and summery.

* Man!  I can't wait to have my "girlish" figure back again...   (more on that to come!)

* I am aware that this isn't some high fashion outfit.  But just remember that this kind of post is not to show off my style or amazing fashion sense.  Its simple to document outfits I liked as to not waste time next Sunday. 

// now, on to refashioning that dress...

California - Travel Book

 

This took some time but I'm so happy with how it turned out.   This is my first travel book that I actually took and did the majority of it on the road.  All I did after the trip was put the photo story together and made some collages then insert the corresponding photos  into the rest of the already made pages.  And finally, the book!

// up next is the Iceland travel book.

ultimate home decor plan

 

I've been trying to figure out what to do with our apartment for a while now.  It keeps getting smaller and smaller and more and more crowded as our child and his things get larger and more spread out.  I need a big change, big, like a move.  But, since that isn't happening, I will just have to re-decorate.  This little image above is the notes of the inspiration behind the answer to this on going problem.  I was surprised to have my living situation frustrations put to ease after being very late to church, but grateful that it came at all.  

I realized that rather than decorating our living space with things we think are cool and comfortable, why not let it be an extension of the beauty around us.  Since we don't live around the kind of beauty we wish we lived around then we must decorate our home like it.  So, here it is, my plan to make my home reflect the mountains and the country that we wished we lived in.  (Click to enlarge if you are really interested otherwise, just stay tuned for posts about the progress.)

(And if I wanted to live by the ocean, I'd probably work in some shells or other oceanscape colors and patters and pictures on the wall OR if I wanted to live in India, I'd get vibrant fabrics and some shimmery beads to embellish them with and add tons of decorative, bright, colorful cushions everywhere... you get the idea)

*  First things: declutter and clean floors, find a new and better place for baby's toys - done!

*  This is going to be good, really good...  

//  Next up:  choose and order main photos for wall. 

fun on a motorcycle

While my family was in town last week, we all decided to visit the Kiehl's flagship store on the evening of this event with the Sartorialist.  We entertained ourselves by sitting for their new photobooth.  It was fun, especially for Zack since he loves to show off his boy and introduce him to the cool things of the world - motorcycles and photobooths, to name a few.

* btw, Kiehl's has some awesome new products for Father's Day gifts.  

10 feel-good things : June

No. 1  create a sweeter sip : drink more water add fresh fruit and herbs - try pineapple + ginger + mint

No. 2  try turn down service : make your bed for faster sleep - make bed and turn down at night

No. 3  perk up meals with pecans - use in salads, deserts or snack on alone

No. 4  bring pilates to the pool - go to the pool a few AMs each week

No. 5  enjoy the show - watch movies with Zack just us and the movie

No. 6  be a bronze goddess : exfoliate, moisturize then apply bronzer - find a good tinted moisturizer

No. 7  stand for your heart : sit less and have better heart health - walk more, get outside

No. 8  drizzle away the doldrums : olive oil = less depression - use Olive oil daily

No. 9  mine your player : pump your favorite tunes - make a feel good playlist

No. 10 hug it out : the perfect Father's Day gift - snuggle Zack all day long!

Haircut

*Rubi, if you are reading this, don't.  hehe

Well, friends, today I cut my own hair.  How would I dare?  Easily, I just did it.  I have been needing a haircut for SO LONG (no pun intended) but with a baby, I never could/would find the time to get out alone to get one.  So, I took matters into my own hands.  Success!  Zack was a little worried when I told him over the phone but later approved.  I think I'm good to go with out a haircut for another few months.  Happiness! Relief!  Shorter hair!

* Oh, and its not that much shorter.  I only cut off about 2.5 inches.  I don't even know.  haha! 

* Zack pointed out that not only are the horrible, disgraceful scissors I used pictured but also the old broken brush is here too.  They did the job, not terribly well, but the job got done.

* And, no judging the next time you see me or my hair!  Cause I think it looks good.  (of course, I can't see the back of my head very well though.

// Now to analyze the cut when its dry... that will be the real moment of truth. 

a WICKED lottery win

My brother's family of 6 was in town and with 4 kids ranging from 8-17 they all agreed that seeing Wicked was their top choice.  They had 2nd choices picked out but put all their prayers and hopes into winning a couple of tickets to see the show.  I waited in line with them so there was one more person and our chances would be better.  So, here is the short story, shorter:  7 people entered, 3 PEOPLE WON!  making it possible for all 6 of their family to go together to see the show.  They were all over the moon with excited, and I even witnessed some tears.  (J and Rach, you were missed!)

*  If you are interested in trying your luck at winning lottery tickets, here is some info (also for standing room only, and student rush tickets for other shows as well) that may help.  Otherwise, you can email me and I can answer any other questions.  Good luck!

// I think its time to go see a Broadway show!

hot and happy

 

It has already hit 100 degrees here in NYC.  I absolutely loath the summer here.  We haven't yet dug our AC out of storage yet and so we are keeping cool with a little fan in the meantime.  I am lucky to have such a happy baby who doesn't seem to be phased by his ever sweaty curls.  And the good news is that we have an AC on the way in the mail and plans to get ours out of storage this weekend!  There is light at the end of this tunnel.

*  As a side note, Zack was sick last night so, I was really happy to have SYTYCD to keep me company.  I also enjoyed some homemade hummus and carrots.  It was a good, hot time.

* Also, we are debating moving to a bigger apartment (have been for some time now).  But when it comes down to it, why is it so hard to pick up and make the change?  Any thoughts/advice/encouragement?

//  Now if I can only get up the energy to clean my home...

busy...

I have a lot of family visiting so, I'll be away this week.  

But, just so you know, I have a lot to share.  I can't wait.

Later!

XAQUE

 This is an oldie, but a goodie. I love this picture of Zack.  I am so happy/lucky that I got my dream boy.

Happy Birthdate, Love

Adventuring Abroad - Iceland

Packing for baby: 
Clothes -
1 onesie for every day + half that amount just in case
1 pair pants or bodysuit for every 2 days
PJ's for every day (can use if needed as clothes.)
2 hats (warm and wind protecting, and 2 in case you or your little one looses one)
plenty of socks and legwarmers
2 hoodies/sweaters
warm shoes or boots (it can get really cold and windy)

Gear -
diapers + wipes + diaper cream (include any medicated creams your child has used in the recent past)
2 blankets (I know my baby will sleep better at night with a bit of his real bed with him)
medicine + Vitamins
nail clippers
rain gear (what ever this means depending on the age of child - ex. ours doesn't walk yet so we'll be carrying him the whole time when not in the car so we'll have a rain cover for that and him)
a few toys + books
swimming floaties for the Blue Lagoon and other geothermal pools
Baby Carrier - this one is really light, comfortable, and can double as a highchair for feeding
Travel bed - this folds up to the size of a med. sized handbag & is easy to use in a tent or hotel room

Packing for the rest of us:
Clothes -
*We hear that laundry is scarce at most hostels and farm cottages so, we'll pack accordingly (also, because we are planning on camping too).  We'll bring plenty of underwear but go minimal on the clothes.  We are not out to impress.

Top on the list for clothes:
boots - comfortable for hiking and that withstand rain
good socks - the warmer/thicker the better
a rain coat - depending on what time of year you go, it may be windy too,
warm hat - it gets breezy
gloves
warm coat/layers.

Gear for us - 
We'll bring our tent
sleeping bags
a few camping tools (although there really won't be any fire burning)
a small travel cooler
a small umbrella
a backpack - for camera gear and snacks as we hike... and that is pretty much it.

*  don't forget to bring something(s) to document the trip - obviously, don't forget your camera, but also, bring a journal of some sort to write your impressions, sketch, etc.  You will not want to forget all you have seen, learned, been impressed by.   I will be bringing a little book that I'll turn from my travel journal to a photo/travel album after the trip.  More on that later...

*  i am getting so excited to post about the after.  I know this trip is going to be unforgettable.  check back soon for pictures.