2014 Influencer Award

I´ve always been a cheerleader for my friends both locally and on line. This year I upped my game taking my enthusiasm for coolness, fun and kindness to the next level on line. In the first few months of 2014 I was e-ve-ry-where. And then, a mail with these came: 

Can you say "dancing around the house with my arms up high"? Because that is what I did after reading why I had been bestowed this award. ;)

Award recipients are known for doing the following:

• Consistently following link-up rules
• Sharing other bloggers’ content
• Mentioning others by tagging them in appropriate posts
• Leaving thoughtful comments on blogs and social media posts
• Responding to comments/mentions in a timely manner
• Engaging consistently, generously and politely on social networks

Confession time for Paula: it took me a veeeeeery long while to stop being upset with those not following rules. Not only speaking about linkies but generally, in life. Had quite a bit of a breakdown back in 2005 and spent two weeks sitting, staring at a mountain in the Patagonia. I built myself up again from there. Now I can follow the rules, knowing things work better that way and understanding that not everyone rolls like I do. Peace.

Back to the  International Bloggers Association What are IBA Certified Blogs?

Blogs certified by the IBA are held to a high standard for quality content and must:

• Update blogs consistently
• Be mostly original content (not just sponsored reviews and giveaways)
• Be family friendly (not pornographic or containing excessive foul language)
• Be pleasant to look at (not sloppily designed)
• Contain proper spelling and grammar (occasional typos are fine)
• Provide useful information to readers (IBA blogs are not personal diaries)

Honoured and happy that "Happysnappy, a storyteller with a camera" was selected to be part of this. I´m learning so much to make the most of my cyberhome to bring you practical tutorials on organizing, inspiring interviews on creativity, cool tips for on line communication and sharing my corner of the world through photographies.
Let´s keep  in touch! Follow me on my Facebook page here and get on my Twitter for daily inspiration. Big projects are coming on the second half of the year. I´m even planning the first of 2015.

And now as part of last Monday´s blog hop let me introduce to you people whose blogs I have started reading recently and that have interested me particularly.

Giada C from Crafty Tasty Geeky I just love the weekly finds posts, both the geeky and the crafty. I like her inquiring nature and her sense of style. And of course the crafty, tasty, geeky combination is irresistible

Natalie from Natalie Patalie because of all the reading suggestions (I´m a librarian) and all the daily pictures (I did that for four years and I toned it down for this round) of her interesting adventures.

I will be bringing you more cool people to meet on a weekly basis!

Do you participate in blog hops and social media exchanges? Have you ever hosted a linky party? Tell me in the comments. :)

What sweetness do you wish for?

Each Wednesday I participate in Wishcasting Wednesdays at Jamie Ridler Studios. Here´s this week´s prompt and a place to link your wish to! Jamie Ridler´s prompt and link post.

Sweetness is already coming my way in the form of blogging interviews this week.

First in Delia from Blogformatting´s interview. Delia has a fab site for bloggers. I totally love her tagline: Helping women bloggers stay in their genius zone. She´s very clear and practical in her advice, with many actionable points per post. Go read the interview here and leave some comment luv too. ;) You can also follow her on her Facebook page.

Another sweetness in my "on line" life this week is a new award for Happysnappy. Susana from Diseña tu vida bestowed the Best Blog award on my blog! Thanks Susana! It´s an honour for me to receive it.

She also asks some questions about blogging and life:

1. What prompted you to start your blog?
All my crafting friends were starting theirs back in 2005. With my own I could go and visit blogs and other bloggers could come and visit me. An on line show and tell. :)

2.What does your blog provide you?
Fun! A warm, safe space to share my work. A place to save my memories. A gathering hub for like minded humans.

3. Where do you find inspiration?
Daily life. :D I write about what my family and friends do, the places we go to, the foods we eat, the adventures we have, the way I organize my home, the pictures I take, the art I like, the cool people I meet.

4. Do you plan your posts in advance?
I plan my guests´ posts so everyone has a space and also a {gentle} reminder just in case as some have been scheduled since January. I know I have weekly summaries on Monday for my a-picture-a-day posts but I need to wait till all the pics have been taken. I know there are Wishcasting posts on Wednesdays but need to wait till the actual day to have the prompt from Jamie.
Other posts like awards, my own guest posts and life events are written on the event.

5. Do you have new ideas for your blog?
Keep visiting and see! ;)

6. How long do you dedicate to your blog?
I loose count because I do it by bits with a lot of other on line and off line activities in between

7.When is the best time for you to create?
Late at night. I´m the owl type.

8. Which place would you like to see?
Tierra del Fuego.

9.Hobbies?
Facebooking at Paula - Buenos Aires and scrapbooking. Oh! Both have "book" in the name. I love reading too and I´m a professional librarian.

Liebster Award on the Full Moon

Carrie Whittemore from the blog Whitt´s Kits Fabrics & Crafts bestowed the Liebster Award on me!

Truly honoured.

The award is an opportunity for up and coming blogs to share with the world and I was thrilled for the recognition!  There are rules for this award and they are:

1. You must tell 11 things about yourself.
2. You must answer 11 things that were asked of you.
3. You then nominate other blogs you enjoy to jump in and share. {I´ll make these into another post not to make this one too long. :) }

I will answer the 11 things about me with my Full Moon Board which I made as part of Jamie Ridler Studios´s feature.

1. My first ever vision board was made in February 2009

2. I love shoes and bags. They are always featured in my boards.

3. I usually make the boards in the early afternoon or late at night.

4. This time I made it before dinner and lots of food references came up. :D Lesson learnt: do not make your board while hungry. Lol!

5. I always use the current magazine of the local OhLaLá! magazine

6. I work in a small folder size and make it double

7. I never showed faces on my boards until this year. 
8. Blue used to be my favourite colour. Then green and now red.
9. I drive a two doors blue Volkswagen
10. I don´t know why small cars have started to show up in my boards.
11. I saw Star Wars, the original on its first release and got all the trading cards. <--random it="" span="" t="" wasn="">

The answers, illustrated with my pictures:
1. Do you have a hobby?  What is it?
Yes, I post here about it: scrapbooking. :)

2. What is your favourite food?
Big Mac at home. Somebody else cooks. No dishes to wash. :D

3. What are you currently reading?
Just finished the "Four weddings" series by Nora Roberts. On to A long walk in wintertime by Libby Purves.

4. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An astronomer and a lecturer.

Me at 8

5. Where do you live now? What do you like about it?

Our home was a love at first sight. I saw it from the opposite side of the street and told hubbie: "I want that house". It was white then. This is our version. It is colourful in a sunny way, wonderful spaces.

6. How has technology changed your life?

YOU are here. Nuff said. :D

7. If you could have three wishes, what would they be?

* My family to be happy (that includes healthy) 

* My house to be perpetually clean

* To be able to consider my on line work valuable even if it is not monetized

8. If your friends had to describe you in three words, what would they be?

* Crazy (if I had a dime for each time I´ve been called that ...!) in the fun sense

* Trustworthy

* Helpful

9. If you could go on vacation anywhere, where would it be? What would you like to do t here?

Tierra del Fuego. See the most Southern Point of the continent.

10. Describe the view from your window.

My list maker nature on the 6th day of Blogtoberfest

A few days ago Denise from Denthe bestowed the Liebster award on me. Thank you Denise!
This award involves answering 11 questions posted by the giver and then nominating 11 blogs.

Here are the questions from Denise:
 1) Do you collect things? And if so, what do you collect and why?
I´m a born collector. A souvenir keeper. And I also have a thing for sets, but I need my sets to be truly complete and even. E.g: it is frustrating for me that I can´t have the complete Sue Grafton series with the same style. Why would the editorial house want to change the font & colour of the spine mid way? *grumpy sigh*

2) What is your favorite city and why?

Not counting my home town (Buenos Aires) I´d say Puerto Madryn in Argentina and Chester, England from the rest of the world. They both have the right size for me, not too big, not too small. Many chains and independent shops, a mix of city and landscape views. 

3) What irritates you immensely?

The cars that cut in while you are waiting at a railway crossing.

4) What do you love most about yourself?

That I managed to inherit both my mom´s empathy and my dad´s analysis powers.

5) If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?

My "running around, chasing my tail, I need to learn/do this one more thing before I can ..."mode.

6) What do you really want to do before the end of the year?

 Now I´m a detective led by a Woozle & a Weasel! :D Because I really needed just one more new project, you know. *manic laughter* 

7) What is your favorite form of exercise?

Moving my fingers over the keyboard. ;)

8) What do you do when you're stressed?

Fret and freeze. Then I look around and check that there is nothing menacing "this very moment" to be able to breath and plan how to get through the situation.

9) Are you a morning- or a nightperson?

I´m writing this at 2.47am. Yes, I´m definitely a night person. ;)

10) What's your favorite program on TV?

CBS (c)

Criminal Minds. 

11) What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

Kiss my husband.  

Almost a week into Blogtoberfest and still going strong with my index cards overflowing with ideas. Are you blogging these days? Come and play! 

 I will nominate some blogs that I have just found through Blogtoberfest:

The Simple Mommy

Lilli Boo

Deep Fried Fruit

Monkey makes three

Stop that owl

And some other participants that I´ve known for a while:

Mary C. Nasser

Getting my feet wet

Artists in Blogland

Havoc and Mayhem

Crystal Clear

And of course our wonderful hostess!

I saw you dancing

Getting to know you better questions, for anyone sharing this blogging festival including my nominees:

1) Which is your most enhanced sense? 

2) Desktop, laptop or tablet?

3) P!nk or Adele?

4) Tokyo or Paris?

5) Which is your favourite cartoon character? 

6) How many pictures a month do you take on average?

7) What are you currently working on?

8) Do you have a blogging plan?

9) How many challenges / projects have you signed up for this year?

10) Have you got a Facebook page?

11) What´s next?

Thanks for visiting and keep in touch!

 

What do you wish to experience + Versatile Blogger award

Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:
If you are nominated, you’ve been awarded the Versatile Blogger award.

• Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy.
• Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy.
• Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly.
• Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.
• Finally, list 7 things about yourself.

I met Quinn McDonald on line through a mutual acquaintance. This amazing woman is a writer, a trainer, a coach and waaaaayyyyyy cool. Beautiful art and interesting conversation may be found at her place. I signed up as a follower of her blog on the spot.
To have made such a meaningful artist´s list is an honour. Thank you Quinn!

My list of 15, my fave gathering places and their founders:

1 to 4) Under Our Willow Tree: The Ridlers drinking tea Written by three smart and sassy sisters: Jamie, Shannon and Suzie you get to know them through snapshots of their daily lives. One of the very few siblings relationships that make me wish I was not an only child.
5 to 7) I have been participating in Paint Party Fridays since the very first post, most Fridays I contribute with my own paintings and every Friday I get to see awesome art from around the world to be inspired and challenged. Many thanks to Kristin and Eva, the founders and managers of the site who are versatile bloggers themselves too.
8) Talking about challenges, Sunday Sketches is a well known and loved cyber gathering place.
9) In the same line of thought: Leah Piken Kolidas´s Creative Every Day site has a very special place in my heart. I can´t even remember how I met Leah but I know she was the beginning of my art journey as a grown up. Everything started there. Thank you Leah!
10 to 12) The latest addition to my Blogfeed lists: The butterfly effect, started by Amy and Natasha May Each weekly post will also mention the following week´s theme so you have time to play.
13) Have you got Carla Sonheim´s book Drawing Lab ? Then go to Paint Myself pretty by Cameron and share the lesson´s work. :)
14 &15) If writing is your "thang", Sunday Scribblings, hosted by Megg is for you.

From time to time I participate in one of these "tell me something new about you" things. Today I will tell you about my new time waster. I mean, entertainment. Bubble Witch Saga in Facebook. ;)

Bubble Witch Saga Confession #1: I (Paula) befriended my own account in Spanish (María Paula for local friends and family) to help myself at the game.

Bubble Witch Saga Confession #2: it annoys me that María Paula is getting better scores than Paula based on my 91 levels of experience. 

Bubble Witch Confession #3: while waiting for the ghosts to clear the path I go back and try my hand at past levels again to gain more stars, except on those levels that my son has already got better scores than me. I don´t change those.

Bubble Witch Confession #4: the most difficult level for me so far has been Level 55.

Bubble Witch Confession #5: I looked the level up in You Tube but it is truly a matter of patience, good luck and a bit of strategy.

Bubble Witch Confession #6: I play at least once a day until I run out of lives.

Bubble Witch Confession# 7: I play better when I have the sound on.

Today for Wishcasting Wednesdays Jamie Ridler asks: What do you wish to experience?.
I put all my nominees first because that is what I wish to experience: a sense of belonging.

I wish to feel that I am part of something. I take part in those circles. Now I wish to experience the true sense of I BELONG HERE. I wish to experience the reaching out to and from others. I wish to experience the sharing. I wish to experience the BOND.

Week 9 & February update

For Creative Every Day: here´s my week 9 summary for "365: a story teller with a camera v.2012"

To begin with I´ve kept the "screens" theme from week 8 for the first two days.

Oh, by the way, talking about screens, have you ever tried digital art? I have started using My Memories products and next week I will be reviewing the My Memories Suite v.3 software. It is so much fun! Very intuitive and versatile. So come back on Sunday March 11th to learn more about the software and a GIVE AWAY. 

To participate in the give away leave me a comment from today on, telling me which your favourite My Memories kit is. Are you a follower of my blog? I´ll pop another paper with your name on it for a second chance as a thank you. :)

Feb : Oscars night. For me it was all about the dresses. :D 

Feb: another screen. My iPod with my new favourite song: The zombie song by Stephanie Mabey. You can download that one for free from her site.

On to school days.

Feb 28th (): after a three months summer break the kids went back to school. The summer heat makes it impossible for kids (and teachers) to work, so we have a long summer break. We have no other breaks, except for a two weeks winter holiday.

 Feb 29th (): Mati is in Year 5 and Tati in Year 1 of secondary school. These are their Math exercises books.

Time for some treats.
March 1st (): I usually don´t buy bread, this mixed bag was a rare treat. Delicious!

 March 2nd (): mom came for a longer visit (she stayed overnight). It was a treat for both the kids and her, specially since they all got TV dinners. ;)
 
 March 3rd (): getting ready for this month´s Full Moon Board with Jamie Ridler, I got March 2012 issue of Oh La La

Kind of late but here it is February´s update.

Week 5: Jan 29th (29) to Feb 4th (35)
Week 6: Feb 5th (36) to Feb 11th (42)
Week 7: Feb 12th (43) to Feb 18th (49)
Week 8: Feb 19th (50) to Feb 25th (56)
This was a month full of simple crafts, screen activities and doctor appointments.

I want to thank Toni for bestowing me this award on me. It is an award for blogs with under 200 followers. I´m deeply honoured. :)

What do you wish to ask for?

I want to begin this post by saying thanks to my very talented friend Toni who bestowed "The irresistibly sweet blog award" upon me.

I need to find 7 little known facts about me and post them here:

1) With each trip I make up (or down) the hill I´m more and more frightened. I´m getting old. ;) Funny fact: I was terrified when I traveled with my hubbie (kids in front in the pic are our own) but was totally calm when I had to fullfill my mom´s role when I traveled with Tati the second time.
2) I just looooooooooooooooooove craft shops. There is an old country road in between Villa Giardino and La Cumbre that has independent crafters all along. Bliss. Here we are at Ailén, the biggest one.
3) I have hundreds of pictures of churches from all over the country and the world. This one was taken on Tuesday at La Falda, Córdoba.
4) I´m not afraid of dogs now. I used to be. One good thing about being older (see #1). Beautiful house on the outskirts of La Falda.
5) My family is totally used to my being a Happysnappy and go into "picture smile" each time they see me with my camera. Another pic from yesterday (La Falda).
6) Another hundred pics of trees, specially golden ones. This pic was taken today at Capilla del Monte with the Uritorco at the back.
7) I know nothing about wild herbs, but the air here smells so good. :)

As today is Wednesday I visited Jamie and today she asked: "What do you wish to ask for?". Visit other Wishcasters through the original post that can be found here.

Lately my wishes had all to do with my "The artist´s way project 2011" and today´s is no exception. *grin* Today I wish to ask for collaboration. This project is taking a life of it´s own, intertwining several groups I belong to. There are so many cool persons out there!!! I want to introduce people from each group to the others, to get the creative energy flowing.

The point is I have all these big ideas in my head and the thought of contacting people is sometimes a bit dauting. If I knew WHERE to ask for courage I would. Lol!

A busy fortnight

Or Hey, babe! What have you been up to? :D

Let me start by thanking Toni for this award. *beam*
I need to tell you eight things about me, so I´ll take this opportunity to catch up as I´ve noticed I´ve been only doing the Wednesday Wishcasting posts.

Artwise: 1) I´m working on my Wishcasting Journal edited by Jamie Ridler. It is a mix of collage and writing. I´m playing with my Staedler fine point markers.

2) I´ve started taking local art classes. Yes, local! As in 3D teacher there in the room with me instead of 2D on line. ;)

3) My first technique will be decoupage with volume. No, I`ve never even done decoupage and I´m jumping into the volume stage.

4) First step: paint a white acrylic base. I chose a frame. Not too small, not too big. Enough space to play.

5) Here´s where it gets tricky. I´m always forgetting a step. Always a different one! Lol! Practice, practice, practice.

In case you are wondering: choose decoupage napkin, cut chosen images. For each image: choose placement, peel backing off (they come with two backing papers, sometimes I forgot one, sometimes both, sometimes none), put adhesive on base, place image, from the center outwards brush glue on image, let dry. Second stage for images: brush glue on image, put cold porcelain, shape it, brush glue, put the same image on top of the first one + porcelain, with the other end of the brush shape the valleys of the image, brush glue on top to seal.

My first attempt.

Family time:

6) Summer is officially over, the kid´s pool was put away after the classes started on Feb 28th.

7) Long weekend. We had lunch by the river with my cousin and his family. The same we shared holidays with.
8) My first Starbucks coffee in Argentina. That coffee shop has actually been here for a couple of years and I´d never tried it locally.
9) Bonus: my first ever waffles. I had got a waffle maker for my birthday a month ago and hadn´t used it yet. The temperature dropped a lot on Saturday so warm waffles sounded great for tea.