Sprik Space

2013 Year at a Glance

2013-01-08T16:15:00.001-06:00

Pssst… I’m Aimee. Remember me?

I haven’t been around these parts much. I’m sorry. I do have lots of fun ideas percolating in my head… including more fun Pattern Pieces and other printables.

Just need the time to do it all!

Wondering where I’ve been? Founding, building, fostering THIS. Running a busy support group is definitely rewarding, but it takes up all of my free time. This year is going to be all about finding more time for me. And I plan to take pretty much the entire month of January to figure out how I want to do that, including what plans I want to make regarding Sprik Space and designing.

By popular demand, I made a little extra time this week to do this…

I take a peek at my annual year-at-a-glance desk calendar every.single.time I sit down at my desk. It lives in a little clip frame (<see photo of 2011’s version), and sometimes I switch it out, whenever I get bored with the color.

I know, I know... We’re already 8 days into this new year, but just in case you don’t have an annual calendar to post yet, I’ve made mine into another freebie to share with all of you!

This year, I created 3 different versions in 12 different colors. Two of them are my traditional 5”x7” size, and the third is 8”x10”.

These might be my favorite annual calendars yet!

Version A is 5”x7”, light and bright, and easy to self-print:

Version B is 5”x7”, color-saturated, and should probably be sent out to a printer:

Version C is 8”x10”, light and bright, LARGER, and easy to self-print:

To download the image(s) for printing, simply click on any image in this post, and a new window will open to the download location for that calendar version in minus. Save the image(s) to your computer, and they’re yours! Just print it out yourself, or upload to your photo printer of choice.

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

P.S. I’ve placed a handy-dandy “Pin It” button on the bottom for your pinning pleasure!

Just because (46)

2012-06-04T14:19:00.001-05:00

I’m baaaaccckkkk…

Did you miss me??

Over 2 months since my last printable. So sorry. Life happens sometimes, you know? I have a good excuse, you see - first there were renovations here at home… then a nice, long vacation to Arizona and California… all the while trying to develop and grow a support group for NICU families. So busy!! But, now I’m back, with some great ideas percolating for Sprik Space! I’m still wading through my inbox (I took off the entire month of May), so please be patient and/or send me a new message if you’re still waiting to hear from me. Thanks!

Anyway, you’re here for another freebie… ;)

Elizabeth Edwards was a remarkable woman who dealt with more than her fair share of trials - the death of her son, living in the public eye, her husband's infidelity, and a 6-year battle with breast cancer which ultimately took her life at the age of 61. In her final book, she wrote the following about her children:

"When they are older and telling their own children about their grandmother, they will be able to say that she stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her away -- and it surely has not -- she adjusted her sails."

This quote has really stuck with me for the past few weeks. As NICU parents, we've had to survive our own hurricane - not only our own emotions and expectations to manage when things didn't turn out as planned, but we've watched our child fight for his life, we've spent one day too many in the NICU, and we've gone home without our baby. We have endured sorrow, happiness, pain, joy, guilt, elation, grief - all a part of a "roller coaster ride" we definitely didn't willingly stand in line for... yet there we were, on a ride of which we couldn't see the end.

The storm clouds don't always pass immediately once you get home - they sure didn't for me. Sure, my son was where he needed to be (home with his parents), but his medical issues weren't all cured or resolved, and my personal mental anguish was far from over. Ultimately, I weathered my hurricane, I adjusted my sails and started on a new course. I know, without a doubt, that I'm a stronger and better person for going through it.

This quote has made quite an impact on me, and I decided I wanted to frame it to display in my home. So, I worked it up as a printable that I could also share with all of you! It's sized at 5"x7", and available in 13 different colors.

To download the 5x7 image(s) for printing, simply click on either image in this post, and a new window will open to the download locations in minus. Save the image(s) to your computer, and they’re yours! Just print it out yourself, or upload to your photo printer of choice.

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

I’ll be posting this project to some of the link-up parties listed here:

Under the Table & Dreaming	Kuzak’s Closet	I Heart Naptime
Heather Lynne/Raising Memories	The DIY Show-Off	Keeping It Simple
Sew Can Do	The Girl Creative	Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Making the World Cuter	C.R.A.F.T.	Skip to My Lou
Mad in Crafts	I’m Topsy Turvy	Sugar Bee Craft Edition
Tip Junkie	Oops! I Craft My Pants	Crazy Domestic
My Delicious Ambiguity	Today’s Creative Blog	Hope Studios
Lucky Star Lane	Someday Crafts	Blue Cricket Design
Sew Much Ado	Bargain Shopping Paradise	Night Owl Crafting
Somewhat Simple	My Backyard Eden	Creations by Kara
House of Hepworths	Fireflies and Jellybeans	Beyond the Picket Fence
Everything Etsy	Tatertots and Jello	6 Inches of Ribbon
Fingerprints on the Fridge	A Few of My Favorite Things	It’s a Hodgepodge Life
Fun to Craft	Tidy Mom	The Shabby Nest
KojoDesigns	Chic on a Shoestring Decorating	Just a Girl
Seven Thirty Three	Beat Until Fluffy	A Little Lovely

Enjoy!

P.S. I’ve placed a handy-dandy “Pin It” button on the bottom for your pinning pleasure!

Sunday Sustenance

2012-03-25T00:22:00.000-05:00

“Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.”

- C.S. Lewis

Just because (45)

2012-03-21T01:20:00.001-05:00

I can’t believe it’s been a month and a half since I shared my last freebie. Despicable. ;)

We’ve been sooo busy over here at the Sprik house… renovations and updates galore. Plus, I’ve been actively developing a new support group with a fellow NICU mom – Life after NICU (would love for you to check out our blog and follow us on Facebook).

I don’t know about where you live, but we didn’t really have much of a winter here in Chicago. I think it significantly snowed only twice, and we had to break out the snowblower just once. Pretty pathetic!

As a result, Spring has arrived extra early this year, and I’m excited! I have a little boy who can’t wait to get outside most days (we still spend a large part of flu season on house arrest), and until the heat and humidity set in, I’m usually pretty game.

I thought the idea of this image was pretty fun… a little ombre and chevron, what’s not to love? In addition to making it “Spring”-related, I decided to include a little something extra… a way for you to personalize it for yourself! I really hope you like it. :)

So, here’s another 5x7 installment of the Just Because series – Hello, Spring. – in 7 ombre chevron colors this time around, with “blank” options as well to which you can add your own text.

To download the 5x7 image(s) for printing, simply click on the collage image above, and a new window will open to the download locations in minus **. Save the image(s) to your computer, and they’re yours! Just print it out yourself, or upload to your photo printer of choice.

** Trying out a new file sharing service for this freebie… it looks to be much simpler and easier to use than 4shared. Do you like it better??

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

I’ll be posting this project to some of the link-up parties listed here:

Under the Table & Dreaming	Kuzak’s Closet	I Heart Naptime
Heather Lynne/Raising Memories	The DIY Show-Off	Keeping It Simple
Sew Can Do	The Girl Creative	Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Making the World Cuter	C.R.A.F.T.	Skip to My Lou
Mad in Crafts	I’m Topsy Turvy	Sugar Bee Craft Edition
Tip Junkie	Oops! I Craft My Pants	Crazy Domestic
My Delicious Ambiguity	Today’s Creative Blog	Hope Studios
Lucky Star Lane	Someday Crafts	Blue Cricket Design
Sew Much Ado	Bargain Shopping Paradise	Night Owl Crafting
Somewhat Simple	My Backyard Eden	Creations by Kara
House of Hepworths	Fireflies and Jellybeans	Beyond the Picket Fence
Everything Etsy	Tatertots and Jello	6 Inches of Ribbon
Fingerprints on the Fridge	A Few of My Favorite Things	It’s a Hodgepodge Life
Fun to Craft	Tidy Mom	The Shabby Nest
KojoDesigns	Chic on a Shoestring Decorating	Just a Girl
Seven Thirty Three	Beat Until Fluffy	A Little Lovely

Enjoy!

P.S. I’ve placed a handy-dandy “Pin It” button on the bottom for your pinning pleasure!

Sunday Sustenance

2012-03-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

“The most wonderful of all things in life is the discovery of another human being with whom one’s relationship has a growing depth, beauty and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing; it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of divine accident, and the most wonderful of all things in life.”

- Sir Hugh Walpole

Sunday Sustenance

2012-03-11T13:37:00.000-05:00

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

- C.S. Lewis

Sunday Sustenance

2012-03-04T00:01:00.000-06:00

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

iPhone Wallpapers :: THE SERIES

2012-02-27T15:08:00.001-06:00

(Here’s a handy synopsis of the past several days of releases for your reference...)

Looking for a fun and free way to spruce up your iPhone? I’ve chosen 10 of the most popular Pattern Pieces in 10 of the most popular colors, tweaked them, resized them, and optimized them for the iPhone… 100 free iPhone wallpapers in all!

(I know, some of you are saying… but what about Android users? With all of the different phones in that market, there is just no practical way I can accommodate all of the varied screen sizes. These backgrounds will work on the Androids, but you’ll have to resize them per your own situation.)

These are modern, clean, and simple… just the kind of backgrounds I enjoy behind my app organization. Download a few, or several, and have fun changing up the “personality” of your iPhone!

Here’s the collection:

Simply click on the tag images above to go to the post containing the wallpapers you’d like to download. Instructions are listed within each post about how to use them on your iPhone.

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

I’ll be posting this project to some of the link-up parties listed here:

Under the Table & Dreaming	Kuzak’s Closet	I Heart Naptime
Heather Lynne/Raising Memories	The DIY Show-Off	Keeping It Simple
Sew Can Do	The Girl Creative	Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Making the World Cuter	C.R.A.F.T.	Skip to My Lou
Mad in Crafts	I’m Topsy Turvy	Sugar Bee Craft Edition
Tip Junkie	Oops! I Craft My Pants	Crazy Domestic
My Delicious Ambiguity	Today’s Creative Blog	Hope Studios
Lucky Star Lane	Someday Crafts	Blue Cricket Design
Sew Much Ado	Bargain Shopping Paradise	Night Owl Crafting
Somewhat Simple	My Backyard Eden	Creations by Kara
House of Hepworths	Fireflies and Jellybeans	Beyond the Picket Fence
Everything Etsy	Tatertots and Jello	6 Inches of Ribbon
Fingerprints on the Fridge	A Few of My Favorite Things	It’s a Hodgepodge Life
Fun to Craft	Tidy Mom	The Shabby Nest
KojoDesigns	Chic on a Shoestring Decorating	Just a Girl
Seven Thirty Three	Beat Until Fluffy	A Little Lovely

Enjoy!

iPhone Wallpapers :: Trellis

2012-02-27T15:06:00.000-06:00

Here’s the 10th (and final… for now) release in the iPhone Wallpapers series!

Just a few simple steps to make your desired image the wallpaper on your iPhone:

Click on the color/image above that you want to use, and save it.
E-mail it to yourself, and open the message on your phone.
Click on the image and choose “Save Image”.
Go to your Photos and find the image.
Click on the small box/arrow icon in the bottom right corner and choose “Use as Wallpaper”.
On the Move and Scale screen, you can simply choose “Set” and then determine which of your screens you want to have this particular background.
Finally, press your home button or lock your phone to see the new wallpaper in action. :)

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

iPhone Wallpapers :: Squares

2012-02-27T15:05:00.000-06:00

Here’s the 9th release in the iPhone Wallpapers series!

Just a few simple steps to make your desired image the wallpaper on your iPhone:

Click on the color/image above that you want to use, and save it.
E-mail it to yourself, and open the message on your phone.
Click on the image and choose “Save Image”.
Go to your Photos and find the image.
Click on the small box/arrow icon in the bottom right corner and choose “Use as Wallpaper”.
On the Move and Scale screen, you can simply choose “Set” and then determine which of your screens you want to have this particular background.
Finally, press your home button or lock your phone to see the new wallpaper in action. :)

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

iPhone Wallpapers :: Quatrefoil

2012-02-27T12:00:00.000-06:00

Here’s the 8th release in the iPhone Wallpapers series!

Just a few simple steps to make your desired image the wallpaper on your iPhone:

Click on the color/image above that you want to use, and save it.
E-mail it to yourself, and open the message on your phone.
Click on the image and choose “Save Image”.
Go to your Photos and find the image.
Click on the small box/arrow icon in the bottom right corner and choose “Use as Wallpaper”.
On the Move and Scale screen, you can simply choose “Set” and then determine which of your screens you want to have this particular background.
Finally, press your home button or lock your phone to see the new wallpaper in action. :)

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

iPhone Wallpapers :: Houndstooth

2012-02-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here’s the 7th release in the iPhone Wallpapers series!

Just a few simple steps to make your desired image the wallpaper on your iPhone:

Click on the color/image above that you want to use, and save it.
E-mail it to yourself, and open the message on your phone.
Click on the image and choose “Save Image”.
Go to your Photos and find the image.
Click on the small box/arrow icon in the bottom right corner and choose “Use as Wallpaper”.
On the Move and Scale screen, you can simply choose “Set” and then determine which of your screens you want to have this particular background.
Finally, press your home button or lock your phone to see the new wallpaper in action. :)

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

iPhone Wallpapers :: Grid

2012-02-26T12:00:00.000-06:00

Here’s the 6th release in the iPhone Wallpapers series!

Just a few simple steps to make your desired image the wallpaper on your iPhone:

Click on the color/image above that you want to use, and save it.
E-mail it to yourself, and open the message on your phone.
Click on the image and choose “Save Image”.
Go to your Photos and find the image.
Click on the small box/arrow icon in the bottom right corner and choose “Use as Wallpaper”.
On the Move and Scale screen, you can simply choose “Set” and then determine which of your screens you want to have this particular background.
Finally, press your home button or lock your phone to see the new wallpaper in action. :)

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

iPhone Wallpapers :: Dots

2012-02-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here’s the 5th release in the iPhone Wallpapers series!

Just a few simple steps to make your desired image the wallpaper on your iPhone:

Click on the color/image above that you want to use, and save it.
E-mail it to yourself, and open the message on your phone.
Click on the image and choose “Save Image”.
Go to your Photos and find the image.
Click on the small box/arrow icon in the bottom right corner and choose “Use as Wallpaper”.
On the Move and Scale screen, you can simply choose “Set” and then determine which of your screens you want to have this particular background.
Finally, press your home button or lock your phone to see the new wallpaper in action. :)

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

Sunday Sustenance

2012-02-26T00:01:00.000-06:00

"What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do."

- John Ruskin

iPhone Wallpapers :: Diagonal

2012-02-25T12:00:00.000-06:00

Here’s the 4th release in the iPhone Wallpapers series!

Just a few simple steps to make your desired image the wallpaper on your iPhone:

Click on the color/image above that you want to use, and save it.
E-mail it to yourself, and open the message on your phone.
Click on the image and choose “Save Image”.
Go to your Photos and find the image.
Click on the small box/arrow icon in the bottom right corner and choose “Use as Wallpaper”.
On the Move and Scale screen, you can simply choose “Set” and then determine which of your screens you want to have this particular background.
Finally, press your home button or lock your phone to see the new wallpaper in action. :)

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

iPhone Wallpapers :: Circles

2012-02-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here’s the 3rd release in the iPhone Wallpapers series!

Just a few simple steps to make your desired image the wallpaper on your iPhone:

Click on the color/image above that you want to use, and save it.
E-mail it to yourself, and open the message on your phone.
Click on the image and choose “Save Image”.
Go to your Photos and find the image.
Click on the small box/arrow icon in the bottom right corner and choose “Use as Wallpaper”.
On the Move and Scale screen, you can simply choose “Set” and then determine which of your screens you want to have this particular background.
Finally, press your home button or lock your phone to see the new wallpaper in action. :)

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

iPhone Wallpapers :: Chevron

2012-02-24T12:00:00.000-06:00

Here’s the 2nd release in the iPhone Wallpapers series!

Just a few simple steps to make your desired image the wallpaper on your iPhone:

Click on the color/image above that you want to use, and save it.
E-mail it to yourself, and open the message on your phone.
Click on the image and choose “Save Image”.
Go to your Photos and find the image.
Click on the small box/arrow icon in the bottom right corner and choose “Use as Wallpaper”.
On the Move and Scale screen, you can simply choose “Set” and then determine which of your screens you want to have this particular background.
Finally, press your home button or lock your phone to see the new wallpaper in action. :)

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

iPhone Wallpapers :: Basketweave

2012-02-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here’s the 1st release in the iPhone Wallpapers series!

Just a few simple steps to make your desired image the wallpaper on your iPhone:

Click on the color/image above that you want to use, and save it.
E-mail it to yourself, and open the message on your phone.
Click on the image and choose “Save Image”.
Go to your Photos and find the image.
Click on the small box/arrow icon in the bottom right corner and choose “Use as Wallpaper”.
On the Move and Scale screen, you can simply choose “Set” and then determine which of your screens you want to have this particular background.
Finally, press your home button or lock your phone to see the new wallpaper in action. :)

PLEASE NOTE:

All Sprik Space freebie designs are available for your PERSONAL use only. If you are interested in purchasing a non-exclusive COMMERCIAL USE LICENSE, you can find more details here.
I'm also now offering custom colors on my designs. Please find more details here.

Enjoy!

iPhone Wallpapers

2012-02-24T00:57:00.001-06:00

This past Fall, I became a very lucky girl going from a straight-up ghetto, old Blackberry Pearl to the new iPhone. And I’m smitten… head over heels in love with it, and still amazed at how much information I have at my fingertips at any given time. (The Pearl hadn’t had a data plan on it in years.)

Of course I had to bling it up, and what better way, but with some Pattern Pieces! Naturally, I knew I would have to make more than one for myself. So I got to designing and came up with 100 new wallpapers to share with all of you!

I’ve chosen 10 of the most popular Pattern Pieces in 10 of the most popular colors, tweaked them, resized them, and optimized them for the iPhone.

Over the next 5 days, I plan to release 2 wallpaper patterns a day, in all of their colorways. I really hope you like them!

Here’s a preview of what’s to come:

Stay tuned… :)

Sunday Sustenance

2012-02-19T00:01:00.000-06:00

"Every single person has at least one secret that would break your heart. If we could just remember this, I think there would be a lot more compassion and tolerance in the world."

- Frank Warren

To my love…

2012-02-14T00:01:00.000-06:00

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death."

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Happy Valentine’s Day!

XOXO

Sunday Sustenance

2012-02-12T14:26:00.001-06:00

"Charity is, perhaps, in many ways a misunderstood word. We often equate charity with visiting the sick, taking in casseroles to those in need, or sharing our excess with those who are less fortunate. But really, true charity is much, much more.

Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again. It makes the thought of being a basher repulsive.

Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other."

- Marvin J. Ashton

Sunday Sustenance

2012-02-05T17:19:00.001-06:00

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being ‘in love’ which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”

- Louis De Bernieres

A few of my favorites…

2012-02-02T11:35:00.000-06:00

I’ve found over time, in reading as many blogs as I do, that often my favorite posts by other bloggers are the random ones… the ones where the blogger makes lists of some of their must-haves, whether it be products, ideas, other blogs, music, etc. This past Christmas, I actually found a lot of cool gifts for loved ones this way.

So, this post has been percolating in my mind for quite some time, and it may just make a regular appearance here on Sprik Space. :) Today, I want to share with you, in no particular order…

Quirky Cordies Cable Management System ~$10

Maybe you keep a lot of USB connection cables on top of your desk like me? You know, for the camera, the iDevices, the Kindle, the cordless mouse, etc. – naturally, they all accept different cables. With this handy dandy little contraption, there’s no more cursing from my side of the office when a cable slips behind the desk… because it doesn’t happen anymore! YAY!

Instagram

I’ve been a bad family blogger lately… but I’ve found an interim solution – Instagram! If you have a smartphone, download the app – I highly recommend it for a way to quickly and easily catalog both the minor and major daily events. Most of my photos are in the minor category, but it’s so much fun to take a quick look back – one of Connor’s favorite activities. In fact, I may just take up Instagram-ing completely instead of writing up personal/family blog posts – we’ll see. At the end of the year, I plan on having a book made, full of the Instagram photos I’ve taken. Here are a few of my favorites over the last month: ( a – b – c – d – e – f – g – h – i – j ). If you’re on Instagram and want to follow me, my username is sprikspace. If you don’t have the app, you can follow my feed online here on Webstagram. To make it easier on the grandparentals, I threw a handy-dandy button over in the left sidebar, too.

Kuhn Rikon Ceramic Knives

Oh, ceramic knives, where have you been all my life?? I received a set these paring knives for Christmas… one of the best gifts my husband has ever given me! So sharp, so non-stick… makes everything that I’m cutting feel like it’s just a stick of butter. Love, love, love them. I now want to replace every knife in my kitchen with a comparable ceramic knife. And I just might! ;)

This post on Momastery titled: “Don’t Carpe Diem” really spoke to me. Amen! (Maybe you’ve already seen it… can’t hurt to read it again.)

Teaching your child to put on their own coat

‘Tis the season that we can’t leave the house (which we rarely do anyway during RSV/flu season) without coats. This video from I Can Teach My Child has been a real game-changer for us. I love seeing Connor feel so empowered!!

Chemisettes by Anne

I meant to share this product with you during the warmer months, but keep it in mind for Spring and Summer to come… I don’t know about you, but I get so annoyed wearing camisoles under some of my tops with lower-than-I’m-comfortable-with necklines, especially when it’s humid here in Chicago. I hate to sweat and feel sticky, and wearing an additional layer, when all I really need is a few inches of fabric at the top, is typically the last thing I want to do… but have to do. Somewhere I stumbled upon this product, a chemisette (think a dickey cami) and I’m sold! I ordered several and consider them amazing. They allow me to control how much cleavage I’m willing to show and they help me to stay cool. (I know the picture looks a little funny, but if you ever feel the same way I do about those pesky camisoles, check it out!)

Tovolo Better Batter Tool and Silicone Cooking Utensils ~$10-12

I received one of these bad boys as an early Christmas gift while I was doing my holiday baking… worked like a charm! In fact, I’ve recently replaced all of my cooking utensils to a silicone/metal handle combo so that everything is dishwasher friendly. (I don’t know about you, but I hate scrubbing the wooden-handled utensils… which shrink over time so the silicone piece no longer fits tightly.) I found some good deals at Williams-Sonoma and Sur la Table after the holidays to complete my set.

Marilyn Tuxedo Round Hair Brush ~$20

I have a bob, and a round hair brush is my go-to hair styling tool. So, when my old one began to fall apart recently, I headed to Ulta and “splurged” on a new one... I’m sold! I picked up the Marilyn Tuxedo 3” Round Hair Brush – it’s large, but it puts just the right amount of bend in my hair, without a defined curl, and gives me plenty of volume at the roots even without using any products (and I have fine, limp hair). I especially like that the brush end has a flat top so it will sit upright on my countertop while I’m getting ready (just an important feature I was searching for). The barrel is ceramic-coated, not metal (like a lot of the cheap ones are) and the bristles are natural boar, not synthetic. I love this brush!

IKEA Frost Clothes Drying Rack ~$20

I’ve had this rack for nearly 10 years now… and it’s still as good as new. I air-dry most of my wardrobe to keep it from shrinking shorter (I’m 5’9”) and this drying rack is a work horse! It’s strong and sturdy and can contain an entire week’s wardrobe plus a few other pieces easily. I recently spotted it again at IKEA, and knew I wanted to mention it here. You can position it in a variety of ways, and when it folds down it can fit right behind a door, imperceptibly. I probably would have purchased 3-4 of those wooden dowel racks in the same amount of time I’ve had this one rack. It’s awesome.

Bar Keepers Friend ~<$4

My big Christmas present was a whole set of pretty new pots and pans… they’re stainless and oh so shiny. And I want them to stay that way! As I’ve been learning to cook everything at a lower temperature, there’s been a bit of oxidation staining, and Bar Keeper’s Friend has been a miracle. Just a little bit of powder and some water… a slight scrub, and my pots and pans are as good as new! This inexpensive cleaning agent will also remove the rust spots on silverware that the diswasher leaves, and I’ve been told it should work on the stains our old faucets left on the bathroom sinks. You should be able to find it in the cleanser section of your local store, or fairly inexpensively here.

The Head and the Heart

I first fell in love with “Lost in My Mind”… can you blame me?

And then I downloaded their entire album… they’ve all become my favorites. I love listening to it while I plink away at the PC (writing this post, for example ;). Only $5 for the entire album as an MP3 download at Amazon right now!

These guys

…are my absolute favorite!

They’re my whole world.

I’m so lucky they’re mine!!