Kelly Purkey

It's Only Me, KP

I kept writing and deleting this post. I got scared.  Scared to share.  But it is 100% me, KP and this is where I get to say what I want.  And the next ten posts are going to be about food, so a little sour with lots of sweet isn't too hard to swallow.

Recently I did a little self-diagnosis and as I suspected, I've come down with something serious.  It's a little bug that I call Family Fever.  Not to be confused with Baby Fever... because well we all know how babies send me running for the door.

It's been creeping in for a while now, but I came to terms with my sickness the other day when I was putting together the slideshow of layouts for Studio Calico.  I kept looking at all these layouts of the team's beautiful families and I would like all of that.  The husband.  The kids.  The big, hearty, chock full of love, life.

So maybe this where the card "the grass is always greener" comes into play.  Truthfully, I always thought my grass was the greenest.  My freedom and independence have been my most cherished things for many years.  But I've come to realize that I would give it all up... the travel, the airline miles, the meals, the weekends sleeping in, even New York City... I'd give it up in a heartbeat for a loving and lasting relationship.  Someone who sticks.  I know it can be possible to have it all.  But it takes work.

Symptoms started developing more last month when I stayed a night at my dear friend Kelly's house.  I woke up and ate homemade muffins at the table with her two boys.  They had me doubled over laughing.  They are such great kids.  I would love to trade in my freedom to wake up and have that joy in my home.  Everyone of you that has that, I consider you very lucky.  I can have one million silly photos of me jumping around the world or of every single bite of food I ever take... but I am starting to crave photos of things and times that matter.

It took me a while to come down with this fever.  (I think some of you suspected it would hit soon.)  I believe that my remedy is out there.  I just have to wait for him to find me.

Artichoke Basille

I have a hard time narrowing down my favorite restaurants in NYC.  It depends on the food, the friends, the overall experience.  But I could make a short list of my favorite pizza in the city... Patsy's, Grimaldi's, Motorino, Eataly.  And my favorite would have to be Artichoke Basille.

There's a location in the East Village that's just for slices, no real seating.  It's perfect for satisfying those late night post-bar munchies.  Last winter they opened a location in Chelsea, with a lot of seating and fountain soda - two things that are hard to come by.

I love this pizza.

My favorite is the artichoke with the creamy white sauce, but Chloe and I shared a twice baked Sicilian last year that I still dream about.

It's all good.

And then afterwards you can walk it off taking a stroll up on the Highline, which is what Amanda and I did Monday night.  The Highline is one of my ultimate favorite things about this city... 

They just opened a new park of the park and it's beautiful.  Artichoke pizza and the Highline.  Does it get any better than this in the summertime?

Mind the Gap

Studio Calico's July kit, Mind the Gap, is on sale now!  This is definitely a perfect kit for summertime.  I've got Add-on #3 Pint + SC Patterned Paper + stamp from Add-on #2 all mixed in this month. But first of all, don't forget that we've got a present for you - be sure to pick up an Add-on this month!

Here are my full layouts and the inspiration behind the pages...

I've been trying to make this page since December.  It would never come together.  So then when I saw this map posted on one of my favorite blogs, The Indigo Bunting, a lightbulb went off in my head:

And so I cut out the states from patterned papers and added punched circle photos...

I used Mister Huey's Barnwood and Lunch Tray on here.  Barnwood has quickly become my favorite to pair with kraft... so nice and subtle.

Awwww, the ellies.  I need to blog photos from the elephant park soon.  I miss them.

And that's my July.  Hope you enjoy the kits this month!

SC July: Mind the Gap Sneaks

I am way, way late posting sneaks!  I got a late start this month, then pushed paper around for days, and wrapped everything up when it was dark and rainy last week.  But since it's the Mind the Gap Reveal tonight I still wanted to share.

This month I played with Add-on #3 Pint which I loved and more SC Patterned Paper (which might be my favorite of all time)...

That's the SC Patterned Paper and the 7 Gypsies Paper Tape... I bought both the Lille and Victoria tape this month.  Love it - great quality!

I don't know what's up with all my circles lately but I seem to be giving my punches quite a work-out.  Along with my Epiphany Button makers... still my favorite tools.

I'm very excited about the month stamps in Add-on #3 Pint - they're mini months!  Be sure to check those out...

So there you go!  I'll be back tonight after Reveal with the full layouts.  Happy shopping!

Sunday in the Park with Amanda

Our solution for nursing a hangover and a broken heart.
A big blanket, sunglasses, and maybe even a little bit of a nap. 

And now I remember what my summers always feel like here in New York City.