Ultimate Blog Party at 5 Minutes for Mom

It's that time of year again, when one of the biggest parties across the blogisphere is thrown! I'm happy to be welcoming new guests to my online home once again through 5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate Blog Party and to be seeing familiar and well known faces again too.I'm Katie, a former teacher turned SAHM to a sweet four and a half year old daughter, referred to by her initials on this blog and also as my little chicklet. My husband of over ten years Brad and I are expecting our second child in August and just found out it will be a baby boy. We're very excited because we've wanted to expand our family for a couple of years now but the timing hasn't been right until now.

I love decaf latte's, diet Snapple peach ice tea, lemon bars, deep fried dill pickles, homemade ranch dressing, and having a different lip gloss for every day of the week. I think my collection is big enough for that and I know my Vera Bradley bag collection is! I used to work at a bookstore in high school through college and my love of reading has stayed with me. I adore a well written and illustrated children's book, they seriously make me giddy.

While I tend to wear neutrals I am very drawn to color especially happy spring combinations, aqua blue is my favorite color followed by sherbet pink, and I love both of those combined with lilac and a hint of green. I am most attracted to shabby chic but due to compromise, boo - hiss, have ended up with a very traditional looking home. For a few more snippets about me, click over to my 34 random and silly things about me post done for my recent birthday.

I also enjoy traveling and took advantage of my six years in Northern California to explore that wonderful state. Some of the day trips my husband and I went on there are my favorite memories. We've also lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico and I feel fortunate to have experienced two different regions in the United States besides the Midwest where I grew up and currently reside. I am also an avid amateur photographer, originally born in South Korea and adopted when I was two years old. Guess that's me in a nut shell, oh yes, and I'm a Type 2 Diabetic but I don't let that slow me down one bit.

I consider myself mainly a craft blogger, both my own projects and kid friendly ones, at least that's the main reason I started reading and then writing my own blog. Above are some examples of my projects. My favorite creative outlets are memory keeping related, specifically paper crafts. I was introduced to scrapbooking after going to Hawaii for my belated honeymoon and a whole new world of creativity opened to me. I think I was drawn to this medium because I have a tendency to forget things unless they are written down. Plus I take so many pictures, I needed something meaningful to do with them!

I especially like making mini books and enjoy making them from scratch, like the interactive accordion fold pocket books with tags. They make great gifts. Another favorite project is the 10 Reasons Why You're A Great Daddy book I made with my daughter. It incorporates her handwriting. Making custom and personalized home decor is another thing I do frequently.
I'm always interested in learning new techniques, and am teaching myself to sew and how to expand my skills through digital and hybrid scrapbooking. I am on the design team for Adorible Digital Designs and with each new kit release I make examples and frequently have freebies, like the ones shown above, for visitors to download. My next set will be available on Monday so please come back for that! Not only do I enjoy sharing my own projects I also love helping showcasing the talents of others. Every Thursday I am co-hostess of a creative party for showing off your latest creations. I am always inspired by the posts linked up at A Crafty Soiree and would love for you to join us! You'll always find something to spark your imagination there and each week I feature three participants.
I also post some of the projects and learning activities I do with my daughter, who's at the right age for me to use many of the things from the kindergarten curriculum I have from my teaching days. I'm taking a bit of a break while pregnant but I am also co-founder of the educational blog ABC & 123: A Learning Cooperative where you can find lots of activities to do with your children.

While crafting projects and family life are a big part of Katie's Nesting Spot, I also do family friendly product and book reviews as well as host giveaways. It's so much fun to try out new products and share them with my readers! I pick and choose sponsors, products, and the deals I share carefully so that I only feature ones I can really stand behind and would bring into my own home. That makes it easy to give one hundred percent honest opinions, as I always do!

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you'll come back and visit frequently, as I love making new friends. I invite you to look around, the pull down menu under my blog header will help you navigate my blog by categories. Like all bloggers, I love comments so please leave me one before you go so I can be sure to make it by your online home too!