Projects I’d Love the Nerve to Tackle

Maybe I should have titled this “projects I’d love to attempt but don’t have the nerve”. I think with a little help, encouragement, and guidance from some experts I can tackle most of these.

Centsational Girl made these adorable Crate & Barrel like poinsetta pillows for Christmas. I know it’s mid-January, but it’s never to early to start making them now for Christmas presents in December – right?

I think I’ll need my mom’s help with this one given she’s the quilting and sewing guru of the family. Interested in attempting this project – here’s the details.

A Soft Place to Land created the coolest Board and Batten treatment to the walls in their living room. I would love to have the guts to try something like this in our basement family room to give it some architectural detail it’s lacking.

Curious how to create this on your walls, the cost, and the amount of time? Click here for details.

Elizabeth Kartchner from Just Us created these super cool embellished tees using old tee-shirts and some fabric scraps. She shared her how-to’s on a local TV station and I’m really eager to try this one out. She even used a scrapbooking tool, Sissix, to cut the flowers out of fabric.

Susie over at Susie Harris’s blog created these DIY flower pillows on the cheap. Again I’d love to tackle this but I need a sewing machine and a little guidance from my mom too. Are you starting to see a theme? I love pillows, fabric flowers, and projects that are easy.

 

My new favorite DIY blog is Knock Off Wood and a special shout-out to Sherry at Young House Love for sharing this blog with all of us. Ana at Knock Off Wood has me thinking that I really can build furniture for the cost of peanuts that are sold at Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and West Elm. I am determined to make this coffee table when the weather warms up a bit. Intrigued by the idea of making your own coffee table – step by step drawings and instructions are here along with some testimonials from people who have built this in 2 hours and under $50 – yes that’s not a typo.

There are tons of detailed plans on how to build anything from a square dining room table, nightstands, beds, or entertainment centers. She creates plans that are easy to follow and people are always sending in pictures of their creations along with some tid-bit’s of advice that would be helpful to anyone else looking to build the same thing.

Honey, if you are reading this, will you help me make this coffee table pretty please? I promise not to yell or get bad if you make a few mistakes along the way – promise! I’ll even buy extra wood in case of any boo-boo’s.

Are there any projects that you want to tackle but are scared to use a jigsaw, table saw, or sewing machine? Did you end up with all of your fingers afterwards and a pretty cool project? Do share. I’m looking for the confidence I need to venture into unchartered waters.

A Little Something Card

My new manager is starting on Monday and I thought we should welcome her with a card. Yes you can call me a brown-noser but I also love making cards and showing her I’m creative and crafty isn’t such a bad thing is it? Ok fine, call me a brown-noser but everyone else liked the idea at work too. It’s from our entire team so she’ll think we are all brown-noser’s right?!?!

I’m excited to finally have our new manager on board but extremely nervous at the same time. I met with her during the interview process but I just hope we click and have a positive working relationship right from the get go. My former manager who was promoted was absolutely fabulous (hence her big promotion) but I still miss her dearly, I learned so much from her and still do which is a good thing.

Here’s the details:

Supplies Used:

• Paper: kiwi kiss cardstock, whisper white, urban garden patterned paper
• Ink: basic gray, kiwi kiss
• Stamps: Yummy
• Accessories: kiwi kiss corduroy buttons, basic gray taffeta ribbon, dimensionals

Note: all products used are Stampin Up.

Thanks A Bunch Card

I made this card for a co-worker that has helped out tremendously while we have been without a manager in our department. We all pitched in for a gift and I made the “thanks a bunch” card for everyone to sign. There’s nothing like a homemade thank you card, don’t you think?

Here’s the details:

Supplies Used:

• Paper: whisper white, baja blue, rich razzleberry, hand drawn patterned paper
• Ink: baja blue
• Stamps: A Little Something
• Accessories: rich razzleberry 1/2” polka dot grosgrain ribbon, scallop trim border, clear silver brad, circle punch, circle scallop punch

Note: all products used are Stampin Up unless otherwise noted.

HGTV Dream Home 2010

I love every year when HGTV reveals their latest HGTV Dream Home. Each year it’s located in a beautiful location near a lake, mountain, or other breathtaking landscape. This years location is a bit different, it’s in the Sandia Mountains in Sandia Park, New Mexico. Living in a desert isn’t high on my list since I’m more of a beach girl but HGTV if you are listening – I would still LOVE to win this home! In addition to winning a home that has been professionally decorated, it comes with a 2010 GMC Terrain, and $500,000!!! You can enter to win each day and so far I haven’t missed a day. Interested in winning the whole package worth $2million – then click here to sign up.

Let’s go for a tour so I can show you a few of my favorite things. Don’t you love looking at a professionally decorated home? I dream of building a home someday and having enough money left over to decorate it too.

The Great Room – I love that coffee table but for a $1000 at Ethan Allen, I’ll keep looking. The view is beautiful and I love the huge windows letting in all of that natural light.

 The kitchen – the island is huge and would be great during parties. The look is a bit different but the walls are gorgeous. Very open to the nearby dining room and great room.

The recycling/pantry above and the buffet room below have me in complete envy. Organized storage makes me swoon – it doesn’t take much to impress me sometimes. Beautiful and functional all at the same time!

As someone who spends a lot of time in our office, I can tell you that I could get a lot of work done here. Very cozy and functional. I love the trestle desk, open book shelves with the art work attached, and the closed storage with the chair in the back. Great layout.   

The Theatre Room – this makes me go pitter patter. I only wish I had seen this when we completed our room downstairs. It’s the exact same size and layout. I am getting lots of ideas here. First, the walls, can you see that wonderful texture!!! The floor is make of cork to help with sound (we need this) and costs only $3.79 sq/ft. The cork would really help with the sound, keep our feet warm, and more child/pet friendly than the tile we have now. The other thing I love is the coffee table, it’s speaking to me and screaming at me – until I saw the price and I’m feeling deflated once again.

Master Bedroom – it needs a king size bed. Who sleeps in a queen anymore? Otherwise I could sleep really well here.

Guest Bedroom – I LOVE BARN DOORS!!! Need I say more….

  Master Bath – a relaxing retreat. The vanity is beautiful too.

The Casita – a place for couple’s to go on a mini retreat. I live the tile on the walls behind the headboard. The terra cotta paint on the walls is truly beautiful.

The patio behind the Casita. A glass of wine and that fireplace would make me very cozy.

The Back Patio – cozy, cozy couches with a blazing fire. What a perfect way to end an evening with family and friends.

So what do you think. Do you like the Dream House? What would you do if you won it – move in or sell it?

A Few Good Books

I know I haven’t posted lately but it’s not because I don’t have anything say (stop laughing), it’s because I’ve been busy reading and adjusting to working 5 days a week once again. Reading is only one of my many hobbies but I’ve really kicked it into high gear lately and read 3 books in one week while I was on holiday break. I’m in reading mode and getting some of those books on the “future reading” list checked off. In 2009 I read 23 books and my goal for 2010 is to read 26 books; 1 every 2 weeks. Doable don’t you think?

I thought I would share a few of my recent favorites.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I know a lot of people have already read this book but it’s been on my book shelf for quite a while. I loved the book despite how depressing it was at times. It’s a memoir which makes it even better. (3.5/4 stars)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett. A longer read but I love historical fiction!!!! (4/4 stars)

The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard. This was the January selection for my Novel Thoughts book club and I was hooked after the first page of the book – seriously! I don’t normally read mysteries but this was an exception for me. (4/4 stars)

 

Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name by Vendela Vida. This was a super quick read but very enjoyable. It takes place in a very cold place so cozy up in your snuggie with a mug of hot chocolate and you’ll be set. (3/4 stars)

I hope you get to enjoy some time reading this winter and that maybe you’ll pick one of these books to enjoy.

P.S. Sorry for the weird pictures from Amazon.com – I was desperate for pictures of the book covers.

Time to Win the HGTV Dream Home

Clear Stamps & New Punch Design by SU

A new year and new products available through Stampin Up and I couldn’t be happier with the improvements to the already fantastic product offerings.

I love the punches from Stampin Up but the flatter design will make it easier to store and also has a lock down feature to take up even less room in your scrapbooking totes when you go somewhere else to make cards, create scrapbook pages, or create something else. I used the new punch on my holiday cards and it was so much easier to punch and the new designs are so refreshing too.

Last but certainly not least, the option to purchase high-quality clear stamps is finally here. I tried them and love that they are the same quality as the regular wood stamps that has made them famous. The clear stamps are available at a lower price point than the wood stamps and the best part – they are stored in a cd/dvd case with the contents clearly labeled on the side for easy storage. I am in HEAVEN since I’ve run out of room in my closet where I currently store my stamps in baskets. These take up less space – so does that mean I can have even more stamps in my collection? I’m thinking hubby would say no. For those of you that love the wood blocks, don’t worry they will continue to offer them at this time.

Interested in trying these new products? I’ll be hosting a Stamping Open House at my home soon to celebrate the Sale-a-bration that will be going on. Stay tuned for details.

Happy New Year!

 

David was nursing a cold and so we decided to celebrate New Years Eve at home with our favorite pup and a yummy dinner. And of course a yummy bottle of Pinot Noir.

As you can see, I really enjoyed the wine which made me all toasty warm during dinner.

Me and Tanner – isn’t he the cutest?

Lasagna I made for dinner with a side of garlic bread.

Remember my favorite restaurant I blogged about – here? Well I got my hands on the key lime pie recipe and made it. Wow, it really does taste just like the pie from Joe’s Stone Crab and all it took was 4 ingredients for the filling, this recipe is staying in my arsenal of deliciousness!

Holy Yum – ohhhhhhh!

To burn off some of those calories we decided to play a little Guitar Hero together. As you can see, my husband can really rock the guitar. Seriously, he has some mad Guitar Hero skills.

But you should see me rock the vocals. Seeing is the key word because hearing me attempt to sing is one scary venture. Boy did we have fun though! Thank goodness we don’t have a video camera because I think our encore might have appeared on YouTube accidentally which wouldn’t have been a good thing.

David, Tanner, and I hope you had a “rockin” new years eve and nothing but the best in 2010!

What Makes Me Happy

I'm playing along with Mama Bear from 4 the Love of Family and thinking back over the past 364 days. Before jumping into our 2010 new year resolutions, shouldn't we focus on what we are grateful for and not necessarily what we need to work on? It puts a new spin to ending one year and starting another.

10 things that made me happy in the past year....

1) My husband David's sense of humor
2) Constant love and affection from my pup Tanner
3) Our home which gives me a warm place to lay my head down everynight
4) The newest addition to our family, my precious niece Aubrey
5) Blue water, sand in my toes, and warm sun keeping me warm in Cozumel
6) My job - I really do LOVE it even when the stakes are high
7) Time to enjoy scrapbooking and stamping with my friends at Archiver's
8) Learning to shoot my digital SLR camera manually
9) While the passing of my grandmother was very sad, I am grateful for the time I spent with her and that I was able to be by her side during her passing.  She was very comfortable and that made me happy. I really miss her!
10) Last but not least - warm pj's and my snuggie!!!

What makes you happy? Do share.

My Birthday Celebration

It’s true – I’m another year older and hopefully not showing my age quite yet wiser. I’m starting to see those little lines showing up on my face and I’ve decided that I’m going to fight that kicking and screaming all of the way to the spa. I started my day at the dentist to get those pearly whites white again thanks to my 6 month cleaning. It was quick and painless and then I headed to the spa for my facial. I had some time to kill so I used my Banana Republic gift card from Tanner to purchase a new sweater – can you tell I love sweaters with big collars on them? I think Tanner loves mama’s new warm sweater too. 

Anyways – sorry I regressed a bit but after a little shopping I received an hour of absolute pampering. My esthetician said my skin was a bit dry and she felt my ‘acne’ was due to stress – does that mean I get to do this more often? She also commented about my little lines and I didn’t like that too much. Did she have to point that out?!?! I guess I should have tipped her at the beginning so all she said was wonderful things to me. The facial was wonderful – can you see my skin glowing below? I then went to my neighbor Jen’s house to hang out while her kids napped and we drank a bottle of wine. It was oh so good and so was her wonderful company!

The hubby finally got home from work and he just couldn’t wait to give me my birthday gift. David is so good to me and bought me a new camera bag. Thanks Honey! I guess Tanner helped pick it out too so I had to pose with my best bud. Isn’t he the cutest? It’s finally dinner time! While I really wanted to have Joe’s Stone Crab (not to be mistaken for Joe’s Crab Shack) but it was too far to drive so we went to Bob Chinn’s Crab House. David swiftly told our waitress it was my birthday (thanks hon) and she was very quick to bring me my first mai tai. Did you know they have the best mai tai’s anywhere? I was planning on getting King Crab Legs but then David pointed out the stone crab – I ended up ordering them hoping they were as good as Joe’s but was disappointed. (Sorry Bob but you could learn a thing or two from Joe…..) David on the other hand got the King Crab Legs and they were delicious and I was jealous but luckily he was kind enough to share. Luckily the mai tai’s and the birthday cake they brought me made up for it. Last but not least I had to pose with the Tiki man in the parking lot – yes I’m a dork but it was a photo moment I couldn’t pass up.

I also wanted to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes, cards, and gifts I received. It meant so much to me especially since it’s at such a busy time of year. I can’t only hope that the next year is as full of blessings as this year!