Merry Christmas

Small Victory

Not a lot has been going on around here, but I did manage to rectify the framing situation.  Thanks to some urgings from my husband, a quick trip to Lowe's, and some muscle and brains (not from me), we got the frame up on the wall.  Unfortunately the rest of the photos didn't turn out so well, but you've seen this area before, so hopefully this will do!

I hope to be getting my behind in gear and get more projects started around here.  Otherwise it is getting to be a pretty boring read.

Come on, peephole

This post could alternately be titled What a Hoot.
I am sitting on the couch again, though this time I don't feel quite as worthless, when to my internet-browsing eyes should appear an interesting sight.

To which I turned the computer toward Byron and said, "Should we get a peephole?"
It doesn't happen very often, but he had no response.  I guess the best way I could describe his response was a silent giggle.  He gathered his composure, and to my surprise, said he actually like the owl.  (There was also a chick and a flower, that I saw.)  Now truthfully, installing a peephole in our front door reminds me a little too much of a hotel or apartment.  Do people in real houses actually have these?  Just a few weeks after we moved in, our neighbors house was robbed (nice welcome to the neighborhood) so I am all for increased security measures, but I don't know if this is the way of going about it.  It is just too humorous.
Image found here.

A little bit of nothing...

Monday night I came home from work tired.  Tuesday night I came home from work exhausted.  Tonight I came home from work and I feel totally spent.  I have been trying to muster up some energy, picking up a few things here and there, loading the dishwasher, but I'm not really doing much.  I got a little frustrated with my lack of energy that I was bound and determined to complete one of the projects that I had been putting off - hanging a picture.  I have done that before many times, but tonight it was a total fail.  To start with, the frame was 18 inches square, but the picture inside is only around 4 inches square.  So the frame is a lot of wood.  In the back, there is a little part carved out and a cleat for hanging.  Apparently the normal type of hook that is usually our fall back won't fit with the cleat.  Too bad we didn't know that ahead of time.  Now I am just left with my picture sitting on the floor and a hole in the wall.  Lovely.  Project = not tackled.
I have just been feeling like that lately.  I am tired, which makes me feel worthless.  And I don't really have any projects that I am working on at home, so I don't feel like I'm accomplishing anything.
I don't know if I shared this, but a few weeks ago Byron and I went to IKEA.  On our list to get were cabinet handles for the kitchen.  Mission accomplished.  We got these.  But now they have been sitting on the table for three weeks because I am too scared to start attaching them.  Since when have I been intimidated by a DIY project?  I just feel so overwhelmed.
I know that seasons like this happen in life.  And I know it won't last forever.  I will rally.  And I will conquer the kitchen handles.  So I guess this was a little bit of me giving you one part getting things off my chest and one part apologizing for the boredom around here.  For now, though, I'm off to take a nap!

The Queen on her throne

I can't believe I am doing this.  A complete dog post.  I was laying on the couch the other day and Minnie was just chillin' on her perch.  I couldn't resist.  She really has it made.

Holy hemline, Batman

First admission - I don't know if I used that phrase correctly.  I have never actually seen the Batman TV show or stayed awake through an entire Batman movie.  I have no idea where that phrase comes from, but it just seemed appropriate.  Because...
I hemmed the dining room curtains!

To be honest, I don't have a lot to say about this.  It just should have happened a long time ago.  I got lazy, and it took me forever, but hey, now it is done.  I would show you a better picture, but the table is an absolute disaster right now.  So just imagine them in your mind.  They look the same as the living room.

Adding Number 30

I got it.  Forcing paper whites.  That's my number 30.  I have always wanted to do it, and I always get the urge when decorating for the holidays, but if I add it to my list, I guess I'll have to follow through now.

photo found here

The Grim Reaper is Near

I swear it was green just a couple of weeks ago when I brought it inside.  And I had kept it alive since spring!  Ay ay ay.  Can I revive my fern?

#14

I did it.  I got a rug.  I know what you are thinking, how the heck did she do that so fast?  She just posted her list? Well, let me back up just a bit.  I started thinking about my list a few weeks ago.  I carried it around with me, but I only ever got to item #22.  So I didn't post about it.  Then, last weekend, we were up in Minnesota.  So we went to West Elm, so I could feel some of my leading candidates in person.  I really wanted to make sure that if I purchased a rug that it wouldn't be scratchy.  And, like I expected, they were so soft.  So...uh...we bought one.  Tada!

I really like how it grounds the space, and Byron really likes how it makes the space feel more like a room of its own, even though we have a completely open floor plan.  It's always good when husband and wife can agree.

30 Before 30

Ah, yes.  Here it is.  The dreaded number that I am creeping up on.  So like I have seen others before me do, I have decided to create a list - the thirty things I want to accomplish before I turn thirty.  I have approximately sixteen months to accomplish this list.  I don't know if there are official rules for this type of list, but if so, I have modified them so that it will work for an indecisive person like me.  So without further ado, here is the list.


1.  Make a quilt for our bed.
2.  Sew something with French seams.
3.  Create a series for the blog.
4.  Get good at applying liquid eyeliner.
5.  Grow a kitchen herb garden.
6.  Refinish & recover my sewing chair.
7.  Apply wallpaper in the guest bedroom.
8.  Read Through Painted Deserts.  Done!
9.  Use one of my own photos for art in our house.
10.  Make my own pretty reusable grocery bags.
11.  Go a month without shopping.  Done!
12.  Get a fabulous haircut.
13.  Bake yummy bread at home.
14.  Finally settle on a rug!  Done!
15.  Lose 5 pounds.
16.  Quit at least one job.  Done!
17.  Learn how to make button holes on the sewing machine.
18.  Tile the kitchen backsplash.
19.  Sew a pair of shorts.
20.  Knit something from a pattern (and actually follow it).
21.  Redesign the blog.
22.  Read The Shack.
23.  Bake homemade baklava.
24.  Hem the bedroom curtains.  Done!
25.  Install bamboo blinds in our bedroom.
26.  Plant flowers in front of our porch.  Done!
27.  Build new laundry room shelves.
28.  Visit the sculpture garden.  Done!
29.  Make a jewelry storage board for my closet.
30.  Force paper whites.  Done!


So what do you think?  Am I too easy on myself?  Too ambitious?  Okay okay, I only came up with 29 things.  I will come up with the remaining one, I know, I just didn't want to think of something fast that I really didn't care about accomplishing.  So stay tuned for that.  I think I gave myself a good range of things to both expand on my current hobbies and also explore new territory.  I will update the blog with my progress along the way.  And then, I will be able to great 30 by the horns and say, "Now that wasn't so bad.  Bring on 40."  But I would be lying.  I still think 40 is really old.  No offense.

The Leaves are Changing

I remember writing about our trees the day they were planted.  October Glory is what they were called.  Well folks, it's now October, and our trees, er, tree, is seeing it's glory days.  First, let me show her off.  Then I'll fill you in on the back story.

Well, this tree certainly looks glorious, at least in a scaled down type of way.  The other one, or should I say the third one, looks healthy, but was only planted last week and had only about 5 leaves on it at the time.  The actual second tree died sometime over the summer.  Although we, being novice gardeners, thought it was possibly just dormant, since it was the first year it was planted.  If you are laughing right now, just think to yourself how much we have to learn.  About 5ish weeks ago, Byron bumped the tree and it flat out broke in half.  Actually there was only a 12-inch stub sticking out of the ground.  That's when we knew the tree was really dead.  4ish weeks ago, I called the warranty hotline to report this, which by the way wouldn't even let me leave a message but redirected me to send an email.  Seriously?  Why do you have a hotline?  Argh.  But anyway...I reported it, and 3 weeks later they FINALLY responded.  And I suppose the wait was worth it because mama talked her way from a 1 inch tree to a proper 3 inch one.  I'll take no leaves as long as it comes back to life this spring!

Just like the trees are in transition from summer green to winter bare, I feel like we are in a transition period, too.  This fall has been a busy one, and I am looking forward to a slimmer schedule where I can stop running around and get back to the place I love - home.

Honey-Do List

As I am sure many married couples can relate to, especially ones that have either been together for a long time or else are low key like us, dates come in all forms.  Recently, we decided to go out on a date.  To Lowe's.  At 1:00 PM on a Sunday afternoon.  No, it's not the most romantic day, time, place, or concept, but it worked for us.  What was our mission?  Nothing really.  We just strolled around the store and talked about projects that we want to do around the house.  And since I had my camera in my purse like I usually do, we decided to document it.  And now, for you're reading pleasure, I present to you my "Honey-Do List."
***NOTE***  I just want to say that I consider BOTH Byron and myself to equally represent "Honey".
1.  Tiled Backsplash
I would LOVE a tile backsplash in our kitchen.  I hate our current mini-backsplash.  To me, it is just a joke and had I realized that our builders were going to do that I would have specifically asked them not to.  I learned my lesson too late.  I would much rather have a full backsplash in something like this.

I believe the upper left is some form of marble, the upper right and lower left are some type of stone, and the lower right is again some type of marble, but I can't confirm that.  I have been watching a LOT of Sarah's House on HGTV.  Sarah loves marble.  I love Sarah.  Therefore, I must love marble, too, although if I did go with marble, I think I'm leaning toward the more traditional (on the upper left) than the version with the black (lower right).  Our cabinets are white and the granite is lighter, but still multi-colored.  Would adding a marble backsplash leave the kitchen too white?  Well, the one thing I learned from this trip is that I definitely favor the brick pattern.

2.  Organized Bathroom Cupboards
I think I've already admitted how messy I am, especially in the bathroom.  I have basically overtaken what little counter space we have, and unfortunately I am too embarrassed about it to show any pictures at this time.  But wouldn't it be amazing if I could have one of these?  Or even two?

At $84.97, this is no cheap storage solution.  And I'm a cheapskate spread out the expenses type of girl, so I'm thinking this will get put on my after Christmas to do list.  My side of the bathroom will be the first recipient, but I would like to get one for Byron's side eventually too.  That way, I can have the two shelves on my side, the entire middle cabinet, and one shelf on his side, and he can have one shelf, too.  Haha.  It's not that bad, really, I just don't wake up looking as naturally beautiful as he does.
3.  Fancy Door Hardware

I have no reasoning for this.  I'm just drawn to it.  I would also like to paint the front door a bright, poppy color (I'm leaning toward a muted pumpkin, which would make the brick pop).  Right now the front door is a taupey-brown color.

4.  Double Decker Closet Storage
We have a big closet.  It is big enough to hold all of our clothes, especially because we are pretty simple people and don't go clothes crazy, plus we I have a dresser in the bedroom.  But what the house lacks is good storage throughout.  If we built our closet shelving up, we would have additional space to store the type of items that we don't have to access frequently, yet we don't want to store all the way in the basement.  Extra linens from our overflowing linen closet or some of our off season coats and jackets are just the type of things I have in mind.

You may have noticed that I just showed you a picture of garage shelving.  Yes, we need that too, and yes, it is just a little different that what I would choose for the closet, but you get the idea, right?
5.  Bedroom Sitting Area
We have a nearly empty wall in our bedroom.

It would be the perfect place to recreate something like this.

Image found here.

We already have a chair that we like.  Look what they have at Lowe's.  I don't know if you can see it from the picture, but it is a really great price for a mirror that big.

6.  Layered Window Treatments
I really love the look of bamboo blinds + curtains.  I have seen them many places scattered throughout the web.  I almost have all the windows curtained (enough already, I know), so the next step would just be to add the bamboo.  If we did that, would we then be bamboozled?  Groan.

That's it, for now.  We had a great time, even if it wasn't our most romantic date.  And we didn't leave empty handed, either.  Byron decided we could get a treat!

In case you didn't remember, it was white (and bent) before.  With every change, even the little ones, I love my house more and more.

I Hate the Animal Planet

Let me give you a quick status update.  I finished 16 of the 24 flag that needed to be done by last night, so I still have 8 to go by next Friday.  I owe a huge thank you to my friend Lindsey who came over and saved me.  I woke up really early this morning (6:00 am on a SATURDAY!  Okay, so that's only 30 minutes early for me...I'm being dramatic) to take the guard to their first competition, only to find out 15 minutes later that it was cancelled due to the rain.  I'm a little disappointed, a little relieved.
So since I was up anyway, I just started in on my regular Saturday morning routine - pick up the kitchen, watch some of the HGTV episodes on the DVR, and just generally move slowly.  I had just finished watching an episode of Income Property, and instead of picking a new episode to watch I just let the TV resume on the channel that it was on.  Big mistake.
It was an animal show called Rebel Monkeys.  Little baby monkey TJ was climbing up on a power line looking for his mother when he accidentally climbed on the live wire and got electrocuted and fell to the ground.  He was just laying there in a pile of trash limp and in pain and I even think he was crying.  He laid there all night.  So of course, I immediately start crying.  Sobbing.  Bawling.  It was a bit much but my heart was and still is broken.  Fortunately a man wrapped him up in a blanket and took him to the animal hospital, but the streets of India were so crowded that the narrator of the show wasn't sure if they could make it in time.  Then they switched to a new scene where some monkeys were about to gang up on each other in a street fight when I couldn't take it anymore and changed the channel.
So there I sat on the couch, hating all animal shows.  They are the only things that give me nightmares, by the way.  Byron walked into the room.  I was still sobbing.  He asked what was wrong, and as I agonizingly cried through the recap to him, I a) felt like an idiot for getting so upset at ANIMAL SHOWS and b) could not stop crying.
There is still a good portion of the day ahead of me.  I am going to try to move past this.  And I am going to add the Animal Planet (and Net Geo Wild, etc.) to the "blocked channels" on my TV.

Still Going Strong

I'm back from my business trip, my guard survived their first performance, and I have 5 flags cut out (with 19 to go...not that I'm counting).  But amidst the crazy week that I've had, look at the little ray of sunshine I have smiling back at me.

Unfortunately, the roses and the lilies were mostly worse for wear, but I was able to save a couple of them.  I just snipped down the stems and put them in a new vase.  I used my favorite vase, which meant that not quite all of the remaining flowers fit.  Oh well.  That just means two bouquets, right?

Okay guys.  Back to cutting.  Then sewing.  And there goes the rest of my weekend.  I am just DYING to do some house projects, no matter how small they may be.  Something.  Anything.  But I am up against a deadline.  It will be one more week and then hopefully I'm back to my usual self.