Christmas 2010, how are you here already?!?

I thought we might skip decorating altogether, but after a cookie exchange at a friend's house (beautifully decorated), I just had to do something.  Better late (and just a little) than never...I knew that I definitely wanted to put up our stockings, and that box was easy enough to access.  I found a few other things in there to put up and out around the house, brought in the front porch mini-tree, added some garland and ornaments, and voila - Christmas.  My Scentsy warmers are filled with Christmas scents, and I'm putting up Christmas cards as they come in the mail.  It feels good.  Now if life would just slow down a bit so that I can get a few more things made for gifts!  Doesn't look like we'll get any more snow days in 2010, though, so I'm just going to have to find time elsewhere.

Hopefully I'll have some pics of completed Christmas gifts to post (after they've been given, of course) - so, I'd better get to it!  Can't wait to see our families in just a few weeks! Merry Christmas, y'all...

Isn't Skype the best?

 

Love it.

Fall Wreath...it started off as an experiment, just trying out a few things, but I really love how it turned out!  My first foray into the world of burlap and rosettes!  I think I'm going to make another wreath for inside that is wrapped in burlap with a ruffle on the front and back, and I'll just pin on rosettes, flowers, etc. seasonally.  Fun, easy project (with only one hiccup - a blister from the glue gun).

Had to show off my wreath hanger - whoop!

I wish I had used a darker burlap so that it had a little more contrast with our house, but it's as good as it's going to get for this fall!  Next project - decoupaged pumpkins!  I might get one done yet tonight, and I'll post when I can...that's pretty much all that's going on around here - crafts, and playing with my camera.  What better to do on a rainy day? 

 More blanket love...

I loved the sweet pink with this modern fabric!

 

 

 

My first time attempting binding - made this bias tape using a fabulous tutorial.

Finally finished - this wasn't a difficult project, but I used techniques that were new to me, and the embroidery took some time (but was my favorite part).

This is a standard sized crib blanket - 32 x 42 inches.

More crafting...

This Wednesday I'm hosting a craft party for some ladies at work.  We're going to make some fall wreaths, some tile coasters, and drink a little wine.  I'm going to try to get a sample wreath done before then, and hopefully we'll all wow each other with our craftiness on Wednesday!  I'll post the results...

Happy 10-10-10, y'all!

Okay, I'm blogging not because I have anything interesting to say, but because I'm tired of seeing the same OLD post every time I log on!  So, here's an update by way of a list:

• I had a fabulous summer - Peru was amazing, we camped with my in-laws and did a pretty great hike, I spent time with friends, unpacked my classroom, and had fun hanging out with my husband.  We had another successful garden - this is slowly becoming something I truly enjoy and I can't wait to have a yard that's more suitable for growing our own food.
• The school year got off to a great start.  I love meeting the new 6th graders!  I have a fabulous student teacher, and so far things are going really well.
• My dad had open heart surgery and I flew down to OKC to be there for the surgery and the recovery time in the hospital.  It totally sucked that he had bypass, but it was awesome to see my family.
• Will turned 30!  We are in such a good place right now and I can't wait to see what's next - I am so blessed.
• It's really starting to feel like fall around here.  I'm looking forward to getting the yard cleaned up and winter-ready, canning some of my abundant green tomatoes, buying pumpkins, and making meals in the crock pot.
• I'm slowly learning to use my new camera - Will bought me/us a Rebel T1i for our anniversary, and I LOVE it.  It's so familiar because I learned to use an SLR on a Canon...I just love it and I am having fun experimenting!
• I've been crafting a lot more lately and trying new things.  Alicia and I hope to have our new etsy store up and running sometime next month - just in time for Christmas shopping!  We'll email out when it's open.

Okay!   Now I feel better.  I really do have things to say and document, but I need to get back in the groove.  I'll make an effort!

Recapping what I didn't blog about this year...

 Rang in the New Year with my crazy family...

In February, we surprised Alicia for her shower-that-never-was (but we got in some great girl time!).  I don't know why I have crazy eyes in this pic...

We had some sun in March, but then it left...we're still waiting for it to come back and stay a while (on the news they are calling this month, "June-uary"...

We had the Goolsbys (and Matthew) up for a visit - we crammed in a lot for a short trip, including a visit to the market, the coast, and a cupcakery just for Marla!

After the quick visit from our Georgia family, we headed to Texas to meet our new nephew, Parker.  Amazing - these pictures say it all!

 As timing would have it, Parker's birth coincided with a Dabney/Smylie Mini-Reunion and Charla's birthday!  I was able to get in a few snuggles with Mr. Ian, too.

So, there is a lot more, but this whole blogging thing is a bit overwhelming, and I have some cleaning and packing to do - Peru, here we come!  In just 3 days...

Maybe one day I'll be a good blogger...don't hold your breath!  Happy summer!

How is it June?  Seriously...Now I just need to get through my National Board exams on June 11th.  Ugh.  Then I'll be able to think about blogging, and going to Peru, and what to do with the rest of the summer!

Alicia and I have been working on another blog to help us stay organized and on top of meals for our families...I'm so tired of last minute scrounging for something to eat for dinner at 9 pm!  This is our attempt at a solution: Feeding Our Families.

Let me know what you think...any suggestions for meals?  We are planning to add a section for freezer meals/batch cooking, but we're not there yet.  How do you plan for meals?

I'm working on a post, but it's getting l. o. n. g.  Guess that's what happens when you go 2 months without getting all of the things out of your head and on to the page(?).  But, that post will have pictures and this one, not so much.

Happy Monday.  It's not raining yet here in Western WA, which is always a good thing.  (Although I heard it's coming by early afternoon).  Hope your week is starting off well, too.



How old do I sound talking about the weather? Hmph.

Wow...goodbye, February!  This was one crazy month.  Now if I can just make it to March 31st, maybe I'll have time to sit down and blog about it.  March 31st = deadline to have National Boards portfolio in the mail.  I think I can, I think I can...

Today, I'm taking it pretty easy.  I'm trying to ward off the crud that is attempting to make it's home in my lungs and sinuses.  Yuck.  I'm off to the local food co-op to check it out...I'm picturing t-shirts, Birkenstocks and patchouli, but I'm so excited! (To be fair, I probably will be wearing Birkenstocks with my t-shirt and jeans...but I'm fragrance-free today.) I have a few things I am looking for that I just have not been able to find anywhere else. 

I'm making a big pot of Green Soup with Mushrooms from my favorite soup cookbook.  I will have it to dip into all week long for lunches!  I am going to eat a big bowl of soup and a nice big salad before heading to a Super Bowl party tomorrow to try to ward of unnecessary snacking.  I'm bringing a big bowl of guac - healthy and delicious, so I'm going to try to stick to that...and a beer (it is the Super Bowl, after all).

I've been crafting away.  I made a photo pillow for myself, and I brought it to the Peru fundraiser Silent Auction, and will be making a custom photo pillow for the winner.  I also made a wristlet key chain as an example, and will be making five somewhat-custom key chains according to the color preference of the winners!  The fundraiser was a lot of fun and I think quite a bit of money was raised. 

It's a pretty lazy, blah day here in Washington.  The day dawned sunny, but the clouds have slowly crept in.  Right now the skies are gray, and I'm feeling like napping.  I'd better head to the co-op before I lose my will to get off of the couch!

Happy weekend, y'all.

Today I'm baking...

...chocolate cupcakes with a peanut butter cookie dough center, covered in dark chocolate ganache.
...sopapilla cheesecake minis (in a cupcake tin).

It's game night with two other couples, and I'm so looking forward to it!  Last time we had game night, Will was out of town, so I did not have a partner...it's so much more fun when he's able to come.  Here's hoping we dominate (he doesn't like to lose)!  ;-)

I'm crafting...

...key chains.
...coffee cozies.
...baby tag blankets.
...letters to spell Parker.

Good thing there is football on today - my husband won't even miss me.  Hopefully he'll be okay with making his own lunch (he already made his own breakfast).  It's rainy and cold and absolutely perfect for hunkering down with fabric, thread, my sewing machine, and a fresh cup of coffee.

Well, Christmas is all put away, and life is kicking back into full gear after a fantastic break. Now it's time to buckle down and edit my National Board entries (well, three of them - I still have one left to do) and start preparing for the tests in June. It's such a great process, but it is hard. It's time consuming, and I'd rather be working on sewing/knitting/craft/cooking projects in my spare time. But it's not going to last forever, and I'm ready to get a few of my entries wrapped up and ready to go. The entries are due on March 31st. Deadlines loom, but they sure do help me keep on track! If you need me, I'll be here, working on boards, when I'm not, well, working.

Hello, 2010. I think I'll like you a whole lot better come summer.