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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

This Entire Couch

Tonight, I had every intention of Using My Time Wisely.  I was going to blog.  That's right.

Wisdom.  Insight.  Instagram photos. 

You heard me.

And then, Tim sheepishly (read: adorably) asked...

What are you doing tonight? 

This is such a loaded question because the answer is always going to be "Nothing."  if I think it's going to result in something more fun.  So. In all my brilliance, such was my answer.

To which he replied.  In short.

I have to go out and get firewood.  I'll come back with a movie. 

It was like, maybe he read my mind.

And so then I just cancelled any plan anyone could ever even imagine for the next 3 hours.

And it occurred to me that in a dire emergency, everything I really truly need fits right on this here couch.

So.  That's it for tonight.

Sorry blog.  Tonight...you didn't win.

You'll live.




Thursday, January 24, 2013

Weekend Update #912

Tim & I have been eating a lot of Sushi lately. If you want to call several times in one month "a lot."  Something about Sushi, (Dancing Wasabi in particular) makes me feel very hip....like everything in the world is okay.  Like we really are living up to our no-kids-yet potential.




So, that was Friday (and some old photos thrown in there, too).

Saturday, we went to Heather, Dan's (and Lucy's).  Heather & I sat on the playroom floor, solving The World's Problems and sorting through dress-up clothes.

Sigh.

Everyone needs their own Heather Marie.  If you don't have one.  You need to get one.  But you can't have mine.  I call dibs.   This is what it looks like to call dibs.  I am the tiny one with no muscle control yet.

Sunday was a blur, as most Sunday's usually are and Monday brought us to a three day weekend.

Oh.  Three Day Weekends of the world, we salute you (and Dr. King).

Monday, to say the least- was refreshing.

I love that my lifestyle right now allows me to see ^^^^ all that ^^^^

and then this- in the same weekend.



Love,
H.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Big-Picture-Sort-of-Good


I think everything is in transition now. 
which I find utterly terrifying and a little thrilling. 
but mostly terrifying.
 but it's movement and chaos and I recognize both as good.
 big-picture-sort-of-good. 
but big-picture-sort-of-good isn't always easy, 
is it? ~Sweet Meg Fee


Terrifying, indeed. 

Love and someday, I will sit down and tell you everything more.  
H. 





Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Up/Off

     Packaged a frame up & shipped it off over the weekend.  Still scrounging up some packaging ideas (hooray, Pinterest!) but I'm excited nonetheless.




Now, this little cutie's got a good home.

Also, some kindergarten artwork.  I'm assuming that is supposed to be me.  On that note, fingers!?!?

Love, and the high today was 20.  Just think on that for a minute.  Yikes.
H.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Full hearts, full bellies

For the love of Pete, sometimes- you just need someone to come and unload the dishwasher for you.  File this under: Tim Young to The Rescue.

In other news, I made this tonight and it was so-very-easy and incredibly good.


Any other "one dish" recipes you'd like to share?

Love and why didn't I think of that?
H.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

A Post About Nothing #816

This Guy.



Has a Secret.

There's lip gloss in that there owl.  Hooray for impulse buys.

     Also, Tim found my earring under the couch.  It has been gone for a looong time.  Reunited & it feels so good. There was hugging.  And possibly some crying.  Tears of Joy, I tell you.  Tears of joy.



     In other news, I think this is how I would like to wake up in heaven.  Smelling warm, dog food breath. Ok. Maybe not...but isn't that what this picture looks like?  The white light.

I can just picture myself, waking up with a headache and these too ya-hoo's being like,

"Welcome to heaven.  Get up.  We're hungry. And also, (as you can see in the bottom left corner of the picture) we got in the trash. Yes. There is garbage in heaven because this is our heaven too, and we worship God by digging in the trash."

 I actually really hope that's how it works out.  :)


 So, this was a post about nothing.

Love, and if they ever invent time travel, I owe you five minutes,

H.








Sunday, January 13, 2013

Weekend Update #582


      This weekend, Tim and I went to a Young Adult Retreat (Tim leads the Young Adult Group at church and also lead worship for the retreat). We've gone every year for a while, and it's nice to see familiar faces and just continue building that sense of community.

     It's always good to go because, being a group that targets single, young adults, the subject of marriage always comes up. How we met. What's working. What's, decidedly, not working. 

      Not that we're getting everything right, but it's a good reminder for us that, Holy Smokes, life is good, and we need to keep trying.

   Also, it must be noted that when we got home, I took one of the top 5 naps in the history of all time.

I hope you had a nice weekend.

Lunch is packed. Break and bakes are in the oven. Laundry started. I won't put up a fight, Monday.

Love,
H.













Wednesday, January 9, 2013

January Schmanuary

Dear January,

   You and I have been at odds for quite some time.  I don't know how to make friends with you, I don't.  But gosh-darn-it, I'm not giving up.

I will fight for your love.  Huzzah!

I will fight with one Lucy and  12 fresh flowers and two sweater-wearing dogs.





I will fight with one Handsome Husband, our musical instruments, red toenail polish and the warmest sweaters I own.

So be prepared.  Cause I'm coming for you.

With love and fierce determination.


I was going to write "How to fix your January in 10 Easy Steps" but then I realized that I really don't know.


Swag. There. I said it.

I am here today, on Ashley Baker's (sweet) blog.  Come say hi and enter for a chance to win some goodies*!


* I originally put "swag" but then I felt stupid.  I really, really wanted to put swag, though.



As you can see, the dogs can hardly contain their excitement.

Friday, January 4, 2013

How to make a Reusable Door Wreath for Every Season

I just love a good door wreath, don't you?

Today, I'm going to show you how I've managed to have a wreath for every season without the hassle of storing them all during the off-seasons.

And all for roughly $20 or less.

This is the wreath I hung on our door this fall.

So simple.  Unassuming.

Until I show you my secret weapon....


 Yep.  I just used Dollar-Store, plastic "hair claws" and some hot glue to make embellishments for various seasons.

    In this post, I'll show you how I EASILY and CHEAPLY transformed a "Give Thanks" wreath into a Christmas/Winter Time wreath- all of which can be used year after year!

Let's get Started!

In the fall, I purchased one frame and some chalkboard paint from a local craft store.

Then, I purchased TWO 'grape vine' wreaths, some ribbon and whatever trinkets I could find in the holiday decor/craft section of our local Dollar Store!

Next,  I glued the two wreaths together because I wanted a fuller look.  Then, I attached the frame to the back using lots & lots of hot glue.

Afterwards, I sprayed the glass with chalkboard paint.

With that being said, your 'base' should look like this.


  If you're new to chalkboard paint, here are some things I learned the hard way (haha).

     It has to have several coats of paint and dry for SEVERAL DAYS.  Be sure to do some research about "seasoning" your chalkboard.  If you don't do it right, the leftover words will still show up after you've erased.

      I can't really share much about that, since I haven't mastered that trick either.  (Notice how you can still see the word THANKS on the board). Oops!

*     *     *     *     *

      This is what I used for the Winter Wreath.  I already had the fabric, but at The Dollar Tree, all this  cost about $4 total.  That's the truth! (The third hair claw was used for a previous project)!

    Next, you're going to take your embellishments (I love that word), and hot glue them to your hair claws.  The plastic snowflakes were a little trickier to maneuver. Make sure you have plenty of materials.  I ended up pulling pieces off/apart/starting over about twice.

Next time, I might try those "alligator clips" for your hair...you know the ones?

Here's an example!


 I found that ribbon and fabric work well for covering up any part of the claw you may be able to see.

Then, arrange the claws onto the wreath as you wish.



The last step involves writing a message on your chalkboard.

Before you write on it...

dip the chalk in water first- I didn't believe this trick would work, but it REALLY does.

It looks very thin/faded at first, but it DARKENS as it dries.

I found this post via pinterest and found it to be super helpful.  Handy Dandy!

Here's the finished product and a "Before/After."




*     *     *     *     *

     The possibilities really are endless.

     I'm thinking a "Go Bucks" one would be fun for football season, but I've got Valentine's Day on the brain right now.

     Just so you know, by the time I got all my materials out and organized, it took me about an hour to get it all right.  I just turned on the t.v. and hot glued my little heart out.

     Wouldn't this make SUCH a cute gift?  One wreath/frame with "claws" for every season and a box of white chalk!  Who else is with me!?!?!

Of course, once I started browsing pinterest, I got 1,000 more ideas.

What will you use?




Linking up Here: 

Classy Clutter                      Raegunwear
Six Sisters                             Clean & Scentsible
Funky Junk Interiors           Lil' Luna
It's Overflowing
Bacon Time
Craft-o-maniac
Alderberry Hill 

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

A Post About Jake

This guy deserves his own post.

This is Jake.  My sister's dog.






































One of Lucy's first complete sentences was, "So soft, buddy."

Yes.

So soft, indeed.




Heather always says Jake & Scarlett are cut from the same cloth, and it is so true.

Imagine Scarlett- just 50 pounds heavier and a whole lot more determined, and that's Jake in a nutshell.

And should they ever team up?  Well, look out world.

Love, and we're for dogs.
H.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Here's to you, 2013!

 Happy New Year!


We're excited about 2013.  It's going to be a good year, and we know this because God is a dad who takes care of His kids. 

This week, I'm posting one of my most favorite craft projects.  I can't wait for you all to share your ideas.  Yippee! 


Here's our tribute to 2012... in 3 pictures.

Oh, how he misbehaves.

Actually, I'm sure it's the other way around.







Love & a good laugh,
H.