Snow Day....No It's a Project Day!

Today marked the sixth snow day of the year, some of you may think I am lucky until I tell you that we now get out six days later than planned.  Instead of wasting my day, I decided it was time to complete some "art" projects to help spice up some walls in the house.

I headed out the door on a mission to collect my supplies, and for once I ame home with everything I needed! 

The first project is one that I got from my clever siter-in-law Sara.  If you don't already, you should check out her blog because she is always up to some nifty home-improvement project.  Anyway back to my project. To start you need some foam board, and scrapbooking paper.  I used 12"x12" and 8.5"x11" (which I cut into 8.5" squares for the 8.5"x11"), acrylic paint and a glue stick.

For more detailed how to insturctions visit Sara's blog.

Here is the foam bord ready to be beautified!

Here is the paper I selected

Then I glued the paper to the foam board and just like that they were breath-taking.  Then I used those sticky wall hanging strips to hang them.  I love the red board, I think it really makes the paper pop!

I made these to help spruce up the laundry room.  This Wednesday, I will be sewing curtains for the kitchen and valences for the laundry room that will really set these little beauties off.  I know the anticipation is going to kill you! :)

Here is the finished product!

These are the 12" squares

And the 8.5" Squares

The whole project was complete for a cost of $12 dollars! Sara did hers for less but I had to buy paint and foam board.  Still pretty cheap though!

On to project number two.  This project unfortunately was not completed today due to the layers of spray paint not being completely dry.  I will show you the before picture, and let you use your imagination for the after picture until its revealed later this week!

You should know the whole thing costs me less than $20!

Recently I decided that I need to learn how to sew.  So, the first step in doing so is buying a sewing machine.  Last night I found the perfect one on Craig's List!  Of course it was a steal of a deal, and no it is not fancy or brand new, but it works and is in good condition.  So, tonight to top off my very crafty day I went to pick up and pay for this little beauty:

Of course I will be using this a ton!

Well, that is all of my crafts and deals for today.  I promise to reveal project number two and the new window treatmens ASAP!  Until then....

 

I'M BACK!

Lately I have gotten into this habit of disappearing for a while, but this should change now that we have internet at our new house!   I am so excited to keep you all up to date on the home projects and life in general!  The bummer thing about not blogging for so long is there is so much to tell.  The long-winded girl is going to try to bullet point life the last two months.

• We are moved in. We have rearranged furniture and decorations 1,000 times we finally found the ideal look.
• The plumber probably hates us because he has had to come back 3 times to fix our kitchen sink, but it seems that everything has been fixed, fingers crossed.
• The new house has enjoyed having lots of friends over for meals and hang out time.  Our limit is about 4 people at a time! :)
• Stinson is full time in the football office now.  He comes home on cloud nine every night, we get to go to church together and eat dinner together!!!!
• I will be learning how to sew on Wednesday. One of the teachers I teach with is helping make drapes for the kitchen window and the laundry room windows.  Be looking for pictures at the end of next week.  
• Owning a house has given me the desire to own my own sewing machine.  Craig's list will be my new best friend until I find the best buy.  I am sure that I will be finding lots of projects for the house and my classroom as soon as I have a sewing machine in my possession.
• I am currently doing the Esther bible study by Beth Moore.   God is speaking to my heart in some amazing ways.  Some of the words she writes seem like they were written just for my heart.  The book of Esther holds truths that I never took the time to look closely for, and God is knocking my socks off with the things He is revealing.

• Yesterday, I got my first truly fancy cell phone.  Thanks to the mom of the boys I watched last summer, and will watch again this summer, Stinson and I were able to change to an incredible cell phone plan where we pay for both of us what we would have paid for one.  (Hurray for saving money!)  The plan includes internet access and a world of widgets I never could have imagined! 

• My darling sister is coming to visit Brady (and me) next weekend!  I can't wait to see her and do a few wedding things.  She will be our first out of town visitor to stay at the house.
• Spring break is quickly approaching......need I say more?!
• We are doing a biggest loser competition at school and I am excited.  I am looking forward to shedding the extra pounds and inches I managed to put on this winter......

I think that is all for now.  Sorry if you're totally bored, I promise to have a much more exciting, project oriented post later this week!

Our 1st Place

I know that so many of you have been waiting so long for these.  So here they are FINALLY!!!!  I don't have time to type or update much because I have to run off to boot camp in about 30 minutes, so the pictures will do the talking.  I promise one day when we get internet or I have a connection longer than 30 seconds to write about our incredibly exciting lives!


Here is the final unvailing of our first house.  We love it and are so enjoying call it home.

Living Room

Master Bedroom

Guest Room

Bathroom

Kitchen

There may be more to come later.  Thanks to Sara for my new look!  Hope you like it too.

Snow Day Galore!

This week I am a very fortunate employee of a school district where school was canceled for the entire week.  While some may find me very lucky (and at moments I agree), in reality it is not nearly as awesome as it sounds.  The reason being, is every snow day must be made up at the end of the year.  We are now up to 5 days added to the end of the school year....oh well at least we are not into June yet!

You are probably thinking that I have been very productive this week, and I wish I could tell you that is true.  I have found a way to get a few things done around the house, including shoveling the snow (my workout for the day!) 

In preparation for the move we have taken apart a few beds and moved some more boxes.  It still seems like there is a lot to do.  Stinson will have some time to help me move some bigger things tomorrow.

Home ownership is quickly upon us.  I can't believe how close it is.  I know you are eagerly awaiting the pictures, they will be up before you know it.

The first few days of the new year are going well.  I have managed to do a lot better about what I am eating, and can tell the difference in my energy level!  This week I started a new bible study at my church.  It is a Beth Moore study about the book of Esther.  I can so excited to learn more about being a woman and realizing what it looks like for my walk with Him. 

Hopefully we'll have school next week!  I would really love to get back to teaching.  I am beginning to miss my students and their sweet faces!

A Much Needed Update

Hi!  Yes, I know it has been a while since I posted any exciting news about my life, but don't worry I'm back!  Thankfully moving in to the new house is drawing closer every day.  Our goal is to be moving in this coming Saturday!  Despite my bad attitude, I managed to pack a lot of our stuff up into boxes.  This week as I jump back into the school life I know I will be enternally greatful that I did muster up some motivation to pack. 

Stinson and his friend Adrian started making a platform for our washer and dryer.  I can't wait for it be finished.  I haven't taken any pictures yet, but I promise that I will.

With a new year already begun, my mind has been busy thinking of a few things I would like to achieve in 2010.  1.) Maintain a healthy lifestyle. ( I am really good at gettig fit, but then I slack off again.  This year I want to keep that healthy mindset and actions going all year)     2.) Find a way to support and meet each of my students' needs.  3.) Try out some new recipes and host more dinners with close friends.   4.) Continue to get involved in our church and meet more people.   I think that should be plenty to keep me busy this year!

I know this post is gettin long, but I guess tha tis what happens when you are absent for a couple of weeks.  I promise to wrap it up soon.

Christmas was wonderful!  We flew out to New Jersey, where Stinson's brother Brantley and his wife Caroline live.  As soon as we landed it was nothing but laughs and tons of fun.  Brantley and Caroline cooked up some amazing meals, including a 5 course Christmas Eve dinner.  I think we all starved our first few days back home without our world-class chefs fixing meals for us.

While we were they we were able to expierence New York City.  I would love to go back when it is a tad warmer to shop and explore the other side of the city.  My mother-in-law, Jennifer, treated us all to the Lion King.  Words cannot describe how amazing this show is.  The stage alone was incredible.  I never knew that a stage was capable of doing so many technical things!  The costumes were breath-taking.  Overall, it was quite the experience.  I would highly reccomend seeing the Lion King in New York City!

I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking.  Hope that the first few days of the new year have been good to you!

Here is the front of Macy's (you could spend a day in here and still not see everything!)

30-Rock

Huge Christmas Tree in the Rockefeller Plaza

The Metropolitian Museum of Art ( it was incredible!)

Stinson and I inside the Met

The Dean Brothers in Central Park

The Dean Sistes in Central Park

Hanging out in Time Square, practicing our kiss for NYE ;)

Hanging out on the subway

One las thing before I let you go.  I forgot to mention that I am growing out my hair, so if you see pictures with ugly hair you know why.  It has only been a month and I am already ready to cut it back to the way it was, but I am determined to make it!!!!

P.S.  Check out Courtney's blog for a blog design giveaway.  Her sister Jenn does such an amaing job!

The joys of moving

I have forgotten how much fun it is to pack boxes.......NOT!  Myabe it is just my attitude today, but I can't stand the thought of packing another box right now.  We did pack most of the boxes last weekend, so it really shouldn't be that bad, but for some reason the thought of it today is.   As of right now I have packed two full boxes, put things that need to be carefully wrapped in another, and am currently contemplating packing one to two more before calling it a day.  It is so exciting to have a house to be moving to, but some of the pains that come along with it are starting to catch up with me.

Yesterday the rest of our major appliances were delivered.  I cannot wait to have them all in there places and put to good use.  In addition to appliances we went to pick up our new couch and my Christmas present, a Snuggie!  I never thought I would want one until I tried out my friend Amber's.  I became a Snuggie convert within minutes of putting it on.  I am so happy to have one of my own now!  It is one of the warmest things that I own and I know I will use it for many, many years!

This week we have found ourselves a bit frustrated in the whole remodel process.  It seems that things we were told we be done, have not yet been completed.  While we know this is normal, we still feel frustrated because we just want to get into the house.  The delays have only pushed moving in back a week or so, but to us it is a week too long!  This being our first house together, we are marking off the days until we can move in. 

Inspite of the frustration. it was amazing to see our colors up on the walls!  The pictures don't quite capture the fullness of the colors, but maybe one day you will make a trip to see and get to expierence them in person!

Our Bedroom Walls- The blue is the same color as the bathroom

Guest Bedroom

Laundry room

Me with my blue wall!  I love it!

Stinson with the tile he picked out to match the backsplash in the kitchen.  The kitchen wall color is behind him

In the aniticipation of moving we packed a million boxes last weekend.  This past week when I was going to make dinenr and treats for my class, I realized we may have been a little over zealous because many things I need were already boxed up and waiting to be unpacked in the garage of the new house.  It is nice to glace around the house and see the barren walls and empty places that mean we are embraking on new part of our journey as a married couple.  We both know it is one that has been given to us by our Heavenly Father, one that we are greatful for, and one we know will bring much joy!

Tuesday we will be taking off for New Jersey to spend Christmas with Stinson's family.  We are looking forward to spening time with them at Brantley and Caroline's home as well as some time in the city.  Neither of us have been to New York City before and we are both looking forwar to all of the things the Big Apple is known for.  We are excited to get a glimpse into Brantley and Caroline's lives and home.

I am not sure when I will be back to blog again, but I am wishing all of you a Christmas season full of Christ, family, love, peace and joy!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here now that it finally snowed!  I cannot believe how quickly the Christmas season has come.  For some reason this year it hasn't felt as much like Christmas this year like it has in years past!  I think due to busyness with the house the usual holiday things have gotten lost in the mix.  We are busy packing instead of decorating, and that could be part of it too.


I have like a million pictures to put up.  I am just going to put them up and share a few thoughts that go along with each.  Hope you enjoy this long post!

I almost forgot to tell you something amazing!  My sister-in-law Sara designed this new layout for me!  Isn't it adorable?!  I love it and just have to brag about her a little bit. She is becoming quite the web-page designing queen!!!

House Update

Here are just a few pictures of what has gone on in the house lately.  A little more tearing out, new windows, and new dry wall!

Wall in the "Master" Bedroom with the new window and fresh dry wall

The Laundry with no more wood paneling!

The Kitchen wall with its new face lift!

My husband and his beard, which I don't think is going anywhere anytime soon!  I think he is the best part of the new house!  He has been quite the bargain shopper for the things we need for the house!

Our first piece of art!  This will hang somewhere in the living room once the house is finished.  I love this picture and it reminds me of one of my favorite places, and all of the wonderful memories I have of Seattle and my family!  The colors are a lot brighter, but I had to turn my flash off to get a good picture, so you can't get the full affect of it.

Thanksgiving Pictures--Finally!

 The yummy apple pie we made!  It was finger-lickin' good!

The Thanksgiving table, silverware and napkin styling inspired by a picture I found in a Pottery Barn book.

We had a fun afternoon in downtown Seattle.  Each time I am down there I remember just how much I love it!  We took a tour of the Smith Tower.  This is one of the views from the observation deck.

Here is the view with the Spaceneedle in it!

My adorable parents!!!!

The four of us, just missing Ryan and our significant others.  We love each other and have so much fun together.  I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful, loving and supportive family!  I treasure each of the memories we have and I cannot wait for the memories to come!

I am convinced that one of God's greatest gifts to us are sisters!  I love that as we grow older my sister and I seem to become better and better friends!  If only we lived closer so that we could spend more time together!  Here we are helping this nutcracker out!

We are happy to be spending time together!

The crazy things that happen in fourth grade!

We got a little carried away this year in fourth grade.  We love our master piece!  The students love it and it has brought home the holidays to our 4th grade hallway!

The sign hanging above the fireplace 

The crowning center piece that will hang, framed, above the fireplace.  You would not believe how much fun we had taking this photo.  Let me tell you, we had a very difficult time NOT laughing!  I think the children have turned us a little crazy!

As the holiday season comes into full swing I am reminded of the gift that truly matters the most, the birth of my savior!   He was born to bring me salvation.  He was born a tiny, vulnerable babe, just like me, and through Him God brought hope, love, peace, and grace.   This season I am going to do my best to keep my eyes fixed on Him, and the splendor that He brings to the season.

I have been blessed beyond measure with friends, family, and opportunities.  I hope that this season I can be a blessing to those around me in the small ways!  Until next time, stay warm, and I pray God finds a way to bring many blessings to you this holiday season!