52 Weeks of Me- Week 5

This week our theme was Daily Activities. Our bedtime routine is pretty much the same every single night. I really cherish this time with the kids. Usually I am just reading to one kid though. My husband and I alternate between the kids. It is nice to have that one on one time each night. For the photo both kids wanted to be in the shot so it is a little staged. Don't you love how Miller is looking directly at the camera?

Team-Up Thursday- Stacked

Cara and I are all stacked up today. It looks like there has been lots of laundry folding going on at her house. My shot has no real significance. When I thought of stacked, bright, vivid, wooden blocks came to mind.

Join in on the fun over at Mental Inventory.

A Day in the Life- Jan 25, 2011- {afternoon}

Today I am going to show you yesterday afternoon. I started while in the carpool line to pick up Harper. As you can see I have already picked up Miller who is happily riding in the back. He always wears his hood up like that and I think it is the cutest thing ever.

We pick up Harper and head home. The kids immediately snatch up the ipods. They don't even bother to turn on the lights. I tell them they can play for a few minutes while I unpack Harper's backpack, sort the gazillion papers that come home every day and unload the dishwasher.

Then I decide to make myself some tea, while Harper gets started on her homework.

Might as well multi-task and ice my swollen achilles tendon while I enjoy my tea.

The kids occupy themselves for a little bit.

While I get started on dinner.

My husband actually walked in about this time, but I did not get a good shot of his entrance. Then there was a little drama because Mitch confirmed that there would be no Mario Kart tonight since he had cards flipped at school today. That didn't go over too well with Miller.

Next week I will tackle an evening including bedtime. If anyone would like to join in on the fun, I will post next Wednesday. So just leave a comment linking to your post.

Bonsai Bag

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Made by Rae's purse patterns. The buttercup bag is so adorable and I love the lickety split bag. So when I needed a new purse, it only made sense to try her newest pattern the Bonsai Bag. It is not as easy as the other two, but the final product was well worth the little extra time.

It even has a recessed zipper. So far I am loving it.

I have been working on another project that matches the purse, but I am not quite finished. Maybe next week??

Happy Crafty Tuesday everyone.

52 Weeks of Me- Week 4

This week's theme is focus on unusual elements. I know that can be interpreted in many different ways. I had a few ideas. Of course, I waited until the last minute to take my shot though. Then there was this tent set up in our living room, which is a very unusual element. So all I had to do was put myself in the photo somehow. It should have been easy, but children and a dog decided to walk right in front of the camera every time I had it all set up. Finally, my husband held the dog and the children stood still for 10 seconds.

So there you have it.

Green Smoothies

I had several people interested in my green smoothie recipe, so I thought I would post my current favorite.




Ingredients:
spinach (enough to fill 3/4 of the blender)
banana
1 cup frozen fruit- peaches, mango, and pineapple are my favorite and makes the smoothie stay bright green
1 cup almond milk (I am sure any type of milk would work or you could use juice.)
1 cup water

I am not sure if it matters, but I always put my spinach in first, then the banana, then the frozen fruit. Then I put the liquid in and blend it up. This is enough for 2 smoothies.

For more of my green smoothie recipes click here.

Team-Up Thursday- Black & White

This week's theme is Black & White. Cara is on the left I am on the right. I had a very similar photo picked out from our snow storm last week, but decided against it at the last minute. I am drawn to the line of trees in the background of Cara's shot. It is such a beautiful and serene shot.

My photo is of a church that my dad carved for me. He used a photo that I took in Colorado as inspiration.

The inspiration shot is here.

Fore more Team-Up Thursday click on over to Mental Inventory.

A Day in the Life- Jan.19, 2011 {morning}

I am so intrigued and captivated by bloggers who update their blogs several times a day with their normal day to day activities. To some it might seem mundane or self fulfilling, but I love it. I don't have the time or energy to be one of those bloggers, but in an attempt to capture snippits of our life I have decided to start a new weekly (hopefully) blog post. Mainly as a way for me to remember our routines and to be able to gauge how much has changed or not changed at all. Since documenting a whole entire day would be way too time consuming, I thought I would start with portions of our day like morning, afternoon, evening, bedtime, etc. It will probably begin to get repetitive, but I want to see where it goes. Don't expect any award winning photos either.

My morning starts at 6:31 am with a shower. I get myself dressed and ready for the day.

Then it's time to wake up these sleepy heads. They are happy to see me. Can't you tell?

Breakfast is made. Lunch is packed for me and Harper.

Vitamins for me and the hubby (left) and the kids (right).

Breakfast time for me. I usually make a pot of oatmeal for me and Miller, but he wanted cereal this morning. So I just microwaved my oatmeal. While it was cooking I got my green smoothie ready and loaded the dishwasher. Do you like my princess spoon?

Harper was finished with breakfast so I asked her to go get dressed and ready for school. Poured my smoothies.

Harper is all ready, a little wrinkled and mismatched, but ready. I asked Miller to get dressed about 10 times. At 7:53 he finally decides to actually get dressed.

I brush my teeth. Pack all our stuff up. I am going for a run on my lunch break. That's why it looks like I am going away for the weekend. I warm up my coffee. I had leftover coffee from yesterday that I put in the fridge.

Teeth are brushed, coats are on. I think we are ready to go.

I drop off the kids at school.

Now it's time to work.

How was your morning?

Bathroom Remodel is Complete

The bathroom has actually been completely finished for a couple of weeks now, well except for putting up something over the toilet. I am not sure if I want a shelf or some artwork. Decisions, decisions! It is such an improvement. Mitch worked so hard on it and I think he did an awesome job. I can't believe this is the same bathroom.

I have a couple of sewing project in the works, so hopefully I will have something crafty to show you next week.

Way to go Hootie

Looks like Craft Gossip and Softie Making Resources have posted links to my Hootie the Owl Tutorial. How cool is that?

Check it out.

Remember if you make something using one of my tutorials make sure to post a photo in my flickr pool.

Thanks!!

52 Weeks of Me- Week 3

This week we are focusing on the eyes. I am embracing my wrinkles, dark circles, and bags today. Just keepin' it real, you know. I promise I am not mad in this shot or scowling at anything. I was just trying to keep my eyes as open as possible.

The sun was finally shining so I took the opportunity to snap a few shots. If you look closely you can see my reflection in my eyes. Yep, I got real fancy and just held the camera out and clicked.

Wanna join in on the fun? Visit Jessie and Cara.

Team-Up Thursday- All in a row

Cara and I have decided to go along with the group's theme each week. This week's theme is All in a row. I couldn't resist capturing these snow capped lanterns hanging from our pergola.

Don't you love Cara's shot? I am not sure how she got all those kids to stand still all in a row.

Wanna join in on the fun? Head on over to Mental Inventory.

Winter Wonderland

Monday morning we received some much anticpated snow. Three days later it is still a winter wonderland.

Taggie Blanket and Play Dog Bed

I am still trying to ease my way back into sewing. Don't want to overdo it, you know? I was definitely itching to make something though. Miller's teacher is pregnant and about to go on maternity leave so I made her a taggie blanket to go along with a bib and burp cloth set that I had already made.

Miller has been asking me to make him a dog bed for her his dogs, so I finally managed to make him one.

I was going to make a blanket, but he wanted it to be a sleeping bag. So it quickly became a sleeping bag.

Bailey was very interested in this new bed. She was probably jealous that I did not make it for her.

Happy Crafty Tuesday everyone!!!

52 Weeks of Me- Week 2

This week's theme was reflective surfaces. I had many different ideas, but decided to use the mirror in my bedroom at the last minute. Too bad I was not actually relaxing and reading. I went for a 5 mile run (wahoo) and then showered really quick. Ate some lunch. Then set up this shot before we rushed out the door to go to a basketball game. I do like the serene feel of the shot.

Team-Up Thursday- New

Cara and I are playing along with the group with the theme New. I wish my photo was the one on the left, but it is the one on the right. I am guessing that Cara was good last year. I am looking forward to seeing the beautiful photos she captures with her new camera.

Join in on the fun over at Team Up Thursday hosted my Megan and Melody.

Christmas Card Tags

I was serious about taking a break from sewing. I did not sew one thing this week. Whenever a project started creeping in my head, I instantly pushed it out. I even said no to a custom order request that I received. I was a little nervous about it, but after I did it I felt so liberated. I really didn't want to do it, so I finally realized I just need to say no. I know it might sound silly, but saying no is VERY hard for me.

I am starting to feel small twinges of desire to sew, so I am sure I will be back at it soon. The only crafty thing I have to show today is some tags I made from Christmas cards that we received this year. Initially, I was going to just save them for next year. Then I decided to go ahead and do them now. Who knows if I will remember that I set the cards aside? A year is a long time, you know?

I used my Sizzix Big Shot for some of the tags, which I have had for over a year now and LOVE. It will cut fabric, felt, paper, and even aluminum cans. It is a very cool tool. Some of the cards I just used regular old scissors.

Now I have tags all ready for next year. Talk about planning ahead.

I have a guest post up today over at Ladybug Blessings so make sure to check it out.

Happy Crafty Tuesday everyone.

52 Weeks of Me- Week 1

My talented Team-Up Thursday partner, Cara and Jessie from The Lucas Zoo have decided to take a self portrait once a week for a year. Yes, that is 52 Weeks of self portraits. Yikes. I have decided to join them for the journey. I will be honest. I am a little nervous. The thought of me in front of the camera and posted for the world to see is definitely putting me outside my comfort zone, but I am ready for the challenge. Each week they will chose a theme. This week's theme is traditional portrait.

Hey everyone.

To step up to the challenge, visit Jessie or Cara.

Changing Gears

I have had this blog for almost 3 years now. I think the best thing about having a blog is being able to look back over the months and years and reflect on how much has changed. It is also enlightening to see the natural rhythm of our life from season to season and year to year. I love being able to look back at last year(2010) and in 2009 to see what I was thinking starting the New Year.

2010 proved to be a great year, so I have high hopes for 2011. I have been running regularly since June, which is a pretty major accomplishment for me. I have always despised running, but I am slowing learning to really enjoy it. I have signed up to run a half marathon in April. Mitch is running the full marathon. We both ran the half marathon in 2001 so it seems fitting to run it again 10 years later. Eventhough, I swore I would never do it again. I am excited to see what my 35 year old body can do.

I feel like I am officially ready to put the sewing side business on hold for awhile or forever. Although I did have some orders and the charity shop this Christmas, it wasn't too stressful. It was nice to have time to sew some presents. I am looking forward to just sewing for family and friends when I feel like it.

The schedule change that I made last year has worked out really well for everyone. As I predicted it meant I was not able to sew as much, which in the whole scheme of things is not that big of a deal. It's nice to have that extra hour in the afternoon to unwind, get homework done, and dinner started.

Besides my fitness goals, I want to continue to focus on healthy eating and being green. I think gettting back on track with meal planning will help. I want to continue blogging. Since a good portion of my free time will be consumed with running, expect to hear more about that.

Here's to another great year!!!!

Happy New Year everyone.