Making It Ours, A Home that Is: Hurdles

I've been design blog surfing all hours of the day and night, I have this spiral notebook where I have sketched floor plans and where I hope to put furniture and I've been staring at the pictures of our (hopefully) future home trying to mentally place things. But while I was coming down with something (that knocked me out all day yesterday), our Realtor called saying there was some issue with our buyer's financing errrrr. Beyond frustrating. It's something that should be able to be cleared up, the result of last months new federal rules on FHA loans, but the issue is how long it should take. I'm really hoping it won't take too long because it would really suck to lose this home that we put the offer on and the money we spent on the inspection. It would really suck.

It's out of our hands and our Realtor is really working hard to nudge everyone who can do things so I'm just praying and hoping it works out. I default to wanting to keep planning out furniture and colors but I'm a little nervous that something will happen and I'll be even more disappointed. I know if we lose this place we'll find another but I'd rather stick with this one you know. I'd appreciate any prayers and positive thoughts since it's really a matter of getting people to submit forms and paper push in a timely matter.

Anyways. I (and the music maker) absolutely ADORE this love seat from Anthropologie. Totally out of our price range, but I love the look and feel and color. If any one knows of anything similar I'd love to know.

Show and Tell: Naughty Presents

 

(click on the picture to see a larger view)

This year was the very first time we got to do Christmas with the Naughties and the first time in a while that I've got to spend Christmas with my side of the family. My sister made the yummiest prime rib, my mom made this delish artichoke crab dip and tiramisu and after all the presents and eating I was reminded of how much I LOVE the movie Enchanted.

The girls each got 3 presents from Uncle and I.
a necklaces (which I picked up at one of the flop of a craft fairs I did)
a Dora blanket
a Black Apple style doll

The blankets are my favorite lazy girl blankets. A piece a fleece and a piece of cotton, sewn together, I use a bowl to make the corners round, inside outted and top stitched with a wavy stitch.

The dolls I made last minute, because I got sucked into all the pretty blogs I had discovered, with Emily from the Black Apple's pattern from when she was on Martha.

When Tira opened her presents she yelled "I love it" and when I picked out the fabric for the blankets we weren't sure that Lanna was really a Dora fan, but she's been singing (in her year and a half year old voice) Da da da da da dora from the Dora theme song so I think I made a good choice. Plus she immediately put on her jewels and hugged her "baby".

What's for Dinner: Week 15

I'm sick, not sick enough to lose weight or just lay in bed all day long, but sick enough to feel blah and like I should still get things done, but finding it hard to do that. Boo. So here's my plan for the week taking into account that I feel yucky and that we should try to empty out our fridge and freezer (hopefully we'll be moving in a month).

Sunday: Ate at Red Iguana
Monday: Corn Chowder
Tuesday: Turkey Enchiladas (frozen from left over thanksgiving turkey)
Wednesday: Sausage and Acorn Squash (need to use up sausage links (2 kinds, shopping at Costco on an empty stomach), send me your recipes, I'm not feeling my normal sausage ideas and we've got a good amount to eat over the next couple weeks.
Thursday: Shrimp and Cashew Nut Stir Fry
Friday: Jalapeno Mac and Cheese and Apple Sausage
Saturday: Ravioli and Meat Sauce

I think I'll go pick up some juice and Harry Potter and try to trick myself into getting something done.

Merry Christmas

Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn,
A Savior unto us is born,
The Christ, the Lord of glory!
His lowly birth in Bethlehem
THe agels from on high proclaim
And sing redemption's story!
My soul, extol
God's great favor;
Bless Him ever
For salvation;
Give him praise and adoration!

hymn 391 from the Lutheran Service Book

Naughty Time: While You're Putting Things in Boxes

Hope you're having fun doing the last of your Christmas prep. I thought this might inspire you to get off the blogs and stick something in a box.

Last Minute Ruffled Stocking Tutorial

(click on the photo for a larger view)

On Sunday my sister told me the Naughties still didn't have stockings in a suggestive manner. This was similar to the time that she told me that the girls had a princess party to go to. I thought about just handing her the stockings I made in college that I usually hang from our stairwell as decorations. I thought about carefully cutting out felt or layers of fabric and making new stockings for the girls. I thought about all the other things I have to do. But then today while in the 35 minute cut table line at Joann I saw these felt stockings 2.99$ 70% off. So I bought them and dolled them up. If I new where half of my craft stuff was (moving) I would have added some bells but this is what they got.

If you want to make your own here's some easy peasy steps.
1. Start with a basic stocking (really it's quite easy to make if you need to)
2. Cut some strips to ruffles. Mine are finished because they were for my ruffle diaper covers but really for stockings they don't need to be finished.
3. Gather one of the long edges of each ruffle, I did mine on my serger just cause that's what I'm used to but a simple basting stitch pulled would work fine
4. Pin on the ruffles, it's easiest to work from the bottom up
5-6. Sew them on, now I work from the top down.
7. Add ribbons, I fray checked the edges but hey it's just a stocking you don't have to, it's just habit for me
8-9. Hang and enjoy.

I think all I have left is wrapping and day of cooking, oh I just remembered my wontons. Okay that's not too bad of a list. Hope you're all having a good week.

My First 5K

I ran my first 5K this weekend.
I finished 14th out of 14.
I did really well for myself.
My trainer had a medal made up for me for my first race (being able to run was a goal of mine, it wasn't one of those everyone gets a medal deals so that was really nice).

I never thought I'd be a runner. In high school I played all the sports our school offered except soccer because of all the running. As an adult I've been jealous of the people that run for 30 minutes and burn more than my hour and a half at the gym. So when my trainer asked for a couple goals I said being able to run for half an hour. And I'm starting to enjoy it when really I'm mostly motivated by the fact that it's one of the quickest way to burn calories (okay I tried a spin class and absolutely hated it so don't try to sell spin to me despite the fact that that's a calorie scorcher). I'm more of a yoga girl, comfy, stretching, relaxing. So it's a pretty big deal that I was able to do this. I liked it and I may even try to do a 10K.

What's for Dinner: Week 14

(Our Traditional Christmas Wontons, I slacked last week so these are from last year)

Well hi, it's Christmas week. Is everyone ready? I've got some crafts for the Naughties I'd like to finish but it's not necessary. I do need to pick up a few gifts still and make the traditional wontons. I gave up on sending out Christmas cards this year because 1) we don't have a good picture of us and 2) we like to have clever or quirky cards and we've both been busy and totally consumed with house and other things to let our creativity flow. So hopefully my dear family and friends will be okay with a change of address card and update in a month or so.

So here's our plan for this week

Sunday: Oriental Cabbage Salad
Monday: Campanelli
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Mac and Cheese with Sausage
Thursday: Wontons (Christmas Tradition recipe and folding instructions here)
Friday: Christmas Dinner at my sisters, I think a Roast or something I've been instructed to bring mashed potatoes and a few items to transfer an artichoke crab dip to our mouths, I'm leaning towards tortilla chips but they want bread so I'll probably get both
Saturday: Some sort of soup, pass on any ideas I'd love to try a new one, maybe a corn chowder or something like that

SLC Peeps, Be There

My sister-in-law is putting this on and she'll have her work (amazing photography) and other great artists up including one of the music maker's good friend's stuff (that I always LOVE) so we'll be there, it's free, you should come too.

Naughty Time: Santa Stories

This year Tira LOVES Santa. If she sees him out and about she wants to go look. She's taken at least two free Santa pics this year that I know of (possibly more). Lanna does not like Santa, at all. And while I'm so tempted to get into the deep issues about playing the Santa game (it's one of the hot topics among my friends) I'll spare you. Instead, because it's naughty time, I'll just recount an episode from last week.

So, we were all in my living room (me, uncle (that would be my hubby), my sister, the naughties and grandma). Lanna starts being naughty (trying to stand on the coffee table or something), nothing new, she's a mischievous one. Now, I've been in the Old Navy and the Hobby Lobby when my sister or mom would pick up the cell phone and 'call Santa' to tell him that Tira was being naughty so what follows is not that weird. But anyways, the next thing we know Tira has my sister's cell phone open and is angrily talking a mile a minute, mind you she's two so she's not the most articulate of speakers, but she very distinctly said the words "Lanna" "Naughty" "Naughty List" "No Presents" and it gets better "Tira" "Good Girl" "Lot's Presents" over and over.

Haha she's awesome.

Making It Ours, A Home That Is : And So It Starts

(I love this room from Ohdeedoh)

So we're not all in the clear, but we are under contract on both our condo and a house that we want. And while I know things can go wrong and people can pull out I'm really hoping that doesn't happen. And if it does, well I'll just have to deal (and hopefully some of the ideas I figure out will prove useful where every we end up).

Besides, I love planning. When I was in college I loved planning out the perfect schedule. On vacations I love perfectly orchestrating the days And one of my favorite things ever was planning our wedding, ah so many details and things to work together. (I'm not a control freak really. I enjoy breaking my plans just as much as making them). Now that we finally have (at least in the horizon) a home that we plan on staying in for a while I can't wait to make it our own. But I need some help. I hope to post some ideas, questions, before and afters and the such. And I really hope some of you out there will have more experience and design sense than me and can help out.

Question 1: So first off what are your favorite design blogs? Or books or some other form of information passing?

Here are the few I check regularly and really click with:
Apartment Therapy the main page as well as Ohdeedoh and the Kitchn
Design Sponge
Imagine Cozy

I need more though. I need things for inspiration but also for basic design ideas like how to's, or before and afters with explanations, or furniture repurposing, or stuff like how to chose the right furniture for the room. Anything.

I'm really excited to think through what we like and don't like and start learning more about decorating and scoping out the classifieds for furniture and making stuff.

We'll have to wait until the beginning of February to be set because the people we are buying from are building a house and it's not quite done. Obviously I appreciate any suggestions and good thoughts about getting all the house stuff finalized.

What's for Dinner: Week 13

(Teriyaki Steak and Asian Stuffed Mushrooms)

Sunday: Red Iguana, yum yum yum
Monday: Fried Rice
Tuesday: Shepherd's Pie
Wednesday: Teriyaki Steak and Asian Stuffed Mushrooms
Thursday: Sewing Girl's Potluck, I think I'll bring an artichoke dip or some other savory thing
Friday:Some kind of soup (any one have any ideas)
Saturday: Wontons I'll Make a big batch to freeze some for Christmas

I think we may be under contract on our place so I don't have to worry about keeping the kitchen spotless. Anyone have any good recipes that they've made recently, I need some inspiration?

Naughty Time: Church, Back Fat and Babies

She's got a cute face but don't let that deceive you. Um yeah so we go to one of those churches where you stand up and sit down a lot and last Sunday while we were standing up Lanna was standing on the pew right behind me she lifted up my shirt and blew raspberries on my back fat. Seriously, inappropriate and rude, come on is she trying to send me a message?

Turn On Your TVs (UPDATED w/clip)

Rae Gun is going to be on TV. Laci of The Swanky Isis contacted me to be a part of their Holiday fashion feature on Studio 5. Studio 5 is a Utah morning show, kinda Today Show style, on the NBC affiliate KSL. I actually watch the show often and really enjoy it so I am SUPER excited. If you're in Utah by a tv tune in to NBC at 11 am this Thursday (for me it's channel 5-1). I'll put a link to any write up or clip they put on their website once the show airs.

UPDATES IN OTHER NEWS:
-we're still waiting to hear about the offer we made on a home, and hopefully will receive an offer on our condo. I'm so anxious.
-our little friend's heart transplant went well and she's working on healing (which includes her other organs adjusting to the space her failing (larger than normal) heart had taken up. prayers and positive thoughts are appreciated.

*UPDATED*

woohoo they put the clip up, my stuff is in the very last part of the clip

Here's the link to their write up on the show's webpage and the link for The Swanky Isis where they have a write up and a giveaway.

Ornament Exchange and Holiday How To (Tutorial)

I signed up for Pampering Beki's Ornament exchange.

I received the most adorable ornament from Kate at http://thequirkyredhead.com.



I sent her a melted Utah Snowman.

Here's how I made it.
What you'll need:
-beads for eyes
-orange foam sheet (or scrap) for nose
-glasses (I found these in the doll making section of the craft store)
-scrap of fabric for the scarf
-glitter glue
-skinny tweezers
-ribbon and tag
-clear ornament bulbs
-twig-ish things for the arms (I found chicken feet and cut them and thought they worked well)

If you can find these it would be cool
-mini hat (mine wouldn't fit through the hole of the bulb boo
-mini pipe
How to make it:
1. Squeeze some glitter glue in, spread it with a Q-tip if it needs some help
2. Use tweezers and carefully place everything where you want them
3. Attach a tag with a ribbon
4. Let dry

What's for Dinner: Week 12

(Stuffed Shells pre-cheese sprinkle)

Sunday: Chili Cheese dip with cheese and chocolate cake (you read right, don't judge me it was good)
Monday: Daniel's Work Christmas party, should be fun, I like those people. I'm bring Pioneer Woman's Texas Sheet Cake. It's like a cross between a cake and brownie so yummy
Tuesday: Stuffed Shells (made a couple weeks back in my freezer filling binge)
Wednesday: Fancy Ramen
Thursday: Pie Pizza
Friday: Turkey Sour Cream Empanada
Saturday: Cauliflower Blue Cheese Soup and Potato Croquettes

Lots of Potentially Really Good News

 

There's nothing official but there are a few huge things that could be really really good, great, exciting, happy making, fabulous. I feel like its the moment when the cookie dough is put into the oven but there is a still a chance that the cookies will burn (this happens to me more often than you'd think, I'm not the best at baking cookies). But I really really hope to look like happy cookie-face Lanna soon.

Teaser 1: We finally found a house that I'd be really happy with, but we have to get them to accept our offer and get someone to buy our condo. Please send good vibes.

Teaser 2: Rae Gun got a pretty cool invitation, more to come soon.

UPDATE: And another wonderful thing, my husband's coworker's baby girl (who we had the pleasure to spend a weekend with this summer) is getting a very needed new heart today. I've been praying non-stop, this is amazingly great news.

Naughty Time: Toys Smoys

A couple weeks ago, while making up the Christmas Skirts the naughties were over. Since we're trying to sell the condo (hence the sign) I packed up all the toys and keep a tiny box in the car. Of course on naughty days I trade cars with my sister and I always forget to take the box. But really that is so not an issue. After I let them play with water in the kitchen which is why they're in undies, (I know it's winter, what is aunty thinking?) they found my rick rack and threw it all over the house, over and over.

Then they found some of my bolts of (designer) fabrics and I'm not sure what game it could have been but it included pushing the bolts around and standing on them. This totally confirmed my suspicion that toys are overrated, fun to buy I admit, but bordering on unnecessary. Seriously when Lanna was a baby we put her in a box with a ball and she loved it. Also the other day I poured water on her head which sent her (and me) into fits of laughter. Come on you know you want me to babysit your kids.

IN OTHER NEWS I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU for those of you who took advantage of or spread the word about my Thanksgiving Weekend sale. It was a wonderful success. In all the ways that the Halloween frenzy was stressful and overwhelming this was the opposite while still being good business. I think I have found a system that works for me :) .

p.s. There are still a handful of giveaways open (see the right hand column) and the most recent one, the night light you don't have to link back just go comment.