Life Lately, Making Lemonade out of Lemons

Hello Friends!  I'm sorry it's been so long since I updated.  This break was a unexpected, but for now, my online life is on the back burner but I think everyone will understand why.

In early August, I tore my left calf muscle lengthwise.  It's about eight centimeters long so almost a complete tear.  Can't say I was doing anything especially cool or fun, in fact, I just was running down the stairs!  I should probably make up a more exciting story.

This photo was taken at the beginning of the month after I got my boot and was finally able to be out and about for more than just quick trips in and out of the doctors office.  Even with the increased mobility, resorting to the electric scooter was still the best option as my legs get tired easily.  I'm doing better and better though.  In fact, I'm already out of the boot and walking almost normally.  Things are still very, very stiff but I'm working at getting things moving easier at physical therapy.

My doctor told me to expect it to be a total of at least three months for the recovery process.  Looking on the bright side, I didn't need surgery and my husband works close by.  He comes home at lunch and helps me get the kids fed and my little guy down for quiet time.  This was an especially big help during the end of the summer, when both kids were still home.  He's a big help and I'm so lucky to have his support.  My nine year old daughter has also been a big help, I'm more mobile now but at first I couldn't do much at all so I really needed her to go grab things and help her little brother.

One of my best friends has been coming by periodically to help tackle things like the floors and dusting.  Those are two of my biggest pet peeves, I can't stand crumbs everywhere!  I'm really bummed that the last month of summer, we couldn't do more fun stuff with the kids but their friends have been really good about coming over to visit and keep them company.

Everything will be better in time, key word being time.  I just have to wait and be patient while things heal up.

Hello 14

Happy 14th Wedding Anniversary to My Husband Brad!  

In honor of our 14 years as husband and wife I thought it would be fun to share 14 memorable moments!  Listed in chronological (or close too) order:

1. Driving cross county from MI to CA, TWICE!  I'm glad you've relaxed the 4 am wake up calls and 12 hour driving schedule.
2. Shopping for and furnishing our first apartment, still can't believe we fit so many Ikea boxes into that Ford Escort AND that we still have that Ford Escort!
3. Exploring Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, and yes, we will totally take the free bus service to trail heads from now on!
4. Saturday mornings spent at the Farmer's Market picking up strawberries, flowers, and banana bread from Bake Sale Betty
5. Maui for our Honeymoon and driving the Road to Hana + our romantic dinner luau
6. The amazing trips we took around CA from exploring Santa Barbara, checking off another Mission off the list, to seeing Hearst Castle & eating pot pie at Linn's and so many more!
7. Our Easter in Santa Fe while interviewing at Los Alamos.  The dinner at KFC might just be one of our most memorable holiday meals!
8. Finding two red lines, "No wait, it says to wait ten minutes!"  Ah, yeah that second line isn't going to disappear.
9. Holding each of our babies for the first time & watching them grow. Hearing the kids call out Mommy or Daddy and light up when they see us makes up for the times they are challenging, don't you think?
10. Going from watching House Hunters to actually looking for one ourselves, especially since we were coming back "home", something I never thought would happen!
11. Having our families with us for holiday celebrations again, it's so much nicer to have a full table at Thanksgiving than to just be the two of us like every other day.
12. Disney World is so much more fun with children, I never would've guessed how into getting all the autographs you would be!  You are one patient Daddy to visit so many princesses!
13. Showing our kids what going up north means to a Michigander and how a pastie must be eaten anytime you're there!  
14. And since we just went, I'll end with the summer birthday trips we've started taking each year.  I hope they become a regular thing and that as the kids get older we can go for longer.  Chicago was so fun and even though you did implement the early wake up once again, I will admit that it did get us to the Field Museum early enough to feel like we had a private viewing of the dinosaurs!

Love you very much Brad and can't imagine life without you by my side, now and always ♥ 

Bath and Body Works Candle Haul

Friends, we have been sicker than sick around here!  My seven year old has been coughing off and on all winter.  It had gotten better but then at church one day it was so obnoxious and embarrassing how much she was coughing.  Now she is quite the drama queen so we just thought she was over exaggerating, cause that's the kind of kid she can be. I'm sure everyone around her thought she had the plague!  Well, turns out she kinda sorta did!

I was also so congested, with the sorest throat I can remember, and having some ear pain.  We both went into the doctor two weeks or so ago.  Mine was a very nasty virus; there wasn't much they could do but advise rest, fluids, etc.  I was so bad off Brad had to take a few days off because I couldn't do much but lay in bed, drugged up on Sudafed.  When he did go back to work, I only made it through the day by napping during LB's nap time and going to bed the minute Brad came home at night.

While dealing with all that fun we had both kids at home because E was on a five day course of antibiotics for parapertussis, as in a strain of whooping cough!  It wasn't the form they have to report to the health department but it was still quite contagious.  She was bouncing off the walls and horribly bored because I couldn't do to much being sick myself.  On top of all this the little guy also had an ear infection so all three of us were on round the clock medication.  Brad was the only one feeling marginally well, and he had a cold too.  Unfortunately for him, he was best off of us and had to assume most of the parenting and house chores.

I know you are thinking, what does this have to do with shopping?  Well, for one I wanted to explain why there has been almost no activity here on the blog.  Sheer exhaustion, but I'm almost back to normal now.  Two, being stuck inside for over a week meant I was itching to get out and do a little shopping.

I stocked up on Bath & Body Works 3 wick candles back in the fall, snagging several to give as teacher gifts when they were 2 for $20.  In the new year they raised their candle price to $22.50, not that I'd ever pay that.  Emails started coming for their sale and I so wanted to go but the weather has been so off and on bad I hadn't been able to make it out to a store.  Then on day before the last day of the sale - last Saturday, I finally hit one up and my plan was to get the Garden Strawberry and one other scent.

Clearly, that didn't happen!  Not only did Garden Strawberry not make the final selection, neither did Pink Passion Fruit, the other one I thought we'd end up with.  I did sort of stick within my comfort zone with more that one with a lemon/citrus scent.  The Red Velvet Cupcake was E's pick, and it is pretty yummy.  She also wanted the Frosted Cupcake but I drew the line at one baked scent.

So tell me, what have you splurged on lately?

Hello 2014

{My cute planner is from Paper Coterie}

Hi Friends!

I didn't mean to completely disappear like that for the last part of December.  I planned to take a little break to finish Christmas preparations and then I guess I was enjoying holidaying too much to come back until now!

If you didn't already know, I'm in the Midwest and we've been having just the snowiest winter in Michigan, no really.  We just set a new record for snow fall.  It just makes me feel like hibernating & watching TV at night instead of doing anything productive.

Besides the snow, it's been really cold!  We've had FIVE days off this month due to either snow or extreme cold.  Two kids at home means, I get to have more quality time with my seven year old while our two year old is napping.  This is normally when I do a lot of my blogging so that's another reason it's been quieter around here.  Have to take advantage of mother daughter time when I can, because she might not want to drop everything and draw with me forever.

One project I have been making time for is finishing my Journal Your Christmas album.  This is the first year I've taken Shimelle's class and I loved it.  I am not good at creating as you go throughout the month of December, so each day I would do my journaling on the computer and now I am working on making things pretty.  I hope to share some pages soon.

{Digital Journaling Card from the Jade Edition of Project Life}

I have also been reflecting a lot on finding more balance in my life, between motherhood & my own identity, healthy lifestyle versus my natural inclination to be sedentary, blogging and family life.  This is something I struggle with and need to make a conscious and deliberate plan to work toward.

So that is a bit of a catch up, I'm looking forward to what 2014 has in store for us.  How is your new year off to?

Happy Birthday from Vera Bradley

As you all know, I'm a Vera girl!  The minute my birthday card from Vera Bradley arrived, I started thinking about how I would spend my $20 gift card.  Oh the choices!  I love having a birthday in March, the new summer patterns are released this month.  It's a good excuse to go pick one up immediately.

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, if you're a customer at one of Vera Bradley's Signature stores and on their mailing list they will send you a card during your birthday month for $20!  You used to only be able to use it at the store you were signed up at but the last couple of years you have also been able to use it online.

So mine came and I had to go spend it, you know, cause I NEED a new bag!  Judging from my purse shelf, you may all thinking I might have a problem.  These are just the bags I rotate for every day. This does not include my really big bag I use for travel or any of my wallets, coin purses, pouches, travel jewelry cases, or stationery.  Just thought I'd share that, so that now you know I have an addiction!

Back to my story, ER and I recently met my friend Margaret for a little shopping at the Signature store at the Somerset Collection.  I go there so often that the associates know us, although I will say it might be because ER is always so personable and talkative.  Plus the ladies always love seeing her decked out in all her VB glory.  That little girl has more than most adults I know.  She's even on the birthday list and gets her own birthday card from the Signature Stores every July.

This time I was totally planning on doing a good deed and spending the gift card on a birthday present for my MIL.  Norma is quite the world traveler and during our family trip to Florida, she liked the convience of my Bookbag in Mocha Rouge, that I use as a hands free diaper bag.  She just wanted the slightly smaller Backpack version, which still holds a lot.  I know, I've got one in Blue Rhapsody.  It's perfect for traveling and the toddler years when you have to lug around sippy cups, pull ups, extra clothes, and snacks.

I went in with the intention of getting Norma a Backpack...but a little something else might have left with me instead. Oops!  But it was such a good deal and I've wanted a bag in Folkloric for the longest time.  The pattern is part of the spring sale; I used my gift card, so really I couldn't not buy it. Right?  Right?  C'mon I need some back up on this to convince Brad that my bag shelf had room to squeeze on one more!

This is the super sweet sales associate who helped us last time.  She was so nice to take our picture with Margaret and pose for me herself.  I took down her name and then lost it!  If she is reading this, I apologize!  I totally meant to give you a little shout out for your excellent assistance!  You are proof that Vera Bradley has the nicest employees.  You were so helpful and friendly, that you and the rest of the staff are a big reason why we love going to your store.

When ER was still in preschool we used to go for all the new release days.  Now that she's in kindergarten we can't make more than sixty minute drive on week days, darn it that whole going school thing.  Now we have to confine our VB runs to weekends and days off when we head across to town to see my parents or Grandma Norma.  Another Signature store opened closer to home but I haven't been to it yet.  I've been going to the Somerset location for so long, it kinda feels like it would be cheating to go meet the gals at the Twelve Oaks store. 

In Memory of Dianna

I have some sad news to share, I've learned on Sunday that my friend and sorority sister lost her two year battle with breast cancer.  She was just 33 years old.  In honor of her memory, I will be observing a few days of silence on the blog.  Be back on Thursday with A Crafty Soiree, after the wake and funeral.

Ultimate Blog Party at 5 Minutes for Mom

It's that time of year again, when one of the biggest parties across the blogisphere is thrown! I'm happy to be welcoming new guests to my online home once again through 5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate Blog Party and to be seeing familiar and well known faces again too.I'm Katie, a former teacher turned SAHM to a sweet four and a half year old daughter, referred to by her initials on this blog and also as my little chicklet. My husband of over ten years Brad and I are expecting our second child in August and just found out it will be a baby boy. We're very excited because we've wanted to expand our family for a couple of years now but the timing hasn't been right until now.

I love decaf latte's, diet Snapple peach ice tea, lemon bars, deep fried dill pickles, homemade ranch dressing, and having a different lip gloss for every day of the week. I think my collection is big enough for that and I know my Vera Bradley bag collection is! I used to work at a bookstore in high school through college and my love of reading has stayed with me. I adore a well written and illustrated children's book, they seriously make me giddy.

While I tend to wear neutrals I am very drawn to color especially happy spring combinations, aqua blue is my favorite color followed by sherbet pink, and I love both of those combined with lilac and a hint of green. I am most attracted to shabby chic but due to compromise, boo - hiss, have ended up with a very traditional looking home. For a few more snippets about me, click over to my 34 random and silly things about me post done for my recent birthday.

I also enjoy traveling and took advantage of my six years in Northern California to explore that wonderful state. Some of the day trips my husband and I went on there are my favorite memories. We've also lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico and I feel fortunate to have experienced two different regions in the United States besides the Midwest where I grew up and currently reside. I am also an avid amateur photographer, originally born in South Korea and adopted when I was two years old. Guess that's me in a nut shell, oh yes, and I'm a Type 2 Diabetic but I don't let that slow me down one bit.

I consider myself mainly a craft blogger, both my own projects and kid friendly ones, at least that's the main reason I started reading and then writing my own blog. Above are some examples of my projects. My favorite creative outlets are memory keeping related, specifically paper crafts. I was introduced to scrapbooking after going to Hawaii for my belated honeymoon and a whole new world of creativity opened to me. I think I was drawn to this medium because I have a tendency to forget things unless they are written down. Plus I take so many pictures, I needed something meaningful to do with them!

I especially like making mini books and enjoy making them from scratch, like the interactive accordion fold pocket books with tags. They make great gifts. Another favorite project is the 10 Reasons Why You're A Great Daddy book I made with my daughter. It incorporates her handwriting. Making custom and personalized home decor is another thing I do frequently.
I'm always interested in learning new techniques, and am teaching myself to sew and how to expand my skills through digital and hybrid scrapbooking. I am on the design team for Adorible Digital Designs and with each new kit release I make examples and frequently have freebies, like the ones shown above, for visitors to download. My next set will be available on Monday so please come back for that! Not only do I enjoy sharing my own projects I also love helping showcasing the talents of others. Every Thursday I am co-hostess of a creative party for showing off your latest creations. I am always inspired by the posts linked up at A Crafty Soiree and would love for you to join us! You'll always find something to spark your imagination there and each week I feature three participants.
I also post some of the projects and learning activities I do with my daughter, who's at the right age for me to use many of the things from the kindergarten curriculum I have from my teaching days. I'm taking a bit of a break while pregnant but I am also co-founder of the educational blog ABC & 123: A Learning Cooperative where you can find lots of activities to do with your children.

While crafting projects and family life are a big part of Katie's Nesting Spot, I also do family friendly product and book reviews as well as host giveaways. It's so much fun to try out new products and share them with my readers! I pick and choose sponsors, products, and the deals I share carefully so that I only feature ones I can really stand behind and would bring into my own home. That makes it easy to give one hundred percent honest opinions, as I always do!

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you'll come back and visit frequently, as I love making new friends. I invite you to look around, the pull down menu under my blog header will help you navigate my blog by categories. Like all bloggers, I love comments so please leave me one before you go so I can be sure to make it by your online home too!

34 Random Things About Me on My 34th Birthday

It's my birthday and we're celebrating with a good ol' home cooked meal by my mom, chicken parmesan and a lemon pie...two favorites of mine♥ Thought I'd share some little things about me today, none of it's important or earth shattering. I can't even promise it'll be very interesting. It's just a bunch of odds and ends about me:) Just because...

1. My family room couch is deep purple, and yes it's on purpose.
2. When I'm not pregnant I drink Diet Snapple, lots of Diet Snapple...preferably peach.
3. I hate wearing socks.
4. Deep fried pickles dipped in Ranch dip are fabulous...but then so are most things deep fried and covered in Ranch that don't come from the sea.
5. I horde magazine clippings, organize them, and eventually throw them all away when feeling overwhelmed by everything I'm not doing. This pattern repeats itself over and over.
6. I am post office challenged, whenever I need to get something weighed it sits and sits and sits until finally Brad takes it in. The mail guy greets him by name now. I just dread going there for some reason.
7. I'd love to own a beautiful winter white coat but I'm messy, oh so very messy.
8. I like to read and eat in bed before going to sleep, and the crumbs drive my husband crazy.
9. I don't really miss teaching, like I thought I would. Guess I'm having too much fun being mommy.
10. Most days I don't wear any makeup, not cause I think I'm all that. I'm just lazy.
11. Even though I don't wear makeup, I can be terribly vain. For example, I won't wear my hair in a ponytail because I think it makes my face look fat.
12. My favorite scents are citrus and citrus, yep I like to smell like lemon pledge.
13. I took my daughter to Build A Bear the first time, cause I wanted a bear!
14. Even though I know I should check more books out of the library, I can't resist buying new ones all the time.
15. House Hunters is on HGTV a lot, and I could watch it all day long, much to my husband's annoyance.
16. I secretly like really trashy reality television like Jersey Shore, Sister Wives, and Real Housewives of the OC but most of the time you can't get me to admit it.
17. It wasn't until I found out I was diabetic that I started liking baked goods and dessert, perfect timing don't ya' think?
18. I'm scared of dogs, even the little ones.
19. I love my kitties but they've been puking so much some days I'm ready to give them away.
20. I match my handbag and shoes, and seeing women mixing their blacks and browns makes me cringe.
21. I can always use a new bag or pair of shoes, hey neither ever make you look fat!
22. Baseball is the only sport I think is worth watching, if you don't count the Olympics and figure skating...and my husband wouldn't count the latter.
23. I have very high arches and wide feet, translation...I wear comfy shoes, heels are out most of the time and whenever I have to get all dressy it's a scramble to find suitable shoes.
24. I love to eat but am a terrible cook and handling raw meat makes me sick. Brad does kitchen duty most nights, and likes it as long as I plan the meals.
25. Yes I know I haven't seen most of the folks from high school since, well high school, but I still really like using Facebook to find out what ever happened to so and so.
26. At any given moment, I'd rather be on the beach next to the ocean.
27. I'm a night owl by nature, no matter how many days I've been on a reasonable schedule, it only takes one time to get me back to being up late.
28. I can't spell to save my life.
29. I'm pretty useless for anything beyond basic arithmetic and can't add or subtract simple sums in my head. Brad laughs at that.
30. When I was little, the very absolutely last things on earth I wanted to be was a teacher, a SAHM, or someone who lives in the boring burbs. Which is a joke on me cause now I'm all three and just barely in the burbs, my community borders on being in the country.
31. I took French in high school, cause why the heck would I ever need Spanish? Let me tell you a little Spanish would've really come in handy when I lived in CA and NM.
32. My very worst subject ever was chemistry, just hated it! Even told my teacher her subject was useless and I was never ever going to know anyone who was remotely interested in it. Guess what my husband's PhD is in...
33. I thought I'd have three kids by 30, and barely managed to have one. Which is the way it was supposed to be. I really wasn't ready; had to grow up first:)
34. I was found abandoned in Korea, adopted, and have always wondered how the heck March 13th became my "official" birthday.

And there you go 34 things about moi, you never needed to know! Have a happy day, I know I am!

BTW: I may take a few days off from blogging as a birthday gift to me, I need to catch up on planning ER's learning activities, clean (I know fun for me, what can I say, I'm a party animal), and a few other things. Either way, I'll definitely be back on Thursday for the weekly Crafty Soiree.

A Colorful Holiday with Vera Bradley

If you've "liked" my blog on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, you might know I'm obsessed a fan of Vera Bradley. Since so many of you like it when I post the sales there, I thought I'd share their big holiday event on the blog today. Plus, I'm way overdue to share the Twitter giveaway I won from them...that's at the end along with some of my picks for under the tree.

Vera Bradley makes so many things that make great gifts and if you'd like to save a little, then TODAY is THE day to get yourself to a Vera Bradley Signature Store! Here's a little bit more information about the specials at the event today:

Create a Colorful Holiday with gifts for everyone on your list!
Enjoy special surprises, drawings and colorful offers throughout the day!

Vera Bradley Stores
Wednesday, November 10...
Open - Close

Open - Noon:
Free Button Up Coin Purse with any purchase
Enter for a chance to win: Holiday Gift Set(retail value $149)

Noon - 3pm:
Three wallets (One for the Money, Mini Zip Wallet, or Euro Wallet) for $15
Enter for a chance to win: Holiday Entertaining Set (retail value $179)

3 - 6pm:
20% off Tech-Savvy Gifts including the Laptop Backpack, Laptop Portfolio, Tech Case and More
Enter for a chance to win: Tech Savvy Set(retail value $136)

6pm to Close:
Buy one item, get the 2nd item 50% off
Enter for a chance to win: Holiday Travel Set (retail value $150)
I most excited about the wallets available from Noon to 3 o'clock. I've been wanting a smaller Vera Bradley wallet, but everytime I go to get one I end up with another big one! Last time I got a Petal Wallet in Very Berry Paisley and the time before I left with a Clutch Wallet in Pink Cupcakes. Can you tell I like pink? I have bags to match both too:) I love both; they were great choices with plenty of slots for all your cards and change. It's just that on occassion I do carry smaller bags and need something else. I can't go because ER has preschool and we're busy tonight, but my mother-in-law is going and I hope she can snag a Mini Zip Wallet for me.
I've been meaning to share that it pays to stalk on Twitter and Facebook Vera Bradley has all sorts of fun giveaways and surprises for it's fans. I won a Be Colorful giveaway on Twitter and got this cute t-shirt from them.

I'd model it for you, but my favorite handbag company must be encouraging me to stick with doctor's orders, as they sent me a small! I think the last time I was a small, I was in fifth grade. So until my elliptical trainer and I are "like this" (insert fingers crossed) and I'm a few sizes smaller it'll have to serve as inspiration to lose several pounds.

But they did (insert squeals of happiness) send us not one but TWO of the Clip Zip ID in Very Berry Paisley - can anyone guess one of my two favorite patterns by now? One was for me and one was for ER because I mentioned we like to get mommy and me versions of Vera Bradley things. ER really likes hers, I put a picture in the ID holder and she carries lip gloss in it. I tried to get it for the photo, but apparently, I'm not allowed to borrow her Vera! LOL!The new holiday collection is out and I really REALLY want a watch and travel pill case in Baroque and an ornament in Very Berry Paisley on my wish list. I'd also love an apron set in Baroque as well as knit hat & scarf also in either Baroque or Hello Daliah Lining.

I don't really bake and I've got winter gear so I can't really justify those, other than I just want them! I'm thinking about getting ER a Knotty and Nice Headband in Twirly Birds Navy. I've just got to see it in person to see if it's adjustable or if I can pin it to fit her. There are so many fun things, and I haven't even discussed their bags!

8 Things and a Blog Award

Normally I don't do blog awards or tags, but not because I don't love them, I do! It's just that a lot of time I have a tight schedule of things planned out. I get them, I plan to do it, things come up, and then before I know it I have several stacked up. When I can't get to them in a timely fashion I feel bad and guilty, oh the guilt! So I decided to give myself a break and accept with pleasure and move on.

But yesterday, I was feeling kinda blah, and getting over a little bout with the stomach flu over the weekend, when I got TWO! They kinda cheered me up, because hey someone is 1) Interested in me and 2) Thinks my blog is interesting! Yay! Since they both happen to have very similar rules, I decided to combine them and so here they are!

First my long time bloggy friend Nichol from Kiddies Corner Deals, she such a sweetie and so nice and helpful! Thanks hon☺ She tagged me with 8 Questions:

What was the last thing you ate?
Club sandwich, our standby quick meal, on bakery bread. Isn't everything better on that? Only mine didn't have tomato, because we forgot to get pick one up and only had grape sized ones. I've tried cutting them up before but they just slide off and are annoying. All this with a glass of diet Pepsi with lots and lots of ice, cause boy am I enjoying the ice maker in my new fridge!

What is one of your best childhood memories?
Playing beauty shop with my Great Aunts, it was after my brother was adopted and I was feeling kind of neglected. They made me feel special by paying a lot of attention to me. I also remember pouring and pouring something imaginary out of this set of three pitchers they had when we visited their condo and getting served fruit cocktail. That was something special because we did not get to have fruit from a can at home.

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you were older?
Guess what I didn't want to be...a teacher! What a hoot! That's because everyone would tell me I should be one! I on the other hand wanted to be an Egyptologists, and yes, I know that's kind of random. In hindsight, it's kinda amusing since I don't like overly hot weather or being hot and dirty, two things that are probably involved with digging up things in the desert!

However, to this day, I always stop on those shows about ancient Egypt whenever I catch one on television. I also still love reading books about ancient cultures. For a brief time, my childhood interest was reignited in college when I took an Ancient Civilizations class. It was so facinating, and I just loved it. Ultimately, I decided it was something I liked do dabble in for fun; I couldn't see it becoming my whole life.

Do you paint your toenails in the winter?
Do I paint them in the summer, no so naturally I also don't bother in the winter. Actually I have terrible foot issues, no one else can touch them...EVER.

Do you watch any reality television? If so, what show is your favorite?
I am embarrassed to admit a fascination with The Bachelor and Bachelorette, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and The Real Wives of the O.C. Don't think any less of me, okay?

What were some of the "trends" when you were a kid?
Oh yes you betcha I do. How about jelly bracelets and shoes, tight rolled or pinned jeans, wearing jean jacked covered and I mean covered in buttons, and hair scrunchies. Man were we hot in the 80s.

What is your favorite time of the year? Why?
Early summer, the kids are out of school and it's not too hot or humid. I love going to the beach, wearing flip flops, and sunny skies! I really like most times of the year for different reasons, with the exception of winter. I don't like gray skies and snow, if I have to do anything other than look at it while holding a mug of hot chocolate.

Do you have any hobbies?
I think you all know the answer to that one! YES, I love to scrapbook and papercrafts☺ Crafting and creating is definitely my thing! I'm very excited to be going to a crop this weekend with one of my sorority alumnae sisters!!!

Gosh I have real boring answers, sorry! If I haven't put you to sleep and want to play along, consider yourself all tagged! I didn't pick to give a shout out to anyone in particular for this one because there are SO MANY bloggers tagged for second one...

From Amanda at It's Toile Good I got The Versatile Blogger Award, one I haven't gotten before! Thank so much Amanda! For that one I am to:

• Thank and link back to the person that gave you the award.
• Share 7 things about yourself.
• Pass the award to 15 blogs you love and enjoy!
• Let those blogs know they've been given the award.

First one, check. Second one, check - actually I'm an overachiever since I shared 8! Now for the last two criteria. I pass this award along to the following ladies, in no particular order:

• Noelle at Lil Bits and Pieces of Me
• Michelle at Flying Giggles and Lollipops
• Steph at A Pocket Full of Buttons
• Sharon at Mama's A Mess
• Malia at Yesterday on Tuesday
• Christy at From Glitter to Gumdrops
• Jennifer at The Toybox Years
• Teri at The Pursuit of Scrappyness
• Maradith at Strictly Homemade
• Maureen at Spell Outloud
• Annette at Net's Notes
• Ticia from Adventures in Mommydom
• Christine at Little Page Turners
• Amanda at Funny Days with Mommy and Maddie
• Beverely at Flamingo Toes

My New Refridgerator!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you all so much for the comments and emails yesterday! I was at the beach all day and when I got home at ten o'clock I was astounded to find over 70 congratulations from all of you☺ That was so sweet, a whole decade of wedded bliss does seem like quite a landmark! All together we've been a couple for going on sixteen years; Brad noted that next year we'll have been together half of our entire lives, doesn't that sound crazy?! We MUST be an old married couple because our super romantic gift to each other was...this fabulous fridge! Isn't it beautiful? When it came on Tuesday, it even had "new" fridge smell! I told Brad all I wanted for our anniversary was my very first brand new appliance and boy did he come through! It has all the features I wanted, every one!

Starting with a water and ice dispenser in the door. The ice maker on our old fridge has been out of commission for a long time. Now we won't have to constantly buy bags of ice!

I love the French doors! This fridge is huge inside, no more gaps between the wall or cabinets on either side like before. Our stuff looked so tiny inside. It has so many options for the shelves too, some even lift up so you have more room for tall things inside.

I took these right after it got here, it's so new the wrap is still on the drawers! One feature I really like is this long pull out drawer. Now I can fit a party tray in there and it's perfectly sized for ER's juice boxes.

Do you see that hanging thing? At first I didn't know what that was for. Brad says it's probably for a wine bottle but since we never have any of those, we're thinking cans of pop or ice teas might fit on it nicely too.

The giant freezer is nice and deep, wide enough to fit lots of premade meals. Now I can stock up my freezer during the winter for quick dinners.

If you can turn off the ice machine and get one big drawer on top. I'll finally have somewhere to freeze berries in a single layer or to put cookies that need to be frozen before baked. The wide drawer was a must, after living with the side by side, where nothing ever fit, EVER.

Just some of the reasons why I am so happy with our purchase.
A "Before" shot of the old black side by side that came with the house. The ice and water dispenser was broken, the shelves kept falling down, and the light would flicker on and off. Did I mention the ugly black color that wasn't magnetic? I had to add all of ER's artwork to it so I didn't have to look at a giant black box all the time. After having this side by side, I never want another one.

Celebrating a Decade of Marriage

Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary Brad!

Let's Etch!

On Friday I tried glass etching for the first time. I am thrilled by how cool the end result is! It was very easy too, for how fantastic the results are. All I did was make a stencil with my Cricut machine out of contact paper. Laid that down on the glass, smoothed out the air bubbles, spread on the etching cream, and let it do all the work. Sixty seconds later I was peeling off the contact paper and voila, I had a super cute and personalized gift!

It would make a really great hostess gift around the holidays, especially if it came filled with some freshly baked cookies! Filling it with biscotti and giving it along with some gourmet coffee beans would also be a good way to gift it. I have a lot of etching cream left and an itch to use it on everything in sight. I have a feeling my family and friends are all going to be finding something underneath the tree that's been etched in some way!

If I'd had more time I would've staged the picture better with cookies and a cute Christmas tag for Kendra's Christmas in July party. I planned on making it all week long, but of course it wasn't until the day I needed it that I bought all the supplies and etched the cookie jar. I had to wrap it almost immediately after I finished. I can say, it's a great last minute gift!
Here's the birthday girl at our fun Mom's Night Out at The Melting Pot! Yummy!!! She loved the cookie jar, with its contemporary three-initial monogram for couples: Wife's First Name Initial – Couple's Last Name Initial – Husband's First Name Initial. I figured her birthday, so her first initial should come first.Here I am right before leaving, just thought some of you might like to see the solution I finally came up with after asking for your fashion advice before. I feel a lot better with my shoulders a bit more covered up and the shorter length of the cardigan makes me feel a little hipper than the longer blue one. For me, this is all gussied up...note the lipstick, low heels and is that...why yes, even a bit of mascara, LOL! Did you notice my super cute new Vera Bradley Frill handbag? LOVE IT, the rosette is my favorite part.


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