A Busy Saturday

It's been a busy, good Saturday.

My day began with folding and putting away laundry. And I must be in a "spring cleaning" kind of mood because I started a donations box for unwanted items and went through all my clothes getting rid of things I don't wear anymore. And then, because I didn't get to it yesterday, I cleaned the remainder of my bedroom and bathroom. And boy did it need it!

After a quick shower, Jacob and I headed off for WalMart and Sprouts. I came across this blog through a friends blog and have caught a bit of a crafting bug. So I needed a little more supplies for a couple of projects I decided to make. WalMart was less effective for my supplies, but we still had some other necessities to pick up anyway.

I started my cork board project. It was my first mod podge experience. It was a success and I think I am going to quickly become a mod podge fan. Just as I was about to finish the picture frame, Aunt Carol came a knocking on our door, totally unexpected. It was a pleasant surprise and it was fun to show Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim the house. I am just glad I took the time yesterday to clean it up a little. :)

After our visitors left, I finished up the mod podge frame and started painting another frame for the crafty looking "white" board I was also planning to make. Jacob and I also enjoyed a good chat with his parents.

We then headed out the door for a Stake Chili Cook Off and evening of entertainment. Jacob was asked to be a chili judge and I was asked to help keep the food on the tables stocked so we had to get there a little early. I think Jacob had a good time judging the chili. The rules of judging were pretty intense. This was the real deal folks, pallet cleansing and all. Jacob and I did not enter any chili in the contest, and it was probably a good thing. Our chili didn't turn out as good as it usually does. It's not bad, but no prize winner to be sure.

We got home, made a quick stop to Target, and then I finished up the "white" board project. I added some hooks to the frame for keys and things. It's hanging right by the door to our garage and I thought it might be convenient. Especially since Jacob is always asking where he left his keys.


I'm now pretty tired. But very satisfied with my busy Saturday! Too bad my clean house is a little less than clean after the cooking and crafting. I suppose that's the way it goes though. The cleaning never ends. And that's okay.

A Little Break

I'm trying to treat this blog a little bit more like a journal. No, I will not get super personal or inappropriately open in this public forum. But I do plan on updating a little more regularly with some of the less "post worthy" types of things happening in my life.

So with that in mind, I will now proceed to bore you all with the mundane life I lead.

Work has been really slow lately. I literally have NOTHING to do. It's frustrating. I especially had nothing to do today because I had purposely not scheduled stuff as I was supposed to be in Las Vegas. Well, I'm not in Las Vegas. And I'm not at work either. I couldn't stand wasting one more second there when I knew I could probably be much more productive with my time at home.

I am currently taking a minutes break from my productivity. I got home at about noon and ate lunch and then proceeded on to the tasks at hand. Cleaning house. I mean, really cleaning. More than just the usual tidy up. Thus far I have cleaned the kitchen, entry way, and bathroom on the main level. I am currently waiting for floors to dry from mopping so I can move things back where they need to go. Then I will set to work on picking up the living room and organ room including vacuuming and dusting. I don't like dusting. But I love vacuuming. And then if I still have energy and motivation it is on to my bedroom, same thing dusting and vacuuming, and my bathroom. It's disgusting. And if it doesn't get done today you can just bet it will get done tomorrow. I've had it with the mess.

That is kind of how I roll with a lot of things in my life. I'll tolerate and put things off so much until I just snap and things have to be different right this second. Maybe not a lot of areas in my life but definitely two; my hair and housecleaning.

I am certainly at that point with the house, and coming very close to that point with my hair. It's about due for a good shaping up kind of trim.

Okay...looks like the floors are dry. Back to work.

Opposite Day

According to my calendar, today was opposite day. I thought of all the many ways I could celebrate but mostly I just had to be at work and try to maintain some level of professionalism. So, though there were a few lame "opposite day" jokes and phrases (mostly from Jacob), we pretty much just had breakfast for dinner.

Happy Opposite Day!

We had scrambled eggs and pancakes with cinnamon baked apple slices on top. It was pretty delicious!

In other news, we booked our flight to see our new niece in Vegas. Can't wait to meet that cutie! I'm just a little sad we had to postpone the trip from our original plans of going this weekend. Let's just say, I've learned my lesson (again) about procrastination. Actually, I probably will never learn my lesson about procrastination. I'm just so good at it!

A Year of Fun

So I got this free calendar from Oriental Trading. It might be the best thing ever. It has the most obscure things on it. Not just your standard holidays.

I didn't get the calendar until the middle of this week and I have already missed some pretty spectacular days to celebrate. For example:

Jan. 3rd: Festival Of Sleep
Jan. 4th: Trivia Day
Jan. 6th: Cuddle Up Day

So...because I now have something to celebrate almost every day, I'm going to do it. And you all will have the pleasure of reading or seeing it. Let the celebrations begin!

WELCOME TO MEASURE YOUR FEET DAY:
January 23, 2010

Crazy? Possibly.

I just tried to go for a little jog. In Colorado. In January.

Let's just say I was less successful than I had hoped. I made it about 1/2 a mile before my lungs rebelled against the chilly air.

It's currently about 41 degrees here.

But the deceptive sun was shining and, well, sometimes you just feel like jogging. So I did (almost).

Overall I ended up jogging/walking/jogging/walking about 1.6 miles. Yes, I know that is not impressive. But for me it was huge just to get moving.

And I have been coughing ever since.

But it still felt good.

What's on the Menu

Jacob and I did really good at sticking to our menu this week so I thought I'd share what we ate.

Sunday: Pork Roast, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans
-Thanks for the roast recipe Shan. It was good. Only I didn't buy Catalina dressing. I don't like it and couldn't see having a bottle of it laying around. So I looked at the ingredients on a bottle at the store and made up my own. And it was pretty good on the pork.

Monday: Pancakes and peaches
-This reminded me of the days my Mom used to make pancakes almost every Monday. I got so sick of pancakes. Then came cinnamon syrup and it changed my world. I made some to go with our peaches and pancakes. Delicious!

Tuesday: Left over pork roast, french fries, and corn.

Wednesday: Made up Chicken Curry Orzo casserole.

Thursday: Split pea and Italian sausage soup.
-So good. But whenever I eat split peas I think of growing up and the fritters. NOT good. I am eating the left over soup right now for lunch and finding it rather delicious.

We are either having hamburgers or Chinese omelet tonight, and whatever we don't do tonight is set for tomorrow.

With the pancakes, split pea soup, and Chinese omelet on the menu I feel a little bit like I'm having a throw back to the "poor days" while growing up. But I'm liking it. And it is good for the budget that is a little tight this month.

In other news, I was very excited today when I made a payment on my student loan and realized I only have 4 more months before it is all paid off! That will be a liberating day. We will be totally debt free (minus a mortgage) come May!

A Victory on Human Rights Day

I was recently introduced to the game of scrabble. Yes, I knew the game existed. However, I never knew that I would LIKE scrabble.

I am not a great speller and figured it was pretty key to the game. Turns out, I'm not too shabby. Not great, but better than I expected I would be. And I won my first game on Monday. I don't want to rub it in too much, because Jacob usually beats me soundly, BUT...

My score: 304.
Jacob's score: 280.

And here's the proof.


I also worked a bit on the quilt for my new niece who was born yesterday. Can't wait to see her.

New and Improved

Here's what's new:

My first foray into window treatments. It replaced a lacy valance that Jacob really hated. I plan on painting that entry way a very pale yellow. When you walk through the door in the picture and turn to your left you are looking at the "organ room" that will be painted the valance color of red soon enough.

We got furniture from our parents for Christmas. You can't tell from this pictures but they are a brown and black tweed or something. And I love them.


I did not love the throw pillows that came with the couch and love seat. So I made these gems. One side is plaid...

And one is not...

Here's what's improved (at least I think it's an improvement):

Basement bedroom BEFORE:

(I had already taken down the nasty valance that matched the terrible border)

Basement bedroom AFTER:




TA DA! And that's it so far. Now time to get to work on the baby quilt for MaryAnn's new daughter. And I better make it snappy...she could be here any day!

One Year Older and Wiser Too...

Happy Birthday to Jacob!

Yesterday we celebrated Jacob's birthday. We had a snowstorm blow in so it was a bit of a cold, wet day. But we managed to have a good time just the same.

Jacob really likes donuts, especially from Lamars. So I woke up early and went out and bought some for him to take to work before he woke up. He had no idea I had gone at all. As he was getting ready to leave for work he discovered them. It was a fun little surprise.

Later that night went to dinner at Old Chicago's, partly because it was close to home, the roads were a little slick, and partly because Jacob had never been there. We both had calzones that were pretty good. I was stuffed! And then I went home and finished up his birthday cake (licking containers and spatula's on the way). Then I was extremely full. Too full... I didn't even eat ice cream or cake later that night, and that is unheard of.

After dinner Jacob commenced his birthday scavenger hunt, created by yours truly. Jacob had some difficulty with the clues a few of the clues, and I don't blame him. They weren't the best clues ever written. Each clue was attached to a "gift" of sorts. And the final clue lead to the real gift, hockey tickets to see the local team that is part of the Central Hockey League. Not quite the pro-team in Denver, but it should prove to be a good time.

Did you know that green is the new color of love. M&M's would like you to believe so and purchase the all green bag.

The second clue was attached to a frozen pizza

The third clue was on a package of sour gummy mushrooms

Fourth clue on a new argyle tie.

The last clue was on couple of cans of sweet rolls

We had a few friends that braved the roads and helped us eat all the cake and ice cream goodness. Oh yeah, and they helped sing to Jacob and celebrate his birth with a little game of Mexican Train.

I saw this cake on a food blog I was reading and decided to give it a try. It's a devil's food cake mix (the blog one was made from scratch but I am more lazy than that. At least I was yesterday.) with a layer of cream cheese, peanut butter filling. The topping is chocolate ganache (I did a milk chocolate though I believe most ganaches are dark or even bittersweet) and chopped peanuts. It was pretty tasty and looked quite lovely if you ask me!

That is the only picture I have of Jacob on his birthday. Sad. I guess I was still a little too zoomed in when he went to blow out those candles. I think it's a funny picture.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

It was a fun day for me and I hope it was for Jacob too. He deserves it!

Recaping a Year in Photos

2009 was a year of changes and fun. And here's the proof...

January: Martin Luther King Jr. weekend foiled by a coil.

February: A trip to Portland and a proposal.

March: Putting an offer on a home.

April: Closing on a house and moving in.


May: Planting a first garden, engagement photos, and a wedding.

June: A wedding of our own.

July: End of honeymooning and 4th of July festivities.

August: Picking up an organ, 1st visit from family, and a little Demolition

September: 1st camping trip, hiking, and painting.

October: Hot air balloons, pumpkins, and Halloween.

November: Thanksgiving and hanging lights.

December: Merry Christmas