Saturday, January 16, 2010

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!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

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


Friday, January 1, 2010

Ringing in 2010

Happy New Year!

Jacob and I celebrated the New Year in a rather low key sort of way. We were marveling at how we can stay up to midnight most days of the week and not think anything of it. But on the one day we are trying to stay up to see the New Year in, it seems like so late. Strange.

We started are evening with a dinner by candlelight. I made a cheese ball, salsa dip, taquitos and crackers and cheese. Jacob made a pumpkin roll. We ate all night long and probably way too much! But that's what New Years is all about for me. Well, I'm pretty sure all holidays are all about the food :) ...

We spent the evening playing games and watching some TV. We played the new game I bought Jacob for Christmas, Lost Cities. He won. It was a pretty fun game. We also played Battleship, a classic for sure. I won. It was also a pretty fun game.



And then when midnight came we popped a bottle of sparkling grape juice and toasted to the New Year.

I think 2010 will be full of good things for this Brunson family.