Saturday, February 18, 2012
Bowling with Friends!
For our friend Pete's birthday, we met up with a good group of people to go bowling at the Union. There were an ice cream cake, pizza, and presents, too...but I had the most fun with my multilens camera app! See the pictures for yourself! (You can see/get ALL the pics off my facebook photo albums.)
Project 366--February 5-11
(Click HERE to get your very own FREE blank .png version of this page for personal use!)
Feb 5--started taking a former primary student home with us on Sundays for a few hours...played games 'til I was SORE!
Feb 6--I was sick, so I stayed home...and just took a picture of my wedding bouquet instead. :)
Feb 7--subbed. Had a dinner with the rest of the Primary Presidency and their families...we brought a yummy spinach-strawberry salad.
Feb 8--subbed. The picture is of Voodoo, curled up on my coat on the hope chest. :)
Feb 9--subbed...at my old elementary school! I was sandwiched right in between two of my old teachers. SO surreal, and fun. The teacher I subbed for played guitar...check out that BLUE!
Feb 10--stayed home (the cold came on full swing) and made some Valentine's Day decor.
Feb 11--made some more Valentine's Day stuff...and packed/cleaned for our Boston trip!
Boston!
I love getting to tag along with Paul on his business trips. Boston in February wasn't *quite* the relaxing break that Tampa in July was, but it was still really fun. ;)
We flew on Southwestern out of Chicago Midway, both of which we will probably never do again. Look at this crazy line just to get to security!
And trying to find two seats together was more stressful than it should be. I don't really love the no-assigned-seats policy, especially when traveling with other people. And it caused some drama for other people when they were overbooked. Entertaining though THAT was, I think we'll stick to other airlines in the future.
ANYWAY. Once we got into Boston, we had to travel about half an hour out of the city to get to the hotel. So basically it wasn't really anywhere I could go walk around in during the day. Which was another bummer. HOWEVER. If you are ever in Boston and need a thoroughly entertaining and genuinely nice driver, I *highly* recommend Dimitri from Accessible Transport. When we called and said we wanted to go to the North End for dinner (in almost a question), and he asked where in Little Italy we were going and we didn't know how to respond, he said, "Be ready at 6, I'll take care of it." And boy, did he! Not only did he come pick us up from the hotel and drive us into Boston for a low, flat rate, but he gave us a FREE hour-and-a-half taxi tour of the city. Being a cab driver, and living here since his family fled from Chernobyl, he really knew all the best places to go and see and do things. He even let us get out regularly and take some pictures, etc. And THEN he recommended this really great little restaurant (Ravia's) and pastry shop (Mike's, just a block away)...it was *amazing*. I had this honey butternut squash ravioli that was SOOO good, and Paul's salmon was good enough to even make me salivate. And, thanks to Mike's Pastries, I now understand the famous line from the Godfather about leaving the gun and taking the cannoli. ;) We had a blast, and I think he did, too. I love being around people who just love what they do.
Here are some pictures from the night...since it was nighttime, and this was on my camera phone, a lot of the pictures didn't turn out. :( But the memories will live on. Hahaha. :)
Anyway, the rest of the week was mostly Paul working during the day while I stayed in the hotel room and read or watched movies. In the evenings we went out to an outdoor mall for dinner and just to get out of the room for a while. Here are a couple of pictures of our last night out:
We were both getting over colds, so we didn't really have the energy to do much more than that, but that was okay. We did what he came to do and then some. So it was a good time. :)
It was a sweet little trip, and I'm SO glad I got to tag along, especially over Valentine's Day! But I think we saw everything we really wanted to see there and we were both ready to come home by the end of the week. Maybe someday we'll go back and go whale watching. :) Wouldn't that be grand?
We flew on Southwestern out of Chicago Midway, both of which we will probably never do again. Look at this crazy line just to get to security!
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| Look carefully...it goes all the way back! |
And trying to find two seats together was more stressful than it should be. I don't really love the no-assigned-seats policy, especially when traveling with other people. And it caused some drama for other people when they were overbooked. Entertaining though THAT was, I think we'll stick to other airlines in the future.
ANYWAY. Once we got into Boston, we had to travel about half an hour out of the city to get to the hotel. So basically it wasn't really anywhere I could go walk around in during the day. Which was another bummer. HOWEVER. If you are ever in Boston and need a thoroughly entertaining and genuinely nice driver, I *highly* recommend Dimitri from Accessible Transport. When we called and said we wanted to go to the North End for dinner (in almost a question), and he asked where in Little Italy we were going and we didn't know how to respond, he said, "Be ready at 6, I'll take care of it." And boy, did he! Not only did he come pick us up from the hotel and drive us into Boston for a low, flat rate, but he gave us a FREE hour-and-a-half taxi tour of the city. Being a cab driver, and living here since his family fled from Chernobyl, he really knew all the best places to go and see and do things. He even let us get out regularly and take some pictures, etc. And THEN he recommended this really great little restaurant (Ravia's) and pastry shop (Mike's, just a block away)...it was *amazing*. I had this honey butternut squash ravioli that was SOOO good, and Paul's salmon was good enough to even make me salivate. And, thanks to Mike's Pastries, I now understand the famous line from the Godfather about leaving the gun and taking the cannoli. ;) We had a blast, and I think he did, too. I love being around people who just love what they do.
Here are some pictures from the night...since it was nighttime, and this was on my camera phone, a lot of the pictures didn't turn out. :( But the memories will live on. Hahaha. :)
Chinatown.
The theater district, including a theater called the Majestic (made me happy even if it wasn't the same as the movie) and the Blue Man Group theater.
The Cheers bar!
A super-SWEET old-and-new library...some parts were from the 1600s and others were much more recent. If you know us, you'll know how bummed we were that we couldn't go in!
The USS Constitution...from afar. Guess who jumped up and down like a little boy when he saw this? :)
A cool monument at Bunker Hill.
Check out this awesome suspension bridge!
Driving over a certain bridge...ever heard of the Boston Tea Party? :)
Old North Church...
And this is where my camera died for the night. :( We also saw (right around the corner) Paul Revere's home, Boston Commons (kinda like Central Park, but in Boston), a cool old cemetery from the 1600s, the old city hall (or something) that was the site of the Boston Massacre, a SUPER-expensive hotel where rich people can pull their yachts right up, dock, and walk right in, an aquarium that we really want to go to someday, the New England holocaust memorial, and lots of cool little boats and whale-watching tours. Quite a lot to take in in a couple of hours!
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| P.F. Changs...Paul's first time! |
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| Some of his coworkers/boss on the boot! |
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| Pretty orchids, even if they are fake! |
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| Check out this end table! I SOOOO want one for our library someday!!! |
We were both getting over colds, so we didn't really have the energy to do much more than that, but that was okay. We did what he came to do and then some. So it was a good time. :)
It was a sweet little trip, and I'm SO glad I got to tag along, especially over Valentine's Day! But I think we saw everything we really wanted to see there and we were both ready to come home by the end of the week. Maybe someday we'll go back and go whale watching. :) Wouldn't that be grand?
Valentine's Day Decor!
Valentine's decor. A little late, I know. Sorry. But better late than never, right? :)
So, I love the cutesy stuff that's associated with VDay, but without kids around I kinda wanted to have a more crafty, grown-up, classy look on the mantle rather than stuff that looks like kids made it (or stuff I bought at the dollar tree...which I did...shhh...). It was challenging. I haven't quite achieved the look I want, but it'll have to do for this year. :) AND it cost me under $25. Not too shabby.
I went with a pink/red/white/gray color scheme--the gray really classes it up a little, in my opinion. But what do you think? (Ignore the ugly mantle...we rent, so we can't paint it the colors we want!)
Let's take a look at some of the pieces up-close. :)
First of all, my argyle wreath.
This was a Pinterest find that really sort of inspired everything else. (You can find the original link, including the tutorial, from Mine for the Making HERE). My BFF *LOVES* argyle, so it makes me think of her and how much I *love* her, and I thought the hearts instead of diamonds were an extra-special touch. It was really cheap (felt and yarn from my stash, so just had to buy the wreath itself) and pretty easy, just a little time-consuming because I have the cheap, thin gray yarn and had to spend more than 3 hours wrapping it. Still, it was worth it! I placed it strategically over the "family" word art/picture frame this same BFF made me a year ago for a gift, and paired it with little piggy banks from the Dollar Tree (we have a thing for these) and some champagne flutes filled with Dollar Tree necklaces and foam hearts. This part cost me about $8 altogether.
In the middle, I had seen some fun word art things on Pinterest and online that inspired me to get a little creative. I used my engagement ring, some scrapbook paper, and Scrabble letters for this photo:
Printed it off in an hour, framed it in a cheap gray frame, and paired it with a cute Valentine's teddy bear Paul had given me on our first Valentine's Day together. ;) Made a matching frame with some (kindergarten-inspired) penguin heart art to go on the other side. (Penguin heART? :) Anywho, frames, pictures, paints, and all, this part cost me $4.50.
See? I'm already becoming more kiddish by the moment. :)
ANYWHO. I had made this "I Love You" hand art for another gift for Paul a while ago--it's hanging in our bedroom usually, but I brought it out and paired it with an *adorable* little rose teapot I found at GoodWill (and scored for $1). So this was another buck to add to the tally.
Finally, I was inspired by Craftily Ever After's post (HERE) and tried my hand at my own cute felt rosette balls. The challenge? I couldn't find ANYTHING that looked like those amazing candle holders (or whatever they are), especially not in my price range. Imagine the MIRACULOUS moment when I discovered these two beauties at GoodWill, at 50% off, no less:
Yeah, they're completely different materials and weights and were in two different aisles of the store...but they were meant to be together! Right down to the swirly stems and pointed feet. Total of $2.50 for both. Some white paint sponged on (so they have the same color and texture now) and some hours of cutting and hot-gluing felt to styrofoam balls, and we have this for about $5!
It really was plenty, but I am a crazy person and hate the white-on-white. So I took a canvas ($3/pc at Walmart) and covered it with some $1.50/yd fabric and some ribbons from my stash:
Now I have something in my color scheme to put behind them to really make them pop! And this can stand alone if I choose to rearrange things next year. Bonus!
$23 total. I win. :)
Just to the right of our mantle is our huge window/sliding door. I made these heart-pillow-ornaments for the blinds a few years ago (one of my few semi-original ideas)...and I still love them. So we used them again.
And this is the centerpiece for our table this year. I found the candle holder at GoodWill for $1, and got the candles from Dollar Tree. Everything else is from our stash from previous years, etc. I don't love it, but it worked for now.
And that's it! :) Hope your Valentine's Day was amazing and filled with love. Mine was pretty great...we were in Boston (more on that soon!), so I didn't get to do all the cute cooking-related activities and such I'd been planning on, but it was still fun...and there's always next year. ;) Or anniversaries. Or just-because romance.
So, I love the cutesy stuff that's associated with VDay, but without kids around I kinda wanted to have a more crafty, grown-up, classy look on the mantle rather than stuff that looks like kids made it (or stuff I bought at the dollar tree...which I did...shhh...). It was challenging. I haven't quite achieved the look I want, but it'll have to do for this year. :) AND it cost me under $25. Not too shabby.
I went with a pink/red/white/gray color scheme--the gray really classes it up a little, in my opinion. But what do you think? (Ignore the ugly mantle...we rent, so we can't paint it the colors we want!)
Let's take a look at some of the pieces up-close. :)
First of all, my argyle wreath.
This was a Pinterest find that really sort of inspired everything else. (You can find the original link, including the tutorial, from Mine for the Making HERE). My BFF *LOVES* argyle, so it makes me think of her and how much I *love* her, and I thought the hearts instead of diamonds were an extra-special touch. It was really cheap (felt and yarn from my stash, so just had to buy the wreath itself) and pretty easy, just a little time-consuming because I have the cheap, thin gray yarn and had to spend more than 3 hours wrapping it. Still, it was worth it! I placed it strategically over the "family" word art/picture frame this same BFF made me a year ago for a gift, and paired it with little piggy banks from the Dollar Tree (we have a thing for these) and some champagne flutes filled with Dollar Tree necklaces and foam hearts. This part cost me about $8 altogether.
In the middle, I had seen some fun word art things on Pinterest and online that inspired me to get a little creative. I used my engagement ring, some scrapbook paper, and Scrabble letters for this photo:
Printed it off in an hour, framed it in a cheap gray frame, and paired it with a cute Valentine's teddy bear Paul had given me on our first Valentine's Day together. ;) Made a matching frame with some (kindergarten-inspired) penguin heart art to go on the other side. (Penguin heART? :) Anywho, frames, pictures, paints, and all, this part cost me $4.50.
See? I'm already becoming more kiddish by the moment. :)
ANYWHO. I had made this "I Love You" hand art for another gift for Paul a while ago--it's hanging in our bedroom usually, but I brought it out and paired it with an *adorable* little rose teapot I found at GoodWill (and scored for $1). So this was another buck to add to the tally.
Finally, I was inspired by Craftily Ever After's post (HERE) and tried my hand at my own cute felt rosette balls. The challenge? I couldn't find ANYTHING that looked like those amazing candle holders (or whatever they are), especially not in my price range. Imagine the MIRACULOUS moment when I discovered these two beauties at GoodWill, at 50% off, no less:
Yeah, they're completely different materials and weights and were in two different aisles of the store...but they were meant to be together! Right down to the swirly stems and pointed feet. Total of $2.50 for both. Some white paint sponged on (so they have the same color and texture now) and some hours of cutting and hot-gluing felt to styrofoam balls, and we have this for about $5!
It really was plenty, but I am a crazy person and hate the white-on-white. So I took a canvas ($3/pc at Walmart) and covered it with some $1.50/yd fabric and some ribbons from my stash:
Now I have something in my color scheme to put behind them to really make them pop! And this can stand alone if I choose to rearrange things next year. Bonus!
Just to the right of our mantle is our huge window/sliding door. I made these heart-pillow-ornaments for the blinds a few years ago (one of my few semi-original ideas)...and I still love them. So we used them again.
And this is the centerpiece for our table this year. I found the candle holder at GoodWill for $1, and got the candles from Dollar Tree. Everything else is from our stash from previous years, etc. I don't love it, but it worked for now.
ALL My Project 366 Pages for Download!
I've actually got someone interested in these project 366 pages! Woohoo! Please use them for personal use only--I used SEVERAL kits from several designers, all of which say these are for personal use only, so let's try to respect that. Anyways, I tried emailing them to the interested party and then quickly found out that they were simply TOO BIG to send. Even individually in many cases. So I've uploaded them ALL to Mediafire, for your free-file-sharing-convenience, and I am going to go ahead and give you ALL the links to every one of them here. Just click on the week you want, click on the "download image" link under the picture, and download via the green "download" bar. :)
But if you want to keep following along week-to-week and downloading them that way so you aren't overwhelmed with downloading all at once, that's fine, too. :) It's up to you!
COVER
Jan 1-7
Jan 8-14
Jan 15-21
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4
Feb 5-11
Feb 12-18
Feb 19-25
Feb 26-Mar 4 (Stick in an extra picture for leap year!)
Mar 5-11
Mar 12-18
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-Apr 1
Apr 2-8 or Easter
Apr 9-15
Apr 16-22
Apr 23-29
Apr 30-May 6
May 7-13
May 14-20
May 21-27
May 28-June 3
June 4-10
June 11-17
June 18-24
June 25-July 1
July 2-8
July 9-15
July 16-22
July 23-29
July 30-Aug 5
Aug 6-12 (or first day of school!)
Aug 13-19
Aug 20-26
Aug 27-Sept 2
Sept 3-9 (or Labor Day)
Sept 10-16
Sept 17-23
Sept 24-30
Oct 1-7
Oct 8-14
Oct 15-21
Oct 22-28
Oct 29-Nov 4
Nov 5-11
Nov 12-18
Nov 19-25 (or Thanksgiving)
Nov 26-Dec 2
Dec 3-9
Dec 10-16
Dec 17-23
Dec 24-30
Dec 31--New Year's Eve
Let me know if you have troubles downloading them...or if I made a mistake in links, etc. It's very possible. I am only human, after all. :) Enjoy, and happy scrapping!
But if you want to keep following along week-to-week and downloading them that way so you aren't overwhelmed with downloading all at once, that's fine, too. :) It's up to you!
COVER
Jan 1-7
Jan 8-14
Jan 15-21
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4
Feb 5-11
Feb 12-18
Feb 19-25
Feb 26-Mar 4 (Stick in an extra picture for leap year!)
Mar 5-11
Mar 12-18
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-Apr 1
Apr 2-8 or Easter
Apr 9-15
Apr 16-22
Apr 23-29
Apr 30-May 6
May 7-13
May 14-20
May 21-27
May 28-June 3
June 4-10
June 11-17
June 18-24
June 25-July 1
July 2-8
July 9-15
July 16-22
July 23-29
July 30-Aug 5
Aug 6-12 (or first day of school!)
Aug 13-19
Aug 20-26
Aug 27-Sept 2
Sept 3-9 (or Labor Day)
Sept 10-16
Sept 17-23
Sept 24-30
Oct 1-7
Oct 8-14
Oct 15-21
Oct 22-28
Oct 29-Nov 4
Nov 5-11
Nov 12-18
Nov 19-25 (or Thanksgiving)
Nov 26-Dec 2
Dec 3-9
Dec 10-16
Dec 17-23
Dec 24-30
Dec 31--New Year's Eve
Let me know if you have troubles downloading them...or if I made a mistake in links, etc. It's very possible. I am only human, after all. :) Enjoy, and happy scrapping!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Quick lil' apology
I'm sorry my blog has become so *boring*...between working nearly full-time and trying to document and reflect on all of that, warding off sickness (and failing), housework, family/friend stuff, project 366 (my one and only resolution that I am DETERMINED to complete!), and the new callings, I've honestly been too busy to blog. And we'll be off to Boston in just TWO DAYS...so there may be an even greater lack of posts, or of variety of posts...so, sorry! My project 366 pages may have to satisfy you for a while...although, I DO have a few Valentine's crafts I'm working on or have recently completed, and I'm super sick today so I have a *little* more time than usual, so be looking forward to a post all about that soon! Otherwise, thank you for your patience and for sticking with me through this craziness. I promise, I will eventually find my rhythm and get you back to the regularly scheduled programming soon. :) Stay healthy and happy, friends and loved ones near and far!
And, because it's just weird to me to not have a picture with a post, here you go: snuggle time with my beloved and my babies after a long day at work. This is pretty much how we spend our evenings. The dogs even miss ME (now that I'm gone all day) and we usually throw out the to-do lists and just veg on the couch, in a dogpile on the bed, playing fetch and watching TV, etc...yes, my dishes pile up in the sink for days, but I think it's worth it. :)
And, because it's just weird to me to not have a picture with a post, here you go: snuggle time with my beloved and my babies after a long day at work. This is pretty much how we spend our evenings. The dogs even miss ME (now that I'm gone all day) and we usually throw out the to-do lists and just veg on the couch, in a dogpile on the bed, playing fetch and watching TV, etc...yes, my dishes pile up in the sink for days, but I think it's worth it. :)
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Project 366--January 29-February 4
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| (Click HERE to get your very own BLANK .png version!) |
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