Craft Day Projects: Stuffed Birdies

Crafting is obviously very cathartic to me & being creative with a friend is so much fun. That's why at least twice a year Chelsea & I get together and craft for hours together. This time we tackled some stuffed birds & two random other projects: leaf garland headband & a cute coaster.

Here is the pattern we used: Mister Blue Bird.

Here is the link to the pinspiration for the headband: Leaf Garland Headband.

It feels so good to see the finished projects all lined up like that!

Happy Birthday, Chels!

My home girl turns 24 today, holla!

Happy birthday, Chelsea! I have so many memories from a friendship that spans almost 15 years.

In middle school you wrote in my yearbook "I am the clown who came to town & signed your yearbook upside down." It really ticked me off. You sealed our fate, because after a journalism class freshman year, yearbook became one of our most famous high school adventures.

We traveled to Spain together and both fell in love with Español. We laughed at a hand drawn butt-crack in Spanish class so hard that I blacked out and we almost got kicked out. We watched an entire Spiderman movie with someone's bluetooth glaring its blue light at us. We rode a bus to Minnesota for summer camp. We faked a nose injury to get free ice at Sonic. We were two of twenty people at the Rockies game to wear 'staches on mustache night...

Your birthdays are epic memories in my book of life (see Nicole in a Spongebob poncho circa 16 with Princess Leia buns...) and I'm stoked for this year. A year for more memories, more smiles, & much more of that contagious laugh!

Happy birthday, love! Thanks for being such a great friend.

Happy happy birthday, dear friend! You are 24!

New Year's in New York City

Spending New Year's in New York City was beyond amazing. The hustle and bustle of the city and the fresh promise of a new year.

Late Thursday we reunited. Lauren, Annie, Rikesh, Emily & me. I love that in just a matter of weeks we became so close that even after seven months, we picked right back up where we left off.

We started out with a late dinner at a Mexican restaurant just a block away from Em's. If you want food at your fingertips, think NYC. Mexican at 11pm? Boom. One block.

Waking up to this view was incredible. I relished in the crisp, cool air that pooled into the window and the constant hum of yellow cabs and traveling people.

We once again became aware of our differences and celebrated them. 

Intoxicated by the smell alone, we devoured the world's best and biggest cookie. It. Was. Heavenly.

Made a quick stop by Rockefeller Plaza to see this beauty. What a spectacle! I cannot believe I saw it in person! Twinkling and humongous. 

Having Emily as an insider was so fun. I've been to NYC a few times but had never been to High Line Park. Quaint and refreshing. It's a railroad track turned park raised slightly above the city. The views were simply remarkable.

We enjoyed our roles as tourists and snapped quite a few pictures to savor the memories and moods of the trip.

We were even graced with great lighting (AKA Twilight Hour).

Chelsea Market was also one of my favorite gems. I got a dainty little bracelet at an indie fair taking place. So magical.

Ate my first Macaron (how do you pronounce this word? Is it macaroon? I always get confused), and quite enjoyed it.

The City that Never Sleeps rises to the occasion come nightfall. 

My friends are models, didn't you know.

Enjoying a delicious dinner at a restaurant in Little Italy. Immortalized La Florida 2012 by carving it into the table.

Hit up Ferrara, America's first espresso bar (hence the napkin). So. Good.

Espresso afogatto, oh my heart.

We had so much fun taking these timer pictures. I slightly feel like we are in a Macy's ad.

Freedom Tower

Said goodbye to this fun adventure and my beautiful friends. The sunset lit up the buildings in the gentlest of fashions creating an even more lovely last view.

2011 ended with a bang and it was such an overwhelmingly great year that I only hope 2012 will be too. I'm learning that life is what you make of it and it's an occasion you must rise to. An adventure lies behind every corner, and sometimes you've got to go find it. Thank you New York for my first adventure of the year. Thousands more to come. That's what I'm looking forward to. Boom.

Rejoice!

I spent the weekend relishing in the season: exchanging gifts, spending time with family, celebrating mass, seeing the Nutcracker ballet.

Last night we had our annual Christmas gift exchange, a delicious dinner & we went to the Blossom of Lights at the Denver Botanic Gardens. 

Lights and merriment.

Laughter and memories.

We played Christmas carols from our coats (thank you smart phone + Pandora) We may have upset the scrooges around, but it made our spirits light and tuned us into the spirit of the season. Our toes froze & subsequently warmed in that peculiar spicy painful way. 

It was a merry night.

Yours waiting in joyful hope,