Weekend Wrap-up

What a wonderful weekend! Since it's Monday, let's relive it, shall we?

On Friday after work I picked up my grandma and we headed out to meet my sister for dinner. Had some time to kill before the movie so we went to *gasp* Starbucks (I know...). My grandma can count the number of times she's been to Starbucks on one hand, so we helped her order a Vanilla Mocha. Delicious! [Aside: does anyone else think the new logo just verifies the fact that SB has a near monopoly on the coffee business??? The mermaid is bigger and badder and they don't even need words... wee bit scary... just sayin']Then went to see Soul Surfer, which was wonderful. I had no idea it would have such Christian overtones, but was pleasantly surprised. Lots of good conversations. My grandma (75 years old) has recently come in contact with her first love (and fallen for him again). It's the most darling story. She, however, will not go visit him because his wife is still living (honorable thing to do, I'd say). The wife has very bad Alzheimer's and "Blackie" is by her side day in and day out despite her not remembering any bit of him. Just hearing the stories makes me feel like she's living inside a movie; her eyes get all misty as she gets lost in the memories. She's a wonderful, wonderful lady. I just love spending time with her! The best way to spend a Friday night for sure.

Saturday, Cass (sister), my mom & I went and got facials. Oh man, they were great. Had a lazy Saturday, and didn't do much else.

Spent Sunday resting, reading, cleaning, and laundering. Visited a friend's new baby. Went to church in the evening and had family dinner out at a local Italian place. I went shopping with my sister afterwards to pick out a purse & bought Hunter a toy, which he demolished within 8 minutes. Dogs will be dogs. Haven't caught up with Griffin (lover boy) yet this weekend, but he had a busy one. His nephew had "bring someone you love to school day" and when asked who he would invite, he said "Uncle Griffin!" ♥ Darling. Can't wait to hear all about it. We have a video chat date this week, so I'm looking forward to that.

Today is a busy one. I'm donating blood this afternoon, and then going to get all my lovely shots to prepare me for South America. Sore/dead arm tomorrow & looking forward to it! This trip is sneaking up on me, so I'm forced to stay on my game.

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Spring is in full swing! Hip hip hooray. Here's to a great week! Recipe post & bed pictures to look forward to & a few other surprises.

Four Favorites Friday: 04.08.2011

1. I'm currently reading this delightful novel for book club. Quite a nice change from the last book we read (Every Last One by Anna Quindlen). An old English man, a cup of tea or two, and all the fun British jargon. I'm in!

2. Fishtail braids! I love these. I'm still learning, but I think they add a little fun and elegance to any outfit. Here’s an easy tutorial (please note the sweet 80’s kid at the bottom). This beautiful blogger also shares my affection for these braids.

3. Date with my grandmas tonight to go see this movie! It features a Colorado girl as the star (yay) and tells the true story of surfer Bethany Hamilton. I'm positive that it's going to be great!

4. Caprese. It just makes my mouth water. The smell of fresh basil is intoxicating. It reminds me of spring and summer (& it's meatless). I will post a recipe next week for a caprese inspired dish! Souvlaki for the Soul has a great recipe for Caprese salad bruschetta if you've never tried it. The Fresh Fridge also has a good one. As Rachel Ray would say, "how good does that look?!"

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My grandma gave me her antique wrought iron bed & I had a lot of fun setting it up last night (pictures soon). Had a nice long chat with the Mr. ♥, watched the Orioles win, and slept fabulously.

Happy Friday, all!

My First Etsy Purchase

I know, I know. I'm such a rookie! All I know is that it won't--by any means--be my last. Here's the beauty right here courtesy of Cotton Lane:

I seriously got giddy when I saw the parcel & ran home from the mailbox because I was so thrilled. It's simple & elegant & so so great.

Caroline is the sweetest girl (alright so I've never met her in real life, but she is)! Her blog is darling & her Etsy store, wonderful.

If you've never checked her stuff out, please do. I know I will be a frequent flyer at her store! My sister now wants one of these necklaces in mustard.



24 days and counting until I leave to Peru, hit the gym this morning, and coffee with a friend planned tonight means I am a happy clam!

Have a GREAT day.

Oh, PS (this is a big PS), Caroline is hosting a giveaway for her blogiversary (YAY!). Hit up her blog here to find all the great ways you can enter! Good luck! Not to mention a rockin' discount code. Umm hello mustard necklace coming my way! :)

Tutorial Tuesday: Cinched Sleeve T-Shirt Makeover

Easiest project. Are you ready?

Grab a sleeved t-shirt that needs some extra love, and flip inside out. I have about 10 of these "boyfriend tees," the ones that are V-neck and have a little pocket. Cute! But I rarely wear most of them anymore because they're all the same. Here's a quick & easy way I revamped one. You'll need scissors, matching thread, elastic & a t-shirt (probably all things you have on hand, so this project is very cheap or possibly free).

Starting at the hem where the shoulder meets the sleeve, stretch a piece of thin elastic down the length of the sleeve & cut. Here's the length mine ended up:

Pin to the hem where sleeve meets shoulder and sew to hold it in place.

With the presser foot down, hold the shirt and stretch the elastic. Continue to slowly sew as you guide the shirt along. Backstitch a few times & trim the threads.

Repeat on the other sleeve, and YOU'RE DONE! So easy & it adds some jazz to an otherwise un-loved tee. What a CINCH (pardon the pun, I just had to!).

Seriously, the cinched look is all the rage. You could do this to the bottom of a pair of capri-length leggings, up the sides of a t-shirt, etc. The possibilities are endless. Oh and that darling necklace I'm wearing, more on that tomorrow!

Happy Tuesday!

Care Package to Paris

Random weekend. Watched an indoor lacrosse game, shopped, got my eyebrows threaded (first time!) & hoped to go the the Rockies with the fam, but after a record high of 83 on Saturday, the game was postponed due to rain/snow on Sunday! Oooh Colorado weather.

Lots of fun planned this week. I'm sending a care package to PJ in Paris including some great goodies & three crafts from the tutorials I've shared with you all.

After seeing my sister's and my eye masks, he desperately wanted one. I used a fabric called "Boys Will be Boys" that I thought was fitting! Tutorial found here.

The coffee cozy is not something he'll need much in Paris (very few take-out coffee places and very few cardboard cups), but it will be fun when he returns to cardboard-coffee-centric America. How-to here.

Personalized luggage tag. These colors are bright, fun & ready to help identify his bag (& yes it actually does have his address on it in real life)! You can do it too here.

Also to be included, is some macadamia nut oil for his hair. He got hooked after using some of my sister's. Makes the hair very very soft.

I'm also still working on Hunter's bed, mentioned in this post. Haven't met Hunter? Let me introduce you!

Hunter, blog friends. Blog friends, Hunter.

He's a doofus and I love him so. We have no idea how old he is because he's a rescue dog from the Denver Dumb Friends League, but he's still got some puppy zest left in him. Also, the above picture is a rarity, most often he closes his eyes in pictures (doesn't do so well with a flash). Case in point:

HA! Anyway... Here are the scrappy strips that will make up the sides of his bed. They're as boyish as I could get them.

I've cut the fleece (lovely dark grey), just have to make the sides even & assemble! I'll update with pictures!

Happy Monday. It's APRIL! Jump for joy!

Saturday Snapshot(s)

This picture just cracks me up! In honor of opening day for the Rockies (yesterday, and sadly they lost), my Saturday Snapshot is from a game last season. It was mustache night. I promise. I'd say 99.8% of the people at the game didn't get the memo. [When purchasing the mustaches, however, I met people shopping for the very same reason & the sales-lady was quite confused as to why the fake mustaches were selling out in August.] Everyone at the game kept pointing at our group and yelling "what's with the mustaches?!" HA! Let me tell you from experience, these things are itchy as heck and they make it very difficult to smile (as you can tell by the picture--quite a struggle). Apparently my upper lip is quite small because the 'stache was going up my nose aaaaall night. Totally worth it though. The looks [and pictures] we got were priceless.

 

Sooo haaard to smiiiile.

 

See, when Dinger has double 'stache action going on, you know it's real. I can't make these things up, people! HA.

 

Aaaand, unlike yesterday, they won. Hoping for a great season. Let's go ROCKIES!

Thanks Kim for hosting the link party! It's so fun going through old pictures you haven't seen in a while. Come join the fun.

Four Favorites Friday: 04.01.11

Happy April Fool's Day, folks!

Did anyone get a prank pulled on them? I have quite a few great April Fool's stories. One of the funniest pranks was a few years ago when my cousin put my sister's car up for sale on Craigslist. By the end of the work day, my sister had about 40 missed calls and voice messages expressing interest in her car! The same year my cousin used her friend as a contact for "free pregnancy bellies." You'd be surprised how many moms & high school abstinent programs called her wanting free bellies!

Anyway, here are some of my favorites of the week:

1. April in general. It's the seasonal shift where there's more daylight, more sunshine, and beautiful plants budding. I love the rain & I love tulips (possibly my favorite flower). It's a new month & in spring, a new beginning. Let's make it great.

2. Much Love, Illy's new bow! It's so lovely. I hope she sells these things! I know I'd buy one or four. I might try to replicate this over the weekend. Also her blog is so fantastic, along with her Etsy store. Go show her some love.

3. This recipe for meatballs. Not so meatless, but hey, I'll make them tomorrow! Stumbled on Celebrate Life With Us's blog this week after she was featured on Caroline's wonderful blog (more about that later) and I love it! Newest follower!

4. This detailed and fun pillow tutorial from The Pleated Poppy. I might just have to do this with one of the tea towels I bought in Paris.

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Go have some adventures!

Peace,

Nicole