Project: Fail

Jacob and I, as many of you already knew, have been in need of a new couch. We bought one that I hope we will love. It probably won't be delivered for a couple more weeks, and by excellent planning on my part we will be traveling for Christmas by that time. So, yeah, I'll have to figure that one out later. Our new couch looks like this:

And, it turns into a bed! I'm pretty excited about it. My current couch is beyond thrashed. Far beyond. Any ideas for a farewell ceremony when the time comes? I was thinking about taking it out into the wilderness, painting it crazy with fabric paint and then lighting it on fire. To dramatic?

Speaking of DRAMA... it's time to get down to what prompted this post.
I love a project.
Along with our couch, Jacob and I decided to purchase a new coffee table and TV stand. Jacob fell in love with this side table for a TV stand:
But knowing I was tiered of having black furniture in an already dark apartment he suggested we paint it a color... like blue, or yellow:
I didn't know it even ever came in yellow until just now when I did a google image search. We weren't going for that bold of a yellow; the yellow we chose was quite a bit softer. But check this out:

Pretty cool, I think. I really wish it had worked out! Unfortunately....

Only one of the pieces was damaged in the process, and I love Ikea FOREVER because they replaced it for me, no problem. They did tell me that they don't normally replace an item that wasn't defective to begin with, but they did it for me anyway. I love you Ikea customer service! Muah!
If I had been thinking I would have called my friend Jason, a painter, before Jacob started painting. He gave me some great advise after the fact. I really wish I had the courage to try again.
Project: Fail.

Finn's Cookies

Ok, this video of Finn is so cute.
Also, I've discovered a recipe for Nutella Fudge. I posted it on my food blog, if you wanna check it out just click HERE.

Happy Halloween!

Just Dance!

Some More Than Others

Saw this posted today on the all-mighty facebook, and I quote: "Girls are supposed to dance, that's why God gave them parts that jiggle."
Some more than others, my friends, but in general true, true.

Pumpkin Carving

Here comes the obligatory "October Pumpkin Carving Blogger Post," are you ready?

Pumpkins are 8 cents a pound at Winco. This means a pumpkin that would cost you $17 at your nearest pumpkin patch will cost you $2.11. The choice is yours.

I had a hard time finding cool pumpkin carving stencils online. Nothing that was both cool and easy, as is my modus operandi. The one I liked best and ended up making myself can be seen HERE... I didn't print off the stencil, I just went for it with my Sharpie. A word to the wise: careful on the wings, don't draw them to close together. That is where I ran into trouble. But I think it came out pretty rad regardless. Here's how I did it:





Here is another one I like. Jacob says it looks like an evil Micky Mouse... maybe so:

Happy Halloween all!

Projects

I made this, and I really like it. I think it makes my apartment look just a little cozier than before. It was inspired by the Fall Pottery Barn catalogue and my inability to afford to buy said item from Pottery Barn because their prices suck the big one.

I used sticks I found with Finn up Little Cottonwood Canyon, twine I bought at Michael's, a glue gun and my own two hands. It took 20-ish minutes. I think it will look cool in my place year round. Virtual high-five to me!

If you guys hear of fast, easy, cheep projects pass them on! I love this blog by Wary Meyers. I always get the best ideas, like these pillows he made with his wife:

California, Yum.

One of the nicest things about the California Coast: eating fish just about anywhere with out fear or hesitation. Last night I feasted... and I will continue to feast every day I am here. Ono sushi, I'm coming for you!

Is this picture for real?!?

Dude, shave it. Or trim it. You look nuts. I love you.

I Don't Want Anyone To Forget How Hot He Is.

I had a dream about him last night. It was the greatest ever.
This song is also awesome. But I would never sing it about you, Casey, because I would never let you leave me. And you would never want to anyway. I promise.

"Jacob the Liar"

At my wedding instead of having a sign-in book we decided to go with a "wish tree." It looked like this, but less classy:



One of the wishes given by one of Jacob's friends (I can't remember which friend it was) included some of Jacob's high school nick names. One of these nick names was "Jacob the Liar." I didn't know his friends used to call him this... why, I wonder...?
The other morning I came out of our bedroom and Jacob let me know he had renewed our car insurance! (...which we had let lapse because we are poor and car insurance is expensive...) I was super pumped because it was on my long list of unpleasant things to do, and now it was done! He told me it was because he had "a feeling" he should do it. Sigh, what a responsible and thoughtful husband I have!!
Alas, when I was doing some online banking today I came across some payments to the DMV and to Sandy City Justice Court that coincided with the purchase of the car insurance... suspicious...
A little detective work revealed Jacob totally got a ticket and didn't tell me! (Unless saying "I have a feeling" is another way of saying "I got a ticket and now we have to get insurance or our car will be impounded..." )

I do love a wreath... And I do like Candy Corn

find it HERE.

Bubba-Kim

Jacob and I had so much fun with you both last night! High-rollin with the toothless wonder at La Caille and ordering every dessert on the menu was a once in a lifetime experience. I don't think I have laughed so hard at Jacob's expense in a long time, which is unfortunate because it's good for him. I'm still having spontaneous outbursts of laughter when I think of the ice escaping from Jacobs tooth hole and landing in his soup. I can't believe Bubba tried it after that!!
I am so grateful for the chance we had to be your neighbors and friends! You guys are going to accomplish so many wonderful and exciting things in your life. Jacob and I watch you two in awe. I am sure Florida will be a great adventure, even though it's off to a stressful start. You both are in are prayers (which are mainly for you two to have a fun year in Florida and then to get an even cooler job offer back here in Utah!) A year is more than enough time for you two to get a rockin tan...

Let us know if there's anything Jacob and I can do to help with your move! We'll see you Saturday!

Three Men and a Little Lady

Poor baby

Jacob's tooth was no match for Finn's enormous dome.

Finn's First Day Of Pre-School

Finn booking it up the stairs with his buddy Grant. Seperation anxiety has never been an issue for him. Obviously.

Friend eat cookie, me eat everything else.

My BFF L-Dub (aka: Laura Woodward Jensen) has moved far away from me. Sometimes I wonder, "what is friend?"

Bold Flower Pillows

I love these!!! I wanna make them sooo bad! I want a new couch sooo bad!

If I made them now it would be pointless, like trying to polish a turd. My couch is so gross.

HERE is the how-to on these awesome pillows.

Sunday Dinner

Finn+Grace= Match made in Heaven.

Napkin Flowers

Love this! Wish I could remember what blog I got it from... Totally plagiarising images here. These flowers are made of napkins. How perfect for a birthday party or family gathering?




Here's how the blogger I can't remember made them:

Gather napkins:

Stack napkins, with contrasting smaller napkin on top:
Fold like a fan:

Like so:


Trim to form petals, like so:

Voa-la:

gather in center:
tie with string:

Flair:

Cut down smaller darker blue napkin:

And Fluff:

Chairs

Obsessed with this book I got for Christmas (the one present I was really yearning and burning for):


I have, every day since receiving it, pored over every picture, read through every step by step instruction, and finally, declared war on my dinning room chairs. They began as this: worn, beat up, boring black $19.99 chairs from Ikea. They will be reborn as this: distressed, school-desk inspired, awesomeness, achieved by the sweat of my brow and my brow alone. Inspired by this:
I have started on two chairs.

They have been taken apart, sanded down (which was the incredibly long, difficult, and slightly boring part), carved into (which was the rewarding and fun/artistic part), sanded again with a fine grain paper, stained, allowed to dry, stained again, allowed to dry again, and painted with one coat of a semi-glossy finish. I couldn't stand it any longer so I put one back together. All that remains is to do another light sand down, and paint on a second coat of finish. Then I get to start on my other two chairs. And do you know what?? I am really excited! Here is a picture of one from start to present. I will post more picts as I continue on.

Some other projects from the book I would love to try:
A denim "home, sweet home" quilt.
And a dresser with French words artfully carved from wood and attached to the drawers instead of pulls. The entire book is filled with the most beautiful, fun, creative and, most importantly, manageable ideas. How about this boom box they adapted to be an ipod player?! It also is the inspiration for my current blog background I might add...

On With The New

My food blog has moved here (http://dirtylittleelcaminolover.blogspot.com/). I will now be using this address as my personal blog. No recipes. Just gossip, ect. Feel free to keep following!

Marijuana Santa Clause

I quote from this SNL opening monologue by Zach Galifianakis ALL THE TIME. I am suprised how often I wake up looking a little like Charlize Theron and a LOT like Dog the Bounty Hunter... Click HERE to watch something that is so Ravin... Don't be a gay lord.

"Hello" from Finn.

Here's hoping that Finn will never grow up to be someone who is "too cool" for a good time!