Blue and Gray-- Office Projects

Once upon a time I had plans for my office. I wanted a beautiful and inspiring space where I could work (read as in blog, budget, read, lists, etc). It was to a room where everything was organized and within reach.

Then one day (March) I became very sick (not pregnancy--I had full fledged influenza) and everything was put aside.

On one Monday morning, I received an email from my mother asking for her sewing machine back. The one I borrowed months ago to finished certain projects for the office. I replied, no problem, I will drop it off this week.

In a frenzy, I entered my craft room determined to get a few things finished. I hadn't been in that room since I made the St. Patrick's Day and Birthday bows for Livy!

My office has been painted a beautiful blue gray color that I absolutely love! It has a calm feeling about it. In the corner there are two large windows that let in a lot of light and below one window a wicker chest (currently used to store shipping materials).

After a day measuring and cutting, this is what I have! Window treatments (still need blinds) and a new sitting area!

I still haven't come across my decorative upholstery tacks to hang up the curtains. Push pins will have to do until I can make it to Home Depot.

To fit in with the theme, my blue/gray cat has claimed the chest as her own. The chest will be painted white, but that is another project for another day!

Just a few more projects and then I can call the office complete! On the look out for an antique window with or without the glass.

Work in Progress

I finally ordered the bedding for my baby. I am excited to get away from the typical pink for a girl (don't get me wrong, I love pink and Livy's room is filled with it!) and do something a little different. I have started to think how I am going to decorate that sweet room and each time I do, I feel guilty for not finishing Olivia's room.

Livy's room is the closest to being completed in the house. And for some odd reason, I keep putting off the finishing touches. I have three medium sized projects to finish in order to complete her room.

First is finishing her curio cabinet for all her pretty things.

Currently sitting in the garage waiting to be completed. This project should only take a weekend or a few evenings!

Second and third is artwork for her walls. Sunday evening I started a long over-do project which is going to be simply elegant in her room. I'm half tempted to do the same thing for the baby. I'm still debating it. I want things to be fair and equal but also for them to have completely separate and different things.

Beginning of some artwork for Livy's wall. This project should be completed in a few evenings.

I know I'm not giving you any details about these projects. That's half the fun! :) Then it's focusing on blue, purple and new baby girls!

Cherries

This is the perfect time of year to start picking cherries! And what is better than a fresh homemade cherry pie?! How about several bottles of cherry pie filling to make delicious pies throughout the year. Yum!

I spent a large portion of Friday over at a friends house canning cherries. I was amazed each time a batch came out of the steamer; the cherries looked simply beautiful in their new homes. My food storage shelves are going to be happy to have these beauties sitting on them!

I look forward to many more canning adventures this summer!

Beans!

You may all know that I'm a little odd. I like things that the average person doesn't care for. I remember when I was a teenager I really wanted to learn to make homemade bread and other domestic tasks. Even though at that time I was planning on heading to the university and straight to a high-powered career in the International Market. I have slowly learned a few new skills that I can use on my now high-demanding but best job ever as a stay-at-home-mom. I still haven't made homemade bread, but this past Monday I learned how to can beans!

I did a variety of beans, some pinto which will make great homemade re-fried beans and black beans which are a favorite around here. I'm excited to add this to my food storage (2009 goal, see picture on link). I am even more excited that this is hopefully going to turn into a monthly group where we get together and can once a month. I know to some this sounds awful, but to me I am enjoying having another way to help my family.

If you want to can your own beans, this is what you do.

Canning Beans

You need:

Clean and sterilized mason jars with rings and lids

Beans-- clean and rinsed

Water

Seasonings (optional, can be added when you use them)

pressure cooker

Per pint jar:

1/3 C Pinto beans (or any kind of beans you want)

Add whatever seasons you want: onion, garlic, taco, green chilies etc. I was told do not add salt.

Fill with warm water, leaving 1 inch head space at top. Boil flat lids in water for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, wipe down rims of jars with damp cloth. Place flat lids on jars. Screw on bands. Cook 75 minutes (pints) (90 quarts) at 13-15 pounds of pressure.

Remove, let cool.

Decorating for the little one

Since I found out last Monday that my new addition will be another little girl, I have been looking for decorating ideas for the nursery.

This is no easy task with my itty-bitty budget. My greatest resource is eBay. I love that I can find new complete Pottery Barn Kid set for a fraction of the price. Sometimes they are used, but from experience with Livy's set, they last and look great after several years! (Of course, you must be willing to take care of it!)

What do I want in my baby's nursery? Not anything will do for my babies. I like good quality pieces that will last, non-baby styles that can be used for several years, and most importantly a room that I can feel happy to put together.

I'm not huge on themes, but finding colors that coordinate or pieces that help the room flow are vital. For example, when I did Livy's nursery the colors were bright pink, yellow and blue. The bedding had butterflies on it so I played that up with artwork and netted hanging butterflies from the ceiling.

Olivia's nursery. I love the dark cherry wood with the bedding. Above the changing table is the custom artwork that I made for her using butterfly stamps from all over the world. I wasn't able to paint her room, if I had it would have been something completely different.

Close up of the artwork.

Her "used" Pottery Barn bedding that is still in near perfect condition. What kind of deal did I get for her set you may ask. I purchased a quilt, duvet, 3 sheets, bed skirt, valance, 2 decorative pillows, 2 small pillowcases with insert for about $100 including shipping! One thing that was important to me was that these pieces could be used when Livy moved to a toddler bed. So in other words, bedding must last at least 4 years!

Livy's current room. It's not finished yet, after one more large project I can start to hangup artwork.

Butterflies suspended above her bed.

So now I'm off to find something unique for my new baby. In this first photo, I love the chandelier in the room. What an elegant and whimsical touch! I also love the border painted on this wall. I want something unique for my baby and also something different from Livy.

I love the silhouette pictures on the wall.

So what am I truly considering for my baby? What about purple and blue. I found this Pottery Barn set new on eBay (crib size of course) and simply love it! I plan on ordering it this week and then let the painting and true decorating begin!

Cows on the camping trip!

This past weekend we headed with our ward (church) for a camp out. This was Livy's first camping trip and was super excited to sleep in a tent. Thanks to Signing Time, she learned a lot about the outdoors and animals before we headed up.

(Sometimes I forget that google is messed up and put the pictures in the wrong order, so we are working from the end to start. Sorry, I'm too lazy just now to switch them all around.)

On our second day, we headed to Payson Lakes by our group campsite. The lake was surprisingly beautiful and very cold from spring run-off. Livy was determined to swim until she felt how frigid the water was. I was a little disappointed that she wouldn't be able to play in the water, something that she loves. Fortunately some friends brought a canoe up that she loved just as much.

Livy on the canoe with her dad and friends.

I'm not much on playing in the water. I preferred to sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery or take a walk around the lake.

At our campsite there was plenty of activities (read as leisure) for us to enjoy. Play time with dad, bubbles with friends, hammock time for me (very relaxing while pregnant!) and good friends to chat with.

Eduardo and Livy playing at our site.

A few pictures from around our campsite.

We all slept, except for me, surprisingly well. I have an issue with sleeping while I camp. I don't try to stay up all night, but my mind gets the better of me. I think or worry about being cold all night or if Livy is warm enough; even down to crazy thoughts of bears in the camp or Livy getting up and wandering off. I usually fall asleep about 4 in the morning and up a few hours later. I need to remember to take some benedryl with me so I can sleep. Livy and Eduardo stayed warm and happy to report no bears. I shouldn't worry so much!

Our little campsite.

Something that I think Livy will remember will be the cows. Yes, cows on our camping trip. The local farmers were herding the cattle from the lower pasture to a higher one. We had the pleasure of being behind this noisy group on our drive up the canyon. Livy found it exciting and honestly I thought the same thing. It was nice to see something that you wouldn't normally see. It was a fun way to start our weekend.

Heading out

Heading out for a weekend up in the mountains!

A Flag Day Ceremony

On this past Saturday, I was able to attend a very patriotic and moving flag ceremony. This was unlike any that I have attended in the fact that it was to retire a flag; a flag that was deemed no longer fit to serve its purpose of representing our country.

At our DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution, Flag Day Ceremony we had the help of a local Boy Scout Troop to retire the flag. Our Regent (the head over our chapter) researched how a flag should be properly retired. There are several sites that talk about what should be done and each a little different, so she put together her own program giving all respect to the symbol of our nation.

As with all our chapter meetings, we began with prayer and soon the Boy Scout Troop was underway. Each stripe was cut and the blue star field remaining. (The blue field is never cut any smaller, it represents the 50 states as one union that should never be broken).

The troop cutting the stripes to retire the flag.

Next, each stripe is individually burned. When each stripe was taken to the fire a patriotic quote, the preamble, or parts of the American Creed were read. Some of these young men took the time to memorize their quote. It was very moving not only to hear these inspiring words that represent our nation, but to see each stripe burned.

A Boy Scout reading a patriotic thought before burning a stripe.

The last piece to be burned was the blue star field. Afterwards we each stood, placed our hand over our hearts and sang the National Anthem. It certainly was a day that I will not forget.

Here is some etiquette you should know about our flag. This is especially important since we in the months when many of us display and fly our flags. (You can find more information by visiting USFlag.org)

The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.

The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.

The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard

The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.

The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.

The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset. It should be illuminated if displayed at night.

Looking for bright things!

There are mainly two things that I think about at night as I lay in bed waiting to drift to sleep. Either I am decorating the inside of my house or decorating the outside. With the weather being so stormy, I have had plenty of time to dream of the super backyard and lush gardens that I want.

I am joining a simple garden tour over at A Soft Place to Land today! I get to show you pictures of my front garden. Let me note here for anyone who is new that I moved into this house on Thanksgiving last year. Most of this garden is what was left by the previous owners, with the exception of about 15 plants that I transplanted from my previous house to my mother's house and then to this one. I couldn't stand the thought of leaving my plants. Several haven't bloomed yet, but will be beautiful when they do.

On to the tour!

Here is a portion of the front garden. One thing that this garden is lacking is space. I plan on extending it an additional three feet out. It also needs a larger variety of texture, heights, and color. I love the giant hosta plant (the large round leaves) with the contrast to the boxwood bushes and the day lilies!

I also love a little non-tacky yard art. Something to draw your eye to a particular area. This trellis from my previous house is sitting in a bed a Myrtle with a day lily next to it. I plan on planting something viney in the trellis.

I absolutely love how my Coral Bells look this year! The bright pink flowers against the giant hosta is wonderful! They never looked this good at my last house!

And last, I always love surprises in gardens. Tucked behind some day lilies are these shy little violets.

This summer I am focusing on maintaining and dreaming. Honestly that is all I can handle while pregnant! For my thoughts and garden plans, head to my previous post!

The color of our baby!

I've always liked blue! In fact it is my favorite color. As a child I had many blue things and now as an adult, I get to welcome something else that is blue.

It's a Girl!

It's going to be a summer of friends!

For the past several years I have had the desire to entertain. I want to have people over, socialize, build friendships, and of course experience delicious food. I am grateful that we have finally moved to a place where I feel I can entertain. The only problem is that because I am still the newest person in my neighborhood, I know very few people. But this summer I am determined to entertain more and finally meet my neighbors.

On Saturday evening, I co-hosted a small get-together for a few families. I made a yummy dip that by the end of the evening the bowl was practically licked clean. (I love that when it happens!) So for your entertaining delight, here is the recipe.

Cheesy Spinach and Bacon Dip

What you need:

*1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained

*1 lb (16 oz) Velveeta prepared cheese product, cut into 1/2 cubes (I used the 2% kind with less fat)

*4 oz (half a package) of cream cheese, cubed (I used the Philadelphia neufchatel cheese with less fat)

* 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained

* 8 slices bacon, crisply cooks, crumbled (I used the precooked kind)

Combine all the ingredients in a microwave bowl and nuke for 5 minutes. Stir at about the 3 minute mark. Serve with chips, crackers and veggies!

Makes 4 cups and take about 15 minutes. (I took this from the Kraft Food recipes magazine--fall 2008)

The Grand Canyon days 3 & 4

I know, I know I'm just now getting around to finish the details from our trip back in April. Click here if you would like to read about days 1 (Snowy Bryce Canyon) and day 2 (Zion's National Park).

On Day 3 we were suppose to pack up and head home. But instead we thought we would drive across the desert and the Navajo Indian Reservation to see The Grand Canyon. I hadn't seen the Grand Canyon and was excited to see this magnificent park that so many people have visited or know about.

The drive was looooong and tiring, especially for the newly pregnant me that turns into a zombie during the first trimester.

Once we arrived, we stopped at various look-out points to see this beautiful natural wonder. It was breath taking!

My mom and I

Ed and the Grand Canyon

Some wildlife outside of the park

Since this was the spontaneous part of our trip, the next step was to find lodging. Let me just say that the town outside of the Grand Canyon is way too expensive. The restaurants (we ended up at our least favorite McDonald's) brag that they are one of the most expensive in the world. If I remember correctly that Kids Happy Meal was at least $7!

We decided not to stay there and headed further south (farther from home which meant longer drive the following day) and ended up at Williams, Arizona. Williams is one area where the old Route 66 ran through and you can still drive and walk down it. What a fun evening! I loved thinking about how it would have been to drive cross country on Route 66, staying at little roadside motels and eating at retro diners.

Livy, myself and my mom posing in front of a Route 66 sign. (Sorry it's blurry! That's what I get for taking pictures at night!)

Ed and the infamous sign

Day 4 was the day for us to drive home. I never do well on the last day of a trip. I know that the majority of the sightseeing is done and I am anxious to be home.

To mix it up a bit, we took a different route home which took us to the Hoover Dam! It certainly was a fun experience and I wish we had the time to tour it. The outside was fascinating and inspiring.

After the Hoover Dam it was a very focused drive to get home. We arrived after 10:00pm absolutely exhausted.

Don't forget to vote on the poll what you think Monday's ultrasound will say!

What will the baby be?

Why is it that once you think you got a handle on things, life throws you a curve ball!? That has been life for the past few weeks. Busy beyond all reason and thought provoking. I won't go into much detail, except we experienced yet another death. One that was heart-breaking and still is whenever I think of it. Our dear friends lost their sweet girl, Alice age 18 months. I feel for them! I can't imagine how it would be to loose a child and hope to never experience that. It make me grateful to have the gospel in my life. What a blessing it is to know that someday Alice will be reunited with her famiy!

My thoughts have turned a lot to my own blessing, Olivia, and how I can be a better mother to her. I want to know that I do everything I can, everyday for her. I don't want to think at the end of the day that I should have read one more story or sang one more song. I don't want to think that I was rushed and couldn't be bothered to rock her, play with her, kiss her boo-boos, or to snuggle a little longer. With that, I haven't been on the computer much lately. Olivia (and future baby) will ALWAYS be my top priority.

With that said.....

Next Monday is the big day when we get to find out what our baby #2 is. Trust me that I have been sending lots of vibes and pep talks to this little one telling it to cooperate. I know some people love the thrill of waiting until the birth of their child to find out the gender, but one thing you must know about me is that I am not a spontaneous person. I like to plan and try to be as prepared as possible. Plus, I want to start decorating the nursery.

What do you think our baby is going to be? You may be curious to know that this will be my mother's 8th grandchild. So far she only has granddaughters. Everyone says that this will be a boy, but my dreams are always of a little girl. Eduardo's dreams have been of a boy. So what do you think? Please leave a comment or vote on my poll.