New Kitchen Chairs

I am just thrilled! When we bought our kitchen dining set, we loved everything about it, except for the fabric on the chairs. Well, I finally recovered them today. They went from a boring beige pattern to crimson red with caramel stripes. I was very lucky and found the fabric on a price reduction for $20 a yard at JoAnn's and then it was on sale 50% off! I was able to pay just over $20 to recover all 6 of our chairs. I don't know why I waited so long, it was fairly simple to do, and I couldn't be happier with the results.  Here are the before and after pictures.

Laughter, Dinner, and Friends.

It is amazing how a simple night out can be just what you need. Last night Chris and I went out to dinner with our friends the Browers and the Smiths. We went to Red Robin's and had a great time! We shared stories, ate, and spent most of the night just laughing as we learned more about each other. I came home feeling like I could take anything on again, it is wonderful how a simple break from the normal and taking time out for yourself can rejuvenate ones spirit.

Today I feel like I can get so much accomplished. I woke up to a sale on Etsy, and I can't wait to go and make more things for my store. The house is relatively clean, and I think I can squeeze some torch time in today in between loads of laundry.  I really want to make the kids their worry stone hearts today.  I have many already made, but I want their input on their own hearts, and if they want to brave the cold garage, I will even let them help make it! I really want it to be special for them, as I told some friends; I want it to be a tangible reminder of how much they are loved.

Later on tonight, I think we will go and rent a fun movie to watch with the kids, or just have a family game night with them. They have been good kids, and I think they deserve a reward and I think that kids need to be reminded that they are loved and appreciated just as much as their parents need to hear that as well.

My friend, a Bead Star!!!

One of the greatest things to come from making jewelry and beads, is the fantastic friendships I have made with ladies from all over the world.  Most of us met online at Lampwork Etc which is for me kind of like the office water cooler. It is a place to share, learn, and yes, just chat and share our lives. One of these friends, Lisa Liddy won!

Her entry in the Hearts category of BeadingDaily.com's contest received First Place. I am so thrilled for her. Lisa is a very talented jewelry designer who has a fresh and unique approach to her own style. I am always excited to see what she has come up with.  Here is a picture of her winning design, it is simply gorgeous!  Here is the link to her blog post where she announced winning the contest.

Goals - first update

Well, it has been a week since I set my goals for the year, and I thought I would see how I am doing.  So far so good, except I didn't list anything new on etsy last week. I did reopen my store though since I had it in vacation mode while I was busy in December with all of my shows, and had never gotten around to reopening through the holidays.  So that is my main goal this week, to list in my etsy store. I listed 2 fun frog pendants today, and I have a boro set, and a Valentine Viking knit bracelet all ready to go tomorrow. I even have the pictures done for a bracelet for my website! Woohoo! Progress!

Date Night

Last night was Chris and I's  first date of the New Year. We also had  decided that on one of our bi-monthly dates, we should invite another couple to go with us. Tonight the Martinson's were able to join us and we had a great time. We went to this little Mexican restaurant in Sumner called El Charro. I love their food especially since they currently don't use any peanut butter in any of their sauces, I am allergic and you would be surprised how many places do! We then came back home to check on the kids before heading back out to their house to watch Eagle Eye and have some chocolate creme brule that Jaque had made, so yummy!  It was a great movie and we hope there may be a sequel, they left the possibility open at the end of the movie. Overall though, I think the best part of the night was just getting out of the house, and getting to know friends better. I do have to say that my favorite part of the night was when their daughter decided that she was a "Kari fan," and then cuddled up with me for a bit. I have to say that I am a Morgan fan as well. :) Oh, and I can't forget about when Tyler called us to see when we were getting home. I thought we were the parents, do we have a curfew we don't know about? LOL!

Northwest Flooding

I am grateful that I am not in danger of any of the flooding. My heart goes out to all who are having to flee their homes to get to safety. While I can't do much, the girls and I made over 200 cookies tonight to take to our Fire Station for all of the emergency workers. It is so little, but it warmed my heart especially as the girls talked about how they are thankful for all those workers, and that they hope they will like their cookies. Daylyn even said maybe she would grow up to be a dispatcher so she could help more. I am hoping that by having them help in this small act of service, I am helping to teach my kids gratitude to all of those first responders whose job it is to help us, and who do it so well.

Here is a link to the story.

Our Holiday Baking

I know this is late, but what can you do. We had a lot of fun baking this year. We made gingerbread, chocolate Rolo, chocolate mint, and of course sugar cookies. Last year I also discovered a great caramel recipe and we made lots of caramel as well as gourmet caramel apples that were dipped first in caramel, then white chocolate, and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. They were sooo yummy! The kids gave those to their teacher for Christmas presents. It  was a lot of fun baking with the kids. They all were involved from cutting out the cookies to decorating them. Of course their favorite part is still eating the cookies, and I have to agree with them! It also felt more festive this year as I had just painted the kitchen red 2 days before Christmas! Here are some of my favorite pictures.

Tyler

Travis

Daylyn

Allison

The cookies!

The Gourmet Caramel Apples for gifts

The Biggest Loser

I love this show! I think it is so inspirational to so many of us. A bunch of friends started our own Biggest Loser tonight at the gym. We weighed in, took a BMI measurement, and of course the before pictures. It is going to be fun to support each other through the season (we aren't voting each other off ) as we try to get in better shape. Wish me luck, I want to win!

Back to school, back to reality.

Yesterday the kids went back to school. Everyone woke up in great moods, everything went as smooth as it can in the mornings, I was thrilled to say the least. Fast forward to this morning....let's see, we all went to bed earlier, and yet everyone (except for Travis who is always happy in the morning) was totally dragging, tired, and yep, grumpy! I was so hoping that with the new year was going to come great mornings, but it looks like reality is just this. Life is normal.

I shouldn't be surprised since the kids had 3 extra days of Winter Break because of school being cancelled because of the snow. 2 1/2 weeks of freedom, sleeping in and staying up late had to take its toll. I miss the kids being at home, but at the same time I am glad they are back in school because that means we are getting back to our regular routines. Tyler is the only one who isn't thrilled to be going back to school, but that has more to do with having to get up early again. I asked if he would be glad to be going back to school if classes started at 10, and he begrudgingly said yes. Poor kid is just like me and is a true night owl. Staying up until midnight is pretty normal for me, and there are even times when Chris gets up to go to work at 3 a.m. only to find me still up and working on the torch!

New Year Resolutions

I thought I better actually write out all my resolutions/dreams for this year. You have a better chance of succeeding if you do. I also figure by posting them here, I will be more accountable for them.

My New Year Resolutions

• Spend more quality time with my family


• A Family Vacation full of surprises for the kids.


• Have dates with Chris at least 2 times a month, this does not include going to Fred Meyers together!


• Have Mom/Dad “dates” with the kids again. I really miss this.


• Hit the gym 5 times a week, not 3, I am determined to lose the last of this weight!


• Declutter the house more – we have too much stuff!


• Organize my office and studio so I can be more efficient with my time.


• List something new on etsy at least 4 times a week.


• Post to my blog at least once a week.

A New Year, a new me...

I have so many dreams for myself and my family, and I am determined that this is the year that we make a few of those dreams come true. One of my most important dreams or goals, is that I want to spend more quality time with my family, not just spend time with them. It is easy to spend time with them, after all, I am home when they get home from school right? I am spending each day with them...or am I. For instance, yesterday I made crepes for dinner. As usual, I had my MP3 player on and was listening to a book while cooking. Normally, I am in the kitchen alone while cooking, but with crepes, you make them fast and serve them up as fast as the family can eat them, and boy do they! (Who says it is only teenage boys who have a huge appetite!  When it comes to crepes, the girls can eat almost as many as the boys!) When I was down to the last crepes in the pans, I took off the player to sit down and eat with the family. As I did, I realized that I had just missed out on some quality time because I was "plugged in."  Yes, I was in the same room with them, but I wasn't really there. I had missed out on all of their conversations all because I didn't hit the pause button. Now, I am not going to give up my audio books, but I am going to be more selective about when I am listening to a book rather than my family.