Little hams

I picked up these cute little hams during one of my almost weekly routines...watch baby M, play with baby M, feed baby M, etc., say goodbye, go thrifting. Chino has a lot of thrifty places (like 3 Way), and even if I don't end up finding anything, it's something entertaining to do that I find relaxing, you don't have to talk to anyone, just you and your quiet self slowly walking through aisles of other peoples abandoned goods looking for little treasures or useful things. I even like to look in other peoples' carts and hands to see what little treasures they found, I think it's so neat to see what everyone came in there for, or thinks is worth snatching up. I like to laugh at funny knickknacks, and get really excited when I find books that are on my amazon wish list for under $1...it's pretty fun, just like going to antique stores, minus the junk part, sometimes.
I guess it's kind of like shop therapy, without the huge price tag. Last week I picked up a sweet herringbone skirt, a really ugly Christmas sweater (vest...I hope it still counts), and these salt and pepper shakers. All for under $5 dollars.

The only problem is I don't know which is which! Nutritionally speaking, it would be more logical to have the salt in the shaker with one hole, and the pepper in the one with more holes, but then again, who wants that much pepper? Or do they? I turned to the internet for some "salt-and-pepper-shaker-etiquette" advice, because I know Brad &/or Jeremy would pitch a fit if I got it wrong, but there doesn't seem to be any set rules or standards, just much debate.

I don't really think it matters....who wants to eat flavorless pre-ground pepper anyway! Maybe I'll fill them both with salt and call it a day! I'm pretty partial to hams and they were just too cute to pass up for 39 cents.

Oh Christmas Tree!

Christmas is here and it is so good to be in our own home! It's been so fun decorating!

I have a few more projects to work on and then we'll be all set. I wanted to make some sort of banner or count down chain (out of fabric) to drape across the mantle, and we need a little something for the top of our tree too. Maybe another wreath (the cinnamon stick one was so fun to make and smells wonderful!!!), and some new stockings (note cute fabric above)....and of course gifts!

on the backburner

I've been slightly uninspired to blog lately...or maybe slightly is the wrong word. Aversion? I don't know.

 

Hiatus. Just maybe.

Home...

Life has been so busy, swirling and bubbling into a more agreeable... something, every day.
Yesterday was our first day here, our first night in a bed we haven't laid on for 11 (and a 1/2!) months. This morning I made coffee in my unmentionables and made Thomas' lunch to the quiet sound of Norah Jones and the morning birds. 
Thank you God for our beautiful home.

Dead as a doornail

So she had a good run. I figure she must have been at least three (I've had her for about two years), which is very good for a teddy bear hamster. I think it's because I fed her really well, gave her lots of fancy treats and pringles, always gave her lots of fun things to convert into houses (like that fancy tree house below), changed up her cage so she didn't get bored, and gave her lots of exercise too. Yeah I was a pretty good hamster lady/mom.
Here she is in her younger days.
This was taken yesterday. Maddie had been exiled to behind the trash can downstairs for a few months now. Her body just stunk and no matter how much I cleaned her cage it still bothered everyone. She had developed a few tumors, her skin was all wrinkly and flaky, and she had also started to bald. It was time.
I had cleaned her cage yesterday, freshened everything up, played with her a little and given her lots of cotton to sleep on (she made the most elaborate nests), and we brought her back upstairs so she didn't have to die behind a trash can.
Here's her little burial box. Thomas and I are going to leave a little early tonight for church and stop by the house so we can bury her.
Probably somewhere where Emma won't dig her back up though.

On a lighter note, Thomas took me out for a special day yesterday. I have a new hair color and cut. It's pretty fun and I'm so glad he did. I needed some special wife time. Pictures to come.

our week in photos

My handsome husband...we've been doing well.
Jordan and his beautiful bride. Bettina was just glowing all day yesterday. It was such a pleasure to be able to "attend" to her all day yesterday. She was so calm and cool, all day. Many years!
Thomas (Nouno) and James (our gift was a hit...) I can't believe he's two already!
James, meet cupcake...
Our godson and scary mouse man
Pickles asleep with Thomas
Emma recovering from her horrible vaccines...poor dog. She gave us a scare, but thankfully we have Teri and animal hospitals. The dog will live to ruin another day. ;)

Craft day with the simpson kids. Hannah (and James too) and I made these cute little saint dolls so their hieromonk friend could have some friends. Xenia what a great (and sweet) idea.

this morning

Lauren called me (at 8:54) this morning and woke me up, which was totally fine. I didn't answer for a few reasons, the first being that my crackly morning voice would have given away the fact that I might have just woken up, I didn't think I could talk because my throat is sore (I think it's from painting so much), I didn't want her to think I was lazy, because I have been getting up at 6 every morning for the past week or so, which is pretty early for me these days. I waited to see if she left a voicemail, listened to it, smiled, and then went back to sleep.

I'm now on the couch, thinking about my day and the things I have to get done, or more importantly the things I cannot put off any longer. I'm noticing this sweet little box, which I've recently changed around.


It's a little shadow box that I set this little homey scene in. We had it on our wall and every month (for 8 months) we would pin our savings balance receipts up. It used to say "almost home sweet home". I seem to do well with visual reminders and this one in particular kept me going when the going got rough around here. Currently it sits next to a basset under a nest bell, with the addition of some little clouds, and the removal of the letters that said "almost". Though we're not "home" just yet, I've been spending the majority of my time there so we can be there as soon as possible. I am really thankful that God found us this house. It is so beautiful and suits us perfectly. I am also so thankful that Thomas and I will finally be able to live as a family in permanency. I really think our relationship can grow and become more healthy. No more moving every 9-12 months. It'll be our rules, our home, our stuff...just us!

The house is coming along nicely. We have the laundry room framed and almost entirely covered in drywall. The backyard is cleaned and free of 95% of the junk that was piled there. My mom and I finished the third coat on the cabinet doors and bases last night. It's looking cuter and cuter everyday.

Lately...

It seems my mind's been going every which way, to and fro, back and forth, up and down...backwards. I'm so very scattered and sleepless. I notice it in my posts, and the posts I think about writing (mostly these). They totally contradict each other and I find it rather discouraging and mildly amusing. I'm so indecisive. I spent a nice 7 or 8 minutes this afternoon (at least I think it was the afternoon) on the phone with sweet Jenny. I was telling her how I feel like I've been in a funk lately.
She understood.

Here's the baptismal gown I've been working on for the Silversmiths sweet (and handsome) little boy. I had started on it a few weeks ago, made a horrible mistake (I accidentally cut it in half yesterday thinking it was something else...I have no idea how), and then remade a total new one this morning. I was able to salvage the trim, which was super special, and had a large enough remnant that I was able to just make a whole new one. Thank God!


I opted out of an iron on cross for this pretty one. I don't have much experience with embroidery but love the idea of learning how to do it really, really well. Hopefully they won't mind an imperfection here and there. I do think the hand stitching goes well with the trim though. I really love how it turned out. It's so "silversmith"...I think they're gonna love it...as long as it fits their baby.
I think a majority of my scateredness stems from the overwhelming pile of school books sitting just to the right of me. Don't get me wrong, I'm very excited. Some of the books are just so thick and it's a little intimidating. I haven't actually opened any of them yet. I'm pretty well covered in the "freaked-out/worried" department so I think I'll save looking through them for September.

Hope you have a great weekend!

home

***For Jenny...see it's still there.

Here's what our little house looks like after some TLC...we washed off the cobwebs and did a little yard work.
My brother and dad working on framing the laundry room.
No more weeds.
My mom and I spent a whole day raking up dirt and weeds and nectarine pits. :)
A shot from the inside. It's totally demolished which is kind of scary. We got rid of the pee carpet, scrubbed off all the loogies and buggers from the TB room (as we affectionately call it), took off all the doors and baseboards, bleached everything, and scraped and washed the ceilings. It's been so fun!

Sew

Baptismal gown for the Silversmith baby. It's going to be lovely, vintage trim, crisp white cotton and hand embroidered crosses.
I found this fun idea and am thinking of collecting some hoops (3 way here I come) to do something like this in my laundry/sewing room. It would be so perfect for those scraps that I've been saving up for something special.
I'm getting together some felt and stuffing for the Simpson kiddos. I found these cute little guys online, I know James would love them.

Just finished a new dress. Hot off the feed plates....well not really. It's a sweet little blue calico number (My favorite part about it are the tiny blue flowers). and I tied it all together with a piece of blue satin ribbon that I was saving for a rainy day. Pictures to come.

Queen Dentina

Observe the magical instruments of the mysterious root canal. Pure evil.
Can you guess why they're in foam?
Anyway...it wasn't as bad as I thought, it was nothing compared to the open-and-med, and I did surprisingly well. A few more appointments for the crown fitting, and filling the four cavities I managed to rack up and it'll all be good.

Speaking of teeth...
I received a call from one of the directors of the nursing program yesterday and she told me that I GOT IN TO NURSING SCHOOL!!!!!! I was so happy I started to scream and get really excited on the phone. She told me I gave her goosebumps because I was so excited. So I got in, but just BARELY!!!! Yes really, just barely, apparently by the skin of my teeth...the skin on the good teeth, (not the rotting root canal one, or the cavity ones, the healthy ones). I was offered a position in the part-time nursing program (not the full-time program with my mom).
Maybe they didn't want us cheating (not that we would). Or maybe God just has more things in store for me than he knew I could handle in the full time program. Or maybe I just didn't get good enough grades ( :( ). At any rate, it's something. It's a start. It will be a year longer, but on the bright side, I'll have time to start that etsy store I've been thinking of. Orientation is Monday!!!

We haven't heard much else about our house other than that we got it. We hear talk of closing this Friday, but who knows when we'll get the keys. They decided to (we haven't seen it in writing though) pay us about $600 for some of the appliances that we had to get to close and to treat the house for some termites they found. We are so excited and keep driving by/breaking and entering/hanging out there. Oh so exciting!

green beans

I'm sitting here this morning admiring my funky hand painted Tom's and noticing how pretty my pillows look in the morning light. So here they are, the pillows I made forever and a day ago. They're green and match the cute covered buttons I put on the tab top drapes a while back. They don't remind me of store bought pillows when I look at them, but they're cozy and will do. We like them, and the best part is, they're totally washable and kid (and basset) proof.

Simple Womans Daybook, Thursday

Simple Woman

Daybook for today

Outside my window...sunny July skies (I don't miss the June gloom)

I am thinking...of Lauren today, God grant her many years!

I am thankful for...almost being in our new home...may it be God's will.

From the learning rooms...dosage calculations.

From the kitchen...just some decaf coffee. I think I went and let myself get addicted again. I ran out of my favorite Harney and sons tea, and my good tea in general, so I started sneaking cups here and there from my in-laws coffee maker. The only problem is that they drink the good stuff and I've been shaking like a leaf for three days. I finally broke down and ground some of my "weaker" beans this morning. Lately I've been feeling like I need an extra pick me up in the mornings. It does the trick but I already feel addicted.

I am wearing...pajama bottoms and a comfy cami.

I am creating...it's more like what have you started. I'm so bad at starting projects or finding fabric for projects and not starting them. They're all just looking me in the face...an apron, some headbands, pillows, skirts, curtains for the new house, some of those fancy bread bags that Tiff made (to match said curtains), our wedding scrapbook, pickles scrapboook...the list goes on and on.

I am going...to deep clean this place today...there is flakes of peeled off skin everywhere and it's just disgusting. It looks like a bunch of lizards live here. I'm doing laundry too.

I am reading...Just finished The Meaning of Suffering, and Children in the Church Today. They were amazing books! I'm currently reading more about the life of my patron saint.

I am hoping...to finish all of my chores today, see Lauren later, and finish up our renovation budget list.

I am hearing...a noisy fan and a rumbling tummy. It's been so out of sorts lately.

Around the house...oh just messes and craft piles. The usual.

One of my favorite things...drinking coffee from a mug. You don't know what a luxury that is until you've had to drink out of nasty travel ones. They just get so gross and after a while they give your coffee or tea a strange taste.

A few plans for the rest of the week...hopefully closing escrow tomorrow, hearing about nursing school soon, and a fun shower!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
I'm stealing this idea for my kitchen! The paint idea that is....my aunt sent me this back in may and I just fell in love with it. It's super simple, but still looks really cute. She helped me pick out the colors too. The cabinets won't look quite the same but I think it'll look better than the cabin feel that's there right now. We priced out a butcher block countertop but it just didn't fit the budget...and all I could find it in were 4' blocks and I'd kind of like a solid piece for the long side of the kitchen. We hope that we'll be able to redo the kitchen within the next year so we might just leave the countertop that's there or maybe put down some formica. I guess we'll see!

The long weekend

This past weekend, though super busy, was really, really fun! We had two birthday's to celebrate, lots of family and friends to see, and a beautiful wedding to attend. Here I am above in my beautiful 155 dollar gown, 60 dollar pink shoes, never to be worn again (that's what makes it so fabulous), with my handsome groomsmen, and gorgeous and great smelling 5 pound bouquet. It was so fun to be in a wedding! Except for the whole "We could've bought a dishwasher" part. Just kidding...kind of.


The cute flower girl...she screamed like a pterodactyl (is that really how you spell that?) the entire way down the aisle.


The gorgeous bride!


The dance of Isaiah


Anysia (aka, soule...the other flowergirl) and I...she is such a little sweetie. Did I mention we're god-siblings? She belongs to the Pavlatos family. We were able to spend a lot of time with them this past weekend. They are so dear to us! I think I'm in love with Presvetera. She is so beautiful and amazing, and kind and sweet and loving, etc! She has a sister who also has PCOS and has not been able to conceive. She introduced us and we talked, and talked, and prayed together, and then talked some more. She was such an inspiration and we're going to keep her in our prayers!
Thomas and I in a photo by Soule :)


My brother and cousin Sarah, 20 and 1! Together they're old enough to drink!



Us killing time at the four peaks brewery before the wedding...most amazing food ever!


Us laughing at my sisters "X"...we thought for sure the bride would kill her if it didn't come off!