home for the holidays

Well, I made it to the mitten for the holidays. I had to leave the boys back in SA, so it won't be a complete family holiday, but we're getting there.

FINALLY there is snow around for me to get into the holiday spirit. It was a little difficult in SA with the palm trees next to the inflatable Santas. So far I've been able to see a few friends and have more marked in over the next week while I'm in town. I'm happy just to be able to have people to meet up with and talk to! It's getting pretty boring/lonely at the apartment all day with the dogs while Matt's at work.

I woke up this morning to a nice flurry of snow outside (thank you BFF for sending me the text.....lol) and decided to slide on the boots, grab my camera and start taking some pictures! It was a lot of fun playing with the different settings on my camera and re-learning all it can do. Anyway, here are a few pictures from my short snowy walk around the house.

my favorite from this morning

Major, my parents bullmastiff. (only 135lbs of dog!!)

Michigan home :)

pot holder makeup bag

I was looking around on different blogs, linking from one to another and found Obsessively Stitching, a great blog with this wonderful tutorial. After finding some pot holders at the dollar store (2 for $1), it was a perfect price for a test craft. After putting the zipper on incorrectly 3 times, I decided to actually pay attention to the task at hand instead of the tv program that was on. Overall I think these turned out pretty good. I added the buttons on the green one and LOVE it—not sure I want to gift it away! My next goal is to get out of the green and brown color theme I've been running with for a while....

cat dog

Apparently he was tired from watching me working around the apartment all day. No place was comfortable enough so he climbed on the back of the couch—my little cat-dog :)

spreading holiday craft cheer

I decided I would make a few holiday cards this year. I have tried this before and wasn't very successful, so  instead of making a long list of people to send them to, I made only four. Who will those lucky four people be?

my time as tyler durden

There is something addictive about making soap. I haven't figured out what it is yet, but I can't get my head out of 'soap mode'. Different ideas for recipes keep popping up and my inner nerd that isn't so deep within that wants to keep testing these hypothesis'.  There is a small desire to see how selling my soap would work, maybe finally creating that etsy account and giving it a go...? Who knows, but I love doing this and wouldn't mind having to make a few batches every week to keep up with a possible demand?! haha. Wouldn't that be the day! (don't worry I wouldn't use stolen left-over drained human fat from liposuction clinics..LOL)

handmade soap :)

new skirt

When a girl finds a good deal, she must take it! This beauty was only $10...awww so pretty!

The only problem is, my sense of fashion is well—less than desirable. I need help with shirt ideas and shoes, maybe something funky? It's a cream/off white-ish color, sits about at my knees. Also, isn't there some kind of fashion law where you aren't suppose to wear white after Labor Day? or is that old news, maybe the cream is ok? 

wall decor

A couple of things I made for the walls in the apartment. I would change a couple things with the ones for the bathroom, but I still love them! The living room needs more than just the six squares, so I'll be working on that soon :) AND the whole photography skill thing will be worked on too...

yum!

 I am rather proud of my productivity this weekend. Yesterday I tested out a new soap recipe, don't think it worked out how I wanted it to, but at least it was a tiny test batch so I didn't waste too many materials.

As for today, while everyone around seemed to be setting up the bbq—I made spinach, onion, mushroom and feta stuffed chicken with rice and chocolate peanut butter cups to follow for a tasty treat. And it was GOOD! I even witnessed Matt eating every bit (including the mushrooms—that's a big thing for him....LOL) Although at this point I haven't tried the peanut butter cups, but honestly...I don't think I need to try them to tell you they are going to be amazing. I hate food pictures, but I had to post my success (just ignore the 'sweat' on the peanut butter cups, it was a humid day).

Also this afternoon I decided to take a break from my food network session in the kitchen and take the dogs for a 4 mile walk. It was so nice outside I couldn't just sit indoors and watch the sun pass by. I found a pretty nice route through the neighborhood near by and hope to make it a daily walk with the dogs or run with my iPod :) The next thing I need to do is find a half marathon and start training, I think it's the only way I'm going to get back out there!

Spinach, Mushroom, Onion, Feta Stuffed Chicken

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

happy birthday to you

I almost didn't send this off for my sister's birthday, I thought it was too cute. After being told not to use linen paper for things because it shows I'm out dated, I can't help it!!! I love the look for certain things. Figuring a picture would fill my need to keep it, and save space, I sent it off and she loved it! It's one thing to like your own ideas and 'work' but to have someone else enjoy it just as much can be much more satisfying :)

My sister's 30th Birthday present

dodging bullets

I am very confused on the people of San Antonio, more so of those looking to hire workers. Having two degrees, multiple areas of experience and knowledge and having a self motivated drive to actually WORK, I didn't think finding a job would be a difficult task once I moved down here. It's been about a month and a half and two 'trial' jobs later and I'm back to square one with no job.

I suppose now is the time to look deep and find what it is I am trying to be in life.

Things I love filling my time with:
designing: logos, invitations, layout design
photography
crafting
baking: cakes, cakes and more cakes!

I wonder if there is a job that incorporates them all?? The search continues!

it's all a matter of opinion

Well it's starting to get 'cool' down here in Texas. I was out Sunday morning and witnessed a woman wearing 180s (those earmuffs that wrap around the back of your head)—I was in shorts, t-shirt and fip-flops. I couldn't help but giggle to myself and carry on. Matt asked the other day to put the heat on for a minute to get the chill out of the air—what he calls cold, I call refreshing. My poor little love of a dog has been freezing for the past week sporting his OH so cute jacket, he looks so pathetic it's rather sad. haha It will be interesting how the winter actually is down here, from a midwesterner's view.

I'm still working on getting pictures taken of all the crafts I've done for the apartment! I really need to paint these walls, it's getting depressing looking at the super cute wall decorations on the boring 'apartment white' walls. This new job is really cramping my crafting time.  haha

Rocky looking very unhappy and cold.

and so it begins

My very own space in the cyber world to rant, rave, share my adventures and document the little and not so little projects I'm getting myself into. And maybe connect with other crafty, artsy fartsy people!

After recently moving 1400 miles from my home in Michigan and everything I know, to Texas. I found myself unemployed, referring to myself as a stay at home 'non' mom, filling my days designing and creating crafts to decorate my stale, not so personal white-walled apartment. A list was created and is continuing to grow with ideas and projects to do in my free time! It's so exciting to have time, space and drive to get these projects done. And of course to be able to look at them on the walls and around the apartment are always a bonus :)

Pictures, comments, recipes and other fun stuff will soon follow!! :)