The Basement part I

So I spend the majority of my time in the basement these days, seeing how my craft area is there, the laundry room is there and thats it. But thats most of my time, when i am at home. 

My craft room as seen here, with new walls and trying to organize.

Well I am at it again. I was not happy with such a dark space already, with one light bulb in the office area and one in laundry area, THATS IT! not enough, plus the dark paint and dark shelves, too much. 

So I  starting with the laundry room. 

I moved the book shelves to create a divider between the rooms.Took down the door, moved some shelves and this is what we get.

The tall book shelf is being used for laundry supplies which actually works out really well. 

Than I added a rug for the washer and dryer

Did some real quick canvas art, which I love. 

We just took some tape made a design and painted over it and peeled the tape and wa-la!

and together now. I loved it. It is the small changes that matter. 

I can't wait to tell you about whats going on, on the other side of that bookcase.

Until next time. 

Isn't it funny..

How Things change

This past weekend we hosted a part for P.

(I will share the details with you later this week)

and 

I tried a bunch of new recipes from Pinterest.

Well, isn't funny when your girlfriends some in your house and say i saw that on pinterest too.

So GOOD!!

hhahaha.

pretty awsome.

This happened multiple times that night. 

changes..

Changes are good and if you ask my husband he will tell you they happen too often around here, but that life living with me. I love change. This is a glimpse at what I have been working on.

Chair remake (again) does it look familar?

This is the back of a book case and thats colored chalk board paint.

What do you think?

I have to say I might be in love with the colors.

P's birthday

Today is P's birthday.. and this is somethng cute and fast i whipped up before I had to go to work this morning.

We are planning a big bday party for hime saturday and I can not wait to show you all of the details.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY P!

Red fails..

So My friend Em wrote a blog post on her epic disappintment about Red Tails found here

(source)

I do not know why I took her review with a grain of salt, it might be because my airplane obsessed husband was dying to see it. Well we went  to go see it on Saturday and it was anything but epic.

Like Em said the plt was unispiring, the dialouge was plain and the editing was amateur.

I was not a fan and do not suggest seeing it.

#200

This is post #200

Look at me go.. 

Well I want to share some good news with all of you. 
&
I am.
( I have been waiting to share this new with you)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Friday (1/20) I took my boards (the dreaded NCLEX).

I told very few people so if you didn't know, your with the majority of the population.
I took all 265 questions.
If you didn't know, the minimum is 75.
I have developed paranoid schizophrenia and OCD the last 48 hours
that you have to wait for results
BUT..


I PASSED!!

(source)

I am officially an BSN, RN (a nurse). 
woo hoo!

New Recipe.. Week #2

This week I found this recipe, mexican chicken  

found here from pinterest

at only 266 cal a serving too, not too shabby

I ate it with blue corn chips and sour cream

It was so surprisingly delicious. 

Anything new this week?

MLK Day

This day in 1994, when I was 9 there was an earthquake. I slept through the 6.7 shaker. That is all that I remember from the event. We lived in the hallway for hours and tried to fall back asleep but every time we would it felt like a giant was picking up our house and shook. 

When your 9, you just understand that we live on a surface that has plates and they don't always match.

Anyways, its funny that we now do not have to work on this day and this is all that I think about. 

Its funny, the things we remember. 

Birthday gift.. friends

Since we have been talking about birthdays for the past week, with my birthday here and here

The gift I got/made my sister here

Well, This gift is for a friend.. she is a derby girl

(she requested leg warmers)

So she got.. 

Leg Warmers

black sparkly ones.. 

With 2 pairs of leggings and ..

2 bows.

I made the leg warmers and the bows and I love the way they came out. 

What do you think?

Do you want leg warmers. 

making invitations..

I am gettin' crazy tonight, 3 posts in one night.

(This is the last one, i promise)

Invitations..

One of my friends asked me to make her wedding invitations after seeing mine, as shown here

This is where I need your help, I can use all of the input I can get

This is what I have so far..

Vaudeville inspired pocket envelope design

The front has an embossed lady

The "envelope part is stitched on

Back of the 'RSVP' postcard with clock stamp

Front of the 'RSVP'

Pocket stitched on following angle design for 'RSVP' and spot for info card

Whole invitation when opened.

What do you think?

New recipe.. week #1

Every time I start a new series I can never keep it up for more than 2 weeks. Well, i have been trying to add a new recipe every week to spice things up and not make the same things every week.

This week I tried 2 new recipes (all int he same night)

First up..

cheesy penne pasta

found here: http://amberpless.blogspot.com/2011/12/cheesy-chicken-penne-pasta.html

second up:

apple turnover croissants

(you should know I am ADDICTED to desserts and I cave in today after being in pain as talked about here and this warmed up with ice cream OMG hit the spot for sure)

found here: http://mabelshouse.blogspot.com/2011/11/operation-liz-learns-to-cook-without_29.html

both were delicious and both given a two thumbs up and pretty easy to make. 

What have you tried lately?

This week..

This week while skating on ($2) tuesday, I had a really bad fall. 

I feel on my behind because a small child fell in front of me. 

Long story, I though I was in the clear until her skate caught up in my brakes. I did not want to fall on top of her so I fell on my behind.

IT HURT!

Not like oh I am going to walk this off and it will be ok, like I couldn't sit or bend over hurt.

I went to the dr. (that has to tell you in itself it was bad)

I don't like going to the dr, I know ironic for a nurse but .. its true.

I actually missed work yesterday because of it and stayed in my pjs for most the day.

Well, with this bruised tailbone I have not been working out and its a bummer. 

I miss working out and its only been 2 days.

Oh well, I will get back to it. 

Falling is not to be done as an adult.

What do you think?

birthday presents

My sisters birthday is tomorrow and I still have her present sitting in my car waiting to be mailed.. oops. I had every intention of mailing it today.. anyways

IF.. you are anything like me you hate birthday present picking time.

I just never know what to get etc..

Well, good ol' pinterest led me to this:

Back to school survival kit

Found here

With a pdf of the saying and all

So.. I made it my own

Found an apple basket at hobby lobby

And found all the innerads (mostly in the dollar isle at Michaels and Target)

and .. TA-DA!

I love it, what do you think?

Happy Birthday Kristie!

love you.

Post birthday post

Yesterday was the first time since moving from California, the sun has come out on my birthday. 

It was pretty awsome.

I accidentally ran 11.3 miles  (I only meant to run 8 or 10) .. oops

But it felt great and I sweated and I think i did pretty awsome coming in at 2:20

I also treated myself to a cheese danish after which was so worth burning all of those 1023 cal on the run

I went shopping for my sister's birthday present which is the 11th 

ALSO, did you know.. 

On your birthday you can get your eyebrows waxed for FREE!

I didn't, but I totally did and was totally excited about it too. 

Than we went to thai food and cake at my house.

The theme for the day was, "It's my birthday,  I can cry if I want to"

candles

blowing

gifts.. ginger O. Snap (my derby name) shirt in rookie team colors

posing next to my sign

trying to look tough

tough again

What do you think? Do I look like a derby girl yet?

Isn't it funny.. birthdays

That when you get older, in order to have a birthday you have to do all the work.

I ordered myself a birthday cake last week 

and

Frankly I don't even want to celebrate my birthday

(today)

I am still overwhelmed with the holidays and upcoming events 

Can we just skip it this year?

Do you ever feel liked that/this?

Love this movie

So you probably do not know this but I am notorious for  watching bad movies.. but 

OMG 

I loved this movie .. 

I know that you probably wont feel the same but you should give it a shot

Called.. happy thank you more please.

This is what the synopsis says about it

On the way to meet a publisher, aspiring novelist Sam (Josh Radnor) encounters Rasheen (Michael Algieri) alone on the subway. While struggling to decide whether to send the young boy back to foster care, Sam looks after Rasheen and learns a few important life lessons. Meanwhile, Sam's friends deal with various romantic tribulations. Radnor wrote and directed this comedy, which won the Best Drama Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.

Did I entice you yet?

Yes please.

Well, it is a free movie instant movie on netflix right now. 

GO NOW!

roller derby.. yum!

As a part of my goals for next year, as seen here

I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY

like REALLY

want to join roller derby.

I mean how awsome would that be .. right?

Well, Peter got me half way there.

For our wedding gifts we gave me skates

&

today I went skating for 2 hours

It felt so awosme.

I can not wait for try outs

What do you think?

Food 101

We talked about our ceremony here

We talked about our reception here

What wedding is not about good food.. well.. you know its hard

BUT.. this was our goal.

WE LOVE GOOD FOOD

so this was our goal.

Peter's step sister and her husband own a Hickory River in Peoria and offered to do our catering

It wasn't free but they were so good to us, and everything was exceptional.

(OK, THESE NEXT 2 PICTURES, may be graphic)

We decided on a hog roast

With the hog roast we were able to get a couple sides 

and bread, condiments, etc. WE have a few people that are vegetarians and we kept all of the sides veg friendly which was done by the caterer and they were so helpful and we had an option for them as well. 

They also set up the bar person for us.

We had a $1300 limit, but someone didn't tell the bartender. 

He did not keep track so we pretty much doubled our limit but didn't have to pay for it.. phew

Next, Our cake 

 I went to several local bakeries in town and could not find a "good" cupcake that was consistently good and moist and delicious. Until i went to the one place I thought would be too expensive. Turned out to be the cheapest and they were so nice.

I knew I wanted cupcakes because a of of people do not like cake.

They replicated the butter creams to look like the invitations

and varied it up. I made the paper flowers and the airplane cake topper,

 they did all of the set and delivery for free.

It cost $200 for all 100 cupcakes and the cake

We also had a candy bar.. I love candy

Everyone liked the idea and it worked great with the kiddos

SO .. food

Alcohol.. $1,300

Food.. $2,000

Cake.. $200

Candy bar.. $50

Total ------------------------------- $ 3,550

for 50% of our budget and it was so worth it. 

People are still talking about the food =)

What did you do for your food

Inspiration for the new year

I wrote about my goals in the previous post found here

Well this is my inspiration...

(love.)

A new years of goals

As I recover from the hangover from last night.. I wanted to tell you about our month of december and why having a birthday in January sucks. (Yes I am presuming I will have a hangover tomorrow but i am pretty sure its going to happen.

The month of december has flown by. We had an ugly sweater party, than went an hour and half down south to visit my grandma, than it was graduation and chuck dogs 70th birthday party in chicago (all in the same day) and than it was entertaining my family and starting a full time job and than christmas eve in chicago and christmas day here and now new years in chicago.

I AM TIRED.. of traveling.


Than... my wonderful birthday is a week from today. I have no motivation for celebrating. I just want to relax. I have also been studying for my state boards. 


My goal for january is to relax and spend more time with my husband.
My goal for 2012 is to:
      - run at least one 1/2 marathon
      - run one full marathon
      - do a mini tri
      - & enjoy all of the places we will be traveling for weddings =)

(source)

What are your goals for 2012?