Fourteen Days of Valentines Day Three.

The first month I was in college my maternal grandfather (Papa) gave me a book of stamps. It was probably the first book of stamps I ever owned and was definitely the first book of stamps I had that were self adhesive (why did it take the post office so long to figure that one out?). I remember these stamps so well; they had pink roses on them.

Picturing my Papa in the post office buying me a book of stamps with roses on them was a bit like watching Matthew Cuthbert trying to buy Anne a poofed sleeves dress in Anne of Green Gables. I'm not saying that's how it was (he may very well have said "I need some stamps for my granddaughter." and that was that) I'm just saying it gave me those same feelings as I've always thought the similarities between my real-life Papa and Matthew where spooky. But the simple fact that Papa thought to buy me stamps did something to my heart. He thought of me out of all his grandchildren and obligations. He thought to do something so that I could stay in contact with the ones I loved back home.

He is so quiet that the stamp thing shocked me. Still does when I think about it. I got to wondering if I ever sent my Papa anything with those first stamps? Certainly I would have sent something to my Grammy and it would have had a salutation to him that she would have shared, but, did I send him anything?  I hope I did but I kind of doubt it.  I am so lucky that both my Grammy and Papa are alive and in pretty good health. I've got friends who don't have any grandparents left. I do not take that for grant it so I decided that for day three I wanted my Papa to know how much I love him. I want him to know how much I respect him, down to my very core. I want to thank him for those stamps (oh how I wish I had saved one).

It's a simple project. a pot of tea a piece of stationary and a pen. But how often do we take that kind of time to send someone a note they can hold in their hand? It's different then Facebook and email. It's sweeter and slower and it means more even if the words are the same. Send someone a letter or a card I bet it makes their day a lot brighter.

Fourteen Days of Valentines Day Two.

Day two and it was a Martha Stewart Project. In my experience her projects either work out great or are total failures. In the case of the latter I shake my fist and am once again convinced that she is an evil mastermind. So for day two I had pinned one of her recipes; cheesecakes in canning jars. My husband and his boss (the head preacher man) both love cheesecake and the treats looked so darn cute in their individual little jars. It worked out fine though, of course, didn't look as fabulous as hers did (evil genius indeed).

I made little paper hearts that were suppose to mimic those gross candy hearts you can get this time of year (You know the ones that will break your tooth in half). I tried to remember all the hilarious sayings on them including my favorites, "Fax Me" and "U R Cool" and attached them to the jars with a strand of red embroidery floss. They turned out cute and I'm hoping that they taste good too (I don't know because I can not even look at cream cheese with out getting sick).

It's sort of upside down cheesecake:
crust on top, followed by blueberry preserves
then the cheesecake.

To be shipped to church for the hard working
and long suffering staff.

Tomorrow I've got something a bit less involved but more personal up my sleeve.  I hope this day finds you doing great and filled with warmth.

Fourteen Days of Valentines. Day One.

Any one know anything about St. Valentine? I did a bit of research and turns out he was martyred (I think) for marrying Christians during one of the great Roman persecutions. That's pretty cool if you ask me (not that he was martyred but that he would sacrifice himself for love). You know what else I think is cool? Red and pink together, tiny hearts, boxes of chocolates, pretty silk underpinnings, victorian cards, and love. It may be cheesy and girly but I don't care. I don't think those things are as wonderful as self sacrifice of course. The reason I told you the thing about St. Valentine's is so that you can combat the evil guy philosophy of "it's just a hallmark holiday invented to sell cards." (insert deep annoying guy voice) And so what if they've commercialized it I don't have to buy into all that and frankly I think love is something great that we should celebrate. If it weren't for valentines day we'd have nothing to in February.

In the past I've done a thing called "Fourteen Days of Valentines" for Brian. It's my take on the twelve days of Christmas. I'm doing it again this year but I'm changing it up a bit. I will show you my valentines advent string in a minute and most of the other gifts will be for Brian (he is my greatest love after all) but I also wanted to spread the love out to those around me. So every day from here until the 14th (give or take a weekend where I'm too busy) I'm going to post about a little gift or project I've done to show someone that I care. Culminating with a gift to be given away to one of you my sweet readers (so stay tuned for that next week or so).

The first project I did was my Valentines "advent calendar" for Brian.

First I took some red construction paper and cut out 14 hearts of varying sizes (sorry about the photos the lighting wasn't very good today. Very grey outside.)

Then using a permanent or other easy-to-see-pen number the hearts one through fourteen on one side. On the other write something that you appreciate/love about the person. I used a variety of physical, spiritual, and work/respect things about Brian (I read somewhere that "respect is to a man what romance is to a woman" and I've tried to be mindful of that when I do things like this for Brian.)

Then take a long wide ribbon (I used this red stripy one left over from christmas) and starting with 14 tape the hearts on going down the line to one. The idea is that starting at the bottom of the ribbon each day he will take off one of the hearts to read what I love about him. I also alternated adding candy for him. I didn't add enough for every day because it would have made the ribbon really heavy and I have other presents for him throughout this season. (I hated using candy bars but I made sure none of them were hershey's brand-the most evil of all chocolate companies).

To attach something like a candy bar, cut to parallel slits in the ribbon and slip the bar through as shown in the above pic. I also put a piece of tape across the back to hold it in place. If you were attaching something like a bag of skittles you could just staple it right to the ribbon.

Then I nailed it to the wall (I know I shouldn't have used nails but it was heavy!! Maybe a better way would be to leave extra ribbon at the top and tie it to something tall). I nailed it at the top and around day 7 to help distribute the weight. I had a heck of a time finding a place that was out of the way of the kids (I didn't want to torture them or me with whining for dad's candy every moment of the day). So it ended up in our bedroom but that seems okay to me; wink wink.

I hope your dreaming up some fun loving things for this month. I'll see you tomorrow when I attempt a Martha Stewart recipe for the church staff.

How a Weekend Can Save Your Brain.

Okay so you know how I flew to MD last minute? Well, I flew to MD last minute! This might not dazzle your mind or anything but I just don't do things like that. For one it seems like you have to have a lot of money to do that sort of thing. I still remember a friend from college telling me that her family just decided to fly to Disney World for a long weekend. That totally blew my mind because when we plan trips to Disney World they're like two or more years in the making. Any way so that seems like a rich person, or emergency thing to do. Second I'm sort of a planned out, routine kind of person, and I have kids. I mean everything with kids takes planning, and so many suitcases.

This is my cuter then cute nephew. He doesn't care
for me or any one that is not my mom.

So I was talking to my mom and sister on the phone and that evening I had a plane ticket and was busily working on an overnight bag so I wouldn't have to check any bags. Crazy! It was so much fun doing something like that.  Flying with out children is amazing. The only thing I wish that I'd done differently was taking my computer with me so I could blog on the plane. It's so easy to take off one pair of shoes and get zapped by the naked picture thing when it's just me (by the way does that thing make anyone else feel like they have to wear matching underwear through security?). Making my way to the plane, going to the bathroom before we boarded and flying was so easy with just me!

It was only two full days but it was so rejuvenating. My mom and sisters and I went to this thing called "Repurposed and Refined" it's sort of like a once-a-month thing where people come with vintage and antique items that have been refurbished and it's set up so pretty and cute. They had cookies and coffee and the prices were really good. I got several pictures of flora and birds for when i re-do my room (wait until I tell you about that).

The thing she's holding says "sweet sisters"

Repurposed and Refined.

We ate at cute sandwich shops, and went junking (where I tried on some diamond rings what fun!). And of course had a dress up dinner at a nice Thai place for my youngest sisters 25th birthday (we're really really all close in age). We came home opened presents, gorged ourselves on brownies and ice cream (soy for her and me). It was fabulous!!!

I love my children so much. They bless my heart daily but having a couple days to myself, to sleep in and not be woken up once or twice in the night, was heavenly. It was so refreshing and when I came home I was so much more calm and patient then I had been when I left. I think it's okay to admit that we need a break now and then. I think it's okay that we be reminded that we're more then just moms. Oh what a blessing that my husband watched them all alone for the weekend. What a blessing that I have sisters and parents that I want to spend time with. What a blessing two full days can be.

Somehow I got a ton of pics of
Heather and hardly any of Courtney.
That's a shame as Court has a baby bump.

That dress is vintage and fits her amazing!
How annoying.

On Flying To MD.

I have never lived in Maryland. My parents moved there a while after Brian and I were married. So explain to me why it is when I was flying over (mountains?) and cities and countryside, making my way to where my parents and sisters live, I felt like I was flying home?

It's not to say that my little green house in Michigan doesn't feel like home because it does. It's my house with my clutter, and my dog and my husband and my children. My house doesn't smell (why is it all other homes have some sort of odor, not bad necessarily, except our own?) it definitely feels like home (in fact I've never lived anywhere as long as I've lived here). But my parent's house still feels like home I don't understand it.  It almost feels like a different kind of "home".

Maybe it's because I'm not in charge there. I get tired of having to make sure people are bathed and in bed. I get tired of being in charge of clean socks, and what's for dinner, and bed times. It makes my brain tired. When I go to mom and dad's I don't have to be in charge of anything; I'm just along for the ride. I mean I make my bed and clean up my dishes and try to do my share of the laundry but it's just different somehow.

Maybe it's because it smells and looks like my home from my childhood. No matter where we've lived our house smelled good. No matter where we lived our house was always pretty and cozy on the inside.

Maybe it's because my parents are there and my sisters. That's where we laugh and talk and laugh and cry but mostly laugh. It's where we walk down memory lane and look at old pictures and eat until we're stuffed. It's the place where we're most likely to all be together.

Maybe it's a combination of those things. What I know for sure is it feels good to be able to go home.

Last Tuesday...

I was working on a Facebook page for a local business and loathing my skirt pieces staring at me from the sewing table.

By Tuesday nap time I was talking to my sister about said Facebook page and her birthday. About ten minutes later her, my mom and I had decided I should fly out there on Friday so I could be at the birthday celebration.

By Wednesday I had decided that I MUST have a new overnight bag to take with me. I MUST make my long awaited Amy Butler Weekender Bag. The pattern and fabric were gifts for my birthday (in June!) So it was a long time coming.

By Friday noon I was barely done with the bag and was barely done packing. I just barely barely managed to do the dishes so that my poor wonderful husband wouldn't be left with two kids and a dirty kitchen.

It was crazy of me to think I could do a project like that so fast and so on the fly. But, I did it and I'm glad. It turned out pretty good. Not perfect but honestly I'm super happy with the bag. It's very cute and holds a lot. I was proud to carry it through the airport Friday evening and made sure I showed it off to my mom and sisters who all ooed and awed appropriately.

More on the actual trip tomorrow.

I Am Making a Skirt.

Well let me be a bit more honest. I should be making a skirt. I have been working on it forever! You see my post baby body has left my waist a wee bit bigger then my hips. So far, as I have been making dresses and loose fitting skirts, it wasn't ever an issue but boy oh boy did I bite off a big one here! I am having to redraft the pattern and therefore need to make a mock-up of the skirt in cheap-o fabric before cutting into my super expensive wool. The entire process is long and tedious and I feel desperate that it won't work! So I am dragging my feet. Seriously by the time I finish this skirt it will be too warm to wear it or my waist will have shrunk (hey a girl can dream can't she?).

Made from scraps from a men's shirt.

I thought maybe I needed to reward myself (for what I'm not sure) by way of procrastinating some more by whipping up a super fast fun project. So I did. As you know I love coffee. And, am drawn to all things coffee; neat mugs (oh we have so many mugs) espresso machines, drip machines, some wonky thing I've read about but haven't found yet (I will find it) and my favorite; the french press. I feel so sophisticated when I use my french press and the coffee from it really does taste better (there's a bunch of science I won't bore you with). So I made a cozy for my french press, to help keep the coffee warm.

What a cute mug.

It was fun. I used all scraps so it basically cost nothing (SWEET) and a pattern I found on Martha Stewart. It worked well except it ended up being a bit too big because her's was for a 12 Cup French Press and mine is a six, so it didn't tie well. No problem a couple of hooks and eyes fixed that. I would rather have used snaps but didn't have any and it had to be a free project.

Now I will stop procrastinating as soon as I finish proofing this post, and do some dishes... Ooo a new magazine...