My Craft Projects

As some of you might know, I love doing crafts. It is one of my favorite hobbies and I love making cute accessories for our house. Here are some of my latest projects.

Someone in our house has a hard time remembering which dirty laundry hamper is for whites and which is for colors, so I made these cute signs in an hour! Now there is no excuse for leaving dirty clothes on the floor. (Cute AND affective!)

















Here is another craft project I've been working on...it is my Pless Plaque. It is cuter in person, but I just love it. The letters are cardboard cut-outs and the frame is called a floating frame. Add a little raffia and accessories, it turns into the cutest decoration.








I finished my wedding scrapbook and I couldn't be more happy with it! Here are a few pages of our happiest day. Let me know what you think.

VICTORY!!!

The ants have lost the battle! I don't know where they went...but we haven't seen a single ant in 2 weeks. Not even a search party. I hope they aren't gathering more troops for a stronger retaliation. Either way ... we have won the battle! And the war...hopefully. Now peace can ring throughout the land!

Battle of the Kitchen!

Mike and I have been involved in World War 3 in our little house, That's right...we have ants! If you leave one little scrap of sweet food out (they aren't fans of veggies we found out), there is a 6-lane freeway of ants in a matter of minutes. Clever little buggers! We just bought traps for the problem, but I am doubtful...these little guys are clever. I just know they are plotting to take over my kitchen! We have been vacuuming them up and spraying solution in their paths, but they multiply! I mean...in the grand scheme of things, ants are WAY better than a smoker below us, but still annoying. One good outcome is the fact that our kitchen has to stay spotless so we can starve the little suckers...but once in awhile we forget to wipe up a spot and the masses are back! We are crossing our fingers and toes and hoping the traps work! If not...we will have to take drastic measures.

*On a side note - Mike and I have been watching seasons of 24 in our down time and I can't help but think that I'm President Palmer giving the go ahead to kill the colony and Mike is Jack Bauer doing the dirty work. Mu ha ha! (This confirms what a big dork I am ... but anyone reading this blog should already know that.)

Twilight Series

Like so many other people I know, I am addicted to the Twilight Series! I just finished the 4th and final book and I absolutely loved it. I try and contain my excitement for the movie coming out this year because I don't want to look like a 12 year-old, but I can't help it. I was skeptical about these books before my sister-in-laws both told me what a great read they were. Now, I know these books don't discuss world peace or heavy world-changing issues, (unless Mike is a vampire) but they are great vacation reads! I'm just bummed that there isn't a 5th one for me to read. What will I read on my next vacation? Any suggestions?

Our Perfect Vacation to Boston

Mike and I finally went on our Boston vacation to see Adam and Marci! Adam is a student at Harvard studying Ancient Languages. He basically is going to be Indiana Jones - which I think is awesome! All he needs now is a whip and a hat. Marci is a dietitian and personal trainer for an expensive health club and they are both loving the East coast. I completely understand their love for Boston because I fell in love with the East coast too! So beautiful and so much history!

Our vacation was perfectly orchestrated by Marci. We had our travel suggestions and day trips planned. We flew into New Hampshire on Wednesday night and stayed with Mike's uncle Richard for a night. The one thing that was less than perfect was the car rental company. Mike and I are 24 ... one year under the age limit. So, we were charged an outrageous age charge. It is amazing...we are married, financially stable, employed, responsible adults, but we still can't rent a car without getting hit with extra fees. The system is flawed! Moving on, we drove into Cambridge on Thursday afternoon and met up with my brother Adam. We toured the city of Cambridge and Havard's grounds and I am convinced that Adam goes to Hogwarts in disguise. I loved the architecture on the East Coast! Just stunning. Here we are touring Harvard yard.

One of the stops we made on our trip was to Rhode Island to hang out at the beach and to tour the Vanderbilt Mansion. This mansion was crazy and right on the coast line. I was just a little jealous...but I would have decorated the place completely different. But that's just me.

Mike loves this picture because you can see his "cool" sideburns. Adam wasn't much help in this department...he kept encouraging Mike to grow them out even farther! Thanks Adam. Sideburns or not...he still is a cutie to me.

Mike thought it was funny to jump into my scenery pictures right before the camera flashed. I have about 15 pictures of Mike and this awkward face. Thanks hunny!

We had so many adventures with Adam and Marci and it was so nice for Mike and I to get away from our chaotic lives for a few days. I think I have the sweetest, most handsome husband in the world! I am so grateful for him and all the hard work he does to take care of me and let us have wonderful moments like this. Even if he ruined half of my pictures with his mischievous self!

Boston Sites!

Boston has so many sites to see!! We went to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where Ichabod Crane met the Headless Horseman! Adam was trying to recreate the spooky encounter and I think he accomplished it. Here is Adam without his body. Spooky things happen in a cemetery in the middle of the afternoon...with other tourists around. Very spooky!As you can see here, Mike was so freaked out by Adam's version of the Headless Horseman, he fell into a deep sleep. Actually, Mike wasn't feeling too good, so he decided to lay down. Both Mike and Adam were a little sick ... Marci and I think it was the oysters they shared...hmmm, a mystery!

Here we are at the North Bridge...where the British was trying to cross over to fight the Americans. It was really cool to see monuments on both sides of the bridge: one to remember the Americans that fell defending their beliefs and the other monument to remember the British who fell defending what they thought was right.

Us going to the bridge.

Adam and Marci on the North Bridge.

It was so great to tour the East coast with Adam and Marci. Marci is the best tour guide and made a perfect itinerary for our viewing enjoyment! Thanks Marci!

Boston Red Socks Game!

Adam and Marci had a brilliant idea for our vacation! They got tickets to a Boston Red Soxs game in Fenway park and this was such an amazing experience! Even though Mike and I aren't big fans, it was so much fun going to the game and singing "Take me out the ball game". I think the best part of the game was the die-hard, Boston-born fan I sat next to. He was hilarious! With his thick Boston accent, he kept chatting with me - assuming I was a die hard fan as well. And I didn't want to disappoint him, so I didn't correct him and pretended to be a die-hard fan too. We talked about the pitcher, the players history - well...HE talked, I just agreed and added the general comments such as... "Oh, I know...the team would die with out him!" "Look at that play! Beautiful!" It made for a memorable experience. And even when he found out that my family didn't know what terms or plays meant...or when the World Series was...I pretended to be appalled with my new friend. It was pretty funny. We had some pretty good seats! Here is a picture to prove we were actually watching the game.

Fenway Park!

Adam and Marci bought Mike and I Boston Red Sox shirts to show the Boston love. It was the perfect touch!

Red Sox WIN!!

More Boston

Another stop on our Boston trip was a day trip to Cape Cod. We toured the cute little town, went to the beach to relax, and saw historical monuments. Mike and Adam would skip rocks, talk about old cars and search for shells to give to me. It was like two little boys on a play-date. Mike would find shells and run back to me (on the beach reading Breaking Dawn) and showme his discoveries. It was adorable and I loved to see my brother and husband bond!





Here Mike and I are cuddling up at the top of the Cape Cod monument. It was super windy, but the view was gorgeous!











Here is the gorgeous view of Providence Town in Cape Cod.












Here is Mike at the top of the monument.












Here we are outside of Adam and Marci's Church Building. It use to be a old factory, but refurnished into a Church building. It was pretty cool to see the rafters and old brick rooms while attending church. I love the architecture on the East Coast. I also loved that their ward was filled with young couples starting families. I'm a little jealous because we live in a family ward and there is just a different feel to it.

Overall, Mike and I had a blast in Boston and we were sad to leave. Spending time with Adam and Marci was also wonderful. It was just what Mike and I needed to relax and have a great vacation! I'm so grateful for my family! No matter how old I get or how great the physical distance is between us, I know they will always love me and support me and Mike! And no matter how much time passes, I love the fact that my brother still is the same old Adam who teases me, protects me, loves me, jokes with me and makes me laugh so hard I almost pee my pants. How lucky I am to have a big brother who is always there for me and to have a big sister who loves me for me. Thanks you two for having us in your home and spending time with us! It was the perfect vacation and we can't wait to come back!