Family

This past weekend James' brother John and his Grandma came to town.  We went up to Longmont to see their Aunt Evelyn (Grandma Ruth's sister) and some of their cousins. 

James and John

Grandma Ruth and Aunt Evelyn

Cousins Marilyn and Jean, Evelyn's daughters

All the younguns

Cousin Elaine and her husband Stan

We had a great time visiting with family.  Lots of food and laughter.  I felt like a competitive eater this weekend!  John is an electrician for the Army so he and James put in wall sconces in our bedroom.  Lights that are actually connected to a light switch?  LOVE IT!!!

Snowshoe Bunnies

A few weeks ago we were at the cabin in Conifer and Rachael and I decided to give the snowshoes a whirl.  I have never done it before, besides when I was teaching in Payson and we would take the kids out on the field.  We went to Beaver Ranch, where we had Girl's Camp a couple years ago.  I have to say, I felt pretty Xtreme snowshoeing, especially since it was only us girls.  I definitely want to do it again. 

Yes, I CHOSE to wear this.

I think this is Rachael being Xtreme.  Sorry, Rachael, for putting a goofy picture, but did you SEE my outfit?

We may have fallen a couple times, but we never quit! 

Blushing Basics

This is my friend, Kristie.  We grew up in the same town and then she was living in England with her husband while I was on my mission and I got to serve in her ward.  Now she's living in Colorado!  Yea!  She's been blogging hair, makeup, and fashion for a while now.  She's a professional makeup artist.  I love her website, I use it all the time.  It's super helpful for clueless girls like me.  It's helpful even if you aren't clueless.  Check it out!

http://blushingbasics.blogspot.com/

SNOW DAY!

I was overjoyed at having a snow day today.  I started a long-term assignment on Monday and hadn't been anticipating any kind of break until Thanksgiving.  I took advantage of the opportunity to be crafty, encouraged by Pinterest.

This first one is an idea my friend Chelsea taught for Super Saturday a couple weeks ago.  I made a little one with a 4x6 frame I had for a to do list, since I usually have about 3 sticky note "To Do" lists in different places around the house.  I sewed two fabrics together and lined the frame back with the fabric, wrote "To Do" backwards on the inside of the glass with sharpee, then dry erase on the front. 

I've had this 12x12 piece of "chalkboard cloth" forever, so I used fabric to create 4 sections and then nailed it to a square canvas.  I have one regret with this project.  I think we all know what that is.

I finished these photo blocks I started at Super Saturday.  5x7, photo, modpodge (sp?)  I put scrapbook paper behind one photo but it wrinkled a little, although you can't see it from far away.  I had a square block, too, and no photos the right size, so I tried this. 

 I put fabric instead of pictures.  I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.  Maybe if the fabric colors tied the room together or if they matched eachother better, or if I had several.  I like the idea, just the execution of it needs work I think.  Or you could put pictures on top of the fabric. 

I finished sewing the blocks for this "Strip Twist" quilt I've been working on.  I used a moda jelly roll.  I took pictures of some of my favorite blocks.  I got this pattern at a quilt shop and it has actually gone together pretty quick.  It was fun to make with a jelly roll since the fabrics are already coordinated for me.  (Cooper was driving me crazy when I was trying to lay the blocks out, he doesn't really "get" quilts.)  I don't know what I will do with it, yet.  It's lap-size. 

  A snood, made out of an old pashmina.  I got this idea from my friend Kristie's blog, and it took about 2 minutes.  So easy!  I should've worn a contrasting color.

This is a photo storage thing that I would like to look not so...denim-y.  I'm in the process of dissecting it so I can cover it with white fabric and Christmas ribbon and buttons so we can use it for Christmas card storage.