Pools & Pillows

We finally started feeling some of the heat here in Wyoming, so last week we made our first adventure out to the local KOA campground pool. Needless to say, Addison is a water bug. I was a little nervous about how she would do in a "real" pool, and how I would do with her in a "real" pool, so we did one day with me not in the pool with her and one day with me in the pool with her, and I definitely enjoyed being with her in the pool best.

I have always loved the water, but since my accident, I love it even more. I have more freedom of movement in water than I do in my chair. You wouldn't really know I was paralyzed if you saw me in the water, because I have "floating legs," and my legs naturally follow my body when I swim. It's great exercise as well, and Addison thought being with Momma in the "big pool" was much more fun then being in the kiddie pool.

I found a life vest/floatie thingy at Walmart, and after some intense persuasion, we got her to wear it. Now she loves it because wearing her lady bug = swimming.

How cute is she?

Being shy for the camera...

Dollar Store ring and dino floats- best buy ever!

Floating on her back- she thought that was pretty cool!

Staring longingly at the "big pool"

Russ' cousin is getting married in a few weeks, and I have been helping her with the planning. Her colors are gray and yellow, which inspired one of our downstairs bedrooms- the bunk bed room. Since there will be six twins altogether in the bunks, I wanted to make six different pillows- one for each bed. I gathered up six out-dated throw pillows from storage, went to a few fabric places, and ta-da! Six custom throw pillows! We are also using some of them in the wedding for this idea:

Fun times for casual pictures!

Old pillows...

New fabric...

New pillows!

 Now I'm not super great when it comes to running a sewing machine, but I can do straight lines, which is what this project required, so I was able to pull it off. I love how they turned out- fun and much more up to date. I have a few more to do for the khaki/coral room, but I don't need those for the wedding, so I'll worry about those later.

Can't end a post without a few more cute pics of Ms. Addison...

Notice the "do-it-myself" headband...

Showing Momma her tongue...

My family comes in this weekend from Indy/NYC, so I should have some fun pictures to post soon of all of our East meets West adventures. Fun times ahead!

Summer Fun

We've been having a great summer. We went to Walmart and bought Addison a pink, plastic wading pool, and we can't keep her out of it. She's definitely a water baby...

Seeing the pool for the first time!

Patriotic girl!

Playing with her ducky watering can

She's not going potty in the pool- just testing the cold water on her tushy...

We had DQ ice cream cake for Russ' birthday, and Addison was pretty much obsessed with it, as you can see...

Enjoying the chocolate...

And attempting to escape...

Last set of Addison pictures- my little book worm...

She loves to sit in Dada's recliner and read

So my most recent project was a tufted, burlap headboard for the khaki/coral bedroom downstairs. I got my inspiration/tutorial from here:

Dunc cut my plywood for me. Alas, I am not allowed to use circular saws...

My work station. Tutorial on laptop and needed crafting materials in my new 31 bag!

Covering the board in foam and batting

Covering my buttons- hardest part of the entire project. I now officially despise button covering kits...

Starting the tufting over the burlap

Finished project

It took me about 2 weeks to get the silly thing done, but I really like how it turned out. It's not perfect, but that's why I used the burlap- it lends itself to being a little more rustic! I think I will refinish a chair next...

Russ and I are celebrating our 6th anniversary tomorrow. He got me some pretty, lavender roses. He knows me well...

Hope everyone else is having an amazing summer!

Another Busy Week in Review

Have you ever had a sweet tooth craving, but were too lazy to actually go to the trouble of getting out all of your ingredients and measuring cups and baking something? I was totally feeling that way this week, and had just stumbled upon this recipe for single serve cookies, so I thought I would give it a try. I got out my ramekin, and it looked too small, so I got out my BIGGER ramekin and doubled the recipe. First mistake. #1, don't know if this recipe was meant to be doubled. #2, actually ended up being too much. Yes, I said it, too much chocolate. This is probably where I get my Chocoholics Anonymous pin revoked or something, but I'm just being honest. Here are some pictures of the mayhem...

Still had to get all of my ingredients out, but much quicker, no baking, and less clean-up...

Before the microwave

Just out of the microwave. And I did 2 minutes since I doubled the recipe. Which was too long. Just so you know...

Good flavor, but interesting consistency. Don't know if this was because I over-microwaved it, or because it's cookie ingredients in a ramekin.

Notice Russ' dish to the left. He was actually very chivalrous and took the over-microwaved one, and I took his better microwaved one.

He still finished more than I did. Ashamed I let that much chocolate go to waste.

Well, I made up for my dessert faux pas with a yummy, easy dinner the next night. It had been overcast and gloomy here, so I made beef stew. I love this recipe, because it is kinda' like refrigerator stew. I used stew meat, carrots, potatoes, green beans, celery, onion powder, and garlic powder, and doused it in spicy V-8 juice. Let it go in the crock pot on high until dinner time and you have yourself some pretty tasty dinner. Add a salad and a loaf of french bread and you are golden!

So easy...

And so yummo!

My felt finally came in the mail, so I was able to try out some wreaths for the basement bedrooms. I got the inspiration here and here, and made up my own with different color schemes. They still need some tweaking and a few minor adjustments/add-ons, but they are a good start!

Assembling my craftiness

First flower attempt

Second flower

Mixing in some yellow

Trying a few two-tones

On the wreath they go

New wreath with different colors and some burlap for texture

Jute yarn on the side

Close-up of the coral and khaki wreath

Semi-finished #1

Semi-finished #2

Like I said, a work in progress, but you get the idea. And I only burnt myself on the hot glue gun ONCE, which is a major accomplishment for me...

Next project: Tufted burlap headboard!

I Heart Pinterest

One of these days I pledge to go an entire day without using the word "Pinterest" in a sentence. Some day...

I had a 31 party and was thankful to have a great turnout of ladies. Instead of taking pictures of the fun bags and purses, I took pictures of the food. What can I say? I made the food, not the bags...

Mini Onion Quiches

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/mini-onion-quiches-recipe/index.html

Chicken & Crunchy Slaw

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chicken-and-crunchy-slaw-in-endive-leaves-recipe/index.html

 Greek Salad Skewers

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/skewered-greek-salad-recipe/index.html

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/peanut-swirl-brownies-recipe/index.html

 Fruit Salsa & Cinnamon Chips

http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2010/05/fruit-salsa-with-baked-cinnamon-chips.html

Mini Strawberry Mascarpone Tarts

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/mini-strawberry-mascarpone-tarts-recipe/index.html

And yes, I got most of these recipes from the place which shall not be named typed anymore in this post.

Speaking of that place, I also found some great ideas for re-doing items/furniture for the basement. We are finishing two bedrooms with a bathroom in between. One bedroom will have three sets of built-in bunkbeds and the colors are gray and yellow. I am using this light fixture somehow in that room. It is actually three lights in one, so I will probably take it apart, paint it, change out the green glass, and make three hanging pendant lights. I will post a picture when it is finished. Scored this beauty at the Powell ReStore for ten bucks...

The other bedroom will be coral and khaki. I am refinishing or making all of the furniture for that room as well, so here are my first pieces. The chair came from Goodwill and the dresser from the ReStore...

Paint and new fabric should do the trick

Paint, wallpaper, and new hardware and she'll be marvelous!

I will post more before, during, and after pictures as I go. Wish me luck!