blog lameness, juC, Valentine's Day

I'm in mourning. I'm mourning the loss of my blog being funny and actually having people read it. I'm pretty sure my readership has dropped 98%. And I'm certain that my funniness has dropped 98% as well. Having a large blog readership is very important to me (note: no sarcasm)

So as I was pondering my blog, I realized it has been much too long since I've posted about my dear husband, juC. My blog isn't my blog without some good juC posts on it. I realized I never posted about Valentine's Day. A Valentine's post is a must. A MUST! And a juC post is a must. So here goes--

A Valentine's juC post

A little over a week before the BIG day, juC asked me if I just wanted Georgetown Cupcakes for Valentine's Day. Uhh...no thought needed...shheeyaaaah! That's how a guy shows a girl he loves her, after all.

Knowing what I was getting in no way ruined Valentine's Day. I was soooo looking forward to my cupcakes and the made up commercial holiday couldn't get here fast enough.

And finally, FINALLY--Valentine's Day was here. Oh, glorious day of cupcake arrival. The day was finally here, but now I had to wait ever so patiently for juC to get home from work. But I knew that the waiting would be worth it when I dug my teeth into that sweet goodness. And that I would enjoy them for days to come.

And finally, FINALLY--juC arrived home from work. With.........

A grocery bag.....

A grocery bag, people.....

A grocery bag containing a little Valentine heart with chocolates for jC....

A grocery bag with a little stuffed gorilla for luC.....

A grocery bag housing a tiny (I'm talking tiny) bag of Lindt truffles....

FOR ME!!!

Nary a beautiful pink box from Georgetown Cupcakes in sight. Why? Because he didn't know that's what I wanted.

Wait. What?

Yes, you heard me correctly.

He didn't know that I wanted Georgetown Cupcakes for Valentine's Day, even though it was his idea, and he asked me specifically, and I specifically and emphatically told him that it was very much what I wanted. I mean, I guess he can't be perfect all the time.

But don't worry, I reminded him daily that he failed (isn't that what good wives do?) until he finally came home with that glorious pink Georgetown Cupcake box.

But then, this past Saturday, he did something that proved that even though he couldn't get me the one thing for Valentine's Day that he knew he should get, that he does love me...A LOT.

You see--we had Indian (food) for dinner Saturday night. This was the first time getting Indian (food) since moving to our new house, which means we got it from a new place. And you see--it wasn't good. So after we ate, I mentioned that I wish Wegman's wasn't so far away from us now because they have this peanut butter cream pie that is TO DIE FOR! But the closest Wegmans to us now is about 30 minutes away.

But do you know what juC did? After we got the kids to bed, he told me he was going to

Wegmans to get me that oh so delicious peanut butter cream pie!! Melt my heart--He loves me. He really, really, really, REALLY loves me!! Probably more than a girl like me deserves to be loved. (If you've had this pie, you will understand why it means what it means that he went and got it for me. If you haven't had this pie, look at it. Can you not tell it's the most amazing thing in the world??)

I suppose that's why juC and I make the perfect couple. He loves me more than I deserve and I love him for loving me more than I deserve. And of course, because I love him in spite of his faults (like when he forgets to get me my cupcakes for Valentine's Day, even though it was HIS idea)

And by the bye, it was 5 years ago on the 18th that this sweet juC proposed right before Sunday dinner (by placing a 'marry me' conversation heart on my dinner plate with the ring). All kidding aside, he really is the most amazing husband and I'm so thankful for him!

DONE!....(ish)

I got my Wall o' Loooove up!!! (the one that I mentioned first here, then made this for, and this)

What is a Wall o' Loooove?! Well, it's a wall...dedicated to love. Because, you see, like my sister LoW, I LOVE love. I love romance. Or...woahmance, as I like to call it. ("Woah, this is romantic." Thus becoming "woahmantic".)

Those that know me know there was a time that I hated love. Mostly because I thought all guys were big fat jerks and that I'd never find it. But I did find love, and I did find woahmance and it's the best thing ever!

So you see, I had to devote a wall to love. Because love is great, and it deserves a wall.

The Wall o' Looooove

What's that? Oh, yes...there is an empty frame. (thus the DONE!...(ish) title)Because I still have one more quote I'm putting in the frame, but haven't been able to do it yet, but I was determined, DETERMINED I tell you, to get this up!

So, as you see, I got my wreath that I made, the framed quote that I made, my button hearts that I made, and the tree of love that I made.

Everything else? Antique stores, because that's how I roll!

I got these postcards a couple years ago antiquing with my sisters in my home town. Oh, how I love them. I love that they are now over 100 years old. And I still wish I knew what happened to the couples that sent them!

I thought this framed silhouette was so sweet. When I bought it, the woman asked if I collected silhouettes, and I said "No, romantic stuff." She may have looked at me like I was off my rocker.

This has got to be one of my most favorites EVER. Sleeping Cupid and Awake Cupid. So, so sweet!

And, I don't know about you, but Norman Rockwell rocks my world. I love this picture and when I saw it knew that I had to get it for the wall.

And this cute wittle cross stitched piece? How could I resist it for 50 cents?

I'm so excited that it's done. And as it usually happens, I got it all hung up, then looked at it and felt like it's "off". Like I didn't position things right, that there is "empty spaces", etc. But that just means I get to keep hunting for perfect things to add to it, which of course is a bonus.

Kitty Thursday

(Yup, I've become one of those people that devotes a day of the week to posting picture/s of my cat. izC deserves it)

Our abode-- not made of adobe.

There is so much I wanted to do before posting pictures of the new house. But the fact of the matter is, it could be years before it all gets done, so I might as well just show it as it is. Except upstairs. You really are gonna have to wait for that one!

The abode, in all it's glory.

The view when you walk in the front door.

The view of the front door from inside.

When you walk in the front door, to your right is the formal dining room. Looks super formal, eh?

To the left of the front door is the formal living room. Again, you can see that we are all about the formal. I have lots of plans for this room. Starting with an acceptable couch. After I finally find the perfect one (I'm picturing vintage, floral print) I have mirrors that I'm going to do over it.

Walking through the living room, or going past the stairs in the entryway is the family room. Another room I have plans for, but they are low on the priority list. There is actually a fire place behind the entertainment center, but between dealing with kids constantly messing with the glass door and the thought of having to find a new entertainment stand to accommodate the space, it's covered.

To the right of the living room is our kitchen. Ohhhh, our kitchen. I must show you some before pictures.

I know you can't tell really by the picture, but the kitchen was disgusting. The appliances were horrible and not even completely operable. So the first thing was to get new ones. Then, while looking at the place I didn't realize how disgusting the cabinets were. But after we moved in and I started to clean them, I realized that they needed a major change. So very crazily, I decided we should paint them. I will NEVER make that choice again! Sure, it saved us a couple thousand, but holy cow did it take forever. We ended up hiring someone to paint the doors so we could just finally get it done. But, overall, I'm happy with the outcome. Now we just need to get some new countertops. And it should be noted that this picture was taken a couple of months ago, so it has changed a little bit, and we no longer have paper taped up over the door...as classy as it was.

From the family room, there are stairs down to the basement.

Another place we have a lot of plans for. We want to add another bedroom, put in a bathroom down there. Open up the huge storage area to add more space. Who knows if any of that will ever happen. So right now it is a playroom/extreme home gym. (Don't be jealous of our extreme home gym!)

To the left of the basement stairs:

To the right of the basement stairs:

And that's what you get so far. I really truly hope to have the upstairs showable here soon, but, you know...best laid plans and all.

One last hurrah!

Since I have almost everything I need for my Wall o' Looooove, I decided I needed to decorate for Valentine's one last time with some of the items before I put them up on the wall.

I absolutely looooove my antique mantel and I loooove decorating for the holidays on it. It's a little plain, but that's ok.

I still adore these old postcards, and wish I could find out if these people ended up together! I'm still pretty sure I was meant to live in the days when post card sending was a normal way for a man to ask a woman to a dance.

And I think these will always be a favorite! I simply painted canvases and glued buttons on to. I think simple and sweet should be my motto, and I think these fit perfectly.

Yep, I love my mantel!

And one of these days I'll actually have the whole house put together so I can post pictures!

Slowly but surely...

Ever so slowly my "Wall o' Loooooove" is coming together. I now have almost everything I need to put up on the wall (o' Loooooove).

Months and months (and months) ago, I was looking through pictures on facebook from my favorite antique spot. (A spot that is sadly too far away to frequent now that we have moved.) At any rate, there was a picture of something with this quote by Samuel Lover on it, and I absolutely loved it, and I knew I needed to do something with it.

I've had about 22.6 ideas, but this is what I ended up with.

Some of the ideas I had were grand, and some were simple. But I'm glad I went the simple route. I am a simple person, after all.

As with everything I do, I started with a specific idea in mind, and it kind of morphed as I went along and realized what would work and what wouldn't.

I started out with two colors of red scrapbook paper, and I went old school elementary school and weaved them together. I was going to cut the words out of that, but it was really hard to get the craft knife through the two layers of scrapbook paper, so on to the next idea.... I just cut the words out on plain white paper and put it over the weaved scrapbook paper.

I'm happy with how it turned out, with the two colors showing through. And in spite of my lack of skills using the craft knife, I guess I like that it looks like a 3rd grader wrote it :)

If my calculations are correct, I only have two more things to do, and then my Wall o' Looooove will be ready for display! So at the rate I've been going, I should be good to go in about 4 months.

sentimental feelings (emphasis on mental)

So here's the truth: I don't want my kids to grow up.

I planned on keeping jT in his crib until he was 8, but then one night I checked on him, and realized that he practically had to fold himself in half, or hang out of the crib to really fit. So at the beginning of the year, we moved him into a bed.

I hadn't planned on potty training him...ever. (He has a certain poop problem that I won't go into details about, but let's just say--He holds it in, all week.) I was convinced there was no way I'd ever get him in underwear. It didn't stop me from talking about it to him and pointing out other kids that used the "big potty". And then last weekend, after seeing one of his friends wearing underwear and using the potty, he decided it was high time for him to, as well. (Well, he still holds his poop in, but at least he does his other business in there now.)

I remember thinking he'd never talk in sentences. And I swear one day months and months ago, he woke up and spoke to me, and could have conversations with me--with individual thoughts and all.

I remember so clearly when he was a newborn, and holding him in the glider in his room during all hours of the night. He was the tiniest little thing who fit perfectly snugly into my folded arms. And I would just sit there, gliding, content, holding that sweet little baby. Then a couple months ago when he was sick, and I held him in that same rocker, his body completely enveloped mine. I wanted to cry. Ok, I did shed some tears. Because my first baby no longer resembles a baby in any way.

As much as I love the boy he is, I absolutely miss the baby he was. I didn't want this to happen. I didn't want him to grow up, and in spite of my best efforts he did it anyway.

My heart absolutely breaks.

We have a new addition to the family!!

Everyone, I'd like you to meet izC.

She is the sweetest little kitty! And one of those cool cats that doesn't constantly want all of your attention, but just wants to follow us around and sit right outside of where all the action is.

And in spite of my children not really being aware of boundaries, personal space, and what is fun for them/annoying to her, she has been so very patient.

(Not that jT has been injury-less since her arrival, but he seems to think her playful scratches are worth it.)

I have been asked how we came to have this here izC, and the story starts about 6 years ago. When juC and I were dating, I expressed my love of cats to him. We always had cats growing up and they were just a part of a happy life. But always renting since moving away from home, I hadn't been able to have one in a long time. Expressing this love of cats to juC was met with him insisting he was allergic to cats, and he'd never get one. But finally, he promised me that when we got married, he'd let me get a cat.

Umm...yeah, we've been married for almost 5 years, and he finally made good on his deal. (Whenever I'd bring up his promise, he'd say "I never said when you could get the cat.") It was quite the battle. But finally, after again being reminded that every kid deserves to grow up with a pet, I made it happen.

She feels right at home with us and we love having her.

For the Wall o' Looooooooove

You wouldn't know this by looking at my last few blog posts, but I seriously never much considered myself to be crafty, or had a whole lot of interest in being so. But thanks to the example of crafty friends, and a desire that started when I became a mother and felt like every mother needed to have some crafting abilities, I have delved into it a little more each year. I mentioned on my wreath post that I want to do a Wall O' Looooooove. And now that we are mostly settled into the new house, and I have almost everything I need for the Wall O' Looooooove, I'm determined to get it put up before this month is over. I know a lot of people are getting their Valentines crafts ready, but believe it or not, this wall is not just for Valentine's Day. This will be a year round display, because as my sister LoW, I LOVE love--and I feel like it should be celebrated all year long, with it's very own wall display.

With all that said, my latest craft to get ready for my Wall O' Looooooooove is this embroidery piece. I was inspired by this piece that I found by chance and absolutely loved. I'd never embroidered before, but basic embroidery looked simple enough. Determined to get everything I wanted for my wall done, I decided to give it a try.

I went to the store, bought all of the materials I needed for embroidery, and gave it a shot. It was a learn as I went experiment. And I have to say, I love the end product.

Now if I could just figure out why all of the washable pen isn't coming out, it would be perfect! Oh, and find the perfect frame. Something I probably should have done before I cut the fabric. But what else can be expected from a newbie?

It's the little things

I very rarely have good ideas. I could probably count my good ideas on one hand. Perhaps even one finger. So when I had this idea, I had to give myself a little pat on the back.

One of my biggest internal debates has been whether or not to get a recipe stand. The thing is...I hate taking up counter space for things. In fact, I'm constantly trying to figure out ways to get stuff off the counters (even normal things like toasters and paper towel holders drive me slightly crazy but I live with it) And even though I wouldn't need a recipe stand on the counter all the time, when I'm making recipes is when I want to free up as much counter space as possible.

So when I put my brain to work and figured out a solution, I was super excited.

Wall mounted microwave + magnet + printed off recipe = perfect solution!

And not only is it up off of the counter thus leaving me more space, but it's also at a great eye level. My other solution was going to be to glue a clip under the cabinets to clip the recipes to, but this one was much easier to execute.