The Great Wreath Debate...ending with a DIY!!!

I've always loved wreaths on my front door, but have never been one to really change out my wreaths.  I had my standard year round wreath and then maybe a Christmas wreath.  When we moved into Casa de D last year, one of things that I loved about it was the double front doors.  With double front doors though, comes the debate of double wreaths, or just one?  Our hood is pretty divided...about half do 2 wreaths and half only do one.  I've only done one so far, but I am tempted to jump over to the double side! 
With that being said, I've bought a few new wreaths since last summer.  I'm a strange hybrid of minimalist meets over-the-top when it comes to choosing a wreath, so it makes it somewhat difficult when looking for new ones.  I have also not been blessed with the cute wreath making gene, so while I have these grandiose ideas in my head, they never really come to fruition.  Until now. Thanks to pintrest (a life sucker) and twitterverse, I decided to take a stab and make a Texas Tech ribbon wreath for football season.  I was lucky enough to score some Texas Tech grosgrain ribbon a few years ago and wanted that to be the highlight of the wreath. 
I got the wire wreath from my money-sucking craft store that is closed on Sundays.  I think it was $2.50 for the size I needed.  I had some ribbon, but also picked up several more spools of various reds, blacks, and whites (in total, I think I used nine or ten different patterns/colors).  Then, it was time to get started!

I started with cutting 24 pieces of each ribbon at about 8 inches long. There are 8 sections to the wreath, so that gave me three of each ribbon per section to begin with.  I didn't want to cut too many to begin with, but I did add more eventually.  I will say that I did not trim my ribbon ends before making the wreath, I did all of that at the end so you'll notice that the next few pictures all the ribbons are blunt cut. I think that was a time saver, because as you tie and pull at the ribbons, they'll fray.  The OCD in me wanted to fray check all of the ends, but the practical me stopped from doing that!



I continued to tie my ribbons in somewhat of a pattern within each section, using the thicker ribbons first.  Because I was using a lot of what I already have, I think my thickest ribbon was 1 1/2".  In my opinion, it was plenty thick especially when tying the ribbon.  I alternated tying the ribbons between the inner and outer middle rings with the thicker ribbons.  Once I got to the thinner ribbons and the Texas Tech ribbon, I was bit more strategic in placing them in the more noticeable holes.

Here's the final product, hanging on the door!  In hindsight, I could have perhaps made it fuller by maybe using more ribbon, but I do think for my first one, it turned out pretty good! 

Here's a closer look at how I trimmed the ends.  I just cut them all at various angles, no notch cuts.  I think waiting to do this until the end also allowed me to trim the ribbons I felt necessary to help with the fluffing of the wreath. 

All in all, it took about an hour and half to make this one wreath.  I bought two wreath forms in anticipation of making two, but I don't know.  What do y'all think....one or two?



OBX '11

We made our annual pilgrimage to the Outer Banks again this summer for the 4th of July.  After the craziness of last summer and going twice in one month, we decided to go for ten days this year and do it all in one trip.  We're still having to remember that we are no longer the four hour drive that we were in NC, but a lofty ten hour drive (with some stops for Miss K) from here!This is this first year we went with friends...and yes, we are actually still friends!  :)  Our week over the 4th, we go the same time as some dear friends of ours back in NC but we always stay in our own houses.  We invited our friends here, the G family, to join in the fun this year!  Their son, G is about a year older than Miss K, but they really play well together and it's super cute to see them talking to each other. 
We really didn't do more than go to the beach and just relax.  That's our trip to just disconnect and enjoy family time.  Big Poppa and the guys go out deep sea fishing on The Trophy Hunter, and this year they put the hurt on some Mahi.  That of course meant we had some killer beer battered dolphin bites for dinner one night!  That's the one thing about the Banks, we ALWAYS eat so well there! 

Here are some of my favorite pics from the trip! 

 

We're already looking forward to OBX '12!!!

Summer 2011- Where we've been

So, I told myself back in the spring that I was going to be better about blogging.  As you can tell from the last post until now, I didn't get any better.  Every time I go to blog, I think about how average our days our, and that no one could possibly want to read about it.  Then I remember that's the main reason I enjoy so many of the blogs I read everyday!  So as we wrap up our hot and way too fast summer, I am hoping to jump back on the blog wagon and try to to post more regularly. 

The past few months have been pretty busy at Casa de D.  It feels like we have been here, and there, and everywhere!  We went home to Texas in May, on our annual pilgrimage to the Outer Banks in July, I went on a girls weekend to Hilton Head, have had some serious landscaping done to Casa de D, and now Miss K and I are home in Texas again for a few weeks. I have started a blog idea list that will allow me to keep up to date on posts and plan on posting a recap of some of the big highlights from this summer.  As a teaser to keep y'all coming back, here's a picture of us from the beach.  Please pay no attention to how cracked out I look, but at how UH-dorable my child is, and how hot my husband is!  :)

Two clicks a second

Based on a few of the comments from my last post, I feel the need to make sure that everyone knows that I'm mentally sane OK.  I think I might have scared a few peeps with my tiny pity party in my family update.  Please know that I while I may struggle every once and awhile and may even air it out in the blogosphere, I'm not going to go Andrea Y*tes anytime soon (that was really un-PC of me, but I think it makes my point)!!

I truly believe one of the major downsides to the uber-glamorous life I lead is the inordinate amount of time I have to think.  And worry.  For those of you that know me, and I mean REALLY know me, you know that I am the poster child for worry.  I worry about worrying.  I worry about the most insane-but legitimate to me, things.  Things I can control and more than not, things I cannot control.  And for someone who is so right-wing OCD and type A, not being in control of things is a difficult pill to swallow (unless chased by large quantities of wine. or vodka. or tequila. you pick, but don't judge).  In addition to my worrying, another one of my positive qualities is the need to nit pick every.last.friggin.detail.  Ask Big Poppa about that one. 

This all leads me to the cryptic title of this post.  This past Sunday at mass, I believe the sermon was written for me.  Dontcha just love those Sundays?  As if God really has been listening to your every thought when you didn't think he was, and then he goes and does something like send you a little message in church!!  Uh-mazing, friends.  Any-who, the sermon was based around the scripture Matthew 6: 25-34.  Take a look at it if you haven't.  It's good.  Within the sermon, a story was told about a clock that was so worried about missing it's next click, it clicked two clicks every second.  Eventually, the clock had a nervous breakdown from worrying and stressing about the number of clicks it was actually clicking in every minute, of every hour, of every day, etc.  When it finally saw the psychiatrist, he asked the clock how many times did it need to click every second?  The clock replied only one and the psychiatrist then asked why it clicked twice?  If the clock knew that it just had to click one every second, there was no need to worry about the number of clicks in the future.  Because see, the crap I worry about, stress about, is all crap that hasn't even happened yet.  Someone please tell me why I insist on worrying about things that haven't even happened??  Enter the lesson of the week, "Do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care of itself.".  I love it when the sermon makes me have an "ah-ha" moment.  And even better when the scripture in the gospel is just what I needed to hear. 

So friends, I leave you a challenge.  Don't be like the clock and worry about your clicks in the future.  Doing so will only cause you to miss the clicks today.  Going forward, it's something I will remind myself of daily. 

Happenings at Casa de D

Hello to all my faithful readers in blog-land!! family members who read my blog!!  Sorry it's been awhile, I don't have a really good excuse to give, just been a little crazy.  But have no fear, I am here to update you all on what's been going on one family member at a time.

Miss K- She has been a busy little bee!  I can't believe she is 14 months already...time sure does fly!  We have been staying super busy with MDO two mornings a week, plus a Gymboree class, and a playdate here or there!  We are registered to start swim lessons in April and are signed up for a Spanish class in August.  It's fun to watch her becoming more and more independent when we go places (park, Gymboree, etc) and she realizes she can do things on her own.  She's talking up a storm and definitely has a stubborn streak in her.  I have NO clue where she gets that from...I'm just sayin'.
We took our first real spill yesterday at church.  Big Poppa took her out during mass to let her walk around a bit and when he came back in, he calmly told me (in the middle of mass) that we had an accident.  Miss K wasn't crying at this point, and her back was to me so I was thinking a diaper blow out.  No prob, back-up in the bag.  I went to get my bag and take her from him when she turned and I saw her face.  Poor thing looked like she rubbed a cheese grater down her face!!  I guess when they were outside, she was walking down some steps and decided to squat and look at something.  Still squatting, she tried to take the next step and face-planted down the step.  Big Poppa said she took it like a champ, he however was a few shades white.  I didn't get any pictures of it yesterday since we pretty much were going back and forth as to whether or not an urgent care trip was needed, but I did manage to get some this morning after breakfast. 

Still cute, even with her road rash!!

I'm posting some other pictures of Miss K from the last two months.  It is like pulling teeth to get her to stay still for a photo, never the less get her to smile in said photo.  While it may not look like in pictures, I promise our child is a happy child and does know how to smile!  :)



Playing in the snow during Snowmaggedon 2011!  Please do NOT pay attention to my hair!



Playing dress up...fairy princess in UGGS!  We laughed so hard that day!!




Sliding on the bouncy slide!!  WHEEEEE!




Exploring one of her Valentine's Day presents




Safety first!  Modeling our new bike helmet..it's a little big still!



Big Poppa- Still working non-stop and traveling quite a bit.  He recently moved to another division at work and is still trying to get acclimated.  While we moved to Atlanta thinking that the traveling would slow down a bit, this new division he's at is still based out of NC so had we of foreseen this, we really wouldn't of had to move. Oh well, you know what they say about hindsight...

So other than working his tail off and traveling most of the week, I'm we're trying to make it work with no family around to help.  We've considered adopting our babysitter, but she's in college and we don't want to have to pay for college just yet!  Big Poppa joined ALTA and our neighborhood's tennis team so he's excited for that to start up.  He's also playing basketball on Wednesday nights and joined a separate gym in back in NC near his office so he can still get his swell on while there!

Moi- Trying not to lose my mind being home and alone most of the week.  It's been a struggle trying to find balance.  Balance in who I was before Miss K, and balance now that my world is completely changed.  I'm working at it but it's definitely been tough.  I've loved being home with Miss K these past 14 months, but I also miss working terribly.  We've talked this in circles, and Big Poppa said he supports whatever I want to do, but the truth of the matter is I can't go back to work.  With his travel and insane work, and us having no family to help out, I can't do it alone and work.  And since we are blessed that I am able to stay at home, there is no financial need for me to go back to work, just selfish need.  And if there is one thing I'm learning about being a parent, you don't get to be selfish anymore.  But, I digress.  Enough of the pity party...but if anyone ever wants to have one with me, just holla! 

On a super positive note, I completed race #2 of 12 this past weekend!  I must say I am super proud that I am holding to this resolution.  It was a pretty good race- freezing cold, but good.  I had a way too fast first mile and couldn't keep it up after about 2.5 miles.  So I didn't get the time I was shooting for, but I finished strong.  I'm actually running March's race this Saturday but may try to run another one while I'm home in Houston in a few weeks as well.   

Race #2 in the books!

I promise to try and not be a stranger, but my life is run by a toddler so don't hold your breath!!!!

Happy 1st Birthday, Miss K!

Since Miss K's birthday is on Christmas Day, we made the executive decision to have her birthday party the weekend before.  I figure we have at least a couple of more years to decide how we are going to juggle the birthday parties so that Miss K can have her friends there since a lot of people travel over the holidays.  My mom flew in on the 17th to spend her winter break with us, so she got to be here for the party!  We kept it pretty low-key here at Casa de D with friends and a decorate your own cupcake bar!  Thanks to Jessica at Party Box Designs for creating the adorable invites and cupcake toppers for Miss K's Cupcakes and Snowflakes party! 

Blowing out the candle with the birthday girl!

Friends having fun at the "cupcake bar"

Not so sure about this...

about 30 minutes into it!

I've not been as good at documenting the monthly milestones and pics of Miss K, but I have resolved to be better at it this year!  So to start it off right, here are Miss K's 12 month stats!

                                   Height: 32 inches                                

Weight: 24.2 lbs

Teeth: 8, with two more coming in

Clothes size: 18-24 months is a little big still, but 12-18 is getting too short! :)

Shoe size: 4 1/2

Diapers: size 4

Foods: peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, avocado, bananas, grapes, pears, peaches, oranges, blueberries, kiwis, applesauce, yogurt, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken, hamburgers, turkey

Words: Dada, mama, uh oh, hi, bye, ball, aye aye (I love you), no, shoes, nigh nigh (night night) 

Sign language: eat, more, all done- we are working on please and thank you

Miss K,

You are such a bright and happy little girl!  You amaze me daily at all the new things you are learning and doing!  You understand so much that daddy and I say and seem to soak up every word and action you hear and see.  You are an outstanding eater, not the least bit picky!  Your personality is starting to form and you have definitely inherited your mommies hard headedness!  You understand the word no, but like to see just how serious daddy and I are when we say it!  Not only is your personality taking shape, so is your temper.  It is very obvious that you are Irish and Italian as you are passionate and stubborn all rolled into one!  You are quite the daredevil, you love to climb on any and everything you possibly can!  You have been walking full time for a couple of weeks now, and love your new freedom.  You understand when daddy and I laugh when you do something funny and continue to do it just to see us laugh.   I have enjoyed being home with you this year, watching you grow and learn.  You are our sunshine and the most special thing in our lives!  You have added so much joy to daddy and I and we love you more than you will ever know!   

Happy First Birthday my sweet girl!!!

New Year, Better Me

Every New Years I reflect on the past year and come to the realization that no matter how great the year was, I never stick to the resolutions made.  Those broken resolutions don't take away from the events of the year, but I've yet to be able to take satisfaction in ending the "old" year with the same bang of welcoming in the "new" year.  I've had the same resolutions year after year, for as long as I can remember.  Lose 20 pounds, eat better, yada yada yada.  And I can tell you, usually by March those resolutions are long forgotten!  This year, I have decided to take a different approach and make resolutions that don't change who I am, but make me a better me.  A better mom, a better wife, a better friend, and a better me.  By putting my resolutions on my blog, I am hoping that those of you that read will help keep me accountable this year!

1. Run 12 races in 12 months. The plan is to start with a few 5Ks , then 10Ks, then a few half marathons.  I've started off on the right foot so far by running the Resolution Run on New Year's Day!  It was POURING down rain the entire race, but I did pretty good considering I haven't run a race in over a year.  My official time was 35:20.  I'm already signed up for my February and March races and can't wait!

2. Big Poppa and I both agreed that we need to plan more date nights.  With him travelling for work as much as he does, and just the hustle and bustle of life with a one year old, we have had very few planned date nights.  Hopefully we can get these dates into our calendars and get the sitter booked!

3. Read 12 books in 12 months.  I love to read and used to look forward to summer breaks when teaching so I could read for pleasure!  I would read 14 books in three months with time left over!!  You'd think being a stay at home mom, I would be reading all the time, but I'm not!  So, taking an idea from some of the other blogs I read, I've decided to assign myself a book a month.  If I read more, great!  If not, I've at least read 12!  (There will be a separate post with the books of 2011!)

4. We've been in Casa de D since July.  I'd really like to get more involved now that we seem to be settled!  I'd like to join Junior League since it's a perfect blend of volunteering and working in the community, but the county I live in doesn't have one.  The neighboring counties do, and I'm not opposed to joining one of one those, but I wish we had one here :(

5. Since we've moved so much in the last eight years, I've made some really great friends.  With that being said, those friends are of course scattered throughout the U.S.  While Christmas cards get exchanged and Facebook posts are swapped randomly throughout the year, I would like to get better about keeping in constant touch with everyone and trying to get together when possible!

There are a few more that I am still tossing around, but I think these five are for sure!  What are you going to do this year to become a better you??