Crafty Christmas

This year I decided to be quite crafty and whip up presents for everyone on my christmas list. I started back at the end of October and thought It'd be NO problem to make something heart felt for all those people on my christmas list. I made an aprons, DS cases, I made kleenex holders that attach to the sun visors, I sewed and sewed and then sewed some more.... Infact I think there should be a new disorder known as sewing neck/shoulder.It was definetly a labor of love.... But I just love some of the things I was able to figure out and make.... I wont post them all, because honestly I didnt even take pictures of them all!!! Here are a few of my favorites...

I made these cute little neck tie's for my adopted nephews.... I can't wait to see Duke McAlisters chubby little cheeks resting ontop of this little bowtie

Tutorial here: http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2010/04/bow-tie-tutorial.html
Leah, Ethan, and I made these adorable snowflakes out of popscicles sticks.... found the idea here http://www.squidoo.com/popsicle-christmas-crafts
I made this rocket pillow for Ethan, found the pattern/idea in the book "1 yard wonders" that I checked out from the library, and lucky for me my sister bought me my very own copy so I'll be able to make the rest of the cute ideas from this book!
I made something for everyone on out list, with only one exception.... I didnt make anything for Theo. I didnt even realize it until someone asked what I'd made for Theo.... opps!!! So to try and remedy that I decided to try and make our bathroom a little less Ugly!!!
I honestly believe that my bathroom belongs on the HGTV show bad bad baths, I decided some cute curtains might help it a bit and found this really simple but adroable tutorial to make curtains. The ribbon for a tab top design is ingenious!
http://7layerstudio.typepad.com/7_layer_studio/2009/05/tutorial-for-fully-lined-tabtop-drapes.html

Still trying to decide if I want to make another panel so there are curtains pulled to the side on both sides of the window.....what do ya think? but for now I just have to fix the toliet paper holder.

I've really loved learning how to sew and am a bit sad that I'm going to have to pack the sewing machine up for a few weeks, I'm suppose to start back to school January 3rd..... AHHHHHH

One Year of "Wedded Bliss"

Well Theo & I have officially survived an ENTIRE year of being married! how many people can say they exchanged vows with their spouse while doing .... 1.....2....3....Wheeeeeeeeee

I don't know if being married has been any different, than the previous 7 years together....but I know that I am more sure now, than I was 10 years ago, that marriage and family can be a good.... and a happy.... and a healthy.... thing. If you had asked me 10 years ago if I'd be married with kids and be happy I might have laughed in your face.... I really didn't think all this was for me....I didn't think that I'd be any "good" at it or that I'd ever find a guy that I'd actually want to spend the next 10 years.... let alone a LIFETIME with.

After I had Alex I was pretty content with the idea of it being me and Alex ... the dynamic duo..... taking the world by storm. When I met Theo, I didn't really think anything would come of it, between school, work and Alex I didn't really have the time for all that dating nonsense.... and I found out later Theo kinda thought the same thing....He was working 2 jobs and thinking about going back to school and all the girls he dated would get upset that he didn't have enough time for them. But somehow we found a night and went out on a date.... and I realized he was kinda funny..... and after a week or two.... we hung out again, and he thought... she's kinda cute..... and then, like a fungus, we kinda grew on each other..... There was no star crossed love... no big romantic moment.... after about a year of dating we were just sitting there one night folding laundry, and telling each other about our day and I realized that I was completely happy!

There's a poem I found when my sister got married that i really like, so if you'll bare with me a moment .... that part that i really like it this

I love you Not only for what you are,

But for what I am When I am with you.

I love you, Not only for what You have made of yourself,

But for what You are making of me.

I love you For the part of me

That you bring out;

I LOVE the Me that I am when I'm with Theo! So to properly enjoy that, Theo and i spent the weekend in a secluded cabin in the woods in Hocking Hills! We stayed at Old Man's haven a cozy little cabin with a huge fire place and Hot tub! We slept alot, cuddled on the couch in front of the fire. We ate cookies for dinner, and went hiking through the snow covered hills. It was beautiful! It was such a quiet weekend away from EVERYTHING... we didn't even have a phone in the cabin. CRAZY! Of course the pictures don't do the place justice....

Top Left working clockwise, A gorgeous fire, the cabin, a frozen Cedar Falls, Theo and I at the top of the never ending stair case, Theo holidng a Big 'ol icicle. and snow covered Old mans cave.