A New Year

As I say goodbye to a truly wonderful year, I can't help but looking forward. In 2009, I  got married, became a puppy mommy, nearly finished graduate school, got my first real job, and turned a year older.

It was a truly amazing journey.

2010, though, holds adventures yet unseen. Trips to be taken, a move to be made this summer, friends to be made and love to continue pouring out.

I have so many resolutions for this new year - resolutions that I intend to keep and most likely will forget by mid-janurary. So instead, I want to keep this quote in the centered in my mind:

"Above all, remember that the meaning of life is to live as if it were a work of art. You're not a machine. When you're young, start working on this great work of art called your own existence."

-Abraham Joshua Heschel-

My life as a work of art. Pretty awesome.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

(image found here) 

So it wasn't a baby elephant...

Remember my big present??

It wasn't a baby elephant. Or giraffe. Or ladder.

It was way, way better. First, Matt had me open a large box containing a super cute white bicycle basket. I have bike basket, but it is a REI techy looking one, functional, but lacking any vintage style. I loved it. Then, on too the big box:

And not just any bicycle. Look!!

That's right. My wonderfully amazing husband bought me a vintage tandem bicycle frame!!

Not sure if you know this, but I have a long standing love affair with tandems. I mean, we have matching tandem tattoos, for goodness sakes. And the pillows.

I am so so so SO excited! Our project from now until the snow melts is to reconstruct the bike, hand-picked piece by hand-picked piece. I love hubby-wifey projects almost as much as I love tandems.

So yeah. I got lots of other super fun and creative gifts from everyone, but this one takes.the.cake.

I really have the best husband. Ever. 

(oh, and my mother in law got matthew a home beer brewing kit. our projects are going to take over the house!)

The Windy City

Wow. Christmas was a whirlwind! Packed to the gills with family and friends and laughter and too much Polish food. I couldn't have asked for more. Hope yours was equally as wonderful!

We leave bright and early (maybe i should be packing...) for good old Chicago tomorrow with my family. We'll spend a few days shopping/eating/scoping our apartments (yes, we are considering the windy city in our grand-relocation-adventure now). We may even try to catch the Blue Man Group, if only to quote Tobias Funke and Arrested Development way too much while waiting for the show to start.

Oh.dear.me.

With that precious thought in your lovely head, I'm off (again) for the next couple days. I can't wait to reconnect with everyone (hopefully) before the New Year! I lots of fun posts in the works, and can't wait to share...

(woah, major parentheses in this post (i'm sorry))

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

We're leaving for the in-law's house today and we're spending lots of time Christmas-ing, as I'm sure you are too! 

 I hope your holiday is full of  love and peace with friends and family. And hopefully your house isn't invaded by thieves, although it might be fun to watch Kevin defend his home - I know I'm looking forward to it :)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I became a teacher -

just to have christmas break off!

so maybe that's not the only reason, but let me tell you, these two weeks off come as a great respite in the middle of a crazy year.

i've been busy crafting, stirring, baking, planting, and wrapping - all just in time for the big day!

the last of the presents are bought and most are gathered under our little tree looking so cute.

i'm putting the finishing touches on some homemade goodies - like homemade sugar scrub for baskets full of body products:

and an Amaryllis for my mother in law:

it feels good to see the little pile of presents under the tree growing as i wrap and decorate each gift for friends and family. i'm loving using different paper scraps and recycled/reused goods to make each package look lovely. yay for planning ahead - it's seriously my first year actually accomplishing most of what i set out to make.

Oh Christmas Tree...

Oh Christmas tree, oh christmas tree,

How lovely are your vintage projector screen branches!

Matt made you from a thrifted find

And surprised me at the perfect time!

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,

You are so truly great!

He even made this cardboard star. He's amazing.

Our first time combining our ornaments!

Did you guys see that big present behind the tree? It's making an appearance from under the bed!! Oh, what could it be??

Hope you lovelies have a wonderful, cheer-filled weekend!!

Zombies and Santa Earrings

I dreamt I was fighting zombies last night. They were chasing me and my unnamed friends and we had to run/hide/kick/hit with hammers/do whatever possible to escape.

Then I woke up. For ten minutes or so.

When I feel back asleep, it was Zombie Dream: The Sequel. This involved a hide speed boat chase and the prom king (wha??) jumping off a dock to avoid being zombi-fied. And one of our fellow boat riders pretending she wasn't a zombie, but then turning into one as we rode along.

So I woke up again.

Lucky me - I had Zombie Dream the 3rd waiting for me when I drifted off again. This one is a little dicier, but I'm pretty sure it involved bunk beds. And maybe a shot gun?

Here's the thing - I haven't watched a Zombie movie since Halloween. And the dreams weren't scary as much slightly entertaining, and slightly annoying because all I wanted to do was sleep in peace. Oh boy.

In other news - I am wearing my santa clause earrings and blingy candy cane pin today. It's the last time I'll see my little toots before CHRISTMAS BREAK!! Look at me, all bright eyed and bushy tailed and deciding to be late for school. It's okay - we're playing musical chairs and making magic reindeer food. Oh yeah. My job is awesome!

Say Yes

to Michigan! Say Yes!

Insanely jealous of the mad embroidery skills here. I get mad when the thread gets in knots and simply can't make a straight stitch to save my life. Also LOVE this album. Seeing him and Denison Witmer at a small coffee shop right after this album came out will always be one of concert highlights of my life!

(found on hubby's tumblr, originally from here)

I've Been Busy...

Want to see some serious Christmas crafting? Are you sure???

Cause I've been busy - and I can actually show you some pictures, as long as you promise not to tell anyone!

 Like these little flower pins I've been making for Matt's Grandmas (and one for myself, too):

And a little french press cozy for my dad out of a recycled sweater.

 

 

Little recycled sweater Christmas trees, inspired by the Wisecraft post I talked about here. 

And our very first Christmas stockings. Stockings are probably my favorite thing about Christmas morning - I'm totally a trinket girl, and I love the little surprises that fit in stockings. I like how simple & classically Christmas these turned out.

Embroidered M and S - took FOREVER - but worth it!

I'm going to work on a little one (hopefully with a paw print) for the puppy!

Anything fun keeping you busy this week?

6 reasons to smile this week...

So I woke up really early this morning, because I had a meeting at 8:15 at a school quite a ways from the house. And I actually WOKE up and showered and was going to be early and everything.

Then i made the mistake of checking my blogroll. Oh boy - I miss everyone so much over the weekend that I get way.too.excited when it's time to read Monday posts.

Needless to say, I was late.

Anyways, I think I'm practically bouncing around this week. For many reasons. Liiiiiike:

1. Long-lost brother comes back from Ukraine in a couple days! Yay!

2. Long-lost best friend comes back from Kansas on Wednesday! If you haven't checked out her blog yet, you probably should. It's a cute as can be!

3. It's the last week before CHRISTMAS BREAK! Which may not be the only reason I decided to be a teacher, but it sure has its perks...

4. I'm 80% done with Christmas crafting and shopping. Oh yeah. That never happens to me!

5. Speaking of presents, hubby has a GREAT BIG one hidden under the bed for me. He says he can't work on it until I've seen it and can tell him how I want it to be. How's that for cryptic?? I waste way too much time thinking of the endless possibilities that could be hiding under the bed! It's taking all my will power to not peek - so much so that I've stopped cleaning the bedroom because I might peek. Best excuse I've had all year. Some possible things that could be hiding:

a baby elephant..... or a ladder??

And last, and probably most importantly, this is my 100th post. Wow. If I would have known how many wonderful people I'd meet through this little blogventure of mine, I would have started a long time ago. Thanks for being my blog-buddies!

Birthday Weekend...

for Matthew!

And because it's his birthday tomorrow, he says he gets to do whatever he wants. All weekend long.

And because I'm his best wifey ever, I'm going to let him. Especially because it involves dancing the night away at Mega 80's tonight (seriously the best thing to ever happen to Grand Rapids!)

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful, fun-loving, handsome man in my life! I loooooooove you!

Thursday Sounds

I've been listening to the wind through the cracks in our windows all day, watching the snow pile up outside. Welcome to the first blizzard of the season.

Had my second snowday in a row today, with one more possible tomorrow. I love lake effect snow, it's so light and fluffy and sticks to everything. Matt came home early from work to keep me company (have I mentioned I love him?!?)  and we went for a long walk in the 16 degree weather.

(look!we're covered in blue!)

Pictures from our adventure, in the same park where Matt proposed to me on a snowy December night a year ago.

And of course, all snowy blizzardy days make me think of Sigur Ros, and my favorite song by them, Staraflur. Some day, we will go to Iceland.

Snow Day Productivity

I am finally FINALLY making my wedding thank you cards. Please don't tell Emily Post. Or my mom.

It's such a daunting task, but we are truly thankful for all of the love that was showered over us less than 5 months ago! It is high time we get around to saying thank you...

MIchigan Awesome

Michigan Awesome.org is a celebration of hometown love disguised as a shirt company. Design one, wear one, give one away. Join us in celebrating the land shaped like a hand. Because it’s good to be where you’re from.

 love these shirts - made by the guy who hosts the amazing bottom 40 parties (see here and here).

and i'm all about sporting some west michigan pride as we brace ourselves for some major lake-effect stormage for the next couple days. snow day(s), anyone???

Book Review: Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

First off, let me say I am quite biased about this book. Jonathan Safran Foer has been one of my favorite authors ever since I picked up Everything Is Illuminated many years ago. I couldn't put it down - I was so captivated by the way he wove his story together. The characters were interesting and the narrative was facinating. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was equally awesome, but with a cool mystery and pictures included.

I am also a long-term vegetarian (for reasons relating to meat production and world hunger) who recently began considering entering the meat-eating world again. I've read tons of books about food and where it comes from, and have followed the Food, Inc and Ominvore's Delimma tidal wave.

But Foer has captured something with this book - he has raised the skirt on the industry of meat making and challenges his readers to gaze into the madness without looking away. Inspired by his first son's birth, his book is a search for what is ethically acceptable to place into our mouths. He talks of the stories behind food and of his late night forays into turkey farms. My personal favorite section of the book was a glossary of terms - a witty dictionary of all things agribuisness related. The chapters are broken up with amazing graphics that drive his points home. Just check out his awesome book site.

The book reaffirmed my prior convictions for vegetarianism - but I think anyone who cares about what they eat and why they eat it should give it a chance. I'm serious. It's a well written book and is sure to prompt thought next time you are in the supermarket!

If you aren't convinced yet, check out this quote from Huffington Press. It pretty much sums up my feelings on the book:

Eating Animals is part personal journey, part modern muckraking and a surprisingly candid and empathetic book on food. Foer doesn't preach but instead invites us to have a conversation with family farmers and factory farmers, animal activists and slaughterhouse workers. His book is important not because he has all the answers (he often acknowledges his own uncertainty), but because he asks the right questions and makes it impossible for us not to ask them too.

I've been devouring books lately - more reviews coming soon!

Snow Dog

Geez louise.

I'm a little obsessed with my dog. Before him, I didn't even really like dogs. And now I flash pictures of him at anyone I can get to stand still for five seconds.

I love this video, though - shot yesterday in the woods behind my parent's house. He loves snow. And he loves sticks even more. And now I'm showing it to you.

If I'm this bad as a puppy-mom, imagine how bad I'll be when I have kids. I'm sure people will see me coming and run in fear of my bragging and excessive pictures!

Brother Love

This is my younger brother Alex and his girlfriend Katya. They live in Ukraine. She met my whole family today, via Skype. She only speaks Russian and Alex translated everything we said. She blushed a lot.

They are in love.

This is my other younger brother, Andrew, and his beautiful girlfriend Sarah. She helped us celebrate my mom's birthday today, and made her the most beautiful card. I caught them kissing in the laundry room while washing their clothes. She is a true sweetheart.

I am so proud of my brothers - they are such strong, handsome men and are doing amazing things for others. And I love that they are bringing me girls to stand in as sisters!

Ornament Swap and Other Christmas Goodies!

This past week, I received my adorable package from Cassie of Hydrangeas and White Daisies. I was really sick and out of sorts last week, so it was the perfect thing to brighten my day!

 Look at how pretty the packaging is! The ornament was a little brown birdie, and inside the box was this:

A little crystal angel! So delicate and cute - also, can you see the awesome airmail labels she used on the packaging in this pic? They were such a great touch!

Here she is by my felted sweater trees. Thank you so much Cassie! And thanks Micaela, for hosting such an awesome swap!

 

I am well into the holiday swing now - I have so much Christmas Cheer I'm just about bursting! I've bee decorating little corners of our love nest, making and reusing things as I go. For instance - my teeny tiny obsession with paper snowflakes- I have two garlands gracing the windows in our living room. Hubby thinks they are tacky. I think they are wonderful!

 

Also, we watched Muppets Christmas carol last night. And fell asleep half way through. I loved every minute of what we did watch : )


What projects have you been working on? I'm always up for a little inspiration!