self indulgent shirt

While I was busy making Christmas crafts for so many months, Landon brought to my attention the fact that I had never made myself anything nice. I've crafted a lot of fun things, but things that were only extremely practical - like panty liners and grocery bags. So I decided to take on his challenge and create something special just for me. 

As I have been LOVING the sewing crafts by Meg McElwee  in her book Sew Liberated, I thought to renew my library rental and dish out a cutie project for myself. I had already made a beautiful day bag for LeeAnn for Christmas and a flannel Duvet cover from other patterns on her book. To treat myself to something special, i decided to go with the "Blossom Blouse"

This was an easy project and since I am such a novice sewer-person, I learned a lot of new techniques - like sewing with elastic, for one. If you want to enjoy some fun projects, look into Meg's book. It's awesome. 

High School Reunion

Hm.... Early registration for my 10 year high school reunion expires on Wednesday. I haven't decided what to do yet. I really want to see everyone. But i'm not sure what to expect. I don't want to shell out a lot of money to not only fly to CO, but pay to go to the reunion itself. Now that we have facebook, I actually feel like I am connected to anyone that I would want to see anyway.


So I was wondering what you think.
Did you go to your 10 year reunion?
How was it?

Any former Rebels planning on making it to ours this year?

Starbucks apron refashion

It was finally time.

Knowing I was entering 2011 with a full-time job, plan B was finally ready to be removed from the back-burner and tossed into the trash. Returning to Starbucks as a last resort, was no longer a last resort. I had been keeping all of my Starbucks clothes in a bag in my garage knowing that it was a possibility for me to work there again.

Like I said, no longer.

So I emptied the bag and donated the clothes and got a little Christmas-creative with my old aprons!

The apron, worn and weathered, and dearly loved and laundered.

Christmas cooking is much more fun when one is donning a Christmas apron. 

Aren't they cute!?

These were sooooo fun to make!

for everything there is a season

Last weekend I spent several hours assembling boxes filled to the brim of files and envelopes. I've been working with Student Sponsorship for 4 1/2 years now (the last 3 years from my home) and it was time to say goodbye. My desk is clean for the first time in 4 years, my garage is empty, and I have $200 worth of filing cabinets that are barren. I know that every season has its ending, but it is still sad to see it all go.

It was hard to decide what is essential and what is disposable while packaging it into boxes. I know that the program is closing down, so all info on past schools and past sponsors are pretty worthless if we are not still promoting the program. But it was difficult to trash pictures and files and artwork from kids that I have watch grow and have prayed for and loved personally and professionally for the full extent of my post-Africa life.

They meant so much to me, especially because I was able to love a village's orphans for the year prior. When I returned state-side, I felt that all of the details and workings of my life were so vain and meaningless without those children. So it was easy to love these kids. It was easy to dedicate all of my work to their wellbeing. It's been a beautiful and wonderful season of my life. It has been my joy and my job to be an advocate for those kids these several years and it is so sad to watch them fall through my fingers and those that I have been able to hold on to, hand them to someone else who already has her hands full. But that's the breaks.

They are out of my hands now. I mailed 9 boxes to headquarters. And today is my first work holiday where I got to stay home from work and not face work. Sure, I took days off these last few years, of course I did. But it's really amazing to be home from work today and actually be away  from work. It's  freeing to end a work day and return to a home that is a haven from my work place. Yeah, it's pretty awesome to sit here at this desk right now without a sponsorship "to do:" list beside my computer.

I recognize that although this was a difficult and sad transition for me, it might turn out to be a really great one. On to the next great work at a wonderful non-profit: birds.

Winter Rains

Winter Rains make for sad days. 

photo by andrew.stuart1

What can you do in 35 degrees with pouring rain

besides housework? 

Seriously?

Things I'm Loving Lately

Birdies

photo by Little Miss Sunshine

Utah Snow

photo by Hawkeye Pilot

This Bodum Grinder

it really is incredible

Skiing

The Husband

I've heard people say that married people start to look like each other after awhile.... I have no clue what they are talking about!

Reading beside the Fireplace

photo by TheAnneHour

Wow. I'm sorry.

I will be a crappy blogger for awhile, I have a feeling.

These 8 hour work days at the Aviary have me coming home a little tired. I haven't turned on my sewing machine since before Christmas. Landon's been doing the cooking. I'm only skiing on the weekends, if other things are done. So.... I'm not sure what to blog about. I try to leave for work as early in the morning as I can so that I can leave before it gets dark. So I'll be blogging in the evenings now instead of the mornings.

I will get the hang of this. I'm just trying to figure out what my life is going to be like now that I don't have 5 hour work days at home to spread across an 16 hour period. 8 hour work days at a desk far away to spread out in an 8 hour period makes for a pretty different lifestyle. Which, of course, you all know about. But this is a refresher for me - it's been awhile since I've done the 9-5.

I am SOOOO grateful to be working full time and I really enjoy my job. I'm just not gonna be as good at blogging, I can foresee. I am sorry. I'll figure it out. Just give me a little grace this month while I put it together.

But I promise, my blog won't suck forever.

It'll be great again some day.

Paperless in 2010 Recap

Well, 2010 was full of so much beauty, and you have been along for the ride the whole time, so no need to recap the year in full.

I have had a few people ask me exactly what I did while we were trying to use less paper and plastic. So I thought that I would do a recap just in case any of you want to add a campaign like this to your new year resolutions.

Here is a list of paper/plastic items and their substitutions:

• Paper Towels - Cloth towels/sponges
• Napkins - cloth napkins
• Tissues  - flannel handkerchiefs
• Zip Lock Bags - handmade Velcro baggies
• Produce bags - tulle reusable bags
• Grocery bags - cloth bags
• Swiffer Duster - flannel duster refill
• Panty Liners/tampons - washable flannel liners
• Bottled Water - water filter + water bottles
• Coffee Filters - reusable metal filter

I think that might actually be everything. We didn't forgo all paper and plastic at once, I just sort of thought of replacements or was inspired by someone as the year progressed and i had my paperless radar on. These were very easy gradual changes. Not only have we hopefully saved some of our environmental resources and lowered our negative impact through consumption, but also we have saved money! Imagine, all of these products we  will no longer need to buy and dispose of ever again.  That's awesome.

Of course, there are several other things that we can do for the environment when it comes to our consumption and impact, but this just covers our paperless campaign. The husband has been so very sweet to humor me and follow these guidelines this last year. Some of them he's gung-ho about, and some of them he'd rather abandon. Sometimes it may seem silly to make changes, as with other lifestyle decisions (like what kind of transportation you choose, where you buy your food from, etc...) because the impact we are making is so minuscule as a single family, as simply two people in the world. But if everyone were to make these tiny tiny changes now, imagine the impact that we could all make with all of the years of our lives together living with an awareness of our stewardship. Especially if our own decisions could inspire others.

I love to discuss crafts and cooking and stewardship and environment, so don't hesitate to ask questions or share your ideas as well.

Live intentionally in 2011.

Winter Snow

Loving this song right now:

Performed by Audrey Assad
Written by Chris Tomlin:

Could've come like a mighty storm 

With all the strength of a hurricane 

You could've come like a forest fire 

With the power of heaven in Your flame 

But You came like a winter snow 

Quiet and soft and slow 

Falling from the sky in the night 

To the earth below 

You could've swept in like a tidal wave 

Or an ocean to ravish our hearts 

You could have come through like a roaring flood 

To wipe away the things we've scarred 

But You came like a winter snow 

(Yes, You did) 

You were quiet 

You were soft and slow 

Falling from the sky in the night 

To the earth below 

Oh, no, Your voice wasn't in a bush burning 

No, Your voice wasn't in a rushing wind 

It was still 

It was small 

It was hidden 

You came like a winter snow 

Quiet and soft and slow 

Falling from the sky in the night 

To the earth below 

Falling 

(Oh, yeah) 

To the earth below 

You came falling 

From the sky in the night 

To the earth below

Tonight I'm sifting through Humana's Health Insurance plans.

and I am soooooooooo THANKFUL that I finally have a job that will provide me with health insurance.

(yikes. if you click on this image, your screen will become mine. weird.)

wow.

so thankful.

Proof that I'm not Palin

I've suffered a few accusations lately that my specs are like Sarah Palin's. 

I really like her glasses, honestly. But ours are just NOT the same!

See?

So there.

Musings from Muir

Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity...

(photo by Photo-John)

I got The Essential Muir for Christmas. This is a book I've wanted for a while. I've just wanted a little taste of the writings from this brilliant environmentalist. And I'm loving it. Probably many more to come, but for now...

A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease. Every hidden cell is throbbing with music and life, every fiber thrilling like harp strings, while incense is ever flowing from the balsam bells and leaves. No wonder the hills and groves were God's first temples, and the more they are cut down and hewn into cathedrals and churches, the farther off and dimmer seems the Lord himself.