Happy Birthday My Love!!!

Today is my hubby's 32nd Birthday! Happy Birthday my love! I can't believe he is already 32. I can still remember him when we were little kids. In particular, on his 11th birthday. I went to his birthday party with some friends. It was on that day that I knew I would marry him. I just knew one day he would be my husband. There was something about the way he handed me the chocolate cupcake with red frosting!

Enzo was in love with Lola. And I was in love with my Fern. He was older than I was. But soon, I found a way to spend more time with him. If I spent time with my friend Lola, I would be spending more time with Enzo. Out of default, I would get to spend time with Fern. Because Enzo and Fern were friends. And for the next few years, that is exactly what I did.

When I was 15, Fern wanted to date me. But my dad said I would have to wait. In the mean time, we became best friends. And he waited for me. My hubby is the true and only love of my life. I could not imagine my life without him. Every day is 1000 times better because he is in my life.

My hubby makes every day brighter. His smile lights up my heart! Even when I create some kind of mess, he has the gentlest way of dealing with it. He is my biggest supporter and motivator. And after a long day, its his arms that I long to be in.

Today is his day. I hope to make all his birthday wishes come true. Because I love him. And I want only the very best, for the most incredible man in the world! :)

Happy Birthday My Love!!!

Baby Blanket

Pretty Pastels.....

A while back, OK a long while back, Lola and I went to Michael's. We have to drive over an hour to the nearest one. It is in the nearest large city to us. It has been a while. Really it has! It was before my hubby and I got married. Probably, at the beginning of last October. Because we went to buy some things for my bridal shower. Lola had wanted me to pick out the ribbon and stuff like that.

But I had a 40% off coupon from the newspaper. And I was just dying to use it! But I didn't know what to buy. Because Lola was buying the stuff for the shower, and she had her own coupon. So I wondered over to the crochet books. And got lost in them. I found this one. It just called to me. I bought it! I didn't have a reason to, I just bought it. At the time, I don't think any of my friends were expecting. But I am glad that I bought it!

Our friends Anna Marie and Joe are expecting their 2nd baby. They don't know whether the baby is a boy or a girl yet. But I am going to make a pink blanket. I am using the 2nd pattern from this book, Pretty Pastels. And I am using Red Heart Soft Baby in pink. The brighter pink that they make. I bought it yesterday at Hobby Lobby. I really like this color!

Anna Marie is due in November. And the baby isn't cooperating with them. They have tried to find out if the baby is a boy or girl. But baby doesn't want them to know. I am going with pink because they already have a gorgeous little girl, Eva! :)

Going to the Ranch

My hubby and I are headed to The Ranch. We left about 15 minutes ago. Enzo'a family has this amazing ranch. For years, we have gone to the ranch. When we were younger, Enzo's grandparents lived there. Now that they have passed away, it is his. And lots of us go out there from time to time.

Sometime during the Spring, we planned this trip. We will be out there for a few days. The guys are all really excited! They are wanting to go horse back riding and to ride bulls. Yes, I married a former rodeo star.

We are really excited about this little get-a-way. I am happy to be out of the city. And in the country for a few days. The Ranch is just a special place to be at. The food taste better there. The air smells cleaner. I am just excited! Now to make the 5 hour trip there! :)

I'm in Love with Love

Today I went to do some grocery shopping. We were basically out of everything. That happens when you are traveling. Because I had to get some other things too, so I went to Wally World. Not my favorite place in the world. But hey, I promised myself a little treat while I was there.

I ended up in the beauty aisles pretty quickly. And I saw the Pure Ice nail polish. I had seen it at Lola's house. I know that she and Cams like it. So I thought, why not. A bottle is just under $2 for .5 fl oz. I bought Love #917. It is a medium-light pink color. With a little shimmer. Not glittery, but with shimmer.

The minute I got home and put everything away, I sat to paint my nails. After 2 coats and my regular clear nail polish, I have the prettiest pink nails. The nail polish itself is a smooth texture and very easy to apply. The square shape of the bottle also helps too. It is really easy to hold while applying the nail polish.

I am really glad that I got lost in that aisle! I will definitely be buying more colors for that price. Most drugstore brands are more expensive, and the polish isn't as good. Pure Ice also has a HUGE selection of colors to choose from. In case you are wondering, my treat was a new rose bush. :)

Happy 4th of July!

What an amazing day! Filled with patriotism, fireworks, food, family, and friends! The perfect way to spend an summer day. I feel so excited! And the celebration hasn't even begun.

Don't you just feel so happy to be a citizen? To celebrate the beautiful country that we live in. To really love everything that we have. We are so lucky to live in this country. To have our freedoms. And the chance to chase after our dreams!

Happy Birthday USA!!!

The Katie Brown Workshop

I am a big fan of PBS shows. I have been watching PBS since I was little. My favorites are the cooking and sewing shows. Sadly, our local station stopped showing Sewing with Nancy and Pepin. But I recently discovered the Katie Brown Workshop.

Katie is super talented. Every show includes some type of craft, recipe, and home decor project. The ideas are all super usable and user friendly. Because I have to admit, that is why I don't watch the Martha Stewart Show. I just don't have the time to make those meals or those crafts.

But Katie's approach is just so much more user friendly. Her staff is also quite entertaining. I really like that these people have great personalities. This is definitely one of my new favorite shows. I am just sad that it is only 30 minutes long, and only comes out once a week. But if you are looking for some budget friendly ideas, you might want to watch the Katie Brown Workshop. :)

Stunning

I was "googling" veils for a friend. She's getting married next year. And looking for something a little less "traditional." I found this gorgeous piece! I like the "retro" feel of it. It doesn't feel so "let's play dress up," but more elegant. Do you know what I mean?

I think sometimes, the "retro inspired" pieces feel more "let's go dress up, and play like we were 5 years old." But this piece, so adorable! I really like the touch of feathers too!

Pure Elegance

I went to Sally's this morning. I went to buy a new brush. I don't know what happened to mine. And the comb situation is quickly growing old. But I got lost in the wall of nail polish. I think nail polish is quickly becoming a favorite productive of mine! I looked and looked. Finally deciding on a China Glaze nail polish. The color is Pure Elegance. It is a pretty pink color. With my Sally's card, it cost under $4 for the bottle. I can see me wearing this color every single day! It is just the perfect color. Barely there, and so lady like! :)

Sally Beauty Supply

After way too long, I finally decided to buy a Sally Beauty Supply Card. I shop there pretty often. I buy some hair products there that I can't find at Target. I am also a fan of the Sally Girl eyeshadows. And the China Glaze nail polish. But I have never purchase a card.

I don't know why. It is only $5. And at the bottom of your receipt, you get a $5 coupon to use on your next visit. Every time that you buy something at Sally's and use your card, you get a discount. You can see, this is a good deal. Especially when you consider that the card is essentially free when you use your $5 coupon. :)

Angel Trumpet

I ordered 3 of these plants. They're "Angel Trumpets." The beautiful cousin to the "Trumpet Vine." I'm definitely in LOVE with these plants.

We planted them along the fence, outside of our bedroom. They're so beautiful, and have such a sweet scent. I can't wait until they grow big. And the trumpets dangle over our windows. What a great thing to wake up to in the morning. :)

New

This is the bathroom set that we've agreed on. For our main guest bathroom. It's the bathroom that is central to our main living area. You know, the one that everyone uses, when they come to visit.

My hubby and I went back and forth on the decor. He wasn't feeling any of the "girly stuff" that I liked. So when I found this one, and fell in love, it didn't hurt that it was not pink. That would have definitely broken our deal. But this minty/baby blue color, it's just perfect!

We ended up painting the walls a light grey color. And all of our fixtures are silver. The towels, curtains, and rugs are all this gorgeous color. And with a little help from Lola, it's perfect! I really do like the "vintage" feel of the room.

Amigurumi World

I just bought this book. And I'm so excited to start a few new projects. Everything is so cute in Amigurumi World. I wish I would have bought it sooner. But it's better late than never. Right? If you crochet, this is a book you need to buy. ASAP! Now I just need some more yarn. :)

Dreaming of Paradise

Today, I've been dreaming about a tropical paradise. Funny, huh? But there is absolutely nothing better than a day at the beach. Sand in your toes. Smelling the salty air. Feeling the cool breeze. Maybe my hubby and I will plan something big soon. I'd love to be on the beach. :)

Eyelash Curler

I'm pretty sure I hate my eyelash curler. Maybe I just don't use it the "right" way. I'm not sure. But it doesn't leave my eyelashes looking nice. It could be the eyelash curler itself. I should probably invest in a better one. Not the cheap-O one that I have.

But is there are "right" and "wrong" way to use an eyelash curler? I hear that you can slightly "warm" the eyelash curler with your blow dryer. It will help set the "curl." But if I'm not happy with the "curl" as is, then I should probably not do this.

Maybe I just need some help from an "expert." Because right now, I can only get my eyelashes to stand up straight. Not curl so beautifully...you know, like they do when you get your makeup done.

Pomegranate Tree

Around here, everyone, and I mean everyone, has a pomegranate tree. Except us! The crazy thing is, my hubby loves them! And we spend a small fortune buying them. Even when they're "in season."

So I was really excited when our neighbors gave us a "cutting" of their tree. Immediately, we begin to give our little tree lots of love. And now, it's a pretty decent size. But we're going to hold off planting it until the Fall. When we figure it won't die. :)

My hubby can't wait for it to grow. And start bearing fruit. I have a feeling, he's going to eat them all. We just have to wait a few years. But I think this is one of the best ideas we've had yet. We've finally planted something that we're going to find really useful!

Their Amazing Luck!

We have some friends who recently bought 6 bistro sets just like this! Their was a little shop/restaurant that was going out of business. And they happened to be in the right place, at the right time. The 6 sets, came in just under $300!

I just can't believe it! They entertain quite a bit. And they were looking for a good set of outdoor furniture. Again, we're all relatively young. And money is always on the brain. So this was a complete score for them!

If only I had luck like that. I would probably have convinced my hubby to buy all 6 sets too! My friends can't decide if they'd like to keep the furniture as is. Or give it a fresh coat of paint. Honestly, I'd keep it "as is." It gives it a lot of character. Which I LOVE!!!

Wedding Flowers

A good friend of mine is planning her wedding. And we got to talking about flowers. Because they are so expensive! When my hubby and I got married, we spent a FORTUNE on flowers! And that's to say that we got them at "wholesale." Still really expensive.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably still spend the money. It was that important to me. But, I think I'd do certain things differently. Like have a simple bouquet like this one. Just beautiful flowers. All on their own. Being beautiful.

My friend, well she's still on the fence. Because money is tight. And there are so many other things to spend the money on. I understand. I told her to stick to one kind of flower. Maybe add some candles. But keep it simple. Because Mother Nature is pretty incredible. She got it right on the first try.

Lean Cuisine Meals

I am determined to get into shape this summer. I lost a pretty remarkable amount of weight to be perfect for my wedding. Not that I was fat. But I had definitely allowed myself to gain some weight when I first started college. And I never lost the pesky Freshman 15.

But when we set a wedding date, I got real serious. I lost weight and really watched what I ate and how much I exercised. It payed off brilliantly. But after the wedding, I let all of that fall aside. We got married right before the holidays. Between the amazing food we had at the wedding, the holidays, and going on our honeymoon, my health plan flew out the window.

For New Year's I was determined to get back on track. But I was back to school. We were newlyweds. I was trying to be a good wife and cook lots of good food. And we were looking to buy a new house. I pretty much gained all my weight back.

Then I talked to Lola. She is a nutrition guru. She is studying nutrition and pre-med. So you can imagine, she had lots of great tips for me. We set up a plan and I started my whole get in shape routine. It has been going well. But I noticed that for lunch, I was eating a lot. Probably because I am home alone during the day. And our garden is giving tons of food.

Again, I talked to Lola. And she recommended the Lean Cuisine meals. These, I know for a fact, are meals that she eats. Because she is always on the go, Lola buys these for her lunch. She has a nice supply at work. I have to agree, they are quick and easy. The part that I like best is, they are already portioned out. That happens to be my issue. I like to eat bigger portions than I should.

But these meals come in a variety of flavors. There is something for everyone's taste. Real comfort foods, Oriental food, even Mexican inspired foods. They all cook up in under 5 minutes in the microwave. And honestly, the portions are very filling. I have been able to find them on sale at Albertson's for $2 a piece. I would recommend these for anyone who is trying to watch what they are eating, or for the busy people out there. They are tasty! :)

The Twins' Baby Blankets

The Sunshine Round Ripple Blanket

My childhood friend, Nina is having twins. She doesn't know if they are going to be boys or girls yet. I don't think her and her husband want to know. She is due at the end of October. But her baby shower is going to be at the end of September. I wanted to make her something special. Because she is a special person from my childhood. I just didn't know what to make. The few crochet books that I have, have very delicate patterns. Something you would use for a girl. And since we don't know if the babies are going to be girls, I had to scrap that idea.

Not that long ago, I had been doing a search for baby blankets and came across this one. It is the Sunshine Round Ripple Blanket, and I thought it would be perfect. After printing out the pattern, I had to decide on what colors to make the blankets. I went to the store this morning. And I fingered through all the baby yarn at JoAnn's. At ours, it really isn't a big selection. Before finally deciding on Bernat's Baby Softee yarn in the green, white, and yellow. I figured I would start with the green, change to white, then yellow, then white, and then green. Doing somewhere between 5-8 rows in each color. I just need to figure out this before I start!

I don't want to make the blankets too big. I figured big enough to use to cover the car seat or a small enough to travel with. Then later, they can use them for the babies to play on. I figure I will have to add a few rows to the patterns to make the blankets the size I want them. And I am thinking of a different edging. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Nina loves things like this. So I figured I would make the 2 blankets. And out of the leftover yarn, I can make booties and hats. Hopefully by the time of the baby shower, I will have 2 blankets, 4 hats, and 4 pairs of booties! :)

A Crafter's Heaven

Have you ever shopped on this site? Mi Prima was telling me about it. And let me tell you, it's a little bit like a "Crafter's Heaven!"

After 3 hours of "browsing" my hubby told me that he might just be in trouble. Yes, it's that good. I could easily spend a small fortune on so many crochet patterns. But I'm holding back. Trying to narrow down my favorites. And hoping to make a purchase before I go to bed tonight.

Do you know of any other great craft websites like this? Please share! I'm always looking for new places to be inspired. And to find unique patterns. :)