finished products and a tutorial

Like I mentioned last post, I've been gettin' crafty lately. First of all, after being inspired by these monograms, I decided to start my own collection:

For the mossy B I started with a tutorial found through Pinterest but it included buying foam (that stuff is pricier than I thought) and using a projector (where am I gonna find one of those? Steal one from the elementary school or church library?) to trace your own shape etc. So, I ended up buying a $1.50 solid paperboard letter at Hobby Lobby and some sheet moss. I traced around the letter on the moss with a razor and then hot-glued. Looks pretty don't ya think? The blue one is a .50 cent styrofoam letter painted with acrylic paint and the gold one was at Hobby Lobby too.

My next project started with inspiration found here. Thumbtack covered foam balls which are then painted. However, one pack of  100 tacks didn't even cover one medium sized ball! Hmmm, time to problem-solve. I decided to just paint the rest with acrylic paint and then cover a couple with a fun fabric I recently found as a remnant at Joann's. I briefly looked online for how to cover a sphere with fabric, and improvised from a couple patterns I found. Want to make your own? 

(Note the baby hand on the right part of the picture. Yes, these are very attractive objects to little people. However, I will be a mean mom and keep these fun-looking items barely out of reach).

First measure your ball from the middle of the top to the middle of the bottom. Mine was about 11 cm.

 

Then make a leaf-shaped template (mine was cut out of cardstock) as long as your ball was. The width of the shape I didn't worry about at all - I just kept it symmetrical. I just winged it and it worked out. If you want to be more technical, it's maybe 3-4 cm across. It was wide enough to barely (just barely) cover the medium-sized ball with seven pieces, so you may want to make it a little wider. I guess it all depends on the size of what you're trying to cover.

Then cut out your fabric pieces using your pattern and glue (I used fabric glue) to the ball, making sure to line up your pieces if you are using a pattern. It's not perfect, but if keep your fabric in line after you cut it out and glue it in the same order, you can keep the general pattern going.

 Ta-da! And again there's baby, dying to play with those cool toys

And now the reveal of my favorite (but most time-consuming) project:

Yay! $5.00 matching end tables (yes, there's two of them) from DI. Some sanding, primer, a couple cans of Rustoleum Heirloom White spray paint, and some light distressing and you get this. Far from perfect, but when you distress it anyway, who cares, right? The hardware is the original, just without the ugly ornate piece that went around the knob.

Our "fall-wall". The extent of our fall/halloween decorations, but since we're so young in our marriage I have no doubt the decorations will accumulate over the years, so I'm trying to be patient. I think it's fun to have a little area you can keep decorated based on the season without worrying about trying to get the whole house coordinated each new holiday. And btw, the bats on the wreath were made by searching for "bat silhouettes" in google images and then taping a piece of white paper to the screen and lightly tracing, then using that as your pattern. My SIL Laura and I figured out how to do that for Sarah's wedding cake toppers and for easier shapes it sure is cheaper than one of the fancy cutting machines. There are a bazillion cool silhouette shapes out there, try taking some black construction paper and making your own. I have in mind another little project using embroidery hoops and linen-type material to back these birds:

Okay, that's enough craftiness for one day (see what Pinterest and decorating blogs do to you??) I think I'm gonna take a break and catch up on my book club reads.

Lazy days of fall

Wow, it feels like its been a long time since I've posted. So, I guess it's fall now! Hard to believe when it's still so hot outside, but little bits of fall decor and Christian and my fall birthdays are reminding me that it's really that time of year - and only less than two months until Thanksgiving! Crazy. Baby is still sprouting her fuzzy hair and gets lots of comments about it. She's quite the popular little lady in public. She does well driving around with me doing errands, has two regular naps per day and sleeps well at night. She babbles, crawls and when getting changed likes to roll over and crawl away as fast as possible. She's pulling herself up on everything now and even slowly walks along the couch or anything else she pulled herself up on. In the pool her favorite thing is to stand on the steps and hold on to the metal railing all by herself.

 Nope that's not a tooth you see - just glare from the flash, but she just barely started cutting teeth on the bottom this last week.

 Mommy's things are so much fun to play with! First time playing dress-up :)

 Temple site for the Phoenix temple. Only ten minutes away! The ground has been broken and it should be completed hopefully sometime in 2013. Unfortunately opposition to the temple has slowed down its progress. Bah. Those people need to watch these videos. They'll be convinced of the beauty and peaceful nature of the temple and its activities in no time.

Birthday Boy

Christian's birthday was the 27th. He's the big 'ole 26 now! 

Christian is doing SO great in school. He is such a good student and so cool about everything too. I'd be a stress-case but he calmly studies and then practically aces a test. What a stud.

 We made oreo pudding cake. Recipe found via Pinterest. And speaking of Pinterest, I'm trying to do more than just pin. Here are some projects, and more on the way (like if I did all of them, about 400 more):

I found matching bedside tables for $5.00 each at the DI here. Score! They are beat up on the outside, but nothing a little sanding and painting can't fix. So excited to get that done hopefully this week. And the wicker tray on top will be spray painted and used in the front room on a coffee table.

This barn star is made out of a cereal box. DIY instructions here. The only thing with that very basic tutorial is that it doesn't provide a barn star template with the angles/measurements, so I winged it. I've been collecting boxes for the last month though, so I'll be making some more in different colors and with hopefully more precise lines.

 .50 cent wicker wreath from DI. Probably will spray-paint it. Hanging in the middle is one of a series of seasonal signs my mom made for me for Christmas.

Apartment Tour

So, here's our apartment, looking somewhat organized, considering we've only been here a month and probably won't be here too long. But, we do love the spacious front room and kitchen

Super-blank wall. Trying not to make too many nail holes... 

And Halloween is just around the corner. Can't wait to dress up our little bumblebee.

And as for my life, I'm getting into the stay-at-home routine. I now have tons of time to shop and get good deals, make yummy meals and read more books. I recently volunteered at a car seat checkpoint event in Phoenix and beforehand they asked me to teach some classes during the event. I was very flattered and they went really well. So fun to get back into the public health world, it feels like I never left home. I also just signed up for a local Ragnar race with some people in my ward. It's in February and I'm getting geared up to start training. So excited!

Our new life is a good one. Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and hopes and desires and blesses us if we only have faith and come unto Him.

Debbie's Legacy

On Thursday September 1, 2011 my aunt Debbie Forsyth left this earth after a year and a half battle with ovarian cancer. It is sweet to think of the joyful reunion between Debbie and her older sister Kathy who passed away 29 years ago.

A lot of emotions fill me when I think of Debbie. I loved her and I know she loved me. After her first major surgery last summer my family was there as she was wheeled out of the hospital. I gave her a hug and told her I loved her and she said “I love you too Steph”. My heart is at peace because one month before her passing I did not disregard the urgency I felt to mail her a copy of the Family Slideshow. In the package I included a note where I told her we were thinking about her and loved her. Her husband Terry said she received and enjoyed the slideshow. Oh, how my heart would hurt if I had not sent it.

Debbie babysat me occasionally when I was a little girl and our families spent innumerable hours together. My dad was her annoying little brother and she still loved to tease him. She was the crafty queen and loved planning parties and having the family be together. She took the initiative to plan and hold a family bridal shower for me and Christian before we were married. She witnessed in the temple the special moment when Christian and I were sealed. Even in her tired and sick condition she came to Claire’s baby blessing in February. I love her so much and I know I have two very special aunts to greet me when my turn on this earth is over.

I think especially around the commemoration of 9/11 of how important it is that we never leave our acts of love and service unsaid or unseen. We need to tell those we care about how much we love them. We never know how much time we have left. A life motto of mine is to live with no regrets and I am trying to be better all the time in order to avoid the sting that regret leaves behind. This video from Thomas S. Monson demonstrates this principle perfectly.

There is so much sorrow in the world, but Christ will heal all wounds. All He asks is that we come unto Him.

Kenny, Kathy, and baby Debbie

The sisters in their beehives with their pesky little brothers

Sisters in grade school

Lovin' that hair. Went to Brighton High in SLC

 Claire and I flew to Utah for the funeral. Claire's first flight!

 Debbie's granddaughter curiously looking down into the burial site.

L to R: Oldest brother Ken, Deb's son Brian, and brothers: Jeff, Mike, Chris, and Steve. Youngest son Kallin is hidden behind Ken.

 We loved spending time with family during our trip. Claire, as always, was a dream traveler. 

 After all was said and done, Claire and I traveled back (on 9/11 of all days. I won't deny I was nervous). Family is everything. Debbie, thank you for the legacy of love and service you left in this world J

our crawling baby has hair!

Her hair all of a sudden has been sprouting like crazy. It's a darkish blond and so fuzzy, it usually sticks straight up in all directions (it's a little wet in these pictures) and so fine you can barely feel it. Our fuzzy head is  very smiley and keeps us very happy.

We’re here. We made it to the valley of the sun! And boy, did it give us an extremely warm welcome. The hottest August on record actually (highs between 111-116 and lows around 90 degrees over the last week). Thankfully, the heat is still a novelty and hasn’t worn on us like I’m sure it will by the end of next summer.  It’s the end of the summer so it all gets better from here, right?

We’re starting everything fresh. We’re in a lovely fresh apartment (with an awesome pool and palm trees, I feel like I’m on vacation!) Christian is off to school with a fresh new MacBook (and with its iPad-like touchpad navigation, Christian is in heaven. An iPad is high on his wish list). And the slate is fresh in our social sphere, well, except for the bishop. My cousin Reid married our bishop’s daughter Andrea, so we’re already family J Don’t think we’ll be able to hide from callings for too long, we’ve already been on a ward campout and are buddies with the bishop’s family. The ward here is amazing too. We’d heard good things, but we were welcomed  automatically as family. The relief society activities and groups are constant, giving us student-wives a supportive outlet. These four years will be very special, I can feel it already.

However, to back up, our west-coast adventures ended two weeks ago with the marriage of my sister-in-law Sarah Bennion to Christian Briggs (yes, the third Christian in my family now). Sarah looked gorgeous in her vintage-inspired tea-length wedding dress (made by her mother Lorraine in the three weeks before the wedding!!!!). As much as Lorraine will deny her seamstress skills – one look at that dress and you can’t deny it took some definite skill and diligence to make something so perfect for Sarah. The reception in Fresno was awesome for the Bennions to connect with old friends (and for us to see Trevor and Katelyn – miss you guys!) and the Salinas picnic was simply picturesque. Just look at the pics below. It was beautiful.

Getting ready for the big day (I feel so special - we got to share the same hotel room with the lady of honor the night before she got married!)

Audrey posing with her favorite bag filled with "food treats"

I love the following series of pictures because of the infinite expressions of these girlies (Jane, Audrey and Maddie). I love them so much.

 Pops was brave enough to take on Jonah and Claire who decided to wrestle in his arms, but it wasn't anything a daffy duck voice couldn't fix:

Luncheon post-wedding. Jane was quite excited to learn that clinking your glass with a utensil meant the bride and groom had to kiss!

Fresno Reception:

 Salinas picnic entrance. I made the sign

 Bubble machine!

Amid all this busyness Claire was a trooper. She had so much fun romping around with her cousins who I’m sure played a role in getting her to want to start moving. She is officially a crawler now. So much fun to see our little petite girl make her way across the living room. Time to start baby-proofing! And she also has recently started being a little stranger-wary and attached. Today at the store an older couple started talking to her and she stared quietly first at them, then at me, then back at them before her little lip started to tremble. Having a babysitter her will be a lot harder from here on out.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

Look at that sweetie. Claire is just as excited to start our new life in the desert