The weather outside is frightful

Take a picture, it will last longer...maybe

The doting wife of a dental student...

Yesterday was an awful day to be outside. Luckily it was Saturday, I didn't have to be anywhere, and Ben and I stayed holed up all day. He made me caramel buns for breakfast and he also made a delicious dinner. We spent the evening on the couch; he studied while I flipped through magazines and flipped between "White Christmas" and "Cupcake Wars." I don't know how the topic came up, but Ben wanted a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Being the loving wife I am, I hopped right up, found a recipe, and made one for him (and me too of course). What a lucky guy...

Pretties

We went to Ben's Dental School Christmas party last night at the Embassy Suites downtown Lincoln. After eating and before the entertainment, we walked around the lobby area for a little bit. The multiple Christmas trees they decorated were classy. Ben's eyes caught their regular lighting, though--so he shouldn't have been surprised (or embarrassed) when I whipped out my camera.

Let's try this again

So the last roast I made was a little too dry. This time I used cream of mushroom soup, which made for a nice gravy. Plus, I had the day off, so the meat didn't cook quite as long. I thought we had potatoes at home. Apparently someone threw them out because they had too many eyes growing--so I made Parmesan couscous.

Ta-Da!

I was thrilled to get the Christmas tree up. I thoroughly enjoyed the process as I watched a movie and took my time. Amber and I went to a class a year ago; the "teacher" was a florist who also was paid to decorate trees for businesses and in people's homes. She had quite a few good tips, but mainly it was all about the lights--you have to make sure your lights go all the way to the middle or inside of the tree.

I took several pictures of the tree, utilizing my tripod and playing with the exposure settings. My playtime was not quite as adventurous as Andrew's, but this was my favorite shot, as it shows the glow from the integrated lights quite accurately.

800 ISO f5.0 1/4

My kitchen helper

Well, Thanksgiving is officially over. We had our fifth, and last, gathering last night. I needed to make the family macaroni and cheese casserole as soon as I got home from work in order to make it on time to Fremont.

Ben had the day off and prepared the kitchen for me so I was all ready to go as soon as I walked in the door:

My purse camera

Random, yes, but that is why I bought my "purse camera." So I can always have it on hand if I see something that catches my eye; inspires me; and has the potential to be a reference for some later design or project.

Lampshade and chair in the lobby at Nye Legacy, Fremont, NE

So remember the project that was going to help spur my creativity and force me to produce more work? Sadly, still just good intentions. I've only managed to doodle here and there. Here's to better accountability!

You are cordially invited...

It's beginning to look a little like Christmas...

All of us ladies were pretty inspired after seeing the Crook House Museum decorated for the holidays. Jan, Irma and I had to visit Hobby Lobby after the Tea so Jan could find some tassels and medallions. I had already purchased the pearl/gold sprays there earlier in the week (50% off!).

So, yes, I still have Thanksgiving/Fall decorations up...but I wanted to get a little bit of a head start on some of the Christmas festivities. What can I say? I was inspired!

Project time!

More of Fall...it's not Winter yet!

Here is my "Organic" punchbowl and two of the cups. I made these a few years ago, and in September they were in a show featuring work of current students and alumni of Midland. I was unable to see them on display, along with my glass "Freezeframe" sculptures--but now the ceramic pieces help decorate our living room. They fit with the earthy, natural tones of the living room and, of course, Fall!

Time for comfort food

Ugh. It is supposed to snow tonight/tomorrow. Good thing I have new recipes to try out for the crock pot! I took a last minute photo on my lunch break with my purse camera:


Pumpkin bisque--it smelled so delicious when I came home from work! It needs a little bit of a kick, though. A co-worker suggested rotisserie chicken, and I think I might add some chili powder or peppers to give it some more flavor next time.

More fall elements

I know several people who have set up their Christmas trees already, but I do have a few fall decorations I want to enjoy first. Most of them are decorate our dining room. I love rich browns, reds and other deep colors; they also happen to be perfect colors for fall!

The first turkey and the pumpkin element were part of the "loot" I found at our last trip to Tender Heart Treasures.

I stocked up on tea last week, when I thought I was getting sick. I love having all different flavors for whatever mood I am in. Sipping hot tea during dreary and snowy weather can make for a cozier fall/winter.

Because I want dinner ready when I get home

I am adjusting to my new hours. I miss my alternating days in Fremont, where I could have some mornings and some afternoons free during the week. I decided utilizing our crock pot more would be a good way to save time on cooking after getting home from work. Here is the first pot roast:


It was quite delicious. Ben even liked the carrots! I thought the meat was a little dry, but it had to cook longer than required because I had a meeting after work. I used a can of beer, but next time I will make sure to have a can of soup on hand.

Big Gig programs

Created for the Omaha Conservatory of Music's Big Gig fund raising event; I designed the invitations prior to this.

Simplicity

Here is a "thank you" I made a couple of years ago for a bridal shower with my MLC girls.

Why I love them:
• Black and white
• Vellum
• Textured cardstock
• Thematic (we used the flower stamp on all of the wedding invitations, response cards and thank yous)

At the last baby shower I went to, the mama-to-be commented on the tag/card I attached to the gift bag; she marveled at how such a simple tag could make such a difference. It's true; most of the cards I get compliments on are simple and easy.

My new best friend

Together we have fearlessly made changes for the dining area and bedroom walls.

Hello October!

We have had great October weather so far...can't believe Halloween is almost here and it's not freezing yet!

I found this door decoration at Tender Heart Treasures in Omaha, which my mother-in-law introduced me to. We love that place! You can also shop online, but if you think I pay full-price, you're mistaken. The outlet store has better deals, and I rarely pay retail.

I love Fall.

I love: the colors, the weather, the changes.

Foolproof

Ahhh so satisfying! I love the smell of cinnamon in the house. Also, I have had two dessert fails in a row lately, so it was nice to have a notch in the "win" column.

Save the Date

This was a quickly designed postcard. The Save the Date went home with the kids at the Omaha Conservatory of Music Institute (OCMI). Yeah, that was back in July. Yeah, I'm just posting it now.

Rotating gallery

I have been very excited about this project, inspired by some photos I saw in a magazine (see last post). I tried to keep it a secret, but I am just a bit too impatient.

I love elements of Lobster and Swan's home decorations, but she has a very Victorian style, so I decided to incorporate my favorite elements into my own home.

My goal, now that I am finishing up some bigger freelance jobs, is to spend more time drawing in pencil and perhaps working on more watercolor projects. They are intended to be quicker and smaller pieces. This gallery I have set up will allow me to display what I am working on--and hopefully force me to keep producing.

I decided, I must do this!

So a few weeks ago I was inspired by a magazine I found, "Artful Blogging." I absolutely loved reading some consistent bloggers' insight on what they post about, and what inspires them. In particular, the writer of Lobster and Swan intrigued me. I loved the photos she posted and her excerpt.

In the magazine and on Facebook she posted photos of her home:

All by myself

I worked on a couple of quick projects today, including this little curtain. It dresses up a bookcase in our bedroom, plus hides some of the clutter. What, clutter? Never!

It was so enjoyable to just relax and sew by hand while I watched TV. I haven't sewn on a machine since high school, and working on this made me yearn for more sewing projects...until I remembered all of the other projects I want to work on.

Running with it

My mother-in-law found this cloth for our dining area. The colors and texture fit the dark, rich and deep themes I have used for our dining dishes and bedroom decorating. And Jan is a bargain shopper, so of course the cloth was a great deal! She re-covered our chairs, and sewed the table runner seen here, along with a cover for the other table in our dining room.

Because I want to keep up on my posting

I may not be musical, but my teapot is

My teacup and general tea collection has rapidly been growing since we've moved, which is good timing since we now have more room for having items on display. My grandma (Skelton) gave me this teapot music box this last summer. I should double-check who it belonged to in the family, but my she was going to give it to my mother and Mom graciously let me add it to my collection.

I'm hooked

I read in a magazine or blog about how women go through phases, and love to either shop for clothes or for the house. Right now I am definitely in the latter phase. I am making a home, here! The little details make all the difference, and I want to fully enjoy the at-least next four years in our home. I hesitated decorating our tiny little house in Fremont because of our unknown timeline and worrying about nail holes. Taking joy in the process of getting everything "just right" is easy, now that I don't have the attitude that I have to wait.

The end result

Remember the initial design? It sure came a long way!

Craft time!

The scrapbook nook is coming along. I used the table to make the first birthday card for this weekend.

Today I cut and pasted and played with puffy paint, magic markers, glitter. It was AMAZING!

Not only did I have fun playing around, but the person receiving the card was a 3 year-old, so I didn't have to worry too much about getting critiqued. ;)