SIX

I realize I probably shouldn't title this post with a countdown number. How cliche. haha....but I couldn't help myself so go ahead and roll your eyes.

Yes, less than a week until the day that begins the rest of my life with my best friend.

It is so good to be loved. Even as I run around this week trying to get all the loose ends tied, I am remined of how blessed I am to be loved by Ben.

My current stress buster is to make some chalkboard frames for our apartment. I will post pictures of the process later.

Hopefully this black paint will wash off my hands by friday...

To Do before "I Do"

I made my master to-do list today. I will save you from having to read it since it truly is not interesting in content. What makes it interesting is the overall goal of completing the tasks and then ta-daaa...the wedding! Currently, I am unable to check too many items off because I am stuffing my face with delicious blueberries and blackberries while at work. I washed the fruit quickly before work, and then threw them into a baggie while still wet. So the remaining water has mixed with the fruit to create a lovely purple dye that has coated my finger tips. yum.

On another subject entirely...Ben graduates from Police academy/skills tomorrow. I am so proud of him and I am glad that the school is finally returning him to me :)  I have missed him (even though I got to see him every weekend but one). My parents are driving up to see the ceremony with me so that I can ride back with him. I have been trying to prepare him for my massive to-do list but I don't think he has quite grasped how busy we are going to be in the next two weeks. If he can handle being tazed than certainly he can handle some pre-wedding tasks.

One task on our list is to spend an afternoon at IKEA picking out a few new things. Hopefully we will find new headboard and two matching nightstands. I am sure I will manage to find a few other things while wondering about that endless store. It's dangerous really...all those things to buy.
Here are a few of the beds I am considering...

Options options....how to choose?

By bringing Ben along of course!

(me alone with my indecisiveness would result in never buying a bed)

let the (slightly stressed) countdown begin

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

17 Days.

It's a comin'

goodnight.

Birthday Girl

So tomorrow is my beautiful sister's birthday ( I say that like I have an ugly sister too, but am referring to my beautiful one. I don't by the way have another sister, or an ugly one at that) . She is turning twenty-one and I couldn't be more proud to be her sister. She is such a lovely lady and I am blessed to have her constant encouragement and love. We celebrated by going out to dinner in town which resulted in getting way to full and then eating chocolate cake anyway. That is what dessert is for right?...a.k.a. Already being full and then having the waiter show you what the chocolate cake looks like...caving in and ordering two pieces to share (but when the "pieces" are the size of a large brick you can hardly feel better about yourself by casually throwing in the "sharing" phrase because let's face it I still ate what would have been abnormal sized piece of chocolate heaven & caramel goodness.) So yes. The moral of the story is that dessert always puts you over the top at restaurants. Will I learn my lesson? Probably not. But either way, Happy Birthday my dear little sister!

{yes she is wearing a wig, and yes I am in the background and have no idea what I am doing}

On another note...

I attempted to make strawberry-rhubarb jam last night. I will withhold the recipe until I actually taste the jam because I have a feeling that my lack of attention to the recipe will result in unwanted tartness. I mean I am sure that the recipe is perfectly fine so I probably could share it, but still. I'm sure you are not dying to run to your kitchens and whip up some jam (I shouldn't even say that because I actually was really excited). Here are some pictures however so you can imagine the process from before to after.




{p.s. I started this project at 10pm at night...not recommended}

So, tomorrow morning I am going to wake up and try out my homemade jam in one of my cute jars. A little tartness won't scare me away, and at least I will have my coffee to wash it down. Then out to the business of garage sales. Did I mention we are having a garage sale at my house? Oh yes we are, and it was HOT out today. Sitting outside in ninety degree weather all day is only worth it when you are a.) near a beach/pool or b.) making money. I didn't make it to the pool, but I did make a few bucks for some old junk that I certainly didn't need. Tomorrow is day number two for our grand ol' yard sale. I must say my quick adding skills are building up rapidly.

Goodnight.

Someday..

Someday I will have a room, or at least a corner in a house that will hold me sewing stuff. But for now, my sewing machine and fabric must remain packed away in a closet. I love this room, maybe a little less pink, and no barbie accessories...but you get the idea.

Fabric Bunting

My Project of the Night....

Fabric flags for the wedding cake...or cake stand...not quite sure yet.

The Process: I cut out strips of fabric and then used iron on fusing to fold the fabric in half the long way. Next, I cut out little triangles from the now double-sided fabric strips.

After a little haphazard arranging I simply sewed them all together by continuously running them through the sewing machine. It took me a little while to begin the sewing since I forgot I had broken my needle last time. So after hunting down an extra needle I began connecting the flags. It was really quite an easy project. Next, I want to attempt to put little fabric flags on toothpicks for the cupcakes. I keep telling myself to complete one project a night. By pacing myself I hope to get things done in time, but I know that things will start piling up very soon here.

Alright, I need to clean up the mess I made of the kitchen. Then perhaps some hot chocolate before I head off to bed. I know, who drinks hot chocolate in July? I do.

My Long Weekend: Somewhat briefly

Back from a lovely weekend at the lake.

 The sun was seen quite frequently, and the majority of the rain held off for a single late night storm. It was relaxing to put the cell phone away and spend time with family and friends. I also managed to survive an intense tubing ride with Ben and Jordan. I am finally able to raise my arms above me head, and the only remaining evidence are the healing wounds on my elbows. I must be getting older because I remember when I could go tubing all weekend and not feel a thing. This time around, one day's worth did me in.

Now I'm back in the swing of things and currently drinking coffee while popping raspberries in my mouth fresh from the farmer's market. Oh summer is so good to me. I must get back to work so the photographs from the weekend will have to speak for themselves.

Independence Day
{click on photos to make bigger}

Breathing In Summer