Being Crafty

Largely due to my unhealthy addiction to Pinterest, I have been extrodinarily crafty lately... for me anyway! I love being crafty, but I am not very creative so I need ideas to get me going.  Luckily Pinterest is FULL of ideas! 

I found two things recently that I thought were easy and great ideas, so I copied :)

Both of these are basically scrapbook paper placed inside a frame with glass.  The glass then can be used as a "dry erase" board!  Genious!

 This one is printed with the words "I love you because..." then you use a dry erase marker to add reasons you love your spouse to leave notes for each other!  Cute idea, right?  We keep it on our dresser since that is a place we will definately look everyday.

Our new kitchen dry erase board is much cuter than buying a plain white board and we can use it to plan the weeks dinner menu!  I just bought a cheap red frame since my kitchen has red accents and used a scrapbook paper with a simple pattern (the pattern also has some red dots, but you can't really see them!)

The third thing I wanted to make was a wreath for the front door.  This time of year there isn't a holiday wreath to use and I hate having the front door empty :(  So I search pinterest for diy wreaths.  I found several that I liked and I took a few bits from each and combined them to make my own!  I knew I wanted it to be a monogram wreath (and since Mom and Eric have a last name with a M and Shawn and I have a last name with a M..perfect) but I wasn't sure what else I wanted.  I decided in the end to use our wedding colors too.  This is what I got.

I had to find some instructions online to figure out how to make the felt rosettes, but I think they turned out pretty good!  Shawn wanted me to paint the M a different color, but in the end I think the white works perfectly!

 I have to admit...I am pretty pleased with my own craftiness :)



Random Musings

I found these pictures of Logan and Marcie on my camera...not sure when they were taken  but they're cute :)

Today we had our volunteer luncheon at work.  We have a large number of volunteers that help us by making blankets, hats, etc for our babies as well as a group that makes memory boxes for people who experience a fetal or neonatal demise.  These volunteers are wonderful and once a year we have a luncheon for them.  Today was the day so yesterday I was busy baking :)  Cupcakes!  Yummy stuff!  I made vanilla cupcakes then some vanilla buttercream frosting as well as some caramel frosting.  I have been making a caramel frosting that I found on Pinterest but I decided to go with a more standard caramel frosting this time...and it was good!!  The other one is good too, but this one is easier plus I was able to save the left over frosting for use later.  Ooooohhhh!   

The cupcakes with the buttercream frosting were for the March of Dimes bake sale at work...Shawn said that after I added the blip of caramel the cupcakes looked like nipples.  I guess.  But whatever, it is for the March of Dimes anyway :)   I guess nipples are appropriate!  Only a man would notice that!  Both cupcakes turned out delicious.  I am taking a few of the caramel cupcakes tomorrow to visit a friend for her birthday...She is excited for her sugar rush!

A was talking a few weeks ago at work about how cute I think Shawn looks in his suits for work, so the ladies I work with said I needed to take a picture.  Here is one.  I will get another the next time he wears his new linen pants and vest.  I have such a sexy husband :)

Today is Tuesday...Logan and Auntie Lisa day!  Logan decided that he needed to be imprisoned and he looked so cute I had to take a picture.

Then I realized it looks like he is in prison...so I took some in black and white :)

Marcie needed her glamour shot too!  My beautiful girl...so patient with Logan!

I guess that is enough random for today.

A visit with some precious babies :)

Anyone who knows me knows how attached I can get to my babies at work.  Especially babies that spend a long time in our NICU.  The ones we are closest to, especially if we get to be friends with the parents, we keep in touch with and it is wonderful!  I love being able to watch how a baby that started so small and at such a disadvantage can do so well, partly due to all the things we do for them!

Recently, I have been able to catch up with two NICU graduate families!  These two moms were not just my sweet baby's moms...they truly became my friends and I miss being able to talk to them at work!  This past week was the 1st birthday of my favorite twins!  

Alyssa & Brooke

Brooke in on the left of the pic, Alyssa is on the right.

I missed their birthday party (I had to work) but their mother invited me over another day for a visit.  It is so great to see how big they are and how they are developing!  They are doing so many things!  Crawling like crazy and starting to walk holding on to things.  I love it!  Alyssa has the most beautiful smile and Brooke was so social and friendly!  She loved playing with my necklace.  I can't wait for another visit!

Here are a few of Alyssa...I tried to get a smile up close, but she's too fast for the shutter on my phone!

Now for Brooke's turn with the paparazzi!

I did not take any pictures at my other visit...boo!  But mom took one and I will have to see if she will text it to me (So Bree...if you're reading this please text me the picture of Lila and me!).  Lila is a more recent NICU graduate but I am confident that her mommy and I will stay good friends so surely I will be able to watch her grow!

Late addition to blog: Bree came through and emailed me this picture today!!  Thanks!

Next post:  Recipe for cheesecake squares :)

Quick trip to Dallas

Shawn and I have started a tradition since we moved to Texas...a yearly trip to Dallas to see the Chicago Blackhawks play the Dallas Stars.  Yesterday was the game so we decided to go up a bit early and spend the day doing something in Dallas.  We decided to try out their train system.   It was nice but kind of strange.  We each bought a single day pass for the system at $7 each.  We never once had to show anyone!  We could have ridden the train all day for free!  Apparently Dallas is very trusting of the mass transit system riders.

Shawn decided that we should go to the The Sixth Floor Museum.  It is in Dealey Plaza and is the museum about the JFK assassination.  It is on the 6th floor on the old Texas School Book Depository and is the location that Lee H. Oswald allegedly shot JFK.  The tour was really pretty interesting and we both learned a lot.

This is the 6th floor window where the shot originated.

This is the street where the car was when JFK was shot and of course, the grassy knoll.

JFK and Jackie in their car just before he was shot.

One thing that Shawn and I were both struck by in the exhibit, was the parallel between JFK and Obama.  There were are surprising number of similarities in their policy and the struggles they faced during their presidency's.  Look it up.

Last night we headed to the American Airlines Center (on the train again...still no one asked to see our ticket!).  The Blackhawks were taking on the Stars, who are currently ahead in the rankings.  We got there early so we could wander around and get close to the ice for some pictures.  

Although the stands look empty in this picture this ended up being one of the most packed houses the Stars have ever had...in large part to the number of Hawks fans!  There were a TON!  Hawks fans are super loyal :)

The view from our seats...in the nose bleed section.  It was cheap though and still awesome!

Warm up time!  Unfortunately Toews is still out injured :(  No pictures of him...

My favorite...Sharpie!!  He just happened to be #1 player of the game too.  My next jersey will be a Sharp jersey!  Also had Crawford in goal for the game...he did awesome!

Here we have Kane in the distance, Keith and Leddy up front and of course Crawford, the goalie.

Look at the Hawks fans!!

Getting ready for the teams to come out on the ice.

National Anthem.

The start of the 3rd period.

We had a great time, as usual.  We are already looking forward to our trip next year.  Now for St. Patrick's Day celebration tonight :)

Sherwood Forest Faire

A few months ago I bought a Groupon (isn't Groupon amazing???) for 2 admissions to the Sherwood Forest Faire.   This is a Rennaisance Festival about an hour east of Austin.  It seemed like something Shawn and I would enjoy to do together.  So since we were both off of work today we went to enjoy the faire.

As soon as we walked in we found archery to the right.  They had stuffed animals on the targets!  I was shocked to find Logan's green stuffed monkey (Sheldon) on one of the targets!  Poor Sheldon! 

Which way do we go??

These guys were singing a song from Serenity...very Rennasiance?

Oh Shawn!

My princess hat...can I get it??

The "Birds of Prey" show was really cool!  The show started with a hawk.  He was very well behaved...followed all the instructions and flew all around the crowd.  We were warned to keep turkey legs well hidden from him ;)

 The owl, Artemis, was the coolest!  He had huge claws and legs, not skinny and scrawny like the other birds.  When he flew it was absolutely silent...except that he wouldn't stop "talking."  He looked so intense as we was flying right toward us!  His wing brushed my head!

The vulture, Igor, was hilarious!  He did not want to follow directions and kept walking around the audience looking for scraps of food.

Cool suit of armor.

The jousting competition was pretty cool too.  It was a real competition, not acting.  These two guys were part of an ongoing competition.  One of them was Canadien and the other was from New Jersey or something like that.  It was neat to watch...even though no one got hurt :(



We had a really good time.  Shawn was not allowed to buy a sword...although he tried!  I did get my turkey leg (yummy), we bought a really cool wooden mug (I will take a picture when we use it), and we both got sunburns (yes, it was almost 80 degrees today!).

Odds and Ends

I realize I haven't posted anything in awhile, but I've been busy...well not really busy but occupied.  My recovery took a bit longer than expected, but I'm doing great now!  I feel good and that is always good!

Shawn and I picked up Logan from daycare the other and we had such a great day!  We always do when we have Logan :)  We took him to the park then came home and Uncle Shawn blew bubbles on the porch.  Logan has recently become fascinated with bubbles.

Of course Logan needed some time with his best friend, Marcie.  They played and looked out the window together.  So sweet.

And it certainly would not be a good day for Logan if he didn't get to watch Dinosaur Train while playing with his favorite trains.

The weather has been so nice the past few days (80 degrees!) Marcie has been hanging out of the porch again...her favorite place!  Thank goodness for the doggie door!

I got this "cactus" type plant at the Farmers Market over the summer and is has always been fairly small.  Then, when the weather got cold I brought in my other plants but left this one outside.  Apparently, I have a cactus that likes the cold.  It has flourished!  It has been getting huge and then last week it sprouted some little yellow flowers!  I didn't know it would do that!  I love it!  My other plants are doing well inside...I guess I have more of a green thumb than I thought!