Starrs Town

Changing table re-do

2014-08-26T16:11:00.000-07:00

Hurray!!!

I've been without a computer for almost a month and have been working on so many projects!!

I'm excited to finally start blogging about them..

First up...

Spruce up that changing table!

Sunny day for this Tardis-Blue changing table

This is still a work on progress as the changing pad needs a new cover and the baskets that go beneath need a fresh coat of paint

but

I still wanted to show you anyway...

This was a fun one. I'll share the process.

First,
I'd like to give a big thank you to my friend, Jessica, who gave me this changing table. It sat in her garage for lots of days, maybe even years, with the hope of a project to complete. When she moved a state away (still bitter about that one...) she gave it to me! Awesome-ness! I had a changing table with Mr. Sunshine but didn't with the little Birdie and let me tell you, although it is not a necessity, I l-o-v-e, loooove having a changing table. I'm so very excited to have one for baby #3!

Here it is...

She had started sanding it but hadn't gotten far. So that was step one. Sand that puppy.

(ps-some people choose not to sand. It never works out for me. Do as you like!)

That's me. Sanding.

Announcement:

If you plan to re-do/fashion/furbish/etc. any sort of furniture,

Buy an electric sander.

The end.

Question: "What do your kids do while you work on stuff?"
Answer...

Look!!

Sanded

After you sand, use a clean cloth to wipe all the dust away.

At this point, I got so excited and didn't take anymore pictures...

Oh brother

So,

Pick your paint color, I recommend getting a paint+primer, I only needed a little can.

Two coats of paint.

Let it dry.

Pick a varnish/clear coat that matches your style (matte, glossy, semi).

Apply two clean coats.

Honestly, I always just talk to whoever is working the counter at whichever hardware store I happen to be at. I ask all kinds of questions and bug 'em until I feel satisfied and confident. I have done lots of furniture projects but seem to do it a little different every time.

Tada!

Unintentional Prom Hair

2014-07-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

So having longish hair and all like I do,

I try to avoid washing it daily

But...

My hair gets really dirty looking after less than 24 hours..

Ponytails get boring so I try to spice it up.

This morning I started hair-pinning and twisting away and ended up looking like I was headed to prom.

Whoops...

inspiration...

Yep. Prom hair.

PS- It's really hard to get a picture of the back of my head. I took the following in the bathroom at the library.

So tacky, right?

I was like, soooo over dressed for the preschool story time at our local library.

HAH!

All I was missing was my wrist corsage...

The Sun!! It Burns Us!

2014-07-12T17:48:00.000-07:00

Long post ahead to include:

Pregnancy stories

Belly shots

Two, count 'em, TWO projects

All kinds of sarcastic wit from yours truly *wink*

Hiss!

This is the sound of the light of day touching my skin as I finally emerge from the cave of the first half of my pregnancy.

Me eyes!!

(picture I took after running into the Misters coworkers...because without fail I always look like a scrub when I see people like that. I only have make-up on one eye...A mess I am!

Yeah, remember this?

Baby #3 is currently cooking in my oven (25weeks5days) and I am loving it.

Well, loving that I have finally started feeling better the past couple weeks.

Side note: Wanna hear a funny story?
How I knew I was pregnant...Ahem!

Back in February, the Mister had two months of training to complete up in Montana. The kids and I drove him up there and dropped him off at the smallest tiny-teenie base I ever saw. I was sad to leave him but that's the life of this military wife, my friends. Anyhoo, on the way home the kids and I blasted the "Frozen" soundtrack for the majority of the hours home, singing our hearts out. Whenever this song came on.....

...I was a sobbing mess, like tears dripping off my chin. I have lots of sisters and the sister love in this movie just gets to me every.single.time..
So I was sitting there, crying, and I thought to myself, okay these songs are good... but they aren't this good.
I was due to start my cycle that day but after a year of disappointing pregnancy tests I had told myself to just wait a week to test.
But when we got home I gave in and boom.
Positive.
Saweet!
Then I had to be the "married-single-mom-military-wife" for the next two months.
We watched a lot of Netflix and ate a lot of crap food. And I don't even care if you judge.

This pregnancy has been my hardest. Super odd how that happens. With Sunshine and Birdie I felt better around 12 or 13 weeks. This baby took me all the way to 20weeks of feeling consistently terrible and then slowly got better up until now.

So without further ado.... please bask in the vast glory that is my baby belly.
Pictures taken at 25weeks3days

But first...
Please witness what I wear on a daily basis...
Leggings and over sized t-shirts
And yes that is a mix of Doctor Who and Peter Pan, two fandoms of which I support an addiction.
Tink is the light on the Tardis...
"So that's how it flies!"

It was sunny. My faces are ridiculous...

Okay, up first, the more flattering quarter-turn angle...

Birdie was all...Wha???

All right, here comes the big one

You know those little pregnant mamas who just stay so cute and tiny and adorably cute?
I am not one of them

In other big news (get the pun?) nesting is in full swing at my house. Been working on some fun things.
Take a look!

Before...

During...

Sand that baby down!

Slap on the paint...

After...

Oh yummy! I just love this little dresser so stinking much! I got it for free from a friend and I'm letting my kiddos share it...even thought I love it so much I considered just keeping it in my kitchen so I could look at it all the time.
Hah!

And look!
I finally finished our little birdie-girl's quilt.
Thanks to my tall neighbor for holding this up for me!
Quilt stats-
13 fat quarters making...
20-8.5x8.5 squares
12-8.5x16.5 rectangles
1-16.5x16.5 square
Riley Blake fabrics (love that stuff!)

Front...

Back...

My new favorite thing to do is have a little peek-a-boo on the back of all the fabrics used for the front.

And that purple binding is just heaven to me.

This quilt also ended up with some awesome stippling.

Loving it...

Yummy stippling texture...

The angle of the sun really makes the texture stick out.

I kept rubbing my hands on it, I couldn't help it!

More stippling texture...

That's all for now my friends!

I have lots of projects in the works and am excited to share them with you!

Thanks for reading

Spilling over

2014-04-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

Heehee

:-)

Quilts for Kids

2014-01-25T13:03:00.002-08:00

I first heard of

Quilts for Kids

on one of my favorite blogs

Makeit-Loveit

And decided to try my hand at it.

It's a great organization that gives kids in hospitals quilts as a extra snuggle to help them feel better.

You request a kit

they send it

you follow the directions

Quilt it up

Mail it back

Boom.

You pay for the batting and the price to ship it back

Totally worth it!

This is the quilt...

They even have a cute little label so you can name it.

How fun is that?

Do you notice how much thread I had left after quilting?

Seriously, it was a close finish!

I reccommend it!

Especially if you have been feeling a hankering for charity work.

But make sure you have some spare time to do it.

They like you to have it done 6-8 weeks after receiving it.

It took me quite a bit longer.

Woops.

Anyway, just spreading the word! A great charity to donate time and supplies to!

Toddler Ties For Sale! Take 2

2014-01-16T16:33:00.001-08:00

Hey remember this?

That time I announced I was ready to sell ties?

Well I finally did it! And I am very excited

Visit my shop and have a look

https://www.etsy.com/shop/StarrsTownShop

I am new to Etsy so I also need lots of tips.

Seriously...

Help a girl out!

P.S. Ever bought/received a neck tie from me in the past and want to adjust the length??

Untie it, iron it, and re-tie it...

My Amateur Attempt at a Princess Castle Cake

2014-01-16T13:20:00.001-08:00

First of all...

Happy Birthday to the Bird!!

a couple weeks late...

It's hard to have a birthday so close to Christmas.

And then we all got the full blown 8day flu over New Years.

So the Bird had a small little party with some family friends.

I wanted to try my hand at a castle cake and share the experience with you

I apologize for the pictures everyone... I used my phone and usually had sticking fingers so it got a little rough now and then. Woops!

The cake was a lot simpler than I thought.

Would you like to learn how to make one too??

Supplies needed

1-Baked 9x13 cake

2-Baked 9inch round cakes

Board for the cake to live on (I used a cutting board wrapped in foil)

3-tubs of frosting

food coloring

10 total, 5 each-ice cream cones, the two different shapes of sugar (know what I mean?)

1-tube of gooey blue gel stuff

1-tube of gooey black gel stuff

packages of cake decorations and sprinkles

Some goldfish

Square shaped cereal

Toy princesses for the cake

Step One:

Bake the cakes in advance because some times things like this happen...

Craps.... Am I right?

Bake those cakes up and let them cook. Wrap them in plastic wrap and you can freeze them for like a week or so. Mine was just a day in advance of decoration day so I left them wrapped on the counter.

Blurry...Sorry about it!

Step two:

Crumb coat aka dirty icing aka first coat aka ETC.

Place the 9x13 on the board and cover with a thin layer of frosting

Here is a tip!!!

When frosting you will notice the spatula will have lots of crumbs like this...

Yuck...

Don't put that spatula back in the main source of frosting!!

Wipe it off on a paper towel...

And use a clean spatula to get more frosting!

Good work

Okay add the first round and add the crumb coat

Now the second...

Put it in the fridge so the frosting gets dry

While that sets...

Step three:

The turrets

This is actually really simple and is all over Pinterest.

Take one of these cones...

Add frosting and sprinkles

(think glue and glitter from when you were a kid)

Now grab one of these types of cones

(ignore the frosted cake in the background. I did a different order but I think this way will work better)

Add some frosting

Place the sprinkled cone on top

Add a small strip on frosting around the edge

Place sugar pearls (or whatever they are called)

Okay place those carefully aside where they won't get tipped over. They are sort of top heavy

Step four:

Frost and decorate the cake

Get the cake out of the fridge and start adding the frosting

Sweet. Cut out the corners...

Add a glob of frosting..

Place a turret...

Repeat for all the corners and add whatever sugar crusted accessories desired

Boom!

Add a door using the cereal and black gel (fancy, right?)

Using a damp paper towel, wipe off the foil so it is clean and nice.

Spread some of the blue gel and add fishy crackers for the moat

Place the Princesses.

Why are these girls standing in the moat?

I don't know.

But Sunshine asked me about a dozen times.

I still don't have the answer....

And don't worry, the Bird and I gave these girls a hot soapy bath and rinse before adding them to the cake

Happy little Birdie for sure!

She loved it!

Now, someone else make this cake and do a better job than me.

Go!

view.love.pin.share

starrstown

10 Things I'm Learning About Death and Grief.

2014-01-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

"Grief" Self-portrait by Michelle Starrs assisted by Joseph Starrs
December 5th 2013

Almost 8 weeks ago my Dad passed away.

This explains my absence from blogging.

After years of a mysterious illness, best described as a mix between

Corticobasal Degeneration

Posterior Cortical Atrophy

Parkinson's

Early-onset Alzheimer's

And eventually labeled as a "Unique Case"...

My dad passed away on November 11th 2013

After years of maintaining and surviving one new symptom after another with the help of my selfless mom, my dad went from shuffling, chuckling and enjoying life, to death, in a matter of days.

Hospice was in my parents' home for a week. My dad was in a hospital bed for less than that.

I always knew he would die. I never expected it to be so soon or so quickly. I didn't know what to expect, no one did really.

I had the honor of being with my parents and helping with his care the last 5 days of my dad's life and the week following. Together with the help of dozens I was able to plan his funeral. I learned a lot and expect the learning to continue.

I want to share some of those things with all of you.

#1-Help or Hurl
I learned this one quick. The first night I was at my parents was pretty shocking. My mom and I were up all night trying to calm him. He was supposed to be sedated but was still very restless with a burning fever. My mom suggested I take a turn to get some rest, but I soon found that if I wasn't actively helping, the room would start to spin and I would be choking back vomit.
After he passed away, I didn't stop helping for longer than a few hours to get some sleep or a quick shower, during which I gagged and dry heaved. I was blessed to be in a situation that my husband and friends back home were able to hold down the fort. My siblings had to go back to their homes to gather their families before the funeral. Each sibling was so helpful, sending pictures, coordinating presentations and doing more behind the scenes work than I probably even know about. The efforts put forth by Uncles and Aunts and cousins and friends and co-workers and beyond was the only way anything was able to happen.

#2- I was Prepared

God knows me personally and loves me. The past few years have been sort of frustrating sometimes. The timing of things has not been how I wanted. I am a planner, big time, but everything I have wanted to happen on my schedule just hasn't. I was expecting to graduate a semester sooner, the Mister was supposed to start graduate school a few months ago, I was supposed to have had another baby by now, I didn't even expect us to still live in the same town we have ended up living. All the military changes and training that the Mister has been subject to has always been an unknown. But I see now that I was being led down a path of life that allowed me to be with my family as my dad passed away. Every day more things come to light, testifying of my Heavenly Father, my God, who knows best how to console my heart.

#3-Social Media is a Good Thing

I know some people are big-time TMIers on Facebook and I have rolled my eyes more than 100 times while scrolling through the newsfeed, but Facebook was a wonderful tool during the week preceding my dad's funeral. Information was able to be shared all over the world and people who wouldn't have heard about his passing were able to attend. But what surprised me the most was how helpful the comments, messages and even "likes" were to me. I always thought it would be disingenuous of me to reach out to someone I haven't talked to in years during their time of stress or grief. I was wrong. It didn't feel that way to me at all. I was overwhelmed with the response to my few posts on Facebook. At night when I can't fall asleep, even still, I read the messages and comments and scroll through and read the names of the "likes". It actually really really helps. The weeks following my dad's funeral I was trying to catch up and graduate and asked for encouragement on Facebook more than once. My friends delivered and I love you all for it.

#4-Death is Expensive and Meticulous

I won't go into specifics but the figures and dollar signs and zeros and paperwork and signatures and phone calls and on and on and on seriously gave me a simultaneous head ache and anxiety attack. For the sake of your loved ones, have as much done as you can. My parents did a great job with lots of preparation and it was still really taxing (hah...no pun intended...)
Have a plan and have insurance.

#5-It's Okay that I Lost My Cool Once

I made so many phone calls those 12ish days I was home. When I first arrived and my dad was alive but his condition was really bad, my mom asked me to call all his different doctors and update them. Happy to do it, mom. This was on a Friday I made all the calls. One place didn't get back to be until after he had died. We had already spoken to that doctor, directly, about some other issues, but one of the nurses was calling me back from the message I had left several days earlier. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Hello?

Nurse: Hi this is so and so and from doctor blah-blah and we're just returning your call. It says here that your dad isn't doing too well?

Me: Actually he passed away.

Nurse: (Gasp!) Oh my gosh! What happeeeeened????? (imagine the tone of a total airhead idiot and she stretched the syllable)

Me:....um, he died. (my tone here was suggestive of her complete incompetence at the English language and serious lack of tact) And our attorney has already been talking directly to doctor blah-blah so if you want any more details you are going to have to talk to doctor blah-blah. (this was said with a pretty superior tone, if not somewhat threatening)

Click

I hung up and was super pissed.

This leads nicely to my next point

#6-Any Feeling or Action is Acceptable

Crying? Laughing? Pissed off? Sad? Dancing? Remembering you need to buy some milk? Wailing?

Check, check, checkity-check, check, check.

Yep.

During the planning of the funeral I stayed so busy and only allowed myself to feel the grief while I was in the shower and while I was alone in bed at night. At the end of a meeting with my parent's attorney and also longtime friend, he kindly pulled me aside and let me know how impressed he was with my efforts, but to be aware and careful of the crash that was coming once things calmed down. So very considerate of him to say to me. And also very insightful.

When I got home I realized I had been running away from feeling grief for very long because I was very very afraid of it. I have clinical depression and anxiety, but for the past year I have had it under reasonably good control. I was afraid that feeling grief would send me into another episode and I just didn't want that to happen.

After just a few days home I decided a trip to my therapist was in order. I have gone to counseling off and on for two years and have found it beyond helpful. During this visit we discussed at length the difference between grief and depression, specifically to me. Anything I feel is fine, unless any of the triggers we discussed during therapy manifest. Grief comes in waves and the best thing to do is let it wash over me and ride it out.

Most of the time I am OKAY until suddenly I am just NOT OKAY and whatever blubbering comes out of me... I just have to let it happen. Like the other day I ran into a friend who had lost a loved one and we were both Christmas shopping on our own and I practically bumped into her before I saw her. I hadn't seen her since my dad had passed away and it just set me off. There I was, in the middle of a book store trying to quiet my hysterics because I knew people were looking at me. It was kind of terrible but also really healing at the same time. I guess that is what grief is.

#7-Viewings are Weird

I know, terribly insensitive of me but the whole thing was weird. As I stood in what felt like a reception line with my siblings and our spouses and my mom, like some parallel universe reception, I hugged and comforted dozens of crying faces who streamed into the room and introduced myself to people who didn't know me or hadn't seen me since I was a little kid, my face molded into a greeting, attempting a convincing facade. Only one visitor outside of my family brought any comfort to me.

But I accept that it is a tradition, however odd. My dad didn't look like himself at all and I felt no connection to his body at all. I did love the display of his personal items and memorabilia around the room. My dad lived such a varied life. It's really wonderful to me.

#8-Children are Insightful But it's Still Hard

Sunshine was 4 1/2 and the Bird almost 3. We told them that Grandpa Dan had died, that he lives with Heavenly Father, and we miss him and we are sad but we know we will see him again. Sunshine was so tender, like he always is, that sweet boy. He cried and wanted to call me on the phone right then. We cried on the phone together and he told me he missed Grandpa Dan and he was so sad. Something that didn't cross my mind was to talk to the kids about Grandpa's body.

The Bird said, "Grandpa is asleep in a box?"

And at the cemetery, Sunshine said, "We're putting the box in the ground...to grow a Grandpa tree?" They still ask me questions about it.

#9-Friends are Angels

Not only did my friends take meals to my family while I was gone, they did and still do so much more. After the Mister and the kids joined me for the funeral, my friends cleaned my entire house. Like scrubbed and did laundry and dishes and toilets and more than I like to admit. The house was a wreck, big time, especially since things had been so busy for our family the past couple weeks. When we returned late at night after so much stress and travel and just completely drained... our house was spotless, dinner in the fridge and a beautiful floral arrangement. Like seriously stunning. I started crying and couldn't stop.

Since then I have had basically non-stop kindness from my community and church and my friends.

#10-God Continues to Guide

Yes, I was prepared for this experience. But God has remained by my side. I feel his influence and love, as well as the saving power of the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, who atoned for my sins and pains. My life has been a charmed one that allows me so much happiness and grace.

I still have a long road ahead of me. I still wake up, and have to remember all over again that he is actually gone. I still cry and laugh and feel so deeply the life around me, that the emotions of that day can extend to the fullest capacity in my heart for the rest of my days. He will always have just died. I love my dad and miss him always.

Thanks for listening to part of my journey.

Love From StarrsTown

Day #7- "All the Better to See You With My Dear..."

2013-11-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for my

Eyes

These orbs are amazing little things.

And I am so glad they work and help me create memories

My Dad has green eyes and my Mom has blue

I have the happy combination of the two

It reminds me of the different characteristics I see mirrored in myself from my lovely parents.

Sometimes I am more like my Mom and other times more like my Dad.

Regardless I am so happy for the things I see.

Family, friends, good, bad... I'm so thankful these lenses work

Day #6 Sibs

2013-11-06T13:50:00.001-08:00

Sibling Love

Andy

Amy

Annie

Juli

Christy

Michelle

Day #5- Education

2013-11-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

School

I am so thankful I get to go to school

and I graduate in December!!

Day #4: Parents...

2013-11-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

...Mine specifically

I love this picture.

It's a little old and I am suuuuuper fat in it

(35 weeks pregnant with the Bird... don't judge my pregnant-face too harshly!)

My parents are the most fantabulistic people on this here planet Earth.

And I love them so much.

They show me what love and work really mean

Especially the amazing results you get when both are combined.

Day 3: Faith

2013-11-03T18:11:00.001-08:00

Thankful November Continues...

the rest of the month

I am thankful for my Faith

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I am a Christian. A believer and follower of Christ.

I love Jesus Christ and work daily to increase my understanding and relationship with Him. I love the Savior and know He suffered and died for me, allowing me to be saved through the Atonement. Jesus knows me and my fears and my struggles and my happiness.

My favorite quote about the Atonement:

(it is long but worth the time to read)

"Well, my dear sisters, the gospel is the good news that can free us from guilt. We know that Jesus experienced the totality of mortal existence in Gethsemane. It's our faith that he experienced everything- absolutely everything. Sometimes we don't think through the implications of that belief. We talk in great generalities about the sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family. But we don't experience pain in generalities. We experience it individually. That means he knows what it felt like when your mother died of cancer- how it was for your mother, how it still is for you. He knows what it felt like to lose the student body election. He knows that moment when the brakes locked and the car started to skid. He experienced the slave ship sailing from Ghana toward Virginia. He experienced the gas chambers at Dachau. He experienced Napalm in Vietnam. He knows about drug addiction and alcoholism.
Let me go further. There is nothing you have experienced as a woman that he does not also know and recognize. On a profound level, he understands the hunger to hold your baby that sustains you through pregnancy. He understands both the physical pain of giving birth and the immense joy. He knows about PMS and cramps and menopause. He understands about rape and infertility and abortion. His last recorded words to his disciples were, "And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20) He understands your mother-pain when your five-year-old leaves for kindergarten, when a bully picks on your fifth-grader, when your daughter calls to say that the new baby has Down syndrome. He knows your mother-rage when a trusted babysitter sexually abuses your two-year-old, when someone gives your thirteen-year-old drugs, when someone seduces your seventeen-year-old. He knows the pain you live with when you come home to a quiet apartment where the only children are visitors, when you hear that your former husband and his new wife were sealed in the temple last week, when your fiftieth wedding anniversary rolls around and your husband has been dead for two years. He knows all that. He's been there. He's been lower than all that. He's not waiting for us to be perfect. Perfect people don't need a Savior. He came to save his people in their imperfections. He is the Lord of the living, and the living make mistakes. He's not embarrassed by us, angry at us, or shocked. He wants us in our brokenness, in our unhappiness, in our guilt and our grief.
You know that people who live above a certain latitude and experience very long winter nights can become depressed and even suicidal, because something in our bodies requires whole spectrum light for a certain number of hours a day. Our spiritual requirement for light is just as desperate and as deep as our physical need for light. Jesus is the light of the world. We know that this world is a dark place sometimes, but we need not walk in darkness. The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and the people who walk in darkness can have a bright companion. We need him, and He is ready to come to us, if we'll open the door and let him."

Chieko N. Okazaki, Lighten Up, Preface, p. 174

My Heavenly Father has a plan for me.

Through His son, Jesus Christ, I will be able to reach that potential.

One of my favorite documents from the LDS church is the

"The Family: A Proclamation to the World"

I have found so many answers in this short, one paged document.

I have learned who I am, where I am going and how God wants me to get there.

"All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."

The Holy Ghost can be my constant companion:
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
John 14:26

I am never perfect.

At the end of each day I go to bed knowing I could have done better, I could have done more. But I know what matters is that God knows I am trying. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to wake up each morning and try again.

Two by Two

2013-11-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

November continues...

and so does my list

Click here for the rest of the list
ThankfulNovember

My children-

Sunshine and the Bird

Counting, One by One

2013-11-01T23:46:00.001-07:00

It's November

I am going to join the masses and document things I am thankful for this month.

Click here to read the rest of the month

ThankfulNovember

Day #1

the Mister

This guy is my number 1 and I love him, like a whole lot of lots.

Joey loves me

Joey loves our kids

and most importantly he loves Jesus

I'm so blessed to share my life together with Joey

I love him.

"You're My Everything"

2013-10-15T22:27:00.000-07:00

We celebrated

SIX years

as a married couple this past weekend.

Aw... Love :-)

I always think we looked "so hot right now" in the picture above.

That is more like it... We agreed on a certain spin move before.. which we both messed up on during the real thing. Oh brother...

And here we are the other night, celebrating our love

Don't judge... camera pictures...FUZZY!

It took me a long time to decide how to celebrate our lives together and show my appreciation. I have given the Mister all kinds of gifts but rarely feel like it really shows how I feel.

Then one day it hit me....

Six Pies for Six Years

the Mister basically passed out on the kitchen floor when he saw this.

Chocolate coconut cream-
This is was probably the easiest.

Nilla wafer crust

Instant chocolate pudding (from a box)

Coconut whipped cream via

Via

Oreo crust with homemade sweet cream ice cream

3c. heavy whipping cream

1c. whole milk

1c.sugar

Mix in bowl until dissolved.

Pour into ice cream maker and process according to your machine

the Mister loves pecans and pumpkin

I got this recipe out of the red plaid cook book, I think it's called Better Homes?

HAH!! Yeah right! I'm not giving this recipe up! This is my one secret recipe I don't share.

WAhahahah!

YUM!!! This one came from the red plaid cook book too.

Wondering how we will eat them before they go bad?

Pies freeze like a dream :-)

He plans to defrost them one at a time.

I just had a slice of the chocolate coconut cream and OOOoooh.

Heaven in a slice.

YUM!!!

How have you celebrated your anniversaries?

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved."

TMI Tuesday #36-"Picky Eater"

2013-10-15T20:42:00.001-07:00

TMI Tuesday: "Things kids say"-edition

It is a submit, ya'll!!

Love a good submit :)

Friend my good friend, Sarah

Take it away!!

So I have a TMI for ya.

I made the kids egg salad sandwiches for lunch because Journey loves them. Well Jaxon isn't such a big fan but that's what I made so that's what you eat. We all sat down at the table to eat and like most meals the protest began. Journey like always just ate and was a good girl but Jaxon needed some convincing. I gave him the normal this is good for you and will make you big and strong. He continued to protest so I informed him that because sissy is eating well she will be big and strong and you won't. Well this got him to take a few bites and he soon learned he liked it. After eating a little more he looks at me flexes he arm muscles and says

"Mommy, this is making my penis bigger!"

..... umm yeah....

I had to get up and walk away. The things kids say.

Thanks for the TMI Jaxon!

OH! MY! GOSH! I think every mom of sons can agree... this has happened to all of us!

Thanks again, Sarah!!

Don't forget my friends, I am always accepting TMI stories

Email, text, message on facebook, tell me in person, anything!

Just let me know if you want to remain anonymous or to change names etc.

TMI Tuesday #35- I used to be brave sometimes

2013-10-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

After I graduated from high school, I had some months before I went off to college

I needed a project

So my mom let me paint and redecorate

2 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms

Amazing right?

That was 7 years ago and she still has a few things left over.

This one bathroom cracks me up because I didn't even stencil this or use a pencil first

I just did it.

I wouldn't be able to do that anymore!

Oh the brave personality of an 18 year old!!

Here is a picture for you to enjoy.

Please laugh, I always do!!!

Spooky Halloween Dragon

2013-10-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

So... this is what my house looks like this year.

My neighbor, Besty and me, are having quite the spooky time getting our Halloween on.

BOO!

That is all.

The Bird as a Hockney

2013-09-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

I'm taking several photography classes this semester.

It is really challenging and rewarding.

Most people in my classes are already really good.

I am the type who is taking the class to learn something I don't already know.

It can be pretty discouraging because I feel really behind everyone else.

But, put that aside,

I am loving it!

I especially love these two photos by Hockney...
This one

This one

This is my most recent project.

A Hockney inspired piece.

(Click on the picture if you want a better view and better quality)

When a thousand words isn't enough.

What I love about my developing photography knowledge is that I am able to take pictures of things I love

and

it doesn't matter if anyone else likes it.

But I still wanted to share with all my friends and family who keep up with this blog.

I love you all.

Thanks for your support and views and comments and pins and likes.

(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

(the Mister says I use too many "!!!" and I totally agree so I am working in it...)

TMI Tuesday #34-"Whaaaa???"

2013-09-24T09:25:00.002-07:00

TMI Tuesday:

"What does that say???"-edition

Some months ago I was driving when I saw a car with a sticker that made no sense to me at first...

The reference was pretty obscure,

I think,

and did not merit an entire back window car sticker of its own.

I'd be interested in what you think:

"I drive like a Cullen"

(Sorry, poor quality)

"Whaaaaa???"-Me

It took me a looooong time to process what it meant

I was hardly able to capture this picture.

I've read Twilight.

Tried to like it.

Pretending to love it

(so I could participate when women at church and my sisters gushed about it)

But I have come to terms with it and am totally okay with saying the following:

"Twilight is laaaaaaaaaame"

(I won't even get into how terrible I think it is for young impressionable girls to read because I think the message it teaches is damaging)

And I am all about being a fanatic...

Have you seen my phone case?

Or my Pinterest board?

http://www.pinterest.com/starrsm/i-m-a-nerd-deal/

Fandoms I nurture:

Doctor Who

Harry Potter

Sherlock

LOTR

Disneyland

Phineas and Ferb (I know, it is Disney but deserves its own line)

Princesses

Anything Disney really

Psych

The IT Crowd (that is a new one!!)

HIMYM

Mad Men

Downton

Etc. Etc. Etc.

I am a book worm and a Netflix-Nerd and a DisneyDork

and a proud Twilight-despiser

Um...TMI???

Thrift Shop Refashion Tips: "The Sassy Purple Pencil" and "Mommy and Me Matching Skirts"

2013-09-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

And the snug bum of a pencil skirt????

LOVE IT!!

Every big booty girl out there needs a pencil skirt.

Needs one

And then....

I have been wrestling with how to present these because every project is so different when you are changing a...

Thrift Shop Ruffian

into a

Gem

So I decided instead of giving a tutorial I would share some of the criteria I follow when picking an item to be refashioned.

Pick a thrift shop of your choice.

Browse the aisles

Look for quality fabrics

Are there missing buttons?

Does the zipper work?

Are there any unforgivable stains?

Does this garment have potential?

If all the stars align and you find something good and the price is reasonable....

Snatch it up!

This skirt was $3 I think?

And the dress $2??

Happy Sewing!!!

TMI Tuesday #33- "Awkward!" (It's a reader submit!)

2013-09-17T13:50:00.001-07:00

A TMI story from out in the WILD

I LOVE IT!

"Hey Lady!!

I am so proud to announce that I have my very own TMI Tuesday that I want to submit! Here goes.....

On Saturday I went to Davids Bridal with my daughter Kenzie and my friend Becca because I needed not 1 but 2 bridesmaid dresses! SO the three of us cram into a dressing room and I start taking my pants off when all the sudden I hear a very timid/confused/scared voice coming from behind me....

Kenzie: Uhmmmmm Mommy?

Me: Yes Kenzie...what's up?

Kenzie: Uhmmm I think you need to like uhmmm ask Daddy if you can buy some new panties.

Me: (Confused) Why? Whats wrong with my panties?

Kenzie: Well it's just that they are uhmmmm I think a little bit too small....they are like in your BUTT CHEEKS!

Me: (Horrified...because I just realized that I am wearing a thong and how do you explain that to a four year old?) You know what baby...your right, I promise I will buy some panties that fit me very soon!

Becca: (Literally in the fetal position on the dressing room floor trying not to pee her pants or let my tiny human know that she is laughing)

Kenzie: Mommy it's just a big wedgie and I don't like wedgies!

AWKWARD!

LOVE

Kendra"

New scarf? DIY? $.75!!??! YES!

2013-09-12T08:32:00.001-07:00

YAY! I am really excited to show you this easy-peasey project that is...

SUPER CHEAP

and

SUPER FAST!

Ready????

Step 1:

Always, always, alwaysssss check the remnant bin at any and all locations that sell fabric. I picked this beauty up at Walmart for $.74. I love the print and fluid feel of this. It is 7/8 of a yard. I don't recommend going less than that. As it is, I can only loop the scarf once but it is still perfect.

Pictured below:

7/8yard remnant of some kind of flowy floaty fabric, perfect for a scarf of whimsy.

Step 2:

Pin the selvage edges together and throw in a seam.

(Selvage edge means the sides that are NOT fraying. They are the edges of the fabric that any words and/or copyrights will be printed.)

I think my seam was 3/8inch or something. It doesn't really matter.

My fabric was so slippery I decided to pin parallel to the edge. It held better. Generally I like to pin perpendicular but do whatever works for you.

At the end of this step you should have a tube of fabric.

Step 3:

Hem the raw edges! (Raw edges are the sides that are fraying.)

You can fold and press, fold and press, and then sew to hide the raw edges.

You can use a hemming foot on the sewing machine. That is my preferred method. This is a two-state process.

Stage 1: Feed the fabric into the twirly part of the foot

Stage 2: Continue to sew while feeding the raw edge into the twirl. This is creating a narrow-rolled hem.

See? It isn't perfect but those last few strays will disappear over time. No worries!

Now repeat on the other side and then......

IT IS COMPLETE!

YAY!!!

Thanks to Jessica for snapping these.

Jessica!

TMI Tuesday #32-"Bug Off"

2013-08-13T12:59:00.002-07:00

So the Mister is gone playing Army out in the Idaho desert somewhere.

And he sent me this text....

"I'm sitting on a porta-potty right now.

There are a bunch of flies at the bottom and they keep flying up and landing on my butt.

I can't like it."

Um.... TMI!!!