September Photo Dump

I don't know how we are to the end of September. As you may have guessed by the lack of blog posts, LIFE HAS BEEN CRAZY! However, I am managing to get my September photo dump up. I am hoping to be back in the swing now. We'll see. Hopefully I can get some things up and going here soon. It was indeed a great month!

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

This one goes down in the books as a Pinterest SUCCESS! Seriously. I found THIS pin on pinterest and decided to give them a whirl. Several things I learned, make the cinnamon goo a little thicker than you anticipate, so that it isn't so runny when it comes out of the sandwich bag. I just made my standard pancake mix (from a box) and then used her cinnamon mix:

1. 1/2 cup butter, melted
2. 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3. 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
5. Cream Cheese Glaze:
6. 4 Tablespoons butter
7. 2 ounces cream cheese
8. 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
9. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

SOOOO YUMMY - This one is going in the books as a Pinterest Success!

Fabric Letters

It seems my friends have moved past the stage of getting married (or at least the bulk of them are) and we are now entering the baby stage. Life with friends definitely goes in stages. My group of friends, cousins, and what not are now populating the earth one (occassionally 2) baby at a time (I really do think this is wonderful). HOWEVER, my budget does not, I love giving gifts and baby gifts are simply irresistible. I do love to give clothes but after attending what feels like my 100th baby shower I realize babies get a ton of clothes, most of which they will wear for a couple weeks and then they have out grown it. Not to forget that some of those baby clothes are ridiculously expensive. Soooooo in order to help save our budget and to use of some scraps in my house I make all sorts of baby gifts such as: pacifier clips, baby headbands, baby hats (I love crocheting baby hats), appliqued onesie, and burp clohthes and a few other things here and there. Well somewhere while perusing on ETSY or on Pinterest, I honestly can't remember I came across a baby gift of fabric letters and numbers and I thought "how brilliant, those would be fun for young children to play with, they don't require batteries, they could help teach colors, letters, and numbers, and use up supplies I have in my house." So this past weekend I set out to try to figure out how to make fabric numbers and letters.

Here is how I did it:

1. print out A through Z and 0 through 9 in Arial Black font at size 600


2. cut the letters and numbers out of the paper


3. trace the letters and numbers BACKWARDS on the wrong side of the material (I used a fun chevron cotton print that I had around my house for the front sides)


4. cut the letters and numbers out of the cotton [I used pinking shears to help minimize fraying]


5. pin the letters and numbers on top of quilt batting (I used a low loft quilt batting that I had sitting around from a quilt I made that was a strange size leaving me quilt batting sitting around) and some felt (I made all the backs the same color, blue, so that they would look like a set and so that the kid would know that the blue side went towards the back and could figure out when they were facing the wrong direction.) [Also I thought the felt was a fun texture.]


6. sew the letters and numbers onto the quilt batting and felt [make sure the patterned fabric is now facing right side up]


7. cut the letters and numbers out again [once again using pinking shears - it makes fun edges and will help prevent fraying]

*All of my fabric had been washed before I sewed with them so I don't have to worry if they get washed the fabric will shrink and look goofy*

Do you make your own baby gifts?

What do you like to give as baby gifts?

Reality of this weekend

This was the original list of things I had hoped to get done - the type in red is what actually happened. All things considered I am fairly impressed I got as much done as I did. I did also have a house showing Saturday and met with a family regarding the funeral I did today.

• Laundry - DONE
• lights - DONE
• darks - DONE
• sheets - DONE
• towels - DONE
• rugs - DONE
• deep clean the bathroom- DONE
• bleach everything down - DONE
• vinegar the tub (we have a jetted tub which we rarely actually take advantage of but they said to run a vinegar solution through the tub every so often to clean it out) - DONE
• deep clean the living room- DONE
• can you say doggy hair palooza - DONE
• write some snail mail - Didn't get to this sadly
• I have four snail mail letters I am hoping to write
• I LOVE sending snail mail
• Baby Gifts
• Apparently after the countless weddings I have attending in the past several years my friends are now moving onto babies rather than weddings
• and I like to make baby gifts
• I am hoping to make some:
• pacifier clips - got two made
• headbands -I didn't get to it
• hats - I made two baby hats
• fabric alphabet - DONE - this took longer than I anticipated but LOVE how they turned out in the end 
• appliqued onesies
• Make freezer food - Didn't get to any of this - stink!
• I want to freeze a couple batches of cookies just to have on hand for potlucks and other such things or when guests show up unexpectedly
• I want to make some freezer burritos for quick meal options
• I want to freeze up a couple of loaves of bread as well
• banana, pumpkin, and who knows what else
• shutterfly
• finish Summer Ministries - DONE
• catch up on 2013 - I am caught up through June so now to do July and August (I am WAY pokey when it comes to shutterfly - it takes me forever)
• start my wedding album - It is started - it isn't very far along but it is started - picking out the theme took a while as well - I also had to upload a bunch of pictures which I got done
• Run errands around town
• deposit my paycheck - DONE
• pay bills - DONE
• pick up my wedding dress from the cleaners (which has been done for a couple weeks but I keep forgetting) - DONE
• return some random things to Menards - DONE
• parts of projects we bought too much of or didn't need
• Watch movies while cleaning and doing projects
• I have Anna Karenina coming on netflix - DONE
• I am borrowing Les Mes from a friend - didn't get the movie from a friend - this is still on the list
• and I plan on going to the library Friday while I am out and about just to make sure I don't want something else too - I didn't get a movie I got a couple of books instead
• I also have netflix live streaming (I love this feature) -  I just discovered "Orange is the New Black" LOVE IT! Totally recommend this show
• I also am planning on going on a couple of good runs and getting a swim in - I was only able to get one run in due to it being monsoon season here apparently - I did also get in two super long swims

I am calling this weekend a success for sure! I love having introverted days where I can just cross stuff off a list and get it done! I did also have a camping trip with thirty or so people from my congregation. We had such a marvelous time despite the ridiculously HOT weather.

How was your weekend? 

What did you do this weekend?

Three Months as a Mrs.

The Wonderful Things:

• This month has been wonderful because I have actually been home for most of it! While away we have learned the joys of communication and doing our best but it just isn't the same as being home - not to forget when I was in SD for one trip I didn't even have cell service
• Dakota is over the top in love with having the two of us in the house - double the people to pet her and to let her roam wherever she wants - she has Marc trained to share his food at lunch and dinner
• Summer is WONDERFUL - we have been loving camping, swimming, biking, and running outside - our goal is to be outside as much as possible

The Things No One Warns You About:

• the process of changing your name still sucks - I know it just takes time but I had no clue how much stuff my name was on
• every once in a while when I am caught off guard and go to introduce myself I still use my maiden name out of habit
• scheduling things is hard with two people - we have two schedules to blend together - some days it flows easily and other days it makes me want to scream
• I am not in love with the process of selling our house - however I totally look forward to a new house

The Miscellaneous Things:

• selling your house is stressful (yes, I know everyone already knows this I am just reconfirming it)
• it always has to be clean
• you always wonder if it is going to sell (which my luck it won't sell until next spring)
• you always are eyeing houses online thinking that it would be fun to see and potentially live in
• it's annoying to have to be out of your house for periods of time
• I am getting more and more jazzed for Wicked (Oct. 5) - should be a wonderful weekend
• we dropped cable tv and we have netflix - we LOVE IT - we watch way less tv and when we do there are PLENTY of tv shows on netflix
• we love that we don't have to watch commercials
• we love that we get to watch movies without having to go to the movie place and rent them or hope that the redbox has what we want
• we love that we can watch part of a movie or tv show on instant streaming and if we don't finish it netflix saves where we are in the movie and will restart it at that point
• we also love that it gives us suggestions based off of other things that we have watched - we have found many a good movie off of netflix suggestions that we otherwise wouldn't have watched

Wine and Dine Training

This week has been a marvelous week of training and the weather has really cooperated! Makes a huge difference in terms of my runs (or so it feels when I am not over the top hot). I am contemplating adding some strength training into my workouts/adding them at another point in the day a couple days a week. I also would love to move to five days of running a week, but my knees argue otherwise and remind me that running 5 days a week isn't an option.

These August and September days I am relishing in the glory of being outside, I know these days are numbered for sure, fingers crossed we don't get snow until at least mid-October. (Oh the joys of living up north)

August 30: 65 minute run
                 35 minute bike ride
August 31: rest
September 1: 45 minute swim
September 2: Long run - 12 miles
September 3: 60 minute swim
September 4: 45 minute run
September 5: 75 minute run



Do you do strength training?
How many days a week do you run?
What are your favorite types of cross training?

This Weekend

I just realized that this weekend is my introverted heaven.

Marc and I have had a couple of house guests living with us for the past three weeks, which has been marvelous for sure and without a doubt, however it does take some getting used to having two more adults living in our house. This weekend they are out of town for one reason or another and Marc is off to Madison, Wisconsin to volunteer and watch the IronMan race (which I am semi jealous that I don't get to go watch) - which leaves me home alone from Friday around noon till late Sunday night!!!! INTROVERTED HEAVEN.

Now, don't hear me wrong I don't totally have a free weekend, Friday night I do have a camp out with a bunch of church families and Sunday morning is booked full with church stuff, but Saturday from when I leave the camp out until Sunday when I show up to work - unless there is some type of an emergency - I wouldn't have to see another human being unless I wanted to.

I have begun a list of the things I hope to do:

• Laundry
• lights
• darks
• sheets
• towels
• rugs
• deep clean the bathroom
• bleach everything down
• vinegar the tub (we have a jetted tub which we rarely actually take advantage of but they said to run a vinegar solution through the tub every so often to clean it out)
• deep clean the living room
• can you say doggy hair palooza
• write some snail mail
• I have four snail mail letters I am hoping to write
• I LOVE sending snail mail
• Baby Gifts
• Apparently after the countless weddings I have attending in the past several years my friends are now moving onto babies rather than weddings
• and I like to make baby gifts
• I am hoping to make some:
• pacifier clips
• headbands
• hats
• fabric alphabet
• appliqued onesies
• Make freezer food
• I want to freeze a couple batches of cookies just to have on hand for potlucks and other such things or when guests show up unexpectedly
• I want to make some freezer burritos for quick meal options
• I want to freeze up a couple of loaves of bread as well
• banana, pumpkin, and who knows what else
• shutterfly
• finish Summer Ministries
• catch up on 2013
• start my wedding album
• Run errands around town
• deposit my paycheck
• pay bills
• pick up my wedding dress from the cleaners (which has been done for a couple weeks but I keep forgetting)
• return some random things to Menards
• parts of projects we bought too much of or didn't need
• Watch movies while cleaning and doing projects
• I have Anna Karenina coming on netflix
• I am borrowing Les Mes from a friend
• and I plan on going to the library Friday while I am out and about just to make sure I don't want something else too
• I also have netflix live streaming (I love this feature)
• I also am planning on going on a couple of good runs and getting a swim in

I realize this is a long list and some of it won't get accomplished, however it is my goal to see how much I can get done.

IT WILL BE AN AMAZING INTROVERTED WEEKEND!

What are you up to this weekend?

What are in your plans?

Do you like weekends to yourself or dread them?

Boundary Waters Canoe Area

This past week a few friends and I along with our favorite toddler, took a four day trip up to the BWCA, this is an annual end of the summer trip for most of us. We spent our days: paddling, napping, swimming, portaging canoes, taking ridiculous pictures, jumping off rocks, and eating. It was a GLORIOUS four days. I seriously recommend EVERYONE put the BWCA on their vacation to do list. It is GORGEOUS and we ALWAYS have such a marvelous time. We went up to our favorite lake, Rose, and despite the mosquitos that were out in full force for who knows what reason, I would go back in a heartbeat. 

Have you ever been to the BWCA?

Do you have any favorite routes up there?

What is your favorite food on trail? (Mine was the Thai Peanut Noodles we had one night)

What are your opinions on canoeing?