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Sunday, June 17, 2012

Commissioned canvas

Back when I was planning to decorate M's big girl room, I got some ideas for how to make a cheap version of the canvas painting that I really wanted. It was $30 in the store, but I created it for $2.50 and a few hours.  Then, I did another one, and then another one.  You can see the finished products here, here and here.

After a friend of mine found out that a friend of hers was expecting, she commissioned me to do another of the owl canvases.  I was excited but waited a while to start.  In the meantime, we discovered that her friend was having a boy (therefore, I couldn't use such the girly colors), AND that her nursery wasn't going to be owls (therefore, I couldn't use the same idea). So, I got to thinking, and we were sneaky, and got a peak at the nursery and bedding.  (I'll go ahead and apologize for the grainy quality of pics - although I love my iPhone and it's picture taking capabilities, it doesn't capture the full color of everything that I want you to see.) This is a picture of the focus of her nursery, the crib and decor...
Isn't this adorable?!  It's the Willow Organic bedding set with the deer and squirrels on it.  And she got the tree with flowers, birds, deer, etc off etsy.com I totally would do this for a boy nursery, no doubt!  And here is a little close up - I love the precious bambi like deer and the little orange birdies....

 So, I got to imagining what would look cute and how I could incorporate it all and bring it all together.  Oh yeah, my friend also wanted to use the monogram because of the sweet names picked out for this baby.  So I had a lot to get in on one 16x20 canvas and I spent more time trial and error in drawing out the unpainted canvas than I did actually painting it.  Since it's for a gift for someone else, and not for me, I was particularly picky about what it would end up looking like.  Once I got an approval of the drawing, I went to painting.  I only used 3 paint brushes, an egg carton, and the following colors to do this: red, yellow, white, buttermilk, brown, black, olive green and forest green.  Even M got a little excited when we talked about deer and birds one day. And I even used the letters as an "ABC" conversation :)  So, here's the final product that will be delivered at next week's shower. I hope my friend, and her expecting friend, are as excited and thrilled about it's outcome as I am!

I have another empty 16x20 canvas if anyone else has an idea for something they need painted. Apparently, this is a calming and relaxing outlet for me, and I'm learning how to be more and more creative - between paints and cupcakes, I might have myself a new profession!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Posting and rocking

Life as I know it goes at super light speed. I wake up between 7 & 8 each morning and go to bed around 11 each night. But those hours in between go by sooo fast! I started to think that this summer would be so low key that we would be bored. Ha-not so much. I'm finding that we barely have enough time to do it all. Not to mention I don't have free time on my hands anymore.
As we speak I'm rocking sweet Lydia. She is such a great, great, GREAT night sleeper that I can't complain about how she naps during the day. But I know she has to be tired. It never fails that I put her down for a nap around 3 and by 345 or 4 she is awakened by the daunting gas bubble. So today I decide to rock her, yes, back to sleep. Something I totally don't believe in. In fact we could probably go without the glider and have saved a few bucks considering how infrequent I actually use it.
But today I feel like snuggling with my sweet baby who will soon be 4 months-4MONTHS!!! I can't take it! The speed of time has got to slow down!
Maybe I'm also cashing in some early snuggle time before the weekend begins and I go to making a bagillion dozen cupcakes! I've been so good with eating and exercising this week that I feel sexy and empowered. But leave it to the weekend to cause me to stumble-and I think I'm okay with that ;)

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Oh Miriam...

Trying to take a picture of Miriam is like...
trying to color something blue with a red crayon....

pure torture to the poor girl.

So she hides herself in pure capri sun Roarin' Water bliss...

Hark - "Arf arf BARK"

But wait, what is that?!

Oh it's "Ginga" from across the street!

And then, "issa air-pane!"

I'll look anywhere but at the camera...

And I'll smile - just not at the camera.

But when I finally do, it turns out pretty cute.

And then I look just like my Heaven Nana more than ever.







Friday, June 1, 2012

Week in Review

Oh my - it's been a crazy week! And instead of writing a bagillion different posts, I'll just keep it in one with a few photos for fun!






So, on Saturday, we bought Miriam a sprinkler toy to use in the yard on hot days. I think she's in love with Goofy Gecko - and it was under 6 bucks at KMart.
Then, I got to baking. After making those margarita cupcakes last Friday, I had to make 2 others flavors for an order for Memorial Day and birthday celebration so I finally got to test my red velvet recipe and try a new one, Boston Cream Pie. Plus, it was a long weekend with beautiful weather. I ended up messing up the first batch of vanilla cakes for the Boston Cream Pie, so I ended up with a dozen extra jumbo cakes - geesh! Finally got the bulk of them done, and even enjoyed a Red Velvet before I got to share my Margarita ones with the neighbors.
Red Velvet - yes, they taste as good as they look!
Boston Cream Pie - interesting recipe and techniques learned.
Probably the most difficult to "get right"

Saturday night, I lived a bit on the wild side and took the light rail ALONE after 9 p.m. to meet up with some girlfriends to celebrate a birthday downtown CLT. I can't believe that 12 years ago I was gallivanting around Madrid like it was nobody's business at 19 yrs of age, and here I was, 29, and scared out of my wits! But, I made it and had a blast!
On Monday, Miriam got to get up close and personal with a new friend, Rudy.  She is the fur daughter to my friend Terri's parents.  She was the sweetest, ,calmest thing ever and we were really hoping they would hit it off, but it certainly took a while for her to warm up to her.

Miriam getting used to Rudy. She is totally fascinated and terrified at the same time.
Then on Monday night, we got to celebrate TriPaw (Jeremy's dad) turning the big 6-0!  I fixed turkey lasagna, bread, salad, and had a nice display of cupcakes for dessert and a centerpiece of hydrangeas from our garden (and almost a week later, they are still GORGEOUS on our table!).
Sitting down for lasagna dinner - love the hydrangeas from my own garden!

TriPaw's birthday cake spread
On Tuesday, my friend Ann Louise and I geared up to take M and L on a road trip to GA to visit J's sister and her 3 boys. It was a crazy few days and filled with it's own share of stories, but basically, L pooped way too much, M wasn't great at adjusting to a new place where we all slept in the same room, and she "got bit" which led us to an urgent care at 1030 p.m. when none were open so we cut our trip a bit short to get back home to see a doctor (fast forward to today to find out they weren't bites at all, instead infections from some of the hand/foot/mouth places...).

Today, M went to the doctor, and then we spent the rest of the day at home. Probably a close to perfect day if you ask me. We played, read, ate, rested, and even got crafty.  I'll post pictures of our project after Fathers Day!
Looking forward to a "boring" weekend with no plans!!  Next week I have a few cupcake orders so I'll rest up til then!