And suddenly...it was done

2013 arrived with a visit to the hospital. Whoops.

Then I decided to give up sugar. Why?

We welcomed spring by starting our house hunt. Stressful.

via Evelyn Henson

In April we took a time out. Whew!

Along with the May flowers came a baby shower. Yea!

Then we hit the road. Exhausting.

Designed by Sarah Reed

We began to make ourselves comfortable. Sort of.

August brought our first house guest. Good times!

Suddenly, we had a fourth grader! Say What?

Then, I ate dirt. Hard.

In November I was thankful to find this guy still wants me around after five years. Insane.

December 24 Em lost a tooth and waited up to see the meeting between Santa and the Tooth Fairy. Fail.

The next week we welcomed the new year along with my parents in New Mexico. Actually, we greeted the new year when we woke up New Year's day because we are all either too old or too young to make it to midnight. Whoops.

I hate being a downer, but I'm approaching 2014 with a bit of apprehension. First, I'm only starting year two of my I-broke-a-mirror-and-now-have-seven-years-bad-luck. We've also got a major change in the works later this year, but things haven't developed enough for me to talk about it yet.

I'm sure the year will come with a fair share of exciting and wonderful things too, and those I intend to milk completely!

Busy Busy Busy

I haven't written in a bit of a while, but don't think it's because I have nothing to write about; I think we can all agree I rarely run out of things to say. It's just that I've been doing, going, making so much lately I haven't found the time to tell you all about it. Here's the summary (mostly) in photographs.

My friend, Jim, graduated from college earlier this month.

Guess which one is Jim.

Jim is something of a teddy bear wrapped in a bad ass, tattooed, bald-and-I-own-it shell. In honor of that I accompanied Emily to a nearby ceramics studio and painted Jim a pretty pot.

It's impossible to tell, but I wrote "Ashes of Passed Exams" atop my painted flames. I have no idea what will actually go in his jar,but he seemed pleased with it.

I actually missed the giving of Jim's gift (his wife kindly delivered it) because I was in San Antonio at Hava's baby shower! And oh what a shower.  I wish I'd taken photos, but, alas, I'll have to wait for them to appear on Facebook. In any case, Hava and Ryan have chosen to do Baby Caleb's room in a Dr. Seuss theme and the shower took that idea to highest possible level.  I did my part via my gift: a tummy time swanky blankie.

I suspected I wouldn't have time to photograph the finished product so I took some snaps midway through the making. Babies learn so much about the world through touch so I chose a variety of fabrics and embellishments, each with a different texture and all in a common Seuss color.

On the flip side I went with a black and white color scheme. For the first few months babies are unable to see colors, but I wanted Baby Caleb to start enjoying tummy time to the fullest right from the start; well, as much as any baby ever enjoys tummy time.

Speaking of black and white...

Okay, black and white and pink. Those are the favorite colors of my favorite high school graduate, a darling girl called Courtney. She just got her dorm room assignment and I cannot wait to show her the memo board I put together. You might recognize the fabric... Since the wall was getting some jewelry I didn't want the bed to feel left out so I made a little something for that too.

Hopefully, she's as keen on monograms as I am.

I've got a few other things in the works: a shirt for Ben (because I like to punish myself) and some placements for a neighbor. I may even do a tutorial for the mats. Ooooo. Aaaaah.

So, you're having a baby

No, not me! Don't ask, it isn't me. After several years of trying, a friend (not a "friend") of mine is currently carrying a bundle of baby boy.

Congratulations, my dear, sweet Hava!

She's already leaning toward a color scheme and theme for the "nugget's" room, but baby things are practically irresistible and I've collected quite a few I thought I'd throw in her general direction.

If you know Hava like I know Hava you know how much she'll love this print.

by Laurel at A Bubbly Life

As the parent of a toddler, she can probably relate to this sentiment as well.

pattern and kit available at Subversive Cross Stitch

Perhaps you prefer a more positive spin.

from Yellow Button Studio

Change the curtains and drawer pulls, and this set of doors will look magical in any room.

via Better Homes and Gardens

Forget about snakes and snails.

Vinyl decal at Off the Wall Expressions

Okay, seriously. Who wouldn't want this?

Tree Bookcase from Rosenberry Rooms

I am so freakin' excited for this woman! Now, I just need to get my finger working again and scrape together some dough for a flight so I can go help her decorate!

If I had a million dollars...

If you asked me who my best friend is my head might explode because I could never choose just one.Besides my mom and my Ben I have three best friends. Three girls who are worth more than many millions of dollars.

If I had a million though, I'd run out to buy plane tickets to see Jesse Lynn in Houston, my Hava Gayle in San Antonio, and that sweet Sarah girl in Dallas. Then, I'd scoop them all up on a jet plane for a girly getaway to...

...the sun and sea at the Misool Eco Resort in West Papua, Indonesia

via Desire to Inspire

...San Francisco (with flowers in our hair)

via San Francisco Sentinel

...Vegas, baby! (with a trip to Lake Mead)

Add caption

Oh, girls, the trouble we'd get up to all over this world...