FROM CHOP SAWS to POPCORN

1.) During the phase of trimming the house, I've learned to use...THE CHOP SAW. 

(cue intense music)

I thought it was worth bragging about. It made me feel involved and important to cut the wood that now borders our doors and windows. 

2.) I am purging our house of extra stuff. Room by room, closet by closet, I ruthlessly throw all sorts of things in the pile to donate or throw away. 

I'm not even halfway through the house yet, and it already feels so good.

3.)One of my New Year's goals is to better learn the functions on my camera. I use everything except the full manual setting, because when I do, it turns out like that. Without fail.

Nonetheless, I am determined. I am resolute! I WILL enhance my skills because, hey...there's only room for improvement at this point, right?

4.) I am the new owner of a gym membership these past few months. I've always resisted paying someone for the privilege to exercise when I can simply jog around my block for free. But I've learned that bringing myself to run around the block...free or not... just doesn't happen. 

My motivation is zilch. 

But with so much money leaving my pocket each month, you can bet I'll be at that gym almost daily. 

And it feels good to run, lift weights, and catch up on the home decorating shows I never see at home without cable TV.

When I get back, I like to reward myself with a special treat. 

(No wisecracks, please.)

I justify this by using the tiny plastic bowls acquired from our last (and final) date night at KFC. (I swear, that place serves glorified frozen TV dinners. yuck.) The bowls are perfect though, because they hardly hold more than a small scoop. 

It's all about portion control, people. 

5.) I received an e-mail today from my uncle wishing a happy National Popcorn Day. I never knew such a joyful day existed. 

And wouldn't you know, just by happy coincidence, my breakfast this morning consisted of a bowl of popcorn. 

PAPER SNOWFLAKE KID's CRAFT

After a whirlwind of holidays and vacations, I wasn't in the mood for a complicated January-themed classroom door. A few pages of dollar store window clings...and some snow decoration thingies that were left out for grabs in the work room...and I called it good. 

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If I was just a tad less burned-out, I would have created something similar to this. (Does anyone else ever feel like they need a vacation to recover from their vacation?) Maybe next year. 

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For a January craft, I was excited to finally try this out. I saw it a few year ago and liked the variation from the traditional snowflakes kids seem to make every year at school.

Some of my third graders opted to copy the original exactly. 

And some got creative with colors and curls. 

I recently got a GINORMOUS new TV in my classroom--which is exciting enough--but this TV also hooks up to my computer!! Those of us without Smart Boards or projectors get excited about simple things like this. 

I just pulled up the blog where I originally found the craft, and scrolled through Simply Modern Mom's detailed picture tutorial.  Explaining to the kiddos what they were about to do was a breeze, because it was very visual and clear. It was like magic.

And kids apparently pay closer attention to a screen then to their teacher. Having left it up while they worked, I had to answer far fewer questions than usual. 

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I let my early finishers get started on other variations of her snowflakes. 

Next, I hung the finished products inside the front office's display case--either directly onto the butcher paper, or hung with string from the top. 

And then, because I felt the display should be somewhat educational, I googled a bunch of interesting facts about snowflakes, typed them up in a cutesy font, and pinned them up too. 

(Did you know that the largest snowflake ever recorded fell in Montana at 15 inches in diameter?! That little fact blows my frickin' mind.) 

And finally, my overachieving self went out and bought some of that white paper filler used in gift bags, and spread it along the bottom of the case to hopefully, further the look of snow. 

Now, we Southeast Idahoans just need some real snow outside to go along with this cold. This winter has been strangely devoid of any significant snowfall. Who's ever heard of a brown Christmas in Rexburg?

HOUSE UPDATE {sheet rock and trim}

It's been awhile, and an update is way overdue. Between our two-week holiday vacation, and Andrew putting his back out a week after that, things went slower than planned. But events are beginning to pick up again, almost faster than I can document!

About a month ago, the siding was up on the sides and the back of the house.




Now, it's being stuccoed in a "tent" of plastic and tarp to regulate the temperature with a heater. It's been as low as -1 degrees outside this week!




From the dining room window, you get a feel for what's going on inside that tent. 



The kitchen a month ago: drywalled, taped, and mudded. 




The kitchen weeks ago, with texturing on the walls. 




Great room: drywalled, taped, and mudded




Great room: textured




Another view of great room/kitchen




Dining Area: dry-wall, taped, and mudded




Dining Area: walls textured and trim just begun
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Master Bedroom: dry wall with texturing




Master Bedroom: trim and wainscot begun

(loving the tray ceiling)




A Bedroom: walls textured




Guest Room: with trim




Front Sitting Room: drywalled, taped, and mudded




Front Sitting Room: with trim and wainscot begun (and wood flooring stacked ready to install!)

When the house is all trimmed out, we can paint the trim and the walls with the colors I chose. The outside stucco should be finished in a week, and I am SO EXCITED to share our plans for the dining room ceiling. Stay tuned!

MOVIE QUOTE MAGNETS (homemade gift tutorial)

All families have their own favorite quotes and silly, you-had-to-be-there inside jokes. Upon joining my family, I'm sure Andrew was completely lost trying to follow some conversations. One of us would say something off-the-wall (that undoubtedly came from a favorite movie we had just been reminded of)...we'd all laugh hysterically...and then Andrew would sit there awkwardly wondering what the heck was so funny. 

Anyway. I decided to take a few favorites and create a special birthday gift for my sis. Of course, you don't have to use movie quotes. Other ideas might include names, photos, clip art, boldly patterned scrapbook or wrapping paper, monograms, etc. 
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But here's what I did. 

First, I typed and printed off a bunch of quotes in varying fonts and colors. Second, I took a flat glass marble (found at any craft store), laid it over the chosen quote, and traced around it with a pencil. This ensured the paper fit the shape of the glass just right. Then I cut it out.

Next, I used mod podge to attach the paper to the underside of the glass marble, so the quote was visible through it. An extra protective coat was brushed over everything.

Then, I took magnets (also from the local craft store)...

...And hot glued one to the back of the flat glass marble. 

That's it. It's ready to stick to the fridge.

The finished products were cute and personal...some serious, some ridiculous. Here are a few. 

(How many of the movies can you identify? Answers are listed at the end of the post.)

The above quote is from a movie I can recite from memory we watched it so often as kids. 

That scandalous quote at the top comes from a hilarious, family-friendly favorite. Becca's impersonation of this line is so spot-on I couldn't resist including it. 

The one on the far right is an unexpected quip from a beloved magical character.

All three of these come from the same Shakespeare play (made into a movie with the likes of Denzel Washington, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thomspon, Keanu Reaves, and Kate Beckinsale). We love this movie. 

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"These mashed potatoes are so creamy."

While You Were Sleeping

"You had a child with the new maid?!"

Oscar

"Hey, ho the wind and the rain."

Twelfth Night, by William Shakepeare

"I do love knitting patterns."

Albus Dumbledore, from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

"Sweet, Beatrice!"

"Man is a Giddy Thing."

"Sigh no more..."

Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare

How'd you do? What's your score out of 5? Any favorite movie lines of your own? There are so many great ones, I've already thought of others I wish I'd used...

MUCHOS FOTOS DE VACACIONES

The holidays were crazy and busy and wonderful. This is a summary of our vacation in a nutshell.

1.) Whirlwind of Elementary holiday festivities. 

I was assigned to make the fire for the school program's set fireplace.

2.) Driving.

Left wintry Idaho, and drove 16 hours to Arizona. The land of T-shirts and flip-flops.

3.) Visiting little sisters. 

Andrew/ Aurora and neighbor/ happy, little Belle

Duck, duck, goose.

Freestone Park.

feeding the ducks/ Aurora/ twins in their new shirts: Chillin' with my BFF

Andrew + Belle = In Belle's dreams

picnic lunch/ hide-and-go-seek/ playground

4.) Hangin' with Mom.

She and Andrew played one-on-one. Mom kicked his TRASH.

After Frisbee golf, Becca reminisced of childhood 

Playing on Main Street statues

5.) Anniversary Trip to Zion's National Park

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Desert Pearl Inn: modern and rustic.

Highly recommend.

wood floors/ mountain views/ private back patio overlooking pool

kitchenette allowed for homemade spaghetti dinner

Minutes from national park

Beautiful hikes and wildlife

6.) New Year's Celebration with Utah Ashmores

MIL planned fun dinner. Served everything directly on tablecloth for us to dig into. 

Ate salad, spaghetti, or alfredo from the table.

Mostly, I loved little Laney staring at the food...at the adults digging in...and back at the food, with utter bewilderment.

7.) And then it was home again, home again, jiggity jig. To start up real life again. Phew!