creative productivity

Posted on May 9, 2012 by tara

I’ve been pretty excited about crafting lately. We reorganized the den (where my work space is), and I LOVE being in there now, so it makes it easier to just go make something! The only thing missing is a comfy desk chair (hopefully Michael is reading this…haha!)

Finding out that our munchkin is a baby girl has motivated me even more. There are so many fun things I want to make for her!

My two main focuses right now are sewing and wire jewelry. Here’s the first wire bracelet I made out of brass (for practice) and some glass beads my aunt gave me.

And of course I had to make something for munchkin. So I cut up Michael’s old jeans and made a little skirt and matching booties! (tutorials here and here)

The next creation took no skill at all, actually, but I wanted to share it anyway because I thought it was pretty cool! I found a word-cloud generator here and used it to make a little wall art for munchkin’s room. Of course, it’s in the shape of a horse… just wait until you see the rest of the room!

Apparently, baby girl has been getting creative too- she somehow went out, bought a card, and mailed it to me for Mother’s Day. It’s pretty interesting that her handwriting looks identical to my mom’s and that she already knows to shop at Hallmark!

gingerbread madness

Posted on December 5, 2010 by tara

This weekend was so much fun! On Friday, my buddy Lelia came over! We went to the Christmas Parade, ate homemade pizza, decorated gingerbread cookies and watched "A Christmas Story". How can it get better than that?

Check out our cookies! I'm very happy with the way these turned out, since it was my first time ever doing gingerbreads. They tasted just like my mom's!

Yum.

And I gave Lelia her Christmas present, which was a purse I made (with Michael's mom's guidance I am pretty pleased with how cute it turned out!

Only 9 more days until school is out!

19 days until Christmas!

sew cool

Posted on November 23, 2010 by tara

Yesterday was our 18-month anniversary of being married! A whole year and a half… we're practically ancient now. The funny thing is that some of the things we bought as newlyweds are just running out, like air-freshener spray or salt, which means that next time we buy those things, we'll be married 3 years… Whoa!

Last night he took me out for dinner at our favorite Greek restaurant. That food always brings me straight back to my days in Europe… Nostalgia's hit me hard.

Today I practiced a bit of sewing and made my piggies some cuddle cups… Maggie loves it, but Juni is just a little shy.

how much do i like vacation?

Posted on March 8, 2010 by tara

Well, probably more than chocolate, but definitely less than guinea pigs. That's the most accurate comparison I can give you right now.

Anyway… you want to know what I did with my first "official" day of break? I sewed! and naturally, it was a present for my guinea pigs.

a sleeping bag! and yes, they love it.

it even passes the "comfy" test:

end of break!

Posted on January 14, 2010 by tara

Five days until we go back to school! I'm pretty excited to get this semester rolling, since it will be the hardest of the 3 I have left. And, I am glad to officially be back in Animal Science! =)

Not too much has been going on besides work… I caught some stomach flu bug and called in sick on Tuesday. Thankfully, it only lasted about 24 hours and now I'm back to normal (er… well, normal for me, anyway!), just a bit sleepy.

I've been practicing sewing a little… here's Scruffy wearing his brand-new shirt!

I guess I'm pretty goofy, but the thing I worry about most when I'm sick is infecting my piggies. Guineas pigs are used in labs to study disease, so they can catch something from me. So, their cage was two days overdue to get cleaned, but I did it this morning and gave them the new blanket their "grandma" (aka my mom) gave them for Christmas. They love it so much that they keep trying to burrow under it (ahhh!)

Where are the piggies?

Oh! there they are! I spy 2 pigs!

What can I say, she sure loves getting her daily intake of fiber!

2010

Posted on January 2, 2010 by tara

Well, happy 2010 everyone! It's amazing to take a moment and contemplate all the wonderful things that have happened during the last year, and especially this last decade.

Our holidays were fantastic (sadly, I don't have any photos for you right now because I'm on a library computer)… On Christmas Eve, we went to Michael's grandparents' house for the huge family get-together. We had food and re-enacted the Nativity story. I was the "star"… so basically, I got to stand in the corner and shine the flashlight. But hey, it's tough work being the star of the show!

That night we went to my family's house where we goofed off a lot, and later opened up our "Christmas jammies". Michael and Karl received matching "Virginia Tech" ones. Now they're practically twins!

Christmas day was wonderful. It was refreshing to be with my family again, since I haven't seen them since August. On Christmas morning, I was so excited to give my mom the gift I had made for her (a sewn snowlady pilgrim… she collects snowmen). When she opened it, she smiled widely with joy. She was pretty impressed that I sewed it myself… and ironically, she gave me a sewing machine. How lucky! I'm really looking forward to using it and increasing my skills.

We all watched "A Dog Named Christmas" that night. I hadn't yet seen it, and I'd definitely recommend watching it if you're in the mood for something heart-warming.

The next day we went to Michael's parents' home and just relaxed and had fun. The best part was when his Mom helped me sew Michael some pajama pants! It didn't turn out bad for my first try.

Well, the holidays are over now, but that doesn't mean we should stop seeking the special Spirit we feel during this time. Giving and caring for others shouldn't stop when January 1st rolls around. We can have the Spirit with us as we seek to serve and be more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.

job!!!

Posted on November 22, 2009 by tara

Welll I have awesome news for you, although you probably already figured it out from the title of this post.

I GOT A JOB!!

working at a bookstore downtown. I am so so so so so excited! I'm gearing myself up to be super busy these next couple weeks, with finals and working and Christmas and then before you know it, it'll be next semester. Time sure flies doesn't it?

And, 6 months ago today is the day that we began our life together <3 . I am so thankful for such a caring, compassionate husband who always supports me in all that I do, and is always beside me (usually trying to make me laugh!) I couldn't ask for anyone better, because, well, there is no one better! =)

So not too much else has happened since the last time I wrote. I'm just getting so super excited to go spend Thanksgiving with my awesome inlaws! It will be fun/amazing/fantastic/etc.!

I've been working on my sewing abilities (or lack thereof). I am improving though… I think. So, I made this cutesy little sleeping bag for my pigs:

Sadly, Maggie is too fat for it. Juni likes playing with it though.

Conference and dinner and sewing!

Posted on October 5, 2009 by tara

This weekend has been fantastic. I love General Conference, when we are blessed to listen to the voice of the Prophet and Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ! Even in this day, as in the days of Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and the other prophets of old, we have the blessing of modern revelation. Our General Authorities receive revelation directly from God to guide us in these tumultuous times. The world is a rough one, and without their counsel, it'd sure be a lot easier to go down the wrong path, losing sight of what's truly important. I personally know that this Church is true, that our Prophet is called of God, the Book of Mormon is true, and that Jesus Christ lives. I challenge you to search your soul, ask of God, and find out for yourself if these things are true. Read the Book of Mormon. It is full of wisdom and guidance beyond anything a man on earth could produce himself. It is of God. As Elder Holland reminded us, "No wicked man could write such a book as this, and no good man would write it, unless it were true, and he were commanded of God to do so". For more information, check out www.mormon.org .

Yesterday we saw Michael's parents and Jeffrey- he's on his way to the Missionary Training Center. We got to say goodbye for the next two years. It's weird we won't see him for that long- but it's great he's going to serve the Lord.

This morning our car wouldn't start! So we asked our neighbor to help us jump start the battery- she tried but it didn't work so we had to call another good friend. I did have a lot of fun talking to her though, and I think I may have made a new friend =) I brought her some homemade brownies tonight to say thanks!

Tonight we had one of Michael's friends over for dinner, along with the missionaries. It was so much fun! I was in the kitchen forever though, but I love making things. I baked chicken breasts with gravy, homemade mashed potatoes, and green beans. We had homemade brownies and ice cream for dessert. Everyone said I cooked so well! And I love baking/cooking from scratch.

I also finished my first real sewing project- a bed, or "cuddle cup" for my guinea pigs! I think it turned out good for a first try.

cookies

Posted on September 27, 2009 by tara

This weekend went by really quickly- but it was really fun! On Friday night we rented one of the $1 movies from Kroger- we decided on "The Water Horse". Uplifting story, but as usual I cried at various parts of it. I don't think I've watched a movie without crying since we got married. Don't know why; I just always seem to find something sad in every film! Haha.

Last night we went and bought fabric for me to sew "cuddle cup" beds for my guinea pigs. I'm very excited because this will be my first sewing project (not to mention I LOVE to spoil my pigs).

Tonight I made some pretty delicious cookies- White Chocolate Chip Chocolate. If you'd like to try making them yourself, click here !