Sunday, May 31, 2009

sigh

It is amazing. We spent the last three summers outside the Navy and yet over the last couple weeks I have felt like we never left. Summer is coming into full swing and that means I become a weekend widow. The Navy Band is a great gig...but it often means leaving family behind. I feel lucky because the longest Nathan has ever been away is 6 weeks. I don't think I could handle deployments that go on for months and months - you military wives out there who have done it, you are amazing! Nathan was on tour with the rock band this last week, so I was left to mind the fur kids all by my lonesome. I tried to keep myself busy by crafting (as you can tell from my last few posts) but in the still hours of the night I couldn't help but feel crushing loneliness.

I think it would help if I had a job, but I have not had much success there. I send off at least a couple resumes EVERY day. If I was gone all day having interactions with other humans then the few hours alone at home in the evening would be a welcome change.

Some friends would help too. I have made one friend, but I don't want to suffocate her so I don't call as much as I would like. I have met some of the other band wives but they all live up at the base (a good 45 minutes away) ...and you know how it goes, outa sight, outa mind. I can't blame them for not thinking of me...cause we've only met once or twice and I live so far away from them. They are not too hip on coming down my way because of the parking. :( Church hasn't produced friends either, hopefully someday...but none as of yet.

I think if we had children it would help because there would be someone else within the walls of our apartment that would NEED me. I would have a reason to get out of bed in the morning. The fur babies help...and having Besta is good because if it weren't for his twice-daily 'bathroom break' I would probably never even leave the apartment.

I am trying to keep busy because I have been doing well keeping my inner demons at bay and I really do not want them to rear their ugly heads again. Re-reading this makes me sound so pathetic. I don't mean to sound ungrateful or onery...I just needed to put my feelings down. Part of me thinks that if I get them down on paper (ok...not paper, but you know what I mean) maybe they'll get out of my head. If only it were that easy.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Mosaic

So I love treasure hunting and I have found an excellent place to search for treasures. There is a Goodwill Thrift Store about 45 minutes away that I have been to several times and have found some excellent things. This little gem is the latest treasure I have carted home. It set us back $10. The top of the desk flips up to reveal a small (but practical) storage space within. I saw great potential in this diamond in the rough and I knew it had to be mine.
I decided to paint it and do a decoupage top. I found some scrapbook paper I thought would be perfect. Then as I was driving home I had a lightning bulb moment. You know those paint chips at Lowe's? I thought it would look awesome if I got a bunch of those and created a mosaic of sorts for the table top. I stopped by Lowe's and picked up every paint chip that was near an olive green. Then I went back and got seconds and thirds of some. I got home, took the whole table apart and started spraypainting the parts that would be spraypainted and began cutting 1/2" squares from the paint chips. I created a HUGE pile and decided to start on the top. After only 2" or so I realized it was going to take longer than I thought...that and it was going to be hard for my OCD to not put the squares in order from light to dark or at least place the pieces in a pattern of sorts. I finished half of the top and went to bed, I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. In the morning I loved how it was looking so I decided to finish it. I got almost 2/3rd's done and ran out of chips. So I got showered (yes...I didn't even shower before I continued on with the top...um, OCD) and ran off to Lowe's and got more paint chips. When I sat back down and thought of cutting more 1/2" squares my wrist started aching. But I pushed on and behold the fabulous results:


A close-up of the top:

For the inner compartment I decaupoged paper that had music notes on it. (See my cute coasters?)
I love Goodwill. :)

Thursday, May 28, 2009

More craftiness

I have been on the search for coasters for a while. I have yet to find ones that I like so I decided to make my own. I found a set of six of these beauties on clearance for $3.

I cut some beautiful Toile scrapbook paper to fit the coaster. I used an inkpad to age the edges, then I put a layer of Mod Podge on top. Afterwards I glued a square of black felt on the back.

Here are the finished coasters.

All stacked inside their cute container.


Oh, and if you want to make some, it would help if you had one of these:

(He just loves to help)

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

When the cat is away the mouse will...craft?

I have this old ribbon memo board that was in desperate need of a makeover. Here's a before:


I tore off the back lining, the front fabric and the ribbon then replaced them with some that go a little bit better with our decor.


I repainted the buttons to match the ribbon.


Here it is in action.



**for Sheila**

Here's a pic of the back of the memo board. You can see that the sides and the two middle pieces are thicker than the rest. The little pieces of brown tape are covering where the staples are coming through the back. (Here's a little secret...the buttons are hot glued on. I stapled where the ribbons cross, then glued the buttons over the staple.)


This is a pic of how thin the main board is.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Thursday, May 21, 2009

We're painting the roses, I mean chairs, red.

When we knew we mere moving we started downsizing. We sold our couches and dining room table and chairs...pretty much just got rid of all the big heavy pieces so we wouldn't go over our weight. I was so excited because I had found a table I LOVED and I couldn't wait to buy it once we got here. Well...when you don't have a job you can't justify buying a $1200 kitchen table...right? So what do I do? I let my inner Martha Stewart come out.

I had a table and a pink chair that I used in my scrapbook room, and we had one other random chair that we bought at a yard sale in Newport. I made a few trips to Goodwill and Salvation Army and found four more random chairs. (Ok, well the two at the heads match...all the others don't) I spray painted them red and reupholstered the two that had seat cushions. Admire the genius:


Table Before



Table After



One of the new chairs, before...



...and after


Cost comparison
..
New table - $1079.96
Table with chairs and benches - $1079.96
..
Martha Stewart Table - $30.99
Table - Free
2 Chairs - Free
4 Chairs - $18.99
Spray Paint - $12.00


We saved a boat load...and I only had to sacrifice my feet:

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Monday, May 18, 2009

Drugged by my parents



My SIL Michelle sent me this. (If you click on the picture it will get bigger...this easier to read for those of you who need large print things.)

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Coldplay

So Coldplay has decided to let their fans download their new album FREE. Not sure how long it will last to if you like you some Coldplay, go here to download the album.

(I was tipped off to this awesome deal on this site)

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Imagine

I borrowed this from mrs r.



(If the above player doesn't work, you can view the video here.)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

More adventures with Brad

Brad wanted to see the city...who wouldn't? We made a quick stop off at the lake and snapped a few photos as proof of our visit. Please ignore how white my legs look in this picture.


Isn't this one awesome?


While Brad was here we had our first Chicago Deep Dish Pizza experience. It was awesome. There was enough cheese in one slice of this sucker to feed an army of mice for a week! (Not that I would feed an army of mice, I'm just sayin')


We then headed on over to Millenium Park. It was so much prettier than when we went the first time. All the flowers were in bloom...and as you can see the tulips were beautiful.


Here's a shot of us (well, technically our reflection) in The Bean. Are you astounded at my fantastic photographer skills? I know I am. :)



Then we shopped the Magnificent Mile...well, window shopped. I got to drool over shoes and clothes and the boys drooled over iphones. I swear I didn't retouch this photo at all...the river really is that color. Doesn't it make you want to jump in for a swim?
Here's a shot looking North up the Magnificent Mile. More tulips.
We hiked up to the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building for a little look-see. Pretty good view, eh?

Sunday, May 10, 2009


My mom is one of the most kind-hearted, generous people you could ever hope to know. She was always so supportive of anything I did or tried to do. She came to my softball games, track meets, concerts, musicals, etc. She helped me pack our belongings after Nathan left for bootcamp. When we lived 2500 miles apart, she would come to visit. Our last night in Logan, she helped clean our house. She has been a huge support to us throughout our struggle trying to have children, and when it comes to adoption she is our biggest supporter. I hope that someday when we are lucky enough to bring a child in to our home that I can be half the mother she is.

I love you mom. Happy Mother's Day.

Friday, May 08, 2009

Jelly Belly

Our friend Brad is out here visiting and we decided to head on up to the Jelly Belly Factory.

We got to wear spiffy paper hats for the tour.
Our tour guide was MENTAL. Seriously. He had to be on some serious mood-elevators to be as chipper as he was.


Jelly Beans...yum

After the tour you can sample any flavor you want. Nathan and Brad were brave and sampled some of the weirder ones. Brad tried Vomit...and promptly spit it out. Nathan tried and loved Black Pepper, then tried Booger...
...and didn't love it.
In the end we came home with over 10lbs of jelly beans and guts hurting from all the laughing.

Monday, May 04, 2009

Sleep on it

Here is the spot in our cute apartment where we retire in the evening. Nothing fancy, yet. I plan on painting a little so I'll post before and after shots when I do.


Here is the shot looking out from our closet


Just another shot. The windows still need curtains. I have found them online I just need to wait until we get some dough and then I'll buy them.


Here's the view looking in from he hall. The bathroom is on the right.

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Spring

You know how I can tell for sure that warmer weather is here and Spring has finally sprung?

Tulips blooming? .......nope
Buds on trees? .......nope
Birds chirping? .......nope




Sweeping up enough cat fur dust bunnies in one day to make a cat? ......yep