When it Rains...Your Shoe Breaks

Actually I'm really glad it didn't actually rain last night. Things definitely could have been worse.

But considering my post yesterday about how suddenly I found myself quite stressed out, it was only appropriate that something else happen. Right?

Yeah. My shoe broke.

Good times.

I got to school, ready and excited to get this semester started. (The sooner it starts, the sooner it'll be over!) I realized I lost my parking pass so I walked across campus to the business office and got in the ridiculously long line. Within about 5.7 seconds, I started fidgeting and I moved my feet and the part of my sandal that went between my toes broke.

Because clearly, I needed something else needed to happen yesterday.

I thought I could play it off and it not be a problem. Turns out it wasn't possible.

I tried to fix it. It wasn't fixable. I stood in the line for about 30 minutes and slowly scooted myself to the front of the line. All the while moving my right foot like it was about to fall off and never lifting it off the ground.

All I had to do was make it out the building, cross two more buildings to my class and make it out to the parking structure after class. Surely I could figure out how to walk so my shoe didn't flop all over the place.

After I successfully got a new parking pass, I walked about two steps and realized I couldn't even make it 10 feet to the door of the building without my shoe flopping everywhere but under my foot.

Oh my goodness. So embarrassing. There was still a ridiculously long line of people, I'm sure they were all staring at me and my awkward shoe problem. I didn't even turn around to look at them.

So I hobbled/hopped out of the building and quickly found a place to sit down and investigate a possible solution to my problem. Maybe I could quickly fix it? At this point I had 45 minutes till class started.

After I examined my shoe I determined it was not fixable. I sat there trying to figure out what to do. I didn't have any options. I couldn't walk with this stupid shoe. I couldn't go home and make it back in time.

I had to walk barefooted.

At BYU-Idaho, I wouldn't really have flinched at that. The campus is so clean. But, here, at this school? The thought made me very nauseous. Ugh. So gross. But what choice did I have? I couldn't decide if it was better to leave one shoe on and the other off (real classy!) or be completely barefooted.

I decided to leave my left shoe on. I couldn't bear the though of both of my feet touching the ground. *shiver*

Then I thought that, perhaps, the school would have cheap flip-flops for sale in their clothing section. I walked across campus the other direction and discovered that they don't.

Then I walked across campus back to my classroom. I sat down on a bench and ate my snack and then realized I needed to use the restroom.

I had to go in there. With one foot completely bare.

It was nasty. I put my shoe back on and walked really funny so I didn't have to touch the floor. As soon as I got back outside, I took it off again. And went to class with only one shoe.

I'm a class act.

Fortunately I did survive. No one made fun of me, though several laughed when I made fun of myself. And the class went well and I'm actually pretty excited about it.

I also learned this lesson: wear regular shoes to school.

Also: listen to the thought that says in the morning as you're putting on your shoes, "What would you do if your shoe broke?" Yeah, I totally had that thought yesterday morning...and laughed at myself. [insert dead-pan look] Yeah.......

I just hope I didn't pick up a parasite or something. yuck.

I haven't felt that self-conscious in a long time. At least I could laugh at myself. And the laughing did relieve the stress I was feeling. :)

Lesson Learned

Yesterday there was a great talk in Sacrament Meeting about trials. During it, I kept thinking, "Oh what a wonderful talk. So glad I don't have any trials. Funny how whenever a talk about trials comes up I don't have any trials. Smooth sailing." [Insert pleasant mental smile here.]

Yeah. That was my mistake. Thinking that things were smooth sailing. Somehow whenever a talk on trials comes up, I don't think I have any. And then...

BAM! Usually the very next day. Something comes up.

It's like clockwork.

You'd think that this would have registered before now. But, nope.

This morning it hit me like a ton of bricks what this week is going to be like. I almost freaked out at work.

School is starting again tonight. I'm taking 4 classes. That's officially full time (12 credits). I also work full time. Yikes! So I leave my house at 7:55-8:00am to go to work. I won't get home till after 10:30pm Monday-Wednesday. Another Yikes. Plus an online class that requires doing something EVERY SINGLE DAY. Oy. (The teacher's philosophy: "If I can work full-time, raise 6 kids, and go to law school full-time while in my 40's--you can fit this class in your schedule."--Yeah. Ok. Chances are she also didn't have Church callings.) Yikes, Yikes, Yikes.

Oh, and NONE of my textbooks have shown up yet. I ordered them almost two weeks ago. Some of them haven't even shipped yet--including the one for the homework assignment today. Hopefully I'll be able to borrow someone's. Talk about stressful. That's what I get for trying to save money. (Though I did save more than 60%, so maybe it's worth it?)

Ok. There's nothing I can do about that one. So I shouldn't let it stress me out. (This is me giving myself a pep talk. Just so you know.)

I also am doing 12 signs for the wedding this weekend. Good news: I was able to get most of them done this past weekend. I only have 2-3 of the large ones left to do (I don't like one so I might re-do it, if I have time). Problem: I literally don't have anymore time this week. Thursday is set up for the wedding. Friday is the wedding. Good thing I took Thursday and Friday off work. Somehow I have to make time between set-up and helping with flowers to whip them out. Maybe I should learn to write faster.

And somehow I will fit in my weekly temple trip. I need to fit it in.

Also, my boss is retiring Wednesday. I'm really sad about that. He is a good boss--he's very patient with me.

I am SO looking forward to Saturday. I don't have anything scheduled! And Monday is a holiday. Yay!!!! So technically I do have a 5 day weekend. And the wedding is all fun stuff, busy and a little stressful--but definitely fun.

So lesson learned. A talk/lesson/testimony in church about trials is usually a warning that something is going to come up very soon in my life.

Duly noted.

An Update

So I thought I would have my bedroom all done by now.

I don't know why. I should have known better. Life, as it does, got in the way.

And school starts next week.

So basically what I'm saying is that I hope I have time again at Christmas.

Ok. It better not take that long. It's driving me crazy.

I still need new bed linens and a couple more bookcases (one can never have too many!). That all requires money. And time. Both of which I do not have.

Oh, did I mention that I'm doing a ton of signs for a wedding next weekend? (ACK! one of my babies is getting married! He's the first. I feel old.) (And by "babies" I mean the kids I babysat for like 10 years--There are four and now three of them are adults and the two older boys are engaged with one getting married next weekend. Crazy!)

I'm really excited for the signs. The mental images I have look awesome. Hopefully my skills can measure up (doesn't usually happen. :/ ).

The reception will be beautiful. I heard all the details last night and I'm really excited for it.

Half of the signs are going to be love quotes from disney movies (there's a subtle disney theme--it's where they got engaged). Hopefully the posters will turn out. I'm kind of nervous. I don't want to ruin anything.

Good news: I've seen the bride-to-be in her wedding dress and she looks sooo beautiful. :)

It's going to be a good day. :)

So all of this is why I haven't been posting a lot. So don't worry. I'm still here and I've been steadily working on my room. I'm really liking it so far. :)

Bedroom Makeover: A Clean Slate

Alright friends, I have a new bedroom! It's coming along slowly. (Why do I have to work full time again?!     oh yeah, to pay for my fun stuff...oh, and bills. boo.)

So here is a little tour of the room so we're all excited for the final reveal...in about 6 months. Just kidding. I don't know when it will be. I'm slow. And somehow projects always take much longer than I anticipate.

Anyway. Onward and upward. Here are pictures! And in italics are the ideas I have.

View as you walk in the double doors:


Immediately to the left is a long skinny window, and a walk-in closet with huge mirrors for doors. (That freaks me out! I can see things move (me) out of the corner of my eye! hahaha!) New curtain, Nightstand, Lamp, And maybe, eventually, a large potted plant. Ficus tree, maybe?

A not-very-good panoramic view of the room. There is a large sliding glass door that leads to the backyard. The opening on the right leads to the bathroom/vanity. Bed with my trunk at the foot, Bed will have new linens and duvet, bookcase with crafty stuff in pretty white boxes, table/desk, new curtains for the back door,  dresser and TV right of the back door, small bookcase with DVDs.

The closet. Clothes. Duh. :)

There are some nice built-in shelves in the closet. I don't know. Crafty stuff I don't have room for on my bookcases?

The vanity area and door leads to the bathroom. Three more bookcases...for books. :)

The bathroom (because that's always fun to see on a blog!).  Uh, bathroom stuff, and a new curtain.

So there you have it! So excited to get everything done!! I've gotten some things done: like a new lamp, short bookcase, nightstand, my truck, some of the curtains. Its coming together! Yay!!

Bedroom Makeover: A New Bedroom

A couple of my roommates are moving out in a couple of weeks. While I'm sad that they are leaving...I'm kind of excited too...I'm switching bedrooms into the Master Bedroom. And that means I get a bigger room and my own bathroom. Yay!

Now, there is a one slightly "bad" part (besides higher rent). I *have* to redecorate! (yay!)

Also, as a slightly beside-the-point, point. Caitlin fixed my sewing machine (another yay!) and so now I want to SEW SEW SEW. Problem: I don't know how. But gosh darn it! I'm going to learn! And I will figure it out---without breaking anything (It's been a problem in the past....hush Mom!).

SOOOO...now I have to decide what I want my room to look like. Historically, I'm pretty, um, eclectic? with my decorating. I kind of just get what I like and put it in my room--creating a cluttered mish-mash of my life. I've decided that I'm mature enough (ha!) to (try to) have a simplified and decorated room.

I need to come up with ONE color scheme and stick to it. And make my furniture and decorating stuff fit those colors (hellooooo spray paint! I might be addicted....to painting--not getting high--I promise!).

The hard part? PICKING THE COLORS!

I've love coastal blues and greens, with creams and natural brown burlap as my neutrals. (with pops of coral and touches of silver?!). Its peaceful and relaxing. Just what I want my room to be like. A friend did her wedding reception that way a few years ago and I LOVED it!

BUT WHICH BLUE?! (I'm such a girl...)

So I went to some hardware stores and started collecting paint chips to narrow the colors down.

That didn't really help. I love all the colors.

I still haven't decided.

*

Well, moving on to my actual plan for my room. I have a lot of furniture and book cases and crafty tables that I want to fit in the room. So I wanted to make sure most of it will fit. I measured and created 1/4 scale drawings of the room and stuff so I could figure out how it will best be arranged.

I wanted to create a little craft nook in one corner. I'm excited because I am going to have a bit more room to put crafty goodness. :) YAY!

Then to help me organize my ideas, I created a board on Pinterest with stuff I love and want to possibly incorporate.

I also need a new bedspread so this is the perfect time to practice my soon-to-be-newly found sewing skills. I think I REALLY want a ruffled bedspread. In blue. But again...WHICH BLUE?!

via

I also found this fantastic cream and blue damask fabric that I'm going to use to make a bench seat to sit on my trunk (that I'm going to repaint?) to sit at the foot of my bed. I sit on the edge of my bed a lot and I don't want to do that anymore, so hello bench seat using stuff I already have and love!

via

Also maybe burlap curtains? I'm not sure about that yet, but there is a long skinny window that I kind of want do to that for, as well as in the bathroom. Maybe as a roman shade?

There is also a sliding glass door, but that is going to get thick grey curtains and lacy sheers to cover it. It's south facing and so I need something to help keep the heat out.

I wanted to cover the backs of my four bookcases with fabric, but they are tall (76") and that is a lot of pricey fabric, so I'm just going to paint them this great peacock blue spray paint. That will be fun. Three will be for books and the other is for my crafty goodness. Yay! One place to put it all!

There is a fifth short bookcase (I love them and, apparently, have an obsession with them) that I'm going to spray paint my favorite cream color (Heirloom White by Rustoleum) and put my DVDs in. I have a plan for a fun vignette on top of it that I'm really excited about. (Glass, Succulents and burlap!)

I also have a big black dresser that I'm trying to decide what I want to do with. Leave it black? Paint it? Stencil it? The cream bookcase is going next to it and the dresser is where my TV and DVD player live--which are both black. Hmmm.

Now hopefully the room will come together they way I want it to. Crossing my fingers!

Framed Chicken Wire Photo "Tack Board"

I've been quiet here because I've been working on projects and have a couple still in the works. But I have finished one...well three, actually. But they were the same thing. So here it is.

Waaaay back in April, I came across a picture on pinterest (shock!) that caught my interest. I clicked through and found it on this fun blog.

Those instructions were a little more than I could do at the moment seeing as I don't have power tools. So I made it my own.

I started looking for fun, fancy, vintagey frames. I wanted one that was pretty thick (wide?) and was for 16x20" pictures...so about 20x24". I started looking way back in April. I had several birthdays/events coming up that I wanted to make something special for. But because I am cheap, er thrifty, I didn't want to pay full price--or anything more than $10 for each frame.

Yeah, by the time I found frames, each of those three birthdays/events had already passed. Better late than never, right? I decided that I was just extending the celebration....um, yeah.

Then a couple of weeks ago I finally found $50 frames for $10! I picked up one to buy (it was marked down to $18--I was getting tired of not finding anything I liked--and I liked these), but then when I realized it was only $10, I went and bought the other two--which was great because I needed three total. :)

I forgot to take a picture of the frames before I spray painted them, but they were originally a dark brown with a hint of gold. Pretty, but not the color I wanted. Yay for spray paint!

Here's a picture when it was mostly done.

The color is Rustoleum's Heirloom White. It's a favorite right now. I taped off the back a bit so the edges would have crisp lines on it. The backs of the frames were silver and I wanted to keep it that way.

The frames came with hangy-things on the back so I got brave and removed them (they were in the way of the wire and the fabric. But I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to put them back in. Don't worry. I figured it out.

I got the smallest roll of chicken wire from Home Depot and cut a piece that was a little smaller than the outer edge of the frame. I first tried to staple it using a staple gun to the very inside edge of the frame (where the glass sits), but the staples I got were too long and poked through the front of the frame. Oops! Fortunately I realized the problem pretty quick so there were only a few spots. I re-spray painted them to try to cover it up a bit.

So I started stapling around the middle of the back of the frame.

I started at the corners, pulling the opposite corner, so it was tight. Then I stapled in the middle of each edge, while pulling the opposite side to keep it tight. Once the middle of each side was stapled, I stapled each side while pulling it tightly.

 

I tried to keep the staples in the thickest part of the frame (see above problem) which was also close to the inside edge. So I trimmed off the excess wire so the fabric would cover it up once that was tacked down. 

 

There were some nasty sharp pieces left from when I cut it down so I just bent them over so they wouldn't poke out. 

 

I learned a valuable lesson. Using a staple gun so that the staples are actually in all the way and flush with the wood is hard. Or maybe it is just for me. My wrists were not happy with this project. And I need to work on my staple gun skills. Good thing most of them are covered up and the ones that aren't are on the back. 

Moving on.....I picked out some fat fabric quarters in patterns and colors I thought the recipients might like, ironed them to perfection (which is saying something because I actually despise ironing--this just shows how much I LOVE the three recipients...I even ironed for them. It has nothing to do with my OCD for perfection) and then used a staple gun to attach the fabric to the back of frame, over the chicken wire. Again, stapling opposite corners and then middles to keep it taught.

 

I then cut a piece of cream felt just larger than the piece of fabric (about 19"x23"). I found the holes where the hangy-things screwed into the wood and punched holes in the colored fabric and the felt. It made re-attaching them much easier. I then stapled that to the frame. Yeah, there were a lot of staples.

 

But the felt is great. It keeps the wire from scratching up the wall behind it, should that be an issue. The printed fabric is just a thin cotton that would probably fall apart if you sneezed too hard.

 

Once that was done, I screwed the hangy-things (there has got to be another--better-- word that I totally can't think of right now) back into the frame using the holes I had poked. Made it super easy.

 

Ta Da!

 

 

I put this against the wall to admire my handy work and decided, that while this is cute, it needed to be funner. I like to give fun gifts and so I thought this frame needs a party on it. So I made one for each of my recipients.

 

It took a just few minutes perusing each of their facebook pages to find  fun pictures to attach to show the potential of their new decor item. It worked. :)

 

Alyssa's:

 

 

Detail pic of the banner and little flowers glued to mini clothespins. So adorbs. :)

 

 

 

For my momma: It has pics of us and her grandbabies. Also super adorbs. For the banner, I used some paint chips that I found left over from a different project a few years ago. They were convenient and perfect.

 



 

For Monica: Yeah, her kid is so adorable!

 



 

I was going to wrap each of them, but then I ran out of time when I was going to give Lys her frame and just tied some tulle around with a big fluffy bow. I liked it and did it to the other two frames too.

 





 

Monica's frame was a birthday present. And her birthday was in APRIL. I felt guilty. So I made a little tag to attach to her frame. Just so she knew this was actually a VERY belated present. 

 

 

I loved the frame so much that I really wanted to keep each of them and hang them all up in my room. But I resisted. :)

 

However, that doesn't mean that I won't make a GIGANTIC one for me. I do have a lot of chicken wire left....

 





I'm an Auntie Again! Yay!

Caitlin had her baby last Thursday, the 13th.

Meet Thomas! aka: baby Hugo. :)

Isn't he so precious!? The correct answer is "Yes! Of course!"

Caitlin texted me a picture a few hours after the c-section and I showed it to Rachel. She immediately grabbed my phone and squeeled, "Baby!" I got her attention and told her that was her baby brother Hugo, er, Thomas. She then squeeled, "MY baby!" It was so precious.

She kept staring at the picture and saying, "my baby, my baby" over and over again. Seriously, it was so cute! She already knew who her brother was and they haven't even met! And when the picture disappeared, she cried and wanted her baby back.

A few hours later, Rachel (and the rest of us) got to meet her little brother.

Rachel holding Thomas for the first time. She was very gentle...till she poked him the eye. Kid took it like a champ. :)

 

Mom's BFF, Shauna, came by to visit and got to meet Rachel and Thomas for the first time. She was so excited to meet more of "her grandkids"! :)



Uncle Steve and Thomas. Presh!

Look at that face! She was so excited!



Going back to Cait's room. Rachel loved all the attention she was getting.



Walking down to the NICU to visit Thomas.

After a bit of a rough start and a few days in the NICU, Caitlin and Thomas went home yesterday and are doing really well! And Rachel couldn't be happier. :)