Big News

Friends. Guess. What. As of this morning I'm officially a business owner!



Yay me!

If you had asked me even a year ago if this would happen, I probably would have laughed at you. I am not an entureprenuer. This is not something I had always dreamed of doing.

It just kind of happened. It feels right so I'm going for it.

I'm pretty darn excited.

I own my own business.

That is so wierd. And so awesome.

I feel like I just got inducted into some club or something.

So feel free to check me out and like my facebook page. Or my etsy shop. Products coming soon! I got some fun plans.

Oh, and hey. Guess what?!

I own my own business.

I Collect 4th Cousins

Last night I was sitting in the temple thinking about my family. All of my family. The generations that have come before me and the meaning their lives give mine.

I have been very, very blessed.

One (or three) of the blessings is that I know three 4th cousins and their families. Well, okay, one of them, I've only "met" via email--he lives in Australia. Awesome! But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I mean, who the heck knows their 4th cousins, besides me (and my family)?! Does that happen to normal people? Um. I didn't think so.

But I do. And I love it. And every time I have "discovered" one, it has been in the most random way.

Here, I'll explain.
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Example 1: The first time.

Scene: 2003, age 19, Rexburg, Idaho.

About 1 month into my Sophomore year at BYU-Idaho. I was living with awesome roommates in a new apartment in the dorms. My new roommate's name was (is) Nicole (hi coley!!). We hit it off immediately and had a great time together.

One night she came bursting into our apartment with exciting news.

"Ohmygosh!ItotallyjustsawElderEyringintheMC!" (Because to Mormons, seeing General Authorities, especially the First Presidency or a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is like totally a "celebrity" sighting--but not really because we're much too respectful of them.) Anywhoo. We all conversed excitedly that she had just seen him and--oh my gosh--walked past him. [Deep breath.]

As we chatted, I happened to mention that my grandparents had known him WAY-back-when in the military and he liked stale marshmallows, according to my Nana. Somehow in relating the trivia, I mentioned my grandparents' last name of Bryson. Nicole dramatically gasped (okay, not really).  "My grandparents' last name is Bryson!"

What?! All of us freaked out at the coincidence.

So naturally we HAD to find out how we were related. Turns out we are. I pulled out my giant pedigree chart (because that's how I roll) and she called her grandma. After some chatting, we are both descendants of Samuel Bryson, Sr. and Sarah Ann Conrey--our third great-grandparents.

The really sweet thing was that my family knew, and I was able to share, some family stories, particularly about Sam's mom, Margaret, that Nicole's family didn't know. That year, I spent Thanksgiving with Nicole and her family--well, my family. It has been wonderful to build those relationships. Nicole and I still stay in touch and last August we were able to visit and do a session at the Salt Lake Temple together--so wonderful!
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Example 2: The second time.

Scene: 2012--driving back from San Francisco/Oakland, from my former roommate's wedding.

We (there were 4 of us in the car) had carpooled to the wedding and were driving home. I can't remember why it came it came up, but Tyson mentioned that his third great-grandfather was Francis de. St. Jeor.

I just about caused a car accident in my shock. Francis de St. Jeor is MY third great-grandfather!! OH MY GOSH. AGAIN?! What are the odds?!

"Dude, Francis de. St. Jeor is MY third great-grandfather, too," I calmly said. "TYSON--WE'RE 4th COUSINS--and all these years we didn't even know it!"

See, Tyson and I had been friends, and in the same singles ward, for several years by this point, and his aunt and uncle were are in my home ward and friends with my family.

(Later, my mom said she had already told me that they were actually our cousins, but I don't remember that.)

So that was pretty exciting.

And I just realized---Tyson's sister married a Sessions. These particular Sessions' she married into are my 2nd Cousins-once removed or something on my Bryson side. Another de St. Jeor married another Bryson--within the same stake I grew up.

Oh, that's weird. This is a small, small world people.
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Okay. Third Example.

I have an account on Ancestry.com and about 2 years ago, I received any email from someone looking for information on McGraths. Well, as I happen to be one, they were hoping I would be able to clarify a few things. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to--I was really confused and had conflicting information about the people he was trying to research. Not helpful.

Then about 3-4 months ago, Graeme contacted me again to let me know he had found the right information and wanted to help me fix my records. So generous! Multiple emails later (as he lives in Australia), we figured out how we are related--and what the problem was in my family's records.

You guessed it, the ancestor we have in common is our fourth Great-grandparents--Peter and Anastasia McGrath. Because of some weird generation things, we're actually 4th cousins.

Through Graeme's generous sharing of information, I was able to add over 90 names to my pedigree chart and answer some really important questions (like someone who I thought was husband and wife was actually mother and son--kind of a big problem). INCREDIBLE!

This is also an example of patience and answering of prayers. I had been searching for this information for many years.
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One of the interesting things I realized last night as I was pondering each of these experiences is that each of one them is from a line from each grandparent. The only grandparent that is missing is my paternal grandmother's line. Her maiden name is Peck--so if you are reading this (or know someone who is a Peck), based on the above, I'm going to guess we're 4th cousins. My third great-grandparents on that line are Joshua Peck and Nancy Andrus. Let me know!!

Moral of the story? It "pays" to know your family history. You'll never know where (or when) you'll find a distant cousin! And maybe you'll have answers for them, or they'll have answers for you!

Family History work is soooo totally awesome. :) Do it. You won't regret it!

Growth Chart

I had Caitlin and her family for Christmas a few weeks ago. I made them a Growth Chart as their family gift. 

I found several tutorials via pinterest. Then I did what I usually do. Look at the picture and made up my own way to do it. :)

First thing I did was go to Home Depot and found pre-sanded wood. Conveniently they are sold by the foot. I decided that since Nick's family is tall, they needed a tall one. I bought a board that was 6'1". And then when it was hung 6 inches from the floor and it would be 6'7" total. Perfect!

I was going to paint the board, but Nick is a wood purist and painted wood offends him. :) So I stained  it with Minwax PolyShades in American Chestnut Satin. I've never really stained anything before, so I thought this would be a good practice project. 

Who knew that gloves would have been a good idea...or that water doesn't wash stain off things...like a porcelain sink and that my hands would turn super sticky when I tried to wash the paintbrush with water (thus the stain in the sink). Probably everyone. But in my defense...nowhere on the can did it say that it was oil based stain, or that gloves would have been a good idea. 

Thankfully Nick is an expert in staining, so when I realized the problem, I called him and he suggested nail polish remover. Thankfully I had some and dumped it everywhere. It worked pretty well. Eventually my hands returned to their normal color and non-stickiness. :)

So I started with a pretty piece of poplar and began staining.

I did two layers of stain. For the tick marks and numbers, I cut them out with my cameo out of white textured cardstock. The numbers are inked in silver ink to give them a bit more character. They are then modpodged on and then sealed with another layer of mod podge. Vinyl is a perfectly acceptable option, and one I considered (would have been faster and eaiser), but I was afraid of little fingers picking and peeling off the vinyl . So paper and glue it is!

All done! 

Here it is hanging up in their house, tucked in nicely behind the front door. And complete with measurements of the kids. :) On Rachel's 2nd Birthday, she measured 2'11"--she really tall!  

Thanks for reading!

Bedroom Makeover: My Crafty Corner

One of my favorite parts of moving to the master bedroom has been that I have more space for a crafty corner. YAY!

I decided that I was going to take the opportunity to go through my stuff, purge, and organize everything. Most of it is scrapbook supplies and those really needed to be wrangled in. I had a couple of large boxes I picked up at IKEA that I really liked and so I decided to get more so everything matched.

I spent a whole afternoon one Saturday organizing and filling the boxes. It is so nice to have a specific place to put everything. Hopefully this will help me keep my desk a little more clutter free. Um, maybe. :) (update: Yes it has! It's AH-MAZING!)

I decided to use one of my bookcases to store the boxes and my scrapbook paper. Remember my epic fail with them? Yeah. So fabric for this bookcase too. Pretty! I just wish I could see more of it! 

Everything looks so tidy boxed up!

Right now I have 10 boxes: 2 Embellishment boxes, and then 1 for each of the following: Alphabets, Tools, Hardware, Adhesives, Stamps, Powders and Glitter, Sewing, and Inks & Sprays. They fit perfectly on the bookcase. 

Each box is pretty organized. For my glitter glue, I glued together some plumbing round things (that's the technical term) and they hold the glitter glue upside down. 

For my inks, I decided to put the blending pads velcroed to the lid of the box. It makes it easier to find the right color. All my inks and sprays fit nicely in the box. Yay!

Then I took on the task of organizing my paper. I actually don't have that much paper, but there's still enough that it took awhile. My paper was already fairly organized, but I didn't like the system since I just wasn't using the paper as much as I should. It was just easier to buy new paper. Which, as fun as that is, just is me spending more money. I needed to really go through my paper and donate what I don't want, or won't use, and start over again.

I really wanted these fancy paper holders, but at $8 for one, it was out of my budget. Then, I read on a scrapbook forum (I'm such a nerd), someone had used the free priority mail boxes from the post office to make their own. GENIUS!

So I ordered some boxes (it came in a package of 10--and hello free shipping!) that were the size I was looking for and then cut them into the shape I wanted. After lots of white spray paint to cover up the priority mail markings, I attached some fun label pulls that I had spray painted silver. I wanted them to match the white boxes so I picked up some adhesive silver foil and put it along the edges. This also helped the paper not to catch as much. So for about $20 (spray paint, label pulls, and foil) I made 8 magazine holders--vs. $64. I win. I could have made 10, but right now I only need 8.

Pretty awesome, right?!

The answer is yes. :)

So I organized my paper and it is lovely now. The scraps are in the ziplock bags that I used for the paper before and go in the box with the rest of that color.

I needed more light in the corner, so I hung up my paper lantern with a light in it. It made a big difference. I wanted to spice up the lantern a bit and found a pretty inspiration picture on pinterest and started cutting away on my cameo.

I really like how it turned out.

I finally was able to put up this pretty organizer that I bought on clearance at Michaels months ago...way before I knew I was moving. Normally it's over a $100, but it was on sale for $20. I knew that someday, somewhere, I would find a place for it, so I snagged it and it's been sitting in my garage ever since. I love having it up and excited fill it with pretty things. :)

I was able to squeeze my ribbon holder in the corner. It was exactly the right size. Above it I put my bulletin board. Eventually I do want a new, bigger table. But that will happen in time.

So that's my crafty corner. I now feel like I have a studio area in my bedroom, instead of a bed in my studio. haha. It's nice to feel like I can breath in my room. :)

2014 Bucket List

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2014 is going to be a good year. I can tell. Even though it's starting off with me having a slight cold and sore throat--it's going to be great. :)

Last year I created a bucket list instead of doing resolutions. I did pretty well and so want to do it again.

Let's see what I'm going to do this year...

1.    Read at least 60 books.

2.    Pay off my car.

3.    Make two new stockings (for Erin’s baby and Monica’s baby!).

4.    Go to Idaho to visit my family.

5.    Go to Washington DC/ New York City

6.    In conjunction with the above trip…visit the DC and Manhattan Temples

7.    Go to three new states

8.    Go to the Oakland Temple

9.    Finish Paralegal Associates degree (MAY--YAY!!) (haha)

10. Spend time each week with my family

11. Make a headboard for my bed.

12. Get a power tool and use it on a project (didn’t get to do this last year)—Maybe for the headboard?

13. Sew a bed skirt.

14. Switch over to the family ward (Sunday will be my first one in the new ward!)

15. Keeping going to the temple at least 3 times a month

16. Get my sewing machine worked on.

17. Finish Cait’s wedding scrapbook

18. Finish my Chicago scrapbook

19. Apply for a design team

20. Finish little projects from bedroom make over.

21. Get bookcases and organize books.

22. Create an inventory of my books.

23. Paint my dresser

24. Take a fun art class this summer. Oil Painting? I’ve always wanted to learn how to use that medium. 

25. Visit two local museums.

That is all I can think of for the moment. Can't wait to find out what this year has in store!

Resolutions Recap Part 2

Yesterday I began recapping my bucket list for this year. Let's see how I did with the rest of the list:

17. Learn a new skill
           I learned to sew! And I learned several different types of skills within the realm of sewing (basting stitch, french seam, ruffling, etc.). It's been fun and pretty easy. And I can't believe that I've struggled with it my whole life. Maybe on my 2014 list, I should make some clothes...because that really makes me nervous. I did get some cute patterns that I want to try...
18. Make my stocking
            This didn't happen. Bummer. I started it, but then I stopped because I was busy with so much other stuff this year. Oh well. Maybe next year!
19. Make stocking for my new niece/nephew!
          THOMAS! YAY! He got a stocking!! This came down to the wire, but I did it. And now he has stocking to go with the rest of his family! Yay!
20. Fix my sewing machine
           The original problem was solved by Caitlin (we won't talk about how simple it was to fix...) but now the timing is off so I really need to have it serviced. Maybe this next year? Hopefully?!
21. Get new bed linens
          Working on it still. Why do the nice ones have to be sooo expensive?! Sheesh.
22. Sew a duvet cover
           Heck yes I did this!! As you well know. Bam baby.

Isn't it beautiful?! It took me months, but it was so worth it.
23. Take an online craft class
           Well, it wasn't a "craft" class necessarily, but it was a "organizing your craft stuff" 27-week class--which was necessary for me so I could get a handle on my goodies. I did it and now everything is beautiful and organize! Yay me! (See the white boxes in the above picture...yep. That was the result. :) )
24. Take myself on a date once a month
           This didn't happen as much as I would have liked. But I did make time to do stuff I enjoy...even if it was just 20 minutes window shopping at a craft or thrift store.
25. Visit a local museum
           Bummed this didn't happen. I should try to do this next year.
26. Organize my books
            Nope. I wish....I still need two more bookcases...
27. Catalog my books
           Didn't get to this either. Time. I need more time!
28. Write more
           I did! But I didn't finish anything. But I did write...so that is a start.
29. Work on my Grandpa's Autobiography
          Yay! Another thing I did...well not really. I pretty much handed this over to Caitlin. My schedule has been so tight this year, and she had access to tools I didn't, and more free time, so she pretty much did it all...but it's so close to being done! Next year is the year it will be done.
30. Upholster my bedroom chair
          I decided that I didn't want to upholster the chair. I like the solid wood, but I did make a cushion so its more comfy...so that counts, right?
31. Build an ottoman
          My new roommates have plenty of furniture so I ended up not needing to make one...but when I do have my own place, or they move, I will make one. Just not this year.
32. Buy a power tool and use it on a project
          Does a staple gun count? Because if it does, then I did! Yay! But if not, maybe next year.
33. Take an art class
          I was so busy with my program's classes, that I didn't have a chance to take one. Maybe next summer?
34. Teach a class
          Well, at church I got called to be the Family History Class Teacher, so since this is my list, I'm going to count that. :)
35. Take 5 family names to the Temple
          Heck yes, I did this! Over 50 names! Bam! I was really lucky, blessed to get in touch with a 4th cousin from Australia that I don't know that had a whole family with 9 kids and several generations that my family didn't have. Glory! And I got the names ready and took them to the temple. My ward did the baptisms/confirmations and then I farmed the rest of the ordinances to that side of the family to help. It was an incredible experience. :)

So that my friends, is how I did on my goals. Considering my hectic schedule, I think I did pretty darn good. :)

And I really liked doing the whole bucket list thing and then recapping it. I think I'll do it again.

Let's see what 2014 brings!

Resolutions Recap Part 1

At the beginning of this year, I created a Bucket List of things I wanted to do this year. So at the end of 2013, I want to recap what I did (or didn't do) to fulfil each of these.

1. Read 50 books.
        I did it! I even upped my goal to 60 because I was doing so well! I ended this year with 65 books.  
2. At least half of the books I read need to be new ones I have not yet read.
        Totally got this. :) Probably 75% of them were new. Yay!
3. Read at least 2 non-fiction books.
        Well, I did read lots of non-fiction paralegal books, does that count? No? Well then yeah, this didn't happen.
4. Travel somewhere new
        Unfortunately not. I did get to go to Chicago a couple of weeks go, fairly unexpectedly and was a total blast, but I didn't get to go to Washington D.C. / New York City like I wanted to. Bummer. Hopefully in the fall I can?
5. Go to three new states (Currently I've been to 21!)
         This goal was in connection with my D.C. trip--so hopefully in 2014.
6. Go to the temple every month
          Yes I did! I'm pretty sure I averaged 3 times a month, maybe 3.5. I really was trying to go every week, but sometimes that just didn't happen. I'm pretty sure that because this was a priority and I built my schedule around it, it was the only reason I survived school this year!

7. Finish Cait's Wedding Scrapbook
          I worked on it! Which is better than last year. So there's something...
8. Finish my Chicago Scrapbook
          It's over half-done so I did work on it quite a lot, just not in the second half of the year. So....yeah. Moving bedrooms and trying to get that set up so I can scrapbook took me a lot longer than I thought it would. That happens when you have grand-ish plans and little funds. Hopefully with school winding down next year, I'll have more time to spend on things like this.
9. Go back to school for Paralegal Certificate
          I did! Eep! And I did better than I thought I would. As I've discussed before, I even survived going to school and working full-time this past semester. And I found out that because I already have a Bachelor's, I automatically qualify for the Associates in Paralegal Studies. So that is exciting. By May I'll have another Associates degree. Yay.
10. Spend time with my family each week
          This one was really important to me and thankfully Cait gets bored so she lets me come visit her and hang out at her house. And she feeds me and helps me with my projects--which we don't usually work on, but still. It's pretty awesome.
11. Teach Rachel to say my name
          She totally can! Though usually it sounds more like "bacon" than "Megan." Not sure if that is a good thing or not yet. :) But she is adorable and gets so excited when I open the door. Good news is that Rachel knows all her body parts. That is a hilarious game to play. She even throws in some body parts that Cait didn't teach her. hahaha. And if you ask her what the fox says, she busts into song and start dancing. Its totally hilarious. Her favorites are that one, wheels on the bus and ring around the rosie, but usually she forgets the "sh" sound in the "ashes ashes" part. hehehe.
12. Create some kind of art wall hanging
          I had plans for one, but I ran out of time. Boo.
13. Apply for another design team
           I seriously considered applying to two different teams (of companies that I really love), but after reviewing their requirements if you made the team, I realized that I just wouldn't have the time to put into it. It was super sad. Hopefully this next year I can do one.
14. Get two new tires
           Yes and I got a incredible deal! The guys were so nice and found me gently used tires to replace the scary ones on my car for only $50 for two! Awesome!
15. Replace the brakes on my car.
           Thankfully I have an awesome brother-in-law that lives conveniently close-by that was kind enough, somewhat willingly to do this for me. :)
16. Go to at least two new temples.
           Salt Lake (beautiful and so ornate!!) and Chicago. Both awesome experiences with incredible friends.
 

Items 17-35 up tomorrow