50 First Dates

A couple months ago, I pinned this idea on Pinterest.
Pretty soon after that, I whole punched a deck of cards and threw rings in the holes,
but then the cards sat in my craft room for several weeks.

Last weekend, I saw them sitting there
and realized this would make the perfect book
for one of our 2012 goals
(which I swear I'll talk about soon...)

Jeremiah and I are pretty much born&raised San Diegans.
And because we love this city to itsy bitsy pieces,
we try to NOT take living here for granted.

We love to spend time exploring the city,
enjoying the sites, playing tourists, etc.

So to stretch ourselves a little more,
we decided that this year we'd shoot to experience
new and different things in San Diego.
They could be restaurants, tourist attractions, activities, anything.

Because we also value romance in our marriage,
I had also been looking for a creative way to maintain that giddy romance.
Setting aside one day a week for date night is something we've done for a while,
but we put some extra restrictions on these date nights this year.

You know, things like dressing up, no cell phones,
keeping our un-sexy traits to a minimum (burping, nose picking ;)),
and almost just going back to when we first started dating.
Things like always opening up doors for each other
even though it may be so out-of-the-way-inconvenient that it's silly.

We've had two dates so far and I've absolutely loved them.

Stay tuned if you're interested in finding out
which new things/places we find to do/go.

Girls Night In: Valentine's Card Making

As one of my goals for 2011, I've wanted to host a monthly girls event

One, because I need more quality girl time
Two, because I believe other folks need more quality girl time, too
and Three, because... why the heck not!? It's fun! :)

February's event: Valentine's Card Making

Last night, a couple girls came overwe sipped cider and champagnenibbled chocolate covered strawberriesand made Valentine's day cards for husbands, friends and family
Mmm, fun!

January: the best of my days

Ashley Ann of Under the Sycamore Tree is a darling
and uber creative mother of four.
A few weeks ago, she featured a diy notepad
that she put together for some folks at church.

I loved the idea and printed out a year's worth for myself.
I figured I'd share the best of my days at the end of each month.

1. Being productive around the house - great way to start the year off!2. Our anniversary dinner at Peohe's, Coronado. Quality time + delicious food3. My first Flavia drink: Milky Way Latte. What a great Christmas gift that keeps on giving4. Having absolutely zero plans after work5. Finding Kelle Hampton's blog6. Crafting. alone.7. Being upgraded to a suite in Palm Springs with the mister8. A 2 hour long bubble bath9. Snuggling in bed. I love those precious moments10. Shrimp and Crab fondue with the McLeods for Mike's birthday11. Starting on Jeremiah's secret project12. Eating lunch in the sunshine. I could feel the warmth kiss my face. Heaven.13. Driving down the coast to pick up my Disney Dianas!14. Havarti cheese with the Schanakers. What great friends!15. Life-giving conversation with the Kookers16. Prayer time with Jeremiah before bed17. Having a romantic dinner with the mister18. A new blog follower (Thanks, April!) :)19. Dad came running when I locked my keys in the car. #soselfless20. Sore legs after a good run21. A free afternoon at work to do whatever I wanted22. Running at Lake Miramar with Jeremiah. So pretty.23. Sleeping in and the smell of warm scones in the morning24. Jeremiah telling me that I'm doing a good job to support him through the busy season at work25. Dinner with the girls from Bible Study. I miss them!!26. Hanging out with my sister. Nuff said.27. A surprise love note from Jeremiah in Spanish #lovethelatin28. Family dinner29. Spending time with friends and family at our housewarming party30. A lazy Sunday afternoon, complete with 2 romantic movies and 6 episodes of 2431. A raw and authentic prayer time on my way home from work

Happy end-of-January! Can't wait to see what February brings.With my birthday, Valentine's day, and President's day off of work,February is definitely a favorite around these neck-of-the-woods!

A Glimpse of Beauty

The sky had been gray and soggy All. Day.
And as I drove home from work,
about an hour later than I wanted to be driving,
heading to a home that was dark, empty and without husband,
I took a peek in my rear view mirror.

The beauty consumed me.
And tears trickled down my cheek.

And I think my favorite part had to be
the girl driving next to me
who rolled down her window
and told me she thought it was beautiful, too.

What a big and glorious Creator we have.

Alice in Wonderland

One of my classmates from Point Loma

styled this absolutely lovely Alice in Wonderland-themed photo shoot,
featuring a friend of mine from high school.

What a small (and fabulously gorgeous) world this wonderland is.Great work, Krystel and Ari!

Pretty in Pink

I haven't been feeling

terribly creative lately...
but tonight,
I felt rather inspired
to make something perfectly pink

Here's a [not-so-great] picture
of one of my new shabby-vintage wreaths


The inspiration:
Christin's gorgeous wedding pictures
(Congratulations Mrs. Willis -- you're stunning!)

sew long sewing class

As you may or may not know, I started taking a sewing class earlier this year. Just like the course description said, we learned how to thread the machine, pick out fabrics, and make something from a pattern. We also learned different kinds of seam finishes, how to put in a zipper, and the proper way to press a garment.

Even though the class is supposed to go for two more weeks, I'm calling it quits today. I missed a couple classes when my gram passed away and since then I just haven't been terribly excited about going back to class. I'm not sure what project we're on to now or what supplies we're supposed to have. So instead of being a responsible adult and emailing the instructor, I've decided that my time in the class is done. Despite the fact that I'm still a very beginner sewer, I think I've learned what I wanted to learn from the class -- and now it's back to having my Monday nights available. Available to make dinner at home, available to go to the gym, and available to set aside some more time quietly with the Lord.

Aside from the sewing techniques, there are a couple other things I've learned in my sewing class:
* Learning requires commitment.
* I'm sew sew thankful to be done with school.
* It's really important to me that I be home to cook dinner.
* Free things are cool and worth taking advantage of.
* Supply lists and a good ol' syllabus still make me giddy.
* We're never too old to make new friends.
* I like to sew things that don't have to "fit" -- that part still makes me a bit nervous.
* Practice doesn't always make perfect, but it's better than no practice at all.
* Creativity breads creativity.
* I'm not terribly excited about having Monday-night commitments.
* Driving down the 5-South never ever gets old.
* I'm not alone, there are quite a few girls in our generation who desire the sewing skill set.

The Box

It sits on the floor
of our spare bedroom
and I fight to open it.
Inside, waiting to be seen and used
are the art supplies
that once belonged to her

not yet.

Trash-to-Treasure?

My creative juices were not flowing during sewing class last night.

In fact, I'm pretty sure I wasted half the class
chatting with new friends and staring at everyone else sewing diligently. All I could muster up was a headband made of fabric and elastic scraps. [Please ignore the gawd-awful redish hair. It's disappearing at the end of April.]

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my sweet mother's birthday and in celebration, here are 10 things I love about you, mommy:

1. You love me even though I was a little terror of a child and sometimes resort back to those tendencies.
2. You let me date a few losers, but let me figure that out myself.
3. You make every holiday, birthday, season, day extra special.
4. You're generous, thoughtful and kind.
5. You forgave me when I ruined your table (ok, maybe we're still working on this one ;-))
6. You're creatively hospitable.
7. You don't make me feel like a loser when I get in my jammies and go to bed at nine o'clock.
8. You're discerning and wise.
9. You've become a good friend of mine.
10. You loved me first.

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Creative Hospitality

I love going home.

Mostly because I just love being with my family.

But also because I'm ridiculously nostalgic.

And because it brings such a sense of excitement and inspiration.

After giving my hello hugs, it's almost ritual to wander around the house and look for what new treasures my mom has tucked away. Sometimes it's something big, like a new piece of furniture or a new mattress, but most of the time it's that extra little something that really ties the room together. That extra special something that makes you want to soak it in all day long and never leave the house. You know, those things that would almost (but not quite fully) still make it feel like home even if all the people who truly make it home were absent for a moment. The smell of a new fresh balsam candle, a collection of old, thrifted silverware arranged in a beautiful glass jar, a new pennant mom has made, hanging across the window valence in her craft room.

My mother has many gifts, but one is unarguably what I like to call Creative Hospitality. Both qualities are rather nice to have on their own: creativity and hospitality, but when you couple them together, that marriage results in an overwhelming warmth of the heart. It's life-giving. And inspirational. You can't not be affected.

I love that I share that same passion with my mom. That passion to create a beautiful place, filled with love to enjoy with others. But I have awfully big shoes to fill. And I encourage myself to remember that whenever I'm wide-eyed at what my mom has done.I'm a newlywed. A new college grad. An 22-year old who hasn't mastered this all quiet yet. But boy is it so fun to learn, to experiment, and to play. I love that place of tension, where dear friends appreciate your hard work while role models encourage it to grow and develop even more. I love being challenged. And I think that's something I will always be, challenged by my mom's creative hospitality.

Disclaimer: I'm very well aware that a home is not just a collection of things, but at the same time I think something must be said for the physically beautiful home my mom has made for our family. It's in that environment and in spite of that environment that I've experienced the true meaning of home.

The Act of Creating

It's less about the finished product now and more about the process. The Act of Creating. It almost seems sacred.

The list of craft projects I want to work on is ridiculously long right now. And just about every day, it's getting longer. But I've been realizing, my crafting habits have changed a bit in the past few months.

I used to craft with a purpose. I crafted with a goal in mind. I want to make this so I can put it there and look at it then and call it pretty. Now I craft because I want to create. It lights my heart on fire. Sure, it'll be nice to have something fun at the end, but truly, I'm realizing my excitement now comes from the creating. From the glue on my fingers, the glitter on my forehead, the paint on my shirt. I love coming home to see my crafts spread out on the kitchen table, all screaming at me to play with them some more. This is definitely new.

I have one project started in the spare room, one in the kitchen, a couple on the table and still another on the floor. A handful of others are listed on post-it notes on my bulletin board or stored in the closet.

It used to bother me to have so many ongoing, unfinished projects- especially if the supplies have been left out for days. I use to finish one before I started another. Now I just work and work and work. Instead of feeling complete when I finish a project, I feel recharged. I can't wait to get back into the process. It's like reading a good book. Once you get to the end, you're glad to be there, but there's an aching part of you that yearns for more. You're strangely sad it's over.

I choose to spend most Saturdays now (and dollars) at the craft store. I love bringing home new supplies and then finding old supplies in my closet that I can use too. I hardly ever make a list of what I need at the store (like I do when I grocery shop) because I think I secretly hope I forget something I need. Then I can hurry back.

As much as I enjoyed preparing for our wedding, I'm so excited to really be experiencing the homework-free lifestyle for the first time. With Jeremiah studying for the CPA exam, I originally wanted to take a sewing class and learn Italian. I didn't get into the sewing class, and well.. the Italian takes a little more discipline than my anxious self can devote right now. So i figure, for now... let the creative juices flow. Enjoy this time to myself, this time to discover more about who I am.


A couple things I'm working on right now: a Christmas wreath, an advent calendar, our stockings, a Christmas present for a friend, a little display of our wedding vows, and some unique little paintings.

The Creative Learner

I've been thinking about babies a LOT lately.

It's funny how I never wanted to have anything to do with babies until I got married. Yeah, sure the whole process is a little miracle -blah blah blah- but they never really captured my heart. They're boring. They just eat, sleep and cry....
That's changed. Drastically.

Babies make my heart all warm and fuzzy now. So much so that I think about them quite often and relish in that warmth and fuzziness. (Clearly, I'm not a tired parent yet!) It's funny to see, though, how God is preparing my heart to be a mother (a long, long time from now, God willing). I feel like I'm getting more and more maternal every day. Okay fine, at least every month.

I'm excited to create a little being with Jeremiah. I know we're not the ones doing all the creating, but it's just so special to me that God allows us to not only glimpse His creativity, but also to become a part of the creation process.

As a creative being, I love to create. Cards. Crafts. Dinners. Decorations. Stories. I love love love creating. And I feel like becoming a mother is the ultimate in creating. How special.

Being married to someone makes you, well, related to them... but it's a silly kind of related. A lawful kind of related. I often wish Jeremiah and I could prick our fingers, rub our blood together blood-brothers style and become blood-related too. (Don't worry, we won't do that.) Because there's just something even more sacred about being physically related to someone. And to think that a child is the only little thing on the earth that is physically related to both of you knocks my socks off. It's just rad.

And at the same time, I think it's absolutely horrifying to think that the nurses just let you walk off with that precious little soul. Take it home. Then what? Then panic, I suppose. There's no test. No approval process. No required classes. New parents likely have NO clue on earth what they're doing. But you learn. After messing up a hundred times I imagine.