NewlyWoodwards

Dare to... be thankful! (Dare to DIY week 1/6)

2009-11-15T17:00:00.002-06:00

Welcome to the first Dare to Do it Yourself Blog Party! Are you ready to show us what you came up with?
It's time for the first dare - Dare to... be thankful!

Take some time making your own DIY Thanksgiving project. It could be a fun Thanksgiving advent calendar, homemade thank-you cards, a banner or something completely unique.

First, I'll share what I came up with.

Give Thanks Burlap Banner

(I put this together with some burlap I had on hand. I cut out the pennants and frayed the edges. Then, I just eyeballed the letters and cut them out of a contrasting burlap. I sewed the top closed so I could put the twine through it. Originally, I was planning to sew the letters on the burlap. But, I was tired. I was covered in burlap fuzz. So, I just glued it on. It held on well and it was a lot simpler. =) Overall, I think it turned out well. Even hubby thought it was nice.)

Thanksgiving "Thankful" Cards

(For the last few years, I thought it would be nice to send out a few thankfulness cards at Thanksgiving. I like the idea because it's unexpected and I think it's thoughtful. The blog party gave me the motivation to finally do it. Here are the cards I came up with. I had these cute owl stamps that I wanted to use. I love the way the trees came out. I printed off the "I am thankful for _______" on our home computer. Overall, for a novice cardmaker, I'm happy with the results. I sent them last week and I hope the people we are thankful for like them as much as I do.)

"Hoo's Thankful"

(Since I had out the owl stamps, I decided to stamp some more. I had these little cards on hand, so I stamped them and attached them with clothespins to twine. We can write things we are thankful for in the cards. After I made it, I decided that the cards would also make the cutest place cards. Then, everyone could write what they are thankful for inside.)

So...what did you come up with?

A couple of guidelines:

1. Please link to the specific post, not your general blog address.

2. Please include a teaser of your post in parentheses - for example, I would write NewlyWoodwards (Thankful banner and more)

3. Link your post back up to NewlyWoodwards with text or this button.

Also, please visit at least one other blog below and comment! This will help us all meet each other.

I'm so excited to see what you come up with. Thanks for joining the party.

(Reminder: I will post ideas for next week's challenge tomorrow. Then, I will pick a few of your projects to share later in the week.)

It's Friday!

2009-11-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

In case you didn't know, it's Friday. This is both good and bad. It's good because it means that it's the weekend. (I have a college degree for a reason, folks.) It's a little bad because I have 600 billion things to do this weekend, approximately. I know it will fly by in a flash.

Luckily for me, somehow I managed to ~~trick~~ encourage Ryan into agreeing to help me clean so I can decorate for Twilight. (Hint: Talk fast and ramble around in circles. Shhh! Don't give up my secret.)

And, hopefully he'll also agree to help me paint some tree stumps, hang twinkle lights and put up a Forks, Washington sign. (All necessities for any good New Moon premier party.) Cross your fingers.

Did I mention I also have a final on Tuesday? It's kind of annoying actually, that the MBA program would schedule a final during the week of the New Moon premier. So, I've decided to boycott the whole system.

(Just kidding, mom. I'm studying.)

So, I hope you also have a lucky, splendid, busy and fun weekend.

Emphasis on the fun.

And, don't you dare forget about Monday's Dare to DIY Blog Party . (Dare to... be thankful! ) The McLinky will go up on Sunday evening. So excited!

Everyone cool will be there. Will you?

Twilight Inspiration

2009-11-12T07:00:00.005-06:00

Our New Moon premier party is only a week away. So, planning has kicked into high gear. We'll have anywhere between 25-35 people in our home (EEK! How will they all fit?)

But, I have to say, looking at the craziness online about New Moon, I actually feel kinda normal about it. You know, as normal as reading teen vampire novels and throwing a party to celebrate them can be.

Check out our invites here. Remember, we decided to embrace the hysteria of New Moon. Because you are never too old, mature or responsible for a little Edward Cullen.

The truth is, this is an interesting party. I've never thrown any party that was so.... gory. Lots of blood. More blood than our normal parties. =)

Decor inspiration:

The great thing about Twilight is that you can find really simple, inexpensive ideas from the books. We'll be using apples and candles throughout the decor, and playing off the colors red and black.

(credit)

Luckily, our wedding colors were red and black. You shouldn't be surprised to see some wedding decor reappear as Twilight decor. I actually even have a lot of red ribbon leftover. That's handy.

(Credit)

Hostess with the Mostess created some awesome 5x7 and 8x10 prints. I got them copied at Staples and will put them in my existing frames in the house. Instant decor. Thanks, Jen.

(credit )

Aren't these candles really neat? Ours will be set up little different, but I'm going to try the red wax on the white candlesticks.

(credit)

Some other fun ideas for decor.

(Source )

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Food inspiration:

I'll serve red wine, red punch and water. Julie is bringing Bloody Mary's. Rebecca is bringing shots in test tubes. Don't you love it when you can even have drinks that stick to the theme?

(Credit)

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I'm planning to serve a few basic dishes. But, I'm giving them fun names. Something like:

Fresh meat(balls)

Vegetarian vampires (veggies)

Anti-Vulturi garlic dip

Bella's Bites (snack mix)

Edward's (Deviled) Eggs

Jacob Black's Buffalo Chicken Dip

We also asked guests to bring a food or drink with a Twilight theme if they wish. There will be tags for each person to name their dish. There *may* even be a prize for the most creative name.

(Credit)

The gals that are coming are so creative. One is making a birthday cake for Bella, some are making themed cookies, cupcakes or other sweets. Some are bringing savory dishes that fit the theme. And, one friend is bringing a chocolate fountain (with white chocolate died red, of course).

(credit)

So, these are a few things that inspired me. I cannot wait to share everything afterwards. I think it will be lots of fun.

What do you think?

Cut a rug

2009-11-11T07:00:00.023-06:00

We added a new (to us) rug into the living room this week. I kinda love it.

It's actually a carpet remnant that Ryan's parents had made into a rug for their living room. When they replaced it, they gave it to us. We had to get it cut down quite a bit because our living room is much smaller, but it's a nice change. For next-to-nothing, we had someone come to the house, cut it and bind it.

For us, rugs are a necessity. They protect the floor and keep our feet warm on the hardwoods. This one is extra nice because it's extra plush, perfect for winter.

In case you are keeping track, this is hand-me-down rug #3 in the living room. They were all tan. We're nothing if not predictable. We like hand-me-downs and we like tan.

This is rug #1 (without any furniture). It was wool, too small for the room and it shed like CRAZY.

This is rug #2 (and an old layout). It lasted for almost 2 years, but it was getting a little worn.

So, I think that our newest rug is a good addition. Someday, we may even buy our own rug. But, don't count on it. I've been trying to find the perfect rug for our kitchen for ages. Still nothing.

What do you think?

Catching up with Sesame Street

2009-11-10T09:00:00.002-06:00

Did you see Google yesterday? Guess who was featured on the home page - The Count from Sesame Street!

So, Ryan and I had to spend some time on youtube catching up with Sesame Street. You know, for research.

Ryan insists he learned everything he needed to know in life from Sesame Street. He LOVES Sesame Street. I didn't actually realize this until we started watching the youtube videos (he may or may not have started singing the C is for Cookie song).

Ryan's favorite characters (in order):
Bert and Ernie

Cookie Monster

The Count

Oscar the Grouch

He does not like Big Bird. Don't ask him why. He just hates Big Bird. And is very unapologetic about the fact.

I'm fairly certain I must have watched Sesame Street as a child, but I have no recollection of it. However, I can see why Ryan liked it. It's quite fun. They even have the old-school seasons on DVD here .

Were you a Sesame Street kiddo?

Dare to... be thankful! (Dare to DIY week 1/6)

2009-11-09T06:30:00.004-06:00

Whoa..... I'm so excited!

There are at least 36 of us beginning the Dare to DIY Blog Party! That's about 35 more than I counted on. And, I have a feelin that this could still grow. So, I'm thrilled. And, I'm really anxious to see what you come up with.

This is actually 100 times better than having an actual party at our house. With the blog party, I don't have to clean the house or cook for 35 women.

So... let's jump right in. The first week's challenge is:

Dare to... be thankful!

Take some time making your own DIY Thanksgiving project. It could be a fun Thanksgiving advent calendar, homemade thank-you cards, a banner or something completely unique.

A few of you indicated that you weren't sure what to do for this challenge. Here are some ideas I found for inspiration:

Banners

A lovely Thanksgiving banner will look great in your home leading up to the holiday. You can use fabric or paper, it can be simple or complex... it's really a great project to try! I made a couple for fall. You can't mess these up. =) Here are a few cute examples:

via Colleen Shelly

via Magnolia Manor

via Scraplovers

via Taylor Designs

via Funky Shique

Thanksgiving/Thankfulness Cards

Take some time to make thank-you cards to send to friends or family. These will be unexpected. Lots of people send Christmas card, send a Thanksgiving card. This is a very thoughtful gesture at a time that we remember why we are thankful.

via Garden Wife

via Paperelllas

via Carrie's Cards

Thanksgiving Tree

I love this idea. I found several examples of Thankfulness trees.... add things you are thankful to the tree throughout the month for a visual reminder of how we are truly blessed.

via RootsandWingsCo

via BetweenHitchingPosts

via Skip to my Lou

Cool Thanksgiving Decor

Here a few other fun ideas for Thanksgiving decor. You can always try a fall craft or something for a Thanksgiving table.

via Stamped Sentiments

via BH&G

(Wouldn't this be awesome with little slips of paper for things you are thankful for?)

Does this give you more ideas? Are you feeling excited? Inspired?

I hope so. This will be fun. I cannot wait to see what you all come up with. I love that we are all working on the same thing but will come up with lots of different things.

The scoop:

The McLinky will go up on the blog on Sunday night (Nov. 15) and you can link up through Monday night. Link up to a post about what you made. If you are able or it's not obvious, tell us how you did it and where the inspiration came from.

Thanks again to the gals who have already jumped into the challenges!

Allison at Allison and Jared

Ashley at Johnson & Johnson

Ashley at Little Moments

Carrie at Brick City Love

Christy at Life is Dancing in the Rain

Emily at Imperfect

Grandma Jan at Minnesota Musings

Jami at Blog?

Jen at Notes from the Heartland

Jen at Our Home in the Country

Jenny at Anything Pretty

Jenny at Words on Wendhurst

Jess at Alex and Jess

Joi from Nuestra Vida Dulce

Kelly at At Home with the Pooles

Kelly at Casa de Edgewood

Kellie at KellieBelle’s Karma

Keri at The Ronks

Kristen at Miss Prissy Paige

Kylie at Laughter.Life.Us.

Laura at The Meckleys

Laurel at Ducks in a Row

Lauren at Lauren Makes

Leigh at Popcorn Ideas

Leigh at The Kesler Expressler

Mandy at Moody Girl Projects

Mary-Carolyn at Longbrake Living

Meredith at La Buena Vida

Nikki at Nikki's Nacs

Rachael at Mrs. Adventure

Sara at Russet Street Reno

Shannon at Shannanigans

Stephanie at Living Life Shiny Side Up

Tammy at Yarborough House
Trisha at Whimsy Art Studio

Erin at Domestic Adventure

Rhonda at Soul Searching and Sweet Tea

Trisha of Whimsy Art Studio

Sherri at Design to Shine

If you hadn't gotten involved yet, it's not too late, jump in and Dare to DIY!

Dare to DIY Blog Parties

2009-11-05T21:27:00.035-06:00

I just have to say that this is something I'm really excited about. Really.Excited. Like, going on vacation excited. Watching the premier of New Moon excited. SHOPPING AT IKEA EXCITED.

I love all the wonderful people I’ve met through blogging. There are a ton of awesome, creative people out there, and some of them even stop by NewlyWoodwards once in a while.

I don’t know why either…. But I’ll take it.

Do you ever wish that you could hang out with other bloggers in person? You know – talk, shop, drink coffee, craft, DIY…

Unfortunately, we don’t usually have that opportunity. But, trust me, I’ve considered just hopping on a plane and going to another state to hang out with a blogger. It would have been a surprise to the gals I visit, but they’d come around. =) I don’t know what Ryan would think if I just started jet-setting for blogger visits.

So, why don’t we do it through the blogosphere? Let’s DIY through Thanksgiving and Christmas – and let’s do it together.

I’ve recruited the help of some awesome blogger friends (in no particular order - although Emily is at the top because she was so supportive and helpful when I was running the ideas by her for this)
Emily at Imperfect

Laurel at Ducks in a Row
Shannon at Shannanigans
Carrie at Brick City Love
Joi from Nuestra Vida Dulce
Jenny at Words on Wendhurst
Jess at Alex and Jess
Kellie at KellieBelle’s Karma
Lauren at Lauren Makes
Mandy at Moody Girl Projects
Allison at Allison and Jared
Stephanie at Living Life Shiny Side Up
Ashley at Little Moments

Jen at Notes from the Heartland
Laura at The Meckleys
Kelly at At Home with the Pooles
Kelly at Casa de Edgewood
Leigh at The Kesler Expressler
Meredith at La Buena Vida
Rachael at Mrs. Adventure
Kylie at Laughter.Life.Us.
Keri at The Ronks
Jen at Our Home in the Country
Ashley at Johnson & Johnson
Sara at Russet Street Reno
Tammy at Yarborough House
Mary-Carolyn at Longbrake Living
Jami at Blog?
Grandma Jan at Minnesota Musings
Leigh at Popcorn Ideas
Kristen at Miss Prissy Paige
Jenny at Anything Pretty
Christy at Life is Dancing in the Rain
Nikki at Nikki's Nacs
Erin at Domestic Adventure
Rhonda at Soul Searching and Sweet Tea
Trisha of Whimsy Art Studio
Sherri at Design to Shine

Will you join us?
Double dog dare you....

Dare to DIY Parties

The plan:

Each week has a corresponding "Dare to..." challenge. See them all below. You may want to prepare ahead for some of the themes.

What to do:
Each Sunday evening, I will post a McLinky on NewlyWoodwards (and cross my fingers that someone participates). Post about your take on the challenge and link it up. Then, visit at least one other blog and comment!!! This is the important because we want to meet new blogger friends and get inspired. This is a PARTY, it’s not only about self-promotion. Tell us about your project, but make sure to praise others as well.

On Tuesday, to help you plan, I will post inspiration for the next week’s theme. Also, search Flickr, Google and other blogs to find inspiration. And, if you have already done something that fits into a theme, link it up on that day. In other words, you don't have to do something during the week if you have something that fits the theme.

On Friday, I will post a few of my favorites from that week - provided there are more than a few. =)

I love finding new inspiration on blogs and I think this will be a great way to celebrate the blogging community leading up to Christmas. =)

Party Date: Monday, Nov. 16

Dare to… be thankful!

Take some time making your own DIY Thanksgiving project. It could be a fun Thanksgiving advent calendar, a banner or something completely unique. Post about what you made, how you made it and photos in its new home.

Party Date: Monday, Nov. 23
Dare to… entertain!

Show us your table! If you are not hosting Thanksgiving, take this opportunity to make your table look great. Bring out your dishes and napkins and set your table. I promise you that it will make you smile every time you walk by. Get creative and use new things. Or go true DIY and make something totally new.

Party Date: Monday, Nov. 30

Dare to… eat cookies!

As we begin to attend holiday parties, share your favorite cookie recipe for all to enjoy. It’s like a digital cookie swap. Share the recipe and a review of the cookie. If you can, add a picture. And don't worry about the extra calories. At Christmas, cookies are calorie-free.

Party Date: Monday, Dec. 7
Dare to… give homemade gifts!

Nothing is more special than a gift made by you. Try out something new to give this year - ideas include bath and body items, kitchen gifts, hand-sewn clothing or home decor.

Party Date: Monday, Dec. 14
Dare to… deck the halls!

Make something new to deck your halls. Did you find something in a catalog that you wish you had? Wreaths, stockings, pillows or advent calendars? Make it! Inspire us all to do the same.

Party Date: Monday, Dec. 21
Dare to… have traditions!

Everyone has traditions for the Holidays. Tell us all about your favorites or start a new tradition to share.

So, will you Dare to DIY with me?

Use this code to put the button on your blog and get the word out…. I double-dog dare you.

(Oh, and don't forget to comment on this post if you are planning to participate. I'll just keep updating this post to include the folks that wish to be involved.)

Shameless pug photos

2009-11-04T06:30:00.002-06:00

Little Franco, the demonic black pug, turned three on Saturday. (It's no coincidence that he was born on Halloween.) This meant that he and Lola got extra-spoiled.

Both get equally spoiled on Franco's birthday because we are horrible parents and forgot Lola's birthday entirely. Isn't that awful? So, Halloween has been deemed the puggies' birthdays. Both of them.

So there.

They both got new hoodies and doggie cupcakes.

And, the cupcake frosting tasted like peanut butter. Not that I ate it when I got some on my finger. It's just what I heard. From the cupcake lady. Hypothetically. I would never eat part of my dogs' treats.

Moving on.

The race was on...

Franco never took his eyes off the cupcake. He was incredibly focused.

Lola was incredibly paranoid that someone was going to take it from her. Do you blame her? I mean, we took her birthday away from her for God's sake. A cupcake would be nothing to her parents, the heathens.
Then Franco thought to himself, "Hmmm.... maybe if I lick the air, I will get some more tasty goodness." No such luck."So Franco, how does it feel to be three?"

"Franco?"

"Oh sorry, Lola. We forgot it's your birthday, too. How's it feel to be.... hmmm.... how old are you again?"

Poor, Lola. Doesn't she look so confused and sad in this picture?

Don't go calling the ASPCA, both the babies are fine and dandy... and spoiled rotten.

Happy birthday to both our pug babies.

Bear down!

2009-11-03T07:00:00.001-06:00

It's time for a very personal question...

Which football team do you root for?

We are Bears fans. I should say, Ryan is a Bears fan. I'm a fan of whoever Ryan is a fan of. It's just simple that way. I don't really have strong opinions when it comes to sports so I just kinda go with the flow. And, it's easy to root for the team that your husband is passionate about. It's kinda like brainwashing, I guess.

Anyhoozie... back to foosball... "foosball is the devil." (Name that movie, friends.)

Ryan and I cheer on the Bears. We like to go to a game when we can, and last weekend happen to be our chance. Going to a pro football game is really an amazing experience. You scream, you jump, you drink hot cocoa. You high-five, you sing and you yell the wrong things at the wrong times.

Oh wait, that's just me. I screamed "GET HIM" at the top of my lungs when Cutler was running the ball once. Oops.... Cutler is on our team. All the people around us snapped their heads around to looked at me. It was totally like the Exorcist. I just threw my hands up in the air and said, "OOPS! Rookie mistake." Then they all just shook their heads and laughed at the silly girl in the 15th row. *Phew. That was close.*

Don't mess with the Bears fans. They will eat you alive.

That, or they'll order another Italian sausage. Either way, it's a frightening scenario.

So, here are some photos of the game. By the time you get to your seat after trying to find $45 parking in the busiest.and.craziest.and.most.unhelpful.city.in.the.universe, you feel like you will never get over the stress of 45 minutes in the car trying to find a street that apparently doesn't exist while thinking you will never make it to Soldier Field.

But then, like that, it's all forgotten. Because there are hot dogs. And lots of smiling, cheering fans. And hot cocoa in Chicago Bears mugs.

We happened to go to the same game that our friends attended, so we went to visit them in their seats. They were decked out in Bears gear. They probably even had Bears underwear. I'm just sayin'.

We got all decked out, too. Minus the underwear. I wore long underwear underneath my garb, which kept me nice and toasty. That and the Chicago Bears quilt I brought along. That was useful.

I also considered stealing Ann's scarf. But, I restrained myself.

It was Walter Payton Memorial Day because it's been ten years since his death, so there was lots of Payton gear and we all took home a commemmorative Payton calendar. There was a really nice multimedia presentation about Payton at halftime, too. Ryan was in his height of glory. Payton was a god.

My boyfriend Robbie Gould even kicked a few field goals just for me. I thought that was nice.

The Bears ended up winning. If they would have lost to the Browns it would have been embarrassing. The Brown's are terrible. (Sorry, Brown's fans.)

At least that's what Ryan says. I don't really have any clue about that kinda stuff. I had you fooled, didn't I?

I was too busy tracking down a hot cocoa and nachos and people watching. This girl had more important things to worry about than some silly foosball game. ;)

Now back to that very personal question I asked before....

Which football team do you root for?

Just a little bite - New Moon premier invites

2009-11-02T07:00:00.004-06:00

Back in March, I read the entire Twilight series . Saying I enjoyed it was an understatement. It took over my life for a week, and during that time I did nothing outside of reading and daydreaming about vampires.

Hey. I'm just being real.

Well, I found out that I'm definitely not the only woman who felt this way. My friend Rebecca and I figured that we may as well embrace the fact that we loved Twilight, and not hide it. There is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Right? Right?

This got the ball rolling. I decided to host a New Moon premier party at our house, complete with cocktails, food, games and a showing of Twilight. Then, we will all go see the new movie together.

Then a few other gals wanted in. Then a couple more. People actually began reading the books because they wanted to come to the soiree. We ended up giving invites to about 40 people.

haha.... my house doesn't fit 40 people. But, we'll figure it out. It's Twilight after all... magic can indeed happen.

So, we figured that we needed an invite that would set the tone. I mean, it had to be elegant, fun and pretty. Pretty was a necessity.

Then Laura jumped in and volunteered to make the invites for us! (She's a fan of Twilight, too, will be at the party, and is one of the gals I saw the first movie with.) And, when Laura does something, she goes all out.

Look what we came up with (okay.... Laura came up with most of it, but I was there, too):

The invites consists of lovely black, red and white shimmery papers. I mean... shimmery was a necessity. After all, Edward does, in fact, glimmer like diamonds.

(Please note that Laura has offered a 10 percent discount to NewlyWoodwards readers - check out the sidebar. I also put a watermark on these photos. It may be a little of my crazy coming out, but these were an original idea.)

Laura cut the pieces (including the folder and apple cut-out above) and then we assembled together. I'm pretty handy with a tape dispenser.

So, since the invites clearly set the bar high, we've begun planning other aspects of the party. I'll be sharing the ideas and links soon so if you are planning, you can hopefully get some inspiration.

For now, let me know what you think of the invites and the craze of Twilight as a whole. Are you planning a get-together for the movie premier?

The Wife's November Goals

2009-11-01T10:00:00.002-06:00

The Wife's November Goals

Fun:

Host a memorable New Moon premier bash for the girls (planning has commenced).

Make reservations for dinner and other fun things for our anniversary trip.

Enjoy Memphis during Thanksgiving!

Read two books.

Learn a new technique with my camera and practice.

Send Christmas cards (end of the month).

DIYing/Crafting:

Sew something new.

Paint something.

Make a Christmas quilt and pillows. (I'm feeling ambitious.)

List and begin all homemade Christmas gifts.

Continue organizing photos.

Gardening:

Pull bulbs and store.

Write an overview of gardening - what went well, what we'll do differently. Make a list of what to plant next year.

Home:

Curtains in office.

Take down Fall decor, clean and begin HolidayPalooza.

Cooking:

Make a new recipe.

Make a new dessert.

Wellness:

Go to yoga each week.

Pass tests (I'm putting this under wellness because it will be best for my overall wellness if I pass my two big tests this month.)

The Wife's October Goals - how'd I do?

2009-10-31T16:31:00.001-05:00

I love months when the goals list looks productive. While we didn't get everything done, I'm very proud of all we did this month, particularly considering that we had a big project from start to finish (wainscoting) and were busy with work and school. It's months like these that make up for unproductive months.

The Wife's October Goals
Fun:
Celebrate Ryan's birthday! SUCCESS! (Happy birthday month, husband .)
Decide on a location to visit for our anniversary. SUCCESS! (Booked a trip to Galena for our anniversary and took the week off.)
Book hotel room for Thanksgiving in Memphis. SUCCESS!
Read two books. SUCCESS! (Country Living Crafting a Business and The Book Thief )
Continue learning and playing with my new camera. SUCCESS! (I'm still learning a lot, although I still have lots to learn.)

DIYing/Crafting:
Sew something new. SUCCESS! (Apron)
Make two fall crafts. SUCCESS! (I made about four of the fall pennants , so I'm counting it.)
Paint something new. SUCCESS! (Board and batten led to a painting parade.)
Decide and make at least one Christmas gift. SUCCESS! (Hopefully I can figure out a way to share soon, without ruining any surprises.)

Gardening:
Keep harvesting. SUCCESS! (The garden is officially done.)
Compost lawn. FAIL! (We put this off and eventually decided not to do this.)
Plant transplants. FAIL! (We didn't transplant anything at all.)
Prepare new garden bed and plant fall bulbs. SUCCESS! (See the plan here .)
Pull up any garden plants that are finished and compost. SUCCESS!
Pull dahlias, ranunculus and callas and store. FAIL!
Clean up garden beds. SUCCESS!
Mulch. SUCCESS!
Write an overview of gardening - what went well, what we'll do differently. FAIL!

Home:
Wainscoting in dining room. SUCCESS! (Rock on !)
Curtains in office. FAIL! (I don't want to spend the money yet.)
Clean out bedroom, hall and office closets and organize. SUCCESS!

Cooking:
Make a new recipe. SUCCESS! (Yum yums )
Host a get-together with friends. SUCCESS! (They loved the smoker !)

Wellness:
Work out three times each week. EPIC FAIL! (Off the wagon this month.)
Go to yoga each week. SUCCESS!

How was your month?

Halloweens past

2009-10-30T07:00:00.005-05:00

I like holidays. I cannot help it. I think it runs in my veins. So, it's natural that I enjoy Halloween. I wouldn't say it's my favorite holiday, it's still mighty fun and allows me to eat sweets without judgement and dress up the pugs. (More on that later.) And, the fact that I can smother pumpkin seeds in butter and salt doesn't hurt.

Ryan isn't really such a fan of Halloween (or any holiday), but he humors me.

So, in honor of Halloween, I thought I would share a selection of Halloween photos of holidays past.

Ryan and I's first Halloween (2001).

And, again... (2005).

You can check out last year's festivities here. We stepped up the pumpkins a notch last year.

As you can see, I consistently carve a better pumpkin. ;)

Now.... let's move on to the real reason that holidays exist - dressing up the pugs and humiliating my husband.

Franco's first Halloween costume. He won a costume contest in this costume. He didn't mind the body, but hated the hat. (I cannot imagine why.)

Last year, the pugs stuck to a Chicago Bears theme. Franco was a football player and Lola was a cheerleader. Clearly - they should have won the costume contest, but they were completely ripped off. I'm fairly certain the judges were paid off. Darn you, Petco.

This year, I decided to use costumes from the past. No need to order a custom-fitted cheerleading uniform for a pug (because I've never done that).

So, Franco will go as a gentleman.

Lola is going to be a ballerina in the tutu made by Lauren.

We are planning a low-key Halloween weekend. Carving pumpkins, staying warm and hopefully giving candy to a few Trick-or-Treaters.

Oh... and eating myself silly and making myself sick on pumpkin seeds, of course.

What are your plans for Halloween?

By my apron strings

2009-10-29T01:00:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, I showed you this fabulous apron from BH&G. I wanted to make one. Someday.

Then, Kate commented that we could make them together. Umm.... really? Kate wants to make an apron with me?

Have you met Kate from Centsational Girl?

If you have, you know that she is a pretty talented little lady. So, when she says she wants to make an apron with you, you do it. You don't ask questions, you don't wonder if you should be making anything when you've never used a pattern or sewn a straight line. You just make.the.apron.

You drop everything, quit your day job, lock yourself in your office and stop eating or sleeping in order to get it done.

Psych! I kept my job and left our home office a few times to eat and sleep. It would have made a good story if I dropped everything, right?

Of course, it would have been a million times better if I could have actually gone to her house to make the apron. Have you seen her home? Awesome. But... I don't think that was part of the deal. I wonder what she would have done if I would have showed up at her perfectly decorated front stoop with my overnight bag on one shoulder and my sewing machine in my arms?

Where was I? Oh yes.... so after getting excited about making something with a blog buddy, I got going on the apron. Stat. I was going to make the best dang apron this world has ever seen.

I ended up changing my mind and going with the Pretty Paisley Apron from BH&G.

Lovely, doncha think?

So, I meandered into the local fabric store to pick up the supplies. Here are the fabrics I picked. I decided a Christmas apron would be cute.

I printed out the pattern from BH&G. It took me a while to figure it out. I realized that you were supposed to fold the fabric to double the pattern. (Duh.) That made it make more sense.

There was lots of measuring and cutting,

I ended up not making the pocket. The binding and ruffle took it out of me. All-in-all, it turned out pretty cute.

(Forgive the headless horseman look. Couldn't get a flattering shot... and I was tired...and it's my blog. =))

However, I'm seriously considering using it as a tree skirt. It's not nearly as cute when the model isn't a size 2 like at BH&G. =)

Regardless of how it's used, I think I can call my first soiree with a pattern a success. Bring on McCall's.

Go over to Centsational Girl to check out her take on the apron - very chic. And tell her I sent ya. =)

Thanks to Kate for pulling a dual feature. It was fun!

Is anyone interested in doing a DIY project together and living to blog about it?

Kitchen lovin'

2009-10-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

When Ryan and I renovated the kitchen, we compromised on maple cabinets. I wanted white, Ryan wanted wood. We went with a light wood that we both like. We are both happy with the kitchen, but that doesn't mean that I don't drool over kitchens like this.

I love the wood floors, the brick walls, the dark hardware, the island with a wood top.... Look! There's even a pug in the kitchen. This kitchen is nearing perfection.

Photo from Southern Living, via The Newlywed Diaries

Since we went with maple in this house, I think that means that the next kitchen that we have will be white. Right?

Do you lean towards white kitchens or wood-tones?

Building a smoker 101

2009-10-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

When I decide it would be nice to have something, I check it out online, go to a store and finally buy it.

When Ryan decides it would be nice to have something (which really doesn't happen very often), he goes to Instructables, Googles it and makes it himself. It's really quite endearing.

Latest case-in-point. I should have known it was coming. After going to a party at Laura and Andy's house that included smoked pork, Ryan started meandering through the grill section at the home and garden section. I caught him on instructables. He ordered another case of our our favorite bbq sauce from Hotlanta. I kinda thought he was going to splurge and buy a charcoal smoker.

Then, one day I came home and Ryan was welding in the garage.

Danger! Danger!

The boy was building a smoker. To smoke meat. He was so proud of himself, it was funny.

That night after finishing his project, he stood next to the smoker (which looks eerily similar to a metal barrel) and admired his work. (He looked kinda like a homeless man, not gonna lie.)

Then, he walked in the house and the barrel promptly shot ten-foot flames out of it.

Luckily we didn't burn down the house (or the entire city). And, Ryan got it back under control and we haven't had any flame issues since.

Here are some pictures of the smoker, for your enjoyment.

"Just watching my smoker." - Ryan
"Look at all the smoke when I take off the lid." - Ryan

"Uh oh. The fire department is on their way." - Ryan

And, while I joke about it, Ryan spent part of the weekend making us smoked pork. He cooked the pork at 250 degrees for much of the day. He rubbed it in a special pork rub that he made. Ohmygosh. It was so good. The best pork I've ever eaten. I'm serious. And I wouldn't consider myself a big BBQ fan. But, this was enough to convert me. Mission smoking: Success.

So, in case you want to build one, here are the steps. (Note: Ryan wrote this. I don't understand most of it. But, I think you shouldn't attempt making this if you don't understand the terminology or don't know how to weld. Okay? Okay.)

Purchase:

55 gallon barrel (make sure it wasn't filled with gasoline, find one with vegetable oil, if possible)

Weber 22 inch replacement grill

8- 3/8 bolts 3 inches long and nuts

2 ¼ straight exhaust,

2 ½ inch 90 degree exhaust

Some sort of mesh metal to make charcoal box

2- ¼ inch bolts and wing nuts

Thermometer

Handle

Two soup can lids

Steps:

1) Weld in the straight exhaust pipe in to the bung on the top of the drum.

2) Cut and remove top of drum.

3) Cut hole for 90 degree exhaust pipe about three inches from the bottom of the barrel.

4) Weld in 90 elbow.

5) Install handle on lid.

6) Weld ¼ inch bolts to ends of both pieces of exhaust.

7) Drill ¼ inch holes in soup can lids and place over exhaust.

8) Drill four holes evenly spaced about 6-8 inches down from the top of the barrel.

9) Install 3/8 bolts into these holes, and tighten down nuts. The bolts will hold your grate up.

10) Drill a hole about an inch lower than your grate then insert your thermometer in this hole.

11) Make a small charcoal box out of the mesh metal. Install the 4 bolts through the mesh box to act as legs.

12) Burn out any vegetable oil in the barrel.

13) Cook and enjoy.

And, some close-ups of the very fancy tin can lids that Ryan used as air dampeners.

They work pretty well at maintaining a consistent temperature (essentially, you can open and close them to maintain the correct air flow). I got a good laugh when Ryan was going through our recyclables looking for tin can lids.

Ryan's parents said that Ryan's grandpa used to do very similar things, concocting goofy gadgets and building things in the garage. I never met his grandpa, so it's kinda fun to hear stories. I suppose someday we'll tell our kids about Ryan's homemade smoker.

Life is always exciting at the Woodwards.

New recipes in October

2009-10-26T07:00:00.003-05:00

Some new yummies at the Woodwards...

S'mores barsrecipe and photo by Culinary Concoctions by Peabody
suggestion via Alex and Jess
I made these when we had a few friends over. These are so good, it's terrible. I mean, it's really easy to start eating and the next thing you know, it's half gone. It's incredibly rich but tastes so good. And, what could be better than s'mores on cool far days. The next best thing to actually being by a bonfire....

Who am I kidding? These bars are far superior than hanging out by a fire.
Black beans and rice
recipe via Half of VAMH
picture via No Fear Entertaining
These are Ryan and I's favorite new meal. (It's not new to anyone else, but we had never had it before.) Easy to make and tastes so good. And, it vegetarian and made of incredibly inexpensive ingredients. Ryan said he would gladly eat this for every meal.

Sarah's creamy chicken and mushroom pasta

recipe by Clover Lane
photo and suggestion via Imperfect
This is so simple and ohmygoshitissogood. You should try it. It was absolutely warm and delicious. And, I'll be straight with you, I love anything I can throw in a crock pot.

Anything new in your kitchen?

House hunters - in-law edition

2009-10-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm lucky and cursed that my mother-in-law has superb taste.

Lucky because I get great ideas, have a good person to ask questions and receive fabulous hand-me-downs.

Cursed because she's just good at it... naturally. I wish I had the same innate ability to put a room together. And, I wished I liked to paint like she does. I think the square footage of their home as declined through the years because of all the layers of paint. ;) I kid (kinda).

So, I thought you may like to see her house, too. I am all about spreading the wealth after all. I took a few photos of the common areas of the home to share with you. Try not to be too jealous.

The dining room, right off the kitchen.

Window seat - check.

Beadboard - check.

Fabulous accessories (pillows, rug, sconces, velvet curtains, light fixture) - check.

Antique furniture with funky leather Parson's chairs - check

The living room

The shelves around the room are awesome, right? I also like her curtains and bamboo blinds. And, the mixture of pillows. How does it work? I can never find pillows that work.

(This room was just painted blue. It's quite airy and light. I really love it.)

Front hallway:
Do you adore the rug? I do. And the black door with a window - *swoon*. Everything just works together. It looks simple, but it's totally not. Trust me... I know. =)

And, the outside is quite lovely, too.

Here's the front yard.

And some flowers (from last month)
And, here's the change of the fall colors.

I wish I would have thought to take more photos. There's a full wall that has unfinished boards horizontally (awesome). There's a fab, warm kitchen with a white subway tile black splash. There's just tons more. I'll try to take more pictures next time I'm out there. Everything in the home is lovely. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Thanks to my in-laws for allowing me to share these photos. They are the best.

Fall garden tasks

2009-10-22T07:02:00.000-05:00

There are quite a few things we're working on to get our garden in order for the winter. Some is done and the rest should be finished by this weekend. If you have anything to add that I've missed, please share!

1. Plant bulbs.

(We planted about 150 tulip and daffodils along the fence in early-October which will hopefully bloom in the spring. Apparently, the Woodwards cannot just do something halfway. 5 or 10 tulips. No siree, Bob. We need 150.)

2. Pull plants to overwinter.

(We'll cut down and pull these bulbs on the side of the house. The red ones below are the most noticeable. They will go somewhere else next year.)

3. Mulch.

(Giving the garden beds a fresh layer of mulch will help protect plants over the winter. It also looks nice, which is an added bonus. We'll add mulch everywhere, and put mulch over the area where we planted bulbs.)

4. Pull out all dead plants and compost.

(We pulled out all our old garden plants to clean everything out for winter. If you don't clean it out, it could breed disease over the winter. Yuck.)

5. Cut back plants.

(I cut back our rose bushes to right above their "elbows" - this helps them grow better and fuller. I also cut most grasses and perennials back to near the ground and trimmed the lilac and boxwood bushes.)

6. Compost.

(I've talked about the fact that Ryan and I don't like chemicals in our gardens. We just amend the soil with compost. Over the winter, we will put a layer of compost over most garden beds.)

7. Start new beds.

(Ryan wants to plant corn next year, so we are extending the garden next year. To get rid of the grass and amend the soil, Ryan covered the grass with a layer of newspaper and then a thick layer of compost. So, the grass will die and then Ryan will till the newspaper and compost into the ground in the spring, adding additional nutrients. Pretty clever, I think.)

What are we missing? How do you prepare your yard for winter?

Get organized.

2009-10-21T07:12:00.001-05:00

I need your advice and direction, friends. I'm trying to get our paperwork organized.

I saw a nice little file box over at Emily's and she said she picked it up at Office Max. So, off to Office Max I went. I found a file box for only $8.00. It's nothing fancy but it serves a purpose and fits right on the desk.

(Sadly, this is about as neat as things get in the office. It's a working space, right?)

Now, I just need to file things. Right now, our paperwork is haphazardly in a binder. I want to separate it into files so we can file things right away on our desk instead of accumulating piles.

I started a list (thanks to Melissa and her recent post) and here's what I have so far:

Employment

School

Insurance

Gas & Electric

Taxes

401K

Banking

Investments

Pets

Home

Appliances

Electronics

Other Purchases

What am I missing? How do you organize your files? Do you know any resources that I should check out?

Board and batten reveal (plus basic tutorial)

2009-10-20T06:12:00.004-05:00

This post is linked to Kimba's DIY Day and The Inspired Room's Procrastinators' Party. Check out all the projects. It could take all night. =)

Well... it's finally time for the big reveal for our "new" dining room. Thanks for giving me feedback about wainscoting for our home. The process was quite a lot of work for hubby and I, but I think the results are really worth it. I'm going to post the photos of the finished product first, and then I'll go into more detail below.

Cliff's Notes Version:

Before:

After:

And, now if you are interested or bored, the backstory...

At the beginning of September, I mentioned that I had wainscoting on the mind. You all recommended that we go with board and batten. (And, some of you were even kind enough to give me links to more information.)

Once I figured out what board and batten was, I knew I needed it in our dining room. It was life or death, people. Life.or.death.

Poor husband. He didn't stand a chance.

Unfortunately, something I didn't mention in the first post was that Ryan was adamantly AGAINST any type of wainscoting. (Bad wife. Bad, bad wife.) So, following the aforementioned blog post, when I decided that board and batten was a must, Ryan and I talked about it.

(When I say we talked about it, what I actually mean is that I begged and Ryan declined. And, then we both went back to our corners. After thinking about it, I actually decided that Ryan was right about wainscoting (but don't tell him). It would be a lot of work. Our house is about the farthest thing from level that a home can get. And, our house really is lovely as is. He's done a lot of work already. I was beginning to feel bad about begging for it.)

So, I didn't bring it up for, I don't know, an hour. Maybe two? ;)

But seriously, we both just kinda dropped it for a few weeks.

Then, on a Thursday night that will forever live in infamy, we were talking about the weekend. I asked what his plans were. He said...

"Well, I was thinking I could put up wainscoting for you in the dining room."

SCREECH..... My heart stopped. Then, I screamed. Then, I thanked him. Then, I cried. Then, I had to go hang out with Google for an hour (or four) to find out what exactly we needed to get at the hardware store the next day.

Thus began our progress with wainscoting.

We thought it would be simple. Hehe... hoho.... haha. The truth is, everyone does it a little different. Everyone's home is different. So, we used a few tutorials online and then kinda trusted our guts to finish it. It worked out pretty great in the end.

The process

Our home has textured walls. I tell you up front this because it means that the faux-paneling methods that are gracing the Internet really wouldn't work for us. Most tutorials that I found just put the boards right over the existing walls. We couldn't do this with textured walls because if we just put the boards up over the wall, it would look silly. It wouldn't look like board-and-batten. It would look like boards over textured walls.

So, we decided to use a base of plywood. It's really just an extra step.

The supply list in the words of Kim:

- (base) 48 feet of 1/4 inch birch plywood

- (vertical boards) 35 - 3/8 inch deep clear pine boards, (36 inches tall, 3/8 inch thick, 3 inches wide)

- (top horizontal boards) 48 feet - 1x4 clear pine boards, (3/4 inch thick, 4 inches wide)

- lots of paintable white caulk

- nail gun with 2 inch and 1 1/2 inch nails

- semi-gloss trim paint

- foam roller

- touch-up paint

Here's a diagram of the sizes of boards we used, for visual reference.

The process:

Begin with the plywood as a base. Ryan began from the corners and worked his way around the room.

Ryan measured each area to cut around electrical outlets, windows and corner decorative moldings. This took a great deal of time, because our home is very old and very uneven.

Measure a lot. Measure more. Measure one last time.

When the boards were cut (they are 36 inches high), he nailed them to the wall with a nail gun. I thought we should use some sort of glue, but I was wrong. The nails hold up plenty well.
The corners do not have to be perfect (even if your wife is worried that they should be). Any gaps can very easily be concealed with caulk.

You'll also notice that the boards ended up being a little different in height. It's the bane of poor Ryan's existence. Our house is that far from being level. In some places, it was a difference of an inch. He concealed the difference later with the top board.

Here's what it was looking like after a few boards were up.
Notice the pretty little corner decorative pieces. How did he cut around these?
He made a template.

I suggested Ryan cut the boards inside. It was nasty outside and I didn't want the boards to get wet. Very bad idea. Very very bad idea. I don't know what got into me. Luckily, the rain cleared up and the saw went back outside.

Keep measuring.... you are doing good.

Next, Ryan put the horizontal boards on the walls. We wanted it level, regardless of whether the floor is level (which it isn't). I didn't get any pictures of this process.

But, essentially - we did a little math to figure out that the biggest discrepancy was about an inch at the top. So, we cut a chunk out of the back of the board so that it would slide up to an inch down, over the 1/4 inch plywood. It looked similar to the way hardwood floors snap together. Then, we just used a level to put up the boards around the room. They are all level. YAY!

Following the horizontal board, Ryan cut the vertical boards and installed them 18 inches apart from each other.

Note: Everyone seems to do this a little differently (see links below). We decided that we wanted the boards equally spaced on all walls. Some people center each wall and make the boards differing distances. Some start on the edges.
I don't really think it makes a big difference. Just personal preference. I like the way ours turned out, and I know that they are all equally-spaced. That's good for a type-A person like me.

This entire process took about one day. Then, Ryan caulked all the gaps, the nail holes and in between boards.

Next, I painted the wainscoting.

It took one coat of oil-based primer and three coats of white, semi-gloss paint. At that point the coverage was good.

Here are some close-ups. Even though the baseboards are almost 100 years older than the rest, I think it blends pretty well. (I touched up the baseboards, too. It's scary how much they needed it.)

Then, we just put our room back together. And cleaned. A lot.

I think that it really brightens it up and adds to the character of the home. I'd like to believe that this is something that original owners would have done. (Although they probably didn't have a nail gun. I don't think.)

Ryan and I like to tell each other that we feel like millionaires now. The woodwork is that good.

So... if you've made it this long... I'm shocked. And impressed. But, mostly shocked. If we really were millionaires, we'd send you a million dollars. But we aren't. Sorry, friends. Maybe someday.

Hope the tutorial was helpful and interesting for you. And, I hope you like what we've done. Ryan and I are surely happy with the result.

(Actually, I'm the happy one. Ryan told me that he likes it. But, really he's just happy that I'm happy. He kinda rules.)

Appendix:

In case you are also interested in Board and Batten, here are a few links that I came across while planning. I hope they are helpful.

A Soft Place to Land (this woman can do everything)

It's the Little Things That Make a House a Home

Just Beachy

The Brown Family

Funky Junk Interiors (I want a backsplash like this)

Bower Power

There are probably millions more.... hang out with my bff, Google. He'll help a brotha' (or sista') out.

UPDATE - Custom decal discount

2009-10-19T12:35:00.004-05:00

My friend Laura graciously offered a discount on custom vinyl decals to NewlyWoodwards' readers. If any of you are interested in a custom vinyl decal by Laura, similar to mine below, just use the coupon code NEWLYWOODWARDS for 10% off.

Contact Laura here or email here at laura at themeckleys.com. You'll get a fabulous vinyl decal to personalize your home and support a woman entrepreneur. Two birds with one vinyl. =)

This is an awesome deal. Thanks, Laura!

Let me know if you take advantage of this. =)

SAVE 10.00 % On Order Total

Use Coupon Code:

NEWLYWOODWARDS

during checkout.

Earth Friendly Gifts

Bedroom bliss

2009-10-19T06:00:00.002-05:00

They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. If that is the case, then I am full of flattery... for others.

An example - I found this photo on Rate my Space many, many moons ago.

I loved the room then. I love it now. I needed inspiration for our master bedroom. I didn't want it to be too girly, or too masculine. I thought this was a good blend. While I didn't want our bedroom identical, I did like the serenity of the blue, the contrast of the blue, black/brown and white, and the letters.

I have a thing for letters (along with most of the Internet).

Ever since we've gotten married, I have put letters and monograms anywhere I could. On a necklace, a ring, a shower curtain, a window in our dining room...

And, now we've finally "lettered" our bedroom wall.

Here's the bedroom's most recent before.

I liked it. It was much better than its beginning. But, I wanted to change it up. There was a lot of squareness going on.

And I like to think that Ryan and are anything but square.

The vinyl is from my friend, Laura. Visit her at her online store to find lots of beautiful things. I highly recommend her. Don't you love the swirlies?

I think it looks great. And, I certainly prefer it to the ceiling tiles that were there before. But, they were nearly free, so I'm not worried about them losing their home.

I love making little changes that seem to make the room look totally new.

What do you think?

Linked to Metamorphosis Monday.

PS - Laura has graciously offered 10% off on similar vinyl decals for NewlyWoodwards' readers. Contact her at laura at themeckleys.com for details. Thanks, Laura!

Call me Susie...

2009-10-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Susie Homemaker

I love this retro apron via BH&G

I think I may need to try to make one. Has anyone made an apron before? I'm not very confident in my sewing abilities, but Better Homes and Gardens says it's easy for a beginner sewer. And I did make a poorly-constructed pillow cover.

Thoughts?

And, I'm definitely picking up a pair of red peep-toes to wear with the apron. It will be perfect for when Im cleaning the house and making a homemade dinner... with a twinkle in my eye.

But, seriously - wouldn't this make a great gift? (After I make one for myself, of course.)

In my dream-land...

2009-10-15T06:30:00.002-05:00

In my dream-land, I've already begun preparing for the holidays - planning what delicacies I will bake from scratch, the gifts I will make with my own two hands and the decorations that will fill our home. hohoho...

This awesome printable holiday checklist makes me feel like I've taken a big step forward.

You know, even if I haven't.

Downloadable holiday checklist (this baby is comprehensive)

from The Giver's Log via KimberlyMichelle

Although, I got a good start. Emily and I went to a card making class at a local scrapbooking store. We both walked out 1 1/2 hours later with 8 handmade cards. Here they are:

This is all I've done so far. But, it's a start.

Have you began planning for Christmas?