The One Where I Crochet a Hair Bow

So I know I have talked about baby Penelope on here before.  Though maybe I haven't actually said her name...she will be Liam's (or I guess already is?? Just unborn...) sister.  And for the record don't exactly quote me on the name...Penelope is what we call her because that is what they are planning on naming her - but you know, the birth certificate isn't signed, so I guess it's not a complete definite.

At any rate, the count down is officially underway...and it's an hourly one!!! She is scheduled to be born (or at least to start the process) TOMORROW! Happy dance...happy dance...

**This week's happy dance is the Gangnam style. and don't even ask me how my mom knew about this dance before I did. But she did - she also did it for me - and she's also really good at it. Maybe the rumors are true...maybe I got my dancing from my mama...cause anyone that knows my family, knows that it definitely wasn't from my dad. Sorry dad.

***This just in - apparently mom learned about it on Ellen. I knew there had to be an explanation. Watch this if you didn't see her show last Tuesday. What I wouldn't give to have been at home that afternoon watching her learn it off the TV. Alls I know is next time I hear the beat of Cotton Eyed Joe I am test running this dance move.

Anyway. I taught myself how to crochet (the CUTEST) hair bow the other day.  Thanks to good ole' youtube. I love to knit... and I love to crochet...and it's starting to be that time of year! So I pulled out all  of my stuff...grabbed some old yarn and welp made only the cutest little hair bows ever!! (I want to get some baby colored yarn - like light pink, or white, or lavender...) alls I had that I liked - and that worked, was dark purple..but oh well - you'll still get the idea!

Here is a quick tutorial run through in case any of you are interested in trying one yourself...

1. Slip knot on
2. Chain 5 and slip stitch it to make a loop
3. Chain 4 then double crochet into the loop.
4. Double crochet 4 more times so that you have 5 total double crochets (not including your original 4 chained crochets)
5. Then chain 4 and slip stitch it into the loop.  You should have 7 total rows coming out from your loop.  That is side one of the bow!!!
6. Repeat steps 3-5 for the other side.
7. Once both sides of the bow are done, pull your last stitch so you have a big loop - take your hook out...but your string about 8 inches or so away from where you ended then pull through to make an ending knot.  
8. Wrap the 8 inch tail around the center to create the knot in the middle - thread the end of it through the back of the knot you just made and cut away the scrap!
9. Click here if you want the full youtube tutorial that I used - it's actually pretty helpful!

Here are the steps in pictures:

Isn't that the cutest little thing!!! Next I just need to figure out how I want to turn it into a head band. Eek I can't WAIT to put that thing on her little head!

And for those that read this blog and/or know me fairly well - you also know, I'm not the best at being patient.  I definitely fall into the category of ...if it's on the check list (even if it's something 4 months away) it needs to be organized/done/finished/cleaned yesterday. I used to try and work on that skill...but now I just accept that it's part of who I am - I like to think it's an asset. That it helps make me good at things.  Unfortunately for some, and today it was my old scraggle cat, Bella - it's actually a pain in the ass.

I needed a model - she was the closest thing I could find.

The One About The Plum Tree

So I know I have talked about the garden several times on here before...but it's true. I'm really into gardening.  Not so much like plants, spreading bark dust, mowing type - I mean, I do enjoy potting plants and flowers and stuff...but mostly when I say gardening I mean the edible kind.  Everything in our yard that I can eat? or cook with? or bake with? I'm obsessed with!

And for an edible garden lover like myself I get excited about this time of year because the fruit is finally starting to be ready!! Our plum tree specifically. It's LOADED with ripe plums and they are totally fabulous.

The only catch. All 3000 of them are ripe at practically the same time. That means I have to get creative with how to use them all up!  In the past couple of days I have managed to use about 2 pounds of them.   That means I only have about 12 to go.  So far I have made to awesome recipes - Plum Freezer Jam & Plum Ice Cream.  They are both dangerous... addicting-ly delicious.

Now, to figure out what to do with all the rest of the plums...I'm thinking I might make another batch of plum freezer jam - anyone have any other great ideas for what I can do with a ton of plums to make them last??

The One About the End of Summer

Well...it's official. Today was the first day of school - actually, I'll clarify, cause I guess maybe there are still some folks who get to run around and play summer but today was the first official day of high school for Lake Oswego (which in my book marks the first day of school)...and that means one thing - summer has ended and fall is here!

That also means no more lazy summer blogger...so be impressed cause it's the first day of school and I'm already back on the band wagon, just like I promised!! See?? I told you! Although, I'm thinking that life's actually about to get way busier - but usually fall brings schedules back intact and I get better at multi-tasking life.  You know...like when you have 37 things on your to-do list and you can get it all done in 6 hours...but if you have 9 hours to do 3 things you're lucky to get 1 done?? Yeah, it's like that.

Anyway, I'm going to do a brain dump.  To catch you up to speed...so we can all be on the same page and move forward with all the fun, new and exciting things coming up. So here goes...the end of summer recap!

1) Dance Team - I think most of you who read this know me well...but just in case their are a few that don't, I coach the Lake Oswego Dance Team. It would be an understatement to say that I'm really into it...and as we dive in to the school year it's probably only fair that I address how truly obsessed I really am with it...because 9 months out of the year, if you follow this blog, you're going to be reading a fair amount about high school, dance team, performances, costumes, hair, make-up...all things girl and dance. What's that phrase they are all hashtagging these days? Sorry, I'm not sorry? Well...sorry, I'm not sorry. I can't help it.  I'm pretty sure I'm programmed to be a dance coach, I don't know how to be anything else really - it's just too bad that whoever invented the modern economy decided that  it was a good idea to pay judges like B. Spears somewheres around $15 mill to judge a talent show and dance coaches, well, let's just say after buying my gas to get to and from practice (now that it's $4/gallon) I think I actually lose money coaching.  Clearly though, it's way more important to pay someone like that than someone like me. So anyway...
We have had a crazy busy two 1/2 weeks.  We had daily doubles, a couple of fundraisers, a school campus clean up, a big bonding night better known as Laker Midnight Bash & candle light, a photoshoot, a senior retreat, car wash, summer camp, and just tonight - our first performance! I am so excited about this year's team I could scream! I love them.  They are sweet, hard working, darling, funny, and I just can't wait for all the fun we are going to have!!
Here are a few photos...

 Some of my silly girls at the photo shoot.

 My 2012-13 seniors!! Love these girlies!

 Bonding night relay races.

 Car wash fun

 It's tiny - sorry, but here is our 2012 - 13 poster!!!

 my partner in crime - Hayley...we're the master minds behind all the madness...can you tell?

Campus clean up day.
There are a lot more pictures - but these are just a tiny amount of random choosing...

Let's see...to put it in to perspective... in the last 19 days I have spent 64 hours with these girls...and another 14 hours in the car to get to and from LO...that's 78 hours. BUSY. #danceteamseason

2) Sisters Grad Party - She graduated with her MEd from Lewis & Clark this summer...she walked in May but officially finished in August.  So we threw her a BIG party a couple of weeks ago...it was amazing. My mom did the best job ever. The menu, decorations, we had a DJ...it was all out - every single detail! Plus we had some good company!!

 Mr. DJ man. Liam James rockin the beatz.

#younglove - my best friend from high school, Katie came and brought her little cupcake Camille (isn't she just the cutest?) Liam was loving on her the entire day...but I'm pretty sure after he accidentally hit her in the face with a badminton racket, she was over it. Opps #babyproblems.

3) Black Butte - Labor Day fun at the Black Butte Ranch!! I don't think I've been to our house over there in maybe 2 years and don't even ask me why...cause I have no idea. Because I just love that place!! the weather was amazing, we swam, hot tubbed, biked (everywhere), walked, deer hunted (with our eyes), played tennis, dad golfed, allie rode horses, we had cousin time and friend time and family time, my uncle even drove over from Burns to meet us for lunch in sisters! Plus I didn't wear make-up or do my hair for 4 days. It was the BEST.

 This picstitch just kills me. Cruising in the car, naked snack time (we had a potty training accident), super corn eater man, and a scene straight outta homealone itself "FULLER! GO EASY ON THE PEPSI!" hahah ...just too much.

Ok. I think that covers the major things.  Of course there have been lots of little things...but this post is getting long, and I told you it was going to be a brain dump...so here is the rest of it... I've been working (and LOVING my job - I know right?? who get's to say that - but I do!! I love it! I actually look forward to going to work!), cooking, nail painting, boating, eating fro yo, socializing with friends, playing lots of games, hot tubbing, watching dance moms & so you think you can dance, reading, watching gossip girl (I am catching up - start to finish...currently on season 4, it's addicting), cooking, baking, gardening, and lots of other fun summer things...all of my favorite things!

Whelp. I think I'm gonna call it good with the game of catch up.  Cheers to summer 2012, it was a REALLY REALLY great one! Excited for fall time - football games, falling leaves, baking, you know all the fun things that fall time brings :)

The One That I Should Have Written 3 Weeks Ago...

I know...I know...I know. Swear it.

In fact...just last week I finished writing a whole briefing doc for a client on best practices for blogging...and I broke the golden rule. Don't disappear or you will lose your readers. Lucky for me...I have about 3...and 1 of them I know still checks this thing because she asked me to write!! So shout out to her (you know who you are...) because I suppose that officially means I still have at least 33% of my readership still intact!!

But to be fair - I did warn you all...that summer time means slacker time (for me anyway)...and I'm on a teacher's watch - which truly means VA-CA-TION!!! and let's be honest, this weather...it's been all her fault.  We've been BFFs lately...boating, pooling, swimming, beaching, tanning, playing, walking, all while outsiding!!

Plus, she has been helping me grow a kick ass garden...(wait...can I say ass on here?) ...we have TONS of amazing things!! I'm really into it....in fact, I had this crazy idea the other day when I was driving (and for those of you who know me...well that is...know that when I get an idea...it's not unheard of that I might take it one step further than the average normal person...) so the idea was...what if a school planted a garden, and they had a class that was like called horticulture class or something...and they learned all about growing stuff, and cooking with fresh "things" and during class the kids had to tend to the garden, and they would have to water it, take care of it, weed it, harvest it...and then all the harvested goods would be used in the cafeteria for lunch - would it be possible to feed a whole school everyday from a garden? how big would that garden have to be?? Maybe it's the teacher in me...and the healthy food junkie...but I think that would be really kick ass....(yeah...I think I can say ass on here...I heard Nigel say it on SYTYCD tonight... if he can say it on prime time I'm ok with it here)...plus, unfortunately, my language isn't my most proudest of proud skills - so it is what it is.

Anyway, I've been trying my very hardest to cook from the garden, and well even bake from the garden! We have string beans, peas, tomatoes, beets, swiss chard, mint, peppers, zucchini, lettuce, squash, brussels sprouts, and my very most favorite...the carrots!! orange kind AND purple.
Here are some pictures...

Here are two loaves of zucchini bread that I made...thanks to Paula Deen's recipe...which is really great btw...I definitely recommend.  I made chocolate chip kind and regular.  The chocolate chip was of course my favorite.  (I'm not really even a huge chocolate fan...so I'm not sure why I said of course...but really, it was pretty outstanding.)

oh yeah!!! and the Pies!! I forgot...we also have a TON of fruit on this property!! If you've been to my house you know the whole lower acre is full of kiwi trees - it looks pretty much like a vineyard (that's what everyone thinks it is...) but really they are kiwis down there!  Aside from that we have several blueberry bushes (which made this homemade yummy, fresh-from-the-garden, pie!), apples, plums, and a pear tree!!!  The berries are the only thing ready right now...but I can't WAIT for fruit harvesting...wahoo!

Hmm...what else...I feel like there is so much to write about - because, well...it has been an entire month practically and every single day I have been doing stuff...like making yummy dinners and fun snacks for friends...Thank you pinterest for all of your fun ideas!! Like my watermelon lemonade (which was AMAZING...best thing ever.) I pretty much followed exactly the recipe, only I added 2 1/2 cups or so of fresh pureed watermelon.  Now I think if I were to do it again I might cheat and buy the lemonade already made...hand squeezing 2 cups of lemon juice and 1 cup of lime juice is a lot of freakin work!  Especially when it is 97 degrees (and probably more like 107 in my kitchen.)  But it was pretty worth it. So good!  We also had brushetta, tortellini skewers with pesto dip and chocolate dipped bananas! YUM.

There is so much more...and maybe someday here I will catch up...and do some posts on some things like my week at the beach or the day I went clothes shopping for my cousin's new baby girl (1 month till she gets born - I AM PUMPED!!) wait...actually you just have to see my favorite thing I got her...unreal.

baby swim suit...and those ruffles on the legs...please. TOO much. should the day ever come that I have a little girl...uh oh...bye bye money.

anyway...hopefully some day, some time I can play catch up. But until then I'll try to be better, or, at least stay current...get back on the train...afterall, what do they call these days? the dog ones? when summer starts to come to an end...I already see it...Daily Doubles starts on Monday...that means school is getting ready to kick back into gear -- wha???? does time just turn to warp speed once you cross the line of 25?  holy smokes I swear yesterday was May 1st...but apparently that was 3 1/2 months ago. whoa. well anyway, daily doubles means school...and school means schedules and routines and back to the grind. So usually when I am in my routine I am much better about staying on top of things like blogs.

I'll leave you on one last parting note...to round off this blog of a dozen things about nothing but random stuff...anyone need one last good book to end the summer with?? Cause I found one!!! If you're a fan of Hunger Games...that kind of addicting sci fi stuff that you can't put down and finish 500 pages in about 2 days...go buy Divergent, by Veronica Roth.

I read it in less than a week...and two nights ago bought the second one (it's a trilogy) called Insurgent.  I'm only about 70 pages in...but it's just as great so far. The only thing is...the third one isn't released. And normally I get lucky and don't find these types of books until half the world has read them and all of them have been released...so I can read the whole group just bam...bam...bam...like Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter - I didn't read any of them till they were all out...so now, I'm about to learn what it's like to have to WAIT for a book to be released. I'll let you know how that goes. I'm pretty sure it's my lack of patience that lead to my cursing problem.

The One About The Glitter Room

I mulled over that title for a minute...because if anyone email-subscribes to this blog I am about 100% sure that it will end up in your spam folder.  But it was the title I liked the best so I decided, ehh, it's happening.

I think maybe it was about 4 weeks ago now...but my mom and I (and one of her friends) were down at the Milwaukie Farmers Market on a Sunday afternoon and on our way back to the car we ventured into, what has become, one of my new favorite spots.  I'm not even kidding!! It really is one of the best places!!

See, there is this amazing and adorable little chocolatier down there called Enchante.  I don't think they have a website...I think maybe they only have a Facebook - at any rate, it is maybe the cutest little chocolate shop ever.  She used to be in this little storefront but has since moved down the street about a block or so to a larger space.  In the mean time, her sister opened up this adorable craft store, it's called k.marie.  Here is a link to her blog.  It is THE best craft store I've ever been in to, it is just so inspiring!  And on top of that, she turned the back part of the store into a craft room! Hence, Glitter Room.  It is my new favorite place.  And I have spent the last few Saturday mornings in there creating the most amazing stuff!

Two weeks ago I made a jewelry box and last Saturday I made 3 greeting cards (all royal, queen and crown inspired!) - I just love that place!! not to mention, she always has the greatest little snacks and even last week her sister brought over a plate of (amazing) chocolates! Do I dare even say I'm not even that much of a chocolate lover? But I think I ate 3 of them.

Anyway, this is what it all looks like!

This was my little station when I first walked in for the jewelry box class.  Everything is individually set up and our little names are on our spots!  We have all of our supplies sitting there waiting for us (my favorite was obviously the glass of glitter - she seriously has the BEST glitter)...plus so cute and creative - there is an electrical strip that runs down the center of the table (you can kind of see it in that picture) but we all have individual mini glue guns that we can just plug in right there!! such a smart idea!! I just love everything about it! Here are some pictures of around the Glitter Room.  This is the snack area!

 and this was the coffee table...I didn't take pictures of the coffee (I should have! It is always set up so cute!) but those little caramels, um...SOO good.

 just a few of the little areas of crafts and decor...

and this mirror!!! I know it is hard to read BUT I think maybe the best mirror I have ever seen, in my life.  I literally started laughing when I read it...can you see what it says?? "mirror...mirror...what the @#$&???" too good.

My final piece!!!! It's just so romantical looking!! I love it. It sits on my vintage-y desk in my room and it just makes me smile!

 this is a quick pic from the street of what the little store front looks like.

 Here is my set up from last weekend -- card making class.

I realized when I got home that I didn't even take any pictures of my final products! Just snaps along the way...but then I thought eehh...that's ok because in case any of you receive any of these cards, you will be surprised and not all like yeah thanks I saw this already...Anyway, LOVE this place.

Unfortunately, I think it has inspired me to start another project restoration...this time of (what we call) the media room...It's a little room right off of our family room, that leads out to a side patio where the hot tub is.  It has served as many things in it's day.  A tv room when we were little, turned arts & crafts room, turned homework room with computer (in jr. high and high school), turned kind of like an unused storage room of all things random that don't quite have a place....anyway, I'm finally nearly done with project restoration bonus room...I think craft room will be next?? Uh oh...