Hand Made Valentine, Roses & Dinner for 2

Tomorrow is Valentines day, but we are cheating and making a Valentines Weekend. Today is our day together, mushy stuff and all. Tomorrow we are heading out, about an hour away to a place called Kernville with some friends to celebrate "Wiskey Flats Days". Its always a lot of fun, wild west style. I might even bust out my cowboy boots. 

I decided to go the handmade route this V-day for Ryan. My friend Melissa sent me this cute idea (click to check it out). I'm lazy though, and decided I would improvise and make it a little easier on myself. But I kinda stole the general idea, just tweaked it A LOT. So when you are thinking... that doesn't resemble yours at all.... well I know- sorry for the build up.  

I bought a bunch of Valentines day scrapbooking paper, red glitter, and some red ribbon at JoAnnas Fabric and Craft store. I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with it all, but I knew I'd figure it out by the time I got home. I just started with cutting out a bunch of hearts, gluing them together, on top of each other, and adding lots of glitter.  The first heart says "I Love..." And then every other heart can finish that sentence.... like "how you buy me wine when I'm grumpy." Or "how you take out the trash without ever being asked." I didn't have a hole punch so I stuck a screw driver through the paper (ghetto version of a hole punch), strung the ribbon through, knotted it, then made a bow.  It was a lot of fun to make, I found myself thinking of him the whole time.

 

  

  

My favorite part was giving it to him. He LOVED it, and his smile got bigger and bigger with each heart he read. He wanted to hang it up in the house (like it was decoration). That made my heart flutter. =) He put it up on our china hutch for all to see how much I love him. He is wonderful.

And for me Flowers. A man can never go wrong with flowers I tell ya. This morning I received a delivery of white, red, and pink roses... they smell so good. 

 

There was baby's breath in them too, but I took that out because I love baby's breath all by itself. It doesn't do too much for me as a filler, but on its own its lovely. 

 So really, its like I got 2 bouquets in one! 

Plus the other night I also got this gorgeous bulb when he came home from the grocery store. I guess it was a pre-valentines day flower. Or maybe because I was just in a bad mood and he wanted me not to be. Either way, it worked.

 

For the rest of the day we are just going to lounge around with each other. I'm finishing re-doing my coffee table while he is Wii Boxing.

 Our plans for tonight are making a delicious dinner together out of my Williams Sonoma cookbook that his sitster got me for Christmas. 

Maybe Salmon...?  

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend filled with LOVE. 

I call my left bicept Russel

I found a great steal at Salvation army last week. 50% off a $55 dollar table set. Naturally, I snagged them up. I wasn't quite sure what to do with them, but I knew something could be done. I was up for the challenge, but limited in lifting power. My husband was at work. No worries- I called in my reinforcements. My older sister Kacey and superman friend Russel. Here they are hard at work...



I didn't lift anything, I'm a wimp. With Xena and Superman around I wasn't needed much.



Now I have two new pieces to work on. I went to Lowes ad picked out the paint today. I got a lesson in how white is never just white! I can't wait to show you the finished project.


I got started on it a little bit yesterday...

Thank you Kacey and Russel!!!

Great Weekend with Family

I hope you had a great weekend! I can't think back to when I had a better one. Friday night we had my husbands family over, and Sunday afternoon we had my family over for a birthday BBQ! It was a great weekend.

Theres Stephanie, (Ryan's sister) Me, Grandma Juanita, and Misty (my sister in law) and Jerri (Ryan's mom).

Sunday was my older sister Kacey's Birthday, and Thursday was my little sister's birthday. On Sunday we all got together and BBQ'd. It was a great day. I made (well out of a box) cupcakes and a bday cake. Everybody loves Funfetti! That's what I'm hearing at least.





Time to cut the cake.
My sisters Love each other... play nice ladies.

My lovely mom (and attached at all times, dog) and my wonderful husband Ryan.

It felt great to have everyone over in one weekend in our new house. (okay well its actually pretty old, 62 years to be exact).

Cleaning An Heirloom Quilt

Two things I have from my great grandmother... my middle name, and this antique quilt that she handmade. It has been at my parents house for a few decades. Since we now have our own house and have the room to bring all of our childhood things home, it has finally come to rest with me. I have no idea how long it has been since its been washed. Probably well over 10 years, which is way too long. Although washing a an heirloom quilt too often is probably way worse.

Fill your bathtub with lukewarm water.
Add about a cup of vinegar to gently brighten colors without damaging it.
Add a a little bit of a gentle detergent.
Swish it, dunk it, swirl it all around it the water for a little while (about 5-10 minutes) .
Then drain the water and fill the tub again with clean water, then drain it again. Do this until the water runs clear, no bubbles and no fogginess.
OR if you have a removable shower head...
You wont have to do as many steps of the filling and draining. Just turn the water on and VERY gently stand on the quilt to help with the rinsing process. Fill with clean water - squeeze the old water out.
Ring out the quilt as best as you can to get it damp, not still soaking.
Then, OUT of the direct sunlight, hang it on a line to dry (or if you don't have a clothes line then over some chairs or bar stools).

After some time outside the quilt was mostly all the way dry. The corner pieces were still a bit damp. I brought the quilt inside to rest of some chairs to finish up the drying process inside. You don't want an antique quilt to be out in the elements longer than it has to.
And there you have it, easy as pie and much safer than running it through the washing machine or dry cleaning.

Happy Birthday to my Dad

My Dad and I, well over 20 years ago. I love this picture. Its pretty blury since I had to take a picture of a picture. =) Just me and my dad, fishing. Way before he made me start to touch the fish, and then I was OUT!
Such an awesome moment, for my dad to walk me down the aisle. One of the best feelings I've ever had.
Proud and as happy as could be dancing with my dad on my wedding day.

Happy 55th Birthday Dad. I Love you.