Sew Classy

I started this project back in November, crazy I know. Not that this dress took a long time by any stretch of the imagination it simply got hung in the closet while other projects were being completed. Plus Mom Tobler took a month long "vacation" which once again put this baby on hold. At long last it is complete and I am thrilled.

I try not to keep track of time firstly because I never remember to and secondly once I start I get frustrated when I realize it's taken me 2 1/2 hours to put in a zipper which should have only taken me 15 minutes. It takes away from the joys of learning to sew and doing it correctly instead of quickly. (Okay I may or may not have stolen those words directly from Mom Tobler.) In total (including cutting which always consumes an entire day) it took me 5 sewing days (approx. 36 hours) not exactly what I'm used to, usually I'm trying to get it done so I can wear it to church the next day, but not feeling rushed was a nice change of pace.

I am so pleased with the final out come! I simply adore the brown! I am totally into high waisted skirts and the 50's style dresses right now. I think they are classy and better yet modest! It is so nice not having to alter, layer, or pin my clothes to make them modest. I love how the buttons finish off off this dress and the kick pleat in the back, just gives it that extra something.

The next project... clown dress. Not so classy but it will be cute. My clown pants I wear for work have a huge rip in the bottom and are missing a pocket. I've wanted to make a clown dress for awhile now but I couldn't find anything that wasn't too form fitting or formal. Hopefully I'll be able to get that done by May. I have to rip apart a dress that I bought at D.I. that was too small and put a corset in the back to make it fit. As far as my next full dress goes...

I've had my eye on this dress from Bettie Page for awhile now. I absolutely love it, only I can't decided whether I should make it a pencil or full? What are your thoughts?

Red Rocks

I finally made it to Red Rock to go hiking. Yes, I realize I have lived here for the past two years. And yes, I know it is only a 15 minute drive from my house, don't judge. The bible tells you not to.

Anyways back to hiking.

My goodness it was pretty. I do believe my perception of beauty has been slightly tainted since moving from Canada's lush green splendor. Mom Tobler and I have concluded that we admire what we've got and even though it's just rocks... I happen to think they're quite fascinating.

If only you could see how big this rock was that I was perched under. It was massive... but that is only half of the story behind this picture. This massive boulder was resting up on some other rocks which created a narrow tunnel that you could crawl through. Being the nosy person that I am I decide that I want to crawl through the hole. Just when I'm about to go through Mom Tobler says "I bet as soon as you get under that rock an earthquake will hit and you'll get squished." It goes without saying she has a way with words and knows just the right thing to say at just the right time.

Another thing I loved: the little stairs everywhere. Alright obviously I know they weren't originally there but they look so natural. I couldn't help but feel that they looked as though they led to some place with a story such as Jesus's tomb or something off of Indian Jones. Yes, I realize those are completely different but it's what I thought. I can feel you judging me again.

Can't you just imagine the story that is hidden behind these precious stairs. They lead to this waterfall.. don't get excited this is the desert. There was water and it was falling but I wouldn't call it a "waterfall". Still these stairs just captivate you.

My favorite part of hiking is exploring. Admittedly I got myself stuck a fair few times, but I always knew there was someone there to laugh and humiliate me. What are friends and family for?

On one such exploration we came across some hieroglyphics which were pretty awesome.

Here's Cortney, modeling the pretty landscape.

Confession, I do not like heights. They freak me out yet when bouldering I don't find it scary... well, most of the time. While I was crawling along this cliff however I suddenly became very aware of my surroundings. It was quite the fall and it was a little breezy. I was thankful to be surrounded by people I know would capture my death through pictures and probably blog about it ;)

And once again our adventures brought about another funny story. Once we got to the bottom of the mountain Mom Tobler looks at this little crevasse (above) and says I think we can get up this way... lets go. So up I went... yes admittedly it was a little tricky however I didn't think it was all that terrifying. The fall wasn't too bad. So after I get up it's Mom's turn. After attempting the same way I got up a few times she decides that she doesn't want to try any more. Climbing this little section wasn't worth it and she'd find another way up. Then after a little thought she decided to attempt to climb the crevasse with a different approach. She wiggled with her back against one wall and her feet against the other and pushed herself on top....

... which got her here. Stuck, scared, and embarrassed. Of course I couldn't help her until I took a picture of her glued to the floor of the mountain. Just then some fellow came marching down the same spot we were trying to get up. I looked at Mom and said "don't worry he'll help you." I was wrong he simply stepped over poor, terrified Mom Tobler and carried on his merry way. Who says chivalry is dead?

We had a lot of fun and are going to try to make this a weekly tradition. It's cheaper than Yoga and I get to explore the great outdoors. Thanks Mom Tobler and Cortney I'll see you same time next week :)

Three Piggies In A Blanket

A Recipe for Disaster:
Set temperature to a few degrees above Freezing Cold
Mix in one Star Wars Blanket
Add a handful of Wonderful Friends
You'll have yourself some Good Times

Be Mine?

This year for Valentine's I told Jakob that he had to deliver. The valentines we had 2 years ago he had to work so we had an early steak dinner... which was horrible. We tried marinating the steak while it was still frozen needless to say it was hard and bland. Yes, he was not the only one who sabotaged valentines, I had my very own contribution. I added pineapple juice to the gravy thinking it would be good... nope... I was wrong. Needless to say it was a funny experience. Last years Valentines was on a Sunday so it was pretty low key as well. So this year I was expecting him to deliver. And let me tell you he did.

It started off with a letter as per tradition but this was no ordinary letter... it was more along the lines of an information packet. A customizable dream date of my choice, with pictures included. I was instructed to choose 3 of the 7 options provided, all of which were either athletic or involved food. This was totally not what I was expecting, but anything that didn't involve me standing in front of a mirror getting all dolled up sounded perfect to me.

I narrowed it down to Lacrosse, or tennis and he chose LaX. I've wanted him to "teach" me how to play for a while now so I thought it would be perfect. Plus he loves LaX, I'm sure he'd love it even more if he could play with someone who could throw the ball in his direction, but regardless, we had fun. We walked to the park and soaked up some of the sunshine. It was beautiful and the tree's are almost ready to blossom. I love being able to say it's "spring" in February. It's almost bathing suit season *woot woot*. Oh gosh I'm getting carried away, back to Valentines Day.

I surprised myself with being able to catch the ball fairly well, it was throwing the thing that I sucked at. Jakob played field lacrosse which isn't as common in Canada due to the 7 months of snow, so I'd never seen a "long pole" on a lacrosse stick before I saw him play back on Halloween of 2008. I liked the little stick better for catching and the defense stick for throwing, so typical me.

It was a lot of fun watching him goof around. I could tell how much he missed playing, he no longer had anytime for sports once he started working and going to school full time. Just one more thing that he sacrificed for me. One day I think we'll gather up "the boys" and have a game. That would be a blast to watch!

After a while we switched it up and went to play tennis which I've only played twice and Jakob's never tried. It was really funny, he's a natural born athlete... me, not so much. Regardless he never once made me feel incompetent, embarrassed or silly, and that meant a lot to me.

After tennis we went and picked up some fruit for fondue and ordered a Chinese feast. Only problem... it took and hour and a half to arrive!!! Oh but it was worth it! I think it was our best selection of items thus far! SO GOOD!! We were so full that we didn't have any room for fondue.

My fortune cookie had 3 slips of paper in them and 2 of them were the same. Feeling a little cheated I opened another cookie which had the same fortune again. Yes, I think the universe was trying to tell me something!

It was a wonderful Valentines day and I had the most perfect Valentine to share it with. I'm so lucky to be in love with such a wonderful man! If you're wondering what I did for him, let's just say a little candle light goes a long way. Okay, that was probably inappropriate but I never said you had to read it! And yes I know I didn't post the rest of Valentines week and it's because I didn't do anything. Guilty as charged. Next year I will be prepared. I hope you all had a wonderful day!

Let It Shine

Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows.
~ Robert Green Indersoll

I have been thinking a lot about sunshine lately, first of all because I'm craving some vitamin D and secondly because my friend Jenna will eventually be starting her own photography business and it'll be called Let It Shine. Which got me to thinking about the simple little things in my life that shimmer like rays of sunshine. It was then that I stumbled upon this phrase written in the concrete by the stairs of my college campus. Every time I past it I smile and it gives me that little reminder of who I am and how much my Father in Heaven loves me. It helps me to remember how beautiful life is and to enjoy every moment. I may never know who wrote those three little words in the cement but they have touched my heart. So I ask you readers... what is the sunshine in your life?

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. ~ Louisa May Alcott

Message of Love

Some might recall the letter that Jakob gave me for Christmas this year. I thought it was so cute I wanted to recreate it onto a pillow. So onto Google I went in search of such a thing. I stumbled into this site that made full size pillow cases, not exactly what I was looking for but why not inquire the price..... $40!!! I almost had a heart attack! Plus shipping and handling and they weren't even stitched on! So I decided to make them myself, for the tune of $3.45 (Mom Tobler and I had everything on hand except an embroidery hoop.)

I am so pleased with the end result! And it was super easy (it took me 7 1/2 hours but it was easy). They fit just perfectly on our bed and Jakob loved them. It has been one of my favorite creations thus far. *sigh* So cute!

One Sweet Letter

Day 2: A candy gram. It doesn't get any easier than that. I found choosing candy was quite difficult compared to back home. We have a larger selection of candy bars to choose from thus making the letter a little more unique. He appreciated it none the less.

This wasn't my best effort at being romantic but what can I say.... good enough and my man appreciated it and that's all that matters. Here's what his letter said:

Dear m&m (Mr. Marvelous),
Lately I have been thinking about our mentos. Back when you whisked me away from my snow caped wonderland. I marvel at the rocky road it took to get us here (immigration) but it has been a good and plentyful journey. You are one hot tamale even if you are a nerd. I am looking forward to having little runts one day. You always know how to put that extra crunch into life. (I just so happen to be eating that crunch bar as I type) You are worth more than 100 grand. I love the extra punch you put into our sensational marriage. I love you fruity bear.
xoxo
Love your Sweetart

Remember When...

I've had Remember When by Alan Jackson stuck in my head for the past 3 days. While contemplating something I could do that was quick and easy for Jakob I found myself reminiscing. I have been doing a lot of that as of late. I was reading our old letters and looking at some pictures from 2006 when he was a new missionary celebrating Christmas in our home, back before I knew the fairy tale I would step into, so I made him a "Remember When..." banner. I saw this idea on a blog somewhere but I can't remember where... my apologizes! I feel horrible not giving credit where credit is due!

On the back of each heart I wrote down a memory that was precious to us. To often I find we are looking forward to the future and missing out on the little moments. It's the little moments that mean the most to me. "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays" ~The Music Man. Jakob and I had a lot of fun "Remembering When" and we're thankful to have a lot of perfect yesterdays. Happy Valentines Week!

Fail

It is currently 9:43 p.m. in the chilly city of Las Vegas. I have had a fairly productive evening consisting of finishing my homework, washing and folding 3 loads of laundry and baking some muffins. oh and let's not forget, making flip charts, organizing my binder and emptying the color ink cartridge in the printer all for the sake of primary tomorrow. Just when I'm feeling pretty good about my productive self I realize.... it's February 5th... PANIC!

Allow me to explain...

Once upon a time somewhere back when I was twitterpated I had decided to start the tradition of Valentines week. Yes, I know I'm insane, don't judge. For the past two years (not like it's a life time but still) I've done something special for my darling husband every day the week before Valentines. Do you know why? Because he's worth it. However somewhere between church, school, work and homework I forgot ALL about it. Now I'm stuck with 26 hours to toss out some creativity consisting with only the supplies I have on hand because I cannot go shopping tomorrow.

Like I said... panic.

Got any ideas?