Cora is One!

It's hard to believe that Cora is a year old already! My parents were in town on her birthday, and we had planned to have a couple of close friends over for cake, but poor Eric came down with some nasty bug; our low-key celebration ended up being even lower-key than originally planned.

We dressed Cora up like a cupcake (my mom tells me I wore this pink dress on my first birthday) and then jammed her full of cupcakes (which she loooooved). It was a fun day - a fun day for our fun, joyful little girl.

Oh Deer

Thanks to the handy-work of Eric's mom, Cora is now the cutest little deer around!

 It's a teeny bit big right now, but that's perfect - hopefully that means she'll be able to wear it next winter, too!!

Weirdest Hobby Yet

Remember this (very dramatic) post about my love for fiber art? Well, I've tried very hard to ignore my desire for wooly wall-hangings, but to no avail. My love for them has, in fact, grown. So much so that I've started making my own! Ha! And it's stinking fun! I've made a few sample pieces, just practicing the different kinds of weaving stitches? methods? and then I finally made this little one using actual colors and patterns and planning. My goodness, they take a lot of planning!

So far, I've loved curling up by the fire of an evening and weaving my little heart out. It's really relaxing.

This little guy is pretty strongly inspired by Maryanne Moodie - I really like the geometric shapes she includes in her work.

Hole-in-the-wall

We did it, we chopped another doorway in the wall between the kitchen and dining room.

The doorway is pretty nice.... it makes the kitchen much brighter and is a nice shortcut...  though it's not a vast improvement like some of the other changes we've made. I'm hoping it will inspire Eric to let us redo the rest of the kitchen post-haste!

Kitchen Phase 1 part b is complete! Now parts c-z and then Phases 3-10.... *sigh*

We Have Some Super Cool Friends

You guys! Nick and Hanna are officially small business owners!! I can't believe I didn't tell you (all three of you) sooner!! Nick is a really talented woodworker and designer, while Hanna knows her way around a sewing machine, and together they founded their own company, Pare Furniture + Design. I'm pretty much in love with their Distill Lounge Chair, though the craftsmanship on everything they make is ah-mazing. Go, buy their stuff (and then give it to me)!!!

A Bookshelf for Bean

When we were last in Colorado, Eric's mom gave us a box of books that were his as a child. We sorted through them with Adam and Joe and, I must say, watching grown men get exited about children's books was a hoot. A lot of the books were too tall for the storage cube in Cora's room so some ended up on our bookshelf in the den and then, this weekend, we hung a few shelves in her room to display the rest. I think they're pretty cute.

I wanted shelves low enough that the Beanie-baby could pull herself up and, eventually, reach the books she wants to read. Plus, I think these shelves treat her books like the little pieces of artwork that they are.

Souk Rug

Several months ago, Eric's aunt gave us a souk rug. GAVE IT TO US FOR FREE. Did you know that if I could have any rug in the world, it would be this. exact. rug? No? Well, this. exact. rug. is fab.u.lous. I looooove it.

This particular rug was previously a floor model at Restoration Hardware and it needed a good cleaning, but since I was pregnant and useless when we received it, it just hung out in our basement until last week. Then, last week, I rented a carpet cleaner and shampooed the daylights out of it.

If you've researched anything about cleaning wool rugs on the interwebs, it's supposedly a really bad idea to get wool wet. It's best to get them professionally cleaned. However, I took the risk, shampooed the thing, and it looks pretty stinking awesome, if I do say so myself. I went over it probably 6 or 7 times and left it to dry overnight - with every fan in our house blowing on it. It does still smell a little like a wet sheep.... but I'm hoping that will fade with time :).

Look at how shiny and clean it looks!!!!

After it was dry, I hauled this thing upstairs all by myself, which was probably a really stupid idea, but I blame Cora for that lapse in judgement. She was sitting in her highchair, watching me struggle up the stairs, laughing her head off. Her cheering prompted me to suck it up, and amidst cries of, "I am woman, hear me roar!" I managed to get it into the living room all by myself.

I like it a lot, but I think we'll periodically switch this one out with Eric's Big Lebowski rug. His favorite rug in the spring, mine in the fall... that seems fair....

My Version of Secret Holiday & Co.

Have you ever had a moment when you're in the store/art gallery/whatever and you're like, "omg, look at that cute/cool/trendy such-and-such, I could totally make that in ten minutes, and I can't believe they want (insert ridiculous seeming price here) for it." NO? Well I have that thought ALL THE TIME. For example:

This is the work of Secret Holiday & Co. These banners range from $65 to $85 and there is a huuuuge waiting list for them. Huge. It would take years to receive one because, as far as I can tell, they are produced by one lady who makes them by hand in her spare time.

So I decided to make one. The silly thing is, I don't even really like them that much. I think I was more annoyed that I could make this thing for less than $10 and that there are apparently thousands of people out there that want one and are willing to pay a ridiculous amount for them.

I felt a little weird just copying these banners exactly - I made my banner a little differently shaped and I tried to come up with my own verbiage... but that ended up being a total bust. I knew it would go in Cora's room so I wanted it to have some good advice like, "Be strong and courageous" but "courageous" is a stinking long word and wouldn't fit. "Brave" fits perfectly. I thought of doing a fruit of the spirit, but "Love, Joy, Peace" sounds like a Christmas card and, guess what, "Be kind" is already a SHCO banner. I should have just said, "Mama knows best." Omg that's brilliant; I wish I had thought of that sooner. Danggit.

Anyway, my finished banner turned out fine - since I couldn't pick one phrase, I made it double-sided; that way I can flip it over and be doubly indecisive. I just hot-glued the letters on instead of sewing them and now I'm wondering if I can peel them off and change the words around..... because "mama knows best".... at least the second time around....

9 Months!

Cora is 9 months old today! It's like she woke up and decided, "hey, I'm getting up there in months, I should probably master this crawling thing. Well, today seems as good a day as any...." She's been all over the place this morning! I put her down in her room and she meandered her way to the front room for a while before heading back down the hall to our bedroom. She was having so much fun that she didn't want to go down for her first nap; I think she was so proud of her new skill that she wanted to practice it more. I fear we will have our hands full with our now mobile little creature....

I was talking to a friend and we were ruing the fact that our tiny babies are growing so quickly; fortunately though, each stage has been more fun than the last. I think that helps me to not mind quite as much. I mean, look at this little face - so proud that she is "soooo biiiig." Much more fun than the little needy blob we brought home from the hospital (I can say that because I love her).

Aaaaand.... We're Back!

Eric got me a computer for my birthday waaay back in May (yes, I am aware, I do have a wonderful husband), but I've been putting off writing a return post because, well, writing about everything we've done since Mac I died is pretty daunting. It's been a while!

So.... short and sweet..... what you've been missing from our very exciting, all-important lives:

1) Cora is still freaking adorable and is becoming more fun and sweet by the day.

2) June sucked. Eric was working nights. I was exhausted, and if Cora wasn't awake/needing attention, I was probably on the couch eating or watching TV. Or both. Being a single parent is exhausting. So, needless to say, we did nothing that entire month but try to keep our heads above water.*

*No photo because JUNE. SUCKED. and should be wiped from memory. 

3) Spent the fourth of July in Denver/Castle Rock/Grand Lake; had a wonderful relaxing couple of weeks at the in-laws' cabin.

4) Two weeks later, did the Candisc ride in North Dakota. A week of camping/biking/traveling with an infant and the in-laws.

5) Then, spent a week in Kalispell with my family. Got to see my brothers (!!!!) and meet Ryan's wife and baby daughter for the first time (!!!!!!!!!!!!). Included trips to GNP and a GLORIOUS day at the lake.

6) Just got back yesterday from Eric's uncle's (ridiculously fun) wedding in Colorado.

Note: it's absurd and annoying how many times I leave the house without realizing that Cora and I "match" (see above). I think it happens because I won't really put her in clothes that I don't like and wouldn't wear myself.... Also, I often dress according to how I feel and since I also dress her.... *sigh* Super nerdy and embarrassing. 

7) I am incredibly glad to be home - the last two months have been so fun and full of travel and family, but I think we all need a good long rest and our house seriously needs cleaning; the dust really piles up when no one is there to disturb it.

Stay tuned; more design-y, baby-y, crafty posts to come!

RIP

I haven't been able to post in a while because my computer has passed on.... I've attempted to upload photos via my iPhone and iPad, but blogger doesn't seem to like my apple products and it hasn't ever worked. So, until we cough up $2,500 (yikes!!) for a new computer, I probably won't be able to post much. Sad day. I seriously miss that computer. I used it pretty much every day for almost seven years....

Hair + Bows

I got Cora some hair bows the other day when we were out shopping. I mean, why the heck not? She has enough hair, for Pete's sake!

She seems not to mind at all; in fact, she looks pretty happy in them!

Eric's not a huge fan, though; I think he's unsure of what to do with so much girly-ness. To help him to be more comfortable - I sometimes put Cora in every pink item of clothing that she owns, pull her hair up, and slap a bow in it.

Haha! He has to get used to it somehow!

Citrus Lane

Well, folks, we have a mystery on our hands. Someone has been sending Cora gift boxes from Citrus Lane.... We got a box last month, but it didn't have a name with it so we thought it was a promotional attempt to get us to subscribe. But then we got one again this month so the question remains: who is sending us these delightful little boxes?? Any tips??

Sewing Miffy

I'm always dreaming up sewing projects that are far above my skill level; I usually go buy the fabric and then it sits in my sewing drawer, intimidating me, until I forget about it or decide on another, even more unattainable project. I've been trying to break this cycle by practicing my sewing skills on little projects that can be pieced together in less than a day. The first of these was a Miffy pillow (the first that was successful, anyway). I think it's pretty cute if I do say so myself. 

Here's Miffy:

And my Miffy model, of course:

If you're wondering about Miffy, she is book character created by Dutch author and illustrator Dick Bruna. You can learn more about her here. 

Happy Sunday

Our Sunday is off to a wonderful start :)

Dumb Ways to Die

My mom got me a ukelele for Christmas and it's been a ton of fun. I've mastered basic songs like "Big Rock Candy Mountain" and "Over the Rainbow," but this week I'm learning the following song:



Cora thinks it's a hoot :) Except for when Eric sings. Then she is less than amused....

Valentine's Day

Eric spoiled me rotten on Valentine's Day. Not only were there flowers and chocolate, but he got me (us) an iPad. How nice is that? Eric has had to work a lot lately so it was really great to just relax, have dinner in, and be together as a family. Cora even giggled for the first time. At Eric, of course.

"A Bad Kind of Radical"

My friend, Chrissie, shared an article today on Facebook that I love and find so encouraging. It's called, "How Ephesians Killed My Radical Christianity."As Chrissie said, "It's so difficult to be faithful in the little things, when I could be doing great things for God (without being weighed down by all the tedious obedience Christ in his lordship expects from us)." It's definitely an article that young adults, especially those involved in campus ministries, should read.

Bath Hair is the Best Hair

Six Weeks

Cora is getting chubbier, cuter, and more fun by the day. Her eyes are becoming more blue, and she's getting pretty good at smiling...

Boden Kids

I'm loving Boden's clothing for children. They have really wonderful prints that are cheerful and colorful with nary a rhinestone in sight. My favorites are definitely the Retro Print Pinafore (top) and the Jersey Dungarees (second row left). So cute and summery!!

From top to bottom: Retro Print Pinne (in both colors) / Jersey Dungarees /  5-Pack Onesies / Sweet Embroidered Dress / Pretty Collar Jersey Dress / Pretty Printed Tea Dress / Sunny Aplique Tshirt

Skiing

We took Cora on her first ski trip on Saturday; we rented some cross country skis and headed up to Red Lodge for the day. We didn't go too far, I'm still really out of shape from being pregnant, but it was a beautiful day and we had an awesome time.

Four Weeks

Cora is four weeks old today. Prepare yourself for an insane amount of baby pictures....