Paint Colors
This thought has really been bothering me recently.
Why do they even sell ugly paint colors???
I know that "good" paint colors are subjective but colors like "convict orange" and "pee yellow"...really? Why do we even let people have the option of picking these. People wonder why people make bad paint decisions...because we let them!!
Anyone...can you explain why we have ugly paint color options??
About tonight:
I had a great dinner at Redfeather with a few friends from high school tonight and had a great meal with some great company. The rest of my day was shopping/returning clothes with my mom, who is such a trooper to help me find awesome clothes! I ended up with a great black sweater dress and a grey sweater and some darling accessories. We shopped at Barbara Barbara which has been a favorite of mine for years. I will second the yelp reviews and say they take such great care of you and make you feel so cute when you do find a fabulous piece of clothing! And to also make a rebuttal, yes the clothes are expensive...FOR BOISE! The clothes here are a steal compared to DC prices...so stock up...especially if you are BBDakota or Jack BBDakota fan... because there stuff is darling and looks fabulous on my five foot frame.
After that my mom and I went to Cabellas to return a gift for my sister and I scouted the BBHP game to play with Erin and also scouted the fabulous Idaho Men in the store (can we same CAMO anyone?)
I am getting increasingly stressed about returning to DC. My family is awesome and Idaho is so beautiful. I miss seeing mountains and skiing and feeling like myself. But I also know there will be a huge amount of relief getting back to DC and knowing that I am not going to cry for days or plan on how I am going to pack my car with all of my stuff to move back to the west coast. At least I can say I have grown enough into DC, that I feel like I fit in, I have a place, and I like that place (even if I do miss my former lives). But...change is good. And I am growing in DC. Figuring out who I am, finding happiness in different things and learning to realize that the Idaho part of me will never leave, but i just have to figure out how to mix into my big-girl self.
Why do they even sell ugly paint colors???
I know that "good" paint colors are subjective but colors like "convict orange" and "pee yellow"...really? Why do we even let people have the option of picking these. People wonder why people make bad paint decisions...because we let them!!
Anyone...can you explain why we have ugly paint color options??
About tonight:
I had a great dinner at Redfeather with a few friends from high school tonight and had a great meal with some great company. The rest of my day was shopping/returning clothes with my mom, who is such a trooper to help me find awesome clothes! I ended up with a great black sweater dress and a grey sweater and some darling accessories. We shopped at Barbara Barbara which has been a favorite of mine for years. I will second the yelp reviews and say they take such great care of you and make you feel so cute when you do find a fabulous piece of clothing! And to also make a rebuttal, yes the clothes are expensive...FOR BOISE! The clothes here are a steal compared to DC prices...so stock up...especially if you are BBDakota or Jack BBDakota fan... because there stuff is darling and looks fabulous on my five foot frame.
After that my mom and I went to Cabellas to return a gift for my sister and I scouted the BBHP game to play with Erin and also scouted the fabulous Idaho Men in the store (can we same CAMO anyone?)
I am getting increasingly stressed about returning to DC. My family is awesome and Idaho is so beautiful. I miss seeing mountains and skiing and feeling like myself. But I also know there will be a huge amount of relief getting back to DC and knowing that I am not going to cry for days or plan on how I am going to pack my car with all of my stuff to move back to the west coast. At least I can say I have grown enough into DC, that I feel like I fit in, I have a place, and I like that place (even if I do miss my former lives). But...change is good. And I am growing in DC. Figuring out who I am, finding happiness in different things and learning to realize that the Idaho part of me will never leave, but i just have to figure out how to mix into my big-girl self.
Nicole and I take our gingerbread house building very seriously. Rather we don't do lame houses.
When I was younger I actually would make "blueprints" and would build the house from scratch. My best attempt to date was a GBH that ended up being referred to as the "cathedral". It got to be a bit bigger and more elaborate than planned.
This year we used pre-made gingerbread houses, but combined two kits to create a "Sun Valley McMansion" (yes pre-made, I know, BUT we were under a time crunch!). We also totally cheated and used hot glue to put the thing together but honestly I don't think I will ever go back to frosting construction again. The structural integrity (some architectural jargon courtesy of Nicole) was much stronger, and the construction period was much shorter, under budget and might push us into the LEED Silver or Gold range if we are lucky.
I must say I was very impressed with what we produced this year. Take a look!:
Construction Phase:
Completion: Back Yard. Check out the swimming pool with diving board complete with swimming/diving gummy bears.
Final product. My beautiful Christmas lilies in the background and the poodle getting ready to lick the house...
When I was younger I actually would make "blueprints" and would build the house from scratch. My best attempt to date was a GBH that ended up being referred to as the "cathedral". It got to be a bit bigger and more elaborate than planned.
This year we used pre-made gingerbread houses, but combined two kits to create a "Sun Valley McMansion" (yes pre-made, I know, BUT we were under a time crunch!). We also totally cheated and used hot glue to put the thing together but honestly I don't think I will ever go back to frosting construction again. The structural integrity (some architectural jargon courtesy of Nicole) was much stronger, and the construction period was much shorter, under budget and might push us into the LEED Silver or Gold range if we are lucky.
I must say I was very impressed with what we produced this year. Take a look!:
Construction Phase:
Completion: Back Yard. Check out the swimming pool with diving board complete with swimming/diving gummy bears.
Final product. My beautiful Christmas lilies in the background and the poodle getting ready to lick the house...Sunday, December 27, 2009
Home for the Holiday(s)
My first week at home has been wonderful (despite STILL being sick, pretty sure I am going to lose my voice and have a cough for the next year of my life) but spending time with the family has been great. Wyatt and Nicole took off today (Jon had to go back yesterday which was sad, but I relished in every moment I got to spend with Wyatt. While I know I am a bragging Aunt, I think you would have to agree with me that Wyatt is the most amazing, adorable and sweet loving little guy you will ever meet! Last week I got to have an entire afternoon alone with him while Nicole took one of her architecture exams and it was the best 4 hours I have had in a long time. He is really engaged with people and laughs a lot! Last night I got him barreled over with laughs singing my version of "your a maniac a maniac!" he loved it! He hasn't started crawling yet, but he is getting really close and when you hold him sometimes he will start jumping up and down with his legs like he is in his jumper, so he is ready to go!
Here are some favorites of Wyatt:
Here are some favorites of Wyatt:
Wyatt became increasingly aware of Theo and really wanted to "play" with him by the end of his visit. Luckily Theo can put up with Wyatt petting (rather pulling large chunk of fur). But I have a feeling Wyatt and Theo are going to be good buddies.
Me and Wyatt
Wyatt Hanging out with the Christmas tree awaiting Santa.
For Christmas eve we went to my Aunt Dixie's house for our traditional get together with them, my family and my cousins who live in Mtn. Home. It was crazy to see my second cousins...every year they get taller and more grown up! We did our usual Christmas gift game and then had a delish dinner and opened presents. My cousins got me a great little microwave steamer and my aunt and uncle got me a much needed scarf and glove set.
Christmas morning we got some exciting news... (More information to come!) and then ate breakfast, did stockings, and started on gifts. Wyatt had to take a break for a mid-morning nap but then joined us and was really into unwrapping (and eating) the wrapping paper. Family friends came over to see Wyatt (and us) and then the rest of the day consisted of constructing and decorating the gingerbread house ( another post) and decorating gingerbread cookies which is a long standing family tradition. We use food coloring and toothpicks to draw designs on the cookie frosting. Some turn out really cool...some are really ugly....
Tomorrow we are going to go skiing in the afternoon and then I am sure I am going to need to take a nap for sure. Hope everyone had a great Christmas!!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Doing Absolutely Fabulously Nothing
Today consisted of...nothing.
In a good way. Nicole had a good friend come over with her family to see Wyatt and then I took and nap along with Wyatt (boo being sick- I hope I get over this soon!) and then ran some errands with my mom and picked up some cold/cough medicine.
I have to comment that one thing I forget about being home is how quiet the world seems. Granted things in Idaho are just a tad bit...."slower", but in general there is just less noise. When you sleep you can hear the hum of the refrigerator upstairs. And when you walk outside you can hear a siren downtown. And that whole people are friendly, I forgot just how friendly. I am constantly taken aback by people talking, commenting and generally just treating you like their BFF. I am sure my face says "strange" every time it happens to me.
Hopefully tomorrow I really start to feel better because as much as a love lounging around my parents house, I am ready to get out and get some shopping done!
I will also say...and this is for the record books...I wish I was in DC and could play in the snow (BUT I am very thankful to be home safe and sound).
In a good way. Nicole had a good friend come over with her family to see Wyatt and then I took and nap along with Wyatt (boo being sick- I hope I get over this soon!) and then ran some errands with my mom and picked up some cold/cough medicine.
I have to comment that one thing I forget about being home is how quiet the world seems. Granted things in Idaho are just a tad bit...."slower", but in general there is just less noise. When you sleep you can hear the hum of the refrigerator upstairs. And when you walk outside you can hear a siren downtown. And that whole people are friendly, I forgot just how friendly. I am constantly taken aback by people talking, commenting and generally just treating you like their BFF. I am sure my face says "strange" every time it happens to me.
Hopefully tomorrow I really start to feel better because as much as a love lounging around my parents house, I am ready to get out and get some shopping done!
I will also say...and this is for the record books...I wish I was in DC and could play in the snow (BUT I am very thankful to be home safe and sound).
