Spring Cleaning

Hello everyone!
Sorry to be MIA, but life has been, well, busy!  Plus the computer has been on and off the fritz here lately!

Anyway, I thought I would blog really quick about a recent spring cleaning incident that occurred at our abode.  Now, I am not really one to get fanatical about cleaning--don't get me wrong, I like a clean house--but I don't get all nuts-o with the gloves, toothbrush, and so on.  However, the laundry room was getting to me and I needed a good spot to store my craft stuff, hence a spring cleaning incident occurred!

First, a few before shots:

 where crafts were stored--see how things are busting out?

 I also was using my Vera Bradley bag, which really comes in handy when one is traveling, so I needed to empty it of crafts items.

 haphazard and hardly used (possibly expired) random cleaning products

 a bunch of random things that could clearly be re-organized and shuffled around for craft stuff!

 again, more random and haphazard cleaning supplies

yikes

So...I went through and threw out a bunch of stuff that I never used (or used once about 5 years ago); combined same or similar products; gathered like items in large Ziplock bags (love them for organizational purposed), and below you will see the end product:

new storage area for odd and end kitchen stuff, plastic ware, etc.

 Ahhh! Craft Central up top, Game Haven on the bottom.

 notice the use of Ziplock bags

Doesn't that look nice?!  I love it!

I'm sure you noticed that I do not have any after shots of the cleaning supply closet...that is because even though I went through and organized and re-vamped stuff, it still pretty much looked the same.  It's ok, I can close the door.

Now...with that behind me, I went outside to take in the spring weather and snap a few shots!  I need to take and post some more updated ones, because the daffodils have since gone away and we have new flowers and color to admire! 

Happy Spring!  Does anyone do Spring Cleaning?  If so, what exactly does it involve?  It sounds kind of daunting...

~Lexie

Spring Wreath

So...I had some free time over the weekend and decided to do some crafting--I love being creative, it helps me relax!

So, I had wanted to make another wreathe, since I love the one I made at Christmas, and the one I made for Sarah's precious baby girl.

Here is the finished product on our screened porch:

Here is what I started out with--I had an extra wire frame, some Styrofoam balls, yarn, felt, ribbon, etc. so I was good to go!

 I started by wrapping the white ribbon around the frame--securing it with my handy glue gun.

 The finished wrapped product.

 Here are some pics of how wrapped the yarn around the ball to create "yarn balls" (like the term I created).  There is no "right" way to do this--just wrap until you feel it is well covered and the top layer is in a "pattern" you like.

 Next, I cut circles out of the felt (I used martini glasses--they were the perfect diameter).

 Then I cut the circles into spirals--note the loopiness of the above spiral.

 You start your rosette by curling the end on itself, then securing it along the way with glue gun--be careful not to burn the bejeezus out of your finger, which I did multiple times throughout the process.

 Keep curling and shaping the rosette the way you want it to look.

 Then, you will get to the "center" of the spiral, which is a little circle--put the bottom of your rosette on the circle, and then use it to make the bottom of your rosette.

So, by the end of the first evening, I had pretty much run out of felt and was loving my wreath.  I brought it up to show Hubby and he asked me if I was going to finish it!  Then I thought, it would be so CUTE to do the ENTIRE thing--why didn't I think of that before?  So, I added Michael's to our list of errand stops the next day to pick up some more felt, yarn and glue gun sticks.

 So here is the wreath with the rest of the stuff I got/made to go on it, to make it a full and complete wreath.

 Here is a pile of rosettes for my wreath...

...and it looks like I need to make some more!

 Here is the finished product!

 I hung it on our door (don't you love the Brinks sticker).

I didn't so, I moved it to the right side of our screened in porch near the street.

Happy wreath-making! 

~Lexie

West Virginia...Mountain Mama

I spent last weekend in Huntington, West Virginia visiting a dear college friend and her family.  We had a b-l-a-s-t!  I got to see her home, meet her children for the first time (ages 6  months and 3 years), get to know her town, and have some great girl time!  It was great!

Here is a picture of Sarah and I over the summer at our Ten Year Reunion:

 

 Here is a Group shot of all attendees from the Class of 2000, just for fun :)

Anyway, back to my trip--Huntington, WV, for those of you who don't know, is about a 5 and a half hour drive from Richmond, VA--about 45 minutes past Charleston.  It was a super easy drive--all interstate!  I had my Books on Tape, beautiful scenery, Diet Coke, and interstate driving--it was great!  I snapped some pictures along the way (do not tell my Mom I did this, and I do not recommend doing this, as I imagine it is not terribly safe), but check out what I got to look at along my drive!

I got to Huntington just before dinner time--perfect timing, as Sarah (aka The Hostess with the Mostest) had a wonderful appetizer of Citrus, Rosemary, and Ginger Brie ready to munch on, accompanied by some sparkling wine!

(Don't worry, I have requested the recipe and will be sharing with you once I get it)

I also got to meet her sweet children, Jackson (3) and Ashlyn (6 months)...her most accommodating husband, Brian was also there to welcome me to their home!

 Her kids are so sweet and so cute!  Jackson is a laugh a minute and kept me entertained for much of the time I was there!  Ashlyn was a doll who would smile and cuddle up with you--loved meeting them!

Check out our dinner (I have requested this recipe as well)--Beef Tenderloin stuffed with Feta, Walnuts and Basil--yumm-o!

 

 

Brian opened the good stuff for us :)

We had an amazing evening catching up, reminiscing, and visiting with each other!  The next day was rather low-key--with lunch out in Huntington and a trip to the gym and then Black Bean Chili for dinner (with brownie ice cream sundaes and "Couples Retreat" after, snuggled in bed--Brian was on-call at the hospital, so he wasn't snuggling with us, in case you were wondering).

Huntington is a sweet, quaint town with neat neighborhoods tucked away, amazing houses, a cute downtown, and parks (as well as Tudor's Biscuit World, which I was able to snag on my way out of town on Monday).

 

 The next day we totally vegged for most of the day...and did a craft!  Instead of bringing Sarah and Brian a candle or hand towel or something they probably don't need, I brought stuff to make a Yarn Ball Wreath for their home (I just think they are so darn cute)!  The original idea was that Sarah and I would both make one, but then Ashlyn really wanted to help, so Sarah kept her happy while talking to me while I worked on the wreath.

 

 

 

So, here is a little tutorial--

I had all of this stuff--but only used a fraction of it:

I wrapped the Wire Wreath Form in Yellow Ribbon:

 

Securing it with hot glue at the end (and occasionally along the way).  This was to prevent the mishap that occurred last time I made a Wreath.  What is not pictured is the wrapping of the yarn around the Styrofoam balls and me hot glueing the bejeezus out of it onto the wreath...use your imagination...

And...here is the finished product!  Pretty cute!  Sarah decided to put it in Baby Ashlyn's room, as it it perfect with the color scheme.

Speaking of their home, let me just show you some pictures of Sarah and Brian's gorgeous home, that was built in the early 1900s--it is 90 years old!  It is truly amazing and I know Sarah is eager to get started in decorating it all over and making it their own!!!

 The front of the house--taken from the street.

 The side of the house--the other side used to be open like this, but has since been enclosed to form a sun room-type space.

 This is a separate carriage house--how could would it be turn this into a separate guest house?

 I am loving the yellow wallpaper in this room---it is hard to tell, but there are birds intertwined with the full blooms.  I also adore the built in china cabinets!

 This is the front foyer--I love the wooden door and big brass lock--along with the charming details of the woodwork surrounding the front door.

 Here is the formal living room--a room Sarah is still getting together in her mind--I love the huge space they have to play with here and the fireplace and windows are great!  In the photo below is a painting of the house that the former owner left them--I love the personal touch!

Here are some pictures of Ashlyn's room--

 I LOVE the cornices around the windows!  Such a great idea!

 I think the wreath looks pretty good there--how about you? I suggested possibly getting a round mirror to go inside to give it a little something extra...

 And here is the lovely occupant...

Jackson was way into building with his Tinker Toys...

 Check out the cool train toy box in the background--love it!

Then there was the red "Jackson" chair--perfect for reading a story...or doing some building...

After our relaxing day, it was time to go out to dinner at one of Sarah and Brian's favorite restaurants--Rocco's.  It was delicious!  The food was amazing, the wine was fantastic, and the company was great!  I loved that the local Italian place had red-checked tablecloths!

 Fettuccine with Chicken, Cream, Walnuts and Sun dried tomatoes

 Mussels

 Lobster over Angel Hair Pasta in a Cream Sauce

 It was so yumm-o!!!  I can't wait to go again on my next visit to Huntington!

 Ashlyn loving the necklace I wore.

 Sarah loving on her "Little Lady".

Sarah and I

 What a wonderful trip!  We had a relaxing time filled with chatting, laughing, snuggling (with the kiddos), eating, and being together.  It was great and so good for my soul.

 

Thank you Price Family!

Has anyone else been to Huntingon?  Or anywhere else in West Virginia?
~Lexie