Happy Birthday, Biceps

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Biceps is growing closer to being an old man, and furiously trying to catch up to my old age.

 

We are six months apart, and I Lord this fact over him from time to time. It’s really funny when Grandma insists that we go by age for our line-up at prayer time. He has to go first. Hah.

 

But, since it’s his Birthday today, I am going to make this short and sweet.

 

I love this man. And here are a few reasons why:

1. He is the hardest worker I have ever seen.
2. He is one of the most positive people in my life.
3. He is faithful to me.
4. He opens my door. Every time.
5. He just sent his mother and me on a “Pamper Day”. But, he is the one busting his behind for 13 hours a day at his new job.
6. He puts God first, then me second-before himself-before football. And he LOVES football.
7. He is my best friend.

Happy Birthday, darling. I love you.

My Latest Article-Ken & Shelley Umezawa

The Umezawa’s found their way into my email inbox via a friend of a friend of a friend. After a few back and forth conversations, they were soon being interviewed in my home and photographed in my backyard.

Their story is remarkable, as she is a cancer survivor and he-her support system.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:

Shelley assumed the lump seen in the mirror was nothing more than a cyst and was shocked when the doctor told her otherwise. She remembers allowing a few tears to slip onto the exam table, and then slowly walking to the lobby where her husband, Ken, had been waiting.
“The look on her face distracted me from what I was thinking,” recalled Ken. “She looked shocked and terrified, which isn’t a look you see from her very often. That made it real.”

You can read the rest of my article about Ken & Shelley Umezawa here, at This Land Press.

Pamper Day

For me, “Pamper Day” is today.
No, not Pamper’s day, mothers… I knew that’s what you were thinking, wasn’t it?
For Christmas, my sweet Biceps has decided to spoil my mother-in-law and I.

See this lady? She’s my mother-in-law and she’s awesome. She also has a slight addiction, but we’ve already covered that, haven’t we.

 

Biceps chose to bless the two of us with a movie at home garnished by all of these treats you see before you. He knows me so well. The treats include: Burt’s Bees cuticle cream and foot balm, champagne, Godiva chocolate, trail mix, and Snyder’s pretzels.
Then to top it off, our day will end with us both getting a relaxing massage at Aveda.
My man. My Biceps.
He is the best. (said in a Nacho Libre voice)

Wooden Christmas Garland

Decorating for Christmas is something I look forward to all year-storing things away that I collect throughout the changing seasons-until I feel that first nippy bite in the air.
One of my neighbor’s had their visiting father-who I have come to adore-knock on my door this past spring. It was no surprise that he came to me with a stack of cedar chunks from a felled tree.
And to quote the father (with a severe southern drawl), “When I saw these, I just knew if anyone could do something with them, it’d be you.”
Apparently, my reputation precedes me….

And I hope I haven’t let him down or failed his expectations of just what I could “do with them”. For next to nothing, I have a unique garland made from reclaimed cedar wood that Anthropologie is probably jealous of…or at least, I’d like to think so.
I’ll be sharing the tutorial on how to make the cute little blue, brown & red trees next week.

 

Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own Wooden Christmas Garland:
Chunks ‘o Wood (mine were about 9″ in diameter)
Rope (I used 1/2 twisted nylon rope-blue hawk is a pretty good brand from Lowe’s)
Palm Sander and 80+ grit Sandpaper
Your favorite color paint/spray paint
Hammer & nails (not pictured)
Stencils
Blue Tape

Let’s get started!

 

Lightly sand the wood, going with the grain if possible. I sanded mine just enough to not have burrs or splinters. I wanted my garland to be rustic.

 

Choose your saying. I went with “Peace”, but considered “Boink”, “Poop”, and “Elephant”. I really didn’t have enough wood to do the latter and was outvoted on the first two by my visiting mother-in-law.

Tape down the stencils with blue tape, adding scrap paper if needed to protect the rest of the wood.

 

Spray away! I went with two coats, just to be safe.

 

Remove the stencils. Stand back. Ooh and ahh until the neighbor gets curious. Then tell them to quit snooping, this is a top secret project.

 

I gave the wood a light coating with a Crystal Clear Enamel, but you don’t have to. You could also add a layer of polyurethane instead. Either acts as a protectant and gives the wood a little sheen.
The “P” has been sprayed with it in this picture, but not the “E”.

 

Spray paint your rope, if you so desire. I went with shiny, shiny gold. I like gold things-they’re kingly.

 

Once everything is dry, use your hammer and small nails to tack in the rope to the back of the wood. I used two nails per chunk of wood.

 

Hang your Wooden Christmas Garland where your little heart desires and enjoy.
Then call your neighbor to tell them you just finished your top secret project and you also have some warm cookies to share.
I bet they’ll be over in two shakes of a kitty’s tail.