tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72182916243992643652024-03-18T22:01:09.575-05:00Confessions of a Modern Day MennoniteStories and musings from my hum drum lifeChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-41867549228968307552017-12-26T07:00:00.000-06:002017-12-26T07:00:20.680-06:00John's Christmas Present<div style="text-align: justify;">
I always have a pretty long list of things that John might want for Christmas (what can I say... I'm pretty good at remembering things he mentions/knowing what he needs). This year I decided to fix up his office for part of his present.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vwf9hQwDAwEXlgQhtrmFc1dTrT2gFMPjAKEKQz6avftkU1zZj9i1MQAvZoN_RYe3jHRstrfe7L6sWou-Gi-FHOvlAZKJmx55eHlI7A5pE4TqPnX16RwN-ZaECCAp5RPNL6IYl38AOxpg/s1600/IMG_4192%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vwf9hQwDAwEXlgQhtrmFc1dTrT2gFMPjAKEKQz6avftkU1zZj9i1MQAvZoN_RYe3jHRstrfe7L6sWou-Gi-FHOvlAZKJmx55eHlI7A5pE4TqPnX16RwN-ZaECCAp5RPNL6IYl38AOxpg/s400/IMG_4192%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John's office - before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5zPu4H1Ewj1m43AnzaD6jIiDdGopeqSFtuy8mhj77wxvc-y6hzv2qSa3nvn1si6UozPAsv6nhYNZr4Nuw5t1eYMN-5Tetwg5yoEAql1bZCdqQwNEKVerOkhyWWqWypWMJtp_TLRGsXC2/s1600/IMG_4193%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5zPu4H1Ewj1m43AnzaD6jIiDdGopeqSFtuy8mhj77wxvc-y6hzv2qSa3nvn1si6UozPAsv6nhYNZr4Nuw5t1eYMN-5Tetwg5yoEAql1bZCdqQwNEKVerOkhyWWqWypWMJtp_TLRGsXC2/s400/IMG_4193%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John's office - before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
Since it's the smallest bedroom upstairs I'm fairly certain it will remain an office for a while so I figured it was pretty safe to redo. So the last day before his Christmas break I had a friend come over and help me with the project... and we got it all done while he was at work.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Luckily for us I had somehow convinced John that we should FINALLY finish painting the ceilings upstairs... and since we would be emptying out the rooms to paint the ceilings I also convinced him we should paint the walls while we are at it. This meant that the bulk of the hard work was already done.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
New furniture wasn't in the budget so I had to work with what he already had in there. This meant that pretty well all the furniture that was already in there was going to stay in there. I did come up with a plan while he was away for work a week in November for how I thought his office could be arranged differently though.</div>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoYniXv2eugbKkJyG-o1jKpZ2QJ1g46FOVf9Vv2ep1MgpG4syQb7vXsqAPd9Cws5qXgA4tU4qghyphenhyphenS1tSPVoKQz-6nz2dro0QrgzOymkKboY3Gydcdcdh7Kj_6qyxfDtNyKu1LYf08Mj8b/s1600/IMG_4194%255B1%255D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoYniXv2eugbKkJyG-o1jKpZ2QJ1g46FOVf9Vv2ep1MgpG4syQb7vXsqAPd9Cws5qXgA4tU4qghyphenhyphenS1tSPVoKQz-6nz2dro0QrgzOymkKboY3Gydcdcdh7Kj_6qyxfDtNyKu1LYf08Mj8b/s320/IMG_4194%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a>He has a couple of newspaper clippings that he's saved for years... one was in a slightly damaged frame so I bought 2 of the cheapest frames from Michaels (using 50% off coupons of course). They were meant for a certain size of poster and the newspaper clipping didn't fill up the entire frame... but I wasn't going to pay for a mat on it so instead I turned the paper that came with the frame so that the white side was facing outwards to use as a mat... worked pretty well if you ask me!</div>
<br />John also had this slightly 3D picture of a hockey player (it's the middle picture in the line up of 3) that I had to figure out. I went to Michaels to ask about a frame for that but the frames that have enough space in them to accommodate something 3D like this were kind of expensive (and also not quite the right size) so after much contemplation I opted for just putting a nail in the wall and not using a frame for it at all (see the final pictures at the end of the post).<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The wall colour. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Below are some of the options I was debating on to paint one of the walls in his office... in the end I decided to paint all the walls a neutral colour and use some coloured curtains instead.</div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBptc4ZXLomit6GnEvW7i8_8rtIKWXy5X2RuAaq8bYnV6-JOH7YCg1pOtJ0TD7UqVuAcr3LSAxIDf-EYrUhGdDwj3wCWudd9L4B2exCqeBXyZbU2GItopflhFa9E7KGfPsSYRi01jeh9U/s1600/paint+options.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBptc4ZXLomit6GnEvW7i8_8rtIKWXy5X2RuAaq8bYnV6-JOH7YCg1pOtJ0TD7UqVuAcr3LSAxIDf-EYrUhGdDwj3wCWudd9L4B2exCqeBXyZbU2GItopflhFa9E7KGfPsSYRi01jeh9U/s320/paint+options.png" /></a></div>
<br /><br />So I found the nicest curtain rod I could for an inexpensive price ($14 at Canadian Tire) and some inexpensive but still nice curtains from Walmart. Since his favourite team is the Washington Capitals (and he has a bit of stuff to do with that team) I wanted some of the accent colours to be either red or blue (hence me debating on blue as the wall colour). Which is why I opted for blue and white curtains.<br /><br />The last thing I added to the room was a couple of floating shelves. This way he would have somewhere to show off some of his "toys", somewhere to put pictures, or just extra space to put something one day. I bought them at Jysk a while ago when they were on sale. I really wanted one large one (which is the size I ended up buying) and one that was the size down from this but they were 2 different shades of white which I didn't like so instead I got 2 of the larger sizes.<br /><br />We also hung up his whiteboard so it's no longer sitting on the floor (and I guess if John wants to put it back on the floor he can).<br /><br />I must say the finished product... is not too bad... and we got it all done in the span of 4 hours (while John was at work for the morning)<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8g2H_mI_gtK5BRNg889q_0qI5MI_yiI9xZC3WM1MA527uiXeDkePgmdlHOrHzMOJet9xvUu23I2fbFE0lCth0DUMqxD9hU6Zg0duzdDts2kOkZQe0-AlbMw0P3M7W814sFQKEw_zr_6m/s1600/IMG_4195%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8g2H_mI_gtK5BRNg889q_0qI5MI_yiI9xZC3WM1MA527uiXeDkePgmdlHOrHzMOJet9xvUu23I2fbFE0lCth0DUMqxD9hU6Zg0duzdDts2kOkZQe0-AlbMw0P3M7W814sFQKEw_zr_6m/s400/IMG_4195%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also decorated his office door to be more present like</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wwYt6-VuAFEXu7Vt9WqUuosK22rsu8K0Zt1Y4wr26guTQNPqvcrrcdizLiDnO14LW_ydnzrCtuzn54HIkGxf7SqPxBxwQVSW7sve5GmAV-N6NTjLotD7owuCtoReYJLGf6fp23uzhzRW/s1600/john%2527s+office.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wwYt6-VuAFEXu7Vt9WqUuosK22rsu8K0Zt1Y4wr26guTQNPqvcrrcdizLiDnO14LW_ydnzrCtuzn54HIkGxf7SqPxBxwQVSW7sve5GmAV-N6NTjLotD7owuCtoReYJLGf6fp23uzhzRW/s400/john%2527s+office.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John's office - after<br style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">New curtains, pictures hung, brown chair added, and switched out his Winnie the Pooh lamp for something smaller and more neutral.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPnjB4RednTMvWML8F27QzbsDsfKmxcFha-YeZw3TqYjmzgOV_bRlhcyTWv7SwX6AtseONOTYYLIqlSVEgEQ1xaA6shuIgi4JUr4J9X40aMzH9kdF7nqj5bYan7ajvHEvk_GLkPTK69bh/s1600/john%2527s+office+2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPnjB4RednTMvWML8F27QzbsDsfKmxcFha-YeZw3TqYjmzgOV_bRlhcyTWv7SwX6AtseONOTYYLIqlSVEgEQ1xaA6shuIgi4JUr4J9X40aMzH9kdF7nqj5bYan7ajvHEvk_GLkPTK69bh/s400/john%2527s+office+2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John's office - after. Pennants displayed, floating shelves installed, whiteboard hung (with festive message), Christmas tree added, and desk moved from corner to the longest wall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-61896964098220073732017-12-12T07:00:00.000-06:002017-12-12T07:00:02.942-06:00$20 Sock Present<div style="text-align: center;">
My friends and I did this last year where we filled a pair of socks up with some presents (in total it should all cost about $20) and have a white elephant type gift exchange. This year I thought of this an entire year in advance. I figured if I was left with a couple of extra pairs of Christmas socks they would be easily gifted elsewhere. Because of this I got 2 pairs of Christmas socks for about $3 which left me with about $17 to fill the socks with. I had also purchased nearly a year ago (or maybe it was 6 months ago during the summer) during Bath and Body Works semi annual clearance a bath bomb. I've never actually used one before but I was thinking of a specific friend in this group that would REALLY love it... so I got it on the chance that others would also appreciate it. Anyways, at this point I was at about $12 left to spend. I had something that I had bought that could possibly work with this group a year ago but it was too big to fit in a sock (so I'm using that at another $10 gift exchange instead). Then I remembered that I had seen these cute cactus things at Chapters about half a year ago on clearance. The odds were likely not in my favor that they would have any left in the city but then as it turned out they had a bunch of them at the location closest to me... still for the same clearance price unfortunately (shouldn't it have been even cheaper by this point?) and then for the last piece to finish filling up those socks was to buy an actual real cactus (in case the fake one wasn't up someones alley). John and I had a bunch of leftover plastic pots from our wedding favours so I used one of those to put it in a better looking pot.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It wasn't easy this year considering the restrictions that were placed on what we could put inside of the socks. No chocolates (and I had a BUNCH of Lindt chocolates that could have gone inside from our <a href="http://pennerc.blogspot.ca/2017/12/advent-calendars.html">advent calendar</a>). no chapstick. No tea and no coffee... and those are only the restrictions that I could remember. So, I think I did alright all things considering.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdh4iOKqYOQVc18-IWFgyjGxiEf7iVtIKiP5Vb-Xq36NNjyq1PJwba_iEyyruxbeIuYXqkhoxo7g_c9Os7j5jyd0VPVQqhOofcewjURpYBiczccJBGTcl83EgtwucOYX9myHMehJsIs6vn/s1600/IMG_4145%255B1%255D.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdh4iOKqYOQVc18-IWFgyjGxiEf7iVtIKiP5Vb-Xq36NNjyq1PJwba_iEyyruxbeIuYXqkhoxo7g_c9Os7j5jyd0VPVQqhOofcewjURpYBiczccJBGTcl83EgtwucOYX9myHMehJsIs6vn/s400/IMG_4145%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gGWauvZ-0Trk1EK2jDwsTWczYVu1PLzt1A0S9cPk8VG-G8-FJwOqJVg_fs40xnzXfFg-FoefMO_OjEXwbuh6vRwOfthqH-ujLXIo7LuE6pdcbkxwZPZgEVRNmAkjkoMPBgbuT9mJ4NMi/s1600/IMG_4146%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gGWauvZ-0Trk1EK2jDwsTWczYVu1PLzt1A0S9cPk8VG-G8-FJwOqJVg_fs40xnzXfFg-FoefMO_OjEXwbuh6vRwOfthqH-ujLXIo7LuE6pdcbkxwZPZgEVRNmAkjkoMPBgbuT9mJ4NMi/s400/IMG_4146%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was pretty close to choosing a yellow topped cactus but then I saw this one lonely red looking one and thought that better matched the season.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Luckily, socks are stretchy and will be able to accommodate the larger items... I'll just need to put a tag with a warning on it to roll the sock down instead of just grabbing things out of it so that the cactus stays intact.</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-86601631687542768882017-12-05T07:00:00.000-06:002017-12-05T10:32:14.356-06:00The Basement<div style="text-align: center;">
When people walk into our basement their comments are usually about our carpet, the brick wall, the stove, and the brick arch (we usually have to point out the <a href="http://pennerc.blogspot.ca/2017/10/a-ranking-of-bathrooms.html">lovely carpeted bathroom</a> though). We don't have much of a plan for the basement yet... we know the carpet could be of a bit better quality and a less busy look (likely something a little lighter too to help brighten up the basement). We aren't a fan of the brick wall (or the "stage" below it). In fact, the plan is to get rid of that wood burning stove to hopefully make the basement feel a bit bigger. Not sure what the plan is for the bricks though. Originally we thought we would get rid of them then it was recommended to us that we paint them white and keep them (probably a simpler solution but not sure how the bricks are going to look once we get rid of the "stage"... and we are definitely getting rid of that stage!).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2kDrEjLzLrDF29untYIeySoGa1-3uakjN9Y1EukfqsBKh5zjj06AHLC3zTh8lgoR-6Bqbo9YnwTO6bqeRvYv4_ZpnViSbdJx4ArVodHifiFL8x5F_nbuUyh5hbO-Jz8-UpT0rSNFtCtA/s1600/IMG_4147%255B1%255D.JPG"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2kDrEjLzLrDF29untYIeySoGa1-3uakjN9Y1EukfqsBKh5zjj06AHLC3zTh8lgoR-6Bqbo9YnwTO6bqeRvYv4_ZpnViSbdJx4ArVodHifiFL8x5F_nbuUyh5hbO-Jz8-UpT0rSNFtCtA/s400/IMG_4147%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The brick wall in all its glory!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So the stove is sitting on what people are deciding is our basement "stage". If you look closely you'll notice that it even has 2 lights pointed at it for "stage lighting".... perfect for concerts, plays, or saying important things while standing on.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH-d2K59RKVSdh8Fd1KdtvU-wGj1u-o683h8X8GNNhVWHuaVJGB0GbPz5WfAxV-h8X8wzi24cmtpoqhz3-l4CkXUGIJpJMYxesh6DV6KTccSQkX3F4B_J-bBR7u2qMv_AwNkqPH0itmEJ/s1600/IMG_4148%255B1%255D.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH-d2K59RKVSdh8Fd1KdtvU-wGj1u-o683h8X8GNNhVWHuaVJGB0GbPz5WfAxV-h8X8wzi24cmtpoqhz3-l4CkXUGIJpJMYxesh6DV6KTccSQkX3F4B_J-bBR7u2qMv_AwNkqPH0itmEJ/s400/IMG_4148%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Doors from left to right: bathroom, storage, laundry/furnace</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GmcMJug8Cab_HSgQjsKP0msL-YRAbqMeHdtO47nhuTgPpGkun_Zb4kMSDx4_1IL__VjUz6Oe5c-ZOubBSMvk_eF8bmlgtsEGA3xEkkaXLvtSJDjX0ntCMxP7CqgIJ29XbDbf5c170BfV/s1600/IMG_4149%255B1%255D.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GmcMJug8Cab_HSgQjsKP0msL-YRAbqMeHdtO47nhuTgPpGkun_Zb4kMSDx4_1IL__VjUz6Oe5c-ZOubBSMvk_eF8bmlgtsEGA3xEkkaXLvtSJDjX0ntCMxP7CqgIJ29XbDbf5c170BfV/s400/IMG_4149%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A corner perfect for a drum set!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-29796277504802888852017-12-01T07:00:00.000-06:002017-12-01T07:00:08.925-06:00Advent Calendars<div style="text-align: center;">
How do you even know when Christmas is without an advent calendar to help you count down the days? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Over the past few years John and I have done a few different versions of these</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0outybZQyvSUjtEwCnEq6ZujDxAKEzSktf-ryaQPKI5r9fL2QOiRhRfb9RtFj6ZyA72_iuaWABFc3bIg7zvUppwQ4IDQzerYEUm3XvPqqxKDCWmGtpMdETj9CH1cT8uukRQ4t_Vg2joM3/s1600/advent+calendar+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0outybZQyvSUjtEwCnEq6ZujDxAKEzSktf-ryaQPKI5r9fL2QOiRhRfb9RtFj6ZyA72_iuaWABFc3bIg7zvUppwQ4IDQzerYEUm3XvPqqxKDCWmGtpMdETj9CH1cT8uukRQ4t_Vg2joM3/s320/advent+calendar+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">
One year we got the cheap $1 ones (we each needed our own of course so that was actually $2 and the chocolates are hardly worth that price). I also made <a href="http://pennerc.blogspot.ca/2015/12/countdown-to-christmas.html">this advent calendar</a> one year where I counted down to Christmas with reading a bible verse (or 2) every day.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Last year I bought us a Lindt advent calendar right before December so it was discounted... but even then... you're stuck with so many white ones that aren't that good)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This year though I made us this advent calendar</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMh4zP45pt3nQBAXxsH7KTa8ci4oin4WCXdDsPmPebqwINlqP1bXiqsj-vvySwm_aqEV9wuHI2YapwOI1C4kdflanoDJbP-7irIBEuVBOKEr-_0pXJltUWiiJQwza8AmB60qrT3fNYffu/s1600/IMG_4113%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMh4zP45pt3nQBAXxsH7KTa8ci4oin4WCXdDsPmPebqwINlqP1bXiqsj-vvySwm_aqEV9wuHI2YapwOI1C4kdflanoDJbP-7irIBEuVBOKEr-_0pXJltUWiiJQwza8AmB60qrT3fNYffu/s400/IMG_4113%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I went to the local Lindt store and got 26 different flavours of their truffles to fill in the slots with (there are 2 in each - one for each of us). I had been collecting toilet paper rolls since the summer (at least!) and I even moved all of those toilet paper rolls from the condo to the new house when we moved. Right before I made this advent calendar I debated on switching it all for something that might look a little more attractive but I don't know... I don't think it looks all that bad. Does it? At the very least we know it will taste delicious! And, there are no plain white truffles inside this advent calendar!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I already have an idea for what I want to do next year... something just has to go on an extreme sale at the end of this Christmas season first so that I can justify purchasing it.</div>
</div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-53475509476813546142017-11-28T07:00:00.000-06:002017-11-28T07:00:37.721-06:00It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Every year I start setting up Christmas stuff after November 11th. We've already had our Thanksgiving here in Canada a month ago by this point so why not?</span><br />
<br style="text-align: start;" />
<span style="text-align: start;">Here's a little look at what our place is starting to look like set up for Christmas...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdprXvjQEOOEpQk9RWnX322L8hiq0phke7pgmaNEBuA9CFkmCtO7Q7ScpyCxoPCCYuyvKLXO7TeIP09vXX7wSgCzFoerfB61mjWa6wb_YHI2H4DxfHOYCOVaa1YeTpbbwLuEisVLwgoiHh/s1600/IMG_4112%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdprXvjQEOOEpQk9RWnX322L8hiq0phke7pgmaNEBuA9CFkmCtO7Q7ScpyCxoPCCYuyvKLXO7TeIP09vXX7wSgCzFoerfB61mjWa6wb_YHI2H4DxfHOYCOVaa1YeTpbbwLuEisVLwgoiHh/s400/IMG_4112%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Our Christmas tree has always looked the same... always red and gold. I think because for a long time all I had was red ornaments that an old roommate passed on to me.</span></div>
<br style="text-align: start;" />
<a href="http://pennerc.blogspot.ca/search?q=christmas+tree" style="text-align: start;">Here's a look at our tree from a couple of years ago</a><span style="text-align: start;"> (I'm sure it looks very similar!)</span><br />
<br style="text-align: start;" />
<span style="text-align: start;">I'm not sure if you've spied the track set up around the tree... and the one lonely house that is lite up (there are a few more on the other side of the tree near the back too) but John has a lot more room in the new house to spread out his train set this year. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo1ySgp0zxhS2CjUd1CLLR6tXSSbTClu8dJKwNXbVqv0mAgrjsYO5OVgVpAWny5-NxCAdjFG82K8lPiYpOXuwgHQM1Yb1kyaubX-vAAL7-YsjfCB5Svi1LHzu72WdqUpGidk8vcKEbY9u/s1600/IMG_4114%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo1ySgp0zxhS2CjUd1CLLR6tXSSbTClu8dJKwNXbVqv0mAgrjsYO5OVgVpAWny5-NxCAdjFG82K8lPiYpOXuwgHQM1Yb1kyaubX-vAAL7-YsjfCB5Svi1LHzu72WdqUpGidk8vcKEbY9u/s400/IMG_4114%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Did you know that sometimes Michaels (the craft store) offers free classes where they supply the bulk of the supplies? Because they do. I went to one in the fall with my mom and sisters to make a floral pumpkin design (all we had to do was purchase the pumpkin) and returned to make a wreath a couple of weeks ago (all we had to do was buy the wreath base - it was on sale for $8 when I bought it plus I have a teachers discount so it was even less than that!). I wish they would have supplied something red for the wreath but apparently their theme was "gold" or something. I didn't look at the cost of all the things I added on to the wreath but I'm sure it all adds up fairly quickly and I could likely sell this $8 wreath for $50 now (so if you are interested in my wreath I'll give you, my readers, a discount and you'll only pay $45... or you can just watch for the next class at Michaels and maybe you can make your own (but you might have to wait for next year for that).</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEmaPYBx4o5Ly-6tdve8c-FRzo_1N4SAdHO_mKaBri3WmIQ9thHK82TUcXDdhzSL1TAEFYs0NA6cKBw836NXiwheb___v4jbx478tnAiVJqfOCmBhVcAGf6s7-26usAONpQZj-Krz7aDJ/s1600/IMG_4111%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEmaPYBx4o5Ly-6tdve8c-FRzo_1N4SAdHO_mKaBri3WmIQ9thHK82TUcXDdhzSL1TAEFYs0NA6cKBw836NXiwheb___v4jbx478tnAiVJqfOCmBhVcAGf6s7-26usAONpQZj-Krz7aDJ/s400/IMG_4111%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Would you believe me if I told you the pink was John's idea? Because it was! Well originally he had said red but we already have red on the tree and who says all the different things in the house have to match?!? The flowers were a couple of extra ones from the wreath decorating class I took that I found another use for.</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-10704715348526832912017-11-24T07:00:00.000-06:002017-11-25T20:31:16.016-06:00Christmas Wish List 2017<br />
Now that we've got a house coming up with a Christmas Wish list was easy... we've got more than enough space!<br />
<br />
An office chair. I thought I liked one from JYSK then I sat on it and rethought it.... I'm still looking for the perfect one so check back for an update?<br />
<br />
Jodi Picoult's newest book... assuming she has one (every year she has had one for me to ask for but I didn't see a newer one than "Small Great Things" when I wrote this... which I've already read).<br />
<br />
I really, really, REALLY want a better vacuum and next time they go on sale at The Bay I have every intention of taking every gift card we have for that place and using them all on the vacuum. So gift card's to The Bay.<br />
<br />
Speaking of gift cards we are always spending money at home renovation stores (Rona, Home Depot, Canadian Tire, etc.) so gift cards any of those places would be appreciated<br />
<br />
A friend gave me a pair of moccasin slippers a number of years ago and they've worked great (especially the years I only lived in a one story place) but now that I'm going up and down stairs more often I need something that fits me properly and isn't slipping off my feet the first couple of steps I take on the stairs.<br />
<br />
Mitts. I feel like I always ask for mitts for Christmas because I use them well. This year I'm going to ask for ones that might last me longer and keep my fingers warmer (and still look oh so stylish).<br />
<br />
We've got more floors in this house than in the condo that want to be smelling nice and I currently only have one plug for wallflowers at Bath and Body Works. For now we could use one more probably (I like the more discreet looking ones like <a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/p/white-flare-wallflowers-fragrance-plug-023299329.html?cgid=wallflowers-plugs">this</a>). I've got a few scents to go inside but I wouldn't say no to more... is it weird to put a different scent on different floors?.. I haven't decided yet so just in case it is maybe 2 of the same scents... I don't recall which ones I like but typically not seasonal ones or food items. Once I had a blue one that I really liked but I don't recall what the scent was.<br />
<br />
Speaking of Bath and Body works... I exclusively use their hand soaps thanks to a certain aunt of mine. I'm not fussy about what the scent of those is... I like them all! I also like candles and their perfume... which apparently they don't have a lot of? This is news to me but I know I like <a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/p/a-thousand-wishes-eau-de-parfum-022601829.html">this scent</a>.<br />
<br />
Now that we have a laundry room that isn't also a bathroom we've got space to spread out! I like the idea of a laundry sorter/bin thing for in the laundry room and <a href="http://www.thebay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/thebay/deluxe-3-section-sorter-0078-a05440003x1e--24">this one by Neatfreak</a> seems like a good idea. The individual bags lift out so even if we just keep that hamper upstairs I would only need to carry one bag at a time down to the laundry room.<br />
<br />
We could also use another laundry basket. Now that it isn't about 10 steps from the laundry room to the bed where I sort the clothes I seem to drop a lot of clothes while going up all the steps. A laundry basket for clean clothes would hopefully keep me from having to back track to find all the missing socks I dropped along the way.<br />
<br />
Maybe if I had a clothes drying rack like <a href="http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/40244831/">this one</a> I would keep my clothes off of the deep freeze, washer, and dryer when they are laying flat to dry.<br />
<br />
One set of the oh so cool sounding <a href="http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/70091761/">Dragon Cutlery</a> from Ikea<br />
<br />
While you're at Ikea picking up some cutlery, and a drying rack you may as well pick up a couple of these <a href="http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/60329711/?query=boot+tray">boot trays</a> for us (2 please). Also, while hosting a Thanksgiving dinner at our place I came to realize that we only had 2 trivets and I wouldn't mind more (and these ones are hopefully slightly better quality than the dollar store ones I currently have). One <a href="http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/30111087/">large trivet</a> and 2 <a href="http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/00186041/">smaller ones </a> would hopefully be enough!<br />
<br />
Not a big fan of plain coffee over here but I am a fan of adding special syrups to my coffee to make it taste SO much better. I haven't ever tried the sugar free syrups and if they have sucralos in them I'm not sure I want to... so make sure my syrups are packed with that tasty tasty sugar! You can get them at a lot of places (I've seen packs of 3 or 4 at Winners; Marshals probably also has them which means Home Sense and Home Outfitters likely have them as well) These ones are all from Bed Bath and Beyond (which I've heard has some of the better prices for them). They didn't have a lot of options online when I made this post and they might have other options now but I know I would like <a href="https://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/store/product/starbucks-reg-verismo-trade-hazelnut-flavoured-syrup/1041893951?Keyword=syrup">hazelnut</a>, <a href="https://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/store/product/starbucks-reg-verismo-trade-vanilla-syrup/1041893906?Keyword=syrup">vanilla</a>, and <a href="https://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/store/product/starbucks-reg-verismo-trade-caramel-syrup/1043097104?Keyword=syrup">caramel</a> and I'm open to other flavours as well!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thebay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/thebay/oven-mitt-with-silicone-grip">This oven mitt</a>. We only need one as we got this exact one for a shower present as well (it would just be nice to have a mitt for each hand).<br />
<br />
I found these canisters at Marshal's about a month ago.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4I_hAYkt9FaSu_z0EDd-ydCHWZY8fG4YniJVpEF8DyPEwipnTvOmKOOAB-XUjo_SBWCuSp8-JwQ_G2XW2uLmfNvm5Fo_x0TLqanRloGYsA-3RgXbhm191gt_ZEkfeTurBcx_FM6MnGuxq/s1600/IMG_4020%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4I_hAYkt9FaSu_z0EDd-ydCHWZY8fG4YniJVpEF8DyPEwipnTvOmKOOAB-XUjo_SBWCuSp8-JwQ_G2XW2uLmfNvm5Fo_x0TLqanRloGYsA-3RgXbhm191gt_ZEkfeTurBcx_FM6MnGuxq/s400/IMG_4020%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
I like both of these designs (there were other ones... but these are the ones I prefer). You could use the prices for size references... I think one of each size would be perfect if you could find them!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Finally, I think Christmas is the perfect time to get new pajamas. <a href="https://www.lavieenrose.com/en/pj-set-blue-red-print-77833">These ones</a> look pretty much perfect and I'm a size medium. But don't pay their regular price for them... I feel like they are constantly on sale (when I typed this out they were on sale for $29.95)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And that should pretty well do it...</div>
<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-13563185299935136672017-11-20T07:00:00.000-06:002017-11-20T07:00:00.347-06:00About the Carpet<div style="text-align: center;">
We've got 5 different colours and kinds of carpets on our 2nd story... and all should really be replaced since I'm sure despite vacuuming them exactly 100 times they likely still have bits of the ceiling we scrapped stuck in them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyways, take a look at our carpets</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've got white in the master bedroom</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rAmQFgQjHAAazlXoGZQDJHqcgSOCMflkHyeIJ33EXgnyUxvHEDDiYmu-Fslgo8E6GbK2oz8SUjSrj8-MXCJEWbLMqkbb9YbWVDsQdbt-AGHy9XrIAZ4ndKYcSxSPmjilrx-7u9v4LF_N/s1600/IMG_4088%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rAmQFgQjHAAazlXoGZQDJHqcgSOCMflkHyeIJ33EXgnyUxvHEDDiYmu-Fslgo8E6GbK2oz8SUjSrj8-MXCJEWbLMqkbb9YbWVDsQdbt-AGHy9XrIAZ4ndKYcSxSPmjilrx-7u9v4LF_N/s320/IMG_4088%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Across the hall we've got our "brown room"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPT05wtDIRTOZ39hmUjo8JNqHar3cXc4oodJNxADvqUD6TCJ1v_MSHoJQhMaYGgZyfHpHf1-TjVSKMr17S4cqWR4uD1NXPKR6sSZfuO376Z40W7vxKg7n_Ms-KQnq5VsdFi8RT1Ozv88FE/s1600/IMG_4087%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPT05wtDIRTOZ39hmUjo8JNqHar3cXc4oodJNxADvqUD6TCJ1v_MSHoJQhMaYGgZyfHpHf1-TjVSKMr17S4cqWR4uD1NXPKR6sSZfuO376Z40W7vxKg7n_Ms-KQnq5VsdFi8RT1Ozv88FE/s320/IMG_4087%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Next to that is our "pink room"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIifFLoUB46iDnGjkJCJAvjFsKO-vOPcVmxnhmIEnUoYOxDZJdDCcFPaUqXxMm-CWrRju7b3bRldWCnzw6w5xLlKXvJVmL7C_M3eLV6G77IOgLH0QJvnGnxF2W5geaCJ5KgeL7MGUFmb0/s1600/IMG_4089%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIifFLoUB46iDnGjkJCJAvjFsKO-vOPcVmxnhmIEnUoYOxDZJdDCcFPaUqXxMm-CWrRju7b3bRldWCnzw6w5xLlKXvJVmL7C_M3eLV6G77IOgLH0QJvnGnxF2W5geaCJ5KgeL7MGUFmb0/s320/IMG_4089%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And across from that is our "blue room"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefp5eFp0C_nfN4i5VBuJ93gwUbciD4JfkYLBq9PBsocY0kz2wel9FXBkSDw6nv8Pc5X9xkZYTCVgSZafFGBDQNArwuLDye3qtk8tL47a0lS3__crFwObNONV0LVsvYaMCV4ygGONTUz12/s1600/IMG_4090%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefp5eFp0C_nfN4i5VBuJ93gwUbciD4JfkYLBq9PBsocY0kz2wel9FXBkSDw6nv8Pc5X9xkZYTCVgSZafFGBDQNArwuLDye3qtk8tL47a0lS3__crFwObNONV0LVsvYaMCV4ygGONTUz12/s320/IMG_4090%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And yes, because I know you're dying to know that is how we refer to the rooms on the 2nd floor... because why refer to the bedrooms as what we are using them for when we can refer to them based on the colour of the carpet.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I spoke a while ago about how we wanted to replace the carpet prior to moving in but since we didn't end up selling our condo we decided against it (and to be honest, when we were considering quickly putting in carpet we had less than a week before moving in)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The plan is to replace all the bedrooms with the same carpet... I'm not sure how we will refer to the rooms after that... probably according to their old carpet colours so that anyone new coming into our home will be super confused when they can't find our beloved "pink room".</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And those 4 carpets aren't the only ones upstairs... we've got one last one for the hallway and stairs...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGzvhDqI98w60LvJwgz7KfCC4IU011CoH6KrCnn2_UIJrWd16Iek_XkTj9XDWnMu0nTTMNU5IDesYqjeL5LLGwQ0wm35NvugNGBj8euAVsJXvxl3_5zPuGoFFwLWLEMoKrp5jZWbzVVlc/s1600/IMG_4086%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGzvhDqI98w60LvJwgz7KfCC4IU011CoH6KrCnn2_UIJrWd16Iek_XkTj9XDWnMu0nTTMNU5IDesYqjeL5LLGwQ0wm35NvugNGBj8euAVsJXvxl3_5zPuGoFFwLWLEMoKrp5jZWbzVVlc/s320/IMG_4086%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Can you believe that there is only 2 other types of carpet in our house? Both of those are in the basement (one you already know is in our basement bathroom)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our plan for the hallway is to continue whatever flooring we decide to use on our main floor (it won't be carpeted) up the stairs and onto the hallway. It's a high traffic area and likely to get ruined faster so may as well put something durable down.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The plan is also to get rid of all that wood trim, baseboards, and doors and make it all white.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-7230776529796143392017-10-10T07:00:00.000-05:002017-10-10T07:00:27.789-05:00Extra Pieces<div style="text-align: center;">
When John and I moved out of the condo I made us move a giant box with extra pieces to our nightstand that I never took out of the box because I didn't like the floor model with this part attached.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We'll a few weeks ago we finally cracked open that old box and looked at what this extra part was actually all about... and I think it's kinda cool.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6gqRQ41QwvfnJktHMGZ6IFe2Vo2xmsIenlFfRl2dvhNsBqe80G3dv-8daVR2sjyfp-UtI3zESTh6EM9Hz7yRZ4jjNcsSuEM8aEZwxmBxOLAJCa2nubLgBhCnuso-KcnfXln1xLoTlB3D/s1600/IMG_3971%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6gqRQ41QwvfnJktHMGZ6IFe2Vo2xmsIenlFfRl2dvhNsBqe80G3dv-8daVR2sjyfp-UtI3zESTh6EM9Hz7yRZ4jjNcsSuEM8aEZwxmBxOLAJCa2nubLgBhCnuso-KcnfXln1xLoTlB3D/s400/IMG_3971%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">light up night stand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The piece actually goes on the back of the nightstand and just makes it as tall as the headboard.... I feel it just makes the headboard look way too big. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But it lights up so therefore it's pretty cool and something that we should take full advantage of... just in a different place.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So how could we DIY this into something else?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was thinking a tall shelf of some kind for the basement one day... the problem is I would think this part would be the top of the shelf and it's kind of heavy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And that my friends is pretty much as far as my thought process went.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Any ideas? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What else could we use this for?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(FYI... there are 2 of them!)</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-50749939903842181622017-10-06T07:00:00.000-05:002017-10-06T07:00:00.159-05:00A Ranking of Bathrooms <div style="text-align: center;">
In case you were wondering we have 4 bathrooms in our new house.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Were we looking for a house with 4 bathrooms?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But I'm not going to complain!... one day we might need all those bathrooms.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We haven't altered any of them... yet. Some might need updating more than others though so today I'm ranking them from the best to the worst (based soley on the way they look... not function).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Enjoy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Copious counters and cupboards!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIEj5TyjqYJsvK24Xh8vKdXm4mbbwJ6QTOyE9VIJWod4BAnShA50DMYXlZH5hyJHoYzHWoIilZtutIqArz37GQt75R8nu78WRt4TrxsMyiY1xrGILk2LL6jhOPyBqOBwTN8ZWwRGOR7Lk/s1600/IMG_3975%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIEj5TyjqYJsvK24Xh8vKdXm4mbbwJ6QTOyE9VIJWod4BAnShA50DMYXlZH5hyJHoYzHWoIilZtutIqArz37GQt75R8nu78WRt4TrxsMyiY1xrGILk2LL6jhOPyBqOBwTN8ZWwRGOR7Lk/s400/IMG_3975%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">main floor half bath</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This lovely bathroom is located on our main floor just off the kitchen (if you look close you can spy our oven in the mirror). It's actually the bathroom with the most counter space which is why I ranked it in the #1 spot. It's a bit much considering it's a half bath on the main floor. But since it has all the counter space I'm using it as my "getting ready" bathroom. My hair stuff, makeup, and at one point even my jewelry is in there. There is even a spot for a chair if I really wanted (I don't think I need that chair in there yet though)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2. The Ensuite</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24BjwnDEqRI8vcBimMNYWLk5yhfIVZzSCJHF9EZQZ2BXSI7EFTggQQkDZi_G2yxahKIc7Q6eB3COev79tdK4XpxT0qWtb7pWgvcd4YOVqVlCyjD09T01oPsznUdcuMwMXvUzOwqinSJ0L/s1600/IMG_3972%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24BjwnDEqRI8vcBimMNYWLk5yhfIVZzSCJHF9EZQZ2BXSI7EFTggQQkDZi_G2yxahKIc7Q6eB3COev79tdK4XpxT0qWtb7pWgvcd4YOVqVlCyjD09T01oPsznUdcuMwMXvUzOwqinSJ0L/s400/IMG_3972%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ensuite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Never did I ever think I might have an ensuite.... this is the stuff dreams are made of (although, I don't really care about an ensuite currently since John and I could technically have 2 bathrooms each to ourselves). It's nice enough and the only updating I would request would for it to one day include a shower... Although I'm not sure how that would work out since there currently isn't room for a shower... so if we are magically getting more room in our ensuite what I really want is a nice soaker tub with a separate shower, 2 sinks, and lots of counter space. That's the stuff dreams are really made of. Currently we use this bathroom for brushing our teeth... and that's pretty much it!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Carpeted Commode</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCusU-TB6gcBvLD4_kt1pnE-WCw0hPiZ4Z3yRJTKQBRsrG6F6x_vfLx3tLFon8aBNzHdO3oscJNzUHX1Ps4EzPCDQAycJiVT_gBa7kbERwxaSiAU_CWPgAI0SSf3L-Bg6alIZmHaH5ok_/s1600/IMG_3976%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCusU-TB6gcBvLD4_kt1pnE-WCw0hPiZ4Z3yRJTKQBRsrG6F6x_vfLx3tLFon8aBNzHdO3oscJNzUHX1Ps4EzPCDQAycJiVT_gBa7kbERwxaSiAU_CWPgAI0SSf3L-Bg6alIZmHaH5ok_/s400/IMG_3976%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">basement full bath</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
I know what you're thinking.... the bathroom has carpet in it? Our realtors told us that would have been a luxury they paid extra for (along with the sparkles on the ceiling on the 2nd floor apparently). You can't see the carpet in the bathroom because I put down our bath mat since this is the bathroom we were using to shower in at the time. If you ignore the carpet and the yellow it's really not too bad though. So I guess the only part of this bathroom that got it into the #3 spot is the fact that I don't mind the tiling in the tub. Anywho, this is our basement bathroom. Personally, I don't think we need a tub in the basement so I think the plans for this bathroom are to get rid of the tub and put a shower in instead and then make the bathroom smaller because it's actually quite large (or well larger than the main 4 piece bathroom upstairs). John dreams of changing the location of this bathroom to the other side of the wall... we'll have to see the cost of moving basement plumbing before we commit to moving it over though.<br />
Sidenote: This bathroom also has the hot and cold water mixed up in the bath. So, if you ever happen to be over and needing to shower in the basement turn it towards the cold water side to make it go hotter!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Everything is Brown(ish)/Pinkish</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSPj4Kv2LiEXtGlYu-T2jztw668RDqFvo_9cfcuI6fTgpaEYLLyhVn0gJJXNjQIRfzQ8U06gIkTqM-T8pZuSaVK8yOyAVucFPp-cIVKC6LeDVC_5gugEkXwH5_ecXWesUTW5A_Gy8dJCr/s1600/IMG_3973%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSPj4Kv2LiEXtGlYu-T2jztw668RDqFvo_9cfcuI6fTgpaEYLLyhVn0gJJXNjQIRfzQ8U06gIkTqM-T8pZuSaVK8yOyAVucFPp-cIVKC6LeDVC_5gugEkXwH5_ecXWesUTW5A_Gy8dJCr/s400/IMG_3973%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upstairs full bath</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My cousin insists this is one of the finer bathrooms in the house. She insists all you would have to do is change out the counter top and put in a few shells and you've got yourself a nice beachy bathroom. To be honest, changing the counter top would probably do wonders for this bathroom but I'm still ranking it dead last. Prior to moving in they had a pinkish shower curtain in there too... adding in our white and black one helped too. As the main 4 piece bathroom (this one is located upstairs) it needs more counter space (we didn't have a whole lot of counter space at the condo but I think it was even more than this!) which I think we could get by switching out the toilet which is a little large and since we are swapping that out for a newer better one we may as well redo the tub too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And there you have it folks... our bathrooms!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Which do you think is the worst?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Which is the best?</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-35633592180443996642017-10-03T07:00:00.000-05:002017-10-03T07:00:08.149-05:00Apple Buns <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLBGPebxDqQHgiQQY6zYzl4u0IA3cDUazfBCKwA-h4Ij6fjqmGkAukNnN9CAvUKR9T-KmXLE5JWYT1X-LuDEnXeZZg_fA5_zDHcmu1Z35QjqcmT6UnOc8094c-xeMOJV0Cd4VEQlQUjPk/s1600/IMG_3987%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLBGPebxDqQHgiQQY6zYzl4u0IA3cDUazfBCKwA-h4Ij6fjqmGkAukNnN9CAvUKR9T-KmXLE5JWYT1X-LuDEnXeZZg_fA5_zDHcmu1Z35QjqcmT6UnOc8094c-xeMOJV0Cd4VEQlQUjPk/s400/IMG_3987%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">apple buns!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In case you haven't heard we have an apple tree. Which means... we've got a fridge full of apples! We gave a bunch to John's mom shortly before we moved in and she made us some wonderful apple crisp out of them but we still had a full grocery bag left at our house afterwards... so if you are like us... with an abundance of apples at this time of year... might I suggest <a href="http://www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca/search?q=apple+buns">apple buns</a>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSV4wBUqy_T8pKsuKLgxv5ZRXIlwPctpVbDI-1-9W2FBy3dYaEzRTlUhr3jGWVGmjZszanZw0Ln56JmbzY7e6XuRyAkeM9plOL6QiLbeHxQ4ympHMAXs6wsERiSzZzAbqwpKLNYkva9r9/s1600/IMG_3986%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSV4wBUqy_T8pKsuKLgxv5ZRXIlwPctpVbDI-1-9W2FBy3dYaEzRTlUhr3jGWVGmjZszanZw0Ln56JmbzY7e6XuRyAkeM9plOL6QiLbeHxQ4ympHMAXs6wsERiSzZzAbqwpKLNYkva9r9/s320/IMG_3986%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The recipe linked above recommends resisting the urge to add sugar or cinnamon to your apple mix. I've made these twice now (the first time was a number of years ago though) but the first time I did add the sugar and cinnamon. This time John told me to make it liked the recipe suggested... he agrees now that they could be even tastier with the addition of a little cinnamon and sugar for next year though.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We ended up bringing a dozen of our apple buns to our bible study and they were a big hit... we ended up leaving the extras with the host but I think there was only about 2 or 3 left in the end.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've been cooking up other stuff from our garden already... here is our salsa.</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-30996177752079287002017-09-29T07:00:00.000-05:002017-09-29T07:00:00.819-05:00Prior to Renovations Kitchen<div style="text-align: center;">
John and I had about a month in between purchasing our home and getting possession of it. This gave us oodles of time to hum and haw about how we might change our kitchen to better suit us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Currently, our kitchen is an eat in and to be honest functions better than I thought it might. There is room for all of our stuff (which is surprising because I don't feel like we have much more cupboard space than in the condo). But it isn't exactly what we want (plus we don't even have a table to put in the space!). So it's the first bit of major renovations we are planning for.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK16VfsYd0XGJYdQKJH0U-uYLOwTo-gEOo5X0CXwKhoA6cWAdXOseOahK40UZga4t2OpeWzqIN94jq-6wMe-eupxgF5LUF7YjyVAEdbtmetcO7yOteRiGIE31VLkGzIFMbT80dxXMNjF2A/s1600/IMG_3968%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK16VfsYd0XGJYdQKJH0U-uYLOwTo-gEOo5X0CXwKhoA6cWAdXOseOahK40UZga4t2OpeWzqIN94jq-6wMe-eupxgF5LUF7YjyVAEdbtmetcO7yOteRiGIE31VLkGzIFMbT80dxXMNjF2A/s400/IMG_3968%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from dinning room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-tA5fHiJbLuVbM7xmSQxuVLDwq-NQyZupaVskYr7fKTzkhy63yq3HE9x5hdFfAeEJaooiDLmTqXemM-Cjrpg7fqStqheik8PfCQMb47ucKm1FJ4rczezm4a9yi86_UCysG4SrCtNtbgc/s1600/IMG_3969%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-tA5fHiJbLuVbM7xmSQxuVLDwq-NQyZupaVskYr7fKTzkhy63yq3HE9x5hdFfAeEJaooiDLmTqXemM-Cjrpg7fqStqheik8PfCQMb47ucKm1FJ4rczezm4a9yi86_UCysG4SrCtNtbgc/s400/IMG_3969%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75DBIQoP3luO-r3eG0GxRMYBCttFm3qmtlOO3hF4yM7T7VguV9uU8JHlPUpemUkvQiMumZkEPyfTh4Vc6MO7mhORC3JRnnbq5rLIZEouKyAKtNXD-uGvaSaJqoLys4NCatU_4n1vEsoN6/s1600/IMG_3967%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75DBIQoP3luO-r3eG0GxRMYBCttFm3qmtlOO3hF4yM7T7VguV9uU8JHlPUpemUkvQiMumZkEPyfTh4Vc6MO7mhORC3JRnnbq5rLIZEouKyAKtNXD-uGvaSaJqoLys4NCatU_4n1vEsoN6/s400/IMG_3967%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dinning room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A few things..</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That is a door to the bathroom on our one kitchen wall</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We don't currently have a dishwasher</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The stove is original to the house (not that you can see it)!.... and I think we have officially learned how to use it!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, that's carpet in the dinning room</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, there isn't a whole lot of counter space considering the space that we have.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, how are we going to change it?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've drawn diagrams and we've used apps but in the end the best thing we used to help us design our kitchen was to use the Ikea kitchen planner... mostly because I knew the stove and the sizes of everything actually existed (and as a nice bonus the chairs and table that we added to our design are actually the chairs and table that we own!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do we plan to actually make an Ikea kitchen?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Probably not</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But it is a good tool for planning for right now.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyways.... here are 2 options that I've come up with for what might work in our space.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoWwzGZ5s6py9MHzaqEvaD1Aa3Qc47uIYylXGVR-OP7FxUZW3QYgJqFB4uvANB_a3LHAywJcFEJAbjghJ-E8T7-3MrSjtxJCwZtPbls9bwEO5RUud-lBGsZD3E0poU0JUadT49RKaXuZT/s1600/kitchen+renos.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="645" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoWwzGZ5s6py9MHzaqEvaD1Aa3Qc47uIYylXGVR-OP7FxUZW3QYgJqFB4uvANB_a3LHAywJcFEJAbjghJ-E8T7-3MrSjtxJCwZtPbls9bwEO5RUud-lBGsZD3E0poU0JUadT49RKaXuZT/s640/kitchen+renos.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ikea's kitchen planner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The option on the left has us swapping the current dinning room and kitchen and taking down the wall that separates them. The 3 white boxes along the bottom would act us our pantry and coffee bar area. Probably a bit more money than the option on the right but I feel like it is the better option.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then there is the option on the right. The kitchen stays relatively the same size as it currently is, however, the wall separating the dinning room and kitchen still comes down to make room for the peninsula. Not a lot of room for upper cabinets because there are 2 windows that run along the wall where the sink is currently located. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We don't currently have a backdoor to our house (well we do, you just have to go through the garage) and so with the option on the left it might also give us enough space to add in a backdoor of some kind... eventually.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Of course, we can sit here plopping things into Ikea's kitchen planner all day but it still doesn't tell us what's in the wall we want to take down, how much will it cost to move plumbing or if any of this is even possible. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
BUT... since we are likely not going with an IKEA kitchen I also went to a store in our area to inquire about kitchen designs (and talk to someone who actually designs kitchens daily)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's what the girl at the store came up with:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8g-uzhRtlXa7WTYvNBjk0redkjCy9rdrQfvKSC5XXbOIQkJd9QtX8KCpDtErjCl40iZTr6WfZZohsJr11zsG6744Svm28JnCJz84ZlhM3bTSPERW5FfzM72r-1eJWOi2wHu4P3bDnelt/s1600/IMG_4003%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8g-uzhRtlXa7WTYvNBjk0redkjCy9rdrQfvKSC5XXbOIQkJd9QtX8KCpDtErjCl40iZTr6WfZZohsJr11zsG6744Svm28JnCJz84ZlhM3bTSPERW5FfzM72r-1eJWOi2wHu4P3bDnelt/s400/IMG_4003%255B1%255D.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">swapping the kitchen and dining room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
Pros: lots of counter and cupboard space, big fridge, lots of space in our new dining room</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cons: Those cupboards and counters that line the bottom of the top picture are only 12 inches deep... 12 inches! That's the length of a ruler people... not too big</div>
<div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvpI3SgnVqoHncPxxEi_IZ-0Bc6OTK2JuEB7fdsl5mO3etD7Ge-KRn2YSUXLx7IzeUaSmZv96gwq8L1oz64TAodzG8T_zNgHCY04F8wdNsGrnHrUkIy1HI8dSWtdRqwsrgLXbhTJ7BEX-/s1600/IMG_4002%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvpI3SgnVqoHncPxxEi_IZ-0Bc6OTK2JuEB7fdsl5mO3etD7Ge-KRn2YSUXLx7IzeUaSmZv96gwq8L1oz64TAodzG8T_zNgHCY04F8wdNsGrnHrUkIy1HI8dSWtdRqwsrgLXbhTJ7BEX-/s400/IMG_4002%255B1%255D.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">keeping the kitchen where it currently is</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
Pros: We don't have to move plumbing or anything, all cupboards are a regular depth, the kitchen looks very spacious.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cons: small dining room, smaller fridge, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm still learning towards the swapping of the dining room and kitchen if possible.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BUT, I'll definitely be visiting another store sometime and this time getting them to totally work their magic and come up with something they think would be best for the space we have.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyways, it might not be getting done any time soon... but hopefully within the next couple of years we'll have a kitchen that better suits our needs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyone who has gone through a kitchen renovation and wants to chime in with their opinion is welcome to... we aren't married to either of the above 2 options yet.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-9948663362887122352017-09-26T07:00:00.000-05:002017-09-26T07:00:08.173-05:00Homemade Salsa<div style="text-align: center;">
We've got salsa folks!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were home this weekend so took a little trip to one of the many local farmer markets to pick up way too many tomatoes (John's sister is making us tomato sauce) and with the extras (and many from our pants) I made some salsa for canning.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's the thing... I did this last year (I think I did 2 jars not knowing how much salsa we would use up) and we easily used it all up! So this year the plan was to do the exact same recipe but perhaps, this time, a full recipe (instead of the half I thought I did last year)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I figured... I probably posted a link to whatever recipe I used in my blog from last year... the post where I talk about making salsa can be found <a href="http://pennerc.blogspot.ca/search?q=salsa">here</a> and if you read it I only talk about making the salsa and make no mention of the wonderful recipe I had found (also note, the date of that post was December 7th!).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I searched. I opened link after link after link. I could make a number of assumptions about the recipe I used...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1) I felt like maybe it made 5 quarts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2) I don't recall buying chilies for it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3) I would never make salsa that included cilantro </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4) Based on the spices that I currently have in the pantry I assumed I only used the spices I currently have.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
5) We don't own a kitchen scale and so I was pretty sure the amounts of veggies in the recipe were measured in cups... not pounds.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the end I'm fairly confident that I didn't find the exact recipe that I used last year (even though I searched to the 5th page of my google search!)... on to (hopefully) better things! So I ended up going with <a href="http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2012/08/how-to-make-salsa-for-canning/">this</a> recipe.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>FUTURE CHRISTINE: WE'VE FIGURED IT OUT FOR NEXT YEAR... CHECK ONE OF YOUR CHURCH COOKBOOKS... THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND THE RECIPE</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ahem... anywho.. It definitely took a looong time to chop up all those veggies (I added extra jalapenos to their suggestion because we weren't sure how spicy ours were - most of them had turned red)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TzPV7Dnu8S5XO6Hz4ajv7XnB6FdkuRbcq0vT9xzca8_m-6SJuUG3nunRNg8k1hzxvEsYuj1b3DYezKXkSquC9GQqpKyww8JRd4fLZxbgQQ8jhVArLZIU3apF7MTJN18fO0h-zIR18jiC/s1600/IMG_3977%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TzPV7Dnu8S5XO6Hz4ajv7XnB6FdkuRbcq0vT9xzca8_m-6SJuUG3nunRNg8k1hzxvEsYuj1b3DYezKXkSquC9GQqpKyww8JRd4fLZxbgQQ8jhVArLZIU3apF7MTJN18fO0h-zIR18jiC/s400/IMG_3977%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">homemade salsa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At this point I left John in charge of the salsa and it got pretty runny so we simmered it for quite a bit longer than the recipe suggested to thicken it up (the recipe I plan to use next year says to add corn starch which we debated on adding this year but didn't)</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2ipBIXzFJB-SQDECoxv1Ezz3LAZiY48QPZYVFkyq3tklx6hMalaFiUZ785wDj5xSlCiLB3H8cHWuKsluESFctjtfn-TQrgX30Kc3yZysGkvz0202KgfPDl92jM7a6muCGVT2USidyvl6/s1600/IMG_3978%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2ipBIXzFJB-SQDECoxv1Ezz3LAZiY48QPZYVFkyq3tklx6hMalaFiUZ785wDj5xSlCiLB3H8cHWuKsluESFctjtfn-TQrgX30Kc3yZysGkvz0202KgfPDl92jM7a6muCGVT2USidyvl6/s400/IMG_3978%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 quarts of homemade salsa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can see that we didn't get close to the 5 and a half quarts the recipe claimed it would make (probably because we simmered it for so long)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
John ended up sampling some and said it was spicy... we then looked up when to pick jalapenos and learnt that if picked when just starting to turn red they are at their prime spicy level... whoops.</div>
<br />
<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-7076415233049108952017-09-22T07:00:00.000-05:002017-09-22T07:00:16.917-05:00Backyard<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNReNiRaR8ySn26fpQywALELIPgzY_ZWXN-C0KJH8Lshuom7_HDCUjfLLjv-PGIWFc4MVvLR8SAaqU-terGVvpKBuQDa_1bcAiMkERplAnLt6Q2_9W5qF4sBi_EaGZeOKt-RglZ0Mk_UUe/s1600/IMG_3961%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNReNiRaR8ySn26fpQywALELIPgzY_ZWXN-C0KJH8Lshuom7_HDCUjfLLjv-PGIWFc4MVvLR8SAaqU-terGVvpKBuQDa_1bcAiMkERplAnLt6Q2_9W5qF4sBi_EaGZeOKt-RglZ0Mk_UUe/s640/IMG_3961%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Welcome to our backyard!</span></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVo2tliG6KLiopSHE66REUHymGyA_ZnG4LVDLTRrIcIt4wn6Pdiusp_AScNVMK603SW5WdBNgh3VP9jp-4sP8nm4aUxqJvs7Et3UoTmd3gO7BTS7C94KPWTygieUGd-C7AcuggA7uGZIu/s1600/IMG_3966%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVo2tliG6KLiopSHE66REUHymGyA_ZnG4LVDLTRrIcIt4wn6Pdiusp_AScNVMK603SW5WdBNgh3VP9jp-4sP8nm4aUxqJvs7Et3UoTmd3gO7BTS7C94KPWTygieUGd-C7AcuggA7uGZIu/s400/IMG_3966%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our patio area and shed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We have a decently sized backyard with a garden already in place... which is perfect because if there is one thing John wanted was for there to be space for a big garden (and if this garden space isn't enough for him there are some community gardens that we can rent space from about a 5 minute walk away from us)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What have we changed?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not much</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The day before we moved here there was an estate sale around the corner so we picked up some hose and a rake. The following week I was at Dollar Tree and saw they had spray nozzles for the end of a hose and picked up one of those (which is actually holding up surprisingly well).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We took out a few bushy plants to transplant our strawberries that we had on our balcony. Not knowing what exactly our plans are for the garden for next year we just chose a spot at the end and figured since we didn't really know what the plants were we wouldn't miss them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are however some plants that do seem more like keepers</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This one is hard to see because apparently we are also using it to support a tomato plant that didn't fair too well during the move. It's a small bushy little tree that I'm assuming will be around next year.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9-N7YyJ0QEVj3EWKEVQHn1oXFN6R9YJ3F0qxBxQ1qnYlHrDNgYrbHufpYHZ91bKnDi4ywb1Q-KdqeMpnl-Xfp1zx8UOzyVp1nBVn77nrnvIcehhbcdzrjMF8m4XU4DwFjPf5zNsI4KqP/s1600/IMG_3962%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9-N7YyJ0QEVj3EWKEVQHn1oXFN6R9YJ3F0qxBxQ1qnYlHrDNgYrbHufpYHZ91bKnDi4ywb1Q-KdqeMpnl-Xfp1zx8UOzyVp1nBVn77nrnvIcehhbcdzrjMF8m4XU4DwFjPf5zNsI4KqP/s400/IMG_3962%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Also not sure what this one is but it had a flower on it (and there were the beginnings of more of them at the top) but it seems to be doing well... is it one that continues to bloom year after year? I haven't a clue.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi350Zidg-gKercyLLJe2KVz_o06VMA87dM8GjDbXI3YrzIsG3b35ygMH7QOtVOxsd_tZiF2BVbYejMD_yUuPoDYLG-EC4JWvjSZlJTJPj9fViZcatZRPOpZ3OmND6zd2kAPomBsRnQImIV/s1600/IMG_3963%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi350Zidg-gKercyLLJe2KVz_o06VMA87dM8GjDbXI3YrzIsG3b35ygMH7QOtVOxsd_tZiF2BVbYejMD_yUuPoDYLG-EC4JWvjSZlJTJPj9fViZcatZRPOpZ3OmND6zd2kAPomBsRnQImIV/s400/IMG_3963%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are also a bunch of these in the garden. I actually bought 2 of these a few years ago to keep on my balcony. They require next to no work and have survived many a winter. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUxcGsjCNjkfYcuY9H6GOJ6hT81JZBT1Q7k0kWvPyPFtwq8jBqw94qbjjiI_FF2wqZ0kJ2N8pAjttMTKCZD_vAe2_o176nX4dQPXn0DgAQvaeoPwzClLtbONi_N862qoQcyjA8252vTqo/s1600/IMG_3964%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUxcGsjCNjkfYcuY9H6GOJ6hT81JZBT1Q7k0kWvPyPFtwq8jBqw94qbjjiI_FF2wqZ0kJ2N8pAjttMTKCZD_vAe2_o176nX4dQPXn0DgAQvaeoPwzClLtbONi_N862qoQcyjA8252vTqo/s400/IMG_3964%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One day I want to make a flower garden under our bay window at the front of the house... and maybe just maybe some (or all?) of these plants could be moved there... because although we may not have much planned for the garden I do know that all that space will likely be filled with fruit and veggies.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Psst.. the last couple of Friday's I've been posting about our [new to us] house... it's kind of a thing I'm doing now I guess. <a href="http://pennerc.blogspot.ca/2017/09/home-renovations-4-days-prior-to-move-in.html">Here is last week's post</a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-6514025681967365172017-09-19T07:00:00.000-05:002017-09-19T07:00:03.374-05:00Other Wedding Stuff<div style="text-align: center;">
What seems like eons ago I posted about <a href="http://pennerc.blogspot.ca/2016/07/guest-book.html">possibilities we were considering for our wedding guest </a>book. John ended up making the decision and it was likely the most expensive of the options (especially since we haven't used the camera since). But here are a couple of pages of the book...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZqZ7X_Zl6VAQEaJvydQugcrQDb9E1fU04kj9f8fxv1w9-sn5pJdpe_yNxhyphenhyphenK2iReUoNn9tv_QGiuXuisQuYNCf5wa85CNRb2faRmjcvp91utxjy_V8fYuCqU8Hc4yxTdJq8v22Gr7btD/s1600/IMG_3930%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZqZ7X_Zl6VAQEaJvydQugcrQDb9E1fU04kj9f8fxv1w9-sn5pJdpe_yNxhyphenhyphenK2iReUoNn9tv_QGiuXuisQuYNCf5wa85CNRb2faRmjcvp91utxjy_V8fYuCqU8Hc4yxTdJq8v22Gr7btD/s400/IMG_3930%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wedding guest book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Originally I picked up a large scrapbooking album for Michaels hummed and hawed about the size of it for about a week and decided I likely wanted to go with something else... but what that something else was I wasn't sure. Then while wandering the aisles at Michaels (on one of my twice weekly Michaels visits... seriously... they basically sponsored our wedding and weren't even aware of it!) I found a small 3 ring binder (the outside of it was a plain white fabric and we never added anything more to it) with a bunch of pages and envelopes included. It was probably about $10 which was a fraction of the cost of the original album (I don't recall the cost of it.. probably at least $30). We set it on a table with 2 of our friends manning it to take photos of our guests and left pens, markers, and glue sticks out for them to decorate and write a message.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't think I ever shared what we did for our table seating chart either. We also kept this pretty simple. In fact, the hardest part of the seating chart was finding a frame that included a bunch of spots for photos... that I actually liked. I actually just came across this as we were moving (yes, the seating chart came with us... I'm sure we might reuse it for something other than a seating chart sometime!). Anyways, I found <a href="https://www.jysk.ca/home-decor/photo-frames/vienne-collage-frame-lg-black.html">this frame at JYSK</a> for a good price... we decided on the black frame versus the white because the tent and so much of the decor was already white. The paper was scrapbooking paper from Michaels. Did you know you can pretty much return anything to Michaels? A potential guest book that you decide is too large but lost the receipt for and even their open stock scrapbook paper. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6jkuikIZ5AWB3q2KXjkrvMJBjJHu6fdN3lOLouDsNEI8jfs-ZpmsbTR5o2lsyYGm9AS6DhZrZ9ICK3922wxS_2cyP_QXPB50VMYKyerGNZLBUzmgPmYcevlJkjRfHZehczcsT3DOIIa-/s1600/IMG_3931%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6jkuikIZ5AWB3q2KXjkrvMJBjJHu6fdN3lOLouDsNEI8jfs-ZpmsbTR5o2lsyYGm9AS6DhZrZ9ICK3922wxS_2cyP_QXPB50VMYKyerGNZLBUzmgPmYcevlJkjRfHZehczcsT3DOIIa-/s400/IMG_3931%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wedding seating chart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We hadn't used our engagement photos at all (other than the one that was on our invites) and so we used some of the extra spots to in the seating chart to add some of our engagement pictures... whether people spent time looking for more than their name is beyond me but we did it anyways.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The venue had an easel we could use so we set this on the easel by the guest book table and everyone seemed to find their spot.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Also, to see some much better quality photos of our wedding <a href="http://pennerc.blogspot.ca/2017/09/wedding-pictures.html">click here</a></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-90159320727006255162017-09-15T07:00:00.000-05:002017-09-15T07:00:00.217-05:00Home Renovations - 4 days prior to move in <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last Friday I talked about how we had been <a href="http://pennerc.blogspot.ca/2017/09/we-bought-house.html">scrapping the popcorn ceilings</a> and the mess it was leaving... It's not the best picture (apparently I didn't think to turn on any lights for pictures this day) but here is a shot at the "messy room" (we designated one room as the messy room where we put tools, vacuums, curtains... just anything that was going to make a mess so that the others could be cleaned and this one would be the last to be cleaned). Anyways, all that white stuff along the wall... that's all ceiling.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDd6512scnyztwrKs0bEr5QfnL3dM1J2B9RHMxArEVOM3of87W8iVxiQP4FsXXuLvBIPEpqE3RaixICH7IZX66BgA6PBPMFU9A7wruMTeoy-IOrF3Vgehwb6VhprbAZAt1lRwNWWKoK5u3/s1600/IMG_3949%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDd6512scnyztwrKs0bEr5QfnL3dM1J2B9RHMxArEVOM3of87W8iVxiQP4FsXXuLvBIPEpqE3RaixICH7IZX66BgA6PBPMFU9A7wruMTeoy-IOrF3Vgehwb6VhprbAZAt1lRwNWWKoK5u3/s400/IMG_3949%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our messy room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Last week I also mentioned how we had an arsenal of vacuums at our place... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 vacuums should clean up a room don't you think?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjGWRj9AZfvkPZmL6pOS62GcpuKh3DiIxQkSJzFQ6SCOeyYJPd8oUuVY83MbH2B31exeMRKx_zRgWvDdBkqCGzCNwrhZXir-fbqOx8Q5RSmybv_YHZFXICeMsMFJ20pi-cl8f0mb-2o-n/s1600/IMG_3956%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjGWRj9AZfvkPZmL6pOS62GcpuKh3DiIxQkSJzFQ6SCOeyYJPd8oUuVY83MbH2B31exeMRKx_zRgWvDdBkqCGzCNwrhZXir-fbqOx8Q5RSmybv_YHZFXICeMsMFJ20pi-cl8f0mb-2o-n/s400/IMG_3956%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A variety of vacuums</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It should be noted that the 2 red ones are both partially broken... they are also the two that John and I actually own. Maybe the next time Dyson is on Sale at the Bay we'll use up all our wedding gift cards on a fancy new vacuum.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is our "messy room" all cleaned up 4 days before we officially move in!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2fypzep9ZgiAmsg6wZgSh3279ZeoUBlGjxOU5FxIhI69swBZgnYgKhxX_hr1iEL5IRdWk6FxH_tmNvyS28jQqhD-S_3h8u22n2ezvGmP6U6m9XuWzLIH9C2DCFanlvmMgpaeBIdfI-JW/s1600/IMG_3951%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2fypzep9ZgiAmsg6wZgSh3279ZeoUBlGjxOU5FxIhI69swBZgnYgKhxX_hr1iEL5IRdWk6FxH_tmNvyS28jQqhD-S_3h8u22n2ezvGmP6U6m9XuWzLIH9C2DCFanlvmMgpaeBIdfI-JW/s400/IMG_3951%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our clean "messy room"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On this day I also wiped down all the walls and above the doors and the door handles and hopefully everywhere that those little bits of ceiling got. I'm not so naive that I think the ceiling scrapings are all gone... but I think 90% of them might be. The other 10% we'll be slowing cleaning up over the next few months probably.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We also painted the master bedroom this week! We went with Benjamin Moore paint because I knew it would be the best out there but instead of using their very top level of paint I took the guy who worked at Benjamin Moore's advise and went with the Regal level (which I think turned out great!). The gray colour is called Edgecomb Gray and the turquoise colour is San Jose Blue. We also used their Waterborne Ceiling paint on our ceiling. Our plan is to eventually paint or replace the wood around the window, the baseboards, and the door (which you obviously can't see in this picture) but we'll wait until our condo sells and we have a bit more money to do those updates.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNNjwdbcEQV0tTmff064scx9Z9Yz3Nd5c_mntdbHbkYYJ1PE1wyaNjj0VggFA2xzv0TlcMMpbzjLBd1PP-hI5xXBnpJbmVaH5vd-OuLvlY9twBl46_MZ_sqpTtPdpvaZ0tPH1Lw6Qet5x/s1600/IMG_3947%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNNjwdbcEQV0tTmff064scx9Z9Yz3Nd5c_mntdbHbkYYJ1PE1wyaNjj0VggFA2xzv0TlcMMpbzjLBd1PP-hI5xXBnpJbmVaH5vd-OuLvlY9twBl46_MZ_sqpTtPdpvaZ0tPH1Lw6Qet5x/s400/IMG_3947%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master Bedroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been slowly emptying out the condo... everytime I go to the house I take a few boxes of things with me (and I send John to work with one since he passes the house on the way home to the condo). When I came back to the condo on this day it was already looking so bare... nothing was left on the living room shelves!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbid38S6bmplfr9lwVetMKrlZhgQb47EhAXeVV5tPBjrkNapmeAww2PvwC_qw5pZaUEojEqDq6FRFlD9m-5bpQHaEA1Zu_8MIYCynZmWB8NLp3yWtI_O24Pa5UWizBEz1czx6Oms96xP9/s1600/IMG_3952%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbid38S6bmplfr9lwVetMKrlZhgQb47EhAXeVV5tPBjrkNapmeAww2PvwC_qw5pZaUEojEqDq6FRFlD9m-5bpQHaEA1Zu_8MIYCynZmWB8NLp3yWtI_O24Pa5UWizBEz1czx6Oms96xP9/s400/IMG_3952%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Condo living room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We officially moved out of the condo and into the house a week ago... once our condo sells we have big plans for the house (new kitchen, new bathroom(s), the basement)... changes that will likely take a number of years to finish but slowly the house will be transformed into something that is more our style.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-4047304414571633082017-09-12T07:00:00.001-05:002017-09-12T07:00:13.101-05:00Clear Lake 2017 <div style="text-align: center;">
This almost didn't happen this year!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But we can't mess with tradition and so off we went on our annual excursion to Clear Lake while in the midst of house renovations, condo selling, and packing. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Every September long for who knows how many years (every year since I've been around) we've gone to Clear Lake for a family gathering.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The highlights?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Dinner Boat Cruise</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We went on the dinner boat cruise this year! It was something different and we learned some interesting information about the area while on it (and the weather was perfect to be out on the boat!). It was however pretty expensive and now that we've done it once I'm not sure we'll need to do it again.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Bald Hill</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTs5aL4VOV42Kt4B4ySWsWxJY1eiOrV2_q5Wo9Et9J04ucBzk_l1jX3eOTNJaq53pUgbBxj0p_M682XDBFkSU8p09QW6A1Wxv8AV3Q-JKpl_KMMyK3aS_OT7S6znsVKff1xZkzoMhAfhXJ/s1600/IMG_3958%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTs5aL4VOV42Kt4B4ySWsWxJY1eiOrV2_q5Wo9Et9J04ucBzk_l1jX3eOTNJaq53pUgbBxj0p_M682XDBFkSU8p09QW6A1Wxv8AV3Q-JKpl_KMMyK3aS_OT7S6znsVKff1xZkzoMhAfhXJ/s400/IMG_3958%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of Bald Hill<br />
Confession: I was almost too scared to hike the fairly short but narrow path to get to this point... I thought the breeze would send me over the edge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We went on the Bald Hill hike this year. 14km later we got back to the car. I think someone had figured it out and thought it would be about 10km which seems pretty doable but then we ventured off the main path to get to Bald Hill and didn't park exactly where we maybe should have... by the end I was pretty exhausted and it took me the rest of the weekend for my muscles to re cooperate.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Outdoor Movies</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My sister and brother in law borrowed a projector and big screen so that we could watch movies outside after it got dark. It was the first year we ever did it and I would say it was a big success! It did get a little chilly though so for the 2nd evening of watching movies outside we built a couple of fires to stay warmer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. The Food</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The food is always good. Imagine a couple of picnic tables filled with a variety of foods for dinner. No one goes hungry at the lake!... in fact it takes a couple of days afterwards for you to actually become hungry again!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The regrets?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just one...we still haven't gotten our Beavertails! Come on!</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-35758513843060971262017-09-08T07:00:00.001-05:002017-09-08T08:53:28.230-05:00We Bought a House!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As of August 25th we officially had possession of our new house!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As per our lawyers advise we went to the new house at midnight to make sure everything was in order and to take a selfie</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGQ_oG7WxqSXDLU8SZATC7reJjyjOLHdBT83QP3LAZtTKxJ3zdOSdl8QAjkYuux0TXLMyf_g65OK4vWhW1A3l0i2YGHb3vrwoz34Upds6qOQvkqteLOi3YcBn7VawKSUlYyDwLlpcDjKR/s1600/IMG_3933%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGQ_oG7WxqSXDLU8SZATC7reJjyjOLHdBT83QP3LAZtTKxJ3zdOSdl8QAjkYuux0TXLMyf_g65OK4vWhW1A3l0i2YGHb3vrwoz34Upds6qOQvkqteLOi3YcBn7VawKSUlYyDwLlpcDjKR/s400/IMG_3933%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midnight selfie at the house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The first week at the new house was filled with scrapping the popcorn ceilings of our second floor. It just so happened that this week John was also away for work which meant I was scrapping the ceilings of the house. Luckily, John has some fabulous sisters that came to help.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSztHUVl2c7fhpGWU_E2R8eMj1va_m4yUK5w_ab8MbF6nMG8TMgpWjXYtsyimI9lWboDZ6RzxVrUrOeD4dafvBBlLXBP5OEe5NIAmhN4R2Yf7sFT9yv50_33EgF2q1D80e_crJJw1Swoy-/s1600/IMG_3934%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSztHUVl2c7fhpGWU_E2R8eMj1va_m4yUK5w_ab8MbF6nMG8TMgpWjXYtsyimI9lWboDZ6RzxVrUrOeD4dafvBBlLXBP5OEe5NIAmhN4R2Yf7sFT9yv50_33EgF2q1D80e_crJJw1Swoy-/s400/IMG_3934%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Popcorn ceilings no more</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For those of you wondering; popcorn ceilings can be difficult to remove if they have been painted over (or so I've been told). We were lucky (if you could say that... I mean we still have a house full of popcorn ceilings!) and ours were not painted. All we did was spray the ceiling with some water and scrap away at it and it came off fairly easily. I searched up what to do after the ceilings were scrapped and got a variety of answers... I ended up just wiping down the ceilings with a damp cloth and hopefully that will be good enough!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unfortunately, scrapping popcorn off the ceilings made a BIG mess. We put down sheets of plastic but it still got EVERY WHERE. We are planning to replace the carpet... eventually so we weren't too concerned about it ruining the carpet but we aren't planning to replace it anytime soon... so we still needed it to not be too messy. We ended up with a full arsenal of vacuums at our disposal to help with the mess... thank goodness.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm posting this a little late... in fact tomorrow is actually our move in day! Be sure to come back next Friday to see what else we got accomplished prior to moving in though!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
PS. For those of you wondering if scrapping the ceilings was worth it... I say it was. Am I willing to do it again? Not likely (other than for our main floor that is... because that still needs to get done). But I wasn't working that week and was more than capable of doing it myself so I saved us the money of hiring someone to do it (which we probably wouldn't have done anyways.... we would have just left the ceilings the way they were then)</div>
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-19206211860521946682017-09-01T07:00:00.000-05:002017-09-01T07:00:14.091-05:00Wedding Pictures!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It hasn't quite been a year yet...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Despite it being in October the weather was pretty decent (yes, our guests had to wear their jackets but I don't think anyone froze and we certainly didn't boil in the heat!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All of these photos were taken at the venue (in fact, it was the only place other than where my maid of honour and myself got our hair done that pictures were taken).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWvgAMC2xFJqx6Mmzug5MuoXAey5iFatxwM1yvvbOR6ojJEt_3HgpjOnOT2nCvxLmFq7kNn8Dbe1LPPE5Wib49N95NUEtBT0kU2LzVSv_0kwExFzZFMob36L9PjyaoRl2gLxjqEgQAx-E/s1600/IMG_3929%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWvgAMC2xFJqx6Mmzug5MuoXAey5iFatxwM1yvvbOR6ojJEt_3HgpjOnOT2nCvxLmFq7kNn8Dbe1LPPE5Wib49N95NUEtBT0kU2LzVSv_0kwExFzZFMob36L9PjyaoRl2gLxjqEgQAx-E/s400/IMG_3929%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wedding album</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We've had our wedding album for a few months now. We (ahemIahem) made it on Shutterfly and then waited for a really good deal to order it! I opted for the more expensive layflat option because then you could put a large picture across 2 pages and have it still look perfect along the spine.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fun fact: Did you know that by signing up on Shutterfly they give you 50 free prints? Because they do... or at least they used to! We made our parents a smaller version of our wedding album for Christmas (I had a fabulous friend give me a code to get one of those for free too) and when we ordered our parents albums we ordered our 50 free prints (because they were still going to charge shipping on those prints)... all with the exact same photo. We used them as our thank you's. I think I printed about 10 to 20 others at London Drugs because 50 wasn't enough.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyways, enjoy some pictures from our wedding!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIV-30gfrLkx8daYVyfrzYjt78ncSR5YAIvrr0mUks2BwJ4iuHw9utfdLwK0HeiFl8jLcEAzZYGbhfKM94pAcyGeWJFIcoR4LZSgXoXI-fI9BJGaQy_i7sUe3ccTILm0TNSTjN_t9aAAn/s1600/John%2526Christine604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIV-30gfrLkx8daYVyfrzYjt78ncSR5YAIvrr0mUks2BwJ4iuHw9utfdLwK0HeiFl8jLcEAzZYGbhfKM94pAcyGeWJFIcoR4LZSgXoXI-fI9BJGaQy_i7sUe3ccTILm0TNSTjN_t9aAAn/s400/John%2526Christine604.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVWrnVifdn6mv-MqwrPUedH1Im5NQb7AkeAf5R6DN3H7DGfrK9AW7qqtWp06UHRSra0JGI1qNjkQgr64JtL45I-pY5jGDW6_s26HfIAVHr1Akj-ZiRg0EKDcVmGB5M529DRhyphenhyphenhYcSj86F/s1600/John%2526Christine612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVWrnVifdn6mv-MqwrPUedH1Im5NQb7AkeAf5R6DN3H7DGfrK9AW7qqtWp06UHRSra0JGI1qNjkQgr64JtL45I-pY5jGDW6_s26HfIAVHr1Akj-ZiRg0EKDcVmGB5M529DRhyphenhyphenhYcSj86F/s400/John%2526Christine612.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nsR5eS8dFwSkPccAQXFR-Y7NmnHhIopnsAoUjlc8hqWTKhEEGjrS11vLNV6jcTwDwV_PBw6bdQ4OGX6MyvFACjtFUmQcgs8mXb9Bke8qQHCyR5N9acVoZEkTpmAeiOKQEnYDMwdwcTTk/s1600/John%2526Christine801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nsR5eS8dFwSkPccAQXFR-Y7NmnHhIopnsAoUjlc8hqWTKhEEGjrS11vLNV6jcTwDwV_PBw6bdQ4OGX6MyvFACjtFUmQcgs8mXb9Bke8qQHCyR5N9acVoZEkTpmAeiOKQEnYDMwdwcTTk/s400/John%2526Christine801.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wedding ceremony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTy7Y48-6ebN5fEaDxvHW9In1VhRsH1mxSoQ21nj_iw60KwgqiizHXisRzK5ledccmp8jpAXb_u8nhALgCbltBpmsiwuB5Qn6mRRQeTN_MBWBRsNqC6N-miJZC3yq9BxVi3BcyAm-H_qu/s1600/John%2526Christine584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTy7Y48-6ebN5fEaDxvHW9In1VhRsH1mxSoQ21nj_iw60KwgqiizHXisRzK5ledccmp8jpAXb_u8nhALgCbltBpmsiwuB5Qn6mRRQeTN_MBWBRsNqC6N-miJZC3yq9BxVi3BcyAm-H_qu/s400/John%2526Christine584.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT-QQwR5AMk079kY3eifxyGnACN-kZteX3Ns6A8U6-skubViXuK4LMxBWD1QBwvGBHeZVuUW195Gn5vGXfIJSS-WBDlXttYuJbT-GlS-68XU-yKWQx6VftN3sEyY2SDjJKOYsPiZHhUmG/s1600/John%2526Christine504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT-QQwR5AMk079kY3eifxyGnACN-kZteX3Ns6A8U6-skubViXuK4LMxBWD1QBwvGBHeZVuUW195Gn5vGXfIJSS-WBDlXttYuJbT-GlS-68XU-yKWQx6VftN3sEyY2SDjJKOYsPiZHhUmG/s400/John%2526Christine504.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkPeFBW7GzbDoR6CH4yjiN9IgvD7p59jRDRNKrQVSYWz55gmhUWwgZPgh0rMHCb0kYssdy3rqvM08OyF859LrYzGh4vHLcCyFF-mLTPBisN0S0zIltPZcQI-u6RnSgLRzxYNISSnLtJkW/s1600/John%2526Christine631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkPeFBW7GzbDoR6CH4yjiN9IgvD7p59jRDRNKrQVSYWz55gmhUWwgZPgh0rMHCb0kYssdy3rqvM08OyF859LrYzGh4vHLcCyFF-mLTPBisN0S0zIltPZcQI-u6RnSgLRzxYNISSnLtJkW/s400/John%2526Christine631.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K2sqLdJcjGf_s4U0YI0pf6fMmWoYYtSOo1zPGpbhichQDYfpGXFklcaCmGl8XGfMV2uDo4G5HZxAHGOGfZWgGJgpe6jLa4bMgNw8pzyc6MSVoou3Sv5cEH1Dgb-KTMCAnMiV6Z-Z_Z51/s1600/John%2526Christine699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K2sqLdJcjGf_s4U0YI0pf6fMmWoYYtSOo1zPGpbhichQDYfpGXFklcaCmGl8XGfMV2uDo4G5HZxAHGOGfZWgGJgpe6jLa4bMgNw8pzyc6MSVoou3Sv5cEH1Dgb-KTMCAnMiV6Z-Z_Z51/s400/John%2526Christine699.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favourite shots!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIRnPqFqXmrCs3vRs_s6vTm9_SIc4JQwBXmlJuUeAaOLlSR6UJaAFLRIIX1OmU3Hdw_1pW8BIPkA3hvBLL6Jen2s6uBIQ5YBfOr_oT2_egmE8hRozUUV9vB88gqurbL6e0dn59NC83kY7/s1600/John%2526Christine899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIRnPqFqXmrCs3vRs_s6vTm9_SIc4JQwBXmlJuUeAaOLlSR6UJaAFLRIIX1OmU3Hdw_1pW8BIPkA3hvBLL6Jen2s6uBIQ5YBfOr_oT2_egmE8hRozUUV9vB88gqurbL6e0dn59NC83kY7/s400/John%2526Christine899.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Why wear fancy heels when I can wear comfortable flats all day!?!</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdnIHd2QqABp2JXEoVF3xLD_ByRpzSnQnBk8QPxY8YFYHie9tFPbz543bxRBJuLnnnPsojEWHWze7Ix1MzB0D-DXp1gULW1ocijpqaYGqxh_1XZDSyYluHcqBgkmN9EwJL4jHj10okVgt/s1600/John%2526Christine73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdnIHd2QqABp2JXEoVF3xLD_ByRpzSnQnBk8QPxY8YFYHie9tFPbz543bxRBJuLnnnPsojEWHWze7Ix1MzB0D-DXp1gULW1ocijpqaYGqxh_1XZDSyYluHcqBgkmN9EwJL4jHj10okVgt/s400/John%2526Christine73.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wedding shoes (and earrings and ring)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My sister made our wedding cake</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kF0PnPGG53GYtaVAQCJEI_CywLxw68Az2no5hGrDsGz6GVO3iyy-192ox1VuMvEvMiQR3GFPPnyXgQTSIIKERGyInYaf5UlfRj_NuitfGrw1xCOHpvT5YIq9NdqKST1i7sub8kO969We/s1600/John%2526Christine681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kF0PnPGG53GYtaVAQCJEI_CywLxw68Az2no5hGrDsGz6GVO3iyy-192ox1VuMvEvMiQR3GFPPnyXgQTSIIKERGyInYaf5UlfRj_NuitfGrw1xCOHpvT5YIq9NdqKST1i7sub8kO969We/s400/John%2526Christine681.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wedding cake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
John cut some trees down at the lake to make our centerpieces (or maybe he used trees that had already fallen over? I don't recall). Then he burnt the tables numbers onto the wood.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQzB6B6S-9uW8lw5uX6GB2veipG1dSRkszZsomosrT-N_8AdkVd16gCYpyVeo-MFYnIOpb-eLrN0WcLWtGHc_8CU-VmYV062N_MxHDYKlfaLW4Zon5wfaV9z56EuRu0PUkn0v_oht1IJN/s1600/John%2526Christine684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQzB6B6S-9uW8lw5uX6GB2veipG1dSRkszZsomosrT-N_8AdkVd16gCYpyVeo-MFYnIOpb-eLrN0WcLWtGHc_8CU-VmYV062N_MxHDYKlfaLW4Zon5wfaV9z56EuRu0PUkn0v_oht1IJN/s400/John%2526Christine684.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wedding centerpieces</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our reception was in a semi permanent tent on the property (if it was too cold or rainy we were going to have the ceremony in here as well). They had options to pump in heat in case it got too cold... not sure if they had to or not though.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71cRpd8Fg-4RX_3EKdEtPxnVcSWFaIpXxj4CmC36g869swZ-HzeWxeetPKdzHc0s-4zVyjR504jcvIPmEq_BM0zAfqgjY2pP4aTIpO3nPoZfhVrVeO18xP-zZv6_GF6OANX403dNbeCi5/s1600/John%2526Christine714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71cRpd8Fg-4RX_3EKdEtPxnVcSWFaIpXxj4CmC36g869swZ-HzeWxeetPKdzHc0s-4zVyjR504jcvIPmEq_BM0zAfqgjY2pP4aTIpO3nPoZfhVrVeO18xP-zZv6_GF6OANX403dNbeCi5/s400/John%2526Christine714.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wedding reception</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our favours were succulents. I loved the idea but hardly anyones them made it through the winter!</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVny3NnOEaZRqPHs0C8wPYD4cVj3K92GrY0eOW72bHHGk1Mi8PZzBF8QMqf-6gUd5TVoXcDzp2ZkU16ypWQUpBPpvflU0j3ZV10sXg9tSmQIsriUqzR6N0Z4dK0w4AN8tit1CJ4E27I4kb/s1600/John%2526Christine1048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVny3NnOEaZRqPHs0C8wPYD4cVj3K92GrY0eOW72bHHGk1Mi8PZzBF8QMqf-6gUd5TVoXcDzp2ZkU16ypWQUpBPpvflU0j3ZV10sXg9tSmQIsriUqzR6N0Z4dK0w4AN8tit1CJ4E27I4kb/s400/John%2526Christine1048.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wedding favours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Also, because purchasing and dreaming about changes (and making changes) to the new home has occupied much of our time we have't figured out a single thing to do for our first year anniversary! Give us some ideas in the comments!</div>
<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-38665226820304747352017-08-29T07:00:00.000-05:002017-08-29T07:00:00.262-05:00Feather Art<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't recall at all how I came up with the idea for this but I made it forever ago (forever ago as in before my wedding... which was in October so probably about a year ago). If you search online I'm sure lots of other similar feather art will come up though.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauBDOTzBFoijmgLO6eW3KYBNUcuuoviA52TwI-zjlFDT6XMdGJ0UEpCo1obiag5Q8UwdkFSBr_JlT9S2OWquvfUgdDzenJHnHzZI9tBoFkcyvczIagLt8FVhFwz3L06Wabxu6oXDTDM6h/s1600/IMG_3329%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauBDOTzBFoijmgLO6eW3KYBNUcuuoviA52TwI-zjlFDT6XMdGJ0UEpCo1obiag5Q8UwdkFSBr_JlT9S2OWquvfUgdDzenJHnHzZI9tBoFkcyvczIagLt8FVhFwz3L06Wabxu6oXDTDM6h/s400/IMG_3329%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Originally I had put the feathers between 2 pieces of glass but the feathers were to thick and broke one of the pieces of glass (you can see that in the below photo)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz8lnUV1qDB5kf6lzcs4U9z1T1vx26eljhECjla2y6XQKTxOM8wpKoM_9_e7lSIx-h9BsT4qxib5AbEtWAQmGHJkCuhzK9FJVbct6_NVze1RzP15A535LPiWjUTsW0XvSAR-Vb3coZrzQ/s1600/IMG_3387%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz8lnUV1qDB5kf6lzcs4U9z1T1vx26eljhECjla2y6XQKTxOM8wpKoM_9_e7lSIx-h9BsT4qxib5AbEtWAQmGHJkCuhzK9FJVbct6_NVze1RzP15A535LPiWjUTsW0XvSAR-Vb3coZrzQ/s400/IMG_3387%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In the end I took out the back piece of glass and put a piece of cardboard behind them. Definitely not quite as nice as being able to see through but maybe if I painted the cardboard a nicer colour it would look better.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anywho, super simple and inexpensive artwork for your home!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-25298995638817451042017-08-25T07:00:00.000-05:002017-08-25T07:00:24.269-05:00I'm Thinking White<div style="text-align: center;">
It seems my eye is drawn to white as I browse through shops because I've got nothing else to do and why not consider things I could buy to put in our new home. I haven't allowed myself to purchase anything... yet... why buy stuff just to move it right away.. right? But once we get possession of the new house (ahem*today*ahem) I may be buying all the things I've found. There's a teeny tiny chance that I MIGHT wait until we at least design our new kitchen before purchasing too much but that could be a while and I've got gift cards just waiting to be used!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The first things I found were from Marshalls... I can't confirm these are the same ones I saw at Marshalls but they are equally as nice (as far as I remember at least)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-DYbccU6w2_sSjdhXOLVtHTZ3a_Ora9qc16nGs0eCnmRQnMCeeWgQrPgMYTTDO_nRxVYALNROD_7GAtkcwGYcY2eOpe_Lvi6jw3-YyW34tpK8W3x-giZKyEFJ6Keo39mO_NKUD9T3XFK/s1600/white+canisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-DYbccU6w2_sSjdhXOLVtHTZ3a_Ora9qc16nGs0eCnmRQnMCeeWgQrPgMYTTDO_nRxVYALNROD_7GAtkcwGYcY2eOpe_Lvi6jw3-YyW34tpK8W3x-giZKyEFJ6Keo39mO_NKUD9T3XFK/s320/white+canisters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This may sound crazy as I'm not huge into coffee... I mean I'll enjoy it on occasion but I can't recall the last time I made it at home (mostly because John makes it and I'm not even sure how to use our fancy new coffee maker) but I want to make a bit of a coffee bar in the new kitchen/dining room. Plus, by having a spot off the regular kitchen counters for the coffee maker will free up a tiny bit more counter space! It's a win all around I'm sure. I would use one of these to keep coffee in... because I don't want the oh so attractive Folgers can displayed on the counter either. If I had a second one I might hide some tea bags in it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then I was at the mall getting my ring inspected and I was trying to leave my regular way when I walk to the mall (through the movie theatre) but it was blocked off. So I went with the next best option and cut through Chapters. Naturally I browsed a bit on my way through there and naturally one of my first stops in that store was the clearance rack. That's where I spotted this little number</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRZlzBHVDxJ5dkieUGqpA9H87eg4qB_TEBV0i5Q7gPCx3_Fn6GCTid68Fh814AdhGCjKDKwv14MD-1Z-XZ6B8rMOvwzl71ksMjYCfDRWNUGYf1vDBXZUldAOEVYBx3VkJQqekhfuuZdGE/s1600/cactus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="380" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRZlzBHVDxJ5dkieUGqpA9H87eg4qB_TEBV0i5Q7gPCx3_Fn6GCTid68Fh814AdhGCjKDKwv14MD-1Z-XZ6B8rMOvwzl71ksMjYCfDRWNUGYf1vDBXZUldAOEVYBx3VkJQqekhfuuZdGE/s320/cactus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(ok there were actually 2 different ones and then when I went online to grab a picture I found out there are 3!). I have no idea where I would put this and it serves zero purpose but come on... it was on CLEARANCE (and 76% off)! Plus, I have a gift card for chapters that I've had for at least a couple of years that should really get used.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I also considered buying it for a certain girls Christmas party gift exchange but I didn't... yet.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Other things I've been looking at for the new house:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
baskets... for blankets maybe? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Curtains... I don't even remember what they look like in the house but I'm sure they need updating.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Pictures</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ovens (I was at Home Depot once looking for large storage containers)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
New Kitchens (because I was at Home Depot)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lights... because I'm sure the dining room one might need updating</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Basically... I'm looking forward to being in our new home and how we will make it ours! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Stay tuned for all the lovely details on how we update the place to our liking (if all is going according to plan I'm scraping ceilings today!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-78438744606619423322017-08-22T07:00:00.000-05:002017-08-22T07:00:21.697-05:00The Perfect Homemade Wedding Shower Gift<div style="text-align: center;">
That's right I said perfect.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Perfect for the couple that likes to eat.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Perfect for the couple that likes to spend time outdoors.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Perfect for the couple that likes picnics</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's... A... PICNIC BASKET!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't recall how I came up with the idea for a picnic basket. I think I went searching for a shower gift at Winners and saw picnic stuff but thought I could find something better than what they were offering. It turned out I could find something better than what they were offering and the price tag for better was indeed quite a bit more. So I travelled down the interwebs hole of picnic baskets and eventually found a DIY one that I thought was perfect on <a href="http://lovelyindeed.com/diy-picnic-basket/">Lovely Indeed</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Her instructions went flawlessly for me. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BUT for the love of everything... make sure you get your basket of choice from Michaels and make sure you use at the very least a 40% off coupon. I was lucky and went when there was a 50% off coupon because baskets are expensive!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Once I had the basket all put together I searched stores for the perfect dishes. To be honest I think Superstore had better ones but I wanted to fill my basket with so many wonderful things that I went to Dollar Tree instead (Dollarama was more expensive). The cutlery was the cheapest set from Ikea (it's picnicing people not dinner with the queen!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcijJbABsZRMgOfaRDcRy0NXE1mEw18fIAXPlTDcJz0W4JUf9q88FCEEwmwyka57J8aSKWcmCaht6b6tGqD4SYGGfj7NGcsRSob_deH9u1d28qhRmV0GvbNBHn6HVQL04ja5t0bq3RqeDP/s1600/picnic+basket+outside.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcijJbABsZRMgOfaRDcRy0NXE1mEw18fIAXPlTDcJz0W4JUf9q88FCEEwmwyka57J8aSKWcmCaht6b6tGqD4SYGGfj7NGcsRSob_deH9u1d28qhRmV0GvbNBHn6HVQL04ja5t0bq3RqeDP/s400/picnic+basket+outside.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Sn2iZulNReFd7CIVoiDWkuMjO3Zkr22ZksPE3GE91oSr4e43BH-FOpt7vAvLyti9L8EGAJ6dOgCBrdvy5Zs0OmRSKoXhFYX4rUdS4ulRdWn3gqzWfHn58eOnGzlcPhwOXNI_MM0OXxni/s1600/picnic+basket+inside.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Sn2iZulNReFd7CIVoiDWkuMjO3Zkr22ZksPE3GE91oSr4e43BH-FOpt7vAvLyti9L8EGAJ6dOgCBrdvy5Zs0OmRSKoXhFYX4rUdS4ulRdWn3gqzWfHn58eOnGzlcPhwOXNI_MM0OXxni/s400/picnic+basket+inside.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Inside my basket I included:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 bowls</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 plates</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 knives</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 spoons</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 forks</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 plastic wine glasses</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
napkins</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
reusable ice cube things</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
fancy juice</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I considered also including some kind of platter, table cloth or picnic blanket, a snack, and I meant to add in some kind of game (like a frisbee)... I just forgot to pick one up.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wasn't sure whether to include stuff for 4 people or 2 but went with the larger number in case stuff breaks or goes missing or they want to invite a couple of friends out for a picnic. But I only made space in the lid for stuff for 2 people... 4 just wouldn't have fit.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I asked my friend the other day how it was all holding up and apparently everything is still intact so the glue that is recommended is absolutely the right glue for the job! I'm mostly surprised about the button on the outside not coming off... apparently I did a better sewing job of that then I thought. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sidenote: That button was a hard choice... was I getting the right kind, I wanted white but not glossy white so we painted it but the paint wasn't sticking... really though... who would have thought the hardest part of making your own picnic basket would be the button choice!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh, and I added the lovely flower on top because I wasn't wrapping it and thought it needed a little something extra. You can make your own flower... just search "tissue paper flower" and I'm sure no less than 50 Youtube videos will come up.</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-10717840669719476952017-08-18T07:00:00.000-05:002017-08-18T08:57:59.787-05:00What's New<div style="text-align: center;">
I recently got together with a friend that I hadn't seen in a while... and by a while I mean it had been a few years (I guess that's just what happens when you live in different provinces though). Anyways, the question that kept coming up was "what's new?" because of the course of 4 or so years surely there should be a bit that is new. I haven't even abandoned this blog for more than a year though and still there is a lot that is new.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1. I've been settling into married life. I hadn't lived with anyone for a number of years prior to living with my husband so that was a bit of adjustment. But we are doing great!<br />
<br />
2. We've had our wedding pictures back for a while now and I don't know that I've shared a single one. Expect a post with a few of our favourites for you to gush over soon!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3. I went to a wedding (I mean... I want to say I've been to more than just one but I think it's just the one). I made a super fabulous wedding shower gift for the bride... but that's a post for another time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdpCbH6fRCVvRJBMewrjKmt8tIO0rf-MoxR8E-DOp61oZ5yYkHOPRgCO9WM2Yfv5cAuNs-n7TCKYclbblAQE-nJGWwGViHOTiBDPRPN7akG3uSMX1VLPkYU7OuUv9b6k586MWGxuQyYci/s1600/Kaylyn%2527s+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="960" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdpCbH6fRCVvRJBMewrjKmt8tIO0rf-MoxR8E-DOp61oZ5yYkHOPRgCO9WM2Yfv5cAuNs-n7TCKYclbblAQE-nJGWwGViHOTiBDPRPN7akG3uSMX1VLPkYU7OuUv9b6k586MWGxuQyYci/s400/Kaylyn%2527s+wedding.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4. We've expanded our garden!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPowyPWkszR7mc2z6oMat7Q7q1biD-LhyEihvtY_q6IDawW8qJcpfwDwhY3iL_KYFEi8JZ9CDWFNCVs0TXlSU9ndVagGkdEFTvVuiBzPmO5x89rH5DQOh_sKy-bqWPaskzTvij36pqEA6/s1600/patio+garden.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPowyPWkszR7mc2z6oMat7Q7q1biD-LhyEihvtY_q6IDawW8qJcpfwDwhY3iL_KYFEi8JZ9CDWFNCVs0TXlSU9ndVagGkdEFTvVuiBzPmO5x89rH5DQOh_sKy-bqWPaskzTvij36pqEA6/s400/patio+garden.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
5. We've gone to the lake a whole bunch. My biggest accomplishment there was catching a fish immediately after plunking my hook in the water.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
6. Oh, and perhaps the biggest change is that we bought a house! Our possession date is in precisely one week so expect some pictures and what not after that!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Summer is winding down and I got bored so expect at least a few more posts before I get too busy with house renos and substitute teaching.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-41116009613494108502016-12-10T07:00:00.000-06:002016-12-10T07:00:06.290-06:00Honeymoon<div style="text-align: center;">
We got back from our honeymoon over a month ago and I still have yet to post a single picture or say a single thing about it on these interwebs. Can I use the excuse that when we got back a bunch of stuff happened and I haven't really had a day off from work since (other than weekends of course). </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Luckily, early this week we all had a snow day and so I had the time to do a little writing...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is the only picture that John and I have of the both of us from our honeymoon, taken on one of our excursions to Tulum to see some Mayan ruins</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iOnw1V-l272p6k48G44dn8Q299diaNO0kKXU-NMYvewU82tKJVhstCiGs0rkELkYk_nc8FIXNBRH5XVH9oeUK1aFM9K-JD3dn3MMahrZiVSMcFcJ9_S6GoB1_BSa0nHCs9d8apwAQPb9/s1600/IMG_3564%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iOnw1V-l272p6k48G44dn8Q299diaNO0kKXU-NMYvewU82tKJVhstCiGs0rkELkYk_nc8FIXNBRH5XVH9oeUK1aFM9K-JD3dn3MMahrZiVSMcFcJ9_S6GoB1_BSa0nHCs9d8apwAQPb9/s320/IMG_3564%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There were a bunch of pools on the resort and all but one were often nearly empty</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8DTBGEzGzCzkyaInHL7OhRgrmn-IgA5hpM3fldm-_vnthFwuqW2bdwjmF8huMXKg_O6bbg0SxYNRHP4PmRA-dmtNIxmb1yMDxhPSBEEUR7MR6TSqsgsYIOMhIl_XfGvIh0WIKZqq7Xwg/s1600/IMG_3576%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8DTBGEzGzCzkyaInHL7OhRgrmn-IgA5hpM3fldm-_vnthFwuqW2bdwjmF8huMXKg_O6bbg0SxYNRHP4PmRA-dmtNIxmb1yMDxhPSBEEUR7MR6TSqsgsYIOMhIl_XfGvIh0WIKZqq7Xwg/s320/IMG_3576%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho09H-ph5ArtdlIyVGiBkzjaRX-ehjGdjR7lV-lfNTQ4d9ugwwG5NquEGgE2DY_m52m13Yf61O-EnAhru8Mp6TQyD21EoiLvAEuPCIUMeI4DzKoAUzqUDJHY-nWzeg3dprt5NpLY1KLQQG/s1600/IMG_3672%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho09H-ph5ArtdlIyVGiBkzjaRX-ehjGdjR7lV-lfNTQ4d9ugwwG5NquEGgE2DY_m52m13Yf61O-EnAhru8Mp6TQyD21EoiLvAEuPCIUMeI4DzKoAUzqUDJHY-nWzeg3dprt5NpLY1KLQQG/s320/IMG_3672%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We stayed at the Grand Palladium in the Mayan Riviera </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtprerWpErWjtfp1EDpXcxoLhegO0Dv9LTt3yw8ySEzwayrN-eRa3PvctXo6OTyvUvzBvVpwaf0F6Swd0E3Q7tpQeDT9z5G16tmEfgHGoaZfRUJ8JRd3zpVA7A9pEVQnipbT6UclLZHzj8/s1600/IMG_3674%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtprerWpErWjtfp1EDpXcxoLhegO0Dv9LTt3yw8ySEzwayrN-eRa3PvctXo6OTyvUvzBvVpwaf0F6Swd0E3Q7tpQeDT9z5G16tmEfgHGoaZfRUJ8JRd3zpVA7A9pEVQnipbT6UclLZHzj8/s320/IMG_3674%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We actually had 2 rooms while here. Our first room had 2 double beds so I put in a request for a king size bedroom and after a couple of nights in our first room we were able to move to this one. Basically the same room just with only one bed.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYWyvJ-HM32e7HLYe72qVrkjbt0QRohPNjtHasPFgvSyZruPg8tnGVBRGUSQ8PoaevxneCQFV-j_sZMYyo6nMkViH4krskjdaqectVrcy1o-QrX-6pgX2iiCsKX8tvmgHubRKG_In3MO3/s1600/IMG_3623%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYWyvJ-HM32e7HLYe72qVrkjbt0QRohPNjtHasPFgvSyZruPg8tnGVBRGUSQ8PoaevxneCQFV-j_sZMYyo6nMkViH4krskjdaqectVrcy1o-QrX-6pgX2iiCsKX8tvmgHubRKG_In3MO3/s320/IMG_3623%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Excursions:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We went on 3 </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The first one we went to see some cenotes (sinkholes) and swim in them and through caves. After that we went swimming with some turtles in Akumel which was the highlight of the trip for me and I'm kind of regretting not purchasing the pictures the photographer took of us on this excursion (note to self: when they say the photographs cost $30 this is actually a very good deal!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The 2nd was to Tulum to see some ruins</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The 3rd was to see more cenotes but this time we got to jump into them from really high, repel into them, zip line into them, and kayak through them. It was pretty fun but the car ride through all the twists and turns was not. The photos at this one cost $80 so needless to say we did not purchase them!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There were 2 shows every night at our resort which was nice but we were usually pretty tired (especially if we went on an excursion to go to them). We did see all of one and the last bit of another. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
John would say the food was the best part (and it was pretty good).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
No limits as to how often you could visit a sit down restaurant and the buffets were pretty well endless.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Local merchants set up booths on the resort in the evening which was nice if you wanted to buy something local without leaving the resort.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All in all a fine time was had by all</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then we came home and by the next evening I had the flu.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
BUT, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I would still go back!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-76026866513915832072016-12-07T09:48:00.003-06:002016-12-07T09:48:43.338-06:00SNOW DAY<div style="text-align: center;">
3 out of 5 of the divisions I can work in cancelled classes today (and yesterday as well). All city school buses are not running.... sometimes even the substitute teacher gets a snow day!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8oS5KBHAN4EkmoZP9WH91swv8LaJqu6o6lm5TKsq57F51zGjRERY1sBJQ67HQtq3uUTXMbZTwv0jST-EE49HpF2vFobarw9MHYgJUTm7SN5Orfm3IunL9rBy44-WjfyNzdjx3HYnJdWC/s1600/IMG_3722%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8oS5KBHAN4EkmoZP9WH91swv8LaJqu6o6lm5TKsq57F51zGjRERY1sBJQ67HQtq3uUTXMbZTwv0jST-EE49HpF2vFobarw9MHYgJUTm7SN5Orfm3IunL9rBy44-WjfyNzdjx3HYnJdWC/s320/IMG_3722%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I've made a long list of things to get done today... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've already got a load in the washing machine and the dishwasher.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Once the dishwasher is done I'm going to attempt to put all these tomatoes to use and make and can some salsa (the jars need to be warmed for it to work properly).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've got some presents to wrap.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've got some meat to sort through and freeze.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I still have groceries in the car (because I had already done 5 trips up and down those stairs in the snow and didn't think I had it in me to carry the big bag of rice last night)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm going to make the executive decision on what we are doing for our preliminary batch of thank you's from the wedding and order those so we can hand some out this weekend.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dishes need to get done (after I make the salsa though)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It looks like I have some snow to shovel</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe I'll vacuum</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We got our free (included in condo fees) cable finally hooked up last night so I think I'm allowed to sit back and watch something.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If the road reports within the city seem better than yesterday I've been invited to a friends for dinner</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh, and I've got Bible study tonight (if the roads are okay).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bur for now, I'm listening to Family Force Five's Christmas album - Christmas Pagent, drinking hot chocolate, and not leaving the computer until I type up a little something something about our trip to Mexico!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(this last thing proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated... apparently my iphone needed updating before it would show up on my computer!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's hoping it's a productive day off!</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218291624399264365.post-66665795393226055162016-10-23T07:00:00.000-05:002016-10-23T07:00:10.105-05:0010-14-2016<div style="text-align: center;">
It's been just over a week since we got married. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We haven't jetted off on any honeymoon (yet)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
... or even moved in all of John's things.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What we do have is a bunch of sneak peeks at our wedding photos though!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(which we actually got about a week ago because our photographer is so fantastic)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are the two that I've been sending/showing most people</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmpI7C29FKpaufYm9EYT9L5hV_M22omItd_rxiSp9g7C96MZdur9SSRlD3pJIXKqcxbuGy9ZdtybkDaCy2F9CfiHM3N7eBSymFhdjj6dh9ExrI2hfUYITAc-GVMp86SFpDfViYtSrJeLj/s1600/IMG_3517%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmpI7C29FKpaufYm9EYT9L5hV_M22omItd_rxiSp9g7C96MZdur9SSRlD3pJIXKqcxbuGy9ZdtybkDaCy2F9CfiHM3N7eBSymFhdjj6dh9ExrI2hfUYITAc-GVMp86SFpDfViYtSrJeLj/s320/IMG_3517%255B1%255D.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk20US-FgbPGLXGsMNUu5o6Qhm1an-z4OY4w8aX_fttLn1jgMjU_BB8i35EFxYsrcX8_Gdvcf3XsUEkWjssP98hfJqyamqSdC4O9EyuGZq1Z9Zlf-ItUUXuushsGv5-4eRXP2I8J3QEpK/s1600/IMG_3518%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk20US-FgbPGLXGsMNUu5o6Qhm1an-z4OY4w8aX_fttLn1jgMjU_BB8i35EFxYsrcX8_Gdvcf3XsUEkWjssP98hfJqyamqSdC4O9EyuGZq1Z9Zlf-ItUUXuushsGv5-4eRXP2I8J3QEpK/s320/IMG_3518%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01345953909069600703noreply@blogger.com1