Project time

So lately when I have a spare minute for the internet, I find myself perusing one of two sites:
1. Pinterest
2. DIY Blogs

I get so much inspiration to MAKE things off of Pinterest, but never follow through because I simply can't find the time. I've been overwhelmed by all the friends I met in college who have started and updated their blogs by filling posts with crafts and easy projects that cost so little. I LOVE to make things, but I usually only ever START a project- it takes a lot to get me to finish. Two of the projects I've completed, successfully, are ones that I got inspiration from on both of the above-mentioned websites.

The first successful project was a DIY Christmas Wreath that I made my mom for Christmas last year. I got the inspiration from "PS... I made this," a site all about DIY projects. It was fairly time-consuming, but well worth it in the end when I could marvel over a job well done, and see the look on my mom's face when she opened it up on Christmas Day.

This was midway through the process- I bought the styrofoam wreath at Joann Fabrics for about 6 dollars, and then purchased about a yard and a half of white felt. You cut the felt into circles, fold them into fourths, and pin the corners onto the styrofoam. It took FOREVER- but luckily, I remember, there was a Harry Potter Marathon on ABC Family.

The finished product, and not the best quality photo, but I LOVE how it turned out. 

The second project I attempted and mastered was one I found on Pinterest. I actually blogged originally about the idea of making a Mason Jar Soap dispenser in this post. This project, in contrast to the wreath, did NOT take long at all. I spent maybe a total of fifteen minutes total to construct it, after buying the Mason Jar at Michael's for about $2.99.

I used a screwdriver to drill a hole for the dispenser, which was sitting in my mom's bathroom closet. I used a jug of bathroom soap to fill the jar, and hot glued the dispenser to the lid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So my next attempted project is to make a banner for our upcoming engagement photos next week. Our photographer is great and has a lot of awesome ideas, and she recently sent me the link to an Etsy store that makes banners of your wedding date to use in pictures. I really liked the idea, but I don't necessarily want to spend the money when I think it's something I could at least try on my own. So today, my goal is to find the materials needed to successfully complete this project. We are sending Save the Dates to close friends and family and want to do Christmas cards with our date on a banner. I'll check back in this week to let you know how it worked out. The goal is to have it look something like this:

Check back in later! Off to get my craft on.

My Saturday.

If you couldn't tell by my last post, I had a bit of a long, rough week. Since I started my job, I was spoiled with two consecutive weeks of having no school on Friday. They were work days, but still much more laid back than a typical end of the week school day. Either way, my complaints probably make me sound pathetic.

Despite the difficult week of work, it was well rewarded with a (so far) wonderfully relaxing weekend. John, a good friend of ours, is currently in town from Colorado so we spent last night out to eat with him and other friends at The Village Wok in Dinkytown. We're talking portions so big you barely make a dent in them, for next to nothing in price. We always go there with John, and I always order the Chicken Chow Mein. The friends and the food did not disappoint last night. It was a great Friday evening.

Today I woke up on my own around 8:30 a.m. and realized that I have officially become an adult. I don't think I am capable any longer of sleeping in, at all, past 9. And that's okay. Anyway, I did have a glorious morning spent watching countless episodes of The Wonder Years in bed until 10 a.m. And something crazy happened-- an episode of my new favorite show?

It made me cry.

Quick version: The episode deals with Kevin (Fred Savage) and his brother Wayne's friend Wart (horrible nickname) who has recently come home from the Vietnam War. Wart seems changed. Kevin steals the rival high school teams mascot, a real live owl, sets it free, only after a spectator at the game points at Wart and yells "MURDERER!" Kevin then finds Wart sitting on a park bench stripped down to his boxers. Wayne then finds Wart and notices his emotions are running high. Wayne then takes off his shirt, covers Wart, and Wart breaks down in his arms crying. And I broke down in my bed, crying. That show usually has me snickering from the depths of my pillowcases, but today it had me in tears.

And the best part about this emotionally charged episode? Wart is played by Scott Menville, probably best known for portraying Duane, the boyfriend of Kimmy Gibbler on Full House, whose vocabulary on the show consisted of this one word: "Whatever."
*I tried to include a Youtube video of this example, but it won't let me embed :(

So after my teary morning spent watching The Wonder Years, I headed upstairs to my brother Beau's room where he and a friend were watching Braveheart. Typical Saturday morning movie choice. The next two hours were spent watching TV, napping, waking up to snow, and playing with the dog. It has been just absolutely blissful.

I also got fitted for a bridesmaid dress for my friend Jackie's wedding. She is getting married two weeks before me! June will be a busy month. A fun one, though, that I am DEFINITELY looking forward to.

Dust and I are in search of a well-priced big screen TV. Any suggestions? We also booked our engagement photos for a couple weeks from tomorrow. YAY!

Thus concludes my more cheerful, less cranky blog post of the weekend. I love relaxing. It's a two day work week for me next week. I can't wait to catch up on grading, sleeping, hanging out with my family, and wedding planning with Dust.

Happy Monday: Things that annoy me.

1. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
The one show that almost ALWAYS seems to be on when I am in a bad mood, with a headache, and extremely tired. I can't stand the humor, I can't stand the girl character's voice, and I can't stand Danny Devito.

2. Our engagement ring jeweler
They have had my engagement ring for 3+ weeks now. It was supposed to be re-sized and polished in 1-2 weeks. Yup. I'm annoyed.

3. The Mahtomedi High School Blood Drive
Okay, I should be more understanding. Blood drives are a good thing. Students volunteering to donate blood for free is an even better thing. But I was missing over 25 students today through out all 6 periods. Today was not a good day for students to miss. I feel bad, but I'm still annoyed.

4. McDonald's off County Road E
This is the second time in two weeks that they have given me regular coke instead of diet. Am I ridiculous, or is this not legit?

5. Kim Kardashian
No need to explain this one. Actually, I will. Here is a miniature list of things that last longer than 72 days: most non-perishable goods, each season of the year, a pregnancy trimester, biking the Tour De France three times, and sailing around the world once.

6. Dog Hair
Especially on a day like today when I wore black to school, and hugged our yellow lab before walking out the door.

7. Occupy Wall Street
I just don't really seem to get it.

8. Extreme Couponing on TLC
How is this legal? These women get $800 worth of groceries and goods from the grocery store for like 20 dollars.... Something is not right. Where's the loophole?

9. The Green Bay Packers
Ick.

10. When avocados turn brown after a day.
Why does this happen? Can anyone relate? UGHHH!! I love avocados but they are so resistant to freshness!

Thus ends today's list of things that annoy me. Have a great Monday.

What have you been up to, Casey Miller?

Well, it's funny you asked. As it turns out, teaching (even long term subbing) takes quite a toll on the spare time I manage to find at the very end of my days... However, the following list is comprised of the things that I HAVE managed to find time for despite my busy schedule.

#1 The Wonder Years. 

Never before had I experienced this classic '80's-Early '90's television gem until I was perusing Netflix late one evening. I go through phases where I watch a show until I finish it, and then refuse to start a new one because I convince myself that the new show will never be as amazing as the last completed show. This has happened to me on numerous occasions with 30 Rock, Law and Order SVU, and Desperate Housewives. Well, I bit the bullet and decided to give TWY a chance. Instantly I knew, I had made an amazing decision. I don't think there was ever a better television combination than Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold, cruising through the teenage years all while experiencing late 1960's to early 1970's America. I can't get enough of the sticky situations and goofy sitcom humor and I know this is going to be one of these shows that I miss like an old friend once it's finished. I am currently on Season 4 and there are 6 seasons total. This will be a difficult show to part ways with. *Added bonus: an early episode features Ben Savage, brother to main character Kevin, who happens to play Cory Matthews in one of my favorite television shows of all time, Boy Meets World.

#2 Pinterest. 

 

Need I say more? Actually, a couple of weeks ago Dusty texted me asking... "WHAT THE HECK IS PINTEREST?!"

The only complaint I have about this brilliant social media mecca is that realistically, I will NEVER attempt any of the DIY pins I have posted to my board, and I will never attempt to use any of my Wedding pins in the future because I'm too afraid that they will show up in someone ELSES wedding. That's the problem with Pinterest. But I keep on pinning anyway. 

#3 Fantasy Football.

I didn't initially care about Fantasy Football. I was only doing it because a lot of our good friends were and I wanted to join in on the fun. Now... I'm kind of hooked because instead of disregarding my line up every week because my team was sucking, I'm highly interested because with a little change of luck (and lineup last week) I ended up defeating Dusty 94 to 98. I won for the second week in a row against another friend of ours 90 to 71 (that could change since I still have one player currently in play). I guess I've gotten a taste of winning and boy does it taste good.

And in all honesty, that kind of completes the list for right now. School has been busy with parent-teacher conferences, and Friday we had a staff day. We also don't have classes this coming Friday because of the third round of conferences. So that means that in the entire month of November, we have school on one Friday. Meh.

I also have now been without my precious engagement ring for two weeks now, and after a phone call from the jeweler yesterday, it appears I have to wait another week until we are again reunited. Meh.

Stay tuned this week, for: more conferences, lesson plans on the United States Congress, the Byzantine Empire and a class discussion on legalization of marijuana.

Anybody feel like switching lives for a week?! :)