Floors!

They are done! Now we have to put everything back and clean. More photos later.


-- Post From My iPhone

The floors

First let me show you this



And this




Can you see the dust? The phone camera doesn't even begin to show it. Next time, I'm going to seal any doorways and move out while it's being done.
What am I talking about? There's not going to be a next time.
Here's the floor


I think the blue tape is a nice touch. Actually, it's really beautiful just still. Not. Done. Oh, and my furniture is still in my kitchen. Did I mention that?
I can't wait until they pull up the tape and get it all cleaned up. It's possible I'm going to have to wash every wall in the house. Probably going to regret using matte finish on all my paint around that time. Oh well, at least the floors will look awesome.

Head over to my design blog to get more info about bamboo and see an up close pic of what we installed.
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New project update

I would love to show you the beautiful new floors we are putting in. Love to.
I can't show you those floors because the project didn't quite go as planned. Do any of them?
The flooring guys were 2 hours late first of all because their truck wasn't running. Then, after tearing up all the tile in our entry, they mention that the floor in our den is really un-level (duh) so they will need to level it. All of it. Not just a corner like most houses. So they work till 7 leveling the floor and now it's just a big grey slab. And my sofa is still in my kitchen... Along with everything else I own.
So tomorrow they start at 9 leveling the floor. Let's hope they can finish it tomorrow.
And let's hope they don't notice where I slipped and fell in the wet leveling concrete. I'm going to hide the concrete covered leggings so they won't know. I'm afraid my sore muscles will remind me tomorrow!


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Somethings missing...

Why does my den look like this?



Stop by tomorrow to find out.

I can't even begin to describe where everything that used to be in the den is now. Well, here's just a tiny taste...


Yep. That's the kitchen.

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Things I get to do now that I'm home more

Set the table.


Paint furniture.



Have playdates.


Allow my child to get into dangerous situations... Then photograph them.


Good times.

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Spaghetti squash

Tonight, we had spaghetti squash with marinara sauce. It's a good substitute for pasta and I don't think it tastes too squashy (is that a word?). Give it a try sometime!



Bathtime is his favorite time. Tonight he grabbed my hands and climed out of the tub, then laughed and laughed. He's so funny now. He's getting braver and takeing more steps but still not walking. It won't be long now!

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Just call me professor awesome...

Yes, yes.  I've had 2 classes and haven't posted about it.  So, here it goes. 
I teach drafting 1 on Wednesday mornings from 8-12.  I have 8 interior design majors in my class.  7 girls and 1 guy.  They are super sweet and all different ages.   They have NO CLUE what they are getting into with this major... but neither did I or any other college freshman. 

They don't think I'm funny and they probably think I'm a little crazy. Four hours of teaching is intense.  Day 1 I wear heels and I was totally regretting it after 4 hours.  The second class I was in flats- much better. 

This class has so much information.  They have to learn how to create a set of construction documents for a house in 11 weeks.  ahhhh, it's quick.  First class we worked on reading a scale, lineweights and lettering along with getting introduced to the class, each other, me and their supply kits.  It's a LOT.  Class 2 we worked on how to draw a floor plan.  Another really full class and we didn't get as far as I had wanted- but there are some classes later in the semester that are less full so we can catch up. 

The first class they had 3 homework assignments and the second class when they turned in the assignments exactly 0 of them turned in everything they were supposed to.  Hmmmm, I'm guessing I need to re-think how I assign the homework.  Next class I said "get a pen and write this down".  Seemed logical to me but I guess sometimes you need to be specific. 

This week, we are studing dimensioning and labeling and it is still one of my least favorite tasks.  4 hours of my least favorite task- and I have to sell it to a group of students who can't know that I hate it.  On top of that, the Dean who hired me (and will decide if they keep me) will be sitting in on the class for a little while.  No pressure. 

I had no idea how much prep work it would take.  Hours of lesson planning before class... but if I teach this class again all the leg work will be done. 

Thanks for praying for me during this transition.  I've been off of work (the interior design job) for 2 weeks while I transition into teaching and it's been awesome.  I can get so. much. done.  when i'm not at work every day.  On the other hand, I don't sit down like ever.  Less internet, less TV, less phone-  much, much better.  I cleaned the house the other day.  The whole house.  Like vaccumed every room on the same day kind of clean.  I have never done that before.  Don't judge. 
This week I will be picking up a few hours at CMA so we will see how that goes.  We are attempting to live more "frugally" and it's difficult.  I miss Starbucks.  I haven't had a pedicure in forever.  But I can learn to paint my own toes and make my own tea. 

I love being home more.  It's sooooo different.... in a good way.

Deceptively Delicious- Chocolate Chip Cookies

Have y'all heard of this cookbook? I've had it for awhile but never tried anything. I was a little sceptical- hiding veggies in regular food- just eat your veggies!
Well tonight I tried choc chip cookies with chickpeas. Seriously, the things used to make hummus. The cookies are super yummy!!! You can't even tell there are chickpeas in them. Even mike likes them. Of course, he doesn't know about the chickpeas... At least until he reads this. Then he will say he knew all along.
I'll try and post the recipe later, if I sit down at my computer for more than 5 seconds. Check out the book, i'm going to see what else it has to offer!



UPDATE:  I've had several friends try these and they all like them... a lot.  I'm addicted now too and I think this will be the only way I make chocolate chip cookies from now on. 
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A little plug.... for me

Head on over to my design blog and check out the update to my custom letters page.  Then buy them.  It will keep us from living in our cars. 

No, you don't have to buy them.  Just make your friends buy them.  Then if they are ugly you aren't stuck with them... you're friends are.

While you are there looking at letters- you can check out my latest posts. 

Enjoy!  Check it out HERE.

Okay, so I know that I would be writing about my first 2 weeks as a professor and 2 weeks of not working as much but I think this is the first time I have sat down in 2 weeks.  It's been crazy!  More boring stories and pics of my cute kid coming soon :-)

First steps

Thursday night we had first steps.  It was so much fun.  I think it might be awhile before we have more and I'm so glad Mike and I were together for these. 

I noticed that when he would stand holding on to a piece of furniture he would pull his hands off  and stand there with no support for a minute.  That was a new thing for him so we started making him do that more (aka- leave him stranded and standing with nothing to grab onto).  Mike would sit on the ottoman just out of reach and finally Cason took two steps to get to him.  He did it a couple more times then I think he fell one too many times and he's done with the walking thing for awhile.

Of course, our camera is broken, Mike's phone was dead (the one with the video) so the best picture we have is from my phone. 


Cason came to work to visit me the next day for my last full day as a full time employee and one of the girls got some flip video.  HERE is the link- hope it works.  I think I need a flip video!  If it does work, don't mind me in the background- I was trying to get 5-1/2 years of junk cleaned off my desk so someone else could move there and I didn't want to be up at work all night.  And I realize he's not walking in the video but he does stand for a bit without holding on to anything and he's just so darn cute.

Yummy Chai Tea Recipe

So yeah, It's not a secret that I love chai.  So very much.  In fact, Chai lead to my Starbucks addiction that I'm currently trying to quit without going to therapy.  Actually Starbucks doesn't have the best chai- just the most convienant.  The best chai is from a company called Big Train.  I learned about this one at a coffee house in Nacogdoches.  Turns out, the cafe at Nordstrom makes that brand of chai so if you are ever at a Nordstrom- give it a try.  The key is, the Chai Nordstrom uses is a powder base and the Chai Starbucks uses is a liquid base.  I don't know what is more "traditional" but the power is better.  I've tried them all and Big Train is the best... but it's expensive.  Given our new budget constraints- I needed to find a way to feed my addiction for cheaper.

I googled powdered chai recipe and tweaked a recipe until I liked it.  I've had a few people ask for it so I thought I would post it for you.

This is what it looks like before I mixed it.  It makes a lot so be prepared.

1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
1 cup flavored creamer (recipe calls for french vanilla but I like chocolate- but you could try something different)
1-1/4 cup sugar (the recipe calls for twice that but we have found it doesn't need it)
1-1/2 cups unsweetened instant tea
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon allspice (recipe calls for cardamom but I can't find that at the store yet)
1/4 teaspoon white pepper (trust me)

Mix em all up, stick the powder in the blender (maybe do this in 2 batches) & blend it up.  It will make a super fine powder.  Add 2 tablespoons to milk or water.  I like milk- it makes it super creamy. 

Okay, enjoy and let me know if you are going to try it!

New moms, register for this!

We just got this floating star fountain thing from target. It blinks light and spews a soft stream of water. C loves it! He puts his face over ir and let's the water hit him. Coolest bathtub invention ever!

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New Adventure

I'm about to start a new adventure.  I'm super excited.  I haven't been shy telling you I've been a bit overwhelmed lately.  I need a change.  In a week and a half that's exactly what I'm going to get.  I've been hired by the Art Institute in Fort Worth to teach a class.  Hopefully another quarter I will have another class but for now, I'm happy with 1.  I will also be majorly reducing my hours at CMA so that I can spend more time at home.  It's been a really long road to this decision.  It probably shouldn't have been but I had a hard time trying to figure out what to do.  I felt like a failure becuase I couldn't manage a family and a full time job.  I'm surrounded by wonderful working moms who seem completely happy and balanced and fine.  Why can't I be fine?  Why can't I balance everything too?  I guess what I finally discovered is that you can be a balanced and happy working mom- and that's Gods plan for THEM.  But God has a different plan for ME.  And that's okay.  We all have different paths.  I'm so thankful for that.  I am hoping to help Mike out more at church and take care of the house better and start a new adventure in the teaching.  I am so thankful for working moms- like my OB.  I'm thankful for all of the different adventures that shape who we are and give us different perspectives- and hopefully we can encourage each other in the process. 

Sorry for rambling. 


I'm sorry I haven't been able to talk about it.  I didn't think it was appropriate to talk about my job situation when people from work read the blog.  God really worked to make this an ideal situation.  CMA was totally understanding about reducing my hours and very willing to work out a new schedule.  Art Institute (Ai) has been amazing.  I have lover everyone I have met there and the Dean that hired me is going to be a lot of fun to work for.  He's not worried that I have not taught before and is very willing to help me learn how to be a great teacher.  The program there is great and they are very student focused so I can't wait to meet my students and get started.  If you want to go back to Art school you should come visit and check it out. 

I'm so excited.  Did I already say that?  I need a change, I like change. 

I'm teaching Drafting 1.  You might laugh a little if you are familiar with what I do.  I haven't done Drafting 1 since I took Drafting 1.  Drafting 1 is hand drafting which isn't done a lot.  BUT... what you learn in Drafting 1 is the foundation for pretty much everything you will do the rest of college and beyond.  Learning to draw it by hand will help when they learn to draw it on the computer.  I went to training yesterday and left very excited and very much on information overload. 

I'll keep you posted on all my teaching adventures, I'm sure there will be some good stories!

Don't try this at home

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Location:Precinct Line Rd,Northeast Tarrant,United States

1st Birthday Bash!

I can’t believe we made it… but we did.  Cason turned 1.  Whew, what a year.  I decided to throw a little party.  Yes, yes, he won’t remember… but I will.  And darn it, we deserve a party after this year.  So we gathered family and a few of Cason’s friends and family and partied hard.

I’m no graphic designer but I love to pretend like I am.  There are billions of awesome invitations out there that would have taken like 5 minutes to get but no, had to do my own.  You will start to see a theme here :-)

Cason’s favorite food is Cheerios so I couldn’t leave those out!

Cake Balls.  This was my first (and possibly last) experience making cake balls.  They were yummy, but somewhat labor intensive.  I have it out of my system now.  Head over to THIS site if you really want to go cake ball crazy. 

 

Drinks.  I love Izze’s.  If you haven’t tried them, you should.  Very yummy.  I also had a drink called Dry Soda.  The flavor we had was vanilla but they have lots of flavors.  I went all over town to find them- Central Market was the place.  It’s carbonated water and a little flavor and a little (very little) sugar.  If you are expecting a sweet soda you won’t get it.  I love the vanilla and the cucumber.

Just plain ‘ole water bottles with labels I printed on the computer. 

Chocolate dipped pretzels- Yummy!

My sister made cupcakes, thankfully.  They were super yummy and at the end of the day, I forgot to take one home to get pictures of C digging in.  Oh well, I’ll fake the photos another time. 

Here’s 1 of the 3 pictures I got of Cason during the party, and it’s not that great.  Great job Mom.  Oh well, I think some other people got some pictures.  He’s not ready for the slide- he leaned straight back and didn’t really enjoy it.  Maybe next year. 

Here’s one of the other pictures I got.  Cason’s back.  Great.  At least Michelle and Jack look good. 

 

Okay, got the party bug out of my system for a few years.  I’ll stick with backyard celebrations until he is old enough to help pay.  :-)

Cason loves wandering around behind his new toy.  I think he loves the freedom of walking.  He will walk and walk until he runs into a wall or a piece of furniture- then look around and grunt for one of us to come turn the toy around so he can get back to walking.  Over and Over it goes.  I guess I need to find a bigger open space to roam.