Snow Day or bust

Well, we had a "blizzard' and it was a bust.  People in the Midwest would be ashamed at the level of hype compared to the actual amount of snow. I woke up utterly disappointed when I could see outside of our window instead of a whiteout.  All hopes of a double snow day dashed.

But we enjoyed what we had.

Both of us got out of work early on Monday since the city was shutting down the subways and roads in preparation for nothing.  I made it to the grocery store in time to grab essentials with the rest of the people who were acting like it was the start of the apocalypse.  

That afternoon we made popcorn and watched Fried Green Tomatoes.  Dan had never seen it.  I've seen it about twelve times.  So heartwarming and good.

My dance class got canceled that night so I embroidered more hearts on the table runner while Dan improved his video game basketball skills.

On Tuesday, we slept in and then made eggs and sausage for breakfast.

We shoveled out the Storefront

Ate pizza, watched movies, crafted, played video games, did some online shopping, enjoyed some crock-pot potato soup, and binged watched some Friends.  It was good and even better that the work week is one day shorter.

January 28, 1945

Today, January 28, 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.

This Battle means a lot to me because my grandpa (mom's dad) served during WWII and participated in this battle (among many others).  I centered my Master's thesis around this event in history and created a website as my final project.  You can explore the website by clicking here.

You can explore more about the battle, its significance, and my grandfather's involvement in it on the website.  Note: the website is nearly four years old now so you tell it has aged.

I just wanted to mark this important anniversary in some way.  

Weekending it & Preacher Man

Why do the weekends always fly so fast and week days creep by at a snail pace?  Maybe it's because we got into the habit of sleeping-in until 10 on Saturdays and not getting around to anything productive until well past noon?

Let me tell you something about me.  When I was in college and even when I moved to NYC I never, ever, slept past 9 am.  Ever.  Why?  Because I was crazy and thought that I needed to be productive all day every day.  Even if I had finished all my homework and I didn't have any chores or plans for the day I had to be up and dressed and tidy by 9 am on a Saturday.  Who was putting this ridiculous and unreasonable expectation on me?  Oh, yeah, it was me.

Why oh why did I waste so much joy in my life by being so uptight?

Fortunately, since Dan became my man I have learned to let go and relax a lot more, sleep-in, watch tv, nap, sit around and do nothing - guilt free.  It's so much easier when you have someone to be with to justify laziness.   Scratch that, not laziness, just treating yourself to some deserved down-time.

Anyways that's where half of our Saturday went: lounging.  The rest of the day I worked on putting together the scrapbook for the Curtis family and made macaroni and cheese for the party that night.

It was a really nice event that was semi-formal, had yummy food, and a nice way to send off the Curtis family.

On Sunday, church attendance was super low (like only 40 people).  This was a bummer because Dan was preaching and he did a most excellent job.  I think this was his best sermon yet - so appropriate for it being the first Sunday without Pastor Paul and reminded everyone (who was there) that Crossroads is here because of God and God didn't leave with Paul.  I actually got to be in the service since the pre-k class was empty.

Since Dan did such a great job I took him out for lunch to our favorite burger place.  We spent the rest of the afternoon doing our usual Sunday slow-down.  I added some embroidery hearts to a red table runner to make it more Valentine-y, tossed some paper hearts on the wall, made a crock-pot dinner, and Dan rented Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. 

Now it's Monday and an epic snow storm is headed our way.  I just found out that I get out of work early AND a snow day tomorrow.  Happy dance party at my desk!!!   

Recipe: Summer Sausage (and homemade lunchables)

When I was a kid, getting a Lunchable was a rare and luxurious treat.  As in they were expensive and we almost never got them.  I remember feeling so cool whenever we managed to get one - particularly when the make-your-own pizza variety came out.

I haven't enjoyed a Lunchable in at least 15 years.  Here in NYC they are at least $6 a piece and at that price I'd rather pay for a full-sized sandwich.

While we were in Kansas over Christmas and visiting with Dan's family at his Grandma's house we had some super yummy homemade summer sausage.  Aunt Judy shared the recipe with me and even sent us home with the essential (never seen in NYC) ingredient called Tender Quick.

I whipped up a batch over the weekend and it was so crazy easy and so much more affordable compared to buying summer sausage.  Also super fun for making your own homemade Lunchable.  Try it!

Fair warning - the making and final product is not what I would consider "beautiful food" but it tastes good so trust that.  

Grandpa Wilson's Summer Sausage

The Stuff
- 2 pounds of ground beef (or deer burger - but HA! Brooklyn doesn't stock deer burger)
- 1 cup of water
- 2 Tbs. tender quick
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. liquid smoke
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- Pinch of salt

Get Mixin'
- Mix all ingredients thoroughly working all the liquid into the meat
- Divide mixture into three and form each portion into a long roll (I would call it a log)
- Wrap rolls in plastic wrap or foil (I did both) and refrigerate for 24 hours
- After 24 hours, unwrap the logs and put them on a foil lined baking sheet
- Bake for 45 minutes at 300 F (the meat will stay pink and some of the grease will escape)
- Remove from oven and let cool before wrapping in new plastic wrap and foil (freeze whatever you don't plan on using immediately)

The next day slice up your meat and serve with cheddar cheese and Ritz crackers for a homemade Lunchable.  Yumm!   

A Servant

Often times in the church most of the people see the ministry staff like the preacher/minister, youth pastor or worship leader as the servants who give so much back to the church and its people.  This concept is valid and has some truth, but often times some of the biggest servants go unnoticed or are not given the recognition as they deserve.

Stephanie is someone like that.  A true servant who will help in whatever way she can.  She will serve in ways that come natural to her like organizing/administration/bringing great food/or helping with kids.  But she will also do things that are stretching and difficult like teaching teenagers or a small group of adults.  And she does it because she feels like it is what she is suppose to do and wants to help and wants to support me and the ministry of the church.

And so I just want to give her a shout-out for all the ways she serves people both in the church and outside of the church!  She is a true servant!

One special highlight is this last Sunday at church two people decided to get baptized and make a public commitment to accept Jesus and live for Christ.  One of the two people was Amanda.  Amanda is a 5th grader at the church.  She is full of energy and a talker.  Anyways, at church there was a time for Amanda and the other person to share why they were getting baptized.  Amanda was a little nervous to share in front of everyone so her mom came up and read the note Amanda had prepared. Amanda's note shared how she had grown up in church but only recently decided to accept Jesus into her heart.  When she told Stephanie about that decision, Stephanie mentioned to her about getting baptized someday and that stuck with Amanda.  Amanda asked her mom about getting baptized and after doing some study with Pastor Paul Amanda made the decision to get baptized.

Now Stephanie doesn't ask for recognition like this but again it just shows how being a servant and loving people even young children can be transformative and make a difference in someone's life!

Steph I love you and you are a true servant to so many and especially to me!

Show and Tell Tuesday: Organizing Tips & Tricks

This week's Show and Tell Tuesday with Andrea is best organization tips and tricks.  This is right up my ally!

If you know me personally, at all, you know that I am a hyper organized and tidy person - to a fault (think Monica Geller from Friends).  I chose to be an archivist as a career which is basically the profession of making order and organization out of chaos.  The Container Store is like heaven and if you put me in a messy room I would have a blast making it neat. Cleaning de-stresses me so if I'm feeling like things are out of control I can usually recenter myself by making something tidy. 

I have been and will likely always be an organized person and that is my first "tip."

Know Yourself
If you are not an organized person by nature, staying organized will likely always take effort and thought.  You can't be something you're not.  I've tried being relaxed and nonchalant about mess - I can't - it makes me miserable and therefore everyone else who has to deal with me will be miserable as well (just ask my college roommate).  If you are an organized person then you need no tips.  If you aren't you will need loads of self control and consistency to make it habitual.  It's not impossible but it's not easy.  Try the tips below to start. 

Home Base
In our apartment everything has a "home" and every night before we go to bed I make sure everything is at or near its home.  Yes, I know this sounds crazy but it works.  Dan is not a messy person but he definitely doesn't care as much as I to about putting things away.  He is fine with leaving clothes on the floor and never making the bed. It took him approximately one week living with me to catch on and I'd say now he does it with little effort because he likes the outcome.   The key to a tidy home is that everything gets put away EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Dirty clothes live in the hamper.  Clean clothes live folded in drawers and hanging in the closet.  Dirty dishes belong in the dishwasher or clean on the drying rack.  The throw pillows go back on the couch.  The blanket gets folded over the chair.  Backpacks are on the bench and coats are on the hook.  Etc. etc.  If you take the small amount of time at the end of the day to tidy things up and put them in their homes then you will live in a pleasant environment ready for guests at a moment's notice or just your own peace of mind.  If you don't take that time to tidy, it will all pile up and you WILL have a giant mess to clean every week/month and it will likely take you all day to fix.  Two minutes here or hours there?  Your choice.

Before

60 seconds later

Cheat
Everything having a home base and tidying up every night doesn't mean we don't have piles of stuff lying around - it just means that pile has a home and its in the basket on the entry table.  It can be dealt with at another time but it still has a home.  Better to have one pile than sixteen.

If you are too darn tired at the end of the day to fold your clothes away - then toss them in the hamper.  Maybe they weren't dirty but they are in a home and your floor is clear.

Leave your shoes at the door
We have this rule in our apartment for many reasons.  One, dirt.  We live in NYC and I'd prefer we didn't track that through our home.  Two, comfort.  Socked feet or slippers make everyone feel more comfy.  Three, noise.  Our neighbors below are probably much happier that we don't clomp around above them with our boots on.  I'd sure love if the people above us followed that rule.  Three, vacuuming.  You don't have to vacuum or sweep as much if you don't have dirty shoes walking around. Win win. We have a boot tray by our front door and a basket.  Shoes belong in the closet but you can cheat and toss them in the basket by the front door.  Also all of our rugs are either indoor/outdoor or braided.  No pile rugs means easier clean-up.

Let them!
If you live with someone (roommate or spouse or kid) who is somewhat opposite of you and is an organized and tidy person by nature - let them be who they are!  It isn't a burden and it isn't a task for a tidy obsessed person to do the dishes or fold the clothes.  We do it for our own sanity and you benefit so let it go.  Dan knows that I can't enjoy watching a movie if I know there are dishes in the sink.  So he lets me go wash them while the movie is paused - sometimes he helps and sometimes he does them.  If you hate cleaning your room and someone offers to clean it for you, why would you say no?

This applies to me too.  Everyone deserves grace so if Dan doesn't follow my admittedly obsessive rules I don't jump down his throat (usually) I ask nicely, I do it myself, I explain my logic and we laugh about how crazy I am.  All of it is small potatoes so don't fight about it. Also I have to let it go sometimes too.  It's not the end of the world if the dishes sit a few minutes or an hour longer.

Hope these tips help you to keep a happy, organized, and tidy home!

Groomsmen

Handsome guys. Love that one in the middle :o)

Sisters first - Bridesmaids second

Love my sissies.  And can we talk about how beautiful Mandy's hair looks in the above photo?  Jess did a great job.  And the flower beauty credit goes to Mandy.  Such talented ladies who brought their skills to use for this day. 

Weekending it

Happy MLKJ day!  I have today off from work (yay) but Dan doesn't (boo) but we had a nice full weekend together anyways.

On Friday evening we had dinner with some friends from church and we got to meet the newest member of Crossroads.  I was so excited to hold this tiny little love.  She snuggled in my arms for nearly an hour and it was bliss.  Apparently Dan has never held a newborn and decided not to this time so we'll save that experience for our future little loves maybe.

Saturday we slept in and then headed to Lowes in search of some new lampshades.  Unfortunately we didn't find anything that would work but still enjoyed the outing.  Our original plan was to go ice skating in the city but it was too cold and windy so we just hung out at home.

I still couldn't find any lampshades online that I liked, had the right attachment for that lamp stand, or were affordable.  So I did a bit of looking on Pinterest and then just decided to try out and idea.  I went through my quarter flats stash and picked a couple of colors and patterns.  I cut them into strips and then tied them on the inside of the existing shades we had.  Seven quarter flats covered three lamp shades.

They turned out pretty fun and unique and they match with the room much better.  We still have two more lamps in this room with the old shades and I'm hoping Target will pull through.  We'll see.  Our apartment decor probably will never make it into a magazine but it's cozy and it's us. 

Sunday was our usual church gig slightly more complicated by the downpour that lasted all day.  Afterwards Harry and Amanda got baptized.  Very happy occasion. 

Sunday afternoon was full of football and scrapbooking.  I was put in charge of assembling a memory book for the Curtis family as a going away gift from the church.  I am not really a scrapbook person but I can glue and arrange so hopefully it will turn out okay.   

Later today I'm going to post some more wedding photos because I haven't shared very many and because they make our life looks much more glamorous than it actually is!  Stay tuned. 

Gallery Wall

When Dan and I first rented our current apartment back in July we were both exceedingly happy and surprised by the size of the living room.  Now that we have been in our home several months we have nearly finished organizing and arranging everything.  See the nearly complete tour here.

The living room was large enough to split into a lounge area for the TV and couch and chairs and still have room for a dining room table that seats six, plus a nice IKEA sideboard.  That amount of space is crazy rare in tiny NYC apartments and we are truly grateful to have it.

Because we have such a large room we also have huge blank walls.  We painted the primary wall a blueish-gray (see that here) and then we did literally nothing else to any of the walls in that room.

This photo was taken in September '14

The left wall works great for displaying decorations and lights but is otherwise totally blank.

By November I planned to create a gallery wall on the left side of the room by the table and I gathered all the pieces I hoped to hang there (they took awhile to accumulate).

At the beginning of December, Amy and Tim (Dan's cousin's and our wedding photographers) sent us the incredibly nice black and white canvas print from the wedding and since that was our biggest piece, I started plotting out the arrangement on the wall using Christmas wrapping paper (why not?) and painters tape.  It was a highly technical procedure.

Dan and I collaborated to fill the fun swooped frame.  He drew the pictures of the tree and Brooklyn Bridge and I made the pressed flower arrangements (I pressed those flowers when I was in high school! they are at least 10 years old).

The wall progressed over the last couple of weeks and with our trip to Hobby Lobby in Kansas we got a nice piece to hang adjacent to the canvas to balance the wall.  It was 50% off and pretty much perfect.

Mandy picked the cute "be" phrases when she was here at Thanksgiving and they pulled everything together.   

The mini chalkboards I got from Amazon and are perfect for seasonal changes.

I've spent the last three weeks working on my embroidery piece.  I hand drew the design and then just did whatever I felt like with color and stitch style.  It is my first completed attempt.  My mom showed me the embroidery basics back in July and now I'm hooked.

The plan was to put it on the gallery wall but it ended up being a bit to small for the space so we swapped it for the wreath that Mandy made and I purchased from her Etsy shop (Hopscotch and Honey).  It was meant to be.  Fits perfectly. 

I wish I had a good camera that showed the wall better in the context of the room.  The dining room table is right below this and the blue/gray wall to the right pulls out the blue in the wreath flowers.

Some things we learned from this process: 1)  Don't be symmetrical.  Although even steven is definitely my tendency with decorating, it looks more natural and cohesive if you don't use all squares and balance everything.  2) Dan is a wiz with using hammers and drills if NO ONE is watching him.  If I am in the room he hammers like he has no thumbs.  If I'm not breathing down his neck he can hammer like a carpenter.  Maybe I'm the problem?  He hung the chalkboard in the kitchen last weekend perfectly centered and perfectly level in one attempt while I waited nervously in the other room.