summer summary

It's been a crazy hectic summer. Hopefully I can get around to posting more details, but here is a quick list:

• 9 months of winter actually ended in May
• Fargo Half Marathon. Ran the entire 13.1 miles. Looking forward to another one!
• Broke my hand in my first game of rec softball. Surgery to insert 2 pins, surgery to remove pins, and now therapy.
• My parents visited in June. Rented an RV, drove around Yellowstone, and white-water rafted.
• Early summer consisted of yard work: stained concrete patio, planted garden, spread river rock, plants in pots, new patio furniture, etc.
• Baby shower for Kraby's and baby Everett came in June
• Work work work
• Grillin'. Homemade Ice Cream. Peach Pie. Best Ever Homemade Lemonade.
• Unlike Texas, we have a record breaking spring with so much rain.
• Small town 4th of July rocks. Fireworks illegal in the city but no one listens. 180 degree view of fireworks followed by a professional show, all visible from our deck. Small town rodeo and dance and riding the Marathon float in the parade.
• Hills Alive in Rapid City. Awesome. Christian Bands. Shopping. Starbucks. Ice Cream.
• VBS Leaders at church with 5-6 yr olds....way out west in Discovery City learning 'bout Jesus.
• Softball champions
• Learning Photoshop but would really just like to take some classes.
• Rapid City for Caleb's birthday. Fly-fishing = 2 trout 24 and 25 inches. Ice Cream. Tally's Silver Spoon Breakfast. Alex Johnson Hotel. Sturgis.
• Tested and tried spiritually but feeling really good right now. God is revealing himself in many ways.
• 15 hours of sewing this past weekend. Finished quilting one of a few projects.
• Joined Pinterest. And oh so in love. Now all I want to do is shop, sew, craft, decorate...etc. So inspired.
• Took a last minute job coaching JV volleyball at a local private school. Exhausted but having a blast. Only in week 2 of practice.
• Colorado on Friday. Much. Needed. Just checked out 4 books on tape...CD... (one of which is Learn to Speak French) and so ready for the road trip.
• Lawn mowers in Sears have been replaced by Snow Blowers. Winter is coming.

God is good all the time. I am thankful He is teaching me constantly; I just need to listen more and fully trust in His promises. Faith. Contentment. Trust. Patience. Joy. Humility. His Purpose.

slipcover!!

I finally finished the slipcover and absolutely love the result!

Some have asked how I got the idea or courage to take on this project, so...

It all started right after Caleb and I got married. We had no furniture or money and just moved into a rent house in Houston. We searched all over for a sofa, prayed about such a large purchase, but never felt like we were given the "okay" from God to seal the deal. Quite honestly, I was scared for our future since we couldn't make such a simple decision on a sofa. Would it be like this for every purchase? Our super thoughtful and wonderful friends, the Howard's, were fixin' to replace their formal living room furniture of 10 years and offered their sofa, two chairs, and ottoman to us. It was a huge blessing! We were so overwhelmed by their generosity and looking back, I can totally see God's hand in the entire situation. Not only was the furniture already adorable, but soooo comfortable, too.

Fast forward three years and two moves later, we are in North Dakota surviving our first winter. Never would have seen North Dakota in our future, but God did!! :) By this time, I've acquired a bit of sewing skills having finished one quilt, a few quilt tops, a couple totes, aprons, and some pillows. I have also developed a "style" for our home, slowly accumulated new furniture, and recently, purchased this wonderful rug. The floral and plaid sofa was now a part of our family, but unfortunately, the colors weren't coordinating with my new look.

After browsing the internet and diy blogs, I came across Pink and Polka Dot. The tutorials on her blog and ebook she created and also other websites gave me the idea of a slipcover and also enough confidence to purchase the materials. I ordered 20 yards of white denim and enough cording for the cushions and arm rest, which was less than $200 total. I chose the white denim because the cotton ducking only came in bright white...which was too bright... and tan...which wasn't white. The denim was soft and casual yet heavy duty so that the dark floral didn't show through.

My artsy friend Paula also came over to assist and help get me started. It wasn't until after I got too far into it did I truly realize how difficult this project would be, but by then there was no turning back. Mostly, I had to let go of my perfectionism and accept the fact that my first slipcover nor any future slipcover would not be perfect. I also gave up after three times of fixing one corner of the skirt and seeing no result. There was also the problem-solving aspect like how to minimize the sagging under the arms...not my arms, the sofa's!...how to cover the cushions without a zipper, the trouble spots, etc.

But after many hours of sewing, I finished it. Phew! And similar to running the mile-relay, before and during the races it's horrible, but after you finish, you're already looking forward to your next race!

Pictures :)

before...

after!

the back with the pleats behind the arm

arm rest with matching cording

i made these three pillows....isn't the fabric just lovely?!?!

love

back home

So I traveled to Houston this past week for work. I was hoping to escape the winter weather but instead brought it with me. Grrr. It was warmer than Dickinson but the temperatures were below freezing almost all week. I was thankful that I had no cancellations or delays leaving Friday, especially since most of Houston was shut down and roads closed due to icy roads. Today has been a very lazy day. I have spent most of my time experimenting on Adobe Elements and editing the blog. Changing the blog is harder than I thought! I still have a lot more work to do, but at least it's a start. Caleb is building shelves in the garage.....woohoo!!! Our three-car garage may actually fit three cars after this weekend. :)

We're making Chicken Curry for dinner tonight. Yum! Probably going to watch a movie or catch up on Hulu. I'm thinking I'll close the computer for the rest of the evening and start working on my slipcover again. I really need to get that finished. :) I guess I've just been putting off the sewing of 25+ yards of piping.

Hope y'all are having a relaxing weekend and staying warm!

it's a good day

It's a beautiful Friday. :) The sun is out shining with a high of a whopping 70 today. Wonderful. I couldn't sleep at all last night. Mind wandering about things I should do to the house to make it more "sellable", what life will be like in North Dakota, planning our trip to Alaska, on and on and on. I told Caleb that if speakers were hooked up to the voices inside my head, he would tell me to turn it off or hit mute. Even I was annoyed. It was like being inside a subway terminal with people walking different directions, talking on their cell phones or to each other, random thoughts going through each person's mind. Or like a crazy intersection in NYC. That was my mind last night. So I woke up with Caleb this morning, not feeling rested, but totally ready for the day. I feel like a real adult since I'm waking up at 6:30 when I really don't have to. :) I made my coffee this morning, checked email, had a surprise phone conversation with my Aunt, downloaded an album on iTunes (The Temper Trap - Conditions....I TOTALLY recommend this one!), and took a wonderful long shower....you know, the selfish ones where you use up all the hot water, shave, and pull out the scrubs you never use. I used my new Bath & Body Works Fig scrub, and MMMmmm! I smell so yummy. Our house needs a little curb appeal. Caleb and I desperately tried to pick out a bunch of perennials last night at Lowe's. We bought some but neither of us have the slightest idea about designing flower beds. I want some color and cheerfulness without the corny-I'm-trying-to-be-a-gardener-but-failing-horribly look. :) I'm going to the nursery this morning to talk to the experts about plants. Wish me luck. Then I might head to Hobby Lobby to see if there are any spring-y decorations for the house. I also need some cheap fabric to make a few curtains for our kitchen windows. I also bought a $20 coffee table last weekend and the paint to spruce it up. I should probably work on that today. And hopefully I can squeeze in a trail run with Bella since the snow has finally melted and the trails are dry. It's going to be a great day. I just might get a Starbucks, too. :)

My Daily Light reading today:

Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. With the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Praise the Lord. Love y'all.

get your craft on!

Hi, my name is Lindsey, and I have a blog addiction. :)

I love blogs! I love hearing about my friends' awesome lives. I love reading other people's crafty blogs for creative ideas! I love free sewing patterns! I wish I could just stay home all day and craft and sew. :) This morning The Polka Dot Chair has a cute idea for a Valentine's Banner. Unfortunately, I don't have a husband here to see if he would "Be Mine", but I thought it was cute anyway, and the idea could definitely be applied for other occasions.

I also love finding "Free Printables". Around Christmas time, I was able to find two or three super chic gift tags that I could print for free! 1-I saved $$. 2-They were so cute! So this morning I found some free coloring sheets. If you have any kiddos or would just like to color a cute picture for your Valentine, go HERE. I might just color one for myself! :)

So get excited about super crafty fun ideas that I find! And if you find anything exciting and fun, please share!! :)