OWL COSTUME INSPIRATION

lady bird | owl mask | wings | owl kiddo
We thought with moving to a new place that we would not have Halloween plans or the need for costumes, but we've been invited to a co-workers Halloween party and for the last week I've been racking my mind for what I can make and not spend a lot on.

Spirit Halloween opens in Bozeman a month or so before, and of course there's costumes at Target and Walmart too. Here there are all kinds of Halloween stores, but a lot of them have the same expensive stuff that doesn't always fit the right way.

I narrowed my list down to:
- a sunflower (my original idea from months ago)
- a lady bug
- 20's flapper

And then while I was blog surfing this morning, I came across this lady bird costume and from there did a couple other searches for some ideas to be an owl. I'm so excited to have a project to work on and a costume that will be original!

THEY'RE GR-R-REAT!

Chad gives me a hard time about buying the "big" box of Frosted Flakes, but it's my favorite cereal was cheaper to buy one big box instead of 2 little ones.

Something else great? I can buy a gallon of milk for 99 cents!

SONIC ANYONE??

Chad and I were out shopping yesterday and got a little hungry at the mall. The joke of the moment is "wonder if there's a Sonic?" because they are EVERYWHERE!

I was hoping to come up with a better figure than this, but using their "find a Sonic" feature it only brings up the nearest 5. The nearest 5 to where we live are all within a 5.5 mile area! The area we were at when discussing lunch brings up the nearest 5 all within 3 miles. Sonic much?

The only thing I really can try compare it to is McDonald's. Where can you go that there aren't a ton of them? Really, Bozeman has 3. The closest one to our place now is 6 miles, and the next one after shows up as 12. And it's not just McDonald's, it's also Taco Bell, Burger King, Arby's, etc . . . and hardly any Dairy Queens!

I've not yet actually been to a Sonic but I'm sure someday we'll decide to try it and when we do there will be no worry with trying to find one.

IN PROGRESS: FRENCH PRESS SLIPPERS - PART 2

I think I had a successful time felting despite forgetting to take my project out before the washer went to rinse and spin mode! Now to let them air dry -- hoping it doesn't take more than a couple days so I can finish attaching the straps and buttons!

Also found a knitting group to join that meets twice a month -- the FW Knit Stitch Bunch -- excited to meet some people here!

AVEENO LOVE

It's so hard to decide on facial and body care products that are affordable and all work together. So I just have a lot of stuff in my bathroom. I've talked about Bath and Body Works Lavender Chamomile and LUSH Dream Cream (also lavender!). And my third love is Aveeno.

I've used their Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser for years but have discovered a few new favorites. I switched to their moisturizer over the summer and love how lightweight it is.

And then in the pages of Real Simple, I saw a "great finds under $10" kind of page and discovered the new line of body wash - my favorite is the Pomegranate/Rice. I'd hope to get a matching body lotion, but the fragrances are not all the same, so I've been using Vanilla Chamomile, which is so perfect and is not overpowering.

But my favorite is their lip treatments -- I've even got Chad and a few other friends to switch from regular chapstick to Aveeno. They're a little bit more money, but they work so well that you don't use as much, which I think is worth it.

IN PROGRESS: FRENCH PRESS FELTED SLIPPERS

This doesn't look like much yet. Right now I've got all my pieces knit and need to work next on seaming them together, then felting them in the wash to make myself some cozy slippers. Hooray for Hobby Lobby for being nearby and carrying a decent selection of yarn!

"HIPPIE BAG"

I made this for myself back in Montana a few months ago and obviously slacked a bit on getting a picture up. It's the same pattern as another bag I made but I shrunk the bottom of the bag down a little and also added some darker fabric to the bottom in thinking the patterned fabric would look more worn on the bottom after setting it down all the time. Also had a great orange button to add some for flair and found my yellow scarf/handle at Target.

Chad and I were out shopping the other day at Kohl's and the woman at the cash register said to me "oh! I love your hippie bag!". I'm not sure if that's how most people would describe my bag. Chad said it must have been the way I'd dressed (brown gouchos, olive tank top, red flip flops) and that if I'd been in jeans and a nice shirt that she would have made a different comment.

However you want to describe my bag, it's now referred to as "my hippie bag" and the next one will definitely have a more modern look!

"stuck" - stranded, perplexed, frozen

I still feel a little disorganized from moving/unpacking. There is not a lot of space in a one bedroom apartment for storage (or our large living room furniture - it extends into what is meant to be a dining area, glad we sold our table!).

So, my craft room is now a packed up craft closet in our entry. You can't see the sides of the closet, but there's about 15 apple boxes with various types of projects in each - paper, yarn, paint, scrapbook albums, kid crafts, etc. I kept out things that I'll use all the time and my favorite books, but when I get the itch to make something I'll have to haul out the appropriate box and card table and set up somewhere!

I also like to craft when I feel like everything else is done, so I don't have to stop once I start. Even though things are unpacked, I feel "undone" in not having a routine with things here yet. I've been working at a preschool and will start another seasonal job and some extra babysitting but it'll be another week or so until I feel like I'll have a better grasp on what I have going on every day.

Ready to feel unstuck and work on fun things like these!

felted slippers | little dress | wool animals

WEDDING: INSPIRATION BOARD

I've known for quite awhile what I wanted for wedding colors - citrus and slate - and have been keeping clippings of anything I've come across for ideas. Although there's 300+ days until our wedding I have quite a bit planned already (layout, centerpieces, bridesmaids dresses, plus some!). So . . . here's a little sneak peek, some of actual things I've picked out and a few other inspiration ideas : )

PS -- the big day is set for August 13, 2011 in Montana!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Yesterday I turned 26!

It was a little sad not to celebrate with friends in Bozeman, but Chad and I had a fun day. We didn't get motivated to do much until around 2. We decided to drive over to Dallas and went to the stores that aren't in Fort Worth - like Crate & Barrel and Lush! They have a much larger mall than anything I've seen yet here, so I did a little birthday shopping. Favorite find of the day - my new boots!

BIG NEWS #2: WE'RE ENGAGED!

Along with all this moving to Texas stuff I've been waiting for an engagement ring. Chad and I have been together for 4 years. Last summer I started nagging that I'm a little more than over with waiting any longer and when talk of moving came up the beginning of this summer told him I would not be going anywhere with him until he proposed.

We've had a summer busy summer and plenty of opportunity for him to ask, but he's a perfectionist when it comes to planning and nothing seemed quite right to him. After we'd decided on moving he starting planning that on the night before we left he would have everyone over at my grandparents for one last little goodbye party and that in front of everyone he would propose. He didn't tell anyone this was the plan, and for various reasons, no one was really able to make it on the night of. We still had things to do that night and I was pushing to get out the door, so before we left, he said he couldn't wait any longer to ask, got down on his knee and pulled out a little white ring box. And after the week we'd just had with packing and loading our Uhaul and everything else I pretty much cried through the whole thing. I said yes ; )

There isn't a date set yet. There's plenty of ideas in my head. Once things seem a little more settled with things in Fort Worth I can imagine how much time I'll be thinking of our big day.

BIG NEWS #1: WE MOVED!

I have not mentioned this on my blog yet for fear of jinxing all that was going on -- but we moved to Texas!

Chad is trying for a position with BNSF as a train dispatcher. It involves a 4 month training class before getting the job. The idea was to take the class offered in September and be working right after that. However, a week before his tests and interviews the people in charge filled the September class, so now the next one offered is in February.

Rather than waiting things out in Montana, we moved to Fort Worth, Texas to be prepared and do everything possible to get this working in the right direction. We didn't want to be in a situation with breaking a lease on our place or keeping employers up in the air about when our last days would be. Also moving in February would have been terrible through all the snow in Montana and Wyoming. So, we're here now and have time to adjust to things here before his class starts.

Thankfully, our friend Drew helped us drive down our Uhaul and 2nd car and unload it all into our tiny apartment. We went from about 1900 sf in Bozeman to 750 sf here! But it's an exciting challenge to see if we can live in our space more efficiently. Before he left we went out to PF Changs for dinner - it's the best! The area it's in is known as Sundance Square, a pretty safe spot downtown. We'd planned on a movie after dinner, but there were so many people out and things going on that we walked around and eventually ended up in a rock and roll dueling pianos bar - so much fun!

I don't mind the heat. If we moved the beginning of the summer that might be different, so it was a good adjustment to come down in the fall. I've noticed a few things, probably more than a few, that I'm not sure if I expected or not.

- No one really speeds: People tend to follow the speed limits, and rather than passing you people are pretty content with just following behind you until they get wherever they're going

- People are very friendly: Maybe it's the accent (which the lady at the bank said we'd develop) but any time we've gone to shop or eat everyone has been so nice.

- Store are clean: I'm sure there are places that are no so clean, but because of all the competition and repeats of many stores (we live so close to 2 different shopping areas that are almost identical) there must be a higher standard for keeping things as clean as they've been.

At the moment we are looking for jobs. Probably the scariest part of moving was that we didn't have immediate jobs lined up. I found a great nanny agency to sign up with, but most of their clients are in Dallas and that's too long of a commute. There's a private preschool about a block away from where we live that's looking for help. I've had 2 interviews so far and should hear back by Friday if I get that job. Crossing my fingers hard!

FINISHED: JANE HATS

This is my hat of the moment. It's a pattern by Jane Richmond, called "Jane". I really have made quite a few. The guys I know think they are a little girly, so I need to find a great pattern for the fellas that I know.

It's super quick to make and as you can see I went a little crazy on buying different colors of yarn ... it's so hard not too. Another yarn buying trip is in order soon. I will have to avoid the really nice yarn shops downtown because I know I will cave into buying something that feels incredible but comes with a pricier price on it!

IN PROGRESS: HAT OF THE MOMENT IN MUSTARD

Sneak Peek!

This is such a fun hat that I've made somewhere between 8 - 10. . .I can't even remember. I made one a month or so ago and after that just went and bought all kinds of yarn to make more. Hoping to get this one done by the weekend so I can bring them to the farmer's market. Just in time for fall . . .

NEW OBSESSION: LUSH

LUSH!

I think I am in love . . . my mom had told me about LUSH and given me one of their news-catalogs, but I didn't think much of them . . . but on a quick side trip in Seattle, I discovered their shop right next to where we'd gone out to eat. It's a Canadian company and they use all natural ingredients. While in Edmonton I got to make a trip to another store. I wish I had more time and money to check out all their products, but these are some of my favorites so far.

1. DREAMTIME BATH MELT -- It's my new bath favorite. I break some of the bar off into my bath and it smells so good (lavender). Perfect for before bed!

2. DREAM CREAM -- Again, huge fan of lavender. This has got to be the most luxurious cream I've bought, it's so rich and smooth.

3. AMBROSIA -- I didn't buy a whole bottle, but the wonderful lady at the store gave me a sample to take home. It's a super lightweight shaving cream.

4. TRICHOMANIA SHAMPOO -- I haven't tried their shampoos yet, but they are solid! Some of them smell a little different, so I've been hesitant to try the, but this one is coconut, maybe it's the one!