I have a problem when I have too much of a lull on house projects, a.k.a winter.  I get stir crazy in my brain and think of a billion things I want to update in my house.  I self-medicated by picking up several large white frames from Ikea when we drove through the Big D two weekends ago.  I was so excited, and I couldn't even get my focus under control enough for one measly picture.  Yikes.

 I had just gotten Andrew to hang up a handful of frames we already had with our painting not that long ago, but I just didn't love it.  I hate that feeling.  I was kind of excited because everything was up on the wall and it was something I could check off the list, but it just wasn't doing it for me.  And I work at home and stare at the same things all day long so it didn't take too much time to decide it wasn't going to be permanent.  I liked everything I had put up, but our living room wall is so huge that the arrangement looked puny.

So voila, added frames, hung them myself (terrible idea - this did not go well but the drama is over so whatevs), and filled them with "art" until I have some new blue-ish photos to print for the larger frames.  

 So, so much happier with this.  I think it looks so much more polished, but not too planned; the asymetricality is much more interesting to look at.  (Asymetricality - is that even a word??)

I have been threatened not to change this again (our walls probably look like swiss cheese under all of those frames), but that's the beauty of this.  There's still space to add a few smaller frames here and there, and I change out the prints and photos as much as I'd like on the cheap.  Winning.

Double-winning since my mom finished recovering our pillows for an added pop of spring color.  I talked her into sewing different fabric for each front and back and love how it turned out.  She was not so convinced about the mix and matching, but thanks for your input, but just do the sewing.  Kidding!  I'm very, very appreciative of your handywork.  :)

(Side note: I still want to use some of my own handywork and move Andrew's honkin' man chair to the basement.  Ughhhhh...)

Instead, I have been crafting for mis amigas.  

First up, for Halley and her new home once she gets married this July:

 Isn't this fun?  So, so easy to do.  I just whipped it up in Illustrator, printed it at Fedex Office and found a frame to dress up the print a bit.  I think this would be super cute for a baby's room, as well.  You could put their birthday, weight/height info, etc., etc.  I've got babies on the brain.

BECAUSE, I also crafted for Stacy, (whom you may have already seen here, and if you didn't then check out my biz already), who is having a little girl this summer.

Again, super simple - you could even design this in PowerPoint if you have limited design software on your computer.  Print, frame, hang.  Instant cuteness.

Now, go weekend - eat, sleep, nest.

Two weekends ago, Andrew, my mom and I drove south to visit my Aunt Jan and Uncle Tom.  It was a long overdue trip.  They've been "up north" for our wedding, our first time hosting Thanksgiving and my sister's wedding.  So we owed them.  Plus, it doesn't hurt that they had beautiful sunny 70 degree weather and it snowed in Kansas City the weekend we were there.  Suckers.  

For Andrew, this was a pretty momentous trip.  We had talked about this being the year of the road trip.  As many of you know, he had planned on buying a Camaro after he turned 25.  (To save on the insurance, obviously.)  Well, 25 came and went, he did some test drives, obsessed about this, researched for hours every day after work, etc.  I am not exaggerating even the slightest.  So, he finds "the one", we drive to Kansas City to buy it and the dealer will not budge.  I start having second thoughts...after all, this is not the most practical vehicle in the world.  My car and his truck will need to be replaced sooner than later.  Do car seats fit in the back of Camaros?  Not that this is an issue now, but if we buy this thing it will be around for a very long time.  And then the unthinkable happens.

He lets the dream die.

So, instead of being southbound I-35 in the a Camaro, we are driving my mom's Ford Fusion.  Just as cool.  

Something made up for it though.  Well two things, actually.

And Andrew got to drive them - The '57 Chevy and The Judge, thanks to my Uncle Tom and his "toys".

I think Andrew is a little sad as my first car shoot was supposed to be for him, but I guess he got over it.

 Never mind when we stopped for gas and the battery died in one, and that Andrew got rear-ended in the other.  True story.  Everyone was fine, wasn't anything we could have prevented, the joy ride was fun while it lasted and thank goodness the driver at fault has insurance.  

Of course, now he's thinking an old '68 Camaro instead of a new one.  

Sigh.

Two weekends ago Andrew and I drove up to Hiawatha for two very important firsts.  I helped host Halley's first wedding shower, and then we both attended our nephew's first birthday party.  Milestones for sure.  

Instead of duplicating Katie's recap of the shower or repeating pictures from Leyton's one year photo shoot I wanted to share some outtakes from each event.  They're pretty funny.  Maybe you will even want to write your own captions?

First - can you tell these two are related?  Talk about photogenic.  :)

 Second - maybe we should have watched Uncle Andy and Leyton a bit closer. 

Yes, that is beer.  Leyton is even more like his dad than we thought.

I just got back from a quick trip to Dallas this evening.  As much as I love being able to get back in the office and experience the city, it always feels so good to get home.  Mainly because of two reasons this time.

1. Franklin has been so lovey lately.  Mainly I think he uses me just so he can sleep on our bed.  Little did I know Andrew has been sneaking pictures of us in the mornings on my cell phone when he gets up and out of bed and Franklin takes his place.  What can I say, I'm well taken care of.  

 The problem is, now I think Franklin literally thinks our bed is meant just for him.  

We have created a monster.  I will totally admit that.  But, I will not apologize for our crazy behavior.  I love our Franko.  He's just part of our crew.  We totally took him to Lowe's with us the other week.  

Whatever, I love my dog.  Get over it.

2. Spring is after my heart this year.  Holy moly.  Love these blooms.  Love these pics.

 What is it about spring that makes me want to renew and redo everything?  I have so many house project ideas right now.  

All in good time. 

Andrew bought me a camera.  I liked it.  I took some pictures.  I liked it more.  

I got a new, better camera.  I took a photography class.  I loved it.  And, I loved my camera even more.  

I took more pictures.  And more.  And more. 

I got an idea.

And worked.  And planned.  And took pictures.  And worked.

And now, I have this.

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