password prompt

About Me

Thursday, January 9, 2014

New Resolutions

2014. 
Nine days in. 

No. 1  Watch more documentaries
No. 2  Use the library more 
No. 3  Run in at least 3 races this year (St. Pattrick's Day Dash, Color Run, Hot Chocolate Run, Magnuson Run, SeaFair Torchlight parade Rock n Roll Seattle half Marathon) I think this is a great way to stay active, have fun, & engage with the city
No. 4  Spend more time exploring & enjoying Washington State (hiking/camping)
No. 5  Keep growing my hair out
No. 6  floss more & actually go to the dentist!
No. 7  Don't be such a jollywop when it comes to keeping the house clean. 
No. 8  Keep a budget/be mindful of spending
No. 9  Walk Ebony more frequently
No. 10  Spend more time with our neighbors

Not a failure if I don't do these - but it's nice to cast some vision.

-SJW

How'd I do?

New Years Resolutions from last year -
Learn to ski yep, I made this one happen.
- Learn some basic graphic design skills (for cards/invitations/& blog) ish, I have resorted to PowerPoint for now & you better believe I can (crudely) make some stinkin' cute cards/crafts
- Read through The Chronicles of Narnia done.
- Interview at least 10 people pretty much, I treated a bunch of my coworkers to coffee dates & got to ask them about life/work experience etc. 
- Take more mini-vacations (Vancouver, Boise, Whidbey Island, San Juan Islands, Oregon Coast, Leavenworth, The Tulip Festival) more than half - that's pretty good! The Tulip Festival & Vancouver were my favorites! I'll have to save the rest for 2014. 
-Make a wedding book album/coffee table book I think a year+ late, but yes, done. 
-Stick to a budget hmmm, not mindfully anyway. I may re-up this one.  
-Grow my hair out : ) slowly slowly but surely. 

A New Holiday

Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 & as Wikipedia elaborates, it is the celebration of the revelation of God the Son as human being in Jesus Christ. Western Christians commemorate principally the visit of the Magi to the Baby Jesus.

Our good friends, ED & SK invited us & another friend to join them in their tradition of celebrating this significant day, 12 days after Christmas (so that's where the song comes from...). 

They graciously served us amazing chicken marbella & quinoa. 
They cheered to this delicious feast.
 Afterward, we followed some of ED's family's traditions:

Part 1 - THE CAKE

We each partook in decorating the cake.
Earlier, ED had baked a ceramic figure into the cake - which you hope ends up in your slice.
 
To help make things fair, the youngest of the group (in this case none other than Mr. Fleece) goes under the table & calls out whom each piece of cake will go to. 

Part 2 - The Crowning of Royalty

The ceramic lion figurine ended up in Mr. Fleece's piece of cake (did he cheat?) - which meant he was crowned as one of the three kings. 
 He then picks two others (wisely choosing his wife & the hostess) to join him in royalty (thus representing the three kings/magi) & each person gets to open up a gift. 

I'm a gal who loves traditions & parties, so I believe I will be celebrating this in the years to come - cake, crowns, gifts & all. Additionally, it's a great opportunity to spend time with friends post holiday season!

-SJW

IKEA makes the world go round

IKEA will forever get an A+ in colors & patterns.By adding just three new fluffy pillows & one massive window curtain (that is secretly a shower curtain), my two main living spaces have received the perfect pop of fun.  Thanks, Goodwill for carrying these specific IKEA items: 

CHEVRON PILLOWS
...always a good thing

REVERSIBLE PATTERNED PILLOW
um yes. 

CITYSCAPE CURTAIN
makes me happy!

P.S. I'm still in love with this IKEA slipcover for our couch.

-SJW 

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

HAPPY Two Thousand FourTWEED

Not sure what colors, fabrics or styles will be trending in 2014 - all I know is 
I'm loving the classic look of tweed. 
My mom has had her eye out for tweed skirts over the past couple months- 
here are some of her thrift store finds:
1. NAVY FLOUNCY TWEED SKIRT
Paired with Goodwill $6.00 Forever 21 top
2. SHORT GREEN TWEED SKIRT
Paired with a Forever 21 top received at a Swap Party
3. CREAM TWEED PENCIL SKIRT
Paired with a Goodwill $4.00 Old Navy top
5. CLASSY PLAID TWEED SKIRT
Paired with a black top from a Swap Party
6. TAN HOUNDS TOOTH TWEED SKIRT 
Paired with a Goodwill $10.00 Woolrich sweater (very Anthropologie-esque)
Stay warm & have a Happy New Year!

-SJW






Monday, December 23, 2013

The mailbox

It's that time of year where you always want to check your mailbox. 

Hooray for festive cards & fancy penmanship.

-SJW

Saturday, December 14, 2013

HOW TO: Host a "Christmas of Catan" Party

Step 1: Purchase the game

Step 2: Make & distribute hexagonal invites

Step 3: Locate appropriately matched foods
Ore - oreos
Brick - chocolate candies
Wheat - homemade beer bread
Wood - chocolate dipped pretzels
Sheep - milk chocolate butter toffee macadamia nuts (from Target)


Step 4: Make paper plates to match game pieces


Step 5: Use these retro 12 Days of Christmas drinking glasses

Step 6: Post this sign somewhere

Step 7: Host 12 friends - give the ladies the living room & cram the men in the bedroom 

Step 8: Avoid the following

Step 9: Buy those development cards & use a port to win the game : ) 

What a ridiculous night.

Ridiculously fun.   

-SJW