Fabricatzion

Opinions?

2008-08-06T12:11:00.002-04:00

Our living room has been feeling squished, so we decided to move out our love seat and replace it with a chair. We have decided on an Ikea Poang chair, but I can't decide what color. Above are some options combined with the rest of our furniture: 1) dark blue 2) ivory and cover the head pillow with a fabric that coordinates w/ the rest of the room 3) a print.

I'm leaning toward one of them, but I want opinions before I make a final decision. So, what would you do? 1, 2, or 3?

Cleaning House

2008-08-05T17:45:00.005-04:00

Over the past month, the house has been getting on my nerves. So, I decided that it was time for another deep spring cleaning. My house is not very big (and neither are my closets). So, I have to constantly go through the things that I own and clear out the junk.

I am always amazed at how much I can get rid of when I purge. Where does all of this stuff come from? I know that some of it is stuff that I've been holding on to for a long time... like that coat that I made 10 years ago, or those pajama pants that I made 13 years ago (that have holes in them), or those jeans that my mom bought me when I was a junior in high school (11 years ago).

And there are still wedding presents that are slowly moving out. We've been married for 5 years, and I still feel guilty about getting rid of a gift that we don't use and did not register for.

All in all, I have 7 trash bags full of stuff for Goodwill, and an even larger number in trash. It feels good to get rid of things and to simplify life. Except for the things that make me sad. Like throwing out my broken sewing machine. I made my wedding dress on that machine. It angered me on many occasions, but there is a sentimental attachment. Oh, well. When I have a bigger house, I can afford to be more sentimental.

Quick Change

2008-08-03T21:41:00.000-04:00

No need to throw away a perfectly good pair of pants just because you don't like the cut. I loved the color of these, but wasn't crazy about the cropped, bootleg cut anymore. So now they're shorts.

Goodbye Old Friend

2008-08-01T14:10:00.000-04:00

Out with the old, in with the new. I've got my new car, but that means that it's time to say goodbye to my old one. I've been driving my little Hyundai Elantra for nine years. It's taken me to co-op in Chattanooga, to school at Georgia Tech, to home in Columbus, and all over the city of Atlanta.

It wasn't fancy, but it took me everywhere I needed to go; to work, to the theater, to church, to dates, to friend's. My brother hit a deer with it. I was rear-ended in it. And I hit a concrete pillar in a parking deck (and then touched up the paint myself). But it kept chugging.

I'm going to miss my little car. I always tried to talk nicely to it, in hopes that it would last longer for me. And it had a good life span. I know that I got my money's worth out of it. I'm sad to see it go (well, it's still sitting in front of our house at the moment), but I'm glad to move on to my CRV.

Wedding Detail - Bridesmaids dresses

2008-07-30T17:41:00.005-04:00

As a general rule, bridesmaid's dresses are awful. We found such a great solutions for Meg's wedding.

We talked about me making them, but with her large wedding party, I would have had to charge them, and I really didn't want to do that. So, we looked around at different wedding boutiques, but in the end, we found the perfect dress at Macy's (of all places).

It's a cute, knit,blue, knee-length dress with beaded straps. There were a lot of them, so we bought them all, let all of her girls try them on, and returned the ones that we didn't use. It's so much nicer dealing with a local store instead of trying to order something.

The price was one of the best parts. They were originally $160, but we snagged them for $50, due to a sale and a coupon. There is no way I could have made them for that price. And they were so cute. I think that everyone was happy with this solution.

Dishwasher - Fixed

2008-07-27T13:53:00.004-04:00

My working dishwasher....exciting, huh?

So, remember how I said that the week after Meg's wedding wasn't the best week? It started with my car breaking and grew when my dishwasher broke and air-conditioner started acting funny.

I really do love being a home owner. Really. Until weeks like this where money is flying out the window and everything seems to be broken and in need of attention. Some things (like the yard) never seem to stay kept up like I would like.

Anyway, when the dishwasher broke, I really hated the idea of calling a repairman. I mean dishwashers aren't that expensive, and it would cost $ just to get someone out here. So I decided to take a shot at it.

I knew what was wrong: no power seemed to be going to the dishwasher. The lights wouldn't light and it wouldn't operate at all. So, I checked the breaker, checked to make sure power was actually going to the dishwasher (it was), and then started searching on-line. I just typed in my problem, did some research on my model, and found a couple of things that it could be. I opened the control panel, tested those parts and decided I had a blown thermal fuse (please don't ask me to explain more than that...I can't). I went to a parts supply place, got a new one for $18, rewired it, and viola, it works!

I'm always amazed at what you can do when your willing to put in the time and are brave enough to try. I was really quite proud of myself. So, now I have a working dishwasher and my days are going much better.

New Car!

2008-07-25T23:33:00.007-04:00

My NEW Honda CRV in Glacier Blue

So, the week after Meg's wedding wasn't be best week. First, during the wedding, my car decided to start overheating. I figured it'd be an easy problem to fix, but after more coolant, a new thermostat, a new fan (i.e. $300 later) we were informed that we had a blown head gasket and a cracked head. I think that's what he said. Anyway, it cost around $1000 to fix.

We took the car to another mechanic and got a second opinion...and yep, same thing. $1000 and other possible engine problems that can't be determined until we get it fixed.

My car's barely worth that much money as it is, so we decided it was time to bite the bullet and get a car.

Jay was really busy last week, so I did most of the car shopping on my own. I knew basically what I wanted (a small SUV type car). I thought I wanted a Subaru Forester, but after looking around I decided on a Honda CRV.

I was going to get a late model used car, but I really couldn't find any, and the only ones that I could find practically cost as much as a new one. So, in the end I wound up with a new car. This is the first car that I've ever bought. I don't think that I enjoyed the process as much as I could have, considering I was shopping for a car I hadn't planned on purchasing. But, I'm really enjoying driving it around.

I actually bought the car in Easley, SC. We were visiting Jay's family in Greenville last weekend, and I spent Saturday shopping for a car. It seems that the farther from the city you go, the nicer people are and the better deal you get. I went from Atlanta to Greenville to Easley. My sister-in-law (Betsy) and niece (Morgan) helped me shop. I was so glad that they were there. I really needed a second opinion, since Jay was busy helping his family work on house stuff. And Morgan kept me from getting stressed by being cute.

I feel so excited and privileged to be driving around a NEW CAR!

I am, indeed excited about my car. However, my dreams of being a showcase model are dashed.

Saturday

2008-07-16T10:02:00.006-04:00

Saturday was such a beautiful day. Everything fell into place nicely. Here is my quick summation of the events. I have a limited number of pictures right now, so I'll post more pictures of the dress and such later.

We went to the hair salon bright and early to get Meg's hair and make-up done. Isn't she lovely.
Then I ran back home to pick up the dress and the rest of my stuff. This is a picture of me shaving the dress. The satin was very delicate and picked very easily. So, I just used a razor to shave off any picks.
This is Meg in the dress and me trying to steam it with out burning her. This picture makes me laugh. I think it sums up the morning nicely.

Meg and Kyle got married! The preacher did a excellent job.

Me and the bride at the reception at Maggiano's (yummy)

Meg and Kyle on their way out. Time for a honeymoon!
Mom saying good-bye to Meg. Now they can drive off into the sunset in the Ramblin' Wreck.

Thanks to all whose pictures I have stolen (probably Leah, Ashley, Maria, etc)

Friday's Festivities

2008-07-14T18:16:00.006-04:00

We started with lunch at Fellini's (l to r Mom, Stephanie, Meg, Me, Kristin, Laura Ann, Leah)

Then we went to Sugarcoated to get our nails done. What a cute nail salon!

Meg at the rehearsal at the church

Then off to Fogo de Chao for dinner! (Meg and Kyle at the rehearsal dinner)

Mom and Dad at dinner (It's one of the few places that Dad will actually eat at!)

Jeremy and Katie (They're next to get married. Not long until October.)

I don't know what's wrong with Jay. He has issues.

A Wonderful Wedding!

2008-07-13T10:18:00.004-04:00

The wedding is over! Everything was perfect and the day was beautiful....hot, but beautiful. I'm sure that I'll have lots of fun pictures to post and details to relay soon.

This is my view from the couch. I think I will be spending the rest of my day here. I'm pooped.

A Wedding Tomorrow!

2008-07-11T23:44:00.002-04:00

There is a wedding tomorrow! My Meggie is going to get married. We just returned home from a wonderful rehearsal dinner and I am primed and ready for tomorrow's events. It's going to be a beautiful day.

This is a video that Jay helped me make for my parent's 25th wedding anniversary. Meg is easy to spot because she is the only one with blond hair.

New Tool

2008-07-10T09:58:00.007-04:00

Today on Lifehacker.com I learned about a new website, idee Multicolor Search Lab. You can pick colors and then watch as it searches Flickr to find pictures that match your color specifications.

I have yet to figure out how to apply this new-found ability, but it's totally cool. Right?

That's Right, I'm Posting a Funny Baby Video

2008-07-07T12:11:00.004-04:00

But it's our niece, so I feel I have an excuse.

I don't think that Morgan is a big fan of her new toy.

Peachtree Road Race - Year 1

2008-07-04T16:48:00.006-04:00

Today I ran the Peachtree Road Race! I've been running the past 4 or 5 months to get ready. I met all of my goals (which consisted of running the whole way without feeling like I was dying) and had a really good time. Maybe next year people won't bail on me and I won't have to run by myself. :)

Here's my synopsis:

Pre-race - Oh my gosh this takes forever. Next year I'm not getting there until after 8:00. We didn't start till after 9:00

Mile 1 - Yay finally we started...wait now we're stopping...now we're going again. Too many people and everyone is passing me

Mile 2 - Going strong. people are still passing me. Keep running right past the doughnuts being handed out by Publix

Mile 3 - Cardiac Hill...this is a piece of cake. What is everyone complaining about? The hill in my backyard is bigger

Mile 4 - Okay, now everyone around me is walking. And people keep stopping in front of me. Grrr. But a man in a banana costume game me five.

Mile 5 - Feelin' good. People keep getting in my way. I think this is my fastest mile. Finally the finish line!

Post-race - Found Jay, who asks me if I want a Krispy Kreme. He knows me so well.

Candy Cookies for the 4th

2008-07-03T19:09:00.005-04:00

These are Jay's favorite. We had an argument early on in our dating life as to whether they were candy or cookies (I said candy since they were mostly chocolate and Jay said cookies). Now we just call them "those cookie candy things". I'm sure that they have a real name, though.

2 (5oz.) cans of crunchy chow mien noodles

1 (12oz.) can of peanuts

1 (11oz.) bag of chocolate chips

1 (11oz.) bag of butterscotch chips

Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in microwave, stir and pour over noodles and peanuts. Spoon onto wax paper and allow to cool.

That's it. Have a great 4th of July!

Meg's Bridesmaid's Luncheon

2008-07-01T22:07:00.001-04:00

On Saturday, I attended a Bridesmaid's luncheon that my Aunt Pat hosted in honor of Meg and all of her attendants. It was at the Swan Coach House in Buckhead. It was so girly, fun, and relaxing.

Grandmama, Meg, and Aunt Pat

Most of the attendants (l to r Kristin, Tricia, Leah, Meg, Me, Corrie, Katy, and Sallie)

Pretty Meggie at the luncheon

My beautiful Mama. She looks so happy (maybe because she's almost got all of her children married off)

Bachelorette Party - Part 2

2008-06-29T22:06:00.001-04:00

More pictures!

Sallie is explaining how it should be done

Me and the guest of honor

Sky partied with the girls, too. Her bow says "Caution! Wild girls!"

Meg, it's not sexy if you wear it all at the same time!

Bachelorette Party - Part 1

2008-06-29T22:03:00.003-04:00

We had soooo much fun this weekend. Friday night was Meg's bachelorette party. We started off with dinner at P.F. Chang's and ended the night with presents and games. Meg was cheered for by the entire restaurant, enjoyed educational games, and learned everything she needs to know to enjoy a life of marital bliss. But, before there can be a wedding night, there must be a wedding!

All of the girls at dinner: (l to r) Me, Kate, Sallie, Kristin, Leah, the Bride, Tricia, Katy, and Corrie

Game time!

Presents! Notice the Victoria's Secret bag

Story-time with Kristin. Kristin tells enrapturing stories.

Shopping!

2008-06-27T00:18:00.006-04:00

The new H&M in Atlantic Station is open. I christened it today with the following purchases. Somehow they ended up on three different receipts between two trips, and I blame at least one of them on Maria.

Purple cotton empire-waist dress to wear to Meg's bachelorette party (tomorrow!) for $10 (on sale)

Floral cotton sundress with shirred bodice to wear to Meg's bridesmaid's luncheon for $19.90

Purple plaid shirt to wear so I won't be naked for $10 (on sale)

2008-06-22T22:52:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I met with a group of women from my church who were working a) to better understand what being a woman of God is and b) trying to use that knowledge to serve the women of the church better. I've never been big on woman-y things at churches. And I was relieved (and blessed) to find out that the team of women God had assembled all felt the same way.

To prepare for the meeting yesterday, we read several books about being women. There was one that (surprisingly) stood out to all of us. Despite its cover with flowers, a cup of tea, and other woman-y (i.e. cheesy) items, it was packed with biblical lessons of women of the Bible and a description of a strong woman who claims her helper, mother design. And does NOT see her uniqueness (from men) as a weakness, secondary, or of lower worth (as today's society would have us believe).

There was one quote that stood out to me as being particularly poignant for organizing a ministry for the women of our church

"But on this side of the cross there are more similarities than dissimilarities between the woman and the girl. in our compartmentalized, specialized culture, we forget the splendor of the similarities. We are prone to huddle with those whose situations and season of life resembles our own. This is not the covenant way. The unity and communion of the redeemed single business executive and the homeschooling mom is established in Christ, not in choices and situations. These women have more in common with one another than with unsaved peers.

They have been set apart by the Lord God.

They have been purchased by the blood of Christ

They have been adopted into God's family.

They are daughters of the King.

They are sisters.

They will spend eternity together.

They have the same authority and purpose

They are to become in practice what they are in position; holy and blameless.

They have access to the same graces; God's Word, His Spirit, worship, and His people

....Every redeemed woman is a daughter of the King"

from The Legacy of Biblical Womanhood by Susan Hunt and Barbara Thompson

Jennifer's Wedding Dress

2008-06-19T18:10:00.000-04:00

Love this dress. Jennifer knew exactly what she wanted and I just made it happen. She brought me a bottle of fingernail polish that was the accent color she wanted. I matched the ribbon and she found the shoes. Congrats, Jennifer! Can't wait to see the pictures from the wedding.

Hot Water!!

2008-06-16T16:32:00.004-04:00

To the untrained eye, this piece of machinery may not look very exciting, but let me tell you, when we turned on the hot water at 11:00 last night and actually got hot water out, we were ecstatic.

I can't believe that we finally finished this dadgum thing. It started on Memorial Day weekend and finally ended last night. In all we had to: run electrical, mount the unit, cut a hole in the side of the house and vent said unit, re-run the gas line, reconfigure the plumbing, and run a drain-line.

But now it's done....well, almost.

There is one joint that I soldered that is leaking. And, apparently, a tankless hot water heater operates very differently than a tanked. When I got in the shower last night, I had good hot water for a few minutes, and then it went out. Then I turned off the cold, and it came back. Then the same thing happened to Jay. I called the Rheem people this morning, and apparently, you are supposed to set the temperature of the unit to how hot you want your shower to be (i.e. 100F), and then just take it with full hot water.

This has left me somewhat confused and wondering how it is going to affect the rest of our water-using operations. I took a shower this morning and it worked fine. But it seems that funny things start to happen when I start mixing hot and cold water. Hopefully we'll get it all figured out, but in the mean time, we do have working hot water!

I am so proud of us. And now I'm not nearly as scared about tackling the plumbing for the bathroom.

More Invitations

2008-06-15T09:28:00.000-04:00

I have been cranking out invitations like crazy lately. I think these are the last of them for now. I enjoy making them, so I'm sure something will come up soon that will give me an excuse to make more.

These are for my sister's bridesmaid's luncheon that my Aunt Pat is throwing. There is a layer of white, lacy paper over a Tiffany-blue card. I just couldn't resist the lace.

I love pretty calligraphy, but my handwriting is terrible. So, for addressing the envelopes, I came up with a different solution. I typed in all of the addresses, changed the font to a script, printed them out and then traced them onto the envelopes. It turned out pretty good. Definately not as good as if I had a natural talent, but better than it would have been otherwise. Maybe a little bit more time consuming than I would have liked.

Now, on to the next wedding project for Meggie.

Feelin' Grumpy?

2008-06-12T10:55:00.000-04:00

Morgan Kate Zimmerman at 3 months

These should bring a smile to even the grouchiest of grumps. :)

Stow-Away Furniture

2008-06-10T22:39:00.000-04:00

Our house is not well configured for a coffee table. We used to have one, but we kept hitting our shins on as we walked by. Now it's at my sister's house. But when you have company over, it's nice to have those extra places to set drinks and plates.

So, I came up with a different solution. I got two Lack tables from Ikea. They were $12.99 each. The legs screw on and off. On normal days, I take off the legs and stow them under the couch. And then when people come over I pull them out and put them where ever I need them. They work perfectly!

Chaperoning

2008-06-08T19:00:00.004-04:00

I spent my week being a teenager. Or was I a parent? I don't know. Somewhere in between, probably.

I stayed with the teenage daughter of a friend from church every night this week. It made me realize how long it's been since I was 14. I am so not with it. But, I think she had a pretty good time.

We bonded over movies and fashion. Apparently, Jay and I have an okay taste in movies. And we spent evenings "deconstructing" a pair of her boot-cut jeans and transforming them into skinny jeans...she assured me it was okay with her mom. And then we broadened our sewing skills by making a pair of pajama pants. Love the rainbow skulls.

I still have a lot to learn about being a teenager. And as time goes by, I seem to be loosing knowledge as opposed to gaining it. By the time we're parents of teenagers, I'll be completely clueless.

Finished pajama pants

Working (with help from Sky)

New Bathmat

2008-06-05T11:14:00.004-04:00

Our bathmat is icky. I've hated it from day one. It started out pink, then faded, then got washed with a blue blanket and turned purplish, and now is back to faded, dirty pink. I've been putting of getting a new one until we redo the bathroom. And, also because I didn't know exactly what to get. Ideally white is the color I would choose, but that would never stay white and would be continually dirty looking.

A while ago, I read this review of a bamboo bathmat on Apartmenttherapy.com and decided it sounded pretty good (I have always liked them, but been leery). And then my sister got one last week (yes, Meg, here's your credit) and informed me it was on sale at Crate and Barrel for $29.95, so I ran out and got my own.

I like it. I think it's going to take some getting used to on my feet, but it's so much prettier than a shaggy, old bathmat.

Here is a full picture of what the bathroom currently looks like. Gray and pink. Hopefully, in the next few months, we'll have an "after" picture to show.

Bachelorette Party!

2008-06-02T13:17:00.000-04:00

I sent out the invitations for Meg's bachelorette party last week. They turned out so cute and festive. I can't wait for the actual party!

Busy Week

2008-06-01T13:05:00.002-04:00

This has been such a busy week. Last weekend (Memorial Day weekend) was spent installing a new tankless water heater. Then, off to Columbus for my mom's retirement celebrations, then appointments. Then house cleaning to get ready for my sister's shower that was here yesterday. Yesterday was crazy. First a cleaning and prep for the shower, then a wedding, then the shower, and then a going away party.

Now I'm tired. I'll post more details later.

Finished Jacket

2008-05-26T00:33:00.000-04:00

I finished the jacket made from the fabric in this post. Yay! I used Simplicity pattern #3538 (with some changes, as usual).

Back from Vacation 2 (Charleston, SC)

2008-05-22T16:31:00.007-04:00

We had so much fun, it was a little sad to have to go home. I enjoyed spending time with my hubby SO much.

I can't believe we've been married for five years. Every year I love Jay in new and different ways. It hasn't always been easy. Sometimes it's been down-right hard. Being married to a sinner (as we all are) is never an easy thing. We have have struggled, but God has seen us through. Well, he's done more than see us through. He has taught us, changed us, and loved us. And we love each other more because of it.

For more pictures, click here.

Back from Vacation 1

2008-05-22T09:56:00.003-04:00

Yay! It's time for vacation!

On our way to Charleston, we decided to stop by Greenville and see Jay's family

Jay's brother, Blake, his wife, Betsy, and their daughter, Morgan

Aunt Amy and Uncle Jay with Morgan

Being a baby is so funny.

And she's wearing her new outfit. I think she likes it!

Purse Cleaning

2008-05-20T18:13:00.001-04:00

My purse tends to be a disaster zone. It's filled with receipts, chapsticks, gum, and every other random thing. Last month, I saw this article in Domino Magazine and it inspired me.

I cleaned out all old and extraneous items from my purse and made a trip to Target and got a make-up bag, a card holder, and a small notebook. now I have everything that I need and nothing floating around. It's amazing how quickly I can find my keys now.

So there, Jay. At least now my big "mom purse" is organized. Now I just have to keep it that way.

Pictures from Katy's Baby Shower (a little late)

2008-05-18T00:08:00.001-04:00

Shower favors; Marigolds in stainless pots

Food! Breakfast casserole, croissants, french toast casserole, fruit, etc.

Cupcakes!

O.J. and Strawberry Lemonade

Vacation!!

2008-05-16T12:00:00.001-04:00

This weekend we're going to Charleston (yay!). Saturday is officially our 5th wedding anniversary (wow!). I can't believe the it has been 5 years already. Well, some days I can.

I am so excited about getting to spend some time away from Atlanta with my husband. We haven't been on a real vacation in about two years, and I am feeling desperate for one.

On the way to Charleston, we are stopping by Greenville for a short visit with Jay's family. I always enjoy getting to see everyone there, and now there is a new niece to go visit. When we last visited (not long after Morgan was born) I had a cold, so I stayed away from the baby. This time...we'll, let's just say, let the baby-hogging begin.

Last week I found a couple of free patterns on-line and gathered some of my scraps. I made this dress (with a few modifications because I didn't have enough fabric) and these baby booties. How cute!

New Again

2008-05-14T16:53:00.007-04:00

Last night Jay and I were going through our semi-annual ritual of changing out his short sleeved and long sleeved shirts. While doing this, we try to pull out the items that need to go and take inventory of what he needs.

This shirt was one that got tossed into the Goodwill pile (too big and it had a stain). I've always like the fabric of this shirt, so I decided that I could use it to make something for me.

I used a pattern that I had made and cut up the shirt to make this;

I had to be creative in order to have enough fabric (and to cover the stain...which is now behind one of the pockets). But, I think it turned out very cute. All things said and done, three hours and $0 later I have a new shirt!

Organization

2008-05-11T09:32:00.007-04:00

Before

After

Yesterday afternoon I got the urge to do some organizing. The house has been driving me crazy lately. There are so many things that don't have a permanent home. And this closet is awful. Everything is was stacked on top of other stuff making it impossible to get anything out.

So, $35 and a couple of hours later I built two more shelves in the closet (with much help from Jay, of course). Everything that came out went back in, and we were also able to fit in the vacuum cleaner, the step ladder, and the table leaf.

Speaking of the table leaf...we've been keeping it in the original box it came (which is bulky and doesn't hold it well). When I got done with the closet last night, I made a casing for the table leaf with some extra cushioning on the bottom to keep it from getting banged up as it lives in its new home.

Item Put to Use

2008-05-08T09:25:00.000-04:00

Here is the print that I got a month or so ago, the red vase that I picked up last week, and some Ikea vases that I moved from another shelf. I think this makes this wall look so much better (and for very little $$). Now if only its beauty wasn't ruined by all of these ugly DVDs.

But, that's another battle for another day.

Flowers!

2008-05-06T14:16:00.000-04:00

These are some flowers that popped up in the side yard last week. Aren't they pretty? I don't remember them being there last spring, and I didn't plant them (if I had, they would be dead by now). Just a nice little surprise to cheer up the yard and now the house!

Good finds at Goodwill

2008-05-04T22:36:00.000-04:00

I had the best day at Goodwill on Monday. Apparently Monday is the day to go. I guess that things get picked over through the weekend and replenished as the week begins. Well, I can honestly say I've never had this much luck.

I got:

This red vase and taupe vase. The red is one of my favorite colors. It cost $3.23 and the other was $2.52. I think that I am going to use them in the living room. I have some empty spaces that need to be filled
I love the watercolor of the robins. And they are framed and matted so nicely. They were $5.25. The candle holders are waiting for candles ($2.22 each), and the vase with the floral silhouette($2.52) is just gorgeous. I think that these will be going in the bedroom as an ensemble (well, once we get settled from the renovation).

And these three botanical prints ($5.25/each) are going to be for my sister's birthday present. I need to clean up the frames, and I will probably paint them black. I think that she will either use them in her new house or at her office (both which have lots of empty wall space). So, Meggie, here they are...hope you like them.

Not a bad day, all in all.

Bathroom Renovations - Part 1

2008-05-01T09:16:00.001-04:00

We have plans for our house. And one day those plans will come to life. We have taken one big step in that we have begun buying things for the bathrooms. Last weekend we went to Lowe's and bought a vanity that will be going in the hall bathroom. (You like?)

We renovated the kitchen a couple of years ago and were so happy with the results. We have been talking about tackling the bathrooms for a long time. I think that one problem is that we have some plumbing to deal with before we can really begin, and we don't really know how to go about it. We are going to be combining our current half bath and the hall closet (to add a shower). Right now we have an exhaust vent running through part of the closet from the furnace and the hot water heater. So we have to revent them somehow and then install the tankless water heater (that has been sitting in our dining room for the past four months).

Hopefully we can begin work before too long. I'll keep you updated on the progress. Until then, the bathroom vanity (and faucet that I bought) will be sitting in our bedroom. How romantic.

Our New Family Member

2008-04-29T10:34:00.001-04:00

This is the newest addition to our family. Our computer was about 6 years old, it was huge, and parts on it kept breaking. So...we decided it was time to get a new computer. We have been lusting after the iMac for a while now. Jay actually found one on sale for $999 (after rebate). And Macs never go on sale.

So, we decided it was time to take the plunge. I don't think that I've seen anything but the back of Jay's head since we've purchased it, but he is really enjoying his new toy. I love it because it is sooo small and is nice and fast. It will be very useful for video and photo editing...once I really learn how to use it.

I do feel a little like a yuppy having a Mac. It makes me think of #40 off of the blog Stuff White People Like. Not to mention;

#90 - Dinner Parties

#80 - The Idea of Soccer

#79 - Modern Furniture

#77 - Musical Comedy

#60 - Toyota Prius

#57 - Juno

#38 - Arrested Development

#3 - Film Festivals

#1 - Coffee

And on, and on.....

Finished Quilt!

2008-04-26T22:56:00.007-04:00

Well, I finally finished the quilt! And just in time for the shower (that was today...more pictures to come). I think that it's adorable. Katy seemed to like it, and Zane seemed apathetic (or maybe he was just asleep) but I'm sure that he'll grow to love it :).

The quilt itself wasn't too difficult. The most difficult part was figuring out the frogs. I always get an idea in my mind and have to bring it to life. I can't just find a pattern that exists and use it...I have to do it myself (I think I probably drove my mom crazy when I was little). So figuring out how to make the frogs look like I wanted them to (without them looking creepy, as Jay would say) was probably the hardest part.

Oh, and my sewing machine broke in the middle of it all. It's my cheap small one, so it's not a terribly big deal. But, since the only other one I have is an industrial, I still need non-commercial one to do things like zig-zag stitches and button holes. I don't really want to be spending money on a new one right now so I've been scouring Craigslist. Nothing yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Spring Wardrobe Time

2008-04-24T13:15:00.000-04:00

I don't do much shopping (because it costs money), and I don't do much sewing for myself. The only time that I really can find modivation for either is when the seasons are changing. When winter begins to drip away, and flowers begin to poke out their heads, I get a desire for new clothes. The same thing happens when the seasons change from summer to fall.

So, last time I was out shopping, I picked up some fabric at Discount Fabrics. If you don't know much about fabrics, I wouldn't go shopping there for apparel material. There is a lot of junk, but definately some gems hidden among the heaps of cheap fabric and upholstry material.

I picked up 1 yard of a royal blue twill (which is going to become a skirt, I think), and 3 yards of a striped cream and denim material (which will become a cropped jacket and maybe a skirt if I can squeeze it out). They were both $1.99/yd. So, if I can get three garments out of $8 worth of material, I'll be doing pretty well. Oh, and the buttons were 40% off at Hancock Fabrics. Of course I won't have three garments until I actually make them, which may be another story. I'll keep you up to date.

Welcome to the World, Zane!

2008-04-23T16:40:00.005-04:00

Zane Danger Clark
Holding Zane
The proud parents
Maria with Zane

Our dear friends, Pat and Katy had a beautiful baby boy named Zane early Sunday morning. Mom and baby are healthy and happy.

Zane's appearance into the world was a bit of a suprise. I think anyone would be suprised if their baby came five weeks early. I mean, we have a shower planned this coming weekend for Katy. So, Mom will be attending the show, and Zane will be making a guest appearance.

I spent a little bit of time with Katy and Zane today, and it's easy to see how having a newborn could easily become such an overwhelming thing. You pretty much have to shut the rest of the world out and focus on the baby's needs. And those needs seem so completely undefined. But, Katy is doing an amazing job and seems to be adjusting to motherhood very naturally. She is especially impressive because she missed a whole 5 weeks of (very important) preparation time.

Way to go, Pat and Katy!

The Furnace is (Finally) Fixed

2008-04-21T10:27:00.000-04:00

Sky is also happy that the furnace is fixed
Now she is contemplating the role that furnaces play in our complicated lives
Now she's getting annoyed at me for taking so many pictures

Yes, the furnace was fixed as of Thursday afternoon...just in time for 75 degree weather. There has been a bit of drama associated with this current furnace dilemma. It broke Monday morning and Monday afternoon the repair guy came out and said that he need to replace the flame sensor ($160)

Me: Bleck. Fine, we can't live without a furnace. I don't want to pay the $160 (on top of the $79 fee to come out initially), but what choice do I have?

So, the repair guy came back out on Tuesday afternoon and said that it actually wasn't the flame sensor, it was the control panel...which costs between $500 and $600...and by the way your warranty just expired a couple of months ago.

Ack! $600?! !#$%^&@. I don't have that kind of money laying around. There goes our tax return.

Wednesday morning, bright and early, I called up the Ruud furnace guys. I explained (as calmly as I could) that the control panel was broken and should not have broken under normal wear and tear, and I was hoping that they would extend the warranty to cover it. And...they did!

Thank you Lord! Forgive me for not trusting you to take care of my family. Forgive me for all of the curse words that I said in my head. Forgive me for not trusting that, even if we had to pay the $600, you would still take care of us.

So a mere $75 dollars later, our furnace is fixed. Being a home owner, I have learned the important lesson of being proactive when there is a problem. There is us ally a solution that is not as expensive as you initially thought, or were told. For example, when my car was acting funny and Firestone told me it would be $450 to fix it. I just researched the problem and how much the parts actually cost, and found someone else to fix it for less than half the cost.

Lesson learned: a little research goes a long way, it never hurts to ask, and be kind to people and they'll usually treat you kindly in return.

Yay Jay!

2008-04-18T09:10:00.001-04:00

Jay and Pat accepting their first place award

My baby won first place for a short competition (Rapid i Movement) at the Atlanta Film Festival! They (Mavin Productions) beat out 15 other finalists to win the grand prize with a short called Done in One. I completely agree with the judges decision. It was by far the best short there. Congrats, Jay!

Froggy Quilt

2008-04-16T22:25:00.000-04:00

I am currently working on a baby quilt for a friend of mine who is due in May. The colors that they are using are blue and green, and they mentioned something about frogs, so I ran with it. The quilt is just a simple block quilt, but I added froggies in some of the blocks. They are my own design, and I think that they turned out really cute. I'll show more pictures when it's done.

Furnace Issues

2008-04-14T17:39:00.007-04:00

My new boyfriend, Mr. Spaceheater

Our furnace is broken. It's been off for the past couple of weeks because the weather has been sooo nice. We got up this morning and it was freezing, so Jay went to turn the heat on. A little bit later, we realized that it hadn't warmed up, and the heat was not blowing. Well, turns out our flame sensor is bad and we need to get a new one...and that won't happen until tomorrow....and it's supposed to drop into the 30's tonight. I was already bummed out that I have to pay for a new flame sensor, and then I realized that I would have to spend the day and night in a freezing house.

I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself, when I remembered all of the loving members of our Home Fellowship group who live close by and are prepared to love me with the love of Christ and provide for my needs (and I was feeling needy after all). Long story short, I sent out an e-mail, and after about 5 minutes, I had about 5 offers to let me borrow a space heater..and even an offer for somewhere to stay if need be. Hallelujah!

I have to say that I have felt so blessed since we started this Home Fellowship Group a few short months ago. To be honest, I was skeptical at first, and very guarded and selfish with my time. But God has definitely transformed my heart. I love having people close by that I can get to know and a more intimate level and invest my time into. I love that I can be vulnerable with this small group, and share what I'm struggling with and what's going on in my life. I love being able to get to know people that I wouldn't get to know just by attending church on Sunday.

Thank you Lord for the gift of Christian community

Thrifted

2008-04-14T13:04:00.003-04:00

This weekend I stopped by a thrift store/mini flea market called My Favorite Place. There is so much stuff in that place, it can make your head spin. And if you have allergies, don't go in there without taking a Claritin first. I don't always find anything, but this weekend I managed to find a couple of things. I bought an old print in a nice wood frame (I think that I just liked the colors) for $10 and an empty frame (to go on my wall of empty frames in the bedroom) for $2. Not too bad. Now I just have to decide where to hang the print. Decisions, decisions.

Amy Zimmerman Designs

2008-04-12T10:30:00.000-04:00

Since I launched my line of bridal gown, Aehzim Bridal, a year and a half ago things have been kind of rocky. Starting a new business is difficult...especially a fashion business. It's especially difficult when you are jumping into something completely new with very few resources

There have been a lot of ups, though. My dresses have received a very good reception from the industry. I have been to three markets now, and each one has more successful than the last.

One area that I feel like I'm missing right now is local brides. I love working with brides in person. I love custom designing dresses. I love guiding brides through the process of picking out fabrics, laces, and sketches.

That's why I've launched a new website for Amy Zimmerman Designs. Please take a look and let me know what you think (and pass it along to anyone you know getting married). For those of you who know me well, you know that there will be typos, so feel free to let me know what I need to correct :).

Risky Gymnastics?

2008-04-10T10:33:00.002-04:00

Today I was reading msnbc.com and I came across the article Kid's Gymnastics Among the Riskiest Sports. It describes how gymnastics ranks right up there with hockey as having frequent injuries.

I participated in gymnastics when I was growing up...okay, maybe I lived gymnastics when I was growing up. I was on the gymnastics team and competed from the age of about 8 until I was 15 or so. I spent what probably adds up to thousands of hours in the gym and I have a lot to show for it, good and bad.

Let's start with bad. While in gymnastics, I did experience my fair share of injuries (as the article describes). I had several sprained ankles, shin splints, a broken toe, and a sprained neck (eek...scary). I wouldn't consider any of them catastrophic (well, the sprained neck was probably close), and considering the amount of time I actually spent in the gym it doesn't seem like that much. And now that I stop and I think about it, one of the sprained ankles and the broken toe were from doing stuff outside of the gym. But, I did see arms broken and shoulders dislocated. It didn't seem weird back then, but looking back, they were all little girls.

I think that more than these injuries, I am more affected by the injuries that occurred slowly over time (as is my sister). I began having lower back problems right around the time I quit gymnastics, and they still plague me. I did physical therapy in high school (because it got so bad that I couldn't sit down), and basically told that I had put my growing body under too much strain and my muscles were overcompensating my spasming. My knees and my neck also give me problems, and I'm worried about arthritis.

On the other hand, gymnastics made me very strong, physically. I feel like I still carry that with me. It taught me how important it is to be in physically fit (although I did have to undo some of my training to become aerobically fit). It taught me how to handle pain and how to work hard. I gained performance skills and a confidence in my physical abilities. It gave me worth, and something that I could be proud of. And it kept me busy. I never had time to get into any trouble, or watch too much tv, or sit around and mope.

So, would I let my children take gymnastics lessons? Probably. I'm not sure what I would do if they wanted to join the team and become competitive. I think that I'd probably try to introduce them to other sports before I let them get too serious about gymnastics...and maybe bribe them with candy/toys/whatever it takes.

This is the only picture I have in Atlanta of me in gymnastics. I can't do that anymore.

Craft Time

2008-04-09T15:00:00.000-04:00

Our friends Rocky and Maria came over Friday night so that Maria and I could make invitations for a baby shower that we are giving for a mutual friend. We partied hard (notice the big piece of cake), but ended up with some oh-so-cute invitations in the end. We look pretty focused in the picture, don't we.

There are some crafty things that I love to do, and some crafty things that I hate to do. I don't know why, and I don't have any explanation or rationalization for my likes and dislikes. For example, I love making invitations, but I HATE wrapping presents. Sometimes I have a desire to make presents pretty, but as soon as I start I remember how much I hate it and I quit. I guess it's just the enigma that is Amy. Here are some more examples:

Hate - arranging food to look pretty, rearranging furniture, arranging flowers, taking pictures, picking out clothes in the morning, shopping, hanging up laundry, and on

Love - setting pretty tables, painting furniture, decorating, photoshopping (don't think that's a word) pictures, sewing, designing, folding laundry, and on

Oh, and love - Rocky and Maria. They're the best!

This World

2008-04-07T11:00:00.003-04:00

Today I was driving home from an errand and the car in front of me had a bumper sticker that read:

"We are not humans beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience"

Judging from the other bumper stickers on the car, my beliefs and theology do not match up with the driver's, but this made me stop and think. As Christians, we know that this fallen world is not our home. Our final destination is with God.

Sitting amid traffic and construction (daily life in Atlanta), this was such a peaceful thought. I am looking forward to heaven and being in the presence of God. Despite my excitement for it, heaven is such an abstract thought to me. A renewed Earth is something that I can relate to. The thought that one day God will create a New Earth without the falleness of sin really excites me.

From the driver's seat in my car, there were soooo many things I could see that needed renewing (I am sure that there will not be any traffic). But, then driving back into my neighborhood, I could see Forsythia bushes in bloom, and cherry trees beginning to blossom.

God is good. He has given us so much beauty in this world, I can't imagine how amazing it will be to live on an Earth without sin and where we'll no longer need a sun because "the Lord will be our everlasting light".

For an amazing description, read Isaiah 65:17-25

New Dress

2008-04-06T00:20:00.000-04:00

Here is the newest dress for my bridal line, Aehzim Bridal. It will be part of the collection for Spring 2009 (which will show in the fall). I think that it turned out lovely (notice how I cut out the messy sewing room background).

Something Cheery

2008-04-04T14:30:00.001-04:00

This is picture of our new niece, Morgan. The new parents told us that she could roll herself over (at the ripe age of two and a half weeks). She wouldn't perform when we were visiting, but they snapped a picture of her on her way over for proof.

Feeling Low

2008-04-01T10:08:00.004-04:00

I am just feeling down this week. Today marks one whole week that Jay has had the flu. Poor man. I know that that he is getting better, but it's hard for him to recognize. His patience has run out, and he's starting to think that he's never going to get well.

And my patience is running out too. I'm trying to be a good nurse and be loving, nurturing, and positive. But, I'm feeling emotionally drained. Physically I'm tired, but emotionally, I'm exhausted. I keep praying for strength, but I feel like it's not coming. I know that God is answering my prayers because I haven't run out of the house screaming yet. It's just easy to assume myself ignored.

I know that God will see us through this. It's just been a hard season for me. I feel worn and tired, but without any fruits to show for it. So, pray for my little family...that we'll make it through the flu and that we'll feel God's love and peace on the way.

Succulents

2008-03-31T17:51:00.000-04:00

I added three succulent plants to the sill of the window above the sink. I seem to be able to kill anything that I touch (plant-wise, that is). I'm hoping that these will have a longer shelf-life. They're just too cute to die.

My Poor Sick Baby

2008-03-28T21:55:00.004-04:00

Home at last. We have spent the last 7 hours trying to take care of my poor sick husband. He's been sick the last few days, and has been running a fever for about 3 days. I decided this afternoon that it was time to go to the doctor due to him looking particularly pitiful.

Well, we left for the doctor's office at around 2:30. When we got there, he started feeling pretty bad. The nurse took us back and took his blood pressure. It was surprisingly low and he was looking really pale. When the doctor saw him, he said that it was probably the flu, but he wanted to do more tests to make sure that the low blood pressure (and his looking so bad) didn't indicate another problem...and since it was Friday afternoon, the only place to get it all done was at the hospital.

So, we were on our way to the ER. And a mere 4.5 hours later, we were on our way home with a diagnosis of....the flu (and some prescription painkillers).

All in all, I guess I'm thankful that it's just the flu. Although it did make for a long day (especially for the poor man with the flu who had to spend the day in waiting rooms).

Persuasion

2008-03-28T09:45:00.004-04:00

Is there anything better that a Jane Austen novel? I think that this has been one of my favorites to read, simply because I went into it knowing nothing about it. Most of my other readings have been clouded by previously watched movies, or by being forced to read them for book reports.

I love Austen because she idealizes my sense of romance. I find it very difficult to relate to modern novels and movies. They cloud romance. They cloud it with sex, divorce, motives, lust, infidelity, etc.. I love the purity of two people of good character falling in love, and loving the other for all the good that they are. That is my ideal.

However, my world does not represent either of these ideals (neither Austen nor modern romance). Real life falls somewhere in between. At least mine does. It is impossible to deny the world we live in. Even when you do your best to block out the world, when you marry someone, you marry another sinful being. Two sinful people cannot create a relationship that is anything close to ideal.

So what do we do? God created man and women for each other. But, he never promised us romance. This world is always going to be clouded by sin. He does, however, give us instructions. They may not always make sense in light of this world but they are for our own good. And as we learn God's heart they make more and more sense.

Jane Austen captures the ideal. There is always pure, true love and a happily ever after. As a Christian, I know that God promises me the same through his love and promise to keep me with him always. I think that's where my hunger for romance comes from. From a desire to feel love shining upon me. In this world, the closest we get is an enraptured lover. I am looking forward to the day that I can feel the pure and beautiful love of God without the filter of sin. Sorry, Jane Austen, but I don't think that I'll need you anymore then.

wee wittle wamb quilt

2008-03-26T22:37:00.001-04:00

This is the quilt that I made for Jay's brother's new baby. I hope to be able to hand make a quilt for each niece and nephew that comes along. Hopefully life won't get too crazy and I'll be able to see that through. I think that it turned out cute.

I've been excited about having a new niece. I think that it's because I was close to my aunts and uncles growing up. Especially the ones that lived nearby. Very few weekends went by when we didn't see family sometime or another. I think that I've appreciated it more since my Uncle Rick passed away a few years ago. He was a woodworker and made me a cradle when I was born...and later a rocking horse, and a doll house. I am eagerly anticipating the day when we have our first child and I can retrieve those items from the attic.

New Haircut

2008-03-24T14:50:00.000-04:00

I got my hair cut last week. I have a cycle of growing my hair long and then cutting it off chin length that been going on since I was in middle school. When I got my hair cut in September, I decided that I need to try to keep it short for a little while. When I had it cut last week, I think I went shorter than I've ever gone before.

Now I have to decide whether to keep it short or let it grow out after this cut. Jay said that it's a little bit too short for him in the back, but I kind of like it. For now, anyway.

He's Alive

2008-03-23T16:57:00.004-04:00

Happy Easter! We enjoyed the best church service this morning. Is there any day that inspires praise more than today? I love singing words that remind me of God's love for me and Jesus's sacrifice.

And that he is ALIVE!

Here are some Easter desserts that I made. It was just me and Jay this year, so I wanted to do something special. They turned out so cute. It's just shredded wheat covered in melted chocolate and peanut butter, and shaped into nests (with little Robin's Eggs candy). Another idea to file for when we have kids.

Easter Dress

2008-03-21T17:59:00.002-04:00

Actually, I originally made this dress for my brother's engagement party last week. I think I'm going to wear it for my Easter dress this year. I purchased the fabric several months ago at Discount Fabrics (only for the true bargain hunter...you never know what you're going to find there, but when you do find something is fabulously cheap). I think that it was $1.99/yd. The dress is Vogue pattern V1027. I don't often get to sew with a pattern, but when I do it's so much quicker. I think I got the pattern on sale for $4, so that's about $10 for a dress. Not too bad.

With both my brother and sister getting married this year, I'm going to need plenty of dresses for showers and such. Last week, we got three wedding invitations in the mail. It's going to be a busy year.

One Sick Little Puppy

2008-03-20T10:17:00.009-04:00

My poor little le pooch was sick yesterday. Sky started throwing up two days ago, and when she got up yesterday morning, she did not seem to feel well at all. She wouldn't move and refused to walk anywhere and seemed to be in pain. I decided to take her to the vet because she was acting so pathetic. Fortunately, he said that it was probably just a stomach bug and gave her some anti-nausea medicine. She seems to be feeling much better now.

I don't know what I'm going to do when I have children and they get sick. It was breaking my heart to see my dog in pain yesterday. I don't know if I would have the strength to see my child in pain. But, I guess that the Lord gives us strength when we need it.

So, cheers to all of you mommies out there taking care of sick ones and all of your strength and hard work.

Retry

2008-03-18T15:20:00.004-04:00

Okay, I'm going to try this blog thing again.

Over the past year I've started reading a lot of blogs. Most of them are design blogs. These are useful to keep up with trends and style. The rest of them are blogs of people's lives. I think that they're my favorites.

I love having a window into other's lives. I enjoy their transparency and being to relate to struggles, even if they derive from very different sources.

I am not perfect. My life is not neat and tidy. Nor is my house, generally. It is, however, easy to pretend when carefully editing a post for all of cyberworld to see.

So, here's a little bit of my life. Whatever it may bring.