Decorating/Picture Hanging

This the first part of this week was spent putting pictures up and decorating our house to look more warm and cozy.  My goal was to be done by the end of the week....but a ovarian cyst got in the way of that plan. But it just gives me something to do next week!

I have to pick up some pictures I printed at Costco (best picture printing prices!) today and put them in some new frames I got from Home Goods where I look for all my decorating and kitchen needs, who needs to pay full price?

I am lucky to have married a man with abilities in decorating!  It has been so nice, because if you know me, I am not the most creative person, I execute, I don't create.  But Ted's new job and his schooling for himself keeps him sooo busy he doesn't get home till at least after 9 every night.....this put a HUGE cramp in my decorating.  So I just went ahead and started myself.  It is much harder than I realized.  Here is my go at it:

My first attempt at trying to get them even = failed attempt

Ted's degree corner, yes four degrees not including two small ones...

That side of our room, the book shelf organized by color 

(In Cali Ted made fun of me too much for alphabetizing them so I didn't do it this time...but now he can't find any of the ones he likes....I might be alphabetizing in the near future...)

My degree corner ha ha, one + a little spiral to put pictures on

Yes, this room was suppose to be put together by today...next week's project...

It is also Lola's room

In the same room is my vanity.  I LOVE having my own place to get ready

I hung the mirror by MYSELF big step!

Ok first attempt at trying to do a college above the couch

Didn't work....

So I tried again...still hate it....I think I need to just start over on this one

Don't know what to do in the kitchen above the cabinets...

Hung a coat rack

Above our bed beach pictures I took in El Segundo

My little helper.  She followed me around and every time the hammer made a sound would run out

The end.  More to come on my home decorating learning moments.....

Over coming my cookie trial!

I gave a talk in our church this week.  The topic was about how trials stregthen our lives.  I used an example of my little sister asking me to help her bake cupcakes, which made me realize how far I have come in Ted and I's 7 years of marriage.  The first few years were rough in terms of cooking and Ted having to choke down a lot of horrible meals and desserts.  I am still  not there in terms of cooking buy after many burnt, flat and gross final dessert products I mostly make pretty sweet treats :)

After I used this example in my talk to explain how we have to go through the hard times to appreciate and understand the good times, I realized I still HATED and was HORRIBLE at baking cookies.  It was the one thing I always avoided at all costs.  Mine are always better used as hard frisbees than used as a dessert.

So after church Ted went to work on some homework, and I did too, cookie homework!  I decided to make Ted's favorite cookie: Peanut Butter Soft Cookies.

It was scary but I did it.  I tried a Mrs. Fields copy cat version.  They turned out pretty good for the most part.  Some batches turned out a little crispy, but I think the more I try baking cookies the more I will get the hang of it.

I know each of us has some type of "cookie" challenge in our lives in terms of baking, cooking or crafts, let's all try to challenge ourselves in the next few weeks to take it on!  Here's to a few more dozen cookies coming your way!

I decided to take some to Ted's family and also to a few friends and people from our church, so I put a cute tool bow on them.

Have a great week!  Love you all!

7 years!

Monday the 24th was Ted and I's 7 year anniversary!  Does that make me old?
We had a low key night since Ted had to work till after 8.  I made dinner and we went to the hot tub and just relaxed.  Ted is taking me next weekend to The Chart House.  He is so sweet.  He is taking me there because it is across the lake from the resort we had our Arizona reception at 7 years ago.  We can look at where we were 7 years ago and have a fancy dinner.  I am just excited to be able to get dressed up and wear my red heels!

Here is a walk down memory lane:

1.24.2004

Salt Lake City, UT

17 degrees...

Wow...we were young!

Ted being tuff with his roommates.

Love this one.

First month of marriage.

First family trip with the Cross' to San Diego.

Ted's 1st (of 3) graduation!  BYU.

One graduation still to come summer of 2013.  Dr Ted!

Our first trip to the east coast

(What was I thinking with dark hair?)

In Philly.  Wow.  Not looking our best.

Last Sunday in Philly after 2.5 years.

Pictures on UPENN campus to commemorate our east coast stay.

Visiting Utah.

Ted's sister Amanda's wedding Oct 2009

(4 days post major abdominal surgery for me)

Self Portrait after her wedding

The 1st year of Amanda (Ted's sister) and Brannon's now annual Halloween Party

We went as the Amanda and Brannon...

Thanksgiving 2009 in Utah.

2010 Anniversary in Mexico.

2010 Easter.  

Our trip to Cali for Ted's interview for his Doctorate program at Pepperdine.

My first time at Sea Wolrd!  LOVED IT!

Our first week living in Cali

Our short but amazing time living in Cali.

Sept 2010 at our friends wedding.  

Congrats Kurt and Meghan!

In Boston Nov 2010 for a Brazilian wedding!

Thanksgiving 2010 in El Segundo

Dec. 2010.  My first degree!  Finally!

At my graduation party Ted through me!

This is us.  Ted in a sporty classic '66 Karmann Ghia.

I prefer a big '07 Toyota Tacoma

You really can tell a lot about a person when you look at their car :)

Best 7 years of my life!  And I don't think any couple has had as many different looks as Ted and I :)  Here's to staying active, healthy, spontaneous, and living it up!

Going Ons

Hello!  Ok here is a little update on our lives in AZ as we are starting to finally settle down (still have a ways to go though...)

Arizona Sunsets!  Clear skies!

Something I took for granted the other times we have lived in AZ

Love them!  The sky was orange right before I could take this.  GORGEOUS!  

My new shoes I got at last chance, Lola even likes them! 

Made Ted Chicken Madeira(copycat recipe from my FAVORITE restaurant: The Cheese Cake Factory...YUMM! )
It turned out pretty tasty too!

Another thing we missed about AZ: The Abney Family

Jane LOVES Ted!

This night she told me to be a baby so I was laying down and she was giving me a pretend bottle when she looked at Ted and said "this is our baby Ted," I almost fell off the couch laughing soooo hard!

My new favorite workout pants now that I can fit into them again.

Love working out 6 times a week, feel off the band wagon this week...glad the week is almost over.

Baby sat Ted's parents dogs for the weekend it was fun!  They are cute little snuggle balls.

Ted is enjoying work and doing LOTS of HW.  People ask me how I do it, but they don't realize we have been married 7 years and this is all we know!  We LOVE life!  Hope all is well with you guys!