First Pinterest Inspired Project

Pinterest really taken a lot of my time,

however I am excited to say I have completed

ONE project inspired by Pinterest.

I LOVE my spring & summer flowers! When it comes to my flowers my husband says I love them more than I love him (not true, but this gives you an idea of my obsession with my flowers). On Pinterest, I think my GARDEN board is my largest board...

so completing a GARDEN project first is a given.

I went thrift store shopping a few weekends ago and

I had a list on my phone of what I was looking for.

It included but was not limited to:

Magazine Rack

Spice Rack

Cup/plate combo's

Old rake head

Old chair

Planter items

Desk/dresser for garden shelf.

You can see the following projects that inspired my list by viewing the following Pinterest items:

http://pinterest.com/pin/216313588321837698/

http://pinterest.com/pin/216313588321892099/

http://pinterest.com/pin/216313588321891995/

http://pinterest.com/pin/216313588321837625/

http://pinterest.com/pin/216313588321891980/

You get the idea, there was a project behind every item on my list.

So, what did I find while thrift shopping?

The following items: magazine rack, bowls, garbage, flower pots and a footstool.

My plan, turn everything into a planter!

I first started by priming all of the "planters" with 1-2-3 primer.

I wasn't sure if this was going to work because all of the items were different with different finishes. It seems to have worked, the true test will be this summer!

Then I went to the craft store and bought indoor/outdoor acrylic paint (best advice I could find on the interent) along with a spray on acrylic indoor/outdoor varnish.

Let the creativity begin!

My final product:

I turned the footstool into a little table where I will set some of my flower pots!

Finally, I also found an old wood ladder at one of the thrift stores.

I am planning on doing something like this with my bright summer flower pots!

Who knows, between now and summer, I might add to my pot collection!

http://pinterest.com/pin/216313588321931831/

Pinterest, you might be a time suck, however you have given me LOTS of inspiration!

More projects are in my future!

LA Trip to see Dan, Jan 2012

Mom, Dad and I had been talking about going to see Dan inLA for some time now (since he has been there for two and half years).

Southwest had a great sale on tickets this fall so we went for it!

Our trip was full of fun and Dan did a great job lining out all kinds of activities for us!

The first night in LA we had dinner at the restaurant where Dan currently works, picture above.

We enjoyed great food, met lots of his friends/co-workers and were treated very well. We could tell they value Dan (and should) and that Dan has a second family at work.

We enjoyed the comfort of Dan's apartment and it reminded us of basketball weekends back in the day when everyone (who ever came any given weekend) would stay with Dan in Eugene or myself in Corvallis, it always makes for lots of laughter when the only time you're alone is in the restroom!

Dan's place was decorated very nice (we didn't expect anything less) had a nice pool and hot tub we also enjoyed.

Our first full day we spent 13 hours, yes, 13 HOURS at Disneyland! It was AMAZING!

Thanks mom and dad, for taking us to Disneyland as children and as adults... okay, just older children :)

We enjoyed the whole park! Here, we are outside the Tiki Room.

Dan and I, being the childish adults we are, got our faces painted!

We enjoyed, well most of us enjoyed, the roller coaster!

The World of Color Light show was amazing!

After a VERY eventful day at Disneyland we crashed and burned!

The following night we enjoyed another night of dinner, drinks and great company at the restaurant Dan worked at when he first moved to LA.

Here, we again, met great people who love Dan, and should! He has a great group of friends!

A day at the beach was a MUST! I mean, it was 70 degrees in January!

Yup, pretty sure a day at the beach was a given!

Dan also signed us up for The Price is Right! After standing in line all day and be being moved as a group (like a slow day of moving cattle, we were the cattle) from one place to another, literally moving 30 yards at a time, we finally made it into the studio for The Price is Right! Our standing in line began around 10am and we left the studio around 6pm

We are so excited for Feb 16, 2012 as this is the day our episode airs! One of us was called down: "______ come on down!" You'll have to tune in on Feb 16th to watch, set your DVR, record it, or watch it on Hulu the day after!

During our time in LA Dan also took us to the design stores were he shops, which were amazing! We got a good taste for his design work. As we walked into each shop the store owners and/or managers knew who he was and was very welcoming to his "brining in the family." We walked through furniture stores that had items ranging from $2,000-$50,000+. It was awesome! Fabric stores, wall paper stores, etc., it was a real experience for us and gave us a great glance at Dan's daily life!

I think what we all enjoyed the most was spending time together, laughing and having the memory of the entire trip!

We are also very happy that Dan is a great LA driver... our first drive (from the airport to his apartment) was a little shocking, but we knew we were in good hands! Good job Dan!

Thanks family for a GREAT trip that will never be forgotten!

Dan, you are amazing (which we knew) but you have done something I could never do (move to LA and be someone)! You are amazing and I can't wait to see what your future holds! You are going somewhere, and we have always known that, but after seeing you in your element and seeing the way the designers greet you as you walk in the room and how your co-workers at the bar/restaurant talk about you and treat you, I can't wait to see what comes next.... it's gonna be something big!

Here is to having a great family!

A Few Christmas Shenanigans for 2011

The tradition continues.... Gingerbread houses with Toby and Alisha's boys!

Wehad two houses, one house for each boy and one train to share!

I think this year was year #5 of making Gingerbread houses with Matthew and Peter and they get more and more creative every year! This year we had bridges, ponds, beavers, beaver dams, railroad tracks, spotting scopes, ice skaters on the pond, trees, shrubs.... it goes on and on!

We always have so much fun with this tradition and hopefully next year

William will be old enough to participate!

The Willowcreek Red-Neck Christmas Tree

I think the pictures speak for themselves, however I will give a brief explanation.

Vickie stayed an extra day at the Vickery house because neither of her boys with their wives were able to come home for the holiday's. Mom kept saying, "We have to go see the Red Neck Christmas Tree." None of us (Dan, Vickie nor myself) were jumping at the idea, but we ended up going,

and let's just say, we are glad we did!

The Red Neck Christmas Tree is a tree branch tied to a stop sign (star at the top and all) decorated in Red Neck decor.... some of the decorations were slightly horrifying!

There were even gifts under the tree :)

We probably spent 30 minutes taking pictures and laughing.

Gotta love Willowcreek!

Thanks to you crazy people who put the tree up!

Final wedding of 2011

Annie Rice (Jordan's sister) married Jamon Frostenson Nov 4th 2011.

It was a beautiful wedding, a wonderful reception and Annie was a breath taking bride!

I don't have many photos to share, however, here are few!

I am the worst.... I don't have one in my camera of Annie and Jamon... I guess I was all weddinged out for the year and was slacking on my candid shots!

New Year, New Job

There is nothing like bringing in the New Year with a New Job!

I am still working for Boise State, however I no longer work for the Athletic Department.

A great opportunity presented itself in a round about way, and I now work for the College of Education, Center for School Improvement & Public Systems.

Research & Data Assistant is my new title with the Idaho Leads Project.

See Facebook for more information:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Idaho-Leads-Project/279649745416123

I am really excited to be a part of this amazing new project and I am honored to be part of such an elite group.

Here is a great 2012!