I Need Another Project.

Since I haven't posted in awhile, I just need to say this: Christmas was so fun! Kelly and I flew home and spent the whole time with our families. We need to live close to them! My little sister is all grown up, and we hardly know our adorable nephew, Liam. Since coming back to our one-bedroom apartment in Baltimore, I've been a little melancholy. As Kelly knows, one way to brighten me up is a project or five.

First off, we have been using the IKEA pans from my college days since we got married and Kelly has been yearning for a new set of pans to supplement his "cooker-man skills". After Christmas everything was on sale so I got Kel an extremely early birthday present of an awesome new set of pots and pans (he did help me pick them out, though). The problem is, although we have a pretty good-sized kitchen for apartment dwellers, there isn't much cupboard space. We decided that since we got rid of our IKEA pans we could get some IKEA storage for our new ones. It doesn't look that tough, but considering I pretty much did all this by myself, it counts as a project. I mean it did require a trip to Lowes for a stud finder, screws, anchors, and a level AND I got to get out the drill.


We also got an extra hangy-hook thing, to help us clear out our utensil drawer enough to close it easily and to hold some of our spices because we were beginning to despise our old spice rack, an under-the-cupboard paper towel holder, and a red pitcher for other stuffs (including our crab smashers, a staple for Baltimoreans.)

Kelly's Darth Vader spatula is in there too. Ha ha ha

When we took down our Christmas tree our dining room looked very forlorn, so I decided curtains were my next project. Except I couldn't find any I liked that fit. So I thought I'd make some! Except I don't own a sewing machine. But with the magic of today's technology plus an iron, I was able to iron-sticky-stuff-hem them. I thought it might look tacky, but it turned out pretty well, and it probably actually looks better than if I had stitched them since I can never sew anything straight.

Our dining room pre-curtains and with Kelly decorating our Christmas tree (which we named Wallace this year.)

New Curtains! I need to get some new place mats and napkins now, though. I'm going for avocado green and goldeny-yellow. Just to move away from our thoroughly red theme. I think it will still compliment the dishes.

Still not done, though. Kelly and I went to Ross and saw a picture we really liked and thought would look nice in our dining room, but we decided to wait on it so we could really think about whether we wanted it or not. The following Monday was MLKJr day, so we both had it off and we went to Fort McHenry and saw everything and ate Baltimore's best burger at Abby Burger, where they give you a checklist of 50 or so things and you just mark what you want. I'm telling you now, their bison burger on an english muffin with avacado, onion rings, ranch dressing, and bacon is probably going to give you a heart attack, both because of the fat content and the extreme deliciousness. We finished our MLK outing earlier than planned though, so we decided to go back to Ross and get the picture. Of course it was gone. Of course we found something(s) better! So we finally found something to take up the horrible huge blank wall in our bedroom and a really cool frame and picture for our dining room.

Curtains and a new picture! ...And the ugly light and table.

I think it looks better in person, but here's a picture of all three
Two pictures and our bed with our Level 6 Warmth blanket for cold nights

Before on that wall in the dining room I had some old lithographs that Mimi (my grandma, for those who don't know) gave me. Okay, I took them because they were stacked on the floor in her basement, but I asked first. They are cool pictures of colonial Williamsburg, but the frames were kind of super hideous. Painted brown with a teal stripe all the way around. So I took them out of the frames, sanded them down, painted them black (I didn't even have to buy anything because I still had everything I needed from my mirror project), and rehung them in yet another blank space in our home, over the TV. Hooray!

Ug-a-ly old frames. 3 sanded, 1 to go.

Ug-a-ly old frames finished with a new coat of paint and hanging in their new spot over the TV.
Side story: see the roses? Kelly knew I was having a bad day last week and while I was still at work he walked to the store and bought me a dozen roses and surprised me with them and an after school snack when I got home!Pretty, huh?

I need another project...curtains in the living room would be nice.

Halloween....way too late.

Happy Halloween! I know I'm really late, but I just thought I'd share a few pictures from Kelly and my fun Halloween. I didn't have a chance to post earlier because it was the end of the trimester and winding up a class and final grades and all that stuff keeps a teacher busy. And exhausted. Today was the last day and the grades are in and students, if you're failing it's your own fault because you probably didn't bother to take the final. Looking forward to going through it all again with you starting Monday. And you wore me out. I went to bed at 9:30 last night! Anyway, for all you non-students (I don't think I have any student followers anyway) I'll show you how cute Dani and Kelly Pirates are and how talented at pumpkin carving I was last month. Then we can start the real holidays that actually mean something tomorrow.

The blank canvas. ...and Libby.

Somehow Libby thought she was helping.

The finished product! It's a Jolly Roger and I didn't even use a pattern! Just thought I'd brag a little.

I put this one on here too because it shows the swords better. You have to admit I'm awesome.

Kelly and I entered it in the Primary Trunk-or-Treat pumpkin carving contest and as you can see, we won the most Aaar-tistic. Woohoo!

Since Kel and I are Sunbeam teachers, we ran the ring toss at the Trunk-or-Treat for all the cute little primary kids. Of course we had to wear costumes! Since we are lazy and cheap, and I had to make them, we went for the old Dani and Kelly standby...pirates!

Kelly Finally Joined the Blogosphere!

Hey readers, if you want to follow something that truly is delicious, check out my husband Kelly's brand new blog "Kelly's Belly"! He is an excellent cook and decided to share his delicious recipes with more than just me. Check out his stuff at whatscookinatkellys.blogspot.com.

Meet Libby!

(hee hee, I blabberized our new cat! Blabberize.com)
http://blabberize.com/view/id/308039

Kelly and I got a cat! (Almost two weeks ago now.) She is the cutest, silliest, craziest thing I've ever encountered in my life. Poor Libby was 9 months old and a stray when the volunteer group who have a tiny room in our local Petsmart saved her. Since April, she's been living in a little kennel and only let out occasionally, but only in the tiny tiny room. She was sick a long time ago and got an ulcer in her left eye that left her a lavender spot and partially blind in that eye.

Kelly and I saw her through the glass and immediately thought she was adorable. She's a muted torti, which means she is striped gray and tan. She's about a year old now, but quite petite and a little bow-legged in the back. (It's cute.)

When we brought her home she explored EVERYTHING, including jumping in and out of the bathtub about 50 times. Now she's figured out that the longest stretch in our apartment is from the corner of the dining room to the bathroom. Everyday she runs laps from corner to corner a couple times. It makes us sad she hasn't had room to run for a long time. She is playful and enjoys batting at Starburst wrappers and carrying them around in her mouth. Sometimes she sits on our couch like a chubby couch potato, right on her kitty-bum with her back legs in front.

She likes our windows and sits behind the blinds of our sliding door to get a her spot in the sun, and every time we come home she comes up to the door and then goes after her scratching post that is right there. I guess it means she's happy we're home? We got a new vacuum and she LOVED the box and cardboard stuffs it came in...but didn't like the vacuum itself once it turned on and moved! Hahaha...she freaked out. It didn't help she kept trying to hide in the next place I was going to vacuum.

We don't let her in our bedroom. We call it our kitty-free zone when she's getting hyper. She is quiet all night, but when she hears our alarm go off in the morning, she starts sticking her paws under the door like she knows we're awake and she needs some attention. Everywhere we go, she follows us. When I am on the computer, she curls up in my lap or on the chair next to me to keep me company.

Sometimes when she is being especially cute, I call her Nermal. I don't really know why. I think it's something about how the back of her head looks?

It's fun having our little Libby as part of our family now.

Best Day Ever!

School was canceled today at about 9:30 because there was a gas leak in the building (it was bad! Just being in there for a couple minutes gave me a headache) and there's no school tomorrow because it's Primary election day! Sweet! Unexpected four day weekend!! So when I got home Kelly and I went out to breakfast before I dropped him off at school. I think this is going to be a good week.

Calling all Saucy Readers: I Need Your Help!

Hello my faithful followers! The time has come for me to start a new blog...don't worry. You don't have to follow it. Here's what's going on: I am in a class at Hopkins called Paperless Classroom, the purpose of which is obvious, and I'm super into it for many reasons:

Reason #1: I'm all for going green. I threw out so much paper last year and hauled home even more to recycle, but I'd just rather not use so much.

Reason #2: They are severely limiting how much copy paper each teacher is allowed at my school. Basically I have 1,000 sheets to last me a month. I have 120 students every day in 2 different subjects, so even if I make class sets I still have to make 60 copies. Also, I already spend too much money on my classroom. I don't want to spend more buying paper.

Reason #3: I HATE HATE HATE waiting in line at the copier in the morning. I have much better things to do.

Anyway, so for my class, I need to start a new blog that is for the class, and potentially can be my teacher-y tech blog, but despite all my skills, I am having a hard time coming up with a name for my new blog. I want it to be something that works for a teacher, but still sounds kinda quirky and, you know, like me. So, now is the time dear readers to contribute! Your mission:

Give me names, or give me "F"!
(for not starting a blog)

(Heh, heh, get it? It sorta phonetically matches.)

Or to ask more nicely, please leave lots of comments on this post with lots of ideas for names for my new blog. The winner will get a fabulous prize! Which may or may not actually be fabulous...or even a prize...but um...I will dedicate my new blog to you! (it's okay, you still don't have to read it.) So, let the ideas pour in!

Many thanks,

Teacher Dani

Hey Look! I DIY-ed Again!

I know my titled kind of looks like I died again spelled in lolcat or something, but in actuality, this is not what I meant. I was, in fact, referring to the acronym* DIY--as in Do It Yourself, which I'm sure most of you know, since, as far as I know, my readers are intelligent people. However, there is always the possibility that a dummy looking for a new religion could happen upon my blog, and although disastrous events most likely would not ensue, no matter how dramatic that sounds, I'm sure that at least the explaining process to said dummy could be annoying. Just kidding. There are no dummies. I'm a teacher, so I truly believe that.

*Side note on acronyms: why do we use them so much? I really don't know. I especially hate it when the acronym is harder than just saying all of the actual words, for example, SYTYCD (standing for an excellent TV show So You Think You Can Dance) I mean, that just takes longer to think about than to just write out the whole thing, and saying it is even more ridiculous since it has the same number of syllables. Even worse is when people say the the letter 'W' instead of the one-syllable word it is standing for. This just goes to show that my teacher philosophy of "there are no dummies" is wrong. One further thought on acronyms and me: as a member of both TFA and the LDS religion, I cannot escape acronyms, no matter how stupid they are. Thank you for reading my rant. Read on.

Believe it or not, the point of the post was not to get into the finer points of dummies, teacher philosophies, or the nuisance of acronyms. The real point of this post is so I can show off my mad skills: I created/upholstered/tufted a headboard for our bed! I got into the other stuff because I am feeling particularly silly and hyperactive at the moment. So sorry.

Back to the masterpiece: It all started with a piece of plywood, lovingly picked out at Home Depot and cut to 3x5' by some teenage jerk who doesn't deserve the job. Nah, just kidding. He just bugged me by telling me Home Depot doesn't cut things for you just because he was feeling lazy and chillin' with his friends. Good thing I knew they did from a previous online check--and the fact he was standing right by the saw.

After I got the foundation for my headboard, I spent a long time at JoAnn's picking out the perfect fabric (black) and buttons (after asking four people, finally someone knew where I could find the ones you cover with your own material. Success!) And I found a 10 yard roll of batting for $9. Sweet! Oh yeah, and at Home Depot, I also bought a staple gun (and staples so I could actually do some damage with it, of course) so I could develop upholstering skills. Something no one taught me, I just DIM (Did It Myself--acronyms: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em/make up your own to add to the growing ocean called alphabet soup.)

So I brought my loot home, drilled six carefully-measured holes into the wood, cut as many layers of batting as I could (8), and got it and the material situated under the board and started stapling like crazy. I mean, I started professionally upholstering a headboard to go in the blank space at the head of our bed to add to our reading-in-bed comfort and overall feng shui.

Then I used the buttons that I covered in the aforementioned material and carefully sewed them onto the spots where I had drilled the holes, using another button on the back of the wood to keep it from ripping through the batting and fabric. So now my upholstered headboard is tufted (which is a fun word to say).

Now, marvel at my beautiful tufted headboard:

Tufts!

Sorry for the spots on the lens. Anyway, my headboard! But I think our bed still needs some accessories, like some throw pillows...

...or Kelly. He accessorized our bed nicely, and enjoys reading while leaning against our new headboard.

Kelly is very nice and keeps telling me it's wonderful and looks professionally-made. So now I'm going pro. Just kidding. Kelly just lies to make me happy sometimes.

Thank you for reading my ridiculously silly post and letting me brag about my menial accomplishments. Hopefully the next post will be comprised of better stuff--like my birthday.

But to a more serious matter: I am awesome.

My staplegun madness!