So long, 2012!

2012 was a big year for us. A marriage, a new home, and finding out that we'll be parents in 2013! All of that has kept us very busy this year, and I can't help but feel warm and fuzzy when I think of all that we have been blessed with.

Although I'm not big on resolutions, I do like the idea of having a natural, fresh start to right some wrongs and make some positive changes in life. In 2013, I'd like to practice greater patience, cook and bake more, and spend quality time with my family. I also need to knock some items off the knitting list...something that I wasn't too great at in 2012!

Here's to a happy, healthy New Year!

A sneak peek at our 2013!

home sweet home

It happened.

My dream home.

It's ours!

After failed attempts of selling our condo and going through a terrible move (everything that could have gone wrong DID), we made it. Back in my hometown, where "Friendliness is a Way of Life." Not even kidding -- that's our motto. Who WOULDN'T want to live here?

I love our colonial...spacious and echo-y right now, just waiting to be filled with furniture, children, and memories. It's strange...we have only been here for 3 weeks, but yet it already feels like home.

My mind is bursting with ideas, wondering how I'm going to make this place feel like us. It's a wonderful feeling, knowing that we have this blank canvas before us...just waiting. We bought our first Christmas tree last week. Even though that will be the only item in our living room, I'm going to make sure it is DECKED out. I will sit before it in all it's glory, sipping my hot chocolate, and wondering how we got so lucky.

So much to be thankful for!

xo,

J.

Hello, Bead Board

Pinterest is very unhealthy for me. It's creating all of these crazy obsessions, and I really don't have time in my life for yet another obsession. One girl can only handle so much. Real Housewives episodes, Caribou coffee and knitting are about all I can take right now.

My current obsession is bead board. Specifically, bead board on a kitchen ceiling. Swoon! I love the idea of having texture on the ceiling...I imagine that it makes the room feel cozier, and who doesn't want a cozy kitchen. Here's some inspiration!

Source: houzz.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Source: kendallboggsfineart.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Source: justovertheriver.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

the stool

Picked this up in Door County. The question is...how should it be styled?

Should it hold old linens? A vintage bowl filled with goodies? A watering can? God forbid someone should actually sit on it!

door county

Last week, we spent a couple of days relaxing in Door County with my parents. Aside from the lighthouse tour, eating ice cream at Wilson's, and scenic drives, the most memorable part of the trip for me was visiting La Viva Cottage - an adorable store mixing the old and the new in a lovely way.

I had to take these inspiration photos. It has always been my dream to run my own shop. This dream store has evolved in my mind over the years. It's gone from a rubber stamp store (clearly my obsession when I was 10), to a paper goods store, a yarn shop, a cupcake shop, and now a home goods store with refurbished antiques and new lovelies to decorate your home. I think that half of the fun in these stores is not only seeing what you can find, but admiring how it is all displayed.

Hopefully, one day, maybe...

j.crew love

Lately, J.Crew has been a store for me that can do no wrong. I am in love with this Tippi Sweater! What a great transition piece to have in the coming months. I decided to pair it with nudes and golds so that the heart really pops. A girl can dream!

Snail Mail

I'm convinced I was born in the wrong decade. In my continued effort to be old-timey and pretend that I'm living in the 1950's (it's fun, you should join me), I love sending and receiving snail mail. Don't get me wrong, I'm a texting fiend, but, there is a bit of a thrill sending a love note to a dear friend. As I place my mail in the post, I get all excited knowing that in a day or two, the recipient will be surprised by fun mail.

Full disclosure -- it's not just the fun of sending the mail, but also finding the oh-so-perfect card to send! I've linked a few of my current favorites below. So, go ahead! Pull out that dusty address book and send some mail!

source

 source

source

Mildly obsessed.

In an effort to reorganize my yarn basket last week, I took out all of my yarn and separated the scrap yarn from the project yarn. It was a bit sad that the scrap yarn took up much of the basket -- it feels like such a waste! But, what to do with all of that extra yarn?...

Not once, but twice! last week, I came across the Beekeeper's Quilt. Not one to overlook the possibility that everything. is. a. sign., I just knew I had to purchase the pattern. What was most charming about this quilt was that at first glance, it appeared to be carefully sewn with the most precious old-timey fabrics. It is, however, knit using individual hexi-puffs (could that possibly be my favorite new word? Must bring it up in casual conversation...), and it's the perfect way to use up that scrap yarn.

I don't think this is a pattern that I could work on exclusively, but, it is the kind of project that is perfect for car rides. I just love that it has the old-fashioned feel that I'm going for in my home.

for the little man

My nephew Henry is my favorite little guy to knit for. I often find that patterns for the little men in our lives are not as cute as they are for the little ladies. So, when I find something I like, I don't hesitate to get my needles clicking!

Here's the most recent project, given to Henry on his 2nd birthday, Sublime's Little Military Coat! I love the little details - the epaulettes and the cute little pocket. Very stylish for a toddler!

love.

Just a few images from our wedding day....

thanks to Amanda Hein for capturing our day!

for a little lady

A few months back, I was excited to begin working on a precious pattern, the Sunday Brunch Jacket, by Sublime. I found the perfect soft pink yarn and matching buttons to make this cozy little number.

Although the jacket itself was fairly easy, the finishing not so much. It doesn't help that I often neglect that whole finishing part of my projects (as evidenced by a pile of items that still require a few final touches, shh). The collar drove me b-a-n-a-n-a-s! In order to get the curved edge, I had to sew a strip of stitches to the collar, giving it a curved appeal. It took more than one try. And a few tears. But! I was happy with the final product, and even more happy to surprise the new little one.

c is for cookie.

I think I have a case of baking fever. (Probably the best kind of fever to have.) This week, I made Ina Garten's Oatmeal Cookies. A tried and true recipe! I really should stop making cookies. Knowing that there are fresh baked cookies in the kitchen is really bad for my health. Eh, you only live once, right?

This can't be good.

The yarn basket is now overflowing. In my quest to knit every cute project that I see, I have run out of places to store yarn. The contents of this basket have actually spilled over - a definite sign that someone needs to take my debit card away from me. No more yarn until at least...one (okay, okay, two!) projects are finished.

Are you ready, fingers? We've got work to do.

Embroidery love

So, embroidery. I have this love affair with it...yet I've never actually tried it. How that works, I'm not exactly sure. Chalk it up to crafty obsessions, I guess!

For the past couple of years, I have been eyeing the adorable Penguin and Fish alphabet embroidery patterns. I mean, really, how cute are these?

Wouldn't this little guy look adorable in a child's room? Thinking of ways to bring these littles guys into my life...

sneak peeks

I love a good sneak peek. Seeing the previews at the movies is my favorite. Looking for a present under the tree with my name on it gets me giddy. Here a few sneak peeks of my week.

1. Coca Cola container doubles as a house for the remotes.
2. Finding ways to display old windows.
3. Happy 4th of July!

baking

It's hot outside. Really hot. Above 100 degrees. What better way to stave off the heat than to bake, right?


Made these peanut butter cup cookies from Real Simple. Used my new mix master, cookies sheets, and measuring cups that were given as shower gifts.

And yes, I must admit...I did sample the dough. Must make sure it's edible, right?

Yum!

The Fourth

I l.o.v.e the Fourth of July! Hamburgers, parades, fireworks...the list goes on. And yes, I DO wear my red, white and blue to celebrate! Here are a few things I wouldn't mind wearing to watch the fireworks!

the fourth by iwugrad05 featuring slouch shirts

Sew no!

Growing up with a grandmother and mother who both know their way around a sewing machine, I finally went and bought my very own Brother last summer.

And do you know where it is?

Still in the box. ((blushing))

You see, things just...got away from me. Wedding planning, work, making up excuses for not even taking it out of the box. It's been very tiring, really.

So, with summer upon us, the wedding is over, I feel like I have a little free time to play around and figure this thing out.

So, we need to start with the basics. I have always loved the cute ideas over at the Purl Bee. Here are just a few that I think might be perfect to get me started: 

Simple Dishtowels (It has simple in the title, so this would probably make a good start!)

Molly's Handmade Napkins (I love the idea of making napkins specifically for a holiday celebration!)

Linen Stacking Pillows (There is something SO rustic and homey about these!)

I am realizing that all of these projects are rectangular...do not require a lot of cutting...and seem fairly straightforward. Just the starting point I need!

yum!

So, I'm not a baker annnnd I don't really cook. In fact, I probably don't have any business being in the kitchen. But, the weird thing is...I have this unqualified feeling that if I put my mind to it, I could actually put a meal together.

Maybe it's the cute aprons from Anthropologie. Or the fancy cookbooks that make me judge a book by it's cover even though I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Or the idea of being the cupcake lady on the block that greets all of the new neighbors with perfectly iced cupcakes. I think all of this has clouded my judgment a bit.

For a girl that doesn't spend much time baking, I sure do spend an awful lot of time reading recipes. I recently found the blog My Baking Addiction and boy oh boy I need to start baking and quick.

The clouds parted when I saw this:


NO BAKE Nutella cheesecake. What better way for a girl to learn to bake if she doesn't actually have to bake? S. and I are big Nutella fans, so I think I'll add this to the queue. I just need to get a cute apron, first!

xo,
J.