New Pictures

I recently put some new pictures up on my photo blog: a couple of sweet babies and a wedding from back in December. You can check them out here.

Comfort Food

I say, cold winter days call for warm rice pudding. It's been a favorite treat of mine lately so I thought I'd share the recipe I've been enjoying. I use this one, (minus the raisins and using light brown sugar instead of dark brown sugar the recipe calls for.) (Also, one time I tried to substitute 2% milk for the whole milk and it didn't work that well. Just an FYI.)

Photo Booth Valentine

Remember the photo booth I blogged about awhile back? I got the great idea from my friend Stephanie to use it to make a Valentine for Jared. I had actually handwritten several different sentiments on the white paper but it wasn't really readable when the pics were developed so I ended up scanning it into Photoshop and added the text/shapes that way. I hope you all have a Happy Valentines Day!

Twilight Valentines

Just in time for Valentine's day! The perfect Valentine for the die hard Twilight fan in your life. Download them for free right here, compliments of Ambrosia Girl.

(I was fashionably late getting on the Twilight bandwagon so my nose is currently stuck smack dab in the middle of the second book, New Moon.)

Mini Valentines

I love the idea of mini Valentines so I instantly fell in love with this "little" idea I spotted on Inchmark (a blog definitely worth bookmarking if you haven't already)- Valentines made out of matchboxes. Clever indeed.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah!

Today: 57
Tomorrow: 59
Wednesday: 62!!!

I know it's just a teaser but unseasonably warm temperatures make
for one happy chica. (Insert cartwheel followed by jazz hands HERE.)

Thrift Store Revival: Men's Shirt

I'm telling you, this thrift store revival stuff is a little addicting. Here's my latest creation made from a men's t-shirt I bought for 90 cents. I have had a request for some step-by-step instruction. I have another shirt that is almost complete but the next one I do after that I will try my best to take pictures during the transformation process. I will also try to post coherent instructions so it sounds like I know what I'm talking about. If you do a thrift revival leave me a comment or shoot me an e-mail. (I recently added an e-mail address to my sidebar: hellohotdiggity@gmail.com.) I would love to see your creations!

UPDATE: Many pinteresters have expressed interest in step by step instructions for this shirt. Unfortunately, I did not take pictures during the process and have no plans to recreate this project. Sorry! My best advice is to buy some 90 cents shirts and have fun experimenting! :)

28 Things

Inspired by the lists of Andrea at Hula Seventy, I've compiled a list of 28 things I aim to do before I turn 29. Mostly simple things, but things I might not think of or make the time to do unless they are written down. And here they are in no particular order.

1. Have a picnic
2. Go to a drive-in movie
3. Read a classic novel (Suggestions?)
4. Make a mobile
5. Volunteer
6. Reupholster the chair sitting in my garage
7. Buy a film camera and learn to use it
8. Make chocolate covered strawberries
9. Surprise Jared
10. Surprise myself
11. Learn the dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (in progress)
12. Grow my own herbs
13. Make a quilt (in progress)
14. Star gaze
15. Take a Photoshop class (in progress)
16. Host an outdoor dinner party
17. Start a collection
18. Visit a new city
19. Buy a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors
20. Attend a live music performance
21. Take back my spice cupboard
22. Ride in a convertible with the top down
23. Take my kids to Tuscora Park
24. Watch a classic movie (I'm open to suggestions here too)
25. Take pictures with Jared in a photobooth
26. Eat at a restaurant I've never been to

27. Create a family photo wall
28. Eat breakfast in bed

A Little Slice of Warmth on a Very Cold Day

Seeing this in my mailbox today was almost better than receiving a real bouquet of flowers.

(Thanks again Rachelle for the subscription!)

Groundhog Day

I woke this morning to the news that the groundhog saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter. But in Ohio, that really means twelve more weeks of winter. Damn you Punxsatawney Phil. Damn you.

This is Why...

my cell phone never gets charged and random people in my contacts list get prank phone calls from "me".

Happy Birthday Linds!

Happy Birthday to my favorite sister, Lindsay. (Well I guess you are my only sister but even if I had another one you I'm sure you would still be my favorite.) I'm sorry your birthday is in January but I'm happy we are related and that you live on the same street as me and watch my kids all the time and make me laugh harder than anyone else.
You're the best.

Love, Kim

Warm Thoughts

It has been really, really cold here lately but I'm trying to preoccupy myself with warm thoughts, this spinach dip , small sewing projects, Photoshop tutorials (I'm taking a class) and entertaining two very bored kiddos. How about you?

(P.S. I snagged the green/white, extra wide grosgrain ribbon at Pottery Barn of all places. Only $4 for 10 yards! There are some serious deals to be had this time of year. Perhaps the only redeemable thing about the month of January...)

My Best Friend's Wedding

I finally got the pictures up from my friend's wedding in Philadelphia back in November. I have known Rachelle since grade school so it was really fun to be a part of her big day. I am also happy the pictures turned out especially considering the circumstances under which they were shot. To say it was FREEZING outside would be an understatement. Seriously, it was so, stinking, cold. Luckily, Rachelle and Jim were good sports and still managed beautiful smiles even though their teeth were chattering! (Come to think of it, maybe they were laughing just so they wouldn't cry. It was really that cold.) If you'd like to see more pictures, you can check them out here.

Calendar

I still haven't purchased a 2009 wall calendar, which is very out of character for me. I have been given or purchased the Mary Engelbreit calendar every year since I was in 8th grade but I think I'd like something a little more grown up this year. Although it's a little pricey, I'm especially liking this one by Snow and Graham. It's just so pretty.

(If you still haven't purchased a calendar...you can find a compilation of aesthetically pleasing designs here and here.)

Thrift Store Revival

This is technically another Urban Renewal post but I think the title "Thrift Store Revival" more accurately captures the essence of what I am doing- which is, reviving ugly, over-sized clothes from the thrift store. You know, bringing them back from the dead and turning them into fashionable/wearable attire.

This project took a few hours longer than my first dress because the fabric wasn't stretchy which made it harder to work with. Also, don't look too close because, as I've said before, I'm a pretty mediocre seamstress and there are several things I would do differently if I had to do it all over again. With that said, I'm still pretty pleased with the results and I'm thinking it is going to be really hard for me to pay more than $3 for a dress ever again.

Before: A $3 navy blue polka dot polyester dress, complete with shoulder pads.
After: The same dress (sans the shoulder pads) with shorter puffed sleeves, a hem that hits just below the knee and a slightly lower neck line accented with a little tie. I topped it off with a pretty yellow flower belt I found on sale at J.Crew.

The Crafty Crow

So my friend Julie informed me that the party hats I made for Spencer's 1st birthday were featured on a blog called the Crafty Crow. (btw, thanks Julie!) I had actually never heard of the Crafty Crow before now but I checked it out and it looks pretty serious/legit. I also just checked my sitemeter and I'm getting a much higher level of traffic than I normally do so if you have arrived here from the Crafty Crow- welcome, welcome! I am flattered to have been mentioned on their site and welcome new visitors and comments with open arms.

Tutus

Right before Christmas I took some fun pictures using a few new tutus I bought on e-bay. I was pleased with the way they turned out since I just shot them in my dining room with no special lighting or anything. Having an extremely cute niece as a model might have had something to do with it though! The one above is my absolute favorite but if you want to check out a few more click here.

A New Year, A New Quilt

One of my goals for the New Year is to make a throw quilt for Jared and I's bed. I purchased a variety pack of fabric squares pre-cut on e-bay (which is awesome because cutting the fabric is my least favorite part of quilting.) The squares are various prints from Amy Butler's Lotus collection. I'm planning to cut natural muslin squares to go in between so it should be pretty simple. What are some of your resolutions/goals for the New Year?

If You Can't Stand the Heat...

I'd like to have this funny print framed and hanging in my kitchen. Find it here.