Exploring LA: January

Zach and I decided to try and explore one new place per month. For January, that meant a short drive to Balboa Park to see what all the fuss was about. Bike trails, roller bladers, park, paddle boats, joggers, playground, picnic areas...it was cool!  I didn't take many pictures, but we scored with an awesome parking spot and had a nice walk in great weather.

Great walk around the lake

Little gopher buddy hangin' out.

Projects Lately

Well, my weekend included successfully packing up the Christmas Decor.  Finally.  I also half-heartedly decorated our mantle with a bunch of frames I didn't feel like hanging up on the wall (we had a long picture wall at our old house, but this house has a darker hallway and I haven't been as interested in recreating it.)  It does make the living room feel a little more homey, though. Except for the giant empty corner now, treeless and dull.

In other news, I practiced some  Ninjago skills lately, you know, copying whatever I could find on Pinterest for a special boy's 9th!!! birthday party.  The first were Ninjago suckers, just glued some tissue paper on and then some internet-printed eyes. 

 The next were a couple t-shirts. I used iron-on applique's like I did for the onesies and blindly tried to iron the eyes onto the center of the shirt, evenly. I think that is the toughest part for me about decorating clothes / iron-ons.  Being paranoid about it being even.  Oh well. :(

Also, I completed my first and last "big" sewing project, a quilted blanket for my sister for Christmas.  I bought the quilt squares pre-cut and pre-coordinated (a big must for me) then sewed them together, sewed on the brown outside...soft blankie material on the back and a #(*%%# satin blanket trim. Like I said...nothing that big again, ever.  That quilt better last, like, 20 years for my sister. Just sayin',

Have you been up to making anything lately???

WEEKEND!

Happy Weekend! Here's to putting away the DRAMARAMA of work for 48 hours and finally packing up my Christmas Tree and decorations. Just in time to decorate for Spring!

And if I'm lucky, I'll get to hang out with this guy a bit, if he doesn't have too much homework. Turn the Pandora Radio up and here's to the weekend!

December 2012: 2 Year Anniversary

Last month Zach and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary. We rented this quaint cabin in the Grapevine mountains, about an hour and a half away.

 While we were there, we also celebrated our own family Christmas.  I love our stockings, but I think next year we will have homemade ones! (They are both already made by my grandma, I just can't find mine.)

 We hiked both days we were there. The first hike was the day after it snowed, but there were still many areas that were untouched by people (in fact, we might have been hiking on private property...well the map was kind of unclear...)

 This crazy tree had a 90 degree bend it in across the river.

 Here is the view on our last day from our cabin door.  It snowed again, and the fog is barely coming off the mountain.

 I opted to hike in my ski pants this time to stay dry.

 The snow was so beautiful!!!

 Its crazy to me how bushes can withstand the weight of so much snow without dying.

 Close-up of this awesome red bush.

Uh Oh...wish I put my hand by this print - we *think* it was a dog, but I was ready to be done after I saw this!

 More pretty views

 The "Valley" as well...

 I asked Zach to pose under this tree for a photo. I proceeded to throw sticks at the tree while trying to get a photograph of the snow falling on him. It took close to a dozen tries. He was very patient with me. :)

 See all that snow on his head now? Yeah, he had to shake the tree himself for the picture.

This of course created a bit of a snow war and as we walked along through the trees we both had long sticks to whack various brances and got covered with a lot of snow. It was SO FUN to just play and laugh!  I truly treasure moments like these with Zach!

For 2013, I'm going to switch to a private blog...or actually, no blog at all.  I mean, I will keep this for crafts and food - but anythig personal will be mainly on instagram (cmdaven) and some on facebook. I just don't feel like a public blog is a safe place for announcements like, "We're going away to a cabin for our anniversary!" etc with all the crazy stalkers out there.  Anyhow, that is just how I feel about it all right now. I'd like a private blog but those are so hard to check for other people - since I haven't figured out how to get the updates to a blog reader, etc. If you know a trick, let me know!

Merry Christmas!

Photo courtesy of Christy and Nathan Awkward Christmas Photoshoot, circa 2006?

Being Prepared

Hurricane (Superstorm?) Sandy reminded me that Nature is a pretty serious business.  Living right on a fault line, I decided it would be good for Zach and I to have some emergency provisions available.  This can actually be quite expensive to do, so I scaled back a little bit to start and we can build from there.  While I was at it, I also put together a few extra kits for gifts.

Growing up my Dad had a big barrel in the backyard (when we lived in a different earthquake territory) and also took some precautions regarding safety/emergency procedures...although I don't quite remember the rest of them anymore.

Most of these items were purchased from Emergency Essentials, although the mylar blankets were from Amazon and the socks were from Kohls.  You can find better prices on some items depending on how well you shop, but for me the prices were good and it was convenient to get everything delivered at once.

Here is what went into my "car emergency kits."  I think this would be great to have in the car in case of emergency (at least at home you can scrounge around for things) and in the event that disaster strikes when you are AT home - its likely you can run out to the car and get this.

Contents include: Basic first aid, including gloves, instant ice pack, ace bandage, burn gel, and the usuals.

Socks.  Why not?

Duck Tape, multi-use knife, and waterproof matches. Trifecta of awesomeness! (Note: I didn't put the knife in all kits, i.e. knowing I already have a leatherman in my car, etc...build to suit your needs)

LED flashlight. Zach and I argued on whether or not the batteries should be included. I thought, if it is dark - you sure don't want to be fumbling to install the batteries. But, they die faster installed...I opted for installing with a disclaimer that the recipients check the batteries annually. What do you think is best?

Safety Whistle - does a bunch of things - has a mirror for signaling, holds waterproof matches, has a flint, and if you need to make a loud noise to identify your location...you've got it!

Emergency food bars. I hope these taste ok! I guess if you are hungry, it won't matter.

Mylar blanket and hand warmers. I added extra hand warmers to recipients in colder areas.

Water packets.

Close up of the whistle with all its functions.

Lastly, I packaged these in plastic shoeboxes I hope won't be too in the way in a vehicle or under a seat.

We are also working on a larger one for home - although I'm leaning towards putting that in an extra duffle bag so if we have to run for it, we can grab and go.

Are you doing anything at home to be prepared for an emergency?

The time I tricked him twice with the same gift

So...I love to wrap gifts in disguises.  Or not disguises. I love to wrap gifts, especially Christmas ones, in clever ways. I've gone money frozen in ice ("cold hard cash"), multiple items submerged in jello, and countless items boxed in boxes that don't represent what is on the inside. (I may have a few of those under the tree already for this year, also!)

But this is the first year I've duped anyone twice with one gift.  I was planning to get Zach Halo 4 for XBOX for Christmas, since it is a video game we like to play together. On black friday, I got an especially nice deal on Amazon but while showing Zach my checkout-cart to ask about another item, I accidentally showed him that he was getting Halo, before I screamed and covered up that part of the screen.  I was so disappointed for giving away knowledge of what he was going to get.

When the gift came, I wrapped it in my special way and put it under the tree.

On Sunday, I read on my phone that the same gift was on sale again at Amazon, again for a very good price (equivalent of my black friday price.) I mentioned it to Zach that he should buy it...a conversation had in the dark, in our bed, when I was trying to be clever and joking around (thinking that he remembered I bought it for him already) and when he couldn't see the look on my face trying to hide the joke.

Oops.  Monday night he informed me, "I got my game!" "WHAT???!! You did what? Are you serious?" No really - he bought the game.  I reminded him that he already knew I was getting it for him. Oopsies. "I forgot!" - he tells me. I can believe that...we only need one person in the family obsessing over gift giving.

So knowing I've wrapped his gift up already (and he is ready to play his game) I don't really want him to play his newly purchased copy...I want him to open my surprise gift! So I get that gift from the tree. Its not labelled except a Z on the front.  "This big gift is my game?" he asks cautiously.  "Yep!" Big smiles from the wife department....until he opens...sun shades for his car (here)

The game was behind the sun shades. Zach looks at me, unaware. "This is my game?" I put on a confused look. "Well...I thought that one was your game...oopsies...why don't you at least look at the shades to make sure they are the right size?"  Zach catches on...(You can only live with a person so long before expecting to become a victim of their obsessive tendencies in regards to gift wrapping.)  He finds his game. He is happy. "You tricked me TWICE with the same game!!!!" he exclaims.  Lots of laughter ensues.

A happy gift giver. :)