To Do Lists and Projects

I've just been exhausted lately! A month ago I would sit down each morning (or once a week if I felt really ambitious) and write a list of everything I wanted to accomplish that day. From cleaning, to cooking, construction to crocheting, I had a plan as to how long it would take and what should get done that day.

I've refinished the living room pillows that have been dyeing to get done since we moved in a year and a half ago. We painted the living room walls green, and the red and black pillows that came with the couches just didn't do the trick anymore. Four or five months ago I collected the material to change up the fronts (mostly left over from other projects), but just haven't had the time to put it all together. They used to look like this:

Not only do they look better, but I also crammed these new ones full of extra stuffing, so they should fulfill our pillow needs for a while. Here's the completed project:

I did two of each of these designs and one additional that isn't quite done yet. Three of the five are hand sewn  shut, and I'm just waiting  for a movie night to finish hand sewing the last two. We've been a little preoccupied with painting and holiday activities. But I'm sure we'll have some time over Christmas to finish these! my family tends to

Finals Week!

This week was a rough one for Dave, it was finals week... He's been so stressed out about it that he hasn't been sleeping. I think there was only one night this week where he didn't toss and turn so much that he ended up moving to the couch in frustration. Then yesterday he came home from work with an intense stomach ache.

When I asked him if he was sick he said it was from eating too much junk at work. "But they had summer sausage and cheese, nuts, candy and cookies. I just couldn't stop eating the sausage or the nuts by the handful." My question is if he's already sick from overeating, how in the world will he survive the holidays? I guess I'll have to monitor his sausage and nut intake for the next week!

We're pretty much ready for Christmas. We put up our tree on Sunday and have all our presents wrapped and waiting to be opened. The house is relatively clean, and we're both just chomping at the bit for a break! We're planning on painting my office over the long weekend, and I've prepared everything so it shouldn't be too much work.

The intercom has been removed from the bedroom and is waiting to be patched, everything has been pulled out of the bedroom or moved to the center of the room. and we've picked out what color we want to paint the walls! Next we'll need to remove the trim (Dave feels the need to replace it while we working), and get to work! It won't be half as hard as any of the other construction work we've done, but it will be nice to have a fresh coat of paint in there.

Dave's already planning to paint his room next! We have a left over can of green paint from the living room that he just loves and wants to use as an accent wall. He's also hoping to use the leftover tan color I've picked for my office for the rest of the room (so we'll probably just buy an extra can of paint for him). I'm trying to convince him to wait to paint his room until Spring Break. I don't want to cram painting two rooms into one weekend. Especially since it will be so much work to move all his stuff out of his room... We'll see if I succeed!

Salmon Vegetable Bake

A few weeks ago Dave and I tried out a new salmon recipe and I've been meaning to post it! It was fabulous! Not super fishy, and extremely healthy. My mom stopped by as I was finishing it, and I jokingly told her I'd make her taste it (because it has mushrooms in it).

1 lb salmon (fresh or thawed)
2 c carrots (thinly sliced)
2 c fresh mushrooms
1/2 c. onions
2 t orange peel (finely shredded)
1/2 t dried oregano
1/4 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
4 garlic cloves (diced)
4 T olive oil
1 med orange (sliced)

Cut fish into 4 serving sizes and set aside. In a small saucepan, boil carrots in a covered pot for 2 minutes. drain and set aside. Tear off 24 inches of foil and fold in half.

In a large bowl combine carrots, mushrooms, onion, orange peel, oregano, salt, pepper and garlic.

Divide vegetables among the four pieces of foul, placing beggies in the center of the piece. Place one salmon piece on top of each, and drizzle with oil. Top with orange slices.

Fold up the foil, allowing a small space at the top for steam to build up. Place packets on a baking sheet, and bake at 350 for 30 minutes (or until the carrot is tender and the fish begins to flake). Serve with wild rice.

The Holidays call for creativity

Check out this killer awesome hat I finished crocheting during the Snowtorious B.I.G.!

I'm pretty proud of it because it's the first crochet item I've made while following a pattern. I guess technically the flower the pattern called for was ugly (I made it before I decided this). So I ended up eyeballing this flower from a headband my sister Sheila made for me... and I had to add 4 extra rows to make the had big enough for my head (what can I say? I take after mom), but all in all I consider it a "learn to read patterns" success.

Which is a good thing because a sweet little lady in my ward decided she didn't need the vast majority of her crochet patterns any more and has given them all to me! I've gone through them and pulled out the patterns I want, Sheila's gone through some of them, and I'll bring the remainder to Thanksgiving this weekend to offer to Dave's mom. Anything that is left I'll donate to DI so they can find a new home.

So I've got my work cut out for me in future blankets, pot holders, pin cushions, bags, baby booties (good thing I have a niece and a nephew!) and one not 70's sweater. I'm super excited, and have several balls of left over yarn that will work for a few of the smaller projects (old yarn = free project). Now if I only had some more time on my hands...

Now that the hat is done, I've started making a blanket for Dave's Birthday. A few months ago Dave found out one of the blankets at my parents house not only had I made, but I had made it for an ex-boyfriend. When we broke up I had given it to my parents, so Dave has felt entitled to that blanket. So he took it! So we can give that blanket back to my parents, I'll do my best to complete this blanket quickly!

I've also finished a robe I was making for myself for Christmas. I wanted it to be super warm (what can I say, I'm a cold pansy) so I lined the top half with two layers of fleece. It turned out pretty well if I do say so!

Dave's Exciting News

This week Dave had an interview for an internship with Struck Axiom . They met for about an hour, reviewing Dave's portfolio, discussing his plans for the future, and his improvements over his time in school. At the end of the meeting Dave was offered a summer internship!

He's so excited because this is his first choice company. They have offices in Utah, California, and Washington, and work with companies like Dream Works, Adidas, Quaker, and my favorite TCBY. So this is the kind of company that will really help build his portfolio and bulk up his resume. And it just seems like a KILLER environment. Also, it's half a block from my work, so we have the potential to carpool a few days a week during the summer.

The same day as Dave's interview we attended my company's Christmas party. While speaking with my co-worker Liz, and her boyfriend Kyle, Struck Axiom was brought up. Kyle works closely with Graphic Designers, and is even on a Salt Lake City creative board. He said when his company is looking for Designers their first choice is to try to get "anyone" from Stuck Axiom. The company has that kind of reputation in the area.

We're really hoping after working for them for the summer, they will see what a hard worker and great producer Dave is, and they'll want to hire him on for the fall. We'll pray hard, and Dave will work hard so that can be the case!