Projects

During my 30 day blog challenge, I mentioned I wanted to get pictures hung in our house. The walls had been bare the first 6 months of our marriage and I was tired of it. So I made it a goal to get it done. When we bought the house, we had not planned to do much to it as we don't plan staying here for too long. But after nearly a year, we could not stand it anymore.

One of my favorite Christmas presents this year came from my brothers wife Danielle. She bought it in Colorado while visiting her parents and I loved it! After an extensive search for a frame to fit (and a realization that custom framing is expensive even with a 60% coupon) I took the pictures out of the mat and framed each one individually....D-A-H-L


Brian's sister Katie was kind enough to take our engagement and bridals for the wedding. She used one of our favorites in a photography project at the U, which she aced! She gave us the final project for Christmas. Who knew they would go so well together. 2 great presents from 2 great sister-in-laws :)

Along with that, Brian and I had been looking for a piece of Art for our house practically since we bought the house last May. We have vaulted ceilings which makes our walls huge and empty. So a few weeks back, we ventured down to the Starving Artists Show to see if we could find anything to fill the space.

We did! We found this beautiful, warm painting that was exactly what we were looking for. Pair it with a beautiful frame and we were in luck. The whole thing only cost $200! What a steal!!!! We were so excited to get it home.

Last but not least, my husband is a very good artist himself. He has books, boxes and notebooks full of sketches and drawings in the basement. He is always sketching something. But his new skill is window moldings. He was lying in bed one morning looking out at our front window and thought "Our window is really bare and ugly" So what does he do, he makes it beautiful.

Here is the window before...

...And here is the finished work..

I love that he is talented enough to do almost anything. He had never done anything like this before and it turned out beautiful. Even better news, the whole project only cost $20! Now only 3 more windows to go

If and when the weather warms up, our next project is to make our backyard beautiful. We love spending time outside in the summer, but our backyard is not in any condition to relax in. So hopefully by the end of the summer, you will see pictures of a brand new patio, a new fence and a vegetable garden. Wish us luck!!!

Last but not least...Day 30!

My favorite song...

This is impossible for me because I have more that just one

So here are 10 of them (in no particular order)


Somewhere Over the Rainbow-Almost any version

Memories of Us-Keith Urban

Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice

Bring it on Home-Little Big Town

Three Little Birds-Bob Marley

Utah Man-Utah Marching Band :)

The Way You Look Tonight-Frank Sinatra

Bless the Broken Road-Rascal Flatts

Moving On-Rascal Flatts

Breath-Faith Hill


Now for taking a break for a few days from blogging!

Day 29

I have learned one major lesson from this past month. Unfortunately it doesn't really have anything to do with this challenge or the goals I have set.

It started back on Jan. 11. (I only remember the date because it was the day of the Utah/BYU game). I started feeling sick early in the day and it quickly progressed into chills, fever, body aches and a sore throat. I decided it was best to stay home and cheer them on from the couch. Little to say it was a good decision as that night was terrible (ask Brian). But I woke up the next day feeling better, just tired and congested. Since that day, I have been dealing with congestion and it has been quite annoying.

Despite not feeling 100%, I still went about my life. Never missed a day of work (at both jobs) made it to every basketball game, hung out with friends and family, cleaned the house, and continued training for my 10k.

The week before Valentines Day I thought I had finally rid myself of it. I could breath at nights, mornings weren't spent decongesting, and I had energy again. Well, I was wrong. I woke up Feb 15, now 1 month and 4 days after it all began, and it had come on even stronger. Unfortunately I had early morning meetings every morning at school and could not afford to stay home for even one day. I tried to keep running. I still went to basketball games, the grocery store, etc. I took on the stress of work without even thinking that some things could wait a day.

Friday morning my vice principal came into my room to ask a question and it took her saying "Emily, you look sick. You can see it in your eyes" for me to finally admit I had bottomed out. I did feel sick, I had zero energy, and my body was finally shutting down.

With the help from Brian, Saturday was spent on the couch doing nothing. I slept in, watched 3 movies, took a nap and did nothing. I finally listened to my body and gave in. Sadly, I was forced to be a bum on Sunday (only going to my Grandmas for dinner) also. Today I felt better, so I tried running again, only to realize I am no where near where I should be with my energy. So I stopped at 2.17 miles and I don't feel bad about it. The laundry is still not done, I have not vaccumed in a week, and I have yet to run the errands I need to. But guess what, life has gone on.

So the lesson I learned is this...listen to your body the first time it tries to talk to you or 6 weeks later, you will still be fighting over the same thing and ultimately, it will win.

Day 28

Valentines Day 2010

Last year at this time I was working half time, living at home, and still dating Brian.

Now, I am married, own my own home, and surviving my first year of teaching full time. I thought I was so grown up a year ago. Little did I know, I had a lot of growing up to still do. I have learned a lot about myself in the past year and continue to learn more every day.

Day 27

Why I am doing this 30 day challenge...

1) I love challenges

2) It has given me something to blog during this uneventful time of year

Day 26

What do I think of my friends...

well obviously I like them, or they wouldn't be my friends. We always laugh, there is never drama, and I am planning on them being in my life forever...can't ask for much more than that.

Day 25

What you would find in my purse...

Wallet
cell phone
gum
glasses case/cleaner
lotion
chap stick
epi-pen

Those are my only needs in life :)