bawlz

I am feeling crafty and have started on some of the crafts and arts projects for the nups...this is my first attempt at felting wool roving. Since billy balls are out of season, we are crafting our own!!

the real thing

the faux thing

 

you just can't have too many balls. :)

doggy depression & ava jane

It has only been a week, but being engaged is so GREAT!  I just love it. But, someone in my house does NOT love it, and his name is norman zucca solise. (soon to be norman zucca stone, which works out great because I won't have to change the "s" in normans monogram, haha)

Anyway- norms has just been laying on his bed, and everytime russell comes over I always say "look who it is!!" and norman, no joke, huffs and walks right out of the room!! This is a classic love/hate relationship :)

OK, so if you can even believe it, the entire wedding is planned, and I wish I could share all the details with you on this blog! I will post some of the craft projects as they come up - but first, this precious lil' picture of by baby friend ava jane! She came with her momma jess when we were doing a walk through at the venue. She just sat in her cart with her little chubby legs crossed and had an expression on her face that said "ok, this place looks kinda fun, but I may have a few more questions..."

The future Mrs. Stone :)

There are so many wonderful people in my life (and I wish I could call each and every one of you!)... and I wanted to let you all know that Russell and I are engaged!

My sweet man proposed one day shy of our 2 year anniversary :)

after I said "yes"!

sitting under the century tree

He popped the question under the incredible Century Tree in college station. (For those of you who don't know: The Century Tree is a live oak tree that was one of the first trees planted on the Texas A&M University campus, so it is well over 100 years old. According to legend, if two lovers pass beneath the tree's branches, they are destined to be wed. Similarly, if a couple becomes engaged under the Century's canopy, the marriage will last forever.) It is so amazing to me that we will be able to visit this site in the future and remember what God has done for us.  We have some very funny and precious moments from this day - I will NEVER forget it!

It was such an incredible day! I am so delighted that the Lord has blessed me with the most amazing man! And, it doesn't hurt that the tree is so visually interesting - and has some fantastic symbolism, both for us as a couple, and for our faith. My fingers are already twitching to pick up my pencils and do a drawing of the tree, and finish it with this verse:

Ephesians 3:17-19
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

You know me...I already have 1,000 ideas and will share them with you as they firm up. :)

so happy!!

the pup tent

I am a self-proclaimed dog trainer, and although my methods are what some might call "unorthodox" and I have only trained one dog (who turned out kinda weird, I'll admit), I have a happy puppy and a happy life.

I seem to be on the road more than usual these days, and without roommates, I have lost my lovely dog-let-er-out-ers!

So, I have devised a genius plan to keep my puppy shaded from the hot texas sun and and dry from the rains while I am out of town for the next few weekends...a TENT!!

Here are some pictures of the trial set-up. In my own defense, it looked smaller in the picture on the box...

I threw some treats inside to see if norms would go inside...

(wink!)

Norman grabbed some toys to play!

I think it's a keeper!

this is totally brill :) and I love it like I love taco burgers, which is alot

you're the apple in my pie, baby

I am cooking for the love muscle tonight, so I thought I'd make him something special!

Confession: I will use any excuse to bake something sweet. On a completely ho-hum, everyday, washing clothes, normal day I have been known to say "Today is a special day! I'm going to bake a cake!"

So, I decide....drum roll please...to make pies. But not any pies, BABY pies!!!! I heard of a gal who used to give away little pies in baby food jars, so I though, "how hard can that be?". PLUS, the small portion should help me keep things nice n' trim south of the border :)

Here we go...

Step one. Buy baby food. I have never purchased baby food IN MY LIFE and it's nasty folks. I was not prepared for this step.  I bought oatmeal n' apples because it was 2 for $1, and I thought I'd give it a little try...bad idea.  Someone else must have tried it before me and puked in the jar because I really thought that's what I was going to do. Should have called it upchuck n' apples.

Step two, select some kick-a music to set the mood.

Step three, gather 'gredients.

Step four, cut out a pie top.

Step five, smile at my lil' helper.

Six,  tear off dough pieces and line the jars.

Seven, fancy up the apples, and load it in the jars. Top with dough circle.

At this point, I'm 100% positive that these jars are going to blow up in my oven. So, hopefully I will be posting about how wonderful they turned out.

I just realized...these jars are so tiny, I don't think a regular spoon will fit into them!! oops. oh well. Maybe they will be pie piles instead :)

norman's terrible life...

I always read before I go to sleep. I was enjoying my book so much I stayed up later than usual, and norman was so funny about it! He kept huffing and grunting, very annoyed.

I looked over to find his face was stuffed into a fold of fabric in his bed.  I'm sure this is what he was thinking...

"It's time to go to sleep. Please turn out the light so I can lay in the dark like a normal dog"

A few minutes later...

"come on, seriously?!?!? aren't you done reading yet? I can't fall asleep unless the light is off! See- even with my eyes closed I can still tell that the light is on."

I love my (high maintenance) puppy :)