Gift Wrap Organization

Posted By: Kristi

SURPRISE...we're still here. You wouldn't know it, would you? = (

With our wedding day quickly approaching, wedding...wedding...wedding is all that has been on my mind. Invitations, welcome bags, travel details and every other little detail we have had to plan. I am sending out the invitations this week and then will share the details with you. They were super fun to make.

In between wedding planning I have been trying to get our house put together. Mostly organizing and purging unwanted items. One thing that has been driving me bonkers was our gift wrap organization (or lack there of). I had all of our gift wrap supplies in a long flat container.

My problem with this container is that I would get it out, find what I needed, and then leave the box sitting in the hall. I never could decide where to store it so I always seemed to leave it out. TACKY! Finally, one day while I was checking out one of my favorite blogs, I came across this picture.

I knew right away that this was my perfect storage solution. All of these items are from the Container store and can be found here. Below is my version.

Carson's even mentioned how much easier it is to find everything this way. Loving it!

On another note, I really need to figure out how to use my camera. It is an AMAZING camera but I am doing it all wrong. Sorry for the crummy pictures!

DIY HE Laundry Detergent

Posted By: Kristi


I have been wanting to make my own laundry detergent for a LONG time now and FINALLY, I did it! I am super excited about how well it cleans too.

We have an high-efficient (top loading) washing machine so we needed detergent that would be compatible. I have been researching recipes for a while and finally found one I like and works well. We will be saving a ton of money too, major plus!

The ingredients needed are:

Borax
Washing Soda
Fels-Naptha

Not bad, right?

Grate the bar of Fels-Naptha with the small side of the grater. Or, if you have a food processor you can use that as well.

Once your Fels-Naptha is grated, add in 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Washing Soda. 

I tripled the recipe for a larger batch.

Once all the ingredients were in the jar, I put the lid on and shook it. I wanted to make sure it was mixed up well. Then I opened the lid and mixed it even more. If you want, you can add your favorite scented oil but I left mine as is. This detergent is even safe for baby clothes, no reason to go buy a separate special detergent when this one does it all.

That's it, I was done! I gave it the test run and it worked great! If you have been staling like me, you should go for it. Really, you wont regret it.

Valentines

Posted By: Kristi


I happen to think Valentines is a lot of fun. I enjoy showing those I care about how much they mean to me. I also think the stores look pretty coated in red and pink. = )

A couple weekends ago, our niece stayed the night for the first time. We decided to do a Valentine craft. I had one in mind that I had seen on Pinterest a few times. I pulled out the crayons I don't use anymore and my heart shaped silicone baking mold and we got to work.

We took off the paper from our crayons (this took a while) and then broke them into small pieces. We separated them by color family. I didn't realize that she would find separating them to be so much fun. She loved that part!

We preheated the oven to 300 degrees and baked them for 15 minutes.We pulled them out of the oven and let them cool.

While we waited for them to harden, I taught her how to makes hearts. We made all sorts of fun heart shaped things and got distracted and lost track of time. We went back to check on our heart shaped crayons about an hour later (I am guessing that they probably only needed about 30 minutes to harden). 

When we checked on them, they were ready to be removed from the mold and popped right out.

We made one Valentine for someone special. His favorite color is blue so we made sure to save the blue crayon for him.

It was a ton of fun, she really loved making these. I will definitely keep this project in mind for other little ones that come to visit. It was super easy (in case that matters to you). I know for me, easy projects are the best, especially when involving kids.

The next morning, we headed to the Children's Museum and then to the Zoo.

Afterwards, we headed home for lunch and then made a trip to the park. It was a fun filled sleepover for sure! We are excited for her next visit. = )

We hope you all are doing well, thanks for sticking with us!

My Sister is AMAZING!

Posted By:  Stephanie

Happy Tuesday everyone!  I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their winter.  Spring is just around the corner, personally I can't wait!

I want to first tell you all how amazing my sister is.  She has been such a champ posting without me while I make great attempts at getting through each day.  I have been so, so sick and although I still am it's getting MUCH better.  I appreciate her love and support so much, she hasn't complained even once!

Here I am, sitting on the bathroom floor with the computer on the toilet typing this while Little Lou gets a bath.  She is not only getting a bath but a full on soak while she "swims" because she is covered COATED in ravioli!  This was the first time I had given it to her and she loved it.  After she was done I immediately undressed her, threw her clothes in the wash and her in the tub.

I just thought I would share this random picture you haven't seen of her.  She is eating cheese, one of her most favorite things to eat.  This was on the day of Samantha's snowball.  Lou just saw this picture while peering from the side of the tub, she was yelling "Baby!"  I had to tell her it was her, she liked that.  = )

A Few Updates:

• I made a comment to a friend that Lou hadn't been sick since she left daycare back in May.  The next day she got a horrible cold, soon after she got the flu and was vomiting, then she got a bad fever that turned into a virus that comes in the form of spots all over her body.  Note to self:  Keep thoughts of this kind to myself, or at least remember to knock on wood.  Poor girl.

• Little Lou has a new obsession with brushing her teeth.  She prefers to brush them upwards of 3-4 times a day, so we do.

• I am now 12 weeks 3 days pregnant, loosing weight and gaining a belly.  There's a baby in there folks!  We go back the the doctor on Thursday which we're looking forward to because we will be seeing our midwife this time.  We can't wait to hear our baby's heart beat.

• Lou likes to put my bra on her arms these last new days and go around the house saying "Boobs".  It is funny, but I think we'll keep that in the house.

• This sweet girl of ours has a new thing for hats.  She likes to be like daddy and will put a hat on and walk around the house.  We were getting ready to leave the house yesterday, we were at the door then she quickly turned around went and got the hat, put it on and walked back saying "Ready".  Seriously, so adorable!  I love that she is getting older and having opinions about what she likes.

I'm sure there are a million other things going on, but I thought I would only focus on a few for now.  Talk to you all REAL soon!

Restaurants

Posted By: Kristi.

Ryan, a guy I used to go to church with, wrote a list of his favorite restaurants in the Portland/Vancouver area. I was quite intrigued. Some of these I have heard of but most of them are new to me. It’s crazy how often we aren’t aware of our surroundings. Sadly, there are only a handful on this list I have even tried; I hope soon to have tried them all!

Muddy’s Coffee House Extracto Coffee House
Coffee house Five
Food carts in general (specifically: Grilled Cheese Grill) – I LOVE cheese and have been wanting to try the grilled cheese cart for a long time now. What is taking me so long!?

           Salt and Straw

Ruby Jewel ice cream

Pine state biscuits

Roots Screen door—get the praline bacon!
Jakes Crawfish— I have been here. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t my favorite.
Hubers
Oba—order ceviche and prime rib – Excellent happy hour!

Clark Lewis Delta Café Bar – Another place I have wanted to visit for a while now!
Pho Van (is there a better Pho?)
Fire on the Mountain – YUMMY!
Vita Café
Farrars Bistro
EaT an oyster bar
The Observatory
Dicks kitchen
The Berlin Inn
Salty’s – We have been here a few times and have always enjoyed it. Great atmosphere (on the water)
Beaker and Flask
Tad’s Chicken n Dumplins – Have tried this one but I was too young to remember. Definitely need to go back.
Apizza scholls
Beast – Friends of mine from work really enjoyed the experience of this restaurant. There are many courses so be prepared to stay a while.
Tan Tan
Mi Mero Mole Tacos
Tasty n sons
Park Kitchen
Le Pidgeon
Podnah’s BBQ Pit
Paley’s Place Bistro and Bar
Nud Ludd
Brazil Grill Restaurant
Mothers – Very popular breakfast restaurant. For some reason, I wasn’t a huge fan but enjoyed the lunch menu
Helsers
Veritible quandary – I have only been here one recently for drinks. Looks like I need to return for a meal.

Beatervill café and bar – I agree, excellent!
Jam on Hawthorne
Besaws
Zells
Lompac
Yoko’s–poke roll
Saburo–sushi – I have been here one time and it was superb! There is always a line out the door. Definitely been wanting to return. AMAZING!
Hunans Chinese food
Lemon Grass thai– get salad rolls
Tanuki– Go on “noodle night”
Brakeside
Grant House
Pambiche – Excellent! Carson took be here for lunch once and everything was delish!
Por Que No

Do you have any other recommendations? I happen to be guilty of being a repeat offender. If I enjoy a place, I like to go over, and over and over again. I don’t go out to eat too often so I really want to enjoy my meal. If I would just branch out I would probably find so many new favorites. Any other repeat offenders out there?

This year, Carson and I are going to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the 11^th. We have a meeting on the 14^th (more details soon) but still wanted to plan something fun. I am trying to think of some fun ways to enjoy the day. I am thinking maybe pedicures in the morning. Carson has never had one and I am pretty sure he would drool over it, what man doesn’t like a good foot rubbin'? Afterwards I think we should try a restaurant from the list above and then head to a movie. The movie is the only thing I am 100% certain we will do. Have you seen the previews for “The Vow”? I can’t wait to see it!!! Rachael McAdams is one of my favorite acctress’ and Channing Tatum…HOTTIE! ; ) They are both beautiful people, great eye candy for us both!

I hope you all have fun plans coming up, and hopefully they include a yummy meal!