Trying Something New

I have always enjoyed reading blogs that have cool graphics.  One of my friends made my banner for me, which I love, but now I'm itching to be able to do it myself.  So I downloaded a trial of Corel's Paint Shop Pro.  After messing around with it a little bit, I made this...

Yeah, I know it isn't fancy at all.  I need some help to learn how to use this program before I commit to buying it.  Is there another program out there that would suit my needs better?  I want to be able to edit digital photographs for the blog, my etsy shop, and eventually to use in my scrapbooking.

Also, what about Flikr?  I know a lot of bloggers use it to store photos.  Is it worth getting the pro membership?

What I'm Into Right Now

I have ADD.  Seriously, I do.  I go through phases where I am really into something and then it will just kind of fade away from my life.  There are certain things I will always love, but the intensity of my devotion will ebb and flow.

That being said, here is what I am really into right now!

The Young House Love blog and making my own house a home
I found it while Googling how to repaint furniture and fell in love.  It is written by this couple who are slowly fixing up their old house.  All their projects are so inspiring and makes me want to really get into decorating mode around my own house.  I've been going through boxes of stuff in the garage, reorganizing and purging my stuff.  My boyfriend and I have started talking about him moving in with me sometime next year and I want there to be room for his massive comic book collection.

Watching Mad Men on Netflix
Both my roommate and my boyfriend have watched the first season already, so I need to catch up!  I've watched the first five episodes so far and am enjoying a new series.  I have mixed feelings, but I think I will stick with it for a while.  It is an interesting look at the social climate of the early 1960's.

Sewing
Specifically sewing curtains for my roommate's bedroom and our kitchen window.  I'm also currently working on a baby blanket for a coworker which is super simple, just two pieces of flannel with a satin binding.  I think I want to get back into sewing clothes again.  The Boyfriend is kind of hinting that he would like a robe to wear around my house, and I do have a pattern... It's just a matter of finding the right fabric for the job and then finding the time to sew something so big.

Of course there are a million other things I'm into right now, but those are probably the top three.  What are you into right now?

Love and coffee,
Lulu

A New Idea...

Photo from Indy Total Construction

I think I want to start showcasing Etsy sellers and their shops once a week or so.  Maybe interview the seller themselves... What do you think?

Hopefully it will give me some more inspiration to make more stuff to sell in my Etsy shop.

love and coffee,
Lulu

 

The Housework is Never Done

Today I realized I haven't completely explained my housing situation.  In March, on St. Patty's day to be exact, I moved into my very own house.  I have a roommate too, my friend Josh from high school.

This picture I took with my cell phone before I moved in, which is why there is still a touch of snow on the ground.  Not much of the exterior of the house has changed yet.  We are trying to plan the landscaping now, but it is taking a long time

Meanwhile, I've been in the house for almost three months and am still not completely unpacked.  It has been a slow and steady process to make this house a home.  Today is my first day off in seven days of working full time, and I am not relaxing.  Since this morning, I have been cleaning and trying to put stuff away, catch up on laundry, and enjoying some really yummy iced coffee.

There is still a lot to do but I'm slowly chipping away at that To-Do list!

love and coffee,

Lulu

New Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug

In March, my LYS had all their green yarn on sale for 33% off.  This included solids varigated yarns like the two skeins of Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn I bought.

Colinette Jitterbug in "Lagoon"

Colinette Jitterbug in "Popsicle"

Any idea what I should make with these two beauties?  I'm thinking socks, since it is sock yarn after all...  But I think baby booties and maybe a hat would be just darling from the Popsicle skein.

Love and coffee,

Lulu

Do You Know the Way to Santa Fe?

Last month my boyfriend and I went to Santa Fe for a much-needed weekend away.

One of the first things we did was go to a comic book shop.  I don't know if I've written about what a huge nerd my boyfriend is, but he is.  So I made him pose for a picture in front of the store.

After lunch, we went to a yarn store!  Now I had previously been to a yarn store called Oodles in 2007, which was lots of fun.  This time we checked out a yarn store called Looking Glass Yarn & Gifts.  It was wonderful, full of tons of fibery treasures.  Jared helped me pick out some lovely roving, half yak, half merino.

My dad had a great suggestion to look up that show on the Food Network, Diners Drive-ins and Dives... Where we read about the Tune-Up Cafe.  It was so yummy!  The food had a distinctive flair and was unique. Plus, we had a great conversation with a local family about what to do and see in Santa Fe.

The only draw back to the trip was the Georgia O'Keefe museum was closed.  But other than that, it was such a marvelous trip.  I just hope it was the first of many with my honey!

What I Did for Easter

I realize that Easter was in April and it is now June... but my computer crashed and I am just now getting it back into working order.  It's amazing what you miss out on when your computer is dead for a month.

For Easter, my dad took my family to this wonderful French restaurant in Canon City.

Where we ate escargot... SNAILS!  And they were delicious.

I also ate some pork chops that were seasoned with dijon.  So juicy and flavorful.

And for dessert... chocolate-covered strawberries.

The whole experience was incredible and very enjoyable.  One of these days I want to go back!