cute, really really cute

I can't stand it. My neices Saylor and Brooklyn look so cute in the skirts I made them for Christmas. I love Brooklyn's tummy sticking out and I love their model poses.

it really happened

I got a job at ANTHROPOLOGIE! Ahhh I can hardly believe it. I am soo soo excited. I've dreamed of working at this store. Everytime I walk in this store my heart beats a little faster. I love the beauty. The attention to details. The interesting displays and art and of course the beautiful clothes and home goods. Last year a little dream came true and I was a visual intern there. I worked under the display corridinator and worked on all the store and window displays! It was the best!!! Now I am really excited to work on the sales team. I've never worked retail so it should be an interesting experience. I also got a job at a tax firm as a receptionist for their busy tax season. I will be a busy busy girl this winter. A happy busy girl.

YAY!

birfday guuurl

Happy Birthday to my darling niece ELISE! She's 5 but I feel like she is turning 12. She has always acted older then her age. I love this girl. She is smart, beautiful, hilarious, determined, talented, confident, and so much more. Happy Birthday Elise! Hope this year is amazing!

what's cookin good lookin?

I've been making aprons. Enjoy!

i woke up to this...

SNOW. Lots of snow. It is really pretty and white but I'm not the biggest winter fan. I would rather be tan and on the beach like this....

I will miss him dearly!

"You are good. But it is not enough to just be good. You must be good for something. You must contribute good to the world. The world must be a better place for your presence. And the good that is in you must be spread to others."

President Gordon B. Hinckley. You will be missed!

Preschool Pillow

My niece Saylor started preschool this year and the teacher asked them each to bring a pillow for the school year. (i'm not sure what they use it for? maybe to sit on during large group time?) Anywho I took it upon myself to make the pillow.

Cake class

My mom is an excellent cook and for the last year or so she has been teaching a cooking class once a month or every two months to the girls in the singles ward. This last month she taught cakes. Wowza it was a tasty night. We had Lemon Chiffon, Chocolate Mint Bunt cake, Oatmeal cake, and Chocolate birthday cake. If you want a recipe just holler. I was surprised the the 2 favorites were Lemon Chiffon and Oatmeal. I am such a chocolate lover.

steak sandwich? yes, please

Last Saturday I made dinner for me and my parents. ha. I am such a loser! Anyway it was fun. I had been watching Barefoot Contessa while sewing and saw these steak sandwich that looked 'to die for'. So I tried it out. And it was a hit! I also made a little fruit salad and my favorite strawberry/banana/chocolate soy milk smoothie. delish!

Welcome to the world!

William Cannon Metcalf was born! My brother and his wife Lindsey had their second child today. A boy! He will go by Cannon and I love him so much already. We are a little concerned about his health because of some complications with his breathing and lungs. The doctors say he has pneumonia so he is in our prayers!! He sure is cute.

flowers in your hair

Cute huh! I've been meaning to put all these pics on my blog so sorry about the summer pic overload but I just gotta share some ideas. My sister always has darling little clips and bows for her girls hair and she wanted me to make flower clips for her. They were so fun to make. My sisters friend had a great idea to have a way to hold all the little girls hair clips. I just covered a paper towel roll in cute fabric and used hot glue to put it all together. I got 5 different colors of ribbon and attached that with hot glue as well. It is so much better then having these stuffed in a drawer don't ya think?! Fun times.

Mini Quilt 2

My niece Saylor had a blankie that she really loved. She loved it so much that it eventually ended up in pieces. My sister saved a piece and wanted me to make a little blankie for her with that piece. So we put it in the center and made a little blankie. Saylor and Tanner helped me sew it together. Now Tanner wants one with his initials so I need to get on that! Oh they are so fun to live with. I miss them.

Mini Quilt

This Summer I lived in Laguna with my sis and her fam. My nephew Jackson wanted to do a sewing project with me. This sewing project would also count for a cub scout requirement. We picked out some fabric and made a mini quilt. He did a lot of the sewing. I was so impressed. Isn't he a stud! I put his initials on the back to add a personalized touch. love you jackson!

my "studio"

keeping me toasty!

supplies at hand. my mom organized the sewing closet and did a great job.

my bff!

I thought I would take a few pictures of my craft space. I take over the basement when I am home and have turned it in to a sort of studio space so I can work on projects constantly. Oh it is so much fun! My mom is the bomb and got me a bernina 1006 from a place in Provo. I looooove it. Sewing and doing crafty artsy things makes me so so happy. It is fun to have a space big enough to continually work on things. I love having the fire going and a good show and then I get to work. My mom and I have been TiVoing PBS's Masterpiece Theater so while I craft we've watched Jane Eyre and we are starting the Jane Austen series. What a treat! I will begin posting pics of completed projects soon.

I'm in love with a boy named...

Gavin Crew Porter who turns 4 today! He is my nephew and is the funniest kid I know. I lived with my sister and her fam in Utah and was there the day he was born. I held him everyday and loved being around a baby that was so tiny and new. And now he is 4 years older and full of personality. He never stops talking and always has a smile on his face. Did I mention he loved tools and scissors. I have to be careful not to leave my sewing supplies out for too long or they disappear. I look forward to the next time I am in Utah so I can play with him and his siblings!

Happy Birthday Gavin!

A Generous Gift!

So I just sat down by the fire and turned on the TV I saw the sweetest story on CBS nightly news. It told of a man in his 90's who worked his whole life in the mills never making more then $11/hr. He never married, never had children, and never had a phone. He saved all his money and only wore thrift clothes. People would ask what he would do with all his savings and one day he decided. He gave $1 million to a local high school so that they could build a swimming pool and $1 million to a New Jersey College. What a tender story. Of a man who really lived his life with nothing could be so giving! A great lesson.

dreamy!

When I was in California a couple weeks ago my mom sent me a link to the Purl Soho warehouse in California. Ahh I was stoked. When I went to NY with my sistas and mom we totally meant to go to Purl Soho but for some odd reason forgot or got to busy. What a shame. Anywho I found the warehouse was only like 20 minutes from Laguna so I took Jane with me and I was in heaven. The most gorgeous fabric eva. I picked out fabric to make jane an Amy Butler Dress and I picked out fabric for my second quilt. Absolutely beautiful.

If you are ever in Southern California you must go.

good finds at the Rack

Yellow Flats! These are going to be fun to wear. A great pop of color!

Ahh I love boots. I really like this pair. I like the cuff on top and the little buckles.

Short boots in green leather. Holla. I think these will be super cute with a skirt and tights.


Nordstroms Rack is such a hit or miss store but today was definitely was HIT. My mom and I had fun searching through all the cute shoes. We also found this adorable Marc Jacobs dress it was still $200 so I didn't buy it but dang it was fun to look at.

tears on Christmas?

Okay so Christmas morning I was so super excited because I got Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B perfume. I was excited for a couple of reasons. I LOVE Gwen Stefani, I love her L.A.M.B line, and I love a new perfume. And dang this one smells so pretty! Anyways after all the gifts were open I went and opened up the perfume box and smelled the yummy perfume. Then I put it back in the box and set it on the kitchen table next thing I now the bottle tips and falls to the floor. I am horrified. I quickly pick up the box and liquid is running down my arms. So I run to the sink open it up and the bottle is broken. It Broke!! My $75 brand new, never been used Christmas present is broken. I shed a couple tears and felt so clumsy. My mom pulled me aside to comfort me and told me she would get me a new one and told me a story of when she was a girl and got jeans for Christmas and the first day she wore them she was climbing a tree and tore a hole in her jeans. Sad. So the lesson she taught me that morning was in the end these are all just material things and that we need to have a sense of humor in times like this. So true. Thanks Mom for making me feel better. Well long story short I put the bottle in like a thousand zip lock bags and brought it in to Nordstroms and they totally gave me a new bottle. No questions asked. Thank You Nordies!!

A few things...

#1 I saw the movie Juno with two of my sisters and LOVED it. Michael Cera is adorable and hilarious! Oh it is so great. And the soundtrack is amazing. Go see it! #2 I moved home to Seattle and will be home til the end of April. I really miss Idaho and California. I miss family and friends but it is nice to be home with the parents. I am on a hunt for a job which is never fun. If anyone is looking for a lunch date or a shopping partner or a movie going friend then Holler! (Wow! that sounds desperate)
#3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother BENSON! I love my brother. I had a great phone chat with him today. I love how interested he is in my life. He is a great husband and dad. And he is constantly making us all laugh. Soulja Boy!