Sunday, April 26, 2015

Countdown to Croatia

I know I said I wouldn't be writing another post until my trip, but I guess the springtime air has given me a renewed sense of energy.  Well, that or, I've been pushing myself so hard over the last few weeks, that I can't help but continue on the momentum - until I crash! At least, when I do crash, it will be into an airplane seat taking me across the Atlantic, followed by numerous lazy days on the beach, meandering around Old Towns, and hiking the wild landscapes of Croatia.  Seriously though, it's currently 4:45am on Sunday, and I'm awake, not to mention I worked nearly 60 hours last week. Yes, I do have a purpose for being awake this early, Natalie's taxi service has an airport pickup scheduled for dear old Dad, but that doesn't require me to be awake for at least another half an hour. Am I becoming a morning person?!  

Let's not get our hopes up - I'm sure when Monday morning rolls around, the snooze will be hit at least three times.  Now, the real reason I am able to squeeze in another blog, which lately have taken me a few weeks to compose, is because Mitch and I have been busy with so many different projects that I just want to share.  Not to toot my own horn too much, but I'm feeling pretty accomplished, especially after my favorite DIY project thus far turned out so sharp!  


I must say, Mitch and I are quite the handy home dwellers, and he gets most of the credit for this project because it was his idea in the first place, or he's just been checking out my Pinterest boards lately!  At first, it seemed a bit daunting to me, because I clearly did not inherit my Mom's patience for crafting.  I like the idea of being crafty, but quickly become overwhelmed when I begin to realize the amount of time some projects actually take!  The headboard was surprisingly simple though, we just followed a Pinterest tutorial and actually finished under-budget, too! We make a great team and I'm excited to see what projects we will tackle in the future.  

Meanwhile, I attempted another Pinterest idea on my own of making no sew decorative pillows.  This project definitely falls in the "Pinterest fail" category. I tried to redeem myself from my lack of sewing skills (I haven't even attempted a sewing project since my eighth grade family & consumer science class) but I now realize some things are probably best done with a needle and thread. I ended up tying on some string to hold the fabric tight and attempted to cover the string with a button, as if it already wasn't failed enough, I managed to make it worse. On the bright side, if I flip the pillows over, they are relatively ok and actually fit in with the other pillows on the sofa, so I'm going to chalk this one up as a partial win for now, until I find better replacements or learn to sew.

 
Besides indoor projects, we've also been tackling the outdoor project list, too.  Or, more accurately, Mitch has been tackling the outdoor tasks.  As I said in the winter, one of the only things I miss about apartment living is the maintenance crew, and summer is no exception! Thankfully, Mitch handles the mowing, because let's be honest, as a kid I would find every possible excuse (legitimate or not) to avoid mowing the lawn.  Most often my excuses were legitimate, since there was always only about a 50% chance of even getting the mower started! I can't help but chuckling to myself writing this as I recall the various steps necessary, the copious amounts of Seafoam required, and the innumerable amount frustrations had by my Dad just to get the darn thing fired up! 

My current backyard duties include the garden and I'm anxiously awaiting planting time. I've got some seedlings inside that are thriving and ready to be transplanted. The weather has been cooperating nicely, so now it's just finding a time to commit to get everything in the ground.  In the meantime, I've been crafting some supports for my innocent looking tomato plugs, as I know it won't be long before they begin attempting a garden takeover. I'm making my tomato cages out of branches from our old maple tree too - recycling at its best! 


Our spring has had no shortage projects, but all of our accomplishments aid in taking away any guilt I may have for taking two whole weeks of vacation!  I was especially feeling guilty about my job, but my hard work and long hours over the past few weeks have made me feel much more deserving of a refreshing break! Of course, I've already begun packing, because in my opinion it's never too early to start! I'm beyond ecstatic at how fast the time has flown by since I booked this trip - I already leave in less than two weeks!  As per usual, there is still plenty to be done before then though, so until next time, ciao! 


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