For the Love

Textile...the mere words sends chills of joy down my spine!!! I really never had a chance at not being madly in love with textile. As a toddler my mother worked part-time at a fabric store and growing up her exuberance for the texture, color, pattern, and sensation of fabric are among my earliest memories. Now, my passion has given birth to my business. While shopping at Ikea with my mother-in-law I came across this treasure of a book, Love for Texiles and as a special treat, she purchased it for me. I have spent the past two weeks pouring over it and falling even more hopelessly in love with textiles and photography.

 The photography is beautiful; sun bathed, wistful, and romantic. Here is an example...

 There are simple DIYs that involve little or no sewing and would be a perfect addition to update a room or home! They are truly delightful. Quotes are mixed in and the entire effect of photography, fabrics, design, projects, and ideas are so inspiring! For $7.95, this might just be a perfect Christmas gift for someone special. Here is my favorite picture and quote in the book. I love the moment it captures and quote sums up my life...

"A real dream life should be full of love and laughter, tenderness and sunshine, homemade food and plenty of textiles. Patterns that shout or whisper, colors that grab or just touch. Soft fabrics that bring out the best in us."

Snip Snip

I will hold off on posting about Thanksgiving because with two families and two birthdays in the span of four days, our celebration is far from over!

Well, after four-and-a-half years, I chopped off twenty inches of my hair today!!! While there has been some controversy over Locks-of-Love, I still donate to them every time my hair grows long enough. I figure it is better to donate it than toss it in the garbage where there is no chance it will do any good. And since children with cancer are an issue that I see on a daily basis at work, it is close to my heart. After much combing and some help from my mom and aunt it was easy enough to hack off.

Then is was time for a little trip to my friend Kayla's House of Hair to let the professional fix the mess!!! Kayla is the best, no doubt about it. I have known her for years and traveled all over the world with her, and besides being an exceptional hair dresser, she has an infectious smile, heart of gold, voice like an angel, and amazing personality. Each time we visit I leave feeling inspired and refreshed and today...so did my hair!

 

 If you are in need of a wonderful cut, color, or hair treatment and can get to the Tacoma, WA area, give her a jingle (253.334.4175).

 Thanks so much Kayla, you are best, girl! XOXO!

PB-and-O

My mother left the house with an immaculate kitchen...this is what she came home to...

 Haha...oops! The past few days had been rough and baking is always the best medicine for my down moods. So, I made pumpkin whoopie pies, muffins, and grilled chicken yakisoba! Growing up, PBandJ sandwiches were my favorite food, but pumpkin-blueberry and oatmeal (PBandO) muffins may be my new favorite food!

 A co-worker of my mother's made this yummy recipe up...and it is truly heavenly. Here is how you can make your own!

Mix the following ingredients together:

• 1cup flour
• 1cup quick oats
• 1/2cup oat bran
• 1tsp baking powder
• 1tsp baking soda

Mix the following ingredients in another bowl:

• 1/2cup brown sugar
• 2Tbsp canola oil
• 1cup applesauce
• 1cup pumpkin
• 1 egg

Directions: Mix wet and dry ingredients together. Add 1 cup frozen blueberries and 1/2cup chopped walnuts (optional, I did not add them). Scoop into greased muffin tins or muffin paper cups. Bake at 350 degrees for about 23 minutes. Check with a toothpick to see if they are done. Cool for 15 minutes and take out of muffin tin.

These are so perfect on these chilly fall mornings! Enjoy!

Tidbits

It seems that with each day I age, the days get one hour shorter!!! Time is flying! We have continued to have a full and busy agenda in Seattle. Time with family and friends has been our highlight and we feel blessed to have wonderful people in our lives! Here is what we have been up to...

My mother-in-law is the queen of hosting the most incredible parties. I am constantly in awe and so inspired by her yummy food, decor vision, and selfless work! Last week she threw a party with Devin's high school friends. It was so beautiful and it was a perfect evening of munching, chatting, and drinking. How fun to catch up with so many old friends at once. Thank you MamaP, you are really the best, I want to be just like you when I grow up! ;0) Unfortunately, I completely forgot to take any pictures during the party, but here is sample of the decor and a few of the treats...

After an evening of partying the night before, my mother and sister-in-law and I headed out for morning mani/pedis. I decided to be daring and do my ring finger a different shade...so scandalous! I like it though.

Saturday night, thanks to some family friends, Devin and I bore the cold and went to our first University of Washington Husky football game of the season. It was brutally cold, but we were well bundled and had a wonderful time. We were very confused when the first bus pulled out as it was barely full....that is when we realized we are New Yorkers at heart now. The SEATS on the bus were full and in Seattle that means a full bus! Haha...we missed our crammed in, standing shoved against someone else, public transportation in NY! I have to say I could get used to an entire seat to myself though!!!

Sunday...well everyone knows what to do on Sunday!!! It was church, brunch and football...Perfect day! This picture is one of my very favorite. My in laws have always been so special to me and I feel beyond blessed to have such a wonderful family. I went from having one brother to a total of four brothers and four sisters, all whom I love dearly! The family room is where we all hang-out eating, laughing, chatting, crying, wrestling, napping, playing, and reminiscing. This photo captures all of the chaos and fun. Just lazy time with the most precious people! And yes, this is exactly what we all looked like all day long!!!

Today is Devin's first residency interview!!! Last night we had the dinner that proceeds each interview and then today he headed off looking as dapper as ever. He has such a way with people and his humble, confidence is charming; I am sure he is rockin' it! The interviews are making the light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel for med school seem brighter and brighter. He has interviews this entire month so keep us in your thoughts and prayers, the results determine the next three years of our lives!

Thanks for tuning in! I am off to sew again as I spent yesterday baking, I will share the recipe tomorrow!

My Four Favorite 'F' Words

Lately, I have been challenged as I read some of my favorite blogs by how easily and freely people seem to share such deep and personal issues. I have always been an extremely private person with people that I do not know well and the thought of opening up that way, especially online, is quite terrifying. Yet I am constantly enthralled by their posts and find comfort in knowing that I am not alone in various struggles, let downs, disappointments, failures or questions. I started my blog with no idea of what I was doing and I am slowly learning. While the goal of Life's Little Clevers and Unexpected Endeavors has been to share my business process, ideas, recipes, DIYs, and life adventures I do believe it is time to add a new element. As with everything baby steps are the way to start and balance is always the goal.
Looking back on my posts, something is missing. I believe it is my heart and a bit of realness. Everything is shiny and polished as of course I get to choose what I share and what I do not. I do have a very happy, organized, OCD, and clean life, do not get me wrong, but somethings there are crazy messes all over my house just outside of the camera lens, and sometimes I set goals that I want to share but am scared of failure so I do not. There are journeys that I dare not share because if they do not pan-out then people would know I started something that did not workout....GASP! ;) What am I trying to say?...I just want to be more real, share the good, the bad, and the ugly all with a cherry on top...just because that is my style!
This all came to a head with this image that I saw when I entered my room to get ready for my run today. I snapped the photo and thought I should share what it meant to me...

The four most important things in life to me are my FAITH, FAMILY, FRIENDS, and FITNESS!

I have not shared much about my faith on my blog because I do not like when I feel people are pushy about it so I have just left it out. However, it is something that I value deeply and is a part of everything that I do. With a busy schedule I have not had time to do as many Bible studies I would like and so being on vacation I picked up a book I heard about called A Beautiful Offering, on Casey Wiegand's blog. I am only a few chapters in but I am already enjoying the author's point of view and the meaning she volunteers. I will let you know what I think at the end!
My family and friends are the best, there is no explanation necessary! I love you all dearly, and my time away from New York has made me realize how much the east has become my home and how much I miss you all, even after a week!
Fitness is a constant balancing act for me: always has been, always will be. I am an "all-or-nothing" personality in every aspect of life and health and fitness is no exception. Ergo, throughout high school and college I worked out excessively and it became an unhealthy addiction. I saw the warning signs and decided that a healthy life was more important to me than being an unhealthy ideal of skinny and so I walked away from it all....running, weights, dance, hiking, soccer, training, etc. Once you travel down that road it has a lifelong game of being fit and active, while taking care of your body and being healthy.
After so much time away from intense exercise I have decided it is time to set boundaries but get back into shape. A few months ago I told Devin that I wanted to start running again. I started doing Pilate's about two years ago and totally love it, but I was not in the cardio vascular shape that I want to be in. The first day I decided to run three miles, a mere warm up in my previous running days, but a worthy goal in my huffing/puffing state. A half mile into it I was white-knuckling the sides of the treadmill and had intercostal retractions to rival any of my respiratory babies at work on a bad night!!! Discouraged I headed home and decided that I was no longer a runner.
My mindset has been to train and then blog about the marathon I am finally able to run. Blogging only after the fact to show the end result but none of the pain and struggle of the process. However, in a pursuit to be more real about my journey I thought I would share that I have finally given in and decided to do a little 5K while in Seattle. I am running every-other-day and slowly I have been able to add distance (and the ability to breath) to my runs! I am so scared I will end up not doing it and then look like a failure for everyone to see! I will post periodically on my progress and pursuits and hopefully can encourage others to take bite-sized goals too! My lovely work ladies...I am so excited to do the Diva Run with you next spring, thanks for your inspiration!
Whew I do not do this personal stuff very well, hopefully it will be easier!!! Thank you for reading!

New Line Sneak Peek

Yikes, two days of shopping put me two days behind on my promise the share this sneak peek with you! When will I ever learn?!
Without further adieu, here are the four fabric combinations that I am working on at present and will be available for purchase the beginning of 2013!!!

I am very excited to get these finished, photographed, and up for sale!