DIY: W is for Wittkop

Finally finished my jute 'W.' This idea came from Pinterest & Crystal Cattle's blog. I loved the idea of twine & burlap flowers!
It is super easy to make, it just takes time wrapping the twine. All you need is jute twine, a styrofoam letter, burlap, & a hot glue gun. You can find pre cut letters at shindigz.com for a great price. I found a huge roll of twine at burlapfabric.com. This site is my go to burlap shopping source for my wedding decorations. They are excellent priced & everything has arrived in a timely manner.
Since 'W' has ends on it unlike a 'D' or 'O' I had to wrap in a couple different steps to cover the ends. First, I cut pieces that would go over & have a little extra room to be glued on the sides. It also gave the letter a little more of a blocky look that I like. Once the ends were covered I started at the top wrapping around the ended making sure to get it tight & covered. Then I wrapped down the line. The creases also took a little more time because I would wrap, cut, & alternate sides so it would give a weaving pattern. Note: you have to pull it pretty tight to squeeze the twine in to cover the styrofoam without giving it a boldgy look. When wrapping I used quite a bit of glue in the back & on the edges, which my fingers felt the wrath of hot glue most the time.
You may notice as your wrapping it will may curve. When it would start this I would cut a piece with tapered edges & glued it in to fill the space & continued wrapping so the lines would be straight.
Once the 'W' was completely wrapped I made my first burlap flowers! They're supper easy...as long as you don't accidentally drop one with a bulldog roaming the house. I had a red flower causality. Then I made sure to get those puppies glued on & wallah!
Now I have my first wedding decoration & after the wedding I plan on hanging it in the house.

Naked, No Roads & Eggy

For those of you who haven't heard already... I'M FREE!!! (oh shit, better cross my fingers so it lasts). On Thursday, April 5th, 2012, my liver tubes were taken out. They said everything was flowing fabulously so there was no need to keep them in. I was pretty out of it, I just remember crying... I believe out of happiness & a little worry some (because my luck hasn't had been too great). I just have to have faith in my KU team & continue with my blood work. Then at the end of the month I will find out at my follow-up how everything is really coming along.

On Friday, Paul & I started our 'Date Night' events. I made a 'Date Jar' with all kinds of day, noon, evening activity ideas in it. I pulled ideas from Pinterest, blogs, & Googling, then twice a month we'll shake it up & do what that little paper says. This way we don't end up in that dinner & movie rut (which I will always love). Anyways, this last Friday's date was the drive in movie theater. Drive in's are far & few between. I had been to one in Sterling, CO & this was Paul's very first experience so luckily I found one in KC, Boulevard Drive In. This weekend was their opening fan weekend, if you had the coupon your carload was free. They were also debuting their new sound & digital systems - which are supposed to be the best out there in the drive-in world. The movie menu included Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Arch & Back to the Future. Two very awesome movies & especially to see on the big screen. They even had a couple Delorians their for people to check out while waiting for the sun to go down. Another treat we enjoyed were funnel cakes, yep they had someone one there frying up those delicious powder sugar covered desserts! YUMM! In the end, we finally were back home by 2am-ish & it was well worth it.

If you have any date ideas or would like to share your awesome time, please do! 

Or look up your nearest drive in & take your own trip back in time....

"Where we're going, we don't need roads."

Lastly, Easter Sunday. Paul & I headed West to my good friend Lori's house. Her family was very welcoming, & I thank them very much for the invite & great food. Not to mention the good stories by 'grandma' & 'grandpa' & the nail biting Taboo game.... WE WON! hahaha. The fresh air fishing was also nice, I enjoyed my catch of moss almost as much as Lori's trophy fish.

First Embroidery Project

Back in December, I completed my first embroidery project! The idea came from a pin on Pinterest. The original blog it came from was a blog called The Modern Lady: A Twenty-Something's Foray into the Domestic Arts. It was actually really simple.
All I needed was:
- The pattern
- Fabric pen
- Embroidery floss
- A circle frame
- Fabric
- Frame

My final product!

THE Dress, Ladies, & Christmas!

 I know it's late but I have some catching up blogging.

This year Paul & I celebrated our first Christmas as an engaged couple! Not only that but my mom & sister made it to town, for Christmas and for.... WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING!

I made sure to tell the doctors that I had to be home on Thursday because I had dresses to try on! Mom & Tess headed out of Colorado the day of a pretty intense blizzard. Their normal 9 hour drive took 12 1/2 hours! I may have had a bag hanging out from my belly but I still made it home Thursday afternoon. Friday, Mom, Tess, & I went to Manhattan to Celebrations of the Heart to begin the search for the perfect dress. The assistant & I put on my very first wedding dress, I looked in the mirror, & the walk down the hall I had to calm my self & held back tears. I knew if I were to start the waterworks my mom would too. That feeling between all of us was amazing. Then I was onto the 2nd dress, I almost had a 'Bridesmaides' moment. Once you see the movie you'll understand, only mine was the vomit feeling. I just sat down, drank some water and I was on to dress number 3. As she clamped it shut I realized this was it, I LOVED IT! I tried on some more just to see different styles but everyone I seemed to, I kept hearing in my head "it doesn't have this like #3 or #3 has this, etc." I put #3 back on and decided.... "I said YES, to the dress!" I am super excited!!!  No pictures though, I love the tradition of the groom not seeing the dress, especially since Paul has only seen me in one dress ever (& that was for Halloween). I was also beat and had to get some grub. McAllisters it was for some awesome soup & sweet tea. I recommend them if you ever see one. We also stopped my girl good friend Lori's house to introduce her to the family. It was nice getting to see her, her mom, & the remodel they're doing. Also getting to see her most recent jewelry, shoutout to Home on the Range Exchange!

For Christmas, this year I got a little crafty (thank you Pinterest once again) and made a card hanger & all my friends University bulbs. I had KSU, OU, KU, & Michigan bulbs. Needless to see it looked like a fairy exploded in my living room. There was glitter everywhere, or as my friend Misty says, "Glitter is the crabs of crafts, it's everywhere & you have no idea how it got there" :)

The card hanger was kind of last minute, but it was extremely easy. A ribbon bow with two strands of hanging ribbon & some clothespins & wallah!

The weekend before, Paul & I picked out our very first Christmas tree together. We got it from the Topeka Optimist club, which they got the trees from Wisconsin. It smelled amazing!



Our first ornament! :) ... I painted it too!

On Saturday, we took mom & Tess to our wedding ceremony & reception location. They loved it! It was also very special as my mom says holding back tears, "it's where I get to see my little girl walk down the aisle to get married." That night I introduced them to Pinterest and now they are hooked! Let the planning really begin!

After the weekend, Mom & Tess made it back safely & under 9 hours. I hope that all of you had wonderful Christmas & New Years as well!