Saturday Quick Craft

This morning while watching the Wisconsin Badgers game (sorry Utes I would watch your games but they don't broadcast here) I decided to make a new key chain. I have used the same lanyard since my first year in college. I got that lanyard from the military recruiters that came to our school in high school. It was camo colored and by this point starting to fall apart. I found this fun idea on pinterest and decided to make it.
http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2009/08/guest-bloggerfashionable-fabric-key.html

I used the clip from my old lanyard and material scraps I already had from other projects. I followed the same instructions from the website except I did not get any fusible interfacing. I also used flannel material so when I got the point where I had to sew I decided it was too thick so I cut off a layer of each side of the material. It's does have a few flaws, but it was fun and super easy to make. If I were to make it again I would make the straps a little bit longer. Right now it is just a little too small and I would like to be able to put it around my wrist.

September Fun

So far September has been great. The weather has cooled a bit so we haven't turned on the air conditioner for almost a week. I have a feeling the weather is going to change quickly. Next week's forecast calls for a high of 82 on Monday and by Thursday it is a high of 61 and a low of 39.

Downtown Madison has a huge farmer's market every Saturday all day surrounding Capitol Square. A few weeks ago we went down and walked around. We also stopped by Ian's Pizza, the first restaurant we went to when we came here in April for Kyle's interview. It is pizza by the slice, but not your regular pizza. We enjoyed a Mac and Cheese slice, Chicken potato, and chicken cordon bleu.

The next weekend we went to Taste of Madison. This is a huge event they do every Labor Day Weekend around Capitol Square. There were maybe 50-60 local restaurants all around with several items you could try each between $1-4. Here are some of the things we tried.

Egg Rolls

Aloha Burger-had a spicy sauce and pineapple

Beef and Cheese empanada

We also had Blue Raspberry Ice (so goood!), a mango orange smoothie, and some cinnamon almonds. There were three stages set up around the square with live music-rock, djs and country.

Yesterday was Kyle's birthday. Since we are rather boring we both worked and in the evening I made Kyle his favorite dinner-crepes. At first I was having a really hard time getting them to cook and they were way too thick. I switched to a smaller pan and was able to get enough good ones to enjoy. We filled them with fresh whipped cream, strawberries, bananas, raspberries and covered in syrup.

Kyle told me he didn't want his presents wrapped but that would be lame so I used what I had around the house to at least put them in something. You would think it was a girl's birthday based on this picture.

Kyle got a few collared shirts, new khaki pants and some ear buds. He needed some dressier clothes than t-shirts and jeans because he has to wear business casual when he is around customers. My parents got Kyle a video game, Deus Ex. Kyle had mentioned he might want it and we were all stumped on what to get him for his birthday so he got it... what a spoiled guy. He seems to like it, he played it for a few hours last night. This morning he got a package from his family, a hoodie and shirt. I also made him his favorite ice cream cake.

Final Decorating Class

Yesterday was my final class in the decorating basics class by Wilton. I learned a few flowers, leaves and how to do lettering. This is the best flower I made it is called a pompom flower.
Roses are hard to make! It is partly because you have to turn the flower base while you're squeezing the frosting with your other hand, and you have to turn counter clockwise. I kept doing it the wrong direction but it still turned out well.
This is the best cupcake swirl I did. It was fluffy and full, which is why I didn't cover it up like I had to for the other ones.
This is a pompom flower on the top of a cupcake made with 1 color instead of 2. Also notice the awesome leaves. They are so easy to make and you can't mess them up!
Finally here is the shaggy mum. I think my frosting wasn't the right consistency because the pieces should have been smaller and neater but it's still a fun flower that can cover up lots of mistakes.
Finally, here is my certificate. I am officially certified in decorating basics!

Cake Day!

Yesterday was my 2nd lesson for my cake decorating class. Last week we learned how to fill (tort) and ice a cake so Monday we all got to do it ourselves. I also learned how to do swirly lines, rosettes, star flowers, swirl flowers, and circles. I tried to use all these new techniques in decorating my cake. By the end of the night my frosting was getting warm and a little mushy so some of the decorations were less than ideal. Here are some pictures!

Cookies!!

I finally started my cake decorating class! My first lesson was yesterday and I learned a lot of great things! At the end we decorated cookies using our new talents, with a star tip. Here are some examples of what I did. Sorry about the poor quality on some of the pictures.
This one, the letter K, is probably the best one I did. A lady sharing the table with me was very impressed when she found out I've never done this before. She said I had done a great job keeping even pressure, which is hard to do.


This is my new necklace holder. I got some coat hooks from Bed Bath and Beyond that had adhesive on the back and stuck them to the wall next to my closet. Now I can see my beautiful necklaces hanging out and easily choose accessories.
On a side note... I started my new job today! I am an accountant at National Guardian Life Insurance. My first day was great. Everyone is super friendly and once I got started learning what I'll be doing I feel very comfortable that I can learn it and be successful.

Birthday Stuff

Yesterday was my birthday. I love my birthday... maybe because all day I tell Kyle he has to do things because it's MY birthday!! I also love sharing my birthday with my wonderful Mom. I love her very much and it's great to celebrate our day together. You may not be aware that I am a very emotional person. Lately whenever I get to talk to my family on the phone or Skype I get teary eyed. It's not so much because I miss them (I do) but more because I love them and for some reason that just makes me cry. So dad, if you were wondering why I got so quiet when I talked to you yesterday it was because I didn't want to start bawling in the restaurant. (Even now I'm getting a little teary eyed)

I told Kyle I really didn't want any presents. My reasoning for this is because we just moved 1500 miles and it was not cheap. I also just got a new cell phone and we bought rock band, so I felt spoiled enough. The one thing I did ask for I haven't gotten yet, a job. Well I guess I'm learning patience but I don't know how much longer I can take it! Because I have so much free time on my hands I did end up at nearby mall a few times during the day. I got myself a few presents, clothes, because Kyle says he will NOT buy clothes for me because he doesn't know how to choose them, etc. Here are some things I got, for me, for my birthday

My thoughtful parents also sent me a gift. In a conversation with my dad I mentioned I didn't have a hammer so I couldn't hang up any pictures or anything. He knows I love to decorate my home and was adamant that I get a hammer for my birthday. They got me this tool kit, which is pink, with all the things I would need to decorate or hang shelves. I'm very excited to use it.

Kyle said he really wasn't getting me anything, but he did get me a shirt from Epic. It's actually very comfortable and now I don't have to steal his... not that I ever did.
He gave it to me in this gift bag, which was hilarious. He said it's because I'm a princess, but for some reason I didn't believe him. Kyle did get a birthday cake, a Oreo cookie ice cream cake. It was delicious and I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful guy. He even got some sparkly numbered candles for me to blow out.

Cupcakes!!

I normally have my evenings wide open so last night I decided to experiment and make filled cupcakes. I started with a white cake mix and added some thawed frozen strawberries for a little extra flavor.

While the cupcakes were cooking I made a filling with strawberries, cornstarch, sugar and some lemonade Koolaid. The recipe actually called for lemon juice but since I didn't have any I had to improvise. After letting it boil it thickened up and then I let it cool in the refrigerator. I realized it's basically what you would put on strawberry shortcake and way better than the store bought stuff.

After the cupcakes were done and cooled I used the "cone method" to fill them. (I looked it up on the internet since I've never done it before) I frosted them with a vanilla frosting mixed with the lemonade to give it a different flavor.

They were very delicious. As soon as they were done Kyle had 3 and I ate 2. I even had one for breakfast as well :)

The Place We Now Call Home

Here is our new table. That is our front door so you walk right into our dining area. The kitchen on the left and down two steps is the living room

Here is our living room with our new couch. Yes mom, I know sectionals are bad. Unfortunately due to the shape of the room we wouldn't be able to fit a couch and loveseat and this is perfect for us and has enough room.

Here is our kitchen. Pretty basic, but it is so nice to have a dishwasher!!

Down the hall is the main bathroom. Finally I have my bathtub and I love it!

Here is our bedroom. There are no lights in the living room and either bedrooms so we have to have lamps and lights plugged in or else we'd be in the dark all the time.

Next to the bed are my saloon doors...these are the random closet doors we have, which lead to a closet and a secret bathroom

We do have a second bedroom which is for now storage and my craft room.