Grateful 365 Project

I saw this on a friend's facebook page and absolutely adore the concept.  The idea is to take a picture a day to keep in touch with the little things in life that make our year so special and unique.  It's supposed to actually be a photography project, but I truly believe that you don't need talent in taking photos in order to convey what means the world to you.  And the fact that there are millions of people around the world participating in the same project help lends the idea a sense of community and group support: not everyone values or treasures the same ideas/objects.  It's quite amazing.  Here are a few shots from the Project 365 Flickr group:

Photo by: Anthony Herald

Photo by: Lyfe Thru My Lense

Photo by: Paul R. Giunta Photography

Keep in mind, these pictures are for the photography project (just called Project 365).  The majority of us in life aren't this talented (and by us, I mean me).  The Grateful 365 Project is a little more sentimental and meaningful, meant for the day to day activities and to help us appreciate the small things in life.  

If you are interested in the photography portion, check out this link.  It helps explain the process and gives you some inspiration from shots others have taken.  If you're interested in the origins of where the Grateful Project came from, and would like to check out the impending documentary, take a gander here.  Also, Hogan Imaging's Facebook link is how I learned more about the project, and 365 Grateful the Documentary site is where I found more information about the project.

Hopefully this made sense...my brain is a mess right now trying to figure out how to describe it.  I personally will be starting this project on Sunday, so feel free to check back to watch the process.  Leave a comment if you have a question, or feel free to email me or find me on Facebook (English N Timmy Brownderson).  Good luck with your project!!!

The Dirty Things in Life

If you know me at all, you know I hate dirt.  I hate bugs, I hate being sweaty, I hate walking barefoot...I actually dislike most of what has to do with outside.  Sounds horrible, I know, but I can't help it.  What I do like about outside mostly has to do with picnic blankets separating me from the grass and ants, or lawn chairs that keep me completely elevated.  I like looking outside, so I often have my windows and curtains open, but I honestly don't like being out there with all the teeny tiny gross bugs.  

So, with this new eye opening information, can anyone tell me WHY I decided that I needed to redo my flower beds?!  Great idea in my head, horrible idea when acted out.  Here is what I had to deal with before I got started:

To be honest it was actually worse than this.  Imagine it covered with rocks and three horrible bushes destroying the picture.  We had to shovel up the rocks and bushes...that random thing there is a weed.

Needless to say, there were lots of bugs, lots of dirt, I was sweaty and tired from shoveling so much, and I now have blisters on my hands.  Me = not happy.  But it really needed it; our house was an eye sore on a street where people actually plant flowers and bushes and take care of them.  I wait and let the weeds grow as much as possible until I get a warning to cut them down...

Four hours later, and here is the final result:

The strip along the sidewalk used to be rock and weeds.  So much better now, aye?!

I finally get to put my flowers on display, and now have somewhere to sit and watch the dogs run in the front yard.  Ignore my half eaten cushions and bench.  My dogs are the reason I can't have nice things.

So, I accomplished one of my to-do items.  I'm so happy with the result, and I think whoever moves in after will appreciate the easy upkeep of their new flower beds.  Yay for me, un-yay for my blistery hands.

Oh, the Vision of Success!

I've mentioned before that I've actually started planning the reception, but a lot of what I was looking at was online.  I've downloaded at least a hundred of photos of other couples' weddings to help me envision the style I wanted, but it was still hard for me to grasp.  I took my first trip to town today with the specific purpose of finding decorations, trays, and whatnot for the party, and am sooooo happy with what I found.  

I found at least 5 or 6 of these trays for the food, and quite a few assorted baskets for the tables.

Isn't this birdhouse amazing?!  It will be at the party, but I didn't buy it specifically for that...I am determined to find a place for it in our home.

 The jars will be used as cups for all of the guests.  I'm loving the yellow ribbon...matches the plates perfectly!

These precious antique beer bottles will be a perfect substitute for vases for my sunflowers!

I feel so accomplished with my purchases, and it is all thanks to the local Goodwill.  Or, thanks to the wonderful people that donated to the Goodwill!  There is still a lot to do, but my vision is coming true (yes, I'm a poet).  Cups, plates, cloth for the napkins I'll be making, and much more is all sitting in the garage waiting for summer.  I'm so excited!

Illiteracyanous

I know I am writing way more than I need to, and I'm completely positive that not everyone cares what I have to say.  But I am bored and online and like sharing my thoughts...this might stem from the fact that I tend to talk a lot.  Without Timmy home, I talk to dogs.  When that starts to make me feel as though I'm crazy, I write blogs.  Today, I feel crazy.

First, more ideas for the reception.  Although I'm honestly about to just call it a party since the only wedding-ish thing there will be a mini wedding cake for Tim and I.  But that's beside the point.

I found these on another blog and fell in love.  I wanted to do something similar, but couldn't figure out how to make the flower portion (remember, I have no craft talent).  I'm going to do it just a tad different to make it fit my vision, but isn't it adorable?!

I've also decided to make doilies for the trays.  They will never be as dainty as this one, but I will use it as inspiration.  Since I'm on a tight budget, a lot of my vision will have to be DIY.  Fine with me, I have friends to help :).

Second, I would like to say how completely computer illiterate I am.  Anytime I want to do something, I have to ask Timmy for help, and he doesn't even know that much.  It is definitely frustrating when I want something to happen and the computer shuts off, or I get lost in a maze of folders.  With this Mac, it took me two months to figure out how to save a drafted document.  *Sigh.*  What is html?  How do you find a calculator on the computer?  I need to take a class or something, this is getting ridiculous.  On the plus side, I am finally getting somewhere on that baby blanket...

Productive Days

Along with finally starting to plan our reception, I have also decided to pick up an old hobby: crocheting.  I have never been very good, nor have I ever made anything worth much while (except for a couple beanies, my pride and joys), but I feel that now is the perfect time to expand my talent.  So I took a trip to a local craft store this past weekend, and gathered some yarn and needles to start me on my adventure.  I took a couple hours refreshing myself on what exactly crocheting is, and was definitely happy with my shapeless product!

After familiarizing myself again, I went to my favorite online shop, and downloaded a pattern for a baby blanket!  My dear friend, Shanna, is having her third boy in July, and I have decided that this little boy will have the coolest baby blanket in the world.  Here is what it will look like when I finally finish (just substitute the girly colors for more appropriate ones):

It will be a challenge, but something to look forward to and keep me occupied during these rainy days.  If you'd like to check out the pattern yourself, do so here.  Between this, planning the reception, and making quite a few of the decorations myself, I think I might actually have something to do other than play with the pups!  They may not enjoy this, but I am definitely looking forward to occupying my time once again.  Who knows?  Maybe this can even end up being a small business for me.  I'll probably just stick to gift giving, but there's always a possibility.
Off to bed with me.  I've finally relented and will let the dogs go play in the mud tomorrow since they've been stuck in the house for so long.  It will mean lots and lots of cleaning, plus bathing them (always a chore!).