Bunnies, Puppies and January Woes

Well, it’s been quite a winter around our household. Thanksgiving flew by, and the next thing I knew it was Jon’s birthday, followed by Christmas. Now, here we are in February with the rental home remodeling completed and prospective renters submitting applications. (I will be posting the before and after pictures this weekend.) Things are definitely beginning to settle down enough for us to enjoy the newlywed life.

January was hectic with the loss of Bunny Holly and adopting Houdini Brutus. It happened the day after New Year’s and was all very sudden. Jon and I were off work that day, so we leisurely got out of bed and played with Bunny. After about half an hour, we gave her fresh food and water and began to get ready to run some errands. I was grabbing my shoes and purse when I heard Jon exclaim, “Oh, no!” and immediately knew something was wrong. We rushed her to the emergency veterinarian around the corner, but it was too late. She later told us it was quick and sudden and “one of those unexplainable things” since Bunny had been healthy and had great check-ups.

After a few days of mourning (She was my first pet and not even two years old, so I cried a lot while Jon packed and threw away her things.) we went to the local shelter and found Brutus, nicknamed Bruce. He was a beautiful brindle color, appeared house broken and manageable for me to walk with him and not get pulled, so we brought him home. We went to the vet the next day and learned he was still a puppy (The vet roughly estimated he was a one year old and fully grown.) and not four years old, which is what the shelter stated in his description. Day one went well, but we realized he needed crate training while we were away because our doors were terribly scratched by the time we came home. Three dog crates later, Jon and I acknowledged that Bruce was not a crate kind of dog. He destroyed and bent the first wire crate and managed to remove the door. The second crate was a slightly bigger wire crate that Jon padlocked and had placed links to in order to keep him from removing the door or side, but I came home to find him running around the house. Somehow, he slid the tray from the bottom opening and apparently himself. There wasn’t any other way he could have escaped, except for the very bottom where you slide the tray in and out. I walked in to see Bruce in the kitchen, happily playing with his favorite toy, which also managed to make the great escape with him.

That’s when we decided to have Brutus hang out in the balcony, which he loved and did well for about a week. Then the unthinkable happened. He jumped out of our second story balcony and wandered around our neighbor’s yard uninjured. Did I mention that in the middle of the puppy chaos, I fell and injured my knee again? So, with puppy troubles, work, rental house remodeling, and a wife requiring piggy back rides up and down our stairs daily, Jon thought it would be best to return Bruce to the shelter. Jon’s reasoning was that since Bruce jumped two stories and didn’t get injured, he would feel comfortable doing this repeatedly and we wouldn’t be as fortunate to find him in the neighbor’s yard, but injured or at the pound. After many tears, I conceded and we went to the shelter and explained that Brutus was an ideal family dog who was house broken and trained to fetch, sit and speak, but also required someone with time to crate train and a yard. So, if you’re in the Dallas area, and you’re looking for a new addition to your family, visit Bruce and his friends at the local shelter.

So, now that it’s February and we (mostly Jon) aren’t driving to the rental house, we have begun new projects at home. I have tackled sewing curtains, purses and shirts (Yes, a few posts on those will be coming up soon.) while Jon is converting his old glass top desk into a light desk for my craft room! Yes, despite my novice skills on the sewing machine and crocheting, I managed to build a hefty collection of fabric and yarn that took over the master bedroom. Our second bedroom is Jon’s office which was overtaken by books, wires and all things belonging in a man cave, so we decided to convert the study (Bunny and Brutus’ former room) and make it my feminine, craft cave. Although, I have a slight notion it was actually Jon’s way of diverting my attention away from his office to another space in the house that I could decorate. Either way, I have a craft room!

Now, I shall return to Pinterest for more ideas.

Hook a Nook

Jon loves his nook, but when it slipped out of it’s cover and onto the sidewalk awhile back, it began to display a few glitches here and there. As the repairs in the rental house come to an end, he has begun to spend more time at home, so I decide to purchase a nook for him for his birthday. Since his birthday is Christmas eve, we generally have a small celebration in early December, and I realized I needed to start scouring for ideas on making him a slip proof cover now that chaos from Thanksgiving had past.

So, after much searching, I came across a zombie phone case pattern from Cult of Crochet and knew it was the perfect case for the nerdy, sci-fi geeky, programmer guy that my husband is. I changed the pattern a bit since I wasn’t fond of the double crochet stitches. I do not have a pattern for my version since it is so basic, but it’s very similar to the original pattern. The few differences are that I added two single crochets in all four corners in the beginning, decided to make single crochet stitches all the way around and added an extra stitch or two to the foundation chain so I could add a lining.

I also wanted some type of padding in order to give it a little more protection from future falls, so I grabbed a pack of durable, heavy weight Innerfuse while I was at the fabric store and began to work on the lining. I folded the innerfuse in half and placed the nook on top and traced it all the way around. I cut out the two pieces and grabbed my fabric. Since I needed to iron the innerfuse to both sides of the fabric, I cut the fabric into two pieces twice the length size of the nook with an extra inch on the bottom and sides. I folded the fabric in half and placed the innerfuse inside and ironed. Once that was done, I sewed the sides and bottom together (I used the folded edge for the top to give it a nice clean look) with my sewing machine and trimmed the excess. I then hand stitched the lining to the crocheted case using this tutorial from futuregirl.

The fabric was a remnant from a previous project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finished product!

It’s Sew Simple…Right?

Well, it’s been quite awhile since I have posted, but we have been swamped with the chaos that is life. The rental property is just about ready for viewing (I promise pictures will be posted soon.) and I have been in the kitchen experimenting with some new recipes, crocheting and sewing!

It all began with Jon driving out to the rental house after work and I needed something to do in the evenings. It all began with my Pottery Barn curtains; I have been courting these curtains since this summer and could not convince Jon to purchase them at regular price, but then, they were on sale! So, I emailed the link to Jon and proceeded to show my coworker, Teresa, my lovely curtains that “match my antique gold couches and Victorian living room decor.” She then introduced me to the amazing world of fabric and the possibility of sewing my own curtains with coordinating pillows! Of course! Thus, my new dream of sewing my own home decor (well, to a certain degree) was born.

Later that afternoon I persuaded Jon to take me to Joann. I immediately scoured the aisles and found a print that was very comparable to the drape and began looking for an employee to help me while Jon began to quietly calculate the cost of my new hobby. After a few minutes of observing the other women, I grabbed a number and anxiously waited near my fabric when my wonderful husband cheerily exclaimed that he would ”buy the four panels needed for the living room windows!  Otherwise, this expensive fabric will be wasted when you mess up. It will be cheaper in the long run.” No, I had never touched a sewing machine before, but after browsing blogs and etsy, I figured if a twelve year old could make wallets, surely it’s not too difficult.

About five seconds later, I was sobbing hysterically while a horrified Jon ushered me out the door as employees and shoppers looked on. Once we were in the car, I explained that this trip was not just about the curtains, but what I wanted to do as a hobby. According to Jon, once he realized it was a hobby, then “costs do not matter” and that we would look into classes and items needed. By the end of the week, we ordered my Singer, bought a few remnants and enrolled in a sewing class together! While I waited for my machine and classes to start, I found a crochet hook my nanny had given me when I was a child (I used to make flowers while watching the Cubs games with her.), some yarn and a few online how-to-crochet tutorials and began to make some granny squares.

So, here I am three months later and I have made a couple of wallets, a shirt, scarves and such while Jon went to join the contractors and work on the house. Now that he’s just about done with the house, I may need to find him a new project…maybe cooking?

Girl Needs Her Cake

Do you have that one comfort food you go to when you need to indulge? Well, whether I need to celebrate a moment, relax from a hectic week or simply want to cry myself to sleep, I seek out a local bakery and devour a cupcake…and usually pair it with a glass of wine. It has definitely spared Jon’s life on numerous occasions!

I was triggered when we were eating dinner with some friends the other night after an inspection on the rental house, when someone suggested we get some ice cream. Off we went to the nearest Braum’s where I ordered my usual birthday cake ice cream to appease my preference for cake.  It began after the rape when I lost a drastic amount of weight within a matter of days; I went from a healthy 128 lbs to a gaunt 109 lbs within a week. My physician and therapist suggested I indulge in a large smoothie or ice cream everyday to prevent anymore drastic weight loss. That’s when I became introduced to the cupcake option, and my life has never been the same since.

As I have mentioned in the last few months, we have been under some stress, so I have been on a cupcake binge. This has led to me the discovery of a small suburb cupcakery that is absolutely delicious! If you are ever on the Richardson side of the Dallas area, then you must stop at Trailer Cakes. “Happiness is in the frosting” is their motto and it most definitely is! I have eaten at many a bakery (and have forced Jon to do the same), and have yet to find another place that has mastered the delicate balance of moist cake topped with a light, not too sweet, not too heavy frosting.

Our new home is much closer, and I admit, I have hosted girl’s nights, birthday parties and other festivities over the last couple of months so that I can continue to indulge in these goodies without the feeling gluttonous. (I was on the HCG diet for the first few months of the year, and I would also like to mention that I have managed to lose an additional ten pounds since I have been off of it!) I realize that some people have addictions to alcohol, prescription medications, and after watching a couple of episodes of Hoarders, I now know there are even people who have  addictions for keeping food from 2007, but me, I love cupcakes. Ir is most definitely my Achilles heel. Most specifically, tasty, moist, amazing cupcakes.

With all that said, since it is my birthday eve, Jon has provided me with cake flavored vodka and, of course, cupcakes! So, tonight, despite all the troubles, I will be relishing in my “The King” cupcake, a vodka Dr. Pepper and perhaps opening a present!…that is, if the husband wants a happy life with a happy wife… 

"The King" is banana cake with peanut butter fluff frosting topped with a chocolate covered banana chip.

This was last week's cupcake...also containing peanut butter...another love.

The Trying Life and Times of Jon

It has been a week since Shawn Pope and May Lan Smart Pope were evicted and forced to move out of the house by the judge. Naturally, they could not leave without leaving a lasting impression and reminder to us that they are white trash. Yes, that is correct; I said it. They vandalized and destroyed the house to the point of committing a state jail or third (We have not checked the plumbing or attic yet, so it may become second degree within the week.) degree felony.

Now, I realize that pride and vengeance are two things some people would prefer to go to jail and die for (I base this opinion from watching VH1′s Mob Wives. The “husbands” would rather go to jail than be “snitches” and teach their children this belief.), but is the loss of time spent with their children really worth it? It is common sense to Jon and I, but somehow, Shawn and May Lan have a disconnect in their thought process, because, somehow, they do not feel their actions have any consequences. The behavior and actions they have taken will likely leave one child in the custody of an ex-husband and the other with grandparents.

Not being a parent, I can not understand how a couple would be willing to risk this to “prove a point.” Which leads me to ask: at what point do parents become so self-absorbed that they stop to think of the impact of their actions on their children? If you pay about six or eight months rent over the course of three years, then, the landlord will ask you to leave followed by an order from the court. If you then move by the date the court has ordered, but you decide to rip up base boards, take cabinets, ceiling fixtures and lights, crown molding along with tampering with the water supply, air conditioner and access doors, you will be convicted of a felony. In the meantime, I hope they enjoy living with Shawn’s parents in Grand Prairie.

On the upside, he has a fabulous wife who supplies him with wine, cupcakes and reality television for a distraction…and his car was released from the repair shop! Did I mention his fender bender a few weeks ago and the guy lied about how and where the accident was? Naturally, Allstate took their insured’s word over Jon’s, but with our witnesses, surveillance cameras from the convenience store across the street and insurance investigation (and now prosecution), we hope to recover the deductible.

Yeah, it’s been quite a week! Well, let me rephrase and say it’s been quite a month, but my birthday is on Friday and I have big plans! So, if you are in the Big D and you see us, buy this newly wed, birthday girl a drink! 

July Proceedings

I realize I haven’t blogged since June (with the exception of the Kings of Leon entry) but July has definitely been a month! First of all, we are evicting a former “friend” from Jon’s house. A friend does not refuse to pay rent and refuse to move out when given a notice to leave due to non-payment for a year. Yeah, you read that correctly a year! Jon is a really nice guy and since Shawn was a “friend” of his, he wanted to try to give him an opportunity to make payment arrangements and find another place to live. Shawn took advantage of this and manipulated Jon by using the family  (Think of what you’re doing to my family?!?!) and the friendship (“We’re buddies! You know I will totally do what I need to do in order to keep our friendship because you’re my buddy and I really care about our relationship!”) to prolong the inevitable. Now, here we are thirty-one days later with a court date set for Thursday morning…which happens to also be moving day!

Yes, in the midst of bad concerts and court dates, we have been packing up both of our apartments (If you don’t follow the blog, Jon and I eloped June 19th. We had been planning a wedding for September 10th, but it was getting expensive and stressful so we bought a Groupon and eloped.) while trying to consolidate the “big” items. We are now down to the wire and have my entire apartment packed and ready for the movers while Jon’s is needing some tending. I am learning that there are some things about getting married that people don’t tell you about and consolidating belongings is definitely one of them. Lately, I find the conversations seem to consist of, “Do you really need this?!?! You have this one, so can’t we just stick this in the Goodwill pile?…Really? It’s so ugly! Ugh, nevermind! It’s coming with us!” So, after a month of sorting and selling items, I am coming to accept that a good portion of the hideous shirts, jackets and toys that belong to the husband are making the move with us. The same husband who so sweetly allowed me to keep my unquestionably necessary, outrageous collection of dresses, shoes and handbags. Although, as I learned last night, it’s primarily because he does not think he will live long enough to make it to the end of the week because I will have killed him by then. Have I mentioned I am slightly OCD?

Awkward Moments of A Band’s Demise

Since we are moving into our new place and evicting a deadbeat tenant this week, we are unable to join our friends to south Texas for a mini vacation, so, we opted for the Kings of Leon concert this past Friday. We bought tickets and were ready for a great time with friends while listening to some decent tunes.

We arrived just as Band of Horses began performing and enjoyed their music and energy. The audience was definitely ready to go for Kings of Leon, but after about an hour of waiting, we could sense something was very wrong. Eventually the Kings of Leon came on stage and Caleb Followill let us know that his voice wa “100 percent gone” and he was going to push through. A few songs later, he told us he’d be back once he vomited and drank another beer. We were having a great time (despite the obvious problems the band was having) with friends drinking our overpriced margaritas and beer while waiting for the band to return.

That’s when it got ugly. Nathan and Jared Followill came on stage and informed us that they would not be able to finish the set due to Caleb’s inability to sing. People were beginning to throw things toward the stage while Nathan began cursing and telling all of us in the audience “to burn the records”. It was a very sad moment. The guys were undeniably embarrassed and crushed at the uproar and completely frustrated with their wasted lead singer.

After reading a few of the many articles, tweets, blogs and comments from fellow concert attendees, I hope the Dallas fans can forgive them. Admittedly, I am not a fan, but I wish them the best. It was definitely upsetting to the many people who have followed the band and expected more from them.