Merry Christmas - 2013

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday, today. I hope you spend it with those you love most.

The Frozen Tundra and Ice Skating

There's a reason my family and I call the North Country the Frozen Tundra. It's cold. It's icy. And it's cold. Did I mention that yet?

Today, the high in Norfolk is 7F. Yea, you read that right 7F. It's cold. Have I mentioned that yet?

I ventured outside today, finally. To take some pictures of what it looks like outside. After two days of sleeting and freezing rain and one day of snow showers. That stuff just tops off the snow that was already here. Cleaning off my car was a joy. 

There's a reason we call it the Frozen Tundra...It's not like it's untrue. Funny enough, ice skating is popular up here. When it's snowy and icy for nine months out of the year, I guess it's one thing you can do for most of the year. Okay, so there might not be nine months of ice and snow but people who live up here joke that there's two seasons, winter and construction. 

My sister-in-law wanted to take her boys skating for the first time at a local arena. Since Ryan and I have only been out once this year I thought it would be perfect to join them! 

Unfortunately the arena that had free skate wasn't renting out ice skates. Fortunately, there weren't many people (read: 10 including the six of us) there so the boys and my brother-in-law could still walk around on the ice - which they enjoyed! Here's some pictures:

this was the rink at 9:15am - free skate started at 9:00am

my nephews, Luke and Cole

the boys thought it was fun to run on the ice and make themselves fall

the hubbs is a phenomenal skater - should've been a defenseman

sibling love

us!

the whole group - clockwise from top left: Ryan, Jessica, Tracy, Me, Cole, Luke

This was a perfect start to the Christmas festivities beginning tonight. Let the love and joy start! Happy Christmas Eve!

What can I craft this Tuesday? Pallet Wood Memory Frame

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far away somewhere in the millions pins on pinterest, I found the perfect gift for my father. The problem was it's $75. Not that I'm not willing spend that much on my dad, it's just that I could make something like it myself for much cheaper. That's what I set out to do this Christmas. 

My first step was to find free pallets. You can generally find them on Craigslist or behind a store. I went to my normal store and picked up three snow covered ones. Then the hubbs and I deconstructed them. We use our circular saw to cut along the edges and then see-saw it off the center nails. It's not a fast going process but it's not as slow as it could be.

Half the time we pulled the boards off the center pallet support the nails came with it. Make sure you a handsome husband around to pound out those rusty things.

Make sure he's also around to use the power tools. God forbid us women folk use them...

From one large pallet we got a pretty decent pile of wood boards. For my dad's sign, I used three pieces of wood that were 25" long and between 4.5" and 6" wide. The final product was 17"x25". 

Next, I took the boards I was going to use and sanded the crap out of them. The only bad thing about pallets is that they're so roughly cut. It takes forever to get the natural grain back out. Here's a before and after picture.

I wiped them down to get most of the excess dust off and left them overnight to dry. Back at it the next day I used mending plates with #8x1/2" sheet metal screws to connect the boards. I used three instead of the four boards I sanded. It looked best with the frame I picked out. 

Then I white washed the boards all together and left it to dry overnight - mainly because I'm lazy I had other to do. While it was drying, I worked on the wording and fonts I wanted to use for the frame. I ended up using Aquarelle and KG Hard Candy Solid for the words. I used a lead pencil to shade in the back of the page so that I could transfer the words onto the wood. Using a pencil I traced the outside of the words so that I could painstakingly paint the words on. The things I do for those I love. I tell ya. Here's my process:

I took my frame - which was an stand up frame - and took off the kick stand (what do you even call that thing?). I then put in a saw tooth hanger on the frame so that I could mount it on the base. With two more sheet metal screws attached it's ready for mounting. 

Fast forward a week...Ryan finally decided to work on his "honey do" list. Which included getting an 8"x10" print from our wedding. In the mean time, I put in two D-ring hangers (attached with sheet metal screws) to the back of the base.

Armed with the right picture, I finally finished it! I'm almost positive this is going to go over well Saturday when my dad opens it. By the way, good luck finding a box to fix this...

I spend $5 for the picture, pennies for the screws (if you think about per piece), let's say $2.50 for a three pack of D-ring hangers (so $1.67 for the pair), about $3.25 for the mending plates, and finally $12.50 for the 8"x10" frame. Add that all up and it's about $25 for materials (including tax). That's a steal compared to what you would've paid for just the frame. All in all, I say win. 

What do you guys think? Something easy you could do? Who would you make one for and what would it say?

Safe and Sound with Laughter

Well, we got here. Up North. In the frozen tundra. Which makes even more sense as it's literally been freezing rain and sleeting since we passed through Saranac Lake yesterday. Sliding in to Norfolk around 4:30pm we made it just in the nick of time as a state of emergency was issued at 5:00pm banning all unnecessary travel. With an inch of ice/sleet/snow on the ground when we got here, I'd say it was for the best.

Good thing I didn't want to go anywhere.

Most everything was closed today, including the local churches. It's probably a good thing as the ice just kept coming today. Last night had the hubbs and I up a couple times listening to it pounding away at the roof. It was surprising to wake up and still have power. Thankfully it never went out. 

The icy roads and travel ban didn't stop Ryan's sister and her boyfriend for making the trip out to spend time together. We finally got to give her her birthday gift (from October) and then we all enjoyed it together.

This game is seriously funny. About half way through I started writing down some of the things that were said. Here's some highlights:

Name 3 Halloween costumes:

"Batman, Superman, Spongebob" - Tyler (Amber's boyfriend)

Name 3 Indian tribes:

"Fukowee" - Craig (my father-in-law) As in "where the fuck are we?"

Name 3 feathered animals:

"Bird, emu, ostrich..." - Me

"Chicken?" - Ryan

"er...bird...blue bird!" - Me

"You couldn't think of more common birds? Emu, really?" - Ryan

Name 3 Chicago songs:

After Amber and Tyler couldn't name one, we all broke into song singing "Saturday in the Park."

Name 3 reasons to call into work:

"Got your period." - Said by yours truly - not my finest moment

Name 3 medical procedures:

"Addadicktomy" - Craig (say it slow and break it down)

Name 3 prime numbers:

"1, 2, 3." - Me

"2, 3, 5. Did you just say one?!" - Ryan

As a side note, we're both math majors, and the number one is neither prime nor composite by definition.

Name 3 brands of toilet paper:

"What's that horrible one? Scott? It's like sandpaper on your vagina!" - Amber (Ryan's sister)

Highlights also included when I said "sex and masturbation" for stress relievers and "condoms" for things you would find in a high school locker. My mother would be proud. Just showed my city girl roots apparently. 

first picture: Tyler and Amber 

second picture: Craig

third picture: Tammy (my mother-in-law) and Ryan

Have you played this game? Was it as enjoyable for you and your friends as it was for us? Do you remember any particularly funny answers?

Happy Friday! Safe Travels

Tomorrow, Ryan and I will be making our journey north. I'm so excited to spend the time with his family. This will be our first Christmas spent with them since we've been married. In past years, we'd either go up the week or two before or for a couple days afterwards. But this year, I get to experience a full LaBarge family Christmas and I'm excited. If you're traveling this holiday season, whether it's down the road or across the state, I hope you're safe. You want to make sure you can enjoy yourself once you get there!

Now, my dad is known for his apple pies. He crams about 7-8 apples per 9" pie. It's large. And they're delicious. Word gets around on these pies. Unfortunately, he's been busy. So I baked pies. From scratch. And from those apples from my freezer. Remember those?

I know, my edging technique needs work. You see that lattice technique though, right? I know, the widths vary. But you know what? These are going to be fantastic. How do I know? These are my fourth and fifth pie I've made this baking season. So yea, they're going to get eaten. If not by my in-laws, then definitely by me. Because I. LOVE. APPLE. PIE. I have the ass stomach ache to prove it.

That brings us to your fourth and final printable for December. It's pretty generic, but you can put it on beautiful paper in an equally pretty frame and have something good going on. 

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Please note that this printable was formatted to fit an 5" x 7" paper.

What can I craft this Tuesday? Jolly Rancher Vodka

"Pssst...I've got a secret...Santa's coming." That phrase makes me smile just about every year. Right around this time, maybe a week or two earlier, my mom starts telling me this. It's like a highlight of the year. 

In case you've been procrastinating gift buying, like my husband, here's a last minute project you can make today that'd be ready for gifting on Christmas next week. I made it for my brother for his 28th birthday back in November. He hasn't tried it yet but it's sure to be delicious.

Here's what you need:

1 large bag of Jolly Ranchers

5 glass swing-top bottles (buy at Hobby Lobby when they have the half off glass sale)

1 handle of the cheapest vodka you can find (I used Fleischmann's)

Here's what you do:

Step 1. Wash all your swing-top bottles with hot water and let air dry as you're going through the next step.

Step 2. Unwrap each and every single jolly rancher in the bag. You should end up with about twelve of each flavor and possibly a hand cramp. If not, no biggy. 

Step 3. Add about eight candies of each flavor to separate swing-top bottles. I did twelve and I think it was too many.

Step 4. Open your cheap ass vodka and using a funnel, pour in the vodka until you hit the bottom of the bulb at the top. This is very exact. Not really.

Step 5. Set it and forget it. For about a week. You don't need to shake them. But let's face it, it's fun and feels rewarding. Here's a couple pictures of what'll happen. You'll know it's ready when the candies are no longer visible and the corn syrup it was made from is no longer coating the bottom. Gross, I know.

that one of the right is vanilla beans in vodka

the morning after I put it together

then I shook them 

Step 6. Wrap and give those bad boys away. Or enjoy. Either way.

Do you have any left to shop for? Does anyone you know fit the bill for this gift? Any last minute things you're trying to put together?

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday. That seems to be a popular thing to say around the office every Friday morning. Maybe because we're all just ready for the week to be over. (I know I'm ready for that on Monday.)

It's getting so close to Christmas and I can smell how close I am to being fully ready (I have some loose Christmas strings that I need to pull together). But, I swear by the end of this weekend I'll be done! I'm really hoping I'll be done. 

This Friday's printable comes from the holiday song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - We Three Kings" by the Barenaked Ladies featuring Sarah McLachlan. I love their version! I hope you like the printable.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - We Three Kings

Please note that this printable was formatted to fit an 8" x 10" paper.

My Disney Fascination

Growing up, I saw pretty much every Disney movie there was to see. I love 'em. They're awesome. The music, amazing. I'm obsessed. Slightly. When I see things on Pinterest that relate to Disney, they immediately make me smile. 

On Thanksgiving, when  my mom brought over a game that had us match "thank you" to its corresponding language. What was one I got? "Asante sana" which is Swahili. Why? How? You might ask? ASANTE SANA SQUASHED BANANA. BAM. The Lion King. To. The. Rescue. Thank you Rafiki. Or should I say, asante sana. 

As I sit here, I've listened to the following songs:

"I'll Make a Man Out of You" - Mulan
"Be Prepared" - The Lion King
"I'll Make a Man Out of You" - Mulan
"Reflection" - Mulan
"Tale as Old as Time" - Beauty and the Beast
"A Whole New World" - Aladdin
"Once Upon a December" - Anastasia
"He Mele No Lilo" - Lilo & Stitch
"When Will My Life Begin" - Tangled
"I See the Light" - Tangled
"I Won't Say I'm in Love" - Hercules
"Colors of the Wind" - Pocahontas
"Part of Your World" - The Little Mermaid

And I'm browsing Pinterest reading things like this:

But now, I must go and stop listening to Disney music because I'm almost positive my husband's going to kill me.

What brings you back to your childhood? Is there anything that makes you smile when you see or hear someone mention it?

Happy Friday!

As I mentioned on Sunday, this month I'll be giving you a new printable every Friday in the spirit of giving. And because I was so excited about Christmas, I went crazy with making them for myself. Without further ado, here ya go.

12 Days of Christmas

Please note that this printable was formatted to fit an 8" x 10" paper.

Tunetastic Thursday - Wild Cub "Thunder Clatter"

I am absolutely in love with this song. I heard it first on EQX Monday morning. It's been on my brain for the past week. Apparently it's been featured in a Bose commercial. Go them. I like it when indie bands get national attention and ad campaigns. It just goes to show you that some of the best music comes from labels where MUSIC is most important, not profit.

Did you like this week's song? How about those lyrics?

Happy December

I think I've mentioned that this is my absolute favorite time of year. I've been so excited about it, I created a bunch of printables! To share them all, I'll post one each Friday until right before Christmas (four in all). I hope you like this first one. I know, it's ALL over Pinterest, but I had to make my own. I'm in love with some of the fonts I've found and I had to turn it in to a printable. 

Christmas Cheer Printable

This one is actually sitting on my mantle right this moment. Definitely a keeper in my book.

What have you done so far for decorating? Anything that's unusual?