Did you miss me?

That may be a little creepy. But if you don't know where it's from, I feel like we can't be friends. Not until you watch all three seasons of Sherlock from the BBC. Then you'll get it. And you'll be hooked to quite possibly the best television series, ever. And then you'll be a Cumberlady too. 

I realize I'm a few days late, but Happy February! As with the beginning of each month, there's a printable. I have it up on my mantel for simple yet romantic decor. What do you think?

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day? I've heard some couples say that they celebrate another day. An old boss said that he let's his wife pick any other day of the year and she can call it whatever she wants, just not Valentine's Day. Whatever you call it, are you doing something lovely in the near, distant, future? I've already got Ryan's present (one point for me for preparedness), I just have to pick up a blank card from a local artist. I'm pretty sure he still hasn't even realized it's less than two weeks away (one point for him on procrastination?). 

February Printable Mash Up

Naturally this month's printable is holiday inspired. As made up as that holiday may be, it gives me something to look forward to. Because right now, in New York, the weather is abysmal and it looks like the world just gave up. So ugly. And depressing. I either need snow or spring. How about you? How's the weather where you live? I hope it's prettier than what's going on around here. Can I go back to the Caribbean yet?

I'll Be Back

Well, the flu has seriously kicked my ass. After a full week back at work, I'm ready for a vacation. 

Good thing I have one starting tomorrow morning! Seriously, I'll be on a boat for the next nine days. Off to surf, sun, and sand. And you can be sure I've got my flippy floppies. Don't know that reference? Not afraid of the f-bomb? Then I'll leave you this.

It's a big blue watery road.

Happy New Year, Happy January

Well, I hope everyone's new year is going better than mine. Two days in and the hubbs and I both have the flu. Lovely. But the year's only going to get better from here, right? I sure hope so. Especially considering I have a vacation in eight days. EIGHT DAYS. 

In light of this year starting a bit rough, I'm sharing a favorite quote of mine. I try to read it whenever I'm in a bad place and it reminds me to keep on keepin' on. I saw it first in an image like this one:

So the one I have for you is formatted for 4" x 6". This would look great with a mellow background paper. I would put it where you need it most. Bedside table, kitchen counter, by the door. 

That's called purpose

How's your 2014 starting out? Did you make any resolutions this year? 

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?