Favorite Pinterest project so far!!!

I have a shoe rack for which shoe lovers will be jealous. The original idea was here on Pinterest but thanks to my father-in-law it became a reality. Here are the materials:

• Round Cardboard cement forms
• Zip ties
• Saw
• drill

There really is nothing else to say about it other than isn't it awesome!

My first completed Pinterest project!

Hi I'm Katie, and I was addicted to Pinterest for a week or so. Luckily the novelty has worn off but during my addiction I did manage to pin some projects I wanted to try. I was looking at home decor for the new house when I came across a wreath pinned from the blog A Step in the Journey . I thought this would be a perfect gift for my in-laws who are big Packer fans. So I was off to the craft stores. I didn't like the foam wreaths so I used a straw one instead. Yes it made a mess, but I think I like it better with some twigs sticking out. The yarn.....oh the yarn. I would save this project for a long car ride (like the blog said) or a marathon movie day. Once the wreath was wrapped the rest was pretty quick. I found some good Packer yellow ribbon and some wooden letters. Spray painted white and hot glued them on and my first Pinterest project was complete! Below is a picture of the complete wreath. Maybe I'll getting around to making one for our new house!

Hello 2012

I have heard so many people say that they couldn't wait for 2011 to be over and 2012 to begin. I can't say that I agree. 2011 was pretty good to me. The end of the year was amazing actually since we closed on our house on December 27th! That being said, 2012 is already looking amazing. We are getting settled into our new house and getting married in March! I could go on and on about big plans and resolutions, but I think my biggest resolution is to complete the little goals I set for myself throughout the year. I'm going to set lots of short term goals that are manageable and not try to change the world in one year. One challenge a month is my new goal. Here are my 12 goals for the year.

January: Get the house unpacked and settled

February: Run the Rock and Roll half marathon

March: Love my wedding and new marriage

April: Plant, and try not to kill, some flowers for spring

May: Try boxing

June: Complete a personal goal I have wanted to do for a while (details to come later)

July: Reconnect with 5 friends that I have lost touch with over the years

August: Spend lots of time at the pool/beach relaxing

September: Complete 3 Pinterest projects

October: Keep up with sleep during a busy work month

November: Volunteer for an organization I have never worked with

December: Read 2 classic books 

None of those may seem huge or amazing but that's the point. I'm going to take time to focus on the little things that I've been wanting to do, or that are important. I could say that I want to loose weight, eat better, sleep more, but those are things I will strive to do each day. If some of my goals don't happen, then they don't happen. Although if March doesn't go as planned I will be upset. :-)

So there is my non-traditional plan for the year? What are you all doing for resolutions this year?

A new place to fit

This afternoon my fiance and I are doing something major that will change our lives forever. No we are not running away the courthouse haha. We are buying a house!!!!! Over the past year we have discussed, browsed, changed minds, and decided. We love St. Pete, we are not leaving. When the perfect thing comes along at the perfect time, you know it's just meant to be. Our new construction(yay!) townhouse is in a great location and it's just what we had in mind. We have room to grow and room to relax. These past few months have been a roller-coaster of paperwork and signatures and today we will sign our lives away and get the keys! Tomorrow, with the help of his parents, we'll start moving our stuff and slowly get settled. I don't plan on unpacking or decorating quickly since work and life will be so busy over the next few months but I don't care. We are buying a house today and I'm so excited!

A picture from the front before it was done!

A different kind of Christmas

Every year for Christmas my family has a routine, get a tree, decorate the house with the same things we've had for years (that's not a bad thing Mom), make goodies for the neighbors and the dough for the sticky buns, wrap presents, go to Christmas Eve mass, open one present before bed and listen to The Night Before Christmas recording that was made for us as kids. Christmas morning is relaxed as my Dad wakes up early and gets the sticky buns in the oven. We wake up and make our way to the kitchen. Yes of course as kids we were up much earlier and ran straight to the living room. With sticky buns ready and coffee in hand, we head to the living room clad in comfy pjs and slippers. As Christmas music plays in the background we sit around, open presents and simply relax. After a while we slowly proceed with our day which includes baking or cooking and preparing for dinner.

For as long as I can remember (with very few exceptions) we spent holidays with our pseudo family. They have 2 daughters close in age to my sisters and we grew up with these girls. Us 5 girls grew up living time zones away from biological family but are very blessed to have each other. Christmas dinner is always at one of our houses. Good food and lots of entertaining conversations fly as the day winds down. Don't forget the post dinner movies (either Muppets or an equally wonderful classic).

This is the first year I will not see my family or pseudo family for Christmas. The fiance and I have bought a house and we are moving next week! His parents are in town to help us move and celebrate Christmas. I won't be alone this weekend but it just won't feel the same without the routine. I'm still going to make sticky buns and coffee, and it will still be a relaxing day with family. I'll wear shorts and a t-shirt, for the 80 degree Florida weather, instead of my hoodie and sweatpants, we'll watch the Packers/Bears game instead of the Muppets, and I don't have my Night Before Christmas recording to listen to before bed. Just as my blog title states, it's time for a new fit and I can't wait to see what new traditions we start.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you have a wonderful holiday!