BDBC update.

This is going to be, like, the fastest post ever - and not because I don't care (which I do) but because dinner (that I did not cook) is coming out of the oven and my son (who I did, technically, cook) wants to play some monster trucks. So, you know, priorities.

Anyway, this has been theeee best BDBC yet. Joe and I have the week off, so I've been decorating, shopping, sleeping and eating like it's my job. And, coincidentally, if it were, I'd be awesome at it.

So the recap of the last few days of BDBC:

Day 1
The flowers, duh.

Day 2
A giant bag of baked Cheetos, aka my most favoritest snack on all the earth.

Day 3
Slime (and if you watch The Mindy Project, you will get it) because I'm "slime cool".

Also, I took an unexpected trip to Grand Rapids to see my favorite Sarah and Jason who brought me chocolate covered strawberries and a mimosa in bed. Yeah, I have the best friends, ever.

Day 4
The style issue of People magazine. He gets me. He so gets me.

So like I said, it's been the best. There is so much tinsel in my house it should be illegal, and also I should hit the last 5 food trucks in my 30 b4 30 quest tomorrow night.

And with that, I'm off to spread more holiday cheer. Smooches!

I have talented, crafty friends.

Which is largely due to that age old "opposites attract" thing, in that I have no actual crafting talent of my own. Ergo, my friends do.

Specifically, Sarah. Sarah has more talent and creativity in her left pinky than I will ever dream of having. She has a gift and has been smart and savvy enough to use it.

You've heard me brag about her before, as she is the owner of her own businesses called so sarah designs. She handcrafts super adorable aprons, fabulous key fobs/wallets, napkins, market totes, iPad cases...girl does everything.

Last weekend was a milestone for her business and I was honored to share in the day with her. For the first time ever, so sarah designs can now be purchased at a retail brick & mortar store. The shop is called Hammer & Thread and is located inside a historic fire house in Allendale, Mich. Sarah is one of a handful of artisans whose wares are available in the shop. It's charming and delightful and I may or may not have purchased many things there. Stay tuned for future new house tours to see some of my finds!

So, if you're local to the area, stop on in. And if you're not, peruse online!

More progress. And crafting.

I spent most of yesterday crafting a ridiculous spreadsheet of all the things that must be done before we move. It's a very organized hot mess, which is just how I like it. I have us packing or doing at least 1 "thing" (closet, room, space, area) every night until the Big Day to avoid a frantic frenzy the morning the movers arrive. Hopefully, this works out in my favor and I can be sipping Diet Coke on my porch wearing a tiara and wielding a wand instructing the big, strong boys on where to place all of my shit. Here's hoping, anyway.

Meanwhile, everything at Alex's "different house" is coming along swimmingly. The tile is complete, doors were delivered, and the siding has started. Note in this first picture that the walls are also primed. I sort of love the primer color. I'm tempted to just leave it. And somewhere, the salesman at Sherwin Williams bangs his head against a wall.



In related news, I popped over to Grand Rapids this weekend for the Grand Opening of a store called Hammer & Thread. It's a shop that has a compilation of handmade artisan goods, and my dear friend Sarah of so sarah designs is one of the vendors! More on that tomorrow...

Sarah and I spent some of our time hunting around all of Grand Rapid's best little hidden treasures, and even spent some time CRAFTING. And by crafting I mean I opened a can of spray paint and read a magazine while she did most of the work. But I digress.

I will share all of our crafting goodness later this week, but meanwhile, please enjoy this gem: a painted (love the color) coffee table with a chalkboard top for Alex's playroom/the den. It was s STEAL for $130 and I might have peed a little when I texted a photo to Joey and he immediately responed with, "buy it." You're welcome, America.

High on thrifting Thursday.

Mandy over at Harper's Happenings does a link-up on Thursdays called "High on Thrifting." Considering that roughly 9 out of any 10 adventures to thrift and antique shops yield absolutely nothing for me, I've had very little to contribute to the cause.

HOWEVER.

A few weekends ago, Joey and I went to visit 2 of our favorite peeps in all the world, Jason and Sarah. (Yes, that Sarah.) They live in Grand Rapids, a place I could be convinced to move to in approximately 2.5 seconds. Moot point.

Anyhow, Sarah has the gift of shopping. For realsies. The girl can find anything. In any store. And it's probably also on clearance and the last one left or quite possibly ever made. And it fits perfectly and you already have shoes to go with it. She's a shopping savant.

She took us to this little gem of a store called Changing Thymes. Think antique store meets craft shop meets re-purposed furniture depot. Yes, heaven.

I found a number of delightful purchases, but here are my two most favoritest:

This little number used to be an old record player cabinet. In fact, still has the gold engraved plates in it and everything. I love it probably more than I should love any inanimate object. Plus, I love that someone already did the work of refinishing, painting and distressing it. Definitely worth paying a little more $$. And the color? Please. It will be so kickass in our new house.

These were SUCH a fun find--a bag of REALLY old wooden blocks! Sarah and I spent about 20 minutes on the floor of the store rearranging the letters to spell something...anything. I finally got our last name, and as if that weren't enough...there were enough letters leftover to spell HER last name (with a little creative use of 2 upside down U blocks). Only one block was left after we did that. Isn't that weird? I sort of love that there's a little piece of this set in each of our homes.

Head on over to the Haps and see what other treasures people are finding...and share yours!

So Sarah Designs.

Peeps! The day has finally arrived! My fabulously creative and stunningly sparkly friend Sarah has freakin' finally opened her etsy shop! I've raved about her around these parts before (here, among other places) and am psyched to finally share her wares with you.

Although everything she makes isn't up yet, she does have the bulk of it up. Her so girly, so chic, and so cute lines of aprons are beyond fab. The so girly (aaahh ruffles!) line is new, so I don't yet own one of my own. But I do have an apron from each of the so cute and so chic lines...and while they don't help me understand the difference between butter and shortening while whipping up my latest culinary masterpiece, at least I look fabulous while trying.

She also has a so elegant line of matching nappy-kins that are just to DIE for. The set comes with napkin rings that are so above and beyond anything you'd ever find at any kitchen store. And hopefully soon she'll get her other kitchen accessories up for purchase - included sparkled up serving utensils and appetizer spoons/forks.

She specializes in custom orders, so if there is a fabric, pattern or color scheme that would match your personality and kitchen perfectly, convo her on esty for a listing made just for you.

 so elegant.

 so girly.

 so chic.

so cute.

Like Buttah.

I'm on a roll.

For serious.

Remember on Sunday when we talked about the life-altering poppingcorn creation? Pause for applause. Today, we review another *gasp* Betty Homemaker moment -- spinach and ricotta stuffed shells were created for dinner last night. By me. From scratch. Like, I used an oven. I know...who am I? And what in the world has gotten into me?

all*you magazine has gotten into me, that's what. Jill and Kyle purchased a subscription for me as a birthday gift, and after a series of address problems and fistfights with the United States Postal Service* I finally got my first issue in le mail last week. This thing is seriously the greatest compliation of recycled paper, ever. Coupons galore. Recipes complete with shopping lists and price per serving for an entire week. Household organization and storage tips and tricks. Little life 'pick me ups'. Style tips for taking work attire into the evening hours. etc. etc. It's as if someone in the publishing world said, "Let's create a magazine specifically for Kristi Van Wormer and all her life's needs," and Voila! all*you was born.

Fast forward to last night, when I donned my "So Sarah Designs" apron (Seriously girl, get your etsy store up. Missed linky opportunity!) and whipped up a fanTAStic Italian dinner that Giada herself would be proud of. I used ricotta cheese and everything...and if that ain't Italian, I don't know what is.

Jill and Kyle, while I adore my magazine, I'm pretty sure Joey and his belly are forever indebted. :)

Oh, and le recipe is here, should you get the whim to be domesticated in the near future.

*No employees of the USPS were actually harmed in the writing of this blog post.

BDBC - Day 5.

Gotta make it quick today - I'm in Okemos for the *So Sarah* designs party. Next week I'll have a post  dedicated to Sarah and her wares, but here's a sneak peek at my current 2 faves - the cupcake half apron with ruffles and the Mommy & Me designs.

I know...so cute, right? More details and how to order next week. And yes, she does custom orders!

BDBC Day 5 is going smashingly well. Tonight's plans include a Mexi-fab dinner with the girls @ the party followed by a stint in Becki's hot tub. Could life BE any better?

And my treat from Joey? Another perfect card and a king size box of Milk Duds...my fave!

Friends, Crafts And Tats.

Last night we had a BBQ and bonfire with our friends Sarah and Jason. They were married in May and not that I'm rushing them into anything based on the love that filled our household they are going to be GREAT parents. J was playing with Alex in his Baby Einstein Gym and I basically melted all over the floor. Precious.

Sarah is quite possibly without a shadow of a doubt my most creative friend, and she shared with me some of the pieces she's working on for her upcoming line, So Sarah. I basically am wetting myself in anticipation to share it with all of you, but she's making me wait until it's totally done. Hurry up, girl! :)

Tonight I'm headed back in space and time to the land of Michigan State University, where my bff since foreverandever and soon-to-be-lawyer resides. I'm going to pass out watch her get her most recent tattoo colored in. It's a ginormous peacock that covers pretty much her entire midsection. I offered to bring her my leftover pain meds from childbirth, but she is certain ice and booze will be enough to get through it. Yeah...we'll see how that goes.

In other news, I've always, always wanted a tat. Pretty sure that I'm not badass enough to get one, though. Like, I haven't earned the right to be "cool enough." Whatever. This weekend is also Blues Fest in EL...so if I have one too many blues beers I might just wind up in the chair as a paying customer. We shall see!

To top off my weekend, my baby brudder and his new bride are coming down on Saturday to hang out with us. There is a church near our house that is having a festival this weekend. I kid you not when I tell you it's called "Sausage Fest." Yes. A church. Sausage. Fest. I simply can't wait.

Enjoy your weekend, childrens!