Glimpse

Since we’re recovering from a wedding, weekend in Houston, and a large lunch, our Monday’s been pretty uneventful [pretty much like every other Monday in our lives]. The only thing going on right now that’s even worth mentioning is the progress on our new banquette. Here’s a peak of what’s happening:

Isn’t it cute?

And here’s a view with the baskets that are eagerly waiting to make this banquette their new home:

Aren’t they cute?

And here’s a little kid that can’t wait to put the new banquette to good use:

Isn’t he cute?

The next few things on my agenda are to find fabric for the banquette cushion, find coordinating fabric for pillows and dining chairs, learn how to sew, make a banquette cushion, paint and recover dining chairs, refinish the table, and finally, find a seamstress who can fix my botched sewing job before I can call this project done.

I’m off to peruse the internet for fabric ideas.

Happy Monday!

xo

nessa dee

Pizza, Pizza!

The kids and I tried our hand at making pizza from scratch. I’ve tried this before with disappointing results, but I felt a little more confident this time, because I had this woman on my side:

and her recipe for pizza crust:

Armed with plenty of cheese, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, and two eager helpers, we were able to produce this:

It looked like a real pizza, but it still needed to go through the baking process. Tensions were high, I tell ya, and those 15 minutes were not stress free. But, much to my relief, I didn’t burn the thing, and the crust didn’t expand to great proportions, or shrink down to nothing. It was beautiful, picture perfect:

Golden crust, bubbly cheese, crisp Canadian bacon, dirty stove, it had all the makings of a good pizza. And the best part? It actually tasted like pizza! Success! The recipe made enough dough for two pizzas, so, guess what we’re having for dinner tonight? That’s right, pizza dough.

xo

nessa dee

IF: Twirl

xo

nessa dee

Hello, Monday!

Today…

:: We are learning about states!

and I’m learning lots of patience.

:: My studio’s coming right along…it’s much brighter than it used to be.

All it needs now is new flooring, a new light fixture, a peg board, desks, a revamped closet, plus a few special touches, and all of the junk that’s currently staying in my guest room.

:: I’m getting a banquette in the breakfast room!

:: Who wants to play Sam vs. Ninja?

:: I’m eagerly awaiting a new rug for my bedroom. No more stepping off onto a cold floor in the morning. Click on the rug to find out more.

:: I found this guy in my studio courtesy of Finn:

Squirrel Watching

That’s what one member of our family spends most of her time doing.

The other two like to spend a lot of their time teasing that one member into thinking they’ve spotted those furry-tailed creatures.

xo

nessa dee

Hello, Monday!

Today…

:: We are reading about an important historical figure.

::I’m once again looking at different floor samples. It’s funny, I don’t remember them looking so blurry.

:: We’ve been playing Bananagrams, though not as it was intended.

:: I’m searching for inspiration on how to address my almost empty studio’s storage needs.

:: I’m searching for the gumption to weed out the unnecessary craft stuff that won’t be going back into my studio. [But I might use that one day!]

:: I’m hoping to list a few things in my shop.

:: I finally framed some watercolors we bought in the Cayman Islands. Here’s what Audrie looked like when we bought them:

Hopefully it won’t take me 8 years to find a place to hang them. But when I do, I’ll be sure to take a picture of Audrie to document her age at the time.

xo

nessa dee

Around the house

We had planned to do some crafting today, and still plan to do so, but by the time we get it done, it might be midnight before I get it posted. So we’ll save that post for tomorrow. Here’s what’s going on around our house at the moment…

Sketching…

Folding…

Organizing…

Listening… [to books on tape]

D-I-Y-ing…

Staging art pictures…

And of course, crafting.

xo

nessa dee

Who?

Well, so far my mission to blog more often has resulted in failure. Sometimes, though, you can’t control the randomness of life, or the laziness of one said blogger, but I’m not giving up just yet. I’m determined to share more, and not in the haphazard sort of way that encompassed all of last year. I want to write more often, take more pictures, and make time for this little outlet that has become my blog.
Alright, enough of my self pep talk. Here’s a little thought I’ve been working on lately…

It’s not on a stretched canvas only because I had a fleeting thought about my art. If it works out, I’ll post the results. If not, I’ll just frame the thing and hang it in Audrie’s room.
xo
nessa dee

11

  My little girl turned 11 today. My sweet, funny, creative, talented, oh so sarcastic [in a good way] little girl turned the big one one. When she was a wee little thing, I don’t know what I imagined her to be like at 11, but I don’t think it encompassed everything that she is. She is an absolute delight.

Happy birthday, my future Shel Silverstein!

I love you!

xoxo

mom

If at first you don’t succeed…

Just use your hands.

xo

nessa dee

Hello, Monday!

I’m back from almost a two week hiatus. I felt a little guilty about not posting during the holidays, but not guilty enough to motivate me to do something about it. Our holidays were pretty hectic this year due to the play Audrie and I performed in. We had two performances Christmas Eve and one Christmas morning, and right afterwards, we headed out of town to have Christmas with Jonathan’s family. Also, we welcomed a new cousin on Christmas Eve, Miss Ava Grace, who threw everyone for a loop since she wasn’t due until this Friday. On top of that, we had a couple of cases of pinkeye as well as some winter colds that made for an interesting visit, meaning that we were quarantined for the whole week we were away. So, we have to schedule a make-up visit to see all of the family we missed this Christmas.

Whew!

Now that we are back, we can resume the normal schedule, make that, the new normal schedule.

This morning…

:: I’m writing down my goals for this year for the house, schooling, business, and the blog. We are going to make some big changes this year. One of my goals is to quit slacking on the blog, so I’m going to make a concerted effort to blog more often.

:: We’re taking down Christmas décor. Didn’t we just get it all out?

:: We have the Rose Parade on, but we’re not watching it.

:: I can’t wait to see Audrie’s new bedding on her bed. It seems like we buy her a new quilt about every six months because the dog chews holes through them. Grrr.

:: I hope to pick up our “Christmas” cards today. We had a problem with the printer, and they were delayed, but they’re going to at least give them to me for free! Better late than never.

:: I’m trying to figure out a design for a banquette that incorporates baskets. It will hopefully look something like this:

 

photo from Better Homes and Gardens.

:: Although I think I’m going to be getting a lot done today with my two helpers, we’ll most likely spend the day playing with this…

and this…

and this…

and this…

and this…

and this…

:: Plus, my helpers haven’t even gotten out of their pjs yet.

 

Happy 1st Monday of 2012!

xo

nessa dee