Sneak Peek from Day 1 of AVP 2009!

“Inches make a champion.”
-Vince Lombardi

Jana and Olympic Gold Medalist (and Tournament MVP) Phil Dalhausser!!!

Help! Solve our marital dispute

"Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win."
-Jonathan Kozol

Legend goes... for months, my aunt and uncle bickered about where to place a decoration in their house. Every time she walked by, she would hang it up. Every time he walked by, he would take it down.

Luckily their marriage survived that little tiff, and I'm sure that ours will too. But I'm not sure I can take months of pushing and pulling our second EXPEDIT shelf [Rob did indeed brave the long lines at IKEA last weekend to take advantage of the sale!] into the "right" place. So when Rob suggested we poll our online buddies, I thought that was a great idea.

We're putting everything out on the line. Whichever options wins, that's how it stays.

So here are the specifics: [btw, we don't have enough knickknacks to completely fill all of the cubes--believe me, I'm working on that!]

OPTION A: bookcases are spaced out so that the one on the left juts up against the corner, and the one on the right is lined up with the edge of the staircase. There is free access to an electrical outlet between the two bookcases, and our tall antique glass bottle fits perfectly between. This arrangement emphasizes that there are two separate bookcases.

OPTION B: bookcases are left justified against the corner, so that there is no gap between them. The electrical outlet is accessible, as it lies just underneath the shelf in cube A2. However, since we don't need it at the moment it is hidden behind a wall of yearbooks. Our tall antique glass bottle fits perfectly at the end of the wall just before the staircase begins. This arrangement masquerades as one single (long!) bookcase.
Leave a comment and let us know which arrangement you prefer!!

PS: Since this really is the biggest disagreement we have in our lives right now, I'd have to say we are truly blessed to have each other!

Making note

“Today is a most unusual day, because we have never lived it before; we will never live it again; it is the only day we have."
-William Arthur Ward

How awesome is this notebook paper from Rock Scissor Paper! There are several different motifs-- I think the bikes and the keys are my favorites.

A couple of notes that I would write on this awesome paper:

• I've decided to leave the blog header as is. I haven't given up on it, but right now I just kinda like the monochromatic look. Let the posts provide the spice.
• Note the new banner on the right hand side. In a week or two, my mom and I will be beginning our online photography workshop. I've been busy gathering topics, and can't wait to join you in our guided exploration of your camera!
• Last week I was surprised to find a little mouse had crawled into our gas grill outside. So needless to say, this afternoon you will find me scrubbing the grill plates before I make hamburgers for dinner.
• AVP this weekend!! We've been counting down the days. We had so much fun last year that we splurged for the whole weekend this year. Expect sunburns come Monday!

Our fancy cabinet

“He who wants to change the world should already begin by cleaning the dishes.”
-Paul Carvel

Ooooooo baby... we've got a fancy cabinet now! The antique china cabinet is another piece of furniture that my mom and I transported back to Georgia on our monumental moving van adventure over spring break.

Finally, feeling the spark of inspiration last week, I arranged our wedding china and some of the other "fancy" dishes in front of a great floral fabric. Got that idea from Making it Lovely, and although I thought I'd just experiment with it, I absolutely love how it turned out. A perfect afternoon project--all I need was fabric, scissors, an iron, a stepladder, and clear pushpins!

Now our dining room is home to more than a rug.

Choices, Choices...

“Our lives are a sum total of the choices we have made.”
-Wayne Dyer

I was a bit concerned about the monochromatic look of the new blog design, and told myself that I would make up for it wit colorful pictures. However, given the suggestion to add color to the header--here are some options.

What do you think?

Header #1:Header #2:Header #3:Header #4:Header #5:Header #6:Header #7:Header #8:Or the original header!

Metamorphosis

"When you are through changing, you are through."
-Bruce Barton

We must say farewell to the bunny. As much as I loved that little guy, the old header was too large and way too random.

Inspired by the somewhat recent blog makeovers with clean lines and more contemporary styles at Oh Happy Day and Black Eiffel, among others, I decided "Dancing Commas" needed an update, too.

What do you think?

i like...

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."
-e. e. cummings

inspired by scissor variations who was inspired by i like nice things.

i like curling up with a book at the end of a long day. i like having the time and energy to cook. i like looking at the world in a fresh way. i like popsicles. i like coca-cola. i like mashed potatoes. i like when people offer me gum after a meal. i like adobe photoshop. i like adobe illustrator better. i like when i'm reminded of my dad in my handwriting. i like that my husband goes to bed early. i like email. i like james taylor. i like shirley temple. i like helen keller. i like that im only four days older than my husband. i like that i think ive found my calling in life. i like modern, but comfortable design. i like things that tell a story. i like maps and globes. i like acoustic sunrise on sunday mornings. i like handwritten words. i like fonts. i like nights in. i like my burgers plain, just meat and bread. i like dinner at restaurants. i like the aura that artists create. i like patriotic songs. i like scouring the racks for great deals. i like scrapbooks. i like green. i like colored glass bottles. i like dark stained wood. i like tanktops from target. i like alone time. i like scavenger hunts. i like listening to books on cd in the car. i like planning vacations. i like wooden toys. i like turquoise shirts. i like picking out presents for people. i like having friends of all ages. i like cardstock. i like playing handbells. i like watching monday night comedy with my husband. i like old photographs. i like when my husband praises my athletic endeavors. i like finding orion's belt in the night sky. i like mojitos and frozen margaritas. i like arts festivals. i like southern fiction. i like learning about the wwii homefront. i like tying knots in pieces of string. i like family reunions. i like cold instant oatmeal. i like the die hard series. i like quotes. i like a new sheet of graph paper. i like board games. i like vintage travel posters. i like finding patterns in the world. i like magnolias. i like stephanie plum books. i like smart humor. i like making invitations. i like grilling on our patio. i like deep conversations with my sister. i like our sugar cookie recipe.

what do you like?

Lift, Load, Unload

“I do not pray for a lighter load, but for a stronger back.”
-Phillips Brooks

This past weekend was packed with lifting, loading, and unloading.

We sold our cement garden furniture on craigslist. So that was at least an hour of intense heavy lifting (in the rain, no less)--but somehow I found my inner strength to lift the table, which I had been unable to budge before.

And, then we promptly spent our profit on IKEA furniture. We left the megastore with more than we intended--it took quite a bit of giggling and finagling to get the boxes in our compact car--but our loft upstairs has a spiffy new (and less handmade!) look.However, look what's on sale next weekend at IKEA. Isn't that our luck! Maybe we will be getting our second set of shelves sooner than I thought.

May: the month of mothers

"I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine - she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights."
-Adabella Radici
I really wasn't in the blogging mood this week. I was busy. I was exhausted. I'm working on an exciting invitation project. And I just wanted to relax in the evenings after school.

So, forgive me for being late with my Mother's Day post. I, at least, got the packages in the mail on time.

Inspired by marta's recent post, I thought mini clipboards were the perfect gift this year. I used scrapbook paper around the house, and then paired the gift up with another personalized gift.

We love you, moms!! We don't know what we would do without you!

Unexpected mementos

"A memory is what is left when something happens and does not completely unhappen."
-Edward de Bono

Today I pulled a new book out of my closet to begin reading. A novel that was my grandmother's. A paperback I brought back with me from my last trip home.

As I was flipping through pages this morning, I noticed a piece of paper sticking out from just behind the front cover. Thinking it had been stuck in there accidentally, I tried to pull it out-- just a little bit curious about what else had her interest the last time she picked it up. But this page torn from a magazine was not unintentional-- in fact, it had been taped to the first page. An article she ran across about the author of this book.

Just as my grandmother (and grandfather) would often save and send articles that they thought would be of particular interest to each child or grandchild, here was a memento meant just for me. I could almost imagine her handwriting at the top of the page: "for Jana."

The best gift

“The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

My favorite wedding gift to give is the gift of invitations. Having been a budget bride, I know that one less wedding expense is just as lovely as a placesetting of silverware. Sure, it's a little bit selfish on my part--I love any excuse to design invitations. But in most cases, it's a great weight lifted off the shoulders of an already-stressed bride.

After brainstorming with K last weekend about all things wedding, including invitations, I knew that she was overwhelmed with all of the design involved. [Btw, she's a doctor, not an artist.] Yesterday I sent her this to calm her nerves!
Needless to say, she and B were thrilled! Wedding invitations, coming right up.

A friendly weekend

"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods."
-Artistotle

This weekend we enjoyed having our friends, B & K visit.

There was plenty of guys' time.There was plenty of girls' time.

Al Fresco

"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."
-William Shakespeare

Of all the things my mom and I brought back in the moving truck, I was most excited about the patio furniture from my grandfather's house.

This photo DID have Rob in it, but he specifically told me that I could not post a photo of him without a shirt. Apparently he's not yet buff enough.

And last week after a long day of work, Rob and I grilled hamburgers and ears of corn. We took advantage of the pleasant weather, pulled out a new tablecloth, and dined al fresco on our patio.Now... this is why I love being a homeowner!!