a little lately

we have been busy bees over here lately.

i have been working on an abundance of projects simultaneously which never really amounts to much progress.

i joined the local nova modern quilters guild (jeremy thinks this is hilarious) and have made a new quilting friend.  i also discovered an adorable & new local quilting shop that is right up the road.  (he thinks this is less hilarious).  admittedly i am a major novice when it comes to quilting. who knew all the work that went into matching up various fabrics and patterns??  i am working on a quilt for a special couple-to-be and i unknowingly chose a quilt pattern that is going to make me regret passing notes to my friends all through geometry.  but here goes nothin'...

i know they will love it no matter what so that helps the anxiety. i am really excited about the color palette though!

concurrent project #2 is a new deployment shadowbox for jeremy.  i had originally created one of these to showcase some of his photos and medals from his deployment to iraq back in 07-08.  when he deployed to afghanistan and accrued four more medals (my guy!) as well as some really awesome patches we thought it was time for an update.  along with each deployment he returned with an american flag to signify his time overseas.  one flag was flown over the u.s. embassy in baghdad, iraq. the flag from afghanistan traveled all over the country with him, on convoys, planes, and helicopters: he always made sure he had space to carry his flag in his 72 hour bag.  considering the significance of all of his memorabilia he asked for me to create a cohesive display.

challenge accepted.

the background behind each flag is fabric cut from each of his uniforms while deployed in iraq and afghanistan.  i wish i could claim the genius behind the idea but he came up with that all on his own.  crafty.

some stellar iphone photos to show off the work

we took up running walk/jogging/wheezing. nora loves being outside.  i almost died.  it hurts my ego seeing how out of shape i am.  for the life of me, i still hate exercise.

in the midst of all of this i am cookin' up a storm in the kitchen.  chocolate cakes, cookies, peruvian chicken, and a whole lotta' salsa. (take THAT exercise!)  i can't get enough of gina's recipes from skinnytaste.com.  that gal keeps it real.  and she loves zucchini as much as i do.  

win.

this cake has been made twice in the past two weeks.  i think he likes it.

nora and i are headed to bethany beach with some other moms and babes this next week.  it will likely be a special kind of vacation with all of those kiddos running around.  we are still struggling with mid-night wake-ups so this could be interesting. (there is not enough coffee in the world). hopefully we can squeeze every last drop out of summer so we can jump feet first into fall.  i am so ready for apples and cinnamon and sweaters and boots, oh my!

when did she get so big??

i am loving this whole mom/tot phase we are in.  late nights and all.

xo,

j