K+Z

The last 3 (or 4, I honestly can’t remember) times we have spent Super Bowl Sunday at the Classic Skating in Layton.  Gina and Kelly are nice enough to let Zach and I join in on the fun, and of course Zach gets all the free popcorn, pizza, and soda his little heart desires.  The adults sit in the center of the rink in our camping chairs and watch the game on the projector screen, while the kiddies skate around us (or play on the blow-ups).  It’s a rather genius idea and everyone’s happy!

Thanks for another entertaining SB Party, as always!

anthropologie inspired invitiation

I’ve never done anything like this before.  I guess you would say my “style” is clean and simple.  Although I really love the store Anthropologie (and their gorgeous window displays) I would have never thought to let that inspire an invitation.  Go Tiffany for thinking of using an apron for inspiration!  

Our “Pamper Yourself” Activity is coming up!  And who doesn’t love pampering yourself and eating chocolate

My Heart on a String…

I officially have gold glitter ALL over my kitchen.  

Zach and I are not PET people.  I had a dog growing up, and adored her…but she was taken away from me with ONE SWIFT kick to the ribs by an angry neighbor.  Poor Mandy.  Zach also had a rabbit growing up, who he named Oscar.  Oscar was moved from place to place (because he didn’t smell so great) and finally ended up in a pen outside.  Zach always says, “He braved the elements.”  Then one day….Oscar hopped away, literally.  We both have suffered heartbreak over our animals, and decided that the only pets we will get our children are fish, to save them from suffering.  

SO For my birthday, Zach got me two fish:  Sparkles and Boston.  (In October we are going to Boston…I thought that was the inspiration behind that name.)  He even picked out their Modern Fish Tank.  He had them all ready to go in their new home when I realized they weren’t moving a whole lot.  I asked him what he thought was wrong with them and he replied, “Well I left them out in the car when we went out to dinner so you wouldn’t see them in the house.”  So our fish were half frozen in his car.  He also left a note that read:

“Happy Birthday Katie,

Our names are Boston and Sparkles!  We live in a modern fish tank but are NOT married.  Mainly because Sparkles is gay.  We love you very much and hope we will remind you of our fun family trip coming up in the fall…that we will not be attending… (because we’re fish).  

Love,

Boston & Sparkles*!”

I have the most thoughtful, genuine husband.  I know you’re probably thinking…”He got you FISH!?”  But these two little guys (well…more like gals) mean more to me than any other gift he could have given.  I love him SO very much.

HOW IT HAPPENED.  

This will be framed in our bedroom….

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Step 1:  Measure for your hooks.  (You must have at least 5” between each hook for a roll of wrapping paper to fit.)  Pre-drill and then manually screw the cup hooks in each hole.  I picked the white hooks with rubber, so the dowels don’t rotate when you pull on the wrapping paper.

Step 2:  Cut your dowels to fit.  A wrapping paper roll is 24” wide, so I cut mine to 28”, so there would be amount of dowel on either side of the roll.  You can use a saw, but since the Hendersons aren’t fancy…I used a hack saw.

Step 3:  Paint your dowels.  Flat paint is better, so it doesn’t slip as easily around the hooks.  

Step 4:  Attach it to your wall, and hang your paper and ribbon!

I only did 3 dowels for paper, 1 dowel for ribbon, but the larger the bracket or the ledge, the more dowels you can have for more storage.  Since I don’t have a “craft room” I just put this in my closet and it fits perfect!

DIY WRAPPING CENTER

Why are wrapping centers so freaking expensive?  This beauty from Pottery Barn (pic on the right) is over $200 dollars!  I’ve seen on several blogs people doing them on their own, but they never look as great.  Even though I am putting mine in the closet of our office…I still don’t want it to fall apart on me.  SO before Zach and I went out last night I ran to Home Depot for some supplies.  

Dowels, cup hooks, picture ledges, and white paint.  Total price:  $28.

I will post a picture when it’s done, hopefully it can support my giant quantities of ribbon and paper!  

Last night Zach and I went to our favorite Chinese restaurant, David’s Kitchen.  After their famous potstickers, we decided to go to a movie at a nearby theatre.  Nothing we really wanted to see was playing (we have LITERALLY seen every single movie out but Black Swan - I’m too scared to see it) so we went to this new movie called “The Inside Job”.  I looked used my Moviefone App and saw that the review said MUST SEE, and it was starring Matt Damon.  So we went for it.  

We arrived 15 minutes early and not ONE person was was in the theatre.  It is surprising how loud the music is in a theatre when NOBODY is inside but two of you.  So naturally, we danced.  All over the theatre.  The movie started and we were the only souls still in the theatre.  

Turns out the movie was a documentary about America’s economic crisis, the one we are living in currently that started in 2008.  Matt Damon was the narrator.  After 20 minutes, and the theory that our economic downturn is all ICELAND’s fault…..we left.

Great dance-off.  Horrible movie.  

ValenTIMES Day

No, I didn’t spell that wrong.  Zach has been calling V-Day “Valentimes Day” since before I met him.  I don’t even know how long to be honest.  Even though I correct him, he continues to call it that.  He honest and truly thought it was Feb. 15th too.  Serious.

Since I have ZERO Valentines decorations, I made this print for us.

Katie & Zach Henderson = LOVE (The love is obviously implied.  With the heart.)

I know it’s early….but Happy VALENTIMES DAY!!!

This weekend, we got to go up to Zach’s cabin with our friends Jordan (Gordo) and Angie Treasure.  I wish I could tell you the most memorable thing we did was really athletic, adventurous or brave….but the only word that comes to mind is FOOD.  We ate A L L weekend.  Crepes, Muddy Buddies, Homemade Oreos, Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, Homemade Pizza….the list is infinite.  

We went snowmobiling, watched movies, some of us braved the snow for the hot tub, S L E P T  I N past 10:00 am every day, played games, watched football….and ate.

We had such a blast with them, can’t wait to take them up again!

MAD MAPS

I’ve always had this obsession with maps, especially maps of public transpiration.  The Metro in Paris, the Tube in London, the Subway in New York.  I think it is amazing how they work.  THEN I found this world map of the airlines for Zach and a graphic map of Manhattan to put in our office.  Ork sells several cities that they have created into graphic map prints, someday I will find somewhere to put the San Francisco map.  Anyway, getting to my point:  THE ENTIRE ROOM (our office) will be covered in maps.  At least it has a common theme?  Right?

For FOUR years, I have been trying to get this little boy to like me.  F O U R years.  Camron (my cousin Lindsy’s son) has never been a fan of me at all.  I bribe him with candy, Bug Juice - his fave drink, and even taking him to Chic-fil-a! Nothing works with this kid, I tell you.  At family events, he usually clings to my brother, Blake and yells things like, “Your head stinks!” at me.

Sunday, we went to my Aunt’s house for dinner.  He decided he wanted to put together some LEGOs he got for Christmas.  Little did he know, I am a LEGO MASTER!!!  I offered to help, even though he told me he didn’t need my help.  Moments later, after making this red helicopter, things dramatically changed for the better!  

Who knew LEGOs could make a little boy have a change of heart.  I took a picture, to prove that he actually will touch me without poking some inappropriate part of my body.  I told him to make a gang sign, and the best he could come up with was Hang Loose.  Ahhh….the things I could teach him!!

Last night Zach and I went to The Copper Onion.  We were recommended to try it from a client from my work.  I have to say, it is a MUST eat.  It’s just east of the Broadway Centre Theatre.  I had the trout, Zach had the carbonara.  We were told to sit at the “Chef’s Table” which is a glamorous term for bar.  It was SO much fun to watch them prepare the dishes.  Unfortunately, I was too full to try their selection of HOMEMADE ICE CREAM.  Next time.  

Yep.  Bargain Shopper.

I have this design blog that I check weekly that I absolutely LOVE.  She has this thing she does called “Get the Look”.  It’s where you find really expensive accessories/furniture and find something nearly identical for half the price.  I have noticed that I find something that I LOVE that is totally overpriced.  THEN I search for the identical item, and can find something really similar for half…sometimes a QUARTER of the price!  Zach would be SO proud!!

Here’s my “Get the Look” for mirrors: