for marcus

it was pointed out to me that i left marcus out of my post yesterday.  marcus is megan's boyfriend.  and he is #1 in my book.  (well, probably actually #1.5 because taylor is #1 in my book...but you get my point.)  marcus stayed in all weekend to entertain us girls and put up with our crafting--tv watching--junk food eating--beyonce drooling--gossiping bad habits all weekend!  he was a really good sport because we were probably really annoying.  marcus even crafted with us.  he helped us prep a whole bunch of projects.  he was basically the crafting version of a sous chef.

i wish i could introduce you to marcus but i really was a deadbeat photographer this weekend so i don't have any great pictures to share.  so here is the only picture i took of marcus.

(do you like the clock collage?  i have nominated myself as megan & marcus' decorator and i ordered them to hang those clocks.  i am a bossy decorator.  marcus calls me Dear Genevieve (not implying that she is bossy...but just that she is a decorator.)  the clocks were one of our projects the trip before last.  i will show you our other projects from megan & marcus' townhouse makeover another time.)

oh wait, i just found these stored on my computer.  here is a better picture so you can meet marcus. 

(it's 4 years old, taken at my wedding.)

megan & marcus.  beautiful couple.

 smoochfest!

i love these people!

Stella and Dot wannabe weekend in Chicagoland

I spent this past weekend in Chicagoland with my friends Megan, Bethany & Emily.  (We can paint this Chicagoland weekend as glamorous as you'd like...but actually when I say "Chicagoland" I really mean Huntley...a burb west of the City.  We spent the weekend at Megan's townhouse, visiting, shopping, watching a dvr concert of Beyonce, eating Hot & Ready pizzas, complaining about Sister Wives, and crafting in our sweatpants.  Fancy, I know.)

I wanted to show you the results of one of our crafts.  We were all quite fond of the look of this lovely Stella and Dot necklace -- but due to budget constraints, otherwise known as Dave Ramsey, we could not afford the originals.  So we took matters into our own hands and crafted a new version of these beaded beauties.

Stella's

Thanks to the generous bead supply at JoAnn's & Michael's, some handy 50% off one item coupons, and some coordinating ribbon, we managed to update our jewelry collection for less than $9 a necklace (and that's talking full price...if you're thrifty enough to use a coupon, you can shave a few extra pennies off!)  We made both coral and turquoise necklaces.  I would love a cute mustardy yellow one...but I couldn't find any beads the right color.

Ours

I actually swapped out my choice of ribbon after I took these pictures.  I ended up using something a bit thicker and sheer so the beads would stay put when I untie the necklace to put it around my neck.  I will try to post an updated picture soon. 

*note: we did not fill our entire ribbon with beads like Stella and Dot does...

# 1. I thought that would be a bit heavy on my neck.

# 2. We were crafting on a budget and more beads equals more money.

Stella's necklace is likely more impressive but we were perfectly happy with our results!  The other girls made bracelets too. (I didn't.  I stuck to necklaces.)
One more thing....Sunday I rushed back for a deRoo dinner with my inlaws. Ingrid, my super-fab sister-in-law who is an amazing chef made this:

Pumpkin Ravioli with Gorgonzola Sauce

Oh my, it was amazing.  And I am not just saying that because the only thing I had eaten all weekend was salt infused fast food covered in grease-- this dish was seriously so good.  Ingrid thought it was good too but not something she would make all the time, but seriously, Taylor and I devoured it.  We would eat it every day! You should try it!  Ingrid hasn't blogged about it yet, but I think she should!  :)   It's Looking Like a Beautiful Day.

Linked to:

Blue Cricket Design
House of Hepworths
katies nesting spot

you found this at Meijer....really?

who knew? 

I was killing some time the other week at the grocery store and stumbled across Katie Brown's new line.  I didn't really know Katie Brown but I remembered my friend Shawna wearing a cute pair of gardening gloves that she said were Katie Brown brand and that she got them at Meijer.  So I was intrigued.  As I looked around I saw all sorts of cute things that I wanted!!  I was so excited to find such cute items at Meijer, right in my own backyard.  (isn't that part of their marketing campaign?)  Meijer isn't really in my backyard.  That would be horrible.  But you get my point.  Anyway, I resisted buying anything that day, but last weekend when I was in Mt. Pleasant visiting my family, my mom, Aunt Suzy and I were grocery shopping and I just had to show them the Katie Brown line that I had stumbled upon the week earlier.  We all thought it was pretty great and pretty affordable, and then, just like that, I a little red clearance sticker caught my eye.  Ah ha, looky here, what I found for $11.98!!  A dark wooden pedestal. 

So, here's the thing, cake plates and I are pretty much best friends.  I have a little collection of, well, like 8 or so...and growing.  They're all glass, clear, white or robbin's egg blue...and I have been wanting some that are pewter and dark wood.  So when I saw this one and saw that it was on sale...I knew that it would be coming home with me.  (I rarely make cakes so my cake plates get used primarily for display on my shelves...and secondly to serve hors d'oeuvres and other cute little nibblers when I  have company.)

Meet Katie Brown. I don't know her real well yet but now that I know about her I plan to stalk her product line at Meijer.  I hear she has a TV show.  I don't know if I can commit to watching it...(my DVR is already booked and I am not sure I am comfortable cheating on my relationship with Law & Order yet.)  But I do plan to get better acquainted with Katie soon.  I just love her Kitchen & Dining Orchard Collection.

Here's the Orchard Glass Dome & Wood Pedestal that I bought.  (I only bought the pedestal.  the dome is cute but not quite my style.)  It came in 2 or 3 different sizes.  I bought it on clearance for $11.98.  Score!

 And this cute little number is on my wish list. 

It's a pretty massive bowl...I am not exactly sure what I would do with it, except keep it on a shelf.  (I have a tendency to shop for my shelves rather than shopping for function.)  But I just love the cut out handles!  I am also waiting for it to go on sale.  Even though it is only $24.99 I am trying to be less of an impulse shopper and be more price conscious and would like to hold out for a good deal.  (thanks a lot, Zeeland.)  My husband is so proud and my mom must be so ashamed!  (my mom is the kind of customer that retailers like...the kind that shops for quality and style and doesn't mind paying full price when she finds the perfect item...whereas my husband (and without over generalizing tooooo much) along with a few other west michiganders, shops for bargains, period.  No matter the quality or style.  If it has a sale sticker on it it must be a good deal (whether you need it...or even like it or not!)  I hope to be a balance between the two shopping philosophies.  Usually it depends on the store I am in.  I am proud to say that I have gotten pretty good and saying "No" when I don't need to buy something.  Did I need the wooden pedestal.  Well, no, not really.  So maybe need is the wrong word.  More like, I have gotten good at saying no to something if I don't have a spot for it in my house.  I don't like clutter and I don't like junk (whether it's homegoods, bulk size groceries, clothes that I never wear or whathaveyou..if it's not going to get used or doesn't have a spot to be stored/displayed...it will not be allowed in the house.)  This is my best attempt to not become a pack rat.

 So...you cute big bowl, you...I am not sure if we will ever be together.  First I must find a spot for you.

Orchard 12.5 inch Serving Bowl with Handles.

Orchard Wire Mesh Flatware Caddy

This one I really don't need, but I still wanted to show you how cute it was...just in case you might need it! :)  Becky...if you're reading...I think this has your name all over it!

 Orchard Wood 12 inch Serving Bowl with Ear Handles.

This wooden baby is another piece on my wish list.  This is also a future shelf item for my home.  I like wooden bowls -- a primitive touch, learned from my MIL, who actually has given me a few beautiful antique wooden bread and dough bowls.  Love them.  Thanks Rox!

You can kind of see my huge wooden antique dough bowl, from Rox, on the kitchen island.  It is filled with white pumpkins in this picture.  I generally keep fruit or seasonal naturals in it. It's one of my favorite antiques! 

But...back to the Katie Brown bowl, let's get one thing straight...I am in no way opposed to faux antiques...or reproductions. I shop for the overall look, not the overall value. So although the Katie Brown bowl is not an antique I am pretty much convinced it would compliment my other wood bowls nicely.

Good job, Meijer.  Good job.