July 2013 Bloggy Recap (in which we resume “normal” life after the bar exam)

Friends, it’s August. Cue the collective mourning and grousing about back-to-school sales. Last year was fine since we GOT MARRIED August 11, so that was a nice distraction. This year? Well, I’ll just have to let Kenny entertain me. We have a pretty great first anniversary camping trip planned to, so I guess that’s fun.

Still. Summer went altogether too fast. But July was a pretty fun month on the blog, so if you want to catch up and reminisce with me, let’s dive in.

Personal…Just For Fun:

Insta-Trade Show (in which Anne travels for work and instagrams it all)

Friday Flashback: Quilts (in which I write about winter stuff in the heat of July)

Crafts (or, rather, “craft):

Painted Barn Wood Sign (in which I nearly start My Own Business but then I think it through)

Home Decor:

Framed Hanging Card (in which I compose and share a completely useless tutorial)

Mint and Coral Gallery Wall (in which I redo something for the 27th time…surprise)

Fantastic Finds (in which I increase our fancy art collection by almost 50%)

Polish Brass with Ketchup (in which playing with food actually has a purpose)

House Tour: Moody and Classic (in which I embarrass my photographer self further by sharing blurry photos)

New Lease, New Gallery Wall (in which I add another hundred nail holes to our already riddled walls)

Lake House Tour (in which I am wooed by rippling waves and beachy decor)

 

And Finally, a Recipe (or two):

Disgusting-Looking Baba Ganoush (in which I successfully wrangle some slimy eggplant into the realm of edibility)

What Does One Do with Strawberry-Flavored Marshmallows? (in which I present: a review)

And in other, not-blogged news, KENNY TOOK THE BAR EXAM. Now perhaps, hopefully, we can resume normal lives! Not that either of us really know what that entails, but we’re excited to find out. The sad thing is that he won’t find out results until October or November. Grrrrr.

Can’t get enough? I thought so. Check out these old recaps: January, February, March, April, May, and June.

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June 2013 Bloggy Recap (in which I panic over the quickly fleeting summertime)

Summer is going really, really fast. It’s about this time of year when I get a little bit like this and start running around in circles:

Yes. With those exact crazy-eyes. Ken can attest to that. There’s more to do! We have to pack in more fun!!! AHHH!

Because of my tendency to panic, it’s a good thing I’ve developed a habit of looking back over the past month’s fun that was had. This time, it’s June’s turn. Check out these old (yet recent) posts.

Personal…Just For Fun:

Where Did the Weekend Go?!? (in which I compose the shortest post ever)

Friday Flashback: Husband Edition (in which I share two rare sightings of Ken being crafty)

Roughing It (in which Ken and Anne go camping in the barren wilderness, aka a campground)

On Writing and Wearing Out (in which I try to compose a list of three things but can only get to two)

Gone Fishing, or Something (in which I sort of DIY some technology)

Crafts:

Dad’s Kayaks (in which I am jealous of a Sunday School class of 12-year-old boys)

Color-Blocked Clock (in which I literally deface an object in multiple senses of the word)

Home Decor:

Reupholstering a Parson’s Chair Part 2.5 (in which I inadvertently give my chair a mullet)

House Tour: Sunny Beach House (in which I make plans to build a bunkroom in our apartment)

Flashback Friday: A Story of a TV Stand (in which I realized I really loved my boyfriend/fiance/husband)

House Tour: Colorful and Modern (in which I step into a real-life version of an Ikea catalog)

 

June was also the month were I embraced instagram (@annie88b–I need followers) and added a better blogroll under the blog header.

Kenny’s deep into studying for the bar exam (law student, psssht) and I mainly just frolic about doing nothing (not–see above post). We’re hoping to make some sort of vacation getaway happen in August for our first anniversary, but that month will be here before we know it! RESUME PANICKING.

Can’t get enough? I thought so. Check out these old recaps: January, February, March, April, and May.

May 2013 Bloggy Recap (in which summer arrives and I wallow in it’s wonderfulness)

Let me begin with a question: how is it possible that May is finished and June is well upon us?!?

This time of year makes me want to pack up everything and move back to camp, but I distract myself with my husband and my job and this blog and hope that everything will be okay. And it usually is. 🙂 Frequent trips to the beach and to Captain Sundae’s also help.

But before we fully move into June, let’s look back at May. Mmmmk?

Personal…Just For Fun:

Friday Flashback: Bachelor Edition (in which I take you back to a scary place in our lives)

Graduation Day (in which I find myself one step closer to retirement)

Spring=Lambs (in which we enjoy a practically perfect evening)

Crafts: 

Hexagon Magazine Collage (in which I use cut and paste skills I acquired as a kindergartner)

Happy Yellow Task Lamp (in which I give you a rare glimpse into my fragile emotional state)

Banishing the White Elephant (in which I celebrate the start of spray paint season)

Un-Upholstering a Parsons Chair (in which I try to imitate Restoration Hardware and basically succeed)

Embroidered Pictures (in which I overcome the urge to keep a commissioned gift for myself)

Sponge-Painted Thrift Store Art (in which I discuss my feelings on internet trolls and overcome selfishness once again all in the same post)

Home Decor:

$2 Kitchen Bling (in which I update our kitchen into the mid-1990s at least)

Updated Living Room (in which Ken makes pancakes and I fritter time away on this blog)

Pottery Barn-Style Home Tour (in which I become dehydrated from drooling so much)

And Finally, a Recipe:

Epic Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake (in which I make cake, mousse, and ganache and mash it all together)

My favorite project this month was the sponge painted artwork (which now lives in Canada…sniffle), but life-wise, Ken’s graduation and birthday were this month’s highlights. He’s kind of my favorite person.

For other fantastic bloggy recaps, check these out: January, February, March, and April. Also, how phenomenal is it that I’ve stuck with something for 5 months now? Patting myself on the back at the moment…don’t mind me.

What were you up to this past month? Do tell.

April 2013 Bloggy Recap (in which we finally dry off and look forward to sweet summertime)

April is done. Which means that it’s basically SUMMER. At least, occasionally. A snowstorm at this point would not surprise me at all.

The theme of this month, basically, was rain. It rained every single day, 24 hours a day (almost). April showers had better bring May flowers, or someone is going to throw a hissy fit. (Not joking about the rain thing. April in Grand Rapids was the third wettest month EVER. Not the third wettest April…the third wettest MONTH. Here is proof I’m not just making this stuff up.

Anyway, since April is done (yay!), let’s look back at everything that happened… Humor me. I’m nostalgic like this.

Personal…Just For Fun:

Weekend Wanderings (in which I sunbathe on the beach in a winter coat)

Detroit Tiger’s Home Opener (in which some guys play a friendly game of baseball and a bunch of people watch)

Friday Flashback: Vacuum Riding (in which one photo explains my entire philosophy of cleaning)

Rain, Rain, Go Away (in which everything is wet)

So Much Water (in which I share about our soggy carpet and soggy city)

Getting Fancy with Frederick Meijer (in which Ken and Anne prance around some gardens in nice clothes)

Beachy Evenings (in which you are inundated with sunset pictures)

Craftiness/Home Decor:

Wrapped Wine Bottles (in which I try to validate my hoarder-like tendencies)

Cross-Stitch Painting (in which I very nearly veer into the realm of “granny-chic”)

Going Green (in which I come up with a new strategy for saving the earth)

Framing a Flat Canvas (in which another deer gallops its way into our apartment)

Rainy Day Artwork (in which the Michigan monsoon season inspires drippy home decor)

Curled Book Page Wreath (in which I finally take down the last of our Christmas decorations)

And Finally, a Sales Pitch:

Luxury Link (in which I book a very affordable vacation, even by my standards)

To summarize: Ken and Anne went to the beach a bunch and our city flooded. And Anne did crafts, the one constant in the world. Although, with the weather as nice as it is hopefully going to be in May, there is really no guarantee of even that anymore.

What was your favorite post? I admit, and this may be weird, but one of my favorite thrift store makeovers ever was that cross-stitch painting. It is just quirky enough for my tastes. Or, better yet, tell me what you’ve been up to! If you’re a blogger, share a link in the comments so we can all see. Come now…don’t be selfish. 🙂

March 2013 Bloggy Recap (in which I gently force you to take a look at last month’s happenings)

I am currently on my way to the Detroit Tiger’s home opener and am therefore not crafting right at the moment. Which leaves me with little to blog about…except for all of the things I blogged about in March (can you believe it’s already April!?! I’m thrilled.).

So, if you’re new here, check out some of the fun things that happened last month. Or if you’re a regular reader, go ahead and refresh your memory. Perhaps you’ll get inspired…if so, let me know because I would in turn like to be inspired by your inspired craft. It’s like the gift that keeps on giving.

Personal…Just For Fun:

Friday Flashback (in which I willingly and gleefully smear chocolate cake batter on my face)

 Let’s Talk Budgeting (in which I force a spreadsheet upon you)

Blogger Bests (in which I momentarily distract you from my appalling lack of motivation)

Friday Flashback (in which there is foreshadowing)

Happy Easter (in which I bedeck myself in florals to celebrate the resurrection)

Crafts:

Adding Words to Artwork (in which I attempt to minimize the amount of times I freak out per day)

Painted Brass Candlesticks (in which I makeover a previous makeover)

Geometric Star (in which I realize just how spatially challenged I really am)

Home Decor:

Master Bedroom Reveal (in which a room is finally finished after more than two decades of planning)

Giant $12 Map Frame (in which we get sawdust in the sink…and everywhere else, too)

Stormy Ocean Artwork (in which I spend 1/3 of my budgeted allowance on watery decor)

Making a Picture Frame Bigger Without Actually Making It Bigger (in which I use a power tool and don’t die)

And Finally, a Recipe (or two):

Pesto Pepperoni Breadsticks (in which I go a little crazy for basil)

Jam Cobbler Bars (in which I present a three-layer dessert that uses only 5 ingredients)

And in other, not-blogged news, Ken and Anne bought a new-to-us Ford Fusion to replace my (somewhat) trusty ’99 Altima. It’s been swell so far. We also did nothing over Kenny’s Spring Break (unless baked goods count) and played 1 million games of Set.

Wild lives we lead, I’m telling you.

What are you up to these days? Any favorite projects you completed? I think my fave project from March has to be the giant map frame…I now feel like a grown up in a home rather than a college student in a poster-plastered dorm room…

Can’t get enough? I thought so. Check out January’s recap here and February’s recap here!