New Year's Eve in Beacon

Hosted New Year's Eve and it worked out perfectly! It was a butt load of work to prepare since we're still not fully unpacked, but shoving things in the basement and attic seemed to save a lot of time.

Happy New Year everyone!! Awesome friends, awesome family, awesome times in 2010.

Girl talk and wine in tiny tea cups upstairs in my office.

Dancing in the dining room.

Movement class with Paws' toy.

Snowball fight!!

Quarters in the basement.

Beverage Center.

Front porch hang-out sesh.

Bacon for breakfast.

DIY: Modern Bookcase

I needed a bookcase in the "library" to hold my magazines. I didn't want to spend a lot and I also don't have room in my car to fit a large unit. So, I found these instructions for a 60-Minute Bookcase on Instructables.com. (It took me way longer than 60 minutes by the way).

My dad helped me pick out the lumber and cut it all for me. He also used his math brain to figure out the dimensions. Then I brought the lumber home and stained it all (still needs another coat and protective finish, but I'll deal with that later).

My unit was a little wider so it started to come apart when I loaded on the magazines. Luckily, I had some 1" dowels in the basement that I was able to cut and use as extra support. I also used brackets to brace it to the wall.

And here it is fully loaded:

I'm pretty happy with it! Looks exactly how I imagined. Thanks, Dad!

Preparing for the Future

Abe and I are having a few friends over tomorrow to celebrate New Year's Eve. I'm kinda freaking out cause the house is a disaster and there is so much to prepare. Ugh, I wish we painted before moving in...not that that was even an option.

I am pulling most of the recipes for tomorrow out of the current Real Simple magazine. There are like 20 recipes for appetizers that can be prepared ahead of time. I was trying to write out a grocery list, but my magazine and paper seemed to get in the way of Paws' bath. He requested I instead write out directions on how to take a bath.

What? I was here first.

You just work it from elbow to paw in one, nice lick.

No photos, please - ha, j/k.

Oops, missed a little spot on the paw.

Oh yes, stretch it out. Gotta get those armpits.

And then just settle in, there is no need to move anytime soon...unless the lady moves the magazine, in which case you move to wherever it goes.

Have a Happy New Year's Eve! I'll see you in 2010 a.k.a The Future.

Christmas Weekend 2009

Hope everyone celebrating Christmas had a wonderful weekend! Mine seemed to last forever, which was awesome.

Santa brought me a ton of presents including a food processor, new Dansko shoes, earrings, and a Home Depot gift card, Abe made me a spice rack, my sister gave me a cake stand that converts into a punch bowl, and Allyson gave me a framed print for my future Enchanted Forest Room. There was much more, but I don't want to seem like a spoiled brat.

On Christmas morning it is family tradition to torture the pups. Phoebe and Zeke are scared to death of the camera. Phoebe will take off and hide, but Zeke is such a good boy that he'll sit and tolerate a few shots.

Phoebe was forced out of hiding by Jaime so she could show off her antlers. Zeke's face is stuck inside his Santa hat.

Later in the day I went to Allyson's house to exchange gifts with her mom and visit with the family. I am obsessed with Adam (her brother) and Carolyn's dog. Chris (her other brother) is holding up one of his famous designer cards.

Then we head to Chelmsford to hang with family. This year we had 19 people in the Yankee Swap. Abe got #2 and Jaime got #3...the worst numbers you can get...I got #17 woo hoo!

I love when it snows on Christmas Day.

The day after Christmas brought more celebration. We had dinner and Yankee Swap with family in Shrewsbury, and then we went over Dave and Brittany's for a party and got to see lots of friends.

Four out of six Green cousins. We're getting too big for this couch.

We spiced up the Yankee Swap this year by putting everything in brown paper bags.

Santa Paws