Quick thoughts

My husband so kindly took my wedding ring in for a cleaning on Monday and as I was grading papers, I noticed the reflection of glistening sparkles on the wall and ceiling which made me look down at my finger and think, My ring looks brand new! I love my husband. But then I realized, sunlight is needed to make my ring sparkle like that! I looked out the window and was more than happy, I was ecstatic to see the sun blaring right in providing winter warmth to the entire room. Ahh, Mr. Golden Sun, please stay with us. I know it's only February 14th, but there is no reason to go back and hide. You've let Mr. Snow have his time...he even made up for last year, sooo we're ready for you to stay awhile! I'm ready! Ready for the SPRING!

That is all.

I have to go back to grading because I need to finish before Robert comes home from work so we can begin our Valentine's weekend celebration.

Tata!

-jazara

My theme for 2013

A New Start for 2013

It was so wonderful to spend time with Robert's family in California for Christmas. 

It was different being away from my own family during my favorite holiday, and hard at times, but the majority of the experience was really wonderful and special. 

Seeing as it was our first Christmas all together as 'the Bennett family' -- my mother in law wanted to make several new traditions to carry on for years to come.  

She had told me over the phone prior to our visit about an "activity" she was going to execute on Christmas Eve. 

We were to write down one "gift" or goal to give to Jesus for His birthday and wrap it up in this little box that she's going to keep until next year. 

Now it may be cheesy, but ever since she had mentioned it, I couldn't stop thinking about it. What was a goal or something I could work on in 2013 that I could give to Jesus Christ? 

I don't remember when I thought of it, but as soon as I did I knew it was the one. 

Less contention.

I wanted to strive for less contention in my life in every way, shape or form. 

Most of the time the word "contention" is used to describe fights or arguments with other individuals. But what about contention in my own heart without a literal fight or argument with someone else?

I recognized so many other ways I was letting contention slip into my heart...keeping me from feeling at peace. 

 

I truly desire to be a more peaceful person and I realized eliminating all sources of contention was going to be the way to do that. 

So I've decided to make it my theme for 2013.

Without letting contention arise in my heart, I can be at peace.

What things do you do to be more at peace?

Oh you know....

The other day, Robert was interviewed on a radio show, he NAILED it. I fell in love with him all over again.

I'm two months away from becoming a certified makeup artist. Fashion week here I come!

Robert's gym will be up and running in February. February! It's soo close!

This semester I have my own classroom, my own office on campus, my own college students...who even laugh at my jokes! Does it get any more legit than that?! #UVUforlife

Robert has been contacted by some pretty big names and will be doing some really cool gigs in the next few months. Watch out world, my husband is parkouring his way through!

I am directing my very first musical. Youth theater kids...but still, this is an exciting/terrifying "first" for me.

Modern Family was so tender last night...we both cried. Phil Dunphy is the best dad.

We're going to Bear Lake for the weekend with our best friends and we're stoked!

Netflix is amazing. We are currently obsessed with old school episodes of Scrubs. Late nights laughing at the all cheesy jokes is a new favorite way to end the day.


I have much to be happy about. Much to be grateful for.
Life is good.

...our life lately in pictures.

 

 

 

love jazara and bub

...time sure does fly by...

I cannot believe I waited so long to finally write. I had every intention to write throughout the semester, but stayed pretty busy with the three senior communication research classes I was taking. Oddly enough, I gained a new love for research studies! Between all of my classes, I read over 100 scholarly articles and peer reviewed journals and wrote over 250 pages worth of papers combined. A new record for me. Perhaps that is why I've been a little MIA.

I have so many things to write about. I have a daunting mental checklist of things I want to write about. Pictures to post, stories to share....where do I begin?

I will say, right now I'm enjoying possibly one of the best Christmas presents I received this year.

That's right...you're looking at a mini ice cube tray. Robert loves me so much he gave me two of these for Christmas! They are smaller and easier to snack on, and not as hard on my teeth (well, that's what I'm saying).

Between school, work and then the holidays, today is the first day in a reeeally long time, I've actually been able to just sit on my couch without a single plan for the remainder of the day and just munch on some ice cubes. It's just so great.

Well, now that my life isn't so crazy, stay tuned for some future posts about our trip to California, a sewing project and other crafts, Christmas, and some other really exciting news!

xo
jazara

Anniversary

Last Sunday, Robert and I celebrated our anniversary.

One. Whole. Year.

I admire and love this man more than the day I married him.

I know everyone always says that, but guess what?
It's the truth. 

Here is a slideshow I made for Robert. 

Our first year together.

anniversary slideshow 2012 from Emily Bennett on Vimeo.

Just a bit of catch up.

The truth is, I'm writing a lot lately. Just not on this blog! I know I'll look back and wish that I had, especially these last few weeks. My how it has flown by! It seems like just yesterday I got cast as "Audrey" in Little Shop of Horrors while having a mental and emotional breakdown due to my husband's absence while at stunt school. Here I am however, in one piece and more in love with my husband than ever before. Only just a little bit teary-eyed about the show and character I came to love and adore is now over.

What a ride these last months have been. I made a handful of new friends and strengthened relationships I already had while performing in Little Shop of Horrors. I think the time away from my husband doing something I love was a good thing for me. In a way, I feel more grounded and balanced now. He is always so supportive and I'm lucky we're able to make situations like this work so well.

I've started a job as the stage manager of SCERA Youth Theater at the SCERA and I also teach a class of hooligans about theater basics. But truth be told, I think the most thrilling fact in my life right now is....get this, I am loving every second of my 3 senior research classes this semester. I know miracles exist because how I've managed to stay on top of my homework thus far is a miracle, a real miracle. I've been so busy and these classes are in no way easy. It seems like I've read over hundreds and hundreds of scholarly research articles and written several papers before midterm has approached. I'll tell you what though, it feels great! I have never considered myself a marvelous student. Good, yes. I'd scrape by with 'good' grades...but I usually put in the minimal required effort. I have enjoyed this semester so much so far because I have been putting in the maximum effort I can in each class. I enjoy reading and writing about the things I'm currently studying. Sounds like I picked the right major, eh? I did because I love it!

I'm taking a wee bit of a break from theater for now. So I can finish up the semester with a bang. And we're taking two trips the end of this year to California, so I figured it's best to wait until Spring to do another show. We'll see. I have some shows on my radar...but if everything goes to plan, I may be getting my makeup artistry license. Something I've wanted for a long time. So we'll see.

I'm off to read a study about self-disclosure and blogging for my research class. How fitting.....

I hope all is well in your corner of the world.

-jazara

What I've been up to....

Why I've been MIA lately. 

Between 3 jobs and school full time...I've managed to squeeze in a show. 

It's one of the funnest shows I've worked on. Funnest roles. Great costumes changes.

It goes until October 6 and I would love for you to come see it!

The style of the show has been done in 1950's comics.

Come see it!

My disorder

Well who would have thought!

 

I suffer from severe Pagophagia.

 

Pagophagia is a form of the disorder Pica involving the compulsive consumption of ice or iced drinks.

 

Not pregnant people. Just a little pagophagic.

 

Now my husband can't make fun of me for getting snow cones without any flavoring on them....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another video

I spent a lot of time learning and experiementing with Adobe Premiere Elements while Robert was gone. It kept me busy and my mind off of being without him.

I surprised him with this when he came home late last night.

Check it out!

-jazara and bub

How I kept myself busy...

Here are the chairs I've been working on!

Garage sale chairs

Hobby Lobby fabric

Krylon spray paint from Wal-mart

Happy DIY!

Is it over yet?

I've often heard it said that if you really want to see [your spouses] true colors, you go on a road trip with them. Meh. I don't think that's necessarily true. At least not for me. I'd like to rewrite the saying to read: If you really want to see [your spouses] true colors, be seperated for a long period of time.

This is true for me.

Having Robert gone and spending this time apart has definitely brought out some of my true colors. Up until recently, I've been really even tempered. Except for the occasional tears and sensitivity, we've never faught. I've never been upset with my husband. But truth be told, I have been miserable with him gone. Things he would do and say...or not do and say would ignite fires within me and over time, they got worse and harder for me to put out.

I hit an all time low when I decided it would only be fair if I tried to make him miserable too. Misery does love company. Why should I be the only one to suffer? Why should he be out there having the time of his life while I was stuck here literally slaving away at PF Changs? And still manage to not come up with the necessary funds needed for the rest of the month, mind you. Well...my juvenille aproach never worked. I never really succeeded in making him miserable which only made me more upset and feed that fire more. So...one night, I unleashed it. That fire breathing dragon that had grown inside me took over and I said ALL the meanest things I could. Ironically, it didn't make me feel any better at all. In fact, I just wound up feeling even more miserable than before.

I'm not sure how, but we've both managed to survive. Really, it's a miracle that I survived. Now as this time apart is nearing the end (halle-freakin-lujah)...I find myself looking back and reviewing some of the things I think I needed to learn from this experience.

I truly had felt it was a good decision when we decided that this would be a wonderful opportunity and a good experience for us both. Good. Peaceful. Excited. Happy. During the experience though, I failed to think back on those feelings and remember that they were in fact, good. I questioned myself many times and wondered why I even agreed to this in the first place. However as the time has passed, having Robert away has helped me identify some things that I need to improve upon. He has helped me become even more self aware. For this I must be grateful. I'm going to work hard at improving some of these faults I have recently discovered.

I can't help but wonder if it's going to be weird when he comes home though. He's enjoyed his time out there so much. How can our boring life together compare to the thrilling, exciting, risk taking adventure he has had with all his buddies who enjoy the very same things? I fear that I'm going to quickly become second fiddle and be the "filler." The side dish or dessert...not the main course. It's hard for me to admit, but I'm jealous. I'm completely 100% jealous that I am not apart of this "once in a lifetime experience," to use his own words.

I guess I just always imagined that all of the "life changing experiences" that took place after being married, would always include each other. Would always involve each other somehow. That's why I personally waited to get married. Why I tell people to wait. I did all the fun, selfish things I wanted to experience on my own before I said "I Do." I don't feel included. I feel like an outsider. I don't really understand what he's going through. I'm not there to share in his experience. I have to be happy and supportive laying in an empty bed with a phone to my ear. And I would be lying if I said it's been easy. Because it's been really hard for me. Really devastatingly, traumatzingly hard.

I only write about all of this because I've always tried to write honestly and openly on my blog. I'm not going to just sugar coat things and smile and say, "Everything's fine!" or "I'm happy as a clam!" just because I know my friends and family are reading because that is not how I feel right now. Everytime he talks about stunt school, I might cringe inside and remember how horrid it was for me. He's going to continue to look back on this experience and remember it as life changing...and I'm going to choose to do the same. But boy were they polar experiences! I went through a refiners fire.

"If our faith and understanding were as clear today as it was when we first made that choice, I believe we would choose again.

Therefore, perhaps the challenge is to have the kind of faith during the hard times that we exercised when we first chose. The kind of faith that turns questioning and even anger into acknowledging the power, blessings, and hope that can come only from Him who is the source of all power, blessings, and hope. The kind of faith that brings the knowledge and assurances that all that we experience is part of the gospel plan and that for the righteous, all that appears wrong will eventually be made right. The peace and understanding to endure with dignity and clarity of purpose can be the sweet reward.

That means the Atonement was for you in your suffering. It is personal, as He is intimately acquainted with your trials and sorrows, for He has already suffered them. It means there can always be a new beginning for every one of us. It means as we move ahead through life’s trials and tribulations, shackled with feelings of hopelessness, we focus not on where we have been but where we are going. We focus not on what has been but what can be."

-Richard C. Edgley, April 2002

I came across this talk as I was studying yesterday. Studying something completely different, but the title of this conference talk interested me and I began reading it. I really like what he said. I know I've failed to rely on the Lord while Robert has been away. Probably...because I've quickly grown accustomed to relying on Robert. Maybe, of all the things to learn from this experience, that is probably the one to acknowledge. That I must always rely on my Savior, Jesus Christ.

My mother used to always tell me that the Lord has to be my rock, my foundation. Because he is the only one that will never let me down. People will always let me down. Even people closest to me, because they are human too. I'm positive my immaturity has let my husband down a few times these last couple of weeks. Robert is such an amazing example to me because he lives this principle so fully and with almost a perfect understanding. I might have let him down, but he didn't let it get him down. He is always happy, always positive--not because he is trying to please others, but because he has such a strong reliance on our Savior. He doesn't question things like I do. He trusts and loves so purely. And he's so eager to share his happiness with others. Oh how I need the Lord to bring me closer to husband, but oh sweet Robert, how I need you to bring me closer to the Lord. Come home.

One more sleep. Just one more sleep.

-jazara



A little video.

Why I miss him so freaking much.

 

What the husband has been up to...

So...

It is definitely true when they say, "The first week is the hardest."

Truth.

The first week DRAGGED and lasted forever. And it was definitely hard...for me.

I was miserable and I cried a lot. I whined and complained to Robert nearly every night, poor guy.

Nevertheless, He is loving stunt school. Like absolutely loving it. There was a time when I thought he was loving it more than me...which only made me whine and complain and cry even more.

But we got that cleared up and he still loves me a little bit more than stunt school. Few! Glad we were able to get that all squared away. Now the next week and a half will be able to fly by!

His days are filled with combat, fighting, falls, filming...tomorrow they are filming a group fight scene with "found objects" or an item that you might find lying around the house.

He's working extremely hard and he's being quite the missionary. He is representing Utah with three other guys and many people are flocking to them, 1) because they are talented, 2) because they are good, fun guys. Robert is taking school seriously and is learning all that he can. And on those days off, he's sight-seeing around Seattle. He even visited Bruce Lee's grave! Seattle is an amazing city. I would love to live there!

I miss him.

But he is thoroughly enjoying every second of this adventure and I'm so happy that he is so happy.

Tomorrow is the halfway mark! Wohoo! Let the countdown begin...

Here are some photos he sent me.

That's all for now!

Ta ta!



Day Five

Day five

I've been husband-less for five days now. And for those of you who are sick of me writing about my husband's absence, I'm sorry just come back and read my blog in three weeks because I'm sure this isn't the last time I'll write about it!

I think the worst is over.

Sunday night was THEE worst. I had a meltdown and called my mama at like 1am to sob to her about how lonely I was and how Robert wasn't missing me and how he's going to love being away from me so much and not want to come home. All not true of course...but at 1am...your brain does weird things.

Mama made me feel more at ease. She said all the right things. She is a pro at this, seeing as my dad served in the military and is also pilot. She was alone at night many, many times throughout her marriage.

So I took her advice, knelt down and said a prayer...and waddya know. It worked. It really, really worked. I don't remember feeling so much peace during a prayer or having answers so quickly. What a tremendous blessing it is to be able to communicate with God through prayer. I know He hears and listens and cares and knows of my every struggle and heart ache. Aside from that, I know He will in fact answer your prayer(s) when it is right for you. I'm so grateful my mother invited me to do something, I already should've done, because it was exactly what I've needed.

Ever since then, my mood and spirit has been on the up and up!

Today I went to my female doc to try to have an IUD put in. Since my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer again, I felt impressed to look for non-hormonal birth control options while Robert and I await our childbirth years. Well, they say the percentage of women that can receive an IUD prior to childbirth is very small. There are very specific criteria that must be met and for most women, if you haven't given birth yet, it won't work. Lucky for me it worked!! It worked it worked it worked!! I'm now off hormones completely and will be able to relax and not have to worry about birth control each month (or the crazy tears and outbursts and emotional breakdowns). I feel so blessed because I haven't felt any pain discomfort at all. Also very rare. What a blessing. I feel so grateful.

I am getting busy on some super special surprises for Robert's return. I'll keep you posted. ;)

Man, I just wish I had all the money in the world so that I could do all these little decorating projects. They may be small and inexpensive DIY projects...but $30 projects add up over time!

I'm planning to write an update about Robert and his experiences so far in school. Stay tuned for that!

-jazara

...a little cookie dough ice cream never hurt anyone.

So I might be eating cookie dough ice cream in bed for breakfast right now. I feel no shame whatsoever because my sweet husband and partner in crime left this morning. I'm going to be alone in my own little corner for the next 3 weeks so I'm completely justified, right? I decided after waking up to make him breakfast at 5:30am, I would go back to bed and stay there until I absolutely had to get up. However, only for today. I'm only going to be like this today. I made up my mind that I WILL be productive while Robert is away. I will finish little projects around the house, work lots of double shifts and make us lots of money, spend a lot of time with the girlfriends I've neglected since I got married, visit my mom often...I have a big list.

I didn't feel so bad when Robert got teary-eyed when we said our final goodbye. It actually made me feel a little better since I've been such a cry baby lately. Two nights ago, the poor soul, just held me while I sobbed until 2am. Why? Well...it all started when we saw the Katy Perry movie. This movie inspired me and touched me so deeply that I cried three different times during it. No, I'm not depressed. No, I'm not pregnant. It's actually probably the birth control that's causing all these unexplained tears. But after he left and shut the door, I didn't even cry! I did the dishes with a little lump in my throat but that was it! Maybe all along it was the anticipation of him being gone that made me so irritable. Now that he's left, it doesn't seem too bad. So far.

 Writing on this blog, writing in general, has always been therapy for me and such a catharsis. I have piles of journals that I've kept since grade school. It's something I've always done. Since I've chosen to make this a public blog/journal, many people annonymously read it the day I post. I've never really been aware or kept track of who reads this and who doesn't and I've certainly never written with the intention to seek consolation or act as a cry for help. But I can't go without saying thank you to those of you who did just that. I realize my last post was a bit of a downer. It happens. We all go through tough times, but I was truly lifted up by your genuine thoughts, invitations to have "girl time" while Robert is away and especially all the kind words about my mother. Some friends that I haven't heard from in a few years contacted me and some I didn't even know who follow my blog sent a text or even email. It was so kind and thoughtful and very unexpected.
What a tender mercy.
Thank you.

I'm grateful to know that I'm never alone.

Ever.

My husband and best friend might be away for a short time, but I have dear friends and family so close and only a phone call away. Now I've even learned that I have some friends amidst the blogsphere. That is a nice feeling.

But most importantly, I have the Lord on my side who continually provides peace, love and comfort.
I know he will always be near if I let him.  

These are going to be a great 3 weeks.

Woot!

-jazara

My birthday.

I did not take enough pictures.

It was an amazing birthday. It really was.

It was full of surprises and lots of visitors.

Robert and I had such a wonderful time spending the whole day together.

I came home from work the night before and saw this.

Robert pulled out our Christmas tree and decorated it with pictures of me.

The sign says, "Merry Golden Emilymas Eve."

Guess what I did when I saw it? Yup. I cried. What is wrong with me?!

The thing is, Robert doesn't get his ideas from anywhere other than his own brain that is why it means so much to me! I ended up opening all the presents under the tree before midnight. Oh well!

We started off here.

Ate dinner here.

Then saw this.

It was an amazing, fun-filled day.

Bring it on 26!!

PS. This movie....was amazing. I looved it. So good. Still thinking about it.

Ramblings that have nothing to do with The Bachelorette

It's been an emotional week.

You know the kind? The kind when you feel like everything is horrible and so incredible all at the same time and you don't know how to sift between all the thoughts and emotions, then all of a sudden a song finds it way through the shuffle on your iPod and speaks to you so deeply tears flood your eyeballs?

No?

Okay well, I am currently in that state right now.

I turn 26 years old tomorrow. A time of great excitement and celebration, yes. However at the same time...birthdays carry such a different weight then they did when you were 10. They just do. Presents don't hold as deep a significance because you can typically buy yourself whatever you want at this point--and you begin thinking of all the things you already have which results in gratitude of the highest degree. Suddenly you find yourself getting all retrospective. What have I accomplished this year? Who is still in my life now? Am I happy with my life right now? I don't know about you, but when I do this, I get a lump in my throat the size of a baseball and I have to think of something like elephants farting so I don't cause a flood.

I started working at PF Changs again. I know I said I was extremely excited about this...but I wasn't being completely honest. Lemons into lemonade was all. It really was my last resort and part of me is wondering if I really made the right decision. It. Is. HARD. I mean, like, really really really hard. I'm not the same person I was two years ago. I'm not the hostess/server I was two years ago. Um, quite frankly, I cannot handle the stress level like I once did. I nearly had a break down the first night I took tables by myself. Everyone kept complaining about how slow it was and I wanted to punch them all in the face and knock each one of their teeth out...but I couldn't because I was soo BUSY! In all honesty, I shouldn't have taken time to harbor the thought because I didn't have a spare second.

Irony at it's best. The morning of the first night I'm scheduled to serve, I get a call from a manager of my first choice job option to schedule an interview. I went Monday and now I'm praying that job will work out.

Robert leaves to Seattle for stunt school on Saturday. I'm so excited for HIM, but I'm not too excited for selfish little me. I'm not exactly looking forward to sleeping alone for three weeks. I'm not thrilled to be passing the time by working at a job that makes me cry the second I step inside my front door only to find that the person's shoulder I want to cry into isn't there. What happened?! I used to be SO strong on my own. Then he came along and now I can barely surive the thought of being without him. I'm still not to keen on the idea of him being set on fire either...I just have to shake that one off and pray and trust that he will come home safely to me.

It is a blessing I live so close to home, that my parent's are just a few minutes away. However, if I'm honest. It's really hard to be there right now. My mother has begun her cancer treatments. It's hard. She's having a harder time this go around and it's hard to watch. It's hard to hear about your mother weeping at night. It's hard when no matter what you say or do, you just can't lift her spirits. It's hard that when she looks in the mirror she doesn't see the strong beautiful woman that we see. It's hard because no one should ever have to go through something like this. It's hard because she is having to go through it all a second time. It's hard to be a rock for someone who has been your rock for so long. It's just....hard.

This is the song that came on my shuffle.

Beautiful.

-Jazara

BEWARE: disturbing content

We live in a basement apartment so it's only natural that every so often we see a weird creepy crawly. It's become second nature for me to put my "spidey eyes" on whenever we walk into our apartment after being away for awhile. I scope out the place before we settle in each night and I'd say I typically spot one every two to three days on average. They have only been along the baseboards or just on the floor so I guess you could say I was doing alright.

Until just a few nights ago.

We walked in the door that evening after watching America's Ninja Warrior at my parents house. I scoped out the baseboards as I walked through our hallway doing my routine check. Sure enough, there was a dark speck I didn't recognize (I've memorized the placement of every speck in our berber carpet) so I squished it with my shoe with satisfaction knowing I wouldn't being seeing another one for at least two more days. Gag.

We were sitting on the sofa together reading before we went to bed when I spotted another spider a little way up on the wall this time, hiding out behind a chair we have cornered next to our TV. I told Robert to kill it and he said he would...however, he didn't stand up to do it right away. Now don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but there is absolutely NO time for hesitation when there is a spider in the same room as me. My blood was beginning to thicken and the seconds were beginning to feel like hours. Those things must be killed right away! Spiders somehow manage to sense when they've been spotted by a human and they hurry off to hide somewhere else in your home so before it's too late you've lost the spider! And that....that torment is just too much. I abruptly stood up and exclaimed, "Fine! I'll do it myself! But I'm not squishing it!!" as I glared at him.

I went to the cabinet under the sink and retrieved a spider spray that has been there since we moved in. I immediately sprayed it on the little nasty guy but that feeling of satisfaction I usually get, that "everything's going to be fine now" feeling lasted but a brief moment. Two giant spiders, in addition to the one I sprayed, scurried in opposite directions as the nasty one fell to the ground.

I screamed in horror and ran away into the kitchen. I literally had a panic attack. Those things were huge and they scared the crap out of me! And I blamed Robert for the fear that was now over taking my body. "Robert!! Kill them!!" I screamed obnoxiously. Kill them he did and then he spent a lot of time calming and comforting me, but it was no use. I hit my breaking point. I was determined to KILL every single spider in our apartment. And I wanted to watch each one die a slow painful death so I lay in bed that night plotting my revenge.

I couldn't sleep though. The thought of the spiders dying didn't comfort me. I was terribly traumatized and my vivid imagination was not helping. In the dark, it looked like spiders were crawling on Robert's skin, it sounded like a million spiders were crawling out from every picture we had on the wall, the fan was blowing tiny hairs on my arms, neck and face that made me shiver with fear. I finally threw off the covers and decided to take my iPod into the bathroom to sit on the toliet until I got a grip on myself.

Facebook was a great distraction until I looked up and saw a disgustingly huge brown centipede coming toward me. Really? Really?! I think I actually said that out loud. On this night of all nights?! I dry heaved in my mouth as I felt the splat of it's long body underneath the wasted wad of tissue. WHERE DO THESE THINGS COME FROM?! Our place isn't even that big! There are only two windows. One door to the outside. Nearly every corner is visible....I just can't wrap my head around it.

Needless to say, the second Robert left for work the next morning I began the extermination. I dusted, swept, vaccuumed and sprayed every inch of our place. Every inch. Including the windows and baseboards. I even ended up reorganizing the closet, reorganizing underneath our bed and moving all the large pieces of furniture out away from the wall so I could make sure there were no little creepy crawlies hiding there too.

When Robert returned home I felt a deep feeling of accomplishment and our home never looked and smelled so good. I have since then found only 1 spider (tiny) and a little beetle, both already dead along the baseboards in the hallway. I smile knowing that the mysterious spider repellant and killer actually works. Now, I'm just hoping I don't have to do another extermination for a little while.

A PINspiration Post

As you know, I am greatly inspired by Pinterest. So is the husband actually! Although, his pins are pictures of places to travel and spots to Parkour and occasionally something that Zac Efron is wearing that he wants to emulate.

How awesome is the globe collection above the cabinets?! Love.

Doily table runners are nothing new to me I had a bunch of pictures similar to the above pinned on my wedding board. We pulled out several vintage doilies to use at the reception but we ended up not using them. Not entirely sure why, but needless to say, they were still laying on my mothers sewing table.

I particulary love the look of this runner on top of the rustic wood table top and I think that is what sparked the inspiration because our flat screen tv sits atop an incredible double dresser in our family room that has a similar color. I have been trying to "dress up" that area while we wait to paint the walls and knew that this was the going to be the answer.

I first layed the doilies out on the dresser to determine how best they fit and how I wanted to arrange them. Then I carefully pinned them together.

I didn't want to sew them by hand...because well...I'm too impatient. So I pinned a folded piece of tissue paper to the back so it would help hold everything together whiled I fed it through the sewing machine.

I hid the stitching by using a wide, zigzag stitch. Then when I was through I simply carefully ripped off the tissue paper from behind and trimed any extra threads before laying it across the dresser.

I am very happy with the results. Hooray for completing another Pinterest Project!

I'm going to paint that chair you see peeking out.
Hopefully next time you see it, it won't be brown wood and mustard fabric.

-jazara