Simple Project

I love these twine balls that are all over decor stores but I am never willing to part with the money they usually want for one let alone the many I would need to fill a basket or decorate a table top. I was excited one day to turn on the Nate Berkus show and see him showing a simple project to make your own at home. It has taken me a while to get one under my belt but I am really pleased with how it turned out. I made only one because I was skeptical. Would the Mod Podge dry hard enough? Would they look right? But I am pleased to say that it far exceeded my expectations and I have a feeling that my Super Bowl Sunday will be spent putting more of these together. Here are the materials I assembled: Mod Podge, Twine, balloons......yes that is it. I bought all three at Walmart for a combined cost of about $7. Here is some of the process.....

Blow up some balloons. I did this two weeks ago. My husband has been asking "why are there balloons in the bedroom". Anyway, I varied the size of mine and actually having left them for a bit has created a more symetrical shape. Next step is to soak the twine in the mod podge and get wrapping. I let mine dry over night and then the next morning I removed the balloon.

I will be sure to share with you the many uses I find for these. Enjoy!

Guardian Angel

Ever since I was a little girl I remember being in awe of Bison. My parents had American Indian art on the walls and a small Bison Statue that sat in our living room. I always felt drawn to the mysticism they seemed to represent and the wisdom expressed on their face.

My husband and I purchased the Bison in the picture above on our motorcycle trip last summer. This particular motorcycle trip started out very rocky. The afternoon we left town we were a mile away from home traveling over a very bumpy railroad track when the left saddlebag on our bike broke off, skidded across the road and was hit by oncoming traffic scattering our gear. After a lot of work the next morning we repaired our bike and got back on the road, but we were both a little on edge after all of that. We didn't end up making it to the Grand Canyon as we planned but instead ended up in Durango, Colorado where we found this marble Bison made by local Navajo Elementary children.

I have always loved Bison but after an experience on a motorcycle trip in 2007 through Yellowstone National Park, the animal has become our guardian angel. On that trip we were traveling North through the park when traffic slowed to almost a stop. In front of the van that was in front of us, was a full grown, male bison sauntering down the middle of the road. There was nothing to do but just wait until he decided to move to the shoulder.

 I have to say that being so close to such a huge, powerful, majestic animal without even the protection of a car, is a little bit of a rush. When the Bison finally decided to move to the side, we passed him slowly and I turned around to look at him to try and snap a photo but instead he looked up at me and our eyes locked.

I can still see his eyes looking right at me. As we continued on, about a half mile through the park we came across a fresh multi vehicle accident. Kevin and I were both stunned because if that Bison had not delayed us like he had, there was a good chance that we could have been involved in the accident ourselves and being on a motorcycle that could have meant serious injury or even death.

Needless to say, after that day, we have always felt a little safer when
traveling if we have some sort of symbol of the Bison with us. It may be superstitious but when I think back to that animals eyes looking in to my own, I know that something or someone was looking out for us that day.

Baby Steps

So much for attempting to give up on being perfect. I haven't written anything for my blog because in my mind I felt like my next post should feature a completely redone bedroom from floor to ceiling. Of course that just isn't practical, for me anyway. The truth is that my bedroom is coming along really well but it isn't completely done yet and that is okay. I have completed the paint and the baseboard trim and I am excited to show you the wall art that I made for above our bed.

I was so inspired by a blog post by Nesting Place that I just had to figure out how to make my own. I have struggled with that space above our bed since we moved in, 6 years ago. And me being me, instead of trial and error I just didn't hang anything there. When I saw the sunburst mirror that the Nester made I was obsessed. I kept going back to it over and over again and wondering, is this something I could do? So, I first read her wonderful DIY instructions (find them here http://www.thenester.com/2011/01/how-to-make-a-sunburst-mirror.html) and headed to Goodwill to find a mirror. This small mirror cost me $4 with tax and at first I thought about spray painting it black but went with the gold and for now I am glad that I did. All in all, this project cost me $10 at the most and when it was hung on the wall I did a little happy dance. I am in lurve with it. It brings a smile to my face every time I come in the room.

I am so new to this blogging business and really am not sure how exactly to properly link a post to other blogs. It is on my list of things to figure out. But in the meantime be sure to check out www.thenester.com. Great, great site! So inspiring and fun. Smooches!!!

Back in Action

I started off the year very ambitious to get started with all my goals for 2011 only to end up getting the nasty crud that is going around. I am not up to 100% yet but feeling better and ready to dig in.

The only thing I can think about right now is getting rid of this nasty blue that is in our bedroom.

It was painted by the previous owner and the color isn't terrible but it really isn't our style. Even more disturbing is the state of the walls. Through our whole house the finishing touches on the drywall were incredibly neglected by the original owner who built the house. In the kitchen and living room and much of the lower level my dad did a "knock down" treatment which looks great and hid a lot of the flaws. But for the bedroom, I would really like to keep the walls flat. But of course that means that I am going to have my hands full sanding. Whoooo Hoooooo!

I haven't yet decided on a color. I am terribly indecisive and always worried about making the wrong decision. Sadly in the past this has meant that instead of risking a mistake I just wouldn't make a decision. For now, I am shooting to get this room sanded, primed and then painted a shade of white. I know that isn't exactly living on the edge but I would like to take the time to focus on the trim work in the room and then decide if I want to go towards the warm peaches and greens or cool grays. The goal is to have some before and after primed wall picture to post for tomorrow. Happy sanding and priming!

Why Simple Expectations

I love this picture. It was taken shortly after our first significant snow storm in Stillwater MN in 2010 and to me it reminds me of simplicity. I grew up in Stillwater and sometimes I forget to look around and really take in how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful area and that is what this blog is all about. It is about appreciating small steps, letting go of perfection and letting go of goals that I had 10 years ago but feel guilty about never accomplishing. Simple Expectations reminds me to stay present in the moment and appreciate the gifts that every day brings.

Welcome 2011

This is my first ever blog post. I am a little nervous and excited but super inspired by all the wonderful posts by awesome women out there. I love how people are so open and willing to share what makes their own lives so special and my goal is to have an outlet where I can do the same.

I live in Minnesota with my husband and our little family of animals. We have 2 dogs named Lucy and Wally and 2 cats named P. Diddly and Fuzzy. I am a classical musician who teaches and freelances and my husband is a Network Engineer. We are pretty different but somehow it works for us. I love cooking, cleaning and doing yard work which really shocks me. I never imagined that I would relish in becoming a domestic diva, but I do. Together with my husband we love traveling on one of our 4 motorcycles. Our adventures have taken us across the US and Canada.

I have a feeling that this year is going to bring a lot of positive things for us. I feel like on a basic level we are both ready to get healthier and lose some of the extra pounds that have crept up. I also look forward to camping and hiking with our pups. My other goals for the year include chipping away at all the little projects that I have started around the house or need to start around the house and taking things one project and one day at a time. Overall, I hope to live in the moment and enjoy all the simple things.

Cheers to 2011!!!