Monday, June 13, 2011

a princess for a princess

This weekend I got to make a princess Aurora cake for my new little friend Anaya.

She turned 4 last week and had a birthday party Saturday complete with a marching band, puppet show, and more yummy food than could be eaten.

On the way to Anaya's house, our Sleeping Beauty stopped at the salon and got a brunette 'do.  That's right, unfortunately she was a brunette.  But we survived and she looked beautiful anyway.  :)

I believe the last time this pan and doll were used was at my own birthday party a long time ago... I tried to find a picture from our wedding video scans, but failed.  So if you think our princess looks retro, you are correct.  It was fun to tell Anaya that we kind of shared a birthday cake.  :)

Happy birthday, Miss Anaya!  You're a beautiful little lady and fortunate to have a wonderful Mommy and Daddy that love you VERY much!


Friday, May 06, 2011

giving credit where credit is due

One of the creative quirks I got from my dad is a love for writing and for remembering.  My hubs will graduate tomorrow morning.  I took some time this week to remember the ups and downs of this journey with him.
Four and a half years ago one of my best friends asked me if I'd join him on a date. He turned my little world upside down with that simple question. As the next month unfolded, he walked through the steps of the early application process to the UNMC Physical Therapy program to discover he'd been wait listed. God wasn't leading to Omaha... yet. Or I should say He was leading us both, just not down the path my precious friend expected.

He'd led as He gave this young man a passion for athletics, for the movement of the human body, and for service. He gave him diligence in his studies and integrity in the work of his hands. He'd led as He brought me, a young, indecisive, and unsure young woman, to pick my last choice in a university and a summer experience overseas.

He'd led as my terrified heart opened up to the young man and learned to trust my old friend in a new way. He led as He gave both of us the courage to pursue our college dreams without giving up on our relationship. The young man was selected as the student head of the Athletic Training Department and spent early mornings and late nights working hard for no money at all. He traveled the Midwest with the baseball and football teams and learned what it would mean to be committed to the staff of a collegiate athletic program. He served athletes and coaches that were stressed and angry and still found little moments to grow his love for me and grow mine, in turn, for him.

God led again as the young man reapplied for the Physical Therapy program at UNMC, this time with an additional year of critical experience in Athletic Medicine. This time, God led to Omaha in the form of acceptance to not one, but two, schools there.

He led as I learned to trust that man with more of who I was and He led as that man asked me to be his wife.

From there He provided me with a job that would support that young man and allow us to do life in Omaha. He led us to spend a summer apart before we were married that gave him valuable spiritual training, perspective, input, service, and time with an awesome friend. He led as He provided a place for him to stay until we were married and me with a roommate for accountability, encouragement, and a whole lot of laughter.

He led his classmates to select him as a leader for them and provided study buddies, a basketball team, karaoke nights and other opportunities to build relationship. He led as He appointed bad grades and great ones, a test on the Monday after our wedding weekend, challenging leadership issues, encouraging feedback, long nights studying and a detasseling job at just the right time. He led through tough finances and hard friendships, high days together and tough ones on our own, date nights and a couple getaways, a precious church and precious friends. He led.

He led the young man in a special way through clinical selection and his clinical experiences. He opened career doors we knew were shut and opened our plans up to a city we had every intent on leaving.

He led through a rough 8 weeks apart, job interviews, negotiations and decisions. And He continues to lead.

When I ponder your graduation, Brad, I can't help but think about how our relationship has unfolded and grown around UNMC PT. I can't believe we're here and finally turning the page to the next chapter of our life together. I am SO proud of you and the man you've been and were becoming throughout the highs and the lows of this story. You've impressed me so much, babe. I love you. I'm proud of you. I cannot wait to see where He leads next.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

feeling {bridal}

 

This is my only post today that happened a reasonable amount of time ago to blog about, but that's the way life goes!  And now I'm caught up on blogging about my creative time as of late.  :)

This morning I made a red velvet cake for a bachelorette party.  I am excited about how it turned out... simple, classy and elegant.  The bride's colors are a pear green and chocolate brown, so that's the reason for the green!

 I found the inspiration idea for this cake online.  My favorite part is the white butter cream details.  Lovely.

oreo cupcakes!

In February I made these little guys for a Valentine's dinner and dance we went to with couples from church.  They were yum-o.  I love the whipped cream frosting instead of butter cream.  It's simple, light and airy.

I made a few modifications, but basically followed this recipe at Annie's Eats (which is a fabulous food blog if you're looking for one!).

a little pillow makeover

I wasn't a huge fan of the pillows on our couch so I decided to break out my NEW old sewing machine and make them over.  I got the sewing machine for Christmas... it's Manly Man's grandma's machine from years ago.  I never got to meet her, but have heard wonderful things about her, including the fact that she loved to create things.  It's fun to use her machine to do the same thing!  :)

And here's some photos... a before:

And an after.  Please note the wrinkly grey one that my husband was lounging on while watching March Madness about 23 seconds ago until I made him and his "I-had-Kentucky-beating-Ohio-State-in-my-bracket-didn't-you?" behind move for a moment.

I made a few mistakes, but am pleased with my first pillow project since an enlightening 7th grade "Family Consumer Sciences" class with Mrs. Christensen.  I like that the colors are more "me": light, modern, and casual.  The large pillows I made reversible.  The small pillow I made using an envelope pillow tutorial found by my friend Jenny, who is a rockstar crafter.  So simple, I'll definitely do it again.  I have a few more pillows to make for our Omahoma, stay tuned!

long overdue... another ELMO birthday!


Beautiful Haven celebrated her second birthday months ago now and I have yet to blog about it!  Fail.  She also wanted an "Elmo cake" that we made a bit more girlie in purple.

Elmo is always fun to make, especially when there's an adorable kiddo who will get to enjoy the cake on their special day.

Happy birthday miss Haven!

Monday, December 20, 2010

perfectly {papered}

I participated in a little sale a couple weeks ago and have a few lovely leftovers.  If you are interested in any of the following, contact me at stephanie.creates@gmail.com

Christmas cards:  $1/ea.

I also made some delightful 2011 calendars that would be great in an office or kitchen.  I saw this idea on a blog I love to read and wanted to make one for myself at work.  Once I got done, I loved them so much I decided to share them with anyone else who'd like one as well!  Sometimes I think the best (and most practical!) art is just doing what you like for yourself and allowing it to overflow.  :)  One option for the calendar is excerpts from hymns and the other is just fun sayings.  They are $6/ea, measure 4.25" x 11" and are printed on card stock.  If you would like me to make a custom calendar for you with 12 of your own sayings, I can do that for $8.

 

Hymns excerpt calendar:
(1) and on him cast your care (2) take and seal it (3) it is well (4) sing ye heavens and earth rejoice (5) was blind but now i see (6) amazing love how can it be (7) arise my soul arise (8) love's purest joys restored (9) naught be all else to me save that thou art (10) tune my heart to sing thy grace (11) this our hymn of grateful praise (12) tidings of comfort and joy

Sayings calendar:
(1) here we go again (2) know love (3) take time to wonder (4) risen indeed (5) do justice love kindness walk humbly (6) all things new (7) fun in the sun (8) practice curiosity (9) go big red (10) fear not (11) full of thanks (12) love came down

Fun.  Have I mentioned I love paper?  stephanie.creates@gmail.com if you're interested!