Sep 4, 2013
I love the idea of having a “little something extra” to amp 
up your decorative paper straws for any occasion… so why not a pennant for football season? It’s perfect for other sports themed events too- maybe a baseball baby shower or basketball birthday party? It’s kind of like a new twist on the classic, felt pennant on a wooden stick (except more cute and more useful)!
Today I’ve got a very special FREE printable to help you get into the school spirit this football season (courtesy of Calligraphy Etc.)!
It’s easy to do, and you’ll only need a few supplies:
a printer
colored paper
scissors
double -sided tape or glue
cute paper straws (you can get them here)
Ready to get to making adorable straw pennants?
1. Download the “GO FIGHT WIN” straw pennant sheet HERE.
2. Print it out on colored paper (to match your favorite sports team).
3. Carefully cut out the pennants on the dashed gray line.
4. Apply double sided tape to the back side of the pennant.
5. Approximately half an inch from the top of the straw, gently wrap a pennant it, being mindful to match up the pointed ends.
Easy, right? It’s a quick way to add a little punch to your next Tailgate, Game Day party or sporting event refreshments!
Aug 25, 2013
This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the 2013 Stationery Academy in Dallas!
I was so blown away by the caliber of the women attending this workshop, as well as those that were leading it. In fact, it was what I would call, “information overload”. Seriously. Too many great ideas jam-packed into two days!
I especially loved meeting Natalie Chang, Rachel Shingleton, and Emily McCarthy. I’ve known Whitney English for a few years, but it was fun to see her in this “educational” setting.
Although I was distracted with all that was going on with Sarah, I took copious notes that I know I will be referring to frequently as I move forward with my business. I also met some amazing women that I know will be lifelong friends.
If you’re in the paper/invitation industry, I would highly recommend Stationery Academy. It’s chock full of information and brimming with encouraging girls. With a full brain, it’s given me a full heart because I’m so inspired by what is to come.
Stay tuned, friends!
Aug 20, 2013
A few weeks ago, mom and I stumbled upon an estate sale. Most of the stuff was overpriced, so we walked away almost empty-handed, but there were a few items that we had been eying (and of course waiting for the “half price” day to follow). Our first treasure was a “Texas Rose Quilt” that was handmade and many years old – obviously it had taken a very long time to complete, and neither mom nor I had seen anything like it. After buying that “must have” (along with a few other small items) and left the scene. Later that evening, mom wondered if the glassware she had seen was actually Uranium glass. I had never heard the term, so she explained (being the good science teacher she is). Uranium glass contains uranium, usually in oxide 
diuranate form (disclaimer: I have no clue what that means exactly), added to a glass mix before melting. The pieces vary from trace levels to about 2% uranium, although some 20th-century pieces were made with up to 25%. The amount of uranium in the piece determines the color of its “glow” (it’s more yellow if there’s a greater amount of uranium). It’s found in early century tableware and household items, but fell out of widespread use during the Cold War (1940s) when the availability of uranium decreased. These pieces kind of rare to find now (and can be expensive if the seller is knowledgeable).
The next morning, mom still couldn’t stop thinking about that glass, so we went back to the estate sale, armed with a black light in her purse (of course, she’s the only person I know who has a mini black light handy). She casually plucked a piece from the glassware area, sequestered it to a bathroom, and plugged-in her black light. It was sneaky, and exciting. We were rebels, living on the edge! (Kidding. Actually, it felt exciting, in a nerdy way of course.)
The glass glowed a neon green, bright and very spooky. I’m not nearly as amused with science-y discoveries as my mom is, but I’ll admit this was cool. In fact, it was impressive – that my mom recognized it and went to such lengths to prove her theory to be right. I’m glad I was there – it was a fun experience (and she got to add some cool pieces to her collection)! By the way, Mom, I plan to borrow these for Halloween… can’t you just see a spooky tablescape lit up with black lights?
Aug 19, 2013
August is beautiful month. To me it means: Back to school (yay for school supplies!), slightly cooler weather (wishful thinking in Texas, but it DOES mean we’re on the road to fall)… and hatch green chiles are in season! I mean, look at these beauties.
They’re even prettier when they’re being fire-roasted.
Every year, I stock up in August when Market Street does their annual Hatch Chile Roast. I buy a few bags of pre-roasted chiles and bring them home to freeze and use all year. (Yes, yes, I know I could roast them myself, but I usually get about a case and a half’s worth, and I don’t have that kind of time – “ain’t nobody got time for that!”).
Looking to freeze some for yourself? Here’s a quick guide.
You’ll need:
pre-roasted hatch green chiles
Ziploc freezer bags (I use the pint size since I don’t have a big family to cook for when I use them)
A towel for dryingWhen I buy the pre-roasted chiles from Market Street, they come in a large plastic bag. I leave them in the bag for 15-30 minutes after roasting and let them steam (this helps the skin come off easier). After they’re nice and steamy, run them under cool water and remove the blistered skin. Hold the top of the chile and gently rub in a downward motion. Once most of the skin is removed, tear off the hard top of the chile (to save time later when cooking).Once the skin has been removed from the chiles, divide them into small freezer bags. (I love freezing them in really small batches because it’s easier to thaw and use the entire bag in a shorter period of time.)
Fill each bag about halfway with water (you just need enough to keep them from getting frostbite or drying out in the freezer), pressing the excess air out of the bag, and sealing as tightly as possible.
Label each bag (mild or hot, if you went combo style) and freeze the bag as flat as possible… Then enjoy having hatch green chiles on hand year-round for your cooking pleasure!
How do you like your green chiles? I love mine with eggs, in a sauce over chicken or salmon, on a burger with caramelized onions… or just about any way I can get them! What’s your favorite way to eat hatch green chiles? (I’m always looking for a few new recipes!)
Jul 31, 2013
This past week and a half has been a complete roller coaster of emotion…it’s only been ten days, but it feels like it’s been three weeks! I won’t say it’s been the longest 10 days of my life (that would be too dramatic -and I AM trying to keep things in perspective here).
So, before anyone jumps to any conclusions:
– No, I am not sick or dying.
– Gratefully, I still have my family (and friends).
-To the best of my knowledge, none of my family or friends are sick or dying.
-I have not fallen victim of a natural disaster (or zombie apocalypse). Whew!
This post is almost exclusively about my dog, Sarah. She’s been a great companion and furbaby for almost nine years (my longest roommate aside from my brother and my longest “love relationship” to date – ha).
Last Thursday, Sarah fell on my hardwood floors (trying to turn quickly when she heard the crinkle of the treat bag, go figure). She hit the floor pretty hard but got up and acted like normal, so I didn’t think much of it. Later that day, she was limping a little. The vet thought she might have pulled a muscle, so we got some meds and went home to rest. On Friday, she started walking “drunk” with her back legs (it’s called cross-walking). and after another visit, my vet recommended an emergency meeting with a neurologist in Dallas.
Monday morning, we visited with the neurologist at the Center for Veterinary Specialist Care and they had an MRI done. The results came back and were NOT what I was expecting! Instead of a pinched nerve or slipped disc, it was a tumor. A spinal tumor, attached to her back left leg nerve socket. Apparently, the fall had caused the tumor to bleed, creating more pressure on her spinal cord (hence the trouble walking).
On Wednesday, Sarah had surgery to remove the spinal tumor. Here’s a pic of her the morning of. 
She nuzzled up to me and caught a few zzz’s while waiting in her crate… After a 6 hr surgery, I got an update that they were able to remove a lot of the tumor, but not all (because it was so attached to nerves). That means that Sarah will have to start radiation in a few weeks. The surgeon also had to cut a nerve to remove as much of the tumor as she did, so Sarah will have limited use of her back left leg for awhile. Hopefully the nerves around it will re-route and take over for the snipped one in time. Until then, my big girl has got a long recovery ahead. Lots of rest (and plenty of help from me to move around).
Right now, I’m just waiting for her to be released from the pet hospital (hopefully tomorrow), but until I have the green light to take her home, it’s kind of a waiting game…
Do I know how crazy it sounds to go to such great lengths to keep a dog? Yes. But she’s one of the two “kids” I’ve got, and I just wouldn’t feel right about not doing anything I can. Thankfully, I have a very generous, selfless, and supportive family who has offered to help in numerous ways – I’m pretty blessed that they’re pet lovers too, so they understand.
If you’re into praying for pups, I would love to have prayers for her recovery. So many of my Instagram have already been so encouraging, and I can’t express how much that means to me. (If you don’t follow me already, my handle is @kandim)
I have called sweet Sarah a lot of things over the years: #fatgirl #sarahbear #babyface #mama… But I’d like to add two more: #fighter and #survivor. She’s been a real trooper, and I have faith that God is taking care of her, even through these crazy 10 days and in the months ahead.
P.S. – If you ARE the praying kind (especially for doggie things), I’m sure my family would appreciate a few extra prayers. In the midst of all this craziness with Sarah (between her diagnosis and surgery), we had to put to sleep my parents’ dog, Dirk, who had been fighting cancer for about 10 months. We love our pets like family, so it’s been a pretty tough week all around.
I’ll probably continue posting on Sarah’s progress, so if you’re interested, check back! Thanks everyone!
{photo left: Sarah, post-surgery, and VERY excited that I came to see her}
up your decorative paper straws for any occasion… so why not a pennant for football season? It’s perfect for other sports themed events too- maybe a baseball baby shower or basketball birthday party? It’s kind of like a new twist on the classic, felt pennant on a wooden stick (except more cute and more useful)!
Easy, right? It’s a quick way to add a little punch to your next Tailgate, Game Day party or sporting event refreshments!
