Featured: Columbus Underground

So we busted our butts and got it done before Anne from Columbus Underground stopped by last weekend!

The feature offers a sneak peak at the nursery (and our piece-of-crap cat even managed to sneak into the picture)! I'll post more about the process once we complete everything - just a few small projects left, and then we'll add the baby in just 19 short weeks or so! The part of the room to undergo the most transformation and require the most work isn't pictured, so there's a lot more to see - that should keep you on the edge of your seat!

You can find the write-up here...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yum!

Martha's (yeah, we're on a first name basis) classic brownie recipe. Then, spread with a topping of 16 oz. of cream cheese (why go light? - it's Valentine's Day), 1 cup of raspberry preserves, and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. Cut into hearts and sprinkled with white chocolate chips. Let the sugar coma begin...

Handy Hunk

Gotcha!

You thought you'd find a picture of the hunk, didn't you?

Sorry, just his handiwork!

Not much, right? Well here's the hideous before...

Yeah, a much needed change. Still doesn't seem like a big deal - we've changed every other light fixture in the house - just a quick little electrical work, right? Well, one thing we've learned about working on "this old house" is that nothing is ever as simple as it seems. When we took this beauty down, we found nothing but a small hole with the electrical wire poking through - no light box, nothing. That's when I decided it was time to call an electrician.

But my hunk was undeterred. He insisted he could cut out the tongue and groove ceiling, install a pancake box, and hang the ceiling fan properly and safely. So I said "fine," and went inside. You should know that this particularly notable for two reasons: First, I'm not one to relinquish such control, or supervision for that matter - this was pregnancy fatigue at its worst, and I just couldn't muster up enough energy to care. Second, this is just another example of my hunk's increasing skill set and confidence in the realm of home improvement. When we were first married, he could barely hang a picture. I taught him everything he knows about measuring, level and square, and how to use tools he'd never seen before.

So I went inside and fell asleep on the couch, while I listened to him work on the ceiling fan. Every now and then, I'd sit up to take a peek out the window, check out my hunk's sexy work jeans with the strategically placed hole in the rear, see a little bit of progress, and fall back into my pillow. And a little later, I woke up to find TWO new light fixtures on the front porch! Here's some before and after eye candy of the second:

Sorry, the hunk eye candy is for my eyes only!

My hunk is up to even more handiwork these days. He got a new toy for Christmas too, and has already had a chance to try it out. Pregnancy has left me unable to help on the big projects around the house. So a couple of weeks ago, I was left on the other side of the plastic sheeting while I listened to every bang and grunt, wondering what exactly was gong on, and if I really should be trusting my hunk to do this on his own. But I'll reaveal our new big project and all of the details in a couple of days. Yeah, one new blog post in two months is all I can handle right now!

Warmer For Winter

After a long and unseasonably warm fall, the weather has turned colder in the last couple of weeks. On Black Friday it snowed, which I'm sure made the shopping quite festive!

Rather than pull out the Christmas decorations - I just didn't have the energy for it - we transitioned our bedroom for winter.

Out went the light, airy, cream-colored quilt and a single sheet...
Down came the curtains, into the wash, and then ironed before hanging them again (all 16 panels!)...
The windows got cleaned, the shelves dusted...
And then things got cozy - a down comforter, a green geometric duvet cover that I LOVE (and only $20 at IKEA), and a brown, quilted coverlet...

With cold temps and lots of cozy covers, it's a little harder to get out of bed these days!

Window Shopping & An Anniversary

Look what's in the window at On Paper, a local stationer store in the Short North...


My sister, Karla, and her husband, Zach, were married last October. Being the matron of honor and sister of the bride, and having a passion for beautiful papergoods, naturally I made their save-the-dates, invitations, shower invitations, programs, table numbers, and thank yous. I used many of the papers available at On Paper, including the eco-friendly papers from Green Paper Company. On Paper selected my work for display in their window!

Clockwise from the top: shower invitation, save-the-date, program, invitation, thank you notes

The invitation was five pages, held together with a tiny copper brad at one end. The cover page featured their names and wedding date.

The other four pages each had three layers of cardstock and paper - a solid color, a subtle coordinating pattern, and a shimmery ivory on which the text was printed.

The maps were custom designed with the key locations marked, and smaller inset maps provided greater detail.

The reply card offered a unique opportunity for the guests. Held on with removable tape and stamped on the other side, guests peeled off a postcard that revealed a note underneath. The bride and groom have an album of replies that include words of advice, recipes, funny stories, pictures, and poems to cherish forever.

The programs were a cover page of cardstock and three pages of shimmery ivory paper. The were attached with a tiny copper brad at the top, which was punched through the center of a three-layer flower and sunburst embellishment.

Photo: Wendy Martin Photography

Photo: Wendy Martin Photography

Happy Anniversary, Karla & Zach!

Photo: Wendy Martin Photography

And Then We Partied...!

Pelotonia "Please" & "Thank You" Happy Hour

"Thank You" to our generous friends and family...

"Please" consider donating...

Celebrate our 180-mile ride...

The Invitation:

Paperless Post

The Guests:

Friends & Family

The Menu:

Chicken Lollipops With Pesto

Butternut Squash Risotto Cakes

Grilled Vegetable Paninis

Tomato & Mozzarella Skewers

Melon & Procusitto Skewers

Watermelon & Feta Skewers

Brownie Bites With Mocha Icing

White Cake With Vanilla Icing and Raspberries

Lemonade Mixers

Wine & Beer Selections

The Location:

Our Backyard

The Photos:

Our fabulous neighbor, Rita Finn

Pelotonia Recap: 180 Miles & $4,610

"Pelotonia is a grassroots biking experience with one goal: to end cancer..."

Pelotonia's goal is to raise $40 million in the next 5 years to support the fight against cancer...

With a commitment to raise at least $2,000 each, Ben and I signed up and began raising money...

We knew riding 180 miles would be the easy part, but the fundraising had us worried...

Thanks to the VERY GENEROUS support of friends and family, we reached and surpassed our goal...

Here are our journals and photos from the road...

Ben:
Pelotonia Begins...
Almost time...

Erin:

Thank You!!!

Ben:

At Slate Run...
Erin is waiting for Lance to catch up.

Erin:

30 miles down, 70 miles to go!

Thank You!

Erin

Ben:

10am...
Time for donut holes. I ate a whole box. Lance ate 10...and a small child. By the way, how many of you are already sick of these?

Ben:

Near Logan...
Look at the traffic jam we caused! I had no idea all these people were coming out to see me.

Erin:

70 miles down, 30 miles to go! Lake Logan rest stop. Up one BIG hill a while back. Legs are fatigued!

Thank you!

Erin

Ben:

Nelsonville
Anyone up for a swim? I have an announcement to make: I'm tired. 88 miles down...12 to go.

Erin:

12 more flat miles to go! I'd know our average speed if my bike computer hadn't bounced out of the bracket and into Lake Logan! :-(

Ben:

Athens!
Not only did we make it, but the nice people at the Convocation Center fixed my room assignment so that I can share a room with Erin! Life is good!Thanks to all who donated!

Erin:

We've arrived in Athens - good ride! The party has already started, and we're looking forward to a restful evening before heading back to Columbus tomorrow! Thank you for your support of The James!

Erin

Ben:

Here we go again...
I'd feel better about this 80 mile follow up if the organizers hadn't forgotten to get coffee. How can you forget the coffee?!?
See you in Cbus.

Erin:

80 miles to home!

Ben:

Back in Logan...
For GORP and Gatorade. Last time we were here, Erin's bike computer fell off, hit the pavement, and bounced into Lake Logan. Today, I almost jumped in the lake and tried to swim for home. Erin stopped me. Still no sign of Lance (I think he only rode yesterday). But I did see Rick Nash, and in a fist fight, my money is on the Nasher.

Ben:

Somewhere in the Hocking Hills...
I've been told we have 36 miles left. Even better, the biggest hills are behind us. Best of all, they have PBJ at this rest stop. But, what I could really go for is a Makers on the rocks.

Erin:

Almost halfway home! They had no coffee this morning, but we've had plenty of energy to climb the hills nonetheless! Erin

Ben:

The Finish Line
Done! They forgot to tell us that the final 20 miles would be uphill and into the wind. Oh well, to steal a line from my buddy Matt, "It sounds like hell, but then again, so is cancer." Thanks to everyone who donated. For those of you in the area, we'll see you next weekend at the after party.

Erin:

FINISHED!!! Thanks for your support!
Erin