creativity sometimes takes over

I don't know if it is the holiday season that has recently put me into creative overload, but whatever it is, my mind is overflowing with ideas, and this weekend was no exception to starting new projects. I would like to blame Chris too, because he introduced me to Google Reader, which now takes up a huge chunk of my evening relaxation time :). I have found so many amazing blogs with tutorials, pictures, ideas, and so much inspiration to start creating that I don't know how to stop the wheels in my head from spinning out of control! I did a few projects this weekend, and I'm glad to say that one of them actually put my sewing machine back into use.

My first project that I finished (finally, a few months after actually starting...) was my living room pillows! They were really really ugly, and unfortunately I didn't take

pictures to document the level of ugliness that these pillows embodied. Ugh. Anyways, I found this perfect paisley pattern and fringe that matched the couch perfectly, and added the splash of color the room needed. Of course, they don't all sit on the couch like this, and the fringe isn't shiny in person, but it's nighttime and the lighting is less than desirable for taking pictures. And, please, don't judge the ugly green carpet - after Mac is house-trained and we are done treading grout and paint throughout the house, we will be replacing it :)

I also had the privilege of going with a few friends to salvage some things from a building that was going to be demo-ed, and found some amazing things. Chris was an amazing husband and unscrewed probably about 50 doorknobs and plates, and helped me dismantle every single one so I can use them for my projects. I don't have pictures of all of my finds, but this is ONE of the drawers full of hardware:

I plan on painting most of them (I'm not a huge fan of brass...) and using them as art pieces. I think Chris is glad that I don't plan on using any of them on actual doors in the house!

I also started another project, but it is a work in progress, so once I get it completed (or more completed...) I'll start that post. I'll give you a hint about what it is: It includes paint stripper, orange rubber gloves, and lots and lots of patience. Oh yeah, and a really nasty-looking-yet-has-big-potential-for-something-cute table I found :) Happy Almost Turkey Day!

ambitious thoughts of the day

Wow! It's already the middle of November! Where has the time gone? I can't believe 2009 is almost over and that it's about to be Christmas again! With the upcoming gift-giving holiday approaching, I've been thinking a lot about pieces I want to create, but also things that I would like to learn how to do, or things I would like to become better at doing. Since both lists are infinitely never-ending, I thought I'd write down a few of the things I would like to learn how to do in the future. I guess all the work on the house has also inspired me to learn new things, so though some of the items on my list seem completely random, I promise, there's a source for the thought!

1. Learn about Photoshop and Lightroom. There are so many ways having the basic knowledge of these programs could open up my creative world and make some of our pictures of life even more spectacular!

2. Learn how to cook one dish that people request at get-togethers. Most people know that I don't cook at this point in my life, but I would love to have one thing that people really like that I know that I make really well. I'm thinking something that people ask to borrow the recipe for because they want to make it too... Wishful thinking, I know :)

3. Purchase, then master the scroll saw. Hello?! Infinite possibilities knocking!!

4. Be able to cook an entire (real) meal by myself. No help from Chris whatsoever. Let him be my cheerleader in the kitchen for once!

5. Be able to go for a run and actually enjoy it.

6. Learn how to use our awesome camera so I can make what I see with my eyes something I can frame and share with the world.

7. To make my computer and the internet tools that will make my life better, instead of something that kind of intimidates me!

8. Become focused enough to follow through with my home projects without becoming distracted by a new thought or creative project. (I now have a dresser, 2 tables, a mirror, and a chandelier that needs refinishing!)

9. Learn how to turn my electronic creativity into something I am happy with. My blog is a little too plain for my taste, and I hope to have a personally-designed website of my own one day!

There are too many moments in my life that I wish I could capture and share with people somehow, and I'm hoping if I can accomplish a few things on my list, if anything, my dream of becoming more independent will be that much closer to coming true and I can share more of my creativity with the world!

Happy Monday, everyone!

movies, football, and puppies

Happy Sunday! I mean, Sundays aren't really my favorite day of the week, but at lest the sun is out! Chris and I had a good weekend - we rented a couple of movies and watched the OU game (even though we lost...) Saturday, and today he was busy getting packed up to go to California.

We rented The Proposal and Monsters vs. Aliens and they were both great! I'm pretty confident that any movie that Dreamworks makes is going to be a good one, and once again, we were not disappointed. If you are looking for something to entertain you without having to think too hard, this is a great movie to rent! We also watched The Proposal on Friday night, and I was really glad we finally got the chance to see it. I had been wanting to see this pretty much ever since it came out in theaters, and it was available, so I snatched it up! Sandra Bullock is really a great actress, and it was funny and entertaining and had a really good story, all rolled up into one. I'm glad, because usually movies that have a story like that aren't necessarily that funny. I think Chris enjoyed it too, which was a nice bonus - I hate feeling like he's watching a movie just because I want to, and it's nice to see him getting a laugh every once in a while :).

In other news... Yes, the Sooners lost... Chris, Mac, and I went down to Norman to our friend's house and watched the game and let the dog play all day. It turned out to be a pretty good game! I was scared that we were going to get our butts kicked, but we held our own! I think that we could have won the game with no problem, but someone has to lose, and unfortunately yesterday it was us. At least it was a good game to watch! An added bonus was that the dog played all day and was so tired by the time we left, he slept all night and gave us a little break.

Speaking of the dog, he is doing ok, but he's still not quite getting the whole peeing in one place thing. I only have two complaints about him right now that I wish I could snap my fingers and fix in an instant: the constant biting, and the partial pee-pad usage. I feel like I'm doing something wrong because he's not getting better by leaps and bounds, but I need to remember that he is a puppy, and that he's not going to learn anything in a day, or even a week. The biting part is the thing that is the most frustrating to me - you can barely pick him up because he wants to play all the time and biting is part of his playing. We have started watching The Dog Whisperer and hopefully we can learn something from his shows. All of the ones we've seen are about older dogs who need rehabilitation, as Cesar calls it, and he makes it look so easy! I'm hoping that at least if Mac grows up to be anything less than what we want him to be, we can learn something from these episodes that might help us shape him into a good dog. Chris keeps telling me it's just because he's a puppy, and I really really hope he's right! I can't wait to see what kind of dog he is going to turn into!

Well this week is going to be interesting for me, as Chris is on his way to California and I have both pets and the task of getting ready for Chicago next week. There are a lot of things I want to finish this week, so we'll see what happens. Hopefully Thursday comes quickly! I miss Chris already! When I get my projects done, I will be posting again, and hopefully those posts come sooner than later :) Have a great week everyone!

boomer sooner!

It's that time of year again... OU/TX weekend!! Though we will be staying at home, we will be screaming Sooner pride on the inside :). I hope that everyone that is going to Dallas this weekend will be safe, and hopefully our boys can kick some burnt orange butt this year!

A big reason why we are staying home is because we are still working on the house, and this weekend's project is our third bedroom. This room is our future nursery, and our current office. It had turned into Chris' computer room/junk room, and we are both so looking forward to finishing it once and for all! We were planning on going to Dallas next weekend to get new desks and shelving, but we are going to have to put it off until a different weekend because I am going to Chicago for a week to be with my family.

Well I hope that everyone has a great weekend, no matter who you root for, but know that at our house, we will be singing "BOOMER SOONER" and wearing our crimson and cream proudly!! Oh, and I forgot to say one thing: "TEXAS SUCKS!!"

busy, busy, busy, busy....

So I know it has been forever, but we have been so busy lately that I haven't had much time to actually sit down and write! Most of the work we have been doing has been on the house, and I can't believe how different it looks!

I am really, really proud of Chris and all that he knows how to do, and I can't believe this is our house anymore! We repainted the living room, hallway, and entryway, added crown moulding to the master bathroom and everywhere but the kitchen and bedrooms, put in new lighting in the hall and entry, added a new ceiling fan in the living room, new baseboards everywhere, added new doors and hardware in the whole house, painted all of the trim white, bought new living room furniture, and..... I think that's it! Oh, wait - we also finished the backyard/patio area. We did all of this in just over a month. Of course, we have a lot more to do, but what we've accomplished in the past few weeks has made the house look like new, instead of like we were living in the 60's.

In addition to all of the work on the house, I've been also working like crazy on getting my business started. I had been trying to decide on a name for the longest time, and it took Chris all of 5 minutes to come up with the name I decided on: Du Coeur. It means 'From the Heart', and it couldn't be more perfect! I've also set up a business email address, so if anyone wants to order anything or ask questions, email me at ducoeurdesigns@gmail.com. I am so excited to get more established, and I also can't wait for my first official order to come in!

Well I think after all of the work we did this weekend, I am pooped and need to just relax. I will hopefully be updating more often from now on, and I can't wait to share more of what's been going on in our lives! Have a great week, everyone!

hello, world. it's me, danielle.

So it's been a while since my last post... A lot of things have been going on and I've been trying to figure out what to write about next!

Probably the biggest thing flying around in my head lately is how to get my business up and running. A lot of you know that I've recently started making custom diaper cakes and wooden letters, and as more and more people are requesting them, I figured I would try to make this more than just a hobby. As I'm writing this, I find myself wondering, "What is the defining moment that makes a hobby an actual business?" I have sold a couple of things, so I guess for lack of a word that describes the limbo between 'for fun' and 'really making some money', we'll call what I'm doing a business. 

I think that I'm pretty creative, and for as long as I can remember, I've had a really hard time keeping all of my ideas in check. I actually have an entire binder full of pages ripped out of magazines and notes of things I want to do in the future, or ideas that I have to turn into rea

lity someday. It's kind of an obsession! There isn't a store I can go into without having some type of "I can do that!" moment, and I find myself buying TONS of things that I will 'someday' use to create one of my ideas :) It's kind of a problem, and I'm currently trying to keep that part in check... I'm sure Chris is grateful for that! Since lately I've only been making diaper cakes and  letters, I want to branch out and see what else people are interested in, but I think I'm starting to get more into the 'business' mode. I've been finding myself thinking about how I can market my products, or how many prototypes of things I will need to make so people know what I can do, but it is so hard to limit my options! I have to keep reminding myself to stick with what I know and start slow... I'm proud to say that I am getting orders for letters a couple of times a week, and I'm hoping that more people will notice my cakes and possibly order some of those as well. I can't explain to you how exciting and flattering it is when someone chooses you to make something for them, and it's even more exciting when they are willing to pay you! It is great motivation to keep going, and to keep looking for more things that I can make to make people happy. 

So the first thing that I have to do (which I keep having to remind myself of...) is to come up with a name for my business. I am getting to the point where I am needing some sort of website, and you can't have a website without a name! You would think that with all of my other ideas, a name would be easy, but it is the hardest part for me to come up with. I think I get scared because it is so permanent, and choosing a business name is really really important. You want it to convey the type and quality of product you are making but you want it to also be original and true to who you are... It is extremely intimidating. I've been researching web hosts lately and kind of spying on other people's sites to see what I like and don't like, and I think by the time I get my own site going, it should be pretty effective (I hope). I guess I just haven't ever thought about what it takes to get a business going, but man, there are a ton of things to consider! When you are selling things that you create, I am finding that you must must must have boundaries and have the skill to hold back. I am afraid that I am offering products that are entirely way too custom, and to start this off, I need to have more of  a simple offering. I have to think of pricing, how and if I am going to ship products to other places in the country, where I can start getting materials cheaper than where I am currently getting them, and I have to keep an eye on my competition. It is quite an undertaking, but this is something that no matter its success, will be really rewarding and hopefully will bring joy to someone else's life!

I'm sure future posts will be related to this somehow, but I just wanted to get this out there, and hope that I continue to get the love, support, and praise from the people who have been with me and have helped me get this started! It makes a world of difference when people believe in you, and I am so thankful that I have many supporters through this process. It takes a lot to create something and put it out there for criticism, praise, and whatever else might come, but it sure has been great getting feedback from people and seeing how what I do for fun impacts someone else in a positive way :)

**If anyone wants to see some of what I have been making, please leave me a comment on this post or check out my facebook page!

there's something wrong in there

This is a serious post, so if you are in a good mood or are looking to read something lighthearted, this probably isn't the nighttime reading for you.

As many of my friends are aware, I have been extremely frustrated with things going on with my body for a while now. I probably come off to them as just another person complaining about the mundane things in life and are honestly probably pretty annoyed. I try not to let it affect my life outside of home, but I know it is not just taking a toll on me anymore, it's Chris, it's family, it's coworkers, it's everyone. It all started with bad 'times of the month' for me, and after seeing a few doctors we thought we had it figured out. Boy, how we were wrong. After seeing a bunch of doctors, I was diagnosed with PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome*, and with my unfortunate history of a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) a few years ago, the 'easy' fix of taking birth control pills isn't possible. The PCOS makes me a different person, someone that frankly, I hate. I've gained a ton of weight, my skin has reverted back to looking like I'm going through puberty, I'm anxious, I'm depressed, I take narcotic pain meds once a month to get through the first day of my period, I have panic attacks, and I am extremely emotional. That's not even all of it. Basically, I am a man's worst nightmare every day of my life. I don't know what to do, because I am sick of seeing doctors, sick of having blood drawn, and I'm sick of feeling like this. As if all of this wasn't enough to handle, the past couple of years have revealed some more problems. I have something going on with my stomach, and it isn't uncommon for me to feel like I have food poisoning at least a couple of times a week. I get horrible stomach cramps, I feel shaky, sick, and just downright gross almost every day. A couple of months ago, I was so nauseous, I didn't eat for days and even ended up in the ER because I felt like I was out of options and wasn't getting any better. I've been through a colonoscopy at 23 years old, an endoscopy procedure at 24, and TONS of blood work with no results. I keep getting the same answer: "We are pretty sure something is wrong, but we don't know what it is. Follow up with your other doctor." Lately I've been getting dizzy, like almost blackout dizzy, and I am extremely tired all the time, no matter how much sleep I get. I am so incredibly sick and tired of being sick and tired, and I know that to a normal person I sound like a hypochondriac and I don't know what to do.

I know this is ruining relationships, and making me seem like I'm crazy. I don't know how Chris puts up with it all, and I'm honestly surprised that he's still around. I see it in his eyes every single time I tell him something is wrong. I see his face when I tell him that there has to be something going on inside me that isn't normal, and it kills me every time. He's trying his best to be supportive, but I am terrified that he is going to just give up on me some day. I've watched the medical shows where people say that when you feel in your gut that something is wrong, keep pursuing it, keep pushing it to your doctors, keep going until you get answers. Well I'm tired. I'm tired of explaining my symptoms to doctor after doctor that believes that taking pills will 'fix' me. I feel like I'm losing myself and that there's no possible way I can be happy again, because I don't feel like there is an end to all of this in sight. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, "Surely a person can't feel like this forever - there HAS to be some resolution eventually," but then I revert back to feeling defeated. I'm stuck, I'm tired, I feel horrible, and I just want to get better. I used to see the women on these shows saying how they were ready to give up because their life was so devastated by whatever illness they had, and I would sit here and wonder how on earth someone could feel that horrible about feeling bad, but now I get it. I feel their pain. I feel their sadness, I feel their defeat. I need help, and I need someone to help me feel better again. I'm sick of taking pills to block the feelings and I'm sick of this shell that has become my body. 

All of this sounds like an exaggeration because no, I don't have cancer, I don't have anything really visibly wrong with me, and I know there are millions of people who are really truly sicker than me, but believe me when I say it's not. All anyone really knows is that I always say that I don't feel well, and I am always frustrated with life. Well, this is why. I feel like something is wrong. I know that how I feel isn't normal. I don't know what else to do. I haven't said all of this to anyone before, and I'm hoping that if I keep reaching, maybe someone with some knowledge or connections will somehow be reaching back. This is me reaching.

* http://women.webmd.com/tc/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-topic-overview