Retro Road Trip

So remember that post I did forever ago about the washer necklaces I was making? Well, I finally got my Etsy shop up and running and have started listing them! It's so much fun and I've already had two sales, which is super motivating. If you'd like to take a look at my shop, click HERE.


I've also started a separate blog to promote my shop as well as other Etsy shops that I love. To gain some followers and promote the shop and blog, I've decided to give away one of my custom monogrammed washer necklaces! If you're interested in entering to win it, please visit my blog HERE.

Thanks everyone for your support! I'm so excited to get the shop up and start sharing my projects and ideas with everyone!

Twenty-Seven!*

*If you aren't familiar with this Simpsons reference, I suggest you watch it HERE.


Well, my husband is officially 27 years old. Yep, he's gettin' up there.

Here's a little summary of our birthday festivities.

7:30 a.m. - Sean and I lay in bed and talk before Taylor wakes up. As soon as the kid awakens we let Daddy open his birthday present - the Spencerian Penmanship theory and workbooks. Seems my man really wants to improve his handwriting, and who am I to kill his dream?


7:45 a.m. - I happily hopped out of bed (after singing a stirring rendition of "Happy Birthday") to make the Seanster some grub. Here are the remnants of his delicious birthday breakfast:


8:15 a.m. - I proceed to take picture after picture of the birthday boy while he finishes getting ready for work. He was thrilled to be bothered like this in the wee hours of the morning.


8:20 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Sean works his tush off - a silly birthday won't get in the way of a man climbing that big 'ole career ladder.

12:15 p.m. - A delicious birthday lunch at Costa Vida with his two favorite people. Well, sorta. His two favorite people weren't available so he took Tay and I instead.

1:15 - 6:00 p.m. - Back to workin' his tush off.

6:15 p.m. - Fantastically amazing dinner of tuna casserole prepared with love by yours truly. Taylor then gave him the birthday card he made. He wasn't proud of himself at all.


6:45 p.m. - Fantastically amazing dessert of homemade carrot cake with homemade cream cheese frosting prepared with love by yours truly (thanks for the recipe, Aunt Holly!!)


Sean's getting Taylor to bed now so we can relax and watch some tv before bed.

Our really exciting birthday extravaganza will come this Friday night. On the agenda: hanging out in Salt Lake, dinner at Aristo's (my mouth is watering just thinking about their salmon), then Jim Gaffigan at Kingsbury Hall. I can't wait!

Happy birthday, my love! You are the most amazing man, husband, and father in the entire universe! Thanks for being born. :)

Ah, the joys...

Conversation that took place today while I was folding laundry in my bedroom:

(enter Taylor, skipping and eating a graham cracker)

Taylor: Mommy, you putting laundry away?
Mommy: Yep, I'm folding laundry and putting it away.
Taylor: Oh, that's kinda fun!

Apparently doing laundry is a lot more exciting than I thought. Or, at least kinda exciting.

Then again, maybe not.

So the whole vegan thing didn't end up working out. At all.

Why, you ask?

Because I found out that I apparently have a severe intolerance to soy. Yippee.

And so although I will continue to cook more vegetarian and vegan dinners, it's just too hard to go strictly vegan. I give myself an "A" for effort.

The Turtle

My amazingly brilliant two year old was drawing pictures on my phone tonight after dinner. At one point he came running up to us with the phone yelling, "Look! A turtle! A turtle!" Sean and I look down at his drawing and sure enough - it's a turtle.



This kid amazes me more and more every single day.

For 14 Days...

...the Nichols family is going vegan.


Why, you ask? For our health, mainly. But also for lots of other reasons.

Am I excited? I sure am - for many, many reasons.

Will it be easy? Perhaps, only due to the fact that I'm doing lots and LOTS of planning.

Will we continue our vegan diet after 14 days? I hope so.


Stay tuned.

In love

Remember those hand warmers I posted about last week? Sean convinced me to try making them, even though I felt severely inadequate being such a novice knitter. I took it step by step though, learning how to do each stitch the pattern listed. Well, after a few headaches and many, many hours, they are finished!


I really REALLY love these hand warmers. I think they turned out really well considering my skill level (and the fact that I used the wrong size needles). I'm excited for the weather to get cooler so I don't look stupid wearing them in public.

Zoo-tastic!

Yesterday we decided to take Taylor to the zoo for the first time ever. It was super crowded and I was sniffling and sneezing the whole time, but we still had a blast. I think Tay was amazed that all these animals he knows really exist and aren't just in cartoons and movies.

Here are some highlights.

This was the one and only elephant on exhibit. It came right up to the gate to eat some food and Taylor loved watching him.


I just loved this bear. They gave him a huge block of ice with fruit in it and he was going nuts trying to get to the fruit.


The infamous lion drinking fountain! They now have about five of these things throughout the zoo and Taylor LOVED them. It really surprised me because I remember as a kid being absolutely petrified of it. We had to practically drag him away after he got a drink so that other kids could take a turn.


My boys. Tay insisted on Daddy carrying him even though we had a stroller. I think he just likes being able to see over everyone.


The giraffes. They had a super cute baby here too but I couldn't get a picture because there were too many people. Tay loved watching them all eat "yunch."


A picture I shot of my sweet baby while we waited in line for the bird show. Don't you just wanna squeeze him?


Our little family. It was so nice to sit in the shade while we waited for the bird show to start.


The bird show is my very favorite thing at the zoo. I just find it so fascinating that they can train these wild birds and I love watching them fly over the crowds of people. This particular falcon gave the trainers a hard time when he was released from his cage and rather than gliding down to the trainer decided to perch in a nearby tree for a while. This picture reminds me of a painting my dad did years ago.


I am amazed that this picture actually turned out. This is Tay's favorite bird (a HUGE owl) flying over the crowd. Pretty cool, eh?


Daddy and Tay with one of the trainers and Taylor's favorite bird. We asked if he'd rather get a picture with the owl or the American Eagle. He chose the owl.


It was a super fun day and I'm glad we got there early so it wasn't too hot. I hope everyone else had a great Labor Day!

Homemade Playdough

Could anything be more fun?


I remember when I was little my daycare leader would make huge batches of playdough in all different colors, break out the rolling pins and cookie cutters, and we'd be entertained for hours. Making your own dough is simple, quick, and cheap (not to mention completely non-toxic)!

I made a batch for Taylor and he (and my 22-year-old brother) had a blast making monsters, dinosaurs, snakes, and pretend pizzas.


Homemade Playdough Recipe

2 c. flour
1 c. salt
2 c. water
2 Tbsp. cream of tartar
2 Tbsp. cooking oil
Food coloring (optional)

Combine all ingredients in medium saucepan; mix well. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture gathers on stirring spoon and forms dough. Dump onto waxed paper until cool enough to handle and knead into a pliable mass. Store in covered container or plastic bag.


Make a batch or two for your little ones and let their imaginations run wild!

She's Crafty

It's that time of year again - time to break out the knitting needles!

I am determined to learn more this year than just the basic knit and purl stitches so I can make something besides scarves, potholders, and blankets. Thanks to the wonders of the internet I've been able to do just that! So far I've learned the basics of reading knitting patterns, how to make a rib pattern, how to do a basic cable stitch, and how to knit on the round with cable needles.

Here are my recently completed projects:

Simple hand warmers (pattern HERE. Mine is slightly modified.):



Ribbed beanie hat (pattern HERE. Seriously took me 4 tries to get it right. I'm such a newb.):



I'm hoping to learn to make these awesome hand warmers:


In theory I can read almost the entire pattern, but in practice they may turn out looking more like a giant ball of tangled yarn. Practice makes perfect though, right?

The dog days of summer...

...are coming to and end.

It's true, and I couldn't be happier. Fall is our favorite time of year around the Nichols household, and I welcome harvest time with open arms.

Summer is still technically here though (for another 17 days at least), and Tay and I have been enjoying the cooler weather outside. A couple of days ago we headed out to the yard with a soccer ball and camera in tow, and Taylor was especially cheesy for the lens.

Here are a few of my favorites. Man I love this kid!