Do It Yourself Crafts

In my interior design class my teacher always shows us clips from a TV show called Studio5. One episode had Jennifer Heslop on talking about how to take old junk from a salvage yard and turn it into something really clever and cute. Danica and I thought it was so cool so we are planning a trip to Salt Lake to go to George's Salvage yard like she did in the show. SO since I had been thinking about sprucing up some old junk to turn it into a treasure I had a great idea. I had taken this little shelf from my grandma's garage and put it in my kitchen but it was just plain wood and a little dull. I was doing dishes the other day and I decided I would try out my crafty skills on this shelf. I think it turned out pretty darn good considering I am not very good at making things look the way I imagine.

here is the supplies I used. Craft paint, sponge brushes, sand paper, scrap book paper, modge podge and clear acrylic paint.


BEFORE


AFTER

The Dash

I was reminded of this poem today and I though I would share it with all of you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The Dash
copyright 1996 Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they
say about how you spend your dash?

Spring Break '09---California

This year for spring break we went to stay with Josh's cousin Janet and her husband Cary in Glendora. I drove all the way from Cedar to Glendora for the first time ever. I am pretty sure I'm a natural when it comes to big city driving. I did pretty good, no accidents on the road or in our pants so I think that was a successful trip. Janet and Cary were so nice to let us stay with them and they spoiled us rotten! They took us out to some amazing sushi bars and Cary is an excellent cook and made smoked Tri-tip, smoked yellow tail, and BBQ chicken. They had the coolest backyard and we spend a lot of our time outside enjoying the warm sunny southern california weather. We got there sunday and we just hung out with the fam and relaxed. Monday we went driving around Ontario, Pomona and Rancho Cucamonga looking for for sale signs but Josh always ended up in the nicest most expensive areas or the ghetto. Then we decided to go to Anaheim for lunch at this delicious Mexican restaurant called La Casa Garcias where my family goes everytime we go to Disneyland. We couldn't afford to actually go to Disneyland so I made Josh drive by and I tried to take pictures. I was really bummed we couldn't go inside. Tuesday we looked at houses with some agents we have been in contact with on the internet. Some of the houses were pretty thrashed and needed a lot of work and others were in fairly good condition. We won't be able to get a house until December most likely because we have to wait for Josh's Army money to start coming in consistantly. Wednesday we went driving around again and found some awesome new apartments in Rancho Cucamonga. They were built in 2005 and they had washers and dryers and dish washers in the units so we were pretty stoked. The were comparable prices to most other places even the older not so nice ones. They are right across the street from a new outdoor mall called Victoria Gardens that has shops, restarants and a movie theatre so we would always have something to do. Then we found out that it was only a few minutes to my Dental Hygiene school so that was also a huge plus. Thursday was our last day and we did some more exploring around Glendora and looked at apartments there because we really loved that area. That night we went and watched Janet and Cary coach their swim club at the highschool where Janet works and then went out for Sushi where there friend Hiro works. It was the best sushi we have ever eaten! We really loved it there and are so excited to move. We will be so sad to leave our families and friends and good ol Cedar but it will be an amazing new experience. We are really looking forward to that next chapter of our lives.

Glendora High School Aquatic Center where Janet and Cary coach


Samantha. She was so shy and skiddish for some wierd reason and they said she's been that way since she was born.


This is Sandy. She was kind of crazy but very loving.






This tree grew lemons and Oranges on the same tree. Pretty crazy!.


This was a little bathroom with a shower outside by the pool and spa.


This was part of their awesome patio.


This was the covered part of the patio with the out door kitchen.


Sandy sleeping. She was so funny to watch because she would dream and move around.

Joshy driving past Disneyland, the happiest place on earth.


We could almost smell the fun!

The entrance to my most favorite place.;(

La Casa Garcia. This place is off the hook good.


This is a bad picture but it is Los Osos highschool. How cool is that? We are Los Osos!

Second Lieutenent Carpenter

It has been ages since we last posted. Things have been so busy we just haven't got around to it lately. Some big things have happened though including Josh joining the Army. He was commissioned in last month here at the local Army recruiting center by someone from SUU. He gets a $20,000 sign on bonus split up over 3 pay periods of $9,000, $9000 and $2,000. We aren't sure yet if he will do the Officer Basic Training this summer before school starts because it would only give him a week between it and the first day of dental school. It is a 6-8 week course depending on when he goes and it is to teach him the hierarchy of the Military and how to be a leader, how to iron, and things like that. It's not as scary or demanding as regular boot camp so that will be good. He says next time you see him you can call him Sir, haha. Thanks for all of your support and we hope all is well for you.