Shout Out to Noura

I've been mentioning my sister-in-law, Noura, in a lot of my posts today. She's awesome! She's given me lots of craft ideas lately and led me to some fun new blogs (check out my updated "Favorite Blogs" on the right side column). She's also given me a few great tips on healthy things to eat during the week: 

You probably can't tell from the pic, but this is a tuna salad sandwich. Noura informed me that you can use cottage cheese instead of mayo to cut down fat intake and boost protein. Tuna's great for you too! I like to add lemon juice, salt and pepper, celery or pickles, and onions. 

Thanks to Noura, I buy a couple tubs of vanilla yogurt each week and for breakfast or a snack, I add berries and almonds for Henry (almonds in nut form give me cankers). Yummy and good for you! 

Thanks for the tips ichti ("sister" in Arabic)!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Merry Christmas from the Little Red House! It's officially Christmas time now that I have my two little trees up...

This is our main tree, although it's only maybe 4 feet high. Mom has a tradition of giving us each an ornament on Christmas Eve that symbolizes something significant from the past year. Among others, I have an ornament symbolizing my first kiss, my acceptance to USC, my new Lebanese boyfriend, and the year after a "First Christmas Together" ornament. It's a great way to keep those memories alive. There's a story to tell with each ornament! 

Grandma gave me this tiny tree when I was in college. I put it in the bedroom and will probably take the decor off but leave the tree up all winter. It's so foresty with the burlap bottom...

Merry Christmas!

Winter Crafting

Here are a couple of crafty projects I've done this week...

Last Saturday, I suddenly came up with the idea to stick a fabric cutout of birds on a tree on my wall. I knew I could come up with and cut out a pattern that I liked, but wasn't sure how to stick it onto the wall. I experimented on the inside wall of my closet, and found that using a regular old glue stick works very well! I'm pretty sure the fabric will just peel off when I'm ready to take it down, and I can get any glue residue off with some soapy water. I wish I could get a better picture of how it turned out, but I really like it!

These hot chocolate and marshmallow-holding snowmen were Noura's idea. She's been following websites like Tip Junkie and Craft Gossip and found tons of cute ideas like these! We used two jars, cardstock for the hat brim, acrylic paint for the face, ribbon for the bowties (or use fabric for a scarf), and buttons. Don't they make cute gifts?

Here's another snowman idea I found. Snowmen are great, because you can use them all winter not just until Christmas. You use containers like Gatorade bottles to make these ones. I like the recycled paper trees next to them too. The whole scene is totally from recycled materials! Some people come up with the most creative things.

Fashion Inspiration December Week 1

As usual, I've collected a few fun fashion ideas that I want to share...

This is Moi Navarro from the Sing Off. I never watched the show, but so many people told me this guy is my husband's twin. Anyway, I love love love his hair in this pic!

You know I love braids.

Here's an idea I had the other week. Use your own hair to make a headband! Just braid a couple chunks of hair and pin them like a headband.

I just bought me some black boots like these!

I love, and slightly envy, this girl's eclectic style.

Inspiring Pictures December Week 1

You know the drill...Here are some pictures I found inspiring for one reason or another.

I love deer, and I love vintage animal decor! 

This girl from one of my new favorite blogs made her own mini Christmas village display out of things she's collected. I want to try this in the future. 

Happy (cozy) Holidays...

Excuses for Not Posting

So I haven't posted for a couple of weeks for two main reasons: the first is that I had a big application and audition video that I had to turn in last week. I want to go back to school to get my Masters degree in violin performance. I've grown, learned, and overcome so much since graduating with my Bachelors and believe I'm ready to really shine this time around. Anyways, the application and all that encompasses had me real busy.

The other reason I'm late posting is because our power went out for a couple days, then internet for almost a week, because of the massive winds we were hit with last Wednesday night. It was crazy! Huge trees were completely uprooted all over the place. I ended up sleeping over at Liz's house since I didn't dare go outside with the wind howling the way it was. 

When the power went out, I realized the gaps in our emergency preparedness like how we don't have anything to cook our food on or charge our phones if the power goes out. I also realized that I probably need to show Henry what I have prepared in case of an emergency. Oops. Poor guy was all alone and unaware of the fact that I had candles and such. :D 

 

Our sad empty fridge... I had to throw all the food out since the electricity had been out for a couple days. 

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I've been wanting to check out the Farmer's Market at the Americana for some time now. Henry convinced me to go over for a minute Saturday saying I'd have fun, and sure enough, I did! I stopped in at the petting zoo since I love animals and intend to have all sorts of different types when we eventually have a house and some land...

Goats are kinda ugly, but I love them anyway!

Baby bunnies!

This guy was my favorite. I think he's a baby llama or a close relative. 

Something about animals makes me laugh! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know this is a bit late, but Happy Thanksgiving everyone! There's so much to be grateful for! I'm so grateful for my husband and family, my talents, my little red house, for time to spend working on my goals and doing things I enjoy, for the earth and all its loveliness, for joy and hope and progress, and most of all for Jesus Christ who makes it all possible!

We got to have two Thanksgiving dinners this year! The first was with friends at Josh and Noura's. Noura always does an awesome job with parties. She's started doing event planning, which I think is a perfect fit for her. Here are some of the pics from her Thanksgiving party...

I love the garland! We had fun making those hanging tissue paper balls (there are lots of tutorials on YouTube on how to make them).

Martinelli's! (Since we don't drink alcohol) :D

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On actual Thanksgiving Day, we met up with Henry's extended family at a restaurant at Nokia Live called Trader Vic's. It was my first year since being with Henry that I've had American instead of Arabic food for Thanksgiving! I love Arabic food, but it was nice to have some turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. 

Josh, Henry, and funny cousin Abe

Me and Henry

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Remember to have an "attitude of gratitude" all year long! Try immediately replacing a worry with something you're grateful for. It's amazing how fast those worries disappear altogether!