365.

I have been taking a photo a day for the past 365 days... I wanted to be able to look back at 2009 in photos. It was challenging and fun at the same time... I had a hard time in the beginning getting used to it, but after a month or 2 it just became habit. I considered not doing 2009, because I thought it would be an uneventful year... I was wrong! I am thankful to look back and see our whole house process and be able to put an actual date with all the milestones and events of the year... I am happy I chose to go through with it! I think I am going to continue with it in 2010! I might switch it up a bit... vertical photos instead of horizontal!

whoa.

favorites.

nye preparations.

Jen & I are throwing a New Year's Eve party for our friends... we are tired of having lame NYEs, they haven't been very exciting post college! Jen offered to prepare all of the food, if I would host and prepare all of the decorations for the party... PERFECT! I hate all the food prep for a party! We decided to go with a futuristic theme... why not?! It sounded like a fun and slightly challenging theme to create for... I began brainstorming right away! Many lists were made of ideas, and I began slowly collecting items that fit into my brain's idea of futuristic. I wanted lots of black and metallic... silver & gold, robots, stars, bright colors, and chalkboard signs. I got small amounts of different fabrics at JoAnn's and had some great finds at Goodwill & the Dollar Tree to create the tablescapes and party decorations. I began working on things last night and hope to finish up tonight...

i found most of this on sale because it was "christmas"... perfect!
for a flag banner and tablecoverings.

g just sprayed some trays for me... they will be signs for the party! i love it!

i found a roll of this metallic woven leather at goodwill and thought it could be used... i made it into a table runner.

a goodwill vase (thanks susan!), a vinyl decal, some metallic woven ribbon, and a bow tie... perfect for holding noise makers.

robot stickers backed with cardstock... embellishments.

paper mache numbers from hobby lobby...
got a quick coat of paint & an embellishment.
I'm looking forward to setting everything up!

i heart dollar tree.

The Dollar Tree is definitely in my top 10 favorite stores... I have found so many super things there for parties and craft projects and holidays. If you have never checked it out before... you should. I love wandering around and finding things to repurpose or create with... it is one of my favorite things to do!

floral foam wreathes to make my marge hair.

party supplies: plates, napkins, & utensils.

party decorations.

vases, fake flowers, & party trinkets.

seasonal decorations.

christmas ornaments used to create a wreath.

plastic champagne glasses & cookie sheets for serving trays.
I love it.

5 fun finds.

sewing.

I am very excited about one of my Christmas presents... they were all wonderful, but one in particular excites me most. I want to learn to sew... badly. I can't wait to be able to make creations and clothing for my little children some day. I got the book SEW-Sew Everything Workshop, which I have heard great things about. I hope it makes me a fantastic sewer in the next year... but first I must get over the fact that I won't begin a project in fear that I will mess up royally. It is a big first step, but I know I can do it. Hey sewing... bring it on!

a ramey christmas.

I woke up this morning with excitement knowing that it was Christmas and my whole family was in our new home in Colorado... the smell of my dad's breakfast and the new pajama bottoms I was wearing made it feel like a normal Christmas morning at my parents' house. We spent the morning opening presents and watching my brother & G play our new Wii... a surprise from my parents. The ladies began preparing the meal... Jess and I wore our new aprons that my mom gave us. My grandma showed me how to make her famous noodles, mmmmm. We ate our meal and relaxed the rest of the evening, realizing that they leave tomorrow. Boo... I love having my family here. I miss home a lot, but I also love our home in Colorado. If only we had a private jet or if Kansas didn't exist so our drive would be shorter or if I didn't have my darn job... I would go home way more. It was a huge blessing to have Christmas with them in our new home in Colorado. Thanks guys! It is back to Indiana next year... promise.

our new pajama pants.

a stocking must in our family...

nothing says love like 2 hideous cats... thanks g.

love.

christmas eve.

We piled back in the minivan today to drive around Colorado Springs and show off some of the sites... Garden of the Gods and The Broadmoor. We ate lunch at the Golden Bee... where my brother and his girlfriend shared a yard. It was a big change for the Ramey's to attend Vanguard's Christmas Eve service tonight (we are used to a traditional candlelight service)... I still prefer the traditional.

we got a special holiday bee!

south park and breck.

We drove to Breckenridge today... 7 adults in a minivan is a super snug fit. It was a long drive, but worth it for all the mountain views, a stop in South Park, lunch at Eric's, and shopping along Main Street.

i found a fantastic scrapbooking store! lots of colorado and wilderness things...

my grandmas present to us!