Addicted to Projects!

I might have a slight problem. I might be addicted to doing projects that I make up for myself. I am sure that my roommates are SO sick of it by now, but like I said, it's an addiction. I have always been kind of stubborn. When I get something in my head that I want to do, I have to do it. For example, about 4 years ago in the summer, I decided that I wanted to buy a barbeque. I went about my day and tried to forget about it. But, I couldn't. Everywhere I went, there was a dumb picture of a barbeque in my head. I HAD to have it. So, since I didn't have a ton of money, I went to DI and bought one. Luckily there was a pretty nice one there for only about $20, so I didn't feel too guilty- AND it lasted for quite a while until I threw it in the garbage a few months ago. But, that is how I am. When I decide I want to do something, I do it. Whether it's a BBQ, applesauce, strawberry jam, or business school, I just go with it. This addiction seems to get worse around finals, too- go figure! :)

This week I had a few projects in my mind that I wanted to get done. The first one was a wreath for our front door. I had a picture in my head of a cranberry wreath hung with a sage-ish green ribbon. I couldn't find the wreath I wanted at any of the stores, so I had to make it. I bought some fresh cranberries, toothpicks, and a round foam wreath form and went to work. I think it turned out really cute. It's exactly what I wanted.

My next project was stockings for the roomies. I wanted to make some Christmas stockings out of white linen-type fabric and use old handkerchiefs for the top, but I couldn't find any old handkerchiefs. So, I found some muslin cloth and some cute lace and a few doilies and put these together. I wish that I had more time to embroider a monogram onto each of them with the first letter of each of our names, but it didn't happen, so this is what we get:

I have been listening to this book on CD that my friend let me borrow all about eating whole natural foods and the health benefits associated with that. It is actually really interesting, but I decided that I wanted to try making some of my own things that wouldn't have preservatives. So, I decided to try my hand at making butter. I had never done it before but I heard that it tasted so much better than store bought butter. We made some whole grain bread to have with it. It didn't rise super well (if anyone has a great recipe for whole grain bread that rises well, please pass it my way), but it still tasted pretty good. Here is the butter making process:

whipping the cream

the butter and the buttermilk in the bottom

DELICIOUS homemade butter

So, this is what I spend my time doing when I should be studying for finals. What can I say, I am the queen of avoiding things that I really NEED to do. Life is great!! I can't wait until Christmas.