So when I last posted on my blog, I had a few samples of subway art. It was well received and I ended up starting a shop on Etsy. It's been very fun to see the positive reactions that my creativity has had for feedback. It has been fun to work with friends, family, old roommates, and even complete strangers to create unique works of art to help people express themselves. The following are some of my personal favorites.

My ward asked me to make a poster and hand-out for our Relief Society's annual theme. This year's theme is "Be thou an example of the Believers" which is a quote from the New Testament in the Bible. I really like the mix of fonts and colors that this uses.

This next one is inspired by my favorite college roommate. She's had gallbladder issues but is afraid to have surgery. She asked me to make something for her to help remind her to make good food choices to stay out of pain.

On to another project. I made about 8 different posters for a teacher to display in her classroom. It was really fun to work with her and to help her. Everything that we made for her classroom was done in a matching color scheme. I love the whole series, but this one is my favorite. This is a 16x20 poster that she has hanging in her classroom of all of the prepositional phrases. (Random fact - if you Google search "preposition subway art" this is the first image result).

 

I just love the way that this next one turned out. I helped another old roommate make this. She told me exactly what she wanted. Her house is decorated in grey, pink and yellow. She wanted a specific quote from the book/musical/movie Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

Another original piece that I made was for my uncle's funeral. He was an amazing man and my Mom asked me to make a subway art for his wife. We tried to include words that described him and told anyone who saw it what kind of man my uncle was. 

This final subway art was made after a friend from college suggested that I do something for the Disney movie Frozen. This has been by far my best selling item in my shop. I've sold over 20 of these in the past few months. I think it has turned out very cute and I've even customized it for several people's children.

Font Snobs and Subway Art

I am one of those people with thousands of pins on Pinterest. I love to see other people being creative. Recently, I began to use one of my Pinterest boards. I've downloaded over a hundred different fonts and dingbats.

Even though I was quite proud of my "hard work" downloading new fonts, Thomas has been making fun of me for spending so much time downloading "useless" fonts. This really irked me, and so I decided to make use of some of the fonts to prove him wrong. The following are some examples of my new-found love of hip fonts, cute color palates, and clever sayings.

This one I made to hang in my children's bedroom/playroom. 

 

Playroom Rules

Then I decided to make some holiday related subway art. I will keep them all in a single picture frame and rotate the current month to display. Since I started this in July, I figured July was a great month to start with. :) Hopefully more will follow soon.

July (Independence Day Theme)

August (Summer Theme)

September (Back to School Theme)

October (Halloween Theme)

Oreos

Zane is 7-months-old. Since we introduced him to solid foods he loves discovering new foods and he's usually a very healthy eater. He is so curious about what everyone else is eating. He's always trying to grab food out of my hands to try them.

Today Daxton found some Oreo cookies and apparently he gave one to Zane when I wasn't looking. I found both boys covered in black drool.

Oh the joys of parenthood.

This is the Place

There is no way that I could update my blog since it's been over a year since I last posted something. So, I'll just start from the last few weeks. Recently Thomas and I moved to Vernal, Utah. Thomas is working for Baker Hughes doing hydraulic fracturing (aka fracking - a method of drilling for oil). We moved into a lovely townhouse next to a park. I have met a lot of new people and have even made a few friends. Dax loves going to nursery. Zane has learned how to crawl and already has 4 teeth. My sister Emily already came and visited me for a few days and helped me unpack some boxes. We had a lot of fun together and even went to Dinosaur National Monument (pictured above).

The "D" Word

I love sweets. I love baking sweet treats. I love eating them even more. But that's becoming a big, and I mean BIG problem.

I've always thought what a sad and pathetic thing childhood obesity has become. I talk about how I would never let my kids be like that. Yet, I still haven't lost all of my pregnancy weight. If I want to have healthy kids, I need to live a healthy lifestyle.

Dax is a healthy eater! He loves fruit and veggies. He drinks a lot of milk, never pop or juice. As his parent, I should be the one setting the example, but I'm not. Well that's all about to change!!!


Goodbye Strawberry Creme Pie!

Goodbye Tie-Dye Cupcakes!

Goodbye Christmas Goodies!

Hello, Dieting!

Discovering Extreme Couponing

So lately, I've been addicted to the TLC show "Extreme Couponing". The people featured on this show make couponing seem so easy and CHEAP. Thus, I've started researching this amazing new world of coupons.

My first testdrive into coupons was a total failure. I signed up for some coupons sites online - all of which were hoaxes. I received spam emails, spam text messages, spam phone calls and NO COUPONS! Obviously, this was a lot harder than I first thought.

Fortunately, around this same time I met Emiley. She lived in the apartment upstairs from us in Pocatello. She has been couponing for awhile now. She taught me some important lessons and showed me the right way to go about things.

The first thing I needed to do was subscribe to the local newspaper. I heard newspapers were a dying breed. I don't really know anybody who subscribes to the paper. My parents even canceled their subscription last year. But, Emiley told me that this was the best, easiest, and most fundamental way to getting decent coupons.

Sunday. Apparently, it's the most important day of the week if you coupon. It's when you get the Sunday newspaper. That's where the ads and coupons for the upcoming week are located.

And this was my second mistake. Apparently, when you get your coupon booklets you save them until there's a sale. I just thought "Sweet! Coupons! I'm going shopping!" Even though some might consider this a novice's mistake, I was excited because I still ended up saving about 30% on my groceries.

The next thing a extreme couponer will tell you is that you do some research online. Now, I've figured out that there are legit online coupons, you just have to know where to look. Blogsites like http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/ and http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/ are great places to begin your search into what the best buys are in the world of coupons. My friend Emiley told me that the latter website, Fabulessly Frugal, is based out of Boise, so it's especially useful for people who live close to there.

Those are some of the basics of what I've learned about couponing, with help from my friend Emiley.

Also, these videos on YouTube are extremely interesting and helpful for anybody else who might be interested in learning the ropes of the extreme coupon world.

One year in 200 words or less

Moved to Idaho.

In August 2010, Thomas and I moved from Arizona.

Thomas is going to school at ISU and will apply for the Radiology Tech program next spring.

We will be moving from Idaho Falls to Pocatello sometime in April.














Had a Baby.


Daxton Thomas Liljenquist was born on November 3, 2010.

He weighed in at a whopping 9lbs 8oz.

He is currently 4 months old and is still a big baby (98th percentile).

He loves to smile and be held. He hates bath time.











Lost a Gallbladder.


This picture was taken the day I went into the hospital (aka Thanksgiving Day 2010).

I had been having stomach problems for a while and didn't realize that anything was wrong since I was pregnant and thought everyone felt that cruddy when they were 9 months pregnant. Nay, not so.










Bye-bye Tarzan.


Our new apartment in Pocatello won't allow pets.

He's happily living with a great family with 8 kids in St. Anthony, Idaho.

Death and Birth

I’ve been thinking a lot about the cycle of life and death lately.

One of my co-workers had a 5 month old daughter who recently passed away. I always think of God as being just. Yet I see no justice in taking away the life of a small child, just starting out in life. I know the LDS church teaches that little children have “perfect spirits” and that for some seems to be a good enough explanation. I feel so bad for my co-worker and his wife. This was their first child and they were so excited to be parents. That little girl should have had such a bright future. She was perfect. She had no previous health problems. But one afternoon, her life ended. Abruptly. I have tried and tried to think of something comforting to say. Words are empty and cheap. There is nothing that I can do or say that will heal the wounds that these parents feel from having their daughter ripped from their lives. That pain will lessen over time, but I don’t think it will ever go away completely. If you would like to know more, the family has set up a website http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/taylorpaigecosmas

My grandpa passed away at the age of 93, just a few days before his birthday. Grandpa Harris lived a full life. He traveled the world, married the woman of his dreams, had 3 wonderful children, and lived his life to the fullest. He was very healthy until the last few months of his life, when he suffered from some health issues that may have contributed to his death. He lived those last few months in constant pain, so when he passed away it was viewed as more of a graduation or a celebration. Grandma misses him the most but she would not wish him back because of the pain he suffered. You would think, that considering these circumstances comforting words would be easier to find. You would be wrong. Grandma’s only daughter passed away at 8 years old. Grandma Harris has told me that losing her husband has been more difficult than when her daughter died. When her daughter died, she still had her husband there for her, but now her husband is gone and she feels all alone.

P.S. If you’ve read all of this and are wondering why the blog post is titled Death and Birth… I’m pregnant.

Modest is Hottest

I was stoked when I stumbled upon The Shabby Apple website! It’s a small company based out of Utah. They sell dresses, workout clothes, kid’s clothes, and jewelry.

Not only are their clothes modest, but they sell dresses for maternity and plus size ladies. It might be a little pricy for some people, but a good dress is totally worth it!

This is from their website:

"After years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable (without wearing a tank top, cardigan or long slip), owners Emily and CK decided to do something about it. They visited trade shows, marketplaces and designer studios only to discover the problem was not that department stores weren't buying the right dresses, but that designers weren't designing them. Shabby Apple is proud to offer you fantastic dresses that allow you to look fabulous, without having to compromise anything else. A return to what dresses were always meant to be — a one-piece outfit. No need to add anything...no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing (except accessories, of course!)."

I know I’m not the only one who can relate to that. It’s so hard to find dresses that look good but that cover you up appropriately.

Ok, now I feel like I’ve endorsed this store enough. If you like modesty and you love pretty clothing then go check out the website yourself.

http://www.shabbyapple.com/

Last weekend Thomas, Lydia, Josh, and I went to the Renaissance fair. It was like a Medieval shopping mall. At the entrance to the festival, there was a shop that you could rent medieval clothing (next year, I'm so doing it). They had all sorts of craftsmen, like potters, dressmakers, falconers, and a glass blower. There were storytellers, acrobats, magicians, knights, ladies, and even a royal court. We went to a jousting tournament. Each section of the stands had a particular champion that they were supposed to cheer for. Our champion was EVIL (so of course, he didn't win). Another fun thing that we did, was go on a Elephant Ride! It was really short but fun! Elephants have very rough skin, it kind of feels like sandpaper. They also had some 2 hump camels that you could ride. I didn't expect to see things like that in the European middle ages. I also got to see a PBR (Professional Bull Riding) event. The show was fun to watch, BUT pre-event was not so great. I got lured into passing out fliers for a Baptist Church meeting for bull riders. What is that you might ask? Thomas and Josh are creating a website for Riding High Ministries; it's the parish for the PBR League. One word: AWKWARD!!!! Yesterday, Thomas and I found a great bike path that's right by our house. It leads straight to a park with a lake. The lake has a rental shop where you can rent paddle boats, tandem bikes, and fishing gear. We brought the dog with us. Tarzan loves bike rides; he gets to run next to the bike, and when he gets tired, he rides in the basket.

Bananarama!!!!

Today is the best day ever. While walking through the mall, I found a Runt's candy dispenser - with ONLY BANANAS!

Saying a Thousand Things

I lost my camera a few months ago. Fortunately, I found it this weekend, so this is my VERY LATE post to update my life.

In November, Holly and Blake played in a national tennis tournament in Tuscan. We got to have breakfast at IHOP with them. They're always a good time.

In December, I decided to create homemade Christmas presents for my family. This one I kept to decorate our front door.

Also, in December, Thomas and I were able to go home to Idaho and visit family. It was so much fun. This photo was taken on a sleigh ride!

In January, we signed a lease on our new apartment. It's been a good change for us (and I just love having a second bedroom)

And finally, in February, my parents came to visit. We got to go to a PGA game and it was a blast.

I've skipped over a lot (the temple, Valentines Day, Tom's parents visit, the Phoenix Open, and more!) but this is what I have pictures of.

Change

Even though I'm aweful at updating my blog, I still think it's fun to have one. This weekend, Thomas and I started a new project. We're going to create a unique layout for our blog. I'm doing the artwork and Thomas is doing the computer coding. Here's a preview:

I like to move it, move it!

I have the moving bug. I have moved 19 times in the past 10 years - and now I'm about to make it an even 20.

Thomas and I gave our two month notice to our apartment management today. Our lease is up in February and we have decided that we hate commuting. We're going to be moving closer to the downtown Phoenix area.

I am pretty excited about the move. It's a little bittersweet to leave our current apartment. I have really like it, but I am ready for a change.

Our current apartment was built about 3 years ago and is considered a luxury apartment. Rent is about $880 a month. My daily commute to work takes approximately 50 minutes each way. These are some of the great things that I will miss about our apartment:

• Ice maker in freezer
  
• Garden tub
• Crown molding
• Close to shopping and freeway
• On site pool, gym, dog park, barbecue grills
  

And this is our apartment floor plan -
The apartment that we are moving to was built in 1981 (it's older than I am!). Rent will be around $680 a month. My daily commute will take approximately 15 minutes each way. These are the things that I am looking forward to when we move to our new apartment:

• Two Bedrooms
• Two Bathrooms
• Pool
  
• Close to work and freeway
  
• Golf course view
  

This is the floor plan of the apartment that we will be moving to (I created this floor plan using Paint, so it may not be quite accurate) -



With this tough economy, it will be nice to save some money on gas and the lower rent price. But the best part is that we will have a guest bedroom!



Consider yourself invited to come and visit!

Just for Fun

Whether you like President Obama or not, it's funny.
Well, it made me laugh anyway.
Enjoy!

Tonight's Gonna Be A Good Night!

October has been a busy month. We have done so many things! And have been blessed in so many ways.

First off, Thomas and I celebrated our first year of marriage on the 3rd. Since we're poor and General Conference happened to take place on the same weekend, we decided to stay home and have a low key anniversary. We had a lot of fun, even if we just watched conference, painted cheesy projects, and cleaned our house.

When I was a kid, my mom and sister would go pick out some crafts and do them while we watched the different sessions of General Conference. It was supposed to help us stay awake and listen to the prophet. This year, I was able to do the same thing with my husband. We painted our very own Halloween decorations; a pirate ship and a haunted house with sparkled white ghosts.

The weekend after General Conference our friends, Josh and Lydia, came up from Tucson to visit us. We went to the nicest bowling alley that I have ever seen! It was brand new, and was well lit. It didn't smell like smoke, and we had a restaurant server who brought us drinks and appetizers. None of us were very good bowlers, but we had a ton of fun and plan on doing it again in the future.

When Josh and Lydia come to visit us, or whenever we go visit them we will usually go out to eat to someplace new. This time when they came up to visit us, we went to an Ethiopian restaurant. It was really weird, because you eat everything group style and you eat with your hands. I would not recommend going with someone who has a cold! The food was acually pretty good, and it was fun to try something new.

While Josh and Lydia were visiting us, Lydia and I had the opportunity to visit the Arizona State Fair. I have always loved going to the fair - and I would just like to say that the Eastern Idaho State Fair is WAY BETTER! They had a lot of rides (we only went on 2 rides though), but they didn't have the same variety of food (I miss tiger paws), or as many animals to see (but they did have a kangaroo).

And to top everything all off, this week we were lucky enough to go to the U2 concert here in Phoenix. The Black Eyed Peas opened the concert. Thomas had never been to a rock concert before - U2 is an excellent first concert to go to. I enjoyed the concert immensely.

And look --> it's The Edge!

We truly live a blessed life.

Hard-Working Dog

Thomas has never liked small dogs very much. He thinks that they're always yappy and badly behaved. When I got Tarzan last Christmas I made a promise to myself that my little dog would not fit the annoying-small-dog stereotype.

Tarzan doesn't bark, he loves to play fetch, he doesn't wear clothes, he's totally potty trained, and he likes the outdoors.

The one thing missing for my well-behaved dog was professional training. So, over the past few months Thomas and I have been taking our dog to a beginner training Class. In this class he has learned all the basics that all well-behaved dogs need.

He has learned a ton of new commands such as sit, lay down, stay, and come. As well as other commands that are less common but equally useful: take it, leave it, no or uh-uh, and wait.

These classes also focused on doggie etiquette: greeting other dogs politely, playing nicely with other dogs /children, and not jumping up on people when they pet him.

Next week he will begin the intermediate class. We are very excited for the next step in Tarzan's training. Congratulations buddy!

Lazy Days of Summer

We have done so many fun things since we've moved to Arizona. Some of the fun things we've done in Arizona: we went to the World Wildlife Zoo, camping, we took a trip to the Bio-Dome, country line-dancing lessons, we visited the Grand Canyon, and now we can say that we've been down the Salt River.


This last weekend, my friend Sarah came down for a surprise visit. We had a lot of fun with her. We went out to some fun restaurants (In & Out and Toby Kieth's I Love This Bar And Grill), we went window shopping, and had our weekly training class for Tarzan. But the best part of Sarah's visit was floating down the Salt River. We bought Tarzan a life jacket so he could come too - he's such a spoiled dog!

It was so relaxing to go out on the water. The place where we went was just outside of Mesa, Arizona. We rented the tubes and got a free bus ride for our drop off and pick up. Thomas thought it would be a good idea if we tied all of our tubes together. He also thought ahead and got us an extra tube that held a cooler with bottled waters in it. Thomas is so smart!

We saw a muskrat in the water and a bunch of birds. I was surprised at all of the wildlife that was near the river. It took about 4 hours to complete the journey. We were all sunburned and tired when we were done, but it was totally worth it. I give it a 2 thumbs up!

Birthday Boy

Yesterday was Tom's birthday!

We had a ton of fun and Thomas had a lot of surprises. Our morning started out with a breakfast in bed of cold cereal - yum!

Then, Tom's best friend Josh came up from Tucson to visit for the day. We went to a store called Fry's Electronics where Josh let Thomas pick out a present. He chose a game called Overlord II.

After that Josh took us out to eat for second-breakfast at a Waffle House.

Around 1:00, we drove to Tempe Town Lake and went on a two hour segway tour. None of us have ever been on a segway before. It was a ton of fun! It was really easy and relaxing.

At 6:00 that evening, Thomas had his biggest surprise, a party! For the past few months, I have been secretly planning to invite some of Toms family over for dinner.

The only thing that I told Thomas was that I was going to make him dinner for his birthday, and that he had to wear a "cowboy outfit." He guessed that I was taking him horseback riding or to a rodeo after dinner.

Instead if a horseback ride, or a rodeo - we had a Murder Mystery Dinner. It was so much fun and everyone dressed up like they were in the Wild West.

Thomas was very happy and surprised!