If you're reading this, and nothing has gone terribly wrong on our end, we're in GREECE!

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Santorini Island to be exact. That's right. In fact, we've been here for three days. One of the most beautiful places on earth. Also possible inspiration for the mythological utopia Atlantis. I admit I wrote these posts in advance (I'm not going to spend precious vacation time blogging, sillies), so I can't tell you yet exactly how amazing it is first hand. Rest assured. The trip review will come. I bet you can't wait.

In the meantime, we're heading off the island this evening and back to the mainland for the rest of our adventure. For those of you travel-philes who like these sorts of things, I've included our road trip route. I mean, since I've dragged you through all my trip preparation, it's only fair you get to tag along for the rest of the tour. Here's Greece. See that island in the bottom right corner? Fira (Santorini) is where we are!

All those little green letters are places we are stopping. They are all chosen for historical sites we want to see. >NERD ALERT.< I spent massive amounts on the Trip Advisor forums, asking questions and reading other's trip reviews, in putting together this itinerary. It wasn't easy. The hardest part was cutting places out, actually, since there is such a wealth of things to visit in a country so rich in ancient history. If you notice, we're not venturing much into Northern Greece, which is a real shame because it's supposedly absolutely beautiful mountainous countryside. But with only 10 days in country and the goal to keep it feeling more like a vacation and less like speed dating, we had to reign in our fancies just a bit.

Let's zoom in just a tad.

A/H) Athens. B) Delphi. C) Olympia D) Mycenae. E) Nafplion. F) Epidaurus. G) Corinth.

Despite the way it looks, even our longest drive isn't much over 3 hours according to GoogleMaps. Of course, we are prepared for a 3 hour drive in a foreign country to take quite a bit longer, especially since it's mountain territory and we'll be driving on questionable roads trying to decipher a another language. Thank goodness for GPS rentals.

Oh yeah, did I mention we had to get these?

Basically, we paid AAA $15 a piece to give us this book that translates our US Driver's Licenses into other (participating countries') languages. We didn't have to do this for our South Africa trip, and the other time I've been to Europe I didn't have to worry about driving, so this was new territory for me! Pray that our marriage survives the Hubs navigating foreign roads and drivers. (Sometimes I worry about us surviving Austin, TX traffic, and by that I mean: survive each other.)

So next Friday will find us finishing up our road trip for two days in the metropolis of Athens, and then we'll be on our way back home. Stay tuned... and wish us luck!

On the road again....

As always, you can find me the other days of the week at alittleWhitenoise.

Master Bath Update

Kendall is taking a break today so I am continuing my home improvement theme:

Here is the master bath BEFORE:

And AFTER

 I spray painted the lights because I couldn't deal with so much GOLD.

 I also spray painted some knobs I had. Instead of crappy gold, they are now crappy silver for FREE.

Head-Board DIY

Hey kids,

Can't believe its monday again. I have been a super busy stay at home wife this last week. Lots of projects tackled and I can see light at the end of the kitchen tunnel. I know I promised some Kitchen photos but its still not done... taking WAY too long... so I'll just give you a sneak peek:

 Wiener dog size reference:

There. OOOooooo.

So another thing I wanted to buy do, was make a headboard. I really wanted this one--- but its like a million dollars.  We have this giant blank wall behind our bed and we needed something. So I watched Grace Bonney's DIY tutorial video and was like hey yeah I can do that.... 

and I can but its harder than it looks.

Stuff you need:

Plywood or particle board

1-2 inch foam

miter saw, jigsaw

pencil, string

circle template

ruler

marker

Emmy's on TV

coffee

husband

mom

spray adhesive 

batting

fabric

staple gun

This sounds like a list from McGruber

Step 1: Cut the frame

Lay frame on foam and trace

 Cut and spray OUTSIDE then lay and attach to board

 Cut batting to fit, have wiener dog help keep batting stable

 Staple!

 Lay on Fabric

 Ok it got really hard at the curves I recommend no 90 degree angles.

So here is my OH so gray bedroom BEFORE:

 Im going to add some of the throw color in the curtains...a print

 I found this pottery barn throw at an estate sale for $5.00

Total cost of headboard: $120 Total Savings- $900! (if I had bought the dwell studio one)

30- foam

25- wood

45- Fabric (Linen cotton blend)

20- Batting 

Let's Go! (Line Dancing?)

Oooooooh, are you sick of me talking about my trip to Greece? I am preeeetty sick of talking about it. In fact, I've talked about it so much it's like people are afraid to make conversation with me about anything else. 

But in all seriousness - just a few more posts about our upcoming travels, and then our travels will no longer be upcoming, they will be . . . over. Then I will be ready to tell you, perhaps with a little less jealousy, all about my sister and brother-in-law's new life in Scotland! (Now that you're hooked with that cliffhanger...)

This week was the finale of SYTYCD. For all you non-watchers out there, that's So You Think You Can Dance. Yes, it's a reality TV show. Yes, it involves dancing. No, it is not the same as Dancing with the I-want-to-gouge-my-eyes-out Stars, thank you very much. I will admit that I TiVO the show and fast forward through the judging and ridiculousness, but I do watch nevertheless.

This week was the finale, and as I was watching the dancing, I started thinking about cultural influences and what we consider our truly "American" styles of dance. And then I got on YouTube and found a wealth of examples of Greek styles of dance. Is it Riverdance? Are they line dancing? Yes, they just might be the originators of line dancing. Take that, Texans!

I can summarize Greek folk dance like so: 

(lots of) stomping + clapping + snapping + (lots of) jumping = Greek folk dance

But see for yourself. This is the Greek SYTYCD. What's with the old man putting on his jacket at the beginning? Anyone?

Oh, and Joe's Crab Shackers ain't got nothing on this waiter.

I am pretty sure I would tip heartily to ensure this happens during any one of my meals. This is what happens when you indulge me. Random Friday Post. Now, change the subject! 

It's the weekend, do a Happy Dance and see if your kicks are as high as that guy's.

As always, you can find me the other days of the week at alittleWhitenoise.

I cannot believe that I am 2 weeks away from starting the 3rd trimester! The weather has been so beautiful lately that all I have been daydreaming about is taking walks and going to the park with our little boy. I am so anxious to meet him, but I am also enjoying the new feelings that come along with being pregnant. I know it is God's intention for mother's to get to create a bond with their babies before they are even born so I don't want to wish this time away either. Right now I am relish in the fact that it is Pumpkin Spice Latte time at Starbucks and that my belly is growing every day1

I cannot believe that I am 2 weeks away from starting the 3rd trimester! The weather has been so beautiful lately that all I have been daydreaming about is taking walks and going to the park with our little boy. I am so anxious to meet him, but I am also enjoying the new feelings that come along with being pregnant. I know it is God's intention for mother's to get to create a bond with their babies before they are even born so I don't want to wish this time away either. Right now I am relish in the fact that it is Pumpkin Spice Latte time at Starbucks and that my belly is growing every day1

Fruit/Veggie

Ear of corn (in length 8.5 - 12 in)

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Weight

little over a pound

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He gained 4 ounces since last week, his brain is growing, his taste buds are developing, his lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree"

Best Moment this Week

Going to my first prenatal yoga class. It was awesome. I loved being able to learn how to do yoga poses with a bulging belly and meeting other pregnant women. My lower back feels so much better and my arms are sore today which I like :)

Gender

Boy! Graeme Alan Runyan

Movement

I still feel little flutters, mainly in the evening. No big kicks or punches yet... I am so eager to feel these! I think a couple of weeks ago I felt a subtle one. It is so hard to tell because I just had a cookie and I was wondering if that was me digesting or him telling me MORE!

Food Craving

This week it has been a pizza buffet! My husband and I went to 2 different places in Midland last Friday night only to be disappointed that they didn't have buffets on Friday. So I met some friends at Mr.  Gatti's this week and it was awesome. Sometimes you just need a little bit of every kind of pizza and dessert pizza too! We were astonished to find out that it is $10 for the adult buffet!

Sleep

I sleep pretty well. I tend to have crazy dreams. I love my sleep and get at least 8 hours a night. I would like some naps in the afternoon, but I don't have time for those. I do find myself going to hard on the weekends and then crashing on the couch. I am still not used to not being able to do everything that I used to.

What I am looking forward to

My 30 week appointment so we can see him again! And feeling him kick and punch :)

Symptoms

Weird emotions, crying more often, being tired and impatient (ok maybe that one isn't new). A growing belly and appetite!

To Do

- paint room

- put together crib

- find a changing table

- find a bookshelf

- find a different letter for his name G R A E M E

- hang up letters and pictures in his room

- find side table

- find awesome toy chest (this wasn't even on my list, it just happened)

- register... one of the things I am looking forward to the most!

- birthing class in Oct. (can't believe it is that soon!)

- get a mattress for his crib

- and a whole host of other things, but the things above are the immediates

Danielle R.

Rehearsal Dinner

At this point in the wedding planning, you should have sent the Rehearsal Dinner invitations. Again, these should reflect the atmosphere and feel of the evening. Guests often base their attire on how elegant they feel an invitation is. In this case, the rehearsal dinner is at a restaurant downtown- a nicer place, but not fancy. I had my cousin draw a map for the back of the invitation. I think Laguna Gloria is my favorite part of the whole invite! What do you think?

Have a wonderful day!

-Sophee

Pantalones

Silk Top: Old H&M similar here, Pants: New H&M, Shoes: Lucky, Clutch: vintage, Earrings: Bought in Santa Fe 2 years ago and I love them dearly, Bracelets: 2 were gifts + stella and dot, sunglasses: Urban

Shameless

Good Morning. How was your weekend? Nothing really changed too much at the house... well it did but only half way. Look forward to next week with some stellar kitchen photos. Today Im going to promote myself. It sucks to do cause Im like "Hey, look at me I am so neat!" But here we are. But before I get to that, lets go back in time to year 2005.

Setting:
I am sitting in class at the health science center, Lubbock, TX. (probably next to Kendall, we are trying to sign sing the JET song "are you gonna be my girl" while not listening to the asian lady who cannot make correct english sounds- trying to teach us phonetics ex. parallel = parararr )

Evidence:
I go home and write in my journal, I don't think I really want to do speech. I need direction Lord.

Graduate with Speech degree 2007
Work in Speech 2007-2008 decide I really don't like speech

Go to Grad School, decide I really don't like behavior stuff either
Graduate with Masters in Behavior Sciences
Get voted by classmates least likely to end up using my degree

Work in behavior for 3 years, cry about it for 3 years

ALL the meanwhile Im doing things like Sunday Hatch, cake plates, photography, learning photoshop and illustrator, learn to blog, learn to write code to make my blog look like I want.. and eventually start making invites.... The whole time I cried about my schooling/career, I have always loved my creative side. Thats really the only thing that kept me going. And now its the thing I want to pursue whole heartedly, mostly because I have to.

I updated my shop button to Paper Therapy Shop, my invite store on Etsy. Here are some invites I am currently liking (and hoping to sell)

My Best Seller

Kitchen Shower

New!

New!

Too early for Xmas?

Not a favorite of people, but I like it 

I really need ideas! My goal is to have at least 100 items in the shop. Mention you saw this post and I will CREATE a digital file just for your party for $8.00 instead of $15.00! papertherapyshop@gmail.com