If you’ve been reading my blog, you’ll remember my post back in February about my very first taste of Gelato (and how I like it far better than even ice cream).  Well, this past weekend, I happened to notice that the grocery store sold Gelato.  Out of curiosity, I had to buy some (to see how it tasted compared to the Gelato I had that was freshly made back in February).  I have to say that I was quite impressed!

I purchased a pint size of the Double Dark Chocolate Talenti Gelato.  It’s so soft and creamy with some mini dark chocolate chips in it.  It’s rich, so a little will go a long way (making the pint last for way more than one sitting).  I will definitely buy this again.  What a great treat and it’s all natural ingredients (even better)!  I would get this same flavor again, but may venture out to try another.

Last night I made a new “eat clean” meal from the Fall issue of Clean Eating magazine. I had my husband glance through some recipes and he picked this one (and a good one at that). It didn’t take near as long as I thought it would to make and it tasted really good (we’ll definitely be making it again!).

I used my Wok for this meal. We received it 12 years ago as a wedding gift and maybe used it twice in our first year of marriage. After so many moves, it’s hard to believe I even knew where to find it, but I went right to it (go figure). I think we’re going to have to make more Wok meals. Things cook so quickly in them. I just hate the clean up (since it doesn’t go in the dishwasher). Maybe that’s why I haven’t used it in years (plus it’s not in the most convenient area to get).

View Recipe…

Taking cue from Ali Edwards website, I thought I’d do an “Around The Room” post too.  I found hers to be very interesting and I’m sure whoever reads my blog may be curious to see what my space looks like that I create in and do my posts from.

So here we go….around the room… (you can click on the pictures to enlarge them)

This is the view looking into my studio from the hallway.  My studio (called studio instead of office so my husband and I know which room we’re talking about….he has the “office” downstairs and I have the “studio” upstairs) is located upstairs at the end of the house (directly above my husbands office, yet we still IM each other).

Here is my desk space.  I use a laptop, but my husband surprised me with a flat panel monitor a couple years ago and it’s made such a HUGE difference (so much easier to work on projects and such on my computer….I can see more).  I have my printer right next to me (over the filing cabinet).  The phone, remote to my space heater/fan, my chapstick, planner, and tumbler full of water is always within arms reach.

Looking around the room, I have my project table (which is always in use) with my comfortable, adjustable height chair and built in storage.  I have a ton of storage bins in this room full of all things creative (you’ll see more as you continue your journey around my room).  I found the floating frames on the wall (what they’re called) at Linens N Things (before they closed).  They were on sale for $6 and I found images I liked with colors that went well in my studio and printed them out to frame.

This is the most plain wall in my studio.  I found this frame and thought I could do something with it.  It just happened that three14 fit well in the spaces.  I had wanted to put the word “creations” behind it (to get the full name of my website), but needed to get it filled quickly last year before we had guests and just haven’t taken time to update it.  One of these days….

Continuing to look around the room, you’ll find more storage.  I love these IKEA shelves (so much space)!  I actually got this one off of Craigslist and then went to IKEA to get the matching smaller one for the other side of the room.  I also love my “creativity” definition on the wall (courtesy of Right On The Walls).

This is my much loved Project Table.  I use this for everything!  It has great storage in it (on both sides) and my large trash can fits nicely underneath it.  I got this on clearance at Pier One (it was the first piece to go in my studio…long before anything else was in there and before the room was painted).

My magnetic board (from IKEA).  I have several weight loss things on there (for encouragement), although I won’t be using them until after the baby is born and I can get back to working out.  You’ll see another frog and some magnetic storage tins.  I need to change this board to some more creative things.

My storage area that’s to the left of my desk (with descriptions of what I have in each area….you know you want to know).

And here’s the storage area that’s to the right of my desk.  I use stuff in these bins all the time.  They are so valuable!  I’m not much for open storage (if you see how cluttered my open areas look, you’ll know why).

And a fun picture to finish things off.  This is Bailey (our first cat).  Both happen to take turns with who sleeps on either my or my husbands desk (and now you know why I keep my keyboard in a keyboard tray).

I hope you enjoyed taking a peak into my life (which most seems to be spent in this room).  I’m getting ready to head to my project table now and work on some handmade envelopes for a Swap-Bot swap.

My niece goes to a Christian camp each summer and loves it.  I usually send her a fun journal that I purchased somewhere for her to use.  This year, she requested that I make her one (and has no clue what I’m making or how it will look).  She’s so easy to please, so I know (hope) she won’t be disappointed.

I used my Bind-It-All for the first time and LOVED it!  Never mind that I’ve had it for two years now.  I got it as a Christmas gift (it was on my wishlist).  I had planned to use it all the time.  I guess I’m one that has to have an idea first before I use something.  I can’t just create something and hope to use it later to be something else.  I will say that the Bind-It-All was SO easy to use and so much fun.  I created the whole journal from scratch.  How cool is that (yes, I’m patting myself on the back)?

I’m surprising my niece with handmade post cards (already stamped) to use while there.  I’m also surprising her with her own personal “calling cards” to hand out.  She and her friends are always sharing their addresses and emails with each other.  I figure if I make her cards with this information on them, then she won’t have to write it out so many times for others (plus I hope this takes on a cool factor with her).

I’ve uploaded some pictures of this journal to Flikr.  Click on the pictures below to see more!

www.flickr.com More of three14creations’ stuff tagged with campjournal

I searched online for a new quilt pattern for my baby quilt.  I wanted to do something different from the two previous ones I’ve made (although I really liked them both too).  I came across a pattern both online and on Etsy (go figure it was from the same person), so I knew that was the one for me (what are the chances of me finding this same pattern twice and loving it from the start….so meant to be).

I chose the Mixtape Quilt, created by Elizabeth Hartman from Oh, Fransson!.  The quilt pictured is one of hers and is much larger than the size I’ll be creating.  I’ll have 20 squares on mine and it will measure 40″ x 48″.

Her instructions are incredible!  There is so much detail to them and the pattern makes 9 different sizes (with instructions for each size).  I can’t get over how simple she makes it look (I guess details make all the difference).

I plan to go fabric shopping some time next week and can’t wait to choose some boy fabrics.  Not sure what colors I’ll go for, but off the top of my head, I’m thinking blues and browns (the color of the nursery).  We’ll see.  I’ll post pictures as things progress with it.

Today marks 20 weeks and the halfway point for me.  Yay!  The baby is the size of a cantaloupe (no wonder my back is hurting more).  At our ultrasound this past week, the doctor said he weighed just over 11oz., so he’s a bit heavier than the average (hope that doesn’t mean he’s going to be a big baby).

I need to make it out to the local fabric store and pick up some boy fabric to make a quilt.  I’ve made two baby quilts in the past, but both for girls.  I’m excited to be making a boy quilt and of course have to make one for my baby.  I’ll certainly post progress pics of it when I get started.  If anyone knows of a fun baby quilt pattern, feel free to pass it my way.

I had a fun surprise this afternoon.  I got an email from an Etsy seller saying that she added me to her Treasury.  What’s a Treasury, you ask?  Good question.

A Treasury consists of 12 Etsy items and chosen by different Etsy sellers.  There is a limited number of Treasury lists that can be created during any specific time.  There is only one Treasury list per person (guessing this means you can’t have multiple displayed at one time….your first one needs to expire before creating another).  Many people search Treasuries to see what all is out there (since Etsy is such a vast array of artists).  Having someone pick one of my Etsy items out of all the sellers on Etsy and when she only has 12 items she can choose just totally blows me away.  This creates a mass exposure for my Etsy store and hers.  What an honor to have someone choose something I’ve created for their Treasury.

…BOY! We’re pretty excited about it! I can’t wait to see my husband teach our son how to play sports (assuming our kid is coordinated).

Sorry it took so long to update. We went to the doctor on Wednesday and came home with enough time to get back in the car and head to the airport to pick up my Mom, Aunt, and Cousin who stayed until yesterday morning. We had so much fun together! We laughed a lot and made some great memories (inside jokes).

We drove to Southport, NC to visit some friends who live about 10 minutes from the beach and spent the days shopping in Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. It was so much fun! I will say that riding in the car and walking (um, shopping) all day certainly makes for a back that feels like it’s going to break and very sore feet. Other than those ailments, I was having a blast!

I even made my first baby purchase (boy clothing). It was so surreal to be shopping in a baby store for my child. I never thought that day would come. I’m sure I was beaming from ear to ear the whole time. I found some great deals at the outlet mall and some fun “sporty” clothes for our soon-to-be little man. He’ll be dressing in style (comfort clothes like his Mommy).

Now we need to get started on picking out a crib and such and planning the baby’s room. The baby will be going in our guest bedroom which was already painted in blues and browns (score for me). I’ll just change the decor on the walls, we’ll add a crib, rocker, and smaller dresser that I’ll use as a changing table and we’ll be good to go.

Last week I was really craving a Subway sandwich.  I can’t tell you the last time we’ve eaten at Subway, as it’s not a food place of choice for us usually.  There is a nice new Subway in Knightdale that we decided to try out.  We went there for lunch and each got a combo meal (6″ sub, chips, and a drink).  For dinner, guess what I wanted…yep, Subway again.  We went back and this time I decided, “heck with the chips and drink, I’m getting a foot long”.  I was in heaven!  Yum!  It was SO good!

I finally am starting to feel better and made a menu for the next couple of weeks for meals for us to eat.  I went to the store this past Monday and actually got all of the ingredients to make my own sub sandwich (I like the Veggie Delite).  The past two days we’ve had sub sandwiches for lunch and they are SO good.  I’m curious how much we’re saving by making them here at home (I’m sure quite a bit).

Here’s what I put on my sandwich (which was way too large to fit in my mouth):

• sub roll (um, obviously)
• Provolone cheese
• lettuce
• tomatoes
• pickles
• green pepper
• red onions
• black olives
• banana peppers
• cucumbers
• oregano
• sweet onion dressing

I cannot begin to tell you how great it tastes!  So fresh and a ton of flavor!  I’m finally starting to eat healthy again (no meats, veggies, or fruits sounded good to me for months).  Maybe that’s why I’m feeling better (eating healthier).  Either way, I’m lovin’ this sandwich!

Last night we recorded our second recording of the baby’s heartbeat (the first one had way too much background noise).  This second one is much better (thanks honey for putting it together for me).

If you’d like to hear the heartbeat, click the play button below. 

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It’s only 12 seconds.  The heartbeat was 153bpm.