CREATIV ALL

Sabtu, 15 Juni 2013

The rear section/seat is getting there

I only need to mounth the front of the seat and section . Going to mount the electrical parts underneath the section.

Jumat, 14 Juni 2013

Month in review and hydrangea update

Hello all and WHOOT for Friday! We’re having a blast so far this summer, hope yours has been great! I’m back with another month in review for May, and I’m a little behind. Whatevs.

I’m trying to keep up with questions in the posts too, so if you’ve had any in the comments on these posts, go back and take a look – you should see a response! Or you will by the end of the weekend. :)

First up was a super yummy, super easy dessert I found:

Only two ingredients and it’s SO GOOD! I tried it with cherry filling too, but I still prefer the pineapple. YUMMO.

We had an interested discussion about shopping Goodwill and how the prices have changed:

I guess I wasn’t the only one who has noticed a change! I will continue to shop there, it’s just not as often as I used to.

There was a lot of powder room progress, finally! I shared some of it here and the new paint color here:

And my cheater crown molding method here:

No, I haven’t abandoned the room again. Well, kinda. It’s thisclose to done!! I just have to finish painting some trim and I’ve been putting it off. It WILL be done next week, stay tuned for the reveal!

I shared a small change that I thought made a big difference in the living room:

Go here to see what it was. :)

I celebrated five years of blogging in May and shared my thoughts, advice and what I consider my top five projects here:

Ripping the carpet off those stairs was high on that list. :)

I have a favorite resource for inexpensive and fun knobs:

Their selection is HUGE too!

Towards the end of the month I showed you our backyard garden, as it is now:

We’ve already added a few new things back there, but what I’m most excited about is the hydrangea progress! If you remember back on this post last summer, I told you how I cannot get them to grow! I moved them around last year and they did OK, but still didn’t bloom.

This was one set of plants as they were in that post:

And this is them now, just two weeks later!:

Those are BLOOMS people!!

We have had the MOST glorious summer so far – seriously amazing. Low temps, lots of rain – they LOVE it:

That one has a ton of blooms going on it, and the others are flowering as well:

Here’s the area on the back of the patio before:

I took out the one that had died and replaced it with a new one, so I can’t take credit for the large one on the left:

Well, I guess I can take credit that it’s still alive and blooming. ;) But the others are doing much better. Oh yeah, and there’s a tree there now too. We put it there for shade on the patio, but I’m hoping it gives those hydrangeas some much needed relief from the sun in the hotter months as well.

Have I mentioned how happy I am that for the first time ever…I have blooms!!:

Awesome, eh? I am so excited!! I have hope hydrangeas don’t hate me anymore.

Finally, I finished off the month with a spot in the master I call the “man nook”:

That corner used to be dark and gloomy, now it’s a pretty spot that the hubby loves to use! I’m starting on some big changes in this room this weekend!

That’s it for the month of May – did you miss one? :) How has your summer weather been so far? Have a great weekend peeps, I’ll see you back here next week!

Kamis, 13 Juni 2013

Little update

I hope to finish it on saturday

Where in the world have we been map

So this is yet another tale of it-was-sitting-in-the-garage-for-three-months-before-I-did-it. There are a lot of those, if you haven’t noticed. It is how I do.

I’ve mentioned like 50 times that one of the things about our basement that I LOVE is the potential for the walls – there are a ton of them. There are not in the rest of the house (open concept, few walls without windows, I’m really not complaining, it’s a great problem to have).

But I do love having a space that has expanses of wide open walls ready to be decorated in the basement. There’s this one that you see when you get down the stairs:

Gloriously empty. And big.

Months ago on a trip to IKEA (I think I got this six months ago?), I picked up one of their huge wall maps. It wasn’t necessarily cheap, but for the size (more than six by four feet), it really wasn’t too bad.

I’ve known I wanted to put it that spot but wanted to change it up a bit. At first I was going to cut the map down into three equal sizes and then mount it somehow – just for something different.

But I knew I’d need something large to mount the maps to, and I didn’t feel like spending the extra cash on big sheets of particle board and all. So it stayed in the garage. (It also lived in the dining room/library and in the mud room for a while too – I like to change up the scenery you know.)

I also had an idea I wanted to implement on the map – I wanted to make it personal and interactive for us. My plan has always been to figure out a way to note where in the world we’ve been – a way to mark where we’ve each traveled. But I didn’t want to use pins that would ruin the map and I wanted it to be safe for little visitors. I mulled over the idea for months and on the flight home from Disney last week it hit me – I knew exactly what I was going to do!

So the other night I started putting the map together…finally. It was VERY easy:

I didn’t get the map as taut as I wanted, but it’s fine. It was easy to put together but not so easy I was willing to do it all over again. :)

I got it hung and you know my middle name is Can’t Leave Well Enough Alone, so I knew it needed a little something. I got some of the cheap, thin lattice boards at Lowe’s, stained them and then cut them down to make a huge frame around the map:

I started out by trying to glue the wood around the edge of the map, but it wasn’t secure enough so I ended up just using my nail gun and installing it that way. The metal frame is so thin and lightweight I knew the nail would go through easily.

It worked great! And I was so happy I added the dark frame – it was the perfect way to finish it off!

The final step was to take a hole punch and some random vinyl colors I had around and start punching:

As I mentioned, I wanted this to be something personal and fun for our family, so the little dots represent each of us (red – me, silver – hubs, yellow – Bub) and I started placing them on the map. I don’t know why it took me so long to think of vinyl instead of push pins, duh, but it worked!

Hubby has been to the coolest places by far:

Together we’ve been to some pretty amazing spots too:

And the kiddo isn’t doing too shabby in his U.S. travels, considering he’s only six:

That’s not even filled up yet -- I realized quickly that the dots are going to be too big. I am on the lookout for a smaller hole punch so I can keep adding to the U.S. map. :)

I love how the whole thing turned out – I stood back and realized the colors in it(blue, green and yellow with the touch of dark wood) are the exact colors I’m using throughout the basement.

Haaallooooo – perfect!

And I just love that there’s a little extra something that is significant to our family:

You don’t really see the dots until you get up close. I think it will be fun for the kiddo to show his friends where in the world he’s been. :)

If you’ve been around for awhile you know I’ve been using a lot wood tones down in the basement – I’m going for a comfy but ever so slightly industrial/funky vibe down there. I didn’t notice till I was taking pics how well the wood frame ties in with the wood planked wall on the stairs:

I meant to do that. ;)

I’m loving maps lately, obviously – I realized after it was all done that I have two hanging right next to each other down there. OH WELL. I’ll deal. Are you digging maps lately? I’ve seen them used in all kinds of new and fun ways over the past year or so. Love it!

Selasa, 11 Juni 2013

Haven Giveaway!

Hey all!! Hope you are having a lovely Tuesday! I loved reading all of your Disney comments on my last post. ;) We were considering a trip around Christmas and now I’m determined more than ever to get back then!

I’m back today with the last of our Haven Conference ticket giveaways! If you don’t know what I’m talking about when I say Haven, go here to check it out. I’ll wait. :)

We have ONE more ticket to give away and I’ve got it! WHOO!

If you’ve already bought a ticket, you are still welcome to enter – you can sell your old ticket! There are a ton of people waiting to buy one, check out our Haven Facebook page to find someone who may want to attend!

If you are attending, don’t forget to add the button to your site!:

Can’t wait to see you all there in two short months!

To enter, just leave a comment here! (Remember to include an email if you don’t have one attached to your account.) The giveaway will be open till this Thursday, June 13 at noon.

Jumat, 07 Juni 2013

Five Questions with a BGA Member - Fresh Crop Executive Council Edition

With Barista Camp having come and gone (and it was great!), it feels like the recent BGA elections are a distant memory. Yet your four newly-elected Executive Council Members have only just begun their two-year term in service of our amazing barista community. With a month or so under their belts, it seems like a good time for Five Questions to find out who they are, what they hope to accomplish, and why they value the BGA.

Miguel Vicuna recently opened and operates Metropolis Coffee Lohi near Denver, CO. Since there are only so many barista competitions to judge, Miguel is active in the SCAA, the Rocky Mountain Craft Coffee Alliance, and the BGA Education Committee. Needless to say, Miguel brings a ton of energy, experience, and some legit buffness to the Council.

Laila Ghambari resides in Seattle, WA and is the Director of Education for Caffe Ladro. During her time as Northwest Chapter Representative, she raised the bar on what a CR meant to their region and appears ready to do the same on the Executive Council. Have you seen Sprudge's barista competition pop-up video she starred in? Awesome is the word.

Alexandra Littlejohn proudly represents Verve Coffee Roasters as their Business Development Manager and Sticker Bomber for Southern California. As a Level 2 Certified Barista, SCAA Lead Instructor, and fourteen year coffee veteran, she owns some serious chops. After seeing her teach at Barista Camp, I can honestly say that you are missing out if you haven't taken a class with her.

Cole McBride helps keep Seattle's coffee scene strong, whether he's crafting beautiful drinks or working with Visions Espresso Services. With eleven years of experience under his belt, Cole is no newbie to Specialty coffee, yet his curiosity and obviously passion for growing as a professional makes him one of the most exciting folks in our industry.

Five Questions

Michael Harwood Congratulations on your recent election to the Barista Guild of America Executive Council. For all our readers out there, what does an Executive Councilperson do?

Miguel Vicuna Thanks! It's really exciting to be giving back to the BGA on this level.

Being on the Executive Council is all about committing to being extremely involved. We have monthly conference calls, 3 subcommittees that drive the a lot of the BGA Events and committing to being present at these events. Also, introducing the BGA to every shop, barista we talk to and being open to answering a lot of questions.

Laila Ghambari The EC builds and executes material from 3 different committees: Professional Development (education), Events, and Membership. Since I sit on the events committee I work on things like Camp and Barista Competitions. We brainstorm and have meeting after meeting trying to make sure these events are successful and worthwhile to members.

Alexandra Littlejohn As an executive councilperson we are required to serve on at least one of the many BGA subcommittees, such as; events, education, membership etc. I am currently the Vice Chair for our Membership committee, what that entails is a whole lot of phone calls and brainstorming on how to better reach our members. We have an EC call once per month, each committee has a phone call once per month and then we also will interact with each other (the EC or Chair and Vice Chair of the subcommittees) at least every week. Some of the topics discussed on these phone calls are the following: reaching members and getting them more involved, how to host more/better events, how to make classes and certifications more accessible, planning camps, reworking and always improving the education programs/classes/lectures, etc. One thing that is important for BGA members to remember is that the BGA is NOT totally autonomous from the SCAA; what that means is that we can't really do a whole lot without their approval, chew on that for a few minutes. Know that we are always working with the SCAA staff to meet your needs and make things better. BGA members should also know that BGA EC are all unpaid volunteers and that we sit on this council because we want baristas everywhere to feel empowered, professional and supported, but we need to know what you want, so we can better serve members! Reach out to us. The EC also meets in person twice per year, once right after the SCAA Expo and once mid-year at locations that are determined the previous year at Expo. Personally, I think I probably spend at least an extra 10-20 hours per week on BGA related projects, on top of working full time, but I love it!

Cole McBride An executive councilperson oversees the BGA membership and are the go folks when you have questions. We are here to answer any and all questions to the best of our ability. We volunteer at Barista Camp and at other SCAA and BGA events. We are always looking for new and exciting ways to engage with members.

MH What would you like to see the BGA accomplish during your two-year term?

MV I would really like to establish more independent certification events outside of Camp and Expo. We have so many baristas that are ready for Level 1 but can not make these events. The Mountain Region really comes to mind, it has been booming with more Specialty coffee and I would really like to bring something to them.

LG I want to see more ways for members to learn and build community. We have Camp and Expo that are huge events for people to get those things but I want to see smaller things, in more areas, that offer that same opportunity. This is definitely something I know the EC is working on, but I think this is an area where members need to get things rolling. I can't wait 'til there are events happening every month, all over the US, where members are working together to create something awesome. Essentially giving members the tools and support they need to empower them to do things on their own.

AL Personally, I would like to see the BGA set in place a plan of action for our members to form their own regional subcommittees and eventually have those subcommittees be able to bid for classes, camps and workshops to come to their area. I would also like to see our membership grow, have formats for more education based event available for members (like formats for a brew together, or tasting event, or lectures, etc.) Selfishly, I would also like to see BGA and The Roasters Guild co-host some events together as well, which is an idea from my good friend Joe Morocco.

CM I would like to see the BGA work closer with The Roasters Guild. I also hope to seeing educational offerings outside of SCAA and Barista Camp. More members getting involved and hosting MDEs (Member Driven Events) would also be great.

MH What would you say to someone considering the value of BGA membership?

MV It's all about what "you" put into it. There is so much space to grow in the BGA. I started off taking classes honing in my skills and now I am fortunate enough to teach these classes to others, and it has been a really awesome journey.

LG The BGA has a lot of different things to offer to different people. I would start by asking what they would want to get out of being a BGA member. The education program is amazing if you're someone that wants to learn and get certifications. The community you build is huge if you're someone who wants to network and get to know people. We have such a huge pool of resources that chances are we can help you out with just about anything someone is looking for.

AL I would first ask them, "Are you always looking to learn MORE about coffee?" Inevitably they say, "yes! of course", then I would start to tell them about the incredible resource library on the SCAA website, that ALL BGA members have access to. Just think about it, for $45 dollars per year, you have access to ALL the resources the SCAA has in their library. Most books that are published there for free, would normally cost at least $45 dollars, sometimes more! So, for $45 per year, there is tremendous monetary value, simply in the resource library. Also, if anyone out there is planning on competing or attending any SCAA events, there is a huge discount for BGA members. Next, I would tell them how I have met some of my best friends through the BGA and coffee related events. The community and network of professionals that you'll meet is absolutely priceless. Not to mention, that there is a sense of pride that comes along with being a BGA member; a feeling of belonging and validation of being a craftsman. Lastly, I would let this potential new member know that if they don't already have health insurance, that they can apply for it at a discounted rate by being a BGA member. Amazing!

CM I find so much value in being a member through meeting and becoming connected to other members. I've meet some of the most amazing coffee pros through the BGA.

MH Please describe a favorite moment you had with the BGA.

MV Seeing BGA members meet on an international level. I met some really great people in Dubai, and eight months later fellow EC member Laila Ghambari met up with a really great barista in Iran on a cafe tour, Mohammad Khani, who was taking classes in Dubai. Having mutual friends around the world makes it such an open and friendly community.

LG My time as a Chapter Rep in the NW was really exciting for me. I had a chance to interact with a huge group of people in my region. The e-mails I would get from people looking for advice or help and then being able to connect them to another member that could help them always felt really gratifying and helped me see the huge value of being a BGA member.

AL Wow, this is a really hard question, there are just SO many. I think it would have to be my first year at camp. Meeting people I had only read about or seen at larger events, team challenges, etc. Before camp, there wasn't really a great way for me as a barista to interact with peers from all over the country, that wasn't USBC or Expo, so this was incredible. The exact moment was probably when I was having a conversation with Lorenzo Perkins, Dan Streetman, as well as a few other "coffeelebrities" that I had admired SO much, and I realized that I DO know a lot about coffee and that I was finally in a place that encouraged that! A group of peers that would get my coffee jokes, understand my frustration with restaurant coffee and indulge my curiosities of particle sizes, etc.

CM My favorite moment in the BGA would be my first year at camp. I was not sure how much I would like and it turned out to change the way I think about teaching and training.

MH What is one thing that makes you really happy when you're at a cafe as a customer?

MV Seeing the person in front and behind me getting stellar customer service. A lot of times, shops really chat me up and I have a wonderful experience but to see it happen to everyone really makes me happy. That and tasty bevs with hot tops.

LG I love walking into a café that feels good (bright, clean, music) and getting service and a product that matches. I want an experience that makes me want to keep coming back. I work with good coffee everyday, when I go to a coffee shop I'm looking for something more than just coffee.

AL It makes me really happy when the baristas are outstanding at customer service and are knowledgeable about the coffee they are brewing. Mostly, just that they know about the coffee and are passionate about what they do! It's also a BIG plus if the cafe that I'm in gives a BGA discount and are member of the SCAA! It shows commitment to quality and passion for the industry!

CM It makes me really happy to be greeted with eye contact and a smile. Also I appreciate a clean bar.

MH Now you know your newly-elected Executive Council a little bit better. They are here for you, so don't hesitate to say hello!