Patio Dreaming

 One of our next projects is to lay concrete in our garden section in the front of the house. Since we had a crazy cat lady that feed all the strays. Our garden has been nothing but a stinky outdoor litter box for the strays. Damon and I have decided to lay cement and buy a small set of patio furniture or a bench.   Once we get the approval from the association. It is time to get our hands dirty. Next time I blog about the front patio it will look completely different.

 

It's the ... Catalina Wine Mixer

Sorry it has been almost three months from my last post and only my first post of the year. Damon and I have been so busy and tired with work. We really haven't done anything other than that. I was talking to Damon about how we need to relax. We decided that every month we deserve a weekend getaway. So in March.... (which is also our five year anniversary of dating and two year anniversary of our engagement) that this month needed to be something special.

I surprised Damon with the location of Catalina Island.

Most people know about Catalina by a quote in the movie Step Brothers. Hints the name of the blog. Yes I edited the f-word out of my blog title. And yes Damon found a hat that had that quote.

We left our town after work on Friday and drove to Newport Beach. We stayed at the Hilton and got a bite to eat. I couldn't sleep at all I was so anxious to go to Catalina in the morning. We boarded the Catalina Flyer. It took about two hours to get to the island.

Once we arrived I was breath taken by the beauty of the island.

The water was so clear you could see the orange fish below.

  

We grabbed a taxi because walking half a mile up a hill to our hotel is very difficult with luggage. We stayed at Catalina Canyon Resort & Spa. Once we got our room keys and dropped off our luggage. We walked back down to the shops, pier, and all the attractions. As we were walking down the marathon runners were finishing. The fastest time was 3 hours 04 seconds. Holy cow..... 26.2 miles in 3 hours and 04 seconds on an up and down hill and mountain island. WAY TO GO MARATHON RUNNERS! The marathon started at the other end of the island which is called Two Harbors.

I had the best long island ice tea and fish and chips at Bluewater Avalon. The restaurant has it own pier and overlooked the water. I highly recommend it if you ever go. After we ate we walked around explored all the shops, and got ready for a semi-submarine tour called the Nautilus. It was a yellow submarine. Like The Beatles song.

We all live in a yellow submarine. Yellow Submarine. Yellow Submarine. We all live in a yellow submarine. Yellow Submarine. Yellow Submarine. 

The submarine was the coolest thing I have ever done. You could buy torpedo shots. And it shot out food to the fish. I felt like the fish knew that we were going to be feed because they would follow the submarine.

Here fishy fishy fishy

After a long day of walking around, enjoying the beautiful atmosphere, and relaxing. We ate dinner at Cantina Catalina a Mexican restaurant that looks out to the pier. Then headed back to the hotel.

The next morning we check out of the hotel and paid for a luggage service since our boat didn't leave  to Newport Beach until 4:30 P.M. and we didn't want to carry our luggage around all day.

We went on a tour that took you around the island and dropped you off at the casino. (It's not a gabbling casino just a building that is called the casino. It is a ballroom and an event center. It is now a museum and a theatre.)

Some of the views from our tour were so beautiful!

I was so fascinated by the tour and learning all of the history of Catalina. In 1919, William Wrigley (founder of Wrigley Bubble Gum) bought Catalina Island for 10 million. He also owned the Chicago Cubs which is why the Chicago Cubs used to hold there summer training in Catalina Island. The golf course is where the baseball field used to be.

During World War II Catalina Island was strictly a United State Military Base. The only people allow onto the island was military. The tour showed us a street of houses were the military base was. Some of the old world war II quanza huts were turned into houses.

I hope you enjoyed our trip as much as we did.

 

Happy 2013, Cheers!

I can't believe we are saying goodbye to 2013, the year was so wonderful. Damon and I bought our first place and got married. So many moments and memories I am thankful to have had...

We hope that 2014 holds many more blessings and beautiful memories for everyone!  



  Thank you for sharing 2013 with us, have a safe and happy New Year's Eve! Cheers!    

Holiday Blues

This Saturday we took down all of our Christmas decoration. Including the tree and the lights outside. Everyone kept telling me. Why so early? Aren't you supposed to wait until New Years? Not to sound super scrooge-like or depressed. The weird thing is that I enjoy the Christmas season, heck I look forward to it! I love the holiday get togethers, time with family, gift exchanges, food, theme attire including ugly Christmas sweaters, greeting cards, And the Christmas decor!  But it always feels like you go through all that excitement and get to Christmas Day and it just feels like any other day... which leads to feeling a little let down or sad because you know that tomorrow it is over.  I'm the type of person that starts counting down days for Christmas. 359 day until Christmas 2014! Gosh, that just sounds so depressing right? I guess it's the truth though, so now that I spilled my guts I'd love to know if anyone else experiences the same and if you do, what gets you out of feeling blue?  

Oh Christmas Tree. Oh Christmas Tree

Today Damon and I got our very first Christmas tree. We got it at home depot. You can't beat the price. Only 45.99! If you go to another Christmas tree lot they are going to charge you an arm and a leg. Once we got to home depot I decided I wanted a big tree. It's our first Christmas as a married couple. My motto is Go Big or Go Home. Once we got to the 6ft.-7ft. Noble Fur section I told Damon that the one. It was still wrapped up. Damon's told me you don't even know if that one has wholes/spaces in between the branches. Once we opened it up. It was the one!   We had a hard time getting it through the front door because of the staircase. It turned out so beautiful!  

      And of course the cats enjoy it!

Pumpkin Carving Tips

  It is totally pumpkin carving season and I have been brainstorming some designs for our pumpkins. Since this is our first holiday as being a married couple. I wanted our pumpkin to represent our first holiday. I love pumpkin carving. It's so much fun and lucky for me. It doesn't require too much skill. Whether you're carving out a word or a design. Let's face it, you know you're favorite part of pumpking carving is pulling out all the pumpkin guts and roasting the seeds! I wanted to share some awesome pumpking carving tips with you all:

•Know what design you want to carve before buying your pumpkin so that you have a mental picture of what shape and size would work best.

•When picking a pumpkin, make sure the color is even throughout and there are minimal scratches and bruises as they can shorten the lifespan of the pumpkin.

•Never carry the pumpkin by its stem.

•The whole cut around the stem should be approximately 2/3 the circumference of the pumpkin and cut at an inward angle to keep the lid from falling through.

•Poke small holes to mark your design before carving.

•A votive candle placed in a glass holder is safer and will last longer than a candle without a holder. White candles give off the most light.

•Carved pumpkins can last up to a week if left untreated. There are pumpkin preservers you can buy at the store.

HAVE FUN!

Womens Stocking Stuffer Ideas

  Your probably thinking it's only October or it's not even Halloween yet. In my opinion when it hits October that is when the Christmas shopping begins. That's why stores stock the shelf with Christmas items out in October at the same time as they stock the shelves with Halloween items. Just thank God I am not one of those people that starts Christmas shopping in June.   Okay I need to quit lying. I am one of those people.   Since Damon and I are newly home owners and newlyweds. Our savings pretty much went to the down payment, closing cost, wedding venue, and a lot of other things that involve NEW HOME or WEDDINGS. We have decided to only give each other Christmas stockings this year. Who am I kidding? That probably wont happen but as of right now that is the plan. Damon keeps telling me I don't know what to put in stockings. Can you help me out a little?   I have always thought that shopping for us ladies is fairly easy especially when it comes to the small stocking gifts, but most men think this is not the case. So men and Damon I hope your reading. Yeah right! Men aren't going to take the time to read a blog. Women we can still hope though. But that is why I made a list for us ladies that you can copy or forward to your man. If you have any suggestions, please add them in the comments section. I'd love to hear your favorite little gifts.

1. Cell Phone Case

2. Bath & Body Works Candles

3. Nail Polish

4. Lip Gloss

5. Perfume

6. Craft Supplies

7. Scratcher Lotto Tickets

8. Chocolate (Duh!!)

9. Magazines

10. Next Years Calendar Planner
11. Wallet
12. Recipe Books
13. Hot Coco Mix
14. Instant Coffee Mix
15. Jewelry Cleaner
16. Gloves
17. Scarf
18. Costume Jewelry
19. Address Labels
20. Hair Accessories (Bobby Pins & Ponytails)
21. Loofah
22. Movie Tickets
23. Toe Socks
24. Lotion
25. Manicure Kit
26. Gift Cards
27. CD's
28. Movies
29. Headbands
30. Small Picture Frames
31. Hand Warmers
32. Ear Buds
33. Mints
34. Gum
35. Kitchen Gadgets
36. Wine Stoppers
37. Spa Items (Bubble Bath, Bath Salts, Etc.)
38. Make Up
39. Make Up Brushes
40. Clutch (Men that's a Small Hand Purse)
41. Sunglasses
42. Compact Mirror
43. Hat
44. Watch
45. Flash Drive
46. Key Chain
47. T-shirt
48. Cosmetic Bag
49. Concert Tickets
50. Emergency Batteries for Phone
51.Water Bottle
52. Coffee Mug
53. Car Wash Tickets
54. Car Air Freshener
55. Travel Size Umbrella
56. Lint Roller
57. Bookmark

     

Been there. Pinned it. Did that. | Fall Wreath Tutorial

It's finally fall. Even though it's October and still 80's degrees outside. It's time to decorate around the house. And what do people see the most when you decorate? Your front door! Because your definitely not coming inside our home without a 24 hour notice that way I can clean to my standards. There is nothing worse then showing your house and  saying "ignore that please". Our spare bedroom was that way when we first moved in because I didn't want to unpack anymore or worse yet see a box. Anyways back on topic I decided to make a fall wreath for this Friday's DIY blog.

I am going to try to blog every week a DIY project Damon and I are doing around the house. More than likely it will be every other week.

I found a letter "L" at Hobby Lobby, which just opened up in our town on Wednesday. You should have seen me. It was like taking a kid into Toys R Us. The letter was $4.99. I chose to paint it red because of fall colors and if I wanted to use it for Christmas. I could!

I found the twig wreath was $8.99 but I have a 40% off coupon on that item and the burlap $3.99 at Hobby Lobby as well. After letting the painting dry I hot glued the letters onto the twig wreath. And tied a bow at the top of the wreath with the burlap.

I didn't have a picture of the floral arrangement before I put them onto the wreath. They were just basic fake flower bundle that every craft store has. Even the Dollar Tree or Walmart has them. I went to Michael's craft store because they had a huge fall floral selection and everything was 60% off for fall arrangements. I just placed the bundle in between the twigs. I didn't have to hot glue them down just because they stayed in place.

And that's it! Fairly easy!

Name Changing

Not only am I in the process of changing my name since getting married.

I decided to change my blog name as well. I was reading on how to properly pick a blog name. The internet stated that a blog name should represent what your blog is about and how it reflects your life. So "The Lopez Hook Up" had to go. (Sound like an escort service, right?)

I chose High Heels to Drills because if you didn't know already Damon and I bought our first place the beginning of this year. It isn't our dream home because it's just a condo that we saw as an investment for the rest of our lives. Instead of settling down on a home that we were not happy with. (Plus since we own it, our mortgage is half as much as what they rent out for). In reality though it is perfect for Damon and I as of right now. Even though we plan on renting it out eventually when we do find a house.  There are lots of things that can be fixed and modernized. High Heels to Drills is going to represent the process and journey of fixing up our place. While I live an everyday lifestyle of being a full time worker and student. And most important a full time WIFE!

The blog name is perfect for me since I am a full time worker and student. Which means at the end of the day I get to come home to a lovely hard working man for the rest of my life. And I wouldn't trade anything for that. Even my high heels.

Diaper Quad Tutorial

One of Damon and I close family friend is expecting her second child in October. She mentioned to me she has started to collect diapers. I figure I would help her out but in a creative way. I didn't take that long to make and anyone can do it. It took awhile for me because I stopped and took pictures for you guys to see step by step on how I did it.

What you will need....

(1) baby bottle
(2) bibs
(1) dishwasher bottle basket
(3) receiving blankets
(88) diapers**
(2) paper towel rolls
(1) pair of socks
(1)stuffed animal
ribbon
double sided tape
rubber bands
pie pan


**I used newborn size the bigger the diaper the less diapers you need.

First I start off cheating. I used a pie pan to form my diapers into the shape of the while.

After the pie pan was full of diapers and in the shape of the wheel I put a rubber band around it to hold the shape

I used double sided tape to tape the ribbon around on top of the rubber band.

I used one of the receiving blankets and did a three fold over the roll.

Then roll it up.

I then sled the roll inside the middle of the diaper wheels

After doing that twice I placed a ribbon around double rolls to hold them together.

To make the handle bars I started off with folding the receiving blanket.

I placed the receiving blanket around the dishwasher basket. I also had extra bibs, sock, and receiving blankets and placed them inside the dishwasher basket.

I held the handle bars together with a rubber band.

Then placed the dishwasher basket in the middle of the wheels.

Sled the bib over

Hope you enjoyed it!