Denver Apartment Pics

Denver Digs. 

Here are so pictures of our little apt here. I love it so much mainly because it gets a TON of light! I will do a "tour" once it's all done, I feel like the living room and the kids room is in progress, but for the most part we feel pretty settled. 

We ended up getting a storage unit because we had so much stuff! We went through our storage the other day and took several boxes to Goodwill making me feel a little better. 

Anyway, I have bought a few things here and there, and I wish I could get some rug and other accessories, but then I remember that this is a very temporary situation, so I don't think I'm going to add much more. 

Anyway, here are some pics. 

This is what you see when you first come in^ The apt is super open and airy.

If you turn around you will see our dining room/ "flex space" which has some shelves and I don't know what other things you would use that for. 

The apt has a to of little nooks that are useful, like this desk/entry table. We use it for keys, mail, and to put sunscreen and lip balm on. That's a ritual now, because this sun really dries our skin. 

The kitchen is kick butt! It's pretty big, and has great new appliances and granite countertops, which is really nice. We use this island as a breakfast space for the kids, and the dinner table for dinners or just to work on. 

This half wall is off of the kitchen taking you into our bedroom, but I needed some extra shelves for work stuff, so I found this shelf at Ross and it's working perfect! I didn't even measured but it works and keeps our office stuff in one place.

Our bedroom has awesome floor to ceiling windows! It gets the most light and I really like to spend time there.

This is in the kids room...and I'm still trying to figure out how to arrange it all. It's bigger, but has big windows, and we just got another dresser for Olivia because we didn't have enough storage, so once I get that room organized i'll take pics. 

Anyway, we like it here, and the neighbors are really nice! We already used the s'more pit and invited friends over, and the kids really like the park across the street, which is nice. 

Overall I'm happy we went for this place even though is a bit higher in price that we wanted. The central location makes it so nice for the kids and for Steve's job. Did I mention there is a Target within walking distance? Yeah, Steve should of thought of that detail before moving me here!

Jazmin

Denver Digs & Summertime Sadness

It's been over a week since we arrived to Denver, and already I have been hard at work hanging, unloading, and making sure the apt looks like our home. 

We've had a lot of fun since the moment we got here. We have enjoyed great weather, and today we got to hang out with my sister in law & kiddos as they came from Dallas to play in a soccer tournament here. 

Good times all around. After the tournament, Steve, the kids and I went to see all these model homes in our area! <-----that is literally the most fun for me. I just love to get ideas from model homes, and imagine myself living in them. Also, decorating model homes is the ultimate dream job for me! 

Anyway, all was well and then...I got really down. 

Like, I want to just break down and sob, type of down. WHY?! I couldn't understand! 

And then, it hit me. I want to be settled in a home so bad, and I just have never had that in my life. 

The most settled I have ever been was in our little home in Dallas. I know this all sounds very #firstworldproblems but the reality is, that my childhood was anything but stable, and all I ever dreamed of was having my own room, which happened for a very short period, before my mother and I had to move again. I also wanted a family so bad. My mother & dad had a complicated relationship to say the least, so the happy family home never happened.

Interior Design is absolutely my passion. As soon as Steve is done with fellowship, I will pursue that as my career. I think I have an eye for it, but I realized today, that it's more than just designing and making things  look "pretty". I truly long for a permanent house that I can make a home. A home where I can just settle down, and know that this is where I will be for many years. I want that for the kids too! I want a home where the kids have memories of growing up! We have moved for med school, residency, and now fellowship, and while the kids are seriously loving Denver (so much, that it's impressing me) I just can't help but to feel like I owe them some stability.  Decorating a home is just part of that equation. 

I knew the moment we arrived to this apt, that I was going to break out the boxes and hang stuff. I feel that our summer has been consumed by selling the house, prepping for the move, and finally moving that the kids haven't really been enjoying their time off.  I want to be settled asap, so that they get to enjoy some part of it.

So, I gave myself 2 days to hang pictures, mirrors, and unpack. 

I slaved for 2 nights making sure all was unpacked and hung in the right places. I even convinced Steve to make an Ikea trip with me on the 4th of July, because I had a list of very specific things we needed, and I needed his help to get said stuff in the car.

I knew I wanted lamps, we needed a small tv stand, and rolling carts for my craft stuff. He looked at me like I was on crack, but the apt looks pretty much done. Just have to tweak some stuff.

 I recreated our little gallery wall that I had back at home, here. It reminds me of Dallas. 

Anyway, I think I have to accept the fact that we still have one or two more moves after this fellowship, and I think I will have to settle for decorating other peoples houses instead of mine. Will I ever get my forever home? By the time we can or will, I think the kids will be too old to enjoy it, so no memories there! <---- I realize that there are many people in the world that don't have a roof over their heads, and that this attitude is very childish, but I just can't help but to feel like I have a hole that needs to be filled, and perhaps it never will be filled. Perhaps, I need to get over that dream? Maybe, I should let God re-direct those thoughts to something constructive... Anyway, I guess, I was just feeling so down today, that I just needed to vent. Maybe it has to do with my unstable childhood that I now feel like I have to make up for it?! Ugh! I need a shrink... or a different dream. 

Jazmin

Dollar Spot Easter Basket!

Cheap Easter Basket

I love Easter. And I love any Holiday that requires me to gift my kids something because I love any excuse to surprise them and see their smiling faces. 

BUT I don't love spending a TON of money on things that I know will most likely end up in the trash, or make them bratty.

Yes, while I enjoy to buy things for them, and gift things, I also feel that sometimes as parents, we tend to overdo it. Every Easter I am temped to buy a HUGE Easter Basket from Costco or any other store selling them. 

I often see all the posts of people spoiling their kids with outrageous gifts. And while, I have fallen into that trap before, I have decided that Easter is a special time to reflect upon our Saviour's resurrection and not about "things."

And I'm not judging, I just decided that this is one Holiday to take it easy on the gifts. Still, I want to to make it special, so this year I decided to make my Easter Baskets. 

This is Olivia's basket (obvs.) its easy to start with her since she is still into the bunny ears and bubbles. Matthew's I'm currently working on, since he's a pre teen now, he usually likes more grown up stuff  :( (sad face) but I won't break the bank with his stuff either! I will post his when done!

Back to this basket. 

I went to Target and looked at the Dollar Spot for some goodies, and this is what I got: 

-Cardbord basket

-bunny ears, 

-carrot bubbles (2 for $1)

-Bird House project

-Pencils

Thats it. 

I figure I could dress up the basket and make it pretty! 

I painted the basket, added some tissue and glued in the shape of a flower, some paper doilies, and more stickers I had on hand.

That's that! I spent $6.50 on the entire thing, and the decor of the basket was again, stuff I had on hand. 

I think Olivia will like it, and it didn't break my bank. Also, I think she will feel special. 

What do you think? Have you gone to the Dollar Spot yet?

Jazmin

Feliz Cumpleanos Ma!

Last week was my mom birthday, and she was wanting some goodies! One of those goodies ended up being the Doterra Essential Oils trio. A few weeks back I hosted a demo night and she really wanted to purchase them, but she just didn't have it her budget, so I decided to surprise her with some of the sample size oils. 

Of course, I had to wrap them pretty for her, even if she never really cares about the wrapping. I just like doing it for special gifts. 

I gave her the oils and she seemed to like them!

My sister kept the wrapping.

It was a success.

Jazmin

Fellowship Interviews: Colorado

Colorado

Here is my mood board in the event we end up moving to Colorado! I'm sure our rental will not look like this, but at least this is how my minds eye would decorated if I could!

What do you think?

Colorado Fellowship home by jazmin-gibbons featuring painted mirrors

We find out where we move on April 10th! EEKKK!

Jazmin

Fellowship Interviews: Philadelphia

Philly? 

So, Steve has been interviewing for fellowships, and so far the front runner is Philadelphia. Of course, if it was our choice, we would stick with Dallas, but the more and more he interviews, the more he realizes that things are very competitive and it's almost mandatory for him to go out of his zone of training, and learn new things. 

So, while I hate the idea of moving for JUST ONE YEAR Seriously? I have had to wrap my head around the fact that it may happen, and that it may actually be good for our family in the long run, as he is likely to get a better permanent job after that fellowship. 

As far as our decision and what we should do, it is up to the MATCH, but I try to be positive and get excited about each prospect. 

So, while looking at rental homes in Philly (to get an idea of budget) we have found a ton of row homes with brick walls, and not much square footage. But, I always like to sort of imagine how I would decorate such a different style of home in the event that we move. We will probably sale most of our stuff, except for our beds and tv. But we may need to go to IKEA to get a mini couch, as most of the rentals are no more than 800 square feet on our budget... Yeah.... 

So, here is my Row Home/ Decor Style! 

What do you think? Kinda cool huh? 

I love that the rental homes in the North East have such awesome architecture and charm! If only they didn't rent for so dang much! 

I'm going to create a style board for Denver too! This is really fun!

Jazmin

Navidad.

Navidad.

'Noche de Paz' (Silent Night)

Noche de paz, noche de amor
Todo duerme en derredor
Entre los astros que esparcen su luz
Bella anuciando al niño Jesús
Brilla la estrella de paz
Brilla la estrella de paz

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm sooo excited for this Christmas! Last year, was REALLY fun, but for some reason I just didn't get in the Christmas spirit. But this year, I was totally ready to decorate for this special holiday. As always, we set up the Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving and got the mantle and house all gussied up for Christmas! The elf, returned as well, and the kids are loving 'Buddy' They miss their elf so much. 

Anyway, I haven't blogged for awhile and mainly because I have been super busy with work and all of the Holiday stuff. I love how now our family has traditions that we repeat every year. I like that. The kids are getting old enough to help decorate, and they are old enough to sit through scriptures for a long time. 

They are also old enough to enjoy our Community Nativity. I will post about that tomorrow, but it's just an amazing displays of Nativities from all over the world and our church hosts it for the Community. Matthew & Olivia were excited to finish up homework and go to the church. When they got there, they got to play 'Eye Spy' with some of the displays and they had a lot of fun looking close at all the details of each Nativity. 

And of course, this is MY Nativity display on our mantle.I love it.

I always like to change up my tree decor. This year I went with red. Mainly because our first year, I purchased a lot of red and gold ornaments and then changed my mind at the last minute and I never got to use them. So, I didn't want to be wasteful and pulled them out this year.

One of the best things about our Christmas tree decor is that slowly but surely we are starting to fill our tree with homemade ornaments from years past. This ornament was made by Olivia when she was attending Pre-K.

All the ornaments I had before are from the dollar store. And they look sooo nice!

More dollar store berries!

Another favorite ornament! Matthew made this in 1st grade.

And of course. One of our favorite ornaments! Everyone in our family has one of these hearts. They were given by my in laws last year, and they represent our family. I love ornaments with meaning.

I'm excited for the Season, and I'm happy that my kids are believers of Santa, and of the Elf, but most importantly that they have true Faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. I want to preserve their innocence as long as possible, as well as help them develop a strong lifelong testimony of Christ. 

Are you ready for Christmas?

Jazmin

Gender Reveal!

Baby Wood: It's a Boy!

Yesterday, was a very special day for a friend of mine. My friend Marleny and I have been friends since 5th grade, and our lives have always been different and the same. How? We are very similar and grew up together but our lives took different turns when we turned 20. I became a mom at 20, she moved away for school. Now, 9 years later, she's becoming a mom, and I'm feeling really old knowing I have a 9 year old and a 6 year old! But now, its her turn on becoming a mom and its fun seeing the changes she saw in me 9 years ago! 

She decided to do the gender reveal, and it was really fun! Although, I kind of knew she was having a boy, she is totally the kind of person that you would NEVER think she would have a boy! She's girly and very fashionable, so everyone was betting on a girl! It's almost as if she's too girly to produce a boy, yet it is happening! 

I'm glad she's having a boy first. I had a boy first, and it makes our lives similar again! I bet she's going to copy me, and have a girl next! ;) 

She asked me to help with the decorations, because lets face it. That's kind of what I'm better at! Don't ever ask me to contribute food, because I will show up with sandwiches and a veggie tray from Walmart! Seriously.

For the party, I wanted to do a 'What will it BEE?' Bee themed party. I'm into bees and thought it would be cute, but she's very earthly and vintage-y, so we decided on a burlap, and hues of blues greens, and pinks for the celebration. 

I made this banner with cardstock, paper doilies, and my ebosser! 

I managed to sneak in the honeycomb pattern! :) bee's rock!

Marleny found this cute chalkboard and took over the sign. My handwriting is seriously like chicken scratch! 

The drink cup station, had a question poster where you could write your prediction. I also cut out some mustaches and hairbows and glued them on the straws for added fun!

We kind of turned it, into a photobooth! Marleny & Cliff will make great parents!

The table and runners were Marleny's so I just added some pinwheels out of paper and some doilies glued on some inexpensive twine and hung them on the wall with thumbtacks. The look was very fun, and there was more blue than pink, and it's because I knew this kid was going to be a BOY! 

Marleny took care of the food and did a great job at filling it, and making delicious appetizers!

The cake & cake balls were made by a very talented friend from church. She seriously did an amazing job!

I kind of knew it was going to be a Boy, but Marleny was thinking it was a girl, so it was fun to see her eyes pop out of her face in surprise! Very fun to see!

Lots of fun was had, and now I can't wait to meet Baby BOY Wood!

Jazmin 

Halloween!

Halloween Decor 2013

There are two things I really enjoy in life. 

1) Chocolate. ANY KIND.

2)Decorating for the Holidays! 

I love to decorate for the Holidays, and Halloween is my favorite Holiday to decorate for! I mean, what holiday lets you just go crazy and put scary stuff out in your house?! 

This year, I got lucky, because while at CHA I was given some seriously gorgeous paper by Teresa Collins (she's a designer) and she came out with a gorgeous Halloween line called 'Masquerade Party'. I took as much paper as I could from that line, and implemented it, into this years decor!

This year, I didn't buy a thing! (YEY!) I finally accumulated enough Halloween stuff to open my own Haunted house! I got the little raven birds at the dollar store one year, and the big ravens at Hobby Lobby with 50% off coupons. I really like the birds for Halloween. They seem so creepy! 

I got this "birdcage" thing at Big Lots last year, and I interchange scrapbook paper depending on the season. I use it a lot! and it was like $10 dls! Also, this frame that says Halloween, was a dollar store frame, and I just put Teresa Collins 'Masquerade party' chipboard letters and chipboard frame over the frame. I embossed a piece of white cardstock with Teresa's 'In Time' folder and my eBosser and made for a cute Halloween fixture!

I really love my eBosser!! and that 'In time' embossing folder has been getting a ton of use!

Got this 'Boo' sign at Michael's one year, and those lab tubes at Marshalls.

 Used all of Teresa 's paper and embossed it with my eBosser, then just hole punched the paper and hung it. 

Love my birds and tombstones! Those are at the dollar store and Michaels!

Jazmin