Hello, my name is Shantel and I have a problem...

Do you have a pair of favorite jeans? You know, that one pair that fits just right... that makes you feel like you look good while still being extremely comfortable? 

 

Come on, you know what I am talking about. 

Well, here is my confession: 

My name is Shantel and I have a problem. When I find a pair of jeans that I love, I can't help but wear them as often as possible without drawing attention to the fact that I wear the same pair of pants pretty much every day. I love my jeans to death. Literally. I wear them until they have ragged hems and gaping holes. (And sometimes even regardless of the ragged hems and gaping holes.) I can't help myself! I am a pretty picky person when it comes to jeans and shoes. I just like to be comfortable as well as look nice, so when I find something that fits my odd body size in a flattering way I jump on board with both feet. 

For example: just this summer I had to throw away this pair of capris. It was devastating. They were almost white from being washed so many times (except for the places that they had stains), were frayed along the bottom hems as well as the waist hem. However, this alone would not have stopped me. It wasn't until the fabric wore through on the thighs from rubbing together so much that I finally gave them their much needed burial. (Meaning David and I threw them away so I wouldn't be tempted to wear them anymore.) 

Me and my capris at Grand Central Station in New York. Two summers later (after having worn them faithfully at least 4 times a week) they have been retired. 

Here is another shot of the capris. If I could go back and buy 5 pairs of them, I would.

I have always been like this I think. My mom has been known to throw out clothes (and especially shoes) of mine that weren't fit to be worn anymore, but I would wear anyway because I loved them so much. I remember once when my mother threw away my favorite "Jelly Sandals." (Something like THIS but pink and glittery.) I was devastated. You will be proud to know that I have developed enough responsibility to do this for myself. Not only have I thrown away my favorite pair of capris this summer, but also my favorite black flats! (After wearing them practically every day for student teaching, they were sorry looking and carried a very unpleasant aroma. Don't you worry though, after prepping David several days in advance I purchased some new black flats that are even cuter than their predecessors.) 

You may be wondering why I am posting about this abnormal attachment that I have with my jeans. I will blame this post on the fact that we accidentally left our camera at the home of David's sister, Wendy. (At least I hope that is where it is, we can't find it.) That camera has all of the pictures of our first anniversary as well as a big family-sized sleepover that we had with David's family. I have a hard time posting about things out of order, because I am afraid that I will forget to post about the things I skipped. Therefore, I can not post any of our recent pictures until I post about our anniversary. 

So that is why  you get this post.

Well, that and the fact that today marks the day of retiring my favorite pair of jeans. I could just cry! I have worn these jeans for a good 2-3 years and they have treated me so well! Here are some pictures: 

Engagement Pictures

Aggie Basketball

Work party in Virginia. (These look a little lighter, but I can almost guarantee that they are the same pair.)

Meeting President Obama.

Carving pumpkins with my little sister Melissa, and missing my little sister Jenna.

The other day I noticed that there were parts of my jeans that were starting to get a little thin, but I continued to wear them. Today though, there is a full blown hole that is large enough to make these pants un-wearable. I'm devastated! I have no idea what I am going to wear when it is rainy outside. Life is hard when you only have one pair of pants that you like and then they go and wimp out on you. I have decided that from now on, as soon as I find a pair of jeans that I like I am going to immediately go back to the store and purchase several pairs so that I never have to worry about getting new pants again. 

If anyone would like to come over tonight, we will be having a funeral procession for my dearly beloved jeans.

(p.s. I'm sure that David would like me to add that he would buy more jeans for me if I would let him. He has encouraged me several times to go get some more pairs of jeans/capris that I like so that I don't have to wear the same pair over and over again. But what can I say, when I like one pair... I am just really attached! Call it the opposite of a commitment issue.) 

(p.p.s I have realized that I only have head shots of myself. My jeans don't make as many appearances in pictures as I thought that they would. This makes me feel slightly better, in that my posterity won't look through my pictures and know that I tend to wear the same pair of jeans so often. Until they read this post. Then they will know.)

I Do... Re-Done.

Oh my heck.

I don't know whether I should be appalled or in love.

Think about this concept: Taking scissors to your wedding dress to make random things around your house that you can use to decorate with and/wear.

It's called "I do... Re-done" over at the blog MaryJanes and Galoshes. (One of the many super creative ladies that I blog stalk.)

At first I didn't know how I felt about it. In fact... I still don't know how I feel about it. Her projects are cute... but to cut up a wedding dress to make a banner/bunting?

Check out some of her projects HERE, and HERE, and HERE.

It's not that I am against re-using wedding dresses. In fact, I am going to be making a blessing dress for a friend out of her wedding dress. I think that is very precious. I have thought a lot about doing that with my wedding dress, but i'm not sure.

As I was looking around the internet for blessing dress patterns and such, I came across this dress at the Refugee Crafter:

Isn't it beautiful? 

I seriously have fallen in love with it. 

Look at the detail! 

I love it. 

Okay, I know that I already said that I love it... but I do! I want so badly to go home right now and make it for some daughter that I will have some distant point in the future. My only dilemma is that if I make it right now... it won't fit when I someday have a baby girl who needs a blessing dress? 

What are your thoughts? 

Is the whole "I do... Re-done" a good idea?

Would you make a blessing dress out of your wedding dress? 

Should I go home right now and make this to die for blessing dress?

My Dad...

I my last post I said that I was going to come back and finish writing about my Dad because it was his birthday. I should have known that I wouldn't actually "finish" the post. Instead I am going to write a post dedicated to my sweet father. I mean, come on... he deserves his very own post. 

This is my Dad: Scott Colvin Walker.

He is the most amazing man that I know. I couldn't have asked for a better example or a better friend as a father. 

Last Tuesday was my Dad's birthday. (I would tell you how old he was, but I don't think that he would like that very much.) David and I were able to drive down to Morgan and celebrate with him. It was so much fun! We made malibu chicken and twice-baked potatoes and let me tell you... it was delicious! (I wish that I had pictures to post on here from that night, but i'm a slacker and forgot the camera. We will just have to deal with all of the pictures that I pulled off of Facebook.) 

Like I said, my dad is amazing. There is nothing more important to him than being with his family. I truly think that his greatest source of joy comes from being with his wife and kids.

My Mom and Dad. I remember when I was little and I would walk in on them kissing in the kitchen. (They did that often.) I would pretend to be grossed out, but really I loved it. I love that they love each other so much. My Mom would always tell me how lucky she was to be married to my Dad and how I needed to find someone who made me as happy as he made her. 

My dad sometimes seems shy, but he definitely has a goofy side! He is very creative and loves to laugh and have a good time. Everyone loves watching movies with him, because when he laughs you can't help but laugh as well! I love his sense of humor. When we went home for his birthday he couldn't wait to show us his latest project. It was a little house that he had made out of wood that explodes when you open the door. It is so clever! I am trying to convince him to make a bunch of them and sell them at the fair. 

My Dad is very talented. He can look at something and figure out how it is made and then just.. make it! (Like the little house, he saw it at a little tourist store and then came home and made one!)  Not only can my dad create ANYTHING out of wood or metal, he is also the one that taught me how to sew. This project may show you a little bit of his skills. He took this:

And turned it into this: 

Incredible right? Just wait, it gets better. He also took this: 

And turned it into this: 

Yeah. Not only did he completely refinish the car, inside and out. He used a bunch of old newspapers to create a pattern and then he sewed new vinyl seatcovers. Amazing right? 

I don't think that there is anything that he can't do. 

Seriously. 

I can't even count how many nights my dad stayed up with me working on school projects that were due the next morning. Everything from my mousetrap car to my 3-D calculus project. 

My Dad is my hero, and I am so lucky to have him in my life. Last week we were watching some old home videos and we watched part of my 17th birthday party. Apparently, I had asked for world peace for my birthday because the clip went as follows: My Dad got up in front of the camera and told me how much he loved me, and how he would do anything for me. He said that he couldn't manage world peace, but he could manage a piece of the world. He then proceeded to open a big white box and pull out a big round cake that looked like the earth. He then told me that I meant the world to him. At that point in the video I was crying and so was he. At that point in watching the video I was crying and turned to see him with tears in his eyes as well. I can't believe how lucky I was to be placed on this earth with him as my father. 

I love my Dad and I am so grateful for him. For any of you who have had the chance to know him, I am sure you can agree that he has had a positive impact on your life. So much of who I am today comes from who my father taught me to be. He taught me the importance of love, of hard work, and of the gospel. I will be forever grateful for his example and influence in my life. 

I love you Dad!