Ring Day

Here at Texas A&M, we make getting your Aggie ring quite the ordeal! {That is not me saying that I don't think it should be made as big of a deal as it is}

Travis got his last Friday, so I made cookies for the occasion

It really is cool how they work. They're so great and meaningful when you get them as a student, but even more so when you leave. No matter where you end up after graduation, Texas or beyond, if you're at a job interview or studying abroad or working far from home, and on and on, if another Aggie sees your ring, you make an immediate bond.

There is a return system for Aggies who have lost their ring. I'm not even sure if it's an official system, or if it is just an on-going tradition for an Aggie who finds someone's lost ring to contact them and return it. {We're still holding out for the return of my sister's ring in this situation} Similarly, when the bonfire tragedy happened here many years ago, lots of Aggies left their own rings at the memorials in honor of the 12 students that died that night.

Soo...I was excitied to get to go with Travis and his family to watch him get his ring!

It is true that not getting my own ring when my time comes has crossed my mind......say THAT to the right person, and they'll write you off as unAmerican and foolish. I'm the kind of Aggie that they call a "2 percenter". I suppose that since they're not exactly just pocket change, I have thought that I like the rings that I already wear enough to be ok not spending the money to get my own. However, after being a part of ring day, I do feel like I might be missing out....haha we'll see, we'll see

Nothin but love,
Bethany

Wish List '11

Last year (around what time, I'm not sure) I made a public wish list. This really is meant for my benefit only, just because I always seem to think of the perfect thing to ask for on my Birthday or Christmas, but before I get a chance to jot it down, it slips my mind just as quickly as it entered. And then when my mom, sister, and aunts ask me what I want this year for my birthday, sometimes all I can say is, ".....well I knew once..."

So whether any of these things become gifts or something that I save up for in the future, here's to not forgetting them!

1) Dress Form

With all the crafting and sewing I've been doing lately, I think having a dress form would save me a lot of time and seam ripping. I am constantly taking things on and off of my body to make adjustments and sometimes it just isn't logical or time efficient....especially when the something that I'm making isn't for me!

2) A Ruffler Foot

Travis' sister in-law, Brittany gave me this brilliant idea! She is a super-seamstress (who actually just started her own business! Check her out- Blackalligatordesigns.com!) And she showed me her latest sewing purchase- a ruffler foot! She has been doing this way longer than I have, but I cannot imagine years of hand ruffling....it really is quite a meticulous job. This little contraption does it for you- all you have to do is tell it how big or small you want the gathers :)

3) A Serger Machine

Now, this might be something that I get/purchase down the line, but it really is cool how these guys work. There is a costume room up at school for dance, and when I was taking my dance composition class we had to make costumes, and they had these available for us! What's great about it is that it trims your excess fabric as you go. It gives more perfect lines and sometimes is a lot easier than a machine to maneuver .

4) A sewing book of sorts...I don't have one in mind, I just think it would be nice to have a book to reference for certain techniques or skills.

5) Fabric! I try to be so careful with some of the fabrics I have right now because they are ones that my mom has passed down to me. I love them because they are unique and kind of vintage-y looking. I know that some of them were born in my lifetime, but they're just different from ones in stores today. I would love to update my collection with some equally unique prints and textures!


Looks like I did a fantastic job of sticking to one genre...though it's not my goal, I guess you can tell where my head's at haha...

Nothin but love,
Bethany

Home Improvements

So there were a few things that needed to be taken care of around the house here at the Clementine and I took pictures so I could share with all my bloggies!

So much paint!

Heidi helpin out

Flag banner in the kitchen

Wall branch

A little closer

Soooo......we desperately needed something to take up space on the wall above our couch in the living room. And I didn't want to spend any money. So I went in the yard and found some wood. The next thing I know, Amy walks in with a branch the size of a tree that she snapped off a huge tree in our front yard, and I was in heaven! 

We took some single branches and washed them off, let them dry, and painted them...then (with some help) I nailed it up to the wall. We still need to do some more branch painting and wall mounting, but that is the general idea of what we're going for. 

Oh and the banner? I just wanted to make one. Seems like the cool thing to do these days. 

Haha, we had some left over paint at the end of it all, so Audrey told me I could paint her face. So check her out-

She walked into McCallister's like that to pick up our dinner. No one acknowledged it. We figured it was because we're in college and college kids are always doing crazy things like painting their faces and picking up dinner. No big deal. 

Nothin but love,

Bethany

Game day at the Clementine

I can't remember if I had made the official announcement on my blog yet, but in case I haven't, everyone please know that when I say "Clementine", I am referring to my home and the people in it.

We are called The Clementine....it's where the cuties at. {Get it? Clementines? Like those miniature oranges?}

Anyway, now that we have that out of the way, let's get on to the bigger point. I did not purchase a sports pass for my second consecutive year. Now it's nothing against Aggie football or traditions, I just can't justify asking my dad to spend the $300.00 that it costs to have a sports pass when I don't appreciate football the way I should to deserve or justify that pass. Not to mention, that aTm actually sold out of sports passes this year, and I'm not sure my conscience could handle owning one, and leaving some real redass football fanatic without one.

So instead, I will make everyone's game day shirts :)

(Sorry, had to do some advertising). Anywho, since I don't have a sports pass, and neither do 2 of my friends- Annie and Sarah, we had a dinner party! Now, this week, Heidi, Jadams, and Travis came because they didn't get tickets to the game, but unfortunately I don't think we can get our hopes up on expecting them every week. However, they are always welcome.

Travis and I made Pecan crusted chicken, Sarah brought a salad, I made a strawberry cake, and Heidi made water.

We were excited because we just finished our table decor :) Check it out!

It's too bad I didn't get a good picture of those water glasses. Heidi, really does put a mean glass of water together.

Watching aTm BTHO (beat the hell outta) SMU on television while enjoying something besides over-priced concession food really is the way to do it, if you ask me................Though there is a part of me that appreciates the orangey imitation cheese they put on the nachos.

Nothin but love,
Bethany

Tuesdate

Travis and I went on a date last Tuesday. Just in the middle of the day for lunch. I thought it was so fun to go on a date the same day that you go to class! (when it's not a Friday, of course).

College Station is alright, but I think that downtown Bryan is a gem! It's just 5 or 10 minutes from my house. We went to lunch at this soda shop that I have been dying to go to, but every time we've been there it has been closed. It's called Must be Heaven :) I thought it was wonderful...

Kinda stinks that when there's only 2 of you, you have to get a solo shot.

Nothin but love,
Bethany