A couple weeks ago, FreePeople tweeted about a fun DIY project. I've been itching to make these coasters, but I just can't seem to find the time between my senior year business classes and soaking up quality time with friends before graduation! Oh the crafts I would create if only there was enough time...
What you'll need:
+ wood log (or you can purchase pre-made cut pieces here or here or here)
+ 4 paint colors + white paint
+ clear fast-drying waterproof sealant
+ paintbrushes
+ carbon paper or tracing paper to make your own carbon paper
+ pencil and ballpoint pen
+ computer and printer
+ tape
+ miter saw and sandpaper (if not purchasing pre-made stump pieces)
Check out Design*Sponge for the how-to on these paint-by-number hex symbol coasters.
Got wine corks lying around? Go HERE for a cork coaster idea!
What do you use for coasters? What DIY projects are you hankering to do?
Dear Mr. Amos Paul Kennedy, thank you for reminding me that "As you grow up, you forget to PLAY." As a business major, I have very few opportunities to get my creative juices flowing, so thank you for taking me under your wing and teaching me how to use a printing press. I came away with a sweet poster and sage advice to "consider everything an experiment." Thank you for unknowingly touching my life.
Dear Markie, thank you for loving me in unexpected ways. The letter you slipped under my pillow was a charming surprise! Thank you for creatively pursuing me.
Dear random burst of productivity, thank you for empowering me to knock out my to-do list Rocky style. This afternoon, I updated my resume, answered emails, cleaned my bathroom, organized my dresser, washed my sheets, sorted through my binders, and even disinfected my computer thanks to you.
Dear University Fellows, thank you for indulging me in classic southern story telling at Ms. Florey's hizzouse. However sappy this may sound, I enjoyed keeling over in laughter over candlelight conversation. Leave it to the Fellows to debate over the similarities and differences between regional accents and customs. Love all you nerds.
Dear Daddy, thank you for bringing me back to my childhood with your corny late night texts. At 11:00 PM on a school/work night, we had a comical chat that went a little like this...
Dad: Good night moon
Me: Good night mouse
Dad: Good night spoon
Me: Good night house
Dad: Good night mush
Me: Uhhh line please?
Dad: And the little ole lady whispering...hush
Me: Oh yeah that. I love you!
Dad: We love you. Over and out
Me: 10-4. Roger Roger. Clearance Clarence.
Dad: Funny. Zzzzzzzzzzz
Me: Surely you can't be serious!
Dad: About what? I gotta get up in a few hours
Me: You are supposed to say "don't call me Shirley!"
Happy Thursday sweethearts. I wanted to take a moment to make all of you wonderful readers aware of some new additions to my blog! I've added tabs at the top of the page so that you can peruse my posts by category. Hopefully, this will allow you to explore my blog a bit more. I've also included an ABOUT page with a few tidbits about my life.
When I started my blog in November 2009, I never anticipated it being anything more than a platform for my thoughts and a means for my friends and family back home to keep up with my random musings. I'm so grateful for all of the feedback and for the beautiful people I've gotten to know through my blog. Here's to making more connections in 2011!
If you are a faithful reader, would you mind clicking the FOLLOW button on the right side of my blog? I'd love to know who you are! You can also "Like" my FACEBOOK page.
Don't forget to follow me on TWITTER for more frequent updates and photos!
Who have you enjoyed getting to know in the blog community? Who are some of your favorite bloggers?
Even in the deep south, this winter weather can be harsh! So in true sorority form, I threw on some Uggs and a North Face and braved the cold for a trip to Ulta{Sephora wannabe}. I left with a bag full of goodies, bound to set my winter skin straight and put a smile on my face. Take a peak into my shopping bag...
Props to the bro for introducing me to Julia & Tyler this week. Check out this enchanting duo! {They also have exclusive songs on iTunes like Replay. It's ballin.}
Markie, this is my aspiration for our relationship, to be duet partners and make sweet music. {Thank you for romancing me with Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not and Oh Tonight...We are so on our way to country stardom.}
Last week I went to our local organic grocery and bought a mysterious ingredient called apricot nectar without having a clue what to do with it. So I used a lifeline and tweeted about my dilemma, and two blogger friends came to the rescue. She Wears Many Hats suggested a smoothie, which I made in a jiffy. {I scarfed it down before I thought to take a photo...sorry!} And Dolcetto Confections so graciously gave me the recipe for an apricot-lemon cake! I couldn't wait for the weekend to roll around so that I could have a go at the foodie expert's recommendation...
Apricot-Lemon Cake
+ 1 box Duncan Heinz "super moist" yellow cake mix
+ 4 eggs
+ 3/4 cup apricot nectar
+ 3/4 cup vegetable oil
+ 1 TB lemon extract Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Bake in greased bundt pan at 325 degrees for 55 minutes. Remove from pan after cooling. Top with lemon glaze.
Lemon Glaze
+ 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
+ 2 TB fresh lemon juice Combine and spoon over cake. Lick fingers.
Much to my dieting roommates dismay, it was irresistibly delicious {and gone within a few hours}! Then we made brownies...and lemon pound cake. Sweet baking marathon weekend = pedal to the medal workout week. Here we go...
What sweets have you baked lately? What is a unique ingredient you like to cook with?
Dear roomies + honorary Allie, thank you for making me laugh myself silly. Tears of Just Dance Wii joy streamed down my face as we attempted African, Jamaican, and Michael Buble dance moves. THESE are the moments I'll remember all my life. Counting down the hours 'til round two this weekend!
Dear cedar grill planks, thank you for teaching me patience. Even though I followed the directions, you burst into flames and seemingly ruined my highly-anticipated salmon dinner. I pouted like a 5-year-old whose fort just collapsed, and then I begrudgingly resorted to plan B. Thanks for the friendly reminder that life doesn't usually pan out as planned.
Dear Real Simple mag, thank you for educating me on the 30 Healthiest Foods so that I can repeat facts to my friends and sound like a real health nut. Other than Martha Stewart Weddings, I've never bookmarked so many magazine pages in my mag-aholic life. I even tore off your cover to get me super pumped up about New Year's Resolution #4. Sorry about that.
Dear Delta Fellowship, thank you for filling me with excitement up to my ears about gathering together weekly this semester. I am so passionate about each and every one of you beautiful girls, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for our community over the next few months. Thank you for challenging me, encouraging me, and loving my tainted heart.
Dear Davis, thank you for being the coolest dude ever. Ten years ago, I didn't realize that you dismantling all of my electronics would lead to you becoming a famous DJ. I'm so proud of you "little" bro! You are the bomb dot com and so much more. Love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.
Good morning afternoon! Wednesday is my catch up on reading/sleeping/erranding day because I have no class. I have no class on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays because I'm a senior by golly, and I've worked my tushie off to make my last semester slightly less of a circus. Please excuse me for mistaking 2:00 in the afternoon for breakfast time. I only have four more months to slip into la-la-land from time to time, so don't mind if I do. :)
Greek Granola Sunrise
+ 5.3 oz. Oikos plain Greek yogurt
+ 1/2 cup granola with raisins (or what have you)
+ 5 TB local honey
Did you know that Greek yogurt is superior to regular ole American yogurt? The protein content is almost twice that of the normal kind and has 50% less sodium. It is also less caloric and has half the carbs. In addition to the benefits of American yogurt, Greek yogurt boasts more probiotics, which improve digestion. PLUS, it brings me back to my days in Greece!
Ready for another fun fact? Eating honey made locally is proven to relieve allergy symptoms! Honey is a natural source of energy and contains a wide array of vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants. Sounds like a great start to a fabulous day to me!
How do you rise and shine? What do you do to get your day started on the right foot?
Singing used to be my thing. Like the very thing that made me LOVE life. You dreamed of being a doctor? I dreamed of making it big in Nashville. So I went to college to pursue my thing. I enrolled in the Music Therapy program at the University of Alabama {what is that?} so that I could use my voice to help people. That is, until I developed a vocal polyp during the spring semester of my freshman year - totally destroying my chances of ever becoming a professional vocalist. I switched majors twice and tried to fathom what my life would look like without singing in it. Whoa. {Read how I felt HERE- skip to the end.}
My sophomore year, I {and loving friends and family} often prayed that God would restore my voice so that I could pursue my passion and spread the joy that comes from pouring my heart into song. I earnestly prayed that He would heal me and use my voice for GOOD. And my oh my did he have a crafty plan up his sleeve! Literally within the next 24 hours, I received a call from a sorority sis desperately pleading with me to represent Tri Delta in the Miss Sorority Row Charity Pageant...using my voice for good.
Ohmigosh no. No.Not this!
I just couldn't. I was scared I would fall. I was scared I would forget my speech. I was scared my mouth would go numb from smiling. I was scared what people would say. I was scared I wouldn't be able to sing. But I did it. And I won $1500 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In His magnificent and mysterious way, He answered my prayer. Now that is something to talk about.
{"Something To Talk About" by Bonnie Raitt. Sorry it's in two parts...my battery died.}
I can sing from time to time, but my voice will unlikely recover to how it was in my prime. Three years later, I'm okay with that. I've found other hobbies and callings that make my heart beat just as fast. I still YEARN to sing, but I am resting in the peace and assurance that God has an intricate purpose for my affliction.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
If you are new to the blog, check THIS and THAT for the background story on Operation: Room Redo. Long story short {cue: "yeah right"}, my gracious mother let me paint and decorate my room on my own in 9th grade, and it was PB Teen heaven. But as a 21-year-old with a career on the brain, a tad more sophistication was warranted. So without further adieu, let me present the almost finished product of a family effort renovation. I introduce to you {drum roll please} the BIG GIRL ROOM.
{Walls: Sherwin-Williams Ryegrass.
End tables: Lynn Hollyn at Home by Lexington Furniture.
{The monogram on my neck roll pillow is to die for! Take a look at the painting (bottom left). I painted it with acrylics and accented with pastels at Sips n Strokes in Tuscaloosa. It matches my room nicely, and I plan to hang it on a lucky bare wall.}
{Most of my room was designed by Lisa of First Fruit Collection in Collierville, TN. Read her blog HERE! She handmade the little tuffet ottomans above. ADORABLE. She also suggested the bird tree to the left which absolutely makes the room. Thank you sweet Lisa for all of your exceptional work.}
{Lisa is all about the details. Exhibit A: little birdie on the side table. Exhibit B: the pleated ribbon she sewed onto this lampshade to make it just so. It's wonderfully perfect.}
{Remember I said almost finished? These naked pieces of furniture are begging to be all dolled up like the rest of the room. Looks like I ran out of time this summer and didn't accessorize. Oops!}
Any ideas for filling the sad, empty space on top of these beautiful furnishings? Please help!
In November of 2009, I started this here blog on a whim. I had no expectations or intentions...I just knew I had something to say. At the time of my first post, I had gratefulness on the brain, and I wanted to share it with my friends and family. Since then, I've picked up a few new friends, designs, and topics along the way, but one thing will always remain unchanged: I am thankful. Keeping in step with my very first post, I'm starting a Friday tradition of writing letters about the five things that touched my heart throughout the week. Ready, set, go.
Welcome to the first Friday's five things.
Dear arctic blast 2011, thank you for turning my backyard into a winter wonderland so that I could play last weekend. You kept me from getting a head start on my last semester of college, but I know there was a reason for those few extra days with my family. I'm going to miss this.
Dear Mama, thank you for being so quick to forgive me when I'm short with you. God knows I've been praying for patience and tolerance, but I am a work in progress! I'm so grateful for all of the fond memories we had while I was home. Thank you for being awesome even though I forget to tell you. I love you.
Dear Lindsey's singing voice, thank you for brightening my day. Although "Oh Canada" is sometimes deafening, I know it's from the bottom of your heart. Keep the joyful noises comin' roomie.
Dear sovereign Creator, thank you forthe off-the-chain sunset you painted for my drive back to Tuscaloosa. The snowcapped houses reflecting all the colors of your majesty were breathtaking. You rule.
Dear homegirls, thank you for kidnapping me and taking me to the gym. I enjoyed blaring sweet jams while we did ab exercises in unison. I do not, however, enjoy the way I feel today. I guess that's what I get for putting my New Year's Resolutions on my blog.
One of my favorite places in the whole world is Mark's family's ranch outside of Austin, TX. We enjoyed the scenery and ray-anch life during the week between Christmas and New Years and made memories that I'll cherish for years to come. I'll let the pictures do the talking...
With four inches of snow still on the ground and icy roads between here and Tuscaloosa, I still haven't left Memphis (Home Sweet Home). So why not make the most of it? When life gives you snow, make ice cream!
Snow Ice Cream
{Recipe and pics compliments of the bro's gf. She's quite the chef.}
+ 2 eggs
+ 1 1/4 cup sugar + 1 tbs spoon vanilla + 1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk + LOTS of snow! (It takes more than you'd think, and it has to be pure fluffy white snow not mixed in with slush.) 1. Beat eggs well and add the sugar. Beat five minutes or until sugar is mostly dissolved. Add vanilla and milk and beat well. Add snow! Consistency is personal. I like mine really smooth! 2. I divided the vanilla I made into 3 parts. For the chocolate part, I just added Hershey syrup. There's no specific measurement, its just my memaw's old recipe... so just a little at a time will do! 3. For strawberry, I took about 10 strawberries and cut them several times until really tiny, then took a potato masher to them! This makes them nice and juicy so that the ice cream gets colored slightly pink. I put the strawberries in the other third of ice cream I had made earlier.
Honest to goodness truth, I invented the Snuggie in 4th grade. Here's how the story goes: My elementary school used to put on Invention Convention every other year, and afflicted by the discomfort of cold arms whilst reading Harry Potter, I had the brilliant idea of making a blanket with sleeves. So after a few sewing lessons from Mom, I was well on my way to creating the Comfo-Rap.
{Tired of being limited by a regular blanket? Now you can play with your pet in total warmth and comfort from head to toe!}
{Mine even had a velcro closure in the back to prevent chilly drafts...an issue Snuggie totally failed to address.}
{The Comfo-Rap even includes two plush-velour pockets to keep your hands toasty warm. (Snuggie fails again.) Frocket is large enough for your old-school Sony Walkman so you can pump up some jams while you relax in complete cuddliness. Or if you're more the over-achieving type, the Comfo-Rap also has a velcro strip for your lap desk (sold separately).}
Now you can clearly deduce that it was so rightly named Comfo-Rap because it is comfortable and used as a wrap (homonym for the rap tunes on your Walkman). The name may not be my forte, but give me a break, I was in 4th grade!
Thanksgiving break 2008, I saw a Snuggie commercial and LOST IT. That could have been me! I could have been a billionaire by now, doggone it! I'm still bitter that Snuggie beat me to the punch, but I know in my heart that I own the original Snuggie, before Snuggies were Snuggies. Besides the fact that it shocks the crap out of people, my Comfo-Rap beats the living daylights out of the Snuggie. Hands down. Moral of the story: Chase your dreams kids, and patent everything. That could be your very own awesome invention in the next awful infomercial!
