An Apple for the Crafter

What's Cookin'?

2012-02-21T16:50:00.000-05:00

So, I recently discovered something amazing. Maybe I should start with a confession. I'm not a very good cook. I don't like cooking and so I am not very adventurous or willing to experiment. I cling to recipes like Linus does to his blankie. That being said, when I try something new in the kitchen it is a big deal to me. When I try something from my own imagination is an even bigger deal. So, this may seem like a "duh" moment for some of you, but if there is even one person who will benefit from this post then I will be happy.

I like to make pot roast in the crock pot at least once a month. It is a very traditional Sunday dinner that Chance and I both love. However, since it is just the two of us, we never eat it all in one meal.

I needed to find a way to efficiently use the leftovers, but by the next day the roast was SO dry. Just, ugh.
So, I threw a bunch of leftover roast in a pan and dumped in a can of beef broth. I let it simmer for a few minutes to absorb some of the moisture. Then, I moved all the beef to one side of the pan and sprinkled Wondra (ultra-fine flour for gravy and sauce) into the broth and stirred it continuously with my whisk. In about five minutes I had delicious roast with gravy. I was SO proud of myself. Chance was pretty darned impressed too. He even came into the kitchen a took a picture of my attempt at throwing caution to the wind!!

From now on I will also be contributing to a recipe blog with some of my friends. Check us out at The Kitchen Diaries.

Valentine's Decor Rewind

2012-02-10T09:15:00.000-05:00

Well, friends. I didn't craft any new Valentine's Day decor this year. I live in an apartment and we have run out of space to a) decorate and b) store stuff. So here is a reminder of what I have gracing the walls and flat surfaces in my home.

My Valentine's Day Blocks.

Even though I didn't craft anything new my amazing SIL, Chelsea, made us a great little sign. We intended to put it on our door but we like it so much we decided to keep in inside and hang it on the wall. Thanks Chels!!

Emergency Preparedness: Make A Car Kit

2012-01-23T09:30:00.001-05:00

A couple of years ago Costco sold some 72 hour kits. I bought 2, along with a first aid kit, that we always keep in the trunk. The first aid kit has come in handy more than once. We weren't on the road per se: the first time we were at the beach and the second time was at one of Chance's softball games.

Here is a picture of the contents of the survival kit.

I also assembled a kit for emergency car repairs. We have jumper cables, a ratchet set, fuses, a couple of tools, a tire repair kit, and a flash light. (Not pictured: a delightful fleece blanket.)

Here is the little, out of the way, pocket where the kits normally reside.

Emergency Preparedness: Making an Office Kit

2012-01-19T21:22:00.002-05:00

Having an emergency supply kit is essential to making it through a disaster safely. You can either buy pre-assembled kits or create them for yourself.

According to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management you should have these essential items in your kit.

Today I spent over an hour at Wal-Mart assembling the items for Chance's office bag. I also took a couple of minutes and got some pictures of the kits in our car (that will be in the next post).

I used the contents of this kit, plus this list, and a conversation with my man to help me decide what should go in the bag.

I took pictures of the items in groups.
Here we have a first aid kit $4.97
Rain poncho $2.88
Hand warmer $1.97
Ice pack. The ice pack was purchased as a two pack to replace the one from our car ice pack. I estimate that it cost me about $1 each.
So these four items total: $10.82.

I went crazy in the camping department and found:
a four pack of waterproof matches $1.88
a two pack of luminescent sticks $2.26
reflective stickers $2.88
Water purification tablets $5.88
and a sweet wind-up flashlight that is also an AM/FM radio and it has a siren! It came in at $19.88.
These five items total: $32.78. The matches were a four pack so the rest are going into our home kit.

Next, Chance wanted his to be in a small backpack, but it also needed to be small enough to fin unobtrusively under his desk.
The backpack in an easy to spot red color was $7.00,
a small sewing kit $1.47,
a five pack of dust masks (the other four are going in the home kit) $1.00,
Powder, in case his feet get drenched or something, $.97
an emergency whistle that is also, get this: a compass, magnifier, and thermometer $3.88
Last but not least, I found a Hobo Tool. It has a fork, knife, spoon, cork screw, an awl, a bottle opener, and can opener for $3.88!!
Total cost: $18.20

Food! All of the food and drink except the jerky and trail mix had left overs.
Boxed juice: $2.78
Water: $2.00
Trail mix: $1.94
Cheese and Crackers: $2.68
Beef Jerky: $2.98
Sweet and Salty Granola Bars: $2.98
Total: $15.36

In this photo you'll see Chance's spare glasses, hand sanitizer, lip balm, lotion, and sunglasses. We already owned all of this. Free!

Finally, Chance wanted a change of clothes and a spare pair of tennis shoes. We discussed retiring his current pair of shoes but they're still too new. Yada yada yada, I bought him an inexpensive new outfit and tennis shoes specifically for the pack.

The Braves beanie was already ours.
The gloves are $7.00
The shoes were $14.97
I bought him a red t shirt for $3.25
Jeans for $9.96
I bought a six pack of socks and put one into the pack. At $5.50 for a six pack it means we spent $.91.
Total: $36.09

Grand total: $113.25

You may not have noticed but I deliberately bought a red shirt, red rain poncho, and red backpack. I want my man to be easy to spot. :)

So here's the thing. The pre-made kit I wanted to buy was only $45. However, it didn't have any of the clothing items, the food cannot have possible been as delicious, and there was no Hobo Tool set!! It's a HOBO TOOL set. Sounds awesome.

Anyway, I realize that this is a lot of money to spend on something you hope you'll never use. I hope my little kit making journey helps you figure out if you should compile your own kit or buy one. Either way, having a kit will give you peace of mind and may end up making all the difference some day.

Emergency Preparedness: Getting Started

2012-01-13T09:00:00.002-05:00

Step 1: Find out what disaster risks are in your area
Go here for a list of state/local FEMA offices.

Learn what types of disasters are likely to happen and how to prepare for each.
Identify what your community’s warning signals sound like and what to do if you hear them.

Step 2: Create a Family Emergency Plan
I found a great plan generator here.
Virginia also has an online form to help you generate a plan. Check it out here.
Basically, you need to consider what you would do in the event of an emergency.

Discuss with your family the types of hazards and threats in your area and what to do in each case.
Make a list of important contact information and keep it with you at all times.
Decide on a meeting place in case you cannot return to your home, and know where you would go if you had to evacuate your area.
Collect information about the locations where your family members spend the most time (work, school, etc).
Record any medications your family members take on a daily basis.
Collect information for others you might need to contact in an emergency. ( For example, doctor, pharmacist, insurance.)

Step 3: Assemble an Emergency Supply Kit
Chance and I are creating one for the car, one for our home, and one for him to take to the office.
Virginia has a list of recommended items for such a kit here.
The third post in this series will focus on creating your kits. Stay tuned.

Links:
*I started my research using my local church's website BlessFamily.com
*This pdf helped me get the ball rolling. I also used a lot of the information from it in this post.

Emergency Preparedness: Why?

2012-01-12T15:44:00.001-05:00

Since living in Virginia Chance and I have had some serious adventures.

1. Snowmageddon (aka Snowpocalypse)

My honey trudging through the snow

We were blissfully trapped in our apartment for a week. Thankfully, we had plenty of food and water. We have multiple friends in our apartment complex so we were all able to get out of the house for a while and share supplies if necessary.

2. The Earthquake of 2011
I don't have any pictures because our apartment was unharmed by the quake. I was driving to Wal-Mart and didn't even feel it, but in the District it was a pretty big pain. Allow me to soap box for a moment.

Westerners (especially Californians) have given us some flack about our reaction to the quake. After having lived in California, Washington, Idaho, Kansas, Georgia, and Virginia I have had occasion to experience most of the types of extreme weather. I lived through earthquakes and flash floods in California. I survived a tornado in Kansas that destroyed most of the town I lived in. In Idaho we know how to drive in the snow; in Georgia they don't, and they shouldn't be expected to. Roads in Idaho are straight and flat. Makes snow removal a ton easier. In Georgia roads are hilly and windy. That makes driving in it way more dangerous and snow removal heinous. Earthquakes are so common in California that they build roads and buildings to handle it. After experiencing extreme weather, however minor, people learn how to prepare and behave. If we were to have a tornado drill right now I would know exactly what to do. Would you?

I guess my point is, let's be nice to each other. The earthquake was a big deal here. The National Cathedral, LDS Temple, and Washington Monument all sustained damage. The Monument is still closed. Buildings, roads, and people out here just aren't built to weather earthquakes the way they are out west.

End soap box. Thank you.

3. Hurricane Irene
Again, we didn't personally have any problems due to Irene (except our flight to St. Thomas getting delayed.)
We did, however, have friends who were without power. Also, people went nuts at the grocery store in preparation for the weather. You couldn't find anything, bread, milk, water. It was crazy.

So, during two of these instances Chance and I had time to prepare. We were at home during the worst of the weather and we didn't have any real problems. During the earthquake I was in the car and Chance was at work. We had no warning. When it initially hit one of Chance's colleagues pondered aloud, "I wonder which building was bombed." That possibility is frighteningly real for us. Because of all these experiences I have decided to start researching Emergency Preparedness.

If Music Be the Food of Love, Play on!

2012-01-12T14:47:00.000-05:00

As promised, I am researching Emergency Preparedness today. As I do that, I am listening to a playlist that I created. I sort of felt like sharing it. Here are a couple of my current play lists:

What I am listening to right now! Literally.

My trusty iPod.

Coldplaylist: (Made up strictly of Coldplay, The Script, and One Republic)

Coldplay:
Paradise (IN LOVE WITH THIS SONG!!! It's my anthem right now.)
The Scientist
Viva la Vida
Fix You

The Script:
The Man Who Can't Be Moved
Breakeven
Nothing

One Republic:
All This Time
Stop and Stare
Good Life
Secrets
Marchin' On
Passenger

I recently bought the entire One Republic album Waking Up. I love them!

Work Out: (Apparently I'm some sort of bad-a at the gym because some of these have questionable lyrics. I have weaned out the cussing though. Oh and Black Eyed Peas have tons of swearing if you can't find the radio edits!)

Wake Up Call- Maroon 5
California Gurls- Katy Perry (Hate the deliberate misspelling)
Let's Get it Started- Black Eyed Peas
Single- Natasha Bedingfield
If You're Gonna- Natasha Bedingfield
Made for You- One Republic
Cooler Than Me- Mike Posner
Party Rock Anthem-LMFAO
Millennium- Robbie Williams
Sexy Back- Justin Timberlake
Everybody Loves Me- One Republic
Animal- Neon Trees
Dynamite- Taio Cruz
Let It Rock- Kevin Rudolf (I got the clean version on iTunes)
Yeah!- Usher (Try to get radio edit without the Ludacris solo.)
Good Girls Go Bad- Cobra Starship
I Like It- Enrique Iglesias (I should hate this song...)
Won't Go Home Without You- Maroon 5

What are you listening to? Any good work out jams that I need?

A Fresh Start for 2012

2012-01-11T16:01:00.000-05:00

Hi All!

So, here we are. It's 2012. I can't believe it. I graduated high school 10 years ago. Really? Sometimes I can't believe it has been that long other times, when I reflect on all that has changed in my life, I can't believe it has only been that long.

My BFF, Lindsey, and I at a football game Senior year

Anyway, next month will mark the one year anniversary of this blog. I'm trying to get excited about the milestone but I am still beating myself up over how neglected this blog was over the last six months. I have struggled with anxiety/depression for a number of years but never more so than the last couple of years. Watching my blogs (this one and my family blog) get completely ignored for six months was the first concrete reminder that my personal struggles with this demon aren't totally behind me.

However, with the dawn of the new year I feel a sense of new beginnings. I have a clean slate. I didn't really make any huge resolutions. You know, the kind that you will inevitably shirk off, struggle with, or fail at? I don't need to disappoint myself. I simply resolved to take care of myself.

For me, taking care of myself means doing things that make me feel good about myself and my life. In that spirit I:

Started working out regularly again
Went at got a hair cut and color that make me feel pretty. I didn't even wait for a groupon or go to the cheapest place!! I went someplace I really like!
I made another hair appointment for 8 weeks from now.
Didn't work out yesterday and I didn't beat myself up over it.
Set a goal for crafting/blogging

What is that goal you ask? Great question.

I have complained to you all before, either on here or on our Facebook page, that sometimes I feel like stuff is taking over my apartment. Just stuff! It's everywhere! Obviously, my first instinct is to complain to Chance that we need a bigger apartment, which isn't a lie. However, I had another solution come to mind.

I am going to make 2012 the year of finishing projects. My goal is to complete crafts, decor, blankets, gifts, etc all with supplies I already own. Clearly, the caveat being that I am allowed to buy various notions as the NEED arises. I hope you all don't judge me by all the crap I have accumulated. :)

At any rate, I am so grateful that you are still here, still reading, still crafting with me. This world of craft blogs is a big one. I've been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ideas. (Thank goodness for Pinterest, am I right?) So thanks for choosing to share the journey with me.

I have some fun stuff coming up.

Tomorrow I am researching Emergency Preparedness. I plan to drop some knowledge on you after that process completes.

Right now, I am logging off to go fabric shopping with a friend. She is pregnant and working to make a baby quilt. Beer me the strength not to buy anything!

Five points if you get my TV reference.

Christmas Gifts (for friends and neighbors)

2011-12-22T16:35:00.000-05:00

I realize that I am a little late in sharing Christmas gift ideas, but I've been told it's "better late than never." So here goes!

This year, I used the power of the internet to make some simple, but yummy gifts for some of our friends and neighbors.

I found this recipe at Me and My Pink Mixer for Cinnamon Honey Butter.

I already owned the glass jars and I was lucky because butter went on sale at my local supermarket.

My supplies:

Small Glass Jars

Scrapbook paper

Ribbon

Card Stock

Cute little snowmen gift bags

I downloaded this adorable printable from the girls at eighteen25. I'll never be able to pay them back for all the amazing work they do. I also printed out a copy of the recipe that I glued to the back of the note. That way, the recipient a) knows what she is about to eat and b) can replicate it in the future.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Wonderful New Year. Thank you for all of your support and kindness in 2011. I plan to be back in full blogging mode in 2012. (We may even be having a giveaway to celebrate 50 followers...)

Thanksgiving Decor

2011-11-15T12:23:00.000-05:00

As I promised Chance, the Halloween decor was put away before he got home from work on November 1st. I have a stockpile of Thanksgiving stuff. I didn't need to make or buy anything.

I continued the use of my Toilet Paper Pumpkins. Though, if I don't make a trip to the store pretty soon one of them make get sent back to the bathroom. :)

You'll also notice the Pilgrims and Native American Indians that I have on either side of the entertainment center.

I have been searching for this lovely couple for YEARS!! Finally, in mid-September I found them waiting for me at HomeGoods. Aren't they beautiful?!

I got my amazing Pilgrims at THE Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts. We went there for Thanksgiving in 2009. I loved it.

A couple of years ago I got to make this Give Thanks display at a church activity. I LOVE it.
I got the male N.A. Indian at HomeGoods in October of last year, but his wife was no where to be found. :( I waited too long.

I got the Harvest sign at (drum roll please) HomeGoods on clearance after Thanksgiving last year. The delightful Pilgrim couple was a gift from TMJ and Tervlon.

Well Hello...

2011-11-03T17:23:00.000-04:00

I know I have been completely blog negligent as of late. I'm kind of in a rut. I don't feel like I have done anything worth blogging about.

Well, that isn't totally true. I am currently working on the most time consuming Christmas gift ever. In fact, I have already spent over 40 hours on it. I'm still only about 30% done. But, alas, my darling mother-in-law follows this blog, so I can't divulge any of it. Rest assured though, you'll see it eventually. Chance takes a picture of it every night before we go to bed so we can chronicle that day's progress. Keep in mind that I have other projects to work on (like a special request from my Mom...) so this gift may end up a Christmas 2012 surprise, though I sincerely hope not.

I am, yet again, organizing the guest room. After Bryan moved out I thought I would be in there 24/7 crafting and sewing. But I walked in and felt immediately overwhelmed. We had been hiding miscellaneous stuff, like cases of water, all over our apartment for three months. So, when our spare room opened up again we put it all in there. The rest of our house was blissfully uncluttered, however, that meant our craft room was a hot mess. I had the strong desire to go in there and throw everything away. There were some tears. At one point I think I got in bed and pulled the covers over my head. I determined to stop following craft blogs because they give me too many cute ideas and I don't have enough storage for any of it. Chance tenderly talked me down from the ledge but I haven't gotten back into the swing of blogging yet.

As for the craft room, I've decided to condense our spare linens into space bags. The bags have been purchased and the linens washed. I have plans to spend a few hours at a local laundromat in order to wash our large quilts and comforters. Then the real organizing can begin. I have already collected two garbage bags full of stuff to take to Goodwill.

Madigan Made posted the other day about her UFOs Unfinished and Forgotten Objects and projects. Oh my gosh. Its like she gets me. I told Chance that I have enough stuff around here to do projects for months. I am committing to using up my old stuff before I buy any new. (With the exception of one sewing notion IF I get to the finishing stage of my MIL's Christmas gift.)

Anywho, I have a fun Saturday coming up with my friend the Playful Professional. I will definitely be tweeting and blogging about that.

I decorated for Thanksgiving on November 1st just like I promised I would. Pictures are forthcoming.

I think I'll find ways to talk more about my MIL's gift. You know. To drive her a little crazy. :) Stay tuned.

Dessert!

2011-10-13T20:16:00.001-04:00

Oh my gosh you guys. I just made an amazing dessert. I didn't take any pictures because I was just trying something I saw on Pinterest.

I saw this Sticky Bun recipe on All Thing Delicious. I borrowed one of her pictures to show you the awesomeness. It was one of the easiest recipes I have ever made.You'll have to go to her website for the recipe though! Let me know if you try it!!

Sweet Tea Social

2011-10-08T21:05:00.000-04:00

Today I had the awesome opportunity to drive down to Richmond to meet a group of other Virginia area bloggers. Allison from A Glimpse Inside and Michelle from Dream Home DIY put together a fun-filled day of eating, socializing, and shopping!

We spent some time lamenting the fact that much of the blogosphere is centered out West. It is a lot more difficult for us East Coast girls to meet one another!

I'll spare you the awful details of our two hour drive down to Richmond. Suffice it to say, I-95 never fails to be a miserable experience.

The day started at The Cheesecake Factory where we got to sit around a chat casually. Sometimes we would quietly chat with those next to us, while other times we were yelling across the table. Conversation topics included Geography, Photography, and Pinterest. Lots of Pinterest.

The party then moved to the nearby Hobby Lobby. Unfortunately, not everyone joined in the shopping. Here is a picture of the five of us who made the trek. From left to right: Me, Kristol from The Magic of Ordinary Things, Allison from A Glimpse Inside, Michelle from Dream Home DIY, and Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous.

It was Linda's first time in a Hobby Lobby and we were all excited to join her. Allison and Michelle hosted a HL gift card giveaway at the restaurant, and the stars aligned so that Linda won. It was meant to be!

Anyway, I am so grateful to Allison and Michelle for taking the time to put this together. I had a ton of fun getting to know some awesome people in real life! Makes me want to host a get-together closer to home!

Go-To Pumpkin Update

2011-10-04T20:12:00.000-04:00

I'm just so excited about this that I can't take it!
I got some new suggestions for how to...spice up the T.P. Pumpkins.
1. My brother, Bret, suggested using cinnamon sticks for the stems to add a little scent to the decor. Brilliant!
2. A new follower, Janelle, decided to make some toilet paper pumpkins and I LOVE what she did.
She used scrap fabrics, her stems were made out of empty toilet paper rolls, and her leaves were made from ribbon rather than scrap fabric! I love that she added twine too. She even sent me some pictures!! Check it out while I go buy some twine to add to my pumpkins.

Guest Post at Everyday is a Celebration!

2011-10-03T14:17:00.002-04:00

Come on over to Everyday is a Celebration and see my tips for decorating around a Halloween Hater!

My Go-To Pumpkin Decor

2011-10-03T09:00:00.001-04:00

I love fall.
Winter is too cold which means my knee hurts all the time.
Spring allergies have me scratching my eyes out.
Summer gets too hot and mosquitoes treat me like a buffet.
Fall, better yet, Autumn is my favorite season.

That being said it probably comes as no surprise that I have an over abundance of autumnal decor.
I don't want to overwhelm you with all the cool stuff I have around right now, so I'll share just one of my favorites.

Toilet Paper Pumpkins.

That's right. You heard me. (Well, not technically since you're reading this...) You read me!

Here's what you need:
Toilet paper
A square of fabric roughly 14x14
A scrap of green fabric (mine are 2"x3.5")
Something brown (a scrap of a brown paper bag, a toilet paper roll, brown cardstock...)

Place the fabric right side down
Put the tp on the fabric

Pull a corner of the fabric up and tuck it into the tp roll.
(Here is where I stop and think, "Maybe I should have done this on the table so my legs and adorable socks wouldn't be making a cameo in these pictures.)

Repeat with all the corners
Tuck extra fabric until you think it looks pretty

Center your green scrap over the top and tuck it in part way, these are your leaves

Roll up your small piece of brown whatever and place it in the top as your stem

My favorite part of this project is the amount of space I need to store it when the season is over. I put the TP back in the linen closet and I am left with a few scraps of fabric and paper. Woo Hoo!

I like that I get to use those irresistible fall fabrics without having to sew anything!
This same idea can be used for apples in September, snowmen in January, don't get me started on Paper towels!

I hope you love this idea as much as I do!

This is in the Bag!

2011-09-16T16:07:00.000-04:00

Chance and I were lucky enough to be able to go to the Congressional Baseball Game. It is a game in which Democrat Congressmen play Republican Congressmen in a charity baseball game.

When we walked in all kinds of companies started handing us free merchandise (SWAG!)

C-SPAN (the channel on which you can watch what is happening on the floor of the House) gave us these messenger bags.

We're going on a vacation soon and I think the messenger bag is the fanny packs cooler, younger brother. So I really think these could come in handy. Sorry, C-SPAN, I don't really want to advertise for you! So I placed thick cardboard under the logo and used plain ol' masking tape around the edge.

I painted two coats of white acrylic paint over the logo to get a nice base. I mixed the white with a Textile Medium, which is just a liquid you can mix with acrylic paint to help it bond to fabric and become washable.Then I went crazy with aqua paint. I painted one whole box aqua and then part of the second box.

I decided to go with monograms. I just eyeballed it because I'm kinda lazy and I like immediate results. :)
I made mine a black cursive and Chance's a blue Arial type font.

When I took the tape off I saw that I had a little leakage. Not surprising really since I used masking tape...*hangs head in shame*

Anywho, I just touched up the edges with black.

Here's our end result! Maybe not show room perfect, but it was FREE! And it allowed us to carry stuff on our vacation without a purse or a heavy backpack or heaven forbid an actual fanny pack.

Great Big Thank You

2011-09-13T15:58:00.000-04:00

You might remember that I won a giveaway at eighteen25. Well, last week my beautiful purse arrived, and I absolutely LOVE it!! I wanted to get a picture with it, but I also wanted to look cute. Strangely, that took a while to happen! At any rate, we went at saw a 9/11 Memorial performance of the Mormon Choir of Washington D.C. As usual the Chanceman was taking loads of pictures. I went ahead and jumped into one since I had my hair done. I'm pretty happy with the result.

Thanks to Jamie, Jen, and Jodie for an amazing purse and the little rush of winning something! Check out their blog. It is one of the absolute BEST!

I remember...

2011-09-11T00:33:00.000-04:00

Ten years ago I was a senior in high school.

It was six days before my 18th birthday.

As I stopped at my locker to begin my day I peeked in my History teacher's classroom. I saw a fire in the World Trade Center.

I sat in my first period English class and watched the reporters fumble for information as the second tower was hit. I remember holding my classmate, Lindsey, as she cried.

Then she returned the favor as I burst into tears as the first tower fell.

Over the course of the next few hours, days, and years we learned what happened. We've worked to make sense of it. We got the people responsible.

And President Bush's words have come true, "This country will define our times, not be defined by them."

Here is a picture of my journal from that day. I started keeping it on the 9th. I have never been good a journaling. But I'll never forget the importance of my journaling from that day. I was at work on the 20th when President Bush gave a speech. I was so touched by the above quote that I wrote it on a napkin to insert in my journal later on.

I am so grateful for all the men and women who serve our country in the military, fire, police, and EMT departments. These people, and their families, are truly heroes.

Here are a few pictures of the mementos I have saved from that day.

I crack myself up

2011-09-09T22:57:00.000-04:00

So Chance worked as an assistant photographer at a wedding today. He had me go with him mostly because he wouldn't get there in time without using the HOV lane. :P

Anyway, I was sitting at a table chatting with guests when Chance came up and asked how I was and then gave me a kiss. After he walked away, I looked around at the other people at the table and said, "I don't know him..."

I got the best laugh from the whole group! Then one guy says, "You should pursue it. Looks like there could be potential."

I think I'll take his advice. :)

I've been Pinspired

2011-09-08T16:22:00.000-04:00

I saw this fun DIY menu board on Pinterest. It is from A Creative Momma.

She gives great, step-by-step instructions on how to create this for yourself. I was set on making one when I stumbled upon these on clearance ($4.00) at Target. Seriously, it might be the happiest place on Earth!

At any rate, I was able to buy a dry erase calendar and blank note board. They are both adhesive but re-positionable. The set also came with a marker and holder.

I couldn't decide which picture was less crappy. So you get with and without flash. :)

So thanks Creative Momma for opening my eyes even though I didn't use your tutorial.

Carrot Cake

2011-08-19T10:01:00.001-04:00

So Bryan's birthday was yesterday. I didn't have the right candles so he turned 30 again. At any rate, he and his beautiful wife Emilie just moved out here from Utah and they aren't quite settled in. So I took on the task of making Bryan's birthday cake.

When I asked what he wanted he surprised me by saying, "Carrot Cake."

Seriously?

Emilie said, "No one else likes it so this is the only time of year he has it."

Carrot Cake it is.

But I'm stubborn. I wanted other people to like it.

I bought a box mix as a back up plan, but then I went to the internet in search of a good recipe.

I was able to make this beauty thanks to a recipe that I found at Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy.

It was actually a hit. Even I liked it!

I have to tell you that I didn't use raisins. All the people who normally dislike carrot cake were so happy about the missing raisins! I don't like cooked raisins. Stay out of my cookies, cakes, and cinnamon rolls you grody little things! I'll take you straight out of the little red box or not at all!

I wanted to take pictures of the process but I didn't want to stop baking to get a photo op.

I also didn't want to risk getting my grubby hands on a camera. :)

I actually had fun sending full size carrots through the food processor.

Chance cut parchment paper for me. He was a huge help. He even did the annoying food processor dishes.

Another Day in Paradise

2011-08-15T08:53:00.000-04:00

So, as I have been bemoaning all summer long, it has been so difficult to get any crafting done around my house for the last few months. I have nearly been going through withdrawals. I was, however, able to make time and space to do a new door hanging.

I started with a door sign that I got on clearance at Target. I knew that they would be incredibly easy to revamp, but they sat next to my bed for about a month just waiting for inspiration to strike.

How much did I pay? YEAH!! $2.68!!

I covered it with a summery scrapbook paper that I previously used on my Summer Blocks.

I layered the second scrapbook paper at an angle to emulate sunshine. I was lucky that it already contained the sun burst pattern.

After that, I headed across the parking lot to TMJ's place and used her silhouette.

I cut out this adorable Palm tree and hammock set and the phrase, "Another Day in Paradise." (In case you don't know, my last name is Hammock. So we sort of love all things hammock related.)

I came home and used my Cricut tools to punch out all the intricate details that I cut with the Silhouette. Chance observed and photographed the Crafter in her natural habitat.

Finally I Mod Podged all the tiny little pieces of paper to the board. Once it was all dry I MPed it all once more to give it a nice finish.

I threaded a ribbon through the pre-existing holes and hung her on the door.

Have you done anything creative lately? Have you been in a slump like me? I'd love to hear about it!

Summer Time!

2011-07-27T12:38:00.000-04:00

Yes indeed. I got out the blocks again. I don't regret it one bit!

TMJ pinned this:

From A Diamond in the Stuff. It made me feel inspired again. I had literally gone to AC Moore (a craft store) and capitalized on a sale just a few days prior to this pin. I just happened to have purchased some cute, summery scrapbook paper. So when I saw this all I had to do was cut the paper and the letters. I only have 4 Cricut Cartridges so you'll start to recognize my font choices. This particular font was also used for Valentine's Day.

I grabbed these two buckets that I picked up at Target around Easter for $2 each. (I hate lining up so many prepositional phrases. It throws off my groove!)*

Anywho. I gave our beloved lowboy a summer flair. I attacked the top of the entertainment center too but that will have to wait for another post!

St. Patrick's Day Blocks

Valentine's Day Blocks

Introduction to the Blocks

*Because I am still a teacher at heart I will clarify the prepositional phrases.

I grabbed these two buckets that I picked up at Target around Easter for $2 each.

#1- at Target

#2- around Easter

#3- for $2 each

Healthy Living: In the Beginning

2011-07-22T18:50:00.001-04:00

Since Kelly posted about her weight loss journey I have been thinking about my own.
I am 5'2" and as of March 2010 I weighed 190lbs, I was creeping into a size 18W, and I looked like this:

Since my car accident in 2009 I have had fairly constant knee pain. In 2010 my knee hurt ALL THE TIME.
I didn't buy cute clothes because I never felt cute anyway.
I considered myself the "fat girl" in my group of friends.
I had been unemployed for about 7 months (mostly due to physical recovery from my accident.) I realized that all those years that I was working I told myself that I would work out if I were at home all the time. I felt ashamed that I had no job, no excuse, and no self-esteem.

I started a diet plan with my doctor and then I got into the gym. By the end of March I had lost 12 lbs.
In April I dropped 8 more.
So by the time this picture was taken I was down to 170.

I kept losing at a pace of 5-7 lbs a month until I had reached 140. A total loss of 50lbs!! Plus, I was between a size 8 and a 6. I started to LOVE shopping for clothes.

Then...winter hit. It got so cold. I didn't want to walk down to the gym. The temperature in the gym was so warm that I didn't know how to dress to get down there. Then...the holidays hit. I ate treats. I spent time with my friends and family. I still didn't go to the gym.

I signed up for the Susan G. Komen 5k in the hopes that the pressure would motivate me to train. It did, but it didn't. I still found excuses. I trained for just a week before the race. I finished it, in under an hour too, but man did my body resent me.

Now here I am, July of 2011. I have put 8-10 lbs back on (depends on the day). More than the weight gain that I see on the scale, I see it on my body. All my pretty new clothes are fitting snugly in all the wrong areas. I quickly found that I started labeling myself as "fat" again. Instead of being size 6-8 I am 8-10. I really thought that there would be no way that I would fall back into my old habits.

So, here I am blogging about it for the world. You might not ever know how hard it was for me to admit to the 190.

Now that I have admitted my shortcomings, here are the positive changes I have made:
1. I walked a lot more thanks to having family in town. Playing tourist is D.C. is a work out.
2. I have a ton more water. I have tried to cut back on the Coke.
3. I started a pin board in Pinterest called Weight Loss.

Linking up with: Happy Healthy Me