Few Of My Favorite Things

Feelin' Lucky

2013-05-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

I would like to finally introduce you to our little Lucky! Lucky is a Hen and you know what that means...

Fresh eggs!

These first few pictures were taken about 4 weeks ago and she has grown so much! My husband is building her chicken coop right now because she has outgrown the pin we had for her in the back bedroom to keep her away from the dog, cat and the other critters that live around here!

Lucky was given to Jon from an employee at work who raises chickens and he named her lucky. When she was just a few days old she was accidentally stepped on, hence the name :)

This picture was taken yesterday! She has gotten so big in just 4 weeks!

There you have it! I can't wait until we have fresh eggs to collect! Are you into gardening or raising chickens or cows? Our next project is a vegetable garden!

A Makeover with Annie Sloan

2013-03-28T03:24:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been inspired to repaint furniture, especially after I heard about Annie Sloan paint a year ago. I used it to paint the top of our kitchen table, which now I want to change again, but I will share more on that later. Since then, I have painted a dresser and vanity that belonged to my mother in law. I love the way it turned out!!

Before

After

The first time I used this paint, I used clear wax on top, but I wasn't too thrilled on how it looked so this time we painted two coats (Old Ochre), distressed it with sand paper and sealed it with Polyurethane. It's a little cheaper too;) Our bedroom is not complete, but it's getting there!

My next Annie Sloan makeover will be our dinning room table!

Until next time,

Things you should know about me if we are going to be friends...

2013-03-26T18:33:00.002-07:00

I keep the cabinet doors wide open in the kitchen, that’s all of them at times

I can’t sleep with the closet door open

I sleep with a really loud fan

I have burps that are known to register 9.5 on the Richter Scale

I hate making the bed

My purse is always messy

I still have a baby tooth

I leave the socks for my husband to fold

I’m really picky about my PB&J sandwich. {Peanut butter on both pieces of bread and jelly on one}

Great find at a thrift store makes my day

I love post it notes
Oh and I'm really bad about talking on the phone! I would much rather go for a coffee date

Hope this didn't scare you away!! What is something I should know about you?

2013-03-22T20:36:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone has a restful and enjoyable weekend!

-Kristen

Thrifty Treasure

2013-03-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you remember my obsession with Goodwill! My most recent was this side table for our living room. I got it for $12 which is much better than the one I found a few weeks ago for $35! I believe it was made for this corner.

Here are a few other thrifty finds you may have missed.
Thrifty Christmas Treasures
Thrifty Treasures:Coffee Bar
Thrifty Treasure

Until next time,

A Good Find

2013-03-20T03:15:00.000-07:00

Don't you love a good find, especially at a garage sale?! Well my husband wins the best good find award! He was out driving around the other day and stopped at a garage sale that was selling a gas grill for only $15! He even scored a full tank of propane! We have been shopping around for one for the back yard, but was wanting to wait until it got a little warmer out to purchase one and they are sort of on the expensive side. This came at the perfect time! :) Hope you all had a fabulous weekend and don't forget to stop at your neighborhood garage sales. It's that time of year!

Before he cleaned it up

It looks and works brand new!! :)

Until next time,

Life Through Instagram

2013-03-19T03:10:00.001-07:00

I love instagram! I enjoy looking at people's pictures and my favorites are the inspiring ones; ones that share a story, a story of friendship, family, a weight loss journey, a DIY challenge or even just a simple quote or bible verse that helps brighten my day. Here are just a few pictures I have shared on instagram lately.

I just started this book and I love it! I can't believe it has taken me this long to read it :)

My Sunday morning

I made this for valentines day!

Jon found his wedding ring!! It had been missing for a few months

LOVE

I have worn this scarf so much! It goes with everything!!

Me and Hope in Canton!

Day 1 of The Purpose Driven Life

Jon makes the most amazing omelets!

Me at work! :)

Follow @kris10_favoritethingsblog

Be true To Yourself

2013-03-18T03:21:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies,

I want to share something with you that has been heavy on my heart.

I came into this job completely being myself, because in the past I have been afraid to do just that. I died my hair red, which I absolutely love by the way, and I am not afraid to take out my morning devotional at my desk and read it before the day starts. I am friendly, I smile at everyone and I try and help anyone I can. Now, I am not saying I am a saint. There are days when I would rather be on the beach with a fruity drink with an umbrella or in my bed under the warm covers. Inside, I may not always have a good attitude, but I strive to show I do on the outside.

Now I have to be honest...none of this has been easy for me. I still shy away from a lot of people and I'm having a difficult time relating to some people at work. I don't know if it's because this is my first time out in the "real world", away from all of my college friends, or if I am just trying to find out who I am in this world of pressure and striving to live up to the expectations of today's world. Joyce Meyer says, "God wants us to fit into His plan, not to feel pressured trying to fit into everyone else's plan." I just continue to pray that I remain true to myself and accept my limitations without feeling the pressure of comparing or competing with others.

"Secure people who know God loves them and has a plan for them are not threatened by the abilities of others." Joyce Meyer

Hope you all have a wonderful day and take this scripture to heart just as much as I did and to not be afraid of being your own unique, beautiful self God made you to be.

Until next time,

Kristen

Blog friends, I need your help!

2013-03-02T09:25:00.001-08:00

Hello friends! Hope you are all having a great day! I'm sitting at Starbucks, catching up on blogs and cleaning up mine a bit, something I haven't done in awhile. So, I have a question for all you bloggers out there. I want to change the name of my blog to something that is more fitting. I came up with "Few of my favorite things" because I just couldn't think of anything else, but now, I have a few fun ideas. My question is, before I start changing everything around, will I lose content if I just go into blogger and change my URL? This may be a silly question, and something so simple, but I just don't want to lose anything. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

-Kristen

2013-02-18T03:07:00.001-08:00

Happy Monday!! Let's make this a good week! I came across this the other day and wanted to continue sharing it with you. Hope everyone has a great week!

High five for FRIDAY!!

2013-02-15T03:15:00.002-08:00

Linking up with Lauren from my grey desk blog for HIGH FIVE FOR FRIDAY!!

1. For Valentine's day my hubby bought us tickets to see Wicked!! It is my all time favorite musical and I'm always listening to the soundtrack!!

2. Jon made mickey mouse pancakes for breakfast last Sunday! :) He is so talented :)

3. Went to Happy Hour with some new friends from work.

4. Made some yummy Red Velvet cupcakes for Valentine's Day!

5. I have been at my job for a month and one week and I feel so blessed! I love what I do!!

Follow me on instagram @kris10_favoritethingsblog

I hope everyone had a great week! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Kristen

Day of L.O.V.E.

2013-02-14T03:27:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day Friends!

I hope you all have a great day and it is full of LOVE :)

I did a little DIY craft this year I found on pinterest (of course) ! The tree is made up of lyrics from the song Jon chose for our first dance at our wedding, "Someone like you" by Van Morrison. I'm working on a gallery wall in our hallway of wedding pictures, honeymoon pictures and some of our engagement pictures and I think this will be a perfect addition.

Follow me @kris_10favoritethingsblog

Frame: 60% 8x10 from Joann Fabrics (there was nothing wrong with it!!)

Scrapbook paper (already had)

Red /White bakers twine (already had)

I LOVE IT!! :)

Did you make a valentine's day craft?

And guess what??!! Jon got us tickets to see my favorite musical, WICKED!! He hasn't seen it yet, but he is in for a real treat!! He pretty much knows all the songs already because I'm always listening to it when I get ready in the morning. Is it April 23rd yet?!

Source: wonderfulgleefulandmagical.tumblr.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Mama's Enchiladas!

2013-02-12T03:21:00.000-08:00

We didn't have any leftovers the other night when I made this for my husband for the first time! My mom made this recipe up when my sister and I were younger and since tweaked it a little. Try it out with a little side salad and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

- 6 whole wheat tortillas
- 1 can refried beans (I use the fat free kind and it tastes just as good)
- 1 can of tomato sauce
- 3 tbsp. of mild picante sauce (I use about 4 tablespoons)
- 4 oz. (1/2 package) Mexican blend cheese
- Pam

Instructions:

Spray 7X11 casserole dish with Pam. Lay out tortillas and spoon beans into them until evenly distributed. Roll them and place seam side down, side by side in dish. Mix tomato sauce and Picante sauce in a separate bowl and pour over top. Sprinkle cheese over top.
Bake at 325 degrees for 30 min.

Enjoy!

Working Girl

2013-02-11T03:07:00.001-08:00

Whew! What a busy month! Some of you may know I started my job January 7th and I love it! I am not taking anything for granted after the year I have had and I feel truly blessed where God has lead me. I believe this job was waiting for me!

4:30AM sure does come early! The adjustment hasn't been too bad, well considering I'm in bed by 8:30 and the two cups of coffee in the morning aren't a bad idea. I catch the train at 6AM to get to work by 7:15 and I'm off at 4, but it takes me about an hour and a half to get home. I am known to fall asleep on the train. Yep, I am that girl whose head is bobbing up and down.

Now I need to figure out how to fit working out, cooking dinner and continue doing the things I love with this new schedule! How do people do it, especially those with kids?! It might take some time to get used to, but I couldn't be happier!

As you can see I have taken a break from blogging, but it's because I feel as if my life has taken a turn since I first started. I started blogging in hopes of finding some inspirational bloggers and I have surly succeeded and also to provide me an outlet as I was going through a really tough time this past year. You can read more about it here if you are new to my blog. :) I will continue to share my thrifty finds, recipes, inspirational quotes and some exciting adventures, but I may not get to blog every day like I would hope to do. I have missed many of the wonderful girls I have met through this blogging journey and I appreciate all the emails and texts I have received from my new friends. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me!

Hope y'all have a wonderful week!

journey.

2013-02-10T12:31:00.004-08:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Julia on Pinterest

Let's Help Motivate Each Other

2013-01-04T15:39:00.000-08:00

OK, so I have slacked off quit a bit the last several months as far as eating healthy and working out and the end result has led to not sleeping well and simply not feeling good. One of my goals for 2013 is to eat more healthy including eating out less, taking cokes completely out of my diet and working out! Sounds simple right?!

Eating healthy is not hard since my husband is such a clean eater, it's working out that gets me and the snacking between meals. You know, the processed yummy goodness of chips?! I know, it is as simple as "do not buy it"!! Now I'm buying more raw fruits and vegetables and nuts for my snacking moments. One of my favorite snacks is apple with a little peanut butter. :) As far as working out goes, I start out doing really good the first 2 or 3 months! I then start to dwindle down and before you know it, I am not a regular at the gym anymore!!

Within the last few months I have started following some inspirational women on Instagram whom have changed their life completely by eating right and working out! They post great workout circuits and pictures of their meals which has helped me get more ideas for lunch and dinner. They also share their personal journey by posting before and after pictures of themselves. That takes a lot of courage! They are all beautiful women and I love some of the inspirational quotes many of them share in addition to the other pictures.

Some of you may know Amanda from For Love of a Cupcake. I follow her on Instagram (forloveofacupcake) and she has started a challenge of eating clean for 30 days. That is the whole month of January!! To log your progress, you are to take pictures of your meals and use #forloveofacupcakejan I think it's great motivation knowing people are doing it with you!!

I started today so here are pictures I took of breakfast and lunch...

Follow me if you would like to join in on the fun and start motivating each other!! Follow @kris10_favoritethingsblog

You will find Amanda on my instagram account and the other girls who have inspired me!

I will also continue to log my journey on my blog as far as what I'm doing to get in shape and what I'm cooking. :) If you have any helpful tips, please share them with me!!

Hope you have a wonderful day!!

Kristen :)

Goals for 2013

2013-01-02T09:32:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year friends!! I love a fresh start to a new year! Here are what I like to call goals for the new year!! Do you have any goals? I'm sure you do!! I would love to know what they are!! :)

* Run a 5K, 10K and a half
* Become debt free (Pay off all student loans)
* Track a budget
* Stop worrying about what others think

Source: thirstmissions.org via Brittany Hope on Pinterest

*Stop worrying period!!
* Stop comparing myself to others

Source: backonpointe.tumblr.com via Kristen on Pinterest

* Volunteer in the community and at church
* Take a vacation with Jon
* Eat healthier (no cokes or fast food)
* Take my vitamins
* Buy a car
* Learn show to sew
*Stick to "She Reads Truth" plan
* Unplug for love (no phone or computer after 7pm)
* Read more books (I no longer have to read school related study material!!)
*Grow my blog

Best of 2012

2012-12-31T09:32:00.004-08:00

Here are just a few blessings of 2012!! Can't wait to see what happens in 2013!!
Happy New Year! :) :)

1. Was baptized by my husband on Easter Sunday
2. My husband and I became members of our church home
3. Got a tatoo
4. Was the maid of honor in my sisters wedding
5. Threw a surprise birthday party for my mother in law
6. Watched my sister graduate from college
7. Started singing with the praise team at church
8. Joined a bible study group on Wednesday nights
9. Hosted my first Thanksgiving dinner
10. Passed my Occupational Therapy License Exam
11. Saw the Radio City Rockettes
12. Visited Jon's Papa in Marshall, Texas
13. Gained a closer friendship with a special person
14. Started babysitting for two sweet families
15. Got my dream job at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas
16. Celebrated one year of marriage with my Husband :)

I hope everyone had an amazing year! Have fun tonight and be safe! :) Happy New Year Friends!

Here are a few of my favorite posts from 2012!!

* Fabric Button Earrings
* God is my Anchor
*Finding Comfort in Him
*Bucket List
*DIY Engagement Picture Coasters
*Confident Heart
*Facing the Giant
*My Secret Addiction
*Oreo Pops
*Sending Sunshine Your Way

2012-12-28T14:23:00.003-08:00

I'm a little late, but I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!! :)

Tip of the day

2012-12-22T10:42:00.001-08:00

Source: inspirationalfun.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Thrifty Christmas Treasures

2012-12-13T06:23:00.000-08:00

It's time for another Thrifty Treasure post! Hunting for Christmas treasures is by far my favorite when it comes to thrifting! Many of these treasures were found last year when I was in Florida for a period of time. Goodwill usually starts putting out their Christmas items right before Halloween, so get there fast and go often!

I love this LENOX ornament! I found this last week at Goodwill for only 50 cents! I couldn't believe it!! It looked like someone had picked it up and then put it back down! I, of course, snatched it up!

This is a "LI BIEN" Ornament I found at a thrift store in Florida. I bought it for $3! I have a few more of these ornaments on the tree that were given to me.

I found this beautiful sled at a Goodwill in Florida for only $3 and I just had to have it! There are so many things I can do with it! I think next year I'm going to wrap little presents to put inside!

I love milk glass vases and I have 7 now and neither of them were purchased for over a $1. I went to an antique store over the weekend and they were selling them for $6 a piece! I have them all over the house like this and some have flowers.

I had mentioned in my Christmas Mantel Reveal post that my mantel decor only cost me $13 dollars this year! Well the only thing I bought this year was actually the pre-lit garland you see on the mantel from Walmart.

This is one of my most favorites! My mom found this at a Thrift Store in Houston a few years ago.

These Christmas place settings were found at a Goodwill in Florida. The dishes didn't cost more than $2 a piece. In the picture I matched the salad plate to the dinner plate, but I also like mixing them up! I found the red place mats at the Dollar Store and the pre-lit garland came from Walmart!

When the Christmas plates aren't being used, I display them on my gold plate stand I found for $2.

These were shown to you in a previous thrifty treasure post and this is what I did with them....

The tree was a find from last year at Goodwill too!!

This is on my coffee/tea bar which is now temporarily my hot chocolate bar!! You can see my post about the other thrifty treasures in this photo here!!

Aren't these penguin salt and pepper shakers the cutest!! I found these at Goodwill along with the candle holder that matched the napkin holder I already had!!

There is a look at my Christmas Thrifty Treasures!! I hope you have a great day and good luck with your finds!! Remember, going often is the key!!

Kristen :)

Pinspiration: Christmas Wish List Edition

2012-12-12T06:41:00.001-08:00

Come October, my mom always asked us for our Christmas List growing up! She liked to get her shopping done early and I can't say I blame her! I'm sure I will be the same way when I have kids. Here is my pretend Christmas list, Pinterest edition!

Dooney and Bourke

Tory Burch

David Yurman

Corgi love

Kate Spade

This is beautiful! I wouldn't have a place to wear it though!

Source: stylemetv.com via Aki on Pinterest

Sailboat

Source: mybluecanoe.tumblr.com via Gina on Pinterest

Perfect!

Source: photoxyz.com via Indigo Blue on Pinterest

Christmas Mantel

2012-12-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

I can FINALLY say that my Christmas mantel is complete and I only spent $13! I have loans to pay off and I just couldn't see spending a lot on Christmas decorations this year. So...here it is...

I just made the flowers out of some scrap fabric I had and glued them on! I also used the same burlap garland I made for my Fall Mantel!!


Sorry about the upside down picture! I can't flip it for some reason!! Anyway, this is what the wreath used to look like that is above the fireplace! I believe it needed a makeover!


I flipped the red sign over and painted wooden letters I already had. I also ripped some things off I didn't like and added the 3 silver wrapped presents!

Don't forget to stop by Thursday to see all of my Christmas thrifty treasures! There might be some in these pics ;) Have a great day!

Generosity

2012-12-08T05:18:00.000-08:00

Source: spirituallythinking.blogspot.com via Kristen on Pinterest

High Five for Friday!

2012-12-07T04:29:00.001-08:00

Link up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk for High Five for Friday!

I had a pretty exciting week that went by way too fast!!

1. I had two interviews this week!! One of the hospitals I interviewed at has been a dream of mine to work at since I moved to Dallas! Eeek! I don't want to tell you in fear of jink-sing it! LOL, silly I know ;)

2. Had a few babysitting jobs this week! I love these little kids!

3. My husband and I spent all day Tuesday in Ft. Worth. We first went to observe an auction that was going on that we would like to partiicpate in the future and then walked around Sundance Square. We also walked around the Stockyards and ate at Cattleman's Steak House!

4. I received a "Congratulations" card in the mail this week from some of the Texas Blogger Gals! There was a meet up last weekend that I could not go to, but they all signed a card for me! It meant the world! :)

5. We finally got all the Christmas decorations out! I will have my Christmas Mantel Reveal sometime next week!! :) I love it and can't stop looking at it!

Hope all of you had a great week! Enjoy your weekend :)

-Kristen