Raise Your Hand...

...if you are adicted to Pinterest!

GUILTY!

I'm over 3500 pins and very few of them have I actually tried. Yes, many of them are for future reference, but really, a craft board with 237 pins that haven't been tried? LAME.

I'm sure there are more of you out there that need less time Pining and more time DOING!

So here is my challenge to you (and me) for the month of September:

Try AT LEAST one thing off of your Pinterest every week.

AND

Spend half of the time you normally spend Pinning doing something from Pintrest! This could be a craft, a workout, a recipe- the options are a endless! (if you decide to workout, think of the weight you could loose and the muscle you could build!)

Here are a few of the first Pins from my boards I'm going to do:

Give my self a facial!

 

  Make These for the Bathroom!

 

Make a date ideas jar and pick one!

(color coded for $$$ and planning)

Decorate for Fall 

(maybe toward the end of September when the warm weather is over)

I'm sure I'll do more things in September and I'll make sure to share all my Pinterest inspired activities with you! Just make sure to share yours with me too! Post to my Facebook or here in comments!

My Little Abode

I finally took pictures of our apartment for you all to see (except the bedroom).  I've already made changes and additions since these were taken so stay tuned for before and after shots! I think my pictures from when we moved in are on the other computer, I'll try to remember to add those as well!

Living room/office

Yes these photos were taken in July, I'm sorry to take so long to put them up!

little kitchen

dining nook and "pantry"

hallway

tiny bathroom

Who doesn't Love LOVE?

I'm at that age where everytime I get on Facebook someone new has new bling- its seems like EVERYONE is getting engaged!

And I LOVE IT!!!

I got to chat with two of my newly engaged girlfriends, Kaitlin and Jenna. Look how happy they are!

Kaitlin & Sam

Jenna and Benjamin

Aren't they precious? Both couples are getting married next summer and said they wanted help planning! YAYAYAYAYAY! I love LOVE!  

Kaitlin and Jenna, I'm SO honored that you would want my help! I think you both are fantastic and I can't wait to toss around ideas, make crafts together and giggle and laugh! Enjoy EVERY moment of your engagement- it only happens once!

I never get tired of weddings, or hearing love stories, or helping brides fulfill their dreams! {note to self- maybe you need to be a wedding planner?} Almost as soon as I got back from my own honeymoon over a year ago I started a board on Pinterest called "Wedding Hangover," I wanted to do it all again! Here are some more ideas from my board, maybe they'll inspire you Kaitlin and Jenna!

Oh, but first some advice! Don't get bogged down yet with details and money worries, dream big! Decide on a theme, what is most important to you (dress, pictures, a certain type of flower, etc.) just think of the big picture. Often big dreams can turn into reality with a little DIY magic! So go ahead and DREAM!

great angle for first kiss pic, you can see everyone's reactions!

photobooth  idea! easy to personalize with old wedding pictures from family members on the wall!

"game day sweats" for getting ready :)

confetti in the programs to throw when walk back down the aisle or at the "getaway!"

easy photobooth

another fun photobooth  backdrop!

 

fun props! or collect your own from your childhood dress up boxes!

Their Junk is My Treasure

Today my sweet friend Katt and I drove around Salem with Iced Dutch Bros drinks in hand and eyes peeled for garage sale signs. We had so much fun chatting and laughing and finding AMAZING DEALS together.

Katt was specifically looking for a table, chairs and a shelf for her townhouse. We found her an oak table and three chairs for $10 in fantastic condition! And a solid book self in need of paint or a cute curtain for $5! BAM! She got a bunch of other cute stuff too: shirt, pottery barn like vase, candle holder, art work, etc.

I didn't really have anything specific in mind but went out with a smaller amount of cash in hand and remembering the tinyness of our apartment to keep my self in check!

Here's what I got today (a few are from yesterday):

Books: $2.50 (the yellow Little House books were free! Mom use to read them to us. Some are missing and they have been well loved but that make me like them more)
Teal/green cabinet: $10 the most expensive item, i haggled her down from $15.
Mosaic Candle holders: a dollar a piece
Two Candle sticks: $3
Owl Figures: $1
Blue Sign: $2. Sticker on the back said $19 from craft warehouse! Bwahhahahahaha
fishing weight: $1
Tin bucket: $1
Red cast iron Christmas tree stand: $3!!!
below: chandelier: $5!

Oh, and if you're wondering about that fabulous old window in the back ground, I got that for $6 a few weeks ago at a recycling center!

I can't wait to play with all my treasures and show you all what I did with them!

So maybe you are wondering what my "thrifting tricks are..."

-First, have an idea or list in your head of things you want or like to collect and what you would pay for it

-have a reasonable idea of what can fit into your home and before you buy have an idea of what you are going to do with it! 

-Haggle, within reason of course. The seller does want to make some dough and so would you!

-Go often. when I'm looking for something in particular I stop buy the nearby Goodwill once or twice a week.

-BE PATIENT! if it's more than what you wanted to pay for it,DON'T buy it! Wait for a better deal to come along. I waited about a year before I found my Papasan chair in good condition and in my praice range. Of course every once and a while something perfect comes around just when you want it, like my brand new espresso machine I found at the Goodwill for $15!

-The whole point of thrifting and going garage sale-ing is to SAVE money! So don't go out and buy worthless stuff that'll end up in your garage sale next summer or spend more than you budgeted!

Feel free to comment below with any questions!

Happy Hunting!

All Done...Kinda

I lost.
I lost the Biggest Loser.
That sounds so lame...

BUT I still lost 6.2 pounds! Gotta stay positive!

Oh, and by the way that "Military diet" I posted about earlier didn't work for me. I did have to subsitute a few little things so I guess my trial wasn't a fair trial but when I hadn't lost any weight after two days of eatting VERY little (though it was healthy) I decided to quit. Maybe I'll give it another go around sometime when I can follow it to the T.

Of course I'm not to my goal weight yet so I'm going to continue working hard! My goal is to be at 160 when classes start next week on Wednesday! Thank you all for being so encouraging!

In Other News...

Classes start up for me, like I said earlier, next week. That means SCHOOL SUPPLIES SHOPPING! One of my favorite things!

Here's what I bought at Walmart this year...

 -Pink Planner (actually from Target!)
-Grey 1 1/2 in three ring binder
-6 fantastic folders to hold handouts from class and to use as dividers
-Sharpie pens in fun colors: Coral, Turquoise, Lime and Pink!
-Simple College Ruled Notebook- 97 cents! Bam!
- And of course my favorite Ticonderoga pencils in classic yellow

Does anything look out of place in the picture above?

Yep, you got it. Boring blue notebook with no fun pattern!

Here's how I fixed that problem!

 I love making collages!It require little to no artistic skill and is so fun and relaxing! It is a favorite activity of mine when babysitting, chillling with girlfriends or just watching a movie by my self. :)

 I have A LOT of magazines laying about so last night I turned on Criminal Minds and snipped away. 

Here's what to do:
-Gather or buy (or just ask friend or neighbors if they have unwanted magazines) Magazines with fun graphics and words.
-Arrange the pieces as you go, but don't glue them down until you
are happy with how it looks! 
-Cover the whole thing with Modge Podge or strips of clear packaging tape to secure your masterpiece against bumps in your back pack!
-No one else is going to have the same notebook as you! Great for those finicky teenage girls (I was one once upon a time)

Do you have a favorite school supply item?


 

Weather: Guest Post

So I know this fantastic artist named Deanna. She loves her children deeply, and she has lots of kids because she seems to "adopt" every kid who comes through youth group. She is capable of such love because of her faith and love in Jesus Christ. She is artistic, loving, caring, wise, very funny, way cooler then me... oh and she happens to be my MOM! No worries, I'm not biased, everything I say about her is true and can be backed up by any of her other "kids."

Today's post comes from her blog An Artist Currently Known as Starving. One thing I LOVE LOVE LOVE about her blog is that she posts pictures of her art work along with an explanation of what she was thinking and meaning when she created it. Every piece of art comes with a touching lesson, and occasionally a silly story about her own children too :) Click HERE to read about her version of "Small Talk." This subject is very near and dear to me and something I've carried into my own life. Maybe you will too!

READ IT NOW!

Original Art Work by Deanna

Paper Love

I LOVE paper.

No really, it's kinda weird. I could totally spend hours browsing through scrapbook paper at the craft store. 

I also can't resist a blank piece of paper.

Be it lined, colored or blank.

Something must fill its lovely emptiness!

I love journals (and writing in them) and I wuold buy a new one every time I went to the store if I could.

Maybe I should open a coffee/book/art shop???

I just love paper!

Naturally I have found and fallen in love with pleanty of paper things on Etsy and Pinterest and I thought I would share!

(clink the linked words above for more of my favs!)  

purplecactusdesign 

 

 

wallenvyart

fantastic business/calling cards

must give this card to someone!

this wall is covered in 3x5 cards with favorite verses on them! (Guest book idea maybe?)

I must have this journal!  here

BesideTheWillowTree

That is just a small sample of my love for paper. Hope you see some thing you like and therefore don't think I'm entirely crazy!

What do you love like I love paper?

10 Pounds in 3 days? hmmm...

As I was talking about in an earlier blog, this is my last week of the Biggest Loser challenge at work and I wanted to really work hard this week, not just physically but also with my food. I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do but I've decided to try this so-called "Military Diet" where supposedly you can lose 10 pounds in 3 days. Sounds iffy, right?

Well after looking it over I decided to try it. The food is healthy and balanced and I figured if I started feeling sick/weird/whatever I can eat more. I'm a very healthy person so there isn't really any risk in this that I can think of besides the chance of me getting hangery!

Here it is:

DAY 1: Breakfast--1/2 Grapefruit, 1 Slice Toast, 2 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter, and Coffee or Tea
Lunch--1/2 Cup of Tuna, 1 Slice of Toast, and Coffee or Tea
Dinner--2 Slices of any type meat (About 3 ounces) 1 Cup of Green Beans, 1/2 Banana, 1 Small Apple, and 1 Cup of Vanilla Ice Cream (YUM)!!!
Tip to Try: Warm the apple and/or banana and eat them over the ice cream. Delicious!

DAY 2:
Breakfast--1 egg, 1 Slice of Toast, and 1/2 Banana
Lunch--1 Cup of Cottage Cheese (Or 1 Slice of Cheddar Cheese, 1 Hard Boiled Egg, and 5 Saltine Crackers
Dinner--2 Hot Dogs, (no buns), 1 Cup of Broccoli, 1/2 Cup of Carrots, 1/2 Banana, and 1/2 Cup of Vanilla Ice Cream

DAY 3:
Breakfast--5 Saltine Crackers, 1 Slice of Cheddar Cheese, and 1 Small Apple
Lunch-1 Hard-Boiled Egg, and 1 Slice of Toast
Dinner--1 Cup of Tuna, 1/2 of a Banana, and 1 Cup of Vanilla Ice Cream

One thing I love about this is I get to have (a small amount!) of ice cream every day! That sure helps with the cravings!

I started this diet today and was surprised that I wasn't very hungry at all today. Foods High in protein (peanut butter, tuna) help keep you full longer.

I'm heading out on a one night camping/boating trip with my family tonight so it will be a test to my self-control with s'mores roasting over the campfire but I must prevail!!! I must win!!!

I'll update you all on how this goes and if it really works- hard to believe everything you see on the internet after all!

Oh, and just so you know, I am still working out while on this diet. Today I rode my bike for  about an hour and am starting to feel hungry. I last ate right before work at noon and I haven't had all of my tuna, toast and coffee yet!

Some inspiration for you and me on our quest for a healthy life:

And just for giggles...