Cookie Dough to Munch

Who doesn't love cookie dough? How can you resist the oooey gooey sweetness? Sometimes I crave it, like last night. But I would feel ridiculous making cookie dough just to eat, and of course there is the raw egg issue.

That is, it was an issue until I found this recipe on Fun Foods on a Budget and immediately got out my mixing bowls. And I'm still munching on it as I type this up! SO GOOD!

Eggless Cookie Dough
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup milk
1 cup flour
Pinch salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips

In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar and butter until smooth. Stir in vanilla and milk. Mix in the flour, salt, and chocolate chips until well blended. Chill in the refrigerator.

{I added a little white sugar because it wasn't sweet enough and used dark chocolate chips-my favorite!}

Ship's wheel

A while back I promised to show you how I painted the lil' ships wheel I hung in my bathroom.

(See my bathroom and hallway re-do reveal here)

Well first off, I found the wheel at the Goodwill for a buck, but I'm sure you could find them at a craft store.

It was unfinished and ugly, but I bought it anyway knowing a little paint would make it awesome.

 First I painted the entire thing white. Then I dry brushed some blue on in random places.

 Then I painted the whole thing a nice brown color.

 Finally, I took sandpaper to it. Gently rubbing in some places to reveal a little color, and rubbing harder on edges where naturally a wheel would get more use.

And there you have it. Quick, easy, awesome.

Etsy Finds for Le$$

I love Etsy. I discovered it my sophmore year of college and though I have never purchased anything from it (but want to and will eventually), through patience and tireless "thriftstoring," I have found many of my favorites for less!

By the way, all of these Etsy stores are great, I have linked them here in support!

Silver platter chalkboard

HerMajestysPug

Theirs: $35
Mine: $1, Thrift store plus some blackboard paint ($6 bottle)

Galvanized old Pail

AGlimpseFromthePast  

 

Theirs: $17
Mine: $1 Garage Sale, made it into a trash can by inserting a plastic can I already had.

Kraft Cheese crate

Theirs: $20
Mine: $4, Garage Sale, I use it to hold napkins and coffee accessories

Pretty Candle Sticks

ohsoshabby1

Theirs: $26
Mine: $6, thrift stores and garage sales, and still collecting :)

Pretty old frame

• sandraevertson

Theirs: $112- all wood and from France
Mine: $3, Goodwill, plaster. I hung a painted corkboard inside the frame.

Nine Pane Window

• vintagewindowpanes

Theirs: $75
Mine: $6, Bring Recycling in Eugene

Old Wood porch posts/columns

AnnaLeesAttic

Theirs: for one, $105
Mine: $6, found at Bring Recycling
I love how it adds a little texture to an otherwise blank corner in my little home.

Numbered Drawer Pulls

VintageSkye

Theirs: $7 each, professional and beautiful!
Mine: Still need to be crafted :) Found a bag full of white glass knobs for $4 at a ReStore.

Home Pillow

shannspishak 

 

Theirs: $38
Mine: freeish- I used on hand supplies to make my own, fabric, thread, sharpie. THeirs is much more professional and will hold up much better (this is one of those things I might buy) but hey I'm on a budget!

This is kitten's favorite pillow

Red Chalkboard

antique2chic

Theirs: $100
Mine: $1 Cabinet door found at ReStore, plus paint and leftover chalkboard paint!

Scrabble Pieces

Theirs:random 50 letters $7
Mine: I found 2 complete games for $3 at Value Village

Here are things I'm still looking out for/ may eventually buy from Etsy! Find them in my Favorites.

leather camera bag

Vintage White Kitchen Scale

Vintage camera

Happy Hunting!

Bright Happy Yellow Fall

Time for more Fun Etsy Finds!

Last week was getting a little grey and cold so I put together a collage/collection of bright happy things!

View this Treasury Collection Here.

Then the cold weather, the crisp smell in the mornings, and the yellowing leaves outside got me excited for fall! So i made a board on Pinterest of course! See these Pins Here.

Life is like...

"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get."         -Forrest Gump

Taken over a year ago on a family vacation. BTW, i LOVE shrimp!

I love that movie. (Forrest Gump is a must see if you haven't already!) There is so much to think about in one two hour film. Parenting, bullies, friendship, schooling, war, social fads, sports, relationships, death, new life and of course love.

When Jeff and I watched it tonight the quote above got me thinking- do really not know what you are going to get? Are our lives simply left to fate and the which chocolate piece we unknowingly pick out of the box?

There is some truth to fate/destiny I think, at least in our not knowing what the future holds. We can't with absolute certainty say that  in 5 years we'll own our own home, or even that tomorrow I will be in class. Of course I plan on being in class and I really do want to be there but things can happen-alarms don't go off, flat tires, traffic, accidents. Life certainly does hold the unexpected and it is silly of us to think that we can control our lives completely. 

It would also be silly to think that we are robots and have no control over our lives. We choose what we wear, where we go, what we say and how we react to life. Our decisions result in consequences, good or bad, and it is our choice which way to go.

It is said that the only things that are certain in life are death and taxes. I can add another thing to that list: God's love and perfect plan are certain. Even though I don't know what I'm gonna get, God does "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) God has a plan for my life. My choices will effect how I get to His final destination, but I'll get there because another thing I am absolutely certain of is my life will end in my entrance into heaven.

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." (Philippians 1:6)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

"Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and he will help you." (Psalm 37:5)

Hair Hair Everywhere

I love doing my hair, that is when I have time. Lately I haven't had much time or occasion to do up my hair. :(

No time to do this, or that...

Not even time for cute straightened hair...

And no time for curling irons...

I love ALL of the above looks and was able to do them with my hair...when I had the time.

Yes, "was," past tense.

i made a drastic decision... I never make crazy decisions for my hair, I've always played it nice and safe and long.


BEFORE my hair cut: (wet unstyled hair)

AND THEN...

you can kinda see the back in this one.

 I LOVE IT SOOOOO MUCH! Feels so nice and it will be so much easier to care for and style on busy mornings!

Here's my inspration photo:

What risks have you taken with your hair? Did you love it or hate it?

Advice from a Newlywed

It's been a little over a year since I said I do to my high school sweetheart. (Read our engagement story here. Read about our wedding by clicking on the "Our Wedding" tab above.) Planning my own wedding and also helping a few friends in the last year has given me some insights I thought I should share. I don't claim to know everything, but here are some things I have learned.

 1. Don't freak out in the first week or two about planning. Your engaged! Enjoy it! Just think about the big picture for a while and enjoy the happy butterflies!

2. Get a good planning book (and/or get a wedding planner if your budget allows)

3. One of the first things you should figure out is your budget.

4. Another thing is to decide first what is most important to you, such as photography, flowers, your dress, etc, and put those as top priority in your budget. Make a sort of priority list.

5. Thrift stores and online sites like Ruffled for decorating! Then you can spend more on the things at the top of your list.

6. Ask for help! Don't be shy. Family, friends, church family, they all love you and would probably love to help you! Make use of your bridesmaids (nicely of course, don't go all bridezilla on them), set up invitation making parties and provide dinner. Make it a fun girlfriend date! Many hands make light work, food brings people to the table, and laughter drives away stress.

7. Don't overload your fiance. Some guys like to be more involved than others, and most don't want to here all the minuet of who, what, when and the color of the this or that. Don't get me wrong, he'll want to love and support you and hear about what you are excited about, but he's going to be your husband not your girlfriend-don't annoyingly gush about everything to him! (I hope i don't sound awful, guys are just different then girls.)

8. Do make use of your fiance. Give him something to work on and be in charge of. My now-husband loves music so I put him in charge of choosing the ceremony and reception music. He also helped with his side of the family's invite list and with some of the craft projects-like addressing the invitations.

9. Remember that compromise is okay. Everyone says it's your big day, and it is! But we often forget that it is also our parent's big day as well. They are giving away their precious baby. This is as much a milestone for them as for you-and someday you will mark the same one in your life. So no matter how frustrating your mother/mother-in-law's wishes are, be patient and remember that they love you. At the same time, don't give them everything they want and sacrifice your wishes. Compromise! Sit down and have a good long heart to heart. It can only bring you closer in the end to be open with each other.
(Disclaimer-i actually didn't have this problem! Thank goodness! But i have seen it happen!)

10.  Find a pastor to do premarital counseling. I realize that you're in love and everything seems perfect and "counseling is for people with problems." I get that. My pastor called it premarital discipleship. Really it is just an older couple give you both advice for marriage, to build a happy successful life together. These were some of the best memories I have of our engagement, getting to know the Trammell's, Jeff and I discussing what we'd learned and growing deeper in our relationship.

11. YOUR ENGAGED! Remember ever minute! Journal it, take pictures, enjoy! This was one of the best times of my life and some times I miss it-one always misses good memories- of course I love being married much much more than being engaged!