I'm Back!

After a LONG 5 months, I finally have "enough time" to begin posting again.

Come back soon to see what I've been up to!

I'll post baby pics, cooking pics, crafty pics, misc. pics, and other random fun-ness.

Ahh. So excited!

Twine jars!

So I always seem to find these great ideas for decorating/crafts late at night. But, instead of putting them on my to do list, I get out all of my stuff and do it right then.... Crazy, I know... SO- last night, I found these SUPER cute ideas on how to recycle glass jars old and new!

Find the inspiration to this project and a TON more good stuff here . I love her stuff!

So, go get your jars (or start saving those spaghetti sauce, jams, jellys and pickle jars) and join in!

These jars sit in my bathroom on the back of the toilet. Boring? Yes. But now, I love looking at my toilet. Ha.

 

 

BEFORE. See? Boring!

So to jazz them up a bit, all I did was take some binding twine (or jute) put a dab of hot glue on the bottom of the lip of the jar and started winding around. The downside of doing super awesome crafty things late at night is that....sometimes I forget to take pictures... Sorry! Sooo... This is how it looks after the winding.

Put another dab of hot glue to hold the end in place.

After the initial binding is done, I wanted to add a little something to pull it all together. I swirled a piece of twine together and made this 'rosette'.

.

Glue it in place over the seam of where the twine ends were on the lip of the jar.

I didn't really like how you ended up with this ugly hole in the middle and could see the glue. Solution? Knot! Just tie a small knot into a separate piece of twine, cut to size, put a dab of glue in the center of your swirl and place knot!

So that's it! So super easy! I love these jars now! (And so does my husband!) What's greater, is that it didn't cost me a thing. I had all of those things at home already. If you don't have twine, try ribbon, yarn or some sort of recycled clothing item. t shirts?? Let me know what you do!

AFTER. Not boring!! Yay!

Happy Crafting!

Homemade Granola!

So- a couple weeks ago, I realized that I didn't want to have to buy much of anything anymore. 

Especially if I could make it myself! Example: jewelry, food, clothes, accessories, decorations... you get the point... 

My favorite breakfast cereal was no exception, so I started searching and found this GREAT recipe! 

Thank you to my friend Tracy for letting me re-post her amazing creation!! 

So here we go. Homemade Granola. (No High Fructose Corn Syrup- Bleck!)

Ingredients: 

• 4 cups Quick cooking oats
• 1/4 cup Flax seed (ground, OR you can grind the whole seeds yourself with a hammer. Just kidding- use a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle. :) 
• 1/2 cup Sliced Almonds
• 1/2 cup Pecans (chopped) I used store bought pieces.
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (I used shredded)
• 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• pinch of Salt

• 1/4 cup Honey
• 1/3 cup Vegetable or Canola Oil 
• 1/2 cup Brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

*Next time I make this, I am going to add dried fruit.

Put all the dry ingredients (first section) in a large bowl and mix it really well.

Put all the 'wet' ingredients (second section) into a small pot, except for the vanilla. 

Stir while you bring to a boil. 

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. 

Pour mixture over the dry ingredients and Stir like crazy!

(keep it in the bowl, but I mean stir it really well...) 

Try not to eat yet. :)

Cover a pan (I used a cookie sheet with edges) with parchment paper.

Bake @325 F for 20-25 minutes. I stirred mine about halfway through baking to make sure it didn't burn. After it is cooled on the pan, store in an air tight container in refrigerator. 

I like mine just like cereal- in a bowl with milk, and topped with fresh fruit. 

(Raspberries, bananas or strawberries are good) 

 Mark likes his on top of vanilla yogurt- parfait style. :) 

Either way, ENJOY!

Beading

These are some of the earrings I've done recently. I got hooked on beading last summer and I love it! I love being able to create a look based on something I see potential in!

33- Week Maternity Photo Shoot

 Photos courtesy of my amazingly talented husband!

The Adventure of 'Firsts'

Seeing as though this is my first post on the new blog, I figured it is rather fitting to observe other 'firsts' also. 'Firsts' can sometimes be intimidating, exciting, exhilarating, nerve wracking, mind blowing, etc... I'm sure every one of you could come up with a word that describes a 'first' best for you. What's the first word that comes to your mind when you think of 'firsts'?

My word is adventure.

The top 3 definitions of "adventure" as found on dictionary.com are as follows:

ad·ven·ture  /ædˈvɛntʃər/ Show Spelled 

(noun)

1.an exciting or very unusual experience.

2.participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.

3.a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.

As you can see, adventure can bring along a variety of different emotions.

Here are some firsts that I have experienced over the past couple of years or so... Enjoy :)

On December 21, 2008, I was proposed to for the first time. (and last =) )

On August 29, 2009, I married that boy that proposed. He was the first and only boy I dated.

On August 31, 2009, I made my first meal for my husband. I don't remember what it was. But it doesn't matter. =)

On September 9th (or so), 2009, my now husband and I moved away to New York. That marked the first time ever living outside of Michigan.

Also in September, we wrote out our first ever rent check, I got my first waitressing job,went to my first Bible school class, and decorated my first apartment.

On October 2, 2009 Mark (my wonderful husband) celebrated his birthday for the first time being married! I made spaghetti, Mark's favorite meal. =)

On Thanksgiving Day, 2009 we celebrated with some other couples (mostly newlywed). This was the first time being away from our families on a major holiday. Also in November, I turned 20. For the first time. ha. =)

On December 11th, 2009 Mark and I set up our first Christmas tree, complete with our first ornaments. =) (Last week, we found the tape that we had recorded it on and watched it for the first time. So many memories)

2010 is kind of vague in parts... But in summary...

I hosted Mark and my parents in OUR home for the first time. Hosted my first birthday party. Made my first semi-decent birthday cake. (I am hooked now) Went to New York City for the first time. Evangelized on the streets. Went to Martha's Dandee Creme! (best. soft serve. ever!) Worked at a summer camp. Taught 4 and 5 year olds. Loved it =). Celebrated our first wedding anniversary! Went on my first road trip just with Mark. Flew home for the weekend to go to some really good friends' wedding! Found out we are expecting our first child (May 2011)!!! Had my first ultrasound. Made my first homemade dinner rolls. Played my first Settlers of Catan game. (also hooked in this area...) Hit our first deer. Got PAID to hit the deer... long story... Decided our first baby's name will be Carter Mark after his daddy. =) Went to Babies R Us for the first time for myself. Started a regular exercise program.

There are so many more things.

See? If you really stop and think about it, you've done at least this extensive of a list of firsts. Quite possibly- MORE!

Experiencing firsts give us an opportunity. An opportunity to take each first with a positive attitude, view it as a challenge, and pray that God will guide and direct throughout. Which He will. He always does.

I view firsts as an adventure because for me, they've never occurred before! The biggest first for Mark and I most recently is expecting our first child. This is about the biggest adventure ever, only 2nd to getting married! I find myself experiencing all types of emotions quite often. Fear, Anxiousness, Joy, Relief, Worry, Trust, Trepidation, Love etc...

But no matter the emotions I feel, I know that someone even bigger than me has a clear mind and the ability to lead and guide my emotional being to be a great wife and mom. God is the one in whom I trust daily for constant leading.

My purpose in creating this blog is just to share my life with you. It's not always exciting, but it's always an adventure.