Expensive Art turned DIY

I think I can thank Pinterest for my desire to be more crafty and work on DIY projects. My most favorite project I have completed this far has to be my new canvass art in my living room. I have been wanting to get a big piece of art for the wall because we have tall ceilings, but everything I like is just way out of the price range. Pinterest came to the rescue and gave me a lot of inspiration:

Canvass Art- Not on the High Street

Better Homes and Gardens Canvass Art

Spunky Junky Shoebox Lid Art

I took the different ideas I found and made it my own. I went to Michaels and was able to get 7 squares of canvass 40% off and a book of scrap book paper 50% off; really in all I think my canvass art cost less than $15! Way cheaper than the $100 art you find in the store.

So, I took the blank canvass and began by painting the edges black. Then I covered the the canvass with modpodge (I absolutely love modpodge, you can do basically anything with it)! I took scrapbook paper and placed it over the modpodge covered canvass. I did a top coat of modpodge to secure the canvass and also give the art a textured, finished look. Have you made your own canvass wall art?

Voila! The finished result! I am very pleased with how it turned out! The colors and design look fabulous in our living room!

Healthy and Chocolate

While pinning the other day I came across this pin for raspberries stuffed with chocolate chips. I think the pin was for a holiday treat, but I decided to go ahead and make some for myself. The flavor from the raspberry mixed with the milk chocolate was phenomenal. I did not have any white chocolate on hand, but I am sure it would taste just as great!

Thanks to Saucy Sprinkles for this great idea; you can find the original post here. But, to put an image with the idea, here is a picture of how my raspberries turned out.

Doggie Date and Local Ice Cream

The Triangle has really been growing when it comes to the Food Truck Industry and I am absolutely thrilled. I was able to attend my first rodeo over Labor Day weekend and ate probably more than I needed. But, besides food trucks, Jake and I are always trying to find delicious local restaurants in contrast with the chain of restaurants that surround us in Brier Creek.

If you are near Pleasant Valley on Glenwood stop by Fresh Local Ice Cream. The ice cream is heavenly, the flavors are well thought out and full of the toppings/ candy. They also offer a doggie sundae, so of course it has become favorite place for us to take Apollo. Yummo!

6 Weeks and Counting

So, previously I posted about my goal to run a half-marathon and we are now 6 weeks away. I have always considered myself active; I even run sometimes for fun. But, not I am starting at the beginning and preparing my body, mentally and physically, for 13.1 miles in 6 weeks.

I found this great 8 week half-marathon training schedule on Pinterest, and I apologize but the source for the schedule is no longer available, but you can find the pin here.

Last week was the beginning of 7 weeks away, so yes I am technically starting this one week late...we will see what happens. Here is the schedule I used and I did make some modifications to fit my lifestyle. I run on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday is my day of rest...or I will run a short distance. Tuesday and Thursday's instead of biking I go to my Zumba class.  I absolutely love the classl my instructor is awesome; and, if you are in the Triangle area looking for a fun way to work out, I highly recommend checking out the classes! So, here we go, 6 weeks and counting...

For those sad...and happy moments

My last post was about my love for mac n cheese, I guess the one that follows should be my next favorite food- cookie dough! I was pinning and found this amazing recipe that I knew would come in handy! It was a quick eggless cookie dough that only made a small amount. You guessed it, the idea was not to make cookies, just eat the dough without feeling sick! I knew the pin would come in handy!

Jake and I had a disagreement...who even knows what for anymore. Isn't that the beauty of a healthy relationship? You argue, disagree and then you make up and don't even look back. Not once thinking about the past argument; just remembering why you are together in the first place, the love shared.

So, anyways this particular night, Jake had a project to work on, so that left me to sulk. Sulking until I remember this amazing (and quick) recipe! I made a quick bowl of the cookie dough and felt better in an instant. 

It's funny I used the dessert as a soothing treat, because a few weeks later, Jake and I were finishing dinner and wanted a sweet treat. Rather than go out and grab something I offered to make the cookie dough. It was so wonderful to share the bowl while we watch a movie on the couch together.

Not only does cookie dough help when sulking, but it is also a romantic food to share. Enjoy! You can get the recipe here at Bakers Fun Foods blog! 

Seriously Easy Mac n Cheese Pie

If you don't know me- I love mac n cheese, like absolutely love it. I am an adult and could still eat it for every meal, dessert, snacks, etc. My college roommates used to make fun of me because I would eat so much of it. I would eat it just because; I would eat it when I was sick; I would eat it as a hangover cure. There should be an award for loving mac n cheese; I know I would win.

My mom is the best and probably should get the credit for my devotion to the dish. She always knew how to make a special plate of mac n cheese while I was growing up. My favorite were the days when it were just my mom and I- she would always surprise me with the meal!

So a few years ago, she made this new mac dish for my sister and me. We immediately fell in love; made it all through college; and, I am still making it.

Easy Mac N Cheese Pie

Ingredients

- 1 cup of uncooked elbow pasta (I am sure your favorite pasta would be just as good)

- 2 cups shredded cheese (pick your favorite- I usually use sharp cheddar, but I am sure provolone or even a Mexican blend would be delicious!)

- 1/2 cup original bisquick*

- 1 1/2 cups milk (I use 2%)

- 2 eggs

* When I made this the other day I realized I was completely out of Bisquick. I googled a quick substitute and it turned out just as good! (1 cup bisquick = 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp veg oil)

1. Heat oven to 400 degree F. Grease pie plate (as you can see from the picture, I don't have a pie plate (Christmas idea?) so, I used a 8 x 8 glass dish). Place uncooked pasta in pie plate. Sprinkle with 1 3/4 cup of the cheese.

2. Stir remaining ingredients until blended. Pour over uncooked pasta into pie plate.

3. Bake 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Continue baking until the cheese is melted (~ 2min).

Yummo!

Checking off the List

Do you have a list? You know, "the" list. The list of things you want to do, hope to accomplish in the next 5 years? 3 years? 6 months? I do. I think everyone should. A list of goals is something to look forward to, something to try and achieve. I have two sets of list, I keep one for me personally, at home. And, every week I make a list at work. Nothing feels better, than going to leave on Friday from the office and have everything checked off the list!

One of those "things" on my personal list is to run a half marathon. This is something I have been saying I want to do for the past few years and have just never made myself do it. A couple months ago, I finally made myself register for Raleigh's City of Oaks coming up in November. I am very excited, yet anxious at the same time. My training has taken a slow pace, especially with the heat this summer had. But now, 7 weeks until the big day I have to get myself into gear. Part of this blog is to focus on my progress and to hopefully, motivate you!

I don't mean motivate every person to run 13.1 miles. I know that is not for everyone. I do hope to inspire you to set goals and complete them. And, by sharing my progress, I hope to do just that.

So, fingers crossed and cheers yelling- 7 weeks and counting!

Love is in the air...and you need to show it!

I absolutely adore Pinterest...you probably won't hear me say that enough! Some people, er Jake, may joke and say I spend too much time on it and not enough time doing the things I pin, but I just say he is impatient.

I came across this Pin one day and fell in love immediately! I apologize, but there was not a link attached to the image, so I am unable to give thanks where it is due.

So, the first image is the original Pin. I mean, how adorable, right?! I took the idea and made it my own by adding a double frame and a picture of my family. As you can see, sometimes we write silly sweet nothings, but often we write love notes back and forth. A quick reminder of why we love waking up to each other every day. 

How to brighten up dull paper!

Being a recent college graduate, I am very frugal with my spending...or I try to be. I would assume all of my "quick" trips to The Limited would beg to differ.

But the point is, I try to save money where I can. One place I found to save some money was with gift wrapping. Before I go any further, I have to put a disclaimer and share that I am a bright and colorful person. I did not even own a black dress until about a week ago!

With that being said, when it comes to gift wrapping I do what I can to save a few dollars. Often I buy boring solid colored papers.

Here are a few ways to make the package "sparkle"!

- Add a bunch of ribbon
- Add a picture
- Add decorative tape
- Layer, layer, layer!
- Draw a picture
- Use newspaper, a favorite magazine or a comic

This last one is my favorite because growing up my dad would always surprise us each with one gift wrapped in newspaper. It's those little things...

Easy to Make Key Holder

Lately I have been finding a ton of DIY key holders, but either I don't have the "stuff" to make it or I don't like they way they look. All I know was throwing our keys in the basket with all of the dog's things and random junk just wasn't cutting it. Everything was cluttered and getting lost!

I was cleaning the apartment this morning and walked past this awful picture frame I had on the wall. You know, the one that comes in that huge set that you just throw on the wall to put something up. It was long, awkward and had this awful white backdrop to surround the picture. My first thought was to use some scrapbook paper and give it a new background. But then I thought, I still wouldn't like how the pictures looked so small in such a large frame... and

voila! Instant, bright key holder! I used the old frame, leftover paint I had from a different project, pushpins and wooden letters. I absolutely love it! I still plan to add a border down the two sides of the middle section. I was thinking possibly buttons- what do you think? 

Here is another image of the entire entry way. I think it adds so much, before it was just the clock and a mess of clutter on the table. I absolutely love it and it really does transform the feel when you walk up the stairs!

Cake Batter Cookies

So, one day, as I was pinning I came across a pin for Cake Batter Cookies. Obviously as soon as I saw the word "batter" I knew I had to check it out. I am absolutely obsessed with anything that is ooey gooey, doughy, or a batter. Sometimes I think if I could eat the whole bowl of cookie dough instead of making cookies I would.

So, this particular day, I came across the Cake Batter recipe and saw just how easy it read. It barely took any ingredients, things I knew I already had and barely any time at all. The recipe, as delicious as it was, was taken from Cookin Cowgirl, so big thank you for the introduction. How delicious!

These are seriously some of the best, and softest cookies you will ever taste- and so easy! I made a first batch, just to test out the recipe. Well, I made so many that I knew I had to share or Jake and I would eat one too many. I took them to my office and my coworkers loved them! That weekend, I was heading to DC for my brother's birthday, so I thought, why not- surprise him with some cake cookies instead of a cake! I made three different types for my brother- yellow cake, chocolate cake and mix. The original recipe called for a box of yellow cake mix, but my second try I thought I was also do one with chocolate (and mix the two). The chocolate and mix were both delicious, but there is just something amazingly delightful about the yellow cake!

What are you waiting for? Don't take my word for it, make some yourself and share! You can even festive them up by adding different colored sprinkles for the upcoming holidays! If you do try, be sure to send a review over to Cookin Cowgirl and thank her for the recipe!

One of my Favorite Things

Do you still get excited when you check the mail and hope something has your name on it- something other an a bill or junk mail? 6 years ago, when I started my undergraduate years at Purdue my Grandma started writing me weekly letters. While this should have come as no surprise as she did it for my older siblings and cousins, I was still so excited when I received my first letter and the excitement has not stopped.

Now six years later, when I still go to check the mail, I get so excited anticipating that weekly letter.

As I grew older I started to understand the joy of a handwritten letter. One professor at Purdue even shared the importance a handwritten thank you was when it came to interviews. Since then, I make it a point to write letters and send cards. Sure, I still love my Facebook, email and text messages; but nothing is more exciting than opening the mailbox and seeing that someone took the time to send a thoughtful piece of mail.

Jake, the man in my life, this past year got me one of the best Valentine's gifts I have ever received. It was special for a number of reasons. One, because we don't often express our love through gifts and when he handed me my Valentine's gift, I knew it had to be special.

He knew my love for sending and receiving letters and he knew how important it was to send a put-together package. He bought me my very own stamp to seal my letters with. It is the most beautiful gift, embossed with a "K" and a silver owl on the end. I have different colors of wax to choose from, depending on the color of the envelope.

 It really is the best gift ever and all of the colors look so perfect with my paper tape. I often make some design first and then layer the stamp. I got a huge set of paper tape here.

Here is to the start of a great blog; an amazing boyfriend and many more letters to be written.