If Music Be the Food of Love, Play on!

As promised, I am researching Emergency Preparedness today. As I do that, I am listening to a playlist that I created. I sort of felt like sharing it. Here are a couple of my current play lists:

What I am listening to right now! Literally.

My trusty iPod. 

Coldplaylist: (Made up strictly of Coldplay, The Script, and One Republic)


Coldplay: 
Paradise (IN LOVE WITH THIS SONG!!! It's my anthem right now.)
The Scientist
Viva la Vida
Fix You

The Script:
The Man Who Can't Be Moved
Breakeven
Nothing

One Republic:
All This Time
Stop and Stare
Good Life
Secrets
Marchin' On
Passenger

I recently bought the entire One Republic album Waking Up. I love them!


Work Out: (Apparently I'm some sort of bad-a at the gym because some of these have questionable lyrics. I have weaned out the cussing though. Oh and Black Eyed Peas have tons of swearing if you can't find the radio edits!)

Wake Up Call- Maroon 5
California Gurls- Katy Perry (Hate the deliberate misspelling)
Let's Get it Started- Black Eyed Peas
Single- Natasha Bedingfield
If You're Gonna- Natasha Bedingfield
Made for You- One Republic
Cooler Than Me- Mike Posner
Party Rock Anthem-LMFAO
Millennium- Robbie Williams
Sexy Back- Justin Timberlake
Everybody Loves Me- One Republic
Animal- Neon Trees
Dynamite- Taio Cruz
Let It Rock- Kevin Rudolf (I got the clean version on iTunes)
Yeah!- Usher (Try to get radio edit without the Ludacris solo.)
Good Girls Go Bad- Cobra Starship
I Like It- Enrique Iglesias (I should hate this song...)
Won't Go Home Without You- Maroon 5

What are you listening to? Any good work out jams that I need?

A Fresh Start for 2012

Hi All!

So, here we are. It's 2012. I can't believe it. I graduated high school 10 years ago. Really? Sometimes I can't believe it has been that long other times, when I reflect on all that has changed in my life, I can't believe it has only been that long.

My BFF, Lindsey, and I at a football game Senior year

Anyway, next month will mark the one year anniversary of this blog. I'm trying to get excited about the milestone but I am still beating myself up over how neglected this blog was over the last six months. I have struggled with anxiety/depression for a number of years but never more so than the last couple of years. Watching my blogs (this one and my family blog) get completely ignored for six months was the first concrete reminder that my personal struggles with this demon aren't totally behind me.

However, with the dawn of the new year I feel a sense of new beginnings. I have a clean slate. I didn't really make any huge resolutions. You know, the kind that you will inevitably shirk off, struggle with, or fail at? I don't need to disappoint myself. I simply resolved to take care of myself.

For me, taking care of myself means doing things that make me feel good about myself and my life. In that spirit I:

• Started working out regularly again
• Went at got a hair cut and color that make me feel pretty. I didn't even wait for a groupon or go to the cheapest place!! I went someplace I really like! 
• I made another hair appointment for 8 weeks from now. 
• Didn't work out yesterday and I didn't beat myself up over it.
• Set a goal for crafting/blogging 

What is that goal you ask? Great question. 

I have complained to you all before, either on here or on our Facebook page, that sometimes I feel like stuff is taking over my apartment. Just stuff! It's everywhere! Obviously, my first instinct is to complain to Chance that we need a bigger apartment, which isn't a lie. However, I had another solution come to mind. 

I am going to make 2012 the year of finishing projects. My goal is to complete crafts, decor, blankets, gifts, etc all with supplies I already own. Clearly, the caveat being that I am allowed to buy various notions as the NEED arises. I hope you all don't judge me by all the crap I have accumulated. :) 

At any rate, I am so grateful that you are still here, still reading, still crafting with me. This world of craft blogs is a big one. I've been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ideas. (Thank goodness for Pinterest, am I right?) So thanks for choosing to share the journey with me. 

I have some fun stuff coming up.

Tomorrow I am researching Emergency Preparedness. I plan to drop some knowledge on you after that process completes.

Right now, I am logging off to go fabric shopping with a friend. She is pregnant and working to make a baby quilt. Beer me the strength not to buy anything! 

Five points if you get my TV reference. 

Christmas Gifts (for friends and neighbors)

I realize that I am a little late in sharing Christmas gift ideas, but I've been told it's "better late than never." So here goes!

This year, I used the power of the internet to make some simple, but yummy gifts for some of our friends and neighbors. 

I found this recipe at Me and My Pink Mixer for Cinnamon Honey Butter. 

I already owned the glass jars and I was lucky because butter went on sale at my local supermarket. 

My supplies: 

Small Glass Jars

Scrapbook paper

Ribbon

Card Stock

Cute little snowmen gift bags

I downloaded this adorable printable from the girls at eighteen25. I'll never be able to pay them back for all the amazing work they do. I also printed out a copy of the recipe that I glued to the back of the note. That way, the recipient a) knows what she is about to eat and b) can replicate it in the future. 

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Wonderful New Year. Thank you for all of your support and kindness in 2011. I plan to be back in full blogging mode in 2012. (We may even be having a giveaway to celebrate 50 followers...)

Thanksgiving Decor

As I promised Chance, the Halloween decor was put away before he got home from work on November 1st. I have a stockpile of Thanksgiving stuff. I didn't need to make or buy anything.

I continued the use of my Toilet Paper Pumpkins. Though, if I don't make a trip to the store pretty soon one of them make get sent back to the bathroom. :)

You'll also notice the Pilgrims and Native American Indians that I have on either side of the entertainment center.

I have been searching for this lovely couple for YEARS!! Finally, in mid-September I found them waiting for me at HomeGoods. Aren't they beautiful?!

I got my amazing Pilgrims at THE Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts. We went there for Thanksgiving in 2009. I loved it.

A couple of years ago I got to make this Give Thanks display at a church activity. I LOVE it.
I got the male N.A. Indian at HomeGoods in October of last year, but his wife was no where to be found. :( I waited too long.

I got the Harvest sign at (drum roll please) HomeGoods on clearance after Thanksgiving last year. The delightful Pilgrim couple was a gift from TMJ and Tervlon.

Well Hello...

I know I have been completely blog negligent as of late. I'm kind of in a rut. I don't feel like I have done anything worth blogging about.

Well, that isn't totally true. I am currently working on the most time consuming Christmas gift ever. In fact, I have already spent over 40 hours on it. I'm still only about 30% done. But, alas, my darling mother-in-law follows this blog, so I can't divulge any of it. Rest assured though, you'll see it eventually. Chance takes a picture of it every night before we go to bed so we can chronicle that day's progress. Keep in mind that I have other projects to work on (like a special request from my Mom...) so this gift may end up a Christmas 2012 surprise, though I sincerely hope not.

I am, yet again, organizing the guest room. After Bryan moved out I thought I would be in there 24/7 crafting and sewing. But I walked in and felt immediately overwhelmed. We had been hiding miscellaneous stuff, like cases of water, all over our apartment for three months. So, when our spare room opened up again we put it all in there. The rest of our house was blissfully uncluttered, however, that meant our craft room was a hot mess. I had the strong desire to go in there and throw everything away. There were some tears. At one point I think I got in bed and pulled the covers over my head. I determined to stop following craft blogs because they give me too many cute ideas and I don't have enough storage for any of it. Chance tenderly talked me down from the ledge but I haven't gotten back into the swing of blogging yet.

As for the craft room, I've decided to condense our spare linens into space bags. The bags have been purchased and the linens washed. I have plans to spend a few hours at a local laundromat in order to wash our large quilts and comforters. Then the real organizing can begin. I have already collected two garbage bags full of stuff to take to Goodwill.

Madigan Made posted the other day about her UFOs Unfinished and Forgotten Objects and projects. Oh my gosh. Its like she gets me. I told Chance that I have enough stuff around here to do projects for months. I am committing to using up my old stuff before I buy any new. (With the exception of one sewing notion IF I get to the finishing stage of my MIL's Christmas gift.)

Anywho, I have a fun Saturday coming up with my friend the Playful Professional. I will definitely be tweeting and blogging about that.

I decorated for Thanksgiving on November 1st just like I promised I would. Pictures are forthcoming.

I think I'll find ways to talk more about my MIL's gift. You know. To drive her a little crazy. :) Stay tuned.

Dessert!

Oh my gosh you guys. I just made an amazing dessert. I didn't take any pictures because I was just trying something I saw on Pinterest. 

I saw this Sticky Bun recipe on All Thing Delicious. I borrowed one of her pictures to show you the awesomeness. It was one of the easiest recipes I have ever made.You'll have to go to her website for the recipe though! Let me know if you try it!!

Sweet Tea Social

Today I had the awesome opportunity to drive down to Richmond to meet a group of other Virginia area bloggers. Allison from A Glimpse Inside and Michelle from Dream Home DIY put together a fun-filled day of eating, socializing, and shopping!

We spent some time lamenting the fact that much of the blogosphere is centered out West. It is a lot more difficult for us East Coast girls to meet one another!

I'll spare you the awful details of our two hour drive down to Richmond. Suffice it to say, I-95 never fails to be a miserable experience. 

The day started at The Cheesecake Factory where we got to sit around a chat casually. Sometimes we would quietly chat with those next to us, while other times we were yelling across the table. Conversation topics included Geography, Photography, and Pinterest. Lots of Pinterest. 

The party then moved to the nearby Hobby Lobby. Unfortunately, not everyone joined in the shopping. Here is a picture of the five of us who made the trek. From left to right: Me, Kristol from The Magic of Ordinary Things, Allison from A Glimpse Inside, Michelle from Dream Home DIY, and Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous. 

It was Linda's first time in a Hobby Lobby and we were all excited to join her. Allison and Michelle hosted a HL gift card giveaway at the restaurant, and the stars aligned so that Linda won. It was meant to be!

Anyway, I am so grateful to Allison and Michelle for taking the time to put this together. I had a ton of fun getting to know some awesome people in real life! Makes me want to host a get-together closer to home!

Go-To Pumpkin Update

I'm just so excited about this that I can't take it!
I got some new suggestions for how to...spice up the T.P. Pumpkins.
1. My brother, Bret, suggested using cinnamon sticks for the stems to add a little scent to the decor. Brilliant!
2. A new follower, Janelle, decided to make some toilet paper pumpkins and I LOVE what she did.
She used scrap fabrics, her stems were made out of empty toilet paper rolls, and her leaves were made from ribbon rather than scrap fabric! I love that she added twine too. She even sent me some pictures!! Check it out while I go buy some twine to add to my pumpkins.

Guest Post at Everyday is a Celebration!

Come on over to Everyday is a Celebration and see my tips for decorating around a Halloween Hater!

My Go-To Pumpkin Decor

I love fall.
Winter is too cold which means my knee hurts all the time.
Spring allergies have me scratching my eyes out.
Summer gets too hot and mosquitoes treat me like a buffet.
Fall, better yet, Autumn is my favorite season.

That being said it probably comes as no surprise that I have an over abundance of autumnal decor.
I don't want to overwhelm you with all the cool stuff I have around right now, so I'll share just one of my favorites.

Toilet Paper Pumpkins.

That's right. You heard me. (Well, not technically since you're reading this...) You read me!

Here's what you need:
Toilet paper
A square of fabric roughly 14x14
A scrap of green fabric (mine are 2"x3.5")
Something brown (a scrap of a brown paper bag, a toilet paper roll, brown cardstock...)

Place the fabric right side down
Put the tp on the fabric

Pull a corner of the fabric up and tuck it into the tp roll.
(Here is where I stop and think, "Maybe I should have done this on the table so my legs and adorable socks wouldn't be making a cameo in these pictures.)

Repeat with all the corners
Tuck extra fabric until you think it looks pretty

Center your green scrap over the top and tuck it in part way, these are your leaves

Roll up your small piece of brown whatever and place it in the top as your stem

My favorite part of this project is the amount of space I need to store it when the season is over. I put the TP back in the linen closet and I am left with a few scraps of fabric and paper. Woo Hoo!

I like that I get to use those irresistible fall fabrics without having to sew anything!
This same idea can be used for apples in September, snowmen in January, don't get me started on Paper towels!

I hope you love this idea as much as I do!