Handy Hubby Feature [#2]

I actually had this post stashed away from way back, right after Christmas. Since I haven't had time at all to craft and don't have time tonight to get together (aka type up the entire recipe) my German Chocolate Cake for hubby post- I thought I'd share this pretty little number.

Everyone knows from my first Handy Hubby Feature, that my hubby's got some skills. Well this time around I am going to show off a growing hobby for hubby.  This is an area he has previously dabbled in a bit and has even made some pretty cool projects, but always wanted more. *Sigh* don't we all?? Anyway, he got a super awesome wood burnder from Woodcraft from my parents for Christmas. He could hardly wait to get home and try it out. My sister and I also chipped in and bought him some of the replaceable tips which are super cool!! After he played a little and got comfortable with things, he had a vision of making a sign for his door at work. Ready to see??

He works as a drug and alcohol therapist and needed something to make sure that people don't come in when he is in session.. pretty smart right??

& Sometimes its just about all the little details- the little "dots" are so smart!

But, if I must be honest, this is my favorite part. He made this part to slide up and down so that only "Therapy in Session- do not disturb" or "Welcome" shows at a time.

Stinkin gorgeous. I never did get to see or take pictures of it finished because he did so and took it into work before I made it down to snoop. I guess I will have to snag HIS camera and get the pictures for myself. Haha. But seriously, isn't his work AWESOME??  Wow.

Inspiration Thursday # 7

So have I mentioned that life never, EVER seems to slow down?? Seriously. This whole week has just felt like I was constantly behind, missing something, maybe even losing my mind? One thing I have been missing really badly is my craft time and hopefully soon I can get back into a groove of not feeling so.darn.behind.

Speaking of behind- not that kind!- here I am for a better late than never version of Inspiration Thursdays!

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This one really resonated with me today. I feel like if you spend too much time worried about what others feel you should do or how you should live your life, you lose so much. It is so hard to make peace with doing what is right for you, even if others whole-heartedly disagree

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How true this is!! Remember that even though you see something in yourself that you feel is a negative, someone is out there to balance you out and it makes it GREAT!!! Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean it isn't admired by others.

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Can I just tell you how BEAUTIFUL this is??? sooooo beautiful.

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What a wonderful reminder. Do what brings you Joy and you will have more JOY :) So easy to forget in the hustle and bustle of the 2013 life. 

I hope you found one of these to connect to in some small (or big) way and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!! I hope to be back next week some creative posts (oh, please?!?!) I seriously have a list of things I want to make/do but need to have the time in the evenings after work to do so. 

Take care and Happy (almost) weekend!!

Lucky Jar

Nope- this isn't really about a jar that brings anyone luck. Rather, one that helps us count our blessings.

Ironically, I didn't make this in light of the Boston Bombing tragedy earlier this week. It is actually a {belated} anniversary gift for my sister and her hubby. They got married March 18th, 2007, just a few months before they were expecting the birth of their first son. 

They have since had 2 more (precious) little ones, moved a few times (one more to come this summer), and gone through some promotions within Cracker Barrel- where my BIL is constantly looking to be promoted and climb up through the company. He is really great at what he does, but of course we all know success comes with sacrifices. My sister is a great mother and stays at home with the kids- well 2 of them as the oldest is in kindergarten. They are able to do this because of the hours and efforts BIL puts in and of course this comes with trials and tribulations. 

I thought I would make them a jar which they can fill with pieces of paper or Popsicle sticks on which they can write reasons the are lucky. Then during tough times or a stressful day/week/month/year, they can look at these things as a family and remember how lucky they really are.

I really just started out with a sauce jar (ironically given to me by my sister) and my awesome chevron burlap ribbon from Hobby Lobby. I cut it to length and hot glued the ribbon onto the jar. 

I then had the genius idea to wrap twine all over the bare remaining jar. This seemed to take FOR-EV-ER.

It does look pretty darn sweet though, right? 

I used my cricut to cut this little tag out of some fun gliittery scrapbook paper (LOVE!!!) and used a paint pen to free-hand "Lucky" onto the tag. I really wanted to incorporate a clover or something but just didn't have anything on hand. 

Either way, I really like how it turned out. Best part is, they are getting it tonight. Hah. I never had time before we traveled to see them last (at my birthday), not to mention I got the burlap ribbon from my mom ON that visit and didn't really have a solid plan of what I was making with the jar until we got home.

What things and people make you feel "lucky" in life? 

Have a great weekend everyone! I will be off making memories as we celebrate Hubby and BIL's birthdays :)

Inspiring Quotes #6

This week, more than ever, we could all use a little inspiration. As a obsessive  runner, the news of the Boston marathon bombings was so heartbreaking and brought tears to my eyes. So many times the thought of what if I woke up and couldn't run tomorrow passes through my head and because of some idiot(s) there are many runners and non-runners alike who have to face just that reality.

Here is a weekly dose of quotes that hopefully provide nice little pick-me-up for you.

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Could this seriously be more fitting? Appreciate it all. Love stronger, hug longer, all the little things- enjoy them. You never know when your life might change forever- for better or worse.

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So important to remember that even though things are tough, sad, or whatever the case might be- it can only get better. Maybe it will never be perfect, but the sun will rise.

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I truly believe this statement is true. Often hate comes from disliking something you see in someone else, that you recognize also in yourself. Sometimes people hate out of extremists views which are often taken out of the context in which they were intended to be. 

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Running the next 2 weeks to dedicate miles to those who didn't get to complete the marathon and to honor those injured and lives lost. Every day don't take for granted what other pray to be able to do. 

Sorry if this is too sappy or emotional- really just my general feeling at this time.

I hope you can find at least one of the bunch that you can relate to. 

Happy Thursday everyone!

Unique Flower Preservation

This isn't really crafty or DIY or scrapbooking, but I wanted to share anyway. If you remember back to December, I wrote a tribute post to my recently passed Grandmother and not so recently both Grandfathers (here). Well cleaning house after Christmas, I rediscovered flowers we saved and dried from the funeral. I know that saving dried flowers often they are forgotten and tend to collect dust. I remembered this mason type jar that I inherited somewhere along the lines and thought how neat it would be to place them in this jar.

I really liked how they looked in the jar and decided to keep them this way. No way for dust to get in and the look kind of like a snow globe or something that holds some kind of magic. I realize this sounds a tad crazy, but I think it looks pretty neat :)

How do you preserve/store flowers from meaningful events?

My heart is in Boston

Although I have a few things to post this week and was going to start today, being a runner, I just can't.

Today my heart is heavy and thoughts are with those in Boston. 

It is literally all I can think about.  So sad for the kids and runners who had to have amputations and will have to go through so much to simply walk again. 

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Inspiring quotes #5

I really meant to get this up for its designated day on Thursday, but different work hours on Thursday and last minute changes in plans to meet with a friend on Wednesday just didn't allow it.

I knew I definitely still wanted to post - kind of for selfish reasons, really.  First off, I was having a mini party for part of the day Thursday because I put it for a shift hours change that would have been great- and I was told they couldn't let me because I haven't been in my current one for a year yet. I started in August of last year, so I still have four months to go. Boohoo.
Second, after I got over that, I had a nice run- my last until my 10k run on Sunday for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training that I talked about here. This felt great so I came home, reposted my fundraising page, ate some dinner, took a nap, cleaned a little, and checked my email. This may seem ordinary- its not. A girl I knew from way back when- freshman year in high school or before mabe?? Donated to my fundraising goals. It wasn't a lot, but it brought tears to my eyes. This might seem ridiculous but let me explain. She and her husband welcomed into the world a very premature baby earlier this year and have been through so much that she is the last person I expected to see anything from. Not to mention I don't get to talk to her much and probably the biggest thing we have in common is our birthdays!!Yep, we are both born on the same day- year- everything..

Soooo needless to say feeling pretty blessed and lucky and inspired as I write this late Thursday night (almost Friday).  Anyway, enough jibber-jabber and on to the quotes!!

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(Because seriously, in my world, it totally is)

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(Remember this. Important to take a time out sometimes)

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(So.Powerful)

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(Turn your blessings into blessings for others. It is too easy to feel sorry for yourself and takes a special stregth to remember how good you really have it.) 

So there it is, friends. Hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I might have one of those weeks where I am MIA until Wednesday with my race being early Sunday morning. Who knows, life might surprise me.

Enjoy the sunshine, friends, family, and whatever else that makes your life wonderful. 

Vintage Key Saturday Craft

Hey everyone!! Happy Wednesday!

 It has been a gorgeous start to the week with wonderfully warm temperatures and sunny skies. Spring has finally found us and I could not be happier!!

Over the weekend, my parent's visited for a little bit Saturday evening and my mom brought some supplies for a long awaited craft project.

My mom found a key from her childhood home in amongst some belongings from my grandmother quite a while ago and wanted to creat something with it. Recently she found the perfect shadowbox frame at Hobby Lobby as well as some printed burlap. She forgot that she did not have a hot glue gun to pull it all together (she recently let my sister borrow it) so she brought it all along to my house.

I can't say I hated it.

We had fun figuring out how exactly we were going to pull it all together.

I don't have pictures along the way, so just bear with me.

To start, I took a sheet of cardstock and glued the burlap to it. Next, I used my cropidile to punch a hole through both layers. I wrapped some twine around the key, then tied the bow over top to hide it. I pulled the twine through the back and tied a knot to secure it.

After this, we were a little baffled as to what to do with all the BLANK space. I was thinking a word (unlock, happy, joy) and mom was thinking buttons. I sorted through some random stickers and the "CHERISH" sticker seen above stuck to my finger. I proposed this idea to mom and she liked it!! Next we played with buttons (one of our favorite past-times) and finally settled with what you see above.

Don't you love it? We were very happy with how it turned out. I think it is kind of ironic because even though my mom doesn't know exactly what door in her childhood home the key belonged to, there are a lot of cherished memories in that home. Memories of her childhood and memories of my sister's and mine. So many things to cherish.


What memories or places do you cherish most? 

Easy Scarf Storage

Last week I was perusing a linky party and found this great idea for a Scarf Organizer from The Crafty Scientist. It was too smart of an idea NOT to recreate. I have a bit of a scarf promblem and love to wear them all the time. They are nice for keeping winter winds of your neck or even a warm breezy day when springs rolls in.

I do not have pictures of each step of the way, but it is literally as easy as tying each of the rings to the hangers and then to themselves. This project only cost me $1.06 for the shower rings from the dollar tree. Can't be beat.

This is just some of the scarves I have collected - the ones I tend to wear the most. Isn't this such a great solution for storing scarves for those of us who just can't have enough?? I sure thought so.

My goal this week is to work on one room or area of the house each night after work. My parent's are coming to spend the night Saturday to watch me run my first 10k on Sunday and I just want the house to be nice and tidy. They don't usually stay over, but the race starts really early and we live about 20 minutes closer to Hershey than they do. I have a few small projects I hope to post this week in amongst the cleaning madness.

Happy Monday all!! I hope you all had a super wonderful weekend!

Winter Wedding Whimsy

So... have I mentioned that I always seem to be super busy and can't find enough time in the day.... like... ever?!? Well I am going to share with you one of (and a special one at that) reasons why.

Two weeks ago (already!?!) My friend Lisa (affectionately, Lisabee) got married!! She met her hubby, ironically, by him hitting her with a volleyball while playing a on a rec team. Haha- who would have ever guessed?? She had such a HUGE bruise on her arm!

This is my group of high school girlfriends who I have kept in touch with through college and now into adulthood. Although it isn't always easy, and we definitely don't always see each other much, this is a great group of galpals. We look a little silly, don't we?? Well, we had pockets and we had to FLAUNT it, right? Best. Idea. Everrrrrr. Just sayin'.

 I totally love how she did the seating "charts" if you will and really wanted to take these off her hands, but I am sure she has plans of her own for them. 

Definitely HAD TO get a close up on these darn cute birds. She used her Cricut to cut these cute little guys out. I just loved it. 

There was a lot of fun decor and birdhouses throughout the reception hall that contributed to bringing the outside feel inside on a chilly March day. Hopefully I will get to share more of them with my crafty friends soon, but for now I just wanted to share my absolutely FAVORITE things about the wedding. 

Happy Friday, Friends.

Chicken Enchilda Soup!!

Since I have been SOOOO MIA this week I thought I would postpone my inspiration Thursday (at least for now, might get done Thursday night instead)

I apologize right now for the crappy pic and for my bowl looking kinda creepy. This is what happens when you are short on time and it is a dish you made for work so there is little time for pictures.

That being said, I have no pics of the during process but literally I made this in the crock pot and you pretty much dump it all in anyway.

I actually adapted this (twice now) recipe from Home is Where the Holman's Are.

Chicken Enchilada Soup

2  3 cups chicken stock
2 skinless, chicken breasts
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ancho chili powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
4-6 jalapeno peppers, minced green chilis, sliced (small can)
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 large onion, diced subbed with 2 tbs of onion powder (hubby is deathly allergic)
4 cloves garlic, minced (I used from the jar- just easier)
1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups frozen corn
1/2 cup tomato paste
8 oz cotija cheese, crumbled  I just used mexican/taco mixes. Some day I will try these others.
8 oz pepperjack cheese, divided
1 cup cilantro, chopped  (YUM!!!!)
Tortilla chips

**One thing I added that the original author doesn't is a can of Enchilada sauce subbed for 1 c of chicken stock. I figured why not?!?! Turned out great and probably thickens it a tad too. **

I mixed all the dry ingredients together first.  I cooked my chicken breasts in my Pampered Chef baker- in the microwave. Once they cooled a bit, I used my food processor to chop it all up!!

Next, I put the chicken broth in the crock pot and stirred all the dry stuff in.

Next, (I had put all the other wet ingredients in a container overnight for easy next morning prep) I added everything else. Last but not least, I added the chicken, stirred it all up and WALA!!! Once everything is heated through I added cheese and it was ready to serve. This is also good with some sour cream on top in addition to more cheese and the cilantro.

On the Holman's site, they give non-crock cooking instructions, if that is more your cup of tea. Personally, I love crock pot soups because then you can kind of  "set it and forget it" which makes life a little easier- and who doesn't love that??