12 Days of Christmas - Holiday Craft/DIY

This may be my favorite topic thus far - only because I swear I keep Michael's, Joann's and Hobby Lobby in business! I love making crafts/DIY projects! Here are a few that I have done for the holidays the past few years

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY

Although I love my parents tree with the a variety of different ornaments and that every ornament has a story and a meaning behind it, however I have always wanted a tree with all of my ornaments match.

Last year, I was finally able to create my vision that I had always had with ornaments that I made
[exhibit A as to why I would LOVE a wonderful camera!]

One set of ornaments are quilled
which is just scrapbook paper rolled up with a quiller [pictured below] and then placed into the ornaments
I then tied the top of the ornaments with different ribbons that matched

The second type of ornament that I made I used both glitter and flocking powder both made by Martha [love her!]
and i just used glue and made dots - to have this final outcome

Last year I found this tree skirt at Crate and Barrel, however I really want to make it out of my colors. I had high hopes of making this over the past year - but never got around to it... maybe next year? [Nonna and Grandma if your reading this - doesn't this look like a fun project for next summer?]


I am sure by the end of the holiday I will have plenty of other crafts that I have come up with - and I will be sure to include them.
Although I love finding something perfect in the store - I love it when I'm able to make something - it just has that much more meaning behind it!

I can't wait to see your DIY projects!!!

Happy Monday!

only 1 week until the Columbus Blogger Meet Up - please let me know if you would like to join! the more the merrier :)

12 Days of Christmas - Gift Ideas

I am posting this in the last hour of Day 6 - nothing like waiting until the last minute - right?
We have had a busy last few days.. cutting down Christmas trees, cheering on the Buckeyes to victory over Michigan, decorating my house, decorating my parents tree... i think you get the picture... hence the late post.. but nonetheless here is a list of a few items on my wish list...

Day 6: Gift Ideas

[1] Canon Rebel XT and Photography Lessons
Although my little cybershot works - I want a nice quality camera - the lack of quality as well as a slow shutter speed really effects the pictures that I'm currently taking. I would also love to take a lesson or two to learn the lighting and special affects you can do with pictures



[2]Northface Mossbud Fleece Shirt
Doesn't this just look beyond comfortable and warm for the winter months especially for boarding trips - love it!
[3] Roll-up Flannel Pants from Gap
I love that they can either be short or long - and they are polka dotted and grey... totally me :)
[4] Anything from the Pier 1 Tasting Party
I love the little small plates and individual serving pieces. Ideal for the small parties that we host throughout the year

What are you hoping that Santa brings you this year?

Day 4: Tips to a budget/friendly holiday season

I hope y'all had a WONDERFUL thanksgiving! I know that I'm still feeling the affects of the turkey [I hope the tryptophan wears off before too long or else this will be a looooong day at work!]

Today's topic of the 12 Days of Christmas is

Day 4: Tips to a budget/friendly holiday season


[1] If you have read my blog long enough you know that I'm a list maker - for the holidays my list includes ideas I have for them, my budget, and how much I actually spent.. that way I know how close I am to my overall budget

[2] I also pick up little items throughout the year for stocking stuffers or small gifts
When Bath and Body Works runs their specials on their small candles - I go crazy and buy anywhere from 10-15 right before the holidays. I pick up some holiday scents but also some that will last me throughout the year. These are perfect for host/hostess gifts.

[3] Shop around! There are perks to shopping and not immediately buying - or you can always go back to price adjust!

[4] Shop on line first - know what your after. If you go to the store [without a list or without something in mind of what you were going to buy] you will be more likely to impulse buy!

I hope these few little tips helped! I hope you had a wonderful holiday!

Now head on over to Molly and Aly's blog and link up with your tips/ideas!

Happy Black Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

via

I hope you have all had a wonderful time with your family and friends!

I am very fortunate to be able to celebrate with both Justin's family as well as mine... it just makes us beyond stuffed by the end of today!

Today I am truly thankful for:

My family
My friends and blog friends
To be this precious little girls' Godmother!For my health
For my job, it may be stressful, but to me it just means job security
For my condo, a place that I can call home

We're off to my grandma and grandpa's for round 2 of turkey day!

So What Wednesdays....

So What if....

• I'm so excited to pick Molly up from daycare this afternoon...
  
• I looked back 20973 times on the way to work and loved seeing the car seat base in the back of my car
• I can't stop showing off this picture - Justin sent it to me after I left Roosters - it warms my heart to see him with molly [and cheering on the buckeyes to a victory over the hawkeyes]!
• I try to go to the very last mile on my tank of gas - its a fun game I play.. to see how close I can get without running out of gas! a game someone with anxiety issues [ahem - me!] should never play!... my dad's friend once said my dad was the only person who would burn out their low fuel light in their car... i think I may be a close 2nd... i mean - i only learn from the best! might as well use it all up!
• I have been asking for corn dogs in the hospital cafeteria for over 6 months and yesterday we finally got them! and when i got to the cafeteria i think 4 people approached me to tell me we had corn dogs yesterday :) that made one happy girl! its the little things in life - right?!
• I'm very excited for the Columbus Blogger meet up! if you live in the area and would like to join us - please let me know! its 12.6.2010 at Easton!
• If I made butter salty caramel bars last night for my dessert for thanksgiving.. and when i tried them this morning [yes so what i tried them this morning] they were AWFUL - like beyond salty.. and i even like salt - back to the drawing boards for what to bring tomorrow to thanksgiving...eek! nothing like the last minute!
  
• I love it when I see this building starting to be decorated - that's when i know the holidays are near!
• i'm really looking forward to tomorrow - even if it consists of running a 4 mile race in the freezing rain [no really - that's the forecast - wahhh!], driving to Justin's family's house in Lancaster about an hour a way for 1 turkey meal, and turning back around to have turkey with my family back home! its gonna be a long one - but i wouldn't have it any other way!
• if I really want to participate in the 12 Days of Christmas with two of my faves Molly and Aly but I can't really think of the best gift I have ever received... maybe it will come to me while I'm working today ;)

I hope you all have a wonderful WEDNESDAY and a happy thanksgiving!!!

Now head on over to Mama Dew's and play along to So What Wednesday's

Columbus Blogger Meet Up

I have been wanting to host a Columbus Blogging Meet Up for quite some time now but never got around to it but when Steph contacted me about being in Columbus for the night of December 6th - I realized this would be the perfect opportunity to try to get everyone together!

So let me know if you are interested in meeting up with us because I can pretty much guarantee a night of girl friends is what we all need during the hustle and bustle of the holidays!

we will all go to Easton on December 6th
and eat here
at 7:00pm!

Let me know if you can make it! I would love to meet/see all of my fellow Columbus blogging friends!!!

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips and Tricks

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Tip 1: I don't go shopping on Black Friday. I always work... i could either sit here and throw a pitty party for myself - or use it as a productive day in the office and then at 2:00 I can leave to go and cut down our family XMas tree....

Tip 2: Make a list [Santa's not the only one with a list this time of year!] note all the people who you are exchanging gifts with, ideas of what to get them, and then your budget for their gift. Try to stay under budget if at all possible

Tip 3: I always shop online and then go to the store to buy.... I rarely go shopping - I go buying. Alleviates the stress and I know exactly what I am after when I go into the stores

Tip 4: Keep a running list of ideas for gifts throughout the year. Even though the person mentions that they would like something in May make a note of it... it will make it that much more special when they open it - that you first off cared to listen back then, but more importantly that you were listening!

What are your shopping/buying tips? I would love to hear yours!

Head on over to Aly or Molly's blogs and link up!

Happy Tuesday!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

I'm a HUGE fan of the Holiday's so I was so excited to participate with Aly and Molly for their blog hop!
I promise to make a better effort of participating with all 14 days unlike the last 30 day blog challenge that I "attempted" - ha!

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday Traditions

• My first tradition is that I turn on holiday music starting November 1st every year in my car. I absolutely love Christmas music and it makes me happy:)

• One of the longest running traditions with my family is that we go and cut down our family Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. We all load up into a big work van and drive an hour away to cut down the perfect tree for the family. Its something I look forward to every yeear
  
• Every Christmas Eve we spend time at my Grandma's house [my dad's mom's]. When we were younger we would have a visit from Santa Claus and with Santa we would sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. After Santa left, we would go to church as the entire family.
• For the past few Christmas's we have spent Christmas morning in the airport flying out west to go snowboarding - but prior to traveling, we would wake up every Christmas morning and have our casserole and pecan loaf. To this day, if i smell the breakfast casserole cooking it smells like Christmas morning

One idea I got from a blog last year is to open up your Christmas cards that you receive in the mail that day at the dinner table, and say a short prayer for every family that sent you a card. I think its important to keep the real meaning of Christmas in mind at all times!

I can't wait to make more traditions with my family.

So What Wednesdays

I'm loving particpating in SO WHAT Wednesday's with Mrs. Dew from Life After I "Dew"... I think its a fun way to get to know one another a little bit better!

So what if.....

• I have all of my Christmas cards signed and addressed and its only November 17th
• I make Justin sign his own name in all cards that we give - holiday, birthday, thinking of you card... because I think it means that much more when every respective person signs their own name
• that I still have my Halloween decorations up... until I can find a perfect place for my Christmas tree - I refuse to start decorating.. normally my tree is up on Halloween! this has not been easy
• I signed up to make a non-pumpkin pie dessert for Justin's family's Thanksgiving.... eek! i've never made a pie before... any creative suggestions on what i should make?!!?
• I threw a little bit of a temper tantrum last night when I realized I didn't record the biggest loser [even thought i'm struggling a bit to connect with anyone this season... its purely the principle]
• we recently changed cable providers and i'm still struggling with remembering ALL of my shows that I had set on the dvr - i knew i should have made a list before we switched over!
• if I wore a new sweater today to work - while sitting in a meeting i was mentioning how its strange that 2 identical sweaters can fit completely different because the one that I'm currently wearing is a little bit more snug than the other... and thats when i looked down and realized that i had it on backwards! and then at the end of the meeting the director i was in the meeting with helped me out and pulled off the M [the size sticker] that was on my back... oh the life i live!
  

Head on over to her blog and link up!

Happy Hump Day!

Music Memories

Do you have any songs that instantly bring back memories when you hear them?
They all remind me of a time, a group of friends, or a memory
Its amazing how much impact a song can have

Red Neck Yacht Club
Craig Morgan

My parents family friends who we have grown up with
every time we all get together on the lake we have to listen to this song
it sums up the group of friends to a T
we even change the lyric - that's BOB he's our president to that's RON he's our president
[one of the ring leaders of the group's name is RON so its ever so fitting!]

Piano Man
Billy Joel
All of the Greek chapters at the University of Toledo had themed songs
and this happened to be some of my best guy friend's theme song
it brings back the best memories every time I hear it on the radio

New York
Jay Z

Justin had just downloaded this song right before we went on the trip
and i think it was on single repeat the entire trip!
it quickly became the theme song for our trip


Hang on Sloopy
The McCoys

One of my best friend's in college Jenna, and I would blare this song before game day at school
We would open up the sunroof of my car and spell out O-H-I-O during the song collaboratively [her on one side, and i was on the other]
I love it when I hear it every Friday to pump us up for the next game!

Chicken Fried
Zac Brown Band

Our group of friends would sing this song at the top of our lungs a few years back
Its a feel good song, even if it is over played on the radio it will always make me happy

All I Want for Christmas Is You
Mariah Carey

This was my favorite Christmas song, and I put it as my ring tone
Little did I know that my roommate Aly despised this song, so it quickly became her ring tone forever
and every time it is played on the radio I have to send her a quick text and "sing" to her - i'm sure she LOVES it!!

do you have any songs that bring back instant memories?
i would love to hear about them!

i'm back....

I'm back...
thank you for the sweet comments checking in on me...
i'm still here!
i promise

work has been busy
[which you will not hear me complain about because i just always consider it as job security]
paired with the time change
[yes i know it was 2 weeks ago - but for some reason, it hasn't been easy! i don't like it being dark so early]
and we have had a lot going on after work
therefore.. i have had little time for blogging
quite truthfully i'm surprised i remembered my password! ha!

my sister's boyfriend joked saying that I should rename my blog for the last 2 weeks as
Lindsey at NOT Lovin' My Life right now...
which I laughed - however it's my life and i wouldn't change it for the world
stress or no stress

i promise to get back to reading your blogs
and commenting
i miss all of my favorite blogging friends!
thank you for sticking by myside

so now that i'm off my soap box..
i hope y'all have a wonderful Monday!

So What Wednesdays....

Shannon has been doing a weekly segment of so what Wednesday's for the past few weeks and I thought i would join in the fun!

So what......

• if every morning when i get in the car i hope to turn to a radio station in hopes of hearing Christmas Carols [typically 93.3 in Columbus goes to 24/7 Xmas carols as of November 1st- apparently not this year!]
• if I keep 2 stations on my programed radio stations year round because they play 24/7 christmas music one and half months out of the year ... i just avoid pressing their preset buttons the other ten and a half months
• if I was trying to make mashed potatoes last night [luckily for tonight's dinner] by boiling the entire potato whole - luckily Justin came up and asked why i didn't cut them up, and i said the recipe didn't call for it - so what if i re-read the recipe and it did call for me to cut up the potatoes...
• if this isn't the first time that i have ruined mashed potatoes in my lifetime - the first time it looked more like potato cereal than soup... a may have added a little too much milk!
• if i stocked up/bought a ton of salt and lime popcorn yesterday at the grocery... it's normally $3.49 a box - it was on sale for $1.99 and if you bought 10 participating items in the sale you $5 off your total purchase - which brought each box of popcorn down to $1.49

• if I found this post thru this blog and during the same trip to the grocery store bought a box of popcorn and a can of wasabi peas - delish!
• if i'm already looking forward to next week, when my friend Courtney is coming over with her daughter Skylar for dinner on Monday, I get to see my friend Traci to help her build a diaper cake on Tuesday night, and I get to see my adorable Goddaughter and her family Thursday night!
• if i'm excited to get uVerse cable - not for the mere fact that I will be saving $35 a month on my cable and internet but for the perks that also came with it! $100 visa gift card AND a $75 iTunes card... better believe that i will be buying some christmas songs off iTunes!

What are your thoughts today? Head on over to Shannon's blog and link up!

All things LOVED in October

I can't believe were already through another month in the year 2010.... the time is flying

I skipped out on All things LOVED in September - only because not much new was going on - and the only things that I could think of for the newly found items in my life had to do with food - so rather than sounding like a total fatty - i decided to focus on the next month and find items [and some food] that I LOVED this month

and i was able to do that

1. my iPhone - Bella [Isabella]
i love her
every time I'm on Bella, Justin asks - "you lovey your phone - don't you?" and every time I have to answer yes!
I'm loving having a smart phone again and I'm loving all the apps that I have and how something so small can keep me entertained for hours!
I'm pretty sure getting the iPhone was a life changing experience [for the better!]
[and i'm still kinda obsessing over my cover too - love it!]
2. Xhilaration Raspberry Flats from Target

I picked up these beauts about 2 weeks ago from Tar-Jay... I'm not a big flats person - however I'm loving these to wear to work or out and about with a pair of jeans
who needs heels to make your {you know what look good} when you can spice up your outfit with a cute little flat?
[double loving the fact they were only $15 last week]
3. Orville Redenbacker's Lime and Salt Mini Bags of Popcorn

Thank you Shannon from Life After I Dew for turning me onto this delish little snack. Ya'll know that I'm a sucker for anything lime, and these are just the right hint of lime. I think Shannon said it best - the only problem is that it's a mini bag and not a full bag of popcorn. Come on Orville - get your act together if your going to offer something this delicious - please offer us the big bags of popcorn too!

4. New York and Company Belts

I have worn my black belt once a week since I purchased it. I bought it originally for a jean dress [or is it more appropriate to say denim!?], and then I started pairing it with sweaters, with tops, with anything that needed that little extra pop of an accessory.

5. Gel Nails

My entire life I have had a difficult time keeping my nails manicured and looking decent - so whenever I had acrylics on I felt more polished and it was one less thing to deal with - however as we all know acrylics tear your nails up, and it gets pretty pricey every 3-4 weeks to have a balance... so I was beyond excited when I found out about gel nails.

Its a polish that takes 3 minutes to set but other than that nothing is added to your nail. You sit under the dryer thing [for lack of a better word] and then it sets and you have a thicker and much stronger nail. They are said to last anywhere from 4-6 weeks. I got mine done yesterday in 30 minutes [like left my house, drove the shopping plaza in front of my condo, sat down, had my nails done, and was back HOME in 30 minutes!]- how amazing is that - much better than sitting in the chair for 45- 1 hour, i don't know about you, but i don't have time for that.

Here they are on day 1 - i will make sure to keep y'all up dated on how they look a few weeks out - but for now - i'm all about the gel nails!

sorry blogger would not let me turn this picture if my life depending on it!

Happy November!!!

P.S. there is a Halloween Post up under this one.... you will have to check out our costumes!