Neat Stuff

1. To start, that photo above was inspired by this article. I really struggle with being in the here and now and not focusing on the future all the time, so it was a nice reminder to focus on the grass I have now. I've been practicing my brush lettering a lot and literally writing anything that catches my attention, and I was particularly happy with how that turned out.
2. Chris Loves Julia had a great post the other day about tips on maintaining and cleaning your cookware. A lot of it I knew, but some things I didn't, so maybe some of you will find it helpful also!
3. I just bought this new Whitelines sketchbook (I bought the gridded notebook) and so far I'm loving it. The idea is that you get the grids and lines you need to keep everything straight, but when you digitize, the white lines fade away into the background vs black lines that would take time to get rid of. I've used it for a couple of things and it works great! I can't wait to fill it up :)
4. I also just bought a bunch of multi-colored foam beads for putting into homemade slime. You know, the stuff that all those kids are obsessed with, and you probably made for a science project when you were in middle school. I intended to make it with my nieces, but I had to make some practice batches first to make sure I knew what I was doing....Here's a slime recipe I used. 
5. I can't stop pinning beautiful pictures of mountains and forests lately! And Pinterest won't stop recommending them to me, haha! They're so beautiful, I couldn't pick just one, so check out my board here. 

So that's it for the neat stuff this week! It's been a busy one, but this weekend we're headed out of town to the beach with my family for my dad's birthday. I'm kind of glad the Oregon coast tends to be a little cooler, because I get to bust out some sweaters and escape the triple digit weather that's hitting our area next week!

I hope you guys have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

SaveSave

I don't know about you, but that holiday season was a doozy!

So lately I have been on a huge greeting card kick (what with passing out Christmas cards and what-not), and I have been ooh-ing and ahh-ing over beautiful cards everywhere! In the grocery store, in magazines, and online, beautiful type and design has been catching my eye like crazy!

It really makes me think even more seriously that I would love to get into the design field. Whether that includes going back to school or not, I'm not sure at the moment. But it definitely seems to be what pulls at me, and I would love to try my hand at print making, and design!

While on one of my card browsing sessions, I stumbled across this contest from minted. If you don't know, they are this amazing website full of greeting cards, party invitations, and the like! All submitted by designers from all over, and voted on by the minted community. Let me tell you, if I had more money, all of my friends and family would have been getting cards from this site!

Side note: As it were, I settled on designing my own card, and passing those out instead. I was pretty happy with how it turned out :)



As you can tell, I'm really feeling the chalkboard look this year. That mistletoe sign is what I put on my own chalkboard! And I just cannot get enough of all things twinkly and sparkly. I've got some major twinkle light fever going on!

So what has been inspiring you this holiday season? Maybe go check out some more of these inspirations boards, and get dreaming!

Top o' the Monday morning to ya!

It is slow going around here this morning. I'm on cup of coffee number two, and have done absolutely nothing productive whatsoever. But that's just how I roll. I like to ease into my Mondays nice and slow!

So, my Pinterest feed has been on fall mode for the better part of the last month, and you would think that since it's finally September, fall would finally be on it's way in! We started getting a taste of cooler weather, and I thought that in just a short amount of time we would be in full fledged autumn.

Wrong!

Tomorrow is supposed to be almost 100 degrees! Blegh....

I suppose it comes down to just being happy and content, no matter what the season (or how long it may drag out), but my boots and scarves are begging to be worn and my fireplace mantel is screaming for some fall decor!

I guess it's good news for those of you who love summer though, and I know several people who aren't quite ready to let go of this warm season just yet. I'll have to keep my shorts out for a while longer I suppose, and just try to have a little more patience...

On another note, I have a new little furry friend to introduce to you! (For those of you who are friends with me on fb, you already know, so sorry for the repeat!)

We adopted a sweet little corgi/terrier mix (I'm guessing), named Emily last week :)


She is just the absolute sweetest little dog ever! She has been uprooted a couple times recently, both from great homes that she loved because her owner moved and couldn't take her. Most recently it was my younger brother-in-law, so that's how she ended up with us.


It was originally going to to be a foster type situation, just until we could find her a good home, but we love having her around! She's older, and chubby, and did I mention sweet? To eat, sleep, and get her belly scratched is all she wants in life, and I'm more than willing to do that. Plus, it's nice not to be so outnumbered anymore, since all our other pets are boys!



She also makes a great little friend for Handsome, which I've wanted for a while now. And she is just the type of dog that Dane loves. A mellow one!

So, Emily makes four, and I think we'd better stop adding to our circus now, or things might start to get out of control ;)



Well, on that cute note, I think it's time I finish my coffee and take these puppies of mine on a walk! Have a great Monday everybody!

My week has been totally off, and I woke up this morning barely realizing that it was Friday! It was a very pleasant surprise to say the least.

I realize that I haven't been very present around here this summer, but what can I say? I've been a very busy girl! We took some vacations, I threw a baby shower, and was just enjoying my summer in general. This little space got away from me pretty quickly, but I also realized pretty quickly that I missed it!

I've had several posts that I intended to write over this summer, and I still plan to, and I'm excited to start getting back to my writing. I guess since it's still pretty fresh in my mind, I'll share that baby shower I just mentioned!

Most of you know of my best friend Kayla. (I think I've mentioned her around here a time or two!) Well, she is going to have a little one soon, and I got to travel to Idaho to help throw her a baby shower. With the exception of my running late (which most of you are also aware of. I'm the worst with time management!) everything turned out great!






Since Kayla and her husband aren't finding out the sex of the baby, we went with a yellow and grey neutral theme. Those also happen to be the colors they are using for everything, including the nursery, so by using those colors for the shower, most everything they got fit into that color scheme! Whoop!

We also used pendants and birds for the decor. A little over-done maybe, but for good reason. They're stinking cute!




I decided to make sure I had a whole lot on my plate, and I went ahead and made the cake and cupcakes myself. This was a very d-i-y shower, which is definitely the best way to go when you're on a budget, but it doesn't make it any less stressful, that's for sure.




Everything turned out great though, and we all had such a good time! I didn't get pictures of them, but I also did a popcorn bar, with different flavorings and the most adorable chicken wire baskets to hold the popcorn. I got my inspiration for that here.

Also, now that the shower is over, I'm making the Pinterest board I created for it public, so if you need any great shower inspiration, you can check that out here!

Besides the fact that things could have ran a little smoother, (and there's no one to blame for that but me!) I'm really happy with the way it turned out, and most importantly, so was Kayla!

Throwing parties has got to be one of my most favorite things to do. I think my dream job would be to become an event planner! I would get to throw great parties, and be paid to do it! Maybe that's something I should pursue a little bit, hmm?

I hope you all have a fantastic rest of your Friday, and an even better weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Today kicks off day one of the Blog Everyday in May Challenge! I am really excited about this link-up, and I think it was such a great idea! I hope you all enjoy all the content that is about to be heading your way this month, because I know I'm going to enjoy writing it.

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less

The story of my life is not a very exciting one, but it is a good one, (you could even say that it's fabulously ordinary! Pun intended.) and it's one I'm happy to share.

 I was born the oldest of seven, and raised in the country in Idaho. I grew up on a small cattle ranch, where I learned that I really enjoy being lazy the importance of hard work. Family, friends, and faith were what my life revolved around. I was always the tough one, and as siblings, rough-housing was our way of communication (and it kind of still is!). It was a great way to grow up, and while I may not have loved every minute at the time, I wouldn't change a single thing!

Then I met this sweet Oregon boy. He swept me off my feet, and whisked me off to his hometown! He brings out the best in me (most of the time!). He calms my tempers, and taught me that I always don't need to act so tough. They say home is where the heart is, and that's definitely true. I miss all of my friends and family, but wherever he goes, is where I'll be!

So there you have it! Like I said, not too exciting, but I definitely wouldn't change any of it!

Thanks so much for stopping by, now go link up!



And of course, I can't forget about OHP! It's one of my favorite link-ups of the week, when I get to share all of my favorite pins with you!  But since this post is already getting long, I'll only share a few of the best ones.

One more quick note! I recently had a great opportunity come my way, that I'm so excited to share with you all! It may or may not even come with a giveaway.....
So keep on the look out for it in the near future! 

Source: grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: thebeautydepartment.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: dailymakeover.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: ohhellofriendblog.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: glitterandnails.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: beauty.allwomenstalk.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: maskcara.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: weddingchicks.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: twitter.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: favim.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: oncewed.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: us.asos.com via Amy on Pinterest

So, like you may already know, last week I jumped back on the workout wagon! I've been feeling like garbage all winter long, and I'm determined to get fit for summer! I've had some questions about what I'm doing to work out, so I thought I would share it with you!

I really want to focus on strength training, and so that's been a big part of it. I'm not doing any super heavy lifting or anything, and I will probably have to up my weights/intensity at some point, but for now, this is what I'm doing.

Source: bikinibodymommy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: youtube.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: backonpointe.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Some of these probably look familiar, huh? Yes, I had them as a part of my Oh, How Pinteresting a couple weeks ago. I've been doing them on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I also do more for my ab set, usually a lot of boats and planks (normal and side), until I really feel it! I also throw in some more for my lower body, like some extra sets of squats and lunges, and some more arm work with weights. I've been adding a little bit each week, because I don't want things start getting too much easier.

I have some at home dvds too, that I can do if I want to switch things up. I'm a really big fan of the Biggest Loser workouts. I have a Bob Harper yoga, and Jillian Michaels last chance. They are both good ones for strength training! I also have the Supreme 90 Day System set of dvds. I've never done P90X, but I think these are similar, at least in idea. They are very intense intervals of weights and fast cardio movements. I tried to follow the system last summer and then quit after two weeks, but they are great to split up and use as my upper or lower body workouts!

Source: 27.media.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Even though my main goal is to get really toned, I still have to do cardio to lose some of this fat! As some of you know, I'm training for my third 5k run. I sign up for the same one every year, and it seems to be the only thing that really motivates me to get running! Or working out at all. At least this year, that seems to be the case. So the program I've been following is from Fitness magazine, and you can find it here.

I end up training three days a week, doing a combination of walking and walking/jogging intervals. (Let me just say that it is a whole lot easier than the training program I followed for my ten mile run last year!) Then, I have my two days of cross training (my strength training days) and two rest days. I do my ab workout everyday except rest days. It's a pretty easy program to follow, and I'm really liking it so far.

Food wise, I've been doing a low carb diet/lifestyle change. I'm not following anything specific, I'm just trying to follow the "no white" rule. It usually seems to work pretty well for me, and I would love to be able to stick to it for good! Or at least only have those white foods on occasion. The biggest benefit I get from eating this way, is the fact that I have to replace the starches in my meals with fruits and vegetables, and that makes such a difference in how I feel! I'm really liking it, and I hope it's something I can continue to do long term.

I'm also currently in the middle of a No Dessert March challenge!

Source: snuzzy.com via Amy on Pinterest

It really hasn't been too hard, and I think it's been totally worth it. Sugar is just not my friend, both in weight-loss terms, and in how I feel physically.

Right at first, I felt like I was doing everything right, but it I wasn't seeing a lot of results! The scale just wasn't budging, and I didn't notice any of my clothes fitting better either. I was starting to get a little discouraged. There's nothing worse than busting your backside, and having nothing to show for it!

The last few days though, I've started to notice some changes! Like my arms being more toned, some ab definition, and the scale finally starting to move! I'm pretty happy about it, and even though it doesn't seem like much, I'll go for the small victories. I hope to start seeing more of a change in how my clothes fit soon. I bought those pink skinnies I've been wanting, but they are a little too tight for me to be comfortable wearing them in public. I don't care as much about the scale, as I do getting into those pants! Ha!

So there you have it, my workouts and how I'm eating. I hope it was informative, and inspiring to some of you to get your own workout on! If you're anything like me, and the diet always "starts on Monday" then hopefully this will get you active today!

Have a great week everybody, and a special thank you to all of my new followers! I'm glad to have you all reading along!