Gobble Gobble

Warning: this is a double post; from decor to turkey. Happy Thanksgiving!

We just moved into a house, yay! We have plenty of space now & I've been trying to decide on decor.  I really wanted to do a gallery wall, but wasn't sure where to start!  I knew I didn't have enough frames so it was great when I found an 8 piece set at Bed, Bath & Beyond.  It was a great starting point, but it wasn't what I was going for.  I wanted more.  I wanted personalized. So I shopped around some craft stores for some things & I rummaged through the house finding some more frames & signs that I could incorporate.  

I was definitely over stimulated. So excited to create a masterpiece via decor. Then reality hit.  Arranging the items to create something great--easy.  Taking that creation & actually transporting it to the wall--not so easy.  Good thing I have a handy dandy husband!  There was some frustrating getting things we wanted with as few nail holes as possible, but we did it!  

The rest of the week consisted of planning our Thanksgiving dinner.  You would think this is a simple task.  In most cases, it is.  But in our house, that's not always the case.  He wanted modern, I wanted traditional.  Ultimately, traditional won--surprise :)  I'm fine with creating modern dishes with turkey day leftovers, but the for whatever reason, the actual dinner itself I couldn't image having any other way than the "typical" thanksgiving dinner.

I have always been at war with myself when it comes it comes to recipes.  I have to follow the recipe...no, I want to make something original...no...I don't know!  I'm a bipolar chef.  

Recently I have been branching out more and more, wanting to create rather than mimic.  I suppose its my craftiness blending itself across trades!  

I'm making my 2nd turkey this year.  But for whatever reason, I didn't save the recipes I used last year for everything...WHY?!  

I looked at some recipes on Pinterest to get some inspiration, but couldn't commit.  So I'm flying solo!  I made some "herb butter" (if you will) to place under, & over, the turkey's skin.  It is just softened butter,  garlic, some everyday seasoning, some 21 salute, pepper, basil, garlic powder & onion powder. No measurements, just what looked (or smelt) good!  Covered the turkey in some foil & popped it in! The kitchen started smelling good, in 10 minutes--yum!

I decided I was going to baste every 30 minutes.  After this decision, I read a blog about how that's a no-no...oh well!  I started with using chicken stock for the first hour & a half until there was enough drippings to use.  Then I took the foil off, to allow for the idealistic crunch skin. 

I had my cooking plan ironed out, when I needed to start making each dish in order for it to be completed at the same time as the turkey. Then disaster struck! My turkey finished an hour sooner than expected...!  Obviously I couldn't leave it in the oven to dry out, so I took it out & covered it with foil to try & contain the heat.  I would baste periodically while finishing up the other dishes.  It was a challenge, but we finally got everything completed: turkey, hame, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, rolls & a delicious french silk pie.

So we ate ourselves into comatose & watched movies the rest of the day.  Couldn't have asked for a better meal or a better day!!

I hope everyone else had an amazing Thanksgiving as well!  Happy Crafting (& Cooking)!!

Anniversary Scavenger Hunt

October 16 is Mike & my "dating anniversary".   This year made 3 years!  Not sure if it's "normal" to celebrate your dating anniversary after marriage, but I'm okay for any excuse to celebrate!

This year I decided to do a scavenger hunt for Mike.  This is really something I would love more than something he would love, but it's the thought that counts, right :)

Here are all the clues:

First clue was in waiting in his car when he left for work:

 

I emailed him his second clue to lead him to the ones hidden around his office:

That led him to the next clue & a Fast Break:

This led him to a Monster waiting in the fridge:

That was the last at his office.  I gave him the next after we had finished dinner:

Once we got to Bo's I gave him the next one, which basically just gave me time to set the others up in the store

Once I was finished setting them up in the store I brought him this:

That's when the fun really began.  I wasn't sure if he would be up for it, he's more of an introvert, but he played along great.  We had so much fun.

bananas

strawberries

fudge (well chocolate syrup, couldn't find the fudge haha)

nuts (even though we didn't get any... haha)

cool whip! 

I was supposed to put the "wink, wink" one on Ben & Jerry's Karamel Sutra; but Bo's wasn't up to date enough for that :(  so we had to settle for caramel gellato--which was still amazing! 

Once we had everything (total of $13) I gave him the final card:

 

This was so fun for us!  It was even better when we got to go home & eat our banana splits with a glass of wine while watching a RomCom!  

This was definitely one of those gifts you give but really you're benefiting yourself as well.  But neither of us were complaining about that!  It definitely made me look forward to having kids.  I'll be able to plan fun things like this ALL the time then!

YAY!  Happy Crafting!

sunshine on a cloudy day

My little has been having a tough time.  I was having lunch with her today & decided I wanted to do something to try & cheer her up--so I made a Box Full of Sunshine!

Disclaimer:  This is seriously the easiest, cutest, cheapest gift ever!

Step 1:  Go to Dollar Tree

Step 2:  Look for yellow

Step 3:  Deliver

Seriously, that simple.

Even in our teeny dollar tree with a limited selection, I found much more yellow that I expected!  I was definitely pleasantly surprised.

There was no rhyme or reason, just yellow!  From snacks & silly putty to drinks & scrubbers.

I even lucked out & found a yellow [almost] empty box!  I took the liberty of taking the few items remaining & placing them on the shelf to take the box off their hands. :) Couldn't pass up a yellow box for my box of sunshine!

Finally, I took an index card & made a label along with a sweet note.

 & of course I HAD to get the smiley face balloon.

I almost bought a yellow tutu & yellow fair wings to wear but I figured that was probably a little much hahah  BUT I did play "Pocket Full of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield when I showed up to her apartment which I thought was very appropriate.

She loved it!  This is just a simple gesture you can do to help brighten someone's day.   It cost me $13 but the reaction & appreciation was worth so much more than that.

Happy Crafting!

Weddings EVERYWHERE

It has been a crazy past two weeks!  I had two weddings, 6 days apart!  

My brother-in-law got married September 27th in Charlotte, NC & one of my best friends got married October 3rd in High Point, NC.  LOTS of traveling in not a lot of time!

Here are some of the signs I made for their wedding!!

Hand painted Welcome to our Wedding sign

This was a bridal shower present I made for my sister-in-law.  I LOVE this & need to make one for myself!!

Song of Solomon hand painted sign

I also realized I HATE writing with chalk... it is not a fun tool to work with.

Instagram Hashtag Chalkboard Sign

  

Post Cards for the Couple Chalkboard Sign

Sparkler Sendoff Chalkboard Sign

M&M Candy Favor Table

Favorite Verse Chalkboard Sign

All of these items came together so perfectly for their special day.  Here is a beautiful picture of the couple's first look:

I didn't have to do any crafting for the second wedding, so I don't have any pictures to share, but I did have to write my first MOH speech!  That was such a great experience.  I was more nervous than I expected myself to be, but the Bride loved it & that's all that mattered!

This wedding was just as beautiful & the bride got us the BEST bridal party gifts!

That's all my wedding fun for now, next wedding is April 2015!  Yay for a wedding break!

Happy Crafting!

Bachelorette Weekend - Numero Uno

Well, I officially have my first Bachelorette Party under my belt!  

Being a MOH is hard work, but the results are beyond worth it.  Shannon & I met freshman year of college & immediately became TMIBFF's, so being able to be her right hand woman during this time of her life is so meaningful to me!  

I would say the most difficult thing in planning a bachelorette party is to remember who it is for!  This is about the BRIDE--not you.  It's easy to plan something that you know that you would enjoy, but it's a little more challenging to remain focus on what she would enjoy.  It's important to think of her personality & really analyze what would give her the best party she could imagine!  Of course you can talk to her & ask her exactly what she wants, but if you're like me, surprises are the way to go!   

It's important to coordinate with who ever is attending to chose a date and a budget.  Once that is done, you'll want to send a "save the date",  probably 6 weeks in advance.  Here's the one I made:  

The next 6 weeks, of course, become planning time.  Events, decorations, games, gifts, etc.  Once you get a plan, you'll want to send the official invitation, with itinerary, 3 weeks in advance requesting the RSVP 7-10 days prior to the event.  You'll need the time to coordinate reservations, appointments, & quantities.  Here's my itinerary:

I tried to include details, but no specifics--you never know what will happen!  I also included tips on what to bring & an idea of what finances would be needed.  Assigning each person to bring a breakfast item was probably the best idea we had!

I did learn, that coordinating in "rest" time is a yes. We would have never made it through the weekend if we didn't take an hour of much needed laying/sleeping!  These "Survival Kits" were perfect for this R&R time.  They each had gum, lip balm, advil, lotion, m&ms, & a princess band aid.  Of course there was a mini moscato & a penis covered balloon attached to each as well!

To me the most important this is capturing these memories!  I'm basically obsessed with taking pictures.  It can be obnoxious at times, but it is worth it!  Imagine reminiscing on your 25th anniversary, talking about your bachelorette weekend.  Verbal+visual stimulation > only verbal.  Because ya know, a picture is worth a thousand words ;)   It also let's you do even more fun/cutesy things! Oh, and a hashtag is necessary!  Here are some of my favorite pictures from this weekend.

 Girls Night In!  Though the picture indicates otherwise, the prego woman of course did NOT partake in the 8 bottles of wine we completed.

 TreeHouse Winery -  wine tasting/photo op.  Sadly, it was excruciatingly hot for September, so we didn't get to take in the scenery for long.  But I highly  recommend visiting if ever in the Charlotte area it was gorgeous!

FAVORITE PICTURE EVER

this is 4 bags of $0.97 sequins from Walmart.  Place in hands & blow (as cutely as possible).  Buuuut, you have to video it!  There's no way to get the perfect timing to take a picture, but it is easy to screen shot a still frame!

Though the sunset pic is great, the sparkle photo will ultimately end up in this!  You cannot mess this up.  Dollar Tree frame+red lip stick=adorable bridal gift.

I had a blast with these bachelorette style mug shots.   I made this with "crimes" that fit the girls personalities, some accurate others ironic.  Everyone loved it, until.....

......I insisted on creating THESE:

No one likes to have someone force them to go outside, as soon as they wake up, after a night long of drinking & dancing to go take a pictures.  BUT once the grumpiness wore off, everyone loved how cute these are!  Before going out, getting home, and the next morning!

Being a MOH can get expensive, but if you take advantage of DIY things, it will help tremendously!  You can literally buy everything on Etsy OR you can make them yourselves!  $$$

Happy Crafting :)