Do What You Can

Hi guys! I've been trying to kick myself in the butt to get something ready to post here. I have a lot of drafts in the works so hopefully it'll be back to regular blogging! The end of April took a lot out of me between back to back craft shows and a benefit walk. Things are calming down now so I was busy taking some pictures last night and this one stuck out at me - totally unstaged but this was the fortune on the top of the pile of my collection.

Just a little reminder that you dont always have to go all out - Just be yourself and that is enough.

-B-

My humble abode!

I just wanted to give you all a little peek into what I have been keeping myself busy with...my new home! There is still lots to be done like making the yard prettier and more enjoyable but at least it's cleaner than it was before!

The backyard is pretty large and has a bonfire pit so I hope that there will be lots of fun backyard parties to come this year!

The only room that's the closest to being finished is the living room. It's not a big room but it's cozy and comfortable.

As always I will get you all more pictures later. Oh and can you tell I'm addicted to my new Instagram app. That's what you call fake photography!

*J*

Just a quick note of explanation

Hey guys,

We're still around. I hope you weren't worried about us. Moving is hard but even harder when you are working a full time job and a part time job 3 nights a week. I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I haven't forgotten about you. While I keep up with Beck on a fairly regular basis I realize I don't do that as often on here. Between moving and work it's been hard to be truly inspired with anything while I'm still trying to wrap my head around living in a house versus an apartment. I am not making excuses because when I started this blog I realized that sometimes life is more than just what I put on the Internet. What I do feel is that you all deserve some kind of explanation and an understanding that I haven't given up on this blog and everything it represents.

As we said in the beginning life changes and so do we. The same things goes for seasons in our lives. Beck has been busy as well and we realize that we have left you all hanging. While I apologize for our lack of communication I do not apologize for my life. Sometimes it may take me away from you but you will never be forgotten. I hope you all understand that this is just temporary and in no time we will be sharing all our antics with you again!

Sincerely Yours,
*J*

Super dupa easy recipe

It's 8:00 pm on a weeknight and you've just realized that you have yet to eat dinner. You've been running around like a crazy person and now your stomach is growling louder than the wolf at the moon. Of course you want something satisfying and delicious but what can you make? This! I promise you that this recipe is super dupa easy and it's personally one of my favorites. Here is what you need:

Ingredients:

Rice (Cooked should be about 3 cups)

1 can of Campbell's Chunky Beef/Sirloin Soup

Step 1:

Cook the rice according to package instructions.

Step 2:

Heat up the Soup in your microwave or on the stove

Step 3:

When the rice is done pour the soup over it

See? I told you! Super easy, quick, and delicious. This may not be man approved in your house (it's not in mine, but I don't care..its more for me), but it's worth a try since its super easy.

You can even get creative and try it with different soups and different base options like noodles, potatoes, etc (for more options you can visit this site). Since I haven't been cooking much lately (pending move, 2nd job, sleep) this is something I can throw together real quick and still have a delicious dinner.

Bon Appetit!

*J*

DIY - Coffee Can Cover Up

I was lamenting the other day about the lack of storage I have on my desk for office supplies. The pencil cup I have is too small and too short to support my collection of various scissors, and I was trying to think of what sort of container I could buy that would work when I remembered we had recently gone through a can of coffee and I had been saving it for the kids to use outside. Since we have caffeine almost on IV here and it's been too cold and rainy to play outside when we have them I thought they'd manage to wait until the next empty can comes along and re-appropriated it. 

I'm sure I'll add to it, but all I used for this besides the coffee can is some plain white printer paper (you'll need legal or ledger sized, or you could use craft or butcher paper. I added some adhesive borders that I found while I was browsing the craft store the other day. The purple lace pattern wasn't quite long enough to  meet in the middle, so I cut the floral border to size and put it over the gap.

The borders were already glittered up and there were quite a few designs in the package. I can see them coming in handy for other embellished art projects.

What have you upcycled lately?

-B-

Lessons I learned while moving

Image Source

Since technically I am all moved now I thought I would share a couple of lessons I learned along the way. If you've ever moved I'm sure you can relate. I'm just super glad that I didn't move across the state or out of state. I can't even imagine how hideous that would be!


1. Stressing out about things beyond your control doesn't make it magically fix itself, it just makes you more exhausted.
      - Everyone kept trying to tell me about this before I moved but I'm pretty stubborn so this lesson didn't kick in until right in the middle of the move. Do yourself a favor and take things as they come. You are already going to be physically exhausted, there is no point in being mentally exhausted as well!

2. You can either be prepared and live out of boxes or move your stuff in garbage bags.
       - Just trust me on this, get lots and lots of boxes. And use them!

3. Be prepared to have absolutely no control! Zero, zilch, nada.
      - I don't think I can stress this enough but I learned how much control I actually had when my husband broke his nose in the middle of the move. Suddenly everything was put to a halt so I could tend to him and make sure he was taken care of.

4. Even though it's not quite home yet, my home is wherever my spouse is!
       - When I first thought about moving to this house I felt like a stranger in someone else's house. The minute my honey and I spent our first night there with our belongings it started feeling like home. Each day I feel more and more comfortable.

5. You become acutely aware of all the crap you own that you really don't need!
      - Pack up your whole life in 20+ boxes and you will quickly learn how much crap you don't really need. It's true.

6. Families are amazing, especially mine!
      - Unfortunately for me I didn't have 20 friends to help me move (that story is for another day) but I did have 6 amazing people helping and I'm so glad I can call them family. My gratitude for them can not be put into words. I hope everyone is as lucky as I am to have such a wonderful family!

7. Prioritize and categorize.
      - For me that meant getting my kitchen in order and tonight it will be tackling my closet. Is it necessary to hang pictures the first day you move in? No. Even though I have done that before. What is necessary is that you prioritize what you need to have done first.

8. Patience Patience Patience!
     - Just remember to breathe, it will all be OK. It takes time to get everything done and situated but it will all come together eventually.

9. Apartments have essentially spoiled me more.
     - Since I now live in an older house I have creaky uneven floors and not so great water pressure which I didn't have in the apartment but that's what happens when you live in a house. For some its called home ownership, luckily for me it's just called renting!

Pretty soon I will be back to a normal life and be able to find all my belongings again but for now I just wanted to stop by and let you all know that I'm still alive but I'm just buried under boxes and mess. Have a happy Tuesday!

*J*

DIY - Easy Embellished Flip Flops

This is going to be one of the easiest DIYs ever - You need 2 things: a pair of flip flops

and some adhesive rhinestones

I got the twins each a new pair of sandals to put in their easter baskets. I got M a silver pair so she can have some bling. I decided why not kick it up a notch and give her kicks even more sparkle with some rhinestones. You could use super glue or adhesive to make them more permanent, but the rhinestones I got were only $1 for a package, so if they fall off its ok. Here's the end result -

What would you bling?

-B-