Finally!

You can find them in the shop!

I'll be posting many more prints and colors this weekend. 

Looking for wholesale or bridal party orders? Just email me.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

Two recipes down on the Pinterest Foodie Challenge!

Sadly, this is literally the only photo I have of the Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites. As soon as I got to work, I was instantly swarmed and my Tupperware cake-taker was raided. 

I did tweak the recipe a little (forgot to add the butter and used Almond Bark instead of chocolate chips) but they turned out just fine. You could also use chunky peanut butter or use dark or white chocolate chips.

Anywho, these are the perfect little thing to bring to office parties, family gatherings, etc., and I will definitely add them to my holiday gift baskets this year. They were quite the hit.

You can find the recipe here.

Shop Update

Monday. In the shop. I promise.

Plans... aka How My Weekend Went To Shit

{Clockwise from top left: Vacation Mini Album; Squares Quilt Using Amy Butler Fabrics; Halloween Paper for the DIY Scrapbook Paper Ribbon Embellishments; A Rare Sighting of The Key Fobs}

Plans. Funny thing about plans, is that they don't always work out the way you want them to. Take this weekend for example. I was supposed to go to Louisville for our 15-year "non-reunion" reunion that I organized. Guess who didn't make it? Yep. THE ONE WHO ORGANIZED THE WHOLE THING. #EpicFail

 *facepalm*

I had also planned on photographing my 200+ key fobs so I could start listing them on Etsy. Guess who didn't take any photos cause the lighting was crap? Yep. You guessed it again. Really, Tennessee? Can't we just have one whole week of crap weather instead of this shiny, happy BS we've been having lately? I'm not asking for much here!

I actually didn't really do much of anything this weekend. Slept until almost noon yesterday (In my defense, I did finally organize some of my room) Mom and Bill ended up taking me out to dinner at Olive Garden where I had too much wine and not enough bread sticks. Walking around Hobby Lobby slightly inebriated was kinda fun. And I did manage to score a bunch of ribbon for 50% off so one point for Jen. 

Around 10pm last night I finally hit my second wind (I think the wine wore off) and ended up staying up WAY too late. I did plan out some blog posts and figure out what to do about the DIY posts. So, another point for me. 

Slept in again this morning (although not as late as yesterday) Did I mention I bought a new laptop? And that said laptop has games on it? And those said games may or may not be hidden object games? Guess where most of my day went today? Wow, I sound like such a slacker.

But WAIT! I DID go through my crafting supplies so I could bring you DIY posts like:

{Paper Ribbon Embellishments}

{Paper Beads}

{Sequined Ornaments}

{Yearly Card Album}

{Glittery Chevron Photo Frame}

{Salt & Sugar Body Scrubs}

{DIY Washi Tape}

{Cork Inspiration Boards}

{Squares Quilt}

{Vacation Mini Album}

So THERE plans! In your face!

Also, True Blood comes on tonight. And I won't be missing that.

Plans: 2     Jen: like 4 or something

William Tell's Never Miss Apple Cake

Today was recipe #1/20 for the Pinterest Foodie Challenge (PFC). I decided on William Tell's Never Miss Apple Cake. You can find the original recipe here. 

The first thing you must know, is that I'm not too keen on baking. All the precise measuring, exact temperatures... yeah, not really my thing. If I can throw a little of this and a little of that together, I'm golden! Baking, not so much. However, I must say that this was a very easy recipe to follow. It was also the very first cake I've ever made from scratch. Huzzah! 

It's flavorful and moist and oh so delicious. Everyone at work was very pleased with the outcome. At first I was a little hesitant about the brown sugar glaze but after a few forkfuls, I was hooked. This recipe is definitely going in my 'make again' pile!

* Apologies for the blurry second photo. I was trying to snap a quick pic of the inside before it was all gone!*

Weekend Update

I don't know about you guys, but I had quite the weekend.

Here's the recap:

Friday Evening: Tweet from @parrack120

Saturday: shattered my iPhone screen on the bathroom floor, bought new laptop, a sweet and lovely scented haul from Bath & Body Works, a new drink from Starbucks (Mocha Coconut), a very uninspiring meal at Backyard Burgers, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Big Fish, chicken chimichangas from El Valarta, @hobbsjeff finished his 101 list, insomnia, NyQuil

Sunday: Sleeping in, breakfast in bed (kinda), Sister Act, a sewn shirt (still in progress), new patterns, Sudoku, The Rainmaker, ingredients for William Tell's Never Miss Apple Cake (made today!), and lots checked off my 101 list (finished and in progress)

<3

A Little Sunday Night Inspiration

Find the details here.

And have a lovely, inspiring Sunday night.

I'm Kinda Famous. If Only By Association.

So earlier this week I was killing some time on Twitter after a VERY long hiatus and I noticed that Kristen Bauer van Straten (you may know her as Pam from True Blood) had posted about her 'Out For Africa' documentary and how she was using KickStarter to fund it. I clicked over and watched the video (warning animal lovers: tearjerker) and decided to pledge. School starts in 2 weeks for me and I have to make my down payment (read: half) before then so I was only planning on pledging $15. Tonight, after I made my donation through KickStarter, Jim Parrack (Hoyt on True Blood) had just posted a Tweet. Feeling kinda lucky, I shot out a Tweet to him to see if he would RT it. I said I would double my pledge. Well don't ya know, he did JUST that! And who says famous actors don't care? Seriously, love this man. Seriously.

And so, the proof is in the pudding.

*And I'm still grinning like an idiot*

The 101 Project: Movies

Source: photos.visitbutlercounty.com via Mary Elizabeth on Pinterest

I know this is kinda an empty page now, but over the next 1001 days it will fill up with movies that I've seen during that time. Sound like fun? Wanna play along? See this post about the 101 Project!

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (08/11/12)
2. Big Fish (08/11/12)
3. The Rainmaker (08/12/12)
4. Gulliver's Travels (08/15/12)
5. Thirteen (08/17/12)
6. The Kids Are Alright (08/23/12)
7. Rio (08/27/12)
8. The Blindside (08/27/12)
9. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (08/28/12)
10. Bend It Like Beckham (08/28/12)
11. Part of Me (09/18/12)
12. Hysteria (09/19/12)
13. Bel Ami (09/19/12)


On my DVR to be watched...
Cedar Rapids
Contagion
Crazy, Stupid Love
Evening
In America
Inception
J. Edgar
Johnny English
Les Miserables
Master and Commander
One Day
Paul
Polish Wedding
Prince Valiant
Puss in Boots
Sherlock Holmes
The Education of Little Tree
The Legend of The Guardians
The Man in the Moon
The Statement
The Tree of Life
Win Win

The 101 Project: Books

Source: bookshelfporn.com via Julia on Pinterest

I know this is an empty page now, but over the next 1001 days it will fill up with books that I've read during that time. Sound like fun? Wanna play along? See this post about the 101 Project!

The 101 Project

It's that time again to get started on the 101 Project! For those of you who havent experienced it yet, the 101 Project is essentially a list of 101 things you want to accomplish/experience/create/etc in the next 1001 days. Yep, almost 3 years to get them done. I try to make realistic goals but if I don't get them done in the time allotted, no worries! I'll add them to the next 101 Project. Here's the breakdown:

The Mission:

Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:

Tasks must be specific (ie, no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?

Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:

1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

Start Date: Friday, August 10, 2012

End Date: Friday, May 8, 2015
Last Update: Monday, September 24, 2012

Goals completed: (6/101)

I'm using Day Zero to help me keep track of my accomplished goals.

You Can Do It!

1. Complete the EMT program

2. Complete the Paramedic program

3. Get CPR Certified

4. Run a half-marathon

5. Complete a Sudoku book

6. Vote!

7. Influence a person to make a 101 list

8. Write an inspiring message in a public bathroom

9. Run 1 mile a day from Thanksgiving to New Years.

10. Put away $5 for each task completed ($30/$505)

11. Send 10 postcards via PostCrossing (11/10)

12. Wear a skirt or dress every day for a week

13. List 500 items in my Etsy shop (17/500)

Have Love, Will Travel

14. Go camping... anywhere

15. Visit Stephanie in Montana

16. Seattle!

17. Thunder Over Louisville

18. Rolex 3 Day Event in Lexington, KY

19. Memphis Zoo

20. Atlanta Aquarium

21. New Orleans

22. Times Square for New Year's Eve

23. Move to another city

24. Visit the Hoh Rain forest in Washington

25. Go to the Harry Potter theme park

I Can Make That

26. The 365 Project... using Instgram photos (see post) (51/365)

27. December Daily (Seriously, just do it.)

28. One (completed) layout each month (0/24)

29. Finish 3 quilts (0/3)

30. Make 10 mini albums (0/10)

31. Crochet 1 afghan (0/1)

32. Design a rubber stamp set and have them made

33. Design the rest of my tattoo sleeve

34. Rent a booth at the Reelfoot Arts & Crafts Festival next year

35. Post 20 DIY tutorials (0/20)

36. Take a photo of the same place every month for a whole year (0/12)

37. Make a custom recipe book

38. Make a video about a typical day of my life

39. Blog makeover!

40. Make a piece of clothing for myself. And actually wear it.

41. Finish my 'Wreck This Journal'

Eat, Watch, Read & Be Happy

42. Watch 101 movies (see post) (5/101)

43. Read 101 books (see post) (0/101)

44. Complete the 2012 Pinterest Foodie Challenge (4/20)

45. Visit 10 new restaurants (1/10)
8/11/12 - Backyard Burgers - Paducah, KY

46. Eddie Izzard's Force Majeure!

47. Go see a new movie at least once every two months (0/17)

48. Collect a post card from each country (1/196)

49. Go see a movie at IMAX

50. Try 3 new drinks from Starbucks (1/3)
8/11/12 - Iced Coconut Mocha

51. Have one whole day of Harry Potter movies, back to back.

52. Don't eat for 24 hours

53. Participate in an mp3 mega mix swap

Retail Therapy

54. DSLR (Yes, please!)

55. New laptop!
8/11/12 - HP Pavilion g Series

56. Assassin's Creed 3

57. Tattoo sleeve

58. A good pair of headphones

59. These earrings

Experience

60. Have my fortune read

61. Go for a spa treatment

62. Have my make-up done at the MAC counter

63. Do the polar bear swim on New Year's Day

64. Visit 5 museums

65. Attend a baseball game at Fenway

66. Attend a costume party

67. Go snorkeling/scuba diving

68. Swim in the ocean at night

69. Learn how to play a song on the piano

70. Go to 3 concerts

71. Send a secret to PostSecret

72. Tour a scotch distillery

73. Take pictures in a photo booth

74. Go to a chiropractor

75. Swim with the sharkies

76. Go to a winery. And get inebriated

77. Get a professional bra fitting

78. Ride a train somewhere

79. Stay at a 5-star hotel

80. Participate in a flash mob

List/Organize/Unplug

81. Make a list of my top 50 movies

82. Make a list of my top 50 most favorite quotes

83. Make a list of the 100 songs I could listen to forever

84. Organize my music collection

85. Don't go on Facebook for a week

86. Pay off my credit card debt

87. Clean out my closet

88. Turn off my phone for 24 hours

89. Make an emergency kit for my car

90. Go electronic free for a whole weekend (no cell, internet or tv)

Giving Back

91. Donate blood twice a year (0/8)

92. Register as an organ donor

93. Take 500 photos for Find A Grave (0/500)

94. The Color Run (proceeds go to a local charity)

95. The Warrior Dash (proceeds go to St. Jude's)

96. Donate 5 books to the local library (9/5)

97. Find out my blood type

98. Wear a 'Free Hugs' sign in a crowded place. Give out hugs.

99. Give a 100% tip

And then...

100. Blog about each goal completion (0/101)

101. Complete a whole new 101 project with any leftover goals not accomplished

Somehow I have 102 (I screwed up somewhere!) It's probably a duplicate, but I'll search for it later. (Found it.) I've spent the past week making this list and I want to get it live. 

I encourage everyone to at least try this once in their lifetime. If you'd like to try it along with me, post the link to your list or blog post about it in the comment section.

Good luck to all!

There's An App For That

I'm always curious as to which apps people have been using. There's only a few games that I play religiously on my iPad. Usually I download one on a recommendation only to delete it a few days later.

My top 3 most used have to be the Google Calendar, Facebook and Twitter apps. I love the calender because it allows you to have multiple calendars all on one. And they're color coded (score!) So I can keep track of my work, school, birthdays, craft shows, TV show reminders and appointments all at a glance. Thank you, Google. 

Here's my most used/favorite apps so far (the italicized apps are on my iPhone only):

Photography/Graphics:

Instagram 

Percolator

Pic Stitch

Phoster

Labelbox

WowCameraPro

Games:

Mystery Manor 

The Tribez

Ticket to Ride

Triple Town

SongPop

DrawFree

Woozle

TrainConduct

Spore

Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor

Utilities/Misc:

Calendars

Evernote

Ancestry

Goodreads

Police Scanner+

Songza

Kindle

BofA

Shelf Backgrounds

Soundtracking

Work/Craft:

Square Register

PayPal

Soap

Michaels

Network:

Facebook

Twitter

Blogsy

Flipboard

Foursquare

Trover

So, what apps can't you get enough of?

Shop Update

Hopefully (camera willing) these, along with a boatload of others will be posted in the shop this weekend!

Woo!

The Pinterest Foodie Challenge

Source: momspark.net via Erin on Pinterest

I've been pinning a crapload of stuff to my Foodie board on Pinterest. I think I'm now up in the 200's. I always say to myself, "Oh, that looks good. I'll try to make that!" Has it happened yet? Of course not! Which is where my readers and my trusty little blog come in. 

Challenge Time!

I'm picking out 20 new recipes to try before the end of the year. It works out to almost one a week. I'm also adding this challenge to my 101 Project, which I'll be finishing up and posting later this week. So, without further adieu, here are the first 5 recipes: 

William Tell's Never-Miss Apple Cake

Source: tasteofhome.com via Jen on Pinterest

Chicken & Dumplings

Source: myrecipes.com via Jen on Pinterest

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

Source: twotinykitchens.com via Jen on Pinterest

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Source: penniesonaplatter.com via Jen on Pinterest

Crispy Cheddar Chicken

Source: jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

Blogs of Note

Finding new blogs makes me happy. And you can NEVER have enough happy.

Source: etsy.com via Brandie on Pinterest

I love it when I stumble across new blogs via ones that I already visit. Ones that inspire me. Blogs that light a fire under my ass. Ones that make me want to run into my studio and immediately pull out my paper, scissors and trusty glue stick and start creating. Blogs that make me say, "Girl, I SO get what you're going through right now."

Source: tumblr.com via Silvia on Pinterest

Ali has been one of my constant reads for quite a few years now. I don't always comment on her blog, I'm more of a silent observer. I love Jamaica Makes but she doesn't update that often and I always end up missing her posts about her Etsy listings. I want one of those Duly Noted packs, damn it! Kelly's blog was discovered late last year while Googling scrapbook layouts, this one specifically. I ended up working the overnight last night and literally spent the entire 8 hours reading every post. What? She's got some great layouts! I also just found (literally, like 30 minutes ago) Ann-Marie Loves Paper. I'll continue to stalk her blog tonight. Yep, another third shift for me. I have many more blogs that are on my 'Read' list, but I'll save those for another day. Until then, Go! Go off and peruse new blogs!

Source: besthandlotion.org via AidaRingrose on Pinterest

What are some of your favorites reads?

The 365 Project

The 365 Project
Simply, a photo a day. For one whole year.
Taken with my iPhone 4.
Edited via Instgram.
Posting on Shuttercal.

Find me here.

Shuttercal has me listed as starting 07/14, but I'm actually officially starting today. I had some extra IG photos kicking around from my vacation in July so I added those.

Rebranding, Kinda

You can find my old blog, and catch up on past shenanigans here.