two napkins really do make a pillow

Happy Monday lovelies!  I hope you had a very beautiful and relaxing weekend.  Our weekends have changed a bit now that Daniel is working Sundays instead of Saturdays.  The transition has been harder than expected (I know, it seems silly that one day would make such a different).  We were in a groove on Sundays: make breakfast, go to church, grocery shop, relax all afternoon.  Now that he is working on Sundays we are limited when we can go to church.  Our church has an 8pm service, and last week we tried to go...it failed.  And I turned into that wife I didn't want to be.  I was upset that he can't just leave when he is "off", that we couldn't go to church, and it turned into the "Jamie Pity Show".  I know, it's not pretty.  And that makes me forever grateful for a loving, and forgiving, husband who never remembers these ugly moments the next day, and just hugs me through it all.  

So this morning I went to church solo.  And instead of being upset, I got inspired to catch up on some crafts that I've been wanting to do for a couple months.  On the list of things to do were make new throw pillows for the living room and new coasters.  

For the coasters I followed this tutorial and it turned out quite well.  I'm not very familiar with stenciling, so it was a bit of trial and error.  The cat kept jumping up on them, then the stencil would slip a minute later, paint was everywhere...in the long run here were the 6 that turned out: 

And the two that didn't.  

Next up were the throw pillows.  I attempted some last summer, and even though they were cute-they just weren't quite what I wanted.  I found the pillow forms at Ikea (after much digging around) for $6 each.  A friend mentioned that the best way to make pillows was to use fabric napkins!  Genius, right?  Off to Anthropologie I went and ended up spending way too much money.  They all ranged from $8-12 a piece.  So I decided to check our World Market, just to be on the safe side.  Turns out I was able to find napkins there just as cute, for only $3.99.  I ended up keeping one from Antrho and used the rest from World Market.  Oh, and the black and white one I can't take credit for-that's all Ikea.  Overall, I'm in LOVE with how they turned out and they are a beautiful reminder that we all have our moments and we can make something beautiful out of unpleasant attitudes! 

a lovely productive weekend

Remember my little sweet and sour week?  Well, I'm so happy to finally be out of the funk and waking up with a smile on my face. 

Maybe all of the heat in Palm Springs helped me sweat it out.  

But I just feel so incredible happy, peaceful, content.  

This weekend was amazing, and there wasn't anything in particular that we did.  In fact, the Mr. had to work the whole weekend.  But I took some "Jamie time" and sanded and painted, and covered myself in paint, and sweated like crazy, and come Sunday night I was able to cross another item off my Summer Bucket List!  

I decided to be a little adventurous with our dining room table and paint it!  The table is white and the chairs are light blue.  It's not completely done, and I'm actually not that happy with the chair colors, but I think I'm going to work on them a bit more and see what happens.  

I searched high and low for a before picture and couldn't find a good one.  Our table was a hand-me-down from our great aunt.  I finally decided to just go for it and got to business on Saturday.  

This was my first ever project like this.  As I was doing it I felt like a true DIYer!  And, I was covered head to toe in forest green paint, primer, and blue paint!  

I promise to keep you updated once it is completely done!  I'm going to seal the table and am thinking about roughing up the edges of the chairs to see if that helps at all.  

Well, on Sunday after I painted all day I went to Target and Trader Joe's (my two favorite places) and they did not disappoint.  Some of my favorite purchases: a new planner, Bossypants, salmon, and kettle corn.  I was determined to make a scrumptious dinner, which I did (recipe coming tomorrow).  Then, as if I couldn't do any more in my day I decided to sweep and mop all of the floors to create a sparkly clean surface for the new table and chairs to inhabit.  And then-dessert!  Four little words: Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread.  Heavenly!!  I think I finally sat down at 10pm, but didn't regret it one minute as I looked over at everything I had done throughout the day.  

On a completely separate and random side note, my friend handed over a beautiful zucchini to me.  One would ponder what all you could do with such a large zucchini.  Me?  Never!  In fact, I made three separate recipes from this one zucchini and will be sharing them tomorrow will you all! 

my perfect diy concealer

Well friends, do I have a treat for you!  I stumbled upon this beautiful trick, and maybe it's been around forever but that is quite alright.  I've discovered how to make my own concealer!

Let's face it.  I have blemishes and need some coverage over those bad boys, especially during a certain time of the month.  Foundation is something I have never worn before and use Bare Minerals.  Well, if you're a fellow Bare Minerals make-up user than you know that the coverage isn't quite all there.  

So I pulled out my moisturizer and mixed it with a little bit of my mineral powder, and wouldn't you know it was the perfect consistency, the perfect coverage, and it kept my skin hydrated instead of dried out and flaky (which is typical for this dry weather right now).  

I applied it over some blemishes around my chin line, which is where I have a tendency to break out, as well as a little bit under my eyes.  It was marvelous!!!  

summer bucket list revisited

The bucket list.

I thought I was doing pretty well, and then all of a sudden I went to revisit my summer bucket list and realized that I have some catching up to do!  I should cut myself some slack because I have accomplished some items on my list.  

One of the most important ones was doing quiet time daily.  When we were housesitting it was so nice to sit on the back porch and read in their beautiful backyard. Unfortunately our back porch is minuscule and not very private from the other tenants in our condo complex.  I have been reading everyday and am so thankful for She Reads Truth, I'm currently going through "Living the Surrendered Life" and have been thoroughly touched and amazed.  

Another big project for me was to get more organized.  That has slowly, but surely, been happening and I'm saving up for an upcoming blog post.  I wanted to share with you today two projects that have finally been completed that I am fanatically in love with.  

The first one wasn't on my summer bucket list because I started it two months ago.  Yep, you read that right!  The Mr. and I saw some chevron canvases in our friend's home and he thought I could make them for our house, and our guest bathroom was the perfect spot for them.  They were pretty easy once I got all of the taping down, but it took the Mr. almost a month to finally hang them.  They're now proudly adorning the walls in our bathroom and I love them dearly.  

Funny story: We couldn't decide on what saying we should paint.  I also was making the stencils using my Cricket machine.  The first saying just looked awkward, and I kept going back to the verses of one of my favorite songs.  So I repainted, made new stencils and got to work.  Well, the stencils sat for too long and then paper stuck to my canvases!  I grabbed a q-tip and a small paint brush and got to work to clean up the lines and from far away you can't even tell!  I love all of the little imperfections though, they fit nicely into how much God does really love us.  

Speaking of organization and bathrooms I wanted to show you guys one of my favorites.  I picked these up from Ikea and headbands fit perfectly in them!  I like having my headbands out so I don't forget about them.  My blow dryer also fits perfectly and is easily accessible. 

I can finally cross off making my first maxi skirt!  Being me, it didn't go as planned.  After I got busy making cute baby shower gifts for Heather I decided to be ambitious, wake up one morning and make a maxi.  Well, I used this tutorial and I didn't have enough fabric, I didn't have a surger, I am still a fairly new sewer, and the thing wouldn't go past my lovely lady hips.  So, I called my sister in law and had her try it on, hemmed it to fit her, and now we have matching skirts!  To make my maki skirt I used this tutorial.  It's still a bit too big because I made sure I had plenty of fabric but I've worn it countless times now and am in love.  Now I've been on the hunt for lighter weight jersey knit fabric that has a cute pattern so I can make another one!

4 more wake-ups and a recipe!

4 more mornings I have to set my alarm for 5am or earlier...

4 more mornings filled with desperately reaching for the start button on the coffee maker in the dark...

4 more long drives to work counting down the days till summer...

4 more days filled with crossing off the never ending to-do list and scrubbing paint off of the desks...

4 more days filled with little ones who accidentally call you "mama"...

Can you tell summer is almost here?!?!?  Next Tuesday is the day, the last day of school.  And as much as I can't wait for it to be here it is also bittersweet because some changes are coming.  That's right-next year I'm teaching second grade!  I've only taught kindergarten and I have the opportunity to teach second grade next year, and I couldn't pass it up.  So I'm trying to soak up all of the last kinder memories while also maintaining my patience and grace.

The one thing that I love waking up to in the morning is breakfast, especially since I have THE best granola in my pantry.  And it didn't come from a box, or a bag, but straight out of a tupperware filled with the love from my hard work. I was always frightened by making granola, the ingredient list just seemed so long.  But once I made it I was a changed woman, the thought of spending money on granola at the store makes me cringe. 

Here is my current favorite granola recipe from yours truly: (and don't be intimidated by the ingredient list)

Vanilla Cinnamon Granola

4 c. gluten-free rolled oats (I buy the big bag from Trader Joe's)

1 c. sliced almonds

3/4 c. raw pepitas

3/4 c. raw sunflower seeds

1/2 c. ground flaxseeds

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

2/4 tsp. salt

1/4 c. canola oil

1/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp coconut sugar crystals (purchased at Sprouts)

1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce

1/4 c. + 2 T. honey

1 Tbsp. vanilla

3/4 c. dried cranberries

3/4 c. raisins

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.  Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl,  mix together oats, almonds, pepitas, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, cinnamon, and salt.

  3. In a microwave safe bowl, combine the oil, 1/4 c. sugar, and 2 Tbsp applesauce.  Microwave 20-30 seconds and stir to dissolve the sugar, then stir in 1/4 c. honey and the vanilla.

4. Pour the wet ingredients onto the dry ingredients and mix well until the oats and nuts are completely covered.  Spread evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 30 minutes.

5. While baking, mix together 2 Tbsp. sugar, applesauce, and honey.  Set aside.  After 30 minutes, remove the granola and drizzle the remaining wet ingredients on top.  Use a rubber spatula to press the granola firmly onto the baking pan.

6. Bake for an additional 30-35 minutes.  Let cool and then break apart.  

At this point you can just start chowing down and this sweet goodness, or you can store it in an airtight container and enjoy on top of a scrumptious bowl of greek yogurt and blueberries or slice bananas.  

Enjoy!

keeping up with the lafuzes

Whew!  I can barely believe that January is gone and February is here.  Well, my grad school is in full swing so I've had to say so long to the days of coming home to no homework and weekends spent relaxing on the couch.  Life looks a lot different from two weeks ago, but maintaining balance has been my top priority.  I feel like I haven't shared what we've been up to lately so here's some snapshots to entertain...

making Sunday pancakes.

It's a tradition!

getting lots of kisses when I get home from little miss Minnie.

buying a new rug for our living room.  

We like it, now if we can just get a coffee table and make some pillows to brighten it up!

staying classy-ish for a fun date night.

having this breathtaking view in front of us while sipping a fabulous glass of wine.

To say I love San Diego would be an understatement.  

eating lots and lots of Fage greek yogurt + blueberries + pepitas + agave.  

I'm kind of obsessed right now.

sewing an adorable project for a good friend who is expecting a little boy.

I can't wait to show you what I made with a friend, but that'll have to wait just a couple more weeks :)

making this!

It took me less than 10 minutes to type, print, and cut everything.  It sits right next to our coffee pot since that's what we both see first in the morning (ha!) and we love it.  We just erase and write our own comment with a dry-erase marker.

spending lots and lots of time in front of the computer doing homework and lesson planning.  On the weekends you'll typically find me cozied up in the corner at Panera Bread or Starbucks glued to the screen and my textbooks.  

On Friday nights when homework is my companion, wine just might also be present.

dusting off the cowboy boots and buttoning up our plaid shirts to go line dancing.

Oh, how I LOVE dancing!

spending whatever time I'm not doing homework/work/errands on the weekend doing laundry...and folding socks.  Not. My. Favorite.

I'd like to invent a robot to come and do laundry for us.  I don't mind the washing and drying, it's just the folding that doesn't quite tickle my fancy.  If you know of something with this miraculous robot please send them my way!

"be merry" bunting tutorial

This holiday I have slowly been adding some homemade decorations to make it feel a little more Christmas-y!  

Side Note: So this project started a while ago and I was a horrible blogger and did not take pictures of the first process.  But, I did take lots of the second half, so do not fret!

I had a vision: I wanted to create bunting that read "Be Merry", and I wanted it to be made out of burlap.  

So I started along making my burlap triangles and strung them with red material.  Then, I realized I needed to figure out how I would get the letters onto my burlap.  I scoured Wal Mart and Michaels for the perfect stencil for me to paint.  Sadly I left empty-handed...well at least with no stencils, I can always find something to buy among these two places.  

And so the bunting sat, and sat, and sat.  I wish I could remember when the thought struck me, but it was a stroke of genius.  I could use my Cricut machine to create my stencil!!!  

I pulled out my Cricut and used my George's Font cartridge.  

I cut out the letters so they were 2.5 inches tall and I used the shadow effect so that the letters were thicker.  The lovely letters were then punched out of the paper and I was left with...

My Stencil!  By this point I was on cloud nine that I figured out how to make my own stencil so easily and that my bunting would be up before Christmas!  

Then, I laid the stencil over the burlap and held it tight in place with my fingers.  Using a sponge brush and red paint, I went over the stencil.  I only used one coat of paint because that is all it needed.  

I lifted up the stencil with eyes slightly closed just in case it was a disaster.  But, TA-DA!!  B-e-a-utiful!  

Finally my bunting was ready to be hung.  I'm so very sorry that this picture isn't the best, I forgot to take more but promise to show it at a better angle later this week.  I love the simplicity so much that I want to leave it up all year long as a beautiful reminder to find joy in life.  

This project was filled with lots of firsts:

first bunting project

first time using burlap

first time finally feeling comfortable with my Cricut machine

first time creating my own stencil

first time stenciling anything

first homemade Christmas decoration

What do you think???

my first giveaway!

Hi everyone!  I'm jumping for joy over here because I'm offering my first giveaway today.  

If you'd like to win this:

Head over to Henning Love with the beautiful Meg!  This lovely lady offered to let me post my first giveaway on her blog.  And, you get to choose the color: teal or red.  So head on over, good luck!

I can't wait to bless one of you with this beautiful necklace!

http://henninglove.blogspot.com/2011/12/december-sponsor-and-giveaway-from.html

diy applique onesie

One of my room moms just had a baby boy, and I decided to finally get my craft on and make some appliquéd onesies.  I found this tutorial online and got busy!

All you need is:

-Heat N Bond

-Scissors

-Onesies 

-Fabric

It is SO easy, that my mind was racing with ideas for future projects.  Just follow these 4 easy steps and you will have your own, personalized onesie!

1. I first cut out my design from fabric (his name is Daniel). 

2.  Then, I ironed it onto one side of my head n bond.  

3.Next, I cut the design out of my heat n bond.  

4.There is a paper back that I pulled off next, and then ironed on the final design.   

Ta-Da!

I also made one with a little tie on it.  

On this onesie, I hand stitched around it to add a little more details.  

Now, they're wrapped up and ready for baby Daniel. 

 What do you think????