Project Run

And this folks, is why I am starting Project Run. It is all too true! I have always wanted to be a runner. I have never been a runner. I did soccer when I was in 10th grade. I LOVED it! I actually didn't hate life when I ran. Unfortunately, by the end of the year, I had shin splints. And ever since then, when I tried to run, I would get shin splints. So I started hating it. I also hate all the jiggling that happens when I run...but, I just need to set that aside.

I recently discovered an awesome running program! It's called Couch to 5k. I am currently on the "couch". I love this program! It is a great transition for somebody who is not a runner. I have been doing it for about a week and I have no sign of shin splints! I still don't enjoy all the jiggling going on while I run...but, the only way to get past that is to keep on running!

I'll keep you posted! Hopefully I will be 5k ready in just a couple months! Woot!

Homemade Bread!

This is my second attempt EVER at homemade bread! My mom is the expert bread maker...her bread is well known with our friends and family. So, I always have mooched off of her goodness...One time, when I was in high school, I tried to make her bread and...well...I'll be honest, my dad and brothers used it as a football... :( So I shyed away from bread making for a while! But, now that I am a wife and mother I have felt the desire to refine my cooking/baking skills! And it has been fun! This is my most recent attempt at the bread making! I must say, I was pretty darn proud! It turned out great and our house smelled SO yummy and happy!! :) 


I did not take any pictures during the making process. I wish I would have! But, here is the recipe:


3 cups of warm water
3 cups of flour
1 heaping tablespoon yeast


Mix well then let it rise for about 20 minutes. It should double in size.


Then you will add:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 tablespoon salt


You will mix that. As you are mixing you will add 2-4 cups of flour. Enough to make it so it's not sticky, but you don't want it too dry either. You will mix for 10 minutes on high.


Put the dough in the bread pans. Let it raise for 20-30 minutes. It will almost double again. Bake for 30 minutes at 350.


If you want to make rolls only bake for 20 minutes.


This recipe made me two loaves and a few rolls. I probably could have not made the rolls and made the loaves a touch bigger. But they turned out ok, all in all.


Look how beautifully golden they are!

Mmm...it was sooo yummy. Smothered in butter and honey. It took me right back to my childhood, eating delicious bread with my family!

Mmmmm...this is making me hungry...maybe I'll go make some more!!! :)

Name Board

This is something that I did a while ago, but it is one of my favorite crafts to do. 

First, you get a board. I found this scrap wood in the wood pile at my parent's house. Free is best! :) But you can also get wood for super cheap at Home Depot in their "left over" pile.

Then, I went to the scrapbook store and I grabbed a bunch of paper that spoke to me (in the colors of my daughter's nursery)...I spent $10 on paper and ended up only using half of it...So, I cut the paper into strips and glued them on the board with Mod Podge.

This is how it turned out after I had glued all the paper down.

Then we went to my wonderful aunt's house to use her cricut machine (which is soooo awesome!!) and cut out my daughter's name and two hearts...and I mod podged the letters on the board. And this is the final result!

I'm really happy with how it turned out...I LOVE the paper that I found! There are a few flaws...the board is a little warped and the paper got crinkled when I glued it on...so there are a few wrinkles, but I don't think they'll be that noticeable once we get it on her wall. Not too bad for my first time!

I have actually made another one or two of these since...and they turned out even better. I'll post pictures of them in another post. If you would like to order one, contact me! I would love to make one for you!

Marble Nails

This is a discovery that I have been BEYOND excited about!! I've been sharing it with everybody I come in contact with!

Aren't those THE coolest nails you have ever seen!! How fun are they?? And the best part is...it's not difficult to do! These pictures are of the my very first attempt at this method of nail painting.

Wanna know how it's done??

Pick out your favorite colors of polish. I used ICE brand...one of the cheaper brands at  Wally World.

Next, find a small container (the smaller in circumference, the better). Fill it with warm water. Cold water does strange things to the nail polish. This tupperware is officially my "nail" dish. As you can tell, it's already stained with polish. :)

Now you are going to put droplets of your nail polish in the water. You do need to work fairly fast, because the polish dries...

 Alternate your colors...a tip: don't wait for the previous color to spread. Just put them right on top of each other and they will spread as you go. 

 Also remember...it's ok if the polish gets a little messed up...you are going to swirl it up anyway and the mess up may turn out to be something beautiful. 

I worked too slow because I was taking pictures. :) My polish dried before I could swirl it. 

Here is what it looks like after I get all my polish on the water.

 Then you will take a toothpick and drag it through the polish. Once you find the design you like, you will dip your finger!

 I lay my finger horizontal to the water and place it on top of the pattern I want. After I've gotten the pattern on my nail, I will extend my finger so it goes totally under the water. Then, take the toothpick and gather up the remaining polish from around your finger, so that when you pull out of the water you don't get any extras clinging on to the nail. Repeat the process for every nail or two. 

 And there you have it!! :) Ok, ok...I know they look horrible what with the polish all over my fingers. I decided to show you that it can be a messy process. I did tape the bottom half of my fingers. I have heard that you can use vaseline on the skin to prevent the polish from sticking.

 But, imagine tomorrow...after I have scrubbed the polish off my skin!! Didn't they turn out neat??

I'm sad that you can't see all the detail in these pictures. So I guess you just need go do it and see for yourself!! :) One more tip that has helped me...if you paint your nails white before you do all the dipping, the colors will POP more! :) 

Happy marble-ing! :)

I found this tutorial here.




****UPDATE****


Here are my nails after I got the polish cleaned off my skin. (I find it very easy to take the polish off when I do my nails at night, then wash the polish off in the shower the next morning).

Sock Bun!

For my very first post on my brand new blog, I thought I'd put something up that I was so super excited to find!

Ok, my super creative and crafty neighbor, posted this amazing hair curling trick on her blog. I was super excited to try it out...so I did.

First, watch this video...it will teach you the awesome-ness.

And...here are the results of my very first attempt at the sock bun:

Sorry the picture isn't super great...do you have any idea how hard it is to take a picture of the back of your head??

I loved the results I got! So, I'm the kind of person that has to wash my hair daily...or it gets too greasy looking. But, I found that if I wash my hair just before I go to bed and do the sock bun, it doesn't get bad...especially if I use this AMAZING product that I found!

It's Suave Dry Shampoo! You just spray the roots of your hair when they are getting a little oily...and VIOLA! Your hair looks all fresh! And it smells AMAZING! I love this little gem! It's found by the professional hair products in my Walmart.

So. Back to the sock bun. It's difficult to do with long hair and hair that has layers. So, last night I tried a different way to do it. I did two buns on top of my head (Yup...Princess Leia style...). It helps to put the buns in while your head is still upside down. I also brushed my hair out after I sprayed it down with water. After that, I used a bit of my Argan Oil hair serum...to keep it smooth looking and not ratty. I really believed this helped! 

This is my FAVORITE brand of Argan Oil. But, I haven't been able to find it locally (so if you know where to get it, give me the scoop!) I have a brand that I like just fine though. 

So, here is my 3rd attempt at a sock bun, first attempt at the Princess Leia Method:

I love the way it turned out! Much smoother looking and better curls. The Princess Leia Method is a great way to go for those with thicker hair. 

Again...I'm so glad that my friend introduced this to me...it cuts a good half hour out of my morning routine! And that's fabulous when you wake up at 4 am to go to work! :)