tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74777131570792256812024-03-12T20:49:44.829-03:00Homemakin and DecoratinJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.comBlogger235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-52303813425262874462013-10-09T23:54:00.003-03:002013-10-10T00:05:41.753-03:00Gender Reveal Party <div style="text-align: center;">
I meant to post photos from our Gender Reveal party months and months ago, and I just remembered! </div>
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We had planned to do the party at a really pretty park in town, but the weather just didn't cooperate with us, so we set it up downstairs in our church dining room. </div>
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So here are all the lovely pictures from our party that day! ... Beware- LOTS of photos! : )<br />
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First, here are the invitations that I created on Picmonkey.com. I found my inspiration while browsing through Pinterest. I was able to find clip art on Google to save and insert to Picmonkey.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mN5fxZktgJg/UlYZWhDkjaI/AAAAAAAAFaE/cbDcsUC9wIk/s1600/Party+Invite+word+update+500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mN5fxZktgJg/UlYZWhDkjaI/AAAAAAAAFaE/cbDcsUC9wIk/s1600/Party+Invite+word+update+500.jpg" /></a></div>
{obviously we weren't able to do the party at the park.. bummer}<br />
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I planned and prepared pretty much everything for the party myself. Of course I got many of my ideas from Pinterest! Like the banner over the food table. That idea came from <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/97266051/gender-reveal-burlap-banner-baby-shower?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_source=Pinterest" target="_blank">this banner</a></span>, which is originally found on Etsy. I didn't have any burlap material, but I had some tan-ish fabric. I hand painted each of the letters and hearts, then hot glued the triangles to a ling of twine. I LOVE how it turned out! </div>
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I really enjoy when I'm able to put together a special party and I have SO. MUCH. FUN with all the little details! I'm totally a "detail" person when it comes to planning these kinds of things! </div>
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For the drinks I just bought a big container of powered lemonade and added Koolaid packets to make the colors blue and pink. Blue raspberry Koolaid and Cherry Koolaid. The blue needed a little help, so we added some blue food coloring. I made labels for the drink dispensers with kraft paper and twine. </div>
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To raise the drink dispensers, I brought my two largest pots from home and turned them upside down to make little stands and covered them with fabric. I had the pink and blue fabric already in my fabric stash, so that worked out perfect! </div>
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The little heart banner is made from kraft paper and my super cool paper heart punch! </div>
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I kept the food and treats pretty simple so I wouldn't be overwhelming myself with all the prepping. </div>
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Pink Bow and Blue Mustache sugar cookies! </div>
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I bought the mustache cookie cutter from Etsy and the bow cookie cutter came from Ebay. </div>
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I made the sugar cookies a couple weeks before the party and just froze them until the day before the party so I could frost them. Normally I use royal icing, but I decided to try a butter cream frosting this time and I am SO glad I did! It was SO much better than royal icing could EVER be! I will never make sugar cookies with royal icing again, they were soooo delicious! I just colored the butter cream frosting with food coloring. </div>
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Aren't they just ADORABLE?! </div>
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Rice Krispie treats dipped in pink and blue colored chocolate </div>
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Mini pretzels dipped in blue and pink chocolate </div>
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CUPCAKES!!! </div>
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Okay, these were not anything special. I wanted to use cupcakes as our way to reveal the gender. I didn't make them, but I supplied everything to this local teenage girl I found through our online classifieds in town. I paid her to make our cupcakes and insert the color (pink or blue) into the middle of the cupcakes and then frost them. I have this little cupcake corer thing I got from Ebay that worked perfect. When I went to pick the cupcakes up from her she had turned my white top frosting green and yellow!!! AAHH! So being the picky person I am, I went home and as carefully as I could, I scraped off the yellow and green and refrosted most of the cupcakes. I just did enough to look good on the table, and brought the rest of the yellow and green ones in case we ran out. </div>
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I made my own cupcakes toppers using my heart punch, craft paint, and toothpicks. </div>
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I got the idea to dye the edges of the cupcake liners from <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://hellolittlewren.com/2012/03/26/dip-dye-cupcake-liners/" target="_blank">this post</a></span>. </div>
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Pretty blue and pink striped paper straws from Etsy.</div>
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I love Mason jars, so of course I decorated some with twine to hold the straws. </div>
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Baby's ultrasound photo framed was a nice decoration for the table! And of course I love adding some cuteness with Scrabble tiles : ) </div>
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Everybody got to wear a felt pin to show their vote. Pink bows and black mustaches. I got my inspiration to make them from <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/93755562/gender-reveal-party-pins-bows-and?ref=sr_gallery_2&ga_search_query=gender+reveal+party&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade" target="_blank">here</a></span>! </div>
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The chalkboard is just some cardboard painted with chalkboard paint. And I found the little boy and girl clip art from searching Google. I fell in love with the framed little boy and girl clip art idea after seeing <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.ontobaby.com/2012/04/yellow-and-white-gender-reveal-party/" target="_blank">this gender reveal party</a></span>. </div>
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We gave an "Old Wive's Tale" quiz before finding out the gender. You can find the printable quiz <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.throughcloudedglass.com/2012/09/more-gender-reveal-party-games.html" target="_blank">here</a></span>. </div>
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After we gave the quiz and the answers, I went through the list and told which ones applied to me.. just for fun in case that changed anyone's vote! </div>
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We also took some team pictures with signs I made before finding out the gender.</div>
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I had been thinking "boy" for quite a while .. </div>
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Hubby had been thinking "girl" .. </div>
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But I was right!! : ) </div>
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B. O. Y ! </div>
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Such a fun party! Loved it! </div>
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Check out my <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/jessicamets/gender-reveal-ideas/" target="_blank">"Gender Reveal Ideas"</a></span> board on Pinterest for more fun ideas! </div>
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Also, come check me out on my other blog, <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.bumpingintostyle.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Bumping into Style</a></span>, where I share my maternity outfit endeavors (or "attempts" .. ) and little tid bits of my pregnancy progress! I am currently in week 34! </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="" important="" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-14430780141783736562013-09-18T14:26:00.001-03:002013-09-18T14:26:50.485-03:00Make Your Home Smell Delicious! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's a super cool thing I figured out to get my home smelling super amazing! I just wanted to test it out and see if it would work. I know we've all seen ideas on Pinterest for simmering orange peels and cinnamon sticks to get your house smelling lovely and holiday-like. So I thought I'd try with some coffee beans! We aren't coffee drinkers, but I LOVE coffee flavored things and the aroma. Hubby bought this bag of beans for my birthday last year and made the candle/coffee beans idea thing for me that I had found on Pinterest. </div>
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All you need is just a small handful of beans and little bit of water in a small pot. {I really need to get a cheap thrift store pot for things like this}. Keep the burner on low heat and soon your home will be smelling wonderful! I LOVE THIS TRICK! Just be sure you remember every once in awhile to check the water level!! ... Burned coffee smell does NOT smell as amazing! ; ) </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1WoDR2jQfGE/UjneMkSo9dI/AAAAAAAAFNs/MwqBCd7jOjs/s1600/simmer+coffee+beans+for+smell3+500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1WoDR2jQfGE/UjneMkSo9dI/AAAAAAAAFNs/MwqBCd7jOjs/s1600/simmer+coffee+beans+for+smell3+500.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="" important="" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-65946628885602440162013-08-30T12:21:00.002-03:002013-08-30T12:25:20.986-03:00Coffee Cozy Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dP_Zjz9qCUE/UiC23u1S6OI/AAAAAAAAFF8/EtjvQF96_Mw/s1600/yarn+for+cozy+giveaway5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dP_Zjz9qCUE/UiC23u1S6OI/AAAAAAAAFF8/EtjvQF96_Mw/s1600/yarn+for+cozy+giveaway5.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Doing a quick and fun little giveaway over on my <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/metsymade?ref=hl" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span> page today! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Winner gets to customize their own cozy with the colors of their choice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">come on over to my page and join the Fall anticipation fun! </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="" important="" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-8545260902420678072013-08-23T12:50:00.000-03:002013-09-03T11:54:02.599-03:00Create an Etsy Shop Banner With Picmonkey<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HcoeAvaRYWw/UheIusf5ViI/AAAAAAAAFDc/OVofKqOZ_Oo/s1600/etsy+banner+how17b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HcoeAvaRYWw/UheIusf5ViI/AAAAAAAAFDc/OVofKqOZ_Oo/s1600/etsy+banner+how17b.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here's a super easy way to create an Etsy shop banner without having to download a certain program and learn how to use it from watching youtube videos! I used to have to download GIMP, an editing program whenever I wanted to create my Etsy banners. And I always forget how to use it because it seems a little complicated. Today I was feeling like making a change to my shop banner but I couldn't find the GIMP program on my computer and was not about to download it again! So I went to Picmonkey and figured out an easier way! Let me show you! <br />
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Head over to the <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.picmonkey.com/" target="_blank">Picmonkey</a></span> website and click "create a collage." <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-79JFnbs_5i4/Uhd2hUUBgPI/AAAAAAAAFBc/ld_sFXXdfxA/s1600/etsy+banner+how1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-79JFnbs_5i4/Uhd2hUUBgPI/AAAAAAAAFBc/ld_sFXXdfxA/s1600/etsy+banner+how1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Click the little mountains icon and a box will pop up allowing you to pick the image you want to use for your background. You'll want to choose a photo that does not have large images on it because they will most likely be cropped off due to the size you will need to make this banner. Some ideas of what you can do for your background image could be taking a photo of a patterned piece of fabric like small floral print or polka dots, or maybe even doodling on paper. You could also find free background images online too! <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UuljLww5cl4/Uhd2mZQ4KdI/AAAAAAAAFCg/KQheVOqRwgE/s1600/etsy+banner+how2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UuljLww5cl4/Uhd2mZQ4KdI/AAAAAAAAFCg/KQheVOqRwgE/s1600/etsy+banner+how2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Now open the "FB Cover" layouts selection and click one of the options. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqcdaL5XasE/Uhd2m9wGpNI/AAAAAAAAFC0/E913zubg4Ug/s1600/etsy+banner+how3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqcdaL5XasE/Uhd2m9wGpNI/AAAAAAAAFC0/E913zubg4Ug/s1600/etsy+banner+how3.jpg" /></a></div>
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I chose the first option and then hit the "x" in the corners of the extra boxes to make it one big blank rectangle, for one photo. But if you are wanting multiple photos on your banner, then choose what you like.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqraGuIRwwE/Uhd2m0Hk7RI/AAAAAAAAFCs/m7jXgzAO4h4/s1600/etsy+banner+how4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqraGuIRwwE/Uhd2m0Hk7RI/AAAAAAAAFCs/m7jXgzAO4h4/s1600/etsy+banner+how4.jpg" /></a></div>
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Next, click the little paint palette and move the spacing all the way to the left. This just makes it to where there is no white border around the image. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GV0Zz6XKM_E/Uhd2m0CC4bI/AAAAAAAAFC4/I6sVJwpUkGc/s1600/etsy+banner+how5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GV0Zz6XKM_E/Uhd2m0CC4bI/AAAAAAAAFC4/I6sVJwpUkGc/s1600/etsy+banner+how5.jpg" /></a></div>
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Make the image box narrower by clicking onto a side of the box and moving it.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aku0cK-wkpw/Uhd2nZQlHGI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/tytMUlNeegU/s1600/etsy+banner+how6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aku0cK-wkpw/Uhd2nZQlHGI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/tytMUlNeegU/s1600/etsy+banner+how6.jpg" /></a></div>
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Go back to the little mountains icon and click and drag your image into the box.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zt-x6szIOAc/Uhd2n_ncTQI/AAAAAAAAFDE/UE3d82u-RUU/s1600/etsy+banner+how7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zt-x6szIOAc/Uhd2n_ncTQI/AAAAAAAAFDE/UE3d82u-RUU/s1600/etsy+banner+how7.jpg" /></a></div>
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Now click "Edit" which will open up all the photo editing options. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9N7g1WCbZBU/Uhd2oL6KtyI/AAAAAAAAFDM/76OF3FQlz1Q/s1600/etsy+banner+how9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9N7g1WCbZBU/Uhd2oL6KtyI/AAAAAAAAFDM/76OF3FQlz1Q/s1600/etsy+banner+how9.jpg" /></a></div>
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The rest of these instructions are how I did mine, but I'm including them anyway just to show you and give you the idea.<br />
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Open up the "Overlays" section which is located under the "P" icon (the heart, star, and word bubble icon), and choose any of the label options if you want to insert any of the images offered. I chose the rectangle from the "Geometric" section. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYhkns0OYYY/Uhd2jwma-mI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/sXyLPfMSc1k/s1600/etsy+banner+how10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYhkns0OYYY/Uhd2jwma-mI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/sXyLPfMSc1k/s1600/etsy+banner+how10.jpg" /></a></div>
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I changed the size, color, and faded-ness (is that a word?!) of the rectangle. Adding this rectangle is mainly for helping my shop name stand out against the background.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S6llTiBK2U/Uhd2j9rkLJI/AAAAAAAAFBs/XCyukRqgLRg/s1600/etsy+banner+how11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S6llTiBK2U/Uhd2j9rkLJI/AAAAAAAAFBs/XCyukRqgLRg/s1600/etsy+banner+how11.jpg" /></a></div>
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Position the image where you would want it to go. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmuMtCUtqpU/Uhd2j2LpOII/AAAAAAAAFBw/_QZjda-1emQ/s1600/etsy+banner+how12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmuMtCUtqpU/Uhd2j2LpOII/AAAAAAAAFBw/_QZjda-1emQ/s1600/etsy+banner+how12.jpg" /></a></div>
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Now you can add your shop name to the banner. Open up the "P" and you'll find all the fonts available. Click add text and fill in the box that pops up on the screen. Edit it how you like and position where you want it. <br />
{You can add another text box if you are wanting another section of words but in a different font}<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrllT5qtF1o/Uhd2kXY4e9I/AAAAAAAAFB8/DqRpWQkdpgk/s1600/etsy+banner+how13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrllT5qtF1o/Uhd2kXY4e9I/AAAAAAAAFB8/DqRpWQkdpgk/s1600/etsy+banner+how13.jpg" /></a></div>
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Ah, looking nice! <br />
Now click "save" which is right above your image.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-evq7XLPic7M/Uhd2kqMU2DI/AAAAAAAAFCA/iipF3-I57Uo/s1600/etsy+banner+how14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-evq7XLPic7M/Uhd2kqMU2DI/AAAAAAAAFCA/iipF3-I57Uo/s1600/etsy+banner+how14.jpg" /></a></div>
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Before saving to your computer, you want to change the image size to 760. That's the only number slot that I changed and then saved it to my computer. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPrJca_A1Ec/Uhd2lTxZJ5I/AAAAAAAAFCM/HmLBlaK2-SM/s1600/etsy+banner+how15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPrJca_A1Ec/Uhd2lTxZJ5I/AAAAAAAAFCM/HmLBlaK2-SM/s1600/etsy+banner+how15.jpg" /></a></div>
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Ta-da!! A new fresh look! <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoMmmi5A4ao/Uhd2lm9z-SI/AAAAAAAAFCY/tdiMPEDAE1g/s1600/etsy+banner+how16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoMmmi5A4ao/Uhd2lm9z-SI/AAAAAAAAFCY/tdiMPEDAE1g/s1600/etsy+banner+how16.jpg" /></a></div>
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I hope this works for you! I'm not too techy with all the measuring, sizes, editing and such of photos when it comes to things like this, but I just know it worked for what I wanted. So hopefully it can work out for yours as well. I'd love to know if you use this idea and how it turned out for you! Leave a comment and link to your shop if you'd like! <br />
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Thaaaaanks and happy editing! </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="" important="" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-60884181736515376922013-08-19T22:25:00.000-03:002013-08-19T22:49:17.493-03:00Blueberry Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rAqcR0a1hYQ/UhK824s5fDI/AAAAAAAAE-0/jIiyhJxI8ek/s1600/blueberry+pie+homemade+crust2blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rAqcR0a1hYQ/UhK824s5fDI/AAAAAAAAE-0/jIiyhJxI8ek/s1600/blueberry+pie+homemade+crust2blog2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Fall is just around the corner.. I feel it! .. Actually I feel really hot and muggy, but I also feel Fall coming! Last year I said I was going to make pies. It really was on my Fall "to-do" list. But it never happened. So I'm getting a head start this season! I made my first pie today! .. Well, okay, I've made cooked chocolate pudding pies for Thanksgivings, but this is my first "other kind" of pies. And I have to confess, it's not completely homemade. The crust is homemade, the blueberry is canned pie filling. hehe! Baby steps, people! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q4axS76kRTw/UhK82pvGXXI/AAAAAAAAE-o/PHPCRiebIFk/s1600/blueberry+pie+homemade+crust1blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q4axS76kRTw/UhK82pvGXXI/AAAAAAAAE-o/PHPCRiebIFk/s1600/blueberry+pie+homemade+crust1blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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I found Your Homebased Mom's<span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/perfect-pie-crust-tutorial/" target="_blank"> pie crust recipe</a></span> on Pinterest. </div>
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I read on other websites to use COLD shortening and COLD butter. So I scooped out what I need of shortening, and stuck it in the freezer for a few minutes. It's usually in my pantry and the humidity here keeps it super soft. I cut my butter up in little chunks. Then just followed the recipe. My dough didn't turn out very flexible and .. non-tearable. Lots of recipes say not to handle the dough too much, but I don't really know what that means.. cause I try to get it all together and mixed well. I guess pie crusts is an area I will need some practice in! It still looks okay! I just had a hard time getting the top crust over the pie and fixing it pretty without it breaking a little in places. </div>
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I made sure to poke holes in the bottom crust several times with a fork to prevent it from bubbling and poofing out during baking. While I rolled out the top crust, I kept the bottom crust in the freezer to keep firm. I used a little paring knife to cut out the heart on the top. A little fondant cutter would work perfect too! I'll have to get some just for things like this. In went the canned pie filling, on went the top crust.. which was the part I struggled with most, because the dough was starting to tear. I snipped away all the excess dough hanging from the sides, pinched the edges, then brushed water on top of the crust and sprinkled a little bit of sugar. I watched Martha do it in <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S--5I-2uti8" target="_blank">this video</a></span>. </div>
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The instructions on the can of pie filling said to bake it at 425* for 30 minutes. I put it on the bottom rack and baked it for 15 minutes, then took it out and covered the edges with tin foil pieces so they wouldn't burn. I put it back in the oven, on the top rack, for about 10-15 more minutes. </div>
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And here's my pretty blueberry pie! It's just so cuuuute! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qgMVGieDXBk/UhK89BQD9tI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/TXboQBEF_DI/s1600/blueberry+pie+homemade+crust7blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qgMVGieDXBk/UhK89BQD9tI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/TXboQBEF_DI/s1600/blueberry+pie+homemade+crust7blog.png" /></a></div>
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Y.U.M !!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For this "Perfect Pie Crust" Recipe, visit <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/perfect-pie-crust-tutorial/" target="_blank">Your Homebased Mom </a></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="" important="" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-91267019682170707492013-06-12T14:02:00.000-03:002013-06-12T14:02:54.329-03:00My New Style Blog! <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My new little baby bump has inspired me to start having some fun and creativity in getting dressed! So I started a new blog for fun and motivation to keep me dressing my best during pregnancy! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://bumpingintostyle.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Come check it out!</a></span> </span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.bumpingintostyle.blogspot.ca/">www.bumpingintostyle.blogspot.ca</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="" important="" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-5045516926241708582013-05-18T21:47:00.000-03:002013-05-18T21:47:10.641-03:00"Life is Better in Flip Flops" Decor Sign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ah... flip flops. One of the things I look forward to the most out here in Canada when the warm weather comes! Back when I lived in California I could pretty much wear them all year long! But... here in Canada, .. ya, not so much. So I really wear the heck out of my flip flops during the few short warm months we have! </div>
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To further express my love for flip flops I made a cute little sign to decorate my living room. Yes, I painted another piece of scrap wood! If you didn't see the first one I made a couple weeks ago, you can see it <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://homemakin-decoratin.blogspot.ca/2013/05/hand-painted-wooden-sign-decor.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></span>. </div>
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This time I took photos while I crafted this one. So I thought I'd do another tutorial cause, well, let's be honest, tutorials are so much more exciting when there are photos to go along with the instructions.</div>
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I first sanded all the edges, corners, and the top surface real smooth. With a sponge brush, I painted the top and sides with a layer of watered down brown acrylic craft paint and a drop of black craft paint mixed with that to make a darker shade of brown. Then I wanted to give it some sort of aged or sanded sketchy look, so I watered down (not too much) some white craft paint and did two to three coats of that. I like how the dark shows through the white a little bit. Looks kind of beachy like... which is perfect for this quote! </div>
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Okay, now some photos! </div>
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I free handed the words on my last wooden
sign, but this time I created a Word document, making sure to size
everything to fit. I got my ideas for the layout from searching that
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Flipping the printed paper over, I rubbed a piece of chalk all over where the words were placed on the other side. Because my board was painted with white, I used a bolder/brighter color. </div>
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After making sure all the backs of the words are covered in chalk, I flipped my piece of paper back over, placing it where I wanted it on the board, the words now facing up. I used some painter's tape to keep it in place. </div>
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Now you are ready to trace all the words! </div>
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Just grab a pen and trace and outline all of the letters. </div>
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Once you're done tracing and you remove the paper, you get this! </div>
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Chalk lines on your board that are now ready to be filled in with paint! Super easy and neato trick for transferring words or shapes onto something for painting! </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBmt5cVi34k/UZgT31Tn6WI/AAAAAAAAEUk/wlGhRHGjCCE/s1600/flip+flop+blog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBmt5cVi34k/UZgT31Tn6WI/AAAAAAAAEUk/wlGhRHGjCCE/s1600/flip+flop+blog4.jpg" /></a></div>
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I found all my skinny little paint brushes at the dollar store! They work great! </div>
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And now I have an adorable new summer decor sign! </div>
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The perfect craft for a lazy Saturday afternoon. I actually find these painting projects very relaxing. </div>
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The mustard yellow is a little hard to see until you come closer. But it looks great in the photos! And at least it will make me happy since I sit near this spot often! </div>
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Hmmm.. I have one more piece of scrap wood.. what should I paint next?!</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="" important="" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-8376535430533772712013-05-16T00:37:00.000-03:002013-05-16T01:28:04.606-03:00First Comes Love, then Comes Marriage, then Comes... <div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">B . A . B . Y ! ! ! </span></div>
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YEP! YEP! YEP! </div>
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Our little family is growing! </div>
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I am now in my 13th week, but last week's photo is the latest one I've taken. </div>
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I had my first prenatal appointment and we were able to hear the baby's heartbeat! That was quite a moment! Hubby and I were so happy, we couldn't stop smiling! What an amazing thing, to be able to hear proof of a little LIFE growing inside of you. So emotional! </div>
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Sunday, Mother's Day, we announced the news to our church. What a perfect day, right? We didn't plan it that way either. We just wanted to wait until after our first doctor appointment to tell people (other than close family, who already knew) and that just happened to be the next Sunday. Our pastor had all the mom's stand during church, to give them a little something special. He said to me, "Since we believe that life begins at conception, you stand up too, Jessica." : ) </div>
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Finally I am starting to feel more myself after having constant morning sickness for 6 weeks. I've lost weight due to not being able to eat much at all and not being able to keep foods down. All I could do was lay around on the couch or in bed all day long. Poor Hubby was preparing his own lunches during his half hour breaks and dinners as well. The sight, smell, and thoughts of food would send my stomach whirling! Of course Hubby was perfect about it all. He was doing all the dishes and taking care of everything for me. Constantly running to the grocery store whenever I had a thought of something I might be able to eat and keep down. There was one really bad week where I couldn't get out of bed at all. Water wasn't even staying down! I was feeling pretty dehydrated and got a little nervous. But after that week it eased a tiny bit. I learned that bananas were the ONLY thing that would calm my stomach. So after I figured that out, I never went anywhere without a banana and always kept one on my nightstand for late night nausea and a bite to start the morning. Not saltines, like most everyone suggests. Those would totally gross me out and make me throw up. I haven't eaten a saltine cracker since week 5. Yuck! Morning sickness has eased up a lot now, but there are still occasional nausea spells. Right now I'm finding evenings are not so lovely, or when I got without eating something for too long I get sick. My appetite is still not completely back, and eating is still mostly a chore. I try what I can, or what doesn't completely make me want to puke at the thought. </div>
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Ew.. at the moment I'm feeling my first bout of heartburn I think.. ouch.. </div>
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My craft room is now under construction! .. Saying goodbye to my little craft room, which was usually messy and unorganized! But I'm going through everything in there and organizing or throwing out things. Wow, what a chore this is! I rearranged our master bedroom walk-in closet and made room to store all my crafting supplies. I'll save all those details for another post when I'm done with that department! But I'm eager and excited to clear the room out and begin making a baby room! I've pinned LOTS of ideas on my Pinterest <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/jessicamets/oh-baby/" target="_blank">"Oh Baby!"</a></span> board and hoping to be able to work some of those fun ideas into the room!</div>
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Well, so there's our happy news! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wonderful are your woks; my soul knows it very well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Psalm 139:13-16</span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="" important="" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-33924272497646944842013-05-15T19:07:00.000-03:002013-05-15T19:07:35.547-03:00Old Plant Stand Made Pretty <div style="text-align: center;">
Last winter I picked up this old neat looking plant stand from someone's trash pile at the end of their driveway. .. I seem to like trash finds, don't I? </div>
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<br />Since the warm weather has finally graced us with its presence, I decided I felt like giving it a makeover! So out of the storage closet it came! </div>
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I brushed it up a bit with a little scrubber to get some little bits of gunk left behind from when I gave it a bath in my tub after bringing it home. Then gave it a quick wipe down with some bathroom cleaning wipes. </div>
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Spray painting can be a challenge when living in an apartment, so I went for some acrylic craft paint.. plus it's cheaper! The color on the bottle says Aqua, but the photo totally doesn't show its true color. It has more of a greenish tint.. I can't describe it very well really. But it's very vibrant and not as dull as the photo shows. I hate that! But atleast I can see it's true beauty when I look at it in person! </div>
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It's so nice to sit out on my balcony and work on a project on a nice sunny day!</div>
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And here's my new plant stand!</div>
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.. Don't laugh at my poor droopy little plant. I've had it since our first year of being married and it's kind of always been a mopey little plant. </div>
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I think I like it inside.. not sure still.. </div>
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And I think I'd like to get a pretty new pot to fit inside.. white, maybe? </div>
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Refreshing little update :) </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="" important="" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-49919906560580000702013-05-08T23:25:00.002-03:002013-05-15T19:09:12.605-03:00Hand Painted Wooden Sign Decor<div style="text-align: center;">
HELLO HELLO! My goodness, it's been ages since I've hung out at my blog! The last time I blogged was in December! I miss the days when I used to blog about everything I did.. I've gotten a bit lazy I guess. Well guess what?! I was feeling crafty last weekend and went browsing through my <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/jessicamets/creative-craftiness/" target="_blank">Decor board</a></span> on Pinterest to see if there was anything pretty I could make. I found this <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/117234396519635546/" target="_blank">pretty hand painted wooden sign</a></span> that I'd pinned forever ago and decided since I had a piece of scrap wood I'd give it a try! </div>
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And here it is!</div>
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Didn't it turn out lovely?! </div>
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I decided to put it up on a small wall to the side of our couch, right next to the balcony doors. I was never sure about what to put in that spot, or if I should put anything there at all.. in case it looked too crowed with having my photo wall above my couch. But that's where I put it up! Along with a cutie little vintage bicycle decor piece that I got from my Grampa (I begged him for it), who got it from my mom a few years ago haha! I always wanted to put the little bicycle up somewhere but I'm just not creative when it comes to adding wall decor in an attractive way. I take waaaaay too long thinking about stuff first, and then I just get tired thinking so I forget about it! </div>
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I think it looks GREAT! I'm in love with it! And I can't stop looking at it whenever I come into my living room. It makes me smile and say, "Awwwee..." </div>
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As difficult as it was to get a hold of my husband's attention while he was grossly and intensely watching his favorite hockey team play in the playoffs, I was able to get him to hang my new decorations up on commercial breaks! ... </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMsNyr9nPho/UYsB4R4MFmI/AAAAAAAAEOY/VpDAPDm4Szo/s1600/diy+painted+wooden+sign2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMsNyr9nPho/UYsB4R4MFmI/AAAAAAAAEOY/VpDAPDm4Szo/s1600/diy+painted+wooden+sign2b.jpg" /></a></div>
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Check out those sunburns! </div>
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Now, I didn't take any photos during the creation, because I didn't think about blogging! But it was pretty easy. First, to get the stained look, I watered down some brown acrylic craft paint with water and covered the board a couple of times till it was a shade I liked. When dry, I began on the words. I drew my words on a piece of paper while looking at the pinned inspiration photo for a guide. I did "Love" first and when I had it all drawn up how I wanted it, I took a piece of chalk and rubbed the back of the paper all over where the word was. Then I gently placed the paper where I wanted it on the piece of wood, with the chalked side facing down onto the wood. Taking a pen, I traced over the letters. When I lifted the paper off, the word was drawn onto the wood with the chalk!! Super easy for transferring! So then I just filled it all in with craft paint! (I'm in love with that color these days!) And I just repeated that same process with the rest of the words on the sign. The rest was a little tougher for me though, because I can't seem to write nicely.. After that was all finished and dried I covered the whole board with a clear varathane finish. That's it! </div>
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Feels nice to share something on my blog again! : ) </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="" important="" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-9754389570772080452012-12-21T12:19:00.000-04:002013-05-09T11:51:05.457-03:00Christmas Caramel Popcorn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sTFkitKcn68/UNPst2QQCUI/AAAAAAAAEKM/xoU1N9QHsOM/s1600/christmas+at+our+home8editedit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sTFkitKcn68/UNPst2QQCUI/AAAAAAAAEKM/xoU1N9QHsOM/s1600/christmas+at+our+home8editedit.jpg" /></a></div>
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Want a super yummy treat to make for your Christmas Eve or Christmas day get-together? This caramel popcorn is UH-mazing!! I promise! I made a huuuge bowl of it for our church Christmas party and came home with an empty bowl! I found the recipe on <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.bakedperfection.com/2010/12/christmas-caramel-popcorn.html" target="_blank">Baked Perfection</a></span>. </div>
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So what you need to do first is pop a whole bunch of popcorn. Instead of popping the microwave bagged popcorn like Risa did, I just did it on the stovetop in a ginormous pot! </div>
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If you have popcorn kernels, the directions will be on the bag. But you
will pour a little bit of oil in the pot, maybe about 1/4 of a cup. Turn
the stove on to about medium low. Then you put ONE kernel inside, close
the lid and wait to hear it pop. Then you'll know the oil is hot enough
to pour in the rest of your kernels. You'll only want one layer of
kernels in the pot, so pour them in till the whole bottom pan is filled
of one layer- no kernels on top of each other. Then you just shake the
pop around a little here and there. It makes lots of noise banging around. :) But I LOVE hearing the sound of the popcorn popping! </div>
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After it's all popped, I split it between 3 of my sprayed glass baking dishes. </div>
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Then you move onto making the caramel! Here's what you'll need for that:</div>
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3/4 cup of butter</div>
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1 1/2 cups of brown sugar</div>
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1/4 + 1/8 cups of light corn syrup</div>
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1/4 + 1/8 teaspoons of baking soda</div>
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1 teaspoon of vanilla extract</div>
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red and green food coloring</div>
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Start by heating your butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a medium sized pot. Stir, making sure to get all the clumps out. Bring it to a boil and keep stirring. Then let it boil for about 5 minutes. I let it sit without stirring too much. After 5 minutes, remove it from the heat and immediately add the baking soda and vanilla. The baking soda kind of changes the color and makes the caramel look a little puffier.. maybe that was just my eyes.. </div>
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Now we want to split the caramel 3 ways. So first I pour 1/3 of the caramel over one dish of popcorn (just eyeball/guesstimate what 1/3 is). Then I pour another 1/3 of the caramel into another pot and added green food coloring, then pour it over a dish of popcorn, then I added red to the remaining caramel left in the other pot. I actually had my Hubby's help because I was stressing about the caramel setting too quickly before I could get all of it done! So I actually reheated the last bit of caramel again to get it pour-able again. As hubby was reheating and stirring, and I was stirring and coating the other dishes of popcorn. When the caramel cooled a bit, I put down my spatula and just used my hands to incorporate the caramel all over the popcorn. </div>
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When all the popcorn is coated with caramel it gets baked in a 250* preheated oven. </div>
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Set the timer for 15 minutes. </div>
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When the timer is done, stir the popcorn around. </div>
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Set the timer for another 15 minutes. </div>
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Then stir the popcorn again. </div>
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Then set the timer for the last 15 minutes. </div>
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Now it's done! </div>
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Taste your homemade caramel popcorn and freak out because it's so great and you'll never buy caramel popcorn at the the store ever again! ... Atleast, that's what I did! </div>
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I made another batch just for Hubby and me later that week since we didn't get much of it at the church party! .. I just didn't add the food coloring step. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GLa0xnoc7AY/UNSKDjD4dGI/AAAAAAAAENI/eXzHlaRtzSw/s1600/christmas+at+our+home11edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GLa0xnoc7AY/UNSKDjD4dGI/AAAAAAAAENI/eXzHlaRtzSw/s1600/christmas+at+our+home11edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-76351696389953458082012-12-03T18:58:00.000-04:002012-12-03T18:58:16.386-04:00Crochet: Simple Statement Ornaments<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yBeSea4jiWg/UL0nS4dSDXI/AAAAAAAAEGo/ywJ34yQOzK0/s1600/christmas+ornaments8+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yBeSea4jiWg/UL0nS4dSDXI/AAAAAAAAEGo/ywJ34yQOzK0/s1600/christmas+ornaments8+blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here's a simple and easy crochet project I pinned onto my Christmas board a few months ago. I found the idea on a blog called <a href="http://goodknits.com/blog/2011/11/13/crochet-simple-statement-ornaments/" target="_blank">Goodknits</a>. She crocheted around these circular objects called cabone rings. I've never attempted or even thought about crocheting around objects like this before. I wasn't planning on making them, until I found some old curtain clip rings {6 to be exact} while I was cleaning out my craft room last weekend.<br />
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I just took out all of the screws and got to work creating pretty new ornaments for our tree.<br />
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They were pretty easy for the most part. Basically single crocheting around the ring, filling it up (took 45 single crochets), and then lots of chaining and more single crochets to form the little loops. But you can just go check out the instructions for yourself on <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://goodknits.com/blog/2011/11/13/crochet-simple-statement-ornaments/" target="_blank">Goodknits</a></span>. <br />
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I think they turned out cuuuute!<br />
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I didn't have any wire ornament hooks so I just made my own with some wire I had. Paper clips would also work for making ornament hooks. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mj_E5XfTkG0/UL0qtGT4jhI/AAAAAAAAEIM/BpcIKPC1t1Y/s1600/christmas+ornaments5+blog+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mj_E5XfTkG0/UL0qtGT4jhI/AAAAAAAAEIM/BpcIKPC1t1Y/s1600/christmas+ornaments5+blog+edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K70JviThO-0/UL0tFmUThYI/AAAAAAAAEIk/xo70YFYL-bI/s1600/christmas+ornaments9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K70JviThO-0/UL0tFmUThYI/AAAAAAAAEIk/xo70YFYL-bI/s1600/christmas+ornaments9.jpg" /></a></div>
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OooOOOooOoOhh... presents under the tree already!?! ;)<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-81413736903640432432012-11-28T17:43:00.000-04:002012-11-28T17:43:31.578-04:00Crochet Coffee Cozies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V1EssSANDxU/ULZ_Sd7C-6I/AAAAAAAAEDE/sDWEheLJk8Y/s1600/coffee+cozies+add2+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V1EssSANDxU/ULZ_Sd7C-6I/AAAAAAAAEDE/sDWEheLJk8Y/s1600/coffee+cozies+add2+blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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I recently discovered the fun of making crochet coffee cozies.. and now I can't stop! </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xqTq4m5d5mc/ULaDGq2wvwI/AAAAAAAAED8/1IAKaxViubk/s1600/bowtilful+coffee+cozies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xqTq4m5d5mc/ULaDGq2wvwI/AAAAAAAAED8/1IAKaxViubk/s1600/bowtilful+coffee+cozies.png" /></a></div>
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I'm absolutely IN-LOVE with these bow cozies! They are so fun to make!</div>
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I pretty much made up my own pattern that works for me. At first, crocheting in the round (or circle) was a bit confusing.. I'd tried it before when I first started crocheting but gave up. Now I think I've got it down. </div>
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I made some other styled cozies as well.. </div>
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Embellishing them is the best part! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk8BYbYmVK4/ULZ_VLcEsjI/AAAAAAAAEDc/WIsSv7cErKw/s1600/my+own+coffee+cozy+with+a+large+coffee+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk8BYbYmVK4/ULZ_VLcEsjI/AAAAAAAAEDc/WIsSv7cErKw/s1600/my+own+coffee+cozy+with+a+large+coffee+blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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No burned fingers for me! </div>
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I've added a few to my<span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MetsyMade?ref=si_shop" target="_blank"> Etsy shop</a></span>, and I've posted more of them on my <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/metsymade?ref=tn_tnmn" target="_blank">facebook page</a></span> as well! </div>
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They'd make perfect little Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers, maybe along with a gift card to a coffee shop! </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-67813241270073284502012-11-28T14:59:00.000-04:002012-11-28T14:59:10.194-04:00Christmas Has Started! <div style="text-align: center;">
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . . </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JpJdzzoPuX0/ULZdYM2bf8I/AAAAAAAAECA/S1BiTbi1Y1w/s1600/christmas+lights.1blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JpJdzzoPuX0/ULZdYM2bf8I/AAAAAAAAECA/S1BiTbi1Y1w/s1600/christmas+lights.1blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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Got a new cd and can't stop listening to it!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CaFcG74vdvI/ULZdXWqGBzI/AAAAAAAAEB4/3A0-B8Bakyo/s1600/christmas+cd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CaFcG74vdvI/ULZdXWqGBzI/AAAAAAAAEB4/3A0-B8Bakyo/s1600/christmas+cd.jpg" /></a></div>
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We cut down our first REAL Christmas tree! </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zIm-V0LkuS0/ULZdCBcpkkI/AAAAAAAAEBY/xsCNBN2LZEA/s1600/first+real+christmas+tree+u+cut+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zIm-V0LkuS0/ULZdCBcpkkI/AAAAAAAAEBY/xsCNBN2LZEA/s1600/first+real+christmas+tree+u+cut+blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's such a beautiful tree!! </div>
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Decorated with my handmade yarn wrapped cardboard star ornaments</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UInjOggf_w/ULZdIKER9sI/AAAAAAAAEBw/DmgMrIqfioU/s1600/star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UInjOggf_w/ULZdIKER9sI/AAAAAAAAEBw/DmgMrIqfioU/s1600/star.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CrNZBtZ2lk/ULZdHN3UOWI/AAAAAAAAEBo/5erHrIybenQ/s1600/first+real+christmas+tree+u+cut3+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CrNZBtZ2lk/ULZdHN3UOWI/AAAAAAAAEBo/5erHrIybenQ/s1600/first+real+christmas+tree+u+cut3+blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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That's all the decorating done in our home so far! </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-11630135684073410402012-10-25T11:45:00.000-03:002012-10-25T12:20:25.173-03:00Three Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Three years ago ... </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">October 24, 2009</span></div>
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And I thought I loved him THEN! </div>
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He was my first everything... </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First LOVE</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First {and only} BOYFRIEND </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First KISS</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> {saved it for my wedding day} </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First ... ;) </span></div>
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{totally worth waiting till it's in the context of God's design!</div>
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So happy that we have no regrets to think back on!! </div>
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Doing things the way God planned is so great!}</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Gfw_aEOFyM/UIlJIjuHFxI/AAAAAAAAD-A/nXeTCbPs2G8/s1600/3rd+anniversary2+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Gfw_aEOFyM/UIlJIjuHFxI/AAAAAAAAD-A/nXeTCbPs2G8/s1600/3rd+anniversary2+edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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Our marriage is not perfect, nor do we hope or expect it to be, but we are totally perfect for each other. <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Imperfectly Perfect!</span> </div>
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Things get better every day, even through the rough spots. The hard parts make us realize we can't do this marriage thing on our own, just the two of us. We need God too! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 127:1 </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.."</span> </div>
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{that was the verse my pastor spoke to us about during our wedding ceremony} </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3KihTcgO6c/UIlKLX-NMmI/AAAAAAAAD-o/w-hle31v6Cg/s1600/3rd+anniversary+milkshake9+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3KihTcgO6c/UIlKLX-NMmI/AAAAAAAAD-o/w-hle31v6Cg/s1600/3rd+anniversary+milkshake9+edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCyNzgtVsTc/UIlKKcRzNTI/AAAAAAAAD-g/0W_81DGBeaQ/s1600/3rd+anniversary+milkshake1+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCyNzgtVsTc/UIlKKcRzNTI/AAAAAAAAD-g/0W_81DGBeaQ/s1600/3rd+anniversary+milkshake1+edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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I could not imagine my life without this guy!<br />
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True love is sweeter than strawberry milkshakes! </div>
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I love you, Babe! </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-343421302256248182012-10-12T11:20:00.000-03:002012-10-12T11:20:33.681-03:00Mason Jar Stamped Gift Tags<div style="text-align: center;">
Eeek! I've always wanted a mason jar stamp and finally I found one at Michael's on sale! ... and I think it was the only one left! YEAH! I've been making gift tags with them! They're so CUTE! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Tn_KKOVEfE/UHgmW1oezyI/AAAAAAAAD9E/onOXZSuzlv0/s1600/mason+jar+collage+at+500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Tn_KKOVEfE/UHgmW1oezyI/AAAAAAAAD9E/onOXZSuzlv0/s1600/mason+jar+collage+at+500.jpg" /></a></div>
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P.S.. I posted them on my <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/metsymade" target="_blank">Facebook page</a></span> first, before adding them to my shop! So if you see a set you like hurry over and leave me your paypal email address!! </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-72586747269073786902012-10-10T11:00:00.000-03:002012-10-10T11:00:04.713-03:00Those Gorgeous Fall Leaves <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeJ4dO6d-c4/UHS-RCVXTrI/AAAAAAAAD7g/yXjr6MFLU-c/s1600/Fall+leaves+changing+coloredit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeJ4dO6d-c4/UHS-RCVXTrI/AAAAAAAAD7g/yXjr6MFLU-c/s1600/Fall+leaves+changing+coloredit.jpg" /></a></div>
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These beautiful trees are behind our apartment and my eyes cannot get enough of their pretty fall colors! The trees here in the Fall are absolutely GORGEOUS! Lots of maple trees! I want to play in the fallen leaves all day long, .. but unfortunately all my neighbors would think I'm nuts! </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOG-BYLm5nk/UHS-Tqvj_zI/AAAAAAAAD7w/iYr03xebB08/s1600/fall+day1edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOG-BYLm5nk/UHS-Tqvj_zI/AAAAAAAAD7w/iYr03xebB08/s1600/fall+day1edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OETQeBnxcpk/UHS-Uvm87zI/AAAAAAAAD74/EGGKPDznXTs/s1600/fall+day3edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OETQeBnxcpk/UHS-Uvm87zI/AAAAAAAAD74/EGGKPDznXTs/s1600/fall+day3edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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I totally love my outfit here, by the way! : ) I really really LOVE mustard yellow of course, and I think it looks pretty good with the black and white striped shirt underneath. Nothin' like feeling cute and stylish on a pretty Fall afternoon. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s1ZGPVgv4Bw/UHS-Vs7SmmI/AAAAAAAAD8A/-6OC95DCT-8/s1600/fall+day9edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s1ZGPVgv4Bw/UHS-Vs7SmmI/AAAAAAAAD8A/-6OC95DCT-8/s1600/fall+day9edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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Have a mentioned that Autumn makes me feel all romantic-y and dreamy??? </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-34837152727739195172012-10-03T10:29:00.002-03:002012-10-03T10:29:56.758-03:00Fall Specimen Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The other day I came across this <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://myblessedlife.net/2011/09/how-to-make-specimen-art.html" target="_blank">pumpkin specimen art</a></span> from <span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://myblessedlife.net/" target="_blank">My Blessed Nest</a></span> and thought it was so super cute! I wanted to make my own, but I don't have a pumpkin punch. But I just purchased a large heart punch on Ebay, so when it came in the mail the other day I had my first project for it all figured out! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m6Et9y8KSyE/UGw6F2dXxnI/AAAAAAAAD6k/Sb-kuzESRyI/s1600/thankful+hearts+craft9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m6Et9y8KSyE/UGw6F2dXxnI/AAAAAAAAD6k/Sb-kuzESRyI/s1600/thankful+hearts+craft9.jpg" /></a></div>
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Months ago a neighbor gave me a huuuge stack of magazines when she moved, and I've had that stack just sitting around under one of our side tables. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eTOewdvXcDY/UGw6AUumitI/AAAAAAAAD5s/0Zi5QKBksb8/s1600/thankful+hearts+craft2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eTOewdvXcDY/UGw6AUumitI/AAAAAAAAD5s/0Zi5QKBksb8/s1600/thankful+hearts+craft2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Because I didn't have any cute scrapbook paper, I flipped through the magazines looking for designs and images I could punch out. There's TONS of pretty designs and images you could use from magazines! So before you throw them out make sure you get all the prettiness punched out of them! </div>
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I bought my cheapo frame from the dollar store and hot glued some burlap material to the back of the frame, glued my tiles on, then picked out 12 hearts I wanted to use and lightly glued them down. I didn't use the glass piece at all. I'll just throw it away.. or something. With a crafter nothing is trash, right? :) </div>
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I couldn't be more pleased! </div>
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So cute! </div>
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And I decorated my piano last night all Fall-ish. I don't have a mantel to decorate, so I use my piano! But I'll share that later on. I'm still finishing up on it. </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-2689983637401597722012-09-30T18:02:00.001-03:002012-09-30T18:02:54.538-03:00Pumpkin Blocks Decor <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEYGiQwyaNM/UGiu3RKRNWI/AAAAAAAAD4c/6nJV7J1T-n8/s1600/fall+wood+pumpkins1edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEYGiQwyaNM/UGiu3RKRNWI/AAAAAAAAD4c/6nJV7J1T-n8/s1600/fall+wood+pumpkins1edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's pumpkin time! I love pumpkins! They make such great Fall decor! </div>
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Here's a fun project I did to prepare for my favorite season, .. which is here now! My hubby's parents had a huge pile of scrap wood in the basement that they were going to use for firewood, but I thought I'd rummage through first and pick out a few pieces I thought worth saving! </div>
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I decided these plain squared pieces of wood could be cute transformed into pumpkins!</div>
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So I sanded every inch and corner of the pieces really well. To get the pumpkin lines in the wood I used a small knife from my kitchen and slowly made slice marks, then used the skinny edge of a folded piece of sand paper to make the slices more defined. </div>
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I mixed a few of my acrylic craft paints together to get a somewhat orange color. It turned out a bit more coral than I was going for, but after they were all painted I thought it was actually a perfect shade!</div>
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I took skinny pieces of wood I got from their pile and cut them to size to use for the stems, painted them, and hot glued them down. </div>
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To get my wire to look swirly-like, I twisted wire tightly around a pen, then played around bending them how I wanted them to hang, then hot glued the piece to the top of the block around the stem. Fabric bows seems like the perfect finishing touches! </div>
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I LOVE THEM! </div>
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They turned out so cute! I am so super impressed with my sweet little pumpkins! </div>
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Happy Fall Decorating! </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-65541986366855182432012-09-17T22:42:00.001-03:002012-09-17T22:42:38.819-03:00Happy Birthday To Me! <div style="text-align: center;">
28 Years Today! </div>
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Thank you Jesus, for 28 wonderful years of life! </div>
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What a great day today has been! First of all, it was my day off! Whoo-hoo! </div>
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No matter how old you get, your birthday is always special and you always feel like a princess : ) I hope it's not just me, but I want to be super cute on my birthday and feel it too! And today I felt it for sure. It helps when you have a cute husband who spoils you on your birthday too! Last night he was acting sneaky and kicked me out of my craft room and said I wasn't allowed to go in there until tomorrow. INSANE MAN! You can't kick a girl out of her craft room, even if it is because of her birthday!!!!! ... but I managed to survive the night : ) </div>
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This morning he made me a yummy breakfast </div>
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Then had me open his gifts... </div>
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Does my man know me or what?! .. he loves a happy woman! </div>
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He picked me these pretty flowers from a random bush across the street. I've been saying how I want to go out one night and pick some, because I see them from my living room. </div>
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His ever-so-sweet birthday card</div>
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Inside he wrote "..and again and again and again, if I had the chance." </div>
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Then I unwrapped these! </div>
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Now how many girls can say their husbands have done a Pinterest inspired project??? I've mentioned a few times how I wanted to do this, and he beat me to it : ) I'm proud of him! I burned them for about 20 minutes, but our whole apartment smelled like bacon so I blew them out to save the candles for later! </div>
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And the last thing I unwrapped was this precious acorn necklace! I found it on Etsy a few weeks ago and fell in love with it! He created an Etsy account just to buy this for me! I had created a treasury list of all my favorite Fall necklaces on Etsy. You can see that treasury list <a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTUyMTIwODZ8MjcyMDY5MjY1OQ/fall-in-love-with-these-necklaces?ref=pr_treasury" style="color: #e06666;" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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Can't wait to wear it in the Fall! I love it! </div>
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Birthday cards from people that love me </div>
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I didn't want to stay home all day since Hubby was working.. so I thought I would go to Michael's craft store since I hadn't been there in awhile and I thought they might have lots of Fall things out now. ... well, ehem.. I never actually made it to Michael's. I was driving by my favorite thrift store and had to stop! I texted Hubby just before leaving the thrift store, "I never made it to Michael's.. evil spirits lured me into Value Village!" </div>
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These are sweet things I found today while there! .. plus a few shirts. Look at those itty bitty baby shoes! I'm a sucker for teeny baby shoes. And my tiny colander! I'm going to get a small plastic pot and a put a little house plant in it. It'll be so cute! And I just couldn't pass up the "Mr. and Mrs" mugs. </div>
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I made a cookie for myself! Isn't it the cutest thing ever?! I purchased this cupcake cookie cutter from ebay and got it in the mail a couple days ago. I was dying to use it! It's so cute, I still haven't eaten it yet! </div>
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Of course I made Hubby one too! </div>
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Last night at church my sweet Sunday school student gave me this cake she made for me!!! Isn't she so sweet??? She is the only teen at our church and we have fun in our Sunday school class : ) </div>
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And my sister in-law gave me this pretty little cupcake thing. </div>
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I'm really not quite sure what exactly the inside stuff was, but it was very interesting and VERY pretty! </div>
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Oh happy day! .. does it have to end already?? </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-90824289514872116982012-09-12T14:57:00.000-03:002012-09-13T01:03:27.302-03:00DIY Polka Dot Shirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aCj6eLXkWM/UFC-oPh0gYI/AAAAAAAADw4/gKZU4UpYV-4/s1600/polka+dot+shrit+11+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aCj6eLXkWM/UFC-oPh0gYI/AAAAAAAADw4/gKZU4UpYV-4/s1600/polka+dot+shrit+11+edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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I like clothes. .. okay, I love clothes. I love looking through "my style" boards on Pinterest and finding inspiration for cute outfits. The other day I bumped into <a href="http://merricksart.blogspot.ca/2012/08/polka-dot-tee-tutorial.html" style="color: #e06666;" target="_blank">this pin </a>on how to make your own polka dot shirt. COOL! So I went searching for a cheap white shirt! I found one at my favorite thrift store for $2.99- perfect price AND perfect fit!</div>
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I put cardboard inside the shirt so paint wouldn't bleed through to the back. And of course a plastic trash bag under the shirt as well.. just in case. </div>
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I used Martha Stewart's craft paints, since it says it's good for fabric too. <br />
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The lid to one of our pill bottles was the perfect size for dots. I just dabbed it in the paint, and with my sponge brush, I took off the excess glob of paint. After a couple of dots, I ended up just using my sponge brush the whole time for painting the lid then applying it to the shirt. It kept my fingers a little cleaner too. <br />
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After I had all my dots on where I wanted them, I took my little paint brush and painted in the spots that were missing paint.<br />
{Oh, and I only put polka dots on the front of the shirt}<br />
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After the dots were dry, I ironed over all the whole shirt, leaving the iron on each dot for like 2 seconds at a time. At first I wasn't sure if I should put the iron completely down touching the shirt, or hold it super close, letting the heat and steam hit the dots. Well, I did it both ways haha. <br />
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I LOVE IT!<br />
It seriously looks like I just bought it somewhere like this. <br />
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I went outside for a few photos.<br />
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WOW, today is a GORGEOUS day here!<br />
I thought summer had left me for good.. but that sun was so bright and warm I could barely open my eyes<br />
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I really really like my new shirt! Hubby thought it was super cool too.<br />
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I haven't washed it since I've painted the spots. I know the Martha Stewart paints say they are for fabric as well, but I'm still nervous to wash it! Does anyone know anything about Martha's craft paints when it comes to painting on fabric/clothing?? I would really appreciate any info you know! Thanks!</div>
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Sharing at this linky party</div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-78630774082623131022012-09-05T09:51:00.000-03:002012-09-05T09:51:00.422-03:00DIY Acorn Necklace <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mexpPc6EyEQ/UEbJEHGu2hI/AAAAAAAADuE/arCdxl_6J64/s1600/acorn+necklace19edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mexpPc6EyEQ/UEbJEHGu2hI/AAAAAAAADuE/arCdxl_6J64/s1600/acorn+necklace19edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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Call me a nut, but I'm in love with acorns! </div>
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I've been collecting them from my husband's grandparent's yard every Sunday and I plan to use them in my Fall decorating. They are just so cute! I also saw some beautiful handmade necklaces on Etsy that I completely fell in love with! {<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60427688" style="color: #e06666;" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60732740" style="color: #e06666;" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/85760930" style="color: #e06666;" target="_blank">here</a>.} Then I was thinking about making my own.. I was looking around for some cheap supplies, then I bumped into<a href="http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2011/06/make-an-acorn-necklace/#" style="color: #e06666;" target="_blank"> this post</a> on how to make your own necklace from a real acorn! So I jumped off the couch and picked out the cutest acorn in my collection! </div>
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I started by gently removing the cap</div>
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Next I wanted to gut my little acorn, so I took my corn on the cob prongy holder thing and poked holes around the circle on the top of the acorn. Then I used my knife to cut out the circle, and then used one side of my scissors to dig the nutty stuff out and hollow out my nut.. that's alot of nutty goodness inside one little acorn! </div>
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After the acorn was hollowed out I pulled apart a cotton ball into a bunch of tiny shreds, squirt a drop of hot glue inside the acorn, then squished in a couple pieces of the cotton with my prong-y cob holder. I did this a couple of times till I got the hollowness filled. I'm not really sure why I did this part.. Maybe it will keep it from getting gross inside.. haha.. don't know. </div>
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Now I wanted to paint my acorn! </div>
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I thought a pretty bronze-y shimmer would be pretty, and I have this glittery shimmer eyeshadow I found at the dollar store. I never use it because the color doesn't look good on me. At first I dry brushed on the eyeshadow, but when I brushed on mod podge after that, the shimmer kind of wiped away and disappeared. So I did it again and tried spraying Krylon's clear spray instead of brushing, but it kind of blew all the shimmer off! ... Needed another plan! </div>
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I mixed the shimmer eyeshadow with some clear nail polish and used my little paint brush to apply it to the acorn. Had to work quickly because the polish was drying fast! </div>
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It worked! </div>
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And I just clear coated the top with a brush on clear paint I had. </div>
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Then I glued a jump ring to the acorn cap. I used a dab of E6000 and a dab of hot glue.. The hot glue to hold up while the E6000 dried. I thought E6000 would be stronger. I plan on painting the glue spot brown to match the cap so it's not very visible. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HWXG6hv6PmY/UEbJAPgq0LI/AAAAAAAADtc/izPehtj76cM/s1600/acorn+necklace14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HWXG6hv6PmY/UEbJAPgq0LI/AAAAAAAADtc/izPehtj76cM/s1600/acorn+necklace14.jpg" /></a></div>
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And now I have my own handmade Fall time acorn necklace! </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JdOH5DqudEc/UEbJA-AL-lI/AAAAAAAADtk/UL_w2D1oPCo/s1600/acorn+necklace15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JdOH5DqudEc/UEbJA-AL-lI/AAAAAAAADtk/UL_w2D1oPCo/s1600/acorn+necklace15.jpg" /></a></div>
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We took a walk last night and bumped into a couple with a wagon full of
puppies, and they were the SWEETEST puppies ever! They were a mix of Shihtzu and Poodle, making them Shihpoodles! I held a couple of them and one tried to eat my acorn necklace! haha!{I'm definitely getting a Shihpoodle puppy when we're able to have a pet!} </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x7WI0XJYjaY/UEbJDW4AUSI/AAAAAAAADt8/uskkon9vkaQ/s1600/acorn+necklace18edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x7WI0XJYjaY/UEbJDW4AUSI/AAAAAAAADt8/uskkon9vkaQ/s1600/acorn+necklace18edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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Such a fun little craft and would be perfect for gifts! And how cool that I had everything I needed on hand! Love when I find those kinds of projects!! </div>
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Happy Almost Fall Time!!!! </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-86390923700843601582012-09-03T13:07:00.000-03:002012-09-03T13:07:43.065-03:00Labor Day Discount <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Labor to all my friends! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Use code <span style="color: #666666;">LABORDAY15</span> and get 15% off total order in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MetsyMade?ref=si_shop" style="color: #e06666;" target="_blank">shop</a> today!! </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3A8aP7EWbe8/UETVl2NTxmI/AAAAAAAADsE/m_HbIqVkdgk/s1600/labor+day15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3A8aP7EWbe8/UETVl2NTxmI/AAAAAAAADsE/m_HbIqVkdgk/s1600/labor+day15.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-54406909588890278342012-08-29T17:17:00.002-03:002012-09-05T09:51:31.653-03:00Craving Fall <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-aYbJGMi5I/UD5t2kdbqVI/AAAAAAAADo8/zEHrcZRXzbI/s1600/fall11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-aYbJGMi5I/UD5t2kdbqVI/AAAAAAAADo8/zEHrcZRXzbI/s1600/fall11.jpg" /></a></div>
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The last couple of weeks I have really been doing nothing but dream of Fall time. It is my favorite time of the year and I can't stop thinking about how cozy it makes me feel. I've had the past two days off work and I've spent way too many hours tracking down every Fall idea on Pinterest.. I've been stalking too many poor strangers out there all for their Fall Pinterest boards! : ) </div>
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Oh Fall... it really does make me feel so dreamy, cozy and romantic. All the smells! That's one of my favorites! Seriously, I was making oatmeal the other day and when the smell of brown sugar hit my nostrils I couldn't stop imagining myself dancing around outside with all the falling leaves! .. ok, a little exaggeration, but that almost sums up my feelings inside that are impatiently waiting to burst out once Fall hits! .. I told Hubby last night that I should start Fall early since it doesn't last long enough here! Before I know it, winter will be here drowning me in snow! .. sad face. </div>
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So to celebrate my early feelings of Fall time I thought I would share my latest and favorite Pinterest finds with you! Enjoy!!</div>
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I am dying for my own house and yard right now! I'd love to be able to decorate my front porch up all cute for Fall like this adorable porch right here. Pumpkins, baskets, and flowers in front of the door.. we're only allowed door mats at our apartment.. But atleast I can put up a wreathe! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9lca1x-eLZQ/UD5t7GpC5bI/AAAAAAAADpk/a6eS-ZgWEDw/s1600/fall16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9lca1x-eLZQ/UD5t7GpC5bI/AAAAAAAADpk/a6eS-ZgWEDw/s640/fall16.jpg" width="404" /></a></div>
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Oh baby, would a cozy living room like this during Fall time be perfect! I just want to curl up on that couch by the fire and squish myself comfy in those pillows! First I'll go put on a big comfy sweater and make some hot chocolate! </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W3DaltiHKdg/UD5t6Jums5I/AAAAAAAADpc/-aB0gwg89cE/s1600/fall15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W3DaltiHKdg/UD5t6Jums5I/AAAAAAAADpc/-aB0gwg89cE/s400/fall15.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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What a beautiful walk this would be! Crunching leaves along the way, throwing them up in the air like a crazy giddy girl! Not sure where this place is, but I'm dying to spend a Fall vacation there! Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous! </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sW_o5FSdgCw/UD5t-5kPitI/AAAAAAAADqM/4ZEJ5p0m24U/s1600/fall6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sW_o5FSdgCw/UD5t-5kPitI/AAAAAAAADqM/4ZEJ5p0m24U/s640/fall6.jpg" width="479" /></a></div>
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Thanksgiving dinner outside in a country-fied place with hay bales and pumpkins all over the yard?? YES PLEASE!! </div>
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Isn't it adorable?!</div>
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Old fashioned cheese graters on a platter setting on the coffee table for some Fall decor. I like it! </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-agN-fNKGttU/UD5t7kbeFfI/AAAAAAAADps/WHlgMAM9m_Q/s1600/fall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-agN-fNKGttU/UD5t7kbeFfI/AAAAAAAADps/WHlgMAM9m_Q/s400/fall2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Oooh, I love the flickering mason jars lining up the stairway. </div>
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How much more romantic can Fall be??? </div>
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Painting words on pumpkins! What a sweet idea! I don't have a fire place mantle, but this could work on my balcony, or OOOOOH, even up in the space above my kitchen cupboards! </div>
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{seriously, that thought JUST came to me! SWEETNESS!} </div>
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I love me those Fall smells (so much that I repeat myself a gazillion times!) </div>
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Simmer orange peels and cinnamon and your home will smell AMAZING! </div>
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Oh yes, a Fall picnic! What could be better?! </div>
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And I love this little picnic tote. It's super perfect! </div>
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Okay, I've been non stop talking about how much fun it would be to have a little party/potluck at our apartment to welcome the Fall! I like this pumpkin serving dish idea! That's so FALLtastic! </div>
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See this pretty apple pie? I'm totally doing this! It's already on my mental Fall to-do list. </div>
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.. I've never made an apple pie before either. Can't wait! </div>
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Oh my goodness, these are so sweet. Hollowed out apples baked with cinnamon and sugar, filled with ice cream and topped with caramel sauce! AAH! So adorable! What a cute idea! </div>
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Love the use of a big'ole pumpkin used to display some goodies. </div>
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I'm thinking cake pops.. oh ya! .. for my Fall party! </div>
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And this says it all.. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2d5L0_2OSVA/UD5t2HhApcI/AAAAAAAADo0/mWQakSXjhko/s1600/fall10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2d5L0_2OSVA/UD5t2HhApcI/AAAAAAAADo0/mWQakSXjhko/s1600/fall10.jpg" /></a></div>
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I really need to write down a Fall bucket list ... </div>
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Now are you craving it too??<br />
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You can find all my Fall pins <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/jessicamets/beautiful-fall/" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">here </a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7477713157079225681.post-85969486215748531262012-08-15T02:20:00.001-03:002012-08-15T12:53:11.332-03:00A Picnic in the Park <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xmfI2I1WvjM/UCstrdEjKkI/AAAAAAAADkE/GKc5vBHXXoU/s1600/picnic8editedit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xmfI2I1WvjM/UCstrdEjKkI/AAAAAAAADkE/GKc5vBHXXoU/s1600/picnic8editedit.jpg" /></a></div>
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With a temperature of 83 degrees (including humidity would make it in the 90's), our apartment was pretty hot yesterday. I can handle the heat, but the humidity is what kills me! .. my hair agrees. And living on the 3rd floor with no air conditioning gets a bit uncomfortable.. especially for me lately because I've recently developed some asthma like symptoms. I'm thinking the humid weather has possibly caused this little flair up. So with it being such a hot day, we planned to go swimming at the public pool just around the corner when Hubby got off work. Then we'd have a picnic afterwards in the park. Sounded like fun to me! The pool felt so good! .. But then the sun started setting and we got a little chilly. Time for our picnic dinner! I made egg sandwiches, which have been a favorite of ours lately. And with such hot and humid weather we'd rather not make the apartment any hotter by cooking .. except I did bake some cookies to take with us! .. I realized that I need a super cute picnic basket! </div>
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Mmm, cookies and milk! </div>
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What's a picnic without cute photos, right?</div>
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.. that and I seem addicted to taking photos of everything we do together these days!! </div>
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I have to say that we are definitely my favorite couple ever! : )<br />
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Here are some really romantic and cozy picnic ideas I found on Pinterest...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XaxWreSgxTc/UCvA2i08QYI/AAAAAAAADlI/HhMXv9a-0fg/s1600/picnic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XaxWreSgxTc/UCvA2i08QYI/AAAAAAAADlI/HhMXv9a-0fg/s1600/picnic3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/135811744983001737/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">source</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qk8be7KPAI/UCu-qWBnbkI/AAAAAAAADk4/7Z0YndhCKac/s1600/picnic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qk8be7KPAI/UCu-qWBnbkI/AAAAAAAADk4/7Z0YndhCKac/s1600/picnic1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ritzybee.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/08/pack-a-picnic.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">source </span></a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0zY7cz41DI/UCu_p_L4LCI/AAAAAAAADlA/TzB4STUxwz0/s1600/picnic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0zY7cz41DI/UCu_p_L4LCI/AAAAAAAADlA/TzB4STUxwz0/s640/picnic2.jpg" width="457" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heatherbullard.typepad.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">source </span></a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BpA0NkyVC00/UCvCkesaCRI/AAAAAAAADlQ/jw2Q4uZgzQk/s1600/picnic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BpA0NkyVC00/UCvCkesaCRI/AAAAAAAADlQ/jw2Q4uZgzQk/s640/picnic4.jpg" width="426" /></a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr style="color: #ea9999;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ohhellofriendblog.com/2011/06/date-night-at-drive-in.html" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DegpeK2Tuso/UCvEPqqRb6I/AAAAAAAADlg/1PJ3NkYkzQ8/s1600/picnic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DegpeK2Tuso/UCvEPqqRb6I/AAAAAAAADlg/1PJ3NkYkzQ8/s1600/picnic6.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #ea9999;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://caseybaudoin.blogspot.ca/2010/11/crafting-meaningful-home.html" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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A collection of picnic baskets! .. hmm, which one to choose..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49hA1_pHQMk/UCvEO66H2SI/AAAAAAAADlY/0TPId8YWoUk/s1600/picnic5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49hA1_pHQMk/UCvEO66H2SI/AAAAAAAADlY/0TPId8YWoUk/s640/picnic5.jpg" width="385" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #e06666;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.homegoods.com/blog/2010/09/21/vintage-style-storage/6a00d8345159f569e20133ed7991ec970b-400wi-2/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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Now you probably want to go on a picnic, right? : ) <br />
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Have fun! </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img background:="background:" important="important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/143/E3A6DDB70E98E264A29D9353D6606CAA.png" style="border: 0;" transparent="transparent" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722155330814483373noreply@blogger.com1