4th of July Crafting

It's FRIDAY!! Okay, so it's not really Friday but it's my last work day of the week which essentially means, it's Friday. If it's not your Friday, please excuse my exuberance in this post.

I'm ready for 4 beautiful days of nothing but fun times on fun times on fun times. Hubs will be on his way home from Texas in a few short hours and then we are heading over to a 3rd of July party to get the weekend started right.

We've got a great weekend planned in Kansas City, Kansas City here we come (feel free to sing along.) Look forward to that update next week. 

Well, on to business. 

As I think I have already explained. I love the 4th. A lot. So, I've been doing a few crafts to help me celebrate. 

A lovely little banner wreath on our front door. 

Then I painted a few colorful blocks. 

Mod Podged and freehanded a couple letters...

And BOOM! A patriotic bathroom. (nevermind the fuzzy-ness)
Find the patriotic printable here. 

Looking forward to an amazing weekend. Remember, don't shoot your eye out!

How to be more productive

I've figured out how to make your life more productive and I'm sharing the secret!

Start a blog. 

Yep, that's all you have to do. (Well you have to write in it too, obviously.)

Seriously, since I have started blogging, my life has gotten way more productive. Everytime I see, do, or think something, I think to myself, "hmm, I wonder if this would make a good blog post?" or "wow, this would make a good blog post." 

Is that pathetic? Is that what all bloggers do? As I've said, I'm new to the blog world, but I can't help but think that I'm not the only one thinking these thoughts. 

I also don't think I'm the only one that does things around my house or in my life so that I have good blogging material. Honestly, if I wasn't productive my life blog would look something like this. 

Woke up.

Went to work.

Came home.

Watched tv Downton Abbey.

Went to bed. 

As wonderful a blog as that would make, I like to think that my 3 readers deserve a little more. 

So now that blogging has entered my life... 

I craft.

Here

I bake. 

Here

Sometimes decorate or DIY some type of upcycled randomness. 

Here

I look for bargains. 

Here

I garden. 

Here

I clean. 

This room is in the process of being cleaned/organized. Here

I organize. (See above)

And, I document. (See above)

That's right, I take pictures of anything and everything that I'm doing, eating, visiting. Then, when I'm inspired to post, I have some lovely little photos to go right around with the writings. 

I would like to point out that I did (and still do) all the things listed above before blogging. And, I don't just do those things because I have a blog. However, I do some of the items more frequently than I use to. I don't procrastinate nearly as much and I get excited about doing some of the items that I might otherwise dread. Overall, blogging has, so far, been a positive influence in my life and I hope the productiveness continues. 

Since my husband benefits from some of the items above, I would say that he enjoys my productive blog life as well:) 

xoxo,

Julie

7 Quick Takes {6} (and a few past engagement photos!)

1. It's the weekend. Ohhh YEAH! Let's just say I'm super pumped for the weekend. I really have no idea why I'm this excited because I have no big plans but I'm just excited. Oh, and Downton Abbey Season 3 came in, sooooo... it's safe to say this will most likely be an unproductive weekend:)

No, I don't live in Ottawa, inter-library loan is a lovely thing:)

2. How cute is my littlest (age, not size) brother? I mean seriously I just love that boy (even when he's a butt head). 

He's in the army and currently stationed at Ft. Hood right now so I don't get to see him much. 

Super old, really bad photo of both of us from the day before his bootcamp graduation in 2009.
It's hard to take updated photos when I never get to see him:(

3. There are approximately 7, give or take 12, craft projects cluttering up my house and garage right now. I should be ashamed, but I'm not. 

4. I recently introduced my mom to blogs (and the copy/paste feature) and obviously she hasn't read many because she thinks I'm just HILARIOUS. To prove that my hilarious-ness is a figment of her imagination I sent her over to read Grace's blog Camp Patton. That women is truly hilarious. Oh, and Hi Mom!! 

5. Does anyone else ever get overwhelmed by all the things they want/need to do that they end up doing none of them? Yep, I have that problem and I have it bad. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that my list of favorite tv shoes is longer than my list of to-do's, right? That's what I thought. 

6. This Pinterest chicken recipe is so good that I have made it twice this week. Twice in the past 3 days really. Go. Make it. Enjoy. You're welcome. (p.s. use less vinegar)

Who needs a side dish when you have chicken this good?

7. It's so hard to think up a #7 and I have no idea why since I have a million ideas but they all seem lame. So, I leave you with this...avoid poison ivy. It sucks and is itchy:( If you insist on getting poison ivy, I advise this: Scrub with a loofah or something similar to open up the little bubbles of poison and wash it with Dawn dish soap to get the oils out of your skin. While I'm not a doctor I was given this information from a pharmacist once, so I trust it, but you don't have to. It will save you from clawing the skin of your arms and legs though. Fortunately I have only gotten it twice but the first time was during engagement photos (2nd time right now hence the reason for this #7) so it was totally worth it:)

Most likely poison ivy culprit right here. 

See? Totally worth it! (Photographer here)

Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease!

Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary. 

Pinterest Project

It's time for a Pinterest Project!

That's right people, I'm co-hosting a little Pinterest Project with the awesome Kala at My Breezy Room!

We are super pumped you stopped by to check out the awesomeness:)

Here's what I made...

...scroll down to read how to make your own:)

Here's what Kayla made (read about it here)....

Here's the simple little steps so you can make your own...

Burlap Monogram Wall Art

Okay, this was a super easy project. I found the frame at a garage sale for $2! I loved the shape of the frame but the art just wasn't my thang. 

Gather your supplies

Remove the screws and take apart your frame

Trace the size of your opening and cut out. Cut out your burlap. 

Staple burlap to the cardboard. Admire and smooth out any bumps. 

Paint your frame. I painted mine and decided to change the color so there's no photo. 

You can figure it out though. I trust ya!

Reassemble your frame with the burlap in it.

Trace your monogram onto scrapbook paper. Cut out.

Mod Podge your paper onto your letter. Let Dry.

Put glue dots onto the back of you letter. Attach to burlap.

Flip it over and Ta-freakin-da! 

Easy peasy!

Pin me!

Feel free to share any of your projects in my comments section below. I love checking out new blogs:)

Linked up with No Minimalist Here.

The Blog Life

Yesterday as I was getting ready for bed I decided I felt like I had a blogger kind of day. 

I worked my normal 8-5 job and emailed a bloggy friend, read some blogs, and perused Pinterest during downtime. 

After work, I stopped at a hardware store and picked up some paint, a gunny sack and a few pieces of bamboo. Might sound random, but it's not. 

Stopped in at Hobby Lobby to discover that even though it's 97° outside and June, that won't stop them from putting out the fall decorations. Instagramed that obviously. 

seriously??

Texted my cousin about the cute 4th of July outfit she should totally get her daughter. 

Couldn't decide what shoes...

Stumbled upon several aisles of 80% off home decor and went a little crazy. Okay, not too crazy but crazy enough that when the husband called I said, "Sure honey, you should totally buy that new golf bag!" I also managed to find the two items that I went in for in the first place. Winning. 

Swung by the Dollar Tree to pick up a couple crafting items that were needed and found a couple additional bargains. No big deal.

Made it home in time to do a little spray painting, burlapping and other crafting (that will be seen here tomorrow) before it got dark. 

Played with the puppy and watered my rapidly growing garden.

Came inside and made up a quick Pinterest chicken recipe that was super yummy. 

Watched some reality tv, Pretty Wicked Moms. Followed it up with an episode of Call the Midwife and fell asleep. 

If that's not the blog life, I don't know what is.

I'm a Right Brained Emotional Disaster

I stumbled across this little link here on the MSN home page and was like "WOAH". 

THIS IS ME!

If you haven't clicked on the link yet you probably should do it so you can take the "quiz" to determine whether or not you are right brained. Obviously, I already new that I was, but it's weird to have visuals that can nail down your personality so well. 

Here are some of my favorites from the list.

Your living room serves as an artist's studio, video arcade and jam space.

Maybe not my living room but this is what I have....

Craft closet...one of two.

I'm "organizing" garage sale junk (to get rid of), files, wedding supply leftovers, etc.
Excuse me while I hang my head in shame. 

It's all because I'm right brained though I tell ya! Luckily the rest of my house doesn't look like this or my husband would probably kill me. 

Plus you know why I keep all this stuff? Because of the next point...

You can make art out of anything. Seriously, anything.

I think this all the time and it's the reason it's so hard for me to throw some things away. In the back of my head I'm always thinking I could make something so cool with this! I spend hours on Pinterest looking at cool things to make with my junk. I used to spend hours on Etsy looking, but never buying, because why would I buy when I could make it?

You try, but you haven't been to a doctor appointment on time in about eight years.

Yep, this is me too. Always late. Or exactly on time. On Sunday's my priest always jokes, "Oh, Julie's here, it must be time to start mass." Too bad it's true. I try so hard but I always underestimate how much time stuff takes even when I try to overestimate. #RightBrainedProblems. 

You're definitely not a morning person.

EVERY.DAY.OF.MY.LIFE. - I wake up before 7:00 am for two reasons only. 

1. Black Friday Shopping - The last couple years it started on Thursday night so I have gone garage sale shopping early to make up for that one morning of lost sleep.
2. Vacation - I will get up at any time day or night if it means I'm going on vacation and I won't even complain. 

Unless I'm doing one of the two things listed above, don't wake me up early and don't talk to me before at least 9 am. You can thank me later (at a decent hour).

You love making other people feel good.

Does anyone not love this?? Random acts of kindness are the best. I need to do more of them. 

And last, but not least, of my favorites from this list...

This is you watching a sad movie.

Or listening to a song, watching a baby commercial, reading a blog, etc. Literally have felt like this twice three times already today. Not joking.

So, in a nutshell....I'm late because I hate getting out of bed and can't find anything in my mess of a room. Plus I got distracted by all the pretty things and trying to make people happy. I feel bad because I'm late and I'm sure it doesn't make you happy so I turn into a blubbering emotional disaster. (I hope you read this really fast and without pauses because that's how I would say it while reaching for a tissue).

And that my dear husband is what you married. A right brained girl who wants to make you happy but spends lots of her time crying for no real reason. Xoxo!

Spray Paint Love!

You see, I'm what many people might call indecisive and a touch ADD. Just ask my husband and he will tell you I can't even clean without flying from one room to the next before ever finishing anything. I get bored easily and have a strong urge for instant gratification. I blame the digital age for that one. So, starting new projects always sounds like a good idea but ends up just being a half-finished-pile-of-stuff stacked up in the garage or a spare bedroom. FOREVER. 

Well, yesterday I was Inspired by my new bloggy friend Kala. I decided to quit being indecisive and to take the plunge into a project I've been wanting to do for approximately 3 years now. And no, that's not an exaggeration. 

After work yesterday, I skipped my normal Thursday night workout (for more reasons than just this project) and headed to Wal-Mart for some puppy food. Seriously, I feel like all I do is buy puppy food. Pretty sure our grocery budget has doubled because of Gunnar. Anyway (see, ADD) while at the ole' Wally World I happened to stumble across the painting aisle. I decided on a can of yellow gloss spray paint and a few sheets of sandpaper before rushing out of the aisle in case I should see another color and change my mind 12 thousand times. I checked out and headed home determined to complete my projects that night!

What were my projects you asked? Well, 3 years ago my grandparents realized I like cool old things, like blue mason jars, oscillating fans and lanterns. Apparently that means I like all old things, which  I won't argue, but that means they gave me a few treasures. My Grandma (who this blog is named for) gave me her old yellow milking stool that she had when she was a little girl along with a neat old lantern. 

The lantern had the original glass in it until my dog broke it (while it was in it's pile of junk in the garage) but it's still pretty cool without the glass. Both of these items were covered in rust and dust and were looking a little bit rough, overall. 

So I dug out my stool and lantern, which were at this point in the junk room inside my house, and decided to get to work sanding. I just scrubbed all over with my sand paper until I got bored and figured, "eh, good enough". I washed off both items to remove all the dust and grime and then patted dry. Since I also happen to be impatient (it's that instant gratification thing) I decided the stool was dry enough to give the paint a go. I pulled off the lid of my spray paint and went to town. After several light coats I let it dry and started on the lantern. Several more coats on the lantern and then the stool and then the lantern and I was thrilled!! They turned out adorable and I can't wait for them both to dry completely so I can bring them inside to place proudly somewhere. 

I think I have definitely been inspired to branch out into the world of spray painting a bit more:)

Oh, and it was cheap!

Sandpaper - $3 (with a bunch left over)

Spray paint - $3.50