Friday, May 24, 2013

Spring has Sprung!

Well, it's here Iowa! Spring. It's been absolutely gorgeous out this week and I have enjoyed every minute of it... Except --> my new friend: Allergies! It's been mass chaos in our household these past two weeks as I have finally moved home from my 4 years at university and am preparing for my Student Teaching in the fall. With all the moving, cleaning, organizing, and decorating... I discovered the sad, sad truth of inherited allergies to dust. 

Aside from the sad note, I am finally all moved in and have redecorated my room to my tastes. :) It has also inspired some new DIY projects! Woot. For now, I am going to post some awesome pictures of my families flower garden that has just capitalized on the great whether and exploded! Enjoy.




















Monday, September 3, 2012

Homemade Mini Pizza... I think Yes!

Readers,


As I came to the end of my afternoon I realized I had yet again skipped lunch in favor of completing some extra homework. So, to treat myself for my mild achievement I decided to attempt a homemade mini pizza. 

The whole thing cost me about $3-$4 (granted I had some of the ingredients), 5 minutes to prep, and about 8 minutes to bake...


Ingredients: 
  • Mini pizza crust (mine came in a package of three)
  • Tomato paste (could substitute for pizza sauce... this was just cheaper and added a sweet taste to offset the red peppers I threw on top)
  • pepperonis (came in a package from the pizza aisle)
  • Shredded queso and cheddar cheese (velveeta)
  • finely chopped cilantro 
  • finely chopped red peppers
 To start, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

I started by rubbing some olive oil on the crust... this helps it cook all pretty and become kinda crunchy. Then I spread a bit of tomato paste on the crust. (don't put too much down, it can be a bit overbearing from the other flavors) Next I spread some of both shredded cheeses on the crust using a bit less of the cheddar, after laying down some finely chopped cilantro and red peppers I placed the pepperoni on top. To finish off the pizza I sprinkled some more queso cheese on top some I'd have a bit of cheese to encase the pepperoni...:)


At this point I stuck the pizza in the oven directly onto the rack. I think it helps the bottom of the crust get a better "crunch" lol although I am no chef so I don't know the exact science. 

Bake for 7-10 minutes

Pull out and place on a plate to cut and Enjoy!!!


*** This pizza has a bit of a kick to it with the addition of the peppers. The cilantro added a completely different flavor to the a-typical pizza. Feel free to add what ever you wish. Experimentation is always fun :0)


Let me know what ya'll think!


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Dressing up for the Occasion!

As many of you know, I am addicted to pinterest and frequent the Crafts and DIY category. I peruse the options for holiday decorations, room decor, and new ways to reinvent the a-typical invite or Thank You cards. 

Well, today I will share information on how I revamped a typically computer printed party invite, into a small piece of art that I hope those receiving them would pin on their fridge and forget to take it off ;0)



COUNTRY MUSIC makes up a rather large part of my identity, and as such, I am hosting the beginning festivities to a "Red Sundress" themed party. This is in inspiration of the Summer Hit Something 'Bout a Truck by Kip Moore. 

All in attendance are strongly encouraged to dress in a "Red Sundress" and hit the town with friends heading for the honky tonk ;0) So, to make this invite one to remember I took a cue from the theme. I made the front of the card be all about the "red sundress." 

Below is the finished product of the front of the card. I will do my best to give detailed step-by-step instructions!




I figured that I had to start with a background right?
          1. I took White Card stock and cut pieces into dimensions of 4" x 5" inches. This will provide a sturdy base for all of the things you wish to apply!

          2. I happened to have an old red t-shirt that I wasn't going to be using anymore and decided to use it for the dress fabric. I simply put my circle cutter down on the fabric and cut a 4" circle out. I then drew a small heart... about 1.5" in height and 1" wide... onto some extra card stock and used it as the template for the 'bodice' of the dress about. The heart shape that you trace around will eventually be made square on the bottom edge and paired with the skirt.

         3. For now... Take the 4" circle you have just cut out of the fabric. You will want to fold the right side of the circle down to the left so the fold is approximately at a 11 o'clock and 3-4 o'clock position. Then fold the opposite side down until it makes what looks like an upside down ice cream cone.

          4. I chose to cut away some fabric from the underside of the now "skirt" that I had created so it laid more flat on the card and didn't make the one layer of fabric that made up the bodice seem 1 dimensional. 

          5. After some of the fabric was cut away I simple cut the top point of the skirt square so that when I join the "bodice" and the skirt they were even. 

 *** Throughout this project I used simple tacky craft glue. It held together very well.

         6. After I had glued the "bodice" and the skirt to the white card stock at a fun angle I happened to go dig up some red ribbon. Just like one would find a ribbon on a dress, so too, would someone find a ribbon here. You may fold your ribbon in any way you wish. After I glued t down I simply found a rhinestone and glued it on. ... YAY! The Dress is done.


*** The (Lets Party) was simply excess wood grain scrapbook paper that I punched letters out of. If you lack letter punches you may use your own handwriting, the computer, or stick -on letters from any craft store. Be Creative!!! Make them personal to you :0)


*** I added a more western touch to the back by simply finding the same woodgrain scrapbook paper I used as the background to the white card stock and hand cut cowboy boots. The Finishing touches included a kitschy invite phrase and a shiny star for a boot spur.








If you would like some more in-depth instructions, I would suggest checking out this ladies blog. I use her idea with a doilie and simply made it work for myself...

(http://paperpaws.blogspot.com/2011/05/doily-dress.html) 


---> Let me know what you think! AND GET CRAFTING!!!





Monday, August 13, 2012

BEWARE What I'll SHARE

My Pinterest Board is Famous.
It's full of fun ideas.
This Scotsman named Shamus,
Once complimented me on my tortillas. 

Many call me a Becky Home-ecky
Mostly for my crafty skills. 
But sometimes I'm also quite techi,
Programs adding unexpected thrills. 

So join me on my journey
Many new tricks to discover.
All categories you'll see,
Of my blog, making you a lover.





---> Watch out for my latest Page! It is called DIY --- It will be full of pinterest Hurrahs and Noways as I redecorate my dorm and get ready for the new year @ Uni.



Wednesday, June 20, 2012

BETHENNY FRANKEL



Anyone that knows me, knows that I totally adore Bethenny Frankel & her ability to just be bluntly frank about life! Well, she has just recently started her very own talk show and it's AMAZINGLY entertaining. She lays it all on the table. Bethenny brings in experts to discuss any and all things relevant to life... and lets be honest... "LIFE" means EVERYTHING lol



Today I had the opportunity to watch her new show on YOUTUBE!!!


She is airing her show across the country, but unfortunately it is restricted to large cities since it just started. If you are a fan, she just released a channel on YOUTUBE with episodes from her show. 


Episode one Was Hilarious. I don't care how Prude people are... She tells it like it is, Nothing but FRANKel ;0)




See what's she's got to share... you never know, Maybe it relates to you :0)



Also, you can check out her website which is AWESOME! She showcases any and all things related to her business, exercising, her talk show, hints for life.... the possibilities are endless.
CAN'T GET ENOUGH!!!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Alright,

Here it is folks. Some of you may know the deeper drive behind this new mentality on being fit. But, for everyone else I'll give you a graze across the top. I have always been slightly competitive and am never satisfied with sitting in one place. Rather then expressing it as a "greener pastures" life style, I prefer to believe in my 'antsiness' as a need to challenge myself.

My moto for the last few years has really been: "Go big or Go Home" 

Though I do not struggle with anything that is life threatening, I have an immense amount of stress in my life. Compartmentalizing has been a frequent solvent, making it easier to deal with stress so that I can still be successful. Another tactic I have developed is exercise. I am already petite yes... but my motivation to workout has nothing to do with my size, or wanting to "lose" weight. Instead it helps me to feel STRONG.

Many know me as the off-wall-kooky personality that can make conversation with a fence post, could power a town with my 8 am energy and enthusiasm, and generally happy person. Well, this is true. But I am HUMAN, I promise! I STRUGGLE and yes, with a personality like mine, I still suffer from insecurities.


So, to combat the insecurities and stress, I simply flip the table and focus my energy toward STRENGTH. Also, back to my 'competitive' tendencies... I am simply in competition with myself. I set a new goal, be it mental, educational, career oriented, or physical, focus my energy and GO!




My new Workout challenge, to workout for a month, everyday straight... is my next hill to climb.




I will be posting throughout the process and hope you all enjoy the journey with me and who knows... many some of you will take on the challenge with me :0)




Here is an article of a women who realized the unhappiness in her life and turned to exercise and SUCCEEDED!


http://crazysexylife.com/2012/sick-and-tired/ 



Thanks Ya'll.


Signed,
Hopeless Romantic

Thursday, May 17, 2012

AWESOME GRAPHIC ARTIST

Alright Ladies and Gents,

              Here it is! Hot off the press ;) Sorta.


ANDREA CASTEK - crazy awesome Graphic Design student @ ISU... She's got the chops.

I started following Andi (as she is commonly known to her friends) a little over a year ago as her Awesome photography kept popping up in my news feed on Facebook. Romantic, edgy, whimsical, or corky... her photos kept me entertained as she grew into a great artist.



Sharing this with you all is fun as I don't know one person who doesn't enjoy looking at art, and that's exactly what her photos are... Art. I found myself checking back in with her pages as months passed to simply see what other amazing things she had gotten herself into. Andrea's photos really make the audience enter a fantastical world where nothing seems to go wrong. Even sadness falls off the screen as an emotion that is perfect and beautiful in its disaster... makes you want to go and get your heart broken just to be party to one of her masterpieces.


Andrea has recently taken on a position with Reader's Digest (based out of NY, NY) as an intern and has an extremely bright future ahead of her.

So far she does design of everything:

CHECK HER OUT! Click HERE

***(All photos are Courtesy of Andrea's Facebook Pages)***