DIY: Bathroom Striped Artwork

      For the past year I have felt that our bathroom walls looked unfinished. Every time I entered a Michael's or Marshall's I would search for the perfect picture or art to match our striped bathroom and  I would find nothing. Why does every picture that is supposed to go in a bathroom need to have a bathtub on it???

My friends and favorite craft buddies LES and KPW had been making their own attempt at  Cocoa and Hearts type designs and when I saw their final product I knew it was the perfect piece for my striped bathroom.

I lost all of my tutorial pictures, but it is pretty self explanatory.

Supplies:

1.   Oil based paint color of choice (found at Michael's)

2.   Paint brush ( You can make the stripes as thick or thin as you would like)

3.   Thick piece of paper

   Simply dip the brush into the paint make sure you have enough paint on the brush for a good clean brush stroke. It helps to practice a few times. Pull the paintbrush across the paper. Repeat with different colors.

 

The great thing about this project is you can use any colors or make it any size. Once framed, it can add the perfect pop to a room.

Bathroom pre-artwork:

 

 

The After:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Eight Month Wedding Check List

 

 AHHH we are at the eight month mark!  Right now, I still feel like I have a lot of time, but each month seems to creep up faster and faster!  I am happy where we are planning wise, but I know we still have many more decisions to make in the upcoming months!

 Here is where I am in terms of my list accomplishments and near future "To Do's" with eight months to go!

1. Pick a Date -----------------CHECK

2. Reception Venue ------------ CHECK

3. Church --------------------------CHECK
* So excited to be getting married in the church I grew up in.

4..Band ------------------------------CHECK

5..Photographer----------------CHECK

6. . Wedding Dress and Veil--CHECK
* So. Excited. This makes everything feel so real

7.Engagement Party-------------CHECK
* This was not on my check list, but my parents hosted a fabulous engagement party for DFH and I over Christmas so I had to add it to my check list

8. Announce Engagement in the paper---------CHECK

9. Ask Bridal Party To Be In Wedding ---------------CHECK

10. Take Engagement Pictures
* Need to figure out a date to do this

11. Hire Organist for Ceremony ----------------------CHECK

12. Reserve Hotel Rooms ----------------------------CHECK
  
13. Choose Bridesmaid Dresses
 * I'm 95% on my bridesmaid dress decision, just waiting for the color swatches to confirm my color choice.

14. Book a Florist

15.Pick a Rehearsal Dinner Location
  * Doug and I have been doing a lot of research on this, I would like to have this completed in the upcoming weeks.

16. Register--------------------------------------CHECK
  

 

17. Pick and Order Save The Dates
* I'm in the processing of trying to decide the style I like best

18. Rent Chairs---------------------------------------------CHECK
    
19. Order Groom and groomsmen attire

20. Research / Book Videographer

21. Research/ Book Transportation

22. Book Hairstylist--------------------------------CHECK

23. Book Makeup

24. Attend Caterer Food Tasting
   * We are scheduled for the tasting next month, so excited for this!

25. Meet with our minister

26. Ask KLS to sing at our ceremony -----------------CHECK 
    * So excited for her to sing at our wedding!

27.Complete Guest list ------------------------------------CHECK

28. Research Invitations --------------------------------CHECK

29. Order Invitations

30. Set up wedding website--------------------------CHECK

31. Book day after wedding photographer

32. Research Honeymoon -------------------------CHECK
          * Not quite done with this one.

33. Book Honeymoon

34. Decide on Ceremony Music



And the list goes on.....

Target Lately

    I think most people would agree that Target is one of those stores where you plan to run in for one item and you come out with a full cart.

Lately I have spotted so many amazing things that I'm pretty sure I should start buying some stock.


1. Last week I found these adorable polka dot cigar slippers on sale for $5.38.    They are almost too cute to just wear around the house.

2. Gummy Vitamin Heaven:

Yes. I am 28 and have trouble swallowing pills specifically horse sized vitamins.  A few weeks ago I walked into Target's vitamin aisle and came across  the largest selection  of gummy vitamins I had ever seen.  Normally grocery stores have just one kind of adult gummy vitamin, but Target had every kind of vitamin you could imagine in gummy form including Women's Multi, Omega 3, Vitamin B and D and the the list goes on.   It makes me even want to take more vitamins because gummy vitamins are that delicious

3. Milk Crates:

  Ok so sort of random, but these crates are perfect for leave out storage.  These would be adorable to store magazines or extra blankets. I love the rustic look of these crates.

 

4. Mossimo Striped Dress:

 

  How fabulous is this Mossimo striped dress I just picked up at Target which is perfect to wear to work with a blazer or also a night out.  I am loving the pleats and coral color.

 

 

 

What have you found at Target lately?

 

Red Stripe Roasted Potato and Leek Soup

       I believe winter is the perfect time of year to enjoy delicious and hardy soups and stews.  DFH and I have fun playing around with recipes and attempting to create complex, but tasty soups by altering  recipes or creating our own.    Sometimes they turn out great other times not so much.

     One of our favorites this winter has been a Roasted Potato and Leek Soup.  Not to sound like a complete weirdo, but the leek is such an under appreciated vegetable in the American culture.  It is rare that you see recipes calling for leeks, yet it brings such a great flavor to dishes.  When I studied abroad in Ireland in college, I first became familiar with the leek, as it is used in many dishes in the Irish culture, and learned to love it, but I often forget how great the flavor is in dishes.  Note to self: BUY MORE LEEKS.


We used the Ina Garten Food Network Roasted Potato and Leek Soup recipe, however swapped out the white wine for beer and used a fat free heavy cream instead of the real deal to make the meal a bit healthier, and also took out the creme fraiche.  We also added steak for protein and some extra veggies such  as celery and carrots, spinach and some additional spices like paprika and roasted red pepper flakes for some heat.

Red Stripe Roasted Potato and Leek Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes cut into small chunks
• 4 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts, cleaned of all sand (4 leeks)
• 1 lb  cooked steak ( optional)
• 1/4 cup  olive oil
• 3 cups baby arugula, lightly packed
• 1/2  12 oz. bottle of Red Stripe beer ( Or beer of choice)
• 7 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream ( we used fat free)
• 2 stalks of celery cut into small pieces
• six (6) baby carrots chopped into small pieces
• 1 cup spinach
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for garnish
• dash of salt and pepper
• dash of paprika
• Red Pepper Flakes for added spice

 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

 Combine the potatoes and leeks and place on a greased pan in a single layer. drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and leeks, add salt and pepper for taste. Roast for 40 to 45 minutes, turning the potatoes and leeks with a spatula a few times during cooking, until  tender. Add the arugula and toss to combine. Roast for 4 to 5 more minutes, until the arugula is wilted. Remove the pan from the oven and place to the side.  Meanwhile, in a soup pot, combine chicken broth, heavy cream, and beer.  Add your cooked steak.  Add your vegetables of choice to the pot ( celery, carrots, and spinach). When the potatoes and leeks have finished roasting add the mixture with arugula to the pot. Add paprika, and red pepper flakes.  Let simmer for approximately thirty minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese.

 

 

ENJOY!

Wedding Wednesday: Engagement Party Recap

    Over the Christmas holiday my parent's hosted a fabulous engagement party for DFH and I while we were home in  New Jersey with family and friends.

 

DFH and I <3

 

 

With one of my bridesmaids SRK and my MOH, JLP

 

 

 

Posing with my family and grandparents

 

DFH's parents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was wonderful to have so many friends and family at the party.  Since DFH and I live in Pittsburgh and most of our family are in NJ it is not too often we get a chance to see everyone.

 

My dad gave a fabulous toast ( DFH was obviously not ready in this picture)

 

 

My mom prepared a delicious spread of food.

 

 

 

 

I loved these personalized cookies my mom ordered with our wedding date.

 

 

 

 

We were completely spoiled!(don't mind my face here HA!)

 

We received a super special gift from my grandparents: A croucheted tablecloth my great grandmother had made before she passed, when I was a little girl.

 

 

We had such a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends!

 

A big thank you for both of my parent's for hosting such a great party!

Cabin Fever

 February is here and so is my cabin fever. I find myself dreaming of the days of outdoor eating, pool lounging, and Jack Rogers.  The groundhog did say there would be an early spring....right?

Although hibernating on my couch all winter sounds pretty nice, I have found planning indoor activities helps the cabin fever, at least a little bit.   Here are some of my favorite winter activities to help keep my mind off the cold.

1. Ceramics Painting:

A few weeks ago ALV, KLS and I enjoyed a Friday evening at Color Me Mine a ceramic painting shop in Pittsburgh.  It is BYOB so we took full advantage by bringing in a few bottles of wine and a box of pizza. 

We had the best time eating, drinking, gossiping and painting.

The finished products.

My napkin holder

 

2. Catch An Indoor Concert or Show:

When I think about concerts, I think Summer, being outdoors, and tailgating. However there are so many great bands and shows that tour during the winter and it is usually in a smaller more intimate setting then in the summer.  You may have the chance to see a favorite band, up close!  I think if you look in the winter to see who is touring you will be surprised how many great shows there are.


This winter we have taken advantage of indoor tours with

Mr. Greengenes

 

The Lumineers

3.  Host a Dinner Party or Enjoy a Dinner out with Friends: 

I know, this idea is not very creative, however the winter is a great time to make plans with friends you never get to see.  Once spring comes with wedding season and vacations it's almost impossible to get all my friends together.  I feel like everyone has a lot less going on during the winter that it a lot easier to make plans.

4. Start A Club or Learn A New Hobby:

This sort of goes with the #3, it is a lot easier to get people together during the winter months.  It is also a lot easier to start a new hobby when you have the time to commit to it.  My craft group meets more often in the winter, because everyone is usually free and around.  We have a fabulous time crafting, chatting, and feasting.  Mostly chatting and feasting haha.  Two weeks ago KPW and I taught some of the members how to knit, and it reminded me how much I love to knit and how I still need to get back into it.

 

What do you do to beat the winter blues?

Saw It. Pinned It. Did It. :Thumb Tack Wreath

 This week I am linking up for Saw It. Pinned. It. Did It.

    My craft group and I are always scouring Pinterest looking for new crafts to make for our next craft group meeting.  I came across This gold thumb tack wreath on Pinterest and loved the pattern and texture from the thumb tacks.

   It ended up being a pretty mindless craft, perfect for our craft group as we usually end up spending more time eating and gossiping then actually crafting.  However, it was time consuming covering the foam wreath with thumb tacks. 

Supplies:

1. 1 foam wreath

2. Thumb Tacks ( A lot of them) I think I honestly used about 2,000- 3,000 tacks.  I would recommend using the tacks from the Dollar Tree to save some money. 

 

 

3. Ribbon of your choice

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is really no right or wrong way to do this, begin by placing the thumb tacks into the wreath, until the entire foam wreath is covered, you can go back and fill in any open spots. 

 

 

 



The scale pattern still came out, regardless of how I placed the pins as long as the pins were slightly overlapping each other.

 

 

The Final Product: Ready for Valentine's Day!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

Ready for Valentine's Day!

  Our house is ready for Valentine's Day....How about yours?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy early Valentine's Day to all of my loves near and far!!