Thursday, March 28, 2013

Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. [flowers in a frame & mini chalkboard]

This week I have TWO projects for y'all.
Because they're both super easy awesome (and kind of go together!)
I made a mini chalkboard & flowers in a frame!

FLOWERS IN A FRAME


Inspiration one:





Inspiration two:


Source: Primproud on Pinterest






Directions:

1. Spray paint old frame & let dry.
2. Tie a bow around your lightbulb vases with twine.
3. Fill up vases with water & your pretty tulips.
4. Display!


Mini Chalkboard:

Inspiration:








Directions:

1. Spray paint your small wood plaque & let dry.
2. Write something cute on your plaque.
3. Put plaque on your plate stand & display!




Linking up with my absolute favorites, Katie & Steph!










Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I can't believe...

I can't believe... that Netflix finally put season five of Mad Men up. Yay!

I can't believe... that Olympus Has Fallen was SUCH a good movie. Seriously, go see it.

I can't believe... that Wrinkles is already almost 9 months old.



I can't believe... that I've already ordered (and received) my mom's Mother's Day gift! 

I can't believe... how many amazing ladies there are in this blogging community! I'm so glad I started blogging! 

I can't believe... that Easter is this Sunday! This year is FLYING by.

I can't believe... how cute my camera strap is! It makes me happy every time I wear it :) 
(you can order one here!)



Linking up with Robin!




Also, I've seen a lot of Spring bucket lists on Pinterest & I made my own a few weeks ago so I thought I'd share it with y'all! :)




Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Brown Butter Snickerdoodles [taste of tuesday]

So I saw this recipe for brown butter snickerdoodles a while back. 
I'm pretty sure I originally saw it on Pinterest, but I can't find the pin so if you want to see the original recipe, you can go here!
These cookies looked beyond amazing so I just knew I had to try them out.
I'm not gonna lie, generally when I make homemade cookies I'm a little disappointed. I can never get them to come out just right...
But this time I DID!!
If I can do it, you can too ;)

original recipe from Ambitious Kitchen


Ingredients:
2.5 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp of salt
2 sticks unsalted butter
1.25 C dark brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg & 1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp plain greek yogurt

For Rolling Mixture:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
1. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl and set aside. 
2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk continually until the butter begins to brown. Remove from heat immediately & transfer to another bowl.
3. With an electric mixer, mix the butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. 
4. Beat in the egg, extra yolk, vanilla, and yogurt until combined. Add the dry ingredients slowly and beat on low-speed just until combined.
5. Chill your dough for 3 hours or as long as possible in the refrigerator. 
[I left mine in for about 5 hours & my cookies came out perfect!]
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
7. Once dough is chilled measure about 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. 8. Meanwhile mix 1/4 cup sugar and the 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a bowl. 
9. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place dough balls on cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.



10. Bake the cookies for 8 minutes.

VOILA!
The best part is the warm, gooey center!


It took a little bit of work, but it was WELL worth it!
Happy Tuesday!!

Linking up with my favorites Ashley & Jessica!




Monday, March 25, 2013

Weekend Update.

Is it really Monday? This weekend flew by!
Friday night Darren & I went to BJ's for dinner... YUM! Then we met up with his best friend, his brother and a few of our mutual friends at a bar and played shuffleboard all night. I loveee me some shuffleboard! 
Saturday I laid around the house all day while Darren went on a 30 mile bike ride with his brothers... THIRTY MILES! That's too much for me, I'd die. haha. Saturday night we went to Bluewater for Darren's best friend's birthday dinner with a big group of friends. Everyone was going out after so we tagged along. We went to this little bitty bar, played ping pong and took WAYYYY too many shots. I'm not used to staying out that late anymore and this weekend we did it two nights in a row! 
Sunday we did a little shopping and then headed to the Rockets game since we got FREE tickets from one of Darren's friends. It was SO. MUCH. FUN. 
Especially since we won! ;)


1. Our yummy drinks at BJ's! [if you go, try the berry burst cider!]
2. the BEST mac n cheese I've ever had. it was mac n cheese + garlic + chipotle sauce + bacon + gold fish ... seriously amazing!
3. happy mail on Saturday [plus Wrinkles creeping in the background]
4. shuffleboard
5. Darren & I on Saturday night
6. One of WAY too many shots
7. Darren & I at the Rockets game last night
8. Rockets v. Spurs
9. E.T. got a bath! Oh.. I mean Wrinkles! haha :)

Linking up with some lovely ladies!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Friday's Letters & Bloggers Pay It Forward


just a little proof that this Pandora station is amazing!

Dear Pandora, I'm reeeeeally digging your "Summer Hits of the 90's" station. Keep up the good work. Dear Wrinkles, if it doesn't rain this weekend we're taking you back to the dog park, I promise! We had so much fun last time & I know you did too! Dear Planet Fitness, I know I haven't been around lately, but that's about to change. I promise I'll be back next week, it's time for this girl to get back in shape! Dear Rockets, I can't wait to see you Sunday night! Even if we have crappy seats, I just looove seeing y'all in person. Dear Bloggy Friends, thanks for being so awesome. I love y'all & I can't wait to actually meet some of y'all in real life!! :)

Speaking of awesome bloggy friends...

Yesterday, Ashley wrote a post about bloggers paying it forward & I loved it.
I LOVE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS!!
I've been wanting to do something like this forever so I was SUPER excited when I saw this on her blog.. it's the perfect opportunity to make a few peoples day!

So...

The first 5 people to comment with their email and blog address will receive from me, sometime in this calendar year, a gift - perhaps a book, a baked good, music - a surprise! There will likely be no warning, it will happen when the mood strikes me. The catch? Those five people must make the same offer on their blog.  If more than five people comment, I'll try to send as many more than five as I can so comment away! ;)



Now what are you waiting for?! Sign up & then go have yourself a great weekend!!


Photobucket

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Oh, How Pinteresting!



Source: digu.com via Kristen on Pinterest


Source: wanelo.com via Kristen on Pinterest



Source: tobi.com via Kristen on Pinterest



Source: etsy.com via Kristen on Pinterest






Okay sidenote: Who wants to throw a favorite things party with me?! 
It sounds like SO MUCH FUN!!





Linking up with the beautiful Michelle!


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Garlic Roasted Zucchini [taste of tuesday]

Have I mentioned I love trying new recipes?

Last night I made two new sides.
One of them wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be so we'll just leave that one off of here! haha
That doesn't matter though, what does matter is that I made garlic roasted zucchini & it came out beyond amazing!
Darren wouldn't stop telling me how good it was & how much he loved it.
About halfway through eating it he was like, "Wait... you did take pictures of this for your blog, didn't you?!" 
He's so cute :)

Anyways, on to the good stuff.
Since I love pictures so much, I figured y'all would appreciate them as well!
Enjoy!





Linking up with Ashley & Jessica!



Monday, March 18, 2013

Weekend Shenanigans: Luke Bryan Style


Happy Monday Lovies!
I hope you all had a great weekend :)

Friday night Darren & I went to see "The Call" with my best friend & her boyfriend. I thought it was good, very suspenseful. The other three didn't like the ending very much, but I thought it was good!! If you haven't seen the preview, here ya go:


Saturday I went to see Luke Bryan with one of my very good friends, Chloe.
We saw him & Jason Aldean back in October & vowed then & there that if Luke came to the rodeo we HAD to go! He did not disappoint! He put on one hell of a show from start to finish & he definitely worked the crowd. I just wish we were one of the lucky few in the front row!! 
Here's a little video I took of him singing "Do I" (I zoomed in reeeeal close!):


my outfit for the rodeo

me & chloe!

Yesterday was St. Patty's Day (duh). We were lazy all day til about 6 then we headed out to meet my best friend & her boyfriend at a local bar. The bar ended up being pretty lame & they weren't having any specials so we headed over to Willies. It was a blast!! 
Drinks + Best Friend & Boyfriend + Decked Out In Green = A Great Night!

me & my best friend, Shelby

Darren & I & his mud bug (me looking weird, but unfortunately this is the only pic I snapped of us yesterday!)

& you already know I just HAD to dress Wrinkles up in holiday attire.
Poor thing. He DID not know what to do once I strapped that hat on him!
He was frozen there til I took it off!! Haha


I'll leave y'all with an inspirational quote to get your week started off right!


Linking up with Sami & Rachel!


&