Liebster Award

Thanks to Colleen at Day by Day Darling for nominating me for the Liebster Award!

The Liebster Award is given to bloggers with under 200 followers from other bloggers to acknowledge their blog.

The Rules:

1. Write 11 facts about yourself

2. Answer the 11 questions the person who nominated you asked

3. Nominate other bloggers with under 200 followers (let them know you nominated them!)

4. Ask them 11 questions. 

5. You can not nominate the blog that nominated you!

11 Facts:
1. I tend to wear black almost every day.
2. I hate the color pink or at least it's my least favorite color.
3. I have a master's in Early Childhood Education and absolutely love working with kids!
4. I'm constantly reading, but I only ever read one book at a time.
5. If I could drink everything out of a tervis tumbler I would. Seriously, those things are my favorite.
6. I get way too excited about picking out Kyle's birthday presents and always end up giving them to him early. I just can not keep birthday secrets from him!
7.  I like to watch entire series of tv shows in order from beginning to end. Friends is my favorite!
8. I start every morning with coffee.
9. College made me love football. My children will be Baby Gators!
10. I'm super cheap. My entire wardrobe is basically from Plato's Closet.
11. My Crockpot is my favorite appliance. I use it at least once a week if not more.


11 Questions:

1. What is your favorite season and why?

My favorite season is fall! It never really feels like fall here, but I love cooler weather, windows open, all things pumpkin, and of course, Halloween.

Who could forget Football Season!?! Go Gators!

 

2. If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

I've always wanted to go to Europe, so somewhere there for sure!

 

3. What is your favorite meal?

Hmm...It changes a lot. I don't tend to stick with one thing. Steak and potatoes probably. 

 

4. Are you a pants or skirt/dress kind of gal?

I really like skirts and have been wearing them more often lately, but I would have to say pants. 

 

    5. If you could live in any other time period, which would it be?

    I honestly don't know. I love the Victorian Era, but then I think about how little say women had in anything, and I don't know how well I would do.

 

6. What is one trend you just can't get on board with?

Pattern mixing! It looks great on so many people, but I like to match and just can not bring myself to wear different patterns!

 

7. What is your must have item for fall?

Boots! I really want a pair of black boots for fall! Also pumpkin, I love making pumpkin recipes! Too bad hubs doesn't like pumpkin :(

 

8. Dogs or cats?

Dogs for sure! I'm not a cat person at all!

 

9. Must have beauty item?

Blow dryer! With my short hair, not blow drying it doesn't seem to be an option. 

 

10. What is the #1 item on your bucket list?

Get a "big girl" job. I graduated in May, quit the job I had all through out college in July to move, and still haven't found a teaching position. 

My fun bucket list item would be go to Harry Potter World! Hubs and I have been talking about going for awhile and it just hasn't worked out yet. 

 

11. Why did you start a blog?

Originally I started blogging when hubs and I were planning our wedding. I wasn't really active and didn't stick with it after the wedding. A few months later I decided to start again as a way to document all the changes that were going on in our lives. We were newly married, I had just graduated, hubs decided to get serious about losing weight, and we were looking to move. I've really enjoyed the community that it has brought, plus knowing others are reading keeps me motivated it actually keep track of our lives. I tend to fail at taking photos, scrap booking, and journaling, then kick myself later for not having things written down!

 I'm Nominating:

Kate from Classy Living

T. from Fabulous Revelations of an Unconventional Chick

Elle from Faith & Serendipity

Sarah from Gracefully Made

Elise from The Jersey Flower

11 Questions for you to answer:

1. What are you most looking forward to happening this year?

2. If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live and why?

3. What is your favorite book?

4. Show us your favorite craft project. 

5. If you could only watch one tv show for the rest of your life what would it be?

6. What is your current goal in life?

7. If you could do anything knowing you wouldn't fail what would it be?

8. What led you to decide on a career goal? If you haven't decided yet, what made you decide on your college major?

9. What is your favorite part about blogging?

10. What did you start a blog?

11. Share your favorite recipe!

 

DIY Maxi Skirt

I love maxi skirts!

I'm actually kinda sad that it took me so long to get on board. By the time I bought and fell in love with them I had a hard time finding anymore. I've been really wanting a black or black and white striped maxi skirt.

A few days ago I came across this pin on pinterest and knew I needed to do it right away. 

I borrowed a sewing machine from my mom, dragged hubs to Joann's, and we were on our way. 

I used a mix between the maxi skirt I already owned and one of my favorite skirts with a roll over top. The only thing I wish I had done differently was made the flair up top wider. It's pretty form fitting because I used the same width as my original skirt not thinking about it. 

 

Supplies:

1 1/2 yards of fabric (more if you're taller or wider than I am)

Coordinating thread

Sewing machine

Pins

Scissors

 

The first thing I did was lay out my fabric folded in half so I knew I'd get the same size pieces. 

Then, using my original maxi skirt I measured the width of the top and the length of the skirt marking them on my fabric. Mine was 14" wide and 36" long. I knew that I wanted my skirt to have a flare instead of straight down like the one I own. I decided I wanted it to be 28" wide so I measured that out at the bottom. Using a measuring tape, I put one end at the marking for the waist and the other end at the marking for the bottom. I drew my line following that edge in order to give it a gradual angle. I did this on both sides then cut out the skirt. 

 

For the roll over waist band I cut out two pieces of fabric. They were "14 by 10", the length of your waist by double the thickness of your waist band. 

 

Lay the two pieces right sides together and pin up the 10" sides. Sew both sides together and remove pins. 

 

Once  you have it stitched up both sides you are now going to fold it in half all the way around. This will create a tube shape with all the seams inside the tube. One side will be your folded edge and the other side will be the raw edges. 

Now for the skirt! With right sides together, pin up both sides and sew using s straight stitch. 

  

Flip your skirt the right way. Lay your waist band down with the raw edges facing up. Pull the skirt through the center of the waist band. Pin the waist band to the skirt. There will be three pieces of fabric, two from the waist band and one from the skirt. You will be stitching all three together all the way around. Use either elastic thread or a serger/zigzag stitch to give it stretch. My machine didn't have any of these options so I used a straight stitch that worked pretty well. 

If you use jersey knit like I did you don't need to hem the skirt. If you are like me and can't cut a straight line for anything do ahead and hem your skirt. 

 

Pin all the way around the bottom and stitch! 

 

I'm still pretty new to sewing so there were definitely some mistakes, but luckily you can't see most of them!

I'm hoping to find some striped knit and make a few more. 

This is a super easy project! It took me two hours total and a good part of that was trying to figure out how to use my mom's antique machine. Sadly I'm not kidding I looked it up online to figure out how to do something on it and it comes up as vintage! 

Solid Metal! This this is heavy!

Cauliflower Fried Rice

When Kyle first decided to go on the Keto diet it seemed pretty easy. However, ever since we went off of it in July for family vacation, it has been so hard to stick to. 

For one, I am having trouble thinking of what to eat that will satisfy my picky eater. A lot of the substitutes include things like coconut milk or other things that are just not going to happen. 

I've been trying to slowly branch out more and try at least one or two new recipes a week. Thank you pinterest! 

I had seen this idea floating around for awhile, but since Kyle's not a huge fan of cauliflower I had been reluctant to try it. I have been completely craving comfort food this week so I decided to try it. 

 
 Original Recipe

Of course, true to fashion, I changed up the recipe to best suit our taste.

 

Step 1:

Grate a head of cauliflower. If you have a food processor I would suggest doing it that way! 

It wasn't too bad without one and I only had one casualty!

 

Look at all that cauliflower!

This made a ton!

 

Step 2:

Chop up 1/2 a small onion and 2 cloves of garlic

Saute in a tiny bit of oil

 

Step 3:

Add in cauliflower and flavor with soy sauce.

Cook approximately 5 minutes or until tender. 

 

Step 4:

Push vegetables to the side making a hole in the middle.

Crack in three eggs and scramble. 

Once the eggs are cooked, mix all together. 

I served it with strip steak. 

Hubs actually ate a ton of this and even said that he almost couldn't tell it wasn't regular fried rice. 

Our version wasn't quite as healthy as the original, but it was definitely better than regular fried rice. 

P.S. I wish I had known how to make homemade fried rice years ago. That stuff is so simple and yummy! 

Hurricane Days

Hurricane Days are the Southern version of Snow Days

When I was younger, they were the best things ever! 

We got off of school,

We hung out with our friends,

We had Hurricane Parties,

and Mrs. B always made homemade funnel cake!

While I was in college I never really worried about hurricanes. None came close to my middle of the state location. 

Now I'm back in South Florida, right in time for hurricane season.
Although a lot of preparations were made for Isaac,  he really didn't do much here.
However, Kyle and I were given a chance to just spend some time together along with the perfect excuse to be lazy.

On Saturday night we went out to dinner and saw The Amazing Spider Man! It was really nice to go on a date night because we haven't had the chance since we moved.
On Sunday, we braved the strong winds and rainy weather to go to church. However, when we got there no cars were in the parking lot. It had gotten canceled and we didn't know it! Whoops!
We did go out later to lunch with the family.

I've been working on watching all the episodes of Once Upon a Time and took the opportunity to finish season 1! I can't wait for the next season to start!

I then started Grimm! Such a different twist on the fairy tale concept, but I love it!

It stormed all Sunday and Monday!
I couldn't help but laugh Monday morning when I looked out my window. One of the trees in the back had fallen down from the wind. The lawn guy was fighting against the wind trying to pull it back into position. He finally got it only for it to fall down later that day again!

 

Kyle didn't have to go into work Monday and I ended up soaked when the rain suddenly started again while I was bringing in groceries!
I decided the world was telling me it was a pj day, so we laid around doing nothing the rest of the day!

  

I Just Met You, and This is Crazy

But here's my cute blog. Sponsor me, maybe?

 

I know I'm a fairly new blog, but I figure I might as well dive in. 

I'm now offering ad space!

If I've already swapped with you, no worries, I already transitioned your button over!
I'm offering 4 different sizes including a swap size. 

Check out my sponsor page for more info! 

High Five for Friday {7}

 

1. I finally made it to the DMV and had my name changed on my license! 

It surprisingly didn't take too long!

 

2. I got this cute print made into a picture and put in on an awkward shelf in our kitchen. I love it!

 

3. Spent time being crafty and sent out my postcard for Postcard Pretties!

 

4. I had a horrible time getting a picture of this since there's no light in our office! 

Here's my little corner. I just made that adorable banner and couldn't be happier. 

I used eye hooks, twine, and mini clothes pins. It only took a matter of minutes to complete!

  

5. My Father-in-law's birthday is today. I made this cute jar and filled it with chocolate.

Linking up with Lauren: From My Grey Desk Blog

And for my freak out moment of the week:

 

I don't do bugs well. This thing was chillin' on the ATM when I was there at like 9am! 

Needless to say, I about had a heart attack picturing this thing flying at my face while I deposited a check!

Kyle said it was a moth. I don't think moths should be allowed to be so huge and hairy...

Clearly I've Been Trying Too Hard

As hubs is doing dishes while I lazily lean against the counter watching him, he breaks off mid-sentence, stares at me, and says, "You're so pretty."

Of course, being female, my first thought is, seriously? I let my hair do whatever the heck it pleased, didn't bother with makeup, and was wearing an old plaid button up with shorts.

Then I took a step back and realized that this really means that I have the most amazing husband in the world. 

Someone who looks past my not always attractive outer appearance to see who I really am. 

I am beyond thankful for having such a wonderful man in my life.

Clearly this is a sign that I should sleep in more and quit getting ready in the mornings. Right?