Front yard inspire

I am finally trying to get the front yard straight.  Money is a tad bit tight so I am not allowed too much wiggle room at the moment.  I bought some new plants earlier today and planted them in pots.  But after getting that done I realized I have a lot of work to do to make it look as special as I wish it could.  The furniture paint is chipping off and is over due for a new paint job.  The cushion looks worn and bleeched from the sun... and it over all look pretty plain.

It is also about time that I attempt to split the impations for the first time... that way I can spread them out a bit. Hum, maybe if wouldn't hurt to purchase another pack of them as well to fill in the gaps faster.  At this rate it will take all summer to be as full as I would like it to be.

I was inspired b Ballard Designs room that they put together... so I think I will attempt to get the same feel and look on a cheaper dime.  There was a rug at home depot that was tan and green for about $12 that I will go by and scoop up.  I will get one or two cans of spray paint and paint the furniture a dark bronze color.  I will get some cream fabric and sew a cover to go over the old cushion and then find a pretty patterned fabric in the green/bronze/cream family to make accent pillows with.  Maybe then I can try to go on a junk hunt for a little table to put on the left side of the patio to add accessories/gardening tools.

I am still trying to figure out what to do with the nook close to the door... ehh... ehh... um??  I would love to be able to figure out a way to add window boxes to the house but I am not sure if it is possible since we have screens on the windows and I cannot drill anything into the house.  But if I could figure it out I would love to do something that is full and over flowing.  I am also thinking about bringing the flowers in the front patio up off the ground similar to the picture below right.

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5 Months.

So apparently you can see a difference in my face versus say... five months ago in November.  After posting a random picture of myself driving [the car was at a complete stop and there was traffic...] on Fbook... it was almost immediate that I got at least 4 responses on how much skinnier I looked.  I j/sat there scratching my head trying to figure out how they could tell I look skinnier if it is j/a picture of my face?!  And not a very clear one at that. 

Well, after pulling up one of my more recent picture on Fbook w/the same face angle and putting it side by side to the one taken today... Yup... I can see a change... and I LOVE IT.





Why was I driving w/a bathen suit top on you ask?  Easy!  Because I went to Navarre Beach!  Why was I there?  Not so easy... hanging out with Marks Parks [And Furey] one last time before he left on his deployment. It was a good time.  The sun was nice and hot.  Cold beers, thanks to Amy leaving them here.

However, the Water was cold as well... I have no clue what these boys were thinking?!

Furey, being Furey, began to get hungry so we decided to try the restaurant near the bridge once you get on Navarre... right when I was turning I saw IT... a CRX that looked JUST like the one Austin used to have, bleh.  Same color and everything... j/needed a huge dent in it and some missing pieces I am sure.  Man I hate that car with a passion!

 I also forgot to mention... TA-DA!  I received me certificate of completion of Decorating Basics Course!  Woo Hoo!

I found my icing calling as well... ROSES!  I can kick some butt in roses let me tell you what... never mind... let me SHOW you!

HOLY COW

Greatest benefit to losing weight?  Sure seeing a lower number on the scale every morning is nice... and dropping pant sizes is nice... having t-shirts fit better is great.  But being able to wear my engagement ring again?!?!  The greatest reward so far!!  It is still tight... but it isn't so tight that I have to find lotion to take it off.  I am not taking this sucker off!  

I guess things work out in funny ways.  The day Austin leaves for Cuba is the same day my rings fit again.

If I had to guess... I would think I am somewhere around the same weight I was at when we got married. [2008]

Riding Dirty

After an hour drive, 3 hours of talking, and another drive I finally came home with a new car.  It has to be beyond one of the most stressful things I ever had to do in my ENTIRE life.  That is why I only want to do it every 10 years.  Same car as before, RIP, but different color.  It is taking some getting used to but I kind of like the new color.  Trying to think of a new name for her, Rhett was the last one and before that there was Jake the Jetta.  This is definitely a girl though... maybe Reese/Reesie?

I am going to have a pretty boring weekend.  I am determined to get ALL photo sessions DONE.  Clean the house from all dog hair and dust.  Attempt to carpet clean.  Do laundry and put it ALL away.  Ice Austin's sugar cookies for his care package and ice a cake for class.  Mail out a disk.  And get over my cold.


Care Package in the making...

I have been pretty good about staying away from naughty foods. (Minus last weekend when my sister came to visit)  30 pounds down since Jan!  I want to lose at least 30 more. But it is so hard when you see yummie things like Cappuccino Muffins with step-by-step instructions...


Please let me eat you...

 

Christmas in July?

I have just recently been introduced to the idea of "Cake Pops."  I had no idea what the heck they were or how to make them.  Well!  I j/learned!  You bake a cake, crumble the cake up, add almost a whole can of icing, mix it up, roll into balls, put it in the rig/freezer, and then shape, dip into chocolate & decorate!

You can read about it all here.

I am already thinking ahead for Christmas ideas.  Originally I was going to try to learn how to do a loop rug... but I think if I do crazy cute custom gift baskets w/all homemade treats it may be appreciated more.  It is definitly on my list of things to attempt to try.  I may even pick up a book on how to do it.  Hum... thinking of that I really need to take a trip to Best Buy to return something...

Cupie-Cake

I decided to go to the icing class yesterday.   I didn't want to miss the lesson and I didn't want to start over next month.  (and my back was VERY upset with me afterwards.)  But I learned how to make balloons, circles and a cupcake!  Next Monday we will learn how to ice a cupcake and how to make flowers.  Although, cake class is not an ideal situation when you are trying to watch your calories... it is teaching me a lot and I am happy that I finally decided to do it.  (Even though I am doing it by myself.)

I do wish we had a class that focused more on how to make really pretty cookies.  What do I mean?  Like these!

Even though I am very anti WV... I have a GA and a VA cookie cutter and I think I could use to make it my own!  Love the monogram cookies, love the strawberry cookie- great idea for the summer and LOVE the ruby red slippers.

P.S. LOVE this cake!  So darn cute!

Carrot Cake

So after going through multiple cook books I came up with the perfect recipe!  I still need to try it out... but I think it will be a hit.  I may try to make it this weekend?

Whitney's Carrot Cake:
Carrot:  2 1/2 Cup
Flour:  2 Cup
Sugar:  2 Cup
Salt:  1 Teaspoon
Baking Soda:  2 Teaspoon
Baking Powder:  2 Teaspoon
Cinnamon:  2 Teaspoon
Oil:  1 1/2 Cup
Egg:  4
Walnuts:  1 Cup

Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes.  Mix the dry ingredients together.  Mix the wet ingredients together.  Mix the ingredients together.

Whitney's Cream Cheese Frosting:
Butter:  1/2 Cup
Cream Cheese:  8 oz.
Confectioners Sugar:  1 lb.
Vanillia:  1 1/2 Teaspoon