Pinterest In Real Life v.2

Since i'm on a pinterest in real life [volume 1 here] roll and all...

I figured i'd share another pin i've actually completed in real life! 

It's no wonder that i chose to do a recipe considering that my It Tastes Good board has the most pins...what? i like food okay. 

. . .

Insert, Mini Meatloafs, recipe found here originally. 

I understand that i might be getting some gags or eye rolls, but hey i like meatloaf and so does my brother. It just...tastes delicious, like burgers but juicer and full of goodness. 

After completing this recipe (i.e. washed my hands of mixing the meat and not feeling like getting them nasty again) i realized the recipe didn't call for any ketchup. So next time i make these i will be adding some ketchup. 

Here is what you will need: 

Ingredients: 

1 lb. ground beef 

1 c. Water 

1 (6oz.) pkg. Stove Top Stuffing Mix 

2 T. A-1 sauce (optional)

1 tsp. garlic powder 

Favorite BBQ sauce 

Shredded cheddar cheese 

[I also added a few shakes of the McCormick's meat loaf seasoning mix]

. . .

Personally, i couldn't find a 6oz package of stove top stuffing mix and i also didn't know if there was any "plain" stuff mix out there; i know i'm ignorant when it comes to cooking, BUT i'm learning. So there i was chilling in Harris Teeter staring down stuffing mixes attempting to make a decision, obviously i did...but it wasn't easy my friends, it wasn't easy. In light of my stuffing challenges i forgot to pick up A-1 sauce, whomp whomp, so i didn't have any in mine. 

. . .

Directions: 

*To start, turn on some music, preferably Ray Charles, and turn it UP.

1. | Preheat oven to 375 degrees and start MIXING! Mix together meat, stuffing mix, water, A-1 sauce (if you didn't forget yours like me), and garlic powder until everything is combined really well. 

2. | Get your hands on a 12 (cup?) muffin pan and spray the crap out of it with pam (or a generic brand if you're cheap like me). 

3. | Fill each cup (yeah i'm going with that) with meat until all are full, then make a little indention in the top (for the BBQ sauce) with the back of a spoon. It's ok if they aren't beautiful indentions, mine stunk!

3. | Fill with BBQ sauce and bake for 30 minutes or until cooked through (which if you're me, took 2 HOURS because my oven kept shutting down...#notwinning). 

4. | Pull out and cover with cheese, put back into oven and bake until cheese is melted. 

5. | Do NOT immediately eat these things, i'm telling you from experience that it will burn the crap out of your mouth. 

6. | YAY! you're domesticated and can make mini-meatloafs! 

. . .

Picture time?

I know you visual learners out there are bored already so i'll help'a'sister'or'brother'out. 

[also i apologize in advance for the crappy quality of these pictures. The lighting in my kitchen has been HORRIBLE (up until recently muhahahah) and it makes for bad picture taking in manual]

. . .

Yum right? They were, and they still will be since i was able to freeze some of them.

Add ketchup, i promise it will make it 100% better. 

Also Hannah, who i stalked to get this recipe, had some other GREAT ideas to make different flavored meatloafs. I'm just going to quote her,

"Italian - instead of the garlic powder, substitute it with 1 tsp. Italian seasoning. Instead of the BBQ sauce, fill the meatloaves with spaghetti sauce. And instead of the shredded cheddar cheese, substitute it with Mozzarella.

Fiesta - substitute the garlic for 2 tsp. chili powder, sub the BBQ sauce for salsa, and substitute the cheddar for Mexican style cheese.

Mediterranean - sub the garlic for 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves, the BBQ sauce for chopped, roasted red peppers, and the cheddar for traditional crumbled Feta cheese."

. . .

So have you tried anything off of pinterest lately? 

Are you a cooking genius or flailing aimlessly around your kitchen? 

Who is pumped to start seeing better kitchen pictures!?!?!

Pinterest in Real Life v.1

Happy Monday! :)

Coffee, check. 

God's Word, check. 

Breakfast, check. 

Reliv, almost check, i'll take that when i get home. 

Trying to have the best attitude possible to continue throughout the day, check. 

. . .

This past weekend was super chill for me (other than my fan in my bedroom catching on fire but that's another post entirely!) and i enjoyed not doing much of anything. 

Thankfully i was able to express some pent up artist frustration. 

Let me start off by saying that i rarely call myself an artist because i believe so many people don't understand the word or what it means to be an artist. Art is passion, it is more than just what you do...it's why you do it and who you do it for. 

Deep right? ha, maybe a little too much right off the bat in the A.M. 

. . .

So, with that being said i thought i would share with you two paintings i've completed (one was completed a few months ago) that i found/was inspired by pinterest. :) 

I'm attempting to do more off of my DIY board instead of just "oooooo i'd like to do that" and never push forward. Actions people, actions, it's all about what we do with our words. 

Am i making any sense this morning? I feel like i'm rambling and incoherent, maybe the coffee hasn't kicked in yet. 

. . .

Well without any further ado...[oh and please be kind lol]

Painting #1.

Pinterest Inspiration found here: 

How beautiful is that?! Ok, take your eyes off of the incredibly adorable little girl and look at the painting. Ahhhh i love it! :) This is one of my favorite hymns and it wrecks me every time i sing it. No matter what life throws my way, no matter how many times the rug is pulled out from under me, no matter how many joyful memories i have...all of it is well with my soul.
When painting this i decided i didn't want just a plain white background so i chose to add some contrast and color! I think it came out very nicely.
My rendition:

Let me just say, those letters were a beast to paint and my OCD is running a little rampant because they are not all level, but OH WELL. :) I like it.
. . .
Painting #2
Pinterest inspiration found here:

Ahhh i love it! It immediately made me think of Hebrews 6:19  "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain..." and i was inspired!
My rendition is a little bit different, and even though i decided to not add the anchor (because it was overpowering) it still resonates Hebrews 6:19 to me.

 

 

 

. . .

So there are two things i've "found" on pinterest that i've actually DONE, score one for me!

The last painting also reminds me of "The Boat Song" by JJ Heller. 

. . .

What about you? 

Have you done anything off of pinterest lately? 

Spill.

Christmas in July

I've noticed that a good handful of bloggers have posted something about Christmas in July! 

I love Christmas!! 

I love that it's a time to reflect and celebrate the birth of Jesus, to spend time with family and friends, and to give...giving is most definitely better than receiving! 

So in the spirit of...er Christmas in July, i thought i would share an outtake from one of our Christmas cards photoshoot. 

{i say photoshoot, it was really before i had a tripod for my camera so it was stacked on top of books and i kept running up and down to make sure our heads weren't cut off}

This one didn't make it on the card, but i still love it...it explains our household to a 'T'! 

. . .

. . .

I figure while i'm at it i might as well share one of the amazing gifts i received (and gave) for Christmas. 

We so often "WANT" so much that we forget that there are millions around the world in desperate need. In need for basics like shelter, water, and food. They are in need for medical treatment, education, and protection. They are in need of love, hope, and sacrifice. People are in NEED. 

It humbles me that here i sit having the audacity to write a list of things i want when there are children dying because they don't have clean water. 

So this gift made a huge impact in the life of a young girl and also in my heart. 

. . .

Maybe this puts an idea in your head of another way you could do gifts this year. I've heard of many parents doing this as the "big gifts" for their children and then having smaller gifts (essentials) tagged on to really show what Christmas is about. It's a really radical and unconventional way to do Christmas, but i think it's awesome. 

There are plenty of organizations that take donations like this (like compassion international). 

My friend Beverly and I did our donations through World Vision. 

Just a little something to think about.

. . .

I'm currently working on the gifts i'm giving to family members...so maybe i'll post about that once they are given...in 5 months. 

. . .

I hope everyone has a safe and awesome weekend! 

Thursday Thoughts v.1

I'm linking up with Sar from Life of Love today for Thursday Thoughts.
. . .
[1.] Submission. What?  While i was driving to work yesterday one of the local radio shows and they were having a discussion on submission. One of the ladies was talking about how she is a strong independent woman and how she doesn't believe in submitting within a relationship. I really wanted to call in, but the phone lines were busy. I think a lot of people place a horrible connotation on the word 'submission', but i've recently had an amazing woman give me some incredible advice.
She said something along the lines of...
Let's break down the word "Submission"...sub-mission Sub means "under" so put it together,
"under-the-same-mission".
WHAT?! How completely relationship and marriage altering is that?! You're under the same mission as your husband and wife, DUH. I believe that the Husband is the head of the household (Ephesians 5), and that ultimately the big decisions fall on him, but not without the consent from his wife.
Submission---under the same mission.
. . .
[2.] I'm SO ready to have my roof replaced. Every time it even threatens to rain i get nervous that rain is falling down the roof and puddling up on the ceiling and then leaking down the wall...it's terrifying. Hopefully my cousin and his co-worker will get started THIS weekend.
. . .
[3.] I LOVE POTSTICKERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS...nomnomnomnomnomnomnom
. . .
[4.] I wish i had cable for the simple fact that i miss the new episodes of 30Rock, Drop Dead Diva, and The Vampire Diaries...etc. oooo and OF COURSE HGTV.
. . .
[5.] Anyone else ready for Friday? I'm so ready to just chill and do some house work; maybe i'll even paint some...hmmmm groovy.
<3 <3 

Pinteresting Wednesday

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I'm linking up with Michelle at The Vintage Apple to share some of my favorite pins from the past week! Enjoy and let me know if you've participated in Pinteresting Wednesday, i'd love to see your favorite pins! 

Found/Pinned here:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
. . .
Happy Wednesday! 

Process...

Something i'm learning...

Most things in life are a process.

Some things aren't: jumping into a pool, screaming, tripping over steps, having the urge to squeeze a fluffy animal...those things don't require a process. 

Most everything else does. 

. . .

I started working on my August meal plan yesterday...and it is hard. 

I've never actually sat down and planned out an entire month's worth of meals complete with recipes, ingredient lists, and what i'll be eating each week. I'm hoping to add to that weekly list my exercise routine as well as Scripture memorization to help keep me motivated and accountable. 

So why am i doing a meal plan for august? 

Well, my girlfriends and I decided that we would make a "No fast-food August pact". 

We are going to donate our money that we would normally spend eating out to a local charity. 

We will take the amount we've spent over the month of July (fast food AND restaurants) and use that to budget our individual donations for August. 

Have you ever sat down and actually looked at how much money you spend eating out within a month?! It will make your jaw hit the floor. 

So, once i get my binder made up would anyone be interested in seeing it?! 

I'm not promising it's going to be amazing, but hey you never know right?! haha just kidding. 

. . .

I'm also learning how being a home owner and getting things fixed is a SLOW process. 

Currently i'm having to get my roof replaced, replace the kitchen floors, and get a new oven. Why? Because all are rotting, leaking, and broken. As well as the stone walls in both showers are peeling off the walls so they have to be re-glued and re-caulked; both of which i know NOTHING about but i'm thankful to have family to help show me the ropes. 

Yup so i will be absolutely broke in the next few months, but at least i am thankful to have a roof over my head and food in my pantry...it's humbling. 

So many of us have SO MUCH and yet we continue to WANT so much. 

I think we've forgotten the difference between a need and a want, don't you? 

. . .

Rant over. 

So those are just some of my thoughts and daily musings going on in my head. 

If you would, please lift up my dear friend Stacy this morning; she is having her gallbladder removed today at one.

. . .

What have you found is a process in your life? 

Anything that you're having to work through right now? 

Spill.  

I'm alive | Closet

I'm alive, I promise! 

I actually was out of town friday-sunday and took that time to relax, eat, and just chill. 

My roommate and I went to Beaufort for the weekend using a Living Social deal, and it was fantastic! I'll post about it (with pictures) some time this week, i have yet to upload them...whoops. 

. . .

Now onto the story/progression that is my closet (and apparently photo taking skills). 

Let's walk through the time line that this poor thing has been through. 

This was my mother & father's closet once and it was full of their clothes/shoes/etc (nicely organized) but still just...lacking. Once my grandmother and grandfather moved in...it turned to chaos. You see my grandmother, bless her heart, is a hoarder. Yup...so this is how the closet looked for oh, i dont know 5 or so years. BRACE YOURSELF...yes it is that bad, and you've been warned. 

Yikes right?! 

I then busted my BUTT cleaning that thing out and i was left with it looking like this...

Aww, so much cleaner but still mildly offensive for a girls closet. 

Let's just let the pictures do the talking...

Then i updated the hangers and reorganized a little (MONTHS later)...

. . .

And sine then...(february of this year) i haven't really touched it. 

Well, when i had that photoshoot (mentioned here & here) and Susan & Shayla were coming to raid my  closet (while taking pictures) i knew i had to spruce it up, even it was just a little bit. 

So here is how my closet is looking today. 

[& yes i realize the quality of the photos here are not that great, that's what i get when the lighting BLOWS...]

. . .

So i think i've made some progress...right?

. . .

I can't wait to paint in there, and do a few more things, but for now this is totally helping me get by. 

. . .

Now i'm excited to catch up on all of the awesome blogness that i've missed out on in the last, oh...i dont know week or so...i know, so bad. 

<3 y'all. 

. . .

What about you, have you updated your closet recently? 

What does your dream closet look like? 

Spill.

July Birchbox

So, it hasn't been my intention to go missing for a few days...but that's just how it turned out! 

Life is life sometimes. :)

. . .

Thank you for all of your kind comments on the last post about the diy laundry soap! I'm excited to try some other "recipes" for my next batch so i'll definitely keep you posted! 

. . .

Do you remember how i've mentioned here  that Tobi enjoys jumping up on my counter, drinking out of the faucet, and watching my "morning routine" front and center? Well yes, he does it ALL of the time...and i couldn't resist taking these pictures. 

PU-LEASE how pitiful does he look. haha.

Apparently i was wearing him out by how long it took me to get ready. 

. . .

I got my July Birchbox a few days ago and i was pleasantly surprised with everything that i got! 

You see...i've been thinking of canceling my subscription. WHY you may ask? Well...samples just don't always do it for me. I either wont use them, i forget about them, or i don't fancy them enough to really care; and yes i just used the word 'fancy'...i know you liked it. 

I've been looking into some other sites that are similar to birchbox, but i haven't made a decision yet, i'll let you know once i figure out what i'm going to be doing. 

Until then...

. . .

The Goods: 

Larabar | I haven't tried mine yet, but my friend Lauren said it was uh-mazing. :) So i'll be packing this little baby in my car for when i'm about to eat my fingers from hunger. 

Earbuds | What what, a girl can never have enough of these, especially if your cat thinks it is a toy and proceeds to chew through the wires. Anyone else have that issue? 

Harvey Prince Eau Flirt-Lavendar Pumpkin | Cheese & Crackers this stuff smells amazing. 

Manna Kadar Sheer Glo Lotion | I'm a lotion FIEN. I have to be, my skin goes from oily to dry in .25 seconds so i'm always searching for a product that can help'a'sista'out. The description for this says it will give you that "healthy glow"...we shall see, my skin is already glowy from too much oil. I'm telling you, i could run cars or something. 

Color Club Nail Polish | I love nail polish as well, but only for my toes. I can't seem to keep it on my finger nails...hmmm.

Gloss Moderne Hair Gloss | I'm also a hair product junkie (didn't know i had addictions did you?! ). The claim is that this product will help reduce frizz. I'll be the judge of that, since my hair is curly-q and poofs out like a poodle during a humid NORMAL day here. 

Suki Balancing Regimen | Out of all of the products so far, i'm most excited to try this one! I'm always looking for something (as mentioned with my oily AND dry skin) to help with my face washing routine. Maybe this will be what i've been looking for?! 

. . .

You can view some of my past birchboxes here: ooo yes, we're going backwards ladies. 

June, May, April, March 

. . .

Did you get your birchbox? 

Link'up so i can see what you got as well!