2014 Resolutions: Month 1

1. Lose 20+ pounds.
Lost 0 pounds… But I also gained 0 pounds.

2. Read 52+ books.
I read four so I’m well on my way! Check out my book blog for reviews.

3. Visit 1+ new (to me) US city.
Visiting Seattle in March.

4. Visit 1+ new (to me) country.
Visiting Canada in March.

5. Visit 5+ new (to me) breweries and vineyards in WNC.
Visited Hi-Wire Brewing.

6. Get 2+ tattoos.
Not in January.

7. Find a higher paying job.
Will start looking in March.

8. Live 100% by myself for the first time (no roommates, boyfriend, mom…).
That will come after #7…

9. Go to a book signing or book/library-related event (YALLFest, ALA Annual Conference).
I went to Wiley Cash’s book signing.

10. Maintain my book and local travel blogs and start a new general travel blog.
Added 18 posts to my book blog (!), five to my local travel blog, and created a new general travel blog (but haven’t gotten any posts up yet).

11. Take Spanish classes.
Hired a teacher and have had two classes so far! We meet once a week and she gives lots of homework.

12. Be more creative with Pinterest-inspired crafts and cooking.
Tried two new recipes (crockpot chicken taco bowls and green curry chicken) and one new craft (Mardi Gras tutu)!

13. Wean myself off meat until I’m down to one carnivorous meal a week (or month!).
Have not started this one yet. 😦

14. Do something I’ve never done before (play golf, ride in a limo, go hang-gliding…).
Nope.

Saw It, Pinned It, Did It

I have recently become a children’s librarian and I pinned these two book displays as inspiration for my children’s and young adult displays for June.

For the children’s department, I wanted something to go along with our “Dig Into Reading” summer reading program theme. I chose dinosaurs because we have so many dinosaur books AND already had all the props (giant eggs, dinosaur skeletons, a dinosaur puppet, a hard hat, and a small shovel). I taped a label that said “archeologist” to the hard hat! I also had already purchased some small plastic dinosaurs as part of a prize package for kids who turn in their book logs at the end of the summer so I added them too. You can find the “Digging for Dinosaurs” poster I added here.

For the young adult department, I wanted something kind of simple so I chose “Soak Up A Good Book: Summer Reads for Teens.” I used suns for the “O”s in the title and put suns around the side of the posterboard, with photos of summer-themed book cover and a blurb about each book. I centered the posterboard on a summer-themed tablecloth and placed a beach chair, sand bucket, goggles, beach ball, and float on either side along with two summer-themed books. Then I added additional summer-themed books on either side of the main display along with flip fops, leis, mini sand buckets, and a colorful cup. We already had the beach chair and I bought all the other props at $1 stores.

Also last weekend by friend Brittany and I made a centerpiece for her son’s 3rd birthday party. This is the pin that inspired it…

And here’s what we made!

Happiness 365: Day 158

Went to Brittany’s tonight to help her prepare for Peyton’s birthday party! We also went out for Thai food 🙂

Weekend Update

Friday I stayed in and watched the movie Bachelorette, which was really good!

Saturday was an awesome day… I had lunch at Brittany’s and then we painted pottery and got frozen yogurt!

Saturday night Shannon and I went out to dinner at The Melting Pot!

Sunday I hung out with the kitties outside for a bit and took some photos of my mom’s flowers.

Sunday night I cooked chicken enchilada pasta for dinner.

Sunday Social

1. What is your favorite outfit pin?
I have this necklace but can never figure out what to wear it with… Digging the gray and yellow.

2. What is your favorite food pin?
I have a board filled with recipes I have actually tried. This is a photo of the delicious loaded baked potato soup I made!

3. What is your favorite wedding pin?
Pink Gerber daisies will definitely be my wedding flower.

4. What is your favorite DIY/craft pin?
I also have a board of crafts I have tried. I think my next project will be these chevron shoes.

5. What is your favorite quote/verse/lyric pin?
I don’t pin those very much. But since I just got my dream job as a children’s librarian… This one!!

6. Share one more random pin you love.
Pinterest fails are always hilarious.

Follow me on Pinterest!

TGIF

1. I started my new job this week! I’m a part-time nanny for this adorable three-month-old, Hayden.

2. Monday I watched Downton Abbey and made homemade pizza. Season three is really tragic, even if I do know all the spoilers!

3. Tuesday I got my free ARC of The Silver Star in the mail… So excited to read it! I also had my guest post published at By the Porchlight. Click here to read why you should visit Southeast Asia and here to learn about the best places to visit there!

4. Wednesday I didn’t really do anything… So here are some photos of my cats. 🙂

5. Yesterday I made this earring holder!

The only bad things about this week:

• It’s my spring break but I have five assignments due Monday!
• I am craving bad food and am probably going to blow my diet this weekend!

Saw It, Pinned It, Did It

I’ve been wanting to make an earring holder and pinned a few:

Mine’s not quite the same, but it serves its purpose and I like it! Now maybe I’ll wear my earrings more often…

Tuesday Topics

10 Pins

I have lots of holiday boards and have been pinning Easter stuff lately.

Gonna make these cupcakes for St. Patrick’s Day!

There are my next two craft projects: an earring holder and chevron shoes.

Sometimes I just see something cute…

Lots of lovely spring outfits…

I already have this necklace!

Tattoo ideas… I am going to get something similar to this on my left shoulder.

Nail art that I know I could never do!

Healthy recipes… I think I will make this broccoli “pesto” pasta soon.

Quotes that speak to me…

Ten Things to Smile About: January

1. Going hiking at DuPont State Forest.

2. Finally visiting Fields of the Wood.

3. The Winter Warmer beer festival.

4. Pampering! I got a facial, a massage, and a shellac manicure.

5. Good books!

6. Good movies!

7. Season premieres of my favorite shows.

8. The Golden Globes!

9. My first ever painting class. Loved it! Also I made some glitter crafts at home. 🙂

10. I lost 5 pounds!

2013 Craft Challenge: January

For my “leftovers” craft (make something pretty for free) I decided to glitterize a few things: a pair of shoes I never wear, a boring photo frame, and a wine glass. I had tons of glitter leftover from my pumpkin decorating party (where I made a glitter chevron pumpkin). The wine glass was a fail (the glitter peeled off where I tried to tape of different sections) but I like the looks of the other two creations. For the shoes, I mixed purple glitter and Mod Podge and put on four coats with a foam brush. They were originally green! For the photo frame, I mixed pink glitter and Mod Podge. I think I did one coat, then sprinkled some extra loose glitter one, then one more coat. Easy peasy!

my stepsister Ruth glittered the bottom of a pair of baby Klay’s shoes