2013: The Spring of Challenges

*Tap tap*, is this thing on? Hello? Anyone still here?

I suck at projects. I love starting them, but as soon as something goes wrong or I get bored or discouraged, I'm out. I love making crafts (and have led you to believe that I am somewhat of a crafting wizard) but I RARELY finish a project if it lasts longer than several hours. I just have no patience to keep up with something, especially when I start thinking about all the other things I could be doing.

I've been neglecting my blogging hobby lately for no reason other than I got bored and discouraged and just didn't feel like doing it! Which, in the grand scheme of things, is not the end of the world--it's not like I'm making money off this and I really don't have any stakes for coming up with a solid posting schedule other than friends and family members noticing when I haven't blogged in awhile. Too which I usually reply something along the lines of "yeah, I just haven't been feeling it lately", and that's that. No one cries, no one yells, and we move on to the next topic. Or maybe eat some chocolate.

I don't know what it has been about April, but this past month I have started some projects that I have been feeling pretty optimistic about. After a long winter of feeling way too lazy, I have finally started working out again, particularly running the Couch to 5k Challenge. Anyone ever try it? I'm only on Week Two, but have already been feeling more energetic, have been sleeping better, and am starting to feel like running has gotten easier. 

In addition to that, this past weekend after a very PMS-y day where I needed a project to distract myself, I finally sat down, dusted off my sewing machine, and taught myself a few things with the needle and thread. I'm feeling like a whole new world has been opened up to me and can't wait to share my Sunday project (and hopefully many more) in the weeks to come.

My physical and creative life needed a jumpstart, and getting over the initial hump to get it going was a challenge on it's own. However, I now feel ready to keep the challenges coming, which is why I have decided to participate in Jenni's Blog Every Day in May Challenge. I have gone far too long without just sitting down and writing about whatever is on my mind, and I think her prompts will be a fun and challenging way to share some of my thoughts. It might be different from the things I've written before on here, but I'm hoping it will be a welcome change and that you will enjoy it.

Maybe I'm getting in over my head with all these little projects, but I've found that I need to do this. I need to challenge myself to DO things, or else I spend my nights and weekends sitting around thinking of all the things I would like to be doing. Ain't nobody got time for that.

Cheers to May and new projects! If you are interested in participating in the blogging challenge, head over to Jenni's blog! 

Sister Antique Adventure

You know you have an addiction when you start dreaming about antique stores.

While the DC area is booming with thrift shops galore, I often miss the back-road PA antique malls that I grew up being dragged along to with my parents and eventually learned to love. I'll never forget the day I became turned on to the world of antiques --it was on my 14th or 15th birthday after brunch at the Country Cupboard. My parents decided that we were going to make a stop at the flea market across the road. Probably rolling my eyes like the teenage brat I was (Antiques? On my birthday? Why can't we just go to the mall?), I sulked around until I laid my eyes on a wall of the most fabulous jewelry I had ever seen. Bright bangles, oversized pearls, sparkly earrings--and everything was less than a dollar. Um, what? I didn't know that these boring dusty shops had things I actually cared about. 

And it was all downhill from there...or maybe not. Depending on how you look at it. It means that I will always have a home furnished with quirky and unique items from my adventures. It also means that when I go for too long without setting foot in an antique shop, I start dreaming about it. So this weekend when Ian and I headed up to Pennsylvania for Easter, I knew that an antiqueing trip with my sister would be in order.

The Plaza Centre in Bellefonte, PA has always been a favorite stop for us. Not only is the place HUGE, but is in a building which used to be a theatre. Imagine an old school theatre that you've taken the chairs and screens out of and replaced with antiques as far as the eye can see. Then, you go down stairs and up stairs and back through some hallways and before you know it you have no idea where you are. Getting lost in an antique shop is probably a nightmare for most, but is a perfect afternoon for me.

When we walked in the door and this was the first thing we saw, I knew it was going to be a good trip. Obviously I bought it. 

Emily was on the hunt for some pretty things for her future college apartment, and there was no shortage of pretty glasses and kitchen wares perfect for two funky girls. She walked away with a snazzy pitcher with matching juice glasses, all for under five bucks.

In addition to the sunburst clock, I found a cool statement piece for our house that will probably make an appearance on the blog soon...once I take some Windex to it. Oh, and figure out what to do with it...

Pearls and Plaid

Going along with my spring cleaning kick I've had lately, I tore through my closets several weekends ago, throwing all of my lesser-loved clothing into piles, sorting by Keep (aka, 95% of the stuff), Consign (aka, stuff that I spent too much money on to throw away), Donate (aka, stuff still in good shape), and Toss (aka, half-started sewing projects, shirts I've ruined, socks with holes in them, etc.).

I thought a had a pretty good system going, and even had the donate/consign clothes packed in bags, ready to go by the door. Well, days and then weeks went by, and I still hadn't taken them away. In fact, I started digging through them in the mornings as I got ready for work, hoping that maybe by some luck I would see one of my neglected tops or dresses in a new light. Kind of like shopping. Or maybe I would see an outfit on Pinterest that I liked, think to myself "wasn't there a plaid shirt in that bag that I was going to throw away?", and dig it out to re-create the stylish girl's look.

Yeah, that happened. Whoops.

This Forever 21 button up was among the tossed because I've always thought I looked super doofy in plaid. I like to think that it looks comfy and casual on me, when really, I just feel straight out of a 90's catalog. But lately I've had a change of heart, because when tucked into a skirt with some pretty accessories, it's an unexpected look for the office.

Lessons learned today? Maybe instead going shopping, sometimes you can see items from your closet in a new light. But if you are going to give away clothes you don't wear, get them out of your house and to your local Goodwill ASAP. Otherwise, you will end up a hoarder. Like me

P.S. I'm also selling some of my used clothes on Copius.com. Has anybody had any luck with this site? 

A Closer Look: Our Bedroom

Over the past few weekends, I've done some spring cleaning. I've gone through my closet, thrown a bunch of stuff out, and have hung more stuff that hadn't found a home yet on the walls. On Saturday, I finally took it upon myself to REALLY spruce up our bedroom so I could snap some photos to share! 

I mean...uhh...it always looks perfect and clean. Duh. Doesn't yours?

When we moved in, the two rooms that we painted right away were the living room and our bedroom, which were both painted a lovely shade of pastel blue/green. Not that I don't love me some pastels, but the color we picked is very neutral and can go with just about any color themes I might decide on in the future. (FYI, it's called Mindful Gray by Sherwin Williams.)

I figured if there was anywhere to have a shrine to ourselves, the bedroom was a good place...right?

I kind of unofficially took over the dresser as my beauty storage space (sorry, Ian) and have fought an ongoing battle with storing my jewlery and makeup in a way that doesn't look a mess. Right now, I'm happy with what I've come up with! My makeup is currently displayed on a vintage serving stand and bracelets on a skinny glass vase...

...brooches on a homemade tray...

...and earrings on a wire jar carrier thingy. I'm all about repurposing!

Friday

This week has been a roller coaster of motivation and energy. Can I still blame it on switching the clocks ahead? Or is everyone else caught up by now? I find myself lagging through every day, and then all of a sudden full of energy as soon as I get home to do anything but sleep. Then I get in bed and my mind won't shut off, and as soon as the alarm goes off a short couple of hours later, it's back to where we started.

Incidentally, this week I've also had a dumb meltdown, cried at Undercover Boss, and felt the need to eat my weight in chocolate peanut butter rice krispy treats. Oh hey, PMS. Nice to see you again.

I think this photo that I snapped while I was sitting in traffic one morning pretty much sums it up.

Happy Freakin' Friday. Back to your normally scheduled upbeat programming next week!

Fear of Missing Out on Beer Bread

Last year, Ian and I went all. out. for St. Patty's. Green shirts, eating and drinking all day, hanging out at the pub and wishing that I could dance like those girls with the super curly hair....

This year, not so much. I didn't even wear green. Or drink any Guinness. FAIL! My crazy day consisted of church, Walmart, and then was spent curled up on the couch with a cup of tea, browsing my cookbooks for some inspiration, and old episodes of Undercover Boss.

Here's my question. On a cold Sunday afternoon when all I felt like doing was the above mentioned activity, why did I still feel the need to aimlessly peruse Facebook and Instagram and feel lame for not wanting to be out drinking green beer? What is wrong with not feeling like I want to go out all the time? I think that when I just want to chill in my yoga pants and flannel I need to ban myself from all technology so I don't feel bad about wanting to do so. Anyone with me?

So in order to not be a complete St Patrick's Day failure, I made beer bread. I LOVE me some beer bread, and this recipe from Casual Kitchen did not disappoint. Ian and I were so excited to dig in that I simply didn't have time to dig out my nice camera. Instead, you get a lovely filtered Instagram version of the delicious creation. Now, tell me that the people out at the bars weren't having serious FOMO on Brenda's Beer Bread when they were perusing their phones. Yeah, that's what I thought.

Beer Bread

recipe from Casual Kitchen

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1 Tablespoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 12-ounce can of beer (I used Yuengling!)

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375F (190C).

2) Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add beer, and stir until batter is moistened and well-mixed.

3) Spread the batter evenly in a greased 8" or 9" loaf pan. I sprinkled oats on top!

4) Bake for 45-50 minutes until golden brown.

5) Let pan cool for 10-15 minutes, then remove bread from pan and let cool for another 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.

Did anyone else choose to spend their weekend in a very non-festive way like we did?

Let's Dance

Does anybody else love this commercial? And want to be in it? And want to go out and buy a bunch of shoes?

Or is it just me?

Happy Friday, everyone!

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