happy monday

I have some great news!!! Are you ready for it? It's a big, BIG, BIG, deal!

Husky football begins in about a month (33 days to be exact, but who's counting?!). This is the best news ever - at least it is to me! 

I'm beyond ready for fall! Fall is such a glorious season. The leaves begin to change color, the sun is still shining, people are tan and beautiful, you get to bust out your favorite pair of jeans again, but most importantly, FOOTBALL SEASON BEGINS! Yes, I do love football that much. I swear. In fact, I use to dream of being the star quarterback of my high school football team. Those aspirations didn't pan out. But, I did throw a touchdown pass during one of my co-ed flag football games last year. No big deal. :)

Usually I chalk up summer as my favorite season of the year - not this year. Colorado has had an absurdly hot and dry spring and summer this year so I'm tired of being baked in the heat. I absolutely adore sunshine and warmth, I just don't adore the sickening hot weather.

Anyway, the news of September being just around the corner with a fantastic kick off weekend of Husky football, is what makes me happy this Monday!

And I'm secretly (yet, not so secretly) coveting some new Washington gear. I might have already sent an email to the husband with links to about 15 different items I want. Not so subtle of a hint, huh? Here are few of my favorite items: 

GO DAWGS!

chicken, apple, and gouda salad

I thought my blog would be mostly about food. Somehow it has no food appearances yet! I have no idea how that happened. 

It's kind of like when you have your mind set on buying a new pair of shoes - you've looked for days on the internet comparing prices, styles, brands, etc and then you finally have a day off of work and you set out to the mall to buy your shoes...

But then you don't buy any shoes at all. 

Instead, you bought a purse.

You might love the purse and it may have quenched your desire to have something new, but it still wasn't what you intended to buy. 

Well, that's my blog. Kind of. I don't know if that makes sense but my blog was supposed to be about food and it's not. It's been about life, adventures, crafty projects, being thrifty and the like. I still love talking about those things, but it wasn't what I intended to talk about.

I figure it's about time for me to talk about my true love - FOOD! 

Quick confession: I didn't really know how to cook until I got married. I didn't care about food that much or even eating healthy. Now, I care a lot about those things. Oh, how my life has changed (for the better, might I add!). 

I'll stop rambling, it's time to get to the food. The important stuff. The worthwhile stuff. The stuff that makes my heart happy. Oh, food, how I love you!

I made a modified version of this salad. 

Here's what my salad had:

2 gala apples (thinly sliced)

1 white nectarine (thinly sliced)

4-5 chicken tenders (shredded)

1 package of spinach and spring greens mix

1 cup celery (chopped)

1/2 of red onion (thinly diced)

1 1/2 cups shredded gouda cheese

1 cup craisins

1/2 cup sliced almonds

Honey-Mustard Dressing:

1/2 cup greek non-fat yogurt

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 Tbsp dried basil (I was out of fresh basil, but I'd prefer 1/4 cup of fresh basil)

1/4 cup yellow mustard

1/4 cup dijon mustard

3 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp sugar

dash of red pepper flakes

dash of salt

It was quite delicious. I love salads in the summer. Actually, I love salads all year round but I especially love them in the summer.

The husband and I aren't really huge eaters so this was a perfect dinner salad for us. But I'm sure it would be great as a side salad too! Modify yours to the way you like and enjoy!

happy monday

Mondays can be rough and for me, especially this one.

I've been pretty spoiled lately. No work, mostly all play (well, and school).

But this week is different. This week I'm back to work and to top it off I have two exams and a quiz. What a doozy!

My much needed Monday pick-me-ups are two blogs. Right now, I'm in the blogging discovery stage. I don't actually think this stage ever ends, but I'm still whetting my appetite with all the great blogs out there.

One blog was recommended to me by someone from my church and I found it very insightful - check it out here!

The other blog makes my head spin with party ideas. I'm getting very antsy to have a reason to throw a party! But until that day comes, I'll be snooping for some ideas here!

I mean how cute is this? A party dedicated around tomatoes? Yes, please!

birthday thoughts continued...

My mom's birthday inspired me to finally share pictures from my very belated birthday.

I think I'm realizing that birthdays are a bigger deal to me than I once thought. Not in a selfish way where everything has to be about me on my birthday. But, I think birthdays are really special. In fact, I'm just a big fan of all holidays.

I like a reason to throw a party. That's the majority of my reasoning.

But I also like moments to remind us of what's special in our lives.

I like when loved ones take the time to not only say, but show, they care.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but this birthday didn't really encompass all of those things. I'm a little bit of a dreamer and idealist but I'm also very much so a realist. Another case of the war within me! This birthday fell into the traps of realism. The facts: my birthday was on a Monday (already a bummer right there!), it was my first day of nannying and my first day of class. This means that I left the house around 5:45am and wasn't home until about 9pm. In that 15 hour span of time, I didn't see a single person I knew. Not exactly the ideal birthday scenario. 

But, the sweet husband expected these things so he took me up to the mountains the weekend prior to my birthday. It wasn't much of a "birthday party" packed with all my family and friends around me, but it was a sweet and thoughtful retreat away. We stayed at a friend's cabin, went for a hike, went to Vail for part of the Teva Mountain Games, had a celebratory dinner out, and played some games. All in all, it was a good weekend and even though I wish I could have been with more friends and family, I was with the most important person in my life and that is a really special thing!

Here's a few photos from that weekend:

Lindsay and I relaxing by the river while her hubby fished!

Happy Birthday to me!

The husband and me by the waterfall :)

The husband tried to be a superhero (as shown) but we never made it to the top of the falls.

Dinner out! 

The Ockuly's were living in Vail at the time so they joined for my celebratory dinner!

 Maybe next year for my 25th birthday, I'll throw a big party. Who knows!? But, if I do, you're invited!

count the memories, not the years

Today is a special day. Do you know why? 

Yes, it's Friday, but it gets more special than that. Today is a special day because it is my momma's birthday! I've told you a little bit about my mom already, but let me tell you a little more. My mom has a heart of gold - she is compassionate, considerate, and caring. She is truly beautiful on the inside and out. My mom is intelligent, loyal, and passionate. I'm so blessed to have a mom like her! I may not have learned how to sew or bake from her, but she taught me how to chase my dreams, work hard, and live with love. 

My mom has some favorite sayings - one of them is "love 'em, leave 'em, and forget about 'em". I know, it sounds kind of harsh, but as a teenage girl, this was a life saver. My mom helped me navigate through the roller coaster of emotions regarding boys and helped me get back up on my feet after the numerous junior high and high school heartbreaks.

Another saying my mom lives by is "Live, Laugh, Love". She obviously didn't create this one but it's been a favorite of hers since I can remember.

For my mom's birthday, I decided to put my developing DIY skills to use by making her something that will be a daily reminder of her favorite quote.

For this project you will need canvases (any size or shape you want), wood or cardboard letters (I chose whole words because it was less expensive), measuring tape or ruler (not pictured), glue and spray paint.

Step 1: Measure and line up where you want your letters or words to be placed on the canvas.

Step 2: Glue your letters or words onto the canvas. I used a super glue because it was the first glue I found in my house but I'm sure other glues would work fine. Just be sure to press down while supporting from the back.

Step 3: Spray paint your canvas and letters in the color of your choosing. I used an ivory type color. Once the paint dries, you're ready to hang your canvas!

Note: The wood or cardboard letters don't end up being quite as bright as the canvas. I liked this look because it helped the letters pop more, but if you want a cleaner/crisper look, I suggest spray painting the letters FIRST, before you glue them to the canvas. Then, do another spray paint coat to the entire thing. 

Maybe I can convince my mom to hang her new present, take a picture and send it to me so I can show you all the finished outcome. Cross your fingers for that one though! 

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you so much and I'm so thankful for you. I hope you like your gift! 

Happy Monday

Who's a fan of Mondays? I'm not. I wish I wasn't that person but I am. I seem to always get the Sunday blues because I know that the next day is Monday. And, just for the record, the cause for the blues is not always work. In fact, today, I'm not working and yet I still had the Sunday blues yesterday. 

For those of us who are not the biggest fans of Monday (although we hate to admit it), here is what I call "Happy Monday". The goal is to post every Monday a little something that makes me happy in hopes that it might make you a little happy too. I don't know if this will conquer the Sunday blues but at least it's one thing to look forward to on Monday!

Today's "Happy Monday" is in honor of YoungLife, one of my best friends, and my sister-in-law. Both my friend and sister-in-law just got back from the greatest place on earth - YoungLife's Malibu camp in British Columbia, Canada. This pick-me-up post would make me much happier if I was the one getting back from Malibu but even the thought of Malibu lifts my spirits. Take a look at these pictures (not taken by me) and you'll see the beauty that steals the hearts of those who visit. Soak it in and let your spirit be lifted!

Happy Monday!

Not a picture in a frame?

Frames are incredibly versatile. They are used for much more than just pictures. I used empty frames as centerpieces at my wedding. Frames of all shapes, sizes, and colors are above my fireplace mantle.  I've seen frames used as jewelry organization. The possibilities are endless. But I'm a sucker for a new frame idea and this one was just up my alley!

My ideas are not always original, in fact, most of my creativity is borrowed from others' ability to be creative. This is a case and point scenario. Please don't judge me. 

Warning: this is a very tardy post - it is no longer anywhere near Mother's Day, but yes, that is what I will be talking about. Again, please don't judge me.

Here's the scene: mother's day is quickly approaching and I have no clue what to buy/make for my mom or my mother-in-law. See, the tricky thing is that my mom doesn't really fit the mold for the typical, cliche mother's day gift ideas. My mom does not bake, cook, sew, craft, garden, etc. There's nothing wrong with this and in fact, I'm very use to our differences in this way. I like that my mom is unique but sometimes it makes things tough when I approach these "hallmark holidays". The few "cliche" things my mom likes are wine and jewelry. I've used the wine idea probably 9 out of the last 10 gifts and she likes expensive, real jewelry which does not agree with my budget. Hence, my dilemma. 

Here's the solution: my mom is a sucker for anything that has to do with her children. So, instead of playing off of her material interests, I played off the sentimental note. I bought a nice frame and inside is a piece of paper listing the most important dates of her life. My mom's framed art included the date her and my dad met, the date they got married, and then the birth dates of each of her three kids. 

My mom's reaction: tears, gratitude, and shock that it wasn't a picture in the frame. Apparently, she's still learning the versatility of the frame!

I adapted this frame idea for a number of gifts. I made one for my mom and one for my mother-in-law. I also made one for two close friends, one for a birthday gift and another for an anniversary gift. Lastly, I made one for myself! :) I know, it's like going out Christmas shopping and you come back with nothing but something for yourself. Shame on me but I couldn't help it!

Feel free to try making your own. If kids aren't in the picture yet, here are some ideas for important dates: first met, first kiss, first date, first time saying "I love you", proposal, and wedding date. And maybe you have a special date of your own, if so, include it! The more personal it is, the better!

Note: be sure to do appropriate research to make sure all of your dates are accurate. I must admit that the below photos include an inaccurate date for the husband and me (and no, it's not our wedding date). Oops! 

*Please ignore the dust on our dresser and the ugly lamp pole*

Tick, Tock

I hate moving.

We might move...again. But these are just thoughts. There's absolutely NOTHING concrete about this. Don't tell the husband that I told you. It will be our little secret.

Sometimes I need a pro/con list to make decisions. This is one of those times where a pro/con list is just too long to even bother making. But one major con about moving is the fact that you always spend money on new decorations or furniture. There's always a new space, a new angle, or a new idea that you have to accommodate in a new home.

When Jon and I made our last move, I had a lot of these new spaces. The layout was completely different and nothing we had seemed to work like it did in the old place. This forced me to get creative and reinvent our already purchased goods. Our clock was one of them.

Our clock was a fairly cheap clock off of Amazon.com and it was really only meant to be "hung" once due to its sticky adhesive backing. Did I let that stop me? Heck no! There was no way I was buying a new clock even though we had to pull and scrape it off of our old wall.

The clock had separate numbers and hash marks (all adhesively stuck on the wall) and then the center piece included the battery operated hands. The center was the easy part but without the numbers or hashes, the hands just floated in space. I decided I could do without the hash marks, but I definitely needed the numbers (3, 6, 9 and 12). 

Here's my "tutorial" on how I reinvented our clock:

Step 1: Attempt to remove as much old paint and dry wall from back of numbers as possible

Step 2: Without the hash marks, the numbers needed a little extra pop! Wrap the letters in wire, yarn, thread, ribbon, etc. 

Step 3: Apply a better, more flexible version of adhesive backing that won't peel off the paint of our new wall

Step 4: Measure (as accurately as possible) where to place the numbers

Step 5: Hang center piece and adjust hands to show appropriate time

And voila! An old, torn up clock becomes a new clock. I wonder if it can handle another move though... but until then, check out my current clock:

This looks more red in the picture but it's more of a fuchsia type color.

The background is silver so it's a little hard to see the wire, but it adds a little texture. Next time I might go with some thicker wire.

Do you have any thrifty reinventions? Tell me about them!

-ariel

Unordinary Love Success Story

Happy 2 year anniversary to the man of my dreams!

When does the term "newlyweds" wear off? Is it after 1 year, 2 years, or 5 years? My vote is for 2 years but I'm sure arguments could be made for various cut-off points. Well, here is a tribute to the adventures of my newlywed life.

On July 9th, 2010, we tied the knot and celebrated with our family and friends.

Our honeymoon was absolutely perfect! We spent our time in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

These were some of our first adventures: our first Rockies game, our first 14er hike, and our first trip to St. Mary's Glacier! They are all repeat adventures now.

Jon and I spent our first anniversary celebrating in Aspen, CO. It was one of our first overnight getaways and we enjoyed hiking the Maroon Bells.

Pictured above are our first and second Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays spent together.

Hiking, hiking, hiking! It's Colorado, we can't help it!

Other outdoor adventures have included ice skating on a frozen lake, skiing, winter wonderland horseback riding, 14er hikes, ice castles, and camping.

We love the outdoors but we also love our sports. Go Rockies and Go Avalanche!

(p.s. the Huskies are playing in CO this year and we are beyond pumped! and yes, we will MOST definitely be at the game!)

Jon and I have had our fair share of visitors over the past two years. These are some of our most special memories. All are welcome to visit! :)

But we've also made our trips back to Washington! These are just some of the lovely faces we always look forward to seeing.

There have been quite a few adventures and lots of memories but this is really what we do...

After 3 years of medical school , 4 different jobs, 2 different homes, 3 different churches, and lots of friends coming in and out of our lives, Jon and I are still happily in love. Life is ever changing and constantly challenging but Jon is a rock in my life. He is steadfast, loyal, dedicated, loving, encouraging, and so much more. He is my #1 fan and I am his - this is the good life. This is unordinary love at its best. Happy Anniversary Jon!

Breaking the Seal

I knew starting a blog was a dangerous feat. I thought to myself, "this IS NOT going to be one of my overzealous goals, I can do this!". Well, it turns out, like many other goals I set for myself, I was a little over eager. How could 1-2 posts per week be all that hard even as life gets busy? Oh, how wrong I was. Now, a little over a month since my last post, I am breaking the seal. (if you don't understand the term, "breaking the seal", you either haven't been to college or you're too far removed from college to remember)

My list of must-write blogs is ever increasing as each day passes. But the wait is over. The next two weeks will (hopefully) be filled with posting galore. Don't take my word for it though - this could be another repeat moment of high expectations and low productivity. Wish me luck and check back often to see if I follow through on my word!

love,

ariel

p.s. this is a lesson in accountability - see, if I tell you that I am going to write more, then I will be forced to write more. Crossing my fingers that my strategy pans out!