Blue Baubles

 

 

The work week after the holidays may feel like the longest 5 days in history.  But motivation is on an all year high all around us and you can’t help but soak it up. 

We have already made it to Wednesday, so here’s to kicking butt and taking names… you’ve got this! {hashtag - mid week pep talk!}

Christmas Morning Mugs

I wanted to bring a sweet treat over to my sister’s home for Christmas morning this year, and with a large crowd and glasses full of coffee and mimosas, I figured personalized mugs would be ideal.

 

This was a fun and simple DIY that involved just a little time, a plain white ceramic mug and Sharpie permanent marker! 

First take all sticker tags off the mugs and hand wash them.  I was able to find these classic mugs at Walmart for 88 cents! 

Draw your design on the mug exactly as you would like it and then draw over the image again to make it stand out.  {helpful hint – if you make a mistake, a simple dab of nail polish remover with acetone on a q-tip is the perfect eraser}

 

Place the mugs in an un-heated oven and set the temperature to 350 degrees.  Let the oven preheat with the mugs inside to avoid cracking, and when the temperature hits 350 degrees set the timer for 30 minutes.  At 30 minutes, turn the oven off and let the mugs cool down inside.  {I baked the mugs again the next day to seal in the ink, but this step could be skipped.}

 

 

Pull the cooled mugs out of the oven and you have a personalized gift perfect for anyone!

To add a little something and to make a perfect winter hostess gift, add a baggy filled with hot coco powder and marshmallows and tie it all together with bakers twine with a stirring spoon!

 

 

Five on Friday - 2014 Recap Edition

A lot of this year was spent wishing time would go faster, I was so focused on the bigger things ahead, I didn’t take the time to truly appreciate all the great parts of every day.  2015 is my year to slow down and truly be grateful for everything as we go as it leads to all the big things this year has in store.

So for my Five on Friday, it’s time to sit back and remember the best parts of 2014:

1.      Moved In To Our New Home: I am pretty sure I would be happy just listing this 5 times!   The feeling of being settled-in is one of the happiest in the world. 

 

2.      Celebrated our One Year Wedding Anniversary: and there is no one I would want to feel more settled with.

 

3.      Weddings: My best friend and college roommate both married the man of their dreams this year and standing by their sides as they said I do was incredible (and the parties that happened immediately after were pretty great too)!

 

4.      Work is going great.  This year has really shown me that I have found what I love to do and am so thankful that the opportunity to take on this career fell into my lap at the perfect time.

 

 

5.      Vacations, while only quick weekend getaways here and there, were the best.  Between beaches and bachelorette parties, I don’t know which ones I loved the most!

 

2014, you looked pretty good... but 2015, we are moving on and moving up!!
 

 

 

Well Hello There 2015

We ended 2014 with dinner out with friends followed by a quiet night in ringing in the new year just Brandon and I.  We didn’t have a chance to eat our anniversary cake in September so we celebrated as we waited for the ball to drop and cheersed to the new year looking forward to a fabulous 2015!

 

I am big on “fresh starts”.  I love the feeling of new adventures.  New school years, new jobs, new houses, new year’s… New has the best mix of anxiety, hope, anticipation and positive perspective that is such a rush.

As we look at a fresh calendar ready to be filled I can’t help but list all the things I want to accomplish. 

So here we go…

-     Create my Space in the Blogging World!: I have dabbled with blogging for a while now but have always wanted more.  This year is where I make my online world what I want it to be, where I learn more and where I grow!!

-     Read Books: I am pretty sure I went through all of 2014 reading just two books (and one may have been a book on tape).  I love the feeling after reading a great book and want that more.

-     Make a Daily Workout Routine: Good posture and strength are my workout goals.

-     Start my Mornings Earlier: The best days start with waking up early and not feeling rushed.  So here is to going to bed early and not hitting the snooze button.

-     Learn Calligraphy: This has always been a “I wish” and I am moving it to the “to do"
 list this year!

-     Get Organized!: I am pretty positive this is the secret to making all of these things happen.  I have always been a fairly organized person but now is a time to overhaul life and make everything more efficient and pretty (of course!)

Here’s looking at you 2015, I am ready for you with bells on!