The last 3 months

So as many of you have noticed I have been away from the blogging world for awhile, but I think I am about to jump back into it.  I wanted to give you a little synopsis of what I’ve been up to for the last 3 months…

In May my hubby and I finally graduated from grad school, getting our Masters in Biblical Counseling.  Although we walked we still had to complete our internship, and let me say… once you have walked and left the school premises… it is VERY hard to be motivated to do ANY school work! But thankfully with the Lords help and encouragement from and to each other, we are COMPLETELY DONE!!

After we finished with Grad school, we packed up all our things and moved across country to sunny California!!

We moved to help with a small church plant in Northern California. We loved our 3000 mile trip and it will probably be our last vacation for awhile. But boy did we have fun!

On the way out to California, we stopped in Las Vegas to watch the Phantom of the Opera! Let me just say, it was fabulous!! If any of you ever get the chance, don’t miss it!

We finally made it to our new rental house and we had our work cut out for us! The house had been closed up for over a year and we had some cleaning to do! But it is now clean, cozy and definitely spider free! Since this is only temporary housing (it is a month to month situation) its been hard to make it mine, but I have started on a few projects that I can’t wait to show you all.  Here are a few sneak peaks!

This beauty needs some major TLC! I have already started ripping the old fabric off. I will post more pictures and the progress continues.

I’ve made a few baby shower gifts.  See full tutorial here.

And last but not least, can anyone guess what I used these for? I have to say they are super cheap! only $3 for a twin size flat sheet. I will post my finished projects shortly!

Thanks for hanging in there with me while I have been away! Keep checking back for upcoming projects.

Cute and Easy Napkin Rings

I found these adorable napkin rings at Punkin Patterns.  Check out  their site here for the complete tutorial, don’t worry it’s super easy!

My new addiction

So I stumbled upon this new website the other day and Im officially hooked.  Shade Tree Films makes videos for special occasions, and WOW do they do a great job!! The editing is fabulous.  All the angles, music, the story…all I can say is the best work I have ever seen. Check out their wedding stories, I’m sure you will love them!

Thanks for the great work Shade Tree Films.

Love, Actually

In honor of Valentines quickly approaching, I decided I would feature this new blog I found that has fun and inexpensive date ideas for you and your hunny.

As a newly wed myself, I am a firm believer in date nights. It is easy for me to see how the obligations of life can quickly make you forget about a fun part of a relationship, the romance! Taking time in your week to stop and refocus your relationship does not have to be the same cookie cutter ‘dinner and a movie’ (don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a time for just dinner and a movie) but who says that dinner can’t be a picnic in the park and the movie watched on a laptop? This site is great at giving some really creative and many expensive and DIY date ideas. Here a few of my favorites.

Pizzeria Date Night.

Love Checks.

Personal board games.

I found this years Valentine’s Day ideas from this site, I will post pictures later! Let me know what you think or what ideas you love!

Craftynest

Craftynest does a fabulous job on old and broken items and making them into something usable and beautiful. Check out some of the ideas I found and check out their site for some more great ideas.

I love the Bamboo veneers she put on these typical Ikea tables. Check them out here.

Have extra drawers lying around, check out her bookcase here.

I love these Popsicle snow flakes, find the tutorial here.

I loved how she turned this old dresser into this movable tool box.

And she turned this old window into a one of a kind piece of art.

I hope you enjoy these ideas as much as I do.

Dollar Store Crafts

Here is an ingenious blog I found the other day!It has creative craft ideas from objects found at the Dollar Store. It’s fabulous because who doesn’t love the Dollar store?? Here are a few ideas I found that have made it to my “someday” list.

I love this customized rubiks cube! It would make a great and simple gift or just fun to have around your office. I can’t wait to pick one up and try this for myself. Go here to find instructions on how its made.

This is a great teachers gift. Seeing these makes me want to be a teacher so i can hang one in my office. Click here to see how its made.

Here are some fun coasters you can make from your favorite scrap booking paper. Found out how here.

Need a better way to keep yourself organized? Check out the picture frame calendar here.

Here is a fun Christmas card holder made out of a placemat.  Oh the possibilities this project has.

Let me know if you come up with any great ideas from Dollar store finds.

Shanty2Chic

Shanty2Chic is a fabulous blog! It has not been around for too long but it is packed full of great ideas and helpful step by step tutorials. Check out this blog and find many more projects just like these.

Here is a cheap and personal way to decorate your Christmas tree with frames from the Dollar Store. Click here for the tutorial.

I just bought an over sized frame at Goodwill to try this project out for myself. Check out how she did it here.

I love these jars! See how she made them here.

Here is another inexpensive way to spruce up your Christmas tree using a hanger and buttons. Check out the tutorial here.

This is a super cute lamp revamped from a $15 Target find. See the tutorial here.

I hope you enjoy her blog as much as I do!

Little Birdie Secrets

Little Birdie Secrets is a great blog of three friends and their great crafting projects. Here are a few of their projects that I have added to my project list.

I love these photo blocks. Such a great and easy gift idea!

Need a new tree skirt?

Technically this is for Valentines Day but its super easy and the idea could easily be converted over to a Christmas wreath.

Check out this great tutorial on a handmade book/ journal.

I love this little stocking silverware holder! What a great idea for your next Christmas party.

Check out their site, I’m sure you will find something you will love!

Christmas Wrapping Ideas

They always say  “don’t judge a book by its cover” but that is never said about the wrapping on a gift. When it comes to food they say “presentation is everything” or “if it looks good, then it will taste good”, well wouldn’t that apply to presents as well? Well, if you are in a holiday gift wrapping slump, take a look at these gift wrapping ideas to get the juices running again. Have fun with it and get creative!

Gift Wrapping with Twine.

Gift Box for soap.

Gift wrap with a place mat.

Gift Wrapping by recycling magazines.

Gift Wrapping a Christmas Cookie Mix.

Gift Wrapping with photocopied photos.

Gift Wrapping with fabric.

Gift Wrapping with an old envelope box.

Gift Wrapping a cookbook with a dishtowel.

Gift Wrapping in a jar.

Gift Wrapping for Bread.

If these aren’t enough ideas for you Check out sites for some more ideas.

Tip Junkie

My Little Cottage

Fireflies and Jellybeans

I am starting to love this blog more and more! They have some really great and easy projects that won’t break the bank.  Here are a few ideas I have found and am excited about getting started on.  Check out their site and see what ideas you could come up with!

This is a fun tutorial on how to make some great gift tags to spice up your holiday gifts!

These are blocks for displaying the new baby in the family, or in my case I’m planning on making them with wedding pictures and the date!

This is an idea that I am really excited about!  This being our first Christmas together our ornament collect is very small. Check out this tutorial on how to make your own ornaments for Christmas out of old greeting cards.