movin' on up {creativity}

...to the east side. to that deluxe apartment in the sky. {well it's a studio on EAST kemper road so it kind of applies.}

i love thrift stores.

i love buying things for pennies at thrift stores and turning them into things that i love.

we get the keys to the new studio/office on saturday morning. {eek!!} sidenote: i realize that some of you know sheila and i and have seen that strangely enough, we're both getting the keys to our new studios on saturday and that even stranger, they're both in downtown glendale. guess what? same studio. :) we are not joining businesses - we are sharing space. yes, we work together on weddings. and yes, now we'll share a studio. but no, we are just friends who support each other and each other's businesses and like to spend time together making fun of everything. just had to answer that for a few of you that have asked.

one of my favorite things to do at the thrift store is buy frames and spray paint them at home so they all look the same. so cheap. i'd show you how to do that but i already have here.

here was my project today.

found these and they're ALMOST identical. one was 99 cents, one was 69 cents. the color of the wood is beautiful. which is why i didn't paint it, paint it another color and then distress it.

painted them ivory. looks pretty white in this picture but it's ivory. the studio is old school - in a historic district, wood floors, lots of windows. what we've gotten so far is antique-ish and awesome. warm colors is a must.

this wood ATE the paint. 5 flipping coats later...

time to sand. {sidenote: i googled this. i have no idea what i'm doing.}

yeah, it was night-time by the time i was able to finish it.

LOVE them. the natural wood coming through the soft color is awesome. so proud of these!

--

bought this small shelf for a couple quarters.

painted it black. sanded the detailed edges. {love.}

simple detail. LOVE.

--

i bought this mirror at the thrift store for 99 cents. you can't really tell here but it was an awful awful lavender/robin egg blue color. ick.

so first i painted it the ivory color from above.

then i spray painted it espresso brown.

then i sanded it so the ivory is coming through the texture. yes i need to clean the mirror.

those were my projects today. 

can't wait to get in this studio!

and don't worry. there will be something yellow in there somewhere. :)

xx

it's go time. {let's do this}

monday is go time.

i would say today is go time but this weekend is vacation and let's be honest, i'll be with maggie and she is bad for my waistline.

everyone that knows me knows about my weight loss journey since january of 2010. i've had an incredible amount of success but the last 2 months have been {for lack of a better word} pathetic.

i hit a plateau. it BLOWS. i have started to give up. super lame.

so now i'm being proactive. i met with a health professional/friend last night and i'm tackling this head on...on monday.

it's not that i have every intention of finishing this. i have every confidence that i will. it is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.

i can't believe i have been so defeated after all that i've accomplished. i have lost an entire person {a decent size person at that ha} and i have no doubt that i can finish this.

i have the best cheerleaders. i've said that since day 1.
i have the physical ability.
i have the self-control {even when i don't act like it.}
i have the desire.
and i have the responsibility of deciding.

deciding that this is still the most important thing i do every day.
deciding that life can be as yellow as i want.
deciding that it's worth more than other things.
deciding that i'm worth more than i have convinced myself i am.

it is go time, folks.

keep me accountable? why thank you.

xx

silver linings {love}

there's a song that i love by mindy smith {who i love}. she says, "there's always a silver lining. the sun is always shining. so chin up now, stop your whining. keep on fighting..."

{love.}

there is always a silver lining. there is always blessing from tragedy. there is always hope after loss. there is always success after failure. there is always opportunity after mistakes. there is always a time to a laugh after you cry.

that's {beautiful}.

so here are some of my silver linings today. enjoy.

*i had rejection letter after rejection letter when i was applying after college for what i thought i wanted to do with my life but i found my passion and now i can't imagine doing anything else.
*a 150 load bottle of downey slowly poured out onto my laundry room and bathroom floors all night but today my apartment smells AWESOME.
*david passed away. but in the time after his death until now, sheila and i have formed this beautiful friendship that i am eternally grateful for.
*last week, the ice cream bars i paid for didn't make it into my grocery bags. enough said.
*i woke up at 4:45 this morning but i got to see the sunrise at the lake and it was worth it.
*i lost him but i found me.
*i don't have a lot of money but i have enough to get by happily.
*i'm not where i want to be health-wise but i've come so far.
*i didn't find a black dress last night like i needed to but i found a pinky peach one. ;)
*i never thought i'd be where i am in life right now but i'm really glad i am.
*i have never cried as much as i have in the last 6 weeks but He comforts me.
*summer is ending :( but fall is coming. :)
*i'm having to learn to let go but...i'm having to learn to let go. :)
*i got to see jimmy buffett last week...okay, no, that's just awesome.
*i made a terrible decision but i can fix it.
*i miss my long hair but short hair is so easy.
*life is hard but it's yellow.

it is so, so yellow.

crisp apple strudel {favorite things}

okay, not gonna talk about crisp apple strudel. even though it's DELISH.

yesterday i shared a recipe for the best pizza i've ever eaten {i am such a liar. the best pizza i've ever eaten was at gino's east of chicago. this would be the best pizza i've ever eaten that won't put me in an early grave.} so even though i won't have pictures to share with you, i thought i'd tell you guys a few other of my favorite things to make. things that are in the 'in-between' zone on natural/organic but are healthy and affordable alternatives to some of my favorite things.

FAVORITE BREAKFAST FOOD:

you'll need:
thomas multigrain light english muffin
egg white
kroger turkey sausage patty
kraft american 2% single

sometimes i use just egg and cheese, sometimes just turkey and cheese, sometimes all of them. it is so delicious and satisfying. if you use all 4 things, it has 217 calories, 7 grams of fat, 8 grams of fiber, 18 grams of protein. pair it with a greek yogurt and some fresh fruit and it's a BALLER breakfast.

note: they freeze well too. make them on sunday nights and have breakfast ready in 40 seconds every morning.

FAVORITE SIDE DISH:


you'll need:
spaghetti squash
olive oil
garlic
veggies

if you go way back in my blog, you'll see how to prepare spaghetti squash. it's one of my favorite things ever. i use it often in a main dish, but it's great on the side too. mix your squash with a little bit of olive oil, minced garlic, and some steamed veggies and eat it with a grilled chicken breast or turkey burger and you have a satisfying, healthy, delicious side.  {note: not that it's natural cause it isn't, but i skip out on the olive oil and use 'i can't believe it's not butter' spray. saves you mucho calories.} made my way, it's 70 calories, 1 gram of fat, 8 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein. for a CUP of it. delish.

FAVORITE SALAD:


you'll need:
2 cups baby spinach
5 strawberries
1/4 cup craisins
1/8 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup fat free feta cheese
2 tbsp fat free balsamic vinaigrette dressing {or see favorite dressing}

rip up the spinach, slice the strawberries, toss everything else. it's my favorite salad ever. and takes about 2 seconds to make and costs maybe 1/16 of what you'd pay eating out. high in fiber, good protein, has spinach in it - SUPERFOOD. made with the balsamic, it is 255 calories, 8 grams of fat, 13 grams of protein, 9 grams of fiber. if you measure it as listed above, it is a meal size salad. serve with grilled trout. perfection.

FAVORITE SALAD DRESSING:


you'll need:
1/2 cup champagne
1/2 cup jellied cranberry sauce
1/4 cup minced shallots
1 tsp dijon mustard
2 tbsp EVOO
salt and pepper to taste

i tried this dressing when i was in florida visiting my college roommate, alexandra. we both fell in love. we ate it with a pear and walnut salad {that is in second place as favorite salad ever. google it. love it.} i make this dressing weekly to have on hand. put everything in a pan and bring to a boil and them simmer until reduced to about 1/3 cup dressing. remove from heat and salt and pepper to taste. best served warm but good cold also. i haven't had the time to figure out the nutritional information of this dressing but i promise you - it's worth it! :) so yummy. and better for you than ranch, you can take that to the bank.

FAVORITE DINNER:


you'll need:
one can chili hot beans
one cup favorite salsa
1 link turkey smoked sausage

this is my take on 'red beans and rice'. i skip the rice. not a fan. plus empty carbs. and the meal doesn't need it. mix it all up. eat it. love me for it. portion control - eat a cup of it with a simple salad and you will love me. it's 250 calories, 7 grams of fat, 15 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber.


so there are some of my favorite things. a lot of people think i eat foods you wouldn't want to eat {and some things i do i can admit that} but i really eat very similar to you. i just eat it at home {i know exactly what's in it}, natural/organic when i can {i...uh, know exactly what's in it...}, and healthier.

i've said it before. cut out the food you shouldn't be eating but to keep yourself sane, find a healthier option for some of them and let yourself have it. and remember, there is always a healthier option.

love love.

banana peppers make everything better {food}

oh my word.

i haven't shared any food info/recipes/etc in a long time. i'm always looking for ways to make my favorite foods healthier and at home. last night i had a craving for pizza. not just any pizza. my FAVORITE pizza.

last year i tried a pizza at adriatico's that about rocked my world. turkey {not turkey sausage or pepperoni, just turkey}, banana peppers, spinach, red sauce. sounded really weird. i got addicted.

so i made a homemade version last night. and here it is. :)

you will need:

like i said, not all that 'natural' like most of the foods i make, but its not terrible. the cheese is natural {most diet food pizzas do NOT use cheese}, everything else is fairly decent. i feel like i'm trying to justify this meal. maybe so. :) just wait.

put a little bit of the pizza sauce on the pita {you really don't need much. the peppers are juicy.} put on the turkey, tear up some baby spinach {forgot a picture of that. you know what it looks like.}, lay on the peppers, and then put the cheese on top. throw it in the toaster oven for a few minutes and voila.

DELICIOUS.

even better?

220 calories, 8 grams of fat, 9 grams of fiber, 28 grams of protein.

you're welcome.

sunday mornings {hope}

I downloaded an app that let's me write this from my phone. let the blogging way too much commence.

I wrote a blog last year on this date. I cried the entire time I wrote it. I'll be crying as I write this I'm sure. {sidenote: I cry. A lot. I think that's been established.}

Hope turns 2 tomorrow. Who's Hope? My niece. Otherwise known as the best thing that ever happened to me. {okay, she happened to my sister but that is a minor detail.}

I look back at those Sunday mornings alone with her in the NICU as some of the most precious moments in my life. {ah, I'm crying. didn't take long.} It seemed like no one was ever in there on Sunday mornings except for me, the nurses, the beeping monitors on all of the babies, and the Psalms. I would read them to Hope while she laid there. The first time I held her was alone there on a Sunday morning. {okay, now it's more like weeping. get it together.}

I can't believe that was 2 years ago. She has brought us so much joy. Just like every other family with a little one, every gathering and holiday is spent just staring at her and laughing at what she's doing. As they should be!

She is an incredible little girl - so full of life and genuinely happy. It doesn't hurt that she's stunning {and I'd say that even if I weren't her aunt}. She's funny and she's smart and she's sweet and when she pats my back as she hugs me, it makes the worst day better.

I realize that she actually belongs to my sister {again, with the details} but who doesn't love their super best friend auntie? I think we'll be friends forever.

So happy 2nd birthday to our joy, our light, our goat, our Hope. We love you, babygirl. Our lives would be so boring without you.

xx

baby steps {life}

i have 2 blisters on my feet, i can't move my left arm, every time i laugh my abdomen aches, and my right knee is throbbing.

i feel awesome. and i'm not even being sarcastic.

i really feel awesome! if you stalk my facebook, you know that i was cleared by the doctor to start running again this past week. {sidenote: if you don't stalk me, you don't know this. i slipped a disc in my neck, pinched a nerve between my shoulder blades & sprained 4 muscles in my left shoulder. super. fun.} i thought i was going to hate it. it had been so long since i ran! but no. it came back pretty naturally. it helps that it's been gorgeous out this week - fall weather even. so pretty that i overdid it. ran 2 miles my first morning back - that's fine. stayed between 2 and 3 most days. tried to be a hero and did 5 miles on monday. the same day that i fell down the concrete stairs outside of my door. not smart.

today i was cleared to lift weights again - with caution of course. so i did. and then i realized that after 6 weeks of not lifting, my right arm was pretty weak. after 6 weeks of virtually not moving my left arm - there is no strength at all. confession: i definitely just did bicep curls with a 5 pound weight. and my arm was shaking. i haven't used it all. not to brush my hair, not to pick up a glass of water - nothing. it hurt so bad to do the littlest things. and i didn't even realize that the strength was gone.

so now here i am. the desire is back. last year i lived for the gym! this morning i ran 3 miles and tonight i worked out for an hour and ran another 2. i'm not bragging - i'm telling you the desire is there. the ability? not so much. baby steps.

which seems to be the theme of my life this week. baby steps. i'm taking baby steps towards a change in my professional life this week,  i took some baby steps in my personal life, i am taking baby steps in getting healthy again, etc.

i know my personality. when i'm in something, i'm in it. this can be one of my greatest attributes...and this can be my biggest fault. i tend to throw everything into what i'm doing. obviously there have been times this has proven beneficial {when i started my weight loss journey} and times when it hasn't {'what happened' if you'll remember that from a previous blog...ha}.

i really believe God has done some things in recent days to protect my heart from doing just that. scotty said at church 2 weeks ago that "God is preparing you for what He has prepared FOR you". i started crying. imagine that. i feel like that's where i am right now. being prepared. and just like conditioning for sports used to hurt so bad in high school, we had to do that before we started practice. and we had to practice before we could play.

i'm being conditioned. physically, emotionally, professionally, relationally, spiritually. it isn't the most fun. but i am clinging to promise of the future - He's prepared something for me. and right now i'm getting ready for it.

so here's to baby steps. letting go of my control issues and my tendency push too much, too hard.

the sweet thing about conditioning is that there's something to look forward to. it's not too long until you get to play.

xx