Backsplash!

Kitchen update finally! Our backsplash is complete! I am thrilled with how it looks and ready to upgrade everything else more now.


Apparently in the 30 years he has done this, this is the hardest backsplash he has ever done.

So how much did it cost?

Well we were lucky we know Fred. He did it for free advertising photos as long as we bought the materials. He had his own tools.


He told us originally to buy 32 12x12 tiles at $8.98 each. He only needed 24. We are keeping one just in case.

The grout was $11.98, the edging was $13 for 2 pieces and the adhesive was $24. We also had a 10% coupon and a $50 gift card.

So for around $200 we made a huge difference in our kitchen. I am so thrilled with how it looks!

Cabinets, new stove and new counters are next. I. Cannot. Wait.

Leave your comments! :)

Double Take

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend :) Ours consisted work for H on Saturday (I volunteered-see previous post), then out to dinner with H and his coworker (who happened to go to college with him) his wife and a friend visiting from Oregon. Sunday was filled with lots of yard work (I think we clocked in 5 hours), H teaching kids clinic and me riding.

This is what I wore for dinner. I love my mint groop dealz necklace, (I wore it in my latest ootd post below). I wore it again with a jcrew top, mint green target skinnies and black RSVP heels.

This was today's ootd. I wore my Charlotte Russe blazer, blue loft skinny cords, Target Ona flats and a Maurice's cami.

Do you have a piece you love so much it's often on repeat?

Comment below :)

Habitat for Humanity

This morning, I had the pleasure of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. I signed up online, joined a 7:30-12 shift (which actually ended up being until 11:30) and showed up ready to go!

I think it's important to give back to the community. As little or as much as you can do. I cannot wait to go back on the 16th and work with this group again! I also needed to get out and meet more people in our city. Even though I have been here almost a year, sometimes I still feel like I don't know anyone.

One of the new reforms with the organization is trying to buy foreclosed homes and fixing them up, instead of building. They are doing this to prevent the new homeowners from being singled out, and also to increase awareness, and to use what is existing.

As a new homeowner, I am always welcome to any kind of renovation/work advice I can get.

I had a great time. I wasn't sure what I was going to be doing, but I was willing to jump in and do whatever is needed (I tend to be like this in other situations of life as well). I got asked if I would help installing baseboards, and I immediately said yes!

Baseboards are not an easy task...lots of measuring, cutting (repeat over and over) then my favorite part-STAPLE GUN! :)



Imagine H's face when I told him I wanted a staple gun :)

Here is a before photo

Here is an after!

Want to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity? It's so easy. They always need volunteers, and they are more then willing to teach you anything. I am looking forward to helping out again!
Sign up for a project in your area at http://www.habitat.org/



This post is not sponsored or endorsed by Habitat for Humanity in anyway. All thoughts, and opinions are my own.

Mint, Purple and Groop Dealz!

If you know me, you know I love mint green. Love. So much I tried to get H to let me paint our kitchen mint green (that got a strange look in response).

For Wednesday OOTD I decided to pair my purple JCrew no 2 pencil skirt, a mint green tee, and my Groop Dealz mint green necklace (it took about a month to arrive).

Groop Dealz is great. They sell unique jewelry, accessories, clothing all at huge discounts. The deals don't last long, and they have limited sizes and colors. This was my second purchase from them, and I was very happy. The necklace was $7.99 shipped! The easiest way I have found to connect is through the Facebook page.

 

 

Skirt is JCrew no 2, tee is Target, necklace is Groop Dealz, earrings are Target, heels are Gabriella Rocha from Zappos.

GAHHH, I love this necklace.Why didn't I buy more colors?!

I love mixing colors. I definitely get looks from my coworkers, but I say have fun with it! My favorite combos are ones that aren't expected.

Would you ever wear mint green and purple together?


Leave your comments :)

Non-Riding Evening at the Barn

Back when I used to show, I would ride everyday but Sunday. Sometimes, I even had two a days! All of this and working was a lot to handle.

Now that I haven't shown since June 2011 (marriage caused some sacrifices) I have days where I go out to the barn and I don't ride. I go, hang out with Shirley, and don't feel guilty. Not riding every time is a good thing. It allows the horse to learn how to relax with you, and not associate you with having to work.

However, I can still make my evening productive.

One way I work with Shirley is by lunging her every few days. What is lunging? It is a way to exercise your horse from the ground. It also works voice commands, balance, and it allows you to watch the horse's natural movement to detect any injury or soreness. It is done in a "lunge ring", which is a fenced in 50-60 inch in diameter circular arena. You can do it with what it is called "a lunge line", which is a 30 inch rope with a buckle on the end, or you can do "free lunge", which is what I prefer...no line.

Shirley is an old pro :) The way her neck is out and her head is slightly down means she is using her neck muscles and she wants to strech and relax.

I also enjoy going to the barn and giving Shirley a good grooming, giving her treats, and just hanging out at the barn with the other riders.

Oh, and taking photos of my favorite barn dog, Jessie, a jack russell. Isn't she precious!

I love spending time at the barn, and relaxing after a hard day at work!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far :)

Living Room Paint Project

I went to Lowes today and picked out 2 shades of paint for our living room and got samples. We also plan on getting a new couch (the apartment size sofa does NOT work for us anymore).

I am thinking of keeping the green/blue/grey theme I have going on right now.

The one on the left is Wet Pavement and the one on the right is Granite Dust. Both from Valspar.


I am leaning toward Wet Pavement, I think the Granite Dust is too blue for me.

 

 

Here are some living room photos from Pinterest I am loving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love all of these in their own way.

 

...how is the kitchen coming you ask? That is for another day and  big reveal!

 

Next up is a horse post, I am way overdue for one :)

 

I would love to hear your comments and input!

Buffalo Chicken Ring!

Hi! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend :)

After seeing this on Pinterest I knew I had to make it. We had friends over yesterday to help us move furniture and hang up pictures, so I made a bunch of "finger foods". This one especially was a hit! It's so easy and I happen to have all of the ingredients, except for the crescent rolls.


Here's how you make it.


Ingredients:

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 packet ranch seasoning powder mix
• Diced celery, to taste
• Buffalo wing sauce, to taste
• Diced/shredded cooked chicken (about 2-3 breasts or 1-2 cans of chicken)
• 8 crescent rolls
• Ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping (optional)

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 375.
• Unroll the crescent rolls (see picture for how I did it) on a cookie sheet/baking stone.
• Mix the chicken and buffalo sauce (to taste) and add in celery (to taste...about 1 stalk worked for me). Add the seasoning and the cream cheese and mix.
• Spread mix onto the rolls and fold over the crescent (see photo)
• Bake 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Let it set for a few minutes before eating!

Ingredients:

Pop open the can (this used to scare me as a kid) and arrange rolls in some form like this.

Shred the chicken....the Kitchen Aid is amazing for this Ohh how I love you pretty green color :)

I cheated and used it again to mix everything all together

Spread the mixture onto the crescent rolls. I love my Pampered Chef baking stone.

Fold the mix in (it doesn't have to look pretty)

Then bake and it looks all golden like this :)

YUM!!!

Have you made anything you found on Pinterest? Comment below!

Oh, I found this, seemed perfect :)

Happy Monday!

Shopping Wish List!

Hi everyone :) Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I gave up buying anything Fashion/Beauty related for Lent, but I definitely have my shopping list set for new items I have my eyes set on :)


The Kendra Scott "Nima" necklace. I this is so pretty and elegant. I am also eyeing the seafoam color.

 

Buy It Here!

The JCrew No. 2 skirt in Medallion Paisley. I love the No 2 skirt, and I love this print!

Buy It Here!

Urban Decay's 'Naked Flushed'. I love Urban Decay, and the whole 'Naked' line...this is definitely on my want list! It's a great bronzer, highlighter, and blush combo. Plus it's just so pretty to look at :)

Buy It Here!

 

 

 

Lorac Mint Edition Palette...I love the colors of it all, especially the eyeshadows, and the packaging is adorable. I also think it will be great for traveling and my trips coming up ( some International...more on that later :) )

 

 

 

Buy It Here!

                                                                  

What is on your want list? Are any of these on yours as well? I love reading your comments and input :)
                                        

Delay in posting, purchases, and how I styled them!

Sorry for the delay in posting! We had to wait for Comcast to finally hook our new house to our account, and then I went on a trip back home to North Carolina.

While I was there, my mom and I went shopping. I come from a small town with a little mall. They do have Maurices though, which is hit or miss.

Maurices is great for basics (especially their camis...LOVEEE) but they do have cute pieces every now and then. They also have their take 10 program, for every $10 you spend you get a punch. After 25 you get a $10 gift card, and the punches never expire!

I will say this trip was a hit! I purchased all 5 pieces I tried on. Here is what I got, and then how I styled the pieces. I also bought a yellow cardigan (that was on my want list for a while) and a purple V neck wrap sweater (both pictured as well).

I love this jacket. I love the military influnce but the girly touches of the ruffles and the peplum.

I love this scarf....the colors and the pattern mixing. It was the last one, and it was on the display, so I grabbed it!

I love this dress, it's perfect for FL weather.

Here is how I styled the pieces.


Here is the purple sweater...it's super lightweight, and on clearence for $12, it's great for work. I love the color as well.

I wore the cardigan and the dress together! I love look, and it was great for work.

I wore the jacket with my leopard scarf, and I love the combo.

Last, the mixed print scarf.

I love mixing new pieces in my current wardrobe, making older pieces feel 'new' again!

Leave your comments :)