November 7, 2013 by Stephanie

The Hairy Details

So after yesterday’s heavy release here is something a little lighter for Throwback Thursday.

I have been collecting hair bobs for awhile.

This collection started when I was working at Worlds of Fun, an amusement park in KC. I started the summer after high school and worked there every summer until I moved to SC for grad school.

They were sticklers on wearing a uniform. For 6 summers I essentially wore the same clothes over and over again for 60ish hours a week.

And I have pretty unruly hair on a normal day. Then add sweat and humidity to the mix, and you have a massive frizz ball. Thank you Missouri summers.

So my answer to not only control my crazy stray locks, but also try to seem like an individual with some pizazz, was headbands. And the couple summers I had short hair, clips and hair bows. I really did try to look cute in a skort and tennis shoes with a pocket protector. The headband totally masks the big dork factor right? It must have worked because this is where Tom fell in love with me!

With all that said, after several years working at the park and now 5 years removed, I have quite the collection.

The basket does well to hold all the headbands, but I cannot always see the bows.

We broke a frame a little while ago for another project, but I didn’t want to throw it away. We also had all of the other supplies left over from previous projects. My grandma comes out of me in the best of ways. Never waste anything.

Supplies needed:

frame
spray paint
ribbon
hot glue gun
love of hair trinkets

Spray paint the frame
Cut out strips of ribbon that are the length of the frame.
Hot glue the ribbon tight to the edges of the frame. Glue it on the back of the frame.
Hang on the wall!

This is a very quick project, and it also livens up the wall too.

This would be a great gift idea for all those little girl bows that are all the rage for kids these days.

Or for a 28 year old friend…just saying.

So thank you Worlds of Fun for starting this hair thing obsession.

October 28, 2013 by Stephanie

Talks with Tom #11

Recently when we were home, we chauffeured our 4 year old niece around.

Tom-Ava K, what kind of music do you like?

Ava-My Little Pony, My Little Pony (singing this to us)

Tom-How about Bob Marley?

Ava-Oh, I have never been there before.

She and Uncle Tom have a great relationship!

We were home for her birthday. It was a pretty “roaring” party.

As you can tell, she had a dinosaur themed birthday party. She knows all the dinosaurs names and categories. Did I mention that she is four?

Even though the trip was short, it was fun to be there to help celebrate her day.

My sister-in-law is so creative and did a great job with the theme! I loved taking pictures of the whole day!

Birthday Girl!

Family photo with Longneck

October 16, 2013 by Stephanie

Anxiety for the Anxiety

Without going into too many details, I have really high anxiety.

This is nothing new, but it has been pretty prevalent the past couple months.

With any transition there are some adjustment periods. With all kinds of new things going on (living situation, community, job, dogs, etc.), along with saying goodbye to other things (community, job, etc.), I should have expected it.

Unfortunately, I didn’t.

But you have to figure out a way to deal. So day in and day out, I put one foot in front of the other.

I also need a lot of reminders.

A LOT.

I made this easy frame with a scripture that encapsulates a lot of reminders that I need.

the supplies

I did the scripture in word document. I changed the fonts/sizing to emphasize certain words.

I picked out a piece of scrapbook paper to match our bathroom colors.

I bought a cheap frame at Walmart and spray painted it orange.

my reminder

Working on centering myself around prayer has really helped keep the focus on living and letting things go that I cannot change. I have had to work on acceptance and am continuously learning to be humble.

The bottom line is there is no reason to keep being anxious about being anxious.When I sit down and think about it, it is really quite silly for me.

Being more thankful does provide peace, and this is a great reminder to count my blessings and send up my requests to be less anxious about what is happening in the moment.

And what is better than a reminder every time you are on the toilet or brushing your teeth?

Brings a whole new meaning to “brushing things off” and “relieving” your stress.

October 10, 2013 by Stephanie

Autumn on My Mind-Autumn Creation

Here is another opportunity to link up about fall things! We hope that you join for today’s prompt!

“An Autumn Creation”

What are you inspired to make this time of year? Are you getting gifts ready? Are holiday decorations coming out? Show us your autumn creations!

Rules of the Link-up:

1. Do one entry or all! It’s up to you!

2. Add your entry’s link below, and be sure to put the button in your post!

3. If you do link up, check out a couple fellow bloggers to see something new.

4. Your hosts (Elizabeth and Stephanie) would love a following on Bloglovin, but it is not required! We are just glad you stopped by for “Autumn on My Mind!”

Our front door wreath recently fell to it’s tragic death. And I mean literally fell.

before death

It is not the first time it has fallen, and we have fixed it numerous times. We had surgerized it with fishing wire, gardening wire, hot glue, adding more ribbon to cover tears, and screws. This time, Tom made me realize that it was time to make a new one.

And just in time for this link up.

This is fairly inexpensive to make on your own. I got pieces from Walmart, the $1 store, and Hobby Lobby. I think I maybe spent $15 which is much cheaper than buying a pre-made wreath.

The supplies

ribbon wrapping

I first wrapped with the wide gold ribbon, then spaced out the small purple. This is sooooo much easier than the yarn wrapping because you cover more ground with less. The last one I did was a work out for the arms wrapping all the yarn.

Then I took the flowers and placed them where I felt was the best position. I kept over thinking it each time I thought I was done, but that is the fun part of doing it on your own.

I also added the wooden “W” which is the surviving piece of the previous wreath. I just spray painted it to match this one.

the finished product

I love that fall colors also happen to be Clemson and Phi Sigma Pi colors.

Here is a fall craft that Tom’s Grandma just made us. I hope someday I can have her sewing skills! that seems to be a big deal for the Whitener women.

So what crafty things do you have up your sleeves? Link up below!

We hope to see you return on Sunday for the final link up with the fall collage! You can see the full schedule for our Autumn link up here.

Check out my lovely partner!

September 24, 2013 by Stephanie

Spooning til the end of time

About a month ago, I had the pleasure of watching a dear old friend say vows to his forever love.

I always love watching weddings. It brings you back to your own vows and the commitment you made to another person.

It is such a special thing to witness someone else’s love.

There is so much happiness and so much of their story yet to be told. There is excitement about that unknown.

It is such a great moment in time.

I am always appreciative of people who ask us to be a part of their special day for it is a great reminder about the love and joy that a marriage has! I just love a good love story! Even more so when I know the main characters!

I have been wanting to make this gift for pretty much as long as I have been on Pinterest. I was just waiting for the perfect couple to give it to. As soon as I got the wedding invitation for this couple, I knew this was for them! So I hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it for them.

I got the spoons from a thrift store in town. It was fun digging through boxes of spoons trying to pick two that were different but yet similar (Much like a couple getting married. See what I did there?).

The frame I purchased at Walmart.

Then I scoured through my books of scrapbook paper trying to find the right one sheet that I needed.

I bought etching primer so I could spray paint the spoons and have no problem with it sticking.

I also had sticker letters and spray paint.

First, I sprayed the primer on the spoons. They only needed one coat.

Then I spray painted everything with the navy blue paint.

I super glued everything down on the scrapbook paper. I took the glass out of the frame since it is 3D.

This is a simple yet fun gift to make. You can dress it up more depending on your audience, but I thought the simple effect would work well in a kitchen.