Wednesday Wishes!

One more day until December begins!  Wowzers!  I don't even want to think about December.  Ugh.  I am pretty sure I have the shopping for Pacen done, and that is it.  I do not like December.  I do not like the Holidays.  I am broke and this just makes it worse.  Plus, it's hard to find time to make gifts cause I'm so busy!

So, even though tomorrow is the1st of December, I REFUSE to start showing Christmas/Holiday related pins/loves/wishes.  REFUSE, I tell you!  So, here are some random things that I really like/love or wish I had/want to make.

                                                        Source: housingaforest.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Cornstarch and water mixture that moves to sounds (via a sub woofer).  This would be a totally fun experiment to try with Pacen...if I had a sub woofer.  I don't even own a stereo.  Maybe we can figure something else out to make the mixture move and groove.

                                           Source: tandriantastytidbits.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Creamy white chicken and artichoke lasagna!  This sounds so delicious!  I don't know how Pacen will feel about artichokes, but I think I will try to find out one of these days!

                                                            Source: 9gag.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Bahahahahahahahahaha!!!!  Oh! My! God!  This is hilarious!  I effin' love Will Ferrell!  Okay, I will admit that Justin Bieber is a very talented young man and he is cute as hell, but I think he is a cocky, spoiled, arrogant little shit and if I was anywhere with him I'd have a hard time not roundhouse kicking him in his midget face too.  Also, I'm sure Will was just being silly, but I still want to say, "You go Will!"

                                                   Source: ericasweettooth.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Cupcake Jello shots with Cake Batter Vodka!  Holy shit!  My friends, sisters, and I love Jello shots!  I am thinking I should make these for birthdays!  Screw cake and ice cream!  Bring on these cute little alcohol filled goodies!

                                                        Source: knockoffdecor.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I must make one of these awesome easels to display random pictures and Pacen's art!  It would also be perfect to display holiday art.  You could change it up every month to match whatever holiday/event/etc fits the month!

Source: gardenofsimple.tumblr.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Wednesday Wishes!

This week's Wednesday Wishes are Thanksgiving themed!  I am sad to say that I don't have very many Thanksgiving pins.  Why does Thanksgiving always get skipped over?  I mean, I know most people enjoy a nice big meal with their families/friends, but I don't think anybody really recognizes it like they should.  Are they not thankful for what they have?  Are they really in such a big hurry to drag out all the lights, trees, and decor that go with Christmas?  What is the deal?

Before I show you my Thanksgiving wishes/likes/loves/etc. I am going to list some of the things/people I am thankful for.  This doesn't nearly cover my list, but I don't think you have all day to read about everything I'm thankful for!  :)

Pacen!  Okay, well duh.  :)  I am so thankful to have this high-spirited, strange, dirty, boy in my life!  Without him I wouldn't have accomplished near as much as I have.  I feel my life would be dull and meaningless if he weren't here.  He keeps me on my toes, he drives me insane, he blows my mind, he makes me laugh, he makes me cry, he makes me shake my head in wonderment.  He is an amazing individual and I cannot wait to see what the rest of his life brings...to him and me! 

My Job!  So it is pretty well known that I am not a big fan of my job.  I have shed way too many tears over my job and it has caused my blood pressure to skyrocket on numerous occasions, but without this job I wouldn't have been able to buy my house and I wouldn't be able to live the comfortable life I do.  I am lucky that they were willing to give a 20-year-old, somewhat uneducated, single mom a chance. 

My Parents!  My parents have been so helpful.  Not just with Pacen, but with everything.  They have been very supportive of me and most of my decisions over the years.  Anytime I need anything I know I can call them.  They have held me up through some hard times and helped create some great times! 


Sisters!  We yell at each other.  We know exactly what to say to get under each other's skin.  We laugh together.  We make fun of each other.  We have secret jokes.  We protect each other.  There is nothing like that sisterly bond.  It is made with so many emotions and can be very overwhelming at times.  

FWB!  He makes me laugh.  He makes me mad.  He has a way of calming me down when I am upset, be it at Pacen, him, or anything.  He likes my cooking.  He is willing to do almost anything I ask of him, whether it's washing dishes or babysitting Pacen for a couple of hours.  He has stuck around through some questionable and hard times and he doesn't judge me based on some of the things he has learned about me.  He and Pacen get along great.  He is much more mature than you would imagine based on his age.

Friends!  I have many friends and I am very lucky to be able to say that.  My friends are amazing and although I don't see them as often as I'd like or talk to them as much as I should, they know that I am there for them if they need anything and vice versa.  I am so glad to have had so many great times with all my friends.  We've danced our asses off into the wee hours of the night.  We've laughed so hard we fell off chairs. We've had to hold each other's hair :)  We've cried on each other's shoulders.  Although some of us may grow apart we will always have great memories to look back on.

Well, I guess now I'll get on with this week's pins.  Here you go!

                                                    Source: my.yahoo.com via Brooke on Pinterest

How adorable is this relish tray?!  I wanted so bad to have Pacen make this for Thanksgiving this year, but my aunt is bringing the relish tray.  :(  Boooo.

                                         Source: chocolatecoveredkatie.com via Brooke on Pinterest

No-Bake Chocolate Pumpkin Pie!  This sounds absolutely amazing!  I might have to try to make it!

                                                       Source: picky-palate.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Cinnamon Toasted Pumpkin Pie Tarts!  These look so good.  They would be fun to make for Thanksgiving day breakfast!

 

                                                 Source: bhg.com via Brooke on Pinterest

           
I love this wreath!  It's perfect for Fall/Thanksgiving and I imagine it would be pretty easy to make.  Next year I'll have to send extra money with Pacen to the pumpkin patch so he can buy me some colored corn. 

                                               Source: eatdrinkbewell.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

So true!!!  Everyone needs to see this cartoon!! 

Well, I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving!  Enjoy the time with your family and friends!  I know I will.

Source: pinterest.com via Kathryn on Pinterest

Weekly Photo Challenge: Someone You Love

I had no problem deciding what I would photograph for last week's photo challenge at A Step in the Journey.  The challenge was to shoot someone you love.  Okay, I just re-read that sentence and it sounds so morbid!  Haha!  Anyway,  you all know what I'm talking about.  :)

If you haven't yet guessed who I photographed then you are obviously new here...and you haven't read the title of my blog.  :)  Yup, I decided to snap Pacen!  Well, I had a hard time getting this done.  I wanted to get a shot of Pacen doing something he loves.  He loves to hunt and this past weekend was the last couple days of deer season (in Nebraska) and he was busy hunting.  So I drove on over to Harrison and spent the weekend with my family.  Well, Pacen and Gimpy were always gone by 5:30 in the morning so I had to wait til they came back for church to get a picture.  Pacen was in a silly mood so here is what I got.  Not great photos, but definitely Pacen.  :)

 

He looks pretty good in hunter orange, doesn't he?  Okay, okay, maybe I'm slightly biased.  :)  Here is a shot of Pacen and my dad aka Gimpy just before they headed back out after church:

It's amazing how quiet the house is when Pacen isn't around.  :)  Mom and I watched a movie and visited with my sisters and next thing we knew it was dark and almost 5:30.  Pacen had a science project due on Monday and hadn't even started it yet so we were beginning to get antsy.  About 6:00 some headlights started coming up the drive.  It was Pacen and Gimpy and that is when chaos broke loose!

Pacen had shot a doe literally three minutes before his time was up.  We had to hustle around to get pictures and call the check in point that was located 30 minutes away to make sure the guys had time to drive down and check the doe in that evening.

Meanwhile, Pacen somehow managed to get blood ALL OVER himself (except his face).  It almost looked like he had rolled in the darn thing!  He came in the house and Gammy aka my mom, about freaked.  Being a boy he always had to touch everything and she absolutely did not want blood all over her house.  I totally don't blame her.

Well, we finally got Pacen and Gimpy sent to Crawford to check in the deer and we sat down to experiment with Pacen's science project...NOT do it, just make sure his idea would work.  Then it happened.  Raine noticed that Jackson, mom and dad's Jack Russel Terrier, had blood on his head.  Well, Pacen had tossed a piece of gut onto the driveway and Jackson got into it and then he smeared blood all over the carpet!  What a mess!  So, needless to say, this could be Pacen's first AND last deer.  Haha!

Head over to A Step in the Journey and check out some of the other entries.  I highly doubt you see as much blood in other posts as you saw in this one, so go look at all the nice pictures and get this nasty bloody sight out of your minds!  :)

"This is a part of the country and a state where it's unusual if a child doesn't grow up going out with dad and granddad to hunt deer, using a very powerful weapon. It's unusual sometimes not to see kids out in a group that might be wearing camouflage." ~ Bill Sadler

Wednesday Wishes

Well, I'm still in St. Louis and I know this post is happening rather late in the day, but it's the only time I could get it done.  Hey, at least I'm doing it.  :)  I'm going to make it quick though cause I'm beat.  So here it goes...

                                               Source: peaceinlove.tumblr.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I really like the crayon pourings that are so popular right now, but this is the best one I've seen.  I love it!  I love the creativeness that went into it.  Maybe it's because I have a thing for the rain.  One of my dreams has always been to dance in the rain.  I have danced in the rain before, but it was to a fast country song so my old classmate, Ralph, and I were sliding all over the place while swing dancing, which was a BLAST, but I want to slow dance in the rain...and kiss.  :)

                                           Source: sew4home.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I adore these pajama pants!  There is nothing like getting cozy on the couch in the dead of winter on a blistering cold day in a nice, comfy pair of pajama pants.  I want to make a bunch of these for Christmas presents!

                                          Source: vam.ac.uk via Brooke on Pinterest

At this source you can upload any picture...ANY picture...and a quilt design will be created!  What a fabulous idea!  I can't wait to try this after I get Pacen's quilt done.  IF I EVER get Pacen's quilt done.

                                                Source: myspawaterbook.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Sweet Strawberry Pineapple Spa Water!  This looks and sounds so delicious!  It would be perfect to make for baby and bridal showers!

                                                      Source: flickr.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I have to do this someday!!!  HAVE TO!  It is so beautiful and romantic.  To make it look like this I will have to talk MANY people into joining me.  :)

Source: pooflikemagic.tumblr.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Weekly Photo Challenge: Something You Made

Whew! I finally get to sit down and take a deep breath and relax! It's been a busy few days.

On Saturday night I went to Deadwood, South Dakota with some friends to help my "soulmate", who is one of my best friends, celebrate her birthday, which is actually today. I got entirely way too drunk, which I slightly regretted the next day, but I had a blast! It was high time I went out and tied one on and danced my ass off with friends. (I tried on Halloween weekend, but I only accomplished the dancing my ass off part.)

Now I'm in St. Louis. The whole week. On a business trip. Those are two things I rarely get to say. 1.) I'm in St. Louis and 2.) I'm on a business trip. If I get the Manager's position at the NEA (I had my interview last Tuesday) then I'll get to say that second thing a lot more. :) That was another reason I needed to go on the Deadwood trip. The interview. I freaked out for days before the interview. I cried. A lot. Pathetic. I was a nervous wreck, but I went into that interview with my head high and they had no idea was a mess on the inside. I kept myself together. Whew!

Okay, I suppose I better get on with the reason for this post. Last week's photo challenge over at A Step in the Journey! The theme was "Something you made". I decided to photograph the bracelet I made last weekend. It was my first jewelry attempt. It is a wrap bracelet. I have been seeing them all over the place and I am in love! I have worn mine a lot this past week.

I got the tutorial here, at I Am Momma Hear Me Roar.

Here it is up close.  It was actually pretty easy to make once I got started and figured out how to control the length of the thread.

If you have a chance head on over to last week's photo challenge and check out all the awesome things people have made (and their cool photos)! 

"Art can't deny craft, but refuses to acknowledge it.  In the end they are still brothers." ~ Christian Barr

"Art vs. craft - eye candy vs. hand and eye candy with purpose." ~ Marlene Fitzgerald-Moore

Wednesday Wishes!

It's that time of the week again!  Wednesday Wishes time!  If you're new to my blog, Wednesday Wishes is the day I share some of the pins I've pinned on Pinterest.  They are things I love, things I wish I owned, things I want to try to make/sew/bake, places I'd love to travel to, etc.

By sharing my wishes you kind of get an idea of the type of person I am.  I'm a dreamer.  I'm a fun lover.  I enjoy baking.  I really enjoy eating!  I like to create with my hands.  I love to travel.  I strive to be a better person.  I am extremely determined.  I am who I am and there is nobody else out there quite like me.  I love that! 

Let's start this week with a most amazing picture!

                                                 Source: google.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I am in love with Sea Turtles.  Dolphins have always been my favorite animal, but there is just something about a Sea Turtle that lifts my spirits.  They are so majestic.  I actually got the chance to dive with one a few years ago.  It was amazing!  She was the talk of the dive and many of  us figured she was at least 150 years old.  Imagine everything she has lived through.  I only wish the pictures I took of her had turned out like the one above.

                                        Source: misispy.tumblr.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Ahhhhh, Prague!  I've always wanted to visit Prague!  I imagine it to be a beautiful, mysterious city.  I have a couple of friends live here.  They were my very first couch surfers.  One of them just got engaged a couple months ago and I'm hoping I'll be able to attend the wedding!  Of course, while I'm there I will have to travel the surrounding countries, particularly Romania! (Credit for the photo goes to Anthony Dell'Ario at www.oftheairphoto.com.  Great job Anthony!)

                              Source: kraftykat76.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

DIY beach glass jars!!  I am definitely going to have to try and make some of these. 

                                   Source: phlebotomytechnicianschools.com via Brooke on Pinterest

There are 52 experiments for kids to do or watch!  I want to try some of them with Pacen! 

                                       Source: midwestliving.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Triple Chocolate Mocha Truffles?!  Yes, please!  I love truffles!  Last year I found a great truffle recipe and made some for the holidays.  This year I'd like to try more!  I think these would be perfect!

The following quote is the end of this post.  It is a quote that fits me perfectly!  My biggest dream is to buy a big sail boat and sail around the world.  If not the world then I'd love to sail around the Caribbean!  Just stay on my boat, feel the ocean breeze in my hair, and breathe in the fresh saltwater smell!  *SIGH*

Source: Uploaded by user via Brooke on Pinterest

Weekly Photo Challenge: Shoes

Last week the theme for the weekly photo challenge at A Step in the Journey was "shoes".  Since I'm a girl there is always the assumption that I am obsessed with shoes.  Well, fine.  It may be partially true, but I'm not crazily obsessed.  I do love me a cute pair of heels or some super comfy flats and I definitely love flip-flops, but I don't have an insane number of shoes piled in my closet or under my bed.

My littlest sister, on the other hand, owns way too many shoes.  Way too many sneakers, to be more precise.  She doesn't even run or play basketball.  She just loves sneakers.  One time when we were shopping she saw a pair of expensive white sneakers and was instantly in love with them.  I just looked at her and said, "Raine!  You already own four pairs of white sneakers!"  That didn't sway her.  Like always she came up with some reason why these were different.  To me they looked the same. 

Even though I don't own tons of shoes I still had a hard time trying to decide which shoes to photograph for the challenge.  I have a couple of favorite pairs of heels and a favorite pair of pretty wore out flats.  I finally decided to photograph the pair of shoes that have carried me many miles.  Literally.  They are my running shoes that I purchased last spring.  They got me through a summer of training, a few small races, and my first half-marathon. 

Here they are in action!  :)  When I was taking this picture Pacen walked in, looked at the camera, looked at me on the treadmill, and asked what I was doing.  The whole time he had the "you-are-crazy-mom" look on his face.  :)

Head on over to A Step in the Journey and check out all the shoe photography!!

"I don't know who invented the high heel, but all men owe him a lot." ~ Marilyn Monroe

Wednesday Wishes!

Hello all!  I hope you're enjoying November so far.  I was, but it snowed about 4-6 inches yesterday.  It is melting as we speak, but things are rather slick.  I'm just not ready for the cold white stuff yet.  I really only enjoy snow during one day of the year and that is Christmas.  That's the only time I want to see white covering everything!  Well, and maybe on the one day a year we go skiing.  :)

It's rather late in the day, but here are this week's wishes/likes/loves/inspiration that I pinned on Pinterest!

                                        Source: icanfindthetime.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I am in love with this bracelet!  I have always liked baseball.  I started very young with T-ball.  I'm surprised I didn't quit after the first game.  I ran the wrong way around the bases.  I remember the laughter.  Embarrassing.  When I got too old for T-ball we didn't have a softball team, so I was on the boy's baseball team.  I got hurt.  A fast pitch hit me in the elbow when I was up to bat.  It left stitch marks.  Embarrassing.  Eventually we had enough girls interested in softball that we got to practice, but we never played a real game. For the past 8 years I have been on the adult co-ed softball league.  I love it!!  When I saw this homemade bracelet I fell in love!  I HAVE to try to make one!  I want to put a St. Louis Cardinals charm on it.  :)  I have been a Cardinals fan for years and I was so excited when they won the World Series this year!!  Yay!!!

                                                         Source: lookslikespiltmilk.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

This dress is so adorable!  It doesn't look too difficult to sew and it would be perfect for weddings, graduations, semi-casual dinners, etc.  It could be dressed up with some nice heels or dressed down with some ballerina flats or sandals.  You could probably even switch out the ribbon for different looks.

                                                   Source: etsy.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I saw these coasters quite a while back and finally pinned them.  I really think I could re-create them.  I would love to preserve some of my running/triathlon bibs and this would be a great way!

                                                        Source: google.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I am in love with these concrete countertops!  I WANT!  :)  I happened to stumble upon a tutorial for making your own!  Go on over to Kelly Moore Bags and check it out!  It doesn't have the fancy edges like the one above, but they are still cool!

                                           Source: asmallsnippet.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

One thing I love about FWB is the fact that he is very willing to try "exotic" foods with me.  He loves Sushi!  Major plus on his side!  Haha!  Well, a couple weeks ago he took me to a Thai restaurant in Casper.  I had no idea it was even there!  I have always wanted to try Thai food.  We had fried Calamari for an appetizer (Mmmmm, so good) and I had a curry chicken dish for the main course.  I must say I wasn't too impressed with curry.  Neither was FWB (he was in charge of finishing my food cause I don't like to waste).  When I stumbled upon this recipe I was way excited!  I can now make a Thai dish at home...and there is no curry involved!  :)

                                           Source: bing.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I immediately fell in love when I saw this ring!  I have had an odd obsession with skeleton keys since I was very little.  It might be because in stories and such skeleton keys are mysterious and almost always leads to awesome!  Sometimes they also lead to something spooky, but still mysterious!  Okay, so I have a major thing for mysteriousness!  :)  I was shocked to find out the origins of this ring.  It is AVON!  Yes, AVON!  Unfortunately, it is a vintage 1970's era AVON ring.  :(  I wonder if I could make my own?

Well, thanks for stopping by and I'll leave you all with this week's quote!  Enjoy!

Source: pinterest.com via Brooke on Pinterest

(I want to re-create this for my "quote wall"!)