'Tis the Season! DIY Christmas!

So... I decorated for Christmas this past weekend. I have NEVER decorated this early, but there's just something about this year that I HAD to decorate early! Maybe it's because last Christmas was just not great and I was pretty much numb to my entire situation last December, so I wanted to make sure to have a good season this year!

I have a couple DIY projects/gifts that are easy on the wallet and fool proof! 

 The NOEL sign- looks like wood, right? Wrong! I decided to try to use the paper mache letters you can get for less than $2 at any craft store. I wasn't going to paint them, but what I had in mind didn't look right with the color they came. So I took some paint I had- off white color- and painted them. It really only took one coat of paint. The cool part was that I used a paint brush, and the paint strokes make the sign look like wood. After the paint dried, I took some sandpaper and decided to rough up the edges a bit. I was really happy with the result! Looks like wood, but was under $5 to make! (because of course I used coupons)

So I had seen things like this on Pinterest and wasn't sure if it would really work. I questioned if the Sharpie would actually stick to the ceramic, and if it would wash off after a couple washes. I got a couple mugs like this from the Dollar Tree. I figured if it didn't work, I only spent a dollar on it. I made a special one for Bill in a care package, and I put the state of Florida with a heart where we are located. Once I was happy with the design, I put it in a cold oven at 350 for 30 minutes and let it cool down in there, too. Ta Da! A customized mug all for $1!! I tested it and washed it a couple times, and it seemed to stay on there, so I'll see if it really does after a few uses!

I love all things burlap and rustic holidays! If you see my kitchen, it's very rustic looking with my Christmas decor, so I like to keep the theme going throughout the house. I made the wreath from an idea I saw on Pinterest. I bought the burlap ribbon a while ago intending to make a Fall wreath, but that never happened because I made something else I liked using fabric I already had in the house. I'm glad I saved it, because I was able to make these two great additions to my Christmas decorations! The Noel lettering I did using a sharpie and tracing letters I printed. I searched for just the right font and size, and had a great wreath in less than 15 minutes! I used twine to tie the edges and then tie it to the grapevine wreath. After I did that, I still had some burlap ribbon, so I decided to make a card holder! I found those super cute, red clothespins in the Target $1 section- don't you love it!- and knew the perfect thing to do with them! I think the cards will look great and I will be able to see them throughout the season!

Happy Decorating!!

Back from Hiatus!

Wow, sorry about the hiatus. I should have been blogging the entire time we were in Texas, but that didn't happen... oops. There wasn't a ton to talk about anyway lol So.... back to work, back to keeping busy, and back to blogging! Now that I have time (ha!) to do some more fun projects and such!

So the first thing I'm going to share is a "owlstanding" wreath - see what I did there....I guess it's a wreath, but it's definitely not a typical one -- Anyway, my friend, Lea, and I decided to do a craft swap! She had shown me this picture on Pinterest a couple days before and really wanted to make one. She told me that it looked like something I could do, so I took on the challenge! haha

I looked at it and I knew I had all the burlap in the right colors to make it! It just so happens that she also made a really awesome sign made from recycled hardwood floor that I wanted!! So the idea hit- we'd make something for each other!

I got to work when I had some free time alone. I have to say the hardest part was making the patterns. But now that I did it, I have them for future projects! Yay! I was so happy with how the finished product turned out. I wasn't sure how it would look once assembled, but as I was pinning everything, I could tell that it was going to be super cute once finished!

I know Christmas is coming up, so if you'd be interested in buying one for yourself or a friend, let me know, and I'll see what I can do! I'd be happy to customize it! Here is how Lea is decorating with hers. I gave it to her with the owl hanging, but I love what she did with it! I think it's the perfect addition to her shelf!

Until the next project! :)

High Five for Friday!!

It's Friday! Not that it means a whole lot since I'm not working right now, but nevertheless, it's Friday and that's always a reason to celebrate! Here are the top 5 things that happened this week!

1. Bill and I were able to come home from Texas for a week to get things organized before heading back. There's nothing like being able to sleep in your own bed, see your beloved dog, and relax at home. I have become a huge homebody as I've gotten older, and I really don't mind. :)

2. Each day this week I have felt much better! Sunday and Monday I thought, "this fatigue is never going to wear off, and I'm going to feel like this for two more months!" and it's nearly brought me to tears. I think it was also hard being home and wanting to do so many things here, and I just didn't have the energy. Tuesday I woke up feeling more "normal" and by Wednesday I didn't have to take a nap! Success!-- comes in small things these day! haha

3. My parents are coming to FL this weekend to see us and take the dog back to TN for a while. He's going to get so spoiled by them, but he loves his TN home, as we call it :)

4. Bill and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary last night! I can't believe it's already been 4 years since we got married, but it's been an amazing, but wild, 4 years! We've been through 1.5 years worth of deployments, a move to a new place, and we've grown with each other while experiencing the dreaded "c-word" the past few months. I wouldn't trade him for anything, and each day I realized what a lucky woman I am to have a man like him!

5. I got to see a good friend a couple days ago, whom I hadn't seen since before Christmas break! I was in need of some good girl time, albeit it was short, and some good girl talk. It's amazing what just seeing a good friend can do for your day.

Well, that's it! Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

4 years and counting!

4 years ago I married the love of my life. He has been my rock, my best friend, and accomplice in all things life! It's been a wild and crazy 4 years, but I wouldn't trade anything for the amount we've grown as individuals, but more importantly as a couple! So, Happy Anniversary, Bill!! I can't believe all we've done in 4 years, and I CANNOT wait to see what the next 4 years (and many more) have in store for us!

A Weekend in San Diego: Part 1

At the end of April, we headed out to California for a cousin's wedding. We weren't sure for a long time leading up to this wedding if we'd be able to go with our training schedule, so when leave got approved and I was able to take time off, we bought our tickets and looked forward to an exciting whirlwind of a weekend.

Since we didn't have a ton of time in San Diego, we only did a few things, but we now know what we want to do when we have some time to return. The first afternoon we were there we went down to Seaport Village- it's a little area right off the bay that has shops and restaurants and an amazing boardwalk. We grabbed a quick bite of fish tacos and then headed down the boardwalk. The weather was perfect the entire weekend we were there- cool in the mornings and hot in the afternoons! All of the Navy ships were in port, so there were lots of carriers for us to see!! And yes, I was like a little kid, and just wanted to see more of these!

 
We didn't have any plans for when we arrived in San Diego, but when I saw the USS Midway carrier museum, I really wanted to go aboard! We walked around for a while and saw the entire ship from the sidewalk, but it looked fun, so we decided to check it out. We learned that active duty got in for free and as a dependent I got a discount, so that sealed the deal!!

 They called this the bridge and you could go up in it, but since we were running short on time before they closed, we decided to just look around the deck and the areas they had open below.

 Definitely HUGE inside! It was a lot of fun roaming around this ship! We joked that we were happy they had everything roped off underneath so we wouldn't get lost! It was almost like a mouse in a maze- glad we knew where to go!

 Static displays always fascinate me. There were tons of planes and helicopters on the deck, and of course I had to get a picture of both!

 Right before we toured the USS Midway, we walked around Seaport Village and the boardwalk and found this amazing statue! I have always LOVED the picture taken in Times Square on August 14, 1945. It is a picture of an American sailor kissing a woman in a white dress to celebrate the victory over Japan during WWII. I was so excited to see this since that picture has always been a favorite of mine, so yes, I snapped a few pictures. We asked someone to take a picture of us (like the typical tourists) and before I knew it, I was being dipped and kissed! :) He's just so romantic!

  Our last stop that first day was at Pacific Beach, just north of San Diego. It is a favorite beach in the area and has an amazing pier. It was a beautiful day, but turned out a little windy, so we didn't stay for long.

Coming up Next: Our adventures in La Jolla! Stay tuned...

Thank a Teacher Week

I know I'm biased, but I really do mean it when I say "thank a teacher this next week." The week of May 6th marks the beginning of teacher appreciation week. I think teaching is one of the most under-appreciated professions in the US today. We are constantly getting blamed by parents and students for something we did wrong (even though it's typically the student who forgot to turn it in),  hit with new standards and more tests each year, and are the brunt of many jokes such as "you work so hard until 3 pm everyday 9 months a year." Let me say that I could work hard 24/7 and always have something left to do in my classroom, grade more papers, or make more lesson plans.

While those are some of the pet peeves of mine as a teacher, it is things like I got today in my inbox that make me realize why I am doing what I am doing. If you had asked me 5 years ago what my job would be, I don't think I ever would have told you that I would be teaching. I don't know why it never occurred to me, considering I grew up coaching, tutoring, and helping others with math.... I even played "school" as a little girl with my baby dolls?! I like the way my principal put it a few short weeks ago-- she said that "it takes a special person to be a really great teacher, and you are definitely in the right career."

This all leads me to this email I got from a former student:

"I don't know if you remember me or not . But , I had your class third period last year. I found myself thinking about my experience at [name of school], & I never had the chance to thank you! You helped me more than you realize. Thank you for being such a GREAT math teacher , Thanks for taking the time to help me. I must say you were my favorite teacher there! Please keep up the good work. I remember Saying goodbye to you at graduation & having tears in my eyes. Thank you! your awesome , i just wanted to email you & tell you ! :) i hope your doing well ,& had a great school year."

It made me smile and really made the rest of my day today! I just wanted to share and encourage you to thank a teacher that truly made a difference in your life. You really don't know how much it means to us, just to know that we have made an impact on one person's life.

Catching up- Spring Break

It's long overdue, but I thought I'd finally get something written about Spring Break! It was an unusually cold spring break week. We had highs in the low 50s and lows in the upper 30s!? It didn't get warm until the last three days of the week. We had a busy spring break with visitors! I don't mind though, I love entertaining.

The first guest to arrive was my friend Sara! I got to know Sara though a small group bible study when I lived in Tennessee, and since then, she has come to visit a few times now! I am always surprised she leaves t go back to TN- she is a beach bum by heart, so it's awesome to get to see her here! The next day, my brother and his girlfriend drove in from southern-central FL! Ben and Kristy stayed the week, but was awesome to get to see them for an extended amount of time. Ben and I had never really had a vacation by ourselves, since we always have parents with us, so it was fun and different to be alone. We did miss the parents though! We had a lot of fun beach bumming it in full clothing, playing frisbee golf, and eating good gulf seafood! The last day they were here we went to Pensacola to eat at Flounder's. This is a restaurant we grew up eating at. It is right on the bay, so the ambiance is great! During family vacations, we probably ate at Flounder's 80% of the time we went out. Of course, we had to get the seafood nachos like old times and we were all about to pop when we left. :) Enjoy a few snapshots of the fun week!