Quicky Friday Post

Well the temperature is 106 degrees here today.

The grass is brown and the asphault is scalding.  Trust me I went outside barefoot a second ago (burning feet seems to be a reoccuring theme for me lately).

Fireworks are now banned, and our county has been declared a disaster emergency because of the extreme heat and lack of rain.

Stuff has been catching on fire like crazy!

Side note: I was picking up Kelly from work to go on a lunch date the other day, and the ashtray bucket thing outside the door was on fire!  Good thing I was there to save the day!

But it's all good because we are going here for the weekend!

Patoka Lake!  We are leaving as soon as Kelly gets home from work at 5:00, but our friends just got there, my friend Lindsey sent me this awesome picture! 

We normally get houseboat at Kentucky Lake for the 4th weekend, but we opted for a cabin closer to home this year.  I was a little disappointed at this because I loved the houseboat trip, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because you can't really use the AC on a houseboat unless you want to spend $1,000 on gas!  And it's supposed to be in the 105-108 range this weekend! 

Holy hotdogs that's hot!

See ya Monday!

Mod Podge Letters- Crafty Projects Vol. 1

As I have mentioned, I have been spending my summer taking on all things crafty.

You would think I would complete a project before starting another one, but that it NOT the case here. 

I start a new project about every other day, and the people at JoAnn Fabrics now know me by name.

I even went to Lowe's yesterday!  Yes...me at Lowe's...it's really hard to believe (I needed some sturdy wire).  The thing about Lowe's is that it's really big, and it's especially big when your flip flop breaks (the flip comes out of the flop as I like to say) as you are walking in.  I should have just left, but I finally made it there after meaning to go there for like a week!

I had to hobble around the whole store looking for hanging wire by scooting/ dragging one foot behind me in an effort to keep my shoe on. 

Yes people were staring. 

I finally got to the wire found what I needed and dragged my leg/foot/shoe back down the aisle and to the cash register. 

I thought I was home free when I got to the parking lot when I decided I decided to fore-go my broken flop and walk with only one shoe (I didn't feel like that was appropriate in the store). The problem with that was that I forgot it was 98 degrees outside and the asphault was basically on fire.  So then I had to run with one shoe on and one burning foot.  

This is my life!

Anyways back to the whole point of this post:  My crafty project.

I bought some wooden letters at JoAnn's for pretty cheap (I had a lot of coupons).

I painted around the edges of letter with black acrylic paint.  Nothing expensive just regular old black paint.

And as it turns out I forgot to take pictures of all the other steps. Ha

I got some scrapbook paper (mine is all black and white match-y, but you can use whatever kinds you like).

I turned the letters over on the paper so the backside was facing up, and I traced the letters on the paper.  I actually only traced half of each letter onto the paper so I could I have two papers on each letter. 

I cut the half-letters out, and made sure they fit on the front side of the wooden letter and that everything lined up.  If it didn't I trimmed the paper down some. 

Then I coated the front of the wooden letter with the ever-wonderful Mod Podge, and put the paper on top of it (both halves since I was using two kinds), making sure it was all lined up on the edges and smoothed out with no bumps or wrinkles. 

Then I coated the top of the paper (that is now on the wooden letter) with Mod Podge.  Be sure to use enough so that the paper adheres to the edges and loses it's stiffness.  You will be able to tell when the paper sort of "becomes one" with the wood. 

Also make sure that you get the Mod Podge around the black edges of the letter so that it will be glossy too.  I used my fingers for this part so I could also smooth down the edges.

Let it dry.

Once it is dry, I measured out some ribbon to put on the letter where the two different papers met in the middle.  I hot glued the ribbon to the letters and voila!

I used Command strips to hang the letters up, but I had to hot glue the strip to the back of the letter because it wouldn't stick. 

I think it looks pretty good if I do say so myself!

WILW

Another Wednesday already!

I am loving Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  I don't eat it very often (but I just did) because it's not so good for you being so covered in sugar in all, but at least it claims ti be whole grain (I don't really beleive that)!



I am loving that we are going on a cabin trip with our friends this weekend!  Even though it's going because 108 degrees here on Friday and 100 on Saturday and Sunday.  And we can't actually get in the lake because the water is waaaay down and bacteria ridden because of the draught. Sad face.  But it will still be fun!

I am also loving all my followers! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Now for Pinterest!

Source: johnlewis.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I need this dress!  It's only 14.99...in euros, so that's like 20.00-ish bucks right?  Plus being shipped from Europe probably also about 20 bucks.  Whomp whomp :-/

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Source: smallchichome.com via Elyse on Pinterest

My next crafty project...after I finish my current ones.

Source: designaglow.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I want to do something like this with all the place we have gone together.

Source: media-cache0.pinterest.com via Elyse on Pinterest

This would be cute for engagement pics.

Source: via Elyse on Pinterest

The hammock of my dreams. 

 That;s all for today!

Oh and as always I am loving my life with a cherry on top!

What are you loving today?!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Hooray for Wednesdays!  We are halfway there people! 

 My Pinterest account is FINALLY back to it's normal self (it seemed like it was out of comission for an eternity!). 

I don't know how it was fixed. 

I did nothing. 

The Pinterest gods perhaps (don't laugh, they exist).

Soooo let's link up on this hot hot hot day!

I am loving that I have a dentist appointment today!  I love going to the dentist!  Something about having clean teeth just makes me feel content.

I am loving that my vegetable plants are producing vegetables! Look at all of those peppers!

And there's still more growing!

You can baaaaarely see it, but this plant has two little yellow flowers.  Those flowers are going to turn into tomoatoes!  At least that is what I'm hoping.

I am loving all of my DIY projects I have going right now (4? I think).  My goal was to have them done by the weekend, but I am starting to see that that is not going to happen. I am also starting to realize that the employees at JoAnn Fabrics are slowly beginning to know me by name.

 Or as the *@#$%! lady with all of the coupons.

I saved $32 the last time I went!

But all this crafting is doing my living room no justice.

They always say it gets worse before it gets better!

Now for the fun stuff!

Source: goodwillionaire.blogspot.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I want this for the wall in our room!  I just have to find an old frame to paint. 

This is where Good Will comes in.

Source: betterafter.blogspot.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I want to do this for the ugly old dresser that houses my under-things. 

Right now it is brown and old and ugly. 

See how overstuffed it is? And that's after I tucked in all the pieces that were hanging out!

Now for chocolate.  Because I am having a serious craving.

Source: google.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls.  YUM!

Source: brk.to via Elyse on Pinterest

Genius!

Source: pinspire.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Cute for 4th of July!

And as always I am loving my life with a cherry on top!

That's all for today!

What are you loving on this Wednesday?

Happy Vanilla Milkshake Day!

Grilled Balsamic and Garlic Crusted Pork Tenderloin

I tried yet another Pinterest recipe last, and it was delicious as usual!

I love anything grilled or with basalmic vinegar so this was a winner!

I am unable to find the link to this recipe (I think I deleted it and the printed out version doesn't have the source on it) so I'll just have to share it on here:

Ingredients:

4-5 garlic cloves, finely minced or crushed

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 pork tenderloins (about 1 1/4 pounds each)

Directions:

Stir together gralic, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a small bowl.  Rub the paste all over pork.  Marinate over night if you have the time, if not just marinate before you put it on the grill.

Grill preparation:

Sear the tenderloins on all sides, then grill for about 20-30 minutes, rotating every 10 minutes until the internal temperature is 160 degrees.  Let it rest before slicing.

I grilled it for 10 minutes on one side and five on the other, when I realized it was probably done.  It was perfect! Juicy and tender just how it should be.  It probably all depends on how your grill cooks though. 

I really liked this because I was able to prepare it ahead of time and all I had to do was grill it!

I served it with fresh green beans and red potatoes, and it made for a perfect (and healthy) summer time meal. :-)

And just a side note, my Pintrest account was working again, with pins and all!

Praise the Lord!

Happy Tuesday!

Back to the Daily Grind

Aren't Mondays such a bummer after a great weekend?

It's not so bad though...I just ate almost half a cantaloupe for breakfast (it was so good, I just couldn't quit!), and I already have a pork tenderloin marinating for dinner tonight! 

Here is my weekend via instagram:

We went to an Otters game on Saturday.  It's so nice that our little ol' town has their very own baseball team.  We love going to games in the summer because they are so chill.  Nobody really cares if they win or lose (except for the loud guy sitting in front of us apparently), and its just a fun atmosphere!  Especially with an ice cold beer in hand!  The best part is you can usually score free tickets!

After the game was over they had a pretty good fireworks show!

Let me tell you a story about this cactus.  My mom and I randomly bought this cactus at Wal-Mart like four years ago.  It was really small, but it had a really pretty pink flower on top of it.  We put the cactus outside on the porch, and as it started growing, the flower started growing more and more on the side until it finally fell off.  

It was hot glued to the top of the plant.  So misleading! 

Now, four years later, there is a REAL flower on the top! 

I was at home this morning when we discovered it, and it looked like the above picture.

Later on in the day, my mom sent me this picture!

How awesome is that!?!

Happy Wednesday Dear Friends!

Yay for Wednesday!

Do any other of my Wednesday "linker-upper" friends ever have trouble coming up with a new and interesting way to introduce this every week? Because I sure do...this week I don't really feel like trying so here it is:

 Let's link up with Jamie @ This Kind of Love and What I'm Loving Wednesday and Michelle @ The Vintage Apple and Oh So Pinteresting Wednesday! 

I am loving the new trend in our living room.  I usually sit in the chair (much to my dismay, I hate this chair-maybe i'll blog about it someday) and Kelly sits on the couch during our down time at night.  Sometimes I'll ask him if I can come over to his place (A.K.A. the couch) or sometimes if I'm lucky, he might even invite me over to "his place".  Kind of dumb but it makes me laugh.  And who doesn't love a good cuddle!?!

I am loving how beautiful the sunsets (and the days) have been lately!  Monday it was rainy all day, but there was still this beautiful sunset.  I snapped a quick shot of it while I was getting the mail (notice the corn field...gotta love Indiana).

Really this picture does not prove my point at all...it kind of sucks. Haha

I am loving that I am almost to 50 followers!  I have decided that when I get there I will have a giveaway!  I don't know what I'll be giving away...something homemade but fun!  Who doesn't love a giveaway though!?!

Here is what I am loving on Pinterest this week (which by the way has not been working very well for me lately, all the pictures keep coming up with x's on them..Ergh! Therefore, I am posting from my dad's amazing Mac at his office) :

It's almost lunch time so I'm hungry!

                                                   

Source: lifeonleroy.blogspot.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad- I love anything that is that spicy buffalo flavor!

Source: tastykitchen.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Cheesy Rice Bake with black beans and corn- YUM!

Source: dipitinchocolate.blogspot.com via Elyse on Pinterest

A chocolate chip cookie with a s'more baked inside- best idea ever!  I can't wait to try this!

Source: confessionsofacookbookqueen.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Key Lime Cheesecake Bars-  I love Key Lime!

Source: sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net via Elyse on Pinterest

I am loving denim shirts right now...I bought one at Forever 21 the other day and I have been wearing it like crazy...it goes with everything!

Source: tots2tweens.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Cute outfit for a summer day!

Source: tuckandcover.blogspot.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I have been getting my craft on lately...I bought some stuff to make a sign for our classroom yesterday and then I saw these!  I WILL be making one for someone...SO cute!

Source: etsy.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I will also be making these at some point for our living room.  The walls in that place are so white and bare and blah!  My sister has already made a few different ones for various friends (she doesn't know it yet, but she will be helping me ;-) ).  

Source: someecards.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I CRACKED UP when I saw this.  I feel like I need a poster of this on my bare, white, blah walls! Haha

Source: den10studio.blogspot.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Still trying to remember this (from this post)!

What are you loving today?

P.S. Did you noticed that I embedded my pins today!?! So proud of myself! (Just goes to show how much better Mac's are than PC's!)

Happy Wednesday all!