Gold, Valentines, and Bubble Baths

Hello Blogosphere!

Here I am, Saturday night, 11:00, blogging. That should be an indication of how my life has been lately. I'm here to fill you in on the gaps, but first I wanted to tell you have excited I am that it is February. Why, you may be wondering? Well, I consider February a weird month. First, look at how it is spelled. Second, it feels like summer, isn't it still winter? Third, the Superbowl is tomorrow and the Oscars are coming up soon! [And that's they exciting part] I am excited to watch and analyze the ads and critique the red carpet fashion.

So, this is what my life has looked like lately.

I am officially a Starbucks gold member! I've been working on this for 3 years. 

Bri and I finally had our craft day. We made Jade shadow boxes!

And I made some Valentines. [ I love Valentines day]

 

This is the Valentines day card I made for Pib. [Pib: My Boyfriend]

He doesn't read my blog, so it's safe to post this soon. :]

My new thing is relaxing. With bubbles, books, candles and beverages.

               Flea Marketing and Starbucking. :]

 And this has been taking up so much of my time, but I have loved every minute of it! I am helping coordinate the Hill City Polar Plunge Festival, which will take place, February 25th from 11-2pm. This is a festival full of family fun, live music and more. I have been working with my team of lovely ladies, below. I'll post more about it once the event happens! But, it has been exciting and I am so lucky to be working with the Special Olympics Virgina! 

Now I am off to bed blog world! Hopefully I will see you again sooner rather then later! I know I will want to post at least one more Valentines Day post before it passes! 

Love from,

 Hales

Christmas Crafts: Make something outta nothing

Crafting is an outlet for me to unwind, relieve stress and relax at the end of a long week! I think I get a little craftier near Christmas because that's when I am stressed and also have a variety of things to craft! I picked up a bunch of random things over a week and sat down to see what I could do with them. (For some reason, I love doing that. Getting a whole bunch of cheap odds and ends.. and making something new out of them!) I had ribbon, ornaments, mason jars, other jars, card stock, stamps, paper and...TA DA!

I got the ornaments from Ollie's. Four ornaments came in a pack for .29. The Candle was from the Dollar Tree... they were four for a $1.00. The mason jar I got a the flea market for a $1.00. The front jar was a candle but I washed it out. The back right jar has been sitting around my apartment and was once filled with gumballs. I think all together these three pieces cost me: $2.12 total. 

The ornaments are from Ollie's and the mason jar is from the Flea Market! This one cost me: $1.58.

This looks prettier then it appears in the picture, I promise. Same .29 ornaments and the vase is from Micheal's. It was marked down to $1.75 and I I received it 25% off. This piece cost me: $1.60.
Looking at it here, I think I'm going to add a few candy canes in there!

These are my Christmas cards! Maybe you will be getting one in the mail! Want to know a secret about me? I've been making Christmas cards for the past 2 years.. I just never send them out! I bought the Christmas stamps two summers ago.. I finally used them! The ribbon and plaid paper is SO old. And the Christmas trees on them were from cards two years ago. I bought a really ugly, 8 pack of cards for $1.00 and just covered them with cute paper!

A couple favorites.

Here here are the envelopes... they are all a little different.

I also did a little Christmas experiment in the kitchen before I left for Thanksgiving break! I had a few Oreo's in my cupboard, white chocolate, and candy canes. So, I made white chocolate covered Oreo's sprinkled with crushed up Candy Canes. And they were pretty DANG good, even if I do say so myself!

And I wanted to stick this picture in here because my mom took me on a pre-Christmas shopping trip to this awesome store called, Simply The Best in Rochester, Michigan! Everything (well, just about) was $10.00 or less! This store was covered from front to back, with jewelery, sunglasses, clutches, scarfs and MORE. The black Friday sale was buy three scarfs get one free! And you better believe we took them up on their offer! My wonderful mother and myself are pictured here showing off our awesome new scarfs!

Happy Tuesday! Go make something!!

Some Christmas Decor

I know I've been absent for some time! Honestly, my brain has been melting the past couple of weeks! I have so much to accomplish before Christmas... I am afraid I've already gotten lost in the Holiday hustle and bustle. So, I am taking some time out of my day... to ensure myself and you, I am not a scrooge, and give out some Christmas decor ideas!

Once upon a time, before there was Pinterest  in a land far away...there was this thing called blogging. I used to spend hours (in a week, not at one time) searching various blogs for craft ideas, decorating tips and fashion sense. Now for all of you who hopped on the Pinterest train, I'm glad you did, but allow me to introduce you to my 'Pinterest' before  Pinterest.... her name is, Jen Ramos, and she has a blog, 'Made By Girl'.

Lately Jen has been blogging about Christmas decoration, gift inspiration and so on. Here's a little preview:


Holiday Dinner Parties Inspiration:

Love the simplicity in this one!

Can't you feel the Christmas?

Modern. Love this one

Natural.

MadebyGirl Original Post: Inspiration for Holiday Parties

MadebyGirl Shop. She has some GREAT pieces! I cannot wait to get one! Here is one of my personal favorites... When I have a home office, it will be hung...

Are you entertaining this Christmas? I'm excited when that day will come for me! This year I have been coveting a house, more and more each day! Although, I did a little creative decorating in my apartment this year...I'll blog about that sometime soon! The things you can do with mason jars and ribbon!! :] And just for fun... A few of my favorite Holiday decor I found on Pinterest!

Details.

Details.

Yummy Details.

Details.

Details.

Details.

Love this.

Happy Christmasing to everybody! I'll be back before the end of the week to show you my home made Christmas decor! Enjoy your Monday afternoon! P.S. [In case you were concerned, My brain has not literally been melting, just a figure of speech] .

No time to write!

This weekend was a BLAST! Friday night was a quadruple dinner date with a movie to follow! And then the flea market on Saturday morning! I am starting to LOVE the flea market, but every time I go it makes me want a house! There was an antique sewing machine and ceder chest there this Saturday and I wanted to pick them up SO BADLY.... but, I have no where to put them. *Sigh....

This Saturday I bought a spoon ring (which I have been looking for since I was at least 17!)  and some mason jars! (The mason jars should be featured soon!) The ring is pictured below along with this awesome fall nail polish I found a Wal-Mart for $1.50!

My boyfriend and I doubled with my roommate and her boyfriend to the flea market and also shot some guns! Check us out! Then on Sunday I COOKED DINNER. Chicken Alfredo. That was a proud moment.

I hope you had a great weekend! My Monday has been super productive... and that makes me happy! What did you buy this weekend?

Hello and Goodbye!

Hi Blogger world! I am still here, I am alive, I have just been so very busy this week! Taking a couple days off to go to my cousins wedding put me surprisingly behind. But, it was so worth it!

Michigan was amazing, as to be expected. Seeing my family was even better. I cannot express the joy, contentment, and happiness when I am surrounded by those I love. I really do cherish and love my family, recently it has hit me how blessed I am. My family is truly a gift from the Lord and I am so thankful he put me where I am!

Here are some pictures from some time spent in Michigan and the drive back!

Sisterrr!

Pupppppyyyyyy

Little Bro! They won their game!

Pumpkin Patch!

Our snacks for the ride up!

The drive on the way back!

Needless to say, I had a GREAT time and I love fall things! Speaking of fall things- It is FRIDAY! And I want to fill you in on what I am doing this weekend! [Drum roll please!]... I am dedicating this ENTIRE weekend to fall... [Thank you Pinterest] From start to finish. Fall activity's- Falltivites!

Starting with some Hot Cider 

Recipe

Adding some Carmel Apples

Recipe

If I am feeling brave, some Chocolate covered apples 

Recipe

Of course, a scary movie! Which one should I see? 







And If I'm feeling really, really brave Pumpkin Bread

Recipe

Tomorrow I am going to a flea market with my, (drum roll please) boyfriend! And then hiking to the top of a mountain, maybe visiting a winery, making lunch and hopefully hitting up an Apple harvest festival, I have found six that are happening this weekend! I'll have some fun stories to tell and cute pictures to show on Monday!

I hope your weekend is full of fun fall festivities! If you are running out of ideas, I will 'leaf' (get it!) a list of a few things for you to do!

10 little things to turn an everyday Fabulous... This might possibly be the most girlish post I have ever done. ever.

I am about a month into school and I am defiantly getting into my routine. I am a very planned person and I thrive best when I am on a schedule. [Check out the picture below] When my planner is the fullest and color coordinated... I am the happiest!

In the midst of our busy lives, I think, we get lost in the mundane of everyday. To live each day forgetting that each moment is unique, special, and a gift happens all to often in my life. So, here are a few little things that can make your everyday fabulous.

Cinnamon from Walmart

1. Cinnamon. With Fall and Winter right around the corner, cinnamon is a GREAT way to get in the seasons mood. Just mix a little cinnamon in with your coffee grounds.. and WALA! You have a super sweet drink to wake up to in the morning. It just makes coffee a little more fallish! And it is only $3.00! You know I love Starbucks, but lets get real, I can't offered a latte everyday!

Target

2. Candles. And not just for a little ambiance during a bubble bath... I burn candles ALL the time! When I wake up in the morning, I make my coffee, light some candles and prepare for my day. Why should you just enjoy a little candle light at night? I have a pumpkin and Cinnavilla candle in my room. They are from Target and they small so great AND they last forever.

BBW

3. Lotion. Before I leave my apartment I always put on hand lotion. I really believe lotion makes a difference in how great my day is! Having soft hands makes a difference, I swear! But, this is not just any lotion... Please tell me you have heard of Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy line! Well, I use the 'Stress Relief' sent... And I love it! Whether it really does relieve my stress.. I don't really care, I just know I feel so much better after I put it on!

Charlotte Russe

4 and 5. Sunglasses and Lip gloss. Once I get on the road I put on my ridiculously over sized sunglasses and happily drive over to work. I'm telling you, sunglasses will make you feel SO MUCH COOLER. And. lip gloss. Who doesn't love lip gloss? I just found THE BEST lip gloss at Target. Have you heard of ELF Cosmetics? They rock. Super cheap, super awesome quality.

Yes, it is $1.00.

 6. Gel Roller Pens. I am the 'Office Manager' at Liberty University Intramural Sports... Yeah, that's my super awesome title! Really, I take alot of phone messages, write memos, file paperwork and ect... But, let me tell you- how much more fun writing phone messages can be with these wonderful Gel Roller Pens. It's amazing how a much a good pen can make a difference in your everyday life! Staples delivers in one day, it really is SO easy.

7. Color. I do not recycle.. I know, I know. I must hate the earth. And I don't, I watched and LOVED Captain Planet. But, sometimes in an office you make too many copies, it is bound to happen. So, I decided to start using my too many copies as scrap paper. And here, we use many fun colors for our fliers- which means more fun colors for scrap paper. Also, who wants a boring yellow sticky note when you can have neon? Seriously. The extra color can make your day a little extra fabulous.

8. Surround yourself with people you love. I sit at a desk all day, why not take the moment to walk down memory lane? Surround yourself with pictures of places and people you love... You'll find inspiration as you work.








9. Mouse Pads. I think mouse pad are pointless, stupid and most of the time ugly... but I used mine as a way to add a little flare to my cubical. See? You can buy cute mouse pads at staples!














10. Not co-workers, Friends!  When you spend about 40 hours a week in an office, you need some friends. Sure you can have the casual cubical conversation. But, a way to make your day a little more fabulous, is make friends with your co-workers! I've made a long lasting friendship, here, at work, with Kristy! I look forward to seeing her at work in the morning, during lunch, and during my coffee breaks. I go into her office when I need a counseling session, or need to vent, and I miss her on the weekends! I don't have her picture, but here is her business card.. and sorry it is sideways... I think my iphone is tiered.. But, work would not be as fabulous without her!

Now, everyone go have a Fabulous Day!