diy: state nail art

So, I've been meaning to post this DIY since October, when I completed it.  I even had a post started, but for some reason I never finished it. Nothing like a day snowed-in to prompt me to finally share my state nail art decor! :)

The Midwest was slammed today buy a lovely February snow storm. It has snowed all. day. long. Seriously, all day. The dog and I just ventured out to discover it is now snowing icy flakes, making it look like glitter is raining down from the twilight sky - which made this glitter & Ke$ha loving girl's night! However, I digress, that is not the reason for this post!

I had seen these state nail art designs on Pinterest and decided it was something that I could do. Since I have considered 3 states home, I wanted to represent each state and city in my new apartment. 

My finished products!

Here's what you need:

• A piece of wood (the size I used is 14"x14")
• Wire nails (5/8" x 18)
• Cotton twine
• Printed outline of state
• Needle-nose pliers
• Hammer
• Picture hanging wire
• Construction paper/glitter (optional)
• Paint or stain for wood (optional)

A picture of my nails so you know what to look for at Lowes! :)

1. Decide if you want your board stained or painted. You will obviously want to do this before you start nailing into it. Luckily my Dad had 3 spare boards in his shop that he was able to cut to size for me, which I then stained to match some of my other furniture.

2. Cut out your state outline and tape to the center of your board. 

3. Start hammering! You will want to nail around the outline of your state. I found it easiest to use my needle-nose pliers to hold the nail in place and straight, as well as to help me with my spacing - it also prevented me from whacking my fingers with the hammer :) Tip: One mistake I made, that I later had to go back and fix, was positioning my nails to close together. It is okay to leave some distance between them, and it will actually make your life easier when you start with the string. Don't worry - you will still achieve your look! 

  

4. >optional<  If you decide to have a heart representing a certain city, now is the time to nail that in. I cut a heart out of construction paper and taped it to the location on my state, then hammered the nails in just like step 3. Tip: Unlike the outline, the more nails you can fit into the heart outline, the better. You will pull the string from the outline to the heart and the more nails you have in the heart to wrap the string around, the better.

5. Once you have your nail outline finished, you can carefully remove your paper outline. You may have to use some tweezers to get tiny pieces of paper that might have been nailed through.

Outline complete!

6. String time! Pick your starting place and tie off your twine. For me, I started in the upper right hand corner and worked from the outline of my state to the outline of the heart and back. This part honestly just takes practice - I had to restart my stringing multiple times. You will need to strategize in order to evenly distribute your string connections among the heart nails. Also, try to wrap in the same direction on each nail, just to keep the look consistent. Tip: If your state has weird areas, do whatever you need to do to make it work. In the bootheel of Missouri I ended up cutting my string, going between the state outlines, and then starting fresh in a new section. There are going to be some areas of your state where you need to take your string outline to outline, rather than outline to heart. As long as you like the look of it, then it's a-okay.

7. Because I like glitter (as we covered earlier), I decided I wanted to spruce up my heart area of my state and really make it stand out. I took the same piece of construction paper I used to make my heart outline, covered it glue, sprinkled on some glitter and then wedged it back between the nail outline. I did not affix it to the board in anyway, the construction paper sits nicely wedged between the heart nail outline. (Sorry, I get too excited with glitter to take a picture!)

8. Lastly, install some picture hanging wire to the back and admire your craft! :) 

I have gotten several compliments on these and am really proud of how they turned out. I was also pleasantly surprised that this was a fairly easy project to complete. I was able to complete all 3 of mine in an evening while catching up on my DVR recordings! 

2014 "resolutions"

So, I love Pinterest. This is just a fact of life - I am pretty sure it was created for me. I have always been a visual learner and I think that's why it speaks to me so - pictures and organization, what could be better?! That being said, tonight I am too awake to sleep. Don't you hate those nights? Most people when they can't sleep will watch TV, read a book, drink Sleepytime Tea (cough cough, Emily) or some other activity to slow their mind. I organize my Pinterest boards.

While going through one of my boards and thinking about the New Year, I was struck by several inspirational quotes I had pinned. I have never been good at New Year's resolutions - I put to much pressure on the concept of setting impressive resolutions that are actually achievable. This year, however, I thought it might be fun to choose some quotes to serve as a 2014 guide. General inspirations for 2014, if you will. :)

Without further adieu... here are my 14 inspirational pictorial resolutions for 2014 along with my little reminders to myself when I am inevitably overwhelmed and stressed in 3 weeks and "over 2014":

1.

Ralph Waldo Emerson has always been one of my favorites. This is so simple but so powerful to me. I have an extreme tendency to overcomplicate things, but in the end what matters is to: be silly, be kind, be honest. 

2.

In college, one of my best friends tattooed "believe in yourself" on her foot. We were terrible. We teased her mercilessly saying things like "look at your foot" when she would ask us for advice. In all honesty, believing in yourself is key and a personal struggle for me. You are all you have - so you might as well trust, love and believe in yourself. If you don't, no one else will. 

3.

This reminds me of childhood me...not a care in the world, and that is something I strive to get back to. Screw what the world thinks, my world: my friends, my family, my God, all accept and embrace me for all my quirks and randomness.

4.

Dance like no one is watching. It hurts no one and makes your heart feel lighter. Read to enrich your mind, free your soul or to transport yourself somewhere else. Whatever the reason: do it. If it makes you happy and doesn't harm the world, then you're good. 

5.

This may be my ultimate 2014 inspiration. Love and laugh abundantly. Abundantly. Without abandon. Do these and your life can't help be anything but beautiful.

6.

One of my 100 goals is to keep a gratitude journal. Being grateful is so key - recognizing what others do for you and in all the ways you are blessed.

7.

This one really spoke to me, because it is so true. It is impossible to be perfect and to have everyone like you/me. So: let. it. go. It is their loss, because we are ripe, juicy peaches and they don't know what they're missing out on!

8.

Ultimately, some days are going to suck. It is inevitable. I've already had one of those days this week (and it's only Wednesday). BUT, create your own sunshine! You have the power to bring a ray of light to any and every day. So sparkle and shine and turn things around - not for others, but for yourself.

9.

This one and #13 go hand-in-hand, but hey - it's a big concept for me. John Lennon once said that life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. Mr. Lennon and Carrie Bradshaw know the secret - let things happen as they may. As my family says over the table playing Texas 42 when one of us thinks we can lay down our hand and start a new game... "let's play it out, yeah that's probably what will happen, but let's let the pieces fall".

10.

Psalm 139:14 "because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." We are each unique, special and individual. Why the heck do we want to be like everyone else? 

11.

Girls rule, boys drool. Oh goodness, I feel like I'm back in 6th grade. Seriously though, stop trying to impress guys - they're not worth it. Wear what you want to wear because you want to wear it. Fix your hair and put on make-up because it makes you feel good.

12.

Slightly ironic given that I'm currently staring at a screen, but these are all things I think I would love to add more of to my life, as I think everyone would. :)

13

I am the biggest worry wart, ever, and for no good reason. All worrying does is create wrinkles. Does it solve the problem? No. Does it make things better? No. Que cera cera...what will be will be - regardless of how much I worry or fret.

14.

Last, but not at all least.

"Freely you have received; freely give".

Now an hour after I started this post and 2 hours after I locked my door, turned off the lights and got in bed, I think I am ready to sleep. 

So raise your glass of champagne, Dr. Pepper, sweet tea or water 

and cheers to a happy 2014.

Classroom Library Re-Do

I adore being a kindergarten teacher.  It is one of the biggest surprises & blessings in my life.  Ask anyone I taught with throughout college & very few would say they could see me teaching kinder upon graduation.  However, the past semester has proven (to myself at least) that I have found my niche.  Watching my kids grow by leaps and bounds everyday and experience the accomplishments through the eyes of one that young is such an incredible experience.

One of my favorite college professors taught an Early Literacy class & stressed the importance of letting  students experience print on their own terms.  That point was driven home my senior year when one of my inspirations (Meagan, who I am blessed enough to also call best friend) introduced me to the Daily Five.  While my school district uses a different model than the Daily Five, I am still able to incorporate parts of it in my literacy block.  When God threw me a surprise new job this summer I was hard pressed to have a classroom set up at all...least of all worry about the library set up.  Moving from third grade to kinder was the biggest blessing but it also brought about many changes in how I run my room.  I learned VERY quickly that my current classroom library set-up was just now working.  I kept telling myself that I would fix it over the summer but over the holiday break I realized it needed to be done now.  So, the last two weeks have been filled with the "Classroom Library Re-Do".

It was in the middle of this project that I realized what a wonderful resource TpT is.  In my head I knew exactly what I wanted, but it would have taken way longer than two weeks on my own.  After a little paroosing I found Bethany McClure's blog, Learning is A Journey and by default her TpT store.  She has some wonderful library organizing resources.


I started off by organizing my books based on genre/series.  Thankfully, Coach Husband assisted with this part.

Book sorting

While I was sorting I realized that I had multiple of some books and very little of others.  Many parents, friends and family members ask what books I would like them to purchase for my classroom library and I never know what to say.  I created an Excel Workbook to help me keep track of what books I have and where I could locate them!  This is by far the smartest thing I have done as a teacher, probably EVER.

Logging books

With a 22+ genres I made one big workbook and added a sheet at the bottom for each different pile on my carpet.

Next I printed the different genre book box labels and the individual sticker labels from Bethany's TpT store.  I loved that she made small sticker labels to affix to the actual books.  Students just have to match the sticker on the book to the sticker on the book box to place it back where it goes.  Genius.

Book stickers

 After forcing Bre & Meagan to accompany me to Ikea during our Dallas Best Friend Week I finally had the magazine holders that would serve as my book boxes. (Side note: Ikea literally gives me an anxiety attack.  All the people & stimulation.  It's a good thing B&M took charge or I might not have made it through).

 I put the books in the appropriate book boxes and then placed them on the bookshelf!

Finished product!

Tuesday my kids will be in for a big surprise.  I can't wait to see how this changes their interaction with the classroom library.  I am always looking for ways to improve my teaching and classroom management.  I am already thinking of what my next project will be.  Coach Husband however, is hoping inspiration doesn't strike until summer.

Emily  

DIY: Friendship Mugs

Oh my goodness, it is 2014!! 

For the New Year I traded in some Southwest miles and flew to Texas to ring in 2014 with my loves Emmy and Meagan. We had the best time shopping, chatting, reality tv-ing, facial-ing, massaging and basically everything else GIRL! 

It only took about 20 minutes of us all being together to decide to have Christmas and exchange our gifts! All three of us are currently obsessing over hot tea and anything 'cozy' (think blankets, fires, hot chocolate, fuzzy socks, sweaters, etc.) 

To go along with our current life theme - I bought each girl a cozy wrap style sweater while boutique shopping over Christmas as well as an assortment of hot teas. I also decided to try my hand at creating the friendship distance mugs I have seen all over Pinterest and Etsy. 

They were surprisingly easy to whip out! I purchased the mugs from Wal-Mart and then traced the state outlines on to the mug. I then free-handed the heart and squiggly line. Lastly, because it's us, I added a gold initial and some decorative swirls on the mug handle. Total this entire project took me about 20 minutes for both. Once you finish your artwork, you will want to bake them in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes, in order to let the sharpie and paint pen set. (Confession: I didn't actually bake mine, I didn't realize you were supposed to do this until talking to the girls...obviously I was trying to recreate something I had seen without actually reading the directions!) 

I was very pleased with how these turned out and think they would make a great housewarming gift or a small token for a hostess. Especially filled with an assortment of teas or hot cocoa, a girl would be crazy not to love this!

Texas <3 Missouri

Breakfast for the Overachiever

I love lists.  As in, ADORE lists.  And I tend to make a list for everything in my life.  To-do lists, grocery lists, life lists, future lists, pro-con lists, idea lists...you get the idea.  I get quite ambitious with my lists and tend to bite off more than I can chew.  Coach Husband is constantly rolling his eyes or huffing & puffing about my crazy lists.

Most every night before I go to sleep I make a list of what I need to accomplish then next day & then color-code the list by morning, day or night time activity.  Most mornings I am up by 5:30 for my devotional (right now I am finishing up a Study of Ruth...fabulous!), one-two household chores & finally to get ready for work.  I am terrible about fitting breakfast into my mornings.  If something has to be sacrificed normally that's what goes.  Having a husband that is anal intentional about eating well & staying in shape I always feel a tad bit guilty.

Morning duty is a part of being a teacher, especially a kindergarten teacher.  Every morning from 7:25-7:55 I sit outside my classroom to help my students make good choices sitting outside the room.  It's the perfect to time for breakfast and normally the time my stomach starts to grumble.  I am not big on muffins or sugary filled breakfast...I want my calories to count!!  So I was paroozing Pintrest one day had had some inspiration from quite a few different places to introduce my version of a Breakfast On the Go.

Over-Achiever Breakfast on the Go

18 XL Eggs

18 Whole Wheat English Muffins

Bacon

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Butter

Salt

Pepper

1. Grease a muffin tin with cooking spray & crack one egg into each tin.
   
   
   
   2. Salt & peeper each individual egg to your preference.  Pop in the oven at 350 degrees.  Cook until you can insert a knife/toothpick int the center of the egg & it comes out cleanly.  
   
   
   
   3. Split the English Muffins & butter each side.  Slip them onto a baking tin and toast in the oven to your liking. 
   
   
   4. Cook your bacon!  Being a Southern lady I only cook mine in a skillet...Coach Husband is a firm believer in nuking the pig.  We're working on him.  
   
   
   5. Cut 18 rectangles of aluminum foil.  On each foil put an open English Muffin.  Place your bacon on the bottom English Muffin, an egg next & finally top with shredded cheese.  (Secret: I hate dairy, BUT this is the perfect way for me to slip some in without actually tasting it).  
   
   
   
   
   
   6. Pop the top part of the English Muffin on top and wrap in tin-foil.  Place in a Zip-lock bag and toss in the freezer! 
   
   
   
   The night before eating simply de-frost a sandwich in the fridge...the next morning microwave it in the morning, put it back in the bag and its perfect portable.  
   I make between 15-20 at a time and have a month's worth of work-week breakfasts on hand.  It's a quick 30 minute assembly on a Sunday afternoon that ensure THIS over-achiever isn't sacrificing heath for checking things off a list.
   
   

homecoming 2013

It has officially been over week since Em and I were last together. I have now given myself the appropriate amount of grieving time and am able to write out our recap.

I had written out a 3-page long detailed Homecoming recap, but then realized – no one wants to read that, not even me – and I wrote it.

So here’s a summary:

Thursday...

Starbucks in the sky, Pigskin, Mega HEB

Flew to Texas. Starbucks with an extra shot of espresso. Plane door wouldn’t close in Dallas…delay. Made it to Waco. Hung out with Coach Husband. Went to school to help Emmy clean. Quick wardrobe change. Dinner with Amanda and Melissa. PIGSKIN!!! (click here if you aren't familiar with the amazing tradition that is Pigskin and All-University SING). H-E-B Plus stop for ice cream sundae supplies. Late night ice cream and girl gossip with Amanda. Sleep.

Friday...

Bonfire, Georges, Bush's
(also I really hate the top pic, but it's the only group one from bonfire)

Common Grounds with my favorite prof! Said “hi” to the Bears. Went to the Bookstore. Bush’s Chicken for lunch. (yummmm).  Shopping. Shopping. Shopping. Sonic Happy Hour!! Shopping. Shopping Shopping. Went home and took a 10 min rest break. Quick wardrobe change. Went to George’s (“I’d like to thank ol’ George’s Bar for the classes that I missed”). MEAGAN ARRIVED!!!!! Delicious dinner. Saw lots of AXOs and my BFF Catherine! Bonfire. Saw friends. Met parents. Watched a big fire roar. Drove around Waco looking for trouble, psych we drove around being dorks. Sleep.

Saturday...

Lunch, game, parade

Woke up super early. Coach Husband dropped us off at campus for parade. So cold. Searched for donuts. Went to School of Ed. Em & Megan talked to a professor, I went looking for more friends. Found Dyann. Dyann and I found Amanda and family. PARADE!!! Looked at floats. Cheered for Holly Tucker. Criticized floats. Looked at floats up close. Went to AXO brunch. Talked to a bunch of people. Gave seal of approval for new couches. Reminisced on winning, errr getting 3rd place, at StompFest. Sat on a street corner waiting for a ride. Went to Poppa Rollo’s pizza (mafia style pizza parlor) with Amanda’s family. Yuuuummm. Went home to rest. Quick wardrobe change. Tailgate at “The Beast”. Baylor demolished Iowa State. Saw more friends. Emily terrified a child. Post-game tailgate at “The Beast”. Sleep.

Sunday...

Sunday was too sad of day for happy, pretty pictures :(

Slept in. Lunch at Chiptole. Meagan and Purdey leave L. Target run with Em. Sonic Happy Hour. Rested and watched A Walk to Remember. They dropped me off at the airport. Said goodbye to Em. Silent cry on the plane.L Airport McDonalds for supper. Dad and Jasper pick me up at the airport with a Large Sweet Tea! Sleep.

Adios, Tejas

 I can’t even explain how wonderful this weekend was. Meagan, Em and I had not all been together in over 3 years – however, it was like we spend every day together. One of my favorite moments of the weekend was after the football game heading back to “The Beast”, sitting in lawn chairs with blankets and spending hours talking under the beautiful Texas stars. While it was really really cold, it was fun…just a bunch of friends and family enjoying each other’s company and telling life stories - the perfect last night in Waco and at Floyd Casey.

Tailgate with my loves

My ultimate goal for the weekend was: Cowboy Coffee from Common Grounds, meal at Bush’s Chicken, Georges, buy Baylor apparel for my niece and I, partake in all Homecoming festivities (well all the main ones), soak in the splendor of Waco, Baylor and Floyd Casey and see lots of friends. I successfully accomplished every single thing on that list!

AXO sisters

Baylor was as lovely as it was my entire 4 years there, and seeing old friends reminded me how incredibly blessed I am to have such a strong support system… even if they are 639 miles away.

That good old Baylor line! That good old Baylor line!

We'll march forever down the years, as long as stars shall shine.

We'll fling our green and gold afar, to light the ways of time 

And guide us as we onward go; That good old Bayor line!

Goal #2: Sponsor a Compassion Child

This might be one of my top five favorite goals I have made! The best part was that this was something Coach Husband & I were able to do together.

For almost as long as I could remember my parents have sponsored a Compassion International child.  His name is Charles, which just happens to be my grandfather's name, and he lives in Kenya with his grandmother.  Nothing elicited quite as much excitement as receiving a letter from Charles or his yearly update.  His picture is proudly displayed in our living room next to the picture of my brothers and I.  The example my mom set to put Charles out with the rest of the family is one of the little things I have taken with me after moving into my own home.

 Coach Husband & I were at church about a month ago when our Pastor delivered a very compelling and convicting sermon titled, Sheep & Goats.  The thought that if I am not serving the poor, hungry & needy or actively seeking the welfare of the city I am in fact being a goat instead of a sheep was so basic yet so convicting.  Coach Husband & I began to seriously consider in what ways we could actively seek the welfare of the city.  About two weeks later I was sitting on the couch writing lesson plans for the upcoming week when I realized one way we could act like a child of God was to sponsor a child through Compassion International.  I sent CH a text telling him I had a fabulous idea & tried to wait patiently for him to come home (it was in the middle of football practice...yes, there is weekend practice)!  Once I explained my lightbulb moment we began actively searching for a child we could sponsor.  Many, many years ago the Lord gave me a passion for Africa so we decided to narrow our search to the African countries and look specifically for a young child that we could sponsor until he graduated from the program at age 18.

Call me crazy but we fell in love with little Emmanuel as soon as we saw his picture.  Bonus: our best friend's (real) name is actually Emmanuel!  Just yesterday we received our official sponsor packet from Compassion International & so I am proud to announce that we have added another member to our family! Meet Emmanuel Kwemoi, the precious three year old child from Uganda that we have already been blessed by.

Compassion Child: Emmanuel

We will be referring to him as, Little E!  Coach Husband & I would be grateful & humble if you would join us in prayer for this precious child of God specifically for his spiritual growth, physical health & a desire to learn God's Word.

Already we are in love with this little bundle of joy and are so very excited to see him grow and change physically & spiritually over the next fifteen years.


Here is the link for the Sheep & Goats sermon that convicted CH & I so deeply.  I highly recommend taking 30 minutes to watch.  Brady is entertaining but does not allow that to keep him from delivering God's Word with conviction, honesty & love.

http://www.harriscreek.org/resources/sermons/sheep-goats-return-on-investment


I have also included the link for Compassion International.  This non-profit organization is incredibly unique.  The sponsorship links you to an individual child in need to provide them the resources and learning opportunities they need to break the cycle of poverty and become happy, healthy, Christ followers.

http://www.compassion.com/default.htm


Emily