Reality Check

 ^4-5Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
 ^6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
 ^8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Philippians 4:4-9 (The Message)

Beautiful Etsy: Whitney Smith Pottery

I love this shop! the pieces this girl creates are so adorable. Vases, bowls, pitchers, and cupcake stands...

Take a look:
(click on the pictures to see them on Etsy)





Super cute, right? I can't help but love the colors she uses, but it's the little birds and dogwood blossoms that got me.

You: Create #1

I'm joining in on Gitzen Girl's creative challenge, You: Create.  Here's what she has to say about it:

Every Thursday, you all [who are participating] are going to share one thing that you took the time to create that week. And that can be ANYTHING. Anything you took a moment to stop and do for you... anything that helps shape who you are as a person.
Because, here’s thing, as much as this is called YOU:create, it could just as easily be called create:YOU. When you stop for a minute and create something, accomplish something, finish a goal that would in some way fulfill a yearning you have inside, you are giving yourself the space to be you. To express yourself. To feel good about something you want to do rather than all those things you have to do.

 I love her idea.  Most days I don't do anything creative, but I should do more.  It's a part of me, and such a wonderful way to get to know myself better.  When I get the itch to do something with my hands or mix colors in a painting or a scrapbook page I'm motivated- the trouble is getting motivated when I don't have the urge to create.  Thanks for motivating me, Gitz!  

So here's my project for the week!

I used a paper doily to stencil a pretty pattern on the canvas first, and painted a bird in gray after I had painted the whole canvas lavender  I think I'll add something later, like a word or a phrase above the bird.  I think aqua would really compliment the lavender and gray. 

I'm linking up here.  If you've done something creative this week, join in!

Oh how I love Boden!

Have you ever shopped at Boden? Me either. but someday I will. Their clothes and accessories are so colorful yet sophisticated. Here are my favorites from their summer collection:

Top row, left to right:
Flippy Panelled Skirt
Patent Ballet Flats
Raw Edge Trim Top
Santorini Cardigan
Smart Knitted Dress

Bottom row, left to right:
Hepburn Shirt
Wrap Jersey Dress
Glam Tunic
Satin Plimsolls
Flare Chinos

Brown Bag Burritos

I found this recipe last year, and I've made it every couple of months since then. It's so wonderful to have a bag of burritos in my freezer for a quick meal whenever I want one. I've made them with all kinds of different ingredients, and they turn out differently every time, but still taste great!

It's called Brown Bag Burritos from The Finer Things in Life




Ingredients:

• 2 lb. ground beef
• 2 cans re-fried beans (I make my own)
• 1 1/3 c. enchilada sauce
• 1/2 c. water
• 1/3 c. minced onion (I use dried)
• 1 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 3 c. shredded cheese (cheddar, Mexican blend, whatever)
• 20 flour tortillas (burrito-size)

Brown ground beef; drain. Add remaining ingredients (except tortillas). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Heat 3-4 tortillas at a time in paper towel. Spoon 1/4 c. beef mixture down the side of each tortilla.

Roll up burrito style. Wrap each burrito in a paper towel, then wrap in foil.
Refrigerate or freeze. I like to pack them in the bag the tortilla’s come in, like Amy does.

If they are not frozen, just remove the foil and microwave for one minute. If frozen, remove the foil and heat until hot in the middle. I like to start with one minute on 50% power and then two minutes on 100%. The paper towel might stick to the burrito, but I’ve found that if you take it off before it’s completely hot it won’t. I also like to slice it open to check if the middle is hot and then pour ranch or salsa on top and eat it with a fork.

I’ve also skipped the paper towel before and heated them in the toaster oven or oven wrapped in foil. Most of the time I will grab one from my freezer on the way to work, and it’s almost thawed by lunch time. The best part about heating them in the toaster oven is that the tortilla gets a little crispy.

• I prefer beef over chicken, and ground chicken over shredded chicken in this recipe.

• I've used green enchilada sauce and I loved it!
• I like a little more Tex-Mex flavor, so I usually add cilantro and tomatoes of some kind.
  
• Black re-fried beans are great in this recipe
• Sometimes I use small tortillas and make mini-burritos
• I like to add the cheese right before I roll the burritos up, you taste it more that way

Some other things I've added at different times:
-brown or white rice (loved this!)
-black olives
-fresh chopped onion
-chopped green onion
-canned chopped or minced tomatoes
-Rotel
-chopped green chilies
-taco sauce
-canned black beans
-green pepper

Pictures from The Finer Things in Life

Anthropologie Cardigan Love

I have loved cardigans for as long as I can remember (maybe because I'm always cold). I probably have 5 or 6 black cardigans- all different cuts and styles. I also have brown, navy, two grays, as well as pink, green, white and cream. It's all about having the right sweater for every outfit. I may not have hundreds of shoes, but I do love my cardi's! Every girls got to have a clothing vice, right?

There are some cute cardigans at Anthropologie right now.

Scribbled Bouquet Cardigan, $98.00

Outdoor Cafe Cardigan, $98.00

Rise-And-Fall Cardigan, $128.00

Mermaid Lore Cardigan, $98.00

Too bad Anthropologie doesn't have the same prices as Target... Oh well, it's fun to dream, and get ideas! While we're talking about Anthro, look at these cute tops I found.

Minas Tank, $88.00

On the Dot Blouse, $78.00

Billowed Bow Tank, $58.00

Interrupted Ruffles Tank, $58.00

I don't bake that much, but...

I'm dreaming of owning one of these:

Norpro 6-Count Nonstick Donut Pan

I've heard it actually makes good cake donuts (those are my favorite anyways!). I can smell the cinnamon sugar donuts... yum! In the fall I always crave apple cider and the cake donuts they always have at northern apple orchards. Maybe this year I'll make my own!

Beautiful Etsy: Alice b gardens

I've been on the hunt for a vintage metal fan for a long time, but maybe I should just buy Alice b gardens' art print? How cute is this?



Alice b gardens' vintage inspired photography is quirky and fun. I would love to have one of her prints hanging in my apartment.
(click on the photos to see them on Etsy)

Wordless Wednesday #7

Better After

Check this blog out! If you like before and afters, you will like this. Lindsey collects pictures of before and after projects and posts them on one amazing blog.

Like this one:

this one:



and this one:

I think it's so fun to see the transformations. It's like seeing the before and after images on makeover shows. :)