Archive for December 2012

2013 Joy Jar DIY

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Hey there!

Hope you lovely ladies have had a wonderful weekend so far! I've spent mine sick -boo. But I still had some fun yesterday cheering my Louisville Cardinals on in the annual rivalry game against UofK. They pulled out the win! We also got snow - about 4 inches or so. Kobe is in heaven. Me, eh, I'm neutral. But man is it pretty!



Anways, onto the fun!

I'm not a huge 'resolution' person. I feel like goals are more realistic & attainable. Both short term & long term. I will be outlining my 2013 goals [read: how i will OWN 2013] in my post on January 2 when I link up with Miss Janna for the 'I Define My Own Perception' linkup. Seriously excited. Post is already finished for this bad boy.

One of the main things I want to impliment this year [besides business & health goals] is having more FUN! That's right, making more memories, finding the fun in the everyday, etc.

For this reason, I've created... dun - du - duhhh... The Joy Jar! Basically it's a jar to store all of your fun memories all year long. Then, at the end of the year, you read through them & remember!

 
You may have seen similar creations on Pinterest - I don't claim to be the inventor - but here is my take on it!

What you need:
- A large mason jar w/ lid.
- Letter cut-outs. [I got mine in a package from Michael's crafts]
- Hot glue gun & glue sticks
- Modge podge/ glue
- Glitter
- Paper cut into strips

Step 1: Decorate
Basically I took my mason jar & hot glued the word 'JOY' onto the front. You could use any word you like, but I thought 'Joy Jar' had a nice ring to it. I decorated my lid with glitter. Just brushed on Modge-podge & sprinkled on glitter. A clear spray coat would be nice to top it off with, but mine is MIA, so I used hairspray...

 
 
Step 2: Add paper
Fill with your blank paper strips...
 
Step 3: Add memories!
Throughout 2013, write down the little joys you encounter, fold up & add to jar.
 
Step 4: Read & remember!
On NYE 2013, open up your lil' ole' Joy Jar & reminisce. Remember all of the fun little things you did in 2013!
 




Mine has a permanent position on the kitchen counter, front & center, so I can remember to add my memories.

Will you make a 2013 'Joy Jar'? What would you call yours??

xo
Sam

share this on::

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Digg

5 Comments »

DIY Dog Treats! [with secret ingredient]

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Hey loves!

Happy day-after-Christmas! It's already Wednesday! I'm supposed to be working today, but here in good ole KY we have some ice/snow/sleet & I'm thinking about rescheduling my week so I can just hang out at home today. I am the worlds worst driver in bad conditions & for the sake of all other drivers out there [& my little car], I'll stay off the roads!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas & spent time eating yummy food, hanging out with friends & family, giving thoughtful gifts [& maybe recieving some, too!] Of course I couldn't forget about my furry friends, so I whipped up these easy dog treats & they absolutely fell in love!

Peanut Butter Doggie Treats

Adapted from the Brown Eyed Baker

Ingredients

-2 cups whole wheat flour
-1 tablespoon baking powder
-1 cup natural peanut butter
-1 cup low-fat milk (i used 2%)

-dog bone cookie cutter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Roll out dough on a lightly floured flat surface with a roller to about 1/4" thickness. Cut out dog bone shapes. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet & bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool & store in an airtight container. Watch your dog devour them!


 
 
Let me just say that Kobe was IN LOVE!
For a dog that comes running when the peanut butter jar is opened, these were absolutely perfect!
Yep, he looks content to me!
 
Enjoy!
xo
Sam
 
 
 

share this on::

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Digg

5 Comments »

Have yourself...

Monday, December 24, 2012

...a Merry Little Christmas!


I have to work this morning, but then I'm coming home to relax for a while. I can gladly say that I have all of my shopping & wrapping complete!

Tonight we are headed to Jason's family Christmas. There are always a ton of people & it's fun every year. There are no gifts; just games, food & wine, which is fine by me! We are bringing Guesstures & Pictionary, along with buffalo chicken dip (traditional Christmas fare, ha!), and wine.

Tomorrow I'll visit my parents & brother early to exchange gifts, then come back & spend the day with Jason. We are having cinnamon rolls that morning, then homemade pizza once we come back home from his parents.

Don't worry, I didn't forget about Kobe & Dax :)

Homemade peanut butter dog treats! They are in love! Can't wait to share the recipe with you guys.
This was Kobe after.... he looks like he's in a food coma!
You can see how his staying-off-the-couch training is coming...

And just because... here is a little book Christmas tree I spotted while out last week:

This is in a little coffee shop/book store called Karen's Book Barn. Love this place! I learned a new drink order here from someone that used to work at Starbucks. It's called a Cafe Meil. Steamed milk, expresso, honey & cinnamon. Sooo good! Make it your next order at your favorite coffee shop, I promise you will love it!

Merry Christmas everyone!
What are your plans??

xo
Sam

share this on::

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Digg

Add a comment »

Charlotte Recap & Mayor Charles

Monday, December 17, 2012

Hi guys,
Back today with my Charlotte recap! I loved the city, I thought sizewise it was comparable to Louisville. While Jason was slaving away at meetings in the afternoon, I was out galavanting around town. I found some cool areas to explore, NODA historical art district, the South End, and Dilworth made my it list. Sometimes exploring a new city or just new surroundings in general really boosts your creativity & gets you inspired! Or at least that's the way it is for me :) Check out my trip - in pictures!

 
View of the Smokies on our drive to Charlotte from Louisville.
 
Shopping trip to the Concord Mills Mall. A mall so big they call the different sections 'Neighborhoods'! I was deciding on this tweed jacket. I decided it was a keeper :)
 
Let the exploring begin... street shopping & spotted this little guy. Err girl.
 
Cool street number that I wish was on my house :)
 
Looks like art to me.
 
Found a store full of things made by local artisans...
 
Bench No. 7 was calling my name.
 
 
I obviously couldn't NOT stop in this coffee shop...
And enjoy my coffee on this rustic barnwood table.
 
Met a new friend on my way out of the coffee shop. I went across the street, the remainder of my coffee in my hand & passed this guy. I smiled as I passed by, and he called out to me. I turned & walked back towards him (don't worry, I had my pepper spray! haha) & he asked if I could please go get him a coffee. I thought, what the hell, why not? So I said sure, what kind do you want? (fully intending to pay for it) And he said, you don't have to pay for it, I have money. So I went up to him & he handed me a huge wad of cash. He told me to get him a large hazelnut coffee with lots of sugar & cream & to tip the barista a dollar. He said to tell them it was for Mayor Charles.
Though I doubt this guy was indeed 'Mayor', he was a nice guy nontheless. The baristas knew him & smiled when I went to get his coffee. Apparently he's an across-the-street regular! haha.
So, awkwardly naturally, I had him pose for a pic for the blog.
 
 
 
 
 
The Common Market & the wide array of wine choices.
 
I opted for this gem at $7.99. Good, but I had a headache the next day :(
 
Best window art ever!
 
Charlotte, you're infinitely cool in my book.
 
 
The drive home.
 
Have any of you guys been to Charlotte? What do you do when you're out of town? Explore or hole-up in your hotel room? I'm an exploring kind of girl :)
 
Also, as we all send good vibes, pray & think about all of the victims & families in the Sandy Hook tragedy, please remember that tomorrow is:
 

 
And read Taylor's post- she says it best.
 
xo
Sam

share this on::

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Digg

2 Comments »

Hidey-Ho, Neighbor!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Hiiyaa Friends!
I've been MIA with my trip to Charlotte this past week, plus a super busy weekend getting things caught up. However, I still had to fit in my workouts, which is what I'm here to tell you about today.

You may notice the title 'Hidey-Ho', but today we're talking about Cassie Ho!
Cassie Ho aka the Blogilates Queen! Haven't heard of her? You are missing out! Hop on her website or just do what I do & YouTube her. (Idk if it's right to say 'YouTube her' like you would say 'Google her', but I'm going with it :) She is full of workout good-ness!

I'm LOVING her ab workouts. Just knocked this one out tonight & my abs are a'hurtin! Check it out.




The best part - free (obviously). The next best part - Cassie is an amazing motivator & FULL of personality. Plus all of her workouts are in real time & done to different popular songs. If you like this one you will LOVE the Plankathon workout.

Ok. Ready. Set. Go workout!
I'll be back tomorrow with a Charlotte recap :)

xo
Sam

share this on::

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Digg

2 Comments »

Free for All Fridayyy

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Hiya lovely ladies!
Shewww it's been a while.
Quite the blogging hiatus.

So we have a morning radio show here where the host has 'Free for All Fridays' meaning people can call in and talk about any subject their little hearts desire. So today I'm having my own Free for All Friday to catch you guys up!

 [posted on Thursday, because I'm busy tomorrow & I can never get the dang scheduled posts to work as, well, scheduled!]

I have been super busy with both cleaning & real estate clients,
not to mention holiday festivities, the dreaded Christmas shopping, holiday mailers, etsy shop glass orders... bla bla bla bla bla.

My finished real estate holidayyy favors. You likey?

Festive margarita glasses I painted for my aunt.


Happy to say that I've pretty much wrapped up my Christmas shopping, & within budget to boot! (to boot... who am I?)

Jason has been sick over in these parts so I have literally been able to stretch one nights dinner of crockpot chicken soft tacos into 3 nights worth of meals. Anddd I'm not even tired of them yet so that's an indicater that you should try 'em out!


Last weekend, we had friends over, had a few drinks & went all retro & played... Pictionary! Our 1985 edition is pretty dang fun. Especially when we mess up the words. I got a card that said 'Matinee' and I guess I just read it wayy to fast as 'Manitee'. So here I am drawing a manitee & that's not even the dang word. Oh well, Jason didn't guess it anyway. Our 'drawing styles' are totally out of sync! Kobe was enjoying the company though.
 
Little Kyle looking as cute as ever :)
 
 
Other than that, I have a listing appointment, Christmas party for Jason's work, & girls wine night this weekend. Should be fun! Then next week after work Monday morning we are headed to Charlotte. Anywhere in Charlotte I need to check out?? Comment & I'll put it on my list & blog about it upon my return :)
 
And I leave you today with some outrageous houses I found today...
 
Rainbow house.
 
 Hello Kitty house.
 
 and THIS is a dog house! With a dog pool!
 
Crazy music house.
 
What would your crazy dream house consist of?
Don't forget to fill me in on where to go/what to see in Charlotte!
 
xo
Sam
 
 

share this on::

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Digg

6 Comments »