Who Needs Bread

So I have seen this on Pinterest many times while spending hours on the site...Seriously I don't know what I did before I found this website :)

 Instead of using bread for a sandwich use a cucumber!!!

The recipe that I saw used laughing cow cheese spread on the cucumber, turkey and some mustard so that is what I did!  I ended up only using half of the cucumber because I wasn't sure about eating a whole cucumber haha... So after taking a bite my conclusion is that this is really good!!!  Who would have thought a little veggie could be center of attention like this.  It was easier to eat when I made it an open face sandwich.  All in all i was impressed with the cucumber :)  This is an easy way to spice up your lunchbox and saves on the carbs!!!

Alex & Ani Bangles

Have you heard of Alex and Ani bracelets??  They are the popular wire bracelets that a lot of people, especially in CT have been getting into lately.  

"Alex and Ani, LLC offers eco-friendly, positive energy products that adorn the body, enlighten the mind, and empower the spirit, designed by Carolyn Rafaelian and made in America. Rafaelian believes that every individual has a positive message to share with the world and by incorporating powerful symbolism and design into each (+) energy piece, Alex and Ani provides a vehicle for the wearer to express their individuality in an organic, spiritual way. She believes it is her life’s work to support communities and organizations while inspiring her customers to relish what is unique and authentic about themselves, revealing the beauty that resides within." (Alex and Ani.com)

Alex and Ani bracelets are expandable in order to offer everyone a customized fit,  Alex and Ani has all kinds of jewelry from necklaces and rings but the most popular has to be the wire bangle bracelets.  The bracelets come in different finishing, silver, gold, beaded, charms, etc etc.  They are a fun accessory to wear everyday!!  The bracelets come in sets or single and a wide variety of choices.  They have charms ranging from birthstones, nature, school teams, pro teams, family, etc etc.  The prices are pretty reasonable 

I got my first Alex and Ani bracelet for Christmas and it was a charm one with the shamrock charm.  I love it and I ended up getting the three piece silver bangle set to go along with it.  It is such an easy way to spice up my wrist :)  

Adding Pop of Color to My Bathroom

DIY Project # 1 of 2013

So on my last trip to Michael's I was really in the mood to paint something…I don't know what it was but the paint and brushes were calling my name.  I picked out the paint and got some canvas.  The canvas at Michael's were buy one get one free (thumbs up for a deal) Now I had to figure out what I was going to paint.  I wanted to try and paint something I could hang in my bathroom as I have had one wall empty since I moved in and wanted to liven the place up, I mean I spend a lot of time in there getting ready everyday it should look good :) haha anyways…my bathroom color scheme is very neutral, tan and white shower curtain and towels and little pop of color in little jars and accent pieces so I wanted to add more color and this is what I ended up with…

I have seen this painting on Pinterest and they really are super easy to create.  All you need is a canvas, masking tape, paint, and brushes.  I started by taping strips of masking tape all over the canvas.  I did not do it in any kind of pattern just wherever I wanted to put it.  Then I painted the main color of the canvas covering the tape and applying 2 coats.  Then I removed the tape and had perfect white lines waiting for me underneath :)  I then used the other color and painted in the strips.  You could do more than two colors if you wanted and make it super fancy but I stuck with the blue and green.  I think it adds the right amount of color to my space and my shower curtain has geometric patterns just like the paintings so it goes hand in hand.  

Now on to the next project….

Daily Photos Recap

So at the start of the New Year I mentioned that I wanted to challenge myself to capture a photograph everyday and its January 20th and I have had trouble fulfilling this challenge...here is to working harder at this goal!!  Here are some photos from the past week....

Watching Cinderella...Princess love 

Had a lunch fit for a child :)  gotta love the fishes...so delicious 

Frosty's baby :)

Completed project

Love my new jar

Winter Wonderland

Bracelet love...Alex & Ani 

Target Find

While I was at Target today (can't believe how many times I go there)  I found this little gem just waiting for me on the shelf.  It was calling my name to take it home and it was the last one in this color so I could not resist.  Better yet it was only $2.00!!!

This cute little container.  I love that it has the chalkboard area to label what is inside.  They had a few different sizes and colors, I think red, white and this light blue one.  It was technically in the kitchen area with plates and cups etc but I think I am going to use this in my bathroom or maybe as a pen holder.  You could put anything in it...Q tips, makeup brushes, pens, etc etc.  For only 2.00 I could not pass this up.  Thanks Target for always making so many things I fall in love with.

Winter Wednesday

Here is what I woke up to today....

It snowed a few inches overnight...as much as I do not really care for snow it does look nice out my window while I finish working on my DIY project :) 

Is That a Spice Rack....Nope Nail polish Rack!!

I have been going through a lot of my stuff and organizing and getting rid of things just lying around.  I went through all my lotion (wayy too much from having worked at BBW) and picked out all the lotions I wasn't using and brought them to work.  While organizing I wanted something to hold my nail polish in.  They had just been in a little box and pretty much just scattered about.  Thanks to an idea from pinterest I know have a new place for my nail polish… 

Yes that is a spice rack but it does the job hanging in my bathroom.  It is the perfect thing to hold all my nail polish in one spot.  I do not have go to searching for a certain color, they are all displayed nicely.  When my roommate wants to borrow a color I can send her right into my bathroom to help herself.  I also put smaller perfume bottles and some lotion on this rack and its the perfect spot for them.  I love that this rack holds soo much stuff but yet it doesn't take up any counter space at all.  So thank you Pinterest for your great idea :) 

I recently got a new nail polish on a Target trip and its become one of my favs.  It is a darker pink color and I really enjoyed this brand.  I have never used it before but this nail polish went on well and has a nice smooth finish.  

The nail polish is Cover Girl outlast stay brilliant 

Too Much of Good Thing

Free Time, nothing to do able to sit around without a care in a world….Sounds pretty good doesn't it? But is it normal that too much of this is a bad thing?

I have been on winter break from grad classes since the second week of December and I am ready to get back to classes.  I know when I am busy going from work to class to a meeting to this to that I feel like I am super busy but I think I would much rather choose that then having tons of free time.  Yeah there are some days where I enjoy just lounging around getting my apartment in order, reading a book or watching a movie but at the end of the day I like having a busy schedule.  

Am I crazy for saying I don't like too much free time?? haha i think also having a schedule allows me to not spend as much money….no time for as many target trips, mall trips, lunch dates with friends, etc etc.  So saving money is always a  good thing right?  

Ask me again come February and I may be begging for the free time haha

This semester will be kind of a big one as its the last semester of classes before my one year internship!!!  The end is in sight and I am excited for the day when I will be working in a school as an actual school counselor!  This semester I will also be taking my certification exams, an exit exam for my program and the national exam, so a lot of my time will go to preparing for that.  Fingers crossed that all goes well I a pass them the first time and will be one step closer to become a counselor.  

Cheers to one more week of a more relaxed schedule and then the start of the semester :) 

Getting Crafty

So I love craft time and wish I could do it a lot more than I do but have no fear....I just took a trip to Michael's!!!  Every time I go to Michael's I find sooo many things I want and it gets my creative juices going.  Be on the lookout for posts coming soon about my completed projects.  Here are my top 5 recent Pinterest finds for DIY projects.

These are patterned napkins and cheap frames....wow this is so easy and cheap but I think it would look good on any wall :) 

 white mugs decorated with a gold sharpie...so easy but looks so classy.  It reminds me of the Kate Spade pattern

I need this for my dishwasher...scrabble pieces are not just for the game :) 

 Wooden crates painted and put together...Cute shelf that I would love to add to a room one day

flowers made from coffee filters!!! What?!? 

Daily Photos...Catch Up

So I haven't been good at posting the photo I take each day and I think I missed a day or two but here are some that I have taken over the past few days.  I am committed to continue taking a photo a day :) 

The sunsets have been gorgeous the past couple of days. 

Just a girl and her lollipop :) 

Never too young to rock a birthday party hat!!!

Best Photo of 2012

While reading a friends blog I saw that she entered a photography contest for the Best of 2012.  The contest asked contestants to go through all of their photos and choose one for the whole year.  After reading this, it made me want to look back at all of my photos and choose a best for me. 

Going through the pictures was fun as I had forgotten some shots I had taken and it was a fun way to look back at all the different photographs I took throughout the year.  It was a very hard decision to choose one photo as the best so I chose a small sampling.  The gift of photography is that within less than a minute I can be brought back to a moment in time and relive the day through the photo.  The possibilities in photography are endless and it allows creativity to thrive.  The shots I chose are all different in their own regard but capture a moment beautifully. 

Looking through my photos I also realized that I enjoy capturing candid moments.  Posed portraits are always a go to and what most people want but there is something special about a candid shot.   I mean look at this picture below…

Tell me this picture does not make you smile J  She was not posing for me but instead making faces at her dad standing behind me.  The candids allow for the true personality of a person to come out.  They aren’t posing with a smile on in a position I put them in but rather in their own element and enjoying life.  This turned out to be one of the favorite shots from this day. 

So here are the Best Shots from 2012

This is my favorite picture that I have taken with wedding rings.  At a wedding this past September the flowers used were sunflowers and I knew we needed to incorporate them into a shot somehow.  While the guests were eating we borrowed the rings and went off to shoot with them and along came this shot.  I love it, the pop of the yellow, the beauty of the rings, even the bend in the stem.  It is a simple yet beautiful shot.  

This shot was another candid captured of sweet little Emma.  Like most toddlers Emma does not like to sit still or be posed so when her mom asked me to come over and take some shots we didn't even tell Emma I was taking pictures or anything, just let her go out and play and I started snapping.  Here she was just strolling around their cul de sac and I captured this.  I love how she has her hands folded and just walking along looking at the clouds :)  She is not dressed up in a big poofy dress or anything just hanging out at home, but it makes for a great picture.  Captures the innocence of being a child.  Don't we all wish we could just stroll along looking at the clouds.  

Here is the last shot.  This family shot shows that it doesn't matter how old your children are, a family shot is always a special picture to have.  I love the backdrop for this photo, capturing the beauty of a perfect fall day.  You do not need to go to a fancy studio to get a picture done.  The beauty of the outdoors adds to a pictures and really makes all the colors pop.  This picture is something the family can cherish forever and pass it down through generations.  Been years since your last family photo???  Make a point to have one taken in the new year 

Fire Burnin

January 2, here is today's photo of the day

Smells like a forest in my apartment today :)  I got this candle for Christmas and I enjoy it.  I have a slight obsession with these candles from Bath and Body Works.  There are sooo many different scents that there is something for everyone.  I have tried many different scents and have been impressed with them all.  The scent from these candles is pretty strong and will fill up most of my apartment.  Kudos to Bath and Body Works for making great candles!!!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!!!  Its 2013....2012 went by in a flash but I am excited to see what 2013 has in store.  This year I will be even closer to completing my graduate degree, classes will be done and I will start my internship in the fall.  I look forward to spending the year with family and friends and enjoying life. As for New Years resolutions, I do not usually make one, so much pressure to uphold it and stick to it but this year I am going to give it a whirl.  I am aiming to be more organized in my life.  I am organized in general but there is always room for improvement.  I want to actually complete all the tasks on to do lists I make and continuously keep my room neat and organized.  

For the New Year I also want to challenge myself to take a photograph everyday of the year.  As a photographer I enjoy taking pictures, but do not always stop and take time to capture a moment, whatever it may be.  So I am going to work hard to take a photo of something everyday for a whole year.  It will allow me the chance to easily look back on the year and as of right now seems like a fun task :)  So here is the first picture....

A flower, to brighten up your day :)  The cheerful yellow color helps set the mood for my hopes of a fun, easygoing, friendly year to come!!!  

Happy New Year!!!  

(And here's to hoping I do not write 2012 for the date for too many days hahaha)