Upcycled Jar Project #1

This project was full of trial and error, as some most Pinterest ideas are. When I originally started this project, I was going to paint a label on each jar and decorate it to my liking. The paint I was using wasn’t quite coming out the way I wanted so I scratched that idea (figuratively and literally) and started fresh. I found gray chevron wrapping paper I saved from a gift someone gave Lily and cut a piece the size of the label.  I used Modge Podge in a glossy finish and adhered the paper to the jar. That didn’t quite satisfy my eye either. I decided to try gluing the paper inside the jar for a cleaner finish.

Supplies:

-Glass jars (mason, pickle, salsa, etc)
-Candlestick holders (mine are from the Dollar Tree)

-Wrapping paper (or any type of scrap paper you have)

-Modge Podge (I used Glossy Finish)

-Hot Glue Gun

-Paint brush

First, I washed the jars in the dishwasher to rid them of their pickle and salsa smells. I then soaked each jar in a bucket of water to make the label peel off easier. I know there must be a trick, but I simply used my exacto knife to scrape away all of the remaining label. It was almost therapeutic.

I then cut my paper to the size and fit I wanted. I spread some Modge Podge along the inside of the jar and positioned my paper over it. This step was by far the trickiest and most frustrating. If you use too much glue, it bubbles or pools at the edges. It’s also a tiny space to work with so my hands were cramping and covered in glue. I smoothed out the glue to the best of my ability then let it dry. The finish look still has some bubbles, but overall I am satisfied with this finish the most. 

The last step is to hot glue the jar to your candlestick holder and VOILA! A cute jar for whatever you heart desires. If we had more counter space in our bathroom, I’d probably throw in some q-tips or my eyeliner and mascara. For now, I think I am going to put some fake flowers in them and add them to one of Lily’s shelves in her room. I would love to redo her room with grays and pinks so these jars might end up in there as an inspiration for me.

Happy Crafting!

Mother's Day Projects

A few weeks ago, I downloaded the A.C. Moore app for my phone and was rewarded with a 55% off coupon. The possibilities were endless. I chose a pack of 7 canvasses to use for projects with the kids. I figured once the weather warmed up and we were able to play outside in our patio cage, I could throw some smocks on them, bring out paint and let them go wild! I decided to use a few for Mother’s Day presents from Tristan and Lily. I am quite pleased with the results, and they could not have been simpler to make!

The first one was a trial run with this technique. Using blue painter’s tape, I taped off some lyrics from the Old Crow Medicine Show song “Wagon Wheel”. I used masking tape first, but it kept falling off the canvas and I knew once Lily started painting on it, all my hard work would be lost. (You could also use precut letter stickers, but where’s the fun in that)? I broke out the water colors and let her use whatever color she wanted and she created quite the masterpiece! After it was all dry, I removed the tape and traced the outline of each letter with a black Sharpie to make it pop. I love how it turned out!

For our second canvas pieces, we used water colors again, but this time I only let them use blue to make a sky background. Once those were nice and dry, I painted an arc in yellow in the bottom left hand corner for the sun. Then I painted their chubby little feet yellow and we stamped them on the canvas to make the rays. Using a Sharpie once again, I wrote out “You are my sunshine” and dated the project. I can’t wait to hang these new art pieces up and brighten up our room! 

It's not a diet, it's a seven day challenge..

I saw a seven day diet challenge on the internet and I thought, why not? This could either kick start some healthier living, or after seven days, I’ll binge eat like a mofo. I asked Jordan to join me on this weeklong journey just to see if he could do it as well. I decided that if I posted this challenge to the internet, I’d have to be accountable for what I ate.

THE RULES

NO soda

NO bread

NO red meat

NO alcohol

NO pasta

NO sweets

Citrus fruit daily

6 bottles of water/day

Green veggies

Fish/Chicken daily

30 minute workout

Day One

Breakfast: 1 scrambled egg with hot sauce (hey, I didn’t put in cheese so that’s a plus)!

Snack: 5 baby carrots (raw) with Tribe original hummus

Lunch: Lunch meat turkey and cheese and 1 ½ clemintines

Dinner: Chicken and quionoa stir fry with lentils, snap peas, and teriyaki sauce

I started using the MyFitnessPal app on and off from before Lily was born and then again after, when I was trying to lose weight. From my highest high (not including pregnancy), I have lost about 30 pounds. I fluctuate in a 5-7lb spread weekly, but have managed to keep myself in check by recording what I eat each day. Don’t get me wrong, there are days I am double the calories I am supposed to be eating, and I don’t ever record alcohol or even non-water drinks. But it has worked to keep me on track for the most part. Now that summer is approaching, and it might be the last one I’ll ever want to wear a two piece for (I say that every year), I would like to get my weight down to under the 5-7 swing mark and aim to lose and keep off about 10-15 more pounds before our vacation in July. I try to take the kids for a walk each day, weather depending, and pushing the two of them uphill in the double stroller can make for quite the workout. The hardest part for me will be giving up sweets. And of course, bread. I don’t eat ¼ of as much bread now living here, but growing up we had fresh bread at every meal. Which I put butter on and dipper in ketchup. Crap. I gotta talk myself down from making THAT as my snack today. 

Well, wish us luck! If nothing else, it'll be a cleanse of sorts!