Easy DIY Pumpkin Vase

FALL IS HERE! Well... officially tomorrow, but in preparation, I headed to the Farmers' Market yesterday to start decorating.

Here's an easy way to use a pumpkin for indoor or outdoor decorating this autumn! AND it fits in the $5 DIY category!!!

You Need:

• a pumpkin
• a plastic cup
• a marker
• cutting/scooper implements for the pumpkin
• flowers!

Cut your plastic cup to the depth of the pumpkin, and then trace the rim of the cup on your pumpkin.

Cut and scoop! Save those seeds to bake and eat. (yummmmm)

Place your cup into the pumpkin, fill with water, and trim flowers down to the correct height...

TA-DA! Ten minute autumnal centerpiece!

Elbow Patches!

Finally patched up the worn out elbows of my two favorite cardigans! 

Some iron-on patches and embroidery floss later, they're good to go!

An easy way to save a cardigan. =]

My White Picket Fence

The American Dream- a house, a car, two kids, and a white picket fence holding it all together like a shiny bow.

 

None of these things in themselves are bad things. In fact, dreams, aspirations, goals, are definitely not bad things.

 

But… my white picket fence became a bad thing. It may not have looked like the traditional version, but it became as much of an idol as any other could.

 

It has taken quite a bit of personal reflection to realize that I was/am idolizing excitement.

 

It was masked as adventure, travel, wanderlust. I dreamed of a life spent traveling, taking pictures of the mountains and trying all the independent coffee shops and collecting antiques as souvenirs. My excitement for being “out there” left me discontent with being “right here,” wherever that here may be.

 

While I’ve always craved change, I think recently my fiery discontentment was fueled by comparison on social media. Specifically Instagram. I can see the best of people’s lives in the beautifully tranquil Pacific Northwest or the unfathomably green countryside of England. All the best everywhere (but here) has to offer. Right in front of me, all the time.

 

And I want that. I think that’s better. I think I can choose my life better than God can.

 

I dream up the Erin Dream. And none of the components of my dreams are bad things, until they take my eyes off of my path right now.

 

So, I have a new use for my daydreaming time:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 And what is more exciting to be living within the will of the Awesome and Sovereign God?

 

Hint... nothing. =]

Free Font Roundup: Nautical Fonts

Spring is coming which means NAUTICAL THINGS! 

And two is better than one, so let's put two awesome things together: nautical and fonts! 

Oh, and they're free!

Here's the links:

Sail Away
Show Boat
Stars from Our Eyes
Sailor Larry
Sail

Happy fonting! =]

Make Your Own Nutella!

Happy Wednesday, friends! I want to share something with you that I just made. And it’s delicious.


So most of you are probably familiar with Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread), but did you know how easy it is to make your own?


Tonight I made a version using chocolate and almonds (yummm) but this recipe works with hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, or peanuts. You can even play around with other nuts or combinations if you want!


Here’s what you need:
16 ounces (2 cups) roasted nuts (I used lightly salted because I like that salty sweet combination.)
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Grind the nuts in a food processor until smooth, about 5 minutes. Use a spatula to scoop down the sides as needed.

Add in cocoa powder and sugar. Blend until smooth.

Transfer to a jar and store in a cool place for up to a month… (it doesn’t last a month before getting eaten in my house.)


You could also tie up your jar with a pretty ribbon and give someone the gift of delicious homemade chocolate nut butter! Voila!

Possible additions or variations include cinnamon, honey, mixed nuts, and more.

Let me know of any combos you try!

Crocheted Flowers: How to

If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen some pictures I posted of the flowers I just learned how to crochet:

 

 

If you are friends with my lovely friend Courtney, you may have seen some pictures she posted of the flowered headband and scarf set I made her:

(Isn't she beautiful, everybody?)

I recently learned how to make these flowers using some great video tutorials by Mom of 5 Daughters.

The tutorial is split into three parts, and you will need to know some basic crocheting, including chain, single crochet, and double crochet.

If you don't know those, there are great tutorials on youtube for basic crocheting too. In fact, I taught myself to crochet a few years ago using youtube videos.

So without further ado, how to crochet flowers:

part one

 

part two

 

part three

 

 

Let me know if you give these a try, I'd love to see some pictures of your creations!

Free Hand-Outs

This morning I was feeling really resentful of people who I think "have everything handed to them."

 

If you’re like me, someone immediately popped into your head at that phrase. I think of some that I know who have that great job that they got through that family member, or that somehow managed to find an incredible deal on their car/house/etc.

I then began thinking about everything in my life that isn’t “going my way” at the moment, and comparing myself to those people.

Just as quickly as the train of thought started, I was hit with a conviction;

Everything I have has been handed to me.

It is only by the grace of God that I am sitting in this chair, breathing air, and writing a blog.

It is by the grace of God that I have a warm place to sleep at night, a job to go to in the day, and family to come home to.

I have done nothing to deserve these things.

When I compare these blessings to the ones that others have received, it does not diminish the blessings, but it takes my eyes off of my God who gave them to me.

Every day I am given free hand-outs from God.
Now the question is how I can use them every day for His glory.

 

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

James 1:17