Vintage Jewelry

I love vintage jewelry.  I think it's absolutely beautiful, and I love the fact that each piece has a story behind it.  I got to wear my grandma's wedding jewelry (above and below) at my rehearsal dinner last year.

I recently acquired some more vintage jewelry from her and from my mom as well!

Earrings from my grandma- I love the malachite, and all the sparkles :)

Brooches and a classic watch

Three bracelets from my mom for Christmas.  The top charm bracelet has a profile, Capitol record, mustard seed, and a cute little I Love You charm that spins.  The other two bracelets are ID bracelets and I love them!  The bottom ID bracelet was a gift from her high school sorority big sister, and has "Little Sis" engraved on the back :)

Do you have any vintage finds that you work into your wardrobe?

DIY Puppy Bows

 

Our dog, Inga, is not a very girly dog.

 

Nor is she very lady like...

In fact, she usually is mistaken on walks for a boy dog, even though she has a pink collar and leash.  So, I thought it would be cute and maybe solve the gender ambiguity if I made some bows for Inga's collar.  I wanted to be able to change them out occasionally, and for them to be a little durable.  If you don't have a dog, these bows would be so cute on barrettes for little girls instead!

You will need:

• Ribbon (I found mine in Target's dollar bins!)
• Dog collar for measuring (or barrettes, etc.)

First, simply loop the ribbon to make your bow shape, pinning it in place.

Trim the excess once it's pinned

 Then, stitch the bow shape to secure it.

Next, you'll want to take the excess scrap of ribbon and measure it around the largest part of the dog collar (for Inga, this was the clasp).  Pin the loop to secure it and stitch the loop closed.

Finally, stitch the loop to the bow!  And, you can make the bows in whatever shape your heart desires!

Just slide the bow onto the collar and voila!  Inga is now a girly girl. 

Okay, not really, but she sure looks cute! :)

Grilled Chicken and Havarti Sandwich with Basil and Sun Dried Tomatoes

This is a yummy yummy sandwich.  And, like all my favorite recipes, it is super simple.

You will need:

• Deli sliced chicken breast
• Deli sliced havarti cheese
• Oil packed sun dried tomatoes, rinsed and patted dry
• Fresh basil leaves

Simply stack up your ingredients between two slices of lightly buttered (or margarined) bread and grill over medium heat until both sides are golden brown.

Yum!!

January Book Club

Another book for book club!  This month, we're reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.  It's a long one, so we thought it would be the perfect pick since we didn't meet in December- a little extra time to read!

I'm rereading this book, and really enjoyed it the first time through.  I'm also VERY excited to see the movie with Keira Knightley.  It looks beautifully done.

What are you reading this month?

DIY Memory Tin

With the start of 2013, I wanted to start a new project to help give me perspective over the new year.  I decided to combine two of my favorite Pinterest ideas into one: a tutorial on upcycling old tins, and a jar to put notes of all the good things that happen.

To make it, you will need:

• An old tin
• Fine sand paper
• Spray paint
• Paper
• Pen

Simply give your old tin a light sanding and spray with paint, keeping the lid on.

I added a little "good times" label with rough edges, glued down with plain old white glue to cover up the Lindt label.

Then, put paper and a pen inside for easy access to jot down all the good things that happen during the year.

I'm planning on reading all these scraps of paper on new year's eve to remember all the good things that happened. :)

2013 New Year's Resolutions

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!  I had a bit of an unannounced break, traveling down to Missouri with family.  But I'm back just in time for the new year, and want to share my resolutions with you!

1)  Become lead climbing certified. I am truly addicted to and in love with climbing. It's a great combination of strength and endurance, and it's both physically and mentally challenging.  I love the progress I've made so far, and I want to keep growing as a climber. Lead climbing requires you to clip yourself into the wall as you climb. The falls are bigger and scarier, but I bet the rewards are all the better!

2)  Re-learn French. This made the list last year, but never materialized (oops!). This year, I have yet another reason to drive my study: France has some great climbing locations!

3)  Keep up my workout motivation reward jar. It's been fun so far!  I'm not at 100 workouts yet, but browsing workout clothes has been great motivation! 

4)  Keep up this blog and keep in touch with all of you, my lovely readers.  (are there any posts you're dying to see?)

I'll also be staying organized with these monthly moleskin planners :)

What are your resolutions?

Merry Christmas to All!

Our Christmas tree this year

Merry Christmas Eve!  I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season.  I absolutely LOVE this time of year.  Here's a peak at some of our Christmas decorations around the house:

Our floating shelves decked out for Christmas

This is one of my favorites: an ornament holder and Christopher Radko ornament

Ho ho ho!

My new ornaments from Crate and Barrel.
They are clear, colored glass shaped like old fashioned light bulbs!

Candles in the windows!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!