New Uses for Old Things

Today RP brings you "New Uses for Old Things!"

A crafty was of using the old things that you have just laying around and looking at pinterest to figure out what to do with it, and turning it into something useful! Or pretty!

Here are a few of my favorite "old" items and what they can be turned into.

source Pick up interesting cardboard coasters at restaurants and bars you visit along your travels. Punch a hole near the edge, thread some ribbon through, and voilà: homemade gift tag.  

 sourceIf you're like me then you keep your grocery bags in case of an emergency. I thought this kleenex box was brilliant! Perfect for small spaces and to keep things clutter free.  

source Brand anything as yours―books, binders, Tupperware, a stapler―with a return-address sticker.  Really I never thought about this but it is genius! 

source

Window Decals as Drink Markers

Decorate (and distinguish) wine or water glasses at your next get-together with removable window decals.
Eh. Did you read that people? WINDOW DECALS. I never would have thought of that. Perfect for themed parties! & budget friendly!   and last here's a fun fact about clear nail polish!

 sourceYou know the rust ring that ends up on your pretty tub when you leave your wet shaving cream bottle on the side?Well coat the bottom of a the can to fend off rings on the ledge of the tub. genius!  Do you have any old items that you've converted into something else?Any household item tricks?   

So What! Wednesday

For the first time I'm linking up with my lovie Shannon for So What! Wednesday!
This week I'm saying "So What" to:

• That everything I've eaten today has had some sort of peanut butter in it.
• That I am drawing blanks on my blog posts since I now have to censor myself until the divorce is over.
• That I have a half marathon in two months and I haven't ran since November. Shocker I know.
• That my nails look so jank right now but I would much rather go spend time with Mr. A.
• That I've started tanning again..in a tanning bed and I use JWOWW tanning lotion. So sue me. I know the risks. I'm channeling my inner guido.
• That I sometimes go three/four days without washing my hair. It's long and I am too lazy to fix it. 
• That every time I go into Target for something as simple as a card I always leave with tons of stuff for Miss K.

What are you saying "So What!" to this week?

Also, check out my Summer Must Haves!

 

Summer Must Haves

This mornings post was supposed to be a recipe by Paula Deen that I have mastered but I failed to take pictures last night. Food blogging is not my niche nor do I see it in the future.

The Ladys Mac and Cheese was delicious though and I now have a weeks worth of leftovers. ha!

  So since I sucked at bringing you a recipe I shall give you my summer must haves! Thanks Lis!

I work in an office year round and while I live in Florida where it gets to be 105 most summers, I don't get to experience the summer like most people do. Except for on the weekends. So I've compiled a list of must haves. You know...when I'm walking from the building to my car ;)

I take my Starbucks tumbler everywhere. Hot Cold Muggy. Everywhere.  Usually filled with Spark. ;)

 O.P.I Cajun ShrimpIt's on summer long! Probably my favorite part of any outfit.  

  I live in Maxi dresses on the weekends when it's super hot outside. 

Of course a bikini! A la J.Crew. One of my favorites.

A good pair of sunnies. I think the Aviator style looks good on almost anybody.

These Marcs are to die for! 

  I live in my Reef flops during the summer. In black though. They are all I've ever worn because they last for a long time & they're really really comfortable.

Sheer Blush Creme LipstickPaired with:

 Warm Coral Lip Glaze
I also only use Tinted Moisturizer through out the year but most importantly in summer. Since it's sweltering hot you sweat a lot. This tinted moisturizer doesn't clog your face up.

I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things but these are the main things that get me through the Florida summer and make me giddy about the fall getting here FAST.

What is your Summer Must Have? 

Pinterest Projects

Long time no see y'all! ahem notice the new design? squee!

There's been a lot going on around these parts and I'm glad to say that it's finally slowing down. I feel like we are finally getting somewhere within the divorce *knock on wood* and are getting things accomplished and moving on.

Besides that I've been working on (& completed!) some Pinterest projects!

Here's a glimpse at what's new in the RP abode.

I waited for weeks for the time to do this project and finally was able to last week. I had a huge open space between to large windows and had no idea what to do. Pinterest of course saved the day. err wall.

The foyer also got a Spring facelift! 

  I have the burlap "SPRING" banner from Target but I'm not sure where to put it so that Kinsley doesn't get a hold of it? 

Speaking of Kins, she has added more words to her vocabulary and is picking up on things.  I've never met a sassier baby.No idea where she gets that from.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm kind of limited on what I can post until everything has settled down. 
I hate that I have to censor myself right now but such is life.
Hope everyone had a good weekend!
 

Product Swap!

 Early in February, Jenn and I thought it would be fun to swap our products and review them!
I sent some Mary Kay Lash Love her way along with black eyeliner and Timewise Age-Fighting Eye Cream. Advocare from her hubby was sent my way, which included Spark (mango-strawberry flavor!) and Catalyst.
Here's a little information about the Advocare products that I tried out:
from the site:
Spark:AdvoCare Spark® Energy Drink mix is a unique multi-nutrient system that's designed to provide nutritionally advanced, long-lasting energy and enhanced mental focus.* Its 21 vitamins, minerals and nutrients work synergistically to give you healthy, balanced energy without making you jittery like other caffeinated beverages.*

Spark's unique combination of ingredients gives you fast-acting energy and B-vitamins enhance your body's natural energy-sustaining processes.*

For mental focus and clarity, the neuroactive amino acids in Spark help sharpen your mental focus and alertness by supporting your brain's ability to efficiently transmit messages within the nervous system.* With five refreshing flavors and only 45 calories per serving, Spark gives you a lift that lasts for hours.* When it says gives you energy it isn't kidding. You know I'm a huge, huge coffee, more in particular Starbucks, drinker.  I usually have to have coffee first thing in the morning and then some sort of caffeine in the afternoon after lunch time.With Spark I only had to drink it once. Spark that is. Jenn told me that my taste buds would change as well. I kind of giggled at this because I mean really? How IS that? But it's true! I didn't want anything that I usually wanted when I wasn't drinking Spark. Here's the shocker, STARBUCKS didn't taste GOOD TO ME. Starbucks people! I only wanted Spark. You know right there alone that you need to go to their site and buy it.right.this.second. I just ordered another canister yesterday so I'm waiting for it to come this week! (shipping is FAST!)
Here's a little about the Catalyst:
Catalyst™ Amino Acid Supplement is a blend of essential branched-chain amino acids and L-glutamine that supplies your body with muscle-building components and sustains your muscles during exercise and reduced calorie intake.* Whether you're trying to lose weight or gain muscle, Catalyst helps repair and protect muscles.* And it works great in conjunction with other AdvoCare® products like Spark™ Energy Drink and one of the Metabolic Nutrition Systems (MNS®). Other amino acids in Catalyst like L-arginine, taurine and betaine help fuel and maintain your muscles to support endurance and strength.* Combined with a healthy diet and exercise, Catalyst helps you retain muscle and reduce fat for a more toned and better defined look.* I'll be honest, when I first received the Catalyst I was a little worried. I take some medication and I was really scared about mixing it or how the Catalyst would make me feel.Allen, Jenn's husband, was quick to reassure me and answered every single sometimes ridiculous questions. In fact, I'm pretty sure he was questioning Jenn why she wanted to swap with me. lolHe was very informative and really helpful with the products though!After a few times of taking Catalyst before work outs or even day to day things that could be classed as working out, I noticed a difference in my muscle tone.  I wish I could show you my glutes y'all! or my thigh muscles and calves!I was so impressed with this stuff. I even lost inches in my legs which is extremely hard for me to do. When I run I don't get skinny, my leg muscles get big. With Catalyst though I still have toned leg muscles but also lost inches! I started off a size 10/12 and I'm now an 8/10 depending on brand.
I wouldn't back up this product if I didn't believe in it and wasn't completely happy with it.
Go check out their site and try it out!If you aren't wanting to try the Catalyst, at LEAST give Spark a try!It's completely worth it! 

 
Click here to read Jenn's review about the Mary Kay products!  

Vow to Tell Them-Hallmark Giveaway

Back a few weeks while at Blissdom, one of the sponsors was Hallmark.They had a fun little room in the conference center that you could pick out a card and mail it to anyone you wanted. On them!I received one from AP (squee! lol) and I sent one to Mr. A. you know because we're mushy still.  That card that AP sent me while I was there? Made my day and really it made my time at Blissdom so much better. I was having a really hard time that day just connecting with the Bloggers who I've blogged with for so long and who I was really excited to meet. I was kind of disappointed in some of them so I was a little down about it. When I opened her card I was completely shocked and it made me smile. Such a sweet gesture!
I tell you that to tell you this.
Someone, somewhere that you know needs to hear something. Everyone does. Including you.Maybe it's something romantic like, "I Love You" or maybe it's as simple as a "Thank You". 
But instead of keeping these feelings bottled up, let's share them! Let's tell the people we care about what it is that they need to hear, because just a few words can make a world of difference.
Hallmark is generously giving away a 10 pack of cards to one lucky reader!
All you have to do to enter is go to the "Hallmark Tell Them" page and take the vow.  Vow to tell someone in your life what you think he/she needs to hear.Once you've taken the vow, tell me your story in a comment.
Tell me you who chose, why you chose them, and what you want to tell that person!
Easy Peasy.
Winner will be announced Friday afternoon. Please share this post on your blog or twitter! 

disclaimer: In no way was I compensated to do this giveaway. I did receive one card from Hallmark as a 'thank you' for hosting. All opinions are my own and does not reflect the opinions of anyone I associate with or that of my employer.  

Eye Opener

Why hello ladies! & err gent?
I have had no energy to blog this past week simply because I was run down. 
I don't even think stressed is close to the way I felt.
We have a court date next week and I just know he has something up his sleeve. I have a feeling it isn't going to be pretty.
Along with that. Poor Miss K has been sick since Friday. I'm assuming she is reacting to the shots they gave  her on Thursday and I'm hoping and praying that it gets better soon. 
I also found out at her appointment on Thursday that Miss K has developed a Heart Murmur. They are going to check it again in May to see if it has taken care of itself or if we will need to move on to an Echo. My mom gut tells me everything will be fine but to my prayer warriors if you could just add her to your list that would be greatly appreciated.

This was the morning after her appointment.
Ehh? Is she about to graduate high school? Because she looks so old here!



Edit:It's now 5 days later of writing that and things have not changed much around here. Miss K now has the measles and Roseola. It looks like the rash on her face is clearing up but please continue to pray! They are extremely appreciated.------------------------------------ 
I thought after Blissdom I would continue to have a fire under me. For the most part I do, but man was Jeff Acuff right. Making time for your family is the most important thing. Obviously I knew this was true but when I took a step back I realized just how much I really tweeted. How much I really spent on the computer or iPhone once I got home from work. It's been a nice little break and now I don't feel so guilty about spending time away. Or getting blog posts out there. ---------------------------
Last week Mr. A and I started "The Love Dare". No, we aren't married (obviously) but we thought it would be a good idea to keep a solid foundation and a solid understanding of each other and what we want. I have to say that this has been one of the best decisions. If you haven't done The Love Dare before it's a part of the Fireproof movie:
''The Love Dare leads you through daily devotionals, records your thoughts and experiences, and ends each day daring you to perform a simple act of love for your spouse. (err? other half?)In a world that attacks, devalues, and redefines relationships every day, learn how to rescue and protect your marriage/relationship from the firestorm."from the site.
It has really been an eye opener for me. Some of the things that you do are brought to light and show you different ways to handle situations. Like letting things go when it's just not worth it. Or that prayer needs to be a part of your relationship as well. 
I plan on doing an update once we are done with it.

Now if Miss K would get better, it would cool down in Florida, and it would be the weekend, things would be much, much better around here ;)

How to Fall Back in Love with Writing

We've all had our moments where we feel like we have to get a post out on the blog. Or you want to write but you just don't have your oomph anymore to do it. Maybe you forgot why you started your blog in the first place.
On numerous occasions I've wanted to shut down the blog completely because I didn't know why I was doing it anymore. I didn't know what to write about. I forgot why I started or even that I loved to just write...err type.

One of the breakthrough sessions at Blissdom was held by Jeff Goins.He was my favorite speaker because he was hilarious, knowledgeable, and I felt like you could really relate to him. 
His track was about "How to Fall Back in Love with Writing". If you read the track notes, I think Jeff said it best when he said "You'll find yourself writing for others approval and no longer be satisfied with your craft. You'll feel trapped." How many times have you felt that way? I know I have more times than I can count. Then Jeff says "When you stop writing for readers' approval, your work will move more readers."

 1.Becoming a Writer (again) 

• Turn Pro- you have to turn pro in your head before you can do it on paper. Before others believe what is true about you. you'll have to believe it first.
• Find your voice-Be yourself. Speak in a way that is true to you.
• Write for yourself- The only person you need to worry about writing for is you.

2. Pursuing Passion  Instead of chasing numbers; Chase your passion.

•  De-Clutter- (Jeff said that "social media was his biggest distraction. It made him procrastinate the real work that needed to be done. So he got rid of the distraction."
• Cancel contingencies- There is no wrong thing. Just begin.
• Fail forward-As you cancel contingencies and find something to stick with, you’ll need to learn how to ship. To move through fear, which means you’ll have to face the inevitability of failure. Real artists fail every day. Why not embrace it instead of running away? When you fail, you don’t really fail. You learn. You find new ways to move forward.

 3.Building a Community

People will be attracted to your work. They can’t help it; passion is contagious. They’ll want to hear what you have to say. But you need more than an audience. You need a community.

Find your true fans- In order to keep an audience, you need to help people.

Earn patrons-These are mentors and advocates who will help you succeed. 

Make friends- Pretty self explanatory.

 "The best way to write inspiring stuff is to live an inspired life".- Stephen King
 What inspires you to write?   

Pinwheel Party That Wasn't

Saturday arrived a lot faster than I wanted it to. I had been procrastinating like no other when it came to Miss K's first birthday party.
I had templates ready (that I worked hours and hours on), I had decor ready, I still needed to buy a few things, and get food together. 
I never used the templates and I threw the party together that morning. Food? Nothing like I planned.
Yeah..Mom party planner fail.
Instead of a pinwheel theme it was more like a theme revolving around Miss K's party dress with a few pinwheels thrown here and there.
Besides all of that it still turned out beautifully.
I also have a lot of respect to mom's of more than one. Oh my word.
Here are some pictures from the party: 

 dress by SheSheMade 

 Foyer decor

Front door chalkboard sign and my sweet drawing skills. yikes.

Smash cake a la Publix. Yet another thing I waited until the last minute on. Obviously.

Favors. Which held Jelly Bellies.

Foyer flowers

She finally likes cake!

Fruit Kabobs

Drink bucket that matched K's dress. Found at Hone Goods

A Pinwheel! found at Target

Up close of Foyer table.

I think this was my favorite area simply because of the monogrammed chalkboard that I made.

I learned my lesson for next year. Have a plan, use pinterest wisely, and don't procrastinate.
The party went off without a hitch and everyone had fun.
But oh my word was I glad it was over when it was because that was way too many kids running around. lol
Thanks everyone for the awesome ideas!
Now..what theme will next year be?