HGTV - Flea Market Flip

pic here

 Normally I'm not one to sit down and watch T.V. because I've gone with out it for too long and I would rather be doing other things. However, just the other day I sat down and flipped the darn thing on while crocheting (I'm seriously a regular old grandma). To my great surprise I found this HGTV show Flea Market Flip. Have you seen it?? Because you should. I was instantly ADDICTED. This show is hosted by Lara Spence, Good Morning America's Co-Anchor. The idea is that two interior design teams are given a $500 budget and set off in a flea market. Their goal is to find pieces to make 3 totally new projects of some sort of theme. I watched an episode where they had to make a light fixture, a coffee table, and a reimagine project. After they create their pieces they are set off again to sell them for a profit. Whichever team makes the largest profit wins $5,000! You all should go watch it now!

bed into a bench project from Roadside Rehab on an episode of FMF

Letters From My Heart: Vol. 1

"I believe sometimes, that the whole world has an aching heart" - Kate DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn-Dixie. This week has not been my week. Each day I have woken up and haven’t felt my usual happy self. Normally I keep this all in, but I’ve recently been inspired by a friend to share more of my heart, so here it goes. At the age of 22, I obviously know by now that not every day is going to be one filled with happiness. It’s a journey not a destination. When it comes to being beat up by life I feel one of two things: inferior because I am a mess, or selfish because there are many people that have it much worse. These are my struggles. When it comes to feeling inferior (no idea where this originated from) I have to consistently remind myself that not a single person on this planet has it together 100% of the time. It’s okay to be a mess. Now when it comes to feeling selfish for thinking my life is in shambles that’s trickier. When I have problems I always think well someone out there has it worse, so stop whining. Does that mean you should feel guilty about your sorrows/struggles because somebody else has bigger problems? Absolutely not. I think that everyone goes through hard times and that those circumstances and situations are important enough to each person to feel however they want to feel. By this I mean that my hardships and another person's hardships may not be equal on the ‘hardship’ scale, but situation is important to each person it is happening to. Through sharing some of the things on my heart I hope to relate to others and be inspirational. That is the ultimate purpose behind this new series called letters from my heart. 

What I Wore: black skinnies are a must

top//ross - bottoms//marshalls (DKNY) - flats//urban outfitters - bag//tjmaxx

projects + current crushes

I have a bad habit of starting a project then starting another and another. I am currently in the middle of four crocheting projects. Two blankets, a scarf, and granny squares to be made into another blanket. I also continue to start books on books on books. I NEED to stop doing this. I have a huge list of books I want to read and I continue to buy books for my classroom this fall and then of course start to read them as well. Well hey, at least I'm reading right?? Oh and I'm currently obsessed with notebooks. Check out the one I just bought. Adorable! What are your current projects & crushes?
 

 granny squares, sorry 'bout the bad photo

books for my classroom. reading love.

vintage mini camper - a traveling blogger?

You know when we decide that something is super awesome and we really want to do it and then we set it aside because we think people won't take us seriously if we tell them that's what we want to do? I think I do this a lot, but I'm going to share with you something that I really want to do and always talk about a version of this. Is the anticipation killing you? Get to the point already, Abby! Okay here it is. I always say how cool it would be to live in an Airstream and pick up and move whenever. Well luckily for me my career permits a smaller version of this. SUMMER. I will have my summer's free and I would like to spend my time traveling. I want to get one of these babies...

 

or a version of a mini camper that I can pull behind my car such as this one...

My dream is to get a hold of one of these and travel in the summer time and blog about all my adventures. Hopefully starting next summer. I am young, single, wild, and free so why shouldn't I do something like this while I can? Right? Who is with me on this? So, I hope I can find one within my budget, preferably an older vintage one. If anybody knows where I can find one of these let me know! I've been doing some research (not a lot yet) but any tips would be appreciated. I think by now the people who know me understand that I am not kidding when I say I want to do something extreme. I remember the reactions I got when I said I'm moving to Texas... like yeah right sure you are! Welp... I did! So this will be happening too, it's just a matter of time and $$.

What I Wore: Teacher Style vol. 1

Today I am launching one of my new blog series called What I Wore: Teacher Style. I will share with you all my teacher fashion + everyday fashion. Volume 1 of this series...here it is! 

had to get one in my grandpa's gardening hat :)

skirt//target - yellow v-neck//target - tan sandals//target - necklace (gift)//charming charlie's 

Inspired by all my favorite blogs that do 'what I wore' posts. A spin off of teacher wear.

photos via my mom

follow me and it'll be alright

Hello lovelies! So we all know that Google Reader is saying farewell super soon! July 1st to be exact. I would love for you to continue following me! So jump on over to Bloglovin' or Facebook and follow along. Even if you weren't a follower before its never too late to become one! I'd love to have ya here!

The links are right here for ya! Just a click away. 

Bloglovin'

Facebook

Potato Soup

Spending the weekend at my grandparents always means cooking of some sort! Which is why I'm posting another recipe so soon! Exciting, right??  Oh and I'm posting from my iPad today. Maybe this is a popular thing to do? But I'm old school and prefer my laptop. Okay, enough rambling... onto the food! 

One of my favorite meals to make (if you consider soup a meal) is potato soup. This is something I've been making since I learned to cook (which was forever ago). Here's whatcha do:

*Disclaimer: I'm not big on measurements other than by eye sight 

Recipe: 

3-6 potatoes (depends on how much soup you wanna make)

1-2 celery stalks 

1/2-1 small onion (up to you)

Milk

Butter

Celery salt

Pepper 

Salt 

Directions: 

1. Peel potatoes

2. Chop onion, potatoes, and celery 

3. Place in pan with water, boil until potatoes are plenty soft

4. Strain most of the water out of the pan, place back on heat

5. Add butter (2 Tablespoons, or however much you feel) 

6. Add milk (as much as you want depending on how much soup you're making)

7. Add celery salt, pepper, salt. 

8. Continue to heat on stove, then serve! 

White Chocolate Cranberry Scones

Hello loves! I have been wanting to make these ever since my mom made them for a tea party we went to before I moved to Texas. They are sooo good! Now I'm not really sure if this is the exact recipe that she used because I looked it up and there are a TON of recipes to choose from. This one is from The Prepared Pantry. These are a MUST try!

Now for this recipe you can decide if you want to turn the dough out and cut nice scones or you can choose to do what I did and make the drop biscuits. Not as pretty, but still just as tasty!!

Recipe: 

2 C. all purpose flour

1/4 C. sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons butter, chilled

1 egg

*buttermilk to make 1 cup with the egg. (I used skim milk TRUST ME they still turned out awesome!)

1/2 C. white chocolate chips

1/2 C. dried cranberries

Visit The Prepared Pantry to view the baking directions

Check out the vintage bowls I found at my brother's apartment! How cool! (not sure why he has them though, kinda girly for his taste he.he)

the one with the prettiest of views

WHATS IN A HOME?

 

Sooo... I'm homeless! Well... not exactly. I mean I have a place to live but my life is in complete limbo and I don't have a home. My mom always says, "your home is where your mom is," which is true. I do consider my parents house my home. But I haven't lived there for four years. I have moved a lot (mostly in the same college town) and every place has been temporary. I enjoy being young and adventurous, but I look forward to the day when I can call a place my home again. One that I actually live in. I imagine my first real home will be a cute little place. But something that is more permanent than the constant change of an apartment. It will be something I own, not shell out money to rent. I will have fresh flowers on my table in a mason jar and a garden in my back yard. It will be crisp and clean. I imagine hosting friendly gatherings where a grill is involved and plenty of wine.

Meet Me in Saint Louis

 After a long week of LOTS of reading and homework I was able to take a weekend trip to St. Louis. I love taking small weekend trips! Especially when it involves seeing friends I haven't seen in forever. So here is a little re-cap of the weekend.

Things I LOVE about road trips: 

+ successfully unsuccessfully harmonizing to all my tunes on the iPod

+ thinking about life

+ twizzlers and combos, so healthy!

+ the company of my GPS

+ beautiful views (unless its Nebraska)

Things I HATE about road trips: 

+ getting ran off the road by semis... well... almost. (but it happens every time!) 

welp that sums up the hates. 

My favorite part of this weekend was going to the St. Louis Zoo! Also, eating all kinds of ethnic food. I'm a very sheltered person when it comes to food. I had Thai food, Indian food, and I tried sushi (not a fan). It was a pretty awesome weekend! I'll let the pictures describe the zoo.

Oh, and I even found a boyfriend! Check him out! 

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

 

 

picture here

"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages you've had."

- F. Scott Fitzgerald 

Need I say more?

Pita Pizza

Any pizza lovers out there?? This girl is!

I'm going to share with you one of my favorite pizza/flat breads. Inspired by my friend who made this for me when I was sick over spring break. All you need is a few ingredients and voila! PIZZA! (or at least I call it pizza, you may think its more of a flat bread)

Ingredients:

+ Pesto

+ Garlic

+ Onion

+ Tomato

+ Pita bread or Naan

+ Cheese - your choice

(I pick mozzarella usually. Fresh mozzarella is a stellar choice too.) 

 1. Set your oven to 350 

2. Put foil on a cookie sheet or pizza pan

3. Place Naan or pita bread in center of pan

4. Chop onion and slice tomato

*Side note: I'm not a big fan of measurements when it comes to my random cooking

5. Spread pesto and garlic on top of bread

6. Throw some onion on it... as much as you like. I like a little A LOT!

7. Next sprinkle on a pinch HANDFUL of cheese

cheese is not a matter taken lightly in my house

less is more MORE IS MORE

8. Place your tomatoes on top! 

9. BAKE for 15 minutes-25 minutes 

(depends on the size of your pita/naan bread)

I baked this one for 15

And there ya have it! Simple as ever!