Well Ok...

So you know that whole post about being more on top of posting and a new direction blah blah blah.... yeah apparently not going so well since it's been almost a month since I last posted. Granted I have been busy trying to prepare for a small craft fair coming up this October, but I guess the only excuse I have is that I just wasn't feeling it at least not until today.  It's one of those things that I struggle with; if I can't do it to the best of my abilities and the way I want to do it then I shouldn't do it at all. This unfortunately leads to what I like to call procrastination. Anyway.....

A few weeks ago my sister took me and my boyfriend on my FIRST yes I said first camping trip ever; It was awesome!!! I loved it, everything about it, nature, the torrential down pour that lasted most of the weekend and even our tent that collapsed and sequentially lead to us having a mini indoor pool for the remainder of the weekend. Oh and the food (insert Homer Simpson like Hhhmmm) meat, smores, and possibly the best breakfast burrito I've ever eaten. Needless to say I'm hooked, I can't wait until I'm able to do it again. By the way my sister rocks!

On our way up, I was taking pictures of my sister taking pictures. We definitely know how to entertain ourselves. 

By far the sweetest dog I've ever met! Her name is Spook and yes she's afraid of everything and I mean everything.

Setting up camp, this will become the tent Chris and I stayed in, the one that collapsed while we were on a hike... good times, good times.

First night, sunset was awesome!

Let there be light, Oh umm, I mean FIRE.

Me and my sister. Yep we don't look anything alike...

Oh and the star of the show, beautiful, wonderful nature!

Ahhhhh....

So on one of our hikes we went up to an abandoned mine, it had been there for what seemed like ages. I know I wouldn't want to be stuck there at night, I bet it gets really creepy, and it was already pretty creepy to begin with. Just take a look at this stair case, the view from the top was crazy good but they were kind of intimidating in the only the stupid kids go up the crumbling stair case. Oh yeah we were those kids.

But it was worth it this is one of the views we got from on top.

Oh and this one wasn't bad either.

And these are the two that made it happen, my sister and her boyfriend. Aren't they a cute couple!

Did I mention the rain, and the hail Oooo there was hail, but it was all good. I couldn't have asked for a  better first camping trip!!

Well I know it was a long post, but I had to some how make up for the weeks without posting. Hopefully I'll be able to share a little more about the upcoming craft fair I mentioned earlier. Well I know it's late but hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day vacation and here's to an early fall.

Till next time

Carnival nights

The fair came to town, and so did summer. Although I anticipate it being short lived just like the brief time we get to be kids again. We ride the rides, soak up the neon lights and hold on dearly to the last days of summer.

We spent a couple of nights at the fair this week and it had been years since I had gone so everything was exciting and new but at the same time so nostalgic. I loved the constant sounds of kids and adults screaming and giggling. The sound of the rides swooping and swinging. The smell of fried food, and the sunset over the Ferris Wheel. When was the last time you went to the fair?

Weekend wrap up

I know this is a little late but today has been a busy day. I hope you all had an awesome weekend. As always they're too short, sigh...

Here's what I loved about this weekend.

New dress

Fall leaves in summer

Duck, Duck Goose

Berries and broken glass

And a classic car!

New to the store

Hey everyone, It's been a while since I've listed on Etsy so here's a store update. I listed three new pieces, I hope you like them. Also I should be listing a couple more later on this week.

Moss Garden Pendant

Lush and Juicy Bracelet

Vintage Dusted Earrings

Well that's all for now, hope everyone is having a great week!

Eve

Roller Derby!

Hey everyone, hope you all had a great weekend. Saturday was really fun, we ended up going to my very first Roller Derby... and it was awesome! Just thought I would share some pictures I took, there was yelling, screaming, elbowing, tripping, and shoving, it had it all.

Afterward we pondered what our roller derby names could be, I think I would choose EVE-ILL. I think it's pretty catchy what whould your roller derby name be?

Make something new Monday

Hey everyone, I'm trying something new to hold my self accountable and become a better creative boss. Every week I'm going to try to create/make something new; whether it be art, jewelry, food, whatever allows me to be creative in a new and fun way. Hence the title of Today's post.

As I had mentioned in yesterdays post it got pretty hot outside. Now I guess I should back track a little and let you know that we do not have central air I repeat DO NOT have central air. The one air conditioner that we do have probably dates back to at least the late 70's if not the early 80's. Its ancient and unless you stand a foot in front of it your probably not going to get cooled off anytime soon. I've been lucky enough that the weather has been nice and has allowed us not to use it; but then Saturday came along and I had no choice but to flip the switch. 

So I ask what does every right minded individual do to combat the heat in an an apartment with a less then useful air conditioner... Bake muffins of course!

Yeah, yeah not the brightest thing to do, but I've never made blueberry muffins before and boy are they delicious. I got the recipe from this great blog Vanilla & Lace I did a few minor alterations and when it came to the streusal I didn't use really cold butter and I may have mixed it a little to well because the butter began to melt and it made yummy streusal globs, which by the way I'm not complaining because they still tasted amazing their just not as pretty. 

I was only going to make one batch so I could take them with me for my mid-morning snack but seeing how they were soooo good and the boy really liked them I decieded to make another batch on Sunday. I didn't have enough blueberries that time so I mixed in raspberries Mmmmmm.... Oh the possibilities

Blueberry Muffins

MAKES 12
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar - I used Splenda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries

1 teaspoon vanilla - (I added this to the recipe)

For the streusal topping:
1/2 cup white sugar - I used Splenda
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup earth balance (or butter), cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon


1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
2. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg (or replacer mixture) and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
3. To Make Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup earth balance, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking. (You may not use all the topping)
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

Well that's it's for me. Tomorrow is a big day. After work Chris and I are going to see Otep at the Railyard; it should be really fun! 

Till next time...

Weekend Wind down

Hey everyone, hope you had a great weekend I sure did. We started things off with a good old fashioned farmers market, it was the first of the season and will run every Saturday until the 1st Saturday in October. I was super excited to go and I had every intention of filling up on local produce and goodies but alas if I don't bring a list I get totally overwhelmed. So I went home empty handed this time, oh well I'll make sure to bring a list next time we go.

Opening bell was 8:30 A.M and I think we got there a little before 9, there were so many people and the weather was already getting hot. There was fruit and veggies, jelly and meat, and some wicked group of guys playing a mean beat. (Ohhhh yeah I just threw down that rhyme). Don't worry folks I'll be here all week!

Next stop was brunch (Oooo fancy).

We went to one of our favorite cafes in town, McCormick Cafe. Chris ordered the Montana Ave Omelette filled with ham, tomato, and mushrooms with a white chocolate latte.

Mmmm... Let me think, oh yes, I had the Oatmeal: Steel cut oats served with milk, brown sugar and a side of fresh fruit and toast. Oh yeah...

Oh, and we just haaad to try one of their Raspberry Parisian crepes!!

How could you not??

So after we had our fill we decided to head to our local Summer Fair. It was full of vendors of all sorts; art, jewelry, woodwork, ceramics, clothing, iron work, you name it. Someday I hope (NO I'm going) to get a booth so I can sell my wares. 

We didn't stay too long, the heat was getting to us and after that awesome breakfast... Opps I mean brunch all we wanted to do was take a nap. There was some entertainment. The cast of Hair was preforming a few numbers. We would have stayed a little longer but somewhere between the peace and love and ass we knew it was time to leave.

We went home to re-coup and he spent the rest of the day indoors and I somehow found some obscure reserve of energy and decided it would be a good idea to bake muffins in 90 + degree heat, but anyway that's for another day.

Well that's it for me, what did you do with your weekend?

 

Happy 4th of July!

Hey everyone, hope you're all having a great 4th! Me and Chris are just kicking back and relaxing.

Were not going to go see the fireworks tonight, so we celebrated America's Birthday with a very patriotic breakfast, red, white and blueberry waffles with some grapes thrown in for fun. What did you do to celebrate to 4th?

I also took some pictures this morning...

I guess you could say these are my after pictures. After meaning: losing 107 pounds. I haven't posted any of the before pictures yet but I will once I steal some from my parents computer. I'm thinking next time we go over to my parents place, so don't forget to remind me Mom. 

And here's the guy who supported me all along the way and always thought I was beautiful, and never stopped reminding me. Even when I sometimes forgot. Love ya sweetie!

Top five moments of the day

1. Waking up with the man I love.
2. Yummy breakfast.
3. Driving with the windows rolled down.
4. Finished reading a book.
5. Spending time with my parents and introducing them to the wonderful world of gelato.
6. Ok I know I said my top five but technically the days not over with. So as the sun is taking it's bow and the city turns quiet in anticipation for tonight's show I'm reminded that life is pretty good.