love

January 20, 2012: Someone you love.

This is one of the first pictures of Rhett and I as a "couple" taken by a friend during field camp in June of 2009. We had a half day off in Aspen, CO and hiked up the Maroon Bells to an amazing lake. During our time there, the two of us found a waterfall and hiked up to it making the trail as we went along (because we are geologists, and that's what we do). Even at the time I had a sneaky suspicion that this wasn't a summer fling and this goofy guy (forever in a cubs hat) would turn out to be someone I love. That's not to say that the road has been straight and easy, but our path has, in many ways, changed who we are for the better even in our times apart.

Didn't mean to get all serious on you! Hope everyone has an excellent and relaxing (or productive) weekend!

bootlegged skinny jeans

Someday I may be embarrassed that I posted this, but for now (as a beginner sewer), I'm pretty happy with my bootlegged skinny jeans. I bought this pair of stretchy gray jeans at Gap a month or so ago for $12. I like the fit and color, but the legs were boot cut and I was really looking for skinny jeans to wear with my Uggs. So, this afternoon (in about 15 minutes), I altered them!

I used a pair of my favorite skinny jeans as a pattern by turning the gray ones inside out and laying the others on top of them.

The ones I used as a pattern aren't super skinny so I didn't worry about leaving a seam allowance. In fact, since the gray ones are so stretchy, I pinned slightly under/right on the seam of my pattern jeans.

Since these are strictly for book wear (too short to wear normally...such is life for those of us with above average height), I didn't worry about making the sides super even. I used my machines stretch stitch, cut off the edges, and called it a day!

They fit inside my boots sooo much better now, and could possibly be rolled up into cuffed capris during the summer.

This is a really easy project and a great way to fix up a pair of jeans that you might not wear otherwise!

Now for the photo challenge of the day: sweet.

Hmm... these gray jeans turned out pretty sweet.

I added the whey powder to my green smoothie this morning and it added an enjoyable sweet yogurty flavor.

This picture isn't from today, but when my mom and I go to La Madeleine we always get the mini fruit tart. This sweet treat is to die for!

Well, I'm off to the first Zumba class of the semester, and hoping it's not too packed (unlikely).

Happy almost Friday!

green smoothies

January 18, 2012: something you bought.

Green smoothies have been all over the place lately (like here, here, etc.). Every time I saw a "green smoothie" recipe I always thought it was some sort of hold-your-nose only-drink-because-it's-super-healthy type thing for those people who run everyday and keep a food journal (not that there is anything wrong with food journals, but they sound like a nightmare). Turns out, a green smoothie can be whatever you want it to be! Last week I had some baby spinach left over from dinner so I just tossed a few in my morning smoothie. Other than making it brown and kick starting your day with vitamins and other excellent things found in spinach, it doesn't change anything!! Taste is the exact same! Yesterday, I bought a ton of frozen fruit at HEB to make these healthy and delicious smoothies a daily habit. I took a few pictures of my smoothies (pre-blend) for the photo challenge today. Some use fresh fruit and add ice, but my blender isn't a huge fan of ice, so I stick with frozen fruit (plus it's easy and inexpensive). All I use is frozen fruit, a hand full of baby spinach leaves, and orange juice. I also bought Jillian Michaels whey protien powder in vanilla but totally forgot to add it this morning. I'll get back to you on that. I will say that I hope it doesn't taste how it smells...yikes.

NatGeo photo contest winners: 2011

This is just too cool not to share. Rhett and I stumbled upon the winners of National Geographic's photo contest for 2011. They are all stunning, but I'll share a few with water per the photo contest for today :)

:)

water & a pink octopus

January 17, 2012: Water.

I bought this pink octopus for kittens a while back and they wanted nothing to do with it, so it has become a fixture in my bathroom on the faucet.

I also snapped a picture of Benson drinking out of the sink this morning :) his favorite.

Happy Tuesday! Happy first day back to school for those of us still in college! Happy first night of Breakaway for the semester!

diy pinboard & morning

Do you guys watch the Nate Show? Apparently this is the last season (maybe it's over already??), but it was awesome. He has so many fun ideas and keeps his stuff budget friendly.

Last year, my roommate left me a few...pictures...frames... I'm not really sure how to classify them. They started like this, black frame, glass with a floral applique in the middle.

A couple weeks ago, I saw a Nate show about organization and he suggested a "mail station" or just a cute board in your kitchen where you can hang anything...bills, pictures, wedding invites, etc. So I used one of the frames (it's actually 3 stacked on top of each other) to make mine. I spray painted the outside bright blue and cut out cardboard rectangles that fit in each frame. I covered the cardboard in linen and hot glued them into the frames.

I love projects that I can finish in one night and this is definitely one. It's a great place to put cute cards and randoms. I found this card at a shop in Old Town Spring:

Anyway, today's photo challenge is morning. Rhett and I were really bad this morning and had Shipley's for breakfast. It was oh soo good :)

How do you like the new background?? It's found here.

happiness :)

January 15, 2012: Happiness.

First of all, is it January 15th already??

Secondly, for those of you who have/had significant others who work out of town know that the happiest times are the times when that person is off work and in town.

Rhett's in town now and we've been enjoying each other's company for a few days (minus the dark spot that was the Texans game).

Yesterday we went to a wedding of a mutual friend. What's happier than that??

Waiting for the wedding to start.

The happy couple  saying their vows.

This morning we went to Houston's First Baptist Church and it was excellent. Gregg Matte used to lead Breakaway on Texas A&M's campus, so this church is full of Aggies. I'll possibly living in the Heights starting this summer, so it was fun to check out a church nearby! And the view when we were leaving made me happy.

This isn't very happy, but is anyone else having the Sunday night blues?

I hope everyone has a productive and enjoyable Monday!