Gifts in a jar!

I was looking up some DIY gifts this morning (my goal is to do all DIY for the holidays) and I found some really cute gifts in a jar!

This is a lemon hand scrub great for crafty relatives or friends! It's really inexpensive and easy to make. You can even use a jar from an empty jelly container or salsa, etc.

I also LOVE baking and think a jar like this is super cute!! I think I would make a sheet cake then cut it into circles and layer with frosting, different colors would be really cute!

And not COMPLETELY "in a jar" but close enough, I think terrariums are really cute! I think my grandma would really like one (plus she loves gnomes!)

I also just realized how many times I said "cute"---!

You can click-through each of the photos for directions. :)

I'm compiling a list of ideas like recipe cards, photo frames, etc. I think it'd be really fun to put together some gift baskets with fun diy-friendly gifts--some things useful and then some just really nice and pampering (like the hand scrub). Last year a simple gift I made was a whole bunch of lady bug magnets for my grandma's fridge. You can find magnets at your local craft store for really cheap. The possibilities are endless!

Have you made any DIY gifts?

Kristi(E)

24 before 24

My cousing over at The Weaving Cat (go check it out I love her blog!) just did a "20 before 20" list. I really liked her list. I hardly ever set very accomplishable goals so I am going to set a list of goals for the next year that I CAN accomplish.


1. Exercise every day
I think this is a good goal to start out with this year. I am just too poor right now to afford the gym every month (it's pricey!) and I think if I just put my mind to it, I can come up with some really good and inexpensive workouts in the home. Also, on the days I'm at school I can use the gym there to do the ellipticals (LOVE THOSE). Also, by saying "exercise" and not a certain routine I don't feel overwhelmed and can try different things to see what I like (running, biking, pilates, yoga, etc.)

2. Go on an Adventure Trip @ USF
Okay so my college has these AWESOME "adventure trips" like backpacking and kayaking. I've never gone but I am planning on trying to fit at least one if not two or three into my schedule this next year. There's one that goes backpacking in the Smoky Mountains for a week and it's only $210 for students!

3. Go rock climbing!
So these (so far) have all been some sort of physical activity but really-I used to be SO active and between my busy schedule and lack of money, I have let myself be lazy and I have stopped doing things outside of my comfort zone. This last thing is a big one--totally now scared of things outside of my comfort zone and I used to be so fearless! Gotta get that spunk back!

4. Reread the Harry Potter series!
Totally stole this from Sarah (that'y my cousin :D). I purposely didn't reread them so the movies would at least be a bit surprising as I remembered bits and pieces of what happened...now the only way to feel like the journey hasn't ended for the 2nd time is to reread the books!

5. Figure out my style
Okay really, this is annoying. Most days I hate all my clothes or just don't know what to do. I've got this wanna dress nice/look nice but also don't really care and kinda just wanna be all jeans and a tee and I have trouble mixing and matching that together. I read a post before about a girl who made a folder of stuff she liked on the internet and how it really helped her pinpoint things she really liked about outfits and to make her closet more "her." I think I will try to do this, a daily process. I think this one is more like get a tattoo..no, I'll add that.

6. STICK WITH FRENCH!
Okay people, so far I have successfully not completed the following languages: Spanish, German, and Chinese. Yes, I took a semester of Chinese. It was AWESOME but I just couldn't keep up with commuting to USF four times a week. German and Spanish I took in high school. I tested into Spanish II in college but can only take it at night and I KNOW I will skip--all the time. Therefore, I am taking French online. If I do French this semester AND next, I can then double major and graduate two springs from now. Voila! Is that French? (haha)

7. Finish sewing the pile of shirts in my living room.
Okay, I go to a lot of shows and not many of them have girly sizes. Sometimes I just get whatever size they have cause "I'll sew that!" but it's all sitting in a hamper in my living room right now. Really. I spent one day sewing and ripping and resewing and finished about 6 things but there are probably literally like 40 more items of clothing in that basket!! (it's a big basket)

8. Have a yardsale & donate the rest.
We have boxes of yardsale stuff in our 2nd "storage" bedroom that would be just awesome to get rid of. Then we can actually have a 2nd bedroom!!!! for all of our messy craft projects so the rest of the house stays clean :)

9. Fruit breakfasts!
I've been doing this the past few days. It's really awesome. Either actual fruit or a smoothie for breakfast. Great way to start the day! and better than not eating anything before work and then starving and eating everything I can reach by lunchtime.

10. Let my hair grow out.
I'm trying to go for a trim either this week or next just to even things out but I have been and am then trying to let it grow out! I've been doing mohawks and short hair on and off for a few years but I really want long hair again...long, orange hair but we'll get to that at another time ;) This really is a goal because I am SO SCISSOR HAPPY!!!!

11. Visit Portland!
Does it count that I'm already definitely doing this? Yes, it does because it's something I've wanted to do for quite some time and I'm going to dive in and do it! Thanks, student loans. Ugh.

12. Embroider something!
Remember when I did that at an ETSY party? I had sew (hehe) much fun!

13. Soup/Salad lunches
I think these are really healthy lunches and I'd love to stick to it at least 5/7 days a week. I need to find some salad "recipes" that I really like and then get the stuff to make them. That plus a pot of soup every week is pretty inexpensive yet filling.

14. Redo my blog layout
I've been wanting to do this since, uh, day one. Somebody get me photoshop on this thing! I think I will like updating more if I find my blog prettier. Crazy, right? like an inspirational room inside my computer.

15. Finish rewatching all the episodes of MacGyver on Netflix
I think I secretly want to be MacGyver... I love that show! I used to watch it EVERY WEEK when I was a kid plus all of the reruns. Thanks, Grandpa :) p.s. I also really wanna watch Dexter--Marc doesn't like it but I think he just needs to watch the rest of the season 'til I get him hooked.

16. Learn how to schedule neatly
Okay, I love making lists and planning and all these things but sometimes I do it so sloppily and then I can hardly even use the schedule cause there's just -crap- all over it. I really can't wait until I get a new planner for this school year and I swear I will make it the best lifeline ever. I really wanna plan meals and exercises and all sorts of things in there (oh yeah and homework). Plus I have really pretty pens (aka super colorful) that I plan to use to colorcode it. I am a planner/list freak but it makes me feel more at ease that I won't forget something since I always have so many things going at once.

17. Relearn Excel
My Mom was talking about this the other day..I used to know how to do all these awesome things in Excel but now I forget some of them. I think it'd also be a really good tool for me to track spending (eeeek) plus a great tool for on-the-job things. I'm sure I can google a bunch of tutorials and get this done!

18. Play tennis!
I really miss tennis. Marc and I played with a couple of friends a few months ago but haven't gone back since. I'd love to play at least once a week and get back into it. It is SUCH a good workout and really so much fun. I already have the rackets so it's essentially free, too.

19. Get a tattoo
Yea I talk the tattoo talk big time but I've yet to bite the bullet and go get one. I think I'll get something small at first just to see what it's like and so my wallet thanks me and then go from there.

20. See a hockey game!
I've always wanted to do this and live an hour away from the Tampa Bay Lightning so I think we should go one time!

21. See a roller derby game!
Kinda like the above. Always talk about wanting to do this, haven't done it.

22. Go to Powershift!
It's an action/sustainability convention that tons of colleges and other like-minded people attend.

23. Go floating down the rainbow river!
There's this cool river (again about 45 min- an hour away) and you just relax and float down it..maybe not that exciting but it does sound like fun!!

24. Work hard at work even when I don't have to.
I really hate my job but try to make the best of it. I get the days off I want and like my bosses but other than that, uhck! We kinda work lots of jobs all in one. Cashier/customer service/crazy phone answerers/merchandising/stocking/cleaning/manager stuff, blahblahblah...but kinda get paid like just cashiers. Why do I work there again? Days off-nice bosses-*sigh

Okay well, I'm 23 in two months so this is my list of 24 before 24. Sorry for no pretty pictures but link in a comment if you make one! I'd love to read it.

Some of my Portland Plans

I'm actually trying not to look at too many pictures of Portland but I'm trying to pick a few places to show you that I can't wait to go.

This is a bookstore!! They have over a million books, nine color coded rooms and over 3,500 sections!!! Plus, they are not too far away from:

Can you say Vegan-Chinese-Lunch-Buffet!??!? I am SOOO FRIGGING EXCITED. They have vegan orange chicken :)

Another awesome thing about Portland is the food carts!! I'm really excited about this one:

They have a few interesting vegan topping choices for your fries (which I heard are out of this world to begin with): banana ketchup! rosemary truffle ketchup! and of course vegannaise :) They also make their signature "pb n j" fries. I can't wait to try them!

Another thing I'm going to see if we can shove into our schedule (between all the eating) is:

a bike tour! Look how beautiful...again, trying not to look at too many pictures because I want to be super excited when I get there but they have a tour that goes out and stops at about six different waterfalls! I don't think I've ever seen a waterfall in real life--just fake ones at all the amusement parks in Florida.

We also want to stop at all the gardens (Chinese, Japanese, and Rose Test).

There's a Saturday Morning Market (also runs on Sunday morning)

and of course we'll be there for Veg Fest!

All in all, I am incredibly excited!!!! There will be tons of pictures when we get back as well. I'm borrowing my Mom's digital camera (lost mine) and gonna try to throw a few disposables in my pack..not sure how much I can fit on the way there. My plan is to shove a huge duffel bag in my backpack so when we buy things in Portland we can check it on the way back but not have to check it on the way there (save time). However, I'm pretty sure it's about as big folded up as my backpack is to begin with. I'm packing really light, though. I figure anything I need I can get in Portland and I'm sure I will want to buy a shirt or two so I'm wearing like one pair of pants there packing shorts and that's it, etc. Light packing.

Just booked the hotel as well...decided not to stay at a fancy hotel because we could use the extra money for food and souvenirs. If we were only staying a couple nights I would have gone for it but five nights would get a bit expensive.

What's your favorite city you've ever been to?

I've really only been up the East Coast--Atlanta, South Carolina (when my old job moved), Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Rhode Island.

Kristi(E)

Fourth of July Food and Fire(work)s

Sorry I'm late with the posting... my car appointments took WAY longer than I expected and I am totally exhausted--not to mention that after spending the day sitting and thinking and sitting and thinking some more (all the way through eating lunch at a restaurant all by myself!) I decided to change majors.

This is a HUGE step for me and totally out of my comfort zone but I know it's something that I will enjoy much more and will lead to more opportunities...so the second half of my day I spent rearranging my schedule for the Fall and pushing my graduation date back a year so I can be:

Ok, so not EXACTLY MacGyver but I'm going to go for environmental science! I'm really excited. That's sort of what he does on the show, right? :-P Sometimes at least!

Okay so 4th of July...

We went to my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE VEGAN RESTAURANT!! Ethos Vegan Kitchen in Orlando, FL.

Check out this pizza!

and this bruschetta!

Pumpkin Penne Pasta w/ Seitan:

and this "sheep's pie"

and tofurkey ruben!

This is kinda a lot of food..and yes we ate there for lunch AND dinner!!!!!

They also have these yummy sodas:

(and cookies---not pictured)

So after going to Ethos (the first time), we stopped at IKEA! I got a garlic press (coolest thing ever) and a tea infuser (also really cool) and only $1-2 each.

Then stopped at the fancyschmancy mall. Found this cute bike print shirt but the cut was weird and too expensive for me to buy and try to alter:

Stopped and got yummy carrot juices. Mine had mango and Marc's had banana.

I also stopped at the Sanrio store to get gum for my Hello Kitty gum dispenser...I'll have to upload a picture later. It is adorable and I've had it forEVER.

So we ventured down to Lake Eola where there were a bunch of tents set up and whatnot all around the lake and look at the beautiful rainbow:

Except that it shortly thereafter POURED and there was nowhere to go. We eventually found our way, completely drenched, to a parking garage (that was locked) thus hiding under the awning but someone eventually let us all in. We walked around and around trying to find an outlet that worked so my friend could charge her phone. Marc kept trying doors to see if any of them were unlocked and one was so we went into this condo building to charge her phone. The condo building, however, was private and you could only get in with a key *cough.

Then the fire alarm went off!!!!!! We went out into the lobby and tried to act "normal." Some guy who lived there started yelling about some people that were in the lobby if they really lived there or just hiding out of the rain. We just acted normal whilst he kicked everyone BUT us out of there. Even though we were soaked (IDK how to figure that one).

Then the firefighters showed up and I let them in (remember the doors only open from the inside--you need a key to get in!)

See!? Totally not joking. We waited til it stopped raining then went back out but I was really sick of the ginormous crowd and feeling awful from being so soaked (and waterlogged shoes) that I convinced Marc and Frances that we should go back to Ethos. Which was AWESOME!

The end...

Oh yeah, after my car appointments today I decided to try out the new Sweet Tomatoes that opened near me. They had vegan Thai Udon Noodle salad and Vegan veggie soup that was delicious. I also had a baked sweet potatoes and some fruit. Yum. (though a bit expensive for the buffet)...this is where I ate all alone--in a REAL restaurant. Don't think I'd ever done that before, haha.

So I'm glad I didn't eat anything covered in bbq sauce or watch any fireworks on the fourth (though we did see a few on the drive home). I feel accomplished doing my normal eat lots of vegan food routine. It's just ALL SOO GOOD!!!!

xoxo
Kristi(E)

Sew what?

I have a pretty crazy story from yesterday to post about...just have to get the pictures off other camera phones (since mine died). It will definitely be up by tomorrow though! I wanted to show you guys what my Mom's new sewing machine can do!! I'm totally jealous!

First off, how cool is her old one!?

It's a Singer "Genie" and she has had it since I can remember. Gotta hand it to Singer.

The new one she got is actually a Brother but it was on a really good sale. She basically got it because she couldn't find the right zipper foot for her Genie and is making some pouches. Well, besides having a foot for just about ANYTHING...even one that sizes button holes for you, it has so many different stitch patterns!! I thought these two were pretty cool:

It even has one that looks like embroidered edges. I can't wait to sew some stuff with it and show you guys.

Stay tuned for that 4th of July story!

Kristi(E)

Craft Day!!!

Yesterday we had Craft Day at my Mom's and it was so much fun!!

I found this picture of her. How cute is my Mom!? Plus how cool is this photo!?!? It's on a section of a tree from when she was in Girl Scouts.

She has a new craft room with some pretty neat stuff. These little jars hold felt cutouts and other little trinkets. They stick onto the wall by magnets.

Here's a neat box where she keeps all the ribbon, stored on my favorite Expedit shelf from IKEA.

We did some scrapbooking:

And she had this really awesome tool that melds yarn into fabric!!! I HAD to try it out!

You use the needle pen to push the yarn through the fabric...

So the back looks like this:

And the finished piece like these:

Did I mention how excited I am for Harry Potter next Wednesday?!

Afterwards we ordered pizza and played Beatles Rockband and Glee Karaoke. It was TOO funny!!!

Do you guys ever get to spend time with your parents? We're all really busy but I'm so glad we were able to have this day together.

xoxo

Kristi(E)

New Icecream!?

I've had "So Delicious" icecream before but never saw this flavor until now!!

YUM!!

PEANUTBUTTER CHOCOLATE!!

This may be a match for the Carrot Cake.

Also, happy fourth of july :)

Kristi(E)