Share: Blogs I Love - Food Blog Edition

Happy Friday friends! Maybe you've reached the end of your week and your brain is a little fried or maybe you are up in the middle of the night with a cranky baby or maybe you are curled up on the couch avoiding the cold. wherever you are this Friday I hope you are well. I thought I'd help you ease into the weekend by sharing a few of my favorite food/cooking blogs, you know the really good kind with pictures and recipes that make your mouth water and writing that makes you giggle. Who knows you might even find some inspiration for some weekend cooking.

Joy The Baker - My sister in-law makes her French Onion Pastry Puffs and they are Ahh-Mazing!

Shutterbean - I have made her Spinach Tortellini Soup twice and love it, easy to make and so tasty.

Take A Megabite - I'm new to Megan's site, but I already have my heart set on making her White Pizza with Lemony Greens (I mean come on!).

Sprinkle Bakes - Okay I've never made anything that she posts, it is all a little more than I have patience for, but sometimes you just need to look at pretty pictures of cake (right?), like this Cherry Vanilla Layer Cake.

Smitten Kitchen - This is how I can tell that Deb is a lady after my own heart, she has an entire section of Pumpkin and Winter Squash recipes!

P.S. I'm on the look out for a great Vegetarian Thai Soup recipe, so let me know if you have one.

P.P.S. You can always find more recipes I'm interested in on my Yummy Pinterest board.

P.P.P.S. My fave Building Something Good recipes are Watermelon Salsa and Farmers Market Bruschetta!

Make:: Tassel Keychain

This past week I ended up at the mall with my mom and realized that these tassels are everywhere so it seemed like a good time to pull out this project from back in November. This is a fun, quick and easy project that you can shop for and make in an afternoon.

Supplies:
Faux Leather
Large Split Ring
Glue (I just used some super glue I already had)
Scissors

Step 1:
Cut fabric into one 2 in by 12 in strip and 2 in by 1/4 in strip
Cut fringe into larger strip of fabric, about a 1/4 in wide

Step 2:
Loop smaller strip of fabric around split ring and glue ends together.

Step 3:
Glue ends of small strip of fabric to the wrong side of the fringed fabric.

Step 4:
Glue and roll the fringe around the small strip until you reach the end.
** I found that it was easiest to put glue on a few inches and then roll it up until I reached the end. At the end I glued across the entire end so that you don't have any edges coming up.

Hook your keys on and enjoy!

P.S. I'm working on a project to make with the rest of your faux leather!

Read, Walk, Make, Live or Hello 2014!

Okay friends lets just get this out of the way, 2013 was not my favorite. Let's just say that I think I cried more days than not last year, so I'm really glad to let it go. But as Mr. Lewis wrote "There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind" (my January theme). So it is onward and upward to better things for 2014. This year I'm being intentional and setting focus attainable goals for myself.

I knew that if I really wanted to be successful this year I needed to be focused in my goal setting. After thinking it through I came up with my 2014 plan, I'm setting 4 monthly goals based on the following words.
Read: For me read is a way of summing up learning. So it could be taking a class, learning a new skill or actually reading a book.

Walk: My word to encompass health and fitness. Working out, meditating or eating raw all fall into this category.
Make: The catch all project goal. Maybe I'll make a quilt or build a shelf or organize the heck out of my closets.
Live: It is about creating a better happier life. Visiting a friend, trips to the park or sister dates to the movies.

Ahh it feels good to have a plan. I'm sure a huge part of why I couldn't get ahead in 2013 is that I didn't set concrete goals and was kinda just floating along. And let me tell you folks the time for floating along is gone!

Finally this blog and you my readers are part of the plan. The first Sunday of every month is share the goals day. So to get things started here are my January goals
Read - Sewing class. I spent hours and hours helping my mom sew costumes in November and December and to return the favor she is going to help me up my sewing game, were talking zippers and pockets and darts. Oh My!
Walk - I'm 30 and it is time to figure out a vitamin plan (and stick to it) so this month I'm trying to build the foundation for the rest of my life and really get into the vitamin habit. And for good measure I'm going to toss a little detox in there too, not sure yet if I'll do a one, three or seven day one.
Make - This month is all about getting my house in order. I've been in my house for almost 4 years now and it is time to dejunk, so my January project is to get each room in my house down to a good base to build on.
Live - I'm taking myself on a trip to the Art Museum! It has been ages and what better time to go than when it is to cold to play outside?

Well there you have it, my plan to OWN 2014!

P.S. A few resources to help you get your 2014 off to a great start.
- 53 Inspiring Quotes
- 8 Ideas for a More Authentic, Joyful Home This Year (I really like #1 & #7)
- The Unstuck App
- Personal Victory Starter Kit (similar idea as my 2014 plan)