$$ Saving All-Purpose Cleaner

 To save money so I can buy more Scentsy products...I mean to save money for our savings...I began making my own house cleaner. (If you don't know what scentsy is check it out! I accidentally caught a dishcloth on fire with my candle in our little apartment kitchen, so now I only use these warmers) Anyways.... this cleaner has NO CHEMICALS, for that fact alone I love it. I have seen this same recipe using essential oils. I LOVE essential oils but right now they are just a little pricy for us so I use this "copy-cat" mixture.




 






ITEMS NEEDED:
Lemon Peels
Lime Peels (optional) 
Orange Peels (optional) 
Vinegar
Funnel (optional but helpful)
Spray Bottle
Wide-Mouth Glass Jar

EASY STEPS:

--Fill a wide-mouth mason or other glass jar with vinager and your leftover lemon, orange peels and/or lime peels. Let this sit a few days (there is no exact time table, it's personal preference of how much patience you have to wait for the citrus smell). I just throw them in whenever I have lemon or orange peels left over from baking/cooking. You can throw a whole lemon/orange in there too if you want! The sky is the limit.

* If you are in the "extreme-vinegar-smell-hating" club then I would recommend using fresh whole lemons, oranges, and/or limes to assist in overpowering the vinager smell. I use leftovers and I can just slightly smell the vinager, but I know you guys have those extra keen noses.    

   --Once it has reached your desired citrus smell pour the mixture into your plastic spray container (I recycled an empty cleaner bottle, But you can get a spray bottle at the dollar store). As you know, I love funnels so of course I used one! Best invention ever!

* I use this cleaner on my kitchen counters, bathtub, sink.... you name it. I love that it's all natural and no harsh chemicals are being sprayed where I put my food....Happy Cleaning Ladies, Friends, & Mommas!

Valentines Pillow

For Christmas this year my grandparents-in-law bought me a sewing machine...It is so beautiful and wonderful and magical (can you tell I'm excited?!) I was extremely sick on Christmas & pretty much my whole winter break from work. (tear). My poor new sewing machine has just been sitting in the box. For Christmas all I could do was hold the box, it was the least I could to do say thank you! I had my husband put the box in the bed with me so I could read about it as I dozed in & out of sleep. It was pathetic haha. Anyways, a few days ago I was finally able to break the beauty out and put her to good use. I am trying to open an etsy store to earn some $ for my husband and I's missions trip this summer. (They recommend starting with 8 items) Well here is my first successful product! Before I received my sewing machine my sister let me borrow hers for awhile, as well as helped me start getting the motivation to make pillows & such for people to buy. I feel so blessed & supported by those around me...I have no excuses now to put off doing this. I am hoping this week to create eight items and open the store.

*I say hoping because my older sister is getting ready to have her 4th child (she has 3 boys ages 4, 3, & 1). To help her prepare for this upcoming adventure, in addition to the one she is living, I am planning to prepare frozen meals for her growing family. Working full time is a blessing but it makes all these projects a juggle. I am a thankful-stressed lady with bigger plans than time... Oh well, it's part of the fun. This week is going to be full with crafting & baking, we will see how much I accomplish. With one project down, I'm off to a good start (Did I mention that on top of the 8 projects this week I'm also working on a gift project for a baby shower...fun!!!)   

.....let the adventure begin!!

 

This is the living room of our 1 bd. apartment. I'm so thankful for AJ and his flexibility with allowing me to turn our living room into a disorganized-organized (that's what I like to define myself as) crafty mess. This will probably be our realty for the next couple of weeks as I try and plug away at the projects. Aj has been helping me set up an organized area in our living room for crafts..that way my scissors and socks don't have to keep sharing the same drawer in the closet.  (It think he is also helping so he can have the couch back...I don't blame him)   

My beautiful sewing machine! It is amazing! I now need to step up my game and expand my sewing skills. I'm thankful both my momma & mother-in-law sew and are great teachers. I'm looking forward to all I can learn from them. 

 

Lloyd thinks everything is for him! I spent an hour cleaning up and sanitizing the fabric after he decided to have nap time on everything!....He is a cutie though he loves to sit by me when I craft.

"You Will Always Be My Valentine"

Homemade & Hand-painted....with stencils of course

 (If that were my normal handwriting I would be famous)

     

My Wedding

This post has been featured:

 

Aj and I tied the knot 8 months ago...(I realize that is hilariously short and laughable  but I can't believe it has already been that long! After dating for 4 years I thought marriage would never come, now I can't believe 9 months have already flown by! I have been taking the time to look back and remember that crazy wonderful day. I am so thankful to my momma & dad for all the help they put forth to make it all happen. DIY weddings are a blast...and a headache. I was a full time senior in college, the girls RA (Residence Assistant, AKA: mother of the dorm), & full time engaged lady trying to plan my wedding, which was fully DIY. I remember looking up pictures and ideas and it was SOO helpful when I was trying to put everything together. So....I wanted to share my wedding pictures for any bride out there needing some inspirational pictures & evidence of enjoying and surviving their DIY wedding, or for any girl (like myself) who is still obsessed with wedding pictures...esp. vintage & antique. For as long as I can remember I have loved antique items. For me consumerism is lifeless. I love the story behind each belonging tucked away in some shabby chic place.   

Well...without further ado...here is my love story:

After much joking I finally gave in to my dad's idea and got married at my parent's country house...so glad I did..guess dad's do know whats best...sometimes ;)

We used this tree as the main "backdrop" For our pictures..I used one of my best friends as our photographer (& her sister was actually one of my bridesmaid, was so special having them be a HUGE part of the wedding!) 

If you are in the FL area check out A&G Photography...she is so talented as you can see =)

Sisters, friends from college & highschool & actually elementary school too. I let the girl's pick out their dresses. I just told them to find something sundress style in a neutral beige/taupe color. They did a great job and looked amazing too. They loved being able to spend what their personal budget allowed.....all-in-all it was a success.  

My sisters, I was so proud & happy they were there to support me as my maid of honor & matron of honor

Gifts piled in the vintage car

We actually ended up having two vintage cars placed on the property for free from friend's of my parent's. We used this one to hold the gifts at the reception. The other one we drove away in. Hands down it was the highlight of the event. The guests LOVED taking pictures by the antique cars. 

Like I mentioned before this was our "backdrop" I DIY the Chandelier in the background. I found it for $5 @ a flea market & revamped it with paint, glue and of course some bling. The whicker furniture we also bought thrifty (what I call items that came from either thrift stores, garage sales, or flee markets..or by some other crazy "thrifty" means)  and we gave it some fresh paint & a little fixing up. (Can you believe I did all this and was in college full time 2 hours from my parent's home...life was a blurr! 

I am so thankful for all the help I got! 

***Key to DIY Weddings...ASK FOR HELP! DELEGATE!! I am usually shy but the wedding really stretched me to reach out and ask friends & family for help. I learned a lot along the way

 For this smoochers we took a quick stroll through the neighbors empty lot beside the house. 

 I made this pillow & we placed it beside the cupcake table. The pillow now adorns my couch. I love  it, & the memory it represents.

 My sister made these signs for my two nephews to carry down the asile. I am so proud of them they did pretty well!

Naturally, this was one of the best moments of the wedding for me personally, besides, of course, marrying my husband. When I was 2 years old my dad broke his neck in a car accident when he was in the military. He is a quadriplegic  but that never stops him. His usual chair makes him shorter than me, so for the wedding he wanted to be able to walk me down the asile...& he did!!! It was so special to be able to look up into his face and remember his height and strength. I am so proud of him. This was so special to us both. We laughed/cried all the way down the aisle.  (We sprinkled the grass with light pink roses...my fav! It's an easy decor idea for simple elegance) 

 My mom was so busy helping get things together she did not get a chance to help me get ready..but she stole a couple minutes to celebrate with me before things got even crazier  *Brides: take time to breathe and appreciate these moments, they are precious & yet easily overlooked. I am thankful for my older sister who reminded me of this importance. 

Because of logistics Aj and I saw each  other before the wedding. We shared this special moment before the photographer gathered us all together. I loved having him see me for the first time just us...I was able to be me and not have the nerves sabotage the moment. 

Two Comments:  #1 Hard. #2 Fun. 

Aj's groomsmen were all Josh's and Johns!! AHH talk about confusing! Except of course for Petey...Can you guess who that is? lol We had so much fun ...so thankful for blessed friendships. (A friend and I made the boutonnieres with silk fabric and antique keys found in a dumpster. The light blue ties I ordered online for $5!)

Got married on the front porch & Aj's father married us. You can't see it in the pic but there was an antique dresser in front of the door with another chandelier hanging from the ceiling  Looked so pretty.  

I ordered these clutches on Etsy & then I added the blue fabric flower myself. I was really worried about this decision because I love flowers, but I was trying to really use money wisely and for things more lasting than just one day (hence all the decor that is now in my house). I am so glad I was brave & went for it. My bridesmaid's and I loved the clutches! They all loved the little keepsake of them too. I am very glad I chose them. 

 My aunt helped out with the decor and setting up...she got addicted to making those burlap bows with the tulle, but hey I'm not complaining It looked great & I took them apart and now use them for craft material.

 LOVE

I love my parent's house. Country Love *

Aj's family extended family does not believe in dancing...of any kind..and yes it was my wedding but I decided to honor their beliefs. So we stole away and shared a dance for us & for our photographer to capture. 

My uncle took care of the food and served us BBQ...Um yes I ate!! We also had the mason jar goblets..hilarious. 

Okay the dress.....MY FAVORITE PART OF MY WEDDING STORY!!! I found this dress at a thrift store with my mom for $150!!!  God is good!! It fit like a glove! I had the date of my wedding sewn into the bottom of the dress. (in blue thread of course)..forgot to get a picture but I remember & it's special to me.. It is all vintage beading...oh so beautiful..you antique lovers out there understand...they don't make them like they used to. I just kept thinking about the story of the dress & wondering about other women who also walked down in the
beautiful lace gown & what kind of legacy they had...hmmm...it remains a mystery...

The processional music was my favorite song "this will be an everlasting love" It just get's you in the "walking mood" =)  

Instead of favors we had tin buckets filed with ice and old fashioned sodas and Izzies..it was a huge hit! I used the boxed they came in to make a banner sign that hung above the buckets

The curtain in the back is actually painters drop cloths (cheaper way to go to buy fabric that has similar appearance to burlap) & of course my aunts burlap bows adorned the tie backs...cute..and my favorite are the twinkling white lights we had strong above from tree to tre. And you can't tell too well in this picture but we had tea cups hanging with ribbon form a branch in the tree

When it get's late & I get tired...we get ridiculous. 

This is my oldest Nephew Noah..he walked down the aisle carrying one of the signs we made him. The two signs said "Uncle AJ" "Here comes your bride"

We rented table and chairs and rented white table clothes. We then decorated with burlap, lace, and & eclectic antique items for the centerpieces. Each table was different. 

For our cake we had....cupcakes of course! My aunt made these for us as our present. 

Baby's breath...cheap girl's key to wildflower look!

With the big grass area the kids had a blast playing with bubbles, swinging on the rope swing, & the older kids played croquet. It was a family fun affair. 

We had a typewriter @ the guest table when people walked in...guess where we got it...lol yep being "thrifty"

The tables were placed on the concrete driveway so the grass could be used for the picnic blankets and games. (This was a couple who got married a few months after us...so cute...)

For the cake table we used my grandpa's vintage dresser. My younger sister & I made the cake topper and the framed initials  I love the frame...It is hanging above my couch in my living room. I get so many compliments on it & like the pillow I LOVE the memory. 

Our groomsmen & bridesmaid played a few songs on their saxophones. AMAZING! 

My bridesmaid was so kind and made these "thank you" fans for us. We had them near the ceremony in case it got hot or the sun was in the guest's eyes. 

We definitely caked each other good. I had it everywhere...sometimes you got to have a little fun. 

My grandma just recently passed away a little while after my wedding. She was so in love with the vintage items she was caught taking the pearls off the tables. She kept one pair and wore them until the day she passed away. She showed them to everyone and would not even go to bed without them. I feel gratitude to have this as my last memory of my grandma… after all...she is the artist in the family, I have her to thank for my love of glitter & glue.

Picnic blankets & hand painted wooden signs. Hanging above this trunk was the teacups with ribbon.

Thrifty bird cage & burlap "card" sign. I dislike birds ALOT (they hated me first) But I absolutely love the look of vintage birdcages. I am very glad it's filled with cards and $ not feathers and beaks. 

Instead of a guestbook we had them write us a note of encouragement, advice, prayer etc. The box now sits on our bookshelf. I love sitting down and going back over all the notes, some funny some serious. 

This is the white chalkboard that I repainted and use as a "chore list"..or love note board

I love these flower sooo much!!! My bouquet came out exactly as I pictured. I dried them and they are in a pearl-decorated mason jar on my bookshelf. 

 The hubs! =)

We had a kids table for them to paint and draw on..as well as eat on...My uncle cooked them hotdogs in case BBQ was not their thing. (the drink is Malta..a Spanish version of GROSS! lol It is an acquired taste I wish to never acquire..but AJ loves it and so does his family. Since the country was everywhere I had to find ways to incorporate the Hispanic. I was happy to do it as long as I did not have to drink it =)

Flower toss!! I stood on the patio and threw it down. My good friend from college and caught it & is actually soon to be engaged! It was very special. 

My older sister surprised us at the reception with these homemade shirts for my nephews, which reads: "we want cousins!!!" hahaha we still laugh about it....and they still wear them. 

Elijah he is the second oldest of 3 boys...& soon to be another. 

 The antique car we drove away in

.......DIY Weddings are Fun.....