My Wonderful WonderMill

So everyone else always seems so bloggy and cool except for me. I feel like I blog for fun but can never keep up with the popular hipster bloggers. I gave up trying to fit in because quit frankly technology hates me too much for me to ever make it in the internet world. I have happily accepted that my blog is an outlet an may never be read by more than one person a day. Either way it makes me happy so I keep it as an outlet. :) Well all this to say I was actually accepted into one of those cool blogger people get free stuff and write about it challenges. I felt like a kid at christmas! I could not believe I was accepted! I thought at first maybe I just got myself suckered into a scam but low and behold my Wondermill came in the mail as promised!

I thought I might pee my pants with unexpected joy :) I grew up grinding my own flour with my mom and sisters. It made the most incredible bread and I loved the smell of fresh ground flour. But now with my own household it was just an expense we didn't see fitting into the budget anytime soon. EEEEK I now have a mill and all I have to do is use it...um hello no problem there!!! :) My challenge: Make 3 recipes using my new mill and post about them on Wondermill's blog before March 1st. I AM IN HEAVEN! I never ever imagined myself getting accepted. I applied a year ago and was denied. Randomly I received an email in December letting me know the next round was open and they had accepted my application. I can honestly say it was perfect timing. I was getting the blogging blues and it was just what I needed to get my tooshy up and moving.

I was happy when I found wheat berries at Walmart! (not a big selection but hey it will get me started) Good Ol' Wally World. Well just wanted to share that little bit of exciting news.Gotta go don my apron & visit the kitchen :) Happy baking everyone!!

*Here are the links to my recipes:

http://www.grainmillwagon.com/cream-of-wheat/

http://www.grainmillwagon.com/whole-wheat-blueberry-chocolate-chip-muffins/

http://www.grainmillwagon.com/delicious-cornbread-croutons/




Well, I completed the challenge, feels good to say that :)








(The views in this post are 100% my own opinion and are not affiliated with my Wondermill challenge)

A BIG Move

It has been sooo long since I've been able to post and boy have I missed it! Crazy that within just a few months my life turned completely upside down! Aj and I had just moved into a house for rent in FL when 2 months later we prayed about and pursued a job opportunity in Ohio. It was a very bittersweet decision. We were tired and ready for change, but never anticipated that big of a change. After only 2 months in the new rental house we packed up and traveled a very long 23 hours with Lloyd, who took up all the room in the moving truck, to start our new adventure. Just like that everything changed! God really provided for us and gave us a fresh start. Aj loves his new job as senior high pastor and I love being a stay at home wife, for now, and being available to help him and attend the events. I feel too blessed. We miss our family but there is nothing like the peace that fills your life like knowing you are walking in obedience in God's will. So all that to say we are still getting adjusted and I'm TRYING to stay warm in this COLD weather ❄️ I experienced my first white thanksgiving and hopefully will have my first white Christmas too!

-So long from Ohio! 

Funny

I saw this today and thought I would share since it cracked me up :) I always think this at work that I will somehow muster the energy tomorrow to accomplish that one task...hahah then tomorrow it becomes the next tomorrow...Well today I've decided to laugh at this and take it to heart and do the projects I've been putting off...Go me!! ha 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Thursday in joyous expectation of Friday tomorrow :)

Blogging is Cool

Who doesn't love awards?!

Luisa from Living And Learning with Luisa has an amazing blog and has nominated me for the Liebster award. 

 What is this award?

The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. The Liebster award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 or so followers.  What is a Liebster? 

I was wondering what I should post about next...well, now I have some "forced' direction!

This is what Liebster winners have to do:

 1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.

2. Answer the questions that the tagger set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you’ve tagged to answer.

3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.

4. Go to their page and tell them.

 Random Things About Me, 11 to be exact:

1. My husband is a musician but I can't sing a lick to save my life. Playing an instrument is also not in my horizons. I've had to get creative in how I tell people this since I'm asked all the time. I usually just tell them God gave me the worst voice here so I can be the best singer in heaven ;)  

2. I REALLY want chickens and cows..LOTS OF THEM...and a little pink pot-belly pig named Lola! (her name is picked out and everything, I just need the pig)

3. I have double jointed hips that sometimes hurt or get stuck in one position making me feel like the first ever 22-year-old-80-year-old 

4. I was born in Ankara Turkey, (My dad was in the air force) but I haven't been back since I was 2

5. I am scared of clowns...seriously...I'm not okay with whoever invented that as a funny thing..

6. I think mushrooms are a fungus that should just stay in the ground (my husband disagrees)

7. Answering the phone makes my hands and feet sweet. I have a weird phone-phobia, it makes me nervous

8. I played volleyball year round since I was in in 6th grade...but I still can't jump high (I use to just tell my coaches God gave me too big of thighs to get high) 

9. I am a country girl at heart and always will be :) 

10. I hate weeding. My mom used to make me weed the garden instead of getting a spanking. I would cry and ask for the spanking...maybe I was just a weird kid...

11. I love making people laugh...& will embarrass myself to do so

 Questions from my nominator:

1.  What is your favorite Pinterest board?

I love Jill's board about her dream craft room. Since I currently live in a 1 bedroom apartment with a harry dog and a man (get the picture?) my craft room is still in my dreams. 

(here is the link: http://pinterest.com/jillfritz126/my-dream-craft-room/)

2.  How much time would you estimate you spend on your blog daily?

Since I still work full time and have now just taken a second job as a volleyball coach I usually spend about 1-3 hours daily on my blog, if that. 

3.  Who is your inspiration/favorite blogger?

I really love the simplicity of Kelly's blog at Smart.School.House  & of course I love the quirkiness of the Pioneer Woman

4.  Where is your favorite place to shop for home decor?

With my money: The Goodwill & garage sales 

Free money: Pottery barn & Crate & Barrel 

5.  Where is your favorite place to vacation?

NC in the mountains I like hiking when it's cold so I can hide my food fat in my winter clothes....bathing suit season is not a vacation, its stressful! :)

6.  What is your favorite crockpot dish?  Feel free to share recipe 

 I literally survive all meals with my crockpot! One of my favs is making applesauce since I & use it for breakfast and for baking.   This is a good recipe I use and it's easy to doctor it up too: http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-applesauce-69127

7.  Do you have hoarding tendencies?

Glitter, Buttons, Ribbons & all things crafty. Seriously, my crafts are taking over our living room, just ask my husband...I'm a few crafts short of being put on a TLC hoarders show.

8.  What do you change out the most in home decor?

Pillows! I absolutely love pillows & am constantly making new ones  

9.  Do you feel like you are living the life you want to live or is there something else that you want to do or wish you were doing differently?

Sometimes I wish I had tattoos all over and was a girl rock drummer/singer in a band...but I just don't think I was given the personality for it, or the talent....oh well...

10.  If so, what’s keeping you from doing it?  If not, good for you!

Tattoos are too painful to have them all over...oh and I can't drum...or sing...I just don't think it's going to happen anytime soon

11.  If you had no electronics whatsoever, what would you be doing right now?

Sitting on a country porch somewhere, like this one, sipping on some good o'l sweet tea!!! 

My work would never be able to find me ;)

Here are my chosen 11, These are great blogs check them out:

1. Chelsea at Ideas Coming True

2. Sara at Life of a Med School Wife

3. Jamey at Simply Animated

4. Courtney at Marriage with a Baby Carriage

5. Britiany at Crafty Craziness and Life

6.Mandi at All My Happy Endings

7. Lacey at Sunny + Turquoise

 

8. Natalie at La Gang a Nat

9. Shelby at It's Always Sonny

10. Holly at Not Done Growing

11. Lorraine at Cooking for the Seven Dwarfs

Okay winners, grab a cup of coffee and answer these 11 questions about yourself...don't worry it's not a personality test:

1. Why did you start blogging, what inspired you?

2. What is your favorite household/kitchen item?

3.What is your favorite food?

4. What is the first thing you notice about people?

5. If you were a Crayon what color would you be and why?

6.What is one aspiration that you have?

7. Scary movies or Happy endings?

8. Do you have a special or perhaps secret talent?

9. Were you named after someone special or a family member?

10. What do you do most of the day?

11.Where is your ideal getaway place?

If you won the Liebster Award & participated leave me a comment with your link so I can see who joined in the fun.

5:30 Brownies

These are my 5:30 brownies, that's what I'm calling them. I woke up the other morning and decided what I needed to get through my day at work was a batch of homemade brownies. So I got my booty out of bed at 5:30am and I whipped up some "healthy" brownies in my PJ's and apron before work. I used a "healthy" recipe (using coconut oil, honey, & maple syrup) but for this brownie pining they needed the "unhealthy" addition of sugar. However, seeing as how only one eye was able to fully open at that time in the morning, I'm not actually sure what when in them or how much of what...So they are my mysterious "healthy" not-so-good-but-really-good-to-me brownies. I do know this, that extra sugar did not get added in...oops...It's probably for the best considering I started out the morning with 5 (they were small squares, don't judging me) and ended the day with a few more. I figured out that if you ate them with strawberries and quickly drank milk they tasted almost like normal brownies...almost. Anyways, all this to say I survived work that day with my 5:30 brownies. They tasted terribly amazing. I was in the chocolate mood so let me tell you, they hit the spot. It worked out perfectly too since no one else had quit the craving I did and left me to my sugarless, chalk-like brownies.

We all need a good smile now and then...however...I recommend just sleeping in a little more before work...that day was a blur

Family

Titus is here! On Feb 11th my 4th nephew Titus Robert was born! I don't know about you but I know that family can be such a sweet blessing in your life. My sister and brother-in-law currently live about 2 hours away. So far I have had the privilege of being there for 3 of my sister's four births. I love my nephews more than I can describe. They have been a comfort, joy, and a tool of bonding in our family. My sister is a trooper! Four boys, ages 4 and under! I am learning so much from her..and I know that I will have a great support system when its my turn to be a mom.  Kristen & Rob are raising up little loving gentlemen! So thank them people, we all know we could use some more of those around ;) 

The boys: 

Left to right: Jude 20months , Elijah 3, Titus, & Noah 4yrs old

Krisen, Rob & Titus

Titus

This is Jude...he has just discovered he is not the baby anymore..poor Jude

Titus & Daddy

To help Kris out I spent an entire Saturday baking goodies to fill her freezer. The boys love muffins and breads..who doesn't'!? It was actually pretty fun until the end of the day when all I wanted to do was sleep. Every ounce of our tiny apartment counter space was occupied, including our dinning room table & floor.    

I made 2 batches of:

Banana Muffins, Zucchini Muffins, Raisin/Cinnamon Bread, & Pancakes

 

While I worked on the muffins I had the bread machine going on the floor with the cinnamon raisin bread. I then stopped to make a Caramel Macchiato.  

 

You can't have good food with no labels! I sat down and wrote on the Ziplocs with a sharpie before filling them with the goodies. The goodies were then packaged away in the freezer. (For the pancakes I went ahead and made up most of them, the rest of the batter I froze for later)

And then of course during my stay I also helped my mom & other sister Kay with baby-duty:  

Jude wearing Uncle Aj's helmet

To all mom's out there...keep up the good work! You are a blessing to your children and a hero to your home...and to me :)  

Noah and baby brother Titus

All in all the trip was amazing and the boys love their new baby brother! I loved getting to see my family.

What's your family story this week?  

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.....