Taking a little break...

Hello, friends. In case you haven't noticed, I've decided to take a short break from blog world. I probably should have explained this before my mysterious disappearance, but since I can't go back in time, I will go ahead and explain it now :).

I suppose it's something that other bloggers will understand. Do you ever get the feeling that you just can't keep up? That it's too much? For the past few weeks, I kept looking at all of the amazing blogs out there with their creative ideas, beautiful houses, and organized lives and honestly just became a little drained and burnt out trying to keep up. How on earth is a girl supposed to do all of that and keep up with up with a house, a job, and a happy social life away from the computer? I mean seriously, I don't know how some people do it. So I decided to step away for awhile, and I'm happy to report that it's done me some good.  Really, any time something stops being fun and starts to feel like work, especially if it's a hobby (like blogging), I just have to step back and re-evaluate why I started doing it in the first place. I hope that makes sense. I was just feeling very creatively drained....which is no good for someone who likes to be creative.

Anywho, I'm back! I still have several more days of the 30 for 30 Challenge to share, and I am hoping to get multiple outfits posted at once so that we can be forever free from this never-ending challenge! I have to confess, we still haven't taken pictures of some of the outfits because unfortunately, my husband disappears once football season starts, so I lost my camera man for the last few days. Bummer. But, I'm hoping to get caught up this weekend!

I hope you all are still out there and willing to read. I will be going back to normal posting in the next few days.

Talk to you soon!

Recipe: 45-Second Apple Cinnamon Cake

Alright friends, I'm back today with another recipe. The 45-Second Apple Cinnamon Cake. I promise you....this is de-lish. Here is what you will need:

-2 tbsp flour
-1 tbsp sugar (I used Truvia)
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1 packet of instant apple cider mix (I used Sugar Free Alpine Cider)
-1/4 tsp baking soda
-Pinch of salt
-2 tbsp milk
-1 tsp vegetable oil
-1/4 tsp vanilla extract
-A little bit if honey

Mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon, cider mix, baking soda, and salt in a small cereal bowl or mug. Add the milk, oil, and vanilla extract and stir in. Place the mixture in microwave fore 45 seconds. Make sure not to cook it too long. Some may need to cook it longer, others may need to cook it a little less. Once the cake is done, drizzle some honey on top. Enjoy!

This is my new favorite dessert. I LOVE it. And I'm pretty sure it's not too terrible for you either (if you use Truvia or Splenda instead of sugar). I added everything up....something like 100 calories.....not bad!

Let me know if you tried it/loved it/hated it! (Well, I'm pretty positive you won't hate it haha).

Have a great Tuesday! DIY Floral Arrangements will be back next week, promise!

Featured on Remodelaholic!

Hi friends!

So today is really exciting because our Master Bathroom is being featured on Remodelaholic! Click here if you want to read the post.

It's almost Friiiiiiday. Hallelujah. Talk to you all tomorrow!

Back to Work

We've taken a little break from house projects, but that's all going to change this weekend. I'll go ahead give you a few hints as to what we're going to start working on in the next few days.:

Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com via Katy on Pinterest

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Katy on Pinterest

Source: 6thstreetdesignschool.blogspot.com via Katy on Pinterest

Source: everythingetsy.com via Katy on Pinterest

Source: younghouselove.com via Katy on Pinterest

That's right! The "Gray Room" (as we refer to it) will finally begin to undergo its long-awaited makeover. If you remember, we did a nice little clean-out of it last spring, but it's just kind of been sitting there ever since. My initial plans to make it into a craft room only have changed a bit (I think we will be putting a bed in there as well), but I still want it it to have a large work space for blogging, sewing, and crafting. Who knows what it will look like in the end....my ideas and plans tend to change even more once we begin working on a space haha.

I'm also pretty obsessed with offices in closets....they are just such a great space saver when you don't have much room. Maybe I should do something like this instead... (Pardon me, I don't have sources for some of these!)

Source: abcthatsme.tumblr.com via Katy on Pinterest

Hmmmmm, decisions, decisions. What do you think? I need some opinions here. Are you all for office closets or are you over them? Should I try to combine an office/craft room and a bedroom? I'm not a fan of clutter....so that idea scares me!

Have a great day! See you all tomorrow.

Recipe: 45-Second Chocolate Chip Cake

Ya'll are going to hate me. Why? Well, because I'm about to get you addicted to something that I know isn't too healthy for you. No, it's not smoking. Or drugs (HA)....it's cake.

I've been noticing these "instant" single serving chocolate cakes all over Pinterest, so I decided to give in and try this one, which (of course) I fell in love with (although I added chocolate chips to the original recipe). This new discovery lead me to begin thinking about what other types of instant cakes I could come up with.

Ever since then, I've been in cake heaven. Today I'm going to share with you one of my own creations: The 45-Second Chocolate Chip Cake.

I cannot even begin to tell you how good this is. It's better than any chocolate chip cookie you've ever had, and it only takes about 5 minutes to make from start to finish.

Ingredients:

-2 tbsp flour
-1 tbsp sugar (I used Truvia)
-1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
-1/4 tsp baking soda
-Pinch of salt
-2 tbsp milk
-1 tsp vegetable oil
-1/4 tsp vanilla extract
-1-2 tbsp chocolate chips

Mix the flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt in a small cereal bowl or mug. Add the milk, oil, and vanilla extract and stir in. Mix in chocolate chips. Place the bowl/mug in microwave for 45-55 seconds. Make sure to not cook it too long! Sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top once it's cooked.

Serve and enjoy!!

I think we can all tell that I liked mine :). I also made an AMAZING apple cinnamon version that I will share in the near future. Seriously, this may have replaced apple pie as my all time favorite dessert.

DIY Floral Arrangements will be back next week!

Have a great and happy day, everyone.

I'm Loving...

1. Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Color in Twinkle: Ya'll. I am obsessed with this. It's bad. I'm actually wearing it right now and I'm in my pajamas. Judge if you must.

2. Lulu Frost Code Rings: I love the look of a dainty gold ring. Especially one you can stack with other rings. I would totally stack our wedding date or maybe the birth dates of our future kiddos. Just one problem...they are $440. Each. Booooooo. A girl can dream, right?

3. Red Skinny Jeans: I just bought a pair of these! I am SO pumped for my 30 for 30 to be over with so I can wear them. I have about 234,456,321 outfit ideas for these babies in my head. My main inspirations can be found here, here, and here.

4. MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation: I recently switched from my old powder (also MAC) to this (in NW20). Not on purpose either. I couldn't remember the name of my original powder (typical), so the MAC girl had to guess which one it was after hearing my clueless ramblings on all things powder-related. She didn't guess correctly, but that's completely fine with me. I. Am. In. Love. This stuff creates such a flawless look and doesn't have to be touched up during the day. Definitely a keeper.

5. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Certainly Red: I don't wear red lipstick too often, but I never regret it when I do. It's funny because I had just gone out and bought this along with my beloved Maybelline Twinkle (listed above) when Sydney from The Daybook posted this. So weird! I think we're supposed to be friends. She would definitely be the cooler of the two of us though.

6. Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Kitty, Kitty: I don't know how it is where you live, but I'm pretty sure every girl around here has a set of these. I'm actually wearing them on my nails right now and can't stop looking at them. Glitz Blitz is another favorite as well.

7. Black and White Striped Sweaters/Skirts/Cardigans/Tees: Stripes are everywhere, and have been for a while, but I just now hopped on the bandwagon and purchased an amazing striped cardigan at Ross ($12.99...holla) that I cannot WAIT to wear. Inspiration found here, here, here, and here. (Can you tell that I'm obsessed with The Daybook? Don't answer that.)

What are a few of your current obsessions?

DIY Matte Boards

Hi friends. Hope everyone has had a wonderful week so far. It's blowing my mind that it's already Thursday--things have been super crazy around here!

I recently purchased these amazing vintage botanical prints from Ebay with the hopes of framing and hanging them in our bedroom. I was pretty happy to buy all of the frames at Michael's with a 50% off coupon and quickly began my quest for the perfect matte boards. That search came to a screeching halt however when I realized that the prints sizes were 6.75"x9". Apparently, you can't buy pre-made matte boards in that particular size. Annoying. On top of that, I found out that custom-made matte boards from good old Hobby Lobby were $20. Each. Also annoying.

Since I'm seriously cheap, I set out to find a way to make custom matte boards on my own. After briefly considering white card stock, I decided that I wanted to use something a bit more substantial. And then I came across the one and only Foam Sheet. Fifty cents at Hobby Lobby. Holla!

Here is the final product:

Now, this isn't rocket science, but I figured I would fill you all in on a much more affordable way to make a custom matte board if the need arises.

First, go to your local craft store and grab a few large foam sheets.

Next, grab your husband and have him first measure the size of your frame (and cut the foam sheet accordingly), and then measure the size of the print (and again, cut accordingly). Take lots of pictures and make him mad.

Assemble everything like you normally would and then....watch out! Prepare to be amazed at how great your masterpiece looks.

Just the right amount of depth and texture. I honestly can't tell that my "custom matte boards" are really foam sheets. Can you?

Don't forget to enter the UPrinting.com Giveaway! Last day, friends. Get it while you can.

P.S. I'll probably link this post to a couple of link parties which can be found HERE. Check them out!

Adios!!