Vintage Self Portrait Session

Thrifting Finds

I decided to stop off at Goodwill on my way home from work today, and much to my delight, I found several really cute decor items!  I don't think I've ever had so much luck in a thrift store.  Here's what I picked up:

(And all together, it cost less than $14!)

First, my favorite find...

Cool frame...

I intend to paint the inside of this jar...

Sparkly trash can...

"Crackle" vase for above my kitchen cupboards...

Lastly, this is boring, but I needed salt and pepper shakers (50 cents)...

(All found at the Middleburg Heights Goodwill in Ohio)

I'm Back! (Cleveland Skyline)

I obviously haven't blogged on here in FOREVER, and I have been wanting to start again on a regular basis.  I would like to take this time to ask you what you would like to see my blog about.  I welcome all suggestions/requests!  Comment below :)

To get back in the swing of things, I've decided to make a very informal post.  These are simply photos I have shot with my iPhone through the past year of the Cleveland skyline from the top of the parking garage I park in at work.  Enjoy.

 

Cleveland Rocks.


All photos taken with Instagram.  View my Instagram here.

Be sure to check out the sneak peek from the wedding I shot over the weekend on my other blog by clicking the link below.  :)

Ryan and Jessica Carr

This Is Home

I was on my way home from a wedding rehearsal in the rolling hills of Butler, OH today and couldn't resist pulling off to the shoulder and snapping some shots of the beautiful sunset and sun-kissed crops.  The song "Home" by Sheryl Crow came to mind as I shot (listen/view below).  The video reminds me so much of my hometown.  All four photos were shot less than 2 miles from my parents' house in Ashland, OH.

These photos speak for themselves.  Click on the image to view it larger :)

Coral Shorts!

I can't wait to wear this outfit!  I am so glad I finally found coral shorts (at American Eagle Outfitters).  What do you think?  With the hat (found in the bargain bin at Target), or without?

I ❤ neon

Project: Redecorate

I'm almost finished with the redecorating process for my living room/dining room.  I've (obviously) decided to go with pale teal/blue and coral.  Most of the decor you'll see was very inexpensive, and some handmade/spruced up.

I have started collecting mason jars ever since I saw a post on Pinterest whee someone painted the inside of them used them as a flower vase.  I decided to paint the outside of a couple jars (with acrylic paint) on a whim one day after I finished painting my walls, and I realized they look really cute and make adorable tea light holders.  The flickering firelight shining through the paint is such a neat and rustic look (I'll have to post a photo of what they look like with lit candles inside in another post).  I just took some twine to one jar (so cheap), an elastic hair tie with a flower attached ($1 at The Dollar Tree) to the other jar, and threw an old bottle in the mix.  The whole combo looks extremely cute on my divider/bar thingie between my kitchen and dining room, if I do say so myself. :)

You just can't go wrong with Bed, Bath & Beyond candles and accessories.  Period.

Luckily, in the past several months, I have received several magazines in the mail that just happen to coordinate with my color scheme perfectly!  I, of course, had to incorporate them into my coffee table "centerpiece".  I also got a cute blue canvas storage bin (you see it underneath the coffee table) to put the remainder of my magazines in.

Here's the no-sew pillow case I made (In the post previous to this).  The 2 blue pillows on either side look cute in the photo, but they just weren't working for me, so I returned them.  I'm still trying to find 2 throw pillows that work with the color scheme and whole feel of the room.  Note the out-of-season snowflake throw blanket on the back of the couch.  Don't make fun, it matched perfectly, so I don't really care (lol).

Yet another rewind to a pervious post I did.  I had asked my dad if he had any old frames I could use for a photo shoot, and he brought me a box.  This one caught my eye, and even though it was PLASTIC (yes, plastic), I decided I not only would use it for the shoot, but for wall decor in my living room.   It actually looked like wood, in color, but I painted it with the same acrylic paint that I used on the mason jars (I'm not sure how long acrylic paint holds up, but I figure it was an easy/safe choice considering I won't be handling these items often.  Also, there are almost endless color possibilities with acrylic paint, and they come in such small amounts, which just makes the most sense for stuff like this).

If you want to know how I made this monogram, click here.  It was rather tedious, but worth it.

No-Sew Pillow Case

Saw this idea and had to try it.  It was so easy!

You just need an old ugly pillow (or a new one, your choice), 2 cloth napkins, an iron, fabric hemming tape (preferably extra strength/super strength), and scissors.  The photos should be self explanatory enough to walk you through the steps, and just follow the instructions for the hemming tape.  I will definitely be doing this again!

Tahini Yogurt Dip/Sauce

What you'll need:

1 cup plain greek yogurt (I used Fage, my favorite)
1/2 cup diced cucumber (preferably seedless, 1/2 cup is about 1/2 a normal size cucumber)
1 tsp dried minced onion (you can also use fresh onion, finely diced)
2 tsp dill
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
salt and/or pepper to taste

What you'll do:

So simple!  All you need to do is dice the cucumber finely (I used my handy, dandy Ninja) and mix all the ingredients together.  I love Lebanese cuisine, and I go crazy for this sauce every time I eat it.  It doesn't compare much to Aladdin's, but it's such a quick and simple recipe.  Once again, it was one of those things I came up with while rummaging in my "Mother Hubbard's Cupboard" (as I sometimes like to call it) for something to snack on one night.  It's great with the new Dill Trisuits or pita for dipping.  I'm going to make chicken gyros sometime soon with it, I'm sure it would be delish.

Old to New

Mozzarella and Spinach Croissants

Okay, so it's one of those random days when I decide to experiment with the random ingredients in my fridge. Today I discovered a delightful idea for an appetizer/finger food.

What you'll need:

Croissant Dough (pre-made in the can, or homemade)

Fresh Spinach leaves

Mozzarella String Cheese Sticks

Olive Oil

Basil

Fresh Ground Pepper

Garlic Powder

What you'll do:

This is so simple. First, you'll preheat your oven based on the directions on the croissant package. Next, saute the spinach leaves in a couple tablespoons of olive oil, a sprinkle of basil and a dash of garlic powder. This should not take long at all, just saute the leaves until they turn bright green, then set them aside (leaving them in the skillet). Prepare the croissants by laying them out on a cookie sheet evenly spaced out. I almost always use aluminum foil to cover my cookie sheets (Mainly because my cookie sheets look awful and are covered in almost irremovable grease. Plus, it's extremely easy cleanup!). Next, cut the string cheese sticks in half, placing half a stick long-ways against the widest end of the croissant dough. Next, top the cheese with 3-4 sauteed spinach leaves (you can use more if you're a huge spinach fan). The next part is easy, just roll the croissants up as you usually would, but be sure to pinch off any openings where cheese might melt and leak out. Once the croissants are rolled up, brush a mixture of olive oil, fresh ground pepper, and basil over the top. Now, just bake them based on the directions on the croissant label. **Be sure to keep an eye on them. For some reason, I find that those pre-made croissants seem to almost always burn on the bottom, even when you follow the directions. So, I cut off a couple minutes. They seem to taste better when they're a tad bit doughy anyway.** These are best served right away, so if you're making them as part of a meal, try to plan them as the last thing to be done so the cheese is still melty and gooey when served. I can't wait to make these again! Enjoy!

(click on images to view larger)