Sunday, July 31, 2011

chalkboard platters

I think it's something in this mountain air...but I've been feelin way crafty lately. Usually, I have all of these ideas, but I can never make them come to fruition (look at that big girl vocab I'm using!) 

I was on Pinterest the other night browsing for some decoration/DIY/crafty things that I could pretend that I would do, but in the end not really do. I found a picture of some old platters that had been turned into chalkboard and got inspired! There's a large wall on one side of my apartment that has been begging for some love. So, after my usual 3 or 4 hour of job searching, I took a break and headed to Deseret Industries Thrift Store to see what I could find. And find I did! 

In case you want to do this yourself, you'll need: 

metal platters from a thrift store - $3 for 3 plates

chalkboard spray paint - $6 at Michael's (they also make normal paint, but I found the spray paint to be easier)

blue painters tape (I didn't use this, but if you want to be real careful and preserve the edges of your platter, then this might be useful) 

ribbon in whatever color matches the room - $2.00 on sale at Michael's 

newspaper

Liquid Nails glue - $4 from Michael's 

nails for hanging - $2.99 for a pack of picture hangers at Target)

soup can (or a hammer...but if you're like me, you can use a soup can...)

3 Bucks for all three of these!!!



Take the platters outside and place them on some newspaper if you don't want to get the ground dirty. If you want, you can put some painters tape around the edges if you want to preserve them but I was too lazy and at this point I just wanted to get them done. I was careful and if I did get the paint on the edges, I took a damp cloth and wiped it. Worked like a dream. A lazy girls dream...


In a sweeping motion, apply a thin coat over the entire platter. If you're trying to keep the sides clean, just be careful and spray it in smaller portions to better control where the paint goes. 


Once they're painted with one coat, let them dry for 30 minutes or so...whenever they're not shiny anymore. Paint a second layer on. This is really important because if you don't paint 2 layers on, the chalkboard effect won't work. So don't skip this! 


Let them dry for a couple of hours until they're semi-dry. You can then add the ribbon. The glue needs to cure on the ribbon over night so if you do this while the paint is almost dry, you don't have to wait twice to let the plate dry and then the glue dry. 


This is what it looks like when they're dry! Take the ribbon and cut it to the length desired. I cut mine to about 12 inches. Enough to hang them easily on a nail. 


Put glue on BOTH the back of the plate and the ribbon. Press and hold in place for like 30 seconds. 


Do the same thing on the other side making sure that the ribbon is going to hang without being twisted like it is above and below. 


Let the plates dry over night. 

The next day, place the nails where you want them to hang. Keep in mind that the plates will hang lower than where the nail is because of the ribbon (This might be obvious, but I made a mistake hanging the first one because I didn't realize it! ha) 


Hang, draw, and ENJOY! 


(the last two images were taken from my iPhone which is why the resolution is fuzzy. :( sorry!) 

I love these! I've got my shopping list on the biggest one and they're just fun to doodle on! :) If you do this one, let me know! I'd love to see how someone else does it! 







Friday, July 29, 2011

Stewart Falls hike! finally!

Since my strep got way better, on Wednesday T and I decided to do the hike we were supposed to do on Monday. It was pretty all day. Sunny, nice, not too hot but not too cold either. Perfect hiking weather right?

So I got my hiking shoes on: 



And got my hiking gear on...(I wasn't quite sure what to wear on a hike. My sister said shorts and a t-shirt, so thats what I wore. ha.) 

Kissed Charlie goodbye and hopped into the car! 

Literally moments after I get into the car and get onto the interstate, I see clouds moving in over the valley. This is something I love/hate about Utah so far. You can literally see the weather moving in...and the weather? It's bipolar sometimes. As I was driving down to Provo, it was raining a torrential downpour over i-15 while west of me on the other side of the valley, it was bright and sunny. Huh?

I figured since Utah weather is very bipolar, it would be nonexistent when I got down to Provo. Welp, I was wrong. I got to watch another storm move across Utah Lake. It was probably the coolest thing I've ever seen, even though it meant our hike probably wasn't going to happen. Bummer man. :( 

BUT WAIT! When I got to T's house, we decided that we'd just take a drive into Provo Canyon and see...maybe we could go anyways. Maybe by the time we got up into the mountains it wouldn't be raining. So we drove up into Provo Canyon and up into Sundance (yeah man, like Sundance film festival!) and then finally to the trail head. And low and behold...it had stopped!!!!

Then...10 minutes into the hike it started to rain. And it continued to rain. And there was thunder. And maybe a little lighting. It was OH SO worth it though! 

T thought this guy was going to the bathroom. I was REALLY hoping he was right, because "that would make a great story for my blog!" yeah. I need help. 




We made it!!! 

We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls on the way back. So pretty! 




Tuesday, July 26, 2011

be thankful

Being thankful is something that sometimes gets tossed by the wayside and only remembered and vocalized around November when families get together to eat themselves into a food coma and watch endless hours of bad football (okay, the bad football part is only if you're a Detroit Lions fan.)

Remember those annoying '25 random things about me' note post thing that everyone was doing on Facebook a few years ago? I did it. It's a way of discovering things about yourself, but at the same time it's a bit narcissistic don't you think?

I was sitting on the couch tonight in a bored stupor from being stuck inside all day thanks to my strep and suddenly I just had this feeling of great thanks. I can't explain where it came from but I suddenly realized how truly blessed I am. I admit that I am one of those people that sometimes forgets how truly lucky and blessed I am. Sometimes, it takes a tradgedy to realize how good you have it. Sometimes, it takes being surrounded by family all day and eating all day to realize that. And sometimes, all it takes is a snoring puppy, a Book of Mormon sitting on your coffee table, and the air conditioning humming keeping you cool to make you realize how truly lucky you are. 


Tonight I decided to make a list of things that I am thankful for. 
1. My entire family. No matter how crazy, loud, overbearing the might be. They're my family and they're everything to me.

2. My dog Charlie. He's kept me sane and grounded for the past two years. I know it's silly to rely so much on a dog, but he is my guardian angel. 

3. My friends. I've met so many wonderful people through blogging and consider them to be part of my inner circle of friends. I also have some of the greatest friends that aren't online and they mean the world to me too. 

4. My testimony. It's been a long time coming, but I finally found where I belong and feel at home. I don't always nourish it like I should and it's still growing day by day, but I know in my heart my testimony is true and strong. Finally. 

5. My mom. She is my rock. My support system. I couldn't do anything without her. She is the most generous, loving, caring, kind person I have ever known. She puts me and my sister above her happiness and if I'm even half the mother to my kids as she is to us, I think I'll have done a pretty good job. 

6. My baby sister. She is also my rock and support system. I'd be lost without her. She makes me laugh despite my tears. She always knows how to cheer me up or when to just be there for me. She is the calm one when I go into one of my melodramatic episodes. She balances me like no one else. 

7. My upbringing. I have led a privileged life that, I'm ashamed to say I sometimes take for granted. The opportunities that have been given to me are beyond measure and I am who I am today because of how I was raised. 

8. T. T gets his own number. T has taught me so many things in the short time I've known him. He's taught me that there are guys out there with hearts of gold. He's taught me I am worthy of being loved. He's taught me what a good relationship looks and feels like. I've had some pretty nasty relationships that had all but destroyed my faith but he's restored that faith. He is the best guy a girl could ever ask for. 

9. Technology. This goes without saying. Without technology, it would be impossible to skype with my mom for over an hour while she's thousands of miles away. It would have been impossible to meet T without technology. 

10. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I already touched on my testimony, but I am also thankful for these two men in my life. I haven't always been close with them or even wanted them around but they stayed, waiting for the perfect time to bring me back into their presence. 

11. Modern medicine. Without modern medicine, I would probably not be able to have children or even see my 50th birthday. 

12. The Pioneers. I look up to these heros so much. Their struggle and journey to the west keeps me inspired and going when I think I've made the wrong decision. 
13. Prayer. I'm learning to be prayerful always. I don't always do it 'right' but I try as hard as I can.

14. The Atonement. He died for me even if I don't come close to deserving it. 

15. Utah. Another weird one, but I finally feel at home here.

I was going to round it off at a nice 15 things but I remembered one more:

16. My life. My entire existence on this planet. I am so happy that I chose to come to earth to be tested and tried and to prove myself to Heavenly Father.  

At 22 years old, I have finally found my place in this world and feel like the next chapter of my life is beginning. I couldn't be more thankful.

(image source) 

Monday, July 25, 2011

This was supposed to be a pretty post!

Yesterday was Pioneer Day which, apparently, is a really big thing in Utah. Fireworks have been going off all week (really super duper annoying if you ask me), there was a parade today, and a lot of businesses are closed. 

Pioneer Day started as a Church holiday to celebrate the Mormon Pioneers that crossed the country in the 1800's. It's a pretty cool holiday and I was planning on doing a separate post on it, but I got lazy. :( So long post in one sentence so I can get to my main story: Pioneer Day means a lot to me because, while I didn't have to cross the country by foot toting a hand cart behind me, I did come to Salt Lake City to find a place where I belong. I really do have so much more appreciation for every single pioneer that made it to the Salt Lake Valley and am thankful for the ones that didn't make it as well. Their pioneer spirit gives me hope and comfort that I really did make the right decision.  

(okay. That was like 3 sentences. But, at least I didn't go off on a tangent right?!) 

So, a lot of places in the valley were closed today, including the company that T works for! Yay Right?! Last night we were talking about what we wanted to do. I didn't really want to go fight the crowds in SLC for the Pioneer Day (and I really didn't want to be there by like 8am either) After a little thinking, T suggested we go on a hike down in Provo Canyon! He said he knew of a really easy hike calle Stewart Falls and that it was really pretty and I would love it. 

After quickly texting my sister to ask what exactly one should wear on a hike (I'm a city girl, okay?!) I agreed and got really excited after I google imaged Stewart Falls. It was really pretty! And of course I got really excited because I'd have some really pretty pictures to go on my blog!

Fast forward to this morning and my sore throat that had been bugging me for the past couple of days hadn't gotten better. :( Then, I looked in the mirror and saw those nasty little white spots that signal one thing: Strep Throat! :( 

So instead of going here: 
(image source)


I spent my morning here: 

:( 

T was a trooper though and was really cool about it. He promised that we could go another time! After my morning at the Urgent Care and Target to get my prescriptions filled, I went home and curled up on the couch with some herbal tea and a sleepy puppy. 

Here's to getting better soon! 

Friday, July 22, 2011

llama llama llama llama llama llama...duck


Llama Fest FTW 


How random is the Hindu temple in the middle of Utah? It's pretty though 

THESE are not llamas. 






BEBE LLAMA


This llama was temperamental. And slightly terrifying. 



Stubborn

Saturday we're going to the Pioneer Day parade downtown AND the aquarium. My weekend is gonna be real nice. :) 

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

llamas, temples, and rainbows oh my!

It's strange how I've only been in Utah for a week but it already feels like home. I mean with a view like this: 
how on earth can you not fall in love with the valley?

When my mom was still in town, we drove down to Orem to have dinner with T (aka the boy) on her last night. After dinner, we took a drive so my mom could see BYU and all that cool Utah goodness. As we were driving, we saw a sign that said : 
LLAMA FEST. 

If there's one thing that you must know it's that I get a little excited and carried away when I like something. In this case, it was my love for llamas that had me begging T to take me the next day. He was a good sport and drove us down to Spanish Fork to see the llamas. The festival was at a Hindu temple in the middle of this rural area. It was such a random place to find such beauty. (when I get the motivation, I'll upload better pictures so you know that I mean) 


From the top of the Hindu temple. 


How lucky is this little girl?! She OWNS a llama! 


There was even a llama obstacle course. 


Last night I was feeling restless. I threw Charlie in the car and went for a drive. I had been pretty down and homesick the entire day and was not in a good mood. Then, I saw...a pretty rainbow! I knew it was Heavenly Father telling me that every thing will be okay. I trust him. 


After the rainbow event, I was feeling more at peace. Something told me I needed to go up to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. This temple is so pretty and for some reason I'm drawn to it more than any other Temple. It was dark by the time I got there, but I got a treat and got to see the entire valley and the Temple lit up. Words can't really describe how I felt then. 







Tonight, T and I had our own little FHE instead of us going to our respective YSA wards. We watched a movie then once it was dark, I drove up to the same Temple that I had visited the night before. I only tried to kill us once by running a red light and crossing 2 lanes of traffic to run said light...T was a good sport about it. If I scared him, he didn't say it. ;) 

We took a walk (or two...or three) around the grounds. The feeling there is so quiet and peaceful. It was kind of cool to see like 3 or 4 other couples just doing what we were doing. One couple was even laying in the grass, staring up at the Temple. 

Even getting attacked by sprinklers three times didn't dampen the mood. ;) 

All in all, these last few days have been pretty awesome. I know I'm going to face trials here but for now, I'm enjoying the ride and loving every second I get to live in this magnificent place. 

Monday, July 18, 2011

Life Should be a party monday!

It's my first Monday in Utah (okay, that's a lie, but it's my first Monday in Utah alone!) and I'm pretty darn happy that I'm here. That alone is reason enough for me to party but after I got thinking about it, I have a lot of other reason's to party this week. 

- I have an interview for a job on Tuesday! 
- I took a drive tonight and ended up at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple and had one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had. 
- I saw a rainbow 
- I've only been here a week but I have the most amazing boy that treats me like gold and loves me for me. (I swear I didn't meet him and fall for him in a week. I'll tell you the story soon. Promise. I'm just waiting for the right time) 
- The boy likes to do silly things like take me to llama festivals because they make me happy. 
- Someday, we're going to have a horse, llama, sheep, and dog farm one day. But no bunnies. Bunnies smell. 
- My 5 boxes that I shipped from Michigan FINALLY got here so now I have even more clothes to put away. 
- My mom and I finished my craft table before she left. Well, not finished but made it look really pretty!
- I have a list of projects I want to do in the event of a 'homesick' emergency. 
- I made it through my first night alone in my apartment with minimal tears. 
- I have the best puppers in the entire world. 
- I'm happier than I have ever been in my whole entire life. 

:) 

So tell me...why is your life a party this week?!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Home :)


We finally made it to Utah! 

I couldn't believe how beautiful the Temple was at night


Sunday I went out to dinner with T and after we went to dinner we took a walk around Temple Square. If you have never seen Temple Square at night I highly recommend that you do. It was the most beautiful place I've ever been. 

Monday we got all moved in to the apartment. We've spent the entire week slowly turning this apartment into a cozy little nest for me. I can't express how grateful I am to have such an amazing woman as my mom. She is the only reason that I haven't had a break down while moving out here. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent making endless Ikea, Target, and Home Depot runs. 

Today was the first time that we got a chance to do a little sight seeing. We braved the scary I-80 stretch of highway through the mountains and drove into Park City. I'll let the photographs tell you how gorgeous this place is. 


The Olympic ski training center. People would 'ski' off the jumps into the pool. It was pretty cool.  


Back to the Valley we go! 

When I saw that I have never been this happy in my entire life, I mean it. Not a second goes by where I don't marvel at what Heavenly Father has given me. I know that I am truly blessed and because of this happiness, I know I'm doing the right thing. It's going to be scary the night my mom leaves and I'm alone. I already have a support system out here and I know that my faith and friends will get me through those tough times. 

I just can't believe I'm finally living here. 

:)