Goodbye 2011, Helloooo 2012!!

Whew, it has been a long time since I sat in front of my computer and wrote. Why? Because my Christmas present this year was my computer crashing on me. Thankfully, I brought it in and they fixed it up to perfection!! I had a whole week without my computer and actually I didn't realize how much time I spend surfing the net. I had all this time on my hands that I didn't know what to do with. It was a good week of movie watching and cat cuddling, and now its back to facebooking and blogging (maybe me computer should crash more often...) 

Anywho, I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and for those who didn't celebrate it, I hope you had a wonderful day! Personally, I love Christmas. It's one of my favorite holidays of the whole year, besides my birthday of course :) Now Christmas is over and we're moving onto the new year. It's time to ditch those new years resolutions, because you already know you're not going to go through with them. Don't worry about losing that twenty pounds or making five new friends, just start the year fresh and whatever happens, happens. So with that, Happy New Year everyone!! Say goodbye to 2011 and say hello to 2012!!




Talkative Tuesdays- Just another day in paradise



It's love <3

I had my last two finals today!! I am officially done with school  for a monthish, feels so good! Now I can put my procrastination skills to better use, like sleeping and napping and other activities that involve laying in bed............ Other than kicking exam butt, today has consisted of cleaning and relaxin' with my fur ball, which I consider my paradise. Nothing is better than snugglin' up to my kitty and listening to some music. I forced him into yet another webcam photo shoot, he loves it. Oh! fun fact, my cleaning turned into dancing which then turned into recording it. I have wicked dance moves yo.

Anywhooooo, I had to drop off my textbooks today at the UPS store and let me give you a little pointer. DO NOT ever go there right when they open. I almost had a heart attack! For starters, I never went to this particular UPS store before, which was also connected to their warehouse. So I get there right when all the big brown trucks are getting ready to leave and I pull into the parking lot and just get bombarded with about fifty trucks. I'm in my little ol' Oldsmobile thinking I'm about to be run over and they just keep flying by me. I started to tear up (because I'm a crier in these types of situations) and drive out of there because I freaked and didn't know what to do. 

Short story shorter, I waited in the opposite building's parking lot for all the trucks to leave before I made my way in. I finally dropped my package off after waiting in line for twenty minutes. There are surprisingly a lot of people that like to drop packages off that early too. Conclusion, I probably won't ever go back there again, unless it's after 9:30am.  

So goodbye, au revoir, bless, arrivederci, zayt gezunt, and g'dayyyyyyyyyyy

xoxo
kelly elizabeth

Reminiscing....

Hello bloggers, it's been a while. Just a quick update, I do have a delicious Christmas recipe coming up for you guys. I'm so excited to make them!! But enjoy this little tid-bit for the time being. :)

So Dana over at The Wonder Forest got me looking into old pictures on my computer and rethinking those days that they were taken. I wanted to share with you guys some of my favorite ones.


This one was taken a little over a year ago during the fall months. We went to a pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins for Halloween and of course the whole thing turned into one big photo op. This photo has to be my favorite from that day though, it just makes me feel like everything looked so simple. Also, the fact that I was getting a wagon ride makes it that much better. I love it!!  


Here's another good one. This picture was taken during Toga Day. For those of you who have no idea what Toga Day is, it's a day for all the seniors to dress up in togas during homecoming week. It's really just a day for all the girls to deck out in their Greece wear and the boys to go commando underneath their togas (yes, it happens). 


This little boy filled my heart for most of the year last year. I babysat him for a good amount of the year and he was the most amazing kid I ever met. He's only four years old and I could probably bet he's smarter than Albert Einstein. This kid knew everything, he taught me something new every day and I couldn't miss him more. This is also my favorite picture of him and I can't help but smile when I see it. :)


This picture was taken back in 2010 when I took a trip to Peru. We stayed for two weeks and ended the last four days with a hike along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This photo was taken on the second day and this was the view that I woke up too. Let me tell you, it was breath taking, the picture just does not do justice. This is by far the best view I have ever seen and waking up to something like this is indescribable.

That's it, those are just a few of my favorite pictures from last year. It's amazing all the memories one little photo can hold. I hope you all enjoyed them! 

xoxo
kelly elizabeth

Don't Stress!!



For students like me it's that time of year again. No, not Christmas. Final exams (dun dun dun)!! The week of hair pulling, nail biting, and late night cram sessions. Why we put ourselves through this stress, I don't know, I'm still trying to figure that out. I'm in the same boat as everyone else and I'm beginning to feel the stresses of all the things I need to get done and handed in. I continue to tell myself to try and take a break every once and a while and return to the workload later (it really helps) And remember, your life will not end if you do poorly on one stinkin' exam. Calm down, take a breather, and RELAX! 

I came across a few simple ways to relive your worries and wanted to share them with you. Hopefully some of these easy stress relievers will help you along the next few weeks. Enjoy!!

Balloon Stress Balls
(Click the image to view the full tutorial) 

These simple lentil stress ball are super easy to make and will really help get some stress off your back. I found these fabulous little guys on the Disney Family Fun site.  They take only a few minutes to make! Go ahead, squeeze some balls (I had to, sorry!) 


Take a short walk

When stress has got the best of you, stop everything, get up, and take a walk!! I know it's cold outside (in most places) right now but suck it up. Breathing in some fresh air will wake you up and re-energize you. Take a short stroll around your block or if you got a nice trail near your place, take it! I'm not saying you have to look as happy as the lady in the picture, but if you are, all the power to ya.


Chamomile Tea

I absolutely LOVE chamomile. I drink it all the time a hour or two before I start getting ready for bed. It helps me wind down and get a good night sleep, especially during exam week. Chamomile also has so many health benefits like helping with eczema and stomach cramps. It also helps cure anxiety, which is really great for those who get nervous or anxious around exam time. My favorite way to brew it is to fill my cup up and pour in the honey. So yummy!!


LUSH Bath Bombs
(click the image to view the LUSH site)

I don't know about you guys, but baths are pretty fricken amazing. Sitting in a tub of warm water, music playing, and candles burning is one of the best feelings ever. I recently discovered LUSH, a bath and cosmetics company. They make homemade hair products, skincare, and also their fabulous bath bombs. You throw them in the tub or even a shower and they explode with wonderful scents. The "Ne Worry Pas" bomb is made to wash away your worries and help you calm down. It's made with soy milk which helps your skin feel soft and refreshed. Take a look at their super fun site and maybe you'll fall in love just like me.


Tuna
I'm not a big fan of tuna, but when I saw all the health benefits of eating it, I might actually try it out. Tuna or any source of fatty fish is great for a quick mood lifter. Tuna has Omega-3 fatty acids that improves the flow of blood throughout the body. The acids affect hormones that have an important effect on brain function which will boost your mood and get you up and going again. If you don't like eating it alone I found this amazing looking casserole that is also super healthly! Check it out!


(click the image to view the recipe)



SMILE

It's really that simple! Think of something that puts a smile on your face. It's proven research that smiling causes your body to release feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which helps relieve stress. Hopefully this picture of an adorable blog kitten will do just that! Kitten's make me smile. It's also been studied that just thinking about a smile can do the same. So if it's physically impossible for you to smile or you just like looking grumpy, think about a smile and start feelin good!


I hope these quick and easy stress relievers help all you stressful students out there get through exam week. Most importantly, stay calm, it'll all be okay!!

-kelly elizabeth

Winter Snow Globes



These were really fun to make and of course, SUPER EASY!! There are so many different possibilities to do to make your own personalized snow globe. So give it a try!!

Materials Needed:
-Mason Jars, any shape or size (with lids to fit!)
-Glitter and more Glitter
-Figurines
- Glycerine
-Super Glue

To begin, grab the lid to your jar and glue the figurine to the bottom side of the lid. Then glue the lid with the figurine attached, to the inside of the jar screw thing. (I hope you know what I mean, I don't know what to call them. lol) 

Next, take your jar and fill it almost completely with water. They say to use distilled water, but I just used tap (no need to be fancy, right?) Account for the displacement of the water when you put the figurine in. Then drop a few drops of glycerine into the jar and stir. The glycerine helps the glitter to slow down and fall more nicely. Pour as much or as little of glitter in as you want, any color. 

Finally, screw the cap on and give it a little shake to shake up the glitter. You will notice some air bubbles, it is kind of hard to get rid of them but that's okay!! Set your homemade snow globe on a windowsill to get the best affect when the sun shines through. 

 
My favorite little snowman!!

Thanks guys!!
-kelly elizabeth

Talkative Tuesdays-an old friend

"Sometime people are beautiful,
 not in looks, not in what they say, 
just in the way they are."
-Anonymous 


Currently listening to: Alan Jackson- "Drive" 

Here goes the second installment of Talkative Tuesdays and today's talkative topic is this purdy little lady Nicole, Nikki, Nikita. The reason I'm dedicating this post to her is because she's coming home for the first time in a long time and I couldn't be more excited. She joined the Navy after graduating and has been in Texas for too long. Tomorrow will be the first time in a long time that she will be home. :) I'm still running off the excitement from the news when she told me this past weekend. Bria and I are driving down to Milwaukee right after class and picking her up at the airport. The airport scenes from movies continue to play through my head. The tears, the joy, and the laughter that will come when she steps into view...so exciting!  

So, of course, here's a little play by play of our beautiful life together. (How romantic)


  Nikki is my brother from another mother and has been since we were little munchkins playing state tag in the schoolyard. She's like my own personal Snookie (because of her height, not her ghettoness). We spent countless summers together going to the mall to shop but ending up only buying food, we were fat, no need to hate. Having my best friend live right down the street from me was probably one of the best things ever. Walk five minutes and ding dong, I'm there. Movie marathons were a weekly thing for us, many consisted of the crappy low budget horror movies. 
Side note: do not rent/purchase/watch The Bog Creatures!! 
Our friendship continued through middle school and into high school, through boyfriends, horrible teachers, and laughing silently like a retarded seal. Of course we had our fall outs, what friendship doesn't? But that doesn't matter now because all is good. I'm picking her little five foot booty up tomorrow and I'm going to give her the biggest bear hug that she's ever received. 



There's a million different stories I could tell you guys that involved Nikki. One night, we stayed up for hours laughing about different types of laughs. Like who does that? We were psychotic back then, I understand it now. On a camping trip with the fam fam, somehow I ripped a chunk of Nikki's hair out and juice boxes were flying everywhere. Or crying over Lost characters when they died or went missing, we were OBSESSED with that show. Watch it now, you'll be addicted. I could go on and on and I'm hoping the second we're reunited we can continue to make fools of ourselves and make memories. :) I miss you like crazy dude. 

Cinnamon and Pecan Monkey Bread


"Yummy yummy, I got love in my tummy" <3

By far my favorite recipe I have yet made. My bestie Bria helped out, which made it quite interesting. If you're on a diet this is definitely not the recipe for you, because there's more butter and sugar in it than in anything I have ever seen. But if you're looking to indulge for one night or two, stop drooling and get to it!

Ingredients needed:
3 packs dry yeast 
3/4 warm water
3 3/4 warm milk
1 c butter
3/4 c sugar
6 eggs
3 tsp. salt
9 cups flour 
bundt cake pan 
2 bags of chopped pecans

Caramel Sauce
2 c brown sugar
3/4 c butter 
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Sugar Mix
3 c sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 c melted butter
(These measurements work for 2 pans of bread!)

First, you may see that the measurements for all the ingredients are kinda messed up. That's because we kinda played around with them to see what would work best. These measurements work for 2 pans so cut in half if your wanting to only make one.

Alright lets begin :)

1. Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Then slowly stir in the heated milk, making sure not to 'kill' the yeast by adding it too fast. Then add the beated eggs, sugar, salt, and melted butter. Add the flour until dough is firm. Knead for about 6-8 minutes or until smooth then roll into a ball and throw it in a bowl, covered. Let it rise until it has doubled, about 2 hours. 

2. While waiting you can mix up the caramel sauce and sugar mix that you'll be using later. Bring to a boil the brown sugar, butter, and heavy whipping cream. Set aside. Then mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

3. Once the dough is done rising, beat down the air bubbles and starting forming into balls. It really doesn't matter the size. We made large ones and small ones, so whatever you like. Grab your pan and spray it with some non stick cooking spray then pour a small layer of the caramel sauce on the bottom. Take the dough balls and dip them in the melted butter then in the sugar mixture. Cover the bottom of the pan then cover with the caramel sauce and sprinkle with pecans. Repeat this with another layer.

It'll look something like this when your done with these steps. YUMMY!!!




4. Cover again and let rise for another 45 minutes or so. Once done, throw in the oven at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.  

Tip: We might have wanted to overload on the caramel sauce, but we saved some for when the bread was done and poured it over the finish product. 

If you try this out I hope you have as much fun as we did. It gets super messy but the turn out is SO GOOD!!!

Bottle Cap Magnets

WOOT WOOT, another tutorial!!


I have a whole shoe box full of bottle caps. Why, you may ask, because I'm a alcoholic. Blame it on the a-a-a-a-alcohol....kidding, I had my parents collect them from their favorite restaurant that they always go to. Not that   I had any idea what I was going to do with them, I just knew I would need them sometime. My first craft with bottle caps was making necklaces. I would drill some holes in the side and string some hemp through them. Those were probably my staple jewelry item of the year, I was obsessed with making them. I attempted at making coasters, but I'm not even going to discuss those. They were an epic fail. 

Story time!! 
I bought a magnetic whiteboard calendar a while back that only came with two blah boring magnets. I had more than only TWO pictures that I knew I wanted to hang up. So I thought to myself, 'Kelly, you have a whole shoe box of  bottle caps that are dying for your attention, use them!!' 

And look what fabulous creation was created!!!! 



These little babies are so simple to make (I say that a lot don't I?). Any who, all you do is glue a magnet to the backside of a bottle cap.When dried, print out your favorite pictures and cut them out in the shape of the bottle cap. Before doing this though, make sure the picture will actually fit inside the bottle cap, remember you don't have a lot space to work with. Shrinking the pictures before printing works really well, obvious  i know but I thought I would throw it in there anyway. Glue the picture on the inside of the cap and then slop some mod podge in there to seal in the goodness. You're finished!

Of course, there's hundreds of different ways you can do these. And think about it, if you don't have any bottle caps, go out and buy a six pack and drink until you do have some. :) Then you'll be super creative...
© hello, it's kelly
Design:Maira Gall.