Wednesday, April 29, 2015

I Pinned it, I tried it: Wine Cork Trivets

Time for another I Pinned it, I tried it Link-Up party!

This week, I'm going to show off my wine cork trivets that I made a few weeks ago.  I actually didn't see these on Pinterest, but I have been inspired by man pins I've seen, including these from Etsy.
 

All you need to make these are a few supplies:

Frames (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby when they were 50% off)
Spray Paint (optional)
Wine Corks
Hot Glue Gun

I wanted my trivets to match my kitchen so I spray painted them red (they were white when I bought them).  Once they were all coated in paint and dry, it was time to get to work!
 
 
First, I figured out how I was going to fit my corks into the trivet frame.  Of course, it wasn't a nice, snug fit so I had to cut one in half and kind of use the hot glue as a filler.
 
 
Once I had the corks where I wanted them, I started gluing.  And, I only burnt myself like 3 times.  That's an improvement!! 
Anyone else super sloppy with a hot glue gun?  Just me?  Ok, that's cool :)
Once all of the corks are glued in place, it's time to let it dry.  Be sure that there's no excess glue on the bottom of the trivet so it doesn't get stuck while it's drying. 
 

Once they have dried, put them to use!  I love that they can be any color you want.  They aren't perfect (I'm a sloppy gluer, remember?), but I still like them!
 
 
I'm linking up with Jen over at And Hattie Makes Three for her weekly I Pinned It, I Tried It Linky Party.  Join in the fun!!!
 
~ Sara :)

Check out my Pin There, Done That board on Pinterest to see other pins I've tried!

Monday, April 27, 2015

Chicken Update!

Remember how last weekend we spent alllllll weekend outside playing, getting sunburnt and getting the garden ready?  The chickens even got a little taste of freedom when we let them out in the grass to peck around.  Poor things have been stuck back in their brooder ever since because we were greeted by snow just two days later!  I can't remember it ever snowing on my birthday....but it did this year!
 
According to the forecast, the cold weather is on the way out and we can resume our outdoor spring activities.  One thing that is on the top of our to-do list is the chicken coop.  Our chickens are getting huge!  I can not believe how big they have gotten and how much different they look.  All of their feathers are coming in, their wingspans are huge.....they grew so fast! 
 
 Then                                                         Now

They're still in their brooder in the garage and will be for about 2 more weeks.  I'm hunting for a bigger box for them this week.  We're just afraid that it's still a little too cold for them, especially at night.  Plus, the coop isn't ready for them yet.  I'm sure they can't wait to get into their new home - they'll have so much space!  Can't believe that we've had them for a month already.  They're so fun!
 
 
 
Although they still have yet to be officially named, Redmond is pretty stuck on the names 'Fork' and 'Bork' and Ashlyn, in her act of two-year-old defiance, has decided she wants nothing to do with naming them so she has decided the names 'No' and 'Nothin' will suffice :)
 
 
 
Stay tuned for coop progress and more pictures of our feathered ladies as they grow!
 
~ Sara :)

Friday, April 24, 2015

Friday Wish List

What a weird week this has been!  After getting sunburnt and spending all last weekend outside, the temperature has dropped drastically and we've been seeing snow.  It's almost May and it's snowing!! 
 
The best part about this week?  My birthday was yesterday!  Woo-hoo!!  If you want, check out my fun blog post for my birthday.  Since I turned 34, I posted 34 facts about myself.  Read it here.
 
Thanks to some very generous family members, I have some cash burning a hole in my pocket.  Today I'm going to share some of the top things on my 'want' list. 
 
[One]
These boots!!!  When I didn't unwrap them yesterday for my birthday, I got online and ordered them.  Jason's grandmother is one of the kindest, most generous women I know.  I can thank her for these beauties!  Thanks, Meme!!
 
 
[Two]
 
I've been considering a food dehydrator, especially with gardening season coming up.  I loooove my kitchen gadgets.  But I'm wondering if I should hold off until our pantry is done so I have more storage space.  Do any of you have one?  What kind?  Do you use it often?
 
 
[Three]
 
I've really started falling in love with Spinning!  I try to get to three classes per week.  Any of you Spinners?  Are Spinning shoes really worth the price?
  
 
 
[Four]
 
This table may be the perfect fit for my little "office" corner in our living room.  Not totally sure what color I should go with, but I've been looking for a small table with a drawer and bottom shelf.  Seems perfect to me!
 
 
[Five]
 
We have a spot in our garden that I would like to put some kind of cute sign.  Etsy has so many adorable signs!  I'm thinking something like this:
 
 
Maybe I should try to make it?  Or maybe I should just buy it.... :)
 
Hope you've all had an awesome week!  If you have/had any of these items, please let me know what you love/hate/like/dislike about them - I'd love to hear from you!
 
~ Sara :)
 
I'm linking up with, Darci, AprilNatasha, and Christina for the Five on Friday link-up Party!I'm linking up with A Little Bit of EverythingMomfessionals, and Grace and Love for my Friday Favorites!
I'm linking up with September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for the Oh Hey Friday linky party!
I'm linking up with
Creative House Blog for the Friday Favorites Link Up Party!
I'm also linking up with The Diary of a Real Housewife for Friday Favorites!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

It's My Birthday!!

Hey y'all!!  It's April 23rd so that means it's my BIRTHDAY!!!  Woo-hoo!!!
 
I'm turning 34 this year so I thought I'd do a fun post of 34 facts about myself (thanks for the idea, Marie!).  Hope you enjoy!!

I was born a month early, but still weighed over 7lbs.


I have the same birthday as William Shakespeare, Michael Moore and Shirley Temple.

I've had three last names, but I've only been married once.  I had my last name legally changed when I was 23.

Cooking is my favorite hobby.  Love it.   Just wish I loved cleaning as much!

I'm the baby of my family - my sister and brother are 8 and 6 years older than me.

 
My lucky number is 13.  I was married and found out both times I was pregnant on the 13th.

I moved in with my husband after only dating for 3 months.
 
 
I changed my major 4 times in college, finally deciding on English.  If I knew then what I know now, I would have become a Dietician or Nutritionist.

The farthest I've ever travelled was to Italy.  Jason's brother was living in Rome at the time so we went to visit.  We also travelled to Florence and Venice while we were there.

 
 
My favorite meal is Eggplant Parmesan.

The best Eggplant Parmesan I ever had was at a restaurant named Za-Za's in Florence, Italy.

 
As a kid, I thought that the laughing you'd hear while watching a sitcom was the people watching and laughing at home.  So, I would laugh as loud and as hard as I could to try to hear myself.  I never could.  ;)

When I was younger, my dream job was to be a comedienne.  Then I realized that I was the only one who really thought I was funny.  Haha!

Waiting for Guffman is my favorite movie.  If you haven't seen it, you should.


Dave Matthews Band is my absolute, hands down, most favorite band of all time.  I've seen them 15+ times in concert.  LOVE them.

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol is mine and Jason's song.


 
Carnations are my favorite flower.  Gerber Daisies are a close second.

Wedding bouquet of white carnations & pink Gerber daisies.
 
I had a natural birth with both kids.  They attempted to give me an epidural with Redmond, but it didn't work.  I didn't even try for one with Ashlyn.


Redmond


Ashlyn

I love popcorn.  But, I don't love movies.  I have been known to go to the movies just for the popcorn.  No joke.

I've been a vegetarian for almost 9 years.

The first and middle names of both of my children are named after family - Redmond is the maiden name of my mother-in-law and his middle name is Jason's middle name as well as Jason's great grandfather's first name.  Ashlyn is a combination of my middle name (Ashley) and my mom's first name (Carolyn).  Her middle name is after one of Jason's favorite aunts.

I absolutely love my in-laws.  No, for real.  They are absolutely amazing.  I'm closer to them than my parents.

I have a deep, deep love and respect for all animals.  Always have, always will.


Our wedding was an outdoor wedding.  The morning of our wedding, rain was in the forecast.  My mother-in-law had heard an old wives' tale that if you put 9 brooms in a tree that it will keep the rain away.  She gathered 9 brooms (from random people!), went to our wedding site and put them all in a tree.  The rain stayed away for our ceremony and we even had a beautiful rainbow!  (See, I told you my in-laws are amazing!)

I grew up watching scary movies.  From as early as I can remember.  I hate them now.  No scary movies and no crime tv for me!

My favorite colors are pink, black and green.  These were also my wedding colors.


I have lived in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and part-time in Maryland.

My favorite vacation spot is Siesta Key, FL.  Jason grew up going there, I went for the first time on our honeymoon.  We've been back a couple times since.  The most amazing sunsets happen there.


I love camping!  (It may or may not be because of campfire (or Hobo) pies...)  We always tent camp, but I've been trying to convince Jason that it's time for a pop-up :)


I cry.  A lot.  I'm just a very sensitive, emotional, delicate flower.  And I don't like it when I'm told no.  :)

Music is a HUGE part of my life. My taste is all over the place.  Some of my favorites include (other than DMB, of course): Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, Grateful Dead, REM, Dr. Dre, Mumford & Sons, Michael Jackson, Adele, Zeppelin, Ed Sheeran, Tom Petty, etc. etc.  (I could seriously go on all day).

The only famous person I've met is Jeff Corwin.  He was a guest speaker at Ball State (my Alma Mater) my sophomore year.  As you can see by the photo, I was quite excited.  Haha!


I would love to publish a cook book one day.

Often times I wonder how I became so lucky in the life that I live and have chosen.

There ya have it!  Thanks for stopping by!!
 
~Sara :)

 

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

I Pinned It, I Tried It - Oatmeal Muffins

I'm linking up with Jen over at And Hattie Makes Three for the first I Pinned It, I Tried It Linky Party!  Woo-hoo!  Thanks for hosting, Jen!!
 
I don't normally post anything food related or recipes on this blog since I have a blog specifically dedicated to that, but aren't rules meant to be broken???  :) 
(Check out my food blog here.)
 
This week I decided to try out these baked oatmeal cups.  They were recommended to me by a friend - her family loves them.
 
Here is the recipe:
 
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cups applesauce, unsweetened
1 banana, mashed
1/4 cup honey
2 1/2 cups, Old Fashioned rolled oats
1/8 cup chai seeds (optional)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups milk
Optional toppings: blueberries, raisins, walnuts, chocolate chips, pomegranate seeds.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix eggs, vanilla, applesauce, banana and honey together in a bowl.
Add in oats, chai seeds (if using), cinnamon, baking powder, salt and mix well with wet ingredients.
Finally pour in milk and combine.
Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners.
Divide mixture evenly into muffin tin cups. I used a 1/4 measuring cup, measure just a tad under 1/4 cup to make 12 servings.
Add the toppings.
Bake 30 minutes until a toothpick in center comes out clean. Cool and enjoy or freeze them in gallon freezer bags.
When I first mixed up the batter, it looked verrrry runny:

 
But, I continued on.  I sprinkled the first six with miniature chocolate chips and then I added a bunch of blueberries to the batter and mixed them in.  The recipe says to put them on top, but I prefer to have my toppings mixed throughout the muffin.
 
I actually ended up with 15 muffins and they had to bake for about 40-45 minutes, they were no where near done at the 30 minute mark.
 
 
Overall, I would say these were a success, but can definitely be improved upon.  Next time I make them I will definitely tweak the recipe.  But, they are a good, healthy snack for myself and my family!
 

Check out my Pin There, Done That board on Pinterest to see other pins I've tried.
 

~ Sara :)
 
 
 
 

Monday, April 20, 2015

Weekend Wrap-Up

How was everyone's weekend??

Ours was fantastic!  We had absolutely gorgeous weather on Friday and Saturday.  I have sunburnt shoulders to prove it!  We pretty much spent all day Friday and Saturday outside.  It was marvelous. 

Friday I spent more time in the garden (almost) finishing up our path.  I spent about two hours digging up, moving and placing rocks.  We are loving how we have decided to lay it all out.  Don't you just love it when your vision comes alive!?


Saturday was busy busy!  Jason finished up the path in the garden in the morning and moved a bunch of extra rock out.  We're planning on rocking all the way around our house as well as a few other areas.  We have so. many. rocks. 

We also decided to let the chickens out of their brooder for a little while and let them explore in the grass.  I was so concerned that they were going to run away!  They loved it and if anyone happened to see me trying to catch all 7 to get them back in the box, I'm sure they got a good laugh! 

 

 After lunch, one of our friends brought over his rototiller for us to borrow.  It took almost three hours, but my hunky hubby got the whole garden tilled.  We are so excited!!!  Just another 3-4 weeks and we can start planting our crops.  Yay!!!!



 We also learned Saturday that our small fish pond is home to at least 5 frogs and one toad.  For some reason, the toad likes to hang out under our deck.  Ashlyn spotted him perched up just barely peeking out. So cool!

 
I got three of the frogs in this photo:
 
 
BTW, have you ever noticed how weird the word "frog" is?  Weird.
 
The kids got a lot of play time outside too.  It felt so strange to have to lather them in sunscreen.  Guess I should have done it to myself too!
 

 
{Can we take a minute to admire that dress!?  My favorite piece of Ashlyn's summer wardrobe so far.  Thank you, GAP Outlet!}

Sunday was all about cooking, cleaning, and relaxing.  We have this book called 'Truck Stop' and the kids love it.  Ever since we started reading it, Redmond has been asking to have brunch one weekend.  So, after we left the gym on Saturday morning, he and I headed to the grocery store to get food for brunch!  He was very particular about what he wanted and who would make it - he was in charge of squeezing the oranges for the orange juice (thankfully I was able to convince him to use the juicer instead of by hand), I was in charge of the French toast and coffee and Jason was to make the sausage (chicken sausage for the kids, Italian sausage for daddy) and the French fries. 

So, Sunday morning, we got up and got to work.  And, we had brunch.....at 8 am.  Ha ha!  It was delicious!  The kids loved making the orange juice and Redmond helped me with the French toast.  We're already discussing our menu for our next Hayes brunch :)






After brunch, Jason took the kids to a park to play while I cleaned up and then headed out for a pedicure with my girl Marie.  It was so needed (and not just because my feet were a hot mess!).  I think it's easy for moms (and dads!) to put themselves on the back burner.  We need some pampering from time to time!
 
Back home it was back to cleaning and laundry.  It was rainy and gloomy for the afternoon, so we just stayed inside.  For dinner, we had homemade pizza which is always a hit and a favorite in the Hayes house!
  
 
 
Well, there ya have it.  That's what our weekend looked like.  How about yours?  Hopefully you had gorgeous weather and could spend it outside like we did!
 
~ Sara :)