DIY: WASHI TAPE LETTERS

i love quick and easy projects - especially when i'm suppose to be cleaning my apartment.
these letters were floating around - getting moved to random places, cause i didn't know where to put them.  so i picked them up thinking i would slap a coat of paint on them (i was painting another little box orange) but then i remembered something i saw on pinterest...washi tape on letters...i though it looked really cute so i stuck the idea in the recesses of my mind (does anyone pin stuff and totally forget about it?)

if i want to actually complete a "pinterest" project i normally need to commit it to memory - not just pin it to the board. anyway, enough explaining - let's get started...

From this...{blah}                                                                                  To this....{ka-bam}

The awesome part...it was really simple...choose a few different washi tapes...start in the middle and run it diagonal thru the middle of your first letter.

I

 When the letter is completely covered flip it over and trim the tape; using a cutting board and sharp knife.  I was too lazy to go get my craft knife and used a kitchen pearing knife.

Project is my middle name...

I need color...

I purposely painted my walls white so i can add lots of color in furniture and decor...Sunday a few weeks ago i looked at my end table and thought - I NEED COLOR!!! So i grabbed by paint brush and craft paint (of all things; still not sure how it is going to work hold up)

Bimini Blue....57 cents (seriously)

And then I promptly forgot to take any pictures until it was all done....

And i love it....

What do you think??

Updating my coffee table next - i have a matchy matchy but a little different plan...i bet you can't wait to see.

Go bless someone today! -mary

Rest a minute

Wow...October was my last post.  I've only written about 3 (in my head)...somehow they never make it here.  i'll write a 'perfect' post in my head and sit down to type a day or two later and the words don't come. but here's a photo i snapped that sums up what i should do...my purse jam-packed full reminding me...
                                     
                                           "rest a minute"

i did rest over christmas and new years but now i'm working hard to catch up and because its the end of the fiscal year so i'm not quite as busy as an account two day before April 15th but almost.  and this blog will be dead...for awhile and then i'll be back....with posts that started in my head.

Moving

How are you suppose to feel knowing you will be spending the last night in a bed where you've slept the last 26 years? 
Where you've done the majority of your "growing up";
            played with siblings, laughed, cried,
        sat on the back steps contemplating how far i can 'run' before my mom figures out I'm missing,
                    helped my sister get ready for her wedding,
got myself ready for my Mennonite school prom banquet, held my dying dog,
  played 'secretary', had my 16th birthday party,
             backed the van into a brick wall, BECAME A CHRISTIAN...

this is by all means not an exhausted list but...what surprises me is that i wasn't really expecting to 'feel' anything but as it gets closer and closer i catch myself thinking...this will be the last time i shower in this shower, this is the last time i sleep in this bed...this is the last time i pack my lunch in this kitchen, the last meal...the last...the last...the last...

so as i was looking at random items scattered around my room and closets...waiting to land in a box and be moved or tossed, i thought...

and my thoughts started paralleling the move, to life...the scattered random items are things in my life...there is good, there is bad, there is ugly...the corners of the closets are being exposed for the first time in years....I'm being emptied of myself...and I'm realizing there is beauty in less...less stuff and less of me.

I can't believe everything I'm learning through one little BIG move...and I love how so many subconscious things parallel perfectly with God and his plan for life.

There are good things to keep and there are things that need pitched.  All in preparation for my move to Heaven....

Hobby: Photo

I have a little hobby...
This hobby is fairly popular and it seems as if every time you turn around there's another person joining the "photographer" world. It's great...people preserving memories for the future generations.  It's a great creative outlet and I love it.  I've been doing more hobby shooting and less portraits.

I'm not a professional...it's not my job...

but it is a guilty pleasure and I do enjoy shooting a person from time to time.

This charming little lady parents have asked me to do her portraits...i think it's going on 4 years.  It's always a lot of fun but my favorite part has been watching her grow up...she's a real sweetie.

Check out the gallery and then comment with your favorite photo...
A few of the 'specialty' ones were her idea. love that!

http://chocalatta.shootproof.com/
PW: bethany

          

 

weightwatchers.com

I joined weightwatchers.com

there, I've said it. 

It's humbling asking for help.

Admitting your fat. Duh, everyone can see it.

but there's something about naming the truth.

It's making me very aware of what I'm putting in my body.

I come from a line of women that struggle with their weight; so I've always tried to be careful about what I eat but along with that I've learned that my self-esteem comes from God and not from my body.  Which is good; but also it not good...because obviously I am overweight but it didn't bother me (a whole lot)

but now...

I'm heavier than I've ever been in my entire life. (blushes) and it's time to get serious.

Here's why?

(This list is for me...to encourage...and remind)

#1) Because I love God and want to take care of my body.

#2) Because I want a higher quality of life.

#3) Because I want to feel good

#4) Because I want to buy new clothes...haha!

I want to make reasons like "because food is over-rated" but we know that's not true.

I apologize that you need to go on this journey with me.  I've decided by sharing it with the world that it will keep me more accountable.  I'm also working on being more transparent in life and this feels very vulnerable.

Now that I've told you I will let you know how it's going...Sunday's are weigh-in day...so I will make that my weekly "healthy-er living" post...

eat your greens, -mary

Blessed

Sunday was one of those days I want to wrap my hands around and stuff back into my heart...

The entire day gives me warm fuzzy feelings.

I'm seriously so tired and sore in the morning that I feel like alternating between bed and the hot tub ALL DAY! (see Saturday's post)

but...I force myself to get dressed

and then off to church I go.

I'm so happy I did.

I know that church isn't about me and how I feel, but about bringing God glory.  But I do believe that we did that on Sunday...brought God glory and in the process I was blessed.  It started when my friends 10 year old daughter opened the service by playing "How Great thou Art" on the piano.  Now here's why it blessed me...it wasn't perfect, but it was beautiful.  She did her best and she's played for her Creator...it made me think.  How often do I 'mess up' and then feel like i don't have anything to give.  But even my mess-ups are beautiful to my Creator. 

And then sunday school.  Verses that are familiar, explained in a way I've never thought of...take on new and personal meaning.

And the sermon, also applicable and speaking directly into my life...

After church, Mom served a delicious meal of ham loaf, green beans with bacon and vinegar cucumber salad. 

I had made plans with my friend Cheryl after the service to hit the river in kayaks.  But when I got home I started feeling lousy and it looked like rain, after debating and trying to decide - I finally just said, let's do it! 

Later in the day, I realized it was exactly what I needed - it was a huge blessing.  A vacation in the middle of hurry...the last month has been go, go...making decisions and ALWAYS something or someone that needs my attention - this was the exact opposite...slow, peaceful, floating, no time limit, absolute beauty everywhere. Oh it was wonderful! 

After I returned Cheryl's rental kayak I headed to DD for a med pumpkin spice latte and then down to "The Fence" for their world famous fish sandwich.

Back home to give the dog a pat on the head and then off to bed by 8:30. :-)  I need a day like this every once in awhile - but I'm going to try to keep this one in my heart and live off of it until I get a chance for another one like it. Thank you Jesus!

 

go live today, - m