I'm MIA

Visiting with family has pulled me away from my computer for a couple of weeks.  I'm not a blogger who has 30 posts ready and waiting for just such an occasion as this, so if I don't have time, the blog is neglected. I guess I should have said something BEFORE I went on my huge long vaca, but I'm not too comfortable posting the fact that I'm out of town on the World Wide Web.  I think you all will understand. 

So If you've been frustrated that you are visiting and there's nothing new to see, I'm sorry from the depths of my heart. : /  I'll be back this weekend. Promise!!

But I am having a BLAST with my fam.  Just loving, loving relaxing and spending time with those I love.

Have You Tried Anteadote Yet?

With summer comes my craving for tea, tea, and more tea. I know, I know....water should be at the top of my list, but what can I say.  I love tea.  McDonald's holds my #1 slot for sweet tea, but since I really try to keep my sweet tea consumption to a minimal one(ish) cup a week, I am always on the hunt for an unsweetened iced tea that really makes my taste buds sing.

I found IT and it's called Anteadote.  Not only do I love the name, but the flavors are amazing.  Before you get any ideas that this is just another  version of the Lipton Raspberry stuff (no offense, Lipton), let me set your mind at ease.  There are only FOUR ingredients contained within these bottles: filtered water, tea leaves, vitamin C, and a pinch of baking soda (to control acidity). You'll never tast a more pure, clean, and flavorful drink in your life, I promise!

Each flavor has its very own health benefits.  Visit Adagion Teas for more information on what those benefits are.  But no matter which flavor you choose, you're guaranteed to find no additives or preservatives.  That's a welcome change!  My flavor of choice is Jasmine. I tried about four others before this and they were all delicious, but when I tasted the Jasmine, my taste buds...well...sang!! I literally felt like I was drinking the Jasmine flower itself. Its flavor is so pure and intense. And when I looked it up on  the Adagio site, I was pleasantly surprised by how the Jasmine tea was made.  

If you're looking to cut back on your caffeine intake, check out how much caffeine tea contains compared to other beverages:

• Coffee - 80 mg
• Cola - 45 mg
• Black Tea - 40 mg
• Oolong Tea - 30 mg
• Green Tea - 30 mg
• White Tea - 20 mg
• Decaf Tea - 10 mg
• Herbal Tea - 0 mg

You will probably find Anteadote in the health food aisle of your grocery store.  Enjoy!!

My Lean-Green Sandwich

Okay, here's another sandwich combo.  It's one of my new favorites.

Layer:

• Organic Spinach
• Zucchini
• Brie Cheese
• Extra Lean Oven-Roasted Turkey (Please, please....from the deli!)
• and Stone-Ground Mustard 
• The mustard is maybe not the healthiest choice but it packs a tiny punch.  Just a half a tbsp is all you need.  You could also use humus. Yummy and healthy!!
• Whole Wheat Bread or Wrap

Perfect summer sandwich.

PS: Obviously, this picture is not of my sandwich.  I didn't take one but wanted one for the post.  I came across this funky crocheted sandwich.  Isn't it cute?!

My Summer {Reading} List

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on a little reading.  It hasn't always been easy to find that time, but somehow I seem to squeeze it in.  At the beginning of each summer, I compile a list of the books I would like to finish before the new school year begins.  I've NEVER made it through an entire list, but I love to try. 

Awhile back, I began to keep a journal of those books that I was interested in reading.  Anytime I came across an intriguing title, I'd write it down.  When I finished that book, I would make a few comments and then check it off my list.  I'm a list fiend and this process just totally works for me. Read this post for ideas about keeping a reading journal.

So back to my summer reading list. I don't have my complete list yet, but here is my plan so far:

• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (I'm already halfway through this and have a hard time putting it down.)
• The Mitford Series by Jan Karon (I've started it before but have not finished.)
• Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (this time from cover to cover)

This list I think I can actually finish.  Does anyone out there have any favorite summer reading books?  Any suggestions?

For the {Father} on His Day

It's just around the corner! Father's Day...a perfect time to let Dad know just how extra special he is. If you're like me, you sometimes need a bit of inspiration.  Here are a few perfect Papa Day ideas.

Grill Cupcakes

Shirt and Tie Cheese

Shirt and Tie Cake

Tape Measure

Dad's Own Pad

Gift Card Holder Print Out

Aren't these ideas amazing?!! Find the how-to here

Homemade Cuff Links

So simple to make.

Father's Day Coupons

Letter Photo Frame

Personalized Boxes

The perfect gift that Dad can really use: elbow grease!

The gift of a car wash in a bucket

Personalized Labels

Photo Bookmarks

Dad's Favorite Sauce

To find out how to create these perfect gifts, check it all out here.

From Mailing Box to {Music} Organizer

I've promised a post about my new music shelf which I am entirely excited to share with you.  If you are not already aware, music does not come printed on standard 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper.  They are slightly larger and thus, do not fit within many normal bookshelves.  Sometimes I'll find a bookshelf with one extra large shelf and then the other standard size.  Just won't work.  

I was shopping at a discount store a few weeks ago and came across a bookshelf that had THREE large shelves.  The bottom shelf even held a canvas box! Price: $30.  I could definitely swing that one.  So happy was I to finally find a shelf that would hold my music that I took it home with me and assembled it right away.  It was perfect and I found the perfect place for it in my house, very near our piano.

In order to store my massive amounts of sheet music on this shelf, I had planned to use magazine holders.  Otherwise, the music would just fall over and become a huge unorganized mess. But have you ever checked out the price for magazine holders? Ain't cheap! So onto plan B.

I have to give the credit for this project to Kim from Too Much Time On My Hands.  She was the one who came up with this incredible repurpose in the first place and her boxes are adorable. Thanks, Kim.

Lying in my craft room, ready to be reused were some flat rate boxes that came to my home bearing birthday, anniversary, and Christmas gifts. I always keep boxes like these because they hold up so well in the mail and can easily be folded, put away, and reused later. 

I used a magazine holder that I already had as a template and cut the box into the desired shape.  I then used some brown patterned paper I got at the Dollar Tree (once again, love that place) and Mod Podged it onto the boxes.  Brush the Mod Podge on very thinly or else that paper will bubble.  As a little embellishment, I glued ribbon and leaf cutouts that matched the pattern on the paper.  Here is my new sheet music bookshelf!

Linking to:

Chocolate Drool and Kisses

Knocking Out My {To-Do} List

It's summer time and with that kind of freedom comes my never ending battle with laziness.  Really, all I want to do sit on my back porch with the over-head fan on, hold my dog, sip some sweet tea, and read a book.  That's ALL I want to do.

But, alas, my neglected house, piling projects, endless errands are calling my name and they will not be ignored.  If you've ready my post The Power of a Post-It, you know how serious of a list person I am.  Well, my list is quite long, but I'm proud to announce that it is getting shorter.

Things of which I am very proud that I've accomplished over the past few weeks while fighting my urge to veg:

• filed my state taxes
• jump started my car (first time by myself - thank you, YouTube), and took it to the auto store to get a new battery
• push mowed my lawn AGAIN (our riding mower is on the fritz)
• removed my riding lawn mower batter (first time by myself - found out I didn't have to but still proud of myself)
• loose-leash trained my dog (well, he's almost there)
• baked 50 cookies for our church camp (and I am NOT a baker)
• finally got an estimate done on our banged up car
• finished a decorating project that is long overdue (surprise - I'll post about it soon - that's still on my list)
• started P90X (fourth time through - excited to be doing it again)
• organized my sheet music (it was such a mess - I'll post about my new music shelf soon)
• learned two new piano pieces for church (I'm ahead of the game!)
• organized our office and all the millions of papers, manuals, pictures, and other misc items that are held within
• Took my dog to the vet (first time - I was nervous)
• Got my NC drivers license

Those are the major things.  This post was all about boring you with details.  Hope you enjoyed! Well, I hope you were at least inspired to make a list of your own and start checking them off.

Slammin' Product: Neutrogena {Naturals}

I am constantly switching up the health and beauty products I use.  It seems my body gets used to a certain product and then stops reacting to it (i.e. deodorant, shampoo, conditioner).  

Last week, I was on the hunt for a new face wash.  In the past, I have really liked Neutrogena's soaps and lotions.  Their cleansers keep my skin clear and even, but the downside is that they often will dry out my skin.  When I noticed this new "naturals" line, I decided to try it.  I'm so glad I did!  

Usually, I HAVE to use moisturizer after washing my face.  With this facial cleanser, I don't.  Don't get me wrong. I still you moisturizer with SPF in the morning and night cream at night, but many times I have to shower in the middle of the day after working in the yard or working out.  I hate putting more lotion on at that time.  So with this cleanser, it keeps me from having to put on another layer of lotion.  

Another great quality about this product is that it makes makeup removal a breeze.  In fact, it's actually made specifically for removing makeup. Genius!

And how can you argue with the fact that it's all-natural.  No harsh chemicals, sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, dyes, phthalates. It's extremely light and loving on your skin.

Last, but definitely not least in my book, it smells divine! 

So if you're looking to change brands or just want to try something new, I'm making a recommendation.

Sorting {Buttons}

A couple of weekends ago, some friends and I spent about fives hours hitting garage sales.  So much fun!! What I thought was a total jackpot was this large shoebox full of buttons that only cost me $1.00!!

Have you ever tried to buy buttons for a project just to find that they are NOT cheap?  I was very excited about this deal.

Last night, I started the seemingly never-ending task of sorting the massive pile of buttons.  As non-stimulating and monotonous as sorting buttons sounds, it's actually quite therapeutic.  No thinking required and a sense of accomplishment in the end.

Well, I didn't reach the end last night, but I did make some headway.

 I have been saving just about every plastic and glass jar that has found its way into my house.  I didn't know what I was going to use them for, but now I do.  A little Goo Gone to get the labels off and Viola! They are just perfect for my colorful little buttons.  So cute!

I started off thinking that I'd sort them according to the colors of the rainbow. You know: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.  Then I began to realize there were more categories than that: dusty rose, gray, brown, light yellow (because in the regular yellow pile, they looked white).  I didn't have enough jars so Ziploc bags will have to do for now.

So what was probably a fairly simple project, I had to turn into a more complicated one.  Oh well, it's fun.  And I'm going to have quite a complete and well-sorted collection of buttons when I'm through. Can't wait to show you the end result!!