Modge Podge Clip Board {DIY}

**I am looking for a few bloggers to guest post on my blog next week. If you are interested, e-mail me at fromkristenwithlove@yahoo.com!**

I am elated at how great this DIY project turned out. I pinned this project onto my Pinterest craft board months ago... went out that same week & bought the supplies... & then put them in my office closet & totally forgot about the project altogether. Oops. Oh, & that was the longest run-on sentence of my life.

Modge Podge Clip Board 

You can find the tutorial here. It's super easy. Total, it took about 15 minutes including dry time. I got the clipboard from the dollar store & had the scrapbook paper, ribbon, and modge podge on hand. This would be perfect as a gift for a teacher, or to make for yourself. You can add the detail of an initial like I did to give it a personalized touch. 

I got excited while I was on a roll with the modge podge & decided to do another project I've been wanting to do. I had an old container of Oatmeal in the pantry. I cleaned out the inside and modge podged scrapbook paper around it. And I also did the same thing on a small nut jar. Insta- toilet paper holder & matching counter container. 

Inspiration: Couple's Photo Session

Confession: I haven't had professional photos taken since my senior photos from High School.

When Breanna shared with the Houston Bloggers that her friend, Meg, was offering a great deal for a photo session, I jumped at the chance. I e-mailed her right away and booked a date. The photo session is a little over two weeks away.
Although I have total faith Meg will take wonderful photos, I want to arrive at the session a little prepared on what kinda poses I like. I also need to decide what C & I will wear. Eeek. Time to get planning. Oh & these will be our first professional pictures as a couple. No pressure, Meg. ;) 
Here are some ideas I've seen on Pinterest...

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What colors would go well together 

wardrobe wise??

Linking up with Michelle @ The Vintage Apple for today's post! 

Also, I've put a few items from my shop on sale in the new "S A L E" category. Be sure to check them out! Some items are 50% off. Click here to head to my store. 

Best of Instagram

Did Monday sneak up on you guys like it snuck up on me? For some reason, I had it embedded in my mind that today was Sunday. I guess 3-day weekends will do that to a girl.

 I woke up this a.m. (at 9 o'clock, pure bliss) & after walking the dogs & putting on the coffee, I opened up the laptop to get my daily dose of blog land. The first post to show up in my feed was a "Miscellany Monday" post. I chuckled to myself thinking, "someone must have hit the 'publish' button on accident." Then I looked at the date. Oh crap. It IS Monday. 

So, here I am, posting a few hours later than usual. Oh, & I crawled back into bed & haven't left since. Don't judge. Here's my latest pictures via Instagram...

B & T must get sick of me taking pictures of them... I'm sure // I made some delicious sweet potato fries during the week as a side dish for dinner. Recipe? Cut sweet potatoes. Fry in oil for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar. DONE. #nothealthy // A sorta creepy picture of my eyeball // Landshark. My favorite beer for summertime // I finished the first 50 shades book. Thanks Lura for loaning it to me // A gorgeous ring a co-worker made for me... featuring my fave color; purple // The pups on the patio patrolling the 'hood 

If you use PicMonkey.com to edit your photos, what are you thinking of the new collage maker?? I am obsessed with it!!! They have an editor just for facebook timeline collages, too. No offense Picnik, but I am so over losing you. 

Hope you all had a great week and are enjoying this beautiful 3-day weekend, and remembering WHY we have this three day weekend. Thanks to our military... past and present, for fighting for our freedom and risking their own lives to ensure the freedom of ours. 

Linking up here today:

What Makes Savanah Smile , On the front porch looking in ,  lowercase letters , Mrs. Monologues & Life Rearranged.

I have commitment issues

I bought my first car when I was 16. A piece of dog poop saturn. But I loved it. It was mine. 

Some crazy woman in the grocery store parking lot ran into me a year later... hence totaling my car. 

I was 17 and bought my second car. A red ford escort. I thought I was the hottest thing on the block. 

A little over two years later, another crazy woman ran into me when she had a yield sign and I had a green light... hence totaling my red beauty.

I was 19 and bought my third car... A silver chrysler. 

Things happened in life and I got rid of this car two years later.

I was 21 and I bought my fourth car... a 2006 Mazda Miata. I knew I was the hottest thing on the block. ;) 

Then tragically, a year later, I was in a horrible accident on the freeway. Read about the accident here.

I was 22 and bought my fifth car; a Nissan Xterra. I wanted something bigger (read: more safe). Little did I consider the gigantic gas guzzler a S.U.V. would be. After only a year of owning the Xterra, I was tired of paying so much for a car note on top of the $75 it cost to fill up every week.

Then, I was 23 and got a leased Honda Civic... making it my sixth car.

Yes, I have a combination of commitment issues & horrible defensive driving skills. 

That's six cars in seven years. My leased civic is forcing me to commit... I have a three year lease. We'll see how this goes.

Isn't she pretty? She gets 40 MPG highway!!

What was your first car? 

Blog Crush

I think it's completely and totally normal to have a girl crush. Jenni @ Story Of My Life is my blog girl crush. Everything about her blog just makes me smile. She's witty, gorgeous, has a great sense of humor, is an amazing photographer, oh & she's a Texan. Need I say more? Us Texas girls tend to be awesome. 

{Source} 

She blogs about normal day-to-day stuff, her handsome hubby (sorry, Jenni...), her two sweet dogs Gracie & Cooper, and everything else in between. 

Here are some of my favorite posts from Jenni:

+ Your soul has a body

+ At the market 

+ Sunday Thoughts 

Oh, & she also has a page dedicated to blogging tips. I first read her tips when I started blogging last year and it gave me some wonderful ideas of things to do with my blog.

Who's your blog crush? 

Inspiration: Beauty + Style

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What have you been pinning lately? Link up with Michelle @ The Vintage Apple & share! 

(: 

You can follow along with what I'm pinning here. 

Recycling Results {Worth the time!}

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A few months ago, I blogged about recycling & doing your part. Today, I'm sharing RESULTS! As I said in the mentioned post... I bring all of our recycling to the school I work at. Almost every (if not all) schools have on-site recycling bins located in the parking lot. I bring my paper, plastic, aluminum, etc up to the school every Friday. It has become a habit... a habit I'm happy to have formed. 
Our school secretary shared through e-mail how much our school collected in recycling. Here are the stats (Note: we're a very small campus. Under 100 students.) 
February: 
Plastic: 341 lbs 5 oz.      Paper/Cardboard: 2,406 lbs 13 oz.    Aluminum: 21 lbs 3 oz. 
With the paper/cardboard we recycled, we saved: 
-20.5 35' trees -4812 kilowatts of energy -457 gallons of oil -8421 gallons of water -3.61 cubic yards of landfill space
With the aluminum we recycled, we saved: 
Energy equivalent to 17 gallons of gas 
With the total amount of materials we recycled, we saved: 
6.4- 8 yard-dumpsters going to the landfill and any fees that apply to dumping 
Pretty amazing, huh???  If this isn't incentive enough to start recycling... I don't know what is. 
Do you recycle?

Best of Instagram

This week, Brutus got a much needed hair cut. We have to bring him to our vet for grooming because the poor thing has to be sedated to be groomed. 

For Mother's Day this year, we took my mom to a local steak house for dinner and brought her flowers. We also got my step-dad a balloon for his Mom who passed earlier this year. We set the balloon free after dinner and sent it up to Heaven to greet his Mom.

I put my new running shoes to good use this week for a 3 mile run with C. They are so light and make running more fun. What kind of running shoes do you have? 

I bought this pot of flowers at our school's plant sale. $2! They bloom in the sun and close up in the shade. 

Bachelorette premiered Monday. Any other Bach/Bachelorette fans? I stopped watching a few seasons ago (Ashley H.'s season). Every season it's the same stupid drama. I am watching this season though because I absolutely adore Emily!! 

We celebrated C passing his F.E. exam with margaritas & mexican food Thursday evening. So proud of him!!! 

I needed this quote as a reminder this week...

I mapped out some runs for our vacation to South Padre (In TWO weeks!!). Have you heard of Mapmyrun.com? If you are a runner, check it out! They also have a free app for it for your phone. I love it!! 

How was your weekend? Link up your phone photos with these ladies below! 

What Makes Savanah Smile , On the front porch looking in ,  lowercase letters , & Life Rearranged.

Creating.

I've been working on some new signs for my online shop  & just listed these two items. Check them out? Spread the word if you know a bride? Thanks, you guys rock!

I really love creating stuff. It's seriously like free therapy. I trap myself in the downstairs office (my little personal haven) & crank the volume on Pandora (usually my Taylor Swift station) and craft away.  Occasionally I'll ask C if he will help me do this or give me his opinion on that. He's unbelievably supportive. He cuts and sands all of the wood I use for my signs. He helps me brainstorm ideas and listens to me vent when I occasionally mess up the lettering on a sign. 

Bride/ Groom wooden hand painted signs 

 Head over to my shop for more info! 

Love quote wooden sign

Head over to my shop for more details. 

On a random side note, I decided my facebook timeline cover photo was overdue for a re-design. 

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend & spending time with your loved ones! I am off to dinner tonight with a good friend who happens to be my name twin. It's always funny when the waiter comes back with our credit cards and looks stumped on which card to give to which girl. 

Pinterest Link-up

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Gorgeous Office. Love the sleek white, mint chair and mint wall, & the corner lighting.

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Darling earrings. I need these. 

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I love the look of bunting... 

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I will do this project.  

What are you pinning lately? Follow my pins @xoxokristen 

Linking up with Michelle @ The Vintage Apple today! 

Summer Bucket List

Summer is fast approaching (only 10 work days left for me!), so I thought I would compile a list of things I plan to do/accomplish over the Summer. I had originally intended to link-up for the Thursday 13 link-up with this post, but time got away from me and I wasn't able to... better late than never is my motto.

Since I'm in the teaching field, I get Summer's off. I have not NOT worked since I turned 16 and got my first job at Kroger, so the idea of having two months off to do absolutely nothing kinda scares the crap out of me... if I'm being honest. So, I have chosen for the past two summers to work ESY (Extended Summer School). Since a lot of my kiddos I teach come to Summer School, I get to be with them throughout the Summer, which makes my heart happy. ESY starts one week after school lets out, so I get a mini-break to have some fun. Then, midway through Summer, I get another mini-break. It's really not that bad of a deal. 

So, here's what's on my agenda for this Summer.

{ONE} Vacay in S. Padre the week after school ends with C, and a couple friend of ours. 

{TWO} Take a week long trip to Ohio to visit C's family & celebrate his niece's first birthday. 

{THREE} Ride bikes and run at the park with C. Maybe even bring a picnic a few times? And the dogs of course. 

{FOUR} Read. Read. Read. Read on the beach. Read on our patio. Read while laying out at the pool. I'd like to read 5 books or more this summer. 

{FIVE} Memorial day lake trip with C's group of friends. 

{SIX} My best friend is getting married in July. So there will be tons of festivities & partying going on. 

{SEVEN} Vacay in Siesta Keys, Florida at the beginning of August with C's family. They have a time-share condo right on the beach that they get two weeks in August of every year. 

I know there is more that I want to add to this list. Hopefully I will revisit it within the next week. 

What do you have planned for the Summer? 

Best of Instagram

1. Organized my craft supplies. Such a huge weight off my shoulders... the unorganized chaos was eating at me for a while. 2. Last Sunday, C & I met my mom at one of our fave local seafood places for lunch. I forgot all about writing our names on their decor last year!  3. I finished reading "The Host" during the week. I truly didn't want the book to end. Do you ever get that feeling after reading a book? That you just want to live on with the characters & see where their lives take them?  4. C & I went out with one of my friend's from college & her husband for beers at The Flying Saucer. I am getting more courageous in my beer choices... this one was super dark & slightly hoppy, but I enjoyed every sip of it. What kind of beer do you like? 
5. Chick flick movie night... "If I woke up in the hospital with brain injury and Channing Tatum said he was my husband... I would believe him!" Just sayin'. 6. They opened a Panda Express right across from where I work. #dreamsdocometrue 7. 8 inches???  8. Excited for June's blogger meet-up, hosted by Pinot's Palette. 
9. Met a friend and her wife and another couple for dinner and... 10. delicious frozen yogurt.  11. Even the calendar says WTF after Tuesday. I had a ridiculously tough week.  12. Shooting my new gun compliments of C. 
13. Cherry slush sample from McDonalds. YUM 14. Previously mentioned new gun. She's pretty, huh?  15. C shooting his. 16. I found my old diary and cracked up hysterically after reading this entry. It says "Today I started my period... July 2nd. I hate this day!" 
Are you on Instagram? Add me @fromkristenwithlove :)

99 things

I saw this on Lindsay's blog a few days ago and it looked like fun. I, obviously, have a LOT left to explore around the world. 

99 things.

Bold the things that you have done on the list.

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightening storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (I call them "mental health days")

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing 

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie 

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit 

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Grump.

Something occurred to me last night. Roughly around 9:00 every night, I get a little anxious, a little antsy, and a little grumpy. Although, this only happens when I'm not in my pjs, with a book in my hands, under the covers. I read every night. Call me a nerd, but I love a good book. I made a resolution to start reading more two years ago, and ever since then, I've read every night. Not because I feel obligated, but because I'm so head over heels in love with reading. So, when 9 o'clock rolls around and I'm busy with something (read: homework, housework, etc), I get a little anxious and grumpy that I'm not in bed reading.

I just finished reading "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer. It is absolutely one of the best books I've ever read. It's sort of sci-fi(y), if that's a word. Which is not something I would typically enjoy... but I love it. It started off really slow and I contemplated putting it down and picking up another book, but I have never been able to do that. Once I start reading a book, I HAVE to finish it. I truly hate that. I'm glad I stuck it out though; this book is wonderful in so many ways!

Follow me on Instagram 

What's next on my reading list:
+ The infamous "50 shades of Grey" trilogy (I have book 1 on loan from a blog friend)by E L James

+ The help by Kathryn Stockett 

+ The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult 

+ The undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

+ Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

+ Working it out by Abby Rike (who I happen to know in real life and got a Christmas card from her this year. #bragmoment) 

+ Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult 

+ The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad (which I got autographed by her earlier this month! #bragmomenttimestwo) 

What's on your "to-read" list? I'm always looking for great new books to devour. 

The Five-Year Engagement

Friday, C and I enjoyed a date night together. We hopped in the Miata and headed to Studio Movie Grill. I don't know if you have one of these (or something like it) where you live, but I absolutely love the convenience of it. Dinner & a movie in one. Brilliance. Only thing is, if you go there just for the movie, the smell of the surrounding food either A) makes you want to jump your neighbor for their chips & queso or B) smells funky.

We decided on "The Five-Year Engagement" as our movie for the evening. I'm so glad we did. It was two hours and four minutes of pure enjoyment. I even shed a few tears at the end. It's one of those conventional love stories where you kind of know the ending before it even starts, but the whole journey throughout the movie is just perfection. There were several parts where C & I could not stop laughing. 

Emily Blunt sort of reminds me of a Zooey Deschanel. Her demeanor & sense of humor is very similar. So, in other words, she may be my new girl crush. 

{Via} 

{Via} 

Have you seen any good movies lately? 

Best of Instagram

Hey there. Kristen here. I've been sort of absent as of lately. My mind has been in full blown Etsy mode since I launched the store opening. Oh, and I guess I should also mention that I've been insanely busy with end-of-semester school stuff. Just wanted to drop in to share some photos via Instagram & a few others things going on in the world of Kristen.

-Michelle @ The Vintage Apple is hosting an awesome giveaway featuring one of my Etsy items, the canvas monogrammed tote bag. Have you entered yet? Go here now if the answer to that question is no. You have until this Thursday! 

-Shardi @ The Blushing Bride is hosting a giveaway for two hand painted Mr. & Mrs. signs from my Etsy store. Have you entered yet? It's not too late. Go here. 

-It hit me yesterday that I have gained quite a few new followers due to these giveaways. Hi new readers!! So happy to have you here. I will be browsing through my recent newest followers sometime this week & showing you all a little love! 

Okay. Enough with the babble. Onto the pictures...

1. Brutus found a new place to sleep. On top the couch. 

2. Modeling one of my handmade canvas totes. Like what you see? Make it yours.

3. I'm getting better at doing the fishtail braid on myself. If it weren't for all of my layers.

4. C in his toy car. He loves this thing. I do too, sorta. Except my hair is always a wild mess after riding in it.

5. We celebrated staff appreciation week at work. Needless to say I probably gained a solid 5 lbs last week.

6. See... more staff appreciation deliciousness. 

7. Coffee. 

8. C and I went to a couple friend's of ours son's 4th birthday party. 

What did you do this weekend? 

Linking up here: 

What Makes Savanah Smile , On the front porch looking in ,  lowercase letters , & Life Rearranged.

From Kristen, With Love Etsy double giveaway!

I am hosting a giveaway over at Michelle @ The Vintage Apple's blog today! Stop by and enter for a chance to win one of these two canvas totes from my Etsy shop, From Kristen With Love.

I'm also hosting a giveaway for this set of wooden "Mr." & "Mrs." signs over at Shardi's blog, The Blushing Bride! Stop by and check it out!

Thinking Out Loud

Have you ever seen the show on ABC family called "Kyle XY"? C & I watched the first few episodes out of pure desperation of finding a new series to get into... but we just couldn't take the monotony of it. The show is boring... but the first episode said something that got me thinking & I haven't been able to stop thinking of it since.

{Via}

The main character in the show, Kyle, is an alien dropped down onto Earth and has no idea what is going on. He notices that everyone keeps looking at the clock... He asks why time is so important? Ever since then, I've noticed how much I look at the clock. I couldn't even begin to count how many times I look at the clock in a given hour. Pathetic, huh? I think so. 

I was thinking out loud a few days ago to one of my co-workers... I told her how when I retire, I don't want to own a clock. I want to know it's time to wake up when the sun starts to rise, & fall asleep as the sun sets. I want to go throughout the day without having to continuously look at my left wrist to check the time. How awesome would that be?
On a different note, today starts the May photo challenge hosted by Fat Mum Slim's blog. Are you participating??? I skipped last month, but I'm excited for this month since Android recently got the Instagram App! I'll be posting my photos on Monday's along with my other Instagram Photos! 

In case you missed my Sunday post... I announced the opening of my Etsy shop,

 From Kristen, With Love. Check the post out for details!