Broke and Bored, installment 2

Happy Monday! Hope you enjoyed your weekend, mine wasn't to exciting. Sometimes I prefer a low-key weekend with minimal plans than always having something to do.

Today is the second installment of Broke and Bored, I started this series last week with a DIY studded purse, see HERE. I will be living la vida broka for some time and I'm so bored with all my clothes and house decor that I have to jazz things up. I have lots of ideas and hope that you can find some inspiration to DIY yourself something and save a buck.

Now, on to some fun...

I DIY'ed my old cotton ball and Q-tips containers with some gold. I'm obsessed with all things gold, and can't think of a place where it doesn't belong. I've had these simple candle holders from the dollar store for years now, and realized that they needed something.

So, in comes Rub and Buff...

Clean and dry the entire surface and tape off what you want to keep clear. 

This was the first time I ever used this product and was really impressed with the outcome. Just put on a small about with your fingers and rub until it has luster. It is pretty grainy and it will smooth out the more you rub it. 

Goldfinger!!!

The finished product, I'm really happy! 

this thing couldn't stand a chance...

LOVE IT!!!

Broke and Bored, installment 1

I'm starting a new series on the blog here called Broke and Bored. Recently I've put myself on a tight budget and I have to come up with clever ways to keep from spending. I don't wanna break my rules, but there are so many things that are screaming my name. Mostly clothes and home decor items are what I have serious ADD about. So in this series I am going to DIY or repurpose items that I already have to curb my impulsive shopping. 

First up a studded purse...

I've had this purse laying around for some time now, it came with a matching tote bag. I love the color but thought that it was really lacking something. So what else is a girl to do but stud it. Studs are everywhere now, on everything. I'm not one to follow trends, in fact I've been rocking studs for as long as I remember and will continue to even after the fad is gone. 

I ordered the studs off Etsy from HERE, picked up some E6000 glue and went to town. Leave to dry for 24 hours. I do plan on studding the matching tote bag too and probably everything else in my line of vision.

What do you think?

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and Praying for Colorado...

I'm sure most of you have heard about the recent floods in Colorado, its been a trying time for many people and business'. I've never thought that our state would be a victim of flood damage, but I have been proven wrong. Its been very scary not knowing if our area was next, luckily we are all fine...truly blessed. Please visit HERE to donate to those affected by the floods, any amount will help.

Last weeks dreary weather definitely put me in the mood for fall treats. I got to break out the boots and sweaters a couple times and it was really nice. But this week the sun is back shining, the sky is as blue as the ocean is deep, and its hot again...too hot! But that's not stopping me from making the first treats of  long awaited fall. I'm welcoming fall weather with Pumpkin Whoopie Pies! I love a good Whoopie Pie, soft cake that stands tall and stuffed with fluffy filling.

Red Beans and Rice and getting ready for fall...

Hello everyone, hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Saturday we hit up Festival Italiano, it was my first time at this particular event and definatly won't be my last. We braved the horrible heat wave by drinking wine and Italian inspired cocktails, feeding our faces with wood-fired pizza, pastries, and gelato, and cheered Liam on as he stomped grapes to make some wine. It was awesome!

It has been so hot lately, and we are finally getting a break this week. I cannot wait for the change in season, its all about comfort food, sweaters, scarves and boots, and snuggling up with a warm drink with the one you love. Defiantly planning a trip up to the mountains to see some fall foliage, its my favorite time of year.

I was in the mood for something spicy today and Liam loves rice and beans, so I made Red Beans and Rice. I wanted low maintenance, therefore the crock pot made its first appearance this season. I forget how much I love me a slow cooker!

Fig Thyme Jam and remembering an old friend...

I know that some of you are thinking "why figs and thyme", its one of those magical combinations that just work well together. I love pairing savory elements with sweets, for a creation that is unthought of or unexpected. I've been looking for figs to come around for some time and boy did I get a surprise at my last Costco trip, 2 pounds of the most beautiful fresh figs. I was intending on making a tart with them, but time got the best of me again and they started to get too soft. So a jam was in order, and thyme from my little container garden was needing to get used, so Fig Thyme Jam was created.

Quinoa for lunch and ready for school to start...

First recipe post in months and the first for the fall season. I'm really looking forward to fall, the weather has been cooling off a little here and change is in the air. Liam starts school on Wednesday and we are both looking forward to it. I'm ready to get back on a more routine schedule, which means more time for blogging too, YAY!!!

One of my favorite things is quinoa, its such a quick thing to make and you can incorporate so many different ingredients to create many healthy dishes. This recipe happens to be something I eat on the regular, I almost have all these things ready to go and its great to make ahead of time and take it with you on the go, enjoy hot or cold.

Where has the time gone? And a recap of summer...

I cannot believe its been almost TWO whole months since my last post. I had intentions of making so many posts this summer on recipes, travel, and DIY's but the time has just flown by, I apologize and hope to make it up to you this fall. Mad props to the bloggers that post regularly throughout summer.

This summer has been the best I've had in years, I cannot remember a summer filled with so much fun. Here's a short recap of some of our summer happenings...

Liam's first baseball game.

Kid even got a game day ball!

So much sugar!!!

One of many romantic dinners with my boo.

Lots of swimming, Euro style of course.

OAR concert at Red Rocks!

4th of July and super blonde!

Mountain party with Jack and Sierra.

Monday's, Mojitos, and Mommies.

Liam's first sleep over, complete with homemade pizza and ice cream.

First weekend getaway with the boo, to Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Hot Springs pool, whitewater rafting down the Colorado River, lots of food, a great time!

On the Hanging Lake Trail.

Almost to Hanging Lake.

Worth the struggle!

Rockies VS Cubs game. 

My favorite picture!

Liam and I camping at Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Colorado.

Our Chipmunk friend.

Roasting marshmallows!

A birthday celebration and possibly the best steak I ever had, at Del Frisco's.

Ice Cream CAKE!!!

New Belgium Brewery Tour, Fort Collins Colorado

Such a fun time!

A wedding in Silverthorne, Colorado with these 2 studs!

A brother and sister getting down!

Broncos preseason game, Club level at that!

Peach and Thyme Cobbler and enjoying best summer in years...

Hello there, hope you all are enjoying Summer 2013, I know I am. This has got to be the best summer I have had in years. So much planned and happening I could just bust! Last week I went to my first Red Rocks show and had a blast, Boo and I have been working at his place painting and getting ready for his housewarming party that is in a few weeks, Liam and I have been spending many hours at the pool and getting ready for his first sleep over. Its a jam packed summer and I feel like its all going too quickly. We have a fun filled week of party after party and cannot wait to cook and bake and have fun with the people I love! What are your Fourth of July plans?

We have been getting some amazing peaches here in Colorado; they are some of the best in the country, comparable to Georgia peaches. Last week I stocked up on a bunch and new I had some baking in order. I thought I wanted to make a pie, but opted for a cobbler instead and not just any cobbler, Peach Thyme Cobbler. You heard me right "Thyme" as in the herb. Its one of those combinations that speak volumes and I used some of the thyme that I planted in my little patio container garden.

DIY Headband and my past weekend...

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend, mine had a little work with some fun and excitement squeezed in! I've been in a crafty DIY kind of mood lately, there's so much that I have lined up to do and I'm excited to share them with you.

This past weekend was my dear friend, Jen's birthday. Jen is one of the most amazing, caring, and giving people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She is part of my Colorado family and I truly feel blessed to have her in my life. I knew I wanted to make her a headband for her birthday to add a little pizazz to her birthday festivities that she always has lined up. She's defiantly a little hippy and I knew this would fit her personality perfect, and I also made one for myself.

Happy Birthday, Jen! I love you!!!

I got to debut my headband on Saturday at the OAR concert at Red Rocks with Boo. Red Rocks is constantly named one of the best venues in the country, if not the world. The place is pure magic, beautiful and stunning, a place that has to be visited! I've been there for hiking and the summer series Film on the Rocks, but this was my first concert and it was phenomenal! Boo and I had such a great time, we look forward to going back for more shows.

Start with small fake flowers and leather lace.

Measure leather 38" and cut 3 strands. Tie a knot at one end and braid, secure with another knot at the end. 

                                         

Hot glue flowers, however many as you wish. 

Secure around head with small knot or bobby pins.

I hope you all are enjoying your summer and getting a chance to explore and have fun!!!