75206: December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Weekend of Crafts-Revamp old heels

Everyone has a pair, the heels that have seen better days and are looking old and beaten from too many nights out? The heels that you can't really wear unless they are completely covered up because they look that bad?

Well worry no more! I found a great idea to transform you not so classy heals into something a little like this from a blog called Wobisobi that does lots of projects and re-styles

(her blog lists how she did this as well)

Here's what you'll need:

Pair of heels

Mod Podge

Glitter

Paint Brush

Cup for mixing

Start by mixing Mod Podge and Glitter into a cup so that you have a pretty heavy glitter mixture

Then start applying a thin coat to shoes (be sure to allow each coat to dry completely).

Don't worry this will dry white.

(Midway through the drying process of coat #5)

Keep adding coats until your shoes have the desired amount of glitter on them, I did about 6 coats total (with the help of Rene).

And here's the finished product! Just in time for a great NYE party if you're going to one!

Next up I finally found clothes pins to make my Christmas Card Wreath for next year!

Weekend of Crafts-Card Tree

The first of my weekend projects turned out pretty cute the Holiday Card Tree idea that I found on Pinterest.

I started off by taking our holiday cards and tracing circles of different sizes onto them, cutting them out.

(some with fun edges and some with plain straight edges).

Then cut away a triangle piece so that the circles can be rounded into cones.

Cut a Styrofoam ball in half to serve as the base, and stick a small dowel rod in the center. Then start placing the cones (largest to smallest) on the dowel and top with a bow!

You can shift the cones around on the rod to ensure that it is spaced out correctly.

And this is the finished product-super easy and a cute way to keep cards each year! And it can now serve as a decoration.

It took a total of 15-20 minutes to finish it up and at the same time you cut down on the clutter post-holiday!

Next up? a revamp on an old pair of heels (to replace the cape project-let's just say that project got started and just didn't come together quite right....)

2012 Detox

As I mentioned previously starting in 2012 I am going to be doing a bit of a detox...don't get me wrong this is not the starve yourself and hope that it cleans our your system detox but I've taken bits and pieces of different things that I have read and "developed" (I'm not a nutritionist by ANY means) a detox/jump start of clean, healthy food into 2012....I plan on doing this for at least 2 weeks maybe longer and it could just become a daily lifestyle!

Here are the basics.

What to avoid:

Processed foods (we pretty much do this already-minus some "cheat days")

Sugar

Carbs

Red meat

Caffeine (I usually drink 2-3 cups I'm cutting down to just 1 or none each day)

What to enjoy:

Detox "tea" in morning-recipe to follow

Lots of fresh organic veggies

Fruits with low sugar (no oranges)

Green Leafy Veggies

Lots and lots of water!

Fish and Chicken*

*most detox plans have you completely stay away from fish/chicken/soy products the first week....With Rene not having any protein is a big problem so for the first week I'll be cooking protein but not eating it, but if you are like him and need some meat stick to chicken (skinless) and fish or tofu those are the best bets!

I'll be kicking this off on January 1st (after my delish pizza pull apart bread and freshmade pasta-what can I say I enjoy food!) I'll be posting the recipes and foods that I am eating along with how I'm feeling and if I notice any changes...beware I typically don't do well without my 2-3 cups of coffee so taking it to just one might be ugly!

Friday, December 30, 2011

To Dos for the Weekend

I know it's New Years weekend-but lets be honest....between working and school Rene and I really just look forward to lazy weekends and this is just like the rest! Though we did grab 2 bottles of bubbles to celebrate the new year. Fun fact--enough New Years Eve back at UCF was really the start of our relationship when we rang in the new year together in 2006! So this marks the 6 year mark of our relationship too!

Anyhow...I've created a bit of a crafty to do list of things that I want to make/try this weekend.

First and foremost if you remember a previous post Pinteresting Thursday on a Friday I had 2 items that I wanted to make. 1. the cape and 2. the little Christmas trees made from holiday cards--both of these will be made this weekend (hopefully)...

Next up is a little treat for New Years eve....Pizza Monkey Bread...yes another Pinterest find!

Doesn't it look tasty?

I'll also be trying my hand at homemade pasta tonight compliments of my new pasta maker from Rene!

Get ready for some follow up posts this weekend about all these great little creations!

Happy Friday!

Purchased!

Well yesterday I broke down and dropped some hard earned cash on a new iPod...I went with the nano and though it's small and I feel like if I even drop it on the table softly it's going to break, I think it was money well spent!

Not only is it an iPod it also has a pedometer and connects to the radio which I think are both pretty cool little additions! The one downfall is that I couldn't find an arm band for the gym made for the nano at Target, instead I went with this from Belkin $19.99-- it makes the iPod into a watch more or less.....not the most fashionable, but definitely functional!

Today this little purchase makes it's way to the gym with me. I did take it on a little test run last night walking Stitch, it keeps track of the steps via the pedometer pretty well, next step will be to see how it works with a little jog on the treadmill!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Time for an upgrade

I am sad to say that after about 6 years my iPod has officially died! Just as I started listening to it again at the gym and poof - it's officially d-o-n-e.

It still works but only plays for about and hour each time it's charged. Rene has told me it's time to get a new one....I mean I guess it's time since technically my iPod is known now as the "classic"

(that makes me feel old)

Now this weekend I guess it's off to find a new one. While I wish that I could get the old iPod nano like Rene has they don't make it anymore...so I guess I'll be getting the new model...not sure how I feel about the touch screen but I guess it's my only choice....

I've also looked at getting the iPod Touch because it does more than just music and really isn't that much more cost wise at Target and Walmart.

I also like that it's a little bit bigger...

Why is it that they keep making evening small and with touch screens? I am not a huge fan of the full touch screen on anything really-my fingers get cold and don't register on the screen...but I guess I don't have much of a choice in the matter....any suggestions? I really don't use my iPod for much more than the gym anyhow so is it worth the extra?

2012-Resolution/Goal List

It's that time of the year again and I've started thinking about the New Year and things I want to accomplish/change for 2012. Somewhat a list of must do or to-do items rather than resolutions because lets be honest resolutions last about a month for most people before they give up. Setting a to-do list or list of goals makes it easy to check back and check things off the list throughout the next 365 days!

Here's "the list"

Read 52 books - that's right 1 per week!

Finish the wedding scrapbook that I’ve been saying I’ll finish every year (before our 3^rd anniversary)

Take a cooking class

Pay off debt (at least 2 of my credit cards)

Start learning another language (Rosetta Stone here I come! French or Italian)

APY60! Program – 60 days of American Power Yoga - already ordered now just waiting to actually start it!

1 week a month eat like a vegetarian- all veggies no meat doctors say its a good "break" for your GI track

What are your goals or resolutions for 2012?

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Time to get back on track!

After the holidays (Thanksgiving to Christmas) Rene and I both decided we needed a bit of a healthy detox from all the sugar and delish (though quite unhealthy) meals from the past few weeks...and since I've been thinking about getting a juicer for some time now we figured now was as good a time as any.

So lots of fresh veggie and fruit juices for breakfast and snacks will be getting made over the next couple of weeks as we do a semi-detox...and get back to healthy meals. Time to start the new year off on a healthy foot!

Adding to that I got a great deal on Groupon for an American Power Yoga DVD set called APY60!.

For $49 I got 10 DVDs of yoga routines which will be great since starting next week the gym will be packed full of people getting fit for their New Year's Resolutions. It's 60 days of yoga (kind of like P-90X but just yoga) that is supposed to strengthen and tone--we'll see how it works, it will take up just enough time for everyone to stop working on their resolutions and I can get back to the gym and not have to stand in line for an elliptical!

Santa Delivers!

It was a wonderful Christmas at the Blanco's this year!

Here are my favorites from Rene! A pasta maker and beautiful marble cheese tray and knives

And also some nice fuzzy Ugg slippers (which just so happen to be on my feet today in the office).

Rene did very good with his shopping list this year!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

It's almost that time, Christmas is right around the corner and we're looking forward to a bit of a break between work, and school and rounding out 2011! I haven't even started to think of goals/resolutions for the new year--whoops!

Here's wishing you a very Happy Holiday season from Dallas!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

40 Books for 2011

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE my Kindle that Rene bought me as a wedding gift? If I haven't let me stress the fact that next to my Speedy Damier Azur LV bag that he bought me earlier this year it may be the greatest gift ever! I love the fact that I can take books where ever I am and read anytime I have a chance. It's a refreshing break from work and school.

This year I went through 40 books! I doubt that I will finish another by New Years Eve but who knows...I'm working my way up to the 52 a year mark! (2012 goal?)....here's a look at what I was reading this year.