It Feels Like Spring

So Mr. Awesome is officially done! He took the Bar Exam on Tuesday and Wednesday and thinks he did well enough to pass. It will be a long 2 months though before we actually find out. For now, I’m just enjoying my time with him. For 4 years, I’ve had to share him with school or studying for the Bar. I no longer have to share our anniversary with finals study week. Yay!
Now that he’s done, I plan on revealing my 4 year long honey do list that I’ve been secretly adding to and let’s just say Spring Cleaning will come a bit early this year.
Wanna know why else it feels like spring to me? My irises are officially in bloom! The first one opened up just a day or so ago with other buds closely following.  I still have a long ways to go before I have a garden like my mothers. Her irises are always so gorgeous and she has so many different varieties! One of my favorite things to do is take pictures of my Mom’s garden! Aren’t they just so pretty?!? After I take the pictures, I love to head into Photoshop, start with a blank “canvas” and paint them. This two are my favorite. I have 13 different kinds planted this year but some of them are first year and I’m sure won’t all bloom.  The white one already in bloom is called Skating Party and I just think it’s so pretty. I also have one called Millennium Falcon…I bought that one specifically for my Star Wars loving husband, it’s blue and white stripes. Hopefully that one will bloom so I can take a picture of it and then paint it.

DIY Picture Magnets

Hello, Blissful 55 readers! I'm really excited to be sharing a fun idea with you all today! Jen is one of my good friends since high school so I felt very honored when she asked me to guest post on their beautiful, talented, and crafty blog, especially considering I'm not nearly as crafty or creative as them. Jen and Laryssa are pretty amazing right?

A quick introduction, my name is Megan Robinson and I blog over at "And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson." I am a wife, mother, Marriage & Family degree holder, wannabe crafter, Oreo connoisseur, comedian in my own way {at least I think I'm funny}, and sucker for Rainbow Chip frosting. My blog follows my journey through marriage, motherhood, and all the ups and downs that come with life. I also like to pretend I know something about clothes, cooking, and occasionally crafts.

Today, I wanted to show you an easy and fun tutorial for picture magnets that is great for family gifts. I made these for my parents and in-laws for Christmas and they seemed to be a big hit. And you can't beat the price!

So here it goes!

DIY Picture Magnets

items needed:

-images to use {I used Instagram pictures. and I'll show you how to make them into a collage}

-2x2 plain tiles [found at Home Depot for about $3 for a sheet of 36]

-Mod Podge and brush

-magnets [I got a pack of 50 at Wal-Mart for cheap]

-hot glue gun

-paper cutter

steps:

step.one.

You need to print off your images that you are using first. I made an 8x10 collage of pictures using PicMonkey and then got it printed off at Costco (in matte format, not glossy).

a few tips about making your collage with PicMonkey:

- I used the 4x4 square collage template and then added an extra image to the rows so it was 4x5. To do this, you just need to hover an image in the white space until a gray box shows up where you want your image to go.

-I had to resize it a lot to make sure it would fit an 8x10. I finally settled on the dimensions 1657x2000 (you'll have to make sure the dimensions aren't locked) but even then I still had to crop it a tiny bit when I was ordering the 8x10. And I also still had to trim them quite a bit to fit the tiles after they were printed off. But thankfully most of the pictures I chose had space on the edge that i could trim down without affecting the actual focal point of the picture. So just be aware of that when choosing the pictures for your collage.

hopefully all that made sense.... 

-And one last tip with the collage: I adjusted the white space around each picture to be smaller so I had room to cut around the pictures and could then trim them as I wanted instead of how PicMonkey cropped them. I wanted to be able to show the majority of my image in each square and the larger, default white space didn't allow that as much.

Here is the finished collage result that I sent to be printed:

Hopefully all those tips helped...

moving on.

step.two.

once the collage is printed off [I got mine printed off at Costco for cheap. You can also just print them off at hope on photo-paper], cut the squares to fit your tiles.

You can also use these as photobooth pictures. So cute!

You will definitely need to trim, trim, trim to get the pictures cut to the size of the tiles.

Not even all of the scraps from trimming because I kept cutting crooked...ugh.

step.three. 

After you cut pictures to the size you want, it's time to glue them to the tiles.

First, I added the Mod Podge to the back of the pictures and laid them on top of the tiles.

Once the picture was dried somewhat, I then Mod Podged the top of the picture to the tile to seal it better. Make sure you get around the edge where the picture meets the tile. And don't be afraid to use too much because it dries clear.

tip: I originally tried to cut all the pictures so they fit perfectly on the tile, but then as I was gluing them I found that the ones that had a little white space around the edges stayed on the tile better, were able to be sealed better, and didn't slip around while I was gluing it. I also thought they just looked a lot better to have the small border as well. So if I did it again I would make sure I had that extra space.

Not dried Mod Podge. just to show you how much I put on. It dried clear and there wasn't any white streaks.

 step.four.

Next, after the glue is mostly dry, it's time to glue on the magnets.

Just use hot clue to adhere the magnets to the back of the tiles.

tip: Try to get the magnets as close to the center as possible! I didn't realize that even if they were just slightly off, the tile would not stay straight on the fridge. The ones that are a little off center end up shifting because the weight is not even (you can tell in the picture at the bottom). It doesn't look that bad and honestly, when you are just throwing stuff up on the fridge the magnets are not always straight. But if it's something that will really bother you make sure you are cautious on where you glue them.

step.five.

ENJOY!!

I love having the pictures right where we can see them every day.

And my son, Elijah, loves to look at them and tell stories about them.

"Baby Za-Za at Halloween."

"Mama and Za-Za."

"Look, look, look! I on swing!!"

"Ooooh, Cowboy!"

{That was all supposed to be Elijah talking, p.s.}

And want to hear the best part??

They were less than $10 to make!

Happiness all around!

Also, I just made these again the other day for some friends and instead of using pictures I used some cute scrapbook paper that I had. They turned out SO cute and are great to add some flair to your kitchen or for gifts to people who don't your face all over their fridge. :)

Please let me know if you have any questions or want anything clarified. And feel free to share your picture magnets as well! I would love to see if any of you make them and how they turned out.

Thank you so much, Jen and Laryssa, for letting me guest post for you! I really appreciate it and hope your readers liked the tutorial as well! :)

Progress Is The Best Motivation

The biggest motivation that I’ve had on this get healthy challenge is seeing results. I can read inspirational posts and quotes all day long and sure, they help with some motivation, but nothing motivates me more than seeing the positive results of all my efforts.
Results are not just a number on a scale. Yes, it’s nice to see a lower number, week after week but it’s not all that matters. I recently had my 3 month appointment at the doctors and the appointment went really well. I exceeded the doctors expectations which is always great. Not only did the progress show in the weight loss and numbers in the blood work levels, it shows with how I feel. I have more energy and overall just feel better and that is a great motivator to continue.
At the beginning of the year, Jan. 7th to be exact, I took my measurements so I could keep track of inches lost as well as pounds. Just for fun today, I decided to re-measure. I was just curious to see any slight progress I might be making. I was very pleasantly surprised and couldn’t contain my excitement so I just had to share!
So far I’ve lost a total of 18 pounds and 18.75 inches, including but not limited to, 2 inches from my waist, 3 inches from my hips, 7 inches from my legs, and 3.5 inches from my arms.
I can’t wait to see how the measurements read next month.
And just in case you love the motivational quotes, here is a printable of one of my favorites that I found.

Such a true statement.

Chore Chart Printables

The other day, I mentioned that I have a chore chart so today I thought I would share it with you, along with a couple printables that you can download, frame and use a dry erase marker to fill it in.
I love my chore chart! I don’t ALWAYS complete the list but I do try my best. Having the chart breaks down the chores into small sections that don’t require a lot of time and therefore, makes keeping a clean house, a lot less stressful.
First I’ll share what my chore chart looks like. Mine incorporates the colors in my dining room, the goldish yellow, turquoise, and dark purple. I have 4 set tasks to complete each day.
1. Make the bed (I’m the worst at this one!)
2. Sort the incoming mail. This way it doesn’t pile up on the table, in the office, or on the buffet.
3. Wipe down kitchen. I’ve been making a huge effort to clean while I cook. It makes the biggest difference! I can enjoy my dinner knowing that all I have to do afterwards it put a few dishes in the dishwasher.
4. Dishes. It makes my heart happy to go to bed with a clean kitchen and the dishes put away or put in the washer. Helps me sleep like a baby.
I divided other chores throughout the week. Doing smaller chores throughout the week helps to make cleaning not such an overwhelming task and helps to keep it more organized.
I’m blessed to have a husband who is so willing to help out (when he isn’t studying for school or the Bar exam) He’ll help out with dishes and mow the lawn and clean the bathroom every now and then. I tell him that it specifically states in our marriage license that his responsibilities are taking out the trash & recycle, killing all bugs, and mowing the lawn.  He says he has no recollection of such an agreement but does it none the less. Swooon, isn’t he dreamy?!?
Saturday is the “heavy” chore day with yard work and 1 room deep clean on the schedule. Our deep cleaning includes cleaning the windows, baseboards, fans, appliances, any needed organization, and a good vacuum and dusting (furniture polish if needed) If the rooms are kept clean on a regular basis than the deep cleaning doesn’t take too much time.
Now for the free printables. I left them blank so you can frame them and then use a dry erase marker to fill them in.

I love the quotes at the top and bottom. Mr. Awesome makes marriage so fun and fairly easy that housework really is my hardest task. The quote on the bottom is inspired by my mother who, growing up, would always tell me that if I just picked up things and put them away as I used them, I wouldn’t have much to clean. Wow, it’s like I can hear her voice as I write that. I didn’t exactly take her advice growing up, it was just too much fun to drive her crazy. As an adult though, you often realize how many times your mother was right. Just try not to tell them that too often, they’ll get a big head :)
Happy Cleaning!

Wonderfully Quick Valentines Day Gift!

Let's kick this off with a little story. So as many of you know I am a preschool teacher and have been for the past 7 years. You meet A LOT of kids in that kind of time frame, and believe it or not, you remember most of them. There was this one child about 5 years ago that I remember specifically, Nolan. Nolan and I had an odd relationship at times. He didn't necessarily attach to me and he wasn't a fan of my rules in the classroom which made us butt heads at times. But he was a sweet little boy. Oh! Here's the kicker! His mom was my boss... Ya fun right. I felt odd disciplining him and I don't think she liked it either.  Differences aside they were a wonderful family. So when they made the decision to move back to Missouri I was a little sad. On Nolan's last day he came to me with a jar of what looked like rocks and paper. It was a Wonderful You Jar. He told me that when he was gone take one piece of paper out everyday and read it. I of course, teared up, gave him a hug and said goodbye. The next day I followed his instructions, taking out a piece of paper and reading it. On it was something special that we shared, laughed about, or something he thought was wonderful about me. After reading them all I still keep it on my desk and read them when I'm blue.

Years later I decided to make one for my wonderful husband. In it I put memories from our first date, inside jokes, dreams for the future, and everything I loved about him. It is a small but extremely meaningful gift... Perfect for a special valentines day.  I encourage ALL of you to make a wonderful you jar for someone, be it your spouse, parents, children or friends, for any occasion! It is something that will be remembered forever.

Turquoise Buffet Makeover

I painted my buffet many months ago…I know, I’m bad. My problem is that I just haven’t been able to find those perfect items to put on top of it. I’ve searched the stores and nothing pops out to me. That’s why I’ve hesitated revealing the makeover. I decided I couldn’t wait any longer though so I’m sharing it despite the lack of perfect accessories.

It took forever for me to find a buffet that I liked. Then one day, while searching craigslist, I found this beauty and then scurried my eyes across the screen to find the price while crossing my fingers that it wasn’t out of my budget. $45!!! I let out a tiny squeal of excitement and immediately contacted the seller and set up a time to go check it out/pick it up. This is how she looked when I found her. It actually had all the handles, just one was in the drawer. that was a major selling point because often pieces with those handles have one or two that are broken/missing. I know what you thinking though…how could I have gotten rid of the incredible marble effect? Well let me tell you…it was EASY!

This piece is pretty heavy and definitely a solid piece of furniture…minus the two curvy legs…those were plastic. It also had a thick polyurethane layer on the top that was old, chipped, and easily flaked. I sanded the top until the polyurethane was level with the wood and could no longer chip off and sanded the rest of the buffet.  Then, using Glidden’s Gripper in white, I primed the entire thing. I did light sanding in between coats of primer.
I knew I wanted a light turquoise color but after priming it, I fell in love with the white. The compromise was to have the top white and the rest turquoise with white handles and white legs. I think it was a pretty great compromise. I love the legs! 

For the legs, top, and handles I used Krylon’s Satin White. The turquoise color was harder for me to decide on. I didn’t like anything at Lowes and Home Depot…they were either too blue or green or gray. I finally found this color at Ace Hardware. The second I brushed it over the buffet, I knew it was perfection. Needless to say, I’m kind of in love with the newest addition to our dining room. I kept all the original handles except the two knobs and replaced those with crystal ones found at Hobby Lobby for 50% off.  The lamps were a Christmas present from my parents. I had seen them at HomeGoods just a couple days before Christmas and immediately sent my Mom a picture (she’s my go to opinion gal…along with Laryssa). I had to pretty much drag myself by the ear out of the store without them and just had to tell myself that I would go back after Christmas and get them. It was quite the surprise to receive both lamps for Christmas. Love my Parents!I know I’d like to do something with the shades, I just haven’t figured out what that thing is yet.
For now the buffet holds a few small accessories, our chore chart (yes, we I have a chore chart…helps to keep the house clean), and our “What A Difference A Day Makes” print art. I’m so thrilled with how it turned out. I love the delicate touches of white!  

5 of My Favorite Things to do With Baking Soda!

The husband has turned me into a little bit of a clean freak... not necessarily a bad thing... Just a little annoying at times.  Anyways, one of the things we ALWAYS have on hand in our household is baking soda! It is so incredibly versatile, how could I not keep it around. Here are some of my favorite things to do with it.

1. Clean the tub! I love wetting down the shower, sprinkling a little bit of baking soda and scrubbing away the grime!
2. Deodorizing the sinks. I hate a dirty/smelly garbage disposal, baking soda and lemon wedges does the trick!
3. Carpet powder. Sprinkle it on let sit for at least 20 minutes to an hour and vacuum up! Add essential oils to your baking soda for a more fragrant scent.
4. Cleaning tarnished jewelry. Take a little water and baking soda and gently scrub with an old toothbrush.
5. Sprinkle in your laundry! It gives it a little boost! Especially in your whites! Not to mention, it's great for kids laundry and for people with sensitive skin.

DIY All Purpose Cleaner

What do you do when you’re sicker than all sick, confined to your house, and run out of all purpose cleaner? Make your own! That’s exactly what I had to do this last week. We are trying to keep the germs as far away from Mr. Awesome as possible because him getting sick is one of the worst things that could happen right now. He is 3 weeks away from taking the Bar Exam and his body needs all the energy it can get to focus on his studies. So when I ran out of cleaning solution and going to the store was just way out of the question, I decided to just make my own using our essential oils. It’s super simple to make, smells good (at least to me), and does a good job.
What you will need:

• 1 Cup Warm Water
• 1 Cup Vinegar
• 10-15 Drops of Lemon, On Guard, Wild Orange Essential Oils. (You could omit the On Guard and Wild Orange and use Tea Tree Oil if you prefer, I used what I had on hand)
• Spray Bottle

A word on the spray bottle. You will probably want to use a glass spray bottle as the citrus oils might eventually eat through the plastic. Once again though, I was confined to the house and chose to just repurpose an old bottle. I’ll eventually get a glass one.
Mix your warm water and vinegar. Then add your essential oils. Give it a good shake and you’re ready to get a cleanin.