tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26859719870472639852024-02-25T23:03:50.224-08:00sprinkles on toastelise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-72791654798760663682015-05-29T22:56:00.000-07:002015-05-29T22:56:23.242-07:00When life hands you lemons ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQj7SL6e80nOe7sN_u21XfhyphenhyphenSSyB69qOgnxdo8mDJYU1BwzY9gICjq2Md9an6lFfvtC87LJuUh7bQ26oxE2TBIv90S10I2f112WqkE9gWcOerceMZpwxwBSTVnfvyR8gtdsklVD6s3Vgxw/s1600/bigstock-lemon-ripe-lemons-hanging-on-59276642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQj7SL6e80nOe7sN_u21XfhyphenhyphenSSyB69qOgnxdo8mDJYU1BwzY9gICjq2Md9an6lFfvtC87LJuUh7bQ26oxE2TBIv90S10I2f112WqkE9gWcOerceMZpwxwBSTVnfvyR8gtdsklVD6s3Vgxw/s400/bigstock-lemon-ripe-lemons-hanging-on-59276642.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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...you make lemonade ice cream! Its been a week of brain freezes for sure. And in the end, I learned an important lesson that I sometimes forget. <br />
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I am horrible at saving money, Ill be the first to admit that. But now that I'm earning enough to be able to save, I've been trying to put money aside in case of an emergency. Ive never before made enough where I had leftover for savings. Since I moved here with basically a couch (I didn't have a bed, or other furniture - I mainly brought personal items and clothes), I spent a lot of money making my house a home - and I'm so glad I did! And yes, I treated myself to some fancy Kate Spade purses...and I'm not going to apologize for spending money on that. <br />
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So last week I was thrilled when I had more money in my savings account than ever before! I was going to apply for a credit card. I had worked hard all year to get my finances in order - pay all my bills early, when able, and save some along the way. I had gotten denied the year before, but surely after a year of being a financially responsible adult, a credit card should be given to me. WRONG! I got denied again! I called the bank upset that I had once again not qualified for a credit card. The financial advisor directed me to a website where I could run my credit. He told me the score the website gave me was pretty bad and instructed me to scroll down the page to see where the problem was. As it turns out, I had debts that had gone to collections from as far as 7 years back...from right after I moved to the States! I got off the phone with the bank and just broke down crying. After working so hard for a year, I probably only ruined my score more since another year had gone by without me paying these debts I didn't even know I had. They totaled almost $2,000!! <br />
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When I first moved here and started paying bills here, I wasn't aware of the ramifications of not paying bills on time. It literally takes years to work this off, and get my credit score up to a decent number. I right away made a plan to pay off the debts I owe. The night I found out and next day, I paid off 5 of the 7 debts! It made me realize that I am so blessed and fortunate to be able to pay them. I could have easily been in the same position as last year where I didn't have enough to pay it back. <br />
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All my debts will be paid by June 15th and I will finally be able to restore my credit. I am feeling super lucky, that even though my bank account has been completely drained of my emergency savings, I was able to pay off as much as I did. I love when I find the positive in something...even though this one was a tough one :) Its hard to find the silver lining - but SO worth it!!<br />
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<em>Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you</em> - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18<br />
<span class="vote-buttons invisible"> </span> elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-69357868166945571342015-05-24T16:50:00.003-07:002015-05-24T16:50:48.719-07:00Im a broker <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzmgbb97st3uuT7dxU3HqKQaMiYy7H1ZbkgABmJVpR9qMJzI9ZFCwybE5d2t0QkvDZg533j1esvwaVS_SY2RtSwsioMBAziTAypAYc156pEP7zcSBHPti1Lx7NDWDYzutjJsJUTxDGIPT/s1600/4677894898_a45366bac3_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzmgbb97st3uuT7dxU3HqKQaMiYy7H1ZbkgABmJVpR9qMJzI9ZFCwybE5d2t0QkvDZg533j1esvwaVS_SY2RtSwsioMBAziTAypAYc156pEP7zcSBHPti1Lx7NDWDYzutjJsJUTxDGIPT/s400/4677894898_a45366bac3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">image taken from google</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">(disclaimer - some buttons on my keyboard are not functioning properly. Apologies for any spelling errors)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Feels weird to say that...I'm a broker. I was telling someone the other day, who asked what I did, that I was a broker. Lynne said, Isn't it so cool to tell people that? And it is...it sounds cool. But I also think that 75% of the people have no idea what I do (and up to 10 months ago...I didn't even know brokers existed). I figured it be fun to explain exactly what it is I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I work for a 3rd party logistics company - meaning we have no assets of our own (no trucks, truck drivers or containers). I have held 3 different positions since starting in July of 2014, the one I have now is my favorite. My title is Intermodal Representative/Broker (intermodal means multiple modes of transportation - a truck will pick up an empty intermodal container at the rail yard, drive to the shipper where he will be loaded with whatever product we are shipping, drive the loaded container back to the rail yard where it is placed on the train. Once it arrives at the final destination, another truck will take the full container to the consignee and unload the container). I have tried to explain this in an easy way, and say: I work with trains - but the girl I was telling this to, asked if I was the conductor...NO I don't actually get to operate the train :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is what I do in a nutshell. My company is divided in operations and sales - I work in operations. The sales team will find a customer, say Target (we don't actually have Target as a customer), who needs to ship their products from their warehouse in North Carolina to Los Angeles for example. My team (the intermodal department consists of 2 other brokers and 2 coordinators) will reach out to large intermodal carrier, often via email or online, and get rates to see how expensive it would be to move Targets inventory from point A to point B. Once that's all done, and we have agreed on a price and <em>won</em> (often times there are more 3PLs fighting for the same customer or particular lane) we then have to make sure everything goes smooth and gets delivered ok.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I mainly spend my days quoting and solving problems (things go wrong with trains - shipments get delayed, containers accidentally get put on the wrong trains, and last but certainly not least - trains derail, which is really not good). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I never knew that this side of transportation existed and will never look at trains or trucks the same way ever again. Being a broker wasn't anywhere on my list of jobs I thought I would one day like to try considering Id never heard of it. Like any job, its not always fun - days are long and sometimes they get mundane. But I love my job - it has allowed me to feel like I am making it on my own, I'm able to do fun things, save and pay all my bills. I am so glad I kept working my butt off and trusted Him along the way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">What do you do?</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;"></span>elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-2578572818835156862015-02-21T19:49:00.000-08:002015-02-21T19:49:57.245-08:00< everything is better from scratch > Tzatziki dip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7b7V_sqXhlPmc2_eWQf_KmtczEeeylQlCYjhJ90tfrvBkzT6i4BzARBj7Zo4uhbUEaiNuT7Qz1PyW-4n_24BaJxFu8a-C020GFWmRfDX4VKmSHdzTbF7wKjq9Loo2wSDub4k8cQAxqfS/s1600/unnamed+(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7b7V_sqXhlPmc2_eWQf_KmtczEeeylQlCYjhJ90tfrvBkzT6i4BzARBj7Zo4uhbUEaiNuT7Qz1PyW-4n_24BaJxFu8a-C020GFWmRfDX4VKmSHdzTbF7wKjq9Loo2wSDub4k8cQAxqfS/s1600/unnamed+(10).jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything is better from scratch and also, much healthier! I've learned so much these past few months working with my new trainer (hi Cara!!) about what kind of gross / toxic things are hiding in foods we consume every day. In order to be more attentive of what I put in my body, I've been trying to make more foods from scratch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For some reason, I was craving the traditional Greek sauce Tzatziki! I found a few recipes online but (as usual) I didn't follow it exactly and ended up just doing my own thing. Here is how I put it together</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">What you need:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 cucumber</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3 5oz containers of plain Greek yogurt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">dill</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">lemon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">garlic</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mixing the ingredients</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">First, you'll want to grate your cucumber - I left the peel on. Once it's all the way grated, you want to put it in a strainer and push a plate on top. The weight of the plate will squeeze all the water out. The cucumber should as dry as you can get it - I got impatient and tried to squeeze the water out with my hands. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mix your yogurt, with the dill (I probably used a good 2-3 tablespoons), 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the juice of half the lemmon and 2 cloves of garlic (fresh, not powdered). I also added some fresh pepper as well as some lemon zest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mix your dried cucumber in last and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. I covered mine in tinfoil and left it to chill for 90 minutes (that's as long as I could make myself wait before trying it!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJkA_WYX_PJBeZ-7qzM4M-x6HAIFIMD-IvNrlQmSUERXnRvxCZkkDyEVJaLWw4XjoAyCYszPZ1-5CoYCUy6BnO97xXUbOv7oNzavQmawyuGQNM883cFTMALXSEBnH4QyzS1Hpov2NDG-8/s1600/unnamed+(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJkA_WYX_PJBeZ-7qzM4M-x6HAIFIMD-IvNrlQmSUERXnRvxCZkkDyEVJaLWw4XjoAyCYszPZ1-5CoYCUy6BnO97xXUbOv7oNzavQmawyuGQNM883cFTMALXSEBnH4QyzS1Hpov2NDG-8/s1600/unnamed+(11).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You can eat this with practically anything - a topping on burgers, with some carrots / celery for dipping, or like me - with chips :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Its super refreshing and flavorful - mine was almost spicy from the garlic. It definitely tasted like more!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">What's your favorite thing to make from scratch?</span><br />
elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-54721775412260543122015-01-11T17:37:00.000-08:002015-01-12T19:52:37.985-08:00#housetohome {TUTORIAL} floating shelfWhen it came to deciding what should go over my couch, I thought 3 simple picture frames would be satisfying. I hung them up (off course I framed glitter....too much?) and loved them, for a day. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfhSEZrWOTihT-HmvvTwIkn9h5XELjzW2NzjDEZXaDnFsU18bnk29QQE9kD-cWuO20Z6iKsg1KmvWgCB-N05oCRRl33sFGvm_pTeyu7KI62iZ-D_B6KR_gieyNR_r5QtwhOT1Tg2zkFXZ/s1600/unnamed+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfhSEZrWOTihT-HmvvTwIkn9h5XELjzW2NzjDEZXaDnFsU18bnk29QQE9kD-cWuO20Z6iKsg1KmvWgCB-N05oCRRl33sFGvm_pTeyu7KI62iZ-D_B6KR_gieyNR_r5QtwhOT1Tg2zkFXZ/s1600/unnamed+(5).jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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I searched Pinterest for something else, and I found floating shelves! I loved the look of <a href="http://www.thewonderforest.com/2014/03/fast-easy-and-cheap-diy-floating-shelf.html">this one</a> so I decided to follow her instructions (click on the link for the detailed instructions and the cut list). My dad helped because I needed his help to figure out how to get it straight (planning on putting them in my dining room as well), and it is much more fun to do home improvement projects with my dad! He decided to add the back piece including the support beams to the wall, then screwed the top to it and last the bottom. Word of caution, I would stain the wood before you attach it to the wall, makes the whole process a lot easier. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MFDg2frlv2BkkeFnmQbf9WSeP92rsdBVk8s1G3Squh2n2Tx3zIuIC3n_YQ3s5dfpXWuvuk6r9YgtCCNaWZsPJSYTHqmc0wpqiFHM3xUtONAQgc0wSo-HNNRTx-FYL9k15IWD87IQ6pMN/s1600/unnamed+(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MFDg2frlv2BkkeFnmQbf9WSeP92rsdBVk8s1G3Squh2n2Tx3zIuIC3n_YQ3s5dfpXWuvuk6r9YgtCCNaWZsPJSYTHqmc0wpqiFHM3xUtONAQgc0wSo-HNNRTx-FYL9k15IWD87IQ6pMN/s1600/unnamed+(6).jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd7039ta7Voq3dEGxDbN2lIFzhKkR3gV8gi5GP3tL5tUIDLVYmeAYqYJP_5Du7Yeg2jHN929BYtSwAj3lBmc03fHl_ReFJNa8tGibf9yywrwrXNfz47lIrcEJMYnC1gMAd4QLG71eWQ4B/s1600/unnamed+(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd7039ta7Voq3dEGxDbN2lIFzhKkR3gV8gi5GP3tL5tUIDLVYmeAYqYJP_5Du7Yeg2jHN929BYtSwAj3lBmc03fHl_ReFJNa8tGibf9yywrwrXNfz47lIrcEJMYnC1gMAd4QLG71eWQ4B/s1600/unnamed+(8).jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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The stain I used is Minwax Classic Gray (you can get the little can, that will be more than enough). If you get commonboard, the project shouldn't cost more than $25. I used a more expensive wood for the front piece, so my project was a little more expensive. </div>
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I love the way I turned out!! Added some Christmas light because I love how whimsical they look. This was so simple to put together and really broke up the white apartment walls. Let me know if you make one, I'd love to see how yours turns out!!</div>
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-67642432819622401862015-01-10T18:30:00.004-08:002015-01-10T22:22:59.524-08:00home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I moved to Phoenix for 2 reasons. The biggest reason was that my sister was moving to the City of Angels...LA! I didn't want to live on the opposite side of the country and hardly be able to visit her. Not particularly interested in living in LA, I asked google to help me find a warm place close by. I found Phoenix and loved what I read, and loved what I saw when I went to visit with Lynne in March. <br />
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My move was definitely not a very well thought of plan (and trust me, I learned a tough lesson)...I had an apartment and a job...kinda. That job turned out to be part-time, not the full-time key holder position I was led to believe was waiting for me. Luckily the connections I made at that job, led me to the job I have now. <br />
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Nothing about the move was easy, the 2500 mile drive, having to start a home from scratch after selling almost all your belongings (I suggest not selling all your things before a big move, it takes much more time and money to replace your things), finding your way around an unfamiliar city, making friends and finding a new job. But in the end, I found more than I thought I would have.<br />
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I found a home. I love my little place and the memories being made here. I have a job that allows me to make enough money for bills (ugh), saving and fun things. I live a 6 hour car ride from Lynne and even LA has started to grow on me! I found friends that are amazing. I might not have many, but I have those I can call in the middle of the night. I have found peace, more than I have before. Life is full of positive changes, challenges and triumphs. Phoenix is home - for now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqTxNEfQHn6hKNlfRO9XuZBTuMwfnzAsrCxaT2S_mFHso7T0gKAH5VON-SiKhBLMu32eSCVmv8BQMkyInevML6VhQJpLGQQV44_poOdpL8HEeZN1HgHxa7TLeZYTrb1T5omR8LFY_r4-a/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqTxNEfQHn6hKNlfRO9XuZBTuMwfnzAsrCxaT2S_mFHso7T0gKAH5VON-SiKhBLMu32eSCVmv8BQMkyInevML6VhQJpLGQQV44_poOdpL8HEeZN1HgHxa7TLeZYTrb1T5omR8LFY_r4-a/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Sources:</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>TV table - homegoods</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Wood basket - Joann (</em></span><a href="http://www.joann.com/wood-crate/8160715.html#q=crate&start=1"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>link)</em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Corner table - Ikea (</em></span><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40104270/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>link</em></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Striped curtains - diy (tutorial coming soon!!)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Shutter - vintage</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Bookcase - Ikea (</em></span><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50214678/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>link)</em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Wicker basket - Ikea (</em></span><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40252449/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>link)</em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Orthopedic doggie bed - TJMaxx</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd6rJF8Jz9u4LWNbFGrA29IwaBVDP5lmJl3_0cQyZM29lL7aAYNEzgItCmkXeUxE8pUEwmlf1efh8mQ4xDy9YA5rn0UZ-_0TUWnufOLlShw3mpnV65_xuYPaMPv0j4StyLaReZYyzGsJM/s1600/unnamed+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd6rJF8Jz9u4LWNbFGrA29IwaBVDP5lmJl3_0cQyZM29lL7aAYNEzgItCmkXeUxE8pUEwmlf1efh8mQ4xDy9YA5rn0UZ-_0TUWnufOLlShw3mpnV65_xuYPaMPv0j4StyLaReZYyzGsJM/s1600/unnamed+(2).jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Sources:</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Couch - America's Furniture Warehouse (</em></span><a href="http://www.afwonline.com/furniture/living-room/loveseats/fabric-loveseats/safia-slate-loveseat-nn-953l"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>link)</em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Rug - Rugs USA (</em></span><a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-diamond-shag/grey/200OZSG09A-2808.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>link-</em></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em> NOW 75% off!!)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Throw pillows - all handmade</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Throw - Target (sold out, but similar </em></span><a href="http://www.target.com/p/knit-throw/-/A-15407419#prodSlot=medium_2_5&term=gray+throw+blanket"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>here)</em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Coffee table - diy (tutorial coming soon!!)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em> Tray - Target (</em></span><a href="http://www.target.com/p/threshold-wooden-letter-tray/-/A-15023559#prodSlot=medium_1_19&term=wooden+tray"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>link</em></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>End table - Ikea (</em></span><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50272376/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>link)</em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Bookcase - Ikea (</em></span><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50214678/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>link</em></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Little state frames - Ikea (</em></span><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50186500/#/80188456"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>link</em></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Floating shelf - diy (another tutorial coming soon!)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Gold mason jar + flowers - Joann (</em></span><a href="http://www.joann.com/light-pink-peony-bush-/13763891.html#q=pink+peonies&start=13"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>pink peonies</em></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em> - NOW 40% off!)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Pug coffee table book - Target (sold out but I found mine </em></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pug-Shots-Jim-Dratfield/dp/0670887269/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420957046&sr=8-1&keywords=pug+shots"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>here)</em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Assorted picture frames - gifts for Christmas</em></span></div>
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<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">I am blessed</span></u></strong></div>
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-50237272688033431592014-11-23T18:06:00.001-08:002014-11-23T18:06:30.842-08:00.. 6 months .. I cannot believe its been 6 months (and a week) since my dad and I left Virginia and arrived in Arizona after 5 days in the car. That feels like it was yesterday, and yet it feels like I have lived in Phoenix for much longer. Learning has been the main thing I have done in the last half year - learning a new (giant) city, learning a new job... and another new job, and learning how to do everything on my own again. <br />
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I feel at ease here. This city is huge, but I love my neighborhood and my surroundings. I love that my sister and brother in law are only 6 hours away (I went to visit twice... more on that later). <br />
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Here are a few things that I've learned in the last 6 months:<br />
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1. YES, its hot in Phoenix<br />
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2. While it gets scorching hot here, its not unbearable.<br />
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3. Drinking water is very important.<br />
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4. Don't go hiking in the summer... I went in October and it was barely doable<br />
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5. This is one of the easiest cities to get around since its all laid out in a grid<br />
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6. But... they forgot gutters! Major flaw when it comes to rain storms and leads to (major) flooding<br />
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7. NEVER cut your hair thinking it'll prevent you from overheating. It doesn't work and you'll regret it (trust me)!!<br />
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8. I love palm trees!<br />
I have a great paying job and while it is not even remotely what I would like to do forever, it is good for now. The feeling of being able to pay all your bills, and have money left over to save and do fun things has been one that I've never felt before, and I love it. <br />
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It'll be time to decided if I want to renew my lease in January and it'll be a tricky decision. On one hand, I love it here and I feel like I haven't experienced all that Phoenix has to offer just yet. On the other hand, there are different places to explore and I don't know if I want to go and explore those while I can. I love being close to my sister and can't imagine living on the other side of the country, and I loved Los Angeles (and surrounding areas) more than I thought and I wouldn't be opposed to moving to Cali - granted I can find a job that pays muchos money so I can keep paying my bills :)<br />
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But guess what? I don't have to decide right now - I am loving life right where I am today!<br />
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Happy 6 month-a-versary Phoenix!!<br />
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-35578715098901440622014-11-02T20:06:00.002-08:002014-11-02T20:06:51.885-08:00Remember me?Yea hi...over here! Remember me? I took a long, unintentional, but necessary blogging break. I'd like to promise that I'm back...for good, but we all know how that goes!<br />
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A little update. I've been living and loving Phoenix for almost 6 months now! Some days I feel like I just moved here yesterday, and other days I feel like I have been here for forever. There is a lot to love...I love my apartment, I like my jobs, and life is good at the moment. Not sure if I mentioned it on here or not, but I started working for another company. I'm a full-time broker for one of Arizona's fastest growing logistics company. It's just a fancy way of saying that I work in the male dominated world of freight and truck drivers. So far it has been a crazy but fun ride, and I'm finally settling into a routine at work. I'm starting my 5th month with the company....crazy!<br />
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My sister and husband made it to LA! I've visited twice and LOVED it! I love being near the water and just the overall vibe of the state is amazing. If it wasn't so darn expensive to live there, I'd move in a heart beat!!<br />
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My apartment is coming together nicely. I thought it would take me about 6 months to get it completed, but now that the 6 month mark is nearing, I'm realizing that I need a little more time to get everything together. I will probably do an apartment tour in December since I hope to have the majority of my apartment finished by Christmas when my parents come to visit! Plus, I'm trying to buy pieces that I'll be able to have for years and I want everything to be perfect....perfection takes time...and money, lots and lots of money!<br />
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So stay tuned for the big reveal! I have some other fun DIY project that will be posted to the blog soon!! Not making excuses, but working 2 jobs leaves little time for blogging, but I'm thinking about posting maybe twice a week for now. I miss blogging, and I miss the community...so here we go again!<br />
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Please follow along on Instagram (@sprinklesontoast) since I post on there more regularly! Especially when it comes to my apartment :) <br />
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Glad to be back - thanks for following along,elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-37635045609809110032014-07-06T00:31:00.000-07:002014-07-06T00:31:16.979-07:00Animal cruelty & what you can do to helpAt one of my random Petfinder searches, I stumbled across an organization that rescues animals that have been put on a euthanasia list for being injured or sick. A lot of people surrender their sick or injured animal to their local shelter because they are unable or unwilling to pay for them to get better. <br />
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M.A.I.N (or Medical Animals In Need) is a 100% volunteer organization that saves these animals, fixes them up and helps them find forever homes. Maricopa county (my new county) has the second largest shelter in the nation - taking in an average of 150 stray or unwanted dogs EACH DAY! This means that about 50,000 dogs and cats are euthanized in Maricopa county each year. People who are looking to adopt are looking for healthy dogs, and are usually unwilling or unable to adopt a sick or injured dog. These dogs don't stand a chance of being adopted, and that is where M.A.I.N steps in - saving over 150 dogs from euthanasia and provide new loving homes for them in 2012 alone.<br />
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I have been crying for 3 hours straight, watching rescue videos from M.A.I.N, realizing that most of these injuries are at the hands of another human. These dogs have been abused, neglected, starved, strangled, and all together broken. As I type this, I am listening to Izzie snore...she could have been one of these dogs. This could have been her life had someone who like me not adopted her. I remember crying the entire way (45 minutes) to the shelter to pick out a dog for my roommate - I couldn't imagine driving that drive knowing I needed to surrender Izzie, and I made sure to tell her over and over again that I would never leave her (she came to meet any new potential doggie roommates). I am at a loss for words looking at some of these injuries knowing that another person could do that to a living, breathing, full of love and life animal. It breaks my heart and amazes me at the same times, that these dogs are still capable of loving a human regardless of what they have been through. <br />
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Due to the graphic nature and upsetting images (trust me, I've seen the pictures and it is heartbreaking) - I decided to not share any pictures of the dogs that this organization has saved. If you want to read some of their stories, I suggest looking them up on facebook (Medical Animals in Need) or going directly to their <a href="http://www.medicalanimalsinneed.com/">website</a>. It will break your heart and restore your faith in humanity all at the same time. <br />
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If you are able and willing - please consider donating to this wonderful organization as they are 100% volunteer based and 100% of your donations go directly to saving the lives of many dogs that are in need. Lets end animal cruelty, shall we!<br />
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-34824899585498041492014-07-03T22:41:00.002-07:002014-07-03T22:41:38.791-07:00my first haboob {dust storm}<div style="text-align: center;">
Holy cow! Those are the only words I have....holy cow. I took Izzie for a little walk since she was whining to go out. It had been a cloudy day which I knew would make for an awesome sunset. I checked the temperature...106 {its about 7:30pm at this point} and cloudy. I snapped some pictures of the clouds before I realized that they looked as if they were rolling. Rolling clouds here means dust. I scooped Izzie up as fast as I could and raced her inside. Haboob's pick up all sorts of particles on their journey through the desert and dogs are especially susceptible to catch Valley Fever, a fungal infection {about 70% of dogs who get Valley Fever are asymptomatic and the symptoms can range from mild to occasionally fatal - not risking that!} People can get it as well, but I wanted to make sure Izzie was protected from the dust as much as possible. </div>
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A haboob, or dust storm according to Wikipedia {the most trusted internet source} - "The word "haboob" comes from the Arabic word <i>habb</i>, meaning “wind.” A haboob is a wall of dust as a result of a microburst or downburst. The air forced downward is pushed forward by the front of a thunderstorm cell, dragging dust and debris with it, as it travels across the terrain. These dust storms are much more serious than dust devils. The wind during a haboob is usually up to about 30 mph and dust can rise high into the air as it blows over the Valley. A haboob can last for up to three hours." Its now 10:30pm and there has been a lot of rain and some lightning - temperatures have dropped significantly. It was 106 when the haboob came roaring in and it has dropped to 82 now. I can't walk Izzie yet because the storm hasn't passed yet and I can smell dust when I walk out onto my balcony - its been 3 hours now. I did not realize these things last so darn long!!</div>
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Here are some pictures from the haboob. Some are taken from instagram {#haboob}. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5UvQtgKPm_fYP66szYBpb1ab6xRsjQWt7l2xtCS84lFr99IHmICjkehOsFP0_z_HqCof9pz4rYFzHdx4xCmA1mKCh58jTOjjlSE8CJ2RWpOLV1DTojGkHOBMM0LcLgZHup2W8ut08fcg/s1600/haboob.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5UvQtgKPm_fYP66szYBpb1ab6xRsjQWt7l2xtCS84lFr99IHmICjkehOsFP0_z_HqCof9pz4rYFzHdx4xCmA1mKCh58jTOjjlSE8CJ2RWpOLV1DTojGkHOBMM0LcLgZHup2W8ut08fcg/s1600/haboob.1.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></div>
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The day started beautiful and cloudy</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCivY7MdESa6rPYZLXDj6-Yad3ayw5H7PVCg75reV1oFvHrZ_im8kMWgoyejtlbVqJiWzhl1S3Ik576gfiuwMEmWmJFSvhrzxgz1Dk6pbRIoUGMWMS4dayTF6bbRocirbw-IqbFIDckZSN/s1600/haboob.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCivY7MdESa6rPYZLXDj6-Yad3ayw5H7PVCg75reV1oFvHrZ_im8kMWgoyejtlbVqJiWzhl1S3Ik576gfiuwMEmWmJFSvhrzxgz1Dk6pbRIoUGMWMS4dayTF6bbRocirbw-IqbFIDckZSN/s1600/haboob.2.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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What I thought were thunderclouds rolling in</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8KUsVNfgXAH33SQExzPgaZWjgVfODdPk5Y5hZ-JqD3q_1-wauVXMqrT0cBW42Cb4JiBCyZO4fxPiaXKXXL7WzZmjcDc-RJoNVMwn5lOREc_1A5rVHHj6cgEO38DhtKc2AEvWeSUaVlQ3/s1600/haboob.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8KUsVNfgXAH33SQExzPgaZWjgVfODdPk5Y5hZ-JqD3q_1-wauVXMqrT0cBW42Cb4JiBCyZO4fxPiaXKXXL7WzZmjcDc-RJoNVMwn5lOREc_1A5rVHHj6cgEO38DhtKc2AEvWeSUaVlQ3/s1600/haboob.3.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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Starting to realize these clouds may not be what they seem</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw22RdlwwGZaysfbn5HO0h9epjfBNoRVJcvTXWGDwSGOVLLLjLTkUPIdP-Bec1RktGSV8c3EOUzslf3-OWLdPhdHaUg6QbnV6-zUq4sdAY-jd1UC7D5e7_q0yu4cXwWydbLoXwb8qYI1E/s1600/haboob.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw22RdlwwGZaysfbn5HO0h9epjfBNoRVJcvTXWGDwSGOVLLLjLTkUPIdP-Bec1RktGSV8c3EOUzslf3-OWLdPhdHaUg6QbnV6-zUq4sdAY-jd1UC7D5e7_q0yu4cXwWydbLoXwb8qYI1E/s1600/haboob.4.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgge41Ry_rRdKrhZufp8vFoB6LHpd5IAoT4keselNR-ipOfEMuZ8oG7bYFOD5wC7w15eK24lQ22VYcyx29MDK0QMbNNUdmaGkErP_p95gvPjXgIeX48fdqCVlDyqbqsXQKnJChhWX3Jd-Fy/s1600/haboob.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgge41Ry_rRdKrhZufp8vFoB6LHpd5IAoT4keselNR-ipOfEMuZ8oG7bYFOD5wC7w15eK24lQ22VYcyx29MDK0QMbNNUdmaGkErP_p95gvPjXgIeX48fdqCVlDyqbqsXQKnJChhWX3Jd-Fy/s1600/haboob.5.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the dust storm - it was relatively dark with at times 0 visibility. It temporarily halted all air traffic - incoming and outgoing - to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. </div>
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Below are some pictures from Instagram</div>
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Have you ever been in a haboob?</div>
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-85527880763722435002014-07-01T22:47:00.000-07:002014-10-08T18:41:53.234-07:00#housetohome {TUTORIAL} $35 rustic headboard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHuVRYhb-2lWVS9u9IwtNJG2k1PW9sh2dvN4FTSMCXr0keJbrRvWxV2klIGmemVLneLEKGB62beQF5mK50_m2pzSqqdUA-T7FrIi4YmYCz5Wm2wt6Gkc5-gUK-fWzAHKjikOBKmxEMKNk/s1600/housetohome.headboard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHuVRYhb-2lWVS9u9IwtNJG2k1PW9sh2dvN4FTSMCXr0keJbrRvWxV2klIGmemVLneLEKGB62beQF5mK50_m2pzSqqdUA-T7FrIi4YmYCz5Wm2wt6Gkc5-gUK-fWzAHKjikOBKmxEMKNk/s1600/housetohome.headboard.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ya'll - headboards are expensive!! I love the way they can bring a whole bedroom together and make such a big statement. Most of the time, that big statement comes with a bigger price tag. I looked at Ikea and even there a bedframe and headboard combination is over $400!! I had a budget of less than $100 for the frame and the headboard combined and I wanted something that would go well with my color scheme (grey, white, gold, and turquoise). But anyone that knows me knows I change my mind on colors (and life) every 5 minutes so I needed this to go with a lot. I am so proud of the way it turned out - it couldn't have been any easier or inexpensive!! And like with the other projects, I love walking into my bedroom knowing I made that...by myself!</div>
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I found <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/viewer?blog=3911376&post=2271520347">this tutorial</a> and I modified it to fit what I needed my headboard to look like. I ended up mounting mine straight to the metal frame that I bought. This felt sturdier to me than hanging it on the wall...I can just see myself knocking it off on many occasions. The basic outline on her blog is great, and so easy to follow the steps. </div>
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Here is what you need to build this headboard:</div>
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8 pieces of 1x4's 60 inches long (60 inches is the standard size of a queen bed) - $23.36</div>
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2 pieces of 1x3's 40 inches long - $3.64</div>
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wood screws </div>
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a tiny can of Minwax Dark Walnut stain (LOVE this stuff) - $4.78</div>
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<strong>Step 1:</strong></div>
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Head to Home Depot and have the wonderful guys there cut your pieces of wood. This is the nice part - they do all the hard work for you! I took home the left over pieces since the 1x4's were 8 feet long (using that to hopefully make a coffee table). I bought common board - basically a composite of many types of wood. It was $2.92 per 8 feet for the 1x4's and $3.64 for the 1x3's.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN_mttwi-MQJ8HNSNhVrKCPLNQrJlaG-jFe45UEesO03NQbPe4H2-wM055jjNzpW_e4iAgD3TWx_kAgn07ea0DLVr0Pez3a4dJe4hT9y618T9EF6vC2IXwUw3xYIKEbu-4AgubS-e9UzI/s1600/housetohome.headboard1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN_mttwi-MQJ8HNSNhVrKCPLNQrJlaG-jFe45UEesO03NQbPe4H2-wM055jjNzpW_e4iAgD3TWx_kAgn07ea0DLVr0Pez3a4dJe4hT9y618T9EF6vC2IXwUw3xYIKEbu-4AgubS-e9UzI/s1600/housetohome.headboard1.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Step 2:</strong></div>
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Lay your 60 inch pieces out - make sure to put it ugly side up. There will be scuffs and/or lettering on the wood, and you want to make sure that this is on the back of your headboard. Put all the pretty sides down so you can lay the 40 inch piece on top of that. Mine aren't all straight and flush with one another, I didn't want it too even.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30y1IBt_B2hFhJ1Zobg1zZq2GXrmN3YwVqbblPfUnBFGQ2-ItHs8JOS8HLPAFC_NRFaOcxcJO91Em4wT61Tsa1elOmfCBcT4mFMSzSh_YSw6sUh-npROhEqCjfU3EtA723dmtw9rTPfzM/s1600/housetohome.headboard2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30y1IBt_B2hFhJ1Zobg1zZq2GXrmN3YwVqbblPfUnBFGQ2-ItHs8JOS8HLPAFC_NRFaOcxcJO91Em4wT61Tsa1elOmfCBcT4mFMSzSh_YSw6sUh-npROhEqCjfU3EtA723dmtw9rTPfzM/s1600/housetohome.headboard2.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<strong>Step 3:</strong></div>
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Attach your 1x3's to the headboard. Make sure it is as close to the edge of your pieces of 1x4's without showing. Screw the woodscrews in - I bought the wrong size and ended up putting screws in the front too after some boards let go while I was carrying the contraption outside to stain. I bought 1 inch screws and they were too short, I would recommend buying 1.5 inch screws!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL81lC7Bl3rE1bu0gsSK5al74aL7JXPWguCMGoRnq07C4_tzWAt5x8Jr12BzaWCNFEgJk_WE7P9pMrSx74v_bxs_qhwu_0QGAazypF56aNrZdGv5q3tPq6J5iDQEDPqRKw1afoGNS3rbZZ/s1600/housetohome.headboard3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL81lC7Bl3rE1bu0gsSK5al74aL7JXPWguCMGoRnq07C4_tzWAt5x8Jr12BzaWCNFEgJk_WE7P9pMrSx74v_bxs_qhwu_0QGAazypF56aNrZdGv5q3tPq6J5iDQEDPqRKw1afoGNS3rbZZ/s1600/housetohome.headboard3.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<strong>Step 4:</strong></div>
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Lightly sand the boards before you stain them. I say lightly because I literally just sanded the ends of my boards where they were sawed and sharp and that's all I did. I use an all-purpose sand sponge because they were cheap at Walmart :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3UiPhAp-IojbTtMGuHkvxs6QaAknMtSE8L54N9W4wdpUknKT2GOe4T0z9XtyHARFQaVdLDhssEMkoWMR71QRQUv0xJK7qsbe0AvAmwxfLvT6gAa4_HdIk6_3ocJcmEJOrLyRLw4P4Mq4/s1600/housetohome.headboard5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3UiPhAp-IojbTtMGuHkvxs6QaAknMtSE8L54N9W4wdpUknKT2GOe4T0z9XtyHARFQaVdLDhssEMkoWMR71QRQUv0xJK7qsbe0AvAmwxfLvT6gAa4_HdIk6_3ocJcmEJOrLyRLw4P4Mq4/s1600/housetohome.headboard5.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<strong>Step 5:</strong></div>
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Its time to sand your boards! I used a rubber dishwashing glove (you know, the ones that come to your elbows!) and a sock over that. Make sure you go with the grain of the wood - I had a minor mishap with a splinter and it is no fun! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OTHkMHfUEhfzqgbpXAUyh1PWTTQ_8lCS1edNWTpkmpDZIUeDi34iQRIR9I2N-Osgyz-T2hwym80_enSbpV2mL6GSuwAuJHkla5UzTY9e6JG0sREpLznICuBpj5Rln5oIhu9dLIKw_w3e/s1600/housetohome.headboard7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OTHkMHfUEhfzqgbpXAUyh1PWTTQ_8lCS1edNWTpkmpDZIUeDi34iQRIR9I2N-Osgyz-T2hwym80_enSbpV2mL6GSuwAuJHkla5UzTY9e6JG0sREpLznICuBpj5Rln5oIhu9dLIKw_w3e/s1600/housetohome.headboard7.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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Make sure you give the stain time to dry completely. Fun fact: its 8pm here and 106 with a humidity of 11% - this headboard was dry in no time. It might take a few hours to dry completely depending on where you are.</div>
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<strong>Step 6: </strong></div>
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Its time to screw in 2 screws per leg to attach to your metal frame. I put mine 3 inches from the bottom of the leg. Don't screw them all the way in, leave some room so you can get them through the holes in your frame.</div>
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<strong>Step 7:</strong></div>
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This was the step that took by far the longest to figure out. I spent an hour and a half figuring out how to get the headboard onto the frame...not as easy as it looks. If you have access to a second person, I would recommend getting them to help. At this point, your headboard is pretty heavy and hard to maneuver. I ended up taking the metal frame apart, and attaching the headboard to it, and building it back up. </div>
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Flipping this sucker upright was quite the challenge but its amazing what you can do alone when there is no one you can turn to for help :)</div>
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And voila!! You have your very own rustic headboard for only $35 and the satisfaction of knowing you made it!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCUj-io5Ji8ektnRj-xT4hdrPLNdc3-suG_IrbUHzb1xOLFwltEE98xiGXdYSrGqvaSKaoJ81J7_V2D8_TtLM9-z9SW5nY_DfqyfRJxvOQwcrJcrrJdSeqP4tB7smzy4yAnhmQmGITpma/s1600/housetohome.headboard10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCUj-io5Ji8ektnRj-xT4hdrPLNdc3-suG_IrbUHzb1xOLFwltEE98xiGXdYSrGqvaSKaoJ81J7_V2D8_TtLM9-z9SW5nY_DfqyfRJxvOQwcrJcrrJdSeqP4tB7smzy4yAnhmQmGITpma/s1600/housetohome.headboard10.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_AeYcejQ0oW3kRWqYLWIpKQbcwp4Q0BMLT1cr73OmDdsHluGGBDSN7b9G0OfRu3QffyywPM6TzDxqMGq_f-Qb4Fp7iMengOHogGiqNMdzA_uMxibumhXBQLNXhf03BK-SzAw9dwYaC32/s1600/housetohome.headboard12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_AeYcejQ0oW3kRWqYLWIpKQbcwp4Q0BMLT1cr73OmDdsHluGGBDSN7b9G0OfRu3QffyywPM6TzDxqMGq_f-Qb4Fp7iMengOHogGiqNMdzA_uMxibumhXBQLNXhf03BK-SzAw9dwYaC32/s1600/housetohome.headboard12.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29EE3RS-jvVfcvmUNO4nIErpGyBf7h492Jooxs0b-OafI0hCVEK5kUsV2RN_1LFP_arStCxoaGQB1C6KJM0QZctT-mKSilOh3_JMwqfrH8kQLtfb2DiKK0mBNOI9nWSueJYVdrXIySdNK/s1600/housetohome.headboard14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29EE3RS-jvVfcvmUNO4nIErpGyBf7h492Jooxs0b-OafI0hCVEK5kUsV2RN_1LFP_arStCxoaGQB1C6KJM0QZctT-mKSilOh3_JMwqfrH8kQLtfb2DiKK0mBNOI9nWSueJYVdrXIySdNK/s1600/housetohome.headboard14.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZK6Y1fR8qXHYOo2Imb6wjW2h5admfrKDz64IXX4xXhNA2ulVFMHuXpUol3N1RP1PGA1j7vQtZk79EtsP41HbjkDsiLTcwAOp626Y8pfWDO3VDQGCoxlYTq3NYB4p_hdhwHs3PzkOkVHqS/s1600/housetohome.headboard15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZK6Y1fR8qXHYOo2Imb6wjW2h5admfrKDz64IXX4xXhNA2ulVFMHuXpUol3N1RP1PGA1j7vQtZk79EtsP41HbjkDsiLTcwAOp626Y8pfWDO3VDQGCoxlYTq3NYB4p_hdhwHs3PzkOkVHqS/s1600/housetohome.headboard15.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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Where did I get the...</div>
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'E' - Joann Fabrics (I spray painted it gold)</div>
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'Hey ya'll' pillow - Hobby Lobby</div>
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bedding - Ikea</div>
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Let me know if you plan on making this headboard - I would love to see what yours looks like!!</div>
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-1849484329020451552014-06-30T09:10:00.000-07:002014-06-30T09:10:52.717-07:00Hup Holland Hup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaYAkE6ZpvD2W0Di1BOlqUQ9HouBZRNXPzH6HDe_wJQb8Gh1TFeEKNiC-0uLDOu-f3_TKK5T0zuGnbUMt5UC6BVvZiPYirHhkNmN3cr-rDAh9KN-R1a2XEoQNmhXqi6RKdF6mm1fdgRuE/s1600/huphollandhup.1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaYAkE6ZpvD2W0Di1BOlqUQ9HouBZRNXPzH6HDe_wJQb8Gh1TFeEKNiC-0uLDOu-f3_TKK5T0zuGnbUMt5UC6BVvZiPYirHhkNmN3cr-rDAh9KN-R1a2XEoQNmhXqi6RKdF6mm1fdgRuE/s1600/huphollandhup.1.png" height="400" width="396" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{I was given permission to use this picture by Lynne from <a href="http://www.holland-amerikaline.com/">Holland-Amerika line</a>}</span></div>
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I couldn't care less about soccer, but once the World Cup of soccer rolls around, I become a little more patriotic towards my tiny, soccer loving country. The Dutch are probably the most all around awesome sports fans...we go all out! There is orange...everywhere, and everyone participates. There are orange streets, orange baked goods, orange shirts, hats, and even animals participate in dressing up!! Here are some pictures for you to laugh at :) <span style="font-size: xx-small;">{No images are my own - they are all from Google, unless otherwise specified}</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItCkK766C4tVN8UpL4I6XBBShjsi8_m4NgsLcV1-XkEg7KRsPje-XnQG_rav7bNKDVAsk0lUB6YOQTGqswx_vh6C3w8YuQP1pPAekh9DkEDTm1v4OV4kb2rrItKQu6Yf_bzfrpa4HWiRt/s1600/Dutch-football-fans-decor-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItCkK766C4tVN8UpL4I6XBBShjsi8_m4NgsLcV1-XkEg7KRsPje-XnQG_rav7bNKDVAsk0lUB6YOQTGqswx_vh6C3w8YuQP1pPAekh9DkEDTm1v4OV4kb2rrItKQu6Yf_bzfrpa4HWiRt/s1600/Dutch-football-fans-decor-011.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdLxSCBos3NRnzBXotXUxpLf6q4x_a3j5PkZhrl2Hq0tXmLeSYkTAcfFBQaIIGpiaoElbkd7UzP-KePl6uN8VmVE84DLJgLtlFtQaG2GuWZkGgPDqBbjXAjmMJ2a9oFVd88V2XpngHva2/s1600/Dutch-Holland-fans-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdLxSCBos3NRnzBXotXUxpLf6q4x_a3j5PkZhrl2Hq0tXmLeSYkTAcfFBQaIIGpiaoElbkd7UzP-KePl6uN8VmVE84DLJgLtlFtQaG2GuWZkGgPDqBbjXAjmMJ2a9oFVd88V2XpngHva2/s1600/Dutch-Holland-fans-300x200.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN1I1UGNg4BWTf3lBedCv1wC4isJhyphenhyphenCCAGz_bZI4gtPMGWkjI6bApuo-qQmXDB6H7o9a89jQkpvpFFNnFDxrdsYj12nrfDox0irYHN-lcXinv_L_ZocxSPfTkItCl2RiqpudBBwKfhN56/s1600/oranje%2520fever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN1I1UGNg4BWTf3lBedCv1wC4isJhyphenhyphenCCAGz_bZI4gtPMGWkjI6bApuo-qQmXDB6H7o9a89jQkpvpFFNnFDxrdsYj12nrfDox0irYHN-lcXinv_L_ZocxSPfTkItCl2RiqpudBBwKfhN56/s1600/oranje%2520fever.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yup, we support out team - what can I say. I'm sad I don't have an orange shirt to wear the next time they play since they are in the semi finals. I'll rock some orange if they win the world cup ;)</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-35501703851421561902014-06-29T00:21:00.000-07:002014-06-29T00:21:42.374-07:00#housetohome {TUTORIAL} - $30 ombre, ruffled shower curtain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvYOuY2XPwJnr3eXPCb2ZBvhY7ndXOeR_hTghIX5ieBDsPeGmdk9QSJQVh3eeI4r7yXuPzn5jjHwp4DAuHlAsB8SPKTt7Ee33i-YdaoGz2uLLLfVTHRiL-5Yg1O_p_Fwd5VxaA-f2GJqh/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvYOuY2XPwJnr3eXPCb2ZBvhY7ndXOeR_hTghIX5ieBDsPeGmdk9QSJQVh3eeI4r7yXuPzn5jjHwp4DAuHlAsB8SPKTt7Ee33i-YdaoGz2uLLLfVTHRiL-5Yg1O_p_Fwd5VxaA-f2GJqh/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain13.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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I have been pining for a ruffled shower curtain but I'm not willing to spend large amounts of money on it. I was roaming pinterest when I found <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.ca/2012/02/1-anthropologie-esque-ruffled-shower.html?showComment=1330380573122#c8971503407557924452">this blog post</a> on DIY ruffle shower curtain. I modified the instructions some, but I followed her basic outline. So here you have it - the steps to make your own ombre, ruffled shower curtain!!</div>
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What you need:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8eMIl6iFimn1tR0S4KeYgI2WQTPAuhyphenhyphenI_TQsuqBJ1DyG_jQIwNHywKEKzQuqZ884WeJGi7ugmcUMpksSQKP0x9amtjpjRiy81wOO2MEkjUZSIlnxw2eikEmNAk4oCNINPkh37HNaj20m/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8eMIl6iFimn1tR0S4KeYgI2WQTPAuhyphenhyphenI_TQsuqBJ1DyG_jQIwNHywKEKzQuqZ884WeJGi7ugmcUMpksSQKP0x9amtjpjRiy81wOO2MEkjUZSIlnxw2eikEmNAk4oCNINPkh37HNaj20m/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain1.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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1 twin size flat sheet - $4.97 (bought at Walmart)</div>
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2 full size flat sheets - $9.47 each (bought at Walmart)</div>
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fabric dye (color(s) of your choice) - $3.79-$4.99 (depending on the color - bought at Hobby Lobby)</div>
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about 10 hours of time :)</div>
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<strong>Step 1: </strong></div>
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Cut your full size sheet (I used a little bit of the second sheet, but if you have sheet with different measurements you might only need 1 sheet to cut) in 5 inch strips. I used a tea box as my ruler so I didn't have to keep whipping out my measuring tape. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_aqbDeO3CH_WzvORt7i5v98NohDk6LwYcGmcnfa6yH__8kNTDyqQbyfQNuoibjcZ5TAxc9VlHzydEbE6mz_IBBmuXEOBSiwciKbq3bRH5ekG4YpT4H21LZta-0N4Y81nrpsEd6TmB1vj/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_aqbDeO3CH_WzvORt7i5v98NohDk6LwYcGmcnfa6yH__8kNTDyqQbyfQNuoibjcZ5TAxc9VlHzydEbE6mz_IBBmuXEOBSiwciKbq3bRH5ekG4YpT4H21LZta-0N4Y81nrpsEd6TmB1vj/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain3.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<strong>Step 2:</strong></div>
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After you cut your plethora of ruffles, you want to use a zig zag stitch to prevent them from fraying. I ended up getting lazy and only zig zagging the bottom of the ruffle and leaving the top part because you wouldn't be able to see that when it was all finished.</div>
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<strong>Step 3:</strong></div>
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This was my favorite part, and the best part is that I made it up as I went along! After you finish your zig zagging, it is time to dye your bottom pieces for the ombre effect. I had no clue what I was doing, and didn't follow a single direction on the container :) I read that you are supposed to stir constantly for 30-60 minutes...who has time for that? I had to dye 6 strips and I didn't have 3-6 hours to spend stirring fabric. So here is what I did. I put a little bit of dye in a big bowl of hot water. I then dipped one ruffle in the water, swirling it around for 5 minutes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXtm6nkgFHtVvyIHpruStau1hPoPT0Ghs83KPiu4ywahjfPaDjw43GPOuAk_YPVdzTEA7jzfXIkeaBfd-4FDtSHmuVVgBYOVzuH5xcBaqmm4RcmhUpEJPSUjIBlO_kbD8nKBPyjnb3Ntm/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXtm6nkgFHtVvyIHpruStau1hPoPT0Ghs83KPiu4ywahjfPaDjw43GPOuAk_YPVdzTEA7jzfXIkeaBfd-4FDtSHmuVVgBYOVzuH5xcBaqmm4RcmhUpEJPSUjIBlO_kbD8nKBPyjnb3Ntm/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain5.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Take it out to compare it next to the white piece of fabric and decide if you like the way it looks. I rinsed my strip in cold water, and hand washed it with a little detergent and hot water. Wring it out, and hang it to dry. Next, add a little more dye (think a tablespoon or so) for your next ruffle, and another tablespoon for the one after that. Since I needed my bottom layer to be dark enough to cover izzie's hair, I bought black and added a little in the last 2 ruffles. I kept taking my ruffle out after having dunked it in dye for 5 minutes to check the color next to my other pieces.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhSzupUQSXSzlzIPoqIWlnZotAuKwLGaVbTYwWcMpS_JxpzAOjVTGTJmR5L9uygmbdPP8s_GG2zhezceMthNWDDr3g6X6_qipDrDHZGeQbIfU0M2FmS93NPnOnaQun8m8lKN8ZrxVzh0a/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhSzupUQSXSzlzIPoqIWlnZotAuKwLGaVbTYwWcMpS_JxpzAOjVTGTJmR5L9uygmbdPP8s_GG2zhezceMthNWDDr3g6X6_qipDrDHZGeQbIfU0M2FmS93NPnOnaQun8m8lKN8ZrxVzh0a/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain6.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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Make sure your ruffles are all the way dry - here in no humidity Arizona, it took about 20-30 minutes!</div>
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<strong>Step 4:</strong></div>
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Starting at the bottom, it is time to attach your ruffles! I figured I should write that excitedly even though it is a tedious process, haha. So what I did was find the middle of the sheet and the ruffle, and pin it there. Then pin it again at a quarter. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ21dfWkibVw3Pt4ympEAa191iYg5cWZMm2EPq8MXQm0_WNCLLd3BdBn83gcDqAtGvLN1-amvlVs4NJOtBuQc88nYIIyLob9C3OH7viWHHRp-EN6yX9hO8R_pwEIJ7L58nFDzEec7gnlU/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ21dfWkibVw3Pt4ympEAa191iYg5cWZMm2EPq8MXQm0_WNCLLd3BdBn83gcDqAtGvLN1-amvlVs4NJOtBuQc88nYIIyLob9C3OH7viWHHRp-EN6yX9hO8R_pwEIJ7L58nFDzEec7gnlU/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain7.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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I hand ruffled the remaining fabric as I was sewing with a straight stitch. Let me just say that this part takes FOREVER!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTa7oXoqcISXEALGTEV6mBaIFFn8iU70crb7loDBUqtmeidHqsnF-cWie34-_5jYKqhlEvbNIGzrZPgQbpyJ1PuVXL_24ongIdORAr4GK5YZMj_03KX4rrZ_X2v-2cqj9k33uOqWw1F2Mu/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTa7oXoqcISXEALGTEV6mBaIFFn8iU70crb7loDBUqtmeidHqsnF-cWie34-_5jYKqhlEvbNIGzrZPgQbpyJ1PuVXL_24ongIdORAr4GK5YZMj_03KX4rrZ_X2v-2cqj9k33uOqWw1F2Mu/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain8.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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eventually it will feel like the ruffles are taking over, and you become buried in ruffles. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOF9if_na_F53xlHenszs-9x-qVTl3E2fnf7xaPMrUUAuFTgMT1sxPkvVEfXfS-m4Ov6aNcskZs28w2pFacg8GNpBSyxfcYEZ8Iy7nV9AvgSIgrY6qyHObLnmZAncwd6qoDkU9EyCMu0Y/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOF9if_na_F53xlHenszs-9x-qVTl3E2fnf7xaPMrUUAuFTgMT1sxPkvVEfXfS-m4Ov6aNcskZs28w2pFacg8GNpBSyxfcYEZ8Iy7nV9AvgSIgrY6qyHObLnmZAncwd6qoDkU9EyCMu0Y/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain10.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Step 5:</strong></div>
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Buttonholes! This is where you will put your shower rings through. A normal shower curtain has 12 holes...I managed to miscalculate (I'm horrible at math) and ended up with 11 button holes? Still not sure how I managed that.</div>
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Anywho, I made buttonholes using a tiny zig zag stitch since I lost my buttonhole foot for the machine and off course promptly found it not 5 minutes after I finished my project! </div>
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Here is the final ombre, ruffled shower curtain!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvOIl0mQ22jtSoyjEyvi4UVH7q2W_OOlae9_gZLzuc-6dBO5pkdhYaN5kWnm2I8ztWCL8L80l0eSfnaPhiszSDH_jNiWOPTSSguPFoK3RWogdkdUQ7ciF8zpyRPirYaXLJ5lZtDAJm92Y/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvOIl0mQ22jtSoyjEyvi4UVH7q2W_OOlae9_gZLzuc-6dBO5pkdhYaN5kWnm2I8ztWCL8L80l0eSfnaPhiszSDH_jNiWOPTSSguPFoK3RWogdkdUQ7ciF8zpyRPirYaXLJ5lZtDAJm92Y/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain11.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrmn6X-Ey64MrOat8C-ET_kj4NP3-76V5xiX15jLobjH_5R2lIv_-C0W3Twa2TRNT8aXU6IPvE6l3iRxVPFfSFuXszEdnZl5LqphlOXV06ADe7GEDGh5E7plUyKzeRCkabN9qe_T8CzRF/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrmn6X-Ey64MrOat8C-ET_kj4NP3-76V5xiX15jLobjH_5R2lIv_-C0W3Twa2TRNT8aXU6IPvE6l3iRxVPFfSFuXszEdnZl5LqphlOXV06ADe7GEDGh5E7plUyKzeRCkabN9qe_T8CzRF/s1600/housetohome.showercurtain12.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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I am so in love with the way it turned out, the ombre couldn't have been any better! If you end up making one, leave a comment so I can see your unique version of the DIY ombre, ruffled shower curtain!!</div>
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<strong></strong><br />elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-26243012794320470032014-06-27T22:19:00.001-07:002014-06-27T22:19:31.948-07:00House to home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIvwLsdZT-SSTBwEjxA8qyPjXuuaF1s8pc4qmRQGixdMDI67fo9zi24c-Df5QfuiQ-T-er4whZOnLA-4UoMTOrqbwIx2_IkJmJszw7z5D2Jkc-zuDnfUSWndeBBPbY9oPVUy7_uJRg2QK/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIvwLsdZT-SSTBwEjxA8qyPjXuuaF1s8pc4qmRQGixdMDI67fo9zi24c-Df5QfuiQ-T-er4whZOnLA-4UoMTOrqbwIx2_IkJmJszw7z5D2Jkc-zuDnfUSWndeBBPbY9oPVUy7_uJRg2QK/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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In light of the last blog post I wrote, I have decided to start a new mini series. This isn't going to be one where I post about it each week, but rather, once a room is completely (or almost completely) finished. I shall call this new series 'house to home' - my quest to make my apartment and any place I live feel like home the instant you walk through the door. <br />
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While my home still feels relatively temporary, I have found some cheap pieces that are making it feel more welcoming and overall make my bare-ish apartment feel decorated to a certain degree. I bought the cute pillow above at Hobby Lobby - which is where I will be spending a chunk of my paycheck! Holy decorating heaven!! I also got some wicker storage baskets from Ikea (I live 5 minutes from Ikea - could be dangerous!) for Izzie's toys.<br />
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I'm so grateful that my dad helped purchase some of the furniture pieces I sold before leaving Virginia such as a dining room table + chairs, and a tv stand, amongst others. Without some of these things, my house would have looked completely empty!<br />
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I redid an old, ugly dresser from goodwill. I sanded and repainted it and LOVE the way it turned out. Since I got a feel for it, I have been looking for more pieces of furniture to redo - I'm currently hunting for a dresser for in my bedroom! I will be building a headboard this weekend, and am also searching pinterest to find a cool coffee table to make. How neat is it to have things in your house that you can say you made, or redid? I'm also in desperate need of a pallet...anyone know where I can get one free / relatively cheap in Phoenix?? Can't wait for all my projects to come to life!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzxVk3l9j0qgRWZ487UnZOAyvVCzRjcBdNhOATTPdG-wvV74D-OXMWOGJadcxO9k7QpmTlcGsL8ViJiV3-klmaFJIM2NrRS1yAFNXUoJPBWZlZiG9twb-pCkekDCx3P9AwVWHh2Bq-DCm/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzxVk3l9j0qgRWZ487UnZOAyvVCzRjcBdNhOATTPdG-wvV74D-OXMWOGJadcxO9k7QpmTlcGsL8ViJiV3-klmaFJIM2NrRS1yAFNXUoJPBWZlZiG9twb-pCkekDCx3P9AwVWHh2Bq-DCm/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{my mom made me aware that one of the pieces of hardware on the bottom drawer are upside down - no worries, it has since been fixed, I just haven't had a chance to take another picture!}</span></div>
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Throughout the series, I'll try to post some tutorials of the DIY (do it yourself) projects that I have tackled. I just finished a hand dyed, ombre, ruffle shower curtain that was a much bigger sewing project than I anticipated but I am so excited to share the final results with you! <br />
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So here we go...from house to home!! Follow me on Instagram @sprinklesontoast for the latest updates on my #housetohome adventure!<br />
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-19347175339771022112014-06-24T22:12:00.003-07:002014-06-24T22:12:53.494-07:00Home is...Where the heart is? Where I live? Where my family lives?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeS-VdjDikEKqnQuopFs4jMqZwLkLSyHC7kOe_jy9J3oxXcdusQhiIbEA0QCpece-QDA3syOdsxbM2CFZWScORCwEbTVqSPW7iqlXiysxaN-8bIsZkE_UtrD8NYbn7hbWqWlWeOEI-XNzk/s1600/Home-is-where-the-Heart-is.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeS-VdjDikEKqnQuopFs4jMqZwLkLSyHC7kOe_jy9J3oxXcdusQhiIbEA0QCpece-QDA3syOdsxbM2CFZWScORCwEbTVqSPW7iqlXiysxaN-8bIsZkE_UtrD8NYbn7hbWqWlWeOEI-XNzk/s1600/Home-is-where-the-Heart-is.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></div>
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I feel that with all this moving going on, I have lost my sense of where home is for me. Since I moved to the states in 2007, I have moved 9 times and have lived in 3 different states (fun fact: izzie has moved with me 8 of the 9 times!). <br />
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Home will probably always be the home I grew up in in the Netherlands, even though I am looking to create my own home. Some people just have that idea in their head that when they grow up, they want to live in the mountains, on a farm, or in New York City. I feel like the older I get, the more I am craving for that little space of this planet to call my home. Whether it is in the desert, mountains, the coast, the south - I have no idea. I'm absolutely in love with Phoenix and all that is has to offer, it doesn't feel like <em>home.</em> I just can't figure out if this is where I would want to raise a family or live long term. <br />
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In my head, I think I imagined a smaller town, near a big city to raise my family. What state or side of the country this big city is, Lord only knows! That is why I will leave it up to Him - He is the only one who knows where I will be settling, and His plan is better than anything I can come up with on my own. So here's to making my apartments as cozy, homey and inviting as I can! And lets be honest - my home is wherever Izzie is!!<br />
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I would love to know where your home is!<br />
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-68772629890625143042014-06-19T22:33:00.001-07:002014-06-19T23:41:15.647-07:002500 miles, 7 states, 5 days & 3 time zones When it became reality that I was actually making the cross country move to Arizona, I asked none other than my dad to drive with me. I knew I couldn't do it alone, and I knew that he would LOVE the road trip. We decided on May 13th, 3 days after my graduation. Since my dad was helping me, I left all the planning regarding the drive up to him. <br />
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The first day, we drove from Virginia and made it to the music city...Nashville, Tennessee! It took 8 hours to get there and it was a total of 493 miles. You can't drive very fast with a trailer and it really slowed us down. <br />
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On day 2, we left Nashville and drove to Fort Smith, Arkansas! On this day, we drove for 11 hours...it was a long day. </div>
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The third day is where it started to feel as if this trip was taking forever. It is hard to sit in the car for hours straight and the scenery barely changes. We drove from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Amarillo, Texas on day 3! </div>
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This is where we noticed that the landscape was starting to change</div>
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Only in Texas do hotels serve Texas shaped waffles!</div>
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Day 4 started out freezing - it was a chilly 46 degrees! We knew it would warm up soon, because we were heading to spend the night in Holbrook, Arizona - my new home state.</div>
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really starting to look like a desert now!</div>
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5 days on the road leaves for little breakfast options</div>
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Day 5 was our last day on the road! We left Holbrook pretty early and made sure to be in Phoenix by about 2pm. Since it was Saturday, I wanted to make sure we got to the apartment on time before the office closed.</div>
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spotted our first cactus on the I17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix</div>
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While most of our days were spent on Interstate 40 (from Nashville to Flagstaff), we made sure to make this a fun trip and stop for sights along the way, such as stopping at the Grand Ole Opry, drive on the historic route 66, drive through Santa Fe, New Mexico and visit Winslow Arizona (taking it easy..hint hint) :)</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Well, I'm standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">and such a fine sight to see</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">,</span></div>
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And especially for dad, or in case you didn't get my reference to Winslow, Arizona...<br />
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Be sure to follow @sprinklesontoast on Instagram for pictures of my Arizona adventure!<br />
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<br />elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-24270940154788120502014-06-15T22:47:00.001-07:002014-06-15T22:47:57.193-07:00on my own<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I often stop to think that most important decisions in life, such as where to go to school, what job to accept, or where to live, I make on my own. There is nothing wrong with living life alone, or as a couple. Sometimes it is easier to have help from a significant other (not that I would know, but I'm assuming it would be). I moved to Phoenix, found my apartment, make my own friends (I don't have a husband who can be my automatic best friend, and buddy to bring places so I don't have to be alone), explore my new city, apply and choose which job to pick <em>on my own</em>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is hard to know if I am making the right choices...for me. Moving 2500 miles away to a state where I don't know a single person hasn't been the easiest, but I know that I made the right decision...for me. My mom and sister bought me a card, and I think the card said it all:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>"Life is hard sometimes - crazy, mixed-up, messed up.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>And there you are, in the middle of it all, just doing your thing...being strong and brave and beautiful like it is no big deal.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>But let me tell you girl, it is! </em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Not everyone can do what you do. </em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Not everyone can handle things the way you can.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>While you wonder sometimes if you're doing ok...</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>the rest of us are just watching in wonder"</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I forget sometimes that moving without anyone to guide you along the way is a big deal, and I should be proud of myself. For reaching for the stars; for wanting bigger and better things that I knew I wouldn't get had I stayed in Virginia. I am proud of myself for choosing me, and for doing things on my own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">{blessed & thankful that I at least have this little gal to keep me company!}</span></div>
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-68555837986289489052014-06-12T22:48:00.002-07:002014-06-12T22:48:57.449-07:00I've got a gypsy soul...When I moved to Virginia last year right after graduation, I wasn't planning on staying there. I went down to visit Wilmington, NC - a place I thought I wanted to call home. The trip I went on with my sister was a complete bust and it left me feeling hopeless and lost. My sister and brother in law graciously offered me a place to stay until I figured things out - needless to say, neither myself nor Lynne and Justin expected that to last for 11 months!<br />
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After 10 long weeks of unemployment, I found a job I grew to love. But all the while, I felt stuck and out of place in small town VA. I looked for places that were warm, Georgia came up and so did Florida, but I had a hard time finding a job. All of the sudden, I thought of Phoenix, Arizona. It has everything I like - heat, heat, palm trees, big city, and more heat. I applied for hundreds of jobs and finally got word back for an interview. Lynne and I booked our tickets and were ready to head to the West Coast!<br />
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9 Days before my interview, I got an email stated it had gotten cancelled. Since I already booked my ticket and couldn't get my money back, Lynne and I decided to go anyway and apartment hunt in both Phoenix for me, and LA for her and Justin. <br />
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I fell in love with Phoenix and on a whim stopped by a retail clothing store and got a job! I planned to move out there right after graduation. I graduated on May 10th, and I moved May 13th! It was a hectic few days, and it took my dad and I almost 5 days to drive the 2500 miles to Arizona.<br />
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I have been here almost a month and I LOVE IT! I love where I live - near South Mountain. The heat can be a lot to handle and I may or may not have gotten dehydrated several times, but I am really enjoying all the aspects of Phoenix. I haven't made many friends yet, but that will come. <br />
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For the first time, I am living somewhere where I feel at home and I don't feel the need to move again (that has never happened before!). God really intended for me to live in Phoenix and I am so glad I finally found a place that I can call home - for now ;)<br />
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<br />elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-45350474627712027942014-06-10T21:22:00.000-07:002014-06-10T21:24:17.011-07:00a year from now<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where will I be? What will I be doing? Who will I have met?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have said it before and I will say it again. I believe 2014 is MY year! Even though I am not quite sure what that means, doesn't mean I can't believe it!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Here I am...28 and still single. And being single isn't necessarily a bad thing. Whatever money I make is mine, I can do whatever I want to with it, I get plenty of alone time and don't have to watch sports! On the other hand, I get</span><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"> lonely and would love to watch sports with someone I care about. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;">So where will I be a year from now; June 10th 2015? Will I still live in Phoenix {yep, I moved across the country - more coming on that later} or will I have found another place to live? Will I still work for my current company or will I have moved on to bigger and better things? Will I have the great group of girlfriends I've always wanted? Will I have met 'the one'? Only time will tell where in life I will be one year from now. Regardless, I am ready for the journey!!</span><br />
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I get to look at this view everyday - the pool! So blessed to call this warm place, where the sun always shines and the pool is always open my home. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">"Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life."<br /> -1 Corinthians 7:17</span><br /></span></div>
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-47173414746544076972013-11-09T15:23:00.000-08:002014-10-08T18:45:40.685-07:00When your mom is right...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which, granted, there are a LOT of times when your mom is right...at least my mom is!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello again lovelies!! Grad school and work have sucked up all my time, and then some, leaving nada for blogging. Sad times! However, I am 3 classes and 4 weeks away from being half way done with my master's degree & I love my job, so it's all good :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About my mom being right though. I was telling her the other day how living paycheck to paycheck is no fun, and that it is always something. I got food poisoning and couldn't work for a day. And everyone knows that at most jobs, if you don't work, you don't get paid. A week later, Izzie appeared to have a UTI (who knew dogs could get those) and she was scheduled for an appointment. The appointment was cancelled because she is her happy, upbeat self and doesn't seem sick. I told my mom, what is next my car?? <i>Be careful what you put into the universe. </i>Those were her exact words. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fast forward to 2 days later. I'm on my way to court to observe a criminal proceeding for class. I stop at a stop sign. This lady is making a left turn. She turns, a little too tight. So tight, that SHE HIT MY CAR!!!! She hit me straight on, I tried honking but she didn't hear it, it was too late. The cops were called, my car got towed, and it might not be live to see another day. Luckily neither one of us were hurt, I have symptoms that everyone has that gets into a car accident, sore chest from the seat belt, a pounding headache that has lasted for over 24 hours, and pain in my neck and back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:( sad car</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is my first 'real' car accident, my first one was a tiny fender bender. I had no idea they were such a hassle! Phone call after phone call had to be made with no solutions being found.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The moral of the story is that my mom was SO right in this instance, it required a post. Mom, you were right, and I will NEVER put anything out in the universe.ever.again. Unless it is a happy thought off course! Has anything like this ever happened to you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-19569153805925391502013-09-24T16:15:00.000-07:002013-09-24T16:15:00.681-07:00to every girl<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">{I found this when deleting things off my facebook. I didn't write this, and I'm not sure who did, but all credit goes to them. Its is beautiful however, and I felt like it needed to be shared}</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that is SCARED to put her heart out there again,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">because she has been HURT too many times or so badly.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that dresses cute,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">not skanky.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl who wants to be called beautiful,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">not hot.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that will spend her whole day</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">looking for the perfect present for you.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that would die</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">to have a decent boyfriend.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl who would just once like</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">to be treated like a princess.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that cries at night</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">because of another heartbreak.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">just wants to hold hands.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">kisses him with meaning.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl who</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">just wishes he cared more.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl who would just once want a guy to give</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">their jacket up when they are cold.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl who</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">just wants HiM to call.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl who lies</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">awake at night thinking about him.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">just wants to cuddle.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">just wants to sleep with him without having sex.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl who shows how much</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">she cares and gets nothing back.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that thought</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">maybe this one could be "THE ONE".</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that laughs at stupid stuff</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">when she actually doesn't think it is funny.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl who is just looking for that one</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">and only and is having a rough time along the way.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that doesn't want a guy who</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">just plays with her emotions but actually caresabout how she feels.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl who wants</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">words backed up with ACTIONS.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that fell for all the lies</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">only to find themselves alone in the end.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that gave her heart away</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">to have it shoved back in her face.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">To every girl that has faith that 'tomorrow will be a better day.'</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">And it will be...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm posting this because I needed to be reminded. Reminded to keep having <i>faith.</i> My Mr Right is out there, he is <strike>probably</strike> <strike>hopefully</strike> DEFINITELY looking for <i>me!</i></span></div>
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-41836067938525143822013-09-12T15:13:00.000-07:002013-09-13T05:43:42.100-07:00FF - work edition<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ITS FRIDAY!!! I'm excited that it's Friday ya'll! I'm so blessed to have found this awesome job but it is challenging to get back into the work mindset after lounging around for 10 weeks. My first week was perfect, everybody is super nice. I'm really excited to be working for this company and I can see myself working here for quite a while, God willing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because this week was an adjustment period and I have seen my photographer sister for about 20 minutes this whole week <span style="font-size: xx-small;">{tech week at her job..don't ask. She gets to work at maybe 10ish(?) in the am and returns in the other am!} </span>so no 'professional' pics were taking. HOWEVER, seen as how I switched providers and got my very first iPhone on Sunday, pictures were most definitely taken!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Day 1! Eeek, I was so nervous but I felt really confident in my outfit and that definitely made a big difference!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP2Oz93SkIjXUQHFbbsB-e21E23l04aRu7zMdTGxq2_BVLyupVtqrfUQC-bQq-dSs9Hl2Ff7hCv0TbvoyB4IqOo6wT2OAZcz0QlEhH_E-oMkh5fdqxKgymZ0Z-3lXJCKZDfpZoDPM2R7R/s1600/j.crew+day1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP2Oz93SkIjXUQHFbbsB-e21E23l04aRu7zMdTGxq2_BVLyupVtqrfUQC-bQq-dSs9Hl2Ff7hCv0TbvoyB4IqOo6wT2OAZcz0QlEhH_E-oMkh5fdqxKgymZ0Z-3lXJCKZDfpZoDPM2R7R/s400/j.crew+day1.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">shirt - Target</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Day 2:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4y8qMvwRlGiQK8cknvj6P2uX5DNHwoVCqxUiLTcHh36TmyYt7HQ8f-w0y6jtPODKGqUNZBTcMB8L5qvDwaMp_deCgyXDkHJToqBNASpNd9fnoQujb36jvVPZH_Cc-EBWCWNlMFneLkhv/s1600/j.crew+day2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4y8qMvwRlGiQK8cknvj6P2uX5DNHwoVCqxUiLTcHh36TmyYt7HQ8f-w0y6jtPODKGqUNZBTcMB8L5qvDwaMp_deCgyXDkHJToqBNASpNd9fnoQujb36jvVPZH_Cc-EBWCWNlMFneLkhv/s400/j.crew+day2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dress - Target</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cardigan - Old Nay</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Shoes - Cosmpolitan (sold at JCPenney) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Day 3:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXW6B8Mh7ceCl3OzEhzsSZSpzVEimIjTFwFAEHaKkxP81Ax8E4vpriPQHnKGwLz5Co0PumeIO5s20pYraxMFoQ6v88bunp036Yb8d44jN3WQ5BIcHcuPiwYtJciSHjc09e5QR6XaC5KGE/s1600/j.crew+day3.2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXW6B8Mh7ceCl3OzEhzsSZSpzVEimIjTFwFAEHaKkxP81Ax8E4vpriPQHnKGwLz5Co0PumeIO5s20pYraxMFoQ6v88bunp036Yb8d44jN3WQ5BIcHcuPiwYtJciSHjc09e5QR6XaC5KGE/s400/j.crew+day3.2.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">shirt - Joe Fresh (sold in select JCPenney stores)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">blazer - hand made</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">black skinnies - Old Navy</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAZQs1ebUICQzXAVAJq7DDGPwv93gH_VTeOYd9RDEAiXHbc8DY_S7qKbPRGOycwn9V_A6k5k-zcvpe_a7req-B2aCdYpIXWJU33I0HQOIgE7tOaRAKBG8S0Udu19SXOegsiF65Ffzmgq8/s1600/j.crew+day3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAZQs1ebUICQzXAVAJq7DDGPwv93gH_VTeOYd9RDEAiXHbc8DY_S7qKbPRGOycwn9V_A6k5k-zcvpe_a7req-B2aCdYpIXWJU33I0HQOIgE7tOaRAKBG8S0Udu19SXOegsiF65Ffzmgq8/s400/j.crew+day3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{LOVED this outfit!!}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Day 4:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzJ-tCmcDJRH3bBQh5fsnJ-olNq1MYBgUwm0DIQSh629ajw_AaHZ1E-Fgyd31_e2kzprfvKv6ImC-j4PyOmvQC28jsS6G9Phq0cG9qu_0NRERdolonQHzsODFY1G8Nx9u4Z9WWNVglQ-t/s1600/j.crew+day4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzJ-tCmcDJRH3bBQh5fsnJ-olNq1MYBgUwm0DIQSh629ajw_AaHZ1E-Fgyd31_e2kzprfvKv6ImC-j4PyOmvQC28jsS6G9Phq0cG9qu_0NRERdolonQHzsODFY1G8Nx9u4Z9WWNVglQ-t/s400/j.crew+day4.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">polka dot sweater - Target</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">shoes - Sole Society</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Day 5! First week of training is complete! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzcfTspWODBwqgJWnCm8t95FarsvqzBw1rYQeB9uA9s6bGQ6YaL9Zj766ysbUYwBRYvLpDFdltwhDjTUHACP7aZlDngG_VnXSis0qPPw3YLe2T952bwW57eNH-h1DFpm2XBNlQlCOJOT3/s1600/j.crew+day5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzcfTspWODBwqgJWnCm8t95FarsvqzBw1rYQeB9uA9s6bGQ6YaL9Zj766ysbUYwBRYvLpDFdltwhDjTUHACP7aZlDngG_VnXSis0qPPw3YLe2T952bwW57eNH-h1DFpm2XBNlQlCOJOT3/s400/j.crew+day5.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">dress - J.Crew</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">shoes - Payless</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't believe I've been in training for my new job for a week! This week has honestly flown by!! Once this next week flies by, my MOMMY will be here!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love having a job where I can wear whatever I wish. Someone once told me to 'Dress for the job you want, not the job you have'. For the past week I have really made sure to dress appropriate, fun but still professional. I will be hard to resist spending my entire paycheck at work, but I shall refrain :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HAPPY FRIDAY!</span></div>
elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-49806176317169477232013-09-08T19:29:00.001-07:002013-09-09T13:25:56.024-07:00first impressions<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is my first day at work..EEK I'm so excited for this new opportunity and to see where it will take me! Last week all the new people in my 'class' had orientation. This was one of the times where first impressions were everything.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Per company policy, I can't specify where exactly I work but from what I can tell it seems like a great company to work for. Today was orientation for a group of the new employees. I start my actual training on Monday and will be in training for the next 4 weeks. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Off course, said orientation needed a stellar outfit</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...first impressions are everything! Instead of buying something, I decided to make a dress for the occasion and I'm SO glad I did!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBu-F7Bkq5KUpynSORVw5gSakisDbeJEBTZ3uaGksG2z6s6E19jE3-VDrOYZjNCJPAPUyfSmfYnAxiR69jEvXNrTTg9i2eZTuhhqV9cd61FIpEX0OSIpufXuM2Gab4IKaFzOIRqLpaqzh/s1600/first+impression1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBu-F7Bkq5KUpynSORVw5gSakisDbeJEBTZ3uaGksG2z6s6E19jE3-VDrOYZjNCJPAPUyfSmfYnAxiR69jEvXNrTTg9i2eZTuhhqV9cd61FIpEX0OSIpufXuM2Gab4IKaFzOIRqLpaqzh/s400/first+impression1.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-LYt7nj0aZI-LCEMf_IUmnLjRvBTpcUtx2ZeYrt2JHxuXGxPc-Mwh91sk7RweI_MNQwoWN69zwj8M4r_a-CuvmJgOrQ2DiwVS5tNZjcNjiyVcdQa7PPdJtb7JLNuNJvCf1cGXKvUIOGU/s1600/first+impression2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-LYt7nj0aZI-LCEMf_IUmnLjRvBTpcUtx2ZeYrt2JHxuXGxPc-Mwh91sk7RweI_MNQwoWN69zwj8M4r_a-CuvmJgOrQ2DiwVS5tNZjcNjiyVcdQa7PPdJtb7JLNuNJvCf1cGXKvUIOGU/s400/first+impression2.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">{absolute worst part about making clothes - taking things out!}</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkjIb3nk1HRyh6CTTH593X9PQTQSQ4BDPrKqoV14ZWbVRx6aOhs4R9aQMZFwTfjPfUdlqh6_BtsrC58PQJjtEM4zppc0OKfCVBS-n99SE73nSe8QEnAUtbq_Q1WCrml_tySEYw6p98I3M/s1600/first+impression4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkjIb3nk1HRyh6CTTH593X9PQTQSQ4BDPrKqoV14ZWbVRx6aOhs4R9aQMZFwTfjPfUdlqh6_BtsrC58PQJjtEM4zppc0OKfCVBS-n99SE73nSe8QEnAUtbq_Q1WCrml_tySEYw6p98I3M/s400/first+impression4.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">{instagram cut my feet off but I was wearing nude pumps}</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtmXHXlpvTDqsYUKiJ-_fPcjpsrbHIkAdOlLbGLFUkxLQfy65rdwOLSPN5LprGtGJHb_A2hIt0jWgRIwXcYP4ktq_pCzpDiiHE_sWLGjC9aYXuUwep8pgziu2nlRxr1k5MQlc8ShQ-HuU/s1600/first+impression5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtmXHXlpvTDqsYUKiJ-_fPcjpsrbHIkAdOlLbGLFUkxLQfy65rdwOLSPN5LprGtGJHb_A2hIt0jWgRIwXcYP4ktq_pCzpDiiHE_sWLGjC9aYXuUwep8pgziu2nlRxr1k5MQlc8ShQ-HuU/s400/first+impression5.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">{ Necklace is from </span><a href="http://baublebar.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Baublebar</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> }</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">{ Dress is Newlook Workroom #6070 made with a cotton sateen fabric }</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow me on Instagram (@sprinklesontoast) to see what I wore to my first day at work!</span></div>
elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-68756302886490684062013-09-06T12:00:00.000-07:002013-09-06T12:00:02.433-07:00FF puggle style<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really hope I can share with you guys the video of when I found out what my parents got me for graduation / birthday {can't remember which one}. My mom was lurking in Amsterdam and found me this purse...ITS A PUG PURSE!! The video is hilarious, especially when I realize its a purse!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you follow me on instagram {@sprinklesontoast} you would have already seen pictures, but for those of you who missed it, here they are again</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-aBl1cmLe2YAChWiOz-ap-J461Rj6FSaoBFWRUqEpF3SoOOc5pup09UEqvhWIAMb_i0P3slX0xsInYjh2lVKt6jwUjOjKV51c7ndPp4LuUoRQyYHlIf7hnI2KHS-bJGxNEUc7N_wTEqq/s1600/izziesquared.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-aBl1cmLe2YAChWiOz-ap-J461Rj6FSaoBFWRUqEpF3SoOOc5pup09UEqvhWIAMb_i0P3slX0xsInYjh2lVKt6jwUjOjKV51c7ndPp4LuUoRQyYHlIf7hnI2KHS-bJGxNEUc7N_wTEqq/s400/izziesquared.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">{the resemblance with the real izzie is uncanny!!}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">{izzie is terrified of izzie squared! its rather hilarious}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In all honesty, there is no way I could NOT do a Fashion Friday and not feature this awesome purse! So without further rambling, here are the FF pictures for this week </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">PURSE - Amsterdam</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">cardigan - Gap</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">white tank - H&M</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">purple tank - Old Nay</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">jeans - Rock Star Skinnies from Old Navy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">bracelets - TJMaxx, gift from mom</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">rings - Kay's, Jewel Mint</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">shoes - Sole Society </span></div>
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-78006449655029461392013-09-05T10:11:00.000-07:002013-09-05T10:11:42.179-07:00now what?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Applying for jobs stinks! Everyone seems to be looking for a recent college graduate with a plethora of experience. Now I can't pull experience out of thin air, so the jobs in my field seem pretty slim. In my experience, with the job market being the way it currently is, employers can ask for basically anything from a job seeker because there are so many of us out there that are looking for work. It also means that those of us that just graduated and don't have experience are being left behind in the job search.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been almost 3 months since I've worked and I'm getting tired of sitting in my room / house applying for job after job and only getting rejection emails sent to me. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a long talk with my sister {<a href="http://www.holland-amerikaline.com/">lynne @ Holland-Amerika line</a>} and my mom and we all agreed that for the time being, I need a job, any job. I ran out of money rather quickly and that is the main thing I need right now, money. So I decided that right now I should re-direct my focus from finding a career to getting a job that will allow me to have money so I can start saving. This, off course, doesn't mean that I will stop looking for better jobs all together but it will be nice to get out more and make money. I miss getting up and getting ready.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I don't want to live in the town I'm in currently, yet I'm here now so I might as well make the most of it. I applied for a job here in town on a Sunday and got a call by Tuesday to come in for an interview the following Friday. I'm glad to say I accepted the job they offered me on the spot. I will be working at a high end clothing brand as a client specialist<span style="font-size: small;">. This might not be my dream job, or even a career but for now it will provide me with what I need now, money and insurance. And who knows, perhaps this is a career. My career.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">What I also found in my search is that a lot of employers are giving preference to those that have a Master's degree, and they don't seem to really care what field it is in. By having 'just' a Bachelor's degree, I feel as if I might be overlooked for other jobs because I have no higher education. After looking into it, I decided to apply for graduate school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I didn't think I could get in to any graduate program. I pulled my grades together my senior year of college, and I graduated with a 2.24 GPA, but I didn't think that was high enough to get accepted anywhere. As it turns out, I got accepted at Liberty University! I am taking classes online for a Master's degree in Human Services with a concentration in Criminal Justice. I will be starting classes September 16th <span style="font-size: xx-small;">{pending student loans}</span> and will be done with my degree in May of 2014!! This also means that by the time people graduate with their Bachelor's in May and they will also be looking at jobs, I will have finished my Master's degree and have an 'up' on them. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh6bZNkKIblIQa6iL03mXaNAsnlkH6tFSnhPxReA2yTKx7FxFZxGkrlqneKqHLeO5N1O4kdqraV9JDn7VsD7V4YSP5nrMymn6QcvjGyQoTymPBX-jHOYJarkwEBn8ifYkHZzQj9C9j6oA/s1600/liberty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh6bZNkKIblIQa6iL03mXaNAsnlkH6tFSnhPxReA2yTKx7FxFZxGkrlqneKqHLeO5N1O4kdqraV9JDn7VsD7V4YSP5nrMymn6QcvjGyQoTymPBX-jHOYJarkwEBn8ifYkHZzQj9C9j6oA/s1600/liberty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm so excited for this journey. Even though I am scared to take on student loans, it isn't a terribly large amount and something about this job and going back to school feels right. There is no other way to explain it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Have any of you had trouble finding a career job after college? Or experience in getting a Master's degree?</span><br />
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685971987047263985.post-78694401347345630022013-09-05T10:09:00.002-07:002013-09-05T10:09:52.074-07:00what I'm loving right now<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought it was time to share another 5 things I'm loving right now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. I love that I have finally been reunited with my shoes! They were in a UHaul storage unit and I had little hope of finding them. I didn't want to have to empty out the unit to find the right box, but with the help of my friend it only took about 30 minutes to find them :) So happy right now</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. La Croix sparking water. It is flavored water with nothing added to it. My favorite is the cran-raspberry! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYzFr1bHuuMG8cTN7GNvDqGlBa0wU-tgg0R_KtPphj32YWOXGIfz6ejysjBj07doXjWhLiL6ZOcnJXWolRjqlpKGR62etOkfe0OccOjkaRVoiaVGBp1y1gerTWVeUXmPgPBuLakFo21KX/s1600/la+croix.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYzFr1bHuuMG8cTN7GNvDqGlBa0wU-tgg0R_KtPphj32YWOXGIfz6ejysjBj07doXjWhLiL6ZOcnJXWolRjqlpKGR62etOkfe0OccOjkaRVoiaVGBp1y1gerTWVeUXmPgPBuLakFo21KX/s400/la+croix.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. The fact that I'm getting my very first iPhone in only a few days! I know I'm late to the party, but it was worth the wait!! I may or may not have been scouring the internet for monogrammed phone cases...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bhkVqzOAM0W89pKELQnT990jxwVU9mfHl-TfkVdyUlJXT3xQaeMtao1KEOYoGcbvXrPEgHEvNDuWQFyRVkuJO8kbeuLQkNhyOIi-iO0PseACgkzSymn0TG_TQAeklOk5L3_kKEDrK-eH/s1600/iphone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bhkVqzOAM0W89pKELQnT990jxwVU9mfHl-TfkVdyUlJXT3xQaeMtao1KEOYoGcbvXrPEgHEvNDuWQFyRVkuJO8kbeuLQkNhyOIi-iO0PseACgkzSymn0TG_TQAeklOk5L3_kKEDrK-eH/s400/iphone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. REVENGE!! This show has me on the edge of my seat and when I finally think I have figured it out...plot twist! I suggest you watch it, season 1 & 2 are on Netflix</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mWcHOOw_aE39jha8UFlLmVtfouS8aEzTyW1DVsEG3P-4x7le6bI73a2JhuIWrrwj7kw_XX6HbENg28xSdB7VEzWdjRMXgJFHPkxsmLHlggmc5CJTtQDkneFICRGVDnrvs3G7kA7FJBLO/s1600/revenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mWcHOOw_aE39jha8UFlLmVtfouS8aEzTyW1DVsEG3P-4x7le6bI73a2JhuIWrrwj7kw_XX6HbENg28xSdB7VEzWdjRMXgJFHPkxsmLHlggmc5CJTtQDkneFICRGVDnrvs3G7kA7FJBLO/s400/revenge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Blogging! I have fallen in love all over again with blogging and I feel like I finally found my voice. I hope my blog will continue to grow and I hope to gain more blog friends!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k77XPu1AoqI4qLLQfBoBQ7ZTK9IHYdJ2gqvxGh3-nu1MsP37eUVhAJaUDAraqpOi0L_7XkJbxEBW92qDE_VlQSv9zHYAHXDESSwwoe7-JgVbMJAe3aw4ihoRgk1XeITtowsOep-Jr735/s1600/drafts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k77XPu1AoqI4qLLQfBoBQ7ZTK9IHYdJ2gqvxGh3-nu1MsP37eUVhAJaUDAraqpOi0L_7XkJbxEBW92qDE_VlQSv9zHYAHXDESSwwoe7-JgVbMJAe3aw4ihoRgk1XeITtowsOep-Jr735/s320/drafts.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">{horrible picture, but so far in one night I have written 5 posts. I am using the last of my free days to write as many posts as I can, that way once I start working and taking classes, my blog won't fall to the back burner again!}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are you loving right now?</span></div>
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elise {sprinkles on toast}http://www.blogger.com/profile/16361745737451006247noreply@blogger.com0