Babbling

We had one of those weekends, filled with lots of dishes and work. Taylor is finally finishing up his last weekend with Target thank goodness. I'm sitting at home, feeling homesick and realizing I'm actually just Husband sick, he worked all day today and works all day tomorrow. But the plus side to having a lonely weekend is that next weekend I'll be walking on a beach with my Husband in California, hopefully with an approved green card, so this next weekend will be big for us! We also have our wedding pictures at the frame shop here in town which I'm completely thrilled about. Also we got midterms back this week and I got five A's and one B which I was mostly happy about (minus the B ): ). March is creeping up on me too fast, I have a million projects due this month, that also means finals are only a month away which no matter how hard I study I never feel ready for! I'm so nervous for March, yet excited because that means schools almost out, and warm weather will slowly start coming (crossing my fingers). Well, enough of my babble, I have had a really hard time staying in contact with people lately so sorry family. Hopefully this made you feel a little bit more in touch with me.

Now in this very moment I just realized I was supposed to take a test today and forgot about it. Which is completely unlike me. I am a very very good student, my goal was a 4.0 this semester which once this zero on my test drops my grade by %10 kills that goal. Anyone have good advice for grovelling for a second chance when it comes to Professors?
I am praying with ever fibre in my being he is feeling helpful, and merciful tomorrow...
How in the world will I pass this class with a zero on a test.

Framing

We finally got our wedding photos and now we are tackling framing. Which I am oh so nervous about. It's so expensive and which makes it a one time thing.

Black thick frame... Good right?

My Sweetest Valentine

This Valentine I wanted to do something simple, but something that was thoughtful so I did this. 

I woke up and snuck it on the nightstand beside him. So the first thing he saw in the morning was this...

It's a sewn love note!

Then one of my classes of cancelled, so I skipped my next one to take off early with my hubby. We started off by doing an hour of homework and then took off for the city to share a meal at Texas Road House, which was amazing and so affordable exactly what I was craving!

Then for the surprise....

We drove up in front of massage envy (which you can faintly see in the background). 

He had scheduled a couples massage, it was so relaxing, amazing! The perfect gift and the most amazing Valentine I have ever had! :)

Giveaway

It is the last day for my giveaway over at the FunnerLife, so go check that out and get yourself entered before tomorrow! Also if you don't win, you can still get a discount code here for 30% of for being a part of it. Thanks, hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day!

Hour Glass Pillows

Today I would like to do a mini feature on my sister Esther Beazer, she is a photographer and in turn she has this great style and eye for things that look amazing. Like her bedroom, this is a picture of her bed and I just love it. She made her headboard from an old door, and she just made these adorable pillows to complete the look. They are Amy Butler Hour Glass Pillows, with a free pattern. Yes! Thats right girls free, my favourite word! I just love this picture, and these pillows so I thought I would share a little bit of her inspiration and a free pattern.

Bad Day

Today I had a bad day, my trip to Utah I was looking forward to was cancelled, along with a hard day at dance, piles of assignments, dinner plans spoiled and the list could go on but I'll stop. Also this last couple of days my emotions have been running high. Along with the fact that homework, school, and work work is really taking a toll on me along with cleaning and cooking over and over again. I don't often get time for just me!

So my amazing husband is making us breakfast for dinner right now, right after I had a good cry and ate a couple of these...

Glamourous

Have you been wanting that glamourous chunky necklace like I have but either they are out of your price rang, or plastic! Fear not I will show you how to make one that is neither!

You will Need:

Jewels, beads, crystals whatever works best for you, it should dangle though, like the beads I have shown below. It is on a loop so that the loop attaches the bead to the necklace instead of it going through the bead it self if that makes sense. I got mine at Porters

Thicker jewellery wire

Ribbon

It only cost me $20, because I didn't have any of the materials

Take your wire and wrap it around a pen, then wrap it to close it like shown below.

Thread the beads on the wire, I had two different colours of beads so I did four of each colour in a row.

When your beads are gone, or your at the length you wan it repeat the step above.

Tie your ribbon to the loop, then die two pretty knots like shown above to cover the ugly wire! Repeat on the next side. Then you should have something that looks like this!

Also I had regular crystals on the chains I bought so I used the extra to make a matching bracelet.

Its a great necklace to wear with collared shirts, and with the ribbon closure you can make it shorter.

Franklin

When Taylor and I first got married we said we would get a plant so that our home was filled with fresh air, and all those good things. But after buying a million things we need to start our lives together a plant never made it on the list... until this week! 

This is our little bamboo plant and we names him Franklin, it's an obvious "green" name!

Also did you know that plants can help your mind focus. So we put it in our second bedroom where we study. I'm pretty happy we have one now :) and Taylor was pretty proud when he named him!

Giveaway!

Who doesn't love a giveaway, no one! I am sponsoring a giveaway over at The Funner Life, It is her sweet sixteen birthday and she is doing a countdown of giveaways. She contacted me a month or so ago through etsy telling me how much she loved my stuff so of course I had to be a part of this celebration. Birthdays always seemed to be disappointing when I hit my teens so I hope this helps you have a wonderful Birthday Libbi.

You could win this Yellow and White plaid necklace. With ribbon closure so that you can adjust the length to fit you and your style perfectly.
Also there is a special code to get 30% off everything in my Etsy Shop so go check it out!

Glamourous

So I haven't seen a lot of necklaces like these ones around, however I see them on t.v. and on famous people a lot lately and I think they are glamourous. I do not have a glamour piece of any sort, and I have really started to want a sparkly bulky necklace like this. I have seen a couple that are versions of this, but they look plastic and cheep... well because they are! So luckily I was waiting for my Husband and had time to stop by porters, just to enjoy myself and I think I found the perfect things to make a necklace like this. But more, for me, because I can't pull it completely off. I'm really thrilled about it, so hopefully I can get my essay done in time and have it posted by the end of the week! So stay tuned :)

The Necklace in the middle is the one I love, its Swarovski Crystal and $500 dollars. So I am going to attempt to make something that has the same feel for $20!

Liebster Blogger Award

Well, I got an email from my cousin this morning, and she has pasted down the Liebster Blog award to me.
It goes to those who have creative, inspiring, worthwhile blogs with under 300 followers. So of course this made me so happy, and made me feel guilty because since school has started it has been really hard to work, blog, and homework. But non the less I was very happy to get this. Also she wrote a very nice note about my on her blog which made me glow, thanks so much. Go check out her adorable blog Pigtails and Snails.

Now it is my turn to nominate three other deserving bloggers.

Eden Lang's blog, two words come to my mind stylish and inspirational. She is a beautiful photographer, amazing style and such a great life story. I have only spent a couple days here and there with her but her blog is always so well written, bringing me to tears some days, and other days leaves me wishing I had that kind of style! She is an amazing women!

Esther Beazer, she is a photographer and she is amazing. I love her work, and I also love her. (Okay, okay she is my sister!) But I'm not bias she really is so great at what she does. She has a very unique clean style, which is what I think really sets her apart from other photographers.


Food, Folks and Fun, this blog is full of yummy food. Lots of food, who doesn't love a blog full of food. Also I have bad luck with trying new recipes this way they have already been tried and deemed blogabble!

CALIFORNIA!

The move is official!!

CALIFORNIA!

We are moving to Sacramento California! I have been to California once and I loved it, cold and rainy but it was a really cool place. We will finish school here in April and then pack up and drive down to our new home for the summer. We will be working with EcoFirst Pest control so it will be a long summer of hard work, but everyone knows what hard work means. You just get to play harder after! Especially when we won't have much homework! I am very excited for the adventure ahead of us, and just want it to be April. In April school ends, we are making a trip to Canada, and were moving to California - it will be a fun and crazy month!!

This is a picture from last summer in Kansas City while Tay was selling. 

Finally this time I get to go with him and were going somewhere cooler then KS. 

All you Need is Love!

After four months of being married at last we got our picture. These are a couple of our favourites!

I can't wait to finally get our big prints, which I'm sure by then we will have moved and can't take them with us for the summer which is sad! If your interested in reading our story you can read a quick little story from my handsom prince or from me.

Isn't he so Handsom! :) Best part is, I get to keep him forever!

Excuses

So much school, so little fun!

There is not enough excuses for how terrible my blogging skills have been since I started school again. I am taking 6 university classes, and working, as well as homework, time to relax so I don't go insane, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, immigration! The list never stops, I dream about homework, I dream about work... correction. I have nightmares about homework and work! Needless to say I have not found it in my time bank to do anything cute, or worthwhile to blog about. But my goal this weekend is to do just that. Between my saturday class, dinner, homework, a test, and a talk in church hopefully I can find some time! 

Once again, I apologize! 

One little tid bit from my day is that I started the morning off by teaching a Yoga class for my Health Communications project. I have learned so much about yoga and how amazing it is for you body! The class went really well so I am crossing my fingers all my hard work got me a good grade. I would encourage all of you to consider doing some sort of Yoga through out your busy weeks. I have been doing it and it's amazing how relaxed and ready to face the day it gets me!

Rice Bag

I love these! My Husband's favourite team is the Colts - hence the fabric. He stands the whole time he is at work and so his back is usually sore by the end of the day, and this rice bag makes a world of difference. One reason why a rice bag is better then just a little hot pack or hot blanket is because its moist heat. The moist heat penetrates all the way down to the muscles, which a hot blanket cannot do. It smells funny, but its worth it. 

But as for me I usually use it when I'm chilled down to my core, or also when I'm sore.

You'll Need:

Fabric

Scissors

Thread

Sewing Machine

Rice

Rice Bag:

1. Cut out two pieces of fabric. Both 14x10.

2. Put Right sides together and sew down three sides, and a little bit on the edges of the forth side. Leave your hole big enough to pour the rice in.

3. Pour your rice in, I used the standard bag from Walmart I think it was about one pound.

4. Sew across, to close up the hole. So now you should have a rice bag.

Rice Bag Slip Cover:

1. No for the cover, you will need to cut out three different pieces of fabric. A 14x10, 10x10, 7x10.

Your 14x10 will make up the front, and the two smaller ones will both make up the back.

2. Take your two small pieces and fold them over twice and sew down to make a nice finished edge.

3. Then lay the big piece facing up, and place the two smaller pieces facing down (right sides together), with the two finished seams in the middle.

4. Sew all the way around, and slip your rice bag into the cover.

5. Warm up those cold winter toes or sore muscles!

Finished product (please excuse the tacky apartment carpet!)

I chose to do a slip cover so that it could be washed. Trust me you'll want that option, after using it for a couple months it will need to be washed! Plus it's so quick.

When my husband opened this he had a huge grin and then ask "Where did you buy this?" Needless to say its a great home made gift. Its useful and hopefully they will think it's so amazing you bought it!

Christmas Break

As you can tell my Prince Charming, well he is charming isn't he? I'm pretty lucky to have such an amazing husband. He worked twelve hours yesterday day. We have started off a new year with a huge jolt to our old routine. I got a promotion which has me running around all day fixing everyones problems, along with taking six classes at school. Taylor now works two jobs and is going to school again as well. Needless to say it has been a long first week back and a messy one at that. Saturday was dedicated to homework and cleaning and now finally I can write a blog posts!

On the lake with a small portion of my family!

Big Mountain Ski Resort

Skating with our Canadian Pride

 Infront of the Salt Lake Temple

My Dear Mother

This christmas was our first christmas as a married couple, it was weird because I never went back home, although we visited my family which was so fun! We spent christmas morning alone and then drove to go meet his family for the rest of the day. All in all we had a great christmas together and had a lot of fun with our families.

Amazing Wife

For all of those who read this blog I would like to show my appreciation to my fabulous wife.  If you don't personally know Martha, she is an incredible woman who does so much for people she loves.  She's a hard worker, dedicated, loving and caring.  I am so grateful to have a wife like her.  Martha is extremely persistent and it's because of that reason we are together.  When we were dating she would never give up on me and I am so lucky that she never did. I am excited to spend the rest of eternity with her and always aid her in anyway possible that I know of.  I love you Martha.

Quilted Table Runner

You will need:

Batting

Coordinating Back Fabric

Strips of Fabric to make the front

This is not simple... but simpler way of making something quilted anyway. You can sew the back, batting, and front strips together all at once! 

1. I laid my fabric on the table and decide how big I wanted to make it. Then I cut it to that size, and then I cut the batting a little smaller then the backing.

2. Lay out all your strips so that you can decide what order you want them to go in. Make a left and right  pile leaving the two middle(ish) strips to be sewed on first.

2. I laid my two middle trips right sides together and pinned it to the middle of my batting and my backing. And sewed down one side.

3. Then open it up and iron it down flat.

4. Pin another strip down right sides together and sew down, then open up and iron down flat.

Repeat until all the strips are sewn down!

Then finish just like any other quilt, sorry I don't trust myself of giving a tutorial for this!

Making your bed in seconds!

I don't know about the rest of you but I hate putting the duvet and the duvet cover back together. You put it in and you're trying to hold onto the edges and shake it all at the same time and if you let go the corner gets lost in the middle.

Maybe its just me and I'm terrible at making the bed, but its just something I don't like! But there is something that makes it so much easier, I finally did this last night. I sewed ribbons on the inside of my cover and then on the outside of my duvet so that you just tie them together. Then shake and the top stayed right where its supposed too!

You'll need:

Duvet and Cover

Sewing machine

Ribbed Ribbon

1. Cut 4 pieces ribbon into 7-8 inch strips and then take a match to the edges to avoid fraying

2. Pin your ribbon into the top corner of your duvet cover. Repeat in the next top corner.

3. Pin your ribbon into the top corner of your duvet, repeat for the next corner.

4. Sew down and make sure to back stitch. I did mine back and forth a couple times so that it was in there strong and tight.

5. Tie your ribbons from you duvet and duvet cover together and then your duvet will never slide down to the bottom while you're sleeping, or Making the Bed!!

The Real Meaning - CHRIST

We all give gifts to our friends, and family but there is a reason we call this holiday {Christ}mas. But what gifts have you given to Christ this month? Although we should be doing things for him everyday and every month this month is a special month where we celebrate Christ.

This month Taylor and I tried to go to the temple more then often, and we also did a fun little door bell ditch. There was a family in our ward that didn't have work this semester and so we gave them a Christmas present, we want to make this our new Christmas Tradition. 

What have you given to Christ this Holiday?

&

Merry Christmas from the Phillips!