Hand-made envelopes

What easier way is there to add a little flair to your thank you cards, invitations, or birthday cards?


* These particular envelopes were made with old Magazines

I started making my own envelopes a couple months ago and I got so many compliments on them, I decided to make more. Some other great mediums to use are: newspaper, maps, old book pages, and anything else your mind can think of! I even made an envelope out of Duct Tape!

There are only a few steps and you'll be on your way to getting compliments from all of your friends about how much they love your creative touches :)

First, Begin by taking apart an envelope and making a template. I would recommend making sure that your envelope fits onto one sheet of paper before you get started on your template. Trace your template out onto Cardstock and then cut out. (This can be re-used, so don't throw it away when your done!)

Then pick two magazine pages you like. I really like using Martha Stewarts Living Magazines because they are larger then the standard magazine pages.

Glue the two sheets together so that both pictures you chose are on either side. I used a glue stick, but spray adhesive would work really well too if you have it. (when you are using maps or other items to make your envelopes this step can be removed, but because magazines are so flimsy you will want to double up the pages to make sure they don't rip during mailing) Although it is an added step when using magazine pages, I found it fun to mix and match pages, so that the inside of the envelope is just as fun as the outside.



once your two pages are glued together, you'll want to trace your template onto the sheet of paper, and then cut it out.



Fold the two outside flaps in first and use a glue stick to glue the bottom one to them. Then one more step and your done! Just fold the top flap down and when you are ready to mail it, glue it shut. VIOLA, you now have a wonderfully personalized envelope and you saved a tree while doing it!



* I like to use maps of peoples city or state or make an envelope with a map from a trip I went on.... there's endless possibilities to how creative you can be with this fun little craft!

Reuse and Recycle

Need an easy craft idea and something that will liven up that drab wall in your bedroom??? I have just the thing.

With recycling being the new "trendy thing to do" I thought I'd show this easy pick me up for your room.

First, I must give props to my friend Nikki who gave me this idea. With just a few steps you can create one person's garbage into your own art work!

The hardest part of this project will be finding the actual windows. These were found on Blake's property in Pittsburgh, where there are many more waiting for me to save them :) Just the other day I saw some sitting out on the street ready to get picked up by the garbage men!!!!! Some dumps will let you walk in and take what you want, others may make you pay 5-10 bucks for an item. You can also find these at flea markets, garage sales, and like I said before, the side of the road.

The most important thing to do is take the glass out of the window frame. Most of these windows are 50 years old, and the glass is no longer secure. Taking the glass out will also make it lighter and easier to hang on your wall. I simply screwed right through the window frame and into the wall, but you could also pick up brackets at your local hardware store.

After taking out all of the glass, put on a mask to prevent inhaling any of the paint chips. Scrape off as much excess paint as possible and finish by sanding. After scraping off the excess LEAD paint, wash it thoroughly (WATCH OUT FOR SPLINTERS - I would recommend wearing work gloves at all times). Let the window frames dry completely for at least 24 hours or more.



After the window frames have dried completely, spray a thin layer of clear varnish (I went with the spray paint style in Satin). You'll also notice that I left on some of the existing paint to keep the vintage flair. If you wanted a specific color window you could always scrape off all of the paint, re-paint it the color you want, and then sand off spots to give it the antique feel.

If any of you try this out, let me know how it goes!

Never Forget

Three days ago I had a dream that I was on one of the planes destined to hit the World Trade Center. There was one thing different though, I was able to wake up from that nightmare.

I am numb as I watch the images before me on the television. How can I, in any way, be able to feel the way those people in New York felt that day? I like to believe we all have this feeling of togetherness as we see the images replaying from nine years ago. Will we ever forget? I hope not. This attack, no matter how horrific, should never be forgotten and those who lost their lives deserve to be remembered.

Put yourself in the shoes of those people stuck at the top of the buildings, possibly knowing there was no way out. Who would be your first call? Your mother, father, wife, husband, children? What would you say? I love you, I'll see you soon, don't worry? This is impossible for me. I cannot fathom being in that situation. Being forced to come face to face with your greatest fear. Death.

It will forever be seared into my brain the images of innocent people falling to their deaths whether by choice or by force. The fire was hot enough to melt the steel structure of a building and some people were only feet away gasping for fresh air through broken windows. People said they could hear the sound of the plains crashing into the towers from miles and miles away. I can only hope that something like this never happens to this nation again.

Let us not forget about the brave souls on all of the planes that crashed that day. Some gave up their lives to save hundreds. Tears helplessly flow from my eyes as I listen to loved ones calling their significant others and children telling them goodbye and I love you. Telling their children to be brave and that they'll see them again someday.

Watching this footage makes me angrier and angrier every year. When the world trade center hit nine years ago I was merely sixteen with not a care in the world. My biggest concern was volleyball practice and whether my make up looked okay. I had no notion of how all of our lives truly changed forever that day, but with each year I get older I understand more. Now that I'm growing up getting closer to having a family, I understand. I try to understand. I realize now that in twenty years or more I'll be discussing this with my children who were lucky enough to not live through this terrible tragedy. They will interview me and ask me questions like, where were you when you saw the planes hit the World Trade Center? How did it make you feel at first? What scared you the most? Did you know anyone that died that day? My answers will be simple, direct, and meaningful. Sophomore year, second period Biology Class. Unsure. The unknown. Everyone.

The people that died that day were just like us and it could have been any of us. Maybe a different turn we took in our lives, a fork in the road that led us away from that building instead of into it made the difference, we'll never know. One thing is for certain, the lives that were lost that day will always be with us. They will always be in our hearts.

Home...home on the range...

Thus far,

Total Miles driven:1,300
City's we've slept in: 6
Animals seen (in the wild): Buffalo, Mountain Goat, Prarie dog, Bald Eagle, Antelope, Burrows, and Mule Deer

It's day six in the Wild West, and so far it's been an amazing trip. We created Native American Indian names for ourselves (yes I know it's stereotypical and may not be socially apropriate but i say F#$% that and have fun!) All of our names were created because of something we did on the trip.

My dad = "Chief Rolling Thunder"
If you know my father you will understand when I say this name was created because of his tendency to saw wood while sleeping and keeping me up all night even when I'm wearing ear plugs or listening to my I-pod.

My mother= "Mother trails behind"
For some reason my mom was moving at a snails pace throughout this trip... therefore we decided to name her for her slow moving feet and how she was constantly trying to catch up to my father and I.

Me= "Princess running water"
As you can imagine by the name I had to use the restroom about every hour. This was only an issue while driving from Denver to South Dakota because unlike Michigan there are not gas stations ever 5-10 Miles and instead are about every 100. There was even one instance in which I fell asleep only to wake up RIGHT after passing a rest stop to inform my dad that I had to pee.


Overall, this trip has been amazing! I was able to drive through a herd of 500-600 Buffalo this afternoon and Custer State Park. It was unreal! I cannot imagine being alive during the 1800's looking over the plains to see herds upon herds of these massive animals. They are beautiful and obviously use to people being around because they were not the least bit phased by the people taking their pictures or driving their cars right up next to them. We were also lucky enough to feed some Burrows from our car window. Of course it was made completely clear that we SHOULD NOT feed the animals, but I couldn't resist. I was also able to get out of the car and walk right up to a group of them. I do consider these animals to be in their natural habitat but I'm also aware that under normal circumstances these animals would never tolerate us being so close. There are advantages and disadvantages to these animals being in this state park. It gives people the opportunity to see how beautiful they are, yet it makes them completely vulnerable to them as well. I was very pleased with the afternoon we spent in Custer State Park.

We were also able to visit the Mt. Rushmore Memorial. It was BREATHTAKING! I had a few people tell me it was smaller then they imagined, and I have no idea how you could ever feel that way. it's amazing how you can see it when driving up the Black Hills and how beautiful it is when the light hits it. we were even able to see a Mountain Goat while we were there, and the 693 steps throughout the memorial were totally worth it! (Yes I counted them) It honestly did make me proud of our country and although we had a few speed bumps and didn't always go about things the right way, we wouldn't be where we are without doing it.

I would never say Crazy Horse was a dissapointment, because when you compare the fact that Crazy Horse's face is the size of Mt. Rushmore alone, you realize how amazing it really is. The only downfall was that we had to be so far away because it is still being worked on today. The man that created Crazy Horse worked on his own for years carrying his tools up and down hundreds of stairs everyday, so that alone gives you a great appreciation for the monument.

The Corn Palace I will tell you, was a bit of a let down. We drove 500 miles to see it and there was absolutely nothing else to do in the town. After spending an entire day driving out there we then had to turn back around and come at least half way back. Thankfully, the next morning we were able to go to the 1880's town which was a great time. They had memorabilia from "Dancing with Wolves" and even had a Camal, Mule, Long Horns, rabbits, and kittys! It was a pretty good time and I would definitly recommend it to anyone with children.

The Byway. This was a road created by Norbeck to let people enjoy South Dakota's lands by being able to drive slower and with many roadside pull off's. It was great and they even had some one lane tunnels where you had to sound your horn to let anyone coming the other way know you were coming through. We went through the one that was in Badlands National Park and Also through the Black Hills Byway. Both were great and you were really able to take a look at some of the worlds greatest creations.

This has been an amazing trip and it's not even over yet! Tomorrow is Denver and I promise photos are coming soon!

Dish - Grosse Pointe

Looking for a new and unique place to eat lunch? If you're ever around Detroit or Grosse Pointe, you'll need to stop by at Dish.

This weekend, after spending some time at the Detroit Historical Museum, Blake and I drove to Grosse Point to eat at a little restaraunt called Dish. Little is definitely an understatement, because this place could not have been bigger then my kitchen, which only adds to the uniquness. This restaraunt is carry-out only, so keep this in mind when you go. If your going during the colder season, be sure to have a place to eat. Blake and I just popped a squat next to our car and ate on the curb. It was a beautiful day out, and it was like having a classy picnic. I found out about this diamond in the rough from Groupon, where I got a half off coupon.

If you love salads like me, you can try the Cobb sandwhich, which is loaded with Chicken, avocado, bleu cheese, and egg. You'll get the lightness of a salad but the fullness of a sandwhich, best of both worlds! Blake had the Havarti and Beef sandwhich, which came with a lovely surprise of diced apples on it. Each sandwhich is served with lettuce and tomato, and comes with the side salad of the day. Dish also serves pasta dishes, salads and soup. This place is a complete and utter hipster joint, and everyone that we met in there was beyond friendly. This restaraunt has of course, 100% biodegradable plastic bags, water bottles, and to-go boxes. I would recomend this place to everyone!!! If it was closer to where I live, I'd be there everyday trying something new. Be sure to check it out if your ever in the area. The only reason that this restaraunt doesn't get 5/5 stars, is because I think it would get more business if they at least had a few chairs and tables outside.

My Final Rating: 4/5 Stars :)

I'm falling in love....

I bet you thought this would be some cheesy blog about how I've found the person I'm meant to be with,and how I've fallen in love, blah, blah, blah..... don't worry it's nothing like that.

What I am amazed by though, is that I am absolutely and utterly falling in love with DETROIT!!!! I know I know... I honestly cannot believe I am saying this. I was that typical high school kid that wanted nothing more than to leave Michigan and go as far away as possible. Once I became a college graduate, again all I wanted was to leave Michigan. I applied to out of state job openings in Indianapolis, Vermont, Florida, California, and anywhere else I could find a job opening. The only thing that was keeping me in Michigan was Graduate School, money, and Blake.

Since getting an education in America costs an arm and a leg, I couldn't afford to pay double for my Masters and was forced to apply in State. Blake and I found a nice little apartment in downtown Northville where anything we could need is only a few steps away from our doorstep.

Recently, Blake and I have really been exploring South East Michigan. We go on walks, to Tigers games, to the Eastern Market, Slows, Walled Lake, and so on. And for the first time I might be seeing what I refused to see before. I will agree that winters here suck. I absolutely and utterly hate snow, unless I'm looking at it through a window while sitting next to a fire place. I do however love Christmas and snuggling under a blanket. I love going to Target and any other store filled to the brim with ornaments and wrapping paper. The snow really makes me appreciate the summer. I never complain about being too hot, or about it being muggy. I live for the 3 months I can spend at the pool or a lake, and if I had a boat I'd be even happier.

Now that I've opened my eyes to what SE Michigan can offer (other then a real job market of course), I realize there are things all around Detroit that you can do.

- Canoeing/lakes/beaches
- Comerica Park
- Eastern Market
- Frankenmouth
- Root beer Stands :)
- Detroit Zoo
- Summer/winter/fall/spring - That's right all four seasons!
- People BBQ'ing 24/7
- Kensington Park


I think initially, yes, Detroit doesn't seem so great, and it will probably never be a place where people flock to live. You will never be able to walk down the street by yourself at night and not worry, even just a little, that you might get jumped. You wont be walking down any dark alleys anytime soon, but that's okay. It doesn't mean Detroit doesn't have other things to offer. If you only look from a distance you will never see what Detroit can give you. One thing I've come to learn is that people from Detroit are loyal to their city. People come together every Saturday morning to sell locally grown fruit and vegetables and to socialize with others that are proud of their town. Detroit is a diamond in the rough and it just needs some help from everyone to clean it up. How we go about that I don't know, but hopefully we can turn it around and make Michigan a place where people want to come and live again.

Come on people!!!!

I'm fully aware that all of you out there that are still on the smoking band wagon feel the need to rebel now that you've been banished to the streets to smoke. That is however no reason to not join on the new an improved bandwagon of 2010.

I understand if you don't want to buy a Hybrid car, reusable grocery bags, and you want to continue to purchase cases upon cases of bottled water. BUT.... as most of you have noticed, people of America want to save our planet. We are now educated in the benefits of recycling and using fewer products. We now know what we have done to our planet with the billions of cars and trucks pumping out fumes upon fumes each and every second.

So why is it then, that you do not feel your cigarette butts are not garbage?? Why is it that I cannot take a walk to my mailbox without finding at least 5 or 6 butts laying in the crevices of each cement square? Today while driving home from seeing Eclipse, someone threw their half smoked cigarette out of their window, which then landed on my car. It's disgusting, and irresponsible. Take care of your shit please. Some of us would like this planet to be here for our grandchildren and in better shape then it is in now.

It's terrible when I see animals picking at them, or when I'm playing with my kids at school and I find them scattered throughout their play place?! If you want to have a smoke box in your car then fine by me, but clean up after yourself. Or on that note, why not just take some control of your life and wait to have a smoke at your house or once your out of your car and standing next to a trash can!?

Get it together!