Summer of Color -- Week 6 -- 2 Oranges and 1 Blue

I woke up this morning and realized I never posted for this week! Ahhhh!! I am getting ready for work, so I have to be quick! :)

While I like these colors separate, I struggle to like them together! I used a wrapped canvas, basics acrylic paint, glitter tape, adhesive bling, liquitex modeling paste, dylusions spray inks, stencils, and a stamp by the unity stamp company.

While I planned to use the arrow stencils, I didn't have a clear vision for this piece. So, I just made it up as I went along. (Hence, the quote I used!)

Here's the finished piece!

Thanks for stopping by to take a look! I have LOVED participating this summer and I am feeling a little blue (hehe!) that we have come to the end. Next summer can't arrive fast enough! ;) 

A Journey to a Fit Life

I have begun my journey (with the finace by my side) into Fit Girls Guide 28 Day Jump Start. 

We are currently only 3 days in, but I can feel the difference in my body. I am SORE like there's no tomorrow. However, I realized tonight, just how out of shape I am. I used to be able to do push ups and such with ease, but not now. I am struggling to get through these workouts. I push through it though. I know in 28 days, I will be so thankful for the pain and struggle. 

I have to remind myself of the challenge motto for this month... #progressnotperfection

I have been out of the fit scene for quite some time... 10 years, or more! I am not happy with how I feel and look. With my wedding in a few years, I don't want to walk down the aisle in a tired, sick body. While I may NEVER be a size 3 again, my insides will be healthier and happier. (Anyone who knows me, knows my lifelong struggle with food allergies & stomach issues.) 

I stumbled upon this program on Instagram. If you ask my fiance, I am really good at getting info about anything/anyone on IG. He says maybe I should have gone into private investigating rather than teaching. Hahaha... 

The thing that stuck with me with this program was that this was a program being used by real girls, getting real results, and nothing extra needed other than the book and a few grocery bags. There are no meal replacements, you are eating 3 clean meals with clean snacks throughout the day. They only require 30 minutes of exercise for 6 days a week. Best part... EVERYTHING is laid out in the books for you. Shopping lists, meal plans, workouts, snacks, substitutions, meal prep schedules, and so much more! It's a no brainer! I purchased my books back in March and I just started this month! Better late than never, right? :) 

I am excited to end this week and see what happens! A new menu comes and the workouts increase in strength needed. The upcoming menu includes a LOT of tomatoes and tuna! *gag* So, for this picky eater, I am SO THANKFUL for the substitution lists! 

If you want to check Fit Girls Guide, check it out here. 

**I am not being paid for this blog. I am simply speaking from experience and excitement looking at my fit future!**

A little something to celebrate!

I have been on the job hunt since school ended and have not had much luck. It's tough when you aren't submitting an application to a person, but rather submitting it to a website that gets rerouted to the location you were applying to. #craycray

Anyways, I had a good friend of mine text me about a job working on the weekends. Which is perfect, because my plan is to keep this job throughout the school year as well. Which will help to fill up our wedding account more and faster. #weddingstacking 

I was called for an interview and took on that challenge. This would be my first interview in 8 years. There were so many mistakes I made, (from not researching the company, sending a thank you note, etc.), and I felt like I fell short on selling myself. So, naturally, I was stressed and I went shopping! #threenewdressesfixedit

Cut to 2 weeks later, I received a phone call and the position was offered to me! Woo woo! I am so stinkin' excited! I will be working 2 weekends a month at the front desk of a real estate agency. Yay! 

Now, I am just waiting on HR to get with me tomorrow! 

#imemployedsnitches #makethatmoneyhoney #weddingofmydreams 

Here's to a new experience and new learning! :) 

Summer of Color -- Week 5 -- 2 Greens and 1 Pink

Super fun and bold this week! Green is an easy-peasy color for me, as well as, pink! However, I had a little bit of a difficult time deciding what I was going to do! 

So, I decided to re-do a painting I learned how to do a few weekends ago at one of those paint studios. You know, the ones you bring your wine and your friends and walk out a painter!? Yeah, one of those! This particular place is called The Painted Conch. It was a casual Sunday afternoon date with my momma. 

Our original painting was done in blues and purples. So, I thought... "Why not do it in greens and pink!?" 

I finished pretty quickly and I am happy with how it came out. I feel like it may need something, but then I also feel like it's perfect just the way it is! :) 

What'd ya think!? 

This is my original! I love it, too! I am looking for the perfect spot on the wall for it! :) 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look! :) 

Red, White, and Bland!

Another Independence Day has come and gone. The excitement and enjoyment of the day are always a beautiful memory making experience.

My fiance and his family have always come together and celebrated by lighting up the night sky. (Well, at least the 'always' that I have known them!) The fireworks are always beautiful, and most of all I love watching My Lovey interact with his brothers and sister. It gives me a tiny glimpse of them as little kids. My heart swells with love for him and his family. (Quirks and all!) I am very blessed/thankful to be a part of this clan with each passing day. There may be ups and downs, frustrations and mishaps, joy and sorrow, but the one thing tying all of us together is the underlying love that is tightly woven through every fiber of our beings. #imsomushy

Anyways! haha... I wanted to share a few snap shots from the evening!

Happy 4th of July from all of us to you! :)

 My festive nails!

 My niece Zoe and I decked out for the event! Flashy glasses are the bestest! 

 The Bland kids! (L to R... Youngest to oldest.)

 And another shot of the siblings. They were posing for a neighbor, who happened to have photos of them when they were all young. So cute! :) 

 My niece Kylie. She wasn't too fond of the fireworks at first. However, she seemed to like them better hanging out in my lap playing with glow sticks. 

 Checking out the sky! 

 Glow stick ears!

 Flashy lights! 

 My Lovey lighting them up! 

 The "kids" and the neighbor. 

My beagle boys on the ride back home. 

While I didn't get a lot of shots of the explosions... I did get The Grand Bland Finale! (Excuse the commentary... There was bit of craziness that ensued! I couldn't believe it!) 

I hope your holiday weekend was just as beautiful as mine! Thanks for stopping by! :) 

Summer of Color -- Week 4 -- 2 Reds & Metallic

Hello Week 4! What a challenge you were! 

Red and I are not the best of friends, however, my idea came while I was going to brush my teeth. You see, I have an Ironman toothbrush. No judging!  My fiance bought it for me. He knows Ironman/Tony Stark is my favorite. This is where Freddy B's nerdiness, rubs off on me!

Ironman fits this week's challenge perfectly! I LOVE how he turned out! I am SO excited to share this with you this week. 

Sometimes the solutions to our challenges are sitting right in front of us!

Again, I let my heart control my hands. :) 

Here is the picture I used for my inspiration...

This is a shot of what I used to create my piece this week. 

I started out on my canvas with gesso. Then, I spread the the naphthol crimson all over with a small amount of alizarin crimson hue mixed in. Next, I used a star stencil I had and created shapes through the background using the alizarin crimson hue and gold. (All my paints are Liquitex Basics.) I also used the same stencil and modeling paste to create some dimension. Then, I drew my Ironman head on a piece of white card stock, outlined him with a black sharpie, and painted him in. (This was by far my favorite part. I was so excited with how he turned out.) I attached him to my canvas using 3-D tape squares. Next, I stamped the quote onto white card stock and cut it out. I glued it to the canvas and used Stickles to adorn the modeling paste stars. Last, I added some red glass dots at random. 

Here he is! :) 

Isn't he GREAT!?!? 

Thanks for stopping by! See ya next week! :)