The Memory Jar

Freezing time.  Capturing memories.  Enjoying each moment before it passes too quickly.  These are each goals that I work at daily.  Even though you can't "technically" freeze time, pinterest has given me a good way to record valuable memories and reflect back on them a year later......I am calling it the memory jar....

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....It's so simple, yet I've never thought of taking the time to do it.  Find a jar, label it with the current year, then write memories down on a peice of paper and throw it in the jar.  On New Years Eve, grab a glass of wine, sit by the fire, and read all of the memories you have made throughout the year! Some may think it's lame....but I am totally digging the idea!!  I'm sure you will read through a ton of memories that you had forgotten about, and that makes it all worth while!!

This is my version of the memory jar.....I had to add a little color!!

 

What are you waiting for??  Go grab a mason jar and start recording your memories!!!

To see the parties I'm linking to go HERE!!

Photo Friday.....#1

After receiving my LOVE MACHINE on Christmas morning, I have become the "crazy photo lady!!  And when I say crazy, I mean snapping 700 pictures over the course of one weekend...or sometimes one night...Seriously....I'm not kidding!!!  Because I am an amateur it takes 700 pictures to get 10 good ones!  (come on....you know what I mean!!)  I have such a LONG way to go, but I'm super anxious to learn everything I can about my camera, and photography in general....I have been reading the manual for goodness sake!!  YES!!  you heard me correctly...I am actually READING!!!  What can I say??  It's a hobby that I'm quickly falling in love with!! 

 I have decided to designate Friday's to show off my favorite pics of the week!!  This way I can not only journal things that are happening in our life, I will be able to look back at these pictures and see my starting point.  I will be able to track my improvement....and maybe give you some tips along the way!!  See...i'm not only thinking of myself...you can benefit from this too!!  So here we goo....

Puddles and Bubbles.....

You can only sit in the house for so long watching the rain......Julia and I decided to go out and get a little muddy!!

You can't play in the rain without matching rain boots and umbrellas!!

This looks like a fantastic puddle to jump in!!

Look at that splash!!!  I LOVE the shutter speed on this camera!!  Don't ask me the settings....I have no idea yet what I actually did to make this picture turn out! haha....As stated earlier...I'm still learning!!

Splash take 2 .....

Splash take 3......

Where did she go???

I love the composition of this picture!!

Now what do you do after getting muddy on a rainy day??  That's right!!  You take a bubble bath!!!!

This was Julia's first bubble bath!!!  Why not sooner?? I have noooo idea!!  She loved it!!

 

Gotta wash that face!!!

 

bubbles in TWO hands....WOOOOWWWW!!!

 

We have to share the bubble love with Bailey!!

 

now how sweet is this!!!  A perfect picture to end our first Photo Friday!!

All pictures were taken with a Nikon D7000.  Lens-50mm 1.4.  Don't ask what shutter speed...apature....or ISO...because I don't have an answer for you!!  I literally take a pictrue, and mess with buttons...take another picture...and mess with more buttons!!  After I study the pics I will let you know how I got there!!  Until then, I hope you enjoyed the pictures, and I'll see you next Friday!!

mason jar love......

I'll admit it....I have a slight obsession with mason jars!  Can you blame me??   With their simple, clean, rustic feel, I am having a super hard time not placing them in every room in my house!!!  Look at all of our possibilities.....

Stunning......who could turn down this look!

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This would be great for an outdoor party!!  Come on, summer!!  Hurry up!

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Why didn't I think of this around Christmas time??

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AHH HAA!!  perfect solution for all of the pictures hanging around the house!!

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Easy, Cheap, and Creative!!!  My three favorite words!!  Gather a few mason jars hanging around your kitchen, or run to the thrift store.....then find a handful of your favorite pics that have been collecting dust in one of your closets!!  Insert picture....find a place for the jar...DONE!!!  my easiest project yet!

Well...what do you think??  I personally love them!!

To see the parties I'm linking to go HERE!!

Pull apart Cheese Bread......

Go ahead...admit it...your mouth is watering!!  If it's not....it should be!  This is the best cheese bread you will ever eat!!!

Ingredients....

1 unsliced loaf of french bread

12 oz of cheddar cheese

3 oz bag of bacon bits

1/2 cup of butter melted

1 Tbsp Ranch dressing

Pinch of garlic powder

Tbsp of Olive oil

Directions:

Cut the loaf of bread both ways; like a grid, but don't cut through the bottom.  Place the cheese in between each cut.  Brush a thin layer of olive oil over the bread, followed with a thin layer of butter, then a thin layer of ranch dressing.  Sprinkle bacon bits over the entire loaf.  Sprinkle garlic powder over the top then pop it in the oven.  Bake it at 325 degrees for 10 to 20 min, or until the cheese is melted!!

  Go Enjoy!!!  You can thank me later!  :)

To see the link parties I am linking to go HERE!!! 

Shake ya groove thang....

Guess who I saw perform Friday night.......

That's right!!  The cast of "Dancing with the Stars"

They rocked the house!!!   I would break my back if I were in this position!!

Sexy Sexy!!  I LOVE the outfits!!!

I wonder how much she works out to get abs like those??

Beautiful!!!  Oh how I miss dancing!!

Look at that skirt fly!!!  Shake it Shake it!!

My favorite shot of the night!!!  Absolutely Stunning!!!

The colors...the outfits...Can we play dress up??

Who wants to jump over my head like that??

And that's a wrap!!  A perfect performance for a perfect evening!!  

To see the parties I'm linking to go HERE!!! 

Jealous......

What happens when you have 2 parents with dark brown eyes and their child receives both of their recessive genes???....

.......ICE BLUE eyes that I will be FOREVER jealous of......

Blonde hair....Blue eyes....she will be locked in the house until she is 21!!

To see the parties i'm linking to go HERE!!

Redemption.....

They said we didn't deserve to be there.....

They said we had our chance and blew it....

They said no one would want to watch a rematch.....

Whether it was the game that should have been played or not, it happened...and we won....BIG TIME!!!  If you want to know the meaning of redemption, then I hope you watched the BCS National Championship game last night between Alabama and LSU......

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over 73,000 people filled the stadium, some paying 3,000 dollars a seat!!....That's a lot of people, considering NO ONE wanted to see a rematch!!  :)

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It was a brutal game from start to finish!

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And luckily Alabama came out on top!  21-0!  


I'm so proud of our players, I'm so proud to be an alumni, and I'm so proud to say I'm from the state of Alabama!!  ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!

Yarn Wrapped Bottles......

Everyone has that one spot in their home that needs a little extra color, a little extra texture, just a little extra something!  Easy solution.....yarn wrapped bottles!! 

Go ahead, buy a six pack....or twelve pack, and empty those bottles!!

Then buy the yarn of your choice and wrap, wrap, wrap!

Next, find a spot to display!  Easy as that!!  

What do you think??  Super cheap, and super effective!!

To see the parties I'm linking to go HERE!!!

New Year's Resolution??....I don't think so!!

I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions....not because I don't like starting fresh come the new year, it's mainly because I don't like disappointing myself come January 3rd!!  Therefore, this year I am setting a New Year's GOAL!  There is far less pressure meeting a "goal" rather than holding up a resolution for 365 days....do you agree??    Well this year's goal is a big one....one that will take a lot of work, a lot of time, and a LOT of Daddy K's help!!  My 2012 New Year's Goal is to create a CRAFT ROOM!!!  That's right Daddy K!!  Get out your hammer, nails, and table saw....we have a lot of work to do!!  This is what I'm envisioning......  

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A work desk set up in the middle of the room, with lots of natural light pouring in!!

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oh the organization!!  This is a must have!  I am also loving this wall color!

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shelves, shelves, and more shelves....I love how they frame the window!!

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I would LOVE to have an entire cork wall to hang ideas/inspiration images...and ohhhh the dress form!!!  I need a dress form!!!

Now that you have a good idea of what I'm going for, maybe I should back up a few steps and show you what we have to work with!!  You may need to sit down for this!!  I wasn't kidding when I said we have a lot of work to do!!  In our basement, there is a perfectly sized room that has been framed out....It has "Jessica's Craft Room" written alllll over it!!  However it is VERY unfinished.....the walls need to be sheetrocked, floors stained, ceiling dropped in....etc.etc.etc......

See what I mean....!!!  A finished wall would be nice here don't ya think!!  :)  At least the electrical outlets are there!!

This has been our "junk" room for about 5 years now!

There is a perfect little window in the center of the room!!

Here is the ceiling!!  isn't it beautiful!!

and the floors.....I think a nice stain would do!  maybe even a pattern added in!

Now you can see why I wanted to make this my "Goal!"  I will have ALL year to work on it, and if it doesn't get completed, I will not be disappointed!  I can look back at the the progress made and be completely satisfied!!  It's a win-win situation...Except for Daddy K....I'm not sure if he knows exactly what he is getting into!!  :)   But hey...there are actually benefits for him too.....he will no longer have to put up with my "working progress mess" that is all over the house!  That sounds fair right??   Wish us luck!!  I will be sure to keep you updated with the progress!