Wedding Cornhole Boards

Today I am 137 days away from saying "I do." I've been trying to tackle little projects on the weekend for the big day. This weekend I worked on our custom wedding cornhole boards. I bought the pre-made boards on Craigslist and they came pre-stained. Otherwise, I probably would have gone with a darker stain. I also have a set that I painted white for guests to sign as our guest "book." I used my Cricut to cut out the lettering, which is why they look so crisp. I recorded a bit of the painting process - I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration for your next project!

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Cricut Craft: Christmas Wood Slice Ornaments

I'm having a blast with these fun and custom wood slice ornaments. They are simple, fun and a creative gift idea. They look amazing as gift tags on bags or wrapped presents.

Apple Pie Dump Cake

This recipe exudes autumn vibes! Think apple picking, warm apple pie, caramel apples and pumpkin spice. The dish can be made in under an hour and involves little prep making it perfect for fall get-togethers.

Easy Halloween Costumes Suitable For Work — And More Importantly — Comfy AF

If your office is fun and festive, you might be interested in dressing up down for work this Halloween. I've picked six costumes that are minimal work and are possibly already in your closet. 

1. Cat Lady

#IWokeUpLikeThis. And I'm wearing slippers to work.

Fake It 'Til You Make It: Dresser Update

If you love nice furniture, hate painting, and have money to spend, then stop reading because this tutorial is not for you! Keep reading if you love nice furniture, are broke (or just thrifty) and don't mind putting in a little elbow grease! I've been working hard to bring some style into my house on a dime. I find loads of inspiration online but can't stand the prices! For today's tutorial, I repainted an old white children's dresser to look like a sophisticated piece that belongs in our house. The original dresser I used for inspiration is featured on my guest bedroom design board. 

Design Board: Dining Area

This design board is for a dining room or kitchen nook. I'm building my design around the black round dining table and wooden x-back chairs. I got them for a steal at $50 for the set. The main color of this room is white with a purple-gray accent wall. The patterned wood wall also adds a nice design feature while still complimenting a small budget.

Design Board: Guest Bedroom

Jon and I have started our house hunt and I've been scouring Pinterest for interior design ideas. I'm slowly accumulating new furniture and design pieces off of Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. I've found amazing deals on items on my wish list, it just requires a little patience and flexibility.

Post Grad: Round 2!

I graduated! I went to Mexico! And I moved! 

It's been a whirlwind but check out some of the decorating and DIYs I've done around the house...

2015 undergrad graduation to 2017 masters graduation

Meramec State Park Canoe Trip

I'm catching up on my blog posts and I'm super excited to share the experience I had on the Meramec River with my mom and dogs. Meramec Caverns are approximately an hour outside of St. Louis, MO, and was the location where we reserved our canoe. There were also options to kayak or raft, but with two dogs, we opted for the more reliable of the three choices! We were dropped off at Meramec State Park and finished the trip back at the Meramec Caverns.

Pere Marquette State Park Hike

Date: March 2017
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 1 hour
Weather: 40 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny and clear skies
Photos were taken on my Samsung Galaxy S7
Shoes and raincoat: Merrell

Visitor's Center

Merrell: Meet the 2017 College Ambassadors

Merrell is an outdoor brand that specializes in hiking shoes and clothing. As a Merrell College Ambassador, I get to lead amazing trips with the Outdoor Adventure Club through the generous grant provided by Merrell and Outdoor Foundation. Some of the trips include camping and hiking at local and state parks, ice skating, horseback riding and 5K runs. I love being an ambassador and am continuously inspired by my fellow colleagues! My only qualm is that we all live so far apart :) Be sure to check out their breathtaking Instagram feeds for some serious outdoor envy!

Uplifting Quotes for Lent

Every year for Lent, I think of something to give up. In the past, I've given up chocolate, shopping, eating out (coffee is out of the question) and I usually don't to a stellar job. This year I decided I wanted to DO something. I want to spread joy and make it as easy on you to do something positive during lent. Each day I will send out an uplifting bible quote straight to your inbox. It will be short, sweet, and to the point with no personal side commentary. Let each quote inspire you to do good. 

*this form has closed, check back next year!*

Great Falls National Park and Riverbend State Park Hike

Date: February 2017
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 2 hours
Weather: 45 degrees Fahrenheit, partly cloudy and rainy
Photos were taken on my Samsung Galaxy S7
Shoes and raincoat: Merrell; Waterproof joggers: Athleta

Guided dirt trails make this hike easy and enjoyable. Because we went on a rainy day, we experienced a fairly empty trail. The path follows the Potomac River until it intercepts the falls in Great Falls National Park. It is free to park at Riverbend but it is approximately a one-mile walk to Great Falls (you can park at Great Falls but will have to pay park fees). There are three overlooks and my photos of the falls were taken at overlook number one. The man-made dam is located in Riverbend. On warm days, sometimes you can watch experienced kayakers maneuver the smaller falls. There is a more challenging Billy Goat trail on the Maryland side of the falls.