peaches and mondays

mondays...i really don't know of anyone that loves them.  but i found a way to make it a little brighter this am or at least so i thought.

a sweet friend of mine, whitney carlson of he and she eat clean, have the most outstanding, delicious recipes.  not only are the recipes soooo good, their workouts are hard but produce results so make sure you check out their website when you have a moment.  www.heandsheeatclean.com

so without further delay, the recipe we should all make a staple in our homes.  i have altered a few items as i didn't have the exact ingredients specified.  and i had to make a second batch today because well it's a monday and nothing ever goes right on a monday.  when it says to cook for 7 hours...it doesn't mean 10 plus.  whoops.  :)

you'll need:

2 cups of steel cut oats - i used bob red mill 

4 peaches - sliced

1 packet of stevia in the raw

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1/4 cup of pure maple syrup

3 cups of water 

3 cups of vanilla almond milk

place all items in a crock pot and cook on low for 7 hours (not 10 :)).  if you are able try and stir is as you can.  if not, it won't ruin anything.  :)

looks like it will last me all week and smells just like the peaches and cream that i used to eat as a kid.  head over to whitney's site to get the healthiest version of it.  i made it work for what i had in my pantry and it will still be healthy and filling.   and to say it is so yummy doesn't do it justice.  i love it! you could even spruce it up with some blueberries to get those antioxidants!  enjoy!  

friday favorites

every now and then it is fun to try new things or products out... if you have the extra funding or time... both of which are pretty tied up baby wise right now butttt i wanted to share a few of my favorite things anyway.  

first.... my new moisturizer and face serum... i have wanted to try so many different products but i just feel like i am wasting so much money sometimes soooo i went to that place, you know, the place where your wallet goes to die....ulta.  :)  i am currently using these two products as part of my daily routine.  and with being pregnant have been very fortunate with the results.  see below.  45 days ago and now.  :) 

second...loreal lip balm... now i am a brat when it comes to lipgloss, too much color on my lips or a just all around crappy lip moisturizer.  that being said i have usual suspects but was so pleasantly surprised with this lip balm with a hint of color.  it's amazing!  you should try some, like today.

third... EOS body lotion and shave gel.  y'all they can't make your legs feel any better than this.  i love that even after i shave i usually can apply a light lotion to keep my legs smooth and soft but (even on the days i don't shave, which i am sure will be fewer and fewer the closer i get to having this lil guy)i use the lotion to supplement the softness.  and it's not expensive.  i am all about being frugal but also getting good products.

and the list goes on...
mother's blend oil.  as someone who has had stretch marks everywhere and all of her life, i am super sensitive to the body image they leave me with.  i am self concisous of them to a fault.  i know that i shouldn't be and that they are part of my life story but i can't help feel that way.  and being pregnant has only enforced that fear.  i have been using this stuff on the regular on my stomach and hips and have been blessed thus far.  and not even just that, my skin feels so soft and moisturized.  a pregnancy love affair.

last but not least... sweets.  this has never been a big part of my life but i can't get enough of them.  probably not a good thing but if that's the worst craving i have, i will take it and feed it.  baking time will be had this weekend just in time for valentines day  <3  :) 

happy fridayyy lovelies. 

diy blanket ladder

well, given that this is the 10th time i've tried to load this, hopefully it works this time.

i don't know about y'all but i love a blanket.  well actually a bunch of different blankets all for different seasons but also for different feels.  the most annoying thing however, is having them lay all over the house, on couches, beds, anywhere they get left.  makes for a not so tidy house.  and in my current nesting stage...that just won't work for me.  insert blanket ladder diy here.  :)

you'll need:

two 6 ft 1x3 pieces of whitewood
two 3 ft 1 inch dowels
1 inch saw drill bit
screws
stain of your choice (i recommend a darker stain)
paint of your choice (i recommend a vintage white, antique white something of the sort to create contrast)
drill
sander or pieces of sandpaper (your preference)

cut your dowel pieces into 3 even sections based on it's measurement and place to the side = 6 pieces, you will only use 5

measure out 1x3 into 5 even sections as to where you would place the dowel with space left at the bottom and top.  obviously you don't want the blanket dragging on the floor.  trace the outline of the dowel at each of those 5 markers and make sure it is centered on the wood.  

using your saw bit, drill a hole where your mark is.  it will look like a recessed drill hole.  i don't have a picture of it except for  with my stained pieces below.  look there to see what i mean.  obviously i didn't take enough pictures for this project and i apologize. :(  i also, took a smaller drill bit to drill the small hole where your screw would go through to the outside of the 1x3.  that way you aren't guessing where your screw needs to go from the exterior to meet the interior.

do the same with the other 1x3.  but making sure you measure the same distances between dowels as the first 1x3.  you're not going to be hanging anything with substantial weight butttt you don't want it falling apart or with slanted dowels.

once you've made the holes and cuts, stain your pieces, including the dowel.  wait 24 hour and paint over them with your vintage/antique white and let dry for additional 6 hours.  once dry,  you can take your sander or paper and start to antique it the way you like.  heavier in places you want the stain to show through and lighted in other areas.  after you have completed that portion, you will start to assemble the pieces.  

screw your 1 1/4 inch wood screws through the exterior of the 1x3 to the dowel that is placed where you drilled with the saw bit.  you will see how it will fit nicely in the drilled hole.  do this with all 5 pieces.  then apply the other side and voila.  you now have a ladder. some would want to fill in the screws holes with wood filler.  i left mine open.  i like the industrial look of it.  

honestly, you can use this for anything in any room.  i've thought of making smaller ones for bathrooms for magazines, or towels.  it is completely up to you but adds such a nice touch to any room.

i am sorry that i don't have more photos to go with this tutorial.  i will make sure that i do moving forward but i hope you enjoy it as much as we do and don't hesitate to reach out any with any questions. 

happy diy'ing!

sarah