Rachel's Re-Vamp: Old Window

This is one of the many projects I have been working on lately and I am so glad to have it done (it was half done for quite a while). Years ago I bought this vintage window from a thrift store in Salt Lake... it was one of those things that I just had to have and then did nothing with. At one point I had photos in it... but I ended up hating that so it sat empty in lots of closets for a while.

And then I got this idea! I sprayed the glass with chalkboard paint and then used Prismacolor pastels to draw on it. It was a lot of fun and I love the way it turned out. It now hangs in the hallway outside my bedroom door so it is the first thing I see before I leave for the day.

If you want to try something similar you should know that I sprayed the finished product with polyurethane so that it wouldn't get smudged if bumped. This tends to fade the color a little so you should start with bolder color than you want ultimately. Even so I went back in after spraying and touched up the white highlights in her hair and face because it looked too flat.

Superman! The Flash! Green Lantern! 

This was painted on the side of the old roller rink here in town. I saw it on our way to lunch one day and made Jake stop on the way back for me. So awesome in its geekyness.

Military Style Necklace

While at Michaels shopping for beads to use when I made my Vampire Diaries necklace I noticed that they have lots of new jewelry accouterments. I was particularly in love with the military inspired pieces so I got one of these charms (it actually came in a set of two so I may make another necklace and give it away in the future). I added some freshwater pearls that I bought in Arizona several years ago and never used. I like the contrast of the girly beads and the tough military-esque piece. 

Now I just need a cute military style jacket to wear it with...
Here's some I would love to own.
Aryn K. Military Style Jacket
Maisie Army Sweatshirt Jacket
Seventy Two Changes Knit Military Jacket
Free People Military Jacket

The Vampire Diaries

At Christmas time my brother, Eddy, and my sister, Izzy, got me a bead made of lapis lazuli. 

Being the geek I am, I watch The Vampire Diaries. I also read the first book but didn't love it. I mostly just love how gorgeous Stefan Salvatore is. But I have always loved vampires (more Buffy than Twilight). 

In the Vampire Diaries universe, lapis lazuli is what the vampires wear so they can walk in the sun. So... this week I made myself a necklace using my bead. 

 It also doubles as a bracelet!

Now I can go out in the sun! :)

Rachel's Re-Vamp: Photo Wall

Here is my photo wall!!! I have wanted one of these forever! I sorta had one in one of my (many) apartments in college but I never felt like it was right. This one is perfect! And really "photo" wall is not accurate since there is a drawing, a print, bottle caps and a napkin in addition to the photos. 

The stickers are something my mom sent me for Valentines Day this year. They are made to put on your walls and are removable. Unfortunately removable also means not very sticky but so far they are working pretty well and are oh so cute! 

*the bookshelf is from ikea and i will feature it in a later post when i'm finished decorating it

these are all on my bestie's fridge. 

Journal Page

Here is my first entry for the Journal Fodder Junkies Challenge!



The prompt was Who am I?
I just had a little fun with it. I could have been more deep but I wasn't feeling super introspective today. Too light and happy lately.

*I also used this page as the first entry for 30 days of lists because the prompts were so similar

30 days of lists (and stuff)

I'm Back!

My move was successful! There is still lots of stuff to unpack and lots of decorating to do though.
Stay tuned. I have several projects coming up that I can't wait to share with you! Some cute furniture re-dos and decorations and such.

In the meantime I am so excited for something called 30 days of lists, which starts today!

I am a big fan of journaling so any excuse to do it is OK by me! Plus the girls who put it all together seem so awesome that I couldn't help but jump at the chance to participate.

Come and join us! The first prompt went up today.
You can find my journal and entries here at my flickr.

I am also participating in the Journal Fodder Junkies challenge and I will be posting those images here on my blog.

So much exciting stuff!!! 

Moving has drastically improved my outlook on life I think. 

Happy March, Friends!

Real Simple is my favorite magazine ever! This stack is on my bookshelf along with this cute guy to keep them company. 

Sardine Canyon

Jake and I took a drive down to Salt Lake recently and I shot these photos while we drove through the canyon. They make the snow look pretty despite how sick of it I am.
(in general the photos taken on my iphone, such as these, are taken using the hipstamatic app. i love it very much!)

Chai tea is one of my weaknesses and Holy Nutmeg Batman, this kind is like Christmas in a bottle. Very yummy.

Illuminession

Today I guest posted over at my gorgeous friend Carolina's blog illuminession!

Go on over and check it out!
I talk about art journaling and even share a little "how-to."

loves,
rachel

Photo Shoot

Medium format film is one of my favorite things ever! It may be my obsession with square shaped things... Jake and I shot some with my new parisian Diana camera that was a gift from my parents for Christmas. I can't wait to see how the images turn out. But it was my first time shooting with this camera so we will see...

photo of the week-ish

my stocking feet in the backyard at jake's dad's

the 5th

everyone had monday off work to observe the 4th so we hung out with barb and russ again.
jake and russ went on a hike in the morning and then we all went over to barb and russ' again and the boys played video games all day and we did henna tattoos.

ty playing modern warfare 2

barb giving russ a huge dragon tat

the tree i did on jake's back, which admittedly looks kinda more like broccoli. haha. 

 

my phoenix on my forearm

the 3rd

on the third we spent the morning at Cache Firearms. jake manned the counters while i shot the new handguns. then we spent the rest of the day with our friends barb and russ.

we ate lunch at Cafe Sabor, where i snagged a kid's menu and colored this snake.

jake thought he looked crazy so he gave him bloodshot eyes to make him look high or something. 

i thought it was funny. 

then we hung out at barb and russ' house, where i made jake a new wallet (that he desperately needed) using russ' digital camo duct tape. it turned out way cool if i do say so myself.

100% tape. all duct tape except for the little bit of clear packing tape i used for the license window. 

jake really likes it because we have been searching for a new one (his old one was falling apart) but hadn't been able to find one in the same style. i never thought to make one till russ suggested it. 

then to finalize the evening, tyler came over and the 5 of us had a yummy BBQ dinner. 

jake putting all the meat on the skewer. he used one long piece of braided steel cable and the boys all called it his meat rope. dirty boys. 

"wow. jake, your meat rope is huge."

gross right? haha. 

here is the "meat rope" on the grill. we marinated it in what is called speedie sauce. it is a new york thing that barb used to have when she was younger. we liked it a lot. 

barb cutting up fruit for the salad. she is pregnant with twins! 

(i am very excited. i love when my friends have babies so i can get my fill until i have my own :)

here is the salad, which was really yummy, but i ended up having a nasty allergic reaction to it...

i had no idea i was allergic to anything (except cheap metals) but after the BBQ i woke up with swollen gums, which turned into mouth sores that lasted a week (they are just healing today). 

we weren't sure what it was until days later when i made smoothies with the leftovers and then had a scratchy, swollen esophagus. i'm lucky it wasn't hospital worthy... i'm still not sure what the offending fruit was but my guess was the oranges or cherries because, i avoid oranges (the juice gives me wicked migraines) and i can't remember ever eating a cherry before. 

corn on the cob!

then we watched the funny movie Bottle Rocket and i made raspberry sorbet with cream.

i just blended frozen raspberries with a little sugar water and froze it for a couple hours and then whipped some heavy whipping cream right before i served it. i got the recipe from the martha stewart mag. 

(normally i don't love her recipes but this one was so simple)

p.s. i LOVE my kitchen aid. just saying. 

made whipping cream so much easier.