{Thriftaholics} Vintage Mirror and Some Teenage Advice

This past week my family and I went to Nashville to visit some of our family for their new baby girl's 1st birthday. As always, we took our trip to Goodwill. Sadly we didn't get to go to Goodwill by the pound this time.

My mom and I walked into the store in search of something to repurpose or remake. There actually wasn't anything that interesting. She found some wooden placks that I look forward to watching her repurpose. Other than those we didn't see anything that would be fun. That is until I saw this beautiful, old mirror.
There it was, sitting right there on the top of the racks. In plain view for anyone! So, I did what we all do when we find something amazing. I ran walked over to the mirror, placed my hand on it to stake claim, and whispered for my mom to look at the treasure I found. 
I was so thrilled! Then she said something that almost threw me off track. She said the dreaded words no teen wants to hear, "Well, you have your own money, don't you?" 
Here's a tip for all the teenagers out there: When you have money, and you go shopping with your mom, don't tell her you have money. Why? Cause then, even though she would've bought it for you if you didn't have money, she will make you pay.
So, it was then that I looked at the price. Only 8 dollars! I could do that! My thrill was back. I placed the mirror in the buggy and continued on straight to the cashier. I paid with my money and the mirror was mine.

Heres some pictures of my beautiful treasure.... 

 

 

The glorious price

 

  Look! You flip it over and it magnifies!

Any idea on how old it is? I'd really like to know!
 
I hope you enjoyed a snapshot of my little Goodwill adventure. If your ever in Nashville make sure you go to Goodwill by the pound, it's like heaven for us thriftaholics!

{Friday Letters} Watermelon and Grapes

So, I'm going to try this deal of Friday Letters over at Adventures of Newlyweds (obviously you don't have to be a newlywed to do this). I'm just gonna jump in and figure it out as I go... Hope you enjoy!


Dear Watermelon and Grapes,
Thank you for being so delicious! You are the perfect snack for me! Healthy and good? Who could get any better?
Now Grape, I hear that your a little self conscience of your size but don't be. So you're a little plump, that just makes you more desirable! Don't try to be small, the small ones are never good. 
Watermelon, I heard you're afraid you're breaking out. The black spots? Those are seeds. Don't worry, we spit them out after we eat you. We actually have contests for them, you should be honored.
Thank you guys for being such fantastic snacks! Your amazing. Don't try to change who you are, that would ruin everything. Just be you! See you soon! 

 

Source for pictures

{Spark} Old School

spark ¹ noun- anything that activates or stimulates; inspiration or catalyst.

We're goin old school this week! All the way back to my childhood! Okay, so maybe it's not that old, but ya know, it feels that way to me.
Here's basically an open door to my childhood! This is obviously not everything that reminds me of my childhood but it's a pretty good bit.

Hope you enjoy!

7th Heaven. Seriously loved this show!
 

Fashion Plates... I had a Barbie one :)

 

Fishing game... can occupy a kid for hours

My favorite: My Little Pony! My mommy gave me her old ones :) 

The little Polly Pockets. Once, again my mommy gave me her old ones
 

Sesame Street. Mahna Mahna!

 

 

You know the McDonalds plush toys? Yeah, love them!

Source for Pictures

These were like some of the best years of my life! Could any of you relate? What reminds you of your childhood?

{Travels} Africa: Day One

July 10, 2012
 
We're back in Africa! I didn't journal on the plane but we got to Pemba around one. Dave sent the wrong flight information so when we got there no one was there to get us. Then, he couldn't find his blackberry and that was where he had the numbers. We finally got a hold of our friend, by finding her number on an email, and she took us to the base. 
After an orientation of how things go they showed us around the base then we went to our rooms. Six beds, six girls, ten suitcases, small room? We got this! 
Later that night, Dave, our friends, and I went to dinner. It was so fun! When we got back our team went to listen to Mr. Paul speak with some of the missionaries who live there. Dave had to go to another meeting. 
It's so amazing to finally be back in Africa! I'm not really sure what I'm expecting God to do exactly. He'll do something fantastic anyway!

Our team:
Sam- the crazy one
Jessi- the musical one
Dave- the leader
Breanne- the cheerful go getter
Vinny (the dad)- the observant one
Vinny (the son)- the quiet one
Heather- the organized one
Dan- the cheerful easy-goer
Christine- the optimistic one
Me- the one who cant think of how to describe myself :)

{Travels} Africa: We're Back!

Hi friends! I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, I promise it was for a good cause. I was actually in Africa on a missions trip with my step-dad's ministry, Fathers Heart. I went with him last year and got to go again this year, thankfully. 

It was an amazing opportunity and I would like to share with you what happened. While I was there I wrote in my journal each day about what we did. Some of my thoughts, some details, and some expectations, but all of it was a life changing experience. 

This week I'm going to post one journal entry a day along with pictures of what we did on that day. As you read remember that everything that happened was all God's doing. It wasn't because of me or anyone else on our team, it was all His power. He is so amazing!

I hope you enjoy an inside look at my Africa trip! 

{Thriftaholics} Vintage Letter Tray Upcycle Makeover

This past week one of my really good friends from Beautifully Blended Victoria and I decided to do a DIY night. We listened to the band Bellarive, ate cookie dough, made cookies with what was left of the cookie dough, and made vintage letter trays(or maybe they're called letter drawers?) into shelves.

I found these trays at a yard sale, where they were free! Well, they were free because it was my dads yard sale and he gave them to me. He's been reading my blog and thought I could do something with them. 
What do I say to that? I sure can!

So, my brilliant friend and I brainstorm. What do we come up with? Little shelves. My friend made one of hers into a little knick-knack holder and the other into an earring holder. I made one of mine into an earring holder and I'm going to keep the other one as a hanging decoration for now.

Here's how we made them... 

Supplies: 

• Spray Paint
• Trays
• Scrapbook Paper
• Mod Podge
• Paintbrush
• Embellishments

Step 1: Spray Paint
Spray the areas of the drawer you wish to be painted. Make sure you use smooth even strokes. If you spray in one spot it'll blob and not look even.
*If you are putting paper on the inside you don't need to tape the inside off. (we were kindly showed this by my mom after we taped it off)

Step 2: Measure
Make sure you measure where you put the paper. If you are putting the paper on the inside then measure the inside, if you are putting it on the edges then measure the outside. (In this picture we measured the outside for the edges) 

Step 3: Cut
Cut your paper according to your measurements. Make sure you keep the pattern of the paper facing the way you want it. 
If you mess up just use your scrap pieces and put them along the sides first (so they will be behind the main paper).

Step 4: Layout
Layout your paper and embellishments where you want them. This keeps us from getting confused and frustrated about layout later (just trust me on this one, its from experience)

Step 5 (Optional): Stiffen the Paper
Use clear spray paint and spray your paper. This stiffens it just a little to help the Mod-Podge from taking the ink. 
 

Step 6: Mod Podge Time
Mod Podge everything on! The Mod Podge has instructions on the back but I can give you the basic idea. You paint the Mod Podge on the drawer (not the paper). More is better. Place the paper where you want it. When you get it where you want it. Smooth the bubbles and wrinkles out by using the little Mod Podge smoother thing (the little black rectangle thing in picture #1). Make sure you start from the middle and go out. Wait at least fifteen minutes for it to dry then paint all over the top of the paper with Mod Podge. Yep! Just go for it and cover all of it with Mod Podge (don't worry it dries clear).  

Step 7: Decorate 
After the Mod-Podge is dry, take what ever embellishments you have and put them on wherever you want them. 
For example, I used a hot glue gun to glue lace on to hold my earrings. 

Step 8 (Optional): Hang it
You can hang your new shelf however you want to, if you want to. You can use picture hangers, ribbon, etc. You can even just screw it in the wall or leave it sitting somewhere.
I'll use ribbon (or lace). Simply hot glue one end of your ribbon to the corner of the box (on the back). Without twisting it, do the same to the other side. Now, hang it on a nail from the middle of the ribbon. Tada! You've got a hanging shelf.  

Step 9: Stuff it
Now, once everything is dry, use it for whatever you want to use it for. That is, if you want to use it for anything.
I'm using one of mine for an earring holder. The other I might just hang for decoration. 
Remember that you can add embellishments at any time. If you just want to hang it for decoration right now then make it into something later, go for it! 

I hope you enjoyed this DIY project! If you do this yourself I'd love to see it. Email me at Arahblog@yahoo.com with the subject: DIY Shelf. Also email me if you need any help and I will respond as soon as I can. Have fun!   

{Spark} New Orleans, LA

spark ¹ noun- anything that activates or stimulates; inspiration or catalyst.

Hi friends, I'm back! So sorry I have been neglecting my blog this past week. It's been insanely crazy yet amazing. Maybe you'll here more later. 

Anyway, part of why I abandoned my blog last week was to take a family trip to New Orleans. We had a blast! I think I have officially become a blogger at heart. The whole time I was there I was taking pictures of everything I thought would be fun for a Spark post. I ended up taking around 100 pictures so I won't use all of them, just my favorites. 

Take a look! 

 We found a street named Arabella!

 

 The Audubon aquarium

The Audubon insectarium 

There are tons of cute little old houses 

like this. Love it! 

Best photobomb! Check out the butterfly in the 

back ground .  We got to watch him come out of his cocoon!

The Mercedes Benz Superdome 

 Beignets from Cafe Du Monde. Heaven on earth!

Cool bridge on the water

A butterfly quote from the insectarium

 The French Market

Where we ate dinner. Amazing!

 The Audubon zoo

We had a blast in New Orleans this past week! Have you been? If so, what was your favorite thing you did?