Crafting: Summer Home Decor Sign

I have been inspired by summer to make something crafty for my home. It has been raining every day here in Central Florida... which hasn't made summer much fun, so I wanted to add a little something to my home that brightened it up a bit.

I decided to make a summer home decor sign.

I always use a painting surface when I paint because I am messy and I don't need to have paint every where *wink*

This statement is very true and very appropriate. I enjoy the day time, I feel my best during those bright sunny days. I wanted something to remind me of even when it's raining the sun is shining. I think this is the perfect little sign.

I put it up on my book shelf next to my market peach candle!

It looks good in the candle light as well.

A short post today.

Go on leave me some comments.

Have you done any crafting projects lately?

What are they? 

Share them with me, I would love to see.

xo

*My Thoughts*

I love the way this sign turned out and the crafting paper sun gives this sign some added texture.

I enjoy crafting and painting... so putting the two together is a nice release for me.

So be sure to keep on the look out for more projects to come.

Apartment Hunting: Part 1

I went apartment hunting yesterday. It did not go so well. Oh well back at it... more research.

Finding a new place to live is not an easy task and it is very nerve racking. I have been trying to take it in parts. I did research on a few potential places (through websites) and then yesterday I went to visit them. Let's just say they were a bust. I then drove around the area where I would like to live. I found a few places but they are a bust as well... sigh!

Just a few snap shots I took of the places I looked around... aren't they beautiful? Double sigh.

*My Thoughts*
I will not give up. I will find the right place. I just need to do some more research.
A short and sweet post today.
While I am writing this post I am in the middle of working on a project for another post.
Busy blogger life...
It's a good life :)

Independence Day

Sorry for not getting this out to you guys sooner but I was not feeling too well yesterday sigh... and I had to go into work double sigh.

I do hope everyone enjoyed their Fourth of July. No matter how you celebrate the fourth is a time to remember why we are celebrating, our independence from the British during the Revolutionary War. We kept it real low key this year, like we do most years. Picnic style foods; burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, my mom's yummy dip (which I will do a post on because it is so damn good you have to try it for yourselves), and other goodies.

We cooked the burgers and hot dogs over our little fire we had going.

This is my plate. And that is mom's dip. Everyone ate before I did, so I took my plate and book out to the patio to read and enjoy that delicious burger, cooking over and open fire is fun and it gives the burger a nice smokey flavor. After lunch we headed out into the yard for some Frisbee.

Mom planted some sun flower seeds, she was checking them out. Right after this picture Jasper went walking through where they all are planted... silly doggy.

Close up with Jasper and his cute, festive ribbon.

After lunch and running all over the yard trying to catch that darn Frisbee I decided to make myself a s'more.

Just look at that melted chocolaty goodness. I like my marshmallows a little burnt to give them that extra smoky flavor.  

I made a few decorations to put up... the Fourth kind of snuck up on me and I did not have time to make better decorations or even anymore than this, which makes me sad because I like to decorate and craft . But I think these couple of paintings that I did added a nice touch.

xo

*My Thoughts*
Like I said it was a real low key day for us... mostly for me because I had to work later that day.
Be on the lookout for that dip recipe.

Holy Guacamole

Hoover's Market is my favorite health food store. It is always buzzing with friendly people and even friendlier staff.

Chamberlin's is another good one but I prefer Hoover's, they have a bigger selection of fresh vegetables, which is what I was on the hunt for on today's trip.

I also picked up some hemp seeds, which is what is in the clear plastic bag. The chia seeds are ones I've had from before.

So... has anyone guessed what I am making?

Guacamole! I love a good bowl of guacamole and for some reason I was just in the mood for it today. Hence the trip to Hoover's Market. All of the veggies are organic. Hemp seeds are full of nutritional benefits, one of them being that they are high in protein and another they contain all nine amino acids.* I decided to pick up a bag of them on my recent trip to Hoover's.

*facts found at the nourishing gourmet.

To make this delicious guacamole you will need:

3 avocados, more or less depending on much guacamole you want to make
1 red onion
1 tomato
1 jalapeno
1 lime
A hand full of cilantro
Garlic
Optional:
Chia seeds
Hemp seeds

You will also need a big mixing bowl, a sharp knife, and a cutting board. I use a bamboo cutting board, I find they are the best to cut on.

At the store when picking out fresh avocados an easy way to tell if they are fresh is by taking of the little "nob" at the top and checking to make sure they are green.

The first step is to cut the avocados in half and take the pit out. I do this by plunging the knife into the center and then pulling it out.

Then take a spoon and scoop out the middle and put that into your mixing bowl.

Next give the avocados in the bowl a quick but easy mashing. I use a potato masher.

Next add extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.

You will need to chop up your veggies. Look at that rainbow of flavors... YUM!

After they are all chopped mix them into the bowl... yummy. Doesn't that look good?

Use the juice from one lime and mix that into the bowl as well. This helps keep the avocados from browning and it also gives the guacamole some great flavoring.

The last thing I did was add the chia seeds and the hemp seeds.

Once all of the ingredients have been added wrap the bowl in plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator. I like my guacamole a little cold when I eat it, but you can eat it as soon as you are done mixing just remember to put it in the refrigerator when you are done eating (if you don't eat the whole bowl first *wink*).

Now go on and make your own bowl of guacamole... I'm gonna go finish mine *wink*

xo

Destination Daytona

A weekend getaway to the beach was just what I needed, after my long trial of schooling (that has now come to an end) and a break from work. There was only one person I wanted to take and I am glad he came with me. We have been friends for about 2 1/2 years and its been a roller coaster relationship but he is one of the most important people in my life and I am very lucky to have him... to share this weekend with him.

If you follow me on IG (itskelly7) then you saw some of the photos I posted from our getaway already... if you don't go check them out.

We stayed in a lovely resort that is located on Dayton Beach, the Shores Resort and Spa. Our check - in wasn't until 4pm on Friday afternoon so we stopped and had lunch before heading to the hotel. We still arrived early but to our relief they let us check - in early. Upon arrival they give each guest a welcome pack which includes items to make s'mores... the hotel has fire pits located on the pool deck so guests can enjoy a sweet treat while watching the sun set and listening to the sounds of the beach.

After unloading the car we headed to the room (sorry I am a terrible blogger and did not get any pictures of the room, while it was still clean). The room was bright with color and the beautiful Florida sunshine. The view was spectacular

At one point on Saturday, after being in the sun all morning, I made myself a drink, pulled up the chair in the room, and opened up my Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 to read the current book Timebound. It was wonderful to just sit staring out the window at this beautiful view with a drink in hand enjoying a good book.

I was anxious to get down to the pool so I unpacked a few things, threw on my bathing suit and was ready to go soak up that beautiful Florida sunshine before it disappeared behind the hotel... but not first without having the boy take a few pictures of me.

I just love hotel beds... they are so plush, comfy, and white. Its like falling into a bed of clouds.

Bathing suit is from the Victoria's Secret outlet and the hat is from a consignment store, I do not have links for either of them.

I snapped a few pictures of the hotel from the pool deck...

A beautiful and unique hotel with lots of bright colors and its right on the beach.

 
They have cabanas guests can rent and use for the day to relax, take a nap, enjoy a cocktail and even lunch; whatever your heart desires.

And of course there is a pool deck bar to indulge in some summer beverages or cocktails... my preference Pina Colada. YUM!

This is the view from the window in the hallway outside our room.

Friday night we had cocktails at the bar before heading out for dinner at a local restaurant Ocean Deck. The food was good but we think the drink made us sick : /   Sorry no pictures we sat in a corner off to ourselves and just enjoyed each others company, chatting about whatever topic came to mind. 

Onto Saturday... I got up before the boy because was still feeling a little bit off, so I got ready and went for a walk down the beach.

A relaxing walk along the beach was wonderful but nothing like laying out by the pool catching some more rays... which is what I did next *wink* After a morning filled with rays, waves, and pool days it was time to head in to get cleaned up for lunch.

We had lunch at the hotel restaurant Azure. They have seating inside and outside on the terrace. We chose to sit inside to get a break from the sun.

We started out with balsamic glazed fried calamari. YUM! 

I paired my lunch with a glass of Malbec, my favorite red wine.

For lunch I had a salad with baby arugula and pears with pecans, stilton and a white balsamic vinaigrette. Full of flavor and the cheese was delicious. N was hungry and too quick for me to be able to snap a picture of his lunch he had a chicken quesadilla that looked tasty... I did taste the guac that came with it, it was yum. I do love a good guacamole.

After lunch we headed back up to the room where we both fell asleep for a couple of hours. I woke up with enough sunlight left so I snuck downstairs to snap some pictures of the inside of the hotel. Its a marvelous sight so be prepared...

Along with the bright colors throughout the hotel the inside had aspects of dark wood and plush furniture. The hotel is homey and inviting.

I love these chandeliers... I took a lot of pictures of them but I liked this one the best.

The chandelier in picture above has monkeys sitting on it... how cute ;)

This is the amazing bar we had drinks at Friday night with the wonderful bartenders.

Saturday night the boy and I ordered room service, picked out a movie from the hotel library and stayed in bed. It was relaxing and comfy.

Except for the loud people above us who I thought were going to come through the roof at one point. There were a few weddings going on that weekend and one of the receptions was going on right above us... frown. Other than that we had a wonderful two days together and I would do it again.

xo

*My Thoughts*

The hotel was gorgeous and the staff was wonderful. The lady at the front desk was kind enough to put our leftovers in the microwave in their office for us since there was no microwave available to guests. I would definitely stay at this hotel again if the chance arrives.

I cannot wait for my next adventure.

You can find hotel information here. If you book online through the hotel's website you receive a 10% discount with the code WEB10.