6.05.2012

Life simple

Life simple. That is what i have been enjoying of late. I've had so many plans for blogging right after graduation, but on the last day of my college career my laptop died. haha! It worked out because David surprised me with an IPhone for graduation :) He is too good to me. Now I'm making use of my brother Zach's laptop while he is away at work (he's staying with us again this summer). SO to fill you in on my life, there isn't much and I am absolutely LOVING it.
 
I graduated this year with my Bachelors in Arts in Health Promotion...and couldn't be more excited. I'll admit, throughout this past semester I was VERY scared. What to do next? If it tells you anything, I considered going back to school since it's the only I know how to do right now. hahahha! BUT I came to a point the last few weeks of school, where I realized that God had a plan, and that's the beauty of being a Christ Follower. I have been released from the bondage of worry, because God has it all lined up. Currently I'm nannying, and just taking a break. I could not be more at peace where God has me, and am trusting him whole heartedly to see me through. I have to admit, having my husband at such a great job that he enjoys is such a blessing, especially since I don't have a fulltime all the time job. Thanks babe for working so hard! I'm praying daily for a job this fall, if you think about it pray with me! 
     When I look back on my college career, I wouldn't have changed a thing. I so enjoyed living with my best friend Melyssa for 2 years and keeping the pact we had made as freshmen in HS :) I could not do life without her, and am so glad we had each other throughout some of our most challenging times. I loved my time at faith and gained a great support system of friendships there.

 Although my year at DMACC was INSANE due to the crazy hard (for me) classes that I took, being engaged, and flipping our house...I will always enjoy that time David and I shared going to the same school again :) (and Leah ;) ). Grand View University was no doubt in God's plan for me. It was the absolute PERFECT place for me. It was just 10 minutes away from home and had the small private school feel that this spoiled girl has always been blessed with :). My professors were a gift from God. They loved Him and were not afraid to show it. I gained some fantastic friends that helped me get through those two years. Love you ladies :). 

     One person I can not thank enough is my mother. While both parents were very supportive, my mom helped me on this college journey starting as a Sophomore in HS. She helped me understand what my skills and passions were and made sure I was totally set for college academically. She attended EVERY transfer meetings as I decided what schools were best for me and what my time there would look like. She saw to it that I would graduate in FOUR years no matter what. She is a rock star. Thank you mom, I could not have done it without you. 
   
 In other news, David and I celebrated our second Anniversary, and I am amazed how our marriage just keeps getting better and better...and those petty "get-used-to-living-with-this-man/woman" fights are becoming more and more rare :) Marriage is very sweet. I love that man. David planned our mini weekend getaway in Des Moines, which was so good for us. We want to make our Anniversaries a BIG deal...because they are! I could talk all day about how blessed I am to have him, but I have eternity to do that :)
   If you want to get ahold of me, I'm either crafting at home, chillin by the pool with the kiddos, fellowshipping with my Gospel Community, missing my sister, or at one of the NINE weddings we are invited to this year. thanks for listening. xo jennie h.

2.23.2012

Write-Me-A-Love-Note Frame...DIY

And for my 2nd Valentine's pinterest project:

Write-Me-A-Love-Note Frame!

So, I originally nabbed this idea from (once again) pinterest (naturally). It's a pretty popular one. I just kinda took the concept and did my own thing with it...
SO, David's love language is Words affirmation. (Don't know the love languages?? Find out about them here!) And, I know I need to work on being a better words of affirmationer (haha!) with him especially. SO I thought this might be a handy tool! We want these frames to be a place to go to either laugh or feel very loved. And I gotta say... I love 'em!

SO...here's how I made 'em!

Directions for "The Green One"
What you'll need to clone this guy:
-a garage sale frame...literally I pulled this from my very own garage sale pile.
-felt ($0.29 a sheet at Michaels)
-Ribbon
-Buttons, confetti- anything you want to decorate with :)
-Glue Gun

HOW TO:
Take your garage sale frame, find the where the most scratches are...and that is where you will put your decoration :) That's what I did at least! I made three felt rosettes- which you can find a tutorial to make them here! I also added a button and some curled blue ribbon to them :) In the opposite corner, I put a piece of ribbon that fit nicely over a scratch :) I jazzed it up with some vintage buttons from my stash and a confetti piece from my wedding :) I used a glue gun for attaching it all :)...Stay tuned for directions for the paper insert!

Directions for "The White One"

What you'll need to clone this guy:

-a garage sale frame...literally I pulled this from my very own garage sale pile.
-felt ($0.29 a sheet at Michaels)
-Twine
-Buttons, confetti, ribbon- anything you want to decorate with :)
-Scrapbook Paper
-Glue Gun, adhesive

HOW TO:
For this one, I made some penants :) Which I LOVE. I cut out each triangle, then using the glue gun- I attached it to the "back" of the twine. I then attached the whole bunting to the frame. Using a glue stick, I decorated my penants with ribbon, scrapbook paper, confetti, and a button :) The most fun part of course :) Next, I added a little tag down in the corner using scrapbook paper and a little cardboard applique. It says "My favorite person". I backed it with a piece of felt so it would pop! 

FOR THE PAPER INSERT:
What you'll need: Notebook Paper, Stamps, Ink, Dry erase marker :)
HOW TO: easy peasy. I just cut  a piece of notebook paper, and using stamps and ink, I wrote the Dears and Loves :) (which can definitely be done using a sharpie!)...of course I added a heart :) yaaay!
I love finding a new message on my board :) I just love them in general!
Thanks for stopping by Peace, love, and dry erase :) Jennie.

52 things...DIY

Hello friends :) Well, if you read my most recent blog post about my Valentines day, you'll see how I used some of my pinterest powers :) As promised here are directions for:


52 ways to show my spouse I love them
    I originally found this idea off pinterest, and you can find the original tutorial here :) I used the same concept, just "packaged" it a bit differently. So, basically the idea is to provide your spouse with ideas of ways they can show you that they love you :) I've only been married now for 1 year and oh 9ish months, so I'm no expert on marriage. BUT I do know that it's been hard enough to figure out this marriage thing and how that works into our relationship- and it is difficult to keep "dating" one another, and really showing one another our love in ways we understand it. And not to mention, there are still things we haven't figured out about eachother! Shocking, I know. haha...


SO I decided that this would be a good tool. Here's how it goes: Each of us had 52 slips of paper. On each paper we wrote a way that we would like to be shown that we are loved and thought of by the other person. Examples of mine were: Clean out my car, make me a treat, write me a note of ways I have improved as a wife since we first got married, pray with me everyday of the week, give me a neck/scalp massage, etc. We also made sure that we hit all 5 love languages so it didn't just become a honey-do list :) But obviously, there were more requests that emphasized the love language(s) that speaks the most to us. P.S. Don't know the love languages?? Check it out here! SO Sunday, we will pull a slip and then we have all week to accomplish it. By the end of the year, we will have 52 ideas tucked in our brain!


"PACKAGING": I did NOT want to spend much on the packaging, but I still wanted it to look cute and be able to withstand the war zone of the top of a dresser for a year :) SO...I went to Michaels, and got these cute PLASTIC (for durability) take out containers for $0.99, and then went scrounging through my own scrapbook paper and found this cute "pet name" paper...which I had no plans for :) I simply cut it, and taped it to the inside. I then attached the cute monogram stickers to one of the papers. The D stand's for "David's requests" and the J stand for "Jennie's requests". Easy as Pie!


* We're one week into it, and I can already tell that my "requests" might be a little more extensive then his.haha! good thing he loves me! Thanks for stoppin by! Let me know if you attempt this little diddy :)