Bad Blogger

I'm such a bad blogger and there's no denying it! 

Sorry guys.. I really am! I wish I could have all the time in the world to write awesome posts... but my life could not get any busier right now. 

Anywho... random things:

1. Who else has homework over the break? I have so much, it is literally ridiculous. I am TRYING to get it all done this week, crossing my fingers (:

2. Who's excited for Christmas?!?! Me!

3. Trying to decide what vacation we are taking during the break. No, we don't plan ahead very well. (; 

4. Moving. Very VERY bittersweet.

5. Gifts for my family and close friends were kind of hard to think of this year... Maybe because I've never been this busy around Christmastime and I didn't have tons of time to think like I usually do. BUT, I managed to get all the presents. Not completely satisfied with everything I got, but I guess it will have to do :-|

6. Instead of writing a ton of haha's, let just say I think this is SO FUNNY! My friend and I laughed so hard at this when we saw it. Photobomb level 435742. So great.

7. The end. (:

Merry Christmas everyone!

Plastic bag Iron-on

This post was saved as a draft for MONTHS for some reason {really don't remember... haha} and now I am editing and posting it... Please remember... this was a test project :)

So I was surfing blog world a couple months ago very long time ago and came across this: HERE

and thought I would give it a try.

Unfortunately, we had thrown all our shopping bags away a little bit before so all we had was a Justice bag.

This project was a complete test to see if this method actually worked, it did! But the shirt did not turn out cute enough to actually wear... I think my sister used it as a pajama shirt {maybe she did wear it.. I don't remember. :)}

We just took an old shirt...

A Justice bag of my little sister's {no, I do not shop there... I have interesting feelings about that store;)}

Placed them on the shirt...

Lay parchment paper over and iron!

{iphone pictures.. sorry.} 

That's it! It's a pretty cool technique, so I will probably do it again some other time but make it look nicer ;)

-Megan

peek into my craft space

I don't actually have a craft room, but I have this cute little corner

 (it's hard to explain, but it's not just a normal corner... :)

I love it! 

These pictures were taken when it was finished... needless to say, it's not this tidy anymore... I should get on that.

Let's start with the shelves. My mom bought this shelf from some friends and was kind enough to let me use it for my craft space :)

 I modged podged this pretty damask fabric onto the back:

My fabric collection. I've added to it since, and it does not look this tidy and lovely.

Then my felt, tulle, elastic, etc...

(FYI - I don't use metal headbands anymore)

Some random fabrics... :)

The round container is holding spare flowers & the chair.. it mostly serves as a decoration :P. The mini mannequin was giving to me by my mother and it holds rings/bobby pins perfectly!

My mini dress form... I love it! I saw one at Tai Pan Trading one time (it's like a Home Goods type store) but was NOT going to pay about $40 for it. So I  searched on ebay till I found one for around $20. SO CUTE. :)

This cute little thimble pot (yes, it is supposed to be for plants I think, considering it has a hole at the bottom for water to drain... :) I found at Michaels one time and it was on sale. I think it was around $5.

The thimble usually holds my scissors:

Yes. At my house we have to write "fabric only" on our fabric scissors to ensure no one uses them to cute paper or it dulls them. ;)

This cute damask box (from my friend) sits on my desk. It holds random stuff :)

My glue gun & glue sticks. Without these.... I would die. Seriously though, they are lifesavers! 

Since then I have transferred the hot glue sticks into a tin from the dollar section at Target.

Annnnd... my sewing machine. 

This darn machine has problems. It looks lovely doesn't it? And it was brand new when I got it a couple years ago... but it's having problems lately and it's hard to use. 

But I still love it.... :) 

I just realized that I don't have a picture on here of my actual desk.

I got my desk on craigslist for FREE. Got to love free right?!? It's a VERY sturdy desk.. but very heavy. It wasn't fun for my brothers/dad to get up the stairs. Also, when I painted it, it peels off. So it may be getting replaced sometime soon. 

It works for now though :)

Hope you liked it! I want to see your craft rooms/spaces/corners! Leave a comment with a link to your pictures - I would love to see them! :)

-Megan

Homemade Nutella

Nutella. One of my fav things. EVER. Too bad it's not good for you.. at all. :(

But I decided to try this Homemade Nutella. (Yes, I try to eat healthy, but I'm not givin up treats! :)

Sorry about the awkward lighting... I'm a night owl. ;)

I used this recipe via The Wiegands

Here it is!

Ingredients:

2 cups hazelnuts

12 ounces semi-sweet choclate (1 bag of semi sweet choc ships)

12 ounces milk chocolate (1 bag of milk chocolate chips)

1/2 cup sugar

1.5 cup heavy cream

pinch of salt

Recipe:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place hazelnuts on a cookie sheet and roast for 10-15 minuets.

2. Once hazelnuts have cooled vigorously rub nuts between your palms to get the skin off. Most of it should come off very easily, if there is some skin left on it is okay.

3. Place roasted nuts in the high powered blender or food processor and puree for 5 minuets. First, it will chop the nuts and then it will make hazelnut butter. It will look very similar to a peanut butter. The goal is to have this be as smooth as possible so leave it on for a good 5 minuets. set aside.

4. In a medium saucepan heat cream , salt, and sugar until hot. Add chocolate and still until just melted. Remove from heat and let cool for about 15 minuets. You should add the hazelnut butter when the chocolate and cream mixture is warm but NOT hot. If the chocolate mixture is too hot the oil from the hazelnuts will separate and you will end up with a gloppy texture rather than silky smooth. 

Once it's warm mix the hazelnut butter in and jar. 

Serve at room temperature but store in the refrigerator. Will keep in the fridge about 2-3 weeks but again bring to room temp before serving. It;s fantastic with Challah bread!!

Roast the hazelnuts for 10-15:

 Take off the shell after cooling.

Place in a blender and blend for 5 minutes

Let it blend... :) 

I didn't know they did this after enough blending!!! SO COOL.

It should turn into a thic

Heat cream, sugar, and salt, then add chocolate. Stir until just melted and then let cool for 15 minutes.

Add the hazelnuts once cool - if you don't the oil from the nuts will separate and it won't be creamy.

Next time I'll blend the hazelnuts more, but you can't really notice them when you eat anyways ;)

So yummy! :)

-Megan

Shop update....

You all know I'm getting ready for my first craft show, right? :)

Well, until then, I've put the shop on vacation.

 I need time to 1. get ready for my craft show. and 2. add new things to my shop

My shop will {hopefully} be back in the beginning of December. {let's hope;)}

Check back tomorrow for a NEW recipe I tried out, sooo yummy. :)

-Megan

so psyched.

So you may be wondering why I haven't had any new posts....

Here's why :)

I am doing my FIRST craft show right after Thanksgiving.

I don't really think you can understand my excitement unless you were there when I got the news.

Literally could. not. sleep. I had ideas swarming around in my head for booth decorations and such.

But it's not gonna be easy let me tell you that. I will have a total of about a month and a half to make everything. Add to that mixture my school studies, church activities, etc. (need I go on?) and you get a very busy girl who doesn't have much free time.

Which I am totally fine with - because I'm so excited. 

Holidays are my FAVORITE time of year. The weather, the excitement, and just the feeling. So adding my first craft fair makes it even better. :)

not even halfway done :P

so until this craft show is over, I won't be doing any tutorials and stuff, but I think I might start doing a couple what I wore posts (what do you think?) and of course, pinterest loves :). 

-Megan

Halloween

I love Halloween, for the fact that you can dress up, and no one looks at you weird. 

Why can't we have more "Halloweens"?!

I don't really like the scariness, and creepiness of it much though. Some people take it WAYYYY too far... 

My Halloween costume???

Does this picture help???

My Church youth group has a Halloween dance, and you dress up, it is SO fun.

{via}

(I'm actually really excited about this costume... is that weird? whatevs. I love it ;)

This is what I was last year:

{via}

LOVED it. :)

What are you going to be for Halloween??? 

-Megan

p.s.

You're NEVER too old to dress up.

p.p.s.

My youth group is also having a party before to learn this dance... My youth group is amazing is all I can say. :)

healthy brownies

healthy brownies?

yes, you heard that right.

yes, I know this post was supposed to be for yesterday.. but 2 new things were thrown at me at the last minute... so much for free time ;)

 I figured I'd try these brownies.. I'd never tried them, and they're healthy, so you could eat them as a snack.

I found the recipe here, but this is my adaption. 

Fudgy Black Bean Brownies

Makes 16 Servings

• One 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed very well
• 3 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 3/4 agave sweetener (it's a natural sweetener, so it has no sugar)
• Few packets of PureVia/or just plain Stevia (this is also a natural sweetener, but a little stronger than agave)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (optional, I didn't, but probably will next time)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• Cocao chips to sprinkle on top (mostly cocao, so there's not much sugar :)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil or coat an 8 x 8-inch baking pan or dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

2. Place the black beans and eggs in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth and creamy.  Add the oil, agave, stevia, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, peppermint extract as desired, baking powder, and process until smooth.  

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top with a rubber spatula, and sprinkle with chocolate chips.

4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan before slicing into 2-inch squares.

(The reason I added the eggs while blending the beans, so it would blend better.)

(I never measure the vanilla when cooking... I don't know why, I just don't, it's not that big of a problem if theres a little more in my opinion :)

Mixing it up!

**warning: this batter is not good, it doesn't taste good like real brownies :)

Cool tip: if you cut brownies with a plastic knife, the brownie pieces don't come up and tear all the brownies apart. Awesome right?

Sprinkle the chips on top and eat!

If you're thinking about it, you can taste the beans BARELY. If you used regular sugar though, I'm sure you wouldn't even be able to taste it :)

let me know if you try them!

-Megan

things I ♥ monday

things I ♥ this week!

I wasn't sure if I should save the best for last, but I couldn't wait ;)

THIS IS ONE OF THE COOLEST THING EVER.

{via}

how cool would it be to sit on it and read a super good book, or it would even make doing homework more enjoyable. :P

{via}

as you read my blog, you will come to learn that I have a huge love of nutella. 

{via}

rope braids. I just discovered these... haha, so I am trying this this week sometime :)

and another thing I ♥,

finishing homework earlier than usual so that I can work on a decent blog post for tomorrow! :)

megan

hair.

I don't really like my hair up. I used to throw it in a ponytail e.v.e.r.y. day. I rarely wore it down. 

Now I rarely wear it up. 

But when I do, I can't stand to just throw it in a plain ponytail. I'm weird.. I know.

{Since I love braids I usually do a braid on the side or whatever.}

I like doing a high bun sometimes (as seen on Sydney of The Daybook here)

Except I have yet to make it THAT big. ;)

And I like messy buns, so when I saw this tutorial via VWB it caught my attention.

So on a day where I was rushed to school, I did it, but I wanted something a little different.

{let's not pay attention to my awkward face and tired eyes. let's just say waking up at 5:30am every morning catches up to you sooner or later ;)}

So instead of letting the braid hang that day, I folded it up and bobby pinned it.

what is your favorite hairstyle?
this isn't my favorite, but it sure is a super cute way to throw your hair up. it's pretty easy too!

-megan

things I ♥ monday - fall fashion

I think I will start doing a "things I ♥ monday" post {hopefully} every monday :)

I've seen these "things I ♥" post's all over blog land and love them, so I figured I'd do my own too :)

and right now, I'm loving fall fashion. We're on the line between summer and fall and I literally cannot wait! I'd rather be cold than hot, anyone else feel the same way?!?

my two must have's for fall:

boots, boots, boots!

via

I love the leg warmers (or just long socks, who knows ;) that go past the boots. I need to try that this fall!

via

....and scarves, scarves, scarves!

via

that lace scarf might is my favorite scarf I've seen this year... I'm going to have to make it... hmmm :)

via

these aren't necessarily fall-y but I ♥ them 

beautiful hair

via

via

fun nails

both via

what are you loving this week?

-megan