Happy 2015!!

I don't know about you, but I totally get sucked into the New Year's resolutions trend. I think it is a great time to clean your slate, try new things, expand your palate and make a fresh start. Forget about all the Christmas junk you ate last month, officially get over that loser ex-boyfriend and work towards something new.

Last year was pretty successful for me. I received two raises at work,  traveled a bit, changed my hair color, made it to the three year mark in my relationship and bought my very first home! I am pretty pleased with 2014 but I am looking to make some changes this year and can't wait to get started!

I posted on Instagram (@taytayaa) last night that yes, I am indeed one of those annoying gym goers that shows up on January 1st, but guess what, who cares! I have been totally annoyed with myself and my body for the last year and a half and I can't take another minute of it. While I know every body is different, I need to get moving and get to the point where I can say I love my body. Until then, I plan to be sweating it out in the gym. Santa brought me a new set of Tupperware so that I can meal prep weekly and more closely monitor portions. I have never pushed my body on my own before without a coach or teammates so I am excited to see what type of transformation lies ahead!

I am also going to try to start and stick to a savings plan and by setting an elected amount aside from each paycheck. Pinterest has a lot of good ideas to help you if you may need some ideas on how to get started. You can use this to help you save up for a trip, for a new purchase or just to help you keep some money in the bank. I will probably be using this for all!

I am so in love with my little house! I find myself thinking about it and DIY and decorating ideas ALL the time! It is so much fun to be able to have accomplished purchasing my own home and now I get to release the beast and pour out my creativity all over the place. My house goals for 2015 are to start the yard and garden landscape and then add my personal touches to every room! I have a few ideas brewing but since they all involve lots of money..... I will post pictures once they come to life!

I love to travel and once I plan a trip, it is all I can think about. I have been pretty fortunate to be able to do quite a bit of traveling. No matter where you're at in life, it's necessary to take a break and escape for a bit. It's ok if you can't take an elaborate vaca to Greece or Spain. Load up the car and get out of town for the weekend! 

   

Lastly, I just want to be truly happy. When I take a step back, I have everything I need to do so. I stress over lots of things and it's caused me nothing but loss of sleep and happiness. Every hour wasted with anxiety, negativity and stress is time we will never have back. Make a dart board with your bosses face or look for a different job, buy the shoes - no regrets, be a better person, apologize when necessary and move on! In case you haven't noticed, you can't control it all. Leave it to God, accept that you can only control yourself and let that be enough. Along with lots of prayers for strength, I plan to try yoga and positive meditation a few times a week to let go of stress and negativity and also to live more carefree!

Give Thanks

There was this cutest idea I saw on Pinterest and I decided to kind of make it my own. Now that Halloween has come and gone, I wanted to get my decorations packed up and put away and set the new ones out. I bought the big white pumpkin a few weeks ago and have been dying to be able to put it out. For this craft, I only had to spend $8.00 out of pocket!

Leaves - Dollar Tree: $1.00
Wreath Inserts - Hobby Lobby: $1.25
Sharpie - anywhere - $1.25
Bucket - Dollar Tree: $1.00
White Pumpkin - Michaels: $7.00
Hot Glue & Gun - Walmart: $12.00

I started by writing the phrase "GIVE THANKS" on my pumpkin then going back and tracing a thicker frame on each letter. It can be tricky to get the letters just the way you want since there are grooves but take your time and let it dry in between coats of tracing. 

Then I put the pumpkin in the bucket and hot glued the flowers, leaves and wreath inserts around the pumpkin's base. I found a white insert (not pictured) that I liked better with the colors of leaves and flowers so I used that instead. I found the white insert at Deseret Industries about three years ago!

The final product looks like this and I must say, the lettering turned out better than I thought it would! Happy Crafting :)

Something Wicked This Way Comes - Happy Halloween!!

 

Some people don't care for Halloween and to be absolutely truthful, I used to be one of them. Now, it has become one of my favorite holidays! This year, amidst all the messes and unpacking from moving into my new house, I have found sanity in putting out colorful glitter pumpkins and little glowing skeletons. Right in the middle of about 10 open boxes I took a break to make a new Halloween wreath. I'm almost disappointed that I was proud of my wreath last year... it was pretty sad! This year I took a few extra steps and spent a little bit of money and came up with this beauty!

 

 

We all have few craft odds and ends buried in a box somewhere that can be used, but most of mine I bought new and I'm glad I did - I can't stop staring at my newest creation! Below is a quick description of what I used and where I got it and for how much.  (p.s. If I already have it on hand, I count it as nothing!)

1. Wreath - Deseret Industries

2. Set of 3 Mini Glitter Pumpkins - JoAnn Fabric for $6

3. Spider Web Placemat & Glitter Spider  - Dollar Tree $2

4. Black Ribbon - Marshalls $.50

5. Modge Podge, Brush, EEK lettering - Hobby Lobby

6. Hot Glue and Glue Gun - Walmart

7. Glitter Vase Filler Balls - Shopko $4

8. Glitter Set - Ross

 

Seriously!? Only about $10 out of my pocket and these types of wreaths sell for like $40-$60 in store! I didn't do a tutorial of the steps but it's really self explanatory. I tied the web placemat on the wreath and the spider to the web with black ribbon. Hot glued the little glittery balls and pumpkins as desired. Modge podge'd the glitter on the spider. It was so easy and fun. I played around with a few different ideas but I'm really happy with the way it turned out!    

 

              

I also crafted up some SCARY cute cards to send to my nieces and nephews! Happy Halloween! :)







Happy First Home!

I can't believe I finally did it! I BOUGHT A HOUSE!! Three months later and I have found my first home. It's been a long, stressful haul, but now that the keys are in my pocket, I think it's safe to spread the big news and I couldn't be happier! No more creepy landlords, no more apartments with neighbors above or below or right beside me. No more messy roommates who sneak my favorite ice cream or have 10 billion cats. Just me and my cute little Cockapoo pup!  I understand why people wait to purchase and it would have been nice to have a spouse to lean on as it requires a lot of patience, money, and signatures but it just made sense for me right now and I couldn't be more excited.... and just in time for the holidays, too!

I'm posting just a few pictures of the house as I want to keep my privacy and I also have A LOT of DIY projects and touches that I can't wait to put together. Right now I am living in boxes but I will update you on all the fun steps as they come together!

 

Fab Favorites for Fall

Since yesterday was the "official" first day of Autumn, I decided it's now OK to put away our bikinis and sun dresses and talk about all the warm, cozy, deliciousness that Autumn brings! Leaves changing color, bringing out fuzzy socks, sipping on hot drinks and crisp air all morning, noon and night.

Let's jump right in! I have a "scents" of loyalty to Bath and Body Works. While every once in a while you can find a good steal at Marshalls or Home Goods, I like to stick to the trusty, old reliable B&BW. Their fall line is so scrumptious! Lotions, soaps, scrubs and candles - you can never get enough! Right about now I'm dying to make my annual visit this time of year to see what I can pick up to warm my home.

I can't lie... I get a little excited when I get to put away my shorts and tees and cozy up inside big knitted sweaters and comfy sweats by the fireplace after work. I need to update my wardrobe with some fun new pieces like those pictured from my Polyvore below! Where are your favorite places to shop for fun Fall accessories?

OK... and who doesn't love a great movie party night with themed treats or a heaping bowl of freshly popped popcorn? These are just some of my personal (some kid friendly) favorites that I have to watch every year to get me in the spooky spirit! AMC does a full month of scary movies for those looking to get a thrill and ABC Family does their famous 13 Nights of Halloween for our more friendly and less scary viewers. I love that I can depend on those two channels to supply my entertainment all month long!

And lastly, all the amazing and savory food that we indulge in this time of year. Seasonal favorites start to hit stores like: pumpin spice latte, caramel apple cider, freshly baked pies and pastries with fun leaf or pumpkin shaped sprinkles, and pumpkin and caramel flavored candies like M&M's and Hershey's Kisses. I haven't baked a pie before in my life, but this year....it is gonna happen! One recipe I have mastered that I like to make when the weather cools and is absolutely delicious is homemade maple bars and Mmmmm... Click for recipe!

So whether you love or dread this pumpkin-filled season, it is finally here! I know I'm excited for some of my favorite traditions of wreath making and crafting, picking pumpkins, sipping on hot and tasty Starbucks, spending time with loved ones, watching scary movies and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Feeling extra thankful for all my blessings and wishing you a very safe and enjoyable holiday season!

Back to School 2014

I don't know about you but I kind of like getting ready for back to school and all the excitement! From ordering/purchasing books, registering and school shopping, one can't help but get in the spirit. Plus, that means Fall is just around the corner! I wanted to post about a few fun subjects that will help you get more excited about and dread less this time of year.

These are items that are fun and colorful and will bring a smile to your face while doing homework, studying in the library or jotting down notes in class. Updating your school bag with bright colors and new accessories will get you in a more pleasing mood when it comes to school. Plus, you get to show off all your fancy items at the same time! I ALWAYS have stock pile of good pens and pretty Sharpies to use to bring a little enjoyment to my studies. Adding color and pattern to your study area at home will make for a more enjoyable environment as well, just make sure it is clean and tidy and doesn't cause distraction. Two fun designer looks for this year are Lily Pulitzer and Kate Spade,

Buying a new bag to tote around your books, laptop and accessories is also something every girl looks forward to. Here are just a few ideas of what you might want to try out this year. Jansport, Roxy, Michael Kors....I love them all! Try shopping at your local Ross, Marshalls, or T.J. Maxx for discounts on designer bags!

I have always been an over-dresser. I have a hard time finding comfortable casual styles that don't feel too much like an unprepared, drab t-shirt and jeans look. Polyvore and Pinterest are great sites to give you outfit ideas for this year's shopping haul. I love going through my closet before a big shopping trip and finding pieces that I want to match with something new. Like a new skirt with a top I already have, a jacket to cover my favorite tank when the weather cools, etc.

These were all taken from my Style Board on Pinterest. Follow me here! http://www.pinterest.com/taylerannette/

Healthy Snack: Apple Doughnuts

 

These are seriously delicious. I'm not sure where I got the idea, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who's thought of this before. One night I was having a sweet craving but had just finished a work out and didn't want to splurge and eat a super-duper high calorie treat so I decided made my own. If you know anything about me it's probably that I have a major sweet tooth!

 

 

 

 

Some of the items I used for my dessert are seen above but you can really use any assortment your taste buds desire! This was a delicious, quick fix and even kept well in the fridge for a few hours.