Catchin up Part 2

The weekend after thanksgiving, Wes had received a couple free tickets from his boss in an EXECUTIVE SUITE! at a WWE Wrestling match! HAHAHA I was actually pretty excited since I have never been to one. Well, the suite was sweet, but the match wasn't a big show so it really wasn't that exciting and a co worker of Wes' had also gotten a few free tickets so I couldn't really make fun of the wrestler's because this guy wrestles too!!!! Oh lawd have mercy!

I am sure if it was one of the big matches with Fire and Cages and such, I would totally be excited, but the stands weren't even filled up!

Earlier this year, like back in February, I went on a bit of a shopping spree for my house and bought all sorts of decor. Well I had yet to hang it up so I finally forced Wes to help me! I started with the bigger pieces......

......Then filled it in with the little pieces I had actually found out at my dads. SCORE! 

I love my Gallery wall! I still have a few more items but I'm not sure if I want to add anymore to this or find other places around the house. But I am super happy with how it turned out!

CRAFT!!!!!

So I found this project on Pinterest and knew with all of the pallets that Wes has been cutting up that this would be super easy! We measured out the "branch" boards.

We started the top branch at 6 inches and added 4 inches each time ending with 22 inches for the bottom branch. The tip top is just the "trunk" board.

The project calls for decorative napkins, but I don't see why you couldn't use tissue paper. Which I found this at Target in the $1-$3 section. I friggin love that section. Seriously, that part is great. I find all sorts of treasures in there! Including Modge Podge for $1!!!!!!

I used the Matte finish instead of gloss. But they had both so I bought like 5 of each. So brush the modge podge on the branch that you want your tissue paper on, and smooth it out. You don't really have to worry about bubbles and wrinkles (or even tears) since you will be distressing it later on. I have never used modge podge before so I wasn't really sure what it was or what to expect.

I didn't really like how plain the tree would look with only one branch patterned. As you can see I just put the patterned over the others. The yellow branch is just acrylic paint as well as the brown trunk and white top. After the tissue, modge modge, and paint were all dry, (I waited a day just in case) I took the electric hand sander and just went to town. One thing I regret, is putting modge podge on top of the tissue before I sanded, it was super hard to sand the tissue paper.  I had only done that because with my luck I'd sand the paper right off. If you do not put the modge podge on before you sand it, I would suggest putting it on after you distress it. But I actually love how this turned out; very vintage, and old. I am definitely going to make a few more with different colors and patterns.

Whatcha all think? My phone was dying so I couldn't get a flash to really show all the detail and distressing. Reminds me of something that a grandparent would have bought brand new way back in like the 50's and the colors have just worn and faded. Loves!

So next time, I'll have a few recipes for ya. I'm still some what trying to stay at least healthy. But, Wes doesn't need to be healthy so when he cooks, it's not good for me. ARGH!

XOXO,
Rachel

Catchin' up Part I

So the first thing I made at my New! desk is this little sign for one of my best friend's daughter, Olive (obviously)! I am not even sure if she will want it but I was just experimenting. I think it turned out pretty well for not having anything to trace or a stencil to use. But thank goodness for pencil :)

I knew I wanted to make some neat signs and such out of pallet wood so I had already nailed a few of the wood signs together with scrapes from my Scarecrow/Snowman project.  But with this sign, I really wish I had sanded and stained it before I actually put the work on it, but again I was just experimenting. I do love the way it turned out though! I kind of like the raw wood, do you?



Next up, BRETT ELDREDGE & THOMAS RHETT!!! The concert was amazing! I just got the cheapest seats possible, but with it being at Independence Events Center, you really don't have a bad seat in the house. And I'll admit I follow Brett Eldredge on Snapchat and let me just tell you, he is friggin adorable!

Gotta have my Fireball for a big night out! Or a relaxing night in.... Whatever! I got my Fireball!

We were literally on the opposite side from the stage in the very last row! But I didn't care, as long as I was there! 

Thanksgiving.......

I have never not spent holidays with at least one side of my family. Well this Thanksgiving my Grandma Dixie had just had a bypass on her leg so she wasn't able to do Thanksgiving. She literally is the best cook. All home-made, down-home, bad for you cookin! But this year I went with Wesley to his Aunt's house and I had to bring cookies. So I made my little Acorn treats I stole from my old Manager, Lori. Thanks Lori!! These are my go-to's...

All you need is:

Caramel Hershey Kisses

Chocolate to Melt

Nutter Butter To Go Bites

(Unfortunately I cannot find these any way else than in the To Go snack section)

You really don't need to melt a lot of chocolate. I hope all of you know how to melt chocolate and I do not need to explain it...??? So, I like to lay out all the pretty (non-crooked) nutter butter's and pair it with a hershey kiss. I use a spoon and just put a dabble of chocolate on the nutter butter (not too much or it will squish out the sides). Place the hershey kiss on the nutter butter and let those all sit and dry! I make sure they are good and dry because I don't want them falling off once you flop them over on their side! Once dry, I just add a little dot to the cookie to kind of make it like the little stem!

VOILA!!

Aren't they friggin adorable??? So easy!

Once we got home from dinner I wanted to decorate the tree and put up all my decorations. I get all excited and want to watch movies, listen to music, the whole shebang! Then I start fluffing..... I FUCKING HATE FLUFFING!!!! I get so angry and frustrated and mean. I am too OCD (in that sort of department) for that shit. Lord Have Mercy! So I started downing my Mojito and chugged along!

I think it turned out pretty cute. I decided to change it up a bit this year and go more with the rustic/country feel. So I added the burlap, picked out only red, gold and silver ornaments, and Wes made the shot gun shell lights. I love them!

Well, I still have a few more things to share but this post is kind of getting long and I'd rather you finish it then give up for being too boring! So I'll continue this post in a couple of days!!

XOXO,

Rachel