Week View #8 {Getting Lucky in Kentucky}

At the end of July, Matt and I drove a mere nine hours to 

Lexington to purchase a car. We got in really late Friday and left super 

early Monday morning (he was on 2nd shift). Even though we had two full

days, it wasn't enough time!!

My Alma Mater

Went to my friend Brooke's baby shower on Saturday morning

Then we had a late snack at Ramsey's with my friends Ryan & Lesli

and got to spend some more time with their 2 precious children

 

Back at my auntie & uncle's house we 

went to visit Ellie May

Auntie giving Matt a haircut on the back porch

With this lovely view

After going to see the last Harry Potter movie on Sunday after church, 

we met up with these sweet friends for dinner at Joe B's :)

Me, Jessica, & Katie

We had a wonderful (extremely too short of a) weekend in Lexington

and now finally.....what we went for.....

OUR NEW CAR!!!!

Wahoo! 

We had endured having 2 car buying "fiascos", many car problems, and even only surviving with one car for a time....So, we were incredibly joyful to be able to purchase a "new" Toyota 4Runner after selling the others. I am very grateful for the means and provision to have a cool ride ;) We love it and it's capabilites (since we move so much AND have a large dog)!!

And we love any chance to get to KY!

*and I've finally caught up on my late blog posts! yay!

Remake {Pinterest}

I have 1,400 pins (way too many) on Pinterest and only a few things have I actually accomplished in recreating. This post is going to be dedicated to those projects which I have actually done and their outcomes. These have all been done in the past several months that I've started my Pinterest account, so please don't think I cranked out all these crafts within the past week! HA! That would be crazy!!!

1. Halfway to Heaven Cookies *****

I showed a picture of these in one of my previous posts. I've made them 3 times now. For the first time a few weeks ago, once while in Kentucky for the week, and again when I took them to a tailgating party. Seriously- if you love cookies that are crispy and soft at the same time- try these! They're "healthy" because of the oatmeal & peanut butter!! ;)


2. Watermark Tee **

Whenever I get time to spend with my little sister, I would have a craft for us to do. I can't tell you how many paintings, beadings, wedding crafts, nail paintings, face paintings, makeup/overs, felt, etc things we have done. This time, K wanted to make a shirt for going to football games. We decided on this pin because she could write out song lyrics and popular quotes while I used Dr. Seuss quotes on mine.
*Unfortunately my quotes blended together and both of our colors ended up purple and not navy blue.


3. Fishtail Braid ****

I finally got the hang of doing this braid and really like it alot! You can even pull it apart to look messy! Plus, I can't believe how easy it is!! You have to try it!

4. Yarn Letter ****

I had a cardboard letter from Hobby Lobby that I knew would work perfectly for this craft. It was a pretty simple craft that anyone could do!

*The easiest thing for me was to wrap it all one direction and go back over in the opposite direction

5. Waterfall Braid ***

At first I tried to do this without instructions by french braiding and taking the top piece and dropping it thru the twist part. I was able to practice this on my sister-in-law and it was kind of hard to concentrate trying not to do a french braid. There is a better video tutorial on my board where the girl takes out a piece from the bottom and lets it drop instead of the entire piece. I'm not sure which is correct, but either one works.

6. Deep Dish Cookie Pies ***

These were pretty good cookies as well, but I used M&Ms inside instead of chocolate chips! 

I linked the actual pin and which board I pinned it to :)

#1 from Good Eats

#2 from Inspiration 

#3 from Closet 

#4 from Inspiration 

#5 from Closet

#6 from Sweet Tooth 

Enjoy!! I look forward to sharing more soon!

& follow my boards too if you want!

Linking this to

Congratulations.......

Hooray for

comment #13
MOLLY!


{Sending you an email now!! Hooray for winning!}
Thanks to all who entered my first giveaway!!




I loved reading thru all of your comments!
 I'm excited to have met some new(ish) readers
 & checked out some new blogs :)

When I look back now.....

that summer seemed to last forever. And if I had the choice, yeah, I know I'd always want to be there. Those were the best days of my life.....

2005   

                     {we look like babies & I will never be that tan again!}                                         

 2008                                        2010

{Lizzy and I at our friend's wedding & us at my wedding}

This weekend Matt and I are going home and then up to Charlotte for a dear friend's wedding on Saturday. I can't wait to see old friends and celebrate a new marriage!! 

Liz and I met in 2005 while on a Summer Project for CRU in Clearwater, FL. We shared a room with 3 other girls and had one of the best summers (anyone singing the song again?) ever! Since then, we have seen each other over the years either at conferences during college or at weddings!

I am so very excited for her and her soon-to-be husband and the adventures they will have as a married couple! Oh dear prayer partner (what we liked to call each other), I look forward to celebrating y'all on Saturday! :)

{Of course, I can't wait to post pictures from the wedding!}

 AND

Don't Forget to Enter the Giveaway!

You have until tomorrow!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Week View #7 {Reunion}

Considering this occurred in the month of July, I would say that it is way past due. 

But I would hate to leave it out.

After having Lucy pup for almost a year, her parents had returned for several weeks from living across the globe. So, I took her to the beautiful state of Tennessee to be reunited with her mom & dad (story on Haley's blog)!! We drove through the backroads of North Carolina in the (crazy abnormal) cool, beautiful weather. Seriously, when is it 80 degrees in the South- in the beginning of July?!  

Reunited and it feels so good :)

     

Anyhow, we had a few days of crafting (for our friend Brooke's baby shower & the blog swap post), eating Moto's Japanese, taking pictures, late night swims, and spending the day on Watauga Lake.

Yummy food & loving on Lucy

A few of the crafts we made

Discovered these Reader's Digest gems

Even thought it was too short a time together, it still was sweet.

I already miss her incredibly as she and her husband are back in East

Asia for another year! I am so blessed to have great friends!

Hooray! My Very First Giveaway!

[Shabbyblogs]

I love what I've put together for this giveaway and I hope you do as well (Love them enough to enter, that is)!!! My inspiration for this giveaway was to have "Fall" items I could easily throw in my purse or give as a gift :) 

Oh Fall.....how I love you.....

I especially love that I can pull out my jeans, sweaters, and long sleeve shirts (layers-mmmmm)!! I like everything to do with pumpkins and apples (Starbucks pumpkin spice? the new Salted Caramel?)! I really enjoy football season (GO WILDCATS!) and Nature's changing colors are spectacular too! Plus, the weather is that perfect happy medium of warmth and cool. sigh. P.s. I wrote about why I love fall so much last year.....Here and Here! 

Ok enough talk......on to the giveaway!

So,

 in Honor of the Beginning of Fall 

&

my One Year "Blogiversary"

I've put together a little box of goodies:

1. Set of 8 Notecards (with Red Envelopes)

2. Do What You Love Stamp

3. Green Mini-Sewing Kit

4. Set of 20 Fall Recipe Cards

5. Missoni for Target Appetizer Tray

6. Essie Nail Polish in "Berry Naughty"

7. Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm (my favorite)

8. Small Embroidery Hoop Art (made by me)

To Enter:

*Required*

Answer this question: What is your favorite thing about Fall??

For Extra Entries (Optional):

*Make sure you leave a separate comment for each thing you do*

Follow &/or Subscribe to LifeasaPepin 

Follow me on Twitter

Add my Etsy shop to your Favorites
Follow me on Instagram

Tweet about this Giveaway

Share this Giveaway on Facebook

Giveaway ENDS 

September 24, 2011 @10PM EST

(US residents only- SORRY!)

Never Forget

Today marks the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001. Today stirs up so many emotions in Americans and others around the world. I've been in awe this week with all of the footage shown in the news, personal videos, tribute programs, sport stories, and specials. The days and weeks following 9/11 were full of national unity from flags, bumper stickers, conversations, religious discussions, prayers, all the way to songs (thank you country music). It is still very inspirational to see this throughout the US today.

I remember when it happened. It was my second class of the day around 9 am. I was sitting in the second row of Mr. Dzuik's English class my junior year of high school, when another teacher rushed in, and turned on our television. You didn't even have to turn it to the news channel- it was on every channel. A few minutes afterwards, we all stared in horror as a second plane hit the other WTC tower. Shock. That feeling of seeing that happen was so surreal. We were glued to the tv as the towers fell. Disbelief. I don't really remember much after that, but we were no longer the same. School was put on the backburner (at least my teachers didn't really continue teaching- people were on their phones- the office intercom told us we could call home).

My dad, who worked at Selfridge (Air National Guard Base) in the Army, came within the hour to pick me up as our school went into a lockdown (being down the road from a joint military base). Usually a drive to school took around 10-15 minutes, but it took my dad and I over an hour to get back home. Everyone was asked to park and get out of their vehicles, while they opened and searched the cars. My backpack was searched. They even used long mirrors to look under the cars for bombs. We were on the highest security level as every other military base in the country was too. Our base's Air Force flew out to help escort other planes safely to Canada. The Coast Guard was constantly patrolling the waters of Lake St. Clair.

We didn't have school the next day. I remember sitting at a picnic table near our home with several of my friends discussing what was going to happen. We couldn't believe what was going on. For the next few weeks, we always had Hummers driving around with a gun on top and soldiers walking around with M16s. There was the fear and talk of being attacked again and where it would be. I will always remember the feeling of helplessness and sadness.

As George Bush said, "We will not tire, We will not falter, and We will not fail".

So as I reflect on that day, I believe that today we stand united still as Americans. We remember those who lost their lives on September 11th and stand by their families and the survivors. We honor the Heroes who saved lives that day and our Armed Forces, Firefighters, Police, Volunteers, Donors, Construction workers and Contractors, and all those who were first to respond. Your service and sacrifice continues to protect the freedoms we enjoy. The service to fight this war on terrorism is never forgotten. I am very thankful for the Red, White, & Blue. God Bless America- land that I love.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and 

saves those who are crushed in spirit"

Psalm 34:18

Bloggin' Blues

I have been so out of the loop! 

Despite moving into our new place two weekends ago, it's been a little hard for me to find the energy and enthusiasm to blog. I have the time to, but I'm not sure what to talk about or I have too many things to talk about. And I am behind in several posts....

So to catch myself up quickly, I'm going to make a list of what it's been like the past several weeks {in no particular order} :

1. I still have boxes of clothes to put away. Which is very unlike me.....

2. I spent all of last week in Kentucky watching two precious boys (who I babysat during college and were in our wedding)

 

3. While in the beautiful Bluegrass State, I was able to catch up with friends, get some new UK gear, eat and shop at my favorite places

4. I'm starting to have a love & hate relationship with Pinterest. I know I'm creative and I can do so many things- it's just getting somewhat overwhelming.

5. I need to find a job! Or do I? I feel major guilt about not working. I dream about one day owning a store or making my handmade business flourish. I despise feeling like I still "don't know what I want to be when I grow up"!! ......In other news, I made my 2nd Etsy sale :)

6. After hanging out with family, we came home Sunday to spend Labor Day at home.

7. I've made these Halfway to Heaven cookies two weeks in a row- SO good!

Recipe from Broma Bakery

8. Was able to watch my sister's first cross country race :)

9. Love having our sweet boy Beaux pup with us again

10. Enjoyed a rain-soaked concert with Paul & Lauren- Hootie & the Blowfish/Sister Hazel

11. Made around 14 freezer meals with my SIL Lauren and it wasn't as intimidating as I  thought it would be

12. Random crafts & projects I've worked on/took pictures of

  

13. I enjoy having a new Trader Joe's close by again

14. The new Coca Cola Freestyle machine is amazing. Regular coke with Lime. YUM.

15. My hair is SO long and I need to make an appointment....anyone know where I can get a free cut in the Charleston area for donating it?

*16. I've officially hit the ONE YEAR mark in blogging! Whoop!

And in honor of this said milestone, I will be having a little GIVEAWAY! I'll be putting together a little box of goodies to mail to one lucky winner! Stay tuned for the details....

{Coming Soon!}