Mother's Day: DIY Flower Canvas

We had a fun-filled weekend.  My older brother flew in from Texas for my mom's special weekend: graduation & Mother's Day!
My mom received her second masters degree on Friday, this time a Master of Science in Educational Leadership.  She's the bomb dot com.

For her graduation/Mother's Day gift, I gave her a flower themed gift.  Four different flowers for our garden, some gardening supplies (gloves, spade, planter) and a painting that I did on a small canvas.

I followed Evelyn Henson's DIY tutorial but changed a few things around.
I used a 8x10 canvas since I couldn't find a 5x7.  I also added leaves since it looked a little "spacey" when I was finished. Here are the steps of my project:
Paint colors are from Michael's: White, Deep Midnight Blue, Foliage Green, Pink Blossom, Pink, Citron Green, Lavender, Ocean Breeze

Check out her tutorial for a more detailed version. It was so fun & easy to make! I might make another for myself since the canvases at Michael's were BOGO free :)

I'm enjoying my last week of "break" before my summer classes start up next Monday! Happy Tuesday!

Springtime + Running Goals

The warmer weather this week has certainly helped to turn my frown upside down.  I have been so tired of being cold that when it hit the 70s this week I just about fell over!
The tree next to our driveway even started to bloom this week, which made me smile:

I've begun the final countdown for spring semester.  I have just ONE class left for each of my classes, so class on Wednesday, Thursday, Monday & Tuesday (online) and then I'm a free bird until May 19th!  Of course our school system is going until June 20th so I'll still be working away, but I will be so thankful to take a load off my shoulders for a bit.
This warmer weather also has me thinking of getting back into race mode.  I was supposed to participate in a local race series but due to scheduling conflicts I missed one.  SO, now it's up to me to find some races to do.  I have the Monument Ave 10K under my belt, but I'm now looking towards another half marathon.  I would really like to run a PR this year and so I'm looking for some flat courses.  The race I have in mind is the Navy-Air Force Half Marathon in Washington D.C. in September.
I've been a Hal Higdon fan ever since I started my longer distance races and I stand by his books and training plans.  Therefore, I will probably use his Intermediate program to train for my fall half marathons.  This program includes some speed work which I have never done in the past when training for half marathons or my full marathon.  Hopefully incorporating some speed work will help me get to a PR.

Any other runners out there planning for fall races? I would love to hear which ones you're running!

Spring Flowers

I don't know about you, but flowers make me dang happy.
In honor of the first day of spring (yay, yay, yay!) here are some beautiful flowers for you to etch in your memory so you can be happy all day long!

I hope and pray the warm weather is on it's way. Lord knows I need it to keep me sane.

Speaking of which, I am back in kindergarten this morning after a hiatus due to sub jobs - PRAISE THE LORD because I have missed those kinder babies more than anything. I'm spending the afternoon substituting for the music teacher - which should be interesting - and then staying for work! Definitely going to get my fill of the kiddos today.

Happy Wednesday, y'all.

Obs-essie-d

Okay, I know from reading other blogs and from looking at Pinterest boards that I'm not the only one who takes painting my nails seriously.

Let's be honest, it is serious business! I believe your nail color can tell a lot about you. When I'm perusing Target I find it a challenge to try and leave without a new Essie bottle. Recently, I found an Ulta store (something that SWVA is lacking) and spent 30 minutes trying to pick out a color...not because I didn't like any of them, but because I wanted all of them.

So, I admit. I am obsessed. With Essie.

Equals: "Obs-essie-d"

Here are some of my favorite spring colors!

movers and shakers

luscious lips

a crewed interest

haute as hello

looking for love

barbados blue

Later I'll have to do a post on all my favorites pinks!

Such as this one, pink-a-boo, from their new resort collection:

What's your favorite spring Essie color?

Happy Thursday!

xoxo,

Top 5 Tuesday: Things I Am Excited About For Spring!

What a wonderful season we have entered :) Even though summer is my favorite, spring is a close second because it leads up to summer! Here is what I'm excited to enjoy these next couple months!

Driving with the Windows Down + Country Music Blaring

I guess this goes with summer, too, but I'm a windows/sunroof girl, not an A/C girl. Yes, my hair looks like a hot mess afterwards but do I care?

Fruity Drinks

I'm not sure this needs explaining. Cheers!

Easter & Flowers

I love Easter time! Mass is always really special, plus getting some of those Reese's Pieces carrots doesn't hurt. When we were little we went on a scavenger hunt around the house to find our baskets. It was so much fun! Also, I love springtime flowers! So many colors and scents.

Baseball & Running

Yes, baseball season begins! I'm excited for the MLB regular season to being & I hope that just maybeee Steven and I can make it to a game. The summer will be crazy so it may be wishful thinking but who knows! I'm also getting back into running and spring brings lots of good races! I'm excited to pick some to enter!

Spring Clothes! And Lilly!

I am more than happy to put away the jeans and chunky sweaters and say hello to shorts and sundresses. I'm also planning to do a little closet revamp and get rid of some old dresses to make way for new ones! Plus, it's officially okay to break out the Lilly. Yippeeee!

What are your Spring favorites?

Link up with Rachel today to share!

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo,

Lilly's State of Mind Patch

Since the Spring 2012 LP collection has been out, I can tell that the State of Mind patch print is almost everyone's favorite! It's really, really adorable and my favorite, too! I especially love it in the Adelson shift.

If only I weren't on a college budget!

Anyway, I was trying so hard to find the VA patch on the items online but was failing miserably.

In case you were in the same boat with your state, here's some help!

I found this on no other than Pinterest :)

I love how they put "Virginia" in a heart! Virginia is for lovers :)

I also really like Tennessee, Hawaii and Florida!

Look at Kansas - they incorporated Dorothy! How freakin' cute.

What do y'all think of the State of Mind patches?

Do you like your state's patch?

Anyone already grab an item in this print?

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo,

Valentine's Challenge Day 3 & WILW!

Happy Wednesday!

Day 3 of the Fabulous Valentine's Challenge is to share a Valentine's Day Outfit!

This Lilly Pulitzer Ellie Top in Azalea Pink would be the absolute cutest Valentine's Day shirt! You could wear it throughout the day or out on a date at night. I love the ruffles on it and the 3/4 length sleeves!

I paired it with heart earrings and a heart filled charm bracelet - it's Valentine's Day after all! I think the more pink and the more hearts the better.

Lastly, a neutral pair of flats and a clutch - and you're ready to go!

What will you be wearing on Valentine's Day?

Although I may not have this exact outfit on, I will have on pink!

Since I don't want to miss out on one of my favorite link ups, here is a couple things I'm loving on this Wednesday!

I'm loving that it's my best friend since third grade's birthday today! This girl is one of the most amazing friends I have. She was seriously the first friend I made after moving here and we have stayed friends ever since! There are a million things I could say about her but then you'd be on my post for about an hour ;)

Happy 21st Birthday Jessi!! I love ya!

High School Graduation Practice

I'm loving that we officially made Spring Break plans! Steven is playing a week-long baseball tournament in California & we'll be flying out there to watch three of the games! I'm so excited! We'll fly into San Francisco and stay in Berkeley and San Jose.  After flying back we'll head to Norfolk to see my older brother before he leaves on another deployment.

Anyone ever been? Suggestions of where to go? 

Thank you Steph for the suggestions you gave! :)

I'm loving these pins:

I'm loving that today is a great day! Mom finally got a doctor appointment to get her ankle evaluated and hopefully in a boot! We are headed there today, plus a stop at the library & Target :)

This will NEVER happen...

I'm loving that today starts the February photo challenge! I'm going to use this for my Project 365 this month. Find me on Twitter and/or Instagram if you'd like to see :) I'll also (eventually) post them on my Project 365 page on here.

What are you loving?

Have a fabulous start to February!

xoxo,