The Day is Here

What day is that you say?

Oh, you know, ELOISE WILL BE IN TOWN!

They'll be in this evening and I can hardly wait.

It's tough with my niece and nephew living out of town, in two different towns, but I'm so very thankful for the times we're together.

I plan on taking full advantage of time for playing and snuggles. She sure is a great little gal!

Love and Nieces,

Sarbear

...now if only I could plow through this to-do list before they arrive.

Etsy Favorites: Vintage Owl Kitchen

I've been trying to keep my owl love mostly contained to the kitchen, and just wanted to share some of my favorite etsy vintage owl finds that I'd love for my vintage owl kitchen.

Owl Canisters from AntoinettesWhims

Woodland Owl Planter Pot from gremlina

Hanging Owl and Owlette Dish from vintagefrombutterfly

Abstract Owls Planter from redgluesticks

Sleepy Owl Spoon Rest from AlayRayVintage

Owl Coffee Canister from MomsantiquesNthings

Owl Hand Towel Holder from Jacqueeeo

Hand Embroidered Owl Tea Towels from luvvinjewels

1970's Pottery Owl Canisters from sweetie2sweetie

Green Glass Owl Pitcher from oakhillvintage

Family Owl Clock from redgluesticks

You can't have the last one though! That one was bought as a surprise for me from the fella and I absolutely love it!

Love and Owls,

Sarbear

Little Eggs

At times I'm in awe of the little things.

In awe at how such a tiny being exists and exists so fully in a world within my world, which is all really the same world.

A tiny guy who was once even smaller. Once a tadpole, once an egg.

How we all start out so small and so similarly and grow to be so large, vibrant, and different, with each moment impressing it's mark upon us with each passing day, month, year.

It helps to think how small I once was. How I wasn't always this adult, this responsible. How things were simpler in the past, even if not since I were an egg myself.

We start out simply, and quite amazingly, and we can choose to live that once again. We can square our shoulders and hold our chins high. We can face the world and not let anything, not any little thing, make us think we are less than perfect.

Each of us, perfect, just as we are, us tiny little eggs growing stronger and more beautiful each day.

Love and Life,

Sarbear

Excitement

I've been sort of unproductive.

I've been a bit emotional.

I've been all over the place.

BUT? It all seems like no big deal because...

That's right!

Only two little days until my sweet little Eloise and my best bud of a sister friend are in town.

They'll only be here for a quick trip, but I'll take it.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Love and Family,

Sarbear

Vloggin' Vednesday - Back to the Future

Happy Vloggin' Vednesday!

Sara here, with more video silliness for you!

Untitled from Sara Reeves on Vimeo.

Hop on over to Adeline's Daddy to link up and check out what this Vloggin' Vednesday business is all about!

Love and Vlogging,

Sarbear

100 Days to Health Update and This Weeks Goals

Here for another week of 100 days to health!

I'm on day 52 of this round if anyone was wondering.

Last weeks goals:

Week of July 18-24

+Drink at least 3 jugs of water a day

+45 minute treadmill workouts 4 days

+Feet on the floor by 8am each day

+Cook dinner for E and I by myself at least 3 nights

Non-Health Related

+15 new items listed to shop

+extra chair moved downstairs

+complete 2 more books for summer reading program

So, how did I do?

Awesome of course!

It felt SO so very good to be up and active by 8am (except Sunday) and I know it led to my being more productive.

What else helped? The workouts. My mood was a lot better on the days I worked out, and with my history of anxiety and 

depression, I'll take any extra feel-gooders.

I fell one day short on the treadmill workouts, but that's a goal to strive for this week! All Non-Health goals were reached as well. We also started some home projects which are on my to-do list.

That brings us to today:

Untitled from Sara Reeves on Vimeo.

I'm determined to make this week even better and to keep working at my goals. Last week was too good to not keep it up.

New Goals!

Week of July 25-31

Health

+Continue 3 jugs of water per day

+4 45 minute workouts on the treadmill

+Continue to get up by 8 each day

+Dinner by myself for E and I 4 days (up one from last week)

+Do 100 crunches 3 days

Non-Health

+Put together shower gift for pal!

+Finish the Paint in Living Room

+Complete Sewing Box Project

+List 10 More Items to Rummage Bug Shop

+2 More Summer Reading Program Books

+Study Spanish at least 1 Hour

+Keep Posture in Mind and Work on it

That's good for now!

These goals keep me on track and Productive. Without school or work right now, they provide some structure, and once I get started I do more and more.

It feels so great to be focusing on working out again and being mindful of my health. I need to watch my sugar intake and increase my activity for not only physical health, but maybe more importantly for me, mental health.

(Post treadmill workout I'm doing in video. Look at that sweat. Yay endorphins!)

I even ran a bit today.

For my treadmill workouts I'm doing 45 minutes. Today I just decided I felt like running, so I did, in small intervals. That makes me want to work up to running the entire 45. I'm giving myself a year to not push my knee too hard, which is plenty of time, and I'm excited.

July 25, 2012!

Watch out treadmill, you and I have a date for 45 straight minutes of running bliss!

No big deal for some, but a huge feat for this gal!

I'm going to wrap it up, but as a heads-up, I'll be posting these from Monday starting next week.

Feel free to follow on google (link to the right) to stay posted and so I can check you out (I love meeting new folks!).

Have you been working out lately? What's your program like?

Do you do anything specific or just stay fit from everyday life?

Let me know in the comments.

Over and Out,

Sarbear

Recipe: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats

If you live with a pooch, plan on it, or ever give gifts to one, this post is for you!

These treats are so very simple to make and one of the only that my pickiest Lilly May will gobble up.

Only five ingredients are needed:

-1 Cup Warm Water

-1 Tablespoon of Vegetable Oil

-1/4 Cup Natural Peanut Butter

-1 Cup Oatmeal

-2 1/4 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

First, preheat your oven to 375 Degrees F.

Mix first three ingredients together in a large bowl until combined.

Next, mix in dry ingredients in batches. Knead until elastic and add more flour if needed.

Dump dough onto floured surface and knead more if needed. Then, stretch and roll until about 1/4 inch thick. 

Next is the fun part!

Using cookie cutters or utensils, cut out whatever shapes and sizes you desire.

I made a big double batch this time and cut out a few shapes and sizes for my variety of pooches.

Little Leroy kept his eyes on me the whole time.

He's a big fan of cookies!

Combine leftover scraps and roll back out and cut with a pizza or pastry cutter for training treats or treats for small mouths.

Next you simply place on un-greased sheets and bake at 375F for anywhere from 30-40 minutes depend on your ovens temperature and size of treats. They should be crunchy and lightly browned when removed.

I like to dump mine on a metal tray and keep out overnight or at least until I know they are completely cool and all moisture is out. This is important to keep them fresh and prevent any mold from contained moisture.

There you have it, simple as can be!

Closer to Christmas I'll share with you how I package them up for gift-giving for all my favorite pooches.

Love and Pooches,

Sarbear

Steppin' Out

For this week I'm excited to share my totally thrifted outfit!

I wore this on Friday with friends and again on Saturday for thrifting, adventuring, birthday partying at the fella's parents house, and paddle boating there as well.

Atop my new sewing desk! More on that at a later date as my studio comes together.

I had such a fun day out at the future in-laws abode. They have a few acres, and even with the heat I couldn't help but stay out there and sweat while spending time in the paddle boat, walking around the woods, and watching the brothers in a horse shoe match.

Makes me even more excited for when E and I have a little property ourselves.

Dress: Thrifted and Altered (Faded Glory Brand)

Belt: Thrifted

Purse: Thrifted

Sandals: Garage Sale

Only non-thrifted items are my glasses (prescription), bracelet (found in box in craft closet), and earrings (gift from my love bug).

Best part? All the essentials (the four listed thrifted items) cost me around $8.00! I'll take that!

It can be harder to find thrifted clothing items when you're not a standard smaller size, but I've had fun rummaging and finding things that do work, and since taking on a more positive attitude I've even found shoes, like these sandals, despite my larger (size 11/12 feet).

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

Love and Thrifting,

Sarbear

P.S. Come back Monday for a dog treat recipe and an update on my 100 days to health on Tuesday!

Funny Friday

Ready to start off the weekend with some humor folks?

Well, I'm here to share some!

Many favorites from Natalie Dee:

 (I have a zip drive tucked away in the closet, you know, from a graphic design class 10 years ago)

(Not weird?! BJ hears me hollering quite often!)

 (Soo true, I faced this fact once again while thrifting last weekend)

Check out her comic site for so so many more!

Love and Laughs,

Sarbear

Let's Talk about Books Baby...Let's Talk about You and Me

Cause I just FELT like it!

Untitled from Sara Reeves on Vimeo.

Love and Books,

Sarbear

Yarn and Fleece Wreath

I'm so excited to have completed this project so I can enjoy it and also share it with all of you!

 My very own yarn covered wreath!

I've seen many versions of these bouncing around the internet and wanted to try my hand at it.

I found this wreath form for 30 cents at a thrift shop and had this yarn still lying around from an art school project from like 6 years ago!

I covered the wreath with the blend of the two yarn, using tacky glue to hold it in place here and there. I left gaps in between and went around with each color a couple times to fill them in.

Flowers, leaves, and pennant banner are made from recycled plastic bottle fleece which I found at Micheal's with a coupon in hand, along with the puffy paint.

And the buttons? Out of my trusty ol' stash from my Grandma's old tins.

This project was SUCH a blast! I loved every minute of it from start to finish. From the first wrap of yarn to making a loop for hanging and to picking out and placing each little button.

And cost? Under $4 since I had so many of the supplies already on hand.

Have you made one yourself?

I'd love to see your version.

This project is so so very versatile.

When we have kids you bet they're going to have one version or another on their nursery door!

Love and Crafting,

Sarbear