April 29, 2013

Siesta Key Vacation Camera Phone Photos

April 29, 2013/ Michelle Scheibe

Vacation is over. So sad. I bet those of you that follow me on Instagram are glad my beach photos will be replaced with Ike photos.

If you don’t follow me on Instagram (decorandthedog), Nate and I vacationed in Siesta Key, Fl last week. It was a fantastic vacation. Fantastically lazy. We did nothing other than walk on the beach, lay on the beach and swim. The sand was amazing. It’s mainly quartz. It felt like flour and was always cool to the touch. The waters were clear and a pretty turquoise color. We had plans to check out some local museums/parks but we just couldn’t tear ourselves away. Can you blame us?

We didn’t use the DSLR much…because we were so lazy. Nate is still editing the few that we did take. I used my phone a bunch so let the torture of poor quality blogger vacation photos begin.

Our days went something like this.

9:00am: Wake up and eat breakfast in the condo. Watch Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Nate’s choice. I think he was channeling his inner 80 year old self while in Florida.

10:00am: Walk on beach or lay in beach chair and people watch or read. I forgot my sun hat so I bought a ridiculous cowgirl hat. Gotta protect the noggin’ from sun. The beach in front of our condo complex was very quiet. Most of the other people there were elderly. I love the elderly. I fit right in.

1:00pm: Eat lunch in condo. Watch How I Met Your Mother. Nate is obsessed. He can relate any life moment to HIMYM. It’s impressive and annoying all at the same time.

2:30-4:30pm: Sit on beach and nap/people watch/read. One day I read “The Five Love Languages”. It was a fascinating read. I tried to get Nate to discuss his love language. Turns out he doesn’t have one so I decided to discuss HIMYM instead.

4:30-5:00pm: Swim in pool.

5:00-5:30pm: Shower. Get ready for supper.

5:30-7:00pm. Eat a disgustingly amazing supper. I never want to eat French fries again. We had seafood, Five Guys,and a beer battered hot dog with bacon and cheese.

I’m eating only fruit for the next week.

7:00-8:00pm Get ice cream and then stroll the beach at sunset.

8:00-10:00pm- Tv or reading and then sleep.

Repeat times 6 days.

We both feel recharged and ready to tackle life. We’re both big believers in getting away and experiencing life in a new place at least once per year.

Any suggestions for the place for our next vacation? Are you a fan of lazy beach bum vacations or are you the go and do type?

April 25, 2013

Quick and Easy Craft #4- Sharpie Mugs

April 25, 2013/ Michelle Scheibe

While I am soaking up the rays in Florida (while wearing SPF 50 and a big floppy hat), I will leave you with 4 days worth of quick and easy crafts. You may have seen some of them multiple times. Some may be new. All with be easy, fairly quick and inexpensive ways to entertain your friends. Enjoy!

I’ve been wanting to try that project that I have seen on Pinterest 1 million times where you write with Sharpie on some piece of dinnerware and then bake it. What better time than with friends.

This may be the world’s easiest project.

Materials Needed:

Dollar store mug.
Sharpie
Oven

Step 1. Write something witty in your very best handwriting.

Step 2. Heat in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes to set the Sharpie.

Step 3. Enjoy your witty mugs.

We think we are funny.

Have you participated in the Sharpie dinnerware craze? What saying do you want on a mug?

April 24, 2013

Quick and Easy Craft #3- Freezer Paper Stencil Tote Bag

April 24, 2013/ Michelle Scheibe

You know what stinks. When you turn your supposedly non-crafty friends into better crafters than yourself. I created monsters. Our next adventure in crafting was using freezer paper as a stencil for tote bags. I’ve had the freezer paper forever but I had been afraid to use it. My newly created craft monsters were all over it.

Materials Needed:

Tote
Fabric paint or acrylic paint/fabric medium
Freezer Paper
Iron
Paint Brush
Cardboard

Start by tracing and/or drawing the design you want onto freezer paper with the shiny side down. Cut out your design. We used scissors. (And Exacto knife would be awesome too.) Iron the freezer paper to your tote (shiny side down). Pay special attention to the edges. We found that the freezer paper stuck best if you let the iron rest on it for about 5-10 seconds.

Stick a piece of cardboard inside the tote so it doesn’t bleed through.

Now it’s time to paint. My friend, Melissa, choose to stick with one solid color.

Amanda went wild with stripes. (I really should have busted out the real camera.)

Every tutorial I read using freezer paper recommends leaving it on for an hour. The three of us combined have about 8 minutes worth of patience. And that is precisely how long the freezer paper stayed on the tote bags. The both turned out great. I wish I would have grabbed a better picture of Amanda’s because the stripes were so cool.

I totally almost stole Melissa’s. It’s just too cute. (Mine is the striped one in the corner. Boring.) I really like how the stencil paper turned out and I’ll be making one for myself very soon! I think they’d be great farmer’s market or beach totes!