Romantic Quote Cards

The Blogging A to Z challenge has been a tough one for me to keep up with! I have so many great posts but the weather is so awesome I've been forgetting to finish prepping and posting them! Make sure you check out my original intro post for all the other posts I've done so far, I will be trying to catch up as I have some really lovely things for y'all...but for now, lets get to the letter "Q".

In February I came up with these adorable quote cards. I gave a few to Hubby the week of Valentine's and the rest I am saving up to stick in various places in his suitcase when he will be gone for nearly two weeks in June. 

These quote cards are simple, quick to make, and can be customized for anyone or any holiday!

Mine are based on lurve because I intend to give them to my beloved, but you could easily make some for lunch boxes, or with inspirational quotes for a RAK, or even some to put in your kid(s) backpack for them to find throughout the day (I did this once and my kiddo has it hanging on her wall, melt my heart.)

So, this is what I used to make mine:

• Pencil
• Two types of card stock in coordinating colours
• Stencil from HEMA
• If you are really lucky and have one, you could use a Cricut to cut nice tags, I wish I could have brought mine when we moved to Europe, I used it all the time and have thought of numerous times when I wish I had it. If anyone from Cricut Europe out there wants to send me one, I'm game haha
• Paste or Glue dots
• Gel pen, I used metallic
• Your favorite quotes

1. Trace the stencil onto your paper, make as many as you would like ot cut out.
2. Cut those.
3. Measure and cut squares to mount on to the decorative tag you just cut out. I didn't measure mine exactly, but just made markings and after cutting that one, drew lines to mark out where to cut. (See photo, hard to explain)
4. Mount the square tag on the decorative tag using paste or glue dots.
5. Write your favorite quotes on each of the cards!

The quotes I used on them were as simple as I love you or I love you always to Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite. I just googled and came up with some good ones. My favorite ones though are the song lyrics I used from our first dance song, KC & Jojo's All My Life.

My hubby really enjoys finding things like this in his lunch or backpack. Sometimes on a business trip I will stash one in his pants pocket, jacket pocket, or shirt pocket so each day he finds something different, which is what I am going to do when he leaves to the U.S. for two and a half weeks next month. Can be a nice little pick me up when you are in and out of stressful meetings. 

What is your favorite quote?

Do you do any thing special for you significant other when they travel?

Suitcase Organization

Yesterday, I gave tips for planning a road trip, today I want to talk to you about organizing your suitcase. With the right tools and proper planning you could easily travel for two weeks with just one small carry-on, like my daughter and I did in March of 2014 when we went to Hawaii. That's right..one carry on for two adults. Here is how I did it.

This post may contain affiliate links, if you love one of the products I suggest and decide to make a purchase by clicking the link I provide I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Have a medium size carry on . I have found this is the perfect size, it fits in all over head compartments, fits under the seat, and is easy to roll around a city if you make a side trip.

Use these awesome pack-it envelopes . If you fold the items correctly you can fit up to 7-12 items in this envelope. Hubby I can only fit 7, but for the teeanger and I can fit up to 12!

Use these awesome pack it cubes. These are great for keeping socks and undies together, or shirts/shorts that you can roll. I was able to fit a week's worth of undies and socks into one cube for the teenager and I. 

Don't over pack. For a week long trip you don't need a ton of stuff, we went for two weeks and I packed enough for one week and just washed items since I was staying with a friend. Things like jeans, shorts, or skirts can be worn multiple times before needing to be washed, so bringing just a couple items to fit different situations will work. 

Utilize your personal item. I typically put individual toiletries in our personal item. For example, my purse will carry any feminine hygene products and/or make-up I need. 

Fold your dirty laundry. This may sound bizarre but when you are at the end of your trip and won't be needing to keep dirty and clean laundry separate just fold up the laundry as it will help you fit it all back in. 

Do you have an great suitcase organization tips we should know about?

Packing Tips

When traveling a lot, packing can become a bit of second nature. So, I decided to share a few tips I've come across when talking to friends and acquaintences. 

Wear the thickest/heaviest items. If you have to bring a heavy coat, wear it. If you have to bring big bulky shoes, like boots, wear them. If you are bringing a pair of jeans but shorts for other days, wear the jeans. This saves valuable space and will allow you to fit more into a small space.

Multi-week trips choose lodging with laundry facilities. Many Air BnB rentals have laundry facilities, almost all hostels I've looked at have laundry facilities, and you can always utilize the sink and some soap if need be. But, this will help you to pack light for longer trips.

Know your destination and check the weather 24 hours before you leave. It is very important to be prepared with this information so you know if you should have a poncho with you, bring rain boots and an umbrella, or ensure you have shorts if you need it.

Be aware of local customs. This is important, when we went to Rome it was hot (85+F degree days) but to go into the churches there your knees must be covered as well as your shoulders...had we not looked in to this before hand we would have been very upset. In the middle east there are actual laws for how men and women (yes, even visitors) are supposed to dress, so just make yourself familiar with local customs and are prepared for the weather.

For some ideas on what to pack, here is what we packed for our weekend in Rome. I will try to do more of these posts as I find them really helpful when I am getting ready to go somewhere.

Do you have any more packing tips I should add? 

Have you ever visited a place with a "dress code"?

Keepsake Trophy Display

A few weeks ago my mom and I were talking via FaceTime, when we chat we usually take the time to show each other the projects we are working on. During our last call she was explaining that her and my Dad were cleaning out the attic (to which I replied again?! I swear they are always cleaning out the attic haha). Anyway, they had come across some old toys and keepsakes of mine and my brother's.

Of my brother's things they found an old block set and all of his trophies from high school. My mom knew these items in their current state were just taking up too much room, but she also didn't want to just toss them. So, being ever creative as she is, she put together this amazing piece combining the vintage blocks and his trophy plaques.




Supplies

• Building blocks
• Plaques from the front of a trophy
• E6000 Glue (can be found at Home Depot for sure, even in Canada, Europe I have nothing for ya yet lol)
• Paint colour of your choice (I would go neutral though so it is a timeless piece) my mom used a cream colour
• Hanging kit

1. Lay out blocks in the pattern of your choice. 
   
2. Once set glue them together using the E6000.
3. Let dry.
4. Paint the blocks with the paint colour of your choice.
   
5. Using the E6000 Glue again or a hot glue gun glue the trophy plaques on to the block background you created. 
   
6. Once dry, turn the blocks over and install the hanging kit.
   
7. Hang and enjoy!

I really love finding unique ways to preserve old memories. What is your favorite memory?

Jeans Recycling Project: Tic-tac-toe

For months now I have been hoarding jeans as I mentioned in my earring hanger I posted a few days ago....well, one little project wasn't going to use up all the jeans I had so I decided to try and make another project. I was slightly dismayed when I discovered I was able to make this and the earring holder (and mess up once on the earring holder) from one pair of jeans...I did wind up using a second pair of jeans to make the game board as I wanted contrasting colours...plus hubby's leg is bigger than mine so it made for a more spacious game board! haha

So...here goes..here is what you'll need:

• textile glue
• scissors for cutting the jeans
• 1-2 pairs of jeans
• packing peanuts or stuffing
• Washi tape
• Twine or ribbon

1. First, you will take a piece of the jeans and cut it so it is in a rectangle. I then folded it "hamburger" style and cut it in half, now I have two pieces, on one side of each piece it is sealed with the original seam. 
2. Using the textile glue, glue two of the open sides together, leaving one side open. 
3. Repeat steps one and two until you have 10 game pieces.
4. Once the sides are dry begin stuffing with packing peanuts or stuffing. Once it seems full add some glue to the final seam and glue shut.
   
5. Using some of the scrap pieces put X on five of the pieces and O on the other five. Let dry.
6. Using the full leg of jeans that is left cut off a nice large rectangular section (see photos for ideas). On one seam, cut it down the middle so you can now open the leg and have one large rectangular piece.
7. Using washi tape create the "pound" board in the middle making 9 nice size squares.
   
8. To finish off the board trim with washi tape. Add accents as you wish to make it a little stylish.
   
9. To create a storage bag cut off more of the leg. Turn it inside out, with textile glue make a seam by glue the "right sides" together. Let dry. Turn right side out.
   
10. At the top, fold over by about a quarter to half and in and snip just a tiny cut, repeat all the way around the top of the bag you are creating and lace with twine or ribbon. Put your board and game pieces inside and now you have a cute little travel game.
11. 

This is such a cute little game and has brought us lots of fun on these nice days when we walk or bike to the park and can layout having a little picnic. 

What do you do with your old jeans when they are too worn to wear anymore?

Make sure you check out the other projects I've posted during this A to Z Challenge...and check out the other bloggers too at Blogging A to Z!

E is for...Earring Holder

So this earring holder is a cute and quick little DIY....

It came about because {as you all know} we are trying to not accumulate "stuff". When we moved to Europe almost a year ago we paired down our household belongings to 4 boxes I mailed to my mother, 6 large suitcases and three carry-ons. So far, we are doing pretty darn good!

Well, since moving here and biking everywhere my husband and I have a few pairs of jeans that have..uh...well, become crotchless. Obviously unable to wear these anymore I decided to recycle them. So, they sat in my craft area for weeks. and weeks. and a few more weeks. Finally I said let me do something with these or they are getting tossed.

After himming and hawing and searching Pinterest for ideas I noticed my kiddo's earrings are everywhere! Like seriously-everywhere!

So, I decided a quick and easy little earring holder was needed and this is what I came up with:

Supplies:

• Old jeans or whatever fabric you want to use
• Medium embroidery hoop {I used a wooden one}
• Pencil or pen for tracing the hoop
• Hook for hanging
• Optional: Washi tape 

1. Turning your jeans inside out and using a washable marker, a pencil, pen or chalk trace the embroidery hoop. You will use this only as a guide as you will want to make your fabric circle 2-3 centimeters larger. My hoops came with three varying sizes so I used the larger hoop to trace. 
   
   
   
2. Cut your circle out and place it between the hoops and tighten the hoop to desired taught-ness.
   
   3. As you can see there is quite a bit of material hanging over so I just trimmed that down a bit. 
   
   4. I then trimmed the side with some washi tape to give it a more finished look. 
   
   5. Add the earrings and hang it up!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   This is a super fast and fun craft that uses things you may already have around the house!
   
   
   
   
   

C is for Creating a Coffee Center!

Coffee...it is practically essential to life! Who agrees?!

I did used to be a barista, sometimes I break out my skillz ;)

After moving to Europe I have an even greater appreciation for coffee. Coffee here is very good, so since I was lucky enough to have a Nespresso Coffee Machine in my house I decided to create a whole coffee center. This has worked out really well when guests come because they don't have to guess where everything is!

As you can see I have the coffee machine (if you don't have one of these seriously look into it, they are the best, and Nespresso makes the tastiest coffee!)

Next to it I have my milk frother and warmer. I don't use the frother that came with the machine because, honestly, it is a pain and this one is more self-explanatory for the guests.

The three-tiered shelf is a gem I found at HEMA just after we moved here...on clearance from Eater for €5! Score! Since there is a bolt on the bottom I put one of my awesome placemats from Ikea under it.

I stocked the shelves with mugs on the bottom.

The middle has coffee capsules-I try to put out a small selection of everything we have-and two types of sugar: regular sugar and coconut palm sugar. 

The top shelf holds a no calorie sweetner, chocolate and cinnamon shakers, and little stirring spoons.

Next to the shelf I do keep straws since the kiddo drinks iced coffee, but we just ran out!

This is a really great way to display your coffee center and when coupled with the Breakfast Center I posted yesterday shows great hospitality to your guests so they can feel more independent and at home in your home!

A to Z Blogging Challenge!

Lately I have been wanting to take my blogging further. Not sure where to go with it and sometimes feeling a bit lost I sought out different challenges to complete to help me be a better blogger and blog more.

So, this month of April I commit to blogging 26 days! That is Monday through Saturday I will bring you at least one post every single day.

To give this challenge some direction I have themed my posts, they will all be some sort of project, like a craft or organizing project or sometimes a craft to help you organize!

If you have a craft or project you would like to see for a specific letter please let me know, I would be happy to incorporate anything you might like to see! Please, if there is anything you want to see let me know in the comments below :)

I have been working on this for a month now. I have had a lot of fun with it and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I enjoyed putting it together!

Here is the schedule for the challenge:

If you are participating in the A to Z Challenge as well please leave a comment so I can stop by and visit your blog as well! 

A to Z Links

Albums

Breakfast Center

Coffee Center

Diary

Earring Holder

Grilled Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich

Jeans Recycling Project

Keepsake Trophy Display

Packing Tips

Quote Cards

Road Trip Planning Trip