Photo Coasters

I am OBSESSED with Pinterest. Obsessed. So when I needed to figure out what I was giving my friends K&A for a bridal shower gift, being the money-less college kid that I am, I turned to the oh-so-inspiring Pinterest for ideas on DIY gifts. There are SO many great ideas, but my favorite was homemade coasters! How cute! AND CHEAP!!! Best part. :)

My inspiration came from Sharon at Two Girls Being Crafty and posted it on Pinterest, naturally. BUT that pin got 258 repins! Holy Shamoly! That made me happy and excited...but I digress...here are some photos and comments on how I made my loverly coasters! I am extremely proud of myself and think they look very nice if I do say so myself! :)

the complete directions for these coasters can be found here

bought 8 tiles at Menards for $0.13 each

Mod Podge cut out pieces of felt to the bottom to prevent scratches :)

slimmed down 4X6 pictures to be 4X4...fit PERFECTLY for these tiles

Mod Podge pictures FRONT & BACK to tiles...allow to dry until no longer tacky

UPDATE: DO NOT Mod Podge the front! Only Mod Podge the backs of the photos so that they stick to the tiles...I ended up with some weird lines and bumps and the top layer peeled off....gross.

when tiles are no longer tacky, use waterproof craft spray according to directions to seal

allow to dry/set (I did for 12 hrs to be safe) and spray with seal again if desired
NOTE: K&A are super cute, yes?! they're getting married on their 7th anniversary! adorbs.

These were honestly a lot simpler than I expected...granted, I was sort of stressing because the shower is Saturday and if I messed them up I would have to figure something out quick...and be out some money.

Speaking of money, here's a break-down of what I spent to make these bad boys

                        8 tiles at $0.13 each = $1.04

                                         black felt = $0.23

                        Krylon Matte Spray = $3.67

                                    Mod Podge = $6.97

                      set of 3 foam brushes = $0.97

     8 one hour photos at $0.19 each = $1.52

                     SUBTOTAL = 14.40 + tax

Awesome! All of the good items left on K&A's registry were at least $15, so I think I got a pretty good deal! And keep in mind that if you already have a sealant spray, brushes, Mod Podge and/or felt, you're golden and looking at a subtotal of about $2.56. That's fab. Although I didn't have any of those supplies, I do now and can use them in the future, so they're more like an investment, right? Right. I mean, let's be honest...normal college kids don't have sealant spray laying around...

for your pickled pleasure

I LOVE pickles. Like, LOVE them. In fact, I am currently eating some right now. At 1:40AM.

No, I am not pregnant. Yes, I am in college. BAM.

And only dill pickles...not sweet. sick. Just thinking about sweet pickles makes me gag...bleh. The best pickles are Milwaukee's Midget Pickles...whoever's in charge of the pickles and olives for family holidays KNOWS that this is the brand you buy. The pickles are so tiny and cute and taste A-MAY-ZING. I eat like 50 pickles throughout these fam parties. Legit.

Random post, yes...but this is what's on my mind at the moment. Plus, it's not like anyone reads my blog anyway :)

Funny thing though...I HATE cucumbers...huh.

highs

highs of my day thus far:

-watching adorable children run into 7am mass today and hearing their dad yell "don't play in the dirt!"

-seeing same adorable children go up for communion with their hands folded, and while they couldn't receive, kneeling briefly in reverence before our Lord

-mass

-lunch with my lovely friend Liz

-sunshine

have a lovely day!

baby steps

I feel that I can now attempt to put this down on paper...or text...whatever...now that I've mentioned it to my mom....

I, like most young adults my age, have been struggling lately attempting to figure out what it is that I am meant to do in this life. Now, unlike others my age, I have been trying to listen to the big man upstairs to see what His take on the situation is...which is actually a new thing for me in this particular area. Sure, I've included Him in my day to day proceedings, but when it comes to the bigger picture, for whatever reason, it never really clicked that I should be inquiring as to what God has planned for my life.

These past 3 years, I have been slowly trying to led the Lord lead my life. It hasn't been easy, but gradually, I am loosening the hold (or death grip?) I have on my future. I want to give Him my all, my life, my heart, my EVERYTHING. But the one thing that I haven't been allowing Him to have was my career. For whatever reason, I was keeping that for myself. Shame on me.

I have dreams. BIG dreams. Dreams beyond the cookie-cutter life that society has placed before me. Sure, our nation today screams "Be who you are no matter the cost!!! Do what YOU love! Do what makes YOU happy, no matter the cost!", and yet, they look down upon those who follow the faith and the Church. I have always dreamed of being a motivational speaker of some sort. Even straight out of high school, that is what I said that my dream job was...and as I have grown as a person and as a young adult in the Church, my dream has evolved into desiring to evangelize the whole world, speaking at conferences for youth and parishes alike, starting a revolution. THAT is my dream.

So then, one may ask, why am I not pursing this dream? Why am I a Psychology major instead of studying Theology at some prestigious Catholic university? Believe me, I too have asked that question. MANY times. But the only explanation I can come up with is that the Lord was forming me. He has me here for a reason and I will finish whatever He has planned for me here and then move on to the next part of the plan.

But one thing I AM going to do is not give up on my dream. So many people these days settle.
They settle for mediocre lifestyles.
They settle for "meh" lives.
They settle for less than what they were made for.
And I was made for greatness. I was made for more than what society expects of me.

I refuse to sit by and allow others to stir up a revolution in our culture and bring others to Christ...I want to be a soldier for Christ! And that's what I'm going to do. :]

As I am writing this I'm aware that some parts of this sound like I'm saying that I'm quitting school (in my 2nd to last semester before graduation?!) and joining a convent. Not at this moment, no...I truly feel called to married life, however, I desire the Lord's will more than my own, so whatever He wants for me is what I will do...I guess the point of this rant is that I am, for once, content; excited; looking forward to my future.

St. Gianna, pray for me!

quote of the day 11/8/11

In my siblings social group...

Me: "and how old are you?"
3 year old, cute-as-a-button girl: "three...well, I was two this morning, but now I'm three!"
Me: "oh, is that so...?"

adorable.

sleepless nights

I have acquired this HORRIBLE habit of staying up wayyy too late. Not 1AM late...more like 4AM late. Practically every night. And then I'm exhausted all day until I take a nap which doesn't help me be tired when I should. I have no idea what to do about this horrendous cycle that I've gotten myself into, but it has to stop. It has to.