{Date Nights}

Happy Wednesday, lovelies! Spring is in full swing around here...it's about time right? Or maybe we just got spoiled those couple weeks in March when it was in the 70s. I mean, it is North Dakota. We've had snow in June. But anyway...did I really just start this post off talking about the weather? Sorry. I'm really not good at not-awkward ice breakers. This post is actually about date nights (hence the title) not the weather. And now you know.

Well with that graceful segue ...let's talk date nights!

Ours are usually spur of the moment when we realize that we actually don't have any plans that night for once. So we'll go grab pizza downtown and walk around the park for a bit, or go for a little bike ride..for 2 hours...to the next town over, we build forts, we make dinner together, we mini golf. They usually involve a Redbox, because we're exciting like that. If our schedule gets crazy and it's been awhile since we've had one, we'll decide on a night and write it into our calendars. Then we guard it with our lives.

They don't need to be extravagant. They don't need to be $$$. They just need to be you. Together.

What about you guys... What are your favorite date nights? Are they random or do you schedule them in? Do you have a budget or is the sky the limit?

{Farmhouse Pantry & Tax Day}

 Happy Tax Day! Okay, so it's not happy. But I am glad my taxes are finally filed as of last night. I am now broke (anyone else self-employed?) BUT here is a link that might help make us feel a little better. See if your city has more freebies for you than mine does. I qualify for one. Thank you Arby's.

 

 My mom redid her whole pantry out at the farm and I thought it turned out amazing! We collected jars from Ikea and Target and a lot of them she already had. We found a few at goodwill for $2 too. She bought labels at Home Depot and tied them onto each jar with a string- cute writing too, huh? She said baking is so much fun now that she is able to see every ingredient!

-Bethy

{happy weekend!}

Firstly (auto correct didn't change that, so it's definitely a word), the lovely Jen Ramos over at Made by Girl has a great feature of Bethy's couch DIY over on her blog today!!! We are super excited. There may or may not have been a happy dance or two..go take a peek! Thanks so much, Jen :)

And also, I hope you lovelies have a great weekend! Hubby and I are taking a little road trip (coffee, disney sing-alongs, and Trader Joe's are the game plan) before a super busy schedule takes over next week. What about you guys? Any exciting plans? Boring plans? I, myself, like a good lazy weekend every once in awhile...

Happy weekending! :)

{my sofa got a paint job}

I thought I'd share my latest weekend project. I painted my $75 Craigslist couch!

Bethy's sofa on Friday: Creamish with light pink flowers and stains.

Bethy's sofa on Saturday: Green.

There are tutorials online that are more in depth than mine, so be sure to google this for yourself before trying the fast version I made up. It was 2am and I just wanted to be done!

Here is what I used:

Latex Semi-gloss paint
Fabric/Textile Medium
Scented paint additive (Glade French Vanilla)
Paint brush


I bought the scented additive because first of all, paint smells bad. Second, I bought my couch on Craigslist!

I drove all over town and used up a ton of my cell minutes trying to find enough fabric medium. A lot of time and it's not very cheap, but do not skip this step or your sofa will be crunchy. The medium keeps the fabric soft. Each brand has different directions and mine required two 8 oz. bottles per quart of paint.

{this guy}

Maybe his birthday was 2 weeks ago...and maybe it's terribly cliche of me to say "better late than never". Maybe. But oh well. It's my post and I can be cliche if I want to. And post kissy pictures and brag about this guy I'm so blessed to call Husband. :)

Seriously, have you met him? He's kinda great. I fell in love with him when I was 11 years old because he was different than the other boys and had the best sense of humor...I'm still in love with those things. He can talk to absolutely anyone. He can make the most awkward situations seem not quite as awkward (which is a good talent to have with a wife such as myself). He's amazing at his job and works so hard. And also, He makes everything in my world right with his hugs...God knew exactly what I needed in a man and I'm so glad we get to do this marriage thing together.

Happy (belated) Birthday Husband. :) lovelove!




-Michele

{15 Minute Donuts}

 Sorry for the little break there, I really am. You'll forgive me right? oh good. umm...oh hey, look! Donuts!

  My original plan was to make these for Jared's birthday...and then I was going to make them before a little road trip the next night. And then I was going to make them Tuesday. And then I made them Wednesday. But anyhooo...I've made them twice now. I did it for you guys because I'm selfless like that. They're easy, amazing, and you'll eat them so fast you don't have to worry about them sitting around your house tempting you to eat them. That's good, right?   

  Here's the link to the amazing blog where you can find out how to make your very own (thank you, Pinterest!)

  Also, if you think to yourself, aw man, I'm out of vegetable oil...I wonder if canola oil will work? It won't. Don't do it. Believe me. And, cinnamon sugar is always better than just plain sugar. The end.

 

{Vacation Snapsots from the Island}

 I thought everyone should see proof that once in a while we are forced to leave North Dakota and get away to some beaches. Sad as that is, we thought we should share a few snapshots from our trip to South Padre Island last week;)

 Our whole family ran into the ocean.. we nearly froze for a minute but we had so much fun with the waves. We even had some paparazzi shooting us from the beach. They actually looked more like elderly people who winter there, but still. We felt cool. By the way- I was informed that the locals call the winter Texans "Q-tips". (White hair and white tennies) :D