Kyle Porter is my favorite person for many reasons. Not only is he a godly leader and great best friend, but he gets me free junk. And I'm not talking Thunder T-shirts.



We found this old door in an alley one snowy day, and rather than steal it or let it lie, Kyle got out and asked the abnormally long-winded man-o-the-house if he would let us have it. The guy turned out to be only a renter, and after 2 minutes of loading the door and 15 minutes of talking to Kyle about his broken shower, the door is mine.

It will become a table with some new wooden legs and a custom piece of glass to top it off. Hello new table, welcome to my home.

Subscriptions

My current magazine subscriptions:

Real Simple
Better Homes & Gardens
Martha Stewart Living

In order to avoid too many hours wasted reading magazines (and the inevitable piles of clutter they eventually create) I limit myself to 3 magazine subscriptions at a time. I loved Domino magazine so much, I would have subscribed 3 times just to have a current issue at work, home, and in my car. I'm still cursing Conde Naste. These are my 3 next best.



I'm pretty much over Real Simple. Their covers are always enticing, but their content has failed to impress me for the last 6 months. I'm trying to find a replacement for when my subscription expires. Any suggestions? I'm thinking about Ready Made- it's so hippie, but I love it.

Also, if you haven't yet, check out Lonny Magazine. It's entirely online so I don't count it as a subscription. An easy way to cheat my own system.

Homemade Granola

Over the last year, I've been really into saving money on anything I can. Last night, Kyle made homemade granola. It's a really cost-effective alternative to store-bought granola. Here's the recipe:

4 cups oats
1/2 cup honey
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup canola oil

Mix liquids and solids separately and then mix together.
You're supposed to bake on a cookie sheet at 300 for 10 minutes, then stir/flip and bake 10 minutes on the other side. (We ended up baking for about 15 minutes each side.)

After it came out of the oven, we scraped it off the pan onto aluminum foil to let it dry out. It was wonderful! Here's an approximate price comparison:






Bear Naked Granola sells for $4.84 on their online store.

The cost of supplies for our granola:
Oats- $4
Honey- $4
Vanilla- $3.50
Canola Oil- $3

I won't bore you with the math, but we'll get a lot of granola from what we bought.
Here's the comparison:

Bear Naked Granola ~$1.76 per cup
Homemade Granola ~75 cents per cup

If you're already a fan of the price, you should try the granola.

On Inspiration

I created my own inspiration board about a year ago, but I've recently been reminded of how much I love it. In the spirit of spring fever, I've started adding and taking away from my board, only to add and take away some more. Here's the current product. Tomorrow, it will most likely look different.



Here are some more amazing ideas via Ribbons of Red. http://www.ribbonsofred.com/blog/inspriation-walls/

I just read a book set in Nantucket and I'm dying to take a vacation there. I've been looking at vacation rentals and airline tickets. Here's why:

Wishing I could make it in time for the Harvest Fair on October 3rd. Maybe I'll get there by April for the Daffodil Festival.

Ceramics Class

I've signed up for a pottery class which starts September 15th at the Multi Arts Center here in Stillwater and I'm so ready for it to be here. We get to make 12 different projects and I'm really hoping mine turn out like this, though I'm trying to be realistic.

Crossing my fingers.

New Eyes for Old Surroundings

I saw a post recently with a list of advice for a new college freshman. My heart started beating wildly at the thought of being in college again, no work tying me down, all the opportunity in the world at my doorstep. And then I realized my doorstep has hardly changed.

While a few had no application to my life, (I have no desire to kiss random boys even if they are cute) I forget how much opportunity lies a few blocks from my home. My apologies, Stillwater. Here are a few of my favorites from her list.

1.Go to all the free lectures and activities they offer, even if you are busy and tired.
8. Watch lots of foreign films and go to lots of concerts even if you don't have the money. That is what college is for.
11. If you can't get in a class you want because it is full--don't take no for an answer.
15. Find the girls that dress cool, make friends with them and ask them to help dress you. (speaking from experience here)
18. Get a Vespa.
20.Take art classes even if you aren't an art major. (This one might be me projecting my own regret.)

Today I research. Tomorrow I conquer. Foreign films, here I come.

So in love with these little fabric buttons.



And these little ones made into earrings- from Etsy... ah.

Twinkle Nights

Planning a dinner party. Really hoping it turns out even remotely as wonderful as this one.

I. Love. Summer.

Oh Baby

Iron-on onesies, anyone? Love this idea. Might make one for new baby Jovie.




From the Nesting blog.

Do Re Mi

I laughed so much while watching this. Plus I love Julie A. Makes me want to spontaneously combust into a musical number.

New eye for color

I used to adore black & white photographs, but now I find myself obsessed with color. Can't help it even a little.

Baggies

I thought these were so cute: reusable bags which you can flip into a little ball when not in use. Cute cute. From flip & tumble.

Island Fever

In stinking love with this kitchen island. I'll take four please.

Oh Jackie

Debate in my soul: Need or want? Need or want?

Expertise

Something I read today: If you read just 3 books on a subject, you will be an expert on that topic. Love, love, love this. Now pick something.

"The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything else. We are the busiest people in the world." - Eric Hoffer

Reason to Shop

Check out the350project.net

Shed Chic

Crazy about this book right now...



I've wanted a shed studio for so long! Maybe someday...

Global what?

Very interesting article. Worth reading:

Click here.