ACM Awards in Nashville

Ok y'all I am seriously shaking from excitement as I'm typing this!! I've just won tickets to the ACM Honor Awards in Nashville on Monday!! But wait, let me back up. Last weekend was my hometown of Bardstown's Bourbon Festival, where people from all around the world come and visit to taste our alcohol and hear some awesome music! It's a really big deal to all of us here, and this year, Dierks Bentley, was set to play. So, of course, I went ;) I got front row standing and touched his hand and caught his guitar pick! I know I sound like a little school girl with a crush, but he was so amazing! He's so funny and a great person and really put on a great show for us! When he tweeted me (yes, he tweeted me and I almost fainted), it caught my attention  that he is going to be hosting the ACM Honor Awards in Nashville on Sept. 24th. The ACM's have an official Twitter page, which I started following, and began giving out tickets to random follower who retweeted their tweets. After not winning for the first few days, I became discouraged, but lo and behold, this afternoon they said "Congratulations to Payton Guthrie"!!!! I am so stoked, you guys, I can't even explain. I can't wait to see Dierks in action again and a whole slew of country music performers/presenters/honorees! It's going to be so kick-ass! Especially because Matthew and I have talked recently about moving to Nashville after I graduate! I'm overwhelmed with missing school Monday, where I'm gonna find the perfect dress, and I realize I need to go tanning! I know I sound so giddy, but it'll be an amazing experience and you can catch it on CBS Monday night! Be watching :) It is going to be held at the beautiful Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and I get to spend all day in my favorite city! I'll be sure to post how it was whenever I get back! Attached is a good pic of Dierks from the concert Friday! Xo!

Halloween Season is right around the corner!

So this craft is pretty much self explanatory... You just paint halloween characters/scenes on a glass jar (I got mine for $5 at Walmart). I chose to paint Frankenstein, "Boo", a witch's hat, and a spider web. I've already filld mine with candy corn and put it out for the family! I'm sharing this post to get all of y'all as excited as I am because: Halloween is right around the corner!!! With it being my favorite holiday, I start early on all the October/Halloween crafts. Be sure to look out on my blog for a ton of new Halloween activities, recipes, and crafts from the end of Sept - October 31st... I promise you won't be disappointed ;)

No-Sew Fleece Blankets!

So I am one of the worst anniversary-gift-giving girlfriends EVER! My boyfriend is so difficult to shop for and I always have a hard time coming up with ideas. Our two year anniversary is in October so I decided to get a head start this year ;) Along with some hunting & dress up clothes, I always like to do something homemade, so I chose to make a no-sew fleece blanket! This took about an hour and turned out fabulous! I chose Mossy Oak No-Sew Blanket Kit from Walmart for $17. Even though the man in your life may not be obsessed with hunting like mine, you could do absolutely anything. Walmart offers so many different prints (sports teams, logos, prints, etc.) that you could do anything with this! This could work for any person in your life on any occasion! I personally have my eye on a Hello Kitty one :) This is a very simple project and I promise every boy goes crazy over something fleece & warm.. Don't let them fool you! Not only is it comfy, it is made with love by you :) Enjoy! Xo!

Monthly Movie Review: Lawless

This month, Matthew and I decided to make a movie date to go see the movie, Lawless. We hadn't heard much about it, just that it was a Western, which is the kind of movie we both love. The film is based on a true story of and chronicles the rough life of three brothers who run a moonshine still during prohibition. Needless to say, this movie went past the point of a typical western. I can handle a lot of brutality in a movie but this was so ridiculously graphic. I don't understand the need of graphically showing the slitting of throats, breaking of necks, beating of women, etc. It was mindless killing but they showed every second of bloodspill. I guess neither of us realized that it was going to be so brutal, but even my macho boyfriend agreed that it was too much. The story line, however was just okay. Not much happened, just a lot of killing. It was mainly about the moonshine, but the killing covered up any sense of a plot line there would have been, although it wasn't much. There was no suspense or twists to the story and I found myself somewhat bored. It was 'badass' in a sense of the way of life the brothers led, but storyline and killing really brough it down from the potential it had. I'd say pass on this one. Too brutal.

Melty Banana Burritos :)

I was wondering what to eat for lunch today when I stumbled upon a burrito idea on Pinterest. I modified it a bit, and I am obsessed with it now. I didn't realize it was going to be so delicious!! All you need is: half a banana, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and a whole-grain tortilla. I started out with a whole-grain tortilla (whole-grain is always a healthier choice than regular), and warmed it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Then, I spread a thin layer of Jif All-Natural peanut butter on the tortilla. (Microwaving beforehand makes the peanut butter deliciously melty when you spread it on). Then I added a small handful of chocolate chips and threw it in the microwave in order to melt the chocolate chips in with the peanut butter. Lastly, I chopped up half a banana and added the small bits to the tortilla and rolled it up! I seriously cannot stop raving about this simple recipe. It was so warm and delicious melted together, and the small amount of chocolate chips satisfied my sweet-tooth craving for the day.. It's a great combination of flavor and can be acheived in minutes! Enjoy! Xo.

Re-vamping with Monograms!

I know that I didn't do much to "re-vamp" this old pink lap-desk, but it's the monogram that I am really doing this short post for. When taking something from drab to fab, I think monogramming is a great choice! No, it's not just for sorority girls; it personalizes your own personal items. The reason monogram is so versatile is because there is SO many different styles. You can google the different monogram typography and you'd be amazed! The way I did mine on the lap desk, I took a six inch circle top and traced and painted it. Then, I just free-handed one of the typography's I saw on the internet. It's very simple and makes an item cuter! I suggest trying on like this, in basic print, before doing the elaborate, cursive ones. (I also added Lilly print to the top pen holders on the lap-desk). Now get to personalizing and re-vamping your items with monograms! :)

Homemade Cereal Bars

So I forgot to take a picture of the final product for this post, so just visualize in your head if you can :) If you're anything like me, you're in a rush in the morning and don't have time to sit down eat a bowl of cereal. If so, then you're going to LOVE this idea. The look and taste just like store-bought breakfast bars! All you need is 3/4 cup of cereal (I used Dulce de Leche Cheerios), 2 jumbo marshmallows, and butter or sugar if you want to make it sweeter. However, I am trying to watch the extra calories, and I think they taste perfect without extras added. Chex, Special K, or Kashi cereal would also be good for this recipe, but if you wanted someting sweeter you could use Cap'n Crunch or Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Ok, directions:
      1. Microwave 3/4 cup of cereal and two jumbo marshmallows in the microwave for approx.30 seconds.
      2. Let cool for another 30 seconds and then begin to form the marshmallows/cereal into a long  rectangular shape.
      3. Let them cool on a cookie sheet. You can add dark chocolate pieces or craisins to add more flavor and healthy calories, as they cool.
      4. When they are dried, put them into plastic baggies to preserve. They become very hard after they've dried, so I definitely recommend microwaving them for 10 seconds before eating.
These bars go perfect with morning coffee and the possibilities are endless! I make seven at a time, so I'm stocked for the whole week! I'm definitely going to experiment more with different flavors and toppings! Enjoy! Xo.

Homemade Lilky Pulitzer iPod Case

Ok y'all, I wanted to share this picture with you really quick because I am  beyond proud of myself here! I just unintentionally took crafting to a whole new level!! So I love Lilly Pulitzer's print and printed a few offline to put on whatever... Nothing really in mind. Well I was doing some mindless online browsing at different items on the website (it's all very expensive) and saw the iPhone cases. Well, I have an iPod, and Lilly doesn't make cases for iPods :( Taking matters into my own hands, I took an old white iPod case and cut a cute print out and pasted it to it. All in all, it took about 30 minutes and I saved roughly $25!! This is just an example of why I do this blog, because there are SO many ways to get what you want in a cheaper way ;)

Great Date Night - Elizabethtown, KY

 Some of the best dates that my boyfriend has ever taken me on were something that was very out of the ordinary. Going to Chili's, the movies, or out to get icecream really gets old when you go regularly. Therefore, we decided to try something new and different! We drove about 30 minutes to Elizabethtown, KY and ate at BackHome Cafe. It was so ridiculously delicious with the home-cooking and the gift shop was incredible. (I definitely recommend the fried pickles and the chicken salad ;). The cozy resturant is in an 1800s Italian-style home and is so welcoming! The prices aren't to shabby, either. Next, we walked 2 blocks up to the historic State Theater for an Andy Griffith tribute, showing 5 episodes of the Andy Griffith show. I can't even begin to describe the massive and historic theater on the inside, but it was such a cool experience. They're a non-profit theater and only classic, old movies/television shows. You can also rent it out for parties, reunions, etc. I highly recommend this dinner and movie combination. The weather was beautiful and we had such a fun night at these historic attractions!

Fabric Bookmarks!

This craft was inspired by my new (and exepensive!) college books coming in. Instead of folding papes or stickering them, which depletes re-sale value, I decided to sew my own fabric bookmarks. This picture is of the first one I made (the photo doesn't do it justice - the fabric is pink and green floral), but the possibilities are endless. I'm working on a fabric flower to put atop another one. I made mine about an inch in width and 8 inches in length. Sew each edge and add a little batting inside to give it some width. Last, I stitched a bow on top for a cuter look. Each bookmark takes about 20 minutes to hand-stitch, and the outcome is perfect for back-to-school book style! Enjoy! Xo.

Back-To-School!

Even though my classes begin in a week, my younger sisters have been going back to school for about a week now. When I was younger, mom would always do some sort of craft day with a theme for us, once a month. I decided to take matters into my own hands and did a day for my younger sisters with a back-to-school theme! Two very simple things I did for the day, were a Pinterest-inspired pencil craft, and used a back-to-school printable via Google. The pencil is very simple to make. You'll need about six Rolo's and a Hershey Kiss for each one. After you line the Rolo's up, cut out a yellow piece of construction paper and fold about a quarter of an inch until the end. (The picture doesn't do the folds justice, but once the folds are finished, it looks identical to a real pencil!) Glue the yellow paper around the Rolo's and glue the Hershey Kiss in. Next, cut a round piece of pink paper to fit on top, and a strip to go around. Glue the two together and then onto the yello paper at the top. Finish up by glueing some aluminum foil at the base of the pink strip. This is so adorable and only takes about 5 minutes to make. Kids love it! Enjoy! Xo.

The Sock Bun

Over the past few months, I have seen "The Sock Bun" pop up all over on Pinterest. I am absolutely horrible at doing hair, so I always thought it'd be too complicated for me to even begin to try. However, I tried it this morning and it was a success! It took me 2 minutes and I was so pleased with the turn out!! Literally, anyone can do this easy updo. Sorry about the cliche mirror pic, but I had to show you that I did try it myself! Ok so directions: 1. Cut the toe out of a dress or tube sock (make sure the color is somewhat similar to  your hair). 2. Roll in from one end of the sock to the other, making a "donut". 3. Slip your ponytail through the "donut". 4. Fan out your ponytail on top of the donut sock so that it covers it. 5. Then, from the back of the donut, start to wrap the hair around at the base of the bun. 6. Wrap all the way around  in a circle and pin up the ends underneath! This is SO simple and my photo doesn't even do it justice! It is so neat and stays in place all day long! Enjoy! Xo.

Tie-Dye Fun

There are only a few weeks left of summer for me, and one of the things I've been meaning to do was tie-dye!! I've had a plain white sportsbra that I thought would be perfect and also a ton of white Hanes V-necks. I finally decided I would try it out and went and got a kit from Wal-Mart. (I chose the Paradise Punch color kit, approx. $10). The picture really doesn't do the pinks/purples/blues justice.. It is a really pretty combination and not that dark. However, this kit was super simple and can last for up to 8 shirts. Tie-dying is so cool because you never know what the end product will look like. I was a little disappointed in so much white on mine, but I still like the swirl. If you're bored during these last few days of break, you should try getting a tie-dye kit. It's a fun project and only takes a little of your time. It would be so cool to do some white shorts! Enjoy! Xo.

Re-purpose old school supplies!

If anyone knows a thing or two about saving some money, it's me! I'm always looking for a bargain or a way to make the old, new again. I was school shopping the other day and opted for a few -cheaper- colored binders with clear slips in front for photos, paper, etc. After looking at my plain new binders, I decided to spruce them up a bit! I save all of my old binders that hold important notes, but the clear plastic on them is all tattered and worn. You can re-purpose your old cute binders by cutting the plastic off and removing the patterned cardboard inside. Then, I slipped the cardboard in the clear slip on the new binders. I'm not sure why I never though of this before, but it's genius! Why not take the cheaper route and just make them cuter with things you already have? The blue and white polka-dots on the binders are the cardboard from old binders. Another way to make them more fun is to fill the front with scrapbooking paper, or to buy glitter letters ($15 at Walmart for a big set of shapes, letters, etc.) and spell out the subject on the front. Although you can't tell in the picture, I used glitter letters to embellish my Med Terms binder. I find it easier to learn when I have cuter supplies;) Goodluck with this cute project and I'll have more back-to-school ideas soon! Xo.

Sour Patch Grapes!

Of course I get a lot of my foodie ideas from Pinterest, and this one is no different. Sour Patch Kids are my favorite candy of all time and this recipe claimed to taste just like the candy so, naturally, I had to test this extremely simple snack recipe for myself. Ingredients: green grapes, jello mix (I used watermelon and strawberry), and water. First, rinse all the grapes in a bowl and let the water drain, but keep the grapes moist. Put some jello powder on a plate and roll the wet grapes in the powder. Move them to another plate to sit until refridgerating. When rolling grapes in the powder, keep in mind that they are still wet from the water. This is key to picking up the powder. Let refridgerate for one hour and then enjoy!! These are so delicious and take about 5-10 minutes to make. So simple, so easy, and a great snack! Xo.

Bold Patterned Dresses

Ok, so I'm hardly a "teen" anymore, but I did catch a glimpse of the different fashions from last night's Teen Choice Awards, via People.com. I was going through the different dresses from last night, and I came across this one from Vampire Diarie's Kat Graham. (photo on the left). I love this outfit. It is so perfect for the summery occasion and everything about it is so put together. The print is perfect on her skin tone, the purple in the shoes tie into the colors of the dress, as well as the yellow in her clutch. Even the statement necklace adds some shine to the outfit. When you have a dress with such a bold pattern that is the focus of the outfit, the accessory should only play it up and accentuate it more. If you're looking for a cheaper dress with a statement  pattern, try the maxi on the right from Forever 21 for only $22! Photo credit given to People.com. Photo credit given to Forever21.com

(Modified) Rachel Ray Stir-fry

Stir-fry is one of my most favorite meals to cook, because 1. It's so simple and 2. it's delicious! Usually I use Birds-Eye frozen stir-fry, but we didn't have any in the freezer so I took matters into my own hands! Now I watch Rachel Ray everyday and love her recipes so I looked up her stir-fry recipe on rachelraymag.com. I definitely modified to make it simpler and use the ingredients that I had on hand. All in all, the stir-fry came out a succes! Xo.. Recipe below:

-Boil water in pot and put multi-grain pasta noodles in until al dente.

-In a skillet, mix assorted veggies and canola oil.

-Add flavoring using lemon juice, salt and pepper, basil, and Asian orange glaze.

-After veggies are cooked very well, add the noodles and a bit more glaze.

-Finish off with some soy sauce for a more Asian touch!

Simple Food Changes

I'm no Dietician, but I do pride myself in knowing quite a bit about nutrition and exercise, due to it being my intial major at WKU. I know that many women have a constant battle with trying to maintain their shape or lose weight. Of course, this can only be done through a proper diet and exercise. However, the hardest part can be switching to a healthier diet. Cravings, snacking, etc. can get in the way of getting healthy. I've compiled a list of easy food alternatives when it comes to changing up your diet. They are so simple, but can be very effective when beginning the weight loss process:
Switch from high-sodium and high-fat bacon to = leaner turkey bacon
Instead of using high calorie mayo, try = cream cheese (always good on sandwiches!)
Switch from eating white/wheat bread to = multi-grain and whole wheat (extremely effective)
Switch from 2% or low-fat milk to = non-fat, skim milk (extremely effective)
Eliminate soft drinks, fruit juices, etc. and add only = milk, orange juice, or water
Again, these are such simple changes in a diet but if kept consistent, can have amazing effects. Another thing I recommend is to never deprive yourself. I would literally drive myself crazy if I couldn't have some chocolate. I give myself a cheat day, or, if I'm having that craving late at night, I'll throw a few mini M&Ms into some vanilla yogurt and I'm all set! The key to staying healthy is to think before you eat. Hope some of these alternatives help! Xo.

Organization Station!

Keep with the theme of crafting, I thought of another practical way to keep busy. I was always digging through a bag to find different pieces of jewelry, so I decided throw in a little organization! This is SO ridiculously simple and is very practical. (You can also find many different ideas for Jewelry boards on Pinterest). Just take a few cork boards/bulletin board, and hang all your jewelry essentials by length, color, style, etc. I covered my bulletin board with some scrapbook paper and added colorful push-pins to make it cuter. You can always add personality to practicality :) It's so nice to get oranized and simply your life. Enjoy! Xo.

Pinterest-Inspired Craft

So today I was hit with a mix between my love of crafting and extreme boredom. I had repinned a how-to on making an iPod arm band for running a while back on Pinterest, which is perfect because I've gotten so sick of just holding my iPod and of course, the arm bands are overpriced. So I decided to try and make my own:) The directions/picture of the one I repinned on Pinterest was very plain, so I decided to jazz mine up a bit! All you need is some fabric, thread, and some sort of elastic headband or pantyhose for the band. It was really simple but took me a bit longer because I hand-stitched. After I stitched the pouch, I turned it inside out and sewed on the headband to one side. Lastly, I added some glue and glitter to monogram it! This is a great craft and very practical if you go walking/running on a regular basis. There are endless possibilites to monograms, stitching, and cute patterns. Even if you didn't make the armband, it would be a cute tech case. :) Xo.

Katy Perry 3D: Part of Me

So I'm a little late getting around to it, but I felt compelled to make a post about how awesome

Katy Perry's movie Part of Me was. Not only did the film chronicle her year-long tour of the same name, but it really showed her as a human being and just a regular girl. I had always admired her, but this really gave me a chance to see what she was truly like, and I was so amazed. She really followed her dreams to become a star and is so extremely talented and has FUN doing it. She is inspiring to so many, including myself, and really stands for being unique and yourself. If her costumes and antics are any indication, everyone can tell she is different from most pop stars. Her optimism and determination have made her one of the greatest pop stars of her time and her personality definitely shines through in the film. It's only and hour and half long, and I honestly wish it could've lasted longer. With enough footage from a few of her concerts, it feels like you're actually there yourself. I definitely recommend anyone see this inspiring and fun movie, but keep the younger kids away. Xo.



So today I packed up my bags from Atlanta and chugged on back home to Kentucky :( Sad, sad day. I was so upset about leaving this morning that I decided I'm gonna have to make another trip soon or move all together. I love Kentucky, but living in the same small town for your entire life? That's not getting out and seeing the world. Even if it's just for a couple years, moving away would be so exciting. Atlanta was an awesome place to visit, especially the quaint town of Acworth. There were excellent bars, like Center Street Tavern in downtown Acworth and excellent Cajun cuisine like Henry's Louisiana Grill. It even had some upscale boutique's. I really enjoyed my trip to Acworth and really wish it could have lasted longer. It's only about 25-30 minutes away from Atlanta, so if you're ever around the Atlanta area, I would highly reccommend visiting this small, beautiful town. I tried so many new things there: riding the bull at Electric Cowboy, my first Cajun shrimp meal, and first Sex on the Beach drink;) OK, and I may be a little biased because I have family living there. :) I had an awesome time sitting out on the porch with drinks and just talking. Those are some of the finest times in life. I hope to be back around Acworth sometime soon, again. Xo.

The photo above is from a small Presbyterian Church in Acworth, where scenes from the new Footloose movie was filmed!

Electric Cowboy

So last night was my first taste of night life down in Georgia and it was pretty great. We went out to Electric Cowboy in Kennesaw (where the new Footloose movie was filmed) and they had great drinks and great music! And for the guys, half-naked girls included. Even though it was a Friday, it was their slower night but we still had fun. I highly reccommend this club for anyone how likes country music with a mix of hip-hop, too. If you're ever in the area, it'd be a fun thing to go do on a weekend night. We got there around 8:45 and and then stayed until 12:30. All in all, it was a pretty fun experience that all ages would enjoy. Xo.

Welcome!

Hi everybody! So this is my first post & I'm still not sure how to work all of this, so bear with me. I just celebrated my 19th Birthday last Tuesday and I decided to make it more of a starting point than a milestone. I decided that I was going to make my 19th a whole year dedicated to trying and doing new things. This includes everything from recipes, workouts, traveling, and beyond. I have a serious love for different workouts, cooking, and traveling but never took time to do or see anything new. This is all about to change:) So if you wanna hang out and check out my journey through my 19th year, stick around and you'll hopefully see some exciting things! Also, I give credit to my getting a blog to Dalis Conell from MTV's Teen Mom. Lots of love, XoXo