photo a day: september

Hey there. :)

Tomorrow begins another photo a day challenge throughout September! I had so much fun with the first challenge that I did back in May and I'm pumped to finally get back to it.

I picked September to bring it back because 1) summer went by insanely too fast and I was fumbling around every which way so these photos would have just been lame, 2) school is back in! so now I need a consistent thing to bring to the blog, and 3) 'cause I  missed it, that's why.

My momma has always been a big scrapbooker (kudos to her, because now my life from  birth to graduating high school is perfectly and adorably documented to keep for a lifetime;). I tried that once. Somewhere in my house is an unfinished scrapbook of Washington, D.C. from the fifth grade. hah.

I'd like to think this photo challenge is the modern, actually doable, version of scrapbooking. What with all the cool apps, filters, and overlays, I can make a whole deal out of one snapped picture. Date it, post it, share it. Photo journaled. 

If you wanna see more about where this challenge came from, the rules, and helpful tips from the creator, head on over here.

I'll be adding the photos from my Instagram to this post at the end of each week. Don't forget to check back (and do this on your Instagram too!)! 

Wanna follow along? 

Instagram: @empottsy

Twitter:  @empottsy

currently.

my current... 


drink: international delight iced coffee in the mocha flavor. I fill my cup with half of that and cut it with the other half of milk. It basically tastes like chocolate milk and coffee had a baby. yum!

tv show: ugly betty. hello 2007. I randomly decided to watch it on Netflix and it's really entertaining haha. i find it ironic, actually. she's the "ugly" one working in the fashion industry, but in reality she has the most beautiful heart and compassion that the "pretty" people she works with don't seem to understand.  but come the end of September, I will be all over the season premiere of once upon a time. if you don't watch it already, what are you doing with your life??

reads: harry potter and the deathly hallows and the book of hosea. i'm trying this new thing where I read a book (instead of look at social media/screen time) the last hour before i got to sleep. i feel like i'm sleeping better! i have also been loving the study on hosea over on SheReadsTruth. it's great and i am learning a lot about the character of God. 

anticipation: getting back into the schools next month!! I haven't gotten my placement yet, but i can't wait to be in a classroom each week. at bellarmine in my first year i completed over 50 hours of observing in classrooms, but the way ius does it is a little different and some of my classmates haven't even been in classrooms yet. i am thrilled to be back at it.

eats: i've been craving cottage cheese and rice cakes recently. (i know.) i'm the only one in my house who likes cottage cheese. and the rice cakes thing is kind of funny. I used to eat them more often at a friend's house, but haven't had them in yeeearrrrs. i eat them with peanut butter on top, of course.

new jam: the new Maroon 5 album, V. it has some fun ones on there (but also some that I would not recommend, so proceed with caution). my favorites are "leaving california" and "unkiss me."

planning: trips to Huber's and Brown County, Idiana. as Fall is upon us, i need my fall festival and pumpkin patch fix! hopefully those can happen in October before Halloween. it's almost time for pumpkin carving. :)

work: all that comes with taking 17 credit hours at school. and painting for my Etsy shop. you can help me spread the word about it by sharing it on your facebook pages! i would even love to do some custom things right now as i am working on expanding my shop items. there will for sure be a new personalized item coming soon (probably this week) for a little girl nursery! you're gunna love it.

september campout: ky horse park

Weeeellll, it's been a minute since I've talked with you guys! How's your life? Do you like that is finally starting to feel like fall? 

School is in full swing for me. It's been great being in the School of Education finally! During October and November I'll be back in a classroom observing alongside a teacher. I have been thinking a lot about what grade I'd like to observe in this semester. I have done some observing in 3rd and 4th grade classes, and this time I think I'd like to be in Kindergarten or 1st. I have a sneaking suspicion that those will be what my heart beats for. Older kids are great, hey, they can tie their own shoes, actually know how to blow their noses, and probably don't cry as much. But I don't think that's what I want. Anyways, I'll keep you updated. :)


CAMPING AT KENTUCKY HORSE PARK
This weekend my family went camping (for the first time all summer, I might add!).

Kentucky Horse Park is great. Lexington is great. You just feel away from it all there. We went to a cute little orchard that was a little bit aways from the campground on Saturday morning. Hay rides, caramel apples, a pumpkin patch - it all put me in such a fall mood!

AND THE WEATHER. Oh my pumpkin spiced latte, was the weather perfect. Warm in the sunshine, and still pleasant in the shade. Couldn't get enough of it.

Spiced apple cider from Evan's Orchard ohmyword.

Are double yolks supposedly good luck?

Homemade fried apples, y'all. We may be in a camping club but we still know how to do potluck.

Evan's Orchard

Evan's Orchard

Fresh peppers, yum! @ Evan's Orchard

Evan's Orchard

I resurrected my chucks for the first time since high school. It felt good.

I know that I'm a summer baby (birthday is in August), but Fall might really be my favorite season. <3

pinterest review: cinnamon roll waffles!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day! :)

Holidays with the family at home start off on the right foot with a yummy breakfast.

This is one I had seen on Pinterest before but wasn't sure how great it would be. Ya know, sometimes Pinterest ideas are big just flops.

These cinnamon roll waffles  had looked so so so good and mom really wanted to try them on our holiday morning when the family was all home. They were literally SO easy! We have the Black & Decker Belgian Waffle Maker. This method is better than making waffle mix and having to clean off a gooey mess on the waffle maker later.

I am not a huge syrup person, so this was a better alternative to regular waffles for me. Any excuse to put frosting on my breakfast gets a thumbs up.

They kind of fall short as a cinnamon roll. They were a little dry (just like waffles usually are), and I did kind of miss the best part of having a cinnamon roll: the gooey center.

So depending on what you're looking for, these could be a flop or a pass! I vote them as a pass. ;)
Let me know if you try these and how yours turn out!

summer doesn't have to end #mm

Summer has come and gone already. What.

This summer was a stinking B L U R. It was one of the best. But why did it have to go so fast? Major sad face.

My birthday, for me, is the clear transition to the season I like to call "all pumpkin everything." Fall is probably my favorite and, once my birthday is over and school is underway, bring it on baby.

As excited as I am for school time and pumpkin season, another summer ending is sad. I traveled to some really cool places this summer (Indian Shores and Cape Cod). I did so many family things - never something you regret doing. I took my first (and last) summer class. My room won't be depressing this Winter. Hey, I even started a blog!

Thanks for a good one, Summer 2k14.

Here's what my summer sounded like:

What did your summer sound like?
//Em

DIY'n with door knobs {Palette Series 1 of 3}

Holler if you've been missing DIYs! I know I sure have.

I saw LaurDIY make a similar DIY on her channel a while back. I knew I didn't need another jewelry hanger, but she inspired the DIY I am sharing with you today! So, thanks Laur.

What I did need was a purse and jacket hanger.  My purse and jackets usually get tossed onto the floor which means my jackets sometimes get wrinkly and, on multiple occasions when my purse was unzipped, things have fallen out of my purse without me realizing. Bad.

So I decided to convert this DIY into something I could use! Although it has fewer knobs than the jewelry hanger, these will be sturdy and able to hold heavier items like purses and bags.

This DIY is something that you can even take with you to your dorm or set up at an apartment. In places like those were you can't put a hole in the wall, you can opt use 5 lb. double sided tape to hold it up instead of nails.

You have complete control to create it however you decide - the color, length, finish, and even if you will add an extra design. So let's get started!

YOU'LL NEED
Cut wood
Sand paper
Spray paint (Alternative: Wood stain)
Ruler
Pencil
Drill
Door knobs (Mine were from Hobby Lobby!)
Frame hanger & nail (or 5 lb. strength double sided tape)
Hammer

HOW TO 
Cut your piece of wood.  I nabbed a free pallet from my dad's work and cut one of the boards to my desired length.
Can I get pre-cut wood?  Yes! All hardware stores will cut (and even drill the holes) for you!

Next, sand the board with sand paper to make it smooth and better for indoor use.

(The other two pieces will be used in other DIYs!)

Mark where you want to drill holes for the knobs.

Drill holes for your knobs.

After sanding and drilling, clean off all of the dust and debris before spray painting it.

You have total creative liberty on this one! I painted mine white with spray paint, but you can choose any color. Wood stain is a great option as well if you want a more rustic look.

Finally, once it has dried, pop in your door knobs.

I added photo hangers to the back of the wood. I got a four pack at our local hardware store for $1.09.

Pay no attention to the fact that the hanger is upside down. ;) The zig zags should face the floor when hanging.

Place nails in the wall where you want it to hang. You may want to use a level to make sure your piece of wood is straight. And bam!

(Guys, my sweet boyfriend got me that sign. <3 He's the best.) 

Send me pictures if you make this!

Be on the look out for 2 more DIYs using palettes (and mason jars!!) coming soon!

xo! Emily

recipe: fruit pizza & cream cheese frosting + cliff jumping

Some things you just can't go wrong with. Pizza is one of them. Am I right or am I right?

And a FRUIT pizza is no exception.  I made this for my birthday at Rough River on Saturday! It's super duper easy to make. It has a chocolate chip cookie as the "crust," homemade cream cheese frosting, and a beautiful display of all of your favorite fruits. If you're like me, you'll also need like a gallon of milk to go along with it. 

The only baking that you have to do is the cookie crust. As simple as that. I cheated a little and used pre-made cookie roll but shh don't tell. Start by flattening it out onto a greased cookie sheet or pizza pan and bake according to the directions.

Once the cookie has cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting on top and decorate with your favorite fruit toppings. I chose strawberries, grapes, bananas, and mandarin oranges. It was delicious!

Here's how I made the frosting! (The best part in my opinion.) FYI - This recipe makes quite a lot. I only used half of it on the pizza. Adjust accordingly....or not and keep the rest in your fridge with a spoon close by. Just sayin'. 

Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting 
Ingredients:
2 pkg cream cheese
1/4 c milk
1 stick unsalted butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 c powdered sugar

Directions:
Soften cream cheese and melt butter.
Add cream cheese, butter, milk, vanilla extract and mix together.
Pour in half of powdered sugar, mix.
Add remaining powdered sugar and mix until perfectly creamy!


Here are some pictures from my birthday at the lake! We jumped off of a cliff,  y'all. 

Before the jump!

We ended up jumping closer to that log. Ahh!

We jumped!

This one was just so cute, I had to post it.

20 things to do more + turning twenty

Saturday I turn 20.

Part of me thinks, 'bout time! Most of my friends have been twenty for a while, some even since last year. I have always been the young one in my grade.

I can barely believe it though. People always ask at birthdays if it feels different. Usually it doesn't to me.

But this one feels different. My teens are over. I'm beginning my junior year of college. I've lived and breathed for two decades.

So, I made a list of 20 things I want to do more.

What will I be doing? I'll be at the lake with my family and a few friends from our camping club. We're renting a pontoon boat, having a taco bar potluck, and bringing a fruit pizza as my cake. I know you're jealous of my immaculate birthday plans. ;) I am EXTREMELY excited for the day.

I have a feeling 20 is going to be good.

xo Emily

tractors, trains, and toddlers + something special

One of my favorite feelings is having some sort of "project" to work on. 

I look forward to coming home and finishing whatever it is, anxious for the finished product. That feels good to me - having something to work on. Call it therapeutic or relaxing, but lets be honest. It's mainly an excuse to watch Netflix in the background for an unhealthy amount of time. 

For the past few weeks I have been working on some paintings for my friend's almost two-year-old son and her newest baby boy who will be coming in September. This little boy has brightened my life so much in his almost two years of life! I love watching how he interacts with his Uncle and the progression of him learning how to say my name has been my favorite thing. For a long time I was just Mmm. Seriously, how cute is that? Now, it's turned into Emmie, making Cyrus one of only three people to ever call me that in my life. You are pretty special to your Auntie Em, kid. ;)

I wanted these paintings to represent being all boy. They were painted especially for Cyrus who loves riding the lawn mower with his Papaw, and for Carson who I'm sure will follow in big brother's footsteps. 

Like what you see? If you or a friend has a nursery or bedroom that needs cute customized and personalized artwork, these styles are available for purchase. They make great gifts. They are acrylic on canvas that will be coated with a clear gloss sealant so that they will not fade and can be wiped down with a damp cloth. Check out my about page for contact information. To inquire about prices, please e-mail me. (Maybe an Etsy shop will be coming soon?!)

I would love to paint something especially for you!

thursday three

Thursday is probably my favorite day of the week.

There's a logic behind it. (Sort of.)

--It's the first day past the middle of the week.
--They feel easy-going like Fridays, but they still call for some ounce of productivity. I like that middle to them - the perfect balance of "whew, this week is almost done" and feeling like you actually did something useful that day.
--Since transferreing to IUS, Thursdays are also the last day of my school week. No class on Fridays is the BOMB.
--Thursdays are green to me. And I like green. It's my second favorite color if I had to pick. (Do you guys associate days of the weeks with colors or is that just me?)
--And I love that Thursday nights can be restful, at home nights, or hang out nights since you can probably afford a little more tiredness at work on a Friday. 

So, on this Thursday I was thinking about three of my favorite moments so far this week.

1. Baseball 

Tuesday night I went to a Louisville Bats game with Samuel's family and mine! On Tuesdays they have hot dogs and cokes for a dollar a piece. We hadn't been to a game all summer. The last game that I went to was my senior year of high school when my choir sang the national anthem (#sentimental) and that's been more than two years ago. It was PERFECT weather and the Bats won!

2. Mamaws & Grandmas

Tuesday and Wednesday lunches were spent with my grandmothers. Those two women have invested so much in my life over the last 20 years. They're the only grandparents I have left and I treasure them tremendously. Lunch dates here and there don't even begin to size up to how much they have impacted me and loved me. Thankful for them both.

3.  Little cousins (who say funny things)

This kid has been my buddy basically since the day he was born. I have seen him grow, mature and turn into ALL boy. He has the softest heart with me. He stayed over one night this week for fun. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he and I actually share some favorite movies. (I'm not sure if that says more about him or me.) When I read off the names of the movies on my shelf and got a "YES!" from Meet the Robinsons and The Wizard of Oz I knew there was no denying we're related. 

Other funny things he did include calling me the "luckiest girl ever" when I showed him all of my board games, telling me "good morning, i love you!"first thing, watching him say hi to every single kid on the playground, and seeing the distress in his eyes when he came running back to our table at Chick-fil-a because there was a girl yelling in the play area who wouldn't listen to him. Nothing changes, kid.

Signing off on a great Thursday,

Em. xo