Pinterest Probs

My name is Bethany and it has been WAY too many days since my last blog post.  Forgive me friends, I promise I have thought of you all many times.

Tonight's post is in regards to one of my favorite past times.  Pinning.  How man hours do we gals spend pinning things like "How to turn a headboard & footboard into a cute bench!" on our DIY boards?  A lot, that's how many.  Though I often wonder "how did I think of ideas before Pinterest?" however, there have been times I've also thought, "Who the heck can I talk to about how much of a disaster this project/food/whatever has turned out to be??"  In honor of both of these sentiments, here's a post about the things that confuse me about Pinterest.

1.  Pins to Nowhere
This may be the most confounding thing about the beloved Pinterest.  You see a lovely DIY project pin, click to find the original link from a blog or website and all you get is a stinking picture.  Oh good, because I definitely just wanted to admire that lovely craft some mystery pinner created....or found on Martha Stewart.com.  The worst has to be when you see a cute dress and it just takes you to a photo of the dress and not the actual place to purchase the dress.  Said Dress Maker is probably not crazy about that either.

In other news, I don't mind as much with "room inspiration" pins.  I'm fine with those just taking me to a pretty picture to file away for future use.

However, this pin is a prime example.  I think we skipped a few steps.  That or this girl has a magical curling iron that fishtail braids her hair- in which case I need to know where she got it....but there's just a picture :(

2.  Looks Too Good to Be True Pins
Did you notice that I mentioned a bed frame turned bench in the intro to this list?  That's because I pinned it once.  But never made it.  Primarily because it involved power tools and purchasing extra lumber and I wasn't that determined.

I also got really inspired to make a "pallet couch" since I had access to all sorts of pallets (for free!) and needed some cheap/cute patio furniture.  I stained and stacked those bad boys but when the time came to make the cushion I could tell it was just going to be a lost cause.  So instead I now look like a wood hoarder.  I should have taken a picture and posted it on Pinterest as one of those "Nailed It!" pictures.

Sidenote:  I've got plans for the patio that don't involve sewing enormous cushions.  Stay tuned.

3.  The People Who Don't Change the Caption Accordingly Pins
As you're scrolling through your pins, you see a delicious chocolate cake with the caption "Hands down THE best chocolate cake ever.  My mom makes it every year for Christmas!" and you think "Oh hey, so-and-so's mom is an awesome cook, maybe I'll try that," only to see it repinned four times down the page with the exact same caption.  Edit people.  I know all of your mama's don't make that same chocolate cake.  However if they do, I will totally retract my statement.

4. This Last One is Just a Warning
Okay, this last one is really just a warning.  I pinned this delicious looking recipe for Beer Cheese Chicken a while back and decided to give it a whirl.  I had a feeling it was going to be similar to taking baked chicken and smothering it in beer cheese dip from the Blackhorse and topping it with bacon.  Plus it was a crockpot recipe and therefore could not get much easier...so I thought.  The recipe called for some brand of some kind of "ale" but then said "or some (insert type) of ale" so I didn't think it mattered much what type of beer you got to use.  Buddy was I wrong.  I should've just gotten a Mich Ultra or something because whatever crazy thing I got to use was not good.  I am very sensitive about my cooking and was pretty sad about it.  Lesson learned: Follow the Beer Cheese Chicken recipe to the letter or accept failure.

Looks delicious doesn't it?  Now you see why I was so disappointed!

But I have tried recipes that were just wonderful!  Have y'all ever run into any of these Pinterest probs?  Or any I may have left out?  Better yet, let me know about some recipes that went great via Pinterest....I like ending on a positive note!

Do you follow me on Pinterest?  Hopefully my pins won't cause any Pinterest Probs for you :)  Follow me here!  Spoiler alert, I like pinning monogrammed items and pictures of really cute puppies.

Testing 1-2

This is going to be a bit of a multi-faceted post...but all about things I've been testing out lately!

A few weeks ago, G got me a Keurig for my birthday (thanks G!) and I have been trying out new flavors of the K Cups.  In the spirit of the fall season, I picked up some Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice while in Morristown.

I was planning on trying it with the Pumpkin Spice Coffeemate but alas, I was too excited and was a little premature getting to the grocery and had to settle for caramel.  It's great though!  If I can hunt down the Pumpkin Spice CM I think we'll have a great match.  I get really weird about pumpkin spiced things....I don't care for them when they are too "spice-y." This is just right Goldielocks!

Moving forward with my testers, I had pinned a pin a while back about making your own fabric softener sheets.  I was a tad skeptical but I decided to give it a whirl.  So far I like it!  You take a jug of liquid fabric softener, dump it in a container, add old washrags/dishrags/cut up old t-shirt and then when you're ready to dry your clothes.  Take a "sheet," wring it out and toss it in with your laundry.  Reusable and therefore cheaper than those blasted sheets that always seem to wind up throughout my apartment.  Check out my "pinspiration" for this project here

The last of my test subjects was something my friend/sorority sister/former roomie suggested.  Few people can really appreciate a good owl find like a Chi Omega since our mascot is the owl.  However, there are such things as "cute owls" and "creepy owls."  Creepy owls tend to be porcelain  and perched in an attack/stalking position.  Nonetheless, a Chi-O is not a Chi-O unless she's got some creepy owls hanging around in her room or closet.  But I digress, Katy had suggested spray painting the little creepers all one color.  Here are my before & after shots!  

Before

After

Sound off in the comments on your thoughts on Mr. Owl here.  Do you like his transformation or should I have let him be?

It's (Not Quite) Fall, Y'all!

Hello friends!  I tried to fight it, I really did.  But I am kind of getting ready for fall.  This is always such a tough time for me, a lover of summer, but it comes each and every year.  I get tired of the blazing hot sun and start getting ready to pull on my boots and scarves.  However it is quite tough to part with going on the boat, sundresses and not having to bundle up to fight the elements (I HATE the wintery chill!).

This awkward Summer-Fall transition does bring a lot of my very favorite things.  G's birthday.  My birthday.  The start of Football season.  Plus, with all of these Fall-inspired pins on Pinterest, I can't help but get a little excited!  That being said, we're going to look past the allergies and go on to my second favorite season's greatest attributes...Fall!

Boots
My parents met while working at a boot company.  My grandparents and my aunt & uncle met while working at the same boot company.  I am genetically engineered to love this footwear.  Cowboy, riding, rain...I love all varieties of boots!  Just look at these beauties.  Wouldn't they be great with some leggings or skinny jeans tucked in?

Seasonal Beverages/Scents

Pumpkin Spice, gingerbread, hazelnut, cider- it just warms my soul.  I caught myself in the candle section of Walmart the other day sniffing a Pumpkin Spice Candle.  I had to get a grip and keep moving.  However, when the weather cools down I believe I am going to give this a try.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte via Pinterest

Hayrides and Pumpkins
You have to admit, in theory, the idea of a hayride is a little bizarre.  "There's nothing like gathering your closest friends/family and dragging them behind a truck/tractor seated upon livestock feed!"  But seriously, I do love getting snuggled under a blanket and taking a spin on a trailer of hay.  Our church has one every year and I have such wonderful memories of those.

I also love pumpkin picking, carving and pumpkin decor!

Soups
Now if the truth be told I can usually eat soup at any time of year.  In fact, I had soup last night for supper and I had been sweating earlier in the day.  But there's just something about soup and fall that just go together!  I can't wait to find some delicious goodies on Pinterest to try this season.

Football
Just 24 days until it's football time in Tennessee!!  I love the pageantry of college football.  The marching bands, the cheering, the tradition and of course...the tailgate food!  Saturdays down South are no joking matter.  Menus are planned well in advance, tailgating spots are decorated, some people go as far as hooking generators up to televisions to be as up-to-date on football coverage as possible.  

If you've never been to an NFL game, I'd highly recommend it!  You may be right on the field or hundreds of feet above but you're guaranteed a good time.  At least at Titans' games.  I think Titans fans are some of the most welcoming and friendly fans in the NFL....oh wait and the loudest :)

So what are you most excited about this fall? 

The Tale of the Stoneware Jug

My friends and family often tell me that the weirdest things happen to me and I should write a book chronicling them someday.  It is for this reason that I present to you the second installment of Bethany's Tales....The Tale of the Stoneware Jug!
A few years ago I was on a quest to find the perfect stoneware jug for my room.  I have always liked old stoneware items but hadn't realized how expensive they could be.  You can imagine my excitement when I found a jug that was not 5" tall for less than $50.  The jug I bought came from a local antique store's back room that has a dirt floor and innumerable items crammed on shelves.  Charming or claustrophobic, you be the judge.  I paid for my jug and made my way back to my apartment to show my roommate, Katy, my cool find.  The jug looks really similar to this one.

Katy was on her way out the door but also thought that my jug was perfect.  Coming from a dirt floor room it needed a little washing off so I filled the sink with soapy water and let the jug sit for several minutes.  I came back to rinse out the jug and as I dumped the water out I noticed something was somewhat blocking the opening.  I shook it around, trying to knock the blockage loose assuming it was just some dirt-turned-mud but it was pretty stubborn.  I grabbed something to try and loosen whatever this thing was.  A few curious clods fell out and upon inspection I decided this must be some old man's ancient spitter and this was the world's oldest wad of dip.  Gross. 

By this time I was fully committed to releasing whatever nastiness my poor jug was afflicted with and forged on.  I tried to take a closer look and saw that the blockage was not tobacco but appeared to have antennas of some form or fashion and thought "Oh sick, this is the world's largest roach.  I am going to throw up."  I wanted the roach corpse out of my jug so I gave it one good pry and something flung out of the jug's opening and into the sink.

It was a dead mouse.  I threw down the jug (don't worry it didn't break) and I screamed like a dead human was laying in my sink and ran straight out the front door.  I know what you must be thinking..."Why did you run out the door?  The mouse was dead, it wasn't coming after you," but I was not expecting a dead mouse to come flying forth from my stoneware jug and was traumatized.  Plus I had a plan.  So...I ran out the front door and began banging on my neighbor, Will's, door.  Will answered and I told him I needed help with something.  After explaining the situation he took a deep breath, collected himself and grabbed his gloves.  They were something like I would imagine him to wear on a ski trip.  So Will and his North Face gloves accompanied me to my apartment where I gave him a plastic sack to grab the nasty thing and he took it to the back door to throw it over the fence out....where he let go of the mouse a little too soon and it fell onto the back step.  I screamed, then laughed.  On the second try mousey found his final resting place on the other side of the fence.

My best guess is that the poor mouse fell into the jug's opening and then couldn't get out.  Kind of sad...but still disgusting.

So what have we learned here friends?  Let's review:

1. If you buy a stoneware jug from an antique store with a dirt floor back room, splurge on the one with the cork.  It will cost more but will most likely be critter-free.
2. If you wind up with a dead animal/bug in an antique purchase, wash that thing in bleach and scalding hot water.  You don't want diseases.
3. If you ever need to dispose of a mouse carcass on a ski trip, your North Face gloves will do just fine.