It's been too long!

It feels like it's been ages since I have been here. Life has been pretty crazy over here. Lots of big changes, some I know I will share, others I may depending on what direction this blog takes. I'm always thinking I need to post I need to post! So I'm here to post. I don't have much to share at the moment, my life feels a bit upside right now. I am having to leave the job I've had for the last four years. The bar that I helped build from day one, the people I have worked alongside nearly everyday. The customers that I have grown to love. These people are my family. But as for right now I at least need a break, maybe there will be a day where I will be able to return.

I've been planning on doing a post on the bar itself and my experience there (it'll probably be the next post). But until then I thought I should at least share some photos.

And that's all for now folks! But I'm really going to make it a point to spend more time in this space. I hope you join me <3

Easy Nail Art

Hey guys! I don't wear my nails paintd to often because working at a bar they don't last very long. Last night I got the bug and wanted to try out something new. I went to Pinterest for some inspiration and found this design.

The pin used tape, which would give you much cleaner lines, but I used a fine tipped paintbrush. And they turned out well enough. Although next time I think I am going to try it with the tape.

(Remember when your using tape to make sure you let the first color dry completely or it will rip off the other color and you'll have to start over. I've made this mistake before and it's quite frustrating. Wait for them to dry and then wait a little longer)

Do any of you guys have any easy nail designs that you love?!

Bits N Pieces of The Bennett Garden: Final Planting Phase

We tilled the whole plot by hand. It took a lot of time and body aches but I really feel like the more love and hard work you put into your garden the better your produce will be :)

Houdini LOVES to help...of course.

We tilled a few inches into the ground and then added 15 (1 cubic foot) bags of Miracle Grow Garden Soil, two 40lb bags of Cow Manure and three 40lb bags of Top Soil, with a little bit of Peet Moss.

I've got big plans this year, so I went ahead and got one of those pop green house thingys in addition to my DIY Seed Starters,

Initially we didn't till all the way to the end of the bed on one side because it can get pretty soggy; we ended up using the bag of Miracle Grow we saved and planted some flowers and herbs.

What better way to relax after a day in the yard than by sitting by a fire with the person you love?!

Are you guys gardening this year?!

Bits n Pieces is a blog post series that Miss James over at Bleubird Vintage features on her blog. If you haven't checked out her space yet, do it. Her photos, family and home are oh so lovely!

The Do's and Dont's of Making Raspberry Syrup

So I went out and bought a bunch of healthy food. Of course I had to get some berries! I wanted to try that soaking them in vinegar water to make them last longer thing. So I did, only we don't have paper towels (bc I hate buying them). And the trick is to get the berries completely dry before putting them in the air tight container...well that just couldn't be done with the raspberries. I ended up with a soggy pile of berries that were already turning into mush. [Next time I will soak the strawberries and raspberries seperately and have paper towels] 

Since I already had raspberry mush I decided I'd try and make raspberry syrup for my lemonade!

So I took my raspberries and really turned them to mush with a spoon.

Next I made simple syrup with 1/2 a cup of sugar and a whole cup of hot water. Then added in the raspberry mush and stirred it all up. [Next time I will try only using a half a cup of hot water to make the syrup stronger]

And here's where it got experimental. (I suggest using a mesh strainer, this will make this process very quick for you). I on the other hand had to strain a couple different ways. All of the big chunks were floating on top so I skimmed my spoon over the top to get some of it out. Then I put a vegetable steamer over a glass and poured the mixture through which got most of the mush part out.

Then I poked holes into coffee filters and fastened them to a glass. This took forever. I ended up having to stand there and poke new and bigger holes with a straight pin because the seeds would get caught. Over all this took me about an hour haha. And I ended up with a little over a cup of Raspberry Syrup.

I also tried to make a little filter pouch, but the mush was too heavy and this ended up being very messy.

To sum it all up DON'T do it my way and DO do it with the correct tools. Either way you'll get some yummy syrup to put in your lemonade or other drinks!

The Bennett Garden : Stage 1 & 2

I have wanted a garden for years now. These last two years we attempted it but the first year we started too late and last Summer was so hot it faught to keep my few plants in containers alive. This year we are doing it right!

I made my DIY seed starters about two weeks ago. I tried leaving them outside and I think they got too cold so I did a second round about a week ago and have them in the window in my craft room and taking them outside on nice days.

{You can find the How To for my DIY Biodegradable Seed Starters here.

Thankfully my Mom works at Home Depot who was having a Black Friday in April sale and we got our 15 landscaping timbers for $25! We then went back and bought a bunch of Miracle Grow Garden Soil, Top Soil and Cow Manure on sale as well. So far we have just put everything where it's supposed to be. Phillip is going to bolt everything down Tuesday and I'm going to start tilling up the land today. Here's some pictures of our progress so far!

I marked the bed with sticks so we wouldn't have to remeasure everytime we moved them.

We picked these head board pieces down the road from our house on a walk one day. We got the idea to possibly use them at the end of the bed. We are going to make a fence around the garden to keep Houdini out (he loves fruits and veggies!)

[While Phillip was home on his break we discussed the fence some more: I really want to be able to lean over the edge and work; with a fence I wouldn't be able to do that. So I think we are going to try it without the fence, at least till the plants mature. I'm thinking the edging will be enough to keep him out...at least till they start bearing fruit.]

Next step : Till the ground and add in our Garden Soil, Top Soil and Manure. This is going to be a feat because we are doing it by hand. But we love a good challenge and I believe the more love and hard work you put into the ground the better your garden will be. Well I'm off to start tearing up some dirt! See you guys soon!

It's a Start!

Tonight was soo GOOD! After Phillip got home we spent the evening outside enjoying the lovely weather. While he was at work I went and got the 1"x8' wooden planks we needed and as soon as we got home we went to work! He mowed the grass while I nailed the planks to the railing of our porch and strung the lights across the awning of the house using a cool lil cheat I found at thefamilyhandyman.com, clothes pins go right into the vinyl up there. After he mowed the yard we strung the lights together; and then he built a fire while I painted the planks each a color of a rainbow. Then we ate pizza around the fire and soaked in the cool night and our lighting success before coming inside to watch some Supernatural and go to bed. This weekend has been productive and inspired: my heart is full :)