Pin it? Do it! Week #2: Vases & water. But not together.

Everyone needs a bit of inspiration don't they?  Especially on that topsy-turvy road we like to call "losing weight & living well."   So, I have a few nuggets today.

Hopefully you will find these as revolutionary as I did.

Or, at least get a kick out of how my mind REVOLVES around this journey right now.

First up is an idea that I found on Pinterest {click here for the original pin}.

This comes compliments of Ikea.  

{Well, not completely.  And no, they didn't give me anything to write about how I could find just about everything for this project, and for less than about 10 bucks or so. -frown face here- 

Although, they should give us something with the amount of money we have spent there.  Seriously, my house could be an advertisement for them.  But THAT is a story for another day.}

A few vases, some rocks and a few flowers to lighten it up and I have an instant incentive to get weight off.  And keep taking it off.  Because who would want the "Lost" vase to stay that empty, right?  

I had to mix it up a bit with small AND big rocks to fill the vase...but my thought is that as I get farther down the road and the pounds aren't as easy to lose?   Those are the big rocks. 

Also?  My first time working with chalkboard markers.         and I'm in love.  

* * * 

Next up is an idea I got from one of my competitors in this round of our "Game On" competition, Amanda M.  She mentioned that she was keeping track of how many bottles of water she had drunk by using rubber bands.  

GENIUS.  GENIUS I tell you! 

As soon as I get done posting this blog post???  I will be pinning it.  Because this idea MUST be shared world-wide.  {Okay, so I am sure people have thought of it before.  But I was enraptured with the idea.}

During our first round I was keeping track with tick marks on a board in my kitchen.  But this idea is SO much better.  This way I have a constant reminder of how much water I've had.

We are supposed to have 100 oz of water for the game {a lot, I know!}, so once I have those four rubber bands on the bottle?  I'm good.  Everything additional is just gravy.

Well, actually, it's water.  Sometimes with a lemon wedge.

In case you were wondering.

Which you probably weren't.

* * *

Linking up again this month with Keeping up with the Johnsons and new this time, I am also linking up at It's a Crafty Life for her Fit Club (so excited that I just found this one!).

Pin it? Do it! Week #1 : Lasagna. Garfield would approve.

You know when it seems like things are just meant to be?  I came across this link-up "Pinterest Kitchen" just yesterday.

THE SAME DAY I decided I needed to start telling ya'll about pins I have completed.  Like my BBF {Best Bloggie Friend...just came up with that, pretty great, right?  Pretty sure someone else came up with it first, but I am going with it for now},  Tracey at Control the Chaos does.

I could probably fill my entire blog with these posts, seeing as how I currently have 65 boards and 1929 pins.  Geesh.

Pin much?

So anyways... I made a few crock-pot dishes.  I love me the crock-pot {or slow cooker}, don't you?
Both of the recipes were featured by Yes, Teacher.   Here is the pin from her bloggie home:

Source: yesteachercrafts.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Included in that collage are: Mac and Cheese (more on that soon), Enchiladas, Lasagna, Taco Chicken Bowls, Baked Potato Soup, and French Onion Soup.

{Side note: I am pretty sure I made that Baked Potato Soup last month.  It turned out like mashed potatoes.  At least for me (But, I MAY be culinary challenged).  Not bad. But not soup.}

Now, lets get down to business.
Lasagna.  Num.

That's my picture.  Here's the one from the original recipe web-site {click there if you want said recipe}.

Source: tablespoon.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Let's just say mine didn't look that pretty once I served it.  BUT, then I 'm not a food blogger or food stylist for that matter.  Although that would be a fun job.

I'd give this about an 8 out of 10.

Here is the dealio.  In a lot of these recipe it calls for pasta sauce.  Here is the quandary.

1. We don't like the prepared pasta sauce in Europe. {They add peppers.  Ick.  At least to us.}
2. We could get good ole' Ragu at Costco {yay, love Scotland!}, but my husband doesn't like it {picky boy}. 
3. Said picky boy has issues {think allergies} with whole tomatoes, so can't use stewed tomatoes, etc. to make my own pasta sauce. 
4. So I use pureed tomatoes and add my own seasoning. 

This time, I didn't add enough seasoning, so the only reason this recipe is getting an 8 instead of a 10 is due to my mis-seasoning.  

Next up: 

Mac and Cheese. 

Source: thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

I made this last night in honor of J#4's {my daughter} birthday.  

I didn't take any photos.  It was bad.  I am quite sure it was likely my fault somehow.  I used lower-fat cheese {what can I say? I'm trying to win a game people!}.  And our crock-put is ultrasonic.  It cooks EVERYTHING really fast.  

This one gets about a 2 out of 10.  At least the birthday girl had a few bites.  

But then we moved onto cake. 

That made everyone happy.  

#   #   #

Linking up with: 

What's this "pinterest" thing all about?

Source: cousezparfait.wordpress.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

and 

Source: delightfulorder.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

These are just a few of the things that I have "pinned".  Right now they are in my board called "J#3's world " because they are ideas for his future birthday parties.  {Note: need to add "learn how to decorate cakes" to bucket list}. 


You know when you are surfing the 'net and find something you love?  And then you realize you need to save the link so you can find that something again?  Happens to me all the time.  


I tried a few different things to keep track of all of my favorites.  


First, it was bookmarking all of the pages that had recipes I wanted to try or decorating ideas.  But what about when I change computers?  Then I won't have those bookmarks. 


Then, I tried copying and pasting links into a word document.  But that just seem archaic. 


Finally, I heard about Pinterest.  

Source: thepleatedpoppy.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

When I first tried to join, there was a waiting list.  So I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for my invitation.  It finally came, and wowza, 30 boards and 344 pins later, I think I am sucked in.  


It is as simple as adding a little "Pin It" button to your bookmarks bar, and then  you are set to go.  


Some of my favorite people (real life friends and bloggers) are part of pinterest.  One of my favorite things is seeing what they have pinned.  


That's the deal.  You can either just pin stuff from websites you visit, or  you can spend time on the pinterest website checking out what others have pinned.  So many options.  


The thing that I had found and pinned awhile back that has definitely gotten the most "repins"? 

Source: knittybitties.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

and here is one of my favorites.  Someday, someday (like when we settle back in the U.S.) I WILL have Fiestaware.  

Source: liferearranged.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Intrigued? 


Already using pinterest?  Tell me how much you love it! 


If you are intrigued, but not experiencing the pinterest phenomenon yet, it looks like I have six invites to send out.  Let me know if you are interested.  But just a warning...it can be addicting!