wednesday. pinning away.

I had a fun time pinning away one day over the weekend.  Even Susan texted me to let me know she noticed I was pinning a lot.  

Here is what I picked out to share for this week.


 Baked oatmeal to go.  Better than a granola bar, too!

I love plants and have a lot in my house.  This is just something else I want to add to my collection.  Don't forget, hostas love the shade! 

 

 This makes me think of cruising down the shoreline for some reason.  Always dreaming of the ocean, I guess.

Another thing I love is tattoos.  This one is cute.  

Is this scene not breathtaking?
 

 

Slide on in to the Mediterranean.  

Unfortunately, this is true...

 Wow, I want this yellow top so bad!!

 

This simple brown eyeshadow looks gorgeous!

All pins via pinterest.

saturday daydreams // winner.

This morning as I sit here sipping some hot tea in my robe realizing that it's definitely colder this morning than it has been, I'm thinking of our plans for later.  We have a super busy day, but something I'm looking forward to is going to check out a new place to live.  Hopefully by June we can be moved out or at least in the process, but since the days and weeks are moving at super fast speeds, that may not happen.  Bummer.

We have a lot to get done before then.  Make sure our friends want to actually rent our house, get everything organized, throw out, recycle, and sell things we don't need, and well, find a new place.  It's a hard process but no matter what, at least I have a nice place now and a beautiful person to share it with.

Also,

Remember the giveaway I had this week for these items?

Well, the lucky winner is...
Miss Janna!




Thanks to all that entered.  I wish I could give everyone a piece of something, but that's not the way it goes.  I know I'm always bummed when I don't win giveaways, so sorry to those that didn't win!  Hopefully I will have another giveaway in the future.

Enjoy your weekend!

friday // tax refund spree

I hate to wish my life away, but I can't tell you how happy I am it's Friday.

Yes, I'm working 12 hours today, but at least the weekend is near.

We got our taxes done and for once I'm so happy we get a bit of money back.  High five for that!

I know that with part of that cash we have to put a new roof on our garage and replace the part of the ceiling in a bedroom, but the remainder of the money is seriously burning a hole in my pocket.

Linking up with Lauren, here are 5 things I want to buy myself with some of this cash.  

I'm allowed to, right?!

1) I love these slip ons and in fact, I found about 10 pairs I really want.

Love.

via

2) An overnite stay in this hotel.  This gorgeous place is right downtown St. Louis and overlooks the Arch.  We love to stay here because it's so close to fun, they have a 530 happy hour, and an amazing free breakfast buffet.  Plus, we are in desperate need of a nite away somewhere.  

3)  This Vanguard tripod for my camera.  I really need a tripod, but don't want a cheap, unstable one.  I think this one is in the middle.  I have a Canon t3i and this one is durable to hold it.  What do you use for your camera? 

4)  I love this orange top!  I have been eyeing several things from this site and have fallen in love with this so much.  I just hope the smocked waist doesn't make me look too frumpy - I hate when that happens!

5)  I ran across this bunch of jewels while searching for some new items to wear.  I am drooling over all of this stuff.  It's perfect and I want it ALL!  

Have you gotten to do anything fun with tax money or did it all go to bills and home stuff??


Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway.  It ends tonite! 

{recipe} strawberry pudding cake

 

Eric's birthday was a couple of weeks ago so I made him this birthday cake.  

I love to bake and never, ever buy store bought cakes.  It's so much better to eat something homemade.  

He normally prefers spice cake, but this year he wanted to try something different.  When I asked him what he wanted he said he wanted a cake that his grandma (I think) used to make him.  I scoured the internet and couldn't find anything similar until I landed this recipe.  I tweaked it a bit and made it my own.

It's basically a simple cake with pudding incorporated, finished with a pudding topping.

I can't tell you how excellent this is.

It's pretty easy, super tasty, and you can do multiple variations.  I made this with strawberry cake mix and vanilla pudding.  You could also do chocolate/chocolate, chocolate/vanilla, yellow/vanilla, white/coconut, really any flavor of either will work.

Since I had given up chocolate for lent, my sweet husband sacrificed his cake for me and said I could make a non-chocolate cake so I could enjoy it too! Sappy, I know.

Here is the recipe and how to make the cake.

Ingredients:

1 cake mix

2 boxes of instant pudding 

4 cups of milk

1 cup powdered sugar [I think I used a bit less]

1 container of cool whip

 

Directions:

Make cake according to package directions for a 9x13 pan.  When you remove the cake from the oven, poke holes in cake approx 1 inch apart using the end of a wooden spoon.  I think I had maybe like 12 holes or so, but add more or less depending on how much pudding you want mixed into your cake.  

Combine the pudding with powdered sugar and gradually stir in the milk.  Beat with a mixer for about a minute or so.  Pour about half of this over the cake and into the holes before it thickens up.  

Allow the remainder of pudding to thicken and add about half a container of cool whip to make a fluffier, richer topping.  Then spoon over the top of the cake, and there's the topping!

 Put into the fridge for about an hour before serving and store in the fridge as well.

And there you have it!

A new twist to plain ol' boxed cake mixes.  

Try this next time you want to bake a cake.

 

 

probably thinking of a wish to make (:

i'm here, but i'm not.

Today I'm over at 2 cats & chloe, doing a guest post while Susan makes her way back from her fabulous trip to Florida!

I'm talking about some super neat boho jewels that I've run across, so check out what I've found and say hi to Suz while you're there.

See you soon when I share a yummy recipe!

time for pins.

Love this day.

Since last week cut off about half of my favorite pins, I've got a few extras for today!

raspberry beer cocktails!

ahh, these are beautiful.

yes, unfortunately.

love.

i love these slip ons!

piercings <3

perfect summer dress

lemon buttermilk pancakes...

20 butt exercises.

love the dress, love the dog.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!!  It ends this Friday.

 

All photos via my pinterest boards

vitamins galore!

I admit it.  I'm like an old lady.

With all of my vitamins, that is.  

 Seriously.

Over the last few years and because I was noticing changes within myself, I really took the initiative to be on top of my health, or at least try really hard.  I try to eat mostly healthy and get enough exercise, but I also take a lot of vitamins.  I figure it's the least I can do every day to living a healthy life, plus it's relatively easy. 

I couldn't do it though without my handy-dandy pill planner though.  

This is how I keep track of all my vitamins.  Without this, I wouldn't remember which ones I took and which ones I didn't.  I also take a couple different medications for my anxiety & migraines, so it helps me keep track of that, too.  

So, it's kind of like, you know you take a lot when taking them requires this.  My family makes fun of me, but it's just something I gotta do!  I also like this certain holder because the days are removable, so if I'm going out of town for just a few days, I can slip off the ones I need and I don't have to take the entire thing.  It's pretty nice. 

 

It looks like quite a handful, and it really is, but I don't take them all at once.  Some I take in the morning, others I take at nite.  It helps to break it up just a bit. 

Here is why I take each vitamin that I do.  There are lots of great ones out there I could take, but I had to narrow it down to just these, for now.

Nature's Bounty ABC Plus Multivitamin:  This has pretty much everything in it plus 400 mcg of folic acid.  Multivitamins are a great way to get all the vitamins and minerals that your body needs.

Fish Oil 1200 mg:  I take 2 of these each day.  Back in the day I had super high cholesterol so I take this for cardiovascular health, plus it also helps with a ton of other things like skin and joints.  One downside to this - you have to get the burp-less ones or you will literally burp up fish taste afterwards.  Gross.

Super B-Complex:  B vitamins are great for energy.

Vitamin C 1000 mg:  I take 2 of these a day for overall immune health.  Because I'm a nurse and around all sorts of germs, I need to keep my immunity in high functioning order.  Most people can get away with taking 500 mg a day.  I take one before bed because I read doing this can increase it's effectiveness for some reason...

Vitamin E 400 iu:  This is a great antioxidant.  With all the pollution and crap in the air, soil, and water, I like to protect my body from it, or as much as possible.  It's also good for dry skin and just by breaking open a capsule and putting the oil on lips, feet, elbows, or anywhere.  

Biotin 5000 mcg:  I have been taking this for years for my skin, hair, and nails.  I have really noticed a difference in all three as well.  I love it. It also claims to work for metabolism as well, but I have never noticed a change in mine....shucks.

Milk Thistle:  This is for your liver.  It's not a real common supplement, but I take it because of how hard the liver actually works.   I want to keep mine in tip top shape, and I figure if this little gem can help with that, then why not.

Vitamins can get pretty expensive, but I like to get mine when there are BOGO deals or discounts.  I figure though if it benefits my health, I really don't care what the cost is though. 

If you have any questions about any of them or comments for that matter, let me know.  I have taken other vitamins and supplements in the past that I'm not currently taking, so I've been around. 

What kinds of vitamins or supplements do you take for your health and well being?

Also, don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY!

oooh, a Giveaway!

I am so excited to finally be doing a giveaway!

I thought it was time to thank all my readers and followers for enjoying and being such a huge part in my blog!  

Yes, I do it as an outlet for myself, but I also do it for YOU!

So today I have a few items that I'll be giving away.

______________________________________________________________________

As with most giveaways, the rules are simple.

1)  Follow me via GFC and leave me a comment telling me you did so.

2)  Follow My Lively Mind on Facebook and leave me a comment.

3) Follow me on Twitter and leave me a comment.

 

 3) Blog, Tweet, or post a Facebook message about the giveaway and leave me the link in a comment.

Easy peasy.  You can get up to 4 entries!

 _________________________________________________________________________

 The items in the giveaway are pretty special I think.  

These are from a store from where I live called Plowsharing Crafts. 

From their site:  

'Plowsharing Crafts is a non-profit Fair Trade store dedicated to providing vital, fair income to artisans in over 40 developing countries by selling their handicrafts and sharing their stories. We work with artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. This income helps pay for food, education, health care, and housing in developing regions around the world.'

 

 The first item is a really pretty bracelet made out of some really cool looking stones. It comes with a really cute tag {sorry, I already took it off, but will still send...my bad!}  It has a cute little quote that states, 'venture forth with good karma on your body.'  

Sounds good to me...good karma is always a plus!

 The next item is a really cute and unique ring.  You wanna know why it's unique?  Because it's made out of guitar strings.  Yep, pretty cool, I think.  I bought one for myself and I love it.  It's small & simple, yet it really stands out because of the way it's twisted and is put together on the top.  I'm able to wear mine on my middle finger and I have average sized fingers so you can wear it on about any finger.  This one didn't come with a card or anything so I'm not sure who made it, but they sure are talented!

sorry, don't mind the ragged hang nail ....

The final cute gift is my favorite.  I had these when I was a kid and lost them.  I was so glad to run into them again that I bought myself another set, again. These are worry dolls.  Have you ever heard of them?  It's such a cute idea.  The legend is, when you go to bed at nite, tell one worry to each doll and then place under your pillow.  As you sleep the dolls take away your worries!  This cute bag comes with 10 little, cute dolls.  Lord knows we could all probably use a set. 

The giveaway will run from Friday the 13th thru the next Friday the 20th @ 1159p.

Good luck to all of you and THANKS again for being a part of my blog.  I love each and every one of you! 

my wednesday pins!

Hola!

It's time to showcase my favorites for the week.

good morning, monday...

Happy Monday, everyone!

Hopefully your weekend was fun & relaxing. 

I had a ton going on, but it was nice to be off for a few days.

Back to the grind now.

I found this picture and wanted to share.  I love it and I think it really says a lot.

saturday morning daydreams

I saw this cute post idea somewhere, but for the life of me can't remember where it was.  Oh well.  

Sorry if whoever sees this thinks I stole it, but I can't place the blog. .. .

I daydream a lot.  

Like, I probably spend a third of my day in la-la land, so I thought, why not share some of my daydreams.

This morning I have been obsessing about finding a couple dresses for upcoming events.  I ran across this boho clothing site from pinterest [where else??], and I think since the pinterest craze has hit, sites have been bombarded and things are scooped up in record time.  Same with this site.  It's really frustrating, but I'll just keep checking back for in stock items. 
In the meantime, here are some of my favorite dresses.

Which is your favorite?