DIY little jar thingies

I eat baby food.

Yes, it's true. 

But let me lay it out for you...they are cheap, they're easy to bring to work and it's real fruit (I don't eat the chicken and potatoes type stuff)  so it's a quick, healthy snack. My friend actually gave me the idea, and seeing as how I am always hungry but also fairly broke, I thought I'd try it out.

My roommate was awfully concerned the first time she came home and found baby food on the counter.

So was my boyfriend.

Rightfully so.

Anyway, I like to keep the jars because they're cute and little and I just knew something could become of them.

So in a random DIY fit one morning last week, I created these little guys.

I wrapped some grey sparkly yarn around the jar (part of it was still sticky from the label so that made it easy) and the silver swirls are a sticker I found on clearance at Michael's. I made a second one and used it to store paper clips, but I definitely want to make some more. 

Tomorrow is the first day of classes! Woo!

Easy fall recipes

School time is almost upon us!

One week from today, classes kick off. 

I'm so excited. Such a nerd. SUCH a nerd.

Anyway, my schedule is already packed. So prepping for the upcoming year, with classes, editing a newspaper, an internship and hopefully a social life.

I have found that at some point over the past few years, I relieve stress in three ways:

Writing, or

gym, or

baking.

This past week? It was the baking.

So this week, I've been attempting to recover from that with a lot of fruits, veggies and flax-seed. And in addition to that, I've been looking for quick dinners and easy snacks to take along for class, work, whatever:

(All via my Pinterest. )

                                                                   Source: backtoherroots.com via Heather on Pinterest

                                                                  Source: butterflyfoodie.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

                                                                        Source: ohsheglows.com via Heather on Pinterest

                                                                     Source: desktopcookbook.com via Heather on Pinterest

                                                                          Source: letiziagolosa.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: tasteasyougo.com via Stephani on Pinterest

                                                              Source: lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

For the record, those pizza muffins ^ are AMAZING. I had them for lunch and dinner for almost a week. I added some green peppers to mine. So easy, and two of them were pretty satisfying.

And soup is great for when things get crazy. Spend a Sunday cooking, freeze it up, and you've got meals for the next couple weeks.

Happy Thursday!

Back-to-School

August always gives me that warm and fuzzy back to school feel. Sometimes, even the air smells school-like. If that makes sense.

I know January gets all the attention for bringing about a general feeling of renewal, but for me, autumn feels like the new year. 

Via

Every time I go to Walmart or Target now, I can't help but browse the backpacks and folders, crayons and pens. And since this is my last year of school, I feel especially sentimental.

I was the kind of kid who couldn't wait to break out my new supplies on the first day, or show off my light-up butterfly shoes.
(Real life. I rocked those.)

I have purchased exactly three items for school this year. A planner, a notebook and more pens. I'm hoping that one day in the distant future, when I have children, the whole nerdy experience is magical again.

How do you prepare for back-to-school? Do you stroll the aisles of supplies, just for fun? Invest in a new box of crayons or two? (You know you want to.)

A topic worthy of a Monday, I'd say.

:)

Video: Trip to Springfield

 Hello!

I made a video of our trip to Springfield. It's clearly one of my first attempts, but it was kind of fun.

Some disclaimers:

1.) There is a scratch on my camera's screen. Poor thing. So that's what the large, gash-like looking line is from. In case you thought the sky was falling apart.

2.) Music starts kind of suddenly a little bit into it, so be prepared.

3.) The music is "Friday Night" by The Darkness.

4.) I've been singing a lot lately. You'll get a glimpse of that magic.

Springfield 2012 from Heather Swick on Vimeo.

I bet you really want some fair food now. And let me just say, if you've got a hankering for anything...anything AT ALL...on a stick, they've got it.

Pizza on a stick?

Yes.

S'mores on a stick.

Done.

Want some deep-fried Kool-Aid on a stick?

It exists.

Alligator on a stick?

Sketchy, but yes, they have it.

We also got to watch a cowboy stick his head in a barrel of rattlesnakes and saw at least a thousand giant, blinged-out belt buckles.

It was everything I had ever hoped the State Fair would be and more. 

The Illinois Capitol Building.

The Dana-Thomas House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1900's. 

Botanical Gardens.

I found a new effect! We celebrated 15 months yesterday, so a kissing photo was necessary.

Thank you, Tommy, for the lovely day:)

Style Icons

I don't pretend to be a fashionista of any kind.

My favorite item of clothing is an oversized green sweater that I got at Target for $3.

(And my boots. Love my boots. You can kind of see them below.)

But there are a few ladies who if I could, I could steal their wardrobes forever. And maybe their lives. Or at least convince them to be my best friends.

1. Kate Middleton. Super classy, super gorgeous. 

                                                                      Source: peoplestylewatch.com via Heather on Via

                                  2. Emmy Rossum. I've been told I look like her. I'll take it. :) 

                            And while I'm at it, I'll take that skirt, too.

                                                                      Source: peoplestylewatch.com via Heather on Pinterest

3. Rachel McAdams. Because she is my number one girl crush/fashion icon, hands down. 

(Honestly, who doesn't adore her?)

          Source: Uploaded by user via Heather on Pinterest

4. Lauren Conrad. She has such a laid-back style that always looks pretty, and I love her website.

                                                               Source: Uploaded by user via Heather on Pinterest

               Who are your fashion icons? Or if not an icon, which store would you exclusively buy from forever if you had to choose? (I don't know that I could answer that myself!)

TGIF! 

                                           

Life Tales: Bugs in the Graveyard

Confession time.

I hate bugs.

Hate.

Hate.

HATRED.

I would rather have a root canal than see a spider. Not exaggerating. And I've actually had a root canal before.

So yesterday my job took me to one of the largest, oldest cemeteries in the state, Springdale Cemetery.

That place is practically ancient, and it gives me the heebie jeebies.

Woods at the cemetery. Bugs live here.

I went there last week to interview the general manager, and afterward, I had to get some photos for my article. Well, lo and behold, it was raining for the first time in ages. Extra creepy. I got one photo.

So yesterday I had to go back. It was super hot outside, and the manager and I bumbled along in a golf cart throughout the 239 acres of death. It's gorgeous there, don't get me wrong, but still creepy.

Now, I'm not allowed to be fearful on a story. I have to focus, get what I need to get and get done. (See  carp story.)

Not the case yesterday. I screamed so much at every little bug that I think I terrified the man, and he works with dead people all day. That's no simple feat. And I got a pretty nasty bug bite on my foot, too.  

But I would try to bounce back.

I'd be screaming one minute, and the next I'd be all "What was the thinking behind placing the pet cemetery off to the west of the ravine?"

At one point he was totally silent, and I thought it was because he was admiring the ethereal beauty of the cemetery. Wrong. He was watching me frantically shake leaves off my leg.

Professionalism at its finest.

Also, this weekend Tom and I will head to Springfield for the Illinois State Fair and to do some tourist stuff! I love mini weekend trips. They are the best.

Happy Wednesday!

Dear vehicle... those weren't for you.

Once upon a time, there were 24 white cupcakes with lime buttercream frosting, all made lovingly for a summertime party with friends.

Then I ate two, and there were 22 remaining. (In case you can't subtract, like myself. I may have done that calculation with a calculator. Kidding. Or am I?)

And after making sure the car cooled off properly for the cupcakes not to melt on the three hour drive to said party, I packed them into the car, snug and safe.

Safety is an illusion...

Five minutes into the drive, a car slammed on their brakes suddenly.

And 15 cupcakes face planted onto the back seat.

That means there were 7 left for a party of definitely more than 7.

I gave the rest to my boyfriend's family. I made the frosting by hand. Time to invest in a good cupcake carrier.

Because plates with tin foil just don't do the trick.

The fun didn't end there..

Halfway through our drive, a nasty, threatening storm reared its ugly head over the poor, helpless cornfields. We needed that rain, but not while we were on the road!

My car was blowing around and we couldn't see much of anything, so we took shelter beneath an overpass, like everyone else. It was a rather stressful drive.

I cursed myself for watching "Twister" over and over again as a child.

But we made it, the storm cleared, and eventually we even got to swim.

My roommates and me. Being attractive.

Then we passed out while watching "A Series of Unfortunate Events." (Much like the drive there.)

Party animals.

But it ended up being a lovely weekend trip.

My Tommy. He's cute and plays guitar in a Spiderman hoodie. Dreamy :)

Happy Sunday!