The Friday Five Archives - Naomi Bjerk http://naomibjerk.com/category/life/the-friday-five/ Realtor + Designer Fri, 24 Oct 2014 12:30:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://i0.wp.com/naomibjerk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/cropped-Copy-of-Copy-of-N.png?fit=32%2C32 The Friday Five Archives - Naomi Bjerk http://naomibjerk.com/category/life/the-friday-five/ 32 32 178020044 A Few Favorites for Friday http://naomibjerk.com/favorites-friday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=favorites-friday http://naomibjerk.com/favorites-friday/#respond Fri, 24 Oct 2014 12:30:00 +0000 http://mrsfancee.com/?p=3120 This week we’ve been taking a breather and haven’t made much house progress… which has been good for us, but means I have no fun pictures to show you!  So I thought we’d do a little throwback to Friday Five (it’s been a while since the last one!) and do a feature post on what […]

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This week we’ve been taking a breather and haven’t made much house progress… which has been good for us, but means I have no fun pictures to show you!  So I thought we’d do a little throwback to Friday Five (it’s been a while since the last one!) and do a feature post on what I’ve been loving on the blogosphere lately.

Ready for Halloween yet?  If I was dressing up I would most definitely don this cute DIY costume.  How fun is this ice cream cone attire from Kelly at Studio DIY?? 🙂  But seriously, I love it!!!

DIY Ice Cream Cone Costume

 

Since we’re talking Halloween…. normally, I do not like Halloween decorations (except pumpkins but those can be classified under fall), but this pineapple jack-o-lantern by Victoria at A Subtle Revelry just tickles me! I mean how funky and cute right??  Confession ~ I bought a pineapple last week to try this on… but first my cat chewed all the leaves up, then I left it too long and it imploded a juicy mess all over the counter.  Sad, sad pineapple… So I will just admire this one from the screen, who knows, there is always next year??

Pineapple Jack-o-lantern

 

I am in LOVE with this new Target task lamp (that I pinned recently).  The brass and clean lines make it look so high end!!  I think it would be pretty as a floor lamp too.  I’ve seen several big bloggers featuring it lately, it seems everyone is in love!

Cozy Nook

 

Let’s talk layers… They are the key to a good haircut, but just how should you ask for them to be done?  I read this article on the Beauty Department recently that walks through different hair types and what layers are best suited for them.  I read Part II for curly hair, but Part I is very informative too for if you have straighter hair.

 

Happy weekend everyone!  It is supposed to be in the 70’s here in Chicago-land so I plan to enjoy this rare piece of sun and warm in late October.  🙂

 

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The Friday Five http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-9/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friday-five-9 http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-9/#respond Fri, 10 Jan 2014 19:53:34 +0000 http://mrsfancee.com/?p=2006 It has been too long since the last Friday Five!  So this is the first official one of 2014…. That is such a crazy number…. I remember Y2K like it was yesterday.  It can’t really be 14 years later, can it?  I have this weird theory, that as you get older times accelerates and seems […]

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It has been too long since the last Friday Five!  So this is the first official one of 2014…. That is such a crazy number…. I remember Y2K like it was yesterday.  It can’t really be 14 years later, can it?  I have this weird theory, that as you get older times accelerates and seems to go faster and faster.  See, time is filled with thoughts and activities, and as kids we really only have so many thoughts to fill it with because we’ve had so few memories.  But, as our memories grow and accumulate we have more and more things to take up our thoughts.  And, that, my friends is why time is flying so fastly!  Well, that’s enough of my hairbrained theories, time for some Friday Five!

Friday Five 1.  Spoonflower.  Have you been to this site before?  It’s pretty cool!  You can upload your own designs for fabric and wallpaper and browse other people’s designs.  They have a really fresh and fun modern collection!  One of the neat things about the site, is you can order samples for $5 of their wall paper or fabric.  For a while I’ve been thinking about ordering several of their prints to round out our picture gallery shelf, and last week I finally did!  I showed a few of the prints in my latest post.  But, here are some fun ones for Valentine’s Day 😉

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2.   Blizzard.  Holy Moly!  Did we get a blizzard… I know it’s probably affecting many people accross the states.  It sure made traffic crazy, but there is something so beautiful about watching a blizzard outside your window.  They are the most peaceful looking storms.  And… in my mind Blizzards and Miss Piggy are inextricably tied, thanks to my childhood days of the Muppet Family Christmas.  I would share a video of her in the storm, but I can’t seem to find one… so here is our storm:

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3.   Wabi sabi.   Say what-ey?  Wabi sabi is a Japanese idea centering on acceptance of imperfections.  Boiled down: true beauty is imperfect.  I recently learned of this term and I love it!  Not only is it super fun to say… (go ahead, try it ;))  It totally speaks my patina-loving heart.  Overly perfect homes just feel wrong.  It’s the worn spots, frayed edges, mismatched pieces that give a home it’s story and character.  Let’s embrace the imperfections!

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4.   Corn Chowder.  How could you go wrong combining the sweet cruchy goodness of corn into a buttery cream chowder?  I tried this recipe a few weeks ago, and it was fantastic!  I added a little extra Nature’s Seasoning at the end, otherwise I followed the instructions given.  And, it is fully Jake-tested-and-approved. 🙂  It’s so nice to have something warm to eat in winter, and this will definitley be one of my new go-tos!

Its really good! Crockpot Corn Chowder 4 potatoes (peeled and diced) 1 Can of cream corn 1 Can of whole kernel corn 2 Cups of chicken broth 8 Ounces of diced ham 1 Cups of diced onions 1/4 Cups of butter 2 Cups of half and half Place potatoes, both cans of corn, chicken broth, ham, and onions into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 7-8 hours. Mash the mixture to your desired consistency and then add the butter and half and half. Cook for an additional 30 minutes on high, and you are set.

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5.   Post (holiday) Party-dom.  It’s that time of year folks… the exciting activities of Christmas and the New Years have come and past and left us with eggnog gut, pine needle floors, chapped hands, and salty shoes.  (Was that dramatic enough? 😉 )  Sometimes, for me at least, it can be easy to fall in a funk this time of year.  It’s harder to do things outdoors, and therefore excercise, the days are darker, and few holidays are on the horizon.  But, despite all that it’s a new year!  And that’s exciting still.  So many memories to make this year!  Projects to tackle!  Experiences to have!  So let’s not cling to our Christmas trees and fall into post holiday party-dom, instead let’s celebrate this new year and spring on the (distant) horizon. 😉

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Happy weekend everyone! 🙂

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The Friday Five http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friday-five-8 http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-8/#respond Fri, 13 Dec 2013 12:00:00 +0000 http://mrsfancee.com/?p=2008 Happy Friday the 13th!  While in no way am I a superstitious person, some days I just have to wonder….  I forgot my laptop at home today, so I had to spend an extra hour in traffic driving back home and back to work again.  Then, when I finally got back, I realized I had […]

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Happy Friday the 13th!  While in no way am I a superstitious person, some days I just have to wonder….  I forgot my laptop at home today, so I had to spend an extra hour in traffic driving back home and back to work again.  Then, when I finally got back, I realized I had forgotten my power cord.  Friends, some day are just not meant to be…  and I’m afraid that day is today.  But the good news is, it’s almost the weekend!  Hopefully we all get a chance to relax, recharge and (for me at least) regain some sanity.

 

Friday Five

 

1.   Malachite.  I have been seeing this trend popping up in designs lately, and frankly… I love it!  You all know my newfound love for Emerald.  Malachite truly captures all the beatufiul green hues in the emerald spectrum.  Sometimes I find it interesting that the patterns/textures/colors I am most drawn to are found in nature.  But, then why should that be surprising?  They are the most beautiful designs of all because they were created by God.  It’s only natural that we should attempt to emulate their beauty in our design. 🙂

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2.   Snow.  Winter is offically here… with -20 degrees windchill I think I can fairly say, it is cold outside.  We’ve even had several snowy nights this week.  (I suppose if it’s going to be cold, there ought to be snow.)  But, for someone without a garage to conveniently heat my car safe from the elements, this weather can make life less than pleasant… Luckily, I have the next best thing.  Every morning Jake braves the brutal temperatures to scrape both his car and mine before leaving, and (if I’m not running too late….) even starts my car while I finish getting around.  With that kind of treatment, how can a girl complain? 😉

Let it snow

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3.   Christmas Decorating.  Not everyone is able to decorate in the traditional ways for Christmas: namely, a Christmas tree and stockings on the mantle.  For those who have homes sans fireplace, I love this as an alternative idea for hanging stockings!  We are mantle-less this year as well and will probably not be doing stockings, but I am excited to share a little Christmas decorating we did last week with you all… Stay tuned next week for our ‘alternative’ Christmas tree 🙂

A Rustic Christmas Mantel display on an upright Piano.

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4.   Chopped Salad.  We made this salad for dinner on Wednesday night, and it turned out wonderful!  I definitely recommend it for a nice change up from your typical salad routine.  The pear and cranberries add fun texture and sweetness, offset perfectly by the salty addition of feta and bacon.  Top it off with some balsamic vinaigrette and you have yourself one yummy salad!

Autumn Chopped Salad  *romaine lettuce  *2 pears, chopped  *1 cup dried cranberries  *1 cup chopped, roasted pecans  *8 slices bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled  *6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled  *Poppy seed Dressing   *Balsamic Vinaigrette

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5.   Mint.com.  Here is a little shout-out to the most helpful website of all time.  I have some kind of intention of dedicating a whole post on this topic someday.  But, for now, suffice to say that if you struggle with budgeting, don’t have time to count receipt totals, enjoy the modern tools of technology, or have bills and cards to juggle, you should be using this site.  Mint is an online site that allows you to track every aspect of your financials all in one simple account with tracking, analyzing, and trending tools galore!  (Can you say, ‘Accountant’s dream!’)  It can remind you of upcoming bills, alert you when you’ve gone overbudget, and help you achieve financial goals.  It’s cutting-edge (it’s absolutely top-of-the-line) makes it super user-friendly and easy to navigate for any user.  I do understand that people have reservations about linking their bank accoutns and credit cards online, but Mint employs extreme measure to ensure your information stays secure.  Try it out!

mint 300x149 mint.com scares me!

Happy weekend everyone! 🙂

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The Friday Five http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-7/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friday-five-7 http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-7/#respond Fri, 06 Dec 2013 12:00:00 +0000 http://mrsfancee.com/?p=2007 Did this seem like a quick week to anyone else?  I think we are all getting into holiday mode with Thanksgiving last weekend and Christmas upon us.  Hopefully you had a lovely week, and here are five thoughts to usher in the weekend!     1.  Tortoise Shell.  A new fashion love?  Previously I’d never given […]

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Did this seem like a quick week to anyone else?  I think we are all getting into holiday mode with Thanksgiving last weekend and Christmas upon us.  Hopefully you had a lovely week, and here are five thoughts to usher in the weekend!

 

Friday Five

 

1.  Tortoise Shell.  A new fashion love?  Previously I’d never given this look much thought (in fact, I’m pretty sure I used to dislike it).  But, after seeing these gorgeous Kate Spade tortoise shell earrings, I think I have a new opinion.  I love the warm colors… and to be honest, it totally reminds me of Cheetah print 😉  I must be sold on it because just the other week I purchased a sale watch at Loft that was gold and faux tortoise shell.  Overall, I think it’s just a chic and classic look… are you ready to jump on the bandwagon with me? 🙂

{ kate spade tortoise shell }

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2.   Harem Pants.  While Black Friday shopoing at Kohl’s last week, I spotted some ‘harem pants’ for ultra cheap!  They looked so comfy yet chic that I had to get them…. Now, this style is definitely out of my comfort zone, but I’ve been doing some research and it seems like there are a few key things needed to really pull off the look:  1.  heels or pointy toed shoes, 2. some kind of structure on top (structured shoulders, jacket etc.), and 3.  a graceful tuck (apparently long shirts over harem pants look sloppy).  Here is an inspiration board I’ve created to help motivate myself to actually wear the pants 😉

harem pants

 

3.   Pear and Goat Cheese Salad.  Folks, I have a new-found LOVE for salads.  I like to think it all began with pear and goat cheese salad from Go Roma.  This stuff is the bomb-digitty.  I mean, talk about a perfect salad….  Since then, I’ve had fabulous caesar salads, delectable chopped salads, and more.  Plust, at work when they provide lunch (which has been pretty often lately :)) they always serve a salad with it.  If ever asked, are you a salad or soup person?  I could whole-heartedly announce, ‘salad!’

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4.   Cheetah Phone Case. I’ve officially jumped off the deep end with this Cheetah craze…. Yes, below, that is the phone case I bought.  I must be totally crazy, but for whatever reason, when I went to order a new phone case I was totally digging the gold sparkles and velvet cheetah spots 😉  Well, I’m sure I am crazy, but I’m loving it!  Would you carry around a phone case like this?

cheetah print phone case  ~ gold glitter and black velvet spots

 

5.   It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Just because Jake and I were singing Christmas carols earlier this week, here is a little tune for you to start your weekend with!  I’m very excited for our first Christmas together.  But, since it is our first time, I think we are a little slow on the uptake with decorating and such.  Hopefully we’ll gather some neat decor and start some traditions, so when next year rolls around we’ll be ready before December rolls around!

Happy weekend everyone! 🙂

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The Friday Five http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-6/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friday-five-6 http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-6/#respond Fri, 22 Nov 2013 12:30:00 +0000 http://mrsfancee.com/?p=1898 It’s Friday everyone!  You’ve successfully accomplished the tasks of one more week and are now entitled to some relaxation 🙂  Hope you all are able to rest and enjoy yourselves this evening!  Here are five thoughts from this past week….     1.  Lake Geneva.   Last weekend, we went on a little vacation to get away […]

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It’s Friday everyone!  You’ve successfully accomplished the tasks of one more week and are now entitled to some relaxation 🙂  Hope you all are able to rest and enjoy yourselves this evening!  Here are five thoughts from this past week….

 

Friday Five

 

1.  Lake Geneva.   Last weekend, we went on a little vacation to get away and relax, and to celebrate Jake’s birthday.  Although it was a little rainy out, we were able to talk walk and drive around the lake and enjoy the beautiful homes and scenery.  We tried some fun new restaurants, and mostly spent a lot of time relaxing.  Unfortunately, we took no pictures!!! 🙁  We totally meant to, but was are so bad at remembering…. so taking more pictures will be one of my New Years Resolutions!

2.   Prayers.  Last Sunday’s tornados affected many people in the Midwest.  Specifically, Washington, IL where many people have lost their homes.  My best friend is from that area, and we praise the Lord that her family remained safe and was not affected by the storms.  But, many others were not so fortunate, so please remember them in your prayers!

3.   Spots.  They are totally THE in thing right now.  And I keep wavering on my stance about them.  I see them all over Pinterest and in the designs of my favorite home decor bloggers.  My inital reaction: they are so totally chic, neutral, yet high end.  I loved the look, but just wasn’t sure if they were too ‘high-fashion’ for me.  And… they remind me a little of dalmations and Cruella De Vil, which is kind of creepy. Nevertheless, their popularity has ballooned and now they are all over it seems, and I’m wondering… is this another crash and burn trend?  Or a new classic design that’s here to stay?

spotted rocker with gold base

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4.   Peanut Butter Thai Sauce.  I’ll admit, usually I’m a wimp when it comes to trying to foods…. especially if they are from the continent of Asia.  But, I believe I am slowly but surely getting out of my ‘food’ box and enjoying a iwder variety of cuisine.  My latest obsession is this fabulous peanut butter thai sauce!  Super easy to make and goes great on noodles, chicken, and veggies.  You whisk together: 1 tbsp peanut butter, 2 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, and 1 tsp sesame seeds.  I don’t know why, but it’s just so good!!!

Thai Peanut Sauce. Super easy & great on noodles or chicken: 1 tbsp peanut butter, 2 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp sesame seeds

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5.   Living large compactly.   Yeah that’s a weird title, but I was trying to be clever…  I love this picture below (found on Pinterest) of an ultra space efficient way to combine your living and dining area.  If you live in a studio apartment, chances are you don’t have space for a dedicated dining area.  By using a smaller table that functions as both a coffee table and eating surface, you save a lot of valuable space in your apartment.  And, you create the illusion of more space.  By using smaller, and less furniture your tiny space can still appear large and airy.  And stylish for that matter, I just love how sweet the room below is!

Maximizing a small space. Still beautiful and functional.

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Happy weekend everyone! 🙂

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The Friday Five http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-5/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friday-five-5 http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-5/#respond Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:30:00 +0000 http://mrsfancee.com/?p=1979 Happy Friday, everyone!  The weeks just go by so quick, it’s like I blink, and then it’s Friday again!  Adjusting to this new schedule of working full time, has been a challenge, but I think I’m slowly adapting.  I’m not quite to point where I get home and am ready to do anything besides relax […]

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Happy Friday, everyone!  The weeks just go by so quick, it’s like I blink, and then it’s Friday again!  Adjusting to this new schedule of working full time, has been a challenge, but I think I’m slowly adapting.  I’m not quite to point where I get home and am ready to do anything besides relax (hence the lack of crafts and decorating lately…), but I know that will come with time.

Friday Five

1.  Personalities.  Some of you know, I’ve been on a personality kick lately.  It’s so fun to think about why you are the way that you are.  And, I think understanding some of those things can help you recognize your weaknesses and work on those areas of your life.  So, I introduced a new series this week: Decorating for your Personality.  I’m really excited about it, and I would love to hear from you on the topic?  What is your Myers Briggs type?  Do you consider your personality in decorating decisions?  Love to hear from you!

Decorate for your Personality

 

2.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  Today is Jake’s 24th birthday, and I am so excited to celebrate with him!  We are spending the weekend in Lake Geneva to relax and celebrate.  Since he’s 24, here are 24 things I love about him:

(1) the way he makes me laugh, (2) his big green eyes,  (3) his service,  (4) his love for God, (5) his contagious smile, (6) how handy and helpful he is, (7) how he scrapes my car for me each morning, (8) his handsome blonde hair, (9) his mad basketball skillz, (10) how supportive he is of me, (11) how much fun we have together, (12) his love for nature, (13) his kind and caring spirit, (14) how he always holds my hand, (15) how he finds awesome free things for me, (16) how he’s my best friend, (17) his devious smile, (18) his ability to bring people together, (19) how he takes care of me, (20) how he never talks bad about anyone, (21) he’s so funny, (22) how he always loves what I love, (23) his handsome voice, (24) his wonderful heart

Mrs. Fancee

Happy Birthday, Jake!  I love you 🙂

 

3.   Deals.  On Tuesday night, I enjoyed a fabulous girls’ night with my dear friend.  We ate some Portillo’s and did some thrift shopping… How much better can it get? 😉  While at Clothes Mentor (a for-profit resale shop for trendy womens’ clothing), I spotted these black skinny jeans.  They were J Crews and still had the tags on for only $22!!!  While it’s not a Salvation Army price, for these jeans that sell for $98 new, this was a steal!  They were a little on the small side… but it was such a great deal, I convinced myself they would stretch out! 😉

Matchstick jean in overdyed black denim  |  Mrs. Fancee

4.   Craigslist.  Even though there is no more room in our apartment for more furniture, I still find myself browing for sweet deals on Craigslist.  There’s some awesome stuff out there that people just want to get rid of!  Wednesday, I found this beautiful antique mahogany chair for $35.  All it needs is a seat reupholster and it would be fabulous!!!  I’ve seen some designer chairs in this style with the rounded wooden bead look on Pinterest before.  At the time, I thought they were so neat, and I would never be able to afford a chair like that…. Think again!  While I would love to buy it, at least I can take solace in the fact that they are out there and there will always be more great deals on Craigslist.

antique mahogany chair on Craigslist  |  Mrs. Fancee

5.   Faux Marble.  Since I’ve been thinking about marble lately, when I came across this on Pinterest, I had to click over and read about it!  Courtney, from A Thoughtful Place, shares how she created the look of marble for next to nothing by covering her countertops with marble paper and sealing it.  What a creative way to achieve more for less!

faux marble

That’s all for now, have a fantastic weekend! 🙂

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Thanksgiving Decor and Crafts Ideas | The Friday Five http://naomibjerk.com/thanksgivingdecordraftsideas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thanksgivingdecordraftsideas http://naomibjerk.com/thanksgivingdecordraftsideas/#comments Fri, 08 Nov 2013 12:30:00 +0000 http://mrsfancee.com/?p=1895 A Thanksgiving Decor and Crafts Roundup I always feel like Thanksgiving decor gets pushed by the wayside… it’s the poor neglected holiday that everyone forgets to decorate for (probably because they are so busy cooking!).  Think about it, everyone went fall-decor crazy a month or so ago, then Halloween comes along and people do all sorts of […]

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A Thanksgiving Decor and Crafts Roundup

I always feel like Thanksgiving decor gets pushed by the wayside… it’s the poor neglected holiday that everyone forgets to decorate for (probably because they are so busy cooking!).  Think about it, everyone went fall-decor crazy a month or so ago, then Halloween comes along and people do all sorts of creepy decorating (sorry if you are into that, it’s just not my personal preference).  As soon as the calendar flips to November, it’s suddenly Christmas season already!

Now, I don’t blame people… who couldn’t be anxious for Christmas??  But, I think it’s only fair that we give (in my personal opinion) the second best holiday at least relative thought and festivity.  There you have it, there’s my case for decorating for Thanksgiving! 😉

Give Thanks  |  Mrs. Fancee

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When I started thinking about Thanksgiving a little while back, I was stumped.  How do you decorate for Thanksgiving anyway?  Turkeys, pilgrims, and indian corn… that’s all I got, folks.  So, I turned to my trusty friend, Pinterest, for some fresh and fun Thanksgiving decor inspiration, and now I am enlightening you all with my fab finds. 😉

Thanksgiving Decor Roundup  |  Mrs. Fancee

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The entire holiday centers around thankfulness.  Why not display your thankfulness in your decor?  I love this idea as you can reuse some of your fall/Halloween pumpkins.  Plus, who doesn’t love a festive banner? 🙂  for this simple craft, print out your text and trace firmly around the edges onto your pumpkins, then paint.

Thanksgiving Craft Roundup  |  Mrs. Fancee

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This craft may be my favorite… DIY chalkboard chargers.  Use them to write your guests names on.  Then, give them each a piece of chalk so they can write what they’re thankful for!  This is a very easy and inexpensive craft.  All you need is some cheap chargers from Hobby Lobby or IKEA, and a can of chalkboard spraypaint.

Thanksgiving Decor Ideas  |  Mrs. Fancee

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Here’s a fresh spin on turkey decor… Try using feathers, tied to the napkins, or in a cup as a centerpiece.  I like this subtle way to celebrate the first Thanksgiving’s turkey without being overbearing with it.

Thanksgiving Crafts and Decor Ideas  |  Mrs. Fancee

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How sweet is this simple Kraft paper place setting?  Kraft paper is so understatedly chic.  Let your family and friends write out what they’re thankful for right on the table.  I love this modern yet thoughtful way to express thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas  |  Mrs. Fancee

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This inspiring Thanksgiving vignette reminds us of the roots of the holiday in celebrating harvest.  Use wheat in a vase or gathered with ribbon as a reminder to be thankful for your ‘harvest.’

Thanksgiving

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Finally, I wanted to share this simple Thanksgiving dinner table.  It’s minimalism reminds me that it’s the simplest things that I am most thankful for.  The people I love, and God’s eternal provision and love.  I hope we all can spend some time to reflect on how blessed we are, and that you all have a lovely Thanksgiving!

And, since it is Friday….

Here are my Friday Five:

Friday Five

1. Black Laqcuer. I am convinced it is the most beautiful finish for doors.  And many other surfaces for that matter…  Lacquer is the ultimate in glossiness.  It gives black a richer look that I just love.  Of course I had to look into how to paint lacquer since I definitely forsee trying it in my (likely distant) future.  Well, it is definitely more work than your typical paint job.  Lacquer dries nearly instantly, so you can’t use a brush or roller, you must spray it on.  Renting a paint sprayer can be relatively inexpensive though, so I am definitely still game on this idea.

black lacquered mudroom doors // I am loving the look of black lacquer lately!

2. Halloween.  While we did not do anything to celebrate, my little brother went as a ‘creeper’ from Minecraft, a costume my mom made for him.  So adorable, right?  You may need to see how much he loves the game to understand the cuteness factor. 🙂

Minecraft creeper Halloween costume

3. Peanut Butter Thai Sauce.  Lately this is my favorite. thing. ever.  I decided I wanted to try my own peanut thai recipe after a visit to flattop where I indulged in their beyond delicious peanut sauce.  It turns out, this is a super simple and quick sauce to whip up!  Serve with chicken noodles and rice and you have one scrumptious  dinner. Recipe: 1 tbsp peanut butter, 2 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp sesame seeds.  Just whisk together and pour over your meal!

Thai Peanut Sauce. Super easy & great on noodles or chicken: 1 tbsp peanut butter, 2 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp sesame seeds

4. Sweaters. I am finally ready for sweater season.  I know some of you fall enthusiasts broke yours own as soon as the first leave turned, but not me.  While I like the idea of sweaters, in practicality I often hesitate to wear them as I fear I will be too hot or uncomfortable.  It takes an extreme degree of chilly in order for me to crave these cozy knits.  But, I officially wore a sweater this week, so it is time.  Bring on the sweaters!  (and how sweet/adorable/feminine/cute/awesome is this ensemble?? love it!)

fall style

5.  Venison Jerky.  Last weekend, Jake was out bow hunting and shot a deer.  It was a pretty exciting night, but I will spare you the pictures…  Suffice to say our freezer is now well stocked with deer meat, and our apartment smells like liquid smoke from making a batch of jerky.  We (Ok, mostly Jake ;)) used this recipe and (I’ve been told) it turned out phenomenal!  (I’m just not a jerky fan).  So, if you know any good venison recipes, send them my way! I’m excited to expand my cooking horizons. 🙂

 picture from here

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!  And don’t forget to decorate for Thanksgiving 😉 Until next time, ta ta!

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The Friday Five http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friday-five-4 http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-4/#respond Fri, 18 Oct 2013 07:30:00 +0000 http://mrsfancee.com/?p=1899 Happy Happy Friday!!!  We made it. 🙂  It’s been a very long week here.  I’ve been spending long hours in tax training 101, and am experiencing information overload.  But, I am thankful for the weekend and some time to absorb it all and relax.  Without further ado… I bring you the Friday Five:     […]

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Happy Happy Friday!!!  We made it. 🙂  It’s been a very long week here.  I’ve been spending long hours in tax training 101, and am experiencing information overload.  But, I am thankful for the weekend and some time to absorb it all and relax.  Without further ado… I bring you the Friday Five:

Friday Five

 

 

1.  Portillo’s Cake Shake.  This shake is pure chocolate-y heaven.  If you ever visit Chicago (or happen to live in the area)  Portillo’s chocolate cake shake is my #1 must try!  This popular Chicago chain is known for their Chicago style hotdogs and fun prohibition era decor.  They bake fresh chocolate cake every day (Rumor has it they put mayo in it to keep it so moist!).  Then, they take their unsold day-old cake and blend it up into a chocolate shake for a super rich, sweet treat.  You need to try this…. 😉

Portillo's Hot Dogs

 

 

2.   Pillows.  Do you ever feel like you are in a pillow rut?  I do…  Lately I’ve been thinking I’m ready for a new look for our couches.  There are so many fun options out there!  IKEA has some super affordable and gorgeous pillow covers.  I saw this couch on Pinterest, featuring this bold and beautiful array of texture-filled pillows.  Texture is what I would like to aim for with the new covers and pillows.  What pillows inspire you?

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3.   Small Town Festivals.  There is something so charming about small town festivities.  Last weekend Jake and I met some friends for dinner and were able to see the town’s Settler Days.  My friend and I braved the the scariest ride there:

Settler Days in Marengo

 

It was fun to experience the town’s community.  Small towns have an enchanting way of feeling relaxed and exciting all at once.  I will admit, I had to laugh…. I counted about five children running around with two-liters of pop.  You don’t see that very often 😉

 

4.   Winter Work Shoes.  What are dressy winter shoes?  I’ve been pondering just that this week as I nearly freeze every day in my tax training (don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful it’s cold, it keeps me awake).  But, my heels (sans socks) are just not cutting it.  Most tall boots are just not dress looking, so that leaves booties.  For whatever reason, I’m slightly intimidated by the popular shoes.  I know that is silly, but now I am thinking I need to get over that insecurity because they seem to be my only option for this winter.  Any suggestions or tips? 🙂

Banana Republic classic black #booties

5.   What Does the Fox Say.  It’s the weekend… so why not 😉

 

Happy weekend everyone! 🙂

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The Friday Five http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friday-five-3 http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-3/#respond Fri, 11 Oct 2013 07:30:00 +0000 http://mrsfancee.com/?p=1657 Happy, happy Friday, all! 🙂  Welcome to a little slice of my life this week… Sharing what I’m doing/loving/wanting/feeling lately.  Thanks for reading my Friday Five, and have a lovely weekend! 1.  Life as a Tax Accountant.  This week I began working full time: here is a little peek at my first day outfit.  Accounting […]

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Happy, happy Friday, all! 🙂  Welcome to a little slice of my life this week… Sharing what I’m doing/loving/wanting/feeling lately.  Thanks for reading my Friday Five, and have a lovely weekend!

Friday Five 1.  Life as a Tax Accountant.  This week I began working full time: here is a little peek at my first day outfit.  Accounting firms are notoriously conservative about dress codes, so I figured on my first day I would wear my most acceptable, conservative outfit.  Well, I just felt a little blah in it, so I added my LOFT necklace for some subtle bling 🙂  I think it made all the difference!

work outfit

 

2.   Another Feature!  I was featured again by Knock Off Decor, for my milky mercury glass vases.  I was so excited last time when Becky featured my gold leaf bird art, and am even more excited to have this one shared!

pbknockoff

 

3.   A Place to Call Home.  Last weekend we enjoyed the beautiful fall weather and just took a drive.  I miss doing that, taking a drive (preferably a scenic area, not I90 or something…) is so peaceful and sweet.  Well, it got me thinking about a ‘someday home.’  Driving past different neighborhoods and houses, I started making a mental list of things I would look for in my someday home.  Here’s what I have so far….

  • Oak trees- tall, thick, twisty, old oak trees that just cover the yard in colorful leaves this time of year.
  • Feeling of seclusion- even if I’m less than a mile from the interstate, when I come home I want to feel like I just drove down a gravel road by a farm or forest.
  • Old house charm- I want a house with a story, with many years of living and laughing, and bad decorating styles 😉  Something unique to call mine.
  • Water- wouldn’t it be lovely to live near water?  I’d take anything: a pond, river, lake, stream…

I think this picture sums those up pretty well.  😉  What would you look for in a ‘someday home?’

I miss this.

 via

4.   Picnics.  The world needs more picnics.  I am convinced that people need to spend more time enjoying food out in nature.  We had a picnic date night on Wednesday and it was a lovely way to connect and appreciate God’s creation.  Go picnic, ’nuff said… 😉

via

5.   Style Me Pretty Living Gallery.  While I was no stranger to SMP in my wedding planning days, I must admit I haven’t checked them out in a while.  But, my oh my… they have a lifstyle site!!! And it is choc full of unbelievable gorgeousness.   I am totally loving their gallery pics right now.  I know where my next 500 pinterest pins are coming from… just sayin’  😉

SMP living gallery

Happy weekend everyone! 🙂

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The Friday Five http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friday-five-2 http://naomibjerk.com/friday-five-2/#comments Fri, 04 Oct 2013 07:30:00 +0000 http://mrsfancee.com/?p=1655 Can you believe it’s October already?  Where does the time go… 🙂  I’m really liking this series, not only because I get to share bits and pieces of my week with you all (which is so wonderful by the way!), but also because I think it will serve as a sort of journal of our […]

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Can you believe it’s October already?  Where does the time go… 🙂  I’m really liking this series, not only because I get to share bits and pieces of my week with you all (which is so wonderful by the way!), but also because I think it will serve as a sort of journal of our life.  I’m terrible at journaling, yet there are so many memories I wish I had documented to remember forever!  Well, in a way I’m doing that here, by writing a bit about each week, it will forever be saved to remember 🙂

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Friday Five

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1.   Fall Crafts.  I mentioned last week that I had finally accepted the change of seasons.  And, I’ve been scouring Pinterest for some crafty fall inspiration.  Below are some of my favorite finds.  For whatever reason, I haven’t committed to actually crafting anything yet… I can be so picky (and cheap) about choosing a craft project.  Hopefully next week I will whip up something!

fourfunfallcrafts

  1. Brown Paper Flowers – Make these adorable and budget friendly paper flowers with an excellent tutorial from a Place for Us.
  2. Autumn Chalkboard Painting – Learn how to get the perfect chalkboard look with a projector! Clarendon Lane showcases this beautiful chalkboard and explains how you can DIY one too.
  3. Funky Pumpkin – make this totally tribal pumpkin to modernize your fall decor this year.  Click on over for a tutorial from DIY Confessions.
  4. Acorn Wreath – This cute-as-a-button fall wreath would be such an easy DIY.  Collect acorns, and twigs from outdoors and hot glue to your foam wreath.  Ta-da! Acorn goodness 🙂  Spotted at Perfectly Imperfect.

 

2.  Baking/Cooking. This week has been both successful and disastrous in the kitchen arena.  On Monday I baked some yummy apple pie, that somehow turned out quite good.  But, on Tuesday I made homemade chili and cornbread…. only I left the cornmeal out of the bread making it a sickly sweet cakey thing.  Then on Wednesday, I waaaay overcooked the corn: chewy to the point of inedible.  Sometimes it’s frustrating to make such silly mistakes… and I know part of it is because I am not a super careful, detail-oriented person.  But, then I think of the running joke about newlyweds eating burnt suppers for a year and realize overall it hasn’t been that bad 🙂

burn-the-beer-schlitz-ad

3.  This Kitchen.  I discovered this amazing kitchen makeover on Pinterest.  That kitchen island… *swoon*  Brandi at Nest of Bliss is a new blogger (just like me!) who is on a mission to renovate and revive a FABulous century old farmhouse (this is the stuff dreams are made of).  And she and her fiance are doing it all themselves on a budget!  I’m so excited to follow along with their reno journey, and am hoping that someday Jake and I will have some amazing fixer-upper to call our own 🙂  You can follow her on bloglovin’ here.

DIY Budget Kitchen Makeover

 

4.   Nail polish.  I officially have a new favorite… Yes I Can by Spa Ritual.  I just love the color, so dark and rich for fall!  For whatever reason, my skin complexion does not cooperate with most dark nail polishes, so I’m really excited to find one I like.  I think the warm tones in this green are what make it work. (Apologies for the terrible picture…)

yesican

5.  Skunks. Our apartment complex has a skunk problem…. I’m talking bad, people. Like one out of three times you go out at night, you will see one within a hundred feet of yourself.  Once on a walk around the grounds, we happened upon-not one-but three skunks parading around the office in a line.  It was quite amusing.  Until Jake decided he wanted to get as close as possible. No thank you sir! Skunks are not to be messed with in my book… PU!  Well, last night we watched one from our deck rooting around the lawn and it inspired a youtube session.  I will share our fun with you:

Happy weekend everyone! 🙂

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