DIY: Story About Doors

I've received a few emails asking about the wedding doors. Rather than answer each email individually I figured I'd answer as many questions as I can here. I received question like: how did we put the frame together, how did we stabilize them, and did the doors actually open and close? 

Before I answer what I can I should preface this post. My dad owns a construction business; he builds things. I don't and I most definitely didn't build these. However, I spoke to mom and dad about how he build this and what materials he used. He used a bunch of words I didn't know, but I tried my best to keep up.

So, here is the wedding doors how-to as I understand it!

Here is the diagram I drew based on what he told me:

• To build everything "we" used 2x6 boards i.e. these
• The doors definitely opened and closed (that was the whole point for us). We used black hinges that attached to the doors and the frame
• We attached handles to one side of the door and not the other. They swung out, so we attached them to the outside side. 
• For extra stability we drove cut rebar (15 inches) into the ground. Your local hardware store will probably have other stakes in various materials that would work.
• We placed large ferns in front of the A-frame so you couldn't see it. You can see that better in the picture below.
• The platform 2x6 boards on both sides of the frame (that laid flat on the ground) are important to keep the doors and frame upright preventing them from falling over on your guests!
• To attach the sigh above the doors we used metal brackets (can see better below)
• The frame was built and assembled beforehand. The doors and sign were attached at the venue.

The three pictures below may give you a better idea of the frame, hinges, and how we tried to camouflage the ugly important stuff.

I hope this helps at least a little bit! Good luck!

Favorite Things: Stocking Stuffers

I'll be honest, when I first learned what Elise and Jen planned for today's "favorite things" topic was I wasn't going to participate. I never know what to put in stockings and sometimes stocking stuffers end up being silly meaningless trinkets. So, I was just going to hope y'all were more creative than me and I was going to steal borrow your ideas! However, once I started "just looking around" I realized how many great gifts options there are for stocking stuffers! 

I had more fun creating this list than I did my own favorite things list!

{one} Essie nail polish. I'm a self-admitted Essie snob. I know there may be other cheaper and better options out there but I can't help it; I love Essie. I'm also loving these two winter colors and if they showed up in my stocking I wouldn't complain.

{two} This ones for the husband. When it comes to ticket stubs, especially Tech tickets, he's a hoarder. I'm pretty sure he has every ticket to every game he has ever been too. This would be a great place to keep all his tickets together. Selfishly this would be the perfect way to get rid of the big manilla folders he has for every years worth of tickets {yup, different folder for every year}.

{three} Earphones like these showed up in my stocking a year ago. I'm super picky about earphones because a lot of them don't fit in my ears, so I was a bit skeptical at first. To my surprise these fit perfectly! Best part? They have a mic, so you can take phone calls without having to pick up your phone. These are perfect for talking to mom or Sis while I'm on my morning walks!

{four} These coupons are adorable! I'm a huge fan of gifts that last a while, so coupons have always been my favorite kind of gift. Mom use to give us coupon books for Valentine's Day and we loved it! How sweet and simple are these coupon tickets? 

{five} Rollerball perfumes are so much cheaper than the bigger spray bottles. Ever since I started receiving Birchbox I started getting more adventurous with perfume. These little rollerballs allow you to have a few different scents to choose from rather than having to commit to just one smell.

{six} I stumbled upon this "Awkward Moments Card Game" and love it! I'm a huge fan of card games and pretty much feel like my life is one big awkward moment. This game is perfect!

{seven} When we were registering for gifts for our wedding, James wanted to register for a flavor infusing pitcher. I didn't really see the point, but went along with it. Well, we got it and I love it! I drink more water if it's flavored with lemon or lime {I've heard good things about strawberry water} and if I have my own water bottle. This water bottle is the best of both worlds!

Chicken Quinoa Salad

I crave Mexican food pretty much everyday. Unfortunately, the husband doesn't share my obsession. This salad was the perfect compromise; enough Mexican flavors for me without being too much for him. He's usually doesn't like bird food {salads} for dinner, but this one got his seal of approval.

I work late a few nights a week and need quick and easy meals. I was able to get this started before I left for work and just assemble when I got home. 

Quick, easy, and yummy!

 

Chicken Quinoa Salad 

Crock Pot Chicken *This chicken would be great for tacos too

Adapted from here

1½ lbs. boneless & skinless chicken breasts

16 oz. jar of salsa

1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 can corn kernels (drained and rinsed)

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper (add more if you like food spicier and less if you don't)

2-3 cloves of garlic minced (I was lazy and used 2 tsp. of minced garlic from a jar)

1/2 tsp. each of salt and pepper

• Place chicken in crock pot and top with black beans, corn, garlic, seasonings, and salsa. Give a quick stir.
•  Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours. 
• Shred chicken with two forks

Quinoa

1½  cups chicken broth

1 cup quinoa

• Rinse quinoa well*
• Combine quinoa and broth** and bring to a boil uncovered.
• Once it’s boiling reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed.

*This is a really important step. The seeds are coated with saponins, which can cause a bitter unpleasant taste. Once you rinse this goes away. Most quinoa is rinsed before packaging, but it’s always safe to rinse again.

**Use any kind of broth you have or prefer. I always cook quinoa in broth instead of water. Broth adds more flavor and adding flavor wherever you can is good :) 

Assemble the salad

• Start with lettuce of choice and layer with quinoa and then chicken. 
• Top with whatever garnishes you like: cheese, salsa, green onions, sour cream (I substitute plain greek yogurt)
• Serve and enjoy!

I made the quinoa while I was getting everything in the crock pot. Once it was done I put it in the fridge so I didn't have to cook when I got home. I actually served the quinoa cold, but you could definitely heat it up before assembling.

If you've never had quinoa before give it a try! While it resembles a grain, it's not, it's a complete protein and naturally gluten free. If you don't feel adventurous or if you just don't like quinoa rice would be a good substitute.

Hope you enjoy!

Weekend in Pictures

Friday:

We celebrated 5 months of being married at South City Kitchen! 

Really we were celebrating good news about James' job, and it just happened to fall on the same day.

Saturday:

James has been a great sport going to quite a few of my games this year. I figured it was time I repaid the gesture. As much as it pains me to wear navy and gold yellow lime green? {no clue what color that scarf is} it makes the husband happy. I always make sure to get a little red in there :)

I still can't talk about what happened with the UGA game. Happy about a win, but my heart is hurting... 

Sunday:

Celebrated James' mom's birthday at Seed. If you ever are in Marietta, GA you have to try this place.

And just because I love you I'll leave you with chocolate peanut butter perfection:

5 on Friday, Vol. 9

After a crazy week I'm so happy it's Friday! Time to linkup for my favorite post of the week with the lovely Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha.

  

{O N E}

New blog name!
While I'm loving the new name it has affected followers. Readers have had to re-follow on both Google and Bloglovin'. If this is the case for you I hope you continue following along on!!

{T W O}

This pie. Y'all Monday was bad. One of those days where everything went wrong and it just kept getting worse. The husband knew I was struggling {I may have called him 3 or 4 times crying}, so when I got home he had this waiting for me. He's knows me so well. I'm convinced salt goes with caramel like peanut butter goes with chocolate. It just works.

{T H R E E}

Bar Method! Technically this isn't happening until next week, but I'm so excited I can't stand it! I did Bar Method for a few months to help get into wedding shape. After my first class I was hooked! Sadly, Bar Method no longer fits in the budget so I've had to stop. I miss it everyday and haven't even come close to finding a workout routine I love nearly as much.
Monday they are having a free class and I can't even express how pumped I am to go. As if that wasn't good enough my first friend Cara is coming in from Dallas for Thanksgiving and she is joining me!!
Doesn't get any better than first friend Bar Method dates!!

Just a little thigh work before walking down the aisle!

{F O U R}

This dinner. I made this Chicken Taco Quinoa Salad for dinner earlier this week and it was yummy! I'm planning on posting the recipe next week. So good and so easy. Just my kind of dinner!

{F I V E}

Sis and Micah's wedding pictures have been posted and they are insanely gorgeous!!!

Amy Arrington Photography

Happy Weekend!!

My Favorite Things

I'm so excited to be linking up with the super sweet Elise and Jen. 

I love their "Favorite Things" idea! Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite things and what's on my Christmas list this year! {hint! hint! James!}

{one} I have been searching for brown boots for a while now. I saw these in Target the other day and immediately decided that I needed them. I love the color and the studs on the back. Also loving these. Target really knows what their doing when it comes to shoes! 

{two} So, when it comes to perfume I'm pretty boring. I wore the same thing for years before I finally branched out. However, ever since I started getting Birchbox I've been forced to try new things. I've never been a big Juicy fan, but I'm obsessed with how this perfume smells. It's my new favorite and since I'm out of the sample size it's time to get some more! They also have these {found here and here} cute rollerball sizes that are perfect for traveling. 

{three} I've never been a big monogram person. Being from the South I know this is shocking. However, I'm loving gold monogram necklaces and have been lusting after this one ever since the wedding. 

{four} I love the prints from The Southern Wedding Shop. So sweet and so pretty and they would go perfectly on our {future} gallery wall. Gold, teal, pink I love them all! | 

{five} It's finally time for a hair wand. Sis stole took her curling iron back, so I've been left with no way to perfect my hair curling abilities. I think it's about time I got my own and I've heard good things about this Cortex one. 

{six} This pillow was one of my favorite wedding gifts. It was the first gift I received with my new last name on it. It sits on our bed in front of all our other pillows. 

{seven} Sis made this cross for me a few years ago and I've loved it ever since! It use to sit on a shelf in my bedroom, and now it hangs on a wall in our apartment. It's colorful and crafty and probably my favorite thing she has made for me. She also makes little ornament ones, so I'm trying to convince her into letting me have one of those of our tree. 

Be sure to link up with Elise and Jen and share some of your favorite things this year!

Name Change

The name of this blog will be changing today {along with the email address}. If you follow, and want to continue following, through Google you will need to unfollow "Something Turquoise" and follow "Taylored and Turquoise". 

If you follow through "Bloglovin" you will need to make sure to re-follow the new url. 

Click the button above to follow with Bloglovin!

The look and everything else will remain the same; however, if you know any good {and inexpensive} blog designers please let me know!

Sorry for any inconveniences, but thank so much! I hope y'all continue to follow along!

We Survived AND Had Fun!

We went camping and we survived! We came home with no injuries and we didn't run into any serial killers {too much Criminal Minds lately}.

The first time James I went camping we had only been dating 3 months. We had no electricity, bathrooms, or running water. I don't think either of our families were expecting us to come back still speaking to each other. We came back still dating {we actually said "I love you" for the first time on that trip}, but James promised me we wouldn't go camping like that again. Even so, when he suggested going camping this year I was really nervous. While we had a good time, peeing in the woods wasn't my idea of fun!

Thankfully, this trip was much different. The bathrooms were within walking distance and we had electricity. Heater inside the tent? Don't mind if I do! 

I set my camera right by the door so I wouldn't forget it. Guess what? I forgot it. I absolutely did not stomp around the campsite and pout. Okay, so maybe I did...

James taught me the 2 rules of camping: don't set up camp in the dark and don't set up in the rain. We managed to do both. By the time everything was finally set up it was time for a much deserved drink by the campfire that was next to impossible to get started in the rain. 

Hot dogs roasted over the campfire for dinner? Not happening...

Story-time: When I was in 2nd grade I had a serious fear of fires. Like cried every night and couldn't sleep kind of fear. I ended up seeing the school counselor for a few weeks and we had to get an escape ladder that we put under the bed. I prayed every night:
 Dear God,
 Please bless my family and everyone in the world.
Please don't let there be any fires or any burglaries.
Please keep my family safe.
Amen
 I actually prayed this way longer than I'm willing to admit; there is no way I still start my nighttime prayers with this :) I digress, eventually my fear went away, but now I have a crazy odd fascination with fire. I love watching it and watching things burn. It's weird.

Back to camping. Saturday we woke up and went hiking. Really, we just climbed up and down lots of stairs. We were camping at the top of a canyon and there were some really pretty waterfalls once you climbed hiked to the bottom of the canyon. Any sort of water in nature is my happy place, so I was in love.

 The husband knew how upset I was about forgetting my camera, so he offered to be photographer for the weekend. He's sweet :)

I just had to make sure we made it back by 3:30 so I could watch my awful game. I camped out in the hammock for about 30 minutes watching the game on my phone before I just couldn't handle it anymore. Y'all, I can't even... :( 

I was smiling at this point; the game obviously hadn't started yet.

Some couple friends of ours joined us for our second night of camping. We spent the evening huddled around the fire playing the "Newlywed Game." Moral of that story: James and I know really odd things about each other. If there was ever a fire one of the three things he would grab would be his Calvin Johnson signed football. I would grab my pillow. We both got this right... we just work.

We're made it home safely and in desperate need of a shower. Good sign of a successful camping trip!

Hope you all had a great weekend!!

Five on Friday, Vol. 8

Happy Friday All!

Linking up with the lovely Darci, Natasha, April, and Christina to share a few favorites this week.

 {O N E}

During my first solo shopping trip last Friday I picked up this dress. James' work has a big Christmas party every year and I thought this would be cute to dress it up. It doubles as a great work dress and is the most comfortable thing ever! I'm planning of wearing tights and little black booties for the party. I'm seriously considering stepping out of my box and wearing black tights with little gold dots to add some sparkle {yup, really going crazy here ;)}. 

Any of you fashion smart people have any advice? Gold dots or just textured black tights?

{T W O}

I linked over yesterday to The Thankful Project for the first time. Today's prompt is: an annoyance. I actually wrote about this earlier this week. Rather than rehash it all again I'll just send you over to it here. It so hard to appreciate the hard and annoying stuff, but ultimately the hard stuff is what brings me closer to God. So, that's it reason enough for me to appreciate the annoyances. 

{T H R E E}

When I lived with my parents my dad used to bring me Starbucks almost everyday after his 6 am run. It was great. I think that was the one habit James was most worried about me not breaking when we got married. I've suffered through survived without my daily Starbucks fix.

Wednesday night James was on a work trip in Rhode Island, so I stayed the night with mom and dad. I woke up yesterday morning to my Starbucks delivered by dad. My heart was so happy. I love that man!

{F O U R}

Yes, I'm married. Yes, I already planned my dream wedding. Yes, I bought this magazine. 

Yes, I'm so excited to read it. What can I say? I'm a sucker for pretty wedding pictures!

{F I V E}

We're going camping this weekend. I'm hoping to give y'all a recap on Monday as long as we don't freeze and as long as we survive {I may have a super irrational fear of dying in the woods}. James loves camping. I love sleeping in beds. I'm going along with this because it makes him happy. The things we do for those we love :)

Have a safe, happy, and warm weekend!

Blessed in Costa Rica

I'm crazy behind on this whole Thankful Project, which by the way in an incredible idea. How do people come up with this stuff? I wish I had started from the beginning and challenged myself to participate everyday, but alas I'm joining in on the 14th. While I would love to say I will post everyday for the rest of the month let's be real people, I just can't promise that kind of commitment. I will do my best and pop over a few more times throughout the rest of the month.

Today's topic is: a blessing.

The summer before my last semester at UGA Sis and I did a six-week internship in Costa Rica. It was an awesome experience: eye opening, tough, so much fun, and life changing. On the weekend we traveled to different parts of the country and during the week we volunteered in our home-base town. For the first 3 weeks I taught English to Kindergartens and 6th graders. The next 3 weeks Sis and I volunteered in an orphanage for girls’ ages 12-18 who had been taken out of their homes. We couldn't communicate aside from our super broken Spanish and a whole bunch of nodding and pointing. In spite of that, they changed me. They taught me how strong and resilient a person can be, to laugh at myself, and most importantly, about God's love.

Besides just being an insane blessing that we were able to go to Costa Rica, it was this experience that really solidified what I wanted to do with my life. Up until this time I had considered and pursued being a teacher, a physical therapist, a sports psychologist, and then a school psychologist, but none of those options felt right. Through being around these girls I realized I wanted to work with adolescent girls. I didn't know in what capacity this would end up happening, but I really felt like God was putting this on my heart and preparing me for what I would ultimately end up doing. I'm so thankful for this experience and everything I learned and saw there.

Let's Get Real

I've had this post sitting in my drafts folder for a few weeks now. I've tried writing it about half a dozen times, but just haven't been sure what to say or where to start. I've been inspired by a few bloggers lately to "get real." It's so easy to see snippets of a person's life on the internet and think that it's perfect. At least in my case, it's not. I have struggles, insecurities, and just plain old bad days. While it's more fun to write about good times I think there can be benefits to writing about the not so good times too.

So in leu of writing about something "good" today I'm write about something real to me:
Anxiety

I've struggled with anxiety pretty much all my life. Growing up it was centered around school and swimming. I was the weird kid behind the blocks 5 events {45 minutes} before my race with butterflies in my stomach every meet every race.

My anxiety followed me to college and through grad school. I worried about everything; tests, papers, and deadlines. If I'm being honest here my anxiety probably helped me to get a lot of stuff done.

Part of me hoped that once I graduated my anxiety would just go away. Unfortunately, it hasn't. Now my anxiety doesn't discriminate or stay centered around one area. Now it can be about anything and everything. I worry about social situations {I'm very thankful for my outgoing extroverted husband}, I worry something bad will happen to someone I love, I worry I'm not trusting God and His plan, I worry that I'm not a good enough ________ {wife, daughter, sister....}, and I worry about how much I worry!

I should go ahead and mention that my anxiety comes and goes. Some days are better than others and some days are bad. 

I've got to give major props to the husband here. He was born with, what I've loving termed, the "fix it gene." If something is wrong he's wired to want to fix it and make it better. Problem with my anxiety is can't always be"fixed." Sometimes it just is what it is. While I imagine this is a major frustration for him, he doesn't let it show. He continues to tell me everything will be okay and he's there. Ya know what? Even if I don't feel like everything will be okay it helps just knowing he's always on my side.

So, what have I done about my anxiety? In the past I've taken medication. While I'm not opposed to that option in the least, I don't think it's best for me right now. As corny as it sounds breathing helps a lot, but the thing that has been most helpful for me is reminding myself to give it up to God. God knows me and my worries and often times just praying for the ability to trust Him helps the most. I've also read "Calm My Anxious Heart" and felt convicted in the best way possible. I have every intention of reading that book again... like yesterday!

I say all of this to say I think it's okay to admit I struggle sometimes and life isn't always butterflies and rainbows. Sometimes it feels good to get real and open up a bit. 

Thanks for letting me share a bit about me.

*And because every good blog post needs a picture. How can you not feel calm while looking at this?*

Quick Weekend Review

Friday:

I did something I've never done before: I went shopping... by myself! Yup, that's right. I've never gone shopping alone. I'm not a big shopper. Clothing stores kinda overwhelm me, so I tend to avoid them. Friday was different. My plan was to run into Old Navy get what I wanted, not try it on, and leave. However, there was such cute stuff I decided to try a few things on. Granted I spent the entire time texting pictures to mom and sis to make sure it all looked good, but I think it still counts. Honestly, it was actually kind of fun, and I feel like such a grown up for having done it {almost} all by myself!

Saturday:

We spent the day in Athens cheering on the Dawgs! I should mention James did not cheer for UGA; he just cheered for football. I was a little nervous after the first half, but they got their act together in the second and pulled out a nice win for Homecoming.

Football isn't so much mom's thing :)

Sunday:

My father-in-law's birthday is this week, so we celebrated Sunday afternoon. We went to one of our favorite Italian restaurants and ate our weight in food. So good... so full! Always love seeing my in-laws and my favorite SIL.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!