I Married a Genius

I adopted a very bad habit from my father when I learned how to drive: when taking trips, you must drive with a DVD player. When I was 20, he bought me my own travel DVD player so I could do just that when visiting home from college. I never really watched the shows/movies I played (which was 99% of the time FRIENDS), I mostly just plugged one ear phone in (since having 2 in is illegal...and driving with a DVD player isn't :-P) and listened.

Well, the bad habit finally got the best of my husband and anytime we travel, I had to grab my player. The last trip to St. Louis was about 7 weeks ago and we were trying to watch SNL: Best of Will Ferrell when Jeremy starting complaining the volume wasn't loud enough, the screen wasn't bright enough, etc etc etc. It was then he informed me of his next project endeavor: installing a DVD player/screen into his car.

The project took him 6 weeks, multiple versions, and time, time, time!

Check it out!

Jeremy with his dash console out of the car and his new LCD screen! Where his dash console goes...

The final version. He took the motor off an old CD changer he bought at Goodwill for $2! Then add some wood, rods, and a few holes!


Figuring out the wiring...


Really figuring out the wiring...

The electric outlet he installed under the passenger side seat.

We sold our PS2 on Craigslist and bought a PS2 slim for cheaper! Fits nice and snug in the glove compartment.

He wired the whole contraption to a switch which he installed in his center console.


And voila! Our very own screen & DVD player in our car!


Case in Point: I Married A Genius

For the DIY Lovers

Okay everybody! Here are a couple of my DIY projects I worked on last month:

A killer candle holder, a great Lemon-Sugar foot & hand scrub, and an amazing Vanilla-Brown Sugar foot and hand scrub.

Flower Petal Candle Holder:
-Disclaimer: my only warning with this is to NOT use hot glue. Find another adhesive that won't release once it's hot. Mine starting falling apart and I have yet to work on it again, unfortunately.

Supplies:
-1 bag white rose petals ($1 at the Dollar Tree)
-1 pillar candle holder (free! Left over from the center pieces from our wedding)
-1 pillar candle (free! Left over from our wedding)
-Heat-resistant adhesive

Starting from the top, layer the petals facing inward with a dab of glue.
Continue layering down the entire holder.


Finish by gluing last row under the bottom and voila! An elegant (and cheap!) candle holder.



I got the recipes for the scrubs here and here (and borrowed the ideas from my wonderful friend Whitney's blog).

Lemon-Sugar Scrub: I was giving these as gifts, so I bought some mason jars at Hobby Lobby when their 50% off all glassware sale was going on; I got the jars for $1.50! Add a little spray paint, ribbon, and tags and you got yourself a great gift!

All you need to make this delicious scrub (trust me, it really works!) is:
-2.5 cups Sugar
-1 cup Oil
-6 tablespoons Lemon Juice (or however much you seem fit)

Mix together all ingredients (the texture will be a little runny).

Pour into a mason jar and voila!


Vanilla-Brown Sugar Scrub:

All you need to make this delicious scrub (trust me, it really works!) is:
-2 cups Brown Sugar
-1 cup Sugar
-1 tablespoon Vanilla
-1 cup Oil
Mix together the sugars then add Oil & Vanilla & mix.The texture will be a little clumpy.
Pour into mason jar and voila!
Next Post: Jeremy's very own DIY project
Spoiler Alert:


He installed his very own LCD screen & dvd player in his car! By himself! I married a genius!

Hello, again

Hello again, Blog-world!

Don't say I didn't warn you about how terrible I am with keeping up with things like this! I'm going to try harder to keep up with this instead of waiting every 4 weeks to update; too many things happen in that amount of time!

So many things have been going on that I need to update the world on!

Next post (which will be soon after, I promise) will have my DIY b-day gifts on it and Jeremy's own DIY project.

Within the past 4 weeks, we've had many people in and out of our house. Jeremy's buddy, Zac, came to visit us from St. Louis. He's such a great friend to Jeremy & I really wish he found a job in KC so Jeremy would have him around, however, he found a job back home. We're so happy for him, even though we wish he was here!

My best friend in the entire world came to visit me on a whim one weekend. I hadn't seen her since February and she's starting a new life/career in Chicago next month. I am so happy for her and for this new life she is about to embark upon. She is my sanity, my shoulder to cry on, my stability, my best friend. I'm so sad we're going to be 8 hours away from each other, but distance has never stopped our friendship in the past 9 years. I love you, Ash!

So I got a new job position at my work and am now officially a Graphic Designer!!! As I said to my boss, I enjoyed my job before, but I REALLY LOVE my job now! I've never looked forward to going to work and I so do now (it helps that one of my best gals is a lead in my department and I get to chit-chat with her throughout the day :])

We've visited Jeremy's family for his momma's birthday. It was a great weekend in Higginsville, lots of family love!

We were with my family last weekend for the 4th. I was really starting to get home sick and that was a great! pick me up. The best part of the entire weekend, however, was taking a nap with my niece. She's so big now and is at such a fun age! I love it when I go home because we become two peas in a pod. She's definitely going to be one of my best buds in the world. I love that little girl more than I ever thought possible.

This week was a sickly week in the Hoefer house. Jeremy lost his voice for 2 days and had a sore throat. I got what he got then added a fever to it! We're both still a bit under the weather and our house is a big cough-fest. No bueno.

I guess that's all for now! I'll try to post again soon!

Adios for now, Blog world!

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow...

...that would be our weekend. Don't get me wrong, our weekend was great (as most weekends are), but it always seems to fly by!

Friday night we went to one of Jeremy's co-workers home for BBQ and yard games. It was a good time, but I was so ready to finish my night with some of my favorite ladies! Lisa & Ashley have truly become some of my dearest friends and I'm ever so blessed to have them in my life!
Saturday morning, Jeremy & I did some thrift store shopping and I found 2 pairs of black boots for $4 a piece! How cute are these?!

That afternoon, Melissa & Cody (my sister-in-law and her boyfriend) came into town with their new little pup, Charlie! He has GOT to be one of the cutest puppies I have ever seen. We just did dinner out and a movie at home. It was such a great time!

Sunday we hit up the City Market downtown KC and bought tons of fresh fruits and veggies. We also hit up the flea market and I found some great records to add to my collection. Jeremy finally let me set up my record player so now it sits and plays in our bedroom while I'm getting ready (this morning it was the Beach Boys!). After the market we hit up some Johnny Brusco's pizza (hands down-best pizza ever!) and Jeremy and I spent the rest of our day working on our own DIY projects!

I can't post pictures of mine yet, since they're birthday presents, but I'll post them as soon as I can! Jeremy's got his own little DIY project going on so plan on pictures once it's finished. I'm going to hopefully start working on another project tonight, but we'll see!

Next project: Refinishing my record player


Tomorrow will consist of gym at 4:45am (Oh, gym, how I've missed thee this past week. I hope you look beautiful after your new makeover), work, Dinner, & DIY. Ah, the life of a married working girl.

My DIY Adventure Begins Here!

As I've been rummaging around crafty blogs, I came across a few that were just FANTASTIC! I couldn't wait to get started on my own DIY projects! My mother-in-law and cousin-in-law both have birthdays this month (along with a girlfriend from work), so I just had to find some DIY gifts. I found a few, but I can't share with the blog world just yet; at least not until all birthdays have come and gone!

I started and finished my first DIY project tonight! I got my inspiration (and instructions) here. The project cost me a total of $3.00. That's right...THREE BUCKEROO'S! Talk about money saver!

This is the PAPER WREATH:Items:
Book(s) you can tear up (I bought a Dictionary & Thesaurus from the Dollar Tree)
Hot Glue or Tacky Glue
Ribbon
Styrofoam wreath
Scissors
Pencil with eraserStep 1:
Pull the binding off the books so it's easier to tear. Tear the pages apart.

Step 2:
Tie your ribbon to your wreath to help you know your start and finish mark .

*DIYer note*Although the "original" artist had great theories on how to get the job done, some of those theories were NOT my reality. She says to use tacky glue, but I found it much easier to use hot glue since it dries much quicker. Also, I ripped my sheets in half because I wanted my wreath for the front door and full size stuck out too much for my taste.
Step 3:
Fold the sheets around the base of the pencil and make the bottom flat for gluing and attaching to wreath.
Step 4:
Repeat step 3 until the entire wreath is covered!

And viola! The Paper Wreath

Warning: Amateur Blogger

Well, after much consideration, I finally gave in to the blog world! I've never been the greatest at keeping things online up-to-date, with exception to my Facebook status and that's only because I can text it! So hang tight while I figure this bad boy out. Much more to come, including a much better layout!