Month: October 2018

Crafts

It’s Fall Y’all

by Christina Armstrong1 Comment on It’s Fall Y’all

Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than any other season. — Jim Bishop

Happy Fall!! Fall by far is my favorite season. I am not suffering from spring allergies and my bones are not cold from winter yet. I love the crisp air, colder mornings that end in warm afternoons, boots and fall fashions. I love everything that fall has to offer, except pumpkin spice. Pumpkin spice is the MOST OVERRATED thing about fall. This fall I decided to do some porch rehab with decorated pumpkins. Pumpkin decorating is a great alternative to carving. You can decorate fresh or faux pumpkins depending if you want to reuse it the next season.

Things You Need:

  • Pumpkin
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Mod Podge
  • Foam Paint Brush
  • Glitter
  • Stencils or Lettering

I picked up a faux pumpkin from my local craft store for $12 bucks. This Frugal Fran  find was 60% off the original price. For parents with younger aged children, Dollar Tree has faux pumpkins perfectly sized for decorating. Make sure your pumpkin is not too waxy to the touch.

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Step One: Prep Your Work Area

I keep disposable tablecloths for project because of the easy clean up. Lay down the disposable tablecloth to protect your work area.

Step Two: Prep Your Pumpkin

To prepare your pumpkin for painting make sure it is free of any dirt of debris. A white base is easier to paint over and allows colors to pop.

If painting a real pumpkin, apply a layer of Mod Podge to serve a primer.

Step Three: Let’s Paint

For this pumpkin, I wanted simple and chic. Essentially, a pumpkin that could be mixed with most fall decor. Dip the circle foam brush in the paint and apply to the pumpkin. You want just enough to create a base for the glitter but not so much that it becomes runny. Paint a circle then immediately add  glitter to the circle. This will help keep your glitter mess to a minimum.

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Shine like gold, sparkle like glitter!

Step Four: Apply Top Sealer

Add Mod Podge to the glitter and letters to seal it. Make sure the glitter is completely dry before adding the Mod Podge or you will have a complete mess on your hands (literally).

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Let your creativity flow. If you mess up, just paint over it. Your pumpkin is what you make it.

Step Four: Stage Your Porch

Add season plants for additional pops of color.  Please say a little prayer that I don’t kill them off in a week.

 

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Frugal Fran Tip: Wait until the end of the season to purchase fall decor for the following year. Try to buy things that will be used season after season and is a good neutral. You can never go wrong with classic fall decor, such as a scarecrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lifestyle

The Journey Begins

by Christina ArmstrongLeave a Comment on The Journey Begins

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Ready… Set… Go…. I am very much the friend that if you tell me your ideas I go on a mission to make it even better or take it to the next level. I will cheer you on and push you to no end. I’ll tell you put all those “noes” in your bag of “noes” and keep pushing. It’s the power of numbers, you will eventually get to a yes. It’s safe to say that I a supportive friend. I can be all this for my friends but I sit on the sideline for myself.  How many of us do that? We downplay the talents, gifts, or abilities we have because we don’t want to take the leap. We watch and even encourage others to take that leap but still sit on the sideline.

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Sooooo for my birthday I decided to take a leap and run my first 5K. Running had never appealed to me at all. ZERO PERCENT. Seriously, why do runners look so happy all the time? Initially, I started this for my 28th birthday but life happened. I guess the joy of goal setting is that you can reevaluate it at any time. I reset and was determined to make it happen for year 29. I was so intimidated by running that I refused to sign up for a running program. Sounds crazy I know. Plus, my inner Frugal Fran spoke up and agreed that a running app would do. With this goal I didn’t want to look like runner. You know, buy all the gear and let it collect dust. I made certain milestones and then rewarded myself with a purchase of needed items.

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I told key people in my life so that they could hold me accountable for my training program. I had to apply the discipline that I have in other aspects of my life to this goal. The downside of using a running app is that you really have to push yourself.  Everything is on you. This was a challenge for me because like most people I have a million things going on. Make sure dinner is cooked, is my son reading 20 minutes a night, this meeting, that meeting. I mean really it can go on and on if I allowed it. I just took a step back and prioritized this goal for myself.

Secretly, the race morphed into more than just training to run. I was proving to myself to stop sitting on the sidelines. Stop over thinking everything and just do it (no pun intended). I was so nervous leading up to the day of the race. I questioned everything and thought of all the extremes that could happen. I took on the attitude of defeat before I even ran.  Did I run enough? Maybe, maybe no. Did I drink enough water? Well I hope so. What if I walk the entire time? So what. I set a goal and I accomplished it. Cheers to 29!! Thanks for joining me!

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