A letter to my husband on his 29th birthday!

Dear Drew, Every year I spend with you I love you even more than the year before. When I met you at age 16, I never could have imagined how happy you would still make me all these years later. Not only are you handsome, but you have a beautiful heart. You love your family so much and would do anything for them. You want God to guide your steps and you desire to grow your relationship with him. You show me God's love and grace everyday. I couldn't ask for a better person to share my life with. You are my soul mate, my best friend, my taste tester, my partner in crime, my other half, my team mate, my comic relief, my support, my financial advisor, my Etsy shop assistant, my handyman, my prayer partner, my cheerleader, my massage therapist and my furbaby daddy. Thank you for being all that and more. Even when I'm a grumpster, you somehow find a way to make me smile!

We have so many fun adventures to look back on already and I know we have so many amazing adventures ahead of us. Happy 29th birthday hunny, I am so thankful to be your wife!

Love, Your Allie

"Go lower"

                                                                          Source: singingintherain.tumblr.com via Allison on Pinterest

Working with little kids every day I get to see their faces light up daily over the smallest things like new sharp crayons, being the teacher's assistant, pizza for lunch in the cafeteria, a letter from their teacher or a game of Math Baseball. I truly feel blessed to be around children all day for this reason among many others, but reading chapter 9 of Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts made me even more thankful for their endearing smiles and their sweet perspective on life. Kids really are smarter than we give them credit for!

As we get older, life seems more mundane. We have our routines and we end up putting God in a box along with all of our expectations. We go to work, we have to cook and do laundry, we have to worry about bills and home repairs. We forget how big and how amazing our world is and how amazing God is! "How much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it?" Remember when you first saw the ocean, had your first kiss or first tasted Nutella? It is "the joy of small that makes life large." We need to "go lower" and cultivate a perspective of smallness again. It is only when we live a humble life of constant surprise and gratitude that we can experience true joy. "God blesses the humble, for they will inherit the whole earth." (Matthew 5:5) So this week I'm going to watch my students and learn from them!

Don't forget to check out these wonderful gals thoughts on chapter 9 as well!

Emily from Meme & He
Tara from A Brew of Blessings
Katie from Hope Engaged
Kristen from Love, Done Simply

The Re-purposing Project Volume 1: Pipe Cleaners

In keeping with my 2013 goal of being thankful for what I already have, I am starting up a series called The Re-purposing project. I'm looking for things I already have around the house and finding new ways to use them!

While we were putting away all our Christmas decorations we went on a cleaning/organizing rampage and I came across a long lost craft bin full of supplies. As I was digging through it, I found a few packs of Pipe cleaners and decided that I needed to come up with a few ways to use them. The first way was inspired by an idea I saw on Pinterest and is an easy way to keep clothes from sliding off of hangers. We all know how annoying that is right? All you need are a few pipe cleaners and a plastic or metal hanger. Simply twist 2 pipe cleaners around each side of a hanger to make grips for your shirts. I tried it on a few of my shirts and it works like a charm!

Speaking of charms...with Valentine's Day coming up, instead of going out and buying wine charms to keep track of wine glasses, make your own wine charms with pipe cleaners. A heart is easy and perfect for any Valentine's day party you may be having! You could also make an X, O or an arrow!

And one last way to use pipe cleaners courtesy of my beautiful cousins...

Can you think of any other fun or practical uses for pipe cleaners??

Beer Bread as easy as 1,2,3,4...

I know we have only been in 2013 for a few days, but I just discovered the best and most simple bread recipe e-v-e-r. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4 because 4 ingredients are all that you need!

-3 cups SELF RISING FLOUR

-1 cup sugar

-1 bottle beer (any kind)

-3 Tablespoons of butter

Mix the first 3 ingredients (no butter) until just combined and pour into a greased bread pan. Put in the oven at 350 for 55-60 minutes. Remove from oven and pour the melted butter over it. The smell alone will drive you crazy so eat immediately.

See I told you it was easy. 

Now go make yourself some!

Friday's Letters

Dear Cross Country skiing, You really kicked my butt, but I loved every second. I may have had one ski that always turned out to the left and fell 3 times flat on my face (don't worry no one saw), but by the end of the night I was a professional. I think it should snow more so we can do this more often.
Dear little brother, I loved seeing your new downtown apartment last night and hearing all about your new bank Co-Op job! You are all grown up *sniff*sniff* and I am so proud of you!! Dear Ellie and Andrea, I really can't believe you haven't seen Lord of the Rings. Luckily you are friends with me and we are changing that TODAY! Dear Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn, Since just one movie in the Lord of the Rings series is 3 hours long, we will be consuming lots of you today! Dear Christmas Vacation, Please don't end ever! Dear Sweet Husband of Mine,  I hate that you had to go back to work this week, but I made you yummy dinners and cleaned the house while you were gone like a good little house wife. I think I could get used to that.

Happy Friday!

2-0-1-3...the year of being thankful for what I already have!

My 2013 goals all stem from all I've been learning from Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts. Through all my Thankful Thursday posts I realized how truly important it is to be thankful in all circumstances. This year I want to make the most of what I already have and be more intentional in savoring the everyday moments.

This year...
*I'm going to be thankful for our teaching salaries (even though they may be small)
2013 is the year of budgeting in the Renner house. Yes, my husband and I are starting a budget and you know what? I'm actually excited about it. We have our excel spreadsheet made and we are going to have fun getting creative with our spending!
*I'm going to be thankful for the clothes that are already hanging up in my closet
2013 is the year of remixing. I'm going to try to buy only the necessities and use what I already have in new and fun ways. That might mean you will see a few more fashion posts around here to help inspire me! 
*I'm going to be thankful for H20
2013 is the year of slowly cutting out pop from my diet. It will be a slow process, but it starts now.
*I'm going to be thankful for the body God has given me
2013 is the year of getting my booty back in to gear. I'm going to attempt to work out 2-3 days a week. Whether that's doing a 30 Day Shred DVD, a Zumba class or simply getting outside to take a walk I just want to be more active!
*And last, I'm going to be thankful for a God who I can trust to take care of all of my needs

I already have a good feeling about 2013 and what God is going to do in my life. I'm excited to be more intentional about being thankful for all that I have been given.

So what does that mean for the blog? In 2013 you will be seeing me get creative by giving old things new uses along with finding out all the tips and tricks there are when it comes to living on a budget. I'm excited about what that will look like! Happy 2013!

What to do with your leftover champagne...if you have any.

I hope you all had an amazing time ringing in 2013 whether it was home in your pajamas or looking snazzy out on the town! Here's a picture re-cap of my last night of 2012, which included dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, being surrounded by amazing friends in cute sparkly clothes, a few bubbly drinks and some hilarious rounds of The Game of Things. It was the perfect way to ring in 2013!

If you aren't sick of Champagne after your own NYE celebrations or if you have any leftover, you have to click here for the recipe to make Champagne Macarons. These are on my must make list for 2013!

                                                                                     Source: annies-eats.com via Allison on Pinterest

CHEERS to a brand spanking new year!

Linking up with Shanna for Random Wednesday!