summertime crafts

There's a saying that summertime is when teachers become normal people again. I believe this to be true. During the school year, being an effective demands an incredible amount of energy from a person and requires even more time. The summertime break is essential- for rest, relaxation, chance to make a little extra moolah, and time to pursue the things that bring you happiness that you don't normally have time to accomplish.

For me, this means crafting. I feel most like myself when I'm creating something, and I so enjoy DIY projects- for my home, classroom, presents, friends, you name it. During the school year, I just can't seem to rationalize craft time when there's a pile of essays to be graded and a week's worth of lesson plans to be written.

The photos in this post are of little DIY projects I made for our home over summer break. Many of my crafts are spin-offs of posts I found online and pinned on Pinterest. My goal is always to either use materials found around the house or to only buy materials only when they're on sale, create something with a purpose in mind, and always add a little "Mallory flair". Enjoy the photos!

Dinner Meal Board with weekly interchangeable cards

 Wedding polaroid photo display

Incorporating shells my parents and I collected in our Floridian hometown, I present The Darcy summer mantle.

Also, a "JOY" burlap banner that I have since removed after my husband and brothers told me it looked too "Christmassy". It will make a reappearance later. 

 Lots of scrapbook paper and modpodge...DIY projects are best when watching Classic Hollywood movies starring gorgeous actresses...

 ...or listening to "Greatest Hits" by Whitney Houston, of course!

(P.S. How much do I love when I visit JoAnn Fabrics on fabric clearance day?!)

 Classroom curtains...more classroom pics to come, don't you worry!

 We made these canvas bags at a BCN Women's Ministry Pinterest Party at my church. Cute, huh?

 Finally found a use for those mini chalkboards from our wedding reception photobooth.

 Hanging above our bed...still thinking of painting the "D" orange?

 Mal & Jon photo collage in our bedroom.

 Free scripture printables framed in Dollar Store frames. As we walk down the stairs to leave for the day, what a great reminder of God' presence in our lives!

Our entry table, given to us by my Granny and Paw Paw. It was already decorated with teal and orange accents, so I decided to paint it orange. I love.

Free printables from a blog that I stalk. Fell in love with the prints, and put them in white IKEA frames I already had and needed a special use. These are in our downstairs half bath.

School officially starts this week, and although my realistic side knows that "busy" is about to be an understatement, I am determined to balance my time better this year. I believe it's important to facilitate our creative sides- putting our artsy ideas into action.

The only thing is, our townhouse is now full; the walls are covered as much as they can be without being considered "tacky". So now the question is... who wants Mal to create for them some crafty crafts???

Happy Sunday!

I will trust.

Trust does not always come naturally to me. Only a few years ago did I realize the depth of this distrust...it was brought to my attention that, all to often, I even find it difficult to trust God.

Anybody out there familiar with this?

I mean, how silly it seems! This is God we're talking about. My Creator, Savior, Redeemer, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, my Provider, Healer, and Best Friend. Why on earth would it be difficult to trust in Him?

For whatever reason, my flesh makes it very challenging. In my moments of weakness, when my Type A personality goes in to overdrive and wants to claim control over everything, and get squeemish when I don't think God is moving on my behalf. It's then that I hear Him, "Trust me." It's almost comical now. I can see God throwing his hands over his face, hiding the laughter, as if to say, "My daughter, haven't you leaned this yet? I love you! I have you!"

Once I was aware of this boulder blocking progression in my relationship with my Lord, I was eager to work through it, to overcome it.

The best infiltration I have in this battle against my flesh is The Word. God's Word is filled with promises to us. 

Below is a list of some of my favorite verses. These verses put God's promises in the present tense for me. They remind me of the intimate relationship between my Heavenly Father and Mallory (insert name).

On a daily basis, yes daily, I am hiding His Word in my heart.

I Am Going to Trust the Lord…

He knows my name.

Isaiah 43:1

He sees my every move.

Psalm 139:7

He thinks about me.

Psalm 139:17

He is with me.

Joshua 1:9

He will fight for me.

Exodus 14:14

He made me in His image.

Genesis 1:27

He is my safe place.

Psalm 62:6-8

He has a plan for me.

Jeremiah 29:11

He is good.

Psalm 119:68

He is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17

He is always with me.

Matthew 28:20

What are some verses you are currently memorizing?

BBQ Chicken Pizza

shThe hubs and I have created another culinary masterpiece...

Homemade Barbeque Chicken Pizza

Ingredients:
Publix brand multi-grain pizza dough
Sweet Baby Ray's barbeque sauce (Yes, this brand is da bomb diggity)
3-4 grilled chicken breasts
1/2 chopped onion
bacon pieces
shredded mozzarella cheese

Place on pizza stone and cook for 12-15 minutes at 450 degrees.


Simply made. Simply delicious.


Perfect combo of pizza and barbeque.


It's a summertime party in your mouth.

beachside.

I am from a smaller beach town on the west coast of Florida. A town whose summer temps rarely rise above 95 degrees and are accompanied by a constant salty breeze. A town whose mornings are greeted by the calls of seagulls, and the evenings are painted by vibrant oranges and purples descending over the ocean. A town that changes very little between my visits, but its familiarity is somehow comforting. A town in which the people love their casual t-shirts and shorts (in the winter, sweatshirts and shorts), and their laid-back "style" reflects their relaxed way of living. A town that always welcomes you home, no matter how long you've been away. And most importantly, a town where my parents live...in the same house I grew up in since I awkwardly entered sixth grade.

I just returned from my two-week vaca to Bradenton, or "B-town" as we affectionately call it. I spent the first week relaxing in the pool, soaking in the rays on the beach, and loving on my parents. The second week, I nannied my little Ethiopian babies! Their family vacationed on our beach, Anna Maria Island, and I got to spend a lot of time with these adorable bundles of energy. Two weeks was an incredibly long time to be away from my husband, and I missed him like crazy! However, I tried to be thankful for the time "off", and enjoyed the blessing of a vacation.

A lot happened in two weeks time... Enjoy the photos I'll use to share some highlights.

Happy Summer!

 Reading all day in the pool. For all of you educators out there, this is a must-read!

 SweetBerries. A local custard shop where I worked in high school to afford gas for my car. This is a requirement upon visiting B-town. Delish.

 A lunch date with my mother-in-"love" followed by an afternoon of fun with my niece. (I love that I am an aunt now!)

I also spent an evening with my husbands family... Can I just say how blessed I am?

 Dinner with my Granny and Paw-Paw. Paw-Paw went to the grocery store and purchased all the ingredients for my homemade vodka pasta recipe. Granny and I prepared the meal, and it was uh-mazing, if I do say so myself. Dinner was followed by my Paw-Paw's mouth-watering coconut cake topped with Granny's blueberry syrup and fresh strawberries. I'm dying at just the thought of it.

 Anna Maria Island...home sweet home. (Couldn't even tell Hurricane Debby just swept through!)

 This fish market doubles as a restaurant located right on the water. Its picnic table, cardboard box, fish fresh out of the water approach has been featured in cuisine magazines and on Food Network. This seafood is unreal, y'all. Let me recommend the blackened grouper. You won't be disappointed.

 Judah and Levi arrive! They are very disappoint Jon (my hubs) is not with me... we call him everyday!

These are the sweetest boys!

 Thanks for my new watch, Mama!

 After roasting on the beach alllllll day, the rents and I went to one of our favorite island spots- Oma's Pizza. It's far from fancy, but the food is great! (I think eating pizza in your bathing suit with sand still stuck in between your toes makes the pizza taste even better.)

 Bradenton Beach sunset...not filtered.

 Sporting my hat Jon bought me on our honeymoon. 

(Sending many pics like this to him to make him jealous.)  :)

 July 3rd fireworks on the beach! 

(Judah sang to my parents and me the entire walk back to the condo. It was precious.)

 Other than my own brothers, I have never seen little boys so entranced by a movie on a daily basis. These boys l.o.v.e. "Cars" and we watched it in between on swimming/jumping into the pool lessons.

 Our favorite...Carrabba's. Love this special time with my parents.

 Judah and Levi had a "picnic" in the living room. As they ate their turkey sandwiches, I looked down and saw they had intertwined their feet. Their game of "footsie" was so sweet!

 Gathering shells for my "summer mantle" decor.  (Pics soon to come...)

 On my last night in Florida, we went to the Bridge Tender restaurant. This restaurant was a new spot for us, but we will definitely be back! Sooooo yummy.

 Our dinner view.

 Fresh off the beach, eating dinner in our suits.

 It was strange/lonely going home without my brothers, and it was extremely hard to be away from Jon for two whole weeks. However, I am thankful for some quality time with my parents and grandparents. This is a sweet season for my parents. We've come an awful long way, and I'm excited for where we are headed.

(And yes, it was nice getting spoiled as if I was an "only child" ...but just for a short time.)