How to make best friend mugs

I love Christmas gift giving because when it comes to presents for friends it's all do it yourself. This year I made painted mugs for my two best friends. It's hard since each of us live in three different states for school. So I thought it would be appropriate to decorate mugs showing how much I miss them. It's really simple. All I used was three white mugs and a black paint pen; sharpie works as well. After I free handed the outline of our individual states, I cooked the mugs in the oven for thirty minutes at 300 degrees. This makes the pen permanent and glassware dishwasher safe. I wouldn't recommend free handing like I did because I really regret how "Denver" turned out on my mug. However, my best friends loved the mugs and I cannot wait to use mine back home.  

 

Let it snow

We got lucky in Colorado right before I went home for break. By lucky I mean we got a good amount of snow. It was a wonderful way to end finals week and the start of break. Currently, I'm in my home state of Arizona enjoying family, rest, and the ability of wear shorts everyday. It's been in the 60's in Mesa but I remember fondly the icy sidewalks and cold breezes of Colorado. 

Life Lately: According to Instagram

Lately, I've had several technological difficulties with the blog. Now that I've (hopefully) sorted all of them out, it's time to play catch up. Last month, I got the opportunity to leave the mile high city for a peaceful week in my home state of Arizona. The Thanksgiving week was filled with tons of baking, family, and rest. Soon after, I went back to school for the last three weeks of the semester. More posts about finals, snow, and friends are coming up. 

 1. My first time in Boulder 2. My first pie 3. Pumpkin Pie Pops 4. Roommates 5. My latest creation: Oreo and peanut butter pie cookies. I'm taking pie to a whole new level. 4. I loved being able to spend time with my close friends from high school. 5. Baking pies + Charlie Brown = a wonderful Thanksgiving morning. 6. my beautiful cousins 7. The greatest view while sitting in bed in my old room 8. Grandma, mom & me.

How To: Pumpkin Pie Pops

My roommate and I were watching the Today show when Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere  did a segment of interesting ways to mix up Thanksgiving traditions. She presented Pumpkin Pie Pops which really caught my interest. It is a easy substitution for cake pops and I knew I had to try it.  I used Libby's famous pumpkin pie filling and store bought dough when first trying my pops. They turned out incredible which my roommates were really excited about. I cannot wait to try other types of filling soon.

A few of my favorite things: thankful

I've driven from Mesa to Phoenix, Arizona at least three times within the past three days. Why? My mom was visiting in Phoenix and my dad lives in Mesa which makes the holidays consumed with driving back and forth across town. The stress that comes with trying not to be late to every Thanksgiving dinner is at times unbearable. However, I am thankful for that drive. When I take that drive it means I have two wonderful home to go to, two families who are loving, and the ability to take the family car. For that, I am thankful. I am thankful for living in Colorado, having great friends in Kansas, and family in Arizona. I am thankful for this incredible life and joyful season I am in. Mostly of I am thankful for God's love and faithfulness. I have a few things to be thankful for.

A few of the things I am most thankful for: 1. Learning and growing in ministry 2. best friends 3. Youthfront 4. my parents (the photo is an oldie but goodie) 5. my roommates 

Fly away with me

At any chance, I love finding adventures. Back in September, I was researching fun things to do in Colorado when I came across the 24th annul hot air balloon festival in Rocky Ford. When the weekend finally came, I convinced my roommates and friends to take the drive, three hours south of our home, to watch hot air balloons take off at sunrise. The time was set to leave at three in the morning when my roommate suggested we leave in the middle of the night. So at midnight we took the pilgrimage to Rocky Ford. After a deer attack and sleeping in my car, sunrise finally came. It was an incredible morning watching the process of how hot air balloons take off. The festival was filled with meeting new people, observing balloons getting set up, and filming. It was one of my favorite adventures. Enjoy the video I made!  

HAB

from Melanie Fenwick on Vimeo.