In the Loop

Blog Directory Map

2012-02-01T21:30:00.000-05:00

Di over at Craft-a-Spell recommended me to the Blog Directory Map over at Latte Love. It's pretty cool, but will be even cooler if you sign up to so we can find more bloggers by us.

My Husband the Picker

2012-02-01T21:08:00.001-05:00

My husband's favorite show is American Pickers. He is always telling me he could totally quit his job and pick for a living. Since we don't actually have time for traveling around the country picking through people's barns, John spends a lot of time scanning Craigslist. His dedication finally paid off and he found something really awesome for a reasonable price.

Behold, John's card catalogs from the Library of Congress!

John, literally, brought me my camera and asked me to post these pictures so you guys could see. He did have to twist my arm into getting these. They are huge and, yes, we do have two entire ones. Plus they need a lot of work. And our New Years's resolution was to save more money and this isn't exactly in alignment with that goal.

My plan is to redo them both and sell one of them. That's not exactly John's plan, but we seriously don't have room for both.

So what do you think. Did John do a good job?

Here's an example of what we may do.

Young House Love

Finally! A Valentine's Mantel

2012-02-01T07:40:00.002-05:00

I'm not really happy with the end result, but I am totally stumped on this. I even went to (gasp!) Home Goods and came up totally empty. Maybe you guys can help. Take a look at what I've got.

I Still love Owls

2012-01-31T07:43:00.000-05:00

On my trip to Home Goods this week I was hunting for Valentine's decor. I came up empty on that end, but I did find something I'm in love with. I got this totally adorable owl necklace tree. It's so cute on my dresser. Don't you love? The owl trend is alive and strong at the Loop house.

Flower Study Part 8: Pinecone Flowers

2012-01-30T19:35:00.001-05:00

All of the flowers I have shown so far have been fabric. Amie over at Kitty Cats and Airplanes has a great tutorial for pine cone flowers. These would be so cute in the winter. Plus they are free! Check out her tute!

Let's Be BFF's on Pinterest

2012-01-30T11:37:00.000-05:00

I know I am so slow on this on the blogging game. I've been on Pinterest for a while. I've just never really promoted it on my blog. I'd love to see what you've pinned so leave your link for me to follow you and check me out if you like.

I had to Share This

2012-01-30T10:09:00.000-05:00

I'm totally in love with this chair redo over at Kojo Designs.

Beachy Button Art

2012-01-30T07:17:00.004-05:00

I've been seeing button art all over blogland for forever now. Weirdly, my main reason for not trying it is because I didn't really have any cute buttons. Have you noticed buttons never go on sale and if they do they aren't the cute ones?

I broke down and bought a bag of buttons from Hobby Lobby this past week. Then Amie came over and brought her expansive stash. She also brought her Silouette and I showed her how to cut vinyl. We each cut out a letter and placed it on some scrapbooking paper. Then we started gluing away.

I really wanted more of a teal look, but the buttons I liked best were all more of a baby blue. It turned out super cute. Luckily we are planning on doing a nautical theme in our basement so it will fit right in.

I found this other super cute example of button art over at Mod Podge Rocks.

My Crafty To- Do List

2012-01-29T22:18:00.000-05:00

After buying a fixer upper house it seems like my list of to-do's never ends. Not only do we still need to do some major renos (hello bathroom!), but I am definitely still working on making it cuter. Here are a few projects that I have already bought all the supplies for and are just waiting foe me to find some time.

Painted Rug at The Idea Room

Washer and Dryer Pedestals from Ana White

Amy Butler Gumdrop Pillows

Tinted Mason Jars from Momtastic

Flower Study Part 7: Pinwheel Flowers

2012-01-29T19:00:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited with all the new flower techniques we have been discovering over the past week. There are so many creative ideas out there. I came across another super cute one for you. It looks like these Pinwheel Flowers may require a little more sewing skills that some of the others. These look like they will take a bit of patience, but I like that they are made from separate pieces of fabric that you could mix and match. Check out this tutorial over at Crafting and Creativity.

Flower Study Part 6: Hair Fluffs aka Flowers

2012-01-26T20:09:00.000-05:00

I just came across a new flower tutorial today. They look very fancy and the tute says they are for your hair, but I think they would also work for a classy holiday wreath. Check out my bloggy friend Camille's tutorial.

Super Cute Giveaway Over at The Idea Room

2012-01-26T11:01:00.002-05:00

The Idea Room is hosting a giveaway from Nest of Posies for an adorable Posey Cluster. I actually discovered these last week and have been drooling over them ever since. Enter now!

Flower Study Part 5: Felted Roses Like You Have Never Seen

2012-01-25T21:51:00.001-05:00

Just when I think I have mastered the felt rose, I realize I'm an idiot. The Shabby Creek has an amazing flower tutorial. I love this version because it plays into my OCD desires. They look perfect!

Flower Study Part 4: Fabric Yo-Yo Flowers

2012-01-25T09:21:00.001-05:00

These are super cute and simple. They would be a great wretah embellishment. I'm not sure how an entire wreath would look with these on it, or how my little fingers would feel trying to hand sew these babies. I think the fact that you could make them any size you want would also be a plus. Maybe a teeny tiny one for a card would be sweet.

Checkout Crafting and Creativity for the tutorial.

I Can Sew! (Kinda)

2012-01-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

There's no denying my blogging has been scarce the past few months, but I swear I have actually been crafting. I have been working really hard learning to sew. I had pretty low expectations for my skills and I am pumped I was able to make my first table runner. It's very very far from perfect, but I think it's a good first try.

Amie helped me as usual and we did our best to make it Valentine's-ish with fabric from our stash.

At first you may think I made it too short. Au contraire mon amie. I made it a shorty on purpose so the puppies wouldn't try and pull it off the table.

Also, how do you like my super lazy Valentine's Day Centerpiece? I kept my usual pinecone filled hurricane and just threw in some felt hearts. It's kinda cute in an uber lazy way.

Flower Study Part 3: Felt Roses

2012-01-24T16:37:00.001-05:00

Dianna pointed me in the direction of this felted rose tutorial over at Positively Splendid . It seems like it would take a bit longer than the method that I use, but the roses definitely seem to have more dimension this way. If you are making a wreath with fewwer flowers like her this would probably be worth it.

Flower Study Part 2: Wrinkled Roses

2012-01-24T12:42:00.000-05:00

As the quest to increase my flower making skills continues I wanted to introduce you all to a tutorial I have used many times. Check out this tute for making roses from inexpensive crepe paper over at House of Smiths. These are time consuming, but they actually look awesome when they are done. Plus they are much cheaper than using fabric.

Remember to email me your flower making ideas so I can share them with everyong :-)

In Case You Were Wondering

2012-01-24T12:36:00.001-05:00

I have a few random crafts I haven't shared. My biggest weakness in blogging is to get up and take actual photos of the process. I'm so lazy! Ok that's not true. I am kind of a machine in real life. I still hate photo editing though.

Lucky for me I have Caroline who takes the pictures for me when I craft at her house.

Here is a super creepy picture of me holding the first bag I ever made. I was shocked I was able to do it in one day. Granted Caroline is like a sewing drill sergeant in an awesome way and she always gets me to finish my projects.

Two weeks ago Amie, Caroline, and I got together for a craft day and we decided to switch it up and do jewlery. By "we" I mean Amie and Caroline since I haven't made any jewelry since I was 8. Amie and Caroline are much more advanced. I like jewelry making, but I don't think it will become my passion. It's just good to broaden my craft horizons.

Above you can see our creations. Mine is on the lower left. I made some pink beaded bracelets with heart embellishments. I'll try and take a better photo soon, but dang jewelry is hard to photograph.

Valentine's Banner

2012-01-23T22:00:00.006-05:00

A while back Amie and I found this cool burlap with vintage keys printed on it. I have been hanging on to it for the right project and I thought of "The Key to My Heart" banner. Isn't is gorgeous?

Here is my in progress mantle for Valentine's Day. I have filled in the middle since then, but I need something on the left. Any ideas? I'm thinking a vase?

Flower Study Part 1: Pocket Full of Posies

2012-01-23T14:22:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I was talking to my friend Amie about how I didn't really feel like I was awesome at anything in crafting. I am kind of like a jack of all trades, master of none.

Every month I get together with Amie and Caroline to do a craft. It's usually sewing, but someimes we branch out. Mostly I just try to imitate their awesome skills. Amie is awesome at jewelry and Caroline is amazing at sewing. I can usually crank out something pretty cool while crafting with them.

I was discussing this with Amie and John and they both replied that I am really good at wreaths. Now I don't know if I would go as far as to say I am an awesome wreath maker or anything, but in comparison to some of my other crafty skills, wreath making does come a little easier and there are much fewer giant craft fails when I make a wreath.

I have now decided I am on a mission to start creating epic wreaths. Maybe I will even do a wreath giveaway? So on my mission for the ultimate wreath I have realized I need to increase my fabric flower making skills. I am a master of the trusty old rosette, but there are many variations of it I haven't tried, not to mention all of the other flowers out there.

So over the next few days I am going to be linking up to the best flower tutorials the internet can bring you. Please send me yours if you would like to be featured as well.

Here is a posey (I think) tutorial from Amie.

Wordlessly Wednesday

2012-01-18T18:47:00.000-05:00

Vote for Mallory's Mad Skills

2012-01-04T15:56:00.000-05:00

I have blogged about my friend Mallory and her mad hair skills in the past, but did you know she also sews? Currently, she is in the Sew You Think You Can Craft competition with this cute crib caddy! I love the fabric she picked and this would be so useful. Mallory has amazing style so I'd love for you to vote for her so we can see what she comes up with next! Vote Here!!

The Christmas Ball that Almost Killed Me

2011-12-20T10:06:00.000-05:00

It all started back before Thanksgiving when I took a trip to Hobby Lobby and was sucked into buying Christmas Craft Supplies far in advance. I found these little styrofoam ball covered in glitter and bought two packages. Little did I know that these balls would do their best to make me want to quit crafting forever.

My first thought for these terrible balls was to make a little tree similar to one I saw in ballard designs, but alas I did not have enough to cover the whole tree. I thought to myself, "That's ok. I'll just go buy more."

Fast forward to black Friday when Amie and I went shopping. After spending about 2 hours in JoAnn's draining our bank accounts we went over to Hobby Lobby to get the elusive balls. Upon arrival I was shocked to find all of the white balls were gone! Luckily Hobby Lobby is just a few stores down from Michael's. I thought I had hit the Christmas ball goldmine when I found the white balls in a different brand.

When I returned home I realized they were not the same white. My OCD self would not be able to accept this. So I went back to Hobby Lobby and bought red balls. By now I became very worried about what to do with the balls. I had spent so much time searching for them I didn't want to waste them. I decided to go with what I know best- Wreath Making!

I haven't made a wreath in a while since I went crazy and made a million wreaths last year, but I think this one is well worth the wait.

Behold- The Christmas Balls!

These terrible nighttime pictures do not do them justice. I will try to get a daylight one so you can really take it in.

Baby Trend: Hot Pink and Zebra

2011-12-19T14:58:00.001-05:00

Two weeks ago I threw a baby shower at work for my old boss along with a few of my colleagues. My old boss is the AVP now so it was kind of nerve-wracking. We went with a Hot Pink and Zebra Theme. At first I thought this was kind of random, but once I got looking this stuff is EVERYWHERE!

I made my first diaper cake and I was so please with it.

I found these favor boxes at hobby lobby and used them as table decor.

We ordered these cupcakes. They were so delish. They were apple flavored and had a real baked apple in the middle. Mouth watering!

See the hot pink and zebra streamers and the matching plates? All from Hobby Lobby.

Jess received lots of adorable handmade gifts. There is a little crochet lamb on her lap. Too cute!

The party turned out great, but was so much work. So many people made comments that I should be a party planner because I had real attention to detail. This may be a talent of mine, but I have no desire to make it a business.

Dollar Store Ornaments

2011-12-18T21:57:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, my work held a craft fair and I invited Amie from Kitty Cats and Airplanes to come sell her super cute jewelry. The craft fair was free for employees to sell their items as long as they sold $50 raffle tickets. So I had to sell something, which I have never ever done. I was so ridiculously busy that week throwing a baby shower that I literally threw some ornaments together the night before.

I was totally shocked when people bought all four of the ornaments I brought plus two small wreaths. I really only made them as a technicality so Amie could get the table for free. Even more shockingly I had two people place orders of ten each. At that point, I decided maybe you guys would like to see them.

They are so simple I didn't document the steps, but I found a tutorial from my friend Katie over at Smile Like You Mean It. Hers look way cuter than mine. Plus the fact there is never any daylight during the winter makes my pictures totally crappy.

I placed them in a cookie box for the purchasers. So easy and so cheap!

If...

2011-12-18T12:57:00.002-05:00

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

I Have an Actual New Year's Resolution!

2011-12-18T10:32:00.000-05:00

Last year I didn't even bother with making a new year's resolution. Every year it's about losing weight and going to the gym and it kind of takes away from my motivation knowing every year I said I was gonna and every year I fail. But this year is gonna be different!

This year John and I are making financial resolutions. Our finances are a total mess. We are really blessed to have good jobs, but it seems like the more money you make the less you care about saving money, which is crazy!

When we were first married and totally broke I was super conservative in my spending and I shopped sales and used coupons religiously. I have gotten so lazy! Because I can afford to pay full price I just started doing it. It makes me crazy to think of how much money I have been wasting.

The second thing is our debt has gotten out of control. Between student loans, buying a house, and getting ready to buy a new car. I am getting overwhelmed at the numbers. The easiest thing for me to do is to start eliminating our credit card debt. We have a pretty low interest rate and we have just been carrying it around forever. Why??? It's so dumb. We are just throwing money out the window.

I'm working on our game plan right now so keep an eye out for our specific changes that we are making. Keep in mind I am not a naturally frugal person, I'm a terrible saver, and I am always struggling to not become a shopaholic so lots of this stuff may seem basic to you, but we are going back to basics here!

Christmas Wishes

2011-12-15T12:01:00.000-05:00

My friend Annie asked me to post this on her behalf. This is such a wonderful creative way to help her cousins. Please read her post below:

Nothing can prepare you for those moments when your whole world changes. It happens so suddenly. The seconds crawl while that one moment is seared into your heart and your mind. You lose all track of time while your reality shifts from just-fine to not-anywhere-close-to-fine.

It was sunny. Cold, but that’s normal for early February. I’d had a weird feeling that I should stick around home that day instead of going out with some friends. For once, I didn’t ignore the weird feeling and stayed home, working on various projects.

It was 3:41 p.m. when the phone rang. My mom never calls at that time of day, and I wondered if one of my siblings needed a ride or something. Matt was working from home so I had a car. Good thing, I thought. I hate saying no.

I answered the phone and could hear something was off in Mom’s voice. I wandered into the dining room as she told me that my uncle, Sam LaCara, had been shot at the school where he worked as principle.

My breath caught in my throat. I wonder how long his recovery will take.

“Shortly afterwards, he passed away.”

“What?”

I looked down at my phone. 3:41 pm. In California that would be…11:41. I have to tell Matt…how is this even possible?

I have to get home.

My family—my huge, loud, hilarious, beautiful family—lives in California. After Matt and I married, we moved 3,000 miles away to Maryland. As much as we love it here, we really miss our friends and family back home.

Never more so than after we lost Sam.

Being so far away has made it difficult to offer consistent support. I stewed for months over what I could do for my aunt and her three young daughters. I wanted to help make things even a little bit better, knowing full well that the holidays would bring a special kind of pain.

The result of all that stewing is a multi-authored storybook called Christmas Wishes: A Collection of Holiday Tales and Truths. Originally I only meant to print a few copies for my aunt Lisa and her daughters, but then the vision expanded a bit. We decided to sell the book and give all proceeds to the girls’ college funds. Education was a huge priority to Sam, a priority that took a back seat to only one thing: his family.

The following video was created to explain a little bit more about Christmas Wishes. Please take a moment to check it out, and please consider purchasing a copy of Christmas Wishes. You can order through Amazon, or go to any bookstore and order it using the following information:

50% off at Shade PLUS 2-for Deals PLUS Free Shipping

2011-12-05T10:48:00.000-05:00

Right now Shade Clothing has a promo code for 50% off EVERYTHING. This includes their 2-for deals. I was able to get two camis for $12 plus free shipping. Just use the pomo code SHADEGIFT.

So You Know How I Love Wreaths?

2011-11-30T07:54:00.000-05:00

Well I found this awesome tutorial from Katie over at Smile Like You Mean It. I would have never thought of using shower rings for a mini wreath form. Check it out here here.

What I'm Listening to Tuesday

2011-11-29T07:47:00.000-05:00

Major Wall Art

2011-11-29T07:33:00.000-05:00

I saw this baby over at Shanty 2 Chic and was really in love with it. I enlisted my husband's help because I am a little freaked about when using giant saws. It was so easy!

As you know large wall out is super pricey and I never actually found anything I love enough to be worth forking over the dough. This cost me about $50 to make and it is one of my favorite craft projects ever.

Here are a few lessons learned with my version:

1. Buy the cheap wood. It actually ended up looking better than the expensive stuff. The more crappy marks, the more weathered and vintage it ends up looking.

2. This baby is HEAVY! Use the hardware made for hanging huge mirrors. It still makes me a little nervous. Please don't rip my wall out :-(

3. I added some holiday bunting. I plan on switching this out for each holiday. It can look a little plain without it.

A Legit Christmas Project

2011-11-28T19:32:00.004-05:00

If you are a regular reader you know I've been skimping on the real content lately. I've actually been doing tons of stuff. I've just been very bad about taking photos. Finally I created a Christmas project worthy of going up on the blog. Sadly, I didn't take step by step photos, but I feel confident you don't need them. Also, this is proof I am no longer afraid of my cricut. Thank you all for your tips and encouragement!

Sorry for the poor photo quality, but I am rarely home during the light of day anymore thanks to daylight savings.

Let me give you a rundown of what it took to make this baby.

1. I painted it with some satin Martha Stewart Craft Paint. It was pretty sheer so it literally took about three coats to get it where I wanted it.

2. Next I cut the "Be Merry" vinyl lettering with my cricut. I used the outline to make a stencil. I wanted to paint it rather than just use red vinyl so it would be more shimmery.

3. Next I made some more stencils to create the snow flakes. I also used Martha Stewart Satin paint for this in Mother of Pearl.

4. Finally I cut some tress from holiday paper with my cricut and mod modged them onto the board.

It was kind of tedious, but I love it! I am really into blue and red for Christmas this year. What do you think!

Inspirational Blind Kitty Get First Toy

2011-11-25T22:08:00.002-05:00

This kitty is so adorbs. Maybe it will convince John to let me get a kitty!

Dog Saves Owner's Life During World Trade Center Attacks

2011-11-21T16:12:00.000-05:00

If you are a regular blog reader of mine you know I love animals. Check out this story from the Today Show!

"Computer sales manager Michael Hingson was at his desk on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center’s north tower on the morning of 9/11 when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the other side of the building, 18 floors above. And he lived to tell the tale because of his guide dog, Roselle.
The yellow lab calmly guided her blind charge 1,463 steps out of the building and, as debris fell and dust billowed, found a subway station and led them both underground to safety.
Roselle died in June at the age 13, but her heroism lives on. At a star-studded red carpet event in L.A. Saturday night the yellow lab was was honored as the American Hero Dog of the Year.
"She saved my life," Hingson wrote on the American Humane Association's site. More than 400,000 people cast votes for Roselle and 7 other finalists. But it was Hingson's moving description of her actions on 9/11 that helped her take the top dog honor.
More from TODAY.com Chimp attack victim reveals new face Six months after a face transplant gave her another chance at life, chimp attack victim Charla Nash grants an exclusive in...

Wood’s sister: Like having to ‘relive her death’ NYC terror suspect was building test bomb Police hunt for mom from ‘People’s Court’ case Who made Consumer Reports’ naughty, nice list? Just as they got out of the building on 9/11, the south tower collapsed. "While everyone ran in panic, Roselle remained totally focused on her job," Hingson wrote. "While debris fell around us, and even hit us, Roselle stayed calm."
Hingson, the seven other finalists and their handlers were flown to Los Angeles to attend the ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hilton where they were joined by another four-legged celebrity, RIN TIN TIN Smith, a twelfth-in-line descendant of the original RIN TIN TIN. These four-legged celebrities were joined by a raft of two-legged ones including celebrity judges Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Kristin Chenoweth, Mark Hamill, Jillian Michaels, Susan Orlean (author of the new book, “RIN TIN TIN: The Life and the Legend”), TODAY's Jill Rappaport and Top Chef Fabio Viviani.
“Every day, across America, dogs protect, comfort, and give their unconditional friendship and affection to the ill, the infirm, the wounded veteran, and the frightened child,” Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of the American Humane Association, said of the awards. “It was time to recognize the contributions of man’s best friends and celebrate the heroic feats they have performed for us every day."

Wordlessly Wednesday

2011-11-16T21:15:00.002-05:00

Therapy and Scooby Snacks

2011-11-16T21:13:00.000-05:00

So I go to therapy and I'm proud of it. I mean how else can I get someone to listen to me talk for an hour straight and be really engaged? So few people in the world actually listen anymore. This is my big chance to get everything off my chest and get some legit and awesome advance from an impartial third party. Totally a golden opportunity.

In addition, I'm pretty proud of the fact that I didn't end up catatonic or an adult film star due to my family's utter dysfunctionality. I see a lot of weird things in the therapist office and not in an unfortunate mental health type of way. For example today the man sitting next to me in the waiting room kept playing the Scooby-Doo theme song over and over on his phone. Out loud. Loudly. I mean really? While waiting I developed a few theories on why this guy would do such a thing:

1. He was craving scooby snacks
2. Maybe he was concerned I was a ghost
3. He is seeing a therapist for his obsession for 90's cartoons
4. He was unable to find the theme song to Magilla Gorilla

I guess I will never know...

Bloggy Friends and Amazing Jewelry

2011-11-14T14:38:00.000-05:00

You know that you are living in the year 2011 when at least half of your current friends have been met online. And not in a creepy, "hey baby" private message on MySpace kind of way.

I've been a follower of Amie over at Kitty Cats and Airplanes for a while. I won a giveaway she had and then we realized we lived super close to each other. Since I don't live in Utah this doesn't happen to me very often. Then a few months later we realized we went to the same church. Weird!

Finally, Amie and I took the big step of meeting face-to-face. In the past this is something that has not gone great for me. For whatever reason a lot of people find me online through the dog forum I participate in or some other webby thing I do and think we should meet. The majority of the time I come home and thank my lucky stars I made it back without my bones being made into wind chimes. There are a lot of weirdos out there people! (If you are one please don't ask me to hang some time.)

Anywho Amie is AWESOME! It was totally not awkward and Amie has taught me some mad sewing skills. I don't think her hilarity and sweetness are totally communicated through her blog because sarcasm doesn't always write well. I should know. I often wonder if people think I am totally bonkers on here or really mean. Amy seems fun on her blog, but she is seriously the illest.

Besides Amie's serious talent as a sewing teacher, she also makes jewelry. Here are some of her sweet little trinkets from her Etsy Shop.

Go say hello to Amie and experience her awesomeness!!!

Are You Getting Excited?

2011-11-14T14:05:00.000-05:00

I am! At least it's looking way better than twilight did. Hopefully they don't totally ruin the series.

If Disney Princesses Were Really Real for Real: Pocahontes

2011-11-03T00:11:00.000-04:00

Pocahontes looks a little to ...um...lusty? for my taste, but I'm giving it a shot.

Here is what she should have looked like : Innocent

Here is what she ended up looking like: a hussy.

If you have any other suggestions lay them on me.

If Disney Princesses Were Really Real for Real: Hot Mess Version

2011-11-02T23:57:00.000-04:00

One of my lovelier commenters brought this comparison up the other day. I actually already had this "icon" in mind for this princess ringer.

I always knew Jasmine wasn't ready to settle down.

If Disney Princesses Were Really Real for Real: Belle Edition

2011-11-02T23:52:00.000-04:00

So Belle is a toughy. This drawing doesn't really strike and as endearing. And in the spirit of my friend Amie's comment yesterday, "She looks like a baby prostitute!"

For no better reason than hilarity you can compare the drawing to the best baby prostitute impersation Lacey Chabert err Gretchen Wieners could muster.

WW: This Melts My Icy November Heart!

2011-11-02T23:17:00.002-04:00

If Disney Princesses Were Really Real for Real: Sleeping Beauty

2011-11-01T16:02:00.000-04:00

I knew all of the Disney Princess drawings in my previous post reminded me of someone.

Sleep Beauty totally looks like Claudia Schiffer.

Do you see it? It was super hard to find a non-hooch picure of her. lol.

If Disney Princesses Were Real...

2011-11-01T13:32:00.000-04:00

This is one of the coolest things I have seen in a while. Jirka Väätäinen, a student in the UK, created a collection of drawings to illustrate what the Disney Princesses would look like if they were real people.

What do you think of the images below? I'm going to try to put together some images of real people I think look lke these princesses. Any suggestions?

Spooky Trees

2011-10-29T21:10:00.000-04:00

Way back on my birthday when I had Dianna and Tracy over for crafts, I demonstrated how to make spooky trees using pipe cleaners.

All I did was bundle up about 10 pipe cleaners then take another pipe cleaner and twist it around them at the base to make s trunk. Then I sculpted the top of the cleaners into a tree.

I had the hubs cut me a small square of scrap wood, which I painted black. I used a styrofoam ball cut in half and glued it to the base. Then I wedged the tree trunk in. I covered the base in moss and placed a mini pumpkin at the base. I randomly placed some tiny leaves around the tree. Pretty simple.

Houndstooth Pumpkins

2011-10-29T21:04:00.000-04:00

I made these pumpkins a while back, but never took pictures. With Halloween upon us I knew I had to share them with you before it was too late so please excuse the poor photos. Photo taking at night is never good, but the weather is so yucky here it wouldn't be much better during the day.

The pumpkin on the right I made by taking a fabric remnant I got at Hobby Lobby and cutting it in to strips. Then I just used modge podge on the underside and placed it on the pumpkin. I used some jute to cover the stem.

The smaller pumpkin is just covered in some houndstooth cardstock. These were very messy, but very easy. What do you think?

Fashion Must-Haves for Fall

2011-10-29T10:31:00.000-04:00

I am completely loving the styles this season. Last year a lot of the trends were a little hard to pull off. The bubble skirts and super tight skinny jeans with skinny tops were not working for me.

This year two of the best trends I have found are flyaway sweaters, and it being ok to wear skinny jeans even when you aren't skinny. The second part may scare you a little but there is a way to do it and I am going to help you out.

First, selecting the right skinny jean. One of the biggest mistakes people make with skinny jeans is they get them in a size too big. This causes your skinnies to look like mommy jeans. I say Go BIG or GO HOME! Get your true size and let those babies me tight. If you're feeling really brave you may even be able to bust out the jeggings.

Here are a few skinny jeans that I think work for real women's bodies:

Old Navy Sweetheart Skinny Jeans: These babies are great because the rise is in just the right place to minimize that muffin top. Also, the little bit of stretch makes it easier to walk.

At this point you may feel like you look fairly unbalanced. I sometime feel like my legs look like 2 upside down orange cones. You may even have a muffin top. The balance the frame you will need two things:

1. A super hot pair of wedges. These will lengthen your legs without the pain of heals. Your gams look better already

2. A flowy top to cover any imperfections.

3. Then a tailored jacket or blazer to bring an element of structure to the outfit.

Here is a picture of one my favorite fashion bloggers Gabifresh. She is totally fearless about her fashion despite her size.

So do you totally feel like you can pull off this look now? I hope so!

Rolly's Celebrity Look-a-Like

2011-10-24T17:23:00.000-04:00

You know how some people always get told they look familiar or that someone has a friend that looks just like them? Well Rolly is the dog version of this. People always want to know what he is and really it's anybody's guess. We have our theories, but no one really knows.

I was off today and I was watching some 90's TV and I found Rolly's doppleganger. Remember Murray the dog on Mad About You?

Crafty Di

2011-10-24T11:09:00.000-04:00

Way back last month was my 28th birthday. My friends Dianna and Tracy came over for some crafting and cupcakes. Dianna worked on a fall wreath, which led her to get the crafting bug. Here is a picture of the fall wreath she made. Sadly, we were being nighttime crafters and the lighting is terrible.

Delainey's 4th Birthday

2011-10-24T10:53:00.000-04:00

Last week I went back to Ohio for Delainey's 4th birthday. Lainey had so much fun and looked super cute. The party was held at Pump It Up and even the adults got to jump.

She stood in the mirror singing a song she made up about princesses to herself.

Here are Kaela and Sommer launching nerf balls at Jack at Pump it Up.

This is Lainey coming down the slide. She went on that thing about a hundred times.

Kaela is looking so grown up. It makes me feel old. I remember when she and Sommer looked like such babies.

Here is Emily coming off the slide.

Fall Puppy Photos

2011-10-24T10:41:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I went out to the field behind our house and took some pictures of Rolly and Stella. It is so much easier with a nice camera. They look so happy. What do you think?

These are a Few of My Favorite Things...

2011-10-12T14:31:00.000-04:00

Let me just say, buying clothes while overweight is not fun. I feel so limited and disappointed. My cute sweater dresses from last year still fit, but I'm not totally sure I can pull them off anymore. In the spirit of finding motivation, here are a few things that I wish looked a little better on me.

This houndstooth dress from The Limited. I really wanna buy this, but it will not look nearly as good on me as I want so I will just have to hold out.

I did actually break down and buy this dress. The fabric is really luxurious. I can wear it, but I will definitely look better -10 lbs from now. See it here. The limited was having a 40% off sale so I couldn't resist.

Does this dress just scream autumn to you! I'm not brave enough to go sleeveless at the moment, otherwise I would be all over this.

Wordlessly Wednesday

2011-10-12T04:28:00.000-04:00

Weight Watchers Weigh-In Week 2

2011-10-06T16:37:00.000-04:00

So I am a few days late on this post, but that's because it's so depressing and I had no motivation to share in my dejection. I know I should be happy that I didn't gain, but it's super frustrating to know I stayed within my points and didn't lose very much. Plus I worked out a ton. Maybe too much since I didn't lose very much.

Weight Loss this Week: -0.6 lbs

Total Weight Loss: -4.2
Current Weight: 191.4

What I ate:
1. Grapes
2. Chicken Breasts
3. Sauteed Peppers and Onions

I need to take my measurements and post my what I wore wednesday posts in hopes of finding other measurables. I'm not gonna lie, I have not been doing very well this week. To make matters worse we are going to the Penn State game this weekend and tailgating. I will probably blow my points out of the water no matter what. Bad attitude? Yes. I need to get back on track.

I'm Obsessed with Scarves and this Video!

2011-10-06T16:25:00.003-04:00

My friend Mallory from Split Ends and New Beginnings posted this video she found on Pinterst on 25 Ways to tie a scarf. This chic is like a scarf ninja. I can't wait until the weather here gets cold enough for me to bust out my scarf collection and try some of these tricks.

This is What Keeps Happening to Me at Work

2011-10-05T16:07:00.002-04:00

My Memories Software Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-02T12:48:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Dianna! You are the winner of the free software! I'll be contacting your shortly with a link to your download.

Ready for S'more Fall?

2011-09-30T07:04:00.001-04:00

Here is another yummy and delicious Katy Recipe! I love s'mores! They are one of the main reasons I am in weight watchers now. Chipotle and S'mores! To make my diet harder Katy has given us another yummy recipe!

1. Take a box choc cake mix and prepare it as normal, but add some chocolate chips in to the batter. (just to make it different... I don't like box mixes, so I try to spruce them up when I use them)
2. Then crunch up a sleeve of graham crackers and add 1/3 cup melted butter, and 1/4 cup sugar to the crackers. Spread this on the bottom of the cake pan, then add the batter. Bake cake according to box.
3. When done throw some marshmallows on the top and put it in the oven. I like to use the broiler, but you will need to watch the marshmallows closely so they don't burn.
Then I just threw some more graham crackers on the top and pieces of Hershey bar! Yum!

Favorite BHG Pumpkins for Fall

2011-09-29T07:50:00.000-04:00

BHG is one of my favorite magazines. Every year I try out some of their pumpkin ideas and they are even manageable for a novice carver like myself. Here are some of my faves for this year. Can you guess which one I am trying this weekend?

This one makes me wish I had a big porch!

I feel like this one would be hard to mess up. I wonder what they used for the eyes?

Again, even I can handle this.

I feel confident this one is taller than me.

I love the kitty cat split in half. I can see this being great for all my cat- loving freinds. This may be the only kind of cat John ever lets me have.

This one just screams fall!

Flower Arranging

2011-09-29T06:52:00.001-04:00

As I showed you earlier in the week Katy is an amazing floral designed. She has lent her skills to many friends and family since my wedding. Here are a few example of flowers she has done. If you have any questions about these projects please post in the comments and Katy will be happy to answer!

Here is a beautiful fall colored bride's bouquet.

Don't you love these colors for a fall wedding?

Here is a simple yet elegant centerpiece that Katy did. The colors are so rich. It would be wonderful for a winter wedding.

Here is our sweet cousin Lauren on her wedding day.

This is a close-up of Lauren't bouquet.

And Lauren't bridesmaids' bouquet. Gorgeous huh?

Recent Obsession: Hair Blogs

2011-09-28T13:18:00.002-04:00

I am in the middle of growing my hair out. It's in that lovely not short, but not long middle length that looks super odd on me. As I anxiously await longer tresses I have been vicariously living through bloggers with beautiful hair. I vow once my hair gets long enough I will be trying all this gorgeousness. Here are a few of my faves.

The Small Things Blog: Not only does this chick have hair so gorgeous it doesn't look real, but she also crafts. A woman after my own heart. If I didn't love her so much I would hate her. She does great tutorials on hair and has tons of tips since she is a stylist herself. She swears by certain products and I am totally sold!

This haircut makes me want to cut my hair. I'm not gonna lie, I may give in and just have my hair cut like this. I'm not sure I can resist.

But then I look at this and think of the endless possibilities of growing my hair out. Life's great question; To cut or not to cut.

Split Ends and New Beginnings: This is my friend Mallory! She used to do my hair when I lived in C-Bus and I was so scared to have to leave her magic hands. She does amazing tutorials that make styling seem really simple.

What Hair blogs do you follow?

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-09-28T10:14:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking of jumping on the WIWW bandwagon. I know I am obscenely late, but I think it may be a good way to visually track my weight loss. I don't think I need fashion help since I get dressed up for work every day, but you never know.

Being overweight, I hate seeing myself in pictures. Especially full body shots! So this may be a good way for me to keep it real and stay honest about how I really want to look. Stay tuned to see if I stick to this when I get home today.

More Wedding Gorgeousness!

2011-09-28T07:11:00.000-04:00

Last week I showed you some invitations that my SIL Jen made for our cousins wedding. You can see that post here. This week I want to show you the beautiful flowers my other SIl Katy made for the wedding, as well. Katy can seriously do any flower arrangement you can think of. She could easily just become a florist and call it a day. Check out these flowers below.

Here are the supplies before Katy works her magic.

This was the bride's bouquet.

Here is a snapshot of one of the flower arrangements.

Here is the beautiful bride Lauren with her flowers.

Weight Watchers Weigh-In Week 1

2011-09-27T19:16:00.000-04:00

So week one was up yesterday and I survived! It was especially tough since my birthday was on Sunday and all week long people were brining me treats and offering to take me to lunch. Somehow, I managed to stay within my points.

Weight Loss: -3.6 lbs
Current Weight: 191.4

What I ate:
1. Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins with Spray Butter
2. Asian Apple Pears
3. Adobo Seasoning- I love this stuff on beef, ground turkey, chicken or even veggies!

Only 1.4 lbs until I make my first goal of 5 lbs! Thanks for all of your encouragement and please continue to share your tips, successes, and goals!

Recipe: Lemon Cake with Raspberry Frosting

2011-09-27T07:01:00.046-04:00

Katy has a reputation in our family for delicious desserts. Here is one of the more simple ones she has done. So yummy! I probably shouldn't post this while on weight watchers. Torture!

You will need:

1. One Package of Yellow Cake Mix

2. One Package of instant Lemon Pudding Mix

3. 1 3/4 c of Water

4. Three egg whites

5. One container of fresh raspberries

6. One can of raspberry pie filling

7. 2 containers of cool whip

8. One package of vanilla pudding mix

9. 1 cup of milk

Cake Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Spray two 9 inch round pans with cooking spray.

3. In a large bowl, mix together cake mix and pudding mix

4. Pour in water and egg whites.

5. Beat on low speed for 1 minute. Increase speed to high and beat for 4 minutes.

6. Pour batter into prepared pans

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.

Topping Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix with milk and 1/2 cup of raspberry filling.

2. Mix until smooth

3. Gently fold in whipped topping until no streaks remain

4. Spread evenly over cake.

Then all you do it assemble the cake, and put raspberry pie filling between layers!

Meet Katy! Baker, Florist, Sister Extraordinaire!

2011-09-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

Last week I introduced you to my sister-in-law Jen and her card creations. This week I'd like you to meet my baby sister-in-law Katy!

Katy was the person who really introduced me to crafting as I know it today. Katy has no fear of serious redo projects like headboards, reupholstery, cooking, and decorating. I was lucky enough to get to live with Katy before I got married to John and I think it really gave us a bond not shared by many sisters-in-law. Katy is so sweet and so tough all at once. She will help anyone anytime. Did I mention Katy did my amazing wedding flowers?

This is my neice Mikaela. Don't you love the kissing ball Katy made for her?

Here is Jen, my father-in-law David, the hubs, my brother-in-law Nate, and Katy herself! I know you love my flowers!

Here you can see the centerpiece Katy designed with orange slices in the bowl. My wedding was over 5 years ago so we were totally ahead of this trend. It got huge the next year. I love being a trendsetter!

Here is my brother-in-law Brian. He is married to Jen. I love this pic of this huge guy holding his wife' bouquet for her.

It hard to see, but my amazing katy ordered these cones to hold the flowers that were perfect on so many levels. 1. they matched the red dresses perfectly. 2. The little jewel on them matched the bridesmaids' necklaces. 3. They came with little stands that allowed the bridesmaids to leave their bouquets standing up to keep them pretty and allow our front table to have tons of flowers!

I'll be showcasing more of Katy's projects throughout the week. She is super duper talented so stay tuned!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-09-25T23:03:00.000-04:00

Today is my 28th birthday! I had a nice relaxing day of crafting with my birthday spoils which I will post tomorrow. Also, my friends Di and Tracy came to partake in a crafty evening. I took lots pictures of my take. You will be entirely jealous! lol

Also, my husband is writing a blog post for me tomorrow. And my baby SIL Katy will be showcasing some of her projects so it's going to be a fun week! Make sure you stop by!

Book Review: The Wolves of Mercy Fall Series

2011-09-22T06:19:00.001-04:00

I recently finished reading Forever, the final book in the Wolves of Mercy Fall Series by Maggie Stiefvater. I have to say this series was up and down for me. I flew through the first book Shiver. I was addicted to the characters and was thrilled when I found out there would be a sequel.

Next when Linger came out it was torture. It took me months to finish and I am the kind of girl that reads a book in about three days. It is definitely the middle child of the series. It was bogged down with forced character introductions and a plot with a personality disorder. The bottom line was the main character was going to turn into a werewolf and you knew this in the very first chapter. Too bad it didn't actually happen until the last page.

Finally, Forever was the finale this series needed. The characters went back to basics and the characters had real emotions. I ate this book up. Then ending was absolutely perfect. I was satisfied, but I still had some thing to think about with the characters.

If you love the supernatural and are interested in seeing a unique twist on the concept of a werewolf this series is for you. I wouldn't put it on my favorites list, but it is still a solid series for YA fans.

Have you read it? Tell me your thoughts.

I'm Hangry Yo!

2011-09-21T14:26:00.000-04:00

So it's day 2 of weight watchers and I'm hangry! Ok, I'm hungry, but maybe not angry. I'm mostly cranky. Yesterday gave me a false sense of full. Today I am struggling. I just want some comfort food and it's only day 2! Although I did stock up on some 1 point soups today so maybe that will do the trick.

I'm still determined to stay on the plan, but I think the reality of how hard it is going to be has hit me. I need to do some meal planning for next week so I'm not so dumbfounded about what to eat. I think it is a tough transition to the new point system because I have been wating things thinking that they are a certain point value then I plug it in and it's way more! Oh cereal, will we ever meet again?

Wordlessly Wednesday

2011-09-21T05:09:00.001-04:00

More Cards by Jen

2011-09-20T06:08:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I introduced you to my amazing SIL. Today I wanted to showcase a few more of her paper creations.

Here is a sweet little card she made, I love how she used the buttons for the center. Her cards are always so multi-dimentional with different textures that really make them stand out.

Here is a wedding program she created that was also a fan. This is such a clever idea for hot outdoor weddings.

Here is the front of one another wedding invite. I love the color contrast.

Here is another wedding invite similar to the one I posted yesterday. They are so well constructed. Oftentimes, homemade invites can feel flimsy or cheap, but Jen's are so professional.

Here is the invitation Jen made for her son's first birthday. Sorry for my poor job of blocking out information. I thought it looked festive, but now I think it makes me look slightly colorblind! lol

This summer we celebrated grandpa's 80th birthday. This invite really personifies grandpa. He is so laid back and this definitely reminds me of him.

One of the things that I think really sets Jen's paper crafts apart is that she really captures the people she is making them for. A lot of time when you use a larger company for wedding invitations their products looks decidedly them. With Jen, the end result always reflects the couple she is making them for.

Thanks for stopping by!

My First Day of Weight Watchers (meh)

2011-09-19T22:27:00.002-04:00

I've skillfully danced around the whole weight issue on my blog for a while now. I am overweight. I'm a chub and I'm not happy with how I look. I need to do something about it and it's gonna be hard, and long, and I'm gonna hate it sometimes, but there can be no turning back from this point forward.

Today was my first weight watchers meeting. It was not off to a good start. The woman told me to put my purse down and step on the scale, which I did. Then she says,"No you have to set down your purse." I realize that she is seeing my weight and thinks I must be holding a very heavy bag because there is no way I can possible weigh that much. Not a good way to start.

I actually really like my leader Di and my two neighbors were there so I feel like I have a little support group. I have to do this. I just do. I'm tired of walking around feeling like people see me as a fat girl rather than just me. I'm tired of being scared to do things because I may look dumb doing it because I am so chubby. I'm done walking into stores and wondering if they carry up to my size.

I really really need support. I feel like this is it. Either I'm going to go balls out this time or throw in the towel. In the past I have struggled with eating disorders and ever since then I have had a hard time losing weight in a healthy way. I think the solution to this is going to be brutal honestly.

I weigh 195 pounds. I said it. My home scale says 184 so this was a bit of a shock when I checked into the meeting today. I'm sure WW is right so I am going to go with it.

I want to weigh 135 pounds.

I've got a lot of work ahead of me.

These are My Goals in order of Difficulty

1. Lose 5 lbs
2. Lose 5% of your body weight: 9 lbs
3. Lose 10 lbs
4. Lose 10% of your body weight: 18lbs
5. Lose 25 lbs
6. Lose 15% of my body weight: 29 lbs
7. Lose 35 lbs
8. Lose 25% of my body weight: 49 lbs
9. Lose 60 lbs

And here is my beloved "before" picture

I look like Violet Beauregarde from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Sure, it doesn't help my cause that I'm standing next to my gorgeous friend Takea who happens to be a model. But that would be an excuse right? And no more excuses!

Necessities for a New Puppy

2011-09-19T09:32:00.000-04:00

Now having our second puppy, I have learned a few things about what is a total waste of money and what is an aobsolute must-have when you get a new puppy.

1. Nature's Miracle - I have the nose of a blood hound. No seriously, I do. I can smell anything near or far. This talent is a blessing and a curse. Clearly I will never kick the bucket in a fire or checmical spill, but I also tend to get nauseous a lot from unpleasant smells. Having a new puppy with potty training issues is pretty much a nightmare for me which is why I invest in lots of this stuff. Regular carpet cleaners will not work. They don't break up the enzymes in animal urine and the smell will never really go away using anything else.

Here is what you need to do:
a. Use a paper towel to soak up any moisure.
b. Spray Nature's Miracle all over damaged area.
c. SCRUB!
d. Soak up any more wetness
e. Wait until it dries then come back and spray Nature's Miracle again.
f. If you are like me and can really smell stuff you may need to do this again the next day.

2. A cheap leash and a leather leash. Your new puppy is probably going to walk a little like a drunk sailor. Not to mention they are going to attempt to chew on their leash. Therefore, the first leash you get them should be a plain old cheap one from the pet supply store. You will probably only use this leash for the first month. Although it is cheap, make sure it is thick enough to keep from breaking.

After you have taught your puppy not to chew on the leash, you will need to start using a quality leather leash. Leather leashes aren't cute, but they are a kep factor in training your dog. First of all, they won't break like a cloth leash might and will last much longer. The longer you have a leather leash the better it gets because it's get softer and more broken in allowing you to manipulate it better. Having a strong leash helps you to be stronger and ensure that your dog knows you are in charge. When making leash corrections in training the leather leash makes a huge difference. Also, if your dog is a puller a leather leash will not burn your hands the way a cloth one would. They are a larger initial investment, but they will far outlast anything else and end up saving you money in the end.

3. A Travel Crate. Not all of my dogs have been escape artists, but it's better safe than sorry. I'm not opposed to wire crates, but it seems my dogs have preferred the coziness of a travel crate, plus they are useful when you travel. Duh. The travel crate is escape artist proof so you will never come home to any surprises or, even worse, an injured puppy who hurt temselves escaping their wire crate.

If you have a puppy you need a crate train them. Period. Crates mimick dogs dens and they provide safety and security for your puppy. Not to mention, they will keep you from losing your mind. when you are trying to potty train.

What can't your dog live without?

Meet My Sister-in-law and her Mad Skills

2011-09-19T05:40:00.003-04:00

I would like to introduce my sister-in-law Jen. She was kind enough to lend me some of her creations so I could share them with you, but first I'd like to tell you a little about her.

First off, let me just say that Jen is totally illusive when it comes to avoiding family photos. As you can see this is a picture of Jen at my bridal shower, which was over 5 years ago. Every picture I have of her since she is either pregnant, has a screaming kid in her arms, or is completely not looking at the camera. It is now my personal mission to take a decent picture of her next time I see her.

Jen and I have known each other since I was a Freshman in high school and she was a junior. I say known, because I wouldn't say we were friends. Lol. Jen was really intimidating in high school. She was an amazing soccer player, super gorgeous, popular, and older. Oh and did I mention she is John's twin.

Many many years later when John and I started dating I was more nervous about meeting Jen again than John's parents. Shockingly, when I met Jen again I saw a totally different side of her. She is one of the most loyal and selfless people I have ever met. She is an amazing mom and I am so happy to be a part of her family. She is now a stay at home mom of three super cute kids. I really don't know how she does it.

This week John's cousin Jonathan got married to his fiance Lauren. They are both so sweet and I am so happy for them. Jen made them some beautiful invitations, menus, and programs that you can see below.

This is the closed invite

This is what it looked like when opened. I love the pocket on the side that holds a little info sheet, as well as, the response.

The Menu

Aren't they gorgeous? I'll be featuring more of Jen's projects this week so stay tuned!

My Current Obsession: Sweater Wreaths

2011-09-18T20:17:00.001-04:00

I am fully committed to heading to Goodwill this week and buying some sweaters to make my own sweater wreath. I will probably pee my pants if I can find a fair isle sweater to make into a wreath, but I am a notoriously poor thrift shopper so I'm not holding my breath. In the meantime, please feast your eyes on these lovelies.

Ready Made

Today is My Someday

Green Baboon Designs

What Do You Think of My New 'Do?

2011-09-18T18:36:00.001-04:00

So the blog redo is finished! Kind of. I still haven't completely removed all of the old code, but I've basically gotten it looking how I want. I think it was well worth the savings of $150 to pay someone else. Could they have done a better job? Yes. Is it worth paying them? Probably not.

I had the time so the money saving was worth more to me than paying someone. Plus last time I had someone else do my blog it was hard to communicate what I really wanted. No one else can see in my mind so it wasn't exactly what I wanted in the end. It did serve me well so I was grateful for it.

What do you think of the new look? Please grab my new button!

<br /> <a href="http://www.theloops13.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee374/Inthe_Loop/NewButton.png"/" /></a><br />

Maybe I'm Allergic to Life?

2011-09-18T12:44:00.000-04:00

It's official. I have allergies all year round. I am so tired of sinus headaches I can't take it anymore. I take Allegra and it only takes care of some of my symptoms. I have tried pretty much every product on the market and nothing gets rid of the headache completely. I ever had sinus surgery last year. It helped with my sore throats and sinus infections, but not the sinus headaches. Maybe I could move. To the north pole!

Don't Judge but...

2011-09-16T18:47:00.000-04:00

I am going to try to redo my own blog this weekend. I don't know why I have such a fear of this. I have built websites from scratch before people! So in the meantime don't judge my appearance. We are a work in progress people!

Fall Shelf Take 1

2011-09-16T08:57:00.002-04:00

I love my new shelves, but I am totally in a decorating funk. Here is my first try for fall decorating with just stuff I already had around the house. I don't think this will be around for a very long time because I am waiting until October 1 to make it really Halloween-ish, but at least it's festive, right?

I die! (for Vampire Diaries!)

2011-09-15T21:06:00.000-04:00

I die! I die! For real! Did you see the season premiere of Vampire Diaries??? If not, you must! So first off, this episode was everything I dreamed of and more. There was so much action. Every character surprised me which is saying a lot.

First of Nina Dobrev (Elena) look gorgeous. Actually so did everyone. Just when you think these people can't get any better looking, they do! Her sadness was so heart wrenching. I still can't believe Jenna is gone. I hope Alaric isn't gone forever too!

Damon. Oh sweet Ian Smolderholder. No one does brooding better than you. Not even Stephan. Damon is one of my fave characters ever. He's not ever just good or bad. He's always struggling with being both at once.

And Stephan. I seriously cried at the end. I feel so terrible for him. He has really lost everything. I am no clue how they will ever stop Klaus and get Stephan back. But I can't wait to see!

My First Garland

2011-09-15T08:52:00.002-04:00

I've been whining forever about how I don't really know how to utilize my Cricut. Thanks for the joy of YouTube I have finally started to do some fun stuff with it. Mostly I've been actually cutting vinyl. I made this cute Fall garland for my new shelves.

I have to say I hate the green ribbon so as soon as I can make it to Hobby Lobby I will be buying some jute. Oh my jute is also missing. I'm guessing it's in the same place as my fall wreaths. I even used some distressed ink on these babies. Another recent discovery of mine. Yeah I know I am behind the times.

Hooked on My Memories

2011-09-15T05:18:00.001-04:00

If you haven't already go enter my giveaway for a free My Memories software download. I pulled together a few of my fave kits. Please feel free to link up any My Memories projects you've done.

Sweet Life Papers

Deka Papers

Halloween Papers

You're Such a Hoot Pack

Wordlessly Wednesday

2011-09-14T09:01:00.000-04:00

Second Wreath of the Week!

2011-09-14T08:51:00.007-04:00

As I mentioned yesterday, I lost all of my fall wreaths so I am working on replenishing my stash. This one was super simple. I just wrapped a wreath form in burlap strips and used some buttons for embellishment. I think it's pretty cute and simple for fall.

My Memories Software Giveaway!

2011-09-14T07:34:00.007-04:00

I am so very excited to bring this giveaway to you! I have been very slow to jump on the digital scrapbooking train so I was thrilled to be able to try out the My Memories software. It was super easy to use and I was able to create the pages below in about 30 minutes while watching TV.

My Memories has offered me the chance to give one lucky reader a free download of My Memories Software- a $40 value! To enter the giveaway all you have to do is be a follower of this blog and visit the My Memories site and tell me which digital paper pack or layout is your favorite and come back here and leave a comment tell me which one it is.

In addition to the giveaway I'd like to offer everyone a $10 coupon code for the My Memories Suite Scrapbook Software and a $10 coupon for the My Memories Store store - $20 value! Just enter the code below for your discount:

STMMMS39702

The giveaway winner will be selected on September 27. You will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be selected.

Good luck!

Totally Feeling the Filigree Leaf Trend

2011-09-13T17:36:00.000-04:00

Have you seen today gorgeous Group Deal? I love these dainty earrings! Plus she are only $4.75. Hurry while it lasts!

Do You Know a Good Blog Designer?

2011-09-13T17:16:00.000-04:00

My blog needs a serious update. Yes, I could do it myself, but I feel confident there are many of you out there who can do a much better job than me. Are you a blog designer or do you know a good one? If so let me know and I'd love to hire you!

What I'm Listening to Tuesday

2011-09-13T09:02:00.000-04:00

Wreath Study Continued

2011-09-13T08:43:00.001-04:00

SoI can't find my beloved fall wreaths. I know this sounds crazy because our house is teeny and I'm pretty organized, but I seriously can't find them. And I loved them! I'm sure I'll find them once I start decorating for Christmas.

I've been wanting a square wreath forever. I bought some big sheets of foam from Hobby Lobby and cut them up to make my own form. I had tons of leaves I bought last year at the dollar store last year, as well. I love the results! I can't wait to make more square wreaths with the leftover foam.

Pumpkins Already?

2011-09-12T08:40:00.000-04:00

I was feeling like it was too early to start decorating for fall then I realized it's almost mid-September! I started to really get a hustle on my fall decorating this weekend. I've seen these button designs all over. Plus I need to use up my burlap. Cute huh?

Does this Make Me an Artist?

2011-09-07T20:29:00.001-04:00

I'm sure you've seen the new Martha Stewart paint products all over the internet lately. Besides the steep price tag I've loved everything I have seen in this line. I decided to treat myself to one of the stencil packs as I have been searching for a small quatrefoil stencil for a while.

I decided to try everything out on some canvas I got on sale at Hobby Lobby. I have to say I really love them and I'm sure I will get tons of use out of them. I've had a lot of mishaps with stencils in the past and I will say these are better than some of the generic stencils I have used in the past. What do you think?

Kennel Sign

2011-09-06T20:13:00.002-04:00

I'm so excited to finally have another girl in the house and be able to buy some girly puppy things. I decided to make Stella a little sign for her crate and it only cost me $1! Cute huh?

Wall Transformation

2011-09-05T20:12:00.000-04:00

There are many eyesores in our house that we are slowly trying to improve. One of the worst culprits was this wall smack in the middle of our house. The builders has the brilliant idea of placing the thermostat, the humidifier, and the doorbell right in the middle of the wall. Not to mention, no one in Maryland needs a humidifier!

Anyway here is how it looked before. Attractive huh?

So we had an electrician come out to remove the humidifier and the thermostat. We moved the doorbell and upgraded to a digital thermostat.

See it already looks better. Sorry for the poor light. One of the perils of nighttime home improvement.

Then my husband made these super cute shelves for me since we don't have a mantel and I really needed a focal point to decorate. Doesn't it look much better? The only problem is, I am having some real issues decorating it. I have tons of ideas for Christmas and I can't wait to come up with something then, but I am struggling at the moment. Here is what I have so far...

I am thinking a bookpage wreath, which is what all the little paper rosettes are for on the shelf. Any ideas? Please fee free to link back to any ideas you may have. What are your trouble areas in your house?

Still Trying to Use up that Fabric

2011-09-05T19:41:00.000-04:00

After the great curtain calamity I am still constantly trying to find ways to use up the 8 yards of customer fabric I have lying around. I decided to make a dry erase board for the front door in hopes John will read it before he leaves so he won't forget anything. Plus I already had everything so it was free.

All I did was use a spray adhesive to glue the fabric to the board of a picture frame. Easy peasy. Too bad I still have a million yards of paisley fabric.

BHG Inspiration

2011-08-31T10:26:00.000-04:00

Better Homes and Gardens is one of my absolute favorite magazines. I usually find deals and get magazines for free, but I was actually willing to pay for this one. I recommend you subscribe to their email updates. They have such darling ideas and I feel like they are really acheivable on a small budget or in a small space!

Here are a few of my favorites from this week:

I am in love with this faux bois effect. I am heading to Home Depot tonite to buy a Martha Stewart Paint kit so I can give this a try.

Cute and inexpensive puppy bed!

Meet the Newest Loop

2011-08-27T18:37:00.000-04:00

Stellaaaaaa!!!!

Meet Stella. She was found wandering the lonely streets of South Carolina scavenging for food and wandering a busy road. Luckily she was picked up by a local shelter and then transported to Maryland so she could get off of death row.

We were lucky enough to adopt her. Rolly LOVES his new little sister. She is so smart it's kind of scary. Although she seems to be afraid of the dark, which I didn't think was possible for a dog.

Postage Stamp aka Front Yard Update

2011-08-27T16:08:00.000-04:00

John and I had kind of a weird yard. First, we live in Maryland so our yard is teeny tiny. Second, once upon a time there was a tree smack dab in the middle of our yard that died that had to be cut down and an unsightly stump remained. Third, there was a big pipe that ran down the side yard and had to be replaced so the grass never grew the same.

Eventually these things started to drive us crazy and we decided to do a mini update on the yard.

We ripped up the mulch that was to the left of the walkway. We also ripped out all of the current bushes and plants.

Then we filled in the holes and covered everything with new soil because the old was pretty rocky and terrible.

These two bushes just weren't working. They only bloomed for a very short period of time and just looked scrawny.

Next, we laid sod to the left of the walkway. I think it was an immediate improvement.

Oops, we didn't buy enough!

As soon as the hurricane leaves town I'll give you an after picture! Stay tuned!

Collies are Awesome

2011-08-13T21:01:00.001-04:00

So I may be a little late on posting this, but it is awesome. It just shows how intelligent and amazing dogs can be when properly trained. Check out these Border Collies herding the sheep into a light show.

Wordlessly Wednesday

2011-08-03T10:11:00.000-04:00