Strawberry Chic

Happy Friday

2012-03-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

It seems like every year, about this time, I get anxious to vacation. I think it's a combination of the after holiday blue's + the seemingly never ending crummy winter weather. I know spring is just around the corner but I still can't help but feel a little cabin fever.

We typically try to do a camping trip at least once a year. Honestly, camping is not very high on my list when it comes to dream vacations...but after seeing this photo, I'm convinced we've been going about it all wrong!

Does any one else have the vacation itch?

Ps. I promise I finally finished the bassinet bedding...I really haven't been slacking. It's just that everything took WAY more time then I had estimated. Plus, I think I need to come to terms with the fact that I am not...and never will be a "sewer" (but don't worry that won't stop me from trying!)

Photo Credit: Via

A Belated Blogging Birthday

2012-02-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

I was making my usual blogging rounds yesterday and happened upon a Happy 1st Birthday blog post at one of my favortie blogs Delighted Momma. I started reminiscing about how my own blog began and realized that I too was coming up on my 1 year mark.

I could have sworn I started blogging in March but sadly I realized that my first post was actualy on February 26th of last year.

So yeah, I totally missed my own blogging birthday...but I'll blame that on the fact that I'm 37 weeks pregnant and my brain shrunk (a true statement by the way!)

I'm not a big fan of lengthy posts but if you are interested in reading about why I started my blog click below!

It took some time for me to remember why I really started blogging. It wasn't for a particular reason but rather a culmination of things.

here's my story...

I graduated from the interior design program at BYU-Idaho in April of 2009. Upon graduating and completing a 2nd internship at a cabinetry design company, I was torn between wanting to be a "career woman" or start a family (my husband and I had been married for a little over 3 years by this time). I realize, like many of you, I could have done both, but in the end, I felt that it was important for me to be a "stay at home mom."

Around the time my son turned 1, I began to feel like I was becoming disconnected with the design world. On top of that I was upset with myself for putting so much time and effort into earning a 4 year design degree and basically doing nothing with it. Also, I had just moved to a small town where everything was new and I didn't know a single soul.

I decided that blogging would be a great way for me to stay connected with the design world and was a place where I could share my own design projects. It also gave me something exciting to work towards and sort of filled the lonely gap that had resulted from moving to a new town and having a husband that worked long hours.

Although the original plan for my blog was to be centered around design, I quickly realized that with everything else going on in my life design posts alone was something I couldn't be consistent with. So, along with design and diy projects, I started blogging about everything else that I do on a regular basis, like baking, thrifted and vintage finds, and of course the "mom stuff."

I had never intended for this blog to become a "Mom Blog" but if I had to be completely honest with myself it sort of has. Luckily, I am ok with that. I have truly come to enjoy what I blog about and hope my readers do as well :)

Thanks for following!

Carmel Puffcorn

2012-02-28T04:30:00.000-08:00

While I was home for the holidays my wonderful Aunt Julie introduced me to this magical carmel puffcorn (she always makes the best sweets!).

The puffcorn has a similar taste to regular carmel corn, but the sugar coating is baked over light fluffy puff corn pieces that melt in your mouth just like cotton candy! It's one of those treats that ends up being a little dangerous because you can't resist constantly sneaking a few pieces in your mouth!

I thought this recipe would be perfect for my son's circus themed birthday party...and it definitely did not disappoint! So, click below to get the recipe!

by the way...

This is last of the posts from my son's circus themed birthday party...

View my Circus Tent Cake &Streamer Chandelier tutorials if you are interested in throwing a similar party!

Carmel Puff Corn
You will need...
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup Light Corn Syrup
1 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2-3 bags Chester's Puffcorn (I used 3 bags, but you can use just 2 bags if you want your sugar coating to be thicker).

Directions:

Set oven to 250 degrees F.

Coat a large roasting pan with cooking spray and dump the puffcorn inside. Boil the butter, corn syrup, and sugar on medium heat - stir frequently to avoid burning the mix. When the liquid begins to boil remove pan from heat, add the vanilla and baking soda, and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula. As soon as the mix starts to turn foamy pour over the puffcorn.

Stir the puffcorn until it is nicely coated in the sugar mix. Then bake for 30-45 min. - take puffcorn out of the oven every 10-15 min to stir. After baking, place on foil or wax paper to cool.

*This is the puffcorn you want to buy (you can usually find it at Wal-mart)

Eggs & Bacon or Oatmeal & Berries?

2012-02-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Image Source: Unknown Via

Are you a breakfast person?

Honestly, breakfast food is one of my all time favorites (especially when I'm pregnant)! I just can't seem to get enough when it comes to waffles, crepes, hash browns, bacon, homemade syrup...seriously, the possibilities are endless! In fact, one of my favortie activities to do when we vacation or move to a new town is to find "hole in the wall" breakfast places that are secretly delicious (you know the type that are always on those Food Network shows).

Although, typically, when it comes to choosing what I want to eat in the morning I will almost always stick with my usual whole wheat/high fiber cereal and possibly a side of fresh fruit.

Boring I know.

I won't lie and pretend like I'm a healthy eater (because after about 3:00pm that mindset usually goes out the window), but I have learned that starting my day off with a wholesome meal as opposed to butter and grease makes a BIG difference with how my day goes.

What does your typical breakfast menu look like? Are you the type that can down a whole stack of pancakes no problem or do you prefer to stick to a lighter menu?

Happy Friday + A Kitchen Catastrophe

2012-02-24T07:11:00.000-08:00

Lately, my little man has been loving to help me in the kitchen (especially since he figured out that when I use my Kitchen Aid, it typically means something sweet is in the big shinny bowl!)

Last week, I was making a batch of those cookies I posted about yesterday and decided to let him help me put all of the ingredients in. He was doing a great job...until I added the flour.

I turned around for 1 second and he had pulled the mixer switch on to full blast...

flour flew EVERYWHERE!

Although the mess wasn't super fun to clean up, he looked too stinkin cute all covered in flour from head to toe. I couldn't help but snap a couple of shots!

Hope you have a Happy Friday and a great weekend! I have been using every nap time this week to work on the bedding for my Vintage Bassinet and things are taking a little longer then I had expected. But I'm hoping to finish things up sometime tomorrow!

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

2012-02-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure everyone has their own favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe, but it's always fun to try something new!

This is the recipe my mom has been making FOREVER! I mean seriously look how old the Betty Crocker Cookbook is, it's pretty much about to fall apart.

Plus, you know a recipe is good when your book automatically opens to the overly used page upon opening...and it looks like you've spilled one to many ingredients on it over the years.

Do you have a favorite Chocolate chip cookie recipe?

Click below to get the recipe!

Chocolate Chip Cookies - From an ancient Betty Crocker Cookbook.

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 package (or 6oz) semisweet chocolate chips
*recipe will make about 2 dozen cookies

Directions: Cream sugars, butter, and shortening in a large mixing bowl. Add egg and vanilla and mix until blended well. Mix in flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the chocolate chips and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 min.

Pottery Barn Kids Table DIY

2012-02-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to make my 2yr old son a kids activity table for quite some time. He has been more and more interested in hands on play like coloring, play doh, and the 'bean bucket.' So, I really wanted him to have a kid friendly table that was at a comfortable height for play.

After doing a little online research, I fell in LOVE with THIS Hudson Trestle Table from Pottery Barn, but wasn't willing to spend $200 on it.

My husband and I made plans to make our own table and we set out to Home Depot to get the supplies. We ended up spending about $30 on wood supplies and paint (a much better price I must say :).

I did end up splurging a little on the chairs. I really wanted something fun and modern so I ordered THESE white stacking chairs from Target and paid $60 for both of them. I also purchased the blue storage buckets from Target (about $12 each). I don't believe they offer them online, but you can find them at Target near the children's home section (they are from the "Shaun White" line).

I was thrilled with how everything turned out, and most importantly my son loves it!

Here are a few more photos of the finished product...

Get the full tutorial and material list by clicking below!

Kids Activity Table

Materials Needed...

(1) 2x4 8'

(1) 1x2 8' (you only really need 2')

(1) 24" x 48" sheet of 3/4" thick plywood

(1) 12" x 29" sheet of 3/4" thick plywood (we used a scrap piece that we had)

2" Screws

1 1/4" Screws

Wood Glue

Paint

Tools Needed...

Skil Saw and/or Miter Saw (chop saw)

Power Drill

Speed Square (for angles, not needed if you use miter saw)

3/32" Drill Bit

Electric Sander

Paint Brush

Instructions...

1. First step is to cut all the pieces that you will need for the table:

- Cut a 23 degree angle on the end of the 2x4. From the long point measure back 21" and make a mark. This point will be the short side of your next 23 degree angle cut. So you will have a 2x4 piece that measures 21" from long to short (see below photo). This is your first table leg.This piece does not have to be perfect as long as the rest of the legs match. So ensure that they match I would recommend using the first leg as a stencil for the remaining 3.

- Cut the 24" x 48" sheet of plywood so that it measures 24" by 40". This will be the table top.

- Cut 4" off of the remaining 24" x 8" strip so that it is 20" x 8". Then cut it in half so that you have (2) 20" x 4" strips. these will be use to attach the legs to the table top.

- Also you will need to cut (2) 1' pieces of 1x2 and a piece of 12" x 29" plywood for the shelf (not shown in the photo above).

2. Before putting the table together you will need to makes some measurements and mark them on each piece of wood.

- Take the (4) legs and measure and draw a line in the center of the top ends as shown above. Make sure that these lines extend down the sides a little so that the center mark is visible when the plywood strip is put on top.

- Take the plywood strips and measure and draw a center line in both direction as shown above. I also measured where I wanted the screws but this is optional.

3. This part is a little tricky and will be a lot easier if you have the help of another person. Stand (2) legs up as shown above and place your strip of plywood on top of them. This is where the center lines come in handy. Make sure that the legs are centered on the plywood and screw (2) 2" screws in each leg from the top through the plywood.

Repeat the above process for both sets of legs.

4. Now before gluing anything, you will have to layout the table top so the you know exactly where to put the legs. Measure in from the long sides, 2" on each side and draw a line. Measure in 2 3/4" from the ends and draw another line. The legs mounting strip of plywood should sit inside of these lines.

Now apply the glue to the top of leg mounting plywood strips. To make sure the shelf fits, place the shelf plywood in between the legs and adjust accordingly (as shown in the photo above).

Next pre-drill and screw (WITH 1 1/4" SCREWS!!! 2" Screws will go through the top of the table!) 2 screws on each end of the leg mounting bracket.

Also, screw the legs to the table top with 2 screws in the center.

5. Next, finish building the shelf by pre-drilling and screwing the (2) 1' pieces of 1x2 to the end of the shelf plywood (see photos above). I used the 1 1/4" screws for this as well.

Now, pre drill and start (2) 1 1/4" screws in 1x2 pieces underneath the shelf (see above photo). Now turn your table right side up and determine where you would like your shelf. Measure up from the ground to mark the top of your shelf. The top of our shelf was at 10 1/2" from the ground. Make sure that the height is the same on both sides. Now get someone to help you hold the shelf to that height and screw it to the table legs. Sorry, I did not take any photos of this step but you should be able to figure it about by looking at the below photos of the completed project.

Next, get your sander out and sand down all of the rough or sharp edges.

Make sure to sand down the plywood edges underneath the table as well.

Now all that is left is to paint it whatever color you and/or your child would like.

Good luck! We had a ton of fun and hope you do too! Let me know if you have any questions along the way.

36 Weeks Pregnant + A Funny Story . . .

2012-02-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm 36 weeks pregnant now and only have 1 month left to go!

Like I said before, I've been a little self conscious about my weight gain this pregnancy. Actually, I haven't put on much more weight then I did with my first baby, but my clothes are just not fitting the same this time around. Plus, last pregnancy I was always told how small I was...this time however I've been told on multiple occasions that I am looking rather large (Arg! - if people only knew how much pregnant women do NOT want to hear that!)

So here's the funny story...

I have been meaning to purchase a new full length mirror ever since ours broke a couple of months ago. So, last weekend, I bought a new one at Target and was excited to finally see what my outfit looked like from top to bottom!

After my husband had hung it in our closet, I glanced at myself in the mirror for just a second and immediately thought I looked a little funny. I then asked my husband to take a look at himself too. He stepped back, took a quick glance, and said something like "looks perfect to me."

The next morning, after getting ready for the day, I stood in front of the mirror and took an even longer look at myself. My first thought was this..."oh my word, I am HUGE...everywhere." Every time I walked by that stupid mirror during the day I would catch a glance of myself and think things like, "I have never seen myself like this before" and "how did I ever let my weight gain get this far!?"

When my husband came home from work that evening I was fairly grumpy and easily agitated. I finally asked him to please go look at himself in the mirror again (hoping that maybe his image would change). He rolled his eyes, stood in front of the mirror, immediately started laughing, and admitted that the mirror was indeed warped! I pushed him aside and stood in front of the mirror myself... then he really started laughing! I looked about a foot shorter then I really was, my body looked about 30lbs heavier, and my pregnant stomach was abnormally large!

I was relived to know that I was indeed right about the mirror, but I couldn't believe that I had spent a good portion of the day starring at myself in that evil mirror in self-pity.

We have since returned the mirror and I am back to looking at myself in the half-mirror in the bathroom. Although I admit, the situation was rather hilarious, I need a few days to get the courage to go out and buy another one :)

Hope your having a great day...and remember to always trust your initial instincts!

Streamer Chandelier Tutorial

2012-02-16T04:30:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago a made this fun streamer chandelier to use as a focal point for my son's 2nd birthday party. I had seen a similar design on Pintrest where the steamer hoops were used as wedding decor but I wasn't sure how it was put together.

The day of the party, I decided I the decor was lacking something. So, I started rummaging through my craft stuff. I came across my old needlepoint hoop and realized that I could use the hoop to drape the streamers through! Plus, I realized that I didn't need any glue or adhesives for the project, meaning the hoop could be re-used for future parties (or for it's original purpose)!

The tutorial for this project is seriously simple! Click below to get the details!~

Steamer Chandelier

Materials needed

Streamers

Needle point hoop, about 12" in diameter (can buy at most craft stores for about $2, or buy online here)

String

Step 1. Lay materials out on a large flat surface. Remove the center ring from your needlepoint hoop. Begin to place streamers by looping them over the wooden circular frame, making sure to leave a few inches of slack at the top.

Step 2. Keep adding streamers until your hoop is full.

Step 3. Re-insert the center hoop so the streamers stay firmly attached. Tighten the metal clasp (shown below)

Step 4. Use a piece of string to tie wherever you please! I found that the streamer loop was better supported after tying the string in 4 different areas (equal distance from one another). You can cut the streamers to whatever length you wish.

Baby Bedding

2012-02-15T09:10:00.000-08:00

I am now officially 35 weeks pregnant and have decided that it's about time I start working on getting the baby bedding ready for the vintage bassinet I posted about the other day. I am having a little trouble deciding what I want to do in terms of color and pattern. But, what I'm really loving, is just a simple soft white or cream color pallet...I think it would suit the vintage style bassinet perfectly.

Off to the fabric store... hopefully I will have some photos ready to show you in a week or two!

photo via

Last Minute Valentine

2012-02-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

So, this post isn't intended to label my husband as a "last minute" gift giver...just thought I would share his terrific idea for anyone who may have forgotten what day it is today :)

Last year, my husband put together these homemade valentine cards and had them all set up next to a pot of white azalea flowers on top of our dinning room mantle.

It was a sweet surprise that put a big smile on my face, yet it was something that doesn't take much time.

We decided to do another favorite meal at home to celebrate Valentines Day this year. But since our little man is no longer going to bed at 7:00pm I promised my husband I would get a babysitter for this weekend so we can have a little more peaceful celebration!

What are your plans this evening? Hope you have a great Valentines Day!

Danish Dessert Cake

2012-02-10T08:05:00.000-08:00

What says "I love you" more then chocolates, roses, or a Valentine card?

How about a heart shaped cake dripping with red strawberry topping!?!

I posted about this white-strawberry-cream cheese cake last week (see original post)...

Many of you may have had something similar but I thought I would share the recipe for anyone interested. The original recipe is actually made as a "sheet cake." I just used a cookie cutter to make mini heart shaped cake layers.

If you would like to try the recipe click below, It's a perfect simple cake for special occasions and the original sheet cake version comes in handy for feeding large groups!

By the way, Happy Friday!

Danish Dessert Cake

You will need...
1 recipe (homemade or boxed) of white cake mix

Frosting
1/2 pint whipped cream
8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temp.
2 cups powdered sugar

Berry Topping
Danish Dessert topping with...
about 2-3 cups cut strawberries or raspberries
or
Your own favorite homemade berry topping (this is mine)...
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups cool water
2 Tbl cornstarch
Optional: A large heart shaped cookie cutter

Instructions: Bake the white cake on a large cookie sheet according to package directions.

While the cake is cooling make the cream cheese topping by combing the whipped cream, softened cream cheese, and powdered sugar in a bowl. Mix on med/high speed until well combined.

Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled cake with a spatula. Then top with Danish Dessert and berries.

Or...

Make your own topping (this is what I did :) First combine 1/2 sugar, 1-1/2 cups cool water, and 2 Tbl cornstarch in a pan, mix well. Boil on med/high heat then add 3-4 cups of cut berries. Keeping boiling until sauce reaches desired thickness (I boiled mine for about 20 min.) Let the sauce cool, then pour and spread over the top of the cake.

*If you want to make this into personal layered heart cakes like I did, follow these steps...

After you have cooled the white sheet cake, place it in the fridge for about 30 min. so it firms up a bit. Then using your cookie cutter, cut out the heart shapes (you can save the scrap pieces of cake in the freezer for cake pops :). Then, place the heart shaped cakes into the fridge/freezer and let them firm up again. Cut the cakes in half (horizontally) so you end up with nice thin heart shaped cake layers. Put the cakes together using the same instructions listed above.

Feel free to e-mail me if you have questions...at strawberrychicblog@gmail.com

Mini Texture Ball

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Back during my first year of design school, I created a lot of projects that had to do with the basic elements of design, like color, line, shape, and texture.

One of my favorite projects, was creating the "texture ball." Where we basically took various items and formed/attached them around the perimeter of foam balls to create a design piece with a significant amount of "visual texture."

A few of us design graduates/bloggers recently decided to re-create this project, and of course I was super excited about the challenge! (only this time around we had a $5 budget for materials :)

My original ball was something crazy and probably wouldn't have withstood the test of time (in the hands of a toddler I think it may have lasted about 10 seconds before being destroyed!) So this time around, I decided to create something that still had a lot of visual interest but was completely "kid proof."

Here's what I can up with this time around...

The design I chose was very simple, and wallet friendly. I was pleasantly surprised with how they turned out!

Since these little guys were so easy to make, I decided to put together about 8 of them. This way I could use them as decoration in my very sad and empty apothecary jars!

Click below to get my tutorial for these mini texture balls...

And...

Be sure to check out some of the other designs made by a few of my very creative friends!

1 - Numbered Street Designs 2- Design by Caley 3 - Home Vestures 4 - Sarah Dawn Designs

Mini Texture Balls

Materials Needed

Small foam balls, about 1 to 1"-1/2" in diameter

A magazine - that you have finished reading

Mod Podge - (did you know you can make your own? tutorial HERE)

Scissors or a paper cutter/shredder

Tape

Paper plate

Step 1. First you will need to create a little stand to place your foam ball to use while your adding magazine strips and while it dries. To do this, I cut a magazine strip about 1" in width, them I rolled it up and taped the end.

Step 2. Cut small strips from magazine pages, about 1/8" to 1/4" in thickness. Then cut lengthwise so the strips are about 4" long.

Step 3. Pour a couple of tablespoons of Mod Podge onto a paper plate and dip in the magazine pieces (I would do a few at a time).

Step 4. Make sure each magazine strip is covered with Mod Podge on both sides. Pinch the magazine strip between your 2 fingers, then starting from the top, run your fingers down to pull off any excess Mod Podge. Then place strip around your foam ball.

Step 5. Continue the above step until each ball has a nice 1st coat of magazine strips...it doesn't need to be completely covered. (I found the it was easiest for me to place the ball on my little stand in-between each magazine strip, or things would get a little too messy :)

Step 6. Let each ball dry completely then add the remaining strips of magazine to cover it completely. (you can do them all at once, I just decided to wait because the balls were getting pretty sticky and hard to work with). Then let them dry again, and your done!

Circus Cake Tutorial

2012-02-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

I finally managed to get a tutorial put together for the Circus Cake I made for my son's 2nd Birthday party!

As far as specialty cakes go, I would rate this in the "beginner" category...so don't be afraid :)

Click below to view the tutorial and details!

Circus Tent Cake

You will need...
*4 baked 8" round cakes. You can use a box recipe or favorite homemade recipe. (if you don't have any 8" cake pans, I would recommend the Wilton brand. Walmart carries them for about $7 a piece.)
*1 1/2 - 2 batches of buttercream frosting, (depending on how thick you put on the frosting, and if you want to do a "crumb coat") I use THIS buttercream recipe.
* Red and Yellow food coloring (or whatever color you want for the tent stripes). If you want to do red stripes, I would highly recommend the gel Wilton food coloring. You can buy it at Walmart for about $1, and you will need to use at least 1/2 the container to get a "true red" instead of dark pink.
* A large basket-weave icing tip (Wilton #789)
* Large 16" icing bag
* Serrated knife
* Cake stand
* Card-stock, scissors, tape, and a toothpick (for the flag topper!)

Step 1. Begin building your tent cake by placing one 8" round cake on the center of your cake platter. Frost the top of the cake and place the 2nd cake layer on top. (refer to this post for more detailed cake building instructions).

Step 2. Using the same process, stack the remaining two cakes together.

Step 3. Using a serrated knife, begin to cut the sides of the cake into a "cone-like" shape. You don't need to make the cake perfectly pointed, I left the top a little flat. This may get a little messy :)

Step 4. Add this piece to the top of the cakes already on the cake stand. Make sure to add another layer of icing in between.

Step 5. THIS STEP IS OPTIONAL...

Add a thin layer of icing around the whole cake (also known as a "crumb-coat" -THIS is a pretty good tutorial). Since the cake will be frosted using an icing tip instead of a spatula, you don't really need a crumb coat. I just added one to the sides because I wanted my cake to look a little fatter.

Step 6. Place your # 789 decorating tip in the 16" icing bag. Then fill the bag with red buttercream frosting.

Step 7. With the flat edge of the icing tip facing toward you...frost thick stripes around the edges of the cake. I find it easiest to work from the bottom up. Stop your stripe when you get just a little more then halfway up the cake. (do you like my crooked stripe?...woops :)

Step 8. Add the top stripe of frosting by overlapping the bottom stripe just slightly. Instead of frosting a straight line up to the top, gradually curve your icing tip as you move up, so the line gets skinnier at the top (this just makes the tent look more realistic.)

Step 9. Repeat these steps until all of your stripes are complete, then do the same for your 2nd color.

Step 10. You can either leave the cake like this, or you can add a little topper and flag. I made mine by making a cone shape out of card-stock (tutorial HERE). Then I made the flag using paper, tape, and a toothpick!

Valentine's Day treats

2012-02-06T04:30:00.000-08:00

I've been contemplating what to make for a special Valentine's Day dessert this year. It will most likely end up being the white/strawberry cake I posted about last week, but here are a few other options I'm considering . . .

*These are recipes that I have made before...so I can tell you first hand that they are all delicious!

Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies

Peanut Butter & Carmel Kisses

Strawberry-Pretzel Jello

Lemon Cake with Raspberry Filling

Raspberry Ebelskivers

Happy Friday! + The Valentine Boy

2012-02-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

The Valentine Boy: The mysterious young man, never seen before by the human eye, who comes to my house every year on February 14th. He rings the door bell then runs out of sight. Leaving behind a small mound of Valentine gifts and treats on the front porch.

. . . what? "you've never heard of him!?!"

That's what I said to all of my elementary friends after asking them if they were excited for the "Valentine Boy" to come to their house that evening.

I later learned that apparently, the Valentine Boy was a tradition made sometime back by my Mother's side of the family. My husband thinks it's silly...but I think it's a wonderful idea! Especially for all of the children/teenagers who grew up never having a "significant other" who praised them with gifts on this special day...(that might have been me :)

I can't wait to see what the Valentine Boy brings me in just a couple of short weeks!...(Hint Hint)

Happy Friday!

Original Photo Source: Unknown, found via

Thrifted and Vintage: Bassinet

2012-02-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

For the past several weeks I have been trying to get together all of the baby necessities I currently don't own...one of which is a bassinet. I had a few different bassinet's "pinned" from various online stores but I wasn't super excited about spending $100+ on something I will probably only use for 2-3 months. Plus, nothing was really the style I had envisioned.

Thankfully, last week, my husband and I were making our traditional Thrift Store rounds and we happened upon this little beauty...

Isn't it charming?

and even more charming is the price...$3.00, now that I can do!

We had to laugh a little because this bassinet actually looks like a giant basket with legs and wheels... it even has basket-like handle bars. I couldn't resist re-naming it the "bask-inet."

I bought a fresh can of spray paint the other day and have high hopes that I can transform this run-down "bask-inet" into something super sweet and completely functional.

Since I haven't been able to do a nursery make-over, (due to a possible move in the near future) I'm excited to have a project for the new baby that I can work on!

Wish me luck, and look forward to some before & after photos!

A Simple Circus Birthday

2012-02-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are the more detailed photos of my son's 2nd birthday last week!

I tried to keep things fairly simple by using basic streamers and balloons for decoration. I also minimized the "treat table" to just cake, popcorn, and soda. I realize I could have done much more...but he is only 2 and I wanted to spend the majority of the day with him, instead of preparing party extras. (I'll save the more extravagant stuff for when he's older :)

I baked and decorated the cake the night before (something I would highly suggest doing for any party) while my husband hung most of the streamers. I'ts been a little while since I've stayed up late working on projects, and I must say it was a little more challenging then usual...being 7 months pregnant and all!

It was fairly difficult decision to make, but I'm glad I went with a colorful "Circus Party" theme!

Don't worry, tutorials for the streamer loop, circus tent cake, and carmel puff-corn are on there way, so stay tuned!

A Valentine's Day at Home

2012-01-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

Last year, my husband and I decided to celebrate Valentines Day at home!

We don't have many favorite restaurants in town, and our baby boy went to bed around 7:00pm. So, instead of paying for a babysitter and going out to a somewhat decent/overcrowded restaurant, I put together a homemade Valentines dinner and dessert.

Here are some highlights of the evening. Feel free to use any ideas for your own at home celebrations...

1 & 2 - Free Valentine's printable's courtesy of Martha Stewart.
Find the wine label HERE and the "Be Mine" spin wheel HERE

3 - For the rest of the table decor, I gathered up all of the fun/cheesy Valentines decorations I already owned. One of the apothecary jars is filled with paper hearts and pink streamers, the other is filled with carmel Hershey's Kisses!

1 - I made one of our favorite desserts...a white cake with strawberry and cream cheese topping. To make the dessert a little more special and festive, I made mini heart shaped cakes and layered the toppings in between (recipe to come next week!)

2 - I also made THIS delicious soup with homemade bread on the side (one of our all-time favorite meals).

To keep things on the inexpensive side, my husband and I gave each other a budget of $20 for gifts...it was a little challenging but here are some of the gift ideas we came up with...

1. Mini photo book of our favorite family photos. I purchased the book at Target, for around $4, then I cut and sewed on my own felt heart embellishment when I got home.

2. Potted flowers instead of a bouquet of roses, I believe these are Azalea's. They are much less expensive, just as pretty, and will last much longer!

3. Thrifted/vintage frame with personalized pictures. Find my tutorial on how to personalize it HERE.

4. Mini loaf of homemade banana bread with a love note attached...I gave this to my husband in the morning so he could have something special to start his day!

Happy Friday

2012-01-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

My baby turned 2 yesterday and we had tons of fun celebrating! I made him a little birthday crown the night before and he apparently thought it was pretty cool because he kept it on All Day! My little guy has been a tad behind on talking, but yesterday we heard a whole lot of "YAY's" and "WOW's"!

Just wanted to give you a sneak peak of all the birthday festivities...more to come next week!

Hope you enjoy your weekend

Vertical Heart Garland

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

I don't have much in my collection when it comes to Valentines decor, but last year I was able to put together this fun heart garland. It was very inexpensive and took hardly any time at all to make!

Here are the basic steps for making this Heart Garland...

Materials: "Valentine-ish" paper, thick yarn or twine, and scissors.

Instructions: Cut hearts into various sizes. Make 2 small slits in the center of each heart. Run a long strand of yarn through the slits of each heart (each of my stands has about 10 hearts). Hang in desired location!

*The thickness and roughness of twine, plus the small slit size, makes the hearts stay in place without glue or tape :)

Progress

2012-01-23T08:28:00.000-08:00

So, I'm still working on organizing my house and last week I tackled what I like to call "the room of death." Which is a room that is basically the result of having no garage or outside storage space plus one to many hobbies!

I call it the "room of death" because it is always a BIG unorganized mess, to the point where I usually just shut the door and pretend it's not there.

Actually, I'm a little embarrassed to even show you these photos but I am glad to say that I made some good organizational progress and last week the room went from a catastrophe, to a somewhat functional space...

I know it's not as pretty as some of the ideas I posted about last week. I would like to do more, but as of right now, we aren't sure how much longer we will be living in this home so I don't want to put too much money and time into it :)

We also just about finished the kids activity table that we have been working on for our son's 2nd birthday...

I am so happy with how it turned out! Now, I just need to get it painted and then put on a nice thick protective clear coat...I should have a tutorial ready sometime next week!

Happy Friday!

2012-01-20T04:30:00.000-08:00

CHOCOLATE has been on my mind lately. I've been having some pretty major pregnancy cravings for anything sweet and chocolate seems to be the one thing that never disappoints.

Wouldn't it be nice if I craved carrots and celery instead? Well yes, but...then I wouldn't be able to try one of these wonderful homemade hot cocoa recipes and life would just be too boring.

1-Traditional Hot Cocoa 2-Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate 3-Mexican Hot Cocoa

Happy Friday, and have a great weekend!

photo credit: large left-hand photo, via

Circus Party Inspiration

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to think of a theme for my son's 2nd birthday party next week. It really shouldn't be that hard of a decision seeing as all he is really going to care about is eating the cake and opening presents, right?!

But, I figured since I already bought THIS Ikea circus tent as one of his gifts...I could use it as inspiration and incorporate it into a circus themed birthday party!

We aren't planning on doing anything huge, but I thought it would be fun to at least have some inexpensive decor in bright circus colors, and of course a circus themed cake.

I just finished browsing Pintrest for some party ideas...a big thanks to all the creative people out there that make party planning so much easier!

Image Sources: 1 2 3 4

Happy Bird-day Cake!

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

My Mom's Birthday was a couple of weeks ago and I am so glad I got to spend it with her! My siblings and I prepared a roast dinner and of course I was in charge of the cake! (ok maybe I put myself in charge of it :)

The cake was actually more difficult to create then what meets the eye...

My Mom's first name is Robin and she has a thing for robin birds so I thought that would be a fun theme to go with. She has had this Cricut Cake Cutter in the garage for a couple of years now so my siblings and I decided to pull it out and make all of the bird and tree pieces with fondant.

Apparently the cutter doesn't work so well with homemade fondant because every time we tried to cut a shape the machine would sort of eat up the fondant. We did manage to make a few of the smaller birds using the cutter but if you look closely, you can see how jagged the edges are. In the end, I cut most of the fondant pieces by hand and I think it turned out just fine.

If anyone has ever used the Cricut Cake Cutter before, let me know if you have any suggestions :)

Getting Organized

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

last week, I walked into my house after a month long trip home and couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.

I started to unpack, and realized how much "stuff" our little family has accumulated over the years. As I opened more closets and drawers it dawned on me that it's time get organized. I only have 2 more months to go until baby #2 arrives and I would love to have our home in mint condition before she gets here! (ok mint condition may not happen, but I could get close to it).

Organizing a whole house can be an overwhelming task. So, I have decided to take things 1 room at a time. I am getting rid of anything that we can do without and then organizing the things that we want to keep.

Our current home doesn't have a lot of closet/storage space but I figured I can make the most of what I do have if they are organized well.

Here are a few inspirational photos I've found of creative ways to organize closet spaces (thanks to BHG)...

I don't know about you, but de-cluttering and organizing my home makes me feel great. In fact, the other night I was talking with my husband about how "organizing my house cleanses my soul" ... I was totally joking, but then again it's totally true.

So far, I have tackled 1 room and am anxious to get started on the rest!

What are some ways you stay organized? and how do you decide what to get rid of?

Swing Inspiration

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

My little guys 2nd birthday is coming up in just 2 weeks so I've been trying to decide what type of birthday presents to get him. I already purchased this rad circus tent from Ikea but thought it would be fun to get him a few more 'entertaining' gifts since we probably won't be venturing out of the house much after baby #2 is born.

My husband is feeling confident that we can make him a swing similar to this one...

Source

We probably won't be able to hang it in the house, but one great thing about living in NM during the winter is that the weather is typically nice enough to go outdoors, as long as you bundle up!

So, we might be a little too ambitious about this project, but I'm excited to give it a try.

Wish us luck!

My Baby Shower

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Last week my older sister threw me an incredible baby shower! She found a few ideas from Pintrest, like the "Ready To Pop" theme and made sure to include a variety of "Pop" treats like Pop corn, blow Pops, soda Pop, and Pop rocks candy!

Here are a few photos from the shower... (please excuse the poor photo quality, they were all taken after dark).

Like I mentioned before, I was able to make the cake (yes, for my own party :) I was pleased with the way it turned out, especially considering that it took me hours to bake (my mom only had 1 cake pan and I needed 3 layers) and the morning of the party, I re-frosted the whole thing because I was disappointed with the original bright pink icing color. I have now learned to add food coloring VERY slowly!

*A BIG thanks to... my sister for throwing the party, my mom for hosting yet another giant get-together at her home, and to my younger brother for being a pro with the Cricut, he made the sign and the pop-corn boxes!

As Big as a House + Bangs

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I am now about 30 weeks pregnant and I literally feel "As Big as a House!"

I just tried on a few shirts that I wore only a week or so ago and I can't even button them (apparently I am growing at a rapid rate!). But I can't blame it all on the baby. I'll be honest, I have put on more then my fair share of pregnancy poundage thanks to all the yummy holiday food that seem to never disappear. It's so hard for me to say no to sweets when I'm not trying to fit into my favortie jeans.

But, besides feeling like a giant, (+ a few other ailments) things are going pretty well! I am still sleeping alright at night, and have been having a blast spending time with my family. I leave to go back to NM this morning, and am excited to see my husband who flew back a week earlier then me... to do that silly thing called work :)

I did end up getting my hair cut a couple of weeks ago and I was actually brave enough to get bangs! It's fun having a new hair style, and I definitely feel different with them but they have taken a little time to get use too! I keep wanting to push them to the side, or just pin them up because I feel weird having hair lay on my forehead :) But my husband says he likes them, so I guess they will stay for a while!

Happy Friday!

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

My wonderful sister threw me a fantastic baby shower last night! My mom's birthday also happened to be the night of the shower so I was able to make 2 cakes, one for the birthday and one for the shower! (I know it's a little weird to make a cake for your own baby shower, but my sister actually just had her 2nd baby girl last week so she needed some extra help :)

It's been a long time since I've made a layered cake, so I had to refer back to some of my old cake building tutorials!

A big thanks to everyone who came to the shower and for all the yummy food and gifts!

Hope you have a great weekend...look forward to some fun cake and shower photos next week!

Simple Rustic Wall Art

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

Surprise surprise, my husband has yet again created an awesome piece of wall art for our living room!

I've always envied his ability to make such eye catching yet simplistic art and he never spends more then an hour or two making it.

This specific piece was painted using black and white acrylic paint on a plain white canvas. He first outlined the basic shape of the wood in pencil, and then painted over it using a very thin brush. He worked his way from outside to inside and slightly varied the distance between each tree ring.

After each tree ring was painted and dried, he used white paint and added a little detailing to make the wood piece look more realistic.

Unfortunately (or fortunately :) we still have a lot of empty wall space to fill, but I'm excited to add this to our slowly growing art collection!

How much will you spend on baby clothes?

2012-01-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

I am now 28 weeks pregnant and am excited to say that I finally purchased my first baby girl dress!

This is actually the one any only clothing item I have purchased for my soon to be baby girl thus far. Mainly because I have a hard time finding clothes I like and I have even more difficulty spending money on clothes that could be ruined in a second (by a killer diaper explosion) or become too small in a matter of months.

With my first, I mostly bought clothes second hand, or on sale from target or old navy. I made a couple more expensive purchases on little sweaters from Baby Gap, but I sort of felt like they were a waste of money because my little guy outgrew them within a month or two.

How do you decide what to spend money on when it comes to baby clothes?

Happy New Years!

2011-12-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

Every year, the New Year seems to sneak up on me and I never quite get around to making the fun party favors and decorations I had planned. So, this year, I found a few "last minuet" party ideas that are simple to make and require little supplies...

Find more info here... 1 2 3 4 5

My family has a few fun New Years traditions that I have really looking forward to including a White Elephant gift exchange and Christmas stocking re-fills on New Years morning!

Do you have any New Years traditions?

Have a fun and safe weekend!

Family Photos

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Family time means lots and LOTS of photos...which isn't always the most pleasant activity.

This Christmas Eve, my family attempted to do a little photo-shoot and it was anything but easy. We had 2 squirming toddlers and no one to actually take the photo, so we had to do the whole tri-pod timer thing!

Out of the 20+ photos taken, this was my favorite! (we did manage to get at least one where everyone was looking at the camera, but this one shows a "real life" shot...so much funner then a posed picture :)

I am still on Holiday and have been taking some time away from the computer (and I must admit it has been refreshing). I plan to be back to my normal blogging self soon, so please excuse my infrequent posts while I spend time with family.

Happy Friday

2011-12-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

I love spending Christmas is Washington. Everything is perfect but the one thing that would make it more perfect is SNOW! After seeing this photo I thought about how much fun our little guy would have if it snowed this Christmas. I know it will most likely rain instead but we will have a great time either way. I hope you all have an amazing Christmas weekend.

Photo Credit

Peanut Butter Balls

2011-12-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

Peanut Butter balls are one of my favorite Christmas treats! I love the slightly crisp chocolate outside mixed with the creamy peanut butter filling...Yum!

Apparently I'm not the only one with a love for peanut butter and chocolate...I made these the other night for a holiday dinner and they were gone before I could even finish my main course (luckily I saved a few and left them at home, just in case :)

These little treats are really quite simple to make, they just take a little extra time to roll out and dip. Get the recipe and tutorial by clicking below...

Peanut Butter Balls
1 cup Peanut Butter
1 cup Butter
1 lb Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
1 bag of Chocolate chips or Avalanche Bark
*if you are using chocolate chips, you can add some shortening to the melted chocolate if you feel like it's a little thick. I usually add 1/2 to 1 tsp at a time.

Step 1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and peanut butter. Then add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover the dough and place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Step 2. Roll the dough mixture into 1" balls and place on a large cookie sheet covered in wax paper. Add a toothpick to each ball and then place pan in the freezer for 2-3 hrs (or until they are hardened).

Step 3. (Optional) place a small amount of melted chocolate in a Ziploc bag. Cut a small hole in the end of the bag and place a ring of chocolate around the top of each ball. (this will prevent the peanut butter from oozing out of the top after you have dipped them.)

Step 4. Melt the chocolate (you can do this in a pan on low heat, stirring constantly or place in the microwave in 30 sec increments, mix in between each increment and repeat until melted.) Dip balls into chocolate and place on a baking sheet covered in wax paper. I like to take the peanut butter balls out in sections as I dip so the ones in the freezer stay nice and hard.

Step 5. Serve and enjoy!

A Welcome Home Cake

2011-12-19T10:25:00.000-08:00

My younger sister is coming home from an 18 month mission for our church (at Temple Square) tomorrow afternoon and we are all SUPER EXCITED! Most of my family hasn't seen her while she's been gone (but I was lucky enough to "accidentally" bump into her a couple of times :)

My siblings and I are spending the day making "Welcome Home" signs and of course a special cake! I need the design to be fun, colorful, but easy. So, I thought using things like sprinkles or M&M's would be a good way to decorate.

I'm not sure exactly what the cake will end up looking like, but here are some inspirational ideas I found this morning...

Photo Credit: 1 2 3 - via 4

Happy Friday!

2011-12-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the lack of post yesterday. I woke up at 3:00am and flew into Seattle (with my little guy) to start an early Christmas vacation! It was a VERY long day and both of us were exhausted by the end of it! But I am so glad to be home to spend time with my family!

I saw this photo on Pintrest the other day and thought it just looked so cozy! I actually own a pair of pj's just like that, only they have little white polka-dots. I would wear them but I'm pretty sure they were not made for pregnant bodies :)

Hope you have a great weekend, be sure to do something festive!

ps. blogging may be a little light over the next couple of weeks (especially since I can't get my computer to connect to my parents internet) so bare with me!

photo credit: via

Christmas Sugar Cookies

2011-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

Baking and decorating sugar cookies is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. When I was growing up, my mom would bake a batch or two and then me and my 4 siblings would have a blast decorating them with buttercream frosting and sprinkles.

When we were through, we would deliver multiple plates to some of our neighbors and friends. We always had a great time, except my parents would usually make us carol at every doorstep and lets just say my family wasn't blessed with much musical talent :)

My husband and I have been married for over 5 years, and I'm proud to say that we have continued this tradition (besides the caroling) every year!

Go HERE to get my Sugar Cookie recipe, and HERE for the Buttercream frosting recipe.

Sugar Cookies

2011-12-14T04:30:00.000-08:00

Sugar cookies are fun to make for so many different occasions! Traditionally, my family will make and frost them for Halloween, Valentines Day, and Christmas. Every time I make them, they are gone before I know it, so watch out they may be a little addicting!

Click below to view the recipe

Sugar Cookie Recipe
1 cup butter, softened
1 Tsp Vanilla
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3-1/2 cups flour
2 tsp cream of tarter
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Step 1. Combine butter, vanilla, and sugar, mix well.

Step 2. Then, mix in the eggs.

Step 3. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients then add to original bowl. mix well.

Step 4. Cover bowl, and place cookie mix in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight. When you are ready to start baking, flour a large clean surface and roll out the dough a little larger then 1/8" of an inch in thickness.

Step 5. Cut with cookie cutters and lay on a baking sheet.

Step 6. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 min. You want to take them out before they turn golden brown, unless you like them a little crunchy.

The Bean Bucket

2011-12-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I posted THIS simple idea to help keep your toddler(s) entertained.

Today, I would like to share another great idea that I actually just recently put together for my (almost) 2 year old...

I made him a Bean Bucket and he has been loving it! Not only is a great way to keep him out of trouble, its an awesome sensory learning activity...which is important for brain development.

Here are the materials you will need for the bucket (luckily you probably already have most of them laying around your house!)

1. Beans

2. Measuring Cups

3. Clear plastic bottles

4. Various sized spoons or shovels

5. Muffin tin (my little one LOVES filling up the tin cups and then dumping them back out)

6. A large plastic bin, the shallow ones are much easier to reach into.

* Water and sand toys would be a great addition, I just couldn't find any in the middle of December!

I have been meaning to make something like this for a while now, but I was a little hesitant thinking about beans being scattered all over the ground. My little guy has been doing pretty good with it...I just set it up in the kitchen (while I'm doing dishes or cooking), that way when he starts getting tired of it, and throwing beans, I am right there to put the lid on before he gets out of control :)

A BIG Thanks to Anna who blogs over at Have A Cute Day, for helping me with the idea!

Dressing for the Holidays

2011-12-12T06:49:00.000-08:00

I recently came across a few lovely clothing pieces that I was wishing could make their way into my closet. I've actually never been one to dress up around the holidays, but it's never too late to start, right?

Ok, I know what your thinking, ("but none of these are maternity") Sadly, my rapidly growing belly will be keeping me away from making any purchases this year, but I'm saving this inspiration, because next year will be a whole different story!

Photo Credit: 1- Fossil 2-Unknown 3- similar at Jcrew 4- Anthropologie

Ps. While we are on the subject of appearance...

I realize I'm about due for an updated pregnancy photo, and I will admit that I have definitely been avoiding it. I feel like my body adjusted fairly well during my first pregnancy...but this time around I feel like I've already put on my fair share of extra poundage (and I still have over 3 months left). My husband keeps telling me that I look great, and I really was starting to believe him.

But then yesterday, a woman at church stated that I've grown significantly larger just in the last week...and while yes, she very well may have just been talking about my stomach, but the words "you are significantly larger" kept replaying in my head. (I know this person didn't mean to be offensive, it was just one of those things I was hoping no one else noticed).

What will you be wearing this holiday season?

Happy Friday!

2011-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I grew up in the Seattle area so seeing snow (instead of rain) was always exciting! I only remember it snowing maybe once or twice a year and when it did everyone went crazy. Nobody knew how to drive in it, school was always delayed or canceled, and I remember my mom being so scared she wouldn't let me leave the house to hang out with friends (even if there was less then an inch of snow on the roads).

Every year I would wish for a white Christmas but I don't remember it ever happening...sad right? Luckily my parents would usually take the family up to the mountains to go sledding at least once a year.

My husband has come to despise the snow (after living in a town where the snow would stick around for 5 months out of the year) but I still love it!

How about you? are you a snow lover or a snow hater?

Happy Friday!

photo credit: imgur

New to the blog . . .

2011-12-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

I didn't have time to post what I had originally planned...

Mainly because I spent the majority of my free time yesterday going through my holiday DIY projects and making some groovy sidebar buttons in Photoshop.

The good news is, now you can locate the projects much easier!

note to self...I need to find someone to teach me html, my heads about it explode.

4 Creative Ways to Gift Wrap Using a Ball of Yarn

2011-12-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

The other day, I was asked to come up with a creative an inexpensive way to gift wrap over 100 books. I went home, found some old butcher paper and a ball of yarn, (leftover from the Christmas stocking I made) and started brainstorming different ideas.

Here are a few more details...

#1 "The Bow" - I made a bow using the same method you would use to make a yarn pom-pom, only I didn't cut the ends. I added the square "Merry Christmas" tag to the bottom (I thought it looked like a mini present :) but It's cute with or without the tag.

#2 "Basket Weave" - I wrapped the yarn around the present 5 times horizontally and tied off the ends. Then, using a new string, I worked vertically and weaved the yarn over and under the horizontal strands 4 times.

#3 "Cats Cradle" remember back in the day when string tricks were cool? Well this is just a simple cats cradle made from one large piece of yarn...if you need a refresher, try THIS tutorial.

#4 "Pom Pom" - I'm sure you've all seen this trick, but go HERE if you need a good pom-pom tutorial.

Tis The Season, for Holiday Cards!

2011-12-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

I haven't always been great about sending out yearly holiday cards, but I've been trying to be better about it since I know how fun they are to receive! It's a great way to reach out to friends and family during the holidays, especially those who you don't get a chance to see very often.

This year, I ordered my holiday cards courtesy of Pinhole Press, and I LOVE how they turned out! I'm not a huge fan of fussy or over decorated cards so I was excited to find that Pinhole offered card designs that were simple and put the main focus on the photo.

This is the design I chose, but you can visit Pinhole Press to view all of their beautiful holiday card options!

Will you be sending out holiday cards this year?

I received these cards courtesy of Pinhole Press and was asked to review my experience. The opinions expressed are my own.

Bangs.

2011-12-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

I am currently in dire need of a haircut but I'm having trouble deciding whether or not I should try something new. I have been cutting my hair exactly the same way since I was in high school...I'm not sure why, because I've never been in love with it.

My husband has been telling me I need to try bangs for quite some time now but I never have the guts for it. Plus, I think I have the wrong face shape/facial features for bangs, but I really don't know.

I've been browsing Pintrest for some hair inspiration although it's been a lot harder then I thought it would be! It seems like I always see people and pictures of hair styles that I like, but every time I deliberately search for it I can't find anything.

Here are a couple of photos that I did find...

Where do you usually go for hair inspiration?

photo credit: top, bottom 1, bottom 2

Happy Friday!

2011-12-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

Now that it's officially December, I'm looking forward to watching all of my favorite Christmas movies, starting with the original Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer! I will also be enjoying a plate full of these...

I can't wait!

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

photo credit: via

How To Entertain Your Toddler

2011-12-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

I am always looking for new ways to entertain my almost 2 year old, especially on sick days or when it's too cold to go outside (which seems to happen all to often). Even though he has a whole chest full of toys, he looses interest in just about anything new after a week or even just a few days.

On Sunday, my toddler was having some terrible cabin fever (he has been sick with the croup for the last week so I've been trying to keep him home). He was throwing one of his worst temper tantrums when my husband ran outside and returned with a giant piece of PVC pipe, which was apparently left by the previous renters.

We propped one side of the pipe up on the sofa and started sending some Hot-Wheels down the tunnel. It was an immediate hit!!! and my little guy has spent hours playing with it for the last 3 or 4 days!

If you don't happen to have a scrap piece of PVC pipe laying around your house, get creative! Use the backside of a large cookie sheet or anything else long and flat that could work as a car ramp!

Oh, and by the way, YES that is the new area rug I purchased a few weeks ago! I haven't been remembering to take a good picture of it but I do love it!

DIY Tuesday: When in doubt, paint it gold

2011-11-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a seriously easy Christmas craft, you've found it!

I bought a box of plain wood nutcracker's 50% off ($3.50 for a pack of 6) at Hobby Lobby a couple of weeks ago and thought they would be a great addition to my Christmas decor collection (which is actually rather small at the moment).

I wasn't sure exactly what to do with them, but I knew I wanted to take the easy route and paint them all in one color (plus I thought it would give them more of a modern look). At the last minuet, I decided to go with my gut feeling and paint them gold,

I think it was the perfect choice...

I plan to add some small hooks to the top so I can use them for tree ornaments. But for now, I like how they look all lined up on my living room bookshelf.

Click below to get my seriously simple tutorial!

Gold Nutcracker's

Supplies Needed
Wood Nutcrackers - I found mine in the holiday section at Hobby Lobby
Gold Spray Paint
Newspaper

Instructions: Take your wooden nutcracker's outside and place them right side up on some newspaper. Spray with spray paint (according to package directions). Flip them over on all sides to ensure they are completely covered with paint (let the paint dry for 10-20 min. in between each flip). Make sure they have completely dried, before you bring them in the house.
*Warning these cheap nutcracker's really are "cheap." I would not advise giving them to your 2 yr old, or they may end up armless.

Christmas DIY Gift Ideas

2011-11-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend!
We ate A LOT of yummy food, hung out with friends, then headed up into the mountains to cut down our own Christmas tree!

This year, I've decided to make as many Christmas gifts as I can. I really love the idea of handmade gifts and it doesn't hurt that it's a little more budget friendly.

Here are my top DIY Christmas projects for this year, let me know if you've come across any that you would like to share!

Get the tutorials and further info here...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

I Am Grateful For . . .

2011-11-24T07:20:00.001-08:00

I often find myself taking life's everyday blessings for granted. Although sometimes it seems like the bad overpowers the good, if I really take the time to stop and think about it, I have so many things to be grateful for in my life.

Of course one of the biggest blessings I have is my family and the older (and further away from them) I get the more I love and cherish my time with them. But, if I had to choose one thing that I was most grateful for, it would be the opportunity I have to be a mother. My little boy has been what I like to call the textbook definition of a "hard baby." Although he has grown out of the colic, and acid-reflux, we still go through some crazy days.

Lately, after he goes to bed, I reminisce with my husband about the little things (good or bad) that happened during the day. And even when I am telling him about my horrible trip to Walmart when I had to leave my cart in the middle of the isle and carry my screaming toddler out of the store while he knocks over and spills a whole can of lotion off of one of the display's...we have fun laughing about it together and it helps me realize how much I love him...even his wild personality!

What are you most grateful for?

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving weekend!

Robin's Refrigerator Rolls

2011-11-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Can you believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow? It seems like the month of November has flown by!

We aren't able to travel home for thanksgiving this year but luckily we have some great friends that invited us over for dinner! I was asked to bring the rolls, (ok more like I offered) but only because I have a great recipe that has been passed down to me by my mother and it's always a hit!

These are a perfect side dish for any special occasion meal and the fact that they are refrigerated, means you can make the dough the night before and then bake them fresh the next morning!

Click below to get the recipe and tutorial!

Robin's Refrigerator Rolls
Ingredients
2 packages dry yeast
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup softened butter
4 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup warm water
3/4 cup luke-warm water
*When I made this recipe I used 1/2 wheat flour, which is why my dough may seem darker.

Step 1. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Sprinkling a little sugar over the top will help dissolve the yeast (about 1-2 tsp.) It should take about 10 min. for the yeast to dissolve.

Step 2. In a large bowl, combine 2 beaten eggs and 1/2 cup sugar. Then add 1 tsp of salt and 3/4 cup warm water.

Step 3. Add in 1/2 cup melted butter and the dissolved yeast, mix well.

Step 4. Begin to add the 4-1/2 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time (you may not need to use all of the flour).

When the dough begins to take shape tip in into a floured surface. Add any additional flour needed and knead dough for 5-10 min. Your finished dough ball should still be slightly sticky.

Step 5. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking oil. Cover & refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. (dough should double in size).

Step 6. Pound down the dough ball and separate into 2 pieces. Flour a large surface and roll out each ball into a large circle.

Step 7. Spread softened butter over the top so it completely covers the dough. Then using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough circle into about 16 pieces (the same way you would slice a pizza). (disregard the number of slices in the pic. below...I needed larger rolls when I made this recipe :)

Step 8. Roll the dough into crescent shapes, start from the large end and work your way down.

Step 9. Grease a large baking sheet and arrange rolls on the pan. You should be able to fit all of your rolls on 1 pan, but make sure there is a little space in between each one (about 1/2"). Cover with a dish towel and let rise for about 1 to 1-1/2 hrs. Bake at 350 degrees F for approx. 10 min. or until the tops are slightly golden brown.

Enjoy!

DIY Tuesday: Easy Handmade Stocking

2011-11-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

Handmade Christmas stockings are a tradition in my family. My Grandma made needlepoint stockings for all 20 of her grandchildren and even though we all fight about who's is best, we each cherish and love them (even the ones that look like 70's shag rugs :)

Last year, I was determined to make my little guy a needlepoint stocking for his own. I went online, ordered the perfect pattern, and started working on it a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. I worked on it almost every evening after putting my baby to bed.

Apparently, I either chose the most difficult pattern known to man kind or I'm just really bad at needlepoint because weeks went by and this was all I had completed...

I hate to be a quitter, but I had to come to terms with the fact that the stocking would never be finished in time for Christmas. I decided it would be ok if I finished it the following year but the other day I pulled it out of the closet and realized that it was even less complete then what I had remembered.

I still really wanted to do a handmade Christmas stocking for my little one so I started looking for alternative ideas online that would still look great but were less work (much less work).

I really loved the knitted stocking look (but after a failed knitting attempt a couple of years ago I decided that would also be too difficult for me). Then I found a tutorial on YouTube that shows you how to make a stocking using a simple round knitting loom (the same kind my 8 year old cousin knows how to use:)

I chose a few rustic looking yarn colors and got to work! It only took me about 4 or 5 hours to finish it and I love how it turned out (ok, I admit it looks a little homely and there are a few holes in the heel, but it just adds more character to it right?)

Click below to get more instructions...

Handmade Knit Stocking - on a round knitting loom

Materials Needed
Yarn - color is you choice
Round knitting loom - can purchase at most craft stores, or even Wal-mart. *The size of loom you will need just depends on how wide you want your finished stocking to look. The loom I used was about 8" in diameter and made a stocking about 7" in width.
Knitting pick tool
Large plastic knitting needle

The You-Tube tutorials I followed are actually intended for a smaller stocking size, so I had to adjust the number of pegs I used for the heel...The man who posted the tutorials listed them in a sequence of around 10 videos. You can find the first video tutorial HERE (then look on the sidebar for his additional videos).

I also used THIS tutorial to learn how to switch colors.

When I finished my stocking I threaded a large needle and kitted the name on the top to give it a more personalized look.

If you have questions feel free to e-mail me at Strawberrychicblog@gmail.com

5 Ways to have a Less Stressful Christmas

2011-11-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

I don't mean to just rush into Christmas stuff and ignore the fact that Thanksgiving is just a few days away (Yay!)...but in order to have a less stressful Christmas the preparations should start very soon.

Did you know the #1 stress around Christmas time is financial burdens? Buying Christmas presents is one of the things I enjoy most but also stress about the most. The other day I calculated how many people my husband buy gifts for and the total came to about 20 family members (luckily we don't typically buy for friends...sorry guys :) Although my husband does get a small Christmas bonus, the cost of our flights home eat up the majority of it, leaving less than I would like for presents. Which is why I decided it's time to make some changes so Christmas can be more enjoyable.

A couple of weeks ago I was able to attend a church activity where we talked about different things you can do around the holidays to make it a less stressful time of year. Here are a few tips that I think will be most beneficial...

1. Make a gift list - Write down everyone you need to buy gifts for, what you intend the buy them, and how much you are ~~willing~~ able to spend (you will probably need to do a little pricing research). This way, when you go out shopping, you have a specific item in mind and you won't resort to buying something more expensive just because your tired of shopping.

2. Create a "Christmas Activities" calendar - I don't know about you, but I have so many small traditions that I like to do before Christmas rolls around and everything seems to get forgotten until it's too late. To avoid this, write down everything you would like to do and figure out the best day to schedule your activities. For example, caroling, delivering cookies, attending the nutcracker, or watching your favorite Christmas movies. This way, you wont feel the "Christmas activities overload" when you've discovered there's just not enough time to do everything you had intended.

3. Get your baking done early - Take inventory of the traditional cookies you like to make around Christmas time. I bet most of them can be baked and frozen until it's time to start munching!

4. Get Creative - If gift giving is something that currently seems out of the question (due to finances) get creative with handmade gifts! There are so many different DIY gift ideas and tutorials online right now that can really save you a lot of money. If your not up for crafting, consider baking some yummy treats, or even giving service (my dad would appreciate me listing that last one!).

5. Start Now! I use to think it was a crime to start doing Christmas activities too early. I thought that "Black Friday" was completely ridiculous, and people shouldn't be in such a rush to get Christmas out of the way. Yet, now that I'm older and have more holiday responsibilities then just buying my brother and sister's a gift, I realize that early preparations are the best way to escape any Christmas frustration and allows me more time to spend with family and friends.

What are some ways you try to avoid holiday stress?

Photo Credit: Irish Central

Happy Friday!

2011-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

What do I really do each and every Friday?

CLEAN.

Fridays are a special day, reserved for the much needed deep cleaning I never got around to during the week like bathrooms, mopping, and actually folding and putting away the 5-6 loads of laundry I washed on Wednesday.

To me a clean house really is a happy house and even though it never stays clean for long, it helps me have a more relaxing weekend.

What do you typically do on Friday's before the fun begins?

photo credit: via

Can I sit at the kids table please?

2011-11-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've been looking for some great Thanksgiving table decor inspiration and I came across some fantastic options. But, I stumbled upon a few children's table settings and decided if I had my way I'd definitely choose to sit at the kids table!

These ideas are just too fun!

Get the details here... 1 2 3

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Whoopie Pies

2011-11-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

For some reason my craving for sweets has slightly diminished since being pregnant (unfortunately, the scale still says otherwise) But seriously, I could not keep my hands off these scrumptious Whoopie Pies after I made a batch yesterday. Eventually, I had to hide them from myself, but that plan failed because I found them after dinner and couldn't resist!

If your looking for a great Thanksgiving crowd-pleaser that isn't technically a real "pie" this is it. You can make them with or without the chocolate chips, but trust me when I say they add just the right touch.

Get the recipe and baking tutorial below...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Whoopie Pies
*this wonderful recipe was first introduced to me by my awesome cousin!
Whoopie Pie Ingredients (makes about 25-30 whoopie pies)
1/2 cup butter - softened
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup 100% pure pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
*and mini chocolate chips for later

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
1/2 cup butter - softened
1 8oz package cream cheese - softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
5-6 cups powdered sugar
*You will only need about 2/3 of this recipe for your whoopie pies, so half the recipe if you are not as much of a frosting fan and wont use the leftovers

Whoopie Pies - Step 1. Start by creaming together the butter and sugar.

Step 2. Add the vanilla and then the eggs 1 at a time, mix well.

Step 3. Mix in the pumpkin until well combined.

Step 4. Place all remaining dry ingredients in a separate bowl and mix with a spoon.

Step 5. Add the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.

Step 6. Drop batter onto a prepared baking sheet (heaping teaspoon sized) and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 min. Cool the cookies on wire racks. *This is not the type of cookie you want to under-bake, they will not turn out nice and fluffy if you do (I learned that the hard way)!

Cream Cheese - Frosting Step 1. Cream together the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract until smooth.

Step 2. Add 5 cups and powdered sugar and mix well. for this particular treat, I like my frosting nice and thick so the cookies don't smoosh together... add an additional 1 cup of powdered sugar if you thick the frosting needs to be thickened.

Step 3. Place in a frosting bag and cut the tip so you are left with a fairly wide opening (if you don't have a frosting bad, use a Zip-lock).

Step 4. Swirl the frosting out starting from the center of your cookie making sure to get it close to the edge. Then place a 2nd cookie on top.

Step 5. Line your chocolate chips on a plate and roll the whoopie pie over the top. (this technique works best when the frosting is brought right to the edge, then sue a knife, or a clean finger to flatten the frosting.)

Step 6. Repeat with all of your cookies, then Enjoy!

DIY Tuesday: Felt Ornament

2011-11-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago I did what I thought was smart and shopped the Target 75% off sale for all new Christmas ornaments. I LOVED the theme and color combination that I had chosen (sort of a eclectic/modern take on the traditional Christmas color scheme).

To my utter dismay, my husband ~~hated~~ strongly disliked practically all of the ornaments I had chosen, especially the color scheme. I was heart broken at the time but being the good husband that he is, he allowed me to do whatever I wanted to our tree last year. Surprisingly, I discovered that he was right and I started missing the more traditional decor that I had grown up with.

So now it's back to square one. I am starting to gather more ideas and inspiration for the perfect Christmas tree decor. I have decided to stick with the traditional Christmas color scheme, but thought it would be fun to add a few more modern yet rustic elements.

Which is where I got the idea for this DIY felt ornament...which has sort of a modern/organic feel. I really like how they turned out and I'm excited to finally get to hang them in a couple of weeks!

Click below to learn how to make some of your own!

Organic Felt Ornament

Materials Needed

Felt - I used a sandstone color

Small fabric scissors

Crafter's foam balls 2" diameter

Ribbon 1/8" - I used a cream color

Hot glue gun

Step 1. Cut a 12" long piece of ribbon and place the ends inside of the small hole in your foam ball. Fill the hole with hot glue (I'm not sure if the is the best way of attachment, but it's all I could come up with :)

Step 2. Cut your felt into small circles (approximately 2" in diameter). You will need about 30 circles to cover 1 ball - I know it sounds like a lot, but once you get going, they are fairly quick and easy to cut. (but if you buy a smaller foam ball you wont need quite as many). I liked to work on 1 ornament at a time, so my fingers wouldn't get so tired.

Now cut the circles directly in half.

Step 3. Take one of the half circles and hold it so the curved edge is facing down. Then fold the right corner down, place a dab of hot glue in the center of the fold, and then fold the left side over the top.

Now place your finger inside of the opening so it looks like a little finger hat! This will help flare out the edges of the shape...the larger the flare the less you will have to use to cover the foam ball.

Step 4. Repeat the above step for all of your 1/2 circles. When you are done gluing, cut off the bottom tips.

Step 5. Hot glue the felt shapes to your foam ball (large side up). If you have a low temp glue gun you can work a little more quickly by gluing a large area and then adding multiple pieces at a time. (if the glue is too hot it will melt the foam) Glue the pieces next to each other and work your way around. If you just glue randomly, you will be left with awkward spaced in-between the felt.

Step 6. If you want, you can add a little embellishment to your ribbon loop (like a lace bow or beads). Here are a few options I tried out...

I decided to go with just a simple small ribbon...

And now hang on your tree and enjoy!

Somebody's Been Sleeping In My Bed . . .

2011-11-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

Before having kids, I was a firm believer that babies no matter how young or old should NOT sleep in bed with you. When my baby was a newborn I was terrified of all the crazy stories I had heard about babies suffocating because their parents had allowed them to sleep in their bed. I was so paranoid, that I really did a great job of never allowing that to happen...

However, when my baby got a little older (around 6-12 months), I slowly started to cave.

My little guy would go through phases were he would wake up once or twice every night. I got to the point where I felt so sleep deprived that I started just laying him in our bed and giving him a bottle. Whether he was hungry or not, the sucking motion would usually put him right to sleep and then I would slyly sneak him back into his own crib (not wanting him to start thinking that he could sleep all night in our bed).

Then somewhere along the line, I completely caved. I started letting him stay all night in our bed every time he woke up. Which was crazy because my husband and I NEVER sleep well when he is in our bed (it must have something to do with the fact that he twists and turns all night, and sometimes he will even try to play and starts kicking or smacking us in the face).

Every morning this happened, I would promise myself that it wouldn't happen again... but it's funny how your brain works differently at 3:00am when your delirious and halfway asleep.

Luckily, we have yet to get to the point where we let our little guy sleep with us every night. In fact, usually after so many consecutive nights of this awful slumber I get so fed up that I let him just "cry it out" in his crib. Once I do this 2 or 3 nights in a row, he goes back to sleeping through the night, but something always triggers the middle of the night wake-ups and the cycle begins once again (for example, when he is sick, teething, or if we go on vacation).

I really hate hearing him cry... I mean seriously, it takes a lot of guts to be mean to this face.

What do you think? Any advice?

Do you (or would you) let your baby/toddler sleep in bed with you?

Happy Friday!

2011-11-11T07:49:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite things about the fall is being able to wear sweaters and cardigans again! Even though I probably won't be buying any new sweaters this year (due to my vastly growing bump), I still love to window shop! Anthropologie of course has a great sweater collection and these are a few of my favorites.

What is your favorite article of clothing to wear when it gets cold outside?

Have a great weekend and don't forget to do something fun!

Find these sweaters here...1 2 3 4

Inspiration Thursday: Gender Neutral Nurseries

2011-11-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am excited to bring you a special post written by Susi from Arcadian Lighting. I don't know about you, but I am a firm believer that lighting can have a dramatic effect on the overall look of a space and Arcadian lighting offers some really unique and affordable options.

Thanks for the post Susi, I hope everyone enjoys the nursery inspiration as much as I did!
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Hi, I'm Susi, and I can usually be found over at Arcadian Lighting writing about ideas for lighting fixtures and interior design. I'm so happy to be here at Strawberry Chic today to write about gender neutral nurseries for Inspiration Thursday. Congrats to Andrea on her great news! I hope these gender neutral nurseries inspire you and your readers. Enjoy!

Aqua and yellow in soft hues make for a gender neutral nursery. The floral chandelier is a feminine touch that doesn't make the room feel girly. This space would be perfect for boy & girl twins.

This pale green nursery would easily work for both genders. I love the animal theme that has a nostalgic feeling to it. The pink and orange throw could easily be swapped for another color.

A modern woodland theme is a charming choice for a gender neutral nursery. Earthy neutrals and adorable woodland creatures make for a delightful nursery for either genders.

Green and white are a classic combination for gender neutral nurseries. The wallpaper has a great leaf pattern than can feel either feminine or masculine. The birdcage ceiling light would delight any child.

While the curving cabriolet legs on the chair and the canopy are feminine touches in this bedroom, the neutral linen and white palette keeps it feeling appropriate for either a boy or a girl.

From Young House Love, this beautiful nursery gallery wall is perfect for a gender neutral nursery. The pale limey yellow walls are a nice backdrop for the white framed art and photos.

Yellow and white stripes are so cheerful for a nursery. Paired with pink or blue accents, this yellow and white striped ceiling with its sophisticated drum pendant light works for both genders.

This charming tree mural is perfect for a gender neutral nursery. I love the patchwork patterns and colors in the leaves. It's so magical.Which of these adorable gender neutral nurseries do you like the best? Come visit Arcadian Lighting's blog and discover more wonderful ideas for decorating every room in your house!

(Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Something Sweet: Everything Pumpkin!

2011-11-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

When I was was younger, pumpkin pie was one of my least favorite desserts. However, it must be true that your taste buds change over time because I now LOVE pumpkin pie...and basically everything with the word "pumpkin" in it.

I am so excited to make any and possibly all of these pumpkin desserts!
Although, I'm having a tough time deciding which to start with...

Find the recipes here... 1 2 3 4 5 6

What Pumpkin recipes will you be making/trying this season?

DIY Tuesday: Holiday Gold Stars

2011-11-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

I knew I was starting to feel like my old self again a couple of weeks ago when I got the itch to start some new projects! I actually got a little over ambitious and started 3 new holiday DIY projects this weekend (my husband was at an all day training on Saturday so I needed a good way to spend my free time :)

I actually made these lovely little gold stars to use as table decorations at my church's Christmas social this week. Oh and yes, I realize it's a little early for a Christmas social...but it's more of a Christmas preparation thing. We are going to be discussing different ways to make the holidays less stressful as well as ways to help remember Christ during Christmas.

I love how simple these stars were to make, and they can be used in so many different ways...
-Christmas tree ornaments
-Could be placed randomly on bookshelves
-You could hang a grouping of them with clear string over a table top for a fancy holiday dinner
-Make a bunch of tiny ones and fill glass candy/apothecary jars with them
...and I'm sure you could think of many more uses!

Click below to get the tutorial and look forward to more Holiday DIY projects posted every Tuesday right here!

Gold Stars
Materials needed:
cutting mat
exacto knife
scissors
gold spray paint
pen or pencil
straight edge
cereal box (or a very heavyweight paper)
and THIS star pattern (via Disney's Family Fun)

Step 1. Download and print the star pattern listed above (if you have a thicker piece of card-stock to print on, it makes tracing a little easier :). Then, cut out the star shapes with scissors.

Step 2. Carefully open the cereal box along it's seam. Then trace the stars with a pen/pencil. Trace as many as you wish (each finished star needs 2 star patterns).

Step 3. Use your straight-edge and an exacto knife to cut out the star shapes. Be sure to replace the knife blade if it is dull (it will make your life much easier, I promise).

*hold the straight edge firmly with your fingers as you run the knife along it's edge...and be careful not to cut yourself! You may need to go over the cut twice, especially if your blade is dull.

Step 4. You will now need to find the center-point of your star shapes. To do this, line your ruler up with the point of one corner and then angle it straight down to the nearest v shape. (it's a little confusing to word...so check out the photos below for clarification). Mark the center-point with a pencil.

Step 5. Take your straight-edge & exacto knife and cut a line starting from the center-point of one of your stars and ending at the tip of the star. Do the same on the 2nd star, but this time cut a line from the center-point to the bottom v shape. (see photo below)

*Slip the stars together to see if you need to do any additional cutting.

The tips of the star should line up nicely.

Step 6. Find an area outside where it will be safe to spray-paint. Lay down a few sheets of newspaper or old magazine pages and set the stars on top. Spray according to paint directions, and make sure the stars get covered completely.

Step 7. Wait 5-10 min. or until the paint has dried. Flip the stars over and spray the other side.

Step 8. After the paint has dried, you can slide your star shapes together to create a 3D star form.

Now you can start to decorate with them!

The Joys of Pregnancy

2011-11-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was told by a friend that I needed to post some updated pregnancy photos. So, this is me at about 20 weeks pregnant (I am actually 21 weeks now).

Although I no longer have morning sickness (unless I go too long without eating), I have been experiencing some other unwelcome pregnancy cons. Including some not so wonderful varicose veins in my right leg, along with some rather unfriendly pregnancy acne. Seriously, I don't think I have ever had acne this bad...and I've forgotten how awful it can make you feel. (if anyone knows of any safe remedies I could try, please share :)

But, I am grateful that these are the least of my worries, because I know that things could definitely be worse. When I had my first baby, I had even more pregnancy issues... and I'll admit, that there were days when I would do the whole "pitty party" thing, knowing that my body would never go back to normal.

But when my 1st baby was finally born, I realized that everything I went through was well worth it (and now I need to remind myself of that once again!)

By the way, if you happen to be looking for some fun baby/toddler birthday ideas you should check out my friend Amber's blog...I LOVE the ombre cake she designed!

Happy Friday!

2011-11-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! This week went by much to quickly...I still have a few things on my to do list that were never completed (hate that!)

Hope you have a great weekend! I am looking forward to making THESE and starting up a few new projects!

photo source: thizizit

Thanksgiving Party Favor/Table Decor Ideas

2011-11-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

It feels weird to already be posting about Thanksgiving (seeing how Halloween was just on Monday), but really it's only 3 weeks away. So, if your planning on making anything crafty for the occasion, it's time to get started!

My older sister is looking for some creative and inexpensive thanksgiving party favors that will also double as table decor. So this post is for you Mel, and anyone else who plans on hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year!

#2 - would be cute filled with nuts, or fall colored candy

#3 - is actually listed as a kids craft, but I think it would look really nice to have one leaf in the center of each table setting (I especially love the golden yellow color).

To get more info, click on the links... 1 2 3 4

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart

The Best Cornbread Ever!

2011-11-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while, but i'm excited to say that I am finally ready to start posting recipes again! Up until a couple of weeks ago I was still feeling a little pregnancy nausea. It was a challenge to just get dinner on the table, let alone take pictures of it.

Now, I know what your thinking..." but what ever happened to Something Sweet Wednesday?" Don't worry it's not gone forever, just on a temporary break, due to the fact that I'm just not craving sweets like I use to.

This cornbread recipe pair's perfectly with a hot bowl of chili! It's one that my mom has been making since I was little and every time I have any other cornbread it just doesn't even compare (sorry no offense :). It's super flavorful and incredibly moist at the same time. If there was such a thing as corn bread cake, this would be it!

Click below to get the recipe!

Cornbread
1 cup butter (softened to room temp)
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 16oz can cream of corn
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup flour
1 cup yellow corn meal
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Directions: Set the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 9x13 pan and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.
Add the eggs, cream of corn, and cheese, mix well.
Add the remaining ingredients and mix until well blended.
Bake for 30-40 min.
*You may need to cook the bread a little longer...a good way to tell if it's done, is if you press down on the bread with your finger and it bounces back.

DIY Tuesday - Painted Curtians

2011-11-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

I came across this awesome DIY project on Apartment Therapy the other day, and I am considering testing it out (not sure what room yet though). I love how simple the stencil pattern is, yet it produces a pretty eye catching result!

If I didn't have a little one, I would test this out in a heartbeat. But, it looks like it may require a large chunk of time to do the actual painting. So, I'm not sure a 2-3hr nap time would be sufficient enough for me to conquer it. hmmmmm...

What do you think? Would you make these for your own home?

Get the tutorial for the project HERE!

Happy Halloween . . .

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

From Princess Leia, R2D2, and the Giant Ewok.

We had a church/family Halloween party on Saturday and it was tons of fun! I finished the R2D2 costume just in time (I mean literally...I finished it like 5 min. before we left...talk about procrastination!). The costume was made using a large piece of white fabric, felt (for the detail work), and old metal coat hangers which I cut, bent into a round shape, and then sewed them into the top and bottom of the costume.

As for my husband and I, we headed to the thrift store just hours before the party and luckily we were able to scrounge together our Star Wars outfits. My Leia costume is just a white turtle neck, white pants, a shiny gold belt, and a fake gun from the dollar store. I also used THIS tutorial on YouTube to make my giant Leia buns.

I will have to admit, my husband's Ewok costume was the most clever. He bought an old giant teddy bear at the the thrift store, took out the stuffing, cut off the face (a little morbid right?) and then added a rough piece of red fabric for the cape. He also fashioned his own spear out of a branch and stone from our yard!

The best part about our costumes is that we put together all 3 for under $20!

Tonight, we plan to stay home to pass out candy, finish our Harry Potter marathon, make homemade doughnuts, and take our little R2D2 around to trick-or-treat at a few of our neighbors houses!

What are your Halloween plans?

Have a Spooky Weekend!

2011-10-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, most of you already know about my undeniable love for the magical world of Harry Potter. So, you can imagine my delight when I came across this AMAZING "Deathly Hallows - Dinner Party" posted on Hostessblog. The party included Butterbear, Polyjuice Potion, Chocolate frogs, and much much more! I am seriously jealous that I did not receive an invite.

Although Halloween is officially not until Monday, my husband and I will be trying to catch up on our Harry Potter marathon this weekend (which is something we love and have been doing for many years...although I admit it is a little harder now that there are 7 movies).

Have a ~~great~~ spooky weekend! and view more of the dinner party photos HERE!

A New Addition . . .

2011-10-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

We purchased a new area rug for our living room last week (on ebay) and I can't wait until it gets here! I have been wanting one since we moved in (a year ago now) and the search has been quite the headache!

There are so many awesome rugs out there, but WOW they can be expensive! I found some less expensive ones like THIS, but most of them were that rough wool material. I wanted something that would be comfortable to sit on so our little guy could have a spot to play with his toys (he never sits on the hardwood floor to play).

So, this is the rug I decided on (the price was a little bit of a stretch from our original budget, but it was only about $150, which is much less then some of the others I had in mind)...

I love the pattern and color combination! Although, it is a little scary buying things online, so I hope it ends up being as nice as it looks!

I'm crossing my fingers that it will arrive sometime next week, so look forward to some updated living room photos!

Felt Flower Hair Clip

2011-10-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

I use to have a little Etsy shop where I sold felt flower headbands and hair clips. I had so much fun making them but sadly decided to quit selling for multiple reasons... First off, I never had enough time to mass produce any of the headbands/hair clips so when I made a sale, it was always a race to try to get the headband made, packaged, and sent off asap. Also, I thought I priced everything fairly reasonably, but once Etsy and Paypal took their percentage of my profit I really wasn't making much (or at least not enough for the time and stress I had to put into each one).

But now, I love making the felt flowers for baby showers, birthday's, or Christmas gifts. I really love making them and turns out, it's a great inexpensive and thoughtful gift!

As promised, I have put together a tutorial for one of the flowers I make most often. Click below to get the full tutorial!

Peony Felt Flower
(adapted from the original peony flower by yoonie-at-home)
Materials Needed
Felt, color is up to you! (can purchase in small sheets for about .30 cents at most craft stores)
Needle & thread (you won't see it when the flower is complete so the color doesn't matter)
Hot glue gun (optional craft glue - if hot glue is too messy for you!)
Metal hair clip
Fabric pins
Fabric/craft scissors
Small faux pearl beads (can buy a strand at Walmart in the craft section for a couple of dollars)
Peony flower pattern (yoonie-at-home) has a great template that you can download HERE

Step 1. Download the peony pattern listed above, then cut out the 3 indicated pattern sizes.

Step 2. Pin each pattern to a small square of felt and cut out 3 of each shape (in whatever colors you want).

Step 3. Starting with the largest shapes, layer the flowers on top of each other and stagger the petals slightly.

Place the smallest flowers to the side.

Step 4. Take your needle and thread through the center of the flowers and tie off tightly so the petals flare out a little.

Step 5. Take the 3 smallest flowers and lay them so 1 petal on each flower is sticking up in the center.

Step 6. Pick up the center clump of flowers (but keep their shape and placement in-tact)

Add a dab of hot glue to the center of the flat flowers then place the small flower clump back on top.

Step 7. Place a small dab of hot glue or craft glue in the center of each small flower. Then add the pearl beads over the top.

Step 8. Cut a circle of felt smaller then the diameter of the flower and adhere to the back of the flower. Glue your metal hair clip on top, and let dry if needed.

If you are making this for a baby clip, refer to THIS tutorial for the nylon headband.

Nylon Headband DIY

2011-10-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered how to make those cute nylon baby headbands?

A friend of mine showed me how a couple of years back and I am happy to say that YES they are as simple as they look! Lately, I have been making them (along with some felt flower clips) for baby shower gifts and all the mom's love them! I think it's because they stretch really well and are super soft on baby's head (unlike many that will leave red lines and indents).

If you haven't already learned how, click below to get the tutorial to make your own nylon headband and come back tomorrow to get my DIY for the felt flower clip shown above!

Nylon Baby Headband
Materials needed
Knee high nylons (I buy mine at Walmart or Walgreen's for about 30 cents a pair)
Needle & thread to match headband
Hot glue gun
Small piece of 1/4" wide ribbon (to match headband)
Scissors

Step 1. Cut off the toe section of the Nylon sock.

Step 2. Hand sew the two ends together with a wide stitch.

Step 3. Pull the nylon down the thread line so it begins to bunch up.

*If the nylon doesn't bunch up enough, you can loop the thread around the sewn section

(creating a "bow-like" look).

Step 4. Cut a small piece of ribbon about 2" in length

Step 5. Place a small dab of hot glue on the back side of the headband, right on the seam.

Glue down one of the ribbon ends.

Step 6. Add another dab of hot glue over the piece of ribbon and glue down the remaining end.

Cut away excess ribbon.

and your done! Wasn't that easy?

In case you were wondering...

2011-10-25T04:59:00.000-07:00

I went into the Dr. yesterday for my ultrasound and found out the gender of the baby....

it's

a

......

......

.....

....

..

.

GIRL!

My husband and I are super excited and I am definitely looking forward to buying my first girly outfit for her maybe something like one of these vintage dresses from kyssa (they remind me of the dresses my sisters and I use to wear when we were babies...unfortunately my mom got rid of most of them over the years :(

A couple of updates . . .

2011-10-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I started trying out the "CG" curl method a few weeks ago. I think it has been going pretty well...my hair is definitely curling better and a little less frizzy. Although I have to admit, it's still not curling quite has well as I would like it to. On the plus side, (or weird side,) I have not used ANY shampoo in like 4 weeks and my hair really isn't greasy.

Here is what my hair looks like now, go HERE to see what my hair looked like before...

Looking at these photo makes me realize that I need a trim, and I need to re-color my hair (if you have never colored your hair before, don't do it! It has been an ongoing battle for me since I first did it my sophomore year in high school...I keep trying to just grow out my natural color but I can't stand when the dyed section starts looking all weird and orange-y)!

As for my other update (if I am having a boy or girl)...Well, it will actually have to wait until tomorrow because I don't go in for my appointment until 1:00pm today.

Also, I am working on getting our costume's done for a Halloween party this Saturday. I am attempting to make an R2D2 costume for my little boy (cross your fingers, this should be interesting!)

Happy Friday

2011-10-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today may be the first Friday where I am actually looking forward to Monday. No, it is not because I am anticipating a crummy weekend...it is because Monday is the day I find out if I am having a boy or girl (hence the blue or pink).

These chairs are both tons of fun and I would gladly take either for my own home!

Which do you prefer? Blue or Pink?

photo credit: blue and pink

Bookshelf Update

2011-10-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

The bookshelf is finished and I finally remembered to take a few photos of it! Originally I wanted to have a free standing shelf (and by that I mean one with no brackets) but my ~~husband~~ personal handyman said he had no idea how to make something like that, especially being about 7' long. So, I thought the next best option was to use small brackets and paint them the same color of the wall to help them blend in a little better.

Here are the before and after shots...

I love how it turned out, and even more I love that we finally have a place to showcase our vintage book collection. I realize that all of the "stuff" on the shelf is a little much (I mean things are looking a bit top heavy) I can't decide if I should take a few things off or try to cover some of the darker books in a fun lighter wrapping paper or something (any suggestions?)

I never did get to buy any new accessories for the shelf while I was in Utah last weekend. I only had about 20 min. to look around Ikea so I ran to get the throw pillows I have anxiously been waiting for months to purchase.

I may have snagged an awesome pillow case on my way out though...

Isn't it lovely?

Creepy Food Ideas

2011-10-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

Making creepy food for a Halloween get-together is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the holiday and I am always looking for new ideas! It can get a little time consuming when putting together more then a couple of spooky dishes, so I like to do a Halloween potluck and ask each guest to bring one too! Plus, it's so much fun to see what everyone comes up with!

Here are some great creepy food ideas that I am considering...

Get the details here...1 2 3 4 5

Pumpkin Carving

2011-10-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

Do you have a favorite pumpkin carving tradition?

For the longest time I have loved to buy those intricate carving kits, you know the kind you have to spend hours outlining with the little toothpick punch and then a couple more hours to actually carve...and by the end of the night it feels like your hand is going to fall right off!

But a few years ago, I decided to leave my old ways behind me and try something less time consuming but a little more creative then your average Jack-o-lantern face.

Thanks to Martha, I found a couple of alternate carving techniques that were really fun...

This technique is VERY simple, all you need is a drill and some x-mas lights.

Find the tutorial HERE!

This technique uses a scraping method and is a little more tricky but not too bad.

I would recommend buying a pumpkin that does not have a thick shell (although I'm not really sure how you can tell). It also helps to scrape the inside walls of the pumpkin very thin.

Get the pattern to the right HERE.

Happy Friday!

2011-10-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Our little family is off on a weekend trip (I know this is a photo taken somewhere in Europe, but we are actually just headed to Utah for a friends wedding...it will be just as fun, I'm sure!)

I hoping we will have enough time to head over to Ikea so I can look for some cute accessories for our new bookshelf. I also need some of their awesome feathered pillow forms so I can finish making the accent pillow cases for our bedroom and sofa. I've had the fabric sitting around for months, and I hate starting a project and not being able to finish it!

Have a great weekend!

Photo Credit: Via

Inspiration Thursday - a look to love

2011-10-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

I have been loving this new design style. Although, I'm not sure what to call it. It's modern, eclectic, and slightly minimalistic all at the same time. The walls are generally just white, nothing in the room really "matches" or follows a certain color scheme, and there are usually a lot of different textures used especially with accent pillows or throws.

My husband and I have sort of been trying to mimic this look in our home home - which shouldn't be too hard because we already have white walls, neutral furniture, and random accent pieces that we have been collecting throughout our marriage. We even took some of our brightly colored picture frames down so we could re-paint them a more neutral color.

What do you think of the look?

Photo Source: Rue Magazine, but first spotted on Mimi+Meg