vegas? Anyone?

My husband is applying for Navy residencies this fall and wanted to attend the Armed Forces Obstetrics and Gynecology Distric meeting in Vegas (my husband wants to do OBGYN) so he could meet and greet and learn right along the residency directors... and he thought it would be a good idea if I came along.

I said the only way I would go to Vegas is sans-children... and we have booked the trip! We will be there from a Saturday to Wed. in October. I need suggestions of interesting things to do, places to shop, etc. I am putting this on my blog because I am hoping I have readers with similar interests as I (art, design, crafting and sewing, etc) with suggestions I can't find on every top 10 Vegas list. Okay, now if you aren't a commenter normally (ahem, most of you), now is the time! Suggestions please!

Also I have a few more baby boy tutorials coming up, I've just been painting a lot lately (thanks to my new class) and haven't been in the mood to blog. They are coming though!

School Days

Yes, like everyone else, my child started school last week for the first time! Olivia and I were both very excited. She happily went left me to go start her school career. I envy her! I wasn't excited just because it means being able to run some errands with just one child, but because I REALLY LOVE SCHOOL! I wish I were going! Or teaching. I miss teaching so much (not enough to put my children in daycare, but enough that I know I will do it again one day when they are all in school).

I love the start of a new school year, school-supply shopping, new classrooms, new hopes and dreams of what the year will hold. The smell of new textbooks, art supplies, it is all so much fun. I loved every year of my schooling and always looked forward to going back after summer vacation!

And so..... I was also enthused to start my own class last night! I have to renew my Florida Teaching Certification (you have to renew every 5 years), and since I am not currently teaching, I have to take some college courses to do so. Darn:) I started a painting class last night at the local state college (where I could actually be teaching myself if I was so inclined....). Just registering for my class and getting my parking decal, etc was so much fun. Yes, I have a masters, and now I am taking a course at the state college. But I don't care!!! Its school!!! Hooray for school!!

anyone else with me??

Busy busy

 FINALLY getting to the project I had started ages ago... (remember my papier mache project? (I can't find the link since my computer is slow. sorry).  I'm starting to wrap it and I am so excited about it!

Random Side not: I  love dressing Olivia and I am usually jealous that I can't wear her outfits. These tights are killer (recognize the dress??!)

In other busy-fying news, I am teaching a 1 hour lesson on healthy eating tonight at church. I am very excited but I was just asked, um like 5 days ago so its taking up all my free time! I will get back to the blog soon enough folks. Soon enough. Oh and I am reading this for my book club. Loving it.

thanks!

 

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement. I am looking into papers for printing on right now, because I want them to look as high quality as possible. I will let you all know when they are up in the shop! And this was my final design for the iPad case. I prefer real drawing, but drawing on the computer does present a perk of being easily manipulated and the ability to create a bunch of variations! Can't wait to get this in person!

my favorite new $5 purchase

  2 days ago

A month ago

Besides the photos of myself modeling my headbands (which I do out of convenience), I don't really take many photos of myself. Its mostly just the girls these day (no--not THOSE girls!!--my daughters!!).

Anyway, I bought this shruggy, thing at Forever21 a couple months ago and when I got to the register it was only $5!! Don't you love when that happens? Only problem with FL is that it is usually too hot to even throw that thin piece of cloth over my outfit most days. But it has been cool enough 2 times for me wear it and I loved the outfits so much I made my husband take a photo.---which I always feel very silly doing, but I tell myself its for the blog. Because goodness knows no one where I live gives a rat's patooty about the clothes I am wearing (well maybe one or two people but not most!). And I know this is totally vain, but since getting dressed to me is an outlet for creativity (not all days, but occasionally) I feel like these outfits need to be documented somewhere!

Anyone else feel this way?

Envirosax for cheap!

I normally don't do this, but I had to post this deal for you all (and of course if 3 of you buy it I get mine free!  pretty pretty please?!). On living social today (deal ends in 11 days) you can order a set of these 5 envirosax. There are 4 different style groupings to choose from, but I chose the ones pictured above ("After Dark").   These things are normally $40 PLUS SHIPPING for a set of 5. I have a couple and I have always wanted to buy more, but the price detered me until now! But these ones are cheap: $22 plus FREE shipping! woo hoo ($4.40/bag)!!

Why do I love these so much? I use these all.the.time. They roll up really small and are water-resistant so they make a great: beach bag, pool bag, throw in your purse just in case you need an extra bag-bag, I-don't-want-to-bring-a-purse-in-my-suitcase-bag (I can't ever fit a purse AND a diaper bag when I travel, so I usually throw one of these in my suitcase and use it as a purse. Its also great if you buy lots on your trip and need to use this as a carry-on).  These things are also tough, mine have never torn and I've used them for some HEAVY stuff.

Seriously people, I wouldn't do an entire post about these if they weren't the greatest thing since sliced bread. I promise you won't regret it! Buy em here, but you only have 11 days (I'm guessing the good styles will sell out first)!

ombre perfection

If these weren't $45 dollars I would've already bought them. oh my gosh. I may just have to attempt it myself one day, though I am not sure my dyeing skills are quite this advanced.

Instantly

 I love instagram. I have coveted instagrammers ever since I first heard about the app (but I never had an iphone (still don't---new ipad) so I couldn't do it! I am so glad I can capture the everyday so much easier  now (not that its easier than a camera, it just is easier to publish it into books----BLURB!!!!). I am lazy about uploading photos and all that, so this just makes it a tad easier.

This might be my favorite shot captured by my ipad to date (I've only taken like 25). I love the pure joy and movement that is so perfectly Amélie!

Okay back to business. (I mean how many people who read this blog REALLY care about photos of my girls?? not many I'm sure---which is okay because I really didn't care about other people's kids until I had some of my own!!)

 I am still in the process of making my girls' Easter dresses. ( I couldn't start until after FAB so it didn't give me much time (like I just started Thursday). Anyway, here is just a little taste. These are the collars that will top the sheath. I made them detached so I could put them with other things they own! (You all know I love a collar!!!)

And here is miss Amélie trying hers on. Do you see that scalloped edging? Pretty sweet. Just figured out how to do that on my machine (patting myself on the back) photo courtesy of instagram, thank you. ( I have mine set to private, so if you want to friend me you have to ask---no creeps allowed.)

Instawho?

 A few months ago I spray-painted some plastic animals my mom gave olivia (handed-down from my youngest brother who is now 12). The bear is currently guarding this photo of my mom, Franc and I at Machu Picchu.

And little is happening around here since this sweet 8 1/2 month old girl is super sick, as is her mother and father (my nose hasn't stopped dripping in three days.... grrrrr)!!!!  In better news... I am obviously now on Instagram! woohoo! Why? How? Because I still don't have an iPhone..... (Hint: I got a surprise upgrade on a certain piece of technology as an early birthday present from Francisco!)

O.B.S.E.S.S.E.S.E.D

I wrote on pinterest that there are no words for how cool these are.  someone else wrote a word: ugly.  We definitely have different tastes because when I first saw these Holst + Lee necklaces last week I thought I had died and entered super-cool-necklace heaven. They are made of everyday, simple materials, yet put together in such a way that makes them take on a whole new life. seriously nylon rope, brass nuts, and embroidery floss????  Check them out here.

This week/end

Here is what I have been up to (besides our spontaneous trip to Disney with the kids yesterday). I have started sprouting buckwheat groats and wheat berries! I love reading about healthy eating and from what I've read, sprouting is a great way to bring live foods that are rich in in vitamins and minerals into your diet! Today I through some of the sprouted buckwheat into my morning smoothie (which also had flax seed, almond butter, almond milk, banana and a touch of raw honey in it---the honey was very unneccessary turns out). Right now I have the rest of it, along with some "reactivated" raw nuts and seeds in my dehydrator (that my husband surprised me with for valentine's day!!!) in an effort to make some raw granola. Can't wait to try it!


And my fingers are working around the clock (okay during naps and nighttime) to get  ready for my next fab sale!!! Its gonna be full of new stuff---or stuff never seen online at least--as well as some popular styles!

Crap its been long. oops!

 

Here's one of the many reasons I have been m.i.a. lately.... Spur of the moment on Saturday I decided to switch Olivia (2 1/2 yrs old) to a real bed. (I had Amélie in a "mini-crib" which all of her 75%tile body was growing out of.) Luckily I had my little (12 yrs old) brother's old sleigh bed ready to go, and I just had to run to costco to get a mattress. THANK GOODNESS my parents were around to help make this happen, because my husband has been non-existant during his OB/GYN rotation this month. I never see him!

Olivia has been super -excited about her new bed, and decided the best way to welcome it into her room was to jump on it of course!!!! (And when I say this was spur of the moment, I mean it. no prep whatsoever, my husband still hasn't see the bed since he lives at the hospital right now....)

 I made some new headbands for Amélie... and I really love them. Pondering the idea of selling them in the shop for about $10.... what do you all think? I call it the "hipster baby" band because I imagine this is what my sister and her friends in Brooklyn would put on their babies if they even had a baby on their hips.

I can't believe she will be 8 months in a week. time flies. but not lately since she is getting her EIGHTH tooth and has become possessed by the teething devil:)

Okay I promise to do a real post soon. I have been doing some paper maché lately and want to tell you all about that!

what? what?!!

I opened up my gmail a few days ago to find an email from the person overseeing the Atlanta casting for this show. He said he saw my headbands at the Beehive in Atlanta  (p.s. go there by the 29th and you can still shop their annual warehouse sale!!!) and was wondering if I wanted to apply for this show!!???!!! It is a chance to have my business "made-over" and win a million dollars. Ummmmm sign me up!

Anyone else want to try? Go here. Its kind of a lengthy process so just be prepared! Franc and I worked on a haphazard storyboard last night (his idea) for the 2-5 min video I have to use as part of the app. I will definitely upload it to the blog once its finished! Wish I had one of my filmmaker friends around to help.

a kitchenette for my girls

 

 

I made my girls (though it was given to Olivia for Christmas I will MAKE her share it with Amélie when the time comes!) a little kitchenette. You've seen them all over pinterest, and now you've seen one on here. Only mine is missing the faucet. and an oven handle.

I bought this scrappy weird wood thing for $2 back in May with the intentions of making it into a kitchen and never got a chance. Next thing I know it is Christmas eve-eve and I REALLY wanted to do it, but I am swamped with the fab thing. So I got my husband to do the dirty work (the  spray-painting and cutting) and on Christmas eve I painted all the details and sewed the curtains. Done. well minus the faucet (and the oven handle, but my husband put the oven door on upside down so.....). I need to buy the letter "J" at the craft store and make it the faucet (saw it on another one).

The best thing about this baby is that I only spent $2.25 out of pocket! EVERYTHING else I scavanged from various places.

Details:
-little wooden "eggs" from the craft store (that I happened to have) for knobs
-old wooden drawer knobs for the "temperature" knobs
-used contact paper to cut circles out of, cover the stove-top and then spray the red burners on (same with all other detailing)

-the bottom part had a big space and no sides, so I sewed curtains and then attached them with velcro. sticky velcro on the wood part (underneath) and sew-able velcro on the the fabric.

**and thanks to my father-in-law who cut out the burners and the hole for the sink.
 and to my parents for their white spray paint!

snow princesses

 I didn't have a chance to finish making Olivia and Amélie the Christmas dresses I started in November due to Fab.com taking over my life for a month. BUT luckily I found this thrifted white tulle, fake fur, and lace dress my mom had given me awhile back. Sounds cheesy, and on the hanger doesn't look like much, but my little princess made it look like a thousand bucks!

 she looked so beautiful I HAD to take a photo. lucky for me it was after church and she was tired...

so I got a lot of cool shots like this as she rolled around on the sidewalk outside our apartment!

 christmas eve on our way to dinner... pulling amelie's ear...

 so amélie gets back!

 Amélie's "pull it all together at the last minute" outfit was comprised of my old baby sweater and booties (I recently was given all my old baby/toddler clothes!!!!) and an antique baby dress. (THANKS MOM!!!!)

 gorgeous.

Franc and I wore mostly black in an effort to look slimmer...  Merry belated Christmas everyone! haha. sorry folks. I am almost done with all my Christmas posts.....

Fab and Jessica Swift

First of all I need to tell you all why I have been S. W. A. M. P. E. D lately. Its a little site called... FAB.COM!!! what?! what?! No its really a HUGE site and they want to sell my headbands on there! So.... I have been making SIX HUNDRED AND FORTY HEADBANDS with my own two hands, scissors, and glue since I found out (late November).

Sign up now and I will let you know when they are up and available to buy! (It is after Christmas, but not long....) and they will be sold at a discount. A good one!

If you haven't heard of Fab.com yet then let me tell you it is the coolest of cool 3-day-sale sites. It features super cool, modern, hip things for your body and home. I fall in love with new things on there everyday.

On another note. Jessica Swift! I bought one of her calendars last year and it has been one of my favorite kitchen decorations all year. Seriously, every month features a new cool design with bright, juicy color and pattern and I can't get enough. And what I love about her calendars, compared to most you find on etsy is that there is actually space to write things in! I love a cute calendar, but I need somewhere to write the stuff I have going on too. Anyway, just thought I'd share!

And while I was browsing her site (love her motto "Live Color to the Max") I saw lots of other things I began coveting...

Seriously? Those boots rock.

Handmade Charlotte for Anthropologie!

The other day I had a dream that Anthropologie called and asked if I would sell my headbands at their stores (the felt feather fascinator to be exact) and I was like heck yeah (even though in my mind I couldn't figure out how in the WORLD I would get them all done). And then they told me I had to make 75 of them to give their employees for free at the home office. And I said no. I just couldn't do it with my 3 1/2 month old baby (and 2 yr old). I didn't have enough time. So the deal didn't go through. I woke up and told my husband that I didn't regret that decision. crazy.

Fast forward to a day later when I found out my fellow Atlantan (okay I was only an Atlantan for 3 yrs) crafter Rachel, of Handmade Charlotte actually had something like this HAPPEN TO HER!!!! Well, I don't know exactly how it happened, but she emailed me to tell me about her new line being sold on Anthropologie.com for little girls!!!! WHAT??? How cool! And get this, she lives on a farm and has 5 as in 1,2,3,4, FIVE kids. What? And she and a friend sewed everyone of these pieces themselves. No India outsourcing here (which having worked for Anthro, I know they do a lot of).

Check out my two faves:

 cutest little warm winter bloomers ever

 love the detailing on this coat!

So cute right??!! Olivia/Amélie has a pair of her bloomers that my friend Lesley bought me. They are very well made, and absolutely adorable. And Rachel herself? Well she is funny, quirky, and super nice, so support her and check out her line for Anthro!!!

SheBlogs SheBlogs

 buy this here. I know I want one!

get the tutorial here

Check this girl out. I swear I read her blog and felt like she was articulating my own thoughts! But Funnier! She is blunt, she is real, and she is a riot to read. Oh yeah and she sells super cool mobiles and makes crazy awesome 80's inspired shirts for her daughter.

my favorite night of the week and Bjork

 This photo has nothing to do with this post but I love it. Love the petals, the colors, the eye make-up. Maybe I should be Bjork for Halloween. Did I ever mention that one of the major things that attracted me to my husband when I first met him was that he was buying a dvd of Bjork's music videos? I knew he would be good for me. Afterall... how weird could I possibly seem to someone who likes Bjork???

It's my favorite day of the week! why? Because my mom comes over to watch Project Runway with me (and my husband....). I realized my mom was my best friend when I got to college, convenient since I was on the other side of the country from her. I came back to Florida for one other year since then (I graduated over 12 years ago so...), but we lived in Miami which is over an hour away. The next two years may be the only 2 years I ever live this close to her, so I treasure every second I get! Anyway, she comes over, we watch and critique and drink Dr.Pepper. Its an awesome night. Hooray for Thursdays!

side note: I got 4 hrs of interrupted sleep last night. Normally I get at least 5-7 (uninterrupted). I want to die. Don't sign up for "Mommy and Me" classes when you have a 2 yrs old and a 2 month old nursing infant- NO FUN. I was a sweaty stress mess this morning.

No time to blog but go read this!

Sorry peeps, having an infant and a toddler isn't quite as hard as I thought, but it leaves no time to blog! I am hoping that this baby, who sleeps like a pro, will quit the nightly marathon feeding from 7-10 pm! I can't do very much because of it! Anyway since I CAN watch PR and nurse I did that last Thursday night (and again last night with my mom) but instead of giving you MY opinion, let me link you to A Little Gray, because Jessica said all the things I thought but she is a much wittier writer. Go there now and laugh at the "Terrible Pants Parade."