Friday, March 30, 2012

Friday Finds { a dress shop }

If you're new to this here blog, every Friday I post Friday Finds. This is where I feature something that I found during the week that I thought was fun and interesting enough to share. It is usual a crafty tutorial of sorts. To me, blogging is all about being inspired by each others creativity, so that is what Friday Finds is all about!


Just yesterday, I found this really cute handmade dress shop on Etsy.com.  
It's called, Jennifer Lilly Designs.

As you may already know, I really love vintage style dresses, especially styles inspired by the 50's and 60's. The dresses in this shop are right up my alley. I love the colors, the floral patterns, the modesty, and that the prices are not outrageous like in so many handmade clothing shops! 

Let's take a gander...

I love the sleeves on this one...

The colors on this one... 

and I love this lace petticoat. It's much cuter than the one I tried to make myself! 

Good thing my birthday is coming up in a couple months (are you reading this Curtis? Mom?)

Thursday, March 29, 2012

loving coral

I really love coral. Isn't it just the prettiest little color for spring? I'm trying to convince Curtis to let me paint an accent wall in our living room with a shade of coral. I'm still looking for the perfect shade, and still trying to convince him. Here are some pretty coral pictures to feast your eyes upon...

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Photo credits: 1. The Photo Argus  2. A glamorous little side project  3. Martha Stewart  4. We Heart It  5. Style Estate

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Between him and me



(buy your bow ties here)

While blowing my nose...

Ande: "No buggers, just a nut?
Me: "A nut? Do you mean snot?"
Ande: "A snot nut."
Me: "A snot nut?"
Ande: "Nuts have snot in them."

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

A recipe fail {crispy sweet potato fries }

I rarely try new recipes because I just don't enjoy cooking that much. I like to stick to what I know, which are super easy recipes with very few ingredients. So, when I happened upon this crispy sweet potato fries recipe, I was a little excited. I love sweet potatoes, I love French fries, and all I needed was a little oil and corn starch!


(Photo: The Art of  Doing Stuff)



So, I cut my sweet potatoes (leaving the skins on...because it's healthy, right?), and soaked them in water.



Then, I put corn starch in a plastic bag, added the potatoes, shook them up, and put them on a non stick pan.


I drizzled olive oil on them, tossed them about, and cooked for 15 minutes on one side, and about 8 on the other. This is what I came up with:



They actually don't look bad, but they didn't taste great. I guess I didn't cut the fries small enough, used way too much corn starch, and not quite enough oil. If I get the proportions just right, I think they would be delicious! Hopefully Curtis will give me a second chance before he loses all hope in my cooking skills. That is...once he recovers from the dry mouth caused by all that corn starch!


Monday, March 26, 2012

Snapshots {life lately}

{The boys after church, all smiles as usual. Good thing you can't see my stressed out face behind the camera telling them to hurry up because of the post-church-home-for-nap time rush!}

{Like father like son.}

{I love the way Ande's little bum looks in undies. Especially when he gets these fun wedgies.}

{Just flirting with some scantily clad girlies at the park...in his wife beater...no big deal.}

{"This club is for Boys Only! No girls allowed, Mom!"}

{My little stander. I think he's going to skip crawling and go straight to walking. Just in the past couple of weeks, he has started pulling up and cruising around. It's exhausting!}

{Cool tree we found at the park. I decided to try and visit as many new parks as we can find close to us this spring. We tend to get stuck in a rut going to the same place every week. Finding new parks and having adventures has been so fun!}

{This picture just makes me happy. Why? Because this almost 3 year old finally figured out how to crawl out of the crib, got a big boy bed, and stopped taking naps around Christmas. I FINALLY figured out how to get this kid to nap again and everyone is much much happier around here!}

Thursday, March 22, 2012

new product! { Button Bow Ties }

I am so excited to introduce a new product to my shop this week!

With summer weather already here, I knew I needed a fresh new design. Let's face it, who wears crochet hats in the summer?

Boys don't usually get to wear a lot of accessories, but a bow tie is the perfect way to add a little pizaz to an otherwise boring outfit. They are perfect for dressing your little guy up for the Easter holiday, coming up!

These Button Bow Ties are approximately 3 3/4 in. x 2 in. with a fun fabric button center. The back has a stainless steel clip securely attached, which makes it so easy to put on a wiggly little boy!

All bow ties seen in the shop are ready to ship. I will post new colors as I make them, however if you have a specific color in mind, I'd love to work with you on that!


So, if you want your little guy to look handsome...

Cute...


Trim...


and a little Dapper (channeling his inner Chuck Bass)...



Then get on over to the shop and find your favorite color combination!

And just because I like you, today only, you can use coupon code: Spring15 for 15% off any purchase!





Tuesday, March 20, 2012

a cloud garland for the boys

Last month, I saw this really cute cloud garland on Etsy, by GenTerro.

I decided a garland like that would be perfect for Owen's air plane room.

So, I made a couple of my own, and I love them. I made one with big clouds for Owen's room, and little clouds and 2 air planes for Ande's room. I used my Cricut to cut out the cloud shapes and then just sewed them all together!




They were so easy to make, I think I'm on the verge of going garland crazy...but I suppose a garland in 2 bedrooms is already enough.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Friday Finds {Play Kitchen}

If you're new to this here blog, every Friday I post Friday Finds. This is where I feature something that I found during the week that I thought was fun and interesting enough to share. It is usual a crafty tutorial of sorts. To me, blogging is all about being inspired by each others creativity, so that is what Friday Finds is all about!


I was talking with my friend earlier today about how her chunky, plastic play kitchen didn't really "match" her vision for her daughter's play room. I know play kitchens are kind of a girly toy, but I have always wanted one for my boys. I think they would love it! One day, when we have more space, it's the first thing I'm going to add to the kid's play room. Like my friend, I don't really like the plastic style toys, so I went searching and found a bunch of really cool diy play kitchens.

Here are just a couple:

1.

2.

3.


1. The Sewing Dork I really love the red, the basket, and the fact that she refashioned 2 night stands. Great idea!
2. Decor Hacks I like the grey and yellow and the little window made from a simple picture frame.
3. Design Sponge The before and after on this one is amazing. I wish I had vision like that when I first see an ugly piece of furniture!

Now, I'm thinking if I just find a cute little night stand to fix up, I just might have room for one of these things in Owen's room! 

Happy Weekend!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

a mini tutorial { crochet, ribbon, and bow necklace }


I made these little bow and ribbon necklaces about this time last year, just after I created the Crochet Chain Necklace pattern. I made them for myself, as just another accessory to wear around. They have been so fun to wear, I thought you might like to know how to make one for yourself! This necklace is so easy, it really doesn't need a full pattern, so here are a few easy instructions instead.




1. Using yarn and the Chain stitch, created 3 or more long strands. You can make them as long or as short as you want, and as many or as few as you want. 
(Don't know how to do a chain stitch? - Using a size I crochet hook, fasten yarn on with a slip knot. Loop yarn over hook and pull through slip knot. Repeat this as many times as you need to get the length you want. To fasten off, pull the end of yarn through your last chain and pull tight.)

2. Braid or twist (or both) the strands of yarn together.

3. Take a 1-1 1/2 in wide piece of ribbon and cut it to desired length (about 8-10 inches long). Fold each end over about 1/4 in and hot glue. Wrap each end around one end of the braided yarn strands and hot glue.


4. Cut another piece of ribbon to desired size for the bow, and glue both ends together. Cut a small 2 in piece of ribbon, fold in half the long way, and glue down. Place the bow on the middle of the ribbon that is attached to the yarn strands. Wrap the small piece of ribbon around both, scrunching to make a bow.


5. Glue down in back.


Simple as that!


Now go make one, or 5!
Make them long, make them short, make them chunky!
There are so many options!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Buttons!

I love little fabric covered buttons and I just found this adorable button shop, Hey Day Handmade.

I couldn't resist these cute polka dot buttons, so I bought them. Now I need to figure out what to use them for!



Any suggestions?

Monday, March 12, 2012

Snapshots {celebrations}

We had a fun weekend which we spent celebrating two different little birthdays.

Birthday parties usually means good food...


good friends...




and good fun...



Now, it's Monday and I have this urge to purge...stuff, that is! We spent the morning looking through boxes of cords and desk drawers trying to consolidate and get rid of what ever we can. I guess, it's spring cleaning time and I'm uncharacteristically excited about it! 

How did you spend your weekend?