Parental Units

I just have to take a minute and brag about my parents. I will argue with anyone that they are the most amazing parents in the world. The love and support they have for my brother and I is beyond incredible. Throughout my 23 years of living, they have been the most caring, loving, funny, crazy parents a young woman could ask for. Did they drive me absolutely nuts at times? Yes, of course they did, but what else are parents good for, right? Well, much, much more and I am grateful for that. :) They have taught me how to love, how to live, how to be happy, how to be hopeful and grateful, how to laugh, how to see life as it is, how to treat others, how to have confidence, how to love 80's rock, how to see the good in people, how to be reasonable and respectful, how to look for the bright side, how to be honest, how to be a friend, and so much more. They are two of my absolute best friends and I cannot imagine life without them. I hope that I can be a mother like my mom and have a husband like my dad. Words cannot express the love, respect, and how thankful I am for them. Thank you mom and dad - I love you so very, very much!

"H"appy Home

Happy doors make me happy. So I guess it'll help when I get home every day. 

I bought the wood letter from Hobby Lobby which was $12.99 (I think) but used the 40% off coupon and got it for $8 something. Not too shabby. Now, with this letter, I sat and sat and thought and thought. At first, I wanted to paint a herringbone print, but that would have taken me hours. Then I wanted to something crazy like paint a bunch of different colored flowers, but I'm not really an artist. Then I wanted to do this and this and what-not. Finally, I wanted to do something simple, shocking as that never happens.

The pink is Pearle Holly Berry by Martha Stewart. I loveee her pearle paint line! It's not so shiney and cheap-looking I guess, they're just pretty shades with a slight pearly shine. As for the side of the H I used Daffodil Yellow acrylic paint. I did a couple coats, let it dry, hot glued some fake daisies, and hung it with twine. :)

Total time: 20 minutes

A couple months ago my friend, Allie, wanted to do something crafty with a bunch of sea shells. She's from Charleston and loves anything nautical. So she bought the letter A (same from above) and I helped her cover it with all of her sea shells! Turned out cute and even cuter in her room!

Spring it on!

After a few days of absolutely beautiful weather and Spring break jitters, I changed my desk! I went with all pretty spring colors of course. :)

I used the canvas I had for my Christmas desk, made tissue flowers using this tutorial, bought fun flowers at the Dollar Tree, and made a fabric banner with scraps of fabric. 

I also made another canvas that isn't shown on this part of my desk. I found it on Pinterest and had to make it!

Patch me if you can

Time for patches!

Super easy - super fun :)

Materials:

- Tank (Mine are Hanes from Wal-Mart for $5)

- Piece of paper in the shape wanted

- Scrap of fabric for patch

- Matching thread

- Scrap of iron on fusion

- Scrap of stabilizer

- Sewing machine

Directions:

Step 1: 

Find a tank and choose the shape you want for your patch. 

(The less small curves the better)

Step 2: 

Cut out your shape on a piece of paper. 

I just printed the Arkansas out at the size that I wanted.

Step 3:

Take your patch fabric and iron on fusion. This will make it a tad bit stiffer.

Step 4:

Pin the paper to your fabric and use it as as stencil to cut around.

Step 5:

On a left over piece of fabric play with your stitch length using a zig-zag stitch. This will be for around your shape. You will want it pretty tight but not too tight. On the left you can see beside the 0.3 that the stitches are really really tight. At the bottom you can see the 0.5 where the stitches are looser, which is too loose. On the right you see the 0.4 where it's not too tight and not too loose. You will have to play with your machine to see what length you want. The width I used was 2.5cm and length 0.4cm.

Step 6:

Take your shape and pin onto stabilizer. This will make it really "patchy" because it stiffens it more, but don't worry, it dissolves when you wash it. Using the stitch you found from step 5, stitch the fabric onto the stabilizer keeping the center of the foot on the edge of your fabric. If you have a lot of curves, you will have to pick up your foot and turn in tiny increments at a time. It can be tricky but do-able.

Step 7:

Now that the stabilizer is sewn on, carefully rip off the excess by holding onto the stitches and gently pulling the stabilizer away. Trim with scissors if needed.

Step 8:

Pin your patch to wherever you want it on your shirt. 

I recommend trying it on to make sure you like the placement.

Step 9:

Sew it on to your shirt using a straight stitch and sewing right along the inside of the zig-zag stitch.

Step 10:

Wear! :)

Happy girl

Spring break has finally arrived for this busy girl, and man has it been great so far!

I got to see three of my very best friends in two days which never happens because we all live in different places. Ashton is a married, soon-to-be momma that lives in our home town, Hayley is in chiropractic school in Kansas City, and Dani is a graphic designer in St. Louis. Needless to say, it made me so incredibly happy to see them! Then last night my brother invited to over for a bonfire at another friend's house on the lake. Perfect weekend with friends and family! Unfortunately I didn't get a picture with Hayley :(

Oh and I finally snuck in a mani! :)