Engagement Gift

Need an engagement gift idea for a girlfriend?

Here is a basket that she will love for under $40!

Southern Bride Magazine = $5.99 (Target)
Blue Eye Mask = $1 (Target)
Pink Dot Pens = $1 (Target)
Confetti To Do List = $1 (Target)
Mini Heart Sticky Notes = $1 (Target)
Gold Stripe Cards = $1 (Target)
Sally Hansen Diamond Nail Polish = $3.99 (Target)
Gold Heart Earrings = $9 (Francesca's)
Heart Tin of Mints = $3 (Victoria's Secret)
Rockin' Body Leg Shine = $8 (Victoria's Secret)
Basket = $1.99 (Wal-Mart)
Silver Dot Tissue = 1.49 (Target)

Total = $38.50

Pinterest Organization

Something I definitely recommend that you do is organize your Pinterest boards. I used to have about 10-12 boards that I was constantly pinning to. Then when it came down to projects, I felt like everything was just too crazy. 

For example, if I felt like sewing, I would go into my "DIY" board. Well, it had about 500 pins of everything DIY. Not as easy to scroll through, plus it was like a mind overload because I wanted to make everything I pinned! Then I would end up not being able to make a decision, therefore just pinning more stuff (ha).

So I spent a couple hours organizing everything, which was totally worth it.

Here is how it worked for me:

1. Go through some of your boards and find things that can be grouped together on a smaller basis. Write down their categories like: Sewing, Painting, Knitting, Scrapbooking, etc. 

If you're like me with 500 pins on one board, just go through one at a time to decide how to split it up.

2. Creat the new boards. I like to give fun names sometimes - for my sewing board I have "Oh, Brother" because my machine is a Brother machine...ha, cheesy I know (thanks to my boyfriend for that one).

3. Go back and open your board that has all the pins. 

4. Wait - realize that you don't have to repin everything! Hover over your pin and click on the pencil that is on the top right corner. That is "edit" and it will give you the option to change the board. 

5. Choose the board you would like it to be on, then click "save changes".

6. Repeat 4 and 5. Yes, it is that easy.

Want/hope/dream to build a house one day?

Organize those boards too! Instead of having one board with everything possible, break it up!

I broke my boards into:

1. Entry Way - not many, but there's a few good ones to repin

2. Furniture - for all the random furniture that I love and can't afford

3. In my Dreams - to post bedroom ideas and decor that I love

4. Happy Closets - to post closet organizing and plans

5. Home Office - for all the office and desk ideas

6. Home Exteriors - to see all the homes with beautiful exteriors

7. Floor Plans - to pin all floor plans that I like

8. John and Jane - bathroom ideas and organization

9. Living Room - any and all living room ideas, including fireplaces :)

10. Kitchen - I even post dishes on here!

11. Outdoors - for yards, gardens, pools, and flowers

12. Warshin' Clothes Room - to post all laundry and mud room ideas

I'm telling ya, even though I'm nowhere near building a house I know this will help one day! 

Organized boards can definitely take away that overwhelming feeling. 

Try it, I promise it's worth it!

Like to decorate for seasons or Holidays? 

Create a board for each one. Helps when you're in that mode!

Proverbs 3:5

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart" has always been one of my favorite verses. 

Such a short sentence that means so much. I usually see it written on decorative items in HobLob and other little places that I want to buy, but nothing ever really fits my style.

Happy with result and it now hang in my bedroom. :)

The font I based "Trust" and "Lord" off of can be found here.

Christmas Chocolate Cream

I finally found a seasonal beverage I LOVE. 

As we've sledded, skidded, and spun out, I have found a new bev. to enjoy!

School got cancelled Thursday and Friday, so it has been a happy 4-day weekend! 

And it might even turn into a 5-day weekend. :)

No complaints until we have to make the days up. :( 

When I went into the Liquor store the other day, I wanted something like 

Bailey's Irish Cream - which is when I found this. 

(Richard isn't too fond, but he likes 90-proof Peppermint Schnaps, if that says anything.)

Tres Leches Triple Cream is delicious!! 
Three ways I have greatly enjoyed are either:

2/3 Water

Hot Chocolate packet

1/3 Triple Cream

or

1/2 Cold Milk

1/2 Triple Cream

2 TBSP of Nesquik or 1 Hot Chocolate packet 

or

2/3 Eggnog
1/3 Triple Cream 

Ladies, I don't believe it will disappoint!!

Be-YOU-tiful

I'm not going to lie, I stole this from Pinterest, and specifically, Etsy.

Since I'm snowed in, my boyfriend has a man night, and my wine froze on my porch (I still got a couple glasses out of it)...I decided it was a canvas night. I found this pin a long, long time ago, and have always wanted to re-create it - I just never knew what theme to go with. Welp, I got on a role tonight and just went with it which matched the pillows I made 3 months ago! Totally happy with my results. :)

Tablet Tripod

Sometimes I just want to sit my iPad up, but the fold-up-rubbery cover just doesn't want to hold it! So this little pillow is now one of my favorite items and I use it all the time! I use it when I need to read recipes, plan lessons, post grades, Skype, scroll Chive, and whenever my arm gets tired while I lay on my side - I know I'm not the only one who does this (ha).

I kept forgetting to take pictures along the way (I was too excited to get it done) so I'll do my best on this tutorial!

Time: 45 minutes

Materials Needed:

Scrap of fabric

Needle

Thread

Disappearing ink pen

Fiberfill

Batting

Scissors

Sewing Machine

Box of rice

Funnel  

*I made mine to fit my iPad mini. If you have a 

different tablet you can make it bigger or smaller.

Directions:

Step 1: Cut a piece of fabric that is 14in x 9in

Step 2: Fold right sides together hamburger style. 

Sew along two sides - one long edge and one short edge.

Step 3: Turn right side out and pull on sewn corner to lay over the flat 

piece so that where you see the seam is a square. Then pull the top corner 

up so there is a flat bottom (how it looks in the picture), and pin up the 

bottom corner. Use a needle and thread to hand stitch it to seam like shown above.

Step 4: Draw a line where you are happy with the pod height using 

a disappearing ink pen. I left about 4 inches to work with for the iPad to rest. 

Leave about an inch open on the seam so you can fill it with rice. 

Step 5: (Sorry for the sideways pictures) Take your funnel and place 

it into the hole you left open. I used a piece of paper because I couldn't 

find my funnel - so use whatever you can. Take your box of rice 

and get to pourin'! You could use fiberfill here, but it won't be as 

sturdy and it will be hard to keep the shape that you want. Rice is cheap and 

definitely does the job. I filled mine to where there was an inch empty at the top.

Step 6: After the rice, finish sewing the line so that you have about 4 inches 

open to work with. It's tricky to finish the line, so to do so tip your pod

 upside down so all of the rice goes to the top, take you fingers and pinch 

near the hole so the rice doesn't come back through, place under your needle

 (while still pinching) and finish your seam.

Step 7: Place a piece of batting between the two layers and sew two 

quilted lines using your previous seem as a guide. 

Step 8: Sew the final seam with the edges either folded under or

 into the middle. Fill the small pouch with fiberfill and close up!

Wishing you good luck!

So Dreamy

No offense, West Elm, but this just wasn't cutting it nor quite my style.

 Please, people, tell me you agree.

 

Anyway, Hobby Lobby was obviously feeling my vibe...

Here is some lovely home interior fab that is totally.."fab!"

Of course, I took my momma with me to make some final 

decisions and we decided on this beauty.

Then went to FM Fabrics in Springfield, MO, to get fabric to coordinate.

After about 2 hours, here is my new bed that I'm totally in love with!

- Head board is being borrowed from a friend that I literally hung a scrap of black silky fabric (I leaned the board up and stuck it behind the two top corners so it just falls)

- Two 24x24 pillows with a green home dec. fabric with green piping (FM Fabrics)

- Black body pillow case from Target (super soft)

- Two shams from HobLob fab.

- Two deco pillows with fabric from FM Fabrics

- Tan blanket from TJ MAXX as a "comforter"

- Blue blanket from Pier One

Want to know my quick pillow secret? All of them are slip covers!

Take your piece of fabric, set your pillow to cover  on one end on the fabric.
Fold over from the middle to cover the pillow
Cut to fit leaving the fold (1 extra on top, left and right sides, 4 inches on bottom)

Sew your 2 sides together with right sides together.

Turn right side out, slip in pillow
Choose back side and fold up extra fab like a gift you are wrapping. 
Quick stitch shut! (Hand stitch with loops!)

Boom. So easy.

By the way, nothing makes me happier than a made bed :)

DIY Lingerie Bag

As I knew my month of September would consist of traveling to Little Rock 4 times and possibly St. Louis...I knew I need some knew bags. I have luggage and some large totes - but I needed a weekend bag and, you know, stuff. Off to the mall I went! I bought (splurged) the Vera Bradley Grand Traveler in Plum Crazy. One of my best purchases. It holds SO much!

Isn't she pretty? :)

 Then I made a DIY shoe bag to coordinate.

And a DIY Lingerie Bag. 

The inspiration was found on Pinterest, of course, that was so cute! 

It was from Victoria's Secret but no longer available..it can be seen here.

The pink bra and panty outlines were made from an iron on sheet from HobLob. It comes in 10x8 sheet in the patch section. I just drew them on, cut them out, and ironed them on!

The outside is white silk, and the inside is a light pink suiting material (found at JoAnn). 

Simple and fun!

Classroom Fun

I figured I'd share a little more that is in my classroom. It's still coming together, it will just take a couple of years to accumulate. Here is my start though..

Burlap and bunting,

  

curtain rods made for $5 each using a wooden dowel (3/4 in) 

and two drawer pulls from HobLob, 

(Use a drill bit on the ends and screw the pulls in!)

a big paper mache hot air balloon for fun,

 

and a stool cover I saw here!

Mine was fitted but there was too much extra fabric under the seat. So I used 

upholstery nails and nailed the excess fab to the underside! (Shhh!)

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

As school was approaching, I scrolled and scrolled and scrolled 

through Pinterest. I needed something to make my classroom pop.

Finally, a picture hit me! It was an awesome board of

 Dr. Seuss that would be perfect for my Career Orientation class! 

Original bulletin board found here.  

My super artistic friend, Anna Kate, and I made a plan and went to town. 

It consisted of white butcher paper, a projector, paint, water balloons, 

paper mache, and a hot glue gun. Each step we took we eeked 

with excitement as we got farther and it got cuter! 

Most time consuming project ever - yet so incredibly worth it. :)

The finished product!! I smile every time I walk into my classroom!

Thank you for the pinspriation

Minnay Minnay

I made the decision to by an iPad, but not the big guy...I bought a mini!

It took me took me a while to decide which iPad - the 2 or the mini. When I had first heard of an iPad Mini, I thought, well that's dumb. All I could think of was an iPhone 5 size. I talked to a friend who had one and she said she loved hers - but I just didn't get it. She has little hands and talked about how she could hold it with one hand so easily. Weird. So, I ventured to Best Buy and thought ohhhhhh - I like it. After another week of in-decisiveness, I brought one home! I will say that I am super happy with my decision! 

I made a sleeve and this time with my tag included. :)

I used my laptop sleeve tutorial on this little guy!

Spring it on, again!

Here is my Spring bulletin board. :)

Easy and fun!

Letter Tutorial:

Tissue Flowers:

All I did here was fold a bunch of pieces back and forth and cut the edges either round or oval or whatever. Then took one piece at a time, gathered it like above, and stapled each piece to my board in a circle - creating one flower.




Make sure you see my Spring desk by clicking the picture below!

 

"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!