DIY Christmas Update!

I've started a little holiday DIY!  So here we go: 

Inspiration:
  Actuality:  
Super easy...and took about 2 seconds, including the fluffing of the bow.  Got 10 yards of red ribbon for $5 and the pinecone sticks for $.25 each at Michaels.  Easy, cheap, and festive...can't get much better than that!



Inspiration:                                                                             Actuality:

                  

 This project was a much bigger undertaking than I expected!  The tutorial I followed used a 6 inch wreath and about 2-3 boxes of tacks.  I used a 14 inch wreath and 9 whole boxes of tacks...and I could've used 1 more!  I got the styrofoam wreath at Michaels for about $5, then the dollar store has 300 tacks in a box for $1.  

I had to go back to the store a few times...for some reason i thought four boxes would be enough and it barely made it halfway!! 

      I had just finished the wreath and I was so excited to hang it, when I dropped it and it broke!! I was so tired and mad i just left it on the floor until the next afternoon. 

 I ducted taped it back together and while it doesn't look perfect, i fixed it pretty well. 

It was SO heavy (go pick up 2,700 tacks and you'll see what I mean), so I took a large ribbon (same ribbon on the chairs!!) and the only way I could figure out how to get it to stay was to nail it to the top of the door!  

Overall, I love it.  

Now we're onto glitter candles, body scrubs, picture frames, and a stocking hanger! 

DIY Christmas

I love love love Christmas.  and I LOVE decorating for it.  I did a little bit of decorating last year, but now that I'm officially in my own place, I plan to go all out.  I'm trying to resist as long as I can (I don't like Christmas that starts in October...or really November, but I don't think I can hold out for too much longer!  I'm living on a cute little budget right now, so I've been looking up a lot of DIY things (Pintrest anyone??). Maybe if I start crafting early, I'll get a little bit of it out of my system!! 

Here are some of my inspirations, complete with a whole bunch of links to tutorials!!

 

First: I found some adorable gift tag printables and I plan to use them on everything this year! This is one of them, how cute!

Second: I keep seeing glittery branches.  Super easy and super cheap!  I just need to find something cute to put them in before I start this one!  Here's one in a pitcher - but I can also cute a vase with ornaments, or a floor vase with just sparkly branches.  I think Christmas decorations NEED sparkle! 

Third: Cute Holiday Banner (tutorial anyone?).  I think this would look cute in those places that get overlooked or are kind of awkward to hang garlands and such on...I'm thinking that ugly blank wall behind my TV! 

Fourth: Again with the sparkly...glitter candles.  Candles that are sparkly or colored can sometimes get expensive, but finding some cheap white candles (or even maybe some red ones to mix in) and giving them some holiday glitz would make for an awesome centerpiece or add some holiday decor to the bathroom!

Fifth: When I saw this one, I was a little skeptical.  I still don't know how it might turn out, but I think it's a pretty cool idea.  Paper plate trees!  Super easy and the possibilities are endless! 

Sixth: What kind of DIY Christmas blog would this be if it didn't involve at least one homemade present?  I take a lot of pictures, so this would be super appropriate and easy to do.  Here's the lovely tutorial + other fun presents. 

Sidenote:  I have 11 tabs open at the moment looking at all my inpiration, and one of these sites has music and I can't figure out which one!  I really really really dislike it when people put music on their sites....

Seventh:  Since I'm decorating the whole apartment this year...chairs must be included too!  I have chairs like these (in brown), so some red ribbon and a pine cone or ornament would be super cute to dress them up! 

Eight:  If you stick to a color scheme at Christmas, this blog is decorating with RED!  In every room! Love it! 

P.S. Also just disovered that said blog was the offender in the music.  You have been warned. 

Nine: Lastly, I found a wonderful blog that helps remind what Christmas is all about.  This family did 25 days of Random Acts of Kindness.  Has some great ideas of things that seem so simple, like paying past due library fees, plugging meters, and bringing presents to the post office.  

So friends there is just a small taste of my Christmas obsession.  I already have two tubs of Christmas stuff, so I'll start then craft until my heart is content :) 

Where I was.

 Where were you on September 11, 2001?  It's the tragedy of our generation.  It's a day that will be talked about every year for a very long time because it changed a lot of things about our country, our airlines, and the way we looked at a whole culture.

Let me just preface this post with I do not expect you to read this.  It's more for me to look back and reflect on what I remember from that day 10 years ago.

I was in 7th grade, in Mrs. Jackson's english class.  It was just a regular beautiful September day, up to 8:46 am.  My mom (who taught at my middle school) was on hall duty outside and was on the phone with a parent.  They were talking about how her son needed to move classes when the mother started screaming.  My mom didn't know what was going on and thought she was freaking out about moving classes when in actuality she was watching the news and saw that the first plane had hit the world trade center.  My mom pulled me out of class and told me that someone blown up the world trade center.  My dad was supposed to be flying home from Kentucky that day but she couldn't get in touch with him at the moment.  We later found that they had either missed their flight or couldn't get on once every flight was grounded, and were driving back.  I didn't understand what was going on because I had honestly never heard the buildings called the "world trade center",  we had been to them many times and I have plenty of pictures in front of them but I always knew them as the "twin towers".  I didn't understand what was going on or honestly why it was a big deal.

All day we were getting updates over the intercom.  The second plane hit in science class and i really started to understand what the big deal was in history class.  Because we lived so close to NYC and so many people's parents worked there, kids were getting called out of class all day.  Parents couldn't get in touch with each other and they wanted their family all together.  After school, teachers rode the buses home with students and knocked on the door to make sure they weren't going home to an empty house.  Coverage was basically on every channel so they didn't want us watching it without someone around to explain it.

We stayed at school until 5pm until every student was at home or with a friend.  I think one of my most vivid moments of that entire day happened at dinner that night.  My mom had the news on in the other room and I remember looking over and they were showing footage of people jumped out of the towers.  It scared me so much I left the table in tears.  It was the first time I really understood HOW crazy this event was.  How desperate these people were and how chaotic their last moments were.

We later found out that we lost a few people from my little town.  We lost a father, a firefighter, and a young man who was 23.  He was where I am right now, just a few months into his first 'real' job.  He was at a great point in his life when it was all taken away.  The father had 4 children.  The firefighter just wanted to make a bit of difference in this world.  I think the thing I struggled with, as do many people in situations like this is WHY.  WHY did some people survive and others didn't.  It is something that pulls at my heart and makes me question a lot of things.  I have faith, but this shakes in a way and makes in stronger in another.

I worry about what my plan is, where I am going to be in 5, 10, 15 years.  But it also makes me believe that there is a plan.  I don't know what it is, but I know that when it's my time it's my time.  That things will work out how they are supposed to.  I know that when it's time for me to get married, have babies, break a leg, or be lonely that it is part of the plan.  I'm getting off topic here and I'm going to end this post ,  but I think every year we need to remember this day and be proud of our country and trust in our faith that it will all be ok.

--

And we also owe a HUGE thank you to the men and women who responded that day and chose to take on a mission that had a higher chance of death than survival.  So many of them made the ultimate sacrifice to help people, and we are truly blessed to have people in the world like them.

i am a runner because i say i am, not because i run fast or far.

Today I found an article titled "Find Out If You're a Jogger or a Runner" by John Bingham.  Here's an excerpt (well really it's the majority of the article) along with my thoughts.  I was thinking about this when i went running today.  I am just beginning my training for my second half marathon and thinking about my first full marathon, but does that make me a runner?  I run a few times a week maybe a mile or two at the moment.  Today I went almost 3 and i was super proud.  I've reached the point where I can run a half hour and it feels good...and that feels awesome.  i will never be an ultra marathoner and my knees may always ache but today, i am a runner because i run.


I AM A RUNNER because my runs have names. I do tempo runs and threshold runs andfartlek runs. I do long, slow runs and track workouts. My runs are defined, even if my abs are not. At the moment I am sticking with simple training runs...good old fashion "build up my knees and endurance runs". 

I AM A RUNNER because my shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe for me is the one that makes me a better runner. I choose the shoe that goes with my running mechanics, not my running outfit.  Absolutely.  I LOVE my asics.  You only have to run in the wrong shoes once to appreciate this. 

I AM A RUNNER because I don't have running outfits. I have technical shirts and shorts and socks. I have apparel that enhances the experience of running by allowing me to run comfortably. I can say "Coolmax" and "Gore-Tex" in the same sentence and know which does what. I am a HUGE believer in gore-tex and dri-fit (however i have never heard of coolmax...i'm assuming it keeps you cool?).   But...I do believe in looking good when i run.  Today I ran in a bright purple dri-fit shirt (a little darker then this font color actually) and some little leggings and I felt good.  The only thing that really cramped my style was my two (yes, i have to wear two) knee braces and the high schooler boy who yelled "hey sweet thang" as a i was talking myself up a hill. 

I AM A RUNNER because I know what effort feels like, and I embrace it. I know when I'm pushing the limits of my comfort and why I'm doing it. I know that heavy breathing and an accelerated heart rate--things I once avoided--are necessary if I want to be a better runner. Truth. I love that feeling when you make it to the top of the hill or when you go one more lap.  I take that back, I absolutely hate it but I love the result.  I know that next time it won't be as hard and that's progress. 

I AM A RUNNER because I value and respect my body. It will whisper to me when I've done too much. And if I choose to listen to that whisper, my body won't have to scream in pain later on. This is something I have to focus on when I run.  I have always had bad knees and will always.  it's not something that will go away.  i was 16 when i was told i'd have knee replacements and 20 when i was told that i might as well just keep running until i can't anymore and then we'll fix it. and that's my plan, lets go. but i need to ensure that i take care of myself.  stretch, know my limits, and yes...wear both big bulky sweaty ugly knee braces..every time. 

I AM A RUNNER because I am willing to lay it all on the line. I know that every finish line has the potential to lift my spirits to new highs or devastate me, yet I line up anyway.  I am still a newbie at all this finish line stuff.  at my last half marathon, my goal was simply to finish.  However, this next half, my goal is to simply beat my last time.  easy peasy :) 

I AM A RUNNER because I know that despite my best efforts, I will always want more from myself. I will always want to know my limits so that I can exceed them.  i run for me.  i don't run for you or for records or to be skinny or whatever.  i run to release tension and to be a better stronger more fabulous me. 

I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far.

I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.




--
So run on my friends. Run, jog, waddle, or walk.  You can do it...you just gotta start. Just start. 

Party-of-One

Tonight I did something scary, I ate dinner. In a restaurant.  In the middle of families and dates.

All. By. Myself.

I realize this may not be a big deal, but for me it was a bit terrifying.  But here I am, in a hotel room in a new city training for my job.  I don't know anyone here and I needed to eat!  I ate in the past couple nights but I was ready for an adventure out.  So on I went!  I picked a cute little cantina down the road and took the plunge.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought! I'm an independent woman, booyah.

Pros of dining as an independent woman:
      1. I get the whole bowl of salsa (and seconds) all to myself
      2. I can double dip as much as I want
      3. The waitress pays me super extra attention
      4. Food comes as fast as it takes for them to make mine.

Cons of eating in the company of your thoughts:
      1. The waitress seemed to feel a little bad for me
      2. I think having a marg with dinner qualifies as drinking alone
      3. The hostess put me as close to the middle of the room as possible

Tips for feeding the soul (and belly):
      1. Look pretty - you feel like all eyes an on you, so you might as well impress them!
      2. Bring something to do - be it a book, or whatever, it's just nice to have something to do when you're waiting for your food
      3. Enjoy your own company.  It was nice to take as long as I wanted, savor the meal, and just have some time to relax and enjoy a good meal.

Overall, I had a nice time eating by myself.  I won't be doing it regularly though - it's still a bit terrifying and it's nice to have someone to talk to besides a concerned waitress!

Have you ever dined by yourself at a real restaurant?  Would you?

Tootles!

Organized Design

I was looking for a craft that was easy, cheap, and practical and here we have it!  The necklace hanging frame!  I was looking on DIY websites and also found some ideas from Lauren Conrad's Website about how to fix the endless problem of tangled and lost necklaces.

First: the inspiration:

 From pottery barn (and LCs webpage)
a frame with a corkboard nailed to the back
 an old rake (how cool!)

Next: the doing

1. Find a frame the right size.  I found this at a thrift store for $1.  It's 18" x 18".  Pull off the backing and picture and any nails/staples that may be in it.  

2. Then I washed it.  It was actually pretty gross so a little bath was just what it needed.  

3. Then I painted it white (disregard the K, it's for a different project!) and added a few silver brushstrokes for a little interest - I was going to sand down a few parts to distress it a little but I didn't have sandpaper and was too lazy to get it! 

4. I gave the underside and back a layer of silver paint for the finishing touch.  Not that you'll ever see the back, but it does make the whole thing feel finished, and you can see the little lip at some angles. 

5.  Then I added nails on the top and bottom.  I started at the center then worked my way out at 2" intervals.  I put one on the ends on the top but not on the bottom so I could hang the longest necklaces at the end and not get them caught on a bottom nail. 

6.  All nailed up!

7.  Then I hung a command hook on the wall (the frame had hanging hardware so it made sense) and put a few necklaces on it!

8.  Here's the finished look! In real life it has a lot more necklaces on it.  you can see the silver touches i added more in this picture.  i hung it over my bookcase and it is really an interesting but functional piece in my room.

Overall this project cost me about $5:  $1 frame, $2 white paint, $1 silver paint, $1 foam brush.  How fabulous?? You can use a more ornate frame for a vintage look, or smaller frame and make a collage of sorts with one for necklaces and one for bracelets.

Happy designing! Tootles! 

Channelling my Inner Kitten

I'm in love... 

...with leopard print. 

I'm not usually a trend follow but this is most definitely my favorite trend of the moment.  There are so many ways to wear it and it just looks so chic if done right.  It should be used as an accent, not a whole outfit or anything crazy like that! Here are a couple of pieces I love. 

Lodis 'Siren' Smartphone CaseSale: $37.90

Not that I'd ever actually use a phone case (wayyy to practical), I would love it as a wristlet.

 If you know anything about me, you know I'm a scarf addict - so naturally I would need a leopard one! 

Nordstrom Printed Crinkle Silk ScarfSale: $37.90

Vince Camuto 'Studded Bow' Leopard Print Calf Hair BeltSale: $31.90This is so cute and dainty I just can't deal.  I LOVE the little bow.  it would be perfect with a summery white dress or in the fall with almost any solid color dress. 

If you're feeling exceptionally ferocious , this little number will keep all eyes on you...however I do not have the confidence (or the arms) to pull this one off!! Maybe one day...

Leopard Corset Bra Top $59.50 on VS  

These are SUPER cute.  You could wear these as a great accent to a slightly dressier outfit.  it's sexy but understated enough to not overpower the outfit. 

From VS (I closed it before I got the info and I couldn't find it again!)

I would totally rock these.  They add a great rocker chick feel to any outfit 

Colin Stewart Studded Pump $78 from VS 

 I love the removable bow on these - perfect if you want to spice up an office outfit but still be classy and chic.

  

Colin Stewart Bow Pump $68 on VS

Belted Trench $148 on VS 

I know I said the leopard print should be understated...but i LOVE this, want this, NEED to have this.  It's a fabulous finisher to any outfit - party dress, office chic, or just running out on a cool day.

I'm not usually a style blogger (except for my fabulous shoe post) but I hope you enjoyed this and love the animal print just as much as I do.  And if not - more for me! 

Tootles!