Christmas Fun!

GET READY!

What would you like to see?

Photo Session Tease

I did a mini photo shoot with an awesome mom (and my best friend) plus this precious, very rambunctious, three-year-old! I'm editing these photos starting tomorrow and am so excited about it!

So, I mustache you, are you ready?

Color Crush: Yellow Belly

I have been SO busy during these past few days. Holidays, family, traveling, work...you name it, I've been doing it. This has left my blogging schedule hectic, but now it's GO time!

Here's me crushing hard on yellow...again.

Which is your favorite?

BONUS!

What picture inspires you the most?

Thanksgiving Fun

I'm a big believer in taking family pictures. I'm also a big believer in taking fun pictures! So this Thanksgiving I made a back drop and goofy props for the family to play with right before our feast! Here's some of my favorites!

Was your Thanksgiving good?

Enjoy!

DIY Fun: Festive Acorns

Okay, so maybe the phrase "festive acorns" doesn't immediately grab your attention. I'm sure you weren't at work today or just lounging and then BAM you wanted some festive acorns in your life. But maybe you DO need them!

In honor of Thanksgiving I've made the trek home to have some family time, which means that my craft supplies have also taken a vacation from me. They are tucked away at home, probably hiding from Milo (that cat loves him some crafts to gnaw on)! However, when I first got here I noticed that we have no Thanksgiving-y decorations around the house. Well, I had to change that.

So here is a DIY project that is easy, affordable and produces cute/fun results! I want to go ahead and apologize for the glare and odd lighting on some of the pictures...It's vacation, right?

Festive Acorns
Two small, glittery faux acorns
One large, chalkboard faux acorn

Materials Needed--All can be found at Hobby Lobby

Papier-mâché eggs (I only got three since we are so close to Thanksgiving and I don't have more time to decorate)

Chunky Yarn (I suggest a bit bigger than what I actually used...less spiraling) 

Tacky Glue
Three Paint Brushes (Or you could be bad like me and use the same one, just wash it thoroughly after each use...remember, I don't have my craft box with me so I'm limited with what I have)
Glitter (I used gold and silver)
Hot Glue Gun + Glue Stick
Chalk
Then you could get...
Any paint color of your choice (I went with black)
Clear Chalkboard Coating
OR
Chalkboard Spray Paint

(Did I also mention that the only stretch of fabric I had was this very loud and distracting chevron? But I had to improvise with my makeshift workstation!)

Now let's start!

If you went my route and got Clear Chalkboard Coating then I suggest you start on the big acorn first.

I'm a big fan of the coating versus the spray. The only reason being is that you can paint the area you want to chalk with any color and then use the coating on top of it to make it chalk-safe. I decided to go with black paint to make it feel more chalk board-y...plus I realized I didn't have another color when I got home! 

First take your big egg and mark off the top area that you don't want paint to get on. I suggest a tape that isn't intense so it won't take off the paper of the egg when you remove it. I used some really funky duct tape that isn't that sticky. I'd suggest washi or painter tape.

Now paint the bottom of the future acorn and let it sit and dry while you move to the glitter ones.

Get your Tacky Glue and a paintbrush and spread the glue around evenly on the bottom of your future acorn. Then take your glitter and sprinkle it on while spinning it in your hand. My step mom isn't a big fan of lots of glitter so I tried to ton it way back so you can still see the original paper of the egg.

Do this to both eggs and let them dry while you return to your chalk egg. 

Now it's time to paint the Chalk Coating on your dry egg. Paint this coating vertically. Then let it sit for an hour.

Then comes the yarn-spinning part where you make the top of the acorns. Find a starting point at the very bottom of the acorn's top that will cover up the parts of the egg not glittered. Use the hot glue gun to dab some glue on that spot and then put the beginning of the yarn on it. Let it dry and then wrap the egg in spirals until you make it to the very top. You can make a stem with the yarn but I liked making a little loop, using the hot glue gun to seal it. This part was my least favorite if only because my patience level varies depending on my caffeine intake...and I hadn't had my coffee.

After you make the tops to both glitter acorns (or an hour has passed), paint another coat of the chalkboard coating horizontally. Then the directions say to let it cure for 24 hours before actually writing on it with chalk, but I COULDN'T TAKE IT! I wrote on it after only four hours and it seems fine? 

It's fine.

Do the same technique as before to complete the top of your chalkboard acorn and you should be done!

I finished mine but it was so dark that my pictures looked odd and we didn't have time to look for the nice bowl to put them in as a centerpiece, but I PROMISE they look completely adorable in person. Not to mention that you can totally draw all over one with chalk!

I hope you liked this DIY and happy early Thanksgiving!

Living Healthy: Before You Start

If you follow my blog posts then you've already seen the post about me getting on a diet (here). Basically I got very lucky and met a man named Paris Arey. He runs a Bouari Clinic in Huntsville, Alabama and he hired me to be his social media consultant & blogger. Again, each time I meet with him I am amazed at the sincere passion he has for helping people to live healthier lives. It is just inspiring. 

So, a few weeks ago I started participating in the program and let me tell you it works.

Within two weeks I lost seven pounds (5 from my waist) and have never felt better! I have more energy than ever and my sleep schedule has been righted because of it!

However, I am starting to blog for Bouari as if I am starting the diet now. So go here for the first official Bouari post! The rest of the posts I will write for Bouari and for Almost There!

Project Teaser

I am working on a post that involves living room fun, mini DIY projects, and recycling common household items! Basically, inexpensive ways to be happier with your living space.

So here's a sneak peek until tomorrow! Get excited!

Color Rush

Today I have blogged about color for two different clients. How one color can transform décor, a room, or an entire house. It can make you feel inspired, warm, cozy, creative, and so much more. The hunt to find that perfect color or colors is an exciting adventure that I love to take part in.

So for Just for Women Magazine I decided to go with four pictures where pink worked for me.

I used to hate the color pink. I mean I detested it. Why have pink when you can have blue? However, I've found a soft spot for it now. Whether it's watered down or neon, if you use it right then you can improve your décor and home! Which pink do you like more? I'm digging the floors in the bottom left!

Next I got on Pinterest and browsed Free People's Pinterest (can I just say how much I love Free People?!) and picked out a few pictures where the colors just caught my eye. It was just a fun article with beautiful pictures that will hopefully entertain and inspire! 

Love, love, LOVE those balloons!

That. Wall.

Basically I just want everything in all of the above pictures. I think it's all beautiful, creative, and unique!

What do you think? Which ones did you enjoy?

Unique Home Décor

I love color and I love unique. So when I visit Dude's parents I just can't help but love their home decorations and become inspired! Here are some of my favorite things to look at when I'm at their house!

(By the way, I painted that picture. I wanted it included because I just happen to also love it! Does that mean I'm egotistical?)

What inspires you?

Enjoy!

 

Inspiration: Yellow and Gray

I am currently digging yellow and gray for living spaces!

Can you blame me?

Enjoy!

Two is a Party

I've been a little under the weather tonight so I decided it was time to take a little breather. So, of course, that meant browsing my favorite online shops and dreaming of outfits I want.

Two of my favorite online shops: ModCloth & Urban Outfitters.

Two items I just absolutely love.

One | Two

Anthropologie Wish List: The Fete Fantastic

Oh Anthropologie, you make my days better.

The Fete Fantastic is a collection of seven amazing party outfits that are all "Lace and tulle, sequins and silk, baubles galore" and make my fashion taste buds tingle. I wasn't even going to do a fashion-related post today but once I saw a the first outfit I was hooked! Below are my favorites and you can find the collection here.

Enjoy!

Saturday Suggestions

Today I have so many things to do. My to-do list is as long as my leg (though, I have tiny legs...) but I'm in no way complaining. It's almost relaxing to be working in the middle of the living room on my floater desk with my coffee and Dude watching football in the background. It's like white noise...with the occasional curse word.

I will definitely be blogging more today after I bang out some crafty projects.

Until then I suggest you:

1. Purchase A Beautiful Mess' new e-course here. It's called Blog Design Love and it's fabulous. 
2. Read Bri Emery's latest blog post here over at DesingLoveFest.
3. Purchase Fellow Fellow's latest calendar here because they are beautiful and we love her.
4. STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER and enjoy the rest of your Saturday!

Image can be found here.

HM Design Works

A friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook (image below).

I instantly fell in love. Then I realized that she made it!

So of course I have to blog it and link you to her! She's so talented that you have to check her out here!

Enjoy!

My Mood Pinning

Sometimes categorizing your mood can be hard. You just feel a certain way and you don't really know how to describe it in words. That's when I really enjoy Pinterest. You get a visual representation of mood by the repins and boards followed. (DesignLoveFest has a post about "mood pinning" that's fun here.)

So, on this lovely Friday, here are some pins that as a whole describe my mood.

Enjoy!

These pins can be found on three of the new boards I follow: home., Collected Beauty and supercalifragilistic.

Crush Thursday #7

Crush Thursday with some pins I'm crushing on! 

Yes ma'am/sir!

Enjoy!

All pictures can be found on Rings, Dresses, Girly Things and This. and be linked back to their owners.

I'm on a Diet!

Diet, schmiet was my exact thought when I tried to plan a way to lose weight after college. This thought was followed by "just workout A LOT instead!" But then I moved to a new city, started a business and got an apartment. I began juggling these things and the plan to workout A LOT went out the window. Not to mention, I had an arsenal of excuses ready to make me feel better about not doing a darn thing!

However, through my job (social media consultant) I was able to meet a great, caring man who runs a health and wellness center. His name is Paris Arey and I was blown away by how passionate he was about helping people achieve their goals and their healthiest self. He runs the new Bouari Clinic of Huntsville (Facebook Page here) and has a staff of smart and compassionate people.

Why the post?

Because I'm participating in a program to help me lose weight the healthy way. Now, friends have called me silly for trying to lose weight but I'm 5'1" and when I gain extra pounds it's very noticeable to me.

My goal: Lose 10 pounds

The program time frame: 25-30 days

When I started: October 27

First, let me clear the air about some things.

This program is healthy. You are not starving yourself and you are not taking pills that are bad for you.
What you are doing is eating specific foods (chicken, certain seafoods, veggies and fruit), taking healthy supplements that help kill your urges, pump up your metabolism and keep you healthy, and drinking a lot of water.
They gave me a booklet of things I could and couldn't eat, as well as all the information I could want so I have the information at my fingertips.

I would go into more detail but I don't want to people to try this without consulting the Bourai Clinic and I don't want to give all the information away for free.

However, I will blog my progress, my slip-ups (already had some...woops!) and some healthy, yummy meals that I never realized were so good!

Wish me luck!