Friday Fashionista...

I am definitely NOT a fashion blogger, but I have been following so many great everyday women who post daily fashion inspiration, I decided to jump on Polyvore and play around with it myself...

So, it''s October, right?  Technically I suppose it's FALL, except that I live in Texas and today it will be 88 degrees outside... yep, EIGHTY EIGHT.  No need for sweaters around here anytinme soon, we just have to fake getting our fall on around here.  

This first set I LOVE LOVE LOVE for running around all day, lunch with friends, grocery store, College Night with Sweet Son... it goes everywhere, comfy as PJ's, lightweight enough not to sweat to death but still rocking those aweseome October colors.  I have every bit of this except my earrings are a knock-off version from Urban Outfitters...

I've also become a HUGE fan of Anthropologie lately... I know, where have I been???  Better than to the party than not at all, I suppose.  Found this in their sale room... short sleeves, lightweight, fall colors... that's what I'm talking about!   Bummer, they didn't have my size... so got online and BAM, there it was in my size and ready to join my fall wardrobe.

Walled City Blouse

Add my GAP bootcut jeans, these awesome shoes (and yes, I see that they are $110 but I found them at Burlington for $24... CHA-CHING!), and a pair of statement earrings and I'm calling it a DATE NIGHT!
TGIF, my friends!

Thursday This and That...

Hi friends!  Lots going on the past few weeks, just going to catch you up with a little "this and that"... 

Here's a fun fall project I finished last week... I know, I'm pumpkin possessed!  Got my inspiration from Pinterest and will not even insult your intelligence by giving you the play by play in pictures... all you need are some pumpkins (I used foam from Hobby Lobby, you could use the real thing, too) and some kind of container... then it's PUMPKIN, E6000 (glue), GRAPEVINE WREATH, PUMPKIN, REPEAT... 

set it on top of your container 

(thanks to Mimi for the cool iron urns) and VOILA!

I made two of them to adorn my front porch and they will be there until 

Thanksgiving... I "heart" them very much!

Then last weekend we attended a friend's 50th birthday party... I won't go into how much it DISTURBS me that my friends are turning 50, except to say that I'm pretty sure my parents JUST hit that milestone... right?  UGH.  Anyhoo... of course it was a "no gifts" occasion but felt weird walking in empty handed, so another Pinterest inspired idea (and I wonder where all my time goes, DUH!)...

Hysterical, right?  Cute candy jar was from TJ Maxx, used some of my scrapbook paper and ribbon stash for the sign, and filled it with 50 Tootsie Pops... BIG hit and so fast and easy!  You could really do it for any age... 30, 40, 50... not even going to mention the next decade yet.  That's called DENIAL.

Oh, and I did finish my Couch 2 5K program... YEA ME!  I am now supposed to have started the Bridge to 10K with my friend, Jules but I have been a slacker and SHE has not... think she's a week and a half ahead of me so I need to get off this dang computer and put my new running shoes on... until next time, my friends!  Make the best of your day...

The Look For Less... Pretty Pricey Pumpkins

I don't know what my deal is, I have been possessed by Halloween decorating. Perhaps it's my inner witch trying to get out, but in my defense we have had the same decorations for YEARS, they are looking a little tired, and I think they need a little EEK factor.  There are gazillions of adorable decorations to buy... but why would you when you can make your own for so much LESS moola?  I mean really, I would prefer to save my money for something I can't make
(hello, new fall boots!)...

These are from two very popular home decor stores... 

So what's a girl who doesn't have a couple of hundred bucks to spend on pumpkins (and wouldn't even if I did)  to do?  Start with this... 

                                                            I picked up these two plastic pumpkins at Michaels for about $5 each, but they are EVERYWHERE this time of year. I already had the black tulip paint, mod podge and scrap fabric in my stash, but if you have to buy them all three could be had for under $10 total.  Now for the FUN part...

For the white pumpkin just grab your tulip paint and start dotting... I didn't use a pattern, just went to town swirling them freehand.  This entire pumpkin took all of about 5 minutes to finish.  My kind of crafting, baby! 

For the monogram I first printed a large font letter on my computer and then traced onto the fabric.  You could use scrapbook paper, but the fabric molds to the curves of the pumpkin so much easier.  If you do decide to use paper, LIGHTLY dampen the paper before applying to the pumpkin... it will smooth out nicer and help avoid bubbles.  One coat of Mod Podge to the pumpkin, place the letter and then let dry for a few minutes.  Slap another coat of Mod Podge on top and you are on your way to the store to buy those new boots...  I hit mine with a spray of clear acrylic sealer since it will be residing on my front porch.

Spidey is from the Dollar Store... I'm good, but even I don't think I could have made HIM any cheaper.

Stairway to 5K... An Awful Lot of Running To Do!

Tote Bag

I'm back!  I know... it's been awhile.  Not an intentional blog break, but this school year so far has been insane interesting.  One starting middle school and one in the all important junior year... soccer, tumbling, swimming and basketball, dance, play rehearsals, girl scouts, back to school nights, PTA volunteering, substitute teaching, pep squad, football games, and this week there is homecoming hoopla.  C.R.A.Z.Y.  But, mostly fun crazy, and I haven't just been running kids around... 

Some of you OA old timers may remember the posts Run Kelly Run, Confession Friday and T.G.I.F. when I discussed my quest to complete the Couch to 5k running program.  And I am happy to report that in the midst of all this CHAOS, I am ONE... yep, ONE run away from graduation!   I have even managed a few outdoor runs, no small feat considering we are STILL hitting 98 degree highs on a regular basis.

Hand Stamped Cuff Bracelet

Some weeks I run once, some weeks 3 times, and some weeks not at all... but I have persevered and pushed through no matter HOW miserable... and let me say, some days are MISERABLE.  Today, towards the end of my run, my Pandora radio was playing "Stairway to Heaven", which depending on your age you may or may not remember is the longest freaking song in the history of the world and the song we always knew to request last at every school dance... and today I was PRAYING for that stupid song to hurry up and get up that stairway as I'm sure our chaperones were 30 years ago.  

Yeah, I pretty much still hate to run... and I am definitely NO speed demon.  But I look forward to celebrating my graduation with you, and I'm even maybe considering moving on to the Couch to 10K.  If that's the case, I'm thinking I need to find a new Pandora station...

Folk Art Painting

Make It Monday: Glitter Candles

Really, what's not to love about glitter?  And this is one quick and E.A.S.Y. glitter project.  Seriously, the most craft challenged of you could do this in between surfing Pinterest loading your dishwasher and facebooking folding laundry.  Here's what I started with...

Taper candles that were 79 cents at Hobby Lobby, glitter in coordinating colors, and Elmer's Spray Adhesive.  ANY kind of candles would work, pillars, taper, votive... you probably have some laying in a drawer.  I wanted these particular colors, so I bought them new, but I do have PLENTY barely burned I could have used in other colors.

Pour a nice line of glitter in the bottom edge of a cake pan.  Lay the candles out and spray with the glue (one a time so the adhesive doesn't dry too fast)... best to do on wax or parchment paper, but I was out so I just used foil.  Once you have them covered with a light coating of the adhesive, just roll the candle in the glitter.  Press it down a bit so the glitter gets good and stuck, and then lay out to dry overnight.

I suppose you can guess I was doing some Halloween decorating... these add some great spooky sparkle to my living room and dining room!  I plan to try to some different colors for Thanksgiving and Christmas, because they really do look so freaking pretty!

Happy 17th Birthday Bubby!

                                                    

Pretty adorable, isn't he?

DIY: Trick or TULLE? Haunted Halloween Wreath...

It is still Africa hot here but I am willing fall to grace us with her cool presence by gettin' my Halloween crafting on.  I lucked upon two of those straw wreath forms at our local thrift store... brand new and only $1 each so I went hunting for some inspiration.  After finding a couple of cute ideas on my new obsession, Pinterest, I set to work making my own version of a Haunted Halloween Wreath... 

Here's what I started with...

As I mentioned, the wreath was a buck, but  they are not much more than that at your local craft store.  The tulle rolls and ribbon were half off at Hobby Lobby, making them $2.00.  The dark orange is glitter tulle, so there were fewer yards on the roll.  The pair of packaged pre-made wood words were 99 cents.

Leave the plastic wrap on the wreath and you won't be picking straw out of your carpet until the trick-or-treaters show up... 

After a bit of trial and error, I determined I needed to cut the tulle in lengths about 18 inches long.  You don't need to get too technical, varying lengths just make it look more  full and festive.  Double your cut piece of tulle, loop it around the wreath and pull tight (as you see demonstrated here by Vanna Dear Daughter)...

Work your way around... I decided to intersperse the orange in no particular pattern.  It did take an entire roll of the black tulle PLUS the end of a leftover roll I had stashed in the craft closet.  Once you finish the tulle, add some chachkes to give it some pizazz... I chose these pre-made wooden words, and just attached them with my VERY FAVORITE Gel Super Glue...

Finally, I tied a bow to the top to hang it... and since I know my faithful readers are an observant bunch, I'm sure you will notice it is NOT the ribbon in the BEFORE photo... I LOVE that beautiful ribbon, but it just looked too fancy schmancy on this wreath so I scrounged a scrap piece of polka dot ribbon from the closet and will be saving the pretty stuff for a future project.  

Here's the final result...

Are you scared???