Crayola Pumpkin

When I was a kid, I used to LOVE carving pumpkins.  My whole family would gather around the kitchen table and go to town, drawing funny faces, scooping out pumpkin guts, and baking yummy pumpkin seeds as we went along.  So the first year Matt and I were dating, I made a huge deal about carving pumpkins.  Annnd...that was the first year I realized I do not in fact love carving pumpkins.  Nope, not at all.  What I loved was doing the first 10 percent of the pumpkin carving, then running off to leave my dad to do the dirty work, coming back right at the end to squeal, "Isn't my pumpkin perfect?!"  (My poor parents, I must have been the biggest pain the butt as a kid.)  So since that year, I've been on the lookout for different ways to give pumpkins a good sprucing up, but I'm often hindered by the fact that my craft radar is seriously lacking.  (Another thing that typically got passed off to my parents when I was a kid.  Remember my kindergarten ocean diorama, Mom and Dad?)  But when I saw this DIY Crayola Pumpkin idea on Jenny May's blog, I couldn't help but wonder if I could pull it off.  Then my office provided mini pumpkins for us all to decorate, and I couldn't help but think it was a sign from the crafting fairies to give this DIY a try.

And let me tell you...I.FREAKING.LOVE.IT.  It's such a fun and unexpected take on pumpkin decorating; I can't help but want to decorate a million more like it.  The instructions are super simple and pretty much foolproof.  The result?  A totally rad and fabulous pumpkin.  LOVE.IT.

How I Organize and Store My Pretties (With a Quick and Easy DIY)

A few months ago, I showed you guys this quick and easy DIY headband storage system.  Since then, I’ve been dying to show you my jewelry organization system, but with our cross country move, I sort of put it on the backburner.  But now that we’re settled and moved in, backburner be gone! 

But before I get to the good stuff, let me tell you a few of my life mantras:

1. Pretty things should be shown off.
2. Ordinary things should be stored in pretty things.
3. You’ll use things more if you can see them.
4. Home organization should not cost a fortune, unless its Container Store Elfa shelving.  Then I’ll make an exception :)
5. Have alot of jewelry.  Some of mine is vintage, some is fancy, some is plastic, some is blingy, and some is from Target.  It doesn’t matter where its from, just as long as you love it.

So with those rules in mind, here is how I organize, store, and show off my jewelry…

This is the wall opposite the mirror in my bathroom.

Here is one of the three ways I store earrings.  These are for earrings that have a hook back.  I’ll show you how to make this earring frame later in the post.  It’s super simple.

These hooks are for my necklaces.  There are 3 different “fixtures” here, and I’ll show you each one individually.  I should also mention that every hook, container, and peg you see was purchased secondhand at a flea market, thrift store, or garage sale.  Their are two exceptions which I’ll point out when I show them.

The top part of the necklace organization is some odd accordion hook thing I found for 50 cents at Goodwill.  I think its original purpose had something to do with laundry drying, though I’m not entirely certain.  It can be stretched or squeezed to almost any length you need, and I wanted mine so I could fit short necklaces on the top row without having them drape too far over the third row of pegs.  This was originally a yucky brown wood color which I spray painted white.

The second part of the necklace wall is this long row of pegs, which my mom snagged for me at a garage sale for 25 cents.  The wood color was a honey color, so I sprayed it white to match the one above it.  I had originally wanted to hang one necklace per peg, but given my insane amount of jewelry, that idea quickly went out the window, and its been fine doubling and tripling up.

The third and final part of the necklace storage were these 4 bumblebee hooks, which I found for $1 at a garage sale.  They were too cute to pass up, and I’m so glad I didn’t.  I just staggered them and screwed them into the wall.  Easy peasy.  Originally, I had planned to stop there, but I thought the whole thing looked a little too scattered.  So Matt had a great idea to border the whole thing with this oversized frame I got at a flea market for $1.  It really helped tie the whole thing together, though if you don’t have as many hooks as I do, I think you could skip this step.

For me, this wall is function and beauty, a rare but fabulous combination!  PS: can I tell you how much I adore that little owl necklace towards the top right corner.  I got it at a market in London with my mom, and it instantly makes me happy when I wear it :)  Another perk of this wall is that I can see it while I’m putting my makeup on and drying my hair.  Therefore, I can think about what I’m wearing that day and what accessories I want to pair with it as I get ready.

Here is the right side of my bathroom counter.  Like I said above, I believe in storing ordinary things in pretty containers, so my cotton balls and q-tips are stored in glass canisters, my bobby pins and cuticle scissors in a votive holder, and my makeup brushes in a glass beaker (like at the MAC store.)  All of these glass pretties came from Goodwill for under $2.  The ceramic fleur-de-lis holds my hair ties and was purchased from the clearance shelf at Steinmart.  The fleur-de-lis is my sorority’s symbol, so I love finding ways to incorporate it into my stuff.  And of course, I have to have a picture with my fabulous little brother :)

My cocktail rings are in a vintage ice cream dish found at a flea market, and my “real” jewelry (aka wedding ring, Yurman, diamond studs from Matt, etc.) sits in this crystal ring holder which I picked up for $3 at a consignment show.  My Forever 21 flower bobby pins make a fun little bouquet in a 99 cent Goodwill votive holder.

Here is the left side of my bathroom counter.  My most worn bracelets sit on this velvet lined bracelet holder.  My mom snagged this for me at a garage sale, and I’ve never seen another one since, though my eyes are forever peeled for one.  As you can see, this one is getting a little full :)

This silver earring frame is made just like the other one I showed you, but this one is for earrings with post backs.  It doesn’t hang on the wall, because you need easy access to the back of the frame to put the earrings on and off the holder.  If you don’t have a ton of earrings, you can totally put post back and hook back earrings on one frame, you just have to deal with a couple of falling hook back earrings every now and then.  The frame is actually plastic and is from the dollar store.

I got this vintage ashtray from my grandma, though I’ve seen them countless times at thrift stores.  These are for earrings with loop backs.  You know, the ones that hook in and then close shut to form a complete oval.  (Who knew earring terminology was so advanced?)  These have to lay loose because the backs won’t close in the frames I have my other earrings on.  I stuck a candle in the middle, though I don’t light it too often.  I learned my lesson about that here :)

Ever wonder what to do with all those extra buttons that come with sweaters, blazers, etc?  I place mine in this pretty glass container found at Goodwill.  Easy access when I buy the article of clothing, and easy access should I need the button.  I put this little heart from my mom around the top to make me smile every morning :)  And of course a picture with my bestie is tucked away in the corner!

Sooooo…I realize I have a lot of jewelry, and I realize this whole big thing may not be for everyone, but…perhaps you want to make your own mini version.  And since you’re interested…here’s a quick and easy (I swear its both) tutorial for the earring holders.  I’ve made them several times, and assure you, even the most craft challenged person can do it.  (I know this because I am the most craft challenged person on the planet!)

Ok…here is what you need.  Frames of whatever shape and size you desire.  These are super cheap at Goodwill and you may even have some laying around your house.  You do NOT need the glass or a mat, so don’t bother paying for that.  And don’t worry about color either, they make paint for that :)  I started out with this leftover can of Gripper paint, but I later switched to spray paint.  I’m inpatient like that.  The key thing you’ll need to buy is the “netting.”  I don’t know what this stuff is really called, but it can be found at your local home improvement mega store in the screen door aisle.  It looks like a giant roll of graph paper, only made out of wire/metal.  They sell it by the roll, but if you’re lucky, you can find a roll that is already open and barter with the guys at the store who wonder what the hell you’re gonna do with it.  I got my already opened and half used roll for $2.  You’ll also need a glue gun, and if you’re working at your kitchen table like me,  you’ll need a dropcloth.  (Note:  this is NOT our table cloth, it is our ugly drop cloth.  Matt paints a lot and therefore ours has a lot of use.)

   Step 1 (which I failed to photograph): Paint the frame.  Step 2: Trace the frame opening onto the mesh/metal screen door stuff.  If your frame doesn’t have the back to it, no worries, just trace the opening to the frame.  When unsure, go a little bigger and trim down as necessary.

Step 3: Push the mesh/metal screen door stuff into the backside of the frame.  Step 4 (which I did not photograph): Hot glue the shiz out of it.  Lol, I know there are crafty bloggers out there who will hate my directions, but its the best I’ve got.  You won’t see the back so don’t bother making it pretty.  Mine have gobs of glue all over the back and not a soul can tell :)

Step 5: Hang the newly finished jewelry frame on the wall or leave it free standing like my silver one.  Whichever you prefer and whichever fits with the type of earrings you have.

Step 6: Hang your favorite jewels from it and enjoy your fabulous pretties!

Seeee, SUPER easy!  If you’re not up for thrift store shopping or if want the instant gratification, you can always find hooks and pegs at Target, Walmart etc.  They’ll be a little more expensive but will also come with less work.

So…I know this was a long post (sorry!) but what do you think?  Anyone going to give it a try??  If you do, PLEASE let me know; I love to hear!  Even better, I’d love to see!  Send me a picture and maybe I’ll post it on my blog! 

How do you store your pretties?

Headband Storage

First off, thank you guys SO MUCH for all your sweet comments, prayers, and crossed fingers for Matt and I’s big news Friday and tomorrow.  Friday’s match took off lots of the anxiety, and now I’m just battling excitement to find out where we are going to be next year.  Eeek!  This might be the first week ever where I’m actually looking forward to Monday morning!

Even with the good news though, this weekend was pretty exhausting for me.  Full day at work on Friday, out late Friday celebrating the big match, and an all day work training on Saturday.  Boo for working Saturdays (especially after being out late the night before.  Big boo on that one.)  So today was spent in a coma-like state, which meant not getting out of my bed or my robe until sometime in the early afternoon.  (Ok, I lie, I actually did get out of bed a few times for important things like coffee, the TV remote, and Captain Crunch, but other than that, I remained lounging my bed.)  Oh how I love lazy days!

I did manage to muster up enough productivity to do a mini-0rganization project.  Now, before you read any further, I must share a disclaimer.  This blog is not about how to lead an organized life.  It is not about how to simplify or how to turn your home into a lovely little gem.  I am certainly not the poster child for organization, and there are several other blogs out there who have that department covered (and beautifully I might add.)  But if you are a fashion loving girl who is tight on money, space, and organizational skills, read on.  Because this, my friends and blog readers, is for you.

Most of you know this about me, but I love headbands.  And by love, I mean LOVE headbands.  Seriously, I have a bazillion, wear them at least two or three times a week, and am constantly searching for new ones to add to my collection.  (I blogged about my relationship with headbands in my first month of blogging.  See that post here.)  Since that post, however, my love has turned into a bit of an obsession and my collection has gotten too big for my once simple white basket storage system.  Last week, I realized I had to do something when I opened my bathroom cabinet and found this…

Yikes.  Can you say embarrassing?  (Please understand the trust and comfort I have with you readers to reveal this dirty little secret.)  I realized a needed to inject a little order into this chaos, and I started to think about a simple organization idea for these my beloved headbands.  I’m sure The Container Store sells fancy headband holders, but let’s get real, I don’t have $30 to spend on a headband holder.  But then…I remembered my mom’s take on headband storage from when I was a little girl.  I went to a private school for part of elementary school and since we all wore the same plaid jumpers, headbands were a must to add some flair to our lives.  To keep my headband collection neat and organized my mom used an inexpensive and easy to find item.  So easy to find many of you probably have it in your pantry now…

Yep, I’m talking about a good, old fashioned, Quaker Oats container.  If you’re doubting, have faith, stay with me, I promise, I’m going somewhere with this.  So I took out all my headbands from the mess that was my bathroom cabinet and sorted through them, getting rid of a few that I didn’t wear anymore, and then layered them closely, almost one on top of the other.  The end result?

TOTAL HEADBAND ORGANIZATIONAL BLISS.  In under five minutes and five dollars!  You can’t beat that.  Now, I’m sure there are some crafters out there who would take this project to the next level by covering the oatmeal canisters with pretty fabric or graphic paper and to you I say “you go girl!”  I myself thought about covering it in black velvet, but I was lazy and wanted five minute gratification, so I skipped that step.  In the end though, you can’t really see the oat resemblance through all the headbands, so I will leave mine uncovered.

So, there you have it.  Easy and budget friendly headband storage for the busy, non crafty, or overworked headband lover.  What do you think?  How you do you store your headbands?  If you decide to try this project, let me know how it turns out.  I’d love to see how a Quaker Oats canister changes your fashion habits ;)

And ps: I was left with a TON of oatmeal after this project, so I searched and found some yummy oatmeal recipes to help deplete my oatmeal stash.  I’ll share those later this week for anyone who decides to take on this little mini project.  To keep you intrigued, I’ll tell you it involves chocolate, peanut butter, butter, and of course, oatmeal.  Mmm mmm…

Ornament Wreath

I have seen this Christmas project all over blog world (Eddie Ross, Just a Girl) but just got around to doing it myself.  It was one of those projects that I read about and thought, omg, how easy is that?  Then after getting the supplies and getting  home, I thought, omg, what have I gotten myself into?  Heeeeelp!

Although I'm pretty happy with the end result, don't let those other blogs fool you.  This was no "five minute craft project."  Luckily I have an incredibly artsy husband (the sewing machine on our wedding registry was thanks to his asking) who helped me through it.  If you want to try this project for yourself, I recommend visiting one of the two sites above.  They give super specific instructions with pictures.  I intended to take pictures at every step, buuuut after the confusion and frustration set in, that went right out the window.  And for those of you who aren't super crafty, I'll give you the real scoop about how to survive this project!  See the confusion process here :)

After reading about the project online, I rushed to Hobby Lobby and the Dollar Store to snatch up ornaments on sale.  I was debating doing a silver and red color scheme or a brown and gold color scheme, but luckily Matt (aka: artsy husband) suggested using all four colors in one wreath.  A much better idea.  After I laid all these ornaments out, I had my omg moment.  I was looking at all this glittery globes thinking, what in the world have I done?!

Start by hot gluing the tops of the ornaments in place.  No matter how sturdy you sweeeear those little suckers are, they are not.  Glue them in place, but encircling the top the top with a gob or two of hot glue.  You won't see the tops of the ornaments once they're on the wreath, so don't worry if they look janky and messy.  Also, no one bothered to tell me to use PLASTIC ornaments.  Maybe everyone just assumed I'd figure that part out, but ahem, you know what they say about ass-u-me.  I was ready to stock up on glass ornaments when my husband talked some sense into me.  (Again, crafty sidekick needed for this project.)

To help the hot glue drying process, I got out my muffin tins and set them in there to dry.  I doubt my friend Katie had this in mind when she bought me the Crate and Barrel baking set for my bridal shower, but hey, use what you've got!  Depending on how hot your glue gun is, the ornaments should take about five or so minutes to dry.

Now here's where things got crazy for me.  I can't do the next several steps justice, so please, utilize the professional crafters instructions for these steps.  However, I do have a few more tips.  One, do not use a white hanger.  It shows through like crazy.  Go for a copper dry cleaning hanger or something like that.  Two, use several different sizes of ornaments.  This will help fill the in the gaps.  Three, if your wreath looks slightly lopsized at the end (our first attempt did) offset it with a bow around the 2 o'clock position.  Instant fix!

Now for our finished product...(I know you're just dying to see...)

Not bad huh?  This was our second wreath, which is now hanging on my parents' front door.  We also made one for Matt's sister for Christmas (which we celebrated over Thanksgiving.)  So what do you think?  Think you can give it a try?  Remember, grab a sidekick (preferrably a crafy one) to help you with this project.  Even if they're not crafty, they can at least lighten the mood when you have your own OMG moment.  And if all else fails, you have someone to abandon the project and grab a glass of wine with if this wreath project goes sour :)

All kidding aside, I think these wreaths look super cute and they also make great gifts for friends and family.  Just remember to give them early so your loved ones can enjoy them for the next couple of weeks!  Happy wreathing yall!

Get Ready with Gift Wrap

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm embracing my Christmas cheer, and starting the holiday posts before Thanksgiving. If it’s too early for you, I understand; feel free to check my blog after Thanksgiving. But if you're like me, and find the whole Christmas season and preparation phrase exciting then read on!

When I was younger, I didn't really get the whole "preparing" for Christmas thing. You buy a gift, wrap it, and call it a day. However, now that I'm older, I'm realizing it doesn't always go like that, and to be honest, I don't always want to go like that. I want Christmas to be special, which involves some time and effort to make it that way. Then add in trying to do special on a budget, and whoa, the time and effort involved now triple. Not having the money or not wanting to spend tons of money is totally understandable (that's definitely me this holiday season), and you shouldn't have to sacrifice sharing Christmas magic with your loved ones because of this. Thankfully, I've started to master this partnership of special and on a budget. However, you have to be willing to put in some extra time and energy and most of all, start early!

Stores prey on people who wait to the last minute then rush out and buy a full price gift, a last minute card, and last minute wrapping supplies. These people (i.e. my husband) don't have a lot of leverage, they're in a pinch, so they'll pay the money whether it's a crappy deal or not. So the take home message here (and for the next couple of weeks) is start now, start early! The first place I'm suggesting to start (and the first place I have started this year) is gift wrap. Now, I could write an entire post on the power of a beautifully wrapped, present, but I'll keep it short. Presentation is important. It's a first impression, and we all how many chances you get to redo a first impression. Beautifully wrapped gifts say, "You are special, you deserve beautiful things, and I care about you enough to take the time to put that big bow and gift tag on the package." And while I love a beautiful gift wrapped package, I don't love the price tag that can come with all the wrappings and trimmings. If by some chance you won the lottery or don't care about price, you should head over to The Container Store right now for their to die for gift wrap. However, for those who of us who haven't won the lottery, lets chat about some ideas for making a gift look extra special without the extra price tag.

1. Put the bags down. That's right people, gift bags are a cop out. Now, as I say that, I recognize that some gifts just don't work in a box. In those cases, a bag is warranted, given that it has a beautiful bow, gift tag, etc. etc., but when you can use a box, use one! It has a better shape, allows for big bows and beautiful wrapping paper, and most of all, shows you took the extra time for the gift recipient. Boxes are available in bulk at Target, Walmart, etc., but for a more budget friendly option, make sure you ask for a box when you buy the gift. Stores won't ask you if you want one, you have to ask them nicely and then they'll pull out a box from below the magic counter. Since some stores don't offer boxes or if you're giving a homemade gift and still want a box, I have gotten in the habit of asking for a box whenever I buy anything during the months of November and December. Even if I'm just shopping for me, I'll ask for a box so that I have one when gift time rolls around.

2. Make pretty paper a priority. Wrapping paper is a priority for me, but it's often way pricier than it should be. Luckily, Target has stocked their dollar bin this year with lots of mini wrapping paper rolls. Not only are these rolls a dollar, but they're minisized so they can be easily stored in your home or in your suitcase if you're wrapping upon arrival. They're 40 square feet of paper, which is the same size as the full price rolls back in the holiday section which range from 2 to 7 dollars. A roll of holiday paper at the Container Store or the Hallmark Store can cost up to $10.99 per roll (yikes!) So I'm telling you, these dollar bin rolls at Target are a steal! Stock up now because they sell out quick. And if you live in the same small town as me, good luck getting them because I emptied one of the Targets out already :)

3. Behold the beauty of bows. Maybe it's just because I'm a girly girl, but for me, bows are beautiful, and at the holidays, they are even more magical. Now, I will be candid with you. I am not the best bow-tier. I actually kind of stink. My saving grace? Tulle! It is the answer to easy and pretty bows. It's forgiving and super cheap. Hobby Lobby has tons of colors, with each roll costing $2.99. If you use the 40% off coupon listed on their website, you'll spend just over a buck. Not bad. I have 14 different colors in my ribbon basket and use them on every gift I give. I used it on a bridal shower gift this weekend, and as the bride reached for my present she cooed, "Ohhh what a pretty bow." It was a simple bow in cream tulle and yet managed to get that reaction. Nice. For those of you that insist on using premade, stick on bows, please rethink and give tulle a chance. I promise it takes 10 seconds. This year I am going to challenge myself to get fancy with my bow making. I found a great gift wrapping guide from the Container Store that had easy to follow bow making instructions. I haven't tried any yet, but I am definitely going to attempt a couple this weekend. I'll post pictures after I try. Check it out here if you're interested.

4. Tag, you're it. Have you ever been at a family gathering when everyone is fumbling with a particular present trying to read the name written in tiny letters on the back of the present? Make it easy for your loved ones and invest in gift tags. The ever so trusted Target dollar bin has several cute options for only...a dollar (gotcha!) Some people are ok with the stick on gift tags, but I usually try to go for the paper ones. You can even make your own with some cute scrapbook paper, a Sharpie, and some ribbon. I saw on a recent blog favorite of mine, Two Shades of Pink, a mom that was putting her kids pictures on the gift tag, so they could recognize what gifts are theirs. Super cute for little ones (although I have a feeling my husband would think that was slightly creepy on his gift.) Whatever your method, don't underestimate gift tags. Most people don't use them, so be different than most and make your friends and family gasp at your attention to detail.

5. Add an embellishment. Forgo the traditional big bow, and instead, add a sweet and unexpected embellishment. Add a candy cane, a lollipop, or some pink bracelets for the little princess in your life. Christmas ornaments also make great embellishments for your gifts; just make sure they're not glass. The Dollar Store, Dollar Bin, and the candy aisle are all great places to find these little treasures. Keep the embellishment small in price so the gift inside is still the main focus, but watch people squeal over receiving a gift on the outside of the package.

I could go on and on about my affair with gift wrap, but I think I should stop here. (If you read to this point, I am impressed!) So don’t delay, get out and start searching for deals on boxes, paper, bows, gift tags, and embellishments. The good stuff goes early. And with all of these tips, remember, it’s not about having perfectly wrapped package. Many of my boxes still have gaps or bulges of paper, but it’s the thought that counts and makes your loved ones smile. Besides, I’m pretty sure that giant red tulle bow hides most of my mistakes :)  Happy wrapping yall!

You're Never Too Old for Halloween Treats

Why is it that when you get old, you have to stop trick or treating?  It really stinks.  Growing up, I was super lucky because I had a brother 8 years younger than me, so I would pull the whole "I'm just dressing up to take my brother trick or treating.  I wouldn't want him to have to go with the dorky neighbor kid, or even worse, go aloooone."  So I'd dress up and go with him.  And granted I could have just waited at the end of the sidewalk, but I didn't want him to have to walk up to the house and ring the doorbell alone.  What if it was one of those creepy houses who had scary noises and smoke coming from their porch?  Naturally, I'd go up with him, and if I were going to go that far, why not take a trick or treating bag with me?  Totally normal.  I mean, why pass up all those tasty goodies? :)

I'm pretty sure if I weren't gigantically tall, I'd still go trick or treating, even now.  I mean, I'd need a costume with a mask, and I'd need to alter my voice a little to sound like a twelve year old (which sadly wouldn't be that hard for me), but I could do it.  Problem is, I'm pretty close to 5'10'', so unless I come up with a creative costume, people would know I was a fraudulent trick or treater.  Sigh...However, I figure the next best thing to me trick or treating, is to indulge some of my favorite "little grown ups" in some fun and tasty treats.  So, this year I decided to do a little something for my student mentors.  They are a fabulous bunch who make my job tons of fun, so I thought they deserved a little something this Halloween.  Check out the cute goodies above that I put together for them. 

So, while many people are thinking about the little kiddos this Halloween, I encourage you to remember the bigger kids in your life, who are a little too old to trick or treat, but not quite old enough to give up on the Halloween goodies!