DIY- Rehearsal Dinner Trivia Game

Last year I helped my parents with the details of my brother's rehearsal dinner.
my mom and I had fun pulling it all together when she got into town!
This can totally be a last minute DIY wedding detail..
I made this the morning of the rehearsal!
We wanted to do some sort of fun Trivia game during dessert
so I made up a simple design in photoshop..
I had PLANNED on offering this in my Etsy shop....

but I accidently deleted the file. (mommy brain moment)

So I'm offering it this way as inspiration!

Hopefully you get ideas from this for your own trivia game for a party!

I think this same idea could be cute for a wedding shower game.

I wrote down some questions..most of them fun/inside jokes..

and then called the bride and groom separately (that morning) to get their answers!

We made it multiple choice so no one had to use any brain power..

I also filled little votives (from my wedding)
with little pencils (i'm pretty sure they were $1 a pack from JoAnn)

Everyone really liked it.. I was so happy.

My brother and his now wifey stood up and led the reveal of the answers,

quizzing each other. Everyone had some good laughs..

and the winner received some of the bride's favorite candy. :)

my husband below..stumped by a question. ;)

DIY DOLLHOUSE - My Craigslist Before & After

This was such a fun DIY Project!
We were on the hunt for a dollhouse to give our sophia(3) for Christmas..
but just could not find anything that was 1..in our budget..
and 2..wasn't HUGE and PINK.
(I wanted something a bit more neutral/could grow with her..
and look cute in her room!)
Thought I would share some of the inexpensive diy details
I used to make it fun for her!

Check out the video below of me sharing all the details of the dollhouse!

WHAT I USED:
Dollhouse - Craigslist Find...$30
Craft Wood Plaque Multi Pack- Michael's...$3 or $4
5 Furniture Pieces already made- Dollar Store/Michael's...$1 Each
Ikea Fabric Scraps & Batting Material Scraps...Already Had
1 Dish Rag from Dollar Store
19 or so Pages of Scrap Book Paper- JoAnn...$9.99 for the 180 Page Fresh Floral Stack
Scrap booking Sticker Christmas Decorations- Michael's..on sale.. couple bucks.
Mod Podge/Double Sided Tape/Scissors
Graphics printed off computer- Kitchen, Bathroom Tile & Mirror, Fireplace, Frame graphics filled with photos or prints.

Changes for my Blog!

I am so excited about this new Photo Gallery!
(this button is always going to be up there at the top for you to easily click and view!)

There I'll share all of my different projects, recipes, parties etc. etc. with you in this way!
Hope it makes it easy for you to find ideas..be inspired..feel creative!

I'll be adding more features occasionally so check back.

For all you pinners...

this one's for you. :)

You might have noticed a few changes on my blog..
The Graphic Designer in me is always wanting to redesign everything.. ;)

I wanted to update my logo with something
more fresh and modern..what do you think??
The new featured posts area is gonna be where
I'll share recent favorites! must clicks. ;)


I also added new social media icons
So you can easily find out how to connect with me
and because I want to connect with you!
Are you on twitter?? Tweet with me.
Are you on Pinterest?? I am.. a lot.. Love it.
Are you on facebook?? Connect with me there too!
I also added a contact button so you can
grab up my e-mail and message me easier.
There is also a feed button so you can check out my posts that way.


Button!
I made up a new one to go with the updated logo. 
Would love for you to grab one up..tweet it..pin it.. facebook it.. love it! ;)

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Look for Less- Your Personal Bargain Shopper!

Valentine's Day Issue of Look for Less!!

Snag some ideas for cute date night outfits.. or girls night outfits..

or home with the hubby because you don't have a sitter outfits! ;)

--------------------------------------

As a busy mom..I want to be stylish..

but if I have to choose between buying diapers

that month or a new outfit....diapers wins out.

I know many of you are in the same boat!

You want to stay stylish while

being that busy-budgeting-mama!

--Sometimes you don't know where to start to freshen up your look..

--You don't even have time to THINK about it..

--The idea of shopping with babies at your feet/on you/escaping dressing rooms/running

around the racks of clothes makes you exhausted already.

--or You feel like you don't have the budget for the look you want!

Camille has signed on board

as a personal bargain shopper for me..and all of you!
Excited about this collaboration with my friend Camille!

She is a model..a new mom..and alwayssss looks stylish!

She has a great blog called Life in Modification
She rounded up some looks for us and I think you are going to LOVE them!

Big thank you to Camille for her amazing style eye and budget friendly finds!

1. shoes- Forever 21...$3.80
2. button up shirt-old navy....$26.94
3. earrings- Forever21...$3.80
4. jeans-asos....$62.67
5. sweatshirt- Gap...$39.95

1. dress- Dorothy Perkins...$44.00

2. bracelets -LYLIF....$18.00

3. ring- LYLIF...$11.00

3. pumps- DSW...$44.95

1. skirt- modcloth...$42.99

2. belt- Forever 21...$3.80

3. shirt- Target...$14.99

4. earings- lylif...$9.00

5. flats- DSW...$39.95

6. cardigan-Target....$19.99

DIY - Crocheted Animal Patterns

My mom recently made up some
CUTE crocheted animals for the girls..
I thought they were just too cute to not blog about!
And what impressed me was how FAST she made them!
Sophia sat next to her in awe that she created something out of nothing!
(by the end of her visit she was requesting animals.. a unicorn made the list. haha.)
Some take longer than others..but they are totally baby proof..
the perfect size for my girls to toddle around with..
and I love overhearing the conversations they have. :)
The owl is officially the grandpa.. and the Bunny is Grandma.
The Bird is of course...is the mama bird.. with her babies.
My mom also made up a little nest for the birds to all fit in..
with a little crocheted WORM to feed the babies. yes.. a WORM.
My mom is so cute. The girls were seriously in love with their little soft animals.
Thanks Grandma! :)
DETAILS & PATTERNS BELOW!

I asked my mom to share her crafty wisdom with all of us!

"They were all easy, but the fewer the details, of course the faster they work up.  The nest was FAST, the Mama Bird was pretty fast, the owl was not so fast since it had more parts to assemble.  The best part is having little animals that little hands can hold easily, and embroidered faces instead of plastic or button eyes that little ones can chew off and choke on.  And even the smallest fist can hold the bunny by the ears!

I wanted to make animals sort of like you'd find in the real world (not wearing people clothes).  And Sophie was really interested in mommies and babies so I started with the Mama and Baby Birds.  I thought she could have fun playing Mama Bird taking care of her Baby Birds since she's into "all things Mama."  Mama Bird even has a couple of "worms" to feed her babies! (Not included in the pattern link, but something essential if Mama Bird is going to feed her babies!)

Sophie and Sienna seemed to like them so I was happy!

Love, Mom - xoxoxoxox"

The girls dressed themselves
for these photos.....

Crocheted Animal Patterns

My mom told me there are TONS of patterns on the Lion Brand Yarn Website.

To view these patterns you have to join their community

but it's free and you get to view lots of  other fun stuff!

OWL PATTERN

MAMA BIRD PATTERN

BABY BIRDS IN NEST PATTERN

BUNNY - was worked up by figuring out how to crochet

one ball-shape on top of another ball-shape and adding some ears. 

Let me know if you make up any of the patterns..
Would love to see them..
What a rewarding DIY Project!

And because this is just too cute and funny.........

Sophia is really into singing right now. "like a mermaid"..

which means like in the little mermaid movie..when they belt out a note and put their arms out.

and for some reason she looks up and off into the distance at the same time.....

it's awesome. haha.

and I seriously can't wait to remind her about this when she is a teenager.

I was told it's almost time to get botox...

This year has been wonderful. beautiful.

filled with more tears than I wished..

but filled with plenty of laughter and smiles to help me get through those days.

I'm happy with where I am in life..

and feeling passionate and excited about the projects and adventures ahead!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes.. it's gonna be hard to top my 28 yr old brother singing a Happy Birthday Voicemail to me and sounding SA-weet...but I felt the love.

Feeling very blessed and thankful for the past 26 years!

Wanting to take advantage of each day I'm given..and LIVE life.

Even if life consists mainly of days like this...... :)

ps. I'm not getting botox..

yet? ;)

FREE "Be Mine!" Garland Printables! - My Valentine's Day Collection

I love making printables! I had some past clients(who purchased the Christmas ones) requesting some for Valentine's Day so I made up a whole batch of cute Valentine's Day Treat Bag Tags! I think a variety of these put out would be so cute for a Valentine's Day Party..

everyone could choose what they like!

FREE "Be Mine!" Mini-Garland & "Be Mine!" Banner Printables.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD!

Sophia LOVED helping me put these together..
making trail mix and putting each and every chocolate..

very slowly...into the ziploc snack bags. ;)

I love the idea of using goldfish for Valentine's you are giving to little ones.
My Sienna is going to turn into a goldfish. 

I thought I would create a sweet
Valentine's Day Banner for my girls..
(and share it for free on my blog! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE)
We strung it up inside the girls' closet.."reading nook" (There is usually a little sofa in there)
When we first moved in I painted their room pink.(ballet slipper from Martha Stewart)
I hung up my favorite light from ikea..sweet little chandelier ($50)
and Put up some sheer Ikea curtains in the inside ($4.99 for the pair)
At first sophia's big girl bed went there..(it fit just perfect)..
but then we moved her to her own room and put a little sofa in there for reading.
But this day their ikea table was put in there and it became a little party nook! 
I used 1 pack of Cake Doilies (multi size pack by Wilton- 2.99) and some thread to add a pretty backdrop! I thought it looked very anthropology..you could go crazy with those and make a gorgeous dessert table backdrop!

Also included in the FREE DOWNLOAD is this mini cake garland!

Just cut out.. fold over/snip ends.. fold over ribbon and connect sides with tape..

string up on sticks/straws or chop sticks like I did. ;)

The girls were THRILLED with it!!

The mini shoot ended with sophia being a mini me..
and arranging her dolly for a photo op. ;)

Hope you are feeling inspired to
get crafty this Valentine's Day!
Make your Valentines extra special this year and
put together some sweet treats like these for your sweeties.
Have the kiddos help! Click here to check out my shop.
Let me know if you like and use the Banner! :)