Happy Thoughts (21)

Another week comes to a close and here are a few things making me happy as the weekend says, "Howdy!"

Super Simple Crafty Projects

Apparently, this is a popular project!  Maybe because it's not complicated to make and a ton of fun? I found it a few weeks ago on Pinterest AND learned that one of my favorite bloggy friends, Carrie, did the same project recently (and hung her's in the same place!).  Is there any wonder why she's one of my favorite ladies?

Insurance
The body shop looked at our car and gave us a $2200+ estimate. OUCH! Happily our deductible is considerably less than that. Yahoooo.  Now we just have to wait our turn to have it fixed.

Occasionally When a Movie is Made Based on a Book, 

It's Done Right

I saw The Help yesterday and give it two thumbs up. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and really feel like Tate Taylor, the film's screenwriter and director did a superb job of capturing the heart-tugging but never cheesy, brilliance of the book.  As a Jackson, Mississippi native, Taylor was in a unique position to bring this story to life. I venture to say, it would take a Mississippi boy to make Jackson in the 1960s as engaging as he did in this film. It was an ugly time in our nation's history, but this film's story is beautiful.  Truth is, I shed a few tears, I laughed out loud (I didn't "lol" because I NEVER "lol"), I fully enjoyed the film.

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Financial Guidance

The hubby and I are currently working through this workbook and trying to figure out what changes we can make in our financial life.  Thankfully we aren't in "trouble." But it's never a bad time to learn, grow and improve on our money management skeeeelz.





Killer Dance on Television

Last night was the season finale of another year of So You Think You Can Dance.  Don't worry no spoilers here.  But, what an extraordinary season of dance this has been.  It makes me so incredibly happy to have a television show celebrating dance in such a fantastic way. I can't wait until next Summer.

What's making you happy on this weekend eve?

Friendship Bracelet Project

I've resurrected a hobby from my past.  I've been making friendship bracelets.

It all started because Nicole over at My Teacups in Peony has been gathering a team to make about a gazillion friendship bracelets to send over to a group of orphans in Uganda that have touched her heart.  You can read more about that here.

When I heard about the project, it sounded like the perfect excuse to dust off my friendship bracelet making skills and put them to good use.  So, I headed to a hobby store to pick out my embroidery floss.  Standing in front of the selection I was catapulted back in time to grade school when I'd save up my pennies and pick out new colors.  Just like then, I was overwhelmed and unsure which ones to choose.  Eventually after staring slack jawed at the vast array of floss, I picked up six colors and brought them home to start tying knots.

Amazed at how quickly the process returned to me, I've been churning out bracelets for the past couple of days.  I dare say, I'm getting pretty good and am feeling like a little experimentation might be in my future.  Could I manipulate the knots to make designs or patterns?  AHHH the possibilities!  And at forty cents a color I could really make a splash without spending too much dough.

What do you say? Would you be interested in joining in the project?  If so, check out Nicole's blog and let her know that you need some details.  Participating is just as easy as making a few bracelets and getting them in the mail to her.  She'll send them over to Uganda where they'll be distributed.  Easy. Peasy.

Want to help?

And Without Further Ado...

So, since I didn't take that job, I bet you're wondering what am I doing with all this unemployed free time?

And if you're asking what I've been up to than obviously, you haven't heard.  So I'll tell you.

I made a skirt.

{not this again... jeez, three posts about the skirt.  You're really milking this little project aren't ya?}

Um, yes. Yes, I am.
And truthfully, I feel as though I've made you wait long enough to see said skirt.

So, without further ado, here it is:

I wore it to the zoo yesterday.

You can read about my Fall Fashion Week adventure HERE.

Here's me being a ham trying to use a map at the zoo.

And yes, I am so pale that I glow.

The skirt is made from black & white polka dot cotton.  And I love it.  A lot.

There probably won't be any more posts written specifically about this skirt.  But, I can't make any promises.

By the way, these photos are the handiwork of the beautiful and talented Miss Lexi.  She's taking part in Fall Fashion Week and I definitely think that you should stop by and read about her most embarrassing experience today.  {you are welcome, Lexi}

But before you go... Have you ever made or tried to make an article of clothing?

Did you brag about it as much as I do?

The Saga of the Skirt

As mentioned earlier this week, I finally sat down for a little quality time with my sewing machine only to have her throw a little fit and give me the silent treatment one seam into my MUCH ANTICIPATED skirt.
But, I knew that June Cleaver would never give up so easily.  So, I took the machine into a local shop and said a little prayer.  While I waited I made pumpkin bread, cleaned a toilet or two and invited some girlfriends over for coffee.  All the while wearing pearls.

That's June's smile of approval...

Well, there's been a major development in the saga of the skirt.  Turns out the part that was broken was easily (and cheaply) replaceable and the machine is back in working order.  Such great working order in fact that I finished the skirt last night!

I won't show you a picture because I REALLY want you to come see its debut next week over at Leaving the House in THIS?!?  How's that for a tease?  And I'm not even charging myself an advertising fee.  It pays to know people. 

Anywhoo.

The skirt is finished and it turns out that it was very, very easy to make.  And it was very, very inexpensive.

It was just $8.00 for the material/thread/elastic.  Well, plus the $10 I spent last year on sewing supplies just to get started (seam ripper, pins, practice fabric, etc.).  And I guess you should count the $15 manual I had to purchase to work the machine.  Then there's the $16 for the replacement part.  And we're not even going to think about the $100 for the RECOMMENDED cleaning and tune up on the machine that I didn't have done.

Huh.

Okay, so maybe I'm a little bit in the hole on this whole sewing project (Please let the hubby NOT be reading this post... Please let the hubby NOT be reading this post).  But, I'm certain all these expenditures will pay off in the long run as I fill my closet with slightly irregular inexpensive handmade items.

Teeny Tiny Bump in the Road

The death of Barbara Billingsley (aka June Cleaver) has left me in a domestic mood.  I decided to try a new June Cleaverish task each day this week in her honor.

On Sunday I attempted, and successfully made, my first batch of apple sauce.
And yesterday I sat myself in front of the sewing machine!

I wrote about my desire for a sewing machine last year and was graciously loaned one by my sister in law.  Unfortunately for the last 10 months it has collected dust waited patiently for me to take a few minutes to learn how to thread the dang thing and put it to use.  June Cleaver week seemed like the perfect time to do it. 

Well, guess what?  I figured it out!

The story doesn't end there, unfortunately. Once I had mastered a few quick and simple stitches on the machine I figured it was time to tackle THIS skirt tutorial that I've had my eye on for months. I was feeling pretty excited and a bit full of myself.

Turns out my excitement was short lived.  One seam in and the plastic anchor that holds the bobbin in place came lose and somehow got mangled. This has rendered the machine unusable.

Don't give me that look, June!

Thankfully, I found a little locally owned repair shop online, called them this morning and the machine will hopefully be back in business in no time.  Just like June I'm not going to let a little set back stop me from taking my place in the house wife hall of fame. Wait, there is a house wife hall of fame right?  Otherwise what am I doing all of this crap for? I don't need the lousy sense of accomplishment I'm going for the recognition...

I'll keep you posted.

Do you sew or more importantly have you ever busted a sewing machine after one day's use?

Tidy Little Project

I completed another one of my crafty little projects. Actually, I did it about a 2 months ago. But with the recent stressing over life and all it entailed, I didn't ever take the time to share the finished product with you.

We have this cart in our kitchen that had always been a place where clutter went to die. It was a catch all for j.u.n.k. Magazine with a recipe I want to try, stick it on the cart. Coupon insert that I never got around to actually clipping, stick it on the cart. Notepad that is the perfect size for grocery lists because it fits in my purse (but OBVIOUSLY can't stay there all week), stick it on the cart. You get the drift.

ENTER ULTIMATE TO DO LIST. Since I made a goal to finish 100 DIY projects, why not make this numero dos? It was decided. I would create some storage pieces to declutter the kitchen cart. Whatever I chose needed to be easy to make and inexpensive but chic. Because let's face it, I'm just not all that into crafty looking tchotchkes. I'll do a little DIY project now and then, but I'll be damned if my house is going to look like a Hobby Lobby threw up and I called it home decor.

Thankfully there are like 5 bajillion DIY magazine storage tutorials online from which I was able to learn. I started by gathering a few supplies that I had laying around the house. (Can't forget to mention that the handsome hubby had selflessly eaten 2 gargantuan boxes of Frosted Flakes to contribute to the project. Thanks, sweetie).


Some contact paper that I had left from lining the kitchen drawers, a ruler, scissors, and moving tape was all that I needed. Oh, and of course my insane crafting ability - which was sold separately.

The whole project took about an hour and the finished product looks like this:

Here's a close up:

Could you just die? I love them. I had the block letters left over from a photo album I made for my sister after her wedding. So the grand total came to whatever I spent on the cereal plus a little elbow grease. Not too shabby, huh? But best of all, our kitchen cart is now chic-ly clutter free.

6 Days Until Christmas

On my Ultimate To DO list, I added the unlikely challenging goal of attempting 100 DIY projects. This weekend I took a stab at a project.

I saw this gorgeous wreath, last year around Christmas time - go ahead, click the link, check out my inspiration! (Do you remember Eddie Ross from Bravo's Top Design?) The wreath seemed relatively doable with minimal effort. That's absolutely my kind of DIY. The whole project required only a wire hanger, some Christmas balls and a little bit of ribbon to complete. I decided to wait until the "after Christmas" sales to stock up on ornaments for the project. When I found them they were 50% off!! And after all, nothing says DIY like a real "bargain," right?

Now, waiting a year can really send your expectations skyrocketing. But, I'm pretty excited about how the project turned out!

Can you see the little me taking the picture in the mirrored balls???

So cute. So simple. So, what do you think?