Lily's Pink and Gold 1st Birthday

One of my new years resolutions is to blog at least once a week.

Every Sunday to be exact.

I used to be so good at it, then our squishy baby came along and I 

couldn't figure out how to manage anything anymore!

Now that she's turned one, things are getting a little easier.

She's become much more independent, and I DO have time on Sundays to

sit and journal about our past weeks activities, ups, downs, and all our in betweens :)

For Lily's party, I choose to do pink and gold!

I LOVE LOVE how everything turned out, and I've decide to keep the decorations

and do the girls' room in pinks and golds.

It's amazing what you can do with some tissue paper, paper, empty boxes, ribbons, frames, and

of course a Silhouette Cameo machine! I love that thing!

Squishy baby DESTROYED her cake and made the biggest mess.

I didn't mind one bit.

It was her day and was well deserved!

Happy Birthday Baby Lily!

We LOVE you!

Craft Area Makeover

So I have a HUGE love for IKEA.

But this is the thing, I have never even been in one!

Omg! I know!

The IKEA in Utah opened right after I moved away and the closest one to me

is 6 hours away, in Orlando, FL.

 

My dear friend, Elizabeth, has family that lives near IKEA, so whenever she goes,

I send her a list. And just recently, I sent her parents a list because I knew

they were coming to visit, and would be making a stop at IKEA for her.

Phew.. Got that?

 

So our previous craft area wasn't much of a craft area.

I kept all the supplies in a basket, put away.

Therefore, we didn't get it out very often.

Out of site our of mind, right.

 

But my children need entertainment. A LOT.

Is everybody else's kids like that?!

 I knew just what to do.

 

I'm pretty embarrassed to show the before.

I've been doing little projects at a time.

Trying to stay in budget.

Out with the old, in with the new.

 

BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

 

I  made all the art, and cut the vinyl myself!

All using my Silhouette Cameo.

Love that thing.

And the frames I got at Target, not IKEA.

 

 

Next up?!

Our Entry way.

Wish me luck!

Fall Burlap Wreath

 

 

My friend and I made ourselves a fun fall wreath.

Here's what you need:

 

*Burlap (1 1/2 yds.) 

(I used chocolate brown)

*A wire wreath

*Scissors

*Ribbon

 

How to make:

Cut burlap into 2-2 1/2" strips

Cut strips down to about 6" long

(strip is 2"x6")

Tie strip around wire wreath, once

Continue to do so until the whole wreath is covered.

Move burlap around, trim a little.

Add ribbon,

AND

WaLa!

 You have yourself a darling wreath, for only $7.50!!

 

(make sure to print out a 40% off coupon when going to Hobby Lobby)

 

Happy Fall Ya'll!

DIY Bow Ties

I've been wanting to either make Marx some bow ties or buy some.
Buying them seemed more and more ridiculous as I searched for tutorials on the web.
So...
I was inspired here.

You will need:
-Fabric (cotton works fine as long as you use the starch)
-Scissors
-Iron
-Heavy Starch
-Hold glue gun
-mini alligator clips

1. Cut your fabric 9"x3". Find the center of your fabric by measuring 1.5" down and 4.5" inches over. Using a pen, make a dot. That will be your guide.
2. The first bow tie I made was to flimsy (sp?) So I got out my heavy starch, sprayed my fabric and ironed it. It made a HUGE different in how the bow tie held it's shape.
3. & 4. Fold your ends in like a present then fold your sides in to that little dot you made in the beginning. Then iron.
5. I then put a very small dot of hot glue on the end and folded that in too. Iron.
6. Fold both your ends into that dot, once again. Glue.
7. Cut a 9"x1" piece of fabric, fold both ends in and iron.
8. Glue one end on the back and wrap around your bow tie.
9. & 10. I then used a mini alligator clip, clipped it onto the fabric then glued to the back of the bow tie. That way it looked very clean.
WaLa! You got yourself an adorable little bow tie for your little man! Easy Peasy!

Jessie's Tip: I ironed every fold that I made. It made the bow tie look much nicer than the first one I made!

our own subway art

After researching how to make subway art with vinyl I finally

decided to give it a shot with my Silhouette CAMEO.

It was actually a bit easier than I thought it would be.

I started with making a list of things that described our family or things we're

working on as a family (like "patience" for example)

I also wanted to include our past addresses with our weddding date and our

children's birth dates.

I love how it turned out.

It has a little flaw that I don't really think anyone notices but myself.

But hey, it was my first go around!

christmas spirit

Today we took a trip to the library to see Santa.

Layla was so so excited.

While we stood in line she kept saying, "Hi Santa! Hi Santa!"

She was so antsy to get on his lap.

It was finally her turn, and as she got up close to him she put her head in her hands

and started to cry.

She had tried so hard to be brave.

I got her calmed down, and convinced her to stand by him as he held Marx.

She finally warmed up to him and told him that she wanted a bike for Christmas.

Marx was quite content,

until her saw me.

This afternoon I made Layla her own little felt Christmas tree.

(hoping that it will keep her from moving the ornaments on my tree!)

She loves it.



today's project

layla and i started this project first thing this morning, after she ate her breakfast.

but...

due to having an almost 6 month old we had to take quite a few breaks.

he's quite a demanding little fella (:

 finally, the finished project at around 7:00PM
 we're proud of them!

(another pinterest idea people, seriously, if you don't have one, get one!)
this project cost us $1.50. how sweet is that?!

the felt flower

layla and i stayed up till 11:30PM making these cute little flowers.
you see, miss 2 has lost a lot of her hair lately, and we needed something that was adorable and easy on her fragile hair. (no clue as to why she's lost so much, but when i say a lot i mean A LOT. I've had to cut it twice and even took her to the doctor) thankfully, she has new little hairs growing in and sticking out everywhere!
anyway...
i'm teaching my friends how to make them at craft day tomorrow! they're so fun and easy.
just another reason i'm so in love with pinterest.
and did i mention they're next to nothing to make? another reason i love them!

(if you've never heard of pinterest click HERE.)

randoms

we seriously adore these two...

                                                                                    little miss diva had had it for one day..

 like my new wreath?

i made it at craft day, and LOVE it.

how to make your own cupcake stand

my wonderful friend amanda shared with me how to make this

adorable inexpensive cupcake stand.

so..

i thought i'd share with you.

now, apparently it's illegal to use postal boxes this way, but believe me when i say

"i didn't know!"

they were all just the perfect size, and hey, i spent $44 dollars

the same day on just stamps, so i think it was worth it for the free boxes.

anyway, go get you some free boxes.

i used two boxes for my base and two more to make the stand.

 cover in the desired colors

 decorate anyway you'd like.

 

 stack on your cupcakes!

(and any other extras you may have)

total cost:

$15

side note:

it may cost you a little more if you have to go out and buy the wrapping paper and ribbon.

i hit the jackpot this week at hobby lobby and bought some of the ribbon for 50% off.

the wrapping paper was the most expensive part.

Ahoy ahoy...

Wendi's having a boy...

is what the inivitation read.

This morning, I along with a couple wonderful women in our ward threw Wendi

and Mr. Brighton a Nautical/Sailor themed baby shower.

I was in charge of cupcakes and the cupcake stand, along with the pompoms.

(if you like cupcakes with amazing icing click on the links below. you'll love me for sharing)

Easy White Cake

Perfect Cupcake Frosting and Filling

(both from my favorite food blog our best bites)

did i ever mention that my wonderful mother bought me their cookbook?!

it's awesome, go get you one!

{Jessie: 37 wks, Wendi: 34 wks}

we are both SO ready!