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!

trunk or treat

we had our ward trunk or treat last night.

layla was in heaven going from car to car saying her well rehearsed, "trick or treat!?"

if you need any ideas on decorating a trunk, here is ours...

 (i don't think we broke $10 on the decor. Just use stuff around your house!)

this girl is becoming more like her daddy when it comes to taking pictures.

marx before the party...

then during..

he didn't know what to think about all the costumes and crazy kids running around.

he stayed wide eyed like this for awhile.

funny boy.

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.)

don't be afraid

i'm trying really hard to rock our budget this year.

the only debt we have is my student loan, that we almost have paid off, and after that we'll be debt free.

(i don't consider house notes and car notes debt, you can't really live without either)

it's a wonderful feeling.

--

so our awesome friends, starling and wendi, introduced us to dirt cheap

i had never heard of them until i moved to the south.

the first time i went into one, i went in and walked right back out.

it was unbearable for me.

(and it didn't help that i was pregnant and sick)

things were just out of order and messy.

again, doesn't go well with me.

but i decided to give the hattiesburg dirt cheap a try.

I.LOVE.IT

the deals you find on stuff is amazing,

for instance...

this is one of our favorite games to play.

at wal-mart you'll pay $19.99 for it.

I paid $1.50 for it today!

woot.woot

(if you haven't played it, do, with lots of your close friends!)

i also had this find today...

baby boy has been needing a diaper bag.

they had a whole bin full of j.j. collection

this bag goes for $59.00 at Target or online.

I got it for $5.00!

and it is in tip top shape.

--

i also bought him :

6 pairs of clothes

2 pairs pajamas

3 bibs

3 recieving blankets

and

2 beanies

wanna know what i spent?!?!

$20 big ones!

isn't it awesome!?

if you have a dirt cheap near you,

that's in good shape.

GO!

valentine love notes

If you're in need of a fun, cheap, and cute centerpiece for your table

here's what I did...

I'm trying to be better about using things we have around our house to use as holiday decor.

Hopefully we'll have it filled up by Valentines and then we can read our love notes to eachother that night.