Monday, September 28, 2009

More Project Ideas


I keep finding all these great ideas for projects. I don't know when I will ever get to all of them, but i have to share.

Doorway Puppet Theater

This is a great idea, because you can easily store this little puppet theater. I love the ingenuity of it and what fun for the kids to have. Love it!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Share the Surprise



I read this idea on a blog and thought I would love to do this and share the ultimate surprise with all my loved ones and friends.

It is a baby shower where everyone in attendance finds out the sex of the baby all at the same time. Even the mother and father. This is how it is done.

The couple had decided to not find out the sex of the baby at the time of the ultra-sound, instead opting to find out at the shower. They asked the technician to write down the sex of the baby and put it into a sealed envelope. The mom-to-be then handed the envelope to friends planning the shower who arranged with a bakery to tint the inside of the cake (pink for a girl, blue for a boy). What a delight it was when the happy couple cut the cake to see blue-- and everyone was able to share in their excitement (while also allowing the couple plenty of time to plan ahead and paint the nursery).

Idea from The Finer Things Blog

Friday, September 25, 2009

I am IN LOVE!


Okay, I didn't know I was a 50's kind a girl. But I found this etsy shop Timeless Vixen's Vintage and fell in love. Seriously, all the dresses are to die for. But this one caught my eye and it is all I can think about. It is adorable, red and so cute. I just wish it wasn't $350. But man, if I could, I would!

Here are just a few more, I am in love with.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Not Fair!


So, the first day of fall was 100 degrees here. We have been in 98-100 degrees for the last week and this is our forecast for the next week. Are you kidding me? People all over the country are experiencing nice fall weather (or in the case of my parents winter weather ... it was 46 degrees in Denver the other day). But not us, we are having a major heat wave and the worst part is that it should be fall. Not fair. I can't wait for fall.... please oh please come!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

OHHHH!


How cute is this photo. I am in LOVE! No, I didn't take this photo. I wish!

The photographer Tracy Raver has a knack when it comes to photographing newborns. YOU HAVE TO check out her newborn portfolio. It is so so so cute!

Monday, September 21, 2009

A fun Blog Redesign


A fellow blogger came to me and asked to redesign her blog. She gave me the initial idea of what she wanted in the banner and then asked me to design it in a cute, but clean way. Here is what I did for her. Thanks MishaLee... it was great working with you!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

An Upcoming Project


This one is going to take a long time to finish, but I love it and I know my girls would use it, so I am going to mentally prep myself for this project. Isn't this one so cute. I am going to copy it a bit, but I need to make my table fort more gender friendly, since I will have a boy playing with it in the future.

If you want one of your own, but don't want to spend the hours (i am going to invest in it), you can buy one here.

Friday, September 18, 2009

How Do you??


How do you get frosting that looks like this? I want frosting that is fluffy and holds it shape when you decorate cupcakes. Every time I make frosting it goes on the cupcake and just goes flat with no shape. Anyone have the secret behind fluffy, but stiff frosting?

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Another Great Idea


Although, I am not in YW anymore, I have to share this great idea that I found out there in blogland.

Someone gathered all the booklets that a YW has (For the Strength of Youth, Guidelines for Parents and Leaders of Youth, (for the guys: Deacon, Teacher and Priest Duty to God), and Personal Progress and cut off the spines and bound them all together into one great book. Brilliant!

Wouldn't this be a great Christmas gift or New Beginnings gift for beehives or birthday gift one year for the young women.

idea/picture came from this blog.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Labor of Love


You have to check out this quiet book Forty Two Roads made. She used her old kids clothes and made this adorable thing. I seriously want one, but don't know if I could even make it or devote that much time. But it is cute enough, I have thought about it. Seriously, check the whole thing out. She did a great job!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Our Disney Report

The Crew Waiting for Toy Story Mania

Mary Poppins - Practical Charming in Every Way and notice "Duckie" made it into the picture.

Breakfast with One of Minnie's friends

This was part of their new parade - the kids get to dance in the streets with the dancers

The Girls

We are back from Disneyland and what a weekend. Friday is was so hot 90 degrees with 50% humidity, but the good thing was that the park was empty. That was so nice to walk around without the crowds. Saturday it was normal crowded and a bit cooler 82 degrees. Here are the things learned this trip and our report.

datestamp The firework show isn't as good as last years, but it was good. Lots of fireworks I don't know that I have seen before and one special little treat in the middle of the show. If you want to know, you can email me and I will tell you, but I want it to be a surprise for those that might go and see the show.

datestamp The parade wasn't as good either. But Hannah did get to dance with Mary Poppins, so that was a treat. We really miss the "dream" parade. We told the Fairy Godmother that and she told us to go to City Hall and let them know. so, if you feel the same way, go tell the folks at City Hall.

datestamp Fantasmic has a few changes. They updated "Murphy" the dragon. (we learned that was his name from some disney employees we were standing by). He is definitely a fierce dragon now, but the sad thing is that he doesn't breathe fire anymore... that was a bit disappointing. If you are going to make him "new and improved" at least keep him fire-breathing.

datestamp We had breakfast with Minnie again and there were a ton of characters this time around. We got to see the regulars, but also we got to see characters we have never seen before... like Baloo, Timon, Fairy Godmother and Capt. Hook (We have seen him, but not very often). I happened to have insulted Captain Hook and I made him cry. I apparently called him fat, but I really didn't.

datestamp If you want a super yummy cookie. After you get off the Winnie-the-Pooh ride, go into the shop and get their raspberry White Chocolate Chip cookie. I had it for the first time this trip and it will become a tradition each time we get off the Pooh ride.

datestamp Ella loved the characters. During our breakfast, she yelled each characters name over and over again. Tigger! Pooh! Minnie! She loved that she could say their names and that she knew them... it was pure excitement. She loved Snow White too! She was so excited to meet her and Cinderella.

datestamp I think my new favorite ride in the park is Splash Mountain. I convinced Hannah to go on it with me (now that I'm not pregnant) and when we didn't get wet... she wanted to go on again and again. We kept going and not getting wet, so Hannah loved it and I loved it (for the exact same reason). I really is a great ride. The songs, the characters, the roller coaster in the middle and the nice big drop! A great ride!

datestamp With three kids, I had to leave the SLR at home and only used my point and click. So, the pictures aren't what they used to be. I guess in a few years, I will be able to bring my camera again, but not for awhile. So, sad.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

swatches can be so many things


I watch a lot of wedding blogs, because they always have the best ideas for parties. I came across this picture and thought ... swatches could be used for so many things. I could use them at a birthday party, for a quiz or lesson in young womens or relief society. I could use them as a countdown to some kind of holiday.

I am not sure exactly how I am going to use it, but it is too cute not to find a way to use it. I just need to find a good wooden back somewhere.. Keep your eyes out for that for me will you! I might try and come up with a countdown to Halloween or Christmas.

Pictures of my own version to come someday soon (I hope.. I have about 5 projects I want to do!

Photography credit goes to Adlers Photography

Thursday, September 10, 2009

It's been a long time


It has been over 7 months since we were last at Disneyland. I have to say I have missed it and am super excited for tomorrow. We are off to Disneyland to enjoy our passes these last few months.

I can't wait for Breakfast with Minnie, The Winnie-the-Pooh ride, pin trading, seeing how Ella reacts to the characters, their slushie lemonades, Toy Story Mania, seeing the characters, the new attractions like the fireworks and the new parade.

Hope you all have a great weekend...

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

A Spa Party


My friend threw the cutest birthday party for her girls and lucky Hannah was invited. I had to share this cute birthday party idea. I already warned my friend I will be stealing this idea in a few years.

It was a Spa Party. She made the cutest flip-flop invitations. (That got lost in the mail for a week and I live next door.) The girls all met at a local nail salon and they all got pedicures. Can you imagine 10 girls aging from 4-8 years old all getting their toenails done. So, cute. Then they headed next store to our family's favorite yogurt shoppe.

Each girl got a bag with flipflops that my friend made cute with bows and a water bottle and a ring pop.

Such a cute idea and Hannah loved getting her toes done just like mom. Purple glitter nails. She has been showing everyone!
Thanks Cymbylnne for the cute idea and for letting us be a part of your girls fun day!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Just Around the Corner


I get the Food Network Magazine and I have almost decided not to renew (it is a nice magazine, but I don't love the recipes all that much), but they did have this great idea for a costume and I think I will be making this for Hannah this year. She says she wants to be it, so I am going to ask one more time to make sure before I invest in making it... but tell me that she won't win every costume contest! I just hope she doesn't hate carrying it around after the first 20 mins... that is my big fear.

This costume is so darn cute and not too hard to make, just a little time searching, sewing and glueing. I wanted to share because I am pretty sure many people don't get this magazine and it really is a cute idea. So, if you aren't in my neighborhood or area (we don't need two cute cupcakes passing each other in the night :-), please feel free to make this adorable cupcake for your cutie!
Here are the directions!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Back in the Saddle


and it feels great. I already showed a final logo of client. She asked for some sort of a dragon fly icon to go with her logo. So, here are the concepts I created for her. This was a fun logo to work on and a great client too.

here is her site if you want to check her out Pink Fly Photography.

And if you want to see the final logo again, click here.

Friday, September 4, 2009

All about Presentation


I had to share this adorable idea for presenting a cupcake. I am not sure how practical it is, but imagine about 30 of these laid out on a table. SO CUTE! I might have to do these for a VT message or for a small gathering sometime. They are just too cute, someone in my life needs to get one.

Of course the idea comes from martha Stewart.. .click here for the recipe.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Hey, now you're a Rockstar...



This week my girlfriends got together for a night of pampering. We gave each other glitter pedicures (which salons are calling a "rockstar" pedicure.) It was a fun night. Here is what we did. (thanks Terri for the instructions!)
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ON THE MENU
Italian Sodas
Chocolate Pecan Pie This is what I brought to the party. It is so easy and seriously yummy!
Magic Bars (I can't wait to get my hands on this recipe... they were super yummy!)
Corn Chips, Salsa, and Guacamole from Trader Joe's
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THE SUPPLIES
nail polish remover
cotton balls
nail polish - we asked everyone to bring a few of their favorite colors
fine glitter
small paint brush
clear top coat
sequins
tweezers
towels - to make for an easy clean up and help protect your floors :)

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DIRECTIONS
1. First choose a nail color you like and a coordinating glitter.

2. Now you can paint! Start with your base coat.


2. Paint your nails with your choice of polish.


3. While paint is still wet, sprinkle glitter* all over each individual toe (or finger) to cover well. You may want to lay a piece of paper under the toes to minimize the mess and to catch the leftover glitter so you can use it again.


*Martha Stewart has a large set of extra fine glitter for around $20.00 at Walmart. The set has pretty much every color of glitter you would want.

4. You can brush off the excess glitter with a small paintbrush, but make sure not to brush directly on the toenail or you can mess up the paint job.

5. Once dry, paint a clear top coat over the glitter to help keep it contained and to add shine to the sparkle.


6. If you so desire... using tweezers, add nail sequins to the top coat before it dries. Then go ahead and add another top coat to keep it in place.



7. Now put your feet up, relax, and enjoy time with the girls while it all dries. (approximately an hour)