tripping over joy

happy valentine's day

2012-02-14T08:00:00.003-05:00

happy, happy, valentine's day!

oh how i wish i had all the monies in the world to send out these gorgeous cards from rifle paper company (love them)

today is the release of the audrey assad CD, appropriately named 'heart.' i stayed up late last night to get my copy, that's how excited i am! you can get a copy on itunes or amazon (pssst they're cheaper on amazon)

tonight we have a date to go see the vow. i've been dying for a good chick flick! i hope you have an amazing valentine's! xoxo

valentine fever

2012-02-10T08:00:00.009-05:00

i've been loving all the valentine inspiration i've seen over everyone's blogs. how cute are these printables from my friend natalie's etsy shop? you can find her shop here.

it's time to download your free february desktop calendar here

and your free ipod screen saver here

below is a roundup of valentine DIY's i'm oogling over

heart tea bags

heart wool elbow patches

heart sweater applique

valentine surprise balls

"you're the bomb" valentine

and to all my fellow nerds/anyone looking for a game to pass by the time. i think this little king midas themed game is just so cute. you can play here

i whipped up this little guy to add to our valentine flare.

i was totally inspired after finally sitting down to read this embroidery book my mom gave me for christmas. jenny hart (the author) is amazing and this is one of the best books i've found for beginners like me.

check out this video if you need some inspiration from jenny hart herself

finally, if you live in the area it's the perfect time to check out the love sculpture at 55th and 6th!

socks on death row

2012-01-30T21:10:00.000-05:00

how is it after doing laundry we have this many mis-matched socks?!

i could never wear two different socks, my entire day would feel uneven! but my husband has no problem with it...

so when he wasn't around i found a solution to our problem. these socks have approximately one month to find a friend or they're gone...sayonara

but today i found someone trying to rescue a few friends....busted.

2011-12-25T08:00:00.002-05:00

wishing you a merry christmas!

today i am meditating on the beautiful implications of having a savior that became man..

"for whatever reason God chose to make man as he is- limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death- he had the honesty and the courage to take his own medicine, whatever game he is playing with His creation, He has kept his own rules and played fair. he can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted from Himself. He himself has gone through the whole human experience. from the trivial irritations of family life and the cramping restrictions of hard work and no money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation, defeat, despair, and death. when he was a man he played man, he was born in poverty, died in disgrace, and thought it all worthwhile."

-dorothy sayers

what's on my christmas wish list?

2011-12-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

see more of my wish list here!

christmas card preview

2011-12-24T08:00:00.002-05:00

every year i procrastinate starting our christmas cards (every year being this year and last) and it takes so much of the joy out of sending them because i feel so rushed. last year we tried to take a photo and we both got so frustrated, we never used any of them. we never take ourselves to seriously so it feels weird standing in front of a camera and forcing a serious picture. this year we warmed up our picture with some goofy shots which lightened the mood and left us with a decent picture of the two of us. (which i didn't include...it's a surprise of sorts!)

btw, yes i did color andy's hair..

walk like an egyptian

cheesin'

and here's a sneak peak of the card which turned out cuter than i hoped for. i will probably do a tutorial for this as well because once you have the concept down you could use it for any type of card!

free christmas fun

2011-12-19T08:00:00.010-05:00

it's time for some links to free christmas cheer to get you ready for the holidays...

amazon is doing a free 25 days of christmas music which you can find here

i always look forward to melissa's annual free christmas candy box printable download. home baked goods are always a great and inexpensive gift for friends and co-workers.. peppermint bark anyone?! you can find her download here.

each month i eagerly wait for geninne at geninne's art blog to post her new free desktop calendar. it couldn't be more simple to add to your computer, just left click on the image and select "set as background"... and then boom baby you've just given your computer a virtual facelift... click here for december's calendar

if you are interested in needlework check out these free transfers. i can't wait to work on these, next to a cozy fireplace with a fatty cup of hot cocoa :-)

and finally, check out this website where you can send a christmas video from santa to your loved ones! we had so much fun with this...

wishing you a warm cup of hot cocoa and a candy cane this christmas season!

all that glitters

2011-12-18T13:43:00.000-05:00

i've been really loving the glitter trend i'm seeing everywhere this season. so from that inspiration comes these DIYs. there's something very liberating about glitter, maybe it's the fact that glitter was banned from my childhood for being "the herpes of the craft world".... as i was doing these little projects glitter got everywhere-all over our carpet. and for 5 minutes, i didn't mind it. nothing says "i'm an adult who lives by my own rules" quite like living in a layer of glitter for a few weeknd. but enough of my ranting, let's get to the good stuff!....

check out these gold shoes inspired by h&m, f21, and old navy

how to?: cover flats in mod podge and sprinkle with glitter, cover on top with mod podge to secure

and my glitter garland..

how to?: cut triangles, sew the garland, and use glue stick to secure glitter

glitter piggy bank..

how to?: use mod podge to apply glitter and cover with mod podge to secure

glitter covered glade evergreen scented candle (the glade holiday candles are the bomb diggity)

how to?: paint on mod podge and cover with..... glitter!!

when i like a trend i commit to it. nothing in my house is safe from it.. now if i could just get my hands on the neighborhood cat...

wishing you sprinkles of sparkles

little angel, big voice

2011-12-17T21:06:00.000-05:00

the only thing bigger than this angels wings is her singing voice..

christmas ornament DIY

2011-12-14T07:20:00.001-05:00

my mom gave me an early christmas present last weekend that i had to share:

it's our wedding invitation in a glass ornament! what a great keepsake... i just love it!

you can make one too by cutting a wedding invitation into thin pieces around the words you want to display. curl the strips using scissors. don't forget to include strips of only colors from the invitation!

happy crafting..

prepare to be inspired...

2011-12-08T08:40:00.001-05:00

watch this artist create an image of his father with 3.2 million individual ink dots and be inspired..

i have some verrrrry exciting posts coming.. and a possible christmas giveaway so stay tuned!

monday inspiration

2011-12-05T10:45:00.000-05:00

recently i've been following this project, a 365 day embroidery project.. it's pretty much amazing. every day she embroiders something new with the weeks chosen theme in mind. it's so inspiring.. and she's selling them on her site as well... so if you haven't gotten me anything for christmas yet....

check this out from "girl you crack me up" week.. kristen wiig

and from "take this job and shove it" week where she memorializes her previous jobs

from the "i love you but i'm only a preteen and my mom says it's only hormones" week.. matt dillon in the outsiders

happy only 20 days until christmas!

xoxo,

meg

happy 11/11/11

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

i love when this happens.

it is also corduroy appreciation day, who knew? as 11/11 resembles the vertical stripes on corduroy fabric. check out the coduroy appreciation club which, according to the website they "only meet on the days that resemble corduroy," and pull out those corduroy overalls from 6th grade to celebrate.

have a great 11/11/11

button ring DIY

2011-11-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

i've had these buttons for ages and hadn't done anything with them, (you can find them at michael's or hobby lobby) so of course imagine my excitement when i saw this DIY at wild olive.

just follow the instructions for covering them with fabric (super easy)

cut a piece of fabric to fit the size of the button, wrap and snap on back using the device that comes in the packet.

i secured mine to my finger with a loop of elastic... voila! (oh and the picture below is of the 2nd one i made)... love

Currently Listening To...

2011-11-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Saving the Green

2011-10-20T08:00:00.086-04:00

after switching out my summer clothes for fall clothes i took my mom's advice and hung all of the hangers backwards. now anything that i wear during the season gets turned around the right way. anything still left hung backwards will be removed and sold. i bring all of my things to crossroads trading resale shop in williamsburg, BK, it's THE best kept secret. resale shops (other popular ones are plato's closet or buffalo trading) will give you more $ if you opt to take store credit which i always do because there's always something i want/need.

this next 'secret' is one andy and i <3. every saturday andy drives me to work in the city and we grab a free coffee. that's right free ninety-nine. if you brew starbucks coffee at home be sure to buy the bags that offer you a free coffee. i have one in my purse at all times since there is a starbucks on like every corner. it also helps if: your dad drinks it constantly, feels weird about bringing a bag in for a coffee, and collects them for you (thanks dad!)

if you're like me and buy cheap accessories from forever 21 be sure to coat them with clear nail polish. you will get a lot more wear out of the ring and will avoid a lovely green ring around your finger.

my final little tip is to use expensive wrapping paper as cheap (but not cheap looking!) artwork . you can generally find sheets of wrapping paper at little boutiques. (if you're in the city check out kate's paperie) we've used wrapping paper as decoration in two of our guest rooms. i'm in love!

por ejemplar

have any money saving tips? share them with me in the comments!

wishing you all a free cup of joe and a pocket full of cash,

meg

Happy Halloween

2011-10-16T08:00:00.050-04:00

halloween didn't get much attention this year. the mixture: of working like crazy, october flying by, and my excitement for christmas has caused it to be a little overlooked. i did manage to make a few garlands..

my lovely dollar store decorations and the worst smelling candle ever from walmart. seriously don't ever get the buttered rum flavored candle.

franken nails

halloween cookies at our local bakery

our mini pumpkins

apple cider and the mummy returns, which was so good that i fell asleep

i love dunkin's holiday donuts!

i hope your day was filled with lots of candy, trick 'r treaters and orange and black sprinkled donuts!

the I Love You Jar

2011-10-13T14:13:00.000-04:00

a while back my sister sent me a link to this awesome article from one of her favorite photographer's blog. i love all of her reflections on marriage, one idea she had was an affirmation jar..

"Essentially, what you do is as the week progresses, any time your spouse does something that you appreciate, something you noticed, something that made you laugh – whatever – write it down and put it in the jar. Then, at the end of the week, sit down together and read them together. It sounds so simple, but it’s amazing what that little investment does for your marriage!"

i loved and stole the idea, and i must say it's super exciting each week to watch it fill up. so exciting, in fact, that we normally can't wait a full week to read them!

a Laugh For Your Wednesday

2011-10-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

the funniest Halloween prank ever.

Falling for Fall!

2011-10-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

recently my mom and i went on a little "fall hunt" for acorns. we turned them into fall decor (along with some pinecones) by spray painting them gold.. sooo easy! i think i'll make some silver ones for the christmas season too..

My Best Friend's Wedding

2011-10-10T08:00:00.025-04:00

it's been crazy for us as our friends have started to get married. i guess in my mind we would always be married and our friends would always just date? maybe i just always thought things would stay the same way they were when we left college. but (fortunately) things progress: friends move away, get real jobs, get engaged , and even get married! and we are even more blessed for it. we'd been looking forward to this wedding since before they even got engaged, and it was even better than anticipated. so without further adieu here's my (very image heavy) post of images from their wedding, leigh and her mom have a gift for decorating and it's all seen in their little details.. again, sorry for the image quality, my camera broke at their wedding :-(

here's our invite printed on a hanky (for our happy tears)

on flight reading sky mall pondering the necessity that is 1.)the inflateable tie pillow and 2.)"bashful" bigfoot sculpture

upon our arrival.. how sweet is this? i forgot about the luxury that is, shaving cream

love these wedding/shower favors!

and our bridesmaid tote gifts filled with TX love and appliqued with our initials

trying to snap a picture before the wedding..

the beautiful bride

andy (looking quite dapper) and i before the wedding

me with the bride right before the wedding

vintage stirrers.. such a great little detail

yes, the bride wrote this..so cute

door of memories

cupcake table

photo booth fun

the texas sunrise.. something you definitely don't get in NY

we are so excited for the arlitt's and their new life together!
<3

San Gennaro Part Deux

2011-10-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

we made our 2nd annual visit to the san gennaro festival in little italy. last year we had just moved to brooklyn. this year we knew what to expect, so we thought... little did we know it was the year of the italian food mascots. check out me with giant cannoli

and andy with tomato man

rice ball... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

and of course the prize that everyone anticipates winning at this italian holiday. the rastafarian banana.

my husband's creative baby..

2011-10-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

a few weekends ago andy and i headed to new jersey for a weekend so that andy could record his ep. i'm so proud of him for following his dream and finishing it! i have to mention that it was our good friends brendan (who's such a talented musician.. check THIS out) and his brother ryan made this all possible!

i can't wait to share updates once the cd is complete.. but i'm just so proud, i couldn't wait for the finished product to spill the beans!

Girl Sleep Over

2011-09-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

me and my nieces had our first ever sleepover! complete with s'mores, fingernail painting, a fort, and (of course) a craft: check out the sign they made for the door..

our mummy craft... my mom and i realized halfway through the craft that they thought we were making "mommy's" because when we tried to explain to them that mummies don't have eyes one of my nieces said "but my mommy has eyes!"

s'more time! which wasn't a huge hit, but all for the better as they were in very flammable princess costumes

the fort where they slept

morning porch time

christmas in september..

2011-09-17T08:00:00.002-04:00

remember the thrift store sale i blogged about? check out what my mom did with that wreath just by hot-glueing ornaments on it!.. is it too early to start playing christmas music?? jk!.....maybe. ok but don't act like this picture doesn't make you want to put warm socks on and then drink a peppermint mocha by a warm fireplace.

Thrift Store Sale

2011-09-14T12:20:00.001-04:00

seems kind of crazy for a "thrift store" to have a sale, but it happened! everything was 50% off.. that being said, it was a great shopping day. i got a bag full of fun vintage fabric squares, 3 vintage clothing patterns, a binder full of embroidery stuff and this old address/contact tin. while my mom got a wreath, christmas ornaments and an ash tray.

i want to show you what i did with that old address box. i turned it into a memory/quote box. anyone who knows me knows i have the memory of a goldfish (which i'd always heard was 3 seconds.. but supposedly it's 3 months?) so anyway this is an awesome tool for me to remember funny things that happen and quotes that people say. you can find my inspiration for this project here

btw sorry for the poor quality in these photos.. my camera broke last week :-( so it's off to be fixed.. until then i'm using my ipod touch!

my heart today

2011-09-11T08:00:00.014-04:00

goes out to all of those affected by 9/11/2001. i can't believe ten years has passed already! tonight we're headed to see the 9/11 tribute light beams from downtown brooklyn to celebrate the lives that were lost that day.

9/11 memorial tiles in greenwich village

"those who believe in God know that evil and death do not have the final say."
pope john paul II

Embroidered Fabric

2011-09-01T08:00:00.003-04:00

i've been messing around with some printed fabric stitching which is super simple as you just follow the pattern on the fabric and use whatever stitches you like. my inspiration came from this website feeling stitchy if you're into needlework at all, it's a great resource!

You've Got Mail

2011-08-31T08:00:00.004-04:00

don't you LOVE receiving mail that isn't a bill? me too that's why this postcard template i created is amazing. 1. print the two pages front and back and cut the sides and top so that they fit inside an envelope [i believe i used a 4 3/4 X 6 1/2]. 2. fill out the top half of the fill-in-the-blank side 3. fill in your address in the address lines and add postcard postage 4. fold at the dotted line 5. mail to a friend

now all your friend has to do is cut at the dotted line, fill out their blanks and send it in the mail. i sent out 4 and got all 4 back. AND it's so much fun to see what people write!

enjoy!

Hello Postcard

Post Hurricane Update

2011-08-29T20:34:00.000-04:00

we're totally fine. we had prepared for the worst: losing power, a tree limb to the car, 6 feet of water.. but it was all unnecessary! the scariest part of the entire event was the news. CNN had scared me into watching hours of news coverage which was broadcasting worst case scenarios..ay yi yi! anyway, we're all okay.. me, andy, and our goldfish which was won a few days ago at a festival, by teens andy works with, and lovingly left in our mailbox...

our "hurricane survival kit"

smart friends moved inland

unnecessary candle setup [as we didn't even lose power]

t-shirt for edmund our fish, he's been through so much!

It's Been One Year Since..

2011-08-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

we moved to brooklyn. i figured that now was time to make a little 'bucket list.' time goes by fast and i would hate for our 3 year commitment to be up without having seen everything i wanted to. so i'll be doing a post every time i've completed 5 things on my list...feel free to comment if there's something you thing i should add to the list!

DIY Sweater Revamp

2011-08-27T15:14:00.000-04:00

oh em gee.. i just turned my least favorite sweater into my favorite and i'm going to share with you how..

this is what you'll need:

1. using a sewing machine sew the black ribbon along the edge of the cardigan. 2. hand sew the chain onto the ribbon.

so simple but it makes such a difference!

(the best i could do using self-timer..ha!)

i had to include this photo we took last night at coney island.. everything is so dark and grey out in preparation for hurricane irene. we got out of there as soon as we heard policeman patrolling with megaphones announcing mandatory evacuation. we technically don't live in an evacuation zone-we're about a mile away, and have decided to stay and wait it out.. pictures to come!

Free Music Monday

2011-08-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

i've been jamming out to this guy, dewy sinatra, all week now. his song "popular" samples part of a song from wicked the musical <3.. download his mixtape here.

Last Week in Cross Stitch

2011-08-21T09:15:00.000-04:00

i made this "keep calm and teach on" cross stitch for a friend who's back in her second year of teaching through an awesome organization called teach for america. the program puts new college graduates in the schools of lower income communities, in an effort to eliminate education inequity.

my second little stitch "i'm nuts about you" is from here (for some reason it's super hard to read in the picture)

A Laugh for Your Saturday

2011-08-20T13:46:00.000-04:00

watch this man break the world record for most bites taken out of apples while juggling them(my favorite world record). my favorite parts are the raise in his eyebrows at the start and the resemblance he has to that of a rodent from midway to end... enjoy!

Just Finished Reading...

2011-08-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

and it was phenomenal.

if you don't know who fulton sheen is, he's most famous for his emmy award winning television show Life is Worth Living, which aired in the 1950s and drew as many as 30 million viewers a week. even though his television work only scratches the surface of his amazing life, it's that dynamic that makes this book really amazing. sheen has a way of relating, comparing, and breaking down complicated things to a more understandable level, which was foundational to his television success, and also makes this book such a great read. he touches on all different subjects of the catholic church from marriage to the priesthood, to doctrine- but also speaks about his relationships with different people such as humphrey bogart, franklin roosevelt, and john paul II.

it's one that i will keep forever as i know every time i pick it up i will probably see something new. and i totally recommend it for you library!

DIY Brooch Rings

2011-08-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

i've been collecting vintage brooches for a while now and finally just revamped them into rings...
the process is really simple and most thrift stores have a good selection of old brooches.

what you'll need:
-brooches, of course
-jewelry glue, i got mine here
-adjustable rings, which you can get here
-pliers
-[possibly] a metal filer

what you do:
-using pliers remove the pin on the back of the brooch
-if the surface isn't even you may need to take a metal filer to the back surface
-if you have an even surface, apply glue and let it sit

like so....

voila! i've been really into the look of the wider brooches that extend past one or two fingers...something different..

Updates

2011-08-09T08:00:00.012-04:00

welcome to my newly renovated blog! while on the subject of renovations i want to share with you my update on my little workspace...i'm never leaving it. it's so much brighter and happier. now if i could only find that missing desk drawer handle...

My Little Secret

2011-08-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

it's true i've been holding back on you this whole time. maybe i've just forgotten to blog about this, maybe i'm having a bit of a 'gollum' moment.. ("myyyy ppprrrrrreccioussssss") but either way, i'm spilling the beans now.. his name is jeff pianki and he's an amazing musician. i would describe him as sufjan stevens meets harry connick jr. but don't just take my word for it.. you can download his music for free here!..happy listening

Moustachio Glassio

2011-08-04T12:30:00.000-04:00

"that's one fine moustache!" as if we REALLY need one more coffee mug in this house. all you need is enamel paint, a paint brush and an oven to bake the mug once it's dried. the instructions say 30 minutes at 350 degrees. a great gift for all of those men (and women..) in your life unable to grow facial hair. let that cup of coffee take you to a land where you have bounteous hair above your upper lip.. not that i've done that or anything.

a Flower Bed

2011-07-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

this picture came from our friends house in long island... such a cute idea.

Cross Stitching

2011-07-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

these past few months i've taken up needlework as a hobby. because most of my patterns were small and easy to transport it became a good activity for me to do on my subway commute. some people would peer over my shoulder, and i even got a few snickers, as if anyone under the age of 70 shouldn't be cross stitching. i'm bringing it back baby! well ok, not me, everyone who has been producing these hipster patterns is.

these patterns came from miss wooly's mini cross stitch book. an amazing christmas present from andy, i would recommend this book as a great start for anyone wanting to learn cross stitching!

A Laugh for Your Sunday

2011-07-17T08:00:00.003-04:00

"why did you drop your pineapple?"

Blog Hiatus and Houndstooth Nails

2011-07-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

HELLO world!! i'm back after an unannounced, unexpected hiatus. i found myself with so little free time being in school and commuting 2 hours day that my blog just became neglected, but i'm so excited to show you what i've been working on, crafting, and loving since february.

my new found favorite beauty item came from my FAVE makeup artist ever, Kandee Johnson. Kandee does a ton of youtube tutorials on fashion and makeup that is always budget friendly. (she's hilarious too.. i crack up whenever i watch her fourth of july video)

If you haven't tried these sally hansen salon effects nail polish strips you should! they are super easy to apply and last longer than regular nail polish. (for those of you who may not like patterns.. they have regular colors too!) the brand that salons use and that celebrities like rihanna wear is called minx. but you can get the effect at a fraction of the cost. rite aid and walgreens occasionally have a buy one get one half deal which is a good time to stock up!

rather than try and explain the process.. you can use this video by kandee to help you apply the strips..

and now, a video..

2011-01-23T11:17:00.000-05:00

the yearly update from dirty vagabond ministries, thanks to everyone who donates to keep this center open in nyc!

Valentine DIY

2011-01-12T11:43:00.000-05:00

it's early i know, but this past weekend we "de-christmased" the house. isn't it so depressing to take down the christmas tree and all of the beautiful things that made your house so much more cozy? the solution to avoiding total depression at our house has been, a run to the craft store to start valentine's decorations! below are letters from michael's that andy painted for me:

the best investment i made from michael's was a heart hole punch! (all of there hole punches were 1/2 off!). i then took old magazines i had laying around, and punched away! (pottery barn magazines were my favorites) after i punched them out i sewed them together (both horizontally and vertically) to create valentine garlands i strung around the house

next, i cut out felt heart shapes, embellished them, stuffed them and sewed them shut to create a heart garland.

more soon!

Free Printable Calendar

2011-01-08T10:06:00.000-05:00

if you like to have an at a glance calendar on your desk like me, here's the perfect, free, printable one, here.

More Snow?

2011-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

i can't believe snow is on the forecast for nyc this weekend! below is an image of our block after the snowstorm that shut down the city after christmas. nyc snow is not nearly as pretty as virginia snow [see bottom picture for proof]

Vintage Christmas Part Deux

2011-01-04T22:30:00.000-05:00

remember my obsession with vintage christmas knick knacks? check out these amazing finds andy and i had at a thrift store in maryland on our way back from christmas..

total money spent..$9.03

Pen Thieves

2011-01-04T22:11:00.000-05:00

where do all of the pens i buy go..eh? here's my sneaky solution! i bought a bouquet of faux flowers and filler, and then took them apart, attaching pens at the bottom using floral tape. now, even if someone discovers my hiding place, the pens aren't quite as easy to run off with!

New Favorite

2011-01-04T19:14:00.001-05:00

i am loving my new boots from target by dolce vita i practically never take them off!

1.1.11

2011-01-02T11:03:00.000-05:00

andy and i went to the annual polar bear plunge at coney island and watched people jump into the freezing cold water. although it was crowded, it wasn't 'times-square-on-new-years' crowded. in my opinion watching the ball drop is a bit over-rated.. the polar bear plunge, however, totally under-rated.

above: sumo wrestling competition?

above: the self-proclaimed merbear and metrocard man

One Year.

2010-12-31T00:38:00.000-05:00

[via]

happy new year's! i can't believe that one year ago today i was doing this:

all photos except for the above image courtesy of alexander johnnides via

above image courtesy via

time flies when you're having fun!.. best of wishes in 2011 to you and yours!

a merry christmas post

2010-12-25T12:34:00.002-05:00

Cozy Cup Eye Candy

2010-12-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

it's true, i love mail- that isn't junk mail or bills. so naturally, i was ecstatic to receive a package from a dear friend before she left the country to go do mission work. the package contained the most precious hand knitted cup cozy ever..you know you're jealous!

thank you thank you thank ms. mary iche liebe dich you more!

A Laugh for your Wednesday

2010-12-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

here's an excerpt from the book a dear friend gave me when i moved to new york called 'my first new york.' the book is a compilation of different celebrities' first new york experiences.. the following is andy samberg's (from snl):

i moved to New York with three friends from summer camp. Two of us were going to NYU, and the other two were in that self-loathing, debaucherous postcollege year of self-destruction. We crammed into what probably should have been a two-bedroom on Bleecker and Macdougal and sectioned things off into a four-bedroom by putting up a lot of curtains.

That was an absolute disaster. We were all really broke, and those dudes were out of control. There was no one in the house that did any cleaning, so by halfway through the year there were rats and mice everywhere. I grew up in the Bay Area, so I am fairly at one with nature, but this was different. California nature is lovely. New York nature is disgusting. At first, I was really grossed out by it, but by summertime, I remember lying on my couch watching TV with a water gun, and every time a mouse would run out from behind the TV, I would just spray it. There was no Let's try and catch them; it was just like, Take a hike, buddy.

The mice kind of became a part of the house. We weren't feeding them or anything, but we definitely got less skittish around them. Its interesting how much you can adapt to when you don't have the means to fix it. We did get the sticky traps once. But when one got stuck, we were all too scared to get it and throw it out or kill it. Literally, we were four college-age dudes curled up on the couch listening to it scream for three days. We took turns going back and peeking at it and yelling, Oh God, its there! Its dying! Its dying! What do we do?But you cant get it off; if you pull it, you rips the limbs off. The humane thing to do would have been to smash it with a hammer, but no one had the stomach to do that, so it was pretty awful.

Free Christmas Joy

2010-12-21T22:24:00.002-05:00

for all of you 'last-minute-gifters' here are a few things for what i like to call 'free ninety nine,' that will help you with your wrapping:

cute printable boxes for your homemade treats from melissa at ISLY

[via]

printable tags from design sponge [via]

Vintage Christmas LOVE

2010-12-20T22:10:00.002-05:00

today the vintage ornaments i ordered from ebay came in! i've had my eye on quite a few more.. recently i've had a fascination with vintage figurines from japan soooo if you haven't gotten me anything yet...;-) aaand goofy christmas cards are in the mail.. i hope they make you smile!

[via]

Nichole Richie's Wedding Dress

2010-12-16T07:04:00.003-05:00

during my usual morning routine.. i found this little preview of nichole richie's wedding gown.. SO beautiful...le sigh:

[source]

Cold Hands, Warm Hearts Update!

2010-12-08T21:29:00.000-05:00

awhile back i explained that i was participating in the cold hands, warm hearts swap. since the swap just took place i have to update you all on the fabulous experience. it was soo fun to get something in the mail [that wasn't a bill] and from a friend you've never met! [i had to include the text andy sent me which i got during school.. brightened my day!]
i was partnered with ashley at the thing about daisies... (click ME for ashley's blog) she has the best makeup tips + the best shoe collection i've ever seen.. she's amazing! and her package totally inspired me so without further adieu..

soo cute right?

1. green gloves- my favorite color! i picked the same pick up multiple times in target but never bought them!

2.cute little coffee key chain

3.OPI nail polish in mad as a hatter- i'm in love! i just jumped on the sparkle craze and have gold sparkles on my toes right now..

4. bella candle in mandarin woods- smells sooooooo good

5. hand stamped dish towels- these are too adorable to clean up any spills with! ashley, teach me your ways!

6. hand made notebooks- as a list maker these totally come in handy

LOVE <3 [as you can see.. i could use some]

close up of the handmade notebooks [the owl is my favorite!]

i hope you all are enjoying the cold weather and bundling up!..this weekend i'm drinking hot chocolate, wearing my green mittens and driving around to look at christmas lights in my neighborhood. .

a Laugh for your Wednesday

2010-12-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

"i whip my hair back and forth.."

Life for Now..

2010-11-28T23:03:00.001-05:00

it's been a crazy week.. we've had 14 visitors and been non-stop on the go.

i loved seeing everyone, especially my nieces. they are at funny ages where they say things to make me laugh, all of the time. this is really my first free moment (in between the loads of laundry and christmas decorating) i've had, to sign onto my very neglected blog.

(me with 2 of my nieces on their first subway ride.. the younger one asked as we passed the statue of 'liverty' [as she says..] "is she living mommy?")

tomorrow begins a new life chapter with my first day of cosmetology school. in reflecting on my life i've found one of the only consistencies is that my life, is constantly changing. life was drastically different 6 months ago and it's going to be drastically different 6 months from today. but i am beginning to find my niche. i'm no longer ripping out my hair from the stress of driving here, i've found some staple places to get food and other necessities, and our place is seeming more like home.

so now i'm off to bed with promises of more posts in the VERY near future.

a Laugh for your Wednesday

2010-11-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

"i'm her mom.. no she's not!"

Back To School

2010-11-18T20:12:00.000-05:00

i know, i know, the same person who had sworn off any more schooling after college is going back to school- cosmetology school that is. it's official, i have put in my deposit to arrojo cosmetology and start november 29th! i've been dreaming about going here since i first heard that nick arrojo was opening a school- but never dreamed that i would actually attend!! at any rate i am excited, eager, and blessed to be having this opportunity.. more later!

[source]

a Laugh for your Wednesday

2010-11-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

whoo goes there?

2010-11-12T20:17:00.000-05:00

in sad owl news...

2010-11-12T07:00:00.004-05:00

[via]

DIY Coffee Stencil

2010-11-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

this is such a charming DIY i first saw from Jessica at how about orange. what a good surprise for a roommate or spouse on an ever dreaded monday?!

what you'll need:

1.plastic lid of a soup container

2.exacto knife

2.sharpie

directions:

1. draw design

2. cut design out with exacto knife

3. lay the stencil on top of a mug with freshly made cappuccino inside and sprinkle with cocoa or cinnamon
(*hint: dusting the cinnamon through a sieve or strainer makes for a cleaner appearance- i didn't have either available! also fill the cup as close to the top as possible!)

voila:

i'm still working on perfecting it.. but you get the idea! :-)

a Laugh for your Wednesday

2010-11-10T08:00:00.004-05:00

"he's gonna check and if i don't deliver all of them, he's gonna punch me in the face."

coffee buzz..

2010-11-09T11:32:00.001-05:00

so i've started a new segment that i am calling coffee buzz.. which will highlight any good little finds i have while drinking my morning coffee....today's coffee buzz? DIY starbucks[esque] pumpkin spice latte [thanks to a facebook friend!]:

ingredients:

3 cups hot whole milk
4 teaspoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
6 ounces double-strength brewed coffee
3 tablespoons sweetened whipped cream
3 pinches pumpkin pie spice

enjoy!

The Human Experience on DVD

2010-11-06T18:48:00.000-04:00

In very exciting news, the Human Experience a phenomenal documentary on the value of human life was just released yesterday on DVD. if you haven't had the chance to see the film at a screening, now is your chance! you can order it here..

Cold Hands, Warm Hearts

2010-11-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

i'm participating in the cold hands, warm hearts swap hosted by sandyalamode and muchlove,illy- it's pretty much the cutest idea ever! you can read all of the details here, but in short, if you participate you are then paired with another person whom you buy mittens and other little goodies for. i just can't wait! winter is my least favorite, and i loathe being cold, but what a great way to ease into the season! i'll be blogging about the exchange, so, more later!

Versatile Blogger Award

2010-11-04T08:00:00.002-04:00

so a good friend of mine just informed me that she awarded me the 'Versatile Blogger' award at her blog! naturally, i am thrilled! so here are the rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award: bridget at delightful her blog is.. well delightful! and hilarious i'm always cracking up when i read it
2. Make a list of things about yourself that nobody else knows:hmm let's see 1.) i have a history degree and plan to do nothing with history for a living [unless you consider watching american pickers and pawn stars part of my living..ha] 2.) there's a special place in my heart for horrible films.. ya know the kind that are so positively horrible they're funny? 3.) my toenails are always painted 4.) i obsessively organize my purse at least 3 times a day
3. Pass the award on to other new bloggers whom you’ve recently discovered. i am passing the award on to danielle at sometimes sweet...if you haven't seen her blog yet, go check her out!

a Laugh for your Wednesday

2010-11-03T11:24:00.000-04:00

"which water? i don't understand?"

The Importance of Gratitude

2010-11-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

with thanksgiving just around the corner [can anyone tell me what happened to october?] janel at runs with scissors started this awesome idea called the "thankful 30" which challenges people to journal something you are thankful for every day until thanksgiving... so cool! but i thought i would share my little year round spin..
so awhile back i started a 'gratitude journal.' each night before bed i write two lists: 1.) things God is doing in my life that i'm thankful for 2.) reasons i'm thankful for andy. i can't tell you how much this 5 minutes a night has changed my perspective on life! it's easy to get caught up in our pessimistic, selfish society, but by taking 5 minutes to go through your day and recognize the blessings, you:

1.) take focus off of yourself

2.) actually notice the ways you have been totally blessed and

3.) love better.

just think about it...when you realize all that someone is doing for you isn't your initial reaction to reciprocate, love more? whether your reaction is joy, prayer, little love notes thanking loved ones, gratitude is essential to increasing your capacity to love!

just in case you're interested i get all of my journals through snapfish.com. my sister gave me one as a wedding present, getting me hooked! it is so fun to design them! the picture was one i'd taken in ireland during a semester abroad [which i'm so thankful for :-) ]

new T. Swift CD $3.99!

2010-10-31T21:44:00.000-04:00

at amazon you can download taylor’s new cd Speak Now for $3.99.. amazing! if you’ve never downloaded via amazon before, it’s the best source for mp3 downloads because 1.)it doesn’t limit the amount of computers you can add the song to 2.) it automatically transfers the song to your itunes 3.) the music is almost always cheaper than itunes.. happy listening!

Happy Halloween..meow.

2010-10-31T08:00:00.002-04:00

i hope you are enjoying your halloween weekend! so you may or may not know i work at an after school program for elementary school kids..the above is a shot from our halloween party.. i made cupcakes with black cats, ghosts, and spiderwebs on them. the funniest thing is that it turned all of their lips and teeth black ha!

and in other cat news.. andy just got a new tattoo.. [sorry mom!]

DIY Toilet Roll Wall Art

2010-10-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

the hardest part of this DIY is the patient storing of toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls. the nice thing about it is that it really will adapt to all different sizes of wall space.

[source]

what you will need:

*toilet paper or paper towel rolls

*hot glue gun

directions:

*cut the rolls into about 1 1/2 inch segments (bending them is okay!)

*form into desired shape onto the floor

*hot glue together!

i've started one in our guest room.so fun!

i'm slowly adding to mine as i collect more empty rolls.. did i mention that i'm impatient?

what's on my ipod?

2010-10-17T08:00:00.003-04:00

one of my favorite things to do is discover good new music, so here's my top ten for the month.. some new, some old..

1. ike ndolo- the wealth of kings
2. ike ndolo- how can i keep from singing
2. kelly pease- i love you so
3. kelly pease- make it better
3. chris tomlin- God of this city
4. audrey assad- for love of you
5. mozella- 4 leaf clover
6. brendan walsh- live and let me [feat. grace ellen]
7. jennifer knapp- martyrs and thieves
8. trevor hall- where's the love
9. miranda lambert- the house that built me
10. matt and kim- good ol' fashion nightmare

because i couldn't choose one song i'm recommending the new brooke fraser CD, it's amazing!.. even though i've been on planet earth for my whole life i'm just now discovering she exists.. brooke has written songs for hillsong united, and her first album went 7 times platinum.. just released on october 13th you've got to check it out

brooklyn, brooklyn take me in.

2010-10-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

a snippet of the best borough of new york city and my travelings of the month.. while also serving as a perverse attempt to grasp the attention of friends-that read my blog- who need to visit me [cough shannon and leigh] ha! note: in order to experience this post to the fullest, the youtube video must be listened to while looking..enjoy!

brooklyn bridge

coney island

prospect park...peace.

williamsburg

DIY Accessories From a T-Shirt

2010-10-15T08:00:00.004-04:00

ok so once i saw this DIY on ISLY i didn't even finish reading the instructions before i was looking through andy's old t-shirts. it's so simple! i became a little bit obsessed [as the possibilities are endless] my personal favorite of the things i made was the headband because it doesn't hurt my head but holds my hair back..imagine that! but see the images below for what else i made...

[p.s. i varied the width of the strips i cut for the ring and the headband making them much skinnier]

bracelet,

necklace, [the original idea from ISLY]

and a ring.. it's official i'm obsessed!

Fall Fun..

2010-10-14T08:00:00.004-04:00

we're a bit ahead of schedule this year with our october activities so i thought i'd share.. andy was in charge of the big pumpkin and i was in charge of the 2 littler ones along with the pumpkin seeds [<--v. important/soo good]. because the littler ones weren't carve-able, i had to get a little creative. the one on the left is decoupaged scrap book paper and the one on the right is painted with our house number.

they all look so cute together on our back porch!

a close up of the decoupaged pumpkin, a good option for the little pumpkins

like i said, the pumpkin seeds are important, if you start cooking them as soon as you carve out the insides you're able to enjoy them before you are finished carving!

essential to every refrigerator at fall time is a gallon of cider! also good for pumpkin carving, i warm up a cup every day before work and sprinkle it with cinnamon..mmmm... not entirely convinced pumpkins are a necessary part of your fall decoration?.. check out some of these inspirational photos.. oh the possibilities!

[source]

since this fall it's all about the stripes, this is perrrfect!

[source]

lace-like pumpkins! oh i just love them!! naturally, they're from martha stewart...

i just love the fall and fall activities.. and there is no better fall activity than carving pumpkins!

happy columbus day.

2010-10-11T15:24:00.002-04:00

Stencil Love

2010-10-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

i'm practically obsessed with all things stencil, if i had free reign over the decoration of our new place each room would tactically (or tackily, quite possibly) be decorated with a stencil design. below is a picture of the stencil i did in our bedroom. the stencil i used had notches making it easy to line up on the wall. in fact if you are looking for a good stencil i would totally recommend the damask stencil we bought from this store

just look at these floor stencils!..

[source]

DIY Wall Hangings

2010-10-09T08:00:00.003-04:00

just wanted to share a cheap fun trick to take up some wall space....embroidery hoops! i found these at a thrift store for 10 cents a piece. in case it isn't self-explanatory, see the pictures:

Coffee Thought

2010-10-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

"whoever says, 'Our Father, who art in heaven'

while living like a child of this world is a liar.

to stop being a liar, we have to convert.

our roots are in the earth.

we have to put them in heaven.

in order for the tree of our life to spread out its branches over the earth

and for the birds to be able to make their nests there,

we have to plant the top of the tree below.

the cross upon which peter was crucified upside down is the image of every gospel life."

-servant of God madeleine delbrel

[source]

wise guys

2010-10-07T08:00:00.001-04:00

meet my two little owl friends i made for the back of my mittens.. oh how i love the fall!

FOTC Scavenger Hunt

2010-10-06T12:11:00.001-04:00

we spent the afternoon in the city around chinatown. we were sipping on some bubble tea (a sort of honey, chocolate tea with tapioca balls at the bottom) whence it dawned on us.. flight of the conchords was filmed in chinatown!! we used andy's phone to look up the addresses for some of the scenes of the show. lo and behold we were only 2 blocks away from the New Zealand consulate and dave's pawn shop! here's a look at our little scavenger hunt intermixed with some of my personal favorite FOTC quotes.. enjoy

"jemaine: there's only one kind of dance the robot

brett: and the robo boogie

jemaine: oh yes, two kinds of dances"

*************************

"murray: be careful with it, don't stand next to any big magnets!

jemaine: why would i stand next to any big magnets?

murray: i don't know what you do in your personal life."

"murray: stuff you, jemaine! and stuff you, brett! and stuff you again, jemaine!

jemaine: why do i get double stuffed?"

"jemaine: lisa?

brett: Yes, she's in Delta Force. She's been deployed to Fallujah.

jemaine: But she works in the croissant shop.

brett: Yeah, she's got two jobs. She's a pastry chef and a sniper."

******************************

"why can't a heterosexual guy tell a heterosexual guy that he thinks his booty is fly?"-jemaine

"counting coins on the counter of the 7/11 from a quarter past six to a quarter to seven, the manager, bevin, starts to abuse me, he man i just want some muesli."-jemaine

"the day after my birthday is not my birthday mum!"-jemaine

Andy's Sentiments Exactly...

2010-10-04T10:41:00.002-04:00

andy complains every time he sees a modern condo go up in new york. (check out the above picture for un ejemplo) although i don't feel quite as strongly about the issue as andy does, i agree they make for eye sores next to those beautiful brownstones.

because you're mine, i walk the line.

2010-10-01T21:23:00.001-04:00

DIY clock revamp

2010-09-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

i've had this $1.99 clock from ikea that i've been wanting to so something with so when i found this DIY from make it and love it i finally had direction. although my version wasn't exactly the same i've become obsessed with mod podge (just like the ladies at MILI) check out the finished product:

directions:

using a bit of fabric from an old skirt i had (see pic #1) i covered the plastic clock that i had coated in a thin layer of mod podge. following that i cut the excess and that was literally it! what a quick fix!

Seeing Red, White, and Green

2010-09-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

the irish have st. patrick's day, the mexicans have cinco de mayo, and the italians have san gennaro.

San Gennaro (Saint Januarius) was an Italian bishop who was martyred (probably during the reign of diocletian). He is best known for the annual liquification (righteous) of his dried blood (which occurs around his feast day). sidenote: the dollar bills underneath the statue pinned to ribbons are part of most italian devotions, it is considered 'good luck' to pin a dollar bill to the ribbon.

friday we went to the san gennaro festival in little italy. minus the fact that it was super packed therefore you were forced to walk at the pace of a snail, the festival was awesome.

there was a lot to see, do, and of course eat, and now that we are living in a heavily italian area of brooklyn i'm trying a little bit of everything (food wise) and also trying not gain 40 lbs.

my newest favorite food discovery are zeppoles. similar to a donut (but better) i probably would have been better off (health wise) staying in the dark on these.

mine was shaped like a cornucopia which i found strangely appropriate for the fall.

Dresser Before and Afters...

2010-09-25T12:00:00.001-04:00

yarf! right? this atrocious eye sore was in one of our guest rooms. every time i walked past it i was reminded of how oogly it is.. check out what a fresh coat of paint, and metallic spray paint on the old handles did to it...

voila! i have to credit this artist from atlanta, kristen (<-click for site) for my inspiration for this piece. the things she does with old furniture are amazing, check her out!

Enjoying the Adevnture..

2010-09-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

so life really has been an adventure. i've been learning the subway system, exploring the city, eating tons of pizza and picked up a few words of chinese ["ni hao"]! as a transitional gift for me, Andy bought me a bracelet from etsy (click for the seller) he chose the engraving, our 'to live by' quote for this time in our lives... i know, i know, i have the best husband eva!

DIY plant pots

2010-09-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

i was totally inspired

by a dear friend who has an impressive garden, to finally start gardening. this DIY is super simple but makes for cute pots that can sit in your windowsill. all it takes is a few terra cotta pots and (my personal favorite keep-around-the-house-crafty-item) chalkboard paint

directions:

paint the pots and wait 24 hours before writing on them!

i'm baaaack..

2010-09-15T23:22:00.002-04:00

life has been nothing short of nutso as we've just moved out of our old apartment (the word 'apartment' might be too generous and 'wide closet' more fitting) into our new apartment in brooklyn.

things that won't be missed? total chaos..

things that will be missed? 1.the little birds that we discovered are living under our stairs. 2. our personal touches on the apartment-check out that electrical box

new things to love: 1. the view of the city from the airplane!! it reminds me of a computer chip 2. the new york way of life, instead of just saying "no parking"..

i have so many new posts coming as i've been decorating and 'DIYing' unrelentlessly.. check back for updates!

Check ch-check this Out...

2010-08-11T09:38:00.001-04:00

a good friend, and amazing videographer, Brendan Walsh, put together this video highlighting the ministry and ministries founder Bob Lesnefsky [a.k.a. righteous B]that andy will be working for in brooklyn... check ch- check it out.. we are so blessed to soon be a part of it, keep us in your prayers!

Bob "Righteous B" Lesnefsky-1000 Voices Archive from Brendan Walsh on Vimeo.

the catholicism project

2010-08-10T14:27:00.001-04:00

our story is being told but it's being told by the wrong people the wrong way...catholicism is smart, catholicism is beautiful, it's colorful, textured, it engages the mind and heart and body. christianity always has explosive power if we let it be itself, it always has this trans formative power."-fr. robert barron

check ch-check this out!.. this is an extremely well done series [with 10 installments] that is set to be completed this fall
[for more info click here -->site]

here's to new beginnings...

2010-08-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

so it is official, and i am happy to finally be able to announce that we are moving to brooklyn, NY in less than a month!

if you know anything about me it's that i loathe transition. i am, however, slowly coming to grips with the reality that life is inevitably full of transition stages. it's not that i would ever wish to be stagnant in life, but transition is uncomfortable. therefore, in an effort to make these stages more bearable (and hopefully someday, dare i say..enjoyable) i've decided to toast every time there's a large transition in my life, or a dear friends life (i've gone through a considerable amount of champagne recently!). so here's to the end of college and the beginning of undeniable obligations, here's to the end of ohio and the beginning of new york, and here's to you and all of your life transitions... cheers!

Sleepless in Seattle

2010-07-29T12:31:00.001-04:00

we spent 2 days in seattle before heading to mazama, WA [in tree filled northern washington]for andy's brother's wedding. the two were polar opposites in scene, but equally beautiful. let me start by saying seattle is one of my favorite cities in the world.. there is soo much to do! i'm such a planner and knew little about the city so i started with design sponge's city guide to seattle and planned our trip accordingly. the guide was so helpful and we ended up hitting a lot of the places on my list! seattle also has a variety of neon signs, which i, for some inexplainable reason, am enthraled by.

p.s. we really were sleepless in seattle due to a 3 hour time time difference

the above pictures:1. watching a 'bluesy' band play outside the original starbucks [sidenote: one of the best things about seattle, you can get starbucks and it's supporting 'local business'...holler]

2. stumbling upon a weiner dog race by the space needle

3. the wedding cake in mazama.. how cute is that?!

4. squishing the space needle [i couldn't resist]

5. sub sand, an amazing restaurant in the international district

6. pike place market

7. belltown and neon