31.1.10

Valentine's ideas...round two:)

So apparently my first list of Valentine's ideas was well received...so...here are some more.
I will keep up the search until I find something that floats your boat:)
First...this Circle the date patch. I think this is genius.
How cute!  For Valentines...or a birthday...or any special occasion.
This necklace...I LOVE this necklace.
It reminds me of the jewelry Padma Lakshmi makes.
She is always draped in beautiful jewelry...and it is a fortune.
I still love it though.

These rings.  Oh I love these rings.  And this etsy seller is wonderful. 
I bought a huge pink ring from her last year.  She is in Isreal...and she is a talent.
Notice my etsy theme?  I love etsy.  There are so so many hidden "gems' on etsy.
 
This etsy seller makes beautiful jewelry.  
Truly fabulous.  I like bezel set jewels.
My wedding ring is a bezel set.   I have never seen a ring I like more.
Check out the rest of this sellers items.  She has some pretty pricey items that are totally worth it.


Ok...I really should be adding a new imac to my list (but I would be dreaming) however
if you saw how long it just took me to post this small post...you would shake your head.
So.  I will stop the madness now before I put my fist through the machine and I will continue with 
part 3 of the Valentines list tomorrow:)

28.1.10

Izzy and Ash


Every once in awhile I get a big box of clothing from Jennifer at Izzy and Ash asking me
to shoot a few pics for her, which I am more than happy to do.
Not that you care, because there is a good chance that you are currently under snow somewhere,
but Arizona has been having terrible weather for the past week or so.
Lots of rain.
I hate it:)
I see it is supposed to be back up to 73 degrees sat.
Now I am happy:)
However...for this "shoot" we had to do it inside due to the icky weather.



No please...do not for a second critique these pics thinking that I am a photographer.
I am soooo not a photographer. 
Just a mom with a camera:)



Loving all these soft knits from T2Love
(they are splendid soft...which we like)



It's always fun when Jennifer sends me a box. 
I have no idea what she is sending...but I usually want to keep it all:)

Hopefully next time she will send this and this and this and...

26.1.10

x's and o's are in the air

Some fun Valentine's finds:)

First you need a Valentine banner 


maybe some soap

How about some earrings

some cute treat bags for school

some cute cards

(I bought these last year...they are very cute)




and this necklace...because it is really cool!






24.1.10

Calendar Bracelets

Valentine's Day is coming up...so I am on the hunt for ideas for you to hint to your husbands.
Hang in there...I will find something you will love.
For now...we have these.  A very cute take on a special day piece of jewelry.



23.1.10

How to make a tutu

I get emails all the time asking about the tutu's on my site. 
Most of those are pettiskirts by either Kaiya Eve or Oopsy Daisy.
Both of which are beautiful.  But if you are looking for something a little more affordable.
Here is a very simple explanation to how I make tutu's when I need something poofy fast.
Here is what you will need to purchase:
  • 5 yards of soft tulle...any color.  Mix colors as much as you would like.
  • 3/4 inch or inch wide non-roll elastic
  • sewing machine...or needle and thread
  • pretty ribbon or embellishments
Here is the tulle and elastic

Lay the tulle out flat.  It is usually about 2 yards or so wide and it is folded in half.
Don't unfold it yet.
Cut the tulle into 4 inch strips like so...

When you have your pile of strips...take your scissors and cut each strip into two strips 
(if that did not make sense...please remember that it all does in my head and I am not a seamstress lol)

you will then be left with a big pile of annoying  pretty strips:)

Now you are going to make your elastic waistband.
Measure you daughter's waist. I usually cut it about 20-22 inches long for my 6 year old.
You will sew the two ends together.
If you do not have a machine...you can sew it by hand.

Now here is the tricky part.  I happen to have a child size mannequin (with a big hole in her tummy....still can't get the real story as to how that one happened)...however if you do not have a mannequin you can use the back of a chair...or heck...if it's for your kid...make her work a lil bit:) 
Put it on her and make her stand there.  Ha.  Good luck with that one.

 
You are now ready to start adding the tulle strips.  
Put them on one by one...tying them in the middle of the strip.

Do this all until you have used all your strips.  
This will require some schmooshing (real word) and squishing to fit them all in. 

The more tulle...the poofier the skirt.
You will be left with this.

How all you have to do is add a ribbon or two.  I usually like to mix ribbons...maybe add a silk flower...or a string or two of sequins. But this tutu was for a fashion show last week and the tee and hoodie would have looked funny with a big bow.  So I kept it super simple.

Look at that poor mannequin's gut.  It's like someone drop kicked her right in the tummy :(
So there you have it.  Super easy tutu.
Here is a pic of this one in action last week in the show.
Terrible picture I know.  Sorry. 
I had three cameras with me, all three were my daughters and I messed it up. Ha.

It is quite handy to know how to make them though...and come next Halloween your mind will be racing.  You can do a yellow and black version and make a cute bee.  Or red/black for a ladybug.
Or ...

Hmmm...that was a pretty cute tank top...I will have to list that one next year for Halloween.
Now I will leave you with this...George...who apparently is totally bored with my tutu tutorial.




  Yes...he is looking directly at me while I type...he is waiting for someone to fill his kong with peanut butter or something better...like liver wurst.  Yes...he is a big boy...I wonder why???

20.1.10

Coach does it again...

I like to compare Coach to mobsters.
I keep trying to get out...and they keep pulling me back in.
I swear, whomever is the brains behind the Poppy brand of Coach needs the
same bonus as the genius who created the Crewcuts line for JCrew.
Look at this.



How cute are these! 
Then there is my favorite.  The spotlight tote...which I did not get for xmas:(
However...back then it was only in black, silver and red.
Can you say PINK!  I love pink.
I saw it in purple as well...which I liked...
until I saw the pink.


I know.  It is an entire bag covered in sequins...and I entirely love it <3


Even these are cute.

Check them all out here.


17.1.10

Soap soap...I love soap

So I have been on a soap kick. Ever since this stupid H1N1 virus whipping around.
Actually...I have always been a big soap person. We go through ALOT of soap in our house.
I don't complain.  I just buy more.  At least they use it.  Actually, I heard one of my kids at about 2 in the morning in the bathroom and after they flushed...I heard the soap dispenser.
I was proud. 
Today I was excited.  I have seen the LUSH stores before.
The one in Banff is very cute...but everything in Banff is cute. 
Today I went into the one in Scottsdale and the girls and I had fun picking out new soap.

This one is actually a bubble bath.
The girls are so sparkly.  That glitter is everywhere.
We love that:)

Then we have the gold version.

Then we got this weird stuff.


We had to try it right away.


It is actually some sort of shower soap thing.
It worked for hand washing as well.

See how happy it made us.



while I am giving semi tours of my bathroom...I will share with you my earring holder that I love
and my new jewelry box that my mom and dad gave me for xmas.
I would give my right arm for the jewelry box in dresser or night stand size.
I know they exist. For now...I will have to settle for the jewelry box.
I do love it.