New Obsession: Jamberry Nail Wraps!

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Recently I was invited to a Jamberry party on Facebook.  I'd never heard of Jamberry, and didn't pay much attention at first.  Those cutesy patterns aren't for me, and don't you have to buy that heater thingy?? (the answer is no).  But oh. my. gosh.  A quick google image search and I was hooked.   I'm a total WANNABE graphic designer and I had fun coordinating different wraps (and as it turns out my actual graphic designer friends love them too!). 

Gray Crisscross with Jamberry Lacquer in Blush

Another Captain America USO Girl Costume

I got a request for another USO Girl costume, but this one is very different from the first. I used satin instead of cotton and since it was to be worn in a race on the 4th of July, I lined the bodice so the satin wouldn't stick to skin when things got sweaty- ew!  

I used a New Look pattern (halter only). I added the lapels and modified it so that it was open in the back and had to add a clip to keep the neck strap from coming undone during the run. 

I pieced together the trapezoid-shaped skirt pieces and attached to the bodice.  I made the bottom of each stripe 4x wider than the top. 

 I left the back open for ventilation and since she was wearing it over shorts and a sports bra it didn't matter of some skin shows. 

Not The Cheapest DIY Curtains Ever Made...

I'm very pleased with how these curtains turned out, and it's a good thing because the costs sure started to add up. I used painters' canvas drop cloths from Home Depot ($25), a cheap curtain rod from WalMart ($15), and some fabric ($10) and fusible spray adhesive ($15) to appliqué stars on the panels. Here's how I did it...

Zebra Letters For A Tween Bedroom Makeover

In this post I will show how I revamped my daughter's name letters from baby nursery pink to sassy black and purple zebra stripes.

2-day Tween Room Makeover

For my daughter's 10th birthday I surprised her with a mini-makeover on her bedroom. I was able to make the curtains, paint the letters, buy the rug and mirror, and hang everything in a 2-day period.  We had already painted the walls peach a year ago, and I had gotten the horse decal from a Groupon.

It all started with the bedspread. My mom got her this awesome "17 Magazine" purple zebra comforter from JC Penny online -- really nice quality I might add.  That cinched the rest of the color palette for me, and this is what I came up with...

Messy Girl's Guide To Organization

I feel like a fraud writing anything on organization because I am a messy girl at heart.  Only recently have I really embraced organization.  For the last month or two I have been reconfiguring drawers, cupboards and closets, purging toys and other unused "junk", and learning how to keep it tidy.  I'm a strike-while-the-iron-is-hot kinda girl, so when I got the urge to organize the house I just went for it and tried to do a little, and sometimes a lot, each day.  Wouldn't you know, it got a little easier, and a little fun even!  Here is what I learned, and some tips on tidying up your space if you're a messy girl too...

Fostering Kitties Through The SPCA

These adorable faces are one of the reasons my blog has been quiet lately.  That, and the fact that my oldest's birthday, mother-in-law's birthday, and Mother's Day all falls on the same weekend so I've been baking and wrapping up a storm.  So here's the scoop on the foster kittens...

DIY Fever: Upgrading Your Home On A Budget

I'm completely and uncharacteristically obsessed with fixing up my house right now.  Actually, I am completely obsessed with moving a little further out of town and getting a few acres where my daughter and I could have a hobby farm ... BUT that's not happening anytime soon.  It must be spring fever.  I detest gardening, but each spring when there's a little green on the hills and some blossoms on the tree, I find myself pruning or edging the lawn or shaping the tree while the kids play outside.  But this year I've got the itch to remodel.  I've got it bad.  We can't afford to buy a charming little ranchette nestled in the foothills, so I decided to turn the house we have into something fantastic.  Besides, even if we could afford to move right now, I realized how much we would have to do just to sell this house and thought, we might as well enjoy the upgrades, too!

Kid-Friendly Piña-Colada Smoothie

I just wanted to share something I've been making at my house lately... I admit I bought some of that nasty (delicious) sticky, sugar-and-preservative-laden mixer Coco Real to make piña-coladas for me and the hubby.  For fun I tried making a somewhat healthy, kid-friendly version without the mixer and it turned out fab.  

Etching With Silhouette Cameo + A Troubleshooting Tip

I finally got to have some fun with my Silhouette tonight!  I tried something new and made vinyl stencils to etch glass.  My mom gave me these ramekins that came with a frozen creme brulée from Costco (yes, it was delish).  I wanted to put a cute message on the bottoms, sort of a little surprise when you finish your treat.