Fall!

Fall is one of my favorite seasons by FAR! I just love it! The colors, the leaves, the cold breeze. The decorations. And I thought, I could make my own wreath. So after a shopping trip to Michaels, I picked up a wreath made out of faux branches and red and orange berries. 

I wove the berries into the branches and used hot glue here and there to make sure it stayed. 

It worked great! I love the fall colors on our yellow couch. 

And it looks even better against our red front door!

 I also decided our house could use numbers (since we don't have any). So I printed up some bold numbers on an orange and gray chevron background and put the paper in picture frames from Ikea. I hot glued ribbon to the frames to hang them up together. The roomies didn't like the festive colors so I also tried out red (matched the door, went with fall, Christmas, Valentine's day, 4th of July, basically all the holidays) and a mismatch of frames.

We ended up going with red in all black frames. The ribbon didn't last outside for long, so we ended up propping the frames up on the front steps, which worked fine until it rained. And then...well it was strange. The color behind the numbers dripped and then disappeared but the black numbers are still black numbers. I don't know. Either way I am STILL looking for a good solution to our house number problem.

I also decided to make some fun fall treats: Pumpkin truffles! They have nothing to do with pumpkin other than they are orange. But so cute and so tasty. I made regular Oreo Truffles (like the footballs from the last Superbowl Party) but I  used the vanilla Oreos and added orange food coloring to them and dipped them in Orange dipping chocolate. I found green licorice and cut those in half to use them for stems. I wish you could see the orange inside. I had wanted to use limited edition candy corn Oreos, but couldn't find any.

 I'm clearly still working on dipping the chocolate, but they turned out fine. I also made pumpkin muffins and wanted to make a cream cheese icing (and dye it orange) for the tops so they would also look like pumpkins. But I didn't have time. You'll soon learn that I love theme partys. It's sort of an obsession. And oreo truffles and nutella stuffed sugar cookies. I pretty much make them for every type of party and change the color or shape. Thankfully they are always a crowd favorite, so this 2 trick pony doesn't feel bad about it.

Fall also meant trips to Harper's Ferry to Hike with my newly married bestie and her hubby and kz and an annual trip to Summer's Corn Maze with some of my favorite college girls.

Newly married bliss. 

 

I'd say it was another successful fall. Lots of baking and crafting and mazing and hiking. Plus some DELICIOUS crock pot recipes. Not to mention...Frankenstorm...my next post...

The JamPak

I moved into a little place called the JamPak with 3 other girls (5 if you count the two living in the basement, I usually don't). The name is a combo of the landlord's (aka 2 of our pastors) first names. Anyway, we have come to love the name. So part of my nesting when I moved in was a craft project involving the name. 

Recently (and by recently I mean back in September when I first started this project) I have seen a lot of pinterest links of yarn wrapped letters. And it has become sort of an obsession. Thankfully the roomies were on board. So one Monday night, during our weekly house watching of Revenge, we each wrapped a letter. 

First, I attempted to practice the yarn wrapping with an old idea vase and some hot glue. 

It was an utter failure.

 I decided less glue was better. So I laid out the letters on the ground (had to figure out if I like the look of all different letters...I did).

So for 43 intensely suspenseful minutes, we wrapped our letters. Some of them were harder than others and we didn't really every figure out the best way to do it. I think if i were to do it again I would wrap all the tricky parts and the ends first using lots of hot glue, then go over it all to give it a cohesive look. I'm pretty happy with how my "a" turned out though.

And the LOVE the look the of the finished letters!

 And now our house has a name! We even moved the letters to the fireplace mantle and I think they look great! (This pictures gives you a sneak peak of some of the other craft projects that I'll get to soon!)

How does she do it?

So everyone seemed to love the Flat Iron Case and Cosmetic Bag Christmas Gifts.

Since then I've even had requests for more! So I thought I'd post some photos of what I did, so that I don't forget if I need to make them again!

This one was for my momma.

Supplies are pretty simple. Fabric, lining, rotary cutter, thread, and fabric. 

And my machine of course.

Flat Iron Case

Lay the fabric right sides together on top of the lining. I think I used pieces that were 17" x 15", but it would totally depend on the size of your curling iron/flat iron. 

I pinned it all the way around. And then you sew it together, leaving an opening large enough to flip it inside out. 

 Trim the edges so it's nice and smooth. 

Fold the bottom third up and pin it in place. Sew from the base of one fold all the way around to the next. 

 At this point, I added the ribbon and sew over that so it's attached. 

And there you go. You have a flat iron case with a ribbon to tie it. 

It's the perfect size for my curling iron. 

I can put it in while it's still hot. 

And fold it up so it's ready to go. 

Useful and adorable. 

The matching Cosmetic Bag

Start with fabric and fusible lining (to make it a little bit more stiff)

Iron the lining to the fabric.

Sew the right sides together with the zipper inside. Do the same thing to the other side of the zipper. 

Sew from one end of the zipper to the other. 

Trim and finish the edges. I used a zigzag stitch since I don't own a serger...yet. 

Turn it inside out and there you have it. A flat iron case and matching cosmetic bag. 

That all your friends are sure to love. 

This is the fabric I got for B...I hope she likes it...

A look ahead...or back

Whoa, it's been over a month since my last post. Does that mean I've given up being domestic? No way, not that easily.

I've got quite a few things to share. But first, I'll tell you about my new to do list system.

So, I love all things to do lists. I don't know if it's because I love the satisfaction of being able to cross things off and feel accomplished or if I get overwhelmed with too many things unless I spell it out or if I just really enjoy making to do lists. Either way, I LOVE them.

But there gets to be a point when you spend so much time making to do lists that you don't actually get anything done. Which is rather counterproductive. So I've simplified my life by creating 2 types of lists. The long to do list and the short list. The long list is a bunch of things I want to/need to do. Whether it is an arts and crafts project from pinterest or a blog or hemming pants or planning meals or grocery shopping or cooking or running or laundry or emptying the dishwasher (yep, that made the list...) I just put them all on one long list. I'm not interested in checking things off that list just yet, it is just to help me remember things that I want to do.

But every morning (sometimes the night before, sometimes not until my metro ride to work) I create a daily to do list. 3 things. That's it. Just 3 things I want to complete (usually after work, sometimes at lunch) that day. I start with things that need to get done or that are already in my calendar (Running, dinner with friends, Bible Study) and then add smaller projects (baking cookies for work, one craft project, hemming pants).

So far (This system has been in place for about 4 days) it's worked great. Don't believe me? Here's a list of what I did this week.

Monday

1. Dinner with Taylor (I brought leftover Curried Chicken and Brown Rice)
2. Bible Study
3. Pick Laura up from the Airport

Tuesday

1. Run 2-4 miles (Part of the new training program I just started for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler. I went 3.5)
2. Intern Bible Study
3. Empty dishwasher (I usually don't have to add things like this, but it had been 3 days!)
4. Add songs to iPhone and iPod nano (so I can finally use it on my runs)
5. I  also tried a BUNCH of new hairstyles and found some I really like...

Wednesday

1. Run 3-5 miles - Intervals (I went 4.5 and nearly DIED)
2. Grocery Shopping (which then led to a complete overhall and reorganization of everything in my cupboard when I discovered MULTIPLES of different things, like 3 bottles of BBQ sauce...who needs 3 bottles?!? Not me. And never again with  my new system I'll explain in a later post.)
3. Make Nutella No Bake Cookies (oh my goodness, if you haven't tried these, then you NEED TO)
4. Cut up fruit and veggies for snacks (Strawberries, Pineapple, Celery)

Thursday

1. Run 2-4 miles (3.5 and it was easier than day 1. But I'm glad tomorrow is a rest day)
2. Cook dinner (Pan Girlled Ginger-Honey Pork Tenderloin and Roasted Green Beans with Parmesan - which makes my subscription to Cooking Light SO worth it)
3.  Bake Chai Tea Gingerbread Bars (Ok, so this wasn't on my list, but I ended up doing it anyways)
4. Hem Pants (well, I got one of 2 pairs hemmed)
5. Cut up Jicama (I LOVE IT)
6. Paint nails (this wasn't on my daily list, but I was in such a productive move I decided to do it anyways)

Friday

1. Dinner with Friends
2. Arcadia (my favorite play!)
3. Update Blogs

So, as evidenced by this past week, I have CLEARLY been productive (including sewing, cooking, baking, and planning). And I have felt more energized at work. It might just be better planning meals and snacks, working out, and sleeping. But I also think its not having the stress of thinking about everything I have to do, because there are only 3 things. And that is TOTALLY manageable.

So for now I leave you with a few images of what you have to look forward to in the posts ahead...

Sugar Scrub

I think I have project ADD.

Seriously.

I move from sewing to Mod Podge to scrapbooking to whatever else I find quickly.

Sometimes I finish, but most often, I don't.

Needless to say, I've found something else I want to try....I'm going to try to make my own scented Homemade Sugar Scrub.

What was I thinking?

I'm serious. I even bought ($22) Vanilla scented essential oils from Whole Foods during my lunch break.

If that's not commitment, I don't know what is.

No idea what else I will use the essential oils for but, I have a feeling a lot of my friends will be getting Homemade Sugar Scrub for upcoming birthdays.

The best part? I can use Mod Podge to put a label on a jar to give to people!

So it's not really a new project, well, sorta.

I currently have 4 different things I'm planning on doing with Mod Podge....

I think I'm just waiting for the sample pack I ordered so I can use the fabric kind.

Anyways, that's the plan. I'm bringing the oils home with me so I can try it there, I'll let you know how it goes...

Christmas Presents

Since living with Martha Stewart my senior year of college, I learned of number of great cooking/sewing skills. I have decided to put those skills to good use this year and make most of my Christmas gifts.

So what have I been making? Flat Iron/Curling Iron cases and matching Cosmetic Bags.

Read: Necessities.

I am in love with the final product, especially the one for my lovely roomie.

I'm in love!

So I used the same material you would use for a hot pad to create a Flat Iron/Curling Iron case.

Flat Iron Case open.

I decided to go with a black and white polka dot fabric for L since that is totally her.

 

The Flat Iron case closed. 

Then I created a matching Cosmetic bag.

Matching Cosmetic Bag

For L's I used a black and white gingham as the lining. I usually just use the same fabric though.

I also made one for my little cousins, mom, and sister, but each with a fabric that fit their personality. I love this type of gift because they can be really personal. For L's, I added her initial to personalize it a bit more.

I think they look so great together.

I also bought some Kate Spade earrings so her gift wasn't just a homemade craft that cost under $10...

 

I put the earring box inside the Cosmetic bag when I wrapped it. Here you can see the inside lining too.

 

Here it is all together! I am so happy with how it all turned out. I think she's gonna LOVE it. I hope so at least. 

The Final product.

I used the Kate Spade tissue paper to wrap it in a box and then wrapped the whole thing in my new argyle wrapping paper.

Oh how I love the holidays!