You are my sunshine...

Just Bug & I outside time.

Can you tell she LOVES it?!

Just to see inside that little brilliant, clever, imaginative, and unfiltered 4 yr old mind. Oh my...

The look of MOMMY please put the camera down and PLAY with me...

I love you sweet girl. Thanks for playing with me.

XOXO

Mention Me Monday {Aug 30th}

I wanted to find a day to just share.

Monday seems like a perfect spot to have a weekly feature.

A fresh start to creating a GREAT week.

So every week, I am going have

Mention Me Monday.

A time where I will bring three things fun, new, and exciting {or at least that to

me!}

I am adding a linky to the bottom of this post. A place for you to share. I just ask

that you link directly to the post you want to share and one link per person per week.

First off this week is from Erica over at Sweet Prints.

I am a little crazed for any and everything personalized.

And Erica has made the MOST adorable personalized stationary for your little girls.

Check out the full listing here. Oh and she promises another SWEET collection to come.

As we all know there is TONS of fun fabulous blogs out there. And to follow ALL of them is impossible. But when I stumble upon one it makes me a little excited {ok a lot excited}!

So today I came across Smile and Wave. And after just a mere 2 seconds I knew I had to share this little fun online class! Small Craft is a 6 week online course {projects are geared from newborn to 10yrs}. FUN.

And lastly I LOVED all the fun responses my Ribbon and Bead Necklace I received {thank you}, so when I saw another version there was no doubt I had to share! Girl with a Glue Gun, made a WOW piece with just beads and ribbon. LOVE IT!

Fun stuff right?! Wish you all a WONDERFUL week.

xoxo

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links...

Added UPDATE to Ribbon Bead Necklace

If you are planning on making the Ribbon Bead Necklace. Please

take notice of the update I have added.

Hope this makes helps...

Yarn Wreath DIY

Let me first say I am by NO means saying I am the first to make one of these.

But since it was such a fun creative process for me, I wanted to share.

So here we go, Yarn Wreath DIY {with a Halloween twist}

What you will need:

- styrofoam wreath

- yarn {as many colors as you want}

- embellishments { whatever your heart desires}

- hot glue gun

- scissors

- Ribbon {if you will be hanging yours}

{if you want a thick wreath you will need batting to wrap around you wreath for your desired thickness, I will do this for my holiday one!}

Step 1: Glue down one end of you yarn to the wreath.

Step 2. Start wrapping, keeping in mind the pattern you will want.

Step 3: Once I figured out the pattern I marked off by measuring it out. Now you can totally do it more organically, but I have a slight OCD issue with symmetry. For my wreath I had three different yarns to use, so my pattern was 3.25 in/2in/3.25in, all the way around, while alternating colors, making sure the yarn was tight together {so no foam was showing} , and hot gluing the end pieces on the backside of the wreath.

Here is the final look.

Step 4: I made flower embellishments out of paper & felt. I also had pearls and button brads to add some more texture to it. Then with the hot glue I add them making sure to hold up my wreath to see the placement in the upright position.

Step 6: Find a cozy little spot to place your wreath or hang it. Mine will be chillin on a shelf. I love the colors, I think it is a perfect mix up on the traditional Halloween look

The possibilities are truly endless with this project. I can not wait to make more. Since I gage the time it takes a DIY by naps, I would say this was a 2 napper {with some laundry & dishes thrown in there too!}

ENJOY!

{if you make one please share, I would LOVE to see it!}

Mom in the shot Aug 26

SO I totally missed last weeks Embrace the Camera, AGH!

I think I might have fractured my foot stomping so hard after realizing this!

This was the FIRST time since Emily started the challenge.

I had grandiose plans to make up for it today but....

I woke up with THE worst stiff neck, EVA.

So this is Bean and I waiting at the Chiro's office.

Take what you get, I guess.

Off to take advantage of nap time and work on some projects....

Remember to link up EVERY thursday over at Em's.

Best FREE download I have seen in a LONG time!

Kori {the creative genius behind Paper & Pigtails}, just shared this morning a wonderful download, that

many of us can REALLY use everyday!

AWESOME right?!

Go download yours today and SHARE with all those you think might

find these handy.

xoxo

Ribbon and Bead Necklace {DIY}

So this could NOT be any easier, honestly.

What you will need:

- Beads {I used a total of 16}

- Ribbon

- Needle & Thread

- Scissors

First things first.

Thread your needle.

Then starting at the end of the ribbon {with enough left at the end to tie around your neck},

tread the needle through and put a bead on.

*****UPDATE****

Before threading your ribbon add a small clear bead to the thread. This will prevent your

knot from coming through the ribbon. Just make sure to really knot you thread.

Then fold the ribbon over half of the bead and thread through that side.

Keep repeating until desire look is achieved.

To finish off, knot the thread. Then tie a knot in the ribbon at each end of the necklace.

Fray check each end of the ribbon {I take a lighter to the ends}.

THAT SIMPLE!

I hate to run but I am off to make about 20 or so more!

Winner {Dollface De Ville}

So today was the day.

It went great.

A FEW tears were shed {and Mommy wore her sunglasses, hehe}.

But she is going to have the BEST year.

Brother and I are looking forward to getting into our own little routine. It will be nice to have one one time with him.

Thanks Em for sharing GREAT tips for photos!

Winner of Dollface De Ville store credit is...

Stephanie C.

Holla at your girl {amyholgersen@hotmail.com}

You have 48hrs girlie!

A little gift for Teacher.

Last night was "Meet the Teachers" night at Buggies school.

I had wanted to bring a little something for her to give them as a little something

as a GREAT start to the new school year.

Taking the back to school kit from TomKat Studio, I printed off a set of 8 apple flat note cards and a set of 8 mini folded notecards for each of her three teachers. I also printed a sheet of cupcake toppers to use as embellishments.

Using some Maraschino Twine from The Twinery, I tied up the sweet little notecards. I also used a corner punch to round the edges of the cards {I think it makes them even that more sweet!}.

I had some left over paper from last year that I used to cut apples with my Circut and also a little strip to add to the brown paper bag {these are the larger ones}. Finished it off with some more twine and a cupcake topper w/ ribbon accent.

They sure were a hit!

xoxo

Take your best shot {a guest post from Emily of The Anderson Crew}

Back to school has come upon us, fast and fiercely.

And in celebration of this we all grab our cameras to capture these exciting moments.

I have asked Em from The Anderson Crew to hop over today and share some tips of the trade

to getting the BEST first day of school pic {or as Em suggest ANYtime pics}.

Well, it's that time of year again...back to school time. Every time you sign onto facebook, your news feed is flooded with photos of all of your friends' kids on their first days back. Here's a few tips to taking better photos of your kids, not only at back to school time, but all the time!

1. Check your background. While I love this photo:

it's not the best background, for a back to school photo. I mean, not that I don't love the messiness of my house, and my daughter in nothing but her undies, but for a back to school photo, it's just not appropriate. So, find a blank wall (preferably outside, but we'll talk about that next).

2. Check your lighting. If you can turn the flash off on your camera, then DO IT. While flash helps in really low light situations, it's not hardly ever needed, and it makes skin tones look blah. Find an area in your house (with a blank wall) and really good lighting. This may mean you need to go outside. Here's a couple of pictures outside of my house, under my porch. It's shady, but bright enough to get good light in my photo.

3. Check your attitude. Some days, we just don't like to have our photo taken. Your kids feel the same way. So, if you happen to not get a photo of them on their first day back, because of attitudes or busy-ness, try the next day! It's not like they've changed that much in 24 hours. I'd rather have a real photo of my kids, then one where they aren't smiling for real. So, in an effort to not stress yourself out, give yourself some grace, and try again the next day. And I am not against bribery either. If a little sweet treat is going to turn the photo situation around, then I'll offer it. Also, if you're the mom of little ones, it's amazing how saying the words "poopy, stinky, or bootie" can really turn a sour attitude around. Tell a joke, say a funny word...just get them laughing so that their smiles are genuine.

4. Check your words. So now that you've captured the photo and edited it, why not add some words on it, to always remind you of what grade they were in? Or, if you don't have the tools to add text to your photos, have them hold up a sign, stating what grade they are entering.

5. Check back at the end of the year. And while you're at it, don't forget to get a photo of them on the last day of their school year. It's fun to see how they've changed!

Have fun capturing those sweet little people in your lives :)

A HUGE thanks to Em and all her awesomeness for sharing today. As we all can imagine that she is a busy lady normally but this week, WOWZERS. She plays a VERY active role in her eldest son's school and it is all prep for next week.

You rock Girlie!

For some serious eye candy and photo inspiration check out Emily's Photog Buisness

Ollie Wren Photography.

And do not forget the ever growing and popular Embrace the Camera Challenge she hosts every Thursday.

xoxo

"Out for delivery"

That is a phrase that dreams are made of.

All day yesterday I played the "Come out, come out where ever you are Mr. UPS man!"

And when he did, it was like Christmas in August for Momma.

They came! My new boots. Oh My Word, they are just divine. Like butter on my feet.

And my new bag, one word. PERFECTION.

Ok now if the temp would drop about 30 degrees, so I can wear them other then when cooking!

Because I may or may not have worn them with my gym shorts and tank last night, when making din din.

Did you enter my current giveaway? Super cute!