Baby OH Baby!

When I found out that my close friend was having a baby and wanted ME to plan her shower I was beyond excited. My first thought was INVITATIONS. Sure you can find websites that have beautiful invitations that you can personalize. On average I found that it would cost around $45 to $50 for 40 invitations. For less than that you can MAKE one of a kind invites of your own.

It starts with a trip to JoAnn fabrics (or your favorite scrapbooking store). We picked out a background that we liked. And blank postcards (the scrapbook paper wasn't think enough for our liking)

Then we picked out some textured paper that coordinated with our background (this is what you will print all your info on)

Using my favorite editing program I then printed out the info onto the textured paper. I thankfully remembered to print some test pages on plain paper first. After a few tweaks I got the results I was looking for.

To add to the overall awesomeness we found some ribbon with sticky backing and these adorable tiny buttons. I took the time to sew some string into the buttons for effect.

With a little glue ok... a lot. I glued the background to the postcards, pressed them for a few hours. Then cut out and glued the printed paper to the background. After another good pressing I cut to length and attached the ribbon. I used a little hot glue and steady hands to attach a few buttons and Wah Lah! Adorable one of a kind invitations.

I even had enough scraps of the background paper to cut out some trees to add to the envelopes for another little detail. I had a blast making them and I hope everyone who receives one enjoys them as much as I do.

Congrats Laurel I can't wait to see the little one!

Crafty Shout Out

I was scrolling through all of the craft inspired blogs and websites I have bookmarked trying to find some inspiration. I love seeing what other people come up with and how I can make it my own. I thought it would be fun to find you what YOU turn to for inspiration and share a few of mine as well.


Craftzine is an AMAZING site with everything from knitting to jewelry ideas.
http://blog.craftzine.com/

This woman is SOOO creative! If I had half the creativity she has in her little finger you could never get me away from my sewing machine!
http://ohsohappytogether.blogspot.com/

For those days when I want to be girly and need some inspiration... it has TONS of hair and make up tutorials.
http://www.pursebuzz.com/

Berroco has tons of free patterns.
http://www.berroco.com/pattern_library.html

Patons is a favorite of mine. I use their 100% wool yarn to make just about everything I felt and they have great patterns!
http://www.patonsyarns.com/pattern.php

This is my new favorite site. I love the idea of taking the old and making it new and fun. So many great ideas!
http://www.threadbanger.com/

So now it is your turn. Where do you go for crafty inspiration?

Bimbo Barbie.... Sorority Style

Today I found myself in the middle of Pledge Week on WSU Campus. Why you might ask... My husband is working on a job on campus and I had the pleasure of getting up at 3:30 in the morning and joining him for the day. I have never been a fan of the Greek System but I have to admit, today was entertaining to say the least. Never in my life have I seen so many mindless clones! Picture at your own risk HUNDREDS of girls in nearly X-Rated shorts and tank tops running in packs like desperate over processed wolves... I doubt the words self respect, dignity, or individuality are part of these girls vocabulary. I would be surprised if any of them could even spell individuality... unless it happened to be the name of a Clinique fragrance... which just so happens can be bought in The Cub on campus! As I sat there in a sea of ass cheeks and gladiator sandals I couldn't help but think of the commercial where the people are on a conveyor belt and come out the other side plastic and identical. I think it is a Hanes commercial, which now that I think of it is funny due to the fact that a thong wouldn't even be small enough for some of these girls.

Now I am no size 0 model myself but quite a few of these poor sheep shouldn't be allowed within 10 feet of an article of clothing that requires less material than a dish cloth. I don't mean to offend any future, current, or former member of the greek system. Remember that it is with humor and creative license that I write this little rant. I am sure... or at least hopeful that most of these girls are inteligent driven individuals. But when you step outside and feel like you just woke up in Booty Short Bimbo Barbie Sorority Pledge Land you can't help but panic as you feel your brain cells slowly dying.


Granted if I had 2% body fat and a golden tan I may be tempted to wear as little as possible too... but for the love of all that is Holy break the freaking mold and put on some clothes! And whatever you do............ DON'T DRINK THE KOOLAID!

I'm officially a coffee snob...

Years of working in coffee shops has made me a little more than picky about my morning joe. As much as I would love to wake up and brew my own double shot 16oz white chocolate raspberry latte I will have to wait. I have yet to find an espresso maker that produces barista quality brew. My main complaint is that not a single one of them can actually steam and froth the milk. $500 will get you a commercial grade espresso machine but who wants to fork up that kind of dough. I used to buy syrups at URM but frankly the charge WAY too much for flavored simple syrup. If you are a victim of coffee snobbery.... that's a word right... I have a treat for you.

........

Here are two different Vanilla Syrup recipes that cost practically nothing to make and taste fantastic!

The first one is a basic vanilla simple syrup and to tell you the truth tastes just like the syrups we used to use at the coffee shop.

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 tsp vanilla extract

In sauce pan heat sugar and water until sugar is completely dissolved and solution is clear. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Let cool to room temp and store in refrigerator. I store mine in a vinegar bottle (I love the lid)

The second uses vanilla beans and has a very fresh flavor and smells fantastic.

1/2 cups sugar

3/4 cup water

1/2 vanilla bean

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and water. Slice vanilla bean lengthwise and drop it into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring once the mixture comes to a simmer, until all sugar has been dissolved. Remove from heat and scrape vanilla seeds out of the vanilla bean and into the syrup. Cool completely, then store in the refrigerator.

The closest thing to frothy steamed milk without an espresso maker. I love it!

My 3 year old knows the ALPHABET!

As a mother I am always looking for fun ways to educate my son. Being a stay at home mom I have this underlying fear that if he isn't progressing I am failing. We had hit a developmental road block. If I wanted him to try something he immediately was against it. This made it very hard to teach him anything. I would draw a letter on his doodle pad and tell him what it was. His response was, "NO IT NOT!". Is it possible that he has skipped his whole childhood and gone straight to defiant teenager? I was at wits end until my mother took him to Montana for a week. He came back with the VTech Little Einsteins Learn & Go Laptop. He loves the fact that he has a 'puter' like mommy. I kid you not within a week he knew the alphabet! As we speak he is learning vowels. It has 18 games including matching games, bigger or smaller, hide and seek, letter progression, numbers. The list goes on. I am constantly blown away by how much he is learning.

If you are a parent or have a friend with small children I highly recommend getting this. One great thing about it is that it claps when the child gets one right or makes a sad sound when they get it wrong then encourages them to try again. I can be in the kitchen making dinner and still be able to tell him good job or nice try. He feels like he is such a big boy now. In such a short time he has gone from stubborn and unwilling to excited and eager to learn.

We have bought Kai tons of developmental products and games in the past but this is the first one that has actually sparked the learning bug in him. I love love love this thing! If you don't have it run out and get it right away!!! You won't be sorry.