My (half assed) Artsy Craftsy Project

A few months ago I "Pinned" a fabulous post on Pinterest on repurposing your old card table. If I remember correctly the directions were prime, paint, and upholster. Easy Peasy!!! I can SOOOOOO do that (which is what we all think, right?)!!!

***I'm too lazy too even look up the "Pin" on my Pinterest account at this point.***

 I had this GREAT idea ("stolen" from someone else off of Pinterest), that would be GREAT for Ashlyn's playroom. She has a table in there now, but its getting too small and I was having trouble finding a midsize table (that wasn't from PBK $$$). Of course I have an old gray and black card table from Costco (a throw back to my B's Purses Direct Sales Days), who doesn't,  so why not???

I like to do things very last minute. Like I said, I saw this pin MONTHS ago, but decided yesterday that it HAD TO BE DONE RIGHT NOW!!!

So I went and bought 1 can of white spray paint primer and 2 cans of Krylon Watermelon spray paint from Michaels. I spent HOURS taking screws out of all 4 chairs and the table.

***I SHOULD have taken note of which screws came out of which part.***

I then primed and applied the first coat of paint.

Today I bought 2 more cans of Krylon Watermelon paint at Michaels, and quickly learned that that wasn't going to be enough. Since I had purchased all of Michaels inventory of Watermelon paint, I went to Walmart to buy 3 more cans and discovered that its more than 1/2 off the cost there!!!

After applying a second coat (a third in some spots), I then tried to match up each screw to its correct part...........which did NOT work. SOOOOOOOO I ended up hot glueing the cushions back into place.

If you don't look TOOOOOO closely, then the finished product looks pretty good. Some of the metal, even though primed, didn't take the paint very well and required extra coats.

Over all I'm pretty pleased, and Ashlyn is super excited to have a space she can actually use to play and work in.

***To upholster the cushions I used a curtain I purchased from Target for $19.99, a hot glue gun, and a staple gun.***

Happy Craftying!!



e.l.f. Review

I ran into an acquaintance a few days ago and she told me that she has ran into me in so many different places, I was like a little elf. I like to think that that means I can be seen spreading joy everywhere......

 

I was watching (one of my many) favorite make up you tube tutorials the other day and she (Tanya Burr) recommended e.l.f. brand's contouring Blush & Bronzer. She described it as a "dupe" to NARS compact with the universal blush "Orgasm" (which we have ALL seen in EVERY magazine) and bronzer "Luguna." So....I HAD to try it!!

 



 

(SIDE NOTE: I've seen so many of these brittish make up tutorials that I know speak to myself in my head in a brittish accent.....is that wierd??)

The NARS compact retails for $41.

 

 The e.l.f. "dupe" is $3 at Target (could not find online, but in store).

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I have VERY senstive, breakout prone skin. This lasted ALL DAY and did NOT breakout my skin. The compact and mirror is great to take with you in your purse and the colors blend beautifully.

 

Of course while I was shopping the e.l.f. section at Target I had to shop the rest of the products!!

 

 

e.l.f lip definer and shaper (use shaper to highlight the top bow of your lips for a youthful glow and the definer to line your lips). $3

 

I was skeptical about the e.l.f lip lock pencil but it REALLY did keep my lipgloss in place. $3

 

I love lipglosses because they hide everything that is wrong with my lips (age, chappedness-is that a word?, etc) and this gloss is not only a great universal shade but works AWESOME!!!! e.l.f. Pout Perfector $3

 

 Everyone needs a little elf in their lives. I hope that I'm yours!

 

 

Tar'Jay

I LOVE Target!! I am there 2-4 times a day- YES! Its ridiculous!!

 

One of the (many) things I love about Target are the affordable fashions. Everything they carry is always cutting edge and completely affordable! AND if you are wanting something very fashion forward, that may possibly be only "in" for one season, affordable is what you want! Save your big purchases for the more classic items that can be worn throughout multiple seasons to come.

 

Some major trends this fall are Animal Graphic Tops (Especially OWLS), Peplum Tops/Dresses, and Animal Print Jeggings (REALLY Jeggings in any print/color).

 

The Burberry Prorsum Top Below (in long sleeved) runs $1,295.

 

 

I purchased this Mossimo Owl Light Weight Sweater Below at Target on SALE for $17.00!!!!!

 

 

The Alice & Olivia Peplum Top Below Retails for $198.

 

 

 

 

The Peplum Top Below Can Be Purchased In A Similar Red Tone At Target For $14.99.

 

Have A Daughter?? The Grey Cheetah Jeggings Below Can Be Found At Sophie For $62.

 

 

Buy Your Daughter An Almost Identical Pair At Target For $16.99.

 

PLUS I can buy groceries, birth control, make up, and guinea pig food while I'm there (at Tar'Jay). What more can a girl ask for?!?!

 

 

Leather, Brocade, Fur, Jewels, and Velvet..OH MY!

This Fall is all about textures! Leather, brocade, fur, jewels and velvet....oh my! I decided to rock several different textures together Saturday night, inspired by Blue Moon Market.

 



 

 

                                        Faux Fur/Sweater Vest         Gold Sequin Top

 

 

 

The Finished Look

 

I paired the two items with black leggings and my Nina black sequin boots (purchased 2 years ago from Sophie- my FAVORITE boots).

 

AND YES! Girls- leggings are still a wardrobe must!!! Whether they are a denim, leather, or pant!

 



"Fall"ing Into Trends

I absolutley LOVE fall!!!! EVERYTHING about it!! Its my Favorite Season!!!

I always take my daughter apple and pumpkin picking at this time of year at Shank Farms. We buy mums and taste the (flavored) honey (straws) they cultivate there, while watching the bees scurry about within their hives. Its Ashlyn's favorite! And of course there is Barnyard Days, pumpkin flavored everything, Halloween, candy corn, hay rides, corn mazes, and fun fall parties.
ANOTHER thing I love about fall is the FASHION! Its cooler out, so wearing layers of (fabulously textured) clothing, hair flowing, and full on makeup is no biggie.

THIS year's Fall Fashions are right up my alley!! I've decided to feature one/two item(s) a day for the next few days....

COLORED DENIM is a MUST this fall! You can find skinny jeans in an assortment of colors  including bright, bold, neon, and muted/soft tones.

I chose to purchase a Red Pair of Skinny Jeans from Blue Moon (on the left $45). They are almost identical as the Express pair (on the right, on sale for $49.90).

Another trend this fall is leopard print. I paired my own red jeggings up with this sparkly leopard print top from Express (on sale for $19.90) and (Jessica Simpson)

leopard print heels from Sophie. Don' be afraid to layer on the leopard print! Too much leopard is never enough!

What is your favorite fall trend so far???

 

 



The Best BirchBox EVAAAA!!!!!!!!

I absolutely LOVEEEEEEEE this month's Birch Box!!

Schick Hydro Razor with a $4 (off) coupon for refill blades. We all know that Razors and Refills are FREAKIN' expensive (cuts into my shoe fund), so thought this was very COOOOOOOL!!!!

Pixi Beauty Line Relax Serum. FULL SIZE, a $32 value.

Talika Lash Serum Sample, that is plant-derived.

Caldrea Hand Soap Samples.

Juicy Couture, Viva La Juicy La Fleur, Sample.

****A $10/mo Birchbox subscription gets you multiple deluxe samples every month. Product samples received are based on info given with subscription. For Example- my friend and I get different samples because of our hair/skin/color type. However, sometimes its fun to swap samples depending on what we get/like!!!!!****

Event Hostess with the Mostess (to the stars)

One of my (many) Ulter Egos is an Event Planner (in my head- for the "stars").

My beautiful daughter, Ashlyn, turned 9 last week! She has always LOVED animals, and has been either a zoo keeper or veternarian for EVERY halloween. We usually have a pool party, because of her summer birthday, but this year she wanted to try something different.

I spoke with the owners of our local Petland and they were willing to open an hour early on a Saturday morning for a private party.

Then I talked the Paws Vet Clinic, next door, into doing a private tour and Q&A for the kids, following Petland.

After the Vet, we headed, once again next door, to Qdoba for cake and queso (I purchased small drinks and queso/chips for the kids and they let me bring in my own cake).

The kiddos began with hamster races!!! How creative/fun is that?!?!

They then went on to hold/play with various other animals throughout the pet store. This would be Ashlyn holding a snake. One of her favorite animals.

We always have a "friend party" earlier in the day, and a "family bbq" later in the evening (for those adults who would rather not hang with the kiddos). I made these invites on my computer. 

We kept the animal print/pink theme with the cake. I took a pic of Ashlyn kissing Sophie (her guinea pig) and dropped it off at SAMS. $20 for a 1/2 sheet cake with a pic, and my choice of icing colors.

For goody bags I let each kid pick out their own beta fish!!!! Each fish came with a small glass bowl, hot pink rocks, care instructions, a Petland coupon, and fish food. This was a BIG HIT!!!! 

I printed off the cards attached to each fish bowl that said "Thank You" and Ashley at Petland put together the fish bowls and bags.

Ashlyn and her guests had a FABULOUS time at her birthday party!!!

Rob (my husband) keeps telling me I should open my own party planning business. Your thoughts???