TuTu for You You

my cute little neice turned 3 last week! i honestly can't believe it! she LOVES to dress up as princesses and ballerinas so i got a little creative for her birthday this year and made her a tutu! it was SO easy and turned out SO cute!

i started with sparkle tulle, i bought it at hobby lobby for $5.00 and a 1" elastic for $2.00! and that was all i needed!!! Start by measureing a small waist. i secretly used her's while she was over here playing. cut the elastic and pin it where you will later sew.

then, cut the fabric in stripes. this part is totally up to you. the shorter the fabric the more poofy the tutu, the longer the fabric....well, the longer the tutu! (but remember you'll be folding them in half, so whatever length you want, double it.) my length was around 20'' total, i think!

fold the piece in half, hold the folded part on the bottom edge of the elastic. loop the rest of the strip behind the elastic and through the fold!! see...NO SEWING! you're just tying knots.

i used two different colors and alternated every other one.
whe you're getting close to the end, sew the ends of the elastic together.
the easiest way to do this, sew a square with an "x" through it. it will ensure that your elastic never comes undone. (as you can see the blue thread from my burp rags was still in the sewing machine....oh well!)
trim off the loose strings and finish knotting the rest of your fabric around the elastic. if you pull the knots too tight, the elastic will fold. and you don't want that! but pull them through tight enough to stay! (if that makes any sense!) you can sew along the inside knots, threw the elastic if you're having a hard time with the elastic staying unfolded. i didn't though!

and lastly, see how it works. as you know, i only have a BoY! so he was the tester of my latest product. at first he was a little reluctant....
.....but then he really liked it! he ran all over the house pulling out some of his sweetest dance moves to date!!

all in all, it's a fun, easy craft even the kids could make! it only took about a half hour and a small amount of patience!

the tutu was a HIT at the party! and she loved her new dress up attire!!

simple guest room

don't miss the earlier post today! scroll down!!

oh, how i love decorating. and lately i've had so many opportunities to use my creative juices. i recently turned a "junk room" into a guest bedroom! i'm really happy with the results, but not as happy about my picture taking skills. (oh well)

it started bad. real bad. bright blue carpet (that now lays in my basement so i can work out on it!) and boxes of random old things in every corner. the room hadn't been painted in over a decade and and baseboards were also carpeted in the fabulous blue! i really wish i would have gotten a picture of this, my ramblings don't do it nearly the justice it deserves. but once the room was cleaned out i did get this one. (sorry even the blue carpet is ripped out, but if you'd like a sneak peak...look here.)

once the room was naked i got right to work. this was a project that wanted to be done for under $800.00! pretty small budget for a blank slate, but we (me and him) made it work!

whenever i get these fun projects/jobs my husband somehow gets wound up doing all the hard stuff. (what a sweet guy!) so i got him started with a extra wide baseboard.

then i had him tape off the room and paint it a light blue. i chose a bennet's paint called "smoke."

he did so good at the painting. it's a big plus that he's a perfectionist whenever i put him to work with home-improvments.

to contrast with the blue walls but still keep the room feeling open and airy. (is that a word?) i went with a black metal bed. this was the largest chunk of the budget. the black and white bedding, the side tables and lamps, and the frames on the oppisite wall are all from ikea! (so sorry for the fuzzy pictures! if anyone wants to buy me a new camera...be my guest!)

here's a close up of the side tables!

since all the pictures, i've added this cute clock on the side table.

and hung up a row of "travel" photos in black frames similar to this.

i also added a throw blanket on the bed in a soft ivory to warm it up! so what do you guys think? and if anyone has a suggestion for the small, high windows...do share. please!

A CONTEST!!!!

hey everyone! check out this website and enter the contest for a FREE photo shoot!!!

this is one of her photos. isn't it so cute? you can see her whole gallery here.

Tuesday Tips!

since everyone around me seems to be suffering a nasty winter cold, i've decided to post some helpful remedies as my tuesday tip!

{headache}
drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain releavers". try it!

{stuffed nose}
before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. they'll clear up your stuffed nose!

{sore throat}
just mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. the vinegar kills the bacteria.

i hope you all Get Better Soon!

i wanna sleep here.

yep, definately!

ever wonder how to.....

....hang your pictures perfectly?



step 1: what do you want? lay out the figure on the floor. measure distance between each picture. then sketch the figure, including measurements, on a sheet of paper.

step 2: where do you want it? decide how far down from the ceiling you want the pictures (if your ceiling is slanted measure from the floor up) mark lightly with a pencil. use a tape measure to make the same mark several times across the wall. use a carpenters level to draw a light level pencil line between the marks.

step 3. make it happen! use a tape measure to determine the center of the grouping. hang the center photo first. measure the distance between the pictures and hang pictures on either side of the center the same distance from the middle nail keeping them on the line.

step 4. finishing touches. straighten pictures, remove any fingerprints and smile! you're done!

it may still take an hour, but with these helpful steps you're sure to only make one hole (per picture) in the wall! and that my friend, is a big plus!!

to make a picture grid. use the same techniques for the horizontal lines. once the top row is complete, make a plimb bob by tying a paper clips to both ends of a string. use sticky tack to hang one end of the plumb bob against one of the already hung pictures vertical edge. the bob will swing and eventually hang in perfect vertical alignment. mark the intersection of vertical and horizontal. repeat for each piece.

[information found in DIY winter 2008 magazine]

to you:

HapPY ValEntINeS DaY!

i wish i could send this yummy box of cupcakes to all of you. and if you're wishin' i would too, think of it this way: i'm saving you the calories so you can look smokin' on your valentines date!

don't forget to love the ones you love!

20 minute baby gift! (no joke!)

this is the easiest baby gift you'll ever give! when baby was born someone gave me the cutest burp clothes and although my sewing is as amature as it comes, i have attempted to copy her. {her cute shop will open back up in march!}

i'll share the way I do it!

step 1: pick out some fabric that is both gender specific for the new baby and matches the style of the new mom! iron out all the wrinkles.

step 2: cut the fabric. i usually eyeball measure but this time i really measured and cute 6in x 21in. basically you want long strips about 5-6 inches wide!

step 3: iron each strip again while folding the edges in about 1/4 of an inch. (it's easier if the fabric is layed cute side down, obviously.) when the sides are folded and pressed turn over and lay on the diaper. (gerber prefold cloth diapers. 12 for around$10.00 at walmart!) pin down the thick center of the diaper.
step 4: sew a straight stitch all around the fabric! you can add ribbon, ric rac, or leave plain. just make sure everything is washable.
step 5: fold diapers, stack, and tie with coordinating ribbon!

these diapers make the best burp clothes because they are so absorbant. but now they can be cute too!! get creative. i made some for my baby with funky, fuzzy fabrics and he would fall asleep on my shoulder after burping they were so comfy! and i think new burp clothes make the perfect gift for someone who already has children. every baby should have new burp rags not hand-me-downs, don't ya think? happy sewing!!

i'm coming clean.

the most deceptive thing about me, is my cleaning. (i really should not admit that!) i am a surface cleaning. you don't know what a surface cleaner is? well everything visible is clean. i make sure that walls, baseboards, windows, furniture, counters, and all other visible surfaces are clean. but open a closet of drawer and you're sure to have something jump out at you. i have decided to change this about myself. i'm sick of the clutter behind closed does. the goal: get organized! i got motivated to kickstart from this great blog. but since it's a little overwhelming i started small.

the before

the after

it's okay to start clapping!

what should i declutter next? what are your decluttering tips?

Stores i {LOVE}!

....in honor of Valentines i suppose....

i went to IKEA last weekend. {love} ikea and $450.00 (combined total with my shopping buddies) and four hours later i left ikea. [tear] but i found the best throw blanket...

it's so soft and fluffy. unfortunately it's not allowed to be cuddled with. (IT'S WHITE!)

and in case you're wondering...yes, i have new pillows too! i have a secret obsession with pillows. i just think they can quickly change the feel of the whole room. i love them. these pillows were a TJMaxx find. another store i {love}!

and then, after IKEA i went to Gardner Village in Utah county. really i love the whole shopping experiance there. i never seem to go through all the stores. on this trip i went into Down to Earth for the first time.(thanks to Kristi) i walked in and immediately had butterflies! it didn't take long to fall in {LOVE} with this place. i was so wrapped into it's stylish yumminess that taking pistures never entered my mind. until my shopping buddy, said "i want this couch. take a picture of it, so i remember" so here's the picture. it doesn't give the store justice at all.....it's a store you have to see to believe, anyway!

i bought this cute basket there. $7.00!!!! ExCeLLeNt!

when we went upstairs i had the feeling i was cheating on my husband. everything was so beautiful and i did lust after it.

and lastly, you all know i {LOVE} Pottery Barn. and my latest and greatest PB piece that i found elsewhere for a bargain....

well, i believe i am officially out of money. so until, next time. i {love} you all. (stores that is!)

mmmmmmm....

ok. january is over! {yipee} and if you're like me you're ready to kick the healthy food to the curb, forget the new years resolution to loose 50 pounds and get back to the good stuff.

there are so many yummy 'made-healthy' recipes out there for the good 'ol fashioned comfort food and i found some yummy ones here.

want this yummy home made mac and cheese?

or maybe you're a sloppy joe fan?

and who doesn't love a "good for you" dessert?

now you have no excuse for giving up the goal! you can have your cravings and your waistline too!