Welcome 2012

Today is a bit of a lazy day here at our house.  We got to sleep in, and have been lounging our PJs all day!  Rene's been enjoying some down time playing with his new Nintendo DS games and I've been crafting away.  Here's hoping you are having a nice relaxing and enjoyable start to your 2012 as well!

 Here's Stitch in his very dapper new collar (made by me)...

He's starting off the year on the right foot looking cute as ever!  Though I may be a little biased!  More crafty pics to come later!

On a side note, I postponed the start to my detox one day to tomorrow.  My family always had pork and sauerkraut for New Years day.  And now I've actually gotten Rene to eat it too!  So we couldn't pass up tradition.  

I looked into the reasoning behind the pork and sauerkraut tradition since in Texas and Florida no one seemed to eat it, and I just figured it was a northern thing.  Down south everyone eats black eyed peas for good luck in the New Year.  So I decided to see where the pork and kraut tradition started and why.

In looking around online I found that the tradition goes back to the Pennsylvania Dutch and New Englanders and it is said that eating this on January 1st would bring luck and prosperity to you in the new year!  

It seems the reasoning for the New Years day foods are pretty much the same.  

So are you a black eyed peas person or pork and kraut person to start off your new year?

Weekend of Crafts-Revamp old heels

Everyone has a pair, the heels that have seen better days and are looking old and beaten from too many nights out?  The heels that you can't really wear unless they are completely covered up because they look that bad?  

Well worry no more!  I found a great idea to transform you not so classy heals into something a little like this  from a blog called Wobisobi that does lots of projects and re-styles

(her blog lists how she did this as well)

Here's what you'll need:

Pair of heels

Mod Podge

Glitter

Paint Brush

Cup for mixing

Start by mixing Mod Podge and Glitter into a cup so that you have a pretty heavy glitter mixture

Then start applying a thin coat to shoes (be sure to allow each coat to dry completely).

Don't worry this will dry white.  

 (Midway through the drying process of coat #5)

Keep adding coats until your shoes have the desired amount of glitter on them, I did about 6 coats total (with the help of Rene).

And here's the finished product!  Just in time for a great NYE party if you're going to one!

Next up I finally found clothes pins to make my Christmas Card Wreath for next year!

Weekend of Crafts-Card Tree

The first of my weekend projects turned out pretty cute the Holiday Card Tree idea that I found on Pinterest.

I started off by taking our holiday cards and tracing circles of different sizes onto them, cutting them out.

(some with fun edges and some with plain straight edges).  

Then cut away a triangle piece so that the circles can be rounded into cones.

Cut a Styrofoam ball in half to serve as the base, and stick a small dowel rod in the center.  Then start placing the cones (largest to smallest) on the dowel and top with a bow!

You can shift the cones around on the rod to ensure that it is spaced out correctly.

  And this is the finished product-super easy and a cute way to keep cards each year! And it can now serve as a decoration.

It took a total of 15-20 minutes to finish it up and at the same time you cut down on the clutter post-holiday!

Next up? a revamp on an old pair of heels (to replace the cape project-let's just say that project got started and just didn't come together quite right....)

To Dos for the Weekend

 I know it's New Years weekend-but lets be honest....between working and school Rene and I really just look forward to lazy weekends and this is just like the rest!  Though we did grab 2 bottles of bubbles to celebrate the new year.  Fun fact--enough New Years Eve back at UCF was really the start of our relationship when we rang in the new year together in 2006! So this marks the 6 year mark of our relationship too!

Anyhow...I've created a bit of a crafty to do list of things that I want to make/try this weekend.

First and foremost if you remember a previous post Pinteresting Thursday on a Friday I had 2 items that I wanted to make. 1. the cape and 2. the little Christmas trees made from holiday cards--both of these will be made this weekend (hopefully)...

Next up is a little treat for New Years eve....Pizza Monkey Bread...yes another Pinterest find!

Doesn't it look tasty?

I'll also be trying my hand at homemade pasta tonight compliments of my new pasta maker from Rene!

Get ready for some follow up posts this weekend about all these great little creations!

Happy Friday!

Pinteresting Thursday -- on a Friday

So I am all confused this week as to what day it actually is, and I missed my Pinterest post yesterday...so here are some of my newest finds on Pinterest on a Friday instead of Thursday.

If only I could find some clothes pins!  We keep checking Michael's but they are sold out!  I will make this for next year though.

A DYI Cape?  It looks easy enough, hopefully now that I have some time I can whip it right up

Using old cards for next year's decorations?  Such a cute and eco-friendly idea!

Perfect napkin look for Christmas dinner this year I think!

Have a Great Friday and Weekend!

Perfect Gift!

Rene and I have been trying to figure out what to get our "host and hostess" for this coming weekend (Katie and Major) who are nice enough to let us stay with them while we are in Orlando for homecoming.

Katie is a big wine fan so we figured we would go with some Texas wine and do one red and one white. However, I always feel like just putting the bottles in a wine bag isn't very creative or cute.

Don't fret though because I came up with the best idea!! Not only is it cute it's functional too! The gift goes from 2 bottles of wine and now they get 2 bottles of wine, 2 napkins and 2 napkin rings!

The napkin rings are just big enough to put on the neck of the bottle and pull the napkins through to create a cute wrapping and a functional gift.

I would highly suggest trying it for the next hostess gift, or dinner party that you go to!

Sad Halloween

I am quite sad today, it's official that Rene and I aren't making costumes for Halloween this year.


With the trip to Orlando and UCF's tradition of super early morning tailgating on game days plus the homecoming parade if we get to campus on time...we figure that going out at night is a shot in the dark if we will "last" that long.


So I guess out super awesome idea will be held off until next year...*tear*

Spirit Wreath DIY

As promised a quick and simple DIY how to for my cute little “Spirit Wreath”

Materials:

16 to 18 inch Styrofoam wreath form

Approx 12-18 spools of 3 yard 1.5 inch ribbon

Wooden Letters

Hot Glue gun and glue

Paint (colors of choice)

This project is super simple! I started by cutting all of my ribbon into 6-7 inch strips

Then take each strip and wrap around the wreath form and knot.

* Make sure the cat doesn't steal your ribbon--notice how Nala is looking at it*

Continue around the wreath form until the wreath is full.

Make sure that all of the knots are lined up on the same side to create a nice even patter.

Paint your college letters or you could also do this with your house number.

Once the letters/numbers are dry use hot glue to stick on your wreath.

Use one large piece of ribbon to create a loop and hot glue to the back of the wreath form so that you can use it to hang.

Project complete!!

My next purchase!

I think that I have found the coolest kitchen item ever!

While I would love to have a Vitamix blender--I can't really swallow th $500+ price tag. However a Yonanas Machine might just be the next best thing for tasty frozen treats!

This was featured in the FoodNetwork Magazine this month and then I did some extra research and decided I want one ASAP! Frozen fruit with nothing added instantly made into a soft serve like dessert? Sign me up! Target will start selling them next week!

White Sangria - Delish!

The white sangria that I made this weekend for our work picnic turned out great! Rene and I enjoyed it so much I wanted to share the recipe with you.

In a large pitcher combine the following:

1 Sliced Lime

1 Sliced Lemon

1 Pint Raspberries

2 Sliced Granny Smith Apples

3 Tbls. Sugar (or Agave)

3 Tbls. Green Apple Liquor

1 Bottle of Pino Grigio

Allow the mixture to sit for several hours (we made ours the night before).

Service topped with a little bit of club soda and a few pieces of fruit.

Enjoy!

Dreaming of a White Christmas in November?

OK well maybe not a "white Christmas" but as of the start of November I have been trying to figure out what or rather how to decorate this Christmas (which will happen the day after Thanksgiving at the Blanco Home).

While I love our tree and how it is a collection of ornaments that we have received over the years my collection of Christmas decor is a bit of a mix and match group.

This year with the nice changes around the apartment in terms of decorating I have decided that I want to leave the tree as is but look to make a more uniformed decorating style.

So this week I have made it my goal to create some inspiration boards and layouts as to what I want to do around the apartment...then of course what craft projects I need to get started on!

New Stationary!

A little while before Rene and I got married a friend of mine Krys had posted a great find on her blog Double Strand Pearls about a company called Petite Prints which creates custom stationary with silhouettes. I fell in LOVE with how cute they were...and I wanted them ASAP!

The downfall of course was that I couldn't bring myself to pay the $40 for just the set up and then also the cost of the notepads or cards which were around $40-$50 each set....*tear*.

Then last week I came upon a great store on Esty! I love looking through the creative ideas that people have and also love finding deals on items that could/would cost much more elsewhere. My wondering around the site took me to BlueClara Paper Goods. The seller was a pleasure to work with and produced a great PDF file so that I am able to print out our wonderful silhouettes as many times as I want! She was even kind enough to create images that I can use to frame in 8x10 frames and also a group of the images so that I can use them to create my very own stationary all for only $60! A great deal and also a super cute idea for friends and family as a gift if you are looking for something "semi-handmade".

Free Invites!

Ok I generally do not post 2 Fave Finds back to back but this was just a must!

I will admit that I am re-posting from iDIY but they have posted a link to a free printable invite templates!! Need I say more?! This is especially great for any of those soon to be brides out there looking for a bit of a money saving item for an engagement party, wedding, or shower invite!

Check them out! & Enjoy!
free printable invite templates

Happy Easter!

Here is wishing you a very Happy Easter!

Chick Cupcakes for dessert! Aren't they cute?

Just take your basic cupcake and coat all sides with icing, then add some eyes, and feet (candy coated licorice) and toasted coconut for feathers. Quick, easy and sure to make any meal more "festive".

Flower Pots for Baby....

OK first thing is first, there are no babies on the way at the Blanco house so don't get the wrong idea. However there were 2 babies arriving here in the office, so I decided to put together some cute little flowering pots.

I had seen these in a magazine while I was flipping through a while back. Here they are Baby Bunch Bouquet

While you can purchase them for over $50 online I figured I would give it a whirl. Dowel rods, baby clothes, some silk flowers, and rubber bands is all it took!

Each potted plant is made of onesies, socks, hats, bibs, and also burp cloths and didn't they turn out adorable!!

Planning Christmas for 2010 already?

Ok I may not be going that far, but I have found my next DIY for next year! I love wreaths and I love love love this! I came across it today from Country Living how great is it? Simple and I think stunning at the same time! A must make for next year for sure!

Another Something BLUE!

How could I have forgotten to mention this fun item until now?!?

Mom of course has been watching wedding shows on the TV since the ring went on my finger...then she came across this little idea...a colored carillon aka petticoat.

What color do you make the underside of a wedding dress? White of course, right? NO! Since the wedding colors were blue and yellow we decided on the bright royal blue...not only did it fit to the wedding colors but it became a 2nd something blue to my shoes.

Unfortunately Mom did the dying of the carillon at home in Pennsylvania much to Dad's concern in the bathtub with Rit Dye, so I don't have the pictures of the process but I do have the final result. And much to Dad's amazement the bathtub is not bright blue after the fact....

Isn't it great?!


Such a fun addition to the dress and the wedding and something to make it very much our own -- and sure to make some great photos!

Thanks Mom...and Dad for letting her dye it in the bathtub!

Last minute "To Do's"

After today I officially have 9 days til the cruise! That means 10 til the BIG DAY!

Wow! And here I was thinking back about how great it was to be out of the 100's in the countdown and finally hit the "double digits".

So what's left?!


My "To do" list has been marked up with lots of colors, most of it is because I was checking things off and of course the additions that I kept on adding-even up to this week!

I have 1 project that I am trying to finish up which is a feathered hair fascinator to wear with my dress #2! As my lovely fiance says I so very "Carrie Bradshaw of me" (yes, he had to sit through SATC the Movie with me!).

Here's what I have done so far...

it just needs a little something else though. I'm just not sure what yet.

I also decided that since we aren't going to get a "Just Married" car that I would try to make some magnets for the rental cars saying "We Are Getting Married" (for when we first get to Orlando) and "Just Married" (for after the cruise).



I am not sure if they will hold up for the car, I will have to do a little test run first here in Dallas. If they don't they are going to serve as my "backups" to the door magnets we made for the cruise in case the Styrofoam letters don't make it.